As we continue our journey in the entrepreneurship advocacy over the last eight years, we are fortunate to see also the growing number of advocates, entrepreneurs, corporate partners and enablers who are one with our vision to help create an entrepreneurial culture, a country of enterprising Filipinos. Our partners help inspire and empower, teach and mentor other aspiring entrepreneurs, and even the youth who simply want to move up in life. Truly, it is always an exciting and rewarding experience to be involved in this advocacy and to touch the lives of fellow Filipinos even in the countryside.

Aside from the numerous Negosyo seminars and Magandang Business Advice mentoring sessions that we featured in our last column, this year alone we had several other summits and gatherings that further pushed our cause. Our second Filipino Technopreneurship Summit had the privilege of having successful Filipino technopreneurs from Silicon Valley Engr. Dado Banatao, Winston Damarillo, Eric Manlunas, and Dr. Paco Sandejas. Big local technopreneurs also added to the success of the fora, where we had Manny Pangilinan, Polly Nazareno, Kat Luna-Abelarde of PLDT, as well as Smart’s Doy Vea sharing their insights, knowledge and expertise. Go Negosyo trustees Myla Villanueva, Rosalind Wee, Felix Ang, Pruds Garcia, and other supportive mentors of Go Negosyo attended our event.

We also successfully mounted the Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit, which was graced by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. We also had the presence of Nanay Coring Ramos (National Book Store), Esther Vibal (Vibal Publishing House, Inc.), and Dr. Helena Benitez of Philippine Women’s University. Some of the women entrepreneurs were also recognized by Go Negosyo like Corazon Dayro-Ong (CDO Foodsphere, Inc.), Charita Puentespina (Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Inc.), Preciosa Soliven (OB Montessori, Inc.), Siu Ping Par (PR Gaz Holdings, Inc.),Tina Maristela-Ocampo (Celestina), Glenda Barretto (Via Mare), Dr. Eleanor B. Tan (Healthway Medical), Bambi Verzo (Concertus Manila), Dr. Vivian Sarabia (Vivian Sarabia Optical), Senator-elect Cynthia Villar (Villar Foundation), Maria Fe Agudo (Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc.), and Heny Sison (Heny Sison Culinary School). We also had Karen Davila, who inspired the audience with her life story and Senator-elect Grace Poe.
This year also marked the release of our eighth book, Go Negosyo: 50 Inspiring Stories of Agri-Entrepreneurs, to celebrate agriculture and encourage more Filipinos to embrace opportunities in farming and fishing as an entrepreneurial venture. We appreciate the great support of Senator Kiko Pangilinan and his Sagip Saka program and Justin Uy, who is the country’s biggest exporter of processed mango products. Mang Inasal’s Injap Sia and Vibal Publishing’s Esther Vibal likewise made the book project possible.

People are asking how we fund the numerous activities and projects and we tell them that if not for the support of our private corporate partners, it would have been difficult for Go Negosyo to reach out to and empower many Filipinos. Thanks to current partners like PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Meralco, RFM Corporation, BPI Family Bank, LBC, Condura, DHL, GMA-7, Philippine STAR, MBC-DZRH, and Business World. We also have institutional partners like the Department of Trade and Industry, National Livelihood and Development Corp., Association of Filipino Franchisors Inc., and Philippine Franchise Association. Recently, we also signed a partnership with Eurotel, which is a fast-growing business hotel group.

The entrepreneurship development advocacy must continue so that we can create a culture change that will be the real and lasting solution to poverty. Achieving “inclusive growth” cannot be done by government alone. Each and every Filipino must have the drive and will to succeed. There must be a mindset change, supported by competency-building activities provided by institutions like Go Negosyo. Again, success is for those who want it most. And Go Negosyo and its community of entrepreneurs and enablers will always be there to help make one’s dream a reality.

For details on current Go Negosyo seminars and programs, visit our website www.gonegosyo.net or call 637-9229.

Contact me at feedback@gonegosyo.net.