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| DR. Cherrie Melanie Ancheta-Diego, Commission on Higher Education in Region 1 director leads the opening of exhibit of women entrepreneurs in Ilocos Norte at the Mariano Marcos State University-Teatro Ilocandia in Batac City on May 24. Assisting Ms. Diego is Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, Vice President for Research and Extension of the Mariano Marcos State University and Zenaida Balisacan, focal person of the University Center for Gender and Development. Looking on are the participants in the forum to promotewomen enterprise development in the province. (Lei Adriano) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Batac City—Over 200 women entrepreneurs show their strength as they gathered at the Mariano Marcos State University Teatro Ilocandia, this city to share their experiences and at the same time, exhibit their world-class products.
Featuring at least five successful women entrepreneurs and one women organization being assisted by the MMSU extension department, the forum and exhibit aims to empower more women to engage themselves in business enterprise. They are: Edita Dacuycuy, owner of REFMAD dragon farm and resort in Burgos; Agnes Asuncion, proprietor of Agnes dragon fruit herbal soap in Currimao; Sara Dabucon of SCUPYND’s food products who is engaged in rice coffee making business in Banna; Suerte Mia Soriano of Lucky Theo’s Food Products in Binacag, Banna; Purisima Torralba of Shernick Dragon Fruit Herbal Soap in Badoc; and the women organization behind the shellcraft-making in Pagudpud town.
Each of them has a unique and inspiring story to tell with a common goal of helping more women to rise above the challenge of poverty and become active partners of development in their respective communities.
Ranging from a variety of processed food products such as seaweed noodles, baked products, yam cheesecake, mango jam, dragon fruit tea, wine and rice coffee among others, shellcraft making and a whole lot more, Dr. Cherrie Melanie Diego, Director of the Commission on Higher Education who served as guest of honor and speaker lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of women in Ilocos Norte which makes them at par with male counterparts.
“Women now are on the rise. What a man can do, a woman can also do. Women are no longer in the margins and not a subject of stereotyping because we have become active partners of society and not just recipient of a society,” Ms. Diego said as she recalled the days when women were apparently left behind because they are not part of the economic agenda.
However, with the promotion of gender and development, women became more empowered as they now share the same rights as men. Among these include the right to make own choices, the right to take control of oneself and the right to become partners of development.
After the opening of exhibit and testimonies from women entrepreneurs, the participants were also given actual demonstrations and tips on how to process various food products which they may also apply when they go back home or if ever they may wish to pursue a new business.