Being business-minded as a student is one way that can help with studies and future careers. Listed below are some businesses of fellow students from the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation. If you are looking for a new place to eat, clothes to shop, or maybe a photoshoot for your debut, here is a recommended list. This is also a way to show support to our fellow Envergans.
First on the list is “Banana Cake ni Tita Mona,” owned by Simon Romuel Uy, a 4th-year AB Communication student. Maybe you need something to pair with your coffee, in your merienda, or something to eat for your midnight snack. This one’s for you. It is a homemade banana cake available in small and big sizes, moist and flavorful that you’ll love at first bite. That’s why they say, “Hindi tinipid sa ingredients at siksik ito pero swak sa bulsa lalo na sa panlasa!” Simon started this business because of his love for baking and home cooking. During the first ECQ, he had a lot of time on his hands to experiment and foster his skills in cooking, and he needed extra funds for his allowance. The business name is “Banana Cake ni Tita Mona” because his mother was the first one who tried to make the leftover bananas into banana cake, and her name was very well known in his circle, so that has become the branding.
Next, if you are a fan of pizza, calzone (folded pizza), and volcano, “Jah Manjah” offers a huge variation of not just classic but delicious, affordable, and sulit meals, freshly made and baked every day! This is owned by Princess Elayne Braga, a 3rd-year BS Psychology student. Before the shop was near MSEUF Gate 3, but they had to close because her parents needed to work again in Italy. Even though she went solo because of the pandemic, she tried her best to continue Jah Manjah, and she didn’t expect this would be popular and still be enjoyed by many. She will continue as long as new customers are enjoying the food. Go on and try their pizza; maybe this will be your new favorite! As they say, “Jah Manjah, Sarap Yah.”
Now let’s move on to the clothing line. Owned by Dennrich Naynes, a 4th-year AB Communication student, “Damn Heats” is one of the most talked-about clothing lines in Lucena City and Tayabas City. If you are fond of merchandise like beanies, long sleeves, belt bags, shirts, ranger hats, wallets, etc., they sell these types of items because Dennrich is a BMX rider, and his partner has a taste for the streetwear industry, so this inspired them when he started purchasing thrifted goods, most of them in unusual finds, and began reselling it to support his daily needs, hence their tagline “hustle kahit hassle.” He named it “Damn Heats” if you get the humor (the Tagalog of clothes is “damits”), which is suitable for his shop name. Every season, they provide their customer needs and want to target subculture people that have courage and compassion for the world and inspire people to do what they love.
If you’re looking for another thrift shop that sells clothes and accessories that promote sustainable and slow fashion, “Thriftfolks” is for you. This business is owned by Maria Kriselda Limpo and Nina Ashleigh Armamento, both 3rd-year BS in Tourism Management, and Mary Joan Armamento, 4th-year BS Environmental Science. The shop was founded in 2020, where they may help care for the environment by producing less because the business owners support a sustainable lifestyle. As fashion enthusiasts, they applied their advocacy for the environment to the products they sell. This also serves as their part-time job as students.
Another shop that sells accessories, bags, perfumes, and hand-picked thrifted pants is “Sissy Bliss.” This is owned by Leidee Rociel Anne Escasa, a 3rd-year AB Communication student. The shop’s main products are selling bed sheets and comforters. The shop is planning to expand soon because Leidee is inspired by her parents who are also flower shop and mini canteen business owners.
Lastly is “Photos by Jod Velarde,” a 3rd-year AB Communication student. If you love taking photos and want to be done professionally, she provides a photography business, and her target customers are people of all ages who need photography services for events, products, and photoshoots. She goes by the tagline “Let’s create memories together.” With the support of her friends, they believed that she was worthy to be a paid photographer. Started as a hobby that turned into a business while sharing her love for taking pictures of people and beautiful things.
If you wish to contact and have more details about the shops mentioned above, below are the URLs of Facebook Pages:
Banana Cake ni Tita Mona: https://www.facebook.com/BananaCakeNTitaMona.LC/
Jah Manjah: https://www.facebook.com/jahmanjah.lucena
Damn Heats: https://www.facebook.com/damnheats/
Thriftfolks: https://www.facebook.com/ThriftFolks/
Sissy Bliss: https://www.facebook.com/sissybliss05/
