ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship is the ability to turn ideas into action that helps people to be
more creative, competent and confident in whatever they undertake. Entrepreneurship
is the capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture
along with any of its risks in order to make a profit. The most obvious example of
entrepreneurship is the starting of new business. People who are building a business
are called entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur is an individual who starts and runs a
business with resources and planning, and is responsible for all the risks and rewards of
his or her business venture. An entrepreneur is willing to risk his or her financial security
and career, spending time as well as capital on an uncertain venture, arranging for the
necessary capital, raw materials, manufacturing locations and skilled employees.
Marketing, sales and distribution are other important aspects which are controlled by the
entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship is important for us, Grade 12 Learners, as it helps us to

prepare ourselves after graduating Senior High School. It helps us decide what we’re
going to do after graduating Senior High School. Because we tackle and learned
entrepreneurship, we can now start our own business if our parents doesn’t afford the
course we want to take.

The Top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs

There are many successful Filipino entrepreneurs in our country. Among many
reasons, they became famous because of their big contributions to the growth of our
economy. These Filipino entrepreneurs possess different characteristics which are
essential to becoming successful. Many of them have great stories for us to wonder.
They can serve as an inspiration for us Filipinos that someday we may become like
them.

1. SOCORRO C. RAMOS
-National Book Store, Inc.

Ms. Socorro C. Ramos started working as a salesgirl when she was 18 yrs. old in
Goodwill Bookstore in Escolta. She was good in selling, that’s why she became in
charge of the store. When she was married to Jose Ramos, they put up The National
Book Store. Her vision was to extend the National bookstore not only here in Luzon but
also to Visayas and Mindanao for cheaper access to books and school supplies. Before,
the National Book Store was a general merchandise store. Until later on, it was selling
books, greeting cards, and school supplies. Today, more than 70 National Book Store
can be found nationwide.

2. TONY TAN CAKTIONG

-Jollibee Foods Corporation

Jollibee was formerly selling Magnolia Ice Cream, and then it was recognized as
selling chicken and burger. Tony Tan Caktiong, the president and CEO of Jollibee, was
a name to remember, not only here in the Philippines but also in other parts of the
country, like in US, Hongkong, China, Indonesia, and Japan. He had received several
awards in the business and the likes. The success of Jollibee according to Mr. Caktiong
is sharing to people what they had achieved. Jollibee had been known to be a happy
and hardworking insect. It is the favorite place to dine in of many Filipinos especially the
kids.

3. Lucio Tan
-Philippine Airlines

Lucio Tan’s story was from rags to riches tale. Before working in the tobacco
industry, his business was a scrap. His dream was to become a scientist but his fortune
was bound to become an entrepreneur. His hard work made him successful and
became famous. Now, he owns Asia Brewery, Tanduay, Fortune Tobacco, Philippine
Airlines, Allied Bank, and many more to mention.

4. ATTY. FELIPE L. GOZON

-GMA Network, Inc.

Atty. Felipe L. Gozon is the chairman, president, and CEO of GMA Network. He
was credited for the success of GMA Network in radio and TV broadcasting, filmmaking,
and music recording. He was Master Entrepreneur in 2004. Because of the leadership
of Atty. Gozon, he made GMA as one of the top networks in the country today.
Currently, GMA had via-satellite broadcasting in Asia and in other parts of the world.

5. Henry Sy
-ShoeMart

Henry Sy was born on December 25, 1923, in Xiamen China. In his early
twenties, he used to sell American shoes. Then after three years, he was able to have
his first shoe mart store. SM group of companies was one of the biggest companies in
our country and the man behind it was Henry Sy. His self-discipline, perseverance, and
hard work made him what he is today. In almost every part of the country (as well as in
Asia), there is SM mall.According to Henry Sy Sr., success will not last if you do not
care of it. That’s the secret of their success.

6. Jaime Zobel de Ayala

-Ayala Corporation

Jaime Zobel de Ayala was before president and chairman of Ayala Corporation.
He was considered as one of the richest persons tied with Henry Sy in 2007. He had
received many awards and the latest was Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. His strategy
for being successful in this business was getting partners with those who are in need in
the community. He believes that gaining profits was not really the concern of every
businessman, but to help the poor people.

7. Alfredo Yao
-Zest-O Corporation

Alfredo Yao came from a poor family and became rich due to hard work and
determination. He didn’t finish his education at Mapua Institute of Technology. He
experienced to work in the printing press and then ventured to this business for 20
years. Then, he shifted to a juice manufacturing business. Zest-O became hit to
mothers because of its being convenient to be placed in every lunch box of the children.
Today, Zest-O was one of the leading juice manufacturers in the country, in China, New
Zealand, Singapore, and many others.

8. Mariano Que
-Mercury Drugstore
 Mariano Que first worked in a drugstore. When he was given the opportunity, he
invested his 100 pesos in the sulfathiazole tablets. He sold his products to the people by
making use of the wooden pushcart. After saving a lot of money, he was able to built
Mercury. It was made known to the people as selling safe medicines and opened for
24/7. Mercury, like any other leading drug stores, had many stores nationwide.That was
because of the innovations he made in his products.

9. Cecilio K. Pedro
-Lamoiyan Corporation

Cecilio K. Pedro finished his business management degree in Ateneo de Manila

University. He founded the Lamoyan Corp. which produces toothpastes like “Hapee”
and “Kutitap.” This made toothpaste affordable to the masses. He survived in the
industry because of being tough and innovative to fight for the multinational companies.
His company had received an award, “Most Outstanding Program for Equal
Employment Opportunity,” giving importance to those who have difficulty in hearing to
work in his company.

10. Corazon D. Ong

-CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

Corazon D. Ong is the founder of CDO Foods. It was a hobby of Ms. Ong to
make processed meats products such as corned beef, hotdog, meatloaf and hamburger
patties. She was a dietician by profession. So she understood what the preferences of
most Filipinos are. Today, CDO Foodsphere, Inc. was recognized as the leading
supplier of meat toppings. Why?? Because nowadays we have many working mothers
and it is convenient on their part to have foods which can be cooked easily.

The famous entrepreneurs really worked hard to attain success in their business.
They had faced different challenges but they didn’t stop until they achieved their goals.
Now, can we do it, too? Definitely, yes. We just need to have the will and the
determination to really work hard. We can also be destined in the business industry,
keeping our sights focused on how to achieve our goals and at the same time we
should also be guided by our values in life.