by Von Henzley B. Consigna, Jade Ysabel O. Lauta, and Nhil Xavier C. Piñera

On August 23, Laguna’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted the first two out of the series of seven seminars on basic online marketing strategies and product handling basics for Los Baños entrepreneurs at the Los Baños Municipal Building.

Helping DTI Laguna with the seminar series were the Philippine Competency based Economies through Formation of Enterprise (CEFE) Network and Passion for Perfection, in cooperation with the local government of Los Baños.

Philippines’ Chief CEFE Trainer, Rene Resurreccion shares his experiences and learnings to the entrepreneur-participants during one of the August 23 sessions.  (Photo by Jade Ysabel O. Lauta)

The session on Do It Online: Basic Online Marketing Strategies” tackled product marketing through visual and online strategies. It also discussed activities simulating shopping behaviors, practice of photography, and tips on social media advertising. The resource persons for the session included UP Diliman graduate and Sine Haraya co-founder Hannah Resurreccion, La Salle graduate Veronica Manalang, and celebrity and entrepreneur Anjo Resurreccion.

Facilitators (from L-R) Veronica Manalang, Hannah Resurreccion, and Anjo Resurreccion discusses marketing basics during the “Do It Online: Basic Online Marketing Strategies” session. (Photos by Jade Ysabel O. Lauta)

The session titled “Seminar on Product Handling Basics” covered the basics of managing products and resources for food and non-food related businesses. The session presented entrepreneurs with theoretical and practical ways to handle resources like money, time, and the like. The entrepreneur-participants took part in a critiquing session where the resource persons identified the strengths and weaknesses of their businesses. The speakers included multi-awarded chef and entrepreneur Kia del Rosario, La Salle graduate Josh Gatchalian, and freelance consultant Anji Resurreccion.

The DTI seminar series on basic online marketing strategies and product handling basics started last March and covered business and financial management related topics such as starting a business, financial management, and taxation.

According to the Chief Philippine CEFE Trainer Rene Mikhael Resurreccion, the seminar is part of their efforts to encourage Filipinos to think like entrepreneurs. The seminar series also aims to help Los Baños entrepreneurs in improving the quality of products and services of local enterprises. According to Midie D. Peñaloza-Peñarubia, a Negosyo Center support staff, the Los Baños LGU wants “to share and promote the products of Los Baños”.

The activity organizers, resource persons, and participants of the DTI seminar series pose for a posterity shot at the end of the August 23 session. (Photo by Jade Ysabel O. Lauta)

The Philippine CEFE Network plans to continue coordinating with DTI Laguna and Passion for Perfection to conduct more seminars and trainings in October-November later this year.