| Most Inspiring Business Support Organizations |
Heralding unified victoriesBehind the fast-paced world of corporate attires and golden paychecks, some groups of people decided to make a formidable legion geared towards uplifting the lives of those who have been shun away from glitz and glamour. Four organizations, bearing humble beginnings and enormous dreams, form different yet similarly-oriented assemblies that transformed the livelihood and welfare of their fellow Negrenses. The Association of Negros Producers Inc., Bacolod IT Focus Team, University of St. La Salle-Business Resource Center and the Negros Kabisig Livelihood Foundation will be recognized as four of the Most Inspiring Bacolod Entrepreneurs to be awarded by President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III on July 13-14, 2007 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum. With 86 members and 32 partner organizations to date, The Association of Negros Producers Inc. (ANP) started as a Manila-based organization of Negrenses that champions the cause of promoting and lobbying the interests of small and medium scale businesses, most notably during the 1985 sugar crisis. Up until now, ANP has transformed critical and hopeless situations into amazing opportunities as it becomes the gateway for the promotion of well-crafted and most indigenous products by local manufacturers. ANP acknowledged the Pinoys’ penchant for pasalubongs by offering beautifully-designed products for travelers and occasional trippers to take home. Putting forward homegrown creativity and ingenuity, ANP serves a haven of stylish furniture and furnishings for practicality, comfort and decorative purposes, the latest fashion and unique fashion pieces, gifts including laminated native frames, jewelry boxes, decorative trays, bowls, dinner wares and the best hand-painted ceramic décor, and the most palatable food choices. Aside from artistic innovations, Bacolod also prides itself as one of the highly-urbanized cities outside Metro Manila, with the successful penetration of information and communications technology (ICT) trends in their business circuit. Through the vision of Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue on the Bacolod IT Focus Team, the city was able to embrace the reality of cyberservices as a sunshine industry that could provide thousands of employment, and a dynamic, up-to-date, and responsive manner in marketing, handling, and closing investments deals for the city’s benefit. The Bacolod IT Focus Team also implemented the Bacolod Information Technology (IT) Investment Program. Four major international call centers are currently in business in Bacolod namely, Teleperformance, TeleTech, Focus Communications and i-Solutions Outsource Asia (I/O Asia), or presently the Biz Talk Call Center. Special economic zones, IT parks and buildings and tourism development zones are also established. Through the efforts of the Bacolod IT Focus Team, modern development spreads on the Bacolod terrains, molding a globally competitive industry in the south. However, the Bacolod trail does not only lead to business development. More importantly, it also gives importance to the people’s livelihood and the improvement of its traditional sources of living. The University of St. LaSalle-Business Resource Center (BRC) was established in 1989 to assist economically-marginalized sectors of society, particularly microentrepreneurs and farmers. It seeks to improve the living condition of the people and strengthen its spiritual core. With only six employees, BRC successfully thrives on providing capital assistance for expansion or diversification of existing businesses, entrepreneurial development, community resource management, and non-formal education. It also expands coverage to include out-of-school youth. For further livelihood exemplary assistance, The Negros Kabisig Livelihood Foundation (NKLF) continues to increase the production level of palay of farmer members by 10-20% of their present yield. Since its establishment in 1990, they have provided efficient and effective credit facilities at lower interest rates and assisted agri-based communities in fund sourcing for livelihood projects. Their main services include rice production loans that has reached P95.1 million since 1991, integrated post-harvest facility, seed farm, etc. NKLF is one of 12 organizations recognized by the Benigno Aquino Foundation in 2003 as “People Power People” that serves as a source of hope for development of the people and love for the country. The Most Inspiring Bacolod Entrepreneur award is given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) as part of the Go Negosyo sa Bacolod, part of PCE's the Go Negosyo Caravan which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila. Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is supported by the Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bacolod City Economic and Business Council President Bobby Montelibano, and Chairman Bro. Rolly Dizon. Also in cooperation with the Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, DTI-OTOP and RFM Corporation and University of St. La Salle, SM Supermalls and the Cebu City Marriot Hotel, The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corporation, and Full Circle Communications as event partners. |
