When the 45th annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors is held in Metro Manila early May, the buzz will be not only about banking or finance, but also about gracious style and dining, done the Filipino way.

The finance ministers of the 67 member countries will be hosted at dinner by the country’s leading business figures—right in their homes. Tapped to host the dinners are the Philippine business/industry icon Washington Sycip, Jaime Augusto Zobel, George Ty, Philip and Sandy Romualdez, Lance Gokongwei, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Henry Sy Jr., Mikee Cojuangco, Jesus Tambunting.

The dinners will be held simultaneously in these residential venues first week of May.

These power hosts have been meeting with the Who’s Who in Philippine dining to plan the dinners. Among those collaborating with the hosts are Margarita Fores, chef Gilbert Pangilinan of Kai, Glenda Barretto of Via Mare.

This is a significant event for the country. About 4,000 delegates from ADB’s 67 member countries will fly in. That the Who’s Who of Philippine business and finance have agreed to open their homes to the finance ministers of participating countries is indeed proof that this is an era the public sector has the decent backing of private business, that they work hand in hand for the national good.