01/11/06

Eight long years have passed, since the organizers of the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO have presented the best that the Philippines has to offer to mainstream America. After this long hiatus, a new breed of leaders arise as R-P.A.G.E., Inc., participants in the original U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO and children of the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO founder, Ruben S. Panopio, Jr. This new generation has decided to resurrect their father’s vision.

Mr. Panopio produced the annual U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO back in 1993, at the Fairplex in Pomona. For four years, the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO became the event that people from all over California would flock to.

As in the past, the children of Ruben S. Panopio, Jr. continue to carry the same passion for the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO as their father does. Mr. Panopio has passed the torch to his children whom aspire to create awareness of the vast market potential of the Filipino-American community before mainstream business sectors and major segments of corporate America.

Russell Panopio and Rutherford Panopio, lead R-P.A.G.E., Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer, respectively. In fact, the initials of the family members represent the company’s name – all the men represent the “R” (sons Ragsdale, Russell, and Rutherford and their Father, Ruben, Jr.) and all the women represent “P.A.G.E.” (daughters Pamela, Abegail, and Genevieve and their Mother, Esther).

“This new expo will unite the old with the new, bringing in different components, including the Miss U.S.-Philippines Expo, Great Achievement Awards, Salute To Our Troops, Karaoke Contest, galleries promoting Philippine art and other activities that the Filipino-Americans would certainly love,” said Russell, President of R-P.A.G.E., Inc.

The U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO will also enhance the promotion of a wide variety of products from the Philippines that are available to the American market and develop a conducive atmosphere for promoting cultural exchange between the United States and the Philippines.

“We hope for the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO to become a household name with its own identity as an annual celebration designed to instill Filipino ethnic pride and cultural identity,” added Genevieve Caton, the company’s Director of Operations.

Set for August 12 and 13, at the Building 4 of Fairplex in Pomona, the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO also becomes a direct marketing tool in promoting American products and services before an affluent and captive market, such as the Filipino-American community.

“The expo allows us to show mainstream America the huge buying power of the Filipinos,” explained Pamela, Director of Finance.

In the four years that the Expo reigned in the Southland in the late 90s, it became the most significant and successful trade and cultural event held by members of the Filipino-American community. Regaining and maintaining this kind of positive influence, on the Filipino-American community, inspires the Panopio children.

“We want to continue where our father left off, while adding our own young twist to it,” Rutherford, the company’s CEO said matter-of-factly.

The father could not agree more. “It is indeed a family affair. Seeing all my children have the passion, as when I started the Expo more than 10 years ago, makes me really happy,” he said.

“We all miraculously came to a point where we were on the same page,” Genevieve added. She likewise reminisced about how the idea of resurrecting their father’s vision came about.

While at a hockey game a couple of years ago, Genevieve asked her father about the history and mission of the company. Later that evening, her father gathered remnants of the past U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO to give to his daughter. After reflecting for sometime, she and her siblings concluded that they understand the project and know how to make it happen, since growing up they attended the expos and the Fairplex in Pomona was their huge playground. After months of planning, they decided that it was high time to revive the project.

The proud father could not hide his excitement over the revival of his dream. “They show more enthusiasm about this than I do, now,” he said. His children want to ensure that his vision, as the company’s founder, carries on to the next generation.

“We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t actually believe in it,” Jonathon Caton, Director of Marketing. explained.

“There’s no hidden agenda. The goal is to help the community,” Russell agreed.

There is no doubt that the entire Panopio family is excited about the U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO. “We want to let the community know that the original expo is back,” Genevieve said.

In seven months, the public will again witness what a well-conceived expo is all about.

If you want to be a part of the upcoming U.S.-PHILIPPINES EXPO, please call (310) 561-8474. (AJ)

-Asian Journal