June 23, 2025

Twelve (12) proud entrepreneurs from the City of Talisay successfully participated and completed the SEAL-BETA (Small Enterprise Acceleration Lab- Business Expansion thru Training and Accelerate) Negros Occidental held last June 17–20, 2025, at Park Inn by Radisson, SM City Bacolod. The events gathered over 60 micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) participants from across the province and was made possible through the collaborative efforts of DTI, PTTC, BanKo, and the BPI Foundation.

The Talisay team emerged as one of the most recognized groups during the 4-day entrepreneurship development and business enhancement training.

Among the many notable achievements:

• Mr. John Wendell Faisan of 6115 Coffee-Break Cafe and his team were honored with the Best Booth Set-Up Award, earning a cash prize of ₱20,000, divided equally among the group.
• Mr. Ramon De Los Santos of Lutak Arts and Ms. Annielyn Petalver of Grass and Herbs Organic and Native Products were recognized for having the Most Innovative Product, showcasing creativity and relevance in today's conscious market.
• Mr. Jovelito Boy Trecho of JKN Farm was also recognized with the Most Participative Award, highlighting his outstanding engagement and collaboration throughout the program.

One of the major highlights of SEAL-BETA 2025 was the Best Sales Pitching competition, where the top 10 performers each received ₱25,000 in business support funds. Among the winners were:

• Mr. Christopher John Ferrer of Happy Flights Travel and Tours, and
• Ms. Maria Teresa Jacildo of Terry’s Food Product,
both of whom wowed the panel with their compelling presentations and well-grounded business strategies.


This milestone event underscored the continued growth and excellence of Talisay's local entrepreneurs—thanks to the invaluable support from the Local Economic and Investment Promotions Office (LEIPO) led by Mr. Ismael Penado, Ms. Jhona Javier and the City Tourism Promotions and Development Department under Mrs. Renea Ferrer. The City Government of Talisay, headed by Hon. City Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio "Neil" Lizares III, remains committed to promoting local enterprise, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.

The City of Talisay congratulates all participants and awardees for bringing pride and honor to the city, and looks forward to even greater achievements in the years to come.

#SEALBETA2025 #TalisayPride #DTI #BPIFoundation #PTTC #BanKo #SupportLocalNegros #EmpoweredEntrepreneurs

Story By: Christopher John L. Ferrer