Boholana named Outstanding Young Woman Entrepreneur

Dalareich Polot of Tagbilaran City, Bohol emerged the grand prize winner in the first Young Women Entrepreneur Bootcamp (YWEB) held from September 23 to 25 at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.

Polot bested 26 other fellows in a business plan competition which was part of a three-day training organized by the Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (Spark!) and the United States Embassy in Manila.

Ambassador Delia Albert and other women business leaders were contest judges.

Polot, a college graduate in her 20s, has a home-based business making native chocolate or “tableya” bars and round-shaped discs.

She also designed a website to market the chocolate and other Bohol-made products.

YWEB is a leadership and mentoring initiative that aims to help Filipino women entrepreneurs expand their knowledge of business strategies and best business practices.

With the rising demand for cocoa and cocoa-based products in national and global markets, Polot has bright prospects for her cacao business. Dalareich Food Products makes high quality unsweetened chocolates or “tableya”, made out of 100 percent cacao beans.

“I want to give back to my community by encouraging young people to go in business to generate jobs for the community” Polot said.

As the grand prize winner, Polot received a trophy, a certificate and $5,000.

Other winners are Katrina Aniag (C&K Handicrafts),Fatima Elijah Basar (Elijah’s Marketing) and Bernadette Manuel (Seon Kris Food Products Innovation) also awarded trophies, certificates and $1,000 each. /with Spark! Philippines website