“FVR is now being besieged by cascading, emerging dots to be connected, clamoring to be prioritized, and then to be brought to the attention of PRRD. KAYA NATIN ITO!”
– Mae Gaffud, Executive Director, RPDEV
BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA, HAINAN AND 10TH FVR GOLF CUP, TAIWAN. Another welcome development was the editorial announcement “Duterte In Boao” (Malaya, 02-April-2018), to wit: “President Duterte is attending the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on the island province of Hainan, China … with an open mind, eager to hear and learn from that meeting what the Philippines might profit from the experience and insights of great and results-driven minds, leaders in the fields of governance, economics, trade and industry, technology, and innovation.
The Forum, slated from 09 to 10 April, is the first leg of Duterte’s foreign travels after his Holy Week cum birthday break, and Malacañang is proud to announce this trip as potentially productive for the President. Duterte has astutely judged that the 2018 Boao Forum is worth attending, giving this Asian version of Davos the importance that it deserves. Davos, being in Europe, is understandably out of Duterte’s circle of priorities.
“The Hainan conference and Duterte’s attendance there come at a crucial and auspicious time, for 2018 is the year many big-ticket projects of the Administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ economic tack become a reality, thanks to the Philippines-China cooperation …”
Re the BFA, FVR was deeply saddened, however. Having been the Chairman/Co-founder of the BFA for eight years (2002-2010) and also the Chair of its Council of Advisors thereafter to-date, FVR had been physically overwhelmed by the sudden convergence of personal-family-spiritual-professional-social-civic obligations that he had to attend during the near-simultaneous observance of Holy Week, Veterans Memorial Week and AMR/FVR’s joint birthday events. This resulted in FVR’s inability to join President Duterte on this auspicious trip to Boao due to strict doctors’ orders and the stern warnings of his “Dakilang Alalay” (XFL Ming). The word went out. SO, SORRY NA LANG!
All along and on top of all that, RPDEV was also busy coordinating with various entities re the requirements of this year’s Philippine contingent – composed of sportspeople, businessmen and professionals from different parts of the Philippines – who wanted to join the 10th Taiwan-Philippines Friendship Golf Tournament (FVR Cup) to be held next week in Taiwan. This is an annual event that provides a terrific opportunity for business networking, new products search, plus beneficial sports competition and people-to-people bonding with Taiwanese counterparts. Phone calls, trips to crowded streets and offices, and administrative matters daunted FVR because of the imminent BIR deadline for the submission of ITRs. Lastly, FVR received a letter last 11 April, which reads:
“To my dear Tita Ming and my ‘Boss’,
It was not necessary to give me a gift for helping to celebrate your birthdays. It was my pleasure for serving you two people who taught me how to love other people and our country. I want to thank you both for the beautiful examples you have shown me, and the beautiful days you have afforded me. May the two of you live to be the happiest, the greatest, and the loveliest people you have ever been to us!
My love and prayers for you both and your lovely family,
Sgd. Ching Montinola”
But the last accolade from our former “25th Senator (Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer)” indeed takes the cake! He said, “Pwede ba, isa pa?” (May we please have one more piece?). Thank you everyone, for everything, and Mabuhay to all. Above all else, let us pray to the Good Lord as we perform, and perform as we pray! There is really no timeout from work for the weary. Wow!
How true is the above? Ask Mae Gaffud, General Rene de Villa, X-Executive Secretary Eddie Ermita, X-Mayor/Congressman Benjie Lim, Atty Nick Lagustan, P/General Gerry Kagaoan, General Mich Templo, General Charlie Tañega, Golfer Mel Bergado, Secretary Jun Yasay, Colonel Dennis Acop, Colonel/Atty Fredie Mison, Jelly/Patrick/Bryan Ramos-Jalasco, Archit Bartolome, Ranjit/Chanda/Lila Ramos-Shahani, Dra Regie Canlas, Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, Ambassador Ed Malaya, Golf Manager Boens Floro, General Ernesto Carolina, Secretary Mina Gabor, Inday Valdez-Timtiman, Justice Raoul Victorino, and Ching Montinola. They’re all still around! Thank God!
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