Mompreneurs, women in business take center stage at UN Women WEPs Awards forum
Madiskarte Moms PH, the online community of women and mompreneurs in the Philippines, took centerstage at the first-ever Asia-Pacific UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards. The forum and awards ceremony celebrated companies championing gender equality in the region, and highlighted critical topics such as women entrepreneurship and digital inclusivity. Athena Denise Galao, Country Program Coordinator of UN Women Philippines, led the discussion with the panel composed of women leaders Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer and advocate for Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH); Ahyee Campos of GoDigital Pilipinas and Country Head of Infosys BPM Philippines; NEDA Undersecretary Atty. Krystal Lyn Uy; and Connected Women CEO Agnes Gervacio. Women in business When people think of “women in business,” they immediately think of women executives working for big companies in finance or retail rather than the grassroots entrepreneurs and community leaders who are often the driving forces behind local economies. The pandemic revealed the untapped potential of these women through Madiskarte Moms PH. And four years after its inception, this online community of almost 200,000 mompreneurs continues to promote digital upskilling, enhance entrepreneurial skills, and expand access to community support for its members to start and grow their home-based businesses. PLDT Home, which supported the online community of moms from its founding, helped these small businesses not just to survive but to flourish during their most challenging times. PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer and advocate for Madiskarte Moms PH Melissa Vergel de Dios shared that it is “all about the creativity and innovation of mompreneurs.” Vergel de Dios relates the story of an awardee at the 2024 Gawad Madiskarte, PLDT Home’s annual recognition and awards for the best businesses by mompreneurs. “This mom needed to buy milk for her child, which cost her the only money she had—P3,000. Not only was her budget just enough, but it was also unfortunately stolen or lost. Instead of being overcome by helplessness, this clever mom sold her old clothes and made P7,000. This mom turned an unfortunate incident into the beginning of her business called HTP or Half the Price. Now that she had capital for a business, she called up all her friends to put their unwanted clothes together and sell them. From that P7,000, her income is now seven figures.” PLDT Home’s advocacy for inclusivity for women in business and in tech goes hand in hand with the continuous expansion of its fiber network across the country and support for programs on internet education for the whole family. “We’ve given masterclasses and lessons that teach women how to create their own websites, how to avoid scams and fraud. But, as I say, it takes a whole nation. Now, the Madiskarte Moms teach new members so that they can go forward as well,” Vergel de Dios added. Breaking gender stereotypes Breaking conventional gender roles and mindsets has also allowed the government to map out an inclusivity plan for women. NEDA Undersecretary Atty. Krystal Lyn Uy said the Philippine Development Plan or “the nation’s blueprint” includes strategies to mainstream gender equality in government. Moderator and Country Program Coordinator of UN Women Philippines Athena Denise Galao raised a valid point on women who work from home still bearing increased domestic responsibilities. “How do we prevent housework from becoming another barrier for women’s advancement?” Ahyee Campos of GoDigital Pilipinas and Country Head of Infosys said, “We need to take away the mindset that home care is only for women. Unpaid home care is not allowing women in that kind of working model to really succeed. And so participation of the husband in those conversations needs to be more active and the women need to be more forthcoming—it cannot be assumed that it’s understood.” Will AI take away jobs? As AI becomes more intelligent—by learning from humans! — the inevitable question for every employee is: will my employer replace me with a computer program? Not likely, according to Connected Women CEO Agnes Gervacio. “When you embark on digital transformation and your goal is to do headcount reduction, you’re doing it all wrong. Because the goal of digital transformation is to make sure that you deliver efficiencies as well as ensure that your business is competitive.” That future may not always be in the office, according to Vergel de Dios. “Sometimes success is not being an executive in the office but being an entrepreneur. Today’s success is defined differently. We can be role models to the little girls that look up to us, and we can show them that they can dream. It also starts with education so that at a young stage the stereotypes are broken at the formation stage.” ### About MMPH MMPH is an online community established to support and provide education, and business opportunities for Filipino mompreneurs. It boasts over 198,000 community members and 15,000 trained mompreneurs. In its advocacy to promote digital upskilling and entrepreneurship among women, MMPH has been partnering with local and international brands. MMPH has also won various industry awards, such as the Silver Award from the Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, Grand Anvil, the highest PR award in the country, from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, Gold Award for Best PR Program in Southeast Asia from the ASEAN PR Network, Prosperity Award from the UN Global Compact Network Philippines, and the PR Campaign of the Year in Community Relations from the Internal Business Awards. For more information on MMPH, visit madiskartemoms.ph.
Madiskarte Moms learn best practices from founders of Potato Corner, Carmen’s Best and more in PLDT Home Biz masterclass
From L-R (Jorge Wieneke, Potato Corner co-founder and Tokyo Tempura founder, Paco Magsaysay, Carmen’s Best founder, Zarah Jane Juan, Zarah Juan Founder, Bianca Larrañaga, Wanderskye’s Co-founder and CEO, and Jaypee Morales, President and CEO of Rite Tea Passion, innovation, and tech know-how. These were just some of the things that Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) members learned from successful Filipino entrepreneurs in the masterclass powered by PLDT Home Biz. With the goal of empowering mompreneurs and equipping them with a winning mindset to succeed in business, this one-day intensive masterclass program was divided into three sessions with topics ranging from Creating an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Product Innovation and Using AI and Social Media to promote their businesses. Passion, innovation, and tech know-how. These were just some of the things that Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) members learned from successful Filipino entrepreneurs in the masterclass powered by PLDT Home Biz. With the goal of empowering mompreneurs and equipping them with a winning mindset to succeed in business, this one-day intensive masterclass program was divided into three sessions with topics ranging from Creating an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Product Innovation and Using AI and Social Media to promote their businesses. Madiskarte Moms receive their certificates of attendance for the PLDT Home Biz Masterclass. Passion and confidence Wanderskye’s Co-founder and CEO Bianca Larrañaga shared that passion can propel one’s business in a way that money can’t. She emphasized the importance of identifying and pursuing one’s passion as the foundation of a successful entrepreneurial venture. While it was hard to enter a market already saturated by brands catering to tourists, Wanderskye differentiated itself with unique and quality products. This opened the avenue to partner with national retailers such as Rustan’s, The Travel Club and ROX. It also opened stores in Boracay, Siargao and Bohol, as well as in Metro Manila malls and airports. President and CEO of Rite Tea Jaypee Morales shared the same sentiment.. He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to identify problems in their own lives and develop innovative solutions to address them. Despite the challenges and setbacks Rite Tea faced during its early stages, Jaypee said perseverance, resilience, and unwavering belief in one’s vision can help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and achieve success. How to get customers to do your marketing One of the most challenging aspects of starting a business is creating an identity that people will remember — and love. In hospitality, where the market is transient by nature, it’s essential to make a good first impression immediately or you lose your chance to make new customers. That is why for Commune Café owner Rosario Juan, first and foremost, one needs a distinctive aesthetic and ambiance to attract customers and make them want to experience your product. Second, never forget the human touch—from exceptional customer service that builds a strong relationship with patrons to the details of the physical store. Third, remember that customers are in tune with market trends—so should mompreneurs be. As an example, her own Commune Café has carved a unique identity that resonates with its target audience, developing a loyal customer base that spreads positive word-of-mouth. Failure can lead to innovation Carmen’s Best is in most grocery stores today but when it started in 2007 founder Francisco “Paco” Magsaysay was sending out his products on individual orders. Paco emphasized the importance of setting high standards and striving for perfection. By delivering exceptional quality, businesses can differentiate their products, build brand loyalty, and attract discerning customers. Meanwhile, Potato Corner co-founder and Tokyo Tempura founder Jorge Wieneke found a niche in the market that brought one product outside the fast-food chains and into its own small spaces across 11 countries. Founded 25 years ago, Potato Corner, dubbed “The World’s Best Flavored Fries,” has become a top-of- mind entry point for budding entrepreneurs. Jorge emphasized the importance of understanding consumer needs and preferences to identify underserved niches and untapped opportunities in the market. He advocated for a culture of experimentation and risk-taking, highlighting the value of failing fast and learning from mistakes to drive innovation. Many entrepreneurs say that embracing failure is the first step to success. It sounds ironic, but it’s true, said Zarah Jane Juan, founder of Zarah Juan brand, known for unique Filipino bag designs using icons of everyday life. AI and social media First PLDT Home Biz Masterclass Social media is a powerful platform to engage with audiences, build brand awareness and drive sales. Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn can help mompreneurs reach an audience beyond the Philippines. nRocket Inc. CEO Jay Jazmines said AI can be a game changer for one’s business if used wisely and strategically. Entrepreneur Fibo Lim of the Fibo Lim Group of Companies advised mompreneurs to use their social media content to connect with customers and to educate, entertain, and experience. Drizzled Chicken owner Maine Fontanilla broke down how to use these platforms, such as TikTok to attract customers, build brand awareness, and encourage dine-ins; and Facebook for collecting online orders, showcasing flavors, and guiding the order process. This masterclass is part of the PLDT Home Biz relaunch to introduce enhanced Home Biz plans with significantly faster speeds and a lot of exclusive benefits. In addition, PLDT Home is launching a dedicated Facebook community for existing and new subscribers. This online hub will provide access to exclusive masterclasses, personalized one-on-one coaching sessions, expert customer support, and a range of exclusive perks to help home-based businesses thrive. ### About MMPH MMPH is an online community established to support and provide education, and business opportunities for Filipino mompreneurs. It boasts over 197,000 community members and 15,000 trained mompreneurs. In its advocacy to help and educate mompreneurs, MMPH has partnered with local and international brands. MMPH has also won various industry awards, such as the Silver Award from the Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, Grand Anvil, the highest PR award in the country, from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, Gold Award for Best PR Program in Southeast Asia from the ASEAN PR Network, Prosperity Award
Madiskarte Moms prove that passion and grit can lead to a successful business
Gawad Madiskarte 2024 Winners Women, especially mothers, who are entrepreneurs have proven time and again that they have the passion and grit to make a difference in their families’ lives. “You work wonders in three different worlds: the world of home, your own personal growth, and the world of business. You’re actually doing three times the work that men are doing,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, addressing the mompreneurs in the room during Gawad Madiskarte 2024 at Seda Hotel in BGC last October 19. This is the third awards ceremony that Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) and PLDT Home have staged since the founding of the group in 2020. Jimenez added that the true winners are the moms, and that this year’s awardees have inspired many moms to become entrepreneurs “and eventually our whole country will benefit from what the Madiskarte Moms are doing.” Now with 191,000 members in the community, MMPH has indeed come a long way from its founding during the pandemic. This year’s awards are focused on sustainable practices, a commitment PLDT shares. “For us at PLDT, sustainability is not only caring for the environment, but it’s also about gender empowerment. This is the embodiment of gender empowerment because it allows women not only to dream, but to take action and to make a difference in society,” said PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel De Dios. One of the most admired women at last Saturday’s event was Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairwoman Ermelita V. Valdeavilla. She highlighted that authentic women empowerment is about uplifting other women, and that being “madiskarte” holds so much power. “Madiskarte is a powerful word,” Valdeavilla said, and wondered out loud why there is not a single word in the English language that could approximate its meaning. “In English, it is translated as strategic, wise, smart, inventive, ingenious, resourceful, clever, witty, innovative, and proactive. Yes, it takes 10 English words to describe madiskarte.” At last Saturday’s awards, eight women were highlighted as the embodiment of the word “madiskarte.” Diverse businesses Gawad Madiskarte 2024 received more than 100 applications, shortlisted 17 mompreneurs and their businesses, and awarded 8 mompreneurs in two main categories (Start-up and Scale-up) and three special awards. This year’s panel of judges was composed of Butch Jimenez; Jonjon San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing, SM Supermalls; Tweetie de Leon, mompreneur, owner of TdLG Designs; Angelica Chongco, owner of Mayumi Organics; Pia Hontiveros, broadcast journalist; and Annette Gozon-Valdes, President, GMA Films. For this year’s Diskarteng Angat category, the winners are Stephanie Morales, who put up a self-portrait studio called Pixellab (Start-up); and Ricca Cruz del Rosario, who started HTP Clothing (Scale-up) simply from the desire to sell her own clothes, and now sells about 30,000 pieces of clothing a month. For Diskarteng Eco-Friendly, the winners are Melissa Blanca Moscoso for Xavier & Xandrie Start-up, which uses discarded katsa or discarded flour sacks and turns them into bags; and Bianca Mateum of Isay Bags (Scale-up), which upcycles waste into bags and storage items. For Diskarteng May-Puso, Avon Tuazon Obedoza opened Bahay Ugnayan Educational Services (Start-up), an after-school tutoring service that frees up moms’ time after work for more personal time with their families; and Alona Bazar Laylo, who put up Jobiba Baby Diapers and Wipes (Scale-up), a low-cost, high-quality brand of diapers. All six women each received P100,000 in cash, Lalamove vouchers worth P10,000, and kitchen appliances from Tough Mama. In the special awards category, Jenilyn P. Sicabalo won the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for her business MP Nieva Flower Shop, which grows the abaca used for bouquet wraps. She won P50,000, Lalamove vouchers and Tough Mama products. Meanwhile, MK Bertulfo, founder of FH Moms, won both the Diskarteng Digital and Diskarteng Homebiz awards. Her business helps women in MSMEs participate in the digital economy, providing training and education in conducting business online, setting up e-commerce platforms, and other digital strategies. She won a total of P100,000 for both awards, along with Lalamove vouchers and Tough Mama products. Every mompreneur at Gawad Madiskarte, and those who are part of Madiskarte Moms’ growing community, have shown bravery and perseverance in running their home businesses. Time and again, they’ve supported each other in the journey to growth and success. Join the community on Facebook and visit madiskartemoms.ph. ### (L-R): – Melissa Vergel de Dios, Chief Sustainability Officer, PLDT, Inc., Butch Jimenez, Chief Operating Officer, PLDT Inc., Stephanie Lee Morales, Diskarteng Angat (Start-up), Bianca Mateum, Diskarteng Eco-friendly (Scale-up), Ricca Cruz Del Rosario, Diskarteng Angat (Scale-up), Avon Tuazon Obedoza, Diskarteng May Puso (Start-up), MK Bertulfo, Diskarteng Digital and Diskarteng Homebiz, Alona Bazar Laylo, Diskarteng May Puso (Scale-up), Jenielyn P. Sicabalo, Entrepreneurial Spirit Award (Special Citation), Melissa Blanca Moscoso, Diskarteng Eco-friendly (Start-up) winners and Ms. Ermelita Valdeavilla, Chairperson of Philippine Commission on Women Ms. Ermelita Valdeavilla, Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Women Butch Jimenez, Chief Operating Officer, PLDT Inc. Melissa Vergel De Dios, Chief Sustainability Officer, PLDT Inc.
Building empires from home: Celebrating sustainable Businesses by Mompreneurs
PLDT Home honors mompreneurs through Gawad Madiskarte 2024, awarding the most innovative and sustainable businesses founded and led by mothers. Filipino mothers are the role models the world needs. Not only are they caring, nurturing and resilient, they also bring communities together and embody the country’s spirit of innovation. When something is lacking, they find ways to make it whole; when they are constrained by their financial situation, they dig deep into their experiences to find solutions. They do all this with a smile as they share advice and encourage each other. These are the moms of Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), an online community of mom entrepreneurs helping women start their path to financial freedom. Founded during the pandemic when thousands of women lost their jobs, moms added another role to their name: mompreneur. PLDT Home recognized from the outset that this movement was the future of entrepreneurship in the Philippines. Building empires from home—starting with micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—is the new way to financial independence as the platform lets mompreneurs showcase their ability to learn new skills and manage their roles as caregivers, teachers, and business owners. Today, the community has 190,000 members, 450+ members turned brand affiliates, 150 recipients of business toolkits, over 24,900 trained mompreneurs, and 16 online masterclasses and webinars. And so Gawad Madiskarte was born to celebrate the triumphs of Filipino mompreneurs, those who inspire not just their families but their communities through their creativity and hard work. The awards are supported by PLDT Home as part of its commitment to nation building and its purpose of inspiring innovation and meaningful connections. Gawad Madiskarte 2024 is set for October 19 at Seda Hotel in BGC. It will award mompreneurs in three categories: Diskarteng Angat, Diskarteng Eco-Friendly and Diskarteng May-Puso in start-up and scale-up divisions. The panel of judges for this year’s competition is a formidable lineup of industry leaders and experts, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Their diverse backgrounds and accomplishments make them a truly distinguished panel. This panel is composed of Butch Jimenez, Chief Operating Officer, PLDT Inc.; Jonjon San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing, SM Supermalls; Tweetie de Leon, owner of TdLG Designs; Angela Chongco, owner of Mayumi Organics; Pia Hontiveros, broadcast journalist; and Annette Gozon-Valdes, President, GMA Films. Gawad Madiskarte 2024 puts the spotlight on mompreneurs who champion sustainability as business owners, whether it’s by leaving the least carbon footprint in their manufacturing process and operations, supporting local communities, or creating products that are part of the circular economy. Nominees and prizes Six (6) mompreneurs can bring home the major prizes across three subcategories (Diskarteng Angat, Diskarteng Eco-Friendly, Diskarteng May-Puso) where each will receive ₱100,000. Two (2) winners across two subcategories (Diskarteng Digital, Diskarteng Homebiz) will each receive ₱50,000, and all other finalists will each receive ₱25,000. Also lending their support to the mompreneurs is delivery and logistics company Lalamove, which will provide ₱10,000 worth of Lalamove vouchers to the six (6) major winners; and ₱7,500 worth of Lalamove vouchers to two (2) special award winners. Mompreneurs can use these vouchers for their product deliveries and business operations that require courier services. To make their home life easier and more fun in the kitchen, home and kitchen appliances brand Tough Mama will give all winners a Detachable Electric Griller and Plate; and Tough Mama Hand Mixer to all 18 finalists. On top of all these prizes is a beautiful trophy created by world-class sculptor Ram Mallari. Throughout his career, Mallari has brought sustainable art to a whole new level. His artworks are made from discarded metal and other materials, and given new life as he fashions them into provocative works of art. This year’s nominees for Diskarteng Angat are (start-up) Olivia’s Partyland, Pixellab Self Portrait Studio, Le Vourge Scents; (scale-up) Momi Bigbig’s Kitchen, Ulap Bedsheet, Love My Pajamies, HTP Clothing. For Diskarteng Eco-Friendly, the nominees are (start-up) Bloomingdale Collections, Bayong Pampanga, Xavier & Xandrie; (scale-up) MP Nieva’s Flower Company, OPC, Isay Bags. For Diskarteng May Puso, the nominees are (start-up) Bounty Honey – Pure ,Raw,Wild from Mindanao, Isla PH Essentials, Bahay Ugnayan Educational Services; (scale-up) Jobiba Baby Diaper and Wipes, FH Moms. Using “waste,” not adding to it Sustainability may be fashion’s biggest trend judging from the recent Fashion Week series in New York, London, Milan and Paris. In London especially, eBay and Vinted put on runway shows of preloved clothing and accessories, showing once again that with fashion’s cyclical nature, nothing really goes out of style. A number of this year’s nominees recognize that fashion can be sustainable by upcycling materials and making use of “waste” to create something new and beautiful. One nominee makes bayong bags embellished with PVC straps. Think Pretty Woman, but instead of going back to show them she had money, our heroine-slash-entrepreneur started experimenting on lowering the costs of PVC bags. And the rest is history. Another nominee focuses on middle-class women who prefer reusable, earth-friendly items that would last them a long time. The company upcycles factory-reject materials into bags. It’s a family business that started from scraps of venetian blinds that their dad would bring home from the factory. What began as a home business in 2009 scaled up through bazaars and online shopping. These women exemplify entrepreneurs that prioritize their social responsibility by adapting sustainable practices, local sourcing, and community engagement. Just what the world needs. Be part of the future of entrepreneurship and this inspiring movement by joining our Facebook group.
Gawad Madiskarte returns with stronger focus on sustainability for 2024 awards
Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH)’s Gawad Madiskarte powered by PLDT Home, the awards that pay tribute to mompreneurs, is back! This year, MMPH is putting the spotlight not only on hardworking and successful moms, but also on businesses that champion sustainability. In a time when the Philippines is facing environmental and economic challenges, Gawad Madiskarte is looking for mompreneurs that are leading by example, demonstrating that sustainable business practices are not only possible but also profitable. By supporting and celebrating these visionary women, Gawad Madiskarte hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs and businesses to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all. According to a report by earth.org, some of the pressing environmental issues in the Philippines in 2024 are plastic pollution and marine pollution. The country is highly dependent on single-use plastics that generate an annual 2.7 million tons of waste, a problem that the World Bank calls “staggering,” coupled with an insufficient waste management system. The World Bank also reports that an estimated 20% of this plastic waste end up in Philippine waters, endangering marine biodiversity. This year’s major awards are Diskarteng Eco-Friendly, for the mompreneur who is leading the charge in environmental responsibility and pioneering green solutions with vision and progress; Diskarteng Angat, for the mompreneur who achieves exceptional sales growth in her business while leading the way in sustainability; and Diskarteng May Puso, for the mompreneur who creates a positive change by fulfilling her social responsibility to her communities. There will be two winners per major award. One winner will come from the Start-Up category and the other one from the Scale Up category. For the Start Up category, the mompreneur’s business should be running for at least six months; for the Scale Up category, it should be running for at least 13 months with supporting documents such as a DTI and BIR permits. Owners must also have an online shop in any e-commerce platforms or social media accounts. Diskarteng Digital and Diskarteng Home Biz special awards will also be given. To join, fill out the Google Form with your answers and requirements. Mompreneurs may access Gawad Madiskarte application form by joining the community. Submission of all entry forms starts on March 8, 2024, International Women’s Day. MMPH is an online community established to support and provide education, and business opportunities for Filipino mompreneurs., it boasts over 172,000 community members and15,000 trained mompreneurs. In its advocacy to help and educate mompreneurs, MMPH has partnered with local and international brands. MMPH has also won various industry awards, such as the Silver Award from the Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, Grand Anvil, the highest PR award in the country, from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, Gold Award for Best PR Program in Southeast Asia from the ASEAN PR Network and the Prosperity Award from the UN Global Compact Network Philippines. For more information on MMPH and Gawad Madiskarte, visit madiskartemoms.ph.
Madiskarte Moms movement for mom entrepreneurs shines at the 3rd UN Global Compact Network Philippines’ SDG Awards
The Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) program has been recognized at the 3rd United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awards. Recognizing companies and programs with outstanding contributions towards sustainable development, particularly on areas of the Planet, Prosperity, and People, the SDG Awards cited MMPH for enabling digital inclusion among women, promoting decent work and economic growth, and supporting the recovery and resilience of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). MMPH (“resourceful moms” in English) is an online community founded by PLDT Home in September 2020 with a group of Filipino mom entrepreneurs (mompreneurs). Statistics show that about 33% of Filipino women lost their jobs at the height of the pandemic. MMPH fostered an active community that helps women find alternative sources of income, use digital tools to their advantage, and continuously exchange ideas and share experiences about running home-based and online businesses. Three years since its launch, MMPH now has 170,000 community members. It has trained more than 15,000 moms, supported at least 75 businesses through the provisioning of digital kits, conducted at least 11 regular webinars and masterclasses, and produced over 160 educational videos about several areas of doing business sustainably and responsibly. MMPH has also been recognizing outstanding mompreneurs through its Annual Gawad Madiskarte Awards and active participation in various public fora and engagements.
Mompreneurs win big at Gawad Madiskarte 2023 for their hard work, creativity, innovation
Women entrepreneurs helping each other is a beautiful thing to witness. By fostering a supportive ecosystem and prioritizing social impact, they are driving positive change on multiple fronts. These women are the inspiring mompreneurs of Madiskarte Moms (MMPH), an online community of Filipino mothers who want to learn, start, and grow their online home businesses while enjoying their home life. At the second annual Gawad Madiskarte, which recognizes mompreneurs with creative and innovative businesses, eight women stood out for creating successful businesses that made a transformative impact not only in their own lives, but also in the communities around them. Gawad Madiskarte was first launched in 2022 to celebrate mompreneurs and to encourage more women to act on their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. The audience at the awards luncheon — many of them also tireless and hardworking mompreneurs—was inspired to hear the winners talk about their struggles and successes, many with tears in their eyes. It was also heartwarming to hear how Madiskarte Moms PH, the tight-knit community of local mompreneurs honored by Gawad Madiskarte, was the catalyst that changed their lives for the better. Six winners from the Start Up and Scale Up categories received P100,000 each, three Special Award winners received P50,000 each from PLDT Home, and a trophy by world-class sculptor Ram Mallari. Each winner also received a one-year PLDT Home Fiber subscription, a laptop from ASUS, and a one-year Canva Pro subscription. Start-Up Category Gawad Madiskate 2023 Start-Up Winners In the Start Up category, Diskarteng Angat was awarded to Catherine K. Fabello of Cami Candles; Diskarteng Digital went to Eraiza Camille A. Ramos of Eleira’s Crochet; and Diskarteng May-Puso went to Joelle Dianne F. Venegas of Golden Pots Agriculture. Eraiza Camille Ramos learned to crochet because she didn’t have the money to buy nice clothes for her newborn daughter, she said when she accepted the trophy. When she started posting monthly photos of her baby wearing crochet headbands, hats, socks, and dresses on Facebook, her inbox was flooded by mommies inquiring whether she was selling them online. “I started and grew my business online,” she said as her cute products were flashed on the screen behind her. Today, Eleira’s Crochet sells crocheted baby clothes and accessories, dolls and toys, and even Christmas ornaments. The young mom has truly embraced digital tools to help her business grow. Mom of three boys Catherine Fabello of Cami Candles said that during the pandemic, she experienced anxiety and couldn’t sleep. Instead of allowing her mental health to deteriorate or passively waiting for the pandemic to be over, she leapt into action. “Why not make something out of the problem I’m currently dealing with?” she said. The solution for her was to make aromatic candles. “I also wanted to help others who were experiencing the same thing, lalo na yung mga mahirap makapag-relax,” she added. Remember the plantito and plantita craze that reached its peak during pandemic? Joelle Dianne F. Venegas of Golden Pots Agriculture started selling plants knowing that people found them relaxing to have around in their houses and gave them something to physically care for. “Then I discovered that there was a better product with fewer competitors—organic fertilizers,” she narrated. For the first two years she sold only one type of organic fertilizer but has since expanded and focused on seeds, herbs, and other organics. “As a mother, I realized that it’s important to teach children environmental protection, and that we can reconsider our lifestyle choices to ensure that we have a bright future,” she said. Scale Up Category Gawad Madiskate 2023 Scale-Up Winners In the Scale Up category, the award for Diskarteng Angat was given to Irene D. Herrero of Jacob’s Gourmet Food; Diskarteng Digital went to Rojerette May Martin-Pimentel of Moms@Work Management Consultancy Firm and DigiTalent; and Diskarteng May-Puso went to Erica Joana Angela Redrico of Produkto PH. Irene D. Herrero or “Chef Irene” is a single mom of four kids. She’s one of the pioneer manufacturers of 100% organic gourmet food in the Philippines. Chef Irene believes that everyone has the power to keep toxins out of their body—but they must have products to choose from to make that decision. “I started with three kilos of tuyo,” she said. “And from there, dumami ang products namin.” Jacob’s Gourmet Food’s product range includes pasta sauces like creamy tuna pesto and Italian pepperoni; Filipino favorites tuyo, dulong, dilis, bagnet, gambas and suka. Chef Irene scaled up Jacob’s Gourmet Food not only in the Philippines, but in 28 other countries as well. Rojerette May Martin-Pimentel’s Moms@Work provides consultation and talent, and education for moms who want to become freelancers. “Freelancing allows anyone to work remotely,” she said, “and you can offer that service to clients anywhere in the world.” Her company “wants mothers to be able to earn a living while looking after their families.” Moms@Work is a one-stop website for those looking for talents and those offering their particular set of skills to employers. “Technology really brings us closer to our dreams and closer to our goals.” Thirty-one-year-old Erica Joana Angela Redrico, wife and mother to an 11-year-old, considers her company a “curator” of products. Produkto PH is a multi-vendor online marketplace for ingenious Filipino entrepreneurs. More than just a retail concept, it brings together like-minded people who want to support their communities, so buyers need only one online store to choose from multiple vendors. Produkto PH also holds physical pop-up events. “Wherever you look, there are products and people who make them,” she said. “They just need someone to support them.” As an example, she mentioned the weavers from Aklan who made P100,000 in two days of a Produkto PH selling event. “This enabled them to open a small shop in Aklan.” Special Awards Gawad Madiskate 2023 Special Awardees Gawad Madiskarte also gave special awards to three mompreneurs. Diskarteng Malikhain went to Ayn Stephanie Buyco Angeles of HERS by Godfather; Diskarteng Pasulong was awarded to Jazel T. Gallaza of Kapekoh; and
Madiskarte Moms PH bags gold at the prestigious ASEAN PR Excellence Awards
Online community Madiskarte Moms PH bagged the Gold Award for Best Public Relations Program at the recently concluded 4th ASEAN PR Excellence Awards held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Organized by the ASEAN PR Network and held every two years, the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards benchmarks industry and practice standards, and celebrates leading communicators in the region. Launched in the thick of the pandemic, the award-winning online community Madiskarte Moms PH has encouraged entrepreneurship among mothers who want to earn from home through online businesses while managing their households and families. Now with 163,000 members and still growing, the campaign has empowered the mothers on the platform by connecting them with established enterprises, providing opportunities for masterclass sessions, and launching the Gawad Madiskarte Awards – recognizing and rewarding the members who have stood out with their inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Earlier this year, Madiskarte Moms PH was also cited as among the country’s best PR programs by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), bagging the coveted Grand Anvil at the 58th Anvil Awards.
Madiskarte Moms PH community celebrates three years of supporting Filipino mompreneurs with Gawad Madiskarte 2023
The community of women entrepreneurs, Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) is bringing back Gawad Madiskarte to honor outstanding mompreneurs with over P1 million worth of prizes including ASUS laptops, PLDT Home broadband connection, one-year Canva Pro subscriptions, cash, and mentorship. The awards showcase the success stories of mompreneurs who have subverted conventional expectations to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit. Their businesses are innovative, creative, and run by very hardworking women who do double duty as the glue that holds the family together, run their household and their business. Major categories for this year’s Gawad Madiskarte include Diskarteng Angat (Fastest-Growing Business), Diskarteng Digital (Best Multi-Channel Business) and Diskarteng May Puso (Best Social Enterprise). Two major winners per category will be chosen from the Startup Division and Scale Up Division. The former are home or online businesses that recently started and show great potential while the latter are businesses that have been running for at least 13 months and are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Special awards will also be given to three deserving finalists. These awards are Diskarteng Malikhain (Most Creative Business Branding), Diskarteng Pasulong (Most Innovative Product) and Diskarteng Home Biz (Mompreneurs’ Choice Award). Chosen by industry luminaries The judges for this year’s Gawad Madiskarte come from the business, telco, communications and creative industries. Maxine Loyola, AVP & Head of PLDT Home Marketing Public Relations, Influencer Marketing and Brand Advocacies, has launched the biggest marketing campaigns for Philippine Internet—from dial-up to prepaid internet cards, DSL and finally the Fiber broadband we enjoy today. Joining her are entrepreneurs Jorge Wieneke and Jenny Wieneke, who are Mr. and Mrs. Negosyo and PLDT Home Biz ambassadors. Jorge is a GoNegosyo Angelpreneur who serves as consultant to aspiring and starting entrepreneurs all over the country; he also created Kalye Negosyo, a mentoring program for budding entrepreneurs. Jenny is an advertising expert with over 30 years of experience building brands and a PCE-GoNegosyo mentor since 2015. Entrepreneur Janine Khazaiealiabady, owner of Massage MNL, started her career at a fast food and moved to marketing and online commerce before founding Massage MNL five years ago. From the creative and marketing industries, the judges are Donna Nievera-Conda, Maisie Littaua, and Marjorie Barretto. Nievera-Conda leads the integrated marketing communications agency Stratworks as President and co-CEO, and ID8, a digital publishing agency. Littaua is the Head of Growth for Canva Philippines, a free online visual communication and collaboration platform launched in 2013. Today, Canva has grown to over 135 million monthly active users across 190 countries, with more than 200 designs created per second. Barretto, actress and entrepreneur, launched her own online home and clothing brand Everything Avery during the pandemic, and opened her stunning River Garden Rest House for private rentals—a true-blue madiskarte mom. Winners of this year’s Gawad Madiskarte will receive a trophy created by sculptor Ram Mallari, who works with discarded metal and forms them into provocative works of art in the steampunk style. Mallari grew up in an impoverished district of Manila with his mother, whom he describes as “madiskarte,” and dedicates his Gawad Madiskarte design to all mompreneurs and his own mother. Celebrating three years of supporting Filipino mompreneurs Gawad Madiskarte also ushers in the third year of Madiskarte Moms PH as it welcomes more members to its current 162,000-strong base. An online community, MMPH manages a Facebook group and YouTube channel that give valuable insights into finding business opportunities for all moms, whether they are stay-at-home or have day jobs and are looking for a side hustle to augment the family income. MMPH’s online platforms also showcase the success stories of their members and how they can take advantage of social media to market and sell their products. But beyond digital interactions, MMPH is fostering economic growth in communities by nurturing a generation of mompreneurs who contribute to everyone’s success. Mompreneurs are doers, a force for positive change and empowerment. Two of the most heartfelt messages from their stories is that opportunities are everywhere and that inspiration can come from one’s experience. Their stories are all different and the women take different paths to get their businesses off the ground and scale up. But one thing that threads these experiences together is an openness to learn and to be part of a community that celebrates all their efforts and ideas. “Our small business has become our primary source of income,” one mom said. “With it, we are able to pay our bills every month and even have some savings.” We all can learn lessons from these inspiring moms, and Gawad Madiskarte urges us to celebrate them all. Know more about Gawad Madiskarte and the inspiring moms of Madiskarte Moms PH by visiting pldthome.info/GawadMadiskarteAwards2023.
Check out these four interesting handmade products by Madiskarte Moms
Small business owners, especially women entrepreneurs, are important to both their immediate communities and the local economy. Research shows that there are around 28,000 Women’s SMEs (WSMEs) in the country or around one in four of all SMEs in the Philippines. Entrepreneurs who are also mothers at home—the so-called mompreneurs—founded their businesses with the goal of improving their family’s lives. These businesses encourage creativity and empower women to be financially independent. The online community Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) is one such support group for moms who are starting their own businesses or scaling up their existing ones. MMPH has its own Facebook group and YouTube channel that feature posts and videos of moms sharing advice and best practices in online marketing and selling. It’s very inspiring to see moms telling their own stories of how they started small and eventually scaled up. These mompreneurs have created intensely personal businesses and, as such, their dedication shows in their products — proudly handcrafted, each one never the exact same copy of another. In a world of fast production, there is value in products made with skilled hands, passion and care. Mompreneurs are some of the most madiskarte and hardworking Filipinos hustling their way toward their financial goals. They deserve our support and applause for starting businesses from nothing, but more importantly, their products deserve our attention. Here are four of the best handcrafted products from the mompreneurs of Madiskarte Moms PH: Bible journals by Love, Mama V For those who like to write down their thoughts and prayers during their regular Bible readings, Madiskarte Mom Vannie Roxas’ Bible journals are a great get. Initially made for her own use, she started her business this year when her workload as a freelance social media manager became less demanding. She joined a crafting workshop to learn how to print, and her husband’s T-shirt printing business made it easier for her to start since they already had the equipment. “At the workshop I learned that there are so many products we can do—it was a bit overwhelming,” Vannie says. “But I thank God because he led me to create products that are aligned with my passion and faith. I really use Bible journals to help my faith grow and I wanted to share it with fellow devotees who want to jot down their meditations.” Vannie also now offers a Prayer Journal, Biblical Affirmations notebook and other products to help her customers in their faith journey. She says she feels very blessed as the business gives them additional income. “It’s not that big yet since we just started. We’re in the process of studying how we can grow it and expand to create more jobs in the community. I hope we get bulk orders for this year’s Christmas season so we can share the blessings that our products have showered upon us.” Vannie’s journals are simple, usable, thick and long-lasting. They’re also truly affordable at P220 per journal. Handmade relief balms and salves by Nurture Moms Balms Our skin could always use some extra TLC—which is why this idea from mompreneur Christine Joy Llameg is one of the more enticing products in the Madiskarte Moms PH community. Christine sells homemade balms and salves that help treat annoying skin conditions such as rashes and dry skin. The healing salves are made with all-natural ingredients, such as essential oils and botanical extracts, and they also avoid the potentially dangerous chemical camphor. The idea of making balms came to the mompreneur when she wanted to make one for a friend’s son with G6pd or the lack of an enzyme (glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase) in the blood. “Anything minty is not allowed to touch his skin so I first made a salve for him, and that sparked the idea of eventually selling them. The business also helps fund therapy sessions for Christine’s four-year-old daughter Irie, who’s in the autism spectrum. “I had my first big order during my second month—100 pcs of aromatherapy balm as a wedding favor and that paid for two months of therapy sessions. Currently my sales are at a slow phase but I’m still fighting for it because I have to give the best life for my family, especially my daughter,” she says. Christine personifies the mom who never gives up no matter the odds. She shares that this is her third business idea after two failed ventures. “Life is really hard but when I think about my daughter I feel like I can do anything.” Realistic paper flowers by ICreate-paper flowers Need floral decor for your events and spaces? Mompreneur April Baltazar’s paper flower designs, which imitate popular flowers such as roses and daisies, give off a very realistic feel. A Madiskarte Mom since 2015, she proudly shares that her home business has taken her to different places across the country to set up paper flowers for various clients. April started her business eight years ago after she stumbled on a Facebook post about giant paper flowers. “I was intrigued and quickly became interested, so I decided to try making them myself. Since then, I have been exploring various social media platforms in search of creative ideas and online tutorials to gain inspiration. The positive feedback and encouragement I received from my friends, family, and early clients played a significant role in shaping my current path,” she says. Madikarte Moms’ support motivated her to channel her creativity into a profitable business while social media helped her discover her target market. “Business has become our primary source of income. With it, we are able to pay our bills every month and even have some savings. Since I have been practicing my art for many years, I have seen significant improvement in my skills. As a result, I now conduct workshops to share my knowledge and expertise, which serve as an additional source of income for my family.” April admits that the market is now saturated with numerous competitors, but “we are able to meet