By: Avegail D. Agojo
BAY, Laguna — Not all heroes wear capes. Some carry babies while presenting business plans.
Jona May Carandang is a hardworking “mompreneur” from this town. She began her entrepreneurial journey with just Php2,500 lent by her sister, selling skincare and beauty products while working as a barista. But deep down, her heart was always set on something else—food, coffee, and drinks.
Inspired by her daughter Janaya, Jona gave her latest business a name that felt close to home: JanaTayo Magkape Food and Refreshment Hub. What started as a home-based setup eventually grew into a small but thriving food hub near UP Rural High School. A dream that once fit in a corner of their house now serves students and locals who keep coming back for the flavors and the warmth.
In 2022, Jona joined the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP!) of the Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna). While presenting her business plan, she held her 2-year-old daughter in her arms—crying nonstop. It was chaotic, unplanned, and real. Many would have backed out, but Jona stood her ground. She presented anyway—and not only did she finish, she topped the batch, winning first place in the Business Plan Presentation for Bay, Laguna.
With the Php10,000 cash prize, she invested in basic equipment through the Orange App and began building the version of JanaTayo Magkape she had always envisioned. Bit by bit, her home kitchen transformed into a fully functioning food hub. She now creates her own dips, sauces, and flavors—taste-tested by family and friends who aren’t shy to give feedback. Each item on the menu has a story and a personal touch.
Through the help of DTI-Laguna—particularly the YEP! program—Jona was able to strengthen her entrepreneurial foundation. The targeted trainings and mentorship sessions gave her access to practical tools and business development resources she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
However, the journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Her store was recently robbed. Despite this, she didn’t let it stop her. “Setbacks aren’t dead ends,” she says. “They’re detours with lessons.” Instead of giving up, she treated it as just another chapter in her journey.
With her husband’s full support, she continues to juggle parenting and business every single day. The shop remains modest in size, but its charm and heart are impossible to miss. Among her regulars are high school students, passersby, and curious newcomers—many of whom end up staying longer than planned.
“When you start a family, lahat gagawin mo para sumakses. Lalo na kung para sa anak mo,” she says, smiling. “Even with the messiness, crying child, no babysitter… you keep going.”
She encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs not to wait for the perfect time. Start now, she says. Celebrate every small win. Learn as you go.
Jona dreams of expanding to more locations someday. She hopes to mentor young parents and fellow mompreneurs—those who want to build something meaningful even when life feels too messy to begin with.
Success, for Jona, didn’t come in the form of overnight wealth or fame. It came in quiet victories: one customer returning for coffee, one new menu item that clicked, and one day survived—with a toddler on her hip and orders in the queue.
Minsan, sumasakses ka hindi dahil marami ka nang naipon, kundi dahil hindi ka sumuko kahit sobrang hirap. At dahil pinili mong tuparin ang pangarap mo kahit may iyak, kalat, at kapeng natapon sa daan.
Maybe, that is the kind of success that truly matters.
