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Monday, July 25, 2005
Yaman Gensan 2005: A salute to the entrepreneurs
By Edwin G. Espejo
THE scene outside the fairly large Phela Convention Center was like the local version of the Oscars awards night.
Men and women in their resplendent barongs and ternos arrived in trickles met by gorgeous ushers.
All were all smiles in spite of the drizzle Friday evening.
Who would not be? After all those years, these small entrepreneurs will finally get the recognition they so deserved in the face of rising costs, stiff competition and plummeting economy.
As one businesswoman succinctly said, theirs bordered on brinkmanship and sheer determination.
Some have held on while others had already collapsed. Some have been here even before the city came into being or most of the city's young population were even born.
Others have only recently arrived but had already cashed in on the boom that the local business climate offered some 15 or 10 years ago.
As organizers of this year's First Yaman Gensan Award 2005 said, they are the "hallmark of the veritable wealth and spirit of true entrepreneurs...epitome of the city's impeccable industry."
Yaman Gensan, the beginnings
Yaman Gensan or "Yabong Maliiit na Negosyo" started four years ago to fill the gap between the Kalilangan and Tuna Festival which are celebrated every Februarys and Septembers, respectively.
Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. prodded his staff to come up with an activity that would attract attention and interest from people and traders who are doing business in the city.
The months of June and July were chosen as these have been described by local businessmen as the "lean months"--business-wise.
Four years after it was first launched in 2001, Yaman Gensan has already evolved into one of the major events to look forward to in the city.
And this year, the organizers of the Yaman Gensan, led by the City Government and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council, decided to bestow honors and citations to entrepreneurs in the city for their enormous contribution to the local economy.
"It is an initiative recognizing the contribution of these entrepreneurs in the economic growth and development of the city brought their enterprises which generate not only revenues but also livelihood opportunities," as the organizers stated in the rationale of the ward.
The city mayor hopes this year's breakthrough awards night should spur more business activities in the city.
The awardees
Heading this year's awardees are six local business establishments, most of them single proprietorships which have excelled in their respective product and service lines.
Also cited were individual and corporate taxpayers who were given Trophies and cash reward for being the Highest Income Taxpayer in their categories. They are Joaquin Lu of the Moomy gina tuna Resources (individual taxpayer) and Southern Mindanao Commodities Inc. (corporate taxpayer).
Also given special citation was Mrs. Aurora Amagan who A&J Foods and Marine Products had already amassed at least eight international awards for quality control.
Chosen Entrepreneur of the Year (juridical) was Dadiangas Crown Bookstore, already a landmark establishment along Pioneer Avenue with two other branches in the city.
An overwhelmed Cipriano Napala, a second generation owner of the said establishment, was surprised over the award and dedicated the honors to their parents.
The Entrepreneur of the Year (single proprietorship) distinction went to JoAnns's Bakeshop, makers of quality bread and pastries.
The Employer of the Year was given to Ecco Hardware while Frescomar Seahelm Corporation was handed out the Product Innovator Award of the Year.
Also given special awards were Southern Mindanao as Local Taxpayer of the year and Ram's Bombay Bazaar as the Loyal Enterprise of the Year.
All the awardees were also given cash incentives.
Success stories
Rock Eliseo Garay, co-owner of Frescomar Seahelm Corporation along with Tito Santos, pride themselves as having pioneered the smoke fresh frozen tuna technology that has now gained acceptance in Japan, Europe and the United States.
Garay, who received a check of P30,000 for the feat, says their packaging of choice tuna cuts is now generating $2.5 million a year for their company.
Three years ago, while still connected with Phillips Sea Foods, they were still lobbying for the acceptance of their homegrown technology which he and his former Japanese partners innovated.
They are still facing an uphill battle in the US however because an American had applied a patent for their invention.
On the other Mrs. Aurora Amagan also brimmed with pride as she earlier narrated that among the city's tuna processors, she is the only one that had already received eight international distinction.
Garay and Amagan came from different backgrounds.
Garay is a third generation entrepreneur in the family and barely out of his 30's while Amagan, who originally hailed from Pampanga, is a recent resident who also made good.
Another cottage industry that is growing fast are artificial flowers made out of corn husks.
Rue Ramas, whose association was nominated along with Garay's' for this years Product Innovator Award, said their products are now being shipped to Luzon and the Visayas, gaining wide acceptance and generating more orders.
Indeed, as Mayor Acharon pointed out, it is the pioneering spirit and the entrepreneurial drive that will push the city as one of the country's premier investment destination.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(July 25, 2005 issue)
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