ble to build his brand, which is his name – WILLIE. People have asked him to endorse so many brands – cologne, watch, and so many others. He is one of the highest paid ABS-CBN talents today.

We come from different backgrounds, but we are able to learn much from each other. I learned from him some of the best lessons I ever got about mass-based marketing.

I also mentioned to Willie that it would be a good idea to have negosyo franchises as prizes in his show. This would help people get started with their own business. I am sure that a lot of legitimate negosyo franchise carts out there can be persuaded to support the program. People like Les Reyes of Reyes Haircutters give the franchise fee for free. I suggested maybe even a game portion with micro and small entrepreneurs as participants. The cash they get can

help them in their working capital. The show can consider sari-sari store owners, wet market stall retailers, vendors, carinderia owners, tricycle owners, and other micro and small business owners who need capital to grow their business. Then, Go Negosyo can provide a free Negosyo Seminar to the winners, to teach them how to fish. Through this, capital goes hand in hand with mentorship.

During our dinner, he told me that when he was in Boracay, my daughter came up to him and requested for a picture-taking for her yaya. She told him that it was her yaya’s dream to have a photo with Willie. He said that he hardly encounters kids from wealthy families who would also care for their yayas. I told him that my kids’ yayas have been with us for so long that we treat them as family. Our dinner ended, of course, with our yayas having a picture-taking with him. He also greeted the whole household in his show.

Willie’s story is one of the many out there that shows that if one is tired of being poor, he can definitely succeed and beat poverty. Luck follows and comes for those who work hard. Willie does acknowledge that one has to have the right attitude. Manny Villar would say: sipag at tiyaga. And, in Go Negosyo, we would always say: Not all can be entrepreneurs, but everyone can be enterprising”. That’s having the right attitude, skills and creativity, combined with passion and persistence to bring about a greater chance for success.

The inspiring story of Willie Revillame and so many others who have beaten poverty despite the odds are great stories of inspiration and motivation for those who want to succeed in life.

Our Bataan Caravan we had last Friday was very successful, with close to 10 thousand people filling up the Bataan People’s Center. It was very hot, as the gym did not have airconditioning, but people did stay.

PGMA arrived to give the awards to the Most Inspiring Bataeño Entrepreneurs and even volunteered to give a brief inspiring message to the Bataenos. She even stayed to have lunch with us and the Garcia family of Bataan.

I have to say that Govenor Tet and the Garcia’s children, who are being trained to take over, are doing a good job. Mayor Joet Garcia and Congressman Abet Garcia are really after a progressive Bataan. They believe that if the citizens of Bataan can be more entrepreneurial, then more negosyo opportunities will be created thereby creating more jobs. They have a vision of creating Bataan into a University hub. They also honored Senator Dick Gordon for being very instrumental in the passage of the new law creating the Freeport Area of Bataan. This would definitely push faster the growth in the region.

Go Negosyo has adopted a formula that gives a better chance for success. We are working closely with local government officials as Go Negosyo champions, together with DTI and local business chambers providing the support. I am amazed how Go Negosyo was embraced by the

people of Bataan. They now understand that Filipinos are not born or destined to be poor; that everyone has the right to have a better life; and that being enterprising is what helps one to succeed. It is only through the creation of more negosyos that poverty can ultimately be beaten.

Congratulations to the people of Bataan!

For feedback, email me at gonegosyo@yahoo.com, or thru my Joey Concepcion Facebook account, or thru SMS at 09189656333. For free business advice, visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! Show in QTV, every Saturday and Sunday 8 to 8:30 a.m., with replays in NBN every Sunday 9:15 to 10 p.m.