Of the World Economic Forum Cebu to host OCEAN 14 summit

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu will once again take the spotlight as it was chosen to host a segment of the 23rd World Economic Forum this coming May 23 to 25 at the Movenpick Resort in Mactan Island.

The WEF East Asia Regional Summit will be held in Manila for the first on May 21 to 23 and as an extension to the summit, the open discussions segment of the WEF conference dubbed the OCEAN 14 or Open Collaboration with East Asia New Champions 2014 will be held in Mactan.

The summit will gather 200 top decision makers and global shapers in the world to open up stronger collaboration between private and public sectors with unified goal to promote development, networking, and essentially to make the world "a better place" to live amid the challenging issues it faces.

The new champions of the WEF, a community that includes the Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers, Schwab Social Entrepreneurs in the Philippines, officially launched the three-day event yesterday.

"To further fuel the momentum, OCEAN aims to develop a framework for creating Innovation Zones, that promote a new class of businesses," said Winston Damarillo, OCEAN summit chairman in a press conference yesterday.

Damarillo who is also a Young Global Leader, and owner of one of the successful innovation companies in the Philippines serving the global clientele, said that the summit will give an opportunity for Cebu and the Philippines to showcase its world-class leaders, as well as innovations.

"Designed for start-ups and entrepreneurs working on high risk, high reward ventures, Innovation Zones will build on best practices and encourage innovation," added Damarillo.

OCEAN aims to convene the New Champions through leaders and Filipino change-makers in Cebu for three days of networking, dialogue on social and economic development.

Damarillo said those attending will discuss where the Philippine economy is now and what the future holds.

More than 200 leaders from the government, including YGL and senators Bam Aquino, and Chiz Escudero, business, academe, and arts and culture will share strategies and solutions for promoting social economic progress as the Philippines prepares for ASEAN integration next year.

"The World Economic forum is one of the most influential non-profit organizations in the world and its a rare opportunity for the Philippines to host it. Its an honor for our foreign counterparts to experience Cebu and see a mix of the best-- from beaches to creative minds," said YGL and broadcaster Karen Davila.

The WEF which gained strong international exposures such as running stories in CNN and other distinguished and top rated international media organizations, is also on its way to officially form the Global Shapers Cebu Hub and appointed entrepreneur Jay Aldeguer as the founding curator.

OCEAN will feature keynotes such as ASEAN Social Enterprise and Igniting the Innovation Initiatives via private-public partnerships, a range of interactive break-out sessions with themes around sustainable social initiatives, design thinking and solutions, and enabling a digitally-enabled economy, fireside chats, among other events.