Budding Young Entrepreneurs Visit Successful Enterprises in Elbi

​Los Baños – Young participants of the Enterprise Development Training for the Youth of the City of Calamba, which is being conducted by ICOPED, CEM, UPLB in partnership with the Calamba City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Department (CLDD), visited some of the enterprises established by young entrepreneurs in Los Baños, Laguna last May 9 and 12, 2017. The enterprise cross visits are part of the training program which was launched on May 2, 2017 at the CLDD Training Center II, Mercado de Calamba, Poblacion, Calamba City.
The activity aimed to further inspire and encourage the youth to engage in entrepreneurial activities and to have first-hand information on how a business idea can be developed into an enterprise at a young age. The young participants visited the Gawa Ko To Handicrafts of Ms. Maris M. Manalili, the Uela Boutique of Ms. Uela Joy M. Agoncillo, and the Plumbers Kitchen of Mr. Moises R. Merin. These young entrepreneurs built their enterprises based on their dreams, hobbies and passion.

​Another enterprise that the students got acquainted with is the Seoul Kitchen, a popular Korean restaurant in Los Baños, through a recorded interview with its owners, Mr. Manuel Celestino R. Habito III and wife, Alice. The young participants were told of a love story that brought the restaurant into fruition.
 They also met Ms. Pilipinas M. Luis, an entrepreneur who started it young in the business of direct selling.  Currently, she is engaged in direct selling of Human Heart Nature, Sophie Martin, Mary Kay, and  Herbalife. Ms. Luis showed that one can be an entrepreneur even without having a physical store or a shop.
The young entrepreneurs shared their experiences in conceptualizing their enterprises, identifying their products, and promoting their businesses. They also shared the ups and downs in running a business at a young age, and advised the budding young entrepreneurs to be optimistic despite the problems and challenges that they may encounter in running their own enterprises, and that they should have the passion to do the business that they may choose.
Aside from the shared experiences and helpful advices, the participants received treats and freebies from the entrepreneurs/enterprises visited. JRDDomingo