Quote Post - 3

Here's my quote post for the week:

The Great Women Brand

I first encountered the Great Women Brand at the Women in Media Session hosted by the Enabling Communities with Hope and Opportunities Sustainable Initiatives (ECHOsi) Foundation and the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines (WBCP) back in February. In the program, there was a talk by Jeannie Javelosa, president of ECHOsi and a presentation of the Great Women Brand. This is new and it got my attention.

The Great Women Brand products

It turns out that the Great Women Brand was created through the partnership of ECHOsi Foundation, ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle's non-profit arm, and the Philippine Commission on Women under a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)with the goal of elevating the quality of both food and non-food products by women micro entrepreneurs from different regions of the Philippines.  

The brand is the result of the year-long Great Women Project, which had designers and product developers working with women microenterprises in Quezon, Leyte, Bohol, Iloilo, and Naga -- fashion designer Lulu Tan Gan, awarded designers and Movement 8 co-founders Tes Pasola and Ann Pamintuan, bag designer and exporter Renee Patron of Banago Bags (whose bags are in elite stores in the US like Nordstroms and Bloomingdales), Lenora Cabili of Filip+Inna (private trunk show to New York), product merchandiser Rambie Lim of Habi and rurungan Foundation, architect and designer Dan Lichauco, artist-designer-curator and ECHOsi Foundation president Jeannie Javelosa, product merchandise designer and graphic artist Reena Francisco and coffee product specialist Chit Juan, both of ECHOstore.  

Fashion designer Lulu Tan Gan with Miagao weavers

Designer Len Cabili in Davao

Charged with women empowerment, this program is focused on women helping women up the value chain, developing product variants and packaging, providing tools for smooth business operations, and opening new markets for their products.  

The trio behind the Great Women Brand (l-r):
Jeannie Javelosa, Chit Juan and Reena Franciso

The Great Women brand was launched recently at the Yuchengco Museum and was well received by the guests. On exhibit were food products, home textile accessories, couture and fashion accessories and home décor pieces.

Some products on display at the Great Women Brand launch

Currently, the Great Women brand products are available at ECHOstore Serendra, ECHOstore Podium, ECHOstore Centris, as well as in Tesoro's Handicrafts and Milkyway Café in Pasay Road, Makati City.

Sa Wakas, a New Pinoy Rock Musical Featuring the Songs of Sugarfree

Following the footsteps of Mama Mia (play and movie which featured the songs of ABBA), Across the Universe (movie which feature the songs of The Beatles) and the local film I Do Bi Doo Bi Doo (which featured the songs of Apo Hiking Society), a new musical that weaves together the songs of one of the country’s most beloved rock bands, Sugarfree.

Sa Wakas, a New Pinoy Rock Musical featuring the songs of Sugarfree, co-written by Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan and Mariane Abuan with the music beautifully arranged by Ejay Yatco, promises to bring together the world of pop rock and musical theatre.The show will feature Sugarfree's hit songs such as "Mariposa," "Burnout," "Wag Ka Nang Umiyak," "Makita Kang Muli," and "Hari ng Sablay," among others. "Sa Wakas" cast members are young, talented and no strangers to the stage: Fred Lo, Vic Robinson, Caisa Borromeo, Laura Cabocha, Justine Peña, Kyla Rivera and many more.

Sa Wakas will be staged on April 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, 2013 at PETA Theater Center at 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.  Ticket Prices are Php 500, Php 700 and Php 1000.

Tickets to Sa Wakas, A New Pinoy Rock Musical featuring the songs of Sugarfree will be available at any Ticketnet outlets located at SM Department Customer Care Service Area or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph or you may call 911-5555.For more information about the musical show, visit its website www.sawakas.com.

NEWEL: RIIR's Spring/Summer 2013 Collection

I first encountered Rags2Riches (RIIR) in 2008 at an event of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) where they were awarded the top prize in the Philippine Business in Development (BiD) Challenge organized by PBSP and the Dutch BiD Network Foundation.  I remember marveling at their venture that transforms scrap cloth into designer products and at that time, they were working on woven bags with established designer Rajo Laurel and giving livelihood opportunities for the women of Payatas.  Since then I have been following this social enterprise and their collections from RIIR’s collaboration with Rajo Laurel to Amina Aranaz and Oliver Tolentino.

The new collection

This year, RIIR launched their Spring/Summer collection at The Gallery of Greenbelt 5 with two things in mind: to give the spotlight to their in-house designers and to give tribute to a special material indigenous to the Philippines.  “Newel,” the latest S/S collection of RIIR, was inspired by the intricate and unique weaves of the Tinalak of the T’boli tribe of Mindanao (Newel means “weave” in T’boli). 

According to Vivian Lee, Operations Director of Rags2Riches, “Our design inspiration is tribal chic and with Tinalak, we wanted to promote the woven materials of the T’boli community.  We had some of the colors customized to give the designs a modern twist.”

The stage of the RIIR launch at the Gallery, Greenbelt 5

Models showing the six styles of the Newel collection

The artisans who made the RIIR bags

(l-r) the host, RIIR style advocate Bianca Gonzalez,
RIIR president Reese Fernandez-Ruiz and
Newel collection design  consultant Rajo Laurel

“RIIR has always been about empowering communities and we wanted to expand our reach to different communities in the Philippines,” said Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President of Rags2Riches. “The weave production takes about 2-3 months but we were lucky because we were able to partner with another social enterprise who is a supplier of Tinalak so they will be able to deliver more quantity and at the same time, have a unique aspect in its (weave) designs.”

The Newel collection as prepared backstage for the launch

The Newel collection, named in T’boli words, has six styles to offer – three totes and three clutches -- in vibrant colors to suit moods and occasions: the Hedem Hobo Bag (The Thinking Woman), the Ofi Clutch (Fire), the Kena Tote Bag (Dream), the Kulon Clutch (Rain), the Kenmu Clutch (Fist), and the Benwu Tote Bag (World).  Every creation is sure to catch the eye with its versatility and ingenious patterns.

Kulon clutch

Ofi clutch

Kenmu clutch

Hedem hobo bag

Kena tote bag

Benwu tote bag

The Rags2Riches woman

All designs were made as colorful and distinct to fit the style of the modern, fashion-forward women of today. 

“RIIR’s Spring/Summer collection is a stylish innovation.  Utilizing the Tinalak, an indigenous weaving technique that is inspired by dreams, myths and beliefs, RIIR’s newest collection is dedicated to the RIIR women who are women with substance and unique style,” shared Joe Mark Pardiñas, Sales and Marketing Manager of Rags2Riches.

(l-r) RIIR president Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, me, and
RIIR operations director Vivian Lee

Triple firsts

Aside from being RIIR’s first venture to fully incorporate an indigenous material in their collection, this is also the first line of bags solely designed by RIIR’s in-house designers.

Ruiz explained, “This is the first design collaboration of RIIR’s in-house designers under the design direction of Rajo Laurel.  We felt it was high time to create something to showcase and highlight the talents of our in-house designers.”

Another first is, coinciding with the launch of its Spring/Summer collection, RIIR also unveiled its first style advocate, Bianca Gonzalez.  A well-known celebrity and fashion icon, Bianca is a woman that personifies the RIIR women: empowered, passionate, and compassionate.

RIIR's Style Advocate

“We believe that Bianca Gonzalez is the epitome of a RIIR woman, someone who personifies the values that we uphold and seek to promote with every unique RIIR creation,” Pardiñas added.

The style advocate

Bianca Gonzalez is happy to be RIIR’s style advocate because, “Rags2Riches is revolutionary and the reason why I bought my RIIR bags was when I heard about the advocacy behind it, helping the nanays of Payatas, plus it was collaboration with friends Rajo and Amina.  More than being an ambassador or endorser, a style advocate is not just a face to represent the brand but actually believes in the products and uses them.”

Celebrity Bianca Gonzalez

When asked what she thinks made RIIR chose her as style advocate, Bianca quips, “My passion for advocacy.  I’m not really a ‘fashionista.’ I read trends in magazines but I prefer the casual and classic look and I wear whatever I feel is comfortable. I’m not one to pile on accessories because I like just one focal point in an outfit so I like the RIIR bags – simple yet unique and attractive enough to be my one and only accessory.”

And her personal favorite from the Newel collection is, ”The Ofi clutch because I prefer small bags. My bag here (points to the large gray Benwu tote beside her during the interview) is an exception because I need a big bag when I’m working.”

About Rags2Riches

Rags2Riches Inc. is a for-profit social enterprise based in Manila, Philippines, creating eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of up cycled scrap cloth, organic materials and indigenous fabrics by working with artisans (mostly women) living in the poor communities across the country.  Rags2Riches’ philosophy stands upon its four bottom lines: People, Profit, Planet and Positive Influence.  For more information, visit www.rags2riches.ph.

Because Business is No Longer Just a Man’s World

Not too long ago, a woman’s place is in the house – running the household and taking care of the needs of the children and her husband.  Then as times changed, she slowly began to learn and enjoy her rights and work for the accomplishment of her dreams.  Presently, although women are still struggling to “break the glass ceiling,” whether in corporate or in business, a big number have been recognized for their exemplary efforts in growing their own businesses.

The SGV Foundation and the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines (WBCP) jointly published a book that celebrates and honors the achievements of the Philippines’ top women entrepreneurs.  Launch recently, the book titled Aspirations & Inspirations: Filipino Women Entrepreneurs by Jessica Zafra features the 42 women winners and finalists of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) Philippines.

Reading the book will make you realize that the featured Filipina entrepreneurs are just like any other mother, daughter or sister who cared for their loved ones and did their duties and obligations to the family.  At the same time, the book will inspire you to attain your professional and personal achievements just as the women entrepreneurs did.  Their stories ranged from starting the business at home, continuing the legacy started by their parents, being pioneers of the industry, being married their business partners, switching careers, and to starting a social enterprise. 

Some of the featured women in the book are Lolita O. Hizon of Pampanga’s Best, Julita P. Urbina of Café Laguna, Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin of Multiple Intelligence International School, Socorro C. Ramos of National Book Store, Amelia D. Manas of Bruno’s Barbers, Gemma N. Bulos of A Single Drop for Safe Water, and Marianne G. Quebral for Venture for Fund Raising, among others.  Their businesses survived trials and grew to have great impact to the economy and to the society, touching many lives in the process.

WBCP President Chit Juan, author Jessica Zafra and WBCP Chair Boots Garcia

The book launch is one of the activities in celebration of the 10^th year anniversary of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines program, where The Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year award has been a vital part of.  With the belief that women entrepreneurs have a special gift, EOY Program Director Atty. Antonette Tionko has this to say,” Aside from having innate business sense, these women also show the power of compassion.  They have the ability to understand people and work within the dynamics of family, business and society.  The abilities of these women entrepreneurs are beyond question; but it may be their capacity for caring that makes them even better at what they do.”

On the other hand, the Women’s Business Council or WomenBizPH, headed by its Chair Ma. Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia and President Pacita U. Juan, will bring the books to the international conferences its members regularly attend or are invited to for speaking engagements.  Many WomenBizPH members are also Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines winners and finalists and they are also featured in the book.


This article was also published in HerWord.com 
http://www.herword.com/unwind/main.php?id=aspirations_and_inspirations