Among the attendees were representatives of the embassies of Japan, Poland, United Kingdom, Romania, Laos, and Switzerland; and the chambers of commerce of Italy and Switzerland.

Asia Manila Prime Properties, Duty Free Philippines, and Top Line set up booths to showcase their products and services.

“We thank everyone who made this inaugural event successful. We’re thrilled to see such enthusiasm despite the weather. Tonight highlights the drive of Manila’s entrepreneurs to build connections that support growth and resilience,” said Monsi Alfonsi Serrano, publisher of THEPHILBIZNEWS that organized the event.

Palladium sponsors include CDO Foodsphere Inc., Converge ICT Solutions, Duty Free Philippines, ES Print Media Inc., GCash, Meralco, RCBC, The Manor at Camp John Hay, and Top Line Business Development Corp.

Partner sponsors include Abyan Management Services Corp., Asia Manila Prime Properties, Avzea Studios, Barkero Developers, Cleanfuel, FinTech Alliance, FIRST Atkins Holdings Corp. (FAHC), Grab Philippines, IONTEK Power Solutions Corporation, Kin No Tori Kara, Lola Tita De Cacao, Luis Bakery, MPT South Corporation, San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc., Tinapayan, The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay, and Top Line-Light Fuels.

Chamber partners include the British, Italian, Nordic, and Swiss Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines.

Japanese entrepreneur Ryo Tateno delivered a presentation on the potential of entering the Philippine market through the franchising of Japan’s leading chicken karaage restaurant, Kin No Tori Kara.

Entrepreneurs’ Night, held at Hotel Okura’s sophisticated event space, featured an open mixer format aimed at enhancing partnerships across industries.

“We designed this event as a venue for participants to freely and in a relaxed manner exchange ideas, build relationships, and explore potential collaborations,” said Serrano.

Hotel Okura’s renowned Japanese buffet, with premium drinks flowing freely, complemented the evening’s relaxed and collegial atmosphere, providing a convivial backdrop to the business-focused gathering.

Attendees praised the event for offering both practical and enjoyable networking experiences, with entrepreneurs and professionals alike engaged in lively discussions throughout the evening.

“We would like to participate in any similar event again,” said Mark Fong, a Chinese-Filipino entrepreneur.

Adding to the excitement were the highly anticipated raffle prizes, which included exclusive overnight stays at The Manor in Camp John Hay and Hotel Okura Manila, lanterns from Pampanga courtesy of Converge, 10 pieces of holiday ham from CDO, 12 cases of San Miguel beer, P10,000 worth of gift certificates courtesy of MPT South, a Canon printer from ES Print Media.

Hotel Okura Manila and THEPHILBIZNEWS look forward to establishing Entrepreneurs’ Night as an annual affair that will bring together leaders and professionals from across sectors.

Its successful conduct Thursday night sets the stage for future gatherings that encourage communication, collaboration, and growth among Manila’s business community.

Polish Ambassador to the Philippines Jarosław Szczepankiewicz has expressed his optimism for stronger and deeper cooperation between Poland and the Philippines during the celebration of the 104th anniversary of regaining independence of Poland back in 1918.

The Polish envoy revealed during his welcome speech at the reception dinner held at The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion that during World War-II Poland disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years after Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had ceased to exist, a result of an arrangement between three powers: Russia, Prussia and Austria.  He also noted that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the first advanced republican project in Europe with greater liberty offered to its citizens.

“Today, we cherish Poland’s independence as much we feel responsible for our allies from the EU and NATO and as much we show our solidarity to true partners sharing common values with us,” Szczepankiewicz said.

As you know, since I arrived here, I have had the chance to establish Polish Embassy in Manila in 2019. During our operations in the Philippines, my team and I used all ways to build a strong partnership between Poland and the Philippines. The term “partnership” means a promise in good faith between partners who commit themselves to achieve their joint objectives.

Ambassador Szczepankiewicz reiterated his commitment to pursue sustainable economic growth and the opening up of both countries for more cooperation in various aspects such as investment, with the opening of the Polish Investment and Trade Authority in Manila, as one of the many initiatives of the Polish government to the Philippines.

“I witnessed first-hand the increased of trade exchange from 469 thousand USD in 2017 to 877 thousand USD in 2021. Our economic policy carried hand-by-hand with Polish Trade Foreign Office in the Philippines, focusing in the areas of water management, Fintech, medical technologies as well as digitalization. Poland also stands ready to provide food security to the Philippines,” he revealed.

“The Polish development cooperation is focused on building the resilience of the most vulnerable populations. In 2022, the Embassy initiated a project aiming at the professional activation of women in the city of Quezon, through tailoring courses financed under the Polish Aid,” he added.

Apart from investment, livelihood and women empowerment, Szczepankiewicz also included that security is also one of the critical programs that Poland is also helping the country with.

“The contract for the delivery of Black Hawk S-70i helicopters produced in Poland by PZL Mielec is considered as a model. All 16 helicopters were successfully delivered ahead of time. I do believe that the implementation of the new contract signed in February 2022 for additional 32 choppers will be equally successful,” Szczepankiewicz said.

Ambassador Szczepankiewicz also noted the global state of security today is alarming especially with the ongoing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that led to war.

“What exactly is our security today? The forces of autocracy have revived in Europe and in Asia. Its hallmarks are familiar ones — contempt for the rule of law, contempt for democratic freedom, contempt for the truth itself. Today, Russia has strangled democracy, not only in its homeland.  Under false claims of ethnic solidarity, it has unprovoked invaded Ukraine. “Ukraine” means “borderland”. Today, as our borders are defined by shared values, Ukrainian borders are borders of our own freedom and democracy and every country’s sovereignty and independence,” he said.

“We stand with Ukraine!” and the first words of Polish Pope Saint John Paul II after his election during his first public address, “Be not afraid.” 

The EU Delegation to the Philippines will bring “Bersong Euro-Pinoy” poetry recital dubbed “Mga Tataramon nin Paglaom, Words of Hope, Verses Versus the Virus” in the Bicol Region on 19 September at 10 a.m. to be streamed live at the EU Delegation to the Philippines.

The poetry recital is in collaboration with the Embassies of  Czech Republic, France, Hungary;  Italy through the Philippine-Italian Association together with the poetry festival  “La punta della lingua”;  Embassies of Poland and Spain through Instituto Cervantes Manila and multi-awarded Filipino poets from the Bicol community.

Mr Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the EU Delegation to the Philippines said that after the success of the poetry recital last May 2020, the EU Delegation has decided to bring the poetry recital to Naga and to Dumaguete . Bersong Europinoy will provide a platform to better understand and appreciate each other’s culture and to strengthen people-to-people links between Europeans and Filipinos.

Now with the “new normal” being in place, this cultural journey is even easier.

A brainchild of  Instituto Cervantes, it used to be held under the framework of “Dia del Libro” gathering all diplomats and literary enthusiasts from among the members of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, EU member states’ embassies and cultural institutes.

Literary luminaries from the Bicol Region will participate in the poetry recital through the EU Delegation collaboration with Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Naga University Press and Ateneo Arts and Culture.

Well-known and familiar poets including Father Wilmer Tria (Press Director of Ateneo de Naga University), Kristian Cordero, Rosaulio Imperial Sr, Jess Volante, Delia Enverga, Frank Peñones, Roda Daignere, and Tito Genova Valiente, will join in this Bicol edition.

Literary Masterpieces

The former Hungarian Ambassador Jozsef Bencze and the  Polish Embassy’s Chargé d’affaires Jarosław Szczepankiewicz will read literary masterpieces “Még nem elég” (Not Yet Enough) by Vaci Mihaly and ”The Remembrance” by Julian Tuwim, respectively. Both diplomats are book authors themselves. Eight-year-old Dora Sediva, daughter of Czech Ambassador  Jana Sediva,  shall read  “ZNÁM KŘIŠŤÁLOVOU STUDÁNKU” (The Crystal Spring) by Josef Václav Sládek.

Mr Rafael de Bustamante, Political Counsellor of the  EU Delegation, a Spanish national, shall read some stanzas from Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios”.

Mr Alessandro Milani, General Manager of the Philippine Italian Association shall render  “Canta La Gioia” (Sing the Joy!).

Amiel Diaz, Political and Cultural Affairs Officer of the Czech Embassy shall read “Awit ng Pag-ibig” translated by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario from the poem “Zhudebněná milostná báseň” – A Love Poem Set to Music by Jan Kresaldo.

Mr Javier Galvan, Director of Instituto Cervantes de Manila, shall read “Remedia Amoris 1” written by Julio Martinez Mesanza, from his book “Europa.” Emma Briffaut, Education Attaché, French Embassy shall read the famous poem “Liberté” by Paul Eluard with English translation by Martin Macalintal, Audio-Visual Attache of the French Embassy.

Special Feature:

What makes this poetry edition more exciting is that it will introduce a novelty.

Thanks to the Philippine Italian Association for its new partnership with the Italian poetry festival “La punta della lingua”.

This new edition of Bersong EuroPinoy will screen an animated version of L’infinito (The Infinite – 1819) by Giacomo Leopardi.

The talented Simone Massi, one of the top animation cinema directors and illustrators in the world, added the poetic dimension of his drawing to the masterpiece of the great poet, Giacomo Leopardi himself. The narrator’s voice is that of the actor Neri Marcorè while the music was composed by Stefano Sasso. The result is a  one and a half minutes of immersive poetry.

This dreamlike work, commissioned by the Municipality of Recanati (the hometown of Giacomo Leopardi), is a co-production with Nie Wiem: a publisher, film producer, organizer of the short film festival “Corto Dorico”, and the poetry festival, “La punta della lingua”, which is part of the project

“Marche della Poesia” and to which the #PhilippineItalianAssociation has collaborated with to be able to present this work.

After Naga, the Bersong Euro-Pinoy goes to Dumaguete through the Silliman University on 19 October.

The poetry recital will be streamed live at the EU Delegation Facebook page: facebook.com/EUDelegationToThePhilippines.