After falling victim to investment fraud in 2019, Lennard Jan Ponce was left with only P3,500 and with no clear solution to hinge on. He held himself accountable for the unfortunate outcome and sought any possible way to overcome it.
“It’s my fault. I looked for ways to get out of that situation,” he admitted.
Ponce was a nurse at Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital before he became an Emergency Medical Technician in Saudi Arabia. He thought of selling cassava cakes to his former co-workers at the hospital. It became then his starting point for recovering from the investment failure.
“During that time, my aunt and I made the first 50 cassava cakes and it was immediately sold out. Most of the customers told me that our cassava cake melts in the mouth,” he said.
That description from his customers inspired Ponce to name his business “MELTS Premium Cassava Cake.” It became an instant success and more people got interested to become a reseller of the product.
The first Melts branch was in Barangay Pagalungan, Polomolok in a small shop made of scrap metal. The site was strategic enough to attract clients because it was beside the highway, where many cars would stop to purchase the product.
Melts also became an online sensation, drawing crowds of curious customers who wanted a taste of it, making the store often jammed with traffic because of the so-called Melts craze.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in 2020, Ponce feared for his food business. He watched as many establishments shut down and people stayed indoors except for emergencies. He became relieved though that his business was deemed "essential" and could still operate in a limited way.
“That time, the frontliners were a big help in promoting and reselling the product. They were the ones who can conduct house-to-house visits,” he said.
At that time, Melts and a fast food company were the only options on a popular food delivery app. Customers were curious about the cassava cake and decided to give it a try. It was a hit and word spread quickly about Melts.
But as the demand soared, the supply also plummeted and Ponce was faced with the challenge of finding enough ingredients in the region to meet the orders.
“I did not stop to look for solutions to cope with the demand. I went to different places in the country just to get the necessary ingredients for the cassava cake,” he revealed.
Because of Ponce's efforts, Melts overcame the threat of pandemic and grew. And, as the business flourished, Ponce reached out to various government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, to get support and guidance for his venture.
Ponce and his team also showed their appreciation and generosity to the front line workers who bravely fought the pandemic. They shared their delicious products to various hospitals in Polomolok and nearby towns, as well as to the personnel in checkpoints and some government agencies as token of gratitude for their selfless service.
Melts carries Ponce’s values of being generous as he wanted to give the best to his customers through the cassava cake he is making.
"I don't skimp on the ingredients. If you want to be known, give your best. There is no reservation like there is no reservation in the ingredients."
Ponce is also steadfast about maintaining the quality of his product. They follow quality assurance procedures and use a checklist to check the condition of the ingredients.
Not relying on his farm for the ingredients of his product, Ponce also sourced out from other local farmers in the region as a way of supporting them and their livelihoods.
He has also forged a strong partnership with top suppliers, who have boosted his business growth with their support. He sees them as his "big brothers," who guide him through business road shows and help him innovate his products.
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He said he earned this privilege by also becoming their top-selling client.
“It’s important to seek help from others. Rejection is OK. Along the way, someone will help you with your problems. You always make your first step and the rest will follow,” he said.
According to Ponce, his business is also a way of keeping their family recipe of cassava cake alive. His family joins him in running the business operations. He is happy that they can share their family's delicious treat with the public, and everyone enjoys it.
He also envisions to expand the business nationwide. So far, Melts has branches in Polomolok, Koronadal, General Santos, Kidapawan, Kabacan, Davao, Digos, Bukidnon, and soon in Zamboanga.
Trusting in his abilities and learning from his mistakes, he stays focused on his vision and works hard to make it a reality. Ponce has learned to bounce back from failures and adapt to changing situations.
Ponce is certain that "if you believe in your product and yourself, you will both grow" as he vowed to never give up on his goals and dreams, no matter what obstacles he faces. “You can always accept failures but not defeat,” he told this writer. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Voice of the Youth Network)
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