Women, Filipino women in particular, are many things. And one of their admirable traits is their resourcefulness and creativity in finding opportunities to improve their and their loved ones’ lives.
As part of the month-long celebration of women, Google pays tribute to Filipinas who have mastered the art of turning limitations to opportunities. These “digiskarteng” women are inspiring their communities with stories of how they created their own livelihood, chased their dreams, and showcased their true potential with the help of YouTube.
Google Philippines industry head Gara Santos-Ontiveros shares that there are many Filipinas who went online to connect themselves to opportunities.
“It’s very fulfilling for us to see that we are able to inspire Filipinas through YouTube. It’s very tied to the mission of Google which is to organize content to make it easier for people to access information.”
Audrey, food cart owner
Cheerful and optimistic, Audrey is a family-oriented Filipina who has dedicated her time to making sure that she earns enough to provide the best education for her kids. But despite being busy to put her family first, she still found way to build something for herself when she established her food cart business.
The mother and housewife put up her small business in the town of Cuenca in Batangas. Her simple “how to cook fish ball sauce” search on YouTube led her to establishing her food cart business. She said she’s keen on further growing her business and offering more than fish ball, so she goes online YouTube for recipes on hamburgers, tacos, and nachos.
Josephine, DIY extraordinaire
Josephine knows how to keep herself busy and productive. On top of being a mother to four kids, she is active in her duties in their barangay as a marshall, an officer for the women’s health and nutrition division, and a helping hand to malnourished kids and women. And two years ago, she discovered a new skill that would change her life.
When they were renovating their house, one of her kids introduced her to DIY videos on YouTube and her creative juices started to flow with every home improvement videos she watched. She even learned to make and design special type of plant pots, which now fills her entire garden. Their family living room is decorated with stools she created out of upcycled tires and ropes. Today she hopes to transform her newfound passion into a business.
Lauren Mae, handicrafts expert
A young mother at age 24, Lauren is already familiar with the hardships that come with starting a family. To focus on her new life, she made a very tough decision to stop working and take care of her one-year-old, but this did not hinder her from continuing to grow. Having access to the Internet and discovering YouTube meant learning new skills. Online, she was able to come across how-to videos on crochet, as well as recipes ideal for business.
Her interest in entrepreneurship grew as she started making what she saw online—from crochet cups and bags, miniature shoes, DIY giveaways, to even homemade ice cream. She is looking forward to providing a better life for her family with her new skill set.
Antoneth, beauty salon owner
Since she was 16, Antoneth has been interested in cosmetology and anything about beauty. This is why it was a dream come true when she was able to open her own beauty parlor business.
Despite lacking the resources and proper training to put up a salon establishment, she persevered and found the help she needed on YouTube. Watching videos about nail art, hair tutorials, and makeup routines, she was able to keep up with the trends and hone her skills. She continues to find inspirations and fresh ideas for her businesses through YouTube. Now, her salon in Cuenca is one of the most frequented in their community and even by locals from neighboring towns.
‘Madigiskarteng’ Filipinas
Making it simpler for Filipinas to find what they need online, Google Philippines introduces Digiskarteng Pinay powered by YouTube to provide curated local content that will help upskill Filipinas. The initiative is brought to life with partners from NGOs, government agencies, brands, and content creators including TV host Bianca Gonzalez-Intal and online lecturer Lyqa Maravilla.
The Digiskarteng Pinay channel will feature videos on food recipes, financial literacy, practical life skills, lessons and techniques in mathematics, and technical education. YouTube is also open to interested partners who want to help Filipinas become madiskarte.