Aside from parchment copies of Senate Resolution No. 370, Filipino P-pop sensation BINI also brought home handwoven bags from homegrown brand Rags2Riches gifted by Senator Bam Aquino, the resolution’s author.

Sen. Bam presented the bags from Rags2Riches’ Fruit Bag Series to the eight-member “Nation’s Girl Group” during their meeting before BINI was honored by the Senate for making history as the first Filipino group to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.

 

Each member received a different fruit-inspired bag from the collection, with Mikha receiving the Dalandan bag, Jhoanna the Lemon or Limon bag, Sheena the Rambutan bag, Maloi the Peach bag, Colet the Orange or Kahel bag, Gwen the Watermelon or Pakwan bag, Aiah the Pineapple bag, and Stacey the Cherry or Seresa bag.

 

Sen. Bam personally gave the bags, which came with personalized charms, together with Reese Fernandez Ruiz, co-founder and president of Rags2Riches.

 

Reese co-founded Rags2Riches together with Sen. Bam, providing community artisans and underserved communities with livelihood opportunities by transforming unwanted fabric into bags and other handcrafted products.

 

Rags2Riches was among the social enterprises Sen. Bam helped establish during his time as a social entrepreneur before entering public service.

 

In addition, Sen. Bam also co-founded Hapinoy, which empowers marginalized women micro-entrepreneurs who run small neighborhood sari-sari stores across the Philippines by providing them with microfinancing, business training, and new market opportunities.

 

A known micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and consumer advocate, Sen. Bam authored and sponsored the Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act 10644) during his tenure as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship.

 

The law provides MSMEs with greater access to markets and financing, offers training and capacity-building programs, and simplifies the business registration process for entrepreneurs starting or expanding their ventures.