Women breaking boundaries

Women have always been central to Filipino society.

- JOEY CONCEPCION

From their traditional roles, we are seeing more of them trying their hand at running small businesses. The steady increase in the number of women-owned small businesses in the Philippines – now accounting for more than half of the total MSMEs – demonstrates how wives, mothers, sisters and daughters continue to care for us in more ways than one.

And they are breaking boundaries. I had the pleasure of meeting some truly remarkable Pinay entrepreneurs last Saturday at our Women Summit event, when we gave out the Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur Awards. More women are leading agriculture businesses, service companies, export enterprises and tech, but they still excel in food manufacturing, service and beauty.

One of them is Kara Samson, a former beauty queen and model who saw how Pinays are obsessed with eyelashes. She introduced a kind of UV glue that would make eyelash extensions last longer. Another winner is Dina Dela Paz-Stalder. This former domestic helper taught herself how to sell medical equipment and founded not just one but three companies specializing in skin care solutions. She didn’t forget her humble beginnings. During the pandemic, employees received 40 percent commissions on product sales, advanced leave benefits and partial 13th-month pay.

Like Dina, Leonora Salvane had humble beginnings. Coming from a tenant farmer family in Bohol, she worked to earn a degree in Chemical Engineering, and reinforced that training with sales skills. With little capital and only her family as manpower support, she founded GT Cosmetics. It now has nearly 50 product lines and its own R&D.