BUSINESS has always been ruled by cutthroat competition. Firms have always been challenged to come up with new products, become the latest hype, or become the new consumer sensation. In the eagerness to compete, companies forget social responsibility.

So it was timely that Ley La Salle—De La Salle University’s premier professional organization for legal management students and future lawyers—organized the annual Business Law Conference at Henry Sy, Sr. Hall recently. This year’s theme was “Millennials Towards Building a Nation.”

The first part of the event tackled business start-ups; the second part focused on federalism.

Zark Varona, founder of Zark’s Burgers, said that when he started his enterprise, he just wanted to serve big and affordable burgers to people. It has been his childhood dream.

When he opened his first branch on Taft Avenue, he didn’t spend much on marketing and advertising, but focused on satisfactory service and delicious food. He pointed out that he had a crew of only four.

But soon Zark’s Burgers became popular by word of mouth. He’s about to open his 26th branch.

Carlos Ople, meanwhile, turned his personal blog into Unbox.ph, a website on the latest technology and related news.

But he said it wasn’t an overnight success; rather, it was the persistence of writing articles every night, after his day job in an advertising company, that made the
difference.

This routine went on for two years until he got his first-ever sponsor.

Ople explained his “7 p.m.-1 a.m.” principle: “From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, you build your career. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., you build your dreams.”

Ople said today’s young people are “a generation of creators and not just mere consumers.”

Lester Codog is the man behind Foilacar which provides foiling or a new look to luxury cars. He said he had worked at odd jobs before making it big.

He repaired cars, worked on cruise ships and sold plants before finally starting his own company. Aside from Foilacar, he now has his own TV show, “Lester’s World.”

Government shift

Federalism was discussed by former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel.

The retired lawmaker highlighted the difference between devolution and decentralization. He also corrected flawed perceptions of federalism.

Lawyer Dante Bravo capped the discussion by presenting the pros and cons of federalism in business. He cited potential problems in the uniformity of taxes, labor laws and wages, since regions in the federal system would have different wage indices due to their different working conditions and respective peculiarities.

But the federal system would benefit the regions which would be able to expand economically based on their needs and conditions.

Overall, the conference was an eye-opener on the new realities of entrepreneurship amid what seems like a challenging transition in the system of government. It was a gentle reminder to aspiring entrepreneurs that the business they put up should also consider the plight of people and the condition of society.

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