Growing up in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, Bryan Discaya remembers spending time helping his mom run her sari-sari convenience store from the lower level of their Calumpit home.

He didn91裸聊视频檛 know it at the time, but it was this experience selling Filipino foods and other goods to folks in the neighbourhood that served as a precursor to running his own Filipino-themed grocery store in Kelowna years later.

But operating his own business wasn91裸聊视频檛 his original plan. In fact, he enrolled in the nursing program at Centro Escolar University in Manila in 2006. Three years later, he transferred to Dr. Yanga College in Bocaue, remaining in the nursing field. It was here where he met his future wife, Julie, who was also studying nursing.

In 2011, Discaya, his five siblings and his mother joined his dad in Kelowna, who had moved to the Okanagan in 2007. Julie arrived in 2015, a year after the two got married in a ceremony at home.

Discaya considered continuing his nursing studies here in Canada, but soon realized that it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for him.

91裸聊视频淔irst, I actually wanted to be a mechanic. But then I realized maybe it would be better if I did a business instead, like an entrepreneur,91裸聊视频� he said.

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In 2013, he worked as a store manager at the Pearl of the Orient, a Kelowna-based Filipino store that shuttered its doors just a few years ago. Following the store91裸聊视频檚 closure, he realized that he wanted to launch his own.

91裸聊视频淚 want to represent the community and myself so that people recognize the Filipinos, what we have, the culture,91裸聊视频� he said.

He was already providing minor remittances and sending balikbayan boxes to the Philippines 91裸聊视频� boxes full of food, treats, clothes and other items Filipino-Canadians send to their families back home. He thought about opening an online-based Filipino store but backed out as he felt that it would be challenging to regulate.

91裸聊视频淚 noticed before that there91裸聊视频檚 a Japanese restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a German restaurant, an Indian restaurant,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淗ow come there91裸聊视频檚 no Filipino restaurant, no Filipino store? Maybe I should start one of those.91裸聊视频�

So, in 2020, he started doing some research on how he could kickstart his own business. He started saving money and auctioning off his belongings to have enough funds to bring the store to life.

It was on March 3, of this year when Discaya opened the doors to his Ishop Pinas Filipino Store, which is just one of two dedicated Filipino stores in the Okanagan, alongside Penticton91裸聊视频檚 EDSA Minimart.

For the past four months, he and his wife have been selling everything from pancit, adobo, and sinigang mixes, as well as spring rolls, turon and more to the community. Handmade abaca bags can also be found at the store. All products are straight from the Philippines, by way of Vancouver.

91裸聊视频淲e call it WayBack9091裸聊视频檚 foods 91裸聊视频� you can91裸聊视频檛 find it anywhere here,91裸聊视频� he said, referring to the popular Philippines-based restaurant of the same name.

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The store also offers a service that allows local Filipinos to send remittances and balikbayan boxes back home, be it air or sea cargo.

91裸聊视频淲hen my dad came here or if he was going to other countries, he always sent us balikbayan boxes,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e were always excited 91裸聊视频� the balikbayan boxes are here!91裸聊视频�

Additionally, the store sells Daing na Bangus 91裸聊视频� marinated milkfish 91裸聊视频� that are prepared by Filipinos in town.

91裸聊视频淭hey want to put their products here. I let them display their products here so I can help them too,91裸聊视频� he said.

The plan is to expand the business online, where he said he wants to provide Filipinos living in rural Canadian communities a platform where they can access and purchase Filipino goods.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want to just do this business for myself. I don91裸聊视频檛 want to be selfish. If there91裸聊视频檚 someone asking for my help, I91裸聊视频檒l help,91裸聊视频� he said.

Located at 2070 Harvey Ave., the store is open seven days a week, and Discaya is there every day. Five days a week, Julie covers while he works 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at his second job as a care aid worker at Glenmore Lodge. Once his shift ends there, he goes straight to the Ishop Pinas Filipino Store.

91裸聊视频淚 see the difference when you91裸聊视频檙e working for somebody else versus when you work for yourself,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou never get tired of yourself. You91裸聊视频檙e putting in all your efforts and energy. It91裸聊视频檚 worth it.91裸聊视频�

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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