As Marawi City rose from the Islamic State-led 2017 siege and the pandemic, lawyer Rohairah “Kookai” Lao saw the period as an opportunity to present fresh ideas that were missing in the capital of Lanao del Sur.
With a successful career as Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ’s regional prosecutor, she wanted to help stimulate the local economy by putting up a business.
“I am at a point where I want to give back to my community. To do this, I need something which promotes tourism and is likewise an inspiration,” Lao said.
An inveterate traveler, Lao thought of bringing the café culture into the laidback city.
She saw potential along the scenic strip that led to Mindanao State University and Lake Lanao, the province’s prime tourism destination. Named Heaven Road, it opens to views of the forest-covered countryside and is blessed with a temperate climate.
Bucking the urban legend that the place was a dumping ground for bodies after a rido or a skirmish, the entrepreneur took the risk. She pioneered in building Heaven Road’s first commercial establishment.
Lao recalls that her savings were insufficient to finance the construction of the café. Fortunately, she gained access to lending companies. Her brother-in-law, who owned a hardware and construction company, provided the materials at cost.
Café hands-on
Although she worked with an architect, Lao was hands-on in the design which comprises two levels and a viewing deck.
“I made sure that when the café was completed, people who know me can see my personal touch,” she says.
Named Café Sindaw (meaning “hope” in Maranaw), the restaurant-cafe aspires to lighten up the lives of the people of Lanao del Sur. “It aims to encourage them to stand up after the fall. There is always some prospect for people who have faith,” says Lao.
She invested in an Italian-made coffee machine that is operated by baristas who were trained by experts from Mindanao’s major cities — Davao and Cagayan de Oro. The head barista worked extensively in Saudi Arabia.
The menu is an eclectic mix of coffee beverages, pizzas, beef rendang, sasati (spicy balls of smoked fish) and ramen, among others. During Ramadan, one of the private rooms is converted into a prayer room. It accepts orders for iftar-sponsored meals for a minimum of 30.
Market turns discriminating
Lao observes that the local market is becoming more discriminating as diners appreciate cosmopolitan cuisine and special brewed blends.
The resto-café is frequently booked for meetings and birthday parties. The customers gained during the early days of Heaven Road have remained loyal to Café Sindaw despite the mushrooming of similar restaurant cafes.
When Café Sindaw opened in February 2022, there was hardly any competition. Following Lao’s example, entrepreneurs have since built their own cafes along Heaven Road. It is now a tourist destination because of the comfort food and beverages and panoramic vistas.
Lao observes that people tend to go into business when the economy starts to thrive.
As in most ventures, there are challenges, “Opening a restaurant or café is not easy. It involves compliance to national and local regulations. These can sometimes be a burden such as payments of several fees and taxes to the business sector,” Lao said. Then there’s learning to increase operational competence, create a top-performing menu, train and retain staffers.