AWE PH Summit 2025: Real Stories of Women Who Dared to Dream

The women I met at the AWE Philippines Summit 2025 aren’t just building businesses; they’re employing other women, uplifting communities and redefining what’s possible in entrepreneurship

“It’s not just about increasing visibility—it’s also about making an impact.” 

I sat there in awe and delight as I listened to Kookie Reyes, one of the seven most notable graduates of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), representing the cohort Manila. She founded the Touch of Green MNL, a business that budded from her love of plants. Her entrepreneurship journey wasn’t easy. She started from ground zero and faced mental health struggles while navigating the uncertainties of building a business during the pandemic. But despite the adversities, she overcame her battles and emerged successful. Today, as she continues to grow her enterprise, she also advocates for mental health awareness, turning her struggles into a platform for change.

Meanwhile, Corrs Valenton from Quezon City, the founder of Corrsy’s Kitchen, shared her thoughts on the fears of scaling a business. “There’s no other way but to go up. It might scare you, yes, but you just have to push. And you’ll be surprised to see the support that was there all along.” Losing her job in the midst of the pandemic was devastating, but this setback reshaped her perspective and led to creating yummy spreads, jams and other delectable products that people love. She has just opened her third branch in SM City Bacoor.

Then there’s Shaina Besa from Bohol—a housewife and creative baker who started her small business baking cakes and pastries in a tiny corner of her family’s kitchen. “I used up my savings and a small space in the kitchen to start my business, CakeZ&CraftZ,” she shared. She never let limited resources or circumstances stand in the way of reaching her dreams.

And hats off to Maria Ramona “Moonyeen” Moleño, the Iloilo-based founder of Looms of Life who participated in AWE Bacolod, for uplifting and supporting housewives in dire need during the pandemic. She cleverly devised a business plan that not only showcased her sophisticated boleros and couture creations but also employed other women, enabling them to earn income and support their families as demand for her wonderful creations grew.

These amazing women were part of the 100 participants from across the country, carrying stories of passion, resilience, innovation and ingenuity. I was fortunate to be part of the Bohol cohort and to attend the prestigious AWE Philippine Summit 2025 in Quezon City, Philippines.

A Summit Made Possible by Partnership

A heartfelt shoutout to the sponsors who made this event possible: the US Embassy in the Philippines, American Spaces Philippines, SPARK Philippines, J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), DTI Philippines, and the Quezon City Government. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the full support of the Local Government Units (LGUs) of each cohort.

Providing opportunities like this to women from all walks of life has been a game-changer and I hope to see more of these movements flourish across the country soon. Every entrepreneur deserves support, recognition and further training to thrive in their business journey.

An AWEsome Experience Together

The summit began with an opening ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines with H.E. MaryKay Carlson (Ambassador, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines), Hon. Grace Baluyan (Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry), Hon. Joy Belmonte (Mayor, Quezon City), and Mikaela Luisa Teves (Executive Director, SPARK! Philippines).

Following this prestigious event were insightful workshops and opportunities to connect with participants from seven cohorts: Bacolod, Baguio, Bohol, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Quezon City, and Zamboanga. We also spent an enriching day touring SPATIO in Opus Mall and the Quezon City Memorial Center, followed by a quick visit to the Maginhawa Food Community—a closer look at the inspiring grassroots movement that supported small businesses during the pandemic.

This summit was the perfect platform for participants across the country to expand their networks, exchange fresh ideas with fellow cohorts and learn from the best. The event culminated in a three-day bazaar at Gateway Mall 1 from August 1 to 3, 2025, showcasing products and services born from the ingenuity, grit and creativity of women entrepreneurs nationwide.

Beyond the workshops and panels, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Metro Manila as a first-timer in Cubao. We stayed at Novotel Manila Araneta City, right beside the iconic Araneta Coliseum and Gateway Mall—talk about convenient! The area was filled with malls and attractions, including the whimsical Art in Island museum just a few blocks away. Our group also ventured out to see the famous Venice Grand Canal Mall at McKinley and strolled through the bustling streets of BGC. Before heading back to Bohol, we squeezed in some bargain shopping at Baclaran Market and picked up pasalubong from Mall of Asia.

More Than Business, It’s Also About Making Connections 

I had the pleasure of meeting amazing, bold and resilient women who have also fueled my own drive to follow in their footsteps toward success. Each woman carries a story of inspiration, lesson and courage. As the summit came to a close, I carried home more than just lessons and business cards. I brought back connections, inspiration and amazing products from fellow participants I now proudly call friends. I am deeply grateful for the warm support and hospitality everyone showed throughout this journey.

The second AWE Philippine Summit 2025 was more than an event. It was a celebration of what women can achieve when given the opportunity, resources and community. It’s a reminder that behind every successful business is a woman who dared to dream, persevered through challenges and lifted others along the way.

And that’s a story worth celebrating.

Introducing SturyaPreneur: Amplifying Women’s Voices

I’m happy to announce that I’ve launched a new segment under Sturya called SturyaPreneur (a wordplay between Sturya + Entrepreneur) to uplift fellow women entrepreneurs and help them be seen and heard more in the digital world. When I joined the second batch of AWE participants in Bohol, I realized that most women struggled with visibility and credibility. And one powerful way of boosting their business is getting published—being featured, being recognized, being seen.

Maybe, I thought, in some small way, I could help empower these fellow women to gain the visibility they deserve and give their businesses the spotlight they’ve worked so hard for. Perhaps this is my way of paying forward the inspiration I received at the summit, by creating a platform where every woman entrepreneur’s story can shine.

Because every business has a story. And every story deserves to be told.

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If you’re an entrepreneur with a story to share, or if you’d like to collaborate with Sturya to amplify your business, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me or fill out this form to get started on your feature.

Let’s inspire and lift each other up, one sturya at a time.