Three women entrepreneurs honored in Winners program

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) recognized three women who excel in their respective communities through their small business, and now become the role models for women who aspire to be successful entrepreneurs.

Out of 23 women entrepreneurs in different barangays in Mandaue City, the MCCI’s noble project called Women In Need Now Entrepreneurs (WINNERS), has chosen three extra-ordinary mothers whose ticket to success is not money, but hard-work and passionate dedication to their small businesses.

This pilot project, of which MCCI is aiming to transform into an annual event to empower more women-in-need to go into small business, has now stirred the interest and paradigm shift especially to wives, whose everyday is faced with financial difficulties, leaving their own dreams in the “backseat”.

Charito Cabatingan, a 42-year-old mother of four children, was chosen the winner. Cabatingan who started selling door-to-door fish in her neighborhood some years ago, was able to establish a sari-sari and eatery business, called “Chartz & 3 Angels Eatery, at Sitio Pilit, in Cabancalan.

The Winners Program also recognized 45-year-old Sevelina To-ong, as the first runner up for this one-of-a-kind search, having been able to grow her business from a P500 borrowed capital, now she’s becoming a micro-retail businesswoman, and also trying her luck slowly in the real estate venture, through opening up her small lot for rent, and constructing a small room-type apartment for rent.

The third place was given to Remedios Rodriguez, a 33-year-old mother who initially used P700 capital to sell fish in houses. Now, she was able to install her own stall in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

These three women are just few of deserving role models, that every ordinary woman, regardless of educational attainment, can achieve their dreams, through hard-work and strong determination.

The Program’s chairperson Carmel Salvador said, the search for “Winners” will be a continuing advocacy for the MCCI, as it is high time for entrepreneurship to be introduced not only to women with good education and who has money to start a business, but starting a business does not necessarily need high capital expenditure.

Salvador said the essence of entrepreneurship is not all about how can much one can invest, but how strong is her determination and courage.

Salvador hopes that through this program, more women will be able to see the opportunity amid deep poverty, and life’s challenges.

“We usually recognized the established and successful entrepreneurs out there, with businesses are on the top, but sometimes we fail to recognize deserving people, especially women within the grassroots of society,” she said.

Because of the program’s noble cause, the Cebu Provincial Government and the Mandaue City government also provided financial assistance, along with other private sector supporters. (FREEMAN)