Atsakameronpa's Blog

I started the business around early nineties. It was a very difficult idea of a business. I asked myself as to what kind of business I want it to be.

During the nineties, the business I have chosen was MAIL ORDER. Every business I know independent of Big department stores is mail order business. My business has a theme. It will sell Filipino products. But I have a problem. Philippines have no identifying status like for instance New York City has The Empire State Building. Like Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Like China has The Great Wall. Egypt has the Pyramid. Philippines has none. It’s blasphemous to say it is not the Rizal monument but it is, if you’re looking for a land mark to attract sales.

As I was formulating ideas, I was looking for ways to finance it.

I have a job. I have a salary but not making enough to help finance a business.

The idea was set but in order to start the business I need money. As I said I have an idea of the kind of business I want to start. The money was the question.

I got hired by an airline at Newark Airport. The department is called GSE. The department was maintaining ground vehicles use to service activities at the airport from service vehicle called bag Tugs, pick-up trucks, to can loaders, etc.

Using the German product as a template, using German ingenuity and quality, I had one made for my home.

Christmas is alive in Germany with these window decorations.  I don’t know the significance of the shape nor the lights but this decor is displayed in a German home on Christmas times.  It is either by candlelights or lightbulbs that the German display these items on their window sills.

An idea I got to create our own Christmas arches was patterened after these German product.

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Art appreciation was never inborn. It just happens and I did not find out until my senior years in grade school. I was a student then at Philippine Normal College. It was a seven year grind and part of the curricula is drawing. 

The first time I was introduced to a paint brush and medium was in grade school.  It was my first time to draw.  I did not  know what to draw that I took a peek at my classmate’s idea.   Like my classmate, I drew a Philippine landscape.  It was simple nipa house, a farmer and his carabao and a coconut tree.  I think I drew some clouds and birds as a background.  Primitive but decent.  I enjoyed that first encounter, the  Michaelangelo side of me.

When I started looking  for my first product, I decided to look to what appeals to filipinos, what turns them on.  It was not easy since as I said I don’t lhave much to go with.  In the United States I don’t have much references, no local resources.  No filipino books.  No Philippine  library for point of references.  I started with this product.  How?  I have been going to trade shows here in New York City.  My favorite is the National Merchandise show.  I have been attending that show every since I can’t remember when.    I had a job but it was not steady so I guess I was looking for something else in life.  However, at that time I didn’t know what I was looking for or if it was looking at me in the eyes.  I was just curious of what is out there.   I been doing it for a few years and it would have seen a waste of time but I was enjoying the show, the thrill, the adventure of looking new products, up and coming products.  This is were I conceptualized my first product.  It must be an item that was available during christmas season.