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Building a business is never easy. Building one during a time of uncertainty is even harder. But for the founders of PO:YO Manila, a decision made with just ₱35,000 in capital and a determination to keep going would eventually become the foundation of a thriving Filipino brand, earning them recognition as one of the monthly winners of GoGo Xpress‘ Hustle-Naryo campaign, which celebrates the resilience, creativity, and perseverance of Filipino online entrepreneurs.
Before founding what is now known as POYO Manila, the founders spent years organizing bazaars and working with local merchants. The experience inspired them to build a business of their own. Then, in 2020, the pandemic brought malls and bazaars to a standstill, forcing them to start over.
“After working in a corporation for five years, we decided we wanted to be our own boss and make our own decisions. It was a tough decision because we did not know if it would work out for us. “When the pandemic happened, we realized we had to start over,” said the founders.
Faced with uncertainty and armed with only ₱35,000 in capital, the business partners made what they now describe as one of the most important decisions of their entrepreneurial journey: launching an online clothing business. “We didn’t know if it would work,” the founders shared. “But somehow, that ₱35,000 changed our lives.”
“There were good days, very good days, and not so good days,” according to PO:YO Manila. “But we’ve always believed that we would find a way to make it work.” Throughout their journey, building a reliable support system proved just as important as building a strong brand.
For PO:YO Manila, dependable logistics support became an essential part of sustaining and growing the business. “I’ve stayed with GoGo Xpress because of the ease of using the platform, the Shopify integration, and the reliability of our pickup rider, Kuya Wil, who has been with us since day one. Having a dependable partner allowed us to focus on growing the business,” said the founders.
Recently, the founders’ entrepreneurial journey was recognized through GoGo Xpress’ Hustle-Naryo campaign, an initiative designed to celebrate the stories of Filipino online sellers who continue to persevere, innovate, and thrive despite evolving challenges.
Yet for PO:YO Manila, the recognition was never just about personal success. After being named one of the campaign’s monthly winners and receiving ₱5,000 in GCash and a TechLife Pad Lite 8, PO:YO Manila chose to share the rewards with the people who had been instrumental in building the business.
“Rather than keeping the prizes for themselves, the founders chose to share the rewards with the people who help keep their business running every day. The cash prize was given to a parent who plays a vital role in daily operations, while the tablet was gifted to a staff member as a gesture of appreciation. “It was an unexpected blessing,” they shared. “We didn’t want to be selfish about it. We wanted to share it with the people who help make our business possible.” said the founders.
For Raffy Vicente, President and COO of QuadX, the parent company of GoGo Xpress, “Stories like PO:YO Manila remind us that behind every business is a dream, a sacrifice, and a determination to keep moving forward. Through Hustle-Naryo, we celebrate the entrepreneurs who continue to inspire us every day.”
Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs remains simple: “It wouldn’t hurt to try,” the founders shared. “We didn’t know where this journey would take us when we started. But if you believe in what you’re building and continue showing up every day, amazing things can happen.” Six years ago, PO:YO Manila took a chance on a dream with only ₱35,000 and a determination to survive. Today, that leap of faith has become more than a thriving business.
It has become proof that sometimes, the most difficult chapters of our lives become the beginning of our greatest success stories.
