Filipino Best Entrepreneurs

Recently, the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were given to the following:

1. Jesus Tambunting - awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2009. He will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur of the Year '09 to be held in Monte Carlo, Monaco on June 1, 2010. Tambunting is the Chairman and president of Planters Development Bank.

2. Eduarda V. Ayo - awarded the Small Business Entrepreneur for demonstrating excellence in managing a small business with less than 100 million pesos worth of assets. Her business is seed production and rice farming and milling. She is now into integrated farming that includes breeding goats, cows and other poultry animals.

3. Justin S. Uy - awarded the Manufacturing Entrepreneur for building a sustainable fruit business that exports dried mangoes and other fruit products to many countries. His company is Profood International Corporation.

4. Gemma N. Bullos - received the Social Entrepreneur Award for pioneering in the water business for poor communities. She is the founder of the A single Drop for Safe Water. She is also a song writer and was able to build a global peace movement called Million Voice Choir.

5. Antonio L. Tiu - awarded the Emerging Entrepreneur for excellence in managing a business with more than 100 million but less than 1 billion asset. He is the CEO of AgriNurture, Inc. (ANI) which is involved in trading and processing of fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. Corazon D. Ong - received the Woman Entrepreneur Award for her CDO brand of meat products and which is now promoting the San Marino brand of corned tuna.

7. Kenneth C. Cobonpue - selected as the Innovation Entrepreneur for applying innovative approaches to business management. His use of indigenous raw materials to create fabulous furniture items earned him worldwide accolade and his products now being exported to many countries.

The Other finalists are:

1. Mylene R. Abiva who is involved in the business of providing educational materials
2. Dustin V. Andaya who is earning millions for selling roses and other flowers through the internet
3. Mary Grace Arboleda-Young for promoting coffee from the Cordillera Mountains
4. Henry P. Cureg who is in the printing business
5. Michael L. Escaler with his trading activites in agricultural products like sugar and fertilizer.
6. Bonifacio P. Fernandez who found money by exporting charcoal
7. Antonio I. Gloria - the man behind Unitel Productions, the producer of short advertisement and movie trailers
8. Marianne G. Quebral who pioneered professional fund raising
9. Ricardo E. Reyes Jr. - the founder of the familiar Ricky Reyes Hair Salon.
10. Carlos C. Salinas the best friend of seafarers
11. William Tiu Lim of Mega Sardines fame.
12. Salvador V. Veluz of Buddy's Pizza and Restaurant.

You see, the Philippines is not really lacking in business talent. Sabi nga, maraming magagaling na Negosyanteng Pinoy!

Hope to meet and interview them in the future.