March is National Women’s Month. A big day was the Women Summit event of Go Negosyo’s
“Celebrating Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneurs” last Saturday at Ayala Malls .
Accomplished and aspiring women entrepreneurs gathered with First Lady Liza Marcos, US
Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson, and “ women champions “ Joey Concepcion, and DTI
Secretary Fred Pascual.
The event honored 15 Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur awardees from 200 nominees.
Board of Judges Chair was Rosemarie Ong, Wilcon COO , with Agricultural Training Institute Director Remelyn Recoter, DTII USec Bles
Lantoya, Engr. Merly Cruz, BizWomen Chair Mylene Abiva , Josephine Romero and PCW Chair Sandy Montano .The stories of the women awardees were inspiring although it was not always rosy, some bumps ahead but that’s what made these Filipina entrepreneurs amazing . Some of the awesome women awardees were:
Inclusive Business:
- Lorielinda
Bella Marte of Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association (TWWA): She discovered the beauty of mat from tribal elders as a wedding gift and the TWWA was formed. Weavers are paid for every finished mat
immediately and net profit is divided
among all weavers at the end of the year.
Young Entrepreneur:
· Zarah
Zanjani, Cubo Modular; used innovative technologies to build smart ,
inexpensive, sustainable and beautiful homes
made of engineered bamboo.
· Glenda
dela Cruz, Brilliant Skin Essentials; brilliant idea of black charcoal soap for
natural and safe skin care products.
· Jesse
Ann Villamil and Marilet Alcobendas, Pied Frenchie Inc.,turned their love for
pets to make an all-natural ingredients
free from any harmful chemicals pet treat busi
Most
Promising Microenterprise - Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program (KAMMP):
· Evelyn
de Guzman Breguera, Abundance Agri-Tourism and Training Center Inc.,An ATI
Learning site and TESDA accredited, provides free access through continuous
education to out-of-school youth and empower farmers.
· Iloisa
Diga, Session Groceries, started the use of online media and mobile app that
connects local farmers and consumers to support agribusiness and sustainable
lifestyle. 30% of their sales go to farmers.
· Liza
Dane Kempis, Carpio and Kempis Food Hub, started a food cart with P2,000 as
capital, ready to give up and , declare bankruptcy but then decided to enroll in KMME program of Go
Negosyo instead and now with 50 outlets
nationwide.
Inspiring
Filipina Entrepreneur:
· Rosanna
Kabiling, Something Nice Environmental Corporation, a “Basurera with a
Purpose”, an environmental advocate offering waste management services.
· Anna
Marie Lagon, Bayo Manila Inc. A homegrown fashion brand dedicated to
sustainability and establishing partnerships with local weaving communities.
(Ambassador Delia Albert wear her
products in style. )
· Sarah
Deloraya-Mateo, SPD Jobs, Inc, provide solutions to clients (with software such
as e-commerce, inventory systems and websites), propelling sustainability and
providing decent jobs to Filipinos.
On
the corporate side, the NextGen Organization of Corporate Directors (NOWCD) had
a full house face to face event held recently at Manila House on “Understanding
the Role of the Corporate Director” by former SEC Chair Tess Herbosa. NOWCD’s
mission is to develop highly qualified women directors to become drivers of
visionary and effective boards. Ms. Tess
discussed the Revised Corporation Code,
the rights, responsibilities, and the liabilities of a director, made
interesting with her personal experiences and insights. She also discussed what a director should and
should not do.
Its Women’s month. Aren’t you glad and
thankful for the women in your family and life? I am grateful for my mother, strong and
industrious, a great model in family
life and finance; an entrepreneur, that the Wesleyan University last year
established the Carolina L. Gozon Institute of Lifelong Learning in her honor.
My favorite sister, “bamboo queen” Kay Jimenez , kind and generous, is also an
entrepreneur. Tricia our only daughter , currently based in Guam, is following
their footsteps as a homemaker, part
time employee and a business woman, all in one.
Let’s acknowledge the women in our
lives. Let’s also try to be the Proverbs 31 woman.
*****
Ms. Tarriela, a FINEX trustee, was former chairman of Philippine National Bank.
former Undersecretary of Finance and the First Filipina Vice President of
Citibank N.A. She is a trustee of FINEX. A gardener and an environmentalist, she founded Flor’s Garden in
Antipolo.