NOVEMBER 12-14, 2010 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ

Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce
Announces Bi-National Annual Convention

“Entrepreneurs without Borders” Converge in Phoenix
to Address Global Recession

San Francisco, CA, February 22, 2010 – The Filipino American business community is coming together in a highly-visible, unprecedented move to align its empowerment activities with an eye toward evolving as a borderless, globally-focused network of entrepreneurs and professionals. The “Federation 2010: Entrepreneurs without Borders” Convention, slated for November 12 to 14, 2010 in the newly-built, lush and luxurious venue, Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona in Scottsdale, Arizona, promises to engage local, national, and international participants alike with a strategic, innovative convention program that “connects the dots” in building a business global mall and promoting technological advancements, opening the doors to green wealth and green building opportunities, and bridging business and community through humanitarian and trade missions, among its many offerings.

In addition to the attendance of luminaries and dignitaries, keynote speakers include Arizona Governor Jan Brewer; Dr. Yolanda O. Stern, international entrepreneur and philanthropist; Jaime Lim, President of the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC) and Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon, acclaimed for his outstanding work in building business coalitions that win government contracts; and Marie Cunning, a successful Arizona-based Filipina American developer who advocates green building practices. After the highly-awaited Philippine Presidential Elections on May 10, 2010, the new President of the Philippines will be invited to address the expected 800 attendees coming from 40-plus FPACC chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

“The road to a world of Entrepreneurs without Borders provides the Federation’s chapters, members, and affiliates with the ability to connect the dots in real time. We will renew and enhance our commitment to improving the business climate for Filipino entrepreneurs during these uncertain economic times, provide a rich directory of resources and networks, and truly help each other grow and succeed. In this year’s bi-national annual convention, we will increase our delegates’ opportunities to meet potential partners from other parts of the world besides the Philippines,” Marie Cunning announced. Cunning is the convention’s chair and President of the Filipino American Business Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (FABCCA).

The Federation is offering its first 200 registered delegates “first come, first served” benefits such as an invitation to a special event within the convention: the opportunity to meet with venture capitalists, investment groups, and companies seeking joint venture agreements. Delegates, guests, and local visitors will also be treated to a diversity of exhibitors’ products and services inside a high-traffic Exhibition Hall as part of the convention’s Business Global Mall.

As the Talking Stick Resort gets ready for the Grand Opening festivities in June, 2010, sparking global attention with its 100,000-plus square feet of indoor and outdoor convention space amidst a backdrop of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Tribe’s Indian cultural heritage, the Federation looks forward to being one of the first groups to enjoy the 5-star facilities. Delegates will be greeted with a Welcome Reception at the resort, sponsored by FABCCA, the Host Committee.

“Becoming an Entrepreneur without Borders means that you are ready to be an impetus to actions that change the world,” says Jaime Lim in his invitation to prospective delegates.

Early convention registration information can be found at FPACC.com.

About the Organization: The U.S. Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce, Inc., is a 501(c)3 not for profit corporation, incorporated under the not for profit laws of the State of Oregon with corporate offices at 447 Sutter Street, Suite 701, San Francisco, CA 94108. It has 42 chapter members from all over the United States mainland to include Hawaii. Incorporated in 1997, it bridges US Philippines trade and commerce, promotes goodwill and mutually beneficial projects between the two countries. It holds an annual convention in the US and one trade mission a year to the Philippines. It currently has several major Memoranda of Agreement with major Public and Private sector departments of the Philippines, including a major one with the US-SBA.

Press Contacts: Ben Menor at FPACC2010@gmail.com or Marie Cunning at MCunning@cox.net.

The victims of the devastating typhoons in the Philippines in September and October of 2009 were the “focus” of our hearts and souls in preparing and implementing the necessary tasks and responsibilities for this fundraiser. Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas, among the many entertainers who wowed all of us that night (and our checkbooks!), truly understand the meaning of Christmas. “Dancing with the Stars” champions together in the same dance studio, wow!

I will be updating this posting with a photo slideshow in the coming weeks. I found some youtube videos that were taken by some of the guests during the fundraiser. We were all digitally-happy! In the meantime, Happy Holidays!

Here is the sample of the dancing that Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas performed for the fundraiser’s guests, Cheryl’s Argentinian Tango and Mark’s Cha Cha that I was able to document.

In the black and red Bad Romance Costumes, Jeremy Babagay, Jaymee Racho, Stephanie McShurley, and Michelle Bird dancing with Paju Munro as the Lady GaGa. Thank you to AHILTON for posting this youtube video.

Another youtube video, contributed by mrtonysmith, shows another angle of the P.Y.T. dance performed by Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas.

From Cheryl Burke Dance Studio’s youtube channel. This video was taken from the opposite side of the studio (from where I was).

I also created another video (which is not available on Youtube) that I posted in Facebook, showing some of the work that Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas did for the fundraiser. There will be another video that will show my documentation of the total event.

Here is the video invitation.

Roger Pe, an advertising creative, sent some of his Facebook colleagues a link to an OP-ED at Inquirer.net today. The opinion editorial’s title was OLD CRONE.

Here are some snippets from this OP-ED.

FOR OLD timers nostalgic over the old Manila Hotel, its management’s tussle with the Government Service Insurance System over alleged unpaid loans, said to have ballooned to P17 billion because of interest, seems like a mere quibble when compared to the more worrisome reality: the Old Glory is gone; all that remains of the Grand Dame is a pitiable shell of her old self – an old crone going the way of history in the most dejected of exits.

Then, the OP-ED apprised us about the latest development.

But the first sacrilege committed against the Grand Dame was not the pollution but the defacement of her façade. On the corner of the green tropical roof of the hotel facing the walls of Intramuros is her name in quite ungraceful graphics. As if that were not enough, the graphics appear again at the side of the roof fronting the Quirino Grandstand. The redundancy antedated – and, perhaps, presaged – the manic passion for billboard construction around Metro Manila: it reinforces the fact that much of the loss of the quality of life in the metropolis owes to crass commercialism, slapdash development, and the regulated chaos that makes up for urban planning in the otherwise overly regulated and bureaucratized regime obtaining in the Philippines.

I searched Youtube to see if there were any old photos from the grand old days of The Manila Hotel — and I found one about a “Manila Hotel Family Reunion” held at the home of Connie and John Santos at the Hacienda Heights, California, on June 30, 2007. I hope these friends don’t mind that I’m including them in my blog entry to validate what I’m talking about — the Manila Hotel’s family spirit! (Thank you in advance!)

Here is my reply to Roger’s letter to us, his Facebook friends.

Roger, et.al.

I am so sad to hear about the way The Manila Hotel is being treated today. There is still hope, you know.

I am a direct witness to the rebuilding of the old Manila Hotel back to its old “glamour charm” in 1977. Although I missed the actual day of the grand reopening — when methuselah bottles of champagne were poured like water for its guests — I was an intern for my final semester (practicum student) there, a requirement for the B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Administration degree I was pursuing at UP Diliman. There were only five UP students chosen among the graduating class. We had to go through interviews like any other potential employee. All of the employees were practically new, taken from “the best of the best” from all over the hotel industry. Noemi Javier, Guia Sason, Desiree Obana, Violeta Albulario, and I were the chosen few, which meant that we had to work harder to prove that students from the University of the Philippines could handle the pressure. I remember that Mrs. Cruz from Human Resources somehow took a liking to me — maybe because I was this wide-eyed Cebuana who spoke impeccable English with an inquisitive, learning mindset.

The “old crone,” Manila Hotel, was definitely a grand lady. Do you remember the way the movie “Titanic” was filmed, as if you felt you were entering a wondrous world of delight? The Manila Hotel, in 1977, was just like that — and more. There was a revered history. Employees would share with me that, oftentimes, ghosts still haunted the old part of the hotel.

The first person who made a distinct impression on how I would evolve as a customer service professional was The Manila Hotel’s General Manager, Franz Schutzman, one of the most distinguished hoteliers in Asia. I recall that he told the practicum students that it was a standard practice for him to allow a hotel guest’s shoes to be left outside his room for overnight shoe polishing. I was totally awed by Mr. Schutzman’s presence because he was considered an icon in the hotel industry. Plucked from Singapore’s Raffles Hotel, this legendary, engaging, witty, wiry-haired older gentleman had known the likes of my literary heroes such as W. Somerset Maugham. Franz had also concocted the popular cocktail, the Singapore Sling. Thus, I knew I was directly experiencing his expectations about how a true five star hotel should be managed.

Since I came by bus from the UP Balara stop in Katipunan Road every day, I had to be awake by 4:00 am so I could catch the 5:00 am bus. The Philippines was experimenting on its first-ever Daylight Savings Time (and its only time to do it) so you can imagine how dark my early mornings were. I was a fearless young woman, bringing my clothes and make-up in a satchel bag, who endured a dusty, non-air conditioned ride to Luneta (Rizal Park). My efforts to put as little attention to myself during these rides were successful. No one bothered me inside and outside the bus.

As a practicum student, we had to stay at least three or four days — or even a week — in a department. An employee would be assigned to train us and guide us through our responsibilities. The final result of our practicum was my written final report that had to be submitted so we could be considered for graduation.

My most humbling two-day experience was with the Housekeeping Department. When I took a look at the housekeeping department’s arsenal of supplies, I was struck by the hotel’s superior attention to detail regarding the items found inside hotel rooms. Souvenir items were definitely well thought out. I remember that there were replica cigar pipes for VIP guests, probably similar to the ones General Douglas MacArthur, one of Manila Hotel’s most famous residents during World War II era, used.

I accompanied one of the housekeeping staff so I could help her clean a guest room. This was where I learned that I had to start my systematic cleaning at the door — and end at the door, treating the room like a circle. When it came to changing the sheets, I had no clue that bed-making (for superior hotel standards) was so difficult. I swear that there were nine layers of an assortment — sheets and blankets — before a Manila Hotel bed could be called “a made-up bed.” I could only imagine that each housekeeper had to be very physically fit to handle these responsibilities.

I remember visiting the MacArthur Suite. White. The rugs were white. I felt that I was stepping into one of the most luxurious rooms inside the hotel.

Then, Mrs. Cruz took the time to proudly show the Penthouse Suites to the practicum students. Some of the Philippines top designers had been in charge of transforming each penthouse suite to a one-of-a-kind residence, with an in-house butler included.

Another memorable experience was the way the housemen cleaned the crystals of the Spanish-style chandelier in the grand ballroom. These individual crystals had to be brought down and cleaned one by one. Thus, the sparkling presence of The Manila Hotel Ballroom was for real.

The front doors of the hotel seemed like sparkling glass jewels. The white uniforms (and white gloves) of the bell captains made every person who entered the hotel feel special.

My duties at the Front Desk, Concierge, Airport Representatives, and Night Audit were supervised by Lorraine Forbes, who would eventually teach at UP. Who wouldn’t want to work at the Front Desk? The guests were like a “Who’s Who” from all over the world. My first real experiences in customer service were done at this Front Desk. I watched and learned how objection handling was done, too.

The Lobby Lounge evoked such a genteel charm because a young, handsome pianist — Joselito Pascual — transformed this cavernous area into an intimate gathering place, tinkling those ivory keys with passion. Many years later, in 2005, Joselito and I made our acquaintance in San Jose, California at a benefit dinner where Stephanie Reese and he were the headliners. We had a good time recalling our Manila Hotel days.

I had hosting duties at the main formal dining room — The Champagne Room. I had to wear my burgundy formal gown (the only formal I owned) so I could qualify for host duties. There was a rack full of jackets for the men guests to choose from, in case they entered the dining room without the proper attire. Imagine that!

Yet, it was the Jungle Bar next door that captivated me. The women wait staff wore tiger-striped, sexy outfits. The ceiling was full of emerald, glass-like leaves. One night, when there were no hotel executives in sight, in the dark, I crawled my way to the bar and asked for a complimentary Pina Colada. Of course, the obliging bartender humored me.

I remember that I spent more than a week in the kitchen. From the garde manger to the pastry department, I worked the way any intern did: guided by one of the chefs. Marcos Marcos, a Spanish chef who only spoke Spanish, must have thought I was charming or naive that he would greet me by literally lifting me off the floor and swinging me around a few times before landing me gently on my feet. Would this have been misconstrued as inappropriate employee behavior? Absolutely not. Manila Hotel’s employees were the most professionally-trained yet likeable people in my student world. They treated each other like family members.They shared their knowledge and wisdom — and took us under their wings.

Some of the things I learned at the Manila Hotel’s kitchen are indispensable: how to debone a Lapu-Lapu (fish) without cutting the skin and how to make little animals out of almond paste. I never did get to learn how to debone a chicken properly.

It was the hotel’s cafeteria where we all gathered during our breaks. We were happy to be served the hotel buffet’s leftovers-of-the day. Everything had to be made fresh for the guests. Here we were, feasting on gourmet delights for free.

The stress was there, all right. I know this well because many employees smoked — and so did I. My first cigarettes were smoked right there at the cafeteria, HOPE cigarettes. My friend-in-crime was Charlie Barcelona from the Concierge department. Charlie and other group members I hung out with, like Punch Martinez of the Airport Representatives department, would gather at Violeta Albulario’s home in Quezon City, where we would chat, sing, and play the guitar, through the late night.

Working with the airport representatives made me realize how interconnected each department was in making a hotel guest’s stay the perfect one. If you had met Punch then, a guest would think that this huge, mestizo, fast-talking man was one of the hotel’s sales executives meeting him — and he was clearly the hotel’s ambassador, definitely formidable and likeable.

The Sales Department was another department that I remember fondly. While I waited for the assistant sales manager to work with me, I remember seeing Elsa Payumo walk in, bringing in the same air of confidence that was prevalent all over the hotel. After all, she was the sales manager. Every day was a nice fashion show in front of my face. Yet, I was shocked that when they were stressed, the words “fuck” and “shit” were expressions they used in the office — wiithout customers in sight, of course.

These are a few of my favorite memories of The Manila Hotel. Sophisticated. Superior Customer Service. Clean, clean, clean. Beautiful gardens. A green roof.

I hope that the owners, its employees, and the hotel’s future investors can bring back The Manila Hotel’s old glory, now that they are getting a practicum student’s memories.

Let the wise crone of The Manila Hotel evoke its wisdom and old world charm!

AKO (I, me) mismo (myself or me, personally) is a very rough translation. Me, myself, and I… am doing my part in making the world a better place to live and work in.

How I got involved

I just received an email from an old friend, Patrick “Pato” Gregorio. It looks like my like-minded colleagues (including advertising luminaries such as Gil Chua of DDB Philippines) have wisely maximized their marketing, public relations, and media expertise to launch a movement that unselfishly, compassionately SHARES. Shares what? The real, positive energies that enhance the hope of Filipinos worldwide — that the Philippines continues to be “The Land of Plenty.” I’m happy to ride on this campaign and share this GOOD NEWS with others… PLEASE PASS THIS ON — AND MAKE YOUR ACTIONS COUNT!

Declaring your commitment in writing is the first step in making your good intentions manifest into reality. What you perceive becomes your reality. Imagine what it would be like to have millions of Filipinos — and those who advocate our Filipino causes — share their altruistic acts to all of us.
Here’s the text from the youtube description of AKOMISMO.

ALTRUISM ROCKS!

making a stand and taking real action for the causes you believe in. Causes that you yourself can truly pursue to make a real, positive difference to your fellow countryman, to your country.

It is for you who still dare to hope that life for millions doesnt have to be a hopeless battle against problems like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment.

It is for you who believe that not enough is being done about our countrys problems. And that to do right things, youll do them yourself.

It is a movement where you can show your patriotism and compassion, and make these traits infectious.

Its about action that eradicates hopelessness in every Filipino.

How hard will this be to accomplish? Well that will be entirely up to you.
In AKO MISMO you get to choose the cause you wish to pursue. No cause is too small as long as it is a noble one. All we ask is that you make a pledge to do it.

You yourself can pledge anything: from teaching English to your yayas kid, to making sure that your barangay is dengue-free.

Or make a pledge to do your part in ending corruption, prostitution, illegal drugs or the inhumane treatment of animals. The choice is yours.

No matter how small, as long as you pledge that you yourself will take action, its sure to make a big difference.

Giving more hope for Filipinos to stop merely surviving, and start living. And it starts with you.

MISMO yan.

http://www.akomismo.org

AKO MISMO – I pledge to continue “Reshaping the Filipina Image Online” through our advocacy blog and news portal, FilipinaImages.com.

View Lorna Lardizabal Dietz’s profile

YOU do the planning, YOU do the booking, and YOU travel to the Philippines! Remember, YOU are your own travel agent for your trip. I am available to help you out (send me an e-mail) only if you have special requests and issues about your bookings.

Scroll below for instructions to get started.

You can now start shopping here at the booking engine: www.BookYourTravelOnline.RadiantView.com

I’ve always wanted to offer the best value for discount airline tickets, the cheapest plane tickets — cheap airfares, cheaper than all the well-advertised internet sites we’ve been going to.

It’s been my foremost desire to motivate people to visit the Asian Pacific islands — whether it’s the Philippines or other parts of Asia. So, go ahead and plan your next vacation, reunion, event, conference, or meeting! You’re going to enjoy checking out (and hopefully, booking!) the cheapest internet airfares (or plane tickets, plane fares) to the Philippines and the rest of Asia!

My consolidator (a.k.a. wholesaler) provides me with an incredible support system. I consider their company as the best in the planet! (I’m biased, of course).

Remember, this booking engine is for travel-savvy people who want to be “their own travel agents”.

Since I believe in “Truth in Advertising,” then please start your comparison-shopping. Here are some websites that you might want to check out:

Kayak (Get the cheapest rates and then ask me if I can beat them.)
Expedia
Travelocity
Cheap Tickets

Oh yes, I’d love to hear from you about your internet airfare booking experience.

What are you waiting for? Where’s your trip planner? Let’s go frolic in the islands of the Asian Pacific Paradise!

Lorna

INSTRUCTIONS

Some of you might not yet be too familiar with how online booking engines work — so please be assured that I will be around to guide you, especially the first time around. If you’re in a hurry — then please follow these instructions.

1. Decide on your desired travel dates.

2. Go to Kayak.com and check the airfares on your desired dates.

3. Click here to my booking engine to find out if there’s a quote available for your desired dates.

3. If there is a quote available in my booking engine, and it’s better than what you find at Kayak.com, then follow the instructions found in the booking engine. If it asks you to contact me, go ahead and email me at RadiantView@gmail.com.

Remember, the advantage my booking engine has over Kayak.com (for most cases) is that my consolidator has a Manila office in case you have problems during your travels.

4. If there is no quote available in my booking engine, never fear — I am here to guide you!

a. Email me at RadiantView@gmail.com with the following information. Please be as specific as possible:

1) Each passenger’s name (as found in the passport)

Please indicate if there are any children travelling with you. Please write down their ages.

2) Your itinerary: For example, San Francisco – Cebu – San Francisco

If you want to stop over in Manila for a few days, please indicate this. Let me know if you need any tour packages or land arrangements.

3) Your desired dates of travel (as well as the times of travel, if applicable)

b. You will get an acknowledgment from me — and I get to work by contacting my consolidator. At this point, we will be communicating by e-mail.

c. When everything is ready, and I get an OK from you regarding the quote (email acknowledgment is very OK!), then we will be asking you for your credit card number to book your tickets.

d. The first time we handle your booking, there are couple of extra steps for the transaction — and it’s worth it.

Start booking your flight!

Thank you.

Lorna Dietz
Business Development – Filipinas Magazine
http://FilipinasMag.com

P.S. Here is a slideshow I created.

From:
Date: Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Subject: THE FILIPINAS MAGAZINE SHOW
To: undisclosed recipients

Folks,

Here’s an exciting update to the email I sent out yesterday about The Filipinas Magazine Show. The facts I laid out yesterday turned out to be incomplete. Allow me to restate them with more complete information.

THE FILIPINAS MAGAZINE SHOW – will go on the air starting April 25 (Saturday) at 6:30 pm (PST) or 9:30 pm (EST) on GMA Pinoy TV, beamed direct to homes across the US by both DirecTV and Dish Network and on all the Cable Systems that carry GMA Pinoy TV, as follows:

1. Astound (San Francisco, Concord, Oregon)
2. AT & T U-verse
3. NexHorizon Broadband (San Diego, CA
4. Cablevision (io TV)
5. Comcast (California, Boston, Brookline)
6. Cox Communications (San Diego, Las Vegas, Hampton Roads, Orange County/Palos Verdes, North Virginia)
7. Oceanic Time Warner (Hawaii)
8. San Bruno Cable TV (San Bruno, CA)
9. Time Warner (L.A.)
10. Verizon Fios
11. Wave Broadband (Cerritos, Oregon)

FILIPINAS MAGAZINE SHOW is a 30-minute, weekly magazine-type program that features the personalities who are the pride of the FilAm community (just like the printed magazine), probes issues of concern to our community and spotlights Filipino cuisine, restaurants and chefs. The host is my daughter, Christina Dunham, who is also associate publisher and columnist of Filipinas.

GMA Network, the mother network of GMA Pinoy TV, is the leading TV nework in the Philippines, in terms of viewership, advertising load and profitability. It has been in the US for 4 years now and is also aired in much of Europe and Asia.

The director of our show is Maila Gumila, a veteran TV and film star (she started as a child actress) and TV director, as well as the director of the annual Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards. She owns SilverMesh Productions, which handles the production of the show, as a joint venture with Filipinas Magazine and GMA Network.

The writers are Gemma Nemenzo, Maricar Liberato and myself, all members of the Filipinas Magazine team. Raymond Virata, Filipinas Mag art director, is also art director, while Jinx Macabenta, my youngest son, who has his own graphics company, is creative director. Ringo Macabenta, my eldest son and managing editor of our weekly newspaper, Ang Panahon, is production manager.

As you can see, it’s pretty much a family undertaking. But the team has had years of creative and broadcast production experience.

Here’s the line-up of the first episode:

1. Cover Story – Elaine Quijano, former White House correspondent of CNN and 2008 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardee for Communication
2. Issues – The 2nd Death March, the struggle for veterans equity
3. Spotlight – Paolo Montalban, Broadway actor and star of Cinderella
4. Expat’s Kitchen – Mercury Lounge Restaurant

The second episode will feature:

1. Cover Story – Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, 2008 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardee for Public Affairs
2. Entertainment – Pinoys in Hollywood
3. Spotlight – Irene Natividad, President Global Summit of Women, 2008 Filiipinas Magazine Lifetime Achievement Awardee
4. Expat’s Kitchen – Red Lantern Restaurant

The third episode will feature:

1. Cover Story – Loida Nicolas-Lewis, pride of the FilAm community and one of the very first Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardees
2. Factoids – Pinoy Roots in America (going back to the Galleon Trade)
3. Spotlight – Kris and David Valderrama, Member and former Member, respectively, Maryland House of Delegates
4. Expat’s Kitchen – Patisserie Philippe

The fourth episode will feature:

1. Cover Story – Rafe Totengco of New York, maker of designer bags for the rich and famous, 2005 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardee for Entrepreneurship
2. Issues – Immigration and Human Rights
3. Spotlight – Gloria Caoile, pride of the FilAm community and one of the earliest Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardees
4. Expat’s Kitchen – Intramuros Restaurant

We have lined up very fascinating and truly outstanding FilAms for the subsequent shows. We hope you will watch every one of them.

Please spread the word even to your non-Filipino friends. Thank you for your support.

Greg B. Macabenta