🥂Meryenda Mixer 🥂is back! We’re diving deep on how we can go beyond simply celebrating our culture and move into investing in it. If we want our community to win there comes a point where that means putting money into ideas that give us ownership and longevity. Join us for Meryenda at @makeway.co on March 26 and get in on the conversation with visionary leaders: ​🌟 @gelainesantiago – CEO of @founding.possibilities and co-founder of @cambio_co and @sinta_co Award-winning entrepreneur helping BIPOC founders grow brands that lift up our communities. ​🌟 Jennifer Uy – Founder of @happy.naturalproducts , rooted in creating a natural healthy lifestyle for families. Her brand can be found in Whole Foods and Walmart across Canada. ​🌟 Faye Abrihan @abrihan – Investor and Executive Director of @quayconcepts Poblacion Inc. who guides founders and leaders on impactful business groundwork. 🗓 March 26 | 6–9PM | ticket link in bio! 🔗 #MeryendaMixer #Pwrforward #Investing #celebration #networking

This one was hard to talk about. I left a secure job to go all in on @pwrforward and I still don’t have all the answers. The truth is, my previous role was taking up all of my energy. And I kept feeling like there was more I could be doing with the skills and knowledge I had. I wanted to put that into something that felt connected to the people and communities I care about. This is the start of a series where I’m going to share what building Pwrforward looks like behind the scenes. The real stuff. Not the polished version. So please follow along, I’d love to have you along on my journey ❤️ #careerchange #entrepreneurlife #filipinobusiness

Filipinos work hard, but we earn less and the generational cycle continues… Can our community work together to break this cycle? . . . Animation by @em7b9 🪄 . . ✨Pwrforward is looking for 100 people to share their stories! Let’s build up the Filipinx community together. Complete the short survey in our bio 🔗 #Filipino #Canadian #filipinocanadians🇵🇭🇨🇦🙏 #generationalwealth #community #wealth

A business incubator supports early-stage startups with mentorship, networking, resources, and infrastructure to help them survive and grow. They exist across Canada. For tech companies. For creatives. For specific communities. But there is not a single one built for Filipino Canadians. Our community values education. We pursue degrees. We get certified. But the gap between academic preparation and actually running a business is massive. Nobody teaches you how to pitch to an investor. How to price your product. How to sell. How to navigate the cultural dynamics that come with being the first entrepreneur in your family. And we think it’s time we address it. We’ll share more about our incubator program in the coming weeks and months but if you want to get involved early send us a DM, we’d love to chat 🙂 #filcan #filipinobusiness

First 90 days of @pwrforward . The honest version. We incorporated. Built a team. Signed our first partnership. Secured our Founding Partners. Did all the behind the scenes admin work. But truthfully, it was messier than it sounds. We kept pivoting, changing directions and found more mistakes than everyone noticed. But we’re in this and we’re taking you along the messiness of starting an organization and launching a program. We’re breaking it down piece by piece. What is the role of non-profits in community? How do non-profits make money? What is an incubator? #behindthebuild #filipino #entrepreneur #nonprofit

Filipino-Canadian Scientist Changing the World. 🇨🇦🇵🇭 Phil De Luna’s mission for a Net-Zero 2050 isn’t just professional—it’s personal. Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, Phil saw the “harsh economic reality” of industrial shifts when his father was laid off from an automotive factory during the 2008 recession. He is now the Co-Founder of CURA, a startup using breakthrough electrochemical technology to decarbonize cement. Why cement? It is currently responsible for about 8% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. Sustainability is a global mandate. Now is the moment to bridge our efforts and proactively build the future our environment deserves. 🌎 #filipinoexcellence #sustainability #pwrhouse

“Can I actually do this all on my own?” ✋ We’ve all said it. But eventually, your “baby” grows, and you realize you need more time and more hands. Scaling requires a shift from fear to confidence. @abrihan breaks down how to know when you’re ready to scale and what to look for in an investor: Confidence is a requirement for scaling. Pitch investors who bring added value. Expand with intention. #filipinoexcellence #pwrforward #meryendamixer

@katborlongan was just awarded the French National order of Merit 🇫🇷🎖️🇵🇭 Kat Borlongan arrived in Paris at 20 with no French, no contacts, and a visa that nearly got denied. Two decades later, she built the startup infrastructure of a G7 nation, founded an agency acquired by Capgemini, and directed La French Tech under President Macron. This is what it looks like when Filipinos lead globally! 🙌🏽 #pwrhouse #globaltech #leadership

If not now, then when? ⏳ @travelling_mike of @gbcollege asked our panel to give themselves some advice. Jennifer Uy of @happy.naturalproducts shared her perspective on what she’d tell her younger self: Fix your mistakes while you have the time, so you don’t have to carry them into the future. And do it early. Mistakes are a cycle we all live through, and growth usually happens in the “uncomfortable” phases. When you feel that spark of motivation, don’t ignore it. Just go for it.

We learned a Tagalog word, Pakipot. It describes being so modest that you refuse help even when you need it. In family settings, it comes from respect. From not wanting to be a burden. But in business, that same instinct holds us back from asking for funding, taking up space, from claiming what we’ve earned through our work and effort. Do you agree? Disagree? We’d love to hear your thoughts 👇

The energy at our first Meryenda Mixer of the year was a testament to the growth of our community. Our goal is simple: Filipino-Canadian businesses deserve to be recognized and supported. 💫 We are proud to announce our partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto (PCCT). Together, we are building a bridge between established industry leaders and the next generation of innovators. We are currently seeking founding partners. If you are a senior leader who believes in this vision and is ready to help elevate the next generation of Filipino-Canadian entrepreneurs, let’s connect. Special thanks to those who made this evening possible: Abby Albino, @abbyalbino @makeway.co Gelaine Santiago, @gelainesantiago @founding.possibilities Jennifer Uy, @happy.naturalproducts and Faye Abrihan @abrihan @slowjams.to and @tinunothirtyone for the amazing Meryenda🥟 @glenmorerecords for sponsoring our AV for the night 🔊 @sherylluzphotography for capturing the evening 📸 #filipinoexcellence #meryendamixer #filipinocanadian #pwrforward

We need more convos about INVESTING for racialized communities & founders 💰💬 And no - we’re not talking about “get rich quick” investment schemes. We’re talking the kind of investment that can build GENERATIONAL and COMMUNITY wealth. From personal experience: I’m proud to have bootstrapped our first 2 companies @cambio_co and @sinta_co without any loans or outside investment. But the truth of the matter is… I didn’t know there was any other option. The world of investing and raising capital always felt murky and mysterious: like it belonged to certain kind of people that didn’t include me - a Filipina daughter of immigrants from a working class family. So when I was approached by the @pwrforward team to moderate a conversation about investing for the Filipino community, I was excited but also nervous! This topic is way outside my comfort zone, but deep down, I knew that was one of the reasons why I had to moderate this convo. Because if I grew up thinking that investing was mysterious or worse - inaccessible - then I knew others in the community felt the same way. The evening was electric. We learned from @abrihan about her experience as a young Pinay investor, and Jennifer Uy shared how she hustled to make @happy.naturalproducts the first Filipino-Canadian business to hit a major retailer like Walmart in Canada. We talked about burnout and what we need to do to ensure Filipinos are paid what we’re worth. It was powerful to be in a space made for racialized founders and the Filipino/a/x community where we talk about investing: not just to grow our businesses, but the kind of investments that can create generational & collective wealth, and build a lasting legacy. Thank you to the PwrForward team @charmaineramirez_ and @dunknodavid for bringing these convos to our community and to my fellow panellists Jennifer Uy and Faye Abrihan. I know this conversation is just a start! What’s been your experience with the world of investing? Would love to hear in the comments! 👇🏽 🌿 Ecosystems, Not Empires ✊🏽