Last January 3, 2022, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) wrote a story of 17-year-old Josh Mojica who ventured into the business of making kangkong (water spinach) chips.
Josh, who lives in Cavite, earned P150,000 every month even if his business was only 6 months old at the time of publication.
He started his food business back in June 2021, when he cooked kangkong chips and sold them to his acquaintances. He had help from his classmates in the production and packing of the kangkong chips, using a recipe from his aunt.
It was so successful, he was receiving orders from different regions of the Philippines and even outside the country including from Canada and the United States of America.
It’s been a year since PEP.ph first featured Josh, and now at the age of 18 years old, he is now a millionaire. He put up a kangkong chips factory with 100 employees, got a company van, and has built a newly finished two-story factory where they will eventually move to.
18-year-old Josh Mojica Is Now A Millionaire
Josh gave an update on Julius Babao UNPLUGGED vlog last December 5, 2022. In the video, he showed his factory and the step-by-step process of making the kangkong chips: from the cleaning of the leafy greens, breading, frying, draining, and packing.
The kangkong chips he sells come in seven flavors: classic, sour cream, spicy, honey butter, barbecue, cheese, and chocolate.
According to Josh, it was in 2022 when he earned P1 million, but even with that, he wasn’t satisfied. He says it wasn’t the time to relax and be complacent.
He says, “Sobrang grateful po ako, pero parang may pressure po talaga. Grabe yung pressure. Hindi po ako agad parang, ‘Milyonaryo na ako, okay na ako diyan!’ Parang, ‘Okay, dito tayo ngayon. Anong sunod na gagawin natin?’”
In January 2022, when he opened the factory, he acquired a van for deliveries and hired 50 people which eventually doubled to 100.
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Josh’s employees come from his neighborhood in Cavite, including a person with a disability that he is very proud of because of how hardworking the person is. He added that some of his employees are “dating tambay.”
Josh isn’t selfish about his sucess. He says about his employees, “Kailangan [isipin] ano na ba sila sa negosyong ito? Ano na ba yung mga natutulungan ko? Ano na ba yung resellers ko? Ano na ba nagagawa ng negosyo sa kanila? Paano ba nakakatulong ang negosyo sa kanila?”
Business With A Purpose
When Josh was first featured last year, he mentioned that he gained the confidence to start the business when his grandfather, who raised him, passed away. His grandfather taught him: “Ang buhay ay mahirap kaya dapat matayog ang pangrap.” These are the words he lives by.
Josh says, “Intentional lahat ng gagawin ko, may purpose para sa kinabukasan ko.”
If people his age are busy playing, enjoying the life of being a teen, he was working his fingers to the bone. “Pag mas maaga kong ginawa, mas maaga akong puwedeng mag-retire.
“Kung ngayon po, imbes na bumarkada ako, ngayong 20s, 30s, bubuhos ko po lahat sa craft ko sa work ko, para sa 35 ko, puwede na [magretiro].
“Ngayon bata pa po ako, e, marami pa po akong energy. So hindi ko po siya sasayangin sa hindi makabuluhang bagay,” Josh said. He added that he couldn’t have done all of this if he started when he is older.
When Julius Babao asked Josh how much he earns, he said that it’s around seven digits already. Then Julius noticed that Josh was wearing a Rolex watch, that according to an online luxury watch blog Wrist Advisor, is an Oyster Perpetual Reference 126000 which costs $5,800 or P324,800.
Josh said that he’s focusing on marketing his business. “Hanggang kaya na niyang tumayo nang mag-isa, hanggang sa magkaroon na ng sistema na papasok na yung cash flow kahit wala ako palagi.”
It was in 2022 when Josh stopped studying so he could focus on the kangkong chips business. But he does plan on taking up a culinary course. so he can apply it to his business venture.
The Meaning Of Success, According To An 18-year-old Millionaire
If other people measure success by owning properties, Josh had a different definition.
He said, “Actually, hindi po siya yung bumili siya ng mamahaling kotse, hindi siya yung maipagpatayo ng bahay ang magulang mo. Para sa akin, yung success is a sensation. It’s a feeling na magawa mo yung lahat kung kelan mo gusto, mabili yung mga bagay kung kelan mo gusto. It’s the feeling, yung freedom…”
“Ginawa ko, nagpataas ako ng skill para ma-convert ko siya sa cash. Kailangan maging deserving muna ako, kailangan kapag nakuha ko na yung hinahangad kong break, nakagat ko na. Hindi mo alam ang bagay na magpapayaman sa yo kaya you have to build yourself up until maging deserving ka for it.”
“Iangat mo lang yung experience mo, yung skill mo. Gawin mo ang lahat ng bagay na magaling, kahit ordinaryong bagay gawin mo with excellence kasi it will reflect.
“Balang araw, lahat iyan, aanihin mo din.”
This story originally appeared on Pep.ph.
* Translated by Yummy.ph editors.
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