DTI
IV-A Regional Director Malou Toledo, Business Development
Division Chief Rowena San Jose, Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Assistant Secretary Demphna Du Naga, OTOP Philippines
Ambassador Catriona Gray, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, ROG
Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, ROG Assistant Secretary
Dominic Tolentino, and OTOP Consultant Clarke Nebrao. |
DTI confers 2018
Miss Universe Catriona Gray as OTOP Philippines Ambassador
By
DTI-OSEC-Public
Relations Unit
July 21, 2020
MAKATI CITY – On
July 21, 2020, One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines acknowledged
Ms. Catriona Gray as their OTOP Philippines Ambassador. This took
place at the DTI office, with Asec. Demphna Du Naga, OTOP national
program head, signing the contract. Alongside her as witnesses were
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, DTI ROG Usec. Blesila Lantayona, Asec.
Dominic Tolentino and CALABARZON Regional Director Marilou Toledo.
Secretary Ramon Lopez also
conferred this ceremony, by bestowing a certificate and token from
DTI, to solidify the engagement.
“We would like to thank
Ms. Catriona Gray for extending her goodwill for this partnership
with DTI and OTOP Next Gen. This is our way to promote the
innovations of our Micro, Small, and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs),”
Sec. Lopez said.
He added, “This
partnership is a perfect match because just like Ms. Gray, we would
like our OTOP Next Gen products to be as beautiful inside and out
and to be as modern yet very Filipina. We love how Ms. Catriona is
showing her love for country and helping the Philippine MSME sector
– especially in this difficult time of the pandemic – by raising
awareness not only in the country but also worldwide.”
Ms. Catriona Gray was
crowned Miss Universe in 2018. She has since been a proud supporter
of the arts and culture of the Philippines around the world, sharing
in many advocacies. Now, she has become part of OTOP Philippines as
the Ambassador.
As the OTOP Ambassador,
she will be bringing attention to OTOP Philippine’s MODA (Modernong
Obra Disenyong Atin) initiatives. She will spread the importance of
Filipino history through MODA weaver’s designs, textiles and
patterns, by way of modern fashion, and by collaborating with local
designers to promote entrepreneurship and help the weaver
communities to expand their market.
As the OTOP Ambassador,
she will partner with the 64 weaving communities all over the
country, representing all the regions & paired with 47 local
OTOPreneur designers. In her role, she will be responsible for
empowering MODA by using her influence as an icon and influencer on
social media, transcending both local and international platforms as
Miss Universe 2018. Aside from this, she will be responsible for
spreading awareness about the MODA weaver communities through her
“Raise Your Flag” videos, informing and attracting audiences to the
elegance of our textiles, weavers, and fashion.
She will also be proudly
exhibiting MODA weavers’ designs by having a virtual online fashion
show. Through this, she will be able to garner buyers for MODA
weaver communities, and show her full support and admiration for our
Filipino fashion, art and culture.
The awareness that she
will cultivate for our weavers and designers goes far beyond just
the appearance. By stepping up to this position of OTOP Ambassador,
she is going out of her way to bring love, care and respect to our
cultural history and most especially to her fellow Filipinos who are
building their businesses and are growing OTOPreneurs.
As spoken by Asec. Demphna
Du Naga: “She sees the great value in our filipino culture, and it
is wonderful that she has seen the wonders and beauty of our weavers
in MODA or Modernong Obra Disenyong Atin”
Ms. Catriona Gray will be
leading a brighter path for shedding light on our culture, our
entrepreneurs, our products and our pride as Filipinos.
Galing ng Pilipino, Angat
sa Mundo. OTOP, Atin 'to! #RaiseYourFlagOTOPreneurs.