PLDT SMART SME Nation kicks off ‘MAKE IT BIG’ campaign

PLDT Vice President and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin (center) and AVP and Head of SME Nation Fixed-Line Product Marketing Amil Azurin (left) discussing the newly-launched Make It BIG Campaign during the BIG Talks press briefing.

Make It BIG campaign ambassadors with PLDT Executives. (From Left to Right) MVP Group of Companies Media Bureau Head Michael Toledo, PLDT Chairman Manny V, Pangilinan, Golden ABC Chairman & CEO and MVP Grand Bossing awardee Bernie Liu, Kimstore founder Kim Lato, Messy Bessy founder Krie Reyes-Lopez, Bianca’s Ice Candy founders Rudy and Rosiell de Leon, Calata Corp. founder Joseph Calata, PLDT Executive Vice President Eric R. Alberto, and PLDT Vice President and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin.

MANILA, Philippines, June 2, 2016 – Recognizing the need to motivate small and medium enterprises which make up the backbone of the Philippine economy, PLDT Smart SME Nation recently hosted BIG Talks, a conference that brings together entrepreneurs, and encourages them to take their business to the next level. BIG Talks is in line with PLDT Smart SME Nation’s “MAKE IT BIG” campaign, which aims to empower entrepreneurs to make it big, no matter what stage their business is in.

The MAKE IT BIG campaign is a new movement targeting Filipino entrepreneurs by encouraging them to aspire for greater goals in their respective businesses. As part of the campaign, five ambassadors that each represents a pillar in the journey of entrepreneurs will communicate this message of empowerment.

“Filipino entrepreneurs deserve to dream big, and be empowered to make these dreams come true. We at SME Nation are committed to reach business owners in the country, strengthen them and prepare them to go global. In so doing, we hope to help them give back to their family, their employees, and their community,” said PLDT Smart SME Nation’s VP and Head Mitch Locsin at the launch of the MAKE IT BIG campaign.

Alongside its goal of providing entrepreneurs with next-level technology that addresses their business needs, the BIG Talks Series provides entrepreneurs with knowledge and resources to enable and inspire them to achieve bigger goals for their businesses and themselves.

Guests from the SME sector, along with several business organizations from all over the country, listened to the featured speakers as they shared their experiences, business tips, and insights on growing a business and the art of entrepreneurship.

Locsin delivered an introductory talk on PLDT Smart SME Nation’s new campaign, and explained how MAKE IT BIG reflects its commitment to enable business owners through cost-effective and efficient digital solutions. Golden ABC Chairman & CEO and MVP Grand Bossing awardee Bernie Liu, for his part, discussed the significance of being a passionate entrepreneur. He encouraged SMEs to be more driven in what they do and to maximize the opportunities made available by technology to grow their businesses.

A panel discussion followed with panelists Laura Verallo de Bertotto of VMV Hypoallergenics, Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste, Joseph Calata of Calata Corp., Kim Lato of Kimstore, Rudy and Rosiell de Leon of Bianca’s Ice Candy, and Krie Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy. These industry pillars shared how they made it big in their respective industries, and gave insights on a range of topics such as building a business through inclusive growth, taking on the global market, and making use of technology to drive the growth of a company.

“The BIG Talks series is just the beginning of our multi-pronged efforts to empower the Filipino entrepreneur. Through these events, we hope to empower their entrepreneurial spirit and to create a network of like-minded people and encourage knowledge exchange, which is essential to the success of Filipino enterprises,” concluded Locsin.