A Profile of Success: Erlic Canua, Jr.

He opted for early retirement in 2016, after over 21 years of service at LANDBANK. After a while, he realized that at age 45, retirement was too early and that he could still pursue other productive endeavors. He was encouraged by a friend to put up a food stall inside the cafeteria of Adamson University in San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila. With the assistance of his wife, Caroline, he put up Granny Betty’s, a food stall that caters to students, teachers, and staff of the University, serving lunch meals, snacks, drinks, and juices. Granny Betty is named after Caroline’s mother who used to bake excellent cookies, and whose recipe was probably handed down to Caroline. The stall carries, of course, Granny Betty’s cookies, baked by Caroline.

He opened his first stall in January 2019 and availed of a loan from CBMPC for his start- up capital. After over a year of operation, the pandemic struck in March 2020. At first, they were hoping that the pandemic would only last a month or so. But it was not meant to be. The pandemic lasted the entirety of 2020 and 2021. Towards the end of 2021, things were becoming hopeful as blended classes (online and face-to- face) were now being allowed. In January 2022, he availed of an additional loan with CBMPC to purchase a freezer, microwave, kitchen utensils, and other equipment needed to start the operation of a second stall.

The stalls are managed by his wife, Caroline, assisted by 2 supervisors and three other staff who do the marketing, cooking, and manning of the stalls, as Erlic is currently employed at LBP Leasing Corporation and assigned at Account Management.

Erlic is enjoying the best of both worlds, so to speak. He is currently employed, using the knowledge and skills he gained from LANDBANK and gaining new experiences from being an entrepreneur. He is grateful that in his journey as a new entrepreneur, CBMPC of which he was a member when he was still with the Bank, is with him to handhold him whenever he needs assistance.

Food costs are pegged at a lower price, despite higher costs of ingredients, transport, and labor, in deference to the wishes of Vincentian fathers to make school meals affordable to students, and also because of the Vincentian teachings on charity which were instilled in him by his parents in his younger years. He grew up seeing his parents give to the poor and the homeless in the vicinity of the University. Following this tradition of charity, Erlic uses a part of his earnings to contribute to projects of the university that benefit the students. This is his way of giving back to the University for giving him the opportunity to bring to fruition his dream to put up a small business. His next project is to offer part-time jobs in his 2 food stalls to poor students who want to earn extra income.

Erlic lives by the words of St. Vincent de Paul, by whose advocacy the Vincentian Order was founded, “Let us strive to do good while we are still in this world, for once our opportunity is gone, we cannot return to do it again.”