VILLAR URGES ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS
TO BE CREATIVE, PERSISTENT AND BOLD

Senate President Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, in his dialogue with students who aspire to be entrepreneurs, urge them to be creative and bold in their ideas and approaches in order to become successful businessmen.

"Don't be preoccupied too much with where you will get the capital for your planned business venture. Most successful businesses are built on the creativity, persistence, boldness and hard work of their owners. If you have those qualities, you can make it as an entrepreneur," cites Villar who is known for his moniker as Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga (hard work and persistence).

Villar was part of the open forum in the ongoing TechnoNegosyo Expo at the World Trade Center organized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship. He awarded yesterday (September 14) the 10 Inspiring Technopreneurs namely: Manny Pangilinan, Smart; Ben & Nonoy Colayco, Level Up; Doy Vea, Media Quest Holding; Bill Torres, MozCom; Danny Manayaga, Secura; Dindo Banataw, FilWood Ventures; Joey Gorangco, Webworks; Peter Valdez, VintoSoft; Dennis Mendiola, Chikka; and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corp..

With his interaction with budding entrepreneurs, Villar said he would propose a number of legislation to help start-up businesses. "I learned a lot of things from this forum and I will definitely initiate or file bills in the Senate to encourage more entrepreneurs especially from the youth sector one of which is the creation of a student business development council or program," says Villar.

Villar is also proposing the teaching of entrepreneurship in schools. According to Villar, "Entrepreneurial education infused in our school system would remove the old archetype of Philippine schools preparing students to be employees. Entrepreneurial education should start at the earliest level. I believe that entrepreneurs are made, not born. Thus we should start them young."