Philippine Development Forum

For the past several years, I stopped attending business forums and conferences, be it here or abroad. I now rarely attend business association meetings. I also gave up my posts in a few organizations. I felt more the need to spend time with my family. I began to enjoy quiet moments at home doing nothing, relaxing, and idly spending time just being a simple person, incognito. I now shun the stage. My friends from PCCI told me they didn’t get old. I was the one who got old because I felt that way. Sometimes I just feel empty even in the midst of hundreds of people. There are things to think about and worry about so that consumes my desire to do anything else other than just sit and stare.

I have not been attending village board meetings either. I have been away most of the time that’s why. I informed them the other night that it is best to ask someone else to serve in the board, to take my place. Next election is in January 2018 so I just have to wait.

When I received the invitation to the Philippine Development Forum, I knew already that it would be tough because I had lots of errands to do on that day. I just couldn’t make it to the morning session so as a compromise, rather than totally not showing up, I went in the afternoon. I hate to be late but this time I invoked the old saying that it’s better late than never.

I gave my driver P100 for the parking. I didn’t give them dinner money because the program would end at 5:30 pm immediately after Pres. Duterte’s speech. In my mind, I could still do some errands from 6 pm onward.

There were several speakers and a short open forum from 3 pm to 4:30 pm.

CHED officer, Sec. Ibasco (Housing) and NEDA’s Sec. Pernia.

At the end of the forum, we’re supposed to present to the President a list of recommendations of things or projects that we think the government should give attention to. It’s like a priority list that will serve as a road map that will help our country overall.

The food buffet was outside the grand ballroom of Edsa Shang. People discreetly went out to get food and drinks.

They were not listening to the open forum (haha), from left:
Rene Simbulan (Director In-Charge – Housing and Construction), Jun Ortiz-Luis (Honorary Chairman), Apolinar “Boy” Aure (PCCI Chairman of Small & Medium Enterprises) seated, Alex Asuncion. Rene was showing to the guys photos of the prototype of small sleeping quarters to be built in Eastridge.

Finally, Babe Romualdez accepted the post of Philippine Ambassador to the USA. The President picked the perfect guy for the job.
We have to elect a new vice chairman for Philippines, Inc. to replace him.
(from left) Ambassador Babe Romualdez, OMB, John Forbes, Grace Tiongco, Jess Varela ( PCCI’s Chairman on Intellectual Property)

With GMA

Grace Tiongco, OMB, Samie Lim (PCCI Director in Charge of Tourism)

The program was done, we were all waiting for Duterte.
He was supposed to arrive at 4:30 pm.

We made use of our time by saying hi to everyone.
Sen. Pimentel, me, Alex Asuncion.

PCCI donated fire fighting equipment that’s why the officers were also here.
Boy Aure, Kwan Tiu (Senior Superitendent NCR Fire Department), Me, Alex Asuncion.

Nowadays it’s risky to have a selfie with just anyone or even with your friends. You don’t know if they are smugglers, pushers, or engaged in illegal activities. Government officials and politicians are also at risk because they are always in the photo with people they don’t really personally know. Bad meaning people can also create a movie out of a selfie.

With Secretary of Finance, Sonny Dominguez.

Someone from the President’s team asked us to vacate our table for the President’s entourage. I didn’t mind but we all felt it wasn’t necessary. I personally haven’t experienced being asked to vacate my seat for the Philippine president’s companions. I had attended dozens of events like this here and abroad with the president and the host country’s president or prime minister, and no one had been asked to give up their seats or table. Even if the congressmen and senators couldn’t find seats, they waited till they were given their own seats or some people offered them seats. There was a vacant table nearby, closer to the stage and they should have cleared that instead of asking the business people to move to give up our seats.

6 pm . I felt hungry, tired, sleepy and the need to water the plants.

The President arrived at 6:55 pm. I was taking video clips when all of a sudden I saw him right in front of me. I put down my phone and shook his hand. I said “good evening po”.

Welcome remarks by George Barcelon, PCCI President

I was hoping his speech would be limited to half hour. The President spoke from 7 pm to 8:15 pm.

Someone asked me how many times the president said PTI in his speech. Parang dalawa lang, he controlled himself. However, to emphasize his anger towards drug pushers, he said “I will kill you” at least a dozen of times. My colleague said “Annie, gusto mong panoorin uli yung tape ng speech ni Presidente, bilangin mo yung i will kill you”. Naku ayoko nga. Ang haba nung speech nya.
We all laughed when Duterte turned silent and he said “wag kayong maingay dyan, ni re-rewind ko yung video” (he was referring to Sen. de Lima’s alleged sex video). He added “parang nakikita ko pa yung aso…” I didn’t watch the video but some people say that there was a dog in the video.

You can’t doze-off while on stage. I admire former president GMA, she was attentive and didn’t look a bit bored or sleepy. Those close to GMA say she’s a good influence to Duterte.

No selfies with Duterte were allowed. Only those with a blue dot sticker on the collar were allowed to go up on stage to have one group photo with the President. There were about 4 people who crashed in on stage and made singit even if they didn’t have stickers.

I was busy looking for someone to give my cellphone to. They were already on stage while I was still trying to spot anyone who would be willing to take my photo. When I got on stage, the photo op was finished. When I stood there, the cameras started clicking again. My friend, Susing Pineda, took my photo but he was on the other side. I couldn’t even spot myself. Ang layo ko.