Four years ago the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and my organization, the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), had a vision: for the association community in our country to band together and create one platform, where they can learn together work together, grow together and celebrate together.
In the United States, Europe and Australasia, associations have long gotten together as they know the “power of collaboration.” We thought it was time we do the same in the Philippines.
So, on November 20, 2013, these three institutions launched the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) to be the “association for associations” at the first Association Executives Summit held at the PICC. The 216 delegates of the summit became the founding members of PCAAE.
Today the PCAAE has over 1,000 members, supporters and service users from trade associations, chambers, professional societies, clubs, foundations, cooperatives and other member-serving organizations that cover business, medical, scientific, educational, technical, social welfare, philanthropic, agricultural, sports and other nonprofit undertakings.
Aside from the Associations Summit, which is the biggest annual gathering of associations and association professionals, the PCAAE is proud to accomplish the following notable achievements over the last four years:
- The Certified Professional Association Executive credentialing program to further professionalize association governance and management. There are now 44 graduates of the program;
- The “Ang susi” Awards (acronym for “Associations nurture National Growth thru Social Unity and Sustainability Innovations”) that recognizes and honors outstanding people and projects for their contribution to the sustainable development of the
country; - The TPB Ambassador Program to attract International events to the Philippines to boost business-events tourism in the country;
- The Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations that consists of national associations of associations in Australia, Korea and the Philippines. Malaysia has recently set up MSAE. Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore are considering organizing theirs, too;
- One-of-a-kind publications, such as the Association World Magazine and e-newsletters on association governance, association management and others; and
- In the guest list of international meetings, incentive, conventions and exhibitions events around the world, as well as writing and speaking opportunities, thus enhancing visibility and credibility.
Though these advancements have been significant, there is still much more work that needs to be done. There are thousands more associations to reach out to, and there’s this dream to set up association chapters in other regions of the country.
So the theme for this year’s Associations Summit 5—“Stronger Together”—held on November 22 and 23 at the PICC, emphasized anew the need for associations to continue to learn together work together and to dream together. For in unity, there is strength and in strength, there is power to succeed!
****
The column contributor, Octavio Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the ADFIAP and the president of the PCAAE.
The PCAAE enjoys the support of ADFIAP, the Tourism Promotions Board, and
the PICC. E-mail obp@adfiap.org.