It was a grand opening befitting the closing of the first chapter of an even grander program, coming as it did right after the First OTOP Summit at the PhilTrade Center, which brought together the OTOP stakeholders from all over the country.

A few years ago, the term OTOP was uncommon especially to the man on the street. Today, the spirit of OTOP has become part of the Filipino psyche and soul. OTOP has signaled the rebirth of local economies. It is harnessing talents to create a powerful tool that will combat unemployment and poverty and spur development in many parts of the country, and finally uplift the lives of millions of our countrymen.

Through this program, we are able to identify, develop and promote specific products or services over which particular towns have a competitive advantage, both in local and global markets.

It has also inspired and moved more local chief executives to contribute to regional development by encouraging their constituents to engage in productive enterprises, produce and market their distinct products and services, and finally make a niche in the local and global markets.

With OTOP, we see the realization of the President’s goal to transform more of our people into entrepreneurs and make them active participants in our quest for economic growth that works for the good of the people.

OTOP owes much of its success today to DTI Undersecretary Carissa Cruz-Evangelista and her team composed of the department’s regional units.

We saw them at work, first hand and at close quarters, in Boracay; San Fernando, Pampanga; Gen. Santos City, and, Batangas City. They have been all over to the country, promoting the OTOP culture of entrepreneurship based on community and business partnership.

Our local communities nationwide, indeed, have found a strong ally in OTOP, which -- through the use of locally available raw materials and human resources, skills and talents -- motivates, assists, and supports MSMEs to manufacture and offer market-distinctive products or services.

OTOP has transformed ordinary citizens, especially housewives, into instant entrepreneurs all over the country. Everyday, more and more enterprising Filipinos are putting up their own businesses, many with distinct and fresh ideas to offer our consuming public and even those in our neighboring countries in Asia and the Pacific. We are slowly but surely realizing our dream of becoming a first world country.

Across the country, various local products have the potential of becoming worldclass such as Aurora’s hats and slippers, Bataan’s fresh and processed food, Bulacan’s embroidery products, Nueva Ecija’s footwear, Pampanga’s lanterns, Tarlac’s crochét and stitch work, Zambales’ sweet potatoes, Benguet’s sweet strawberries, Baguio’s intricately hand-woven products, Cagayan’s well-crafted furniture, Bicol’s yummy pilinut candies, Cebu’s dried mangoes, Samar’s banigs, Davao’s banana chips, among many others.

Many of these products are on display at Tiendesitas. Celebrity shopper Pinky Amador, recounting her shopping experience at the OTOP launching, was simply amazed at the knowledge of the OTOP entrepreneur about her products: What it was made of (indigenous materials) how it evolved, and the many uses it could be put to. Needless to say, she bought on that pitch.

Rex Drilon II, chief operating officer of Ortigas & Co., which operates Tiendesitas, was full of optimism for the OTOP Pasalubong Center, which has found a home in Tiendesitas.

Also at the launching, another loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines was presented by DBP Senior Vice President Cora Conde to an OTOP entrepreneur, helping expand the OTOP base and expectedly creating more jobs. DBP and DTI have a credit tie-up for OTOP accredited entrepreneurs.

It is the season for giving. And for shopping. When we look for items to bring home as pasalubong for our respective families and loved-ones in time for the holidays, let us top our long list of pasalubongs with our very own OTOP products!