Leaders in the spotlight: Nakakalocal CEOs tell their stories of struggle and triumph

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) significantly contribute to the Philippine economy.

- By MIGUEL LIBOSADA

To support these businesses, Philstar Media Group (PMG) launched Nakakalocal in 2022 to help and uplift entrepreneurs.

We interviewed three Nakakalocal MSME owners, sharing their entrepreneurial journeys and navigating challenges.

CRAFTING TIME: A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Melody Manalaysay-Palogan, founder and co-owner of Crafting Time, a Filipino handmade jewelry business, is a creative soul.

She launched.

Crafting Time in January 2020, evolving from a hobby encompassing scrapbooking, crocheting, quilling, sewing, and jewelry making. Realizing the potential, she transitioned it into a business: "Turning it into a business allowed me to continue doing what I love — while also helping others," Manalaysay-Palogan says.

Manalaysay-Palogan is a social entrepreneur, using Crafting Time to create flexible jobs for students and women in Barangay Western Bicutan: "Giving them a way to earn while staying in school became my biggest motivation."

Like most MSME founders, she faced challenges. "There were months when I didn't know how I could afford to pay our team. I've made mistakes and faced tough decisions," she laments.