OT:

Full of ambition and hope? Noynoy was obviously reading from the TELEPROMPTER. In a speech where he spent nearly half his time hanging Gloria's dirty laundry, I highly doubt that's representative of ambition and hope.

It is only right that people be skeptical of Noynoy because not everyone is convinced he can deliver. He did nothing as a congressman, nothing as a senator, and I won't be surprised if he did nothing as President. Heck, he can't even answer questions thrown at him! Not everyone here drank the fabled yellow Kool-Aid and began singing praises to Noynoy like what some are currently doing on PEx. ;)

I'll throw the question back at you then. Have YOU done anything for the nation? Should you throw the question back at me, I'll answer it now: I head an upstart non-profit which seeks to bring knowledge to the Filipino people, with Wikimedia (Wikipedia in particular) as tools in helping us achieve our goals. It is not fair to repudiate people because they likewise share others' skepticism of Noynoy: citizens sharing their views online does not necessarily translate to "I've done nothing for the country", when free speech is what keeps democracy, and in turn this country, alive.

----

OnT:

Should the government push through with the NAIA Expressway extension to Roxas Boulevard, could we see it be extended to as far as here? Although I don't know how well the land will cooperate with a tunnel, I don't see the harm in trying.

ok lang yung kahit sa papel sya nagbabasa....pero ramdam nyo ba ang kaba nya....:lol: may stage fright....

OT:

Full of ambition and hope? Noynoy was obviously reading from the TELEPROMPTER. In a speech where he spent nearly half his time hanging Gloria's dirty laundry, I highly doubt that's representative of ambition and hope.

It is only right that people be skeptical of Noynoy because not everyone is convinced he can deliver. He did nothing as a congressman, nothing as a senator, and I won't be surprised if he did nothing as President. Heck, he can't even answer questions thrown at him! Not everyone here drank the fabled yellow Kool-Aid and began singing praises to Noynoy like what some are currently doing on PEx. ;)

I'll throw the question back at you then. Have YOU done anything for the nation? Should you throw the question back at me, I'll answer it now: I head an upstart non-profit which seeks to bring knowledge to the Filipino people, with Wikimedia (Wikipedia in particular) as tools in helping us achieve our goals. It is not fair to repudiate people because they likewise share others' skepticism of Noynoy: citizens sharing their views online does not necessarily translate to "I've done nothing for the country", when free speech is what keeps democracy, and in turn this country, alive.

----

OnT:

Should the government push through with the NAIA Expressway extension to Roxas Boulevard, could we see it be extended to as far as here? Although I don't know how well the land will cooperate with a tunnel, I don't see the harm in trying.

even Obama reads from a teleprompter.

even Obama reads from a teleprompter.

76% of Americans who are now dissatisfied with the direction of the USA under Obama :ancient: Baka tularan ni noy. :nuts:

76% of Americans who are now dissatisfied with the direction of the USA under Obama :ancient: Baka tularan ni noy. :nuts:

well...there is nothing to go but down.....una approval rating nya 88 ngayon ang latest 85 ilang araw palang :lol: maloloka ang lola mo pagnakataon na nasa baba na approval rating nya at kaliwa't kanan na ang rally para patalsikin sya....at naglalaway naman sa paghihintay si bnay...:lol: kidding aside he should stop creating enemies he should remember na he is not a majority president....more that 50% did not vote for him....plurality prez lang sya....yung mga lumimbag papunta sa kanya pag crisis na limbagan ulit ang mga hinayupak na mga yun...wag syang malito sa mga survey na mataas ang approval rating nya....

even Obama reads from a teleprompter.

At least Obama looks confident and doesn't obviously look at the teleprompter when he gets lost, unlike Noynoy. Who would stutter even with a teleprompter?

pagalingan na ba sa pagtula ang basehan ng presidency ngayon? ok lang na stutterer, wag lang magnanakaw. :banana:

Noynoy speaks better than other presidents, like GWB, for example

8EvNJWM_NDg

438mgeDQo48

^^ Bush the Younger is a different case altogether. He's the American Noynoy. Or worse.

Is it 1.3 billion dollars or pesos?

Firm tapped to build Belle hotel, casino

LISTED REAL estate developer Belle Corp. has tapped Megawide Construction Corp. to build a P1.3-billion hotel casino in Parañaque City that will become the largest of its kind in the country, the contractor said in a statement yesterday.

Megawide Construction said it had begun laying the foundation for the project. It expects to complete the casino floor and one of two 15-storey hotel towers in 12 months.The construction is going on faster than the normal pace because of the methodologies [the company] is using, including the use of precast walls for the exterior and precast beams and girders which are also post-tensioned,” Megawide Construction said.The casino will be patterned after those operating in Las Vegas and will also incorporate Macau’s Venetian-type finishing, while the hotel will have a Planet Hollywood theme,” the construction firm said.
Megawide Construction earlier said it was planning to raise as much as P3 billion through an initial public offering in November to fund expansion plans that will allow it to cater to projects from the Ayala property and banking group.

Its client list also includes SM Development Corp., the property arm of the Henry Sy-led SM mall and banking group.

Belle Corp., which is controlled by the SM group, claims a niche in high-end residential and leisure properties in Tagaytay, Cavite and Batangas province.

Shares in the firm led by businessman Willy N. Ocier were unchanged at P1.86 apiece yesterday. -- Jessica Anne D. Hermosa
http://http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/content.php?id=14873

Megawide Construction said it had begun laying the foundation for the project. It expects to complete the casino floor and one of two 15-storey hotel towers in 12 months.The construction is going on faster than the normal pace because of the methodologies [the company] is using, including the use of precast walls for the exterior and precast beams and girders which are also post-tensioned,” Megawide Construction said.The casino will be patterned after those operating in Las Vegas and will also incorporate Macau’s Venetian-type finishing, while the hotel will have a Planet Hollywood theme,” the construction firm said.

Macau's Venetian-type finishing ? ganito ba...(that's me in front of the Venetian Macau)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/4659_1157379209179_1068719127_493194_5630466_n.jpg
kung ganyan eh di ayos na ayos, ang ganda siguro nyan at meron pang Planet Hollywood theme :cheers: Megawide Construction Corp. din ang gumagawa sa Sea Residences in front of MOA

Wow! sabi ko na nga ba nag-umpisa na eh kasi lagi busy dyan..

Kumusta na ang Asure? nagumpisa naba?

wow! where will the SM Arena be located?

SM Arena is across SMX Convention

Razon’s Bloombury Investments takes on gaming industry (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/197178/razons-bloombury-investments-takes-on-gaming-industry):banana:

Bloombury Investments Holdings Inc., a firm recently acquired by port king Enrique K. Razon Jr., is establishing a $557-million casino-resort complex at the Bagong Nayong Pilipino project in Parañaque City.

In a statement Wednesday, Bloombury said it started building Solaire in some 165,000 square meters of land in the complex known as Pagcor City.

"We are excited about this investment in the City. Aside from catapulting the Philippines into a key player in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment industries, the project will make Filipinos proud for having a world class leisure hub that will showcase the best that the country can offer," said Bloombury chairman Razon,.

Pagcor City, named after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., is being groomed to compete with other leisure hubs in the region such as those in Macau, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Solaire signals Razon's first venture into the country's lucrative gaming industry.

Razon's core business is global port operation. He heads the Manila-based port giant International Container Terminal Services Inc.

Solaire is expected to open by the third quarter of 2012. Total investment for its development is $1 billion.

"Aside from attracting local and foreign visitors, the complex is expected to generate some 2,500 jobs and boost the country’s ancillary service sectors," Razon said.

Pagcor City is a multi-billion dollar government project that covers 120 hectares of prime reclaimed land at the western portion of the Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

It was designated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as a special economic zone, where investors are given tax perks.

Three other firms given licenses to develop the complex were retail conglomerate SM Investments Corp., listed property developer Alliance Global Inc. – a partner of Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. – and Japan’s Azure Group. —With MR Gavin/JE, GMANews.TV

^^ I am so happy with the development. :)

Bloombury breaks ground on $577-million resort complex in Entertainment City
July 28, 2010, 5:13pm

Bloombury Investments Holdings, Inc. recently broke ground to start the development of an 8.3-hectare, world-class integrated resort complex at the Bagong Nayong Pilipino–Entertainment City Manila, an investment amounting to US$577 million.

The groundbreaking signaled the start of the first phase of development, making Bloombury the first among the four developers to start construction in the Entertainment City.

Named the Solaire Manila Project, Bloombury’s integrated resort complex includes a five-star, 500-room hotel covering some 165,000 square meters of floor area. The Entertainment City has been designated as a special economic zone area under Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

“We are excited about this investment in the Entertainment City Manila. Aside from catapulting the Philippines into a key player in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment industries, the project will make Filipinos proud for having a world class leisure hub that will showcase the best that the country can offer. Entertainment City Manila will rival the leisure hubs in the region such as those in Macau, Malaysia, and of late, Singapore,” says Enrique K. Razon Jr., Bloombury chairman.

Bloombury’s complex is set to be operational in the third quarter of 2012, while total investment for the long term is expected to reach US$ 1 billion. Aside from attracting local and foreign visitors, the complex is expected to generate some 2,500 jobs and to boost the country’s ancillary service sectors.

Aside from the hotel, the complex will feature state of the art meeting and convention facilities as well as relaxation and leisure facilities such as a live performance theater, an array of restaurants, health and wellness facilities, just to name a few.

Razon, together with Florencio M. Bernabe, Parañaque City mayor, led the groundbreaking rites. They were assisted by Bloombury directors and officers led by Jose Eduardo J. Alarilla, president and director; Estela Tuason-Occena, treasurer and director, Edgardo Q. Abesamis, director; Christian R. Gonzalez, director; and Donato C. Almeda, chief operating officer. Also present was Paul Steelman, design architect and Steelman Partners chief executive officer.

The Bagong Nayong Pilipino–Entertainment City Manila is a multi-billion dollar project of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), a government-owned corporation engaged in the entertainment and gaming business. The PAGCOR project covers 120 hectares of prime reclaimed land at the western portion of the Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269384/bloombury-breaks-ground-577million-resort-complex-entertainment-city

May rendering ba? post naman dyan..kakaexcite....

so when will the construction start?

Razon, together with Florencio M. Bernabe, Parañaque City mayor, led the groundbreaking rites. They were assisted by Bloombury directors and officers led by Jose Eduardo J. Alarilla, president and director; Estela Tuason-Occena, treasurer and director, Edgardo Q. Abesamis, director; Christian R. Gonzalez, director; and Donato C. Almeda, chief operating officer. Also present was Paul Steelman, design architect and Steelman Partners chief executive officer.

Take note,Paul Steelman Design Architect is best known for designing the Las vegas and Macau Sands casinos.
pero wala pa sa website nila ang Pagcor.

Paul Steelman
Gaming Profiles

Back to the beginning



From the time he was a little boy, hotel/casino architect Paul Steelman has been involved with designing buildings. "I ran prints for my father (an architect) beginning when I was 5 or 6 years old," Steelman said. "When I was about 9, I got to do my first design -- renovating a little repair shop." Today, the 44-year-old Steelman heads his own company, Paul Steelman Design Group, has worked on projects around the world and employs about 100 people. His specialty is designing hotel-casinos.

Based in Las Vegas, the properties he has designed or renovated reads like a Who’s Who list of hotel/casinos: Mirage Resorts, MGM Grand, Harrah's Entertainment, Desert Inn, Golden Nugget, Gustav International and Hyatt Corp., to name a few.

When a new project is taken on, Steelman says, it is tackled by four teams -- Architectural, Interior, Production Elements, and Production Design. The team leaders all have input into the overall design and the number of people working on a project can run as high as 25. Steelman's own specialty is combining practicality with structural elements. "I love the business of design. Many of the aspects of our designs are focused on how a business operates. What I do best is understand [that relationship.]"

He uses certain guidelines when designing a resort. It has to be a showplace for the product, but not distract or interfere with the product. Its theme has to stimulate and delight the mind while generating a mood. A theme should not be trendy, but create a 'theme experience' that people will remember. A theme has to promote comfort, security and optimism while being stylish.

Steelman encourages his clients to be involved in every step of the process. While a color swatch may be approved for carpet or wallpaper, seeing the actual result saves untold dollars if the final effect is a disaster in the client's eyes. At Steelman's huge office complex, a separate area allows clients to view how their choices come together. A crew creates mock-ups of hallways and hotel rooms, outfitted with the selections the builder wanted -- drapes, carpet, wall paper, chairs. Steelman finds showing clients the mock-ups saves money and time. "They go in and they see the whole thing. If you're building a hotel with 3,000 rooms and you put the electrical wall outlets in the wrong place, that's 3,000 outlets you have to change. Doing it this way saves a lot."

It is not just wall outlets that concerns clients. Steelman recalled an animal-park-themed project in South Africa where he met with a Zulu tribe. Through translators, the chief kept asking, "What about the big five?" It turned out the big five referred to the rhinoceros, the tiger, leopard, elephant and another animal he couldn't recall -- but all were capable of jumping over the fence and eating the man's cattle.

In Northern Florida, he was designing a resort, but it's location threatened Indian land. "So I moved a lake."

Steelman also tells of a minister in Detroit who gave an impassioned speech against a proposed casino, only to back down if the "lost souls" he was worried about could be assured free parking passes at the casino. But most of his concerns deal with architectural elements. There are things one generally stays away from. "No blue," Steelman says. "It makes people look white and pale. And no mirrors where people can see themselves. They look and see they need to lose weight, or they've got a pimple. Once they look in a mirror, the fantasy is over."

Then there's practicality. Carpets mix colors in wild patterns for a reason -- to disguise cigarette burns and spilled drinks. With the high traffic they must endure, the carpets are replaced every three to four years. All this knowledge has been gained over years in the business. After graduating from Clemson University in 1977, Steelman worked for the planning board in his home town of Atlantic City. It was his intent to meet all the major resort builders and notable casino architects. "The wildest of the group was Joel Bergman. He taught me all the relationships of gambling and tandem activities. Henry Conversano taught me interiors -- looking, feeling the space, using the colors. He taught me how the interior relates to space." Steelman joined Steve Wynn In 1979, then opened his own business in 1987. Within the first month he was working on renovating Bally's Casino, Cactus Pete's Casino in Jackpot and the MGM Grand Theme Park. In 1990, when Indian gaming came on board "our business really took off."

This year he already has 10 projects in the works -- from Holland, to Switzerland, to Halifax and beyond.

The future, Steelman says, will see "techno-rooms." Rooms will have flat screen TVs and digital ports. They'll also have less furniture. "Right now rooms have too much furniture. A chair over here and one over there. It's cluttersome and expensive. New hotels will have furniture that moves, no bump-outs for TVs or dressers, everything will be tucked in. And they'll have cross ventilation so you don't smell that chemical odor." He predicts hotel rooms will have lights that can be changed to reflect one's mood. For casinos, more places will begin integrating the outdoors with the gaming areas.

While he cannot name a casino that is his favorite, or even the one that was most unusual, Steelman does say each one presents its own challenges. "If I didn't like challenges, I wouldn't be in this business."

^^^^

aba magandang balita yan. eto na ang hinihintay nating senyales.

:banana::banana::banana:

go, go, go na ito!!!

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: Ahon Pilipinas, Ahon. Salamat Ex-PGMA, Ex-Pagcor Chief Genuino and now P-Noy. :cheers:

Heto pa para sa inyo NYAHAHAHA!! :hahaha::hahaha::okay::okay:
...although there's a similar article posted earlier we'll get in to more details...AND MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE OF EXCITEMENT IN OUR HEARTS ON PROJECT!! ::righton::rock:

Megawide tapped to build Belle’s $1.3-billion casino hotel
By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
July 28, 2010, 5:15pm

Fast rising construction company Megawide Construction Corp. Wednesday announced that it bagged the construction contract for the P1.30 billion Belle Hotel Casino in Parañaque City.

The project, once completed, will become the country’s largest casino that will also feature a high-end 15-floors, two tower hotel, four 25-floors condominium towers, and state-of-the-art convention center.

Megawide said the project is a first of its kind in the country and is expected to bring heavy tourism traffic to the country and employment once completed.

The Belle Hotel Casino will have a total floor area of 300,000 square meters and later on can be expanded as total land area can be stretched to five hectares.

Megawide said it is currently setting up the foundation for the project with phase 1 consisting of the casino floors and one of the hotel towers expected to be completed in 12 months. Megawide expects that it will be the fastest built casino in the country.

The construction is going on a faster than normal pace because of the methodologies it is using including the use of precast walls for the exterior and precast beams and girders which are also post-tensioned.

The casino will be patterned after those operating in Las Vegas and will also incorporate Macau’s Venetian type finishing while the hotel will have a Planet Hollywood theme.

Megawide said they were assigned the project because it presented the most viable cost and schedule. The construction company believes the project is the start of a long-term partnership with Belle Corp.

Belle Corp. is one of the country’s leading developer of high-end residential and leisure properties.

Formed in 1997, Megawide has a Triple A license from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board and is known for its quality workmanship, on-time delivery of projects, excellent construction safety standard and advanced state-of-the-art building systems.

Megawide has undertaken close to P14 billion worth of project in the past three years. Among its completed projects in the past six years include Antel Spa Residences, Citysquare Residences (Binondo), Bellevue Hotel (Manila), University Tower España, Kimberly Hotel Tagaytay, Millenia Tower (Ortigas), Parcvue Hotel (Muntinlupa), and Malate Crown Plaza.

YES LETS BUILD MORE OF THESE!! BUILD and THEY will COME, BUILD now and PROGRESS WILL FOLLOW, BUILD the FOUNDATION OF OUR PROGRESS AND FUTURE!! THIS IS THE SPARK WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR PEOPLE!! HIT IT DJ!!
:dj::dj:That's THE WAY..aha AHAH,:pepper::dance2::dance2::cucumber: I LIKE IT!!:banana2::carrot::dance2::pepper: aha AHAH!! :dance:

wow... kakakagigil

i want to see what they are building before i get excited. Im gonna be cautiously optimistic.

same news on different sites:

From Manila Times - Construction firm bags contract to build biggest casino
link --> http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/22456-construction-firm-bags-contract-to-build-biggest-casino

From Philippine Inquirer (Inquirer.net) - Construction of $557-M casino-resort starts
link --> http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20100728-283685/Construction-of-557-M-casino-resort-starts

From Yahoo News Philippines - Razon’s Bloombury Investments takes on gaming industry
link --> http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100728/tbs-razon-s-bloombury-investments-takes-1da90e5.html

From Entrepreneur Philippines - Construction starts at Entertainment City Manila
Jul 28, 2010
Construction starts at Entertainment City Manila
http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/images/article/feature/solairemanilaa.jpg
Photo courtesy of Bloombury Holdings

Construction for a 5-star hotel at Entertainment City Manila begins

Construction kicked off in the country’s largest integrated resort complex with Bloombury Holdings, Inc., one of the four developers of Entertainment City Manila, holding the ceremonial ground breaking.

The $577-million project, located at the former Nayong Pilipino complex that is being transformed into the Bagong Nayong Pilipino–Entertainment City Manila – a multi-billion dollar project of government controlled Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), will cover eight of the 120 hectares of prime reclaimed land at the western portion of the Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

The groundbreaking signaled the start of the first phase of development in the Entertainment City with the Solaire Manila project, an integrated resort complex which includes a five-star, 500-room hotel covering some 165,000 square meters of floor area.

The Entertainment City has been designated as a special economic zone area under Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

“Entertainment City Manila will rival the leisure hubs in the region such as those in Macau, Malaysia, and of late, Singapore,” Enrique K. Razon Jr., Bloombury chairman, said.

The integrated resort complex is set to be operational in the third quarter of 2012, with total investments estimated to reach $ 1 billion.

Besides attracting tourists, the complex is expected to generate some 2,500 jobs and to boost the country’s ancillary service sectors. - Carlo P. Mallo

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/features/article/construction-starts-at-entertainment-city-manila

from Manila Times July 29, 2010


Bloombury resort complex opens on 2012

Thursday, 29 July 2010 00:00

Bloombury Investments Holdings Inc. on Wednesday said the integrated resort complex it is building within the state-organized gambling and entertainment hub in Manila will start operating by the third quarter of 2012. In a statement, Enrique Razon Jr., Bloombury chairman, said Solaire Manila Project, the company’s 8.3-hectare resort complex, includes a five-star, 500-room hotel covering some 165,000 square meters of floor area.

He said the firm’s investment in the project amounted to $577 million but it is expected to reach $1 billion in the long-term.
Besides the hotel, Razon said the complex will also feature state-of-the-art meeting and convention facilities, as well as relaxation and leisure facilities, a live performance theater, an array of restaurants, health and wellness facilities.

Bloombury recently broke ground to start the first phase of development, making the company the first among the four developers to start construction in the Entertainment City.

Entertainment City, organized by state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), also attracted three other investors, namely SM Investments Corp., Japan’s Azure group, and a consortium of Malaysia’s Genting group and Philippine-listed Alliance Global Group Inc.

Razon said the gambling hub will rival the leisure hubs in the region such as those in Macau, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Besides attracting local and foreign visitors, the Bloombery complex is expected to generate about 2,500 jobs and to boost the country’s ancillary service sectors, the exeutive said.

Razon, who is also chairman and president of International Container Terminal Services Inc., earlier acquired a controlling stake in Bloombury from businessman Jose Alvarez. Razon had said he would infuse $100 million, or P5 billion in the company.

The Pagcor Entertainment City would rise at the former Bagong Nayong Pilipino property, which covers 120 hectares of prime reclaimed land. It has been designated as a special economic zone.
DARWIN G. AMOJELAR

source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/22544-bloombury-resort-complex-opens-on-2012

buti naman at nasa bukabolaryo ni aquino ang salitang infrastructure...

May billboard sa Likod nila..SOLAIRE MANILA...

oo nga... un lang natatakpan ang render.. hehee...

Kawangis ng HERITAGE HOTEL ata ang building...mejo glassy lang

buti naman at nasa bukabolaryo ni aquino ang salitang infrastructure...

He even stated that the infra spending would be equivalent to 28% of our GDP, spread for 5 years. That's a lot. Our GDP is $170B, so, that gives you $47 Billion...substantial talaga.

At least Obama looks confident and doesn't obviously look at the teleprompter when he gets lost, unlike Noynoy. Who would stutter even with a teleprompter?

eto na ba ang basehan?

nakakatawa. :lol:

I'll throw the question back at you then. Have YOU done anything for the nation? Should you throw the question back at me, I'll answer it now: I head an upstart non-profit which seeks to bring knowledge to the Filipino people, with Wikimedia (Wikipedia in particular) as tools in helping us achieve our goals. It is not fair to repudiate people because they likewise share others' skepticism of Noynoy: citizens sharing their views online does not necessarily translate to "I've done nothing for the country", when free speech is what keeps democracy, and in turn this country, alive.



what's the purpose of throwing the question back to me? to prove something to you!? to prove that I liven up beyond my words!? Heck, there's only ONE who would know best what have I done for this country and definitely NOT you.

And I'll tell you this as well, it's NOT fair to underestimate one's capacity to lead. Filipinos made Noynoy for what he is now. He serves as an instrument to make things happen. But as what he said, he cannot do this alone, HE NEEDS US to put the country forward.

Pessimists, such as YOU, serve as a downfall factor on what the Philippines will be. CHANGE is what this country NEEDS and this cannot be in fruition if YOU, YOURSELF, cannot start CHANGE.

BE AN OPTIMIST NOT AN OPTOMETRIST (if you know what I mean) :lol:

Hello people! We are takling here issues and updates on BNP E-City and not about your personality, etc. Ask each one's number at magtext na lang kayo. Baka isara na naman ang thread na 'to just like what happened last year.

Mas magandang pag-usapan ang developments sa Bloombury and the adjacent Belle's projects.

excited na excited na ako sa BNP E-city... There are still good reasons why we need to stay and work in our country...

OT:



I'll throw the question back at you then. Have YOU done anything for the nation? Should you throw the question back at me, I'll answer it now: I head an upstart non-profit which seeks to bring knowledge to the Filipino people, with Wikimedia (Wikipedia in particular) as tools in helping us achieve our goals. It is not fair to repudiate people because they likewise share others' skepticism of Noynoy: citizens sharing their views online does not necessarily translate to "I've done nothing for the country", when free speech is what keeps democracy, and in turn this country, alive.



ano naman ang katuturan ng kaek-ekan na yan sa bayan?

Malawak naman pala ang area ng BNP (pink shade)

google map
http://aseanabusinesspark.com/images/masterplan/ongoing_dev.jpg

masterplan
http://aseanabusinesspark.com/images/masterplan/aseana_existing2.jpg

image source: http://aseanabusinesspark.com/masterplan.html

what's the purpose of throwing the question back to me? to prove something to you!? to prove that I liven up beyond my words!? Heck, there's only ONE who would know best what have I done for this country and definitely NOT you.

And I'll tell you this as well, it's NOT fair to underestimate one's capacity to lead. Filipinos made Noynoy for what he is now. He serves as an instrument to make things happen. But as what he said, he cannot do this alone, HE NEEDS US to put the country forward.

Pessimists, such as YOU, serve as a downfall factor on what the Philippines will be. CHANGE is what this country NEEDS and this cannot be in fruition if YOU, YOURSELF, cannot start CHANGE.

BE AN OPTIMIST NOT AN OPTOMETRIST (if you know what I mean) :lol:

You know, just because I am a Noynoy skeptic, it does not imply that I am a pessimist. A lot of people seem to imply that people who doubt Noynoy (and there are a LOT of them online for some reason) are pessimists and all of that, when it is only right to give them a fair picture of the man no one knew UNTIL the first President Aquino died. Filipinos made Noynoy, sure. But if those same Filipinos who elected Noynoy to the Presidency go out on EDSA and start protesting and demanding for his resignation (whenever that may be) because they found Noynoy to not be the leader they thought he would be, I won't hesitate to tell them that we have to live with what we have, especially since they VOTED for him.

Better for some people to keep a check on the President than for everyone to sing "Alleluia" to him while not keeping an objective mind, I say.

Anyway, we're moving way off-topic. Election's over, we must move on.

----

Hmm...they planned an airport monorail to this, but will that same monorail be an extension of the planned internal airport monorail, or will it be a separate system? Can't seem to find anything related to this in the press releases.

may feeling ako na sunod-sunod na yang groundbreaking sa bnp e-city. eto na ang simula. pede ko na bang sabihing, "kapit na kayo, lilipad na tayo?" :lol::banana::banana::banana::cheers:

Padaan lang... :) Kakaexcite naman ang mga new devts sa BNP.

Uhm, favor naman po from anybody, can someone put a table here of projects- which projects are under planning stages, yung nag ground breaking na, yung under construction and kung kelan magbubukas plus renderings... sige na... :D Thanks in advance... :)

Padaan lang... :) Kakaexcite naman ang mga new devts sa BNP.

Uhm, favor naman po from anybody, can someone put a table here of projects- which projects are under planning stages, yung nag ground breaking na, yung under construction and kung kelan magbubukas plus renderings... sige na... :D Thanks in advance... :)

mag-back read ka lang. kumpleto lahat ng requests mo dyan

You know, just because I am a Noynoy skeptic, it does not imply that I am a pessimist. A lot of people seem to imply that people who doubt Noynoy (and there are a LOT of them online for some reason) are pessimists and all of that, when it is only right to give them a fair picture of the man no one knew UNTIL the first President Aquino died. Filipinos made Noynoy, sure. But if those same Filipinos who elected Noynoy to the Presidency go out on EDSA and start protesting and demanding for his resignation (whenever that may be) because they found Noynoy to not be the leader they thought he would be, I won't hesitate to tell them that we have to live with what we have, especially since they VOTED for him.

Better for some people to keep a check on the President than for everyone to sing "Alleluia" to him while not keeping an objective mind, I say.

Anyway, we're moving way off-topic. Election's over, we must move on.

----

Hmm...they planned an airport monorail to this, but will that same monorail be an extension of the planned internal airport monorail, or will it be a separate system? Can't seem to find anything related to this in the press releases.

isn't skepticism promotes pessimism as well???? :lol:

OnT: 2012 will be the year of casino/tourism boom in the country. maraming mag-oopen. even late next year. I'm NOT being SKEPTIC here, I'm very OPTIMISTIC. :lol:

mag-back read ka lang. kumpleto lahat ng requests mo dyan

haba eh, baka masita ako dito sa ofc. hehe

http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/photo-2-mayor-bernabe-graces-ground-breaking-rites-of-new-resort600x400.jpg
Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. (center) joins Bloombury officials (L-R) Director Edgardo Abesamis, Director and President Jose Eduardo Alarilla, Chairman Enrique Razon, Jr., Chief Operating Officer Donato Almeda, Design Architect Paul Steelman and Director Christian Gonzales during the groundbreaking rites of the Solaire Manila Project of the Bloombury Investment Holdings, Inc., an 8.3 hectare world-class integrated resort complex at the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in the Bay Reclamation Area. (Public Information Office)

source: http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/2010/07/solaire-manila-groundbreaking-held/

Just a recap..

SM- in partnership with Belle, they will be the one who will construct the casinos and hotels tapos ang SM ang magtatayo ng entertainment component (under construction na ang SM arena). According to some write-ups it will be a Planet hollywood hotel. under construction na siya pero hindi pa inonounce formally ang groundbreaking probably underground works pa lang. end of 2011 ang target nila. (yung casino lang daw muna.)

Megaworld/Travellers- it will be called as "Resorts World Bayshore" since mayroon ng "Resorts World Manila" sa tapat ng NAIA3.. dito nila balak magtayo ng theme park most likely "Warner Bros" pero hindi pa official. it looks like the owner of this is serious about building casinos and hotels.. RWM is so far very successful. They are now building the 4th hotel. (although sana hindi mauubos ang pera nila sa RWM.) pero not much detail about this. wala pa ring announced na ground breaking.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.

Bloombury- now known as "Solaire Manila". nag-ground breaking na sila with no less than the architect Paul steelman. siyan rin gumawa ng ibang casinos sa Vegas at Macau. target opening nila is third quarter ng 2012. 2 hotels tapos 4 residential condominiums and a convention center.


Nayong Pilipino- tulad din ng lumang nayong pilipino pero mas maliit. around 15 hectares lang ata.

other notable developments around the area:

Alphaland Bay city.- it will include a marina, high end malls and boutiques, residentials and offices.

CCP Complex redevelopment- yung condominiums by Megaworld pa lang ang announced.

Waterfront casino hotel- they own a 5 hectare land around that area. depende pa raw kung magiging succesful ang E-city.

West Marina Bay- scrapped (?) o ilusyon lang to..

Andrew Tan's proposed Marina, condo complex sa lupa ng Navy. it seems like Noynoy is serious about this deal. Ok lang naman sa Navy.
:banana::banana::banana:

Just a recap..

SM- in partnership with Belle, they will be the one who will construct the casinos and hotels tapos ang SM ang magtatayo ng entertainment component (under construction na ang SM arena). According to some write-ups it will be a Planet hollywood hotel. under construction na siya pero hindi pa inonounce formally ang groundbreaking probably underground works pa lang. end of 2011 ang target nila. (yung casino lang daw muna.)

Megaworld/Travellers- it will be called as "Resorts World Bayshore" since mayroon ng "Resorts World Manila" sa tapat ng NAIA3.. dito nila balak magtayo ng theme park most likely "Warner Bros" pero hindi pa official. it looks like the owner of this is serious about building casinos and hotels.. RWM is so far very successful. They are now building the 4th hotel. (although sana hindi mauubos ang pera nila sa RWM.) pero not much detail about this. wala pa ring announced na ground breaking.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.

Bloombury- now known as "Solaire Manila". nag-ground breaking na sila with no less than the architect Paul steelman. siyan rin gumawa ng ibang casinos sa Vegas at Macau. target opening nila is third quarter ng 2012. 2 hotels tapos 4 residential condominiums and a convention center.


Nayong Pilipino- tulad din ng lumang nayong pilipino pero mas maliit. around 15 hectares lang ata.

other notable developments around the area:

Alphaland Bay city.- it will include a marina, high end malls and boutiques, residentials and offices.

CCP Complex redevelopment- yung condominiums by Megaworld pa lang ang announced.

Waterfront casino hotel- they own a 5 hectare land around that area. depende pa raw kung magiging succesful ang E-city.

West Marina Bay- scrapped (?) o ilusyon lang to..

Andrew Tan's proposed Marina, condo complex sa lupa ng Navy. it seems like Noynoy is serious about this deal. Ok lang naman sa Navy.
:banana::banana::banana:

thanks for the recap.
ang pagkaalam ko yung SM in partnership with Belle ay ang mga SM Development Corp or SMDC...ang project nila ay currently ongoing ang construction sa Roxas Blvd, sa likod ng Shell Gas Station. hindi sya sakop ng BNP. ito yung may Planet Hollywood theme.

iba pang development ng SM Group which is SM Investments Corps. or SMIC, ang project naman ay gagawin sa loob ng MOA complex which is part of the BNP or Pagcor city

recap:
1.) SMDC (SM Development Corp) & Belle - Planet Hollywood theme at Roxas Blvd (back of Shell Gas Station) - Not BNP
2.) SMIC (SM Investment Corp) - casino within MOA Complex with Radisson Hotels - part of BNP

Just a recap..

SM- in partnership with Belle, they will be the one who will construct the casinos and hotels tapos ang SM ang magtatayo ng entertainment component (under construction na ang SM arena). According to some write-ups it will be a Planet hollywood hotel. under construction na siya pero hindi pa inonounce formally ang groundbreaking probably underground works pa lang. end of 2011 ang target nila. (yung casino lang daw muna.)

Megaworld/Travellers- it will be called as "Resorts World Bayshore" since mayroon ng "Resorts World Manila" sa tapat ng NAIA3.. dito nila balak magtayo ng theme park most likely "Warner Bros" pero hindi pa official. it looks like the owner of this is serious about building casinos and hotels.. RWM is so far very successful. They are now building the 4th hotel. (although sana hindi mauubos ang pera nila sa RWM.) pero not much detail about this. wala pa ring announced na ground breaking.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.

Bloombury- now known as "Solaire Manila". nag-ground breaking na sila with no less than the architect Paul steelman. siyan rin gumawa ng ibang casinos sa Vegas at Macau. target opening nila is third quarter ng 2012. 2 hotels tapos 4 residential condominiums and a convention center.


Nayong Pilipino- tulad din ng lumang nayong pilipino pero mas maliit. around 15 hectares lang ata.

other notable developments around the area:

Alphaland Bay city.- it will include a marina, high end malls and boutiques, residentials and offices.

CCP Complex redevelopment- yung condominiums by Megaworld pa lang ang announced.

Waterfront casino hotel- they own a 5 hectare land around that area. depende pa raw kung magiging succesful ang E-city.

West Marina Bay- scrapped (?) o ilusyon lang to..

Andrew Tan's proposed Marina, condo complex sa lupa ng Navy. it seems like Noynoy is serious about this deal. Ok lang naman sa Navy.
:banana::banana::banana:


Sayang naman kung hindi matutuloy yung warner bros themepark o yung ferris wheel ( ganda pa naman ng view ng manila bay sunset..mas maganda pa sa singapore) at oceanarium :cry::cry:... ang mangyayari nyan eh puro casino at malls lang ang magiging attraction and as we all know the new PAGCOR chair doesnt like that even noynoy :nono::nono:...on a good note though they are starting the construction already ( Hope Azure will follow) and from the looks of it THERE'S NO FORMAL NEWS ABOUT ANY CHANGES ON THE PROJECT EITHER COMING FROM PAGCOR OR THE DEVELOPERS:applause::applause::pepper:. So maybe we just have to hang on people...pero isang malaking MALAKING TANONG...ANO NA NANGYARI SA PAGCOR TOWER?? WHO WILL BE BUILDING IT?? WILL THEY FOLLOW THE OLD HEIGHT AND DESIGN??

^ no need to hurry this up. This will be on a very gradual and slow development. Most probably in 10 or more years. very much like how Bonifacio global city is being developed. It is on a 1 time construction but slow and gradual.

^ no need to hurry this up. This will be on a very gradual and slow development. Most probably in 10 or more years. very much like how Bonifacio global city is being developed. It is on a 1 time construction but slow and gradual.

Agree. Uunahin ang mga hotel at casino then kung mabilis ang pasok ng pera sa kanila the rest of the plans will follow. Let's just be happy that something is being started.

http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/photo-2-mayor-bernabe-graces-ground-breaking-rites-of-new-resort600x400.jpg
Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. (center) joins Bloombury officials (L-R) Director Edgardo Abesamis, Director and President Jose Eduardo Alarilla, Chairman Enrique Razon, Jr., Chief Operating Officer Donato Almeda, Design Architect Paul Steelman and Director Christian Gonzales during the groundbreaking rites of the Solaire Manila Project of the Bloombury Investment Holdings, Inc., an 8.3 hectare world-class integrated resort complex at the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in the Bay Reclamation Area. (Public Information Office)

source: http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/2010/07/solaire-manila-groundbreaking-held/

^^i wish they can move so I can see the render! :P

All credits now goes to noynoy? OMG!

tumpak, I remember Joseph Estrada's credit grabbing tactics when the MRT along EDSA was finished during his term, he did not mentioned FVR's name when in fact it was FVR's term when the MRT was initiated. bibilib ako kay PNOY when he will include PGMA's name if he will make a speech when BNP is finished pero sa tingin ko..mukhang malabo mabanggit name ni PGMA nor he will mention Efraim Genuino's :lol:

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/solaire.jpg
credits to the owner (http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/2010/07/solaire-manila-groundbreaking-held-2/)

Hmm, I'm not sure if I like the design. Looks like what they would build in Las Vegas in the 60's. Maybe if they use aqua colored glass, something fresh or maybe striking....

^--- I was thinking the same exact thing.
It might seem like a small tweak, but I second that a different colored glass might actually do the trick. Minor adjustment, major outcome.

Not tall but I like it. Much better than the other luxury hotels in the metro. Most of the hotels in Las Vegas only look good at night because of the lighting effects. Maybe it would look much better at night

Just a recap..

SM- in partnership with Belle, they will be the one who will construct the casinos and hotels tapos ang SM ang magtatayo ng entertainment component (under construction na ang SM arena). According to some write-ups it will be a Planet hollywood hotel. under construction na siya pero hindi pa inonounce formally ang groundbreaking probably underground works pa lang. end of 2011 ang target nila. (yung casino lang daw muna.)

Megaworld/Travellers- it will be called as "Resorts World Bayshore" since mayroon ng "Resorts World Manila" sa tapat ng NAIA3.. dito nila balak magtayo ng theme park most likely "Warner Bros" pero hindi pa official. it looks like the owner of this is serious about building casinos and hotels.. RWM is so far very successful. They are now building the 4th hotel. (although sana hindi mauubos ang pera nila sa RWM.) pero not much detail about this. wala pa ring announced na ground breaking.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.

Bloombury- now known as "Solaire Manila". nag-ground breaking na sila with no less than the architect Paul steelman. siyan rin gumawa ng ibang casinos sa Vegas at Macau. target opening nila is third quarter ng 2012. 2 hotels tapos 4 residential condominiums and a convention center.


Nayong Pilipino- tulad din ng lumang nayong pilipino pero mas maliit. around 15 hectares lang ata.

other notable developments around the area:

Alphaland Bay city.- it will include a marina, high end malls and boutiques, residentials and offices.

CCP Complex redevelopment- yung condominiums by Megaworld pa lang ang announced.

Waterfront casino hotel- they own a 5 hectare land around that area. depende pa raw kung magiging succesful ang E-city.

West Marina Bay- scrapped (?) o ilusyon lang to..

Andrew Tan's proposed Marina, condo complex sa lupa ng Navy. it seems like Noynoy is serious about this deal. Ok lang naman sa Navy.
:banana::banana::banana:


Salamat po sir.

Kaya lang para walang mga dates...

wala ng ferris wheel? :((

for those who are criticizing noynoy, pls be aware that noynoy ran for president beacuse he wants to remove corruption and bring justice that's why he works on cases. don't judge for he's just 1 month old in his position. there are many years that he would act. third, please don't judge noynoy just for reading his speech in the teleprompter. as what i have said, this is just beginning. there are still many problems to be solved.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/solaire.jpg
credits to the owner (http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/2010/07/solaire-manila-groundbreaking-held-2/)

Hmm, I'm not sure if I like the design. Looks like what they would build in Las Vegas in the 60's. Maybe if they use aqua colored glass, something fresh or maybe striking....

Oh man, even the font 'Solaire' is too simple. I am still trying to like it, what can I do but wait for the whole render to appear anytime soon. I am still hoping for that 'wow factor'...if they want to compete with Singapore and Macau or to compete with the remaining 3 projects in BNP they (Solaire peeps) should at least level-up the design.

p.s. - it's my constructive criticism

^^ same sentiments here. although they still have enough time to tweak all the minor details like the name font and the building's facade, etc. :)

^^ same sentiments here. although they still have enough time to tweak all the minor details like the name font and the building's facade, etc. :)

groundbreaking pa lang. easy lang kayo guys. at least may development sa mga vacant lots sa metro manila. hindi mga squatter makikita ninyo mag construct nang shanties nila:cheers::lol::lol::lol::cheers:

Just a recap..

SM- in partnership with Belle, they will be the one who will construct the casinos and hotels tapos ang SM ang magtatayo ng entertainment component (under construction na ang SM arena). According to some write-ups it will be a Planet hollywood hotel. under construction na siya pero hindi pa inonounce formally ang groundbreaking probably underground works pa lang. end of 2011 ang target nila. (yung casino lang daw muna.)

Megaworld/Travellers- it will be called as "Resorts World Bayshore" since mayroon ng "Resorts World Manila" sa tapat ng NAIA3.. dito nila balak magtayo ng theme park most likely "Warner Bros" pero hindi pa official. it looks like the owner of this is serious about building casinos and hotels.. RWM is so far very successful. They are now building the 4th hotel. (although sana hindi mauubos ang pera nila sa RWM.) pero not much detail about this. wala pa ring announced na ground breaking.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.

Bloombury- now known as "Solaire Manila". nag-ground breaking na sila with no less than the architect Paul steelman. siyan rin gumawa ng ibang casinos sa Vegas at Macau. target opening nila is third quarter ng 2012. 2 hotels tapos 4 residential condominiums and a convention center.


Nayong Pilipino- tulad din ng lumang nayong pilipino pero mas maliit. around 15 hectares lang ata.

other notable developments around the area:

Alphaland Bay city.- it will include a marina, high end malls and boutiques, residentials and offices.

CCP Complex redevelopment- yung condominiums by Megaworld pa lang ang announced.

Waterfront casino hotel- they own a 5 hectare land around that area. depende pa raw kung magiging succesful ang E-city.

West Marina Bay- scrapped (?) o ilusyon lang to..

Andrew Tan's proposed Marina, condo complex sa lupa ng Navy. it seems like Noynoy is serious about this deal. Ok lang naman sa Navy.
:banana::banana::banana:


Another Nayong Pilipino and this time much smaller?? Wag na lang. Kung yung luma nga na mas malaki nag parang walang kwenta paano pa kaya ang mas maliit??

Gawin na lang nila central parking area or centralized transportation hub para functional as I bet magiging traffick dyan. Pangit kung magiging Makati yung area na puros one-way at kailangan mag drive nang mahaba for a u-turn.

Puede rin mini-central park para maging sponge para walang floods.

Puede rin a combination of the above wag lang another Nayong Pilipino.

Aruze- they are now known as Universal entertainment. based on the press release, mukhang scrapped na yung ferris wheel. wala na ring sinabi about the biggest oceanarium. sabi june 30 daw ang ground breaking pero mukhang hindi natuloy.



saan mo nakuha etong info na to??? check mo muna universal's official site and press release. WALANG NABANGGIT DUN NA SCRAPPED NA ANG FERRIS WHEEL. In fact, they'll tweak it using their own special lightings and technology. CHECK YOUR INFOS FIRST. DO NOT WILD GUESS. YOU'RE CONFUSING AND DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE HERE :ohno:

saan mo nakuha etong info na to??? check mo muna universal's official site and press release. WALANG NABANGGIT DUN NA SCRAPPED NA ANG FERRIS WHEEL. In fact, they'll tweak it using their own special lightings and technology. CHECK YOUR INFOS FIRST. DO NOT WILD GUESS. YOU'RE CONFUSING AND DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE HERE :ohno:


Cool ka lang bro :chill::chill: He's just trying to help...thats why he included "mukhang scrapped" becuase he's not sure...well most of us is not really sure actually we just have to wait but one thing im sure of is all of us supports and is excited about this project!..thats why maybe some of us ( well...including me he hee) gets carried away :lol::lol:

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3029/37427203.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7803/91202419.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9079/16788378.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2025/66737848.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8308/49676158.jpg
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4158/33906095.jpg

^^^^ WAAAAAHHH!! naiiyak ako!! Ang ganda :drool::drool: ng plano nila at 2013 matapos? MABILIS YAN ITS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Thanks Narnian King you lighten up my day and other forummers here!! :applause::applause::okay::okay:

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3029/37427203.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7803/91202419.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9079/16788378.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2025/66737848.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8308/49676158.jpg
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4158/33906095.jpg

ok ok, hold your horses, let's not get excited hehehe. I have seen this article way back in 2009 here's the link --> http://www.universal-777.com/en/company/companyinfo/profile2009_pdf/14_19.pdf

this article was published BEFORE the news report about the CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) which restricts tall structures from being made due to Pagcor city's location which is within the 5 kilometer radius to the airport. Here's the link --> http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=33:economy&id=14503:height-limit-a-problem-for-proposed-structures-at-pagcor-city&Itemid=60

Aruze now known as Universal Entertainment still keeping mum about their developments and there are still no reports if their structures have been revised or trimmed down in compliance with CAAP.

Still I hope the earlier article that reported the said structure would come into fruition

^^^^ ano ba ang height limit na pwede itayo within that radius??

^^ nabasa ko na 56m.. sayang talaga kung di matutuloy yung tower.. pero masaya pa din ako kasi nagsimula na gawin ang bnp.. :)

TRue! :lol:

what's the connection? we're talking about credit grabbing :lol:

I'm not pertaining to that issue. I didn't quote anything about Joseph's credit-grabbing. I'm pertaining to the ones that has a previous post regarding noynoy's capability.

LRWC nears foreign partnership
deal in casino project

Listed Leisure & Resorts World Corp. at the weekend said that it may soon have its partner for the planned casino in Pagcor City as discussion with one Las Vegas operator reaches advanced stage.

LRWC said that Planet Hollywood of Harrah’s Entertainment is leading two other prospective operators in negotiations for the contract to run the casino that is being put up by LRWC and Belle Corp.

Former LWRC president Alfredo Benitez said that while negotiations for the $350 million hotel and casino continue with the prospective operators, talks with Harrah’s are in "more advanced stages."

Planet Hollywood is likely use its Planet Hollywood brand and this will be the first Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Asia although it is also planning to put up another one in Vietnam, said Benitez.

While this will be Planet Hollywood’s first venture in Asia, Benitez said that two other firms with some presence in Macau and Singapore are also talking to them.

Benitez said this will be the country’s biggest hotel and casino development with about 250 gaming tables, 1,500 slot machines, 100 VIP suites for high rollers and about 500 five-star hotel rooms.

"The Philippines is very poor in junket operations. With the advent of this kind of project and investment, we would like to hold a very big share of junket operations," Benitez said.

He said the casino and the all-suites hotel will be the first to open at around the third quarter next year while the 500-room five star hotel will be completed a year later.


source: MALAYA

Belle, Harrah's in advanced stage of talks for casino project (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598813&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated August 02, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The owners of Belle Corp. and Leisure & Resorts World Corp. are in an advanced stage of negotiations with US-based Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., to build the country’s largest casino complex, estimated to cost around $350 million.

On the sidelines of LRWC’s annual stockholders’ meeting Friday, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, said Harrah’s – the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment –has an edge over the two other casino players it is in talks with and it is hoped an agreement would be signed in August or September. “Among the three groups we’re talking to, the one with Harrah’s has moved to the advanced negotiation level,” he said.

Harrah’s which generates around $10.8 billion in yearly revenue, owns and operates about 50 casinos under the Bally’s, Caesars, Horseshoe, and Rio brandnames, primarily in the US and the United Kingdom. It also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker.

Owned by Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group, Harrah’s secured leadership position in the global gaming industry after it acquired rival Caesars Entertainment for $9.4 billion in 2005. It also acquired Planet Hollywood’s Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, adding to the group’s plethora of locations on the Las Vegas strip

Benitez, former president and majority shareholder of LRWC, said the two other entities have a presence in Asia but refused to name them. LRWC was tapped by Belle to run the casino as the holder of the management contract for the gaming component of the project.

He said the multi-billion peso casino which will rise on a 6.2 hectare property near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, will be nearly two times bigger than Resorts World Manila, a flagship integrated entertainment project of Alliance Global Group Inc. and the Genting Group of Malaysia.

The gaming operation will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will include the construction of the casino with around 100 VIP suites to cater to high-rollers. Two 15-storey hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme will eventually be built to complement the casino operations.

Benitez said the Las Vegas style casino, which is targeted for opening in the third quarter of 2011, will feature 1,500 slot machines and 250 tables.

Belle’s entry into the gaming market was formalized last year following its acquisition of Premium Leisure and Amusement Inc. from SM Commercial Properties Inc. The PLAI holds a franchise from Pagcor for the operation of a casino complex in the 800-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Entertainment City.

Together with the SM Group, Belle has committed to inject $1 billion into the project over a 25-year period.

The SM Group will be in charge of non-gaming developments which include hotels, a sports arena, museum, and an oceanarium.

Aside from its real estate projects, which include its crown jewel Tagaytay Highands, Belle also generates earnings from Pacific Online Corp. the exclusive online lottery systems provider in Visayas and Mindanao.

Belle, Harrah's in advanced stage of talks for casino project (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598813&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated August 02, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The owners of Belle Corp. and Leisure & Resorts World Corp. are in an advanced stage of negotiations with US-based Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., to build the country’s largest casino complex, estimated to cost around $350 million.

On the sidelines of LRWC’s annual stockholders’ meeting Friday, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, said Harrah’s – the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment –has an edge over the two other casino players it is in talks with and it is hoped an agreement would be signed in August or September. “Among the three groups we’re talking to, the one with Harrah’s has moved to the advanced negotiation level,” he said.

Harrah’s which generates around $10.8 billion in yearly revenue, owns and operates about 50 casinos under the Bally’s, Caesars, Horseshoe, and Rio brandnames, primarily in the US and the United Kingdom. It also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker.

Owned by Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group, Harrah’s secured leadership position in the global gaming industry after it acquired rival Caesars Entertainment for $9.4 billion in 2005. It also acquired Planet Hollywood’s Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, adding to the group’s plethora of locations on the Las Vegas strip

Benitez, former president and majority shareholder of LRWC, said the two other entities have a presence in Asia but refused to name them. LRWC was tapped by Belle to run the casino as the holder of the management contract for the gaming component of the project.

He said the multi-billion peso casino which will rise on a 6.2 hectare property near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, will be nearly two times bigger than Resorts World Manila, a flagship integrated entertainment project of Alliance Global Group Inc. and the Genting Group of Malaysia.

The gaming operation will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will include the construction of the casino with around 100 VIP suites to cater to high-rollers. Two 15-storey hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme will eventually be built to complement the casino operations.

Benitez said the Las Vegas style casino, which is targeted for opening in the third quarter of 2011, will feature 1,500 slot machines and 250 tables.

Belle’s entry into the gaming market was formalized last year following its acquisition of Premium Leisure and Amusement Inc. from SM Commercial Properties Inc. The PLAI holds a franchise from Pagcor for the operation of a casino complex in the 800-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Entertainment City.

Together with the SM Group, Belle has committed to inject $1 billion into the project over a 25-year period.

The SM Group will be in charge of non-gaming developments which include hotels, a sports arena, museum, and an oceanarium.

Aside from its real estate projects, which include its crown jewel Tagaytay Highands, Belle also generates earnings from Pacific Online Corp. the exclusive online lottery systems provider in Visayas and Mindanao.

:cucumber::carrot::pepper::banana::cheers:
galing naman! keep them good news coming ;DDD

Here's something that concerns Pagcor city - MWSS vs. Maynilad

**************

Aquino backs Singson on Pagcor deal
By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:13:00 08/02/2010

Filed Under: Government offices & agencies, agreements, Water Supply, Construction & Property
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III Sunday threw his support behind Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson over a deal the Cabinet official had struck with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) when he was the top official of a private firm.

Aquino said he had spoken separately with Singson and the head of the state gambling firm to inquire about the report that the public works secretary, then president of Maynilad Water Services Inc., had pushed for a water concession deal for the planned Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in Parañaque City.

“I am, at this point, satisfied with his explanation,” Mr. Aquino told reporters, referring to Singson.

Singson on Sunday night told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Maynilad did not enter into a midnight deal with Pagcor since the two firms came up with a memorandum of agreement (MOA) early last year. He said Maynilad informed the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) about the deal in February 2009.

He added that the reservoir Maynilad was building in Pagcor City as a result of the MOA was “almost done.”

While he defended Singson, Mr. Aquino pointed out that the plan to put up Pagcor City on a reclamation area was not yet a done deal.

“I was made to understand that there is no perfected contract (yet),” he said. “(Pagcor officials) are reviewing the whole concept of Pagcor City so as far as I’m concerned, this is a nonexistent deal.”

Quoting Singson, the President said then Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino had wanted to ensure that the site would have “adequate water (and) electricity” to attract investors.

Mr. Aquino said Pagcor City (Entertainment City) was to be built within Maynilad’s concession area, the west zone of Metro Manila. The east zone is handled by Manila Water Company.

New franchise area

But two MWSS board members, who asked not to be named, earlier said Pagcor City was located in a newly reclaimed area and should be classified as a new and exclusive franchise area of the MWSS.

They said the MWSS should bid out the new franchise area to get the best deal for the government.

Singson explained why the Pagcor-Maynilad agreement was not a midnight deal.

In an e-mail sent on Saturday to an e-group of his former high school classmates at De La Salle University, Singson said no payment was made by Maynilad to anyone, including Genuino.

Singson confirmed Sunday night that he sent the e-mail to the e-group.

He said that in 2009, Genuino asked Maynilad to put up a water reservoir in Pagcor City to assure investors that the place would have reliable water supply even as early as the construction period.

Letter to Allado

Maynilad wrote MWSS administrator Diosdado Allado on Feb. 9, 2009, informing the MWSS of the arrangement that Maynilad wished to enter into with Pagcor, he said.

Singson said that the MOA stipulated among other things that Pagcor would grant “usufructuary rights to Maynilad for a parcel of land owned by Pagcor for free to Maynilad provided Maynilad would spend for all the cost of construction and connection to their designated stubout connection.”

He said Maynilad would be investing close to P500 million for the reservoir, pumping station, generator sets, etc.

“The reservoir will give Pagcor City priority use of the water, but Maynilad will also use the reservoir to serve Parañaque and our expansion areas to Las Piñas and Cavite,” he said.

He said that after the concession agreement, all these facilities and investments of Maynilad would revert to the MWSS.

In response to Maynilad’s proposal, the MWSS sent a letter to the firm dated May 14, 2009, signed by Allado informing Maynilad that the MOA had been reviewed by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel and requesting it to transmit the revised deal to the MWSS for board approval, Singson said.

Additional fees

“However, recently sometime April 2010, before signing the MOA, Allado wanted Maynilad to pay the MWSS royalty/additional fees claiming that Pagcor City is outside our concession area,” he said.

Singson said Maynilad contested the new demand saying that it had no legal basis and that Pagcor City was within Maynilad’s concession area since the west zone includes Pasay City and Parañaque where Pagcor City is located.

He noted that Maynilad was already servicing SM Mall of Asia and all the adjoining areas of Pagcor City, including the subdivision development of the Tanyu group.

“Any additional payment of royalty fees the MWSS wants to charge will only increase the water rates to Maynilad customers. Maynilad refused to pay any additional fees to the MWSS and even considered to bring the MWSS to dispute arbitration,” Singson wrote his former high school classmates.

Maynilad business plan

“Clearly, it is not a midnight deal because the construction of the reservoir started late last year and should be completed by September this year,” he said.

Moreover, he said, the reservoir project had been included in Maynilad’s business plan for 2008-2012 which the company submitted to the MWSS in 2008 for its rate rebasing process.

Singson said the government was “not losing any amount from this transaction as claimed because it does not have any legal basis to claim royalty fees.”

“In fact, any payment made to the MWSS as additional royalty fees will only increase the water rates to customers and will only be used by the MWSS for additional bonuses and allowances and operating expenses,” he added.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100802-284447/Aquino-backs-Singson-on-Pagcor-deal

pag may good news syempre meron din bad news

http://pampil.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/manila-anti-casino-group-sought-divine-intervention/

On Target
Former Pagcor chief humiliated

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:04:00 07/31/2010

EFRAIM Genuino, former chair of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), paid his successor, Bong Naguiat, a visit a few days after he was replaced.

It was a courtesy call on his successor, and Genuino also wanted to offer a helping hand in case Naguiat would have difficulty in the first few months running the government-owned gaming firm.

Genuino probably regretted making that call because he was humiliated in front of his former subordinates.

Before he was allowed to enter Naguiat’s office, the former Pagcor chair was frisked by his successor’s bodyguards who demanded that he leave the bag he was carrying outside.

He was only allowed to bring in his bag after he appealed to the guards, since the bag contained important documents.

In the conference room where Genuino was received, Naguiat sat across the table at the far end.

Naguiat told his predecessor there was “pressure from upstairs” to make life hard for him.

Don’t the Jesuits at the Ateneo de Manila University, from which the President and Naguiat graduated, teach their students magnanimity?

* * *

Naguiat probably has forgotten, or failed to come across the Filipino saying: He who climbs the highest pole takes the hardest fall.
Or has he forgotten what Jesus of Nazareth said: “He who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Naguiat should also be reminded of the law of karma: What you do to your fellowman will come back to you.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100731-284123/Former-Pagcor-chief-humiliated

Belle, Harrah's in advanced stage of talks for casino project (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598813&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated August 02, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The owners of Belle Corp. and Leisure & Resorts World Corp. are in an advanced stage of negotiations with US-based Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., to build the country’s largest casino complex, estimated to cost around $350 million.

On the sidelines of LRWC’s annual stockholders’ meeting Friday, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, said Harrah’s – the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment –has an edge over the two other casino players it is in talks with and it is hoped an agreement would be signed in August or September. “Among the three groups we’re talking to, the one with Harrah’s has moved to the advanced negotiation level,” he said.

Harrah’s which generates around $10.8 billion in yearly revenue, owns and operates about 50 casinos under the Bally’s, Caesars, Horseshoe, and Rio brandnames, primarily in the US and the United Kingdom. It also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker.

Owned by Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group, Harrah’s secured leadership position in the global gaming industry after it acquired rival Caesars Entertainment for $9.4 billion in 2005. It also acquired Planet Hollywood’s Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, adding to the group’s plethora of locations on the Las Vegas strip

Benitez, former president and majority shareholder of LRWC, said the two other entities have a presence in Asia but refused to name them. LRWC was tapped by Belle to run the casino as the holder of the management contract for the gaming component of the project.

He said the multi-billion peso casino which will rise on a 6.2 hectare property near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, will be nearly two times bigger than Resorts World Manila, a flagship integrated entertainment project of Alliance Global Group Inc. and the Genting Group of Malaysia.

The gaming operation will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will include the construction of the casino with around 100 VIP suites to cater to high-rollers. Two 15-storey hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme will eventually be built to complement the casino operations.

Benitez said the Las Vegas style casino, which is targeted for opening in the third quarter of 2011, will feature 1,500 slot machines and 250 tables.

Belle’s entry into the gaming market was formalized last year following its acquisition of Premium Leisure and Amusement Inc. from SM Commercial Properties Inc. The PLAI holds a franchise from Pagcor for the operation of a casino complex in the 800-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Entertainment City.

Together with the SM Group, Belle has committed to inject $1 billion into the project over a 25-year period.

The SM Group will be in charge of non-gaming developments which include hotels, a sports arena, museum, and an oceanarium.

Aside from its real estate projects, which include its crown jewel Tagaytay Highands, Belle also generates earnings from Pacific Online Corp. the exclusive online lottery systems provider in Visayas and Mindanao.

Great news.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs092.snc4/35979_1507126472642_1068719127_1498223_1892530_n.jpg

Photo taken by DCRJ (me!) Aug. 1, 2010 Sunday at the junction of Airport Road (Baclaran) and Roxas Blvd. near the Unioil Gas Station. If you'll notice the numerous cranes at the backdrop, the site is currently under construction...it's the BELLE (SM Group) and soon-to-tie-in HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT joint development of the PLANET HOLLYWOOD HOTEL CASINO AND RESORT, soon to open third quarter 2011

Here's something that concerns Pagcor city - MWSS vs. Maynilad

**************

Aquino backs Singson on Pagcor deal
By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:13:00 08/02/2010


related to this...

PAGCOR-Maynilad contract is non-existent, says Aquino
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 08/01/2010 5:05 PM | Updated as of 08/01/2010 8:11 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said there is no midnight deal between Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson and former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chair Efraim Genuino.

"I am at this point in time satisfied with his (Singson's) explanation," Aquino said in a press briefing on Sunday.

The alleged anomalous deal as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on Sunday, involves Singson, who as then president of the Maynilad Water Services Inc., locking up with then PAGCOR chief Genuino a water concession agreement that would have meant forfeiting government revenue from water fees.

The PDI said the deal between Pagcor and Maynilad involving the 3,877-square-meter Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City in Parañaque City was among the midnight deals that Genuino was said to have been pushing before he left PAGCOR in June. But the board of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) refused to uphold the deal, and the current Pagcor management has put it on hold pending further investigation.

Aquino said that Singson had explained to him, in a text message, the basic issue surrounding the alleged anomaly.

"Iyong basic thrust of his position is that Genuino as chair of PAGCOR needed to assure potential locators that it had adequate water, electricity etc, before he could attract investors."

He said Singson and then concurrent chair of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel and MWSS Gabby Claudio were tasked to also deal with the issue because the project fell within the Maynilad concession area.

Aquino said he was made to understand by PAGCOR that there is no "perfected contract."

"They (Pagcor) are reviewing the whole concept of PAGCOR City. So as far as they are concerned, this is a non-existing bid."

pag may good news syempre meron din bad news

http://pampil.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/manila-anti-casino-group-sought-divine-intervention/

Bwisit na mga militanteng komunista yan! talagang SALOT SA LIPUNAN at HADLANG SA ATING PAG-UNLAD YANG MGA ANIMAL NA YAN! :bleep::mad2::bleep::mad2:These people is one of the CORE problems of our industries today! They squeeze out anything and everything they can get from our factories and business establishments that's why don't wonder why big ticket factories either local or foreign folds up in our country, just check out what the KMU and other militant communist anarchist is wrecking havoc in our industries today ( namely Nestle, San miguel among many others!) That's why then president Arroyo targeted these people ( and that's why these militant communist are so angry with her too) during her term because she knows they our hindering our growth. They pretend they are pro workers or pro poor but the truth is they are ANTI-INDUSTRIALIZATION, ANTI-CAPITALIST, and ANTI-BUSINESS and over-all ANTI DEMOCRACY :down::down:and will only stop when THEY HAVE ESTABLISH A COMMUNIST STATE IN OR COUNTRY MUCH LIKE NORTH KOREA IS NOW!! :skull::gaah::skull::gaah:Well as far as im concerned wala na silang magagawa kundi mag ingay na lang ( which they are very good at ) If they want to stop the project they should have stop MOA in the 1st place ( notice they went to those stupid bishops:weird::weird: for help not the courts? ) And they cant go head-to-head against the powerful Sy's and other rich and influential people of that project, Aquino himself has more or less given the GO signal to build E-city. Ang sa palagay ko eh gustong kikilan/huthutan ng mga militanteng to and mga developers para tumahimik sila :puke::puke:(over-all is still about the MONEY not the POOR or FISHERMEN) tulad ng ginagawa nila sa Nestle or San Miguel. So don't wonder why I have my this kind of signature

There was a bit of good news in that irritating article...

LINK: http://pampil.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/manila-anti-casino-group-sought-divine-intervention/

....Pagcor president and chief operating officer Rafael Butch Francisco announced on Monday the construction at the Bay Shore Entertainment City was expected to start in the latter part of the year. Sources said the Razon’s entry into the Pagcor project came after his exit from the power transmission business. Last month, Henry Sy Jr.’s OneTaipan Holdings, Inc. bought Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. from Razon’s group for $350 million.

Pagcor said the construction is expected to start in the third quarter at an estimated cost of $400 million for the first phase. According to the state-run gambling corporation, the complex will include two five-star luxury hotel towers of over 1,000 rooms within a world-class entertainment and convention facility...

I don't want to post the whole article because IT AGGRAVATES ME TO DEATH!! And notice the big media group didn't give much attention to these MORONS! as much as they gave attention to the construction of E-City..it just means the media also has overwhelming support for this project...BUT WE MUST NOT LET OUR GUARD DOWN AGAINST THESE PEOPLE...BE VIGILANT AGAINST THESE COMMUNIST ANARCHIST!! :guns1::guns1:

^hayaan nyo na sila, feeling ko naman, people nowadays think more, lumiit na ang bilang ng mga anti-development na mga taong yan.

I have been seeing this structure and often wondered what it is. it's located at the Pagcor city area. I recorded this video and uploaded to YouTube courtesy of 24 Oras awhile ago Aug. 2, 2010. The structure is the MWSS Reservoir !

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3136578.jpg

here's the video aired a few minutes ago Aug 2, 2010
Singson denies Maynilad-PAGCOR 'midnight' deal at PAGCOR CITY- Aug. 2, 2010
oc2Xcj6E5NQ

yan tinatawag nating putak muna ng putak pero di naman sigurado kung tama ba o mali ang pinuputak. buming-bang tuloy mga sinasabi. :lol:

^^hayaan na lang silang pumutak hanggang mawalan ng maipuputak. The good thing is, there is something happening in this project. We've been waiting for years to see a ground breaking. We expected before that the tower would be the first to get built. Kahit hindi, at least, may sinisimulan na.

OT::

http://missosology.org/mu10/peoples-choice-award/

pls VOTE MA.VENUS RAJ sa MISS UNIVERSE 2010

I highly doubt that "fisherfolk" are going to turn over this big signed project.
The Catholic church is already in hot enough water for mouthing off to every progressive idea the government makes.

I do agree with KnightoftheFlag that these groups of largely dumb people are very extremely nearsighted and retrogressive to say the least. They're pretty much like big warts that you find on your skin - they're annoying and unsightly, and you just have to freeze them off. Watching them run to the CBCP as a last result is as amusing as watching your younger brother run off to his mother to get you in trouble.

@KnightoftheFlag ... I find your posts amusing hahahahahahahahaha. They're always impressive with your talents in patriotic multi-colors, emoticons, boldface, underlining, and exclamation points.

There was a bit of good news in that irritating article...

LINK: http://pampil.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/manila-anti-casino-group-sought-divine-intervention/

....Pagcor president and chief operating officer Rafael Butch Francisco announced on Monday the construction at the Bay Shore Entertainment City was expected to start in the latter part of the year. Sources said the Razon’s entry into the Pagcor project came after his exit from the power transmission business. Last month, Henry Sy Jr.’s OneTaipan Holdings, Inc. bought Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. from Razon’s group for $350 million.

Pagcor said the construction is expected to start in the third quarter at an estimated cost of $400 million for the first phase. According to the state-run gambling corporation, the complex will include two five-star luxury hotel towers of over 1,000 rooms within a world-class entertainment and convention facility...


Great news.....

Here's a video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube Aug 3, 2010. They did not mention the name Azure Group of Japan, one of the investors in Pagcor city.

RICE Donated by PAGCOR CITY Investor from Japan Allegedly Used by GENUINO for Son's Campaign
MZ_c1BidbUg

Genuinos accused of using donated rice for elections

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100804-284980/Genuinos-accused-of-using-donated-rice-for-elections)
First Posted 23:51:00 08/04/2010


CLOSE TO 49 metric tons of rice intended for typhoon victims in 2008 were diverted to bolster the candidacies in the May elections of two sons of former Philippine Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino, the state gaming firm said Wednesday.

Jay Santiago, Pagcor spokesperson, said the rice, worth over P1.4 million, was part of the 300-MT shipment from Thailand which a Japanese gaming firm had donated to Pagcor.

Instead of distributing the staple to its intended beneficiaries, close to 1,000 50-kilogram sacks of “first-class” rice were repacked to smaller 10-kilogram bags by a private rice miller in Biñan, Laguna, he said.

The bags recovered from the Laguna warehouse were printed with the names and faces of Genuino’s sons—Anthony, or “Ton,” and Erwin, or “Win.”

Santiago said Pagcor employees recently discovered similar rice bags from their head office in Manila.

‘The New Face’

“The report we got is that the bags of rice were distributed for the campaign of the Genuinos, but we don’t have concrete evidence so far,” Santiago told the Inquirer. “We’re still investigating this. We’re trying to gather as much evidence as we could.”


The Genuino brothers used the catchphrase “Ang Bagong Mukha (The New Face)” as their political slogan in the May 10 elections.

Despite allegations that he was not a resident of the town, Anthony won the mayoral race in Los Baños, Laguna.

His brother Erwin, however, lost his mayoral bid in Makati City to Jun-jun Binay, son of then mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Not surprised

Newly designated Pagcor Chair Cristino Naguiat said he was “not surprised” about the diversion.

Two weeks ago, Naguiat stopped the disbursement of P21 million purportedly meant to pay hamburgers and fried chicken which the Pagcor was said to have donated to policemen guarding mass actions in Metro Manila.

“Are you really shocked with this? I think we might uncover more (anomalies) as we go along with our job in Pagcor,” Naguiat said over the phone. “There are ‘outside sources’ who are providing us with information.”

Contacted on his mobile phone, Genuino said in Filipino: “It was me who donated the rice to Pagcor. Why would they accuse me of illegally distributing the rice which I actually owned?”

Asked if he had documents to prove this, he replied: “Hindi ko na alam ’yan (I don’t know).”

Attempts to ‘demonize’

“They’re trying to demonize me,” he said. “You can check the records. You can see that I was instrumental in improving the status of Pagcor. In fact, when people say Pagcor, its synonymous already to Genuino. And when you say Genuino, people think of Pagcor.”

Genuino claimed the 10,000 bags of rice, each weighing 30 kilograms, was “donated to me personally” by Aruze Corp. through the help of his “kumpare” who, he said, was a senior official of the Japanese company.

Owned by Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, the gaming firm was awarded by the Pagcor with a contract to build a multimillion peso hotel-resort complex inside the proposed 12-hectare Pagcor Entertainment City on Manila Bay.

Donation for typhoon victims

However, a press release posted on the Pagcor’s website clearly stated that the rice shipment was donated by Okada’s company to Pagcor.

The news article came out during Genuino’s incumbency and featured a photograph of him and then Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro receiving the donation from Okada.

The article read: “Aruze Corporation chairman Kazuo Okada today turned over 300 metric tons of rice to the Philippine government for distribution among the families affected by the destructive typhoons that hit the country recently.”

A Pagcor employee said Okada’s firm imported 10,000 bags of rice from Thailand two years ago upon Genuino’s request.

The employee, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the shipment was immediately taken to the Pagcor warehouse in Imus, Cavite, when it arrived from Thailand on July 24, 2008.

Documents from the Pagcor described the commodity as “Thailand white rice, long grain, 100 percent broken” and that the agency paid almost P1.7 million for the cost of shipment, brokerage, storage and freight services.

Tax evasion

“If the former Pagcor chair really owned the shipment, then he must be guilty of tax evasion as he did not pay for the importation of rice,” Santiago said.

Upon verbal instructions from Genuino, he said then corporate communications chief Dodie King ordered the donation of 6,500 bags of rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The rest were kept in the Pagcor warehouse and were later transferred to the rice depot owned by the National Food Authority, also in Cavite.

On Dec. 23, 2009, the Pagcor official said King again verbally instructed Pagcor employees to bring the rice to a private rice mill in Laguna which offered to replace the already rotting rice with “Angelica” rice.

Each sack of the well-milled rice was priced at P1,450, the employee said.

“It was like a barter agreement wherein the Pagcor exchanged the donated rice for the good quality rice,” he related.

It was there where the “Angelica” rice was repacked into smaller bags before they were supposedly distributed during the campaign of Genuino’s sons.

Well.. they are obviously they're killing this project and they want to have a new project of their own! :banana: yellow banana rocks!

No basis. In fact, PAGCOR acknowledged this project AS long as the deals are valid and legal. Nag ground breaking na nga eh. More to follow.

Be positive. Well, I can't help if you belong to the negative pool, the minority.

^^^^

i'm for one... is not a part of that minority... kasi super excited na ako for this project. :banana::banana::banana:

remember phase 1 pa lang ito. pag naging successful ito ay kakalat na sa buong kapuluan ang mga projects na tulad nito like in cebu, etc.

^^^^

i'm for one... is not a part of that minority... kasi super excited na ako for this project. :banana::banana::banana:

remember phase 1 pa lang ito. pag naging successful ito ay kakalat na sa buong kapuluan ang mga projects na tulad nito like in cebu, etc.

Absolutely! Super excited talaga. We've been waiting for this project to come to life since I don't know. When this thread was closed, maraming nalungkot! But then, our excitement would be without limits if the Pagcor Tower (sana 654m pa rin kung tuloy) would start its construction. 'Yan and number one na pinakahihintay ng lahat. Second is the Manila Eye.

kung kelan hindi na uso mga casino....saka gagawin yan....para malugi ganyan gumawa ng projects mga pinoy....:lol:

Four groups were eventually granted development licenses, namely Genting Berhad of Malaysia in partnership with Andrew Tan’s publicly listed Alliance Global, the Aruze Corporation of Japan, the US Harrah’s Entertainment that linked up with Henry Sy’s Belle Corp. and the totally unknown entity known as Bloombury Investment Holdings Inc. which was registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Except for Bloombury, the others are globally-recognized names with billion-dollar balance sheets and enviable track records in international gaming operations.

When Bloombury was exposed in local media as an alleged crony-owned and controlled corporation, Pagcor was forced to issue a clarification that they had given it a development license due to their claimed partnership with Crown Limited which is said to be under the aegis of casino mogul James Packer, reputedly Australia’s richest man. But the roof fell soon after, with Crown Limited issuing a denial in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post that there were no ongoing talks to invest in Bloombury and Pagcor City. Nevertheless, Pagcor accepted Bloombury’s concept proposal in October 2007 allegedly due to the intervention of a relative of a high-ranking Malacañang official, even if it wasn’t registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In February 2008, Bloombury filed its papers with the SEC with an authorized capital of P60 million, way below the $1 billion up-front capital that was required of Harrah’s, Aruze and Genting." - Logarta, in The Tribune

kung kelan hindi na uso mga casino....saka gagawin yan....para malugi ganyan gumawa ng projects mga pinoy....:lol:

With all due respect may feasibility studies naman siguro ito and parang sinabi mo na rin Singapore is stupid as well for recently opening up to casinos and building the Marina Sands.

Mabuti pa legendary owner ng Sands alam na there is enough in Asia for each country to have it's own Casino resorts. Tignin ko, mas may tiwala naman ako sa kanya.

Anyway, the Philippines is not going to compete head-on to attract the high-rollers by being a hardcore gaming place like Macau.

The casinos planned for the Philippines are resort/total entertainment types that is why meron mga theme-parks, malls, condos and the like.

Just my humble opinion.

$10B offered for Pagcor

Tycoon Ramon Ang bids for gambling firm

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:26:00 08/09/2010


MANILA, Philippines — With President Benigno Aquino III facing cash problems, San Miguel Corp. vice chair Ramon S. Ang is proposing the privatization of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to raise as much as $10 billion and transform the country into a tiger economy.

Should Mr. Aquino listen to his suggestion, Ang said in a recent interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he himself planned to make a bid to acquire Pagcor with Malaysia’s “big boys.”

Ang was referring to Robert Kuok, the richest man in Southeast Asia with a net worth of $10 billion; Ananda Krishnan, second wealthiest in the region with a net worth of $7.4 billion; and Francis Yeoh, who runs YTL, one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates.

“They’re all my friends and they are interested in Pagcor,” said Ang, whose first investment outside the Philippines was in Malaysia in partnership with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

“San Miguel is not interested in going into gambling and I am going in this on my own. I do not intend to hold on this for long,” he said.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Mr. Aquino revealed his strategy of public-private partnerships and selling or leasing government assets to raise money
for the government grappling with a deficit likely to hit P350 billion this year.

Last month, Mr. Aquino announced that he was open to privatizing Pagcor after assessing its assets and existing contracts.

more... (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100809-285698/10B-offered-for-Pagcor)

^^ This is definitely good news,,, god knows we need more money to move forward.. so why not sell pagcor.. good move imho..

^^ Yeah that's a really noble move! Great news.

^^ i just hope that the private entity that ends up acquiring pagcor will develop it properly...

Pagcor would be potentially owned by Malaysians? I wonder if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Would the government still be able to regulate Pagcor?
Hope there won't be special deals with regards to taxes that Pagcor will pay.


$10B now would be great and Entertainment City Manila would be built sooner rather than later. Plus, PNOY doesn't have worry about gov't corruption in the ECM development.

Four groups were eventually granted development licenses, namely Genting Berhad of Malaysia in partnership with Andrew Tan’s publicly listed Alliance Global, the Aruze Corporation of Japan, the US Harrah’s Entertainment that linked up with Henry Sy’s Belle Corp. and the totally unknown entity known as Bloombury Investment Holdings Inc. which was registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Except for Bloombury, the others are globally-recognized names with billion-dollar balance sheets and enviable track records in international gaming operations.

When Bloombury was exposed in local media as an alleged crony-owned and controlled corporation, Pagcor was forced to issue a clarification that they had given it a development license due to their claimed partnership with Crown Limited which is said to be under the aegis of casino mogul James Packer, reputedly Australia’s richest man. But the roof fell soon after, with Crown Limited issuing a denial in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post that there were no ongoing talks to invest in Bloombury and Pagcor City. Nevertheless, Pagcor accepted Bloombury’s concept proposal in October 2007 allegedly due to the intervention of a relative of a high-ranking Malacañang official, even if it wasn’t registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In February 2008, Bloombury filed its papers with the SEC with an authorized capital of P60 million, way below the $1 billion up-front capital that was required of Harrah’s, Aruze and Genting." - Logarta, in The Tribune

okay, so that explains the crappy design of Solaire :lol:

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3143656.jpg

^^ wow, that 10 Billlion will be a massive relief to our debts and increase our peso values to make imports cheaper. I approve Pagcor Privatization.

^^ I am also in favor of PAGCOR privatization. The investments in the Entertainment City would surely increase ten-folds.

A private company PAGCOR will still pay to the government Income and VAT taxes.

The only downside is the OFWs. If the peso will strengthen to P35, that's a big loss of their income.

Aquino: Sale of Pagcor ‘a very interesting proposal’
Ensure best price possible for state gambling firm

By Cathy C. Yamsuan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 11:10:00 08/09/2010

Filed Under: State Budget & Taxes, Casinos & Gambling, Government
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said he would like to study the proposed sale of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation carefully, saying government should ensure a sale "at the best price" possible.

Speaking at the sidelines of an official event at the Department of Foreign Affairs, where he officially received over $430 million in grants from the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corp., Aquino said "that if you intend to sell something, it is at the best price that you can get."

Pagcor, he said, would be a unique privatization proposition, given its share of political and corruption controversies and therefore, selling it "needs to be studied."

"I think I have stated before, there are many allegations with regards to Pagcor. You have to ensure that, if you intend to sell something, it is at the best price that you can get," he said.

The President, however, expressed his government’s interest in the possible sale of Pagcor. "It is a proposal. It is a very interesting proposal. But at the same time, we have to study the matter first."

San Miguel Corporation Vice Chairman Ramon Ang has come out to publicly support the idea of privatizing Pagcor.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100809-285768/Aquino-Sale-of-Pagcor-a-very-interesting-proposal

^^ I am also in favor of PAGCOR privatization. The investments in the Entertainment City would surely increase ten-folds.

A private company PAGCOR will still pay to the government Income and VAT taxes.

The only downside is the OFWs. If the peso will strengthen to P35, that's a big loss of their income.

^^ Yes.. I agree. I would also expect a slow down in real estate sales and development since OFW is still the majority investors. Many defaults if peso strengthens this much in six months time (as per article)

But there are always advantages and disadvantages in any endeavor. This one outweighs the risks imho.

PNoy's league should study this CAREFULLY. This is good for SHORT TERM goal but I have doubts in the long run. Hopefully, they can manage a GREAT DEAL as this will fuel the country to be a TIGER ECONOMY "AGAIN" ahead of Thailand. I suggest they lease Pagcor instead of selling it.

^^ I am also in favor of PAGCOR privatization. The investments in the Entertainment City would surely increase ten-folds.

A private company PAGCOR will still pay to the government Income and VAT taxes.

The only downside is the OFWs. If the peso will strengthen to P35, that's a big loss of their income.

what's the time frame for this should it materialize? if that will be the case, wherein the exchange rate will be 35 pesos to a $, then I guess, it's time to go home for good.... not good for OFWs, but if it's good for the country, then so be it . . . . :cheers:

^^I think it will happen in short term since the President is "seriously" considering the proposal.
Aquino may order Pagcor to stop operating casinos—Drilon

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:10:00 08/09/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100809-285808/Aquino-may-order-Pagcor-to-stop-operating-casinosDrilon
Filed Under: Casinos & Gambling, business, government

MANILA, Philippine — President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III may order the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporations (Pagcor) to stop operating casinos by issuing an executive order and then bid this out to the private sector, a senator said on Monday.

Senator Franklin Drilon issued this as statement after San Miguel Corp, through its vice chairman Ramon Ang, expressed its interest to buy the state-run gaming agency, along with some Malaysian partners.

Drilon said it was well within the President's power to adopt a policy that would limit the powers of Pagcor to issue licenses and regulate casinos, but not operate them.

“Of course as a matter of policy, the President can say henceforth, Pagcor will no longer operate casinos. That's feasible but it should be bidded out. The actual operations of the casino should be bidded out because that will promote transparency,” he told reporters.

“It's well within the power of the president to adopt as a policy that henceforth, Pagcor, will not operate the casinos—that it will only be a licensing and regulatory agency,” he further said.

Another option, Drilon said, was to amend the charter of Pagcor to limit its power to licensing and regulating only, which he was also pushing.

“I am in favor of limiting Pagcor to being a licensing and regulatory agency and not an operator of the Pagcor, of gaming industry. This is the model in Las Vegas, in Macau,” he said.

“Let us amend the Charter of Pagcor and let it the only a licensing and regulatory agency,” the senator added.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also supported this move as he urged the government to be “very transparent” about this issue.

“I have always believed that Pagcor cannot and should not be a regulator and operator at the same time,” Escudero said in a text message.

“However, how and when will it be done and what about future potential income of Pagcor—all these plus other details must be studied carefully and I urge government t to be very transparent regarding this sensitive issue,” he further said.

Like Drilon and Escudero, Senator Sergio Osmena had earlier expressed the same sentiment favoring the privatization of Pagcor.

pag nangyari yan at mabili ng private firm ang pagcor, hahahaha laking kawalan ng funds ang simbahan :colgate: joke

Solons welcome proposed sale of Pagcor
but says regulatory function should be with gov’t

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:20:00 08/09/2010

Filed Under: Government offices & agencies, Casinos & Gambling
MANILA, Philippines — At the House of Representatives, lawmakers welcomed the offer to privatize Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), but said that regulatory function should remain in government’s control.

Quezon representative Danilo Suarez said Ang’s $10 billion should not be taken for granted.

“We are happy that a private enterprising Filipino like Mr. Ramon Ang concurs with our position and that of President Aquino about the virtues of privatizing the gaming and casinos. The offer of Mr. Ramon Ang will not be taken for granted because he speaks with authority,” he told reporters at the news conference of the members of the minority bloc Monday.

He added that the franchise fee “would be a big help in plugging all our financial problems.”

Ang is the Vice Chairman of San Miguel Corporation who earlier came out to publicly support the proposal to privatize Pagcor.

In a separate statement, Negros Occidental Representative Alfredo Benitez said selling Pagcor “lock, stock and barrel is wrong.”

“I am in agreement only as far as selling operations assets of Pagcor but we must retain its regulatory function as well as its recurring revenues,” he said.

Benitez noted that Pagcor would be worth at least P450 billion based on its 2009 gross income of P29.78 billion and the minimum 15 times premium value.

“What he is basically saying is that they’ll pay government the 15 years estimated earnings of Pagcor for $10 billion. This begs the question – is the $10 billion for the 15 years only? What about the remaining seven years? Will they simply pay the 5 percent franchise tax after the 15-year period considering that Pagcor has roughly 23 years left,” he said.

Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez said Ang’s proposal could be the “mother of all mega deals” that would “prop up the government’s economic development program.”

“The government, even with the sale of Pagcor, would continue to benefit from residual income like taxes from Pagcor operations and interest income from simply investing the balance of proceeds after applying around P200 billion to cover the budgetary deficit,” he said.

Golez also said privatizing the agency would “remove the government from direct gambling operations, and eliminate the unsavory implications of government being in the gambling business.”

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100809-285818/Solons-welcome-proposed-sale-of-Pagcor

pag nangyari yan at mabili ng private firm ang pagcor, hahahaha laking kawalan ng funds ang simbahan :colgate: joke

AT ang maganda dyan, mababawasan ang pressure ng simbahan kay PNoy kasi inde na sa government ang PAGCOR... agree agree agree

article from Channel News Asia
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/cna_interactivemedia.gif

Aquino ponders US$10b casino offer
Posted: 09 August 2010 1738 hrs


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpey8iLw.jpg
Visitors try the roulette king during an exhibit on the gaming industry in Manila.

MANILA : Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Monday his government would study a 10-billion-dollar offer from a local tycoon to take over the government's monopoly casino franchise with Malaysian help.

Ramon Ang, vice chairman of food and beverage giant San Miguel, made the stunning offer unofficially in an interview with the mass circulation Philippine Daily Inquirer, which carried his comments on its front page.

"It is a proposal, it is a very interesting proposal. But at the same time we have to study the matter first," Aquino told reporters.

"(We) have to ensure that if we intend to sell something, it is at the best price we can get."

Aquino, who began his six-year term as president on June 30, has said he is looking at privatising state assets to help deal with a growing budget deficit, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) could be sold off.

"The sale of Pagcor fits in well with the president's agenda. Why wait for six years to have 10 billion dollars when you can have 10 billion dollars in just six months," Ang said, according to the Inquirer.

"Isn't this a spectacular deal?"

Ang said he intended to make a formal bid to acquire Pagcor once it was formally put on the auction block for privatisation, the Inquirer reported.

He said he intended to go into partnership with Malaysian magnates Robert Kuok, Ananda Krishnan and Francis Yeoh, according to the report.

"They are all my friends and they are interested in Pagcor," the Inquirer quoted him as saying.

Ang emphasised that he intended to go after Pagcor independently of San Miguel, one of Southeast Asia's leading conglomerates.

A spokesman for Pagcor, Jay Santiago, said privatisation would not occur anytime soon.

"It is not as simple as it sounds. Eventually, there will be privatisation, but that is too far off," Santiago told AFP.

"(But) we agree that 10 billion dollars is a good benchmark. If and when we do go through that process, at least we know we will not be getting anything below 10 billion dollars."

Pagcor, which operates 41 casinos, reported a net income of 29.62 billion pesos (640 million dollars) in 2008.

- AFP /ls

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/1074232/1/.html

Solons welcome proposed sale of Pagcor
but says regulatory function should be with gov’t

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:20:00 08/09/2010

Filed Under: Government offices & agencies, Casinos & Gambling
MANILA, Philippines — At the House of Representatives, lawmakers welcomed the offer to privatize Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), but said that regulatory function should remain in government’s control.

Quezon representative Danilo Suarez said Ang’s $10 billion should not be taken for granted.

“We are happy that a private enterprising Filipino like Mr. Ramon Ang concurs with our position and that of President Aquino about the virtues of privatizing the gaming and casinos. The offer of Mr. Ramon Ang will not be taken for granted because he speaks with authority,” he told reporters at the news conference of the members of the minority bloc Monday.

He added that the franchise fee “would be a big help in plugging all our financial problems.”

Ang is the Vice Chairman of San Miguel Corporation who earlier came out to publicly support the proposal to privatize Pagcor.

In a separate statement, Negros Occidental Representative Alfredo Benitez said selling Pagcor “lock, stock and barrel is wrong.”

“I am in agreement only as far as selling operations assets of Pagcor but we must retain its regulatory function as well as its recurring revenues,” he said.

Benitez noted that Pagcor would be worth at least P450 billion based on its 2009 gross income of P29.78 billion and the minimum 15 times premium value.

“What he is basically saying is that they’ll pay government the 15 years estimated earnings of Pagcor for $10 billion. This begs the question – is the $10 billion for the 15 years only? What about the remaining seven years? Will they simply pay the 5 percent franchise tax after the 15-year period considering that Pagcor has roughly 23 years left,” he said.

Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez said Ang’s proposal could be the “mother of all mega deals” that would “prop up the government’s economic development program.”

“The government, even with the sale of Pagcor, would continue to benefit from residual income like taxes from Pagcor operations and interest income from simply investing the balance of proceeds after applying around P200 billion to cover the budgetary deficit,” he said.

Golez also said privatizing the agency would “remove the government from direct gambling operations, and eliminate the unsavory implications of government being in the gambling business.”

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100809-285818/Solons-welcome-proposed-sale-of-Pagcor

AT ang maganda dyan, mababawasan ang pressure ng simbahan kay PNoy kasi inde na sa government ang PAGCOR... agree agree agree

So far, no politicians, bishops or militants object to the idea of a privatized PAGCOR. So, it means it is a "go"...

So far, no politicians, bishops or militants object to the idea of a privatized PAGCOR. So, it means it is a "go"...

I just saw in 24 oras that a bishop (i forgot the name) doesn't like the idea of privatizing PAGCOR because he fears that the Philippines will be like macau. :nuts::lol:

So far, no politicians, bishops or militants object to the idea of a privatized PAGCOR. So, it means it is a "go"...

There is one Bishop objecting to the $10 Billion offer - Bishop Oscar Cruz (video below)
here's the video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube a few minutes ago, video courtesy of 24 Oras which aired Aug. 9, 2010
bFWHVP9sstI

$10 Billion is a lot of money that our country needs!
I am for privatizing the operations of Casinos, while PAGCOR continue the regulation of licenses and permits!



:horse:

^^ I am also in favor of PAGCOR privatization. The investments in the Entertainment City would surely increase ten-folds.

A private company PAGCOR will still pay to the government Income and VAT taxes.

The only downside is the OFWs. If the peso will strengthen to P35, that's a big loss of their income.

no of course. the BSP will just continue buying those dollars to control its rise. Besides who needs OFw's when the jobs are in the Philippines like macau or hongkong?

The philippines will be needing workers from other countries.

If you guys say that privatization of PAGCOR is a good thing (i.e. better than the current system and structure), then..........why not.

Suportado ako dyan.

This will bode well for BNP Entertainment City :)

I just saw in 24 oras that a bishop (i forgot the name) doesn't like the idea of privatizing PAGCOR because he fears that the Philippines will be like macau. :nuts::lol:

There is one Bishop objecting to the $10 Billion offer - Bishop Oscar Cruz (video below)
here's the video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube a few minutes ago, video courtesy of 24 Oras which aired Aug. 9, 2010
bFWHVP9sstI

wag nang pakinggan ang mga obispo :nuts::lol: BL

^If privatized mababawasan ang gov't accountability and will only legalize graft & corruption

^If privatized mababawasan ang gov't accountability and will only legalize graft & corruption

???

$10 Billion is a lot of money that our country needs!
I am for privatizing the operations of Casinos, while PAGCOR continue the regulation of licenses and permits!



:horse:

I think the government is also serious about it. They are even thinking of a price higher than $10B!.... :cheers:

I just saw in 24 oras that a bishop (i forgot the name) doesn't like the idea of privatizing PAGCOR because he fears that the Philippines will be like macau. :nuts::lol:

I love Macau...very high GDP per capita. The people earn high, the living condition of the ordinary people is good. No poverty.

I love Macau...very high GDP per capita. The people earn high, the living condition of the ordinary people is good. No poverty.

At wala nang magsisimba :lol:

But I highly doubt it, Filipinos still go to church even if they become rich.

The church has run out of excuses. :nuts:

eto na naman tayo sa privatization. pang ilang privatization na ba natin ito? kuryente, tubig, gasolina, anong nangyari? napabuti ba o nagpahirap lang lalo sa atin? tapos eto na naman tayo? saan ba napunta yun pera pinangbayad sa mga iyon? sa project ng gov't? pambayad utang ng bayan na kinurakot lang ng mga opisyales? o sa mga bulsa lang ulit ng mga kurap na opisyales?

kung totoong maganda yun business system ng pagcor, bakit natin ibebenta? bakit hindi na lang tayo yun gumawa kaysa iba pa ang kumita? wala na bang magagaling na tao dito sa pinas at lahat na lang gusto ng ibenta? for sure may yayaman na namang mga tao pag natuloy ito.

kung ang problema ng gobyerno ay kulang sa pondo, puwede namang pagaralan ng maigi at umutang kung kinakailangan. obviously kung may gustong bumili alam nilang kikita sila doon. bakit hindi na lang sa gobyerno? yun dapat na malaking kikitain ng mga negosyanteng yan, puwedeng maibalik sa mamamayan. nakatipid pa tayo.

Gov’t should listen to Ramon Ang

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:37:00 08/09/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100809-285870/Govt-should-listen-to-Ramon-Ang
Filed Under: Government, business, Banking, Casinos & Gambling, Economy and Business and Finance, Politics

San Miguel Corp. vice chair Ramon S. Ang proposes to buy the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) from the government for $10 billion so the country would be transformed into a tiger economy.

Ang’s partners in the proposed buy are Malaysia’s billionaires Robert Kuok, Ananda Krishnan and Francis Yeoh.

Ang promises that within six months after the sale of Pagcor, the improvement in the country’s economy would be so “stunning” it would hike the peso’s value from P44.8 to the US dollar to P35-P30 to the dollar.

And at the lower exchange rate, the country would be able to save between P440 billion and P640 billion in principal and interest payments on our national debt, he said.

“We will be a tiger economy, we will jump ahead of Thailand,” says the 56-year-old tycoon.

When Ang makes pronouncements like that, the government should believe him because he knows what he’s talking about.

He was responsible for transforming San Miguel Corp. from a mere beer manufacturing company into the huge food, fuel, power and infrastructure conglomerate that it is today.

sabagay this is not utilities na babayaran ko monthly unlike elec, water and gas. kasi i don't gamble nor go to casino. i won't be affected.

well, i guess ramon ang would be more experience than others. one bad thing lang sa sinabi niya. OFWs who work abroad might find strengthening peso a bad thing. liliit yun value ng kinikita nila. for sure they will have problems paying mortages if they have real estate investments.

Gov’t should listen to Ramon Ang

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:37:00 08/09/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100809-285870/Govt-should-listen-to-Ramon-Ang
Filed Under: Government, business, Banking, Casinos & Gambling, Economy and Business and Finance, Politics

San Miguel Corp. vice chair Ramon S. Ang proposes to buy the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) from the government for $10 billion so the country would be transformed into a tiger economy.


And at the lower exchange rate, the country would be able to save between P440 billion and P640 billion in principal and interest payments on our national debt, he said.


sabagay this is not utilities na babayaran ko monthly unlike elec, water and gas. kasi i don't gamble nor go to casino. i won't be affected.

well, i guess ramon ang would be more experience than others. one bad thing lang sa sinabi niya. OFWs who work abroad might find strengthening peso a bad thing. liliit yun value ng kinikita nila. for sure they will have problems paying mortages if they have real estate investments.

Actually, my excitement is focused on these things:

1. $10B or more would address the budget deficit
2. Increase in forex reserves
3. Cash for the government for investments, etc.
4. P440 billion and P640 billion in principal and interest payments on our national debt.

The P440 B to P640 Billion savings in principal and interest payments alone would be a big boost to our economy. That could be used for a lot of things: infra projects, among others.

^^ Agree

What I like about this article is that the new Pagcor chairman himself, Mr. Bong Naguiat is very bullish on this 'Entertainment City'

*******************

Philippines aiming to strike gambling gold
TUE, 10 AUG 2010 14:58

MANILA: The Philippines is aiming to become Asia's next big gambling hub with casino and entertainment resorts built in key tourist spots across the country, the nation's gaming regulator said today.

An "Entertainment City" in Manila to rival boom towns Macau and Singapore is at the heart of the plan and will hopefully be finished by 2014, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Cristino Naguiat said.

"The casino industry here in the Philippines has a very huge potential in terms of revenues," Naguiat, who took over as chairman a month ago, said in an interview.

"We are way behind Macau and Singapore in terms of the casino industry... (but) we would like to be positioned right at the top."

Naguiat said the government was looking to eventually build integrated casino and entertainment resorts in other parts of the Philippines, including picturesque Palawan island and Cebu, the nation's second biggest city.

He said PAGCOR was open to hearing from foreign players interested in building entertainment resorts around the Philippines.

"We would like to receive their proposals with regard to this," he said.

But Naguiat emphasised only proposals that incorporated other entertainment aspects aside from gambling, such as amusement centres and museums, would be considered.

"It has to be an integrated resort, not just a casino and a hotel," he said.

- AFP

source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/world/world-news/9029-philippines-aiming-to-strike-gambling-gold

Hope when they finish building the Entertainment City the gov't would clean Manila Bay. :)

What I like about this article is that the new Pagcor chairman himself, Mr. Bong Naguiat is very bullish on this 'Entertainment City'

*******************

Philippines aiming to strike gambling gold
TUE, 10 AUG 2010 14:58

MANILA: The Philippines is aiming to become Asia's next big gambling hub with casino and entertainment resorts built in key tourist spots across the country, the nation's gaming regulator said today.

An "Entertainment City" in Manila to rival boom towns Macau and Singapore is at the heart of the plan and will hopefully be finished by 2014, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Cristino Naguiat said.

"The casino industry here in the Philippines has a very huge potential in terms of revenues," Naguiat, who took over as chairman a month ago, said in an interview.

"We are way behind Macau and Singapore in terms of the casino industry... (but) we would like to be positioned right at the top."

Naguiat said the government was looking to eventually build integrated casino and entertainment resorts in other parts of the Philippines, including picturesque Palawan island and Cebu, the nation's second biggest city.

He said PAGCOR was open to hearing from foreign players interested in building entertainment resorts around the Philippines.

"We would like to receive their proposals with regard to this," he said.

But Naguiat emphasised only proposals that incorporated other entertainment aspects aside from gambling, such as amusement centres and museums, would be considered.

"It has to be an integrated resort, not just a casino and a hotel," he said.

- AFP

source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/world/world-news/9029-philippines-aiming-to-strike-gambling-gold

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

sana matuloy ung tower... kase un ang nakapag babago ng image ng Skyscraper ng Metro Manila... biruin mo may magandang tower plus background ung makati and ortigas.... :cheers: pede naman cguro mag lagay nang ganung height... kse i think gawa gawa lang ung height problem keso anjan malapit sa airport... gawa lang ng mga kontrabidang bishops priest... lalo na yang si pader reyes.. na ang daming gimik.. :bash:

I think the government is also serious about it. They are even thinking of a price higher than $10B!.... :cheers:

^^That would be even better.
The private sector will run and operate the casinos et al,
while the government will collect the license fees and taxes.

At wala nang magsisimba :lol:

But I highly doubt it, Filipinos still go to church even if they become rich.

The church has run out of excuses. :nuts:

and yet the Santo Domingo Church in the middle of the Leal Senado Plaza of Macau is always full of church goers (parróquianos e turistas).



well, i guess ramon ang would be more experience than others. one bad thing lang sa sinabi niya. OFWs who work abroad might find strengthening peso a bad thing. liliit yun value ng kinikita nila. for sure they will have problems paying mortages if they have real estate investments.

not at all, as an OFW, the strengthening PESO may superficially affect the value
of the mullah sent from overseas in the short run, but the long term positive
effect on the Philippine economy will cancel it eventually.

Let us ask the expert opinion of the ECONOMIST in our midst here in SSC. ???


:horse:

eto na naman tayo sa privatization. pang ilang privatization na ba natin ito? kuryente, tubig, gasolina, anong nangyari? napabuti ba o nagpahirap lang lalo sa atin? tapos eto na naman tayo? saan ba napunta yun pera pinangbayad sa mga iyon? sa project ng gov't? pambayad utang ng bayan na kinurakot lang ng mga opisyales? o sa mga bulsa lang ulit ng mga kurap na opisyales?

kung totoong maganda yun business system ng pagcor, bakit natin ibebenta? bakit hindi na lang tayo yun gumawa kaysa iba pa ang kumita? wala na bang magagaling na tao dito sa pinas at lahat na lang gusto ng ibenta? for sure may yayaman na namang mga tao pag natuloy ito.

kung ang problema ng gobyerno ay kulang sa pondo, puwede namang pagaralan ng maigi at umutang kung kinakailangan. obviously kung may gustong bumili alam nilang kikita sila doon. bakit hindi na lang sa gobyerno? yun dapat na malaking kikitain ng mga negosyanteng yan, puwedeng maibalik sa mamamayan. nakatipid pa tayo.


Kasi naman kahit kelan di talaga tumino ang gobyerno natin sa pagnenegosyo. Ang daming mga managers ngayon sa GOCs na walang ginawa kundi nagpalaki lng ng mga tiyan at daming empleyadong sa papel lang. Balik sa Pagcor, mas mabuti na to iprivatize kesa ipangbili lang ng burger worth millions sa iilang pulis. :lol:

"The casino industry here in the Philippines has a very huge potential in terms of revenues," Naguiat, who took over as chairman a month ago, said in an interview.

ang gobyerno talaga. utak pera. hindi na nakuntento sa perang kinukuha sa hirap, pawis at sakripisyo ng mamamayan. ngayon pati sugal gusto ng papatulan at pagkakitaan ng malaki.

bakit kaya hindi na lang dumiskarte sa "tuwid na daan" para kumita ng pera. ngayon sugal na ang nakikita para magkapera. ano nga po ba yun turo sa atin ng mga magulang natin? "anak, ok yun sugal. basta ba may tong ha."

parang yun mali, nagiging tama as long as the price is right. kailan pa kaya natin ibinenta ang mga sarili natin?

"We are way behind Macau and Singapore in terms of the casino industry... (but) we would like to be positioned right at the top."

ano ito? utak baluktot? eh ano kung we are way behind? imbes na yun hangarin maging magandang halimbawa na puwede mong ipagmalaki at makilala sa buong mundo, ang gusto ngayon makilala ang pinas na "sugarol paradise"? ang dami daming puwedeng hangarin para makilala tayo, ang gusto eh yun makilalang gambling capital of asia? ganito na ba ang mga tao sa gobyerno natin ngayon?

@RonnieR
nasaan na po yun "morally incorrect" mo? i think ito yun time na sinasabi mo yun di ba? i don't think this is even politically correct, di ba? kailangan ng gobyerno ng pera kaya pinapatulan yun sugal. pero ikukulong yun mga naghihirap na mamamayan na nangangailangan din ng pera kapag pinatulan nila yun sugal. dapat hindi nila kinukulong kasi ganoon din yun ginagawa ng gobyerno natin. ganoon din yun mentality nila. anong pagkakaiba? dahil sila yun nasa kapangyarihan?

pnoy, tumingin po muna tayo sa salamin para matahak natin ang tuwid na daan. at sa ganoon may maipagmalaki tayo.

ang hirap sa atin, pag may problema tayo, pag hindi natin kayang harapin, sa ibang paraan tayo naghahanap ng solusyon. hoping na yun ang maging sagot para matakpan yun kakulangan natin.

ang unang problema ng gobyerno ay corruption. kaya til now pabaon tayo ng pabaon sa utang. kaya tayo napagiiwanan. parang cancer na palala ng palala. nakailang presidente na ba ang nasangkot sa corruption? marcos, fvr, erap, arroyo. after mapaalis si marcos, may laging pumapalit. bakit hindi na lang gumawa ng mas mahigpit na batas like "death penalty" para mabawas-bawasan ang mga linta sa pamahalaan. na walang alam kundi sirain yun mga kinabukasan ng mamamayan.

nandiyan na sa harap yun problema. corruption. diyan nawawala ang kaban ng bayan. nandiyan sa harap yun sagot sa kakulanganan sa pondo para sa infra. kailangan lang gumawa ng mas mahigpit na batas. batas na may totoong pangil. hindi para panakot lamang kundi yun sumasagpang. nang sa ganoon tumino ang mga yan. simpleng sagot lang di ba?

oo nga pala. hindi pala magagawa yun batas na yun. para kasi silang kukuha ng bato na ipanghahampas sa mga ulo nila.

sorry. i got off topic there. i felt i needed to get it off my system. the disappointment i feel seeing what our country has become.

now, getting back to pagcor. i don't think privatizing pagcor will solve the problem. it might cause a bigger problem later on. why? pagcor is one of the biggest source of income of the gov't. right now they are getting the lion share of it. privatizing it would mean they will be getting just a portion of it in the future in a form of tax.

this is like you sold your business for a huge sum of money. what's next? will the gov't invest it and make more money than what they are getting from pagcor? if not, then why sell your good business?

i say, they better think about it well and hard. because once the "huge" money is gone, we will go back to the same problem. or worse. we no longer own pagcor. no lion share of its income. just a potion of it. the gov't might think of putting additional tax on us citizens. it's the only way they know how to make money.

another thing, about the $10 billion (or more) they might be getting, are you certain no one will pocket some it when it is spent on projects? you just said it a huge sum. some people might already been salivating on getting hold of it. (i.e. people in the government acting as middlemen, pork barrels, etc.)

Pagcor chair doubts $10-B offer; Kuok denies reports
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:54:00 08/11/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Talk is cheap, and so is the offer.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Cristino Naguiat Tuesday expressed doubt at the reported interest of well-heeled Malaysian businessmen in acquiring the state-owned gaming firm and operating casinos in the country.

“They’re not even industry players,” Naguiat said of Malaysia’s Robert Kuok, Ananda Krishnan and Francis Yeoh, three of the richest men in Southeast Asia.

San Miguel Corp. vice president Ramon Ang earlier told the Inquirer that he was interested in buying Pagcor and that he could lure Malaysia’s “big boys” to put up at least $10 billion to acquire the facility.

In a statement Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Kuok in Manila, Joy Wassmer, denied reports that the Malaysian tycoon was interested in Pagcor. Wassmer said that Kuok had never been involved in the gaming business and had “no intention of investing in the gaming industry in the future.”

Ang said the proceeds of Pagcor’s privatization would be enough to solve the government’s fiscal woes and make the country a “tiger economy.”

However, Naguiat noted that while Kuok owned the renowned Shangri-la chain of luxury hotels, not a single one of them had a casino, an indication that the Malaysian billionaire was not attracted to the gambling business.

“These are not ordinary businessmen who would just let go of their money to invest in something they’re not really familiar with,” Naguiat told the Inquirer in Filipino.

“If they want to engage in this kind of venture, they would need operators who understand the gaming business,” he said.

Easier said than done

Naguiat said such a multibillion-dollar deal would be easier said than done, pointing out the enormous legal, technical and administrative requirements that privatization entails.

“Frankly, we are not ready to talk about it because we have other pressing issues to attend to. We have not even seen any formal proposals,” he said, adding that he would rather focus on the operations of Pagcor.

In a separate interview with Agence France-Presse, Naguiat said Tuesday that the Philippines actually was aiming to become Asia’s next big gambling hub with casino and entertainment resorts built in key tourist spots across the country.

The planned “Entertainment City” in Manila to rival Macau and Singapore is at the heart of the plan and will hopefully be finished by 2014, he said.

“The casino industry here in the Philippines has a very huge potential in terms of revenues,” said Naguiat, who took over Pagcor a month ago.

“We are way behind Macau and Singapore in terms of the casino industry … (but) we would like to be positioned right at the top.”

Integrated casino, resorts

Naguiat said the government was looking to eventually build integrated casino and entertainment resorts in other parts of the Philippines, including Palawan and Cebu.

He said Pagcor was open to hearing from foreign players interested in building entertainment resorts around the Philippines.

“We would like to receive their proposals with regards to this,” he said.

But Naguiat emphasized only proposals that incorporated other entertainment aspects aside from gambling, such as amusement centers and museums, would be considered.

“It has to be an integrated resort, not just a casino and a hotel,” he said. With a report from Agence France-Presse

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100811-286098/Pagcor-chair-doubts-10-B-offer-Kuok-denies-reports

bakit hindi na lang gumawa ng mas mahigpit na batas like "death penalty" para mabawas-bawasan ang mga linta sa pamahalaan. na walang alam kundi sirain yun mga kinabukasan ng mamamayan.


Easier said than done with the amount of influence and clout the church has on the political arena. There have been lots of proposals to reinstate the death penalty but always end up swept under the rug due to dissension and rallies typically under the church's banner. We need leaders with balls of steel to kick the church to the curb during political issues.

For the record before I get flamed for castigating the church, I am catholic yet I don't subscribe to all of the church's teachings especially their incessant meddling in political affairs and their staunch refusal to adhere to modern times (reproductive health bill, anyone?). Come to think of it, I believe my faith in the Catholic church has eroded over time.

guys.. ayos lang ba na we put up a separate thread for Pagcor... kasi the past posts are not about the Pagcor City..

^those are just posts but the thread is still about the pagcor project.

another missed opportunity if this project will not come into fruition....:ohno:

Malaysian tycoons said not likely to join SMC bid for Pagcor (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28778:malaysian-tycoons-said-not-likely-to-join-smc-bid-for-pagcor&catid=24:companies&Itemid=59)
Written by Soraya Permatasari & Chan Tien Hin / Bloomberg News
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 20:29

MALAYSIAN tycoons Robert Kuok and Francis Yeoh said they don’t plan to join a bid for Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), contradicting San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang, who said they may make a joint offer.

Ang, president of the Philippine-based conglomerate, said on Monday he was planning to bid for the Philippine gambling operator, which he valued at $10 billion. He said Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corp., Malaysia’s biggest builder, and Kuok and Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia’s two richest people, would be joining him.

Yeoh “is completely taken aback” by and “very unhappy” with the report, his special assistant Sylvia Chew, said in an e-mail yesterday. “He does not know Ramon Ang nor has he ever spoken to the individual. YTL does not participate in the gaming industry, and this will continue to be the case.”

Kuok, his family and their companies have “no intention of investing in the gaming industry,” Kuok Group said in an e-mail, while declining to comment directly on the report.

“If they don’t join, many others will join,” Ang said yesterday in a mobile phone text message when asked about the denials. “I’m very sure of that,” Ang said, without elaborating.

Krishnan’s representative didn’t answer calls or an e-mail seeking comment.

Ang’s bid is “very interesting,” President Aquino said on Monday. A formal offer hadn’t been made as of Tuesday, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Aquino, who took office on June 30, said last month he’s leaning toward splitting the company’s regulatory and casino-operating arms.

Aquino’s government is planning to sell assets to help plug a budget deficit that’s projected to rise to a record P325 billion this year, or 3.9 percent to gross domestic product.

Pagcor had gross revenue of P30.3 billion last year and contributed P12.2 billion to the national government in taxes and income share, according to its spokesman Jay Santiago.

The rest of its earnings goes to local governments where it operates, the Philippine Sports Commission and the President’s Social Fund.

Before a sale, the government will study the company’s finances and the licenses it has awarded, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said this week.

Malaysian tycoons said not likely to join SMC bid for Pagcor (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28778:malaysian-tycoons-said-not-likely-to-join-smc-bid-for-pagcor&catid=24:companies&Itemid=59)
Written by Soraya Permatasari & Chan Tien Hin / Bloomberg News
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 20:29

MALAYSIAN tycoons Robert Kuok and Francis Yeoh said they don’t plan to join a bid for Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), contradicting San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang, who said they may make a joint offer.

Ang, president of the Philippine-based conglomerate, said on Monday he was planning to bid for the Philippine gambling operator, which he valued at $10 billion. He said Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corp., Malaysia’s biggest builder, and Kuok and Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia’s two richest people, would be joining him.

Yeoh “is completely taken aback” by and “very unhappy” with the report, his special assistant Sylvia Chew, said in an e-mail yesterday. “He does not know Ramon Ang nor has he ever spoken to the individual. YTL does not participate in the gaming industry, and this will continue to be the case.”

Kuok, his family and their companies have “no intention of investing in the gaming industry,” Kuok Group said in an e-mail, while declining to comment directly on the report.

“If they don’t join, many others will join,” Ang said yesterday in a mobile phone text message when asked about the denials. “I’m very sure of that,” Ang said, without elaborating.

Krishnan’s representative didn’t answer calls or an e-mail seeking comment.

Ang’s bid is “very interesting,” President Aquino said on Monday. A formal offer hadn’t been made as of Tuesday, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Aquino, who took office on June 30, said last month he’s leaning toward splitting the company’s regulatory and casino-operating arms.

Aquino’s government is planning to sell assets to help plug a budget deficit that’s projected to rise to a record P325 billion this year, or 3.9 percent to gross domestic product.

Pagcor had gross revenue of P30.3 billion last year and contributed P12.2 billion to the national government in taxes and income share, according to its spokesman Jay Santiago.

The rest of its earnings goes to local governments where it operates, the Philippine Sports Commission and the President’s Social Fund.

Before a sale, the government will study the company’s finances and the licenses it has awarded, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said this week.

Pathetic Mister Ang. :lol:

well he has more money than you :lol:

sabi ni Ang di ba "they are my friends"

sabi naman nung mga friends nya "I don't even know who Ang is"

haha!

feeling close si mr. ang. :nuts:

Hong Kong group also interested in Pagcor, says spokesman
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:27:00 08/11/2010

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Casinos & Gambling
MANILA, Philippines—The reported $10-billion proposal to privatize the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has caught the attention of two more groups of investors, one of them from Hong Kong, an official of the state-run gaming company said Wednesday.

Jay Santiago, Pagcor spokesman, said a Hong Kong-based conglomerate engaged in the real estate, hotel and casino businesses has expressed interest in acquiring Pagcor sin the event President Aquino decides to let go of the government’s role in managing high-end gambling facilities such as casinos.

Santiago said Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok’s denial of his supposed interest in bidding for Pagcor would affect the speculation on the real market value of the government-owned gaming corporation.

“Its impact is on the offer of Ramon Ang. I don’t know if (Ang’s) offer will stand due to the denial,” Santiago said.

Ang, president of San Miguel Corp. and vice chairman of its board of directors, had earlier told the Inquirer that Malaysia’s “big boys,” among them Kuok, were keen on raising $10 billion to acquire Pagcor and run gaming establishments in the country.

Kuok, through his spokesman in Manila, denied however that he was interested in Pagcor, saying the owner of the posh Shangri-la hotels had no plan of entering the gaming business.

Santiago said that a representative of the Hong Konmg group said in an “informal” conversation that the Hong Kong investors considered the $10-billion offer "interesting.”

“If the price is right, then there might be some interest. The question is, what is the right price,” Santiago quoted the group’s emissary as saying.

He declined to name the group, but said the investors were into real estate and hotel operations across the Asia Pacific region and that they were already engaged in casino operations in the country.

According to Santiago, he was told that talk about Pagcor’s privatization has also attracted the group of businessman Willy Ocier, vice chair of property and gaming company Belle Corp.

“We expect that these discussions about the privatization would draw the attention of other investors,” he said.

However, Santiago insisted that the $10-billion price tag that Ang floated for Pagcor was too small, considering the 23 years left in its franchise to run the monopoly gambling business in the country.

“The $10 billion proposal is a good start, but I think it’s too low. If the time is right, we could make use of different valuation methods,” he said.

With Pagcor’s annual gross revenue of about P30 billion, he argued that it could easily earn P690 billion when its franchise ends in 2033, a difference of some P240 billion from Ang’s proposal, taking the current dollar-peso exchange rate of P45 into account.

“(Ang) said he could raise Pagcor’s annual revenues to at least P35 billon. If he could do it, then why can’t we do it?” the Pagcor spokesman said.

Since Pagcor was directly under the office of the President, Santiago said they would just “take the cue” from Mr. Aquino.

Said Santiago: “If the President is serious in privatizing Pagcor, then we will start the process. If he thinks he needs immediate funding and wants to sell Pagcor, then we will take the cue from him.”

“If he thinks it’s not urgent and that there’s projects that he wants us to continue, then we will just work to increase the remittances and revenues of Pagcor,” he added.

To ensure transparency in the sale of Pagcor, Santiago said they would hire professional valuation managers to ascertain the real market value of the corporation.

All government expenses regarding Pagcor’s privatization must be minimal and reasonable, Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat said.

“But as we said, the Pagcor’s privatization is not on our priority list right now,” Naguiat said.

Hong Kong group also interested in Pagcor, says spokesman
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:27:00 08/11/2010

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Casinos & Gambling
MANILA, Philippines—The reported $10-billion proposal to privatize the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has caught the attention of two more groups of investors, one of them from Hong Kong, an official of the state-run gaming company said Wednesday.

Jay Santiago, Pagcor spokesman, said a Hong Kong-based conglomerate engaged in the real estate, hotel and casino businesses has expressed interest in acquiring Pagcor sin the event President Aquino decides to let go of the government’s role in managing high-end gambling facilities such as casinos.

Santiago said Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok’s denial of his supposed interest in bidding for Pagcor would affect the speculation on the real market value of the government-owned gaming corporation.

“Its impact is on the offer of Ramon Ang. I don’t know if (Ang’s) offer will stand due to the denial,” Santiago said.

Ang, president of San Miguel Corp. and vice chairman of its board of directors, had earlier told the Inquirer that Malaysia’s “big boys,” among them Kuok, were keen on raising $10 billion to acquire Pagcor and run gaming establishments in the country.

Kuok, through his spokesman in Manila, denied however that he was interested in Pagcor, saying the owner of the posh Shangri-la hotels had no plan of entering the gaming business.

Santiago said that a representative of the Hong Konmg group said in an “informal” conversation that the Hong Kong investors considered the $10-billion offer "interesting.”

“If the price is right, then there might be some interest. The question is, what is the right price,” Santiago quoted the group’s emissary as saying.

He declined to name the group, but said the investors were into real estate and hotel operations across the Asia Pacific region and that they were already engaged in casino operations in the country.

According to Santiago, he was told that talk about Pagcor’s privatization has also attracted the group of businessman Willy Ocier, vice chair of property and gaming company Belle Corp.

“We expect that these discussions about the privatization would draw the attention of other investors,” he said.

However, Santiago insisted that the $10-billion price tag that Ang floated for Pagcor was too small, considering the 23 years left in its franchise to run the monopoly gambling business in the country.

“The $10 billion proposal is a good start, but I think it’s too low. If the time is right, we could make use of different valuation methods,” he said.

With Pagcor’s annual gross revenue of about P30 billion, he argued that it could easily earn P690 billion when its franchise ends in 2033, a difference of some P240 billion from Ang’s proposal, taking the current dollar-peso exchange rate of P45 into account.

“(Ang) said he could raise Pagcor’s annual revenues to at least P35 billon. If he could do it, then why can’t we do it?” the Pagcor spokesman said.

Since Pagcor was directly under the office of the President, Santiago said they would just “take the cue” from Mr. Aquino.

Said Santiago: “If the President is serious in privatizing Pagcor, then we will start the process. If he thinks he needs immediate funding and wants to sell Pagcor, then we will take the cue from him.”

“If he thinks it’s not urgent and that there’s projects that he wants us to continue, then we will just work to increase the remittances and revenues of Pagcor,” he added.

To ensure transparency in the sale of Pagcor, Santiago said they would hire professional valuation managers to ascertain the real market value of the corporation.

All government expenses regarding Pagcor’s privatization must be minimal and reasonable, Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat said.

“But as we said, the Pagcor’s privatization is not on our priority list right now,” Naguiat said.

feeling close si mr. ang. :nuts:

uy wag ka ganyan. Ang is my friend.

:lol:

Come to think of it, the Entertainment City hasn't been built, yet lots of investors are showing keen interest on acquiring Pagcor which includes a Hong Kong group. The $10 Billion offer made by Ang and 'friends' would be the benchmark. Pagcor will increase their value to more than $10B if the BAGONG NAYONG PILIPINO ENTERTAINMENT CITY come into fruition. It's all in the PACKAGING ! kumbaga sa pokpok, budburan muna ng maraming make-up at lipstick :lol:

I believe Ang, other elite businessmen and the Aquino's government all planned this hullaballoo. As you heard Ang, himself, is NOT interested to buy the Pagcor and even denied by his so-called "friends" in the region. He just set himself as a "tool" (as an "agent" as what he mentioned to the media) to make this a global headline and to attract influential investors such as him to be interested in the sale of Pagcor and ultimately make Philippines, his country, to be a "TIGER" economy in the likes of HongKong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. If that's the case, I support his initiative in putting himself on the line, a heroic stance in the shadow of the ultimate goal, to make the Philippines a better place to live in.

:ohno: i agree with keyo168... sorry din po at OT.

ang problema kasi pag binenta mo ang pagcor ay kung saan mapupunta ang pinagbentahan... di ba? Kung sana sa bayan talaga :ohno:

petron nga binenta na sya sanang equalizer o ano ngayon e di wala rin... may epekto ba sa naging estado ng buhay natin. Sa ayaw natin at sa gusto, maraming buwaya at linta sa gobyerno. Sa tubig na lang.

From the palace to the barangay... and that is a sad reality. KURAKOT AT WALANG KATAPUSANG KURAKOT. Yan ang dahilan kaya di tayo makausad at kung umusad man tayo para tayong pagong.

Kung magkaganon, sira ang ANTI-CORRUPTION campaign ni Pnoy

Pero I agree with DCRJ that Pagcor can possibly attain more than $10B with E-city in the long run..I dont agree with selling Pagcor considering the corruption is rampant

Ok guys i've been observing from the shadows ( naks! :nuts:) the discussion here but i cant make something out of it....$10billion is good and all but..and that's a big BUT...something is STILL not right...so i searched around the forums and VOILA! i found it! PAGCOR'S INCOME DISTRIBUTION CHART!!...well its an old one from an old post but since most of you are so ecstatic and excited about selling PAGCOR, allow me to present to you the other picture...



From PAGCOR.
http://www.pagcor.ph/images/news/annual-report-chart.jpg
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is a 100 percent government-owned and controlled corporation created in 1977 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1067-A and was amended to PD 1869 on July 11, 1983, later known as the PAGCOR Charter.

In 2007 the PAGCOR Charter was further amended through Republic Act No. 9487 extending the PAGCOR Franchise for another 25 years



PAGCOR was created with a three-pronged mandate: to regulate all games of chance, particularly casino gaming in the country, to raise funds for the governments' socio-civic and national developmental efforts, and to help boost the country's tourism industry.

In accordance with its Charter and other governing laws, PAGCOR earnings are distributed as follows:

• 5 percent of net winnings goes to the BIR as franchise tax

• 50 percent of the 95 percent balance goes to the National Treasury as the National Government’s mandated income share

• 5 percent of the balance after the franchise tax and the National Government’s mandated income share goes to the Philippine Sports Commission for financing of the country’s sports development programs

• 1 percent of the net cash income goes to the Board of Claims, an agency under the Department of Justice, which compensates victims of wrongful detention and prosecution

• Cities hosting PAGCOR casinos are given a fixed amount for their respective community development projects
The remaining balance is then remitted to the President’s Social Fund to help fund the priority projects of the government.

What does this chart shows?... it simply says PAGCOR funds in regular basis some social service sectors that most of us are not aware of like the early childcare development fund, agriculture guarantee fund and sports and development fund so if ever PAGCOR is privatize...

Early childcare development fund----->>GONE! :wallbash:
agriculture guarantee fund----------->>GONE! :bash:
Sports and development fund ( apparently the only source of our beleaguered athletes get their funding)-->>GONE!! :goodnight
And a HOST OF OTHER THINGS like GASOLINE FROM OUR MOBILE PATROL THAT GUARDS OUR STREETS!! VEHICLE DONATIONS FOR OUR CIVIL DEFENCE UNIT AND MANY MANY MORE..all...GOONNEE!! :cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:
What I only meant is there are host of other things that PAGCOR funds that our everyday life depended on and WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT! :eek:
PAGCOR is like the pocket money or petty cash of the government, it can dip in there as quickly as it could when emergency strikes...say like calamities both natural and man-made ( mostly staged by those MILITANT COMMUNIST ANARCHIST when they disrupt our everyday life with their irritating rallies! )
And the government can immediately fund some resources or food and allowance for our rescue and security personnel when they put their lives in danger...aren't you feeling safer if you have some pocket money you can dip in when some UNFORESEEN THINGS happens:yes::yes:? That's the most important thing ( in my view) that PAGCOR has done..instant cash for the government!!:2cents::2cents:
So like I said before selling PAGCOR is like KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG...You kill it by selling it ( $10 billion wow ) because YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED SEEING IT LAYS 1 GOLD AT A TIME!! and dig this people! With the BNP project THE GOLDEN GOOSE LAYS ANOTHER EGG THAT HATCH INTO ANOTHER GOOSE THAT LAYS MORE GOLDEN EGG!! So lets think twice people..businessmen like that Mr ANG of SMC doesn't care for this country...all businessmen care about is profits...he knows PAGCOR is worth more than 10billion....and he wants to buy it because 6 years from now PAGCOR with the BNP will value triple that amount..and since its already privatize ( assuming it pushes through) HE CAN SELL IT AGAIN!! wooooaaahhh!! the profit!! YUM YUM!! :drool::drool: Its greediness at work here people...both from government and businessmen..:devil::devil: And do you think with our present government still infested by corrupt officials the money will REALLY GO TO ITS INTENDED PURPOSE??:hm::hm: noynoy might have good intentions but he cant AND MUSTN'T TAKE SHORTCUTS TO PROGRESS! With his questionable and unproven abilities..

Agree..Agree..Agree..:cheer:

May BNP na bakit pa ibenta?:smug:

Ok guys i've been observing from the shadows ( naks! :nuts:) the discussion here but i cant make something out of it....$10billion is good and all but..and that's a big BUT...something is STILL not right...so i searched around the forums and VOILA! i found it! PAGCOR'S INCOME DISTRIBUTION CHART!!...well its an old one from an old post but since most of you are so ecstatic and excited about selling PAGCOR, allow me to present to you the other picture...



From PAGCOR.
http://www.pagcor.ph/images/news/annual-report-chart.jpg
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is a 100 percent government-owned and controlled corporation created in 1977 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1067-A and was amended to PD 1869 on July 11, 1983, later known as the PAGCOR Charter.

In 2007 the PAGCOR Charter was further amended through Republic Act No. 9487 extending the PAGCOR Franchise for another 25 years



PAGCOR was created with a three-pronged mandate: to regulate all games of chance, particularly casino gaming in the country, to raise funds for the governments' socio-civic and national developmental efforts, and to help boost the country's tourism industry.

In accordance with its Charter and other governing laws, PAGCOR earnings are distributed as follows:

• 5 percent of net winnings goes to the BIR as franchise tax

• 50 percent of the 95 percent balance goes to the National Treasury as the National Government’s mandated income share

• 5 percent of the balance after the franchise tax and the National Government’s mandated income share goes to the Philippine Sports Commission for financing of the country’s sports development programs

• 1 percent of the net cash income goes to the Board of Claims, an agency under the Department of Justice, which compensates victims of wrongful detention and prosecution

• Cities hosting PAGCOR casinos are given a fixed amount for their respective community development projects
The remaining balance is then remitted to the President’s Social Fund to help fund the priority projects of the government.

What does this chart shows?... it simply says PAGCOR funds in regular basis some social service sectors that most of us are not aware of like the early childcare development fund, agriculture guarantee fund and sports and development fund so if ever PAGCOR is privatize...

Early childcare development fund----->>GONE! :wallbash:
agriculture guarantee fund----------->>GONE! :bash:
Sports and development fund ( apparently the only source of our beleaguered athletes get their funding)-->>GONE!! :goodnight
And a HOST OF OTHER THINGS like GASOLINE FROM OUR MOBILE PATROL THAT GUARDS OUR STREETS!! VEHICLE DONATIONS FOR OUR CIVIL DEFENCE UNIT AND MANY MANY MORE..all...GOONNEE!! :cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:
What I only meant is there are host of other things that PAGCOR funds that our everyday life depended on and WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT! :eek:
PAGCOR is like the pocket money or petty cash of the government, it can dip in there as quickly as it could when emergency strikes...say like calamities both natural and man-made ( mostly staged by those MILITANT COMMUNIST ANARCHIST when they disrupt our everyday life with their irritating rallies! )
And the government can immediately fund some resources or food and allowance for our rescue and security personnel when they put their lives in danger...aren't you feeling safer if you have some pocket money you can dip in when some UNFORESEEN THINGS happens:yes::yes:? That's the most important thing ( in my view) that PAGCOR has done..instant cash for the government!!:2cents::2cents:
So like I said before selling PAGCOR is like KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG...You kill it by selling it ( $10 billion wow ) because YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED SEEING IT LAYS 1 GOLD AT A TIME!! and dig this people! With the BNP project THE GOLDEN GOOSE LAYS ANOTHER EGG THAT HATCH INTO ANOTHER GOOSE THAT LAYS MORE GOLDEN EGG!! So lets think twice people..businessmen like that Mr ANG of SMC doesn't care for this country...all businessmen care about is profits...he knows PAGCOR is worth more than 10billion....and he wants to buy it because 6 years from now PAGCOR with the BNP will value triple that amount..and since its already privatize ( assuming it pushes through) HE CAN SELL IT AGAIN!! wooooaaahhh!! the profit!! YUM YUM!! :drool::drool: Its greediness at work here people...both from government and businessmen..:devil::devil: And do you think with our present government still infested by corrupt officials the money will REALLY GO TO ITS INTENDED PURPOSE??:hm::hm: noynoy might have good intentions but he cant AND MUSTN'T TAKE SHORTCUTS TO PROGRESS! With his questionable and unproven abilities..

great analogy

I believe Ang, other elite businessmen and the Aquino's government all planned this hullaballoo. As you heard Ang, himself, is NOT interested to buy the Pagcor and even denied by his so-called "friends" in the region. He just set himself as a "tool" (as an "agent" as what he mentioned to the media) to make this a global headline and to attract influential investors such as him to be interested in the sale of Pagcor and ultimately make Philippines, his country, to be a "TIGER" economy in the likes of HongKong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. If that's the case, I support his initiative in putting himself on the line, a heroic stance in the shadow of the ultimate goal, to make the Philippines a better place to live in. Umemeksena lang sila :lol:

:ohno: i agree with keyo168... sorry din po at OT.

ang problema kasi pag binenta mo ang pagcor ay kung saan mapupunta ang pinagbentahan... di ba? Kung sana sa bayan talaga :ohno:

petron nga binenta na sya sanang equalizer o ano ngayon e di wala rin... may epekto ba sa naging estado ng buhay natin. Sa ayaw natin at sa gusto, maraming buwaya at linta sa gobyerno. Sa tubig na lang.

From the palace to the barangay... and that is a sad reality. KURAKOT AT WALANG KATAPUSANG KURAKOT. Yan ang dahilan kaya di tayo makausad at kung umusad man tayo para tayong pagong. Yan ang realidad! Salamat poh :cheers:

Kung magkaganon, sira ang ANTI-CORRUPTION campaign ni Pnoy

Pero I agree with DCRJ that Pagcor can possibly attain more than $10B with E-city in the long run..I dont agree with selling Pagcor considering the corruption is rampant

Super true!!!

I believe Ang, other elite businessmen and the Aquino's government all planned this hullaballoo. As you heard Ang, himself, is NOT interested to buy the Pagcor and even denied by his so-called "friends" in the region. He just set himself as a "tool" (as an "agent" as what he mentioned to the media) to make this a global headline and to attract influential investors such as him to be interested in the sale of Pagcor and ultimately make Philippines, his country, to be a "TIGER" economy in the likes of HongKong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. If that's the case, I support his initiative in putting himself on the line, a heroic stance in the shadow of the ultimate goal, to make the Philippines a better place to live in.


yup, thats what I thought as well, if that was infact his intentions, I salute him :okay:

PAGCor weighing up privatisation plans
http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/pagcor-weighing-privatisation-plans

The state-run Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation (PAGCor) could soon be privatised following reports that local businessman Ramon Ang has offered to pay ten billion dollars for the rights to the land-based and online casino operator.

According to a report from The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the food, beverage and packaging mogul is leading a team of Malaysian and Indonesian investors and stated that the government could use proceeds from the deal as a ‘catalyst’ to turn around the nation’s economy.

Ang is President for San Miguel Corporation, which generates around 3.6 percent of the Philippines' gross domestic product along with approximately 4.5 percent of the government's revenues from tax, while PAGCor is the second largest source of income for the Asian nation after the Tax Authority. The gambling monopoly is a government-owned and controlled corporation established in 1977 by Presidential Decree that reported gross revenues last year of $645.88 million.

“You have to ensure that if you intend to sell something, it is at the best price that we can get,” said President Benigno Aquino III, who was only elected in June.

“So it is a proposal. It is a very interesting proposal. But, at the same time, we have to study the matter first.”

There is a lot of support for the deal in government despite the fact that PAGCor currently serves as both a regulator and operator. However, the newspaper reported that one proposal would see the establishment of a regulatory body patterned after the Nevada Gaming Commission with the operating assets spun off for sale in exchange for shares of stocks.

“They have to separate the regulatory function because that is government and the operation must be privatised,” said Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President and a popular minority political figure in the Philippines.

“It will be more manageable if the government is not involved in the winning and losing in the business. It regulates, gets its taxes and gets its share of the outcome of the operation.”

Cesar Purisima, Finance Secretary for the Philippines, revealed that the government was open to the privatisation of PAGCor in a ‘transparent, competitive manner’ but that the state was committed to keeping its regulatory functions.

“The government intends to ensure that the company’s potential to generate tourism, investment and employment are maximised while the social costs of gambling are minimized,” said Purisima.

“PAGCor is also reviewing its own finances and licenses issued in the past to come up with a comprehensive picture of its financial and operating position. PAGCor will be privatised after these issues are fully understood and addressed.”

“We will have to review and do some financial evaluation and modelling to determine if the value that is being attributed to Mr Ang is actually accurate,” said Jay Santiago, spokesperson for the Manila-based monopoly.

“But it’s a good benchmark to start with.”

yup, thats what I thought as well, if that was infact his intentions, I salute him :okay:

Or gusto rin nilang ipalabas na WALA NANG KWENTA ANG E-City projects..kaya they want to change the concepts para atleast kung mag success man tong project na to, ang mindset ng mga tao ay dahil sa pagsisipag nila, naging successful tong projects na to..

yup, thats what I thought as well, if that was infact his intentions, I salute him :okay:

yeah. it makes sense, right! this hullaballoo stopped (at the interim) all the speculations, especially coming from the Catholic church, on what was the source of evil.

Guys, a new Gambling & Gaming Industry thread is created. I suggest all Pagcor-related discussions and debates be diverted there so that this thread can be used exclusively for topics and updates on the development of E-City. I want to see more pictures of cranes and on-site development, and more updates on what's to come to this future number one tourist destination in RP. :)

any construction updates on solaire?

mas ok kung magiging pivate na ang pagcor

Goodbye PAGCOR TOWER, it's been fun huhuhuhuhuhu :ohno::bash::nuts:

******************

Monday, 16th August 2010
The Philippines aims to strike gambling gold
Karl Malakunas, AFP

http://static.timesofmalta.com/media/serve/20100816--103944-bus_08.jpg
The skyline of Manila Bay. Four licences to build Entertainment City on reclaimed land along the bay were awarded in 2008.

The Philippines aims to become Asia’s next big gambling hub with casino and entertainment resorts to be built in tourist spots across the country, the nation’s gaming regulator said.

An “Entertainment City” in Manila to rival boom towns Macau and Singapore is at the heart of the plan and will hopefully be finished by 2014, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Cristino Naguiat said.

“The casino industry here in the Philippines has a very huge potential in terms of revenues,” Mr Naguiat, who took over as chairman a month ago, said in an interview with AFP.

“We are way behind Macau and Singapore in terms of the casino industry... (but) we would like to be positioned right at the top.”
Like other Asian gambling industries, the Philippines wants to tap into the vast mainland Chinese market, Mr Naguiat said. “We are maybe not even getting 0.01 per cent of what is the potential market there,” he said.

Mr Naguiat said the government eventually hoped to build integrated casino and entertainment resorts in other parts of the Philippines, including picturesque Palawan island and Cebu, the nation’s second biggest city.
Pagcor was open to hearing from foreign players interested in participating, he said. “We would like to receive their proposals,” Mr Naguiat said.
However, he emphasised that only proposals incorporating other entertainment aspects besides gambling, such as amusement centres and museums, would be considered. “It has to be an integrated resort, not just a casino and a hotel.”

Four licences to build Entertainment City on reclaimed land along Manila Bay were awarded in 2008 under the previous government of President Gloria Arroyo.

Japanese gambling firm Aruze Corp. and a Philippine joint venture with an arm of Malaysia’s Genting Group won two of the contracts to build casinos at the resort.

Local high-end property developer Belle Corp and Bloombury, headed by Philippine business magnate Enrique Razon, won the other contracts.
Mr Naguiat acknowledged delays in starting construction, partly because the companies did not want to proceed during the final phase of Ms Arroyo’s government.

“They were scared of doing it during the previous government because they were pretty sure that the new government would review all of these contracts,” he said.

He said the new government of President Benigno Aquino, which took office on June 30, was indeed reviewing the situation and Pagcor would ensure the licencees build a fully integrated resort including museums, amusement parks and shopping centres.

“It should be more than the casino. That’s what we are trying to emphasise, that the casino is the money earner for the project but we would like to see more than the casino,” he said.

Mr Naguiat said Pagcor was aiming to present Ms Aquino with a review of Entertainment City and other aspects of the gaming industry by the end of the month.

The four Entertainment City licencees would then be given the government’s requirements in September.

Each licencee was required to spend at least one billion dollars in developing the resort, he added.
However, he indicated that some big-ticket items promoted by Pagcor under the Arroyo government would likely be scrapped, among them one of Asia’s tallest observation towers, a sports stadium, a race track and a nursing home.

source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100816/business/the-philippines-aims-to-strike-gambling-gold

Aaargh. bye Pagcor Tower.
btw any updates on solaire?

Ok lang mawala ang tower dahil imposible talaga. Pero bakit kailangan din tanggalin ang sports stadium at racetrack? :ohno: :bash:

tuloy pa rin ba ang Manila eye and the Oceanarium?

:ohno: :cry: sayang nman.. Malaki sana pagbabago sa Manila Skyline kung maitatayo un eh, pero oh well.. :cry:

E-City is just like other entertainment destinations without the Pagcor Tower. It seems that the new Aquino Administration copies the old Aquino Administration in the way they are ignoring continuity.

Hi guys, PAGCOR TOWER is one that I've been anticipating the most, I've been following its news. I think there's still hope right? Is it confirmed that it will be scrapped.

Mr. Naguiat should really reconsider on pushing through with the Pagcor Tower because it will be one hell of a symbol that will bring pride to us Filipinos. I just hope he has the same vision what Mr. Genuino had. Enough of the bickerings on the previous Pagcor officials and just unite the old vision with the new.

ok na sa akin kahit walang pagcor tower... an iconic builing a-la marina bay sands would suffice

^^Noo! the Philippines needs an iconic observation tower! :D

oh man... that's not a good news...

well.. maybe unless one of the investors still proceed on funding the tower.. we'll see it push through...

i think the Manila Eye and the oceanarium are still a go as those are part of the proposal of Aruze...

oh man... that's not a good news...

well.. maybe unless one of the investors still proceed on funding the tower.. we'll see it push through...

i think the Manila Eye and the oceanarium are still a go as those are part of the proposal of Aruze...

So Aruze will be the one to build the oceanarium?

imo the pagcor tower design wasn't all too special anyway
and if it were built with that design it would get outdated and outclassed by better designs from other countries
i'd rather wait longer for something better to come along

Hi guys, PAGCOR TOWER is one that I've been anticipating the most, I've been following its news. I think there's still hope right? Is it confirmed that it will be scrapped.

No, it is not yet confirmed. The source of the news came from Times of Malta. It's in Mediterranean. There is no similar news or story that came out of Philippine media.

PAGCOR says that they are currently reviewing the contracts....

The source of that news allegedly scrapping the observation tower is unverified.

It was not stated that they will be scrapping the tower, but might scrap the tower. Is there any reason why they want to remove the tower? Much more, whats wrong with racing tracks. Why did they want to remove it?

that's a relieved. thanks.

Ok lang na tangalin nila youn Pagcor Tower :banana:

I think they can use the money better with other projects in the Entertainment City.
They finally realized that the Pagcor Tower (maski maganda) is an inefficient way to spend the funds for the development of E-City.

Cheers ^^

[COLOR="Red"]

******************

Monday, 16th August 2010
[B]The Philippines aims to strike gambling gold
Karl Malakunas, AFP

http://static.timesofmalta.com/media/serve/20100816--103944-bus_08.jpg
The skyline of Manila Bay. Four licences to build Entertainment City on reclaimed land along the bay were awarded in 2008.

Each licencee was required to spend at least one billion dollars in developing the resort, he added.
However, he indicated that some big-ticket items promoted by Pagcor under the Arroyo government would likely be scrapped, among them one of Asia’s tallest observation towers, a sports stadium, a race track and a nursing home.

source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100816/business/the-philippines-aims-to-strike-gambling-gold

ok din scrap youn sports stadium - SM City will construct one anyway
race track - ok lang it would occupy so much land.
nursing home - pwede naman lagay sa ibang lugar.

ok din scrap youn sports stadium - SM City will construct one anyway
race track - ok lang it would occupy so much land.
nursing home - pwede naman lagay sa ibang lugar.

SM will build an ARENA NOT a stadium. Besides, their is a difference between the two.

The Race track that is planned to build will be double purpose just like other known circuits in the world. The race track will be used as a public track for public use within E-city with restrictions to avoid heavy damage during off season.

Nursing home will be built by Universal (formerly Aruze) and it's their prerogative to build it there or somewhere else.

Ok lang na tangalin nila youn Pagcor Tower :banana:

I think they can use the money better with other projects in the Entertainment City.
They finally realized that the Pagcor Tower (maski maganda) is an inefficient way to spend the funds for the development of E-City.

Cheers ^^

Seryoso ka? :nuts:

SM will build an ARENA NOT a stadium. Besides, their is a difference between the two.

The Race track that is planned to build will be double purpose just like other known circuits in the world. The race track will be used as a public track for public use within E-city with restrictions to avoid heavy damage during off season.

Nursing home will be built by Universal (formerly Aruze) and it's their prerogative to built it there or somewhere else.

So true!! Kailangan pa naman ng Nursing Home na yan para mabigyan ng trabaho ang maraming walang trabaho na dolyares ang bayad sa mga magiging empleyado. :ohno:

OT
-----
Sana ganito na lang itsura ng Pagcor Tower natin

http://a.imageshack.us/img826/7058/79866848.png

Isama na rin ang mga buildings. Sana ganyan ang maging itsura ng e-city.

OT
-----[/IMG]
this is what i mean
the pagcor tower is going to look mediocre next to the likes of that

i don't think haVing it is better than not haVing 1 at all
it's like taking your mom or cousin to a dance because you didn't want to go alone

i dunno i can't think of a better analogy :lol:

Sayang nmn ung ibang projects na hnd matutuloy. Bsta IMO, dapat matupad nila ang mga casinos, oceanarium, manila eye, hotels, lalo na ung amusement park. I really want to see manila eye and the amusement park build there.

Seryoso ka? :nuts:

oo seryoso ako.
Ano ba ang plans nila sa Pagcor Tower? Gagawin ba nila talagang uber tall? Imagine mo nalang kung magkano ang gastos para gawin yan. Meron bang mga office space to rent out? If ang kita nya lang ay you tourist viewing deck above, I think buhos na lang natin sa magandang amusement park youn pera. Or pwede rin gumawa ng tower pero mga 300m tall lang and besides hindi rin pwede gawin super uber tall dahil sa height restrictions (NAIA).

Youn building / tower posted above looks like meron mga office spaces. Meron additional income besides the viewing deck.
Siguro pag nag click na youn E-City baka pwede revisit ulit youn Pagcor Tower. But right now ok lang na scrap youn project.

having the tower in Entertainment city is like icing on cake... it would add a great experience of Entertainment City... plus the tower would basically call out to the world that there is such a place as Manila or Entertainment City due to it's landmark... it may not be as 'iconic' compared to other towers but it will still be a landmark... if we don't have it.. Entertainment City will just like be a Genting Highlands that is only known in the region but not around the world...

oo seryoso ako.
Ano ba ang plans nila sa Pagcor Tower? Gagawin ba nila talagang uber tall? Imagine mo nalang kung magkano ang gastos para gawin yan. Meron bang mga office space to rent out? If ang kita nya lang ay you tourist viewing deck above, I think buhos na lang natin sa magandang amusement park youn pera. Or pwede rin gumawa ng tower pero mga 300m tall lang and besides hindi rin pwede gawin super uber tall dahil sa height restrictions (NAIA).

Youn building / tower posted above looks like meron mga office spaces. Meron additional income besides the viewing deck.
Siguro pag nag click na youn E-City baka pwede revisit ulit youn Pagcor Tower. But right now ok lang na scrap youn project.

Mukha ka namang amusement park :lol: Hindi naman pagcor ang gagawa ng amusement park. :nuts: Travellers International, Genting, Star Cruise AKA Resorts World Bayshore ang gagawa ng Warner Brothers.

Nasagot na ni pau_p1 kung bakit kailangan ng Iconic Landmark. Hindi naman ata Entertainment City ang hanap mo. Ang hanap mo ay FANTASY CITY. :lol:

http://www.winningstreak.com/images/Stratosphere-Hotel-Tower.jpg
Las vegas
http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/149/pictures/t3-149.jpg
Macau
http://www.streetdirectory.com/stock_images/travel/simg_show/11503534740060/1/sentosa_tiger_sky_tower/
Singapore

I realize it's hopeless to dream of a huge supertall project like the proposed PAGCOR Tower, but the Philippines will definitely have its own iconic super tower/building once it's economically feasible. That's why I follow the Economy thread, reading all of the great news from this year, biding my time while the Philippines develops. :)

I'm glad the BNP City investors have broken ground(except for Aruze).

As long as NAIA is there, we will never have that supertall in Entertainment City. But I dont really care as long as we get architecturally magnificent structures there. (still hoping they revise the design of Solaire) :)

having the tower in Entertainment city is like icing on cake... it would add a great experience of Entertainment City... plus the tower would basically call out to the world that there is such a place as Manila or Entertainment City due to it's landmark... it may not be as 'iconic' compared to other towers but it will still be a landmark... if we don't have it.. Entertainment City will just like be a Genting Highlands that is only known in the region but not around the world...

Exactly "icing on the cake" ^^
But you need to make the cake first.

If we have unlimited funds and not worry about each project will pay for itself then by all means build the tower. But if you want to make E-City to work then first build the casinos, hotels and other projects that generate lots of revenue fast. Then build the tower.

I am not against the Pagcor Tower. Alam ko mas maganda youn E-City if meron tower but if may priority list ng mga projects, I would put it in the lower end. Pag limited ang funds for sure hindi lahat ng gusto natin matutupad.

Heck, I would clean the Manila Bay before I build the Pagcor Tower. Imagine attracting all the tourists all once they look out side their hotel windows or walk by the bay they get to see upclose how polluted/stinky Manila Bay is.

In the end I think everybody wants the same thing, na maging World Class and successful ang Entertainment City para makatulong sa economy natin.



I realize it's hopeless to dream of a huge supertall project like the proposed PAGCOR Tower, but the Philippines will definitely have its own iconic super tower/building once it's economically feasible. That's why I follow the Economy thread, reading all of the great news from this year, biding my time while the Philippines develops. :)


As long as NAIA is there, we will never have that supertall in Entertainment City. But I dont really care as long as we get architecturally magnificent structures there. (still hoping they revise the design of Solaire) :)

Agree!
Pwede naman maski hindi super super tall tower. Even 300m ok na rin but the design has to be really good!

I'm sure they have a good reason why they decided to scrap the tower. They probably studied that at this stage of E-City its not economically feasible.

ano wala na ba nangyari sa tower nayan?

piso para sa pagcor tower LOL!

From PAGCOR Facebook account
Norhassan A. Usman cancelling the PAGCOR Tower is not a good move by this administration... just proves that he is a mentally ill person...
19 hours ago · Comment · Like · Flag
PAGCOR PAGCOR tower was never feasible from the start because of the air traffic it will put jeopardy. The project never took off.
18 hours ago · Like ·

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3157571.jpg

^^ PAGCOR should have just told us before that it never took off just so that we won't expect too much. Sana wla nang ibang projects na macacancel or mapostpone pa. Madami pa nmn cguro na matatapos na project jan na masgaganda pa kesa sa tower e.

so manila lost something that was never meant to be
oh well look on the bright side
something better will come along eVentually :cheers2:

there were better failed proposals elsewher
http://img253.echo.cx/img253/9941/suggestionfive24od.jpg
http://img253.echo.cx/img253/93/suggestionone31tk.jpg

oh well look on the bright side
something better will come along eVentually

If we can develop the port area of manila, I guess that would be an alternative area to put the pagcor tower so it can act as a lighthouse as well. It would also complement to the skyline of Ermita District.

correct me if im wrong i heard a news that they will close naia and make dmia the main gateway to the philippines in preparation of this project so the admin scrap this because the name of his father will be gone in the main airport and the father of the former pres will be the replacement? (well just making an issue hehehe) but what would be the main symbol of the place? so if we think entertainment city we will just think of casino or amusment park? look at what happen in the new port the place is good and with good hotel but because their is no main symbol most filipino didn't know that it existed my officemate do not know that.... well sad news but i hope they replace the tower with a big bang symbol and not just a buildings like in makati with casinos... hpefully pagcor will be more creative than what they are doing right now

hindi naman daanan ng eroplano ang location ng tower na yan... dito sila sa may coastal na dumadaan ... sa tingin ko malayo yan... nilalagyan naman ng signal u dapat yong eroplano may flashight... ayaw lang talaga nila sa flagship ng nakaraan...

pag nagawa yang e-city without the tower.. parang bitin...

hindi naman daanan ng eroplano ang location ng tower na yan... dito sila sa may coastal na dumadaan ... sa tingin ko malayo yan... nilalagyan naman ng signal u dapat yong eroplano may flashight... ayaw lang talaga nila sa flagship ng nakaraan...

pag nagawa yang e-city without the tower.. parang bitin...

LOL oo nga nmn may dumaan na ba na eroplano dun? baka nmn ksi isipin nila na mabunggo ng eroplano ung tower e.

Height restrictions don't just cover the flight pathways, it's based on the radius surrounding the airport. Example would be singapore's height restriction policy of 280m. Look at singapore now, they have the marina bay sands which looks wonderful even if it's not a supertall. My point is, we don't need a flashy supertall, all we need is groundbreaking and out-of-the-box ideas.

^^ oo nga po. Pano ung vietnam may supertall building sila na masmatangkad pa sa building natin pero hnd ibig sbihin na masmaganda ung bansa nila...

Height restrictions don't just cover the flight pathways, it's based on the radius surrounding the airport. Example would be singapore's height restriction policy of 280m. Look at singapore now, they have the marina bay sands which looks wonderful even if it's not a supertall. My point is, we don't need a flashy supertall, all we need is groundbreaking and out-of-the-box ideas.

kasi pag wala yang tower na yan.. parang hindi project ng PAGCOR... kailangan kasi natin landmark.. para unang kita palang sa skyscraper.. a Pilipinas yan... at saka anfg tower na yan,.. nag-iisa lang naman.. hindi naman marami...

kasi pag wala yang tower na yan.. parang hindi project ng PAGCOR... kailangan kasi natin landmark.. para unang kita palang sa skyscraper.. a Pilipinas yan... at saka anfg tower na yan,.. nag-iisa lang naman.. hindi naman marami...

Personally I don't really care about the PAGCOR tower. We don't really need a super tall structure to identify with the PAGCOR project.

I acknowledge the concerns with flight paths because other airports in other countries follow similar procedures. It allows for emergency situations when planes might have to detour or stay in the air around the airport for an extended duration.

Safety and prudence should always trump glamour and braggin rights. The tower was doomed from the start and should have never been proposed in the first place.

Don't equate height with landmark status. We can have a wonderful landmark without endangering the flying public, all we need are unique ideas that we haven't seen so far (especially with the Solaire Project of Enrique Razon). Even the PAGCOR tower, wasn't special to begin with, its just a tall tower with nothing unique apart from its height (even its height is nothing special because it's not going to be the world's tallest anyway). What we need in the entertainment city is something spectacular and definitive.

Are the other locators already starting construction, or si Enrique Razon palang?


^^ oo nga po. Pano ung vietnam may supertall building sila na masmatangkad pa sa building natin pero hnd ibig sbihin na masmaganda ung bansa nila...

Even if they have a supertall, that doesn't necessarily make their skyline any better than ours. (of course bias ako sa skyline ng metro manila, i still believe we have a spectacular skyline, even without a supertall - for now at least)

And their's is not a landmark at all, we see those kind of towers everywhere in the world. Although, I congratulate them for finally having one, even better looking than our own first supertall (Gramercy).

My point is, height is not everything. We need to be unique.

I'm just a bit scared because almost all the proponents, walang inclination man lang to build something unique. Imagine, Megaworld's Andrew Tan, building a landmark? Destination siguro, pero landmark? I don't think so. And Henry Sy building a landmark? . And of course not to mention, Enrique Razon (who has been accused as a fly-by-night bidder for the Pagcor license).

^^tama... an example is the Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea. It's 330meter tall tower...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Ryugyong_Hotel_-_29_april_2010.jpg

^^ masmatangkad nga yan kesa sa gramercy res natin. But I would still prefer Manila having a better skyline.

^^tama... an example is the Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea. It's 330meter tall tower...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Ryugyong_Hotel_-_29_april_2010.jpg

it's fugly.

Ok lng sakin kahit wala na yung Pagcor Tower
basta may mga unique buildings na itatayo sa BNP.
Tulad nito.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee174/Carl666flips/aaa-4.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee174/Carl666flips/aa-6.jpg

:banana: :banana: :banana:

photos I took at the back of the Uniwide Coastal Mall, Aug. 21, 2010 Saturday

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3163093.jpg

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3163094.jpg

the pics are not visible..pwede sa jpeg format nalang?

yun ata yung mga tubo ng maynilad.. nakita ko kasi yan sa buong coastal pati sa diosdado.. marami ka makikitang cranes ngayon sa lugar ng BNP..

Ok lng sakin kahit wala na yung Pagcor Tower
basta may mga unique buildings na itatayo sa BNP.
Tulad nito.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee174/Carl666flips/aaa-4.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee174/Carl666flips/aa-6.jpg

:banana: :banana: :banana:

aun aun!!! pede to ah!! Sn nyo po nkuha ung mga pics na yan? at ano po b pangalan ng mga building? Do you have the source for those pics?

^^ I'm totally for building an iconic building. We need something symbolic for the Philippines - a symbol of hope, progress, and pride. Just about every country has something like that.

However, it doesn't look very good for a country's image to have that kind of thing while at the same time there are lots of people within the same area starving in the streets, living in dilapidated shacks, and pooping in the river.

aun aun!!! pede to ah!! Sn nyo po nkuha ung mga pics na yan? at ano po b pangalan ng mga building? Do you have the source for those pics?

CRESCENT TOWER and FULL MOON RISING po name nyan sa Baku, Azerbaijan.:cheers:

Here's the link.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=610923&highlight=baku

^^ I'm totally for building an iconic building. We need something symbolic for the Philippines - a symbol of hope, progress, and pride. Just about every country has something like that.

However, it doesn't look very good for a country's image to have that kind of thing while at the same time there are lots of people within the same area starving in the streets, living in dilapidated shacks, and pooping in the river.

hopefully with not a lot of technicolor neon lights on them :lol::lol::lol::lol:

CRESCENT TOWER and FULL MOON RISING po name nyan sa Baku, Azerbaijan.:cheers:

Here's the link.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=610923&highlight=baku

tnx for the info :lol: hmm...how come azerbaijan gets a very nice building while we dont have one? mas kilala nmn tau kesa sa bansa nila eh LOL

hopefully with not a lot of technicolor neon lights on them :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Wasn't exactly going to go there ...

tnx for the info :lol: hmm...how come azerbaijan gets a very nice building while we dont have one? mas kilala nmn tau kesa sa bansa nila eh LOL

haha. oo nga. There's a lot of U/C unique buildings in Baku. sana sa pinas meron din. :tongue3:

slow poke.. sana lang ay sulit yang ginagawa nila..

Hong Kong group also interested in Pagcor, says spokesman
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:27:00 08/11/2010

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Casinos & Gambling
MANILA, Philippines—The reported $10-billion proposal to privatize the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has caught the attention of two more groups of investors, one of them from Hong Kong, an official of the state-run gaming company said Wednesday.

Jay Santiago, Pagcor spokesman, said a Hong Kong-based conglomerate engaged in the real estate, hotel and casino businesses has expressed interest in acquiring Pagcor sin the event President Aquino decides to let go of the government’s role in managing high-end gambling facilities such as casinos.

Santiago said Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok’s denial of his supposed interest in bidding for Pagcor would affect the speculation on the real market value of the government-owned gaming corporation.

“Its impact is on the offer of Ramon Ang. I don’t know if (Ang’s) offer will stand due to the denial,” Santiago said.

Ang, president of San Miguel Corp. and vice chairman of its board of directors, had earlier told the Inquirer that Malaysia’s “big boys,” among them Kuok, were keen on raising $10 billion to acquire Pagcor and run gaming establishments in the country.

Kuok, through his spokesman in Manila, denied however that he was interested in Pagcor, saying the owner of the posh Shangri-la hotels had no plan of entering the gaming business.

Santiago said that a representative of the Hong Konmg group said in an “informal” conversation that the Hong Kong investors considered the $10-billion offer "interesting.”

“If the price is right, then there might be some interest. The question is, what is the right price,” Santiago quoted the group’s emissary as saying.

He declined to name the group, but said the investors were into real estate and hotel operations across the Asia Pacific region and that they were already engaged in casino operations in the country.

According to Santiago, he was told that talk about Pagcor’s privatization has also attracted the group of businessman Willy Ocier, vice chair of property and gaming company Belle Corp.

“We expect that these discussions about the privatization would draw the attention of other investors,” he said.

However, Santiago insisted that the $10-billion price tag that Ang floated for Pagcor was too small, considering the 23 years left in its franchise to run the monopoly gambling business in the country.

“The $10 billion proposal is a good start, but I think it’s too low. If the time is right, we could make use of different valuation methods,” he said.

With Pagcor’s annual gross revenue of about P30 billion, he argued that it could easily earn P690 billion when its franchise ends in 2033, a difference of some P240 billion from Ang’s proposal, taking the current dollar-peso exchange rate of P45 into account.

“(Ang) said he could raise Pagcor’s annual revenues to at least P35 billon. If he could do it, then why can’t we do it?” the Pagcor spokesman said.

Since Pagcor was directly under the office of the President, Santiago said they would just “take the cue” from Mr. Aquino.

Said Santiago: “If the President is serious in privatizing Pagcor, then we will start the process. If he thinks he needs immediate funding and wants to sell Pagcor, then we will take the cue from him.”

“If he thinks it’s not urgent and that there’s projects that he wants us to continue, then we will just work to increase the remittances and revenues of Pagcor,” he added.

To ensure transparency in the sale of Pagcor, Santiago said they would hire professional valuation managers to ascertain the real market value of the corporation.

All government expenses regarding Pagcor’s privatization must be minimal and reasonable, Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat said.

“But as we said, the Pagcor’s privatization is not on our priority list right now,” Naguiat said.

Matuloy pa kaya ito after ng hostage Taking incident???:nuts:

I was at SM Mall of Asia Sunday Aug 29, 2010. Took a snapshot of the visible Microtel Hotel

http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3167531.jpg

on zoom-in, you can see a crane at the back of the Maynilad building...I think that's the Solaire casino project which started construction ahead of Travellers/Genting/Global Alliance (Resorts World Bayshore city) and Aruze Corp. of Japan.
http://209.85.12.232/13801/110/upload/p3167530.jpg

How come aruze delayed its construction? Aren't they supposed to start already? It's been a year since they delayed their schedule.

ang that Maynilad monstrosity is supposed to be part of the entertainment city? oh my gosh.

ang that Maynilad monstrosity is supposed to be part of the entertainment city? oh my gosh.

Maynilad never thinks of innovative designs on their buildings, all they think of is ordinary plain tap water on everyone's faucet :lol::bash:

Pagcor should also put into their rules and regulations that any structures that will be erected within the Pagcor premises should have revolutionary designs !

^^ I'm totally for building an iconic building. We need something symbolic for the Philippines - a symbol of hope, progress, and pride. Just about every country has something like that.

However, it doesn't look very good for a country's image to have that kind of thing while at the same time there are lots of people within the same area starving in the streets, living in dilapidated shacks, and pooping in the river.

Malayo naman yun. nasa Malabon yata ang ibig mong sabihin.


^^tama... an example is the Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea. It's 330meter tall tower...



Nagpaplano akong bumisita dyan sa Pyongyang.

guys.nagpunta ako ng sm megamall this sept.5 sa philippine travel mart...may exhibit doon ung resorts world manila but ang nakapagpangiti sakin is yung sa exhibit ng manila ocean park...may invasion or plano rin palang gawin na isang integrated resorts un water theme park...nakalagay pa nga sa flyers nila doon eh "integrated resorts-manila ocean park"...:)

guys.nagpunta ako ng sm megamall this sept.5 sa philippine travel mart...may exhibit doon ung resorts world manila but ang nakapagpangiti sakin is yung sa exhibit ng manila ocean park...may invasion or plano rin palang gawin na isang integrated resorts un water theme park...nakalagay pa nga sa flyers nila doon eh "integrated resorts-manila ocean park"...:)

ows tlga? may pics po ba ikaw na nakuha, o may alam ka ba na source pra dun?

:ohno:

:ohno: sad news :(

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609392&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Talks between Belle, Harrah's hit snag
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated September 06, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)

MANILA, Philippines - Talks between Belle Corp./Leisure Resorts World Corp. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. over a possible partnership in a Manila casino complex, have hit a snag, reportedly over finance.

“Harrah’s is out. We have agreed to part ways as friends. We are grateful to Harrah’s for guiding us through the planning and development process of our integrated resort,” said Willy Ocier, chairman of Belle.

Informed sources said Harrah’s was not ready to put in equity into the casino project, making it impossible for both Belle and the Las Vegas-based firm to reach an agreement.

“They probably feel that our market is not big enough for four licensees,” Ocier said.

Aside from Belle, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has also granted a provisional license to establish and operate a gaming and entertainment complex for the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City are Travellers International Hotel Group, Japan’s Aruze Corp. and Bloombury Investments Holdings Inc.

Pagcor is banking on the multibillion dollar project to to turn the Philippines into one of Asia’s leading gaming and tourism destinations in the next decade. The project, which sits on reclaimed land in Manila Bay, will consists of hotels, theme parks, casinos, shopping malls and other recreational establishments.

Ocier said LRWC, its local partner for the gaming component of the integrated resort project, is evaluating prospective partners and expects to pick its choice by the end of the month.

Last month, LRWC said it was in talks with two other groups with strong foothold in Asia, particularly in Macau and Singapore to build the country’s largest casino complex, which is estimated to cost around $350 million.


Together with the SM Group, Belle has committed to inject $1 billion into the project over a 25-year period.

The gaming operation will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will include the construction of the casino with around 100 VIP suites to cater to high-rollers. Two 15-story hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme will eventually be built to complement the casino operations.

The Las Vegas style casino, which is targeted for opening in the third quarter of 2011, will feature 1,500 slot machines and 250 tables.

The gaming operation will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will include the construction of the casino with around 100 VIP suites to cater to high-rollers. Two 15-story hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme will eventually be built to complement the casino operations.

The Las Vegas style casino, which is targeted for opening in the third quarter of 2011, will feature 1,500 slot machines and 250 tables.

Does this mean that the Planet Hollywood theme will still push through even without Harrah's ? I thought it's Harrah's that got the license for the Planet Hollywood operations

^^ Yeah, i was wondering the same thing..

Does this mean that the Planet Hollywood theme will still push through even without Harrah's ? I thought it's Harrah's that got the license for the Planet Hollywood operations

I have the same impression. Writer hasn't had thorough research about this. :ohno:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39024235

" Shares in Singapore-listed casino operator Genting Hong Kong hit an all-time high on a report that it was in talks with the Philippine government on a casino project."

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39024235

" Shares in Singapore-listed casino operator Genting Hong Kong hit an all-time high on a report that it was in talks with the Philippine government on a casino project."

This is not new, right? The resort that will be built by Genting is the much awaited Resorts World Bayshore Manila at Pagcor. Besides, it was reported before that the company planned to list their shares at Hong Kong stock market that's why it is called Genting Hong Kong.

^^ Genting Hongkong's shares hitting an all time high is NEW. :D

Belle in talks with lenders for P16-billion loan for Manila Bay project
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated September 07, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - High-end property developer and gaming firm Belle Corp. is in talks with local and foreign banks and financial institutions on an estimated P16-billion loan to finance part of the planned $1-billion integrated resort on a reclaimed land along Manila Bay.

“We’re finalizing funding for a P16-billion loan for the initial phases of the integrated resort. Our gearing is very healthy and we believe in the viability of the venture,” Belle vice-chairman Willy N. Ocier said in an interview with The STAR.

Ocier said Belle is talking to Banco De Oro and other lenders, including foreign financial institutions, to jumpstart the multi-billion peso project.

He said the world-class integrated resort will feature, hotels, condotels, serviced apartments, swimming pools, spa, retail shops, restaurants, theaters, indoor and outdoor theme park, parking and meeting facilities.

“Our country needs to boost tourism by attracting investments to improve its tourism infrastructure. Hopefully, the negative effects of the hostage killings will be history by then,” Ocier said.

The Aug. 23 hostage crisis, which claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong nationals, has resulted to booking cancellations from China and Hong Kong. The cancellations were made after the Hong Kong and Chinese governments warned their citizens against travelling to the Philippines following the 12-hour hostage-taking by a dismissed police officer.

The Philippines, which boasts some of the world’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, is aiming to double tourism revenues in six years.

Last year, the number of foreigners who visited the country stood at a little over three million as tourism worldwide retreated amid the global financial crisis. For this year, the Aquino government expects tourist arrivals to hit 3.3 million.

Ocier said Belle is committed to promoting the country to foreigners as a travel destination with its planned integrated resort rise within the 800-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City along Roxas Boulevard.

Together with the SM Group, Belle will plunk in $1 billion into the project over a 25-year period. The SM Group will provide the entertainment facilities which will include hotels, a sports arena, a museum and an oceanarium.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, Belle corporate information officer Jason Nalupta said the company “deems it necessary to be prudent in capital expenditure and operating budgets and to avoid building ‘white elephants’ in order to ensure a suitable return on its investments.”

While talks with Las Vegas-based Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. had bogged down, Belle expects to conclude shortly negotiations with a foreign group that will manage its planned casino complex.

Slated for completion in the third quarter of 2011, the casino complex will be developed in three phases over a five-year period. The first phase will comprise the casino with around 100 VIP suites and two 15-story hotel towers of 500 rooms with a Planet Hollywood theme.

The project, when completed, is expected to boost Belle’s cashflow. Belle’s crown jewel to date is its flagship 1,500-hectare Tagaytay Highlands. It also generates equity earnings from Pacific Online Corp., the exclusive online lottery systems provider in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as from upscale property firm Highlands Prime.


http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609670&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Contracts of Pagcor city illegal (3:54 p.m.)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

MANILA -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has apparently awarded contracts to four locators to develop the $5 billion Pagcor City without public bidding.

Representative Ben Evardone (lone district, Eastern Samar) said no less than Pagcor chair Cristino "Bong" Naguiat Jr. had admitted during the hearing of the House committee on games and amusements Monday that the project has been awarded to local and foreign developers without the benefit of public bidding.

Naguiat identified the major contractors as Travellers International Hotel Group, SM Consortium, Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc., and Bloombury Investment Holdings.

“If there was no public bidding in violation of the Procurement Law, no Swiss challenge whatsoever, the awarding of those contracts must have been illegal," Evardone said. A Swiss Challenge is an internationally-accepted scheme wherein a project proposal is being open to counter proposals to enable the government to secure the most favorable terms. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)

source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/contracts-pagcor-city-illegal-354-pm

^^Dumb ass congressman. A bidding is not needed to invite investors. Does government hold bidding for locators in eco-zones like Clark and Subic? NO! Besides, Pagcor city IS an economic tourism zone. What a douchebag!

^^ Genting Hongkong's shares hitting an all time high is NEW. :D

hitting an all time high of what???

haha... palusot ka pa! :lol:

hitting an all time high of what???

haha... palusot ka pa! :lol:

all-time high ang price ng shares sa stock market

Contracts of Pagcor city illegal (3:54 p.m.)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

MANILA -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has apparently awarded contracts to four locators to develop the $5 billion Pagcor City without public bidding.

Representative Ben Evardone (lone district, Eastern Samar) said no less than Pagcor chair Cristino "Bong" Naguiat Jr. had admitted during the hearing of the House committee on games and amusements Monday that the project has been awarded to local and foreign developers without the benefit of public bidding.

Naguiat identified the major contractors as Travellers International Hotel Group, SM Consortium, Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc., and Bloombury Investment Holdings.

“If there was no public bidding in violation of the Procurement Law, no Swiss challenge whatsoever, the awarding of those contracts must have been illegal," Evardone said. A Swiss Challenge is an internationally-accepted scheme wherein a project proposal is being open to counter proposals to enable the government to secure the most favorable terms. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)

source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/contracts-pagcor-city-illegal-354-pm

^^Dumb ass congressman. A bidding is not needed to invite investors. Does government hold bidding for locators in eco-zones like Clark and Subic? NO! Besides, Pagcor city IS an economic tourism zone. What a douchebag!

^^ true that. tsk.. tsk.. di muna nagresearch.. andami kasi gusto bumida.. baka gusto lang kumomisyon.. :lol: :rofl:

..so d n naman tuloy ito??

of course tuloy :)