#DTIMalasakit Story from DTI-Region 4A (Laguna)
By: Mark Vincent Arasa

“Never give up,” these were the lines that keep Mr. Felix D. Sobreviñas climb the ladder of success. Felix, a 45-year-old native from Majayjay, Laguna was once a farm boy in their hometown. Majayjay, being known for its fertile land, has been his playground over the years. Before entering the business industry, he was once recognized as one of the top employees in their company.

He first worked as a Design Warper in Delta Weaving Mills Inc. from the year 1991-1994. In 1995 he was one of the pioneer employee of KFC South Mall as a restaurant service personnel and was awarded several times as Best Dining Crew. Seeking another field to specialize with, he decided to be a salesman at Ever Gotesco Las Pinas on 1996. A Year later, he tried to hone his skill as a sales representative in Metropolis Alabang where he got promoted as a Section Head. With the best of the game in his side, his chosen field of specialization continued to soar high, he was selected as the Department Head of non-food department at Robinson’s Supermarket Alabang.

From left to right: Felix D. Sobreviñas, Maria Shiela B. Sobreviñas, Serly Bocalbos

“Choosing family over career will never be a wrong choice.” After getting married in June 2000, the then 25year-old Felix decided to sacrifice his career in Manila to take care of his aging parents, he knew that it was his responsibility being the only child.

He then started doing business in their community as a source of income. He first ventured in selling toys and clothes, which eventually grew and became popular as the store of everything (Sari-Sari Kahit Munti). There were really plenty of stuff available on their store such basic necessities and prime commodities, fruits and vegetables. You can even have your coconut grated from them. It was in 2005 where they shifted to food industry and their first product was a pizza pie. Business was doing well that is why a year later, their pizza parlor became Sobreviñas Food House. Without the proper entrepreneurial mindset, he found it difficult to find the business that will suit him. Thus year by year, he’s shifting and never settling in one kind of business yet he still thrived.

But life can be hard sometimes, no one is exempted, year 2012 when the family bumped hard and got into financial crisis. They were forced to sell their ancestral house. But Felix neither lose hope nor gave up, he stood against all odds, which is why he allocated part of the money from the house to start again. In the same year, they opened up a restaurant in Liliw, Laguna, this time business doesn’t go well, and each day is a break-even day. In October of the same year, they decided to come home. This move paved way to the birth of Leocianos Canteen. Things went well and in 2014 they introduced their Leocianos Empanada, the product that made them popular.

But life continues to hit them hard. In 2015, Felix underwent a surgery in the gall bladder. This was followed by his wife’s surgeries. But their strong disposition in life kept them standing and continue their business’ operation. In September 2018, he registered Leocianos Restaurant.

(Leociano Joseph Sobreviñas, only son of Mr. & Mrs. Sobreviñas)

Leocianos is a traditional carinderia featuring traditional lutong bahay. The name of the restaurant comes from the real name of his only child, Leociano Joseph Sobreviñas — his biggest inspiration.
The first assistance given to Felix was the Small Medium Enterprise Roving Academy (SMERA) Seminar on Entrepreneurial Mindset. He did not hesitate to accept the invitation for he knew he needed it. This started the series of assistance provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the Negosyo Center.

After his first seminar with the Negosyo Center Majayjay, he got the chance to attend more seminars offered by other centers such as Operation Management, Competitive Selling and Negotiation Techniques, Basic Pricing and Costing and Financial Forum. But it doesn’t end there, everything just got better, December of 2018 he was invited to attend the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise (KMME) 2019 Orientation and in February 2019 he was blessed to be part of the program.

Last August 14, 2019, he graduated from the KMME Program and told the Business Counselor the impact of KMME to him. He shared, “This has been the greatest achievement in my life, this is more than a degree in college. My entrepreneurial mindset was enhanced and I am now motivated to dream bigger because of my learnings of the principles of business in KMME Program. The most important of all is that I gained not just friends and wisdom but a family who shared one vision in life “ANGAT LAHAT.”

“Panahon ko na upang suklian ang tulong na ipinagkaloob sa akin ng DTI, Negosyo Center, ng gobyerno, kaya patuloy akong tutulong sa kumunidad sa abot ng aking makakaya. Tulad ng simpleng pag sponsor ng pagkain sa libreng seminar na bigay ng LSPU at pagbibigay testament kung gaano kalaki ang tulong na naibigay at maibibigay ng DTI sa mga may negosyo,” he added.♦

Published in Pilipino Mirror on 7 August 2019.