By Leo Udtohan
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| Bohol-based entrepreneur and chocolatier Dalareich Polot will receive
the prestigious "Goldman Sachs and Fortune Global Women Leaders Award",
the first Filipina to receive such distinction during the 15th Fortune
Most Powerful Women Summit on October 10-12, 2022 in Laguna Niguel City
in California, USA. Photo: Dalareich Chocolate House |
-Gov. Aris Aumentado on his First 100 Days in office: "True to our campaign promise to institute Good Governance, we took steps to rid the Capitol of unscrupulous people who have soiled the good reputation of Boholanos. The so-called" Ivan" who victimized quarry operators, mining permitees, and sand and gravel dealers by collecting 30% kicback, has been removed from the equation. In just three months, we have tripled the collection of quarry permit fees from industry players. While before, many local businessmen and suppliers shun away from, and were deprived of the opportunity to do business in our Capitol due to rigging of transactions to favored bidders from Cebu and Luzon, there is now a substantial increase of bidders and a more fair and transparent procurement set-up."
-Jingle Lofranco Tripoli on his Pakal's, the newest foodie destination in Tubigon town: "We have budget-friendly, drool-worthy, and super delicious menu. Lutong bahay nga pagkaon nga patok sa masa." The blessing and ribbon cutting on Saturday, Oct. 8 was graced by Gov. Aris Aumentado and 2nd district Rep. Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado.
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| Gov. Aris Aumentado and 2nd district Rep. Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado
graced the blessing of Pakal's in Tubigon town. Contributed photo |
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By the time you are reading this corner, I'd assumed that Bohol-based entrepreneur and chocolatier Dalareich Polot is already in the USA.
Well, she won the prestigious "Goldman Sachs and Fortune Global Women Leaders Award", for the rehabilitation of cacao industry and empowering rural women farmers.
Polot, 34, is the first Filipina to receive such distinction in California in United States of America during the 15th Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on October 10-12 at Laguna Niguel City in California, United States of America.
"Actually, I cried when I read the confirmation [in] e-mail because deep inside my heart, I know I'll get this. After all, the things happened to our world, pandemic plus typhoon Odette, I'm still hoping for a good news to get this year," said Polot, who was one of the Goldman Sachs scholars in 2011 under 10,000 Women Business Training Program in partnership with University of Asia and the Pacific and IESE Business School.
She said the opportunity came in God's perfect time that she is only an instrument of God and just following His mission.
"I’m very excited to speak in the world stage again and represent my beloved country, my province and city," she added.
The 2022 Summit with the theme "Realizing Your Power" will convene the preeminent women in business—along with select leaders in government, philanthropy, education, sports, and the arts—for wide-ranging conversations that inspire and deliver practical advice.
Among the leaders already committed to attend the summit are American philanthropist and former computer scientist Melinda French Gates, U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney and Katie Porter, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom; and some leaders and chief executive officers of top companies in the world.
"I’m also eager to listen and network with women leaders and CEOs that I will meet during the summit. I’m so looking forward to engage with women leaders," said Polot.
Known as the “Chocolate Princess” in Bohol, Polot established the first and only Chocolate House in the province after winning the Young Women Entrepreneurs Bootcamp in 2013 sponsored by the US Embassy in Manila and SPARK Philippines. She won a cash prize that helped her to expand her family's “Dalareich Tableya" which started in 1994.
In June 2014, she went to Europe for a scholarship grant to study food engineering on chocolate processing at Gent University in Belgium. When she came back to the country, Dalareich launched her own chocolate line—"Ginto Luxury Chocolates. "
On Sept. 8, 2017, Dalareich opened “Dalareich Chocolate House”, the first chocolate factory in Bohol. It is a bigger facility, which employs housewives and part-time students, to produce more chocolates and so visitors can see the whole chocolate production process.
Polot sources her cacao beans from small farmers from the towns of Calape, Carmen, Pilar, Sierra Bullones and Jagna.
Cacao seeds are sold at P35 per kilo for wet beans in the local market, but Polot buys these from farmers at a higher price of P120-P160 for dried and fermented beans to be able to help them.
Bohol produces only five percent of the country’s cocoa supply.
Cacao seeds turn into cocoa powder to make “tableya,” a traditional Filipino hot chocolate beverage made from 100 percent pure, roasted cocoa beans that are pressed into coin-shaped tablets, and, chocolates.
But since the farmers could not meet her demand of 63,700 kilos a month, Polot had to tap those in Davao region.
She launched "Adopt-a-Cacao Tree" advocacy campaign to preserve the cacao farming in Bohol and encourage Boholanos to take care of the cacao trees that had been planted near their houses.
She expanded her network in several towns and led farmers to rehabilitate and plant cacao trees.
However, when Typhoon Odette (Rai) ravaged the Visayas region in Dec. 2017, it destroyed cacao plants. At least 100 families were affected.
For the past 10 months, Polot has led in the livelihood recovery of rural women farmers through cacao production and rehabilitation.
"I am also very ecstatic that it comes with a grant that I can utilize to pay-it-forward to my adopted communities," said Polot.
Polot's love of cacao started with the family's business of "tableya" which her mother Elsa inherited it from her mother-in-law.
In 2019, the family's "Dalareich 100% Unsweetened Chocolate" received the gold award from the Academy of Chocolate in London.
She won the “Best Family Support" Award for APEC “Business Efficiency and Success Target” Award 2019 (APEC BEST Award) during the Women and the Economy Forum in La Serena, Chile.
Her message to the world?
"The past two years have been challenging for everyone in this world. Many of us felt confused, sad, disappointed, and lost, but God always sends us a message to continue to hope and pray even with all the challenges in our way. Those tears you shed will be worth it, and you understand better in His perfect time. God is always watching over us; things will fall into place in His perfect time with His great surprise that you didn’t imagine," she shared.
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