One tough Mama

“My children are the reason I work so hard. They are my heart, soul and inspiration.”

A MOTHER’S love is like no other: enduring and unconditional.

Maria Teresa Caja Santiano, chief executive officer of Tropical Palm Herb Manufacturing and Tropical Blend International Marketing Corp., began her entrepreneurial journey in 1996, stepping up after becoming a widow at the age of 36.

With six children to care for, she embraced hard work, bolstered by her bubbly attitude and perseverance.

For over 30 years, Santiano worked as an executive producer at Radio Philippines Network TV Channel 9, and later as a freelance organizer and producer.

Her degree in Mass Communications from the Luzonian University Foundation served her well in her media career. However, the demands of raising her children pushed her to explore new ventures.

Santiano’s business acumen was inherited from her grandparents, who had a stall in Lucena City’s public market.

Growing up, she sold Sweepstakes tickets and camote tops alongside her family to supplement their income.

Later, she opened “pasalubong” kiosks in malls, selling delicacies from Baguio, Cebu, Quezon and Davao.

It was a customer who encouraged her to go into herbal production — a business that became her passion and mission.

Inspired by her children, Santiano committed herself to providing sustainable solutions to health challenges through herbal remedies and drinks.

Today, she supplies raw materials for a major turmeric brand, a well-known bakery, a cough syrup manufacturer and a coffee exporter, among others.

“Our mission extends beyond tradition. We strive to innovate and create new, cutting-edge herbal products that cater to both the wisdom of the old generation and the evolving preferences of the new,” she explained.

Santiano’s business sources products from local farms in Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Ilocos, Davao and Cebu. Reflecting on her early years, she recalled gathering sacks of dried leaves from bus terminals, often filling her car with produce to meet her orders. Despite facing the tragic loss of one of her children in a car accident, she persevered.

‘Good problems’

As her business grew, she faced “good problems,” like needing more space for production. She converted her old house in Montalban into a manufacturing plant because her garage in Marikina could no longer accommodate the volume of orders.

The effort was worthwhile; during the pandemic, demand for herbal drinks surged.

Santiano even provided accommodation for her staff to minimize exposure risks, ensuring a steady supply for her clients.

However, the pandemic was not her only challenge.

In 2020, Typhoon Ulysses submerged her factory under 20 feet of mud and water, devastating equipment and raw materials.

Despite the loss, she managed to continue operations by outsourcing production and drawing on the savings habits instilled by her grandparents.

When another typhoon (Carina) hit in 2023, she was better prepared.

Now in its 11th year, Tropical Palm Herb Manufacturing has become more resilient and sustainable.

Santiano has even expanded her reach internationally, exporting herbal powders and other concoctions to Germany and beyond.

For her, business is about building trust and relationships.

In 2017, she befriended a German who is married to a Filipina, who became a loyal customer after learning about the uses of local herbs like malunggay, guyabano, bignay and sambong.

A highlight of Santiano’s career came in 2024 when she was awarded the Southern Luzon MSME Presidential Award by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Receiving such a prestigious award from the Department of Trade and Industry, presented by the President, is every entrepreneur’s dream,” she said.

She has also been recognized by various government and private organizations for her entrepreneurial success.

Santiano’s brand stands out for its advocacy.

“Tropical Palm Blend Manufacturing is a social enterprise. Our goal is to support Filipino farmers across the country. Through the cultivation of herbal plants, we provide year-round income opportunities for local farmers,” she explained. Her company’s demand for malunggay alone reaches up to 50 tons annually, along with herbs like lagundi, sambong, banaba, lemongrass, mangosteen, turmeric, and many others.

For Santiano, success is driven by purpose and dreams.

“Purpose is the guiding star of my being, and dreams are the light along the way. Real success isn’t about greed — it’s about lifting others,” she said.

She aims to give her workers a good life, especially those who have been with her since the beginning.

“I hope to expand further to help more Filipinos improve their lives,” she added.

Santiano’s unwavering passion and determination stem from her love for her children.

“My children are the reason I work so hard. They are my heart, soul and inspiration,” she said proudly, noting that all her children — Irone, Dom, Eris Zeus, Yzabel Claire, Angelica and Arnel Red — are now professionals.

Her business remains a sole proprietorship, where she is actively involved, personally engaging with clients and managing her sales and marketing team. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I believe that our decisions shape our future. I can’t go wrong with this path.”

When asked for her secret to success, she said, “Pursue your dreams — don’t stop. When you fall, rise. If you fall again, rise again. But take a different route if necessary.”

For Santiano, that route has always led back to her commitment to her children, her workers and Filipino communities.

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QUICK QUESTIONS

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

The death of my children. I had a trauma since my eldest daughter died at a very young age. I do not want to see them dying before me.

WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?

Liars, not being honest. I hate those people who cannot be true to what they say, those who are playing with words and are just telling a lot of nonsense.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK HARD?

New beginnings, new clients, new ventures. My day is always a new day. I have more than 55 regular clients with whom I interact with regularly.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

Watching YouTube videos like Congress and Senate hearings. These are my sleeping pills.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE SMALL?

I wanted to follow the steps of Vilma Santos — but instead I had Nora Aunor in “Superstar” at RPN 9 (I am just joking but indeed, I worked with Nora Aunor as a producer).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTO?

I will build a church, and I will build several huge livelihood centers for women, and a huge car wash station for unemployed men.

IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEAL WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL LIVING OR DEAD WHO WOULD HE, SHE OR THEY BE.

I would share my meal to my little Iris — my daughter who died when she was 6. It is painful to remember, but that tragic accident in 1986 made me a better Mom to all my children.

WHAT IS THE MOST DARING THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?

I pole danced inside a Metro train in Taiwan with my colleagues in the Chamber of Commerce — and they were all ashamed of what I did.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

James Patterson’s book “Along came a spider,” a story of an actress — with a serial killer. I love suspense and thriller.

WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE COFFEE OR TEA WITH?

Of course, Coco Martin. Baduy ako.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER DO AGAIN?

It is to fall in love again! My children are enough — no one can complete it.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?

In my next 10 years, I will be with my high school batchmates in Lucena City. There is a saying that if you want to feel young again, be with your high school classmates because they make you feel like a teenager again.