Philippines Inc. hosts Southeast Asia expert
Philippines Inc. officials led by its chairman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, president Tony Lopa, executive vice president Babe Romualdez and vice chairman Susing Pineda hosted a private dinner for BowerGroupAsia president and CEO Ernest “Ernie” Bower who came for a visit to Manila.
Ernie, a leading expert on Southeast Asia, helped organize the highly successful Philippines’ Eminent Persons Group (PEPG) visit to Washington, DC last September where the delegation composed of key industry leaders interacted with officials from National Security Council, the Pentagon and the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on areas of mutual concern that include trade and commerce, new business and investment opportunities as well as security issues.
Members of the PEPG delegation included Philippines Inc. treasurer Annie Tan-Yee, Chamber of Mines president Philip Romualdez, Philippine Hotel Federation president Arthur Lopez, Inquirer publisher Raul Pangalangan, Jun Periquet, Raymond Garcia and Harbor Star Shipping’s Jun Bella. The success of the Washington visit has encouraged Philippines Inc. to make it a yearly activity to make the country an attractive investment destination for American businessmen.
Bower has been a strong advocate of more robust relations between the United States and Asia, helping craft innovative programs to strengthen bilateral and regional ties. A graduate of Colgate University, Ernie had originally planned on being a doctor but a trip to Southeast Asia upon the invitation of his college roommate (who was half Thai) changed his perspective forever.
He later told his father: “If I could spend my life bringing the United States and Southeast Asia just one inch closer together, that would influence more lives than being a doctor.” Ernie then shifted his academic focus to Asian history and culture, double majoring in English and history, after which he studied Mandarin Chinese at Sunderland School of Foreign Language.
