DTI and GoNegosyo’s KMME Program Launch

Misamis Occidental delegates with Sir Leo Ocampos and Ma’am Elvie Tan

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in partnership with GoNegosyo officially launched Kapatid Mentor Me Program last March 7, 2018 at Malberry Suites Business Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.   The said program is intended for the second batch of small, medium, and micro entrepreneurs which will run until June of this year, covering 10 business modules.  As a struggling entrepreneur, I feel so blessed to have been chosen as one of the program’s mentees!

The event started off with the registration of 25 mentees for each province of Region X namely Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and of course, Misamis Occidental.  Then the program proper commenced with the SOPs as invocation, national anthem, welcome address, and inspirational message.  Afterwards, Mr. Paul Anthony De Guzman of Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) gave an overview of what’s gonna happen for the next 6 hours.  And without further ado, our classes started right away with Module 1: Entrepreneurial Mindsetting and Values Formation by Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM) top-caliber businessman, Dr. Franciso “Dean Pax” E. Lapid.

With the dynamic resource speaker that we had, we didn’t notice that it was time for lunch until Sir Paul, who also happened to be the timekeeper raised the overtime card.  Then we only had a very short break because Mr. Paulo M. Tibig, an equally dynamic speaker who is also dubbed as the entrep champ was so excited for Module 2: Marketing Mindset.  With all the input that we had from these 2 big names in entrepreneurship, we were expected to have an output through an activity called The Elevator Pitch (adopted from a TV show in the US).

In this regard, 5 mentees representing each province were chosen for the aforementioned activity.  As I may recall, one was the maker of the peanut butter me and my CCF family went gaga over with, Madam Joji of Joji’s Delights from Bukidnon.  Next was the pizza maker from Camiguin (I wish to try her pizza the next time I’ll visit the island), followed by a restaurateur from Iligan City (hoping one of my college buddies would take me to their home-resto).  Soon after, a lady from Cagayan de Oro presented her janitorial services company and last but not least, our very own Nicko of Tudela for his very ingenious invention of bamboo drinking straws.  I am very proud of this young entrepreneur kiddo for his Yugto products which were used by the world leaders during the 31st ASEAN Summit here in our country last year.

Moreover, the inspiration and motivation continued as 3 mentees from the first batch shared their roller-coaster-ride stories in propelling their businesses.  First was Mrs. Jonnamei Lozano, the maker of guyabano purée, guyamansi, and other guyabano products of Bukidnon.  Second was Mr. Rexaniel Saburnido, the maker of pater and palapa of Iligan City.  And third was Ms. Fe Cabacang, owner of CFS Agri Farm who supplies broiler chickens in Misamis Oriental.  The afternoon was very rich with words of wisdom from these mentees’ real-life experiences.

As they say, all good things must come to an end.  To allot only a day for this kind of seminar workshop is never enough.  It was so bitin!  I still want to learn from “The Dean” who is actually paid handsomely at 2,000 USD per hour for his other speaking engagements and consultations.  I also still want to hear from “The Champion” who’s now earning millions through his VCargo company.  Though we only had a little time, it was all quality learning experience.  Now I am very excited to become one of them, a millionaire as per say!

Thank you so much, DTI and GoNegosyo for this once in a lifetime opportunity! I am so excited for Thursday for Module 3 that will be held here in Ozamiz already!  So see you, classmates and new mentors for the next 3 months!  🙂  #tosomevents

Watch this vid for more about the event!

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