26/03/2026
๐ง๐จ๐ฃ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ: ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐
Manila, Philippines โ March 12, 2026
The Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Manila successfully hosted the Youthpreneurship Summit 2026 at the Integrated Research and Training Center (IRTC) Hall, convening more than 100 student-entrepreneurs from various higher education institutions in a dynamic celebration of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial excellence. Anchored on the theme โFiesta of Ideas: Celebrating Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit,โ the summit served as a platform for young innovators to exchange ideas, develop competencies, and cultivate meaningful academic and professional networks.
Now on its third year, the Youthpreneurship Summit continues to expand its reach and institutional collaboration. The initiative originated at Rizal Technological University (RTU), followed by its second installment at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), and for 2026, TUP Manila proudly served as host institutionโmarking another milestone in inter-university cooperation in entrepreneurship education.
A significant pre-event highlight was the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing held on March 2, 2026, formalizing the partnership between TUP and RTU. The agreement was signed by TUP President Engr. Dr. Reynaldo P. Ramos and RTU President Dr. Ma. Eugenia M. Yangco, in the presence of TUP Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ryan C. Reyes and RTU College of Business, Entrepreneurship and Accountancy Dean Dr. Rome Sherriff G. Montoya. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to strengthening youth entrepreneurship initiatives and academic synergy.
The summit formally commenced with welcome remarks from Instructor Genesis S. Austria, College Secretary of the TUP College of Management and Multidisciplinary Studies and adviser of the Future Managersโ Society (FUMAS), the organizing student body. In his message, he emphasized the importance of cultivating innovative mindsets among the youth, fostering collaboration across institutions, and positioning entrepreneurship as a key driver of inclusive economic development. He also articulated a forward-looking challenge for the participants and partner institutionsโto continuously expand the network of participating schools and universities in future iterations of the summit, to strengthen linkages with both public and private sector organizations, and ultimately, to work toward the establishment of a formal professional society for young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators that will sustain collaboration, mentorship, and innovation beyond the confines of a single annual event.
An inspiring message was also delivered by Dr. Michael Bhobet B. Baluyot, Dean of the TUP College of Management and Multidisciplinary Studies, who encouraged participants to harness creativity, resilience, and strategic thinking in navigating the increasingly competitive and evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
Prior to the formal sessions, participants were treated to a campus tour of TUP Manila, showcasing the universityโs facilities, academic offerings, and innovation-driven environment. The activity provided visiting students with a deeper appreciation of TUPโs institutional capabilities and commitment to quality and industry-relevant education.
The summit featured insightful and practice-oriented discussions from distinguished resource speakers. Mr. Gary Sta. Cruz, Education Center Manager of CIM Technologies Inc., delivered a session titled โFrom Ideas to Impact: How Young Entrepreneurs Turn Creativity into Viable Business Opportunities.โ His discussion emphasized that creativity must be complemented by ex*****on, introducing participants to structured approaches such as feasibility analysis, prototyping, market validation, and iterative development. He highlighted the importance of customer-centric innovation, lean startup methodologies, and data-driven decision-making in transforming ideas into scalable ventures.
Meanwhile, Instructor Cyrille Anne Rafael-Del Rio, Chair of the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship program at RTU, presented โFrom Passion to Profit: Building Sustainable Youth-Led Enterprises in a Competitive Economy.โ Her discussion underscored that passion, while essential, must be supported by sound financial management, strategic positioning, and sustainability practices. She emphasized resilience, innovation, and competitive differentiation, while encouraging participants to integrate social responsibility and environmental consciousness into their business models.
A key component of the summit was the mentorship sessions, where participants engaged with subject matter experts across various entrepreneurial domains. The mentors included faculty members from TUP, notably Instructors Emerald Jean D. Villalobos-Wong and Daisy Dian M. Dequina from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management. Instructor Villalobos-Wong discussed entrepreneurial competencies and decision-making, emphasizing critical thinking, risk assessment, and strategic judgment, while Instructor Dequina provided insights on venture financing, covering funding sources, financial planning, and investor readiness. In the area of food enterprise, Instructor Rolando S. Mangada from the Department of Hospitality Management explored food and culinary entrepreneurship, highlighting innovation, quality control, food safety standards, and operational efficiency.
On digital enterprise, Instructor Anika D. Ombao of RTU, affiliated with the University Procurement Management Office for infrastructure projects, discussed digital marketing and e-commerce strategies, focusing on leveraging online platforms, customer engagement, and data analytics for business growth. Assistant Professor Imee T. Linsangan of RTUโs College of Business, Entrepreneurship and Accountancy (CBEA) introduced franchising as a strategic expansion model, explaining its systems, advantages, and operational considerations. Meanwhile, Instructor Michael A. Batuyong, RTU Graduate Program Coordinator, emphasized sustainable and social entrepreneurship, encouraging participants to create ventures that balance profitability with social and environmental impact.
The mentorship sessions were further enriched by Dr. Ernesto S. Faraon of Universidad de Manila (UDM), who facilitated an open entrepreneurship consultation, providing tailored advice and practical insights to address participantsโ specific business ideas and challenges.
One of the most engaging highlights of the summit was the mentor-guided collaborative activity, where participants were grouped across institutions to promote networking, teamwork, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Each group was tasked to conceptualize a skit, and pitch innovative business ideas inspired by traditional Filipino fiesta elements such as fruit basket, bilao, pabitin, banderitas, and water container. The activity fostered creativity, cultural appreciation, and applied entrepreneurial thinking, allowing participants to translate concepts into marketable products.
The summit gathered student-entrepreneurs from TUP, RTU, PLM, UDM, Eulogio โAmangโ Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP), University of Makati (UMAK), and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar)โdemonstrating a strong and growing network of institutions committed to developing future business leaders.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Jeamel Sevilleno, the current FUMAS President and a BSBA major in Industrial Management student, who expressed gratitude to the partner institutions, speakers, mentors, and participants for their active engagement and support. She underscored the value of student-led initiatives in strengthening leadership and collaboration, and encouraged participants to sustain the connections and learning gained from the summit.
Beyond its successful implementation, the Youthpreneurship Summit 2026 achieved its core objectives of enhancing entrepreneurial knowledge, fostering inter-institutional collaboration, and developing practical business competencies among participants. The summit resulted in strengthened academic linkages, expanded networking opportunities, and the generation of innovative, culturally grounded business concepts reflective of Filipino identity.
In terms of competencies, participants demonstrated and enhanced key entrepreneurial capabilities, including opportunity recognition, creative problem-solving, critical and strategic thinking, financial literacy, digital marketing proficiency, and collaborative teamwork. The integration of mentorship and experiential learning enabled participants to apply theoretical knowledge into practice, strengthening their decision-making abilities and entrepreneurial confidence.
The Youthpreneurship Summit 2026 ultimately reaffirmed that when passion, creativity, and collaboration converge, the youth are empowered not only to innovate but also to lead and transform the future of entrepreneurship in the Philippinesโwhile laying the groundwork for broader partnerships and a more institutionalized community of young entrepreneurs in the years to come.
