While their classmates juggled exams and school projects, couple Kyle Stephen Sabalo and Ronelyn Pandac were juggling profit margins, permits, and product ideas—proving that ambition doesn’t have to wait until after graduation.
While most students focused on academics, they were already building SL Trade & Solutions, a business rooted in grit, love, and a deep desire to uplift their lives.
Sabalo hails from Barangay San Antonio in Himamaylan City, while Pandac comes from Barangay Camingawan in Kabankalan City. Both carry the hopes of their families and hometowns as first-generation entrepreneurs.
The two met in 2022 as Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) students at Central Philippines State University-Main Campus (CPSU). By their third year, they launched their entrepreneurial journey with just P17,000 in hand — P10,000 from a scholarship and P7,000 from personal savings. They used that amount to buy their first videoke rental unit.
They moved fast. In February 2024, they reinvested in a P1,000 mini-asset. In April, they added P10,000 more to the business. By June, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) saw their potential and invested another P10,000.
When they sold their first videoke unit for P20,000, they didn’t splurge. Instead, they reinvested everything. Before the year ended, they hit P100,000 in net worth, all while managing student life and running their growing side hustle.
In March 2025, they registered their business with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). They also secured their barangay clearance and business permit, making the business official three months before graduation.
Since then, the couple has grown SL Trade & Solutions into a multi-division brand with services in retail, e-commerce, and community solutions.
Growing
Their net worth now stands between P200,000 and P300,000, a major leap from where they started just over a year ago. Kyle now plans to secure additional funding to scale further.
Sabalo said that he is developing a homegrown alarm system, a product powered by the IT knowledge they gained at CPSU. He sees the alarm system as more than a business idea.
The couple targets to offer real-world protection and convenience for everyday people. They believe technology should serve communities, and that students like them have the skills to create real solutions.
Sabalo said that they continue to manage their business with the same discipline and passion they had on day one. They built their brand from scratch, turning limited resources into opportunity through hard work and relentless reinvestment.
They often say they started with no money in their pockets. But what they did have—vision, drive, and purpose—turned out to be worth far more.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.