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.

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

ETCETERA: Fresh and Fab

There are lots of television shows today to watch but less than a handful are geared towards women and what we really want to know. ETC's new show ETCETERA is an fresh and fabulous addition to my Sunday evening viewing habit. The 15-minute capsule show for all things hip and happening, ETCETERA premiers this October 23, Sunday at 7:45PM right before an episode of Glee Season 3 on ETC.

New faces to watch (l-r): Patti Grandidge and Kim Jones

ETCETERA aims to fill us in on the latest trends for the stylish youth so we'll never be behind the trend or out of the loop on what’s in and what’s out in style, beauty, TV, web and youth. Tune in to get the hottest entertainment news filled with spoilers, reviews and polls on your favorite ETC shows, and lookbooks on your much loved ETC stars. Stay in style as it offers practical tips on beauty, like “How to’s” on skin, hair and make-up, and the lo-down on cool fashion trends, chic do’s and don’ts and stores you want to raid. Online and on the streets, ETCETERA will help you discover where the hippest local hangouts are, and the most click-worthy websites can be found.

Hosted by Patti Grandidge and on-the-scene reporter Kim Jones, ETCETERA is your newest authority for all things young and stylin!

Patti Grandidge

Host Patti Grandidge is the newest face to brighten up primetime. With a degree in International Business from University in Malibu, California, this positive and easy-going beauty lists her hobbies as baking, traveling, blogging and taking photos. As host of ETCETERA, Patti looks forward to getting connected with viewers as she is very interactive on Facebook and Twitter, and keeping up to date on all things fashion, beauty, TV and web. Patti splits her time between her business Sweet Patti Cakes, a home-based business that sells delicious homemade cupcakes, and her blog, pattispalette.blogspot.com which she updates regularly with her latest foodie finds.

Kim Jones

Kim Jones has a love affair with the outdoors and all things spontaneous and that makes Kim the perfect on-the-scene reporter for ETCETERA. Having lived in the Philippines for the past 9 months, she has been blessed to have spent the majority of that time traveling and exploring the country. Kim enjoys spending her free time reading and playing the guitar. Because of her Australian upbringing she describes her style as very relaxed and laid-back. Watch out for Kim as she takes over Metro Manila, she can’t wait to meet new people, enjoy more laughs and share all her experiences with you the viewer.

ETCETERA premieres every Sunday at 7:45PM starting October 23, with replays every Monday at 8:45AM & 2:45PM; Tuesday at 7:45PM; Wednesday at 7:45AM & 11:45AM; Thursday at 11:30PM; Saturday at 2:45PM; Sunday at 11:00AM & 3:45PM.

ETC mark at the presscon venue, Chateau 1771, Greenbelt 5

ETC is seen on free TV RPN-9, Sky Cable Ch. 14, Destiny Cable Ch. 14, Cable Link Ch. 12 and Cignal Ch. 14.

Filed under SHOWS

MaKULAY by Oliver Tolentino

For the past two years, I have always been looking forward to the unveiling of the Rags2Riches collection designed by some of the creative minds in the Philippine fashion industry. First there was Rajo Laurel then came Amina Aranaz-Alunan next. This year, RIIR's designer line brings an awe-inspiring collaboration with no less than internationally-acclaimed Filipino couture designer Oliver Tolentino.

Aptly titles "MaKULAY," the Oliver Tolentino collection revealed bright and warm colors. Launched recently at The Gallery of Greenbelt 5 in Ayala Center, Makati City, the limited edition pieces showcased the ingenuity of Tolentino and the enduring craftsmanship of the empowered women from the Payatas community.

Oliver Tolentino (5th from left) and Reese Fernandez-Ruiz (7th from left) flocked by the Payatas Nanays

"MaKULAY" is a wordplay of "ma" (mother) and "kulay" (color) as the collection aims to pay tribute to the remarkable mothers in Philippine history -- Marcela Agoncillo, Gabriela Silang, Corazon Aquino, among others.

Corazon Tomato Bag

Marcela Handbag

Lydia Round Bag with Fringes

Gabriela T-bag, my fave

Corazon Pouch with Pompoms

To make the collection standout all the more, the bags were modelled by gracefully poised muses decked in newspaper dresses fashioned by innovative young designers from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA).

Newspaper clad muses modeled the bags

About the Designer

Oliver Tolentino, one of the most celebrated international haute designers today, is a homegrown talent. He is known for promoting local fabrics and Filipino culture through his pieces. His recognitions include being named Designer of the Week in March 2011 at the Prestigious Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Springs, California, USA; winner of the Sustainable Eco Fashion Awards in 2010 at the Islands of the World Fashion Week in the Bahamas; and one of the finalists at the Oscar Designer Challenge in 2010, among others. His collections have been regularly featured in international glossies and have been worn by celebrities Cee Lo Green, Amber Riley, Kimora Lee Simmons, Vivica Fox, Patty Austin, Arnel Pineda, Lea Salonga, and others.

Global Pinoy Designer Oliver Tolentino

Me with the very down-to-earth Oliver Tolentino

About Rags2Riches

RIIR is am emerging global designer line that was initially established as a social business enterprise armed with a vision to uplift the poor community of Payatas. Now a global Filipino brand, RIIR is one of the most successful designer lines in the Philippines and Asia that promotes eco-ethical lifestyle through its products and business philosophy.

Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President of Rags2Riches

For more information on RIIR and the "MaKULAY" collection, log on to www.rags2riches.ph or check out their Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Rags2Riches-Inc.