For the longest time, Go Negosyo has been inspiring Filipinos to move and work their way out of poverty. We have been adapting different ways to equip our countrymen with the entrepreneurial know-how, such as holding seminars and summits, publishing books of inspiring stories and on key entrepreneurial concepts and strategies, and even featuring these learning principles and ideas on TV, radio and print, through our media partners GMA News TV and DZRH/Radyo Natin and THE PHILIPPINE STAR. But before an aspiring negosyante could proceed, he must first instill a strong passion inside him. Without passion, he or she will be weak in facing obstacles that will surely come his or her way. And this fact is not limited only in doing business. A person who is passionate on doing what he loves best in life will surely attain success.
Passion has been the moving force behind the acclaimed filmmaker Ramona Diaz in doing documentaries. Ramona, who was born here in the Philippines but is currently based in Baltimore, is the director behind “Imelda”, which showed a different side of the former first lady Imelda Marcos, and “Don’t Stop Believing”, a film about the first year of Arnel Pineda as the frontman of the band Journey. Her love for storytelling prompted her to take up filmmaking as her career. It is not as easy as it seems, because Ramona has to deal with challenges such as getting support to fund her films. But with passion, Ramona believes that any aspiring filmmaker can overcome challenges and succeed.
Last Tuesday, her feature film “The Learning” had its premier screening at the Powerplant Cinema 6. It was organized by the Assumption Convent San Lorenzo High School Batch 1979, where Ramona and my wife were batchmates. The proceeds from the screening will benefit the Assumption Mission Schools. In the film, she tells the story of Filipina teachers Dorotea, Angel, Grace, and Rhea as they took the chance to teach in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, and their experiences during their first year in America are recorded on film. Ramona first heard of the news that Filipino teachers are coming in their city through their local newspaper The Baltimore Sun. It was an interesting plot for her, because who would imagine that a century after the Americans introduced the public school system in our country, they will actually go back to us and hire our teachers to teach their children?
The four teachers in the film were motivated by their love for their respective families, that they chose a life away from them to work as teachers in a foreign land so they can provide for their families’ needs. Ramona felt that even if it is sad that Filipino families had to live apart just to be able to have a better life, she said that it will be beneficial in the long run as it aims to educate Filipinos that “living the American dream” has its flaws, and that there must be a better way to move out of poverty aside from looking for greener pastures abroad.
Just like what we are advocating in Go Negosyo, I am certain that there are better ways for Filipinos to be successful other than to go abroad. It is true that the service industry is a major contributor to our economy’s growth, but it would not hurt if people will stay here and do business here together with their families. One has to pursue what he loves doing or where he is good at. Or it can oftentimes start at opportunities in their area or unmet demand, an abundant resource waiting to be processed, or any sound business idea. It would be a good time to turn those ideas into reality. To take action, especially in good times like what we are having now. We have observed, and many investors have been telling us that they are bullish on the kind of growth they are seeing especially in the consumer sector, catering to the domestic market.
