Scattered Dots: TSPI At Crowne Plaza

TSPI celebrated 20 years in the Philippines last February 28, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Ortigas District.

The first activity was the annual General Assembly where each business unit presented their respective annual and midterm plans.

This was followed by an address of TSPI President Jiro Hanzawa. This was the best speech I heard him deliver. In his speech, he outlined his vision for TSPI expansion to be a software giant in the Philippines.

A keynote address was delivered by our guest, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III. By the way, prior to assuming this position, Mr. Roxas-Chua was vice president of the Technology Investment Banking unit of Citigroup Inc. in Palo Alto, California, where he focused on securities underwriting, M&A advisory, and loan syndication for technology companies. He is also currently the Chairman of the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC). This council is facilitating the procurement for the 2010 election automation equipment, a difficult job since many powerful forces in the Philippines are against election automation because the only way to keep themselves to power is through election fraud. But I think Roxas-Chua has the integrity and the competence to pull this task through. I wish him success in this herculean undertaking.

It was a truly memorable evening. Everyone was looking and feeling great. It's been a while since TSPI had a grand event like this. Although there was a lavish dinner, I hardly ate. Instead, I indulged in beer and wine. Live song and dance numbers prepared by my fellow associates were the best I have seen in years.

Never Gonna Give You Up ;-)