Professionals in the creative industry received support from the entrepreneurship advocacy organization Go Negosyo as the non-profit held its first Creative Entrepreneurship Summit last May 31, 2025 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

“For Filipino creatives to thrive and continue pursuing their path, they need to be empowered through entrepreneurship,” said Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion. “By providing access to mentorship and through knowledge-sharing sessions that can help them transform creative ideas into viable business ventures, we can pave the way for the Philippines to realize its aspirations of becoming a leading economy in the region.”

The Creative Entrepreneurship Summit is a first of its kind for Go Negosyo, which advocates entrepreneurship for Filipinos. The broader goal of the event is to facilitate discussion, explore synergies, and spark meaningful collaborations across the country’s various creative sectors.

The event saw industry experts and professionals share their insights on the prospects of the creative industry in the Philippines, including actors Iza Calzado-Wintle and Dingdong Dantes, Aktor PH President and Chairman, respectively. Several successful creatives also gave talks to share their experiences of how they turned their passion into profit. Complementing these plenary discussions and forums were mentoring sessions that offered feedback and actionable guidance for participants looking to start or grow their creative businesses.

During the event, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cris Roque expressed the government’s support for the creative industry, saying, “This is aligned with the President’s directive, and the DTI is taking this mission seriously.” She said that in 2024, the country’s creative industry generated Php1.94 trillion and created 7.51 million jobs for Filipinos. She also shared that the DTI recently launched the Malikhaing Pinoy website, where Filipino creatives can connect with peers and find collaborative opportunities.

The Creative Entrepreneurship Summit also became the venue to honor 11 Filipino Creative Icons/Entrepreneurs, including Ramon Orlina, Julie Lluch, Kenneth Cobonpue, Wawi Navarroza, Apo Whang-Od, Ricky Lee, Brillante Mendoza, BBDO Guerrero, Ryan Cayabyab, Michael Cinco, and Liwayway Magazine.