What’s WATS?

The short story

One day in October 2007, childhood friends Ongai and Ken met at a coffee place near the school they practically grew up in. Talking about how much more meaning they can add in their lives, they both zoned-in on an idea of how wonderful it would be to fit in passionate work, fun play and deep amazement for locally-produced goods (specifically a flip-flop that was in their hands) into one home-grown entrepreneurial project.

As the conversation went on, they slowly realized that their amazement drew not only from the flip-flops’ good looks, but more so because of its creators, “Manong” and “Manang’s” story of dedication to their more than a quarter-of-a-century craft. So the friends asked, “Wouldn’t it be great to share their stories to others as well?” Thus,

What About The STOREy?
A place where you can buy the most stylish, ethically-produced handmade items, and learn the stories about where, who and how they came to be.

(Oh! By the way, Manong and Manang are Filipino nouns, used by the young - as a sign of respect - to address their male and female elders.)

The team

Ken Tan
(chief executive officer, chief technology officer)

Ken has always been teased as the “lolo”, that’s “grandpa” for Filipino. Ever since elementary, he’s been always thought of as an old fart, and true to the name, he has keen interests in Philosophy, design, the arts, politics and the economy. After leaving college, he became a sales associate in an IT firm and realized a few months later that the “road frequently traveled” was not for him. He then worked in a local academic institution under the Jesuits, and is currently striving to reach “self-actualization” through entrepreneurship.

He has a cat named “Tisoy”. Loves Warcraft. Practices Krav Maga. Loves walking and traveling with clean public transportation.

Email: ken [at] whataboutthestorey [dot] com

Ed “Ongai” Ongaigui
(chief marketing officer, chief community builder)

Edward “Ongai” Ongaigui has a weird last name, but becomes a catchy nickname when you think about it. Others are simply “John”, “James”, “Mike”, “Mark”, but “Ongai”… hard to pronounce but different and unforgettable. Besides his name being “different”, Ongai is a coffee lover and a fantasy basketball addict. He maintains blogs, not only of WATS, but also on coffee and basketball. Hopefully he doesn’t burn out because he never was really a writer or a programmer. So if you can help him out with content, he’ll greatly appreciate an email regarding whatever story you can share.

Ongai, like Ken, also realized a few years after graduation and working for a multinational bank, that the 9-5 was not his thing. And so he took the plunge last November 2007 to pursue his own dreams in having a simple life, with a hopeful and humane entrepreneurial project.

Ongai has an adorable dog named “Roxy”, loves Warcraft as well, and is trying to become a “sexy” beast by working out regularly in the gym starting last week - November 10, 2008.

Email: ongai [at] whataboutthestorey [dot] com