Get Ready for WOFEX!

Check out http://www.wofex.com/ for more info!

Hong Kong Food Expo '09

Amidst the Swine Flu scare that caused the closure of the entire Metropole Hotel, the show went on for HOFEX or Hong Kong Food Expo. One of Asia's largest food shows, HOFEX very visibly suffered from a smaller exhibition and fewer visitors which are probably the offshoot of the looming global economic slump and the fear of an epidemic. However, for the stakeholders of the Food and Beverage industry, business must not wait for anything or anyone.

There were more country-led pavilions but fewer corporate bookings

but as a whole, the event was still a sight to behold. The Philippines was ably represented in both the exhibiton and in the

competition where the Pasty Alliance brought home the gold. Some awsome creations of the competing chefs and bakers.

On the left is a chocolate creation and on the right - too pretty to eat!

New products, new concepts, new techonologies, these were all

carefully laid out on the floor of the Hong Kong Convention Center.

Generous food tasting treats from breads, wines to even caviar and

truffles (the mushroom) had us going back for seconds.

Hong Kong is still a nice vacation place. But on the dates we were

there, face masks were unfortunately the fashion trend ...

CWC Watersports Boost Local Tourism

Camarines Sur hit a goldmine when they decided to transform some of its idle land into the country's best water sports park. CWC boasts of some of the best facilities for wakeboarding anywhere in the world which accounts for the huge influx of foreign tourists to the province.

Long lines are a common site as wakeboard enthusiasts wait for their

turn on this extreme sport. Celebrity sighting is also quite common.

The newest attraction is this water park that caters for the entire

family and not only to those brave at heart. Lots of fun in the water!

"Fun and relaxation" is the only order of the day once billeted inside

the compound of CWC. Its like being in a different world.

A few meters away, the EcoVillage offers a view of plant and wildlife.

Of course, a side trip to the famous Mayon Volcano is a must!

DairyConEx in Camsur

Once again, milk took center stage during the recent Dairy Congress and Expo at Camarines Sur. The event continues to build up on the need to boost dairy production in the country to counter the effects of its being the largest agricultural import of the country.

Milk farmers, processors and other stake holders once again

gathered in this annual event to discuss strategies on dairy farming.

Suppliers of this growing industry was also seen in full force during the

3-day exhbition that went concurrent with the congress proceedings.

Attracting full support to the industry were Senate President Juan Ponce

Enrile and Sen. Richard Gordon who are both staunch allies of dairy. The young Senator Chiz Escudero was also on hand along with

Congressman Edsel Lagman who both pledged more help.

Exhibitors happy, delegates happy .... mission accomplished.

Finally, the turn-over of hosting ... see you in Cebu in 2010!

The Edge Coaster

Had to try Cebu's newest attraction, the Edge Coaster, part of the Sky Experience Adventure at the Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu. Not bad but not great, good thing it was reasonably priced so it was worth a try.

Supposed to be the world's first of its kind, its at the 38th floor of the

hotel and sits on a rail at the edge of the building.

Lasting just 4 minutes, it encircles the building giving the rider a 360

degree view of Cebu. Heard its better to take this ride at night time.

A lever tilts the ride a maximum 55 degrees ... somehow wishing it

would go 90 degrees. The rain gave the ride additional excitement!

WOFEX Visayas in Cebu

Last April, WOFEX Visayas had its 3rd year run and, while we were hit with a province wide brownout on our last day, the results of the exhibit was still really positive and remains the most attended food show in the region.

Many of the speakers and exhibitors were from Manila and even

overseas, guaranteeing the quality of the products and seminars.

Some exhibitors had in-booth activities like this flairtending exhibition

from the distributors of Monin. Of course, plenty of food all around!

The Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen had hands on food styling and, as the

photo shows, had its attendees fully satisfied with what they learned!

What good is a food show if there is no food? WOFEX Visayas did

not fail in bringing in a focused trade show for the F&B industry.

An Awesome First Year for Cosmétologie 2009

A Beauty Show unlike any other in the Philippines, Cosmetologie 09 : Beauty, Wellness & Trends opened its inaugural year to tremendous success, quickly establishing itself as the biggest and most important trade show for the beauty and wellness industry.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Opening Ceremonies

Special guests during the opening were Sen. Kiko Pangilinan Ms. Charlene Gonzales, TESDA Usec. Peyuan and Mega's Sari Yap

Cosmetologie 09 successfully opened to a jam-packed crowd

Hair Now magazine was also launched with its cover girl, Dawn Zulueta

. . . . . . . . . . .

The Exhibit

Major industry players in the beauty and wellness industries were

represented led by L'Oreal and Matrix, major sponsors of the event

Products that was anything and everything that had to do with

beauty were on display, making the event a sourcing haven

The booths were mostly well set-up and well-stocked with both

the latest in local and imported products and services.

Special "event only" discounts and packages were offered to the

visitors of the show, encouraging some to go on a buying spree!

Ture enough, at the end of the exhibit, most of the participating

exhibitors reported robust sales and booked orders.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The Services

Free treatments, free consultations and discounted services

were all over the exhibit floor as visitors took advantage of the offers.

Some of the services offered were eye lash extensions, tatooing,

facials, nail art, hair extensions, manicures, pedicures, etc.

Hair rebonding and hair styling were also available. Visitors also

got to learn from the Beauty Ambassadors of L'Oreal and Matrix.

Of course, the wellness sector of the event was, likewise, well

represented, offering massage, foot spa and accupuncture services.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Education

The most important component of the trade show is the series of

seminars & workshops such as those of the one & only Fanny Serrano.

Pulling all stops to give a first rate seminar is Essensuals by Toni

and Guy which brought in 14 models and foreign stylists.

In-booth seminars were also a treat for the other visitors.

For L'Oreal, they even had a graduation for their color experts.

Not afraid to share their expertise to fellow beauty professionals, some

members of PICA like Fred Penales & Framesi shared trade secrets.

Among others, Danilo Franco taught fashion and Abigail Arenas taught

Air-Brush Make-Up to enthusiastic audiences.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Show & Stars

Runway shows by Rene Salud, the La Salle College International &

the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines wowed the crowd

Big stars willingly shared their talents during the event's awarding

ceremonies such as Mr. Ogie Alcasid and Judy Ann Santos.

Ms. Pops Fernandez rocked the house with her 80s hits medley while

Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano sang 2 songs to an appreciatve crowd

Others stars include Ms. Cherie Gil and Ms. Lorna Tolentino.

Finally, after a month of waiting, the winners of the Touch of Excellence

Awards were announced! Congratulations! (Winners on the next blog)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Celebrating the Success!

After months of hard work and determination, members of PICA

take a few moments to celebrate the success of the show and invites

everyone to watch out for a BIGGER and BETTER Cosmetologie 2010!

Star Power at Cosmétologie 2009

Uplifting the profession of cosmetology, the Philippine International Cosmetologists Association (PICA) together with Premier Events Plus Group, Inc. (PEPGroup) recently held the 1st Touch of Excellence Awards at The Arena in San Juan. This world-class competition will have its culminating awards night during the Cosmétologie 2009 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia from February 26-28, 2009. Presenting the Finalists of the 1st Touch of Excellence Awards .....

MENS' CUT Category as judged by Christopher de Leon, Jomari Yllana

Celeste Tuviera, Chito Rono and Freddie Shapfer

LADIES' CUT Category as judged by Benedict Pabillore, Laurice Guillen,

Carlene Aguilar, Tessa Prieto-Valez and Freddie Schapfer

BRIDAL BLISS Category as judged by Ayen Laurel, Sari Yap,

Steven Doloso, Joanne Zapanta and Lorna Tolentino

Color Vibrance (Anime) Category as judged by Kenti Tam, Jolina

Magdangal, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Abbtgale Arenas and Joanne Zapata

RED CARPET LOOK Category as judged by Robbi Carmona,

Jose Javier Reyes, Tim Yap, Ceasar Gaupo and Melanie Marquez

BEHIND THE SCENES : The hard working team of PICA, passionate

about their association, passionate about their cause.

The competition was well-organized, well-participated, star-studded

and, above all, fair and well-executed. Kudos to the finalists!

Cosmétologie 2009 : Beauty. Wellness. Trends

Recently launched at The Embassy Club was the Cosmétologie 2009: Beauty Wellness and Trends. This trade show is going to be at the World Trade Center from February 26-28, 2009 and is destined to be the biggest and most important trade show on beauty and wellness. All interested exhibitors and participants are invited to call Premier Events (http://www.pepgroup.com/) for more information.

The invitation to the launch was greeted with much interest and it was

worth the trip as it had star power with the presence of Ms. Dawn

Zulueta as the emcee and Ms. KC Concepcion as the event's Muse.

The newly formed Philippine International Cosmetologists Association

or PICA was inducted with Fanny Serrano as its president. Sec. Syjuco

of TESDA also graced the occassion in support of the beauty industry.

PICA represents the largest number of beauty professionals and

salon owners from all over the country. PICA has partnered with

Premier Events in bringing Cosmétologie 2009 to the country.

A nice surprise during the launch was the Make Over To The Max!

Here, ordinary, everyday people were given make-overs. A BBQ

vendor, a scavenger, a maid, a cook were among 10 ordinary people

given the limelight as they walked before a packed crowd.

It is easy to make models beautiful, that is not the real challenge.

Taking the ordinary Juan and everyday Maria and transforming them

into masterpieces, that is the real challenge - a challenge completed!

At the end of the show, the official poster of the event was launched.

Be sure to calender this event - February 26-28, 2009 -

be beautiful inside and out!

Beijing Packaging Expo 2008

As part of our international promotions for our own shows, we had a booth at the recent Packaging Expo / China Brew / Liquitek Expo in Beijing China.

The expo was held at the newly built New Beijing Convention Center

which was humongous! As with most exhibition / convention center,

it was also so far from anything else, about an hour of highway ride.

As expected, they had a lot of exhibitors that took up huge spaces,

representing manufacturers from all over the world.

There were many machines and robotics at work which were particularly

interesting given the speed and precision as against manual labor.

Beijing's Landscape

Being in Beijing on a business trip, there was no time for any sightseeing which was a pity. However, i got to steal some shots mostly from taxis and buses. Thank goodness most of them turned out well despite the moving vehicles. (Too bad the Great Wall of China was nowhere near for me to see)

The mix of the old and the new architecture makes for a striking landscape. Beijing was also extremely clean - am so envious. L - One of the newer buildings being put up, an architectural wonder

R - The infamous Tianamen square with hundreds of visitors in line Even as they opened their doors to the Western world, they maintian a lot of their cultural heritage in many areas within the city. Just missed the olympics by a few days but the sight of the Bird's Nest even from afar was inspiring, just wish i could have gone inside. L - This Holiday Inn has such an interesting Flinstone-like exterior R - The one thing i did not want to pass up was a visit to IKEA, after all, Beijing's branch is the 2nd largest in the world

After many chances missed in past visits, finally, finally braved the long lines and got to taste the Swidish meatballs. What is interesting though is they were selling this mini lobsters that you don't find in other IKEA's around the world - just had to get a taste of the crustacean.

Philippine Asian M.I.C.E. Forum

The Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), recently held The Philippine Asian MICE Forum, a gathering of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions industry experts and professionals for presentations and discussions on trends and directions of the regional and global market.

Apart from educating the industry players, the forum also served as an

effective avenue to bring industry issues to government awareness.

The 2-day event was held at the Sofitel Hotel, and was opened

to much pomp and pageantry complete with the virtuoso of the

violin, Mr. Jay Cayuca.

WOFEX 2008

World Food Expo (WOFEX 2008) breaks all existing records in terms of exhibition size, visitor traffic, number of activities and business transacted. There is little wonder why this event is also known as "The Ultimate Food Show Experience."

L - Sen. Loren Legarda opened the expo with other industry giants.

R - An arial view of the exhibit, a 30% increase in size the '07 expo.

As usual, celebrity chefs such as Tristan Encarnacion, Gene Gonzales

Nancy Reyes Lumen, Jill Sandique, and others shared their talents.

The seminars both those as part of the World Food Summit as well as

exhibitor initiated seminars were always jampacked with participants Of course, the real strength of WOFEX is in the exhbitions and, here,

the design of the booths continue to get better and better each

year, effectively showcasing the products on display.

Food products from all over the world were available on site for tasting

... as they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. WOFEX easily boasts of the most comprehensive exhibit, offering the

whole gamut of products in the F&B industry, from packaging, catering,

hotel, ingredients, bakery, and others ... nothing else is as complete.

With thousand of products on display, bringing in the trade buyers is

of extreme importance. The multitude of "SOLD" signs that crop up

in the duration of WOFEX is proof positive that the buyers did come.

Ready for WOFEX?

The annual World Food Expo or WOFEX is just a week away! There is no bigger food show in the Philippines. Be sure to be there - August 6-9, 2008 at the World Trade Center. Only 16 years old and above allowed.

A Busy Trip To Kuala Lumpur

Budget airlines have made travel so accessible. A trip to Malaysia is now just a fraction of what it used to cost, making it a favorite destination for Filipinos. On a business trip, we also managed to catch many expos on-going in this bustling city. To our happy surprise, the events were in line with many of our on-going and future shows so it made the trip very fruitful.

L - Of course, no blog on KL should be without the Petronas Tower

R - For the first time, however, we took the monorail and trains

L - Rojak, a famous street food, is their version of mangga w/ bagoong

R - Street performers w/ unusual instruments making beautiful music

L - These pipes are still a curiosity. A must try on the next trip to KL

R - Petaling Street - knock-offs ala Greenhills / 168 L - Beautiful mosques also light up their skyline at night

R - It was sale season (up to 70% off) but Manila remained cheaper

due to the strong Ringgit and the weak Peso ... oh well!

International Beauty Expo

Beauty is big business all over the world. It is amazing that 2 big shows were held in Malaysia one right after the other. First stop was the International Beauty Expo at the KL Convention Center and a day after it closed, Cosmobeaute Asia opened at the Putra World Trade Center. Both shows were big shows with unbelievable crowds. Proof positive that beauty can also mean money.

The IBE was the classier of the two shows in terms of size, booths,

venue and activities. Cosmobeaute was more of a selling event.

Of course, make up supplies and how it is applied were the biggest

attractions - not surprisingly, many women flocked to get freebies

L - Plenty of free foot spas, facials, manicures, pedicures, etc.

R - A nail art competition was on going -- yes these are fingernails

And the biggest crowd drawer? The hair / make up / fashion show

with models doing the runway and photo shoots.

A Chocolatey Trip in Malaysia

Another food show, but this time it was more a competition than an exhibition at the Malaysia International Bakery & Confectionery. Had a lot to see and learn on the day of our visit, where some excellent chocolate sculptures were on display. Below are some of our favorites :

Chocolate in various creations - a virtual heaven for chocoholics!

Saw how many visitors to MIBC couldn't refuse to steal & try them

L - Incredible details, too good to eat, almost a shame its edible

R - A sense of humor - the Simpson family gets choco-fied!

L - The olympic theme is always a best seller this days

R - So lifelike, i refuse to believe these are of the Hesheys kind!

Gaming Expo & Real Estate Expo in KL

The exhibition industry in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is definitely robust! Aside from the main exhibits we went to, we were lucky to also be able to catch GameAxis LIVE (an event very much similar to our very own Hataw Hanep Hero .... but certainly no match to the size and excitement of H3!) back-to-back with a Real Estate Expo (for property developers).

GameAxis LIVE

L - While located inside a mall, the event surprisingly had few people.

R - Even the cosplayers were no match to the participants of H3! L - Some arcade games were being launched, but nothing cutting edge

R - The PS3 and the Nintendo Wii took up most of the exhibit spaces

***

Real Estate Expo

L - A lot development plan of one of the exhibitors. Great details!

R - I was wowed by the miniture models, realistic enough to live in The advancements in computer technology, in 3D rendering & virtual

tours still did not make the 3D model obsolete as shown by this expo

Davao Crocodile Farm

Memories of childhood during the recent visit to Davao Crocodile Farm. Although small and nothing in comparison to the San Diego Zoo or even the Singapore Zoo, animals, no matter in what setting, will always be an interesting subject. For a P100 entrance fee, i guess it was already value for money. Got camera crazy so posting a few favorites.

When was the last time you visited a zoo?

Mindanao's Biggest Food Show

Mindanao is the 2nd leg of WOFEX. With a growing food and beverage industry, there is no doubt that the country's food basket is where most of our ability for self sufficiency in food must be fought. FPP Mindanao continues to be a conduit to buyers and sellers, enabling the industry to improve its output and compete in a much wider local and global market.

L - Sen. Bong Revilla, with buddy Philip Salvador joined the opening.

R - Getting bigger, even the lobby was filled to the brim with booths

L - Straight from the oven - freshly baked bread during the seminar

R - Barista Competition was the choose the region's representative

L - Learning opportunities -still one of the biggest come on to the expo

R - Ingredients to machinery, the widest array of industry products L - 4 days of busy transactions, booking orders, entertaining inquiries

R - At the end of the day, products big and small were mostly sold out

Dairy Congress in CDO

Cagayan de Oro was the location of the 2008 Dairy Congress & Expo. Industry reports during the event are encouraging for the industry. Although dairy continues to account for one of the biggest agricultural imports of the Philippines, it was reported that there are actual increases in milk production in the country. The efforts of the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines to promote the industry through events like the Dairy Congress & Expo is already bearing fruits - or, more appropriately, already yielding milk.

L - Limketkai in Cagayan de Oro - the perfect venue for the dual event

R - The US Dep't of Agriculture continues to be a main supporter of DCP

L - Cong. Rufus Rodriguez joined by officers and kids in a Milk Toast

R - Former Pres. Erap was gracious enough to be a guest of honor

L - An outdoor exhibit the featured cows, goats and even horses R - Actual cow milking was done to the delight of the visitors

Consider going into Dairy Farming where demand far outpaces the supply - a huge business opportunity!

Thaifex : World Of Food

Thaifex or Thailand Food Expo is rapidly growing due to its backing by the Anuga Food Expo of Germany (one of the world's biggest food expos). With exhibitors from all over the world, Thaifex in terms of floor space occupied seems bigger ... but there is something about this year's expo that makes it a bit disappointing as compared when we first went to this show. There seems to be less energy, less excitement on the floor - maybe bigger is not always necessarily being better.

A team from PEPGroup on its annual study tour to a major overseas

show to get ideas on how to better its own shows in the Philippines

L - Interesting "beauty & wellness" drinks with ingredients like aloe vera

R - Every flavored drink imaginable all in a row - durian gin anyone?

L - A cute display of a giant globe made entirely of jelly candies

R - The favorite buko juice got an extreme upgrade - here it is

commercially packed with its husk intact and ready to drink (and eat)

Bangkok Study Tour

Bangkok has always been a bustling and progressive city and one of our favorite destinations. Food is a delight, shopping is always a bargain, and the mix of cultures never fail to amaze. As a destination, Thailand is one of Asia's top picks not only in terms of tourism but also as a business destination. With its aggressive push and generous government support, Thailand has attracted some of the biggest and most successful trade shows this side of the globe.

Cultural preservation is one of the strong suits of Thailand, giving it's

visitors a very distinct exotic experience everywhere they look

The monarchy of Thailand is also alive and well and the Thai people

give their royal family, although mostly symbolic, their utmost respect.

One of the constant sources of sadness in our trips abroad is the

comparison of airports. Almost all of our Asian neighbors have swanking

airports they can be truly proud of ... as for us, well .....

WOFEX Visayas Doubles On 2nd Year

WOFEX Visayas at CICC had another successful run last April. Just on its sophomore year, the food expo already doubled its occupied space and doubled its attendance. Why are trade buyers choosing food expos by Premier Events? Simply because it remains the most focused organizer in the country today ... it does not put together many different concepts, targetting different markets under one roof just to fill up the space or to attract a mish mash crowd. WOFEX Visayas - delivers on its promise of focused industry shows.

Chefs big and small converged into the expo. Foodies of all kinds

trooped to CICC where they had a visual feast of F&B products on display

WOFEX Visayas has the most comprehensive line up of exhibitors and

products - not just a tarpaulin show but actual products on display

Learning opportunities always draws in the trade visitors in huge

numbers. Almost all sessions with a full house.

Consider A Malaysian Education

The Ministry of Education of Malaysia recently held MOHEX, an exhibition at the Shangri-La Mall that featured the different first-rate educational institutions in Malaysia. Want a US or UK diploma at a fraction of the cost? Through Malaysia's tie-ups, one can take up the first 2-3 years of college in Malaysia and finish the rest of the degree in the US or the UK, earning you a degree without breaking the bank. Consider Malaysia!

The delegation gave courtesy calls to the Malaysian Ambassador to the

Philippines and to the Department of Education

As part of their promotions, they also went to schools like the Colegio

de SanAgustin whose students even sang the Malaysian national anthem

At the exhibit, the options of Malaysian education in different fields

like medicine, arts, engineering, among others were laid out for the visitors

1st National Biofuels Consultation Forum

Biofuels is a most controversial topic whether in or out of politics. While the world has embraced the concept, as with all ideas new and ground breaking, there will always be some degrees of resistance. In cooperation with the Department of Energy, the Board of Energy and the Asian Buofuels Hub, Inc., the 1st National Biofuels Consultation Forum was held at the Asian Institute of Management to discuss, enlighten and take a proactive stand in the implementation of the Philippines' Biofuels Law.

Sen. Migz Zubiri, the main author of the bill, discusses the hurdles

and opportunities of biofuels in the Philippines Proof of the importance of the topic is that the event went on to a

full house audience of private and public stake holders. The forum, and the ensuing round table discussions capped the day

of fruitful interaction.

Hataw, Hanep, HERO! - the aftermath!

Hataw Hanep HERO 3! The event was 60% bigger in size this year, had a lot more participants, greatly increased its attendance and had many, many more activities for all the visitors. The objective was to make H3 the Biggest and the Best Anime Convention and by all measures, it was a huge success!

Cosplay or Costume and Play continues to be the heart and soul

of H3 and this year, the cosplayers came full force. The quality of costumes are also getting more and more impressive

making them the true stars of the show, attracting the most attention

L - The crowds did not disappoint us as they came in huge numbers

R - A lively new addition to H3 is the cheer dance competition

L - Celebrity sightings like Super Inggo helped make it more special

R - From small kids to adults, there was something for everyone

Side note:

Of all the times for my trusty old camera to konk out, it was during H3 so had to grab some photos from the bloggers out there - hope you don't mind. Thanks :)

8 Hong Kong Fairs Back-To-Back-To-Back ....

Hong Kong recently offered a smorgasbord of trade shows with 8 different shows held con-currently in two huge venues, the Hong Kong Convention Center and the AsiaWorld Expo. We walked miles and miles of floor space to get the latest trends and to get ideas on further improving exhibit services in the country.

Lighting Fair

Hardware & Home Improvement Fair

Sports Source Asia

Furniture Fair

Mega Show

Table Object Asia

Building Materials and Construction Equipment Fair

Eco Expo Asia

Canton Fair

The Canton Fair in Guangzhou China is firmly established as one of the biggest trade shows in the world. With 2 huge venues, each venue about 10 times the size of our World Trade Center, it was a sight to behold! Thousands of exhibitors, visitors from all over the world, and literally millions of products to view, it is amazing that done twice a year, this fair is major business hub for the whole of China.

L - Huge, well-designed booths compete with one another for attention

R - X'mas spirit was all over the place, being so close to the holidays

L - Chalk Mug - one of the very cute finds in the fair

R - After 2 days, felt like we walked to the moon so massage was good

L - Booth after booth after booth, almost everything under the sun

R - Retro toys seem to be the in thing as many had them on display

L - Another interesting find, ice cream with a chocolate bar inside, yum!

R - Lighted booths neatly showcase products on display

PSME National Convention

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers had their 55th PSME Annual National Convention and the 4th International Expo on Mechanical Engineering at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall amidst a jam-packed crowd and wall-to-wall exhibition.

Big names supported the event: Former Senator Lina, Napocor Pres.

del Callar, Mandaluyong Mayor Abalos & Congressman Nantes

Showing strong support for the organization, members from all over the

Philippines came over to attend the national convention

L - Winners of the PSME Student Unit National Quiz Contest

R - A fitting ending to a succesful event - a fun-filled send-off party!

PEP Study Tour - Hong Kong (4 of 4)

Last Stop, the Medical & Health Care Fair back-to-back with the Chinese Medicine Exhibit. This is of particular interest to us because of the booming wellness and medical tourism happening in the Philippines. This is an industry on its way up in the country.

A virual hospital offering all kinds of different medical services was

the main focal point of the show.

From womb to tomb, all services involved in the birth of a child to the

death of a person - and everything in between - were on exhibit. Chinese herbal medicine is fast gaining acceptance in the world of

medicine with its natural and often cheaper alternatives to branded

western medication.

. . . Lan Kwai Fong : Been to Hong Kong more than a dozen times but first time to finally go see the famous night life of Lan Kwai Fong ... a reward after a tiring trip!

It's certainly the "happening" place! It's Malate at its peak! Filled with

the hippest and trendiest set of Hong Kong (both foreign and locals),

Lan Kwai Fong is nightlife - Hong Kong style!

PEP Study Tour - Hong Kong (3 of 4)

For our main agenda - Hong Kong - to attend several trade shows. This always opens everybody's minds to possibilities in terms of improving our own shows to world-class standards. First of the shows, the Food Expo at the Hong Kong Convention Center.

L - Arriving at a gloomy Hong Kong due to the rainy weather.

R - At the huge lobby of HK Convention Center's new wing.

L - Giant cup noodles surely attracted a lot of attention, and buyers

R - An interesting find is this flavored straw - soon to hit Manila

L -Ice Cream Pizza - amazingly long lines - everybody wanted a piece!

R -The venue was crowded to the hilt, brings back memories of WOFEX

L - The stage was of great interest because of the design & activities

R - Chunky Fresh fruits mixed into soft serve ice cream - yummy!

L - Mooncakes were everywhere, some extremely expensive

R - Impressive booths, mostly multi-level, had us green with envy

PEP Study Tour - Mainland China (2 of 4)

Crossing the border to Zhu Hai, Guangdong to do a bit of shopping was an experience all in itself.

L - A nice facade greets everyone crossing the border in & out of China

R - Once inside, a sea of people overwhelms, just like a mass exodus

L - Port Plaza was the main destination, a huge shopper's haven

R - Ready, get set, go! Right before all the shopping bags accumulated L - More interesting food? How about choosing from these live frogs?

R - Not interesting enough? How about these cute little turtles?

PEP Study Tour - Macau (1 of 4)

PEPGroup goes on its annual study tour! First stop, Macau! As part of the continuing education of the staff of Premier Events, it is important to see the tourism efforts of the rest of the world - making the staff more aware of the value of customer service.

L - In our sponsored Crocs, the staff goes on a tour of the city.

R - The beautiful architecture of Santa Casa de Misericordia L - Sphere shaped fountain at the famous Senate Square

R - Attracting many visitors, Macau is very tourist friendly L - Dried Beef/Pork/Boar dot the streets, making it irresistable to try

R - Dried fish (their version of our tinapa) but packaged much better

R - For more of the unusual, square watermelons anyone?

L - Can't understand why they have to leave the head in :)

WOFEX (World Food Expo) 2007

WOFEX or World Food Expo continues its tradition of being The Ultimate Food Show Experience. In its 7 year history, it grown bigger in occupied space, in visitor attendance and amount of sales generated during the show. WOFEX has truly become the most important source of products and technologies for the food and beverage industry.

L - WOFEX opened with Senator and Congresswoman Cayetano.

R - Tons of activities (seminars & demos) filled the 4-day event.

L - Professional bartenders competed in the Flair Tending Competition

R - Luminaries like Nancy Reyes Lumen & Sau Del Rosario on stage

L - Chef Ernie Babaran shows why he is considered a master at baking

R - The Hotel & Restaurant Chefs Assoc. in their Culinary Showdown

L - Trade visitors came in full force to enjoy the opportunities in WOFEX

R - This year the huge crowds caught the organizers by surprise

L - WOFEX has become the primary source for all industry needs

R - Wall-to-wall booths, extending to the lobby, greeted visitors

At the end of the day, WOFEX was really about the food and beverage,

machineries and technologies that were on display.

See you at WOFEX 2008!

FPP Mindanao

Davao is the Philippine's food basket, where rich lands produce most of the country's food requirements. FPP Mindanao brought to the region the latest products and services to help upgrade production facilities in Mindanao and to help increase production outputs. Now on its 2nd year, there is no doubt that the event is already the most important event in the region today!

L -On display were the latest F&B equipment and machineries available

R - Packaging and handling products gave buyers plenty to choose from

L - Shelves full of food products highlighting value added produce

R - By far the biggest F&B trade show in the whole of Mindanao

L - Seminars mostly standing room only due to huge visitor turnout

R - As always, food sampling is always a major attraction

L - Millions of transactions closed at the end of the 4-day event

R - "SOLD" signs sprouting everywhere throughout the exhibit

Singapore Once More

Finally, after so many trips to Singapore, finally got one in that was strictly for vacation. This time around, we managed to take in the sights and sounds of this culturally diverse city ... definitely a fun time with just the family ... should really do this more often :)

No longer limited to the business district, we go to check out the diff.

areas such as Little India, Chinatown by taking the bus, train and taxi,

L - The kids at Snow City for toboggon slides and snow fights!

R - At the Science Museum where you can virtually spend a whole day

L - Of course, food is always on the agenda, the authentic stuff

R - Couldn't resist this display of traditional Chinese spices

L - Singapore Zoo was the highlight for the kids (aside from their NDS)

R - The most attention was given by the kids to the playful otters The famous Night Safari was next on our agenda ... unfortunately, it

was a bit of a let down since it rained, the animals were in hiding and

it was too dark to take any decent pictures, so had to satisfy myself

with taking shots of my favorite animals - my kids :)

WOFEX in Visayas

Cebu was the location of the first regional leg of WOFEX or World Food Expo. Given the importance of Cebu as an economic hub in the region, we decided to bring the latest products and technologies available in Manila to Visayas. Sure enough, the event was met with much enthusiasm by those in the food business or interested in going into the industry.

L - Venue was the controversial Cebu International Convention Center

R - The facade at night - ours was one of the first events in CICC.

L - The opening was graced by Sen. Pia Cayetano among dignitaries.

R - The grand steps of CICC that leads to the trade hall.

L - Daily Cooking Demos had the visitors coming back everyday.

R - Of course, an expo is about business where buyers meet sellers

L - Seminars and Workshops done simultaneously in 3 rooms.

R - All for FREE, visitors from different provinces came in droves.

L - The exhibitors night done in the plush grounds of Chateau de Busay

R - A trip to Cebu would not be complete without buying danggit!

Got Milk?

PEPGroup recently completed the Dairy Congress & Expo at the Fontana Convention Center that focused on the plight of the country's milk production. Accounting for the biggest agricultural import in the Philippines, dairy products are a major source of dollar spending for the country. To help the national economy, Dairy Farming must increase to raise the current supply that is only 1% of total dairy demand.

L - The event billboard at a major site along the North Expressway

R - The newly renovated facilities of Fontana Convention Center

L - Senate President Manny Villar graced the Opening Ceremonies

R - The biggest Dairy Exhibition of products & supplies to date

L - The Milk Toast with Dairycon officers and various school children

R - Dairy Farmers from all over the country came in full force

L - No Dairy Congress will be complete without the milk & its byproducts

R - And cows, goats, carabaos ... the primary source of local milk!

Kuala Lumpur

With the prices of airfare at an all time low, just couldn't resist a short trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ... the bustling Asian city celebrating its Golden Year of Nationhood in 2007. Having gone to Malaysia only once in the past, we were excited to see how much the city has kept a lot of its culture intact amidst the modern highrises and huge themeparks.

L - The famous Petronas Twin Towers, world's 2nd tallest building

R - Kuala Lumpur is a metropolis full of that east-meets-west charm

L - One of the longest and steepest cable car rides in the world

R - Genting Island is a huge indoor & outdoor amusement park

L - Went on a weekday and park was jampacked - great tourist traffic

R - First roller coaster we ever rode LYING DOWN! Simulated flying!

L - Always try street food to taste the truest culture of a country

R - Durian is always much revered in this part of the world

L - Would you believe that this huge amusement park is inside a mall?

R - Kuala Lumpure Tower offers an excellent vantage point of the city

What About The Food?

Here are some of the fabulous creations of the students that competed in the Junior Chefs Congress. Masterpieces for such inexperienced foodies. The future is bright for the country's culinary profession! Enjoy the photos!

Jr. Chefs Congress

The Junior Chefs Congress showcased the skills and culinary artistry of the student chefs. For the first time, a major event had these budding industry players the spotlight they truly deserved.

L - Happy to welcome thousands to this new event!

R - The winning cake display entry which the judges were raving about L - The Table Setting Competition was a hotly contested event

R - The judges making the rounds of the culinary competitors.

L - An innovative competiton was the Catering Olympics.

R - The brave contestants of the Culinary Talent Fair.

L - Junior Chefs taking things seriously to win the coveted Gold Medal

R - Everyone had such a good time during the Kitchen Dash!

Food Biz Expo

People looking to go into the food business only needed to go to the World Trade Center last Feb. 8-10 during the Food Biz Expo where options were laid out.

Junior Chefs Congress Results!

Below are the results of the recently concluded Culinary X-treme of the first ever Jr. Chefs Congress.

Pictures very soon!!!

World Food Expo

The Philippines' Biggest and Most Effective Trade Show for the Food & Beverage Industry is WOFEX or World Food Expo. Here is a video of last year's tremendous success. See you at WOFEX 2007, August 1-4, 2007!

2007 Events

A new year ushers in a new line up of first-rate events from Premier Events Plus Group, Inc. Be sure to calendar these dates and take advantage of the many opportunities available in professionally-run trade shows such as these. Click on the logos to proceed to event websites :

Hero Goes To Enchanted Kingdom

Hero Channel had a big Christmas Treat for its loyal following with an event in Enchanted Kingdom. More than 6,000 anime lovers trouped to the country's best theme park ... and PEP was there to support the event!

L - The wizard greets everyone to the magical place called Enchanted Kingdom

R - The people behind Hero took center stage to thank its loyal viewers.

L - Enough of the talk - its time for fun rides!

R - Wanna take this Picachu home? Arcade games were tough to beat!

L - For the sweet tooth, an overdose of sugar and spice!

R - Do you dare ride the roller coaster on a full stomach?

L - A nice shot of the Swan ride from the Ferris Wheel.

R - At the end of the day, these prizes stayed were they were - no winners in our group. Ohhh!

Sitex 2006

The biggest electronics show in Singapore is Sitex! With the latest electronic products on display, the event had a mad rush of visitors doing their Christmas shopping in the event that offered many discounts, freebies and the best deals in town!

L - Singapore has always been a technology hub in the region.

R - With bargains galore, visitors were on a buying spree.

L - Everything was so tempting, mostly costing 50% less than in Manila.

R - Once again, babes and gadgets go together quite well.

L - Christmas just around the corner - Santa would have love these raindeers!

R - Digital Playground was a blast - with prizes to boot! Too bad we missed the free laptop!

Big Boyz Toyz

Part of our research brought us to Singapore for the Big Boyz Toyz, The Ultimate Exhibition On Toys For Men! The expo was filled with cars, bikini babes, booze, gadgets, gizmos and all sorts of toys that just makes a man's mouth water with envy!

L - Excited about going to Big Boyz Toyz - Singapore's main men's show.

R - Of course, it had cars galore, new, restored, pimped, primed. L - Boys will be boys, no better way to get their attention than with sexy babes

R- Men never really grow up, they just change their taste in toys.

L - Showcasing cars fully loaded to catch that Tokyo Drift .... vvvrrroooom

R - Big bikes everywhere - leather jackets couldn't be far behind.

Singapore

Singapore has always been a major hub for conventions and trade shows. With its sprawling facilities like the Singapore Expo, Suntec and Esplanade, Singapore continues to host some of the region's most important events.

L - The new sprawling Singapore Expo dwarfs our own World Trade Center.

R - Excellent view of our hotel interior - Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore.

L - Suntec Convention Center was the first of its major exhibition sites.

R - The Esplanade - the Theater By The Bay has become a landmark.

L - A farther vies of Esplanade which is shaped like Durian - sheer genius.

R - An outside view of Suntec within cosmopolitan Singapore.

Cambodia

A side trip to Cambodia gave us quite a surprise. With 65 new hotels being built all at the same time, a new airport and millions of tourists every year, this country of the famous Angkor Wat, a wonder of the world, is experiencing a toursim boom!

L - Angkor Wat, a wonder of the world, magnificent even from afar.

R - Staircase after staircase, the steep climb was a bit scary.

L - Elephant rides are a blast! Such gentle giants these long nosed mammals.

R - A wall made of carved stone to great detail.

L - Giant buddhas line the entrance as if guarding the temple from evil.

R - Reminds us of the ruins of Rome - a very exotic location.

L - A smaller temple that is left in its natural decaying condition.

R - Here, trees as big as buildings are slowly eating up the entire structure.

Vietnam

Vietnam is fast becoming the new mecca of the Asian Exhibition Industry. More and more international trade shows are being hosted here. PEPGroup went to see what the country had to offer the industry.

L - Vietnam's City Hall, an architectural genius amazingly well preserved.

R - Dining out in style, along the riverbanks of this huge floating restaurant

L - The Post Office, with the obvious communist markings.

R - A very typical Vietnamese peddler, selling yummy wafer bread.

L - Vietnam is definitely still motorcyle country - a bit scary to cross the street.

R - The Palace with its manicured lawn & nostalgic interiors.

L - Completely awed by the City Hall architecture, here it is at nightime.

R - Shopping, every Filipino traveler's passion, and Vietnam didn't dissappoint.

Hataw! Hanep! HERO

This was a fun event to do. Hataw! Hanep! Hero had thousands of kids and kids at heart trooping to WTC for the country's biggest anime convention ever.

R - The entrance alone was a sight to behold with the huge Hero logo.

L - Some of the finalists of the Cosplay competition.

L - The winning group in the Costume Play doing an encore number.

R - The biggest gathering of Anime fans trooped to the World Trade Center.

L - 5,400 square meters of pure entertainment, a virtual kid's heaven!

R - Whole day concerts and contests made people stay from opening to closing.

L - Yu-gi-oh, Duel Master, Pokemon, trading cards was a major come on.

R - Toys and toys galore! Collectors came in full force to show off their stuff!

L - The crowd was treated to the best Anime event ever in Philippine history.

R - So you think you can dance? One of this girls will eventually win the prize!

Hong Kong Disneyland

Disneyland is probably the biggest show on earth! Everyone from talents to crew to janitors are called "cast members." Even as Hong Kong offers a much smaller Disneyland, there was still enough good ideas for event organizers like ourselves. Hi Ho Hi Ho!

L - The parade with the obvious stars of Disney - Minnie & Mickey!

R - Celebrating their golden year, this Disney production was fun, fun, fun!

L - Can't miss Lion King! A celebration of pure imagination.

R - The jungle ride offers a funny insight to some very interesting creatures.

L - Everywhere you look is a Kodak moment!

R - Buzz Lighyear - probably one of the best interactive rides in HK Disneyland

Macau

As Asia's Las Vegas, Macau is a happening place in terms of shows and events and we went there for a go see!

L - Casinos line this strip - with gamblers coming from all over the world.

R - In sharp contrast, Macau is also home to many churches both old & regal.

L - A former colony, Macau still bears many of its European charm.

R - Extreme sport anyone? Bungee jumping for the brave at heart!

L - Just like most Asian countries, street food is big in Macau, but wider variety.

R - This floating restaurant creates a nice landscape at night.

New Orleans

Looking for new concepts and ideas brought us to New Orleans, the famed city of the Mardi Gras!

L - Paying homage to Jazz music that defines the city of New Orleans

R - Huge, colorful, beautiful, the artisans work is beyond words.

L - Ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is back on its feet!

R - At the factory that makes all the parade floats. A must see in New Orleans.

L - A fire breathing dragon is brought to life in splendid colors.

R - New Orleans - so proud of their food which is a tourist attraction in itself

6th Mindanao Culinary Festival

Some photos taken from the Mindanao Culinary Festival

held last October 2006 in Davao City!

L - A literal take on Mindanao beign the Philippine's Food Basket.

R - Would you believe this is made of bread? Incredible workmanship!

L - Christmas desserts was the theme - looks too good to eat!

R - Proof positive that food plating is an artform.

L - Flower arrangements make any table spring to life!

R - Who can resist chocolates? This entry was a crowd pleaser.