{"id":593566,"date":"2026-07-19T13:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T13:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/593566\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T13:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T13:57:07","slug":"no-strawberry-left-behind-the-manila-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/593566\/","title":{"rendered":"No strawberry left behind | The Manila Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\"John<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n John Glenn Libag Owner Bo-oy Food Products\n <\/p>\n

\n

In business, there are a lot of challenges but what\u2019s important is how you get back up. Always put God first in your business.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

IN the heart of Benguet province, known as the \u201cStrawberry Capital of the Philippines,\u201d agricultural abundance can sometimes lead to surplus waste.<\/p>\n

Yet, for one university student, excess harvests presented an opportunity for innovation rooted in local identity.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"John<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n John Glenn Libag was a fourth-year entrepreneurship student of Benguet State University and specialized in Food Enterprise when he started his venture.CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS\n <\/p>\n

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John Glenn Libag, a fourth-year entrepreneurship student at Benguet State University and a resident of Tawang, La Trinidad, has made it his mission to ensure no strawberry goes to waste, especially during peak season.<\/p>\n

His venture, Bo-oy Food Products, stands as a testament to youth creativity, transforming the ubiquitous berry into a diverse array of non-traditional goods that champion the province\u2019s distinct culture.<\/p>\n

The journey began in 2023 with a simple supply gap.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"John<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n John Glenn Libag was a fourth-year entrepreneurship student of Benguet State University and specialized in Food Enterprise when he started his venture.CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS\n <\/p>\n

\u201cKulang kasi \u2018yung supply ng strawberry alamang, sabi ng boss ko, mag-create daw ako ng sarili ko to supply \u2018yung area namin. In 2023, nakita ko \u2018yung opportunity na we can utilize \u2018yung strawberry pala, hindi lang sa tradisyunal na strawberry jam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

This realization birthed Bo-oy Food Products. Moving beyond standard preserves.<\/p>\n

\u201cNag-create ako ng strawberry hot sauce, strawberry yema jam, strawberry coffee, strawberry vinegar. Then later on, nakita ko \u2018yung wine. Gusto kong mag-create ng wine na premium brand na puwede nating ipagmalaki na sariling atin na tatak Benguet (Later on, I saw wine. I wanted to create a premium brand wine that we can be proud of as our own Benguet brand),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His ambitions grew toward creating a flagship regional product.<\/p>\n

A circular economy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Libag\u2019s operations are guided by twin advocacies: \u201cbe local, support local\u201d and a \u201ccircular green economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

His commitment to zero waste extends beyond his own production line; he actively supports other local farmers by purchasing their surplus strawberry products. Within his processing, every element is utilized.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, in my mixed berries wine, meron siyang byproduct na mixed berries preserve. Instead na itatapon natin \u2018yung fruit after the processing, ginagawa siyang jam. We have \u2018yung strawberry lemon tea, the peels from the strawberry are used in lemon wines. Imbes na itinatapon natin \u2019yung lemon peels, dini-dehydrate po natin siya, nagiging powder po.\u201d<\/p>\n

Government support system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Establishing a business while completing a degree was financially challenging. Libag credits various government programs for helping his enterprise gain footing.<\/p>\n

The Department of Trade and Industry\u2019s (DTI) \u201cOne Town, One Product\u201d Next Generation program was crucial, assisting him with Food and Drug Administration registration, intellectual property (IP) registration, packaging and labeling. He also participated in the DTI\u2019s Youth Entrepreneurship Program.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, he received financial aid through the livelihood assistance program of the Department of Labor and Employment.<\/p>\n

Libag\u2019s innovation has earned him spots in government-organized competitions. He is set to represent Benguet in the Department of Agriculture\u2019s Regional Young Farmers Challenge with a product that deeply integrates local culture.<\/p>\n

He will present his \u201cLumawig Edition Highlander\u2019s Wine,\u201d billed as \u201cBenguet heritage in a bottle.\u201d The unique blend utilizes strawberries, cabbage, carrots, beetroot, lemongrass and lemon as primary ingredients.<\/p>\n

Crucially, the wine is \u201ckiniing-inspired.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kiniing is a traditional Benguet method of preserving meat by smoking it over pinewood for days. Libag incorporates this smoking process into his wine production, embedding the province\u2019s culinary identity into the beverage.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently, the income from Bo-oy Food Products helps fund Libag\u2019s university education.<\/p>\n

Upon graduation, he plans to focus full-time on expanding the business, whose products have already reached international customers and are available at the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm.<\/p>\n

Libag encourages other young aspiring entrepreneurs to tap into available government resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn business, maraming pagsubok pero importante dun kung paano ka bumangon. Always put God first in your business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The DTI Baguio-Benguet office echoed this sentiment, urging youth to explore entrepreneurship given their potential for creativity.<\/p>\n

Angelica Sebastian, a trade and industry development analyst at the agency, emphasized the importance of formalizing businesses through means like IP registration.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Yung IPO kasi, it\u2019s a protection of your brand. \u2018Pag sinabi nating naka-IPO \u2018yung product or \u2018yung brand mo, you have the sole right to that brand.\u201d PIA<\/p>\n

Fostering future builders: The DTI Young Entrepreneurship Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Filipino youth are often defined by their energy, creativity and digital savviness.<\/p>\n

Yet, translating these traits into viable economic contributions requires more than just ambition; it demands structure, guidance and opportunity. Recognizing this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) established the Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), a vital initiative designed to transform students and out-of-school youth into successful business owners.<\/p>\n

The YEP is not merely about teaching business concepts; it is an ecosystem of support. Many young individuals harbor brilliant ideas but lack the capital or practical experience to navigate the complex business landscape. Through YEP\u2019s various components, including challenges and competitions, participants gain access to crucial mentorship from seasoned industry experts. They learn the realities of financial management, marketing strategies and operational logistics. This hands-on approach bridges the intimidating gap between a conceptual business plan and a functioning enterprise.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the program cultivates a crucial mindset shift from job-seeking to job-creating. By empowering young people to establish their own ventures, DTI directly addresses youth unemployment while fostering innovation. These young entrepreneurs often bring fresh perspectives, utilizing technology to modernize traditional sectors and creating valuable employment opportunities within their communities.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the DTI Young Entrepreneurship Challenge is a strategic investment in the country\u2019s human capital. By providing the tools and confidence necessary for success, the program is not just helping individuals start businesses; it is building the resilient, innovative economic backbone of the Philippines\u2019 future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"John Glenn Libag Owner Bo-oy Food Products In business, there are a lot of challenges but what\u2019s important…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":593567,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[178],"tags":[251501,251505,251504,79,19132,251507,251514,251515,251512,18,236,251513,6915,10559,19,3536,10961,17,251503,251510,251506,251509,251516,251502,1373,8492,251511,251508,148673,9405,15172],"class_list":["post-593566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entrepreneurship","tag-benguet","tag-benguet-state-university","tag-bo-oy-food-products","tag-business","tag-circular-economy","tag-department-of-trade-and-industry","tag-digital-savviness","tag-economic-backbone","tag-economic-contributions","tag-eire","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-filipino-youth","tag-food-and-drug-administration","tag-government-support","tag-ie","tag-innovation","tag-intellectual-property","tag-ireland","tag-john-glenn-libag","tag-kiniing-inspired","tag-local-culture","tag-lumawig-edition-highlanders-wine","tag-philippines-future","tag-strawberry-capital-of-the-philippines","tag-sustainability","tag-traditional-methods","tag-young-entrepreneurship-program","tag-young-farmers","tag-youth-empowerment","tag-youth-unemployment","tag-zero-waste"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=593566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/593567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=593566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=593566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=593566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}