Close to 10,000 participants attended our Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit last Friday, March 6, in the World Trade Center. In its seventh year, our Filipina Summit has never failed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs and students and guide them at the start of their entrepreneurial journey. Yes, their attending the summit is the start of their entrepreneurial journey as they are equipped with the right attitude and knowhow just by listening to more than 50 female panelists and guests. This is the biggest mentoring summit we’ve ever had. Definitely, every year of the Filipina Summit is bigger and better!

We were joined by key Filipina entrepreneurs and Filipina icons as we inspired and empowered students and aspiring Filipinas towards entrepreneurship. In our keynote forum led by Ali Sotto, we were joined by Senator Cynthia Villar, Congresswoman Leni Robredo and Tessie Sy-Coson.

We also awarded this year’s batch of Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneurs: Myrna Bituin of Betis Crafts Inc., Celinda de Guia of Ovation Productions, Roxanne Farillas of Plains and Prints, Kathleen Go of Universal Records, Emma Imperial of Imperial Homes Corporation, Mary Lizabeth Lu of Komikasi Games, Riza Mantaring of Sun Life Financial Philippines, Josephine See of Peanut World, Stella Sy of Mint, Patis Tesoro of Patis Tesoro Shop, and Fe Vidal of CBN Boneless Bangus.

We also awarded social entrepreneurs Menchie de Guzman of Gantsilyo and Nanette Medved-Po of Friends of Hope Inc. Nanette has been awarded as well by BPI Ka-Negosyo with their Ka-Negosyo, Kababaihan sa Negosyo Financial Excellence Award.

We also paid tribute to iconic Filipina entrepreneurs who contributed to both the business and education sectors. They are both in their 90s but are still sharp at making business decisions and leading their respective companies. Socorro Ramos of National Book Store, who is now 92, shared that with “sipag at tiyaga,” one can reach their goals and be successful in life. Esther Vibal of Vibal Group believes that “From nothing, you can be something. Just work hard.” They truly deserve to be recognized as Lifetime Achievers in the field of education!

We also had an informative discussion with some of our awardees and entrepreneurs in four different fora. In the end, we all learned a lot from this fully packed program. I hope that through our Filipina Summit, the growth in enterprises will continue and more and more Filipinas will venture into entrepreneurship.