To "share in promoting entrepreneurship" -- this is the declared purpose of the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI) in launching the book "Introduction to ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Success Stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs" (Anvil Publishing [2007], 184 pages). Each story of the 15 successful and inspiring entrepreneurs featured in the book is unique, but there are certain trends, including the following:

Not everyone is meant to become an entrepreneur. No one among the 15 featured entrepreneurs disagree that Filipinos have the entrepreneurial capacity, except that entrepreneurship is not for everyone. It's for risk-takers and those who are capable of performing under extreme pressure.

Source of credit is important. The common thread among the 15 entrepreneurs is the need for more credit facilities for Pinoy Entrepreneurs. The problem, however, is that you need a good track record to secure more credit. In other words, those who are just starting would have a hard time securing credit, while those who've made it are most likely to gain better access to, and better terms of, money through credit.

Being employed doesn't mean you can't be an entrepeneur. We had a discussion on the differences between an entrepreneur and an employee, and some would have the idea that one precludes the other. However, almost all of the featured 15 successful entrepreneurs worked as employees before venturing into a particular business, in order to gain capital, exposure, experience, network and a host of other factors.

Hard work, perseverance and sacrifice. There's no question that a budding Pinoy Entrepreneur must be hardworking. A successful entrepreneur, however, goes the extra mile and puts in a lot of sacrifice. He/She doesn't give up easily. There's no other way of doing it right.

The 15 members of AFFI whose success stories are discussed in the book are the following:

The AFFI is "a non-stock, non-profit national organization of Filipino entrepreneurs and businessmen, duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was formed in 1997 by a pioneering group of men and women who recognized the potential for business expansion through franchising, although being a franchisor or franchisee is not a requirement to be a member of the AFFI.