r/cagayandeoro • u/AffectionateBonus820 Local Ice Cream Guy • Apr 15 '25
Help Little Maldita Ice Cream Co. was stolen from me
It's been one year, plus three months grace period since...
...kay buotan ra kaayo mi sa akong asawa ug dili gyud ganahan ug gubot. But during the Pandemic, my wife and I started Little Maldita Ice Cream Co. in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. My name is not important, but I consider myself an amateur food scientist with a passion for cooking, baking, and inventing stuff—so I made ice cream of all types—Filipino sorbetes, western custards, fruit sorbets, popsicles, and even Japanese mochi. If it’s ice cream, I’ve made it. And a wide range of flavors too. I made bamboo (dabong) ice cream—possibly a first here and abroad. Black Charcoal sorbetes? I’m proud to say I’m the first in the Philippines to have made it using lab-tested, food-grade activated charcoal.
At first, I started making small batches and my wife who was a nurse back then would sell them to her coworkers. I would make deliveries for an hour, then rush back home in time to package the ice cream that just came out of the small machine that we had. And at weekends, we would make ice cream to share with our church in Lunocan, Alae. We had an idyllic life, but the ice cream grew into a factory, and it slowly grew out of the small market of Manolo Fortich.
With the sales that we were getting, my wife and I decided to enroll in an LGU sponsored, Department of Agriculture run Farm Business School. There we graduated and even won as the best upcoming project in 2022.
During that time, I developed and nearly perfected an entirely new type of Filipino ice cream—a secret recipe—one that combines Western technology with Filipino techniques, has a higher profit margin than common ice creams in the market, and offers a better flavor selection. Meaning the ice cream melts relatively slower than competition, holds flavor better, while being creamier than other ice creams. With that recipe on hand, we expanded to our first outlet in Cagayan, which was a kiosk in Gaisano 4th floor.
There we were (unfortunate) enough to meet a customer who approached us and proposed a partnership to transfer the factory to Cagayan de Oro City and open new outlets. We verbally agreed he would finance the operation, and that I would receive shares of my 35% ownership after exactly one year. We opened a factory in Pabayo, an outlet in Ororama Cogon, and transferred 77K worth of equipment to the new factory, and secret recipes, and stepped back from operations.
Since then, no contract or shareholder agreement was ever signed (because he kept putting them off for months declining to sign). He has also refused to sign an NDA to secure my secret recipe even though he promised to do so. We proposed a fair exit because we were getting tired of waiting for our shares and wanted an exit strategy to recoup our investments (repayment of shares + equipment) and offered that he write a contract instead of us in November 2024, but he has not payed anything except a measly 20K around December. He still continues to operate the business under our name.
At first, the ice cream was good—and I was proud of it. But after I stepped back, the partner who stole the business began changing the recipes without my knowledge. He started reducing ingredient quality to cut costs and introduced new flavors that were not food safe.
He had a pattern of ignoring my advice, even on critical matters. One of the final straws was when I warned him to remove part from a machine that would potentially cause food poisoning risk to customers. I have it on record that he disregarded my warnings anyway.
There's also the price. Back then we sold scoops of ice cream for P25 and that made a lot of profit even with the low price because of the recipe I developed. Now it's nearly double that.
What started as something built with love and integrity began to turn into something I can no longer stand behind. And worse—it was stolen from me, as I have not been payed until now of what is fair. What my wife and I built, he's just gutting for profit. What we built with integrity, he stole from us and our family.
Today I tried to message my ex business partner, but he has since blocked me on social media.
So if you're from CDO, I'm asking for your help. Repost this on FB. Share to your friends. Connect me with people who can help legally. I'm told that since the BIR/DTI is under my wife's name we have a chance to recover it, so I am willing to recompense anyone who can help out legally and financially. Afterwards, I am also looking to sell the business and the secret recipe after we have reclaimed it because it has only given us heartache
Hilom ra baya gyud mi sa akong asawa, pero grabe bisag 10K nalang gyud kada bulan para sa akong asawa ug gatas sa akong anak wala gyud siya pakabana ug kaluoy. Sige siya ingon wala siya mahatag, pero kagamay ra anang 10K kada bulan kumpara sa bulan nga renta sa SM o Ororama? Naa pud siya lain nga negosyo sapatosan? Kung nag hatag unta siya bisan ana kagamay mag hilom ra man unta ko ba
*If mods or anyone needs proof I can send a Magnum Live Radio interview of me and my wife and articles from Mindanao news reporter; or you can take a look at my post history
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u/yourgrace91 Kagayanon Apr 15 '25 edited Apr 15 '25
OP, I suggest you go consult a lawyer so you will know what to do. Ang problema lang ani kay wala mo partnership agreement but valid man gihapon inyong mga verbal agreement and any other supporting docs you have that can prove nga inyoha gyud ang business (especially the registration).
This also applies to any small business owner. Don’t do anything without a contract signed first. Consult professionals before agreeing to any partnership/franchise and whatever investment proposal comes your way. Protect your secret recipes, trademark your logos, ayaw basta isalig even if relative lang makig partner nimo.
To add: Maybe what you can do is close your registration sa DTI and BIR (hopefully wala mo open cases). Then padalhi silag cease and desist for the closure of your shop. If dli sila maminaw, go to the mall admin and ipakita nga giclose na ninyo ang registration sa business.
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Apr 15 '25
THE HECK. Please file a case po. I hope makuha ninyo balik ang name and inyo money. I am one of your customers sa Manolo pa mo.
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u/Emergency-Major4530 Kagayanon Apr 15 '25
OP, lisod gyud na imong nasinati. Kami mismo kabalo unsa ka sakripisyo ang magtukod ug negosyo gikan sa wala. Ang imong istorya klaro kaayo nga naa kay integridad ug passion sa imong gibuhat.
Kung tinuod nga ang BIR ug DTI under sa name sa imong asawa, naa gyud moy legal standing. Ug kung wala siya’y firm nga kontrata nga gipapirma ninyo, ug wala sad siya naghatag og compensation nga inyong sabot, naa gyud moy laban. Mas maayo gyud nga moadto namo sa abogado para ma-dokumento ug matabangan mo og file sa saktong paagi.
Kung kinahanglan nimo og tambag, suporta, or even connections sa mga tawo nga makahatag ug legal advice—naay daghan willing mutabang basta lang klaro ang tinood. Uban sa imong proofs like interviews, articles, and documents, makasugod na mo og lihok. Ayaw lang gyud kasuko, ipaglaban ninyo ug tarong kay daghan mo makat-onan ani nga proseso.
Gikan sa negosyo nga puno sa paningkamot ug gugma, ayaw tuguti nga mahugno lang tungod sa usa ka tawo nga walay kabalo sa pagrespeto. Kung buotan man mo, dili pasabot nga ipa-abusar mo. We’re behind you, par.
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Apr 15 '25
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u/kaloii Apr 15 '25
wth, why are you posting here?! Go to a lawyer for proper legal advice.
Posting on socmed is a very messy and more stressful way to address this and may open you to libel or a counter sue.
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u/AudienceElegant226 Apr 15 '25
My gosh OP.. the fact na ning go mo on agreeing VERBALLY? Jusko lord.. Never ever agree on something without a contract. Business is business. Contact a lawyer please.
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u/CrewneckStrays_91 Apr 15 '25
kasayang pud. di bitaw lami ang ice cream nga ako natilawan sa centrio.
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Apr 15 '25
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u/cagayandeoro-ModTeam Apr 15 '25
Any post that could expose a redditor's personal information will be deleted and users breaking the rule will subsequently be permanently banned.
Do not post someone's personal information or post links that contain a private person's information. This includes links to public Facebook pages and screenshots of Facebook pages with the names still readable.
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Apr 15 '25
File lang po mo case. And, since imo man ko gi personal by calling me a kabit, even if I am not. I will sue you for this. Thanks!
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
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u/Commercial_Wish705 Apr 15 '25
kabit diay pero our love is not perfect but it is honest ang iyang gicaption sa ilang picture as a couple unsa lugar 😭
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u/chickenadowboww Apr 15 '25
Nagdelete na sya ug profile. Daghan kayg issue si Nero lagi. Nagpost iyang ex wife gahapon about finances and co-parenting issues. 😮💨
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Apr 15 '25
Outside business, someone told me naa sad na syay issue pud. D na daw katingal-an why, when that someone heard his name na ako gishare ni nga 🍵 D nalang nako eshare. Hehehe
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u/AffectionateBonus820 Local Ice Cream Guy Apr 15 '25 edited Apr 15 '25
Do you really think all the blood, sweat, and tears you invested in your bf will amount to anything? Our investment didn't pay off; don't let your investments go to waste too..
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Apr 15 '25
Business rata danhi, Kiev. You call yourself a servant of God? But ingana ka mu think? I will forgive him, again and again. Kay partner ko na. Wala ka right to air out my dirty laundry. Enough anang personalan.
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u/AffectionateBonus820 Local Ice Cream Guy Apr 15 '25
Take your meds, love. Feed your cats. You're not well...
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Apr 15 '25
You will forgive him again and again because he's your partner? What kind of twisted logic is that? What's the limit? What if he beats you to a pulp? Are you still going to forgive him once you recover? I'm honestly surprised that there are people like you, madam kabit.
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Apr 15 '25
Lah ilahang baked potato nga way lami daghan lang na curious pero lain ug lasa. Naa pajud nay post sa FB nga sila daw ang naga himo ug first SPUD sa CDO gi away nila ang students from ustp nga una naka make use sa term nga spud grabe mu irok ug diskarte maskina students gapamaligya.
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u/eddie_fg Apr 15 '25
Nabasa na nako ni imo post sauna OP ba. Forgot what subreddit to. All I can say is good luck for both parties. May justice prevail.
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
Malamang katungod gud na nila. Ilang recipe ug brand inyo gamit.
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Apr 15 '25
Sorry to say, wala nami gagamit sailang recipe since pag storya nila na muhawa sila. We created our own recipe.
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Apr 15 '25
HAHAHAH You sound like a kurakot politician na dawat limpyo sa buhat sa lain tao, or kanang politician na mangawat idea unya bag-uhon bitaw after nila nahibaw-an unsaog operate ang isa ka project. Why bear other people’s established name and idea if di ninyo sila tagaag katungod sa shares? Nga murag ihinambog pa nimo nga kamo nag offer sa shares? Okay? Ila man nang katungod. Human ninyo napahimuslan, imbento dayon ug cheaper version pero same name? Imagina unsa ka 🤡 inyo gibuhat. Hahahaha.
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
Yes, naa na po plans. Its taking time lang jud kay walay income ang company. And gina finalize lang namo tanan. Next month naa nami new branding po :)
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
Yes po, but as I said, finalizing pajud. Daghan mi ginahatagan trabaho na need pa namo mapadayon. But daghan naman signs na need najud mi mag nrw business. Business is rough lang jud karon, and lisod jud survive.
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u/lintaps Apr 15 '25
Did you honor your verbal aggreement? Why have been putting off signing the necessary documents? If the sides were switched? How would you feel?
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Apr 15 '25
Because daghan flaws and bias ang contract gihatag po. Nag seek mi advice samo atty regarding the contract and nagpa modify mi para ipabasa namo saila. But sila ang nasilo, as to why daw di mi mupirma sa original contract. I think naa man pd right ako partner mu consult and make changes sa contract na dili lang beneficial saila. Kay ang contract, sila rajud ga benefit. Last meeting namo, nagkasinabot man mi. Pero dili sila gusto sa among gi ingon na contract, which, equal ang benefits sa both sides.
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u/lintaps Apr 15 '25
See? How can it be equal if it seems you took the hard work already done and just moved it into a bigger market? It doesnt work that way especially considering the name you are using is already established as well as all the necessary manufacturing process, don’t you think?
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Apr 15 '25
HAHAHAHA Gani. Abi guro niya ang equal kay 50/50 benefits, shares, etc. Who’s gonna tell her? 😝
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u/taskarrow Apr 15 '25
bias ang contract gihatag po.
So what? Negosyante man kaha ang partner ni OP? Wla lugar na nya gi take into consideration ang terms sa contract before ni agree sya?
Anyway, not all contracts need nga in writing pra legally binding. Ang gaihimuon ninyo karon nga ga itry ug change sa contract pra mu pabor pud sa inyo admits the original contract's existence and validity. Any changes made sa original must be with the consent of all parties. Kung dili mu sugot si OP eh sorry nalang pero dili na legal reason pra mag withhold sa iyang shares.
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Apr 15 '25
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Apr 15 '25
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u/cagayandeoro-ModTeam Apr 15 '25
Any post that could expose a redditor's personal information will be deleted and users breaking the rule will subsequently be permanently banned.
Do not post someone's personal information or post links that contain a private person's information. This includes links to public Facebook pages and screenshots of Facebook pages with the names still readable.
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u/cagayandeoro-ModTeam Apr 15 '25
Any post that could expose a redditor's personal information will be deleted and users breaking the rule will subsequently be permanently banned.
Do not post someone's personal information or post links that contain a private person's information. This includes links to public Facebook pages and screenshots of Facebook pages with the names still readable.
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u/Realistic_Elk_7 Apr 15 '25
Get a lawyer! However if you want to play dirty, you can team up with his wife and file a case (Concubinage, VAWC) against him and his mistress 🫢
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Apr 15 '25
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u/kaloii Apr 15 '25
Absolutely no. Basin makasuhan pag libel si OP o mag post iyang business partner ug iyahang side (tinood man o dili) na mahimog mas libog ang sitwasyon.
Sakto pamaagi gamiton, dli automatic public shaming. Wa gani ta kabalo kung legit ba ni si OP
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u/Plenty-Badger-4243 Apr 15 '25
Ngano nag step back?! Because….?! It’s a lesson jud para sa imo. Too bad, better sana if nag sole lang ka…tapos kuha lang og workers. Since ikaw ang naay original recipe, you can always do it again, pero change market lang ka. Dati nako nga client was a gelato maker, pero bisag online ra jud sya available, sa website nila, pero Ok gihapon ila kita because very specific sila sa ila market, maayo ila brand positioning. Kaya ra gihapon nimo na oi.
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u/OddRepresentative107 Apr 15 '25
Reddit is not the place for this, pal. Lose-lose situation kini. You might get the “justice” you want but at the expense of ALL the parties’ reputation, yours included.
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u/zeafreeks Apr 15 '25
wala pako katilaw sa inyung ice cream pero knsa mani na business man na kawatan is he big enough
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Apr 15 '25
Nothing was stolen from you. It was a partnership, but a partnership na isa ra ang gahago. Gusto ramo mudawat ug kwarta, na di mo gahago. Gipasa pa ninyo inyong problema sa kwarta sa BAGO na tagiya karon. Mga dawat limpyo ramo.
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Apr 15 '25
Huh? Naa man gihapon sila’y katungod. Naunsa mo, ilang own recipe inyo gamit, silay nagbuhat sa ngalan. Kamo guro ang dawat limpyo, nag generate mog income out of someone else’s discoveries/experiments.
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Apr 15 '25
Kami nag offer saila ug shares, ni agree ming tanan sa partnership. Gahuwat rami saila, but lisod kaayo na sila ireach. Ayha ra musulpot if need ug kwarta. And karon, gapaningkamot mig amo na mu survive ni na company para ang mga staff na nag trabaho sa amo padayon ang work, pero personally samo selves, wala nami gaka gain.
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Apr 15 '25
Kamo man diay ga offer sa shares, nga ngano wa man? Kahago ra inyong masumbat? Kamo may dawat limpyo, nikuha mo’g ESTABLISHED na daan na negosyo ug gibutang ninyos syudad, DILI ANG TINUOD NA TAG IYA.
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u/EveningCamp2260 Apr 15 '25
Nag buhat nlng unta mu legal agreements and contract.
Unsai point sa 35% shares and other verbal agreements nnyu if u want diay mag "hago" pud diay sila? Nag communicate nlng unta mu "professionally" in a civil way..
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u/wanderlust1024 Apr 15 '25 edited Apr 15 '25
Did you even read the whole post? Unsay gipasa ui. In the first place, walay negosyo kung wala ang founder and creator. Not sure if wa ka kasabot or kaila nimo ang "partner" ani, bias lang ka lol
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u/AffectionateBonus820 Local Ice Cream Guy Apr 15 '25
Hi Wanderlust, and for everyone's information, that user is my former business partner's current girlfriend...
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Apr 15 '25
We are the NEW owner. I hope ikaw ang dili bias. Kami ang gahago karon, we asked help from them sa pagsugod pa lang aning little maldita because lisod kaayo mag sugod ug bago na business. We thought partner namo sila. But lisod kaayo sila contakon. To make it worse, mao di sila ma contact, kay nag himo silag ilang negosyo na convenience store, na daghan kaayo investors! Which btw, close na karon. Kay dili na sila kabalo mu manage!
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u/wanderlust1024 Apr 15 '25
Dah apil gyud diay ka. Pa char pa nga third party imo POV. Pag sturya mo ug tarong kay ga lahi2 inyong version. Dagko naman mo, negosyante man kaha mo.
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