| Overview |
|
In January 2005, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III as consultant for entrepreneurship. As an entrepreneur who oversees the operations of RFM Corporation, one of the most established and well-respected names in the country, Joey Concepcion dreamed of making a difference in society. He envisioned a nation with an economy that is invigorated by increased employment and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. At the onset, Joey invited outstanding entrepreneurs who believe in pushing for an entrepreneurial culture as the way to solve poverty. These entrepreneurs are considered successful in their respective fields and also share the same commitment to make a difference in the country by promoting a positive change in attitude among Filipinos Born out of passion, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) is a non-stock and non-profit organization that aims to make the Philippines a thriving entrepreneurial nation. It aims to instill among Filipinos a mindset of optimism and a culture of entrepreneurship, turning them into competitive entre- and intra-preneurs. The statement, “Teach a nation how to fish, feed the nation many lifetimes,” embodies PCE’s principle of empowering the Filipinos. So to unify its members and establish a common goal, PCE rallied its cause under one banner: Go Negosyo. This battlecry represents the collective effort of PCE members and partners to foster a culture of enterprise and promote innovation and the best business practices in the country by increasing the public’s access to the PCE support ecosystem. This support ecosystem is composed of entrepreneur mentors from different business sectors in the country, as well as government agencies and academic institutions whose thrust is to provide information, tools and resources to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Keys to SuccessUnder the leadership of its Founding Trustee and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, PCE has set out to achieve its vision through four core programs: 1) communications and advocacy; 2) capacity-building/business assistance through mentoring; 3) research and idea generation for purposes of database and policy development; and 4) program partnerships with educational institutions and other agencies in the field of entrepreneurship and economic development. To get its message across fast and effectively, the center is utilizing all media to disseminate information, promote its advocacy and reach its target market. It has the print media covered: a weekly column in a nationally-circulated broadsheet, a magazine and two books which feature inspiring stories from some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs. A weekly TV show and a website featuring an online mentoring program makes access to PCE information more convenient — in just a click of a button. PCE translates the rudiments of enterprising into something more understandable to the common Filipino. PCE intends to maintain its distinction as a trailblazer by regularly employing modern studies and highly relevant projects. Through this, PCE gets to have a finger on the pulse of today’s business — bringing to the fore the best practices in the world. An example of this is the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) which is an international study that measures the entrepreneurial activities of 41 participating countries including the Philippines. Starting Them YoungPCE fulfills its mission to stir up the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth by working closely with private educators, public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The joint effort has resulted to the incorporation of entrepreneurship into the national curriculum, which could help college students start up their own negosyo by the time they graduate. It’s better to teach them while they’re still young and open to ideas. PCE assumes the task of boosting and “mainstreaming” business plan competitions among students and young entrepreneurs. These competitions are a great breeding ground for ideas and pioneering projects. It is also a perfect venue where promising entrepreneurs with bright ideas can meet potential investors with the resources. Numerous recognitions, not only from PCE, are given each year to different students who have shown exemplary work and feasible business strategies. It is in competitions like these future tycoons are born. |
