Client Stories > Ma. Teresa Tercias

Micro-enterprise : Furniture Manufacturing (Zchemdi Interiors and Upholstery)
TSPI Branch : TSPI – Bacoor Branch

Teresa (a.ka. Tere) and her husband Emiliano (a.k.a. Jun), married for 25 years, have been in the furniture manufacturing business for eighteen (18) years. Their enterprise named Zchemdi Interiors and Upholstery (formerly Jem D’ Interiors) started in November 1988 with two (2) employees and a P40,000 starting capital, which exclude the hand-me-down machines from Tere’s father. The enterprise was registered in January 1989. Armed with a vocational training in Printing Technolgy from Philippine College of Arts and Trade (PCAT), now Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), and a two-year course in chemical engineering from Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), Tere resigned as a lithographer from her work to continue a family tradition – taking over of the family business by the next generation. Her passion has its roots in Bicol where her family used to be a pioneer in colonial furniture making.

According to Tere, the most difficult chapter of their business was from 1989 to 1995. Having no vehicle of their own, there were times when she would carry a pail of thinner on one hand and a pail of paint on the other from the store to their home. Struggling years made them rent or borrow vehicles from friends to deliver their products. In 1990, a chassis motor she bought in 1985 was used to assemble a junk Toyota Tamaraw body, which they bought for P1,000. Unable to get back to Saudi Arabia due to gulf war, Jun, Tere’s classmate at PCAT and co-worker in a private printing company for 10 years (1978-1987), assembled the vehicle along with the motor they collected years back. The car proved its worth taking them to as far as Bulacan to look for Narra and other materials specifically requested by clients in those days. It took them three (3) days and two (2) nights just to get precious wood finds. In 1996, the couple bought a second-hand Blue Nissan Bida from Executive Press, former employer of Tere.

An operation performed on Tere drained the family’s resources in 1996. Business also slowed down a bit because they broke-off with a contractor they have been supplying for years. According to Tere, “We felt that our growth had been unintentionally hindered that is why we broke-free”. It was like starting all-over again. A relative in Quezon City advised them to try being a member of TSPI in 1999. This jump-started the partnership Zchemdi had with TSPI. They borrowed P200,000 loan from TSPI through the Individual Loan Assistance Program (ILAP). A loan from TSPI in 2002, enabled them to assemble a Mazda, which has been a great help in delivering their furniture.

At the moment, the couple is getting all their construction needs from two (2) suppliers, whom they had established a ten-year working relationship. One supplier even trusts them with P120,000 worth of materials in a span of 15 days during peak season payable in one (1) to two (2) months. The businesses’ slack period usually covers the months of May, June, November, and December, when consumers and partners also have other pressing concerns like tuition fees, holiday-associated expenditures such as giving 13th month and other bonuses. Usual job orders during this period consist of maintenance (repairs and re-painting) of furniture and sub-contracting jobs from other companies like Megaworld Developers. Clients like Megaworld Developer ties-up with them to manufacture furniture for its condominium and residential properties. They also supply furniture to SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall. Once in a while, they also get office renovation projects from Equitable PCI-Bank, however, re-upholstery of chairs and other office furniture is their main project. To-date, Zchemdi Interiors and Upholstery is able to get job orders ranging from P450,000-700,000 monthly; has thirty (30) workers, including relatives; and two (2) delivery vehicles.  
 
The couple employs hands-on management to their employees. “Para kaming magkakaibigan, sinasabi ang saloobin” (We treat one another like friends, we talk about our sentiments and problems), according to Jun. “Parang pamilya ang relationship namin dito, ate at kuya ang tawagan namin. Nararamdaman namin ang mga kailangan nila sa pakikipag-kwentuhan sa kanila” (We are like a family here. We call each other “ate” or “kuya”. We know what our employees’ needs are just by talking to them), adds Tere. “When problems arise, we resolve it together with our employees, we tell them to do their share, so they become committed. We listen and take into consideration the suggestions they give”, shared Jun. The couple’s goal, in terms of their employees, is to improve and develop whoever is interested. “Dito para din silang nasa trade school, habang tinuturuan at nagtatrabaho ay mayroon din pong suweldo” (In our business, the employees are like in a trade school, they get paid while they are still being trained on how to do their jobs), the couple expresses.

Through their furniture manufacturing enterprise, Tere and Jun have been able to send their two (2) children to school. Their daughter, Ma. Lourdes, 24, is a graduate of Economics. She also took Interior Design and now is able to give additional inputs in their family business, aside from being a freelance interior designer. Their son, Jemil Marte, 19, is already a 4th year Electrical Engineering student. Moreover, the couple has already helped ten (10) individuals gain education. They currently have two (2) scholars -- Orpha Argana, who was supported since 2nd year high school, now on her 2nd year college taking-up architecture at MLQU, and Tricia Marie Penaflorida, a niece, who was supported from high school, now a freshman in college taking up Business Management. The Tercias couple was able to produce three (3) college graduates – 2 HRM graduates (Anthony Alegre and Irene Obmina) and 1 BS Computer Technology (Lourdes Buenavidez), who are testimonies of how the couple became philanthropists. Anthony, a son of the business’ carpenter, is now working in a Chinese restaurant, NorthPark. Irene, the couple’s niece, is now employed at Don Henrico’s restaurant. Lourdes was recommended by a previous house help, who they also helped to have a degree in Accountancy but was not able to finish because she decided to get married. She now works with Zchemdi as an administrative staff. Moreover, five (5) of their workers were given assistance to finish their high school education.
 
Teresa also dreams to provide permanent shelter to their employees. “Gusto po naming mabigyan ng sari-sariling bahay ang aming mga tauhan. Right now temporary shelter po ang kaya naming ma-provide sa kanila” (We also like to give our workers their own houses. But right now, we could only provide them with a temporary shelter), shares Teresa. They built an apartment, which currently houses six (6) workers and their families with minimal rent for maintenance purposes only. “Ang idea po ay para hindi na sila sa malayo manggagaling; tipid sa pasahe, maaga makakapahinga at kung may kailangan sa trabaho ay madali pong tawagin,” (The idea behind housing our workers in the apartment is that they wouldn’t need to travel just going to and from their work, they would save from transportation expenses, they could rest earlier, and if there is still work undone, I could easily ask for their assistance) adds Jun.  There is also a separate room for bachelors. Aside from the usual benefits, they also shoulder pension plans with life insurance for eleven (11) of their employees, payable in 10 years.

Teresa and Jun Tercias desire that their employees too will be trained just like in a technical school. “Everybody must learn to do it. Here they earn while studying”,stressed Kuya Jun. They are not afraid to teach and pass-on what they know. The two (2) employees who worked with them in 1989 now have their own contracting firms in painting and carpentry works, respectively. Indeed, their business has been a training ground for would-be entrepreneurs of our country.

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