http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/24/city.hall.demolished_tn.jpg
Days from now the old Iloilo City Hall building will turn into rubble, eventually giving way for the construction of a high-rise, modern building.

THey consider a 9 storey building a high rise?

Capitol kicks off '08 expense at P1 billion mark
By Florence F. Hibionada

The Province of Iloilo is off to start its operations in 2008 with a planned Executive Budget of over P1 billion.

The amount is some P114 million more from this year's initial Capitol expense fund then pegged at P973, 198,797.00. The increase will be in Personal Services expenditures and the Capitol's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).

Governor Niel Tupas in a letter sent to the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) is seeking for "legislative consideration" and corresponding approval.

Total amount as stated is P1,087,843,625.00 broken down into P515,662,238.00 for Personal Services, MOOE of P294,634,280.00 and Capital Outlay of P44,950,000.00

This year's Capital Outlay was only at the P6.9 million mark or some P38 million for more next year.

Entered as first "business for first reading" in today's provincial matters, the governor's letter and corresponding approval request is expected to be referred to the SP Committee on Appropriations.

Further still is 2008 budgetary requirements of over P176 million in Capitol's development fund, nearly P55 million in calamity fund and aid to barangay of P1.7 million.

At present, the Capitol is also on a P1.1 billion mark with the P973 million 2007 Executive Budget augmented by P138 million in supplemental budget. The latest P23.8 million supplemental budget still hangs though pending final nod of the SP body.

CPU, PRDC, DOST to sponsor
1st transport packaging confab

ILOILO City – The Central Philippine University (CPU), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - 6 and its ITDI, Packaging Research and Development Center, will hold the First National Conference on Transport Packaging in the Philippines on November 13 to 14 2007 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

Under the theme “Increasing the Market Opportunity for Philippine Products through Efficient and Protective Transport Packaging Systems in the Distribution Chain”, the conference envisions to let the country’s major industry players understand the important role of transport packaging in making their products globally competitive.

The conference includes topics on basic aspects of transport packaging, testing, and best practices of the other countries, standards, and cost effectiveness of appropriate transport packaging design. Notable speakers from the USA and Japan will speak on transport packaging for the two-day conference.

The speakers are: Lejo C. Braña, a Filipino packaging professional and G. Packaging technology Partners Inc. president; Eric Joneson, vice president of Marketing & Business Development for the Lansmont Corp. and executive vice president for International Safe Transit Association (ISTA); William “Bill” Kipp, associate executive director for ISTA; William J. Rehring, president of TOPS Engineering Coporation Texas, USA; and Brian E. Tudor, director for Packaging Engineering of Williams-Sonoma Inc. in Florida, USA.

To be conducted in English, it is intended for company owners, technical managers, packaging practitioners, packaging engineers, and quality control officers, production managers, forwarding companies, government units involved in packaging services, private laboratories and engineering students.

Registration fee is P5,000 that includes conference materials, snacks, lunch and a welcome dinner. Check payment should be payable to the Industrial Research Foundation (IRF).

For further information and reservation, you may contact the following: Engr. Dany Molina, CPU - College of Engineering Dean (3291971 loc 1084); Jonan Castillon, CPU executive secretary (3203824); or Ms. Pinky Loberiano and Ms. Marlut Angsanto, PRDC (837-7530 or 837-2071 to 77 local 2271).

Some clarifications...

Biofuels are not suitable for power generation at the moment and even in the next 50 years. Even in countries where biofuel is already mass produced, production plants can't produce as much to meet the demand of a power generation plant.

It can only be used as fuel or fuel additive for vehicles (such as gasoline that contains a certain % of ethanol). It can also serve as the power source of a small plant or the ethanol-producing plant itself (i.e. the product fuelling the plant that produces it).

Time Magazine's October 29 issue has a list of "Heroes of the Environment". One of them who made it on the list is Brazil's Jose Goldemberg who paved the way in launching Brazil biofuel technology and later the world.

Here's the full article:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Jose Goldemberg

Today, when American farmers are enjoting the benefits of ethanol subsidies, it's easy to forget that the idea of fueling an economy through a plant rather than petroleum was once a fringe notion. But Jose Goldemberg remembers. In 1975 his native Brazil was buffeted by the international oil shock. As much out of desperation as anything else, the Brazilian government launched a crash program to develop a viable alternative to gasoline. Three years later Goldemberg, then a nuclear physicist at the University of Sao Paolo, co-authored a paper in the journal Science that showed the world what Brazil had discovered: that it's both possible and profitable to harvest a clean and renewable fuel, ethanol, from the country's abundant sugarcane.

"That [paper] was my contribution," says the 79-year-old Goldemberg, who today sits on the board of the Sustainable Energy Institute in Washington. "I pointed out that sugarcane was not just a product but a fuel - and not a fossil fuel. What I did was make people feel assured that this was the way to go."

Brazil has continued down that path. Today the country is the global pioneer in biofuels. Brazilian gasoline contains 25% ethanol, and two thirds of all new cars produced there are flex-fuel models that run on anything from conventional gas to pure ethanol. Not only has the shift reduced air pollution in Brazil's major cities - ethanol runs much cleaner than gasoline - but biofuels help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well. Burning ethanol releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but growing the plants absorbs a comparable amount of the gas. Ethanol has reduced the country's carbon emissions by 46.6 million tons annually - 20% of its total carbon footprint.

Biofuels are far from ideal. If the industry expands too quickly - a real risk, given the current boom - it could worsen deforestation and erase the environmental and social gains biofuels offer. Too much of a good thing can be deadly, as Goldemberg knows. After helping to run the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio as the country's interim Environment Minister, Goldemberg played an integral role in convincing Brazil to abandon its effort to build atomic weapons. This concern about humanity's destructive potential continues to inform his environmental work. "People are becoming aware that we have become an ecological force," he says. "We've realized that we represent a real threat, and therefore people will tend to be more careful."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

We have to be realistic. We just can't replace coal with, or even use it alongside biofuels, to generate power.... not in the immediate future.

^^ By the way, a Filipino also made it on the list. He's Von Hernandez who led a relentless campaign in 1999 to make the Philippines as the first nation in the world to ban waste incineration.

Some clarifications...

Biofuels are not suitable for power generation at the moment and even in the next 50 years. Even in countries where biofuel is already mass produced, production plants can't produce as much to meet the demand of a power generation plant.

It can only be used as fuel or fuel additive for vehicles (such as gasoline that contains a certain % of ethanol). It can also serve as the power source of a small plant or the ethanol-producing plant itself (i.e. the product fuelling the plant that produces it).

Time Magazine's October 29 issue has a list of "Heroes of the Environment". One of them who made it on the list is Brazil's Jose Goldemberg who paved the way in launching Brazil biofuel technology and later the world.

Here's the full article:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Jose Goldemberg

Today, when American farmers are enjoting the benefits of ethanol subsidies, it's easy to forget that the idea of fueling an economy through a plant rather than petroleum was once a fringe notion. But Jose Goldemberg remembers. In 1975 his native Brazil was buffeted by the international oil shock. As much out of desperation as anything else, the Brazilian government launched a crash program to develop a viable alternative to gasoline. Three years later Goldemberg, then a nuclear physicist at the University of Sao Paolo, co-authored a paper in the journal Science that showed the world what Brazil had discovered: that it's both possible and profitable to harvest a clean and renewable fuel, ethanol, from the country's abundant sugarcane.

"That [paper] was my contribution," says the 79-year-old Goldemberg, who today sits on the board of the Sustainable Energy Institute in Washington. "I pointed out that sugarcane was not just a product but a fuel - and not a fossil fuel. What I did was make people feel assured that this was the way to go."

Brazil has continued down that path. Today the country is the global pioneer in biofuels. Brazilian gasoline contains 25% ethanol, and two thirds of all new cars produced there are flex-fuel models that run on anything from conventional gas to pure ethanol. Not only has the shift reduced air pollution in Brazil's major cities - ethanol runs much cleaner than gasoline - but biofuels help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well. Burning ethanol releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but growing the plants absorbs a comparable amount of the gas. Ethanol has reduced the country's carbon emissions by 46.6 million tons annually - 20% of its total carbon footprint.

Biofuels are far from ideal. If the industry expands too quickly - a real risk, given the current boom - it could worsen deforestation and erase the environmental and social gains biofuels offer. Too much of a good thing can be deadly, as Goldemberg knows. After helping to run the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio as the country's interim Environment Minister, Goldemberg played an integral role in convincing Brazil to abandon its effort to build atomic weapons. This concern about humanity's destructive potential continues to inform his environmental work. "People are becoming aware that we have become an ecological force," he says. "We've realized that we represent a real threat, and therefore people will tend to be more careful."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

We have to be realistic. We just can't replace coal with, or even use it alongside biofuels, to generate power.... not in the immediate future.

Interesting. Still voting for nuclear. :lol:

I'll be going to the Philippines this January and Iloilo is one of my stops. I'm excited to see the new airport of course, but I wonder what we can do around Iloilo and places to see. Too bad I will miss the Dinagyang festival by about a week.

Some clarifications...

Biofuels are not suitable for power generation at the moment and even in the next 50 years. Even in countries where biofuel is already mass produced, production plants can't produce as much to meet the demand of a power generation plant.

It can only be used as fuel or fuel additive for vehicles (such as gasoline that contains a certain % of ethanol). It can also serve as the power source of a small plant or the ethanol-producing plant itself (i.e. the product fuelling the plant that produces it).

Time Magazine's October 29 issue has a list of "Heroes of the Environment". One of them who made it on the list is Brazil's Jose Goldemberg who paved the way in launching Brazil biofuel technology and later the world.

Here's the full article:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Jose Goldemberg

Today, when American farmers are enjoting the benefits of ethanol subsidies, it's easy to forget that the idea of fueling an economy through a plant rather than petroleum was once a fringe notion. But Jose Goldemberg remembers. In 1975 his native Brazil was buffeted by the international oil shock. As much out of desperation as anything else, the Brazilian government launched a crash program to develop a viable alternative to gasoline. Three years later Goldemberg, then a nuclear physicist at the University of Sao Paolo, co-authored a paper in the journal Science that showed the world what Brazil had discovered: that it's both possible and profitable to harvest a clean and renewable fuel, ethanol, from the country's abundant sugarcane.

"That [paper] was my contribution," says the 79-year-old Goldemberg, who today sits on the board of the Sustainable Energy Institute in Washington. "I pointed out that sugarcane was not just a product but a fuel - and not a fossil fuel. What I did was make people feel assured that this was the way to go."

Brazil has continued down that path. Today the country is the global pioneer in biofuels. Brazilian gasoline contains 25% ethanol, and two thirds of all new cars produced there are flex-fuel models that run on anything from conventional gas to pure ethanol. Not only has the shift reduced air pollution in Brazil's major cities - ethanol runs much cleaner than gasoline - but biofuels help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well. Burning ethanol releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but growing the plants absorbs a comparable amount of the gas. Ethanol has reduced the country's carbon emissions by 46.6 million tons annually - 20% of its total carbon footprint.

Biofuels are far from ideal. If the industry expands too quickly - a real risk, given the current boom - it could worsen deforestation and erase the environmental and social gains biofuels offer. Too much of a good thing can be deadly, as Goldemberg knows. After helping to run the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio as the country's interim Environment Minister, Goldemberg played an integral role in convincing Brazil to abandon its effort to build atomic weapons. This concern about humanity's destructive potential continues to inform his environmental work. "People are becoming aware that we have become an ecological force," he says. "We've realized that we represent a real threat, and therefore people will tend to be more careful."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

We have to be realistic. We just can't replace coal with, or even use it alongside biofuels, to generate power.... not in the immediate future.

^^clean coal yes. i still beleive coal can be replaced , though the technology(Biofuel,etc)is probably still in its infancy. In Brazil, Biofuel is used for vehicles. there cars have "flex" technology w/c is able to use this form of fuel to power vehicles,helping greatly in dependence to oil, and helping also the environment, Although its (Biofuel) not used for power generation its a great help to the economy. Now, since we need a reliable form of power and the need is immediate, then Coal,seems to be the obvious choice. Its enviromental effect though is still very significant since its releasing all that pollution in the atmosphere, contributing to climate changes.Nuclear power should also be considered, its very reliable and its waste can be more managed locally rather than releasing it in the air. Here's hoping that our choices will be beneficial to our city,province and environment.

I'll be going to the Philippines this January and Iloilo is one of my stops. I'm excited to see the new airport of course, but I wonder what we can do around Iloilo and places to see. Too bad I will miss the Dinagyang festival by about a week.

Iloilo based forumers can tour you around the city and the nearby surroundings like Guimaras.

Interesting. Still voting for nuclear. :lol:
aye for nuclear as well. But how? And when?

I'll be going to the Philippines this January and Iloilo is one of my stops. I'm excited to see the new airport of course, but I wonder what we can do around Iloilo and places to see. Too bad I will miss the Dinagyang festival by about a week.

I hope you'll enjoy your trip to Iloilo, flymordecai. There's a lot of places to go when in Iloilo - heritage (churches all over Iloilo province), grand old mansions of Jaro, beaches (northern and southern Iloilo province), etc. Why not drop by DOT Regional Office in Bonifacio Drive to collect brochures for Iloilo. Also, there's a tour bus/van if you want to visit districts of the city. Another option is Guimaras. Very, very nice. It's serene and genteel and white sand.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/90/500x500/2/IMGP1008.JPG?et=hedACnpAwR5DSRH98guo%2BA

Just curious, what is the gameplan if a car broke down or an accident occurs here or on the overpass??? Are they going to widen the roads below or will it stay that way? it looks more like a bottleneck than a solution to the city's traffic woes. can someone confirm if they're going to widen the roads below the overpass? thanks.

^^clean coal yes. i still beleive coal can be replaced , though the technology(Biofuel,etc)is probably still in its infancy. In Brazil, Biofuel is used for vehicles. there cars have "flex" technology w/c is able to use this form of fuel to power vehicles,helping greatly in dependence to oil, and helping also the environment, Although its (Biofuel) not used for power generation its a great help to the economy. Now, since we need a reliable form of power and the need is immediate, then Coal,seems to be the obvious choice. Its enviromental effect though is still very significant since its releasing all that pollution in the atmosphere, contributing to climate changes.Nuclear power should also be considered, its very reliable and its waste can be more managed locally rather than releasing it in the air. Here's hoping that our choices will be beneficial to our city,province and environment.
right now, it's still not viable but who knows in the future. However, we are having a problem at present and we can not hold the progress for the future unless we want to be in status quo. As for me, I don't mind what kind of environment propositions they'll have in the future BUT they need to address the problem NOW. Now is the time and not in next 20-30 years. Or we will all be groping in the dark should our power problem not be addressed immediately. And that's why I am not amenable to RISE stands.

Iloilo based forumers can tour you around the city and the nearby surroundings like Guimaras.
that right. Fly, you can always keep in touch with Iloilo-based forumers. They'll surely give you a good tour or walk you through to best sights in the city. Otherwise, visit Chymera's www.exploreiloilo.com for more info. Cheers.

Iloilo hosts conference
on history, heritage

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas invited the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission (MHHC) to participate in the conference on “Philippine Towns & Cities: Reflections of the Past, Lessons for the Future.”

The MHHC will be represented by Gemma Cruz Araneta, erstwhile Secretary of Tourism, now consultant for cultural affairs of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Iloilo is known as the heritage capital of the Visayas, and Treñas is a heritage advocate and active member of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS).

This is the second in the series of “Towns & Cities” conferences organized by the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) in cooperation with Urban Partnerships Foundation (UPF). The Instituto Cervantes (IC) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are among the sponsors.

“Towns & Cities” will be on November 9 at the Kalantiao Hall of the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

Local government officials, heritage advocates from the private sector, university students and professors will attend the conference. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.; the conference is expected to adjourn at 5 p.m.

The “Mayors’ Forum” is one of the features of the conference. It will be an exchange of “best practices” and conservation policies by mayors who have heritage resources in their towns and cities.

In the 2006 Forum, Mayors Ferdinand Medina (Vigan) and Oscar Rodriguez (San Fernando, Pampanga) explained how they approved city ordinances to balance modernization with heritage conservation.

Mayor Rex Bernardez of Bucay, Abra, a heritage “convert”, vowed to protect with proper legislation the ruins of a Spanish fort in Bucay.

Treñas will lead his colleagues in this year’s forum. Those who have confirmed attendance are Mayors Danilo Mindanao (San Juan, Batangas), Rosauro Masilang (Sariaya, Quezon), Jose Montelibano (Silay), Oscar Tetongco, Jr. (Apalit), Canuto Oreta (Malabon) and Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga)

Seven case studies will be presented by: Engr. Jose Peñalosa (Iloilo), Profs. Floro Quibuyen (Apalit), Icelle Estrada (Zamboanga), Victoria de Villa (Sariaya) and Jaime Veneracion (19th Century Estates), and Architects Leon Mayo (San Juan), Nathaniel von Einsiedel (Silay) and Richard Bautista (Malabon and Navotas).

Built heritage resources, like those located on Iloilo City’s Calle Real, should not be demolished in the name of progress. Wanton real estate speculation and over-construction are often mistaken for modernization when in fact these exert devastating pressure on the historic and cultural core of our towns and cities. When given adaptive re-use, heritage buildings can generate revenue and spark economic revitalization of the city.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras3.htm)

Iloilo – festival capital of RP?
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said the city government is moving for Iloilo City to be proclaimed as the country’s “festival capital.”

Dinagyang Festival was recently declared the best tourism event in the Philippines by the Association of Tourism Operators in the Philippines (ATOP). It held the same title last year.

ATOP also chose Iloilo City’s Paraw Regatta Festival as the third best tourism event in the Philippines.

“We will urge the Tourism Secretary to initiate a Cabinet resolution (for the City of Iloilo be declared as the country’s tourism capital) to substantiate our claim,” Jimena told Panay News.

Jimena said his office will write the letter to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, endorsed by Mayor Jerry Treñas and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“(The declaration) would attract more people to visit Iloilo City,” said Jimena.

Jimena noted that Dinagyang has sustained the tourists’ interest through all its years of existence.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras4.htm)

1st national conference on transport packaging in Iloilo

THE Packaging R & D Center of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology-6 and the Central Philippine University (CPU) will hold the first ever National Conference on Transport Packaging in the Philippines.

The conference will be held Nov. 13-14 at the Boracay Ballroom Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, General Luna St., Iloilo City

“Increasing the Market Opportunity for Philippine Products through Efficient and Protective Transport Packaging Systems in the Distribution Chain” is the theme of the conference which aims to provide players with an understanding on the important role of transport packaging in making their products globally competitive.

The conference is intended for company owners, technical managers, packaging practitioners, packaging engineers, quality control officers, production managers, forwarding companies, government units involved in packaging services, private laboratories, and engineering students.

It aims to be a major packaging event in the Philippines because of the range of topics included in the program, and with invited speakers known for their expertise worldwide.

The program includes topics on basic aspects of transport packaging, testing, best practices of the other countries, standards, and cost effectiveness of appropriate transport packaging design.

The speakers are Lejo C. Braña, President of G… Packaging Technology Partners, Inc., Eric Joneson, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for the Lansmont Corporation, and also the Executive Vice President for International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), William ‘Bill’ Kipp, Associate Executive Director for ISTA, William J. Rehring, President of TOPS Engineering Corporation, Texas, USA, Brian E. Tudor, is the Director for Packaging Engineering of Williams-Sanoma, Inc. Florida, USA, and Susumu Umeda, Chief of Packaging Information Center, Shizuoka Oji Container Co., LTD, and currently the Japanese Expert for the JICA Project of the PRDC.

Registration forms are now available at DOST VI Magsaysay Village, La Paz, Iloilo City.

A registration fee of P5,000 inclusive of conference materials, snacks and lunch and welcome dinner will be charged each participant.

Check payment should be payable to the Industrial Research Foundation (IRF).

Interested participants in other provinces may also inquire at our respective Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTCs).

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

Too MANY Conferences and Seminars happening in the city...Boom time!

Yes. And that's a very good indication of an improving tourism, safety and economy of the city. Iloilo is slowly turning into the Convention Center of the future. Just keep promoting. :banana::banana:

1st national conference on transport packaging in Iloilo

THE Packaging R & D Center of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology-6 and the Central Philippine University (CPU) will hold the first ever National Conference on Transport Packaging in the Philippines.

The conference will be held Nov. 13-14 at the Boracay Ballroom Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, General Luna St., Iloilo City

“Increasing the Market Opportunity for Philippine Products through Efficient and Protective Transport Packaging Systems in the Distribution Chain” is the theme of the conference which aims to provide players with an understanding on the important role of transport packaging in making their products globally competitive.

The conference is intended for company owners, technical managers, packaging practitioners, packaging engineers, quality control officers, production managers, forwarding companies, government units involved in packaging services, private laboratories, and engineering students.

It aims to be a major packaging event in the Philippines because of the range of topics included in the program, and with invited speakers known for their expertise worldwide.

The program includes topics on basic aspects of transport packaging, testing, best practices of the other countries, standards, and cost effectiveness of appropriate transport packaging design.

The speakers are Lejo C. Braña, President of G… Packaging Technology Partners, Inc., Eric Joneson, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for the Lansmont Corporation, and also the Executive Vice President for International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), William ‘Bill’ Kipp, Associate Executive Director for ISTA, William J. Rehring, President of TOPS Engineering Corporation, Texas, USA, Brian E. Tudor, is the Director for Packaging Engineering of Williams-Sanoma, Inc. Florida, USA, and Susumu Umeda, Chief of Packaging Information Center, Shizuoka Oji Container Co., LTD, and currently the Japanese Expert for the JICA Project of the PRDC.

Registration forms are now available at DOST VI Magsaysay Village, La Paz, Iloilo City.

A registration fee of P5,000 inclusive of conference materials, snacks and lunch and welcome dinner will be charged each participant.

Check payment should be payable to the Industrial Research Foundation (IRF).

Interested participants in other provinces may also inquire at our respective Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTCs).

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

FUN FACT: During our Job's Fair, CPU's Packaging College was the first in the country. :cheers:

^^ definitely, the first in the country, iloilocitykid. It's the 3rd course CPU offers that is first and forerunner in the country - first is Nursing, then ECE and now Packaging Engineering.

Please visit our new threads in Projects and Proposals and don't hesitate to post information, articles, pictures, etc.

THE NEW CITY HALL OF ILOILO CITY
SANTA BARBARA RESIDENTIAL AND GOLD ESTATE

New Iloilo airport will compete with Cebu

Iloilo Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. said that the inauguration of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) could spur Iloilo's economic growth and that it could already compete with Cebu City in the next five years.

Tupas said there are already two big companies based in Saudi Arabia that approached him for possible investments in the province.

The governor said that the companies are eyeing to put up factories for mango preservation that would be exported to Saudi Arabia.

"We can realize this once we have direct international flights," he said.
The province of Iloilo could also promote its tourist destinations like the oldest Golf Course in Asia located in Sta. Barbara town, where the NIADP is going to be inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday.

"Golfers from Hong Kong could just fly to play golf in Sta. Barbara," Tupas said.

The NIADP, however, will initially accommodate domestic flights of the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. It is expected that the airport can later accommodate special flights because of its international standard quality.

The airport has an initial construction cost of P6.2 billion, which came from a loan with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and a counterpart fund from the Philippine government. (PNA)

source: The Philippine Builder Resource (http://www.philippine-builder.com/component/option,com_alphacontent/task,view/id,76/Itemid,7/)

Iloilo folk say Dinagyang color is black brown
By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – It’s brown black and from all indications, the color must be the skin color of Dinagyang ati-atihan warriors and dancers during this city’s premier tourist attraction in January 2008.

A public hearing was conducted Oct. 24 at the SP conference to allow representatives of all sectors to ventilate their views regarding the change of skin color of Dinagyang dancers from ebony black to dark brown.

Ben Jimena, city tourism officer and Dinagyang Festival executive director said the festival has already reached up to a certain point where the community here has a sense of belonging and ownership of Dinagyang.

It might be a trivia issue but residents here will hear nothing about non-participation in the Dinagyang consultation, Jimena said.

The proposed change of color caused an uproar for the past two weeks in this city that prompted Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to order a public hearing in a move to settle the issue once and for all.

The public hearing was participated in by various local historians, anthropologists, members of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), the local media and ati-atihan groups involved in the total festival.

The hearing was highlighted by the presence of brown black dancers of the Atub-Atub Tribe who earlier entertained more than 200 marine scientist participants to a national convention held at Punta Villa Resort here.

Jimena said that the IDFI is planning to submit a resolution to the city council and the provincial board by asking a resolution of recognition from the Department of Tourism be bestowed upon the Dinagyang Festival as the top tourism event of the country and Iloilo as the festival capital of the Philippines.

The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) recognition voted Dinagyang Festival as the top tourism event during its national convention held in Camarines Sur recently.

The ATOP recognition is of two years succession, from 2006 to 2007 and has also recognized the Iloilo Paraw Regatta, another local festival here, as the third top tourism event in the country.

Similarly, the province of Iloilo and its 42 municipalities and one component city, has its yearly festival that draws local and foreign tourists in the province from January to December.

source: Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071025106791.html)

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I will enjoy my time in Iloilo if the people there are like you guys. :)

It really looks like Iloilo is becoming one of the major cities of the Philippines. We could have four big metropolitan centers each covering the four cardinal points on the compass, North - Metro Manila, West - Metro Iloilo, East - Metro Cebu, and South - Metro Davao. :D

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!

Ei collin! Halong lang da ah! :D

You forgot Software Engineering...pioneer ang cpu sini sa bilog nga Pilipinas :)

^^ definitely, the first in the country, iloilocitykid. It's the 3rd course CPU offers that is first and forerunner in the country - first is Nursing, then ECE and now Packaging Engineering.

If these developments will be established and future developments will be sustained, in 20+/-5 years, Iloilo will be embarking the era of her second golden age. Am I seeing history repeating herself?

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!

be safe always collin! halong!

Capitol kicks off '08 expense at P1 billion mark
By Florence F. Hibionada

The Province of Iloilo is off to start its operations in 2008 with a planned Executive Budget of over P1 billion.

The amount is some P114 million more from this year's initial Capitol expense fund then pegged at P973, 198,797.00. The increase will be in Personal Services expenditures and the Capitol's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).

At present, the Capitol is also on a P1.1 billion mark with the P973 million 2007 Executive Budget augmented by P138 million in supplemental budget. The latest P23.8 million supplemental budget still hangs though pending final nod of the SP body.

>>>>>WOW! After the City the Province is following the "BILLIONAIRE's CIRCLE" very good indicator indeed for a sustained growth in the economy of ILOILO as a whole. :cheers:

CPU, PRDC, DOST to sponsor
1st transport packaging confab

ILOILO City – The Central Philippine University (CPU), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - 6 and its ITDI, Packaging Research and Development Center, will hold the First National Conference on Transport Packaging in the Philippines on November 13 to 14 2007 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

For further information and reservation, you may contact the following: Engr. Dany Molina, CPU - College of Engineering Dean (3291971 loc 1084); Jonan Castillon, CPU executive secretary (3203824); or Ms. Pinky Loberiano and Ms. Marlut Angsanto, PRDC (837-7530 or 837-2071 to 77 local 2271).

>>>> Very nice ILOILO is Trailblazing in other aspects as well like Research.

Iloilo hosts conference
on history, heritage

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas invited the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission (MHHC) to participate in the conference on “Philippine Towns & Cities: Reflections of the Past, Lessons for the Future.”

The MHHC will be represented by Gemma Cruz Araneta, erstwhile Secretary of Tourism, now consultant for cultural affairs of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Iloilo is known as the heritage capital of the Visayas, and Treñas is a heritage advocate and active member of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS).

Built heritage resources, like those located on Iloilo City’s Calle Real, should not be demolished in the name of progress. Wanton real estate speculation and over-construction are often mistaken for modernization when in fact these exert devastating pressure on the historic and cultural core of our towns and cities. When given adaptive re-use, heritage buildings can generate revenue and spark economic revitalization of the city.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras3.htm)

>>>>> NOt just research but HISTORY and HERITAGE as WELL! Go go go ILOILO! :D :cheers:

Iloilo – festival capital of RP?
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said the city government is moving for Iloilo City to be proclaimed as the country’s “festival capital.”

Dinagyang Festival was recently declared the best tourism event in the Philippines by the Association of Tourism Operators in the Philippines (ATOP). It held the same title last year.

ATOP also chose Iloilo City’s Paraw Regatta Festival as the third best tourism event in the Philippines.

“We will urge the Tourism Secretary to initiate a Cabinet resolution (for the City of Iloilo be declared as the country’s tourism capital) to substantiate our claim,” Jimena told Panay News.

Jimena said his office will write the letter to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, endorsed by Mayor Jerry Treñas and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“(The declaration) would attract more people to visit Iloilo City,” said Jimena.

Jimena noted that Dinagyang has sustained the tourists’ interest through all its years of existence.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras4.htm)

GO GO GO ILOILO! Another CROWN for US! Hopefully this will push thru! :cheers:

1st national conference on transport packaging in Iloilo

THE Packaging R & D Center of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology-6 and the Central Philippine University (CPU) will hold the first ever National Conference on Transport Packaging in the Philippines.


source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

>>>> Nice one! :cheers:

Iloilo folk say Dinagyang color is black brown
By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – It’s brown black and from all indications, the color must be the skin color of Dinagyang ati-atihan warriors and dancers during this city’s premier tourist attraction in January 2008.

A public hearing was conducted Oct. 24 at the SP conference to allow representatives of all sectors to ventilate their views regarding the change of skin color of Dinagyang dancers from ebony black to dark brown.

Ben Jimena, city tourism officer and Dinagyang Festival executive director said the festival has already reached up to a certain point where the community here has a sense of belonging and ownership of Dinagyang.

It might be a trivia issue but residents here will hear nothing about non-participation in the Dinagyang consultation, Jimena said.

The proposed change of color caused an uproar for the past two weeks in this city that prompted Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to order a public hearing in a move to settle the issue once and for all.

The public hearing was participated in by various local historians, anthropologists, members of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), the local media and ati-atihan groups involved in the total festival.

The hearing was highlighted by the presence of brown black dancers of the Atub-Atub Tribe who earlier entertained more than 200 marine scientist participants to a national convention held at Punta Villa Resort here.

Jimena said that the IDFI is planning to submit a resolution to the city council and the provincial board by asking a resolution of recognition from the Department of Tourism be bestowed upon the Dinagyang Festival as the top tourism event of the country and Iloilo as the festival capital of the Philippines.

The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) recognition voted Dinagyang Festival as the top tourism event during its national convention held in Camarines Sur recently.

The ATOP recognition is of two years succession, from 2006 to 2007 and has also recognized the Iloilo Paraw Regatta, another local festival here, as the third top tourism event in the country.

Similarly, the province of Iloilo and its 42 municipalities and one component city, has its yearly festival that draws local and foreign tourists in the province from January to December.

source: Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071025106791.html)

>>>>GREAT NEWS! YES I'll go for BROWN-BLACK! Go go go!

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!

YUp, might be expensive BUT GLOBE GPRS is real FAST! the best wap site so far for RP. Halong da Pre ah. Email saved hehehe. Hidalw man kami di sa mga updates (esp insinde INFOs) mo kag pics... SO far mayo man kay ara na base ni BErns sa ILOILO so... we have "news" before ma print/broadcasts sa media hehehe
Wis you safe Journey and Blessed be! :)

^^ Uhhh...To all my fellow Ilonggo forumers, let's save our sanity. Do not talk to trolls.

Yup! Amen to that! I find them cowards as well. I mean why use a different username? Bastosan? hehehe tsk tsk tsk :lol:

any more updates here?

Yup, Im waiting updates from Space as well. :)

New Nes and Tat's Restaurant just across Pier 16
funded by Queenbank

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/1739933960_dc45fd8204.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/1739071483_05d88fdbd0.jpg?v=0

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!
halong lang Noy. After work, always take time for yourself. We'll keep you updated here regarding Iloilo's development and we'll keep in touch with you thru a PM. Goodluck and Godbless.

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I will enjoy my time in Iloilo if the people there are like you guys. :)

It really looks like Iloilo is becoming one of the major cities of the Philippines. We could have four big metropolitan centers each covering the four cardinal points on the compass, North - Metro Manila, West - Metro Iloilo, East - Metro Cebu, and South - Metro Davao. :D
It's still too early but Iloilo is working for it. Right now, the boundaries between metrotowns are still apparent. Once developments start to creep in, definitely Iloilo will be another metro player in the country. Right now, we are just enjoying what's happening in Iloilo's economy. I'm sure more surprises will be up in few month's time.

Onward to Finland

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/24/onward.2.finland.2.jpg http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/24/signing.jpg http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/24/consul.jpg

Another opportunity for Filipinos has come when Finland has started to accept migrant workers there. With the opening of Filscandia Recruitment and Manpower Services, Inc. in Iloilo City, Ilonggo nurses are assured of employment in this country.

"This signals a beginning of fresh opportunities for Filipinos, especially Ilonggos who meet the global standards for professionals, to gain international employment," according to Hazel Buaron, chief executive officer.

Atty. Minna Valhala Harmanen of Finland said that Filscandia' opening is very remarkable for Fins. "We planned the process of recruiting Filipinos and even the education process there. We have started training nurses here how to speak Finnish and it will continue when they reach Finland, without any cost. The companies who will hire them are also willing to train them," she said.

Consul General Mikael Avellan said that there is a need for Filipinos in Finland. "The values of Filipinos that are lacking in Finnish culture are care and respect for the elderly people. I hope the Filipinos will keep these values despite the influence of Western culture. Finland is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. In fact, the prime minister is telling them to make babies, it's fun," he said andthe guests laughed. "Finland can't make up for its labor needs, thus immigration of foreign workers has become an option. Filipino nurses are very professional. This will start a new era in the health care system, especially when they are not used to foreigners in Finland. In Finland, it's not just about the money. There, school, delivery of babies, doctors, among others, are free. The health care system is in place. Who will benefit from this? All of us," he added.

The opening was attended by government department heads, nurses, family and friends of Filscandia's management.

Filscandia is located at the 6th Floor of TCT Building, Iznart Street and can be reached through telephone number 3383760.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/24/onward.to.finland.html)

^^^^ thank God, Gideon Regalado decided to extend a good help for Ilonggos and been promoting Iloilo in Scandinavian countries. This is just a good start. Well done, Mr VP !

Tigbauan Celebrates 3rd SALUDAN Festival
By Bombette G. Marin
photos by JV Perez (PALI)

The fun and adventure of travel in Iloilo especially during fiestas and festivals is a passion that takes most Ilonggos and visitors even to the different corners of the province to experience the wide variety of its cultural activities.

One such destination that is easily accessible from the city is the town of Tigbauan along stretch of southern towns, known among travelers as the “Heritage Area” of the province. With only 25 minutes drive away from the metropolis, one is transported into a place that annually celebrates the SALUDAN Festival.

“Saludan” coined from a Hiligaynon term salud or the crude method of threshing rice or catching fingerlings through nets, is one of the provinces’ emerging festivals. The festival is in honor of the town’s most important industry.

A sneak peek of the cultural presentation will reveal a cornucopia of influences and traditions in expressing the town’s cultural richness. It showcases Tigbauan’s distinct traditional activity in a celebration of dance and music.

Tigbauan is celebrating its 10th Adlaw Sang Tigbauan and the 3rd Saludan Festival on October 23-26, 2007. The gem of this celebration is the Saludan Festival Tribal Competition on October 26, 2007 at 8 a.m., Tigbauan covered court.

With the upsurge of tourism development in the province of Iloilo, progress, was spelled in various towns. Adding to the growing list of “must-see” places, the friendly town of Tigbauan beams with pride with its places of interests.
A tour planed around its major tourism destination areas allows a visitor to appreciate its history, people and rich culture. Here is the best of Tigbauan not to be missed.

A patch of the town’s history sits quietly fronting the municipal plaza. The historic St. John of Sahagun Parish founded in 1575 with its seemingly endless chain of mosaic art pieces, is the focal point of this simple but impressive church.

Charming beach resorts dot the towns’ recreation belt from end to end, making great spots for watching the day go by. Top resort to include is Sol Y Mar with its famous open air where one can relax, unwind and enjoy with family and friends.

Ruin from a Japanese watchtower is one of Tigbauans’ war memorial. It stands peacefully in a beautiful scenic rural setting. Imagine the beauty of a sky comprised of deep blue hues above a landscape of the patchwork farm fields. It is as an important window of our colonial past that served to remind later generations of the battle fought and hardships that the people suffered during the war years.

Yes, Tigbauan and its tourism attractions are all that and more. Come! See for yourself! Enter, and feel right at home!

source: The ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=13&Itemid=132)

Iloilo wants to become RP's 'festival capital'
By Maricar M. Calubiran

Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) Executive Director Ben Jimena is pushing for Iloilo City to become the "Festival Capital of the Philippines."

He said, IDFI will be requesting the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass a resolution asking for a cabinet action, through the Department of Tourism (DoT), for the city to be conferred such title.

He said the resolution will be sponsored by Councilor Armand Parcon, chair of the committee on tourism of the city council. Jimena is confident that the council will favorably grant their request. The resolution will serve as basis for whatever cabinet action on the matter.

Jimena said both the Dinagyang and the Paraw Regatta Festivals have "accomplished a monumental achievement for this year" after they were named as Best Tourism events in the country by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP) during their recent convention in Camarines Sur. Last year, ATOP also awarded the same title to the Dinagyang Festival.

He said Dinagyang has been a growing festival and has been recognized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a promotional vehicle in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

If such request also gets a favorable cabinet action, it would strengthen the claim of Iloilo province as the festival capital of the country since most of the 42 towns and one component city in Iloilo have their own festivals, said Jimena.

Copies of the resolution will be furnished to DoT Secretary Ace Durano, who is from Cebu. Sinulog of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo are tough competitors in different competitions in the country.

Jimena assured, Iloilo is ready to defend its claim should there be questions that may arise from other festival organizers in the future.



I hope the city gets the title. More oppurtunities await with just one click of the Department of Tourism. :banana:

Iloilo City hosts Marine Protected Area congress

Iloilo City will host the National Congress on Sustainable Financing and Marine Protected Area (MPA) through the Coastal Zone Philippines 2 Summit (CZPhil2) on October 27-28, 2007 at Punta Villa, Iloilo City.

Organized by the Marine Protected Area Support Network (MNS) and the CZPhil Organizing Committee, led by Dr. Perry Alino, professor from University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and senior member of the USAID Philippine Environmental Governance 2 (EcoGov2) Project. He will be joined by Cesario Pagdilao, Project and Deputy Director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

The MPA Congress is a timely event which aims to assess and evaluate the various Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects being undertaken in the Philippines. There are many areas in the country that have initiated ICM projects to address the complexity of issues and problems affecting the coastal and marine resources. However, the application of ICM strategies in different areas are not well documented and many are facing stiff challenges particularly in sustainable financing mechanisms. Because of this, the local government units seek support to enhance their ICM projects in areas of capability building, establishing partnerships and addressing complex technical and management problems.

The main focus of the Congress is the identification of useful financing mechanisms to support ICM strategies while recognizing and promoting its best practices. There will be plenary presentations complemented by workshop sessions to discuss in detail the issues and problems on ICM. It also hopes to list best practices on sustainable financing schemes adoptable to different local settings and likewise come up with an effective action plan to mitigate marine pollution.

Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio is hopeful that this activity will strengthen and enhance ICM projects and gain renewed commitment to promote an effective and sustainable coastal management. (RPAO/ehb)





Another Convention/Seminar? Iloilo is truly becoming a regional convention center. :cheers:

Iloilo hosts conference
on history, heritage

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas invited the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission (MHHC) to participate in the conference on “Philippine Towns & Cities: Reflections of the Past, Lessons for the Future.”

The MHHC will be represented by Gemma Cruz Araneta, erstwhile Secretary of Tourism, now consultant for cultural affairs of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Iloilo is known as the heritage capital of the Visayas, and Treñas is a heritage advocate and active member of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS). (talaga? :lol: I never knew this one :banana:

This is the second in the series of “Towns & Cities” conferences organized by the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) in cooperation with Urban Partnerships Foundation (UPF). The Instituto Cervantes (IC) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are among the sponsors.

“Towns & Cities” will be on November 9 at the Kalantiao Hall of the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

Local government officials, heritage advocates from the private sector, university students and professors will attend the conference. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.; the conference is expected to adjourn at 5 p.m.

The “Mayors’ Forum” is one of the features of the conference. It will be an exchange of “best practices” and conservation policies by mayors who have heritage resources in their towns and cities.

In the 2006 Forum, Mayors Ferdinand Medina (Vigan) and Oscar Rodriguez (San Fernando, Pampanga) explained how they approved city ordinances to balance modernization with heritage conservation.

Mayor Rex Bernardez of Bucay, Abra, a heritage “convert”, vowed to protect with proper legislation the ruins of a Spanish fort in Bucay.

Treñas will lead his colleagues in this year’s forum. Those who have confirmed attendance are Mayors Danilo Mindanao (San Juan, Batangas), Rosauro Masilang (Sariaya, Quezon), Jose Montelibano (Silay), Oscar Tetongco, Jr. (Apalit), Canuto Oreta (Malabon) and Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga)

Seven case studies will be presented by: Engr. Jose Peñalosa (Iloilo), Profs. Floro Quibuyen (Apalit), Icelle Estrada (Zamboanga), Victoria de Villa (Sariaya) and Jaime Veneracion (19th Century Estates), and Architects Leon Mayo (San Juan), Nathaniel von Einsiedel (Silay) and Richard Bautista (Malabon and Navotas).

Built heritage resources, like those located on Iloilo City’s Calle Real, should not be demolished in the name of progress. Wanton real estate speculation and over-construction are often mistaken for modernization when in fact these exert devastating pressure on the historic and cultural core of our towns and cities. When given adaptive re-use, heritage buildings can generate revenue and spark economic revitalization of the city.

http://dailyinformer.info/images/stories/25%20october.jpg
The Daily Informer Headlines

very nice updates guys! want to say helooo to all of you. were in houston right now and probably by saturdauy wel be heading for asia via panama canal.
@ bernie: waiting for your email> soooo expensive pala pag nag internet via intl roaming sa globe gprs. btw im so excited to update ssc kahit mahal. miss u guys!!! wish me smooth and safe voyage. GUYS PLS EMAIL ME BISAN PAANO INDE MAN KO MA BORED DIRE ESP, SPACEWAGON, INCOGNITO, KIRBY, ILOILOCITYKID, BERNIE, GIAN, CHY,METROILOILO, OBOI, LEWD,AND SOULMAKER.ETC.....MY EMAIL ADD IS <sinsp@sntg.com>
THANKS!!!

Hehehe!! No Problem bro, basta ikaw! :D Nahidlaw na gid ya sa Iloilo ai, nanawag pa


New Iloilo airport will compete with Cebu


He said this quote 2 years ago when she went with Gov.Gracia in a meet in Cebu. :)


Tigbauan Celebrates 3rd SALUDAN Festival

By Bombette G. Marin
photos by JV Perez (PALI)


Pictures tomorrow. :D


Iloilo wants to become RP's 'festival capital'



Why not di ba? I just realized that Iloilo's festivals are unique since IMO one of the few provinces who dramatisize the 1898 Ilonggo Revolt (as led by Gen.Delgado) into interpretative dance/mardi-gras. Just been to the 109th Cry of Jelicon in New Lucena and it is the offspring of Kahilwayan Festival (New Lucena before was part of Santa Barbara, along with Pavia, Leganes and Zarraga).

For the information of everyone, the Cry of Jelicon is commemorating the first battlecry of the Ilonggos against the Spanish administrator, lead by Gen. Delgado himself, which will pave the way to the revolutionary movement that lead to Iloilo's short-lived liberty against colonizers.


Iloilo City hosts Marine Protected Area congress


Another Convention/Seminar? Iloilo is truly becoming a regional convention center. :cheers:


Iloilo hosts conference

on history, heritage
Iloilo is known as the heritage capital of the Visayas, and Treñas is a heritage advocate and active member of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS). (talaga? :lol: I never knew this one :banana:

Utod nya ang head sang HCS-Iloilo kag ICCHCC subong, wahehehehe!!! :D

Built heritage resources, like those located on Iloilo City’s Calle Real, should not be demolished in the name of progress. Wanton real estate speculation and over-construction are often mistaken for modernization when in fact these exert devastating pressure on the historic and cultural core of our towns and cities. When given adaptive re-use, heritage buildings can generate revenue and spark economic revitalization of the city.

Dapat lang.

Set on November 9. Everyone is invited for this conference.

The reality though regarding the International Hotel (most photographed building in Calle Real area at cor JM Basa-Aldeguer) is that the owner himself doesn't want to beautify the said building due to some personal reasons :ohno:. One of his relatives even encouraged the old man to do this but the old owner resisted. Hay, old school na guid ang pamensaron ah! :(

-dp-

Sutherland's Job Fair is on Oct. 27 at Robinson's Food Court? Please clarify po...

25 October 2007. 109 Years after the Cry of Jelucoun itself, the New Lucenanhons celebrate what was been the spark of the revolution in Iloilo in 1898 as lead by General Martin Delgado.

A cry against the Spanish colonizers that later would lead to the establishment of the short-lived Federal Republic of the Visayas and liberty from the colonizers in 1898 in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

They shouted, "Viva Independencia!" "Kahilwayan!!"

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/97/500x500/42/IMGP1096.JPG?et=X9WK6VRGIShcvSZkyIrqDQ

One of the newest in addition to multitude of festivals being held in Iloilo. This showcase of motion and beat gives a cultural and historical meaning of the Ilonggo culture and its national consciousness and its contribution to the history of the Filipino people.

thought Sutherland will be in Amigo? Why are they recruiting in Robinsons? Curious lang ko.

Sutherland's Job Fair is on Oct. 27 at Robinson's Food Court? Please clarify po...
another good opportunity awaiting for all Ilonggos.

How many seats are available for Sutherland's new call center?

Dinagyang performers to bid goodbye to black soot
By Maricar M. Calubiran

Tribe performers in next year's Dinagyang Festival will wear a dark brown body paint instead of the usual black color.

Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) executive director Ben Jimena said after yesterday's public hearing on the issue that changing the body color of Dinagyang performers to dark brown is logical and would not in any way destroy the festival's image.

He also said that there was no "glaring objection" on the proposal in yesterday's public hearing that was attended by various sectors.

The changing of color was proposed by the foundation in order for Dinagyang Festival to have its own identity. The Dinagyang is always viewed as a copycat of the Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

The public hearing was called per a directive of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to hear out public opinion on the proposal of the IDFI to change the color of the Dinagyang warriors.

In yesterday's consultation, former Vice Governor and historian Demy Sonza made a very logical explanation about the Dinagyang festival and the implication of the changing of color from black to brown.

Sonza explained that Dinagyang celebration, actually, has no "historical basis." He said, there are no available literature that it was indeed the Aetas who accepted the image of Señor Sto. Nino when the Spaniards came to propagate Christianity.

He said, the Aetas did not play a role in Christianization. "There is no historical document to prove on the Aeta's acceptance of the image," Sonza added.

Sonza stressed the arrival of the Spaniards and of the 10 Bornean Datus are two different things. The devotion to Señor Santo Niño started way back in 1521. While, the arrival of Malays and Chinese happened before the Spaniards came. There were already mestizo's and mestizas as result of the intermarriages, said Sonza.

The image of Santo Niño was given to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon of Cebu, as a gift after she submitted herself to Christianization through baptism in the Catholic faith.

Sonza said during the 15th century, most of the people who are living in the coastline are "Bisaya." By that time, Aetas, the aborigines of Panay, were pushed towards the interior part of the Panay peninsula. Even before the Spaniards came, there are already Chinese traders who came to the island and even had intermarriage with the locals.

Jimena said the changing of color of Dinagyang performers from black to dark brown will not destroy the Dinagyang Festival's evolution.

On the other hand Sonza also suggested that Dinagyang tribes performers be called Dinagyang warriors, not "Ati warriors".

Sonza cited that the Aetas or Ati are not warriors. They are peace loving people though they usually carry spears, arrows and bolos, he said.

Sonza added, history tells that once a male reaches its manhood, he can bring a bolo or any other instrument. They normally used the spear, arrows and bolos to hunt animals for food.

Sonza said using "Dinagyang warriors" instead of "Ati warriors" would help rectify the misconception that Aetas are warriors.

The term Dinagyang warrior will also give identity to the celebration, he said.

Jimena said they will look into the suggestion of Sonza.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/25/dinagyang.performers.to.bid.goodbye.to.black.soot.html)

Iloilo City hosts Marine Protected Area congress

Iloilo City will host the National Congress on Sustainable Financing and Marine Protected Area (MPA) through the Coastal Zone Philippines 2 Summit (CZPhil2) on October 27-28, 2007 at Punta Villa, Iloilo City.

Organized by the Marine Protected Area Support Network (MNS) and the CZPhil Organizing Committee, led by Dr. Perry Alino, professor from University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and senior member of the USAID Philippine Environmental Governance 2 (EcoGov2) Project. He will be joined by Cesario Pagdilao, Project and Deputy Director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

The MPA Congress is a timely event which aims to assess and evaluate the various Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects being undertaken in the Philippines. There are many areas in the country that have initiated ICM projects to address the complexity of issues and problems affecting the coastal and marine resources. However, the application of ICM strategies in different areas are not well documented and many are facing stiff challenges particularly in sustainable financing mechanisms. Because of this, the local government units seek support to enhance their ICM projects in areas of capability building, establishing partnerships and addressing complex technical and management problems.

The main focus of the Congress is the identification of useful financing mechanisms to support ICM strategies while recognizing and promoting its best practices. There will be plenary presentations complemented by workshop sessions to discuss in detail the issues and problems on ICM. It also hopes to list best practices on sustainable financing schemes adoptable to different local settings and likewise come up with an effective action plan to mitigate marine pollution.

Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio is hopeful that this activity will strengthen and enhance ICM projects and gain renewed commitment to promote an effective and sustainable coastal management. (RPAO/ehb)

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/25/iloilo.city.hosts.marine.protected.area.congress.html)

thought Sutherland will be in Amigo? Why are they recruiting in Robinsons? Curious lang ko.

hmm maybe the HR is in Robisnsons (recruitment center) and the actual Production Area is in Amigo... usually here in Makati due to high rise buildings there is a Separate floor or an entire floor dedicated for HR alone.

Just my guess.... isnt it 1000 seat starting? I'll try to verify with my source... I'll keep you all posted.

Go go go ILOILO! :cheers:

thought Sutherland will be in Amigo? Why are they recruiting in Robinsons? Curious lang ko.

The poster of recruitment was posted long before Amigo was chosen to host Sutherland. :)

^^

I see that maybe the reason why... or it could be that they could accomodate more applicants if the job fair is held in Robinsons compare to Amigo since the site is still underconstruction... so no definite HR office yet. :)

^^ Pardon but what's HR?

human resource (department)?

^^ Oh...thanks. Stupid me..:lol:

There is a good news and a bad news about the Circumferential Road:

Bad News:
Majority of the Circumferential Road is not yet funded and will not be realized within 10-15 years.

Good News:
A section of it will be constructed sooner or later, and that section would be the McArthur Drive (Highway pa-Leganes) all the way to Iloilo Radial Road (@Tacas, Jaro) since the latter has a concrete budget for it.


This is according to Jose Roni Peñalosa, City Planning and Dev't Officer of Iloilo City.

He is glad to share information regarding the city's development through this forum. Forumers are also encouraged to ask questions regarding it.

^^wow! 10-15 years pa? whay is that?

^^ Hope he visits this forum and be a member.

^^and be flooded with questions always!:lol:

^^wow! 10-15 years pa? whay is that?

Iloilo City's problem is because of tons of landowners begging for a higher price for their land in case the government aquires it.

Same issue as the road widening project within the city. For Pavia to Santa Barbara widening, its easy. But for the city, it is difficult.

There are squatters who are occupying the right of way, and take note, these are not just ordinary squatters, but professional ones. The ones who has access to attorneys and some politicians. He told us that they have already given the master list and will be evicted soon to make way for the road widening.

^^ Hope he visits this forum and be a member.

^^and be flooded with questions always!:lol:

Busy sya kuno but I think he's will be lurking though.

^^ Does he have urban masterplans for the city like pictures of the Iloilo River Boulevard, etc?

^^ Does he have urban masterplans for the city like pictures of the Iloilo River Boulevard, etc?

Yup. :) And the plan of making a "Iloilo River-Dike Park" as what he called, will proceed as planned.

There is already a budget creating another accessway from Jalandoni Bridge leading to Diversion Road. In other words, in few years time there is an alternative to General Luna Street.

^^ I don't know how...Sorry talaga...Please teach me.

Regarding the River Plan, :banana:

Iloilo City's problem is because of tons of landowners begging for a higher price for their land in case the government aquires it.

Same issue as the road widening project within the city. For Pavia to Santa Barbara widening, its easy. But for the city, it is difficult.

There are squatters who are occupying the right of way, and take note, these are not just ordinary squatters, but professional ones. The ones who has access to attorneys and some politicians. He told us that they have already given the master list and will be evicted soon to make way for the road widening.





Busy sya kuno but I think he's will be lurking though.

geez, this will be a protacted battle then between the city planners and the landowners! the sooner this is resolved, the better!

^^ Hehehe!! Amo na ang budlay sa aton kay madamu sang landowners. All we need is more political will. But I think they have it settled regarding the Cuartero-Ungka/Christ the King segment of Diversion Road.

Anyway, attention all Iloilo-based forumers of SSC:
We are planning to have a general EB this upcoming week, preferably before or after Pista Minatay. We hope to see new faces and some old and idle faces, hehehe!!! Everyone is invited. :D

Please visit our new threads in Projects and Proposals and don't hesitate to post information, articles, pictures, etc.

THE NEW CITY HALL OF ILOILO CITY
SANTA BARBARA RESIDENTIAL AND GOLD ESTATE
BTW, I think Paseo de Santa Barbara and the ^^ mentioned are separate projects since Paseo is not a project of Fil-estate or Megaworld.

The situation of traffic at around 5PM at Infante Junction/Stoplight.

DPWH, please start doing the approaches for the Ilonggos to taste the convenience of the flyover. Enough politics! :ohno:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1376.jpg
Mandurriao area

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1372.jpg
To stoplight, from Mandurriao

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1367.jpg
From General Luna Street (Sarabia Manor area)


By the way, for the benefit of the forumers who hasn't seen SSC in weeks or has been lost in track of the previous thread, we will make a summary of the topics and discussions that took place before the thread closes or the month ends, whichever comes first.

Because it has been a sugesttion from CanUrb and the City Planning and Development Office and even the province itself to have what we are discussing and have it reported to the rightful authorities. The discussions, may it be pro or con, is vital to the Iloilo's assessment. ;)

^^wow! as one of the forumers, i'm very honored but at the same time, very humbled that the things we do here can help, big and small, for the development of our place!:)

^^ Oh my gosh, look at those wires. Ang lalaki and any monument tigras piliser (patay) ka sa mga wires na yan.

BTW, I think Paseo de Santa Barbara and the ^^ mentioned are separate projects since Paseo is not a project of Fil-estate or Megaworld.
nice info. A positive and welcome info indeed. Can we take photos of Paeso de Sta Barbara? In Sta Barbara alone, millions of investments came to put up their businesses in town.

^^wow! as one of the forumers, i'm very honored but at the same time, very humbled that the things we do here can help, big and small, for the development of our place!:)

There is a good news and a bad news about the Circumferential Road:

Bad News:
Majority of the Circumferential Road is not yet funded and will not be realized within 10-15 years.

Good News:
A section of it will be constructed sooner or later, and that section would be the McArthur Drive (Highway pa-Leganes) all the way to Iloilo Radial Road (@Tacas, Jaro) since the latter has a concrete budget for it.


This is according to Jose Roni Peñalosa, City Planning and Dev't Officer of Iloilo City.

He is glad to share information regarding the city's development through this forum. Forumers are also encouraged to ask questions regarding it.
well, I hope he can join us here and share his ideas regarding City planning.

Treñas leaves for Korea, Mabilog assumes as OIC mayor
By Maricar M. Calubiran

City Mayor Jerry Treñas has appointed Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog as OIC mayor starting today as the later is set to attend the executive committee meeting of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in Jeju, Korea.

Mabilog will act as the caretaker of the city's affairs until October 31. The chief executive will be out of the country from October 26th to 30th. It was learned that Mabilog's authority is limited as important papers and documents that needs the signature of the mayor will have to wait until the mayor arrives.

Treñas was recently chosen as one of the new members of the executive committee that will represent ICLEI-member countries from Southeast Asia. Earlier, Treñas said the conference is an opportunity to meet other committee members who are also public officials in their respective countries.

Their presence in the conference is deemed important because of their future role to address climate change which is already considered as international concern.

Treñas said networking is "very important in governance." The trip including the accommodations is paid by Jeju province. The city did not spend anything on my trip to Korea, he said.

In the same conference, the topics to be discussed are climate change strategy, climate events as milestones, World Mayors Council on climate change, ecological footprint, sustainability reporting and ecobudget of ICLEI members and partnerships with other international organizations.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/26/trenas.leaves.for.korea.mabilog.assumes.as.oic.mayor.html)

Cutting of mango trees in Guimbal, Iloilo now regulated

Unauthorized cutting of mango trees within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Guimbal is now prohibited.

This developed after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through the Committee on Agriculture chaired by Board Member Mariano Malones authorized the enforcement of 'An ordinance regulating the cutting of mango trees in the Municipality of Guimbal, Iloilo' (Municipal Ordinance 2005-92).

Prior to the passage of the ordinance, the Office of the Municipal Agriculture (OMA) disclosed a decrease in the number of mango trees in Guimbal for the past years.

Regulating the cutting of mango trees on the other hand is expected to boost the town's Mango Development Program geared towards mango propagation.

Under the ordinance cutting will only be allowed if extremely necessary and would give long term benefits to the residents of Guimbal.

Cutting will be allowed if trees are uprooted by typhoons and rendered unproductive and for the purpose of eradicating over-mature trees that jeopardize the safety of the public.

But, the cutting has to be monitored and strictly supervised.

The tree owner must first seek permit from the OMA and the DENR and replace the mango tree with equivalent number of seedlings one week before its cutting.

Violators shall be fined P2,500, an imprisonment of at least five days or both at the discretion of the court.

The coastal municipality of Guimbal is situated 29 kilometers south of Iloilo City. (PNA)

source The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/26/cutting.of.mango.trees.in.guimbal.iloilo.now.regulated.html)

The situation of traffic at around 5PM at Infante Junction/Stoplight.



By the way, for the benefit of the forumers who hasn't seen SSC in weeks or has been lost in track of the previous thread, we will make a summary of the topics and discussions that took place before the thread closes or the month ends, whichever comes first.

Because it has been a sugesttion from CanUrb and the City Planning and Development Office and even the province itself to have what we are discussing and have it reported to the rightful authorities. The discussions, may it be pro or con, is vital to the Iloilo's assessment. ;)
what does it mean then? Will our discussions here be handed over to them? Well ... well ... well

^^ Hehehe!! Amo na ang budlay sa aton kay madamu sang landowners. All we need is more political will. But I think they have it settled regarding the Cuartero-Ungka/Christ the King segment of Diversion Road.

Anyway, attention all Iloilo-based forumers of SSC:
We are planning to have a general EB this upcoming week, preferably before or after Pista Minatay. We hope to see new faces and some old and idle faces, hehehe!!! Everyone is invited. :D
get together again? It's a good move to strengthen the camaraderie of Iloilo-based forumers. I hope more people will join the EB in Iloilo !

geez, this will be a protacted battle then between the city planners and the landowners! the sooner this is resolved, the better!
that's right. But some people are just too difficult to understand. he he

There is a good news and a bad news about the Circumferential Road:

Bad News:
Majority of the Circumferential Road is not yet funded and will not be realized within 10-15 years.

Good News:
A section of it will be constructed sooner or later, and that section would be the McArthur Drive (Highway pa-Leganes) all the way to Iloilo Radial Road (@Tacas, Jaro) since the latter has a concrete budget for it.


This is according to Jose Roni Peñalosa, City Planning and Dev't Officer of Iloilo City.

He is glad to share information regarding the city's development through this forum. Forumers are also encouraged to ask questions regarding it.
What's the component of ILOILO RADIAL ROAD PROJECT?

Iloilo City's problem is because of tons of landowners begging for a higher price for their land in case the government aquires it.

Same issue as the road widening project within the city. For Pavia to Santa Barbara widening, its easy. But for the city, it is difficult.

There are squatters who are occupying the right of way, and take note, these are not just ordinary squatters, but professional ones. The ones who has access to attorneys and some politicians. He told us that they have already given the master list and will be evicted soon to make way for the road widening.





Busy sya kuno but I think he's will be lurking though.
i agree with you regarding professional squatters. Not all but some are. And these peole is just so hard to please. I hope squatters back home will be supportive enough for the betterment of the city.

With regards to city roads, it's way too difficult to change them now. We just need to ask a lot of people and get them involved, which eventually turns up into a sour debate. I think metrotowns will be given priorities with regards to road widening.

Yup. :) And the plan of making a "Iloilo River-Dike Park" as what he called, will proceed as planned.

There is already a budget creating another accessway from Jalandoni Bridge leading to Diversion Road. In other words, in few years time there is an alternative to General Luna Street.
So ILOILO BOULEVARD will be implemented definitely? When are they going to start the project?

By the way, for the benefit of the forumers who hasn't seen SSC in weeks or has been lost in track of the previous thread, we will make a summary of the topics and discussions that took place before the thread closes or the month ends, whichever comes first.

Because it has been a sugesttion from CanUrb and the City Planning and Development Office and even the province itself to have what we are discussing and have it reported to the rightful authorities. The discussions, may it be pro or con, is vital to the Iloilo's assessment. ;)

^^great news, nice to know that our participation in this forum might be able to help our city and province. :cheers2:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/1755969674_46750bd7de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/1754832717_6567e5435c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/1754798053_9fd3b34242_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/1755629344_9aa6e08215_m.jpg

^^ Lovely. :)

^^wow! as one of the forumers, i'm very honored but at the same time, very humbled that the things we do here can help, big and small, for the development of our place!:)

It is what democracy is. No matter how small your voice are, you are important in shaping the economy and society. :)


well, I hope he can join us here and share his ideas regarding City planning.

[font="Lucida Sans Unicode"][size="6"][color="Red"][center]
what does it mean then? Will our discussions here be handed over to them? Well ... well ... well

I think Francis Gentoral of CanUrb and also Butch Peñalosa wants to hear your opinions too. The former shows interest in joining SSC but the latter has no time surfing up the net. Who knows, one of these days we will have a new forumer. :D

get together again? It's a good move to strengthen the camaraderie of Iloilo-based forumers. I hope more people will join the EB in Iloilo !

Hehehe!!! :D

What's the component of ILOILO RADIAL ROAD PROJECT?

It is a road that starts from the Circumferential Road starting at the floodway section and will by pass Leganes town proper and going straight to Zarraga.

In other words, this road will ease up the growing volume of traffic vehicles plying Leganes area. Also, there would be 3 ways going in and out of the city in the Leganes area.


i agree with you regarding professional squatters. Not all but some are. And these peole is just so hard to please. I hope squatters back home will be supportive enough for the betterment of the city.

With regards to city roads, it's way too difficult to change them now. We just need to ask a lot of people and get them involved, which eventually turns up into a sour debate. I think metrotowns will be given priorities with regards to road widening.

They are really so hard to please, even legal tenants themselves. They even wanted to have higher price to sell their lands for the government. Is there something in our culture that could explain such hard-headedness?


So ILOILO BOULEVARD will be implemented definitely? When are they going to start the project?

They're just waiting for the budget. In the meantime, the park at Nabitasan will push through as planned.

^^great news, nice to know that our participation in this forum might be able to help our city and province. :cheers2:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/1755969674_46750bd7de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/1754832717_6567e5435c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/1754798053_9fd3b34242_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/1755629344_9aa6e08215_m.jpg

^^Pavia ina? :lol: Nami pix ba. :okay:
Pacific, I would like to investigate regarding what the parish priest told me regarding the overall architecture of the church. He claims that it supposed to have a dome and 2 bell towers, all made of bricks. The blueprints were said to be kept in the Archbishop's Palace.

^^Pavia ina? :lol: Nami pix ba. :okay:
Pacific, I would like to investigate regarding what the parish priest told me regarding the overall architecture of the church. He claims that it supposed to have a dome and 2 bell towers, all made of bricks. The blueprints were said to be kept in the Archbishop's Palace.

i don't know if it will work bern, the base of the bell-towers seems a bit to small and if a third level will be added the entire architecture will be shifted to renaissance(since byzantine towers tends to be massive). The best thing to do(if the parish priest really wants to improve the church) is to construct a central dome in Romanesque.I think in byzantine architecture, the pediment should be the highest part the facade.

^^ Like Hagia Sophia? :D As long as it is in the plan then why not. I would rather prefer its simplistic architecture rather than an elaborate one. Its the Pavia church that I and most of the Pavianhons known.

Celebrating its foundation day, the Tigbauanhons celebrated with pomp and beat with dramatizing their history and the nagasalud or harvesting rice or fishfry, which is part of everyone's life.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/98/500x500/38/IMGP1227.JPG?et=fwSAcZDB5fkZ1xM2anvTaQ
Saludan Festival in Iloilo.


Next stop, Tigkaralag Festival in Pavia and Banaag Festival in Anilao. :D

It is what democracy is. No matter how small your voice are, you are important in shaping the economy and society. :)
everybody's play vital role in moving the economy forward and pulling it down in a democratic society. In as much a we want all the voice to be heard, I think some people are just too abusive of the society. Democracy is parallel to responsibility and effectivity. It's just some think that since we are democratic we can do whatever we want. But there you go, we have laws and the laws will always determine what's what in democratic society.


I think Francis Gentoral of CanUrb and also Butch Peñalosa wants to hear your opinions too. The former shows interest in joining SSC but the latter has no time surfing up the net. Who knows, one of these days we will have a new forumer. :D
that's a good start. I'm glad they'll board everyone's opinion here. And I think most people here in our thread has definitely something to contribute for the betterment of our city, province and our society. It's really nice to be heard. It's the same reason why I always like our thread to be more analytical in nature and not comparative. And though sometimes we tend to have differences in opinions, it's very healthy to have your say on every subject as much as possible.


It is a road that starts from the Circumferential Road starting at the floodway section and will by pass Leganes town proper and going straight to Zarraga.

In other words, this road will ease up the growing volume of traffic vehicles plying Leganes area. Also, there would be 3 ways going in and out of the city in the Leganes area.

this is indeed a good project. Is it still on planning stage or they are implementing it already?


They are really so hard to please, even legal tenants themselves. They even wanted to have higher price to sell their lands for the government. Is there something in our culture that could explain such hard-headedness?
I don't want to sound very judgmental to our squatters back home but sometimes they are more of a hindrance than a partner for growth. We do understand their needs but some are just really cruel and selfish to think their own benefits rather for the good of the whole.

In answering regarding the hard-headedness of Ilonggos' culture, I think this is true to some extent. We loved principles that at times we would want to stick what we think is best for us. Just look at Ilonggo leaders. They're very principled people. They have their own pathway that they travelled and they have their own set of standards that they need to maintain. I think, culturally, we are like that.


They're just waiting for the budget. In the meantime, the park at Nabitasan will push through as planned.
Can you elaborate about this Nabitasan project? Thanks.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/1755969674_46750bd7de.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/1754832717_6567e5435c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/1754798053_9fd3b34242_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/1755629344_9aa6e08215_m.jpg

Thank you Pacific. Beautiful photos.

i like the way the plants are blurred conspicuosly at the foregroubnd and the vertical imposition of the church, highlighted in the background!

i like the way the plants are blurred conspicuosly at the foregroubnd and the vertical imposition of the church, highlighted in the background!

here's another flowery photo

Cabatuan Church, Iloilo
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1629000486_ae61703933.jpg

very nice. Is Cabatuan Church part of heritage tour in the province?

here's another flowery photo

Cabatuan Church, Iloilo
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1629000486_ae61703933.jpg

post card quality pic!:)

as always, great photos indeed.

Woah! Great photos!
I've been to Iloilo many times myself but I have yet to see many of the historic churches of the province.
Thanks for sharing!

^^ Hope you visit them someday...

thanks Eonynyx
I think we should encourage green architecture in our plazas,

@Xeltran, there are so many beautiful Ilonggo churches, few are being endorsed though, hope you visit Iloilo again:)

^^the sta. barbarra church and it's relatively recent structures can also be interesting sights in your next travel pictures @pacific!:)

i have lots of santa barbara pics na, eonynx. Santa Barbara Church Convent does nood need any promotion now, its already a popular destination. I'm looking for places na parang hindi napapnsin pero, has a good potential.

I don't like the recent structures built on Santa Barbara churchgrounds(and on every church), they should have not just built anything some are becoming eyesores. Not all though.

Here's my photos:
Santa Barbara Church and Convent
- a national historical treasure, of Mudejar and Neoclassic Architceture, became the headquarters of Iloilo's force against Spanish Rule, thus, It is entitled as the Barasoain Church of South.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/1583200153_16707d1288.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/1584088086_a897710411.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/1583209239_23363d85ae.jpg

Cabatuan Church
-a basilica like church, described by Spanish documents as 'The Model of Temples'. The Largest Red Brick Structure built in the Visayas. It is also the only Spanish Church in the Philippines which has three facades
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/1611958660_abb28e6b22.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/1565154660_24088c9c96.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/1564281969_9fd8818049.jpg

enjoy

thanks for the photos pacific!:) what churches do you have in mind anyway that needs promotion?

Iloilo vies for reg’l ‘Clean & Green’ tilt

ILOILO – This province, the regional champion for six consecutive years since 2001 to 2006, is once again preparing to vie for its seventh straight win in the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Province in Region VI.

As the regional champion, Iloilo represented Region VI in the national Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran contest in 2003 and 2004 where it placed third after Bukidnon and Bohol -- the first and second provinces, respectively, besting 76 provinces all over the country.

Marylou Sumbing the Provincial Information Officer and Team Leader of the Provincial Assessment Team, attributed the consistent win of the province to the active participation of the people of Iloilo in the Clean and Green efforts. Barangay and municipal officials have been actively involved, too.

Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. has actively supported the program by creating the Project Cleaning and Greening Task Force headed by First Lady Myrna Causing Tupas.

He has religiously implemented the Project Cleaning and Greening yearly Search for Excellence in the Clean and Green Program for Municipalities and Rural Barangays in continuance of the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Contest annually.

Tupas has also given incentives for provincial winners in the GPK contest in the form of cash awards and other non-monetary incentives annually.

Relative to the regional evaluation of the Province of Iloilo is its equivalent in the municipal level wherein two of its municipalities, the Municipality of Miag-ao for Category A(1st to 3rd class municipalities category) and the Municipality of Guimbal for Category B(4th to 6th class municipalities category) will be representing Iloilo Province in their own categories will also be evaluated this month.

The Province of Iloilo has enjoyed a marked increase in forest cover and reforestation efforts and the eradication of the “kaingin system” or the cutting and burning down of trees for planting; the gradual awareness and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Program in the effort to segregate waste materials in the household level; community involvement and participation in the clean and green program not only in the municipal level but most especially in the barangay level; and increase effective and efficient health services, eradication of malnutrition through backyards gardens.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo4.htm)

Housing fair cited

ILOILO City - Mayor Jerry Treñas lauded the efforts of the government’s shelter agencies and private developers in conducting the recent three-day Western Visayas Housing Fair 2007.

Treñas said the conduct of the housing fair was timely because several investors are opening their businesses in Iloilo City and had likewise created a demand for more residential houses for the employment it also generated.

The city mayor also emphasized that the activity “afforded our government employees to see the housing units that are within their budgets’ reach, and to own a house to call their own.”

Eva Marfil, regional coordinator of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in Western Visayas, said foreclosed properties and acquired properties of the key shelter agencies and the government financial institutions were marketed at a very low interest rate during the three-day housing fair.

“Each participating agency has its own set of terms and conditions for the sale of properties in its inventory,” Marfil said as she stressed that interested buyers will likewise be evaluated to determine their eligibility for cash or loan packages.

The event with its theme “Serbisyong Tapat, Abot-Kayang Pabahay Para Sa Lahat” was conducted at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

It was also highlighted with various technical fora on the following topics: Updates on Subdivision Rules and Regulations; Pag-IBIG Housing; registration of Homeowners Association and HOA Rules of Governance; Joint Venture Program of the National Housing; Special Repayment Scheme of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation; and Community Mortgage Program.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras1.htm)

Excuse my vernacular but I just wanted my opinion be voiced. I'll post this and its just my opinion based on what is going on.

Daw natak-an na gid ko sa sige-sige kumparar kag pagbutang sa mga titulo sa aton mga Ilong-Ilonganon kag Bacolodnon. Katalaka sang iban nga forumers ta nga sige-sige ang kumparar kag sige-sige pabugal, halin man sa Iloilo kag Bacolod. Kahilinit nga sa kagamay nga problema, sa kagamay nga titulo kag sa kagamay nga tikal, gahilinaway na dayon diri. Susme! Parehas ta Ilonggo no, parehas ginhalinan, parehas ang lingwahe! Kag wala ako sang makit-an nga dahilan kon ano abi ang rason sa mga insecurities ta! This insecurities are so immature IMO.

Sa matuod lang, natak-an gid ako sa mga implying or indirect comparisons kag sa mga bold letters nga daw may gina-iguan. Natak-an man ako sa sobra guid ang pride sa mga lugar nanda. Indi lang mga taga-Bacolod ang gatan-aw sang forum nga sini kag sa iban pa. Kag dira abi nagasugod ang mga inaway kalabanan.

Sa matuod lang, kon sige sige bala kumparar kag inaway ang nagatabo ti ngaa asta subong isa sa pinaka-grabe ang frequency sang ferry transport ang Iloilo-Bacolod lane haw? Ngaa sige pa kadto ang Negrense sa Iloilo kag ang Ilonggo sa Negros? Kay tungod sa matuod-tuod lang, nagakooperar kita. Waay man sing matuod nga ginamo kay gaintiendehanay ta sa gwa sang SSC. Gaintiendehay sa kon ano nga kultura nga may yara ta. Respeto lang ang ginapalihug ko sa mga forumers ta. Respeto sa kultura, intiendehanay kag paghiliusa.

Kay ang mag-gwa sini, kita mga Ilonggo (Panay man ukon Negros) ang kahuluya kon gabinaisay ta sa kasimple nga insecurity kag bisan kagamay nga implikasyon. Kaladlawan kita sa mga tawo sa gwa sang SSC.

Sa ulihi, ang mensahe ko lang: Palihug, mag-intiendehanay na ta. Magkooperar na ta kag magbinuliganay. Kay bisan anuhon pa niyo ang inyo nga ipa-bugal sa mga syudad kag probinsya, Ilonggo kita guihapon, bisan diin ta makadto sa kalibutan! Daku na ang ginbulig sang mga Ilonggo sa aton nga maragtas kag ekonomiya sang pungsod Pilipinas. No other cities that have experienced so much glory and tragedy than Iloilo and Bacolod. Amo na ni ang handumanan sang aton nga mga ginikanan para sa aton. Matun-an ang mga sala sang nagligad kag mag-hiliusa kita kag tan-aw sang mainuswagong buwas damlag.

I rest my case.

Naway pairalin natin ang diplomasya at hindi lamang ang emosyon.

29 sang Oktubre na? Nakahimo ka na sang imo nga parte?

Didn't you know that Iloilo Province has the most number of barangays in the Philippines? 1,900+ barangays. Miag-ao has 100+ barangays and Iloilo City alone has 180!

So kabalo nyo na kon sa diin makadto ang inyo nga IRA.

Do your part, poll prescients close at around at 3PM.
Exercise your right to vote at the Barangay and SK elections!

Maayong adlaw mga kasimanwa:

Nagaplano kami sa SSC Iloilo nga maghiliugyon kita sa subong nga semana. Ang plano ay buwas ukon sa mga madasun nga adlaw. Guinahagad man namon ang mga baguhan kag mga bisita nga magupod kamo sa amon.

May plano kami bwas nga mapa-Lambunao ukon Iloilo province dason balik sa Iloilo City pagkagab-i.

Kon may suhestyon kamo, pwede nyo lang i-post ang inyo nga mensahe sa "Iririmaw ta thread" sa Samahan sub-forum ukon itext kami ninday Chymera o magbilin lang sang PM.

Madamu gid nga salamat! :)

Excuse my vernacular but I just wanted my opinion be voiced. I'll post this and its just my opinion based on what is going on.

Daw natak-an na gid ko sa sige-sige kumparar kag pagbutang sa mga titulo sa aton mga Ilong-Ilonganon kag Bacolodnon. Katalaka sang iban nga forumers ta nga sige-sige ang kumparar kag sige-sige pabugal, halin man sa Iloilo kag Bacolod. Kahilinit nga sa kagamay nga problema, sa kagamay nga titulo kag sa kagamay nga tikal, gahilinaway na dayon diri. Susme! Parehas ta Ilonggo no, parehas ginhalinan, parehas ang lingwahe! Kag wala ako sang makit-an nga dahilan kon ano abi ang rason sa mga insecurities ta! This insecurities are so immature IMO.

Sa matuod lang, natak-an gid ako sa mga implying or indirect comparisons kag sa mga bold letters nga daw may gina-iguan. Natak-an man ako sa sobra guid ang pride sa mga lugar nanda. Indi lang mga taga-Bacolod ang gatan-aw sang forum nga sini kag sa iban pa. Kag dira abi nagasugod ang mga inaway kalabanan.

Sa matuod lang, kon sige sige bala kumparar kag inaway ang nagatabo ti ngaa asta subong isa sa pinaka-grabe ang frequency sang ferry transport ang Iloilo-Bacolod lane haw? Ngaa sige pa kadto ang Negrense sa Iloilo kag ang Ilonggo sa Negros? Kay tungod sa matuod-tuod lang, nagakooperar kita. Waay man sing matuod nga ginamo kay gaintiendehanay ta sa gwa sang SSC. Gaintiendehay sa kon ano nga kultura nga may yara ta. Respeto lang ang ginapalihug ko sa mga forumers ta. Respeto sa kultura, intiendehanay kag paghiliusa.

Kay ang mag-gwa sini, kita mga Ilonggo (Panay man ukon Negros) ang kahuluya kon gabinaisay ta sa kasimple nga insecurity kag bisan kagamay nga implikasyon. Kaladlawan kita sa mga tawo sa gwa sang SSC.

Sa ulihi, ang mensahe ko lang: Palihug, mag-intiendehanay na ta. Magkooperar na ta kag magbinuliganay. Kay bisan anuhon pa niyo ang inyo nga ipa-bugal sa mga syudad kag probinsya, Ilonggo kita guihapon, bisan diin ta makadto sa kalibutan! Daku na ang ginbulig sang mga Ilonggo sa aton nga maragtas kag ekonomiya sang pungsod Pilipinas. No other cities that have experienced so much glory and tragedy than Iloilo and Bacolod. Amo na ni ang handumanan sang aton nga mga ginikanan para sa aton. Matun-an ang mga sala sang nagligad kag mag-hiliusa kita kag tan-aw sang mainuswagong buwas damlag.

I rest my case.

^^ i too agree with you bern, its too much, i've been guilty of being too critical sometimes esp. of my fellow ilonggos on the opposite side of the strait, i just wish we can change and cooperate instead of all these nonsense boasting and comparison. Peace !

im a newbie here! NICE to see Iloilo again :)

^^welcome to SSC-Iloilo @Febykates!

Welcome Febykates! Enjoy your stay here in SSC-PH! :wave:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/873/p1000562bm8.jpg

Best Bingka in Town

http://img3.pictiger.com/eda/12904461_th.jpg (http://img36833.pictiger.com/images/12904461/)

Best Bingka in Town

Sa diin ni nga banwa naghalin?

^^Oton? Nang Palang's?

^^ :D

@ Bern + Cogs; That's the "world-famous" Mohon Bingka..

^^ :D

@ Bern + Cogs; That's the "world-famous" Mohon Bingka..

Mohon sa Villa? Kadtuan ko ai. :D

sa oton gani,heheh

Mohon sa Villa? Kadtuan ko ai. :D

Huo.. :)

Just click below for more info. ;)

^^ Sige ah. Kay kadtuan ko na gid ina. Ang bingka nga kabalo ko ara lang sa kilid Plaza Jaro, waheheheh!!!

sa oton gani,heheh

Sa boundary na sya sg Oton kag Villa @Cogs... :)

... just off the Pakiad-Mandurriao Road junction with the highway

Nice music video.
This is a tribute to Iloilo City.....hehehe!
But actually its a GTA4 trailer.
I like the 3rd animation.

Do you know kung sin-o ang mga ini?

NVWWcKNr830

^^nice one!:)

Huo.. :)

Just click below for more info. ;)

thanks @sam for the info! i really now miss our homegrown delicacies!:cheers:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1450.jpg
Here's the City Hall as of yesterday. In ruins. As if delubyo was here. *knock on wood*

^^you really captured it's desolated state bernie!:lol: and out of the ruins will rise a new one!:cheers:

^^ Desolated gid kay domingo. Its quite creepy to see it because it reminds me of the WW2 pictures at the Museo Iloilo.

Anyway, one of the nightshots that I and PacificLeopard took last night.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1456.jpg

Housing fair cited

ILOILO City - Mayor Jerry Treñas lauded the efforts of the government’s shelter agencies and private developers in conducting the recent three-day Western Visayas Housing Fair 2007.

Treñas said the conduct of the housing fair was timely because several investors are opening their businesses in Iloilo City and had likewise created a demand for more residential houses for the employment it also generated.

The city mayor also emphasized that the activity “afforded our government employees to see the housing units that are within their budgets’ reach, and to own a house to call their own.”

Eva Marfil, regional coordinator of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in Western Visayas, said foreclosed properties and acquired properties of the key shelter agencies and the government financial institutions were marketed at a very low interest rate during the three-day housing fair.

“Each participating agency has its own set of terms and conditions for the sale of properties in its inventory,” Marfil said as she stressed that interested buyers will likewise be evaluated to determine their eligibility for cash or loan packages.

The event with its theme “Serbisyong Tapat, Abot-Kayang Pabahay Para Sa Lahat” was conducted at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

It was also highlighted with various technical fora on the following topics: Updates on Subdivision Rules and Regulations; Pag-IBIG Housing; registration of Homeowners Association and HOA Rules of Governance; Joint Venture Program of the National Housing; Special Repayment Scheme of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation; and Community Mortgage Program.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras1.htm)

it's about time we have this program in place for our common government employees!

^^^^yeah, creepy! just in time for the halloween!:lol:

^^ :D

@ Bern + Cogs; That's the "world-famous" Mohon Bingka..


You should taste ang bingka nga Balasan...ang sa kilid bala Jaro Plaza pag piyesta...namit namit

For Van1975.
Ari ang SM Jaro, wahehehehe!!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1467.jpg

:wave:

just passing by.

next ko gali nga ipromote ang NANG PALANGs pastries :D

didto ako nagapirme sa LA COMIDA ILONGGA thread :lol:

For Van1975.
Ari ang SM Jaro, wahehehehe!!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1467.jpg

it appears to be finished already. is this a hypermarket concept? it seems that the eerie black effect was intentional!:).....hmmm, the contrast of my computer monitor may deperensia gale!

^^you really captured it's desolated state bernie!:lol: and out of the ruins will rise a new one!:cheers:

^^yes, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, a new and iconic structure will rise worthy of the city it will represent, yey!

^^ Desolated gid kay domingo. Its quite creepy to see it because it reminds me of the WW2 pictures at the Museo Iloilo.

Anyway, one of the nightshots that I and PacificLeopard took last night.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1456.jpg


That's in Jaro right. That's Arguelles Building.

Megaworld to develop BPO triangle
By Likha C. Cuevas-Miel, Reporter

MEGAWORLD Corp. said it would start developing its project in the Visayas next year to complete its Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) triangle.

On the sidelines of a Citi-secOnline briefing, Kingson Sian, Megaworld senior vice president and executive director, said the property firm is finalizing its masterplan for the newly acquired 54-hectare Iloilo property.

The aforementioned project, together with the planned live-work-play development in Cebu and BPO complexes in Metro Manila would comprise Megaworld’s BPO triangle, which it intends to grow in the next few years.

At present, Megaworld is talking to prospective locators in the Iloilo BPO hub, some of which would require 75,000 square meters of office space for the next 3 to 4 years. Construction for the low-density BPO buildings with 3 to 6 levels and retail stores would start next year.

Megaworld’s initial investment for the Iloilo project would reach P2.7 billion, P1.5 billion of which would go to construction alone while the balance was already paid to the government for the old airport site.

The property firm would also spend about P2.5 billion in its project in Mactan, Cebu, which is adjacent to the Shangri-la resort. About P1 billion of that amount would go to construction, which would start late next year.

Sian said Megaworld is earmarking about P12 billion for its capital expenditures next year for its other six “mega” developments, including Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, Newport City, Manhattan Garden City, Forbes Town Center and Cityplace in Chinatown.

Eastwood City, the firm’s first mixed-use development project in Libis, Quezon City, would have a total 65,000 square meters of retail space next year while McKinley Hill in Taguig City would contain 9,140 condominium units and 482 residential lots. Megaworld would also build 200,000 square meters of office space while retail space would reach 78,500 square meters in the succeeding years.

Newport City, where the new 5-star Marriott Hotel would rise, would have 16 residential clusters comprising 2,500 units, 200,000 square meters of BPO office space and 47,000 square meters devoted to leisure and entertainment.

For Cityplace in Chinatown, Megaworld plans to build 5 residential high-rise towers with 2,000 units and 45,000 square meters of retail space. About 3 residential towers housing 4,000 units would rise from Forbes Town Center in Taguig City, while 20 residential towers with 9,000 units would make up the Manhattan Garden City in Araneta Center, Cubao.

By the end of this year, Mega-world expects revenues to grow 42 percent to P13.3 billion over a year ago whereas profits would jump by 41 percent to P2.88 billion.

source: Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/30/yehey/business/20071030bus6.html)

NEDA OK’s new Iloilo airport cost overruns

THE Cabinet committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the increase in the project cost of the new Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP).

The NEDA said it approved the P2.572 billion increase, or 42 percent higher than the approved cost of P6.2 billion.

The cost overrun was due to the change in scope owing to additional civil works and consultancy services.

The project, which was completed in April, involves the construction of a new domestic trunk line airport of international standards at the Sta. Barbara/Cabatuan site to replace the existing airport at Manduriao.

The NIADP enjoyed funding from the Special Yen Loan Package Agreement of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The airport’s runway is 2,500 meters by 45 meters and could accommodate Airbus 330s with seating capacities of 276. The apron is 48,200 square meters, which can accommodate 6 aircraft at one time.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is the implementing agency.

In addition, the NEDA approved the P8.65 billion Agrarian Reform Communities Project Phase II of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The project aims to increase the income of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and improve the quality of life in those communities .
--Darwin G. Amojelar

source: Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/30/yehey/business/20071030bus9.html)

ATI chief prefers Dinagyang color left to option of each tribe
By Wenceslao E. Mateo Jr.

ASSCIATION of Tribes Inc. (ATI) president Carlos Ebro prefers that the Dinagyang ’08 color be left to the decision of each tribe participating in the Dinagyang ati-atihan competitions.

Ebro said this in reaction to the remark of Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, following the public hearing on the issue last October 24 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod conference room.

The vice mayor stressed that while it appeared nobody in the public hearing objected to the idea proposed by the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, he would prefer that the tribes themselves finally decide on it, as it is they who will first be affected by the burden of both labor and psychological impact of the change of color.

The ATI president said that, personally, he does not like the idea of changing the signature color of Dinagyang in Dagoy (the mascot) and the tribes from soot black to dark brown, which the Foundation recommended.

“We have been widely known here and in the country, as well as abroad, on this color (soot black). This has already been fondly etched in the minds of tourists and their relatives and friends to whom they have relayed it back home. I do not therefore see why a change in color would help improve the image of the Dinagyang,” he said.

“This change of color might even weaken our promotional value,” Ebro even added.

Nonetheless, giving the Foundation the benefit of the doubt, Ebro said he would leave the decision to each tribe.

“Let them decide as to whether what color to use – dark brown, the usual but most popular soot black color, or any other color they would want,” he said.

source: The ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1595&Itemid=137)

TIGKARALAG in Pavia turns 15
By BOMBETTE MARIN

AS early as the last week of October, Catholic Filipino families begin cleaning their relatives' graves in preparation for the celebration of All Soul’s Day and All Saints’ Day.

Catholics attend a special Requiem masses on All Soul’s Day or Memorial Day every 2nd day of November where they remember those who dear to them that have died. On that day, most families have picnic starting from lunch until dinner on the graves of their relatives. Prayers for the dead are said and candles are lit to honor their memory. The practice of leaving food for dead is also observed.

There are many customs associated with All Souls Day, and these vary greatly from culture to culture. The celebration of Halloween is not to be missed.

Pavia, a fourth-class town, 9.6 kilometers from the city, town folks are getting ready for a night of trick-or-treating in celebration of All Soul’s Day known as TIGKARALAG Festival on October 30, 2007, 7 p.m. at the municipal plaza. The festival is the only one of its kind in the entire province.

Now on its 15th year, contesting barangays in glowing pumpkin faces, scary masks and costumes amuse visitors with their ghost stories and creepy tales interpreted through dance.

The dance presentations are based on tales of traditional ghost stories and myths. It tells stories of haunted houses, graveyards and the popular theme - dangerous and frightening folktale creatures, like the manananggal, aswang, kapre, white lady and the manugbarang.

Tigkaralag in Pavia is a lovely time of the year to indulge in the folk customs of our community that add some charm to our lives.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/people%20places%20events.htm)


Palm oil development project eyed in Dueñas

The municipality of Dueñas, Iloilo is urging the provincial government here to adopt its Oil Palm Development Project as one of the priority projects of the province and consequently establish an oil mill in the area.

^^welcome to SSC-Iloilo @Febykates!

thanks incognito_rn! :-) i enjoy reading this thread and being a lurker, sometimes :-) keep it up!

Welcome Febykates! Enjoy your stay here in SSC-PH! :wave:

thanks soulmaker! i enjoy reading this thread, missing Iloilo City so much!:)

Megaworld plans P2.5-B BPO hub in Mactan
By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Inquirer
Last updated 02:06am (Mla time) 10/30/2007


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Close this Property firm Megaworld Corp. plans to build a mixed-use office and leisure hub on Mactan Island in the central Philippines city of Cebu, a company official said.

Initially, development of the 25-hectare complex of business process outsourcing (BPO) and leisure facilities, near the Shangri-La resort hotel on Mactan, is estimated to cost P2.5 billion, Megaworld executive director Kingson Sian said.

Megaworld owns part of the property and plans to acquire the rest of it, Sian said.

Details of the project have yet to be finalized, he said.

Megaworld is planning a BPO “triangle” that has Manila as apex, the Cebu hub, and a recently acquired 54-hectare property in Iloilo province, a former airport site.

“Iloilo and Cebu will garner a lot of the BPO companies because of the talent they have,” Sian said.
For the Iloilo project, Megaworld is allotting initially P2.7 billion to acquire and develop the airport lot into a business district.
It expects that project to serve as a magnet for BPO companies interested in setting up shop in the Visayas region. The project includes BPO office buildings and training facilities.

Iloilo is the center of commerce and education in the Western Visayas region, and is home to six universities.
Megaworld has set aside P12 billion for capital expenditures next year. With INQUIRER.net

Megaworld plans P2.5-B BPO hub in Mactan
By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Inquirer
Last updated 02:06am (Mla time) 10/30/2007



Property firm Megaworld Corp. plans to build a mixed-use office and leisure hub on Mactan Island in the central Philippines city of Cebu, a company official said.

Initially, development of the 25-hectare complex of business process outsourcing (BPO) and leisure facilities, near the Shangri-La resort hotel on Mactan, is estimated to cost P2.5 billion, Megaworld executive director Kingson Sian said.

Megaworld owns part of the property and plans to acquire the rest of it, Sian said.

Details of the project have yet to be finalized, he said.

Megaworld is planning a BPO “triangle” that has Manila as apex, the Cebu hub, and a recently acquired 54-hectare property in Iloilo province, a former airport site.

“Iloilo and Cebu will garner a lot of the BPO companies because of the talent they have,” Sian said.

For the Iloilo project, Megaworld is allotting initially P2.7 billion to acquire and develop the airport lot into a business district.

It expects that project to serve as a magnet for BPO companies interested in setting up shop in the Visayas region. The project includes BPO office buildings and training facilities.Iloilo is the center of commerce and education in the Western Visayas region, and is home to six universities.

Megaworld has set aside P12 billion for capital expenditures next year. With INQUIRER.net

^^ thanks for sharing the article with us, betro. The "BPO Traingle" looks very promising thing for Philippine Economy..

Btw, I'll copy article you've posted to other Iloilo threads. Cheers.

^^^ that's good to hear! It would be great to see a lot of developments in Iloilo especially in creating more jobs for the people. :)

that's right, febykates and welcome to SSC. Enjoy posting around ! :banana::banana:

by the way, a good source told me that last week

GEORGIA INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

had a groundbreaking inside Savannah. It's a new elementary school in the making within the subdivision.

Any info or pics?

^^it seems none of us here is aware of that.

Megaworld earmarks P12-B for 2008 capex

Property giant Megaworld Corp. is spending P12 billion in capital expenditure next year for its existing and future projects.

Kingson Sian, Megaworld senior vice-president and executive director, told reporters that the capex would cover the development of the 54.5-hectare old Iloilo airport lot, which the company acquired from the government for P1.2 billion, and another 25-hectare property in Mactan, Cebu.

The property developer would initially spend P1.5 billion for the construction of business process outsourcing (BPO) buildings, a hotel and the retail component of the Iloilo project next year.

Other projects included in the capex are City Place in Manila's China Town, consisting of seven, 35-storey condominiums; the 25-hectare Newport City, a residential resort project in Villamor; McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio Global City; and the 20-tower condominium Manhattan Garden City at Araneta Center in Cubao.

Sian said Megaworld sees its middle-income residential sales as well as its office space rentals as main growth drivers next year.

As of the first half of 2007, the company generated P21 billion in cash, of which P15.75 billion would be used to build its BPO portfolio. The remaining P5.25 billion would be used to increase its landbank.

Sian said the company plans to develop 1 million square meters (sqm) of office space in 10 years, 500,000 sqm of which would be completed in the next five years. -Judith Balea

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

Treñas represents Southeast Asia
in eco gab in South Korea

ILOILO City -- Mayor Jerry Treñas flew to Jeju, South Korea and represented South East Asia in the Executive Committee Meeting of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) on October 27-28.

Among the topics that were discussed during the conference were the positions of ICLEI, approaches, tools and solutions, campaign on government and management relative to their Climate Change strategy; climate events; upcoming conferences; business strategies and partnerships.

Before he left Friday last week, Treñas expressed hope to bring home projects and likewise to extend the networking and linkages of the city.

“Networking is very important especially for small cities like us,” he said.

The mayor further emphasized that all his expenses were shouldered by ICLEI and the government of Jeju, South Korea.

Treñas replaced former mayor Mary Jean Ortega of San Fernando City, La Union whose term ended last June, as member of the Executive Committee Meeting of the ICLEI.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo4.htm)

Province holds LGU-NGOs-NGAs forum

(Iloilo City, October 24, 2007) -- "How could the benefits of complementation and coordination in implementing development programs between the province of Iloilo, NGAs and NGOs be maximized?" This is the stirring issue that led the Iloilo Provincial Government to hold a forum with concerned NGAs and NGOs last September 17, 2007 at the Provincial Capitol.

Designed as a complementation workshop, the province, represented by Provincial Government Department Heads (PGDH), representatives of different National Government Agencies (NGAs) and those from the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) pointed out issues and concerns affecting their partnership in the delivery goods and services to the public.

They also discussed the breakthrough and challenges they encountered in doing the same and how to achieve efficiency in the delivery of such services, particularly in the province of Iloilo, by adapting a functional mechanism.

The participants also came up with a workable structure, process and mechanism that would serve as guides in harmonizing and sustaining the partnership between the IPG, NGAs and NGOs.

"During the discussion of issues and concerns in the workshop we made it a point to consider as guides the pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code, the three-year development thrust of the province and the documentary on recipients of Galing Pook Hall of Fame award in the field interagency coordination and partnership," said Ivy Bromo, Planning Officer II of PPDO.

In closing, Bromo opined, "this forum/workshop was held as a supplementary undertaking to the consultation workshop held on September 3, 2007 for PGDH of Iloilo Provincial Government, and its outputs will aid the stakeholders (province, NGAs & NGOs) in efficiently facilitating the development of Iloilo province by addressing the challenges and designing mechanism which will harmonize their efforts towards the delivery of goods and services to the public."

source: Province of Iloilo Official Website (http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=435&Itemid=1)

Provincial Development Council reorganizes
Written by Jigger P. Labergue (PPDO, Information Officer)
Friday, 26 October 2007

(October 25, 2007, Iloilo City) -- Pursuant to Sec. 106-105 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides that at the start of the term "... the provincial governor shall call for a joint organizational meeting to reconstitute and convene the local special bodies primarily to discuss its functions and to initially explore partnerships in local governance and development," as chairman, Hon. Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. called a reorganizational meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) on September 24, 2007 at the Provincial Capitol.

All the members of the Council, who are mayors of municipalities and 1 component city, chairman of the Committee on Appropriation of SP, representatives of congressmen and NGOs, attended the said meeting. Also present in the meeting to record the proceedings were personnel of PPDO, being the Council's mandated Secretariat.

The main agendum of the meeting, which is the selection of representatives to local special bodies (particularly to PDC) from NGOs, which have been accredited in accordance with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2007-81, was presided by Ms. Janet Naldoza, Asst. Provincial Director of DILG. Thereafter, committees of the council were created and organized, in which all the members manifested their intention to join.

The meeting then proceeded to the discussion of the functions of Local Special Bodies, focusing more on those of the PDC such as formulation of long term, medium term, and annual socio economic development plans and policies, formulation of annual public investment programs and several others as provided for in Par. (d) 1, Art. 182 of Implementing Rules of R.A. 7160.

A discussion as to partnerships in local governance and development was also undertaken during the meeting. It tackled mainly the ideal cooperation and coordination between and among stakeholders, in programs and projects formulation and implementation in the province of Iloilo.

Mrs. Ivy Promo, PO II of PPDO said, "this meeting is a mandated proceeding, held particularly to ensure that all sectors are well represented and involved in development planning as well as to have the efforts of the provincial government together with other government agencies directed towards the improvement of lives coordinated and efficiently carried out."
Last Updated ( Friday, 26 October 2007 )

source: Panay News (http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=436&Itemid=1)

he he. I'm waiting for more updates. It seems that features for the thest few weeks are parties, dancing competitions, etc. :)

no probs, metro. I think as December nears, more fashion shows will be "on" in Cosmo Iloilo.

I think IloIlo should produce it's own fashion magazine that features indigenous and modern fabrics, dyes, and other raw materials. Anyone interested - Cosmo IloIlo would be a nice name.

Megaworld to develop BPO triangle

By Likha C. Cuevas-Miel, Reporter

MEGAWORLD Corp. said it would start developing its project in the Visayas next year to complete its Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) triangle. On the sidelines of a Citi-secOnline briefing, Kingson Sian, Megaworld senior vice president and executive director, said the property firm is finalizing its masterplan for the newly acquired 54-hectare Iloilo property. The aforementioned project, together with the planned live-work-play development in Cebu and BPO complexes in Metro Manila would comprise Megaworld’s BPO triangle, which it intends to grow in the next few years. At present, Megaworld is talking to prospective locators in the Iloilo BPO hub, some of which would require 75,000 square meters of office space for the next 3 to 4 years. Construction for the low-density BPO buildings with 3 to 6 levels and retail stores would start next year. Megaworld’s initial investment for the Iloilo project would reach P2.7 billion, P1.5 billion of which would go to construction alone while the balance was already paid to the government for the old airport site.
...
source: Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/30/yehey/business/20071030bus6.html)

I can almost see it! I hope the buildings will be really nice and have lots of green around them. Hope we see taller buildings in the next phases!

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/55/500x500/121/IMGP1539.JPG?et=7BytogtN38wZhgnyjmbzqA

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/55/500x500/115/IMGP1545.JPG?et=Vb666j4aXTythnC6sLkhyg


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http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/55/500x500/124/IMGP1536.JPG?et=eaZfQp7F7UoT%2CF5nshZrDA

Calle Real (JM Basa Street), Downtown Iloilo City.
From L to R: Cine Regent, Solange-Villanueva Bldg and Javellana Bldg, all from the 1920's.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/87/500x500/24/IMGP1520.JPG?et=pHBOM6%2C6MZeGc22W%2B4mVqQ

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Plazoleta Gay facing Calle Ledesma.

Calle Real (JM Basa Street), Downtown Iloilo City.
From L to R: Cine Regent, Solange-Villanueva Bldg and Javellana Bldg, all from the 1920's.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/87/500x500/24/IMGP1520.JPG?et=pHBOM6%2C6MZeGc22W%2B4mVqQ

The Regent Theatre Building should be expropriated and turned into a museum on the ground level and an auditorium on the second level.

It is a disgrace that one of our city's more famous landmarks, is now being used as a haven for perverts seeking instant sexual favors inside its dark halls.

^^imo, it's one of those structural icons worth the meticulous attention of our historical restorers. this was built during the gilded age of the city.

hi folks!

this is my third day here in iloilo and i enjoy every minute of it. progress is in the air and party is everywhere. lain na gid ya comparar sang una sang ari pa ko di gaobra.

by the way, i had a chance to meet three of the forumers yesterday (first time ko nagpa ciudad). i really enjoy chatting with you guys and i really appreciate your effort to come eventhough i know you're all busy. si berny ayawan hulat kay na late ako kay ang traffic, sobra. gamayan lang ko malipong along the way sa sobra kainiton kag kabalhason. i did really enjoy chatting with bernie kay ka spontaneous gid ya sang conversation. me and IAMME share the same name (mas gwapo lang sya ugaling sa akon)...he he he...kag puro gid sila alamon ya...he he he...chymera...well...initally was very quiet. indi suited ang image ya di sa scc actual ya nga personality. abi ko hard hard sya, indi gali. soft spoken nga tawo and as the time went by, naging chatty na sya kay we share the same profession. we all enjoyed a nice meal in (nalipatan ko ang ngalan sang resto) and we walked from that resto in gen. hughes street to plazoleta gay as bernie was taking pictures. no matter how much i would like to stay with you guys but have to leave kay daw wala pa ko tu maumpawi sang sinakit sang ulo ko sang traffic kag init...

guys, thanks gid! hope we meet again while i'm still here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/1808617889_f55d3d599a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/1809464336_e259ece81a.jpg

Bombo Radyo

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1809455660_c4fb1b714d.jpg

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The view wasn't very spectacular since you could probably have a better view at the aduana :D

This was the only pic I got from the 7th floor. Me thinking the view at the roof deck (9th floor) would be much better

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/1809455028_18c059790f.jpg

Pictures from our Iloilo Waterfront Tour with Pacific ad Bernie

Around the vicinity of the Iloilo City Hall

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2265/1808611725_9d30a4e5ff.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/1808610947_60b7d95315.jpg

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Muelle Loney (River Wharf)

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Old Mansion Ruins along Gen Hughes
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/1809463036_92ad418955.jpg

Fort San Pedro

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Miagao Municipal Hall

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/1808574261_0af64a244a.jpg

Oton Market

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/1809454456_c28051d84c.jpg

^^oh, Sweet! Superb Pics , i love it! Thanks Chy & Bern.

The Regent Theatre Building should be expropriated and turned into a museum on the ground level and an auditorium on the second level.


^^Totally agree with the idea, i actually have the same idea for this historical structure. Can ICCHCC buy the building and make it its pet project in Calle Real, so that others in that historical row can follow?

^^Totally agree with the idea, i actually have the same idea for this historical structure. Can ICCHCC buy the building and make it its pet project in Calle Real, so that others in that historical row can follow?

They can't as of this moment and they might go on for the legal battle against the owners.

Another problem is that the old owners (and I mean most of them are old) of the buildings doesn't have a concept of heritage conservation and the important thing is just to rent it, may it be a brothel or a gay bar. :(

For example: The International Hotel Bldg owner's (Villanueva Bldg cor JMBasa-Aldeguer) nephew is the owner of the Iloilo Harbour View Hotel and despite the plans to have it restored & beautified and planned as an extention of the latter, the owner (or his uncle) refuses to have it maintained. "Ok lang kuno sa iya kay gina-renta man na. Waay na sya kuno labot kay kagasto kuno hambal sang tigulang" :ohno:

@Alimol. Thanks for the treat and the meet. We will meet before you leave for Birmingham again. Have a safe trip to Cebu and Bora. Ma-text lang kami sa imo kag text ka man. :D

wow, it seems that bernie and i have the same alma matter! :)

wow, it seems that bernie and i have the same alma matter! =)

They can't as of this moment and they might go on for the legal battle against the owners.

Another problem is that the old owners (and I mean most of them are old) of the buildings doesn't have a concept of heritage conservation and the important thing is just to rent it, may it be a brothel or a gay bar. :(

For example: The International Hotel Bldg owner's (Villanueva Bldg cor JMBasa-Aldeguer) nephew is the owner of the Iloilo Harbour View Hotel and despite the plans to have it restored & beautified and planned as an extention of the latter, the owner (or his uncle) refuses to have it maintained. "Ok lang kuno sa iya kay gina-renta man na. Waay na sya kuno labot kay kagasto kuno hambal sang tigulang" :ohno:

@Alimol. Thanks for the treat and the meet. We will meet before you leave for Birmingham again. Have a safe trip to Cebu and Bora. Ma-text lang kami sa imo kag text ka man. :D

wow it seems to be that bernie and i have the same alma mater :)

wow, it seems that bernie and i have the same alma matter! =)

Are you a UP alumnus/a? :D Then we're three in SSC! :banana: :D

Anyway, Jaro Belfry by 6:30PM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/8/photos/102/500x500/1/IMGP1492.JPG?et=rTnSPTA7yNgg2q7LVi%2BbHQ

Farm-to-market roads to
benefit Western Visayas

ILOILO City – The Western Visayas region stands to benefit from the 119 Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects under the government’s Anti-Hunger Program (AHP) covered by the Central Philippines super region thrusts.

So far, in Central Philippines, 221.38 kilometers out of 500.25 kilometers of FMRs targeted for the entire year have already been constructed.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has realized the construction of about 484 kilometers of FMRs all over the country, creating 3,811 jobs in the process as it pursues the Arroyo administration flagship program to mitigate hunger among rural families.

Yap said under the DA’s regular program which also pursued the government’s Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP), a total of 346 kilometers of FMRs were built, while another 138 kilometers were also constructed as part of foreign assisted and locally funded projects as of October 5.

Yap, as a cabinet secretary, is among the Anti-Hunger Focal Persons who is responsible in speeding up the AHMP and the DA as among the agencies composing the AHMP Task Force, created by President Arroyo for the same purpose.

DA records show that the Arroyo administration has built a total of 905 kilometers of FMRs across the country’s “super regions” in the first half of 2007, with Agribusiness Mindanao as the biggest beneficiary, having 317.91 kilometers, built as of June 30, out of the 1,000 kilometers target..

The DA’s FMR projects this year are expected to benefit over 220,000 farmers nationwide.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business1.htm)

hi folks!

this is my third day here in iloilo and i enjoy every minute of it. progress is in the air and party is everywhere. lain na gid ya comparar sang una sang ari pa ko di gaobra.

by the way, i had a chance to meet three of the forumers yesterday (first time ko nagpa ciudad). i really enjoy chatting with you guys and i really appreciate your effort to come eventhough i know you're all busy. si berny ayawan hulat kay na late ako kay ang traffic, sobra. gamayan lang ko malipong along the way sa sobra kainiton kag kabalhason. i did really enjoy chatting with bernie kay ka spontaneous gid ya sang conversation. me and IAMME share the same name (mas gwapo lang sya ugaling sa akon)...he he he...kag puro gid sila alamon ya...he he he...chymera...well...initally was very quiet. indi suited ang image ya di sa scc actual ya nga personality. abi ko hard hard sya, indi gali. soft spoken nga tawo and as the time went by, naging chatty na sya kay we share the same profession. we all enjoyed a nice meal in (nalipatan ko ang ngalan sang resto) and we walked from that resto in gen. hughes street to plazoleta gay as bernie was taking pictures. no matter how much i would like to stay with you guys but have to leave kay daw wala pa ko tu maumpawi sang sinakit sang ulo ko sang traffic kag init...

guys, thanks gid! hope we meet again while i'm still here.
Nice meeting you too Alimol ... amo guid ko na ya, hehe.
BTW, ga lingin man gyapon ulo ko sa kiniray-a nyo ni bernie. Amo na nga nag hipos lang ko anay, hehe
^^oh, Sweet! Superb Pics , i love it! Thanks Chy & Bern.
Welcome ^_^ more to come

Tourism Excellence Awards
for Western Visayas set

ILOILO City -- This year’s Western Visayas Tourism Excellence Awards (WVTEA) is slated on November 14, 2007 at Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City in Negros Occidental, with various awards up for grabs in seven categories.

The WVTEA is one of the highlights of the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly hosted by the province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City from November 12 to 18.

Department of Tourism 6 (DOT-6) Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said the WVTEA aims to recognize institutions and individuals who have contributed to the promotion and development of tourism in Western Visayas.

The seven award categories include institutional awards, creative awards, individual awards, destination, special awards, lifetime achievement awards and the Regional Director’s awards.

The awards that will be given under the institutional category include Western Visayas’ Best Hotel (First class, Standard class, Economy class), Best Special Accommodation Facility, Best Resort, Best Restaurant, Best Tour Operator, Best Tourism Event, Best Tourism Convention/Marketing Bureau, Best Tourism Council/ Association, Best LGU (Provincial/City /Component City/Municipal), Best Tourist Transport Operator.

For the creative category, the awards are Best Tour Package, Best Travel Writer and Best Travel Publication while awards for the Individual category are Best Tour Guide, Best Tourism Frontliner, Best Taxi Driver, Best Tourist Transport Driver and Best Tourism Officer Award.

The Destination Award will be presented to a destination in recognition of its contribution to the development and promotion of the tourism industry through the cooperative efforts exhibited by both private and local government sector.

Special awards will also be given such as Western Visayas’ Best Eco-Tourism Product and Best Business Practice while the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individual in recognition of his/her noteworthy career as a tourism practitioner.

Given as a special award, the Regional Director’s Award recognizes an outstanding contribution by an individual or a private organization to the development and promotion of the tourism industry in the region. This contribution should have a significant impact and bring about long term positive benefits to the industry.

Aside from the WVTE Awards, other events during the 2007 WV Tourism Assembly are: from November 12 to 18, Regional Tourism Fair and Regional Cultural Showcase at SM City Bacolod; November 12 to 14 at Regional Travel Exchange at Sugarland Hotel; November 14, Regional Tourism Congress at L’Fisher Hotel; November 15, Tourism Olympics at SM City and Search for Miss WV Tourism at the Provincial Capitol; November 16 to 17, Regional Food Festival at SM City Carpark; and November 16, Regional Parade of Festivals in Bacolod City.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo4.htm)

^^^^ this could be a good way to gauge whether Iloilo is improving in terms of tourism promotion or not. Otherwise, we need to double our efforts more and more to develop our tourism strategy.

P4-billion anti-flood project on track
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

A YEAR after the winning contractors of the P4-billion Iloilo Flood Control Project (IFCP) started the construction works, Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday said it’s on track for completion on December 2008.

The project was launched October last year at Barangay Ticud in La Paz district, the site of four barrels 15-meter wide or about two-storey deep box culvert which will drain floodwaters and push the water-flow up to the Jaro River Mouth.

“The flood control project is on time for its completion on December 2008,” Treñas stressed, referring to the works of contractors China International Water and Electric Corp. and Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.

He added that another P4.2 billion will be needed for IFCP’s Stage 2.

“I push for the implementation of Stage 2 but a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) representative said it would take a three-year evaluation and 1-year approval. I won’t be the mayor anymore,” Treñas explained.

The mayor said Stage 1 of the project involves rehabilitation of Carpenter Bridge linking Molo and Mandurriao districts, embankments at Iloilo River, floodway from Pavia to the city, improvement of Ticud Creek in La Paz, and construction of two service roads and six bridges in several waterways.

A five-kilometer 100-meter wide floodway which looks like a “new river” in Brgy. Tacas, Jaro district will be installed to divert the huge volume of floodwater flowing down the city from Tigum and Aganan rivers in Pavia.

He said Stage 2 will cover the improvements of Jaro River Mouth and Dungon Creek, among others.

Earlier, Treñas said the project is the fruit of local officials’ tireless efforts in wooing the President to allocate counterpart funds to realize the implementation.

The project is financed through a loan provided by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

“There had been reports that the project faced cancellation because there was no counterpart budget from the national government. But we had succeeded (in getting) the President’s nod to support the project,” Treñas said.

He added that city officials, barangay captains, urban poor and even local business sectors had petitioned to President Gloria Arroyo for the IFCP to push through.

“The President said she owed a lot to the Ilonggos because of the big votes she gained here during the 2004 elections reason why she ensured the project’s funding,” said Treñas.

The mayor said the IFCP became the biggest development plan for the city.

He added that some 3,000 projected-affected families who are mostly squatters are provided with a 32-hecatre relocation site to be furnished with needed facilities and services like road, drainage system, lighting, school, mini-market and bridge in Brgy. San Isidro in Jaro district.

“These are good projects that will contribute to local development,” Treñas said.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/).

Suspended Ruins

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/1809463710_233bd7194c.jpg

Tigbauan

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/1808606515_c498af0e02.jpg

New Proposed Market

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/1809453746_b45edba40b.jpg

Saludan Festival

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I'm interested, what happened to this mansion? Oh I love neo-classical buildings.

Suspended Ruins

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/1809463710_233bd7194c.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/1809463036_92ad418955.jpg

^^ That's what they call the Laguda house. Before, Gen. Hughes and Calle Sto. Rosario (named as the oldest street in Iloilo) was the address to be for the Ilonggo elite who wanted to have seaside villas. Eventually, as time goes by, the elite gradually moved out to suburbia (Jaro, Molo, Villa, La Paz or Mandurriao or even outside the city) leaving the seaside villas either to be rented, sold or given to caretakers.

The only progress that I see so far is the soil investigation on the northern end of the runway. The place near the residences at the north and the terminal are heavily guarded.

But I tried to tresspass all the way to the edge of the runway. :D

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1597.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1598.jpg
Even the Miaque resto's are included in the sale (I guess because there is a mark stating its Megaworld property)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1601.jpg
Old Terminal

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1602.jpg
On its way to the rubble

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1603.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1605.jpg
Hello Henry Sy! :D

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1606.jpg
Runway

Susme, its heavily guarded! After that, I just ran away kay basi maispatan ako sang gwardya, interrogasyon na ina. :lol:

Heavily guarded.Wow! I never imagined that megaworld will be this serious with Iloilo project.

If I have to take a picture of the cemeteries around the city and the province today, almost half of the population is there. :D

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1590.jpg
Molo Centro

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1593.jpg
U/C Carpenter Bridge in Molo-Mandurriao Area

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1579.jpg
Deserted thoroughfare. General Luna Street this afternoon

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/1754798053_9fd3b34242_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/1755629344_9aa6e08215_m.jpg

Speaking of my pinalanggang simbahan sang Pavia:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1573.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1575.jpg
And the brick that was used and still be used. Bricks marked as La Paz and La Castellana



Anyway, around Barangay Tap-Oc Molo, several ancestral houses are located:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1584.jpg
The landmark of Molo. Iglesia de Santa Ana

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1585.jpg
Casa Locsin (1800's) to the left. I forgot who owns the right house

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1587.jpg
Casa Pison. This ancestral house was used in the "Yellow Sofa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya recently that is stared by Ketchup Eusebio and Gina Pareño.

wow nice pictures Bernie ..

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1590.jpg
Molo Church looks so tall!

re: casa locsin, is this the house along san jose st? if it is, then this is the house my mom grew up in and is the current residence of vice-mayor jed. the house on the right is owned by the lazaro's.

^^^^ wonderful photos ! :banana::banana::banana::banana:

hi folks!

this is my third day here in iloilo and i enjoy every minute of it. progress is in the air and party is everywhere. lain na gid ya comparar sang una sang ari pa ko di gaobra.

by the way, i had a chance to meet three of the forumers yesterday (first time ko nagpa ciudad). i really enjoy chatting with you guys and i really appreciate your effort to come eventhough i know you're all busy. si berny ayawan hulat kay na late ako kay ang traffic, sobra. gamayan lang ko malipong along the way sa sobra kainiton kag kabalhason. i did really enjoy chatting with bernie kay ka spontaneous gid ya sang conversation. me and IAMME share the same name (mas gwapo lang sya ugaling sa akon)...he he he...kag puro gid sila alamon ya...he he he...chymera...well...initally was very quiet. indi suited ang image ya di sa scc actual ya nga personality. abi ko hard hard sya, indi gali. soft spoken nga tawo and as the time went by, naging chatty na sya kay we share the same profession. we all enjoyed a nice meal in (nalipatan ko ang ngalan sang resto) and we walked from that resto in gen. hughes street to plazoleta gay as bernie was taking pictures. no matter how much i would like to stay with you guys but have to leave kay daw wala pa ko tu maumpawi sang sinakit sang ulo ko sang traffic kag init...

guys, thanks gid! hope we meet again while i'm still here.
Enjoy Alimol. Keep us updated sang mga nagakatabo sa Iloilo.

At the Back of Santa Barbara Church

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/1808586035_1c5df42e05.jpg

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Golf Course

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New Ilolio Airport Access Road and Landscape Pyramids

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Paseo de Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara Irrigation Dam - built during 1916

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At the Back of Santa Barbara Church

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informative as it is lovely!:)

Wow! Fully loaded sang mga pictures ang thread ah!

Salamat guid sa inyo!

chy, sa may Lapuz ka dampi nag-shot sini? Dumduman ko pa sang una gamay pa ko gasaka ako sa puno sang Starapple namon makita ko ang Muelle Loney area kag mga barko nga galabay. Hehehe! Subong indi na ko kasaka basi mabali ang sanga hulugan ko atop namon.



Muelle Loney (River Wharf)

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Wow! Fully loaded sang mga pictures ang thread ah!

Salamat guid sa inyo!
that's right, Lew. Photos and all.

I likethe back of Sta Barbara's Church just in case the sculptures are carved in its very wall. It's like a story of the past told by drawings or sculptures. Pyramids have this kind of walls where everything were told thru depicting sculpts and drawings in its walls. Same with churches in Rome as well.

New Ilolio Airport Access Road and Landscape Pyramids

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/1808578521_be63904b0b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/1809429442_35063e9c5a.jpg



I'm kinda curious with the new structure in the second photo. Is this a house, a small resto in the making, etc?

Treñas urges newly-elected brgy officials to lead solid waste management campaign

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is urging newly-elected barangay officials to be at the forefront of the city's campaign on solid waste management.

This, as Treñas announced his plan to hold a series of seminars on solid waste, cleanliness, peace and order, barangay justice, and crime prevention for the newly elected barangay officials.

Treñas said the city government will sit down with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to have these topics included in the seminar-trainings that are periodically conducted by the DILG.

The mayor said it is necessary to hold the seminars, particularly for the new and first-time winners in last Monday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Treñas stressed that barangay officials must lead the drive to keep the city garbage-free for it to continue attracting investors and tourists, as well as to maintain the health and safety of the Ilonggos.

It can be noted that the city government has tasked the barangay officials to maintain a materials recovery facility (MRF) in their respective barangays to promote waste segregation.

The mayor cited that for garbage management to become effective it should start from the barangay level.

Iloilo City presently holds the title of being the cleanest and greenest highly urbanized city in the region. (PNA)

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/10/31/trenas.urges.newly.elected.brgy.officials.to.lead.solid.waste.management.campaign.html)

hi, nice to be back again.

damo na guid improvements. i hope megaworld will show more than my expectations to them.

Golf Course

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/1809430306_cd1d9e409c.jpg

beautiful! pang post card. :okay:

Wow! The pictures are feast to the eyes. Keep it coming guys.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1587.jpg
Casa Pison. This ancestral house was used in the "Yellow Sofa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya recently that is stared by Ketchup Eusebio and Gina Pareño.

^^ I got curious, so, i watched the episode of MMK, it was a dramedy by the way. My grandma was laughing together with me. The episode also showed some Iloilo landmarks.

welcome back, caloy and awaiting more developments for Iloilo.

Hala Bira ! :banana::banana::banana::banana:

SUCCESSFUL businessman and contractor Samuel Hortelano has just opened his restaurant on Airport Road, Iloilo City.
The name is “Roadside Garden Grill and Restaurant.”

Adjacent to his restaurant is “P & R Boutique & Gift shop” which is managed by his loving wife.
The boutique shop is a display of various fashion designs for men and women.
Those who visited Sammy’s restaurant want to come back again.

any idea or info about these two businesses? Pics are always welcome here. he he

ANILAO Celebrates BANAAG Festival
By Bombette G. Marin
Photos by Romeo “Toby” Pagulayan, Jr. (PALI)

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/trsm1O31.jpg http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/trsm2O31.jpg http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/trsm3O31.jpg

AFTER four years of delivering one of the most unique and colorful festivals in Iloilo, BANAAG is once more aglow as Anilao celebrates its foundation anniversary.

From November 1-3, 2007, the province of Iloilo will celebrate artistic performances inspired by fire and light at the 5th BANAAG Fesival highlighted by spectacular open-air exhibition of dances with fire art in Anilao.

The centerpiece and finale of the festival is the tribe competition. The celebratory night of lights and color is Nov. 3, 6 pm, at the town plaza.
On that evening, Anilaonons come together to explore the beauty and mystery of life: history through this light-heartedImage ritual of upbeat performances in ecstatic bliss, connecting and transforming.

A modernized theatrical interpretation of Anilao’s history, the cultural presentation revisits the significance of light that once saved their lives as they fought for freedom against the Spanish conquistadores.

Banaag Festival is a celebration life and spirit through the pathways of movement and music. It is a heady mix of beauty and artistry. The fire performances are mesmeric and enchanting. Here, you see dancers who work with fire, taming and shaping this wild element. Flames flicker on the poles carried by performers; dancers spin flaming torches and hoops of fire.

As drums and percussion instruments play, dancers bring their voices to chant with their feet dancing round and round and bringing their hearts to share this fantastically fun cultural presentation of fire and festival with the community.

The dancers follow stringent guidelines in the proper use and inspection of props and tools, as well as vigorously trained in safety procedures.

The celebration is committed to providing the safest possible performance experience.

BANAAG in Anilao is a community that share passion for celebratory connection, and positive personal growth. Their joy is to work and celebrate together as they are guided by their intention to stand as one in order to achieve growth and prosperity.

Spend an evening in harmony with a welcoming community of Anilao exploring diverse pathways, but united in the spirit of this joyous celebration, deep listening and infectious groove.

Anilao is located 40 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City. It is bounded in the north by the town of San Enrique; the highest mountain of the town in the west; in the south by Barotac Nuevo; and the Guimaras Strait in the east.

With 21 barangays, the town is headed by municipal mayor Maria Theresa Debuque.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

TIGKARALAG in Pavia turns 15
By Bombette G. Marin

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/TIGkaralag.JPG

As early as the last week of October, Catholic Filipinos begin cleaning their relatives' graves in preparation for All Soul’s Day.

Although considered a public holiday, people commemorate All Saints' Day on November 1st.

It is when Catholics attend church services in honor of saints, martyrs and those who died for the Catholic faith.

Some people visit their family’s graves and beautify them with flowers and candles. Sometimes, a mass is also said at the gravesite and the graves are sprinkled with holy water.

Catholics attend a special Requiem masses on All Soul’s Day (or Memorial Day to some) every Nov. 2 where they remember their dearly departed.

The Church commemorates and prays for the souls in purgatory, undergoing purification of their sins before entering heaven. On that day, most families have picnic starting from lunch till dinner on the graveside of their relatives as this is a day of remembrance, happiness and celebration.

Prayers for the dead are said and candles are lit in their memory. The practice of leaving food out for dead relatives is also observed.

There are many customs associated with All Souls Day, and these vary greatly from culture to culture. The celebration of Halloween is not to be missed.

In a little over a week it will be Halloween. And in Pavia, a fourth-class town some 9.6 kilometers away from the city, the townsfolk are getting ready for a night of trick-or-treating as they hold their Inter-Barangay Halloween Dance Drama competition through TIGKARALAG Festival.

TIGKARALAG Festival, the only one of its kind in the entire province, will be celebrated Oct. 30, 7 p.m. at the municipal plaza.

Now on its 15th year, contesting barangays in glowing pumpkin faces, scary masks and costumes amuse visitors with their ghost stories and creepy tales interpreted through dance amidst a very large crowd on a chilly night.

The dance presentations are based on tales of traditional ghost stories and more modern myths. The subject matter ranges from haunted houses to graveyards with most tales centering on the theme of popular, dangerous and frightening folktale creatures such as the ever-popular manananggal, aswang, kapre, white lady and the manugbarang.

So, don’t be scared. Let's have fun. Tigkaralag in Pavia is a lovely time of year to indulge in the folk customs of our community that add some charm to our lives.

But for a truly memorable Halloween, let us commemorate and pray for our departed brothers and sisters and celebrate death in rejoicing with the light of our Lord Jesus Christ.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

<div align="center">ANILAO Celebrates BANAAG Festival

Later tonight will be Banaag Festival. I'm planning to go there but hopefully it will not rain.
<div align="center">TIGKARALAG in Pavia turns 15


Tapos na. Purok Kwatro liwat nagdaug. Tungod sina, indi na sila ka-join next year sa Tigkaralag kay nag-Grand Slam winner na sanda. Its time for the other barangays naman!! :lol:

In addition to that of the status of Megaworld property, here's the said structure that is doing soil investigation on the northern plank of the runway itself.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1611.jpg
Pangita-a lang ang tent da. :D

And also, here's another commercial building being built between MO2's Westown Hotel and Emcor Iloilo-Diversion Branch which is located inside Smallville Complex, Mandurriao District

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1501.jpg

Historically, it was once a red light district of Iloilo. Today it is the "Hardware Street of Iloilo" where lumber, cement, plywood, etc. are being sold along with banks and internet cafes. The northern end comes from General Luna Street where it is cornered with educational institutions such as SPED and Iloilo City Central School (a Gabaldon by the way), an old ancestral house and runs through Delgado St, Ledesma St (where Robinsons Place Mall s), J de Leon St and stops at Rizal Street where the Terminal Market (poplularly known as "Super") is located.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/IMGP1500.jpg

^^ This street scene has a similar place in Cebu....

Manduriao Church, Manduriao, Iloilo City
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this is not a heritage church but i like the way it was constructed, they gave it a sense of classical art.

I'm kinda curious with the new structure in the second photo. Is this a house, a small resto in the making, etc?

that's the Landing Inn... i think

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP1593.jpg
U/C Carpenter Bridge in Molo-Mandurriao Area


Berns, sa diin ka sini nagtindog? :eek:

^^hala oo no? basi sa tubo sang nawasa.hehe

Berns, sa diin ka sini nagtindog? :eek:

^^hala oo no? basi sa tubo sang nawasa.hehe

Sa pasulod sa Savior Hospital. Nagzoom lang ko, kaya amo na daw kalapit sang dalan kag abi nyo nakatindog ako sa tubo sang nawasa. :D

I'm currently in Janiuay bound for Anilao for the Banaag Festival (hopfuly it doesn't rain tonight) through Pototan-Barotac Nuevo.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/ILOILO-1.jpg

Earlier, I passed by Cabatuan and took some photos of the Plaza and the Church and of course visited someone.

I'll post pictures later. :D

This street scene has a similar place in Cebu....

Asa dapita bai? :)

^^if sa tubo sya matindog ma outbalance gid sya eh,,,ka daku daan sa iya.LOLS

wala ko kapatapos kagabi sang MMK... i remember may agi kag tumboy man anay nga gindrama sa MMK,,,nag-asawahay kag may bata man sila gani

hi, nice to be back again.

damo na guid improvements. i hope megaworld will show more than my expectations to them.

lurking and posting on and off naman sa akon, Caloy. I'm happy with the progress of the city at present so no further comment YET. :lol:

Iloilo City Police Office
best in Western Visayas

ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police (ICPO) again topped the quarterly Performance Evaluation Rating conducted recently by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

ICPO director, Senior Supt. Wesley Barayuga said his office won the award for four consecutive quarterly evaluations, besting eight other police units in the region.

“My men are working and the victory was the result of our collective efforts,” he said.

ICPO got the highest rating for its Police Community Relations programs.

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) ranked second, followed by the Aklan PPO, Bacolod City Police Office, Iloilo PPO, Capiz PPO, Guimaras PPO, Antique PPO, and the 6th Regional Mobile Group.

The evaluation, which is conducted every year, seeks to assess the output of all provincial and city police offices in the field of operation and administration.

The criteria include training and enhancement programs, intelligence, investigation, operations, plans, logistics, research and development, police-community relations and finance management.

Despite the victory, Barayuga said he would want to see improvements in their intelligence monitoring, especially in Jaro district so that they can readily address Akyat Bahay (house burglary) incidents.

from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo1.htm

Treñas backs Ong’s bid
for Liga presidency
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas announced his support to the bid of Barangay Captain Irene Ong for the presidency of the Liga ng mga Barangay here.

Ong was recently reelected as village chief of Brgy. President Roxas, City Proper district.

The president of the association of barangay captains here will sit as ex-officio member in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Treñas is confident that Ong will bring significant changes to the barangays of Iloilo City.

Aside from Ong, none has openly signified interest to run for the presidency of the Liga.

Ong claims to have the support of majority of the barangay leaders.

“A lot of them have endorsed me. They signified to support my candidacy,” Ong said.

The Liga election is scheduled next month.

Ong ran unopposed in Brgy. President Roxas on October 29.

If elected to the Liga’s top post, Ong vowed to make the association functional, taking a jab at outgoing Liga president Marietta Orleans of Brgy. Cuartero, Jaro district.
“We will assist barangay leaders with problems,” Ong said.

Ong said the Liga under Orleans never helped barangay leaders.

Treñas said the city government shall also sponsor seminars to barangay leaders on solid waste management, new government accounting system, peace and order, and other thrusts of the city government.

Meanwhile, Orleans said she is not yet ready to leave public service after serving as ex-officio member of the Iloilo City Council for 13 years.

Orleans, now on her last term as Barangay Captain of Brry. Cuartero, ran for barangya kagawad in her village on October 29.

“I ran not for honor but for public service,” she stressed.

Orleans claimed to have made big accomplishments during her term as president of the Liga, among them the granting of death benefits to barangay captains.

from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo3.htm

Stage 1 of flood control project complete by 2008, vows contractor

ILOILO City -- Contractors of the Iloilo Flood Control Project assured the public that Stage 1 of the P4.2-billion project will be completed in December next year.

China Waters Construction and the Hanjin Industries have been contracted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to undertake the construction of the flood control project.

Mayor Jerry Treñas was briefed on the status of the project last week and he was informed that the construction is on schedule.

Stage I includes the construction of the Tabucan road, embankment of the Iloilo River, major floodway from Aganan in Pavia to Balabago in Jaro district, two service roads, Ticud creek and six bridges.

Treñas said he was asking also for the implementation of the Stage 2 but he was informed by the JICA consultant that the evaluation would take another three years and one year for approval after 2008.

“I was told by the JICA consultant that the Stage 2 will also cost P4.2 billion,” he said.

from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras5.htm

Iloilo City Police Office
best in Western Visayas
from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo1.htm

^^That's great! btw, Dasig sa imo Kirbs mag post ,heheh

Stage 1 of flood control project complete by 2008, vows contractor


Treñas said he was asking also for the implementation of the Stage 2 but he was informed by the JICA consultant that the evaluation would take another three years and one year for approval after 2008.

“I was told by the JICA consultant that the Stage 2 will also cost P4.2 billion,” he said.

from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras5.htm

^^4 more years after stage 1 is completed? that's a long eval., but what can we do? JICA funds the project,so another waiting game.

Anilao, a small town up at north-central Iloilo, celebrated its 68th foundation by merrymaking and streetdancing, in the dark! With fire and light!

The Dance of Fire and Light takes place every November 1 all the way to the 3rd. With drumbeats, motion and play of lights, it interprets that the Banaag was used by the farmer and the fisherfolk alike in the town.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/100/IMGP1968.JPG?et=6CE2cYZ1EUAFc5FpdL6eFA

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/130/IMGP2011.JPG?et=waoJNELjhkaqVaDJd3%2BDvg

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/106/IMGP1974.JPG?et=UQSN1nCXrpqAniOE0bNZyA

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http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/146/IMGP1863.JPG?et=HrXBNF6U1MHGvFOG7rGFbw

The winning group is on its way to the Kasadyahan Festival of Dinagyang this January. IMO, despite the tardiness of some of our high ranking politicians, the performance of 8 tribes didn't put the audiences into boredom as each perform is at fury and the atmosphere was intense in sound and sometimes , the smell of gunpowder. :D

This festival is a must see! :okay:

the Banaag Festival looks terribly promosing and can rival Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta in the future given more exposures by media and print. The festival just looks amazing with dances of fire, etc.

Stage 1 of flood control project complete by 2008, vows contractor

ILOILO City -- Contractors of the Iloilo Flood Control Project assured the public that Stage 1 of the P4.2-billion project will be completed in December next year.

China Waters Construction and the Hanjin Industries have been contracted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to undertake the construction of the flood control project.

Mayor Jerry Treñas was briefed on the status of the project last week and he was informed that the construction is on schedule.

Stage I includes the construction of the Tabucan road, embankment of the Iloilo River, major floodway from Aganan in Pavia to Balabago in Jaro district, two service roads, Ticud creek and six bridges.

Treñas said he was asking also for the implementation of the Stage 2 but he was informed by the JICA consultant that the evaluation would take another three years and one year for approval after 2008.

“I was told by the JICA consultant that the Stage 2 will also cost P4.2 billion,” he said.

from: Panay News
link: http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras5.htm
this is a good news indeed and I hope the national government will allocate funds for its second phase. Iloilo Flood Control Project is a vital project to answer one of the city's perennial problems, and make more way to improve local economy along the area covered by the IFCP.

that's the Landing Inn... i think

what a name ... he he. Landing Inn. Two-storey motel/hotel near Iloilo Airport?

^^ dunno, maybe.. or just a bed and breakfast thinggy but i saw it was named Landing Inn though...

Anilao, a small town up at north-central Iloilo, celebrated its 68th foundation by merrymaking and streetdancing, in the dark! With fire and light!

The Dance of Fire and Light takes place every November 1 all the way to the 3rd. With drumbeats, motion and play of lights, it interprets that the Banaag was used by the farmer and the fisherfolk alike in the town.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/100/IMGP1968.JPG?et=6CE2cYZ1EUAFc5FpdL6eFA

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/130/IMGP2011.JPG?et=waoJNELjhkaqVaDJd3%2BDvg

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/106/IMGP1974.JPG?et=UQSN1nCXrpqAniOE0bNZyA

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/31/IMGP1842.JPG?et=N0oag5M3o3k1UnL%2CXuOp1A

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/47/IMGP1862.JPG?et=TSSEvMoHcYEBEgAjCbri%2Cg

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/146/IMGP1863.JPG?et=HrXBNF6U1MHGvFOG7rGFbw

The winning group is on its way to the Kasadyahan Festival of Dinagyang this January. IMO, despite the tardiness of some of our high ranking politicians, the performance of 8 tribes didn't put the audiences into boredom as each perform is at fury and the atmosphere was intense in sound and sometimes , the smell of gunpowder. :D

This festival is a must see! :okay:

their joining kasadyahan?
one problem though,
kasadyahan is during the day so the light effects of the fire dances wouldn't be that awe-spriring. mas nami ang effects if the perform at night.

Anilao, a small town up at north-central Iloilo, celebrated its 68th foundation by merrymaking and streetdancing, in the dark! With fire and light!

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/106/500x500/130/IMGP2011.JPG?et=waoJNELjhkaqVaDJd3%2BDvg


This festival is a must see! :okay:

^^This pic says....Dance of Fire talaga!
and yes Bernie, you're borderline hypertensive already, 110? your diastolic is high!

what a name ... he he. Landing Inn. Two-storey motel/hotel near Iloilo Airport?

Iba siguro ang landing na nangyayari dun. Ha ha ha ha :lol:

Are you a UP alumnus/a? :D Then we're three in SSC! :banana: :D

Anyway, Jaro Belfry by 6:30PM

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/8/photos/102/500x500/1/IMGP1492.JPG?et=rTnSPTA7yNgg2q7LVi%2BbHQ

yep, im from peyups too!!! glad to know someone here from UP. keep on posting pics of my dearest Iloilo and the latest trends in there! :)

^^ Your welcome here Feby! :okay:

Anyway, here's the first stop-over yesterday in my 4 hour trip to Anilao.

Cabatuan: La Rubi Hermosa
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/107/500x500/2/IMGP1671.JPG?et=K6CMWCBbpR4uBRP3q4Oejg
May patay sang nakadto ko to.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/107/500x500/6/IMGP1675.JPG?et=OVKS7Mp%2CcYbKJjcrQjz3ug
La Campanario

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/107/500x500/18/IMGP1687.JPG?et=C9FGlxqNh%2CfMEhIirO8Hvg
Its better in the morning

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/107/500x500/17/IMGP1686.JPG?et=KTLEF4BvZnxvcFSDGKSu3w
Is Tomas Confessor knocking somewhere? :D

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/107/500x500/20/IMGP1689.JPG?et=pWQNPTHjz5MP2xt8ch9tRQ
An old Plaza marker and a new marker that is very obvious.

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Revolucion!!!

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One of the once 3 facades of the church.

Janiuay
Unfortunately, time was running out and I was already quite in a hurry when I was in Janiuay so I never got a chance to visit the cemetery. Although someone told me that its still quite a mess since All Saints Day was just a few days ago.

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The Plaza and the Fountain

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The municipio and one afternoon playing softball

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The ruined belfry and the old church of Janiuay

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Plaza Janiuay

And of I went to Pototan via Mina. Its a 30-minute ride in a 15-kilometer road which will pass by the hometown of the Defensor clan.

Before proceeding to Pototan, you have to pass by the quaint and rustic town of Mina, the said hometown of Miriam and the Defensor Clan

Mina
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then after 15 minutes...

Pototan: Rice Grannary of Panay Island
Known to be as the rice grannary and agricultural hub in Central Iloilo because of its great contribution to Iloilo's food supply and agrarian economy, Pototan is a busy town with a big plaza. Its also the hometown of the "Jeanne d'Arc of the Visayas", Teresa Magbanua.

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The old railway tracks of Panay Railways

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Calle Teresa Magbanua & the Public Market: Commercial street of the town

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An Old ancestral house

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Carbaw: Farmer's best buddy. :D

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The Church of Pototan

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Reflective pool by ordinary days, fountains of light by Christmas. The reflection pool and the Pototan Town Hall

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El Municipio de Pototan

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The Obelisk of the Heroes. This side commemmorates the Magbanua siblings

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The Colloseo, the Bandstand, The Carbaw and the Pool

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Good Afternoon Pototan!

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Time to go, next stop: Barotac Nuevo

Before going out of the poblacion, the cemetery's gate greeted the weary traveler bound for Anilao.

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And as I ride a crammped tricycle for another 30minutes, the sun was already setting in the mountains of Antique.

yep, im from peyups too!!! glad to know someone here from UP. keep on posting pics of my dearest Iloilo and the latest trends in there! :)

Hi feby! If you're from UPV you might be interested to follow one of the links in my signature. :D

Photos from All Saints Day

The Balantang Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Quintin Salas built in honor of those who died here during World War II
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The GMA Network outdoor broadcast van
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Lopez Private Cemetery just across the street
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Hi feby! If you're from UPV you might be interested to follow one of the links in my signature. :D

Photos from All Saints Day

The Balantang Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Quintin Salas built in honor of those who died here during World War II
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/1840880669_baf8a0af57_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/1841707044_f437fb581f_o.jpg

The GMA Network outdoor broadcast van
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Lopez Private Cemetery just across the street
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wow! thanks IAMME! nice forums for UPV graduates and Alumni! :) keep it up, now i got a new tambayan over the net. :)

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Is Tomas Confessor knocking somewhere? :D


^^"I'm gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell....i'm your friendly electrolux man"
joke lang! :D

Thank you for all the great pictures and info Bernie,Pacific and IAMME. we really appreciate all your efforts. cheers!

^^ Your welcome. Anyway, here are the said politicians who were umm.... late last night.

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L to R: Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico, Senate President Manny Villar Jr & Congressman Ferj Biron of the 4th District Iloilo. The stage was full of oposisyon people, wahehehehe!!!

I noticed in our politics that back in 2001 or 2004 elections, we were a bailiwick of administration candidates. Now, the tide between the opposistion and administration is pulling stronger as 2010 nears.


-----------------------------------------------------------
Attention HCS Iloilo:
Ma'am Dorie Soriano will be here by tomorrow. I'll be fetching her tomorrow night at the airport. Those who want to come, just text me. We have to coordinate with them regarding the CDs. Thank you very much. :)

^^where was this bern?

^^where was this bern?

Anilao's Banaag Festival last night. The crowd waited for these politicos to come, and as what Andrea Stuart said, she got used to the delays of festivals due to tardy politicos. :ohno:

WVCST to answer demand for skilled workers and teachers in Guam

THE Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST), formerly known as the Iloilo Trade School and Iloilo School of Arts and Trades, takes the challenge of training and providing a large pool of skilled workers and teachers to fill the gap in Guam labor industry and academic institutions.

The WVCST delegation visited Guam last October 20 to 27, 2007 upon invitation of Guam Senator Jesse Anderson Lujan, Chairman of the Committee on Labor, Aviation, Federal Affairs, Housing, Banking and Insurance. Senator Lujan was then Guest of Honor during the 2005 Grand Centennial Celebration of WVCST.

The group met with Guam government leaders, contractors association and trades academy officials, major employers of Philippine overseas workers, leaders in the academic community and the Philippine Consul General in Guam for consultative meetings on labor force demand and outlook, employment opportunities for WVCST-ISAT graduates and potential avenues for institutional development.

Heading the delegation is Dr. Luis M. Sorolla, Jr., WVCST College President. Other members of the delegation include Atty. Leo S. Sombiro who is the Alumni Trustee and Legal Counsel of the college, Engr. Roly J. Gambol who is the Faculty Trustee and ICT Coordinator, Engr. Adrian N. Moncada, former Private Sector Trustee and leader in power industry, Dean Susan Marie R. de la Cruz of the Student Affairs and Dean Ricardo B. Abalena of the Graduate School. Accompanying the delegation in consultative meetings are Philippine Consul Raquel Rayel-Solano and WVCST-ISAT Guam Alumni Presidents Lino Escalona and Al Siaotong.

Representing the Guam panel are Vice Senate Speaker Edward J. B. Calvo, Senators Jesse Anderson Lujan, Judith P. Guthertz and David L. G. Shimizu, James Martinez and Bert Johnston of the Guam Contractors Association and Trades Academy, Pres. Harold S. Allen of the University of Guam, Pres. John Camacho and Dean Lolita Reyes of the Guam Community College, Supt. Luis SN Reyes of the Guam Public School System, Greg Mossey and Davod Dell’Isola of the Department of Labor and Atty. Peter Sgro, Jr., top businessman and President of International Group, Inc. Mr. Darryl Taggerty, Policy Advisor of Sen. Jesse Lujan acts as Moderator and Coordinator to all the consultative meetings.

Expressing their need for deployment of skilled workers are the Korean top contractor Core Tech International and the Smithbridge Company. It was, however, stressed that skilled workers with H2B visa must be US Certified and must pass the OSHA and EM 385 safety standards.

In the Legislative Roundtable Conference at the Guam Legislature presided by Sen. Jesse Anderson Lujan, the Guam panel stressed the need for overseas skilled workers to meet the demand for the $10 to $15 Billion military base expansion project as well as the large-scale construction and maintenance projects in Guam. It is estimated that local workers in Guam can only provide 50 per cent or less of the expected 66,000 workers cap. As such, Senators who were present in the meeting would work for the passage of the bill lifting the H2B Visa cap and the creation of a friendship program with foreign institutions that will focus on the training and recruitment of workforce to address the unprecedented military build-up, immigration process and certification and training of H2B workers.

Aside from the need for skilled workers, the Guam academic community likewise needs additional teachers to be employed in their public school system and state-run tertiary educational institutions. After viewing the profile and technical capability of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology as a premiere technical, vocational, engineering and teacher training institution, the academic community likewise expressed their desire for a possible exchange program for WVCST teachers and students.

The top employers of foreign workers in Guam and those present in the legislative roundtable conference vowed to give priority to WVCST-ISAT graduates because of their proven technical competence and attitude towards work. Citing as their example are the members of the WVCST-ISAT Alumni Association in Guam who compose the majority of the Camp Roxas Team that rehabilitated Guam in the 50’s and 60’s.

The WVCST Delegation was accorded with very warm welcome and accommodation by the WVCST-ISAT Alumni Association, Guam Chapter as well as the Iloilo Association in Guam, “Migs” Group, Guimaras Association, Negrosanons, Mayor Melissa B. Savares of the Municipality of Dededo who hails from San Joaquin, Iloilo and Mayor Carol S. Tayama of the Municipality of Agat where a large Ilonggo community can be found./Atty. Leo S. Sombiro

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business2.htm)

^^ What? We're gonna send Ilonggos again in Guam? Just like in the 50's? :??

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Iloilo Golf and Country Club

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo4.htm)

^^ What? We're gonna send Ilonggos again in Guam? Just like in the 50's? :??
this is just a proposal. But most likely will be another success story just like the 50s (for some :))

Iba siguro ang landing na nangyayari dun. Ha ha ha ha :lol:

^^ dunno, maybe.. or just a bed and breakfast thinggy but i saw it was named Landing Inn though...

Thanks for the info, Pacific. Is this the first "inn" along the area? It's a bit small actually. Five rooms maybe?

Thanks for the info, Pacific. Is this the first "inn" along the area? It's a bit small actually. Five rooms maybe?

inn nga eh! it would be a lodge if its more than 10 rooms, motel if it reaches 30 to 50..well, with regards to the services of course, but inn, as we say is something like a 'bed and breakfast'. you won't expect anything glamorous, for people who just want to spend a single night in the place. Yes that's along the area, don't know if it's in Santa Barbara or Cabatuan, but Santa Barbara maybe...

^^"I'm gonna knock on your door, ring on your bell....i'm your friendly electrolux man"
joke lang! :D

Tumbling ako dito sa tawa. Ha ha ha ha ha. :D

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Mukhang pagod ang lolo Manny mo ha.

Tumbling ako dito sa tawa. Ha ha ha ha ha. :D

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Mukhang pagod ang lolo Manny mo ha.

^^^^^^
2 useless politicians...one is confused,can't make up his mind if he is a "CM" or a "VG"...ang isa ya lubaklubak dalan sa iya distrito hehehe

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DEMOLITION JOB - The arrival area of old Iloilo airport in Mandurriao district has been demolished as property developer Megaworld prepares to develop the area into a business plaza.(Photo by Tara Yap)

SOURCE: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/)

Tumbling ako dito sa tawa. Ha ha ha ha ha. :D

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Mukhang pagod ang lolo Manny mo ha.

^^^^^^
2 useless politicians...one is confused,can't make up his mind if he is a "CM" or a "VG"...ang isa ya lubaklubak dalan sa iya distrito hehehe

Ferj Biron looks really tired and aged, same as Manny Villar. Btw, have you noticed that Manny Villar is always in Iloilo nowadays?

Comments about politics and politicos, I'll leave them to Kirby. It's his speciality. he he

Attention: To SSC Iloilo Forum Members. Last meet nmun we thought of making an alternative forum for us so please join the Skyscrapercity Iloilo Forums (http://www.exploreiloilo.com/ssciloilo/index.php?sid=73e065563ed2986ebecfa197a76b5bd6):

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/ssciloilo/

If I click "register", it says "Creating a new account is currently not possible."

sorry bout that. It's already fixed

inn nga eh! it would be a lodge if its more than 10 rooms, motel if it reaches 30 to 50..well, with regards to the services of course, but inn, as we say is something like a 'bed and breakfast'. you won't expect anything glamorous, for people who just want to spend a single night in the place. Yes that's along the area, don't know if it's in Santa Barbara or Cabatuan, but Santa Barbara maybe...
well, just hoping they'll increase the capcity. But there you go, it's the owner's choice. I hope to see small to medium size hotels lining the area in the future. However, I'm glad that development has started to creep in the new development site in Sta Barbara near the new airport area.

Iloilo hotels, restos now
more security-conscious

ILOILO City -- Hotels and restaurants in this city have become more security conscious after an explosion at the Glorietta Mall in Makati City on October 12 killed 11 persons and injured some 100 others.

Manny Gruenberg, a member of the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA), said some of the hotels here, especially the new ones, are already equipped with close circuit cameras and it is expected that others will follow.

“Hotels now are becoming security conscious,” he said. “We cannot be complacent, we have to be prepared," he added.

In addition to being security conscious, Gruenberg said that their establishments undergo annual inspection of facilities such that problems detected will be corrected immediately.

He said they also have their emergency plan, which is a requirement when they process for permits at the city hall and accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

IHRRA has more or less 60 members all over the city. (PNA)

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business1.htm)

WV pupils third in
nat’l read-a-thon tilt

ILOILO City – Western Visayas public school pupils who joined in the Team Reading Competition in the nationwide First Read-A-Thon won third place, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

The First National Read-A-Thon, which is a national reading and comprehension contest under the Every Child a Reader Program (ECARP) of the Department of Education (DepEd),gathered some Grade IV public school pupils who went home better readers and richer by thousands of pesos after winning.

Education Secretary Jeslie Lapus said the ECARP is DepEd’s initiative which aims to make every child from Grades I-III a reader at their appropriate level of schooling.

He added the First National Read-A-Thon seved as a venue for young readers to showcase their reading skills.

The contest was participated in by representatives from 16 regions, who bested other contenders from the schools in the division and regional levels.

There were four categories in the contest, namely, Team Reading, Vocabulary Quiz, Story Retelling and Oral Interpretation. Prior to the contests, three books serving as the basis for the contest questions were given to the participants.

Lapus said the impressive performance of the students showed that ECARP had succeeded in improving the competencies of the school children.

He also said that the agency is trying its best to ensue the delivery of quality education to students, despite the fact that the efforts are often hampered by limited resources.

He added that education is a shared responsibility, hence, he encouraged all capable sectors an individuals to help promote DepEd’s programs geared towards improving the country’s educational system. (ESS/PIA/PN)

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras3.htm)

Lead garbage mgt drive,
new brgy officials urged

ILOILO City -- Mayor Jerry Treñas here is urging newly-elected barangay officials to be at the forefront of the city’s campaign on solid waste management.

This, as Treñas announced his plan to hold a series of seminars on solid waste, cleanliness, peace and order, barangay justice, and crime prevention for the newly elected barangay officials.

Treñas said the city government will sit down with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to have these topics included in the seminar-trainings that are periodically conducted by the DILG.

The mayor said it is necessary to hold the seminars, particularly for the new and first-time winners in last Monday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Trenas stressed that barangay officials must lead the drive to keep the city garbage-free for it to continue attracting investors and tourists, as well as to maintain the health and safety of the Ilonggos.

Meanwhile, DILG Region 6 will conduct a training for the newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang officials, said Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta.

"We need to capacitate them so that they will know their duties and responsibilities based on the Local Government Code of 1991," Trompeta said as she stressed that barangay officials should also know that if they are negligent or dereliction of duties, they can be charged of administrative sanctions.

Starting today up to November 7, regional Coaches' Training will be held and then this will be echoed down to the provincial level, Trompeta said.

"And considering that there are thousands of our newly elected officials in the region, the DILG plans to conduct the trainings by province, but for bigger provinces like Negros Occidental which has seven districts, and Iloilo having five districts, most likely we will have to cluster it by district so that with a regulated number, the participants will efficiently absorb what has been taken up during the training," she said.

The director emphasized "first and foremost our barangay officials should know what are the visions of our national government, the Regional Council and with that they will be able to identify their strength and weaknesses.

"One of the major deliverables expected from them is to come up with a three-year development plans," Trompeta said.

For the SK, Trompeta said that the training modules are still being prepared and that is handled by the National Federation of SK.

It is important that there should be some kind of re-direction for our SK officials because they are influence by several factors. There must be values orientation for them in order to focus their mind-set towards working for development," Trompeta concluded. (PIA/PN)

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras4.htm)

P1.8-M facility for loonies finished

ILOILO City -- Former Vice Mayor Guillermo Dela Llana announced the completion of the P1.8-million three-storey building facility for mentally-ill patients in the city.

The construction of the rehabilitation center started in 1975 with the P237,000 from the countrywide development fund of former Senator Nikki Coseteng.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas recently gave an additional P110,000 and the city government shelled out another P1.5 million to finish the three-storey infrastructure building.

“The center is well-ventilated with an air-conditioned office and a telephone connection. It also has sufficient water supply,” he said. “Everything is there and I am happy that this facility was realized.”

The center can accommodate up to 50 patients. At present, it serves as refuge for 30 patients.

Dela Llana said the center is willing to accommodate referrals, provided that the relatives would sign a waiver expressing their willingness to provide their patients with medicines.

The facility will be managed by the Care for Mentally Ill Foundation, which the former city official has recently founded to be assisted by some personnel of the city government.

The building will be inaugurated on December 28 simultaneous with the annual Christmas party of the patients. (PNA)

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras4.htm)

P10M more needed for ‘shaky’ flyover

ILOILO City – The construction of this city’s first flyover worth P400 million will resume soon. But an additional P10.8 million is needed for the project to be completed.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine Rigid Corporation are finalizing the contract for the resumption of the construction.

Philippine Rigid Corporation is the sub-contractor of the London-based Mabey and Johnson which was suspended after it failed to follow the specification of materials enumerated in the contract.

DPWH Regional Director Rolando Asis said they will commence with the construction to include the two approaches as soon as the funding support is released by the national government.

“If we can start immediately, then the project will be finished before December 8,” he said.

The flyover is one of the 10 flyover projects implemented under the President's Bridge Program in selected areas nationwide.

The construction of the P400-million flyover was suspended last month. The structure may collapse during an earthquake.

The flyover was supposed to be inaugurated late last month.

For non-compliance of the contract in the construction of the flyover, Mabey and Johnson Limited, the UK-based designer, supplier and contractor of the flyover project, was suspended by the DWPH central office in Manila.

Asis said the contractor used materials not in conformity with the specifications stated in the contract – that is, it failed to meet the required strength of the reinforced steel bars at the piers.

Piers are the foundation which holds the columns (the vertical structures) holding the flyover.

Asis said the contractor failed to meet the required flyover tensile strength and yielding point of “Grade 60.”

“They did not follow the contract agreement,” he lamented.

Because of this, four of the six piers – of the seven-span modular steel flyover – supported by board piles and abutments need to be reinforced, Asis said.

“Piers 2, 3, 4 and 5 will have to be upgraded … he groundwork is weak,” he stressed.
“The structure is still safe and sound for passage but it may collapse in case of earthquakes,” Asis revealed, noting that Region 6 is close to a fault line.

Aside from this, Asis said, the upgrading will also include the putting up of tie-beams between two board piles to further strengthen the flyover’s structure.

The flyover aims to ease traffic congestion in the city and meet the increasing demand of vehicular traffic. The project is under the President’s Bridge Program.

Asis said the project is now 90 percent complete.

The flyover stretches 305 linear meters with a standard capacity of 20 tons.
The long-delayed project was supposed to be finished within 120 calendar days.

Construction began in April 10 this year.

The unfinished portions of the flyover include the embankment and approaches; concreting of the bridge seats at abutment; and part of the retaining wall at approaches.

A month before the construction was suspended, Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed concern over the curing process of the pavement towards the flyover’s approach, citing the many vehicles using the path.

The city government, as its counterpart in the ongoing project, shall clear obstructions 20 meters towards the approach of the vehicular flyover – which include the restructuring of the island and concreting of the pavement.

Due to heavy traffic in the area “the curing process of the concrete pavement may be affected by the continued vibration caused by vehicular traffic,” Treñas explained.

“I have (also) instructed the City Engineer’s Office to come up with a proposal for the lighting of the flyover,” Treñas said.

He said the illumination of the flyover is not covered by the project and that the DPWH is hesitant to install light posts on top of the flyover./PN

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras2.htm)

Lakas, strongest political
party in 2010 – Treñas
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – The Lakas - Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) will be the strongest political party in the country come 2010, declared League of Cities of the Philippines chairman Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Treñas attended the reconciliation talks of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, House Speaker Jose de Venecia and former President Fidel Ramos over the weekend.

“Lakas will be a major player come 2010,” Treñas told reporters yesterday.

Treñas said the meeting focused “on party strengthening and consolidation.”

“We are girding towards strengthening the party in preparation for 2010 polls. That will be a presidential year. The Party shall come up with a robust lineup,” Treñas said.

He said that there were already names presented during the meeting to fill-up the different positions (particularly for the presidency) but the city mayors’ chairman refused to give more details.

“I am not the spokesman of Lakas … (but) names of national leaders and local executives came out (during that discussion),” said Treñas, describing the meeting with the party leaders as “warm, cordial and nice.”

“The meeting was forward looking,” he added.

Treñas also said proposals for the enforcement of the different plans and programs by Malacañang was discussed, and shall be implemented in the remaining two and a half years of the President, particularly on uplifting poverty, and the super regions program of the administration.

SOLID, UNDIVIDED
President Arroyo said over the weekend that contrary to speculations, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats coalition remains solid and the government is undivided, as the ruling party charts its directions for 2010 and beyond.

The President said the Malacañang caucus squelched “all rumor and speculation that this Government is divided. It is strong and focused on the business of the people.”

“We ask our people to join us in our journey to a future of national stability, peace and solidarity,” she added.

The President revealed that she and the coalition leadership had “agreed on a process of national consolidation, gathering all our allies around the common vision” towards national consolidation “based on a coalition of principle and action.”

She pointed out that leadership “controversies within the legislature shall be put to an end as we reinvigorate the tools of a strong executive-legislative partnership such as the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council and the National Security Council”

“I have just met with former President Ramos, Speaker de Venecia and several key leaders of the ruling party. The meeting was warm, constructive and forward looking. We agreed to revitalize the administration coalition behind our vision,” she said.

The Filipino dream, she said, is for the Philippines to join the global circle of rich countries in 20 years. “By then poverty shall have been marginalized; and the marginalized raised to a robust middle class.

“We will have achieved the hallmarks of a modern society, where institutions are strong, characterized by responsible citizenship and responsible governance,’ the President said.

She pointed out that Lakas leaders agreed that “teamwork in nation-building, unity of purpose, solidarity in values should always prevail and not allow small hurts to get in the way of staying as one family and fulfilling our hopes for the people.”/PN

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras3.htm)

Is it true that there's a Camilla and Palmera Housing Subdivision in Iloilo right now? And where? My friend says the advert is all out in the telly now.

P10M more needed for ‘shaky’ flyover

ILOILO City – The construction of this city’s first flyover worth P400 million will resume soon. But an additional P10.8 million is needed for the project to be completed.



They always have ways to request for more money. Hay, inefficient project management.

P10M more needed for ‘shaky’ flyover

ILOILO City – The construction of this city’s first flyover worth P400 million will resume soon. But an additional P10.8 million is needed for the project to be completed.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine Rigid Corporation are finalizing the contract for the resumption of the construction.

Panay News[/url]


Something's fishy going on...why only now? when in fact all delivered materials must conform to specifications before put into use. This simply means some of them are not doing their job. DPWH deploy their own engineers in projects such as this. They should be the one to pay...not us (from our taxes) Garapalan na guid!!! TSK, TSK, TSK TSK

Kag bal-an nyo bala nga in every project, contractors allot maximum of 15% of total project cost for representation costs? Maski 15% of 10% of the total project cost, tama na kadako...

City squatters reduced

By Jeehan V. Fernandez
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/2070/frontnov6vm8.jpg
The number of informal settlers in Iloilo City is
declining because of housing projects initiated by the city government.

SQUATTERS in Iloilo City now have their own home.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the number of landless residents in the metropolis is decreasing.

“The number of informal settlers in the city has decreased,” Treñas stressed, adding that more than 2,000 households have been relocated during his six-year stint.
Citing records of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO), the mayor said the 15,000-16,000 households squatting all over the city have been reduced to 13,000 households since he assumed office in 2001.

Foreign organizations have also looked into the plight of the city poor.....

cont'd ... http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

... The flyover is one of the 10 flyover projects implemented under the President's Bridge Program in selected areas nationwide.[/COLOR][/B]

The construction of the P400-million flyover was suspended last month. The structure may collapse during an earthquake.

The flyover was supposed to be inaugurated late last month.

For non-compliance of the contract in the construction of the flyover, Mabey and Johnson Limited, the UK-based designer, supplier and contractor of the flyover project, was suspended by the DWPH central office in Manila.

Asis said the contractor used materials not in conformity with the specifications stated in the contract – that is, it failed to meet the required strength of the reinforced steel bars at the piers.

Piers are the foundation which holds the columns (the vertical structures) holding the flyover.

Asis said the contractor failed to meet the required flyover tensile strength and yielding point of “Grade 60.”

“They did not follow the contract agreement,” he lamented.

Because of this, four of the six piers – of the seven-span modular steel flyover – supported by board piles and abutments need to be reinforced, Asis said.

“Piers 2, 3, 4 and 5 will have to be upgraded … he groundwork is weak,” he stressed.

“The structure is still safe and sound for passage but it may collapse in case of earthquakes,” Asis revealed, noting that Region 6 is close to a fault line...

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/guimaras2.htm)

All these could have been avoided if the project managers, which in this project happened to be Regional Director Asis' DPWH, have done their job.

Director Asis should know that as project managers, they have "hold points" before any activity is done.

One hold point before concreting of any structure is done is to check whether the reinforcing bars have the same strength and quantity as specified in the contract documents and drawings.

This could have been done by requiring a tensile strength test on the rebars. However, if Asis' project management team were around during the delivery of the rebars on site, they could have known early on that the rebars are not Grade 60, by simply looking at the rebar's end.

There are instances when Grade 40 rebars are being used instead of Grade 60 ones, but the strength of the structure is not being compromised by adding on the number of rebars placed.

My hunch is that the design is all right, but that something fishy is going on... :ohno:

Mabey, an international company is not that stupid to compromise lives and in the process, compromise their reputation.