In 1967 saw Florencio Manglapus and wife Elizabeth breathing life to a hardware store that will become one of Cebu’s leaders in the business. Named Mandaue Cebu Tradecenter Inc., the store lay midway of the province’s bustling business districts – Cebu City and Mandaue City. Then uncertain of their business’ success, the name Tradecenter was chosen so that if the hardware store fails, they can start with a new business while retaining the name.
With the couple’s strong faith in God, hard work, sacrifice, keen vision for the company and the strong fighting spirit of the Filipino, they pursued with their commitment to serve and conquered all odds.
From being an assistant regional manager of a consumer product company, Flor parted with the convenience of being in an airconditioned office and car, and having employees to assist him. In his store, he humbly became an ordinary salesman. He, too, was his own driver, delivery man and collector.
Currently, the company caters not only general hardware, but also into electrical, plumbing and industrial supplies.