“Real stories of progress inspire more progress, and that’s how this becomes a movement.”
In celebration of MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises) Month in July, one of the country’s leading finance apps honored the MSME sector, widely regarded as the backbone of the Philippine economy.
As part of its digital series, GCash rolled out its latest feature in Bacolod City on July 30, showcasing the story of an inspiring business owner, Rhea Inayan, from Negros Occidental.
READ: ‘Pangarap mo, simulan mo’: Small business owners honored in tribute video
Inayan first opened Tatti Boutique in 2008, but was forced to close it due to illness during the pandemic. In 2023, with only P10,000 capital, she made a comeback through a pop-up shop in City Mall Mandalagan in Bacolod.
After two years, she now operates two GCash Pera Outlet branches in a mall, a business center in Barangay Bata, and has also reopened her boutique in Barangay Mandalagan, among others.
“In GCash, we really believe that small businesses will be the ones to make a big change to our economy. And through GCash Pera Outlet, our hope is that we don’t only enable businesses, but we’ll also enable financial inclusivity for the whole Philippines,” Barbie Dapul, Chief Operations Officer of G-Xchange Inc., said.
The e-wallet giant acknowledged that the MSME is one of the most vital sectors in the Philippine economy, noting that 99% of business establishments are MSMEs, which provide about 63% of employment in the country.
“We also saw that a large majority of Filipinos now prefer to become entrepreneurs instead of being employees. Kailangan lang nila ng tamang suporta. While there is growing interest, we have to face the sad reality that it’s hard to be a small business owner here in the Philippines,” Lourdes Batac, GCash Head of Communications Strategy, shared during the film’s launch.
The finance app also highlighted that the real-life stories of Filipinos have the power to uplift and ignite change. This creates a ripple effect that inspires people and evolves into a movement.
“We believe that real stories, big or small, are worth telling because they’re stories of hope amidst setbacks, of rising up against all odds, of really progressing in life despite everything going on… Real stories of progress inspire more progress, and that’s how this becomes a movement,” Neil Trinidad, Chief Marketing Officer of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, said.
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Editor’s note: The tour to Bacolod was hosted by GCash. At no stage does the host organization have a say on the stories generated from the coverage, interviews conducted, publication date and story treatment. Content is produced solely by Interaksyon following editorial guidelines.
