As we were once children, our parents worked hard to give us the best in life, a good education and guidance. Today, as parents, we do the same for our children. Go Negosyo mentors and advocates share these same thoughts.

All wish the best for their children, even our OFW workers who sacrifice to leave their families and work abroad.

During our family vacation here in the US, we had the chance to listen to the stories of different Filipino workers. All of them work hard for their family’s future. They work multiple jobs to give the best education for their children. In the end, we just have to pray that God blesses them and that they turnout to be successful in both their marriage and profession or negosyo.

Entrepreneurs from the Go Negosyo community continue to share their dreams for their children.

Alice Guerrero of Tesoro’s (Most Inspiring Manila Entrepreneur)

Education is the best inheritance parents can give their children. They must strive to give their children the best education they can afford. In this regard, we are fortunate that our daughter has been accepted at Dartmouth College (11th in rank), New Hampshire, USA in her master’s degree in globalization. Indeed, with her credentials, coupled with her knowledge of French, German and English languages with a bit of Spanish and Japanese languages, she is equipped to face any challenges in the business world.

Dr. Helena Benitez of Philippine Women’s University (Most Inspiring Manila Entrepreneur)

I am sharing not as a parent but as a lifelong educator who has been cited by Go Negosyo for encouraging entrepreneurship education.

I would advise parents to re-visit Mr. John Gokongwei’s famous advice to Ateneo graduates: “Get as good an education as you can have. After graduating, start by accepting employment. Learn everything you can about the business where you are employed. Then strike out on your own as entrepreneur.”

That is a sensible advice. You may have to start by working for others but always aspire to be on your own. You may not be able to start on your own immediately. If you do your job well, study the trade intently, learn thoroughly and prepare yourself to be independent, you can be on your own. Instead of being a lifelong employee, be an eventual employer.

It would also help if big businesses would have “incubation” programs for making their employees entrepreneurs for spin-off enterprises arising from their core businesses.
Leonarda Capuyan of Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts (Most Inspiring CAR Entrepreneurs)

The local schools and parents, can attain the goal of encouraging the youth to be entrepreneurial by orienting them towards the value of earning their own money. The youth should be guided to do their best in what they enjoy and in the process earn an income from it.

When I started our weaving business, I was also baking cakes on the side, selling them in the neighborhood. My six-year-old daughter, Lucia, would help me mix the ingredients until she wanted to do it on her own. By the time she was seven years old; she was already baking and selling her own cakes during weekends. Now, Lucia has her own café and pastry shop. Her customers love her carrot, apple-walnut and her other cakes. The best part is that she enjoys her hobby that became her business. Her four-year-old daughter watches me bake and says, “you know grandma, mama started baking at seven years old but I am four now and I know a little bit”. Parents should teach their children to enjoy what they do and to eventually be on their own.

Pynky Gomez–Magsino of PNKY Collection (Most Inspiring CAR Entrepreneurs)

We parents always wish the best for our children, thus sometimes we impose on them what WE think is best for them. But, I believe that God, created our children with an accompanying pathway for their lives. My wish is that we guide our children as they discover their unique gift, help them unravel and ignite the passion for their calling.

The present Philippine educational set-up is inadequate in terms of standards in the global village. For those of us who are not privileged to send our children abroad for better education; we must strive instead to raise the benchmark of learning, by accessing the world through the web highway. We must also continually look for opportunities for immersion and hands-on experiences for our children.

My eldest daughter, Aischa, took medicine. But, she is currently handling our Baguio-based Bed and Breakfast and PNKY Collection, while I manage the Makati Showroom. She’s an entrepreneur at heart, (but hopefully practices medicine too one day). My second daughter, Liana, graduated college with an English Major, but finds herself in Brussels preparing to be a golf-pro while obsessing over her Lomography. She’s an entrepreneur waiting to be discovered. My youngest daughter, Samantha, just began college a few days ago and is intent on pursuing a career in the diplomatic arena. But, who knows what she’ll really end up doing? My son, Luis, is entering college next year. His interests lie in computers and music and recently, flying. I think he could be an entrepreneur one day…

To other parents, let us help our children find THEIR wings and get them flying high.

Willen Ma of Masuki Corp. (Most Inspiring Manila Entrepreneur)

Having a 16-year-old son (John Charles Benedict, freshman, UST-Behavioral Science) and an 18-year-old daughter (Maria Ciara Isabelle, sophomore, HRIM DLSU-CSB), I feel that they should pursue whatever they wish in life. But of course, the food business is what helped us through obstacles and provided us with our needs.

Definitely, schools in our country will help attain our children’s goals. I graduated from one of our country’s oldest and most prestigious universities (CEU, B.S. Pharmacy). The knowledge that I obtained from this college as well as the experiences I had during trainings helped me learn the skills that I still apply today. I am confident that all schools in the Philippines are well equipped in giving my children the necessary skills they need.

Being a single parent, it was not all good times. I had help from friends and colleagues, with my parents who greatly influenced my children. Parents should have perseverance, a lot of patience, faith in God and the readiness to help others.

Insights from Go Negosyo entrepreneurs generated thoughts from readers. Let me share with you some responses, which show the reality of how the youth feels in today’s family environment:

“nsa colej po ako ngaun at hndi ko mkuha ang enuf suprt ng prnts ko. mrami png prnts n kelngang umntndi n im4rtnte ang suprta ng maglng s mga pangrp nmin. ty po” (+639204348413)

“I agree. Parents do hav a gr8 impact, lalo na ung situatn ng family wer d chldrn grw up n. Bt dn, i gues, parents nd family members cn only show dr chldrn pocble optns nd sugstns bt d decsn s left wd d child.” (+639294471284)

It will be Father’s Day on Sunday, June 15. We have heard the argument that in order to obtain business success, one usually ends up sacrificing their family life. In the coffeetable book “Our Father” by Jun de Leon, several Go Negosyo Entrepreneurs proved that one can be successful in both their businesses and their family life such as Roland Hortaleza (founder of Splash), Cecilio Pedro (founder of Lamoyan/Hapee Toothpaste), Senen Bacani of La Frutera, and Kenneth Cobonpue. The Our Father book will be launched on June 15, Father’s Day in Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street with a Photo Exhibit by Jun de Leon from June 13-16. It’s a great gift to your Dads who are working hard to be successful fathers and entrepreneurs.

[For feedback, email me at gonegosyo@yahoo.com or thru SMS at 09175591245. For free business advice, visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the Go Negosyo Bigtime Show in its new home, QTV, every Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 8:30 a.m., with replays in NBN every Sunday from 9:15 to 10 p.m.]