Sculptor Glenn Cagandahan honors madiskarte moms

PLDT Home Biz collaborates with the award-winning artist in creating the trophy for the first-ever ‘Gawad Madiskarte’

Through and through, mothers have shown their unconditional love and dedication for their families. When the pandemic hit 2020 inflicting economic challenges across the globe, many moms pushed their boundaries to make ends meet. In looking for additional income sources to support their loved ones, some of these resourceful or madiskarte moms ventured into online business.

Believing in the cause, PLDT Home Biz launched Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) in September 2020. MMPH began as a Facebook community for Filipino mompreneurs who want to start, grow, and expand their online side hustle and home business.

Since then, the virtual community has become a safe space where moms can exchange advice and empower each other to pursue their passions and become financially independent. With more than 104,000 members from all over the Philippines, the community has allowed members to share valuable information and networking opportunities with each other — and now serves as a 24/7 forum for tips, tricks, and inspiration.

The telco brand’s effort to help and support hardworking moms did not end on the platform as it held the first Gawad Madiskarte ceremony — a gathering that honored and celebrated the successes of mompreneurs who have created and grown their online businesses amid an economically challenging pandemic with their drive and diskarte.

Held last March 8, just in time for International Women’s Day, Gawad Madiskarte gathered the biggest stars in Jed Madela, Fana, and Gigi de Lana plus hosts Dominic Roque and Roxanne Montealegre for a star-studded and unexpectedly emotional tribute to Filipino moms and their invaluable entrepreneurial spirit. The special online event also partnered with award-winning sculptor Glenn Cagandahan for the creation of trophies as part of the prizes, apart from the P100,000 cash prize, a one-year PLDT Home Biz Plan, and a laptop gifted to each of the winners.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Cagandahan admits feeling honored and grateful to have been given the opportunity to create something that celebrates mothers. The UP College of Fine Arts product used wood, metal, and proxy clay as his main materials in sculpting all seven trophies, each sculpted by hand. The final work: A shimmery depiction of a slender, bendable woman — a madiskarte mom — standing proud and strong on her own.

“On the design, I want to represent a woman of courage, a woman that is ready to fight, and a woman that is up for the challenge,” Cagandahan says. “Hopefully, this design will represent a woman who is willing and is ready to do anything for her family. The design is created to inspire other moms.”

Gawad Madiskarte featured two categories — the Start Up Division and Scale Up Division. Start Up honored for moms who, despite the challenges of the pandemic, have started their own online entrepreneurial ventures and have been running it for at least six months. Meanwhile, Scale Up paid tribute to those who have successfully started and ran their businesses for at least 13 months. A special award, the Diskarteng HomeBiz (Mompreneur’s Choice Award), was given to the exceptional mompreneur whose business success story has greatly inspired others to do the same.

Thinking of his own mother as an inspiration while making the sculptured trophies, Cagandahan shares that it took him more than a month to finish all seven of what might as well be his tribute to his own madiskarte mom.

“To all the madiskarte moms, astig kayo dahil hinarap nyo ‘tong madilim na parte ng buhay during na pandemic ng hindi kayo natatakot (you’ve faced this hard phase in life during the pandemic without fear),” he says. “Gumawa kayo ng paraan kahit na mahirap. Hindi nyo basta nalang tinanggap yung situwasyon dahil mahal nyo ang pamilya nyo. (You find ways even though it’s difficult. You didn’t simply accept the situation because you love your family.)”