A unique and creative concept can lead to great things. This is what Jay Aldeguer has proven with Island Souvenirs, a novelty shop that started with one bamboo cart and has expanded to over 140 branches in the country and abroad.

Aldeguer's experience in selling started when he was in the fifth grade. He used to draw cartoon characters, and when his classmates showed interest in them, he decided to sell them for a small sum, with an additional 50 centavos if they want the drawings colored. His artistic ventures ended there though, and he admits to being a frustrated artist. As it turns out, he developed another skill that has brought him more success than he dreamed of back then - entrepreneurship.

As an undergrad at the Ateneo de Manila University, he was already selling t-shirts to his school mates. After graduating, he went backpacking in Europe, where he collected souvenir t-shirts. The idea of selling them himself took root after he was disappointed at finding the same souvenir shirts in Baguio that he saw many years before.

And so, in 1992, at the young age of 21, Aldeguer put up a bamboo cart at the White Gold department store in Cebu to start selling souvenir shirts. Within six months, he was given a bigger space for his outlet, and Island Souvenirs steadily grew to include other items such as mugs, caps, bags, stickers, postcards and beachwear. The products highlight the unique qualities of local travel spots and capture the colors and flavors of the country. In the first year, the business experienced a growth rate of 360%, and an average of 80% in the next six years.

By 1995, Island Souvenirs reached Luzon, with outlets cropping up in SM Megamall, SM Centerpoing and SM North Edsa. In 1999, it opened an outlet in Okinawa, Japan, and the following year in Signapore and San Francisco, California. One factor of the store's smashing success is that Aldeguer is open to the suggestions of his empoloyees. He also leaves certain tasks to the experts, such as the actual designs of his products, and makes room for the growth of his people.

Thanks to his impressive entrepreneurial efforts, he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1997 and was the youngest awardee at the age of 27. Island Souvenirs is a three-time recipient of the Outstanding Retailer of the Year from the Philippine Retailers Association and the Department of Trade and Industry, and was inducted into the Outstanding Retailers Hall of Fame in October 2003. The following month, Aldeguer was named one of the Entrepreneur Philippines' Entrepreneur 10 Outstanding Filipino Entrepreneurs. In 2005, he received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Small Business, and in 2006, the Agora Award for Outstanding Marketing Achievement in Entrepreneurship from the Philippine Marketing Association. He was also chosen by the British Council to be the International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year - Philippines, and received the Tourism Kalakbayan Award and Entrepreneur of the Year Tourism Award from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The president of the Aldeguer Group of Companies, Aldeguer has also established other companies to promote tourism, including Island Souvenirs International Inc., Islands Pasalubong Center, Destinations Media Inc., and Francis Ventures Inc.

When he isn't busy with his businesses, the father of three enjoys cooking and dabbling in photography. For him, it is important to believe in oneself, dream big, and make sure to make the dream happen. He believes that Filipinos have what it takes to be great, and he is one fine example of that.