Ayala Malls Manila Bay was the official venue for the relaunch of Mentor Me On Wheels, a one-on-one mentoring program tailored for MSMEs, held last April 9. Organized by Go Negosyo in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the event brought aspiring and existing entrepreneurs together with some of the country’s most prominent industry leaders.

Over 130 mentors shared their knowledge and experiences with small entrepreneurs within 30-minute consultation sessions, including Ayala Land President and CEO Bobby Dy. The program also gave cash prizes of over half a million pesos to winning attendees, which they can use as seed capital to kickstart or expand their business.

Among the many business leaders who shared their expertise at Mentor Me On Wheels were Bernie Liu of Penshoppe, Pepot Miñana of Jollibee Foods Corporation, George Royeca of Angkas, Nigel Lockett of DHL Philippines, Enrico Dee of Foodie Global Concepts, Alfredo Pascual of the Management Association of the Philippines, Tommanny Tan of iFern Corporation, Eric Teng of Resto PH, Yvette Orbeta of Wendy’s, Johnlu Koa of The French Baker, David Charlton of David’s Salon, and Joey Concepcion of Go Negosyo.

With the gradual reopening of the economy, Ayala Land President Bobby Dy emphasized the crucial role of MSMEs and the importance of giving them opportunities to grow. “For our economy to jumpstart its path towards recovery, it is important to support the MSMEs, which comprise majority of our business owners and employed population,” said Dy.

MSMEs are regarded as the economic backbone of the country. In the 2021 List of Establishments of the PSA, registered MSMEs comprised 99.58% of establishments and provided 63 percent employment to the Philippine workforce.

“This is a very timely program to assist our MSMEs and budding entrepreneurs, which will, in turn, have a significant impact on our business and economic recovery as a country. We, at Ayala Land, are here to provide support in whatever way we can to help in this endeavor,” Dy furthered.

Apart from Mentor Me On Wheels, Ayala Land has supported businesses through various initiatives since the pandemic. Efforts include rental concessions to regular mall merchants, free spaces for social enterprises, vaccination drives for employees in coordination with LGUs, and the group’s strict compliance with safety protocols so customers can feel more comfortable to shop and dine back at Ayala Malls.