MSME Day: June 27

The True Meaning of Supporting Local in Boracay

By Gene Loves Acosta

The Philippine Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector makes up about 40% of the national economy. That’s a big number, but it becomes clearer when you realize that nine out of 10 businesses in the country fall into the micro category. These are ventures with assets of up to three million pesos, surviving on lean budgets and long hours. Beneath them lies an even wider base of nano-entrepreneurs: roadside vendors and home-based makers who shape the island’s daily texture.

June 27 is MSME Day, and in a place powered almost entirely by small business grit, it is more than a calendar highlight or trending hashtag. It is a reason to ask: What does “support local” actually look like?The Dignity of the Fair PriceMost of us have been there. We find something we love at a stall and immediately ask for a discount. Gil delos Santos, founder of the Small Players Association of Boracay (SPAB), gently pushes back on that reflex. “MSME support shouldn’t be about the discount you scored,” he says. Gil believes in the dignity of the fair price: paying for craftsmanship without the pamamarat.

The same pressures are carried by restaurants that have fed the island for decades, water sports operators, your favorite salon, and the travel trinket shops visitors love. Some businesses have also spoken up about the misuse of PWD IDs and discount privileges, reminding customers to be mindful and fair, especially toward independent establishments with tighter margins.

If you want to put your money where your heart is, here are a few spots worth supporting, along with systems helping MSMEs stay afloat.

Hubs of Heritage

GMarket Boracay brings together small sellers and Ati community products under one roof. Managed by SPAB, it is a space where the story behind each product matters. GCafé and Bakery highlights Malaynon and Aklanon culinary heritage through homestyle comfort food recognized under the Tourism department’s Boracay Signature Bites initiative. For a touch of local luxury, Elizabeth Rasonable Piña Silk reimagines genuine Aklanon piña textile with a modern sensibility. Healthree rounds it out with a recently opened greenhouse that brings locally grown produce closer to everyday dining.

Lokalidad in Station X grew out of weekend market tables before finding a permanent home. Inside are handwoven textiles, upcycled pieces and products with a strong sense of place. Among the names to note are Daloy.PH, which bridges indigenous communities across the archipelago; Tatak Natin, known for quietly elegant woodwork and long-lasting home pieces; and Tali Macramé by Marx, which creates handcrafted bags and décor.

Homegrown GuardBoracay’s personality wasn’t built by global franchises. It was shaped by people who believed in the island before it was on anyone’s radar. Real Coffee & Tea Café, birthplace of those famous calamansi muffins, has been here long enough to become part of the island’s memory. Jasper’s Tapsilog has anchored its corner since the ‘90s. Dos Mestizos and Lemoni Café proved that homegrown concepts rooted in heritage can outlast any trend.

Newer names carry that same spirit. The Sunny Side Café, Bistro des Amis, Nonie’s, and Eskinita are just a few among many independent businesses without a corporate parent to fall back on. When tourism slows, they feel it immediately and personally.

Safety Nets

Support matters even more when small businesses face difficult seasons. In recent years, financing has shifted from a hushed conversation to a more accessible lifeline. One example is the Small Business Corporation (SB Corporation), which provides resources for micro-businesses to stabilize and grow.

A standout initiative is the ₱7-

billion loan facility launched with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay (PCCI-Boracay). Designed to help MSMEs manage rising operational costs, the program prioritizes women-led enterprises, export development and returning OFWs. It offers up to a 12-month grace period and can be accessed without collateral. On the island, PCCI-Boracay serves as the local conduit, helping process and validate applications so support remains within reach.

At the end of the day, most MSMEs are run by people who either grew up here or loved the island enough to stay and build something of their own. Choosing to support them (and paying what they are worth) is one of the few ways to keep Boracay resilient while preserving the character people fell in love with in the first place.

GCafé and Bakery, Tali Macrame by Marix, Tatak Natin, Elizabeth Rasonable Piña Silk, Daloy