"PONDO SA SIPAG, PUHUNAN SA TIYAGA"
NP awards 60 promising entrepreneurs

The Nacionalista Party (NP) led by Sen. Manny Villar chose 60 promising entrepreneurs out of thousands as this year's awardees of "Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga" in an event at the NBC Tent at The Fort, Global City in Taguig.

The awards, launched in November 2007 during the party's centennial commemoration, aims to promote entrepreneurship as a way of combating poverty. The 2009 national winners receiving a capital grant of P100,000 each were Rufo dela Cruz of Calasiao, Pangasinan, who make and sell "Bella's Puto Calasiao," and Elisa Tomas of Quirino for her "Melizabeth food products" business.

Other awardees from Northern Luzon receiving P20,000 seed capital were Carlo Balneg of Abra, Dominador Codio of Benguet, Sr. Gabriela Dargiwan of Kalinga, Valentino Vicerra of Apayao, Angelina Tagay of Ilocos Norte, Elisa Abaya of Ilocos Sur, Romy Urbano of La Union, Armando Macatuggal of Quirino, Marvin Mapote of Isabela, Perlita Tiburcio of Nueva Vizcaya, Lucila Eugenio of Nueva Ecija, Conchita Hernandez of Aurora, Rodolfo Molina of Tarlac, Pamela Santos of Bataan, Remedios Udad of Pampanga, and Prisco del Moro of Bulacan.

Winners from Southern Luzon were Ramelito Barte of Quezon, Liza Perez of Laguna, Josephine Tacasa of Oriental Mindoro, Francisco Aranda of Sorsogon, Gregorio Basallote of Camarines Sur, Andres Canada of Camarines Norte, Asah Conde of Masbate, Imelda Dado Moratillo of Albay, and Floro Teano of Catanduanes.

Lone awardee from the National Capital Region was Susana Santiago of Valenzuela City.

Visayan winners were Meraluna Pascadero of Negros Oriental, Marybeth and Gabriel Sanoria of Cebu, Amy Alico and Joel Marquez of Leyte, Lorna Celespara, and Delita Montes of Samar.

Awardees from Mindanao were Eric Philip Macaso and Edgardo Tagalogon of Zamboanga, Jubella Acera of Camiguin, and Lilia Caga-anan of Misamis Oriental, Dionesia dela Pena of Misamis Occidental, Ofelia Gamao of Bukidnon, Rufina Anunciado of Davao del Norte, Reynaldo Deodor of Davao City, Florita Duag of Compostella Valley, Fe Sarabillo of Davao del Sur, Camilo Falcis of South Cotabato, Margarita Abaquita of Agusan del Norte, Jonathan Abayon of Agusan del Sur, Romeo Amahan of Surigao del Norte, Henry Capangpangan of Dinagat Island, and Leah Labordo of Surigao del Sur.

Winners in the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) category were: Gemma Victoria of La Union, Elisa Tomas of Quirino, Trinidad and Mario Yabes of Nueva Ecija, Romero Escio of Camarines Norte, Gregorio Palermo of Iloilo, Rosario Bation of Misamis Occidental, Rokaiya Kasan of South Cotabato, Zenaida Acaso of Basilan, Julia Buteng of Benguet, Leonardo Beniga of Agusan del Norte, and Nimfa Sagaral of Surigao del Norte.

Villar said, "We want to encourage our countrymen to come up with feasible business ideas that will not only uplift their lives but also the country's economy. By honoring our model citizens, we seek to increase their tribe."

The products of the winners, which included pottery, abaca handicrafts, mango preserves, wine, special lomi and pansit cogon, pastries, and native delicacies, were showcased in an exhibit also at the NBC Tent.

Likewise, NP also promoted its youth entrepreneurship program dubbed "BDABoss," which seeks to harness entrepreneurial skills among the country's youth.