Empowering Small Beauty Brands: AIPO Brings IP Awareness to QC’s QCertified Program

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) was honored to be one of the guest speakers at the Intellectual Property (IP) Awareness Session under the QCertified Roadmap Program. The event was held on May 26, 2025, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Big Conference Room, West Wing, Quezon City Hall. This focused session brought together six cosmetics entrepreneurs, all eager to learn how IP can support their business growth and protect their innovations.

Image: Group Photo of the Participant and Speakers (from L-R) Ken Handler Soledad,  Ms Charity Maquiling, Ms Erika Juanson, Ms Vanessa Malapit MSc and Engr Benjamin Mirasol

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology–National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) and the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC-SBCDPO), the QCertified Roadmap Program equips MSMEs across different sectors with tools to meet regulatory requirements and grow their businesses. While this session focused on cosmetics, the program serves a wide range of industries through tailored training, consultations, and technical support.

Image: Awarding of Certificate of Appreciation to the speakers; (from L-R) Engr Benjamin Mirasol and Ms Vanessa Malapit MSc representing AIPO; Ms Erika Juanson representing Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC-SBCDPO) 

Representing AIPO were Ms Vanessa Malapit, MSc, Head of the Protection and Education Group, and Engr Benjamin Mirasol, Head of the Commercialization and Business Incubation Group (CBIG). Ms Malapit opened the session with a discussion on the fundamentals of intellectual property—covering patents, utility models, industrial designs, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights. She emphasized how even small businesses can benefit from protecting their product names, packaging designs, and creative assets.

Image: Ms  Malapit discussed IP fundamentals for MSMEs, while Engr. Mirasol shared strategies for leveraging IP to drive business growth. Photo courtesy of the QC-SBCDPO, as posted on their official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Engr Mirasol provided practical insights on the role of IP in the business setting. He shared real-life examples of how MSMEs can leverage their IP assets to enhance brand credibility, attract partners, and ensure long-term competitiveness in the market. He also underscored the importance of MSMEs as drivers of economic growth in both developing and developed countries.

The AIPO team extends its gratitude to DOST-NCR and QC-SBCDPO for inviting them to be part of this meaningful initiative. AIPO remains committed to supporting Filipino entrepreneurs through accessible IP education and advocacy. 

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For more IP-related sessions like this, you may visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu or email them at aipo@ateneo.edu. You may also check out their Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements.

To learn more about the programs and services offered by DOST-NCR and its partners, including the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC-SBCDPO), you may visit https://ncr.dost.gov.ph or follow QC-SBCDPO’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/QCSBCDPO.