Life in perfect harmony

"I was born very sick, allergic to almost everything," says Koleen Davila-Palaganas. "I spent my first eight months in an incubator, surviving only on dextrose and sugar water."

- JOHN ROLAND LEGASPI

But apart from the care she received during those early days, what helped her survive was goat's milk. Little did she know that one day, she would create a line of soap using it—along with other consciously selected ingredients.

Her brand, Koko Slow Living, began as a passion project. Last Christmas, with support from her husband Jose, her son, and her sister Karen, Koleen produced candles, soaps, and room sprays—products made with the values of sustainability, local, organic, and whole (SLOW) living in mind. After receiving an overwhelming response, Koko Slow Living officially became a full-fledged enterprise last February, inviting people into a more intentional way of life.

"It was a big step, but one that felt so right," Koleen tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. "Because at its core, this was never just about selling products—it's about sharing a way of life, one that's natural, mindful, and deeply connected to the world around us."