By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
THE PODIUM WEST TOWER, Pasig City – Networking and online selling were tackled on Thursday (July 31) in the maiden edition of the BizMatch Business Media Forum.
In the first episode of BizMatch Business Media Forum hosted by Dr. Charlie Mendoza, Mendoza defined BizMatch “which is a platform that connects service, businessmen, contractors, talents or business. Iteration is business to business.”
“It is also placing the right people to the right business,” Mendoza said.
The advocacies of BizMatch are charity works and corporate social responsibility, among others.
Dr. Jhen Boles, of Tres Chic Luxury, who was awarded with Heroes Award, said “BizMatch for me is where the businessmen will gather and exchange opinions, which made me more interested and more excited on the learnings to come.”
Dr. Boles said that they are in the online selling through live selling with bags, dresses, jewelries at almost 50 percent of the price so that everybody can afford it.
She added “for as long as you know it, you will succeed.” She advised buyers to go to the venue so that they will appreciate the products themselves.
“Actually, we clicked during the pandemic,” Dr. Jhen said. It will be noted that Covid-19 pandemic hit the Philippines from March 15, 2020 until December 2022.
”We have a money-back guarantee. You can return the product, it you don’t want it, but it can be exchanged with other products in lieu of refund,” she added.
However, Dr. Jhen said that there are now a lot of “click bait” in the online selling.
Dr. Marc Lester, Malandaya Businessman, who ran for Governor in Misamis Occidental in the May 12, 2025 elections, BizMatch for him is to add knowledge in business.
Dr. Lester said that his business is online or on “network selling”. “Recruit, recruit and you will earn. The profit is good. You can earn fair enough,” he said.
Dr. Boles and Dr. Lester agreed that “it has been a stigma when it comes to networking.”
Dr. Lester said that the “blue check” is okey as it proves that it’s legitimate.
“You are what you eat,” he said. He was referring to vegetarians or to food preferences of people.
Dr. Lester is into lending business, specifically to trustworthy people.
He stressed that there should be an orientation before going into the business.
“Training, training and continue learning,” Dr. Lester advised. He does not agree with the additional years in education.
Dr. Lester prefers “strict implementation” of the laws, rules and regulations when it comes to business.
He would like the price of basic commodities to be decreased so that everybody can afford it.
Dr. Lester suggested to expand the group of businessmen in order that they will learn more about good and profitable business undertakings.
Dr. Boles said “the Meta now has a new feature to make sure that it is legitimate with a ‘blue check’, which is very nice. You will not have a blue check if you are not a legitimate business.”
She noted that there were instances then that scammers found their way when there was still no “blue check” then.
Dr. Boles does not stop schooling, especially on “authentication” such that “there is a machine that authenticate the item and there is the money-back guarantee even if it’s already 10 years so long as you can prove that it has been bought from us.”
“Blue check means verified. Without the blue check, it is not us,” Dr. Boles said.
She added that the celebrities are also given the opportunity to have the “blue check” for as long as they provide government-issued ID.
“There are ‘pros and cons’ such that there’s no need for too much questions, but it would also come out if you are not sure for something,” Dr. Boles said.
She added that people should be updated of the advancement in technology.
“Blue Ray” is now utilized in other countries.
“Other countries would not allow the entry of people with exotic bags, which may cause delay in the movement of people,” Dr. Boles said.
She admitted that she could sell very expensive bags costing in the millions of pesos. Dr. Boles stressed that the bag is now a “status symbol of alta” where she started at PHP15,000 during the pandemic so as to “reward yourself” when you have money.
Dr. Boles said “Hermes Berkin” is a status symbol, which is just deserved by a good person.
“Good shoes take you to good places. Your bag defines who you are. Bag is the new gold. It can be pawned,” Dr. Boles said.
She noted though that men are fond of the shoes and watch.
Dr. Boles has already received 18 awards, which for her, she just would like to bring back to the universe what “you reaped and the reward is just only a bonus.”
“The Hero Award, for me, I may not be deserving. But I will do things, even if no one watches,” Dr. Boles said.
“It’s really hard that if you don’t have the papers. You will be notified such as if you don’t file the tax, it will be taken against you,” Dr. Boles said.
Dr. Jhen said “I am learning by experience and at least next time, I will be better.”
“If you want people to engage in business, make it easy to them in the processing of business papers. Fasttrack the system and not make it hard for the people to have a business so that everything will be legal,” Dr. Boles said.
“You can file for bankcruptcy if you are really bankcrupt and the government would not know it if you don’t file it because it’s difficult if it’s not legal,” she added.
Mendoza cited “Ignorance of the law excuses no one” such that ignorance of the law does not excuse people from violating it.
“There is really a person who finds for himself what his line of business is,” Dr. Jhen said.
Dr. Jhen wants to facilitate the system and fasttrack the processing of business papers so as to do away with illegal business.
She advised the aspiring business people to study the line of business before going into it and not to put all your “excess” to just one business.
Hilda “Dang” Canlapan, a Health Business Advocate, a businesswoman and a public servant, shared that it was in 2020, without the pandemic then, “if you are in the mall, you must be watchful.”
Canlapan experienced in a mall that the business permit was supposed to be enough, but the “COR” was very important and when they operated with a business permit and the mall allowed them to operate, but the BIR asked for the “COR”, which is given when the contract is approved.
They were told by the BIR that they should not operate yet, but the mall allowed them to operate without the certificate to operate.
Canlapan was charged with PHP50,000 fine, even if the business has just started, but it was a lesson.
She graduated from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, “but it does not necessarily mean that you would end in such field,” she said.
Canlapan was enhanced by trainings and in the long run, “you will perfect it”.
The business of Canlapan has three branches such as in Fisher Mall Malabon, which she personally takes care herself, and can be processed easily in Malabon and “why it cannot be done also in Quezon City where it is from building to another, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic as it was “online” then.”
Canlapan can make the processing of requirements in just a day, but with “online” it takes more time, noting that not all businessmen are knowledgeable about “online”, hence they should first be educated about it.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, Canlapan was given the option in Valenzuela City, but she would still prefer it in Malabon City.
Canlapan had been six years in FisherMall Quezon Avenue with a “kiosk” with a 50 percent rental and she did not earn a profit and it was good enough with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
She personally attends to her business as she prefers it as “hands on” and to get rid of “fixers”.
Canlapan stressed that the government should see the “system” that a good and simplified system in a local government unit should also be done to another local government unit.###
