The first-ever Negosyo Summit — held on September 28 at the Balon Bayambang Events Center — successfully drew together Bayambang’s micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and young aspiring entrepreneurs, to listen to inspiring talks by resource persons in the field of business.

Organized by the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Team headed by Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini A. Sagarino-Vidad, in coordination with Local Economic Investment Promotion Officer Levin N. Uy and the Department of Trade and Industry, the summit was aimed at capacitating MSMEs and the youth with the ‘tools of the trade,’ to further sharpen their business acumen or learn the secrets of startups, respectively.

“If we want to become a millionaire, our 8-to-5 jobs are not enough,” Atty. Sagarino-Vidad explained. “It is often only in business that we are able to make that possible.”

“Succeeding in business also has a domino effect,” she said, as a business enterprise inevitably requires the hiring of workers and partnership with suppliers and other businesses.

Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, himself a model of a very successful businessman, noted how today’s millionaires like Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, and John Gokongwei all started small. “Lahat yan nag-umpisa sa maliit.” He also pointed out that the Chinese scrap dealers in the olden days are now the captains of their industries, thanks to hard work and perseverance.

“Gusto kong maging negosyante kayong lahat,” Mayor Quiambao told a crowd of around 800, among them BS Business Administration students of Pangasinan State University (PSU)-Bayambang and Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons.

Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan and Councilor Benjamin Francisco de Vera also shared insights from their own experience as entrepreneurs. Local Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Chairman Renato Calantuan recalled that in October 2016, Bayambang became one of the first towns in
Pangasinan to put up a Negosyo Center and Business One-Stop Shop, thanks to the full support of Mayor Quiambao and the Sangguniang Bayan.

The speakers included Go Negosyo’s Paul Anthony de Guzman, who gave a lively briefer on Go Negosyo and entrepreneurship in general; Deborah Beltran Castillo, who talked on Entrepreneurship Mind-Setting/Management Skills; Archie Florendo, who delved on Empowering the Youth through Social Business Enterprise; Natalia Dalaten, who dwelt on Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise; Dr. Raquel Pambid, who gave her thoughts on her experience as Focal Person of PSU-Food Innovation Center (FIC); Marlo Carag, who explained Business Product Branding; and representatives from Metrobank, who talked about loans and financing.

With the theme, “Gabay sa Pagnenegosyo, Buhay Aasenso,” the Negosyo Summit doubled as a mini-trade fair of sorts, with the setting up of display booths for participating MSMEs and other entities, including Konsepto Cakes, Sancagulis Rice Cracker, Nanay Doray’s Buro, Chelsea Peanut Butter, ChowMing, Masagana SLP, PSU FIC, Department of Science and Technology, Maigpa Hat-Making Association, and KALIPI, among others.

Also present to lend their support were Councilor Philip Dumalanta, Councilor Joseph Vincent Ramos, Councilor Martin Terrado II, Liga ng mga Barangay President Rodelito Bautista, Sangguniang Kabataan President Gabriel Tristan Fernandez, Bayambang PNP OIC Chief Fidel Junio, and LGU department heads and employees.