For the fifth time, I was invited to present an award at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) last month. Now in its 10th year, EOY has been awarding the most outstanding Filipino entrepreneurs and showcasing their success as role models for many entrepreneurs.

I was invited to award the Small Business Entrepreneur Award category, an area Go Negosyo has been focusing on for the past eight years. Erramon Aboitiz, and Tennyson Chen (both EOY past awardees in 2010 and 2011) and I presented this to Leonarda Capuyan, who’s known for her Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, Inc. in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Among the other recipients of the awards were Go Negosyo advocate Juliet Herrera of Serenitea Cha Kitchen, who received the Young Entrepreneur Award, and Dr. Milagros How of Universal Harvester, who bagged the Women Entrepreneur Award.

Ben Chan of Suyen Corporation, maker of the famous brand Bench, aside from receiving the Master Entrepreneur Award, was hailed as Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines. Additionally, he will be representing our country in the World Entrepreneur of The Year 2014 to be held in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in June next year.

My admiration also goes to the other national finalists, who are already considered leading entrepreneurs. They are Go Negosyo partner Santi Araneta (LBC Express Inc.), Alexander Bangsoy (Goshen Land Capital, Inc.), Maria Lorena Simeon-Florendo (LifeData Systems Inc.), Alberto Lina (Airfreight 2100, Inc.), Cesar Mario Mamon (Enchanted Kingdom, Inc.), Manuel Osmeña (Manny O. Group), Dr. Victor Perez (University of Cagayan Valley), and Rajan Uttamchandani (Esquire Financing, Inc.).

Again, my congratulations to the awardees, finalists and organizers! With you playing a very important role in nation building, this country can truly move forward, giving hope and jobs to many Filipinos.

Meanwhile, we will also be having the MVP Bossing Awards by PLDT this month. Go Negosyo is one of its partners in unveiling the bossing’s achievements, their passion and dedication in serving as an inspiration to Filipinos through the MVP Bossing Awards. The search is now on its fourth year in the country. Past recipients of the Grand MVP Bossing Awards include Cecilio Pedro of Lamoiyan Corporation, Socorro Ramos of National Book Store and Bernie Liu of Golden ABC (Penshoppe).

Aside from the Bossing search, we also recently concluded the search for the CITI Micro Entrepreneurs of the Year (MOTY) for the year. This is also an annual search to recognize the real inspiring micro and small entrepreneurs who started with nothing but are very enterprising in fighting adversity and putting up a small negosyo. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremonies this month.

As we present more shining role models among entrepreneurs, we hope to inspire our fellow Filipinos — especially the youth — that they, too, can be like them.

Many of these leading entrepreneurs have been part of or have started to join the Go Negosyo cause in helping small and start-up entrepreneurs. Many give their time to help, to share their stories, their advice and mentor those in our negosyo summits and seminar caravans across the country. And through our programs on TV, radio, online and Philippine STAR columns, we are able to reach more people.

With everyone helping, we believe Filipinos can beat poverty and move up in life. Yes, Filipinos can dream, believe, and achieve.