Arsenio Alpapara is one of the most recognized Filipino in the Metro DC Area is a former member of the Philippine Constabulary who grew his business from Chicharon into a flourishing Filipino chain of stores wherein 98% of his products came from the Philippines.
“Tito Al” started his business in 1985 from 10 stores with “chicharon” as his maiden offering. The company he founded 2A Marketing which brought one of the most popular food brand in the Metro DC area the “Tito Al’s Chicharones.”
The former member of the Philippine Constabulary recalled that after graduating college he joined the elite forces of the government, the PC wherein he was ranked as a Major. It was during the year 1969 when he was recruited by Dole Philippines to work for them although he had no experience.
“Tito Al” believed that although he got no experience and training in sales it was his discipline that brought him to one of the most prominent company in the Philippines. At Dole he learned sales and marketing an (–foul word(s) removed–)et that brought him with greater success.
While working at Dole and with a stable and comfortable life in Manila with his wife who is working as a nurse at the Makati Medical Center, his family decided to migrate to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to their in-laws who had a flourishing medical practice.
It was in 1970 at the age of 34 when “Tito Al” started to work as a factory helper and eventually found a job as a route salesman for Snyder Company of Hanover, Pennsylvania. Although not used to the cold weather he needs to get up at around 3:00 AM for his duty at 4:00 AM.
Due to the determination to grow and succeed he found ways to look for another job and he landed at Nibbles Inc., a potato chip and pretzel company. It was in this company that he was promoted and rose to the ranks as regional manager wherein he was able to build contacts with the Filipino community in the Metro DC area.
With the contacts he made with the suppliers and customers made him realized that it was mature for him to start his own business. Before he started the chicharon business he recalled that luck and out of gratitude brought him greater success.
A New York manufacturer asked Alpapara to convince his boss while working at Nibbles Inc., after the manufacturer tried to hawk its product which was initially shot down by the owner. In return he asks the manufacturer to supply him as well which they granted when he will be putting up his own business.
The rest is history the chicharon flourished and “Tito Al” gradually added more variety to his products with more Filipino foods that was once brought from Chicago. Right now the business has over 200 clientele in Metro DC area alone.
Arsenio “Tito” Alpapara became one of the most successful Filipino-American business in the United States. He was considered as the overseer of a major food distribution company with presence in the Metro DC area, Chicago, New York, Florida and San Francisco, California.
