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Conference Program Agenda
(as of Mar 19, 2026)
APRIL 23, 2026, THURSDAY
8:00AM-5:00PM * Function Room 5
BUSINESS SOLUTION ROUNDTABLES & PLENARY SESSIONS
TIME | SESSIONS |
|---|---|
7:30AM- 8:00AM | CONFERENCE REGISTRATION |
8:00AM- 8:20AM | PART I: INTRO TO BUSINESS SOLUTION ROUNDTABLES • ROUNTABLE FACILITATORS PARADE • CEO-MENTOR PARADE • GRAND CEO PARADE |
8:20AM-10:00AM | Round 1: 8:20am-9:05am (45-min): 20 Roundtables Break: 9:05am-9:15am (10-min) Round 2: 9:15am-10:00am (45-min): 21 Roundtables (REPEAT) |
10:00AM- 10:10AM | NETWORKING BREAK PART II: FORMAL OPENING CEREMONIES |
TIME | ACTIVITY | SPEAKERS/PANELISTS |
|---|---|---|
10:10AM- 10:40AM
(30 mins) | Opening Ceremonies | HOSTS: ANDREA ENDICIO Mutya ng Pilipinas 2025 |
MIGUEL CARLOS "MIGS" BUSTOS Television News Anchor and Reporter, ABS-CBN Host, My Puhunan | ||
Invocation National Anthem | ||
PFA President’s Message | STEVE BENITEZ President, PFA Chairman & CEO, Bo’s Coffee | |
Franchise Asia Philippines 2026 Overall Chair Message | VICTOR PATERNO Overall Chair, Franchise Asia PH 2026 Chairman, 7-Eleven | |
Franchise Asia Philippines 2026 Conference Opening Ceremonies | DR. CARL BALITA, CFE Conference Chair, Franchise Asia PH 2026 President & CEO, Dr. Carl Balita Review Center | |
10:40AM -11:00AM
(20 mins) | Keynote Address: | DR. SAMIE LIM, CFE Founding President & Chairman Emeritus, PFA Chairman, Blims Lifestyle Group |
11:00AM- 11:20AM
(20 mins) | Inspirational Message: | STEVEN T. TAN President SM Supermalls |
11:20AM- 12:00NN
(40 mins) | Plenary 1: The C-Suite Forum: Franchising Together: ASEAN to the WORLD (A Panel of Experts) | ROD BRISTOL, CFE Director, Profit Soup |
JOSE VICTOR PATERNO Chairman, 7-Eleven | ||
STEVE BENITEZ Chairman & CEO, Bo’s Coffee | ||
ROBERT TROTA, CFE President & CEO, Max’s Group, Inc. | ||
MELODINA ISAGUIRRE COO, Tapa King | ||
MODERATOR: DR. CARL BALITA, CFE President & CEO Dr. Carl Balita Review Center | ||
12:00NN-1:15PM | PART III: NETWORKING LUNCH & CFE GRADUATION & NXTGEN in FRANCHISING | |
12:00NN-12:30PM | NETWORKING LUNCH | |
12:30PM- 12:45PM
(15 mins) | CFE GRADUATION CEREMONY - CFE GRADUATES - CFE ENROLLEES | |
12:45PM- 1:15PM
(30 mins) | The NXTGEN IN FRANCHISING PHILIPPINES FINAL PITCH | |
1:15PM-5:00PM | PART IV: PLENARY SESSIONS | |
1:15PM- 2:05PM
(50 mins) | Plenary 2: The Great Debate Forum: Expanding? Company-Owned vs. Franchise (A Panel of Experts) | COMPANY-OWNED POSITION: CONSUL ENUNINA MANGIO Chairman, Samgyeop Masarap Unlimited Korean BBQ |
DAN HAYTON COO, PLK Phils. Inc. (POPEYES) | ||
FRANCHISE POSITION: JOEL CRUZ President & CEO Aficionado – Central Affirmative Co., Inc. | ||
MIGUEL KYAN AMAN COO Miguelito’s International Corporation | ||
MODERATORS: JOEY ALVERO, CFE COO Potato Corner | ||
ATTY. LYCA BALITA, CFE CBF Corporate Secretary Dr. Carl Balita Review Center | ||
2:05PM- 2:35PM
(30 mins) | Plenary 3: AI, Innovation & Future-Defining Technologies | |
Tead-Talk Speakers: “AI Ethics, Threats and Opportunities” | ANTONILO MAURICIO Treasurer, Global AI Council Chairman & Founder, InnovationPH | |
“Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Business Success and Transformation” | VIC Y. TRIA (First VP, PLDT) Enterprise Domestic & SME Business, PLDT, Inc. Multisys Tech. Corp. (Pres. & CEO) Bonifacio Communications Corp.(Pres. & CEO) | |
2:35PM- 3:15PM
(40 mins) | Plenary 4: The Coffee Story: Hot, Cold & Next? (A Panel of Experts) | RESOURCE PANELISTS: VENON TIAN Group COO, ZUS Coffee |
RAMI CHAHWAN Country CEO & President, PICKUP COFFEE | ||
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BATAC, CFE President & Founder, Grainsmart Café | ||
ROLANDO GARCIA Founder & CEO, BigBrew | ||
MODERATOR: VINCENT PAOLO CONTI Vice President & General Manager Wendy’s Phils. | ||
3:15PM- 4:05PM
(50 mins) | Plenary 5: The C-Suite Forum: Successful Succession (A Panel of Experts) | ALICE LIU, President & CEO BRYAN LIU, VP for Strategy & Operations Golden ABC, Inc. |
VIOLETA LAPID, Co-Founder & CEO ANAIS LAPID, COO R. Lapid’s Premium Chicharon | ||
BOBBY CLAUDIO, CFE, Founder TOBY CLAUDIO, President Toby’s Sports | ||
MODERATORS: JOEY GARCIA, CFE President, Wendy’s Phils. | ||
ARIELLE ESCALONA-PUNO CEO & Co-Founder, Pure Nectar | ||
4:05PM- 4:50PM
(45mins) | Plenary 6: The ASEAN Journey: Start-up to Scale up (A Panel of Experts) | DERIC YEO, CFE, Group CEO, US Fine Pizza Sdn. Bhd. (US Pizza, The Manhattan Fish Market, Tony Roma’s, NY Steak Shack, Daporlah, and Nice Catch) (Malaysia) |
VARONGSRI POOTHAKOOL Founder & CEO Math Talent (Thailand) | ||
YUPI NGUYEN Co-Founder & COO Happi Tea (Vietnam) | ||
MODERATOR: SHERILL QUINTANA, CFE Founding President & CEO Oryspa | ||
4:50PM- 4:55PM | CLOSING KEYNOTE | DR. BING SIBAL-LIMJOCO, CFE Founding Board of Trustees, PFA Vice Chairman, Francorp Phils. |
4:55PM- 5:00PM | CONFERENCE CLOSING CEREMONIES |
