Globalpinoy Chamber of Small & Medium Enterprises

Free Training Program for Women at TESDA

2011-10-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Competency-Based Training (CBT) program is an approach to vocational education and training that places emphasis on what a person can do in the workplace as a result of completing a program of training. The training is based on curriculum development from the competency standards specified by the industry and the learning is modular/self-paced in its structure wherein the trainee is allowed to progress at his/her own pace. It allows for multiple entry and exit in the system. It also recognized both on-and off-the-job delivery modes. After successfully completing the program, the trainee is required to undergo competency assessment and acquire a National Certification.

Each training program consists of competencies that a person needs to achieve based on the given qualification in their chosen field of occupation. It describes the core, common and basic competencies required for the performance of a specific occupation. A value-adding feature of the CBT program approach is the integration of the basic computer literacy, work ethics and values development, entrepreneurship development, leadership and gender sensitivity training. These programs are nationally promulgated to ensure that the trainees receive quality, relevant and employable skills, knowledge and attitude.

Free Courses:

Automotive Servicing – 624 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (3 mos.)
Bartendering – 120 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (2 mos.)
Commercial Cooking – 538 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (5 1/2 mos.)
Consumer Electronics Servicing – 524 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (5 1/2 mos.)
Dressmaking – 475 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (5 mos.)
Fiberglass Craft – 336 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (3 mos.)
Food and Beverage Services – 320 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (3 mos.)
Food Processing – 568 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (5 1/2 mos.)
Housekeeping – 436 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (3 1/2 mos.)
Jewelry Making – 640 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (6 mos.)
Painting, Decorating and Finishing – 336 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (3 mos.)
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) – 526 hrs. + 320 hrs. OJT (5 1/2 hrs.)
Silkscreen Printing – 336 hrs. + 160 hrs. OJT (3 mos.)
Caregiving – 6 mos. + 1 mo. OJT
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Finishing Course – 80 hrs.
Household Services – 256 hrs. (1 1/2 mos.)

Entry Requirements:

Must be at least 16 years old;
Must be a high school graduate; and
Must pass the qualifying examination and interviews.

Entry Requirements for Caregiving

Must be at least 23 years old;
Completed at least 2 years in college or 2 years tech-voc courses;
Can communicate both in oral and written;
Physically and mentally fit;
Can perform basic mathematical computation; and
Must pass the qualifying examination and interviews

Entry Requirements for Household Services

Must be a High School Graduate;
23 years old and above;
Physically and mentally fit;
Ability to communicate in English orally and in writing;
Must pass the qualifying examination and interview; and
Preference to be given to those who failed in the assessment for Household Services

Entry Requirements for Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Finishing Course

Must have a background training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
18 years old and above;
Physically and mentally fit; and
Must pass the qualifying examination and interview

For more information, contact:

37 East Service Road, South Superhighway, Taguig City
TESDA Hotline: (02) 887-7777, 817-4076 to 82 loc. 278
Mobile: 0917-4794370, 0918-273-8232
Email: tesdawomen@yahoo.com, contactcenter@tesda.gov.ph
Web: twc.tesda.gov.ph

SSS registration now easier via web site

2011-09-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

Grow Your Business
SSS registration now easier via web site
By Entrepreneur Staff
Aug 24, 2011

The Social Security System (SSS) posted an eight percent increase in the number of registered users of the SSS web site after the agency started accepting online applications and collection reports on June 6, a top official said.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said the pension fund now has a total of 1.2 million web site users after nearly 90,500 employers and members enrolled in its online portal www.sss.gov.ph within a span of two months.

"Recent web site enhancements, such as allowing members and employers to submit online applications and collection reports, helped boost the number of registered users in the past few weeks," he said.

Upon registration, members and employers gain exclusive access to web site features such as online viewing of records, electronic submission of applications and collection reports and an appointment system with SSS branches.

Members key-in basic information during online registration such as SSS number, name and birthdate. The SSS web site makes on-the-spot validation and immediately alerts the member of errors such as incorrect SSS number or spelling.

"We implemented a two-phase registration process that makes it easier for members to create their online accounts. It also cuts down the chances of registration failure caused by incorrect information provided by the member," De Quiros said.

"After completing the first phase, the SSS sends to the member’s email address a link that is needed to finalize the registration process. The member will then be informed through email if the online registration is successful," he said.

De Quiros called on employers to register at the SSS web site and reminded those with existing accounts to log in daily to certify their employees’ salary loan applications.

"Nearly nine out of every ten loan applications filed by employees at the web site expire because employers fail to certify them within three days," said De Quiros, who also urged members to inform employers immediately about their online loan application.

Employees comprise 86 percent of the 1.2 million members registered at the SSS web site. For inquiries, members and employers can call (o2) 920. 6446 to 55, send an email to member_relations@sss.gov.ph, go to the nearest SSS branch or visit the SSS Facebook page.

Building the foundation for business success

2011-05-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

Building the foundation for business success
By FRANCIS Y. CAPISTRANO

Cecilyn Lourdes Santos, or Cello to friends, just graduated last year from a reputable management course in Ateneo de Manila University. The course she took -- Management Engineering -- was popularly regarded in campus as a key to a high-paying job in the corporate world.

It was, in fact, her dream to climb up the corporate ladder when she entered college. But after her practicum in junior year, she realized that she did not want to become an employee all her life.

"I come from a family of entrepreneurs," she said in an interview with BusinessWorld. "And for myself, [I want to] do something that I like [and have] my own time."

She, together with her fiance, family and other friends, thought of the idea in April 2005. A month later, she started to execute her venture before she changed her mind: Cello's Donuts and Dip.

Ms. Santos said she loved baking and she herself made the recipe, thought of the different donut flavors and built the rest of the menu. Juan Horacio M. Templo, her fiance who was at the interview, added that they loved to eat and to discover new places to dine in.

Of course, she said there were some people who were against the idea, saying that she has no experience being a new graduate, and that business per se is risky.

Fear of risks and failure is what make would-be businessmen to hesitate or even hold back their entrepreneurial spirit.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Businessmaker Academy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark So said there are two schools of thought in thinking that business is risky because times are hard. The first, he said, thinks that since times are hard, it is better not to start a new business. The other one, he said, also recognizes that times are hard but thinks business must start right now. "Times are hard today and times will be harder tomorrow," he said. "To start a business, that should not be your basis it has to be something that you feel deep inside that you have to do."

Said economist Jimeno M. Damaso, in his book, "How To Start Your Own Business", "ideation" should be the first investment an entrepreneur must make.

Ideation, according to the book, entails thinking things thoroughly, formulating plans and alternatives and conceptualizing strategies so these could be translated into effective action. He said in choosing a business, the fundamental and long-lasting basis for going into one is delight in it, or something the entrepreneur enjoys. Knowing one's talents, experience, and needs is also essential in making this decision.

Mr. So said it must be an entrepreneur's own spirit and desire to pursue what he wants to achieve to start his own business. He said it is the person behind the business that makes the successful business possible. For new entrepreneurs who do not have that much capital, he recommends low-capitalization service ventures, such as party planning and events management. This type of venture allows an entrepreneur to not have capital and instead use money advanced by clients.

Food -- a common venture -- is a high capitalization business and at the same time a saturated industry. Manufacturing for the local market and for export, though a good business, is tough nowadays because of the high cost of labor and the entry of China into the global market. Franchising is also gaining ground nowadays.

However, an entrepreneur who plans to get a franchise instead of starting up his own brand must be able to discern which franchise to get and why franchise in the first place.

He said one who plans to get a franchise needs to look at the track record of the franchisor. A "true-blue, honest-to-goodness" franchise guarantees 95% success.

Be wary of new and smaller franchises which have just emerged in the market: these may not have tested business processes and may be bound to failure. He said getting a franchise without a track record is tantamount to buying a start-up business. Though profit is most of the time guaranteed in franchising, it is not always the best strategy. He said franchising is an effective tool for wealth accumulation.

On the other hand, it is not advisable for persons with high entrepreneurial spirits because in getting a franchise, "you're actually asked to obey and not do any of your ideas." He noticed that more people lately are acting more encouraged to start their own business. Again, he noted two groups: the first know what they want and the second feels they can get "instant success" through business. He said the first group is "lucky," while the second will learn the hard way that there are no short-cuts to success. External factors -- even the lack of capital -- should not hinder an entrepreneur, he said. This, he said, is another hurdle, or at least seems to be one.

"If you want to be successful in business, you have to learn how to use the money of other people," he said.

Mr. So said there are several ways to start a business using other people's money. There is the typical interest-gaining loan from formal lending institutions or through other sources. Another is getting capital from an investor in exchange for a part or share of the business. He, however, said it is not advisable for a beginner in business to obtain loans from lending institutions or any interest-bearing loans for that matter, even from micro financers. He said starting a business is pressure-filled enough and interest expenses add to the pressure.

Another means of getting capital is looking for sponsors, or "angel investors," who provide capital without interest and at a payback period comfortable to the entrepreneur.

Some, he said, are "super angel investors" who do not require the entrepreneur to pay back at all. He said this is prevalent in the local culture.

Ms. Santos did not turn back after her parents -- after prodding her if she was really determined and prepared -- supported and loaned her the much-needed capital to start construction and to buy equipment. She never thought of borrowing from the bank or other lending institutions. She and her fiance scouted Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City for a place and settled at the second floor of a building facing Ateneo. Living within the area all her life and having studied in Ateneo and Miriam College nearby, she said she knows the market very well because she was "one of them."

Though there are existing commercial donut shops along the stretch, she said her donut shop caters to a different market niche and her products are "with a twist." Her menu carries donuts with different toppings such as parmesan cheese and Choc-nut, "C's" or plain donuts and dips, and coffee shakes.

Her only frustration was in registering with the city hall. After her bout with the bureaucracy, she opted to hire a professional to do it for her instead.

Business registration, though a dreaded procedure, is a must. Entrepreneur Marlo Sanchez wrote in his book, A smart and practical guide for new entrepreneurs, said it is "not worth the trouble" to evade correct taxes and business fees by not registering.

An unregistered business may face closure. Aside from this, he said an unregistered business may not be able to get business contracts from public institutions and private firms, and even to grow and expand.

The book lists the steps and agencies that an entrepreneur goes through in business registration:
1. barangay where located -- barangay clearance/permit requires a minimal fee;
2. Department of Trade and Industry -- business name registration, other requirements depend on the type of organization;
3. Securities and Exchange Commission -- filing partnership or incorporation papers for partnerships and corporations;
4. special permits -- depending on the type of business, permits from other government agencies such as Bureau of Food and Drugs, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Land Transportation Office, etc.;
5. Social Security System (SSS) -- to register employees for coverage with SSS and to get business SSS number;
6. Department of Labor and Employment -- to register employees for businesses with more than five employees;
7. Mayor's permit -- most expensive and said to be the most cumbersome process, also entails inspection by sanitary, health, electrical, etc. officers of the city government;
8. Bureau of Internal Revenue -- To get a VAT (value-added tax) or Non-VAT registration depending on the type of business, also registration of accounting books, records, sales invoice and official receipt forms.

On the type of organization (i.e. single proprietorship, partnership and corporation), Mr. So recommends the corporation, because of the legal protection it gives to owners. When a company has liabilities, creditors cannot go after the owners' personal assets.

He added that one may opt to hire an external accountant to register one's business, since they are used to doing this.

For those who opt to register on their own, he said registering is not necessarily hard but tedious, and it is part of the process of learning.

Mr. Sanchez wrote in his book that businesses may opt to register under Republic Act No. 9178 ,or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002. A business with an initial authorized capitalization of not more than P3 million may register under this law.

Benefits include tax exemptions, priority to credit financing, exception from minimum wage, among others. However, employees should still be given the same health care and social security benefits.

"If you continue to qualify as a BMBE, you can operate your business without having to pay income taxes for a very long time. That should increase your chances of retaining money in the business to build a bigger enterprise in the near future," he said.

Six months after Ms. Santos's Cello's Donuts and Dip kicked off, her brand gained familiarity with the students and residents in the area, and her fiancee is contemplating on continuing his 8-5 job or helping with the venture full-time.

There have been offers for capital and for franchising, but she said she's not in a hurry to expand and is taking her business model step by step -- slowly but surely.

How To Make Mantou

2011-01-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

Learn how to make mantou
You can make these in bulk and sell them to community snack bars and small canteens. Or you may tie up with catering services.

Materials needed:
Rolling pin
Bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
Steamer

For the dough
1 tbsp. yeast
1 tbsp. sugar
1 ½ cups water
4 cups all purpose flour

For the sweet filling Sweet bean paste (red or black). Available in Asian grocery stores or supermarkets

For savory fi lling:
6 pcs. dried Chinese mushrooms
14 oz pork or beef
¾ cup bamboo shoots, drained and chopped
1 tbsp. fi nely chopped scallions
1 tsp. finely chopped ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbsp. light soy sauce
1 tbsp. rice wine
½ tsp. sesame oil

Getting started:

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast and sugar over 4 tablespoons of the warm water and leave it for 15 minutes.

2. Place the flour in a bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture and the remaining water.

3. Mix everything to a dough. Turn it onto a floured board and knead until smooth.

4. Return dough to the bowl, cover and let it stand in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size. Punch down, cover again and let it stand for 20 minutes longer.

5. Use this time to make the seasoned filling. Soak the mushrooms in warm water for about 45-50 minutes, then squeeze dry and discard any hard stalks. Coarsely chop the mushrooms, meat and bamboo shoots. Mix with the scallions, ginger, salt,
sugar, soy sauce, wine and sesame oil. Blend thoroughly.

6. Knead the dough again and cut it into about 24 pieces, flattening each piece with the palm of your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll out
each piece into a circle about 4 inches in diameter.

7. Place 1 tablespoon of the filling (sweet or seasoned) in the center of each flattened circle of dough, then gather together the edges to meet at the top around the filling. Twist to enclose the filling. Stand for at least 20 minutes before cooking.

8. Bring the water in the bottom of a steamer to a boil.

9. Place the rolls in the steamer, leaving a 1- inch gap between them.

10. Cook for 10 minutes, or until firm and cooked through. Serve them hot.

How to make biodegradable detergent soap

2011-01-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

How to make biodegradable detergent soap
This eco-friendly soap variant can help win over quality conscious customers
Biodegradable detergent powder uses all-natural products that are mild to the skin and clothes and, in addition, are eco-friendly. In contrast, commercial detergent powder contains chemicals such as optical brighteners, dyes, and artificial fragrances that can sometimes irritate the skin.
According to Leng Aveno, lecturer in soap-making at ESF Cakes and Bread House, the market demand biodegradable detergent powder is high because consumers are looking for eco-friendly alternative products that can give a comparable cleaning performance. With a capital of as little as O700, you can start your own biodegradable detergent powder business to meet this market demand. You only need to purchase the following materials:

• 1 kilo (kg) sodium sulfate
• 500 grams (g) (coconut-based)
• 200 g coconut powder
• 6 ml bilimbi fruit (kamias) extract
• 10 g blue speckles
• 120 ml fragrance (kalamansi scent)
• 5g sodiumtripolyphospate (STPP)

How To Make Bacon

2011-01-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

Earn as much as P35 per kilo by selling homemade bacon

Food business is fortunately thriving in the country these days. Although there are trends within the food industry, and bacon is not exactly one of the trends, there is still a good market for bacon.

You will need only about P700 to buy the ingredients and some tools, if you don't already have those tools in your kitchen.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Gas stove
Casserole
Oven
Bowls
30ml syringe (P32.50)
21G x 1" needle (P2.00)
Knife
Cotton thread or ham net (P60)
Paperlyne (P40) or cut wrap for curing and packaging

INGREDIENTS:

1kg of liempo or pork belly

for PUMPING PICKLE: (good for 10 kg of meat)

½ cup & 2 tablespoons salt, P15 per kg
5 cups water
6 ½ tablespoons white sugar

3 tablespoons phosphate
1 teaspoon curing salt
1 ½ teaspoons powdered ascorbic acid
1 drop oil of anise
1 drop oil of cloves
1 drop maplein
1 ½ teaspoons smoke flavor
for DRY CURE (good for every 1 kg of meat)

1 ½ tablespoons salt, P15 per kg
2 ½ tablespoons sugar
1/4 tablespoons phosphate

How To Make Fish Burger

2011-01-31T10:01:00.000-08:00

Use fish instead of beef to make burgers, and cater to the market that's looking for alternatives to meat-based food

A couple of months before the Lenten season, most food business owners, even those who have food carts, are already thinking of alternatives to the meat-based products which they can offer to their Catholic customers who want to abstain from eating meat. Since fish is an acceptable food during this religious season, why not sell fish burgers as an option to hamburgers?

The demand for burgers is always strong, no matter what the season. If you offer fish burgers as a healthy option to hamburgers made from ground beef, you will be able to market it even beyond Lent.

For this recipe one would need around P1,000 to buy the ingredients and packaging materials.

INGREDIENTS:
1 kg Fish fillet meat
1 pc Egg, medium
4 tablespoons Modified starch (made of tapioca)
4 tablespoons Potato starch

Curing Mix:
1 tablespoon Salt, refined
1 teaspoon Phosphate, dissolved in 1/4 cup of chilled water
paperlyne for the packaging (pre-cut paperlyne sheets are available at Ultima Entrepinoy. Or, you can cut the paperlyne to 5 by 5 inch sheets.)

Extenders:
1 tablespoon Isolate
1/4 cup TVP
1 teaspoon Carageenan

Seasonings:
1 tablespoon Sugar, refined
1 tablespoon Black pepper, ground
1 tablespoon Garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon Garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Meat enhancer
1/2 cup Onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Celery powder
1 teaspoon Hamburger seasoning
2 tablespoons Milk or whey powder
1/2 cup Bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon Beef Aroma
1 teaspoon BF Blend

How To Make Solid Perfume

2011-01-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

Solid perfume has been around since the early years of perfumery. In fact, English women had used it as pomanders--perfume in containers used as pendants. "Through the years, liquid perfume became more popular and the use of solid perfume slowly declined. But brands like Estee Lauder, Marc Jacobs and L'Occitane still produce these types of perfume," explains Bettina Huang, general manager of Grasse Fragrance Company.

Though cologne and body spray are the preferred forms of perfume in the country because of the hot weather, producers of organic personal care products are now producing solid perfume in a much lower price than the high-end brands'. Huang says the product has a lot of potential as long as it is marketed well.

Solid perfume is light, does not spill, long-wearing and not greasy. It is also alcohol-free, which makes it good for people who have sensitive skin. Plus, the sweet almond oil ingredient has health benefits. It is known as an effective emollient which improves complexion and adds glow to dull skin. Applying sweet almond oil also provides instant relief from muscle pain.

Entrepreneurs who are already into the business of personal care products or giveaways may add this to their menu. Solid perfume may be packaged as wedding, birthday, debut or anniversary giveaway.

One would roughly need P4,500 to P5,000 to buy the ingredients including the packaging.

INGREDIENTS and formulation:
6g Beeswax (P100 per 100g) 40%
6g Sweet Almond Oil (P1,000 per L) 40%
3g Fragrance Oil (P2,998 per L) 20%
1pc 10g Polypropylene ring container (P6 per pc)
1pc 5g Polypropylene ring container (P6 per pc)

How To Make Soyannaise

2011-01-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

Soyannaise is a breakthrough in the health-food industry. A soy-based cream can be used as a spread, dressing or dip and is very easy to prepare.

It can also be a viable business venture because you can supply the product to so many restaurants and stores that need it for their salads and healthy sandwiches. Because these stores are targeting the health-conscious, soyannaise is perfect for them.

Producers that intend to supply restaurants and stores with soyannaise must first contact the store’s purchasing officer or manager, who normally would require samples. One or two bottles for sampling should be presented to them along with some chips, sandwiches, and salads that the target customers could sample the product with.

Besides being a healthier alternative to mayonnaise and other high-cholesterol dressings, soyannaise is very easy to prepare. All you need to do is to mix the following ingredients in a blender:

Ingredients:

250 g sterilized tofu, P40
250 ml soy milk, P16
1/8 cup calamansi extract, P9 per 1/4 kg
2 tablespoons minced garlic, P3
2 tablespoons chopped white onions, P3
2 tablespoons (29.57ml) honey, P50 per 236ml

All of these ingredients are available from supermarkets and public markets.

How To Make Siomai

2011-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:00

Siomai is a very versatile dish. It can be eaten solo as a snack, or served with rice to make a full meal, so you can sell it anytime of the day.

Ingredients for making siomai are readily available in supermarkets and public markets; some you’ll even find in your own kitchen right now.

To make 150 pieces of 10-gram siomai, you need the following ingredients:

Main ingredients:

1 kg of ground lean pork
100 pieces small-sized molo or siomai wrapper

For the curing mix:
1 tsp or 3 g. phosphate
1 tbsp or 12 g. iodized salt
1/2 tsp or 2 g curing salt
1/4 cup chilled water

For the extender:
1/4 cup or 18 g TVP (textured vegetable protein) granules
1/2 tsp or 1.25 g carrageenan,
1/2 cup of water
1/2 tbsp or 2.5 g ground black pepper
2 tbsp or 4 cloves minced garlic
3/4 cup or 96 g of shredded carrots
1/4 cup finely chopped spring onions
2 pcs medium-size eggs
1/2 cup or 1/2 bar grated cheese
2 tsp or 10 ml sesame oil
2 tsp or 6 g shrimp powder

For seasonings:
5 g. of BF (binder filler) blend

Materials needed:
Bowls
Ladle
Measuring spoons and cups
A kitchen weighing scale
Serving tray
Steamer
Knives
Gas stove

Procedure:

Step 1. Once you have all the ingredients, prepare the curing mix by combining the phosphate, iodized salt, and curing salt. Blend. Before adding the chilled water, make sure the phosphate is blended well with the other two powders. Stir well until everything is dissolved, then set the mix aside. Thoroughly mix the phosphate with other ingredients to avoid lumps from forming and to prevent bacteria from proliferating.

Step 2. Prepare the extender by mixing the TVP and carrageenan. Make sure they are blended well before adding to the water; this is to ensure that the TVP would not separate from the meat once the siomai is cooked. Mix the extender for three minutes until it is hydrated.

Step 3. To make the seasoning, mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then pour the liquid ingredients except the egg and BF blend. When the dry and liquid ingredients have been mixed, add the eggs and then the BF blend, which together will serve as binders. Set the mix aside.

Step 4. Prepare the meat by adding the curing mix, kneading it by repeated inward folding with your palm. Make sure the curing mix is evenly distributed. Knead the meat until it becomes tacky and can be held together—that is, there should be no loose bits of meat. Then add the extender, also making sure it is evenly distributed while you knead the meat.

Step 5. Transfer the meat to a bowl containing the seasoning. Mix until the meat absorbs the seasonings in the bowl. Then knead the meat. Get the molo or siomai wrapper and the weighing scale.

Step 6. Arrange 10 wrappers in a tray, and weigh 100 g of siomai mixture. Place 2 tsp of meat in each wrapper until nothing is left unfilled. Each wrapper will have 10 grams of siomai.

Step 7. To enclose, gather up the edges of the wrapper and gently pleat it so that it forms a basket shape, with the top of the filling exposed. Press lightly as you pleat each side. Or, if you don’t want to expose the filling, use a bigger wrapper. Do the same to the remaining meat mixture.

Step 8. After wrapping the siomai, get the steamer and pour water until it is one-fourth full. Arrange the siomai uprightly in the steamer and steam for 25 minutes over simmering temperature. While waiting for the siomai, prepare the sauce. Notice that although your meat is just a kilogram, your yield is 150 pieces, which has a total weight of 1.5 kg. This is because of the extenders you added and the weights of the other ingredients.

Step 9. Mix the following: 1 cup or 224ml soy sauce, 12 pcs or 60 g calamansi or Philippine lemon, 1 tbsp or 3.30 g white sugar, 1 tsp or 1.70 g ground black pepper, and 3 tbsp or 6 cloves of fried chopped garlic. Set aside.

Step 10. After 25 minutes, take off the siomai from the steamer and arrange it in a tray or plate with the sauce.

How To Make Siopao

2011-01-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

Learn how to make SiopaoMaterials needed:
Stainless steel or plastic bowls of different sizes
Measuring spoons and cups
Spatula
Rolling pin
Weighing scale
Steamer

The above are available in the supermarkets

Now, to make 40 pieces of siopao asado in 50 to 60 grams, you will need:
One kilo of all-purpose flour, about P35
180 grams of white sugar, about P40
10 grams of yeast, about P1.50
60 grams of shortening, P3
10 grams of salt, P.30
5 grams of baking powder, P.80

For the filling, you will need:
1/2 kilo of chicken filling, P50
1/3 cup brown sugar, P3.25
1/4 cup soys sauce, P3
Star anrise, P1.50

Ingredients for the sauce are available in most kitchens:
brown sugar (P3.25), soy sauce (P3), chopped garlic (P.70), cornstarch (P5), and chicken broth. Water (p10), preferably drinking water, is used for the dough, filling, and sauce.

These ingredients are available at supermarkets, wet markets, and baking supply stores.

Getting started:

1. Start by preparing the filling. Pre-boil the chicken and shred into small pieces. In a pan, mix the chicken meat with brown sugar, soy sauce, star anise, and half a cup of water. Let the mixture stand for a few minutes, then put on the stove to simmer for 20 minutes, or until the water has dried up. Set
aside to cool.

2. Prepare the dough while cooking the filling. Strain the fl our on a clean tabletop, clear its center, and into which pour 500 grams of water. Dissolve salt and white sugar in water, then add yeast.

3. Making sure that your hands are clean, knead the dough manually, or use a mixer if you have one. Knead and pound the dough for 20 minutes using the heel of your palm, applying strong pressure. Once you can form dough balls consistently, add the baking powder. Knead the dough continuously until its surface becomes fine and smooth. Add the shortening. To know if the dough is ready, cut a piece and make a dent in the middle. The dough is ready if it springs back. Remember, the dough has to be white, elastic, and very fine.

4. To make siopao, cut the dough into 30- or 60-gram pieces. Shape them into small round balls, then flatten them to give space for the fillings. Put a tablespoon of the asado fi lling into each ball. Seal the dough by holding on to the edges and twisting them with your fingers. Put a small piece of bond paper (about 2 x2 inches) at the bottom then arrange the dough in baking trays. Don’t expose the dough in open air to keep its surface from drying out.

5. Put the dough in the refrigerator for 40 minutes for what is called the fi nal proofi ng – the process that would make the dough rise to prevent it from breaking and wrinkling after it’s cooked.

6. When the dough has expanded, arrange them in a steamer, putting a space of an inch between each
piece. Cover the dough with either clear plastic or a piece of cloth to prevent water from dripping and leaving watermarks on the dough’s surface. Make sure there’s boiling water in the steamer before you put the dough for steaming. Let the dough steam for 25 minutes. Refrain from lifting the pan’s lid often.

7. You can prepare the sauce while waiting for the dough to cook. Start by pre-mixing cornstarch (1/4 cup plus one tablespoon) with the chicken broth (1/2 cup, preferably from boiling chicken meat for the asado fi lling), then dissolve the brown sugar (1/3 cup) in water (1 cup). In a pan, pour all the ingredients: 1/2 cup of water, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of soy sauce, and 3 cloves of chopped garlic. Put over a stove on medium
heat, continuously stirring the mixture until it boils.

8. Wait for the mixture to thicken before adding the cornstarch mix. Continue stirring the sauce in low fire until the color turns from light brown to black. Remove from fire and let cool before apportioning into small ice candy plastic bags. About a tablespoon will do to flavor a piece of siopao.

How to start a bakery business

2011-01-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

How to start a bakery business - Entrepreneur Magazine

Turn their love for pandesal into a thriving business by starting your own bakery
With bread being the country’s second staple after rice, the bakery business is one of those ventures that is sure to bring multiple returns with just a minimal investment. By taking the time to learn the craft, you too can start your own bakery business and potentially make good money out of it.
In fact, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, maker of the popular Gardenia brand of bread and pastries, has launched a new business program that enables startup entrepreneurs to have their own business.

A TICKET TO PROFITS
Take the case of former bus inspector Godofredo Molde, 45, who has pocketed P500,000 in just a year of selling pan de sal. Armed with P150,000 in startup funds and a lot of guts, he took the plunge of starting his own business - and came out on top. He has parlayed his bold investment to foot house repairs and acquire a delivery truck for his growing business.

"I used my P150,000 capital in acquiring the three small pan de sal stores of my friend’s brother, and that included some goodwill money for the recipe and training. I have added another store since," he said.

The revolving daily capital for the four stores, he said, is only P7,000. Molde decided to concentrate on pan de sal because its market is more predictable and the stores only need to stay open from 5 am to 9 am.

One of his stores, sells P6,000 worth of pan de sal daily during weekends, and P4,000 during regular days on the average. According to him, pocketing a cool P2,000 profit is the norm for each of his bakeries.

A PROFITABLE BUSINESS
Ric Pinca, executive director of the Philippine Association of Flour Millers (Pafmil), agrees that indeed “baking is a rewarding and profitable business.”

“Bread is the country's second staple and everyone eats bread. Though consumed mainly as breakfast and snack fare, bread is also taken at lunch, usually as burgers and even dinner time. Bread is a convenience type of food. You don’t have to sit and have a formal dinner just to eat bread. In fast food shops, you may get your bread right at the counter and you even dont have to call a waiter to serve you.”

Bread, he added, may be consumed while walking, riding a bus or even while whiling away time anywhere.

But while the bakery business is a profitable one, Pinca said it is also a demanding profession. Aside from investing money, he said a good amount of time, patience and study is required if one is to put up a successful bakery business.

SET UP YOUR OWN BAKERY
Pinca shared these tips on how you too can start a bakery business from scratch:

1. Study the businessBefore you put up a bakery, you must first learn how to bake. Many people make the mistake of putting up a bakery without first knowing how bread is baked. It is not enough that you hired bakers to do the work, you must also know the baking process so that your bakers would not give you a run-around.

A month of training is enough especially if the training program you enroll in has plenty of hands-on activities, meaning you are asked to bake and not just sit and listen and watch the demonstrations. There are a lot of training centers and culinary schools offering baking courses.

But the best baking courses are offered by the flour mills themselves. And more often than not, these courses are offered free of charge to prospective bakers as part of the company's marketing efforts. So get in touch with any of the local flour mills and ask for their training schedules.

2. Look for a good location
A food business like a bakery depends on high human traffic. Look for a location where people congregate like a market, near a school, a bus or jeepney terminal or even a tricycle terminal and put up your bakery there. The people that populate your area are your target customers.

3. Suit your products to your customers
If your bakery is in Tondo, then your products should suit the people of Tondo. Do not produce pastries like apple streudels or Italian Rye Breads or Belgian cookies because these products are not the type that people in Tondo consume. These products are for the shopping mall crowd. Try producing pan de sal, Monay, tasty breads, ensaymada etc. These are bakery goods that people in Tondo are familiar with and regularly consume. Also, these are products they can afford.

4. Start small
It is better to start small especially if you are new in the business. If the business grows, then it will be easy for you to expand, rather than start big and downsize later. Suit the type and size of equipment you will buy to the volume of products you want to produce. remember, you should not produce more than you can sell.

5. Buy the right sized equipment
Do not get a mixer with a one bag of flour capacity if your oven can only take in eight plantas or 160 pcs of pandesal at a time. One bag of flour normally produces 1,880 pieces of pan de sal weighing 25 grams each. Get technical help from equipment dealers. Do not just deal with one. Get the best offer and technical advise you can get.

6. Maintain product consistency
Make sure that your bread tastes the same today as it did yesterday and as it would tomorrow. Customers return to buy bread when they like its taste. Do not give them a different tasting bread when they return because they will either complain or not return anymore.

7. Be good to your employees
Take good care of your employees and give them the right salary. If your employee is happy, they will take care of your business and make sure that your customers are happy too. A happy customer will always return and buy more. And you are assured that your business will grow.

How to start a Food Cart Business

2011-01-24T19:05:00.000-08:00

How to start a Food Cart Business - By: Bwalter Break

Let's learn how to start a food cart business. Starting a food cart business is easy. The hard part is keeping the food cart business running. A business isn't worth having if you can't make the necessary dollars to profit from it. A solid food cart business needs three things to prosper. In order for your food cart business to thrive you need to, by no lack of hustling on your part, market well. You need a great location to do your business, and you also need a product that people will always want. With that being said, here are some tips to help your food cart business make a killing.

1. Start out small. You don't need anything huge right away. Getting a very basic cart is all you need to get started. If you're going to serve something hot, then obviously you need one of the insulated models that can keep stuff warm.

2. Your specialty. Do you know how to make something that's so awesome you know everyone will want it. If you do then great. If not, then you'd better learn. The food cart businesses that do well always have that one item that everyone loves. You ever see those guys that sell the corn with the mayo on top? They make a killing. You can think about expansion later but for the time being, find that golden item.

3. Location and timing. This is the key to the lock holding your riches. The best thing about a food service cart business is the ability to move where the action is hot. You don't have to be stationary. Just because you can move, however, doesn't mean you go running around the city like a freaking mad man. Know where to go. What's the best time and place to try to push a simple food item to lots and lots of folks? Lunchtime? Dinner? No, and no. When you're starting out, the best time to work is in the early morning when the clubs let out. There's a taco stand on the North side of Chicago located right next to a conglomerate of bars and clubs. The do business during the day, but at night when the bars let out, these guys make money to rival the leprechauns. If they aint pukin, the drunks are eating. So, if you have that hot, yet simple food item that you know people love. Push it to them when they're drunk.

4. Marketing. Cheap xerox copies are your friend. Make a bunch of cheap dollar off coupons that you can pass out to folks during the day or even at night. Don't go overboard. There's a chance that the majority of the coupons won't even be used but you'll get the word out about your place. Social networking sites can be used too. And guess what, they're free. How cool would that be, a food cart business with it's own web page.

5. Saving and Expansion. Save all the money you can. Once you're business grows you can expand on the items offered. Never get rid of that golden item. When all else fails you'll always have that item to anchor the business. Also, look to make your items with the cheaper products until you can afford to use the better ones. Cutting cost and maximizing profit is the name of the game. Who knows, you may get so big you'll have a fleet of food service carts all over the city

Easy ways to keep the business liquid at all times

2010-12-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Easy ways to keep the business liquid at all times
By Henry C. Ong
from Entrepreneur Philippines Magazine, May 2009

In business, cash is king, so you need a proactive cash management system to maintain your cash flow

During this interesting time when business is not so good, it is important to be extra conscious of your cash flow. Your ability to generate cash flow is critical not only to the profitability of your business but also to your very own survival. You may have the best product in the industry or the best people in your sales team, but without a proactive cash management system, you run the risk of losing your business when crunch time comes.

To keep the business liquid at all times, you should build up your cash reserves equivalent to at least six months of operating expenses to maintain some degree of operating leverage. This way, you will have sufficient cash to sustain the business through months of losses. If your current cash balance is not sufficient to meet this requirement, examine your sources of cash.

How much of your sales is on credit and how much is on cash basis? Consider shifting your sales policy towards favoring cash payments. If this is not possible, shorten your cash collection period by limiting the credit terms you give customers as well as by limiting the amount of receivables you extend. For example, you can limit the granting of 90-day credit only to selected clients. Let's say you have 20 clients with a total exposure of P750,000 that's payable to you in 90 days. If you cut the number of such clients to 10, you would have collected P375,000 on the average sooner.

In the same way, lower the amount of receivables you intend to finance, asking the client to pay the balance in cash. Let's say the amount of accounts receivable you normally extend to clients is P900,000. If you cut this amount down to half by requiring your clients to give a down payment, you would have collected P450,000. Of course, you may need to give discounts to clients to make your terms more attractive. You have to study the costs and benefits of implementing this kind of policy.

Remember that your objective is to get your clients to pay as soon as possible. When you are able to collect cash for every sale that you generate, you minimize the risk of not being paid at all. Having bad debts not only affects your profitability but also eats up your working capital, thus weakening your capability to generate higher sales in the future.

In times like this, always remember that cash is king. When you have cash, you will not only be able to sustain your business but also acquire opportunities to strengthen your position in the market.

What if extending credit is unavoidable?
If you really need to extend credit to your customers so as to generate sales, you need to establish a set of credit control procedures.

An important procedure is to subject all new clients to strict credit check. Get answers to the following questions, among others:
Does the client have any history of not paying his suppliers in the past?
Is the client highly recommended by a reliable person?
What is the nature of the client's business?

For existing clients who owe you money, set up a schedule when the accounts receivable become due for collection.
Avoid delaying your collection just because you know the client would pay you anyway.
Have a system to alert you the moment an account becomes overdue, whether by 15 or 30 days or so on. This way, you can easily identify clients you need to prioritize for collection.

Decide how insistent your approach should be in going after non-paying clients. If clients decide not to pay you at all, you also must have a ready plan on what to do next.

Streamline your cash flow by cushioning the impact of lower sales brought about by economic downturn by doing the following:

Protecting your income by lowering your expenses.
Examining your expenses and try to see what items you can possibly cut. Examples are advertising expense, additional staff, and representation expenses.
Monitoring your expenses by preparing a budget and comparing it with actual costs.
Making sure the budget targets you set are realistic.

How to start a backyard piggery

2010-10-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

How to start a backyard piggery - Entrepreneur Magazine - July 20, 2009

Learn how to start your own piggery business
Starting a piggery is a great business that you can start in your own back yard.

For this workbook, we solicited the help of seasoned pig farmer Rolly Bautista,51, who helped Entrepreneur with some basic know how for people who want to get into this kind of business. Rolly, who maintains a 200-square meter pig cage in his backyard in Apalit, Pampanga, has been in this line of business since 2000.

KEEP IT CLEAN
“It is not true that pigs are filthy animals. In fact, they can easily catch diseases if their surroundings, and even the people who take care of them or approach them, are unclean,” he said.

So for those who want to use their backyards for a small-scale piggery business, Rolly said the first emphasis should be on the pig cage or pen. He said that a drainage system and a septic tank are musts. Through this, every time the pigs urinate or defecates, the area can be cleaned immediately. The pigs defecate twice a day and the cage will only become smelly if they get mixed with the urine.

“If you will immediately clean the cage, it will not smell bad and your neighbors will not even notice that you have a piggery in your backyard because it will not emit a foul smell,” he said.

There should also be a steady source of water because the pigs need to be washed at least once a day. They also need to drink clean water regularly.

The roofing of the cage should be high to help it have proper ventilation, because the sow will easily suffer a miscarriage if the area gets too hot.
The pen should have regular anti-bacterial sprays.
Bautista said a 200-square meter pen can accommodate up to 10 sows (inahin) and 50 fattener piglets.
BUSINESS OPTIONS
For those interested in starting a piggery, there are two options to choose from.

1. Grow so-called 'fatteners' and sell them when they have reached at least 90 kilos in weight.
A fattener, Bautista says, is a pig with an age ranging from one month to 45 days. They can be bought at an average of P1,600 t P1, 800 each, depending on the prevailing market price. They consume an average of one sack of feeds per month at P1200 each sack. They are ready to be sold after three months.

As a sample estimate, if the prevailing price is P100 per kilo for live pigs, then a 100-kilo pig will sell P10,000.

Slaughtering the pig and selling it to neighbors might net you an additional 30-percent mark-up.

2. Pig breeding

Another option is breeding and selling pigs wholesale. Bautista says a 120-day-old sow (Dumalaga) can be bought for a minimum of P12,000 each. It will then take an average of four to six months for the sow to give birth.

“Make sure that you keep the sow thin so it will not have more piglets and will not have a hard time giving birth. It is best to limit to one kilo the feeds that it will eat for one day,” he said.

In doing this, Rolly said the sow can give birth to more than 20 piglets. A fatter sow, on the other hand, can only have up to eight piglets.

After taking care of the piglets for one month, he said they can be sold already for at least P1,000.

In receiving buyers, Rolly said you must make sure that they will not get too close to the pigs. This is because there is a possibility that they have been to other piggeries and they may have brought some diseases with them.

While in the business, Rolly said the seminars usually given by the suppliers and manufacturers of feeds are a must. The feeds producers also dispatch their veterinarians once a week to the piggery owners.

“You should be well-informed especially with the new kinds of diseases that are coming out,” he said.

Rolly said the business will continue to be profitable as long as cleanliness will emanate from the owners themselves.

Entrep Tip: Pigs usually cost higher after the Holiday season because the supplies have run out by that time. Rolly said you can adjust your mating schedules according to this.

FREE SEMINAR - "How to Start Your Own Business"
November 20, 2010 (Saturday) 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Venue : Globalpinoy Office, 6 Bayanihan Drive, Project 8, Quezon City (near Road 20)
For more information, visit www.globalpinoys.net/seminars.htm

How to start a salon

2010-10-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

How to start a salon
By Regina Samson and Michelle Cortes - ENTREPRENEUR Magazine - Jan 10, 2009

You’ll need a good location, trained people and competitive prices to get ahead
Every mall in Metro Manila is said to host two to eight beauty salons.

SM Megamall alone boasts eight including a barbershop offering, aside from the usual haircut, manicures, foot scrubs and hot oil.
According to the 1999 Job Demand Survey of the Levittown Beauty Academy, salon owners receive an average of 174 clients a week. But a chair, a mirror and a pair of scissors aren’t the only things you’ll need if you want your own parlor.
Lidwina Morales, owner of Lid Salon in Malate, Manila, invested P500,000 initially on equipment and her parlor’s interior. Janett Pineda, a franchisee of David’s Salon in San Pedro, Laguna, bought the franchise for P2 million and took over the parlor in November 2002. You need not spend big bucks right away, however. Says Patrick Bishop, author of Money-tree Marketing: “Don’t overspend. Buy used equipment or rent a space that was a beauty salon previously, but is vacant and includes all the equipment.”

PICK YOUR LOCATION WELL

You must also pick your location carefully. You won’t go wrong picking a mall. “You want to cater to all from Class A to C,” says Marabelle Kwek, general manager of Color My Hair at SM Megamall. “When we entered Megamall we decided to put up a Class-A salon [that also catered to the B and C classes]. “We chose Megamall because it is one of the biggest.” Salon Studio chose Libis in Quezon City. “We spent time looking for a good location and an area that would give us a comfortable size,” says owner Leah Gundran.
“The first ones we saw had such small spaces. Also, we wanted one near a restaurant so that it would be convenient for our customers to buy snacks in case they got hungry.”

It’s a good idea to pick an area with lots of foot traffic if you think you’ll depend on walk-in clients. Lid Salon did just that. “We target students and these customers come because of our very affordable prices,” says salon manager Debra Bumanglag. Her parlor in Manila is close to many schools, government offices and the Robinsons Ermita mall.

INVEST IN GOOD EQUIPMENT

It’s better to buy good used equipment if you can get it. If you prefer new supplies, shops like Hortaleza and Accessories and Beauty Equipment stock everything you are likely to need (see box). It is also important to buy high-quality shampoos and chemicals for nail care, hair treatment and coloring to please your clients. Lid Salon charges reasonable rates, but does not compromise on quality. “We follow the right formulas and we don’t use inferior brands,” says Bumanglag.

TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE

After picking your location and buying your equipment, it’s time to recruit good people for your parlor. “They should have the technical expertise especially in hair coloring and styling using international standards as a benchmark,” Kwek says. “They have to undergo regular training to update them on new products, hairstyles and customer service.”
Ricky Reyes Learning Institute offers a three-month cosmetology course that costs P14,900 and includes hair cutting, coloring, perming, styling, make-up, manicure and facial treatment. The Classic School of Cosmetology in Binondo, Manila, offers short courses in hair coloring, blow drying and scalp manipulation, among other things, for P1,500 to P4,000.

Salon franchises take care of personnel training and provide equipment and supplies. “They take care of almost everything—even bookkeeping and accounting and the preparation of the payroll,” says Pineda. “I just wait for my monthly dividend. It’s up to the owner if he wants to visit the parlor once in a while.”

It’s important to keep your employees happy to avoid high staff turnover. “We give them salaries apart from commissions,” says Les Reyes, owner of Reyes Haircutters. “May mga commission sila sa mga cosmetics na ibinebenta nila at meron pa silang tip if they are good.” Salon Studio follows a chart system where suppliers reward parlor staff selling their products.

PRICE YOUR SERVICES WELL

Salon Studio uses celebrities like MTV videodisc jockey Donita Rose and former Binibining Pilipinas-World Daisy Reyes to promote the chain. Reyes Haircutters believes in charging minimal fees for maximum profit. “Dito P49 ang gupit. Ang kostumer mo for one day 50 to 100 head. You made a lot of people beautiful sa presyong P49 lang,” says Reyes. “Kapag magaling yung nagha-handle, may personality to educate our customer about the spa and other services, yung P49 minsan nagiging P2,000.”

Reyes Haircutters also keeps a Total Quality Standard Team to ensure the chain keeps a high standard of service. “Yung [team] umiikot yan all over the Philippines to check if the standards of all salon services are being followed,” says Reyes. “Kung merong mali, doon na tayo magsasabi sa may-ari para sabihin sa manager, ‘bagsak tayo dito o pasado tayo dito’.”
He stresses the importance of research to know the latest trends. “Education is very important,” says Reyes. “Ano ba yung mga bago ngayon? How do you innovate? Kung di man ako nag-aaral sa school ngayon, I do self-study. Kung You may love beauty salons, but your fondness for a hot oil treatment and a relaxing foot massage mustn’t be your sole criterion in investing in this business. According to Les Reyes, founder of the Reyes Haircutters chain of beauty salons, there are a few things you must know about the business before investing in it:

• Naming your salon after yourself may not work in the long run. There are icons in the beauty sweepstakes who have successfully built a business around their names. The downside is when they die or grow old, says Les Reyes. “Kawawa naman yung opportunity… When they get old nagkaka-wrinkles na sila, humihina, nawawala, napapalitan ng bago.”

• Find your niche. Your target market will determine your choice of location, pricing and promotions strategies, and brand image. Reyes Haircutters is very clear about its market positioning—it’s a clean, well-designed salon offering quality services to the masses, and it doesn’t compete directly with Ricky Reyes and David’s. Says Reyes: “I give the masa a beautiful salon na pinupuntahan ng mga mayayaman…gusto ko rin siempreng nakakapag-hot oil din ang ating mga mahihirap na hindi nila kailangang ilabas ang kanilang one-month salary.”

• Conduct your promotions during lean hours. Few customers usually come in between nine in the morning and two in the afternoon. To boost business during off-peak hours, Reyes Haircutters offers 40-percent discounts to senior citizens and free haircuts to infants.

• Keep a profile of each customer. Les Reyes plans to develop a card that will carry valuable facts on each customer. If a client’s regular hairdresser is absent when she visits the salon, whoever assists her simply swipes her card on the computer to obtain information on her preferred services, likes and dislikes. “Alam ko na’ng kiliti mo. Yung nagagawa ng hairdresser mo, gagawin ko na ngayon,” says Reyes.

• Assign a person to handle inventory control. Assign accountability for releasing parlor supplies to a stock clerk. He alone should have access to your inventory to make it easier to prevent or control pilferage.

• Measure the amount of chemicals needed for each type of service. Know, for example, the number of haircuts and hot oil treatments you can provide using one bottle of shampoo and moisturizer.

• Be a hands-on manager. How much money you make is a function of the amount of time you spend in the salon. “[You] have to be there because it will greatly affect the sales, the energy, the customer service,” says Reyes

FREE SEMINAR "How to Start Your Own Business"
November 20, 2010 (Saturday) 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Venue : Globalpinoy Office, 6 Bayanihan Drive, Project 8, Quezon City (Philippines)
For more information, visit www.globalpinoys.net/seminars.htm

How to succeed as an OFW

2008-03-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

There are many Overseas Filipino Workers who work abroad for many years but are not successful and no investments were acquired by the time that they have already retired.

The worst situation is that there are some OFWs who have been in an accident overseas which prevented them from working again. Regardless of working in or outside the Philippines, Filipino worker should know how to value his labor and sacrifices while aiming for his dreams.

The following tips are worth reading that will serve as guides for typical Overseas Filipino Workers. Information given is based on my own experiences and from the experiences of other fellow Overseas Filipino Workers.

1. Do not spend too much of your income. Not because you are earning big now and you have extra money, you are going to spend too much for your vices and unnecessary things. Some Filipinos who are only on a temporary working visa are buying luxury and brand new cars which I think is not necessary. If your earnings are high, it should be okay but I know some Overseas Filipino Workers who buy expensive and brand new cars but do not have any investment on important properties yet. They could not even eat proper meals anymore as luxury is more important to them. They are not thinking that their job abroad is just temporary, anytime they can be sent back home if some unpleasant situation happened such as war, bankruptcy, slow economy or as I have mentioned above, when they become paralyzed and couldn’t work anymore after an accident.

2. Always keep some income for savings. Save some of your income in Philippine banks as well as banks in the country where you work. And because you will stay abroad for about two years or more, it’s better that you’ll keep your money in a term of savings where you can earn more interest such as Time Deposit or Funds. Some Philippine banks offer special savings program for Overseas Filipino Workers and their beneficiaries.

3. Obtain pension plans for retirement, savings fund, children's educational plan, health insurance or life insurance. Get more if you can, although you already have the OWWA Benefits or Social Security Insurance (SSS) or Pag-Ibig, it is also better to get another one from private insurance company.
It is not always safe to work anywhere, you will never know if you can have an accident in the future that will prevent you to engage in any kind of jobs again. Having some insurance is always a big help.

4. Once you start receiving your salary and suppose you have no debts to pay anymore, make sure you would invest in a property first. If you will buy some property, its’ value does not go down; it's always accumulating or increasing every year. House and Lot or Lot is the best investment of all.
5. If you want to build a house, unless you already got many houses, it is better to build an apartment first to have some additional income. Your wife/husband is in Philippines can take care of your property in case you want them to be a commercial or residential apartment for rent.
If you are earning from the rental of your apartment, you may now save your income and with some additional money from the last few years of working abroad, you can build a new house again for your family.

6. Do not give so much allowance to your beneficiaries that could only make them spend your remittance for unnecessary things as well. You should let them know how hard it is to work in a foreign land and earn that money that you are sending for them. You should let them know how to spend wisely as well.
Do not stay quiet or ashamed to tell and explain how hard it is to work as Overseas Filipino Workers abroad to your family. If they do not know about your real situation, they would just think that you are just "collecting" money while you're walking on the road. So, they would just spend your remittance on things that are unnecessary.

7. If you cannot bring your family while you are working abroad and your vacation is not yet due, why not try bringing them to your country of work. Sometimes, you need to spend a little to maintain the relationship and bonding of your family.

8. If you are on vacation, do not spend all your savings thinking that you still have a job in abroad upon returning there. It is not always like that. I have someone that I knew, who had bought brand new car, spent most of his savings while on vacation but by the time that this fellow overseas Filipino worker is now going back to work abroad, his employer's company suddenly closed. He did not know that the company was already failing and facing bankruptcy.

9. Rather than spending too much of your savings on less important things, just improve your skills. You will never know that your current job will still be on demand after one or two years. You should try to be knowledgeable of other types of skills and profession.
If you are a carpenter, acquire some skills that could help you to become a contractor just in case you want to have your own business and would like to get your own carpenter to do the jobs.

10. Do not start your own business if you do not have any idea about the business. Do not just listen with other people’s suggestions, think about it. It is not because having an Internet Cafe is one of the good businesses these days, you will engage yourself with that same business even you do not know anything about computers.
If you have an experience in carpentry jobs, start business that is related to carpentry such as cabinet making, construction materials retail, painting etc. Do not engage in other kinds of business unless you have also experienced it before. This is not the proper way to do business. Put up a business that you are familiar with and that you most love to do.

Tips and advice above are just guide and suggestions for Filipino Workers. It's still up to the person if he/she would like to follow other people's suggestions. Not anything that had happened to you is other people's responsibility it's your own responsibility. ..

Spend wisely to build wealth

2008-03-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Spend wisely to build wealth. Almost everyone has the ability to become financially secure, even the ordinary, low-income employees. But you need to break out of the habit of reckless spending in order to start saving.

We hear it all the time. Filipinos complaining that they are unable to save because their income is barely enough to provide for the needs of their families. In fact, many grumble that they are neck-deep in debt. We have also heard of stories about seemingly ‘rich’ people who have 6-digit monthly earnings, nice, big houses and flashy cars yet are in a financial mess just like many of our poor kababayans. This just goes to show that anyone can be broke regardless of how much they earn.

On the bright side of this sad reality is an encouraging fact; that almost everyone has the ability to become truly wealthy or at least financially secure, even the ordinary, low-income employees. Unfortunately, only a few has the discipline and commitment to actually go for it. Majority of Filipinos have very poor spending habits and seem to have been programmed to spend & spend. They need to break out of this habit in order to start saving, which is the foundation for building wealth. Without any savings there’s no way that you can attain stability in your personal finances.

Filipinos are so used to living from payday to payday that they have become quite “skilled” at spending all the money that gets into their hands even if there is no compelling reason to do so. The huge billboards along EDSA, glossy & colorful print ads & the cool commercials with catchy tunes on TV and radio aggravate this culture of irresponsible spending in our society. One newspaper ad even elevated splurging to a divine act, declaring “to shop is human, to splurge divine!” It is no wonder then that people spend first before thinking about saving; a recipe that can lead to financial disaster. Almost always there’s too little or nothing is left to save after making all those payments and purchases; sometimes for things that people don’t really need.
There’s no magic formula for having enough money to save, only one simple solution: spend less than what you earn. In an environment that encourages spending this is easier said than done. Nowadays, it’s even possible to spend more than what you earn with that “plastic” inside your wallet. If you do not keep your expenses from going through the roof, not only will you have zero savings (which scuttles any chance of you getting rich), but you could soon find yourself in a debt hole that’s very difficult to escape. Fortunately, there are practical & “common sense” measures you can take to help you control your expenses and start living beneath your means.

First, take a long, hard look at your current lifestyle. Many people have a lifestyle that they really can’t afford. Many “rich looking” people have become a financial wreck because of their extravagant lifestyle. If you regularly find yourself unable to make ends meet or you’re sinking deeper and deeper into debt despite a big income, a change to a more modest lifestyle may be necessary. Often it will just take little changes to get you on the path to financial stability.

Second, know where your money goes. You can’t manage what you don’t know. Try to list down your expenses for the past 2 months. If you can’t accurately recall them you need to keep track of your daily expenses for the next month or two to give you a good idea on where your money is going. Every day record every expense you make including even the small items like candies, sticks of cigarettes and jeepney or bus fare. At the end of one or two months examine your list. You will probably be shocked to find out that you are spending way too much on things you can do without.

Third, cut down or eliminate unnecessary expenses and you will instantly have money available for savings. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day may not seem to cost very much. But it would add up to about P1.2 million in 30 years if you would save & invest the money you get to keep by quitting smoking. Do you really need a daily dose of high-priced cappuccino? Cut in half your craving for it and you’ll be more than a million pesos richer 30 years into the future. There are many other things you can live without: alcohol, drugs, designer wear, excessive chatting & gaming at computer shops, too much texting, all forms of gambling, expensive hobbies, etc. Do your health and your pocket a big favor by getting rid of these.

Fourth, create a spending plan and stick to it. A spending plan (a.k.a. budget) helps you control and manage your personal finances. Set a budget for your expenses based on the list you made in steps 2 and 3 . But before anything else, set a budget for your monthly savings. Remember to always pay yourself first. Start with a manageable figure, say 5% of your income, and gradually increase it once you get the hang out of saving. Building wealth doesn’t mean you will have to eat instant noodles the rest of your life so set aside a little amount for leisure activities and for buying some “nice to haves.” A budget will be useless if you don’t stick to it. Make every effort to stay within your budget and do not overspend.

The road to financial stability and wealth is not an easy one. Learning to spend wisely will make your journey a little easier. Remember, almost everyone has the ability to become rich and the choices we make today will determine our financial health in the future. Make the right choice!

10 THINGS PINOYS ABROAD CAN DO TO HELP OUR COUNTRY

2006-08-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

10 THINGS PINOYS ABROAD CAN DO TO HELP OUR COUNTRY By Alex Lacson

Spend your vacation, your dollars and other foreign currencies, in our Philippines.
It is understandable for our OFW’s, balikbayans and Pinoy expats to vacation in other countries. The world is truly beautiful and majestic. But please spend some of your vacation time and some of your dollars in our Philippines. Every dollar that you bring into our country will help build our Philippines. It will help our tourism industry. It will mean more sales and more jobs for our local industries. It will mean an increase in our country’s international dollar reserves. It will help stabilize the peso. And ultimately, it will help stabilize our economy.

Encourage and teach your relatives back home to be good citizens & good Filipinos.
Whether or not you are sending money to your relatives in the Philippines, you are one of their heroes. They look up to you as a role model. They listen to every word you say. Please teach them to become good Filipinos, to become good citizens. They can start with my book, 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country. Please ask them to help me spread the message of the book. In particular, please ask them to “Buy local. Buy Pilipino.” A recent article in TIME Magazine said that the most crucial factor for economic progress is not foreign investments, but economic nationalism - i.e., when people learn to support their own country’s products.

All OFW’s, Balikbayans and Pinoy Expats should do more during elections in RP.
In the next and all future elections, OFW’s, Balikbayans and Pinoy expats should do more by helping your relatives back home in choosing the right leaders - the national ones especially - for our country. Your relatives at home will listen to you. This means that as OFWs and expats, you need to surf the Internet and read the news so you’ll know which candidates should be elected to offices. There are organizations and websites which can help you decide.

If it is true that there are at least 8 million OFW’s all over the world now, and if it is also true that every Filipino has at least 4 relatives, then the 8 million OFW’s have at least 32 million relatives back home in the Philippines. This means that the OFW’s and their families alone can determine the political leadership in the Philippines, our government, and eventually our nation as a whole.
Buy Pilipino, wherever you are in the world.

If you look at the Japanese and the (South) Koreans, wherever they are in the world, they buy and patrionize their own products. They are like that too in the Philippines. That’s why there are so many Korean stores sprouting all over the country now. The Chinese, Thais and Malaysians are almost like them too, but in a less passionate manner.

We Filipinos have a preference for imported products â€“ the so-called “colonial mentality” - believing that Spanish and American products, ideas and ways were better and superior and that ours were inferior. But that’s history. Our Philippines is different now. There are many good Filipino companies with equally good Filipino products or brands. Look at Bayo, Kamiseta, Bench, Penshoppe, Jollibee, among others. In fact, some of the best branded products you see in New York, London and Italy are made in our Philippines.

Please be an ambassador of the Filipino, by wearing Pilipino. Show to your foreign spouses and officemates and to the world, the elegance of our culture and beauty of our people. All these things begin with each one of us.
Adopt a poor child as a scholar back home.

According to government sources, around 40% of our people are poor. But according to our bishops from CBCP, the figure is much higher than that, possibly at 53%. Since we have a population of almost 86 million now, imagine how many of that is 53%. Most of the poor are children, a great many of whom are out there in the streets, because their parents cannot afford to send them to school.

My proposal is this let’s adopt scholars among our poor street children.

World Vision is an international foundation which offers scholarship for poor children. It has been operating in the Philippines for years. It looks for 2 groups of persons - the first are those poor children who really want to study hard, and the second are those who have extra funds and are willing to sponsor 1 scholar for only P450 per month. Yes, for only P450 a month, you can sponsor 1 scholar under World Vision. World Vision can give you the name, age, address and personal profile of your scholar so you can even mentor, visit, talk, or write to your scholar.

If there are 5 million Filipinos and OFW’s today who are all wiling to sponsor 1 child each under World Vision, that would mean 5 million poor children can be adopted as scholars. These scholars will have a better future and will someday become our partners in building our nation.

This could be one of the fastest paths to progress and social transformation in our country. And this is a very Christian way. Even Jesus Christ, who was born very poor in a manger, had to be adopted by Joseph.

Support a charitable organization.
There are many good charitable organizations that truly help build our Philippines to become a better place for all of us. Gawad Kalinga, Pondo ng Pinoy, Caritas Manila and World Vision, among others. These groups are beyond the dirt and mirth of politics.

Like most of us, you too are busy. Often, you will have not the time to help others. Charitable organizations are there to allow us to help others while we are busy. Every little help that you send will help one poor Filipino, often one poor child, in our country.

Teach your children about the Philippines, and to love it and its people.
Teach your children and your foreign spouses, wherever you are in the world, about our Philippines â€“ the home of the Filipino people, and the birthplace of our race.

Let your children and your foreign spouses hear it from you â€“ that you appreciate and love our Philippines. Because if they hear and see it from you, their beloved, they too will appreciate and love our Philippines. Or they will find a way, sooner or later, to appreciate and love it, because of you. I see that all the time, everywhere, in practically all the fathers and mothers in this world. Their sons and daughters often carry and continue their parents’ loves, causes and advocacies.

If you make your children see and hear that you love our Philippines, believe me, someday your children will grow up with love and admiration for the Philippines in their hearts and minds.

Speak positively about our Philippines and our people.
Sure, there are things that will disappoint and dishearten you in the Philippines, especially if you look at our government and the politicians who run it and those businessmen whose companies earn so much but who pay very little to their employees.

But there are also many good things in our Philippines. We are a race capable of greatness and excellence, and you see this in the likes of Lea Salonga, Dr Josette Biyo, Diosdado Banatao, Efren Reyes, Ninoy Aquino, Jose Rizal, among many others. We are essentially a breed of honest people, and you see this in the likes of Nestor Sulpico, the Filipino driver in New York who, on 17 July 2004, drove 43 miles from New York to Connecticut, USA to return the US$80,000 worth of rare black pearls to his passenger who forgot it at the rear back seat of his taxi. We are a people of truly good hospitality even to strangers. We are a very caring and forgiving people. There is so much humanity and Christianity in us as a people. I really believe that, someday, we can be one of the most beautiful peoples on earth.

Let us focus on our beauty and strengths, and build from there. You and all the Pinoy expats and OFWâ€™s should be, and could be, the best ambassadors for our home country and people. Rafael Salas, the founder of the United Nations' Population Fund, said that every Filipino is an ambassador of our country.

If you are remitting funds to your relatives in the Philippines, teach them to save 15% or 20% of the funds.

If you are remitting funds to your relatives in the Philippines, please teach them to save at least 15% or 20% of the funds. Please teach your relatives the importance of savings. These savings seem small at the start, but even only after 2 years of savings, they will see the growth of their savings and how fast these are growing.

Also teach them to take their savings away from reach and put them in high-yielding investments like mutual funds or treasury bonds. There are many good financial advisers in this area. Teach your relatives to consult one on a regular basis. The book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is good start. The book Pera Mo, Palaguin Mo by Filipino author Francisco Colayco is also very good.

These savings, if handled and invested wisely, could mean the financial independence of your relatives from you in the future, or even from themselves.

Teach your relatives to live simply and not to spend so much on unnecessary consumer items. There is so much beauty in simplicity. There is so much elegance in modesty.

Invest in the Philippines.
Finally, if you have extra funds and are looking for ways to invest them, please invest in our Philippines. There are good investment advisers who can help. The Philippines is a growing market â€“ an emerging market, in the language of international banks and financial institutions. If you have investment ideas that can cater to the basic needs and desires of these 86 million Filipinos, you will make it big in our Philippines.

But more than that, every cent or dime that you invest in the Philippines will help our people and our country. And when you do it, you become our partner in building our nation. You become a good Filipino. You become a hero of our country.

Alexander L. Lacson is the author of 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country. Recently, he was a guest speaker at the launch of Ang Bagong Pinoy, an organisation of concerned Filipinos who are working to build a better country.

12 Little Things every Filipino can do to help our country

2006-06-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

In these times of political and economic crisis, every Filipino has its own assignment, even in "little things" to make Philippines a strong and better country.

But each of us should ask ourselves-What can I do for my country?

Alexader Ledesma Lacson, a lawyer by profession, suggested 12 little things that every Filipino could do as his appointed tasks in life to heal the nation's wound due to political turmoil and financial crunch facing the county.

In his 105-page book entitled "12 little things every Filipino can do to help our country," Lacson, graduated in the University of the Philippines, College of Law (Class 1996) and has taken post graduate studies at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, discussed this week before students of Palawan State University and Palaweños how little ways would work to improve the country.

These 12 little things are the following:
1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don't buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policemen and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

With President Arroyo's call for unity and to work together, he said these things could be the solution and but he added, "It is in the hands of every Filipino."

In his book, it noted that four years ago, he and wife (Pia) had a serious discussion whether to migrate to the US or Canada because Philippines, as a country, appeared hopeless as it got worse year after year. They wanted to know if they and their children would better off staying in the country or abroad in the next 20 years.

But after a long discussion, they could not give a definite answer to the question. Until they realized that actually the answer to that question is in them. The country will improve if they do something about it. It will not if they do not do anything.

Moreover, Lacson is optimistic that every citizen can change the country by improving on the little things.

He tackled success story of Malcolm Gladwell, an author of a book "The Tipping Point" as an example.

Gladwell, considered one of the World's 100 Influential People by Time Magazine this year, cited the high rate of criminality in New York from 1960s to 1990s. At that time, New York City was already the finance capital of the world. But during the period, around 650, 000 serious crimes and murders were committed yearly in that city. No one could solve the problem.

Then two police consultants experimented on making improvement in New York's subway train system, used by almost 97 percent of New Yorkers, but where conditions then were horrible. The waiting platforms were poorly lit and damp, while the walls were covered with all kinds of graffiti. The train themselves were filthy, the floors littered with trash, and were often late.

First, they removed all the graffiti, and painted clean the platforms and the trains. Then they posted palin-clothes policemen in all stations to arrest those who did not pay train tokens. In a few years, criminality in New York declined sharply by 65 percent.

Two little things-removal of graffiti and presence of policemen. But they changed the culture and the face of New Yorkers.

"If little things can change a city, they can change a country," the youthful author firmly believes.

"Life is made up of little things. Greatness follows if we learn to be great in little things," Lacson quoting another writer Charles Simmons.

RA9178 - Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs)

2006-04-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs)

In summary, Republic Act No. 9178 is called Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002. This Act refers to any business entity or enterprise engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading and services, whose total assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity's office, plant and equipment are situated, shall not be more than Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00).

Incentive and Benefits:

Exemption from Taxes and Fees. - All BMBEs shall be exempt from income tax for income arising from the operations of the enterprise.

Exemption from the Coverage of the Minimum Wage Law. The BMBEs shall be exempt from the coverage of the Minimum Wage Law. Provided, That all employees covered under this Act shall be entitled to the same benefits given to any regular employee such as social security and healthcare benefits.

Credit Delivery. - Upon the approval of this Act, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC), and the People's Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC) shall set up a special credit window that will service the financing needs of BMBEs registered under this Act

Technology Transfer, Production and Management Training, and Marketing Assistance. - A BMBE Development Fund shall be set up with an endowment of Three Hundred Million Pesos (P300,000,00) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and shall be administered by the SMED Council.

The DTI, in coordination with the private sector and non-government organizations (NGOs), shall explore the possibilities of linking or matching-up BMBEs with small, medium and large enterprises, and likewise establish incentives therefor. The data gathered from business registration shall be made accessible to and shall be utilized by private sector organizations and non-government organizations for purposes of business matching, trade and investment promotion.

Registration and Operation:

The Office of the Treasurer of each city or municipality shall register the BMBEs and issue a Certificate of Authority to enable the BMBE to avail of the benefits under this Act. The LGUs shall issue the Certificate of Authority promptly and free of charge. However, to defray the administrative costs of registering and monitoring the BMBEs, the LGUs may charge a fee not exceeding One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00).

The Certificate of Authority shall be effective for a period of two (2) years, renewable for a period of two (2) years for every renewal.

As much as possible, BMBEs shall be subject to minimal bureaucratic requirements and reasonable fees and charges.

For additional information, visit http://www.globalpinoys.net

Read the full RA9178 text here

OFpreneurship’ 101 (Guide to Overseas Filipinos)

2006-04-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

FRANCHISE TIMES - By Norman D. Gacula
Published in The Manila Times - Saturday, September 24, 2005

Entrepreneurship is said to have come from the French verb “entreprende” meaning “to undertake.” Webster’s Dictionary, however, defines an entrepreneur as “one who undertakes to start and conduct an enterprise or business, assuming full control and risk.”

The definition I feel best exemplifies entrepreneurship was coined by Joseph Schumpeter (1934). He stated that the entrepreneur is one who applies “innovation” within the context of the business to satisfy unfulfilled market demand (Liebenstein, 1995).

One cannot discount the fact that many successful entrepreneurs in recent years are “innovators.” The likes of Ben Chan of Bench, Andrew Tan of Megaworld, Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee and Chit Juan of Figaro Coffee are foremost in my mind.

In OFpreneurship, overseas Filipinos (OFs) fall into three (3) segments: A-OFs, B-OFs and C-OFs.

A-Ofs—can live comfortably even if they don’t work or engage in business once they reintegrate into Philippine society. Their savings and numerous investments are sufficient to sustain their comfortable lives.

B-Ofs—cannot afford to rely on their savings and investments to continue the comfortable lifestyles they had abroad. It is imperative that their funds grow further through other means than low-risk, low-return investment opportunities such as savings and time deposits.

C-Ofs—have very little savings and investments or none at all. It would be very difficult for them to provide for their families needs once they resettle in their homeland.

This article hopes be of great help to the B-OFs and C-OFs because it is I believe that OFpreneurship is one of the best ways for overseas Filipinos to reintegrate successfully in the mainstream of Philippine society; that Successful OFpreneurship = Successful Reintegration.

And why is this so?
B-OFs and C-OFs must continue earning and being productive once they resettle here to support their families’ needs. Otherwise, they might end up losing everything they worked hard for. Therefore, once they reintegrate, they would only have two choices: Employment or OFpreneurship.

If OFs seek local employment, they may be rejected due to overage, overqualification and all sorts of reasons. If hired, they face the possibility of disillusionment and demoralization due to the work culture or to the small salary that they would be receiving vis-à-vis their salaries abroad. If disillusionment and demoralization sets in, low productivity and poor work performance may follow, and ultimately, resignation or termination.

However, if OFs engage in OFpreneurship, the risk of losing everything is still there, but if they succeed, the benefits and rewards may be unquantifiable and limitless. Comparing the alternatives available to OFs including the cause-and-effect and cost-benefit relationships, any logical mind would choose OFpreneurship over the other.

Simple as it may seem, OFpreneurship is a complex and interesting profession that requires a complex set of skills. OFpreneurs need to know about the various functional areas, and how they interrelate as well as organizational, interpersonal and communication skills to effectively manage a business and facilitate interaction with others.

Also, they need to learn a variety of technical tools (including information systems) to help monitor activities and ensure that their efforts produce desired results. Most importantly, they must understand how business can be responsive to the needs of the community at large. But more than the theoretical aspects, OFpreneurship boils down to one important key word, preparation.

Previously, it was stated that “Successful OFpreneurship = Successful Reintegration.” This time, the equation needs to be expanded to:
Good Preparation = Successful OFpreneurship = Successful Reintegration.

An overseas Filipino (OF) who would like to engage in OFpreneurship in the Philippines and reintegrate successfully needs to prepare well in advance. In fact, it is ideal to undertake the preparation even before he leaves our country for the very first time. If it is not possible, at least preparation should be done during the peak of his career, and/or at the height of receiving his high income.

To prepare for OFpreneurship, OFs must first be able to answer the questions below. It may also be considered as their guide or checklist before deciding whether or not they should engage in OFpreneurship.

Family circumstances:

Do you enjoy the support and cooperation of your wife and children in this possible undertaking?

Are they aware of your plans?

Will your family be willing to have a lifestyle, which might be less ideal than your previous lifestyle?

Will they be willing to sacrifice comfort in case the business does not pick up immediately?

Are you willing to tighten the belt so-to-speak?

Do you have anybody in the family who could help you in the business, and who could succeed you in your retirement?

Business skills, attitude and experience:

As a kid, did you teach math, computers, sell newspapers, candies, chocolates or ice cream?

Are you hardworking?

Are you patient?

Are you persevering?

Are you willing to do the dirty jobs yourself assuming you have little financial and human resources?

Did you always look for other ways of making money?

Are you familiar with the basics of business including financing, record keeping, sales and marketing?

Do you have personal and business contacts that you can turn to for advice?
Are you well organized and do you manage your time well?

Health and stress management:

Can you accept failure?

Do you see mistakes more as an opportunity than as a failure? Can you work long hours for extended periods of time?

Do you thrive on pressure?

Are you able to stay calm in a crisis situation?

Confidence, optimism and self-reliance:

Do you believe in yourself and feel that your performance will determine whether you will succeed or fail?

Are you a positive thinker and do you envision your business succeeding?

Are you mentally strong and in control?

Are you willing to pay the price to control your own destiny?

People skills:

Do you regularly ask people for feedback on how you are performing?

Do you communicate well with people and do they believe in what you say?

Do you get people to talk, think and do you help motivate them?

Are you a good listener and good judge of character?

Creativity and innovation:

Are you a problem solver, looking for new and innovative ways of doing things?

Are you at your best when facing a challenge that requires you to use all of your personal resources?

Do you consider change as an opportunity to try new things?

Are you dissatisfied with doing something a certain way just because that’s the way it has always been done?

Assessing the results:

If OFs answered most questions with a YES, then they are most likely suited to the life of an OFpreneur.

Ulirang Pinoy

2006-04-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Model Pinoy (Ulirang Pinoy)
By Ernesto Boydon

The model Pinoy is one who loves God but is not fatalistic. He/she believes in a Divine and Supreme Being that governs his/her life but appreciates that God always desires what is best for him/her, but that it can only come into fruition by continuously bringing himself/herself to a higher level of spiritual communion with God.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay may pagmamahal sa Diyos subali't hindi niya hinahayaang ang kanyang kinabukasan ay mapasalalay na lamang ng lubusan sa kanyang kapalaran. Siya ay naniniwala sa isang makapangyarihang Maykapal na pinamamahalaan ang kanyang buhay nguni't kinikilala din niya na laging hangad ng Diyos kung ano ang pinakamabuti para sa kanya at ito ay maisasakatuparan lamang kung patuloy niyang dadalhin ang kanyang sarili sa pataas nang pataas na antas ng pakikipagtalastasan at pakikipagniig sa Diyos.

The model Pinoy is one who has a deep sense of national pride. This reflects in the way that he/she conducts his/her life by always placing national interest and the welfare of the nation above his/her own personal interests. It also reflects in the way that he/she projects the image of our country to other people, specially to foreigners, by highlighting our strengths and avoiding making a mockery of our weaknesses.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay may malalim na pagpapahalaga at pagmamalaki sa kanyang pagiging Pilipino. Ito ay nakikita sa paglalagay niya sa kapakanan ng bansa at kabutihan ng bayan nang higit sa kanyang mga pansariling interes. Ito rin ay mababanaag sa kanyang pagbibigay ng magandang imahen ng bansa sa ibang tao, lalo na sa mga dayuhan, at sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalutang ng mga kalakasan ng ating lahi at pag-iwas sa pagkutya o kaya's maging daan ng pagkutya ng ating mga kahinaan.

The model Pinoy is a person of integrity, who governs his/her life with strict moral and ethical discipline. He/she places a premium on honesty and always chooses the high moral ground in dealing with ethical dilemmas. He/she does not circumvent the laws of the land if it is against his moral precepts, even if the law allows him/her to do so.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay isang taong may integridad at pinamamahalaan niya ang kanyang buhay ng may mahigpit na pagsunod sa disiplinang itinatalaga ng mataas na antas ng moralidad. Binibigyan niya ng mataas na pagpapahalaga ang katapatan at katotohanan at palagian niyang pinipili ang mataas na antas ng moralidad kapag siya ay nahaharap sa mga pagkakataong sumusubok sa kanyang pagpili sa pagitan ng tama at mali. Hindi siya gumagawa ng paraan upang iwasan ang pagpapatupad ng batas kung ito ay lumalabag sa kanyang prinsipiyo ng moralidad, kahit na sa mga pagkakataong ang batas mismo ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng kaparaanang gawin ito.

The model Pinoy has a passion for excellence, shuns mediocrity and is constantly striving to improve his/her personal condition. He/she values education and pursues life-long learning. He/she is not content with just putting in a day's work but can be relied on to put in an extra mile when required by circumstances to do so.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay may marubdob na pagnanasang magamit ang kanyang kakayahan sa pinakamagaling na paraan at patuloy niyang hinahangad na mapabuti ang kanyang kalagayan. Pinahahalagahan niya ang edukasyon at karunungan, at panghabang-buhay na paglilinang ng kaalaman. Hindi siya kontento na makapagbihay lamang ng isang araw na trabaho bagkus ay maasahan siyang mabigay ng karagdagang sikap kapag hinihingi ng pagkakataon.

The model Pinoy has a social conscience. He/she does things for the good of society and not just for the good of the individual. He/she demonstrates respect in all his/her dealings with other people. He/she shows genuine concern and compassion for the plight of his/her neighbors and is always ready to act to help improve their condition.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay may konsiyensiyang panlipunan. Ang kanyang kilos ay nakatuon sa ikabubuti ng mas nakararami at hindi sa kabutihan lamang ng isa o ng iilan. Nagpapakita siya ng paggalang sa kanyang pakikitungo sa ibang tao. Mayroon siyang tunay na pag-aalala at pakikiisa sa kalagayan ng kanyang kapwa at siya'y laging handa na kumilos para mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan.

The model Pinoy has a global perspective. He/she appreciates the realities of our "shrinking world" amidst the onslaught of globalization and learns to strike an appropriate balance between love of country and global cooperation.

Ang ulirang Pilipino ay may pang-mundong pananaw. Nauunawaan niya ang implikasyon ng mga makabagong teknolohiya at kalakaran ng mundo na nagpapamistulang "lumiliit ang mundo" sa harap ng nangyayaring globalisasyon at sinisikap niyang magkaroon ng tamang paninimbang sa pagitan ng pagmamahal sa bayan at pang-mundong kooperasyon.

Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!

2006-03-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

"Ano ang "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!"?

Maaring tingnan ang "Galing Ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" sa dalawang perspektibo:

1. Sa isang personal na pananaw, ito ay ang paghanga at pagmamalaki sa talino at galing ng Pilipino. Makikita ito sa ating pagtangkilik sa mga produktong Pilipino at sa gawa, talino at tagumpay ng mga Pilipino sa larangan ng sining at kultura, science at technology, sa sports.

2. Sa mas malawak na pananaw, ang "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" ay isang kilusan ng mga Pilipinong entrepreneurs upang isulong ang pagmamalasakit at pagtangkilik ng mga kapwa Pilipino sa mga produktong gawa at pagmamay-ari ng Pilipino upang sa gayo'y makatulong sa pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan ng ating bansa.

Ang kilusang ito ay walang kulay politikal at walang kinikilingang relihiyon o idelohiya.

Bakit nakikiisa ang Globalpinoy sa "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!"

Sapagkat alinsunod ito sa ating Corporate Credo. Kung tatangkilikin natin ang sariling atin, lalo na ang mga produktong gawa ng mga kompanyang Pilipino, makakatulong ito upang mas mabilis na umunlad ang ating ekonomiya.

Sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya, mangangahulugan ito ng mas matagumpay na negosyong Pilipino, mas maraming trabaho, mas lumalaking kita, mas magandang bukas sa bansang Pilipinas.

Hindi ba't sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya, kasamang aangat ang kabuhayan ng masang Pilipino at ang paglalim ng ating pagmamahal at pagmamalaki sa ating Inang Bayan? Ito ang sinasabi ng ating Corporate Credo.

Bakit kailangan ng isang kilusang tulad ng "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!"?

Sapagkat sa panahong ito ng globalisasyon, kailangan ng mga kompanyang Pilipino ang ating suporta. Malalaki at mayayaman ang mga kompanyang dayuhan. Maliliit lamang ang mga kompanyang Pilipino kung ihahambing sa kanila. Kung wala pang suportang makukuha sa sariling bayan ang mga Pilipinong kompanya, tiyak na tatalunin ito ng mga kompanyang dayuhan.

Pero kung magkakaisa tayo sa pagtangkilik sa produktong gawa ng mga kompanyang Pilipino, malaki ang ating laban. Dito rin sa sariling bayan mag-iipon ng lakas ang mga kompanyang Pilipino upang magtagumpay naman ang ating bansa.

Hindi ba't sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya, kasamang aangat ang kabuhayan ng masang Pilipino at ang paglalim ng ating pagmamahal at pagmamalaki sa ating Inang Bayan? Ito ang sinasabi ng ating Corporate Credo.

Ayaw ba ng GLOBALPINOY o ng "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" sa globalisasyon?

Hindi tayo tutol sa globalisasyon. Pinapasok nga natin ang mga oportunidad na dala ng globalisasyon (tulad ng pagpasok natin sa Indonesia, Vietnam, Middle East, atbp.).

Ang sinasabi lang natin, dapat may pagbabago rin sa ating pananaw bilang mga mamimiling Pilipino (Filipino consumers). Kung may suporta tayo sa mga produktong gawa ng kompanyang Pilipino, mas may laban tayo sa global competition.

Tingnan na la'ng natin ang South Korea. Bago pa man maging global brands ang Samsung, Hyundai, Daewoo, LG, o Kia, lubusang tinangkilik muna ang mga ito ng mga Korean consumers. Halimbawa na lang, kumuha muna ng lakas ang Samsung ang pinakamalaking technology company sa buong mundo at source of national pride ng mga Koreano.

Ibig bang sabihin nito, pikit mata na lang natin susuportahan ang produktong Pilipino kahit na mababa ang kalidad?

Hindi. Kapag sinabi nating "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" , sinasabi nating world class ang Pinoy. Ibig sabihin, kailangang pantay o lampas pa tayo sa global standards. At marami namang kompanyang Pilipino ang kayang tumapat sa buong mundo.

Kaya ba ang logo o simbolo ng "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" ay iasang bukas na palad?

Ang bukas na palad ay ang ating pagtataas ng kamay at pagsasabing: "Oo, kasama ako, kabahagi ako ng pagkilos upang suportahan at i-angat ang galing at talino ng Pilipino."

Pero nangangahulugan din ang bukas na palad ng "tatak ng Pinoy". Kumbaga, itinatak natin ang ating palad sa gawang Pinoy sapagkat ang palad ay simbolo na ang mga gawang Pinoy ay ginawa ng ating kamay, bunga ng ating pawis at pagod, pinagbuhusan ng ating talino at pagpupunyagi.

Ang pusong pumalit sa titik "o" sa salitang Pinoy ay sagisag ng ating pag-ibig sa ating bayan at mga kababayan.

Kulay pula ang bukas-palad sapagkat ang kulay na ito ang simbolo ng tapang at init ng isip at damdamin upang ang mga layunin ng kilusang "Galing ng Pinoy, Ipagmalaki!" ay mabugayang katuparan.

Ang GLOBALPINOY CHAMBER OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, INC. ay sumusuporta sa

Why The Filipino Is SPECIAL

2006-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Why The Filipino Is SPECIAL
by Ed Lapiz
From the Special issue of Light Touch Magazine, vol. 8, number 3
Copyright 2004, Glad Tidings Publication

Filipinos are Brown. Their color is in the center of
human racial strains.

This point is not an attempt at racism, but just for
many Filipinos to realize that our color should not be
a source of or reason for inferiority complex. While
we pine for a fair complexion, the white people are
religiously tanning themselves, whenever they could,
under the sun or some artificial light, just to
approximate the Filipino complexion.

Filipinos are a touching people. We have lots of love
and are not afraid to show it. We almost inevitably
create human chains with our perennial akbay (putting
an arm around another shoulder), hawak (hold), yakap (embrace),
himas (caressing stroke), kalabit (touch with the tip
of the finger), kalong (sitting on someone else's lap), etc.

We are always reaching out, always seeking interconnection.

Filipinos are linguists. Put a Filipino in any city,
any town around the world. Give him a few months or
even weeks and he will speak the local language there.
Filipinos are adept at learning and speaking
languages. In fact, it is not uncommon for Filipinos
to speak at least three: his dialect, Filipino, and
English. Of course, a lot speak an added language, be
it Chinese, Spanish or, if he works abroad, the
language of his host country.

In addition, Tagalog is not 'sexist.' While many
"conscious" and "enlightened" people of today are just
by now striving to be "politically correct" with their
language and, in the process, bend to absurd depths in
coining "gender sensitive" words, Tagalog has, since
time immemorial, evolved gender-neutral words like
asawa (husband or wife), anak (son or daughter),
magulang (father or mother), kapatid (brother or
sister), biyenan (father-in-law or mother-in-law),
manugang (son or daughter-in-law), bayani (hero or
heroine), etc. Our languages and dialects are advanced
and, indeed, sophisticated! It is no small wonder that
Jose Rizal, the quintessential Filipino, spoke some
twenty-two languages!

Filipinos are groupists. We love human interaction and
company. We always surround ourselves with people and
we hover over them, too. According to Dr. Patricia
Licuanan, a psychologist from Ateneo and Miriam College, an
average Filipino would have and know at least 300 relatives.

At work, we live bayanihan (mutual help); at play, we
want a kalaro (playmate) more than laruan (toy). At
socials, our invitations are open and it is more
common even for guests to invite and bring in other
guests. In transit, we do not want to be separated
from our group. So what do we do when there is no
more space in a vehicle?

Kalung-kalong! (Sit on one another). No one would ever
suggest splitting a group and waiting for another
vehicle with more space!

Filipinos are weavers. One look at our baskets, mats,
clothes, and other crafts will reveal the skill of the
Filipino weaver and his inclination to weaving. This
art is a metaphor of the Filipino trait. We are social
weavers. We weave theirs into ours that we all become
parts of one another. We place a lot of premium on
pakikisama (getting along) and pakikipagkapwa
(relating). Two of the worst labels, walang
pakikipagkapwa (inability to relate), will be avoided
by the Filipino at almost any cost.

We love to blend and harmonize with people, we like to
include them in our "tribe," in our "family"-and we
like to be included in other people's families, too.

Therefore we call our friend's mother nanay or mommy;
we call a friend's sister ate (eldest sister), and so
on. We even call strangers tia (aunt) or tio (uncle),
tatang (grandfather), etc.

So extensive is our social openness and interrelations
that we have specific title for extended relations
like hipag (sister-in-law's spouse), balae
(child-in-law's parents), inaanak (godchild),
ninong/ninang (godparents) kinakapatid (godparent's
child), etc.

In addition, we have the profound 'ka' institution,
loosely translated as "equal to the same kind" as in
kasama (of the same company), kaisa (of the same
cause), kapanalig (of the same belief), etc. In our
social fiber, we treat other people as co-equals.

Filipinos, because of their social "weaving"
traditions, make for excellent team workers.

Filipinos are adventurers. We have a tradition of
separation. Our myths and legends speak of heroes and
heroines who almost always get separated from their
families and loved ones and are taken by circumstances
to far-away lands where they find wealth or power.

Our Spanish colonial history is filled with
separations caused by the reduccion (hamleting), and
the forced migration to build towns, churches,
fortresses or galleons. American occupation enlarged
the space of Filipino wandering, including America,
and there are documented evidences of Filipino
presence in America as far back as 1587.

Now, Filipinos compose the world's largest population
of overseas workers, populating and sometimes
"threshing" major capitals, minor towns and even
remote villages around the world. Filipino adventurism
has made us today's citizens of the world, bringing
the bagoong (salty shrimp paste), pansit (sautéed
noodles), siopao (meat-filled dough), kare-kare
(peanut-flavored dish), dinuguan (innards cooked in
pork blood), balut (unhatched duck egg),
and adobo (meat vinaigrette), including the tabo
(ladle) and tsinelas (slippers) all over the world.

Filipinos are excellent at adjustments and
improvisation, managing to recreate their home, or to
feel at home anywhere.

Filipinos have Pakiramdam (deep feeling/discernment).
We know how to feel what others feel, sometimes even
anticipate what they will feel. Being manhid (dense)
is one of the worst labels anyone could get and will
therefore, avoid at all cost. We know when a guest is
hungry though the insistence on being full is assured.

We can tell if people are lovers even if they are
miles apart. We know if a person is offended though he
may purposely smile. We know because we feel. In our
pakikipagkapwa(relating), we get not only to wear
another man's shoe but also his heart.

We have a superbly developed and honored gift of
discernment, making us excellent leaders, counselors,
and go-betweens.

Filipinos are very spiritual. We are transcendent. We
transcend the physical world, see the unseen and hear
the unheard. We have a deep sense of kaba (premonition)
and kutob (hunch). A Filipino wife will instinctively
feel her husband or child is going astray, whether or not
telltale signs present themselves.

Filipino spirituality makes him invoke divine presence
or intervention at nearly every bend of his journey.
Rightly or wrongly, Filipinos are almost always
acknowledging, invoking or driving away spirits into
and from their lives. Seemingly trivial or even
incoherent events can take on spiritual significance
and will be given such space or consideration.

The Filipino has a sophisticated, developed
pakiramdam. The Filipino, though becoming more and
more modern (hence, materialistic) is still very
spiritual in essence. This inherent and deep
spirituality makes the Filipino, once
correctly Christianized, a major exponent of the
faith.

Filipinos are timeless. Despite the nearly
half-a-millennium encroachment of the western clock
into our lives, Filipinos-unless on very formal or
official functions-still measure time not with hours
and minutes but with feeling. This style is ingrained
deep in our psyche. Our time is diffused, not framed.
Our appointments are defined by umaga (morning),
tanghali (noon ), hapon (afternoon), or gabi
(evening).

Our most exact time reference is probably
katanghaliang-tapat (high noon), which still allows
many minutes of leeway. That is how Filipino trysts
and occasions are timed: there is really no definite
time.

A Filipino event has no clear-cut beginning nor
ending. We have a fiesta, but there is bisperas (eve),
a day after the fiesta is still considered a good time
to visit. The Filipino Christmas is not confined to
December 25th; it somehow begins months before
December and extends up to the first days of January.

Filipinos say good-bye to guests first at the head of
the stairs, then down to the descamo (landing), to the
entresuelo (mezzanine), to the pintuan (doorway), to
the tarangkahan (gate), and if the departing persons
are to take public transportation, up to the bus stop
or bus station.

In a way, other people's tardiness and extended stays
can really be annoying, but this peculiarity is the
same charm of Filipinos who, being governed by
timelessness, can show how to find more time to be
nice, kind, and accommodating than his prompt and
exact brothers elsewhere.

Filipinos are Spaceless. As in the concept of time,
the Filipino concept of space is not numerical. We
will not usually express expanse of space with miles
or kilometers but with feelings in how we say malayo
(far )or malapit (near).

Alongside with numberlessness, Filipino space is also
boundless. Indigenous culture did not divide land into
private lots but kept it open for all to partake of
its abundance.

The Filipino has avidly remained "spaceless" in many
ways. The interior of the bahay-kubo (hut) can easily
become receiving room, sleeping room, kitchen, dining
room, chapel, wake parlor, etc. Depending on the time
of the day or the needs of the moment. The same is
true with the bahay na bato (stone house). Space just
flows into the next space that the divisions between
the sala, caida, comedor, or vilada may only be
faintly suggested by overhead arches of filigree. In
much the same way, Filipino concept of space can be so
diffused that one 's party may creep into and actually
expropriate the street! A family business like a
sari-sari store or talyer may extend to the sidewalk
and street. Provincial folks dry palayan (rice grain)
on the highways! Religious groups of various
persuasions habitually and matter-of-factly commandeer
the streets for processions and parades.

It is not uncommon to close a street to accommodate
private functions. Filipinos eat. sleep, chat,
socialize, quarrel, even urinate, nearly everywhere or
just anywhere!

"Spacelessness," in the face of modern, especially
urban life, can be unlawful and may really be
counter-productive. On the other hand, Filipino
spacelessness, when viewed from his context, is just
another manifestation of his spiritually and communal
values. Adapted well to today's context, which may
mean unstoppable urbanization, Filipino spacelessness
may even be the answer and counter balance to
humanity's greed, selfishness and isolation.

So what makes the Filipino special? We are brown,
spiritual, timeless, spaceless, linguists, groupists,
weavers, adventurers. Seldom do all these profound
qualities find personification in a people. Filipinos
should allow - and should be allowed to contribute
their special traits to the worldwide community of
men- but first, we should know and like ourselves.

MABUHAY ANG PINOY!
Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo...

Franchising now an investment option of OFWs

2005-12-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

FRANCHISING is emerging as a viable investment option for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking to set up a business in the Philippines. Filipino franchise investment packages have drawn the attention of many individuals who have sought greener pastures abroad but are keen on spending the rest of their lives back home with their families once they've saved enough. It is this motivation of having a better life that is driving an increasing number of OFWs to invest their hard-earned money in lasting and profitable franchise ventures. The success rate of some these homegrown and relatively low-cost, high-viability franchises have prodded more and more Filipinos to invest on them. The Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises showcases these franchises at the Ground Floor, Fort-Am Building, Pineda, Pasig City under the auspices of Super Value Franchise Concept Inc.

It is interesting to note that for the same volume of business that can be generated by a foreign franchise brand operator, a homegrown franchise investment package costs 60-80% cheaper. What's even more heartening is that with winning concepts, product quality consistency and a harmonious franchisor-franchisee relationship, these Filipino franchises grow to multiple store operations.

Sheree Santy, 31, a marketing graduate who worked for five years as crew purser for international luxury liners, had long nurtured a desire to run her own business. So while she dealt with the pressures of her job - handling the payroll and immigration clearances for 400 crew members - she was intent on saving enough to achieve her goal. When the Miami-based company she worked for became bankrupt (following the World Trade Center bombing), she decided it was time to go back to the Philippines.

The opportunity to set up her own business presented itself when she met a friend who was a dealer for Lots'a Pizza. She and her family liked the taste, and with an initial capital of PhP350,000 and tons of belief in the product, Sheree embarked on her first Lots'a Pizza franchise venture: a nine square meter kiosk located at the fourth level of Robinsons Place Ermita that reaped a return on investment (ROI) in five months and continues to do well on its second year.

Sheree exemplified the Pinoy entrepreneur who was ready to adapt and go the extra mile to satisfy her customers. She is also thankful for the ample support and continuous product innovation coming from the master franchise holder. Her three-step advice for OFWs who want to reintegrate themselves in the Philippine work scene and be with their families: first, you have to dream: second, make a plan to actualize the dream; and third, save and have discipline to be able to reach your goal.

Better and surer steps in franchising.
Pioneer entrepreneurs have taken out the guesswork from franchising so that some entrepreneurs take on the game without necessarily starting from scratch but by building on already existing strong business names. Although not yet fully grown, franchising business in the Philippines, more and more are going for the option of establishing a business with a strong beginning pitch.

Starting in the franchise business requires a franchise fee which is dependent on the location of the outlet, the necessary equipment and stock and the training of staff to run the store. Aside from those enumerated, the buyer of the franchise (franchisee) really buys the knowledge and marketing savvy of the franchisor. Buying franchises take out the trial and error method of starting a business done specially by inexperienced businessmen who do not know how to systematically start a business, the ins and outs of businesses.

With franchising, the learning process is cut short such as: perfecting the product, getting a good location, creating the system, finding the right people etc. The basic problem of a new franchise holder is how to run a business which have been proven successful in other sites. While the initial investment requirement for a franchise may seem heavy for starters, the advantages of having a completely built up business are evident. Working like a coach and a player, the franchisor and the franchisee must train and work together to achieve their common goal which is to deliver goods and services to people as many locations as possible but without comprising quality.

However, one most remember that, franchising does not yield instant profits. Just like other startup business, franchising has an adjustment period where the patience of the entrepreneurs will be put to a test, a franchise will usually need a six-month adjustment period before profit stabilizes. Returns come in a year or so after and the net profit is usually 10% to 15% of gross sales. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been supportive of franchising and its potentials. Franchising minimizes the risk of failure since the franchisor has already laid the ground work of the business and the initial training. In addition, a well-known and recognized trademark minimizes the cost of advertising.

However, similar to any other marketing system, franchising does not guarantee success. Like any endeavor, a franchisee needs a lot of patience, attention and hard work to succeed.

The Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (Globalpinoy) invites all interested individuals especially overseas Filipino workers in search of viable business and investment opportunities in the Philippines through the Instant Negosyo or Franchising Program.

The program assists in processing documents needed to establish a new business. It has a list of reputable and seasoned franchise companies with proven track records and financial institutions offering financial assistance in starting a new venture.

www.Kabuhayan.coms.ph

Building the foundation for business success

2005-12-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Building the foundation for business success
By FRANCIS Y. CAPISTRANO, Reporter

Cecilyn Lourdes Santos, or Cello to friends, just graduated last year from a reputable management course in Ateneo de Manila University. The course she took -- Management Engineering -- was popularly regarded in campus as a key to a high-paying job in the corporate world.

It was, in fact, her dream to climb up the corporate ladder when she entered college. But after her practicum in junior year, she realized that she did not want to become an employee all her life.

"I come from a family of entrepreneurs," she said in an interview with BusinessWorld. "And for myself, [I want to] do something that I like [and have] my own time."
She, together with her fiance, family and other friends, thought of the idea in April 2005. A month later, she started to execute her venture before she changed her mind: Cello's Donuts and Dip.

Ms. Santos said she loved baking and she herself made the recipe, thought of the different donut flavors and built the rest of the menu. Juan Horacio M. Templo, her fiance who was at the interview, added that they loved to eat and to discover new places to dine in.

Of course, she said there were some people who were against the idea, saying that she has no experience being a new graduate, and that business per se is risky.

Fear of risks and failure is what make would-be businessmen to hesitate or even hold back their entrepreneurial spirit.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Businessmaker Academy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark So said there are two schools of thought in thinking that business is risky because times are hard. The first, he said, thinks that since times are hard, it is better not to start a new business. The other one, he said, also recognizes that times are hard but thinks business must start right now. "Times are hard today and times will be harder tomorrow," he said. "To start a business, that should not be your basis it has to be something that you feel deep inside that you have to do."

Said economist Jimeno M. Damaso, in his book, "How To Start Your Own Business", "ideation" should be the first investment an entrepreneur must make. Ideation, according to the book, entails thinking things thoroughly, formulating plans and alternatives and conceptualizing strategies so these could be translated into effective action. He said in choosing a business, the fundamental and long-lasting basis for going into one is delight in it, or something the entrepreneur enjoys. Knowing one's talents, experience, and needs is also essential in making this decision.

Mr. So said it must be an entrepreneur's own spirit and desire to pursue what he wants to achieve to start his own business. He said it is the person behind the business that makes the successful business possible. For new entrepreneurs who do not have that much capital, he recommends low-capitalization service ventures, such as party planning and events management. This type of venture allows an entrepreneur to not have capital and instead use money advanced by clients.

Food -- a common venture -- is a high capitalization business and at the same time a saturated industry. Manufacturing for the local market and for export, though a good business, is tough nowadays because of the high cost of labor and the entry of China into the global market. Franchising is also gaining ground nowadays. However, an entrepreneur who plans to get a franchise instead of starting up his own brand must be able to discern which franchise to get and why franchise in the first place.

He said one who plans to get a franchise needs to look at the track record of the franchisor. A "true-blue, honest-to-goodness" franchise guarantees 95% success.

Be wary of new and smaller franchises which have just emerged in the market: these may not have tested business processes and may be bound to failure. He said getting a franchise without a track record is tantamount to buying a start-up business. Though profit is most of the time guaranteed in franchising, it is not always the best strategy. He said franchising is an effective tool for wealth accumulation.

On the other hand, it is not advisable for persons with high entrepreneurial spirits because in getting a franchise, "you're actually asked to obey and not do any of your ideas." He noticed that more people lately are acting more encouraged to start their own business. Again, he noted two groups: the first know what they want and the second feels they can get "instant success" through business. He said the first group is "lucky," while the second will learn the hard way that there are no short-cuts to success. External factors -- even the lack of capital -- should not hinder an entrepreneur, he said. This, he said, is another hurdle, or at least seems to be one.

"If you want to be successful in business, you have to learn how to use the money of other people," he said.

Mr. So said there are several ways to start a business using other people's money. There is the typical interest-gaining loan from formal lending institutions or through other sources. Another is getting capital from an investor in exchange for a part or share of the business. He, however, said it is not advisable for a beginner in business to obtain loans from lending institutions or any interest-bearing loans for that matter, even from micro financers. He said starting a business is pressure-filled enough and interest expenses add to the pressure. Another means of getting capital is looking for sponsors, or "angel investors," who provide capital without interest and at a payback period comfortable to the entrepreneur.

Some, he said, are "super angel investors" who do not require the entrepreneur to pay back at all. He said this is prevalent in the local culture.

Ms. Santos did not turn back after her parents -- after prodding her if she was really determined and prepared -- supported and loaned her the much-needed capital to start construction and to buy equipment. She never thought of borrowing from the bank or other lending institutions. She and her fiance scouted Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City for a place and settled at the second floor of a building facing Ateneo. Living within the area all her life and having studied in Ateneo and Miriam College nearby, she said she knows the market very well because she was "one of them." Though there are existing commercial donut shops along the stretch, she said her donut shop caters to a different market niche and her products are "with a twist." Her menu carries donuts with different toppings such as parmesan cheese and Choc-nut, "C's" or plain donuts and dips, and coffee shakes. Her only frustration was in registering with the city hall. After her bout with the bureaucracy, she opted to hire a professional to do it for her instead.

Business registration, though a dreaded procedure, is a must. Entrepreneur Marlo Sanchez wrote in his book, A smart and practical guide for new entrepreneurs, said it is "not worth the trouble" to evade correct taxes and business fees by not registering.

An unregistered business may face closure. Aside from this, he said an unregistered business may not be able to get business contracts from public institutions and private firms, and even to grow and expand.

The book lists the steps and agencies that an entrepreneur goes through in business registration:
1. barangay where located -- barangay clearance/permit requires a minimal fee;
2. Department of Trade and Industry -- business name registration, other requirements depend on the type of organization;
3. Securities and Exchange Commission -- filing partnership or incorporation papers for partnerships and corporations;
4. special permits -- depending on the type of business, permits from other government agencies such as Bureau of Food and Drugs, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Land Transportation Office, etc.;
5. Social Security System (SSS) -- to register employees for coverage with SSS and to get business SSS number;
6. Department of Labor and Employment -- to register employees for businesses with more than five employees;
7. mayor's permit -- most expensive and said to be the most cumbersome process, also entails inspection by sanitary, health, electrical, etc. officers of the city government;
8. Bureau of Internal Revenue -- To get a VAT (value-added tax) or Non-VAT registration depending on the type of business, also registration of accounting books, records, sales invoice and official receipt forms.

On the type of organization (i.e. single proprietorship, partnership and corporation), Mr. So recommends the corporation, because of the legal protection it gives to owners. When a company has liabilities, creditors cannot go after the owners' personal assets.
He added that one may opt to hire an external accountant to register one's business, since they are used to doing this.

For those who opt to register on their own, he said registering is not necessarily hard but tedious, and it is part of the process of learning.

Mr. Sanchez wrote in his book that businesses may opt to register under Republic Act No. 9178 ,or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002. A business with an initial authorized capitalization of not more than P3 million may register under this law.

Benefits include tax exemptions, priority to credit financing, exception from minimum wage, among others. However, employees should still be given the same health care and social security benefits.

"If you continue to qualify as a BMBE, you can operate your business without having to pay income taxes for a very long time. That should increase your chances of retaining money in the business to build a bigger enterprise in the near future," he said.

Six months after Ms. Santos's Cello's Donuts and Dip kicked off, her brand gained familiarity with the students and residents in the area, and her fiancee is contemplating on continuing his 8-5 job or helping with the venture full-time.

There have been offers for capital and for franchising, but she said she's not in a hurry to expand and is taking her business model step by step -- slowly but surely.

RP inventor wins gold for anti-cancer cream

2005-12-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

RP inventor wins gold for anti-cancer cream
First posted 03:10am (Mla time) Dec 03, 2005
By Christian V. Esguerra
Inquirer

A CREAM locally proven to work against the most common type of skin cancer won a gold medal for a Filipino scientist at the prestigious International Inventor's Forum in Nuremberg, Germany, early in November.

Scientist Rolando de la Cruz bested 54 other inventors worldwide when his "DeBCC" cream, developed from cashew nuts and other local herbs, was chosen over 1,500 entries as the "most significant invention" of the year.

Speaking at a press conference arranged by the Department of Science and Technology yesterday, the 68-year-old inventor said the cream was a simple answer to basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer worldwide.

BCC affects around 800,000 Americans every year, according to the Skin Care Foundation website.

BCC also affects 500,000 Europeans and 190,000 Australians every year, De la Cruz's RCC Amazing Touch company said in a statement.

Dr. Eric Talens, who did the first clinical trials of DeBCC, yesterday said this type of skin cancer was found in 60 percent of Filipinos. He said this estimate was based on statistics from the Philippine General Hospital and other hospitals in the country.

Talens said the disease was common among the elderly owing to their chronic exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

"It doesn't happen instantaneously," he told reporters. "It takes years of exposure to get skin cancer."

He added that lighter-skinned people were more vulnerable to the disease. Darker-skinned individuals have more melanin to protect their skin from ultraviolet rays.

If untreated, skin cancer could disfigure the face, affecting the function of the eyes and nose.

For the trial, Talens, a surgeon with the PGH, treated 14 skin cancer patients using the cream. It was applied to "the very delicate area of the face initially thought of as hopeless by some doctors and rejected by most plastic surgeons," according to a statement by De la Cruz's company.

De la Cruz said the skin cancer patients were cured in 16 weeks with no recurrence even after two years.

"By mere application of the cream, with no radical and unacceptable surgeries or procedures, the patients' skin cancers were cured," the statement said.

"There were no side effects," he added.

The results were submitted to the Germany-based award-giving body, earning the top price for the Philippine-made cream.

De la Cruz said multinational companies from the US, Germany and other European countries had offered to produce DeBCC.

Having completed the required clinical trial, Talens said he and De la Cruz were in the process of securing a certificate from the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

De la Cruz said treatment using DeBCC could range from a minimum of P30,000 to a maximum of P250,000 depending on the size and gravity of the skin cancer.

He said one treatment could last for nine months by applying the cream to the affected portion of the face twice monthly.

The cream is available only at De la Cruz's Amazing Touch clinics in shopping malls.

©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Former nanny strikes gold with retailing business

2005-12-13T04:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.etaiwannews.com/showPage.php?setupFile=showcontent.xml&menu_item_id=13&did=d_1134271619_7592_4031E0C4DB7B3385A53C3787D82BD5A864C43854_39&area=taiwan&area_code=00000

Enterprising migrant attributes success to perseverance,
trustworthiness and teamwork; faith in God has kept her going, says
Bing Go

2005-12-11 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter / By Marie Feliciano

Filipino entrepreneur Bing Go's spectacular rags to riches story is
just as riveting as the dramas that are told in "Magpakailanman"
(Forevermore) and "Maalaala Mo Kaya" (Do You Remember When?) - two of
the Philippines' top television series.

Considered a household name among Filipinos in Taiwan, Bing - owner
and proprietor of the Bing Go Filipino chain store in the country -
says she has not let the success that she enjoys today turn her head.

"I always remind myself of where I came from, of how I started, and of
the people who have tirelessly helped me along the way," Bing says.

"This has kept me grounded and humble. There's so much that I should
be grateful for - my loving family, my devoted staff, and my very
loyal customers. Without them and without the Lord's blessings, I'm
nothing."

Born Maria Magdalena Aldaba Go, Bing is a native of Iloilo - a
charming Philippine province celebrated for its delectable cuisine and
its charming people. (The soft-spoken Ilonggos are known for being
"malambing" or carinoso.) Her father hailed from China while her
mother was a native of Antique.

Bing is not ashamed of her modest beginnings.

"I am only a high school graduate," she says. Bing attended Iloilo
Chinese Commercial High School.

She was employed in an electronics shop when a recruiter offered her
the chance to work in Taiwan in the mid-1980s - for a price. Young and
fearless, the 23-year-old Ilongga grabbed the opportunity.

"I was a TNT (short for 'tago nang tago' or 'always in hiding'). I was
working illegally then," says Bing. "At the time, there were fewer
migrants in Taiwan. I worked as a nanny, a caregiver, a factory
worker. I tried everything."

As a nanny, she found herself looking after two children. The kids
were a godsend to the homesick Ilongga.

"They were my family in Taiwan," she continues. "Napamahal talaga sila
sa akin. (They have really endeared themselves to me.) I considered
them my own flesh and blood."

Bing eventually moved on to another post, trying her hand at
caregiving. Her patient at the time, she says, was an elderly woman
who was nearly twice her size.

"It was an exhausting job," says the petite Filipino-Chinese. "My
patient then was totally dependent on me since she was already
bedridden. I had to carry her up and down the stairs."

Bing however is one person who does not give up easily.

"Physically, I may not be very strong but I was still able to
accomplish my tasks," she says. "If you are working as a caregiver,
you will eventually develop techniques that will make it easier for
both you and your ward to move about. If we're climbing up the stairs,
for example, my ward and I had to take it one step at a time. Talagang
kailangan ng tiyaga. (You have to have a lot of patience.)"

After working in that caregiving household for several months, Bing
decided to move on. She found work at a factory.

"I guess it's fate," she smiles, "because that's where I met the man
who eventually became the love of my life - my husband, Awei."

It wasn't however love at first sight for Awei (Chen Wen Hsiung) and
Bing. For some reason, the two often found themselves arguing over the
most trivial of things. Bing thought Awei was the ultimate "alaskador"
(pest) while Awei felt Bing was too stern and tough for his taste.
There was even a time when a very incensed Bing, brandishing an
"itak," drove the poor man out of the dorm.

"A friend of mine, also a Filipina, was Awei's girlfriend at the time.
I felt I had to put up with him out of 'pakikisama' or out of respect
for my friend," she says.

Awei's relationship however did not last long. Eventually, his
ex-girlfriend and the other Filipinos employed at the factory decided
to return home. Taiwan at the time was granting amnesty to illegal
foreign workers who voluntarily turned themselves in. Bing chose to
stay.

"I wanted to make a little bit more money," she says. "I had no
savings yet."

One day, after work, Bing was surprised when Awei offered her a ride
home. They started to talk, and discovered that they actually shared a
lot of things in common.

"That marked a new chapter for us. We became very good friends," she
says. "After several months, we went to Yangmingshan with some of our
pals. Out of the blue, Awei blurted out, 'If I ask you to marry me,
will you say 'yes?'"

Shocked, Bing replied, "Ewan!" ("I don't know!")

"But that marriage 'proposal' changed everything," she laughs. "After
that Yangmingshan incident, he started courting me. He brought me food
and little gifts. He even introduced me to his parents. The first
thing that his mother asked me was, 'When are you two getting
married?'"

Bing gave Awei an ultimatum: If he really wanted to marry her, he
should follow her to Iloilo.

"I decided to avail myself of the government's amnesty program," she
says. "Sure enough, Awei did go to the Philippines and asked me to
marry him. Today, we have two beautiful children. They are our pride
and joy."

To make ends meet, the couple decided to start their own business.
They operated a "mobile" Filipino store - a small van - that sold
Philippine-made goods from soap and toothpaste to canned goods and
snacks at various Taiwan factories employing Filipinos. On Sundays,
they sold their merchandise behind St. Christopher's Church in Taipei.

"But the police eventually got tough on sidewalk vendors, so we
decided to bring our little business to Taichung," she says.

Several months later, a shop alongside Zhongshan North Road in Taipei
was up for rent. Bing seized the opportunity.

"Naglakas loob na rin kami (we decided to take that chance), and that
investment paid off. Our brand became synonymous with Filipino goods,"
she says. "When a commercial space right next to St. Christopher's
Church was up for rent, we moved our store there. It was the best
decision we've ever made."

There was no stopping Bing and company after that.

Today, the Bing Go Filipino Store franchise is comprised of 11 outlets
selling anything and everything from dried fish (tuyo) and
Filipino-style corned beef to bagoong (shrimp paste) and instant mixes
such as palabok (noodles topped with rich shrimp sauce) and sinigang
(fish or meat soup flavored with tamarind). Bing's stores are packed
on Sundays with Filipinos eager for a taste of home.

"We want to give our customers value-for-money deals, so we have kept
our prices affordable," she says. "We also make them feel welcomed.
The moment our customers step into one of our stores, they know they
are 'home.' There's something comforting about that."

Her entire team also lives by the slogan, "the customer is king," she
notes.

"Without our clients, we will all be jobless," says the Ilongga.
"Without their support, we will not last this long or grow this big."

The kids that she used to babysit during her TNT days actually visited
her at her flagship store in Taipei. The children, now in their teens,
were studying in Switzerland at the time.

"They were so happy for me," she says. "They also told me they were so
proud of what the Bing Go team has accomplished."

Bing naturally has a soft spot for migrant Filipinos.

"I was a worker just like them; that's how I started," she says. "I
know what it's like to be away from your loved ones, to be surrounded
by strangers, and to perform menial tasks. I know what it's like to
scrimp and save, to make every dollar count."

The Reverend Joy Tajonera, a priest with the Maryknoll Society, is one
of Bing's biggest fans.

"She is a very generous person,"says the priest. "Unknown to many,
Bing has helped so many migrants and supported several community
events. She does not announce those good deeds because she does not
want to call attention to herself. Despite her success, she has
remained humble."

When she heard that a group of migrant Filipinos was participating in
a labor march last year, Bing immediately provided them with
sandwiches and other refreshments, he continues.

"No one asked her to do that but she did it anyway," Tajonera says.
"If she hears of a migrant who is battling a serious illness or of a
worker who has sustained critical injuries at work, she would
immediately ask, 'How can we help this person?'"

Bing's generosity and humility have impressed not just her loyal
customers, but her employees as well.

The entrepreneur says she values her team because the Bing Go
franchise would not have been successful without the support of her
devoted employees.

"Our senior managers have been with us for more than 10 years," she
says. "I owe them a lot. To them, this is not just an ordinary job;
it's a commitment. There's a sense of ownership."

Often, her employees work long hours, Bing adds.

"And they don't complain," she says. "If they think our stores'
supplies need to be replenished, they will go to our warehouse and
pick up the items that are needed. May initiative sila. (They have
initiative.) They know that if our stores are empty, then there's
nothing to sell. If there's nothing to sell, then we will have no
revenues. They care about this outfit."

Honesty is another trait that she values, she continues. "In this
business, trustworthiness and integrity are critical to your
operation," says the entrepreneur. "If you don't have that, you have
nothing."

Bing's advice to her kababayans? Stay focused and you will achieve
your dream.

"I started with nothing," she says. "If I can do it, you can do it
too. All that you need is plenty of determination, and faith in God."

www.Globalpinoy.tk
"Improving Filipino lives through entrepreneurship"

Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy Local, Buy FILIPINO

2005-12-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

To the members of GlobalPinoy Management Team:

My sincerest congratulations to you for your Year 2006 Theme of "BUY
FILIPINO -- Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Pinoy".

My name is Alexander Lacson, author of the Book "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country". One of the 12 Little Things I discussed in the book is "Do not buy imported goods. Buy local. Buy Pilipino."

This applies also to OFWs and their families in the Philippines.

It is estimated that for 2005, around US$10.2 Billion will be the
total remittances of OFWs. However, the moment the families and relatives of OFWs receive these $10.2 Billion and start spending these monies on imported products, a big percentage of these dollar remittances immediately go out of our country. This is so because for every P100 that we spend on an imported product, at least 40% of that (or P40) will be used to pay back the company which manufactured that imported product abroad, which is most likely China.

OFWs, while abroad, must also be encouraged to buy Filipino products, if there are any, in the countries where they are based. This way, if they spend $100, part of that money will find its way back to the Philippines. It will bring more dollars to the Philippines thru the formal channel. It will strengthen our Peso as against the Dollar. It will somehow contribute to the strengthening of our Philippine economy.
Especially so if the more than 8 million OFWs and balikbayans learn this attitude.

Like the Japanese and Koreans who patrionize their products wherever they are in the world. Japanese and Koreans know this fact by heart as early as when they are in high school and college. Their governments seriously indoctrinate their people about this.

I would be glad to help your group (Global Pinoy Management Team) develop a plan to push your 2006 Theme of "Buy Pilipino". I believe that if your group would seriously do it, it can spark a "cultural revolution" of sorts, or at least a major change in the mindset of OFWs and their families, which is a substantial sector of Philippine society.

It is a noble theme for 2006. Noble because it is a big step to make many a Filipino love the Pilipino.

Indeed, we need to rebuild our Philippines as a nation piece by piece, block by block, one step at a time. Your Theme for 2006 is a giant step towards that direction.

Please continue what you are doing.

You may reach me at my office Tel Nos 840-0338 to 41 or my cell 0917-898-1358.

Again, my sincerest congratulations!

Sincerely,

Alexander Lacson - alacsonph@yahoo.com

Enterprising Ideas for Christmas

2005-11-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

Enterprising Ideas for Christmas – by Norma D. Fernandez

Pasko na naman! While the rest are getting busy thinking about gifts and presents as well as food and parties for the coming holiday, ang mga Pinoy entrepreneurs naman busy din in making money this season.

In the Philippines, Christmas is obviously a perfect time to get into business because everyone, as in almost everybody in this land, spends money during Christmas time.

Kung seasonal entrepreneur ka o tuwing panahon lang ng holidays ka nagnenegosyo and you have not started anything yet, medyo late ka na! You should have started for your Christmas business in September or even earlier. But don’t lose hope, you still have a little less than a month to rush things up and get your merchandise ready for this years’ big Christmas bargain.

And because you do not have much time left, you must choose a business that is easy to set up and operate, preferably small capital requirement, less labor intensive o hindi masyadong nangangailangan ng labor ng ibang tao, less complicated ang operation, one that you can easily run even at home, office, school o pwede mong dalhin anywhere you go.

Buy-and-sell business

And because Christmas for Pinoys translates to either food or gifts, you can sell foodstuffs and gift items that you can personally make, buy or consign. A small to medium-sized business on food, apparels, children stuffs, gift items and gift-giving supplies or services and party essentials are most perfect for this season.

Here are some saleable and hot items for the holiday:
- If you love baking and cooking, try made-to-order holiday Fruitcakes, Rum Cakes and other specialty cakes, pies, and Christmas inspired goodies ( candies, cookies, chocolates, candied fruits, etc. )
- Christmas decorations are still saleable ‘til end of November
- Custom-made or personally designed Christmas cards, if you have the artist in you.
- Crystals and charms made into fashionable home decors or personal accessories pieces.
- Specialty gift wrappers and holiday gift-wrapping service specially near schools are very much in demand
- Personalized or family calendars, which are made-to-order or made impromptu and ready for silk-screening
- Easy to produce decorative and scented candles, soap and personalized perfumes or colognes
- Novelty stuffed toys that you can consign/buy them from distributors
- If you are good in computer graphics design, try made-to-order photo-imaging services that print photos on various surfaces such as button, pins, plates, porcelain wares, etc.
- Consignable ready-to-wear (RTW) items that you can get from distributors or any MLM (multi-level marketing) companies
- Kids’ toys, apparels (shoes, clothing, etc.) and high tech gadgets
- Towels, caps, hankerchiefs, t-shirts with personalized embroidered names that you can do impromptu using your embroidery machine
- Imported spa, cosmetics, skincare products and toiletries you can buy cheaper in bulk and sell in special holiday packages and wrappers
- Make fashionable accessory beads for men and women
- Consignable cartoon and character inspired slippers, specialty pillows, apparels, towels, bags and kiddie stuffs
- Figurines, artwares, souvenir and novelty items for display that you can easily create from clay, silicon or resin
- Catering services for Christmas and other holiday parties and events for offices, homes and communities
- Made-to-order corporate give-aways such as key holder, desk calendar, personalized ballpen and pen, drinking mug, mouse pad, wall clock, pencil holder, organizer, note pad, office stationeries, paper holders and clippers, business card holder, and others alike. Cleanskin wines (unlabeled and cheaper imported wines) are great to go with company logo labels and perfect for give-aways to top clients.
- Seasonal food items such as: homemade or commercial canned fruits and dressings for salad recipes, fresh buko (kinayod without the husk and sold for kilos per order), homemade or commercial ham, queso de bola (round cheese), native sweet desserts such as leche flan, ube-halaya, makapuno, sweet beans, rice cakes and other traditional Pinoy kakanin in special packages, homemade embutido, murcon, chicken galantine (stuffed chicken) and other special holiday meatdishes.

Christmas Bazaars and Tiangge

If you are ready for more challenges, you can organize, help or join in organizing various Christmas bazaars and bargain tiangge in your own or other companies, schools, communities, clubs and organizations. The promise of bigger profit is more attainable, and you will reap so much benefit from this experience.

Holiday Parties, Functions and Events

Christmas is the best time to launch your company or newest product line. You can take advantage of the Christmas spirit and introduce yourself to lots of potential clients that would normally be harder to get. Pero huwag na huwag kayong gagawa ng sales pitch during the function because it will only ruin the spirit of the party.

All you need to do is collect business cards (or make your staff do this) from your guests and follow them up after Christmas. Remember, do not get so overly enthusiastic during the party as you try to shake everyone’s hand. Relax, be yourself and enjoy the party. It’s Christmas after all! To complete your party or event, you can also give your guests your customized corporate giveaways, these will surely bring smiles on their faces.

And of course, do not overlook your own company Christmas party. Though, it will not contribute directly to sales, it could be a great tool for boosting your employees’ morale and a wonderful way to thank your employees for all their hard and diligent work throughout the year. It’s also a great time for you and your employees to get to know each other more. Another opportunity that you can consider is attending another company’s Christmas function, upon invitation, of course. Maaari itong maging isang networking opportunity para sa iyong kumpanya lalo na kung potential market mo ang kumpanya o mga empleyado nito. Spend time getting to know either the employees or the boss (decision-makers) depending on your goal. If your aim is to establish a strategic alliance such as in becoming a supplier, then, spend more time with the decision-makers.

Remember, attending holiday parties and functions doesn’t have to be a waste of time, if you do it properly and with the right approach. Don’t forget that this is your means for a quicker and easier access to more information, ideas and contacts with companies, which are helpful inputs for your business strategies.

Or, if you have exceptional skills in coordinating various tasks in events and functions, simultaneously and under pressure, you can make money this season by organizing holiday concerts, parties and events for other companies, communities or associations.

Beyond Profits and Parties

However, para sa ibang Pinoy entrepreneurs, Christmas does not only mean making money or parties and functions. The holiday season can become an opportunity also to improve the business and its many relations. So, kung nabibilang ka sa mga ganitong uri ng negosyante, here are some suggestions, you can try, to maximize the season.

Organizing company Christmas caroling can be enjoyable for you and your employees as well as for other companies. This could be a way of strengthening your bond with them. But remember, do not serenade any company that doesn’t know you. You will only appear as a total stranger to the company and you will not create a first good impression, unless, your caroling group is not identified with any “business” establishment.

Engage in charity work or fund-raising activities for charity and share your blessings to make our less privileged countrymen enjoy the Christmas spirit, as well.

And, the most important opportunity to seize during this season is keeping your customers and clients with you. The simplest way to do this is by sending them a thank you Christmas card to maintain the rapport you have built with them. If you have not been communicating with them, then, this is the perfect time to show they are important.

Lastly, you can also maximize the holiday to take time out and make a self-reflection. You can try traveling this holiday with your family and spend some time in solitude or do some spiritual exercises. See if said activities really make a difference in your life as an entrepreneur. Creating greater self-awareness will always help you understand better your business practices and the people you deal with.

Besides, there’s more to Christmas than just making money and getting into parties and festivities. Happy holidays!!!

http://www.HolidayGreetings.tk

Salute to the great Filipino worker

2005-11-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

BABE'S EYE VIEW By Babe Romualdez, The Philippine Star 11/13/2005

Christmas is once again just around the corner and we expect a deluge of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming home for the holidays. There will be the inevitable welcome at the airport with NAIA people assisting the OFWs or maybe the usual presidential glory greeting "Hello, how are you?" at the NAIA. But what really is important to them is to come home to a peaceful country. All they look forward to is to be able to retire comfortably in their own country, one day.

Things are looking up with the exchange rate predicted to remain at the P54 to $1 level by the end of the year. The outlook for the peso has become much more positive. There is no question that the OFWs continue to be the saviors of this country’s economy for obvious reasons. In spite of all the political turmoil and trouble, the OFWs just continue to work and focus on making a living so they can send money to their families and give them a better life. So far, their remittances are expected to hit $10.3 billion by the end of the year. But in reality, the figures could be as much as $13 billion or even higher. An estimated $3 billion are also sent to unofficial or non-bank channels. Last year, it was estimated that OFWs accounted for $7.6 billion in remittances.

There are about 8 million Filipinos working in 192 countries with almost a million of them in Saudi. The other top host countries for our workers are Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Middle East, Singapore, Italy, and Brunei. But there is a big price to pay for the $13 billion in the sacrifices that these people have – social dislocation. We have heard many stories about a husband going berserk after coming home to find his wife going off with another man. On the other hand, husbands working abroad find another partner and leave their families hanging. Then there are those who work themselves to the bone in order to send their children to college. Sadly, they discover only later that their children have become drug addicts and criminals. Many workers miss out on the opportunity to see their children grow and, oftentimes, these kids become delinquents due to lack of parental guidance.

The Filipino family – the social fiber of this country – more often than not gets torn apart. A high price to pay for all the "money in China." But the worst part is the increasing number of sad stories especially in the Middle East where domestic helpers are not only treated like slaves but are beaten up, raped and even murdered. Many go abroad hoping to give a better life for their families, but in the end they come home catatonic due to the physical and mental abuse endured in the hands of these disgusting and abusive animals.

All the more reason why we should never have political appointees as diplomats in very important countries where most of our workers are stationed. Nowadays, the main function of Filipino diplomats is to protect these workers because they are the only ones OFWs can run to when they get in trouble. We simply must have career officers who are trained to help those whom we patronizingly hail as heroes. In reality, there are only a limited number of ambassadorial posts that political appointees should have. Most of these chief-of-mission posts, now more than ever, require a career officer who has some experience in dealing with OFWs. Glamour and prestige are no longer a consideration for ambassadorial posts. It is important that the practice of diplomatic political appointments must be stopped especially if these are just for the purpose of political payback.

It was the vision of the late Blas Ople, who was called "the father of the overseas employment," that made OFWs into what they are today. In 1974 when he was the Labor Secretary, he formed the Overseas Employment Development Board (OEDB) – precursor of the POEA – which implemented overseas employment as one of government’s priority programs. This far-seeing move brought in a lot of foreign exchange that helped shore up the country’s economy. In addition, Ople also envisioned technology transfer to the country through OFWs who would come home bringing with them new skills they learned abroad.

I recently visited Brunei where we have around 15,000 workers, 3,000 of which are professionals. Roughly 75 percent of the expatriates are Filipinos. The Sultan himself employs 1,000 OFWs in his palace. The people of Brunei don’t really have to work, because each family gets an annual subsidy of $100,000 from the government. Everything is free – hospitalization, social services – so they really have no motivation to work. They need Filipinos to keep things running. At the Empire Hotel, a top-of-the-line, six-star hotel owned by the Sultan where he hosts visiting heads of state, it is mostly the Filipinos who do the work. They are much appreciated by foreign guests because they are hardworking and extremely helpful. Being fellow Filipinos, you get to appreciate them even more.

With the sacrifices that OFWs make for their families and what they send back in dollars to keep the country afloat, the government should spend more time in listening to their problems and in trying to care for their needs. This is time better spent by the government rather than focusing on the angry, noisy rabble-rousers who continue to try tearing this country apart.

We should all take great pride in seeing Filipinos appreciated abroad. It is a fact – given the right kind of environment – Filipinos do well. Filipino workers are now considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in the world. As George W. Bush calls them, they are the "shining light of the world." We should be proud of the Great Filipino Worker. I salute them!

Helping Filipino Entrepreneurs

2005-11-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Kabayan,.

Globalpinoy website landed in the top 20 of both the Google and Yahoo search engines for "Negosyo". The webpage title is "Mag-Negosyo Tayo, Pinoy". This encouraged the Globalpinoy Management Team to create a webpage to promote Filipino products and help Entrepinoys market their products via the internet.

The Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, Inc. invites Filipino entrepreneurs to market Filipino products via the Globalpinoy website.

Globalpinoy shall come out with a webpage to promote the Filipino both indigenous and ethnic products of our kababayan via the internet. This assistance to our Entrepinoys is FREE – Walang Bayad. Filipino entreprenuers must submit picture of their products (in jpeg picture file format) with corresponding descriptions (specifications) + prices to Globalpinoys@SerbisyoPilipino.org

The Globalpinoy Management Team
www.Globalpinoy.tk

The Power of the Human Spirit

2005-11-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Speech by Dr. Josette Biyo - Outstanding Teacher

Globalpinoy wants to share with you the very inspiring speech of our guest speaker, Dr. Josette Biyo, during San Miguel's Best Practices Forum held at the Edsa Shangrila last Friday. Dr. Biyo is a public school teacher from loilo who won the Intel Excellence in teaching award in the US, besting 4,000 candidates from all around the world. When asked by the judges why a Phd holder like her opted to teach in a public school in Iloilo, her response was, "And who would teach the kids?"

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston named a minor planet in her honor. Read the rest of her story below.

"The Power of the Human Spirit"
Dr. Josette T. Biyo
24 October 2003
Edsa Shangrila, Manila

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. For a high school teacher to speak before a large group of business executives for the first time is overwhelming. But it is indeed a great honor and a privilege to speak to the group of people who is responsible for making San Miguel Corporation the top food and beverage company in the country, and on its way to becoming one of the top companies in the Asia-Pacific. I am here to talk about "The Power of the Human Spirit." Indeed, the human spirit has no limits. If you dream big, and you have the determination and the will to pursue your dream, it will become a reality. I dreamt of making stars; I was given a planet.

A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and international newspapers. I caused a stir to be the first Asian teacher to win the "Intel Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international competition held in the U.S. Since its inception in 1997, no Asian teacher has received this award. But I think what created waves was, I am a Filipino, and I defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world, including the American finalists in their hometown. Because of this, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston named a Minor Planet in my honor. There is now a Planet Biyo rotating around the sun which is located between Mars and Jupiter.

What made me win in this international competition? What made me stand out from among the best teachers in the world? My road to attaining this international recognition is a very long 23 years of improving and harnessing my craft as a teacher. I consistently study and learn new skills to improve my method of teaching. I want my methods to be interesting, relevant, and fun for students. For just like any product, the measure of teaching success is clientele satisfaction.

I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas hoping to be a medical doctor. For lack of financial resources however, I took the first job opportunity available- teaching. Never did I regret this twist of fate. The day I entered the classroom, I knew I would be an excellent teacher.

My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school. For lack of teachers in proportion to the number of students, I taught not only biology, but also other subjects outside my field such as English, Music, and Physical .Education. The materials, equipment, and facilities for the type of effective teaching I had in mind were absent. These challenges however did not dampen my enthusiasm for the job. In fact, I became more creative and innovative.

I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined within the classroom. Even during those first few years of teaching, I see to it that the science concepts I discuss inside the class would have social dimensions. Thus, I took an active role in school as moderator of the Rural Health and Science Education Committee. I designed outreach programs for students and teachers. Through these programs, students were trained to teach primary health care to the people in the barangays. They also taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from plant extracts and soap from coconut oil. Students also gave lectures on environmental protection and conservation.

Those eight years of teaching in a rural school has prepared me for greater challenges ahead. Working with the children of the poor has instilled in me the importance of service, compassion, and respect for human dignity. I have learned to love teaching, and I see it as an instrument for transforming the person and the community.

After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more to give to my students. I resigned from my teaching job and enrolled as a full time M.S. in Biology student at De La Salle University in Manila. I was lucky to get a scholarship which included free tuition and a monthly stipend.

To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in the Biology department and worked as research assistant by one of the senior researchers in the university. This I did on top of my full-time MS load. I was so engrossed with my studies however, that I finished my M.S. degree in one year and five months only, after which, DLSU took me in as a full time assistant professor.

Teaching college students at De La Salle University was an entirely new experience. With modern and sophisticated equipment at my disposal, my world opened to the wonders of scientific research. However, I still value the importance of nature as a big laboratory such that in my ecology classes, I would bring my students to the seas of Batangas, the rivers of Rizal, and the lahar-affected areas of Pampanga to conduct field studies. Pursuing my Ph. D. while teaching also enabled me to conduct researches which were presented in the country and abroad.

Research is very exciting. It means sleepless nights, disappointments, physical and mental exhaustion. But the joy of discovering something new in nature makes it all worthwhile.

While Manila has provided me with opportunities for professional growth, I still feel that my heart is in Iloilo. Thus, with an additional degree and one additional son, I brought back my family to Iloilo in summer of 1995.

In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas hired me as a Special Science Teacher. Only on its third year of existence, the school welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I helped develop its Science Research curriculum and introduced some innovations for teaching the course.

Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was not only to teach students but to train teachers as well. This I do by organizing workshops for teachers in the region.

One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter said, "Dear Ma'am Josette, we know you are being groomed for directorship of the school, and you would want to be the director someday, given the chance. The thing is, we don't want you to be the director. We just want you to be a teacher. Pisay needs teachers like you. The Philippines needs teachers like you." Their letter touched me deeply.

When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the outstanding teachers in the country, the Pisay community gave me a poster. The poster was a white cartolina filled with signatures of students, teachers, and the non-teaching staff. In the center was a painting of a rose, and the message which says, "You are the song that plays so softly in our hearts; that gives us inspiration to aim for greater heights and bigger dreams. Congratulations. We are so proud of you."

In 1998, I won another national award as one of "The Outstanding Young Filipino" formerly known as the TOYM in the field of Secondary Education. Last year, I won the "2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky from May 10-17.
In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about 150 teachers from all over the world my method of teaching Science Research to my students in Iloilo. I told them that the Philippines is a third world country blessed with abundant natural resources. However, we face problems such as the rapidly declining environment and the lack of equipment and facilities for scientific endeavors. Faced with this situation, I introduced innovations and strategies for teaching the course. These innovations included: a) building a scientific library, b) conducting field studies, c) establishing linkages with research institutions in the country, d) holding science forums in school, and e) teaching students laboratory and field techniques which would help them in the conduct of their research work.

The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were amazed that even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my students were able to produce quality research outputs beyond their expectations.

At this point in time, let me show to you what we do in our Science Research class? (a five minute power point presentation of my class activities).

I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the Manila Science High School, and one student from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. These students competed in the International Science and Engineering Fair which was held back to back with the teaching competition. The students from Manila Science competed for a team project in Physics, while the student from Iligan competed for the individual category in the field of Microbiology. These students were competing with 1,200 other students from around the world.

May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine delegation in the U.S. When it was announced that the student from Iligan won second place grand award for Microbiology, our delegation was ecstatic. When it was announced that the students from Manila Science won first place grand award for Physics, our group was delirious. When the grand award for "Excellence Teaching" was announced, and for the first time in the history of the event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there was a standing ovation from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in the air.

The Philippine delegation's road to success in Kentucky was far from smooth. We almost never made it to the U.S. Our visa interview was scheduled on May 29 when we were supposed to be competing in the U.S. by May 10. Almost desperate, we went to the Department of Foreign Affairs for help, only to be told that the Office cannot give us an endorsement letter to the U.S. Embassy because they cannot guarantee that we are coming back.

It was a painful experience for me and the students. Anyway, we were able to get our visa on the last minute the most unconventional way, and brought glory to this country.

Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of the teaching competition?

When I entered the judging area, one table in front was occupied by the board of judges. At the right side of the room, the table was occupied by the finalist from China and her supporters. The table at the left side was occupied by the finalists from U.S. and their supporters. The center table for the Filipino finalist was empty. I sat there alone.

I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation. I also brought some transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won't work. Coming from a third world country, I was prepared for the worst. It turned out, I was the only finalist without a notebook computer. Luckily, one American finalist lend me his computer; but before doing so, he gave me a brief lecture on the parts of the computer and its use.

I was the fourth presenter. When it was my turn to present, a panel member asked if I needed an interpreter. I said, "No thanks." A personnel from Intel volunteered to run my presentation. I said, "I can do it." After my presentation, they said, "Wow, you're so cool. You know more than us!"

What am I telling you? That despite our country's limited resources, Filipinos can compete globally given the proper training, support and exposure. Our winning at the international scene may not reflect the general condition of science education in the country. But with our concerted efforts, my dear fellowmen, we can move this country forward and show the world that we are a globally competitive race.

Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of teaching to 150 teachers from 17 countries. I also served as the team facilitator for the Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil, Costa Rica and Argentina. Last August, I gave a demonstration lesson to educators from the third world countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the international level in their individual capacity. But as a country, we lag behind. This is because we lack the spirit of community which is very strong among progressive nations.

When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the U.S., my school gave me a very warm welcome. During the convocation, students and teachers expressed how proud they are of me. I told them, "I am very proud of you too. It is you who has brought me to where I am now. Our experiences together has brought world attention to the fact that hey, there's a world-class school out there in Iloilo; a school with world-class teachers and students. I told the teachers and I quote Mr. De Quiros that "being world-class doesn't mean going internationally and showing our best out there. Being world-class is passion and commitment to our profession.

Being world-class is giving our best to teaching. Being world-class starts right inside the classroom."

In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the best teacher of the land. There are thousands of best teachers out there, working silently, giving their hearts to teaching, without thinking of benefits or rewards. I salute these teachers. In winning this award, I believe I was just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the message that indeed, Filipino teachers can be world-class teachers. In winning this award, I have shown to the world that Filipinos can be world-class if they choose to be. And more importantly, I have shown to my fellow Filipinos that they can be world-class if they choose to be. That if we do our best, we can conquer the world.

During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me, "You have a Ph.D. in Biology, why do you teach in high school?" I answered, "And who will teach these kids?" Another judge asked if how much am I paid for all my pains. They were shocked when I told them that I am getting a net pay of not more than $300. a month.

When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is giving your best in everything you do. Knowing that you have contributed significantly towards the creation of a product which can make a difference in your company and the larger community is reward in itself.

Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a difference.
Believing however doesn't mean you have to stop from where you are now.
Believing is improving your skills and maximizing your potential. With determination and the will to win, your company can conquer the world.

As members of the San Miguel Family, you are lucky to take part in the production of high quality and accessible consumer products that can be found in every Filipino home. Your skills do not only contribute to the development of the country's economy, but you also bring out the spirit of fun, joy, and laughter into the lives of the people; thus helping make everyday life a celebration. Your capable hands can paint a true image of the Filipino as a people- intelligent, hard-working, passionate, fun-loving, creative, innovative, "magaling!."

You could paint one bright picture of this country and its people - by your achievements in the workplace, your teamwork, integrity, passion for success, and your discharge of civic responsibilities. You can show the world that you are the new technocrats, capable and willing to meet the challenges of the new order of market globalization. You can show the world that you are the new citizenry, capable of making this country a worthy member of the league of peace-loving nations.

Be proud!

Globalpinoy in Kuwait

2005-10-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Globalpinoy is now in Kuwait and our Globalpinoy Card is now accepted in Cafe De Barako (Restaurant & Cafe) located at the Ground Floor Anfall Mall, Salem Al Mubarak Street, Salmiya, Kuwait.

Contact Number : Telephone 965 573 4922 & Contact Person is Norman Bongat.

In an email message from Butch Gocho, Globalpinoy Singapore Chapter, he said:

Dear Art and Yoy,

We have one new member in our Singapore Chapter who is currently based in Kuwait. He intends to initiate the setting-up of Kuwait Chapter soon with some pinoys.

His name is Norman Bongat. Norman also want their Kape de Barako business to be accredited by Globalpinoy. They will offer 20% discount upon presentation of the Globalpinoy Membership card.

Norman we look forward to see the Kuwait Chapter set-up soon. You will have Globalpinoy's full support.

Best regards.

Butch

Globalpinoy Vision & Mission

2005-10-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Mission

Guided by our ideals of love of country, promotion of the common good, sustainable development, respect for environment, and quality services, the Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises seeks to support individuals and organizations in their efforts to transform themselves and their communities in creating self-reliant, productive and prosperous individuals.

We shall find expression and fulfillment for our Corporate Credo: "OUR ASPIRATIONS AND DESIRE IS THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION" and contribute to the efforts of helping our country regain its respectable rank among nations.

Vision

WE ARE KEY DEVELOPMENT PARTNER IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP. We support the Development Vision of the our government, catalyzing the needed processes/support in realizing this vision.

WE RECOGNIZE AND VALUE INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT. We apply diverse expertise to harness these capacities towards innovative and practical solutions to development concerns.

WE WORK OUT OF OUR PERSONAL COMMITMENT. We believe in the work that we do; we care for the people whom we serve; we champion the causes we espouse. Hence, we constantly seek to improve our craft.

WE ARE DRIVEN BY THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF INNOVATORS. We are constantly on the look out for opportunities that bring about the development of individuals and communities. We are committed invest in, and reward, creative ideas and efforts that further stimulate growth, productivity, and quality.

WE CONTINUOUSLY FORGE PARTNERSHIP AND BUILD LINKAGES WITH OTHER LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. We affirm our institutional strengths, even as we acknowledge and tap the expertise of others to attain our common objectives. We collaborate with those who share our passion for development, and share risks to attain our common objectives.

Our task is to unite our nation; never divide. To make our country bloom like a beautiful flower for all the world to see.

Globalpinoy Singapore Chapter

2005-09-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Globalpinoy Singapore Chapter Consultant/Adviser Butch Gocho reported (in an email message on September 29, 2005) that Globalpinoy Singapore Chapter will have "a pre-launching (intro of Globalpinoy S'pore) this Sunday at the Bayanihan Centre. Actually, another S'pore organization called the 'Pinokyos Singapore' of which the President is Luisa Tayco (who is also our Globalpinoy Sgt-at-arms), is holding a gathering, which we will take the opportunity to introduce Globalpinoy."

Butch Gocho and Chapter President, Mr. Alfredo"Yoy" Artiaga reported that the Globalpinoy Association of Filipino Entrepreneurs (Singapore), which is the Singapore Chapter of Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, Inc., is now officially registered with the Singapore Registry of Societies. Our Registration Ref. No. is 2149/2005.

Globalpinoy in Jeddah (KASAPI)

2005-09-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

On December, 2004 in Quezon City, Philippines, Arturo Esguerra, Jr. President and CEO of Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Nazruddin Dianalan Chairman of Kongreso ng Kapulungan ng mga Samahang Pilipino (KASAPI CONGRESS) as partners in the desire to contribute to effort of generating jobs for the Filipinos by developing entrepreneurs among the people especially to the overseas Filipino workers and their depwndents. The document was also signed by Vicente Aguila, Vice-Chairman - Kasapi Congress; Abdullah Mamacotao, Chairman - Globalpinoy; Gil Menese, Secretary General - Kasapi Congress; and John Asperilla, Dep SecGen - Kasapi Congress as witnesses.

Improving Filipino lives through entrepreneurship

2005-09-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. Inc. is a non-profit, dynamic, vision and program oriented NGO based in Quezon City, Philippines. Started in September, 1990 as FILOVE International, the organization registered under its new name with the Securities and Exchange Commission in September, 2004 with Company Reg. No. CN200413688 and the purposes of the organization are:
1. To uplift the living conditions of members by assisting them in the establishment of livelihood facilities, services and enterprise.
2. To encourage the members in the effective utilization of local resources in livelihood activities and thereby improve the living condition in the community.
3. To acquire loans or other financial accommodations from the government and private lending institutions in order to finance productive livelihood enterprises.
4. To assist and support the members in the promotion of their business.
5. To develop and harness the people’s participation in every economic activity toward the development of the community through self-help and self-reliance.
6. To offer and provide the members including their families opportunities to participate actively in any program relative to the promotion and encouragement small business entrepreneurs.

Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. Inc. believes that a principal reason why the Philippines continues to lag behind its Asian neighbors in economic development is because of the lamentable absence of a wide-spread entrepreneurial orientation and a woeful lack of entrepreneurial skills among Filipinos. Even today, our youth are still brought up on the principle that the key to success is to get a good education preferably with impressive grades to be able to find good employment in big multinational companies. One look at our more successful Asian brothers will easily reveal that their economies were founded on local entrepreneurships, not employment.

There is therefore an urgent need to correct this anomaly that has left our country behind in economic development. This is most crucial as the whole world economy now faces the onslaught of globalization, a trend which cannot be stopped and will not be stopped.

Our country drastically requires the development of a mass-based entrepreneurial class if we are to survive globalization. A country of employees such as ours will always have a government that is beholden to multinational companies. On the other hand, a Philippines with a wide-based entrepreneurial class can exist on its own and could even wield companies hostage in this country.

The Philippine economy must be controlled by Filipinos. “Para umunlad ang ating bayan, kailangan umunlad ang negosyanteng pinoy.” This is the battlecry of the Globalpinoy Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. With every activity of Globalpinoy, we hope to spread the seeds of Filipino entrepreneurship to the four corners of the archipelago or wherever the Filipinos maybe.

Visit the website www.globalpinoys.net