Negosyo Kabataan’s Youthrepreneurship Forum at the 15th Franchise and Business Expo

The 15th Franchise and Business Expo organized by the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) was held on October 14-16, 2016 at the World Trade Center. The expo features hundreds of businesses that are open for franchising or distributorship, and also other businesses that support micro, small and medium businesses in the country.

Part of the expo is a series of talks and seminars that are geared towards helping and empowering Filipino entrepreneurs. One of the highlights of the second day of the expo was the Youthrepreneurship Forum hosted by Negosyo Kabataan, an advocacy group that aims to empower aspiring and existing young Filipino entrepreneurs to create passion-driven businesses. With the theme “Passion + Purpose = Profit,” the forum is a discussion among young entrepreneurs who shared their stories about how they discovered their life purpose and built a successful business out of it.

The forum featured 6 panelists: motivational speaker and author Blasgil Tanquilut, speaker and author JB Borromeo, multi-awarded entrepreneur Jhopet Fines, director/producer, and life coach Paolo Apagalang, EntrepTV Executive Producer and host Jade Bigay, and language school owner Ezekiel del Rio. They took turns sharing their experiences about growing their businesses, and how their passion helped them overcome the challenges they met along the way. They also shared the lessons that they have learned, and how their journey enabled them to inspire and impact the lives of other people.

Two more entrepreneurs also joined the panelists to share their insights on discovering their passion and purpose – multi-awarded photographer Jophel Ybiosa and I-Aicon distributor Christian Leynes.

The forum concluded with inspiring words from Negosyo Kabataan Founder, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales. The VoiceMaster shared the reason behind his advocacy, and how he also became a young entrepreneur and established his brand in the world of voice acting as a young entrepreneur. He left the audience with a powerful message to shift their mindset when it comes to building a business, from making money to making a difference.

The Youthreprenuership Forum was organized by Voice of the Youth Network and Negosyo Kabataan – both youth advocacy groups founded by the VoiceMaster – in partnership with Milkin’ Corporation, makers of Fiorgelato Ice Cream, headed by its CEO and AFFI Board Member Richie Cuna.