Successful entrepreneurs in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will share their stories and talk about trends and opportunities, and on how to start a business venture at the Go Negosyo sa Bacolod forums on July 13 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.

The forums aim to inspire the audience. Who else can inspire them but the entrepreneurs themselves, Ramon Lopez, executive director of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, said. The group is the organizer of the two-day Go Negosyo Caravan, which will also feature successful entrepreneurs from Manila.

At the start of the program, PCE founding trustee Joey Concepcion III, also the presidential consultant for entrepreneurship, will lead the Keynote Forum with Go Negosyo Advocates, Secretary Cerge Remonde, Myla Villanueva, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Ray Villafuerte, Vivienne Tan, Dr. Vicki Belo, Jack Gaisano, and Jay Aldeguer. The forum on "Maayo ang Pagnegosyo: Inspiring Stories from Entrepreneurs will feature Cecile del Castillo of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc.; Roberto Montelibano of Prism Import-Export Inc.; Joaquin Torre of Riverside Medical Center Inc.; Olivia Yanson of Yanson Group of Companies; Johlu Koa of French Baker; and Myla Villanueva of MDI Group of Holdings.

For the "Sari-Saring Negosyo: Business Trends and Opportunities" forum, speakers will be James Chua of Foodman Industries; Gov. Joseph Marañon for Mambukal Resort; Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue for Bacolod IT Focus Team; Paolo Bediones of 1Tech.ph; Les Reyes of Reyes Haircutters; and Gov. Luis Villafuerte for Lara's Gifts and Decors.

Successful entrepreneurs who will talk about "Laying the Foundations" are Mary Ann Colmenares of Association of Negros Producers; Josephine Locsin of Tumandok Crafts; marketing consultant Willy Arcilla; Victor Tan of Bobson; Edgar Generoso of Peoples' Credit and Finance Corp.

For the forum on "Starting Small, Dreaming Big: Taking Pride in Enterprising Negrenses," speakers will be Diana Lyn Agustin and Maria Corazon Bitong of Bayo; Carmen Benares of Negros Kabising Livelihood Foundation Inc.; Elsie Coscolluela of USLS Business Resource Center; Lea Gonzales of DTI-Negros Occidental; Thelma Watanabe of OISCA-Bago; and Ferdinand Gabrido of Hinigaran.

The last forum on "Adopting a Culture and Mindset of Entrepreneurship: Do I Have What It Takes" will feature Ray Gapuz of Gapuz Review Center; Joel Santos of Entrepreneurs School of Asia; and Raquel Akol of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.*NLG

back to top