April 2024, Cerritos CA - A business mixer, investment, and tax briefing event was held in the Sierra Room of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts last April 19, 2024. The Philippines Consulate General in Los Angeles, together with the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC), National Federation of Filipino American Associations - Greater Los Angeles Region (NaFFAA-GLA), Cerritos City Council, and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Cerritos (FAC3) are all in partnership for this event.

The event’s purpose was to encourage business owners and organizations to invest in the Philippines now. Many dignitaries, community leaders, and business owners attended, and the Philippine consulate general of Los Angeles was also present. 

The event started with welcome remarks from Cerritos Councilman Frank Aurelio Yokoyama. He introduced several elected officials, including Cerritos assemblywoman Cherry Corzola, Carson council member Jim Dear, and former Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido. In his speech, Frank Aurelio commended the leaders and members of the Filipino Chambers of Commerce, stating that their contributions are greatly important. 

The first guest speaker was Philippine Trade and Investment Center Commissioner Eric Elnar. “The Philippines is ready for business, and we are open to it,” Eric said. He also highlighted the country's economic and business improvements to show it is worth investing in. A short video presentation also showed why business owners should invest in the Philippines. 

The second guest speaker was Raymond Abrea, a co-chair of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Task Force on Paying Taxes. He gave four reasons ] the audience should invest in the Philippines: Its investment destination, ease of doing business, tax incentives, and the ongoing tax policies and reforms in the country to make it easier for business owners. 

Raymond highlighted the emerging industries in the Philippines and that people should take advantage of it, “The industries are profitable, sustainable, and fast-moving”, Raymond said. He also mentioned that there are 421 special economic zones and that the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) will help business owners comply with the laws and pay taxes. Raymond concluded his speech by saying their tagline “Make it happen in the Philippines’. 

There were 20 raffle winners who each got a book titled “Why Invest in the Philippines?: A Guide in Investing and Doing Business in the Philippines”. After the first ten raffle winners were announced, a question and answer portion was held by Mr. Abrea and Mr. Elnar to answer questions from the audience. 

Aside from the two guest speakers, six panels on organizational network empowerment were present. The panels include Faith Bautista of NDC, Gerry Palon of COFACC, Noel Omega of FPACC, Mark Alipio of Ca Care Association, Charmel de la Cruz of Megaworld, and Daniel Sieu of CA Treasurer’s Office. 

The Consulate General in Los Angeles, Edgar Badajos gave the concluding message. The event was the last mixer the consulate general is attending before flying back to the Philippines in May 3, 2024. In his speech, he thanked the council member, community members, and business members who attended, as well as the panelist and speakers. The consulate general also highlighted the importance of investing in the Philippines. 

“In promoting the Philippines as a preferred economic trade and investment destination they just like any other salesman around this room, except that what we are promoting is not a product but a country - our country, the Philippines”, the consulate general said. 

He concluded his message by thanking the audience in the room. The consulate general said that his success is not only from his and his team’s effort, it is because of the support the people have given him in the last three years and he is eternally grateful for that. 

The business mixer was a place of networks, collaborations, and business opportunities. Attendees left with an understanding of the many business opportunities in the Philippines and how the country and government will support them. The time to invest in the Philippines is now.