Last Saturday, we had to come home early from a trip out of town, as my wife and daughter bugged me to watch the Backstreet Boys’ concert. Since women can be so persuasive and persistent, I gave way and joined them. The Araneta Coliseum was jampacked, mostly by women. Luckily, Vic Del Rosario, who was the promoter of the show, was in front of me.

While the performers were impressive, I was totally out of place. But then again, these are only some of the things we would do to please the women in our lives.

March 8, Monday, is our second run for the Women Entrepreneurship Summit. Last year, it was one of the biggest events Go Negosyo has ever had. This year, we have doubled the halls for the venue. To date, we have a record of almost 400 booths that will exhibit different products and business models. This is double the number of exhibitors we had last year.

This year, we also dedicate this summit to the inspiring successes of our small entrepreneurs who continue to challenge and overcome poverty. They are armed with the only tool that can help them – their own negosyo.

In one of our Negosems, we invited Bam Aquino, who is also now a social entrepreneur. He said that the Philippines can quickly be a great nation if every citizen becomes an entrepreneur because he or she would know more about the issues that affect the industry they are in and would be more involved. Given this, Filipinos would be active stakeholders in our economy. Real entrepreneurs normally are the innovators and change agents in society as they provide solutions to “problems” or market gaps.

Time and time again, we say that women make good entrepreneurs. But, it does not mean that men are otherwise. Women would tend to start a negosyo to help augment the family income. As the business becomes bigger, the husband normally joins in to help in the structure and management to take the business to the next level.

During the summit, we will be recognizing 100 small entrepreneurs who have beaten poverty. Their stories are presented in the fifth book of Go Negosyo. We hope that their stories would be able to inspire others. Also on Monday, we will be recognizing nine women who have inspired and served as very good role models for many Filipinas, and Filipinos as well. They are: Leonarda Camacho; Pilita Corrales; Gina Lopez; Maria Cristina Medina; Winnie Monsod; Marixi Prieto; Esther Vibal; Rosalind Wee and Linda Legaspi. Their stories will be featured on March 8 Monday, in my other column here in Star entitled Tagumpay.

The women entrepreneurship summit is for free and is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, National Livelihood Development Corp., Presidential Social Fund and Landbank of the Philippines. For the past years, Go Negosyo has been the private sector partner in building an entrepreneurship climate in our country.

Tagumpay means triumph. And, to triumph over poverty is such a feat. The challenges that many Filipinos face are so immense to overcome. There will always be the pessimism and cynicisms, but it’s never too late.

We invite everyone to join us on March 8. You will not lose anything by participating in the summit. It’s even cheaper than a lottery ticket, since it’s for free. The difference is that you don’t need luck to win. All you will need is the right attitude in life, a Go Negosyo attitude.

These are the 100 small entrepreneurs who are featured in our 5th Go Negosyo book entitled Tagumpay Mula sa Kahirapan. We congratulate them for being able to fight poverty and for not giving up on their dreams. I also thank the mentors from DTI, NLDC, DA, Landbank, Citi MOTY, and all the MFIs and Rural Banks who have been part of the success of these 100 entrepreneurs:

Grande Agustin, photo studio; Vivian Alejo, chicharon production; Susan Alivio, hog raising and feeds distribution; Elino Andres, rolling store; Teresa Antonio, tailoring business; Soledad Aycocho, Aychoco’s Chicharon Manok; Eduarda Ayo, E. Ayo Enterprises; Melody Ayupan, Metaphors Bath and Body Products; Antonio Bagaoisan, off-season tomato production; Onofre Balantac, garlic production; Lorna Banzon, direct selling franchisee; Alegria Benitez, backyard piggery and sari-sari store; Rosemarie Bestre, Gardenline Vegetables; Rodolfo Bibal, Bibal Integrated Farm; eresita Castro-Boado, Barasoain Bakeshop; Annabel Bonsol, rag-making; Emmanuel Borres, cutflower business; Juan Bulawan Sr., tobacco and corn production; Tita Burgos, Tita’s Delight; Lolita Cabbigat, Four H Handicrafts; Rey Calooy, RNC Marketing Philippines; Ramil Camba, organic vegetable production; Lady Canonigo, egg-trading business; Romeo Casilla, organic vegetable production; Terio Codiaman, Strawberry farming; Ananias Cunado, charcoal and coconut vinegar production; Fedelita and Dominador Dagumo, corn & cassava production; Corazon Dela Cruz, LCJ Garments; Dionesia Dela Pena, suman production; Cerilio Delfin, puto and kutsinta production; Saturnina Diez, vegetable trading; Virginia Dimayuga, Edna and Rebecca’s Banana Chips; Jack Dulnuan, Jack’s Restaurant and Jack Liner; Desiree Duran, D. Duran Farms; Pedro Durante, Family Sprain Experts; Shirley Ecot, Fritzie’s Peanuts; Glen and Prescilda Elnas, Topher’s Ice Candy; Nolie Estocado, Christmas ornaments manufacturing; Orlando Fabila, rice seeds production; Joseph Fernando, hybrid rice production; Rebecca Gacho, catering and eatery business; Allan Geron, bakery; Zenaida Guray, hog-raising and farming; Alexander Ilagan, Xandro’s Food Processing; Estella Lagunzad, nightingale/nursing cap making and eatery; Sonia Lagura, buy and sell business and sari-sari store; Benjamin Lao, Lao Integrated Farm; Evelyn Llabore, fish trading; Jocelyn Llamoso, Josie Handicrafts Store; Tony Llanes Jr.; Cicilia Lorenzo, fish marketing; Virginia Lubguban, furniture business; Joseph and Lydia Lumibao, J. Emmanuel Pastries; Julito Malinao, beauty salon; Jane Manansala, Orient Sports Gear; Asela Manayon, dress-making; Magnolia Maniquiz, rag-making; Mama Masulot, hybrid corn production; Miguel Mateo, Mc Do Furniture Shop; Marx Melencio, Grayscale; Anastacio Milar, fresh buffalo milk; Avelina Miranda, RPM Pilinut Candies; Joel Morano, Joel Car Tire Check Center; Victoria Motril, VMotril’s Food Products; Roger Munda, Roger and Beth Pilinut Candy; Ricardo Navis Jr., MGSK Health Food Products; Ronaldo Nicerio, Dad’s Special Pinangat; Placida Nuñez, garments business; Marichu Ocol, junk shop, cafeteria, and Internet café; Marianne Olano, Baycrafts; Merlinda Olea, printing-related business; Emily Ordonia, poultry and vegetable farms; Leodegario Ortega, Sigmani, Moron and Binagol making; Myrna Padilla, Mynd Consulting; Ramiro Panganiban, seaweeds cultivation; Leonora Pasuquin, handicraft business and junk shop; Cindy and Erwin Pereña, COP Pili Sweets and Pastries; Darliza Perez, Nicole’s Delight; Maria Que, Jason’s Homemade Products; Heidi Ragas, Bakery; Noel Ramirez, Noel Aquafarm, Agri Aqua General Merchandise; Carmen Ravago, Ravago’s Longganiza De Guinobatan; Anunciacion and Arlito Santillan, retail trading of garments; Pamela Santos, Beakris House of Goodies; Janet Sarmiento, Janet Plastic Store; Dulce Silvosa, Digital Office; Noria Simpal, vegetable production; Annie Sitjar, rice, corn and squash production; Rene Stuart del Rosario, Sukang Pinakurat; Nador Tadena, rice seeds production; Teresita Talisic, dried fish production; Cherrylou and Noel Tiongson NC Tiongson Enterprises; Rebecca Tubongbanua, McNester Food Products; Lorna Vallejos, furniture shop; Princessita Vero, ginger tea making; Bienvenido and Amandita Villanueva, fish trading; Milagros Villarta, tilapia & rice production; Rosario Villaviray, Aling Chayong’s Cashew Products; Ma. Corazon Wee, Bongao Lutong Bahay; and Cherry Yack Sr., cassava and banana cake production.

Email me at gonegosyo@yahoo.com, or thru my Joey Concepcion Facebook account, or thru SMS at 09189656333. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! Show in QTV, every Saturday and Sunday 8-8:30 am, with replays in NBN every Sunday 9:15-10:00pm