Go Negosyo 2013: Empowered Women

March is Women’s month.

More than 10 staff of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, including myself, went to the World Trade Center today, March 1, 2013, to join Go Negosyo’s  5^th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit. Unlike the past years, there are lesser stalls and more seats for everyone to witness and participate in the program.

My Officemates: Gie, Mich, Joy, Peter, Love, Mercy, Chie, Du, Ema, Sandi

The keynote speaker was the ever aggressive and assertive Sen. Mirriam Defensor-Santiago. She talked about gender gap and political dynasty. On gender gap, she said that women are not properly represented when in fact in terms of supremacy, women are more dignified; while women were taken out of a man’s rib, men, she said as quoted in the bible, were from mud. There was of course laughter all over the place. Even I, was shocked at the logic. Then she said, “that is Theology”. Clever. What a smart line for debate!

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago after her talk

On political dynasty, she said that the Constitution has been disobeyed by law makers who refuse to enact a law against political dynasty. The Constitution explicitly prohibits political dynasty. The provision, however, is not self-executing. It needs a law to put it in force. Hence, families in the senate and in the house. In between her speech were of course, as always, jokes and attacks (or counter-attacks) against political enemies and an endorsement of a candidate, Cynthia Villar who is also present. Although they are funny (because they really are), they are, to me, unnecessary statements or rather inappropriate for the event.

In the afternoon, was the awarding of Best Women Entrepreneurs. They were Corazon Dayro-Ong (CDO Foodsphere, Inc.), Maria Fe Agudo (Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc.), Charita Puentespina  (Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Inc), Amb. Preciosa Soliven (OB Montessori, Inc.), Siu Ping Par (PR Gaz Holdings, Inc.), Tina Maristela-Ocampo (Celestina), Glenda Barretto (Via Mare), Dr. Eleanor Tan (Healthway Medical), Bambi Verzo (Concertus Manila), Dr. Vivian Sarabia (Vivian Sarabia Optical), Cynthia Villar (The Villar Foundation), and Heny Sison (Heny Sison Culinary School). Other guests were: Dr. Helena Benitez (Philippine Women’s University), Socorro Ramos (National Book Store), and Esther Vibal (Vibal Publishing House, Inc.). The following are the inputs I noted during their interview:

·         Take the risk. Start small. – Vivian Sarabia, Sarabia Optical

·         No one else will help you but yourself. – Maria Fe Agudo, Hyundai

·     You have to study. Travel if you must. Think how you can improve your business. – Glenda Barretto, Via Mare

***

I personally believe that most working individuals are misplaced. Only a few have passion on what they do. Most work because they need to feed a family and survive.

Karen Davila spoke on the importance of loving and continuously learning your job as well as the importance of entrepreneurship or a small start. Her mother put up a small business in order to send them to school. According to her, had it not been for her mother’s small start, she will not be able to finish school. At age 23, she started working for ABS-CBN. Her take home pay then was only Php4,500, Php3,000 of which is handed to her mother. She said that one thing her mom taught her is to save, however little, for the future. She said “Lahat ng bagay ay nagsisimula sa habit. You have to set aside for rainy days.”

ABS-CBN Anchor Karen Davila

Success is what each of us aims. Everyone is in search for its key. “Ang susi sa pag-unlad ay kayo. Ang negosyo ko ay ang sarili ko. Ang reputasyon ko.”, she said. Health, sane mind and a functioning body are what we basically need in order to carry out everyday tasks. Without which, we will not be able to prosper.

In this fast-paced world, it is necessary to keep up or else, we will fall behind. With the present system, the world of work reveals that we cannot survive with intellect alone. For Karen Davila, Emotional Quotient (EQ) is more important that IQ. “Marunong ka bang makipagkapwa tao?” she asked. EQ involves our attitude towards others be it under ordinary circumstances or at work. More than a high EQ, we need to have also high Adversity Quotient (AQ). “Matatag ba kayo pag may crisis sa buhay nyo” she asked again. Indeed, courage and determination must be innate in us if we want to soar higher. The world is wrapped in deception. Weak hearts might falter worst, fail.

Passion is the fuel of our dreams. It turns dreams to reality and gives our work a higher value. During the open forum, a student asked what makes Karen Davila unique. In reply, she said: “Walang nakukuha kundi sa araw araw na pagtya-tyaga. Walang utang ang mundo sa akin. I never felt entitled. I was always known as a working journalist. Nagsusulat ako. Nagko-cover ako. Ginagawa ko ang sarili ko na tunay na mamamahayag. Kailan man hindi ako tumanggap ng lagay. That makes Karen Davila unique. Malinis syang mamamahayag.”

A teacher, the last to ask, posed a beautiful and relevant question. She asked Karen on how she managed to balance the role of a mother, a wife and a journalist. “You can’t have everything all at the same time. Meron talagang magsa-suffer.” Karen honestly replied.

I was inspired.