Gala Builders Supply - Our Story

Gala Hardware at Mabuhay Rd. cor Nunez Sts., General Santos City

 Finally! Something to blog about (brag about actually - excuse the pun :) ) ... I've been blogging for almost three years now, raving about other people's business establishments and giving my honest opinion about their place, their food and etc. I've always been a bit shy to talk about our business, much less to blog about it here in Pinay Travelogue. But the time has come that I've finally have something to blog ("brag") about when Gala Builders Supply, our bread and butter, was recognized by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) as a Bronze recipient of its Bagwis Awards 2012. 

The Bagwis Award is awarded to business establishments that adhere to strict consumer laws such as selling only items with PS/ICC marks for products with mandatory standards, having consumer welfare desks and giving quality customer care to clients. The Bagwis Program aims to give due recognition to business establishments, that are compliant with all trade laws implemented by the DTI. Apart from this, it also encourages establishments to participate in government programs to become socially responsible businesses and provide safe and quality products and services to consumers. Consequently, the interests and welfare of consumers are protected and they are guaranteed to get the best value for their money.

The Bagwis Award comes as a surprise for both Mr. OSG and me, since we are not even aware there was a business ethics standards, let alone an awards committee giving recognition to small businesses such as ours. As far as we were concerned, we try our best to conduct our business by being honest to our customers and providing them with the best service our people can offer. It is also a fact that we value our people as partners since they are after all part and parcel in whatever success we attain. We owe it to them for whatever accolades our store gets. (Is this famas speech material or what? hehe)

Gala Builders Supply has come a long way. From one store in Cannery site, Polomolok in the year 2000 when we started, we have now expanded to three stores in all. One in Poblacion, Polomolok and another newly opened in Purok Malakas, Gen. Santos city (photo above). I remember when we started, we only had around 20-30 bags of cement a few hardware materials for sale and P20,000 pesos in revolving capital. At the time we started, Mr. OSG is the designated delivery driver and manager and I was the saleslady and cashier. Our staff at the time is only three heads, when you buy something from them in the morning, they will be the same ones to deliver the orders in the afternoon hehe. We know and embody the meaning of "multi-tasking". You can ask our loyal staff, some of whom are still with us till this day. 

We had humble beginnings, and we have worked hard for more than a decade now, building what Gala Builders Supply is today. Of course, at the end of the day, we still have our own share of headaches and stress but when we look back at what we've accomplished, our business has given us a wonderful learning experience. We still continue to improve and rise up amidst all our mistakes businesswise. The Bagwis Awards is the cherry on top  of the cake and we are so proud to have been recognized. Thank you, this means a lot to us. 

Fans and Silk Scarves @ Chinatown (Singapura Series)

In our frequent visits to Chinatown in Singapore, there was this one shop there where they sell silk paper fans and authentic Chinese silk  and wool scarves which caught our fancy. This is the Hwa Yi Investments Co. Ltd store at 20 Trengganu Street. 

They have an assortment of paper and silk fans with hand-painted designs and an array of scarves even chopsticks and other fancy souvenirs made of wood such as cigar boxes and jewelry boxes. Their wide collection of chopsticks like below also caught my eye since I couldn't imagine using such beautiful work of art for eating! Most are made from the finest bamboo and hand painted with designs and some with Chinese characters. Too bad I was too caught up choosing designs for the S$1 fans I thought were good deals for a unique souvenir that I forgot to ask for the prices of the chopsticks. :) Sorry, I'll take a rain-check on these and blog about it next time. 

The store was manned by a fellow Pinay who was so nice that we couldn't help but buy a few items for pasalubong back home. She's the one in pink below. :) She was able to sales talk us into buying a few trinkets even if the  items were a bit pricey for me.  Some of the fans they sell like the pure silk fan displayed below go from S$50 to S$268 for big ones. But then if you look at the quality and craftsmanship of the items they sell, you wouldn't wonder why their so pricey.

My cousin bought a brown leopard print wool scarf for S$49 below. Which is actually a good deal considering that it is real wool and has a dual purpose of keeping you really warm and fashionable as well. If only I also have plans (well more of the means..hehe) of going to the US, maybe I would've bought one for myself as well. 

Besides wool scarves, they also have pure Chinese silk scarves with hand-painted designs and plain pashminas that  are sort of like real eye candy for me. 

For myself, I bought this silk fan with hand painted design on real high quality bamboo and wood for S$22. Considering that I saw fans like this at Rustan's for about Php 1,500. It was a really good buy for me. :) Love my new fan!

How to Get There
- MRT Station Outram Park or Chinatown. MRT is the fastest mode of public transport as compared to public buses. If you are taking buses, get off at Eu Tong Sen Street.

Taste and Feel of the New Gala

Gala Bakeshop is setting new heights in the local bakery business. With the intro of breads made from the “Gala Blend” a secret bread recipe developed exclusively for Gala Bakeshop. So loyal customers can be assured of consistency of quality and taste in all of their breads regardless whether you buy your bread from the Cannery, Polomolok branch or from the Mabuhay Rd, Gensan branch. The people at Gala Bakeshop continues to develop new tastes in breads and cakes inside their test kitchen at Cannery branch Polomolok which is still spearheaded by Gala’s matriarch and founder – Mrs. Marita G.

Among other things new in Gala is the intro of its new and improved logo… (shown on the lower right of their Cookies and Creme Cake).

Gala Enterprises’ main branch also had a major makeover this year to keep up with the modernity of the times. The facade had a major make-over featuring the grocery, bakery and the hardware sections of Gala Enterprises. Excuse the wires.. because although Gala has a new look, we can't do anything about the wires from the electric posts. :) 

People from Cannery, Polomolok would love the new look, along with a Refreshment area upstairs where customers can enjoy Gala’s delicious breads and other fares. 

Enjoy these yummy treats in the Refreshment area of Gala Enterprises: 


Gala's own Halo-Halo... to beat the summer heat, get a load of this cool treat.It has more "halo" than its other counterparts in the area trust me!

Short orders are also available, like the much ordered Batchoy and the yummylicious Spaghetti they serve with garlic bread. To find out what separates this pasta from the same fare served in other eateries... is for you to find out! 

And of course, who could forget Gala's delectable Meatbread (with choices of pork, chicken or tuna filling). It is clearly a bestseller! More and more people from the area are ordering this yummy bread not just for 'merienda' but for 'pasalubongs' when they go to Manila. 

 To sample these treats, head on over to a Gala Bakeshop near you.They have branches in the Polomolok-Gensan areas:

• Cannery Site, Polomolok - right across Dolefil Pedestrian Gate
• Zennia St., Polomolok
• Miranda St., Poblacion, Polomolok - right across the public market
• Block 8, Dadiangas Heights, General Santos City
• Pendatun and Santol Streets,General Santos City (near the oval plaza)
• Mabuhay Road, General Santos City (at the road going to ABS-CBN studio)

Ikea Fever Singapore!

My first time to  be at the Ikea store was a over a year ago, over at the Tampines branch. It was just a quick stop since we were so pressed for time, I didn't really have time to really look around. But during this visit, my cousin was kind enough to take me, my mom and my sister at Ikea Alexandra branch. As usual, a shopping trip gives me the exhilarating high. So I was pretty much excited the moment I stepped inside the Ikea showroom.

Ikea is a unique experience for me since it gives shoppers the opportunity to thoroughly go through each of their products in their showroom. They provide the shopper with copies of their latest catalogue which I must  stress are only allowed to be used inside the store (meaning, I might get reprimanded since I took mine home :).

Pencils, tape measures and shopping lists are also provided upon entering the Ikea store. Hmmm.. they sure know how a shopper's mind works. :) Then big yellow bags and trolleys are likewise provided once you are ready to splurge on the items you like to purchase.

Once inside the showroom, i had a minor migraine from turning my head from left to right at the number of products that I thought would look good inside my house. :) Galigas! I can spend an entire day here at their showroom! There are moments when I felt like I had the products from an entire bedroom showcase in my trolley. Only predicament that I had was how to take home my stash! --not to mention how to convince myself that I really needed them..hehe.

After hours of walking around and around the showroom, it was nice to be able to have lunch at the Ikea Restaurant. It was conveniently located inside the store, and they have such yummy fares like the pasta with tomato sauce and the chicken leg in teriyaki sauce. The dessert of Swedish apple cake was a fitting end to our gastronomic break before we continue with our shopping.

After touring the showrooms and getting the products we like and paying for them, I had to note that what's nice about the things they sell is that they come in flat packs, easy enough to take home even if your home is as far away as Timbuktu. :) Then you can just assemble the items in your homes and voila! --probably the reason I had to pay a few pesos for my excess baggage at the airport.

Ikea Singapore is located at 317 Alexandra Rd, Singapore. Store hours are from 10AM - 10PM daily.

Other photos featured here are from the Ikea website.