I was one of those invited by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for their launching of the 2015 Tax Campaign at the SM City Trade Fair Hall.
The expectation was of a dreary afternoon, but I was able to make it through the entire program, thanks to several factors.
One was that the tax guys from Region VII and the main office did not bombard the audience with so much hard sell to be good taxpayers and to help in making the growth of our country sustainable.
Instead, the taxpayer’s sense of nationalism and patriotism were the focus of the short speeches and audio-visual presentation.
What helped me stay in my seat were three world-class Cebuanos who were invited to provide more color to the program.
First was the Cebu City Dance Sports Team.
They have been around for some time with the full support given to them by the Cebu City Sports Commission. I was trying to catch a glimpse of just one dancer whom I had seen perform before, but the more than a dozen dancers looked different to me. Not in their dancing style though.
If you are planning to install a quality system in your organization, you should look at how this group of dancers has maintained its excellent form and at the same time improved over the years.
Then there was the world-renowned University of the Visayas Singing Ensemble.
I have watched and listened to other award-winning choirs—UP Madrigal, UP Concert Chorus, the different choirs mentored by the unbeatable Msgr. Rudy Villanueva, the choirs of Maestro Dennis Sugarol, the USC Choristers and so many others, but the UV singers would rank among the most entertaining.
If it were a concert, I would be among those begging for an encore.
The most fascinating part of the program was the talk given by Kenneth Cobonpue. It was my first time to see and listen to the man, and Kenneth was simply amazing.
My consultancy firm worked for several years with the Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation. At that time, either Kenneth was still studying design, or was still mired in the same hole like other furniture makers in Cebu, who relied mainly on designs that their American buyers wanted them to produce.
Then came the crash of the American furniture market coupled with the entry of China. Then the scarcity and high cost of raw materials. All these factors reduced Cebu furniture makers to sample makers.
Fora after fora were held among all stakeholders, scrambling to find solutions.
One was to cater to the local market, which by this time had grown by leaps and bounds. Another was to use indigenous materials, something which other countries could not copy. The most important solution which most in the industry could not do was to focus on design.
True enough, most of those who survived and continue to produce furniture are the companies who have very strong design outfits. Among them, Kenneth Cobonpue was the only one thinking outside the box. The rest is history.
What was singly amazing to me was learning how much the Kenneth Cobonpue brand has grown, making not just furniture but designing shops and boutiques all over the world, with the distinct Kenneth Cobonpue touch.
Unlike a singer-turned-movie star, who will not admit that she is a Cebuana, Kenneth is proudly a Cebuano and is making our little island well-known all over the world.
The Cebu City Dance Sport Team, the UV Singing Ensemble and Kenneth Cobonpue.
Just three Cebuanos who will always make us proud that we were born, raised and stayed Cebuanos.
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