Get XCITED!

If you're an EXPAT in search of the "BEST OF THE PHILIPPINES" and "BEST OF ASIA"; or simply a FOREIGN BUYER looking for the world-class furniture and furnishings Philippines is known for, you MUST experience Cebu X.

Tagged as the 'Design Destination of Asia', Cebu X (Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition) is acknowledged as one of the widely visited furniture show in Southeast Asia. Aside from the recognition it received from it's counterparts as 'one of the most organized shows' in the Asian Furniture show circuit, Cebu X -- with it's exhibitor's in it's boutique style presentation -- prides itself as the melting pot of classical, transitional and contemporary furniture and furnishings design from indigenous raw materials.

There's something to be XCITED! about this years exhibition at the majestic convention center of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on March 6 - 9, 2007.

Cebu X will definitely present you another feast of the senses with the upcoming years finest presentation of the world-class Filipino's craftsmanship and creativity.


To know more about the show, please feel free to log-on Cebu X (www.cebuexhibition.com) or email ruben@cebuexhibition.com.

My 1st EURO TRIP ...

How would you feel if you’ve just been sent to Europe for an international training for FREE? That would be fabulous…fantastic!

And I’m fortunate to experience it now.

Yesterday, I finally received my passport with Schengen VISA for my trip and training in The Netherlands (also known as Holland). Two hours later , I finally booked my trip. Thanks to Destination Specialist (Cebu).

This training will be conducted by internationally accredited consultants and specialist hired by CBI (Center for the promotions of imports from developing countries) to coach us market development specialist from developing countries (like the Philippines).

CBI has sponsored for my accommodation at the Hilton Rotterdam Hotel and some amount for my fare to the venue, while CFIF, where I am working now, will shoulder my training allowance.

Titled CBI Intfair XVII, this seminar will commence on the 29th day of August and will end on September 7 at The Hilton Hotel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

CBI Intfair XVII

The IntFair training aims to improve the knowledge and skills of BSO staff in the field of collective trade fair participations in Europe. The programme consists of a mix of lectures, a case study, field visits and group exercises.

During the training programme the following subjects will be covered:
· selection of suitable exhibitions;
· criteria and procedures for selecting exhibitors,
· stand lay-out and design principles,
· project management including budgeting and financing,
· promotion and public relations.

To visit a major fair organizer and an international trade fair in Europe are part of the programme. I guess we're travelling to Germany for this.

The training programme is designed in such a way that it allows the participants to combine their own experiences with the knowledge gained during the training.

In preparation of the training participants we had completed a pre-training assignment and had taken part in two e-learning session conducted by our assigned trainor.

What is more exciting about this trip is that I get to travel on 3 different planes and a train trip to get to the venue. Based on my official itinerary, here are my schedules: I’ll fly to Manila on the 26th to catch a very early Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong on the 27th. From Hong Kong, I’ll board an Air France Boeing 777 plane to Paris, France and Amsterdam, Netherlands in Schiphol Airport. From there, I’ll take a 1 hour and 15 minutes train ride to Rotterdam via Eurail.

I’m just excited like anyone else. For sure this trip will be an experience of a lifetime.

Europe here I come!

PHOTO CAPTION: A view of the windmills of Amsterdam, Netherlands at night.

A Short Review on SINGAPORE: "The Lion City"

A three-hour flight from Cebu, Philippines aboard an Airbus A320 plane will take you to the smallest city-state in the Southeast Asia Region – Singapore.

Boasting as a natural port at the strategic portal of the Far East, Singapore has been the regions gateway since Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company rented out the island by signing a treaty with then Sultan of Johor Hussein Shah. Since then, Singapore was developed as a trading post and settlement, marking the entrance of the then fisherman village to the modern era.

The World War II became the great equalizer of this country to be the little-giant economy as it is now.

From a country of mass unemployment, housing shortages and scarcity of natural resources left in the devastations of World War II, Singapore’s government led by General Lee Kuan Yew navigated Singapore’s economy and posed it to become an attractive location for foreign investors for it’s ideal location as a natural port at the Straits of Singapore “the gateway” of the Far East to the West.

To realize this vision, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew initiated the urban planning and development of the main areas of Singapore through the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Major transportation and communication infrastructures were also built to complement the needs of the foreign direct investors aside from providing them ample tax incentives to initiate their business in the region. Major of the population were also moved to the countryside to lessen the density of the living publics in the urban areas.

50 years fast forward, Singapore now is the center of the growing international trade of Southeast Asia. As the 18th richest country in the world with total foreign reserves of US$ 139 billion aside from the bustling economy, the “Lion City-State” is also the center of electronics, manufacturing and financial trade in the region.

As new facilities, infrastructures and buildings requires land, Singapore has also reclaimed additional domains from the sea through the earth acquired from its hills, sea-bed and neighboring countries. From the original Land area of 581.5 square kilometers in 1960, Singapore’s total land area now is 699.3 square kilometers and growing. They are also planning to add another 100 square kilometers by year 2030.

More to its economic superiority is also Singapore’s aggressive lead in the Tourism industry in the region. In 2005, Singapore was visited by more than 9.7 million visitors all over the world contributing S$12.4 billion to the economy. They are also projecting a 14% increase of visitors every year.

The Singapore Government believes that the island-country-state may have been deprived of much raw materials needed for the economic growth of the country but we’re fortunate to have the resources that other countries have to drive growth of any country – Disciplined Manpower.