It's in the (conference) bag

Are conference bags still relevant as promotional vehicles for event sponsors?

It doesn’t seem so based on the contents of a bag that was given to delegates of the BusinessWorld Economic Forum held last July 12, 2016 at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig City.

Only a handful of sponsors had promotional materials or items inside the bag. It was pretty dismal, particularly since the only items inside the bag about the economic forum was a half-fold program and the delegate’s I.D.

Do event sponsors still consider the conference
bag a promotional vehicle for their companies
and/or products and services?

Plainly speaking, the bag comes nowhere near the prestige of the event. Speakers topbilled by Manuel V. Pangilinan who heads the MVP Group of Companies, Vice President Leni Robredo and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III tackled the topics of succession, integration, disruption and capacity – with the aim of understanding, predicting and influencing the country’s business and economic growth, particularly in light of forthcoming changes under the Duterte administration.

Concrete Jungle

When my mom moved into a condo in Cebu, I really didn’t think much about how different it would be from living in a detached family home. I was just glad that she was finally living on her own terms in a two-bedroom unit that was spacious enough for her and her household help. A bonus was the terrace she always said she wanted although there is little chance of sitting outside and sipping coffee unless you want to do it in full view of the cars, pedestrians, habal-habal and tricycle drivers below.

And then we move into one in the central business district of Makati City, considered the country’s financial and business center.

Leadership lessons from Shell’s top man

Image lifted from "Thought Leaders"

In an interview on “Thought Leaders”, a weekly show featuring influential management and business leaders by Bloomberg TV Philippines, Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chair Edgar Chua gives some insights on his leadership and management style as he tackled various aspects of growing the business of oil and gas exploration, extraction, refining and delivery to consumers under various companies under the Shell brand.

Not everything happens by choice so make the most of chance.  When asked how he rose from being a sales representative in 1979 to his present position as country chair of Shell companies in the Philippines, Chua says some of his personnel movements were by choice and others, by chance.  “The important point is that one has to be open to opportunities, and to doing things that take you out of your comfort zone.” From sales rep, Chua did the rounds in Finance, Audit, Trading, Operations and other areas of the business.  He adds that a person who takes whatever is thrown him and takes it well proves to senior managers that he is flexible, adaptable and capable of doing different things. 

When drivers can't (don't) read

It’s happening again. I flash my headlights at the car in front of me to get the driver’s attention. We’re on the STAR tollway where the speed limit is 60 kph minimum and 100 kph maximum for private cars. The car ahead of me is hogging the passing/overtaking lane or the leftmost lane of a highway at a steady 80 kph.

There is no response. We go steady and slow until I follow other drivers and just overtake on the inside or on the right lane, which is considered dangerous and designated as a driving offense in some countries. Here, it’s just considered passing.

A little help goes a long way

Librada De Castro Acuzar is not one to take things for granted.

A teacher at the Ambulong Elementary School (ES) in Batangas City, Teacher “Ada”, as she is more popularly known, has worked hard for every break that has come her way.

Life was not easy growing up for the second of 11 siblings. “My father was a farmer, and my mother did not have a job,” she said. They ate off the land and from the proceeds of whatever produce he was able to sell, she added.