Traveling Through Asia

I said last week that I have been travelling in Asia. Part of my responsibility as an executive of the Young President's Organization of British Columbia is to attend the annual Global Leadership Conference. This is where we get an update on the organization's direction as well as develop skills that we carry on in life and in business. This year's conference was in Singapore and, given the distance, I decided to tie in a business trip to the Philippines. I also decided to invite a group of entrepreneurs to join me in the Philippines - because I wanted to help expose them to different parts of Asia so that they may gain a perspective on the extremes. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so here are some of the sights:

Sunset at Lagen Island, Palawan - a pristine eco-preserve in the Philippines

Limestone rocks that have been eroded through millions of years,  Palawan 

Secluded beaches that abound - the Philippines consists of 7,100 different islands

Basic transportation

A country of about 100 million people has extremes  of wealth and poverty

A town by a river...about 10KM from gleaming skyscrapers

Very welcoming people

Lots of children - notice how clean they are

A welcoming group

Despite the conditions, neatness and cleanliness are  a sign of pride

Life above a sewer - where kids often fall in

We spent time looking at the economic and educational programs in the area

Handing candy to the kids

Singapore by contrast - not a speck of garbage in sight

A gleaming city of lights, efficiency, order

The city that people say Dubai was modelled after

Many think of business in Asia as China - but there is so much more to it. I would definitely say that, if you have not been, try visiting the Philippines (a special thanks to the El Nido resorts for hosting us).  Manila is a busy city of 15M people that serves as a stark contrast to the pristine wilderness of the outlying islands like Palawan (BTW, there are close to 100M people in the Philippines). Relative to other areas in Asia and North America, the Philippines is great value for the money. It is also a country of contrasts - rich, poor, concrete skyscrapers, pristine wilderness.

As well, Singapore - and see what contrasts there are in Asia - an island city of 23KM by 43KM with 5M people and one of the most progressive business climates in the world. Even the government officials   are there to facilitate business and industry (though Singapore prices are the same as North America).

For my part, the opportunity to mix business with personal growth and social responsibility is important to me. And all of those, I experienced over the last two weeks.

BTW. I will post more photos on facebook. Look me up.