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by Elizabeth Aguirre – Soriano, August 2012

Colegio de San Juan de Letran high school juniors Maria Teresita Andrea M. Gonzales and Jann Ankaa Samantha L. Jumamil won first place at the International Challenge Business Plan Competition held on July 31 at the Sister Miriam Thomas Bldg., Miriam College in Quezon City. 

Gonzales and Jumamil, who both belong to the top section III – 420, St. Thomas Aquinas, bested 90 other participants from different schools nationwide. Among the schools which landed in the top ten were Xavier School, Manila Science High School, Miriam School, St. Jude Catholic School, and Immaculate Concepcion Academy.

The pair's winning business proposal is the production of Glowee Shoe Polish, a shoe polish made of biodegradable materials like banana peels. They explained that their product is safe, nature-friendly, and economical which can be used by consumers across all economic statuses. The panel of eight judges tested the product by applying a portion to a leather bag. The bag turned shiny after a few minutes, and the judges commended the product afterwards.

"We believe in our product. It has high quality, thus very effective and yet affordable. We went there in the grand presentation to convince the judges that our product will be worth buying and will be a boost to the country’s economy because we plan to export it eventually to neighboring Asian countries," said Gonzales.

Gonzales and Jumamil will represent the Philippines in an all–expense paid trip to Hong Kong for the regional competition which will be held on August 26 to 30.

Soledad Boquiren, chairperson of Technology and Livelihood Education accompanied Gonzales and Jumamil to  the one-day seminar/workshop at Treston International College, Global City, Taguig as well as the business plan presentation at Miriam College, Quezon City.

The contest was sponsored and hosted by FedEx Express and Junior Achievement of the Phils., Inc. (JAPI). 

The FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge is a program designed to educate and inspire young people to understand how entrepreneurship can improve the quality of their lives and of their communities. Together with FedEx, JAPI provides opportunities for high school students to learn and recognize the advantages of a business entrepreneurship education, thus imbibing in them the possibility of becoming global leaders someday.