MANILA, Philippines (Jul 2026) — Starting a business does not require a massive fortune, as one Pinay entrepreneur proved by turning a small online café into a full-blown nationwide franchise.
Anna Magalona-Go, the founder of But First, Coffee, revealed that she started her brand during the pandemic with a seed capital of just PHP 6,000 (approx. $103). Speaking at the SME Day Manila event organized by PLDT Enterprise, Magalona-Go shared her journey of growing the business through simple steps, community support, and a lot of hard work.
Kindness as a business strategy
Magalona-Go emphasized that scaling a business is not just about price wars, but about giving back to customers. Early in her journey, she offered free delivery strictly within Makati. When a customer from Quezon City wanted to order, she offered to split the expensive delivery fee just so the customer could try the coffee. That same customer eventually fell in love with the brand and later became their very first franchisee.
“Being kind goes a long way,” Magalona-Go said. She explained that building a community helps grow a business without heavily increasing operational costs.
Empowering local entrepreneurs
The sharing session was part of SME Day Manila, a gathering hosted by the micro, small, and medium business unit of PLDT Enterprise. The event aims to provide local business owners a space to exchange best practices and discover how digital solutions can help their enterprises grow.
Participants learned about wireless solutions, internet connectivity, cybersecurity, and digital transformation from experts representing PLDT Enterprise, ePLDT, Vitro, and TikTok. The discussions focused on how fixed broadband and modern technology protect and support growing businesses.
Following its successful runs in Pampanga and Manila, PLDT Enterprise plans to bring the SME Day event to Davao and Iloilo next to support more Pinoy entrepreneurs across the country.
