Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Datu Awards 2007 winners By Bernie Alejandro II, Freddie Serapio and Danny Te
"AND the envelope please..." So goes the line as the audience holds their breath in anticipation of the announcement of who gets an award.
For years, award-giving bodies have recognized organizations and individuals for their sterling achievement in their chosen field. Be it business, education and contribution to humanity, an award is a feather on their caps, a symbol that they are the best.
The Datu Awards is the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) Davao Chapter's award giving body. It has already recognized individuals and organizations for the past 15 years on the basis of merit. Thus, when an award is given, it is because the winner deserves it. And this year, the winners are impressive.
For the Datu Awards committee, this would mean making hard choices. And, so, "the envelope please..."
This year's winners are not lightweight boxers. By embracing this year's theme, the committee has zeroed in on organizations and individuals who have embraced and challenged globalization at the beachheads. And they have prevailed.
PMA-Davao has announced that the winners for this year are the very best in meeting globalization head-on.
To start, the icon of globalization in Davao is no less a towering giant in the hotel service industry.
For the "Marketing Company of the Year" Award, the honor goes to Marco Polo Davao. Truly for the past several years, it has provided excellent services to travelers from different parts of the globe.
As a member of the Marco Polo group of hotels, it has maintained this standard of excellence in good times and tougher ones. Marco Polo is now a landmark in Davao "packaged" as the tallest hotel in Mindanao.
What makes Davao an important place for globalization? Another icon of course. Demand for bananas abroad have made Davao as the source of the country's bananas destined for exports.
From the farms around the region to the classy hypermarts in America, China and Europe, fresh bananas are finding their way to these markets thanks to the efforts of one company who has made it its mission to do so.
While the banana industry growth is being challenged nowadays, AMS stands firm to sustain the industry and has found ways to reposition and expand to other businesses without having to depend so much on their flagship product.
For the "Outstanding Achievement in Export Marketing" award, the PMA Davao Chapter takes its hats off to the AMS Group of Companies.
Rural development is now taking front stage in the national agenda. Providing a source of financing and savings facilities to micro enterprises all over Mindanao is crucial for economic growth. Thus, rural banking as a catalyst for success for micro enterprises have found its champion in One Network Bank.
ONB's marketing approach to integrated rural banking in Mindanao has inspired rural bank marketing both in the Visayas and Luzon. Mr. Alex Buenaventura has the marketing acumen and passion to come up with a banking model that addressed the fragility of the rural banking industry in Mindanao while managing his simple family bank in Panabo (Panabo Rural Bank), now transformed and integrated with other network banks. ONB wins hands down the "Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Management" award.
And, for someone to teach globalization to future and existing entrepreneurs and business, you need a world-class guru who should be good both in research and instruction. A first for PMA Davao, recognizing teachers in the academe play an important role in encouraging entrepreneurs and businesses to be really world class in outlook.
This year's first awardee is Dr. Sylvia Concepcion from the University of the Philippines-Mindanao as we recognize her with "Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Education" award.
Concepcion stands firm on the importance of consumer behavior as the key to strategic market research to strengthen the formulation of a company's market planning; thus, her model to teaching marketing will ultimately lead students to be research focused.
For the food sector where competition is tough, finding a company that has a global positioning in mind is even tougher. Innovation and creativity thrown in, putting products on the marketplace that has a global look is a rarity.
Swiss Deli is one such company deserving the award of "Outstanding Marketing Achievement in Entrepreneurship" as it combines creativity and positioning. Swiss Deli catalyzed the example of niche marketing. Despite the existence of bigger food companies, it managed to survive in the supermarket shelves, prominently placing itself as one of the more notable quality processed food suppliers among hoteliers not only in the city of Davao but also in Cebu and Metro Manila.
With this fine list of awardees, the PMA-Davao hopes to inspire companies and individuals to be globally oriented and competitive. Congratulations to this year's winners. Our hats off to you all.
