The Seed That Sparked an Industry: Francorp Honors Founding Members Samie Lim, Bing Limjoco, and Manny Siggaoat
- Francorp Philippines
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Three decades ago, a powerful vision took root in the Philippine business landscape. What began as a single seed, conceived by forward-thinking pioneers determined to professionalize and elevate homegrown businesses, has sprouted into an unstoppable economic force. Today, that vision transformed the Philippines into Asia’s franchise hub and one of the largest, most dynamic franchise markets in the world, generating thousands of successful enterprises and millions of jobs.
During the spectacular Francorp 30th Anniversary Gala, themed "30 Years of Transforming the Philippine Franchise Landscape," the community gathered to look back at this incredible journey. A central highlight of the evening was a deeply moving Founders' Recognition tribute delivered by Francorp Managing Director Noel Siggaoat.
Standing before an audience of industry giants, clients, and partners, he articulated the profound impact of the pillars who laid the foundation for Philippine franchising.
The Tribute Speech
Here is the recognition speech delivered by Noel Siggaoat in its entirety:
Good evening, everyone. I trust you're all having an amazing evening. Thank you for sharing this milestone 30-year anniversary with all of us at Francorp Philippines and the International Franchise Corporation.
To the clients that have trusted us over the years, we thank you for partnering with us to grow your business from one to many. Congratulations on not only expanding through franchising and becoming household brands but, more importantly, for providing employment opportunities to many people, and for offering financially rewarding opportunities to your franchisees, making their dreams of becoming successful business owners a reality.
Congratulations as well to our team at Francorp - the consultants, sales, marketing, editorial, and admin teams, to the U-Franchise brokerage team, to the ActionCOACH mentors and coaches who make up the International Franchise Group. Thank you and congratulations! This would not have been possible without your excellence, hard work, and dedication.
But none of these would have been possible if it were not for the vision and foresight of our founders. We owe these successes to them. We have attained great heights because we are standing on the shoulders of these giants in business. Tonight, we recognize and honor them.
During Alex Eala's amazing run at Wimbledon that saw her become the first Filipino to reach the round of 16, a battle cry written on her gear said, "Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto". This roughly translates to "Every dream starts as a seed. Once it sprouts, it becomes an unstoppable force."
Thirty years ago, three extraordinary business leaders and forward thinkers came together with a powerful vision – to help homegrown businesses expand through franchising, and to provide the technology to help this industry grow in the right way. In the process, they have not only built a company, but they have also created a franchise industry that is one of the best and largest in the world!
As we honor them tonight, we will present each of our Founders with a commemorative sculpture created by renowned Filipino artist Richard Buxani. The figure of the bonsai tree is crafted in copper and brass and set upon a stone base. It symbolizes life overcoming hardship—a fitting tribute to leaders whose vision, resilience, and dedication laid the enduring foundation of Francorp Philippines. It represents the seed that they planted thirty years ago and is now an unstoppable force. The seed has borne fruit in the form of the most successful brands in Philippine franchising, and for these clients, the seeds continue to grow not just locally but internationally.
Our first honoree is a man whose name is permanently synonymous with the birth and boom of Philippine franchising. While attending the International Franchise Show in Washington, D.C., he found Francorp USA. Recognizing its massive potential and the opportunity to bring world-class franchise development platforms to a rising local market, he brought that vision home to Manila. He proposed this groundbreaking idea to his partners at the Philippine Retailers Association and the then-newly formed Philippine Franchise Association. He is, without question, the undisputed "Father of Philippine Franchising." Ladies and gentlemen, let us honor Francorp Founder and Chairman, Dr. Samie Lim. The Visionary - for seeing beyond the horizon.
Our next founder is a powerhouse of dedication, mentorship, and industry stewardship. Her tireless work has guided hundreds of micro, small, and medium enterprises from humble beginnings into dominant market leaders. To master the craft, she personally attended the intensive Francorp training program at the Chicago headquarters. Armed with global expertise, she returned to spearhead Francorp Philippines' initial sales and marketing efforts, laying the unwavering groundwork for our 30 years of success. Let us give our highest respect and warmest applause to Francorp Founder and Vice Chairman, Dr. Bing Sibal-Limjoco. The Mentor and Champion of Entrepreneurs - for nurturing ambition into achievement.
And our third founder is the brilliant architect behind the operational excellence of Francorp Philippines. To turn a brilliant idea into a lasting institution takes structural and operational genius. This leader managed the intricate corporate formation of Francorp Philippines and, as our founding President, nurtured the financial and administrative health of the company for its first 15 years. A true financial wizard, he was instrumental in adapting Francorp International's financial models to the Philippine setting—optimizing the win-win outcomes that ensure client success to this day. Ladies and gentlemen, let us honor Francorp Founder and Founding President, my father Manny Siggaoat. The Founding President - for leadership that built the foundation of continuing excellence.
Dr. Samie, Dr. Bing, and Sir Manny—to the three of you, we honor you, we appreciate you, and we offer our deepest gratitude.
Today, Francorp Philippines stands proud as one of the top international offices of Francorp International worldwide— in the number of clients served, the size of our consulting team, and the collective years of consulting experience.
Your foundational work is directly responsible for this milestone achievement. Thank you for your courage three decades ago. Thank you for your continuing mentorship, your sacrifices, and your unwavering belief in the Filipino brand.
The seed you planted 30 years ago has become an unstoppable force in Philippine business.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us give a resounding, grand standing ovation to the Founders of Francorp Philippines!
As we look ahead to the next 30 years, we can only build on the success of the last three decades by carrying forward the same values that Dr. Samie Lim, Dr. Bing Sibal-Limjoco, and Sir Manny Siggaoat have lived by from the very beginning. Their journey reminds us that lasting growth starts with the right mindset.
1. Prioritize a Win-Win-Win Ecosystem
Great franchises are built when everyone succeeds together. Always strive to create value not just for the franchisor, but also for franchisees and customers. When everyone wins, growth becomes sustainable.
2. Dream Beyond Your Borders
Never limit your vision to where you are today. The biggest brands started with one dream and the courage to think bigger. Be open to new opportunities, reach more communities, and believe that your business can make an impact beyond your own city—or even beyond the country.
3. Create Lasting Impact
Success is not only measured by the number of branches you open, but by the lives you change along the way. Let every business decision be guided by a greater purpose, whether it's creating jobs, helping families build better futures, or serving communities with excellence. When your vision is driven by a meaningful mission, growth becomes more than just expansion; it becomes a legacy. #
Do you want to know if you’re ready to franchise your business? Francorp offers a FREE franchisability consultation to assess your brand’s potential and franchise readiness. Sign up for Francorp’s franchisability test to book your consultation or attend the Franchise Your Business Seminar (FYBS). Visit this link for more information.
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Francorp extends its deepest gratitude to the 30th Anniversary Gala Event Partners: ActionCOACH Philippines, Avocadoria, Bakers PH, Big Brew, Brilliant Skin Essentials, But First Coffee, BW Superbakeshop, Chick Chicken, Cupcake Royale Bakeshop, DITO BizBayan, Enlins Bakeshop, Jaam House of Sushi, Mango Royal Milkshake, Media Blitz, Mommy Vacion Crispy Pata, Powerhouse Tools, Prince Baker, RedBox Pizza, Remilly’s Yema Cakes, Ronli Wonton Siomai, Shawarma Shack, The Hungry Pita, Toby’s Estate, and Yoogatta.
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