QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of jobseekers and aspiring entrepreneurs gathered at SM City Fairview on Saturday, April 25, 2026, for the latest leg of Go Negosyo’s “Trabaho at Negosyo” fair. The event, which combined a massive job-matching activity with free entrepreneurship mentoring, reflects a growing national movement to create a “nation of job creators” rather than just jobseekers.
Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion highlighted that while the fair provides immediate employment opportunities, its true strength lies in its ability to empower Filipinos to start their own micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The fair offered two distinct tracks for attendees:
- The “Trabaho” Track: In partnership with various private sector sponsors and government agencies, the event featured real-time job-matching for hundreds of positions across different industries.
- The “Negosyo” Track: Aspiring business owners received free one-on-one mentoring from veteran entrepreneurship experts. These sessions covered critical topics such as financial literacy, market access, and operational scaling.
Joey Concepcion, who serves as the 2026 Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), noted that the initiative directly supports the council’s “People” pillar.
“MSMEs generate more than 66 percent of the jobs in the country,” Concepcion said. “Trabaho at Negosyo proposes to jobseekers that they can become the people who eventually create jobs for others.”
The program aims to complement the other strategic pillars of the ASEAN-BAC: Planet, Platform, and Productivity.
Following the success of the Quezon City run, the movement is set to expand nationwide with the support of the country’s major mall developers.
- Next Stop: The fair will move to the Visayas region, with the next major event scheduled for May 9, 2026, at SM Seaside City in Cebu.
- Regional Impact: By bringing veteran mentors to the provinces, Go Negosyo aims to stimulate local economies and provide rural entrepreneurs with the same tools and networking opportunities available in Metro Manila.
The SM City Fairview event saw participation from key figures in the local business community, including Mona Celine Yap (QC Small Business and Cooperatives Development Office), Anne Marie Francisco (PCCI-Quezon City), and several successful entrepreneurs like Rachel Imperial (Steak To One PH) and James Amparo (Yovel East Philippines).