Every great business has a story—and ours began in a humble kitchen in Metro Manila, stirred with love, purpose, and a mother’s desire to give her children something better.
In 1999, our founder, Madonna Elizaga, wasn’t thinking about exports, trade fairs, or FDA licenses. She was thinking about her children. She wanted them to have healthier drinks—something real, natural, and full of the goodness of Philippine fruits. That spark of love and intention gave birth to what we now proudly call Zigmund Enterprises.
Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves celebrating a full-circle moment. Madonna’s inspiring story was recently featured by the Department of Trade and Industry Region 7 in a special feature titled “From Kitchen Dreams to Global Triumph: The Journey of a Woman Entrepreneur.” And it’s a story we are deeply proud to share.
Starting as a cottage industry, Zigmund was built from scratch, fueled by long hours, borrowed equipment, and big dreams. When we relocated to Dumaguete City in 2007, the challenges multiplied—but so did Madonna’s drive.
With limited capital and almost no formal business background, she knocked on the doors of DTI and bravely took part in programs like OTOP, Kapatid Mentor Me, and eventually, DOST’s SETUP Program. These doors didn’t just open opportunities—they opened a world of possibilities.
With the support of these government programs, Zigmund transitioned from manual to mechanized production, multiplied our workforce, and elevated our product standards. We went from three people in a small kitchen to a dedicated team in a fully equipped facility. From local fairs to international expos. From six-digit sales to seven-digit growth.
And through it all, we’ve stayed rooted in purpose—uplifting local farmers, promoting health through natural juice concentrates, and keeping that original intention of nourishing families with real, honest products.
Madonna’s leadership pushed the boundaries even further. Today, Zigmund Enterprises proudly exports to countries like Singapore, the United States, and Canada. We’ve shared the stage at ASEAN Trade Fairs, SEOUL FOOD Korea, and were even invited to the APEC SME Week in Thailand, where Madonna was recognized as a leader in fostering small business growth.
This is more than Madonna’s story. It’s a story of Filipino ingenuity, of a mother's heart, and of a small-town dream turned international success. It's the story of every small business owner who dared to start, dared to struggle, and dared to dream big.
At Zigmund Enterprises, we’re not just bottling calamansi juice—we’re bottling passion, perseverance, and the best of what the Philippines has to offer.
And none of this would be possible without the inspiring woman behind it all: Madonna Elizaga.
We thank the DTI Region 7 – Negros Oriental for recognizing Madonna’s journey and for being a constant ally to MSMEs like us. To read the full DTI feature, you can visit their official website here.
This is just the beginning. We continue to dream, grow, and bring Philippine flavors to the world—one bottle at a time.
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