Honoring Filipino entrepreneurs

MANILA, Philippines - Multidisciplinary professional services firm SGV & Co. is promoting entrepreneurship as an alternative career and a way to contribute to the economy as it starts the search for the Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) Philippines 2013.

While most Filipinos have been raised with the mindset that they have to study hard to get a job, entrepreneurship is now being considered an acceptable career path.

Marlu Balmaceda, senior director at SGV & Co. told reporters that through honoring Filipino entrepreneurs, they hope to encourage more individuals to consider starting their own businesses.

“Now it (entrepreneurship) is seen as an alternative career. It is now an acceptable career path. We’ve seen it transform and we hope we contributed in our small way to that concept of entrepreneurship as something or a level that could be considered professional and major contributor to the economy,” she said.

The EOY Philippines, a program of the SGV Foundation, aims to identify, acknowledge and encourage entrepreneurial business people who through their passion, hard work and dedication, help boost the economy and create wealth as well as employment.

The program which started in 2003, has become one of the most prestigious events for the local business community.

EOY program director Antonette Tionko said in the same event this year’s EOY will honor Filipino entrepreneurs who are able to break barriers.

“Entrepreneurs are undaunted by what many might consider barriers -- poverty, lack of technology, geography, gender and many others. On the contrary, they are most likely challenged by these and motivated to rise above them,” she said.

“As true entrepreneurs, they embolden themselves to strengthen their will, generate innovative ideas and gather the resources needed to transform hurdles into opportunities,” she added.

There will be four award categories for this year: Master Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur and Woman Entrepreneur.

From the four category winners, the EOY Philippines will be chosen who will then represent the country in the 2014 World EOY awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June next year.   To be eligible, the nominee must be a business owner or founder primarily responsible for the growth of the company. The nominee must likewise be active in the business, which must have been in operation for at least two years.

The deadline for all nominations is on May 31. The awarding of the winners will be held in October.

Jollibee Foods Corp. president and chief executive officer Tony Tan Caktiong was named the very first EOY Philippines in 2003 and went on to win the 2004 World Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Other past awardees of the EOY Philippines are: Socorro Ramos, founder and general manager of National Book Store; Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of Cebu Air Inc.; Senen Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera Inc.; Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr., president and chief executive officer of Alaska Milk Corp.; Ambassador Jesus Tambunting, chairman and president of Planters Development Bank; Bounty Fresh Food Inc. president Tennyson Chen; Erramon Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Power Corp. and Jaime Ayala, founder and chief executive officer of Hybrid Solutions Inc.