Von Ryan Benedicto, 43, a native of Iloilo, is the founder of Meek Laskati Spice Vinegar. Separated from his wife and shaped by years of hardship, Von’s journey is a testament to how hope can take root even after life’s darkest chapters.
Von was raised by his grandparents. Growing up with limited guidance during his formative years, he gradually lost his way. At just 13, he was introduced to illegal drugs. This path was especially painful because Von once showed great promise. He was a volleyball athlete with clear dreams for his future. But negative peer influence and intense pressure pulled him away from the right direction.
At 25, Von started a family and became a father. For a time, life stabilized. He focused on providing for his family and building a future. However, workplace influences led him back to drug use, once again derailing his life. He was first incarcerated for a drug-related case and later granted a chance at freedom with the help of their mayor. In 2016, during the strict enforcement of the war on drugs, he was arrested again for illegal drugs.
For Von, incarceration marked the lowest and darkest point of his life. The pain was compounded when his wife eventually left him. Yet it was also inside prison where transformation began. In confinement, he sought clarity, renewal, and a deeper relationship with God.
Although physically imprisoned, his mind remained free. He chose to use his time reflecting, planning, and dreaming. Even before his release, Von was already thinking of livelihood ideas. He wanted a business he could start without large capital, something rooted in what he already had.
When he was released, Von had no money and no equipment. What he did have was memory and resourcefulness. He remembered their small plantation of bananas and jackfruit and his long-standing love for farming. From what he harvested, he slowly built starting capital and experimented with vinegar formulations. Using simple tools and through several product trials, he developed a distinct and flavorful vinegar. This became the beginning of Meek Laskati Spice Vinegar.
As demand for the product grew, new challenges emerged. He lacked proper equipment and a dedicated production space. In time, his church offered him a temporary area for production. His faith community became a crucial support system in his continued recovery and growth.
What sustained Von through every stage was his firm belief:
“If God is with me, who can be against me?”
An active member of the MSME community, Von regularly sought opportunities to improve his enterprise. One day, he came across a post from the Department of Trade and Industry about a business opportunity, calling for entrepreneurs to join the Shell LiveWire program. For Von, this moment reaffirmed his faith.
“Lahat ng bagay na nae-encounter natin sa buhay may purpose. Hindi siya aksidente, kundi dinisenyo ng Lord.”
Through the programs he joined, Von learned how to run a business properly. He developed systems, practiced proper liquidation, and gained a deeper understanding of operations and planning. He also improved efficiency and embraced sustainability. In his process, raw materials are maximized. Nothing goes to waste, and by-products are transformed into additional income-generating products.
Today, Meek Laskati stands for more than flavor. It represents humility, patience, and redemption. Von shares this message for everyone, especially those who have endured deep trials:
“Sa lahat ng trials na dumating sa buhay ko, patience lang. Ibigay mo lahat sa Panginoon. Kaya ka binigyan ng wisdom sa decision-making. Kailangan natin maging humble sa buhay. Kaya ‘Meek’ yung pangalan ng company ko—‘meekness,’ ibig sabihin humbleness. Kaya ito ang kahulugan at istorya sa likod ng aking produkto.”
Von Ryan Benedicto’s story reminds us that the past does not define the future. From incarceration to entrepreneurship, Meek Laskati proves that when transformation is chosen and faith is held onto, new beginnings are always possible.
