25/03/2026
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐, ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง
Written By: Walter Benz Annaguey
Growing up in the IP community of Salcedo, Emmylou knew that women like her are often deprived of the opportunity to grow and succeed.
She grew up with no generational wealth, no safety net, not even a back up plan. But to her, giving up was not an option.
It all started with a handful cacao trees in her backyard when curiosity urged her to innovate simple cacao into tablea - a cheap but delightful treat. Unbeknownst to Emmylou, her curiosity will later change the course of her life.
At first, Emmylou admitted that her tablea creation faced struggles especially with the limited resources. At some point, she thought of terminating the business but she pushed through.
Following many attempts, Emmylou finally mastered the art of transforming cacao into tablea. Turning a local fruit into a famous Ilocano delicacy which eventually became the main OTOP of her municipality.
Since 2019, Emmylou has been a consistent recipient of different awards from the Province, all attributed to her cacao products. These are not mere plaques of recognition, but trophies symbolizing the IPโs victory for visibility.
Today, Emmylou is now celebrating her 11th year in the business and her cacao tablea continues to contribute to Ilocanoโs rich delicacies, further boosting the Provinceโs tourism.
Truth be told, behind every success are stories of resiliency, handwork and dedication.
For Emmylou, cacao tablea is more than just an Ilocano delicacy, it is a tribute to the Provinceโs rich culture, honoring our Ilocano ancestors who came before us.
Above all, Emmylou dedicates her success to every IP woman who faces economic hardship, aiming to empower them to discover their full potential.
She is Emmylou Jomero, 52, her story is a testament to how an Ilocano IP woman can thrive, proving that their potential is limitless.
