ACG Set to Hold FAST FORWARD 2025 International Tax and Investment Conference

The Philippines is set to be the host of the International Tax and Investment Conference dubbed "FAST FORWARD 2025" aimed to promote ESG investing in the country. For those who don't know, that stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, a way to evaluate sustainability and ethical impact of a company.

The conference will be very instrumental in this discussion and encouraging more foreign investments in the country. March 26 will start panel discussions, exhibits on local products and the ACG Global Awards to recognize champions and advocates of sustainability. Lead Convenor for this event is Mon Abrea, the CEO of Asian Consulting Group who's tax reform advocacy has moved mountains in the region. To date, ACG has over 191 Billion pesos of savings from BIR cases of their clients. Dr. Bing Limjoco Head of the Philippine Franchise Association and Franchise Asia will be Vice Chairman of this event.

The event will also mark the launch of Mon Abrea's newest book "Re-imagining the World Without Climate Change" which includes real world studies of FAST industries who follow ESG principles, proving it can be done. The press conference also was graced by the one and only Madame Loida Lewis, who was given honors before she left for New York. Young entrepreneur and actress Bea Binene also shared why she trusts ACG and how ESG efforts have made her even trust the firm more in managing her tax and businesses to this date.

Here's the press conference in its entirety!

If you want to join FAST FORWARD 2025 you may email them at itic@acg.ph or visit their website itic2025.helixpay.ph if you want to secure a slot to the event.

The Philippine Coffee Expo 2025 "Charting New Frontiers" Slated May 9-11 at SPACE One Ayala

Filipinos love for coffee is not surprising. If I'd ask you how many cups you've had for a day, you would probably lie to lessen the guilt or just throw in a number and call it a day. We are after all the second largest coffee consumer in Asia right after our neighbor Japan, because those cups of coffee in the morning gets counted too. Our coffee culture is undeniable, and the industry is still growing. The strong market actually has issues, supply isn't enough locally. Surprise, surprise!

Recently, they launched the 2025 edition of The Philippine Coffee Expo which they labeled as "Charting New Frontiers". This will happen on May 9 to 11 at One Ayala's events facility called SPACE which is directly accessible from the Ayala MRT Station in Makati. The media conference was arranged by Perdem Hay Marketing Solutions Inc. and their sponsors Gourmet Farms Inc., the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat, the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Rural Development Project and National Project Coordinating Office, the kind people from Easy Brand PH (who's got awesome products btw!), Eighty Plus, Top Creamery, and the folks from Curve Coffee Collaborators too.

The event will also house the annual Philippine Coffee Quality Competition where they choose the best coffee beans and recognize the farmers that produce it. They also recognize the folks in between, who make sure those who get those beans from the land they came from to your coffee cup. They follow strict guidelines to make sure they acknowledge those who have merits. Exhibitors include Lasa, Cavite State Polytechnic University, Food inc., the good people of Cordillera Coffee, Agnep Heritage Coffee, Cafe Vera, Ciento Cookies, Milestone Coffee + Kitchen, D'Baristroe, Drip Kofi, Messy Summers, Subtle Coffee, Agkafetta Coffee, Cafe Sartog, and more. If you are planning to put up a cafe, or simple trying to source products for it, this would be the best event you could go to. They also had different artists do Coffee Art, which was so nice to see done live!

There will be local and international resource speakers, Coffee and Story Sessions, exhibits, business connections, cupping events, several pop up cafes on site, international specialty coffee exhibitors, Barista and Roasting competitions too.

 

Ms. Brenda Claver the PCG Director for Audit  says "I've been doing talks in different regions, from barista, supplier, and just about everyone in organizing this event. Coffee is a source for comfort, and the Philippine Coffee Expo has been an occasion to come together to share our expertise. Bringing the world together, from our exhibits, demos, it will be a feast for the senses. We have roasters,  equipment manufacturers to showcase the latest products in the coffee world. It's not just about coffee, but community, to promote and work together in an environmental way, spreading the love for coffee."

 

 Philippine Coffee Guild Chairman Mel Garcia says "Coffee is part of my research, this is more than just celebrating produce, but beyond that, it's an industry that involves producers and consumers deeper than the usual. We have members across the chain, even educators and enthusiasts who are members. Composer of those that represent stakeholders, public or private, and we are an organization that represents the industry and its members. The first one was in Davao in 2022 and we promoted farm entrepreneurship. We are going around the country and did it in World Trade Center, and now we are the highly accessible One Ayala and their SPACE. Foot traffic was great, and we had to beg off some attendees because there were so many folks coming in. We need to look beyond the industry, the sheer number of is visibly growing, but perhaps, not really maturing. With your help, we want to use our platform that would be able to help us. Some of our sponsors are here. Help us to tell people that our market needs to mature. We need to address volume, an entire ecosystem, this great venue will house a multitude of regions and represent their provinces. This would be a great place for you to get first dibs and network with like minded individuals, and surely baristas will fight for their place. They will be judged with world class criterion, in this annual coffee competition. You could see how  lives have changed with it."

 

Here's the press conference on video, please enjoy!

 

 

 

  

He adds "We are recognized by DTI and have SME's, Pop Up Shops participating. They are leading brands that you would be good to talk to about the industry and various sectors."

 

As you can see, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have yet to discuss a lot about the Philippine coffee industry and its promising future. If you would want to acquire tickets to the event, please visit their official site philippinecoffeeexpo.com and register there.

 

PH Based LM Skin Care and Cosmetics Forges Partnership with VEGA Natural of Thailand

Thought I could share a bit of a story about two, true empowered women that we have witnessed a couple days ago.

At the posh Hilaya restaurant of NUWA Hotel City of Dreams in Paranaque City, two huge corporations LM Make Up and Skin Care (a subsidiary of Chrizmarie Builders and Construction Supply from the Philippines) and VEGA Natural Thailand finally signed their partnership agreement to produce skincare products designed for the Filipino consumer this 2025.

The event was graced by Madam Lyn Macanas, the is the CEO of Chrizmarie Builders and Construction Supply and LM Make Up and Skincare Corp, Mr. Phrathonmsak Techavetcharoen and Madam Kwan Wannathong the President and CEO respectively of VEGA Natural Thailand. 

Ms. Lyn says "I used to walk 9 kilometers to go to school, I also work in the farm, tend to animals, but I needed to do it to survive. Because I didn't have a mother, I was given to strangers, and try to still study even if abuse was there. I had to work hard in Samar, just to have lunch, I used to get fruits from a tree. Then I told myself, time will come that I will succeed. Then I went to college by riding trucks, had to be with other folks and sell cookware, so I can have money for my tuition fees. I got to finish college, and I thought it was going to be okay after that. I went abroad as an OFW, still struggled, I think I only succeeded when I started as a liaison officer in a construction company. I had to learn the ropes, Madam Lyn only wished to survive, after having a successful construction company, and now we are venturing into cosmetics. This is something that I wanted because I have daughters, you can achieve this by focusing, praying for it, and I think everything will fall into place. What keeps me inspired is the hardships that I went through, I had to do it for my family. I only dreamed of this, and she comes from a very humble beginnings too (referring to Madam Kwan), she used to sell fish balls in streets of Bangkok, and I was touched knowing that we both came from very humble beginnings. All organic, skincare utilizing French and Spanish technology will now be within reach for the Philippines and the region." 

 

 

Madam Kwan the CEO of Vega Cosmetics says "I lived on a dream, I thought of how to make it come true. I built my business in manufacturing cosmetics, and partner with clients to work with them along the way. In the beginning we talked in Thailand and I could feel how strong her energy was. She went to our factory and saw how she took care of the people around her, same with what we have in Thailand. It touched my heart seeing that, and when we talked, I felt she was so good inside and out. It's the opportunity that we are also waiting for, and our families met, we could feel how they took care of us, working together, we will bring the best products here and elsewhere in the world. We will succeed together!"

Here's the press conference in its entirety:

 

Their families also joined them in celebration of this feat. They were seated on tables nearby and was very vocal about supporting each other.

Madam Kwan and Madam Lyn only met over dinner and this happened. This is fate, and we can't wait to see them succeed even further. Their individual stories were certainly so inspiring, and their pursuit for something deeper, more significant to do, because they are the ones who did the hard work, they deserve it. Here's hoping even more people get to hear and learn about their stories, and become successful like them too. 

Cheers to two successful women and their meaningful relationships!