Press Release
January 30, 2009

Villar calls for more entrepreneurs to help country ride out economic storm
Awarding of Go Negosyo Most Inspiring Bicolano Entrepreneurs

Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar today urged entrepreneurs to take the lead in helping the country ride out the economic storm.

"The global crisis that erupted last year whose impact we are beginning to feel as exports slowed down and as hundreds lose their jobs daily, make entrepreneurship more significant," Villar said during the awarding of Go Negosyo's Most Inspiring Bicolano Entrepreneurs and Microentrepreneurs at the Camarines Sur Convention Center, where he handed out the award.

"After the overseas Filipino workers who continue to support their families and the national economy with their remittances, I am convinced that entrepreneurs who embark on micro, small and medium enterprises could be our newest batch of economic heroes," he said.

Villar noted that like Go Negosyo, the Nacionalista Party also recognizes small entrepreneurs who used 'sipag at tiyaga' to establish and nurture their own business through its program Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga launched last year.

Among the 16 recipients of P100,000 each as additional capital for their business under this program was a native of Naga City, Marianne Olano. She used 20,000 representing her life's savings to start Baycrafts Shoppe, a custom jewelry business. Her business is now expanding in Metro Manila.

Also a recipient of the Pondo award is Pacifico dela Cruz or Mang Pacing, a duck raiser from Bulacan who almost lost his business when his son-in-law left him with debts.

"I felt one among them because my first attempt in business was also a failure - I went bankrupt because my customers could not pay for the fish I delivered. The message that I imparted to the small entrepreneurs: It doesn't matter how many times you fall as long as you rise after every fall," he said.

Villar started his sand and gravel business with a capital of only P10,000. His business is now the biggest home building company in the country earning him the title as the Dean of the Housing Industry. Prior to his elective position, he was referred to as the Brown Taipan, being the only Filipino included in the Forbes' list of RP's richest. Villar is also known as the Master Entrepreneur.

The former Senate President also commended Joey Concepcion, Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte and the rest of the Go Negosyo team for going around the country and encouraging more Filipinos to become entrepreneurs.

Villar himself espoused the entrepreneurial revolution as the one that will give the country a winning chance in the world's economic arena.

"In line with undertaking a value reorientation program towards competitiveness, we must likewise fast track the implementation of a nationwide entrepreneurial development program so that eventually we will have a critical mass of entrepreneurs," he said.

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