Sometimes, the most meaningful development stories begin not in conference rooms, but in small communities where people continue to work despite the odds.

This was the spirit behind the launch of Project Enhancing the Branding of Women-Led Smoked Fish (Tinapa) Enterprises in Bataan by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) supported by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), in partnership with the province of Bataan and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The timing of the launch on 5-6 August could not have been more challenging. Heavy rains battered Metro Manila, government work was suspended, and yet our partners and beneficiaries still showed up.

My sincere thanks to IPOPHL DG Ted Pascua and DTI Regional Director Edna Dizon for attending despite the bad weather. I am equally grateful to DTI Provincial Director Eileen Ocampo and the Bataan Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO), led by Jeff Calma, for assisting us even during the work suspension.

But my biggest salute goes to the women beneficiaries, who all came despite the rains. Their determination was perhaps the clearest indication that they truly want to learn how branding and trademarks can help transform their traditional livelihood into stronger enterprises.

We were lucky to spend a short time with Bataan Governor Joet Garcia at the Command Center to update him on the project and discuss possible areas of future cooperation.

We then visited a traditional tinapahan. It was the first time I saw the process up close and it gave me a different appreciation of the product — not simply as smoked fish but as part of Bataan’s local tradition and identity. It also raised an exciting possibility. Could Bataan tinapa, because of its traditional methods, distinctive qualities, and connection to place, eventually qualify for consideration as a Geographical Indication?

Day 2 brought more rain, but again, the participants came.

Paulo Tibig, a known inspirational speaker and a Bataan native, traveled to Balanga despite the weather and led the focus group discussion and the identification of gaps with his fellow Bataanons. And the PCEDO team, led by Grace Atuan, continued to support the activity

We were also honored by the presence of WIPO director for Asia and The Pacific and the highest ranking Filipino in WIPO, Andrew Ong, whose ideas and enthusiasm were a breath of fresh air and an inspiration to everyone.

There are also no words to express my gratitude to DG Daren Tang for his continuous support for the Philippines to ensure that the impact of IP is felt far and wide and deep within communities that need IP knowledge and skills.

And to my teammates Sheryl Tañon, Atty. Therese Incomio, and Edgie Ruiz, congratulations for putting together a successful two-day launch.

What struck me most was not the rain, but the commitment of everyone who came despite the bad weather.

Because at the heart of this project is a simple idea. Intellectual property should not remain an abstract concept. It should help people protect what they create, strengthen what they sell, and build better lives from what they already know and do well.

For the women of Bataan, branding their tinapa is more than putting a trademark on a package. It is about giving their product a distinct identity and giving them the confidence to say: “This is our product. This is our tradition. This is Bataan.”