Cebu cited as potential hub for CPO

CEBU, Philippines —  The Philippines, particularly Cebu, could lead in the emerging Creative Process Outsourcing (CPO), if creative Filipino individuals are serious enough to capitalize on the US$2 trillion industry.

Multiple Grammy award-winning musician Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, together with Thames International Business School, are championing the cause of putting the high-potential creative industry in the country to the global stage, starting with inviting creative individuals to join a scholarship grant to become successful entrepreneurs.

The Filipino international artist Apl.de.ap, together with executives from Thames International Business School, was in Cebu recently to invite creative Cebuanos to be one of the Creative Hub Fellows. Applications will be accepted from June 8 to July 8, 2018.

According to Thames International Business School president Joel Santos, the Philippines has to start developing and capitalizing on its CPO potential, while the economic-champion BPO (business process outsourcing) is considered as fragile and not a stable sector.

He said teaching the creative sector to strike a balance in romanticizing their passion for arts, at the same time monetizing it, is the core agenda of the program.

This is the main cause of the school and Apl.de.ap Foundation in sending 40 creative entrepreneurs for the fellowship program, Santos added.

Supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and the British Council, Design Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Trade and Training Center, the Creative Innovators Program drives the synergy between creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for social impact.

According to Santos, it is already a common knowledge that Philippines is rich with creative people. "Filipinos are innately creative. We are one of the most creative countries in world, but we don’t maximize this."

He said this program will jumpstart the Philippines’ strong lead in the rise of the CPO industry.

"There’s no such thing as 'starving artist', every artist can be an entrepreneur," added Santos, but these talents just have to be coached properly on how to commercialize their crafts.

Cebu in particular was declared as a "Creative City" by the British Council few years back. This is because of the diverse creative talents of Cebuanos--from music, visual arts, fashion design, industrial design, software design, animation, among others.

In 2010, Cebu kicked off its "Creative Cebu" campaign to sharpen the creative edge of Cebu.

A Creative Cebu Council Inc., was created with the help of the DTI-Cebu Provincial Officer under the directorial lead of Nelia F. Navarro. 

With this new movement led by Apl de Ap, and Thames International, Cebu is expected to easily catch the opportunity and enliven creative activists here to participate.