The prospect of developing a dish that could be associated with Davao and with a potential for becoming a national chain motivated Manuel Paul “Bong†Villanueva to put up a restaurant.
Banoks Ihaw-Ihaw—coined from the words barbecueng manok—began as a single proprietorship in 1995 with 35 employees. At that time, the chicken inasal was starting to gain headway in Negros. Bong thought of coming out with the same concept of serving grilled chicken in Davao. The initial staple offerings at Banoks were grilled pork and chicken. Shortly, pancit and bulalo were added to the menu.
The second Banoks outlet opened a year later, in 1996. By 1997, the couple had six Banoks outlets consisting of restaurants and kiosks; a total of eight restaurants including Café Eliza, the first full-service restaurant set up by the couple in 1989 when they were still sweethearts. They also had a small convenience store and several food carts in the malls.
To some, having seven restaurants would have made them sit back, and enjoy listening to the cash registers ring. Not Bong. He was constantly on his toes. Expectedly, the success of Banoks opened the floodgates of chicken and pork barbecue businesses. “Within a few weeks of opening a new branch, other eateries with the same menu would be sprouting nearby,†he says.
