By: Zara Carbonell
Happy Independence day, Philippines! And happy independence day to all the Filipina Women all over the world. Today, we celebrate our sovereignty as a nation and give a round of applause to all the Filipinas who have been raising our flag through their endeavors.
The Filipino culture is embedded with so many colors and tales for us to share and be proud of. And as we take forward strides together, let’s take the time to acknowledge those who wear the Philippine colors on their sleeves. Let’s hear it for these 5 Filipina Women who have been telling the Filipino story from where they stand!
Bea Tan
Founder, Beach Volleyball Republic
It’s no secret that the Philippines is home to the world’s most pristine beaches. From white sand to crystal waters, to the warmth of Filipinos. That, plus a great show of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and love for volleyball is what you’re served at Beach Volleyball Republic.
BVR was founded in 2015 and has brought local tourism to life through sports. Just imagine, athletes from all over the country travel to a beach to play a sport they all love. And when they’re not serving spikes or blocks, they’re mingling with locals and learning about the country’s well-kept secrets. How’s that for a getaway?
Founder, Bea Tan, tells us that BVR is founded on the value of creating a space for athletes. In fact, “It’s a republic because it’s for its people. For the athletes; by the athletes. We create a community of passionate individuals willing to grow the game in the Philippines.”
Being an athlete herself, Bea knew the level of blood sweat and tears people put to grow in their sport. She also knew how hard it was to transition from being a college athlete to a professional athlete, especially when there are limited leagues to transition to.
“As an athlete myself I see how other athletes get marginalized and taken advantage of, or worse, waste pure talent because of the lack of support and avenue to get better.”
If you can’t find what you were looking for, create it – that’s exactly what Bea Tan did!
And if you ever wanted to leave this beautiful archipelago, BVR is here to give you a hundred reasons to stay.
Yuki Higson
Founder, Style Cat
If you ever doubted the fashionability of a good old bayong, think again! Style Cat does wonders in making us, ladies, feel like a modern (and chic!) Maria Clara.
Founder, Yuki Higson, tells us that Style Cat started as a solution to her travel dilemma. She and her husband love to discover beautiful beaches around the world and she often struggles with finding a bag that doesn’t end up collecting sand, will break with salt water, and one that fits all her beach needs (because sunblock reapplication is a must!). She needed a bag that was beach-proof, fashionable, and affordable at the same time – and that’s how Style Cat was born.
Style Cat has gone a long way from its beautiful bayongs. To date, its collection has expanded to headwraps, woven hats, swimwear, resort wear, and even accessories! Not only does it give Filipina women access to fashionable items, but it provides jobs to Filipino artisans all over the Philippines, too.
Style Cat is living proof of how beautiful the Filipino culture truly is. It reminds us to keep the Filipino craftsmanship alive for our generation and those to come so they, too, may enjoy all the colors our heritage brings.
“I am a proud Filipino business owner because we have rich resources here in our country and very talented people. We are capable of producing world-class products that we should be proud of.”
And as world-class products are meant to be shown all over the world, that’s exactly where Yuki Higson is taking Style Cat.
“We are very proud of the Filipino craftsmanship and the products Filipinos can make. Now, Style Cat is being stocked in 5 countries!”
We are so proud of you, Yuki!
Gelie Dela Pena
Founder, Pranalaya Wellness Studio
As Filipino women, we have grown up understanding that there is no “template” to being Filipina. We come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. While the Filipino culture is vast in diversity and experience, we are held together by our values. That love for diversity is what the Pranalaya Wellness Studio fosters.
Wellness is a growing industry and while it’s common in big cities, it’s a newer concept for more far-flung areas. In fact, when it was founded, it was the first and only wellness studio in Baguio! Founder, Gelie Dela Pena, shares how yoga has gotten her through her life’s toughest moments and that’s what inspired her to share this with other Filipino women.
“Our community embraces cultural diversity, which is a very Filipino characteristic. We are all so diverse in heritage, ethnicity, and traditions. We welcome that as much as we can.”
Being the wellness pioneer in Baguio, Pranalaya offers a wide selection of yoga classes such as: Ashtanga Yoga Mysore, Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Core Yoga, Inside Flow Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and even anti gravity fitness! All these and more await their students. So, whether you’re new to yoga or are experienced there’s surely a class you’d love.
Aside from yoga, the Pranalaya Wellness Studio is also a partner venue to a lot of wellness programs. They’ve held programs on Theta healing, Neurolinguistic Programming, and Self-empowerment workshops, among others.
“I stand tall as a Filipino Business Owner because of the hard work, integrity, and service that my elders have dedicated before me. To be part of a Filipino legacy, Bayanihan” or looking out for each other is a core value we share in Pranalaya.”
And “Bayanihan” is definitely something we should continue to hone among Filipino women.
Mia Jeanjaquet
Founder, Arete PH and Jeanjaquet
“Sometimes I still can’t believe that something that came from my mind can turn into designs that Filipina women can wear and feel good about. It’s a Filipina creating for other Filipina women and there’s something so special about that.” – Mia Jeanjaquet
Aside from the fact that Arete PH and Jeanjaquet show how far a woman’s passion for something can grow, it also serves as a light for other women who are not as privileged. With every purchase from these businesses, underprivileged housewives and teenmoms are taught basic and advanced skills, then employed. Founder, Mia Jeanjaquet makes it a point to grow this community of underprivileged women as her business grows to keep extending opportunities to those in need.
It’s summer all year round in the Philippines and this is what drives the aesthetic of Mia Jeanjaquet’s brands. From her Island-Wear apparel to her accessories, both brands aim to celebrate Filipino handwork, materials and creativity. In fact, every collection showcases native materials from all over the Philippines. From mother of pearl, to rattan, to ceramic pieces, Mia always finds beautiful ways to integrate the Filipino culture to modern-day fashion.
“I take so much pride in knowing and seeing customers wear my creations with the biggest smiles.”
What you do is definitely something to be proud of. Looking forward to your next collections!
Tish Sevilla
Founder, 21Tish
Some people are lucky enough to know exactly what they want to be at a very young age and that’s the story of Tish Sevilla. Coming from a family in the garment-making business, Tish was exposed to the processes of manufacturing products. From Barbie to other Mattel products, you name it, she’s seen them made first -hand.
All that exposure is probably how she developed a love for it. She then used her experience to create something that fulfilled her – bags and shoes! Aside from being wonderfully made, her brand’s products are the epitome of resilience. Much like Filipinos, her products stand the test of time and have proven themselves getting better through the years. With shoes and bags this reliable, it’s no surprise she’s the go-to brand of the most powerful and influential women in the country! From politicians to big-time celebrities, down to medical experts, they’ve got her number on speed dial! After all, nothing says empowered better than your perfect pair of heels.
Aside from being handcrafted by local artisans, 21Tish also educates its customers of the FIlipino culture by incorporating local symbolic references like the Anahaw, which is our national leaf, into its designs.
“In an industry dominated by international brands, it is fulfilling and also quite humbling that a local shoemaker like me is able to catch up.”
Thanks to entrepreneurs like Tish Sevilla, we can proudly raise Filipino craftsmanship to the rest of the world – confident that we are well-represented!
