Best Business Plan of the World Competition 2007 (www.bestbusinessplan.ph)

I’m so proud of this BBP Competition that I agreed to lead this search for the Manila Jaycees. We are on the 4th year of looking for that Filipino entrepreneur team who would bring the glory for the Philippines for four straight years. Our media usually don’t cover stories like these (sad to say) not unless you would have to pay for it. For those awesome entrepreneurs out there, submit your Best Business Plan for this year’s 4th Philippine Young Entrepreneur Best Business Plan Competition 2007! Check out the website for details: (www.bestbusinessplan.ph). Deadline for entries is on April 30, 2007!! Who knows, you might win $5,000 and an all expense paid trip to beautiful Antalya, Turkey!

The Pride of the Philippines:
Filipinos bag the ‘Best Business Plan of the World’ title 3 years in a row

For three consecutive years now – 2004, 2005 and 2006 – the Philippines has emerged the winner in JCI’s ‘Best Business Plan of the World’ competition, besting thousands of entries from some 100 countries. Thus, Manila Jaycees and all its sponsors take pride in helping bring out the best in budding Filipino entrepreneurs through its flagship project, the ‘Best Business Plan’ competition (www.bestbusinessplan.ph).

The contest is held yearly by Manila Jaycees as part of its search for Philippine entries to the JCI’s ‘Best Business Plan of the World’ competition. Now on its 4th year, the 2007 contest aims to sustain the Philippines’ strong performance in the international tilt. More importantly, Manila Jaycees hopes to inspire more of our young breed of entrepreneurs to come up with the best among the best business plans that are not only feasible but are capable of creating a positive impact on society.

Success Stories

2004 Winner: X-Tal Farms, Inc. by Christian Guerrero of Thames Business School

In 2004, a 27-year-old student-farmer-entrepreneur, Christian Guerrero of Thames Business School in Quezon City, became the first Filipino champion in the world congress held in Fukuoka, Japan for his franchise farming business, X-Tal Farms, Inc. Guerrero won US$5,000 as seed money for his cause-oriented venture, which aimed at helping his fellow farmers in Zambales to adopt modern farming techniques and be able to market their produce profitably. Photo shows Guerrero receiving a replica of his US$5,000 check prize from JCI President Fernando Sanchez-Arias and JCI Interim Secretary General Edson Kodama at the awarding ceremony in Fukuoka.

2005 Winner: Xilworx by Ruth Michelle Ariem, Alexis Lozano, Michael Estorninos of Far Eastern University

The following year, a group of business students from Far Eastern University (FEU) called Xilworx won world acclaim in the same contest held in Vienna, Austria for their “clean” technology of extracting silver from spent X-ray solutions. Using appropriate technology to collect and process these highly toxic waste materials, Xilworx hopes to augment the local supply of silver and assist industries such as the jewelry sector while still protecting the environment. The FEU team was composed of Ruth Michelle Ariem, Alexis Lozano, Michael Estorninos and their adviser, Prof. Ramon Adviento. Photo shows Alexis Lozano and Ruth Michelle Ariem posing for posterity with a replica of their US$5,000 check prize. With them is 2005 JCI WP Kevin Cullinane.

2006 Winner: MedCorp by Mark Steven King, Ma. Cecilia Mahilum, Faye Zarate, Dhan Morris Samson, and Palarca of Ateneo de Manila University Last 2006, the Filipino excellence continues to shine abroad, this time gaining recognition for endeavoring to market a product that can have significant impact on lowering the cost of health care for developing countries. A group of students from the Ateneo de Manila University, under the name of MedCorp, bagged the grand prize in the Best Business Plan competition sponsored by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) and held in Seoul, South Korea. MedCorp intends to market a product called Carragel. This substance is derived from carrageenan, a red seaweed extract, and is designed as a hemostatic agent, something that stops the flow of blood during operations. The Philippines supplies 80% of the global demand for carrageenan, hence Carragel can be priced over 60% lower than the other absorbable gel and foam variety of hemostats currently used in hospitals. In addition, Carragel is completely safe to use, has a faster absorption time, exhibits much more versatility, and even has the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

MedCorp was formed as part of a marketing course assignment in college, which required students to come up with a business plan to market a new or little know product or service. The team members stumbled upon Carragel through its original developer, Dr. Lucille Abad, a senior science research specialist at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Now, the team – composed of Mark Steven King, Ma. Cecilia Mahilum, Faye Zarate, Dhan Morris Samson, and Palarca – has plans of partnering with Zuellig Pharmaceuticals to tap its distribution network, starting with Southeast Asia and on to the Pacific rim countries within five to six years. Manila Jaycees looks forward to another success story in the 2007 International Best Business Plan competition – and eventually at the 2007 JCI World Conference in Antalya, Turkey! (www.bestbusinessplan.ph)