Many local businesses are struggling to keep afloat because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, especially our farmers. But they are not giving up and are even doubling down to make it business as usual as much as they can.
Take this group of traders as an example where Teddy Baguilat Jr., a former congressman of Ifugao, is a member.
Teddy saw friends in Cordillera lose their sources of income after the lockdown effectively killed tourism and disrupted the food supply chain. So he joined one of his friends who came up with what he describes as a “fair trade organization.” The goal: get traders to help Cordillera farmers transport and sell their products in Manila.
“Fair trade in the sense na hindi namin binabarat yung magsasaka. We negotiate a fair price with them. Most of our prices are below supermarket prices.”
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Teddy knew the social enterprise needed a catchy name to get people’s attention. For inspiration, he turned to his pasttime: K-drama.
“I am part of the K-drama fandom,” Teddy says with pride and amusement.
Teddy thought the name “Cordillera Landing On You” or CLOY had a nice ring to it. And he knew it would catch the curiosity of Filipinos who knew the K-drama that inspired the name, Crash Landing On You. Even those who didn’t watch K-drama knew someone who was obsessed with this love story between a CEO from South Korea and a military officer from North Korea.
People who were sending queries would jokingly ask, “Is this Captain Ri?” (the name of the male lead character). Teddy gamely took on the role. He has actually replied like this: “This is Captain Ri, and your order will cross the border by tomorrow.”
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Teddy will banter with customers if it means getting the Filipino consumer to discover the quality of locally produced products. Plus, at CLOY, “Every time you buy a local product, you help a farmer or a weaver and the Philippine economy kasi bagsak ngayon.”
What can you buy at CLOY? Vegetables from Benguet, your favorite pasalubong from Baguio including Good Shepherd goodies and Alabanza longganisa, raw honey from Abra, coffee from Sagada, Benguet, Ifugao, and face masks from weavers of Ifugao.
To order, call +63 917 867 5188 or check out their Facebook @cordilleralandingonyou
Watch the story of “Cordillera Landing On You” below.
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