The 28th National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo (NRCE) — organized by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the country's biggest organization of top-notch retailers and prime movers in the retail industry — lived up to its billing as the most important and grandest retail industry event in the country as it was attended by almost a thousand top executives of retail giants in the local and international markets. PRA President Rosemarie Bosch Ong, who led the opening of the Stores Asia Expo 2022, the twin activity of the conference, said the PRA remains optimistic the retail sector's growth and recovery will continue despite the rising inflation rate, and that the sector is strongly getting back from the setbacks of the pandemic. Photo shows (from left first row): Wilcon Depot Inc. founder and Chairman Emeritus William Belo; Wilcon Depot Inc. President and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan; Global Retail Expert Tom Oliver, founder of The Tom Oliver Group; PRA Chairman Paul Santos, president, Picture City; PRA President and SEVP/COO Wilcon Depot Inc. Rosemarie Bosch Ong; PRA Vice Chairman Ma. Alegria Sibal-Limjoco, chairman of Phoenix Publishing Inc. and Central Books; Tania Gil-Padilla, Enterprise Sales head and vice president, Globe Business; SM Retail VP Corporate Communication Cathy Ileto; Stores Asia Expo 2022 Chair Shirley Ng, SVP-Retail Expressions Stationery Shop; NRCE 2022 Overall Chair Donnie Tantoco, president, Rustan Commercial Corporation; (second row, from left), PRA Director Chan Kok Bin, chairman, CMG Retail, Inc.; Mars C. Chua, chairman, Sportshouse Intl. Leisure Inc.; Roberto Claudio Sr., chairman, Quorom International, Inc. (Toby's); Socorro Bautista, president, Blooming Ventures, Inc.; Bb. Pilipinas Miss Grand International Roberta Angela Tamondong; Bb. Pilipinas Miss International Nicole Borromeo; Don Rae, senior advisor, Globe Business; Naresh Ahuja, chairman and CEO, ETP Group; Ricardo Carlos Fong, Business Consulting head PLDT Enterprise; Bb. Pilipinas Miss Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano; and Bb. Pilipinas Miss Globe Chelsea Fernandez at the opening of Stores Asia Expo 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO