That Another Batch of Filipino Artists Break Out Internationally - Wish #4 for the Philippines

It was about time that a homegrown artist would break out in Hollywood!  2010 was definitely Charice's year - landing herself a Top 10 album in the US and a spot in Glee.  However, the truth is, Charice is just the tip of the iceberg!  There are so many talented Filipino actors and performers that it's strange that till now - only Lea Salonga, Freddie Aguilar, Charice and Arnel Pineda have made waves.  I believe there should be fifty of them! 

So my wish for 2011 is that another batch of Filipino performers get their international break!  In this age of Youtube and Facebook - the reality is not farfetched and should easily be a reality.

That More Foreign Tourists Come Over and Visit Us - Wish #3 for the Philippines

 I always find it weird that for a beautiful country like ours, that our tourism statistics would pale in comparison to countries like Thailand or China.  The truth is, we have so many things to offer to tourists and I think it's just our security and our peace and order problem that is deterring many foreign tourists to make us their #1 choice for travel!  I have been to many parts of the world and I can proudly say that we too have our own unique places which can rival the world's best - so I know it is a reachable goal for us to reach the implausible tourism figures of the world's top tourist country draws like Spain or France, or China or Thailand, here in Asia.  My wish for our country is that our tourism industry can bounce back from that hostage crisis debacle and post respectable figures for 2011.

That Our Police Force Shape Up - Wish #2 for the Philippines

2010 has been a disastrous year, in terms of PR, for our police force.  First came the disastrous handling of the HK tourists hostage taking, an event caught on TV and broadcast all over the world!  The whole world came to see how inept our police force is, especially that the event happened in Manila, our country's capital. 

Hostage takings are very delicate and dangerous events yet the way our police handled it was so clumsy that it led to so many unnecessary tragic deaths.  Then just two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ordered the release of Hubert Webb et al for the murders of the Vizconde family, for lack of evidence, fifteen years after the celebrated trial.  To me, another case of police bungling the investigation of the case, and the handling of the evidence, crucial to the prosecution of the victims' killers!  How can our police investigators be that dumb?  I watch SOCO every week and I am always impressed at the way local police solve the cases, but I don't understand why when it's a high profile case, everything falls down like a house of cards! I am sure there are many excellent policemen out there - so I wish that in 2010, that they take the lead and show the world, our police force is not that inutile! 

That More Filipino Homegrown Brands Achieve International Recognition - Wish #1 for the Philippines

Since Christmas is just 3 days away, I decided tonight, to come out with twelve Christmas wishes for the Philippines.  I am doing this list as it comes out from my thoughts and they are not edited at all according to rank of importance.  I just write these wishes as they come to me.

I guess as a businessman, my first wish is for more Filipino homegrown brands to achieve international recognition.  In the field of fashion alone, the local fashion industry, led by veterans like Bench and relative newcomers like Folded and Hung, have led the way in making Filipinos buy locally made clothes than the more expensive foreign ones.  This year, I've witnessed many other new brands muscle their way into the local fashion scene.  The ones I like include Mental, Solo while most Filipinos like Collezione, and for the women, brands like Kashieca and Meg.  I do hope more brands, not only in fashion, would make their presence felt in this globalized business community.