Nelson Morales

Pinay entrepreneur Mayet Dela Rosa. Photo by Josh Mercado

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751329065772image2.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Mayet Dela Rosa" style="width:960px"/>Mayet Dela Rosa</div>Every shining diamond that draws the attention of the entire room has imperfections but after time, it remains the most appreciated, treasured, and desired.Like a precious gemstone, Mayet Dela Rosa has been shaped by time and adversity — rising from humble beginnings in Quezon province to become a key figure in the jewelry industry.Before finding her own brilliance and sparkle, Dela Rosa admitted in an interview that as a child, she wanted to eat meat but couldn&#x27;t afford it, describing her situation as &quot;sobrang hirap.&quot;“Galing ako sa sobrang hirap na pamilya. Farmer ang tatay ko at housewife ang nanay ko. Wala talaga. Nanghihingi lang kami sa mga kamag-anak, kung may tutulong. Sobrang hirap. Minsan ka lang makakakain ng karne. ‘Yung damit mo, isang beses lang sa isang taon na may bago. May isang laruan lang ako for ten years,” she recalled.She added, “Nakikipanood lang sa butas para manood ng TV. Hindi pa alam kung kakain ka ng hapunan. Ganoon kahirap. Wala talaga kami. Panglima ako.”But the challenges in life didn&#x27;t stop her from getting the comfortable life she had always desired. She was motivated to succeed and she went on the journey with nothing but a dream.“Nangarap ako. Pinagbuti ko talaga. Sabi ko, kapag ako nakapagtapos, gagawin ko ang lahat. Gusto kong yumaman, at gusto kong pumunta sa isang lugar na tipong kaya kong bilhin ‘yung mga gusto ko,” she said.Dela Rosa attended college in Manila, and one of her siblings already owned a jewelry store, where she was trained to sell and interact with clients. She claimed she felt at home at the jewelry store.“Inipon ko ‘yung kinikita ko sa jewelry store ng kapatid ko. Siguro sinasabi ng universe na ‘yun ang mundo ko. May kakaibang feeling. Sabi ng kapatid ko, bagay ako roon. Hanggang sa ako na ‘yung hinahanap ng mga customer na tipong, ‘Nasaan si Ms. Mayet?’ Ako ‘yung hinahanap talaga,” she shared. After working for her brother&#x27;s jewelry business for ten years, Dela Rosa opened her own pawnshop in 2000, followed by her own jewelry store in 2006. Today, Mayet Dela Rosa Fine Jewelry has 20 branches, one of which is in Pampanga.Her initial store was on Recto Avenue, near the Chinese community, where she met her first client, who purchased P1 million worth of jewelry.“Nag-start ng P500,000 pero nagsanla ng sasakyan. Mahirap mag-start ng P500,000 kasi walang magtitiwala sa ’yo. Dapat may display ka. Nakaipon ako ng P2 million. Pero sa pagtatayo ng jewelry store, dapat may P5 million ka,” she noted.Dela Rosa offers and buys gold jewelry such as earrings, rings, and necklaces, as well as diamond pieces, in her stores.“Buy and sell ako. ‘Yung mga scrap, tutunawin. Bumibili ako ng mga sirang alahas at gagawin ko silang gold bars at dadalhin sa central bank para ibenta. Ganoon ang ginagawa ko noon halos araw-araw. Nung nagkaroon ako ng display, sobrang ingat ko sa pera. Hanggang sa lumaki nang lumaki. May stores na sa malls. Na-build ko ‘yung pangalan ko. Pinagkatiwalaan nila ako,” she added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751329103875image0.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Her fine jewelry line is now one of the most popular and successful in the country, with clients ranging from celebrities to politicians.Asked what jewelry means to her, the 53-year-old Pinay entrepreneur replied that it gives her &quot;power.&quot;“Kasi ang feeling ko, ‘pag nakaalahas ka, ang ganda-ganda mo. ‘Pag nakaalahas ka, ang yaman-yaman mo. ‘Pag nakaalahas ka, mayroon kang power,” she told ABS-CBN News.“Parang ang ibig sabihin, naabot ko na kung ano talaga ‘yung pinangarap na gusto ko. Kapag nakikita ko ito lahat, sinasabi ko na, ‘Wow. Nakuha ko na lahat,’” she continued. “Alam nila ‘yan, eh. ‘Pag tinignan nila, alam nila. ‘Pag tinanong, ilang carat ‘yan. Ang taas ng value mo. Ang taas ng tingin sa’yo. Pero hindi lang naman puro sa sarili. Gusto kong makatulong dahil galing ako sa hirap,” she added.Every piece of jewelry she sells is lovingly crafted to mark life&#x27;s milestones, transitions, and timeless emotions. She went on to say that their creations communicate the language of gold — everlasting, resilient, and deeply personal.“Every piece embodies a memory. Whether it&#x27;s a wedding ring, earrings passed down by a grandmother, or a necklace celebrating a child&#x27;s birth, jewelry serves as a vehicle for remembrance,” she shared with ABS-CBN News.<div>Happy family</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751329151133image1 (1).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px" alt="Mayet Dela Rosa with husband Richard. Josh Mercado"/>Mayet Dela Rosa with husband Richard. Josh Mercado</div>The businesswoman, who refers to herself as a &quot;simpleng tao,&quot; has never lost sight of what truly counts in life. While she admitted that jewelry is a status symbol, she believes that true success is having a happy family.“Para sa akin, ang success ay isang happy family. Kahit gaano ka karaming pera kung hindi naman masaya ang pamilya mo. Sinikap ko talaga na magkaroon ng isang masayang pamilya,” she emphasized. She and her husband, Richard Dela Rosa, raised four children in a life far different from her own humble beginnings.“Naibalanse ko. Balansyado po ang buhay namin. Kapag tinawagan ako ng anak ko, iiwan ko ang milyones na ‘yan. Ganoon ako. Priority ko rin ang husband ko na si Richard. Sabi nila, hindi kayang pagsabayin, pero hindi totoo ‘yan. I’m a wife and a mother,” she opened up.When they have free time as a family, they would travel abroad and shop, encouraging others to shop hard rather than gamble.Dela Rosa said, “Ayaw kong tularan ‘yung mga kakilala namin na mayayaman na nagsusugal. Mas okay na mag-shop na lang. Hindi maganda ang sugal.”She went on to express that she treats her over 100 employees like family members, taking them on trips to different places.“‘Yung mga empleyado, gusto naming maisama sa abroad. ‘Yun ang ginagawa namin ngayon. Dinala ko sila sa Japan. Mahirap ‘yung luxury brand ka tapos ‘yung mga tao mo ay hindi mo man lang naisakay sa eroplano,” she confessed.And her advice to young female entrepreneurs who wish to attain success in life: “Huwag magreklamo na hindi kaya. Kaya lahat. Alalahanin natin na kaya natin. Hindi nagbibigay ang Diyos nang hindi natin kaya. Nung mga panahon na nahihirapan akong ipaglaban, kinaya ko. Kung gugustuhin mo, kakayanin mo.” Her level of success appears to be difficult to achieve, given the businesses she owns aside from her fine jewelry brand and the properties she owns, including her resort Via Appia in Tagaytay City. But she believes that those who have faced hardships in the province, like herself, can achieve anything and anywhere by following their instincts.Her wealth journey began like a diamond, going through several processes and refining until it shone brightly.“Narito na ako sa point na giving back. Marami pang puwedeng umasa sa akin. Marami pa akong matutulungan. Ibinigay ito sa akin ng Diyos at hindi ako magre-retire,” she ended.

Born into poverty in rural Quezon, Mayet Dela Rosa once watched TV through a neighbor’s window and dreamed of a better life. Now, she runs a 20-branch fine jewelry business and counts celebrities and politicians among her clients.

Born into poverty in rural Quezon, Mayet Dela Rosa once watched TV through a neighbor’s window and dreamed of a better life. Now, she runs a 20-branch fine jewelry business and counts celebrities and politicians among her clients.

How this Pinay entrepreneur built a jewelry empire from nothing

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How this Pinay entrepreneur built a jewelry empire from nothing

Josh Mercado

Published July 01, 2025 04:54 PM PHT

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