"My name is Neri and I love to design and craft beautiful handmade jewelry made from stones, pearls, and shells native to the Philippines. In 2002, I started a small business with my family in the small town of Minglanilla, Cebu selling whatever we could find in the local market. Slowly, I began to create and design jewelry to sell at the market. Business picked up and our family business began to grow. Eventually, we opened up a factory in Minglanilla to create the handmade jewelry and accessories. We were able to open weekend shops in several Cebu City malls to sell our most popular designs. Now I make the 2-hour bus drive from my hometown to our shops in Cebu City almost daily. The work and travel is not easy, but it is rewarding."