Let me take time out from my usual Go Negosyo columns and share with you our dive adventure in the Visayas. As I write this column, we are still at sea with friends, moving from island to island. The promise of tourism as a negosyo opportunity is definitely now happening. Bohol has new resorts opening, with the Regent group of Boracay buying Alona Panglao; the Bellevue group’s resort is now under construction; and rumors of the Discovery group setting up soon.

There are quite a number of newcomers setting up in different parts of the Visayas. What makes the Visayas different, aside from a number of sand bars, is the rich marine life where many resorts have started to create their own marine sanctuary, with them charging anywhere between 100 pesos to a high of 600 pesos. The highlight of our trip so far is the whale sharks of Oslob, and definitely, there is none other like this in the world. While some people would criticize that this is not a natural thing, since the whale sharks are fed like pets, I look at it differently. At least these fishermen, who at one point harmed the whales till a foreigner told them he would pay them to feed the sharks, can do their share in protecting the whale sharks and look after the environment. The whale sharks have turned into a major tourist attraction. (more…)

Last year, Go Negosyo and Multiply Philippines entered into a partnership to recognize, promote and develop a whole new generation of entrepreneurs. With technology and communications developing at lightning speed, it is the younger generation who is quicker to adapt to changing platforms in doing business and learn faster on how to make the most out of it. As Multiply has discovered, a booming number of very young entrepreneurs have begun to use what was once primarily a social networking site as their avenue to sell products and services.

This is why Multiply today has become known more as the website for young online entrepreneurs. And we at Go Negosyo support this innovation, especially because it encourages entrepreneurship among the youth. E-commerce websites such as Multiply address some of the most difficult challenges in starting a business faced by very young entrepreneurs: large capital, a physical store or location, advertising, and hiring staff. With an online website, a young entrepreneur virtually doesn’t need any of these. (more…)

There is no denying the unique and skilled craftsmanship of the Filipino. For the past decades, the masterpieces of designers who have become renowned worldwide have sparked real interest in Filipino craftsmanship.

Our featured artisans all attest to the seemingly innate talent for art and craft of the Filipino, which is also what motivated them even more to pursue artisanship. Using the rich natural resources of the country, as well as the rich creative talent Filipino artisans, these designer-entrepreneurs have produced pieces that have earned international acclaim and have made us proud. (more…)

Two weeks ago, my wife and I were invited to the biannual Manila FAME trade show. As always, the masterpieces of Filipino designers are stunning, unique, exquisite and truly world-class.

More than the impressive designs of furniture and home furnishings, ornaments, accessories, bags, shoes, and haute couture clothing, what was more interesting are the entrepreneurs and designers behind the art. Perhaps half of the designers and entrepreneurs in the show are women, which somehow makes sense since it is the woman in the family who usually makes the home, and women have a real fascination for fashion, bags, and accessories. (more…)

Go Negosyo will be celebrating its seventh anniversary this June, and we have been hosting the Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo for four years now. Even on its fourth year, the Women Entrep Summit still is the most attended Go Negosyo event, with thousands staying the whole day to listen to our featured women speakers and entrepreneurs.

Highlights of the event included an empowering speech from keynote speaker Mel Tiangco, one of the most respected news anchors of GMA7; and business and marketing lessons from Dr. Vicki Belo, who shared her company Belo Medical Group’s strategies to becoming one of the country’s most known and esteemed brands. Former Governor Grace Padaca proved that a handicap is not an impediment to rising to the top, while Myrna Padilla proved that, from her own experience, an OFW domestic worker can become the CEO of her own company. We were also very privileged to have Maria Mercedes Corrales, former regional president of Starbucks Asia-Pacific, to show and share how a Filipina can perform an international CEO function in one of the most known global companies.

Angelpreneur Joy Abaquin lectured on how to harness a woman’s innate maternal qualities in a plenary session entitled “Nurturing Children’s Strengths,” while our other Angelpreneurs Mylene Abiva, Carlo Calimon, Paulo Tibig, Reuel Virtucio and Butz Bartolome, as well as the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines and Association of Image Consultants International Philippines, spent the day at our mentoring booths, giving free mentorship sessions to participants.

The forums resulted in a dynamic and insightful session featuring panelists Cynthia Villar, Pinky Poe, Honey Sumndad-Usman, and the Women Starpreneurs in the morning forum; while celebrity entrepreneurs Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Vina Morales, Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, Fanny Serrano, Miriam Quiambao and Regine Tolentino spoke in the afternoon forum, stressing the importance of time management in shuffling between their businesses and showbiz careers.

Cynthia Villar also sponsored also seminar rooms, providing lectures from real entrepreneurs or business owners on a range of topics: from online selling, to health and beauty, to self-defense.

Our summits have always been both educational and entertaining. GMA7 provided various talents who excited the crowd in between lectures and talks. Go Negosyo entrepreneur and MVP Bossing Vina Morales even provided several song numbers apart from participating in the afternoon forum.

We hope that the participants picked up insights and pointers that they can apply to succeed in life, especially since the summit hosted a large gathering of the country’s top women and entrepreneurs. Apart from our speakers, we’ve also recognized a new batch of Women Starpreneurs, whom we’ve featured in the Philippine Star the past week. Their stories prove that Filipinos can achieve anything, no matter where you come from. As I’ve said to the participants at the summit, Filipinos are not destined for poverty, but success is for those who want it the most.

Next month is International Women’s Month. And following tradition, this is also just in time for Go Negosyo’s 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo, which is all set to happen on March 2 at the World Trade Center, Metro Manila. The audience can expect an all-women lineup of speakers, mentors, panelists and even entertainers.

We’ve invited some of the speakers and lecturers that Go Negosyo fans avidly follow. For the plenary, we’re bringing in esteemed GMA7 news anchor Mel Tiangco to give a short message of inspiration on how women can be a person for others. Mel Tiangco is not only one of the country’s most respected news anchors, she is also known for her philanthropic activities as the Executive Vice President of the GMA Kapuso Foundation. To talk about beauty, health and wellness in none other than the notable Dr. Vicki Belo, the country’s pioneer and expert in cosmetic surgery. Women’s presence in politics have become more prominent today, and former Isabela governor Grace Padaca tackles the challenges and triumphs in governance, especially for a woman in power. We are also privileged to have the former regional president of Starbucks Asia, Maria Mercedes Corrales, to mentor women on how to be the best woman they can be. (more…)

More than 90 percent of enterprises are micro enterprises and 70 percent of new businesses are started by women. This just goes to show that women do most of the startup negosyos, and not many make it to becoming medium and large. The challenge for the Go Negosyo community of successful entrepreneurs is to help inspire and to mentor them to be able to grow. This is the reason why we hold our annual Women Entrepreneurship Summit in March, the month that celebrates and honors women.

For this column, the featured four women who have reached the golden age of 80 have continued to share their precious time with Go Negosyo in the past years and still continue to do so in the present. These are the matriarchs behind some of the country’s largest businesses and they’re exemplars of a successful woman, and we believe that they serve as the best inspiration to Filipinas everywhere. (more…)

I have been contemplating about writing a book about my father for quite some time now. It’s been years since we commissioned National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. He finished the piece during the interviews, and I remembered having to buy a case of beer for him as he had to be motivated to interview and write. But the manuscript was set aside for reasons I cannot remember.

As my father’s 80th birthday approached, I felt that maybe this is the time for me to write a book about him, after finding myself writing two weekly and bi-weekly columns about entrepreneurship, as well as publishing eight books on Go Negosyo entrepreneurs. As I said to myself, it was my father who somehow molded me to become a man for others and not just for myself. I want to share the story of his life — on how he managed to surpass 50 years of marriage with one woman, how he has mentored his children and kept the family together, and how he risked his own life just to help restore democracy in our country through NAMFREL, which at that time was indeed an impossible dream to many Filipinos. Without democracy, the quest towards eliminating poverty will be difficult, and it does not stop at that. So after almost eight months of planning and writing the book, with the help of the manuscript from the late Nick which we resurrected as a resource, Joecon’s journey will finally be shared with his family and friends who are really part of his path towards his “impossible dream” of seeing a better Philippines. (more…)

My father Joecon and his twin brother Tito Ronnie Concepcion turned 80 last December 29. What a milestone it has been for the both of them. We, the family, are very proud, especially because of what they have contributed to society, leaving their mark in history through their respective advocacies. They have certainly left us all with very big shoes to fill.

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