Five Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were recognized for their business growth, use of technology, job creation, community impact, and innovation at the inaugural DITO BizBayani Awards.
The five winners were selected from a Top 25 shortlist, which was narrowed down from more than 500 nominations nationwide during a 10-week search for outstanding Filipino MSMEs.
“These five winners, and the twenty-five finalists they represent, are proof of something we’ve believed since DITO entered this market: that the boldest builders in this country are not always the ones with the most resources, but the ones with the most conviction,” said Atty. Adel Tamano, Chief Revenue Officer of DITO Telecommunity, in his welcome remarks.
The winners include businesses in food, education, coffee farming, employment, and technology, showing how smaller companies are creating jobs, serving local communities, and using digital tools to grow.
Bobby Adan of Prutasan ni Adan won the BizBayani in Growth Excellence Award, presented in partnership with DTI. What began as a roadside fruit stand in Cebu in 2017 has grown into a specialty grocery store with eight-digit monthly sales and direct international sourcing of premium produce.
Felix Veroya of Ask Lex PH Academy (ALPHA) received the BizBayani in Digital Impact Award, presented with GCash. Founded in 2016 as a training and consulting firm, ALPHA shifted into an EdTech social enterprise during the pandemic. It has since served more than 100,000 graduates through a learning platform with more than 35,000 registered users.
Anna Magalona-Go of But First, Coffee won the BizBayani in Employer Excellence Award, presented with Jobstreet. The business started in 2020 as a one-woman pandemic startup and has grown to a corporate team of 150-200 employees, generating more than 1,000 jobs through its franchise network.
Ariestelo Asilo of Varacco received the BizBayani in Industry Impact Award, presented with PCCI. Its Coffee Based Farming Entrepreneurship Engagement Program supports 100 coffee farmers across seven communities. The company produces about 100 tons of coffee annually and is developing Mindanao’s first certified mother tree garden for the industry.
Rio Pomer of St. Pio, developer of the Bridges Autism App, won the BizBayani in Innovations Award, presented with PAIBA. The AI-powered platform combines therapy tools, progress tracking, and community support for Filipino families raising children with autism.
The awards were held in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), GCash, Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines, the Philippine Council for Small and Medium Businesses (PCSMB), the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), DCME Holdings, and Philippine AI Business Association (PAIBA).
Each winner received a trophy handcrafted by artisans from Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. The trophy was carved from Basudan wood, shaped after the Sarimanok, and inlaid with mother of pearl.
For DITO, the awards are intended to become an ongoing program supporting MSMEs.
“The BizBayani Awards were never meant to be a one-time celebration. They are a reflection of what we see every day in our work with MSMEs, entrepreneurs who innovate not because it’s trendy, but because their communities need them to,” said Gabby Cui, head of MSME at DITO BizBayan.