How legally blind teacher became seaweed magnate

MANILA, Philippines - Today on ABS-CBN’s My Puhunan, host Karen Davila (right) shows how a legally blind teacher beat all the odds to become a mega millionaire and the leader of one of the country’s largest food formulation companies.

Rosalind Wee (left) ventured into different businesses before finally thriving in the production of carrageenan, which is extracted from seaweed and a natural additive used in gelling and thickening food products such as ice cream, beer, milk and gelatin.

Her company processes 400 tons of seaweed every month and supplies food stabilizers to major companies in the US, England and Japan. Eighty percent of the carrageenan in the world comes from the Philippines and Rosalind’s company is the largest producer in the country.

What’s even more remarkable is that Rosalind was able to expand her business despite being legally blind. She survived a brain tumor surgery years ago that left her right eye blind. She also lost half her vision in her left eye.

My Puhunan airs Wednesdays at 4 p.m. For updates, follow @mypuhunan on Twitter or like www.facebook.com/MyPuhunan.