‘Tanyag’
Tanyag” was the aptly chosen title for the recent reception for international trade partners of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions or CITEM, the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), held at the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La The Fort, Bonifacio Global City.
I was given the honor to host the prestigious event by an old friend, the indefatigable executive director of CITEM, Dr. Edward L. Fereira, Ph.D.
“Tanyag: An Evening with International Trade Partners” was described as a “formal export trade networking activity,” which sought to gather various government agencies, business leaders, and trade diplomatic partners to exhibit Philippine-made products and services to the rest of the world. By doing so they would develop the Filipino brand of excellence.
The evening was also occasion for the symbolic turnover of the CITEM leadership to its new executive director and the launch of the new CITEM logo.
An inspirational video message was given by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, while Fereira gave the opening address on Philippine-made products for the Filipinos and for the world.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual also gave a message and introduced the guest of honor and keynote speaker, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The President said that he welcomed this event “with pride and excitement as we showcase Philippine-made products for Filipinos and for the rest of the world.”
He also mentioned that in this age of economic transformation, “we note the important role of our local and foreign trade partners, organizations, and stakeholders to the country’s export performance in the past years.”
He said that seeing all of them there — particularly the trade diplomatic partners, legislators, partners from foreign embassies, private, and government sectors— gave him this “renewed sense of hope that we will indeed rise above the economic setbacks and emerge stronger than ever.”
President Marcos also underscored the significance of Tanyag, which means “notable, famous, celebrated, and outstanding.”
He believes “these are the words that appropriately describe the essence of Filipino products and services; that no matter where you are in the world, our offerings come with a uniqueness that cannot be found elsewhere.”
The President gave the assurance that, “in the years ahead, you will see that the Philippines will be a destination of choice when it comes to doing business — where innovation, excellence, and sustainability meet with Filipino creativity and ingenuity to secure the needs of our time.”
“With your support, I am confident that we will be able to demonstrate the true meaning of Tanyag and celebrate our collective success in the years to come.”
My sincerest congratulations to Trade Secretary Fred Pascual and CITEM executive director Ed Fereira for this outstanding effort and for pushing the envelope for Philippine products here and abroad.
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Speaking of popular, famous, and outstanding, an equally tanyag former president and mayor recently celebrated his 86th birthday.
Though advancing in years, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, still looking like the matinee idol and award-winning actor that he was, was very much energetic during his birthday celebration, still whipping out those swashbuckling dance moves despite knee replacement operations some years ago. And, of course, President Erap can still croon a love song or two to former Sen. Dr. Loi Ejercito.
Well-loved not just by his family but by his former Cabinet, his peers in showbiz and his former constituents in the cities of Manila and San Juan, President Estrada remains larger than life.
Happy Birthday, President Erap! May you have good health and many more years to come!
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Also recently, the Philippine Bar Association (PBA), in partnership with LAWASIA, conducted a webinar entitled “Localization and Cross-Border Data Transfers: Asia Update.” This was a landmark collaboration of a national and an international bar association featuring experts from different jurisdictions.
The webinar was formally opened by PBA president Ernestine Carmen Jo Villareal-Fernando. The panelists were Johannes C. Sahetapy-Engel, the founding partner of AKSET Law, for Indonesia; Sandy Chan, senior privacy counsel of Shein, for Singapore; Ma. Laarni Vinas, legal director of Shusaku-Yamamoto, for the Philippines, Daisuke Kammera, managing partner of Shusaku-Yamamoto, for Japan; Lindsay Zhu, partner of Squire Patton Boggs for China; and Natasha Sim, senior associate of Russell Kennedy Lawyers for Australia. Before the open forum, Scott Warren, partner of Squire Patton Boggs, based in Japan, also shared his insights on the changing regulations in these different jurisdictions. He also gave his insights for Vietnam and Thailand.
After the open forum, Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne, chair of the Communications, Technology and Data Protection Committee of LAWASIA and chairman of the Arbitration Center of Kandy, Sri Lanka thanked the over 100 participants who attended the webinar.
The webinar was organized by PBA past president Fina Bernadette Dela Cuesta-Tantuico and PBA IP Committee co-chair Laarni Vinas. Atty. Chrysilla Carissa P. Bautista, PBA treasurer and trustee, served as the moderator.
Considering globalization, transfer of data across borders has always been inevitable. Rules and policies, however, differ in other countries. It was, thus, timely, that this topic was discussed in this webinar by data privacy practitioners across the region.
My hats off to the PBA and LAWASIA for this significant endeavor.
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