Joy in Learning: MSME Meet and Learn
02 July 2025, 9:30 AM | Jollibee Plaza Building

Good morning, President Gisela. I’m so happy that actually this is the second time. So the first time was really successful. It was actually experimental and of course President Gisela really paved the way to make this happen. So again congratulations and thank you President Gisela for making this possible.

Of course to Joanna La’O, Director, Strategy Impact and Organizational Effectiveness; Amy Chua, Director, CSR Comms and Engagement, actually I’m just reading the people here. Frances Mae Mata, Program Officer, Comms and Engagement; Gisela Lapid, Advocacy Program Officer and for the Jollibee Group. That’s for the Jollibee Group Foundation.

For the Jollibee Group we have Atty. Raul C. Academia, VP & Head for Public Affairs; Steve Piczon, Asst. VP for Public Affairs; Elise Veloso, Asst. VP for Global Sustainability; ian Marie dela Peña, Executive Assistant, Public Affairs; Ernani Barrientos, Director, Corporate Communications; Rolando Tiamzon, Manager, Learning Services.

To our dear partners from the Jollibee Group, of course President Gisela and of course Atty. Raul Academia, Vice President and Head Public Affairs, Program Director of the Jollibee Group Foundation; Mr. Bryan Marc Tividad, Assistant Vice President and Head of Global Procurement; Ms. Jia Du, Vice President and Head of Marketing for Chowking Philippines, good morning and thank you very much for letting this happen.

Malaking bagay ito for the MSMEs and malaking bagay ito for the Philippine government and for the Department of Trade and Industry.

To our DTI family, led by Undersecretary Bles Lantayona, our regional directors and officials supporting our MSMEs from the ground up, maraming salamat po.

And to our MSME participants from NCR Region 3 and Region 4A, good morning to everyone and please take advantage of this learning. It’s actually very hard to get a session or to get an audience from a conglomerate as big as Jollibee.

Masyado ho silang busy. So this opportunity is really actually once in a, before I would say, once in a lifetime but now once a year. Actually it took a year for this second opportunity for us to learn from them. So please let’s take advantage of this opportunity. Hindi ito binibigay. Secrets are not told to people. Secrets are kept within the company.

We gather today united by a powerful belief that MSMEs with the right support, mentorship, and opportunities can definitely succeed. Jollibee is one example of an MSME na hindi lang succeed, super succeed. And actually even in the first, they’re still being run by the first generation. So this is a feat na huwag tayong mawala ng pag-asa. Meaning it is possible. Kasi sometimes we always feel that wala na talagang pag-asa eh. But a company like Jollibee can be this big on a first generation. Pag sinabing first generation, unang-unang nag-umpisa, sila parin na nagpapatakbo hanggang ngayon. So that’s the meaning of first generation.

Our journey began on April 17, 2024 with a clear vision to empower MSMEs with the knowledge and tools for growth. This vision came to life on the first learning session on April 25, 2024. It was actually very successful. That’s why we have another session today.

Jollibee’s joy for tomorrow sustainability agenda with its commitment to food security, people development, and planet care exemplifies inclusive growth. Aside from this also, we have to learn from them.

Paano ba sila lumaki? Ano ba ang naging qualities nila? It’s also the qualities that we must learn from them. Sometimes when we look at them, parang ang hirap na diba? Kasi ang laki na nila. But if we learn from the qualities that they have, then there’s a chance for us to grow. If they can do it, we can do it too also.

Their efforts to integrate MSMEs and of course they help the small farmers into the value chain is a testament to how corporations can uplift their communities. This is also the true meaning of sustainable social enterprise.

Kasi ang daming gusto mag social enterprise, but they give more than what they can actually give. That’s why ang nangyayari yung company na binibigyan nila, natutumba, sila tumba din because they don’t give what is sustainable. They give more than what they can give.

Today through the joy in learning program, we are taking this partnership even further. We are here to help the MSMEs upgrade their skills, expand their vision, and reach broader market access. This session will offer vital insights from supply chain integration, B2B partnership, and B2C.

Of course, we encourage you to go digital because this is the only way we can get our message across. We’re 7,600 islands and napaka-importante ang digital ngayon. Yan ang utos ng ating Presidente is for us to go digital.

Aside from this, we must also take advantage of learning sessions such as this. Sometimes feeling natin hindi para sa atin, but if we look deeper into it, sometimes there’s an opportunity for us. Let’s take advantage of this. Any learning session na binibigyan sa inyo, always keep on wanting to learn because the more we learn, the more confident we become. Additional learning is always better than no learning at all.

Our work doesn’t end here. We call on the MSMEs to apply these learnings, our DTI regional offices to expand these opportunities, and our private sector partners to continue working with us. Together through this inclusive hands-on learning, we can create lasting impacts and uplift more lives.

We need to help each other. We cannot do this alone. I always say this, alone we can do so little, but together we can do a lot, and definitely we’re stronger together. Wala nang tutulong sa atin kung di tayo, tayo din. There’s a lot of competition out there, but this competition should not scare us, but should actually make us stronger.

The Department of Trade and Industry is here to help you every step of the way. We provide a lot of opportunities for you to learn, a lot of opportunities to showcase your products, a lot of opportunities for growth. So take advantage of what the DTI can give to you. You know everything is free. We also have, of course, SB Corp, the loans that we provide for the MSMEs. So that one, one year, no payment of principal and interest. The interest is very low. We don’t need collateral. All we need is just a business name registration and to certify that you are compliant. Yun lang kailangan. So take advantage of this loan that SB Corp under DTI is giving you.

So again, the Philippine government is working as best as we can and as hard as we can to get the MSMEs leveled up. So take advantage of this. Tatlong taon na lang po ang Marcos administration. We don’t know what the next administration has in store for the MSMEs. So I encourage you to take advantage of this. So andito ang DTI para sa inyo. You can go to the offices. You can go to our head office. There’s always a program for you.

Okay. Because the Bago Pilipinas we are building is no, is where no one entrepreneur is left behind. With champions like Jollibee by our side, we are turning that vision into reality.

And to Jollibee, thank you so very much for this once in a lifetime opportunity. I mean, if I was an MSME, I’d take advantage of it. There’s so much we can learn, and there’s so much we can actually take advantage of.

So again, to Jollibee, thank you so very much. And thank you to always give this opportunity to the MSMEs. Kahit ano, they’re so busy. Ang hirap mag-organize ng ganito. So again, maraming salamat.

And to the MSME, keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward. Don’t let challenges get you down. Kasi there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Kung kaya ng iba, kaya nyo din.

So again, thank you, and good morning to everyone. ♦

Date of Release: 02 July 2025