Proudly Pinoy - Planters Development Bank

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK /
STAFFBOX
THESE DAYS, there are many things Filipinos here and abroad can be proud
about. For example, world-class goods and services have ceased to be
a pipe-dream for the quality-conscious Filipino consumer, and the label
“made in the Philippines” is becoming a brand synonymous with uncompromising
quality. So it is apt that we dedicate this issue of SME Community Philippines to
businesses that are “Proudly Pinoy”.
On our cover, we feature young entrepreneur Rommel Juan, the leading
light behind the Binalot Fiesta Foods chain whose campaign to promote Filipino
culture and values through delicious home-style cooking is also helping enhance
the quality of life of compatriots in the countryside.
We also discover the rite and rituals associated with lambanog—the fiery
traditional drink popular in Southern Luzon which, thanks to the efforts of the
Zabat family and the Milmar Distillery in San Pablo City, gained national stature
and has since found its way into the international market.
In this issue, we learn from marketing specialist Herbert Sancianco how
companies can get their sales force back in fighting form—at all times. And
sales trainer Adrian Miller serves up tough questions for entrepreneurs to ask
themselves, before simply blaming their stroke of bad luck on a touch economy.
Franchising guru Armando ‘Butz’ Bartolome invites us for a trip to the mall
for a quick study of the opportunities in the cart and kiosk business, as personal
finance advisor Francisco Colayco provides a useful guide for creating personal
wealth by investing in the right business.
From our more than 35 years of experience in development finance, we
can confidently state that Filipino small and medium-scale entrepreneurs are the
drivers to growth and national success.
By sharing the experiences of successful entrepreneurs like Rommel Juan
and Myrone Zabat, Planters Development Bank aims to enrich and inform your
business outlook and inspire readers to pursue personal independence and
wealth through entrepreneurship and self-mastery.
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VOL. NO. 03 / ISSUE NO. 04