25 November 2013 - Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan, Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union, graced the launching of the Asia Business Channel TV feature entitled “The Philippines 5: Writing the Next Chapter” at De Badboot, Antwerp, Belgium on October 29. As a symbolic gesture, the Chief Executive Officer of Big Media Group NV Mr. Thieu Cuypers, presented her, during the program with a CD of it.
Ambassador Bataclan, in her acceptance remarks, expressed her appreciation for the initiative and encouraged those present to invest in the Philippines, citing its working democracy and steady, inclusive economic growth as good bases to do so. She made mention of Philippine-Belgium links which can be said to go back to 1521. It is believed that the image of the Infant Jesus, which Ferdinand Magellan presented to Rajah Humabon of Cebu, is of Belgian origin. She added that the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal completed and published his “El Filibusterismo” novel in Ghent. Ambassador Bataclan announced that the Philippines is ‘open for business’ and it welcomes Belgian companies to partake in the benefits that the country’s positive growth and development offer. She invited 200 executives of companies based in Belgium to invest in the Philippines. Companies represented came from such sectors as accounting, advertising, architecture, dredging & construction, energy, furniture and interior design, hotels, information technology, media, online & offline marketing, retail, transport and logistics.
In his speech, Mr. Cuypers affirmed how true the current by-line “It’s more fun in the Philippines” is and had put much emphasis on the fact that Filipinos are the best service-providers in the world, citing that Filipinos are a combination of the Spanish flair, the American efficiency and the Asian spirit. Mr. Cuypers conveyed to the guests present that the Philippines has indeed a lot of potential for business and investments especially taking particular account of its outstanding manpower.
Big Media Group is a prominent multimedia publishing company. It publishes Manager Magazines in Antwerp, Flanders, Limburg, and Brabant as well as MaXLife, a life and leisure magazine designed for CEOs. Big Media is also the production house for international magazines such as Wallstreet Market Research, The European Times, Brussels Press and United International Press. It also produces for international television like US-TV and the Asia Business Channel. Big Media Group NV also engages in Graphics Design and Events Management.
Asia Business Channel (ABC) is an independent company which specializes in producing programs which focus on the economic development as well as the sights and sounds of countries in focus. Such special programs are aired on Channel News Asia.
Also in attendance during the Presentation were Consul Chris Rola, Trade Attaché Zafrullah Masahud, Agricultural Attaché Pit Laquian as well as Ms. Faith Bautista and Mr. Romeo Gle of the Philippine Embassy.
Prior to the launching event, Mr. Therry Brunache, Project Coordinator of The European Times paid a courtesy visit on Ambassador Bataclan and coordinated the efforts that led to the Embassy’s presence at the launching of the ABC report. END