Sam Chioson brings Cebu a step ahead via CBM ‘07

It takes courage and determination to do things which others believe are "impossible." Samuel L. Chioson may have enough of these, as he successfully bring Cebu one step ahead, this time, making the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2007) truly an international business event.

Sam is this year’s chairman of CBM, wherein for the first time, the event has been aggressively promoted in key countries in Asia, making CBM a full-blown international event.

Pressed with financial constraints to support the first-of-a-kind CBM International roadshow, he led some active businessmen in Cebu to sell the province especially in its tourism and Information Communication Technology (ICT) charms to other countries, by spending from their own pockets.

"I believe Cebu has a big potential. The private sector must help in promoting Cebu to generate investments, therefore improving employment," the shy-type, but sharp-thinker Sam said.

This 41-year-old civil engineer is a multi-faceted businessmen and a public servant. He is the Honorary Consul of Portugal, and currently sits as the Dean for Consular Corps of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter.

Although, he was already in the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) board of trustee core group in the last few years, Sam has been a "silent worker." Now that the chamber picked him to head the CBM 2007, he had no choice but to "come out in the open."

Indeed, "silent water runs deep," Sam is making a mark in the CBM 2007 celebration this June. The brave international roadshow, touching base with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Hawaii, would not be realized if not for his firm and determined leadership.

Sam is managing a few family-owned companies such as Benedicto College Inc., Cadiz Steel Corporation, Chioson Development Corporation, FLB Industries Inc., FLB Holdings Inc., and CTB Development Corporation,

With these responsibilities he has on hand, this San Carlos University (USC) graduate, could have easily turned down the offer for CBM 2007 chairmanship, but he said, he can not say no, as he knows that he has something to contribute.

His network in the Consular core has helped him pursue the CBM 2007 International Roadshow, which idea at first was considered as very ambitious, because of the limited financial resources.

He hopes that with this initiative, bringing the institutionalized CBM to international arena would be the start of active private-sector led promotional activities for Cebu.

Married to Emily Benedicto-Chioson 15 years ago, the couple is blessed with five children — Bernard (13), Charmaine (11), Francesca (9), Katrina (7) and Emilio (4).

Aside from keeping his businesses afloat — dividing his time between several external responsibilities, Sam is a "certified" family man, saying "he is willing to drop everything for his family."