By Manny Piñol
One of Canada’s richest and most influential businessmen, who founded and owns the McDonald’s franchise in Canada and Russia, has expressed interest in visiting the Philippines early next year.
George Cohon, described in an article as having “enough cash to float a battleship,” said he would be interested to join the delegation of 300 Filipino-Canadians who will be visiting the Philippines in February next year in a program called “Winter Escapade” arranged by the Philippine Embassy in Canada.
Cohon, who owns over 1,000 McDonald’s franchises in Canada and over 500 more in Russia, was one of the influential and rich Canadian businessmen who attended the Philippine-Canada Agriculture and Trade Forum on Oct. 29 in Toronto.
After my presentation, Cohon approached me and congratulated me and President Rody Duterte for the programs that we are implementing in Philippine agriculture and fisheries which he said would surely address poverty.
“I can feel your passion. Press on, work harder. You are on the right direction,” Cohon told me.
The encouragement, coming from one of Canada’s and the world’s most successful businessmen, was enough to strengthen my resolve to work even harder for the Filipino people.
In response, I personally invited him to come with the delegation of the 300 Filipino-Canadian businessmen who will visit the country in February next year.
The group, according to Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia, has one special request and that is an audience with President Duterte in Malacañang.
“Winter Escapade” is an annual trip arranged by the Philippine Embassy to lure Filipino-Canadian businessmen to come home to their country of birth and look at investment opportunities.
Ambassador Garcia said “Winter Escapade” is now on its fourth year and the destinations next year would include Palawan, Vigan, the rice terraces of Cordillera and of course, Malacañang for the audience with President Duterte.
The Philippine-Canada Trade and Agriculture Forum, arranged by the Philippine Canada Chamber of Commerce in Toronto led by Steve Paggao, was made possible with the sponsorship of Rod and Corie Coutts, a Canadian-Filipino couple who covered all of our travel expenses in Canada.
At the of the forum where I also introduced to the Canadian businessmen the “Real Rody Duterte,” one of the participants stood up and asked: “Can President Duterte run for Prime Minister in Canada after his term as Philippine President?”
It was, of course, a joke but it was also a manifestation of how the Duterte legend is spreading far and wide.
George Cohon, one of Canada’s richest businessman, is among the newest followers of the Duterte saga and legend.
(Photo show George Cohon, Amb. Garcia, Corie Coutts, myself and other Canadian businessmen showing the Duterte fist. Other photos show Cohon listening intently to a Canadian businessman who asked questions; the forum participants; the Philippine embassy staff including members of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto; and Filipino Canadians greeting us in the Consulate. Photos by Vice Mayor Lito Piñol)
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