Mothers have long been the most resourceful figures in the household, balancing care, sacrifice and ingenuity in ways that often go uncelebrated. In many Filipino homes, they are the steady hands that stretch limited resources, manage daily needs, and ensure that love remains the foundation even amid financial constraints.

This set the tone for the 18th Asian Innovation Forum, held on 29 May at the Aguilar Sports Complex in Barangay Pilar Village, Las Piñas City, which focused on “Empowering Moms in the Digital Economy.”

Timed for a month that honors mothers, the forum reframed motherhood through the lens of digital transformation and entrepreneurship. The discussion centered on a powerful shift: technology is no longer just a tool for convenience, but a gateway to independence.

Digital entrepreneurship can now be a practical bridge between home life and financial empowerment. Through social media platforms, online marketplaces and emerging financial technologies, mothers are now able to build businesses without stepping away from their families. Work can be structured around school runs, household routines and family responsibilities, giving them both flexibility and control over how they earn income.

Mobile wallets and digital banking systems such as Maya, along with microfinancing platforms supported by government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry and its financing arm, the Small Business Corporation, allows MSME’s specially mompreneurs to access credit, manage earnings, and sustain micro enterprises with far greater ease than in the past. What once required physical paperwork and institutional barriers can now be done through a mobile device, opening doors for thousands of small business owners.

Speaking for the local government, Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar Nery attended the event to express support for initiatives that strengthen women’s participation in entrepreneurship, as this remains a priority of the city government in advancing inclusive growth and skills development.