‘Being a woman was an advantage’

MANILA, Philippines – When a woman sets her mind on something, there’s no stopping her. This was demonstrated by three Go Negosyo Women “Starpreneurs” whose focus, drive, and ambition made their businesses mainstays in their respective industries.
Cabalen has come to be known as the place to be for authentic, delicious Filipino food. Maintaining an old-fashioned, probinsya-like ambience, and the Filipino turo-turo style of offering food with its feast of over 50 dishes in the buffet area, Cabalen has become a popular restaurant to host special occasions such as birthdays, graduation day, wedding receptions, and baptisms. And the woman on top of all of this is Maritel Nievera. Maritel’s taste for fine Filipino cuisine comes as no surprise, being a native of Pampanga. As for her business acumen, she says she owes this to being a woman. She says she is conservative in her approach, especially in financing the business, which has helped make Cabalen stable, even as she continued to branch out.
Maritel started in the food industry in 1974—she was 18 then—with a restaurant in Pampanga called Bahay Pasalubong, which sold native delicacies for, as the restaurant name would have it, pasalubong. Though she may claim to be conservative when it comes to financing, Maritel still had the risk-taker quality important to any entrepreneur, trying out a kiosk that also sold native delicacies when she came to Manila. It was a hit, and they branched out as well. Even with Cabalen, Maritel went all out and studied her competition in Manila thoroughly, and took a chance in introducing exotic food like crickets (camaru) and stuffed frogs in Cabalen’s menu.
If there’s one thing Maritel won’t stop doing, it’s innovating, reinventing and adjusting to the needs of the times. Maritel has expanded her business with Mangan and Ebun, as well as Thai cuisine restaurants Oody’s and Soi.
Thriving in a man’s world
Olivia Limpe-Aw is thriving in what she says is a male-dominated industry—liquor. But despite this, Olivia shines through. Now the president of Destileria Limtuaco and Co., Olivia was the one who took the reins of the family business, and it was under her leadership that the company was able to establish such brands as Napoleon Brandy and White Castle Whisky.
Olivia admits that being a woman in what is usually a man’s world had its challenges. And this was especially true coming from a traditional Chinese family, where the culture puts preference on male heirs. She had to meet skeptics when dealing with customers, suppliers and shareholders from other Asian countries, some of them choosing to discuss with her husband Benny.
But none of these dissuaded her from driving the business to the top, noting that being a woman is her strength. Women, she says, are good in planning, organizing, and are more sensitive to the needs of others.
And prove her mettle she did. Showing that leadership does not bend more towards one gender, Olivia devised strategies like overhauling the company’s existing portfolio, innovating and expanding the product line, offering custom-made products and private labels, and improving packaging.
With brands like Napoleon Brandy, White Castle Whisky, and El Hombre Tequila being strong brands in the liquor industry today, one can no longer turn their nose up nor undermine the abilities of Olivia, the first female president of the oldest distillery in the Philippines.
A woman with vision
Back in the 1990s, the country’s fashionistas probably only had Vogue International as their bible for the latest fashion. When Sari Yap presented her vision of producing a local fashion magazine, she was faced with cynicism about its profitability and viability.
With a real passion for fashion, Sari was unfazed about the promise of her idea. Taking risks and sourcing technology and equipment from abroad, Sari went ahead and established Mega magazine, making it the country’s first glossy fashion magazine.
Soon, the magazine caught wind in its sails and spearheaded the growth of the local glossy magazine industry. With the success of the fashion magazine, the Mega Publishing Group gave birth to an array of magazines that cover various industries, from architecture to home and design.
More than just creating the first local glossy fashion magazine, Sari’s vision was really to improve the local mass media. And though she had few believers when she proposed the idea of a magazine, the lack of a local source for fashion was also an advantage to Sari. She says she had the luxury of time to make mistakes and learn from them, which all brought the company to where it is today. Had she thought of the idea now, she would contend with serious competition in an already mature market.
Sari still leads the Mega Publishing Group as president and CEO, and as a true visionary, her company continues to revolutionize local mass media.
Indeed, women of today are leaders in their field, continuing to assume many roles in society, demonstrating how dynamic they can be. And Go Negosyo’s 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit aims to recognize this through the Women Starpreneurs Award, an award named after event partner The Philippine STAR.
The Woman Starpreneur Award is presented to brilliant women whose efforts have made an impact to society. The Women Starpreneurs serve as a beacon of hope for women everywhere to attain success.
The 10 Women Starpreneurs, and three other special awardees, will be recognized in the Women Entrepreneurship Summit happening on March 2 at the World Trade Center.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=781602&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Although the Philippines is not known for being the wine capital of Asia, Clark Pampanga is the most frequently visited destination for wine lovers in Cebu, Angeles City and Manila to shop for some good vintage wine. The famous wine shop outside Manila called Clark Wine Center is the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

This wine shop in Clark is highly recommended as one of the best places to buy wine in Pampanga. Clark Freeport is just outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS caters to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com