Stirred by the local franchising sector’s bullish growth despite the global economic slowdown, Franchise 2010 affirmed its standing as the Philippines’ premier franchise show following a new attendance record of more than 30,000 visitors and generated an estimated USD 10 million worth of businesses, posting a 10 percent upsurge from last year’s figure of USD 9.1 million.

It was a meeting of the minds and fashion sense. The recent Franchise Power Fashion Show became an “Okasyon” for the leading men and women of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) to showcase their fashion flair and show support for the exotic piña fabric as a first-rate export product.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis (third from right) leads the various sectors of the franchise sector and the rest of the business community in opening Franchise Expo 2010 at the SMX Convention Center.  This year’s biggest franchise event in Asia, the Expo features more than 330exhibit booths of various investment opportunities at all investment levels.  With Ortiz-Luis are (from left): Indonesian Domestic Business Development and Enterprise Registration Director Dede Hidayat; Go Negosyo Chairman Joey Concepcion; PFA President and Wendy’s Phils. Corp. President Yvette Orbeta, CFE; PFA Chairman and Max’s Restaurant President Robert Trota, CFE; Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari; PFA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim, CFE: US-based Synergy Franchise Group President Christopher Simnick; and, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Edcel Custodio.

Inspiring stories from four successful franchisees meant to encourage more entrepreneurs to realize their goals through franchising was the focal point of “How Franchising Works For You: A Franchisee Forum” featured at the recently-concluded Franchise 2010 Conference at the SMX Convention Center.  The Conference, an integral part of the four-in-one event of Franchise 2010: the 18th Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo (PIFCE), gathered experts – both from the Philippines and abroad – who shared their expertise and vast experiences on bringing the franchise sector to greater heights.  The franchisees featured as resource speakers in the panel discussion  included (in photo, third to sixth from left respectively) Anthony Brendan Yu (Jollibee); Bim Mercado (Cartridge World); Jojo Macua (The Generics Pharmacy); and, Waldo Theodore Logan Abad-Santos (7-Eleven).