Tech, Coffee, and Community: DITO BizBayani Awards Honors 5 PH MSME Game-Changers!

MANILA, Philippines — Move over, corporate giants. The newest heroes of Philippine business just took center stage.

In a glitzy inaugural Awards Night at the Manila Marriott Hotel, DITO Telecommunity—through its MSME arm, DITO BizBayan—officially crowned five extraordinary Filipino entrepreneurs at the first-ever DITO BizBayani Awards. Out of 500 nationwide nominations and over 4,800 public votes, these five community leaders proved that you don’t need the deepest pockets to make the biggest impact—just pure, unadulterated conviction.

The star-studded event capped an intense 10-week nationwide search, backed by powerhouse partners like the DTI, PCCI, GCash, and Jobstreet. Wazzup was on the scene to cover every inspiring moment, capturing the energy of an evening dedicated entirely to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that keep the Philippine economy alive.

Meet Your 2026 DITO BizBayani Champions:

• 🏆 BizBayani in Growth Excellence: Bobby Adan (Prutasan ni Adan)
  • The Hustle: Started as a humble Cebu roadside fruit stand in 2017.
  • The Glow-Up: Now a flagship premium grocery powerhouse pulling in eight-digit monthly sales!
• 🏆 BizBayani in Digital Impact: Felix Veroya (Ask Lex PH Academy / ALPHA)
  • The Hustle: A traditional training firm that refused to back down during the pandemic.
  • The Glow-Up: Pivoted into an EdTech social enterprise now serving over 100,000 graduates.
• 🏆 BizBayani in Employer Excellence: Anna Magalona-Go (But First, Coffee)
  • The Hustle: A one-woman pandemic coffee startup born in 2020.
  • The Glow-Up: Scaled into a massive nationwide franchise network creating over 1,000 jobs!
• 🏆 BizBayani in Industry Impact: Ariestelo Asilo (Varacco)
  • The Hustle: Empowering 100 coffee farmers across seven communities.
  • The Glow-Up: Producing 100 tons of coffee annually and building Mindanao’s very first certified mother tree garden.
• 🏆 BizBayani in Innovations Award: Rio Pomer (St. Pio / Bridges Autism App)
  • The Hustle: Listening directly to Filipino families raising children with autism.
  • The Glow-Up: Built a groundbreaking AI-powered platform combining therapy, tracking, and community support.

More Than Just a Trophy

Winners didn’t just walk away with bragging rights. They took home breathtaking, handcrafted Sarimanok trophies carved from Basudan wood and inlaid with mother of pearl by master artisans from Tugaya, Lanao del Sur.

According to the DTI, MSMEs make up a staggering 99.63% of all registered businesses in the country and drive 65.1% of total employment. “These five winners are proof of something we’ve believed since DITO entered this market: that the boldest builders in this country are the ones with the most conviction,” said Atty. Adel Tamano, DITO Chief Revenue Officer.

DITO BizBayan promises this is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to fuel the next generation of Filipino dreamers. With media coverage from outlets like Wazzup putting a spotlight on these grassroots heroes, the future of Pinoy entrepreneurship has never looked brighter!