Beyond powering households and ensuring adequate supply, the country’s energy industry players assume active roles in environmental stewardship and community development, championing sustainable initiatives that reduce poverty, create employment opportunities and restore the environment.

Integrated energy company Semirara and Mining Power Corporation (SMPC) continues this trend with its signature program, the Agro Model Farm, designed to uplift its host communities on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.

Farming for a food-secure future

Established in 2021, the Agro Model Farm is an 8-hectare farmland that produces a rich variety of fruits and vegetables, including bananas, pineapple, papaya, squash, radish, eggplant, and corn, among others. Given Semirara Island’s geographic isolation, the farm is key to improving farm-to-market opportunities and ensuring affordable local food by eliminating inter-island transport costs.

According to data from SMPC, 96% of the produce sold contributes to the island’s food security, while 4% is used for local consumption. The combined harvest from 2023 to date totaled over 74,100 kilograms (kg) of diverse fruits and vegetables, providing jobs for 48 local farmers.

Another key component of the Agro Model Farm is its 52-hectare mango farming project, which gives access to free seedlings, capacity-building, and employment opportunities for over 40 seasonal workers. Mango’s high demand locally and internationally makes it a valuable crop for farmers. The farm yielded over 16,300 kg in 2023 and 2024, with approximately 1,800 seedlings distributed to the community over the same period.

Enabling local entrepreneurs

An offshoot of the Agro Model Farm, SMPC’s handicraft making project provides an additional livelihood for farm workers and their families, especially when farming is impacted by climate conditions.

The handicraft products are made from the island’s natural resources, including bamboo, pandan, and wood. Currently, ten residents are enrolled in bamboo handicraft production, eight in pandan handicrafts, and two in coconut sap harvesting. These products are sold at the SMPC commercial hub, which supports 110 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This comprehensive support—from training to production and marketing—offers locals alternative sources of livelihood.

Additionally, the program promotes circularity through sustainable practices like reusing, recycling, and repurposing scrap materials. This approach minimizes waste while promoting both economic and environmental growth in the community.

The Agro Model Farm plays a central role in Semirara Island’s community development, empowering farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Through this transformative initiative, SMPC helps island residents build a self-sustaining post-mining economy and a more resilient, food-secure future.

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Women are resilient, silently enduring struggles while remaining the backbone of their homes. As primary caregivers, they are a force to be reckoned with. Since its establishment in 2019, the InLife Sheroes Advocacy and Movement (InLife Sheroes) has been championing women empowerment, transforming their voices into a powerful call to action through its four pillars: financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions, and access to social and business networks. On March 12, InLife Sheroes celebrated its 6^th anniversary through its Life, Camera, Action: Sheroes in Motion event held at the Insular Life Corporate Centre in Muntinlupa City, honoring the 1^st InLife Sheroes Awards recipients for their courage, commitment, and advocacy.

Atty. Nelisa Guevara-Garcia: The Defender of the Voiceless

Atty. Nelisa Guevara-Garcia has spent two decades in the legal profession, dedicating 15 years to rescuing children from online sexual exploitation. As the Director of National Prosecution Development for International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines, she leads efforts to develop sustainable prosecution strategies, ensuring justice for the most vulnerable.

“Children are my primary clients,” Atty. Garcia shares. “Awareness is the first step. You can’t just choose an advocacy at random — it has to be something you can commit to. For me, there was a tipping point where I knew I could no longer stand by. I had to act,” Atty Lisa explains when asked why she advocated for human rights.

Her work has led to numerous convictions, even reaching the Supreme Court. However, she measures success not just by legal victories, but by the transformation of survivors. “All the women I’ve helped in my cases are my Sheroes. I’ve seen them grow and change their lives after traumatic experiences. I share this award with the women and children I represented in court who were victims and now survivors. I thank all of them for their courage.”

Marge Aviso: Empowering Communities Through Digital Innovation

Leaving a high-pressure job in the call center industry to spend more time with her son, Marge Aviso found her calling in digital entrepreneurship. She founded TeleworkPH, a business process outsourcing company bringing employment opportunities to rural communities, particularly Bulacan and Bohol; co-founded Salig AI, a business management platform supporting local freelancers and businesses; and is the President of Global Impact Productions, a film and music production company.

“When I first started working from home, it became a turning point for me. I said, why not start training people in the barangays to learn about online work?” Marge recalls.

Her journey has been riddled with doubts and setbacks. “People questioned why I was teaching digital work in barangays. They assumed I was a scammer. But I kept pushing forward. If there’s a dream implanted in you, it’s there for a reason. Sometimes it’s scary but you just have to take the leap of faith. If your faith is very strong, you won’t be easily destroyed.”

Beyond business, Marge is driven by a deeper mission: breaking stereotypes. “Even now, in international conferences, people assume Filipinas are mere laborers rather than business owners. We need more women in tech — AI, metaverse, blockchain. All these technologies are here, and we need more people, women and youth; to understand these things so we can truly embrace and leverage them for our own good.”

Antoinette Taus: Champion of the Environment and the Underserved 

A household name as an actress and singer, Antoinette Taus has used her platform to advocate for sustainability and social impact. She founded CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) and The Sustainable Planet, championing environmental conservation and livelihood programs for women and vulnerable communities.

“One of my dreams is to be able to keep placing the spotlight on local sheroes and heroes, people we should know and hear about, and recognize for dedicating their lives to things that benefit their countrymen and the rest of the world,” Antoinette says. “One small action can have a ripple effect and truly make a difference for years and decades to come without you even realizing it. Just start where you are.”

Through CORA, she supports grassroots environmental warriors: “… local communities, women, youth, fisherfolk, farmers, women grove warriors restoring mangroves in Leyte, women champions at the forefront of solid waste management and the circular economy, volunteers and everyone at team CORA.” This is an advocacy close to her late mother Cora’s heart.

She encourages all to be sheroes and heroes in their own right. “Through your gifts, skills and experience and the amazing and painful things you’ve experienced in life, you serve that purpose to be a shero and a hero to many others around you.”

The Power of a Voice, The Strength of a Movement

At the heart of this celebration was InLife Executive Chair Nina D. Aguas, who reflected on how the Sheroes Movement has grown from a bold ambition — reaching one million women in three years — to an unstoppable force that has impacted over 10 million lives after six years.

“For too long, women were unheard — not because they had nothing to say, but because no one was listening,” Nina said. “InLife Sheroes has changed that. When a woman finds her voice, she finds her power. The InLife Sheroes is about everyday actions that create change, amplifying the voices of women, ensuring they are heard in boardrooms, businesses and communities. It is about breaking barriers and creating a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. When one woman speaks, she inspires another to rise. When millions speak, the world listens.”

With InLife Sheroes surpassing its goal, Nina takes her dreams further. “Our collective dream is to touch the lives of a million men, supporting women if this is what it takes for the world to truly listen.

The Next Chapter: InLife Sheroes Awards 2026

During the event, InLife Sheroes announced the launch of the 2026 InLife Sheroes Awards, calling for nominations of exceptional Filipino women. The awards recognize champions in four categories:

• Financial Literacy Advocates 
• Health and Wellness Champions 
• Women Empowerment Leaders 
• Business Innovators Addressing Women’s Needs

Interested? Please send an email to inlifesheroes@insular.com.ph for a copy of the nomination form. Deadline of entries is on Nov. 25, 2025.

As this year’s InLife Sheroes Awardees have shown, life is not about waiting. It’s about taking the stage, owning the moment, and moving forward no matter what stands in the way. Before the celebration ended, InLife Sheroes made a powerful pledge: to “… hold space for ourselves and for our fellow Sheroes — a safe and brave space to own our roles, turn inspiration into action, and create the change we envision.”

The InLife Sheroes Advocacy and Movement 6^th anniversary celebration featured performances by singer and actress Bituin Escalante, talented young singer, New York-based Dominique Aguas Alvarez, and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) who performed a theater play featuring women empowered by the InLife Sheroes.

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“Lead with love.” Love may seem like an unconventional principle of leadership — especially in the highly competitive, cutthroat world of business — but for Zephaniah “Khalid” Mesa, it’s more than just a guiding principle. It’s the foundation of his life and career.

At just 29, Mesa is already making a significant impact. As the leader of a flourishing business invested in multiple industries, he wears many hats — entrepreneur, innovator, and mentor. He is the co-owner of Zion Philippines, a luxury massage chair brand, and Pablings Barbershop. He is also the founder of Veryfyd Platforms, Inc., an IT digital solutions company, which is poised to launch an exciting new service.

“I’ve always been a risk-taker. High stakes and high rewards, that’s what I’m drawn to,” Mesa shares. Driven by challenges, he thrives in navigating complex business situations and building success from the ground up.

Mesa’s entrepreneurial spirit took root early. As a resourceful and street-smart 12-year-old, he found ways to earn money despite having so little. The first in his family to take an interest in business, he started by selling everything from mangoes to fish at the local market. As his operations grew, he even recruited his younger cousins to help. In college, he expanded his hustle, selling fresh flowers and keychains in Tomas Morato, sourcing materials at bargain prices from Dangwa. The journey wasn’t without setbacks, of course — there were days when profits turned to losses — but he looks back on those experiences with gratitude, knowing they shaped his resilience and business acumen.

Over the years, he honed his instincts and he gained invaluable wisdom about markets, consumers, and partnerships — lessons that no classroom could teach. “You have to work both smart and hard — and learn to innovate,” he emphasizes.

Today, he manages several high-value businesses in various industries, and leads a team of hundreds, helping them achieve their own dreams.

Unlike conventional advice to start businesses based on familiarity and interest, Mesa believes in taking leaps of faith. “My belief is that it’s better to just start — take that leap, and learn along the way. If you overanalyze and delay, you rob yourself of the valuable insights gained through real experience.” He warns against falling into analysis paralysis: “What if this happens? What if I don’t have enough? What if I fail? These are the thoughts that prevent you from learning, doing, and ultimately succeeding.”

However, he cautions aspiring entrepreneurs not to mistake boldness for recklessness. “Have a clear vision, know enough to start, and move forward with calculated confidence,” he says confidently.

Mesa also stresses the importance of surrounding oneself with trustworthy people, a painful lesson he’s had to learn over the years. “Choose business partners who align with your values. Delegate work and know your priorities,” he advises. A man of faith, he structures his life around his core values: God, family, business, and everything else. His days are meticulously planned to ensure balance. “Even daily prayers and coffee breaks with my wife are scheduled — they are non-negotiable.”

Through years of trials, mistakes, and triumphs, Mesa has gained not just business knowledge but also deep wisdom. His humility and gratitude shine through as he reflects on his journey. “I’m doing my best, and I’m able to do this because the Lord has blessed me,” says the founder of Change Life Cares Foundation, Inc. and Lawyers for Christ (LFC). His faith deeply shapes his leadership, teaching him to forgive, show compassion, and uplift others. “In business, money is not the most valuable asset — people are. If you had to choose between money and people, always choose people. I’ve learned to forgive, to check my own shortcomings, and be a better example of God’s love. I hope that through the work that I do and the lives that I touch that I become a better steward of His gifts.”

With his team standing behind him in full support, Mesa is just getting started. Entering his thirties, a new and exciting chapter in his journey as a business man, he looks forward to expanding his empire and impacting more lives.

“For me, love is everything. Lead with love,” he concludes.

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