BUTUAN CITY — For Gold Frey P. Longhas, entrepreneurship began with a simple realization he had as early as Grade 7. He would run small errands for neighbors and discovered that helping people obtain what they needed could also provide an opportunity to earn. Although the experience was modest, it planted an idea that would eventually guide his journey as an entrepreneur: creating value starts by understanding people's needs and finding ways to meet them. That curiosity continued into college, where Longhas took up Social Entrepreneurship at Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) in Butuan City. His college years gave him opportunities to experiment with selling products and developing different business ideas. Not every attempt succeeded, but the failures became valuable lessons that helped him understand the realities of entrepreneurship.
Turning Experience Into Graphic SMASH
Following the pandemic, Longhas joined his mother and cousin in establishing Graphic SMASH Printing Services in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. With little experience in managing a business, the three learned through actual experience, gradually improving their skills, understanding their customers, and developing their operations. Graphic SMASH has since expanded its services to include customized apparel, promotional materials, office printing, signage, souvenirs, graphic design, branding, packaging, and other creative printing solutions. However, Longhas sees the business as more than a printing service. He hopes to develop Graphic SMASH into a community-based printing hub that can provide out-of-school youth and non-college graduates with opportunities to acquire practical skills, gain work experience, and develop sources of livelihood.
From Family Farm to Sun N' Wave
Longhas' entrepreneurial pursuits have also brought him closer to his family's agricultural roots. He is helping develop the Terah Integrated Permaculture Farm, which eventually became the foundation for Sun N' Wave Food Products. The venture focuses on turning products grown and harvested from the family farm, including cacao, ginger, and turmeric, into processed goods with greater value and wider market potential. For Longhas, the venture also brings back a familiar memory from his college years, when his mother encouraged him to sell tablea. Today, he is helping build a food brand that uses produce from their own family farm, turning a simple agricultural resource into a growing business opportunity. His entrepreneurial capabilities have also been strengthened through the DTI Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program Batch 2025, where he gained additional knowledge and skills that complemented the lessons he had learned through hands-on experience.
Creating Value and Earning Trust
Longhas' journey has grown beyond building a printing enterprise or developing a farm-based food brand. At the center of his ventures is a desire to create opportunities for others while responding to the needs and resources within his community. For him, entrepreneurship is ultimately about creating something useful and earning the confidence of the people it serves. His guiding principle captures this belief: “Creating Value. Inspiring Trust.” As International Youth Day highlights the contributions of young people, Longhas' story demonstrates how entrepreneurship can go beyond generating income. By turning skills, local resources, and community needs into opportunities, young entrepreneurs can create businesses that also contribute to the people around them. For Longhas, the journey is far from over. There are still more ideas to explore, more opportunities to create, and more value to build.
