By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

Hanna Lei Pacito, a CHED Merit Scholar and Free Higher Education beneficiary from Benguet State University (BSU), emerged as the champion of the YEP-Project MARITES 2024 Regional Youth Business Pitch Competition held on October 17, 2024, at Paragon Hotel, Baguio City. The event brought together aspiring young entrepreneurs from across the Cordillera region, with Pacito’s innovative business idea, Silpo-Silpo, standing out among the 12 finalists.

Pacito’s winning business concept, Silpo-Silpo, focuses on creating sustainable and eco-friendly products inspired by traditional practices in Benguet. Her idea is rooted in the belief that local resources can be harnessed to promote sustainability, while also preserving the region’s cultural heritage. The innovative project garnered praise from the judges for its potential to address environmental issues making it the Most Innovative Business Idea.

The competition was the culminating activity of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) – Project Mobilizing Available Resources through Inclusive Training on Entrepreneurship of Student-Grantees (MARITES), a joint initiative between the Department of Trade and Industry – Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR) and the Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region. This year’s event marked the third edition of the program, which aims to equip student-grantees of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) as well as other interested young entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial skills.

Pacito’s success is a testament to her hard work, creativity, and commitment to contributing to both the economy and the environment. During the competition, she explained that Silpo-Silpo was inspired by her community’s traditional values of resourcefulness and sustainability, which she believes can be scaled to a larger market while preserving local craftsmanship.

“As a proud CHED Merit Scholar, I am proud to say that the investment given to me was not put to waste, and I was able to invest a portion of it into this innovative and sustainable project,” Pacito said. “Thank you for appreciating my dream.”

The event was graced by CHED Chairperson Popoy De Vera, who delivered an inspirational message to the finalists, encouraging them to continue pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams.

Pacito’s journey as a CHED-UniFAST beneficiary and her triumph at the YEP-Project MARITES competition demonstrate the transformative power of education and the potential of young Filipinos to make meaningful contributions to society.