My father Joecon and Tito Raul where born on December 29, 1931. They turn 80 years old today. My father is older by 10 minutes. Both are blessed to have reached 80 and are in fairly good health, but age has still caught up with them, especially when it comes to their memory. My dad is having difficulty remembering all his grandchildren and in-laws. He would call my wife a different name each time.

Both my father and Tito Raul have had their respective achievements in life. Tito Raul would help my grandfather Jose Concepcion, Sr. build Concepcion Industries, Inc., which today is the only local appliance company that offers the leading air conditioners and refrigerators. My dad Joecon’s legacy will always be as the founder of Namfrel, and that he stood up against then President Marcos and risked his life, family, and business at that time. But to him it was beyond personal wealth; he wanted to help bring about real democracy which in the end will create wealth for the nation and its people. (more…)

Let me greet all of you, readers of the Ask Go Negosyo column for the past three years, a very merry Christmas, as we celebrate once more this well-loved holiday on Sunday. For the past month, my daughter Bella keeps asking daily how many more sleeps to Christmas. She is four years old today and the most excited among all our kids in anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus.

We are now celebrating Christmas in San Francisco, and later in the month we will be celebrating my father’s birthday as he turns 80. Close to 45 of the Concepcions children, spouses, and grandchildren  will be celebrating with him. What a riot.
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It has been over six years since Go Negosyo began its mission to empower people and inspire them to look at the country’s situation in a positive view; to let them see that poverty can be beaten and that the Philippines is not destined to be a poor nation. We continue to engage all sectors of society to have this view through our summits, caravans, Negosems, TV shows, books and any other form of media that allows us to feature successful entrepreneurs as a way to inspire and educate others.

We have been able to reach out even to the youth in school, whether private or public. But we found that there is one sector that we have not tapped – the out of school youth (OSY). I believe that we should turn our attention to this sector because the statistics of OSY has become alarming. To demonstrate, out of the 100 kids that should be going to school, only 90 will enter grade 1; out of the 90, only 40 will finish high school; and out of the 40, only 21 will enter college, where only 12 would finish, and, sadly, only one would get employed. (more…)

What a first OFW summit it has been for the Villar Foundation and Go Negosyo. To our surprise, more than 6,000 people filled up the hall at the World Trade Center last November 24, as past and present OFWs and their families attended to learn how to make a stable future for themselves in the country. We didn’t expect to see thousands lining up outside the hall as early as 5 a.m. It gives us great joy to know that our summits, whatever kind, seem to be something many always look forward to.

The audience was very attentive and it was clear that many would really rather establish themselves here. People were jotting down notes, asking questions, and as the day progressed, the hall just filled up more, so much that the people seated at front would have it hard to walk through the crowd. (more…)

The end of the year is approaching once again. As this column comes out, it will be Thanksgiving Day. Most Americans celebrate, and sometimes even give greater importance to Thanksgiving than Christmas. Just like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving is a holiday when Americans travel cross-country to rejoin and bond with the family and friends. If Christmas is a season of giving, Thanksgiving, to the Americans, is a season to be grateful for one’s blessings.

Sometimes we take things for granted, most especially in the life we live today and with the blessings we have. As I look back at the years I was growing up, or as I watch my children grow, seeing them change, I realize that I am indeed blessed: to have a great wife and children who are Christ-centered, respectful, and most of all, loving to us. Sometimes, we lose sight of the greatest treasure given to us, thinking that power and wealth are the best blessings. (more…)

I have always admired and respected our OFWs. Whenever I travel to other countries, in almost every place I go to, be it in a hotel, cruise ship, a hospital, or restaurants, Filipinos continue to dominate the service sector over other Asians. Apart from Filipinos being able to speak English with a better accent, the Filipino hospitality is reflected in their service.

Go Negosyo has partnered with the Villar Foundation as we see the need to help the OFWs and their family in planning how to invest their money after they have secured their children’s education and basic needs. The Villars are giving back since much of their business are with OFWs who buy houses from them. The Villars share common objectives with us: how we can equip their families with the right mindset and how to identify what negosyos are best for them based on their skills and passion. As startup entrepreneurs, they can begin their venture by doing simple direct selling or distributorship, which will train them to develop their selling and marketing skills. As they become better entrepreneurs, they can move to something bigger as being a franchisee and learn even more lessons on entrepreneurship from their mentor-franchisors. (more…)

In the recent Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, we’ve been seeing more of what we call Intrapreneurs being recognized and in fact, winning the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

We have a saying in Go Negosyo, “Not all may be entrepreneurs but EVERYONE CAN BE ENTERPRISING”.  One can be entrepreneurial, whatever his role is (be it in a corporation, own business, or even government), with the mindset and passion to innovate and maximize the opportunities in market gaps.  Referred to as “game changers”, they redefine competition and set new standards that make people’s lives better. (more…)

Many of you by now would have heard about our concluded Young Entrepreneurs Summit, probably our most successful summit to date. This Go Negosyo project was highly publicized and seems to be the highlight of our year, but what many may probably still not know, is that Go Negosyo runs and participates in projects like this throughout the entire year, although not as public as our summits. Go Negosyo continuously promotes and develops entrepreneurs in the country in partnership with many other institutions.

A few weeks back, Exec. Director Mon Lopez on behalf of Go Negosyo awarded the 2011 Most Outstanding Microentrepreneurs and partner cooperatives, NGOs, and rural financial institutions at the SIPAG Awards 2011, a program by the National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). LBP President Gilda Pico and NLDC President Lina Amata led the awards program. Go Negosyo was part of the committee headed by Usec. Lina with Myrna Bituin of Betis Craft, Dir. Nestor Raneses of UP-ISSI and Dir. Susan Leones of DAR. They deliberated and selected microentrepreneurs and MFIs across the country who have jointly worked hard to see success and to free people from poverty through entrepreneurship. The 2011 Most Outstanding Entrepreneurs are Erlinda C. Tomas from Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya, Leonora C. Alipar from Legazpi City, Mirasol S. Requiron from Sagay City, Negros Occidental and Josefina H. Maca from Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay. The Most Outstanding Partner Conduits are: Nueva Segovia Consortium Cooperative, ViganCity, Ilocos Sur; Countryside Multi-Line Cooperative, Daet, Camarines Norte; Loay Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Loay, Bohol; Gata Daku Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Clarin, Misamis Occidental; Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc., J.M.Honrado Foundation, Inc., Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc., Starjed MicrofinancingCorporation; Cooperative Bank of Cagayan, Rural Bank of Guinobatan, Inc., FirstAgro-Industrial Rural Bank, Inc., and D’ Asian Hills Bank, Inc. (more…)

Last October 12 was the awarding of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. It was not a surprise to see Erramon Aboitiz win the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, making him the Philippines’ representative to Monaco. He and his team have really made the Aboitiz group of companies one of the most successful conglomerates in the country today.

I was with last year’s winner, Bounty Fresh founder Tennyson Chen during the proceedings and Nanay Coring, founder of National Bookstore, who likewise won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award a couple of years back. Both were big inspiring entrepreneurs who also ably represented our country in Monaco and they confided that it was a humbling experience to be in a friendly competition with top entrepreneurs in the world. Incidentally, Nanay Coring celebrated her 88th birthday just recently and she looked young and strong as ever. A big supporter of Go Negosyo entrepreneurship advocacy, she presented the Woman Entrepreneur Award together with another Go Negosyo trustee, Esther Vibal, who is also in her mid-80s and still with an entrepreneurial passion and sharp mind as she reminds me to embark on joint projects on e-books.

The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to the dynamic Fe Agudo of Hyundai Asia Resources. Emerging Entrepreneur Award went to Ferdinand Marañon of Sagrex Corp., a Go Negosyo awardee too from Davao, while the Innovation Entrepreneur Award went to Bienvenido Tantoco III of Rustan Supercenters, Inc. Reynaldo Paulino of Kraftika Filipina was named Small Business Entrepreneur, which I remember was what I also presented to last year’s winner Mr Mang Inasal Injap Sia. The Social Entrepreneur winners were fellow Go Negosyo advocate and supporter Anna Meloto-Wilk and her sister Camille Meloto.

Erramon Aboitiz put it well in his speech. Aboitiz was started by their forefathers as entrepreneurs, and now this new generation of Aboitizes are intrapreneurs. The children of the founders take after their forebears whose character and values they try to emulate to take their business to greater heights. The founders must be proud to be able to see this new generation of Aboitizes build a much bigger business model in power generation.

My congratulations to Erramon Aboitiz and the clan for their success, and to all the other winners. Congratulations, too, to all the finalists, many of whom are also Go Negosyo advocates and supporters: Raul Anthony D. Concepcion, (Concepcion Durables, Inc.); Prudencio S. Garcia, (Mekeni Food Corp.); Pacita U. Juan (Earth Life Store Supply, Inc.); Genevieve Ledesma-Tan, (Southville International School and Colleges); and Francis Glenn L. Yu, (SEAOIL Phils., Inc.). Hopefully, all the others can also join the fold at Go Negosyo to help inspire our fellow countrymen in believing that this nation has indeed great promise, and that every Filipino can beat poverty with the right attitude, character and know-how.

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Speaking of presenting more stories of success and inspiration, Go Negosyo launches its seventh book today: 50 Inspiring Stories of Young Entrepreneurs. Our guests of honor are Nanay Coring of National Bookstore and Esther Vibal of Vibal Publishing who have both kept the passion in educating Filipinos through books and reading materials.

It will be truly an inspiration for our young entrepreneurs featured in this book to meet these two dynamic women. Even I would love to learn their secrets on what keeps them so vibrant and young in attitude.

The sponsor of this newest Go Negosyo book, Mang Inasal founder Injap Sia, will also grace the occasion. For someone to attain so much at a young age would serve as a true inspiration to others as well, especially to the youth. Again, congratulations to those we featured in our newest book: Albert Stephen Tanjanco of Anjo Farms, Alvin Tan of Techonominds, Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, Antonio Tiu of Agrinurture, Bam Aquino and Mark Ruiz of Microventures/Hapinoy, Bang Omengan of Rock Inn & Café, Benedict Carandang of Tuldok Animations, Camille Meloto of Gandang Kalikasan/Human Nature, Brian Quebengco of Inovent Inc., Chris Tiu for Happy Lemon, Christian and Michael Concepcion of Greater Good, Clang Garcia of Hop-On Hop-Off Jeepney Tours, Clarisse Ann Paras of Bejeweled/Beautiful Sole Enterprise, Cristalle Henares of Belo Essentials, Darwin and Mary Grace Santos of Li’l People Enterprise, Denise Gonzales and Monica Eleazar of Indigobaby, Jerik Robleza and Dino Sarmiento of The Clothing, Emmanuel Carancho of Scramble King, Enzo Banson, Ezra Capucion, Katrina Tecson and Martina Manas of The Twillery, Inc. / Papelle, GJ and Maricel Jimenez of Banapple, Chef Hasset Go of MedChef, Injap of Sia for Mang Inasal, Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks, James & Phil Younghusband for The Younghusband Football Academy, Jen Real-Lim of Orange Dance Studio, Jowee Alviar and Raymund Punzalan of Team Manila, Juliet Herrera and Peter Chen of Serenitea, Kathleen Kaye and Carlo Garcia of Hot Pink Lingerie, Ken Okuya of Okuya Food Express, Kim Lato of Kimstore, Krie Lopez of Messy Bessy, Kris Carlo Macapagal of Ink & Prints, Lester Lagos of The Urban Frog, Lourd Ryan Ramos of Creations, Mark Dulag of K-Yong Spirits Orchard & Winery, Mark Gorriceta of Freska, fashion designer Mich Dulce, Michael Bian of Six Eleven Global Services, Ming Ong-Moya of Kathang Kamay, Nicole Whisenhunt of Nicole Whisenhunt Jewelry, Patrick Jalbuena of Kerplunk! Studios, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of Rags2Riches, Richard Sanz of Bibingkinitan, Roberto Claudio of Runnr, Ronald John David of Sulit.com, Shiela Lina of Shopinas, fashion blogger Tricia Gosingtian, fashion designer Veejay Floresca, Xander Angeles of Xander Angeles Photography / Edge of Light Studios, and Zarah Juan of Panda Cleaners.

I was in Singapore when I got the news that Steve Jobs passed away. All my life, the only computer I owned was a Mac. Since the very first Macintosh, which I bought when I was in my early 20s in San Francisco, I remember how excited I was to own my first computer. At my age that time, being in my early 20s, the Mac was the easiest to learn as I don’t like reading manuals.

For us during those days, owning a computer in your 20s was a privilege. But today, even my own four-year old daughter has her own iPad. Technology has really changed the way we do things and Steve Jobs is the greatest entrepreneur of our time. He has not only changed the game in technology, computers, music and communication, but has also made us all happy. (more…)