TADECO, a member of the Anflo Group of Companies, embarked on a journey with a small step in Dec. 20, 1950. Armed with the passion to achieve and a vision to fulfill, Don Antonio O. Floirendo, started an abaca farm on a swampy land somewhere in Davao, in the land of promise, the island of Mindanao.
Riding the wave of times and a plummet of abaca prices, situations pushed the company to shift to the production of Cavendish bananas for export in 1969. Banana production for export is as old as the century at the time but very, very young in the country. An established system in South America for the export of bananas was imported, nurtured, tweaked and new technologies evolve as the Philippines' flora and fauna differs from that of South America, though still favorable to the growth of banana.
As part of the definition of agriculture, Tadeco invested on research for the improvement of operating procedures and understanding of the variety given the sensitivity of the plant and the scrutinizing eyes and taste of the customers, for the science side; and the art part is emboldened on the grit and gut feel of the key men molded by experience and patience. Indeed, agriculture as an art and science is slowly being erected as a vital basic pillar in the formation of the company.
Expectedly, Tadeco, across the years developed a dependable and professional research division. For the support of the operations and thousands of employees, infrastructures are built by its engineering group which had existed since its inception. A humane human resource division plays the role of developing its manpower. Other departments sprouted as the company grew in size - area, manpower and other requirements. A labor-management setup worthy of awards has been in place to give employees voice in relation to their jobs. Affiliate companies were set-up to cater for the needs of the production, a diversification so ingrained and rooted in the production of banana that made Tadeco the flagship company of the Anflo Group of Companies.
True to the vision of the founder to help families and assure the future of their children, the company has had employees coming from Aparri to Jolo, in all religious beliefs and ethnic origins, a true representative of the whole country. And true to the reciprocatory nature of Filipinos, up to 4th and 5th generations are still here and working in the company as a manifestation of their gratitude and loyalty to the company who has cared for them thru thick and thin. It is a sort of "we are in this together", people come and go but still yearns and proud to be a part of the company who taught them what it is to help.
All things considered, the reason why people flock to it, is the same reason why the founder set-up the company - to help and prepare for the next generation. It's 70th anniversary this year is a testament of the original Filipino trait of "sama-sama" and "bayanihan". And this may well be the same reason why the company will last for another 70 years.
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