Nine of the country’s most distinguished businesswomen have been recognized at the Asean Women Entrepreneurs Network’s Asean Women Entrepreneur Award ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand.
Lauded at the event for their exemplary business practices were Cherrie Atilano of Agrea Agricultural Systems International, Natividad Cheng of Uratex Group of Companies,
Imelda Ahalul-Dagus of Dennis Coffee Garden, Maria Montserrat Iturralde-Hamlin of TeamAsia, Octavia Hizon of Hizon’s Restaurant & Catering Services, Jeannie Javelosa of Great Women Philippines Corp. and ECHOstore, Edilee Omoyon of Milea Bath & Body Wellness Essentials, Olive Puentespina of Malagos Farmhouse and Carlota Manalo-Tan of Wendy’s Philippines.
AWEN established the Asean Women Entrepreneur Award to honor outstanding entrepreneurs who champion fair, gender-sensitive labor practices for women and have made an impact in society through their commitment, vision, and leadership. Asean member states established AWEN to serve as women’s voice for policy-making in economic empowerment and social issues.
Philippines Women Entrepreneurs Network, the Philippines’ leading women’s network, served as AWEN’s focal point in the past two years. As AWEN leadership is rotated among Asean member states, it is Thailand’s turn to be chair for 2018 to 2020.
Pacita Juan, the founder of ECHOstore and a staunch green growth and coffee advocate, has been the chair of AWEN since 2016. Juan, in collaboration with co-chair Aurora “Boots” Garcia, established a model coalition of women’s business organizations through PhilWEN. This served as a model for Thailand’s AWEN-Thailand and Cambodia’s CamWEN. Singapore, the 2018 Asean chair, has long established its network called Singapore Council of Women’s Organizations. Other member states are in the process of organizing similar coalitions.
During the Philippines’ 2017 Asean hosting, AWEN participated in the Asean Business Advisory Council Joint Business Councils meeting. This resulted in the signing of the Action Agenda to mainstream Women’s Economic Empowerment.