Calonge: From laborer to rousing siomai trader

Richard Condeman Calonge’s story is one of perseverance and faith. Lacking formal education and capital, the former laborer defied the odds to build a thriving siomai empire in Antipolo City.

Today, his company, RCC Siomai, stands as a major supplier across Metro Manila, Bulacan and Iloilo, a remarkable achievement for a high school graduate who once struggled to make ends meet.

Calonge’s path to success was far from easy. He readily recounted his humble beginnings, working as a laborer, farmer and small-time vendor of charcoal and bottled gas.

“I was just then earning P3 from a gallon of gas that I sold, waking up before dawn, sometimes sleeping only an hour in the whole night just to buy and sell charcoal and bottles of gas, just to earn a few pesos,” he recalled.

He said he and his wife, Molina Abrasia Labirento, endured countless sleepless nights, often working upwards of 20 hours a day.

Financial hardship was a constant companion, exacerbated by the refusal of well-off relatives to offer assistance. Early ventures into baking and farming proved unsuccessful, adding to their burdens.

A turning point came when Calonge took a job at a siomai factory. It was there that he immersed himself in the craft, mastering the intricacies of siomai production.

Armed with the newfound knowledge, he and his wife bravely launched their own small business, starting with just 18 kilos of meat. The modest beginning marked the dawn of their success.

Calonge remembers the moment he received his business permit from the Department of Trade and Industry: “When I secured a business permit from the Department of Trade and Industry, I cannot forget their wish to me: Sana yumaman ka,” he said. That wish, it seems, has become a reality.

Since 2007, RCC Siomai has experienced consistent growth, with production increasing month after month and their market expanding steadily. Calonge attributes his success to divine intervention.

A devout member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, he said: “We are always praying to Our Lord Father to guide us daily in our business.”

Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Calonge is known for his generosity and compassion.

He and his wife are committed to helping others, providing financial and material support to neighbors in need.

“Sometimes our neighbors are asking for financial help for burial, medicines, rice, etc., and we are providing them somehow, as we cannot refuse them; we know the feeling of having nothing,” he explained.

The couple’s success has not been without its challenges. They have faced unfounded rumors and even been victims of a scam that cost them millions.