I prepared 8 gifts for our speakers plus something for Pnoy. While waiting for the program to start, I started writing on the gift cards. The gifts were brought to a smaller function room behind the bigger hall. When I entered the room, the production assistants were there. We’re going to have some entertainment courtesy of Tony Tuviera immediately after the conference and dinner.
While I was sorting out the gifts, I saw Grace Lee in a huddle with Tony Tuviera. Grace Lee is going to be our emcee for the conference. We overheard her saying that she was happy when she found out that the President is coming to the conference, because it’s going to be a reunion of some sort.
Grace, aside from being a pretty Korean, seems very nice. She, together with Tony Tuviera’s production assitants arrived before 3 pm and stayed until past 8 pm. She must be tired of waiting so I gave her a box full of LUSH soaps. She was happy to receive it and told me she loves Lush soap. I’m glad she liked it.
Our speakers included Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, the genius behind the It’s more fun in the Philippines campaign.
I brought along Julienne, I introduced her to my colleagues. Here with Jollibee’s superman Tony Tan Caktiong
With Levy Espiritu, owner of DATEM Construction. We’ve met Levy in New Delhi last March 2011. Levy is not yet a member of Philippines, Inc. I invited him to the conference to see what we do as a group and to introduce him to my colleagues. Levy is such a nice and humble guy.
With Elizabeth Lee and Babe Romualdez
Serge Ortiz-Luis and Julienne surveying the afternoon dimsum.
steamed vegetable dumpling
When I told Serge that he was sleeping, he said he wasn’t the only one sleeping. That’s Bobby Amores and partly hidden is Atty. Mike Varela.
Wow dami namin, okay starting from first row to the right-
Me, Atty. Mike Toledo, Guest speaker- Vic Noel of SGV & Co., Guest Speaker- Joey Lim of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, Raul Concepcion, Guest Speaker Rapa Lopa of the Phil. Business for Social Progress, Antonio O. Cojuangco, Antonio Lopa, Atty. Mike Varela & Century Properties’ CEO Joey Antonio.
Top row from left to right-
Union Bank CEO Justo Ortiz, Harry Liu, Atty. Opap Villongco, Babe Romualdez, Jun Periquet, Susing Pineda, Beth Lee, Consul Fausto Preysler, Consul Oscar De Venecia, Bobby Amores and William Co.
Jun Periquet, entertainer Solenn Huessaff, Harry Liu and Oscar De Venecia
Front row- Zesto, Zest Air, Philippine Business Bank etc. owner Ambassador Alfredo Yao, Guest Speaker Tito Panlilio- Undersecretary of the Dept. of Trade & Industry, Beth Lee, Philippines Inc. President Tony Lopa, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Tonyboy Cojuangco- Chairman of Phils. Inc., Atty Mike Varela.
Top row- Union Bank President Tito Ortiz, BPI President Aurelio Montinola, Susing Pineda, Annie C. Tan-Yee, Smith Bell CEO Consul Fausto Preyler and Atty. Opap Villongco of Siguion Reyna Law Office.
Food at the Tower Club is consistently good,
our dinner:
Gravlax tartar sweet mustard aioli presented with young garden greens and golden melba toast
Pan roasted mulbrara striploin steak with special herb butter and red wine reduction served with golden corn and gorgonzola fritter and grilled green asparagus (ang haba naman ng description, dapat Pritoe Steak period)
Golden herb crusted Alaskan cod fillet with vin santo sauce presented on cep risotto with grilled green asparagus
Special blurry lemon cheese cake with almond crust by Chef Chris
(more photos to follow)
