PAGASA’s STC was invited by the Philippine Cultural College to speak at the Young Entrepreneurs Forum: Building Business Minds for Management and Tourism students. It was held on 30 Sept. 2015 at their newly-built campus in Quezon City. STC shared his experience as an entrepreneur in the retail trade industry while two other guest speakers shared theirs coming from the manufacturing and services sector. Sharing of this sort is part of PAGASA’s social responsibility and empowerment program for future business leaders/economic managers in this country.

The PRA launched the Philippine Shopping Festival on 29 Sept. 2015 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino in Aseana City.  This is a project ahead of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Retailers Conference and to move the shopping capital of Asia from HK and Singapore to Manila. With much fanfare, the project hopes to lure the family members of APRCE delegates to fly in as tourists and shop in our beautiful country. To STC’s left in picture is PRA’s Secretary-General Evelyn Balmeo-Salire.

Phil. Retailers Association holds its 3/Q General Membership Meeting at a ballroom of the City of Dreams on 22 Sept. 2015. This is the last Meeting of Members (where PAGASA as an organization is an Associate Member in good standing) before the awaited Asia Pacific Retailers Conference and Exhibition to be held end of next month at the SMX Convention and Exhibition Center. Presenter on consumer trends Kantar World Panel illustrated dramatic shifts in consumer behavior as a result of growing incomes from the lower middle income group and faster pace of economic life in urban centers.

On the afternoon of 16 Sept. 2015, the House Committee on Ecology chaired by Rep. Amado Bagatsing and coordinated by Committee Sec. Atty. Dilbert Quetulio held a follow-up hearing to consolidate the many bills in the Lower House regarding the regulation of plastic bags. Foremost decision was to ban the use of regular plastic bags within one year. Among those who attended were Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, et. al. STC represented PAGASA at the Hearing.

DTI’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau>CPAB (the former Bureau of Trade Regulation & Consumer Protection>BTRCP) called a Special Meeting for stakeholders like retailers (incl. PAGASA), food/drinks manufacturers and  the concerned government agencies (incl. PAGASA>the Weather Bureau and the different  divisions of the DTI) on 16 Sept.2015 at DTI Offices to discuss preparations in anticipation of an imminent drought (probably one of the four strongest since 1950)!  Discussions centered on the impact of El Niño on prices of drinking water, farmers’ fresh produce/irrigation and other basic necessities/prime commodities.

Held from 8-9 Sept. 2015, the Dept. of Health held a National Forum on Food Sanitation & Safety in view of the rising cases of food poisoning and improper food handling. It was held at the new Hive Hotel in South Triangle. For processed foods, discussed were the Food Safety Act of 2013, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices and biological, chemical and physical contamination.

PAGASA’s STC was invited to give a presentation on the state of the economy for Vietnamese investors as well as members of the Phil.-Vietnam Business Council headed by Allyson Artes (standing in pic aside from STC). The Council is under the Leadership of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Attending the morning affair on 9 Sept. 2015 at the Jen Hotel along Roxas Blvd., is His Excellency the Ambassador of Vietnam. The two countries are seriously exploring/selling into each other’s rather similar markets and trying to build stronger ties.

Colgate-Palmolive Phils., Inc. held its National  Distributors Conference at Solaire Hotel and Casino from 7-8 Sept. 2015. On the morning of its 2 nd day, PAGASA’s STC was invited to give a talk on the Economic Outlook for 2015 from a Retailer’s Perspective.  He was only too glad to share with the distributors and top management of CPPI how supermarket operators of the smaller chains feel regarding dwindling support (both financial and in terms of promotions) from suppliers during the last few years. But more importantly, he drove the point that suppliers and retailers MUST partner with each other for consumers to end up winners and for the economy to continuously pick up. On the seats (front row; center; in white) is CPPI’s VP and General Manager Stephen Lau.

PAGASA was represented at the Formal Opening of the 2015 edition of Food & Drinks Asia held at the World Trade Center from 3-6 Sept. 2015.  Guest of Honor was Sen. Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Committee on Food & Agriculture. Also at the Opening were Col. Alejandro Escaño/Phil. Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc., Chef Robert Francisco of the Hotel Chefs Group, Ralph Lim of the Wine Merchants Assn. and representatives of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the Phils.

PAGASA was represented at the Induction of the 2015 Set of Directors and Officers of the Phil. Confectionery, Biscuits and Snack Foods Association, Inc. at the Manila Polo Club on 3 Sept. 2015. (L-R) Monde’s Ferdinand Champongco, STC, PCBSFA’s Past Pres. Reynaldo Go (Columbia), Pres.-Elect William Lim (WL Foods, Inc.), PAGASA VP-Liansel Sy (Liana’s), Susan and Arch. Jonathan Lim (JC Plaza) and Immediate Past Pres. Jimmy Cu (Markenburg).

PAGASA’s STC was invited to grace the Commemoration of the 70 th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam held on 2 Sept. 2015 at the Grand  Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.  He had the great  fortune of conversing with Former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos on issues of government and was graciously hosted by  the Vietnam Embassy’s Commercial Counselor, Ms. Vu  Viet Nga, pictured with STC.