Wishes do come true, but only if a person works hard to attain what he or she is wishing for. Filipinos have been wishing for a better life, as we have been under poverty for the longest time. However, 2012 gave us a glimpse of hope that prosperity can still be attained, and we are positive that our good fortune will continue up to this year. Let us be reminded that in spite of the opportunities that are opening up for us, we have to continue what we are currently doing and work together as a nation to attain success in the coming years.

I asked the members of the Go Negosyo community to share their thoughts and wishes on the coming year, and here are their responses:

2012 was indeed a challenging year in the automotive industry but overall, the industry still did considerably well despite the things that happened. I am very hopeful for 2013, and with His blessings, I hope I’ll be able to bring in more new brands, products and services that would entail opportunities and generate more jobs. We will definitely encourage lots of our young entrepreneurs to have businesses wherein faster, easier, and very practical means of transporting goods and services is the key to achieve success the better way possible.”

—Autohub Group president

Willy Tee Ten

“2012 was a very challenging year. Though the tension between the Philippines and China has resulted in fewer visitors from China, we are looking at more exchanges in business in 2013, as the new Chinese leaders will assume full position in March. We are quite optimistic for 2013 not only because it is an election year, but also the condition for investment, especially in agriculture, is very conducive. The government has to step up its campaign against smuggling, especially in rice, so that farmers will be encouraged to plant more.”

—SL Agritech chairman and CEO Henry Lim Bon Liong

“I foresee 2013 to be a good year for our economy, yet the poor will still be poorer, especially if more natural disasters come. The government needs to improve the disaster management of our country. Our organization, the Philippine Federation of Local Council of Women, will continue to push for the legislators to come out with laws that will alleviate the plight of women and their children, and implement the existing laws that affect the underprivileged. We are also the watchdogs for corruption, which is one of the causes of poverty in our country.”

—Richwell Trading CEO Myrna Yao

“2012 was good year, as partnering with NMBK and doing more activities with Go Negosyo really has opened new doors for us. It was also a very challenging year, which is a preview of the next years to come, and this tells us we need to be dynamic in terms of strategic development. We always see 2013 as a year when we will reap the benefits of the seeds we planted in 2012 and will also be the planting season for 2014 harvest. We are launching four new brands in the Philippines and continue the expansion of Potato Corner internationally.”

—Potato Corner president

Jose Magsaysay Jr.

“2012 was a year of going back to basics. This meant investing heavily in building a solid foundation, tough enough to withstand the winds of change. 2013 is going to be exciting and it seems to be a banner year for the Philippines. We should encourage each other to be more open, accepting and innovative. Technology will be at the forefront of challenging our physical boundaries, allowing us to see more, do more and live more.”

—PLDT SME Nation head Kat Luna-Abelarde

“My wish for our nation and for ourselves in 2013 is, as what I always exhorted in my investment promotional speeches, ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ — the Olympic motto, which is ‘faster, higher, stronger’ in English. More power and spirit in this New Year.”

—DTI Undersecretary Tito Panlilio

“In 2013, I am committed to providing quality education at the grassroots level, especially those at the formative ages of three to five. I am blessed to be currently working with youth leaders in forming an NGO called MovEd. We made it a point to open our first daycare center at the Habitat for Humanity community in Navotas before 2012 ended, serving 50 students daily. I am ecstatic and positive that we can touch more and more kids in 2013. Perhaps we might even have a hand in molding our country’s future leaders!”

—Belo Essentials CEO Cristalle Henares

“My personal and professional mission is to help people discover that ‘the only true wealth is health.’ Too often people spend all their time and effort accumulating wealth at the expense of their health, only to find themselves spending all their wealth to fix their health in later years. I conduct health and wellness workshops and coaching sessions in Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay to help entrepreneurs find work-health balance. They learn how they can get the best of both worlds: hard work balanced with health, resulting in true success.”

—Nurture Spa owner Cathy Turvill

“2012 has been great and I thank God for all the blessings He has provided. It’s a year filled with changes and growth both as a person and entrepreneur. For 2013, we’re launching a technology-based social enterprise called Siglo, which aims to maximize the use of technology to uplift the lives of others, so watch out for that.”

—Chinoy TV head Alvin Tan

“Banapple experienced high growth in 2012 as we opened stores in established communities, as well as the introduction of its little bro Sandwicheese. With a more upbeat economy and a rise in consumer confidence, 2013 is definitely a growth year and is a welcome challenge for us to surpass the past year’s growth. We will continue to refine our operations’ processes and maintain product and service quality, which will ultimately translate to an enjoyable Banapple experience.”

—Banapple owner GJ Jimenez

“Creations has expanded to five branches this year! I must say that we became successful because in anything that we do, we do it 101 percent! This year, we plan to stabilize our operations. We will see to it that we will cater to salon junkies who wanted to feel a new experience in what a salon is.”

—Creations founder Lourd Ramos

“2012 was good, but we’re looking at 2013 with even more optimism and a bigger step with the addition of a new WW II-themed tour to Corregidor Island. With this new tour in our series, we have opened opportunities to workers in the cultural field in using their academic disciplines to more creative applications such as doing interpretative tours for Old Manila Walks. Our training sessions make them better in their craft and at the same time adds extra to their coffers.”

—Old Manila Walks founder

Ivan Man Dy

“2012 was a very fruitful year as we continue to improve our facilities to meet the increasing demand. With the strict competition in our industry today we are stepping up our game, and hopefully our progress will continue in 2013.”

—Dragon Fireworks EVP Joven Tan

“We are starting to experience the benefits of our hard work last year with our recent transactions in Asia. Next year will be a better year, and we will keep on working hard to achieve greater prosperity for us and for our employees.”

—Tumandok Craft Industries owner Josephine Locsin

“We at SLERS are happy to see the improvements in our economy, and we are positive that we will start to feel its effects by 2013. There have been challenges that we faced but with faith in God and in the quality of work that our employees do, we have stayed. I believe that as long as we keep on doing business, we are helping our employees and their families have better lives.”

—SLERS Industries founder

Mercedes Mejia

“Natutuwa ako na patuloy ang pagdami ng mga tumatangkilik ng aming kape sa taong 2012, na nakakatulong sa mga maliliit na magsasaka upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang hanapbuhay. Ngayong darating na taon, gusto namin na magkaroon pa ng mas maraming exhibit na mapuntahan sa ibang bansa katulad ng nangyari noong nakaraang taon, upang i-promote ang Philippine civet coffee sa mundo.”

—Kalinga Brew owner

Antuza Refalda

“As most of us realize the importance of saving Mother Earth through simple acts such as using biodegradable products, our company felt an improvement in our financial standing last 2012. We were also recognized as the Ernst and Young Small Entrepreneur of the Year. In the coming year, we hope to sustain the success as we continue to promote local awareness in caring for nature through recycling.

Jomaray Pulp Packaging

Industries owner Jonathan Suy