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| (Image Source: Facebook/DOST Batangas) |
In an industry where beauty brands emerge almost overnight and digital marketplaces reward speed and visibility, staying relevant is difficult. Earning trust is even harder. Yet one homegrown Filipino company chose a different formula. Instead of relying on trends alone, C&H Cosmetics Industry invested in something less visible but far more enduring — technology, certifications, research, quality systems, and continuous innovation.
That decision has transformed a business that started with only Php5,000 from a couple’s wedding cash gifts into a globally expanding cosmetics manufacturer whose products now reach international shelves, employ hundreds of Filipinos, and set quality milestones rarely achieved by local players in the industry. Behind this story are husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Henry and Apple Raca. Before becoming business owners, they worked ordinary jobs, a janitor and a sales agent, while quietly building a dream that Filipino-made products could one day stand alongside international brands. Years later, that dream is reaching the world.
Built For Longevity In An Industry Driven By Trends
Long before beauty products flooded social media feeds and online stores, C&H had already begun building its foundation. What started as a small trading venture eventually evolved into a manufacturing enterprise that prioritized systems over shortcuts and credibility over hype. Through the years, the company partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and later availed of additional DOST interventions including the Energy Audit Consultancy Program, Purchase Order Financing Program, and LIGTAS COVID-19 Program through DOST-TAPI. These interventions helped strengthen productivity, modernize operations, improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce production losses, and expand capacity — allowing the company to scale while maintaining product quality. The company gradually transitioned from being a local enterprise into a globally competitive manufacturer. Today, C&H products reach markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America, with preparations underway for expansion into Australia. Their products now move through diverse distribution channels — from supermarkets, convenience stores, hypermarkets, institutional accounts, and retail networks worldwide. In the Philippines, C&H products are distributed through supermarkets, institutional accounts, retail outlets, and community-based selling networks with more than 4,400 outlets that help make locally made products accessible to consumers nationwide. Internationally, products are distributed through recognized market platforms including Seafood City and Island Pacific in the United States and Canada, West Zone Supermarket in the UAE, and Lulu Hypermarket across the Middle East, among others.
Raising The Bar For Filipino Cosmetics
C&H’s growth is not measured by market reach alone. It is built on proving that a Filipino manufacturer can meet global standards. The company secured certifications from Prime Certification & Inspection Asia Pacific Inc., including compliance with UAE.S 2055-4:2014 General Requirements for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products (Production Soap) and the Philippine National Halal Certification Scheme of 2018 and Philippine National Standard 2061:2021, while currently awaiting certification under GSO 1943:2024 Cosmetic Products. According to Prime Regional Sales Manager Raymond Alido, C&H became the first Filipino-owned company in the cosmetics industry category to achieve these certifications, creating a competitive advantage in entering the UAE, Middle Eastern, and Gulf markets. He attributed the milestone to leadership commitment, successful laboratory compliance, strong systems and technologies, disciplined process implementation, and a culture of continuous innovation. Several C&H products also secured notification through Europe’s Cosmetic Product Notification Portal while selected products achieved compliance under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022, supporting market access in the United States and Canada. The company also expanded into African markets through Halal certification and regulatory approvals. These achievements strengthened C&H’s position as a Filipino manufacturer capable of competing in markets traditionally dominated by larger global brands.
Innovation That Grows With Communities
Inside C&H’s facilities, innovation extends beyond product development. The company developed the Kereina White Formula which utilizes all-natural plant-based ingredients and supports more than 5,000 coconut farmers in Quezon Province supplying coconut oil requirements. Research and development remain deeply integrated into company operations. Management actively participates in product innovation, while technical teams and in-house chemists conduct product testing and evaluation to ensure safety, performance, and market readiness. Using food-grade raw materials and purified water systems, the company continuously expanded its portfolio with new offerings including soaps, cosmetics, wellness products, massage oils and creams, keratin hair products, perfumes, and home care solutions. Innovation also extended into business operations through the development of a mobile application supporting the company’s direct-selling affiliate Hannah Sofie Direct Sales.
Recognition Earned At Home And Abroad
As C&H expanded globally, recognition followed. The company received several prestigious recognitions from DOST including the National Most Resilient MSME, National Most Innovation-Ready MSME, and the Science for the People Award for Enterprise Productivity. It also earned the Best Innovative Product Award in South Luzon under DTI’s Gawad SME. Internationally, C&H gained recognition through the MIHAS Excellence Award in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Global Islamic Economy Champion Award in Dubai for meeting international standards and successfully penetrating Middle Eastern markets. Its growing presence in Malaysia also earned recognition from the Philippine Embassy, particularly for supporting Filipino entrepreneurship abroad.
Growth That Creates Opportunities
C&H’s success created opportunities beyond its factory walls. Today, the company employs more than 600 workers in the Philippines and creates additional income opportunities for more than 100 overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia through its direct-selling operations. Many OFWs earn supplemental income averaging around Php5,000 monthly, helping strengthen family resilience while abroad. Back home, the Municipal Government of San Antonio, Quezon recognized C&H as the municipality’s first company acknowledged for practicing inclusive hiring, creating opportunities for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, out-of-school youth, and working students. The company also provides staff housing, conducts entrepreneurship training for women and communities, extends livelihood assistance to distressed OFWs, and supports local initiatives including Brigada Eskwela and community development programs.
Growth With Responsibility
As production scaled, C&H invested in sustainability. The company installed wastewater management systems, settling tanks, and process improvements that reduced spillage and improved resource efficiency. Residual materials are repurposed in operations to minimize waste generation and support more circular production practices. The company also continues exploring technologies that further strengthen sustainable manufacturing.
More Than A Beauty Success Story
For Henry and Apple Raca, success did not begin with capital. It began with a decision to build something of their own — and to prove that Filipino products deserve a place in the global market. From a wedding cash gift worth only Php5,000 to a manufacturing enterprise whose products now reach consumers across continents, C&H Cosmetics Industry has shown that world-class quality is not exclusive to multinational brands. Today, every certification earned, every export market opened, every Filipino employed, and every local raw material transformed into finished products contributes to something bigger: the strengthening of the Philippine economy and the growing recognition of Filipino innovation on the global stage. While many products carry international labels, C&H carries something equally powerful: a Filipino story built through determination, science, technology, and continuous innovation. As the company continues expanding internationally, it remains proudly rooted in its identity — designed, developed, and manufactured by Filipinos. Proof that world-class can be proudly Tatak Pinoy, Dugong Pinoy.
