By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
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 NextGen 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 the 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, who 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.