Philippine News

The Philippines will begin its chairship of the ASEAN in January 2026. For this, the Philippines has chosen the theme “Navigating Our Future Together.” In his acceptance speech at the recently concluded 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. likened ASEAN to a ship setting full sail toward a shared horizon – anchored in peace, strengthened by prosperity and guided by the empowerment of its people. He further remarked that as the Philippines take

Traveling to Kuala Lumpur last week, I was filled with excitement for the handover of the chairship of ASEAN from Malaysia to the Philippines. I was there specifically for the private sector-led ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) events and Related Summits that were to happen over the weekend. There’s the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit and the ASEAN Business Awards, and the inaugural ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit. There has, so far, been plenty of exchanging of i

I had a very productive Wednesday last week at the meeting with some of the country’s leading business leaders and private sector organizations. They were there in full force, all 80 of the heavy hitters representing various sectors and companies, to find out how they can engage with the region next year, when the Philippines hosts the ASEAN Summit and related meetings, and is chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the private sector body tasked to advise g

At the little gathering we had last week for the people who comprised the Go Negosyo team over the last 20 years, we were fortunate enough to have Fr. Benigno Beltran, SVD to officiate the invocation. Later that week, Fr. Beltran shared with me the good news about the Department of Education (DepEd) greenlighting the Sandiwaan Center for Learning’s use of AI in the department’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. The Sandiwaan Center is located in Smokey Mountain, a sp

As I reflect on the 20 years since founding Go Negosyo, I am reminded of the journey that has empowered micro, small and medium...

“Grabe.” This was what the First Lady texted to me, complete with a “disbelief” emoji. I was in Kuala Lumpur to attend a week’s worth of...

Alice was already Alice Eduardo of Sta. Elena Construction & Development Corp. when she and I first met. She made her name in the...

Back in the day, scents for men came down to only aftershave and maybe cologne. You know you’re old when it’s news to you that young men...

This weekend, we will once again put the spotlight on digital technology and the part it plays in growing the Philippine MSME sector. The...

I often hear during our public entrepreneurship mentoring sessions how the ordinary folk we mentor in entrepreneurship express their...

I was at the Malacañang Palace last week to join DTI Sec. Cris Roque, as part of my duties as vice chair of the MSME Development Council...

It was a jampacked room at the Grand Hyatt Manila last week. Heads of the diplomatic missions from the ASEAN member-states were there:...

As a mentor to small entrepreneurs, I am often asked about growth. Expansion, to be more specific about it. Anyone who’s ever started a...

Today, President Marcos Jr. leaves for his state visit to India. The world’s fourth-largest economy has been an important trade partner...

After a week of relentless rains, the brief respite became an opportunity for me to attend the DTI-Bagong Pilipinas Tatak Pinoy National...

Every year, Go Negosyo names the year’s Most Inspiring MSMEs. They are chosen from hundreds across the Philippines, not only for the...

Whenever we host events like the ASEAN Summit, the biggest concern of people is that it will cause traffic. We have to change that. It...

When I was first asked to represent the Philippines in the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), I knew I had to say yes. As...

In a week’s time, the Philippines will be hosting the chairs of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC). They will be here to start the...

Over the last 20 years since I founded Go Negosyo in 2005, the landscape in the Philippines has undergone so many changes. In my advocacy...