Brazilian expat loves the Philippines as ‘home,’ works with Tondo moms to promote Filipino culture

MANILA, Philippines — Want to shop early for Christmas?

The ongoing Filipino Design Studio at The Podium atrium, Level 2 of The Podium mall in Pasig City aims to raise awareness on Filipino culture, celebrate Pinoy talent and support local artisans through its wide range of unique and handcrafted Filipino products – ranging from trendy upcycled apparel to eco-conscious homeware, statement accessories and mindfully-made wellness products.

Among the booths in the souk-style Filipino Design Studio is social enterprise Not a Daydream, owned by Brazilian expat Rosa Hibbert who fell in love with the Philippines.

According to Rosa, she moved to the Philippines in 2018 because of her husband’s job, but she does not feel like a stranger because she believes the Philippines is a lot more like Brazil.

“The Philippines, for me, is very close to my culture – people are very open, very friendly, very nice. So basically, we’re home here,” she enthused.

The Philippines, for her, is a “fun country.”

“You know, the things that we like – we like to celebrate, to party together, to help each other – the colors, the music make me feel at home.”

From exploring the Philippines and its provinces, Rosa got to know Filipino culture and textile weavers, so shortly after moving to the country in 2018, Rosa founded Not a Daydream to share her knowledge in creating bags and use the business to create impact in Filipinos’ lives. She assembled a team of 10 mothers in Tondo, a poverty-stricken town in Manila.

“This idea of Not a Daydream is to give back to the Philippines,” Rosa said. “All the bags are made in Tondo. We create models and taught Tondo women how to create bags.”

Apart from providing Tondo mothers with livelihood and training, Rosa also