Unleashing the TIGER

A few days ago, I was invited to speak at the 22nd Visayas Area Business Conference held at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo. The theme of the three-day affair was One Global Visayas: Unleashing the TIGER (Towards Integration, Growth and Economic Resiliency) Economy. It was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo, Inc. and attended by nearly 200 businessmen from Cebu City, Mandaue City, Bacolod City, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Dumaguete City, Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo City.

The conference brought together top business leaders from various Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) affiliates in the Visayas. There was open discussion on  views, experiences, and best practices hoping to improve investment practices, tourism and trade opportunities in the region.

Over the years, the Visayas has been one of the major economic players in the country. “The Visayas is expected to outperform other areas in the country over the next years and continue to be a solid pick for big and emerging market investors,” declared Joe Marie Agriam, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo, Inc. (CCIII).

The event gave all of us the chance to engage leading entrepreneurs about current and significant issues like Local Business Competitiveness, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Agriculture, Energy, Tourism, Integrity Initiative, Education, Corporate Social Responsibility, and ASEAN Integration.

Joining me onstage as speakers were Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (who talked about PPPs Best Practices Toward a Positive Business Environment), Philippine Business for Education president Chito Salazar (Addressing the Gap Between the Academic Institutions and the Business Industries), Geiser Maclang Network chief Amor Maclang (Strengthening Local Economies through Inter-Local Cooperation), PLDT’s community senior relations manager Evelyn del Rosario (Corporate Social Responsibility), Palm Concepcion Power Corp. CEO Roel Castro (Visayas Power Supply Outlook), Jose Cortez of Integrity Initiative (Building a Corporate Ethics Culture in a Culture of Corruption), CENECO director Roberto Montelibano (Investing in Other Agricultural Industries), DILG Region 6 ARD Margie Biligan (Business-Friendly and Competitive LGUs: A DILG Roadmap) and PCCI president lawyer Miguel Varela (ASEAN Integration Initiative from the Private Sector).

The highlight of the three-day conference was the awarding of this year’s Galing Ilonggo Awards to 10 outstanding young Ilonggo entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and for their important contributions in elevating the image of Iloilo.

My best friend Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel was one of the recipients of this prestigious award. (He got a thunderous applause when his name was called!) Although Boy came from the school of hard knocks, he has successfully carved a name for himself in the island paradise of Boracay. Moving from Iloilo City to Boracay and armed only with his lifetime savings, a lot of guts, hard work, plenty of business acumen and tenacity, Boy built and transformed La Carmela de Boracay into the resort of choice among local celebrities who visit the beach paradise.

“I thank God for this award because it made my dream come true. It gave me the honor and satisfaction knowing that I have contributed to the Philippine economy and the labor force. Receiving the award motivates me to do well in my work and to continue my advocacy of helping my countrymen. Indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines! Walang bayad ang mangarap kaya mangarap tayo,” enthused Boy when I talked to him about his new award. His wife Loi and daughter Carmela were with him during the awarding ceremony.

Boy worked hard to where he is now. Eight years ago, La Carmela de Boracay started with only 20 rooms but now it has burgeoned with close to 600 rooms and still counting. It was chosen by Condé Nast Traveller’s Magazine as one of the world’s most inexpensive hotels in Boracay. It’s a home/hotel where you get your money’s worth.

Despite his success in the hotel business, Boy never stops dreaming. He has also dipped his hands into the restaurant business with Sir Boy’s Food Republique, the favorite dining destination among family and friends in the heart of Quezon City. Sir Boy’s Food Republique believes that celebrating the milestones and successes in life can be affordable for everyone, and that you can have good food and service at reasonable prices. This value for money mantra has made the restaurant the ideal place for birthdays, baptismal receptions, product launches, anniversaries, presscons, tour groups and other corporate functions.

The other winners of Galing Ilonggo Awards were PJ Aranador (whose body of work include designing furniture, apparel and jewelry, visual merchandising, exhibition design, store and space planning); Felix Gorriceta III (CEO and the creative mind behind the success of the family-owned Karat World Fine Jewelry); Alexis Borro (of Ted’s Lapaz Batchoy); Jacqueline Penalosa (she has transformed the Hablon, an exquisite hand-woven textile indigenous in Iloilo, into beautiful and exquisite clothes, fashion accessories, bags and footwears); Dr. Ferjenel Biron (former congressman and president and CEO of Phil. PharmaWealth, Inc., the biggest trading house of human pharmaceutical injections in the country); Ian Eric Pama (president of Valiant Rural Bank, Inc.); Eric Delos Santos (renowned young fashion designer); Pauline Banusing (a celebrated chef in Iloilo City); and Jacqueline Tan (president and producer of Mutya ng Pilipinas).