About
Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training
Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.
Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.
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The Philippines
Maria Helen Lising
Business Name: Ideatechs Packaging Corp.
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Business Website: www.ideatechspackaging.com.ph​
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About me:
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I am Maria Helen B. Lising, President of Ideatechs Packaging Corporation in the Philippines.
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I am a Mechanical Engineer by training and hold a Master’s in Entrepreneurship. I lead a sustainable manufacturing company that produces food-grade paper packaging as alternatives to single-use plastics. We operate in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and over the years, we have transitioned our business toward environmentally responsible solutions while continuously upgrading our systems for quality, efficiency, and export readiness.
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Ideatechs serves the food and retail sectors locally, but our next strategic step is global expansion within APEC economies.
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Through the APEC Women’s Business Activator Program, I aim to refine our export strategy, strengthen our global positioning in sustainable packaging, and build meaningful cross-border partnerships.
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I look forward to learning, collaborating, and scaling our impact beyond our local market.
Marie-Joyce Yu
Business Name: CTG Food Corp
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Business Website: www.chopstogo.com​
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About me:
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I am Marie-Joyce Co Yu, you may call me Joyce for short. I am a medical technologist by profession. While my academic path was geared toward medicine, life led me into entrepreneurship in 2009 when I stepped in to help our family business. Since then, I have been deeply immersed in business operations, brand building, and scaling ventures.
I am happy and at the same time nervous to be one of the participants of the APEC Women’s Business Activator program, and truly honored to be representing the Philippines. Although I may not always know the technical business terminologies, my experience has been grounded in hands-on learning — from product development to business operations and franchising to manufacturing. My journey has been built on experience, resilience, and continuous learning.
I started with True Blends Tea & Coffee in 2009, which began inside a school, Ateneo de Manila High School. From there, we expanded through franchising and learned firsthand the realities of scaling a food business.
Today, as I lead the new corp we opened, CTG Food Corp, the company behind Chops to Go Handcrafted Potato Chips. What began as a snack concept wich has evolved into a manufacturing operation focused on producing fresh, handcrafted potato chips made from locally sourced potatoes from Benguet. Our goal is not only to offer high-quality Filipino-made products but also to support local farmers and promote proudly local brands.
During the pandemic, when many of our branches were located in schools and offices, we pivoted into packaging and retail formats to survive and adapt. That shift strengthened our manufacturing arm and allowed us to grow beyond traditional kiosk operations. From franchising to full-scale snack processing, the journey has required grit, adaptability, and a deep belief in local entrepreneurship.
By joining the APEC Women’s Business Activator program, I hope to strengthen my strategic and global business perspective, learn structured frameworks that can help scale manufacturing sustainably, build meaningful connections with fellow women entrepreneurs across APEC economies, explore export opportunities and cross-border collaborations and enhance my leadership skills as I continue to grow my company
I am especially excited to learn from mentors and fellow participants who bring diverse experiences from different industries and countries. I hope to gain insights that will help position our brand for regional growth while continuing to create impact locally. Most importantly, I hope to represent Filipino MSMEs with integrity, resilience, and innovation.
Reynaline Grace Tugade
Business Name: BalaiKamay Enterprise
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Business Website: www.balaikamay.com
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About me:
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I value thoughtful moments of pause and reflection. But I also cherish meaningful connections through honest conversations, enjoying crafts and sports, exploring new places, walking under canopies, and bonding over food and, yes, karaoke, the Filipino way. Growing up, I was blessed with opportunities to pursue my passions, learn, and wonder. That is why I was drawn to the kind of work that creates valuable opportunities for others. This eventually inspired me to found BalaiKamay. I believe that each of us has something to offer, and that when we collaborate with intention, we can create something truly beautiful together.
BalaiKamay is a design and crafts company that makes pieces for meaningful everyday moments. Since 2017, I have worked with various Filipino artisan communities and built relationships grounded in trust, creativity, and shared growth. Each item is carefully handcrafted, proudly local, and good for the planet.
The journey has not been without uncertainty or financial pressures, nor the ongoing challenge of balancing profit, community empowerment, and environmental care for sustainable growth. I founded BalaiKamay because I was given opportunities that shaped my path, and I deeply believe in creating those same opportunities for others. Through it all, I remain committed to building sustainable pathways because Filipino talent is globally competitive, especially when supported by the right structures and market access.
Through this program, I hope to deepen my understanding of how to scale our business responsibly, learn from other women-led enterprises across the region, and strengthen our export readiness as we grow beyond the Philippines. I founded BalaiKamay because of the opportunities I once received, and I am committed to building stronger systems that create lasting and meaningful opportunities for the communities we support.
Most of all, I look forward to joining a community of women leaders who understand how challenging it is to build businesses with both economic goals and a social mission, and who believe that growth and impact can advance together, so that collectively, we can expand opportunity and amplify one another’s impact. Ultimately, I hope to open broader market opportunities and expand access so that the Filipino artisan communities behind each piece can grow sustainably alongside us.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Sarah Mae Camba Almeyda
Business Name: The Light Keeper Inc.
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Business Website: www.wixcozyhomes.com
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About me:
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My name is Sarah Mae C Almeyda - the founder and owner of The Light Keeper Inc. (brand name: Wix Cozy Homes). I am a creative entrepreneur with 7 years experience in the retail industry and 5 years in agricultural development work. As someone who is passionate about continuing education and professional development, I am a fellow of the YSEALI Academy-Fulbright University Vietnam and e-Trade for Women by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In 2024, I was awarded as one of the Most Inspiring Micro Entrepreneurs by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo).
Wix is a passion project turned into a full-time business enterprise. It is a homegrown artisan brand that promotes self-care through natural aromatherapy. I developed alopecia due to chronic stress and the art of candle-making served as my therapy. It is during the height of Covid-19 pandemic when I had this idea of sharing my aromatherapy products to alleviate anxiety during the lockdown and that is when Wix gained traction. Our products are scented soybean candles and home fragrances that are carefully handcrafted by women artisans.
I believe that the APEC Women’s Business Activator Program 2026 can equip me with invaluable tools and provide mentorship opportunities that can help me strengthen my knowledge on impact entrepreneurship and inclusive leadership. I would like to take this chance to deepen my skills as a business owner and learn how to empower more women, especially mothers, in the field of entrepreneurship. I also believe that this program can help me in making informed decisions in scaling my business, bridging international collaborations, and gaining regional connections. I am really looking forward to grow and learn from the experts and my fellow women entrepreneurs.