Somewhere in the Pacific is an island called Cebu. It sells itself as a hub for transnational trade, transportat, information technology, call centres and tourism.
What it discreetly neglects to say is that it is part of the Philippines.
Many of its foreign visitors never realise they have set foot in a country with an international reputation for high-profile kidnappings, bombings, festering communist and Muslim insurgencies and corrupt governance. Booming Cebu has been spared such troubles.
Cebu is more than happy not to correct the illusion. Its businessmen and government have embarked on a mission to transform this booming economy into an international brand.
'We have a dream of emulating Singapore, the similarities are so obvious,' Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.
This strip of land covering 5,000 sq km in the central Philippines is eight times bigger than Singapore but has only a population of 3.4 million, or a million fewer residents than the Lion City.