Coca-Cola PH shares “Sari-Saring Happiness Day” in Pampanga

By: Catherine Lou P. Perez

Last Saturday, (November 08,2014) I was invited to attend the “Coca-Cola Sari-saring Happiness Day in Brgy. Maimpis, San Fernando Pampanga. The said event coincides with the first year anniversary of Yolanda.To be in one with our kababayan’s resiliency a simple candle light memorial tribute was held. The lighting of the coca-cola parols was a simultaneous event  in Taguig, Batangas, Bacolod, Tacloban,Davao and Pampanga around 8:00 in the evening.

I just want to share some highlights of the Sari-Saring Happiness Day in Pampanga:

C-hilled with a Coke

My commute from Angeles City to Brgy. Maimpis,San Fernando wasn’t the usual smooth and relax ride.Patience was very valuable to me that day.As I registered, the staff approached me with a warm welcome and a bottle of coke inside my coca-cola eco bag token.Truly,”a bottle of coke a day keeps the bad trip away.”hehe.

O-n Making a Difference for Pinay micro-entreprenuers

I was inspired by the Global Vision of the Coca-cola company. The 5 by 20 Program. The simple goal is to empower 5 Million women entrepreneurs by the year 2020.The STAR (Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources) program made it possible for women micro entrepreneurs to have access to training and financial resources so that they can grow their small sari-sari stores to big businesses someday. As Zig ziglar quoted it, “You don’t need to be great to start but you have to start to be great!.”

C-herished the STARS

It was my first time to catch a glimpse of how Gretchen Ho, Enchong Dee and Jessica Reynoso shines the night for everyone. I loved the way Gretchen Ho hosted the event with confidence and spontaneity by herself. I loved how Enchong Dee (My sister’s crush) would naturally reached out to the kapampangans with his singing prowess. I felt the sincerity when he said that the food here in Pampanga really tastes good. He can’t forget the “Betute” (Stuffed Frog) that was served to him. Well, we can’t forget him too, that was his chinito problem.hehe.Lastly, I loved how Jessica Reynoso (product of the Voice Philippines) rocked the night with her singing talent. I got last song syndrome (LSS) with the song “Rolling in the Deep”of Adele on my way home.

A-mazed by the PAROLS

The coca-cola parol was the first one to get my attention that day. I am really fascinated by its uniqueness and simple creativity. It reminds me that we can afford to have a simple yet HAPPY CHRISTMAS. How I wished we could have them lighten our Brgy Remedian  in Angeles City.Among the christmas decors, I  agree that “Pinoy na Pinoy nga ang Parol.”With the aim of bringing christmas closer to communities like the barangay. Coca-cola philippines launched the “Make your own Coca-cola parol contest”. It is open until November 30,2014. The Top 25 Best Looking parols will receive a christmas salu-salo package for their respective barangays. For more information visit http://www.coca-cola.com.ph or the official facebook page of Coca-Cola Philippines.

Coca-Cola 5by20 Empowers Pampanga Women Entrepreneurs

Coca-Cola 5by20

Coca-Cola 5by20 was held at Holy Angel University Gym, Angeles City, Pampanga last Monday, October 20, 2014.

The following is all about Coca-Cola 5by20:

"Coca-Cola 5by20

• 5by20 is Coca-Cola's global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across the company's value chain by 2020. Through 5by20, Coca-Cola addresses the most common barriers women face to succeed in the marketplace.

• The initiative offers women access to business skills training courses, financial services, and connections with peers or mentors--along with confidence that comes with building a successful business.

• There are 5by20 programs launched in a total to 12 countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Haiti, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, and Thailand. At the end of 2012, approximately 300,000 women were impacted in total through the initiative."

Reynor Mercado, owner of of Rain’s Carinderia and Eatery near Pampang Market at San Francisco, Angeles City, Pampanga has learned how to grow her business, how to minimize expenses, and said it is important to list what you get from your store or business from the said training and seminar from Coca-Cola Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Reynor, a former OFW, has been managing her eatery on and off since 2005.  She said she grew up in a family managing their own eatery, also. "Minimize debtors, be strict and limit those who get store items as "utang" or debt. Be hands-on in managing business." These were Reynor's own words or answer when asked what was the most striking lesson she learned in the Coca-Cola 5by20 seminar-training.  

While Joselyn Catchin, proprietor of Palma's Sari-Sari Store at Fil-Am Highway Angeles City, Pampanga for more than three years is also a former OFW has learned bookkeeping, marketing and management of business, and effective communication between owners and customers. She is grateful to Coca-Cola for having the STAR Program of Coca-Cola 5by20 wherein women business owners and entrepreneurs have become empowered by the knowledge they have gained and learned more about financial management.

The Coca-Cola STAR Program is a global commitment of Coca-Cola Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) who both signed a Memorandum of Agreement last July 19, 2011 to develop a program that will build up and raise the business knowledge and skills of eager women sari-sari store owners and small business operators. Thus, the program was named Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources. (STAR). The STAR Program provides women sari-sari store owners and small business entrepreneurs with training, access to financial support, have access to merchandising materials and store assets, and social development activities. It runs from 2012 to 2020, hopefully reaches and targets 100,000 women sari-sari store owners and entrepreneurs throughout the country.