24/03/2025
𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐨’𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭
Meet Mary Joy A. Digan, the owner of Digan Food Products Manufacturing from Brgy. Esperanza, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.
Digan’s Banana Chips has become a beloved household name on Siargao Island, representing more than just a snack—it stands as a symbol of family unity, resilience, and determination. Their journey from humble beginnings to sweet success truly embodies the heart and soul of Siargao’s entrepreneurial spirit.
In April 2023, Mary Joy saw an opportunity in the abundance of bananas growing in her community. With a clear vision to create something meaningful from this local resource, she decided to transform bananas into crispy, delicious banana chips. Armed with little more than a small startup fund and a big dream, she embarked on a journey filled with determination and creativity.
Starting small, Mary Joy worked tirelessly to perfect her recipe, ensuring each batch of banana chips would stand out in taste and quality. Her dedication soon paid off as her products gained popularity—not just within her neighborhood but across the island. What began as a modest idea quickly blossomed into a thriving business, providing a steady income for her family and showcasing the untapped potential of local produce.
As her business grew, so did Mary Joy’s creativity. Beyond banana chips, she expanded her product line to include camote chips, peanut turon, spicy dilis, and sugar-coated peanuts. Each item reflects her commitment to quality and her innovative approach to transforming simple, locally available ingredients into delicious, sought-after snacks.
Today, Digan’s Banana Chips is not only a local favorite but also a prominent presence in souvenir stores across the island. Tourists flock to Siargao, eager to take home a taste of the island, and Digan’s banana and camote chips have become a must-have souvenir for anyone visiting. This local success story has become an integral part of the island’s identity.
But Mary Joy’s success goes beyond her growing business. She has become an actively assisted micro-entrepreneur (ME) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through her participation in various trade fairs on the island and across the province. Through her participation, she has helped raise the visibility of local products, connecting small businesses with broader markets. Additionally, Mary Joy was selected as a beneficiary of DTI’s Assessment, Consultation, and Triage (ACT) program, which provides support and funding to local entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses and amplify their impact.
Mary Joy’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation. She has not only built a successful business from simple bananas but also expanded her product line with other local treats, proving the value of resourcefulness. Her success has provided for her family and inspired others to see the potential in everyday resources. Through her hard work and determination, Digan has turned small beginnings into a legacy of pride, opportunity, and community impact—showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Siargao.
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𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐨’𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭
Meet Mary Joy A. Digan, the owner of Digan Food Products Manufacturing from Brgy. Esperanza, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.
Digan’s Banana Chips has become a beloved household name on Siargao Island, representing more than just a snack—it stands as a symbol of family unity, resilience, and determination. Their journey from humble beginnings to sweet success truly embodies the heart and soul of Siargao’s entrepreneurial spirit.
In April 2023, Mary Joy saw an opportunity in the abundance of bananas growing in her community. With a clear vision to create something meaningful from this local resource, she decided to transform bananas into crispy, delicious banana chips. Armed with little more than a small startup fund and a big dream, she embarked on a journey filled with determination and creativity.
Starting small, Mary Joy worked tirelessly to perfect her recipe, ensuring each batch of banana chips would stand out in taste and quality. Her dedication soon paid off as her products gained popularity—not just within her neighborhood but across the island. What began as a modest idea quickly blossomed into a thriving business, providing a steady income for her family and showcasing the untapped potential of local produce.
As her business grew, so did Mary Joy’s creativity. Beyond banana chips, she expanded her product line to include camote chips, peanut turon, spicy dilis, and sugar-coated peanuts. Each item reflects her commitment to quality and her innovative approach to transforming simple, locally available ingredients into delicious, sought-after snacks.
Today, Digan’s Banana Chips is not only a local favorite but also a prominent presence in souvenir stores across the island. Tourists flock to Siargao, eager to take home a taste of the island, and Digan’s banana and camote chips have become a must-have souvenir for anyone visiting. This local success story has become an integral part of the island’s identity.
But Mary Joy’s success goes beyond her growing business. She has become an actively assisted micro-entrepreneur (ME) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through her participation in various trade fairs on the island and across the province. Through her participation, she has helped raise the visibility of local products, connecting small businesses with broader markets. Additionally, Mary Joy was selected as a beneficiary of DTI’s Assessment, Consultation, and Triage (ACT) program, which provides support and funding to local entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses and amplify their impact.
Mary Joy’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation. She has not only built a successful business from simple bananas but also expanded her product line with other local treats, proving the value of resourcefulness. Her success has provided for her family and inspired others to see the potential in everyday resources. Through her hard work and determination, Digan has turned small beginnings into a legacy of pride, opportunity, and community impact—showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Siargao.
