Through its micro, small and medium business unit, PLDT SME, the company recently gathered hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and industry leaders at SME Day Manila, a forum designed to provide practical insights and solutions for business growth in the digital age.
Nation building
Speaking before participants, PLDT Enterprise vice president and digital and trade marketing head John Eric S. Alviz emphasized the critical role SMEs play in driving economic growth and nation building.
“At PLDT, we believe that helping businesses grow is one of the most important ways we can contribute to nation building,” Alviz said.
“Small and medium enterprises comprise around 98 percent of businesses in the Philippines, so every job you create, every customer you serve, every family you support, and every community you help uplifts and contributes to a stronger Philippines.”
Alviz also echoed the long-held view of PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan that entrepreneurs, regardless of business size, deserve support and recognition.
“Our chairman has always believed that while there are small businesses, there are no small businessmen,” he said. “When you create jobs, whether it’s one job or a thousand, it is big work.”
Digital readiness
The event featured learning sessions focused on helping businesses adapt to evolving market demands through technology and innovation.
Experts from PLDT Enterprise, ePLDT, Vitro, and TikTok discussed future-ready wireless solutions, resilient connectivity, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and sustainable business growth.
Among the topics highlighted were opportunities enabled by 5G technology, the importance of reliable fixed broadband services for business continuity, cybersecurity strategies for modern enterprises, and data center solutions that support business scalability.
Speakers also explored how digital platforms such as TikTok can help businesses reach wider audiences and drive growth.
Success story
Entrepreneur Anna Isabelle Magalona-Go, founder of But First, Coffee, shared her journey from operating a home-based online café during the pandemic to building a successful coffee franchise business.
“At the beginning, there were many challenges. We didn’t have a store. We were a home-based online cafe. We were just connecting through these digital platforms. I was a one-man team,” she recalled.
Magalona-Go said reliable connectivity proved essential in helping her business grow, enabling her to engage customers and collaborate with partners efficiently.
“Every business deserves connectivity that will support their day-to-day operations without any disruption,” she said. “No business grows alone, because behind every growing company are partners who help make growth possible.”
Nationwide rollout
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session involving all speakers, reinforcing PLDT Enterprise’s commitment to empowering SMEs with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.
“Filipino business owners and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy,” said Senior vice president and PLDT Enterprise head Blums Pineda said in a statement. “It is incumbent upon us to ensure that every Filipino entrepreneur has access to connectivity, technology, and solutions that will help them weather any storm and emerge stronger.”
Following its Manila and Pampanga editions, SME Day is set to continue in Davao and Iloilo as PLDT Enterprise expands its efforts to support businesses across the country. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
