Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's
On the Road to: Some ideas for a Perfect Christmas away from home! Elizabeth Marie Estrada Labor Attaché, POLO Osaka
A while ago, before sitting down and writing the Christmas edition of my column, I pondered upon the gist of the presentations of the webinars on “Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan” jointly organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka and the Philippine Franchise Association coordinated by the new Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Osaka and the Department of Trade and Industry Osaka in cooperation with the Philippine Community Coordinating Council (PCCC). The first webinar was held last Nov. 8 with presentations of well-known franchisers such as Richard Sanz, Chris Lim and Sheryll Quintana and famous franchises like Bibingkinitan, Citrus Zone, Big Smile Bread Station among others. The second series was held today (Nov. 29) with presenters: Director Jerry Clavesillas of the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises, DTI., Ms. Noreen Marian Bautista, an entrepreneurship advocate and Mr. Clarke Nebrao, President of the Association of Laguna Food Processors.
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Coincidentally, I was listening to Jose Mari Chan’s “Perfect Christmas“ and I realized that many Filipino workers abroad will not be able to spend The Yuletide Season with their families in the Philippines because of the pandemic. And then again, I thought that the webinar would encourage many of our expatriates to think about starting a franchise business or get started on entrepreneurship to help their families back home as well as to generate income for those who have lost their jobs. Because it is our Christmas edition, we are very honored to have an interview with the Labor Attache of the new POLO Office in Osaka - Ms. Elizabeth Marie Estrada. Our first meeting with her was in January 2020 at the Philippine Consulate General when she was first introduced to the PCCC by Consul General Aileen Bugarin. The new Commercial Counselor, Mr. Emmanuel Ang was also present at the meeting. A few months later in October, we were invited to their new office along Midosuji Avenue in Osaka. Like a gracious “hermana mayor”, she was very accommodating, gracious and charming. Anyone would easily feel at home at their office. It was there where we had the meeting to discuss plans for the webinar series. After today’s webinar, I realized that even if we cannot be reunited with our families in the Philippines this Christmas, we can think of alternatives to make Christmas and all other Christmases as meaningful for our loved ones by starting a franchise business or an entrepreneurship to keep the economy going. Although Jose Mari Chan sings “My idea of a perfect Christmas is spending it with you,“ some will probably say: “My idea of a perfect Christmas is investing in something for you!“ If we don’t do it NOW, we cannnot OWN anything. And if we OWN something, then that’s the time we can say...WE WON!!! MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT!
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020
