Deceember 5, 2017
I am not an exporter of Philippine goods and services but I attended the Export Congress organized by Philexport and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The invitation indicated if I could be there for the opening of the exhibit at 10 am but I arrived at 1 pm. Mornings are busy for me.
Dozens were leaving the PICC Hall when I arrived. Yun pala there was another meeting being held.
DTI Secretary
Rare occasion that I wore high heels.
I was late for lunch but the waiter brought me food still. It was just a little awkward eating alone, while others were done.
mango dessert
When Serge Ortiz-Luis saw me, he asked why I was so early. He said I was invited to the gala night at 6 pm and not to the congress. Hindi raw pala sila nagkaintindihan nung DTI group.
Even the other Philexport trustees were surprised that I wouldn’t mind sitting there for a couple of hours. Baka daw ako mainip. Ay okay lang. I was there already so I might as well sit and listen to the talks.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian presented several graphs on the effects of the excise tax on coal. Simply put, our electricity costs plus other things would increase a lot. Sen. Gatchalian’s ending sentence, that’s why I am fighting not to pass this bill. My seatmates reacted “Hayun pala yun, self-promotion”.
Apolinar “Allan” Suarez, Jr. of the Suarez college rings and Luis Sicat, Philexport trustee.
Louis and I have known each other for 25 years.
Aside from his involvement in the successful Suarez rings established by his father, Allan exports silver jewelries mostly to Germany. He is married to a Borromeo from Cebu. Allan is the chairman of Philexport Cebu.
Mila Lacson, Caloy Yturzaeta Myrna Bituin. I am not sure if Mila has retired from her exportation of Philippine handicrafts. Myrna is from Pampanga and their company is one of the biggest exporters of high end furniture. The huge mirror standing at our living room was manufactured by them. It was not actually for the local market but I made pakiusap lang. They exported this kind to England, France, Italy, etc.
During a ten minute break, Serge Ortiz, showed to us his new phone Huawei and proudly said there are only 10 of those in the Philippines. I looked at the apps, he has Pokemon and Candy Crush.
I teased him ” Serge, you sit in the board of 10 corporations and this is what you do during your board meetings… play Pokemon”.
Serge—-“Actually 32 companies. Kay William lang eh walo na…”
Omb——“Kaya nga, you don’t contribute in the discussions, you play Pokemon and Candy Crush”.
Our friends laughed.
Serge brought to my table the moderator, Shawn Yao. She’s first cousin pala of Derrick. Oyen’s current boyfriend. Current kasi hindi pa naman sila kasal, we’ll never know. Shawn is such a bubbly girl, pretty, tall at 5’7 (her mom is 5’10 daw). She is very nice and wow, her waistline is one third of mine. She’s a broadcaster in Bloomberg and has another show Buy Local yata. Such a lovely girl.
Maricor Legaspi-de Guzman works at DTI. She worked with us for maybe less than a year, that was way before we ventured into car dealerships.
Dinner
dessert
This is what the girls wear when going from house to house to sing Christmas carols in different dialects Margie, Babes, Lilia
Elsa Dela Paz – Valenzuela, manager of Philexport’s membership department
Titoy Pardo, Mila Lacson, Bing Limjuco (incoming PCCI president to replace George Barcelon), former Phil. President and currently the mayor of Manila, Joseph Estrada, DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado
Bing, Mila, Mayor Erap
Export awardees
I left at 9 pm and brought home this pack of oranges. I asked Mila Lacson if I could bring this home because I was the only one left at the table. Umuwi na yung mga oldies.
