October 4, 2023 - With the fervent goal to support local products and businesses of Cenphilians and farmers, the Student Economic Enterprise Expo was held as part of the U-week celebration.
With booths lined along Abada Avenue, CPSU Main Campus, the said Expo carried the tagline "Halina't Tangkilikin ang mga Produktong Maka-CPSU,'' which ignited the spirit of promoting and patronizing locally-made products. It further aimed to augment their desire to bring the beauty of entrepreneurship to people, realizing that everyone has an innate potential to change their lives when they choose to indulge in entrepreneurial activities.
Four resource speakers from various business agencies in Kabankalan City graced the event and shared their valuable inputs on how to establish a successful business. They encapsulated their life story, pointing out that success cannot ever be attained if one succumbs to the fear of taking risks.
Mrs. Leticia Maravilla, designated Administrative Officer III, Local Economic Investment Promotion Officer, and Technology Livelihood Development Officer of the City of Kabankalan, shared how they provided and assigned free skills training to the community. She instilled how the government supported SMEs by allocating budgets to fund their programs for promoting local businesses across different platforms. Furthermore, she shared how Negros generated an accumulated income from sales of 47.6 million from locally-made products of Negrenses at the Trade Fair in Glorietta to Makati last year.
“You don't need to have extravagant things to start a business, but only the mastery of basic numeracy skills and a true will in your heart… Don't start a business to make money; start a business to make a difference," she stated.
The second speaker was the President of the Kabankalan Local Producers Association, Mrs. Julie Cheng, who shared how she bravely conquered her fear of establishing a business in an area foreign to her. She was originally from Cagayan de Oro City and moved to Kabankalan City four years ago. Her speech highlighted how she lost almost P150,000 from her failed lechon business in Kabankalan but stood up again after a downfall. She joined the program "Mentor Me'' of the Department of Trade and Industry, which was all about teaching aspiring entrepreneurs how to properly and successfully start a business. From there, she established her Empanada business, which boosted up even in the midst of the pandemic. She instilled to everyone that giving up was not a choice because an excellent businessman only innovates but never quits.
Another speaker in the person of Ma'am Darlene Mae Casiano, an independent consultant in economic enterprise and economy, likewise stressed the importance of putting consideration into finding one’s own niche and market. She gave tips on how to creatively generate funding as well as how to properly use the money in a way that can never be wasted.
“Take care of your profit and take care of the sustainable bottom line,” she stated.
The last speaker was the Director for Production Enterprise Development Office (PEDO), Dr. Maryvic Pedrosa, who shared their program of community empowerment. She introduced the "Village Banking Project," an initiative developed by the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF), specifically to the CATAFA, which they also started introducing to other farmer associations, where they were teaching financial literacy to its members. She also shared that they were planning to propose a student village bank to inspire students to be financially literate and value investment and savings.
The said event was a fruitful discussion that involved teaching the students how and why a business chooses no age or gender. It only takes a brave heart and a leap of faith to be a successful entrepreneur. The Student Economic Enterprise Expo realized how Cenphilians are gifted with wide opportunities to venture in their respective fields, especially in igniting their creative minds towards establishing a small business of their own.
The said event was spearheaded by the Future Leaders of the Philippines (FLP), led by its President, Ms. Egelyn Estupedo, in collaboration with the Supreme Student Government (SSG), headed by Hon. John Rey Agustin and the Office of Student Services and Affairs (OSSA), headed by Dr. Pilipinas Ma. D. Jareño.
by: I. Coniendo, BSED - Sci 2A / The Cenphilian
Photos: J.M. Facto & R. Macariola / The Cenphilian