^^ It was greener before that urban structure was established. Anyway, the only constant in this world is change, wahehehe!! :D

I'm in Cebu now and I'm just counting down days before I go home there for good. So far, Iloilo Airport's performace did well this morning. Everyone standed and halted at the beat of "Lupang Hinirang" when it was played at exactly 8AM.

The bad thing during my 2 weeks stay in Iloilo was the frequent brownouts/blackouts that happened, it occured in both ILECO and PECO areas. Hopefuly they'll solve the problems immediately.

hi iloilo, good afternoon! ongoing na ba ang construction ng Fil-Invest Renaissance 5000 condo dyan?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1304953198_38704a1e71.jpg

I like this, ganda ng sunset. Where po ito?
Anyway, hi, I'm from Bacolod. Just thread-hopping.
Hope na welcome man ko sa Iloilo. :)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1304953198_38704a1e71.jpg

I like this, ganda ng sunset. Where po ito?
Anyway, hi, I'm from Bacolod. Just thread-hopping.
Hope na welcome man ko sa Iloilo. :)
This is Iloilo River taken from Jalandoni Bridge, the new bridge near University of San Agustin. Welcome ka gd eh sa Iloilo, hehe ... enjoy nlng ur thread-hopping :D

Nong chy...galing mo.
Anyway, I saw in your photoblog that Medicus Condo-Clinic was lighted. When did you take the shot on the building? Usually they don't light at night.

Anyway, how old is the Medicus Condo?

WELCOME !!! TO SSC ILOILO !!! iloilocitykid and steadyasweroll!!!

Welcome Iloilocitykid and steadyasweroll! Hope you two could join us in a regular basis! :D

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1304953198_38704a1e71.jpg

I like this, ganda ng sunset. Where po ito?
Anyway, hi, I'm from Bacolod. Just thread-hopping.
Hope na welcome man ko sa Iloilo. :)

Yup nice pic of sunset by the Iloilo River.... :)

‘Clean coal technology’ mulled in Iloilo City


http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/COALPOWERPLANT.JPG CLEAN EMISSION - The “smokeless” chimney of Asia Pacific Energy Corp.’s coal-fired power plant in Mabalacat, Pampanga indicates that clean coal technology is available. (JVF photo)




By Jeehan V. Fernandez


MABALACAT, Pampanga – Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) is planning to put up a power plant using “Clean Coal Technology (CCT)” within the Panay Power Corp. (PPC) facility at Brgy. Ingore in La Paz, Iloilo City.
GBPC manages existing power plants in the country – upgrading and improving the facilities of the power plants – making them more reliable and efficient.

GBPC is looking at expanding its power plants in the Visayas to address the looming power shortage in the region and provide a more reliable and stable supply of electricity, thereby fueling the economic growth in these key areas.

“We hope to put up the Clean Coal Technology in Panay Island which is intended to respond to the anticipated lack of power. We feel (we have) to address the concern because Panay is in the tail-end of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) grid – we want quality supply of power,” said Miren Facultad of GBPC.

Facultad said they are considering the installation of a “2 X 50-MW” within PPC property.

“It will require a lower cost if the coal plant is built within Iloilo City – the goal is to provide power at affordable cost. We are looking at a clean technology which is most viable for a base load plant,” she added.

“We can’t explore geothermal or biomass, so the best option is coal,” Facultad stressed.

Asia Pacific Energy Corp. (Apec) runs a 50-MW CCT plant inside the Trust International Paper Corp. (Tipco) economic zone (Teco) here.
Apec is a subsidiary of the Taiwan-based Formosa Heavy Industries Corp. (FHIC).

Andel Bacalla of Apec explained that “it’s a matter of how to handle, transfer and convey coal to ensure clean operations.”

“The trucks are tarpaulin-covered. We have also an enclosed coal yard. We process the complete cycle from dirty coal to clean coal,” Bacalla said.

The proposed coal plant facility aims to generate electricity for power which comprises a big part in the cost of manufacturing industries.
Thus, a coal plant will enable industries to become globally competitive by providing them dependable and cheaper power supply.

Cheaper electricity will enable the industries to sustain operations, grow and compete in the market.

With the establishment of the coal plant, there is expected stimulation of economic activity brought about by the investment.

Using CCT which is designed to facilitate the use of coal in an economical and environment-friendly way, the plant will ensure health safeguards on people and environment.

In addition, enclosed coal storage facilities with dust suspension equipment will be constructed.

“CCT does not mean ‘coal is clean’ but it refers to the way coal is processed and handled.

Specifically, CCT uses the latest Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) design which is equipped with state-of-the-art pollution and abatement systems which include electrostatic precipitators that controls flyash, among others,” Bacalla clarified.

All fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas and diesel when burned emit carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx) and tiny particles called particulates.

However, the proposed coal plant can lower emission to a level below the limits set by the World Bank and the Philippine Clean Air Act.

Since technology on renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and biomass is still not largely applied – coal is used as an alternative source – because it is cheap, abundant and can be applied using technologically safe means.

Source: The Guardian Iloilo

sana mo na ni solusyun sa pirme na brown out sa ciudad...

guys any other news?Ü

hi ya bern!!!Ü

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/14458/1238662628060886035S600x600Q85.jpg

Iloilo Amigo Hotel
by shanotti/webshot



travelmart

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by Japuy

Iloilo Socorro


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mechanic by japuy

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Iloilo City Harbor
goldenvision100

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CPU by japuy



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Valeria St. Iloilo/webshot



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webshot

Iloilo sets plan for 100-MW coal power plant
By DANNY FAJARDO

ILOILO CITY — A coal power generation technology firm plans to build an energy baseload that would produce 100 megawatts (MW) to address problems in the city’s power supply.

Through a coal-fired power plant, Global Business Power Corporation’s (GBPC) expects to augment the power supply of Panay Power Corporation (PPC).

GBPC is the mother company of PPC, which is independent power producer supplying electricity to Panay Electric Company – the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

GBPC is expected to enter into a partnership with Asia Pacific Energy Corporation in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

"We are yet on the technical planning stage," said GBPC compliance and commercial officer Miren Facultad during a recent visit at a coal power generation technology of the Asia Pacific Energy Corp. (APEC) in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Facultad said APEC will be the technical partner of GBPC for its Panay expansion.

GBPC plans to put up the power generation technology at the PPC compound in Barangay Ingore, La Paz district.

APEC operates a 50 MW coal-fired circulating fluidized bed (CFB) cogeneration power plant on the 6.3-hectare property of the Tipco Estate Corporation Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

If things go as planned, Facultad said, the construction of an estimated 0-million facility would commence in the middle of 2008.

The construction will last for 24 months. Target date of completion is the middle of 2010.

Unlike APEC that was established inland, the proposed energy source in the metropolis will be installed near the sea for the following reasons: To have direct unloading of coal from vessels onto jetty and coal conveyors; availability of sea water which could be used as water for the boiler using applicable technologies like reverse osmosis system; the sea will be the source of the cooling water for the turbine condenser that replaces the use of cooling towers.

source (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070904102064.html)

‘Iloilo City: A one-stop ICT hub’

By Jeehan V. Fernandez
http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/featS4.jpg
ILOILO City mayor Jerry Treñas said the metropolis has all the potentials to host the booming information and communications technology (ICT) investments.

He was referring to the main targets of giant property developer Megaworld Corp. which has started laying down plans to develop the 54-hectare old airport property in Mandurriao district after it has bought the city’s prime lot to the tune of P1.2 billion.

Megaworld, which pioneered the development of cyber-parks, foresees that Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies maybe interested to set up offices in the Visayas region.
Thus, they have planned to put up an ICT park to boost the BPO sector.

The BPO industry includes call centers, medical and legal transcriptions, software development, architecture and animation using state-of-the-art computer technology.

“Initially, they plan to establish an ICT park. They have asked about the ICT development in the city,” Treñas said, noting his talks with Atty. Carla Uykim, senior manager for corporate management of Megaworld, last week.

In response, Treñas told Uykim of the opening of at least two multinational ICT firms Teletech in SM City and Sutherland Global’s interest to finalize a proposed building lease with one of the banking institution here.

“I also inform them of 16,000 graduates in universities and colleges here annually – they will assure us of ready supply of call center agents to work on incoming investments,” explained Treñas.

“All the phone and cellular companies are here. We have fiber optics capacity which is very important for call centers,” he stressed.

Fiber optics technology involves faster data processing usually used in long-distance phone calls, cable TV system and Internet.

Treñas said Iloilo’s big pool of high quality human resources has been attracting call centers to invest in the city.

“Their expansions mean that we have more graduates who are qualified to do the job. Call centers will not settle in areas where there’s lack of human resources. The entry of call centers in the city is a testimony of our excellent human resources,” he said.

“We have quality graduates here. The location is accessible. There is also an easy coordination with the local government unit (LGU),” Trenas pointed out, referring to factors considered by ICT players.

Iloilo is considered the center of trade and commerce and education being host to several universities in Panay Island.

Meanwhile, Megaworld will apply for a license at Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to transform the old airport site into a new business district.

A PEZA-accredited business hub which offers various tax incentives is considered a magnate for BPO locators that want to expand their operations locally.

Likewise, Trenas attributed the initiatives of the Iloilo Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) that is working to woo potential investors.

He said the IIPC is providing the “centralized data needs” to prospect businesses that are trying to settle in the city.

Earlier, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Iloilo) provincial director Diosdado Cadena, who is also the IIPC executive director, said “we can certainly fill-up the human resources of ICT companies entering the city.”

“We can provide the manpower, considering the number of graduates every year while there are also existing professionals who are willing to work in call centers,” said Cadena.

The DTI-Iloilo chief hinted that “the fresh graduates may not really be ready to do the job but they are trainable.”

Likewise, Cadena noted it is an advantage that several schools in the city are now offering “in-demand” IT-related studies.

“We have top-notch universities here so we should make people aware of these IT courses and trainings—we have started talking to college schools’ presidents and they are positive about it. We just have to make some adjustments to improve the IT learning here,” Cadena asserted.

He added that several call centers have already forged agreements with the schools on improvement of IT skills.

The Iloilo Foundation for Information Technology (I-FIT) also enjoined the local government, industry players, academe, and government agencies for more active BPO promotions.

Cadena said Iloilo is part of the “cyber-services hub” in the country—scaling from Baguio to Zamboanga as envisioned by the Arroyo administration’s mega-regions program.

Source: The Guardian Iloilo


-----------------
in relation to the article above:

IT prime mover of city’s growth
By Jeehan V. Fernandez
ILOILO City mayor Jerry Treñas said the booming information technology (IT) industry has become a major driver of the metropolis’ economic roadmap.

“The information technology sector has been the prime inspiration and mover of the city’s growth and development. With our competent and high quality human resources, the city and province of Iloilo have been reaping the benefits of the burgeoning IT industry,” stressed Treñas.

He said the 2nd IT Week celebration Sept. 4-7 which kicks off at the Marymart Mall today “is a good avenue and opportunity to show to the country and the world other potentials that we can offer.”
“We can also explore more ways and opportunities to strengthen our position in the IT sector. The Iloilo City government is actively looking for solutions and help that will develop areas and concerns that are vital to the business processes outsourcing industry,” Treñas added.

The mayor is also hopeful that the soon-to-be concluded sale of the 54-hectare old airport property in Mandurriao district will further boost the city’s standing in the IT-based sector.

Treñas and Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. will lead today’s IT Week opening ceremony in the morning.

Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (IFIT) chair and UPV chancellor Glenn Aguilar will give an opening message while Boni Belen, executive director of Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (CEDF-IT), will deliver his keynote address.

Likewise, the launching of exhibits of participating schools will follow after the program.

The IFIT will also hold an annual general membership assembly at the Capitol conference room in the afternoon.

Iloilo aims to showcase its IT prospects in an event that encourages academic institutions, IT players, business sector, national government agencies and the public to attend the technological celebration.

With the theme “IT Innovates Iloilo,” the IFIT organized the IT Week to highlight the capability of Iloilo as one of the productive IT hubs in the country.

“We cannot ignore the fact that Iloilo is truly becoming an IT destination of choice of investors for their expansion projects. Because of this, we need to sustain the human resources requirement of these IT companies locating here,” said Velma Jane, information officer of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Iloilo).

Lao said the IFIT hopes to send the message to all educational institutions in Iloilo participating in the event.

“We eagerly want to see all schools participate in this event wherein we have three competitions including call handling skills, animation and web page development,” she added.

“At the same time, we have to showcase Iloilo’s excellent human resource talents to the different international IT industry players,” Lao pointed out.

She said the IT fest also seeks to raise the awareness of the Ilonggos on the latest trends and development in IT business, products and services in the global market.

Several IT-focused activities will be conducted in collaboration with the city and provincial governments, DTI-Iloilo, Iloilo Investment Promotion Center (IIPC), various educational institutions, existing IT businesses and national government agencies involved in the development of the IT sector.

Lao said the event will include programs, conference, lectures and exhibits.

“We have invited prominent people to be our resource speakers in their various areas of expertise as Iloilo is embarking on an aggressive campaign to be a major IT hub in Western Visayas,” said Lao.

^^will the provincial gov't continue with there proposed IT building in Magsaysay Village then, now that there is this this huge Megaworld IT project in the City?

^^ I haven't heard of any news yet regarding the construction of the proposed Provincial IT Building in LaPaz.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007
P350M Convention Center: Dead or done deal?
By Jay Dooma Balnig

DEAD or done deal? is the question that has been debated over the materialization of Provincial Government’s P350 million Convention Center.

Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada claimed that the said project is as good as a “done deal” after the previous Provincial Board approved the proposed P350 million loan from Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to finance the said proposed project, Vice Governor Rolex Suplico said the project is as good as dead because of non-compliance to lawful procedures....

cont'd: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2007/09/04/news/p350m.convention.center.dead.or.done.deal..html

Guys, about Magsaysay "IT Park". They're selling the lots for Commercial and Residential uses only. I guess the plan for the IT park there has been abandoned and transfered to the Mandurriao Airport.

Concerning Hospitals however, we need more. I just went back from St. Paul's and there's a lot of people. You have to wait for hours just to get a room. Hope they build the Medicus Hospital soon.

^^ the same thing can be said about the situation in iloilo doctor's hospital! this, despite their hospital expansion! we really need more hospital rooms and services in our city right now!

Don Benito's expanding (I think).

^^ besides the newly opened centennial building?

Wednesday, September 05, 2007


New business district planned for govt lot

Megaworld bags old Iloilo airport property (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/05/yehey/business/20070905bus1.html)

By Darwin G. Amojelar Reporter

THE Philippines’ Privatization Council has accepted the bid of Megaworld Corp. for the old Iloilo airport, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto B. Santos said.

Santos, a member of the council, said the body ap-proved the offer of Megaworld to buy the 54.5-hectare old airport property in Man-durriao, Iloilo City for P1.2 billion in cash.

The council is chaired by the Secretary of Finance, and its members include the Secretary of Trade and Industry, the National Economic and Development Authority Director General, the Secretary of Budget and Management, the Secretary of Justice, the Bureau of Treasury chief, and the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Megaworld plans to convert the government lot into a new business district. The property developer will seek its registration as a special economic zone with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Earlier, Megaworld said that the former airport site, which is 4 kilometers from down-town Iloilo City, can be a center for major business-process outsourcing (BPO) companies that are interested in setting up operations in the Visayas area.

The project may also host educational facilities to provide value-added trai-ning for employees suited for call centers and other BPO businesses.

In the first half of the year, Megaworld generated a net income of P1.45 billion, up 67 percent from P867.6 million last year, driven by robust sales of its residential and BPO office developments.

The auction for the airport site failed early this year, after all three bidders submitted offers below the floor price of P1.2 billion.

The companies that sub-mitted bids include SM Prime Holdings Inc., which offered P435.7 million; Empire East Landholdings Inc., P701 million; and Robinson’s Land Corp., P1.089 billion.

Wala masyadong balita subong. Sa local TV newscasts, puro lang ronda kag pulis patrol ginapagwa.

Anyway, here's a picture from my archive.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00100.jpg

postcard perfect!:)

Thursday, September 06, 2007
City Council to DENR: Stop pier construction
By Jay Dooma Balnig


THE Iloilo City Council wanted that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stop the ongoing construction works of a Roll-On, Roll-Off (Roro) port by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) here.

The council recently approved the environmental committee's report seeking for a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) from the DENR against PPA from continuing its port construction in Fort San Pedro.

Public Services, Environmental Protection and Ecology Committee Chairman Eldrid Antiquiera in his committee report, suggested it to DENR after his committee found through hearings, that the PPA management failed to secure an amendment to their previous Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), an assurance that the project is risk free that is issued by the DENR prior to the project construction....


cont'd: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2007/09/06/news/city.council.to.denr.stop.pier.construction.html

Suplico: Prov’l administrator, legal offices vacant
By Francis Allan L. Angelo

ILOILO vice governor Rolex Suplico called two key officials “usurpers” for lack of legal appointment and concurrence by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

In a privilege speech during the SP’s regular session Tuesday, Suplico also likened provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada and Provincial Legal Office chief Salvador Cabaluna to “two swindlers who duped an emperor to walk naked before his subjects.”

In gist, Suplico hit the continued stay of Mejorada and Cabaluna in their respective offices despite the lack of SP concurrence to their appointment.

Based on communications sent by the Capitol’s Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) to Suplico, Governor Niel Tupas Sr. appointed Mejorada as provincial administrator July 1, 2007...

more: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

wjytYsq3g3s
Reposting....The NeXt Big Thing Video

JD opens at the Iloilo airport

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2462/jd5ou3.jpg
Light and heavy breakfast as well as snacks can be enjoyed even better at the Iloilo Airport with the recent opening of JD Bakeshop at the departure area.

Travelers can now enjoy JD Bakeshop's brand of affordable and quality products for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks or even pasalubong.

"This homegrown company has reached the global standards in food and service. We have become a beacon of pride for Ilonggos," according to manager Manny Gruenberg.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7947/jd7on9.jpg
"We offer diverse choices, thus travelers need not worry about last minute problems before their flight," he added.

Filled with bursts of orange, yellow and green, JD airport offers a relaxing ambiance. "We made sure that travelers will be relieved of their pre-flight anxiety," Gruenberg assures.

JD Airport is open at 5 am until the last flight leaves and can be reached through phone number (33) 333-0030.

The river by night (dedicated to Waway who loves the river scenes, :D)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1401/1258315813_13f5d0d1b5.jpg
by Peter Jaena

Iloilo Airport Scenes by Gabronnie2003
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1120/1203521145_27425465d5.jpg?v=0
Pilipinas guihapon ang Iloilo noh! Wahehehe!! :lol:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/1203520739_d6177e3f59.jpg?v=0
CebuPacific Airbus A319

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Pedestrian Way

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Jaro Cathedral Altar with Archbishop Angel Lagdameo (by Gabronnie2003)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/1192787485_af6cf2ce27.jpg?v=0
The Ruins of Laguda House (by Machets)

^^love the pics bern! superb!

Lovely pics!
Btw, Ramon Magsaysay IT Park was actually envisioned to be a subdivision after all...

THe sales are P6,000 per sq meter...buy now before there's none left..lol

^^residential?

commercial/residential...

waaaaa..hopefully 2 weeks from now madayon ko bacolod, tapos pauwi davao mag weesam ko bacolod to iloilo para mag via NIA ko :D

you really know how to spend...lol

;15214200']waaaaa..hopefully 2 weeks from now madayon ko bacolod, tapos pauwi davao mag weesam ko bacolod to iloilo para mag via NIA ko :D

hoping to see you here in iloilo and the rest of iloilo forumers

dont forget to bring durian or marang bro.hehehe

Megaworld starts talks with gov’t to buy Iloilo property

ANDREW TAN-LED Megaworld Corp. has opened talks with the government to buy the old Iloilo airport lot in Mandurriao, Iloilo City for P1.2 billion in cash.

In a letter to the stock exchange, First Vice-President Francisco C. Canuto said Megaworld hopes to sign the sale and purchase agreement "soon."

"After the acquisition of the property, Megaworld plans to apply with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority for a special economic zone license for its project aimed at transforming the old Iloilo airport property into a new business district," Mr. Canuto said.

Megaworld, he wrote, wants the project to become a "magnet" for major business process outsourcing (BPO) companies interested to set up shop in the Visayas region.

"In addition to the office building for the BPO industry, the project will host educational facilities geared to provide value-added training to equip prospective employees with the necessary skills suited to the requirements of the call centers and BPO businesses that will be based in the Megaworld project," Mr. Canuto said.

The Finance department failed to sell the 54.5-hectare property in a bidding early this year and lowered the price to P900 million from P1.2 billion.

The National Government, meanwhile, will likely defer the sale of its stake in Lopez-led distribution utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. to next year.

On the sidelines of a forum hosted by the Philippine Stock Exchange, Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves said the government is still "threshing out issues" with the farmers on the sale of the San Miguel stake, such as the mode of sale, allocation and disbursement of the fund.

Lopez-owned First Philippine Holdings Corp. has disclosed it would issue 200 million preferred shares to finance the purchase of shares in Meralco.

The government is targetting to raise P105 billion from the privatization of its 24% stake in San Miguel, a 60% stake in geothermal firm Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) and another P5 billion from the sale of its shareholdings in Meralco.

The proceeds will be used to help keep the budget deficit this year within the P63-billion ceiling.

Amid the delay in the sale of the San Miguel and Meralco shares, Mr. Teves said: "We will have sufficient revenues from tax and nontax sources including proceeds from privatization to end up with a deficit of not more than P63 billion." — R.A.M. Rubio

699 out of 1,415 pass medical technologist exam

manila bulletin


The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced yesterday that 699 out of 1,415 passed the medical technologist licensure examination given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao this month.

The successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places are Mary Lou Anne Yang Cabacang of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), with a rating of 87.30 percent; Oliver Roque Lubiano, UST, 87 percent; Jacqueline Toledo Mupas, UST, 86.60 percent; Mary Rose Anne Espiritu Lacanin, UST, 86.40 percent; Neil Anthony Damasco Gidlayan, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, 86.30 percent;

Catherine Española Calzado, University of San Agustin Iloilo[, 85.90 percent; Roberto Martin Cantos Mercene, University of the Philippines-Manila, 85.80 percent; Melody Bamba Ursal, Centro Escolar University-Manila, 85.60 percent; Rodolph Cabais Lagarto, Central Philippine University Iloilo:) , 85.40 percent; Engelbert Simon Sy Perillo, UST, 85.40 percent; and Jean Pauline Sandoval Tee, UST, 85.30 percent.

On the Board of Medical Technology are Dr. Marietta C. Baccay, chairwoman, and Marilyn R. Atienza and Marian M. Tantingco, members.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration will start on Monday, Sept. 17, but not later than Oct. 2.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the recent examination as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the Board on Oct. 7, a Sunday, 1 p.m. at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila.

The top performing schools with 100 and more examinees are UST, with passing percentage of 82, while the top schools with 25 to 99 examinees are Saint Louis University, 98 percent; Velez College, 97 percent; and Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, 81 percent.^^

Interconnection renders power supply in Iloilo City unreliable

MORE harm than good.

The interconnection of Panay Electric Company to the Cebu-Negros-Panay Grid which was mandated by the Energy Regulatory Commission appears to have succeeded in giving false hopes to the people of Iloilo City.

While the interconnection has reduced by a few centavos the rates PECO charges its consumers, the interconnection has rendered the city’s power supply unreliable. Proof of this are the series of brownouts and blackouts hitting the city since the interconnection started in June 25, 2007.
Records obtained from Panay Power Corp. show that since June 26, 2007 the interconnection suffered at least 12 “systems disturbances”, seven of which were caused by problems in the National Power Corporation and Transco side.

On August 26 and September 3, systems disturbances caused blackout and brownout, respectively in Iloilo City. The September 3 blackout happened after the collapse of the Negros-Panay submarine cable.

ERC ordered PECO to interconnect with NPC to augment power supply for Iloilo City. Thus, since June 25, this year PECO started to draw out 15MW from NPC while PPC supplies the rest of the city’s electricity demand.

Without the interconnection, PPC executives said blackouts could be minimized as systems disturbances attributable to PPC’s own system usually affect only a few feeders of PECO. “What’s happening now is that systems disturbances attributable to the interconnection renders most of PECO’s feeders powerless – thus the blackouts.”

PPC plant manager Richard Eugenio said that one of PPC’s six engines with a capacity of 12 MW recently suffered and major damage caused by interconnection problems that will take sometime to repair and is very expensive.

Businessmen in Iloilo City have already complained of lost opportunities and income due to the massive power outages.

Source: The Guardian Iloilo

^^ Allibi to raise their rates again, an allibi to monopolize the power again by PPC or allibi for immediate construction of the coal power plant in the city?:bash:

The power sector in our city is really marred with politics. I wonder why Treñas is mum regarding this issue? Hay pulitika! Ang pumuluyo ang ga-antos sa ila gina-ubra! :bash:

-delete-

http://www.friendsofpedro.net/new/e107_plugins/autogallery/Gallery/Places/Iloilo/Ilioilo10.jpg

2008 Dinagyang Festival Committee members bared


Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has signed an executive order designating once again the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Incorporated (IDFI) to host next year's edition of the city's world-famous Dinagyang Festival and creating the various committees to ensure the success of the event.


Treñas, who is also the honorary chair of the organizational committee, named Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Congressman Raul Gonzalez, Jr., Governor Neil Tupas, Vice-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and the 12 city councilors as honorary members.

An executive committee was likewise formed composed of IDFI president Lee Chuan, IDFI vice-president Ricardo Andrada, executive director and city tourism officer Benito Jimena, treasurer Bobby Pison, internal auditor Adela Cerdana, religious committee group head Father Achilles Secio, OSA, events group head Roseller Cabado, support group head Ramon Cua Locsin, marketing group head Francis de la Cruz, Iloilo Business Club president Antonio Jon, publicity and media relations group head Nena Magalona, Councilor Armand Parcon (SP chair on trade, tourism and culture), executive assistant Francis Cruz, provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, Canadian Urban Institute's Francis Gentoral, city police director Wesley Barayuga, DTI regional director (RD) Diosdado Cadena, Jr., DepEd RD Victoriano Tirol, city superintendent Erlinda Gencaya, DOT RD Edwin Trompeta, IHHRA president Robert Ferrer, association of travel and tours operators president Luis Leocario, ABC city proper chair Irene Ong, ATI president Carlos Ebro, Jr., Bankers Association president Theresa Lao and Iloilo Convention and Visitor's Bureau president Emil Diez.

Treñas said there had been little changes in the composition of the committees because the people making them up are the same individuals who have made previous editions of the Festival successful.

"I am certain that the working committees, the IDFI and the executive committee will work together for a better and greater 2008 celebration," Treñas added.
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from The News Today

UPV shrugs off popularity
of nursing courses

ILOILO City – Enrolment of students in the country’s premier university based here suffered a cut because of the popularity of nursing courses.

University of the Philippines in Visayas (UPV) Chancellor Glenn Aguilar admitted there has been a two percent drop in enrolment, although he said it is negligible.

“But wee are not threatened. Students have special needs and varied interests (that UP can also offer),” he stressed.

To attract more students, the university continues its recruitment program by going around different high schools, and adding more scholarship programs for poor but deserving students.

Aguilar believes a lot of students now prefer a nursing course because of the promise of better opportunities, especially abroad, for nursing graduates.

“We based this observation on informal and exit interviews conducted during our orientation for students,” he said.

UP in the Visayas does not have a nursing course, as it is solely being offered by its campus in UP Manila.
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from Panay News

Power coop chief urges
shift to ‘clean coal’

TIGBAUAN, Iloilo – The general manager of Iloilo-I Electric Cooperative (ILECO-I) welcomes the intention of Taiwanese investors to build a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.

General Manager Wilfred Billena yesterday told this newspaper that the additional power load would double the available power supply in the city and province of Iloilo and cover the critical 80-megawatt power deficiency all over Panay Island that accounts for frequent brownouts.

Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, power producers are mandated to maintain a reserve power supply of at least 13.2 percent.

“Considering the escalating cost of diesel,” Billena said, “a shift to coal fuel would be the only feasible alternative now. The so-called renewable energy is not locally applicable. It is a scientific fact that the nearer a place is to the equator, the lesser is its potential to harness wind power. Hydroelectric energy is unreliable because our rivers dry up in summer. While we have sufficient sunlight, solar-energy technology is both expensive and still imperfect.”

With coal, Billena estimated power generation to cost no more than P2.50 per kilowatt-hour.

As early as 10 years ago, Billena alerted then Gov. ArtHUR Defensor of the impending power shortage. At that time, Panay Island had a total power capability of 80 megawatts against a deficiency of 33 megawatts.

In response, the governor alerted the National Power Corporation for a temporary solution in the form of a second power barge.

Billena was among the few industry leaders who, together with Gov. Niel Tupas, actively endorsed the project of Korean Electric Power Company (KEPCO) to put up a coal-fired power plant in Banate more than two years ago.

Unfortunately, discouraged by massive demonstrations from organized objectors to the project, KEPCO changed its mind, putting its power plant in Cebu City instead.

Two other firms, Mirant and DMCI, likewise backed out of their intentions to put up coal-fired plants in the municipalities of Barotac Viejo and Concepcion, respectively.

Since coal itself is dirty, Billena admitted, people have a tendency to swallow the notion that the technology to produce coal electricity is dirty, too.

“But we no longer live in the 1950s when black smoke spewed out of coal-powered automotive steam engines. On the contrary, because of the so-called circulating fluidized bed technology that uses scrubbers to trap ashes, all existing coal-fired power plants in the Philippines do not emit black smoke,” he said.

Our Asian neighbors are far ahead of us, Billena said. South Korea, for instance, boasts of 37 coal-fired and 17 nuclear power plants.

“I personally visited a 1,000-megawatt coal-fired plant there. There were scores of fishing vessels at sea some 200 meters away from the plant, indicating abundance of fishes and disproving the notion that coal-fired plants are hazardous,” Billena said.
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from Panay News

Coal plant proponent to pay
for councilors’ Taiwan trip

ILOILO City – Members of the city’s legislative body will leave for Taiwan next week to visit the site of the Formosa Heavy Industries Corporation (FHI), the mother company of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC), which signified its interest to put up a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.

GBPC will be shouldering all the expenses the councilors will incur for the trip.

FHI senior administrator Feng-In Hong, in a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, wrote that the tour “would be most beneficial to your council in doing an actual inspection of our existing coal-fired power plants and fabrication-site shops on site.”

The GBPC, which invested some $250 million for the expansion and modernization of its power plan in Toledo City, Cebu, informed the council of its plan to put up a 100-megawatt power plant in the city.

If realized, 40 megawatts of power will be continuously supplied to the city through the Panay Electric Company (PECO) while the rest will be sold to other electric companies in Panay Island.

Three councilors -- Erwin Plagata, Perla Zulueta and Stevie Ray Abitang -- turned down the invitation to visit the FHI.

The remaining 11 councilors and Mabilog are now working on their papers for the trip slated September 14-16.
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from Panay News

UPV shrugs off popularity
of nursing courses

ILOILO City – Enrolment of students in the country’s premier university based here suffered a cut because of the popularity of nursing courses.
from Panay News

^^ Talking about Nursing, it is only UP Manila that can offer that course. Pero ang sakit sa ulo subong kay nagreduce ang students. Fisheries students right now I think has a total population barely a hundred more or less. My bachelor's degree was rumored to have been frozen because there was only one enrollee and will be shifting anytime.

^^that's bad.

Not far from reality (although the B757s of CebuPacific were sold and now they are using A319s and A320s)

N49_m7AO0hk

Removal of Gonzalez's posters justified
By Jay Dooma Balnig


THE executives from Iloilo Hall of Justice Friday justified the removal of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez’s posters from the building edifice.

Aristotle Gulmatico, Ramon Q. Avaceña Hall of Justice maintenance officer-in-charge, clarified that the removal of Gonzalez’s posters was without malicious intentions.


He said they decided to remove all the posters bearing Gonzalez’s face after noticing several vandals altered on his posters.

Gulmatico is referring to the Department of Justice Action Center posters, in which Gonzalez’s face is printed in a large format.

Gonzalez’s image in the posters bore mustache, beard and horn making it not presentable anymore especially during the visit of a Supreme Court chief Justice.

They received instruction from the high tribunal that Chief Justice Renato Puno is scheduled to visit Iloilo Wednesday night or two days after Gonzalez’s sick leave was approved.

As part of their preparations, Gulmatico said they decided to remove all the posters pasted from the hall’s ground floor up to its third and last floor.

Gulmatico added that it’s not only Gonzalez’s posters that were removed but also that of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

The said posters were displayed by various department heads under the Department of Justice during Gonzalez's first month of assumption by virtue of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appointment.

Iloilo Images: Muelle Loney

http://bp0.blogger.com/__aE8p7xVX2o/Rr-sYYDyZ_I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/JcaSscVtArU/s400/IMG_0452.JPG

by Oliver M. Mendoza

The statue of Englishman Nicholas Loney, the so-called Father of the Philippine Sugar Industry, is one of the first sights travellers will see as they disembark in Iloilo's Muelle Loney with the Aduana or Old Customs House standing in the background.

http://bp2.blogger.com/__aE8p7xVX2o/Rr-sY4DyaAI/AAAAAAAAAEY/npfinbPJduA/s400/IMG_0449.JPG

Strategically situated at the mouth of the Iloilo River, the majestic Aduana building has been spruced up by the government recently. It is still being used by the Bureau of Customs today.:)

Solon favors coal-fired
power plant but..

By LYDIA PENDON

ILOILO CITY - “It must be clean and no other,” Iloilo City lone district Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. stressed by referring to the proposed 100 MW coal-fired power plant in this city.

Global Business Power Corporation is eyeing a coal fired plant to augment the supply of its existing diesel-fired power plant here. To be built within its compound at Brgy. Ingore, La Paz district, the coal-fired plant will be using the same environment-friendly technology of its subsidiary Asia Power Energy Corporation (APEC) existing coal-fired plant based at the TECO special economic zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Gonzalez Jr. said that any power plant to be constructed in Iloilo City must be clean. If the plant cannot minimize its carbon dioxide emission, this has to be offset with modern equipment and technology and trees must be planted surrounding the area.

Likewise, dangerous heavy metals must be minimized in the power plant such as mercury, cadmium, formaldehyde and other metallic discharges, the young solon said.

The Iloilo plant, costing some US$150 million is expected to be completed in the middle of 2010 covering 24 months of construction.

On the other hand, Global Power, a business partner of Formosa Heavy Industries based in Taiwan, is all set to abide by the policy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, especially on its ash and heavy metallic emissions.

Andel Bacalla of APEC operations department, assured that the clean coal power generation technology is being practiced in its compact 6.5 hectares plant in Mabalacat. The plant is producing steam power to run the paper manufacturing industry and electric power to light the industries inside the special economic zone.

There are a total of 10 coal-fired power plants in the Philippines and 2 are operated by Global Power such as in Mabalacat and Palawan. There are also 8 coal plants in Taiwan operated by its mother company.

Bacalla said there are certain limitations of non-renewable power reserves in the country and coal has 216 years fuel reserves, natural gas with 61.9 years and crude oil with 40.3 years.:)

City gears for Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Contest

The Iloilo City government is preparing to defend its title as the cleanest and greenest city under the Highly Urbanized Cities category of the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Cleanest and Greenest Contest at the regional level.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), headed by Engr. Noel Hechanova, was directed by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to start with the clean up operations, especially in areas that are being subjected to inspection.

The mayor, likewise, urged the support of the community in keeping their respective areas clean.

Among the sites to be inspected are the city hall building, public market, schools with botanical gardens, plazas, plant nursery, day care centers and slaughterhouse.

The documentation is slated this September while the inspection and evaluation will be held in October.

For two consecutive years, Iloilo City was named as the cleanest and greenest city in Western Visayas.


source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/09/07/city.gears.for.gawad.pangulo.sa.kapaligiran.contest.html

Intl gab fest launches
song, docu film tilt

By LYDIA PENDON

ILOILO CITY – A regional and national song writing and documentary film-making competition was launched in Iloilo yesterday, September 3, 2007 as added flavor to the forthcoming 2nd International Congress on Education in Love, Sex, and Life organized by Educhild and InterMedia in collaboration with I am STRONG program and the Department of Education.

The international gab will be held on November 19-22, 2007 at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel Manila and will cover two preliminary activities to generate interest and materials for the Congress - a research study on the mindset of the youth and a thematic song writing tilt and video documentary competition.

Congress Director Dr. Antonio Torralba said the international congress on love, sex and life participated by 12 internationally noted speakers and is intended for persons and entities inclined to initiate educational activities for teenagers.

The objective is to equip delegates to put up initiatives and projects on education of the heart and character, Torralba said.

Some 600 participants are expected from the Asian countries, North America, Australia, South America and Europe in continuity with the First Congress held May 2006 in Mexico.

Antonio Jon, EdiCongress for the Visayas is facilitating the regional competition in Western Visayas with a deadline for submission of entries on September 30. Regional elimination will be on October 12 and the regional winners will vie for the national competition with national awarding rites on November 22.

Jon said that prizes for the regional level song writing competition include P10,000 cash for the first prize, P5,000 and P3,000 worth of gifts for second and for third prize winners. Documentary film-making tilt includes P15,000 cash for first prize, P5,000 and P3,000 worth of gifts for second and third prize winners.

Prizes for the grand prize winners in the song writing tilt are P60,000 for the entry and P40,000 for the school and another P60,000 and P40,000 cash prize for graduates or non-student category winners.

National winners in the documentary film-making competition will bring home P70,000 cash and trophy, P50,000 and trophy, and P30,000 cash and trophy for the first, second and third prize winners respectively.

Regional entries coming from the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras will be submitted at the office of Antonio Jon at the ATM Business Center at Jalandoni-Ledesma Sts. in Iloilo City while entries in Negros Occidental will be submitted at the Kasanag Center at Capitolville Subd. in Bacolod City.(www.panaynewsphilippines.com)

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from Panay News

Lady councilor presents
smoke-free at WHO gab

By LYDIA C. PENDON

ILOILO CITY - City councilor Julienne L. Baronda impressed delegates to the World Health Organization (WHO) with her presentation on this city’s struggle on anti-smoking campaign in government offices, public places and running vehicles.

A WHO-sponsored seminar was held August 28, 2007 on Tobacco Control Initiative held at the Casino Real Español Manila for a round table discussion on the anti-smoking campaign with other delegates from the cities of Davao, Makati, Legaspi and Marikina.

Baronda authored the Anti-Smoking Ordinance of 2004 and was appointed chair of Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST).

Consequently, Baronda was commended by WHO for her efforts on the anti-smoking program and strict apprehension of ordinance violators. She was also invited to speak in similar discussions in Malaysia and Indonesia and be exposed to the said countries’ anti-smoking programs.

Way back in 2002, Baronda, president of the SK City Federation and with other SK federation presidents of Laoag City, Lucena City, Mandaluyong, Cagayan Valley, Mindanao Oriental and Leyte, lobbied with Congress in passing a law prohibiting the selling of cigarettes to minors before Republic Act 9211 known as the Tobacco Regulation Act became a national law.

She was able to work out the passage of Regulation Ordinance 2006-150 in Iloilo city known as the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in this city.

The success of the anti-smoking drive is recognized through the effort of the city government with the support of its populace. The local government is supporting and promoting the operation of the said ordinance to protect its residents against the ill-effects of smoking as a portent health hazard through information dissemination and consciousness. (www.panaynewsphilippines.com)

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from Panay News

Iloilo City to defend
‘clean and green’ title

ILOILO City – The city government is preparing to defend its regional title as the cleanest and greenest city (highly urbanized cities category) in this year’s Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Cleanest and Greenest Contest.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), headed by Engr. Noel Hechanova, has been directed by Mayor Jerry Treñas to start the cleanup operations, especially in areas that are being subjected to inspection.

The mayor likewise appealed for the support of the community in keeping their respective areas clean.

Among the sites to be inspected are the city hall, public markets, schools with botanical gardens, plazas, plant nursery, day care centers and the slaughterhouse.

The documentation is slated this September while the inspection and evaluation will be in October.

For two consecutive years, Iloilo City was named the cleanest and greenest city in Western Visayas.

--------------------------
from Panay News

Firm eyes garbage as
energy fuel in Iloilo

By LYDIA C. PENDON

ILOILO CITY – A private firm in partnership with the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, is offering this city another alternative fuel source to augment its dwindling power supply through a biogas or methane fuel using the city’s biodegradable solid wastes such as organic mixture of septage and food scraps form wet markets.

A letter to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas dated September 3, 2007 from Samuel West Stewart, president and CEO of the Philippine Bio Sciences Company Inc. (PhilBIO) showed an offer of converting this city’s more than 170 metric tons of collected daily garbage into potential fuel energy that could power houses, commercial buildings, factories and other livelihood centers.

Aside from Iloilo City, PhilBIO is currently undertaking similar offer to the city governments of Mandaue, Cebu; Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Tagbilaran, Bohol; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental and the resort island of Boracay for the implementation of its Visayan City Cluster Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) Energy Project (ReSTORE).

The project will serve as model for the proper closure of open dumps and controlled dumpsites, restoration of existing waste disposal facilities through the application of PhilBIO biological treatment technologies; utilization of recovered methane gas to deliver profits from electric and thermal energy facilities; and the provision of capital investments and operating funds for operation through a BOO/BOT process.

DENR-EMB has been tapped to cooperate with PhilBIO in arranging several cities to be part of a workshop conference to be held on October 2007 on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits.

Treñas said the offer is a new development considering that the city is suffering from insufficient fuel supply.

“There is an urgent need to look for other sources of energy because by 2010, the city is expected to experience unprecedented economic boom with the entry of investors inspired by business and economic growth at the 54-hectare old Iloilo airport site at Mandurriao district here,” Treñas said.

The government property was recently acquired by Megaworld Corp. which plans to develop the area into a new commercial district here. The economic boom is also expected upon the operation of a new airport of international standards at Cabatuan, Iloilo, some 35 kilometers east of the city.

PhilBIO’s main product is biogas for generating power for the city’s requirements as well as for special renewable energy and transport projects such as the electric jeepney powered with biogas.

Treñas said that using the PhilBIO technology, some 25 metric tons of biodegradable garbage will have the potential to generate gas up to 750KW of power. Some 500 metric tons of garbage will be able to produce some 5MW of power. (www.panaynewsphilippines.com)

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from Panay News

City dads postpone Taiwan study trip

By LYDIA C. PENDON

ILOILO CITY – Due to failure in getting travel clearances on time from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the study trip to Taiwan of 12 city councilors, including the vice mayor here, is being postponed probably until first or second week of October.

This was admitted by Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog after sending an advisory to Global Business Power Corporation regarding the travel clearance problem that requires at least 10 days for all public officials to get a travel clearance from DILG.

Mabilog also asked the inviting corporation to send in another invitation for the October trip after the first invitation specified the travel dates on September 14-16, 2007. He said the first invitation arrived August 30 and they do not have enough time to prepare their travel papers and clearances.

The invitation for the city council members came from the power corporation which is a partner of Formosa Heavy Metals Industries Corp. in Taiwan to see and observe the operation of the coal fired power plants in that country. The corporation owns some eight coal fired power plants in Taiwan.

Mabilog said they are willing to observe the power plants in that country since Global Power is proposing to establish a 100MW plant in Iloilo City to augment the dwindling power supply here.

But their trip should not be construed as approving immediately the power plant here since they are yet to study and evaluate the feasibility of a coal-fired power plant in this city.

The city council will have to pass a resolution approving or disapproving the establishment of a coal-fired power plant here, Mabilog said.

Investors are expected to flock in Iloilo City after the 54-hectare old airport site in Mandurriao district was recently sold to Megaworld Corp. for P1.2 billion. The corporation is eyeing a news business and investment center here that will include commercial buildings, ICT business corporations, a convention center and other business locators.

However, investors and developers have been asking for adequate power and water supply here, which Mabilog said would be answered in due time. Power is being supplied by Panay Power Corp. (PPC) which is a subsidiary of Global Power and National Power Corporation (Napocor) through its direct interconnection agreement with PPC and Panay Electric Company (PECO, the power transmission lines here.

Meanwhile, water is supplied by the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) which is currently undergoing massive repairs on water distribution pipes and settling dam at Maasin, Iloilo and the setting up of other water resources such deep wells. (www.panaynewsphilippines.com)

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from Panay News

Iloilo City is a good place for tourism. We have so much to offer. What we lack is a system to show what tourists want to see in Iloilo. I thought of an idea. Hope you can add more..

6:00 AM - 6:30 AM Arrival from Manila going to the Emillion in Grand Dame Hotel for Breakfast
6:30 AM - 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 Rolling Tour on the old mansions in Iloilo like Nelly's Garden , the Boathouse, the Pink House, etc.
8:30 - 9:30 Visiting the Jaro Cathedral, Jaro Plaza and Jaro Belfry
9:30 - 10:00 Travel time to Molo District
10:00 - 11:00 Visiting St. Anne's Church and Molo Plaza.
11:00 - 12:30 Lunch at one of the restos beside the sea -- preferably Tatoy's, Breakthrough or Punta Villa.
12:30 -1:00 Beach Stroll
1:00 - 1:30 Travel Time to Museo Iloilo
1:30 - 3:00 Museo Iloilo Visit
3:00 - 5:30Merienda @ Ted's La Paz Batchoy or Deco's (your choice - same price naman) at La Sallete Building and window shopping or shopping at the Mall Belt (SM Delgado, Marymart Mall, Amigo Mall, Arium Mall, Robinson's Mall or Gaisano Mall)
5:30 - 7:00 Dinner at Mang Inasal, Iloilo and RP's most popular Manokan at SM City Iloilo and a quick stroll at SM City Iloilo
7:00- 8:00 Checking in at Iloilo Business Hotel or Westown Hotel (your choice)
7:30 PM - 2:00 AM Party at Smallville Business Complex
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Travel Time going to St. Teresita Monastery and Plaza Libertad and Rolling Tour in Calle Real.
8:00 - 9:00 Strolling around Plaza Libertad and around the Iloilo Wharf
9:00 - 10:00 Snax at Roberto's
10:00 - 12:00 Strolling around Fort San Pedro
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch at Fort San Pedro
1:30 - 2:30 Going to and visiting the Miag-ao Church, San Joaquin Church and Tigbauan Church
2:30 - 4:30 Having Fun at Racso's Resort
4:30 - 5:30 Travel Time going to Iloilo Business Hotel or Westown Hotel
5:30 - 6:30 Checking in at IBH or WH
6:30 - 2:00 Party Time at Riverside Boardwalk or Smallville Complex
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Going to GUimaras
8:30 - 10:00 Climbing Balaan Bukid and see a breathtaking view of Iloilo City
10:00 -12:30 Fun under the sun in Alubihod Resort
12:30 - 3:00 Visiting the monks at the Trappist Monastery
3:00 - 3:30 Going back to the city
3:30 - 4:30 Checking out of the Hotel
4:30 - -:-- Either go to Boracay or go back to Manila thru the NIA.

:nuts: :nuts: :nuts:
3 days in Iloilo City
Hopefully, it's nice to have this in December, Holy Week, Dinagyang or Summer. The transportation would be a van and with a tour guide of course.:cheers:
Tataba ka sa aking schedule :lol:

Question lang po: Are there any tourism companies serving Iloilo City?

I wish the Iloilo Boulevard would be completed soon. :)

^^nice sked. :cheers2:

^Thanks po. Do you know any company or agency that specializes in touring Iloilo City or Iloilo?

One thing I know is the ICVB (Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau) is giving city tours and also tours outside the city.

^That's good. We really lack tourism promotions.

^^ The city is slowly taking its promotion to national then international but the real problem is the province. Politicians in the Capitol has still a "highly-agrarian" mindset or prioritizing agriculture more than any other economic sector in the province as manifested by the very small budget that the Capitol alots for tourism (only P1million per annum). What they don't know is that by tourism, they can do more...not just only sights and drums, but also economic investors.

I remembered when I requested for the WOW! posters during Dick Gordon days, all provinces in Western Visayas has a poster of their respective provinces except one: ILOILO :(

http://lostinpanay.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/img_0863-fort-san-pedro-iloilo.jpg




Fort San Pedro Iloilo
A heritage tour of Iloilo begins at the site of Fort San Pedro along San Pedro Drive. The fort no longer exists except for a few large stones facing the sea which were once part of a bastion of the quadrilateral fort. Built in 1616, against the Dutch and other invaders that threatened Iloilo, the fort was already in disrepair early in the 20th century, it deteriorated further due to neglect, and was totally damaged during World War II. Whatever remained was torn down to make way for a park. A lighthouse and image of the Christ marks the spot where the fort stood. The park is a favorite spot for taking in the evening air. Food stalls serve barbecue to park goers.

On the way to Fort San Pedro is Gen. Hughes St. This was the rich man's district of Iloilo where large houses and mansions of entrepreneurs and plantation owners stood. The Colegio de Corazón de Jesús is a girls' school that catered to the children of the elite. In this area was the Club Ingles, an exclusive club for British nationals. The ruins of the Club Ingles used to stand in this area. Gen. Hughes is somewhat run down and has lost much of its opulence.

wordpress by sadish/Panublion/lost in panay


Our Lady at Fort San Pedro
by gabronnie2003
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1007/1145991030_2f407a2982_m.jpg

Scholarships for IT related courses available at TESDA
by glenrose



ILOILO CITY,(PNA) – The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) announced the availability of scholarship programs for qualified individuals who want to pursue Information Technology (IT) related courses and further trainings.

TESDA Provincial director Lorena Yunque said those who wanted to become call center agents or medical transcriptionists can avail of finishing courses from the two TESDA accredited training centers here.

On the other hand TESDA has an agreement with the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) for a scholarship program on software development and animation for those who have talents in hand drawing for 2D animation.:)

The software development scholarship program allots P30, 000 for each qualified scholar while P10, 000 is available for the animation.

Meantime, Trade and Industry provincial director Diosdado Cadena who is also vice chairman of the Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (I-FIT) announced that there are several programs that were designed to prepare Ilonggo graduates for possible IT jobs.

The I-Fit, he said, has coordinated with various academic institutions in Iloilo for them to introduce curriculum enhancement in order to respond to the demand of the industry.
Every year Iloilo, which has been dubbed as the center of learning in Western Visayas, produces some 18,000 graduates providing more than enough human resource to the IT industry. (PNA)

^^ The city is slowly taking its promotion to national then international but the real problem is the province. Politicians in the Capitol has still a "highly-agrarian" mindset or prioritizing agriculture more than any other economic sector in the province as manifested by the very small budget that the Capitol alots for tourism (only P1million per annum). What they don't know is that by tourism, they can do more...not just only sights and drums, but also economic investors.

I remembered when I requested for the WOW! posters during Dick Gordon days, all provinces in Western Visayas has a poster of their respective provinces except one: ILOILO :(

^^Agri-tourism is the main focus of the province. I really do like this approach, the Province as the Food basket of the country, to be totally self sufficient in the most basic need of man, but it seems that tourism (at least in the provincial level) is taking a back seat. We must realize this potential. Our province has so much to offer; from old churches, historic places, mansions to beaches and beautiful islands.

^^ Well it supposed to be. Its not that I'm comparing but looks like Negros Occidental province is selling better than us when it comes to agri-tourism.

I wonder why does our Capitol not realizing this potential that we have? The City Hall is doing tourism in order not to attact tourists but pottential investors as well pero sightwise, the city still lacks of recreational facilities or parks and landmarks that should be well maintained. Very limited ang city sa iya nga i-offer but a tourist may opt to go out of the city and enjoy the countryside.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/399/collage11bo6.jpg
pics by shyaman,chymera,netfind,et al

^^

Nice-looking edifices. Hope to see taller and bigger ones in 3-5 years. ;)

SP probe widens on multi-million Capitol IT, convention center plan

By Florence F. Hibionada

Key players in the hotel and tourism industry here will gather tomorrow for the resumption of the investigation of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP). Invited as resource persons, top officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Iloilo Business Club (IBC) and hoteliers are expected by the SP body.

Convening as Committee of the Whole chaired by Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr., focus of the probe is to ascertain the capability of the Provincial Government to embark on the multi-million construction and operation of a convention center and Information Technology park.

Board Member Defensor in an interview told The News Today (TNT) that Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta has confirmed attendance. The DTI provincial office will also be represented alongside the city convention and visitor’s bureau and from the hotel industry, members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Previous week’s probe focused on the basic terms and conditions of the planned P350 million loan that got into the limelight Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB). Two other government depository banks – Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) were also into the fray as questions were raised on the regularity of the PVB loan.

Other issues expected to be addressed is the reported plan to demolish historical infrastructure works particularly the old Provincial Jail, the regional office of the DOT and even the Museo Iloilo. Of late though talks have ended on the Museo Iloilo demolition with the matter considered a "non-issue." It was not immediately clear what will happen, if any, on the two other buildings within the Capitol premises.

Meantime, the Committee of the Whole widens its probe with recommendations to follow weeks after the last day of the hearing is conducted.

IPG gets 'Very Good' rating in customer service

By Ian C. Espada

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is set to award the Iloilo Provincial Government (IPG) after it garnered a "Very Good" rating in terms of customer care and in meeting the expectations of the transacting public for prompt, courteous, responsive, facilitative and pleasant service.

Dir. Imelda G. Abueg of CSC Regional Office No. 6, in a letter, informed Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. of the award and invited him to personally receive the award from CSC Chair Karina-Constantino David on September 14, 2007 in a forum on the Challenges in Public Governance at Kalantiao Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel.

This activity is part of the celebration of the 107th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service with this year's theme "Itaguyod ang Kasarinlan ng Career Service."

It can be recalled that from April 5, 2007-August 17, 2007, the Civil Service Regional Office No. 6 implemented its audit of 92 frontline services of 26 selected government agencies particularly the National Government Agencies in Region 6. Efficiency of agencies' frontline services were checked and tested out by PASADA volunteers in terms of service provider; structure, systems and procedure; and the physical working condition.

The Public Service Delivery Audit/Assistance (PASADA) is CSC's proactive mechanism installed to address the problems wrought by inefficiency at the government's line of contact with the citizenry.

It provides a mechanism through which the performance of government frontline services can be systematically checked and evaluated on a rather simple strategy: a pool of volunteers or public service monitors will check and test out government frontline services.

The idea is for them to simulate and empathize with the experiences of the public whether good or bad, as they transact business with the government.:)

Miag-ao Church
wiki


http://p.vtourist.com/3469664-Miag_ao_Church-Province_of_Iloilo.jpg



The Miag-ao Church was built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries and was declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993. On the front facade, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences.

The central feature of the bas-relief facade is a large coconut tree which reaches almost to the apex. While an integral part of the Philippine landscape, the coconut tree is also the subject of lore. According to an old Philippine legend, the coconut tree was the only bequest from a loving mother to her two children, a tree which sustained them for life. On the church's facade the coconut tree appears as the "tree of life" to which St. Christopher carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulder is clinging to. The lesser facades feature the daily life of Miagaowanons during the time. Also depicted are other native flora and fauna, as well as native dress.

The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church.:)

This November, Iloilo will be host to a committee meeting to be attended by 60 representatives from all the ASEAN countries. Watch for it...

Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek to St. Paul's Hospital's expansion plan
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3646/imgp2157qm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You mean these series of SEAFDEC meetings IAMME? :)

30th Meeting of the Program Committee of SEAFDEC, Iloilo, Philippines, 26-28 November 2007

The 10th Meeting of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC FCG, Iloilo, Philippines, 29-30 November 2007

^We need more hotels for this event

Bisayas at hindi Visayas

Ayon kay Prof. Virgilio S. Almario, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan, ang dapat itawag sa gitnang bahagi ng Pilipinas ay “Bisayas” at hindi “Visayas.” Ito ay kanyang sinabi sa idinaos na Pre-sentenyal Lektyur-forum ng UPV Sentro ng Wikang Filipino noong 10, Agosto 2007 sa UPV Auditoryum, lungsod ng Iloilo.


“Ang salitang Visayas ay walang kahulugan dahil wala namang tunog na “v” sa salita ng mga Bisaya bago dumating ang mga Kastila,” sabi niya. Sa kanyang saliksik ay napag-alaman niya na ang ginamit na salita noong 17 siglo ni Padre Francisco Alcina ay “Bisayas” at hindi “Visayas.” Sa haka-haka ni Alcina maaaring mula ito sa salitang Bi at aya, Bi at saya o Bi at caya.



Ang salitang Bisaya ay hombre allegre sa sulat ni Alcina, na
nangangahulugan ng “masayang tao” o “may magandang kalagayan at disposisyon sa buhay”. Ayon naman sa isang mananaliksik na si Salibi, ang salitang “Visaya” sa wikang Sanskrit ay nangangahulugang “alipin.”


Ang pagkakatawag ng Visayas sa bahaging ito ng Pilipinas ay hindi nakapagtataka dahil ito ay konektado sa iba pang katawagan na ibinibigay ng mga Pilipino sa mga importanteng bagay tulad na lang halimbawa ng ating kinikilalang 8th wonder of the world na “rice terraces” o “hagdan-hagdang palayan”, at ang pambansang ibon na “monkey-eating eagle” o “agila”. Ayon sa kanya, ang mga ito ay may katutubong katawagan na hindi ginagamit: ang “rice terraces” ay “payyo” o payo” at ang agila naman ay “banog”.


Ang ganitong uri ng gawain ay tinawag niyang “Rice Terraces Syndrome”. Isang sakit ng mga Pilipino na mas nagbibigay-halaga sa mga banyagang konsepto kesa sa katutubo.


Pinuna rin ni Almario ang mga naging sistema ng paglikha ng mga salita sa paggawa ng mga diksiyonaryo. Sinabi niya na imbis na hanapin ang mga katutubong salita sa iba’t ibang wika sa Pilipinas ay minarapat pa ng mga leksikograpo na umimbento o di kaya’y humiram sa Kastila o sa Ingles kung walang makitang panumbas sa Tagalog.



Ang pagpapaunlad ng wikang Filipino at ang pagpili ng mga salitang ipapasok sa diksiyonaryo ay gawain ng taumbayan at hindi ng gobyerno, ayon pa rin kay Almario. Hindi man hayagang nasusulat, ito ay nakasaad sa Saligang Batas partikular na sa Artikulo 14, Sek 6. kung saan mababasa ang “pauunlarin at payayamanin batay sa mga umiiral na wika sa Pilipinas...”


Si Almario ay higit na kilala sa kanyang pseudonym na Rio Alma. Isa siyang kilalang makata, kritiko, editor, tagasalin, guro at cultural manager. Marami na siyang naisulat na aklat tungkol sa panitikan at naging pinuno ng iba’t ibang ahensiyang kultural. Siya ay pinarangalan at ginawaran bilang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan noong taong 2003.


Si Almario ay naimbitahang magsalita ng UPV SWF tungkol sa papel ng mga wikang Bisaya sa paglikha ng diksiyonaryong Filipino para sa isang serye ng lektyur –forum na ginanap sa tatlong kampus ng UPV. Ang lektyur-forum sa UP Tacloban ay ginanap noong ika-6 at ang sa UP Cebu naman ay noong ika-17 ng Agosto.


(Source: UPV Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, Lungsod ng Iloilo)
Webpage click here (http://www.upv.edu.ph/news/news.php?id=167&PHPSESSID=8ef39edf011e1bb1f81c5fd365bdd2f4)

Are there any subjects that teach Hiligaynon?

By the way...Happy Fiesta to Guimbal, Cabatuan and Lambunao!

Firm offers to convert city's waste into energy
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The Philippine Bio Sciences Company, Inc. (PhilBIO), a company which is into bio-gas and wastewater treatment, is offering the city government a solution to its power needs by converting the city's waste to energy.


Iloilo City is one of the cities in the Visayas region included in the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the company and the Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources to develop Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects for public sector solid waste projects with the use of ReStore Biogas Cogeneration Facility (ReStore).

Samuel West Stewart, president and chief executive officer of PhilBIO, in a letter sent to Mayor Jerry Treñas, said for every 25 tons of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW), there is a potential to generate gas in the ReStore system that would generate up to 750 kilowatts of power

Other areas in the Visayas covered by the MOA are Mandaue City in Cebu, Bacolod City, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Boracay Island, Tagbilaran City and Dumaguete City.

ReStore project will serve as model for viable plan for the proper closure of open dumps and controlled dumpsites as mandated by Republic Act 9003, restoration of existing waste disposal facilities through the application of PhilBIO's proprietary biological treatment technologies, utilization of recovered methane gas to deliver profit from electric and thermal facilities and provision of capital investments and operating funds through Built Operate and Own or Built Operate and Transfer process.

The company also wants a share of CDM benefits. Cities that signed a MOA with the PhilBIO will receive advances on future CDM streams from the buyer of carbon credits.

CDM scheme is being supported by the United Nations Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol has designed a program to reduce emissions through carbon tax. The main purpose of the tax would be to raise the price of carbon-based fuels and generate a global fund to encourage energy efficiency and technological development.

The Kyoto Protocol calls for 38 industrialized nations to reduce their emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Stewart said PhilBIO is well equipped to work on cities with CDM project. Currently, they have 18 projects with DENR's approval. The company's core competency is wastewater treatment and the capture of biogas utilization into various thermal energy applications.

In 2004, PhilBIO along with Philippine National Oil Company have jointly implemented the country's very first landfill gas to energy project in Payatas, Quezon.

PhilBIO's proposal had been endorsed by Mayor Treñas to the City Environment and Natural Resources for further study and possible recommendation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A better alternative to coal.

URBAN INN soon to open, located in front of St Clement Church Lapaz. 40 rooms i think.

Are there any subjects that teach Hiligaynon?

By the way...Happy Fiesta to Guimbal, Cabatuan and Lambunao!

I dunno within Iloilo's schools but I think that UP Diliman has a subject for Hiligyanon for their Filipino linguistics.

This clip was one of the student's presentation for their Ling 130 (STRUCTURE OF A PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE) which included Hiligaynon.

XpN2JLXChQo

Moritz Hotel is in front of CPU right? Hmmm...bad place to be especially with a lot of youth checking in and out, regardless of gender...hmmm

Miag-ao Church
wiki


http://p.vtourist.com/3469664-Miag_ao_Church-Province_of_Iloilo.jpg



The Miag-ao Church was built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries and was declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993. On the front facade, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences.

The central feature of the bas-relief facade is a large coconut tree which reaches almost to the apex. While an integral part of the Philippine landscape, the coconut tree is also the subject of lore. According to an old Philippine legend, the coconut tree was the only bequest from a loving mother to her two children, a tree which sustained them for life. On the church's facade the coconut tree appears as the "tree of life" to which St. Christopher carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulder is clinging to. The lesser facades feature the daily life of Miagaowanons during the time. Also depicted are other native flora and fauna, as well as native dress.

The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church.:)

very nice picture for the UN designated "world heritage site".:)

very nice picture for the UN designated "world heritage site".:)

But also met controversy after the sacristy and the windows were converted into doors by an influential priest sometime in early 2000.

He (the priest/monseignor) even fought with some NCCA/NHI people because of his proposal (but now the sacristy and the modifications at the body of the church exists already).

Right now, the status of Miag-ao Church is still part of UNESCO WHC and the priest, although very influential in the town, was transferred to Pototan sometime before I graduated.

Hay, sometimes there are parish priests that either has no sense of cultural heritage, no art or O.A. sa art.:ohno:

^^ oh really! i heard back then that miag-ao's town priest employs stingy (for wanting a better term) words during mass! i hope that wasnt true! i wonder if we're referring to the same priest! but i really do hope they take care that miag-ao's church will maintain its "world heritage site" status. it's a culturally prestigious designation!

^^ Just read my PM Eonynx because I think we're having the same reference to that priest that I'm mentioning here.

^^ yup! thanx!:)

Ang mga na-stuck up nga estudyante sang Saint Pauls, ara sa overpass.

Oist! Ngaa ara kamo sa gwa? Naglagaw ai? :lol:

B__wpaO51iQ

Here is the Atrium during a strong monsoon rain.

^^ kita gani sila ni sister kwan da nga ga lagaw, tapat gid sila! LOLZ

^^
I thought Paulinians can only visit malls if they wear civilian clothing? Exempted ba ang ATRIUM? lagot kayo kay sister. hehehe.

NFA announces sufficient supply of rice in Iloilo

By Glenrose

ILOILO CITY, (PNA) — Rice supply in Iloilo remains sufficient even as harvest season is almost approaching.

This was announced by the National Food Authority (NFA) here, adding that as of end of August they still have 130,700 sacks of rice available for distribution to various accredited retail outlets.

Assistant Provincial Director Jovan Villa said 105,366 of the 130,700 bags were imported from Vietnam.

Villa said the available supplies are expected to last until around the first quarter of 2008.

The NFA, he said, will continue to distribute to outlets until October, especially in areas where the production is low.

NFA rice can be accessed in 92 Bigasang Bayan conduits; 275 Tindahan Natin outlets; 13 retail centers identified by the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Jaro and other retail outlets in various public markets in Iloilo province. (PNA):)

Philippines outstanding regional trial court judge is from Iloilo

By Janice

ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo-Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice’s Executive Judge Roger Patricio was adjudged Outstanding Regional Trial Court Judge for 2007, besting other nominees from the various regional trial courts nationwide.

Patricio, who is also the Presiding Judge of the RTC Branch 38, will receive the Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award, a P75,000 cash prize and trophy for his exceptional performance in the judiciary.

Ma. Luisa L. Laurea, executive director of the Society for Judicial Excellence of the Supreme Court, confirmed the information in a communication sent to Patricio last September 3.

The Search for Outstanding Judges and Clerks of Court is an annual activity of the Society for Judicial Excellence at the Supreme Court that seeks to recognize judges and clerks of courts who display excellent character, exemplary work, high ethics, and superior work standard.

The activity covers Regional Trial Court Judges; Metropolitan Trial Court/ Municipal Trial Court in Cities/ Municipal Circuit Trial Court/ Municipal Trial Court Judges and Shariâ Court, Circuit Trial Court Judges; Clerks of Court (First-and Second-Level Courts) and Branch Clerks of Court (First-and Second-Level Courts).

Iloilo province to hold “Piyesta sa Kakahuyan”

By Janice

ILOILO CITY– The provincial government of Iloilo will hold anew the “Piyesta sa Kakahuyan” in celebration of the Ilonggos’ concern for a well-managed and sustainable environment.

The activity will start with a caravan from Iloilo City to be joined by at least 600 to 800 participants representing the different line government agencies, private sector, the academe and the media.

Already on its 8th year of celebration, the activity is in compliance with Provincial Ordinance No. 2000-040 which declares the holding of the activity during the month of September each year.

Unlike this year’s “Piyesta” which will be held at the mangrove area of Brgy. Pedada, Ajuy, Iloilo on September 29, 2007, past celebrations were held at the watershed in Maasin, Iloilo.

“Katunggan Amligan Para sa Kinabukasan” is the theme of this year’s activity.

Iloilo Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. said the annual “Piyesta sa Kakahuyan serves as a reminder for the people that the province is blessed with diverse species of flora and fauna and a rich natural resources, hence its environment should be managed under a framework that is economically viable and socially acceptable to prevent further degradation.:)

http://k43.pbase.com/g6/84/532884/2/73681392.vD3XPQ1p.jpg

Molo Mansion on the Plaza
Iloilo and Panay Island, Philippines

by:Robert Hammerslag

Call center asks for generator sets
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

JUST how unreliable is the power supply in Iloilo City.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said this is a concern raised by a giant call center firm that is trying to expand its operations in the metropolis.
He refused to divulge the name of the company pending negotiations with the owner of the building the investor wants to lease here.

"Unreliable power is a concern of this call center. We find it hard to meet their condition to provide the generator sets. I try to intervene as a mayor for both parties to meet half-way," said Treñas.
The mayor added: "The power here is not only expensive but unreliable. It’s a good thing if there are available generator sets for an uninterrupted work."

Treñas is hopeful that such concern is addressed even as he stressed that the incoming call center would provide at least 600 jobs for the Ilonggos.
Usually, he explained that investors coming to the city are asking for stable power.

Treñas was referring to the entry of big investments, particularly giant real estate developer Megaworld Corp. which has bought the 54-hectare old airport property in Mandurriao district.

"We have to push for power supply improvement—it’s very important as big investors really need it. The 54-hectare site will require sufficient power supply. While development cannot happen overtime, they want to know the power situation here," Treñas explained.

He said the city’s sole power provider, Panay Power Corp., produces 82 megawatts with 79 MW reliable energy supply while National Power Corp. provides 15-MW, thus a total of 94 MW available electricity.
The city’s peak demand reaches 82 MW to 85 MW.

"That’s why we need additional power. Whoever is willing to invest or if there is a reliable base plant, we are open. We are now in the process of looking additional power that will be available hopefully within the next two to three years," Treñas said.

"I think we have to make a decision because the power supply cannot be sustained within the next three years. We have to make a decision now—we cannot dilly-dally—there is certain urgency that it is really needed," he stressed.

Source: The Guardian Iloilo

^^ I emphasize more on action speaks louder than words. Rather than releasing it for whatever intention the city hall wants (to encourage the anti-coal sector or publicity or public info), they should put up an immediate solution or lose competitiveness to other cities because of the unreliable power source.

IT sector ang ila nga target, grabe kabaskog sa kuryente kag kareliant sa kuryente ang sektor nga ini dason wa'ay pa sila nasolusyonan eversince. Kinahanglan na gid sang madasig nga solusyon kundi maghibi naman kita liwat nga madulaan naman ta sa investor tungod sa wala katapusan nga problema sa kuryente!

Iloilo City to hold education summit
By Jeehan V. Fernandez


SEVERAL giant businesses and other stakeholders will gather for Iloilo City’s first Education Summit at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center here Sept. 14.

“The education summit will identify areas of public education which need help for improvements. We will collate the efforts of the private sponsors and come up with an educational plan for the city,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.

He said the initiative is an offshoot of the 57-75 project of business and non-government organizations that gears towards quality public education.
The numbers 57 symbolize the target average in National Achievement Test and 75 as the passing mark in exams.

The 57-75 group is composed of the League of Corporate Foundations, Philippine Business for Education, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Ateneo Center for Educational Development, Synergia Foundation, and Foundation for Worldwide People Power.

The 57-75 project enjoins big corporations to support public education through their corporate social responsibility programs.
“Metrobank Foundation has pledged a substantial fund to support the city’s educational programs,” Treñas said.

The summit aims to reverse the education crisis through a focused private sector intervention and school-community action towards system-wide performance improvements in public education in the city.

Expected to attend the forum are representatives from the Synergia, Ayala Foundation Center for Social Development, Metrobank Foundation, Ronald McDonald House of Charities, ABS-CBN Foundation, Foundation of Worldwide People Power, Montinola Foundation, Zuellig Pharma Corp., Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Iloilo, Iloilo Business Club, Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce-Panay, Foundation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines Visayas, and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.

http://i.pbase.com/g6/84/532884/2/83651250.JGehAQCA.jpg

Oton Municipal Hall
by:Robert Hammerslag


A short history of Oton adapted from the excellent OTOP project: Oton is the first pueblo in Panay. This town was founded in 1572 in honor of Our lady of Immaculate Concepcion. In the early 13th century, Oton was already a flourishing Malay settlement. Its port, now the site of Batiano Bridge, was one of the five ancient Malay ports in Irong-irong trading with Sanglays (Chinese merchants) and other inter-island ports like Sugbu, Madiano, and Malandog. Oton is a hispanized version of the phrase "Ogtong Adlaw". When Spanish explorers asked a native about the name of the place, the latter answered ogtong adlaw (noontime) thinking that the Spaniards were asking about the time of the day. In 1972, the Pueblo of Oton was made capital of the Province of Oton (La Alcadia de Oton) which covered the islands of Panay, Tablas, Sibuyan, Guimaras, Romblon and western part of Negros.:)




http://i.pbase.com/g6/84/532884/2/83877778.zVaxPF3p.jpg


Oton Commercial Complex


Robert Hammerslag

You mean these series of SEAFDEC meetings IAMME? :)

30th Meeting of the Program Committee of SEAFDEC, Iloilo, Philippines, 26-28 November 2007

The 10th Meeting of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC FCG, Iloilo, Philippines, 29-30 November 2007

Yeah.. how did you find that? Ang lakas talaga ng pang-amoy ng SSC :lol:

Do you guys have any suggestions on where to take ASEAN tourists on a 1-day field trip? I guess their demands will be different from westerners.

http://k43.pbase.com/g6/84/532884/2/73681392.vD3XPQ1p.jpg

Molo Mansion on the Plaza
Iloilo and Panay Island, Philippines

by:Robert Hammerslag

Is this the Consing (I hope I spelled that right) house?

^^ Yup. Consing residence. :okay:

It seems to be that our beloved mayor is forced to release idiotic press releases about the so called "power crisis". They wanted to attract IT companies to locate here but at the same time they are announcing to the whole world how expensive and unreliable(kuno) Iloilo City's electricity. Abi i-endorse na lang nila ang coal plant para nga daw indi man kiko ang ila dating hehehe damo pa sang pasakalye bala haw

t
Call center asks for generator sets
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

JUST how unreliable is the power supply in Iloilo City.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said this is a concern raised by a giant call center firm that is trying to expand its operations in the metropolis.
He refused to divulge the name of the company pending negotiations with the owner of the building the investor wants to lease here.

"Unreliable power is a concern of this call center. We find it hard to meet their condition to provide the generator sets. I try to intervene as a mayor for both parties to meet half-way," said Treñas.
The mayor added: "The power here is not only expensive but unreliable. It’s a good thing if there are available generator sets for an uninterrupted work."

Treñas is hopeful that such concern is addressed even as he stressed that the incoming call center would provide at least 600 jobs for the Ilonggos.
Usually, he explained that investors coming to the city are asking for stable power.

Treñas was referring to the entry of big investments, particularly giant real estate developer Megaworld Corp. which has bought the 54-hectare old airport property in Mandurriao district.

"We have to push for power supply improvement—it’s very important as big investors really need it. The 54-hectare site will require sufficient power supply. While development cannot happen overtime, they want to know the power situation here," Treñas explained.

He said the city’s sole power provider, Panay Power Corp., produces 82 megawatts with 79 MW reliable energy supply while National Power Corp. provides 15-MW, thus a total of 94 MW available electricity.
The city’s peak demand reaches 82 MW to 85 MW.

"That’s why we need additional power. Whoever is willing to invest or if there is a reliable base plant, we are open. We are now in the process of looking additional power that will be available hopefully within the next two to three years," Treñas said.

"I think we have to make a decision because the power supply cannot be sustained within the next three years. We have to make a decision now—we cannot dilly-dally—there is certain urgency that it is really needed," he stressed.

Source: The Guardian Iloilo

^^ I emphasize more on action speaks louder than words. Rather than releasing it for whatever intention the city hall wants (to encourage the anti-coal sector or publicity or public info), they should put up an immediate solution or lose competitiveness to other cities because of the unreliable power source.

IT sector ang ila nga target, grabe kabaskog sa kuryente kag kareliant sa kuryente ang sektor nga ini dason wa'ay pa sila nasolusyonan eversince. Kinahanglan na gid sang madasig nga solusyon kundi maghibi naman kita liwat nga madulaan naman ta sa investor tungod sa wala katapusan nga problema sa kuryente!

^^ Ilonggos want actions and not press releases. They should find solutions and not just like another State of the City Address. These statements have been going on for several months now.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1359459428_a138bccd1e_b_d.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/1358565323_bf6aafc58a.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/1359454140_ff0b01c538.jpg

Deco's New Branch ... sosyal na Deco's subong - automatic doors/flush/free wifi

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/1359455830_474abc361e.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/1358563571_8b04ee9d20.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1198/1358564105_60d75e1648.jpg

Anu bi kung dala mo laptop mu dayun gahigop ka batchoy sa kilid .... oops nabasa, haha! Ano man ni concept nga-a nag wifi pa sila man?

i used to dine at Decos with my laptop, nice place gd man.

i cant believe that this La sallette bldg will undergo a facelift, it turns the place into a modern structure, nice restaurant, automatic door, good food.

Grabi gd man ang Mang Inasal, even here in makati near beside my hotel Oxford Suite, may Mang Inasal.

^I think it's the most popular manokan in the country. They even have branches in SM Mall of Asia. I was surprised they branched out that fast!
Who owns Mang Inasal anyway?

Contractor prohibits construction of lamppost near vehicular flyover
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The construction of the P400 million Infante flyover is nearing its completion. Yet, the city government is facing another problem as the contractor will not allow the putting up of electric lamppost near the vehicular flyover.


Mayor Jerry Treñas said the contractor of the project, Mabey & Johnson Ltd, a United Kingdom (UK) based construction firm, will not permit the city government to construct lamppost near the vehicular flyover.

Treñas said they are looking for solutions to address the problem before the vehicular flyover finally opens for motorists. He said there is no available lamppost near the flyover except those lamp posts along the streets covered by the 305-linear meters vehicular flyover.

The vehicular flyover which has a total length of 305-linear meters is aimed to decongest the traffic in the busy intersection connecting M.H. del Pilar, General Luna and Diversion-Infante Streets.

Treñas said the flyover will not be fully lighted if there will be no lamppost near it. He has asked City Engineers Office chief Marito Amatorio to find possible means to deter any accident in the vehicular flyover. The flyover is estimated to be completed either last week of September or first week of October.

Treñas said the city government will look for funds to be used in the installation of additional lighting facilities near the vehicular flyover. Motorists will be guided properly when there are enough lights during nighttime at the vehicular flyover, Treñas said.

Meanwhile, the city government has allotted more or less P800,000 for the two approaches of the vehicular flyover.

DOF, Megaworld to sign initial contract for Iloilo old airport privatization

The Department of Finance (DOF) and Megaworld Corporation are slated to sign an initial contract for the privatization of the 54-hectare property of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) in Mandurriao district this week.


This was bared by DOF Undersecretary John Philip Sevilla to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas after the postponement of the initial signing of the agreement last week.

Treñas will be one of the witnesses during the initial signing to be held in Metro Manila.

Treñas said the contract's final signing will be held here in Iloilo after all the necessary documents and payments as stipulated in the agreement are complied with.

Megaworld Corporation won the bidding for the privatization of the old airport at Php1.2 billion.

Initially, it was learned that the management of the corporation planned to put up an Information and Technology park in the area.

Treñas was also assured that Megaworld will take into consideration the putting up of a theme park, a convention center and a big hospital in the area.

Contractor prohibits construction of lamppost near vehicular flyover
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The construction of the P400 million Infante flyover is nearing its completion. Yet, the city government is facing another problem as the contractor will not allow the putting up of electric lamppost near the vehicular flyover.


Mayor Jerry Treñas said the contractor of the project, Mabey & Johnson Ltd, a United Kingdom (UK) based construction firm, will not permit the city government to construct lamppost near the vehicular flyover.

Treñas said they are looking for solutions to address the problem before the vehicular flyover finally opens for motorists. He said there is no available lamppost near the flyover except those lamp posts along the streets covered by the 305-linear meters vehicular flyover.

The vehicular flyover which has a total length of 305-linear meters is aimed to decongest the traffic in the busy intersection connecting M.H. del Pilar, General Luna and Diversion-Infante Streets.

Treñas said the flyover will not be fully lighted if there will be no lamppost near it. He has asked City Engineers Office chief Marito Amatorio to find possible means to deter any accident in the vehicular flyover. The flyover is estimated to be completed either last week of September or first week of October.

Treñas said the city government will look for funds to be used in the installation of additional lighting facilities near the vehicular flyover. Motorists will be guided properly when there are enough lights during nighttime at the vehicular flyover, Treñas said.

Meanwhile, the city government has allotted more or less P800,000 for the two approaches of the vehicular flyover.

I don't get why they won't allow lamposts there...

If they can't place lamposts, probably they will set up those lights similar to those in airports to guide the cars...hopefully, they come in different colors to complement each other

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1359459428_a138bccd1e_b_d.jpg

The sight during Ratsada broadcast. They have an OB Van, therefore they can broadcast outside the studio premises.

I don't get why they won't allow lamposts there...

If they can't place lamposts, probably they will set up those lights similar to those in airports to guide the cars...hopefully, they come in different colors to complement each other

I think powerful sodium lamps (floodlights and/or similar to those used in the ports and airports) would be one of the solution though (although it'll add up to the city hall's expensive bills from PECO again! :ohno: )

Maybe the reason is safety since majority of the bridge itself is made of metal and may conduct electricity (well its just my theory though).

Ang tagipusuon mo Bernardo. Amo na 'ni siguro ang sabat sa Problema.....

Power plant to rise in Iloilo
By David Israel Sinay
Visayas Bureau
Last updated 10:34am (Mla time) 09/11/2007


ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- Global Business Power Corp. plans to build a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant here to address the metropolis' unreliable power supply.

GBPC owns Panay Power Corp. (PPC), an independent power producer supplying the power requirements of Panay Electric Company, the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

"We are at the technical planning stage," said GBPC compliance and commercial officer Miren Facultad.

Facultad said Asia Pacific Energy Corp., which has a plant in Pampanga, will be the technical partner in the Panay expansion.

GBPC plans to put up the coal-fired power plant at the PPC compound in Barangay Ingore, La Paz district, Iloilo City.

Apec, on the other hand, operates a 50-MW coal-fired co-generation power plant at the 6.3-hectare property of the Tipco Estate Corp. Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

If things go as planned, Facultad said the construction of the estimated $150-million facility would start in the middle of 2008 and should end by 2010.

Unlike the Apec facility that was built inland, the proposed plant in Iloilo City will be installed near the sea so that the coal could be brought directly to the plant through conveyors.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the surge in economic and infrastructure developments in the city had increased the demand for power, thus requiring a new power plant.

Link : http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=87885

^^ Ilonggos want actions and not press releases. They should find solutions and not just like another State of the City Address. These statements have been going on for several months now.

^^2008 next year...not bad. I hope less politics in this arena. This is just what we need although I wish they can utilize garbage as fuel.

I think powerful sodium lamps (floodlights and/or similar to those used in the ports and airports) would be one of the solution though (although it'll add up to the city hall's expensive bills from PECO again! :ohno: )

Maybe the reason is safety since majority of the bridge itself is made of metal and may conduct electricity (well its just my theory though).

Your theory seems right...(kaalam sa imu noh)

It doesn't matter if the bills from PECO are high as long as it doesn't hurt the users of the overpass.

Pwede Christmas Lights na lang?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1359459428_a138bccd1e_b_d.jpg

The sight during Ratsada broadcast. They have an OB Van, therefore they can broadcast outside the studio premises.

great panoramic take!

^^ Pwede man guro migs. Waehehehe!!! Anyway, they may have some issues regarding electricity and conduction since the flyover is almost made of metal. Basta, they may use some powerful sodium lamps, para ok na.

@Kid. Di ko ya maalam, pirmi gani ko hagbong sa subjects ko sa una, wahehehe!! Certified pasaway pa! :D

^^ Asus ah. UP graduate. hehe

I think simple lamps won't do much damage if they use a low voltage lamp. Plus cover it with rubber.

How is it done in Manila?

Is this the Consing (I hope I spelled that right) house?

i hope they can make a repainting job on this structure. it's really worth preserving! is this the house rizal stayed when he visited iloilo on his way to exile in dapitan?:dunno:

^^ ^^
Actually....Glow in the Dark na kuno ang flyover :banana: :banana: :banana: hehehehe

^^ Maayo gani, to attract aliens from outer space, wahehehehe!!! :hilarious:

Regarding the Casa Consing in Molo, I think it is still being resided by the Consings. One of my collagues told me that you may dare to enter the house during feasts since she jokingly told me that all who visits are considered paryentes or relatives, wahehehe!!! :D

Are there any old mansions in Iloilo that has been converted into a museum of some sort?
2 museums in Iloilo City right? One is Museo and the other in Molo (Picture museum?)

^^ If you want to access the old houses, you either have to set an appointment to the caretaker, the owner of the house, ICCHCC or just PM me or PacificLeopard or if you have connections with the owner or you yourself owns the house, wahehehe!! :D

Most of the old mansions are still private property. One has been turned into a school (Lizares Mansion) named Angelicum School of Iloilo runned by the Dominicans.

^^ Thanks bern. :laugh:

^^ I'm serious about how to get in the old houses. Those are some several ways to get in. Ari pa, you may also contact Ben Jimena (tourism officer of city of Iloilo) at the City Hall Annex building or Bombette Marin (tourism officer of the province). ;)

^^ Sorry bern. I am serious. That laughing smiley was a mistake. I thought it was a smile. lol
Peace po!

^^ Ngek! Waay man natabo nga offense ah. Don't worry, wahehehe!!! :lol:

Anyway, how was the widening going on in Saint Barbie's? The last time nga ara ko to (a week ago, wahahahaha!!!) was asta lapit sa ILECO na dampi ang widening.

^^ Wala pa ko kakita. Last time I went there was 3 weeks ago but only one side is being widened.

great panoramic take!

bigger version

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3216502_a829fbad0c_o.jpg

^^ Iloilo really is small but very decongested. Thanks for editing the pic chy.

^^
Excellent!

Are there any old mansions in Iloilo that has been converted into a museum of some sort?
2 museums in Iloilo City right? One is Museo and the other in Molo (Picture museum?)

The Magdalena-Jalandoni (?) residence in Jaro, across the Archbishop's palace. They have recently demolished the statues on both sides of the house to give way for commercial buildings. The sprawling lands of the ancestral houses are getting smaller by the day:ohno:

^^ Museum yan?

City govt, police ready on Erap's verdict day

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The city government along with the Iloilo City Police Office has already came up with its own preparation as the Sandiganbayan Special Division is set to issue a ruling Wednesday on the plunder case filed against deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said supporters of President Estrada in Iloilo might conduct a rally but they are not a force to reckon with. They do not have the same numbers compared in Metro Manila, he said.

Nevertheless, the city government and city police have designed a plan to curtail whatever untoward incident that may happen on Wednesday.

Treñas said they are expecting mass actions and rallies from Erap's supporters. The government could not stop protesters from marching on the streets and shout their discontentment.

The mayor noted, protesters in Iloilo City are not as violent when compared to rallyists in Metro Manila. Rallyists in the city express themselves by just marching on the streets, carrying placards bearing their grievances.

Treñas said there has even no instance where rallyists figure with the members of the Civil Disturbance Team of the Philippine National Police. However, they sometimes cause traffic disturbance.

The police will be on alert even before September 12 comes. The city police had been alerted since the series of bombings happened in Mindanao initiated by Abu Sayaf and other extremists groups and when National Democratic Front chair Jose Ma. Sison was arrested in The Netherlands. An alert status was also raised after reports on the presence of urban terrorists believed to be members of the New Peoples Army came out last week, said Treñas.

Treñas, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, believes the mass actions in relation to the Erap's verdict will not in anyway affect the country's economy. The country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is already 7.5.

"The only question now is how it (the GDP) will trickle down to the lowest sector of the society. Every one should support the government in all its economic programs and reforms for the lowest sector to feel the economic gains. It is not also good that the government will neglect the welfare of those in the lowest sector even if development is taking place," said Treñas.:)

POC begins search for future sports talents in the Visayas

By Janice on Sep 12, 2007 in Sports

The search of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for future sports heroes resumes on Wednesday when the Visayas qualifying leg of the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival kicks off at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

More than 1,000 athletes from 11 local government units, including host Iloilo province, will see action in the 17 sports during the one-week sports meet envisioned to discover potential athletes for future foreign events like 2010 World Youth Olympics and 2012 London Olympic Games.

“Our search for promising young talents continues and we hope to find some here,” chief organizer and POC chairman Robert Aventejado said.

Aventajado will be joined by POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde and sports commissioner Richie Garcia in gracing the opening rites set at 4 p.m.:)

Zubiri assures fund for employee’s cooperative in Iloilo

By Janice

ILOILO CITY– Active employee cooperatives from the 42 municipalities and one component city of Iloilo province will each receive Php1-million financial assistance from the office of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

This was announced by Sen. Zubiri during the flag raising ceremony at the Iloilo Provincial capitol here Monday.

The recipients of the fund will be recommended by the office of Gov. Niel Tupas.

Zubiri said that Iloilo is always very close to his heart because the Ilonggos delivered votes for him during the last May elections.

The neophype senator said the assistance is his way to show how grateful he is to the Ilonggos.

Apart from the funds for various cooperatives, Zubiri announced that he will also give financial assistance to the province.:) :banana:

^^ Museum yan?

I remember we used to hold field trips to that house. The house itself is a museum, I think. The statues outside portray different events in Ilonggo history including Barter of Panay, etc.

^^ Nice. Thanks for the info.

this is the frontpage of the daily informer ... **** verify lang bi berns kay basi imo ni siya:

Sept 12, 2007
http://dailyinformer.info/images/stories/12%20sept.jpg

^^

hmm daw ka familiar gid haw...

really looks like one of berns aerial shots of iloilo...

hmm

yup, looking forward to that...

any updates here guys? :)

It is Bernie's, I'm 101% sure. I hope they asked permission. Otherwise, It's time for mass action.

EDIT: "Bernie" as in Bernardo Arellano II, not Bernie Miaque (the publisher)

EDIT: Bernie called, he does not know about this. Please secure a copy of the paper and check if there are credits.

Susme!!! Kahuluya na guid ang mga journalists sa aton ah!! Waay na lang gid sila gapermiso sa ila ginkuha-an! Haynakupow! :bash: :bash: :bash: I'll call them later and mapuli ko da next week (tsakto lang gid, masermonan si Miaque!).

Hay, sa diin na ya ang Journalism Ethics ai?! This is IPR offense! :ohno:
Now I know how Chymera felt when his picture was on front page!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/885771246_f7316c3748_b.jpg

Is it just me, or did they crop your watermark?

Is it just me, or did they crop your watermark?

They might have used the original no-watermark pictures.

hay naku!

Berns pasaway gid na bala ang newspaper in bernie miaque:nuts: ... daw pareho gid sang tag-iya.


Hay tani respect man lang... give credit where credit is due... its as simple as to acknowledge who took effort to have that area photographed...

bottomline is RESPECT. Bastos gid! :bash:

tani pila ka adlaw makatilaw gid sila.... sing mayad ayad!

Susme!!! Kahuluya na guid ang mga journalists sa aton ah!! Waay na lang gid sila gapermiso sa ila ginkuha-an! Haynakupow! :bash: :bash: :bash: I'll call them later and mapuli ko da next week (tsakto lang gid, masermonan si Miaque!).

Hay, sa diin na ya ang Journalism Ethics ai?! This is IPR offense! :ohno:
Now I know how Chymera felt when his picture was on front page!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/885771246_f7316c3748_b.jpg



DAW KA FAMILIAR SANG MGA PICS NA INI..KAY BERNIE NI GALI?:lol: SA ISA KA WEBSITE DAW MAY NAG POST INI...PANGITAON KOLANG LIWAT KON ARA PA ANG MGA PIC NGA INI.. SA WEBSITE PARA MA CONFIRM LANG..AMO NI SYA HU ANG PIC NI BERNIE: SA ISA KA WEBSITE:

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/48/orig/17/P1130976.JPG?et=AhEO9t4sLyam7l%2Cnz2M2EQ



http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/4/photos/48/orig/15/P1130974.JPG?et=iLWDHNboDmc6LkV%2B94hnxg

Guys, I've spoken with the desk editor (of Daily Informer) and he apologized for the post. I have only one simple request and that is to credit who photographed it. I granted them use as long as the credits will be there.

Hambal nya kuno kay nakuha nila na sa Flickr. So guys who will be posting the pix on Flickr, butangan na sang watermark ang mga pictures nyo. This is the maybe 2nd time (I think) that a local daily used our pictures as front page images.

^^ Bastos sa ila ah. Sige lang migs..maybe try putting watermarks on the pics themselves. Wala guid pulos media subong. They can't make credible news and worse, they steal pics from other people.
tsk tsk tsk.

Anyway, my co-teacher (which is an attorney) told me that journalism ethics exists in theory alone and not in actions.

I just wanna ask if Pavia and Oton are qualified to cities. They have higher incomes than Pototan which was supposed to be a city sometime ago.

Fate of P350M Capitol Convention Center out in 2 weeks
By Florence F. Hibionada

Is the Province of Iloilo ready for the construction of a P350 million Convention Center? Is the Provincial Government capable of balancing its delivery of basic services should it incur an added loan of P350 million? Is the deal with Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) regular and advantageous to the people? Will the arguments, eloquence and seeming charm of Capitol Financial Advisor David Buenavacz work on the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) the same way that it did with the 8th SP?


Such and more will finally be resolved with yesterday's conclusion of the public hearings called relative to the planned multi-million project.

Conducted by the SP body convening as a Committee of the Whole, Committee Chairman, Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr. (Third District) placed the estimate for the report to be ready in "two weeks time."

"I don't think I need another hearing," Defensor Jr. said in a The News Today (TNT) interview yesterday while adding that more than enough outputs were generated from previous hearings.

Yesterday gathered key players from Iloilo's hotel and tourism industry alongside government planners from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Regional Director Edwin Trompeta of the Department of Tourism (DOT) also came with significant inputs as well as Trade and Industry Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena and accountants both in government and private practice.

The four-hour hearing saw an unsmiling Buenavacz at the last hours of the proceedings. Identifying himself as "Capitol's Financial Advisor," Buenavacz was grilled by the Board Members present who took turns in questioning the merits of his company's Feasibility Study on the P350 million project. (See related story)

Reached for comment, Buenavacz shrugged off the unsatisfactory remarks of the Board Members while saying that if the body wants a "four-inch thick" report, he can very well produce the same. He also expressed "surprise" on the barrage of complaints and questions on the project.

"It should have been brought up before," Buenavacz told TNT. "What is clear though is that Iloilo needs a Convention Center. And I do several kinds of Feasibility Studies. I guess what they (referring to the 9th SP) are used to are school feasibility studies."

Buenavacz with an associate, Bong Tandoc was at the receiving end of endless queries and adverse comments from both the Committee and other resource persons invited.

"I can't understand why Iloilo has no Convention Center," he told the Committee while clarifying that the questioned Convention Center site was "dictated to us."

"If you are going to be a pessimist, then you are barking at the wrong tree," Buenavacz said in the course of the hearing. "For me, I am an optimist."

He also pointed out how the private sector present -- hoteliers in particular -- have "vested interests" thus not as enthusiastic about the entire deal.

"Everything is finished -- the design, the blueprint- down to the last nail," he stressed.

Defensor Jr. expressed optimism that matters will be resolved without resorting to judicial review.

"We will only go to the Court once we have exhausted the administrative level," he explained.

Should the Committee agree to disagree on the project, the multi-million deal as per contract with the PVB will be rescinded and/or recalled. Buenavacz as the Capitol Financial Advisor will also not get his over P10 million consultancy fee.

"Our basic issue here is whether it is viable and advantageous to the Provincial Government," Defensor Jr. explained. "While there is a condition in the PVB contract, such cannot also curtail the powers of the SP."

Call center threatens to withdraw due to unstable power situation
By Maricar M. Calubiran

A call center which is planning to put up a branch in the city might withdraw its proposal due to the unstable power situation here.


Mayor Jerry Treñas, after learning of this report, is trying to mediate between the representatives of the call center and the owner of the building where the call center would be situated.

Treñas refused to tell City Hall reporters the name of the call center and the building.

Representatives from call center firm reportedly demanded from the building owner a power generator set after learning of frequent power interruptions happening in the city.

Treñas said the call center could provide 600 additional jobs for city residents and this opportunity would be lost if the call center withdraws its business proposal.

Treñas said the call center wants a stable supply of power as soon as it starts operation. The stable power supply in the city is the primary concern of call centers that want to invest in the city.

Treñas said he is looking for possible means to address the demands of the call center so it will not create a negative impression among investors who would want to enter Iloilo City.

The mayor noted that the city has unreliable power supply and has a very expensive power rate compared with other cities in the country.

"The city needs to address its power needs in order to attract more investors. The city's power needs will even increase with the entry of Megaworld Corporation," said Treñas.

Megaworld Corp. is acquiring the 54-hectare lot in Mandurriao district which is the old site of the Iloilo Airport. Megaworld will reportedly develop the area into an economic center.

^^ I am about to explode...I think this call center is Sutherland

^^ And thus PECO is blaming that interconnection with NAPOCOR is the main reason why electricity in Iloilo is unreliable due to "technical chorvas". I don't buy the idea of theirs. :bash:

The days before the interconnection and after are almost the same. Its not only PECO but ILECO as well!

Just enough of those press statements and better do something. This scenario has been going on for years already. :ohno:

If the city is determined to be as competitive as other cities in the Philippines, then they have to make even just a temporary solution for the unreliable power shortage before its too late.

(I know someone from the city council/MIGEDC is lurking here in SSC Iloilo. If he reads these comments, its just part of a growing number of disgruntled Ilonggos who are tired of periodical blackouts).

^^ If only we had a good power supply, we'd be one of the most competitive cities in the country. What's our rank in the latest competitiveness survey anyway?

^^ AIM hasn't released the latest. Maybe because of our regionalistic tendencies and politics, hehehe!! Back in 2002, I think we rank 8th among total number of cities.

If you talk about it here in SSC, patay kambata ka! That "competitiveness rank of AIM" was the father of all word wars between cities here in SSC. :lol:

Anyway, he have the edge in the port, airport, education, cost of doing business, quality of human resources, standard of living...Its just the power interruptions, heavy traffic congestions, quite high crime rate & politics are the weaknesses of our city.

^^ High crime rate? Super low ang crime rate sa Iloilo - what's rampant is the small-time crime here but you can go out at night alone except in the downtown area.

^^ Well, that was as according to 2002 statistics though. Pero kon paminsaron, puro na lang ginbangga-an kag aksidente ang ginareport sang TVP Iloilo kag Ratsada, wahehehehe!!! :lol:

^^ Hehe...Asians are poor drivers according to Westerner's point of view.
I'm thankful we less than 50 prostitutes in the city. That's extremely low

^^ Hehe...Asians are poor drivers according to Westerner's point of view.
I'm thankful we less than 50 prostitutes in the city. That's extremely low

Amo na gid. Grabe pa mangharurot sa highway! :ohno:

Anyway, I hope that report on Reporters Notebook about child prostitution has been resolved because they featured Iloilo back then kag mga bata to sa Atrium kuno ang mga ato. But lately, I don't see any children by nightime. Hopefuly, di sya ningas kugon.

^^ Even at 8pm, I can still see kids roaming around Atrium.

Can we consider Oton and Pavia as cities now since they both have higher incomes than Pototan?

Pavia, I don't think so because it lacks population and area yet. We were 4th class municipality back in 2002 I think. I'm not sure about Oton though.

Anyway, kapoy kag natuyo na ko. Padayunon na lang ta ni bwas. Maayong gab-i! :)

^^ Sure sure...Good Night Iloilo!

September 02, 2007

ON 'TONTON & BENJO' Talibong1 Talks (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2007/Starlife/2007/September/02/feature2.htm)
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/p6.jpg
(Wanting to keep their privacy, the maker of the 'Tonton & Benjo' series and his friends show their many colorful faces.)

A 19-year-old Ilonggo has gained wide following for his Tonton and Benjo adventure series via the Internet's YouTube, a site that has made -since 2005- video sharing and blogging, and, lately, posting of comments, possible. The adventure series of the young Ilonggo, who assumes the name Talibong1, is apparently the most widely viewed locally-produced YouTube entries this side of the world.

Three of his most widely-viewed works are actually spoofs of the period films, Troy and 300. StarLife columnist Carlo Leonardia described Talibong's videos, in his Come to Think of It item on Aug. 12, as ones "which have spread faster than cellphone sex scandals and have gained him a cult-like following among wired Ilonggos".

A YouTube check showed that the final of the trilogy, Tonton ang Paghaharap, has registered 578,747 views as of Friday morning and the number continues to rise. Benjo kag Ang Batalyon Pitbull has 457,105 hits and Benjo Mangayo Ko Kwarta was viewed 353,053 times. While the hits should be waning by now, StarLife noted that the figures rose by about 14,000 for Mangayo Kwarta, about 23,000 for Batalyon Pitbull and 28,000 for Paghaharap in the past four days alone.

StarLife managed two weeks ago to know the whereabouts of Talibong1, who has requested his real name not mentioned - from a former high school classmate at Central Philippine University, where the YouTube sensation is presently a Nursing senior.

StarLife-in its attempt to find out the reasons of the series' phenomenon - compiled three reasons based on viewers comments: the Tonton and Benjo series are short, thus does not demand so much of the viewers' time, they use familiar language in the script- the Ilonggo dialect and expressions that are common (bords, pilo-pilo, clean cut, IR-or incident report -, a term used in Nursing classes when things go off the norm) yet given dimensions of humor and hilarity. Viewers also find appeal to the delivery of the script which is far from being studied or rehearsed.

The following is our email interview with Talibong1, who also sent us the photos (other than the YuTube screen reproductions) used in this article. He expressed appreciation for the Bacolod media's interest in his story (he has been featured, too, in the current St. La Salle's SPECTRUM magazine issue and acknowledged that grabe ang kagat sa Bacolod and acknowledging that the first interview requests came from the Bacolod media)

Why did you choose the name Talibong1?

Talibong is a place in Zarraga town where we had our Community Health Nursing duty. I thought it's unique monicker -- one of a kind.

When did you start your Benjo and Tonton production?

Sometime in April or May.

How did the idea of producing Benjo and Tonton and other videos come about? Why those names?

My friends and I just thought of it when they slept over at my place one night. Benjo and Tonton - these guys are by band mates (laughs). I chose their names because they're my friends. More names will be coming soon, (laughs).

Do these guys join you in your production?

I usually do it by myself. But sometimes Benjo, Tonton and a few others, like Myro - about five of us - are there for some ideas and effects, laughter especially (laughs), XD (term for "smiley" or laughing face").

Prior to your Benjo and Tonton series and other YouTube clips, what preoccupied your time?

My studies… computers and (laughs) sleep. I've been a computer fanatic since birth I think (laughs).

Since when did you get into YouTube?

Since it became operational. What made you decide to put your videos on YouTube?

Trip trip lang na.

YouTube shows a lot of feedback from viewers. When did you start gaining wide following?

What wide following??? (laughs). Oh, the feedback comes from anywhere in the Philippines and from any free country in the world. Like what countries?

Dubai, others in the Middle East, U.S.A. especially, all over, Africa included.

How many video shows have you made? Which is the most popular?

Ten. I really don't know which is popular but the one with the most number of views is Tonton: Ang Paghaharap. Each viewer has his own favorite.

How often do you produce?

Everything comes on the spot actually.

Whose voices are those of the characters?

They're mine. All mine, including the cat's. (laughs).

Where did you get your video production skills?

I didn't study anything on that. Everything is self-exploration (laughs). Piho ba. Did it ever occur to you that you might have violated copyright laws? Did you seek any legal advise?

There is a violation I believe but in YouTube many are doing it. Tani wala lang eh (legal problem) kay pasadya man lang ni. No, I haven't asked for any legal advise.

How are you doing in school?

I'm surviving. Kabit-kabit (laughs).

Has the production affected your studies?

Not really.

How would you describe yourself as a student?

Clean cut (this expression has become one of the most popular punchlines in his clip, apparently referring to soldiers who do not sport long beards).

Do people in the university know you as the mind behind Benjo and Tonton series?

I think some, other than my friends, know.

In one of your scripts, you mentioned your university as the school to go to. Any feedback from school officials about your works? What do they say?

I was told some officials met and talked about it. I don't know if it's really true...pero wala naman to kuno…but, thanks, my teachers love my work!

Tell us about your family.

Tagu-on ko lng ni ah…haha (StarLife later learned his father works abroad).

How do you manage to protect your privacy? Will you ever show or introduce yourself as the maker of Tonton and Benjo?

Well, a few people know me by now. But I don't mind it. Pabay-i da sila ah… Some know me. Now and then some get to know me.., but not always. The others know me long before I made the series.

Do you have a 'fans' club' now?

I learned there's a Benjo and Tonton Fans' club in Friendster (an Internet friendship link). Whahahaha, Salamat sa nag-ubra (While he did not admit it, StarLife learned of plans for the holding last weekend of a Tonton and Benjo activity during the University Week celebration at CPU).

How long do you intend to keep the Benjo and Tonton series going?

As long as it kicks! In your scripts, there appears recurring lines about education and going to school. Is this intentional to put across some values? Do you do a lot of brainstorming with your friends?

Because the production is on the spot, generally, the lines flow freely especially that they are not formally scripted. Wala na ko may mahambal nga daan..ti gaguluha lang na iya (laughs). Ga purutikul na lang ko nay a mag start na ko dub (laughs).

Online comments show plenty of positive feedback from your viewers. You get negative feedback too…?

Negative feedback? May ara gid na ya…damo (laughs).

What is the most touching feedback you ever got?

Honestly, the ones sent by viewers abroad telling me….nga dula ila mingaw kag enjoy gid sila.

Why do you think your series has become so popular?

It's funny… I really don't know why.

^^ And thus PECO is blaming that interconnection with NAPOCOR is the main reason why electricity in Iloilo is unreliable due to "technical chorvas". I don't buy the idea of theirs. :bash:

The days before the interconnection and after are almost the same. Its not only PECO but ILECO as well!

Just enough of those press statements and better do something. This scenario has been going on for years already. :ohno:

If the city is determined to be as competitive as other cities in the Philippines, then they have to make even just a temporary solution for the unreliable power shortage before its too late.

(I know someone from the city council/MIGEDC is lurking here in SSC Iloilo. If he reads these comments, its just part of a growing number of disgruntled Ilonggos who are tired of periodical blackouts).

^^ ^^ ^^
That lurker could also tell our beloved Mayor that the press releases about our power situation doesn't earn sympathy...it actually makes him look stupid. I don't know how his atenean buddies are reacting after reading such comment from him. Daw parehas lang na bala nga nakatapak ka tae...bal-an mo na gid nga tae...pro tandogon mo pa gid kag simhutan...tapos masiling ka nga "tae gid man!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

^^ Iloilo really is small but very decongested. Thanks for editing the pic chy.
Small cities like Iloilo and Bacolod have so much similarities..the culture,dialects,history,and even malls, infrastructure,:lol: kaya daw twin city gid ang duwa:lol: the similarities can be explained by the fact that most of the rich families of Iloilo at one point all tranferred to Bacolod..pareho nga may bag o na airport,fly over..ang bacolod soon pa..nami pa mga foods:lol: firendly people gid man mga Ilonggo ah:banana:

^^ Right but I don't consider them twins. One is older than the other eh but still both are at par with each other

Estrada’s conviction draws mixed reactions from Ilonggos

By Glenrose

ILOILO CITY, – The guilty verdict handed down by the Sandiganbayan over former President Joseph Estrada’s plunder charge drew varied reactions from Ilonggos here.

Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas said the decision has been made and what is important is for all parties to respect the rule of law and let the aggrieved ones elevate the matter to the Supreme Court.

Nelson Robles, a government employee, firmly believed that Estrada deserved the verdict.

“What he did to the country has resulted in tremendous destruction of the Constitution,” he cited.

Janet de la Torre, a utility worker at the Iloilo City Hall, said she felt bad but at least it would also serve as lesson to the rest of government officials who might want to do the same.

A government employee who refused to be identified said he was contented with the decision because no one knows what will happen if he will be acquitted.

“There might be another uprising that will bring him back to power,” he said.

On the other hand, Romulo Macaya, an eatery owner, believed that the former President is really guilty of the crime.

The same sentiment was aired by Laarni Gempeson, a Political Science student.

But while there are those who favored the decision, some believed that Estrada is not guilty.

Others opted to remain neutral like Carlos Magbanua, a city traffic enforcer. :)

Urine test in schools urged for kidney disease prevention

By Glenrose

Iloilo City (12 September) — The Department of Health (DOH) urged the conduct of urine examination in schools among elementary pupils as it reiterated the importance of early recognition and prevention of the causes that may lead to kidney diseases.

During the recent Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) consultative meeting with partner agencies, DOH 6 REDCOP Coordinator Dr. Maria Lourdes Hembra said that urine test is the only means to detect the presence of glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis, is a type of kidney disease caused by inflammation of the internal kidney structure that usually afflicts children, adolescents and young adults in their productive years.

Based on the statistics of the Philippine Renal Disease Registry (PRDR) of the DOH, children and young adults with latent glomerulonephritis can escape detection for months, causing the condition to progress to a chronic state.

Chronic glomerulonephritis is used to be the most common cause of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in third world countries including the Philippines.

Hembra identified some of the symptoms of the disease that include skin disease, edema, weight loss, headache, sore throat, joint pain, and pale skin color.

Aside from Chronic Glomerulonephritis, the other kidney diseases are Diabetic Kidney Disease, Hypertensive Kidney Disease and Chronic and repeated kidney infection (Pyelonephritis). Due to inability to recognize these diseases in its early stages, these often lead to ESRD.

If diagnosed early, according to Hembra these diseases are potentially preventable in the course of illness and avoiding the need for expensive ESRD treatment such as dialysis and transplantation.

Kidney diseases were included in the DOH’s list of the 10 leading causes of mortality in the region in 2006. (PIA):)

DILG tasked to oversee public safety during disasters

by T. Villavert

Iloilo City — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is tasked by President Arroyo to oversee the direct participation and performance of the Local Government Units in addressing the needs of the citizenry during calamities.

This was disclosed by outgoing Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Secretary Rafael L. Coscolluela during a special meeting held recently with the heads of government agency.

Coscolluela, who has been appointed by President Arroyo to head the Sugar Regulatory Administration, said that “President Arroyo has tasked the DILG to lead in the government’s efforts to prevent disasters and respond to calamities while head of the National Disaster Coordination Council, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is focusing on the conflict in Mindanao.

He explained that there was “no transfer of jurisdiction from the Department of National defense to DILG, it is only temporary”.

Coscolluela said that when a calamity is declared, the DILG in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense is supposed to immediately check on the activities undertaken by the LGUs, and likewise make sure that they have operationalized their public safety plans.

DILG VI Director Evelyn Trompeta when interviewed by PIA said that Secretary Ronaldo Puno had already discussed the program to all regional directors of the DILG recently, and at her level she will conduct an inventory of all disaster coordinating councils in the region, strengthen it so that should a calamity occur, the LGUs could immediately respond to the needs of the citizenry. (PIA)
:)

^^ ^^ ^^
That lurker could also tell our beloved Mayor that the press releases about our power situation doesn't earn sympathy...it actually makes him look stupid. I don't know how his atenean buddies are reacting after reading such comment from him. Daw parehas lang na bala nga nakatapak ka tae...bal-an mo na gid nga tae...pro tandogon mo pa gid kag simhutan...tapos masiling ka nga "tae gid man!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

I hope he does say that these complaints are a headache to Ilonggos right now.

Small cities like Iloilo and Bacolod have so much similarities..the culture,dialects,history,and even malls, infrastructure,:lol: kaya daw twin city gid ang duwa:lol: the similarities can be explained by the fact that most of the rich families of Iloilo at one point all tranferred to Bacolod..pareho nga may bag o na airport,fly over..ang bacolod soon pa..nami pa mga foods:lol: firendly people gid man mga Ilonggo ah:banana:

^^ Right but I don't consider them twins. One is older than the other eh but still both are at par with each other

Iloilo and Bacolod might be under one Ilonggo banner but IMO these two created their own distinct sub-cultures that are quite noticeable for the people living in Western Visayas (Aklanons, Antiqueños, Capiznons, Ilonggos, Guimarasnons and Negrenses notice it). Cultures are created due to certain factors such as topography, society, history and economy.

Yet, the two cities are still predominantly Ilonggo yet I disagree that Iloilo and Bacolod have similar cultures, for example...the preference of listeners to FM radio stations.

But in Philippine anthropology, Filipinos are not divided because of water but instead, unites them.

^^ Guimaras and Iloilo and also most of Panay have a lot in common in their cultures, IMO. That's what I noticed whenever I go to Capiz or Aklan.

Has Iloilo City ever had the honor of having a banner posted in SSC?

^^ Unfortunately wala pa. There was a banner passed but was not approved by Jan (administrator).

^^ That's too bad. Oh well, maybe we're not yet banner-ready

Zubiri pledges financial aid
to new city hall construction


By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY
ILOILO City – Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri pledged financial assistance for the construction of a new city hall, revealed Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The cost of construction of the new city hall at Plaza Libertad has been pegged at P350 million.

The city government plans to erect an eight-story city hall.

“Sen. Zubiri promised to support the establishment of our new city hall,” Treñas told reporters.

Treñas, however, said Zubiri did not say how much will he be allotting.

The architectural firm Coscolluela and Associates is designing the new city hall. It is the same firm that designed the new Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Zubirin was in Iloilo over the weekend and met local chief executives. He also assured municipal leaders of P1million financial assistance.

Source: Panay News Philippines (09.13.2007)

^^ High crime rate? Super low ang crime rate sa Iloilo - what's rampant is the small-time crime here but you can go out at night alone except in the downtown area.


Iloilo City Police Director Wesley Barayuga paid a visit to the city’s police stations last Saturday morning.

It was Barayuga who got astonished and embarrassed upon finding his four police personnel fast asleep in their respective offices during duty hours.:ohno:

^^ That happens to any city in the country.
What matters is that you can actually go around the city and still feel safe, except for the city proper and some parts in La Paz.
What matters is the crime rate is low and that's something to be happy about

Call center threatens to withdraw due to unstable power situation
By Maricar M. Calubiran

A call center which is planning to put up a branch in the city might withdraw its proposal due to the unstable power situation here.


Mayor Jerry Treñas, after learning of this report, is trying to mediate between the representatives of the call center and the owner of the building where the call center would be situated.

Treñas refused to tell City Hall reporters the name of the call center and the building.

Representatives from call center firm reportedly demanded from the building owner a power generator set after learning of frequent power interruptions happening in the city.

Treñas said the call center could provide 600 additional jobs for city residents and this opportunity would be lost if the call center withdraws its business proposal.

Treñas said the call center wants a stable supply of power as soon as it starts operation. The stable power supply in the city is the primary concern of call centers that want to invest in the city.

Treñas said he is looking for possible means to address the demands of the call center so it will not create a negative impression among investors who would want to enter Iloilo City.

The mayor noted that the city has unreliable power supply and has a very expensive power rate compared with other cities in the country.

"The city needs to address its power needs in order to attract more investors. The city's power needs will even increase with the entry of Megaworld Corporation," said Treñas.

Megaworld Corp. is acquiring the 54-hectare lot in Mandurriao district which is the old site of the Iloilo Airport. Megaworld will reportedly develop the area into an economic center.
This is the Nth time that happened already ... hope this matter is solved, maski indi in the near future man but for the long term.

^^ I'm just thinking of the scenario during the Ramos era nga pirmi brownout. It then happened that after the crisis, Philippines, along with ASEAN were dubbed as Asian Tiger Cubs, signalling once a booming economy.

Tani indi na lang natabo tong 1997 Asian Crisis.

Iloilo on IR (InfraRed) pix by Jake Borres (Team Panay)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1005/1300668049_aaa513153b_o.jpg
Museo Iloilo

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/1289095277_e55b122ea7_o.jpg
LaPaz Plaza

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1353193116_07747c12bc_o.jpg
Jaro Cathedral

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/1263301922_c0667f08bd_o.jpg
Molo Church

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1147115181_431cdc9ec1_o.jpg
The Great Escape (Iloilo River)

^^ Team Panay rocks. Very Lovely

^^ I'm just thinking of the scenario during the Ramos era nga pirmi brownout. It then happened that after the crisis, Philippines, along with ASEAN were dubbed as Asian Tiger Cubs, signalling once a booming economy.

Tani indi na lang natabo tong 1997 Asian Crisis.

it's about time mayor trenas make an "isolated attention" to this power problem of the city just like former pres. ramos did in solving the nation's power crisis back then. iloilo city's power problems had reached a stage where an executive intervention is necessary for its soonest solution!

COC filing for barangay and SK elections starts

By Glenrose

Iloilo City — The Commission on Election (Comelec) will start accepting the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of those who would like to run in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 29 today, September 14.

Jonathan Sayno, Election Assistant of the Iloilo Election Officer said the period for filing of COCs will start September 14 until midnight of October 18. He, however, clarified that for the whole month of September the filing of COCs will be accepted only during office hours and for the whole month of October until Saturday.

The officials to be elected on October 29 for the Barangay election include a Punong Barangay and 7 Barangay Kagawad while for the SK election, a Chairman and also 7 SK Kagawad.

Under COMELEC Resolution 8297, qualified to run as Punong Barangay and Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad are: Filipino citizens, at least 18 years old on election day; able to read and write Pilipino or any local language or dialect; and registered voter of the barangay where they intend to run for office and residents thereof for at least one year immediately preceding the day of election.

On the other hand, candidates for SK Chairman and Kagawad must be: Filipino citizens; at least 15 years old but less than eighteen (18) years old on election day; able to read and write Pilipino, English or the local dialect; and qualified voters of the Katipunan ng Kabataan of the barangay where they intend to run for office thereof at least one year immediately precedingt the election.

Sayno advised those who will file their COCs both in the Barangay and SK elections to attach in every copy of their COCs the result of their drug test.

He added that the contenders have also to notarize their COCs and indicate therein the name of the person who shall take his place in case of death.

Sayno warned candidates that once they have already filed their COCs they are already subject to election laws. Hence, they are not allowed to appear in any public gathering or post campaign materials yet as the campaign period will still start on October 19 until 27.

Under election rules premature campaigning is a ground to disqualify candidates if proven guilty by the COMELEC. (PIA)

Iloilo City to sign sisterhood pact with Kaohsiung City in Taiwan

By Janice

ILOILO CITY – The Kaohsiung City of Taiwan will soon become the latest addition to the list of Iloilo City’s sister cities abroad.

Iloilo City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has already given Mayor Jerry P. Treñas an authority to sign the sisterhood pact.

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan’s Ocean City, is also known for its Sailboat Festival, similar to Iloilo’s Paraw Regatta Festival.

Jimena said the agreement will surely bring in mutual benefits for both cities.

“We can exchange knowledge and mechanics on how to conduct our Paraw Regatta. We can also exchange visitors in the process,” he said.

Jimena added that since Taiwan is not that far from the Philippines, then probably Iloilo can send participants to Kaohsiung’s Sailboat Festival and vice versa.:)

Friday, September 14, 2007
Erap’s fate, a no view at the Capitol
By Jay Dooma Balnig

AS THE whole country tuned in to the television and witnessed the Sandiganbayan’s verdict on former President Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada’s perjury and plunder cases, the employees at the Provincial Capitol were told to shut the capitol’s televisions and do their usual jobs.

Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada reportedly issued the same through a verbal directive to all the employees.

Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.

Only transistor radios were allowed for the employees’ coverage of the verdict Wednesday.

The reading of the verdict was promulgated past 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Sandiganbayan found Erap innocent of perjury but guilty of plunder punishable by reclusion perpetua or a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment.

Mejorada, who feared that television viewing might muddle government transactions at the capitol, said the employees were allowed to tune-in to radio stations but not devote their time to television during the promulgation.

It can be noted that Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. is the stalwart of the Liberal Party, one of the member-parties of the genuine opposition in which Erap leads.

Meanwhile, based on a survey Wednesday, local television emerged as the main medium of information of the verdict, closely followed by AM radio stations.

At the Iloilo City Hall, employees were observed to have concentrated less on television coverage.

As early as 6 a.m. Wednesday, the verdict for Erap was the most popular topic among coffee shop goers in Iloilo Central Market and La Paz Public Market.

In Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo’s "Tingug sang Banwa" survey on Sandiganbayan decision, majority of the Ilonggos predicted that Erap will be found guilty of plunder.

Tupas did not make any comment regarding the verdict but Mayor Jerry Treñas earlier pronounced that Erap might be convicted as charged.:)

Survey shows tourists speak well of Ilonggo hospitality
By Maricar M. Calubiran

Iloilo City and the island-province of Guimaras continue to reap impressive reactions from foreign as well as local tourists. The city is associated with good food, lovely people and Dinagyang festival and Guimaras with mangoes and beautiful beach resorts.


A recent survey conducted by the Asia Pacific Projects Inc. (APPI) showed that aside from food, tourists also looked forward on Ilonggo hospitality which they described as "malambing", sweet loving and friendly. The survey was administered in August 2007 to departing visitors at the Iloilo airport and seaport.

The APPI was commissioned by the Australian Aid (AusAid) under the Local Governance Development Programme (LGDP). The survey was conducted in preparation for the Metro-Iloilo Guimaras Integrated Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (MIG-01).

The APPI survey focused on information about tourist profiles and behaviors which are vital factors in tourism planning and development. The profile of the tourists is changing fast and tourism industry players need to move fast to reinvent reasons for people to visit each tourist destination.

The APPI report did not identify the nationality of the foreigners that visited Iloilo and Guimaras. The same APPI report released by Jose Roni Peñalosa, executive director of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC), did not provide details on what Ilonggo delicacies and beaches in Guimaras the foreign and local tourists preferred.

The same report only indicated that 59 or 20.5 percent of the respondents were foreign citizens. Of the 59 respondents, 15 are expatriates based in the Philippines. The respondents were either visiting on holiday or to visit friends and relatives. The report also said dining in local restaurants and sight seeing were the most popular activities among the tourists. The report did not deal on the infrastructure and hotel amenities.

The APPI said the survey results suggest that Iloilo does play an important role as a gateway to other parts of Western Visayas. However, the results should not be considered as representative of the year-round picture of tourism for Metro Iloilo and Guimaras.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great!

Just another proof of our malambing attitude. Go Iloilo!

Koreans boost hotel biz in city

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE coming of Koreans has propped up the hotel industry in Iloilo City, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.

He was referring to the influx of Koreans who stay to study or do business in the metropolis.

“We encouraged them to visit the city—they are the top visitors here,” said Treñas.

The mayor explained there are laws especially on retail and trade and working permits provided by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation and Department of Labor and Employment for Koreans staying in the city.

“They can’t work unless they secure necessary permits to protect them and their workers.

As long as laws are applied and ensured that the interest of the Filpinos, or the Ilonggos in particular, are not affected, I don’t see any problem,” Treñas stressed.

He said Koreans have been flocking major destinations in the country like Boracay and Baguio.

“Iloilo City is considered as a learning center. There are also businesses allowed to serve the Koreans even as they establish their own churches, tutorial centers and restaurants here,” Treñas said.

“There is a big contribution to the hotels while some are occupied by Koreans for longer stay. Others are also renting houses and apartments,” he added.

Treñas said the city’s peace and order situation might have attracted the Koreans to settle in the city.

Earlier, Treñas said the new Iloilo Airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns, some 19 kilometers north of the city, should establish chartered flights with South Korea for tourism boom as well as prospective investments.

“The city’s initial gain with the opening of the new airport is tourism. We know that the biggest number of foreign visitors in Iloilo are Koreans. So the most feasible market we can start is with chartered flights from South Korea,” he explained.

Likewise, he asserted that chartered flights could pave way for the new airport to host direct international flights.

“The arrivals will really increase as what we have seen in Cebu which also started with chartered flights with Japan while they have more investors on beach resorts and other businesses. And Hong Kong too which has lots of travelers. Now, Cebu has more regular international flights,” Treñas noted.

“We should consider that if we have the tourism market, it brings along with it possible investments. Tourists are coming and going around places. But they’re not just tourists, some of them are also investors. This will be of big help to the economy,” he pointed out.

Merger of city brgys mulled

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

ILOILO City vice-mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog yesterday said there is a need to merge small barangays into bigger ones for economic reasons.

Citing a Barangay Secretariat study, Mabilog said the big numerous villages in the metropolis eats up a bulk of the budget of the city government.

“There is a big budget considering the allocation for every barangay. The 180 barangays in the city is too much, thus it is necessary to reduce the number to be economically favorable,” he explained.

The vice-mayor said there is a big amount being allotted as to village funds and honoraria of barangay officials.

Mabilog noted: “Iloilo City has the most number of barangays in the country the same as Davao City but which has a land area 10 times bigger than ours.”

He said the Barangay Secretariat has come up with a recommendation that basing on the city’s population, there should only be 75 barangays relative to the 5,000 population per barangay as standards provided by the Local Government Code (LGC).

Mabilog added the results of the new population census conducted by the National Statistics Office in August would also determine the exact number of residents in each of the barangays.

So who should initiate the merging of the smaller barangays?

“The issue has to go back to the barangays through a referendum – the barangay officials themselves should know more about it,” Mabilog said.

Earlier, Barangay Captain Lorenzo “Boy” Castellano of Brgy. Ortiz, City Proper said the merging of barangays would result to efficient delivery of social services.

Castellano is said to be the leader of majority of barangay captains in the city.

“There were proposals before for the merging of small barangays into big ones or those adjacent to each other. But there were contentions raised to finish the term of elected officials,” Castellano told reporters.

The new barangay election is scheduled Oct. 29 after it was postponed in 2002.

He added the plan to merge the small barangays should have been in place after the barangay elections.

“We have to explain to the barangay captains the advantages – they are amenable. Smaller barangays could have higher income if they are merged into bigger ones, thus more resources for delivery of social services,” said Castellano.

Mabilog said such proposals were tackled by the City Council as early as 2004.

“It was proposed by the Barangay Secretariat and, according to the provisions of Local Government Code, it still requires the approval of residents, particularly the electorate. If it is acceptable to them, perhaps the small barangays could be merged,” he stressed.

“Several barangays have very minimum population of more or less than a hundred. It would be more economical and savings for the city to manage less number of barangays,” Mabilog said, adding that most of the small villages to be merged are in City Proper.

Brgy. Roxas Village, City Proper, touted as a ghost town for virtually having a handful of residents, was subjected to abolition by the City Council in 2005.

The Council reported the LGC provides that “a local government unit may be abolished when its income, population or land area has been irreversibly reduce to less than the minimum standards prescribed for its creation, as certified by the national agencies or the Sangguniang concerned as the case maybe”.

“Simply stated, the issue of the existence of Roxas Village called for abolition of said barangay and merger or creation of a new one,” the report said.

According to Census statistics, Roxas Village has only 35 residents as of May 1, 2000.

However, the Council declared “that the issue on the abolition of Roxas Village should and must be resolved with the issue on the existence of numerous barangays in the city which are similarly situated as to population and actual residence of barangay officials.”

The Council also recommended that Roxas Village shall remain as a barangay until the issue of existence of other barangays similarly situated is finally resolved.

Likewise, Roxas Village would be ultimately dissolved when the concerned officials all fail to qualify – if they are really non-residents of the barangay – in the next elections.

this power crisis is really reaking havoc to our economy, are we the only city suffering from this almost regular brown-outs ? I hate our power provider so much! grrr!!!! :gaah:

Iloilo on IR (InfraRed) pix by Jake Borres (Team Panay)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/1289095277_e55b122ea7_o.jpg
LaPaz Plaza


this is so cool... it seems that Lapaz plaza is located in wintry japan. wow!

this power crisis is really reaking havoc to our economy, are we the only city suffering from this almost regular brown-outs ? I hate our power provider so much! grrr!!!! :gaah:

Ang puso mo Nong JC. Look on the bright side though, we were also on the Dark Ages during the early Ramos administration era but before his term ends, we already resolved the power crisis.

Anyway, Philippines as a whole has a very expensive power rate, quite incompetent as compared to our ASEAN neighbors.

^^whats bad too,is that there is seems to be a conspiracy of sorts to bring "clean coal" as the soul saviour of our problems and the local gov't are making an excuse to bring this in,even if its obviously not the best for the environment. they seemed to be blinded by either greed or just out of sheer despiration and lack of effort just to accommodate this idea.

^^ Whats new in politics here in our country anyway. :ohno:

^^yeah,i know i'm just venting, hehehe

City Investment Incentives Board has more members

More members from the private sector joined the Iloilo City Investment Incentives Board (ICIIB) after mayor Jerry P. Treñas reactivated the board through Executive Order No. 44-07.

“The board was in existence since last year through an ordinance passed by the city council called the Iloilo City Investment Incentives Code 2006 but I recently added individuals from the private sector to its membership since this is primarily for them,” Treñas said.
The ICIIB is now composed of businessman Ernesto Borromeo, Jr. as chair and representative of the mayor, Iloilo Business Club president Antonio Jon as vice-chair and Councilors Jose Espinosa III (SP chair on trade, commerce and industry) and Armand Parcon (SP chair on tourism, culture and historical affairs); city tourism officer Benito Jimena, city treasurer Katherine Tingson, city planning and development coordinator Jose Roni Peñalosa, city legal officer Edgardo Gil, DTI provincial director Diosdado Cadena, DOLE-VI regional director Aida Estabillo, Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Iloilo, Inc. president Roland Uy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. president Angel de Leon, Bankers’ Association Iloilo president Teresa Lao, Philippine Retailers Association-Iloilo Chapter president Francis Chung and Iloilo Hotels and Resorts and Restaurants Association president Robert Ferrer.

Some of the functions of the board are to disseminate rules and procedures for the implementation of the Code; approve applications for incentives under the Code; identify and regularly update Investment Priority Areas; periodically review incentive package and recommend amendments to the city council and seek for prolific partnerships with other entities for the effective implementation of the Incentives Code.

“This is in line with my administration’s thrust of making this city as investor-friendly as possible,” Treñas stressed. (EAM/PIO) :)

Waste Market Fair at SM City Iloilo

WASTE Market Fair at SM City Iloilo today.

The Waste Market Fair is set today, Sept. 15, at the parking lot of SM City Iloilo from 8am to 2pm.

This is a joint project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6 (DENR-6) and the Iloilo City Government that aims to encourage the people in the community to segregate their waste materials and sell them to scrap buyers.
In this way, people are not only encouraged to help clean the environment but they are also given a chance to earn through their efforts.

A Waste Market Fair brings together customers who want to dispose of papers and cartons, plastic items, computers, and appliances and recycling companies who can use them.

This is a joint project of the SM Supermalls, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, and the Philippine Business for the Environment.

At the Waste Market Fair, one can transact business with recycling companies and exchange recyclable items for cash.

The latter includes items that have no value or those that are considered hazardous like plysterene, styrofoam, cellphones and batteries.

Come on September 15 and be a part of these worthwhile event only at your Ultimate Shopping and Entertainment Destination—SM City Iloilo. :)

1st Iloilo Red Cross Youth party today


THE Philippine National Red Cross – Red Cross Youth will hold the 1st Iloilo RCY Acquaintance Party today, Sept. 15, at SM City Iloilo.

The party will include the Larong Pinoy Competition such as sack race, planting

straws, newspaper dress making, Kadang-kadang, Sudoko challenge, Sekyu,
Tumbang Preso, Luksong Tinik, Harina Challenge, egg relay and Saging Eating Challenge at the Car Park of the SM City.

Different RCY school councils in Iloilo will join the games.

In the afternoon, there will be presentation of talents by different Red Cross Youth Volunteers and awarding of winners of the Larong Pinoy at the SM City’s Activity Center.

The primary purpose of this event is to comply with one of the objectives of the RCY: Service and Solidarity.

The 1st Iloilo RCY acquaintance party will cater to the unification and solidarity of all member of the RCY in different councils. :) D/G

WV workers to get P13-41 wage hike

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

Workers in Western Visayas will receive an increase in the daily minimum wages from P13 to P41 starting next month, according to labor representative Wennie Sancho.

Sancho said in a telephone interview that the amount of the increase was agreed upon during a meeting of the seven-member Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Bacolod City on Wednesday.

RTWPB secretary lawyer Calixto Vallaquio said in a separate interview that the board members "agreed in principle" to the amount but it will be finalized next week before the board issues a wage increase order.

Sancho said the range of the increase was simplified according to the amount received by the employees to ensure that those receiving less will be given a higher increase.

The increase would peg the minimum wage in the region at P235 per day.

Under the scheme, employees receiving the existing minimum daily wage of P222 or above will receive a P13 increase starting October 1.

Workers receiving from P180 to P194 per day will receive a P41 increase to be implemented on a staggered basis.

A P10 increase will take effect on October 15 and another P15 on May 1 next year. The last increase, amounting to P11 per day, will be implemented on September 30, 2008, according to Sancho.

An estimated 400,000 workers in the region will be affected by the increase.

Labor groups affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines had petitioned for a P75 increase in the daily minimum wage for workers in the region.

But business groups said they can only afford to give a maximum increase of P15.

Militant labor groups including the Kilusang Mayo Uno have called for the abolition of the RTWPB saying the board has been "inutile" in advancing the interests of workers since it was created in 1989.

The KMU and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino are pushing for a legislated and nationwide P125 increase in the daily minimum wage.:)

Survey shows tourists speak well of Ilonggo hospitality

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Iloilo City and the island-province of Guimaras continue to reap impressive reactions from foreign as well as local tourists. The city is associated with good food, lovely people and Dinagyang festival and Guimaras with mangoes and beautiful beach resorts.

A recent survey conducted by the Asia Pacific Projects Inc. (APPI) showed that aside from food, tourists also looked forward on Ilonggo hospitality which they described as "malambing", sweet loving and friendly. The survey was administered in August 2007 to departing visitors at the Iloilo airport and seaport.

The APPI was commissioned by the Australian Aid (AusAid) under the Local Governance Development Programme (LGDP). The survey was conducted in preparation for the Metro-Iloilo Guimaras Integrated Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (MIG-01).

The APPI survey focused on information about tourist profiles and behaviors which are vital factors in tourism planning and development. The profile of the tourists is changing fast and tourism industry players need to move fast to reinvent reasons for people to visit each tourist destination.

The APPI report did not identify the nationality of the foreigners that visited Iloilo and Guimaras. The same APPI report released by Jose Roni Peñalosa, executive director of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC), did not provide details on what Ilonggo delicacies and beaches in Guimaras the foreign and local tourists preferred.

The same report only indicated that 59 or 20.5 percent of the respondents were foreign citizens. Of the 59 respondents, 15 are expatriates based in the Philippines. The respondents were either visiting on holiday or to visit friends and relatives. The report also said dining in local restaurants and sight seeing were the most popular activities among the tourists. The report did not deal on the infrastructure and hotel amenities.

The APPI said the survey results suggest that Iloilo does play an important role as a gateway to other parts of Western Visayas. However, the results should not be considered as representative of the year-round picture of tourism for Metro Iloilo and Guimaras.:)

Purr
Kathy M. Villalon

IAP's Mega Showroom breaks ground

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/imperial_plaza1.jpg
A perspective of the world-class Imperial Plaza showroom

It is world class and it's going to rise here in Iloilo City.

Mayor Jerry P. Trenas has another reason to smile these days. There will be another contributor in real property taxes, so he said. "This will mean more programs for Iloilo City," he added.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/imperial_plaza2.jpg
From left are Dong Ha Jang, VP of Samsung Electronics Philippines; Masashi Date, VP of Sharp Philippines; Rene Almeda, president of Panasonic Phils; Mayor Jerry Treñas; Rodolfo C. Tiu, CEO of Imperial Appliance Corp.; Tetsuo
Hirota, president of Sanyo Philippines; and Hideyuki Takata, president of JVC Philippines

He was referring to the Imperial Appliance Plaza Mega Showroom, which broke ground last Sept. 8, 2007.

According to Rodolfo Tiu, CEO, one does not need to go to Manila anymore to shop for appliances because "one of the largest showrooms in the Philippines will rise here." He said that the showroom will feature top-of-the-line models, too. Now, that's a very exciting promise.

Mayor Treñas said that he hopes this will encourage other business people to develop their lands to contribute to a booming Iloilo City.

Kudos to IAP for another milestone in its history!

^^ Where's that located?

It was not mentioned sa article kung sa diin 'ni. The current Imperial Appliance Plaza showroom ara sa may Iznart St. beside the YMCA.

Imperial Appliance Showroom
TTK Tower Iznart st.,Iloilo City

Here are Imperial Appliance branches sa Iloilo :

Imperial Appliance
Delgado st.,Iloilo City

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Don Victorino Salcedo st.,Iloilo City

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Nonato st., Miag-no, Iloilo City

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Delgado St.,Ilo-ilo City (Plaza)

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Delgado St.,Ilo-ilo City (Madison)
Iloilo

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Iznart St., Ilo-ilo City (Showroom)

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Iznart St., Ilo-ilo City (Vic Imperial)

Imperial Appliance Plaza
Simeon Aguilar St.,
Passi City,Iloilo

^^ Where's that located?
I saw their billboard and it was located at the vacant lot beside TTK Tower, where their curent branch is also located.

^^ Just in front of TTK Tower (GSIS site for Western Visayas)? Thats good! :okay:

Ay, and Sutherland gali may ara na sila recruitment center sa Robinsons. To think that they're threatening to leave when they've already made substantial initial preparations to open up shop here, GaaaH! Which makes me think nga basi may iban nga rason why they would pull out, kay kung power blackouts then they should've dealt with that issue long ago pa tani.

and Deco's is opening another branch in Gaisano City, the space where KFC used to be.

Purr
Kathy M. Villalon

IAP's Mega Showroom breaks ground

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/imperial_plaza1.jpg
A perspective of the world-class Imperial Plaza showroom

It is world class and it's going to rise here in Iloilo City.

Mayor Jerry P. Trenas has another reason to smile these days. There will be another contributor in real property taxes, so he said. "This will mean more programs for Iloilo City," he added.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/imperial_plaza2.jpg
From left are Dong Ha Jang, VP of Samsung Electronics Philippines; Masashi Date, VP of Sharp Philippines; Rene Almeda, president of Panasonic Phils; Mayor Jerry Treñas; Rodolfo C. Tiu, CEO of Imperial Appliance Corp.; Tetsuo
Hirota, president of Sanyo Philippines; and Hideyuki Takata, president of JVC Philippines

He was referring to the Imperial Appliance Plaza Mega Showroom, which broke ground last Sept. 8, 2007.

According to Rodolfo Tiu, CEO, one does not need to go to Manila anymore to shop for appliances because "one of the largest showrooms in the Philippines will rise here." He said that the showroom will feature top-of-the-line models, too. Now, that's a very exciting promise.

Mayor Treñas said that he hopes this will encourage other business people to develop their lands to contribute to a booming Iloilo City.

Kudos to IAP for another milestone in its history!

nice!:)

City Hall, Land Bank ink P350M loan for ‘dream project’

By Jeehan V. Fernandez


http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/frontS15.jpg
STRIPPED BARE: The demolition of the old Iloilo City Hall has begun to give way for the construction of a modern building. (Tara Yap photo)

ILOILO City’s “dream project” will cost at least P350 million.

Mayor Jerry Treñas and Land Bank of the Philippines president Gilda Pico yesterday signed the P350-million loan agreement for the New City Hall project at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center here.

Standing as witnesses to the loan’s signing were Vice-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for the City Government and Land Bank senior vice-president for Visayas Stellamaris Yusay for the state bank.

“The New City Hall project is a dream of most residents. Several planning sessions conducted earlier had identified it as a priority project even as it was conceptualized since two years ago,” Treñas stressed.

“The councilors were complaining that they hold office on top of a market, thus the dignity of service being in a highly-urbanized city. There should be a house that could accommodate all the offices of the city government,” he added.

Treñas was referring to the Iloilo Terminal Market (ITM) building where the City Council occupies the second floor.

Incidentally, Land Bank Iloilo Lending Center head Jeffrey Maningo noted the ITM building was put up courtesy of a P34 million loan the city government borrowed from Land Bank in 2001.

“We are pleased with the agreement especially with the interest rate. Although I’m not at liberty to disclose how much is it. We are looking forward to see each other during the inauguration of the New City Hall,” Treñas told attendees including the bank employees, city councilors, department heads and media.

The mayor said: “I also thank the City Council that approved Wednesday the final authorization for the city to enter into the loan agreement.”

The city has allotted P30 million equity to finance the construction of the new government center which will rise eight storeys at its 2,100 square meter old site across Plaza Libertad.

“The 8th floor will host a canteen for the public to enjoy the aerial view of the city while dining,” said Treñas.

He added the 7th floor will be the mayor’s office while the 6th floor is for the offices of the City Council and the rest of the floors for the remaining city offices and departments.

“I will be very happy to inaugurate the building,” Treñas vowed even as he would use the New City Hall—which is expected to open second quarter of 2009—for a short period of time considering his term ends in 2010.

The edifice’s designer Architect William Coscolluela said: “It’s a different architecture with a touch of structural designs found in the existing buildings here—the detail goes with the local architecture. It’s not extravagant but elegant. It also features ‘all windows’.”

He said the building will also be equipped with three elevators—two for public use and one for the executives—while the parking area will be situated at the third floor.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/frontS15.jpg
STRIPPED BARE: The demolition of the old Iloilo City Hall has begun to give way for the construction of a modern building. (Tara Yap photo)

It seems to look better now that it's stripped :lol:

Presence of Koreans an indication of stable peace and order city
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The so-called invasion of Korean nationals in the city is an indication of stable peace and order situation here, says Mayor Jerry Treñas.


Treñas observed that a lot of Koreans are in the city to study the English language while others have engaged in businesses.

Treñas said the city is one of the places favored by Koreans other than Boracay and Baguio City. The Korean nationals want to stay in Iloilo because it is very peaceful, he said.

The Korean nationals posted the highest number of visitors in the country based on the report of the Department of Tourism.

Some Koreans invest in retail business to cater the needs of their fellow Koreans. There are also a number of Korean tutorial schools as well as restaurants that sprouted in the city to serve their needs. Korean food is generally spicy. Kimchi, a pickled cabbage and sometimes raddish and rice are the mainstays of diet around which most of the dishes revolve. Korean meals usually consist of kimchi, soup, fish and rice.

However, Treñas assured that the Ilonggos are still protected even if they (Korean nationals) have businesses here. There are laws which govern foreigners doing business in the country.

The presence of Koreans in Iloilo City also brings investment to big and small businesses alike. There are number of hotels that are now exclusively occupied by Koreans. There are also Koreans who opted to rent houses in the course of their stay here. It helps the locals generate income from the rentals, said Treñas.

Meanwhile, a group of Koreans here in Iloilo City recently donated school supplies to A. Mabini Elementary School.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iloilo City to host Agri Summit

The Iloilo Business Club, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture VI, and Canadian Urban Institute will hold an Agriculture Summit on September 27-28, 2007 at Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City.

Panay is predominantly agriculture based, and the summit aims to engage important stakeholders in discussions about national directions, regional, and provincial situationer, important crops, vital infrastructure projects, and updates on industry trends.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap will give the keynote address during the opening ceremonies on September 27, 2007.

The summit will focus on Regional Situationer in Agriculture, Important Research and Development Projects, Best Practices in Agriculture, Agriculture Development Road map for LGUs and sessions on High Value Commercial Crops, Livestock, Fisheries and Local Government Units.

Among the invited speakers to the 2-day summit are Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture; Antique Governor Salvacion Z. Perez, Chairman of the Regional Development Council; Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas; Dr. Rolando Dy, Dean, School of Management of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; Dr. Rodel Maghirang, National Program Coordinator of Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-HVCC Program of the Department of Agriculture; Regional Director Larry P. Nacionales, Department of Agriculture-Region VI and Dr. Glenn D. Aguilar, Chairman of Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium and Chancellor, University of the Philippines in the Visayas.

Field trips to selected agriculture farms and destinations within the province are scheduled on the second day which will enhance the participants’ appreciation on the topics discussed.

According to Iloilo Business Club Executive Director Ma. Lea Victoria Lara, it is through this activity that they hope to boost the synergy and working relationship of both the private and public sectors, especially in coming up with doable strategies to maximize Panay’s agricultural advantage. Enjoined to attend this summit are farmers of high value crops, agri-businessmen, hog raisers, agricultural enthusiasts, fish producers, provincial and municipal agriculturists, policy makers and representatives of NGOs and government agencies.

Agri Summit 2007 is supported by the Iloilo Provincial Government, Iloilo City Government, Landbank, Cargill, Office of Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Lovefeeds, The Daily Guardian, ABS-CBN and Department of Education.

City Hall, Land Bank ink P350M loan for ‘dream project’

By Jeehan V. Fernandez


http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e248/lewdsaint/frontS15.jpg
STRIPPED BARE: The demolition of the old Iloilo City Hall has begun to give way for the construction of a modern building. (Tara Yap photo)

ILOILO City’s “dream project” will cost at least P350 million.

Mayor Jerry Treñas and Land Bank of the Philippines president Gilda Pico yesterday signed the P350-million loan agreement for the New City Hall project at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center here.

Standing as witnesses to the loan’s signing were Vice-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for the City Government and Land Bank senior vice-president for Visayas Stellamaris Yusay for the state bank.

“The New City Hall project is a dream of most residents. Several planning sessions conducted earlier had identified it as a priority project even as it was conceptualized since two years ago,” Treñas stressed.

“The councilors were complaining that they hold office on top of a market, thus the dignity of service being in a highly-urbanized city. There should be a house that could accommodate all the offices of the city government,” he added.

Treñas was referring to the Iloilo Terminal Market (ITM) building where the City Council occupies the second floor.

Incidentally, Land Bank Iloilo Lending Center head Jeffrey Maningo noted the ITM building was put up courtesy of a P34 million loan the city government borrowed from Land Bank in 2001.

“We are pleased with the agreement especially with the interest rate. Although I’m not at liberty to disclose how much is it. We are looking forward to see each other during the inauguration of the New City Hall,” Treñas told attendees including the bank employees, city councilors, department heads and media.

The mayor said: “I also thank the City Council that approved Wednesday the final authorization for the city to enter into the loan agreement.”

The city has allotted P30 million equity to finance the construction of the new government center which will rise eight storeys at its 2,100 square meter old site across Plaza Libertad.

“The 8th floor will host a canteen for the public to enjoy the aerial view of the city while dining,” said Treñas.

He added the 7th floor will be the mayor’s office while the 6th floor is for the offices of the City Council and the rest of the floors for the remaining city offices and departments.

“I will be very happy to inaugurate the building,” Treñas vowed even as he would use the New City Hall—which is expected to open second quarter of 2009—for a short period of time considering his term ends in 2010.

The edifice’s designer Architect William Coscolluela said: “It’s a different architecture with a touch of structural designs found in the existing buildings here—the detail goes with the local architecture. It’s not extravagant but elegant. It also features ‘all windows’.”

He said the building will also be equipped with three elevators—two for public use and one for the executives—while the parking area will be situated at the third floor.
cool... a canteen on the 8th floor :cheers:

^^ Yikes! Picture ni Ng Tara! Naglagaw naman sya gali sa city after trip? Hehe!!

Anyway, so far how is the power situation back there?

I just wish nobody gets drunk at the eighth floor and just jumps down...

Passenger Terminal of Iloilo Port (Fort San Pedro)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/9/photos/43/500x500/129/DSCF0048.JPG?et=Xa5giOGGxtu119RhzcyniQ

Balinas impressive in swim win

by janice

ILOILO City — An 11-year-old son of a banker and a 13-year-old nephew of a former Olympian from Negros Occidental made the biggest splash in yesterday’s start of the swimming competition in the Visayas Qualifying Leg of the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.

Joshua Balinas, a Grade 6 honor student at St. La Salle-Bacolod, posted the meet’s first Triple A swim as he topped the 100-meter backstroke in one minute and 18.62 seconds that automatically booked him a slot in the National Finals this November in Manila.

Balinas, who hopes to become a scientist someday, later reigned supreme in 1500-m freestyle to make it a golden double.

“I always give out my best when I compete, maybe that’s why I won,” said Balinas, a son of a bank teller and a secretary of a tractor company back home, in Filipino.

Swimming chief Mark Joseph, who is here to personally oversee the event, was impressed with Balinas.

“Wow, that was a good swim,” said Joseph, who is planning to hold a national swim tournament in this bustling city tentatively next month.:)

SRA develops mechanism to ensure stable market price for sugar

By Janice

ILOILO CITY – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) recently came out with Sugar Order No 1, drawing out the volume of sugar for export purposes and how much will be retained for domestic consumption.

Newly appointed SRA Administrator Rafael Coscolluela said this is “a mechanism to establish a steady profitable price level for local producers.”

The order stipulates that 80 percent of the sugar production in the country should be allotted for domestic consumption or B-sugar while seven percent is for the United States market.

Only eight percent was classified as D sugar or for the world or export market.

Likewise, SRA temporarily set aside five percent of C-sugar. This, according to Coscolluela, can either be reclassified as B or D depending on actual market conditions which they will review in a regular basis.

“This is one mechanism to hopefully establish a steady profitable price level for local producers. But we also want to avoid sudden increase in domestic sugar because we also want to protect the interest of the consumers,” he said.:)

Presence of Koreans in Iloilo City indicate stable peace and order situation, says mayor
By Janice

ILOILO CITY – The “invasion” of Iloilo City by Koreans is an indication of the locality’s stable peace and order situation, says Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

The mayor said a lot of Koreans are in the city to study the English language while others are engaged in business.

“The city is one of the places favored by Koreans other than Boracay and Baguio City. The Korean nationals want to stay here because it is very peaceful,” he said.

The Koreans also posted the highest number of visitors in the country based on the report of the Department of Tourism.:)

Treñas re-issues rules
for city gov’t vehicles
panay/news

ILOILO City -- Mayor Jerry Treñas recently re-issued a memorandum order (MO) on the use of government-owned vehicles for proper guidance of all city officials and drivers.

The first MO was issued last June 6, 2005 and was directed to all department heads and chiefs of offices with issued vehicles.

In his latest order (memorandum number 511-07), Treñas stated that all vehicles should be parked at the city’s motor pool in Gen. Luna or at the Old COA building parking lot in J.M. Basa by Friday afternoon.

The assigned drivers can get it every Mondays and shall strictly use it for official business.

“I would like to remind all government employees that the use of government-issued vehicles for private appointments is strictly prohibited,” Treñas stated.

All drivers should also have the necessary papers like trip tickets when using assigned vehicles or seek an approval from the mayor when going on special assignments.

Another memo (MO number 514-07) was also released today, stating that the use of government automobiles on weekends is strictly prohibited unless on official function and that all vehicles should conspicuously display the name and logo of the city government.

The mayor also mentioned that failure to obey the MO will be penalized through withdrawal of the gasoline allowance allocated for the vehicle. :)

SP seeks review of the city’s
more or less 10,000 ordinances

ILOILO City – This city’s more or less 10,000 ordinances must be reviewed, according to Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Mabilog was surprised to note that since 1939, the city’s legislative body was able to pass such a number of ordinances. He said those ordinances must be reviewed to determine whether they are still relevant and to avoid possible duplication.

The plan to review the city’s existing ordinances came as a result of the first People’s Consultative Assembly last Monday.

Mabilog said the participants themselves recommended possible enactment of ordinances as a solution to problems that they identified.

However, before the council can react, he stressed that they have first to check if there ordinances that are already in place.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretariat is now in the process of implementing the city’s Codification Program. However, Mabilog said it is uncertain how long it would take the Secretariat to complete the codification.

The vice mayor believed that the Codification Program must also be fast tracked because it can help them in their attempt to review the thousands of ordinances that are piling up at the SP Secretariat’s office. :)

Message from Talibong1 :)
Part Four of Benjo will be released on September 23, 2007

Benjo (http://youtube.com/watch?v=aWuAZHOXBKg)

Bertday nya September 12 :lol:

Guys, did you notice that the street lights turn on at aroung 6:30 PM?

^^ One of the ways to "save" electricity bills for the city hall as mandated by Mayor Treñas and created Task Force Boltahe.

I'm back again after my two-week hibernation due to work.

Keep posting updates guys. Cheers.

City vies for another clean and green reg’l championship title

The city government is again preparing for this year’s Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) regional clean and green competition.

The regional evaluation team is expected to visit the city either sometime end of October or early November. Pre-evaluation is on-going with the city’s task force on clean and green (TFCG) making sure that all criteria for the contest are met.

TFCG chair Marilen Locsin said that she has tapped all members to ensure that their respective areas of responsibility are constantly checked. “We were the regional champion last year, so we have imposed higher standards for ourselves this time to ensure that we make it again,” Locsin said.

Among the sites expected to be rated by the regional evaluating team are the public plazas, the different city public markets and public schools, the Calajunan dumpsite, slaughterhouse and the city’s seedling nursery. The evaluation will be done through ocular inspections, spot interviews and review of pertinent documents.

Some of the criteria for judging are: absence of eyesores; well-maintained green areas; odor-free and thoroughly clean public markets and food terminals; presence of waste water treatment system and waste segregation station for slaughterhouse; implementation of waste segregation at source; well-maintained public toilets; efficient and effective garbage collection system and support systems provided by the city government on programs and projects on cleanliness, greening, solid waste management, health and sanitation program and the other related efforts.

The GPK-Clean and Green contest is an annual event that is particularly aimed at improving the nation’s environment. The activity will enable local government units and their respective constituencies to maintain and sustain the cleanliness of their respective localities. (EAM/PIO)

source: The ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1463&Itemid=137)

Sta Barbara to institutionalize use of biodegradable materials
By Roy Cejar

One of the major waste materials clogging the waterways, or strewn on streets and roads in the municipality of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, are plastics like plastic bags and food wrappers, and the sale and use of these bagging materials must be regulated if not entirely prohibited to protect the environment.

Because of these developments, the municipal government under the able leadership of Mayor Isabelo 'Beloy' Maquino will resort to or institutionalize the use of biodegradable bagging containers such as paper or cloth bags, woven baskets, buri bags or bayong, cartoon boxes, non-plastic sack or bags, and sturdy reusable shopping bags except plastic sando bags.

Maquino's action was based on Section 48 Paragraph 10 and 11 of Republic Act 9003 which provides that the manufacture, distribution or use of non-environmentally acceptable packaging material and the importation of consumer products packaged in non-environmentally acceptable materials are strictly prohibited; and Section 2 of Republic Act 9003 which provides for the institutionalization of public participation in the development and implementation of integrated, comprehensive and ecological waste management programs. And the materialization of this program will be done through an ordinance to be approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

“Maybe this could be the first in the history of the entire Philippines. There were similar actions in Cebu and Baguio but those were only a resolution and an ordinary ordinance, respectively, which are not very comprehensive,” said Lyndofer V. Beup, municipal administrator of the municipality of Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

It was learned that the proposed ordinance shall cover all supermarkets, grocery stores, retail outlets or stores, other commercial stalls and entities in all areas in the municipality and household whose solid wastes are collected and disposed by the municipality.

Proposed ordinance also required all supermarkets, groceries and retail stores in the municipality to use packing/bagging materials prescribed by the municipal environment office through the office of the municipal administrator and bulky goods should be packed in paper boxes or cartoons and other biodegradable materials.

“Ambulant vendors shall no longer be allowed to sell any particular item within the municipal hall and other buildings of the municipal government using plastic cellophane wrappers or plastic sando bags; while goods sold in the municipal public market shall be packed only in biodegradable or environment friendly bagging containers; and shoppers or customers in the municipal public market is required to provide themselves with shopping bags and no individual establishment shall sell, retail or wholesale, plastic cellophane for use by consumers as bagging materials,” state the proposed ordinance.

Additionally, the proposed ordinance states that vendors, agents, or delivery men engaged in the sale of plastic cellophane bags shall not be allowed to sell or distribute the same, or unload or make any delivery of plastic cellophane or other similar items in any establishment in Santa Barbara. They could pass but will not be allowed to transact business and establishments that have previously printed or acquired volumes of materials will be given two months from the date of effectivity of the ordinance to utilize or dispose the same.
It was further learned that the proposed ordinance provides three exemptions wherein it allows business establishments engaged in the sale of ice, ice candy, ice water, and similar products to use plastic; allows the use of plastic cellophane in the retail packing of sugar, salt, coffee and milk; and allows consumer to use or carry plastic bags provided they shall establish that the bags are not issued by any vendor or establishment in the municipality but are being re-use by the consumer.

If approved and implemented, any vendor or business establishment who cannot comply with the provisions of the proposed ordinance shall pay P1, 000 for the first offense, P2, 000 for the second offense and P2, 500 and suspension of business permit for three months for the third offense; and for cancellation and non-renewal of business permit for habitual offenders. Also, anyone who violates Section 13 shall pay P1, 000 for the first offense, P2, 000 for the second offense, P2, 500 for the third offense. Each offender upon imposition of the proper penalty shall be given 15 days after the commission of the offense to comply with the proposed ordinance. Non-compliance after due notice has been served shall constitute the next provided offense.
On the part of any private individual who will violates the proposed ordinance, shall be required to render community service of not less than eight hours for each offense not to exceed three times, if he is not capable of paying the amount stated in Section 14 of the code but, he/she shall be required to pay P2, 000 for each succeeding offense in excess of the first three for which he rendered community service.

Proposed ordinance also states that the environmental office shall designate an “Environmental Police”, to conduct regular or on the spot inspection to determine compliance with the provisions and issues citation tickets against the violators.

“And municipal government shall encourage manufacturers of biodegradable packing/bagging materials to ensure adequate supply to be utilized as packing containers. It shall likewise encourage groups, organizations or associations to promote the non-use of plastic. It shall also provide a stamp that will be used to mark and monitor if shoppers are re-using plastic bags and shall maintain a database of all establishments that comply with the ordinance and initiate activities that would encourage non-use of plastics,” states further the proposed ordinance.

The municipal government of Santa Barbara under the leadership of Maquino hopes that the plan will push through because it is their responsibility to protect and take care of the environment.

Source: The ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1462&Itemid=137)

City councilors to visit Taiwan coal-fired plant
By Niña Jane A. Souribio

The City Council has been invited for a three-day trip in Taiwan this September sponsored by Formosa Heavy Industries Corporation (FHI), the mother company of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) which has signified its interest to put up a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.
In a letter signed by Feng-In Hong, FHI senior administrator dated August 24, FHI said the tour “would be most beneficial to your council in doing an actual inspection of our existing coal-fired power plants and fabrication-site shops on site.”

The three-day trip is scheduled on September 14-16.

All travel and on-site expenses will be shouldered by the company.
Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and several councilors will join the trip. Only Councilors Erwin Plagata, Perla Zulueta and Sangguniang Kabataan president Stevie Rey Abitang reportedly turned down the invitation.

The GBPC, one of the companies that invested $250 million to expand and to modernize the facilities of the Toledo Power Plant in Cebu, reportedly informed the City Council last August if coal-fired power plant will push through here, it would be a 100 megawatt plant.

Some 40MW of its load capacity will be reportedly continuously supplied to the city through the Panay Electric Company (PECO) to meet the city’s minimum needs, with the rest probably sold to electric cooperatives in Panay Island.

“I don’t have technical knowledge on it and we really need cheaper and sustainable power supply in the city. Of course, it should be environmental friendly. I can spend it on my own and if all I want to do is malagaw lagaw man lang tani sa iban nga lugar nga pungsod. Puro man lang factories sa Taiwan,” said Mabilog in a radio interview when asked about the issue.
However, Mabilog and other councilors probably could not leave the country as they have not yet finished their papers to be submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Public officials should be complete their papers subject for the approval of the DILG 10 days before a trip or else, they would declare it as a “personal trip.”


source: The ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1410&Itemid=137)

missing this thread na. I'll try to get more news this week. I'll try to catch up sa mga bagay-bagay. For the last 2 weeks, wala gid ko kabukas sang laptop ko sa kuwarto tungod sa kasakuon. But I'll catch more infos later. Cheers.

I'm back again after my two-week hibernation due to work.

Keep posting updates guys. Cheers.

Bienvenidos tambien a SSC!
:banana: :banana:

Bienvenidos tambien a SSC!
:banana: :banana:
Hello Bernie,

Hope they have your permission this time:

http://dailyinformer.info/images/stories/17%20sept.jpg

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/15/photos/45/500x500/7/P1130337.JPG?et=IOnGO3SoGhsgl72MO0X7KQ

^^dang! bernie, suki ka sang daily informer, lol

Hello Bernie,

Hope they have your permission this time:

http://dailyinformer.info/images/stories/17%20sept.jpg

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/15/photos/45/500x500/7/P1130337.JPG?et=IOnGO3SoGhsgl72MO0X7KQ

^^dang! bernie, suki ka sang daily informer, lol

I allowed them to use my pictures but we have some internal negotiations that we dealt. Amon na lang na, wahehehehe!!!! As long as they give me credits and have them ask permission to me, its not a problem.

But since I'll be back in Iloilo at October, I'll keep an eye on those local dailies and websites that will just copy and paste any of our pictures without our permission.

But toto bernie, are you sure they give you credit in print for that picture? I can see a barely readable text line below the lower right corner of the picture, could that be your name?

^^ That's the caption. I dont see his name anywhere on the front page. They probably credited bernie in a page where the editors and other staff have their names.

Is Miraflor Fasion Academy still open? The place looks worn out from the outside

^^ They have to or else...I already talked to them last time regarding that.

^^ I hope they do. I really have to praise you for that picture bern. It's outright beautiful!

^^ Its overexposed! Wahahahaha!!! :lol: GGinpangabudlayan namon na ni Chymera sa atup sang Days Hotel (thanks to Sir Bombette and J Scott Saria).

Anyway, any news sa Ratsada kag TV Patrol Iloilo? Mga wala bala gagwa sa mga local dailies ta?

Newly opened foodcourt at SM City
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7366/imgp2296sn9.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2296sn9.jpg)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2450/imgp2297ah4.jpg (http://img184.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2297ah4.jpg)

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8331/imgp2298zv4.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2298zv4.jpg)

I'm excited for this store to open at SM Delgado

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4484/imgp2291rj9.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2291rj9.jpg)

^^ Our first Goldilocks?! Is this really it? :banana:

OMG! :eek: Is that the foodcourt in SM City? I like it!

^^ Our first Goldilocks?! Is this really it? :banana:
Puro Goldilocks and nakapaskil sa windows eh.. so assume this is it!:banana:

^^ Yikes! Kristeta and James Yap invading Iloilo na! Wahehehe!! Deal or No Deal?! :lol:

Anyway, is it raining there in Iloilo quite often?

The city is soaked!
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4739/imgp2254ex1.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2254ex1.jpg)

Why is there always a shortage of jeepneys everytime it rains :?

^^Sosyal! SEAFDEC bus! :D

Its either they are slowing down or may tumirik.

Treñas elected to board of int’l body
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas was unanimously elected to sit in the executive board of the international organization of local governments on environment representing the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are very pleased that we were chosen to be part of the executive committee of the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) in the Asia-Pacific region,” Treñas told members of the City Hall Press Corps.

ICLEI is an international association local government organizations committed to sustainable development.

Its basic premise is that locally-designed initiatives can provide an effective and cost-efficient way to achieve local, national and global sustainability objectives.

The organization comprises more than 630 cities, towns, counties, and their associations worldwide comprise ICLEI's growing membership.

It provides technical consulting, training, and information services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local governments in the implementation of sustainable development at the local level.

Treñas is set to present his initiatives in this city in Jeju, Korea on October 26 to 29.

source: Panay Philippines News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo4.htm)

the newly-renovated SM City FoodCourt looks really grand. More stalls opening?

Goldilocks will be situated in SM Delgado? Nice. :cheers:

The city is soaked!
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4739/imgp2254ex1.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2254ex1.jpg)

Why is there always a shortage of jeepneys everytime it rains :?

siyempre, gapa nilong man sila kay basi mabasa.hehe

^^ why is there a shortage of jeepneys during rainy days? Cos tamad ang mga driver kag mahigku-an ila salakyan. he he. tuod man ina. :lol:

Fil-Estate to sell $25 million in bonds

FIL-ESTATE LAND, Inc. is selling up to $25 million in five-year convertible bonds to finance property projects in Cavite, Batangas, Metro Manila, and Iloilo, the Sobrepeña-led real estate developer announced yesterday.

Fil-Estate President Robert John L. Sobrepeña (right) talks to lawyer Ferdinand T. Santos during the company’s stockholders meeting last week.

The notes, half of which will be sold to foreign investors through private placement, will have an annual fixed rate of 4% and an intended yield-to-maturity of 14% in case holders do not convert them to new Fil-Estate shares within the five-year period.

In a statement, Robert John L. Sobrepeña, Fil-Estate chairman and chief executive officer, said the notes would "likely get converted into new capital stock once share prices rise beyond the agreed conversion rate."

Proceeds will be used for projects such as The Manila South-woods Phases 5 and 6, an upscale subdivision with a 36-hole golf course; the Sta. Barbara Heights subdivision in Iloilo City; and the Capitol Plaza, Central Park Place, Sto. Domingo Residential Tower, and Renaissance Towers in Metro Manila.

Part of the proceeds will also be used to finance Phases 1 and 2 of Fil-Estate’s projects in Nasugbu, Batangas: Forest Hills and Newport Hills, Mr. Sobrepeña said.

Lim Asia Arbitrage Fund, Inc. will be the original bondholder, while Lim Advisors Ltd. will serve as arranger. Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp.’s Trust Department will serve as trustee while Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc.’s Trust Banking Group will be the paying, transfer and conversion agent.

"Convertible bonds represent quasi-debt instruments that can be converted into the company’s shares of stocks within the specified conversion period," the company told the stock exchange.

The conversion rate is P1.50 per share, but still "subject to adjustments as prescribed in the Facility Agreement" for the bond issuance.

"The conversion rate of P1.50 per share represents a substantial premium (about 40%) over the current trading levels of [Fil-Estate] shares in the Philippine Stock Exchange," the company’s statement said.

A "greenshoe" provision allows Fil-Estate to issue additional notes under the same terms and condition within 2007 provided that the total notes issued do not exceed $25 million, the company said.

"We expect renewed acceleration of ongoing property development and the generation of project cash flows that will fuel further growth in [Fil-Estate’s] asset and profit profiles. These developments will certainly create added value to the Company, its shareholders, and other constituents," Mr. Sobrepeña said.

Fil-Estate has a 3,000-hectare land bank, of which it owns 2,000 hectares. The remaining 1,000 hectares are covered by joint ventures. It has a total of 11 residential projects within and outside Metro Manila.

Fil-Estate is developing the 731-hectare Twin Lakes, a residential project in Batangas, with Andrew Tan’s Megaworld Corp. — Lovely Nica P. Lee

^^ ^^ it's the Sta. Barbara Residential and Golf Estates they are talking about. A joint project of Fil Estate and Megaworld.

Don’t turn plazas into
public markets – priests

By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY


http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/images07/081307/front%20pic.jpg
ILOILO City – Parish priests in the metropolis urged the city government to prohibit the use of public plazas and other public places by vendors and other fiesta-related businesses such bars.

The priests noted that during fiestas, public plazas are transformed “into a market place” and become “source(s) of noise pollution.”

Mayor Jerry Treñas vowed to look into the priests’ concerns.

“Although we agree that the cleanliness and beauty of our plazas should be maintained … we should also look for a win-win solution. Unlike in other highly urbanizes cities, we continue to have ferias as part of our culture,” Treñas told reporters.

According to the clerics, the noise “intervenes during worship” and that kiosks and stalls that serve alcoholic drinks are very close to religious and educational establishments.

Treñas suggested that the association of barangay captains coordinate with parish priests to “come up with a win-win situation in every district … for us to protect our plazas.”

A total of 27 parish priests signed a petition that also observed that “the enclosure of the plaza leads to proliferation and unhygienic practices for lack of public restrooms enough for the number of people gathered and enclosed.”

“The serving of alcoholic drinks and gambling establishments are prohibited in areas to a certain distance from the churches and schools. We are only requesting the implementation of these ordinances,” the petition further read.

The parish priests lamented that “whatever beautification the city or community has done to our plazas are damaged by such events.”

In this city, all fiesta celebrations are traditionally held in public plazas.

“It is okay if we could look for an alternative place…(but) where shall we situate the festivity?” Treñas asked.:)

2007 national literacy conference set

by Glenrose

Iloilo City — The Department of Education (DepEd) through the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) invites all government and non-government practitioners including those from the academe and private sectors that implement literacy or continuing education programs to the 2007 National Literacy Conference.

The three-day event in line with the celebration of the Annual Literacy Week will be held on September 19-21, 2007 at the Grand Boulevard Hotel, Manila.

The conference aims to recognize the critical link between functional literacy and health status towards a healthy Philippines; identify health policies and programs that address health literacy needs of the population; and serve as a venue for sharing experiences among government and non-government organizations and the public in literacy skills development and health literacy efforts.

Registration for this live-in conference will be on September 19, 2007 from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The registration fee is P5,000.00 which entitles participant to the accommodation, meals, workshop hand-outs and materials. Meals shall be served starting lunch on September 19, 2007.

However, the transportation and other incidental expenses of participants shall be charged to respective local agency fund.

Those who are interested to attend the conference may inquire to Dr. Norma Salcedo, Head-LCC Secretariat thru telefax nos. 631-0590/631-0579 and 631-0657.

“Functional Literacy for All: To Live and Long and Live Well in a Healthy Philippines” is the theme of this year’s conference. (PIA):)

IRR for development of Iloilo River 90 percent complete

By Glenrose

ILOILO CITY, The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the proper utilization and development of Iloilo River is about 90 percent completed with the Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC).

IRDC executive director Engr. Noel Hechanova said the members of the council met last week to discuss the final phase of the IRR.

The city government trained its eye on rehabilitating the 25-kilometer stretch river, traversing the city’s 35 barangays with around 48,000 residents living in the surrounding areas.

Hechanova said there is a great need for the city to salvage the river, noting that the river is the lone natural sewage for the entire city.

Iloilo River is where Iloilo City got its name and has been a source of livelihood for thousands of city residents.

Likewise, the city, through an ordinance, is eyeing the possibility of making it an alternative route through the establishment of a ferry system.

“One thing that we should be proud of is that 27 of the 33 mangrove species can be found at the Iloilo River,” he said. (PNA):)