Dressing up for success

Manila, Philippines - Santiago Antonio dreamed of becoming a businessman, but when he dropped out of his Business Administration course, he thought it was the end of his dream.

Today, his company, Antonio’s Gowns and Barong, produces over 3,000 gowns and barong Tagalogs every month, employing some 50 sewers. Last week, his company became one of the first awardees of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Star awards.

Five other companies in Bulacan also received the award: Franbel Native Products, C-RREM Arts and Crafts, Keno Foods, Jam’s Bags, and Markenburg International Food Corp.

Rhine Aldana, the provincial director of DTI-Bulacan said the award aims to support and strengthen the capabilities of MSMEs across the country.

“It is our way of recognizing outstanding enterprises that have shown the most remarkable achievements in growing their business to globally competitive enterprises,” Aldana said.

She said that MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, contributing to employment and generating output for the economy.

“At present, MSMEs represents 99.6 percent of all businesses registered in the country and employs 61.2 percent of our total labor force,” she said.

Aldana added that MSMEs play crucial role in economic development in the countryside by setting new design trends, developing new products and bringing them to the marketplace.

Antonio started his company 15 years ago as a subcontractor.

“We started with four high-speed sewers, and now we have at least 50,”

Antonio told The STAR.

“I thought that’s a good business, kasi hindi ka mawawalan ng market, habang may ikinakasal, may ipinapanganak, at may namamatay, may nagsusuot ng barong at saya (you’ll always have a market as long as people are getting married, having children and even dying, they’ll need barongs),” he said with a smile.

They are looking forward to exporting their products to Filipino communities abroad, but are faced with one “good” problem.

“Exporting our products requires higher production, but we don’t have enough workers to meet the demands here and abroad,” he said.

With regards to the award he received, Antonio said that it was just a confirmation that they are doing something good and right.