CFP’S YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS MADE IT TO THE TOP FIVE WINNERS AT ‘BPI SINAG ACCELERATE 2017’

“I’m so blessed to be called ina (mother) by these gifted women. They have been undergoing inclusive development and entrepreneurial management training with me for the past two years.” Joji Felicitas Pantoja, CEO, Coffee For Peace, Inc.

Two of the young inclusive development leaders we’re training — Sihaya Ansibod (Erumanen Menuvu, North Cotabato) and Twinkle Alngag Bautista (Sumacher, Kalinga) — competed with other leading young entrepreneurs from across the country, representing Coffee For Peace at the BPI Sinag Accelerate 2017’s social entrepreneurial booth camp. Last 10 November 2017, their business plan made it to the Top Five Winners with a cash prize of PhP500,000 (around C$12,000).

“BPI Sinag,” according to their website, “caters to entrepreneurs of all ages looking to make a difference. Created to discover, equip, and empower social entrepreneurs who can help uplift Filipino communities, this year’s BPI Sinag will focus on enabling these entrepreneurs to scale-up and expand, so they can further deepen their impact in community development. With this in mind, BPI Sinag Year Three will go beyond holding an enterprise competition and bootcamp, and move into building a social enterprise ecosystem.”

Based on Sihaya’s and Tala’s business plan, the award money will be used as part of Coffee For Peace’s capital to expand our post harvest processing plant among the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribal community in Barangay Managa at Mt Apo.

They are seen being recognized for their accomplishment in the official video of PBI Sinag Foundation (13:25) below.