2008

"HINABOL". A rare fashion show organized by the Ilonggo Producers Association last February 29, 2008 at Punta Villa, Arevalo. It featured the designs of Nono Palmos who hails from Miag-ao. The fund raising project was aimed at promoting local textiles e.g. Hablon, Patadyong and Sinamay to help the local industry. All the dresses in the show used weaves from Miag-ao, Tigbauan, Antique, and Oton. About 30 models and real people including Sen. Loren Legarda, Dr. Pacita Gonzales, Gov. Sally Perez of Antique were featured models in the show. The project was a way of raising awareness on how important it is to help the local weavers because in the end, it will really be help-

MEETING WITH THE PHILIPPINE-CHICAGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF GREATER CHICAGO. Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago visited Iloilo last July 16, 2008 upon coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry. About 20 delegates from the organization arrived the Philippines and 10 to Iloilo as part of their Trade Mission. Iloilo and Antique were part of the few areas they visited in the Philippines. Vice President Tony Jon gave a briefing on investment potentials and the delegates met up with local businessmen.

WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING CAPACITIES OF ILOILO LGUS FOR COORDINATED INVESTMENT PROMOTION INITIATIVES. Organized by the Economic, Trade and Investment Committee of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Development Council in partnership with the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation and facilitated by Prof. Winston Padojinog of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

This workshop/seminar focused on developing the investment promotion capacities of Iloilo LGUs for coordinated investment promotion initiatives. The activity was aimed at emphasizing the importance/need to come up with an organized Investment Promotion Program in the Iloilo LGUs especially in the MIG area; provide a forum for local stakeholders (LGU and private sector within the MIG areas) for increased awareness and enhanced learning on the different international and local investment promotion initiatives and structures; develop capacity of participants to come up with investment promotion activities/ projects based on the needs of investors and standards set by international and local investment promotion agencies; and strengthen the collaboration among private and public sectors to institutionalize investment promotion programs.