DIALOGUE WITH OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS STATE COUNCILOR

The Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs) with the Club's esteemed founders and stalwarts in a private dialogue with none other than The Honorable Wang Xiaoping (王 曉 萍) of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. In a rare one-hour session exclusively for the Anvil Business Club, the visiting Chinese official personally invited the members of the organization to visit China on a goodwill mission, committing to them all the privileges and assistance they would need to make their stay memorable and relevant.

Despite her high stature and punishing schedule, the highly-respected dignitary deliberately set aside her time to talk with the young, future Filipino-Chinese business leaders in a private dialogue, peppered not only with pleasantries but with a strong commitment to partner with the organization's China-related international programs and projects.

The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council in the People's Republic of China is the administrative office responsible for liaising with overseas Chinese residing abroad or returning to China. It is the People's Republic of China's top official in formulating the guidelines, policies and regulations concerning the works on overseas Chinese affairs, as it chiefly assists the Premier in handling the overseas Chinese affairs. Its forerunner, the Committee of Overseas Chinese Affairs, was established in 1949 and was re-established as the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in 1978.

Thanks to past Club Chairman/President Mike Tan, a committed stalwart and leader of the Anvil Business Club, for hosting the private event at his equally-esteemed Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Manila.

60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

Greatly honored to be invited in representing the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) during the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (菲 華 商 聯 總 會), or FFCCCII. In an extravagantly-prepared program which literally left no stone un-turned, the FFCCCII staged an elaborate celebration marking the prestigious chamber's diamond anniversary. Government officials, led by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, former Presidents Joseph E. Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara and TESDA Director-General Joel J. Villanueva, lent prestige to the grand event.

Industry pillars, with the likes of Dr. Lucio C. Tan (陳永栽), Henry Sy (施至成), Andrew L. Tan (吳聰滿), Tony Tan Caktiong (陳覺中) were honored by the chamber for their outstanding contributions to Philippine business, while FFCCCII's pillars and past presidents were likewise acknowledged for lending their leadership to the 60-year-old organization.

The birth of the Federation in March 1954, was inspired by the late President Ramon Magsaysay who, shortly after his election in 1953, met with the leaders of the local Chinese community and appealed to them to organize a more compact association that could render greater support to his government and further strengthen the existing ties of friendship between the Filipinos and the Chinese in the Philippines.

Men of vision, dedication and integrity from the Chinese-Filipino community have provided the needed leadership and direction for the Federation. Through multifarious acts of charity, compassion, and humanity over the years, the Federation has transformed itself into one of the leading organizations in the country today, very deeply involved not only in the economic but, more importantly, in the civic, social and cultural life of our nation.

Stirred to action by President Magsaysay’s unprecedented appeal, the leaders of the various Chinese chambers of commerce and trade associations throughout the country convened at the Manila Hotel in a historic convention in March 1954 and organized the Federation of Chinese Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines. Later, it was renamed Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce to make it more reflective of the citizenship of its actual members, which is that of Filipinos and Chinese alike. Later, it was renamed Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. to mirror the broadening range of participation of its members in the national economy.

2014 ANVIL BUSINESS CLUB OFFICERS INDUCTED BY PRESIDENT AQUINO

 In simple, yet historic ceremonies, the 2014 Board of Directors and Honorary Chairmen of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) were officially sworn in by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañang Palace. Government and state luminaries, such as DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo, Senator Sonny Angara, and former AKBAYAN Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel graced the induction affair.

Held in conjunction with the induction of new officers of other leading business associations from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers' Confederation of the Philippines, and the Philippine Exporters' Confederation, Inc., the Club's new administration symbolizes the government's appreciation of its rapidly-growing prominence in business and social circles with just barely three months in office.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony in Malacañang for the new officers, President Aquino assured the young business leaders of the Club that the government remains ready to attend to their concerns.

“Governance requires striking a balance, and it is my task to build a consensus that redounds to the benefit of the vast majority,” the President said. “Let me tell you: It becomes much easier to reach this consensus when we are able to cut through the clutter, and listen to the legitimate voices, who raise issues with earnestness, propose solutions and are willing to partner with us to achieve these.”

Indeed, with very auspicious beginnings, the Anvil Business Club is set to soar even higher with a very dynamic set of officers. There is no better time to join this promising group of young Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs than NOW!

ANVIL BRACES FOR AEC 2015

As the year 2015 approaches, conversations regarding the impending regional economic integration are growing, with many businessmen bringing forward ideas on how Filipinos can collectively work to prepare for the country’s entry into the free trade arena. ASEAN Leaders adopted the ASEAN Economic Blueprint at the 13th ASEAN Summit last November 20, 2007 in Singapore to serve as a coherent master plan guiding the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

To be sure, regional economic integration through the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) framework is fraught with as much risks as opportunities. Cutthroat competition, price wars, and economic displacement loom large in the minds of many, with the realization that many local enterprises have no competitive advantages to speak of in the free trade arena. As countries race to prepare themselves for the 2015 deadline, not a few organizations and individuals are realizing that there is so much to do in so little time.

Realizing this important concern, we, at the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club), invited no less than Director Senen M. Perlada of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau to share his views on the implications of all the possibilities that the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will bring. Indonesian Trade Attaché Vivianto Tampubolon and Malaysian Trade Commissioner and Foreign Affairs Export Promotion Counselor Har Man Ahmad also graced the Club’s Business Exchange forum as our special guests.

AEC 2015 will establish ASEAN as a single market and production base making ASEAN more dynamic and competitive with new mechanisms and measures to strengthen the implementation of its existing economic initiatives; accelerating regional integration in the priority sectors; facilitating movement of business persons, skilled labor and talents; and strengthening the institutional mechanisms of ASEAN.

How about you? Are you ready for AEC 2015? Let the Anvil Business Club show you the way…

ANVIL MEETS PCCI

A small delegation of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club), led by yours truly, pays a courtesy visit to the esteemed pillars of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as we discussed possible joint nation-building initiatives in the next few months.

PCCI has been touted as the "voice of Philippine business," recognized by government and international institutions, for over a century already. As a proactive catalyst of development, PCCI promotes and supports the drive for globally competitive Philippine enterprises in partnership with government, local chambers, and other business organizations. PCCI's mission is to provide focused advocacy for business growth and sustainable development by providing business services for the advancement of grassroots entrepreneurships, chamber development, international trade relations, business innovation and excellence, and operating efficiency.

This year, PCCI is headed by Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao, one of the most admired and multi-awarded businessmen in the Philippines today. The two flagship companies of his sprawling Zesto Group are called Zest-O-Corporation and Zest Airways, among a string of at least a dozen companies. He also served as the Special Envoy to China for Tourism and Cooperation and was the awarded 2005 Master Entrepreneur by Ernst and Young.

The Anvil Business Club is scheduled to hold a joint induction ceremony together with PCCI on March 24 with His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, as our guest-of-honor and inducting officer

BREAKFAST WITH "EL KAPITAN."

The Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) had an exclusively rare and intimate "table talk" time with no less than business tycoon, Dr. Lucio "Kapitan" C. Tan, who regaled the 25-member audience with his "off-the-record" insider information about many of the "blue chip" companies, as well as his time-tested business practices that served him well to be one of the country's most successful Taipans.

Eschewing his usual round of golf to meet with the Anvil members, Dr. Tan arrived at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club half-an-hour in advance from his regular routine – 5:20 a.m. to be exact – way ahead of the earliest delegate who turned up at around 6:00 in the morning.

While Dr. Tan is more well-known for his legendary business interests in tobacco, brewery, trade, banking, real estate, aviation, hospitaity, chemical industry, animal husbundry, tourism, education and other sectors (with an aggregate market value of above 20 billion US dollars), few know him as a dyed-in-the-wool Sinologist, where he enlightened his young crowd with his exceptional knowledge of Chinese history and the classics – even incredibly reciting entire verses of Li Bai (李白), Du Fu (杜甫), Wang Wei (王維), Meng Haoran (孟浩然), Li Shangyin (李商隱), and Li Yu (李煜) poetry from memory. In the almost two-hour discourse, the revered cigarette-and-liquor baron shared his business wisdom, giving tips on how to "breathe life into 'dead' enterprises."

Dr. Tan must have enjoyed the company of these young entrepreneurs so much that he decided to stay for another hour before hitting the green. For many Anvil members, it was a surreal and unforgettable experience to have a conversation with a genuine Taipan up close.

Thanks to "El Kapitan" for sponsoring the breakfast, too!