‘Lakas ng loob’ boosts two SMEs

For two bossings in small and medium enterprises, being daring turned out to be key that enabled them to succeed in their ventures.

The Filipino trait of “lakas ng loob” has helped last year’s MVP Bossing Awards winners Willy Tee Ten of Autohub Group and Tommanny Tan of FERN Inc. in growing their businesses.

It is this attitude and other core values such as “diskarte,” “sipag at tiyaga,” “abilidad” at “talino” that the 2012 MVP Bossing Awards is looking for among Filipino business leaders.

With the theme “Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon: Championing Filipino values in Business,” this year’s MVP Award seeks to highlight the role of traditional Filipino values in the success of SMEs.

“What we have learned, however, is that while entrepreneurs serve as key catalysts of progress, their long-term success thrives on traditional Filipino values,” Kat Luna-Abelarde, vice president and head of PLDT SME Nation says during the launch of this year’s MVP Bossing Awards.

PLDT SME Nation in partnership with Go Negosyo recognizes the hard work of leading entrepreneurs who successfully apply their talent and skills as well as use the advantages of technology in their businesses.

“Almost everyone starts small. Don’t be afraid to start small,” says Ten, the president of Autohub which is composed of Metro Manila and provincial dealerships for Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and MINI.

For Tan, president and CEO of FERN, a distributor of health products, success also includes delivering good quality service.

“This early, we want to congratulate the would-be winners of this year’s award and encourage them to continuously sharpen their business acumen and show everyone that the Pinoy talent is unique in every way and one of the best in the world,” Tan said.

Nominations representing various SME sectors such as agri-business, manufacturing, travel and leisure, retail trade and finance, and service industry are accepted until Oct. 17, 2012.

Qualified for nomination are entrepreneurs and home-grown Filipino business leaders who have been in operation for at least five years.

“The kind of entrepreneur we want are those that will create jobs, wealth and employment for others,” Go Negosyo executive director Mon Lopez says.