Swiss Indulgence in Cebu

Swiss indulgence in Cebu

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Category: Envoys & Expats

30 Aug 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo: MPPC General Manager and Marco Polo Philippines Area Manager Hans Hauri with Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines’ Raoul Imbach

The singing diplomat - Raoul Imbach, Deputy Head of Mission – Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines

FOR the past eight years, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu has been celebrating Swiss National Day with a week-long culinary journey.

 MPPC Executive Chef Stefano Verrillo and family

Morgan and Austin Hauri

MPPC Hotel Manager Julie Najar and Bo Hauri

This year’s celebration continued this long-standing tradition. On August 1, Cebu-based Swiss nationals with their family and friends trooped to the hotel’s Grand Balcony where the celebration was held. The evening’s guest of honor was Raoul Imbach, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines.

Raoul Imbach, Bo Hauri and Hans

Lara Constantino and Connie Cimafranca

Guests were treated to a fabulous buffet of Swiss favorites, free-flowing drinks, great entertainment, exciting games, and a raffle.

Josef Chiongbian and Raoul Imbach

Bo Hauri, May Elizabeth Ybañez and Jenny Franco
Aziza and Marlene Mondoñedo

After this celebration, the party continued for the next 10 days with a special food promotion. The Swiss Alpine Festival featured the rich culinary goodness of Switzerland at the hotel’s Café Marco. The selection was exclusively prepared by world-class chefs. Goodies available included air-dried beef, chocolates, cheese fondue and raclette, sausages and Zurich-style sliced meats. It was a rare opportunity for resident in the Queen City of the South sample the best Switzerland has to offer.

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US envoy honored at businessmen's luncheon

US envoy honored at businessmen’s luncheon

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Category: Envoys & Expats

23 Aug 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo: R.G. Manabat & Co. (RGM&Co.) executives: Head of Advisory Henry Antonio, Chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Vice Chairman and Head of Tax Emmanuel Bonoan, Head of Audit Sharon Dayoan and Chief Finance Officer Pacifico Castañeda

RGM&Co. Vice Chairman and Head of Tax Emmanuel Bonoan, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and RGM&Co. Chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat

UNITED States Ambassador Philip Goldberg was welcomed by members of the American business community in the Philippines in a luncheon hosted by R.G. Manabat & Co. (RGM&Co.), the Philippine member-firm of KPMG International at the Makati Shangri-La Manila, Makati City, on July 29.

RGM&Co. Chief Finance Officer Pacifico Castañeda, RGM&Co. Head of Advisory Henry Antonio, OPTEL Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum and U.S. Embassy Deputy Economic Counselor David Whiting

During the luncheon, Ambassador Goldberg explained the focus of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, not only because of security issues but also for economic reasons. With the Asian region on the rise, the US plans to become more involved in the region, especially in the Philippines. He also acknowledged RGM&Co. and KPMG International’s important role in bringing more US businesses in the country while addressing barriers to investments with the support of the US embassy.

Pfizer, Inc. Country Manager Violi Remo, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and U.S. Embassy Senior Commercial Officer James McCarthy

U.S. Embassy Deputy Economic Counselor David Whiting and Pacific Rare Specialty Metals and Chemicals, Inc. General Manager Leigh Dahl

“We look forward to our continued partnership with the US embassy and the American business community in further attracting foreign direct investments in order to sustain our country’s strong economic performance,” said Roberto Manabat, chairman and CEO of RGM&Co.

 OPTEL Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum, USAID Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, Advanced Nutritional Technologies Chairman and CEO Edwin Douglas Feist, RGM&Co. Chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat and RGM&Co. Head of Audit Sharon Dayoan

USAID Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and OPTEL Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum

Present during the luncheon were Pacific Rare Specialty Metals and Chemicals Inc. General Manager Leigh Dahl, Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas) Inc. President and CEO Jose Mari del Rosario, Advanced Nutritional Technologies Chairman and CEO Edwin Douglas Feist, Quezon Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. General Manager Frank Thiel, Pfizer Inc. Country Manager Violi Remo, International School Manila Superintendent David Toze, First Philippine Industrial Park Inc. Senior Adviser to the President Henry Co, Asian Institute of Management President Steven DeKrey, Optel Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum, United States Agency for International Development Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, US Embassy Senior Commercial Officer James McCarthy, and US Embassy Deputy Economic counselor David Whiting.

 International School Manila Superintendent David Toze and Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc. President and CEO Jose Mari del Rosario

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and First Philippine Industrial Park, Inc. Senior Adviser to the President Henry Co

USAID Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, OPTEL Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum and Advanced Nutritional Technologies Chairman and CEO Edwin Douglas Feist

RGM&Co. executives present were Manabat, Vice Chairman and Head of Tax Emmanuel Bonoan, Chief Finance Officer Pacifico Castañeda, Head of Audit Sharon Dayoan and Head of Advisory Henry Antonio.

Asian Institute of Management President Steven DeKrey and Quezon Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. General Manager Frank Thiel

OPTEL Ltd. Managing Director Donald Felbaum and Advanced Nutritional Technologies Chairman and CEO Edwin Douglas Feist

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Members of foreign chambers at networking event

Members of foreign chambers at networking event

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Category: Envoys & Expats

09 Aug 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo:Maschinen Technik, Inc. president Dr. Gunter Matschuck and Paris Manila Technology Corporation (PAMATEC) president and CEO Hubert d’Aboville

In Photo: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc.’s Ron Sangil, Dennis de Guzman, Triccia Dacer, Philip Enriquez and Edgar Prates

Held at the hotel’s grand ballroom, the noteworthy event gathered members of the foreign chambers of Britain, Europe, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia-New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, as well as members of the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.

Oriental Peninsula Resources Group, Inc. director David Attewill with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. – Philippines country manager Graham Paynter

P-TECH People and Technology Inc.’s Warren Ilano and Paul Sagun

Leading the evening’s program was Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (Anzcham) Executive Director Angie Pettersson, while Anzcham President Ian Porter gave the opening remarks to formally start the affair.

DSM Manila LLC’s Lenard Devera and Rebeck San Luis with BFO International’s Manuel Garcia Ramos

Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines’ Emma Marie Domingo, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Sheila Lobien and Miguel Manipol

It was a significant gathering, as the guests exchanged ideas to further strengthen economic ties, and the business and social relations between their countries and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts team, led by Chairman Johnny Chan, Managing Director Patrick Chan, and Marketing and Communications Corporate Director Ryan Chan, made sure everyone had a grand time by providing the sumptuous food and the hotel’s signature drinks, while a raffle concluded the evening.

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Australian Embassy, Citrus Australia launch Australian oranges promo

Australian Embassy, Citrus Australia launch Australian oranges promo

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Category: Envoys & Expats

02 Aug 2014

Written by Suzette Jessica

In Photo: Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth, Citrus Australia Ltd. Market Access Manager David Daniels, Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell and Citrus Australia Ltd. General Manager Market Development Andrew Harty

In Photo: Australian oranges have the reputation for being the sweetest in the world

AUSTRALIAN Ambassador Bill Tweddell hosted the launch of the “Australian Oranges—Now in Season” promotion at his residence, attended by retail and industry representatives. The event officially kicked off the season and availability of Australian oranges in the Philippines.

“Australian oranges have long enjoyed a reputation for being the sweetest in the world. And very important, Australian farms are known for being pollution-free with high standards of food safety. We are proud of our Australian oranges, which are ‘Sweet, Safe & Healthy,’” explained Tweddell.

“We are happy to collaborate with Citrus Australia in introducing the world’s sweetest oranges to the Philippines.  This is also the best time to do so during Australian winter, when Australian oranges are in season,” he added.

Citrus Australia General Manager of Market Development Andrew Harty explained why Australian oranges are of superior quality: “Australian oranges are very tasty because of the farming practices we have followed for many generations, the varietals Australian farmers grow, and because Australia is blessed with climatic and soil attributes ideal for growing the world’s best oranges.”

Tweddell and Harty were joined by Citrus Australia’s Market Access Manager David Daniels and Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth during the launch. Industry guests sampled a variety of excellent food and drinks that used fresh Australian oranges as key ingredient.

Daniels discussed the food-safety reputation of Australian oranges: “Every batch of oranges is tracked from the farm to the packing house, and then on the ship during its voyage to the Philippines. In this way, every box of Australian oranges purchased can be traced back to the farm they were grown. Also, Australian packing houses send samples of oranges to laboratories for testing to ensure food safety.”

“We note that there is a strong demand from Filipino consumers for fresh, tasty ingredients that is safe and healthy, and this is helping drive demand for fresh Australian citrus products,” Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth explained. “Filipinos are also looking for great value.   The Asean Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enables most temperate fruits from Australia, such as oranges, to enter the Philippines tariff-free, so Filipino consumers can enjoy affordable, fresh products without comprising food safety,” he added.

Australian Oranges—Now in Season includes a monthlong retail promotion by Citrus Australia and the Australian Embassy covering key groceries and supermarkets in Metro Manila. It runs from August through September in major supermarkets and grocery stores in Metro Manila. Shoppers and their families can enjoy the sweet, safe and healthy freshness of Australian oranges through sampling activities every weekend in Metro Manila branches of Robinsons Supermarket, Rustan’s Fresh, Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise.

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