Cebu Daily News / Enterprise

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Self-made man is entrepreneur of the year Cebu Daily News Posted date: July 01, 2009 A self-made businessman, who is a pioneer in the dried mango industry in Cebu, led the entrepreneur-awardees in yesterday's Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Grand Chamber Awards Night. Justin Uy, president of Profood International Corp., was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year. At age 12, he started selling cigarettes to vendors. At 15, he got into the shellcraft business and opened a poultry at 18. Later he ventured into the dried mango business and set up Profoods, which became a leading producer and exporter of processed fruit products. Uy's firm started with seven employees in 1998 and has since grown to 6,000. Profood exports 11 kinds of processed fruits to 40 countries. Uy told recently that he learned math and business ethics as a second year high school student who worked in his father's cigarette distribution business. "I learned the value of hard work. We work 16 hours a day...first to arrive, last to leave. You have to be there ahead and let your employees see that they can trust you," said Uy. Edgar Onglatco of Hyundai Cebu bagged the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Under his watch, Hyundai Cebu was awarded as the dealer of the year (2008) for the Asia-Pacific Region. Hyundai Cebu bested 382 dealers in the region. In 2007, Hyundai Cebu became the first provincial dealer to win Hyundai's dealer of the year in the Philippines award. The Grand Chamber Awards Night is the culminating activity of Cebu Business Month 2009. The other awardees are Antonio Ynoc, president of San Remegio Beach Club (Countryside Entrepreneur of the Year); Norman and Catherine Quijada, proprietors of CNT Lechon (Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year); Jenifer Cruz, president 33 Point 3 Exports Inc. (Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year); Socorro de Guia, president of Royal Oaks International School (Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year). Special citations were given to the Cebu Investment Promotion Center, Cebu Mitsumi Inc., Lexmark R&D and British Armour Manufacturing Inc. The University of Cebu Dance Co. entertained guests and awardees with Broadway-themed dances while Sakdap belted Broadway medleys. The ceremonies were held at the On-Stage Ayala Theater 1 at Ayala Center Cebu. CCCI president Samuel Chioson welcomed guests who included Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. Grand Chamber Awards Night chairperson Alice Woolbright-Fernandez presented the Young Entrepreneur Award to Onglatco while Chioson, Governor Garcia and Rep. Raul del Mar presented the Entrepreneur of the year award to Uy. /Correspondent Marvi B. Caceres