Giving hope to MSMEs

Since 2005, Go Negosyo has been advocating a shift in the Filipino mindset and attitude to achieve prosperity. Addressing poverty is the objective of our programs and is anchored on three key principles – mentorship, money, and market. We have come a long way. The support of local and international partners, from both the private and public sectors, has been instrumental.

These three principles have inspired many of our initiatives and programs in the last 15 years. MSME development has always been at the forefront of our entrepreneurship advocacy. We believe that to achieve the inclusive growth that we all aspire for, we need to equip entrepreneurs with the right tools, education, training, and mentorship, most notably in this time of crisis.

Due to imposed regulations brought about by the pandemic, we’ve had to adapt and maximize our online platforms to continue serving our MSMEs. We have launched Go Negosyo Mentor ME Online (MMO) sessions on Facebook, which has catered to more than one million followers.

An empowering Go Negosyo Mentor ME Online session last June 12 with women biz leaders Reese Fernandez-Ruiz (Rags2Riches), Marga Nograles (Kaayo Modern Mindanao), Nanette Medved-Po (Generation Hope Inc.), Rissa Mananquil-Trillo (Happy Skin), Cherrie Atilano (AGREA Philippines) and Gretchen Ho as panel moderator.

MMO sessions, which aim to help industry players in this challenging time, are held every Mondays to Fridays, with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. Topics vary from financial technologies to banking, to strategies on how businesses can navigate and survive a crisis.

To level up our programs, every Friday, we give away an additional P10,000 capital to 10 lucky entrepreneurs. In the coming months, we hope to increase the pool money to P500,000 or bigger. Entrepreneurs only need to participate in our daily mentorship sessions broadcasted live on Facebook. Let me share some of their testimonies:

“It was God’s will that brought me to Go Negosyo Mentor ME Online session that night. Matagal ko nang finafollow ang Go Negosyo sa mga social media accounts at ‘nung nakita na mayroong ganitong free na programa ay nanuod talaga ako,” said Ruby Capili of chef of Boz Kitchen from Baguio City. Due to the pandemic, she and her husband lost their jobs. Now, they are exploring ways to earn to sustain their family’s needs.

“Wala kaming source of income, kaya yung napanalunan ko sa Go Negosyo MMO ay gagamitin kong pandagdag-puhunan. Isa sa mga natutunan ko ay ang pagiging madiskarte. Kung’ di mag-work out ang business, mag-adjust based sa needs.”

We also have the story of Christian Arabaca who is a popcorn seller in Camaligan, Camarines Sur. “Sobra po akong nagpapasalamat sa natanggap kong tulong na premyo galing sa programa nyo. Marami po akong natutunan sa bawat live session ‘nyo. Nawa’y magamit ko ito bilang gabay at hakbang para mapalago ko ang aking munting negosyo. Dati po akong isang empleyado na kumikita lamang ng minimum wage kada araw, ngunit nung madiskubre ko ang inyong programa ay agad na bago ang aking pananaw sa buhay. Kailangan ko ding matuto maging entrepreneur para mas umangat at guminhawa ang aming pamumuhay.”

With the money he has won, Christian plans to invest in his fledgling business. “Mula sa napanalunan ko, bumili ako ng mga gamit at sangkap para sa aking negosyo. Sana ay lumago at magkaroon na ako ng stable at matatag na negosyo. Pinapangako ko na pagsisikapan ko at papalaguin ko ang aking kabuhayan. Pangarap ko na balang araw ay ako naman ang magmentor at tumulong sa mga taong nag-uumpisa palang at may maliit na puhunan.”

Sarah Pasabillo, who was our first winner, was not new to our programs. She was one of my mentees who I met at a previous summit. I think she was destined to win the cash prize that night, knowing that she needed extra capital for her business.

“Umaga pa lang nanunood na ako nun, I didn’t know na may premyo. Ang goal ko lang talaga is manood at matuto. Nagustushunan kong manuod dahil maraming magandang natututunan at libre pa at saka may kredibilidad ang mga mentor. Natutunan ko na sa pagiging masipag, matiyaga at madiskarte sa panahon ng pandemya, mayroong pwedeng pagkakakitaan. Gaya ng paggamit ko sa mga retaso para gawing face masks. Malaking tulong po talaga ang papremyo ng Go Negosyo. Tinulungan ako ng Go Negosyo na magpatuloy at nabigyan ako ng pag-asa.”

Philip Cacatian, owner of Tinta-Clothing Line from San Juan City, expressed his gratitude towards the program, “Sobrang grateful po ako sa Go Negosyo! Sa mga tulad naming negosyante na hindi naabutan ng ayuda, si Lord na ang gumawa ng paraan para matulungan kami sa pamamagitan ng programang Go Negosyo. Ang dami ko ding natututunan sa pagtutok sa inyong programa. Magagamit ko po ang pera at lalo na ang mga tips ng mga online mentors para makaadjust ang negosyo namin sa new normal. God bless and more power to Go Negosyo.”

Rosemarie Cinco from Leyte also won while watching our online mentorship session. She shared her family’s struggle during the lockdown. “May tindahan kami noon, nagsara lang kaya walang pampuhunan. Nagpapasalamat talaga ako dahil ako ang maswerteng nanalo. Dahil dito, nabuksan ko kaagad ang aking tindahahan. Malaking tulong ito para sa aking pamilya. Napakalaking tulong po sya sa mahihirap na tulad namin, na nagnanais na makapagsimula ulit ng negosyo.”

Hearing these stories – despite the pandemic – we, at Go Negosyo, are further inspired to serving MSMEs to the best of our capabilities. We believe that through the guidance of our expert mentors and our programs, we can provide hope for our entrepreneurs and that they will be able to navigate this crisis and safely steer their businesses to greater success.