VP Binay at Puregold sari-sari convention today

MANILA, Philippines - Entrepreneurs take the spotlight when the 6th Puregold “Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-sari Store Convention” kicks off today, (May 18, until May 21) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City with some big names in politics, business and showbiz in one roof.

The biggest gathering of small-and medium-scale businessmen, which carries the theme “SIKAP – Sari-sari Store, Itaguyod Kasama ang Puregold”, has no less than Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipinos Jejomar Binay as the guest of honor and speaker during the opening.

On May 19, Puregold endorsers Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Jose Manalo and Ruby Rodriguez will also grace the event to bring entertainment to the attendees.

The event will also be the stage for the launching of the Tindahan ni Aling Puring Gold card on May 20, at 10 a.m. where top 500 members of the Tindahan ni Aling Puring program will be invited. They will be awarded the gold card and the top 20 members will be acknowledged. There will be raffle and celebrities as well.

Some 150,000 members of Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring are expected to attend the four-day event which will run until Saturday, May 21, 2011, aside from thousands of non-members who want to start their own business.

Also expected to join the event are thousands of OFWs and their families for Puregold has put up a special booth especially for the country’s “modern-day heroes” who want to put up a sari-sari store or mini-grocery.

This initiative is part of Puregold’s active partnership with different government agencies to help OFWs start their own small business as migrant workers and their families will be taught how to start their own business and have an alternative livelihood.

Puregold has lined up some big names in the business sector, led by entrepreneur Dr. Francisco Colayco, to tackle different aspects of business that would be helpful to would-be entrepreneurs and those who want to expand their existing business.

Aside from Colayco, lectures and seminars for small-scale entrepreneurs will be given by motivational and professional speakers Chinkee Tan, Francis Kong, Lloyd Luna and Jojo Baldo.

Colayco will tackle the topic “Pisobilities - Pera Ko Palaguin Ko” while Tan will talk about “Good credit = Good business, Ang mabuting utang ay magandang puhunan”.

Kong will expound on the topic “Be the best you can be; Ako at ang Sari-sari store ko - D’Best!”, Luna will speak about “Ang sikreto ng tagumpay SIKAP ang kasagutan” and Baldo will discuss “Bro! Ang sandalan ko sa negosyo”.

The event’s mission is to bring out the entrepreneur in every Filipino by encouraging them to engage in small-scale business like the sari-sari store.

For four days, active members of Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring club, composed mainly of small-scale entrepreneurs such as sari-sari store owners, canteen and restaurant operators and resellers, can participate in the event.

But non-members who are interested to put up a business can also join the event on May 20 to 21 where they can get expert advice on what kind of small-scale enterprise to put up with the help of Puregold.

This years’ convention will be participated in by over 200 Puregold trade partners and showcase over 350 booths.