SO WHAT is there to learn from Thailand for a Philippine local government unit to replicate?
Many things, if one were only to open his eyes and think. As Mayor Boking Morales and his councilors, as well as mediamen in the Mabalacat delegation, did.
At the Gems Gallery International Manufacturing, colorful ladies’ bags made of tilapia skin were a hit to visitors.
“That’s from the skin of the tilapia fish?” I asked the despatsadora named Supaporn, wanting to make sure of what was written on the tag.
“Yes, tilapia fish skin, scales and all,” she affirmed.
“There’s one OTOP (One Town, One Product) opportunity for Mayor Jerry Pelayo,” Mayor Boking observed. “With all those tilapia in Candaba’s fishponds and at the swamp itself, the tilapia skin could go beyond the production of bags to shoes, belts, straps and other accessories.”
And as if reading our mind wandering to the top fashion houses in the world where Filipino bag designers Tina Ocampo and Raffy Totengco rule and reign, Mayor Boking furthered: “With the creativity of the Filipino, I am most certain that we shall become world class in this endeavor.”
So what are you waiting for Joel Mapiles? Tell your Koyang Jerry to take the next flight to Bangkok.
One local government executive that could get a great deal of inspiration in Thailand is Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
Blue’s city has one hell of a problem with ambulant vendors. The purported solution – a night market – worsened the problem. Take heart, Sir, and cry eureka in the Bangkok night market.
Malls and department stores open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The night market – colonies of collapsible stalls right in the middle of streets around the malls and department stores – open at 9 p.m. and close at 9 a.m. No direct competition but a modus vivendi there. Everyone profiting from the steady flow of customers whether by day or throughout the night.
Here’s suggesting to Mayor Blue to take Joey Pavia along in his own lakbay aral on the night market. As it was Joey that hit market issues, whether in Pampang or at the night market, Joey it was that gained the greatest knowledge on that score in our Bangkok jaunt, having spent more time there than anywhere else. And being rewarded with the best bargains in the process.
Bangkok’s famous floating market so impacted in the mind of DWRW”s Deng Pangilinan that he envisioned one great opportunity in Pampanga’s worst adversity – floods.
“Flood-prone towns of Pampanga like Minalin, Guagua and Candaba can stage flood festivals in their periods of inundation with floating markets as centerpieces, “ Deng said. “The goods in the market comprising mainly of aquatic produce that routinely escape from fishponds and pens when these overflow.”
Banca races on the flooded streets can provide the sporting side of the flood festivals, Deng added.
It was one of the councilors – I just can’t recall who – that got his imagination so stirred by the elephant show at Nongnooch Garden midway between Bangkok and Pattaya that he brainstormed a carabao show here.
Yes, if the carabao can be taught how to kneel in front of the church of Plaridel, Bulacan on St. Isidore’s feast day, isn’t it possible for it to be trained to drive monstrous contraptions and play football – never mind darts, painting and basketball in the absence of trunks for handling – as were the Thai elephants?
More lessons from Bangkok for even easier replication here were very much appreciated but could not be discussed here because of their adult, if not outright XXX classification.
Suffice it to say that the Mabalacat officials’ lakbay aral to Thailand was one really enriching — in all sense – experience.
There’s one more proof positive of the truism that “travel broadens the mind.” So long as there is a mind to broaden.
Many things, if one were only to open his eyes and think. As Mayor Boking Morales and his councilors, as well as mediamen in the Mabalacat delegation, did.
At the Gems Gallery International Manufacturing, colorful ladies’ bags made of tilapia skin were a hit to visitors.
“That’s from the skin of the tilapia fish?” I asked the despatsadora named Supaporn, wanting to make sure of what was written on the tag.
“Yes, tilapia fish skin, scales and all,” she affirmed.
“There’s one OTOP (One Town, One Product) opportunity for Mayor Jerry Pelayo,” Mayor Boking observed. “With all those tilapia in Candaba’s fishponds and at the swamp itself, the tilapia skin could go beyond the production of bags to shoes, belts, straps and other accessories.”
And as if reading our mind wandering to the top fashion houses in the world where Filipino bag designers Tina Ocampo and Raffy Totengco rule and reign, Mayor Boking furthered: “With the creativity of the Filipino, I am most certain that we shall become world class in this endeavor.”
So what are you waiting for Joel Mapiles? Tell your Koyang Jerry to take the next flight to Bangkok.
One local government executive that could get a great deal of inspiration in Thailand is Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
Blue’s city has one hell of a problem with ambulant vendors. The purported solution – a night market – worsened the problem. Take heart, Sir, and cry eureka in the Bangkok night market.
Malls and department stores open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The night market – colonies of collapsible stalls right in the middle of streets around the malls and department stores – open at 9 p.m. and close at 9 a.m. No direct competition but a modus vivendi there. Everyone profiting from the steady flow of customers whether by day or throughout the night.
Here’s suggesting to Mayor Blue to take Joey Pavia along in his own lakbay aral on the night market. As it was Joey that hit market issues, whether in Pampang or at the night market, Joey it was that gained the greatest knowledge on that score in our Bangkok jaunt, having spent more time there than anywhere else. And being rewarded with the best bargains in the process.
Bangkok’s famous floating market so impacted in the mind of DWRW”s Deng Pangilinan that he envisioned one great opportunity in Pampanga’s worst adversity – floods.
“Flood-prone towns of Pampanga like Minalin, Guagua and Candaba can stage flood festivals in their periods of inundation with floating markets as centerpieces, “ Deng said. “The goods in the market comprising mainly of aquatic produce that routinely escape from fishponds and pens when these overflow.”
Banca races on the flooded streets can provide the sporting side of the flood festivals, Deng added.
It was one of the councilors – I just can’t recall who – that got his imagination so stirred by the elephant show at Nongnooch Garden midway between Bangkok and Pattaya that he brainstormed a carabao show here.
Yes, if the carabao can be taught how to kneel in front of the church of Plaridel, Bulacan on St. Isidore’s feast day, isn’t it possible for it to be trained to drive monstrous contraptions and play football – never mind darts, painting and basketball in the absence of trunks for handling – as were the Thai elephants?
More lessons from Bangkok for even easier replication here were very much appreciated but could not be discussed here because of their adult, if not outright XXX classification.
Suffice it to say that the Mabalacat officials’ lakbay aral to Thailand was one really enriching — in all sense – experience.
There’s one more proof positive of the truism that “travel broadens the mind.” So long as there is a mind to broaden.
