Coca-Cola Pays Tribute to Women Micro-Retailers

Managing a sari-sari store at home is no easy task. It entails patience, lots of energy as you need to stay awake for long hours (with no siesta in between more often than not) and math skills. I should know because I have two sisters-in law (one here in Davao and another in GenSan) who own a sari-sari store and I've seen how busy their life is as they're always on their toes every day of the week.

Here in Davao, most sari-sari stores are managed by women and I admire them for their efforts to help augment their family income through this small business. Coca-Coca recognizes these enterprising women as well the reason why it recently gathered thousands of these women owners of sari-sari stores and eateries from Davao and Tagum cities for a day of fun, entertainment and learning at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gym. It was the first of its kind held in the city and carried this year's theme for women's month "We make change work for women."

A dance performance by a local dance group. 

Dubbed as "Coca-cola Sari-Saring Happiness Day," the event was organized by Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. together with TESDA, City Government of Davao, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Tagum City Council of Women (TCCWI) and was also aimed at recognizing the important contribution of these micro-retailers in the national economy.

The jampacked USEP gym.

  During the gathering, the target 40,000 scholars were also revealed. The event also saw the launch of the Philippine Association of Sari-sari Stores and Carenderia Owners (PASCO), an organization of women micro-retailers around the country. 

Women micro-retailers lining at booths to avail of freebies.

  Earlier, Coca-Cola created this Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program that held a Christmas Convention in six cities around the Philippines. Launched in 2012, STAR was a partnership between Coca-Cola Philippines, TESDA, and several microfinance institutions with a goal of providing women micro-entrepreneurs access to training and access to financial services to help them grow their business. STAR is part of Coca-Cola's global 5by20 Program with a mission of empowering 5 million women entrepreneurs by year 2020.