Be the next 'bossing'
Being an entrepreneur is being the “bossing” in your place of work or business. This is one of the best parts about living the life of a negosyante. But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. The bossing is accountable for everything and everyone in his negosyo. It is a privilege and a blessing that should be balanced with responsibility and hard work.
I am definitely proud to be the bossing of my negosyo, as I am honored to be part of the first batch of PLDT SME Nation Bossings. Last Oct. 28, we welcomed the new set of bossings at the NBC Tent. After a year of planning, preparing and searching for the country’s Most Valuable Pinoy entrepreneurs, the MVP Bossing Awards finally drew the curtains. It was great seeing the familiar faces of Go Negosyo entreps and friends in business, but it was also exciting to meet successful new players who are creating an impact in their own respective industries. We are very proud that a number of our Go Negosyo entrepreneurs have been recognized as the new batch of MVP Bossings.
Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees for always working hard and inspiring others through your example. Thank you also to our partner, PLDT SME Nation, for joining us in giving recognition to these bossings who not only help in inspiring others to go into business, but also help the nation prosper by providing employment and livelihood to Filipinos.
PLDT’s very own bossing Manny V. Pangilinan presented the biggest award of the night to Cecilio Pedro, president and CEO of Lamoiyan Corporation. Cecilio, who is known as Mr. Hapee Toothpaste and who is also a Go Negosyo advocate, led the pack of SME Bossings as he was honored with the MVP Grand Bossing Award. He was recognized for his leadership in running one of the most successful Filipino corporations and for his advocacy of not only providing employment to Filipinos but also for always opening his doors to the hearing-impaired community. Cecilio gave a sincere speech on the importance of venturing into negosyo to help rise above poverty and of giving back to the community. He even concluded his speech by chanting: “Go Negosyo! Go Negosyo! Go Negosyo!”
I also had the honor of presenting the category awards together with PLDT head Napoleon Nazareno, PLDT SME Nation senior vice president Eric R. Alberto and other outstanding SME Bossings. Henry Lim Bon Liong of SL Agritech was recognized in the agri-business category for producing the Doña Maria Jasponica Rice, while Corazon Dayro Ong of CDO Foodsphere, one of the fast-growing companies in the meat-processing industry, accepted the award in the manufacturing field. Both of them are Go Negosyo trustees.
PLDT President and CEO Napoleon Nazareno, Federico and Vina Morales, and Les ReyesGo Negosyo entrepreneurs also took home awards in the Other Services category. Business partners and in-laws Federico Moreno and Vina Morales of Ystilo Salon, and the husband-and-wife team of Nelson and Siu Ping Par of PR Gaz Haus, were happy to be recognized. Meanwhile, Annabella Wisnieski of the Raintree Group was named Bossing in the Travel and Leisure industry.
For trade and finance, five bossings were recognized from the retail-food industry: Steve Benitez of Bo’s Coffee, who started his negosyo with the intention of sharing his international coffee experience to Filipinos; Ray and Anais Lapid of R. Lapid’s Chicharon and BBQ, who found success in reviving the market for that classic Filipino favorite; Jose Magsaysay Jr. of Potato Corner — a negosyo that started with just one stall in 1992 but now has over 200 branches all over the country; Johnlu Koa of The French Baker, who pursued his passion for bread and business and at the same time continued with his profession in the academe; and Sarabeth Salcedo of Baliwag Lechon — a company dedicated to bringing affordable, quality food to Filipino homes. Meanwhile, Jojo Claudio Jr. and Robert Claudio, the brothers behind the successful sports retail outlet Toby’s Sports, bagged the award in the retail apparel category.
Lastly, social entrepreneurs and recently awarded Go Negosyo Youth Entrepreneurs Bam Aquino and Mark Ruiz of Hapinoy were named MVP Bossings in the finance category for their work in helping micro-entrepreneurs manage, grow and improve their negosyos.
Special awards were also given to entrepreneurs who are making an impact on their various fields of expertise. Mary Grace Santos, owner of Little People and also a Go Negosyo Inspiring Young Filipino Entrepreneur, bagged the Online Bossing Award, which was the result of weeklong voting on Facebook. This proves that having a wide network of friends, whether in online social networks or in real life, can be of great advantage to any negosyo. Friends and beer buddies Luigi Nuñez, Vinson Co Say and Jayjay Angala were recognized with the Start Up Bossing award for the success that Beer Below Zero achieved in less than three years. Director, photographer and Blow Up Babies owner Quark Henares also had his own picture-worthy moment when he was honored with the Entertainment Bossing award.
Joey Qua and fashion designer Rhett Eala were honored as well with the Arts and Culture Award for promoting the Philippines and nationalism through their clothing line, Collezione. The Sports award went to Gov. LRay Villafuerte for the success of his Camsur Watersports Complex and for promoting eco-sports tourism in the country. Recognition was also given to Go Negosyo Young Inspiring Entrepreneurs Dylan Wilk, Anna Meloto-Wilk, and Camille Meloto of Gandang Kalikasan. They received the Social Entrepreneurship award for their efforts in helping the communities of Gawad Kalinga.
Of course, we also recognized two very special people who have always supported the Go Negosyo advocacy. We presented special recognitions to Dean “Pax” Lapid of the Entrepreneur School of Asia and to Undersecretary Merly Cruz of the Department of Trade and Industry. They are the Go Negosyo enablers who always share their time and knowledge to educate, empower and encourage Filipinos to become the best they can be in life and business. Because of their help and dedication, more and more Filipinos are changing for the better and finding their way into entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) also gave special awards to inspiring newcomers in the food-retail industry: Senin Javellana of Crave Burger for Emerging Concept and Johnny Que of Coffee Break for Most Promising Concept.
Congratulations to the big bossing of PLDT Manny V. Pangilinan for leading the way and for supporting and encouraging the bossings all over the country; and to Eric Alberto, Kat Abelarde, Gabby Cui and the rest of the hardworking team of PLDT SME Nation for ensuring the success of the MVP Bossing Awards. Go Negosyo is proud and honored to be working with you in saluting Pinoy entrepreneurs.
This new batch of SME Bossings will definitely continue to inspire others to become bossings in their own areas and fields of specialization. We are looking forward to seeing more bossings in the years to come.
* * *
Contact me at feedback@gonegosyo.net or my Joey Concepcion Facebook account. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the top-rating entrep show Go Negosyo: Kaya Mo! on QTV every Saturday and Sunday at 8-8:30 a.m., with replays on NBN every Tuesday from 9:15-10:15 p.m. Get daily Go Negosyo Text Tips on your mobile phone by sending GONEGO to 2910.
