DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE — Bee Healthy Lemon started its humble BEEginnings in the sweet home of Bagadiong Family from Dasmariñas, Cavite. The owner, Ms. Maricel Bagadiong, is a hands-on mother of two children. One day, when she discovered that her daughter had a severe urinary tract infection, she remembered her childhood in Quezon Province when they used to harvest herbs around Mt. Banahaw for medicinal use. Without further thought, she immediately prepared her daughter a drink which was a mixture of lemon extracts, honey, ginger, and oregano.

She prepared the concoction every single day for her daughter and her husband as well who also complained of his sore throat. With continuous intake of the lemon drink her daughter and husband were completely healed. Thus, it became a habit for them to drink the herbal mixture until one day her husband, who was an OFW, thought of developing it into a business.

Ms. Bagadiong used her savings from her husband’s remittances to bravely put up a business. The first store was established at The District, Ayala Mall – Dasmarinas in 2016. That was the birth of Bee Healthy Lemon Freshly Squeezed Juices.

As a high school graduate, Ms. Bagadiong’s only background was selling brooms and shellfish. She realized that she had a lot to improve so she sought business advice and assistance from DTI-Cavite Provincial Office.

In 2017, she participated in the second batch of DTI-Cavite’s Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program. Through KMME, she saw the potential of their business idea and with that, she immersed herself more in learning the proper ways of doing business based on the real success stories of her mentors and coaches. As she said, “KMME made us feel that every story MATTERS”.

From their main branch at District Mall, the company grew to a total of fourteen (14) branches of which 5 are owned and 9 are franchised, as of 2023.

Magnifying this success is the birth of another business venture which they called Goto Lover Lugawan.

During the rainy season when Bee Healthy drinks had minimal sales, they saw the opportunity of selling ‘lugaw’, a well-known Filipino comfort food, to keep up with the customers’ demand. And true enough it was another resounding success for Ms. Bagadiong and her husband who eventually stay put to join her in their business. Now, they have both products to offer during the summer and rainy seasons.

As of 2023, Goto Lover is continuously growing with sixteen (16) branches of which 8 are owned and 8 are franchised.

With the help of DTI, Ms. Bagadiong never ceases the opportunity to improve her business knowledge and share her success with other aspiring entrepreneurs as she actively participates in DTI-initiated programs, and or events. She was often invited as a resource speaker and willingly shares her experiences because she believes that it is her way of paying forward for all the blessings she has received.

As the saying goes, “Being healthy is a success that many people forget to celebrate.” This may be a simple thought, but through the lens of successful entrepreneurs like Ms. Maricel Bagadiong, it is the life of her business – a lemon fruit definitely worth the squeeze. ♦

Date of Release: 23 June 2023