Filipina Entrepreneurs is one of the first series I ever wrote on A Momma Abroad. As I began to assimilate and create a barkada I learned from Filipina friends how many were small business owners. I am still in awe of the entrepreneurial spirit that exist in Filipinas. They have an idea and chase after it! During this series I like to showcase a handful of selected Filipina entrepreneurs and their stories. I hope you are as inspired as I am. You can read other pieces from this series here, here and here.

The Artist Scientist 

First up is my creative girl, Rache De Luna, of The Artist Scientist. If you didn't notice already, A Momma Abroad got a fancy new make over thanks to brilliant Rache. Rache fuses her precision and creativity together to perfectly execute your dream brand and website.  I asked Rache to share a little bit about how she jumped the gap from engineer to digital artist. What she shares below is the inspiration and magic I find in Filipina entrepreneurs. 

Check out more of Rache's work here. 

One Earth Organics 

As you have probably noticed I ain't a skin care girl but now that I have reached my 30's and live in Asia where they practice amazing skin care I decided to give it a go. I recently attended the celebration of a small start up, One Earth Organics, launch into the big league Beauty Bar. Tyff Short’s success story is worthy of a listen and leaves you chasing big dreams. Her story was that of a Call Center Executive Assistant by day and skin care guru by night. Feeling helpless with the options on the market she pulled her hair up and got to work creating her own organic skin care line. Instagram and Facebook carried her dreams along until she pulled her big break with the bizarre phenomenon, “Under Arm Therapy” which is essentially armpit whitener. This rolled out the popular hashtag, #kilikiliselfie and brought a community together. Tyff started with small desire for down to earth good skin care products and is now booming in Beauty Bar’s across the country. Did I mention she is a single mother? For all of this I say, “You go girl!”

Every night for the past month I have religiously been slathering rosehip oil on my dark spots in hopes to lighten those suckers up. I am always amazed that while I am rubbing oil on my face it doesn't feel nor leave a greasy residue. PSA: the deodorant is the bomb! For any of you health nuts out there, the Antibac Deo Spray contains absolutely no aluminum or other junk metals you don't want seeping into your body. I have tried a number of natural deodorants and this is the only one that keeps the stink away and doesn't put harmful ingredients in my body. 

Thanks Sheila for taking the only portraits I have had in the last ten years. 

Mommy Mundo's Momfluence

Mommy Mundo is the ultimate mommy community for mothers all over the country. The mission of Mommy Mundo is to support, inspire, connect and journey with you through motherhood. Founded by Filipina Entrepreneru, Janice Villanueva, saw a need for mothers to come together and support and share through workshops, forums, events and activities. She has also curated the leading mommy expo with only the best handpicked products and resources to support parents and families on their journeys. Janice has created a market for mothers to access a selection of health professionals, baby carriers, children's literature, postpartum products and educational toys to name a few. I love how she explained the mission of the Momfluence Network.

“When we become mothers, we naturally become influencers. We not only influence the lives of our children, but we also influence the lives of those around us – our helpers at home, our colleagues at work, our friends, our neighbors, our community. We want to make the world a better place for our children, so naturally we want to do our part in making that better world happen. But because of your unique place and standing, you take your influence a step further, a step out of your home and onto the homes of thousands of others. And it truly fills our heart with joy when we see you make use of your reach and influence to communicate proper information, support worthwhile causes, champion critical advocacies, and help create positive change. That’s purposeful influence – using your talents and abilities to help make the world a better place for our children and our children’s children”

Celebrating and fiestas are such an ingrained practice in Filipino culture it is only proper that such an event would be decked out so beautifully. Held at Diamond Residences Makati, I felt whisked away for an afternoon of kid free Amber time. I actually pulled out the triple threat: hair, make up and clothes on. I know, it was a big deal. 

One of the best reads I have come across in terms of blogging is Design*Sponge's State Of The Blog Union 2017. She covers blog dynamics in what blogging looks like now, the financial eco system and the reality that we don't know what it will even look like in two months. My favorite words of wisdom she shared resonated so deep with me.