‘Beautywise’ firm opens business opportunities for Marawi residents

MARAWI CITY - Many individuals and organizations have come here to support the residents affected by the siege and one of these is a beauty company that aims to help revive the business acuity among Maranaos.

Urbanita Torrefranca-Tapulgo with her daughter Jennifer Tapulgo-Galo, owners of Beautywise Mindanao Depot branch in Cagayan de Oro City visited the war-torn city to conduct their first charity event with the displaced residents sheltered at Bahay Pag-asa Transitional Site in Barangay Bito Buadi Itowa.

Jenifer Galo shared that the charity event was part of her family’s support to the conflict-affected Maranaos to bring back their business confidence.

"It is very fulfilling for us that our business has been successful despite the conflict, and it is very heart-warming for us to help those affected; we just want to share our success."

Galo's business started months during the Marawi siege with her husband who is a Maranao. She never expected that it would expand in the middle of the war.

"We never thought that the business would grow despite what happened to Marawi. We're able to expand our business and this is something we wanted to share to our brothers and sisters here in Marawi," Galo said.

"We hope that extending even a little help to them will make them feel that they are not left behind and there are a lot of people would like to help them and we are one of them," she added.

Anchored on the theme, "Wiser in Beauty, Wiser in Purpose," the company aims to share some business opportunities to the displaced Maranaos who are mostly businessmen.

During the event, the Beautywise Philippines provided the displaced residents with beauty products start-up package and distributed food assistance that can be used during their observance of Ramadhan.

Urbanita Torrefranca-Tapulgo is very optimistic that Marawi will rise more than it used to be. "We will pray that everyone of you gets back to your feet, as we started to help you, you can always count on us and we will be here to facilitate your beauty product business," she added.

Beautywise Mindanao Depot is now a growing beauty and skin care company online through the JNJ Beauty Essentials, which established its own brand in 2017.

Meanwhile, Galo assured that the beauty and skin product, which they introduced to the Marawi residents is safe to use saying: "Before it is out to the market, we personally tested these products, and these have gone through extensive research with certified chemists."

Beautywise products are also registered and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (LJKabagani/ PIA ICCC)