Thursday, October 16, 2008 Search body to get more Cebuanos to win award
ORGANIZERS of the Entrepreneur of the Year awards expect many entrepreneurs in Cebu to be nominated, and possibly win in the national and international search for the most outstanding entrepreneur.
Marlu V. Balmaceda of SGV Foundation Inc. said Cebu is a favorite of the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines search because it has generated a lot of nominees, finalists and even awardees in the national search.
“Entrepreneurship is also strong, alive and kicking in Cebu,” said Balmaceda, program manager of the Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Entrepreneur of the Year awards was founded by Ernst & Young in 1986 in the United States. Since then, it has been conducted every year in about 47 countries. In the Philippines, the search was launched by SGV Foundation Inc. in 2003.
On its website, SGV Foundation stated that the Entrepreneur of the Year program “seeks to honor outstanding entrepreneurs who, through their energy and passion, have been successful not only in their individual businesses, but on a greater scale, by helping bolster the economy and providing employment opportunities to many Filipinos.”
Recognition
Although the Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) award does not come with monetary rewards, past finalists and winners from Cebu said they get recognition, honor and opportunities to link with national and international organizations that are otherwise beyond their reach.
Among the Cebuanos who became finalists or winners of the search are: Steve Benitez of Bo’s Coffee, who was the first Cebuano to be picked as finalist in the first Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines awards that were given in 2004; Islands Souvenirs’ Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, who was the winner for the small business entrepreneur category in 2005; and Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr., as founder of Lacto Bacillus Pafi Techno Resources Corp., winner of the innovation entrepreneur award.
Cebuanos who became finalists of the awards include William Christopher Liu of Primary Structures, Chester Cokaliong of Cokaliong Shipping, Glenn Soco of Coffee Dream, Catherine Delantar of Natures Legacy Eximport, Robert Gandionco of Julie’s Bakeshop, Rafaelito Barino of Duros Development Corp., and retired Judge Esperanza Garcia of the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative.
While this year and the next may be challenging times for many businesses, Balmaceda expressed confidence there will be just as many nominees, finalists and winners from Cebu and from other parts of the country.
Challenging
Aside from the financial condition of nominees’ companies, she said the EOY search also looks at the entrepreneur and his or her story.
“(The years) 2008 and 2009 will really be challenging for all entrepreneurs but entrepreneurs continue to create more business, and create well, not only for himself but also for others. Entrepreneurs will always find opportunities,” Benitez said, adding that he started Bo’s Coffee in 1996 and continued to grow the business even during the Asian financial crisis in 1997.
Sanchez said crisis can be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop new ideas and products.
The EOY search is conducted with five categories: master entrepreneur, small business, industry specific (this year it is the manufacturing sector), woman, as well as social entrepreneur.
SGV Foundation will accept nominations until November this year. On-site interviews will be conducted in December for short-listed nominees and finalists will be announced in February 2009. National awarding will be in March 2009.
The master entrepreneur, who will be chosen from among the winners of the various categories, will represent the Philippines in the International EOY in Monte Carlo. (LAP)
