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‘Go Negosyo’ very much
on the go 28 May 2009 |
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A few days ago, I got
an “invitation” from our good friend, Mr. Joey Concepcion, founder of
the highly successful Go Negosyo Movement, and it really surprised me as
I have not heard from him since I became the press secretary. The invitation was actually for an upcoming project of the movement called Youth Entrepreneurship Summit slated this coming August. According to Joey, who is also the Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship, they are taking the movement “to the next level through the Summit.” Honestly, the news of the summit was not much of an excitement to me as the thought that Go Negosyo is still very much on the go, relentlessly reaching for new heights. Go Negosyo is close to my heart as it is one private initiative that lends all-out support to the government’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Financing Program, the Oversight Committee for which I used to head when I was still with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). This highly successful government financing program has already lent out R305.57 billion to 5.6 million beneficiaries since 2004, and in the process created some 2.5 million jobs. Together with various government and private agencies, Joey and I helped map out plans and strategies and undertook a number of programs and activities that helped awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship among our people. While we in government concentrated on finding ways and means to meet the financial and capability needs of our budding entrepreneurs, Go Negosyo went on a massive and intensive promotional and educational drive through its Go Negosyo caravans in strategic areas in the country, TV shows, books, summits as well a regular column in the Philippine Star. The caravans, which were held in Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, Bulacan, Batangas and Bicol, conducted forums, expositions, and actual lectures for free, witnessed and participated in by thousands of our countrymen. The last time Joey and I were together was last February 26, 2009 during the launching of the third edition of their books the “Go Negosyo Book on Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs” at the Rockwell with no less than Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the Guest of Honor. I was told that this book on Women Entrepreneurs holds the record as the Number One Bestseller in National Bookstore’s non-fiction category. The first book, Joey’s Go Negosyo book of Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories, was also recognized as the number one seller in the non-fiction category by the same bookstore. This was followed by another best-selling line “Go Negosyo book of Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories Celebrity Edition.” The movement now reaches a broader audience through its entrepreneurship TV program aired on QTV11 every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. The show which, according to Joey, maintains over one million viewers every week, features stories of inspiration and entrepreneurial lessons from no less than the experts in different fields. Aside from their caravans, books and TV shows, they continue to produce the weekly Philippine Star column and their capacity-building/research programs. They also continue to develop their gonegosyo.net website, in which all contents in the forum discussions, the TV shows and the weekly articles, as well as caravan and events schedule are automatically uploaded. The growth of the MSMEs was one of my pet projects when I was still with PMS. Now that I am no longer directly involved in the said financing program, I am comforted by the fact that a number of people and organizations are relentless in promoting its concept and ideals. Thank you, Joey, and keep it up! |
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