Through MSME Day in Parañaque, PLDT Enterprise, Smart, the local government, DTI, and PCCI supported local entrepreneurs with practical lessons on digital tools, cybersecurity, and business growth.
Parañaque entrepreneurs are gaining new tools and confidence to grow in a digital-first marketplace through MSME Day, an initiative supported by PLDT Enterprise and Smart.
For Fel Roslin, co-owner of Felchie’s Ice Cream House in Parañaque, modernizing their business is not only about using technology. It is also about choosing a partner they can trust.
“I told my wife that we had to partner with a company that is accessible and dependable,” Roslin shared. “With technology now supporting marketing, accounting, and operations, it really matters who you work with.”
That message captured the purpose of MSME Day in Parañaque City, which brought together local entrepreneurs, from early-stage founders to business owners preparing to scale. The event aimed to help micro, small, and medium enterprises understand how digital tools can support daily operations, online visibility, customer engagement, and business security.
Led by PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the PLDT Group, the program featured a learning session on PLDT and Smart’s #BeCyberSmart module. The session helped business owners understand how to protect their online presence as they adopt more digital platforms.
Participants also joined discussions on financial literacy, business messaging solutions such as the Tanay App and A2P messaging, and practical content creation strategies, including how Reels can be used as effective sales tools.
The initiative also highlighted strong support from the Parañaque City Government, led by Mayor Edwin Olivarez, together with leaders from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Parañaque.
“Today, we are celebrating MSME Day here in Parañaque and across the entire country, honoring the entrepreneurs who serve as the true heart and engine of our local economy,” Mayor Olivarez said. “We all know that running a business is no small feat. It takes sacrifice and risk. We faced years of uncertainty during the pandemic, but we overcame it. We remain committed to supporting the entrepreneurs who serve as the heart of our economy.”
John Eric “Chet” Alviz, PLDT Enterprise Vice President and Head of SME Growth Marketing, Digital and Trade, emphasized that technology is now essential for small businesses.
“Digital tools are no longer optional,” Alviz said. “Today, they are the essential gear every small business needs to stay in the game and protect their livelihood.”
Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart, also underscored the importance of working with local government units to bring learning closer to entrepreneurs.
“Working closely with LGUs like Parañaque is critical,” Orlino said. “We meet owners where they are—whether they’re building their online presence or strengthening their cybersecurity—to help ensure that learning translates into real business growth.”
For workshop participant Catherine Joy Cardano, CEO and co-founder of AirLiving Plus Real Estate Management Service, the event offered timely and practical lessons.
“This event really helped me appreciate why consistency in planning and creating Reels matters so much—it’s about taking full advantage of being visible on social media,” Cardano said. “This Parañaque MSME Day is the very first event of its kind I’ve attended, and I was excited to learn how to navigate social media marketing while protecting my business online.”
The initiative reflects PLDT and Smart’s commitment to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
More than a technology learning session, MSME Day in Parañaque showed how public-private collaboration can help local entrepreneurs become more prepared, protected, and confident in today’s digital economy.
