Mr. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) was named 2007 Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet held at the Makati Shangri-La hotel.

Uytengsu, 46, was recognized for his phenomenal success as an entrepreneur. He was selected from among the six category winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines. As the winner of the national title, Mr. Uytengsu will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in May.

“Our businesses are intended to pass from generations to generations, so the key is being persistent day after day, week after week, year after year, generation after generation. This is something that I learned from my father, something that our organization believes in, and hopefully, we can pass this on to the next generation,” said Mr. Uytengsu during the awards banquet.

Mr. Uytengsu was cited for expanding, developing and professionalizing AMC’s systems. He was responsible for the company’s initial public offering in 1995, which raised US$50 million. Under his leadership, the company also partnered with foreign brands such as Hershey’s, Kellog’s and Nabisco to be their distributor in the Philippines; and acquired the liquid canned milk business of Nestlé Philippines, which resulted in the company’s dominance at 85% market share. Since 1996, AMC has maintained a very robust financial position. Employee stock options also empower AMC’s employees by having a greater stake in the company.

Presenting him the award were Mr. John Harvey (left), Far East People Leader, Ernst & Young, Mr. David L. Balangue (second from left), President and Chairman of SGV Foundation, Inc., and Former President Fidel V. Ramos (right). Mr. Uytengsu also received the category award for Master Entrepreneur.

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Mr. Raymund Joseph Laurel, President and Creative Director of Rajo Laurel Enterprises, was named Small Business Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet. Presenting him the award were Ms. Julita Urbina (left) CEO and Founder of Café Laguna and Small Business Entrepreneur 2006, and Dean Alberto Buenviaje (right), Ateneo Graduate School of Business. Mr. Laurel was presented with the award for best demonstrating management excellence in a business with assets of less than P100 million. He has built three exceptional world-class garment companies: Rajo Laurel Enterprises, which specializes in made-to-order clothing; Laurel et Ross, which makes corporate uniforms; and House of Laurel, a boutique which carries his line of ready-to-wear clothes and accessories.

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Mr. Abelardo Tolentino, Jr. President and CEO of Aidea Philippines, Inc., was named Innovation Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet. Presenting him the award was Mr. Krish Datta, Managing Director, SAP Philippines, Inc. Mr. Tolentino was given the award for his breakthrough and ingenious projects in Aidea Philippines, Inc., which created an opportunity for Filipino architects and interior designers to produce high-quality, world-class work locally, without having to go abroad, with the view of helping reverse the brain drain in the country.

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Ms. Maria Angela Villalba, Executive Director of Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation, was named Social Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet. Presenting her the award were Mr. Kevin Teo (left), East Asia Head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Mr. Reynaldo David (right), President and CEO of Development Bank of the Philippines. Ms. Villalba was presented with the award for applying practical, innovative and market-oriented approach to her business and has created products and services that address the challenges faced by communities, help solve complex social problems, and benefit the marginalized and the poor. Her lifework in the foundation links migration of Overseas Filipino Workers to local community development by harnessing migrants’ resources through credit programs and eventually investing these in local social enterprises or commercial operations that they can manage when they retire or when they return home.

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Ms. Margarita Fores, President and CEO of Cibo, Inc., was named Woman Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet. Presenting her the award were Amb. Bienvenido Tan (left) of Philippine Business for Social Progress and President, Modern Glass Distributors, Inc., and Ms. Socorro Cancio-Ramos (right), Founder of National Bookstore, Inc., 2004 Woman Entrepreneur, and 2004 Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines. Ms. Fores received the award for her exceptional leadership as an entrepreneur, having built a highly successful chain of restaurants that serve delectable and authentic Italian food in a casual dining set up. Her home-style Italian cooking has established a sound reputation for consistent quality and service.

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Mr. Wilfredo Tan, President and CEO of Hausland Development Corporation, was named Realty and Construction Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines awards banquet. Presenting him the award were Mr. Lance Gokongwei (left), President and CEO of Cebu Air, Inc., Tourism Entrepreneur 2005 and Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 and Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (right), Department of Trade and Industry. Mr. Tan won the award for building an outstanding company in Realty and Construction in spite of industry obstacles. Through Hausland Development Corporation, he provides the Central Luzon market with themed, quality low-cost and socialized housing. Undeterred by the aftermath of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, the company has developed 3,785 housing packages from its 17 subdivision projects.

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