PhilSTAR Media Group (PMG)’s NakakaLocal initiative has championed Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the past five years. From workshops to media activities, the program has provided smaller businesses with opportunities to showcase their products to a wider audience.
Three MSMEs share how the NakakaLocal initiative has helped their businesses flourish. Minnie’s cakes and pastries
For Minerva “Minnie” Flores, owner of Minnie’s Cakes and Pastries, baking began as a stress reliever. She wanted to create “Manila-quality cakes and pastries at Calamba prices.”
She eventually launched her business in 2019 after resigning from her job as an accounting supervisor. What started as a home baking venture slowly transformed into a business that participates in mall pop-ups and bazaars.
Flores joined one of NakakaLocal’s bazaars in 2025, hoping to increase her brand’s visibility beyond her hometown.
“It also boosted our confidence as a growing MSME because we saw how people appreciated locally made products,” Flores says. “Beyond sales, the program opened doors to valuable connections, collaborations and learning experiences with fellow entrepreneurs.”
She adds, “NakakaLocal contributed significantly by helping increase our visibility, strengthen our credibility as a proudly Filipino brand, and introduce Minnie’s to communities we may not have reached on our own.”
TBH cosmetics
TBH Cosmetics takes pride in its science-backed and trend-driven products designed specifically for Filipino consumers.
Owner and founder Resty Nuegas was not supposed to enter the beauty industry. Thanks to his wife, who loves lip products, he leveraged his chemical engineering background to experiment with formulations.
What started as personal curiosity eventually grew into a business as they officially launched TBH Cosmetics. Nuegas launched the brand in 2025. He has already joined several NakakaLocal events to showcase TBH Cosmetics to more people.
“Through NakakaLocal, TBH Cosmetics has already showcased our products in various malls and event spaces across Metro Manila,” Nuegas says. “These experiences became very important milestones for our brand because they allowed us to introduce TBH Cosmetics to more Filipinos in a more personal and interactive way.”
NakakaLocal’s strong support for Filipino entrepreneurs and local creativity is what drew Nuegas to join the program.
“As a growing beauty brand, we wanted to be part of a community that genuinely uplifts MSMEs and gives local businesses a platform to grow,” he posits.
“NakakaLocal created opportunities for brands like ours to stand alongside other inspiring Filipino businesses and proudly showcase what we can offer.”
Tsokorado: the champorado station
When Gerome Malijan, founder and co-owner of Tsokorado: The Champorado Station, started the business, his purpose was clear: to give the traditional Filipino champorado a more modern, exciting and premium twist while keeping it affordable.
For Malijan, one of the business’s biggest milestones came when it went viral just three weeks after opening. This happened following a series of posts from content creators such as Bea Borres.
“It was honestly overwhelming, but in the best way possible, because we never expected to receive that much love and support so early in our journey,” Malijan says.
Tsokorado: The Champorado Station’s first NakakaLocal event was the NakakaLocal Food Fest in Marikina; fitting for a Marikina-based business.
They even won the NakakaTamis Award at the event. The recognition gave them a huge confidence boost, especially as a new player in the food business.
“When we discovered that PhilSTAR Media Group had a program that supports MSMEs through NakakaLocal events, we saw it as a great opportunity to introduce Tsokorado to more people,” Malijan says.
“Since joining bazaars can be expensive nowadays, programs like this are really a big help for MSMEs like us,” he adds.
“We also appreciate the mentorship sessions because we get fresh ideas, learn from other entrepreneurs, and hear their real-life struggles and wins, which makes the journey feel more relatable and encouraging.”
Why community matters
NakakaLocal has mounted numerous events and partnered with multiple MSMEs. Throughout the years, the program has promoted one important concept: community.
The three entrepreneurs echo this sentiment as they share how the NakakaLocal community has empowered them.
Flores: “The NakakaLocal community created an environment where MSMEs genuinely support one another instead of competing. During events, entrepreneurs would share tips, encourage each other, and even help promote one another’s booths online.”
Malijan: “We have seen how proactive and supportive the NakakaLocal team is, and as MSME owners, we really felt cared for and appreciated. Programs like this give small businesses like ours another leg to stand on, especially while we continue to face economic challenges.”
Nuegas: “NakakaLocal creates spaces where Filipino entrepreneurs can thrive together instead of feeling isolated. It bridges businesses, consumers, creatives, media and communities into one ecosystem that uplifts local talent.”