By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, Sept. 9 (PNA) — Outstanding local enterprises that were awarded at the 1st ASEAN Business Awards Philippines prove that Filipino businesses are world class, said President Benigno S. Aquino III in his speech during the event Tuesday evening.
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines said the six winners in the 1st ASEAN Business Awards Philippines will represent the country in the regional ASEAN Business Awards to be held in Myanmar this November.
“The nominees and awardees here today are those who will ensure that in the era of globalization, the Philippines will not merely stay afloat, the Philippines will excel. All of you here today are the individuals who, in the coming years, will carry our message to the world that the Philippines works, and that the Filipino is world class,” said President Aquino.
The President noted that as the ASEAN integration takes effect next year, the Philippines and Philippine-based businesses will face challenges of increasing competition.
“We expect competition to increase, putting more pressure on businesses to provide even better products and services to the people. Some have begun wondering: can we keep up with increased competition from the region?” President Aquino said noting the presence of ASEAN Business Awardees and nominees can attest to the competitiveness of the country in the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community.
“As we welcome an integrated Southeast Asia, your companies, and all companies around the Philippines, are entering a global competition of their own,” the President said.
“I am hopeful that those of you here do not rest on their laurels—that this recognition of your excellence only further inspires you to pursue even greater heights. I am likewise hopeful that companies across the archipelago can follow the examples that our nominees and winners today have set, so that we may show our countrymen, the Southeast Asian region, and the entire world, the skill and talent that runs through the veins of every Filipino,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the winners for the ASEAN Business Awards are:
— Manila International Container Terminal-operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) for Large Enterprise category;
— wholly-Filipino owned information technology-business process management firm Pointwest Technologies Corporation for Best in Innovation;
— Golden ABC, Inc., the fashion retail firm which produced the brands of Penshoppe, Oxygen, For Me, Memo, Regatta, and Tyler, won Best in ASEAN Centricity;
— Woman Leader Award went to Sandra Sanchez-Montano of Community Health Education Emergency Rescue Services (CHEERS) Corp;
— Young Entrepreneur Award was given to Paulo M. Tibig of VCargo Worldwide (Vintel Logistics, Inc.); and
— Best Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was awarded to Fountainhead Technologies, Inc. (PNA)