The country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be at the core of Go Negosyo’s activities to celebrate its 17th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, a former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, said the two sectors—MSMEs and OFWs—will be the one “helping guide our economy” as the Philippines recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I suppose it is only fitting – and so telling of the times – that Go Negosyo marks its 17th anniversary with the two major drivers of the Philippine economy at center stage: MSMEs and OFWs,” he said in a statement.

The non-profit organization will mark its 17th year with KABAYAN 2022, an entrepreneurship forum and mentoring event especially organized for OFWs and their families.

This event will be held on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City with thousands of participants expected to attend.

“Over the 17 years that we promoted entrepreneurship in the Philippines, we found that many of the MSMEs we helped grow were the ventures of OFWs who dreamt of a life of financial security for their families back home,” Concepcion noted.

KABAYAN 2022, which has adopted theme, “Kabuhayan, Kinabukasan at Kaagapay ng Pamilyang OFW”, will also emphasize the importance of digitalization and how it can be leveraged to the advantage of many MSMEs in developing their businesses.

Popular vloggers and content creators, including Small Laude, would join the event, along with successful female Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Rebecca Bustamante and Glenda dela Cruz.

Other leading content creators and social media personalities such as Macoy Dubs, Lovely Abella-Mabalo, Berto Berioso, Ana Coting, and Christian Antolin will likewise be present.

Homegrown entrepreneurs and social media content creators who have used social media to grow their small businesses will participate in another forum to show how MSMEs can start using the platform to promote their businesses.

Participating in this forum will be Zarah Juan, Malou Prado, Jeffrey Guansing, Jacqueline Yuentian Gutierrez, and Neri Miranda. Their businesses range from cosmetics to travel to agriculture, while some of them have managed to combine several businesses.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople are among the government officials who will be gracing the Go Negosyo anniversary.

Leaders from the Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association, CARD-MRI, and MSME lending specialist Esquire Financing will also be participating in a forum on the three M’s of successful entrepreneurship: money, markets, and mentorship.

Apart from the summit, the event will be an opportunity to recognize the Most Inspiring OFWs through KABAYAN AWARDS 2022. The awards will honor OFWs who are an inspiration to fellow Filipinos with their compelling journey as migrant workers, OFWs who have successfully transitioned to becoming entrepreneurs, and OFWs who used social media to become influencers to the overseas Filipino community.