Press Release
August 2, 2008

Nationwide search for entrepreneurs:
NP awards centennial gift of P100k each to 16 winners

The Nacionalista Party (NP) awarded a total of P1.6 million to winners of its centennial gift dubbed Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga at the historic Laurel Mansion in Mandaluyong City today.

NP President Senate President Manny Villar congratulated 16 budding entrepreneurs from different regions across the country who were chosen from thousands of entries to receive a capital grant of P100,000 each during a dinner celebration hosted by the NP.

"We give due recognition to our entrepreneurs who have exemplified the Filipino spirit of excellence and resilience in their respective fields even amid trying times," Villar, who conceived the project, said.

The Nacionalista Party and the Sipag at Tiyaga Foundation joined hands to realize NP's vision of propelling entrepreneurs through the Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga initiative.

The winners are: Sarah Dabucon and Margarita Allado from Region 1; Albino Francisco, Calma Arcala, Albert Dulnuan, Elizabeth Africano and Solomon Maylem from Region 2; Pacifico dela Cruz from Region 3 and Antonia Villanueva from Region 4; Marianne Olano from Region 5; Roland Madera from Region 6; Lucresia Saga from Region 7; Elizabeth Rafal from Region 12; Ernesto Paglinawan from the CARAGA Region; and Marie Saclag and Regina Madio from CAR.

It can be recalled that during its 100th year celebration held at the Philippine International Convention Center in November last year, NP launched its nationwide search for the most promising and innovative entrepreneurs.

Earlier, the products of the winning entrepreneurs were showcased in booths set up at the Market! Market! Shopping Complex in Taguig City, which Villar visited.

"Not only do we desire to acknowledge the abilities of our promising entrepreneurs, we also yearn to steadily encourage them by providing them with additional capital such as the Pondo," Villar stressed.

"We expect that their feats in this nationwide search will serve to inspire our countrymen to follow their lead and take the path of entrepreneurship to spur our economy," the Senate President said.

"We are optimistic that our list of Pondo winners will grow each year as the Nacionalista Party plans to make the event an annual endeavor," said Villar, who was elated at the overwhelming response the project received in its first year.

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