First NakakaLocal Awards honors outstanding local small businesses
The brainchild of PhilSTAR Media Group, Nakakalocal was launched in June 2022 mainly as a result of the pandemic which impacted many a local small and medium enterprise (SME).
Through this nationwide initiative, The STAR has encouraged SMEs to create more innovations—all of which proudly Filipino-made products and services—to help boost the economy and safeguard our heritage.
Through The STAR’s various platforms, participating businesses have been given the chance to showcase their wares and business profiles, while contributing to nation-building and the promotion of Filipino pride.
Of the 36 selected SMEs in Nakakalocal’s roster—which have participated in a full-year program of promotions and mentoring—some stood out in seven different categories and were given special recognition during the second day of NakakaBazaar.
These outstanding STAR SMEs have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to sustainability, innovation, and community development:
Nakakabilib Award: WoddPH
This award recognizes SMEs that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability while maintaining a competitive edge in the global market.
WoddPH is a sustainable company that offers world-class products handcrafted from eco-friendly materials like wood and bamboo. The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident through its ‘No Plastic’ campaign and the planting of a replacement tree for every product sold.
Nakakaasenso Award: Kakaw Galleon Artisan Chocolatier
This award recognizes SMEs for exceptional innovation in product design, honoring businesses that create unique products that meet evolving consumer needs and have the potential to revolutionize industries.
Kakaw Galleon Artisan Chocolatier is a brand that makes chocolates with ingredients solely produced here in the Philippines. The brand has always been a strong believer in the talent of Filipinos and the quality of the country’s cacao varieties.
Nakakaunlad Award: SARBO
This award recognizes SMEs that contribute to their local communities through job creation and demonstrate strong commitment to social responsibility.
SARBO is a group of women in Camarines Sur that produces thinly-sliced banana chips available in various flavors such as plain, sour cream, barbeque, cinnamon, cheese, classic, and salted. They decided to go into banana chips processing since saba is abundant in their area.
Nakakamangha Award: Eva Marie Arts and Crafts
This award celebrates Filipino ingenuity and creativity.
Eva Marie Arts and Crafts is a brand that produces high quality, beautifully hand-woven products made of wild grown ticog grass like mats, handbags, decors, room dividers, ceiling panels, furniture mattings, throw pillows, and many more.
Nakakainspire Award: Craftcha
This award honors SMEs with an inspiring entrepreneurial spirit and story. The award recognizes businesses that have achieved success through innovation, perseverance, creativity, and vision in the face of significant challenges.
Craftcha is a brand that offers handcrafted products made from repurposed and upcycled materials. It innovates and creates useful household goods made of flour sacks, old jeans, outdated clothing, and waste cloth.
Nakakaakit Award (Best Booth): Clara Fragrances
This award recognizes the SME with the highest number of public votes for “Best Booth” at the NakakaBazaar event.
Clara Fragrances is a brand that aims to promote positivity and comfort through its products. Each bottle of Clara Scents has essential oils that were matched and handpicked to create perfectly infused notes of woody, floral, musk, and citrusy scents for that comforting and welcoming fragrance for every home.
NakakaLocal of the Year Award: OSH! Oh So Healthy!
OSH! Oh So Healthy! is a brand that makes extra flavorful and addictively crunchy snack treats that are made with 100 percent real fruits. During the first year of Nakakalocal, this brand proved that it celebrates Filipino ingenuity and creativity, that it is an active member of NakakaLocal STAR36, and lastly, it is the SME with the highest number of participation in NakakaLocal events and programs.
