Kono Salinas: The businessman who inspires through philanthropy
Published Apr 18, 2023 03:01 am
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In today's world of fake news and manufactured personas, it's rare to come across an authentic rags-to-riches story that truly inspires. Kono Salinas is one such individual. At 34 years old, he is a successful businessman from Biñan, Laguna, who has overcome tremendous adversity and has a strong desire to give back to his community.
From a young age, Kono's parents instilled in him the importance of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. They also warned him that not everyone he helped would reciprocate, but he remained steadfast in his belief that giving back is essential. However, tragedy struck when Kono's daughter passed away due to a congenital heart condition in 2015. This event prompted him to take action and ensure that his family would never again suffer due to lack of resources.
Kono started his business by buying and selling cars, but quickly diversified into agriculture when the pandemic hit. He now owns F2M Agricultural Business, which includes a piggery, poultry, vegetable, cattle, and rice farms. His motivation for entering the agricultural sector was simple: to provide people with their basic need for food.
Kono's desire to give back to the community is also reflected in his fraternity, Tau Gamma Phi. During his tenure as vice-chairman and later chairman, their projects were always rooted in community service, ranging from bloodletting to gift-giving and feeding programs.
While Kono's good looks and inspiring story might make him seem like a movie star, his true passion lies in building his agri-business to provide food, jobs, and inspiration to those in his hometown and beyond. He hopes to continue to grow his business while giving back to those in need, proving that paying it forward is not only good for the soul but can also be a profitable business strategy.