Tiptoe to Triumph: SM, BDO, and the New Filipino Entrepreneur

In the grand arena of Philippine commerce, greatness does not always arrive with a roar. Sometimes, it tiptoes in — quietly, courageously, and full of possibility.

Tiptoing to start a triumphant march. The SM model, fused with BDO’s financing, gives MSMEs — first-time entrepreneurs, digital natives, or creatives daring to bring their online ventures into the physical world a core platform. (Photo: Kultura Filipino Facebook)

This is the story of micro, small, and medium enterprises — the MSMEs — that form the country’s economic backbone, employing 85 percent of the nation’s workforce. And this is also the story of two institutions that have long extended a steady hand to help them rise: SM Supermalls and BDO Unibank.

While the Magna Carta for MSMEs — Republic Act No. 6977 — set the stage, it is in the corridors of SM malls and the credit windows of BDO branches where this law has found its living expression.

What began as a policy goal has become, in the hands of the SM Group, a pulse in the nation's economic life.

In India, where the MSME law originated, the vision was simple: help the small grow big. Here in the Philippines, SM has taken that mandate to heart. Its Supermalls have become not just shopping centers, but launchpads — home to the country’s largest community of MSMEs, numbering over 100,000 and counting.

Nearly 70 percent of tenants across SM malls are MSMEs — many of them first-time entrepreneurs, digital natives, or creatives daring to bring their online ventures into the physical world.

“Many are former online sellers who now see the value of connecting with customers face-to-face,” says Joaquin L. San Agustin, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing. “SM serves as the launchpad and marketplace of their dreams.”

Through portals like the SM MSME Application site, and events such as the Viyline Caravan, Artisan Souk Fair, and Art Market, these malls provide more than space — they offer visibility, mentorship, and marketing support.

Side hustles become serious ventures. Booths become brands.

Take the story of Hannah Garcia. At 28, she transformed a passion project into Pamanna Jewelry — a business that now thrives within Kultura, SM’s heritage retail brand.

For Garcia, Kultura wasn’t just a store. “It was always a dream platform,” she says.

“We both believe in quality, story-driven creations, and empowering local makers.”

Kultura’s curated community includes 15 to 20 young partner-suppliers, many of them Gen Z and Millennials. For Sheila Tan, Kultura’s Senior AVP for Operations, this new wave of entrepreneurs brings fresh ideas and a deep understanding of trends.

“They breathe new life into our brand,” she says. “And we grow together.”

Another standout is Stella Miranda, founder of Lily Jewelry. At 25, she started with a clear vision: make jewelry that’s down-to-earth, yet one-of-a-kind. Her collaboration with Kultura during its Filipino Design Studio event brought her brand to new heights.

“Kultura gave us not just space in high-traffic stores,” she shares, “but a spotlight — both online and in-store — to reach our market.”

And while the malls provide the platform, BDO completes the circle with capital. In 2024, BDO reported that Millennials now account for 49 percent of its Multipurpose Loan clients, with Gen Zs beginning to follow suit.

These numbers reflect a rising tide — young dreamers turning vision into ventures, and ventures into viable businesses.

One such dreamer is Christian Guerrero, founder of Ground-Up, a construction solutions company catering to multinational and local firms. With the help of BDO’s Ready Check facility — a credit line under the Multipurpose Loan program — Guerrero was able to pursue bigger projects and negotiate from a stronger position.

“Our Ready Check facility significantly improved our operational flexibility,” he says. “It gave us confidence to pursue larger project leads.”

The SM-BDO synergy creates a full-spectrum support model: from stall to store, from idea to infrastructure, from tiptoe to takeoff. And it is this holistic nurturing — retail exposure, market access, financial muscle — that transforms hesitant beginnings into confident strides.

Behind each jewelry case, pop-up booth, or construction contract is the story of a Filipino entrepreneur who dared to step forward.

And behind many of them stands the silent scaffolding of SM and BDO — patient, practical, and profoundly invested in nation-building.

In a country where talent overflows but capital and exposure are often scarce, the SM model — fused with BDO’s financing — shows that development need not shout to be seismic. Sometimes, all it needs is a platform, a partner, and a little room to grow.

Because in the right hands, even a tiptoe can be the start of a triumphant march.