The country celebrates today its 123rd year of independence – a full century and 23 years since Emilio Aguinaldo waved the country’s flag from the balcony of his home in Kawit, Cavite, signifying liberty from the Spaniards who colonized the Philippines for more than 300 years.
Filipinos have embraced their independence from foreign rule by exercising their freedoms. Some take to the streets and call out their oppressors, while others decide to use their presence online and raise awareness on the battles they wage.
And since we now live in the modern age, Filipinos use their online space to celebrate their nationality.
So aside from the usual parades and other festivities, Filipinos post artworks, historical facts, and memes to commemorate their independence and raise awareness about their cultural roots.
Doing so allows them to show how proud of how far they’ve come since then and exhibit their love for the country.
SUPPORTING LOCAL
But there’s another way that Filipinos show their love for their country and that’s by supporting local brands or businesses.
Over the years, Filipinos have shown their entrepreneurial skills as they have successfully established brands and businesses, no matter what the size, to help accomplish their goals. And with the support of their fellowmen, these objectives get realized promptly and efficiently.
Yet there’s more to supporting local products and services than just giving Filipino entrepreneurs a chance to exhibit their strengths and earn an income. Here are other reasons why Filipinos should support local businesses:
IMPROVES THE LOCAL ECONOMY
Local brands and businesses often work with local industries as well. As incorporators of a brand or business established locally, they know the satisfaction of being recognized by consumers. This is why they tend to support other industries in the same community, too.
Apart from being able to uplift each other, the money spent on goods or services tends to circulate in the same places, thus improving the economy of a particular area. So before you think about visiting a
multinational clothing brand or a foreign-owned fast food chain, try looking at other local options first.
CREATES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
We’re all familiar with the “Bayanihan” concept among Filipinos and how it fosters solidarity in a community. Supporting local businesses is a form of bayanihan, too. Local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), know how to anticipate the needs and wants of their customers, thus creating a connection that goes beyond the seller-customer relationship.
Other than this, local businesses are aware of the quality of product or service that their target market is looking for, which is why they strive to make sure that they give out their best and remain accountable at all times.
FOSTERS TRUST AMONG PEOPLE
For a local business to operate seamlessly, they would have to hire people from their community to get the job done. This gives individuals an opportunity to show their potential while being able to earn a profit from it or enjoy the fact that somebody trusted their skills and talents.
Hiring people from a local community also allows consumers to know the people behind the products and services that they’re buying, thus instilling in them a sense of trust that their demands can be met.
THREE LOCAL BRANDS TO CHECK OUT
In the Philippines, several local brands have been established over the years. While some were born for profit, others have different objectives such as raising awareness or creating an inclusive community.
For those who are searching for the right local brand to support, here are three names across various industries that are worth looking into:
MNL GROW KITS
During the past year, there has been a rise in the urban gardening trend. This is because the pandemic limited mobility for food transportation, causing people in cities to worry about their food security. As a way to overcome this challenge, people began growing food in their homes.
People clamored to find suppliers for seeds and other gardening materials. And to those who haven’t tried to grow their food just yet, they needed a way to start and learn.
MNL Growkits offers all-organic sow-and-grow kits that will guide users through the process of nurturing plants even without prior experience. The seeds they offer span from edibles to ornamental plants, making it an ideal steal for the wannabe “plantito” or “plantita” who wants to start gardening.
ELAIT
Who doesn’t love ice cream especially on a warm, sunny day? But for Elait, a Filipino-owned ice cream shop, the opportunity to sell the sweet confectionery allowed them to create an inclusive community as well.
PWDs have a hard time finding jobs in today’s world and Elait decided to change that notion by exclusively hiring employees who are hard of hearing. They communicate through sign language which allows the customers to get a glimpse of what it is like to be in their shoes.
This creates more awareness about the PWD community and gives them a chance to show people their skills in making artisanal rolled ice cream available on the store’s menu.
CANDID CLOTHING
When it comes to fashion, consumers look for brands that promote comfort as well as style. That’s where Candid Clothing comes in. The brand offers comfortable clothing for lounging, a casual stroll, and even chic looks without sacrificing the style that’s sure to captivate onlookers.
Another unique selling point of Candid Clothing is that it uses upcycled material that is transformed into top-quality fabric used to make their pieces. Consumers can proudly strut in their cozy clothes, knowing that they’ve supported a brand that considers the situation of the environment.
These three brands aren’t the only names that Filipinos should look out for since there are many other local brands and businesses that consumers should support.
Filipinos should be more than happy, not just on Independence Day, to show support to local businesses. By supporting these local names, Filipinos help empower their fellowmen, improve the local economy, and create strong communal ties with others.