For Filipino American entrepreneurs, wealth can mean far more than income or a growing business. It can include security for family, service to community and the ability to give back.
That theme guided the inaugural GCash Presents So Jannelle TV Talk Series, “Entrepreneurship: Building Wealth for Self, Family and Community,” held July 25 in Gardena.
Hosted and produced by Jannelle So-Perkins, the discussion brought together Filipino American business leaders Melody Avecilla, Cheri Platte and Benel Se Liban for a conversation about entrepreneurship, financial well-being and the cultural expectations that shape many Filipino families.
The event was presented by GCash, which said the series is part of its work to engage Filipinos overseas and strengthen ties with Filipino communities in the United States. The talk series creates space for discussions about entrepreneurship, immigration, family, financial responsibility and relationships with the Philippines.
Avecilla, president and CEO of Cost Wise Insurance, said wealth should not be viewed only through a financial lens.
“Wealth is a one-syllable word, but it is a really loaded word,” Avecilla said. She described wealth as including health, peace of mind and financial well-being, adding that its benefits can extend beyond an individual household.
“The spillover from that can have a ripple effect in the community,” she said.
For Platte, founder of 24/7 Circle of Care, the meaning of wealth is rooted in faith and generosity.
“Whatever God blessed me with, and I’m able to share it, for me that’s wealth,” she said.
Se Liban, managing partner of JBC Group LLC, spoke about the cultural conditioning that can steer Filipinos toward stable employment rather than entrepreneurship. While steady work remains important, he said people with an idea and a purpose may need to take a different path.
“It’s our culture, we’re trained to be employees,” Se Liban said. “But if you have a vision and a passion you want to do, you can only do that when you become an entrepreneur, and that’s where you make a difference.”
So-Perkins tied the conversation together by emphasizing that financial success carries meaning when it benefits others.
“True wealth is measured not with what we have but the lives that we impact and the lives that we affect,” she said.
Attendee Redy Babasa said the gathering offered both practical insight and an opportunity to connect with other members of the Filipino American business community.
“It was absolutely worth attending,” Babasa said. “I truly enjoyed the insightful discussion and the opportunity to connect with so many inspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders.”
The discussion was produced as two episodes of So Jannelle TV, a lifestyle and talk program that highlights immigration and representation stories. The program airs on TFC, ANC and KXLA 44, and segments are also available through the SoJannelleTV YouTube channel.
The series will continue Saturday, Aug. 22, with “The Immigrant Journey: Stories of Resilience, Belonging & Building a Life in America” at The Noypitz Bar & Grill in Long Beach.
The free event begins at 10 a.m. and will feature singer and gospel recording artist Felson Palad, attorney and ethics commissioner Jessica Gillette, and actress and registered nurse Princess Punzalan. A free immigration clinic will be provided by John Perry & Associates, P.C.
The panel will explore rebuilding a life in the United States, navigating identity and belonging, meeting family responsibilities and sustaining connections to the Philippines. Princess Punzalan, who moved to the United States in 2005 and later became a nurse, has previously spoken with So Jannelle TV about reinvention and the immigrant experience.
Editor’s note: Jannelle So is a two-time TOFA honoree, receiving the 2018 TOFA Award in Media & Publishing and recognition among TOFA’s 100 Most Influential Filipinos in America during its 10th anniversary in 2020.
