PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards

     There’s something deeply inspiring about mothers who quietly build dreams while taking care of their families at the same time. The kind of women who juggle business meetings between household chores, pack orders late at night, and continue showing up for their families while slowly building something meaningful of their own.

     That same spirit was celebrated at the recently concluded 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards by PLDT Home, honoring Filipino mompreneurs whose resilience, creativity, and determination continue to create positive impact within their communities.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards
Present during the celebration were (from left) John Y. Palanca, Senior Vice President and Head of Home Consumer Business, PLDT Inc.; Rosalyn Mesina, Country Programme Coordinator, UN Women; Sheena Marie Mallari, owner of Jakesheen Homemade Spreads; Lanie Abanes Geronimo, owner of Ecobum Cloth Diapers; Melanie Medrano, owner of Gramworth Enterprises Inc.; Elsie Espiritu, owner of Kamagong Woodworks; Rambie Go, owner of Rambie’s Collection; Ina Pineda, VP and Head of Marketing Communications, PLDT Home; and Cheryl Maxine Loyola, AVP and Head of Public Relations and Brand Advocacies, PLDT Home.

     Since launching in 2020, Gawad Madiskarte has grown into more than just an awards program. It has become a platform that recognizes mothers who successfully balance entrepreneurship and family life while inspiring other women to pursue their own dreams.

     Now celebrating its fifth year, the Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) community also introduced its empowering campaign, “Panahon Mo Na,” encouraging mothers to proudly embrace their identity as entrepreneurs after years of quietly building businesses behind the scenes.

     And honestly, I love how empowering and personal the message feels. Sometimes mothers spend so much time taking care of everyone else that they forget to acknowledge how far they’ve come themselves. Today, the Madiskarte Moms PH community has grown into a supportive network of over 227,000 members who continue to uplift one another through mentorship, shared experiences, and digital empowerment.

   PLDT Home also emphasized the importance of reliable connectivity in helping these women grow their businesses and manage everyday responsibilities at home.

At PLDT, we believe that reliable connectivity is a powerful enabler of growth. When mompreneurs are equipped with the right digital tools and supported by a strong community, they are able to expand their businesses, create opportunities, and uplift others,” shared Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr., PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer.

Honoring Heart, Creativity, and Purpose

     This year’s Gawad Madiskarte winners showcased inspiring businesses built not only with passion and creativity, but also with heart and purpose.

     The Diskarteng Fiber Biz award was given to Rambie Go of Rambie’s Collection, known for handcrafted accessories made from upcycled materials that promote sustainability while also creating livelihood opportunities for fellow mothers.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards

Diskarteng Fiber Biz winner, Rambie Go, with presenter and judge Prep Palacios, Google Country Manager and PLDT executives

     Meanwhile, Sheena Marie A. Mallari of Jakesheen’s Homemade Spreads received the Diskarteng Angat (Start-Up) award for her delicious and creamy yema spreads. Her message to fellow entrepreneurs felt especially encouraging: to stay positive, consistent, and continue moving forward despite challenges.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards

Diskarteng Angat (Start-Up) winner, Sheena Marie A. Mallari, with presenter and judge Melissa Yeung-Yap, CEO of Greenstone Pharmaceutical and PLDT executives

     For the Diskarteng Angat (Scale-Up) category, Melanie A. Medrano of Gramworth Enterprises Inc. was recognized for her healthy instant cacao drink products that also support local farmers through ethical trade practices.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards

Diskarteng Angat (Scale-Up) winner, Melanie A. Medrano, with presenter and judge Anna Meloto-Wilk, President and Co-Founder of Human Nature and PLDT executives

     One of the most touching stories during the event came from Lanie Abanes Geronimo of Ecobum Cloth Diapers, winner of the Diskarteng Eco-Friendly (Start-Up) award. Inspired by personal loss, she transformed grief into purpose by creating locally made cloth diapers designed to help prevent skin irritation among infants.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards

Diskarteng Eco-Friendly (Start-Up) winner, Lanie Abanes Geronimo, with presenter and judge Ces Oreña-Drilon, broadcast journalist and news anchor and PLDT executives

     Elsie Camille Espiritu of Kamagong Woodworkz also received the Diskarteng May Puso (Scale-Up) award for her mom-led handcrafted woodwork business. She shared how the Madiskarte Moms PH community inspired her to start again during one of the most difficult periods of the pandemic.

PLDT Home Celebrates Inspiring Mompreneurs at the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards
Diskarteng May Puso (Scale-Up) winner, Elsie Camille Espiritu, with presenters and judges Bernadette “Bidibidi” De Los Santos, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and PLDT executives

More Than Just an Awards Ceremony

     With over 200 nominations received this year, Gawad Madiskarte continues to highlight the creativity, innovation, and determination of Filipino mothers across different industries. Winners received cash prizes and specially designed trophies created by Filipino visual artist Eric Masangkay, while finalists were also recognized for their inspiring entrepreneurial journeys.

     What makes this initiative meaningful is how it goes beyond celebrating business success alone. It highlights stories of perseverance, community, and women empowering other women along the way.

     The distinguished panel of judges included leaders from PLDT, Google Philippines, Human Nature, Greenstone Pharmaceutical, Eskwelabs, and respected advocates from media and agriculture sectors, bringing valuable insight and experience in recognizing impactful businesses.

     More than anything, Gawad Madiskarte serves as a reminder that success is not only about profit or growth. Sometimes, it’s about creating opportunities for others, finding purpose through challenges, and continuing to move forward even when life feels difficult.

As Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. shared during the event: What makes a Madiskarte Mom remarkable is not how she succeeds when things are easy, but how she moves forward when they are not.”

     Mothers and aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to connect with a supportive community may join Madiskarte Moms PH and become part of a growing network that empowers women to thrive in business and in life.