The National Tuna Congress is back!

IN MY COLUMN last week, I mentioned that the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) is in the thick of preparations for the upcoming 22nd National Tuna Congress and Trade Exhibit slated on Sept. 1-2, 2022, at 3rd Floor, SM City General Santos, General Santos City.

SFFAII in partnership with the local government unit of General Santos, BFAR, DTI, DA-Area Development Project of SOCCSKSARGEN, PNP 12, and the local Tuna Industry private sector is committed to push the event to create a stir both locally and internationally after COVID-19 halted the holding of the Congress for two consecutive years.

Executive committee meetings are called to efficiently plan the conduct of this year’s congress. “I am hopeful that management of the COVID-19 situation will improve in the following months to press the holding of our 22nd National Tuna Congress”, Executive Committee Chairperson and current SFFAII President Dominic Salazar said.

The two-day event will kick-start via an opening caravan starting from the General Santos Fish Port Complex ending at the event venue. The congress will gather different industry players, government, non-government organizations, experts, and leaders to discuss tuna industry-specific relevant strategies and best practices, market updates, pandemic coping mechanisms, solutions, and proven results.
Adjacent the congress plenary, the 22nd National Tuna Congress Trade Exhibit will open a total of 101 booths displaying products and services of industry suppliers, partners, and other allied industries.

SFFAII and the city of General Santos, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, warmly welcome everyone to this event!
Professionally, it’s my pleasure to work with SFFAII all these years. I hope to be of service to the tuna industry through their communication requirements.

It’s important to have one constant in your life. For me, it’s my weekly column-writing. Even if the world turns upside down and no matter the chaos, I still need to sit down and write my column every week wherever I am! Even when I am in-between cities or in-between trips, I must write to meet my weekly commitment. Yes, it is a commitment that I intend to keep for as long as I am able. It is both a commitment and a passion.

You see, writers have a responsibility to their readers because writers have a voice, and I take that responsibility seriously. Anyway, aside from writing, training also inspires me. Hence, it was a pleasure to conduct a two-day training on public speaking to supervisors and staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII on July 12-13, 2022, in Koronadal City.

It delights me to see my participants work around their nervousness to rise to the challenge and deliver their speech requirements. I was particularly touched when Disaster Response Management Division Chief, Naira S. Aratuc, stated that there were only two slides presented and yet they learned a whole lot. As a trainer, that’s so good for the heart.

Kudos to the following for delivering their speeches in front of their fellow participants: Naira S. Aratuc, Johanisa Marohombsar, Adnan Bunsa, Jerry Dumdum – organizer, Youngy Parami, Sittie Naira Dita, Regine Nievares, Jazel Magno, Muhammad Yusuf Montañer, Esther Salvie Tupas, Ryan Hervilla, M. Kalayaan Bat-og Fuerte, Honey Rose Fuente, Aliudin Mangundato, Kathleen Balisua, Jessa Jane De Guzman, Asminah Rascal, Jamie Marohom, Abnessa Mayasa, Isidro Cabailo, Jea Girl Malacad, and Patrick Villas. I hope to provide another round of training for DSWD XII before the year ends.

And speaking of inspiration, as you read this piece, I would have landed at Bohol-Panglao International Airport from Davao City for a hosting gig tomorrow, July 30, 2022, at Jj’s Seafood Village (Main Hall), K of C Drive, Tagbilaran City. The special event is the Joint Induction of Officers and New Members of the Bohol Island Lions Club, Bohol Lady Lions Club, Bohol Premier Lions Club, and Bohol Island Leo Club. I hope to do more hosting engagements in my home province of Bohol. Fingers crossed.

Food for Thought
There are unfaithful friends and there are faithful friends. Sometimes, we are taken aback by the severity of their insensitivity approaching betrayal but then we realize, they are imperfect as well, and no matter how skewed their perception of things, we can only say, the relationship was not meant to last. So, move forward and shake the dust off your feet.

Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN