Inspiring light
 26 June 2008

.
Last Friday, I was scheduled to make a chopper hop from Cebu city to Siquijor to brief the Central Visayas Regional Development Council on the global dimensions of our rice and energy situation.

Frank’s fury cancelled that meeting. But it did not stop Go Negosyo sa Cebu, Season 2!, an anchor event organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the month-long celebration of this year’s Cebu Business Month.

This second season of Go Negosyo was successfully participated by over 2,000 entrepreneurs and students of entrepreneurship.

Together with Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship, Joey Concepcion, other Cebuanos like Jay Aldeguer, Edward Gaisano, and Tess Chan, we gave recognition to the Most Inspiring Cebuano Microentrepreneurs.

The awardees included: Imelda Alinsonorin, a Live Cull Chicken Dealer and General Merchandise Store owner; Rey Calooy, President of RNC Marketing Philippines, Rhea Noemi Food Products and My Partners International Trade, Inc.; Lady Canonigo, owner of an Egg-trading and Fishvending business; Cecilia Cañalita, proprietor of a Merchandise Store and Hog-raising business; Saturnina Diez, a Vegetable farmer and trader; Darliza Perez of Nicole’s Delight bakery; and Cherry Yack, Sr. of Cherrie’s Cassava and Banana Cake.

These entrepreneurs have their own inspiring stories of struggling beginnings, before finally establishing their respective growing businesses. From being a single mom of four children, to selling used cartons and bookmarks, and having to work in Malaysia for seven years, each story is a saga of hard work and success.

Of all the success stories, however, that one of a blind, young man stood out. Marx Melencio, 28 years old, founded and owns Grayscale Business Management and Consultancy Services. He was given the Most Inspiring Entrepreneur Special Award.

In his college years, in his prime, at the age of 23, he was shot on his chest and head by an unidentified man. Miraculously, he survived the senseless assault. But while he kept his life, he totally lost his eyesight.

This crisis brought him to depression. After having taken for granted the gift of sight for 23 years, he now had to go through life in total darkness forever.

Eventually, he came out of it, and Marx saw opportunities out of his misfortune. His interest with computers, familiarity with distance education and the Internet, and his exceptional writing skills led him to these opportunities. Today, his Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company is a budding business with 89 employees, some of whom are actually blind.

The story of Marx exemplifies the importance of determination. In every trial, discouragement comes along, but what defines success or failure is how we face up to these trials.

The government’s massive support program for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or MSME, has a wide range of services that would assure every Marx Melencio, Imelda Alinsonorin, Rey Calooy, et al., the facilities for success.

If inspiring stories in our Go Negosyo sorties move countless others – housewives, students, young professionals, farmers, etc. – into entrepreneurship, it would be worth facing up to Frank’s fury, anytime.

[TOP] [HOME]