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.

First Pomelo Festival

This event is long overdue and I'm very thankful that the City Government of Davao was able to finally launch the first ever Pomelo Festival this year. Being a top producer of pomelo, it is just fitting that the city holds this festival each year to celebrate this delicious and sweet citrus fruit.

Pomelo is one of my favorite fruits and in fact, my Nanay told me that she was so fond of it while still pregnant with me. And of all the pomelos I've tasted, the ones produced in Davao are, I must say, the best tasting ever.

The Pomelo Festival in Davao City was officially launched last April 9 as part of the Visit Davao Fun Sale campaign. Its primary goal is to promote the production and export of the locally grown pomelo. Currently, the major pomelo producers in the city are Nenita Farms, Davao Golden Pomelo, Inc., HellenCabalida, Sheba Marie Elefante and Rosemarie Ambay.

SM Lanang Premier is the main venue of this event and a bonus here every weekend is the Eat-All-You-Can promo that gives fruit and pomelo lovers an opportunity to enjoy their favorite citrus fruit for a minimal fee of Php100.

There will also be live demos by certified chefs to show culinary enthusiasts the ways to spice up their dishes using the pomelo fruit.

The Pomelo Festival is being supported by the Department of Tourism through its Flavors of the Philippines campaign, the Davao Pummelo Stakeholders Association, Inc., Departments of Agriculture (DA), Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as Science and Technology (DOST).