Last May 17, our partner, CARD-MRI, headed by Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, successfully launched their “Mga Likha Ni Inay by CARD-MRI” arts event at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City. Mga Likha ni Inay, CARD-MRI’s newest and 14th institution, is translated as “creation of mothers.” It was established to emphasize the gentle craftsmanship touch of Filipina micro-entrepreneurs.

Evolved from CARD-Business Development Service Foundation Inc., which is now a separate entity from CARD-MRI, Mga Likha Ni Inay’s (MLNI) advocacy “to love your own” is making waves in the handicraft business. As the event adopted the theme “Created from the Heart and Home, Mga Likha Ni Inay Builds a Nation and Crafts a Better World,” it aims to bring the creative products of our natives to the mainstream market.

A gallery of photos, product exhibits and a fashion show featured the products of MLNI clients and showed different designs of T’nalak woven bags and clothes. Anthill Fabric Gallery products were also presented, where models wore unique, hand-woven fabrics. Our Go Negosyo awardees and social entrepreneurs Mark and Reese Ruiz of Rags 2 Riches shared their joy as more people are engaged in patronizing our local products that depict the cultural heritage of the T’boli, our indigenous people from Southern Mindanao.

Mga Likha ni Inay is a community of CARD-MRI micro-nanays coming from the different provinces of the Philippines. The community is composed of artisans, handicraft makers and food processors. Every product made represents a nanay’s hard work, dedication and craftsmanship, with a touch of their native cultures.

At Go Negosyo, together with CARD-MRI and Mga Likha Ni Inay, our driving goal is to eradicate poverty by instilling entrepreneurship into our kababayans, and at the same time preserving the traditional ethnicity of our country. With designs infused with stories of our native people, one can truly produce a craft that has a sense of cultural identity that will bring Filipinos closer.

Let me share with you some of the stories of our women micro-entrepreneurs and the MLNI arts event.