A large group of women and a few men pose for a photo at the Women's Initiatives for Successful Entrepreneurs (WISE) forum in Antipolo City, Rizal, celebrating women across all sectors in collaboration with DTI Rizal and Converge ICT.

March 26, 2025, Antipolo City, Rizal | In celebration of Women’s Month, 112 MSMEs and potential MSMEs, gathered at Ynares Event Center in Antipolo City for the Women’s Initiatives for Successful Entrepreneurs (WISE) forum, a collaborative event hosted by DTI Rizal and Converge ICT Solutions.

The event was hosted by Mr. MJ Peñaranda of Converge, followed by an opening prayer by Ms. Rachelle Seña, owner of Trubox Marketing.

To officially open the activity, DTI Rizal Provincial Director Cleotilde Duran emphasized women’s resourcefulness as key to successful entrepreneurship.

To ormer Mayor Andeng Ynares, speaking on behalf of Antipolo Mayor Jun Ynares, shared her early entrepreneurial experience and stressed the importance of both intelligence and “diskarte.”

Gov. Nina Ricci Ynares also delivered an inspirational message, highlighting the value of making wise financial choices, seizing opportunities, and using skills, talent, and community knowledge to achieve success.

The first speaker, Ms. Rio Laine Bringuelo, Health & Wellness Manager at Converge ICT, discussed “Women in Business: Building Sustainable Success.” She introduced the “3Ss to Breakthrough”: State, Story, and Strategy. She emphasized the importance of physical and mental well-being for business success, encouraged rewriting limiting personal narratives, and stressed the need for a clear, actionable plan to achieve goals.

Ms. Abigail Ricohermoso, owner of Josefina’s Bicol Food Products Manufacturing, shared her inspiring journey during the talk “From Idea to Impact: Women Creating Successful Ventures.” What began as a simple gesture of bringing Bicol delicacies to Manila evolved into a thriving business. She credited various government and private sector programs—such as DTI’s OTOP, KMME, IDEAS Project, and DOST’s SETUP and GMP seminars—for fueling her growth. Now a GoNegosyo mentor and award-winning entrepreneur, she empowers local farmers by supplying taro seedlings and sourcing from them in return. Her advice: start where you are, welcome failure, build a strong support system, and stay consistent.

A group of people, mostly women, are standing in front of a banner that reads "DTI WISE WOMEN'S INITIATIVES FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR CONVERGE BUSINESS". Some of them are holding Converge bags.
Four women are standing behind a table displaying various food products in jars and containers. A colorful painting is visible in the background. The text "Rizal" and some names are also visible in the image.
Six women are sitting around a table with Converge materials, and a display of products is visible in the background. The image also includes text elements such as "CONVERGE," "flex BIZ," "Palokihin ang inyong bayad," and "MAN MULTI BRANCH."

Ms. Marivic Olegario recalled the seminar that inspired her to leave her day job and start Momilo Mio Food Ventures Inc., using her mother-in-law’s cheese pie recipe and a P50,000 loan from an aunt. In her talk, “Investing in Women: Fueling Economic Empowerment,” she emphasized how businesses uplift communities and shared her “EMPOWERED WOMAN” framework as a guide for both business and personal growth.

The final speaker, Ms. Rogelyn “Ghie” Pangilinan, shared her journey in “Her Story, Her Voice: Celebrating Women’s Economic Contributions.” With just P7,000 and her husband’s support, she started Speaks G Skin Essential as a one-woman business. It grew into Skin Magical, and they later launched Tea Talk, a franchise-based milk tea business and MagicalWorld Realty & Construction Corporation. To close her speech, she left these words to the participants – “If you’re afraid to start a business, take that first step. If you already have a business, help another woman succeed. If you have faced challenges, share your story and empower others”.

Ms. Sharon Dioco, Business Development Division Chief of DTI Rizal, concluded the program and expressed her gratitude to all the guests, participants, and partners who contributed to the success of the forum. ♦

Date of Release: 25 April 2025

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