Chit and I were on time, arriving at exactly 11 am for the Women Business Council of the Philippines’ board meeting.
Venue was at the Hexagon Lounge on the 4th floor of the Podium, RCBC Plaza.
I haven’t been to this resto-bar before. The place has a long bar and a stage with a complete band equipment. Our meeting was held on the mezzanine floor which was perfect because it’s only good for one big round table.
Maritess Pineda came in after Boots Garcia. They all liked her fancy brooch cum eyewear holder. She bought this from the Zonta bazaar in Rockwell for P100.
The next Zonta bazaar is in September. Note however that this cutie broochie is Made in China.
After the short board meeting, there was a short introduction and powerpoint presentation by Shae Stuard, International Business analyst of Asia Business Channel. Shae is in the country with ABC’s crew doing a documentary on the many business opportunities available in the Philippines. They are doing that to help our government promote foreign investments. According to Shae, ABC has 75,000,000 viewers, larger than CNN and other networks.
Shae is very tall and pretty. She looks more like a beauty queen. She burst into laughter when during her presentation, all of us were taking pictures of her.
(left to right) Mylene Aviba, Myrna Yao, Maritess Pineda, Aurora “Boots” Garcia, SHAE STUARD, Pacita Juan, Myren and I.
Our meeting consisted of several parts and we continued our round table discussions over lunch provided by RCBC.
The menu was sent to us a week in advance. I chose Salisbury Steak with Mashed Potato. The gravy and mashed potato were good.
Chit Juan’s choice
Maymay Liechtenstein is conscious of her health and waist so she just had a bit of salad.
The next part of our meeting was a focus discussion on women enterprise’s access to financing, etc.
RCBC and IFC (International Finance Corporation) are teaming up to provide more business financing and other banking services to women entrepreneurs. RCBC launched the e-women desk, WMN checking account and credit card for women.
They met with our group basically to get our feedbacks, views and insights on banking products that would be more relevant to women business owners.
Lorna as usual was late. (L-R) Myrna Yao, Lorna Kapunan, Arlene L. Leyco, Maritess Pineda.
Arlene Leyco is the Vice President for Commerical and SME Banking Division of RCBC.
(from left to right) Atty. Lorna P. Kapunan, ohmybuhay, Chit Juan, Mylene Aviba and Myren
Paula Felipe, Operations Officer, Access to Finance Division of IFC, led the survey and the focus discussion on the new products that RCBC is offering to women enterprise. We didn’t actually find them innovative as most other banks offer the same.
Chit Juan, yours truly and Paula Felipe
