Cheers to Go Negosyo

President Arroyo is coming to town tomorrow. We welcome her. The Go Negosyo Caravan answers the critics' claim that progress has not gone to the rural areas. We can see it in the economic strides made by Gov. Joseph Marañon for Negros Occidental, by Mayor Bing Leonardia for Bacolod, and the vision for Silay of its newly-elected Mayor Oti Montelibano, who asked me to have coffee with him the other day.

A progressive country is composed of people proud of their past, happy with their present, and confident of their future. The awardees will really inspire us.

Cheers then to Go Negosyo sa Bacolod and their awardees led by Foodman Corporation president James Chua, and Yanson Group of Companies Chairperson Olivia Villaflores-Yanson. Cheers to other awardees too.

They are all really an inspiration with their successes.

I have known and have seen the struggles of both James Chua and Mrs. Yanson, she with the help of hubby Ric, the low-key work horse of the business . . . their achievements should be put up, together with the other awardees, for all to follow.

Our business education should be geared towards developing entrepreneurs. I recall some 50 years ago, when I joined to teach at La Salle, Brother D. Gabriel, on seeing in the curriculum typing and stenography courses, blurted out, "Scrap that. We are not developing clerks but entrepreneurs."

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And thanks to businessman Jose Concepcion III who conceived and is Presidential consultant of this entrepreneurship program.

This will be like the Chautuqua Movement in the U.S. in 1874 whose lecture series brought throughout the country had one topic, "An Acre of Diamond" which taught people that one does not have to go anywhere to find an acre of diamond but right there in his own backyard, in himself. By becoming an entrepreneur. Let us promote entrepreneurship, especially in the countryside.

I was also happy when informed that the Kabisig Livelihood foundation in Bago City is one of the businesses to be recognized. I was asked to be there in the awarding ceremony. This is a cooperative of rice farmers.

I was an original member of the board when organized more than 17 years ago, as treasurer until now. My happiness is to see the many rice farmers it has helped in also becoming small entrepreneur themselves. I am happy our president, Dr. Carmen P. Benares is one of the speakers in the lectures.

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My joining it has a story. During the presidency of Mrs. Corazon Aquino she organized Kabisig, an organization of rice farmers all over the country. Its flagship was the Kabisig in Tarlac headed by surrendered NPA founder Bernabe Buscayno.

The local Kabisig was organized by my former student at La Salle Gov. Daniel "Bitay" Lacson. Having seen many farmers cooperatives folding up, being mismanaged, I criticized it and expressed apprehension it, too, would fail.

Bitay called me up telling me if I was afraid money would be lost, I should be the treasurer. For a labor of love, he said. I objected, complaining, that me and my big mouth.

But Bitay insisted, "No. Be there and watch the money." There I was and got stuck to it until now, seeing to it what Bitay told me is followed. After that I avoided Bitay, afraid he would give me another job. Talking to the farmers during the coop assembly and seeing the improvement they have with their other businesses because they are mostly agrarian reform beneficiaries, and their children finishing courses in college, some of them already abroad, gives me a feeling of happiness.

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And the secret is we have good leaders starting with SGV's Lito Fuentespina, then Brother Rolly Dizon, and now Dr. Carmen Benares with a very good manager Mrs. Alegria Makilan.

Some of the original board members are Dr. Benares, lawyer Andy Hagad and Roni Parohinog. It's now 17 years.

They have all been committed and inspiring leaders that without knowing it their commitment rubbed on every one.

I don't know of one rice farmers coop in Negros and even all over the country operating as Kabisig still operating.

We are all happy to serve the least of our brethren, as a labor of love.

My experience in Kabisig helped me as one-time president of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and until now also chairman of Sugar Growers Multi-Purpose Coop.

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Our fault, especially we in media, is to complain about everything. We should look at the positive side and put up in the pedestal people who can bring inspiration to others like all the awardees.

The Go Negosyo Caravan is more effective in making people produce than a thousand speeches about entrepreneurship.

*** It was a big turnout for the birthday party of Mayor Bing last Tuesday. One thing I like in that birthday party is there were no speeches.*

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