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The city
of General Santos, known as Gensan, is the “tuna
capital” of the Philippines. Of the 15 processing plants
in the country, 10 are located in Gensan. The industry
exports tuna to the United States, Europe, Japan and
other countries, generating about $50 million in export
earnings and employing thousands of workers. Citizens of
Gensan, or “generals,” as they like to call themselves,
also take pride in being recognized as among the
country’s most competitive cities.
But,
underneath the impressive veneer of manufacturing
efficiency—the busy port, imposing plants and large
ships at the harbor—is a current of creativity, of
colors and shapes, of melodies and movement, of words
and song.
During
this year’s celebration of “Yaman Gensan,” a monthlong
flurry of events to showcase the entrepreneurial
achievements of the city, I saw this contrast of
industries: between the steel of processing plants and
ships, and the strings of musical instruments.
At the
Intellectual Property (IP) Forum at Notre Dame Dadiangas
University, there were five local bands playing original
compositions for more than 500 students and teachers
from the different colleges and universities in the
region. It made me wish that my lecture on “IP and
National Development” was the intermission number
instead of the other way around. The bands played a
range of compositions from gospel music to unique tunes
mixing indigenous and modern beats and melodies.
Looking
at the exhibits of new and innovative products produced
by college students at the Young Entrepreneurs’ Fair
also made me shorten my opening message so people would
have more time to see and taste the products of Gensan’s
youth. Their innovations ranged from new culinary treats
to robotics and herbal formulations. But more stunning
was the performance of young dancers clothed in
indigenous colors and fibers, dancing to the rhythms of
their ancestors.
Creativity and innovation were the dominant themes in
this year’s Yaman Gensan, as clearly shown in the IP
forum and the trade fair, where the role of the IP
system in promoting creativity was given emphasis. In
the former, student researchers and musicians asked
about copyright, and in the latter, young innovators
wondered aloud if their products could be patented.
IP is
alive and well in Gensan, thanks to the trailblazing
work of Trade Assistant Regional Director Doris Delima
and the Intellectual Property Alliance of Soccsksargen.
The support of the Small and Medium Enterprise
Development Council and, of course, the youthful mayor
of Gensan, Pedro Acharon Jr., made the mainstreaming of
IP in the city possible.
Gensan
entrepreneurs are also beginning to realize the
importance of IP, especially in new creative industries.
Lawyer Rey Cartojano, winner of the Entrepreneur of the
Year award (corporate category), a franchisee of AMA
Computer Learning Center, acknowledged the strategic and
critical role of IP in Gensan’s future, especially with
its plans to be an IT hub in the region.
Tuna
production is still dominant in Gensan, but judging from
the powerful currents of creativity and talent in the
city, its second wave of economic development might just
come from its creative industries.
The
author is the director general of the Intellectual
Property Office of the Philippines. Comments may be sent
to e-mail address: dg_asc@ipophil.gov.ph. |
