Small Business Owners –Front – AJ Hendra (Hayward Realty); Renato Prado (Amy Expresso), Joey Portes (ABS-CBN TFC Channel), Standing (L-R): Dyann Baguinat (Hayward Realty), Fe Hayward (Hayward Realty), Marigold Suasin (Clara Suasin Solicitors), Leonard Baetiong (Monalisa Beauty), Teresa Chan (Teresa’s Siopao and Catering), Tess Cristobal (Pinoy Stop Asian), Mark Adriano (Mix and Match Bakehouse), Hannah Trigo (Mix and Match Bakehouse), and Iyanna Donelly (Monalisa Beauty)
By Nonoy Perdon- THE CHANGING profile of the livelihood of Filipino migrants in Australia is reflected by a group of Filipino-owned small businesses in Doonside, NSW , a suburb one train stop southward from Blacktown in NSW, the heart where many Filipino born residents live in the state.
In a survey, Bayanihan News found a growing number of Filipino migrants operating small businesses, who seemed to have heeded earlier call by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to turn to entrepreneurship as vehicle for growth and employment.
Hayward Realty owned by civic leader Mrs Fe Hayward and Starlight Bakery owned by another Filipino family are experienced small businesses in the area while a number of new start ups are marking yet another niche for livelihood for the once typically and single-mindedly company-employed Filipino migrants.
Hayward Realty is trying to meet the need of home buyers and those seeking rental accommodations in an otherwise booming Western Sydney. Young twenty something AJ Hendra is learning the rudiments of real estate business as heir apparent to the small enterprise established by mom Mrs Fe Hayward. In addition to showing homes and receiving would-be home-owners, Mr Hendra is immersing himself in the role of marketing to business prospects for Hayward Realty’s growing list of houses for sale.
Hayward Realty was established by owner Mrs Fe Hayward as a result of nearly two decades of personal journey in the real estate business, making mark with a sustainable real estate business operation in Doonside.
Hayward Realty opens daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM everyday and its staff are happy to attend to the needs of its customers. Weekends are usually scheduled for showing buyers Hayward Realty’s growing home listing, not only in Doonside but also in nearby areas.
Teresa’s Siopao & Catering on 257 Doonside Crescent is owned by business partners Teresa Chan and Alejandro Galido Jr. The restaurant serves at its premises traditional Filipino food meal fares and favourite menu such as kare kare, crispy pata, sisig, bopis, lechon, dinuguan, adobo, menudo, pinakbet, dinuguan, caldereta, and vegetable fares such as langka and laing.
Mrs Chan had 10 years previous experience in restaurant and catering business in the Philippines. In Australia she has 20 years total experience, including operating two other restaurants previously in other locations. Just before her opening her Doonside shop, Teresa had focused on her food businesses including manufacturing snacks and Filipino “merienda“ lines, such as siopao, peanut, maja blanca, yema, suman, atchara, and fresh lumpia.
Ms Teresa Chan said she is proud to receive regular inter-state orders for the traditional Chinese steamed which bun called “siopao” which is a favourite in Manila, Newcastle in NSW, Melbourne, in Victoria, Canberra in ACT, and Bundaberg and Townsville in Queensland.
Teresa’s Restaurant is open 8;00 am to 8:00 pm everyday, except on public holiday, including weekly mini food festival of Filipino favourites every Saturday.
During the recent Filipino Fiesta Kultura last 3 October at Fairfield Showground, Teresa operated two food stalls offering favourite Filipino food lines at special discounted rates. Teresa said she was offering the Filipino food experience many are missing out here in Australia.
Amy’s Expresso Cafe at another spot fronting Doonside train station and at 2 End Road, early morning café customers, one surmises as train commuters on the way to work, hobnob at the shops’ alfresco tables.
Opened only about four months ago, Amy’s Expresso is proud of its clientele’s acceptance of the business, which on earlier life used to be a nondescript Chinese takeaway.
Owner Mr Renato Prado who migrated to Australia in1992 said the establishment is a family owned and operated café. He said he worked before as chef and cooking instructor in the cookware multinational Salad Master,
Amy’s Express is open 5:00 AM early to 4:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sundays. Renato invites the public to try his café’s range of all-day breakfast fares including the Filipino favourite tapsilog (rice egg and Filipino beef ), longsilog (rice-egg-and Filipino sausage) and tosilog (rice-egg-and Filipino treated pork).
Renato said Amy Expresso also receive catering order for outdoor function, party, corporate and social events.
Clara Suasin Solicitors is a business blessed with by the principal owner’s offspring following the parent’s career path. Manager Ms Marigold Suasin, twenty-something, was already known in the Philippine community as community association MPC beauty pageant title holder, before she joined the legal profession and her parent’ legal practice. Marigold is graduate of Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce and holder of Graduate Diploma of Legal practice.
Suasin Solicitors holds office inside the building leased by Hayward Realty in 2/2 Hill End Road,Doonside.
Suasin Solicitors provides quality legal services which Marigold proud to say “with direct solicitor-client contact.” In this situation, Marigold says clients are guaranteed to get efficient, competent quality service. Presently, Marigold says the practice is expanding its legal services and diversifying its clientele.
Mona Lisa Style & Beauty at the opposite of the road on 255 Doonside Crescent is co-owned by mother and daughter hair stylists Mona Chan and Lisa Chan.
Prior to the partnership, mother Mona was already a familiar hairdresser in St Marys, toward Penrith.
Daughter Lisa has a Diploma in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy.
MonaLisa is open Monday to Friday 10 AM to 6 PM. 9 am to 6pm Saturdays and 10 am to 4 pm Sunday and employs a couple of staff to attend to customer’s saloon needs.
Lisa Chan said they offer all types of hair and beauty services including hair cuts, facials. She said she is proud of her and her staff’s work and customer service. She said they are known for great hair colour results, specialising in colour correction.
Mix and Match Bakehouse on 4 Hill End Road is owned by partners Camille Trigo, Greg Barreda and Hannah Trigo. Camille migrated to Australia in 199,Greg in 2013 and Hannah in 2003.
Mix and Match opened only last May 2016 but already had been blessed with new and growing number of customers.
Together with its twin establishment Mix and Match Café, situated across the road, the shop has a vision of welcoming other nationalities in addition to Filipino Australians to enjoy Filipino bakery products.
Hannah Trigo is a CPA In the Philippines and graduate of Management Accounting. Co=oner Camille Trigo is a graduate of Tourism and former owner herself of the old Lutong Pinoy Restaurant in Rooty Hill.
Mix and match is open daily from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm. Contact Mix and Match Bakehouse on 02 86048587, mobile 0403 495 739 or on email hannah_trigo@yahoo.com.
Mix and Match Bakehouse specialises in what is known as “Malunggay Pandesal”and variety of “enseymadas”.
Pinoy Stop Asian Grocery opened last October 2015 and formerly called “Suki” Grocery under previous owner. It offers air and sea cargo freight service and money remittance to anywhere in the world.
Owner Mr Rommel Cristobal said the shop endeavour to serve the needs of the Filipino households in the area. He appeals to customers to support Filipino businesses in helping provide more jobs to the community,