At the opening ceremony, front row left to right: PMA National President Alex Flores, USLS President Bro. Rey Suplido, FSC, Rep. Monico Puentevella, PMA-Bacolod President Alan Gensoli, Keynote Speaker Emily Abrera, Gov. Isidro Zayco, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, PMA Trustee Glenn Leonardia, and Conference Chairperson Josefa Puentevella. Back row, left to right: PMA-Bacolod Trustees Edson Azuelo and Nelson Sotomil, PMA-Bacolod Chairman George Sanchez, PMA-Bacolod Trustee and Event Manager China Gallaga, USLS Graduate School Dean Dr. Donna Echaus, and PMA-Bacolod Trustee Therese Borromeo.

On October 8 and 9, 2008, the Philippine Marketing Association-Bacolod Chapter held its 5th Western Visayas Regional Marketing Conference at the Santuario de La Salle inside the USLS campus. The conference was packed with a dozen high-caliber speakers, headlined by Emily Abrera, Chairman of McCann Erickson World Group for Asia Pacific who delivered the keynote address, and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

The conference theme, 20/20 Vision of 2010, was inspired by the upcoming reduction of import tariffs on sugar scheduled to hit an all-time low of 0-5% in 2010. Marketing gurus and successful corporate captains came to share knowledge and experience, and to inspire the Bacolod audience to re-tool their organizations in preparation for 2010. Among them were Jay Aldeguer of Islands Souvenirs, Jovel Cipriano of Pinoydelikasi.com, Donald Patrick Lim of Yehey! Corp., and Butch Albarracin of the Center for Pop.

Co-hosting the event was the USLS Graduate School. Co-presentors included corporate giants Ayala Land, Globe Telecom, and PAGCOR.

Shown flanked by PMA-Bacolod President Alan Gensoli and Conference Chairperson Josefa Puentevella, Tourism Sec. Ace Durano accepts the symbol of gratitude from PMA-Bacolod. The trophy is an original creation by Negrense sculptor Jeffrey Montano.

(left) Melito Salazar, President of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, (center)SRA Administrator
Lito Coscolluela, (right) Center for Pop CEO Butch Albarracin