🌟 From Hammer to Hope: The Journey of Benjie Inocencio, A Filipino Carpenter Who Built His Dreams
This is the full story of how one humble carpenter rose from dusty plywood floors to designing high-end homes in the Philippines and abroad. This story is written with inspiration, heart, and lessons every Filipino worker can relate to.
🇵🇭 Growing Up with Wood and Wisdom
Benjie Inocencio was born in a small barangay in Laguna. His childhood was simple—full of provincial air, bike rides on dirt roads, and the comforting smell of sawdust from his father’s tiny backyard workshop. His father, Mang Rudy, was a self-taught furniture maker who could turn old wood into tables that lasted decades.
“Wala akong laruan dati,” Benjie recalls. “Pero lagi akong may kahoy na pwedeng pukpukin.”
At an early age, Benjie wasn’t just playing with tools—he was absorbing the discipline, eye for detail, and patience needed in carpentry. Little did he know, those lessons would carry him across continents.
🌐 His First Overseas Job: From Helper to CNC Programmer in Kuwait
Right after high school, Benjie tried college but had to stop due to finances. He worked odd jobs locally but couldn’t earn enough. At 21, with nothing but grit and his father’s advice in his ears, he flew to Kuwait to work in a furniture company. read more: Top In Demand OFWs Jobs 2025
“Hindi ako marunong mag-English, tapos pinasok ako sa sanding department.”
It wasn’t glamorous. He sanded wood for 8 to 10 hours a day, hands bleeding, nose full of dust. But he was observant. After six months, he began learning how to operate CNC machines. He took every chance to learn from senior operators, watching YouTube videos at night on how to program custom furniture.
Soon, he was promoted to CNC operator, then to programmer.
“Wala sa school ‘yung natutunan ko. Lahat ‘yun dahil sa tiyaga.”
🇵🇭 Coming Home with a Bigger Dream
After five years abroad, Benjie had saved enough to come home. Most people buy land or build a house. Benjie bought second-hand carpentry machines and rented a tiny shop.
In 2012, he registered his business: Journey Woodblock Enterprises.
“‘Journey’ kasi pinaghirapan. ‘Woodblock’ kasi galing ako sa block sanding,” he smiles.
He started with simple jobs—kitchen cabinets, bedroom sets, fixing doors. But his attention to detail set him apart. Every piece was sanded to perfection, every corner aligned. Clients started recommending him.
🏠 Building a Business, One Plank at a Time
Within two years, Benjie expanded to offer:
- Modular kitchens
- Built-in cabinets
- Customized furniture
- Fit-outs for offices and clinics
He hired two of his cousins, then added two more workers the next year. By 2016, he had a team of 12 and orders coming in from as far as Quezon City and Batangas.
But scaling was a challenge. His tools were outdated. He needed better equipment to keep up with client expectations. read more: OFWs Wealth Secret
🚧 How DOST SETUP Changed His Life
One day, while doing a project for a small government office, he overheard an engineer talking about DOST SETUP—a grant/loan hybrid for small business owners needing machinery upgrades.
Benjie applied. The process was long, but worth it.
By 2018, he received funding support to buy:
- CNC routers
- Panel saws
- Dust extraction systems
- Air compressors
“Parang tumalon kami ng 10 years forward,” he says. “Mas mabilis trabaho, mas linis, mas madami natatanggap naming projects.”
His business doubled in sales that year.
🌟 From Carpenter to Designer
Benjie didn’t stop at building furniture. He learned design software. He enrolled in a weekend interior design course. Soon, he was offering 3D renders to clients before building anything.
His customers loved it.
- They could visualize their kitchens.
- They could suggest changes.
- They trusted him more.
He partnered with architects and real estate developers. Soon, Journey Woodblock was doing entire condo units.
🏡 The Projects He’s Most Proud Of
- A cafe in Tagaytay with reclaimed wood furniture and handmade signage
- An Airbnb villa in Batangas with a Scandinavian-Industrial theme
- A pediatric clinic in Sta. Rosa with child-friendly corners and customized furniture
“Masarap sa pakiramdam na ‘yung gawa ng kamay mo, pinupuntahan ng tao, pinopost sa Instagram.”
🇰🇭 The Japan Breakthrough
In 2021, a Japanese client who saw his Facebook page commissioned a set of handmade furniture for a boutique hostel in Kyoto.
Benjie was shocked.
“Akala ko scam. Pero legit.”
He shipped the first set successfully. Then another. Now he sends custom orders to Japan quarterly. He’s currently preparing to attend a design fair in Tokyo.
🏛️ Supporting Filipino Craftsmanship
Benjie insists on training his workers from scratch. “Kahit wala kang experience, basta may respeto sa trabaho, tuturuan kita,” he says.
He also mentors young carpenters through a TESDA program and advocates for better wages for skilled laborers. read more: Highlight Your Skills
“Hindi kami tagabuhat lang. Kami ang gumagawa ng mga gamit na ginagamit niyo araw-araw.”
🤔 Lessons You Can Learn from Benjie
1. Don’t wait to be perfect. He started sanding. He became a programmer. Then a boss.
2. Use what you have. He used secondhand tools, learned from YouTube, borrowed books.
3. Embrace government support. SETUP gave him the leap he needed.
4. Invest in people. He trains his team and gives them dignity in their craft.
5. Never stop learning. Even now, he watches international design trends, studies customer behavior, and updates his software.
🚀 What’s Next for Journey Woodblock?
Benjie plans to:
- Open a showroom in Manila
- Launch a line of foldable furniture for small condos
- Create an e-learning platform to teach young carpenters
He dreams of seeing the label “Handcrafted in the Philippines” be as respected as “Made in Italy.”
📍 Conclusion: Build What the World Needs
Benjie Inocencio’s journey is not just about wood and nails. It’s about grit. It’s about vision. It’s about taking every plank life hands you and turning it into a foundation for something great.
To the OFW who wants to come home… To the tambay who wants to start something… To the young carpenter dreaming of Japan…
Benjie’s story proves: You don’t need to start big, you just need to start.
“Hindi mo kailangan maging perfecto. Kailangan mo lang magpatuloy.”
