Creative Professionals Bring Business Acumen to the Fore at Go Negosyo Summit
At the Go Negosyo Creative Entrepreneurship Summit, creatives highlighted the power of a business-oriented mindset.
Thought leaders, policy makers, private sector champions, innovators, and creative entrepreneurs gathered at the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Manila Bay for the Go Negosyo Creative Entrepreneurship Summit on May 31.
The Creative Entrepreneurship Summit marks a first for Go Negosyo, an organization that champions Filipino entrepreneurship. Designed to foster dialogue and collaboration, the event brought together key players from across the country’s diverse creative sectors to explore opportunities and drive meaningful partnerships. Several activities including panel discussions, fireside chats, inspirational talks and learning sessions kept the audience engaged throughout the event.
“This is aligned with the President’s directive, and the DTI is taking this mission seriously,” remarked Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Hon. Cris Roque about the summit, expressing the government’s support for the creative industry. According to Secretary Roque, the Philippine creative industry generated Php1.94 trillion in revenue and created 7.51 million jobs in 2024.
She also spoke about the Malikhaing Pinoy website, which was developed by the Department of Trade and Industry – Creative Industries Development Office (CIDO) as a resource for creative individuals and organizations within the Philippine creative sectors.
In his speech, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion shared an inspiring and uplifting message, saying, “For Filipino creatives to thrive and continue pursuing their path, they need to be empowered through entrepreneurship. By providing access to mentorship and through knowledge-sharing sessions that can help them transform creative ideas into viable business ventures, we can pave the way for the Philippines to realize its aspirations of becoming a leading economy in the region.”
A Business Mindset for Creatives
During the panel discussion “The Future of Creative Commerce in the Philippines,” Hon. Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia, Chairman of the Special Committee on Creative Industries at the House of Representatives, said that there is an urgent need to encourage more creators to create. He also shared advice on being competitive in the creative industry.
“To be able to operate in the creative industry in today’s landscape, you need two things: one, you need innovation, you have to find new ways of solving problems and creating and generating ideas, products–whether goods or services–that will cater to the problem or to the need of the consumer and usually, technology is a way to innovate. But the other thing that Filipinos need to be reminded of is to be competitive, especially in a global creative economy.”
“You have to be hyper-local,” he added. “You have to look into your culture and into your heritage, and how might you move that forward through your creative content in today’s age with all of the flair, process, and methodology.”
De Venecia likewise emphasized the importance of having a business mindset, even as a creative.
“Learn how to do business,” he said. “At the end of the day, kung creative ka, you still have to sell yourself. You have to know how to peddle your services. So, register your business, know how that whole thing works, kumuha kayo ng resibo, kasi if you want to scale and grow, then you have to be able to provide receipts to your clients so that you can start working with multinationals who will probably look for those receipts. You can also use those receipts to help you in other areas of your business.”
Cultural Center of the Philippines President Kaye Tinga, DTI Bureau of Competitive Development Engr. Lilian Salonga, and SIKAP – Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines, Inc. President Marla Rausch also joined the panel.
The Role of Publishing in National Development
During the fireside chat “Leading the Narrative: Philippine Publishing at the Crossroads,” between actress-host Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Ramon Galicia, Chief Operating Officer of One Mega Group, Inc., Galicia shared his insights on the success of creatives, based on personal observation.
“Sa lahat ng mga creative endeavors na nag-succeed, sila yung mga tao na guided ng business principles. Ano ang ibig sabihin nito? Hindi lang pwede puro lang creativity. [It should] be guided by clear business objectives and principles. And all throughout my career, that has always been my role: to reconcile and to bridge commerce and creativity. That’s the reason why I was able to get into publishing.”
He also reflected on the ideal role of publishing in national development.
“Our CEO, Archie Carrasco–he was the one who painted a vision of ano ba dapat ang role ng publishing sa national development. At para sa kanya, ang mahalaga, is that ginagamit ang publishing para ma-pursue ang different kinds of purpose that will help in societal goals.”
Other Event Highlights
The Go Negosyo Creative Entrepreneurship Summit also featured inspirational talks by Junie del Mundo, Chairman & CEO of EON Inc. and Wilson Limon Jr., Creative Director of NIñOFRANCO; a panel discussion on championing Filipino craftsmanship in creative entrepreneurship among Design Entrepreneur Kenneth Cobonpue, Fashion Show & Event Director Robby Carmona, and Filip + Inna Founder and Creative Director Len Cabili; learning sessions with wedding photographer Jaja Samaniego, Ace Saatchi and Saatchi Executive Creative Director Greg Martin III, BAYO Manila CEO Anna Lagon, and Plus63/Hydra Design Group Founder Dan Matutina; and fireside chats with Aktor PH Chairman Dingdong Dantes and President Iza Calzado-Wintle, as well as singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra.
Renen and Celinda de Guia of Ovation Productions talked about the business of events production while visual artist Raco Ruiz, Tattoos by Tema Founder Charles Arteta, visual artist and entrepreneur Aya Zafe, and makeup artist and content creator Kenric “Kendra” Carpio indulged in a panel discussion on how creatives can thrive in the digital age.
