Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Inspiring Stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs

Over the course of over 109 years of Philippine history since independence was declared, there have been countless of stories, of inspiring stories of rags-to-riches Filipinos who were brave enough in facing down adversities thrown their way to fulfill their lifelong dreams.

Our country has a very rich history of businessmen, many of them making successful enterprises all over the Asia-Pacific region. The Filipino is probably the hardest working individual in the world. We currently support a global economy that is fueling the growth of national industries all around the globe.

There are thousands of Filipino workers in Hong Kong, toiling each day and night to help Hong Kong businessmen and women take care of their children while they are busy growing their businesses or their careers. Filipinos put their households in order by adapting to their culture and helping nurture their families. The same is true for countless others across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Millions are also employed in the Middle East building the infrastructure needed by these oil-rich gulf states. A lot of them also take care of Arab children so that these oil businessmen and investors can focus in running their oil fields and other businesses.

Thousands of engineers, electricians, and construction workers are at different points across Asia, making sure that building and infrastructure are constructed according to global standards.

Thousands are at sea commanding the cargo ships that transport goods all over the globe. Filipino seamen, seafarers, and marine officers are among the best navigators and ship crews in the world maritime industry. Without them, I believe global growth will be stalled. It is here where the Filipino is visibly very important in helping trade between countries possible.

Millions are at hospitals, clinics, home for the aged centers all across the globe, toiling each day and night as doctors, nurses, nursing aides, physical therapists and care-givers. The Filipino nurse is the best care-giving professional out there, without them many national health services of Western countries might collapse, in the UK National Health Service alone there are 40,000 Filipino nurses.

Millions are employed as domestic helpers, or butlers around the world, manning the households of diplomats, businessmen and foreign expatriates from Asia to Europe and crossing the Atlantic to the Americas.

Thousands are also entertainers, providing laughter to millions of people across Asia especially Japan, Europe and the Americas.

If you are to put a face on the Global Worker, it is probably the face of a Filipino worker that suits the bill.

But It is in no way indicative that we are a "follower" race. We make the impossible possible, and we do the tasks most people wouldn't even dare to do.

In that sense, we are very much value-creators because without the overseas Filipino worker (OFW), it is not only the Philippine economy that will greatly suffer but the entire world's as well.

If Taiwanese-made chips do not reach the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries on time, there would be drastic consequences for the computer industry and the global economy as a whole. The Filipino makes this possible by making sure the cargo ships that carry these chips arrive to their destination points on time.

It is thus my urgent wish for the Filipino to explore new opportunities in the manufactuing and marketing of Filipino-made products for the global consumer community.

TatakNoypi is a portal on everything that is distinctly Filipino - from laundry detergents to bath soaps to snack foods to appliances and even to cars. TatakNoypi is sort of a trademark for Pinoy-made products, it is a seal that the product is genuinely made by the Filipino. It is about time that we take on the giants in the global consumer industry, in the same way that China, India and Vietnam are now looking at global expansion as the best way to enlarge its economy.

The Filipino is not only a hard-working individual, he is very much an entrepreneur as well.

Let's us Start the Revolution of the Filipino Entrepreneur!

In the coming weeks and months, TatakNoypi will be profiling those outstanding Pinoy-made products and companies from all major industries like consumer goods, healthcare, snack foods, clothing, fashion, entertainment, fast-food restaurants, furniture shops, and even car parts, that are already capable of fighting it out with the foreign giants dominating their industries.

It hopes to inspire a Buy Local, Buy Filipino campaign that Filipinos will truly feel proud about everything made in the Philippines and totally eliminate the notion that Filipinos do not make quality products or goods.

Friday, July 6, 2007

TatakNoypi

TatakNoypi Initiative

The TatakNoypi Initiative is a national buy local, buy Filipino campaign which gets its inspiration from the 3rd Little Thing in Alexander L. Lacson's book "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country" which states "Don't buy smuggled goods. Buy Local. Buy Filipino."

This initiative hopes to make Filipino businessmen and their companies the number one companies in their respective industries within the country and even within Asia.

It will showcase Filipino companies that have made a name in the country, Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific and the world. It hopes to spawn an era of Entrepreneurship Education in the country and in the ASEAN region. It hopes to complement GoNegosyo's campaign to create a million army of Filipino entrepeneurs.

Let's Start the Revolution of the Filipino Entrepreneur!