One of the 21 contenders for this year’s The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awards is an entrepreneur who advocates for giving the Philippine Deaf Community equal opportunities and opportunities for professional progress.
The TOYM recipients were revealed at a gala event in Pasay City that was organized by the TOYM Foundation and Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI) Philippines, the award’s sponsors. The TOYM recognized 21 contenders for this year before announcing the 10 recipients, in contrast to other iterations.
One of the finalists in the business, economics and entrepreneurship category was Francis Carl G. Reyes, founder of the Caravan Food Group Inc. (CFGI), a food and beverage company that aims to introduce new food concepts for the Philippine market as he believes that good is only as good as one’s overall experience.
Caravan Food Group carries three brands: Overdoughs, a homegrown pastry shop that offers the best selling OD Mini Chonky Cookies and other pastries like Crinkles and donuts, among others; Elait!, which offers artisanal rolled ice cream and the first rolled yogurt; and RAW Natural Juice Bar, an all natural juice that offers nutritionally designed cold-pressed juices.
Reyes’ advocacy was inspired by his experience when he was young. A deaf person assisted him while he was in a clothing store, and he was amazed by his sincere customer service. From then on, Reyes wanted to incorporate this in his food business.
This deaf inclusive advocacy is made possible through the partnership with orgnizations like De La Salle College of San Benilde – School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies and Hand & Heart.
To date, Reyes has employed 30 deaf partners and counting. The comprise more than 50 percent of the overall employee count. He always believed in their capabilities to help the company improve its service, products and food concepts.
Reyes believes in continually developing his people. Thus CFGI provides skills enhancement and leadership training programs for its employees. Soon he plans to promote his exemplary deaf partners to Team Leaders and Supervisors.
“It was one deaf guy who really showed me the epitome of customer service. I wanted to recreate the experience in this concept so I decided to hire deaf people. I wanted everyone to feel the warmth and realize how capable these deaf people are,” Reyes said.
Health Undersecretary Beverly Lorraine Ho and comics artist Manuel Luis “Manix” Abrera were among the 10 TOYM awardees.
Ho was was named TOYM in the health and medicine category along with fellow physicians Ronnie Baticulon, a pediatric neurosurgeon and Ramon Lorenzo Luis Guinto, a public health advocate.
One of the three TOYM award winners for literature, culture, and the arts was Abrera. Victor Mari Baguilat Jr., a social entrepreneur from the Cordillera, and Kristian Cordero, a writer and filmmaker from Bicol, received further awards.
Joanne Ascension Valdez, a councilor for Candon City, and Shawntel Nicole Nieto, the creator of Sustainability PH, were awarded TOYMs in the area of humanitarian civil society member volunteer leadership. Paul Gideon Lasco, a physician and medical anthropologist, and Rico Ancog, dean of the School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos, completed the list of honors for education and academia.
No Comments