Stratbase-ADRi's Pilipinas Conference 2016

Last December 08, 2016, Stratbase-Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) held a big "Pilipinas Conference 2016" at The Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati. I was invited, I came, good event. 

Panel 1 on Federalism debate. Stratbase-ADRi President Dindo Manhit and Former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario (3rd and 4th) joined the panel in the group photo: Left to right, Atty. Anthony Abad (Moderator), Dr. Ronald Mendoza (Dean, Ateneo School of Government), Dr. Paul Hutchcroft (Professor of Political and Social Change, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University), and Dr., Julio Teehankee (Dean, College of Liberal Arts- De La Salle University Manila).

Panel 2 about the South China Sea territorial disputes. Speakers from top left, clockwise: Dr. Amy Searight, Southeast Asia Program Director of Center for Strategic and International Studies; DND Sec. Delfin Lorenzana; Aaron Connelly , a Research Fellow for East Asia Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy; and Ambassador Shingo Yamagami, Acting Director General of the Japan Institute for International Affairs. 

 

Panel 3 on "Promotion of Foreign Investments anf Enhancements of SMEs: Sharing Strategies and Opportunities". Left to right: Elizabeth Lee (Moderator), Vivencio Dizon (President & CEO of Bases Conversion Development Authority), Dr. Astrid Tuminez (Regional Director, Southeast Asia Legal and Corporatwe Affairs, Microsoft), George Barcelon (President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Hans Sicat (Philippine Stock Exchange), and Laurence Cua (Country Manager, Uber).

I liked the presentation of Astrid, especially the 3 waves of innovation. I didn't know that the 2nd wave ended in 2015, so this year and the coming years are the 3rd wave. Knowledge-intensive, artificial intelligence, robots, more modern gadgets. 

Panel 4 on "The Philippine Footprint in Southeast Asia and Beyond", left to right: Joey Concepcion (Chairman & CEO, RFM Corporatoin Go Negosyo), Atty. Michael Toledo (Moderator), Enrique Razon Jr. (Chairman & CEO, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.), and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Chairman, Ayala Corporation).

I like the frankness of Ricky Razon, he's straight-talking. Like the Constitution should be amended every 5 years or 3 to be more flexible with the times, need to remove economic nationalism and allow more foreign investments here, etc.

Closing remarks was given by Vice President Leni Robredo. Photo with former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit.

Cocktails after. I enjoyed the food, drinks, networking. Here with some UPSE guys, left to right: Jeffrey Ng (Cathay Land), Dr. Epictetus Patalinghug, Dr. Vic Paqueo, me. Dr. Patalinghug was my teachers in Econ 171 (Agri Econ) in UPSE in the 80s, Doc Vic my teached in Econ 181 (Labor Econ). Jeffrey and VP Leni were classmates and batchmates at UPSE batch 1986.

The Stratbase-ADRi team and staff.

Thanks for the great event, Dindo and team. I enjoyed it.