Celebrating women power

MANILA, Philippines –  In celebration of women power and International Women’s Month, Go Negosyo held a three-day experience that delivered fun, learning and recreation not only for Filipinas but for the whole family.

Together with GMA Network, The Philippine STAR and the Department of Trade and Industry, Go Negosyo opened to the public the third Go Negosyo Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo entitled “Babae Kapuso Ka ng Bayan” from March 4 to 6 at the World Trade Center. Over 25,000 came to experience the three-day summit and expo that housed diverse programs and exhibits that showed new ideas, mentorship programs, tools, and services that can help entrepreneurs.

It also worked on the objective to empower Filipinas by boosting women entrepreneurs and addressing concerns and issues that women face about health and wellness, fitness, family, workplace and many more.

“For the last three years, Go Negosyo has been dedicating one of our biggest annual entrepreneurship events for women. I believe that women are the heart of this nation, which can be seen in a family. In a home, it is the woman who is the soul,” says Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.

Over 25,000 women flock to Go Negosyo’s Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo

One of the highlights of the summit and expo was the recognition of the 2011 Filipina Starpreneurs, 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. The Starpreneurs are women who have gracefully balanced life, family, pursuits, and service to community.

Joining Concepcion in honoring the Starpreneurs were GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon and The Philippine STAR executive vice president Grace Glory Go (in behalf of president and CEO Miguel Belmonte), together with the Go Negosyo trustees and partners. Twenty women were recognized in three categories.

The Starpreneurs recognized in the large enterprise category were: Vicki Belo, medical director of Belo Medical Group; Natividad Cheng, CEO of Uratex Group of Companies; Rosalinda Hortaleza, chairman and CEO of HBC Inc.; Gennevieve Ledesma-Tan, founder and president of Southville International School and Colleges; Elizabeth Lee, COO of Universal Motors Corp.; Nelia Siggaoat, president of Manels Leathergoods Corp.; Zenaida Tantoco, president of Rustan’s Commercial Corporation; and Myrna Yao, founder and COO of Richwell Trading Corp.

The SME category Starpreneurs were: Merle Alferez, founder of MSA Academic Advancement Institute; Sara Black, owner of Sara Black Photography; Lydia de Roca, owner of Lydia’s Lechon; Mary Grace Dimacali, president of Mary Grace Foods Inc.; Emma Guerrero, president of Bioessence; Grace Gupana, CEO of Abs Bitter Herbs; Marlyn Montano, owner of Holy Cow Animations; and Tess Ngan Tian, founder and president of Lot’s A Pizza.

In the social enterprise/entrepreneurship enabler category, the Starpreneurs recognized were: Ruth Callanta, president of Center for Community Transformation; Pacita Juan, founder of Echostore; Alegria Limjoco, CEO of Francorp; and Vilma Santos-Recto, governor of Batangas province.

Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion welcomes participants to the summit.

In behalf of all the Starpreneurs, Santos-Recto in her acceptance speech thanked Go Negosyo for the recognition and acknowledged the advocacy for its efforts in spreading the entrepreneurial mindset and helping the Filipino. She also recognized the power and strength of the Filipina, as she encouraged them to find their own paths towards success.

As the summit and expo aspired to holistically empower the Filipina through the entrepreneurship advocacy, the first day was filled with programs, forums and entertainment featuring this country’s top women entrepreneurs, icons and celebrities.

The first forum featured the “Go Negosyo Attitude,” celebrating the empowered Filipina with some of the country’s finest and most prominent women across fields of interests and endeavors. Joining the awardees as panelists were CHED commissioner Nona Ricafort, McCannErickson chair emeritus Emily Abrera, Philippine Daily Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto, Marine Resources Development founder Rosalind Wee, and CDO Foodsphere founder Corazon Dayro Ong. Their stories are testaments that the Filipina can not only make it big but also reach the zenith of success, worthy of emulation as the true pride of the Filipino race.

The next forum was all about recognizing women’s significant role in molding, nourishing and nurturing society’s basic unit, the family. The panelists also went into the delicate role that women play in raising the next generation as mothers and women entrepreneurs, highlighting their roles in both their family and their enterprises.

Go Negosyo Angelpreneur and Multiple Intelligence International School founding directress Mary Joy Abaquin spearheaded the discussion. Aside from the awardees, celebrities like Jolina Magdangal and Regine Tolentino and young entrepreneur Viva Andrada shared their experiences.

The third forum was dedicated to all Filipinas of today who are carving their niches as active contributors to the country’s welfare and development, whether as part of government, as non-governmental organization practitioners or even as a response to a personal calling.

Governor Vilma Santos-Recto gives an acceptance speech in behalf of the Starpreneur honorees

Joining some of the awardees were former congresswoman and social entrepreneur Cynthia Villar, Unesco Dream Center director Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, Isla Lipana Tax Services director Cathy Manahan, Regional Development Council Cotabato City private sector representative Bai Sandra Basar, The Outstanding Students of the Philippines alumni community vice-chair Darlene Tan Salazar and Assumption College associate dean Pinky Valdez.

The last forum on the first day was for the women who perfectly embody the modern Filipina – successful, independent and beautiful, inside and out. It also featured discussions about topics which are generally attributed to being a woman – health and wellness, beauty and cosmetics, fashion and accessories, among others.

Global Vital Source chair Jeannie Goulborn, Cory Quirino, Hands on Manila president Wynwyn Ong, Gandang Kalikasan president Anna Meloto-Wilk, Avon entrepreneur Lorna Banzon, Personi-fi president Abby de Leon, North Image and Fashion Group president Delby Bragais, and Ever Bilena spokesperson Khristine Gabriel were the women who shared their tips and tricks.

The strength of Go Negosyo’s programs, forums and seminars carried on until the third day of the summit and expo, with a strong line up of speakers, Angelpreneurs, and celebrities. Over 400 booths showcased different business models, especially for women and aspiring entrepreneurs.

This year, Go Negosyo has proven once again that women are strong anchors of this country. As the organization moves forward with their entrepreneurship advocacy, it will never fail to celebrate and recognize the strength of women and their natural instinct as entrepreneur.