The launch of Genesis (Quezon City) chapter in January 18, 2007 placed our country on the BNI map. The Philippines is the 37th country member of Business Network International. The well-attended event at the Crowne Plaza proves that entrepreneurs are truly ‘the early birds that catch the worm’… all these while the competitors are sleeping. Despite the growing pains, committed chapter president Mr. Christopher Tan led Genesis towards achieving Bronze Medallion status by the year-end. Harvest (Ortigas), the second chapter in Metro Manila was officially launched in June 27, 2007 at the Discovery Suites. It was yours truly who spearheaded the formation of the chapter during the early part of the year. Ms. Deedee Espina took the helm with my promotion to Regional Director mid—year. Both chapters had their Visitor’s Day and members savored the fun and funny moments during the chapter mixer. And the year wouldn’t be complete without the Christmas parties.

2007 was also marked by numerous visits of our Singaporean principals who also conducted training sessions. I, together with Harvest president Deedee, attended the BNI Singapore National Conference in May to learn from the experienced members and to get a glimpse of what we can be 8 years down the line.

BNI also graced the pages of Entrepreneur Magazine and SME Insight, two of the countries most well-read business magazines.

This year, 2008, is very promising and we will continue to build and strengthen our foundation. BNI Philippines will keep growing with the additional directors and chapter members. It will remain as your networking organization of choice.

BNI is about the members more than anything else. Thank you for your continued support and positive contribution to the chapters. There are vast opportunities available for everyone, primarily to increase our businesses and most notably the chance to hone your leadership skills is yours for the taking.

Thank you to the chapter leaders for taking on the challenge of running the chapter, for taking your responsibilities to heart, and for being attentive to your members’ needs.

The best is yet to come, and it can only get better.

Cheers to the greatest GIVERS in the Philippines!

Happy anniversary, see you in the Business Network International Worldwide Conference in Kuala Lumpur in May!

Mabuhay!

May the blessings be!

Edlynn Frondoso-Ng, CPA
BNI PH Regional Director

BNI Philippines held its first chapter mixer last November 16, 2007 in Jestine’s, a restaurant managed by Christina Gascon, Genesis chapter member. It was a fun-filled evening with bingo game, raffle draws and all night cocktails! The members had fun with the bingo activity. There were a lot of funny and witty remarks during the games. David Montecillo had the knack of being a bingo caller and Erick Kalugdan was great support in sorting the bingo chips. The members contributed gifts for the raffle and most of the attendees went home with a prize. Credit goes to Genesis chapter especially President Christopher Tan and his team for the drum up of the event, coordinating the venue, planning the menu, materials for the games. Thanks to the Harvesters: Deedee Espina for overseeing the bingo activity, selling the bingo cards and handing out the prizes; Edlynn Ng verified the winning bingo cards, listed the winners and prizes, and drawing the raffle winners.It was a successful event, and a “good brick laid for the foundation” so to speak. The first activity of its kind, it brought members of both chapters in one venue and this strengthens BNI ties. Cheers to a great initiative!

Christopher Tan introduces Business Network International to the attendees of the 85th Manager’s Course in the University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI). Mr. Tan is the President of BNI Genesis Chapter that meets weekly in Quezon City and he is representing his own company Xyon Systems and Services Inc., specializing in data recovery and other information technology & integration products and services. He is an alumnus of the Manager’s Course several years back. He focused on the difference between traditional and nontraditional forms of marketing, and how word of mouth could be a powerful avenue that may have been overlooked given the numerous marketing tools currently available. It was also a great opportunity for him to invite the participants to the Visitors’ Day on August 30 at 7 a.m. Thanks to Ms. Claire Esteban, the Program Manager for making this possible.

The UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries was organized to assist Small and Medium Sized (SME) companies in the Philippines by providing training and development courses. The Manager’s Course is a 20-week program dubbed as a compressed, non-formal MBA geared to equip top and middle managers from various industries to enhance organization, marketing, production, financial and information management skills.

In my recent Singapore trip, I interacted with fellow Business Network International members and I noticed an instant rapport amongst us. Though I only met them for the first time, I didn’t encounter any problems talking to them. Apart from the usual flow of “Where are you from?” “Which chapter do you belong to?” and “How’s Business Network International in the Philippines?” the bond is already there. What makes me say that? We believe in the same philosophy of givers gain, we attend chapter meetings religiously, we all anticipate helping other members, and of course we all went through MSP101.

Member Success Program is the first training given to new Business Network International members. It is a 3-hour extensive training program about policies, educational sources, code of ethics, expectations, members’ responsibilities, etc.

I’d like to announce the newest graduates of MSP101. They are:

1. David Montecillo (Harvest) – David is a stress management consultant and he conducts wellness seminars to business organizations that are looking for ways to deal with today’s chaotic lifestyle. He leads meditation classes, Qigong, and other relaxation techniques.

2. Jeffrey Gatlabayan (Harvest) – Jeffrey is a young entrepreneur who is the in the plastics industry. He finished his Masters in Entrepreneurship from AIM. “Everything in his company is ‘plastic’… except him.”

3. Michelle Rinosa (Harvest) – Michelle is a very young and creative graphic designer. After her stint with advertising agencies, she decided to venture on her own and set up her own design firm. She is a very athletic lady and loves to travel a lot.

4. Alvin Chua (Harvest) – Alvin is the youngest member in this batch. He is part of the family business and they supply houseware to retail stores. He joined BNI to widen his contact base.

5. Richel Mascarinas (Genesis) – Richel is the wedding photographer in Genesis chapter with extensive experience in his field.

6. Mike Zuniga (Harvest) – Mike is a CPA by profession and handles the Business Development of Dimaculangan & Dimaculanga CPAs.

Congratulations and a warm welcome to the BNI family! May you prosper with Business Network International as your networking organization of choice!

What is my recipe for success?

Ingredients:
3 cups of integrity
3 cups of relationship building
2 cups of purpose
1 cup of enthusiasm
1 cup of trust
1 cup of perseverance
1 cup of resilience
5 cups of fun

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Grease a baking tray with intention, lay the mixture and bake in 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Voila! The timer rings and the goodies are ready to serve.

The finished product: A published article about Business Network International (BNI) entitled “Gaining by giving”, pages 12, 14 and 16 of this month’s issue (June 2007) of Entrepreneur Philippines magazine (with my picture in it).

As a star performer, goal setting is a crucial part of the process. In August of 2006, I enrolled in the Prosperity Coaching Program of Millionaire Anonymous, Inc. headed by Mr. Tim Bennett of Argon Animation and was part of Team 1. I remembered listing down 101 goals. I reviewed my notes and I was blown away! Goal number three jumped out of the list – “To be featured in a business magazine.” At that time, I had no clue as to how it was going to happen. As they say, “be careful of what we wish for because we might just get it.” Such is the magic and importance of writing goals. The universe seems to conspire and move people, events, and circumstances that create synchronicities towards the fulfillment of my dreams and ideals. Al Argo, a Singapore-based shared me his interesting poem about why we should write them down (see earlier post entitled “Al Argo in Action”).

The author of the article, Joseph Pardo (now Harvest Chapter Educational Minute Coordinator) was already featured in the June 2006 issue and he talked about his involvement in their family business Special Steel Products Inc. This opportunity for Business Network International’s (BNI) in the Entrepreneur Philippines magazine cannot be missed at all. Marie Ann Fajardo, our interviewer from the publication visited us in one of the Harvest chapter meetings. We also set a schedule for the pictorial and was rendered by At Maculangan. Now that the ingredients are complete, the finished product is hot off the press. I attribute this manifestation to the power of connection and “givers gain”-what we sow we reap, plus, what you see represents about two decades of friendship between us.

Grab your copy now!

Al was the first keynote speaker and he shared with us “The Edge Factor: Strategies for Success & Significance in Business and in Life”. He was very lively, energetic and funny too. He was from Alabama, moved to Texas before he discovered Singapore through his neighbor. For him and his amiable wife Nicole and their children, Singapore is now their new home. He is founder of Argo Global, a Singapore based company focused on developing “People, Products and Places.” He produced two wonderful audio products: Goal Setting for Success and Significance and Al’s Fundamentals of Selling Success.

In his talk, he used “edge factor” as an acronym for the qualities that one must possess and apply to lead him and his business not only to success but also to a significant position in our global economy. One of his key point was the three “T”s think, thank, tank. Every morning, we all must have quiet time to think about our day. An attitude of gratitude is a must, and to become  successful, having a service-oriented mindset is a good foundation. He showed us his goal journal and he actually wrote a poem about it.

“Write Down Your Goals?”

Al Argo

“IF you don’t write your goal down on paper,

Beware, it may try to be an escaper.

But when you do write your goal in your journal,

What you have done is planted a kernel.

And everyone, who knows any thing knows,

That what a man reaps is what a man sows!

So write down your hopes and journal your goals

And press on through the highs and the lows.

Through the thick and through the thin,

If you never, never quit – eventually you win.

In every failure is a seed of success,

So keep trying, keep trying –

And you’ll be the best.

Write down your goals

And surprise the rest.”

® 2006 Al Argo

www.al-argo.com al@argoglobal.biz

Al Argo was great! Argo is ARGO… A Really Good Offer!

The Legends at Fort Canning Park witnessed the remarkable energy amongst the BNI members in Singapore last May 23, 2007. Its success was fully supported by the 200 delegates in attendance.

BNI Singapore marks its 8th year in September with 22 chapters and a few more chapters to be launched before the end of 2007. Sim Chow Boon and Mervin Yeo were at the forefront as National Directors- the Captains of the ship who will steer BNI Singapore to a higher level. Chow Boon and Mervin are actively involved in developing BNI in the Philippines, the 37th country with Genesis Chapter as the pioneer.

Edlynn Ng and Harvest core group
My involvement in BNI started in September of 2006. Through Eric “Sam” Dizon, my colleague in Pru Life UK (Philippines) or Prudential to our Asian neighbors, I attended the info sessions of Genesis chapter. BNI allows only one person per profession so I had to find another chapter. During typhoon ‘Milenyo’, Chow Boon was in town and we got to discuss about a lot of things about BNI. We were in Glorietta then and he was so amazed with the typhoon (there are no typhoons in Singapore). There was no electricity, no internet and the cell sites were down as well. The roads were chaotic due to the billboards that fell and we were back to basics. During that time I drew up a guest list of my clients who were enterprising and decided to invite them to a breakfast meeting. My objective was to thank them by introducing them to each other and hopefully, businesses transactions will be consummated amongst us. I introduced BNI and right there and then, we were 6 members. Little did I know I have already formed a core group. Our first meeting was in October 11, 2006 at Dome Café in Shangri La Edsa Plaza Mall in Ortigas Center. Running the chapter was a serious undertaking. I was the only one trained for the Leadership Team, and my strong belief in word-of-mouth advocacy enabled me to consistently deliver week after week. We have 15 members to date and we will launch Harvest on June 27, 2007 at Discovery Hotel function as Area Director and Visitor Host for Harvest and the chapter is in good hands with Deedee Espina as President, Ardee Aram as Vice-President, and Marcia Castaneda as Secretary/Treasurer.

The conference started with networking and breakfast. We were called in by 830am into the function rooms and we settled down. I am very happy to be with Deedee during this trip and I have another soul who will help me ‘infect’ the Philippine members with vibrant energy.

The BNI members represent a talented pool and one of the members of Crescendo chapter, Anne, facilitated the icebreaker activities: the Mexican wave and the Q & A game. Chow Boon delivered his opening address. He focused on going back to basics or the FUNdamentals. Members who do the basics will become valued and contributory towards building a very productive chapter.

There were two keynote speakers in the persons of Al Argo, of Argo Global, a dynamic sales trainer who spoke about “The Edge Factor” and Christine Sim, an HR veteran who shared ideas on her journey “From Success to Significance”. There were also breakout sessions on various networking topics by the Directors of BNI Singapore. Mervin Yeo shared a presentation based on BNI Chairman Dr. Ivan Misner’s book “Truth or Delusion.” We also had fun by the way. The talented host Gerard Otto rendered two songs, and Jeremy Pei wowed the audience with his magic performance. Raffle prizes were also drawn and I was honored to have picked some of the winners.

The second part of the program was the Awards Ceremony where over 40 awards were given.

It was fun meeting Ong Kuan Kuan, BNI Singapore Deputy National Director who was in very high spirits, and Susan Choo, Regional Director of Johor, Malaysia (BNI Malaysia) as well as Zhiwen Chin, Assistant Director. We sat in the same table for lunch and in the course of our conversations, found out we were having common experiences as well as challenges.

Through BNI, we hooked up with Judy of Crescendo Chapter and we visited her in Caffe Pralet.

Cheers to Sim Chow Boon, Mervin Yeo, Ong Kuan Kuan, Alfee Goh and the other directors for a successful conference. Congratulations to the awardees for 2007 especially to Crescendo for bagging chapter of the year! Continued success for next year and the years to come!