I washed up and rested for a few minutes before I went down to the 3rd floor of Regent Hotel for the 22nd Joint Meeting- Philippines-Taiwan Business Councils
I came in at the perfect time. I did not feel I missed anything because the topics discussed earlier were of no relevance to my business.
PCCI sent many members to the forum. Shown here is Mr. Floro, an active director of PCCI
Secretary Greg Domingo
Clement K. C. Yang, CEO, Chinese-Philippine Business Council (CIECA) and Chairman of Medtecs Group In Taiwan
George Siy, Director, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) & President of Marie-France Bodyline Int’l Inc.
It’s hard to keep awake during long presentations and speeches at 4 pm.
Nagising na si Atty. Mike Varela, current president of PCCI
The forum was followed by one-to-one business meeting and networking. I took advantage of this one hour break to go up to my room and rest. I took a nap for 15 minutes, then joined in the welcome banquet hosted by Mr. C. Y. Wang, Chairman of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association.
I did not change my clothes na kasi I did not bring a lot for the two day meetings.
Here with (from left to right) Vicente Co of Manly Plastics, Beth Lee, and John Lee. Vic and John are Trustees of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP).
Mr. Wang is a stockholder of Chinatrust Bank, a respected former member of Taiwan’s legislative. He owns a big factory in Subic making door locks which according to Secretary Domingo, he bought for $2 / share and sold it for $42 / share to Black & Decker and Stanley.
He went from table to table, person to person saying “kampe” You have to drink bottoms up.
I don’t drink alcohol, he made me choose between drinking a glass of water or the tea. I can’t drink one glass of water in one gulp, I would drown. I chose the tea. Ang pakla.
Secretary Domingo told Mr. Wang “You’re rich”. Mr. Wang answered “I’m not rich, but I have some money for retirement”.
Rommel Juan of MD Juan, Jericson Co of Filpet, Inc. and Vic Co of eVAP.
Rommel Juan and I are facebook friends. He’s the nephew of Pacita “Chit” Juan of Echostore, Echocafe and Le Bistro Vert.
Pops Fernandez was there too. She’s an endorser of some beauty product that’s imported from Taiwan.
With her on this photo is Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal of the Department of Trade and Industry
Admiral John Chen (Ret.), Country Manager of Medtecs Group, and Stephen Wang Senior Vice President of Chinatrust Commercial Bank
John Chen has an office in Makati. Medtecs supplies medical consummables to St. Luke’s Hospital
The food was impressive
Lobster Salad
Seafood Soup with Scallop
Super tender Beef that melted in my mouth. Everyone said this dish was truly delicious.
I was already full pero kinain ko rin a little bit of this pechay.
Steamed Flounder
By the time this rice was served, my stomach was already screaming STOP! I ate the mushrooms on top.
This two tasted very good except I was already very very very full. One had custard filling, the other one had sesame in it.
Meron pang cold bean curd, masarap din but I was so bundat na.
Usec. Cristobal is drinking wine while mine’s water
Stephen Wang travels to Manila a few times a year. Chinatrust has 24 branches in the Philippines
Our Taiwanese hosts made us all feel welcome. With the meetings, eating, drinking, smiling and laughing, we felt we’ve been friends for a long time. May the friendship translate into a more progressive economic cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Rommel Juan, Stephen Wang, John Lee, Vic Co, that’s me, Prof. Chih-C. Chao of the National Cheng Kung University, Kenneth Lin, Vice President of Bioteque Corporation, Shih-Chou Huang, Deputy Director General Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Jericson Co.
I was drunk from food when I went up to my room at 10 pm. I had to drink tea to help me digest 3 kilos of food I dumped into my belly. Aha, tamang-tama merong percolator, I’ll heat water.
Okay let’s pour mineral water into the pot.
I left it for a few minutes. When I came back to check… Ang tagal, bakit ayaw uminit?
Ay, kailangan pala naka patong dito
There’s one orange fruit in the room, I mixed it with the tea para mawala yung lasang dahon.
I actually hated tea, it’s only now that I am forcing myself to drink tea at night hoping this would relieve me of my unglamorous but world famous constipation. (Readers from UK and Abu Dhabi make kumusta my pwet pwet, say mo?)
I like this hotel, they make me feel important.
Sarap matulog, good night Taipei.
