Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Espina: The CBM statemement By Mila Espina In my Diary
THE biggest business event in Cebu , the Cebu Business Month sponsored yearly by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had its culminating affair during the Grand Chamber Awards where all the convenors and keyplayers came to witness how effective the team playing of the private and public sectors could really make great things happen in Cebu.
The CBM 2007 took time to define its theme and objectives, organize a management team, identify thrusts and activities, link with sponsors and partners and calendar carefully the various events with the largest media mileage and marketing schemes.
The best and unanimous choice to chair the CBM 2007 was CCCI trustee Consul Samuel Chioson. His deliberative and focused approach, done without so much fanfare, his resourcefulness in getting the necessary logistics and his hands-on coordination of the various events coupled with his ability to tackle pressure with grace and civility made this year’s CBM the best so far. Past CBM chairs Jun Muntuerto, Clarito Fruelda ,Wilson Ng and this writer agreed that CCCI outdid all the previous CBMs. Why so ?
CBM 2007 had a very ambitious goal—to go global. It aimed to showcase Cebu in the Asian market, and by doing so, raise the information and trust levels of our tourism counterparts in what Cebu is as a destination. Thus, we traveled far and wide through the CCCI Cebu Pacific Asean Tourism Roadshow which brought us to Singapore, Hongkong, Malaysia, Macao, Indonesia, Thailand and in every region of the Philippines. We touched base and succeeded in bringing them to Cebu during the major tourism and the ICT events.
The CCCI exit interviews, random sampling from speakers and delegates and documented statements revealed a very good to almost excellent ratings of the performance of speakers, management of the various programs, venue and facilities and huge turn-out of participants. Minor flaws normal to big conventions became learning experiences, which didn’t draw criticisms but instead gave opportunities for delegates to lend a helping hand.
To all who made the CBM 2007 a phenomenal success---Mabuhi ka Sugbuanon! Wait for the printed manual on all the proceedings of the Cebu Business Month 2007.
