Growing up, I saw how my grandfather, Salvador Araneta, as secretary of Agriculture, and my father, Jose Concepcion Jr., as secretary of Trade and Industry, committed themselves to creating an environment that gave everyone in the Philippines an equal opportunity to succeed. They understood that true progress comes not just from personal gain, but from lifting up the entire nation.
Their dedication to public service left a lasting impression on me. They instilled in me the belief that being a business leader is about more than just running a successful company – it’s about using that platform to lift up others and contribute to the greater good. I’ve witnessed how access to mentorship, practical advice, and the confidence brought by seeing other people achieve their dreams can be transformative for these entrepreneurs. Seeing the crowds that line up at our Go Negosyo events, eager to learn and grow, fills me with a sense of purpose and the determination to reach out to even more people.
From my own experience over the past 18 years with Go Negosyo, I’ve been able to directly support nano, micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs. Collaborating closely with Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual and Undersecretary Cris Roque, we’ve been able to accelerate our efforts to empower MSMEs.
Of course, I know that not everyone shares my optimism. It’s easy to be cynical, to simply bash the government without considering the nuance and complexity of the challenges we face. But I firmly believe that if we approach these challenges with a spirit of collaboration and a passion to serve, we can create real, meaningful change.
I wish I could choose a better title but I was really shocked when I found out about microplastics and how they have gotten into our food.