It’s been almost six years since we started the Go Negosyo journey. Having come this far, we cannot help but look back at how it all started, and, most of all, be reminded of the people who helped us get to where the Go Negosyo advocacy is today.

This is why tonight will be a night of Pasasalamat, to honor the people who have helped countless Filipinos fight poverty through self-development and entrepreneurship education – in other words, by having a negosyo mindset. Tonight, we will gather together our Trustees, Angelpreneurs, entrepreneurs, partners, sponsors and friends, who have always been part of Go Negosyo in helping others succeed in life. Our advocacy would have never become a reality if not for them.

Our entrepreneurs and mentors are the foundation of Go Negosyo; without them, our advocacy would falter. We are thankful to all of them, for their involvement and for furthering our cause in different ways. We wish to honor and thank Felix Ang, Tony Tan Caktiong, Joselito Campos Jr., Corazon Dayro-Ong, Dr. Ricarte Gapuz Jr., Prudencio Garcia, Atty. Felipe Gozon, Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, Ramon Lopez, Imelda Madarang, Socorro Ramos, Edgar “Injap” Sia II, Harley Sy, Vivienne Tan, Justin Uy, Gov. Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr., Esther Vibal, Myla Villanueva, Rosalind Wee, and Vicente Andres Zaragosa.

Go Negosyo would have never been able to inspire and empower thousands of Filipinos if not for our expert entrepreneurs, or as we call them in Go Negosyo — “Angelpreneurs.” Like angels guiding people in the dark, they enlighten Filipinos on how to move up in life. They go out of their way to find time to teach, mentor and inspire through our negosyo seminars (Negosems), caravans, summits and books. We have around 35 Angelpreneurs, and we would especially like to thank those who have been involved in our seminars and summits: starting with the co-authors of the Go Negosyo book 21 Steps on How to Start Your Own Business, Efren “Ping” Sotto and Dean Francisco “Pax” Lapid; and Angelpreneurs Mylene Abiva, Danny Antonio, Maoi Arroyo, Armando “Butz” Bartolome, Glenn Baticados, Armand Bengco, Jay Bernardo, Carlo Calimon, Joy Canon-Abaquin, Francisco “Topax” Colayco, Luis Cruz, Illac Diaz, Tess Dimaculangan, Nonoy Espeleta, Andy Ferreria, Josiah Go, Rommel Juan, Johnlu Koa, Francis Kong, Benel Lagua, Titos Ortigas, Anthony Pangilinan, Ed Pilapil, Ardy Roberto, Joel Santos, Jonas George Soriano, Chinkee Tan, Henry Tenedero, Paulo Tibig, Randell Tiongson, Eric Villarama, Reuel Virtucio, and Jorge Wieneke III.

There is nothing more inspiring than the story of real-life entrepreneurs who have grown their negosyos from the ground-up. Our Go Negosyo entrepreneurs have helped us continue our advocacy by being role models to other aspiring negosyantes. We have featured many of them in our books, the Tagumpay column, and TV show. Tonight, we will also celebrate the achievements of various entrepreneurs, some of them include Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, Vicki Belo, Gaita Fores, Julie Gandionco, Pacita Juan, Henry Lim Bon Liong, Guillermo Luchangco, Manny V. Pangilinan, Cecilio Pedro, Dr. Ronald Pineda, Marixi Prieto, Les Reyes, Donnie Tantoco, and Doyee Tumpalan; our 50 inspiring women entrepreneurs, some of whom include Jeannie Goulbourn, Gina Alexander, Florisa Mariano, Ruth Callanta, Teresita Ngan Tian, Anna Wilk, Michelle Asence, Donna Jiao, Grace Glory Go, Yoling Sevilla, Grace Gupana, Alice Guerrero, Willen Ma, Elena Lim, Yolanda Pajaro, Cathy Turvill, Michelle Soliven, Christine Dayrit, Annabella Wisniewski, Dr. Vivian Sarabia, Cynthia Villar, Merle Alferez, Socorro Alejandro, Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco, Elizabeth Lee, Jennilyn Antonio, Diana Limjoco, Anna Marie Periquet, and Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto.

We also wish to recognize again the achievements of some entrepreneurs like Rina Bautista, Helena Benitez, Ricardo Cuna, Lisa Gokongwei, Bards Lapid-Montanido, Richard Lee, Lily Monteverde, Siu Ping Par, Alexandra “Sandy” Prieto-Romualdez, Kamela Seen, Dr. Washington SyCip, Carson Tan, Tommanny Tan, Lino Uy, Kenneth Yang, Glenn Yu, Wilson Lee Flores, Teresita Sy-Coson, Abbygale Arenas-De Leon, Crystalle Henares, Tennyson Chen, and many more. Of course, we cannot forget our Go Negosyo provincial, youth and women awardees, who have always been inspiring.

For many small and aspiring negosyantes, attending seminars and summits is more than what they can afford. But these are the people who need the training and education the most. Our sponsors and partners are the reason why Go Negosyo is able to provide affordable, if not free seminars and caravans, even in remote provinces in the country. In the six years that we have been providing seminars and summits, they have allowed us to reach hundreds of thousands of people. Our summits are attended by as many as 25,000 people, while each of our free seminars can have an audience of more than 500.

It is because of this that we are extending our thanks to our partners. Some of them include Eric Alberto and Kat Luna-Abelarde of PLDT SME Nation; Doy Vea, Bong Mojica and James Bernas of Smart Communications; TG Limcaoco, Jojo Ocampo, Cedoy Roces of BPI Ka-Negosyo; Rico Garcia and TJ Nadres of Avon Cosmetics; Ton Concepcion and Renna Angeles of Concepcion Durables, Inc.; Santi Araneta, Miguel Camahort and Javy Mantecon of LBC Group of Companies; Fernando Fernandez of Unilever Philippines, GMA 7 Network, Miguel and Isaac Belmonte of the Philippine Star, NBN 4, Jun Nacino of RFM, Sanjiv Vohra of Citibank, Jun Hofilena and Amy Tamayo of Insular Life, Rhomel Marcojos of Nokia, Richard Lee and Fe Agudo of Hyundai, Dra. Rosalinda Hortaleza of HBC, Manny Tordesillas of ATR Kim Eng, Mike Tan of Asia Brewery, Robert Coyiuto of Prudential Guarantee, Jaime Bautista of Philippine Airlines, Amanda Burell of the British Council of the Philippines, Gina Campos of Delta Air Lines, Joy Bandekar of eBay, Yoshinori Kotani of PMaCs, Greg Ocampo of Banco de Oro, Mai Sangalang of Security Bank, Dioceldo Sy of Ever Bilena, and Roseanne Go of Paramount Life & General Insurance Corp. Our thanks also go out to Splash, Cats Motors, RAGapuz Review Center, and Universal Motors Corp.

The Go Negosyo advocacy has become a far-reaching movement, thanks to our media partners and personalities who have joined us in our mission to end poverty. They have enabled us to widen our reach, so that we may touch the lives of more Filipinos all over the country. To name a few of those who have joined us from the media, we would like to extend our thanks to Gladys Reyes, Love Anover, Karen Davila, Connie Sison, RJ Ledesma, Cito Beltran, Julius and Tintin Babao, Chal Lontoc, Rico Hizon, Paolo Bediones, and Cheryl Cossim. We would also like to thank the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, and The Radio Partners Inc.

Thank you also to our institutional partners, some of them being Dr. Patricia Licuanan from CHED, Usec. Yolanda Quijano of DepEd, Lina Amata of the National Livelihood Development Corp., and Gilda Pico of Landbank of the Philippines; Samie Lim, Yvette Pardo Orbeta, Robert Trota, Bing Limjoco, Manny Siggaoat and Chit Estrada of the Philippine Franchising Association; Tony Meloto, Luis Oquinena and Boy Montelibano of Gawad Kalinga; Mike Varela, Jun Ortiz Ruiz, Donald Dee and Francis Chua of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dir. Tess Fortuna of DOST, Miguel Ramos of ASPAC, and Grace Tiongson and Mario Ongkico of FINEX.

We at Go Negosyo wanted to inspire Filipinos and make a change in the nation. But this would have never been possible if we didn’t have a community who share our beliefs and our cause. It is a true honor to have some of the most respected individuals in society backing our advocacy. And to all of them, we raise our glasses and give our warmest Pasasalamat.

Contact me: feedback@gonegosyo.net or Joey Concepcion Facebook account. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the top rating entrep show GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! on GMA News TV, Saturday and Sunday 8 to 8:30 a.m. Get daily Go Negosyo Text Tips in your mobile phone by sending GONEGO to 2910.