| GO NEGOSYO CITES OUTSTANDING CEBUANO MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS |
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OVER 3,000 Cebuanos trooped to the Cebu International Convention Center and took part in the Go Negosyo sa Cebu Caravan, which was one of the event highlights of the Cebu Business Month celebrations. The event was organized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the second time in two consecutive years. One of the highlights of the caravan was the recognition and awarding of the most inspiring Cebuano micro-entrepreneurs who proved successful in their respective business while armed only with dogged determination and the willingness to succeed in life. Citing their positive and inspiring contributions to their respective communities and their negosyo stories of rising from the challenges of life, Go Negosyo Team Founding Trustee Joey Concepcion, with Co-Chair and Island Souvenirs President Jay Aldeguer, lead the awarding of special trophies to Imelda Alinsonorin, Rey Calooy, Lady Canonigo, Cecilia Cañaleta, Saturnina Diez, Darliza Perez, Heidi Ragas, and Cherry Yack.  A special citation was also awarded to Marx Melencio, a 28-year old entrepreneur who lost his eyesight to a violent attack that almost took his life five years ago. Melencio is now the president of his company that provides IT technical research writing to different software companies. “This is what Go Negosyo is all about – telling everyone the good news, of finding redemption from poverty through entrepreneurship. In doing so, we hope to have an impact on the mindset of people and encourage them to be successful entrepreneurs. I believe that only after we inspire this nation and move the people to becoming entrepreneurs, armed with the proper values and motivation, can we truly make our way out of poverty,” said Joey Concepcion who is the driving force behind the Go Negosyo Team. “Entrepreneurship is not a stop-gap solution to poverty. It could be a long haul but it is our best shot,” Concepcion added. The event was teeming with participants and supporters from various government and private sector partners with booths showcasing livelihood assistance, business solutions, product innovations, micro-finance credit, trades and services, among others lined up at the plenary hall. The whole program proved interesting and engaging for everyone eager to get a head-start in business and to learn a thing or two about entrepreneurship while also taking stock of the inspirations from the micro-entrepreneur awardees. 
One of the exhibitors is Cebu City’s very own MJ Jamero, a 20-year old student-entrepreneur who started her own brand of flip-flops in the city. Jamero claims to have been inspired by last year’s Go Negosyo caravan that she decided to “translate the entrepreneurial spirit into action” and put up her own business along with other friends. “This year’s Go Negosyo Caravan is more informative, dynamic and inspiring as they have incorporated more learning sessions in their program,” said Aldeguer. “We hope to replicate this process again and continue spreading the Go Negosyo advocacy,” he added. Other entrepreneurs who participated in the seminars and forums include Dean Francisco Lapid of the Entrepreneurs School of Asia, Miguel Ramos of Aspac Advertising, Ed Jimenez of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Palou Abustan of Stance Marketing, Justin Uy, Wilson Ng, Steve Benitiez, Lita Urbina, Edward Gaisano and Ms Tess Chan. Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde was also in his best elements and, as usual, in full support of the Go Negosyo Caravan. Meanwhile, actress/TV personality and celebrity entrepreneur Joyce Jimenez wowed the crowd gathered at the Cebu International Convention Center with her participation in the forum and in the negosyo session. Being a devoted entrepreneur, she took an entrepreneurship course abroad and came back to the country to establish her own brand of lingerie, Private Joyce.   Jimenez is among the 50 celebrity entrepreneurs featured in latest best-selling book titled Joey Concepcion’s 50 Inspiring Stories of Entrepreneurship, Celebrity Edition. Jimenez shares the pages with Judy Ann Santos, Ding-Dong Dantes, Marvin Agustin, Albert Martinez, Ogie Alcasid, Diether Ocampo, Vina Morales, Gary Valenciano, Cesar Montano, Lorna Tolentino, Ces Orena-Drilon and Jolina Magdangal, to name a few. PCE-Go Negosyo is also credited for last year’s monumental launching of Joey Concepcion’s Go Negosyo book of Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories which was recognized as the Number One Best-seller in National Bookstore. This success was followed by another best-selling line, Joey Concepcion’s Go Negosyo book of Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories Celebrity Edition which has climbed the ranks of National Bookstore’s Top Five Bestsellers, after its launch last March 2, 2008. Go Negosyo sa Cebu Caravan is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Business Month Entrepreneurship Committee. Corporate partners include Smart Communications, PLDT, Condura, Ariel Detergents, Hyundai, Nokia and RFM Food Corporation. |
