Last June 19-22, I was finally able to visit one of the few regions in the Philippines I had previously not set foot in.

Thanks to an invite from Summit Hotels and Resorts to  cover the grand launch of Summit Hotel Tacloban last June 21st, I was finally able to visit the Eastern Visayas Region, more specifically the regional capital of Tacloban.

Included in our itinerary was a city tour on June 20, where we visited three iconic landmarks of Tacloban: the 2.6 kilometer San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte, reputedly the longest bridge in the Philippines, the MV Eva Jocelyn Yolanda Marker, a tribute to the fatalities, survivors and heroes who helped rebuilt the city after Super Typhoon Yolanda   in Bgy. Ambong, and what interested me the most, the MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park some 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) south of Tacloban.

This monument intrigued me the most because it is forever linked in history between Tacloban and my home city of Cagayan de Oro. First, the back story.

On March 11, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, his family and general staff left Corregidor upon orders of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proceed to Australia where the war against Imperial Japan would be continued.

MacArthur at Del Monte in March, 1942 with Generals Marshall & Sutherland (MacArthur Memorial Archives)

After two harrowing days aboard four Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats, of which only 3 made it through, they landed at Cagayan’s Macabalan Pier 7AM on March 13, after which they motored to the Del Monte Airstrip in Manolo Fortich, and took off on March 17 in two B-17 bombers for Australia.

While on at a train stop at Terowie on March 20, MacArthur uttered the most famous words to come out of World War II.

On being asked if his would reach the United States he replied: “The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed to Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing an American offensive against Japan, the primary purpose of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return.” 

Although he repeated the phrase in a number of other places, this was the town where he first spoke the immortal phrase.

And therein lies the historical link between Cagayan de Oro (as Cagayan is now known) and Tacloban, more specifically in Barangay Candahug, in the Municipality of Palo, where one can find the iconic MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park (also called the Leyte Landing Memorial Park, and MacArthur Park by the locals).

MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park at Palo, Leyte

On 20 October 1944, the U.S. Sixth Army landed on Leyte while MacArthur watched from the light cruiser USS Nashville. That afternoon he arrived off the beach.

The advance had not progressed far; snipers were still active and the area was under sporadic mortar fire. When his craft grounded in knee-deep water, MacArthur requested a landing craft, but the beach master was too busy to grant his request and MacArthur was compelled to wade ashore. 

The iconic picture of the Leyte Landing on Oct 20, 1944 by MacArthur’s personal photographer Gaetano Faillace

Always a controversial figure whenever he went, the Leyte Landing remains shrouded in controversy to this day, with many insisting MacArthur’s Landing was staged, even though CBs Radio Correspondent William J. Dunn, who came ashore with MacArthur (the only person in the sculpture without a hat)  denied these allegations, saying the rumor “is one of the most ludicrous misconceptions to come out of that war.”

After landing on the beach, MacArthur read his prepared speech:

“People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives, and of restoring upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.”

SOWESPAC GHQ Proclamation

A bronze plaque of this proclamation can be found in the memorial.

The park’s focal point are the seven 10-foot tall bronze statues on a shallow man-made pool depicting MacArthur and his entourage during the historic A-Day Landing as captured in the iconic photo by MacArthur’s personal photographer Gaetano Faillace.

They were President-in-exile Sergio Osmeña, MacArthur’s Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland , Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo, Major General Courtney Whitney, Sergeant Francisco Salveron and Dunn.

Designed by sculptor Anastacio Caedo  and inaugurated during the 37th anniversary of A-Day in 1981, the statues mark the spot where MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return at Red Beach, so called after the U.S. military’s color-coding scheme during World War II. Thus, White Beach was in Tacloban, Blue Beach in Dulag, and so on. 

Two plaques in Filipino (left) and English (right) explain the significance of the scene being depicted are found in front of the statues standing on a man-made pool. A museum stands adjacent to the site which contains historic photographs and other memorabilia of General MacArthur including a copy of his speech upon landing and a bronze cast of his footprints.

The Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary commemorates the euphoria of October 20, 1944 which people now in their 80s and 90s regard MacArthur as the “Savior of the Philippines.” 

75th Anniversary Reenactment of Gen. MacArthur meeting Gen. Sharp at Macabalan Pier on March 13, 1942 (photo by Aicy Soriano)

The country’s liberation would have come later had not MacArthur insisted on invading the Philippines first, since the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Gen. Marshall originally planned to take Formosa (Taiwan) ahead as the launching pad for the final invasion of Japan. 

This decision is credited in history as responsible for saving thousands of Filipino and American lives from Japanese atrocities  had the Allies decided to invade Formosa first. 

The annual memorial rites and reenactment of the historic Leyte landing have been attended by local and foreign dignitaries from the member nation of the Allied Forces, World War II veterans and their families, national and provincial government officials, students, and representatives from various sectors of the community. 

Next year promises to be an especially big year as the country marks the 75th Diamond Jubilee of the Leyte Landing.

There are daily flights to Tacloban City from Manila and Cebu. From Tacloban City, you can take a “St. Paul/Campetic.” jeepney (Php 8). Get off at Campetic Crossing then take a pedicab (Php 10) to the park. Travel time from Tacloban and the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport to the park via the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26) is around 20 minutes.

Located at the center of Tacloban City’s uptown area with average travel times of 12 minutes and 22 minutes from air and seaports, respectively, there’s always something to see and do when staying at Summit Hotel Tacloban.

For booking and reservations, visit www.summithotels.ph. For more information and exciting news about the Summit Hotels and Resorts properties, follow Summit Hotel and Resorts’ Facebook and Instagram accounts (www.facebook.com/SummitHotelsAndResortsPH, www.instagram.com/summit_hotels).

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The TRX Suspension Trainer combines bodyweight resistance training with multi-planar movement patterns to stimulate improvements in core stability, strength, flexibility, and balance.

TRX & RIP Trainer

I consider it to be one of the most versatile and effective piece of exercise equipment available which you can take anywhere. It’s light, can fit into any gym bag or a small rucksack ad comes with different anchors so that it can be rigged ready to use anywhere. 

The TRX is second to none when it comes to the following three training approaches:

Core training

Your center of gravity is located just above your hips along the midline of your body. TRX training is designed to intentionally displace your center of gravity, activating your core musculature during every exercise to help stabilize and balance the body contracting the muscle around your spine. 

Pulling exercises

TRX pulling exercises allow you to train all of the muscles involved with pulling (back, biceps, shoulders, traps, forearms, glutes and hamstrings) at once, so you’re working your entire posterior chain.

Train Anywhere with TRX

For example, while a standard seated row engages the muscles in your back, a TRX row engages your entire body to maintain form during the row and at the same time it promotes good posture.

Unilateral training

Many injuries are due to muscular imbalances. With DTA Personal Training I use Functional Movement Screen (FMS) to find these imbalances and correct the issue using the TRX or the RipTrainer.

Unilateral training (single arm or leg) is important to help identify and strengthen muscular imbalances and/or weaknesses.

Dynamic Training Approach

An easy way to understand how muscle imbalance occurs during training is the shoe lace theory. If you pull on a shoe lace on your shoe at one end the shoe lace becomes longer where the pull is coming from while the other end shortens. This is the same for our muscle. Compensation can cause improper use of a muscle.

These strains can cause pain and may limit movement within the affected muscle group which can result into injury.
In addition to training smart with intelligent corrective exercises, a simple way to avoid muscular imbalance is to perform unilateral training.
The TRX and RipTrainer are great tools for movement prep, recovery and regeneration, and flexibility training. Its versatility allows us to get a great workout whether at home, on vacation or traveling for work.

Anyone can use the TRX because it is simple to increase or decrease the difficulty of any given exercise. When training with the TRX, remember the following points:

• Modify your body angle: Create a steeper body angle by moving your feet towards the anchor point to make most standing exercises more challenging (and vice versa).
• Change your base of support: Widen or offset your stance to decrease the difficulty. A single leg or narrow stance will increase the difficulty.
• Maintain tension: Keep the TRX straps or the RipTrainer cord tense to ensure the exercise is performed safely and effectively.

I recently had the pleasure and fun introducing my exercises—the old school method of “alphabets”—rather than what the individual exercises are commonly known as in the fitness industry. It’s such an under rated technique. Plus, it really surprises me that not many teachers use this method when using the TRX or any suspension trainer because everyone can relate to I, Y, T, etc. and it’s easier to remember.

Coach Noel Villa with Coaches and Mana Movement Studio TRX Family

Whatever your program may be, be it Weight Loss, Strength or Endurance Training, studies have proven that multi planar movement with weight training will raise your heart rate, create energy, and burn fat which ends up boosting your metabolism. If you are based in CDO and would like to know more about the TRX Suspension Training, check out the guys at Mana Movement Studios along J.R. Borja Extension.

Dynamic Training Approach

If you’d like to learn more about implementing fun new TRX & RipTrainer exercises into your routine or have a private personal training session to get you to your fitness goal, contact: DTA for Fitness 0908 888 2870 or visit www.facebook.com/dtaforfitness

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Homegrown artisanal ice cream brand Moonsky & Sunny (formerly Freezie) has been relaunched at the ground floor of Ayala Centrio Mall with over 20 flavors to choose from!

Freezie has been rebranded as Moonsky & Sunny now at the ground floor of Centrio Mall (RMB)

“I am thrilled to relaunch Freezie in Ayala Centrio as a revamped brand, Moonsky & Sunny. It sports a more sophisticated and authentic look that embodies the spirit of its biggest fans, the millennials,” said Co-Founder and Chief Finance Officer Jayhan Regner.  

Moonsky & Sunny Founder and CEO Pie Regner with Co-Founder & CFO Jayhan Regner

Created with the finest ingredients, Moonsky & Sunny features new flavors, among them: Tea-Mangosaurus-Rex, seeped to perfection in the finest black tea, and Amaretti e Varonnica, infused with Italian almond-flavoured liqueur.

Even the everyday becomes a special treat with refreshing coolers that goes perfectly well with ice cream. Moonsky & Sunny has been shaking and serving an exciting selection of drinks since May 12 with their special mix of strawberry with calamansi and pineapple with ginger.

It was a little over a year ago when it all started in the family’s pantry. Now, the homegrown brand has grown to six branches, three in its hometown of Cagayan de Oro and three in Cebu. From being a local brand, they are now looking forward to bringing their creamy cool treats to other cities.

“We pour a lot of thought and creativity in crafting each of our unique flavors. From whisking together that perfect blend to brainstorming on witty and punny names like Matcha Do About Nothing, Finding Duri, to Lemon LemonSinta, we hope this makes everyone come back to that sense of wonder and surprise that they get every time they try our ice cream,” Jayhan adds.

Moonsky & Sunny Kiosk can be easily accessed from Centrio Mall’s Capt. Vicente Roa St. entrance

Moonsky & Sunny slowly becoming a household name, not just in its hometown, Cagayan De Oro, but as well as in Cebu, reaching places one scoop at a time. 

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Manila, July 2, 2018 – Leading Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) has signed an agreement with Switzerland-based IPR Conversions Ltd to convert two of its ATR 72-500 passenger aircraft into freighter aircraft. This will make Cebu Pacific the only passenger airline in the Philippines currently with dedicated cargo planes.

“We will be able to offer cargo capacity that no other carrier in the Philippines can provide,” said Lance Gokongwei, President and CEO of Cebu Pacific, “With the freighter aircraft, we will further support the growing needs of the logistics industry, especially as the Philippines’ e-commerce businesses expand rapidly and look for faster delivery schedules.”

Cebu Pacific expects to receive the first of two converted aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2018. The cargo aircraft will continue to be operated through CEB’s wholly owned subsidiary, CebGo.

IPR Conversions, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is one of the leading ATR freighter conversion service providers in the world. The conversion of two of CEB’s passenger ATR 72-500 aircraft into dedicated air freighters involves the installation of a large cargo door, allowing the easy loading and unloading of standard containers and pallets used throughout the aviation industry. The aircraft will have space for seven (7) AKE Unit Load Device (ULD) containers; and can carry over seven (7) tons of cargo.

Both aircraft will be converted at the facility of Sabena Technics DNR S.A.S. in Dinard, France. Sabena is one of France’s leading maintenance and modification services (MRO) providers for both civilian and military aircraft.

This marks the first foray of Cebu Pacific in operating specialized aircraft to transport cargo. 

With a longer body to fit in more freight, an increased wingspan and more powerful turboprop engines, the ATR aircraft is ideal for expediting the transport of high-value and time-sensitive commodities such as marine products, computer equipment and even heavy machinery to various points across the country. It is suited to landing and taking-off in airports with runways less than 1.2 kilometers long—which is too short for jet aircraft.

Only about one-third of the 90 airports in the Philippines can land jets.    

Cebu Pacific has about 50% market share for domestic air cargo, currently utilizing belly space of its passenger aircraft fleet. CEB’s cargo services have grown considerably, with revenues growing 29% in 2017, to PHP4.6 Billion; and 26% in the first quarter of 2018, to PHP1.3 Billion.

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Two Rotarians from Rotary Clubs in Cagayan de Oro, Rotary International 3870 were recently adjudged among the ten best in The Rotarian Magazine’s recently concluded 2018 Photo Competition.

The Rotarian’s 2018 Photo Contest

Both entries were cited with Honorable Mentions in the international photo competition which attracted over 1,100 entries from Rotarians all over the globe.

“Reviewing this year’s submissions, we saw photos that capture big scenes of celebration and small moments of connection,” read the introduction to the online article introducing this year’s winners which can be found at https://www.rotary.org/en/winners-2018-rotarian-magazine-photo-contest. “We saw images of Rotarians as people of action, working together to make our world better. And we saw breathtaking views of nature.”

“Our judge, Stephanie Sinclair, reviewed the images without any identifying information, with the unexpected result that two people each have two photographs on the following pages. In addition to the winners and honorable mentions in this issue, you’ll see more photos from the contest in The Rotarian throughout the coming year.”

Garnering Honorable Mentions in the prestigious completion were Dr. Carlo Antonio Romero, an ophthalmologist, from the 
Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (Mother Club) and Arch. Hipolito Busgano, an architect, from the Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro.

Frozen Lake at Preacher’s Point by Carlo Antonio Romero

In her comments about Romero’s entry of the Frozen Lake at Preacher’s Point in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Sinclair said, “Beautiful landscape with Technicolor light. The wide-angle perspective, not normally my favorite in landscapes, makes the viewer feel transported into the experience of being there.”

Children playing at man-made waterfalls in Bali, Indonesia by Arch. Hipolito Busgano

She was equally lavish in her praise of Busgano’s entry which was shot in Bali, Indonesia:  “This joyful image could have placed in the top three had the person on the far left not been looking at the camera. That said, it evokes a lot of emotion and deserves an honorable mention.”

Sinclair is a world-renowned photojournalist known for gaining unique access to the most sensitive gender and human rights issues around the world. She has documented the defining conflicts of the past decade with a fearless persistence. Her widely published images of the occupation of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan refute characterizations of violence in anything but human terms.

Although she has covered the dramatic events of war, many of Ms. Sinclair’s most arresting works confront the everyday brutality faced by young girls around the world. Her studies of domestic life in developing countries and the United States bring into sharp relief the physical and emotional tolls that entrenched social conventions can take on those most vulnerable to abuse.

Ms. Sinclair’s images mark an exchange of trust and compassion. But by consenting to be photographed at their most vulnerable, the people depicted in these images also demonstrate a rare bravery. You can read more about Ms. Sinclair and view her photographs at this link: https://www.rotary.org/en/photographer-advocates-rights-girls

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The Philippine Statistics Authority is requesting the public to support the National Migration Survey from May to August 2018.

The NMS aims to provide information on the mobility of Philippine population in orders to assist policymakers and program managers in evaluating and designing strategies for improving services and assistance to people going abroad or moving within the country.

In collaboration with the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), the NMS will cover 45,000 housing units over 900 cities and municipalities.

In Region X, the UPPI through its partner, Xavier University-Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU) has hired 20 enumerators and four field supervisors to collect data from 2,543 housing units from around the entire region.

The UPPI/XU-RIMCU team aims to visit 389 housing units in Bukidnon, 192 in Camiguin, 403 in Lanao del Norte, 389 in Misamis Occidental, 390 in Misamis Oriental, 395 in Iligan City and 385 in Cagayan de Oro City.

The PSA-RSSO X, through its five (5) Provincial Statistics Offices, will back staff the UPPI/RIMCU team during the enumeration period.

Households within the 2,543 housing units will be interviewed using the Household Questionnaire (NMS Form 1) to collect demographic and socio-economic information from all members of the household.

The respondent for this questionnaire is the head of the household. In case the household head is absent, any responsible adult member of the household who is sufficiently acquainted with the household members can be interviewed.

The NMS Form 1 permits the interviewer to identify household members eligible to be interviewed with Individual Questionnaire (NMS Form 2). All the household members 15 years old and over with migration experience, and one non-migrant household member are eligible to be interviewed using NMS Form 2.  

The NMS Form 2 collects information that directly concerns the individual respondent’s migration experience. In particular, topics include: first-ever migration and migration in the past five years, pre-migration situations, motives for moving, job/business in the host city/municipality (in the case of internal or within the country migration) or host country (in the case of international migration), migration networks and assistance received in host city/municipality or country, engagement/membership in migrant associations and training/education received (abroad), return migration, current job/business, remittances, migration intentions, and experience on involuntary labor/work arrangement.

The PSA encourages the public, especially the sampled households, as well as local officials, to support and cooperate in the conduct of the NMS. The Region X team starts its enumeration on June 25 and shall end its enumeration on August 30, 2018. 

The Eastern Visayas Region, particularly the regional center of Tacloban City, is looking forward to hosting more large scale conventions and conferences with the recent grand launch of Summit Hotel Tacloban.

Summit Hotel Tacloban is conveniently located across Robinson’s Place Tacloban, a mere 12 minutes drive from Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

Summit Hotel Tacloban is the fifth property of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) under the Summit brand in the last nine years. The 138-room hotel is now the largest in the city, just across Robinsons Place Tacloban in the RLC complex in Marasbaras district.

“We are positioning Tacloban and Ormoc as MICE destinations. With more flights and boutique hotels being constructed after Yolanda. So there was a vacuum for bigger accommodations and function halls.  Every time we bid, that’s our drawback, we didn’t have a venue like this,” said Maria Trinidad C. Dacuycuy, officer-in-charge of the Department of Tourism-Eastern Visayas (DOT-VIII) during a press conference following the June 21 grand launch.

Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) is composed of six provinces: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar (Western Samar) and Southern Leyte. The regional center is Tacloban City, one of two cities of Leyte, the other being Ormoc. Calbayog City is the lone city in Samar, and one of the oldest in the country.

Latest available figures from DOT-VIII show over a million tourists visited the region in 2015 -last year with available data, and added some P9 billion (or US$182 million) to the Eastern Visayas economy. It was the highest tourism influx to the region to that date, compared to only 731,000 visitors and revenues of P3-billion in 2013 and 964,000 visitors and P7-billion revenues in 2014.

“Eastern Visayas is our major investment in Summit Hotels,” said Elizabeth C. Gregorio, general manager of Summit Hotels and Resorts. “It is now 80-85% complete, and has been in construction for the last two years. We expect it to be fully operational within the next two months including the opening of the restaurant.”

Summit Hotel Tacloban is the second RLC hotel to be opened in the city after Go Hotels, which opened in April 2012. Both are located within the same five hectare RLC complex which is dominated by Robinsons Place Tacloban, its first mall in Eastern Visayas which opened in 2009.

Before the opening of the Summit Hotel, the city had 80 hotels and lodging houses with 1,859 rooms.

Gregorio said RLC seeks to serve booming regional center with its malls and hotels.

“Summit Hotel will be a MICE facility,” she noted. “This is the first in Eastern Visayas and the first time that we have both a Summit and a Go Hotel in the same city.”

However, she stressed the group’s Summit and Go Hotels have not been competing, but very much complementing.

Summit Hotel Tacloban’s Raintree Ballroom is the largest in Eastern Visayas ang can accommodate up to 600 persons.

“Our Go Hotel is essential service, budget, the price point is also very affordable. Our Summit Hotel is still affordable but full service. Summit Hotel has a ballroom for 600-650 persons, so if you have a huge function, we’ve been able to attract more guests for the Go Hotel because of this. And they complement each other because we have them at different price points. Given the right opportunity, we would also like to use this model elsewhere.”

Mark Eugene Agullo, Summit Hotel Tacloban head of sales, said Summit Hotel Tacloban offers an inviting, inspiring and intimate venue for meetings, socials and other MICE events.

“We have meeting spaces that are ideal for groups of 30 to as many as 600 persons, for intimate meetings to big company gatherings. Exceptional personalized service with great attention to details, that makes event planning easy,” he said.

“We have the nicest and the biggest ballroom in the city which can be divided into three function rooms, named after the three major islands of Eastern Visayas: Samar, Leyte and Biliran. We also have 3 breakup rooms named after the capital city and municipalities of the islands: Tacloban, Catbalogan, and Naval. ”

Monica Casperino, Summit Hotels Director for Sales, said the group’s goal is to make it simple and easy when one comes to do business here.

“We want it to be a place where business doesn’t have to be a lot of work, where you’re actually able to create memories while you’re here, and to really take something back with you,” Casperino said during the hotel launch. “We are in the business of creating exceptional service and lasting memories.”

MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park at Palo, Leyte

Lisette Arena, Summit Hotels Marketing Director, said shopping is easy due to its proximity to Robinson’s mall.

“Summit Hotel Tacloban first shopping hotel concept in Eastern Visayas,” Arena noted. “It’s family-friendly with kid-friendly menus, and kids eat and stay for free if they stay with their families.”

She said other amenities sure to be appreciated by both business and leisure travelers are the hotel-wide free WiFi with dedicated router in each room for better WiFi experience, free access to the gym and swimming pool, 24/7 security with CCTV, and smart features and solutions for guests with special needs.

Since its soft opening last April, Cindy Gidal, Summit Hotel Tacloban Hotel Manager, said the facility has had a very warm welcome from the public and guests, and they already had a lot of inquiries for our ballrooms for events, and special occasions, with occupancy rates averaging 45-50% since opening.

Drixel Ortega, Operations Manager, Summit Hotels & Resorts, said this is another indication that in the hospitality industry, indeed, customer service is everything.

“In Summit Hotels and Resorts, we describe our set of customer service values as Personable Service. Giving particular focus to all or one of these particular service values everyday inspires us to go beyond your expectations. These are our service values: Care, Kindness, Cheerfulness, Honesty, Efficiency and Teamwork.

The MV Eva Jocelyn shipwreck memorial at Bgy Anibong, Tacloban City

Located at the center of Tacloban City’s uptown area with average travel times of 12 minutes and 22 minutes from air and seaports, respectively, there’s always something to see and do when staying at Summit Hotel Tacloban.

For booking and reservations, visit www.summithotels.ph. For more information and exciting news about the Summit Hotels and Resorts properties, follow Summit Hotel and Resorts’ Facebook and Instagram accounts (www.facebook.com/SummitHotelsAndResortsPH, www.instagram.com/summit_hotels).

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PUBLIC ADVISORY:

All Smart, TNT and Sun Prepaid Loads now have One-Year Validity Period 

Starting Thursday, July 5, 2018, all Smart, TNT and Sun prepaid loads now have a validity period of one year. 

This includes all load denominations of Smart Prepaid, Smart Bro, TNT, Sun Prepaid, Sun Broadband Wireless Prepaid, Smart Link, Smart Marino, PLDT Prepaid Landline Plus and PLDT Home.

This development completes our compliance with the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 05-12-2017 issued jointly by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 

Previously, since January 6, the industry has implemented a one year validity period for prepaid loads P300 and above. Moving forward, prepaid loads below P300 will also have a validity period of one year.

We thank the government for giving us enough time to perfect this implementation and ensure the best possible experience for our customers.

Mon Isberto

-Ramon R. Isberto

Head, Public Affairs Group

Smart Communications, Inc.

[END]

The Philippine Statistics Authority is soliciting the general public’s support for the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey to be conducted on July 2018 and January 2019.

The FIES is a nationwide survey of households undertaken every three years. lt is the main source of data on family income and expenditure, which include among others, levels of consumption by item of expenditure as well as sources of income in cash and in kind.

The results of FIES provide information on the levels of living and disparities in income of Filipino families, as well as their spending patterns; provide benchmark information to update the weights used in the estimation of Consumer Price Index (CPl); and provide inputs in the estimation of the country’s poverty threshold and incidence.

The 2018 FIES to be conducted by the PSA will cover 180,000 households and involve some 6,800 statistical researchers and field personnel nationwide.

PSA said this sample size is deemed sufficient to provide reliable estimates of income and expenditure at the national, regional, provincial and highly urbanized city (HUC) levels.

The 2018 FIES enumeration will be conducted twice : first visit in July 2018 and the second visit will be in January 2019. The same set of questions will be asked for both visits. The first visit has a reference period of January-June 2018 and the second from July-December 2018.

In Region 10, a total of 10,293 households in five provinces shall be visited. There are 363 statistical researchers from the five provinces who are trained to conduct the 2018 FIES.

PSA 10 shall visit 1,558 households in Bukidnon, 768 households in Camiguin, 1,680 households in Lanao del Norte, 1,564 in Iligan City, 1,549 in Misamis Occidental, 1,556 in Misamis Oriental and 1,618 households in Cagayan de Oro.

In line with this, the PSA 10 encourages everyone in the region, especially the selected sample households, to support and cooperate in the conduct of the 2018 FIES. Data collection period of the first visit will be on July 9 – July 31. 

For further inquiries, please contact Statistical Operations & Coordination Division, Philippine Statistics Authority,  Regional Statistical Service Office 10, 2nd Floor, Bldg. 4, Pride Rock Business Park,Gusa Highway, Cagayan de Oro City. Email:psaregion10@gmail.com. Telefax (088) 856-4778  (RONALDO C. TAGHAP, Regional Director Region 10) 

Young Kim Joo Hyung moves a few steps away to scoring a breakthrough (photo from pgt.ph)

CAGAYAN de Oro – Kim Joo Hyung checked a shaky finish with back-to-back birdies, matching Jobim Carlos’ fiery windup to hang on to a one-stroke lead with a 69 and stay on course for a breakthrough in the ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship here yesterday. (Full Article here…)

“Paying it forward”

Former National Muaythai Athletes and now coach Jay Harold Gregorio and Jonathan Suello Polosan, facilitated the first day of the Muaythai Intensive Khan Course 2-3 at Mindanao Ultimate Mix Martial Arts (MUMMA) in Cagayan de Oro City.

Coach Jay Harold Gregorio and Jojie Pajaron guiding young coaches Peter John Ramao from Elorde, Cagayan de Oro (left) and Bryan Orica of Yugo Camp, Iligan (right).

They were joined by IFMA World Championship Bronze Medalist Jojie Pajaron and coaches from Butuan, Illigan, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro cities.

Upon their successful completion of the three day course, the coaches will add to the growing Muaythai Certified Instructors within the Region who are affiliated with the Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP), the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The next Khan Graded Intensive Muaythai Instructors Course for modules 1-2 will be held in Manila on July 20-22 while modules 3-4 will be on July 27-29.

For more information on the following courses including updates on future events, please visit their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/officialmuaythaiphilippinesnsa

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The first Norfolk Sister City Association Cagayan de Oro Committee Student Summer Exchange program is now underway in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Student Delegates at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. with 3rd Sec. & Vice Consul Darrel Ann Artates, NSCA CDO Committee Chair Cheryl MacGarrigle and LEIPO Eileen San Juan.

Sponsored by the Cagayan de Oro Committee of the Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA), the intensive two week program aims to bring the youth from both cities closer together in a brief yet rich summer program that promotes cultural awareness, intercultural understanding and explore the history and heritage of the City of Norfolk, especially its ties with Cagayan de Oro through history during the Second World War. 

The delegates who were selected after an intensive screening process are Elkanah Ricardo, Grade 12, from Oro Christian Grade School; Shaddrach John Lloyd Daba, Grade 12, and Marlelle Paguidopon, Grade 12, both from Lourdes College High School, Lance Nathaniel Elot, Grade 11, and Earl Joy Lopina, Grade 12, both from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Senior High School and Reine Julia Madriaga, Accountancy-1, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan University. The group is being chaperoned by Eileen San Juan, Local Economic & Investment Promotion Officer (LEIPO) of Cagayan de Oro LGU.

The CDO Commitee of the Norfolk Sister City Association tendered a welcome reception at the residence of Jo Solinap & family by the Elizabeth River. (photo courtesy of Jojo Orencia)

The high school students will stay with “host siblings” to allow them to experience family life in another country’s setting, hone their interpersonal skills and cultivate life-long friendships.

“Norfolk Sister City Association is a great organization, remarked Cheryl Penat McGariggle, chairperson of the Cagayan de Oro Committee of NSCA.  “It has many programs that allow sister cities to deepen relationships through educational and cultural exchange.  I’m honored and privileged to Chair Cagayan de Oro Committee.”

Among the items in their itinerary are visits to the Nauticus, a maritime-themed science center museum; Chrysler Art Museum; a shipboard tour of the WWII era battleship USS Wisconsin, the beautiful Botanical Garden, the General MacArthur Memorial Museum, Virginia Zoo, Victory Rover cruise on the Elizabeth River touring one of the world’s busiest sea port and Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base which supports naval forces of the US Fleet Forces Command, operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, among others. The program ends with a visit to The Mermaid Factory, where the students will paint their own versions of Norfolk’s iconic Mermaid.

The student delegates enjoy the welcome reception hosted at the beautiful residence by the Elizabeth River of Jo Solinap’s family. (photo courtesy of Raylene Ann Baumgart)

The delegates had a meet and greet at City Hall with City Councilwoman, Andria McClellan and City Historian, Peggy Haile-McPhillips. Last July 5 they toured the US capital city of Washington D.C. and met with Darell Ann R. Artates, Third Secretary and Vice Consul (Public Diplomacy) at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines. Ambassador Babes Romualdez is on official travel overseas. The students enjoyed sightseeing the capital following their meeting.

“It is amazing to see how people from same hometown come together working towards the same goal,” McGarrigle noted. “The Washington D.C. tour was hosted warmly by Kagay-anons Litong and Rachel Roa, who drove the students and their chaperons around historic landmarks and sponsored dinner.”

The highlight of the exchange program is the participation to Norfolk Sister City Association’s Young Global Citizens,

“YGC is an educational program inspired by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization [UNESCO] and was developed in keeping with the organization’s mission through a partnership with Norfolk Public Schools and Summer Enrichment Program by exchange students sharing their culture and global views,” said Jennifer Priest, NSCA Executive Director. “YGC is presented at the Academy of International Studies at Rosemont in Norfolk, a half-day event, with interactions between Norfolk students and the visitors.”

The program is being conducted under the auspices of the Cagayan de Oro-Norfolk Sister City Sisterhood Agreement.

Cagayan de Oro became the 7th sister city of Norfolk in 2008 with the official signing of the sisterhood agreement by then Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and then Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula at the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Square.

The student delegates take a groufie at the Lincoln Monument with Eileen San Juan and Cheryl MacGarrigle

Former President Fidel V. Ramos recommended Cagayan de Oro be Norfolk’s sister city in the Philippines through the historical ties between both cities when General Douglas MacArthur successfully broke through the Imperial Japanese Navy blockade of Corregidor Island and landed in Cagayan on March 13, 1942 before flying to Australia on March 17 in two B-17s where he uttered the most famous words to come out of World War II upon his arrival: “I Shall Return.” MacArthur and his wife Jeanne are both interred at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, which is also the birthplace of his mother, Mary Pinkney Hardy MacArthur.

Like Norfolk and its ten sister cities, Cagayan de Oro is also a port city and through the initiative of Jaraula and Engr. Elpidio M. Paras inaugurated in 2008 the MacArthur Memorial at Barangay Macabalan modeled after his Philippine Field Marshall’s cap and where the Golden Lady iteration of Norfolk’s iconic mermaid is also found, a gift from the City of Norfolk.

The 1st Student Summer Exchange Program is the latest in a series of exchange visits which included the 1st Adult Exchange Program from Cagayan de Oro to Norfolk on May, 2016 and the 1st Adult Exchange Visit to Cagayan de Oro from Norfolk highlighted by the week-long 75th Diamond Jubilee of MacArthur’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia via Cagayan, Misamis and Diklum, Manolo Fortich on Feb. 13-17, 2017.  

“The success of the program is due in large part to the hard work of Cagayan de Oro Committee members,” McGarrigle said. “Both Adult and Student Exchange programs are the first major projects of the CDO Committee. The 75th anniversary MacArthur reenactment celebration in 2017 was the highlight of the first Norfolk Adult Exchange Visit.  This is just the beginning.  With the support of both sister cities chief executives, the Committee plans to carry steady inbound/outbound exchange with the MacArthur Museum Project in Macabalan as the ultimate goal.  Our committee’s mission remains to align with NSCA’s mission statement to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.”

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Pro Arnold Villacencio and team topped the one day Pro-Am Tournament held last July 3 at the Pueblo de Oro golf course in Cagayan de Oro City with a score of 55 (-17) to edge a field of 20 teams in the aperitif to the Philippine Golf Tour’s ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Golf Championship held July 4-7 at the same facility.

Champion team led by Pro Arnold Villacencio (4th from left) with amateur partners Raul Miñoza, Cris Maligmat & Allan Soriano (photo by Bong Mercado)

Villacencio teamed up with amateurs Raul Miñoza, Cris Maligmat and Allan Soriano to edge the teams headed by Pros Jhonnel Ababa and Reymon Jaraula. 

1st-runner-up team with (L-R) POGCC members Willann Rodolfo, Joel Penar, Rolly Cortejos & Pro Jhonnel Ababa (photo by Bong Mercado)

Ababa teamed up with amateurs Willan Rodolfo, Rolly Cortejos and Joel Penar to submit an identical score of 55 (-17) but finished first runner up via count back.

2nd-runner team led by Pro Reymon Jaraula, (4th from left) with amateur partners Julien Domingo, Ronald Magsico & Francis Barlis (photo by Bong Mercado)

Jaraula partnered with Julien Domingo, Ronaldo Magsico and Francis Barlis, also with an identical score of 55 (-17) but came in as second runner up, likewise by count back.

Other highlights of the Pro-Am included the following: Longest Drive – Harvey Sytiongsa (Hole#3), Nearest to the Pin – Dick Aguilar, and Nearest to the Line – Eugene Unabia (Hole #7).

The following participants also emerged as lucky winners in the raffle draw: Althea Paige Gaccion, Bing Espinosa, Roland Casing, Isagani Saguidang, Harvey Sytiongsa, Kahlik Taha, Rudy Litang and Florian Concepcion.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Pueblo Golf is the first and only world-class, all-weather championship golf course in the area.

The par 72 18-hole course has magnificent views of the mountains of Bukidnon with glimpses of Macajalar Bay from the back nine holes.

The complex layout will challenge players of all skill levels. The 4th and 13th Holes are Pueblo’s signature holes, featuring daunting natural ravines.

Pueblo Golf is ranked one of the Top Five courses in the country by Golfing Philippines, the only course to garner such a ranking in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Being an all-weather golf course, it is playable the whole year round. It is also environmentally sound, featuring five inter-connected lakes from which recycled water is drawn to water the course – an effective means to conserve water.

Pueblo Golf has played host to a number of major tournaments such as the PAL Interclub, the Rotary International Foundation golf tournament, the Southern Ladies Club, and many others. 

As the flagship circuit of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the Philippine Golf Tour holds at least 15 tournaments annually at various championship courses in the country, luring not only the rising stars and living legends of Philippine golf but also a slew of foreign players honing up their respective games for future cracks at the world ranking.

The birth of the region’s newest circuit – the PGT Asia – also means more and more opportunities for these rising and seasoned campaigners – locals and foreigners alike – which only guarantees exciting and thrilling battles for golf supremacy and Order of Merit honors.

In 2013, PGTI also launched the PGT’s counterpart, the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, which continues its steady rise to recognition with more foreign players joining, while linking up with the region’s leading circuits – the Taiwan and China LPGA.

The ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship is sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. With ICTSI as chief backer, the Philippines Golf Tour Inc. (PGTI) hopes to cash in on the gains it had in terms of boosting Philippine golf and providing Filipino pros a circuit that allows them to be substantially rewarded for their hard work and determination, and at the same time earn that chance to improve their play for overseas campaigns.

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CAGAYAN de Oro – Kim Joo Hyung became the youngest winner on the Philippine Golf Tour at 16, beating the hottest player on the circuit no less with resolve and resilience rarely seen on a teenager barely warming up on big-time tournaments.

Korean Kim Joo Hyung relishes his first victory in a young pro career (PGT photo)

But the rising Korean star, who honed his talent and skills at Riviera before moving over to Southwoods, proved he’s ripe for the picking, foiling Jobim Carlos with clutch birdies to capture the P3 million ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship crown by one on a final round 69 at the Pueblo De Oro Golf and Country Club last July 7.

Pressed by Carlos after 54 holes, Kim shook off the PGT Apo leg winner’s early charge and hiked his overnight one-stroke lead to three with a gutsy 35 at the turn. He then rode the backside pressure, including a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 11th, by coming through with three straight decisive birdies from No. 15 to frustrate Carlos and clinch the victory on a 72-hole total of 18-under 270 worth a whopping P550, 000.

The Filipino ace actually closed out with three straight birdies, a kind of finish that could easily win championships. But he fell short of forcing a playoff as Kim took a two-stroke lead to the final hole and wrapped up the win with a routine par windup. Carlos also made a 69 for a 271 and took the P370, 000 runner-up prize in the fifth leg of the PGT sponsored by ICTSI.

Korean Kim Joo Hyung holds his trophy as he poses with Pueblo De Oro Golf and County Club president Chrysler Acebu. (PGT photo)

“I was surprised to hear that (youngest winner on the tour). I just wanted to win this one, so it’s a bonus,” said Kim, who bested Miguel Tabuena’s feat when the latter nailed his first pro win at 17 at Splendido in 2012.

But what made Kim’s feat more impressive was that he did it in just his third tournament as a pro. After placing joint second with Aussie Tim Stewart in the PGT Q-School topped by compatriot Lee Song at Splendido last February, he decided to skip the first two PGT events to polish his game in Thailand for two months.

He debuted with a joint sixth place effort at Apo then duplicated his finish at Del Monte which he actually co-led with Tony Lascuña in the final round marred by a mid-round miscue that cost him a two-stroke penalty and eventually his title bid.

But the setback only made the young shotmaker hungrier and fiercer as he put in a pair of 69s and a second round 63 that shoved him past Carlos and into the lead he preserved up to the finish with another three-under card.

“Jobim made me earn it. I knew from the start that this was a possible scenario. But through hard work and patience, I was able to pull it off,” said Kim. “It was quite a challenge especially from a guy who has more experience than I am.”

While players his age would crack under pressure after that costly wet double bogey on No. 11 that enabled Carlos to again pull within one, the portly Kim showed he’s made of sterner stuff, matching his rival’s birdie on the next from five feet then went 2-up again with a tap-in birdie on No. 15 before trading birdies with Carlos in the next two holes.

“I told myself that it was OK that I can rebound from that mistake” said Kim of his No. 11 misfortune where he dumped his tee shot on the large lake guarding the green.

Carlos rued his flubbed birdie putt from 15 feet on No. 15 but praised Kim’s superb all around game all week.

“I know he’s been working hard for this,” said Carlos, who had hoped to nail a third victory after scoring a breakthrough at PGT Asia Riviera leg last month.

Lee Song, closed out with a 69 and took third place with 276 worth P215,000 while Kim Sung Wook underscored the Koreans’ solid showing in the P3 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. by finishing joint fourth with Tony Lascuña (69) and Jerson Balasabas (71) at 277. Each received P136, 666.

Elmer Salvador hit five birdies but bogeyed the last for a 68 and ended up tied for seventh at 278 with Reymon Jaraula, who shot a 69, while Japanese Takahashi Keisuke fired a 68 and tied Johvanie Abaño, who carded a 71, at ninth at 279 at the close of the Mindanao swing of the circuit backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT. 

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Xavier Ateneo Alumnus does it again

 

Media Wise Communications / MUSE books, the little company that could – has done it again—and done it in a really big way this year.

Media Wise Communications won four awards for three of its recent coffee table books at the 16th Philippine Quill Awards held July 9, 2018 at the Manila Marriott in Pasay City.

Already the recipient of numerous local and international publishing awards in previous years, Media Wise romped off with four awards at the 16th Philippine Quill Awards held July 9, 2018 at the Manila Marriott in Pasay City.

Winners of a Philippine Quill are considered to have achieved the pinnacle in business communication excellence. 

Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz, Media Wise executive creative director and CEO, said the company won four awards for three of its recent coffee-table books:  PNB: One Hundred Years of Service Excellence and St. Andrew’s School – One Hundred Years – Pro Deo et Patria (both in the Publications category) and The Maestro of Philippine Basketball (for Writing and Special Projects).

Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz

Cruz expressed great pride not only in its newest titles but also in Media Wise’s latest awards, explaining that for a boutique-sized yet agile publication company, it has consistently won more awards, including Philippine Quills, than many big organizations have through the years.

Ocampo Cruz was cited with a Merit Award by The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in the 2017 Gold Quill Awards program for the publication of  Jesuits In Mindanao: The Mission  under the Communications Skills Division (Category 26: Publications).

The IABC Gold Quill Awards are the global initiative of the IABC to recognize and award excellence in strategic communication worldwide, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry.

 Entries are evaluated against IABC’s standard of excellence, and the feedback from last year’s evaluators indicated that the standard of work for 2017 was some of the best seen in recent years.

Previously, Jesuits In Mindanao: The Mission won the Philippine Quill Award of Excellence for Publications under the Communications Skills Division at the 2013 Quill Awards, and another at the IABC Asian Pacific Silver Quill Awards held in Singapore last year.

Jesuits in Mindanao: The Mission was co-published with a fellow Xavier University alumnus, with the proceeds going to the Philippine Jesuit Aid Association (PJAA) for the benefit of the elderly, retired and infirm Jesuits, and the promotion of Jesuit vocations.

A sequel, The Jesuits in The Philippines: The Restoration is now in the works, the proceeds of which would most likely also be donated to the PJAA.

Meantime, PNB: One Hundred Years of Service Excellence also won a Gold Anvil Award at the 52nd Anvil Awards last year.

Ocampo Cruz began his first eight years of education at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in 1959 (Grade School, 1967). He moved to St. Andrew’s School in Parañaque City (High School, 1971) and the University of Santo Tomas (Bachelor of Fine Arts, major in painting, 1976).

A visual artist, advertising and publishing professional, Monching (as he is known to friends), is a multi-awarded publisher and artist.

After a stint with Sining Makulay CATV (a cable television company) and national broadsheet Manila Chronicle, he established his own graphic design and publishing company, Media Wise Communications, Inc. in 1993.

He won his first Catholic Mass Media citation as well as a Philippine Quill award for publishing MUSE, a magazine dedicated to art, culture and travel. He has had three solo art exhibits.

A proud product of XU Grade School, Monching also gained acclaim for his publication of the Ateneo de Manila University’s sesquicentennial coffee table book, 150: The Ateneo Way by Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ (2009); and Veritas Integras Justita: 75 Years of the Ateneo Law School published for the Ateneo Law School.

 Monching is married to Emilie with whom he has two children, Chino and Gio.

– INDNJC –

The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro will host a “Conversations” on Transforming Local-Global Partnerships in Pursuit of Durable Peace: The Mindanao Experience on Thursday, 12 July 2018 at the Dynasty Court Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

The day-long event will be conducted through ACDO’s Peacebuilding Program and the Institute for Peace and Justice Kroc School of Peace at the University of San Diego, California, USA.

For over a decade, research, practice and policy have increasingly demonstrated that peacebuilding efforts are more effective and durable when both local and international partners are meaningfully engaged in ending cycles of violence and helping communities heal and rebuild post-conflict.

These studies also cited that women’s meaningful engagement in peace processes effects the most sustainable peace.

Yet, after over three decades of investment in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and nearly two decades since the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, international solidarity and initiatives remain deeply fraught.

Individual peacebuilders and/or peacebuilding organizations affirm the imperatives of international solidarity, and cite that ineffective local-global (insider-outsider) partnerships adversely affect their ability in helping end cycles of violence. Hence, this “Conversations”.

This conversations aims at identifying gains or gaps, impacts on women and local governance, and some prospects on peacebuilding work in Mindanao; identifying what’s working and where persistent challenges exist in funders’ collaborations with local actors, including women peacebuilders.

It also seeks to highlight innovative examples of effective funding collaborations; gathering feedback on the principles proposed for the Peacebuilding Partnership Compact; and identifying next steps to advance the partnership compact discussions.

Abp Antonio Ledesma SJ, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro

Among the personalities expected to grace the event are Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J.,D.D.; Jennifer Bradshaw, Program Officer, Institute for Peace and Justice, Kroc School of Peace, University of San Diego, California and Rep. Arlene J. Bag-ao (Dinagat Provinces, Caraga Region) who was the first Executive Director of Balay Alternatives Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw (BALAOD-Mindanaw).

Also expected to join the Conversations are  Peacebuilding Partner Implementers including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Academe, Faith-based and government institutions and funding partners.

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August 9-10, 2018 at SMX MOA, Pasay City

The National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) has been the center piece of the Philippine Retail Association’s (PRAs) efforts in helping retailers attain and retain global competitiveness.

This annual event has served as the hub for retailers and partner industries to update themselves on the latest trends, developments and technologies in retailing, and provide them with new and relevant learnings year after year for over two decades. It will be held on August 9-10, 2018 at the SMA Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila. 

The NRCE is also a venue for bringing together the key movers and shakers of retail and its allied industries where over 800 major retailers, CEOs and top-level executives from various parts of the country converge. 

Back-to-back with the conference is the Stores Asia Expo, the only focused and dedicated retail supplier’s exhibition in the Philippines. It brings together in one event Retail Solutions, E-Commerce & M-Commerce, Shopfitting & Store Designs, Digital Marketing as well as Retail Marketing. It also serves as the most significant avenue that directly links retail suppliers to their primary market. 

With over 3,000 highly qualified visitors and decision makers, the two day retail suppliers’ exhibition is the biggest in the Philippines and is one of the longest running retail suppliers’ expos in Asia. 

NRCE 2018: Reinventing Retail

With all the challenges brick and mortar stores face today, especially from online and digital retail channels, retailers have to reinvent themselves to remain relevant and competitive. 

It is now time for retailers to step up the ante in their business. Keep up with the pace of the industry and create strategies to meet the current consumer demands, as well as achieve a perennial advantage in an increasingly demanding industry.

Depending how an ongoing project on water management goes, Dutch flood experts could be tapped to evaluate Cagayan de Oro’s persistent floods in the near future.

During a recent talk during the 2nd Quarter General Membership Meeting of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber), Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marion Derckx said its possible Dutch experts could be deployed to look at possible options to mitigate the city’s perennial flood problem.

Dutch Ambassador Marion Derckx addresses the Oro Chamber’s 2nd Quarter General Membership Meeting.

“The Netherlands is working with NEDA in Manila for development of a P75-M Master Plan for Manila Bay which will provide various options on how to integrate the interests of all stakeholders with the plans of the government, including flood control,” Derckx said in reply to a query during the open forum following her talk asking if Dutch experts could be tapped to help solve the city’s flooding woes.

“There is already a project in the field of water with Dutch experts which is about how you manage your river. If you manage that well, the other things will also be taken into account. Very often when the Dutch come in, many more will follow, who knows?”

MOA signing on Partnership for Sustainable Water Supply-Ridge to Coast, Rain to Tap

Dubbed Partnership for Sustainable Water Supply: Ridge to Coast, Rain to Tap, the project seeks to protect and rehabilitate watershed areas in Talakag, Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City. It also has a reforestation component designed to safeguard Cagayan de Oro from constant flooding due to the degradation of forests and lands upstream. 

More specifically, it aims to support upstream and downstream activities to mitigate against erosion and flooding and ensure safe and clean drinking water to consumers in Cagayan de Oro city; mitigate flooding through integrated river basin management; enable climate resilient and improved management of water supply infrastructure; and improve water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in flood resettlement sites.

The public-private partnership project is part of a multi-stakeholder collaboration among the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC), , Wetlands International (WI), Vitens Evides International B.V. (VEI), Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), Unifrutti Group Philippines, FRRL Industrial Trading Corp., Hineleban Foundation, the Netherlands Red Cross and the Philippine Red Cross.

Of the 6,093.762 Euros total cost of the project, 50% will be subsidized by the Sustainable Water Fund (FDW) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the other 50% coming from counterpart funds from each of the partners for their respective components of the project.  This project runs from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022.

Cagayan de Oro and other urban centers and riverine communities have been experiencing unprecedented flooding over the last decade brought by climate change and unsustainable development practices especially in urban development and upland agriculture.

The Cagayan de Oro River Basin is the second largest river basin or watershed in Northern Mindanao, occupying an estimated area of 1,373.84 sq. km.

A water plaza in the Spangen neighborhood of Rotterdam in the Netherlands created to capture floodwater.

Relief aspect of the river basin indicates that it has a resistant basement rock formation and susceptible to erosion. Overall evaluation of the various basin parameters revealed that the inherent features of the river basin has made it naturally liable to flooding with anthropogenic activities exacerbating the extent of risks.  (Talampas,Cabahug, 2016)

At present, the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC) has been formulating a Master Plan to protect, preserve, rehabilitate and manage the watersheds, rivers, and forests of the Cagayan de Oro river basin.

High on its agenda is watershed rehabilitation and protection to ensure a steady supply of potable water for the expanding population living within its influence areas, as well as flood control.

A multi-stakeholder group of Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), civil society and religious groups, the council seeks to improve the quality of life of its stakeholders by upholding and implementing appropriate interventions to enhance better utilization of natural resources and to boost biodiversity along the watersheds and the rivers. It also encourages other stakeholders to participate in the formulation of management plans and strategies for the river basin.

Currently, the council‘s Board of Stakeholders acts as its policy-making body with the Executive Committee as the implementing body.

The BoS is composed of various agencies and institutions representing different sectors within the council. Meanwhile, the ExeCom is composed of Chairs of the council (ACDO, DENR and DILG), Chairs of each Technical Working Group (TWG) and the mayors of four (4) major LGUs/City within the river basin: Libona, Baungon, Talakag and Cagayan de Oro City.

Besides the Manila Bay Master Plan, the Dutch government is also coordinating with NEDA to help address flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Maeslantkering, an immense sea gate conceived decades ago to protect the port of Rotterdam, a monument to the Dutch mastery of flood control. is the world’s largest storm surge barrier.

In a previous talk upon the invitation of towns from the two provinces to share the Netherlands experience in flood control and disaster management, Derckx said the Dutch agency charged with these has a separate national budget and are not involved in the dynamics of local politics like in the Philippines.

 “It is now a challenge to all concerned to gather and discuss what to do. There should be unity in planning, action, funding, infrastructure, maintenance for the coming 100 years, and not just within the immediate years to come,” Derckx said.

“We love and hate water. We need water but it brings us destruction, we have to think of ways on how to deal with water during flooding and the dry season,” she added. (Estrope, 2017)

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The private sector and the Dutch government will seek ways to increase the scope of their partnership to improve agricultural production in Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao.

“Oro Chamber is keen in exploring opportunities for the establishment of Waste to Energy programs for greenhouses and also set up of incubation centers for agribusiness ventures,” said Ma. Teresa R. Alegrio, regional governor for Northern Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Dutch Ambassador Marion Derckx with Oro Chamber Pres. Robert Pizarro (2nd from left) and PCCI-10 Reg.Gov. Ghaye Alegrio(2nd from right) and Oro Chmber officers and staff.

The Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) led by President Robertino E. Pizarro and the PCCI met with Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marion Derckx last June 26 to explore areas of cooperation, particularly in agriculture.

“Our mission statement is to strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and the Netherlands, while contributing to inclusive development and a more sustainable world,” Derckx said in her talk during the Oro Chamber’s 2nd Quarter General Membership Meeting.

Dutch Ambassador Marion Derckx addresses the Oro Chamber’s 2nd Quarter General Membership Meeting.

“We look for opportunities where we not only make the entrepreneur richer but more people get good jobs and we contribute to a more sustainable world,” she added.

Derckx said she sees agriculture and agri-technology as the primary area where Dutch expertise can help ramp up Mindanao’s agriculture production.

“Holland is the world’s second largest agri-food exporter and the agri-food industry is among the top three contributors to the Dutch GDP with €50.2 billion (B) in added value, accounting for almost 10 % of Dutch economyand generating employment for 660,000 people,” she said.

The Netherlands exports nearly $100 billion a year in agricultural products, second only to the United States. This sector also generated €94-B in agricultural (food and technology) in 2016, of which approximately 80% is exported to EU-member states

Due to limited land for agriculture and growing population, Derckx said the Netherlands is constrained to push for innovation, and this innovation is driven by the “Golden Triangle” of Research, Business and Government.

“Collaboration between government, private sector, research institutions, on national, regional and local level, originates from traditional cooperation in education, research and education, but now also creates frameworks for innovation.”

“The Dutch agriculture sector intends to be the world leader in sustainable solutions in agriculture in 2020. It is too important not to be ambitious,” she said.

As an indication, drones and airplanes enable Dutch farmers to do more with less by giving them detailed pictures of which areas need more or less water, fertilizers or pesticides.

“Dutch farmers are constantly educated through government centers of information,” she stressed. “Thus, there is constant professional development across the whole value chain.”

Areas of cooperation

A research on how the Philippines and the Netherlands can cooperate has been completed and among the recommendations done by the study are the following.

“Currently most of the meat in the Philippines is imported and a lot is coming from the Netherlands. There ample opportunities for raising livestock and poultry in the Philippines at home. As you saw from the data what we can do in Holland, you could really have more in the Philippines. Our horticulture, pork and dairy are far ahead of others.”

Comparison of Productivity (FAO, 2014)

In a 2014 study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the comparison of productivity between the two countries, Dutch farmers could produce yields of 156 eggs per layer compared to only 49; 7,800 kgs of milk per cow vs. 3,600 kgs., and 13.7 metric tons of corn per hectare compared to only 2.9 MT/ha. in the Philippines.

“Domestic feed mill production, hatcheries, poultry and livestock housing, slaughterhouses – of the 75 accredited slaughterhouses in the Philippines, only four have Triple-A status,” Derckx noted. “There is also a need for smaller slaughter houses to service distant areas so you should have small solutions like we have in the Netherlands.”

Citing figures from the Department of Agriculture, the envoy said it is expected that by 2025, demand for chicken would rise by 50-60 percent and pork and beef probably 35 percent more.

Already, the Netherlands established in partnership with the DA the ATI-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry in 1985 at Lipa City, Batangas to provide training for pig farmers.

Derckx also addressed the problem of properly transporting fresh produce to the consumers.

“About 70 percent of what farmers produce in the Philippines is lost on its way from the produce to consumer,” she said. “There are many things that can be done there and we are specialized in it [transporting fresh produce].”

Waste to Energy

Region 10’s agriculture is concentrated in Bukidnon (pineapple, sugar cane, banana, corn) and Lanao del Norte (rice, coconut) while its industries are mainly found in Misamis Oriental (Phividec Industrial Estate) and Iligan City.  

Over time, its services and industrial sectors have become vertically and horizontally integrated, leading to varying degrees of interdependence and autonomy.

For instance, many agricultural products produced in Bukidnon are processed in Cagayan de Oro or the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental before they are shipped out abroad or to markets in the Luzon or the Visayas. Changes which adversely affect a specific link in this supply chain would inevitably have repercussions downstream and upstream of the affected sectors.

Mindanao key to PH development

The development of Mindanao in southern Philippines is key to the economic progress in the country, a World Bank study released earlier this year said.

“Unless there is development in Mindanao, it is hard to see how the Philippines can achieve sustained and inclusive growth,” according to the “Mindanao Jobs Report: A Strategy of MindanaoRegional Development.“

The report said the main challenge for Mindanao, like the rest of the Philippines, is how to speed up growth that creates more and better jobs and reduces poverty.

The study said that Mindanao hosts about a quarter of the country’s population, but about a third of the people there are poor. Significantly reducing national poverty hinges on reducing poverty in Mindanao, the study said.

“Because Mindanao is the Philippines’ main source of agricultural products, enhancing production there could reduce food and input prices, improve welfare, and make Philippine products more competitive,” the study said.

Systems Orientation

Derckx said it’s not only agri-technology which can make a great difference in agricultural production but also the systems orientation of Dutch farmers.

“One example that would be great for the Philippines that I think is going to happen is not so much the technology but the way we work. We don’t sell individual machines but we talk whole concepts. You have to organize the whole community to process the waste in a certain way. In the Netherlands we are systems people, we look at full systems.”

She cited how greenhouses in Holland are sited next to industrial factories in closed loop systems to the carbon dioxide from the factories enable the greenhouse crops to grow much faster.

Self-Sustaining Loop

“Greenhouses are now complete closed loops of production with rainwater harvesting, with no need for pesticides, and full recycling. Ninety one percent of the waste in the Netherland is recycled, the rest we burn off and whatever we burn is turned into energy. So successful we even import waste from the U.K. so there is no waste anymore.”

A long partnership

The Oro Chamber has previously engaged with the Dutch government and its various agencies in the city and region.

Among these is the Oro Chamber’s Business Development Centre at P.N. Roa Drive, Upper Carmen which was made possible through the assistance of the Dutch government in 2009. The Centre has so far been used for the conduct of several entrepreneurial training programs for Oro Chamber members;

 In 1991, Oro Chamber was a recipient of a grant provided by Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (Dutch: Netherlands Development Finance Company or FMO) for the establishment of  an Accounting Centre for its members . SME members were able to access bookkeeping and audit services from Oro Chamber for a minimal fee.

During the 1980s, the FMO tied up with the Oro Chamber and the Mindanao Development Bank to establish a Credit Guarantee Fund which helped non-bankable, start-up member companies of Oro Chamber improve and expand their businesses.

At present, the Oro Chamber and the PUM Netherlands senior experts through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provide short-term advisory and consultancy services for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)  in creative marketing and designs, and  productivity enhancement.  

Home grown companies  such as  SHAPII , SLERS Food Corporation, BusinessWeek Mindanao Publishing Corporation,  and San Roque  Cooperative  in  Dayawan  are just some of the SMEs who became recipients of this  program.

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