Given mobility restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — considered as the backbone of the Philippine economy — were among those badly hit and caused skyrocketing unemployment figures and pay cuts.
Award-winning public relations agency Comm&Sense saw the plight of the many SMEs that continued to fight hard and survive the crisis. This is why instead of having a grand celebration, the agency saw it best to honor its 15th year by “paying it forward” to fellow SMEs that need a jumpstart to get moving from the adverse economic effects of the pandemic.
Entitled “Bounce Forward with Comm&Sense,” the agency asked SMEs and related associations to share their stories of struggle and how they rose above the challenges that the pandemic presented to them.
Three SMEs were chosen from among those who submitted their entries, namely (and in no particular order): Mercato Centrale Group, Jwien Food Corporation, and the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI).
Co-founded by entrepreneur and TV personality RJ Ledesma, Mercato Centrale is the famous food market found in Metro Manila’s central business districts prior to the pandemic.
Jwien provides affordable tempuras through its Tokyo Tempura food carts, which it distributes via franchisees.
Meanwhile, AFFI is a group of franchisers that support one another through programs promoting the best practices of franchising
The winners were chosen based on the kind of ingenuity, grit, perseverance, and motivation needed to personify the “bounce forward” mindset amid the pandemic. The three businesses/groups that won will be receiving the following package of services from Comm&Sense — a free branding kit, social media designs, ads training, and content strategy.
Esteemed professionals in the communications business formed the panel of judges for the campaign, namely: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, award-winning business reporter for the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Carla Estanislao, regional team lead for the Asia-Pacific Tambuli awards; Anamarie “Honey” Reyes, BDO Unibank Senior Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications; Fitz Villafuerte, renowned finance blogger and Registered Financial Planner; and Charlotte Fabian-Reyes, Comm&Sense Managing Director.
The winners will have their onboarding sessions with Comm&Sense in the first quarter of 2021.
“It’s always great to celebrate a milestone and reaching 15 years is no joke, especially with the many challenges we’ve gone through the years. But in light of the gloomy situation around us, we felt that the celebration would be much more meaningful if we share the expertise we’ve gained with other businesses that need it,” said Comm&Sense Founder, President, and CEO Jaeger L. Tanco.
“Through our ‘Bounce Forward with Comm&Sense’ campaign, we hope to help not just the three businesses that won, but also the economy get back on its feet, so we can all bounce forward towards a much better normal,” he added.
