(Go Negosyo mentors with guest speakers (seated L-R) Mekeni Food Corp CEO Pruds Garcia, DTI Region 3 regional director Judith Angeles, Uratex Philippines CEO Naty Cheng and Rey Lapid president and founder R. Lapid’s Chicharon and Barbecue. Photo by Joann M. Valenciano)
CITY of SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship or Go Negosyo conducted the Mentor Me on Wheels (MMOW) program at the Event Center of SM City Pampanga here on Monday.
Leading the guest speakers were CEO Pruds Garci of Mekeni Food Corp., Rey Lapid, president and founder of R. Lapid’s Chicharon and Barbecue, and Naty Cheng of Uratex Philippines.
The MMOW is a free one-on-one roving business mentorship program by Go Negosyo. It aims to bring entrepreneurial mentorship into the local community to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) grow their business through proper mind setting, marketing and practical strategy from existing and successful business owners and entrepreneurs.
DTI regional director Judith Angeles said the program is to guide young entrepreneurs and start-up businesses under the MSME through mentoring from existing business owners that are already successful in their own field.
“Para ito sa mga nangangarap maging negosyante, nangangarap yumaman sa pagnenegosyo. Dahil ang mga mentors (natin ngayon) na dumating mula sa Metro Manila, mga successful at magagaling na pwedeng mag-share kung paano nila napalaki ang kanilang mga negosyo,” Angeles said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mentoring na ito, inaasahan naming dadami ang matagumpay na magnenegosyo dito sa Central Luzon,” she added.
Cheng shared her humble beginning with “sipag at tiyaga (hard work and patience)” as her important keys to success.
“Treating everyone as business partners – from clients, to employees, to suppliers is as important as helping them and not to cheat them,” Cheng also said.
“Ang pagnenegosyo ay hindi lang para sa pamilya kundi para din sa bayan natin.”
Lapid highlighted the importance of being creative and to make use of the resources available and turn it into business.
Garcia shared his journey on how they needed to shut down their business at one point due to an industry problem.
He said: “Learning the business isn’t just about the money but rather for the family and also for the country. So that no matter what happens, you stay focused.”
The roving Go Negosyo caravan is also set to visit other regions. The Mentor Me online app in Google Play and App Store for online mentoring is also available for download.
