ILOILO CITY—An American investor in Iloilo is eyeing to make the city the hub of entertainment and information technology (IT) in Panay Island.
In an interview, Paul Chatman, a musician and owner of the Saxxys Bar and Grill at Smallville here, said he is giving himself three years to “assemble” his plans.
Chatman was currently organizing the return concert of Stephen Speaks not only in Iloilo, but also in the major cities of Davao, Manila, Laoag and Boracay. He said he met Stephen Speaks in several concerts in the United States as he himself is an independent saxophone performer.
The series of Stephen Speaks concerts in the Philippines will run from January to February 2018 at different key cities in the country.
“I have traveled around the world and I have fallen in love with Iloilo. I love the calmness and progress now happening in the city. My family was in Laoag, but I prefer to put my investment in Iloilo,” he said.
Aside from organizing the concert series, he is also planning to organize a national dance contest. He is also planning to invite the international band Earth, Wind and Fire to perform in the country.
For IT, Chatman said he is planning to coordinate with the Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority to help train young people in the field of computers.
“I have worked for the Google company for several years and I know computers and the IT could help alleviate poverty. The IT may have both positive and negative sides, but what is important is how we train our young people appreciate the good side,” he added.