Nurturing marginalized communities one chocolate at a time, this chocolate brand helps single mothers have better jobs and stable incomes. Their mission is simple: sustainably alleviate poverty by working with locals to produce premium and healthy chocolates.
Established by the Muravah Foundation in 2015, Mayon Gold had been supporting over 500 families ever since. Most of their chocolate laboratory workers are locals from Sua, Camalig, Albay, with children to support and families to sustain.
One of them is Sheila Racania, a single mother of two working in the factory since 2019. She used to sell biscuits and candies for a living, earning at most a hundred pesos while raising her children.
According to her, they used to live in a nipa hut without electricity, water, or even a proper bed. Out of desperate needs, she came to the foundation to work part-time to earn extra money. Upon learning her situation, the management hired her to a full-time job like other single mothers she now works with.
The chocolate factory and the foundation assisted them in building a proper and safer house. Racania is only one of the countless single mothers and locals helped by the chocolate laboratory and the foundation. As of writing, the Muravah and Mayon Gold were able to provide over 60 typhoon-proof houses to locals in Albay.
She said that her job making authentic Bicol-made chocolates completely changed her life and the state of their communities. According to them, all profits of Mayon Gold are redistributed to farmers, their workers, and for projects in the community.
Mother Mayon’s nurture
Aside from single mothers, farmers are the main beneficiaries of the foundation and of the chocolate factory. Since 2015, they distributed native cacao seedlings and promised to directly buy the pods to the farmers.
The cacao variety was already growing around the Mayon volcano region for centuries, having distinct flavor and aroma. Farmed and processed entirely at the foothills of Mayon, they proudly said that each bar is from the volcano’s nourishment.
Raymond Robles, currently the farm’s manager, used to work as a construction worker and vegetable farmer. He said that despite juggling jobs before, their income was insufficient to support their family’s needs.
Working for over 14 years with Muravah, he said that his job not only sustained them. Robles emphasized how their jobs also gave him a greater purpose and mission to help others.
Now, Robles was not only able to provide for their daily needs but also successfully supported his children through college. On top of his income, the foundation also provided educational assistance to help them send their children to school.
Mayon Gold variants
Mayon Gold currently has 17 variants, including the 100%, 90%, 76%, and 60% cacao masses, creating natural premium dark chocolate. Each variant has a unique blend of pure cocoa flavors and different levels of naturally harvested coconut sugar.
According to their claims, there are over 14 health benefits their chocolates have from the organic ingredients they used. Among the health benefits of their chocolates is to lower blood sugar, improve blood circulation, aid in digestion, and serve as an antidepressant.
Moreover, the brand said that Mayon Gold is a natural, healthy, and delicious way to revitalize consumers’ wellbeing and happiness. On top of its fruity, nutty, and earthy flavor, they added that it has the nutrients from the volcanic soil.