Go Negosyo to recognize more empowered Filipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino women in the 21st century have undoubtedly become one of the country’s most valuable instruments for change.

Empowered and determined, they have become successful innovators and entrepreneurs, greatly contributing to the growth of the Philippine economy. 

Go Negosyo, together with GMA Network and The Philippine STAR, will recognize the role of several inspiring women entrepreneurs and enablers who have made a difference in their fields and have become role models as women with positive enterprising mindset, passion, and innovative skills.

Through its “Go Negosyo Kapuso Ka ng Bayan” Women Entrepreneurship Summit slated on March 4 to 6 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Go Negosyo will honor inspirational Filipino women as part of the nationwide celebration of National Women’s Month. 

“They are the 2011 Go Negosyo Filipina Starpreneurs who have made their mark in the industry,” said Joey Concepcion, founding trustee of Go Negosyo.

Social Entrepreneurs

Pacita “Chit” Juan is one of the inspiring “womanpreneurs” who has effectively promoted social and environmental change in the Philippines through her successful negosyo, ECHOstore (Environment, Community, Hope Organization), which is a retail shop that offers “upcycled” products by marginalized groups.

Chit has always been an advocate of environmental causes and she has spearheaded numerous campaigns to promote “living green.” In 1999, she initiated coffee tree planting activities all over the Philippines to help push environmental awareness as well as reinvigorating the Philippine coffee industry.

Since then, Chit has devoted her time to her advocacy and worked hand in hand with the Department of Agriculture on coffee tree planting tours in different regions in the country and has also promoted organic farming in Kalinga, Ifugao and Benguet. In 2007, Chit launched a program called “Live Green” and introduced Filipinos to the eco-friendly lifestyle.

Chit has also put up “Le Bistro Vert” (The Green Bistro), a restaurant that supports the joy of healthy eating. The products and the food that she serves are environment-friendly and organically grown from small farms all over the Philippines. These are just a few of what keeps Chit Juan busy.

But one thing is sure, her negosyos and her activities are all in line with her advocacy to protect and preserve the environment. She is a proud social entrepreneur who runs environment-friendly, sustainable and socially conscious negosyos.

Alegria “Bing” Limjoco

Alegria “Bing” Sibal-Limjoco is another inspiring a Filipina Starpreneur.

As CEO of Francorp Philippines for 15 years, she has been helping and inspiring entrepreneurs, big and small, to expand their negosyo through franchising. Her company, Francorp Philippines, is part of the worldwide network of Francorp International, which specializes in franchise development and consulting.

Bing has already assisted and helped develop more than 200 negosyos into successful franchises in the country. Aside from Francorp, she is also busy with the Philippine Franchise Association.

She has been the president of PFA twice; now, she has taken the role of vice chairman. Bing is also serving as chair for the Philippine International Franchise Conference Expo (PIFCE) and has been representing the Philippines in the biggest international franchising events.

What is truly admirable about Bing is that her work and success are founded on her desire to help others who can benefit from what she knows. She believes that franchising is an effective tool to grow negosyos and encourage economic development as it creates more jobs and enterprises. It is her way of promoting entrepreneurship to help elevate the quality of life of fellow Filipinos.

Filipina Starpreneurs in Small/Medium Category

Mary Grace Dimacali, the president of Mary Grace Foods, cooked up her recipe for success in her own kitchen. She spent most of her holidays baking fruitcakes, ensaymadas and cheese rolls, and sold them door to door in her neighborhood. Then she started joining Christmas bazaars where foodies have fallen in love with her delicious creations.

For Mary Grace, a full-time mother of five, starting a home-based negosyo came naturally. She was able to follow her passion in baking while still have time to watch and guide her children. She eventually finished a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship at AIM and learned how to grow her negosyo in five years. She opened her first kiosk in 2001 and her first café in 2006. Currently, Mary Grace Foods has seven cafes and nine kiosks all over Metro Manila.

Lydia de Roca

Lydia de Roca, founder and owner of Lydia’s Lechon, started her negosyo in 1965 with her husband Benigno. With P500 as capital, Lydia opened her first stall near the Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Pasay City. Soon, Lydia’s Lechon gained a following among churchgoers for their delicious Cebu-style lechon, their excellent service and the cleanliness of their stall.

In 1987, Lydia welcomed customers to her first restaurant, which offered native dishes and their signature lechon, along Roxas Blvd. She also introduced to their patrons the boneless lechon stuffed with seafood paella, which became an instant hit. In 2005, Lydia opened Lydia’s Lechon for franchising. Since then, her negosyo has become the leading lechon wholesale and retail restaurant with more than 23 branches in the Philippines.

Sara Black

Sara Black has graced the glossy pages of magazines and has appeared in a number of television commercials, but it was behind the lens that she found her passion and success in entrepreneurship. She is the owner of Sara Black Photography, one of the most sought-after photography studios in the country today.

Her love for photography started when she got her first camera as a little girl, but it was only after college that she thought of pursuing it as a negosyo.

Sara read books on photography and tirelessly practiced the principles she learned in books. She also sought the guidance of veteran photographer Pancho Escaler, who helped her learn what she needs to know in putting up her own studio. Being a model also comes in handy for Sara in her negosyo, as it gives her insight on how to bring the best out of her subjects and models.

Merle Alferez

Merle Alferez, the founder of MSA Academic Advancement Institute, started her tutorial business with just P240 as capital in 1988. She used up the money to put up a signboard outside her home.

She helped her first student increase his Math grade from 63 to 87; and soon, students kept coming in. She took it as a challenge and continued to work hard to grow her negosyo. She knew her real capital was not money but her knowledge and skills and her desire to improve the education system in the Philippines.

Today, Merle has eight branches of MSA and a pre-school. Her company has also earned an ISO Certification, a first for a tutorial center here in the Philippines.

Despite all the success, Merle has kept her priorities in check and has continued to improve the way she runs her negosyo. She sees to it that she not only shares her knowledge with others but her blessings as well. She donates books to public schools to help more Filipino children get quality education.

To further recognize the contributions of these women to the country, Go Negosyo has forged partnerships with several companies to spread the inspiring stories of the women entrepreneurs as they effectively balance their lives, family, pursuits, and service to community.

An advocacy of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, Go Negosyo hopes to demystify entrepreneurial success and popularize entrepreneurship as an alternative to unemployment, job-seeking, or migration by catalyzing the development of entrepreneurship in the country.