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==[[Sarangani News]]==
==[[Sarangani News]]==
'''Two Bible preachers: One unknown, the other famous'''
'''Mindanao chambers look to strengthen role in investment facilitation'''
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253457/news/metromanila/two-bible-preachers-one-unknown-the-other-famous
*Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/45759-Mindanao-chambers-look-to-strengthen-role-in-investment-facilitation.html
*April 1, 2012 3:04am
*Monday, April 2. 2012
:by  EARL VICTOR L. ROSERO
:by  zambotimes.com






He boarded the air conditioned bus at the stop under the EDSA Cubao MRT station. Respectably dressed he was in leather shoes, black slacks, and light blue long-sleeved shirt complete with a necktie.He walked down the aisle, stood at the mid-section of the bus and then pulled out of his black bag – a Bible.
CEBU CITY-Chambers of commerce in Mindanao should take a stronger role in drawing trade and investment to their respective areas.
This was the consensus among the Mindanao chamber officials who attended a “cross-learning” seminar organized in Cebu City by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.
The unknown man, Jessie, spoke clearly though he did not or could not make eye contact with the other passengers – most of whom tried to ignore him but the sense of hearing cannot be shut down.
The seminar drew executives from established chambers of commerce in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga, as well as from smaller, newer chambers, from the provinces of Sarangani and Surigao and the cities of Butuan, Pagadian and Kidapawan. Representatives from Naga, Iloilo, and Cebu business chambers also attended the activity.
 
Participants exchanged best practices on chamber revenue generation, policy advocacy, and trade and investment facilitation, focusing on the successful experience of the Cebu Investment Promotion Center.
Some of the commuters had earphones on and preferred to look out the window. But every now and then some passengers would sneak a glance at him and seemed to listen.
“We are in the process of reviewing our city’s investment code, and it was particularly useful to learn more about Cebu’s highly focused approach,” said Raymund Salangsang, president of the General Santos City chamber.
 
“GenSan has well-established fisheries, agriculture and IT sectors that bring in business, but we really should distinguish between domestic and foreign investors and their differing requirements,” Salangsang said.
Gazing at the bus preacher evoked contrasting mental images of another man – world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao – who now adeptly quotes from the Bible by chapter and verses every time the opportunity presents itself.
He also proposed a more subregional approach towards attracting investors.
 
“Some industries cannot be contained in just one city,” Salangsang said. “GenSan is already the commercial and transport hub for surrounding provinces, so why not help businesses to locate or expand there? It works out to everyone’s benefit.”
Evangelization on wheels
“We looked at our respective strengths rather than try to replicate what other cities are doing,” said Mercedes Lourdes Quisumbing, president of the Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc.
 
“We are a small city in a highly agricultural area, with only a small wharf, but with established supply routes to Cebu and Cagayan de Oro,” Quisumbing pointed out.
The preacher on the bus would later identify himself to GMA News Online as Jesse Gannabon. He said he is a pastor-in-training of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Fourth Watch with office in Marikina.
“Rather than focus on direct exports, we studied how we fit into the supply chain,” Quisumbing said. “Given our large coconut production base, for example, there are opportunities for investors in coco semi-processing.”
 
The Mindanao chambers are currently working with local governments and national line agencies to develop investment databases for their respective areas.
Jesse spoke clearly though he did not or could not make eye contact with the other passengers – most of whom tried to ignore him but the sense of hearing cannot be shut down. Some had earphones on and preferred to look out the window.
This would include information on available raw materials, people support, costs of doing business, investment incentives, and other economic and market information.
“Some local governments are still not aware of the extent to which their chambers of commerce can help bring in investment,” said Quisumbing. “There has to be a good working relationship between the business community and government to make sure everyone is on the same investment track.”
But every now and then some passengers would sneak a glance at him and seemed to listen.
Public-private collaboration is expected to be further bolstered by the recent agreement between PCCI and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to share resources and technical expertise to promote investment.
 
This builds on an earlier partnership agreement between the two organizations to jointly formulate policy recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of key economic sectors.
Jessie’s preaching followed a three-part outline. First, he introduced why he was there. Then he cited a few Bible passages and endeavored to explain them. Lastly, he asked for donations.
For chamber executives at the Cebu seminar, however, it was clear that a supportive policy framework will best succeed in attracting business to a particular area if its local stakeholders—both government and the private sector—work together to identify and strengthen their comparative advantages.
After his preaching, Jessie consented to an interview. He said he has been a missionary for three years now of the Pentecostal Fourth Watch.
As the interview proceeded, the other passengers were now intently listening.
He also said he did the preaching on the bus everyday, whole day from about 8 a.m. to late afternoon around 4 p.m.
Jessie said he preached because it was a commandment of God.
 
As the bus approached the intersection of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, he collected the envelopes he handed out, thanked the passengers, and got off the bus.
A new calling
Like the bus preacher, Pacquiao quotes the Bible quite often now. But unlike Jesse, Pacquiao has a weekly television variety show and hordes of media people following him every day.
So confident and inspired Pacquiao is about his new calling that he recently led a Bible sharing session on the premises of the GMA Network Center.
 
Months ago, whenever he got to speak during Mass at Quiapo Church in Manila, he would just give profuse thanks and say that for every big problem, he “has a bigger God.”
Now, the Pacman expertly throws not just punches, but also quick Bible quotes and some advice.
He credits Jeric Soriano, a recently ordained pastor of the Alabang New Life Christian Center, for his being a “changed man” and his newfound love for learning from the Bible.
 
The Pacman was with Soriano on stage at the ordination last January.
 
Pacquiao had also revealed that his home has become a venue for Bible study sessions with friends and neighbors in Sarangani province and General Santos City.
Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David of Pampanga has revealed that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked Pacquiao to be a Bible ambassador of the CBCP.
“Manny has always been very religious and we are happy that he is deepening his faith and his understanding of the Bible,” said David, who is chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
“That’s why I asked him if he could partner with us in promoting the reading of the Bible among Catholics,” Bishop David also said. — GMA News


==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines==
==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines==
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