Date: 18 December 2006
Time: 8:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue: Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City
Overseas Filipino Resources for Philippine Investment and Development Projects
The AIM Policy Center, in collaboration with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and Overseas Filipinos WorldNet Foundation, Inc., had on the International Migrant’s Day, 18th December 2006, the “Aginaldo Para sa Bayan 2: Overseas Filipino Resources for Philippine Investment and Development Projects” that brought together the overseas Filipino (OFs) community with members of Philippine-based business and NGOs as well as LGUs. The activity took take place at the Grand Ballroom of the Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The activity started off with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem followed by an invocation. Mr. Jose Z. Molano, Executive Director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) gave the welcoming remarks.
First of two who gave the morning keynote speeches was Atty. Olegario D. Cantos VII, Associate Director on Disabilities of the White House Domestic Policy Council. His inspiring talk confirmed that Filipinos wherever in the world, whatever state they are in (abled or disabled), could definitely excel. “Filipinos can do it”, he said. Though entirely brought up in the United States, Atty. Cantos proudly acknowledges his roots. Not only is he a representative of Filipinos but also of the marginalized sector being a disabled man himself. He was blind since birth. He has always fought for enhancing employment opportunities for students and job seekers with disabilities and facilitating greater compliance by businesses with federal disability rights laws. On the other hand, Dr. Justino Arboleda, CEO of Juboken Enterprises, followed up on the high spirits through his speech about the success story of the coconet. "When we first introduced the technology in 1994 as a project of the Bicol University, no one wanted to invest in our project so I took the initiative," shared Dr. Arboleda. But since then, coconet has successfully penetrated the international market as well as garnered international acclamations. The Plenary immediately break out for group sessions after the keynote speeches.
For the morning session, the break-out groups were: Banking and Insurance, Telecom and IT-enabled Services, and LGU, NGO and Related Investments. BPI, with members Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Insurance Commission and Rural Bankers’ Association of the Philippines (RBAP), chaired the Banking and Insurance session. The Telecom and IT-enabled Services group was composed of Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), and Chikka.com with BPAP as its chair. The last session, LGU, NGU and Related Investments, had as its chair the St. Luke’s Hospital with members League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), LGU Guarantee Corporation, Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization (COCOFAM), and the University of California in Los Angeles.
The participants got back at the plenary for lunch and for the presentation of tokens of appreciation. Also, two Presidential awardees for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas in 2006 gave a plenary presentation during lunch, that is, Mr. Gregorio B. Makabenta of Minority Media Services and Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna of the American International University in Bangladesh. Mr. Makabenta said that Filipinos are among the most important consumer. “Whether selling to US Filipinos or persuading them to invest in the Philippines, you must engage in a marketing exercise.” We should know how to tap the Overseas Filipinos and avoid the pitfalls, he said. Mr. Makabenta also talked about knowing the Filipino values as to effectively tap the Filipino market in America. Shortly after his speech, Dr. Carmen Lamagna shared her experience in Bangladesh and how she succeeded there as a Filipino. Currently, Dr. Lamagna is the vice-chancellor of the said institution. Her presentation mainly revolved around the American International University in Bangladesh, its mission and vision, facts and history, etc.
For the afternoon session, there were three break-outs namely: Real Estate and Retirement, Franchising and Entrepreneurship, and Education, S&T and Publishing. PAG-Ibig Fund led the Real Estate and Retirement session with members Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Philippine Retirement, Inc. (PRI), and Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA). As for Franchising and Entrepreneurship, the chair was Philippine Franchise Association with members Francorp and Julies Bakeshop. The last session was chaired by the Philippine Foundation for Science & Technology (PFST) with members ABS-CBN Publishing, Newsbreak, and UST Publishing House.
The activity also received sponsorships from BPI, SE Comp Inc., PAG-Ibig Fund, BusinessWorld, and Philippine Franchise Association.
Banking and Insurance
Overseas Filipino Resources for Philippine Investment and Development Projects (.pdf)Raul D. Dimayuga
Vice-President & Head of Expat Pinoy Segment, BPInoy Remittance (BPI)
Workers' Remittances: Philippine Setting and BSP Initiatives (.pdf)
Ms. Diwa Guinigundo
Deputy Governor, Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
Insurance & OFWs on International Migrants’ Day Activities (.pdf)
Com. Evangeline C. Escobillo
Commissioner, Insurance Commission
Credit Facilities for Microfinance (.pdf)
Mr. Emmanuel B. Guina
Acting Executive Director, Rural Bankers' Association of the Philippines (RBAP)
Telecom and IT-Enabled Services
BPAP Representing the Country's BPO & IT-Enabled Services Industry (.pdf)Ms. Mitch L. Locsin
Executive Director, Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP)
Overseas Filipino Resources for Philippine Investment & Development Projects (.pdf)
Ms. Grace A. Dimaranan
President, Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI)
Aginaldo Para sa Bayan 2: International Migrants’ Day (.pdf)
Mr. Dennis Mendiola
President & CEO, Chikka.com
LGU, NGO and Related Investments
LGU Guarantee Corporation (.pdf)Ms. Lydia N. Orial
Officer-in-Charge, LGU Guarantee Corporation
Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization (COCOFAM) (.pdf)
Mr. Hilario C. Villanueva
Executive Assistant IV, Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization (COCOFAM)
Overseas Filipino Scientists: Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) (.pdf)
Dr. Sam D. Bernal
Professor, University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA)
Year 2006 Presidential Awardees for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas
Filipinos in America: How To Tap the Opportunities and Avoid the Pitfalls (.pdf)Mr. Gregorio B. Makabenta
President & CEO, Minority Media Services
American International University - Bangladesh (.pdf)
Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna
Vice Chancellor, American International University in Bangladesh (AIUB)
Real Estate and Retirement
PAG-IBIG: Making Dreams Come True (.pdf)Ms. Linda R. Moreno
Vice-President, Pag-ibig International Operations Group
Business Opportunities under the Philippine Retirement Program (.pdf)
Gen. Edgar B. Aglipay
Chairman, Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA)
Incentives for the Retirement Industry Stakeholders (.pdf)
Board of Investments
Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA)
Special Resident Retiree Visa (.pdf)
Col. Doy Francisco (Ret. Deputy General Manager)
Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA)
Retirement: The Sunrise Industry (.pdf)
Mr. Ernesto M. Ordoñez
Resource Director, Philippine Retirement, Inc. (PRI)
The Philippine Retirement Industry Summit Committees (.pdf)
Philippine Retirement, Inc. (PRI)
Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc., (.pdf)
Ms. Techie P. Bautista
VP for Academe & Subsidaries, Chamber of Real Estate & Builders' Association, Inc. (CREBA)
Franchising and Entrepreneurship
Overview and Opportunities (.pdf)Mr. Samie Lim
Chairman Emeritus, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA)
Franchising & Entreppreneurship (.pdf)
Mr. Manuel M. Siggaoat
President, Francorp
Julie's Franchise Corporation (.pdf)
Mr. Emmanuel E. Viado
National Franchise Development Manager, Julie's Bakeshop
Education, Science & Technology and Publishing
SCIENCE CENTERS: Effective Vehicles for S&T Education (.pdf)Engr. Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr.
President and Chairman of the Board, Philippine Foundation for Science & Technology (PFST)
In the Service of the Filipino WORLDWIDE (.pdf)
Mr. Ernesto L Lopez
President, ABS-CBN Publishing
Newsbreak (.pdf)
Ms. Gemma B. Bagayaua
On-line Editor, Newsbreak
University of Santo Tomas Publishing House (.pdf)
Mr. Augusto Antonio A. Aguila
Assistant to the Director, UST Publishing House