mikocanares Asia, Business Planning, Capacity Building, Consulting Services, core expertise, Core services, Facilitation, innovation, Local economic development

Baybay sa Taloto Partners with Step Up for Landmark Strategic Planning Session 

Entering its fifth year of operation, the popular seaside dining spot Baybay sa Taloto (BsT) successfully held its first-ever formal strategic planning workshop in January 2026, marking a major milestone in its journey as it grows from a cozy local spot into a restaurant rooted in slow food values.

The planning session, facilitated by Step Up Consulting, represents a strategic shift for the homegrown enterprise—signaling its intent to move beyond organic growth toward a more structured and sustainable business model. Once known primarily as a rustic weekend food getaway along the Taloto–Manga Coastal Road, BsT has steadily evolved into a must-visit seaside retreat for both locals and visitors seeking fresh, home-style cuisine in an alfresco setting.

Since opening on March 20, 2021, Baybay sa Taloto has built a loyal customer base drawn to its laid-back atmosphere and “lutong-bahay” flavors. However, with increasing foot traffic and expanding service demands, the restaurant now faces mounting pressures from rising food costs, escalating energy prices, and the operational complexities of serving larger crowds.

Recognizing these challenges, management emphasized the need to recalibrate its direction.

“After five years of serving our community, we are to re-strategize,” management said. “Our goal is to strengthen our full-service operations while preserving the homey, seaside vibe that our patrons love.”

The strategic planning workshop focused on three core areas:

  • Operational Efficiency. Participants examined ways to optimize kitchen workflows, improve inventory control, and manage utilities more effectively in response to rising food and power costs.
  • Service Innovation. The team explored new concepts to elevate the “slow food” experience—introducing menu improvements, better queue management, and enhanced customer engagement strategies tailored for peak weekend crowds.
  • Future Growth. Clear short- and long-term objectives were set to guide expansion, branding, and service consistency, ensuring that Baybay sa Taloto remains competitive and relevant in Tagbilaran City’s growing food and tourism scene.

Management noted that the workshop is only the beginning of a broader transformation process. The outcomes of the session will inform upcoming operational reforms, staff training initiatives, and menu development plans in the coming months.

With a renewed strategic direction, Baybay sa Taloto aims to strike a balance between professionalized operations and the simple seaside charm that made it a community favorite—positioning itself not just as a dining spot, but as Tagbilaran City’s weekend seaside getaway.

mikocanares Asia, Associates, Business Planning, Capacity Building, Consulting Services, core expertise, Core services, Facilitation, Governance, Local economic development, private sector, project management, workshops

Step Up Facilitates Pioneer Bank’s First Comprehensive Strategic Planning Session

Pioneer Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc., formerly known as the Rural Bank of Loboc, marked a significant milestone in its institutional development with the successful conduct of its Planning Workshop in November 2025. Facilitated by Step Up, the intensive session signaled the bank’s transition toward a more structured and forward-looking approach to growth, in line with its mandate to provide localized financial services under the regulatory framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The workshop served as a technical forum that aligned Pioneer Bank’s institutional direction with the evolving economic landscape of the region. Participants undertook a rigorous validation of the bank’s vision and mission to ensure that its core values remained consistent with its long-term objectives.

To develop a data-driven roadmap, the leadership conducted an extensive environmental scan using PESTLE and SWOT analyses, enabling them to assess both external market conditions and internal operational capacities and to identify the key strategic issues that will shape the bank’s direction over the next five years.

The primary output of the session was the formulation of Strategic Goals for 2026–2031, which were translated into concrete Strategic Initiatives and detailed Action Plans. Bank officials emphasized that the planning exercise goes beyond compliance requirements, serving instead as a blueprint for strengthening community service delivery and institutional sustainability.

The consolidated outputs of the workshop will form the core of Pioneer Bank’s 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, reflecting a proactive shift toward modernized rural banking and a stronger contribution to sustainable regional development and financial inclusion in Bohol.

mikocanares Asia, Business Planning, Capacity Building, Consulting Services, core expertise, Core services, Facilitation, Non-Government Organizations

Step Up Facilitates Center for Community Transformation Board Retreat

Board and Staff of the Center for Community Transformation during its Board Retreat.
Board and Staff of the Center for Community Transformation during its Board Retreat.

Step Up consulting was contracted by the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) to facilitate its Board Retreat.  The strategy workshop of the organization was held at the CCT Retreat and Training Center last 21-22 November 2014. The event was attended by around 30 board members of the big CCT Family and approximately 30 members of its senior management. The topic for this year’s board retreat is ‘mentoring’.  A resource person provided the overall context of the event, Mr. Peter Lees of Sharpeting Stone (Australia).

CCT is an organized Christian response against poverty and social injustice. This is carried out through the fusion of social development initiatives and evangelical mission in a uniquely Filipino context. It serves urban and rural poor communities throughout the Philippines, in pursuit of its desire to see changed lives, strong families, and transformed communities centered on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. From a single organization years back, CCT is now a group of 12 ministries or companies focusing on health, education, skills training, and spiritual transformation.

CCT’s board is composed of Christian businessmen who are at the helm key businesses in the country and engaged in property development, pharmaceuticals, car dealership, food and beverage, and retail supermarkets.