The Go Negosyo Woman 2020 Entrepreneurship Summit at the World Trade Center was a full house of about 8,000 participants. The summit highlighted women’s contribution in the Philippines and ASEAN with wonderful lessons in entrepreneurship, agriculture, style and substance, tourism, diplomacy, finding confidence and in life!
DELIA ALBERT, PHILIPPINES AWARDEE FOR WOMAN OF IMPACT
Delia Albert was the first Woman Career Diplomat to be Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Asia. Delia is always well dressed, prepared and exudes confidence. When asked how do you develop self confidence, Delia’s response was “you need to have content.”
Delia believes in being in the right place at the right time with the right people and being always prepared. “All my life,” she said, “it seems that I was always preparing for the next challenge even if I had no idea what that would be.” Dream, desire, direction, determination, dedication and service to others summarizes Delia’s life.
As SGV senior adviser, her mandate from Washington Sycip was “to continue serving the country by helping convince foreign investors to invest in the Philippines and create jobs.” This she does and more until today. Congratulations Delia, you are truly deserving of the 2020 Women of Impact award!
Can someone as beautiful, talented and as popular as Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray have insecurities? “Yes,” she says “And it’s okay, it makes us more human.”
“All of us need encouragement,” she said, for “we are not perfect.” Has she achieved her dream? She said, “keep on dreaming because it’s like climbing a mountain. As you have climbed one, you realize there are many other more mountains to climb or new dreams coming up.”
Charo Santos of ABS-CBN was a breath of fresh air with her feet fully grounded. She exuded success but bared her heartaches as well, showing how vulnerable one can be. She said “Believe in yourself, you can always bounce back.”
Doris Magsaysay of Magsaysay Shipping has made a big mark in shipping, a man’s world. She attributes this to her dad who was passionate about shipping. Her dad had a progressive outlook and treated all his children equally. Once, she was ready to quit, thinking she can’t make it, but her dad told her, “You can do it. Just be yourself.” Today, her company is not just into shipping but has expanded to other services as well, such as manpower, etc.
I was privileged to be an intervenor together with Agnes Asuncion of Agnes Dragon Cactus Herbal Soaps and Lolita Gumapos of Gumapos Farms in the “Women of the Earth” Forum which featured inspiring women in agriculture.
Rosalind Wee of W Group, the “Seaweed Queen,” continued to amaze me. Despite the challenges she faced with her eyesight, she is always cheerful and has a positive outlook. Indeed, she was very “groovy” with her silver rubber shoes and millennial denims.
Rachel Renucci-Tan’s story was so inspiring. She was able to convince her French husband to help Leyte and stay here after typhoon Yolanda. “Can you sip champagne, watch the iconic Eiffel Tower if your province-mates are dying,” she asked? Rachel is the owner of successful Chen Yi Agventures, Inc.
Millennial Dalareich Polot, manager of Dalareich Food Products in Bohol, came from humble beginnings and she had a dream. So she studied and innovated products from the backyard tablea. Now she is known as “Bohol’s Chocolate Princess.”
I’m a big fan of Cherrie Atilano of Agrea. She is definitely a shining star as the UN Ambassador of Agriculture and Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. If we can only clone her to get more competent young people in agriculture.
Veronica Colondam of Ycab Foundation, a Woman of Impact awardee from Indonesia, emphasized the importance of education.
Iloisa Romaraog-Diga of Session Groceries simply taught the Benguet farmers to be business minded. To know their products, their production cost, price accordingly with a markup and helped market their product. So a farmer was able to buy land and a jeep, among others.
The Women of the Earth panel was ably moderated by Nicole Cordoves, 2016 Miss Grand International Philippines. Special guests during this segment were Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez who spoke on the financial and technical assistance by the DA and DTI to farmers and small enterprises.
So many insights to learn from the fora of Women of Impact, Women of Legacy, Women of Style and Substance, Women of the Earth, Women of the World and Women of the Future! Truly an amazing gathering of empowered women, a day well spent! Thank you to the organizers — Go Negosyo in partnership with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines led by Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion. And happy 15th anniversary!!
Flor G. Tarriela is the Chairman of the Philippine National Bank. She is former Undersecretary of Finance and the first Filipina Vice President of Citibank N.A. She is a Go Negosyo 2018 Woman Intrapreneur Awardee. She is a trustee of FINEX Foundation and FINEX Academy; and an Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Fellow. Contact her at ftarriela@yahoo.com.
