October 28, 2019
I received what sounded like a frantic call from Aurora “Boots” Garcia, my colleague at the Women’s Business Council. She was still in Manila waiting for her flight to Bangkok. She wanted me to say yes to be the speaker / panelist at the Women’s CEO Summit as the replacement of Vivienne Tan, who backed out at the last minute. She’s the Vice President of Philippine Airlines and is the daughter of Chinese-Filipino tycoon Lucio Tan. I told Boots I don’t know what they are going to talk about. I am attending the summit only as an observer and I don’t want to be a speaker. My game plan is to sit down, relax, listen, mingle a little, then go shopping, get a foot massage, eat, watch CNN and sleep.
It’s unfair to me because those speakers have been notified way in advance and were provided fact sheets, questionnaires, list of topics to be discussed as early as September or earlier and they have all the time to prepare. The Women’s CEO Summit is an international event where 500 highly successful women executives and entrepreneurs from the ten ASEAN countries plus Japan, Republic of Korea, USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, China, and India, are expected to attend. Executives from the EU countries and the Russian Federation have also been invited to attend the summit. I don’t want to look and sound stupid because I have no clue what the topic is about. The pressure doubled when I learned that CNN International’s multi-awarded correspondent Anna Coren would be the moderator. I watch CNN almost every day. I have never imagined even in my wildest dream that I would be sitting on a chair and being interrogated by CNN. Oh please. The summit is just a good excuse for me to go back to Bangkok to eat lanzones, shop, and relax while eating sticky rice with mango.
Boots said the topic is about disruptive revolution. What revolution? Iraq? No,
technological revolution. Lalo na. I’d rather talk about Syria than digital technology. I don’t even know how to set the settings on my iPad pro. Excuse me. No.
Boots revved up her convincing power by making me feel guilty. She touched my patriotism and nationalism. She said “sige na you will be representing our country”. Nakakahiya daw kasi we will have no representative from the Philippines. Why me? I suggested some names of highly successful women who are here, si Jeannie, si Chit. Hindi daw, ako daw kasi dapat daw industry CEO. Naku po. Ang tawag dyan, bumili lang ako ng suka, bigla akong naging convention speaker. In my weakest moment, I said yes.
good luck ms annie 🙂
Thank you Zed.
You can do it!
Doc Annie the term is just a modern version of invention and innovation. Pinaganda lang ang tawag to have a new marketing appeal.
What you can do is to check what’s new in the Philippines today with regards to technology especially in the car industry where you belong.
Others in banking, manufacturing, hospitality, transportation, etc. can be good but not necessary. You can use statistics to compare Philippines with Asean, EU, and USA.
With a travelling lady like you, you can always recall all your experiences in the countries you have visited and review the advantages and disadvantages of this disruption to political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects.
To represent the Philippines is the answer to your longing for self-actualization. Good Luck and enjoy being asked for your opinion by your favorite CNN correspondent.
thank you classmate for the tips and suggestions.
Ms Annie, you are so funny and humble.
You can do it
Go, go, go Annie. Looking forward to ur next post. I’m sure you will make our country proud. This is ur destiny, to be the speaker. God bless.
By d way, is it really disruptive what s happening around us?
In a way yes, the fast and the furious technological advancements disrupt the present structures and the way we live our lives. We are forced to change and adapt to innovations bec the rules of the game have changed.
thank you for the reply. This must b a challenge both for employers and employees. As they say, there are good and bad points associated with technological change.
That is correct Rissa, it’s challenging to both employers and employees.
CNN is now bad
Hi Gilbert, In what way? Because of the way they report about the US politics?
Show them our pride.
We know u can do it.
You can do it!
Thank you Rick.
Dyan maam masusubukan ang matatalino,eh d naman po kayo kukunin kung d kayo member ng elite club at d nnyo kaya…congrats po,enjoy you moment of glory
Naku salamat ng marami Ronnie.
Annie, I enjoyed reading your post… clear, concise, crisp and funny.
Hi Noel. Thank you for the good review. Regards.
You can do it
Thank you Edna. We miss you at the office.
You did a very good job right there, Ms. Annie C. Tan-Yee! Congratulations!!!
Ohhh thank you Khaleen. Appreciate it.
Ikaw pa, kaya mo yan
Pampalakas ng loob. Salamat kaibigan.
Just go in there and remember, when God put you there, He will get you through. You’ve got this, Ms. Annie!
Thank you for the motivation. Regards.