HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE
Two events I recently attended had the common thread of women running the show with purpose. It was rewarding to sit through the two; and recognize that women have been breaking those metaphorical glass ceilings and proving that empowerment is no longer some far fetched dream, but a constant, evolving reality. There may still be a lot of work to be done to achieve true inclusivity and parity; but there are comforting reminders that substantive change is around the corner – even if the outdated “caveman mentality” persists in many quarters, and can still be detected in revered institutions.
The DTI (Department of Trade & Industry) Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair was launched at the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall the other week, and it was five glorious days of showcasing the quality and diversity of our MSMEs, and their contribution to national economic development. Presiding over the opening ceremonies was DTI Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and it’s only the second time in our country’s history that a woman is leading this Department (Lilia Bautista was DTI Secretary during the term of President Corazon Aquino).
It brought a smile to my face to note that when host Issa Litton introduced a second speaker from the Department, it was also a woman – DTI Director Marievic Bonoan gave the welcome remarks. SM Supermalls President Steven Tan was the special guest, and together with the two formidable women from the DTI, they formally opened the five-day Fair.
Held annually, and coming on the heels of the revenue record-breaking DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair that was held in July at the same venue, the National Trade Fair is a flagship initiative that promotes the efficient marketing of local products, and provides a platform for MSMEs and their artisanal and non-food products. Utilizing sustainable raw materials such as bamboo, natural fibers, native grass, and coconut-based innovations, the fair is a wonderful example of how a sustainable, circular economy is the best path to bringing about economic recovery – relying less on importations for manufacturing and processing.
During her speech, Sec. Cristina Roque made special mention of her recurring conversations with SM’s Tessie Sy-Coson, and how encouraged she is by the support the SM conglomerate continously extends to the country’s MSMEs. Kultura, a division of SM Retail, is one fine example of this year-round support. The Trade Fairs and the seasonal events like ArteFino and MaArte are fine for highlighting the work of these local entrepreneurs and artisans; but the number of Kultura stores, and that they’re open all year, is the kind of supply chain these MSMEs struggle to find and connect to.
That these MSMEs comprise more than 90 percent of registered businesses in our country has tremendous implications for employment, proof they deserve our constant support.
Had the wonderful opportunity to attend She Loves Tech (SLT) Philippines 2024 held at SM Aura. Co-Founder Leanne Robers flew in from Singapore; and for those in the dark, SLT is the world’s largest start-up competition for Women and Tech, a global platform committed to closing the funding gap for women-led and women impact start-ups.
In the course of the day, 10 Filipina finalists would pitch their apps, defend them, and two would be declared winners to move on to the Southeast Asia Regional Awards. I was taken by the diversity of the finalists, and how they addressed a variety of needs, filling the gaps as needed, to showcase the effectivity of tech in making our lives more efficient.
Emerging as winners of this Philippine leg were the apps Unprude and Farmtri. Unprude is a sexual wellness app created by Dr. Rica Cruz, a sex therapist. In a region known for it’s conservatism and the strong role religion plays, it was observed how an app such as Unprude shows how the Philippines could stand as among the more liberated countries. Unprude offers culturally grounded solutions to make sex therapy accessible, affordable, and shame-free. This includes sessions, and offline products, all aimed to break the barriers around sex. As Dr. Rica stresses, it’s not about encouraging sex, but ensuring it happens accompanied by love, compassion, and respect for the partner.
Farmtri is a B2B platform that harnesses AI to predict market trends and prices that can help food businesses and farmers minimize losses, and contribute to eliminating the middleman, and to reduce food waste due to over production. It’s helping those in the Agricultute sector better understand the Food Value Chain, in order to optimize their operations and selling behavior. Hitting a responsive chord, Farmtri took home the prize at the Southeast Asia leg, and will be moving on to the Global Final.
I’m wishing these two start-up’s more success. And congratulations to Leanne and She Loves Tech, as she extends the reach of this global competition.