LEARNING LIFE LESSONS WITH PETER COYIUTO

The Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs ) received more than just a plate of variable life insurance packages from the country's inimitable insurance mogul, Mr. Peter Coyiuto; he also apportioned generous servings of his invaluable life lessons amassed over decades of paradoxical experiences which included some of his most onerous personal challenges, oftentimbounty, that defined his life and times to a jam-packed audience of aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals during the Club's 13th regular Business Exchange Forum – the final one for the Year 2014. es juxtaposed with unbelievably immense

Possessing the unbridled passion of a TV evangelical minister, Mr. Coyiuto began by disclosing the necessity of purchasing a life insurance policy, citing dual benefits of savings and security. He enumerated the many ways on how life insurance not only provides for financial support in the event of untimely death but also acts as a long term investment, providing attractive tax-benefits and funds to achieve specific goals.
But more significantly, he laid out his Top Five Lessons – much of which were couched in one-to-two word, enigmatic verbiage that, he claimed, made his life worth living for:
1. Discover. Finding the real you is an enlightening experience. You become self-sufficient and do things for yourself, for once. It's a hard feeling to put into words, but when you don't know who you are, it's hard to ignore. Finding yourself is not easy, but, like the adage goes, it's worth it.
2. Ahoo! The proverbial war cry of the Spartans against the Persian "god-King" Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers in the movie "300," tells us that we have to raise our battle chant every now and then to remind us of our own aggressive potential as we fight the daily grind of life.
3. Beautiful Death. A phrase popularized by the "Game of Thrones" series, he tells us that we need to embrace the inevitability of death, in order for us to view death as a sacred adventure of great love and resolution.
4. Gather Rosebuds. Robert Herrick's Poem, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" urges us to take advantage of life while we are young; this can be encapsulated with the oft-repeated phrase, "carpe diem!"
5. Search for Meaning. Citing the title of Auschwitz concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl's seminal book, he concluded that the way a prisoner imagined the future affected his longevity. The tome summarizes the journey of finding meaning in the midst of extreme suffering.
Mr. Coyiuto's riveting, yet unorthodox, speaking style left almost everyone in the room gasping for air. In the end, the wily guest speaker could only smile and say, "nakuha niyo ba iyon?"
The evening also marked the addition of nineteen (19) more young, pretty and handsome personalties into the roster of the Club's growing membership. Congratulations to all the new members and welcome aboard!

ANVIL INVADES THE HOUSE OF RÉMY MARTIN

Rémy Martin marks a milestone as it held an appreciation dinner for VIPs at the Passion Restaurant of Newport's Maxims Hotel at the Resorts World Manila, which featured the trade launch of Rémy Martin CLUB, an exclusive cognac specially blended for gentlemen with discerning tastes.The Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs) is honored to be invited to this very exclusive "Heart of Cognac" appreciation dinner hosted by Rémy-Cointreau International, whose portfolio of global brands include The House of Rémy Martin, as well as an expanded and diversified brands portfolio, which includes a large cognacs range of RÉMY MARTIN and LOUIS XIII.

Hosted by emcee-par excellence and Rémy-Cointreau Brands Spokesperson Willord Chua, the private affair showcased the range of Rémy Martin products, particularly Rémy Martin VSOP, the undisputed leader in its category, as well as the Louis XIII de Rémy Martin, Rémy Martin XO Spécial, and the Rémy Martin CLUB. Guests enjoyed a fine lauriat dinner and the incomparable taste and quality of Remy Martin CLUB while being enthralled by the sultry musical numbers of Resorts World's Teresa Garcia.
Since 1724, the House of Rémy Martin has been driven by one quest – to capture the Heart of Cognac. Rémy Martin exclusively produces Fine Champagne cognacs with grapes from the two most sought after growing areas in the Cognac region, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Fine Champagne eaux-de-vies have the greatest ageing potential and ensures Rémy Martin cognacs a truly unique aromatic intensity and full rounded flavors. Rémy Martin CLUB is an expression of Rémy Martin’s quest for perfection. This has earned Rémy Martin the prestigious recognition of being a Fine Champagne Cognac by the Appelation d’ Origine Controlee, the official governing body for fine spirits of France.
The dinner had no less than Rémy-Cointreau International's Regional Managing Director, Mr. Xavier Desaulles, who flew in directly from France just to be part of this special occasion. Mr. Joey Pineda, Rémy-Cointreau International's Commercial Manager, thanked the Anvil Business Club for their participation and offered to sponsor free cognac and spirits in their up-and-coming endeavors, as part of Rémy Martin's goodwill gesture for the Club.
Founded in the early 1700s, Rémy Martin has grown to be one of the biggest Cognac houses in France. What sets it apart is its insistence on only using eaux-de-vie from grapes grown exclusively in the top two Cognac regions: Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Indeed, the exquisite characteristics that distinguish Rémy Martin, draw from the passion, the heart, courage and dedication of the people who built the global brand into what it is today.

ANVIL'S "KALINGA SA CAMALIG."

It was a rewarding moment for the members of the Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs ) as they fortuitously pulled off an ambitious community development endeavor with "Kalinga sa Camalig" – a dental-cum-medical mission for the 700-plus indigent beneficiaries of Barangay Camalig, home to approximately 8,900 residents and is the seat of Meycauayan, Bulacan's local government.
Intrepid Anvil members arrived at the site as early as 6:00 in the morning, while key members of the Committee fetched the volunteer health workers as early as 5:30 A.M. from the Makati Medical Center. The bulk of the Club's member-volunteers rendezvoused in Quezon City at 6:30 A.M. and drove in convoys to Meycauayan City, Bulacan thereafter.
Energetically assisted by more than two dozen young doctors, dentists and nurses of the Makati Medical Center Foundation, headed by noted vascular surgeon, Dr. Victor L. Gisbert, M.D., the residents of Barangay Camalig were treated to an array of free services, including oral prophylaxis, tooth extraction, eye-check-up, ophthalmoscopy, and minor excisions and even laparotomy. With the help of sponsors, the dental-medical mission was able to effectively address a number of health issues which needed immediate medical attention. Free eyeglasses were provided by Perez Optical Shop, while medicines and supplements were donated by a number of the Club's regents and past presidents.
Thanks to the constructive efforts of Barangay Officials, led by Barangay Captain (and former Vice-Mayor) Salvador "Bogs" B. Violago Sr., the entire venture was calm and orderly, having maximized all the available facilities of the Camalig Elementary School, which was the site of the said activity. In addition, an additional 600 gift packs of canned goods, bottled water, and sundries – meticulously prepared by the Committee – were distributed as the Club's "take-home" present to the health beneficiaries.
The half-day mission also attracted residents from nearby towns, such as Barangay Pantoc, Iba, Pajo and Perez, whose officials also expressed requests for the Anvil Business Club to extend a similar mission for their respective towns in the near future. Moreover, officers from the newly- revived Jci Meycauayan Katad paid a visit and made an ocular inspection with the aim of conducting a comparable endeavor as their maiden project.
For the members of the Anvil Business Club, the genuinely happy smiles written on the faces of the town residents were more than enough compensation for the tense preparatory weeks and frayed nerves leading to this special day.
Kudos to the Project Committee, ably led by Vice-President for Civic Affairs Hubert Henry Chua, Director for Community Development Director Henry Kho, Logistics and Transportation Head, Kristoffer Ngo, members Chris Tang, Louie Tan, and Ian Madera; Materials Head Erika Rellera, Deck Chua, members Dennis John Chan; Food and Gift Packs Head Katherine Sy-Yap, members Stephanie Pua and Clarisse Pua; Registration Head Desmond Chua, members Carlline Chow, Nicolette Lee, Fred Eric Hui, and Jeremy Sy for another noteworthy undertaking aimed to raise the relevance of the Club in the mainstream society.

ANVIL MEETS OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS DEPUTY GENERAL

It was a great distinction to represent the Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs ) in an exclusive forum with Deputy Director-General Zhu Liu (巡視員朱柳) of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (國僑辦) during his two-day visit in the country. He is joined by Chinese Consul-General and Counselor Qiu Jian (邱艦). The Anvil Business Club is only one of three organizations invited to this private forum with the Deputy Director-General; the other two are the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (菲華商聯總會) and the Filipino-Chinese Youth Council (菲華青年委員會).

It was, likewise, an absolute honor (but with great trepidation) in having been chosen to deliver an impromptu response on behalf of the Overseas Chinese youth – in straight Mandarin; something that I have not done for ages. In his remarks, Deputy Director-General Zhu expressed his fervent desire to achieve global solidarity of the 30 million overseas Chinese scattered all over the world and extend transnational assistance even to succeeding generations in an ambitious attempt to solidify a common Chinese identity. He said that the Chinese Government has earnestly sought to revive the links of relatives of overseas Chinese and returnees with the overseas Chinese communities by re-establishing a number of governmental and non-governmental administrative organs responsible for the protection of the rights and interests of the returned overseas Chinese and their relatives. Special focus was directed on the Chinese youth, which, paraphrasing Mao Zedong, "is like the sun at eight or nine in the morning." The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China is the administrative office responsible for liaising with overseas Chinese residing abroad or returning to China. Since its creation in 1949, it has been carrying out the state's policies,rules and regulations concerning overseas Chinese affairs; researching their conditions of the Chinese overseas; drafting and enforcing policies, laws concerning the overseas Chinese affairs; and working out an equitable development strategy on overseas Chinese affairs.

ANVIL GRACES PEOPLE ASIA'S VIP DINNER

Remarkably honored to be representing the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) in Stargate Media Corporation's "VIP Night," an intimate and exclusive thanksgiving dinner hosted by Stargate's erstwhile President and CEO, Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez and PEOPLE ASIA MAGAZINE's charismatic Editor-in-Chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, in honor of the magazine's friends and supporters over the past year.
Under hefty servings of sumptuous (and very filling) Italian cuisine exquisitely prepared by Chef Maurizio Gibillini, the guests had a great time exchanging pleasantries and juicy tidbits with the magazine's top officers, who frequently made the rounds and took special effort in making their guests feel very welcome.
Frankly, I was expecting a very opulent setting, not unlike their grand, annual "People Asia of the Year" awards night; and was pleasantly surprised to have been ushered to a modest, yet cozy, private affair peppered with both familiar and foreign-but-friendly faces. The evening was made more special with a double birthday celebration of Mr. Babe Romualdez (as he turned 67) and Ms. Monica Araneta Tiosejo (celebrated her 27th), one of the magazine's loveliest and most prolific staff writers.
Having made new friends and having touched base with old acquaintances, it was certainly an evening worth negotiating a two-hour, rush-hour traffic for.

Congratulations to the people who make up PEOPLE ASIA MAGAZINE! The Anvil Business Club assures you of our continuous support to your publication!
PEOPLE ASIA MAGAZINE is a bi-monthly publication of celebrity and human-interest stories by Stargate Media Corp. Launched in 2011 and driven under the tagline, "Real Lives. Real Stories. Real People," its almost religious determination to keep the magazine people-focused contributed significantly to its current success as one of the country's most prestigious glossies

ANVIL HOLDS 11TH BOARD MEETING

The Board of Directors of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) held its 11th Board Meeting for the year to evaluate the performance of the months that have just passed and to work on programs that would focus its sights on giving even greater value to the members in the weeks ahead.
A medical/dental mission in Barangay Camalig, Meycauayan, Bulacan in a few days; the year's last Business Exchange Forum in November; a modest Christmas celebration and a year-end planning session in December; the much-awaited release of its first official publication and the production of its first official recruitment video are all being organized to cap off an achievement-laden year for the Anvil Business Club.

Even with the current roster of 241-strong members, nine (9) new applicants were presented to the Board that evening, as one of the Club's requirements for full membership.
Truly, 2014 has been a great year for the Anvil Business Club. Cheers to an even more dynamic year ahead! Special thanks goes to past President/Chairman Ronald Alan Ko and to Director Kenneth Dee for hosting last night's meeting.

ANVIL DELIGHTS IN DEWAR'S.

Mr. Reginald Yu represents the Anvil Business Club (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs) in an exclusive bourbon-tasting affair by Liquor Kingdom's Rudy Ngo (proudly, a newly-minted Anvil member) as he unveiled the new Dewar's Signature Whiskey.
Dewar's Signature is the most exquisite blend under Bacardi, Ltd. – the largest Label" to be the top-selling blended Scotch in the United States. Created as the distiller's flagship achievement by Master Blender Tom Aitken – one of only 6 people to ever hold the title of Master Blender at Dewar's – and the culmination of more than 150 years of blending, Dewar’s Signature has been categorized as a "Hyper-Premium Blended Scotch Whiskey" that is among the company of Johnnie Walker Blue as well as Chivas Regal Royal Salute and has been said to rival some other well-aged single malt scotch’s. At the heart of Dewar's Signature is an exceptional Aberfeldy single malt whisky of great age, with notes of heather and honey. Only the rarest whiskies from each distilling region of Scotland are layered into the blend. The end result is an exquisitely balanced blend accented with notes of honeyed heather and sweet smoke indicative of serious aging.

privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world – known for its eponymous Bacardi "White

In the words of renowned whisky critic, Jim Murray, Dewar's Signature is, "an outstanding addition to the highest echelons of blended Scotch."
The Anvil members present – mostly consisting of young, twenty-something entrepreneurs and professionals – greatly enjoyed the whiskey's rich, fruity and mellow with notes of rich fruits and honey with vanilla and toffee overtones. But more than that, they immeasurably savored the opportunity for fellowship, as they celebrated their close camaraderie through this unique business club via wine, women and song. After having fortified themselves with a few shots of premium whiskey, some of the inebriated members even took to the stage to belt out a few (unintelligible, but impressive, nonetheless) Chinese song numbers. Many enjoyed the party so much that they stayed until the wee hours in the morning.
The affair was certainly a manifestation of genuine affinity, amity, and amiability... certainly worth another shot of Dewar's.

LUEN THAI GALVANIZES ANVIL

It was an evening of inspiring messages and riveting stories as close to 200 members and guests of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) trooped to the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la Hotel to hear Mr. Willie Tan, CEO of Luen Thai Holdings, Ltd. talk about his life and times, as well as having shared some of his invaluable nuggets of wisdom which made his company the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate that it is today, during the Club's 12th Business Exchange Forum for the year.
From a small fishing and navigation service company founded in Hong Kong by an audacious visionary, Dr. Siu Lin Tan – almost half-a-century ago – Luen Thai Holdings, Ltd. has now grown into a leading consumer goods supply chain group – a global industry consolidator and multi-product expert in apparel and accessories, whose diverse business interests have expanded into airlines, amusement, family entertainment, hotels, logistics services, publishing, real estate and a whole lot more.
Despite being currently headquartered in the Western Pacific (Guam, Saipan, Hong Kong), Mr. Willie Tan holds a special place for the Philippines, as the seeds of their flourishing enterprise began almost 100 years ago when his grandfather left China to start a small textile business. Mr. Willie himself joined his father, in 1948 and was raised in Tondo, Manila and grew up in Navotas during much of his formative years, where he lived with the poorest of the poor. It was during these years of hardship that he learned the value of discipline and hard work, traits that he wishes to impart to its people.
To date, Luen Thai employs about 16,000 Filipinos, constituting 42% of the entire conglomerate's total workforce worldwide. He admonished the audience to take more pride in the Philippines and its products as it has great "world-class" potential compared to the other countries. He constantly advocated foreign investors to consider the Philippines as a potential business destination, citing the great help of government agencies, like the Board of Investments, in making it easier for businessmen to do business in the country. He also cited the abundant supply of air and ocean services and its geographical proximity to China and Taiwan for raw material supply.
For his closing message, Mr. Tan advised government officials to consider being involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest multilateral trade agreement within the Pacific which aims to remove trade barriers among 12 regional economies. For would-be global entrepreneurs, he encouraged them to be more engaged in China, as it has the world's largest economic purchasing power and has limitless opportunities for growth.
The three-hour forum was made more memorable by the presence of a powerhouse cast of personalities who came to hear Mr. Tan's story, first and foremost of whom was Senator Loren Legarda who talked about a number of proposed "business-friendly" measures in the Senate, such as simplifying the provision and administration of fiscal incentives, amending the Productivity Incentives Act to make the law more responsive to the situations prevailing in labor and employment, and strengthening competitiveness in the motor vehicle and construction industries. She is joined by a complement of leaders in key government agencies such as Board of Investments Governor Lucita "Pie" Reyes, Assistant Secretary Felicitas Reyes, Authority of Freeport Bataan President Deogracias Custodio, and Information and Communications Technology head, Atty. Ivan Uy (former Anvil Director).
Indubitably, the precious gems of advice that Mr. Willie Tan has shared with the audience that evening is certainly worth more than the price of an Anvil membership, a fact that a growing number of potential applicants who came to hear Mr. Tan speak during the forum would gladly attest.