MANILA, Philippines — Gone are the days when Filipinos only go to sari-sari stores for everyday essentials: now, they’re increasingly becoming a go-to destination for special occasion treats ...

Sari-sari stores are driving women’s empowerment in the Philippines, according to a study published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in collaboration with tech start-up ...

Launched in 2018 as a solution for multinational companies with only a handful of sari-sari store partners, Packworks has rapidly expanded as a B2B platform that enables growth and success ...

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Most women have run their sari-sari stores for three to eleven years, starting with an initial capital of 2,500 pesos (US$43.5) to 50,000 pesos (US$870.5), according to the study.

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SARI-SARI stores, locally known as neighborhood mom-and-pop shops, are not just a primary source of daily essentials for around 94 percent of Filipinos but a vital source of empowerment among women ...

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Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has supported a European joint army in the past - Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images ...