Investors keep eyes on hotels, condotels

By LEN VELASCO
Reporter

REAL property development continues its giant stride in Cagayan de Oro with new projects soon to dominate the city’s landscape, particularly hotels and upscale residential buildings.

In downtown Cagayan de Oro, construction is underway for the 18-storey hotel at the Limketkai Commercial Complex. If completed, the new 224-room hotel shall hold the distinction as the tallest structure in Mindanao.

Among the latest investment in this city’s vibrant real estate industry is the 3-storey 48-units Uptown Condotel project being developed by Plumbline Development Corporation located at the Business Park of Xavier Estates in Upper Balulang.

Still nearing halfway in its construction, Uptown Condotel is the fifth condominium project to be built in the city after the Korescoville 1, Korescoville 2, Courtyards, and the Primavera Residences Condominium being developed by an Italian firm.

It is the newest concept of vacation home where you can enjoy the comforts of modern living and earn additional income while your away on a business trip or holidays.

Mr. Erwin L. Pepino, Plumbline’s corporate secretary and vice-president for public relations, said that although this just their maiden project, the company is determined to make it the finest Condotel in the region and provide investors an opportunity to own a condo unit, and at the same time building their business.

“We’re bringing in a cutting-edge business concept that would lure investors into the city,” Mr. Pepino said.

“Our aim is not just to provide a hotel-like home atmosphere to our investors, local and foreign, but also give them prime investment opportunities in Cagayan de Oro’s real estate market,” he said.

Under its unique concept, Uptown Condotel units will all be privately owned by their respective buyers. But an option allows investors to enrol their units in the hotel management program where they can choose to either rent out their property on a “cooperative” basis.

Mr. Pepino explained that if an investor chooses to enrol his unit under the program, he can still earn even if his unit is not rented out.

“Meaning, our investors can sit down and relax in the comfort of their respective home away from us and still get dividends and yet their units are still intact and taken cared by the management,” he said.

Under the scheme, unit buyers can earn as much as 18.21% of their investment, a far cry from the less than 10% per annum earning when the money are kept in the banks.

Each unit is a 45 square meter area, bigger than a suite room and has a luxury hotel services such as 24-hour operator assisted telephone service (no need to apply for your own landline), Cable TV & Free Internet Connectivity, and 24-hour House Keeping (Room Service) on Demand.

All hotel units will have kitchen facilities and each unit’s T&B will be fitted with bathtubs. The standard unit price for the residential unit provides for the suite to be fully furnished. Included in the price are the appliances, fixtures, furniture and linen.

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Two Aboitiz power barges ease electricity shortfall

POWER barges AboitizPower Corp. have been in full operation since their ownership this year are being used to help ease the electricity shortfall in Mindanao.

     AboitizPower president and CEO Erramon Aboitiz said PB 117 and PB 118 each have a generating capacity of 100 MW. 

     Aboitiz said PB 117 is moored at Agusan del Norte, while PB 118 is moored at Compostella Valley.

     He said Mindanao draws 70 percent of its energy requirements from hydropower, making it prone to seasonal changes and disturbances like the El Niño.

     The PB 117 and PB 118 are like “floating power plants” that can be towed to different areas where electricity is needed. Both are huge boats that carry power plants and are connected to the Mindanao Grid through a substation of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

     AboitizPower took the risk of operating both power barges even without an actual approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the supply contracts in order to mitigate the supply deficit in Mindanao and lessen the rotating brownouts. 

     AboitzPower took over PB 117 and PB 118 through wholly-owned subsidiary Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) after it won a negotiated bid conducted by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. last year.

     AboitizPower took over PB 117 last March, while it took over PB 118 last February this year. Both facilities had been running non-stop after the two-and-a-half hour obligatory shutdown conducted in facilitating its turnover. 

     Running the PB 117 and PB 118, however, were only part of the solution in addressing the electricity shortfall in Mindanao, Aboitiz said.

     “Additional investment in generating facilities has to be attracted to the island and we think having the WESM (wholesale spot electricity market) operating in the Mindanao Grid is a prerequisite to any new capacity coming in. We firmly believe that a market and competitive environment will attract the required capacity for the Mindanao grid,” he said. 

     Aboitiz added that another factor that aggravated the energy shortfall in Mindanao is that the rapid growth in demand to electricity was not matched with a growth in generation capacity.

     “What Mindanao needs are base load plants to complement the further development of the region’s hydropower potentials so as not to be overly dependent on the weather and ensure adequate reserve capacity,” he said.

     Even with the power barges in place, AboitizPower still continues to grow its reliable energy base.

     “We are committed to provide ample power as and when needed, and we will continue to find effective solutions to our country’s energy requirements,” Aboitiz said.

            AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services. It is a major producer of renewable energy in the country with several hydroelectric and geothermal assets in its generation portfolio. The non-renewable portfolio consists of plants throughout the country. The distribution utilities it owns and operates are located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. pna

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Holy week at Igbalalay Hills

Tens of thousands of devotees from all walks of life are expected to troop to Igbalalay Hills this Holy Week to pay homage to their annual tradition for the Lenten season. Though relatively new, Igbalalay Hills now becoming the tourist attraction during and even off Holy Week season.- DMS

By JOE PALABAO
IGBALALAY Hills: Home of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the last four years has become a favorite site for devotees, faithful and visitors for Holy Week, summer time and the ordinary days of the week as they get away from rays of the summer heat and be with nature as they traverse a-four kiIometer trail surrounded with beautiful mountains and cross nine times the same tributaries of Tablon and Agusan up to Igbalalay Hills, Balubal, Cagayan de Oro City.

Visitors, either they go for meditation and prayers and or enjoy the very solemn, peaceful, relaxing ambience and commune with nature of the 5-hectare area considered as an Eco- Tourism Area and destination of local tourists, devotees and visitors. The area is being managed by Igbalalay Our Lady of Guadalupe Devotees Association, Inc. (ILOGDA) who takes care, maintains, and develop the area being allocated to them by the Balubal Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Association, Inc. (BISFF A) under the Community Based Forest Management ( CBFM) Project of DENR being facilitated by CLENRO with the support of City Tourism Office and the City Government and government agencies concern for development.

This Holy Week 2010, thousands and thousands of devotees, visitors and tourists are expected to visit the Site as they make a day of prayer and meditation and enjoy the natural amenities of nature.

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Industry players cite ways to solve Mindanao power crisis

WITH the continuing power crisis in Mindanao, big business groups and major industries in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions called on the national government to come up with short-term and long-term solutions to address the energy shortfall in the southern island.

The association of wood industries and association of mining industries and agriculture group in the Caraga region and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce spread all over the region also asked various electric cooperatives to help the state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) ease the current power crisis.

The business group and major business players in the region and this capital city feared that the power problem might even last up to 2015.
“This is very alarming,” said a Chinese businessman and member of a business chamber here who requested anonymity.

Technical staff and engineers of Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (Aneco), led by general manager Horacio T. Santos, are currently doing their best to mitigate the power problem as they court the Aboitiz Power Corp. to buy some 10 megawatt from their fossil fed-plant stationed at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Meanwhile, three business organizations in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental on Wednesday have unanimously called on the government to come up immediate and long-term solutions to address the Mindanao energy problem.

In a joint resolution, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber), the PIE-MO Industries Association and the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries (Coci) said the energy shortfall had resulted in rotating power cut off, affecting the operation of industries, including the micro, medium and small sized enterprises (MSME’s) where millions of pesos were already lost since January, this year.

They said economic activities in the island, particularly the agriculture-rich Northern Mindanao region, was severely affected by the power crisis.
The group came up with short-term and long-term recommendations to help solve the current power crisis.
They recommended the release of funds by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm) for the dredging of Pulangi IV, which can provide an additional 255 megawatts (MW) capacity, and the full operation of the 100 MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant.

The group also recommended tax exemption or tax rebates for fuel purchases used for power generation for the duration of the crisis in Mindanao and for the NGCP to come up with a realistic forecast on the power shortage for the months of April to June, this year so that distribution utilities can efficiently schedule their power curtailments.

The business group also asked the distribution utilities and grid connected industries to enter into bilateral contracts for the purchase or lease of power barges (bunker fuel) rather than modular generation sets (diesel) that are more expensive. They also called for the lowering of tariffs in the purchase of generating sets.

The joint resolution was signed by Jerome Soldevilla, president of COCI; Augustus N. Adis, president of PIE-MO Industries Association; and Jaime Rafael U. Paguio, president of the Oro Chamber.
As this developed, hydroelectric power plants in Lake Lanao and Pulangi plants in Bukidnon are still suffering low water level brought about by El Nino weather disturbance.

On Thursday, an NGCP advisory showed the power deficiency in Mindanao was still at 769 MW out of 1,279 MW Mindanao’s peak load.
Though there were incidence of rainfall in several areas of the island, water supplies in major lakes and rivers throughout Mindanao region continue to suffer from El Niño, leaving the island’s energy supply still unstable. PNA

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Steag bags championship in firefighters combat challenge

STEAG’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) bagged once again the main event championship title in the recently concluded 2010 Modified Firefighters Combat Challenge at the Limketkai Grounds, besting Nestle Philippines and Pueblo de Oro teams who trailed at 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. 

     Organized by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 10 and the Safety Organization of the Philippines Inc. (SOPI), the competition capped this year’s commemoration of fire prevention month.

     In the side events, Steag placed 2nd runner up in both bucket relay and fire extinguishment after Del Monte Philippines team garnered the championship in these categories.

     BFP 10 Regional Director Eleuterio Iturriaga expressed delight on the successful conduct of the fire prevention awareness campaign as he enjoins companies to continue providing support to government’s efforts in fire prevention and management. 

     Meanwhile, Steag safety and environment officer Francis Libao said the award attests to the adequate preparation of the team as he cites the conduct of continuing fire drills and exercises whole year round. 

     “Beyond this competition, we make sure that our team is equipped with the necessary skills in fire-prevention and management as these are essential to the safety and well-being of our company and our communities” Libao said.

     Libao also cited the company’s safety standard as he points out Steag’s attainment of more than 1.7 million safe man hours and Zero Lost Time due to Accident (Zero LTA).

            Steag’s ERT is composed of Christopher Ermac, Alex Biemen, Richard Yacapin, Roger Sajulga, Gibson Cabunoc, Antonio de Jesus III, Jefferson Vargas, Ronald Paderanga, Norvic Edurot, Julius Mar and Team Captain Demetrio Orozco.

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Hike in oil prices due to monopoly: LPG-MA

Pryce Gases, Inc. chairman Salvador P. Escaño with Atty. Raul Villanueva, PGI legal council, explains the importance of the LPG-MA party-list in congress during a press conference at Pryce Plaza Hotel recently. - File Photo


A TOP official of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPG-MA) has presented two major platforms of governance during the just-held press conference in Cagayan de Oro City once the LPG-MA will be able to get a seat in the House of Representatives.

Joyjoy Escaño, head of Pryce Gas and an LPG-MA nominee, said the party list 161 LPG-MA will wipe out the devastating monopoly in the LPG industry and that it will block all moves against the implementation of unreasonable hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Escaño said the presence of monopoly in the LPG industry had been adversely affecting poor households nationwide as the consumers are always at the losing end as they are forced to pay unreasonable high prices of petroleum products.
Saying that their demands are not even heard, Escaño said that it is the reason why party list 161 LPG-MA has decided to join the race for a seat in the House of Representatives.

In a statement, the LPG-MA said: “Most households prefer the lower-priced LPG of the small players.” It said: “A marked study will readily disclose that the LPG retail prices at the outlets of the Major Players are generally higher than those at the outlets of the Small Players by about 12 percent.”
The reason, it added: “Consumers understandably place a premium on price over packaging.”

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Rufus backs green agenda

By JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA
Staff Member
REPRESENTATIVE Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) has vowed to file more ‘green bills’ to keep Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental free from any form of environmental destruction.
Expressing all out support to the Green Agenda of the Legal Rights Center, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Xavier University Social Action Committee, Rodriguez disclosed the approval of his bill that declares Cagayan de Oro a completely mining-free and logging-free city.
“I fully support these green agenda because I believe that every government official should lead in protecting the environment and in asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to check whatever acts against our environment,” Rodriguez said.
He also revealed to have filed the Protected Landscape Bill that places Cagayan de Oro, Bonunawan and Monigue Rivers within a historical and protected area.
The bill disallows any activity that destroys the environmental, historical and economic conditions of the area, Rodriguez said.
Meantime, Rodriguez pushed anew his opposition to the proposed bio-ethanol plant in barangays Mambuaya and Bayanga by asking the Alcantara and Sons, Incorporated (Alsons) to settle the controversial project in the Phividec Industrial Area.
“I am not at all against the production and use of bio-fuel, but it should never be in Mambuaya and Bayanga so as not to spoil and destroy our Monigue and Cagayan Rivers,” Rodriguez pointed out.

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16 kms route links five MisOc towns

THE opening of the route sections in the 5 municipalities of the province of Misamis Occidental marks the beginning of agricultural progress in the area. The farm to market roads (FMRs) established were funded under the Mindanao North Coast Integrated Area Development Project (MNCIADP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The rehabilitated and improved FMRs situated in the municipalities of Tudela, Sinacaban, Panaon, Aloran and Plaridel has a total length of 16 kilometers, amounting to P20,067,426.00.

Of the total project cost, P6,770,000.00 went to the municipality of Aloran with a length of 5.7 kilometers; P3,807,426.00 to the municipality of Plaridel with 3 kilometers stretch while the municipalities of Sinacaban and Tudela have a total project cost each amounting to P3,250,000.00 with 2.5 kilometers length each site.
The municipality of Panaon rehabilitated 2.3 kilometers amounting to P2,990,000.00. The MLGU still shoulders the thirty percent (30%) of the total project cost while the 70% is taken cared by the DA.

The passable roads in the hinter barangays provided the farmers access to transportation that could easily bring agricultural inputs to their farms and their produce down to the market. With these projects, agricultural production in the province is expected to boost in the coming years.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director Engr. Roxanna H. Hojas, was thankful to the local government units for their support to the projects. She encouraged the farmers, as owner of the project to work together for the maintenance of the road.
She also emphasized that the opening of the route in the barangays provided the farmers the opportunity to produce more market driven crops that will give them better income. She hoped that the road will stay as passable as it is now, in the coming years.

On the other hand, the Local Chief Executives of the benefitting LGUs who graced the turn-over ceremony expressed their gratitude to DA for entrusting the project to them. It is their privilege to own this type of project that helps majority of their constituents in the municipality. It is therefore their responsibility to provide assistance to the barangay for the maintenance of the road and to maximize its use for economic growth of the municipalities

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‘Green’ org drafts 20 environment agenda for 2010 elections

AN environment advocacy group has drafted 20 agenda for the environment of Misamis Oriental which candidates should act upon once they are elected into office for the good of the environment and future generations of Misamisnons.

Carl Cesar Rebuta, team leader of the Cagayan de Oro City office of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth (LRC-KsK/FoE), also listed at least four characteristics of candidates who have a heart for the environment.

Rebuta said, voters should choose candidates who are “aware of the worsening state of our environment; recognized that the poor particularly the workers, farmers, fisherfolk, women, children and indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental degradation; acknowledged that a healthy environment is a basic right that should be enjoyed by the present and future generations; and ever mindful that the responsibility to be stewards of creation is a responsibility of each and everyone of us.”

But beyond all these characteristics, the ideal “green” leader should also be “heedful of the need to defend Mother Nature from being desecrated, contaminated and destroyed by apathy, greed, crass materialism, toxic wastes and chemicals, and the unsustainable use of the earth’s dwindling resources,” Rebuta said.

The 20-point environment agenda are: (1) Enact the Misamis Oriental Water Code, (2) implement the Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275); (3) Enact a Coastal Resource Management Ordinance; (4) Enact a Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance; (5) Implement a Comprehensive Drainage System to avoid flooding; (6) Support CdO Watershed Bill and Come-up a Mis. Or. Watershed parallel bill; (7) Support Organic Agriculture and farmers engaged in the practice; (8) Support the expansion of diversified farms and not monoculture farms; (9) Implement vegetative buffer zones around plantations; (10) Protect Mis. Or. forest lands.

Aside from the above, Rebuta said leaders should also (11) Relocate communities in hazard prone areas; (12) Strictly implement waste segregation; (13) Implement national Clean Air Act and the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance; (14) Help contain global warming; (15) Enact Ban Aerial Spraying Ordinance; (16) Enact the Environment Code of Misamis Oriental/CdO; (17) Develop and institutionalize a comprehensive environmental health program for Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro City; (18) Respect the rights of Indigenous and Moro Peoples; (19) Promote good governance and active partnership between government and civil society groups; and (20) Promote community-based management of resources.

Rebuta said he was prompted to draft the environment agenda after hearing all the nice plans, suggestion and comments of candidates to various elective positions but have not really lifted a finger to give concrete action for the good of the environment.

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Housing Update in Cagayan de Oro:

Lessandra now accepts Pag-IBIG financing

...Townhome for as low as P136 per day

I

N a bid to further reach out to those whose income could hardly meet both ends, Camella makes sure that every Filipino family has all the opportunity to have a residence they can call their own.

Camella Lessandra, a residential community gifted with the nature’s bounty and luxury of lifestyle living situated near the Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro City, now makes financing more easier, affordable and very flexible thru the Pag-IBIG housing loan program. 

 

Owning a house for as low as P136 per day is indeed not only enticing, but a rare opportunity for low-income families--a whooping P89 cut from its previous average daily amortization of P225. 

Mura na, mas pinamura pa! This is Camella’s practical solution to homeownership.

Camella’s simplified and straightforward payment scheme complements the convenience and expediency inherent in Camella Lessandra—for as low as P4,075 monthly amortization, the affordability of Lessandra remains unmatched. The low monthly amortization is the key to Lessandra’s affordability.

A Lessandra townhome and lot package only requires a 15% downpayment payable in 14 months with flexible loan and financing packages available to suit every homebuyers budget. Compare that to the average cost of current monthly rentals—initial costs usually cover 3-month deposit and 3-month advance—a hefty amount for families which goes down the drain and cannot be recovered and you get the picture why Lessandra is your best opportunity to own a house today. It is Camella’s most practical solution to the country’s urgent need to provide quality, affordable housing to thousands of Filipino families dreaming of owning a house.

Camella’s vision is to witness everyone to acquire and to invest a house and lot within their financial reach. Our mission is to uplift the morale of everyone by providing a home with tranquillity and enjoy the best life could give.

Camella Lessandra is a perfect community away from the city hustle and bustle, a haven for healthy living where you will enjoy beginning the day to the sound of nature and wildlife, and yet it is a community closer enough to lifestyle living with big malls and stores located not in a far distance that can supply everyone’s daily needs.  

 

The homes have been built with nature in mind and blend into the natural landscape. Each is made to offer the unique features of a community with its many advantages over other subdivisions.

Living in Camella Lessandra is just like living in a world where time seems to stand still, a haven of beautiful landscapes and a country lifestyle that binds its people with one another. It is a special place—a way of life with its traditional values and strong family systems-its people living the simple, self-sufficient way of life and being happy with it.

Camella is a subsidiary of the country’s largest homebuilder Vista land and Lifescapes Inc. Developments are present in Mega Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Tuguegarao, Isabela, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.

For free site tour, please visit us at 2/F Pelaez Arcade R.N. Abejuela St., Cagayan de Oro or call at 856-3241, 0917-883-4098.

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A Tricky Problem

THINK a minute.
Have you ever stood by a fire when the smoke was so thick you almost thought you could grab it with your hands. But if you try, the smoke just disappears right through your fingers. It’s like that when we try to be humble. We grab for humility, but as soon as we think we’ve got it, it disappears like smoke through our fingers.

You see, we trick ourselves when we start to think that we’re humble, because in our mind and heart we actually start feeling proud of ourselves that we’re humble. So you see, we’re still very proud.

Our problem is the subtle, deceptive nature of pride. It makes us self-conscious, thinking about ourselves and how we good we are or look in front of others. Our pride competes and compares ourselves with others. That’s why we get angry when someone treats us like we’re not important.

Our pride makes us want to act and impress others with how humble we are, when inside we still think we’re more important than some people. This is also why many people want to become rich millionaires.

You see, if everybody in the world had a million dollars, then not many people would really want to be a millionaire because they would not be richer than anyone else. If everyone in the world had a high political position of respect and power, then not many people would want that kind of position because they would not be more respected and powerful than anyone else.

Did you know that it is our pride which causes most of the problems in our life, whether it’s in our family, at work, school, or with friends and neighbors. Our hidden, tricky pride is the reason we get hurt and angry at others. It’s also the reason we will not forgive them, but instead even try to hurt them back. So is there any hope for us? Can we ever start becoming genuinely honest and humble in our hearts?

Yes, that’s the great news! God the Son humiliated Himself by becoming a human being to die and pay the penalty for our sinful pride which separates us from God. But He also will set us free from the power of our sinful pride. Jesus Christ will forgive you right now-if you ask Him. Then He will also give you His power and love, so you can start changing to become the truly humble, honest, and successful person He created you to be.

Just Think a Minute.

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Is Cockfighting a Heritage or Economics?

COCKFIGHTING is a national pastime. It has to be experienced for its excitement. The thrill and fervor follows after the betting. The Government classifies it as an amusement but is also a form of gambling since bets are taken.

Game fowls are trained for the event. Armed with razor sharp blades, two Cocks are released in the arena of death. The battle rage for a few minutes and whoever has the superior bloodline and good conditioning has a higher percentage of winning. The ground and air combat ends when a cock is unable to continue or when a slash wound is a so severe that a losing cock dies instantly. After the winner is declared, bets running to thousands and millions of pesos are collected either from the “Wala” or “Mayroon”. Then another match takes place.

Cockfighting in the Philippines is held simultaneously on Sundays. From the Municipality of Aparri down to Jolo bets change hands.  Big Derbies are held in honor of a town fiesta or anniversaries that brings in the prominent slashers and known game fowl breeders. There are also cockfights operated behind the scene in a form of “Tupada” that rings cash register from local official’s protection.  These events draw tourism and create opportunities for travel.

Behind the frenzied atmosphere, nostalgia and history takes us back to the Roman Empire era when Gladiators fight to death to gain their freedom. How much glory it has made to the ancient Romans, cockfighting in the Philippines takes its roots to become part of the Filipino heritage and culture. If only chicken can have a personality, they can be the most loyal warriors or heroes to their breeders?

Modern cockfighting has long influenced the economy. There are support industries that thrive on the production of special feeds and veterinary vitamins to supplement the fighting ability of the fighting cocks. Pilmico, General Milling and San Miguel Feeds lead in the animal nutrition industry and supply the food for the game fowls.  Infrastructures and farms are built using architecture and biological science to come out with the best farm building designs, breeding bloodlines and perfecting fighting forms. Cockfighting brings in the prominent people in the industry; the likes of Herman “Red Sweater” McGuiness, Sanford Hatch, Walter Kelso and their Filipino equals, the prominence of Jorge Araneta, Biboy “Thunderbird” Enriquez, Ompong Plaza , Manny Pacquiao  and  Ito Ynares and many others who are familiar personalities  at the Araneta Coliseum and at the World Slashers Cup. Big time politicians and businessmen are into the game.

Cockfights last a maximum of 10 minutes. Injuries or slash wounds could be bad or fatal. If one does not give up or expire ahead of the other, the referee picks them up. Both contenders are made to face each other. When one game fowl is dead or bows out to exhaustions, a winner is raised.

Bird medication after a fight goes only to the victor. The vanquish, barely breathing is taken to the conqueror’s kitchen. Head is chopped off then feathers are removed in a scorching boiling water. Cocks who have crowed their last and who fought a gallant fight meet their gruesome fate in the dining table either as an Adobo or a Chicken Tinola. In a poor country like the Philippines, there is no space for sentimentality, even prize fighters get eaten or made into a “pulutan”.

In many western countries in the world, cockfighting is outlawed. Despite best effort of foreign and animal’s rights group to abolish animal cruelty, the Philippines national sport will go online in a couple of months after the Election. A company controlled by Roberto Ongpin, Board of Investment Minister during the Marcos Era was able to license the Phil web Corporation, an internet gaming company from PAGCOR, the state gaming firm to launch the world’s first web based cockfighting betting. The online gaming is expected to generate a nationwide P60 Billion in annual revenues and provide industry employment. What a megabuck solution to our fiscal deficits which hits P298.5 Billion end of 2009? Will this internet gaming run counter to Presidential Decree No. 449, on the conduct of Cockfighting? The next Congress or Parliament knows not really the best but still should decide.

The economy of cockfighting is moving and growing in the 21st century. It has created business ventures in the manufacture and selling of costly special feeds, vitamins supplements, and chicken feather shampoo. It has produced books and magazines of cock breeding and best practices. To the point of attracting big business listed in the Philippines Stock Exchange.  Investors and veterinarians are doing everything in science and technology to save the chicken from the frying fan.

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Filipino food in California

WHEN we first arrived in the U.S. in 1977, we settled in San Diego, California known to be a Navy town. Many Filipinos enlisted in the U.S. Navy. The presence of Filipinos in San Diego plus our relatives and friends made us feel a bit at home. In spite of the Filipino population in San Diego, there were no Filipino stores and restaurants. For groceries, we had to drive to downtown San Diego and bought our food stuff, specially rice from a Chinese store called Wo Chee Chong. From other Filipino friends we learned to be creative in cooking Filipino food. We had to learn substitutes for Filipino vegetables, spices and ingredients.

There was one tiny restaurant that served breakfast for $1.99 with toast, bacon and eggs. We would sometimes have breakfast there. The owners were Filipinos who later became our friends. One day, I suggested to them to convert their eatery into a Filipino restaurant but they said, it would not prosper because there would not be enough Filipino customers. Within a year, another Filipino couple bought the restaurant from them and called it “Point Point” or “turo-turo” in our lingo. It was a hit. There was always a long line of customers and the tiny restaurant with only 2 tables could not accommodate its Filipino patrons. Most of the orders had to be take-outs. That was the first Filipino restaurant that I knew in California. The owners would later open a branch in Los Angeles.

It would take almost a year before more Filipino restaurants, sari-sari stores opened in California.
Today, in West Covina alone, there is one block of business establishments that are 85% Filipino owned. To its north is another block with more Filipino business establishments. To the west are more Filipino businesses. The city of West Covina has to name its north entrance “Manila Way”. In these 3 blocks are 4 Filipino bakeries specializing in what else but hot pandesal. There are 9 restaurants not to include the little ones inside the 2 large groceries of Seafood City and Island Pacific. There are 3 money remittance centers. Bank of America is there too and it has officers and tellers who are Filipinos. There are gift shops, beauty parlors, sari-sari stores and not so glamorous are sidewalk vendors. The two competing giant groceries have Filipino fresh produce like kalamongay, tanglad, tangcong, ampalaya, sitaw, upo, patoloa, clamansi and even banana blossoms that ridiculously sell at $4.50 a piece. Banana leaves are also sold for those who make suman and other goodies that use banana leaves. Incidentally, some of these fresh produce come from the farms and backyards of enterprising Filipinos.

One of our friends, the late George Larsen of the Cepeda family, used to grow vegetables in his backyard. His favorite was sitaw (string beans). He had more than enough for his own consumption. So when it was time to harvest, he would call us and other Kagay-anon friends to help him harvest. Then there is Vic Raagas whose hobby was fishing. He would catch lots of fishes, dry them and would give us and other friends his bulad. When we moved to Los Angeles, Joe Pimentel also used to fish and make bulad that he would give to his friends. But today Filipino vegetables and bulad are available in the groceries. I also learned how to make “hipon guinamos” that I would package and give as Christmas presents.

Aside from the restaurants available in California, there are many Filipino American caterers that include lechoneros. But some lechons are baked. Others are roasted. You can tell that a lechonero is from Mindanao because the lechon would be filled with tanglad (lemon grass). Unfortunately, there is no lechon de leche available because it is not allowed in California to slaughter a piglet. That’s what a lechonero told me.

Last Sunday, Gerlou and I had breakfast in Bamboo Bistro which also offers lunch and dinner buffet. But if we really want a classy restaurant in West Covina offering fine dining, we go to Pondahaan or Salo-Salo along California and Amar streets, respectively. For fine Filipino pastries, no one should miss Manille also along Amar Road. Manille was once featured on TV in Los Angeles.

And that’s as far as I know.

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Graduation day and profiting!

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2010. Graduation ceremonies have become a profitable venture for some entrepreneurs; it’s a matter of time pressured sales. March is always known as the graduation month and wherever the traffic congestion is – there is a 90 percent chance of a graduation ceremony happening in that area, that or accidents which are occurring more and more lately. 

Flowers, corsages, photos, and more sell a lot during graduation days, especially “pamaypay”. I always see around 8 to 10 stands lined up at the gates outside Liceo U whenever graduation day comes; some flower-sellers even block the gates just to get the attention of the people coming in. 

I asked one seller if they make profit out of it, he said “naa gyapon gamay” (we have a little), further elaborating that the trick is simple “kai daghan man graduation nga gasunod, kinahanglan kabalo ka sa schedule sa graduation, para makapangita kag pwesto nga insakto ug mga bulak nga dugay malaya, aron kun dili mahalin pwede pa ibaligya sa uban.”  (since there are a lot of graduation ceremonies, you must know the schedules of each so that you can secure a good location to sell, and use flowers that do not easily wilt, so that you can still sell them in another location). 

 really don’t know if this is such a profitable venture, as it is seasonal, and very tricky. Another venture is photography; the advent of the digital age provides the seemingly traditional photographers to capture images almost at lightning speed as compared to the days when you need a lot of cameras and people to load film for you to avoid lags. 

Freelance photographers invested in DLSR’s much to the delight of the customers, however there is always a setback – some photographers tend to get a little too much “trigger-happy”, sacrificing the quality of their shots. I know one photographer who has been shooting graduations ever since I can remember. “Nong Bing” as he is fondly called by everyone, has been one of the most trusted graduation day and school-event photographers in the city to date. If you don’t see it as a profitable venture, think of it this way – his kids have already graduated from college, and from private universities too. 

Graduation days have also become a virtual recruiting ground for call centers and similar companies. Leafleting has also become common in these scenarios, hey after graduation we get hungry – so these leaflets of restaurants are a good thing to venture on come graduation day. Graduation day really sells. 

In parting, I would like to congratulate some Liceo U administrators. Dean Erwin Bucio of the College of Law Enforcement and Public Safety (Criminology) for his Bachelor of Laws degree, Mr. Lorimer Capinpuyan and Ms. Ursula Trio for their Graduate Degrees.  

Again, congratulations to all graduates! May you be blessed with success and happiness and good times ahead. Thank you for reading.

 I’d love to hear from you, email me at shaun_alejandrae_uy@yahoo.com

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Philippine politics

SAN Francisco, CA. The political campaign for the national elections in May, this year is in full blast and surely it echoes in all corners of the United States of America especially in the Filipino communities.

While it is true that many Filipino-Americans have lost their faith to Filipino leaders who cannot change the ugly image of the country, there are others who still hope someday the country will come out completely overhauled and entirely changed.
The forthcoming elections, therefore, is watched with much interest and many Filipino-Americans even participate in political activities to help carry out their dreams. The fact that, for many years, leaders in the Philippines come and go and leave the country in topsy-turvy state is indeed scary.

Many Filipinos have renounced their citizenship long time ago and they are now American citizens but still the blood in their veins strike hard for their relatives back home and seriously think about the future of the Philippines. The state of the country still worries everyone and this push them to participate in any political activities.

What the Filipino-Americans badly want is the demolition of the vote-buying scheme that usually determines the winners of the elections. To them, this is the principal evil that results in graft and corruption, thievery and all disgraces in the government system.

The Filipino-Americans always believe that the Philippines is a very wealthy country in terms of various sources but it cannot just improve itself because the money is stolen by some leaders who have access to the funds.
Many would-be politicians think it is only by getting into politics that they can make real money. Many Filipino leaders believe getting into politics is the shortest way to power, influence and millions.

It needs unity among Filipinos to persuade these leaders to change the political environment, the illegal methods that dominate every election time and all that destroy the ideals and aspiration of the young generations.

Many of the Filipinos here expressed disgust to what they describe as malicious and unfair the display of money during election time and allowing some candidates with questionable records to run. They also criticize the practice of the electorates to support candidates who are popular even if there is nothing in their head to handle the job.

They pointed out that many popular people had been elected to office and they come out as poor leaders because of their lack of intelligence and knowledge to handle various positions.

Congress and the Senate had been abused severely of politicians who have nothing to show but money. The result was so bad since they cannot put up good legislations that are needed by the country. Many of them cannot file a bill much less argue for its passage. The law-making body is miserable with just a few members who are really top and educated enough for the job.

The Filipino-Americans stressed clearly that election time is the only time to remove the unfits and the ignorant from government leadership and if still nothing is brought about by this opportunity, then the country will freeze in hardship and shame.

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Good prospects seen as jobless rate drops

DESPITE the slack in economic growth, Northern Mindanao continues to register remarkable performance in terms of employment opportunities as it posted the highest labor force participation rate nationwide.

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that in January this year, Region 10 registered the highest LFPR at 70.2 percent while the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) posted the lowest at 59.2 percent. In Central Visayas, the LFPR in the same month was estimated at 64.8 percent.

Labor force participation rate or LFPR is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active. It refers to all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

This is on top of the drop in unemployment rate nationwide which fell to 7.3 percent in January from 7.7 percent a year ago, when thousands lost their jobs as a result of the global financial crisis.

A total of 2.8 million people were without jobs in January compared with 2.9 million in January 2009, the agency says.

Around 38.8 million people were reported to have been in the labor force out of the estimated 60.2-million population aged 15 years and above in January 2010, the statistics office says.

That places the country’s month’s labor LFPR at 64.5 percent, up 1.2 percentage points from last year’s estimate of 63.3 percent.

Overall, the NSO reported that more than one-half or 52.4 percent worked in the services sector in January this year and that the bulk of increase in employment, 1.3 million, is in this sector, particularly in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and personal and household goods sub-sectors. Workers in agriculture accounted for 32.8 percent of the total employed. Only 14.8 percent of the total employed was in industry, with the manufacturing sub-sector making up 8.4% of the total employed.

Among the various occupation groups, employed persons were dominated by laborers and unskilled workers at 32.7 percent of the total employed persons in January. Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen were the second largest group, accounting for 15.4 percent of the total employed.

By class of work, more than half or 55.8 percent of the employed persons were wage and salary workers while more than one-third or 33.6 percent were own-account workers. The remaining 10.6 percent were unpaid family workers

“The Philippine labor market posted a strong performance amid the global economic crisis, the lingering impacts of the destructive tropical cyclones late last year, and the damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon in the second half of 2009,” National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) acting Director-General Augusto Santos said in a memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment here said Northern Mindanao has a lot of opportunities for employment, particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) and agri-industrial sectors.

It said call centers are flourishing in Cagayan de Oro City and producing employments at a remarkable rate.

The region is likewise ready to absorb a significant number of new graduates this year, it said.

Northern Mindanao is likewise regarded as a major agri-industrial center, with a number of agri-based industries providing employment to a large number of people, particularly in Bukidnon.

On the other hand, the export sector, one of the country’s main employers, recorded double-digit declines for more than a year as global demand slumped.

But economic indicators now point to a better-than-expected growth for the year as the country recovers from the global crisis.

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2 foreign firms eyed to supply power to Mindanao

THE Mindanao Electric Power Alliance (MEPA) has identified two world-class power-generation companies, which can supply emergency power for Mindanao.
Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chairman Vicente Lao said MEPA will hook up with Caterpillar Generation System based in Singapore that could bring in 20 megawatts power to Mindanao.

The other one is Hyundai generating company based in Korea, ready to generate 10 megawatts electricity, Lao said.

Caterpillar and Hyundai generating sets are running on diesel fuel, Lao said.
The two international companies have yet to sign an agreement with power distributors and power cooperatives prior to their operations, Lao said.
He said MEPA is looking for more generators in the world as it eyes to bring in at least 200 megawatts of power to keep the operation of businesses.

“By end of April, Agus-Pulangi hydro power plants will stop operating,” Lao said, adding that Mindanao’s power deficiency remains to hover at 700 megawatts.
If there are no generators coming in, he feared that Mindanao will experience brownouts during the May 10 elections, he said.

Lao said MEPA has submitted its proposals to the government during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by all directly concerned agencies, including officials from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Lao said all those present are “all ears” to their proposals with the seriousness of the power problem confronting Mindanao.

Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza who represented President Arroyo in the meeting, assured a review of MEPA’s proposal, Lao said, even as he underscored the seriousness of the national government in solving the power problem in the island.

The DBP and the LBP, for their part, have asked MEPA to come up with figures in relation to the amount needed for the purchase or lease of power generators, Lao said, adding that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has also expressed its willingness to help in the procurement of generating sets.
The DBP has earlier assured that it is ready to provide funds for the generation of at least 100 megawatts of power to Mindanao.

Lao has confirmed that power rates will surely increase once the world-class generators start to supply power for Mindanao.
Earlier, DBP president and CEO Rey David said power rates are expected to climb to as high as P21 per kilowatt hour from the current P3 per kilowatt hour once additional generation sets are procured or leased. (PNA)

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Classroom constructions will continue, says Moreno

“WE will continue constructing more classrooms in time for the opening of classes,” says Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno during his weekly live television program on Wednesday evening which is now aired over Parasat Cable through Channel 29.

Moreno’s assurance came even as schools of various levels, both public and private, are gearing for graduation rites and the perennial classroom backlog during opening of classes is prevalent in many areas in the country.

The governor mentioned eight elementary and secondary public schools in Misamis Oriental that would need additional classrooms in June this school year, aside from the ongoing 18-classroom building construction inside the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) in Cagayan de Oro.

He said the high school in Molugan, El Salvador which was opened last year will be needing six additional classrooms since enrolment in the first-year level is expected to increase.

“Constructing more classrooms in Molugan high school however will require landfill work juts like the one high school in Naawan which also needs two more classrooms before the opening of classes,” Moreno said.

The other schools and the number of classrooms that are needed are the following: Rosario Elementary School in Balingasag, 3; Lumbo Elementary School, 3; Lureza high school in Gingoog City, 3; Maymay Elementary Scholl in Balingasag, 2; Ampinikan Elementary School in Salay, 2; and Dumarait Elementary School in Balingasag, 2.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Engineering Office reported that since January this year, 22 classrooms in 11 elementary and secondary schools have already been completed and turned over to the Schools Division of Misamis Oriental.

PEO head Engr. Rolando M. Pacuribot identified the recipient schools of two-classroom buildings as the following: Patag ES of Opol; Kibaghot NHS of Laguindingan; Kibaghot ES of Laguindingan; Cabalawan ES of Magsaysay; Dahilig ES of Balingoan; Pangpangon ES of Talisayan; Medina NHS of Medina; Corrales ES of Jasaan; Retablo ES of Libertad; and Ili-ilihon ES of Salay.

The provincial government spent more than P21 million for the newly completed 11 school building projects. - URIEL C. QUILINGUING

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Nenaco profit surges to P412m, exits rehab

NEGROS Navigation Co. Inc. posted a 124% increase in audited net income to P412 million in 2009 from P184 million in 2008 and successfully emerged from corporate rehabilitation after the Regional Trial Court of Manila ordered the termination of its corporate rehabilitation proceedings on account of the successful implementation of its rehabilitation plan.[U1] Management attributed Nenaco’s strong operating performance to “revenue-enhancing initiatives coupled with stringent cost-management measures” that it implemented during the year.

“Last year was not without challenges. Although fuel prices stabilized during the year, the series of typhoons that hit the country coupled with some accidents involving other shipping companies have somehow dampened the overall performance of the shipping industry”, Sulficio O. Tagud, Jr., Nenaco’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer said.

Total consolidated revenues jumped to P2.45 billion last year from P1.98 billion in 2008 owing largely to increased cargo capacity. Company officials explained that Nenaco acquired, in the middle of 2009, two additional cargo vessels with a capacity of 300-TEU each. Freight business, which constitutes 68% of the revenue, rose 34% last year as compared to 2008.

“The acquisition of the two additional cargo vessels is in line with the company’s fleet modernization program. With the two additional freighters, Nenaco’s revenue mix now favors the cargo business,” Tagud quipped. “Nenaco is building up its fleet of cargo ships to strengthen its non-cyclical revenue base whilst pursuing its modernization program for its passenger business,” Tagud added.

The passage business has implemented aggressive marketing strategies in view of competition from the ‘RORO’ and the airlines’ discounted fares. As a result, Nenaco is transformed into a favorite low-cost sea passenger carrier resulting in higher load factors.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) jumped 33% to P579.3 million in 2009 from P342.6 million for the same period in 2008.
Owing to its strong market presence and profitable performance for the past three years, Nenaco exited from its corporate rehabilitation proceedings after successfully implementing its rehabilitation plan. “With the corporate rehabilitation behind us, our objective now is to sustain our profitability. We will continue to modernize our fleet and we will be relentless in finding ways on how to improve further our operations”, Tagud pointed out. Hit by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Nenaco went into corporate rehabilitation in 2004.
Nenaco is owned by KGLI-NM, which is a joint venture company between Negros Holdings & Management Corp. and KGL Investments (a Kuwaiti Port fund).

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Aggie dept. turns over 17.5-km farm to market road to Talakag town

THE Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 10 (DA-RFU 10) gives hope of economic development to the residents of barangays Cosina and Baylanan in Talakag, Bukidnon as it turns over 17.5-kilometer farm to market road to the local government of Talakag.

The total project costs P24 million of which P20 million was funded by Department of Agriculture-Office of the Secretary (DA OSec) while the remaining P4 million was shouldered by the local government of Talakag as its counterpart.

Residents of the are plant crops just for their own consumption despite having suitable land and weather condition for agricultural production before the project implementation.

They were discouraged to increase their production due to transportation problems brought by impassable roads. Unstable peace and order situation in the area also hinders progress in the locality.

The farm to market that reconnected the two barangays to the town proper and to the neighboring places becomes the major catalyst for progress of the barangays. It encouraged PUJs to include the areas to their routes which signaled the rise of economic activity including increase in agricultural production.

The road also provides easy access of military personnel to reach the areas to uphold peace and order. The barangays which took hours to travel before now could be reached only in a matter of minutes.

Mr. Bencio Palohan, a native resident of Brgy. Baylanan, said: “I left the place before because I viewed it as a very deserted place. It was like a place that has no future.”

He returned to the place upon knowing that the road had been rehabilitated and that vehicles could now reach their barangay.

“I came back because I can see brighter future in this place now that we have passable road,” Palohan added.

Baylanan Brgy. Chairman Joel S. Caraga did not know how to express his gladness for the realization of the project. “All my brothers and sisters left this place and I am the only one who remained. Others said that even until the ‘crow turns white,’ the road will never reach this community but it did. I hope this will be the start of our progress,” he said.

Talakag Sangguniang Bayan member Rosenio S. Sansanan expressed his gratitude to the national government for the project’s realization.

“This project might not have been realized if only President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did not visit Talakag and promised P10 million for the rehabilitation of the said road. We followed up for the implementation of the project in Manila and asked an additional of P10 million to make it P20 million through then DA Undersecretary Emmanuel Jess Paras. I am very glad now that the project is completed,” Sansanan said.

On the other hand, DA-RFU 10 regional Executive Director (RED) Lealyn A. Ramos thanked the residents for their support to the programs of DA.

She encouraged them to take care of the project. “I hope that you will take full ownership of the project and that you will help maintain it so that it can be used for a longer period of time.”

She made them aware of possible causes of the project’s damage.

“Guard it and protect it from indiscriminate usage including those heavy trucks that passes through your road during rainy days for it will be one of the major factors that will lead to the destruction of your FMR. I hope that during our next visit, the road will be as passable as it is now and that agricultural production will increase because of this project,” Ramos concluded.

The activity was graced by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Region 10 Head Ma. Tita Rodriguez, DA-RFU 10 RED Lealyn A. Ramos, DA-RFU 10 Regional Technical Director Engr. Roxana H. Hojas and the rest of DA-RFU 10 staff, and the Local Government Unit of Talakag, Bukidnon.

manny kerwin v. martinez

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