A Decade of Transforming Entrepreneurs
When the Department of Trade and Industry launched the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program in 2016, the vision was ambitious: connect micro and small entrepreneurs with seasoned business leaders who could guide them through the complexities of scaling. Ten years later, that vision has materialized into something far beyond a training initiative—it has become a movement that has enrolled 17,356 entrepreneurs and produced 16,863 graduates across all 17 regions and 105 provinces and cities.
The 2026 KMME Growth Champions represent the culmination of this decade-long effort. Ten entrepreneurs were selected from a pool of 442 nominees following rigorous screening and evaluation, culminating in deliberations chaired by DTI Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut.
The Ripple Effect of a Fried Chicken Stand
Perhaps no story better illustrates the KMME program’s impact than that of Frances Uma Espinosa of Paeng-Uma Food Corporation in Bohol. What began as a modest fried chicken stand has grown into a business operating more than 100 branches across Bohol, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. From a two-person venture, the enterprise now employs nearly 200 people and features Bohol-made food products, strengthening market linkages for local farmers and suppliers.
Espinosa credits the KMME Program with giving her “the confidence to pursue franchising and scale the business beyond its home province”. Her story is not an outlier but a template: when an MSME grows, it creates ripple effects for local suppliers, producers, and surrounding communities.
Social Enterprise as a Vehicle for Second Chances
The KMME Growth Champions of 2026 also demonstrate that entrepreneurship can be a force for social transformation. Gleizl Joy Soo of House of Musa in Davao del Norte has built a social enterprise that transforms natural banana fiber into eco-friendly Filipiniana fashion. What makes her enterprise remarkable is its workforce: through House of Musa, Soo provides sustainable livelihoods to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), with her workforce growing from two to more than 100, working alongside local weavers, seamstresses, and artisans.
Soo’s story exemplifies how MSMEs can address social challenges while building viable businesses—a model that resonates deeply in a country where inclusive growth remains an urgent priority.
The Full Spectrum of Filipino Entrepreneurship
The 2026 Growth Champions span a diverse range of industries, reflecting the breadth of Philippine entrepreneurship:
- Jasmin Allison Obatay of JAO Plaque Awards Printing Services (Rizal)
- Hope Joy Montecillo Palermo of Real’s Food Products (Palawan)
- Marvin Intal of Intal Garments OPC (Pasay City)
- Michelle Omilgo of B@M’s Resto Bar, Lodging House & Catering Services (Masbate)
- Reynalyn Rodelas of UNCLE Roy Processed Food Manufacturing (Marinduque)
- Amric Mendoza of Atom Learning Center (Bataan)
- Mae Selene Resultay of Rensel’s Food Products (Negros Occidental)
- Sevilla Magpantay of Rambelle Food Products (Batangas)
- Frances Uma Espinosa of Paeng-Uma Food Corporation (Bohol)
- Gleizl Joy Soo of House of Musa (Davao del Norte)
Beyond the Classroom: Mentorship as Economic Infrastructure
The KMME Program’s structure—a 10-module mentoring program with one-on-one coaching, peer learning, and hands-on guidance—has proven effective precisely because it addresses the specific needs of micro and small entrepreneurs who may lack formal business education but possess deep practical knowledge of their industries.
Since 2016, the program has empowered 16,863 MSMEs through mentorship and coaching by some of the country’s top business leaders. The Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) has reached 70,000 youth since 2020, while YouthPreneur has engaged over 9,800 students since 2023. The Mentorship, Money, and Market on Wheels (3M) Program mentored 6,220 MSMEs in 2025 alone.
The Future of Filipino Entrepreneurship
The stories of the 2026 KMME Growth Champions are not merely individual success narratives—they are evidence of a broader ecosystem that is gradually maturing. When a fried chicken stand becomes a 100-branch corporation, when a fashion enterprise employs over 100 persons rebuilding their lives, the economic calculus of the entire community shifts.
As DTI Assistant Secretary Baluyut has emphasized, MSMEs must “move beyond simply producing goods and instead focus on product differentiation, innovation, and value addition”. The KMME Growth Champions demonstrate that this transition is not only possible but already underway—one mentored entrepreneur at a time.