Strengthening Ties

We just got back from a road trip to the City of Koronadal, South Cotabato, where, along with my colleagues at the North Bukidnon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I stayed for 4 days. This series of blogs will cover all four days and all the places we were able to visit.

DAY 2

Our second day in the City of Koronadal dawned bright and sunny, after a night of heavy rain and thunder. For the opening ceremonies of the 18th Mindanao Business Conference, we had been advised to wear the traditional Filipiniana costume. (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of us, sorry.) Among the expected guests were none other than Hon. Kristie Kenny, US Ambassador to the Philippines and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, author of the PROPEL movement of PCCI.

After the day's convention, we were again invited to attend a dinner, this time sponsored by the Province of South Cotabato. Here, we were serve

d with unlimited sashimi and fresh, fresh fruits in season -- pineapple, rambutan, mango, guava, watermelon, durian, lanzones, papaya, banana and what have you! If you didn't want to have the fruit salad, that was okay, because they were all mixed in your stomach anyway.

While we were eating, we were pleasantly serenaded by a very talented singer, an amazing choir and a very entertaining troupe of folk dancers. It was after dinner that we were surprised to discover Koronadal City's secret: FASHION!

(I apologize for the quality of my pictures. I was using a 2 MP camera phone.)