Ateneo MEnt alumna named one of the Most Promising Entrepreneurs in Bulacan for 2025

The Bulacan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc (BCCI) recently named Ms Heidie Ricca C del Rosario, a graduate of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business's Master in Entrepreneurship (MEnt) program Batch 27, as one of its Most Promising Entrepreneurs in Bulacan for 2025 in a ceremony last Saturday, 21 June 2025, at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos.

Ms del Rosario is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of HTP Clothing. Originally founded by Ms del Rosario in 2014 as Half the Price, HTP Clothing offers high-quality, long-lasting pieces at an affordable price point. The company continuously introduces new designs while still maintaining a selection of classic and basic pieces, allowing it to cater to customers' ever-changing clothing preferences, while ensuring it provides timeless and versatile clothing options.

To help grow her business Ms del Rosario enrolled in Ateneo's MEnt program, where she was part of Batch 27, which started on 1 February 2023. 

During her time in MEnt, Ms del Rosario was able to transform her business. The program also allowed her to better build HTP's brand, one that positions it to be the "Filipino brand that represents the Philippines on the global stage in ready-to-wear clothing." This was branding was important as, under the program, she realized that her main threat was low-cost importts.

With this in mind MEnt helped her create a paradigm shift for HTP, going from a business that went with gut feel, to one that used data-driven strategies to optimize both its products and how it made them.

She optimized the way HTP developed new clothing lines, while also increasing the level of professionalism of her staff, increasing their involvement while also implementing greater transparency with the team.

As a result, during her time in MEnt, HTP experienced a net income growth of 242 percent.

Still, despite her company's growth during and after her time in MEnt, Ms del Rosario still found being honored as one of BCCI's Most Promising Entrepreneurs in Bulacan for 2025 to be quite humbling.

"To be recognized as the Most Promising Entrepreneur in Bulacan this year 2025 — and the only woman among six awardees — is something I never imagined," she said in a social media post following the awards. "I am deeply humbled to be counted among such accomplished individuals whose work and success stories I truly admire."

Ms del Rosario was the only woman among those honored during the BCCI's Awards Night on 21 June 2025. 

At the event, Ms del Rosario was also congratulated by Senator-elect Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, another Ateneo alumnus, having completed his BS in Management Engineering in 1999. Senator-elect Aquino was the keynote speaker for the awards ceremony.

Started in 2009, Ateneo's Master in Entrepreneurship program has helped many entrepreneurs achieve their dreams by teaching them how to unlock the potential of their businesses. Applications for MEnt Batch 32 are currently ongoing with the program itself beginning on 27 October 2025.

Photos c/o Ricca del Rosario