Sparks of transformation: Siklab awardees
In every generation, there are individuals who step forward to prove that leadership rooted in values can be both transformative and enduring. The 2025 Ramon V. del Rosario Siklab Awards honor two such individuals whose stories remind us that the best kind of success is that which uplifts others, empowers communities, and strengthens our nation. They do not merely run successful ventures. They are building legacies that embody the belief that business must ultimately be a force for good.
This year’s honorees, Cherrie Atilano and Julieane Camile “Juca” Lacsina, exemplify the spirit of principled entrepreneurship. They are visionary leaders who have chosen to solve deeply rooted challenges in Philippine agriculture. What they have achieved at such a young age is extraordinary. But more important than their achievements is their unwavering commitment to nation-building and ethical leadership.
Cherrie, founder and CEO of AGREA, has devoted her life to transforming agriculture into a dignified, innovative, and sustainable sector. Since founding AGREA in 2014, she has reached more than 30,000 smallholder farmers through programs that raise incomes, improve access to markets, and promote environmentally sound farming practices.
A standout example is her partnership with the farming community in Majayjay, Laguna. There, collective farmer income rose from P50,000 in January 2023 to P5.7 million by year-end. That is the kind of growth that changes lives. During the pandemic, she led the Move Food Initiative, which rescued over 200,000 kilograms of excess produce while linking farmers directly with urban consumers. She also founded the Women Food Producers Association, which has empowered homemakers to become confident entrepreneurs, restoring agency, purpose, and pride in their roles as food producers.
What distinguishes Cherrie is not just her vision, but her authenticity and moral clarity. She travels to mountain communities, chooses integrity over expedience, and insists on transparency even when it means forgoing business opportunities. While globally recognized by the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, her greatest impact is seen in the farmers who now speak of agriculture with hope rather than resignation.
Juca, cofounder and CEO of GOEden, is leading a quiet but powerful revolution in agritech. At the height of the pandemic, she launched a bold solution to a long-standing problem in the agricultural supply chain: how to get reliable, affordable, and high-quality farming inputs into the hands of small farmers. Her response was a fully proprietary e-commerce platform that now reaches nearly 100,000 farmers across 72 provinces, offering over 4,500 products from nearly 100 partner brands.
Through GOEden, farmers save thousands of pesos each year by eliminating travel expenses and lost time. But what makes Juca’s model even more compelling is its focus on education. Her Tech Caravans teach farmers how to use inputs safely and effectively, protect themselves from counterfeit products, and harness digital tools to improve productivity. She has faced threats, intimidation, and pressure from corrupt local officials, but she has remained steadfast in her values.
Juca’s work also strengthens rural economies by investing in local talent. By hiring and training staff in provincial areas, she is not only creating jobs but also reversing urban migration. Through collaborations with institutions such as SEARCA and top agricultural universities, she ensures that her work is anchored in both science and service. Her inclusion in the Tatler Asia and Esquire trailblazer lists further affirms her growing influence in the region’s startup and agricultural sectors.
Both Cherrie and Juca remind us that entrepreneurship, when grounded in purpose, becomes a moral act. They are creating systems that value the dignity of work, promote ethical conduct, and foster resilience in our most vulnerable communities. They show us that real leadership is not about commanding attention, but about sustaining trust.
The Siklab Awards were created to honor young Filipinos who lead with integrity, who dream boldly but serve humbly, and who strive not just to build enterprises but to shape a better Philippines. In recognizing Cherrie and Juca, we are reminded that the next generation of business leaders is ready, not just with innovative models and digital tools, but with values and vision. They give us hope that the future of the Philippines is not only bright but also in good hands.
Let us support and celebrate these sparks of transformation. Let us also commit to nurturing more leaders like them, so that their impact continues to ripple outward and ignite even more change for years to come.
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Ramon del Rosario Jr. is former chair and current trustee of the Makati Business Club. He also cochairs the Phinma-DLSU Center for Business and Society, which advocates for business as a force for good together with the broader business and academic communities.
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Business Matters is a project of the Makati Business Club (makatibusinessclub@mbc.com.ph).
