^^ Hehe! Opinion accepted. I posted my opinion too about this. Lets wait and see this coming January.

Anyway, here's Iloilo's skyline yesterday. Which is similar to today's weather
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP3083.jpg

^^ Hehe! Opinion accepted. I posted my opinion too about this. Lets wait and see this coming January.

Anyway, here's Iloilo's skyline yesterday. Which is similar to today's weather
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/IMGP3083.jpg

Bacolod is worst...strong winds and heavy rains ang amon na experience diri subong. :)

^^ Posts from Cebu are saying that it has already toppled down several tarpaulin boards, a truck at the new Mactan bridge and the traditional Xmas tree in Fuente. Since BCD and CEB are more eastern than ILO and the said weather disturbance is moving west, we'll see it through overnight.

Better get the flashlights and batteries charged!

^^ Posts from Cebu are saying that it has already toppled down several tarpaulin boards, a truck at the new Mactan bridge and the traditional Xmas tree in Fuente. Since BCD and CEB are more eastern than ILO and the said weather disturbance is moving west, we'll see it through overnight.

Better get the flashlights and batteries charged!

and dont forget the candles and matches. :) beware of floods.

^^ Floods sa Jaro & LaPaz. Its a good thing that it hasn't rained that hard for the whole day. Just drizzle and it stops from time to time.

Tropical Storm Lando will be passing Iloilo City tomorrow AM. Take necessary precautions. It's been a while since we had a typhoon visit us.
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5972/trackxw7.gif (http://imageshack.us)

Iloilo City hotels sited
for outstanding service

ILOILO City – Three hotels here were cited for outstanding service in the ongoing West Visayas Tourism Assembly (WVTA) in Bacolod City.

..................... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B](1st class category).


:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

typo error.

sitting pretty online editors LOL
daw pareho sa manila bulletin damo gid typo errors.

I like this idea. Coffeshops, restos along the riverbank cum boulevard. I hope to see more of this kind in our city. It very scenic and refreshing gid sa panulukan especially during summer time.

its an adavantage for us to have a clean "river" so why not promote it more whatever the business maybe right next to it. like hotel del rio, they have a floating resto, the riverside boardwalk having chosen that location,also marina,etc.

well i only hope those who bought lots sa lang after jalandoni bridge would think of making another "riverside boardwalk-like" establishment.imagine the life it would bring to the city at night.

SSCers, You'll be the judge. Look closely on the new skin color of Dinagyang tribes:
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/9/photos/121/orig/118/Image00076.jpg?et=Y1IS2QJP%2C8Mb0wGMZ4qIgw
Which do you prefer, black or dark brown?

IMO, I so miss the black ones. Although the color of the Ati is dark brown but the tradition of Dinagyang, being rooted from Ibajay Aklan's Ati-Ati Festival, would still be black. Black eversince. Lets see this year on what will be the critic's and the audience's reaction.

i don't like the color as well!:D that's just me anyway! when it comes to highlighting all those precision choreography, i think black has a better job of isolating or differentiating it from most other background visual perception blurs.

:wave: when they said dark brown, i didn't bother thinking it would be dark that would be be almost black but upon seeing tha kind of brown :bash: id rather have the black paint be brought back.well its just an experiment i suppose when they hear the voice of the majority, dancers,spectators etc they will act accordingly, i hope :D

^^it looks sooo pale! coupled sometimes by the blinding heat especially of the near afternoon or afternoon sun, eh anu yun! compared it to black, which really looks nice especially for television viewing!

hopefully some tribe would stick to black, that is if they are not really required to don that brown paint

:wave: may min EB kami kanday berniemack kag ericD last saturday sa sta.barbara.met them after they watched the cry of sta.barbara celebs. then guess diin kami nag tambay?

sa airport :lol:

pwede man ta gali didto magEB :lol:
may coffeebreak man didto

^^well that's nice!:) im here in manila.

The pyramid and some construction

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/airportscenes.jpg

Paseo de Sta. Barbara

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/paseo.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/PASEODSB.jpg

^^pyramid? it looks more like a miniature grand canyon to me!

:lol: unfinished pyramids to be exact

never got the chance to take a pic of berniemack's ziggurat :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/iloilocity-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/iloilocity2.jpg

a few minutes after the "ALDEGUER street" pic was shot ......

we were caught by a traffic policeman for counterflowing a one-way street :lol: :bash:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/SB.jpg

meryenda 'ta

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/food/bhaus.jpg

Sex and character education expert coming to Iloilo

Hundreds of delegates from family organizations around the world will meet in Manila's Shangri-la Hotel from November 19-22 for the 2nd International Congress on Education in Love, Sex, and Life. They will share their experience of educating young people about love, respect, strength of character, emotional intelligence, empowerment, responsibility and life goals, including marriage. Congress participants will have a chance to listen to research on these subjects, and listen to young people themselves.

The Philippines is a developing country with a young and increasing population. It is therefore of great interest to the international population control movement. The prospect of a supply of free contraceptives drying up by the end of next year has sparked a vigorous campaign among family planning groups.

However, a study to be presented at the congress, undertaken with the help of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Navarre in Spain, shows that young people are concerned about much more than contraceptives. Conducted by the faculty's deputy director, Dr Jokin de Irala, the study combines a survey of 4000 high school and college students and focus group discussions among parents, teachers and students in seven regions of the Philippines.

The research has gathered information on three subjects: the perceptions, values and motives of adolescents regarding relationships, love and sexuality; the influence of the home and external forces such as school, peer groups and the media on teens' perceptions of sexuality; and parents' assessments of existing efforts at forming young people's attitudes to sex.

Results from the study, says Dr de Irala, show that the vast majority

of adolescents in the Philippines (75 per cent) have not had sex and are more interested in learning about other aspects of relationships, such as how to manage their emotions and sexual impulses. "They want to know how to be able to date someone without having to have sex, and this has more to do with character education than with the biological information that is emphasized in the programs of international family planning agencies." More results will be presented at the congress.

Character education authorities such as Thomas Lickona and Kevin Ryan will be delivering papers, alongside veteran chastity educator Colleen Kelly Mast, Heritage Foundation family research fellow Patrick Fagan and a variety of other experts.

Luckily, Iloilo parents and students will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Lickona, a developmental psychologist and director of the Center for the Fourth and Fifth Rs (Respect and Responsibility) in New York, who has guested on Larry King Live, The Today Show, etc. He will be in Iloilo on November 22 and 23 for a mini-congress organized by the Educhild Foundation and Westbridge School. The affair on November 22 for parents and educators will be held in The Amigo Terrace Hotel from 6-9pm. On November 23, the congress for students will take place in the San Jose College auditorium from 9-11 a.m. These events are open to all interested parents and students. For more information, call Mr. Pierre Prudente, Westbridge School, 320-7442

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/19/sex.and.character.education.expert.coming.to.iloilo.html)

DOT urges LGUs to focus on entrepreneurial tourism
By Maricar M. Calubiran

Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Edwin Trompeta has called upon the local government units to redirect its tourism programs toward entrepreneurial tourism.

He said entrepreneurial tourism is beyond tourist arrivals and tourist stay, it is about livelihood, jobs and economic development of a place.

Trompeta's explanation was in relation to the recent Western Visayas Tourism Assembly in Bacolod City which has a theme: "Entrepreneurial Tourism: Beyond Tourist Arrivals."

Trompeta added, entrepreneurial tourism also means service and infrastructures that should not only be made available to the visitors but also to the tourists. "Many people don't realize how important is the participation of the community to engage in tourism service and in order to generate income to the people," he said.

The theme is also in response to the tourism department's program offered to all stakeholders dubbed as Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

GREET program will provide the people the opportunity not only to promote the eco-tourism programs but provide livelihood to the people. The program will primarily benefit the stakeholders and not just the tour operators. The program was conceptualized to provide employment opportunities, livelihood creation, balanced ecology and environmental protection, promotion and marketing of ecotourism sites as potential tourist destinations and to develop tourism.

GREET has set aside P50,000 to P100,000 worth of grants to support the proposal of an individual or organization on how to promote an eco-tourism site in their locality. The proponent may consider a proposal to develop tourism products such as operation of new services and activities in their area; tourism establishments that include accommodation facilities, food and beverage and the likes and tourism related services, namely handicraft training, rescue and medical services or published materials.

The potential investment will be evaluated according to the following criteria: originality, uniqueness, creativity; viability of implementation and projections; economic impact and job creation; promotion of natural and cultural preservation; and growth potentials. The program at the same time will address the problems on too much exploitation and promotion of tourism sites in the country without control. In the GREET program, development in the islands, resorts and other tourism sites will be controlled.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/19/dot.urges.lgus.to.focus.on.entrepreneurial.tourism.html)

DENR launches reg’l ecology
center in Iloilo

ILOILO City -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched the first regional ecology center (REC) in the country in Iloilo recently simultaneous with the 2nd Regional Solid Waste Management Summit at the Punta Villa Resort here.

Atty. Zoilo Andin Jr., executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat said the establishment of the center was aimed “to network and data base accomplishments of various government agencies on environmental programs.”

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza in his message read by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Julian D. Amador expressed confidence that the “regional offices will not encounter any difficulty in convincing local government units and anybody to join the ecological solid waste management program.”

“The ecological center as I have envisioned will be the center for successful solid wastes technologies, center for training and a demonstration site of successful experiences and practices of the project,” Atienza added.

Twenty regional line agencies and members of the academe also signed a memorandum of commitment for the operationalization of the center witnessed by Presidential Assistant for Panay and Guimaras, Dr. Raul Banias.

Named as permanent members of the REC 6 are Dir. Amador; Atty. Andin; GTZ Team Leader for Solid Waste Management Program for LGUs, Dr. Johannes Paul; Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio and EMB regional director Bienvenido Lipayon.

Meantime, Andin mentioned that other regions in the country will also establish their own ecological center soon.

“Next month Region IV-A, is following soon. They have been talking with us asking for guidance,” Andin said.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo5.htm)

Elementarya at sekondarya sa Iloilo suspendido dahil sa bagyo
11/20/2007 12:07:03 AM
ILOILO CITY - Sinuspende ng Department of Education sa lungsod ng Iloilo ang pasok ng mga estudyante sa elementarya at sekondarya, matapos na itinaas na ang signal no. 2 ng bagyong Lando sa buong lungsod at lalawigan ng Iloilo.

Sinasabing kagabi pa nagpalabas ng order ang DepEd Iloilo na kanselado ang klase ngayong araw, bunga ng walang tigil na pag-ulan na nagdudulot ng mga pagbaha sa buong lungsod ng Iloilo.

Simula alas 8:00 kagabi, itinigil na rin ng Philippine Coast Guard ang byahe ng mga pump boat na bumibyahe sa lalawigan ng Guimaras at Iloilo, at maging ang byahe ng mga fast craft mula Iloilo patungong lungsod ng Bacolod at ng mga barko na bumibyahe mula Iloilo patungong Cebu, kahit hindi naman gaanong malakas ang alon sa karagatan.

Ayon kay Commander Harold Harder ng Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo Station, titingnan pa rin nila ang lagay ng panahon mamaya, dahil kahit nasa ilalim ng signal no. 2 ang Iloilo at ilang lalawigan sa Panay Island, pahihintulutan pa rin nilang maka-byahe ang mga sasakyang dagat, kung hindi rin lang naman gaanong malakas ang hangin na dala ng nasabing bagyo.

Sa lungsod ng Iloilo, pinaghahandaan na rin ng City Social Welfare and Development Office at ng City Crisis Management Unit ang pananalasa ng Bagyong Lando, na inaasahang magdudulot ng malawakang baha sa buong lungsod ng Iloilo.

sourc:http://www.bomboradyo.com




Wala Klase...

Rainwater harvesting technology
for water use efficiency, poverty alleviation

ILOILO City – With the serious challenge of water scarcity and poverty alleviation, the Iloilo Watershed Management Council (IWMC) and the Tigum-Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) are mulling the idea of really pushing for the adoption of rainwater harvesting technology in the city and province of Iloilo.

This after Professor Qiang Zhu, a scientist of Ganzu Research Institute for Water Conservancy in China said, in a presentation with the councils’ members, that the technology of rain water harvesting has helped a lot in addressing water scarcity and poverty in countries like China, India, Kenya Sri Lanka and Thailand.

“Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is one of the most effective ways in getting water for poverty reduction in the areas with serious water shortage on the yearly or seasonal basis,” Zhu said.

The IWMC under Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas and the TAWMB chaired by Dr. Jessica Salas, have been in the forefront of the efforts in finding ways to resolve problems on water and the environment in the province of Iloilo.

Zhu, who was invited by Dr. Jessica Salas of the Kahublagan sang Panimalay Foundation, said the RHW system ensures water and food security by supplying save, cheap and reliable water to meet the basic need of the impoverished households and by providing supplemental irrigation to significantly increase an stabilize the crop yield.

Zhu presented indigenous, traditional and acceptable techniques that require low initial inputs and organizational and maintenance fees which are affordable to the poor.

“The household ownership of RWH mobilizes farmers to extensively participate in the whole process of decision-making, designing and implementation,” Zhu added.

The professor said RWH is an environment friendly project, with features that are sustainable. While big water projects are highly urban-centered, RHW technologies are adopted to the geographical as well as topographical and economic situation of an area.

Zhu also presented RWH as a method which can enhance water use efficiency in rain-fed areas, to raise crop yield. He noted that for the past decades people have made many efforts, including cultivation measures, terracing land to retain more rainfall, breeding crop varieties for better adaptation to climate, but the water use efficiency remained at a level of less than .5kg/m3.

With the use RWH as irrigation source in the dry farming areas of north Gansu province in China through application at the critical growth seasons with very limited quantity of only about 1/10 of the crop water requirement, crop yield increased by 20-80% and water use efficiency increased by 30-220 for wheat and 250-500% for corn.

Zhu invited the members of the TAWMB to participate in the trainings on RWH system, for them to help address low water use efficiency and poverty among rural residents who do not usually avail of water supply from big projects, and in the process, complement the efforts of the government.

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

PCL-Iloilo signs MOA with SIH

THE Philippine Councilors League-Iloilo Chapter recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with Saviour International Hospital to maximize their health care privileges.

The MOA signing was held at a resort in Guimbal during the regular monthly meeting of the PCL-Iloilo officers. The unanimous decision of the PCL officers was made immediately after a comprehensive presentation made by Dr. Evangeline Johnson, CEO of Saviour International Hospital.

Dr. Johnson stressed that not all groups are given the privileges offered by SIH to PCL-Iloilo.

“This is our small way of giving them the recognition that they deserve as well as an incentive because of their important functions in our society,” she said.

PCL-Iloilo chair Cecilia Colada of Janiuay said most municipal legislators have already seen the state-of-the-art hospital located at Molo, Iloilo City.

“All of them found its facilities and services very remarkable and of international class,” Colada said.

PCL secretary-general Aura Landar Layese who endorsed the hospital noted that the specialty programs of SIH such as the Heart & Lung Institute and the SIH Cosmetic

Institute among others are very providential to the legislators who are prone to work-related stress.

Layese is also the designated hospital coordinator of PCL-Iloilo.

Pavia Councilor Bing Gonzaga said the privileges given by SIH are very advantageous not only to their members but also to their dependents who are included in the generous discount granted thru the MOA.

Signatories of the MOA for PCL-Iloilo are Colada and Gonzaga, and for SIH are Johnson and Dr. Victoria Lauro-Gendrala, vice president for hospital operations.

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

Elementarya at sekondarya sa Iloilo suspendido dahil sa bagyo
11/20/2007 12:07:03 AM
ILOILO CITY - Sinuspende ng Department of Education sa lungsod ng Iloilo ang pasok ng mga estudyante sa elementarya at sekondarya, matapos na itinaas na ang signal no. 2 ng bagyong Lando sa buong lungsod at lalawigan ng Iloilo.
Wala Klase...

Holiday sang mga bata subong. Wala klase pero wala man binuga si "Lando" kagab-i! Daw nagulan kag may upod nga hangin nga gamay man lang. Kag gincheck ko kagina ang Suba sang Tigum kag Aganan, daw indi man mag-awas.

Haysalamat! Ga-init na di gamay pero ang hangin amo man guihapon, medyo tugnaw na.

Kaya medyo swerte ang mga studyante subong kay pwede sanda ka-gimik kag tambay sa mga internet cafe para maghampang, bwahahaha!!! Tuon kamo anay antes maghampang! :lol:

Tropical Storm Lando will be passing Iloilo City tomorrow AM. Take necessary precautions. It's been a while since we had a typhoon visit us.
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5972/trackxw7.gif (http://imageshack.us)

^^ay abaw, basi baha naman didto sa Arevalo, waahh!

SSCers, You'll be the judge. Look closely on the new skin color of Dinagyang tribes:
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/9/photos/121/orig/118/Image00076.jpg?et=Y1IS2QJP%2C8Mb0wGMZ4qIgw
Which do you prefer, black or dark brown?

IMO, I so miss the black ones. Although the color of the Ati is dark brown but the tradition of Dinagyang, being rooted from Ibajay Aklan's Ati-Ati Festival, would still be black. Black eversince. Lets see this year on what will be the critic's and the audience's reaction.

^^i think black is better, daw na 2nd degree burn ang mga warriors if dark brown ila color.

DENR launches reg’l ecology
center in Iloilo

ILOILO City -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched the first regional ecology center (REC) in the country in Iloilo recently simultaneous with the 2nd Regional Solid Waste Management Summit at the Punta Villa Resort here.

Atty. Zoilo Andin Jr., executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat said the establishment of the center was aimed “to network and data base accomplishments of various government agencies on environmental programs.”

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza in his message read by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Julian D. Amador expressed confidence that the “regional offices will not encounter any difficulty in convincing local government units and anybody to join the ecological solid waste management program.”

“The ecological center as I have envisioned will be the center for successful solid wastes technologies, center for training and a demonstration site of successful experiences and practices of the project,” Atienza added.

Twenty regional line agencies and members of the academe also signed a memorandum of commitment for the operationalization of the center witnessed by Presidential Assistant for Panay and Guimaras, Dr. Raul Banias.

Named as permanent members of the REC 6 are Dir. Amador; Atty. Andin; GTZ Team Leader for Solid Waste Management Program for LGUs, Dr. Johannes Paul; Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio and EMB regional director Bienvenido Lipayon.

Meantime, Andin mentioned that other regions in the country will also establish their own ecological center soon.

“Next month Region IV-A, is following soon. They have been talking with us asking for guidance,” Andin said.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo5.htm)
^^now,this is something to be proud of.

PCL-Iloilo signs MOA with SIH

THE Philippine Councilors League-Iloilo Chapter recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with Saviour International Hospital to maximize their health care privileges.

The MOA signing was held at a resort in Guimbal during the regular monthly meeting of the PCL-Iloilo officers. The unanimous decision of the PCL officers was made immediately after a comprehensive presentation made by Dr. Evangeline Johnson, CEO of Saviour International Hospital.

Dr. Johnson stressed that not all groups are given the privileges offered by SIH to PCL-Iloilo.

“This is our small way of giving them the recognition that they deserve as well as an incentive because of their important functions in our society,” she said.

PCL-Iloilo chair Cecilia Colada of Janiuay said most municipal legislators have already seen the state-of-the-art hospital located at Molo, Iloilo City.

“All of them found its facilities and services very remarkable and of international class,” Colada said.

PCL secretary-general Aura Landar Layese who endorsed the hospital noted that the specialty programs of SIH such as the Heart & Lung Institute and the SIH Cosmetic

Institute among others are very providential to the legislators who are prone to work-related stress.

Layese is also the designated hospital coordinator of PCL-Iloilo.

Pavia Councilor Bing Gonzaga said the privileges given by SIH are very advantageous not only to their members but also to their dependents who are included in the generous discount granted thru the MOA.

Signatories of the MOA for PCL-Iloilo are Colada and Gonzaga, and for SIH are Johnson and Dr. Victoria Lauro-Gendrala, vice president for hospital operations.

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

^^daw damo na naga sign MOA with SIH bah, suki na sila sang PNP,sailors, now PCL, kewl!

oy, btw, starring gle si Congresswoman Garin sang nag Bombing didto sa Batasan no?, kita ko siya sa TFC as one of the first responders during the incident, she being a nurse and all...or is she a doctor?

Holiday sang mga bata subong. Wala klase pero wala man binuga si "Lando" kagab-i! Daw nagulan kag may upod nga hangin nga gamay man lang. Kag gincheck ko kagina ang Suba sang Tigum kag Aganan, daw indi man mag-awas.

Haysalamat! Ga-init na di gamay pero ang hangin amo man guihapon, medyo tugnaw na.

Kaya medyo swerte ang mga studyante subong kay pwede sanda ka-gimik kag tambay sa mga internet cafe para maghampang, bwahahaha!!! Tuon kamo anay antes maghampang! :lol:

Nami kaon utan nga monggo pag tag-ululan!!!:banana:

^^i think black is better, daw na 2nd degree burn ang mga warriors if dark brown ila color.

Yup...daw sunod sunod na lang ta na e...mas OK kung black kay ang costume galutaw...

oy, btw, starring gle si Congresswoman Garin sang nag Bombing didto sa Batasan no?, kita ko siya sa TFC as one of the first responders during the incident, she being a nurse and all...or is she a doctor?


Doctor kuno...gin interview man sya...at least nakilala sya...

^^ah,ok,thanks for the info van.

^^ It realy is good. :okay: It had me on goosebumps! Why don't you try writing that on a national daily or a local daily so the Ilonggo people may know this wonderful masterpiece. :)

Thank you. ;)

But masterpiece? Are you pulling my leg, or what? :D

Please go slowly on the superlatives, Bern. Wahehe...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/van1975/luto9.jpg

^^ :cheers: nyaga ta!

The pyramid and some construction

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/airportscenes.jpg


^^daw plateau man ini (1st pic) and not a pyramid does it have four corners?

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/van1975/luto9.jpg

^^ :cheers: nyaga ta!

^^looks delish! :cheers2: i just had sinigang nga bangus with puso sang sanging...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/van1975/kinilaw.jpg

AMO ni upod ya...kinilaw nga puso sang saging...gin tunga ko lang kay damu

^^daw parehos kita mga theme for today, van in terms of foods,heheh

^^daw parehos kita mga theme for today, van in terms of foods,heheh

^^ Monggo ato nga may puso ka saging..tapos kinilaw nga saging...galuto pa ko pork-chicken adobo...para naman ni sa bwas kag sa mga sunod nga inadlaw...gina ref lang kag micro...

^^ano address mo,kay manyapon ko dira, joke lang! hehehe

^^daw damo na naga sign MOA with SIH bah, suki na sila sang PNP,sailors, now PCL, kewl!

Dr Johnson is very good in marketing and negotiating hence all these tie-ups. Plus the fact the Saviour International Hospital is a tertiary and specialise hospital in the region, more tie ups from other government and non-government institutions will be agreed.

Btw, when are they planning to start the construction of the hospital expansion?

I think Dr Johnson is just readying the hospital for bigger expansion, reason why she is very keen in SIH promotion and selling them to all possible organisations in the region.

^^daw plateau man ini (1st pic) and not a pyramid does it have four corners?
it looks like a plateau indeed. Unfinished work? UNfinished landscape? Any idea what are they planning for building a pyramid like structure along the road?

The second photo looks like an initial small investment in NIA's access road. I'm seeing more to proliferate the area in few months time.

Capitol SP nod sought on Passi City's P2M public toilet
By Florence F. Hibionada

Good news. A public toilet will soon be constructed in the bus terminal of Passi City, Iloilo. Bad news. It needs some P2 million for the site development and construction reason why city officials here are seeking financial assistance from the Capitol.

Subject of Resolution No. 2007-141-A, the Passi City Council moved to seek the generosity of the Iloilo Provincial Government as it made official its request before the 9th Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).

The request and Resolution is among today's items up for discussion as the SP body meets for its 21st regular session. It is expected to be referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Meantime, a similar request for approval this time for a city ordinance was found to be "illegal and invalid."

Board Member Angelo Briones, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Communication submitted for approval the committee's findings as contained in Committee Report No. 2007-28.

"After careful perusal of the provisions of the Local Government Code there is nothing that empowers a local government unit to regulate and to impose penalties for the pilferage of CATV and Cable Internet," excerpts of the Committee report as obtained by The News Today (TNT) went. "It is worthy to note that CATV and Cable Internet is provided by private entities and therefore it is not the duty neither within the power of the local government unit to regulate the pilferage of the same. Unless the provider of CATV and Cable Internet is owned and operated by the local government unit concerned or when the same is found to be defective and hazardous to the welfare of the inhabitants as provided for in Section 458 (5) (ix) of the Local Government Code."

As such, Passi City Ordinance No. 2007-010 "is an ultra vires act of the local government unit and therefore finds it illegal and invalid."

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/20/capitol.sp.nod.sought.on.passi.citys.p2m.public.toilet.html)

^^now,this is something to be proud of.
a good news indeed. More and more regional centers especially government agencies are relocating and putting up their new centers in Iloilo, making Iloilo more and more of a regional hub for government, NGOs and corporate offices. This development is very visible lately with the set up of new centers here in the city or the province. I hope to see more offices, including business offices to set up their regional center here in WV's capital.

Hi-tech disaster warning device up for Iloilo
By Florence F. Hibionada

A modern hydro-meteorological observation and communication equipment designed for the provision of early disaster warning is underway for the Province of Iloilo.

Set for implementation in a project dubbed "Early Warning and Monitoring System for Disaster Mitigation in the Philippines," project sponsor is the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica).

In a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), project proponents from the Philippine Government side are the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Three pilot river basins in the country were tagged for the project namely the provinces of Aurora, Lanao and Iloilo. Such involves a joint undertaking between the project proponents aimed at coordinating disaster-response efforts and "exchange information to help manage and mitigate flood disasters."

Specific area of concern is within the Jalaur river basin.

As per MOA provisions, Iloilo province will be provided with the monitoring facilities that will in turn ensure early warnings in the form of flood advisories and bulletins to the identified vulnerable or at-risk communities.

A counterpart-funding will likewise be asked from the province for the project's implementation and for maintenance.

Pagasa for its part is expected to provide engineers and technicians that will assist in the installation of the hydro-meteorological and communication equipment.

The province meanwhile, will identify the project site and provide necessary assistance in the conduct of trainings and workshops among others.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/20/hi.tech.disaster.warning.device.up.for.iloilo.html)

mayung hapon sa tanan!

nag enjoy gd ako sang akon brief stay sa iloilo. The kahilwayan performance was great, as expected.

Good thing wala na ko nalab ot sang bagyo dira, pero naga ulan na sang sunday afternoon dira pag halin ko kag grabe na air pockets. wala na gani naka serve snacks sa eroplano kay naka on ang seat belt sight during the entire flight.

Thank you. ;)

But masterpiece? Are you pulling my leg, or what? :D

Please go slowly on the superlatives, Bern. Wahehe...

Yeah, the superlatives. Ngak! :lol:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/van1975/luto9.jpg

^^ :cheers: nyaga ta!
Sud-an kagina aga.

a good news indeed. More and more regional centers especially government agencies are relocating and putting up their new centers in Iloilo, making Iloilo more and more of a regional hub for government, NGOs and corporate offices. This development is very visible lately with the set up of new centers here in the city or the province. I hope to see more offices, including business offices to set up their regional center here in WV's capital.

But how I wish they would make use of their government lots in the Waterfront District. It would make a good Government Center of Western Visayas, just like what they did in ARMM-ORC in Cotabato City. One stop for different departments and bureaus.


Anyway, rain starts to pour hard here in Iloilo. Sang sa layo na si Lando, amo pa na nagsugod ang mabaskug nga ulan. Hopefuly, the next storm "Mina" would not be that strong.

Consunji subsidiary puts up Panay coal power plant

The subsidiary of construction giant Consunji Group, announced that it is keen on pursuing its plan to put up of a clean coal power plant in Panay.
Nestor Dadivas, president and CEO of DMCI Power Corp., the power arm of Consunji said they hoped to start the P7 billion clean coal power plant in Panay the soonest possible time.“We hope to break ground in the next few months,” Dadivas said.
Dadivas reported they expected to commission the 100 megawatt (MW) coal facility by July 2010.
Davidas said DMCI Power, a wholly owned power generation subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., was now talking with foreign and local lenders to raise the needed financing for the construction of the coal plant.
“We are presently negotiating with foreign and local lenders. We hope to get financial closing soon,” he said.
At the same time, Dadivas said no formal agreement has been set with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group for the possibility of jointly developing the coal facility in Concepcion, Iloilo.
The plant will use a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology considered as “clean coal technology” in terms of air emissions.
The plant will utilize coal from Semirara Mining Corp. (SMC), another DMCI company based in Antique.
Once construction is completed, the coal plant will help assure adequate power supply in the Visayas, particularly Panay.
Other projects that are expected to boost the Visayas grid were the 100MW Cabalian geothermal project in Leyte and 40MW Dauin geothermal project in Negros.
DMCI Power Corp. has earlier inked a deal with Singapore-based Asia Energy Development Co. Pte. Ltd. (AED) to invest in local power industry.
AED was stablished by Argosy Partners, Inc., the private equity firm, to invest in energy-related businesses in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The joint venture was named DMCI Asia Energy Power Corp. (DMCI Asia) with DMCI Power and AED sharing a 50-50 ownership.
Meanwhile, it was not clear if AED will join in the coal project. (PNA)

link:
http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1630&Itemid=137

http://mayadstudios.multiply.com/video/item/42

Congrats sa Mayad Studios for placing third in the First ever Sony wedding video contest held during the WPPP (Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) Photocongress in Manila last October 22-25. They ranked third out of the 36 entries nationwide.

Congratulations. :cheers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/iloilocity2.jpg

a few minutes after the "ALDEGUER street" pic was shot ......

we were caught by a traffic policeman for counterflowing a one-way street :lol: :bash:

the ever-present spaghetti and sotanghon wires in all the pictures. it's great if some of the old buildings have some visible restorations done! unfortunately, none.

Labor dep’t pilots program for ‘informal sector’ in Guimbal

ILOILO – The Municipality of Guimbal is one of the 19 local government units (LGUs) included in the first batch of cities and municipalities chosen as demonstration areas for the government’s Unlad Kabuhayan Program initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The program was conceptualized to provide assistance to businesses of workers in the informal sector (IS), referred to as IS Worktreps.

The recipients are self-employed workers, referred to as worker-entrepreneurs (Worktreps) who operate subsistence livelihood or businesses but don’t have paid employees.’

The DOLE, under the program, will make available four major services to include trainings, business advisory, social protection and networking.

Meantime, the host local government unit (LGU) will assist in fast tracking the registration or business permits of the IS Worktrep, provide a slot for the group’s representation in the local development council, facilitate a "one-stop-shop" for business counseling services and allot market areas for their products.

This 2007, the DOLE is set to implement the program in 32 selected areas, which will be expanded to 148 LGUs in 2008.

The program seeks to reach out to some 10 million IS Worktreps all over the country.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business2.htm)

Matt Monro Jr. in Iloilo
for Memories Tour 2007

BORN free, as free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows, born free to follow your heart; There could never be, a portrait of my love, for nobody can paint a dream; Walk away please go, before you throw your life away; More than the greatest love the world has known, this is the love I’ll give to you alone.
Born Free… Portrait of My Love… Walk Away. More…

These are some of the hit songs that we grew up with while listening to the romantic and captivating voice of Matt Monro. Without a doubt, he had contributed to so many different cultures enjoying his style of music which touched millions of people irrespective of age, gender, race or religion. He’s one of the music industry’s greatest talents with more than 100 million records sold worldwide throughout an incredible career that spanned over 35 years.

His son, Matt Monro Jr. will be in the Philippines for a concert tour next month. The “Memories Tour 2007” with Matt Monro Jr. is scheduled in Iloilo City on December 18, 2007 at the Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention Center. The presenters are Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation and Rotary Club of Jaro Centraline.

***
"Matt has a striking resemblance to his father but sings his father's songs in his own style. This makes the show a unique evening of music, warmth and love." - Broadway Magazine

When Matt was only 13 years old, he was invited by his father to join him on stage and perform a duet with him. Matt did and from that moment on knew that what he wanted was to be a singer and to one day repeat that unforgettable night in 1977.

Unfortunately the two Monro’s never got a chance to repeat the performance as in February 1985, Matt Monro died at the age of 54. Matt’s dream of sharing the stage with his father again had been shattered.

In 1986, a year after his father’s death, a tribute was organized at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Matt performed to over 2000 people. David Jacobs, a renowned DJ was in the audience. David subsequently went on the radio and announced “a new singer has emerged.” This led Matt to appear on the Bob Monkhouse program “Opportunity Knocks” in 1986 and established him as having his own individual talent. He did three years on the “circuit,” earning his dues as a singer.

The “Memories Tour 2007” is a combination of nostalgia and memories of the great Matt Monro. Matt has a striking resemblance to his father although he sings his father’s songs in his own style. He is keeping the memory of his father and his music alive, as well as recounting endless stories that go hand in hand with those songs. This makes the show a unique evening of music, warmth and love.

“My music is the special love I have to a great man whose contribution to the music industry leaves a legacy of excellence behind him. I am in the unique position of being able to combine my own type of music with that of my father’s bringing about a new generation of fans. This is what I love to share with my audience, bringing a new appreciation to not only the contemporary sounds but also that of a bygone era,” Matt said.

In 1989/90, Matt did a British tour with Cannon & Ball and Hinge and Bracket and from this the Matt Monro one-man-show was born. Matt would tour with a nine-piece band, performing his own version of his father’s songs.

Matt signed with the EMI label in 1995 and thanks to the advent of modern technology was able to fulfill his dream from that night back in 1977 when he dreamt of singing with his dad again. The album “Matt Sings Monro” is a collection of many of the best Matt Monro songs, done as duets with Matt Jr following the example of Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole’s version of “Unforgettable.”

Matt made his home in Spain and spends a majority of his time touring overseas. 2005 saw him touring England with a new show “The Legend Lives On” which was a year in the making and took him to over 40 concert venues across England. The shows were such a success that the experience was repeated in 2006. One of his personal highlights over the last few years has been working with his late father’s musical director, Colin Keyes.
He recently sung to a 1200 strong sell-out engagement at the renowned Dublin National Concert Hall.

Aside from such hits as Born Free, Yesterday, Portrait of My Love, The Music Played, My Way, Softly, Impossible Dream, From Russia with Love, You and Me Against the World, Jean, New York New York, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, More, (and many more), Matt has also lined up some Christmas songs popularized by his father.

Tickets are available at P2,500 (VIP, limited seats), P2,000, P1,000, P500 and P300. Avail of up to 20-percent discount for purchases made before November 30. Text hotline 09205303309 for inquiries.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business3.htm)

Aksyon Radyo’s ‘Kayaba’ fest
bags KBP Golden Dove

ILOILO City -- Aksyon Radyo’s “Kayaba Festival” was awarded as best station promotional material during the 16th Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Golden Dove Awards held at the Oxford Hotel, Clark Field, Pampanga.

Now on its fourth year, “Kayaba Festival: Guimaras-Iloilo Cross Channel Swim” is an annual swimming event that links Iloilo and Guimaras.

Dubbed as a “unique activity” in the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) calendar of events for Western Visayas, Kayaba Festival aims to create awareness for the need to preserve the Iloilo River, promote tourism in Guimaras and Iloilo, and encourage people to engage in swimming as a competitive sport.

Kayaba Festival competed with the entries of DZMM-Manila (“Diabetes”); DZRH-Manila (“Anniversary Documentaries); DXND-Kidapawan (“Karapatan ng mga Bata”); and “Anti-drug Addiction Spot” of DXMS FM-Cotabato in the nationawide search.

Topnotch anchorman Joel Zamora Tormon of “Aksyon Hotline” was also a finalist for the Best Public Affairs Program Host in radio category.

Tormon joined the league of Joe Taruc of DZRH and Korina Sanchez of DZMM, who won the converted award.

The awarding ceremony coincided with the KBPs Annual Top Level Management Conference on November 16, 2007.

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

BIZMEN ENDORSE COAL PLANT
Business groups act to solve power woes
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE power crisis has been the primary reason why investors are discouraged from investing in Iloilo, top Ilonggo business executives said.

Thus, they have moved to solve the power problems especially in Iloilo City, the center of commerce and trade in Panay.

Yesterday, at least 10 Ilonggo business leaders representing major traders’ groups here met at Amigo Terrace Hotel and came up with “a statement regarding the solution to the power crisis.”

They are Alfonso Uy, chair of Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF), Inc.; Rex C. Drilon II, president of ILEDF; Antonio Jon, chair of Iloilo Business Club, Inc.; Dr. Roland Uy, president of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, (FCCCI) Inc.; Angel de Leon, Jr., president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo; Reynaldo Navarro, president of FCCCI-Panay; Fanny Uy, president of Iloilo Multi-sectoral Business Organization; Emil Diez, president of Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau; Valerie Maravilla, president of Ilonggo Producers Association, Inc.; and Francis Chung, president of Philippine Retailers’ Association of Iloilo.

“We, the business sector of Iloilo, led by the ILEDF and its member business associations representing more than 350 small, medium and large companies operating in Iloilo do hereby declare that we strongly support and endorse the establishment of a coal-fired power plant that will generate an additional 164 MW of electricity for our community,” they stressed in a statement.

Global Power is planning to invest a new power plant using the clean coal technology within the property of its subsidiary Panay Power Corp. at Brgy. Ingore in La Paz district.

The Ilonggo businessmen believe that a coal plant is a solution to the power woes.

“For many years now, Iloilo has suffered from inadequate, expensive, unreliable and poor quality of power supply. The price of crude oil, now at more than $90 per barrel with strong possibilities of breaking the $100 mark in the near future, will make the price of electricity in Iloilo even higher because its current primary source of energy is now oil-based,” they said.

Iloilo, like the rest of Panay, is at the tail-end of the national power grid from Luzon, Eastern, Central and Western Visayas and the growing demand in these areas does not leave much for Iloilo in terms of quantity and quality of power.

“This (the scenario) has greatly affected the ability of the business sector to generate and grow employment opportunities here— employment remains to be the best antidote to poverty—thus, Ilonggo businesses want to grow because, with growth, it can provide more opportunities,” the business officials asserted.

“Lack of reliable and affordable power prevents us from achieving this goal of eradicating poverty with employment. The power crisis can be resolved with timely investments in additional capacities for appropriate, safe and affordable sources of energy,” they pointed out.

Except for the present proponent Global Business Power Corp. of the Metrobank Group, no other credible investors have stepped forward to provide much additional capacity within a reasonable period and in the magnitudes being proposed, they added.

“There are alternative sources of energy, yes, but where are the investors?” they said.

The business chiefs explained: “The power crisis gripping Iloilo has been traced to problems in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the island. We know the problems and we have analyzed and talked about them in endless debates—the time to act is now.”

“As responsible members of the community, our leaders have studied the issues, read research materials, participated in dialogues and even went on field trips and observation tours here and abroad to ensure that the technology being proposed meets cost, safety and time specifications,” they explained.

They added: “We also submit that the project proponents are responsible corporate citizens who have established track records as triple-bottom line businessmen.”

“In view of the power situation, we reiterate our statement of strong support and endorsement for the coal plant project. Iloilo once was the ‘Queen City of the South’ but because of the unsolved power crisis for many years, it has lagged behind other cities in terms of development and growth. We urge Ilonggos who love Iloilo to join us in helping solve the power crisis and unshackle us from bondage that we have been subjected to for a long time now,” the business managers said.

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

BIZMEN BACK COAL PLANT
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Dismissing possible dangers to health and the environment, local business leaders have endorsed the proposed coal-fired power plant here, stressing that this will end the “power crisis” in the metropolis.

The businessmen also urged Ilonggos to “join us in helping solve the power crisis and unshackle us from the bondage that we have been subjected to for (a) long time now.”

In a statement, the businessmen under the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (IEDF) and its member-business associations stressed that the coal power generation technology will also help encourage new investments and thereby generate more jobs.

With their position, the businessmen are clashing head-on with environmental activists and the Church here. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo recently urged Ilonggos to reject the proposed coal-fired power plant, warning them of health and environmental risks that it would bring.

But for the businessmen, a steady and reliable power supply would mean more investments for Iloilo City.

The Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) of the Metrobank Group plans to put up a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant here.

“No other credible investors have stepped forward to provide this much additional capacity (of power) within a reasonable period and in the magnitude being proposed. There are alternative sources of energy, yes, but where are the investors,” argued the businessmen.

In endorsing the coal-fired power plant project, the businessmen also reminded Ilonggos of the continuing increases in the price of crude oil.

“The price of crude oil, now at more than $90 per barrel – and with strong possibilities of breaking the $100 mark – will make the price of electricity in Iloilo even higher,” the businessmen warned.

At present, the primary source of energy in Iloilo City is oil-based, thus it is vulnerable to oil price fluctuations.

Iloilo City today consumes an average of 80 megawatts of electricity. Its power distributor, Panay Electric Company (PECO), mainly depends on diesel-fired Panay Power Corporation (PPC) for power supply and partly on the National Power Corporation.

The businessmen said the power problem here is the primary reason why investors are shying away from Iloilo City. This, in turn, means loses in terms of possible employment to be generated by these investments.

“Employment remains to be the best antidote to poverty. Ilonggo businesses want to grow because with growth, it can provide more (job) opportunities (to the people). Lack of reliable and affordable power prevents us from achieving this goal of eradicating poverty with employment,” they explained.

The businessmen expressed confidence that “the technology being proposed meets cost, safety and time specifications.”

“We also submit that the project proponents are responsible corporate citizens who have established track records as triple-bottom line businessmen,” they added.

The two-page statement of the businessmen issued yesterday were signed by:

* Alfonso Uy, IEDF chairman
* Rex Drilon II, IEDF president
* Antonio Jon, Iloilo Business Club chairman
* Dr. Roland Uy, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. president
* Angel De Leon Jr., Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo president
* Reynaldo Navarro, Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Panay, Inc. president
* Fanny Uy, Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization president
* Emil Diez, Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau president
* Valerie Maravilla, Ilonggo Producers’ Association president; and
* Francis Chung, Philippine Retailers’ Association of Iloilo president.

DENR ALLAYS COAL FEAR
Only last week, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio said the proposed coal-fired power plant at Brgy. Ingore here would pose no danger to the environment.

“There are already enough safeguards against coal pollution,” Claudio said. “In fact, our office would issue an environmental compliance certificate only to a new power plant that has undergone our environmental impact assessment. We would also require emission control devices.”

She added that the shift to coal would not only solve power shortage but would also stabilize energy cost to as low as P2.50 per kilowatt-hour, in contrast to the prevailing P7 imposed by diesel-fed plants.

Based on available data, the world has enough reserves of coal for at least the next 200 years; whereas gas could be depleted within the next 40 years. It is locally available at the islet of Semirara in Caluya, Antique.

The misconception of coal being a dirty fuel stems from a misunderstanding of its basic principle. Critics of coal compare it to a burning charcoal that boils water, Claudio said. Indeed, coal likewise heats water into steam that drives the turbine to produce electricity.

Like most coal-fired power plants in the world today, however, the proposed coal-fired power plant of GBPC in Iloilo City, in partnership with Taiwan-based Formosa Heavy Industries, will utilize a form of clean-coal technology, specifically the circulating fluidized bed technology which boasts of so-called electrostatic precipitators that trap ashes, mercury, particulate matters, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and other gases, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere. The plant will take two years to build at a budget of US $150 million.

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

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/whyte/ILOILO/iloilocity2.jpg



^^If i have enough money, i'd like to buy one of those Historical buildings in Calle Real, convert the first floor into a Musuem/Art Exhibition and the 2nd Floor as an Urban Dwelling, hiihhii

http://mayadstudios.multiply.com/video/item/42

Congrats sa Mayad Studios for placing third in the First ever Sony wedding video contest held during the WPPP (Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) Photocongress in Manila last October 22-25. They ranked third out of the 36 entries nationwide.

Congratulations. :cheers:

:cheers: I love their works especially the ICVB promotional vid, kaso the waiters don't smile...indi inviting...

the ever-present spaghetti and sotanghon wires in all the pictures. it's great if some of the old buildings have some visible restorations done! unfortunately, none.

Yes...and the sidewalk vendors....GRRRRRRR:bash:

I heard MAYAD was trained by the most famous Wedding Videographer in the country, Jason Magbanua whose roots also is from Pototan, Iloilo.

http://mayadstudios.multiply.com/video/item/42

Congrats sa Mayad Studios for placing third in the First ever Sony wedding video contest held during the WPPP (Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) Photocongress in Manila last October 22-25. They ranked third out of the 36 entries nationwide.

Congratulations. :cheers:

If the LGU doesn't have the guts to remove the sidewalk vendors in its utter state, why don't they make some picturesque or eye-catching stalls instead?

And regarding spaghetti wires? Hay, it may take several years before it will be buried underground, given PECO's state.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00100.jpg
Last May. Muelle Loney. Summer. Iloilo City

http://mayadstudios.multiply.com/video/item/42

Congrats sa Mayad Studios for placing third in the First ever Sony wedding video contest held during the WPPP (Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) Photocongress in Manila last October 22-25. They ranked third out of the 36 entries nationwide.

Congratulations. :cheers:

:cheers: I love their works especially the ICVB promotional vid, kaso the waiters don't smile...indi inviting...


Congratulations to Raph, Alvin & Jose
Mayad Studios!!!
:banana:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00174.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00173.jpg

Congratulations to Raph, Alvin & Jose
Mayad Studios!!!
:banana:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00174.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00173.jpg

ano ni?...version sang kitty girls...mga doggy boys!!! hehehhe. joke!!!! nice sang kuha migs. :) kita mo na watermark ko sa pics ko?...

^^ Yup, I did! Good thing your using that because of some infringement problems with local media. :D

If the LGU doesn't have the guts to remove the sidewalk vendors in its utter state, why don't they make some picturesque or eye-catching stalls instead?

And regarding spaghetti wires? Hay, it may take several years before it will be buried underground, given PECO's state.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00100.jpg
Last May. Muelle Loney. Summer. Iloilo City

^^there's always a solution to everything, it doesn't have to be a very expensive idea just a practical one.

splendid pix, port city...iloilo :)

Iloilo businesses push for coal-fired power
By Niña Jane A. Souribio
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2066/21novemberss8.jpg

The influential Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (IEDF) and its member business associations representing at least 350 small to large companies here expressed their strong support on the controversial project of Iloilo City government to construct a coal-fired in the city.
In a statement sent to the INFORMER, IEDF said for several years now, Iloilo has been suffering from “inadequate, expensive, unreliable and poor quality of power supply.”
With the price of crude oil soaring high, the price of electricity in Iloilo will even go higher. Thus, it is high time to act on the power crisis that had been “a primary reason why investors are discouraged from investing in Iloilo,” IEDF stressed.
“This has greatly affected the ability of the business sector to generate and grow employment opportunities here. Employment remains to be the antidote to poverty. Ilonggo businesses want to grow because with the growth it can provide more opportunities. Lack of reliable and affordable power prevents us from achieving this goal of eradicating poverty with employment,” they further said.

con'td: http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1636&Itemid=137

Iloilo from a Cebuano Lawyer's Eyes

Magnificent In Iloilo (http://magnificent.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/magnificent-in-iloilo/)

I am writing in the stark new whiteness that is Iloilo’s international airport, arriving an hour earlier than my scheduled flight. It is 7:43 in the morning, a diffused gray light permeating through gray overcast clouds and the vents of the airport roof.

Two days earlier, I was appearing for the private complainant in a criminal case for the violation of B.P. Blg. 22, the Bouncing Checks Law. It was an interesting experience for me, one where the gentle spirit of the Ilonggo people was laid bare before the halls of justice.

... I infer that Ilonggos are very gentle people who would avoid direct confrontation at all costs, preferring to work things out through compromise and discussion. Judging from their behavior in the courts, the party litigants seemed like they didn’t want to have to resort to litigation to enforce collection of the checks, but perhaps to show the accused that they meant business, the private complainants filed the cases anyway for collection.

In Cebu, you would have found the party litigants arguing in heated debate before the judge. Here in Iloilo, after sheepish appearance before the courts, the parties walked away shaking hands and smiling at each other. Interesting. Indeed, the Ilonggos are a warm and gentle people.

My client, a Cebuano contractor for construction projects, also pointed out something interesting about Iloilo: the buildings and their interiors were better designed than the ones in Cebu. He concluded that architects here had more say over the outcome of the building and that Ilonggos were willing to spend good money for good-looking homes and offices, much like the people in Manila. This was unlike Cebu where cost, value and functionality were more important considerations over design and aesthetics, evidenced by the admittedly drab and Spartan design of Cebuano structures. In Cebu, the contractor had bigger say over the final outcome of the construction, much more than the architects, consistent with the Cebuano mentality that “We don’t care so much about it looking fancy, just make sure the building is stable and built at low cost.”

I wish I had more time to tour around during my stay here but my time was spent at the hotel studying my cases and working on pending pleadings. I would have wanted to visit the old houses and churches that the Ilonggos are known for. At least I got to meet up with old friends and sample some of the tasty Ilonggo cuisine. The batchoy and the inasal nga manok was superb. I also got to see that contrary to what I expected, Iloilo was actually quite urbane. I was expecting something like Tagbilaran or Dipolog, a city that still looks like a town. :D (smiley mine)

Well… they’re calling my flight back home to Cebu. Thus ends my first ever trip to the land of batchoy, Dinagyang, beautiful buildings and gentle people. It was an interesting trip, but nevertheless, it would be good to go back home.

Iloilo businesses push for coal-fired power
By Niña Jane A. Souribio
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2066/21novemberss8.jpg


^^ Looks familiar. Got to visit them at the old airport maybe tomorrow or later this afternoon. Anyway, they have the authority using my pictures, given several conditions.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/1046248331_271ec9f3ce.jpg?v=0

Iloilo from a Cebuano Lawyer's Eyes

Magnificent In Iloilo (http://magnificent.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/magnificent-in-iloilo/)


^^ I wish he had more time to spend here. Just like my friend/visitor from Cebu, they have the same reaction.

^^i was suspecting that either it was your pic or chy's as well.

Sunday, November 18, 2007
Uniquely Ilonggo
http://www.iloilocityboy.blogspot.com/

A high school batchmate from Don Bosco emailed this "You Know You're a True Blue Ilonggo If ..." list. Funny and true.

1. Your one peso is pisos

2. Your bathroom has at least one lugod (some has one for every family member)

3. Your nanay used to make you drink Mirinda or Royal Tru Orange when you have a fever, which is supposed to make you feel better

4. Sinamak is a staple in your dining table (the best Ilonggo invention if you ask me,was even banned on airplanes long before 911)

5. Your toyo is patis and your patis is toyo

6. You use atsuete for your adobo and pinamalhan (pinaksiw)

7. Your daily meal will likely include laswa, kbl (kadyos, baboy, langka), ginat-an nga tambo with tugabang and okra, ginat-an nga munggo, linutik, apan- apan, etc.

8. November 1 means eating ibus, suman, suman latik, kalamay-hati, bayi-bayi, valenciana or other native delicacies with glutinous rice and coconut milk

9. You call those you love palangga, pangga, langga or ga

10. You call your siblings or cousins inday, nonoy or toto...the househelp may all you the same

11. You call those who are older than you manang or manong

12. You catch the attention of sales attendants by calling them "day"
or "to"

13. Your childhood games include tumba patis, taksi, panagu-ay, balay-balay, ins, tin-tin baka, etc.

14. You used to be (or still are) scared to go out at night lest you meet the aswang, tik-tik, tayhu, kapre, kama-kama, morto, etc.

15. Your grandparents read Yuhum Magazine

16. You call a person, thing, place and event kwan when you forget it (si kwan, ang kwan, sa kwan)

17. You used to sleep in an aboy-aboy made of patadyong when you were a baby (probably applies only to us below the poverty line)

18. You understand that "Particulars Keep Out" sign means outsiders keep out

19. This may look and sound English but only us Ilonggos use it... You use words such as "ahay" (expression of pity, grief, empathy), "yuga" (expression of disbelief, surprise), "ambot ah" (to say you don't know, expression of impatience)

20. You often start your sentence with ti

21. You say goodbye by saying "halong"

22. Your favorite cusswords are linte (if you're slightly pissed off) and yodiputa (if you're pissed off big time)...

23. You answer "gani" to emphasize that you agree on something and say "gid" to emphasize the extent of your emotions, such as "kapoy gid" which means "I'm extremely or very tired."

24. When you buy coke you say, "bakal ko cuks"

25. You pronounce tricycle as "trysikol," triangle as "trayangol."

Guilty? You are indeed a TRUE Ilonggo! He!He!

Here are my own observation:

26. Instead of using your finger, you use your nguso to point to an object or to give directions.

27. You eat batchoy with pandesal instead of puto and you finish all the broth first (and usually ask for additional kaldo) and eat the mami and innards later.

^^daw guilty guid ako sa majority nga mga observations niya,lol

If the LGU doesn't have the guts to remove the sidewalk vendors in its utter state, why don't they make some picturesque or eye-catching stalls instead?

And regarding spaghetti wires? Hay, it may take several years before it will be buried underground, given PECO's state.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00100.jpg
Last May. Muelle Loney. Summer. Iloilo City
Muelle Loney needs a good facelift. I hope they'll consider few improvements in this part of the city.

Major make-over on Capitol SP Internal Rules triggers in-house battle
By Florence F. Hibionada

A total of seventeen major provisions of the Internal Rules in the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) face major amendments. Yet even before it was presented before the body, an objection posed triggered what seemingly appeared as an in-house battle among board members present.

This, as the Committee on Rules, Privileges, Ethics and Accountability concluded its report calling for the revision and its corresponding approval.

In a 15-paged report obtained by The News Today (TNT), first to be amended is the composition of the officers of the Iloilo SP. From five, the number is down to two with changes proposed on the Majority Floor Leader into "Floor Leader."

"The modification of Majority Floor Leader into Floor Leader and deletion of the Minority Floor Leader allows any Sanggunian member to be elected as Floor Leader regardless of party affiliation. The positions of Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Assistant Minority Floor Leader were likewise deleted for reasons herein subsequently stated," excerpts of the first revision went.

The Vice Governor is still the regular Presiding Officer while the Floor Leader shall now be elected by the majority of all the members of the SP.

Amendments too in the duties and responsibilities "for purposes of semantical accuracy," alongside memberships of the board members in various SP committees.

Other concerns also addressed in the new Internal Rules include the issue on quorum, vacancy in posts, voting guidelines and procedure of Motions.

On the matter of Composition and Reorganization of the SP Committees, timeliness was the main concern thus all re-organization "may be allowed only after one (1) year from its constitution and by two-thirds (2/3) votes of all sanggunian members."

Among the signatories of the Committee Report were First District Board Member Richard Garin, committee chair, Second District Board Member Rodolfo Cabado, committee vice chair, Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr and Fourth District Board Member George Demaisip.

Yet in a belated development, Cabado withdrew his signature while lamenting what he said were changes made in the final draft minus his consent.

"With great reluctance and heavy heart, I pose my objection," Cabado began his lengthy explanation. Such as he went on to tell his colleagues the effort he put in to help draft the needed revisions. Cabado said nothing substantial were initially made saying it was only him and Vice Governor Rolex Suplico who appeared interested in the provisions of the Internal Rules.

"It was only me and Vice Governor Suplico who took interest and we explained notes… until I said that the draft was a go," Cabado explained. Problems began, he continued, when it was brought to the Committee proper for final check.

Cabado's objection was based on what he termed were "substantial amendments and that it boiled down to him "having been tricked into signing (the Committee Report)."

In a rebuttal, Garin pointed out the signatures of the majority members of the Committee that then had the expressed withdrawal of Cabado on his earlier signature.

"In all good faith, I signed it… relying on his representation (referring to Garin)," Cabado ended.

In the end, the provincial board resorted to a nominal votation to settle the issue, where the "Yes" vote prevailed over the "No" vote with the count of 8-4, respectively.

Those who voted "No" for the amendment of the internal rules were board members Cabado, Shalene Palmares-Hidalgo, June Mondejar and Angel Briones.

Cabado in closing the votes stood up and offered a toast saying it is a toast for the minority for them being the educated ones.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/21/major.make.over.on.capitol.sp.internal.rules.triggers.in.house.battle.html)

City girds to retain reg'l Clean and Green title
By Maricar M. Calubiran

City Mayor Jerry Treñas is hoping that the city will retain the Clean and Green regional championship title for this year's Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran. He said preparations are being made by City Budget Officer Ninda Atinado for the city to get the same award from its tough competitor, Bacolod City.

Treñas is asking the Ilonggos to help maintain cleanliness as the regional search nears. The regional evaluation is slated on November 26, 2007.

The areas which are to be rated by the regional evaluating team are the public plazas, the different city public markets and public schools, the Calajunan dumpsite, slaughterhouse and the city's seedling nursery. The evaluation will be done through ocular inspections, spot interviews and review of pertinent documents.

The criteria for judging includes the absence of eyesores; well-maintained green areas; odor-free and thoroughly clean public markets and food terminals; presence of waste water treatment system and waste segregation station for slaughterhouse and implementation of waste segregation at source.

The other criteria for the clean and green award are well-maintained public toilets; efficient and effective garbage collection system and support systems provided by the city government on programs and projects on cleanliness, greening, solid waste management, health and sanitation program and the other related efforts.

Presently, it has been observed that the Mandurriao plaza is dirty and full of clutter as it being occupied by stall owners selling used clothing or "ukay-ukay", toys and other stuff. There are also food stalls and different rides as the district will celebrate its district fiesta on November 26, 2007.

Earlier, the Association of Barangay Captains in Mandurriao already agreed with Fr. Esperidion Celis, parist priest of Espousal of Our Lady Parish (Mandurriao) not to allow "ukay-ukay" vendors and food stalls that sell liquors. However, at present, there are a number of "ukay-ukay" stalls and food stalls selling liquors that occupies portion of the plaza.

Meanwhile, Treñas said something has to be done in order to educate the people on waste segregation. The city government has already sponsored 21 seminars to barangay leaders in the city's waste segregation program which include the installation of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in every barangay.

The city's only slaughterhouse is dilapidated and unhygienic to see. The workers have to contend on the present state of the slaughterhouse as they have yet to move to the class "AA" abattoir in Barangay Tacas, Jaro which is still undergoing construction.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/21/city.girds.to.retain.reg.l.clean.and.green.title.html)

Muelle Loney needs a good facelift. I hope they'll consider few improvements in this part of the city.

It already did. This part of the port is being used as an alternative entry to the fishermen, the batel, the bancas and the roro (specifically Montenegro Lines). The Muelle Loney (Iloilo River Wharf) had a great improvement in the port facilities unlike before.

City PESO announces job hiring for Middle East, Asia and Canada

ILOILO CITY – The city’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) recently announced that there are numerous job openings for qualified individuals to the Middle East, Asia and Canada.

PESO OIC Josephine Agudo said that there are three agencies who scheduled job interviews for interested applicants for this month.

The Concorde International Resource Corporation (CIRC), with POEA license number 517-LB 041904 R, said that their principal is looking for cellular phone technicians, information technology engineers, sheet metal workers, autocad draftsmen, sales ladies and cashiers, butchers, bakers and cake decorators for Malaysia, Abu-Dhabi, Korea and Brunei.

Jedegal International Manpower Services, Incorporated (JIMSI) with POEA number 215-LB 092407 R, on the other hand, has job openings for Singapore, Dubai, Taiwan, UAE and Hong Kong. They are looking for staff and assistant nurses, quantity surveyors, planning engineers, site engineers, factory workers, waiters, technicians, domestic helpers and storekeepers.

The International Job Recruitment, Incorporated (IJOBS) is also accepting interested applicants for Canada, Dubai, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Job openings are available for mechanical, electrical, piping, project and structural engineers, project control professional, carpenters and plumbers.
Job interviews scheduled by CIRC will be on November 21st; IJOBS will be on November 23rd, and JIMSI’s will be on November 26th and 27th.

All interested applicants are required to submit their resume (2 sets), certificates of employment, board rating, board certificates, PRC ID, transcript of records, college and HS diploma, and 2x2 picture to the PES office on the scheduled interview dates.

The PES office is open from 8 o’clock in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
Interested applicants can contact the Iloilo City PESO thru telephone numbers 3373410. PIO

source: ILOILO Daily Informer (http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1631&Itemid=137)

It already did. This part of the port is being used as an alternative entry to the fishermen, the batel, the bancas and the roro (specifically Montenegro Lines). The Muelle Loney (Iloilo River Wharf) had a great improvement in the port facilities unlike before.

good to know. But it doesn't look like it improved at all or maybe it was not caught by your cam, Bernie. I hope they'll continue to improve the wharf and make it more tourist-friendly and welcoming to all visitors.

Congratulations to Raph, Alvin & Jose
Mayad Studios!!!
:banana:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00174.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00173.jpg

congratulations to the Mayad Studios Group ! Their entry is indeed superb! Well done ! :banana::banana::banana:

^^ Again, that location is for the traders and not for tourists alone. The most accessible among the areas in the Muelle is at front of the Aduana. The tourist area is located starting from the corner Arroyo-Muelle all the way to Molo area. This is the port area eversince 1855. It is the safest place for the batel or banca and the roro facilities to dock in the city and not anywhere else.

There are some days that those batels and bancas are not there. At least its still functioning to its prime once more.

You cannot expect to have small seacraft dock in the open waters of Iloilo Strait, that made Iloilo River Wharf one of the Philippine's safest harbours.

Maybe they should also focus on how to improve the fast-craft area of the Muelle since this is the busiest area for passenger traffic. They should've move the terminals near the edge of the pier rather than have to cross the street in order to go to the fastcraft.

If you are to compare it years ago, the Muelle has dramatically risen from its desperate days. That is why the businessmen are so concerned in the privatization efforts of the Muelle. The PPA (Phil Ports Authority) revived the business back in the wharf.

If the LGU doesn't have the guts to remove the sidewalk vendors in its utter state, why don't they make some picturesque or eye-catching stalls instead?

And regarding spaghetti wires? Hay, it may take several years before it will be buried underground, given PECO's state.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Iloilosegundo00100.jpg
Last May. Muelle Loney. Summer. Iloilo City

post card quality picture!:)

Iloilo businesses push for coal-fired power
By Niña Jane A. Souribio
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2066/21novemberss8.jpg

The influential Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (IEDF) and its member business associations representing at least 350 small to large companies here expressed their strong support on the controversial project of Iloilo City government to construct a coal-fired in the city.
In a statement sent to the INFORMER, IEDF said for several years now, Iloilo has been suffering from “inadequate, expensive, unreliable and poor quality of power supply.”
With the price of crude oil soaring high, the price of electricity in Iloilo will even go higher. Thus, it is high time to act on the power crisis that had been “a primary reason why investors are discouraged from investing in Iloilo,” IEDF stressed.
“This has greatly affected the ability of the business sector to generate and grow employment opportunities here. Employment remains to be the antidote to poverty. Ilonggo businesses want to grow because with the growth it can provide more opportunities. Lack of reliable and affordable power prevents us from achieving this goal of eradicating poverty with employment,” they further said.

con'td: http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1636&Itemid=137

as usual, the business sector always knows what's best for the local economy

congratulations to the Mayad Studios Group ! Their entry is indeed superb! Well done ! :banana::banana::banana:

congratulations Mayad studios!:)

Consunji subsidiary puts up Panay coal power plant

The subsidiary of construction giant Consunji Group, announced that it is keen on pursuing its plan to put up of a clean coal power plant in Panay.
Nestor Dadivas, president and CEO of DMCI Power Corp., the power arm of Consunji said they hoped to start the P7 billion clean coal power plant in Panay the soonest possible time.“We hope to break ground in the next few months,” Dadivas said.
Dadivas reported they expected to commission the 100 megawatt (MW) coal facility by July 2010.
Davidas said DMCI Power, a wholly owned power generation subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., was now talking with foreign and local lenders to raise the needed financing for the construction of the coal plant.
“We are presently negotiating with foreign and local lenders. We hope to get financial closing soon,” he said.
At the same time, Dadivas said no formal agreement has been set with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group for the possibility of jointly developing the coal facility in Concepcion, Iloilo.
The plant will use a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology considered as “clean coal technology” in terms of air emissions.
The plant will utilize coal from Semirara Mining Corp. (SMC), another DMCI company based in Antique.
Once construction is completed, the coal plant will help assure adequate power supply in the Visayas, particularly Panay.
Other projects that are expected to boost the Visayas grid were the 100MW Cabalian geothermal project in Leyte and 40MW Dauin geothermal project in Negros.
DMCI Power Corp. has earlier inked a deal with Singapore-based Asia Energy Development Co. Pte. Ltd. (AED) to invest in local power industry.
AED was stablished by Argosy Partners, Inc., the private equity firm, to invest in energy-related businesses in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The joint venture was named DMCI Asia Energy Power Corp. (DMCI Asia) with DMCI Power and AED sharing a 50-50 ownership.
Meanwhile, it was not clear if AED will join in the coal project. (PNA)

link:
http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1630&Itemid=137

a P7 billion coal power plant proposed investment. that's huge! and the consunji group hopes to build it in a few months. i really hope this will be realized. we're battling against lost opportunity costs already incurred by the city for the past year or so in terms of investments because of our power shortage.

the sooner they'll build this clean coal power plant, the better it is for us!

congratulations Mayad studios!:)

^^ditto! i just saw the vid, wow! it was great! world class talaga! my hearty congratulations to mayad studios! amo na ya ang ilonggo!

a P7 billion coal power plant proposed investment. that's huge! and the consunji group hopes to build it in a few months. i really hope this will be realized. we're battling against lost opportunity costs already incurred by the city for the past year or so in terms of investments because of our power shortage.

the sooner they'll build this clean coal power plant, the better it is for us!

^^i hope so too, the sooner the better for Iloilo, i still have my concens about "clean coal" especially its environmental effects but i'm convinced now that there is no other immediate alternative to this technology that can help solve our power problems, i just hope that this will be a catalyst for more progress for our beloved city and its people.

May I have the honor to start a new thread? :)

^^oh. we're on the 1000th mark na gale! ok, samwise!:) maybe you could reinstate that "old world, vibrant future" we voted a long time ago.

^^oh. we're on the 1000th mark na gale! ok, samwise!:)

Thanks, Bords. See you on the 40th. :)

i'm not even faintly aware of it!:lol: i am requesting the mods to close this thread!:)

From the 39th thread:

Iloilo At A Glance

Before the Commonwealth era ended, Iloilo City was the second most important population center of the country in terms of development, next only to Manila – Spain’s “Queen City of the Orient”.

After that, Iloilo started its economic decline, precipitated by the downfall of its single biggest industry and income generator – the sugar industry. The Port of Iloilo, an international port of entry and the busiest in the South, became a lethargic port, reflecting the state of the city’s economy.

Iloilo was at the lowest point of its decline when the title “Queen City of the South” ironically came into my awareness.

The late 80s saw the renaissance of Rodolfo Ganzon in local politics. Ganzon hammered into our consciousness, through his pretentious rhetoric, the notion that Iloilo, once the “Queen City of the South”, should reclaim the title. Ironically, Ganzon did nothing to achieve this dream. On the contrary, he did everything to scare investors away. His persecution of local Chinese merchants marked his tenure as city mayor. He drove potential investors away, just by being arrogant.

Ganzon’s successor at the city hall, Mansueto Malabor, somewhat continued his lackluster administration. Sensing that Iloilo cannot be “Queen City of the South” anymore, as that title fairly belongs to Cebu now, Malabor settled for another wishful title for his city – “City of Love”. He tried to revive the city’s economy, but by then, investor confidence was at an all-time low, and big government projects were non-existent. Iloilo’s economy stagnated at that level, its lowest point, for a very long time and upstarts like Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Gen. Santos had overtaken it.

However, Iloilo still had a quite high savings rate compared to the national average, as manifested by the big number of banks at such a rather small area. What prevented the city from sinking into the abyss and kept it afloat was the Province of Iloilo, with its productive farms and fishponds, and with its large number of overseas contract workers (OFWs) and seamen. It is no surprise then, that Iloilo had a relatively affluent consumer base. Henry Sy did not overlook this fact when he decided to saturate the city with his SM department stores and supermarkets.

From then on, there was nowhere for Iloilo to go but up. Complemented by the dynamic management of Mayor Jerry Trenas, the city’s economy slowly but surely, recovered. Trenas envisioned the city to be “The Next Big Thing”.

New businesses steadily set up shop, private educational and health facilities gradually sprouted, business process outsourcing (BPO) companies came in, national real estate developers moved in and stimulated local property developments, and several new hotels somewhat transformed Iloilo’s low skyline into a medium-rise one.

The city and province saw the implementation of huge infrastructure projects, with the P8B international standard new Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan as the most significant one. Undergoing construction is a P4B floodway project that will solve the city’s perennial flooding problem, while a circumferential road and a radial road that will connect the city with its metropolitan area, will commence construction soon. In the works are the replacement of several bridges and culverts, and the widening and improvement of main arteries leading to the new airport.

Megaworld Property Holdings, the new owner of the old airport property will pour an initial P1.5B on a new central business district (CBD) that will include medium-rise residential, commercial and office buildings, BPO facilities, a convention center, and possibly, a theme park, among others. Palafox Associates is preparing the master plan.

To complement the new provincial capitol building, standing grandly at the city center and built a few years ago through the efforts of the eminent Ilonggo leader Franklin Drilon, an equally imposing new city hall is undergoing construction, a city hall worthy of Iloilo – the most loyal and noble, the queen of the south, and the next big thing.

nothing short of an awe,
this earth called iloilo
cementing her glorious past
by breaking grounds fast.
----------------------------
post away guys!:D

nothing short of an awe,
this earth called iloilo
cementing her glorious past
by breaking grounds fast.
----------------------------
post away guys!:D

:okay: Nice one.

Ano na tawag sa amo na nga poem, Bords?

Naga-rhyme ang two succeeding lines...

^^thanks!:) that's the AABB pattern, i suppose.

^^ I second the motion. :)

^^thanks!:) that's the AABB pattern, i suppose.

Ah... Thanks.

Make some more... :)

You're good at it.

Life begins at 40! Congrats guys!

^^yup, hope i could make some more of them!

Life begins at 40! Congrats guys!

thnks sinj, for granting our request!:)

Life begins at 40! Congrats guys!

Thanks, Master Sinjin. :)

Thanks! Nice poem Eonyx! Oi! Life begins at 40.

Anyway, the Iloilo Business Club has already released a manifesto stating their full support for the construction of the coal power plant in the city.

But here's the thing that concerns me:
1. Immediate need of Iloilo City for power.
2. The environment and health of the people.

I am for green technology but for practicality's sake, shall we go for coal? I'm really confused regarding this decision.

Anyway, there are 3 new vidoes produced by ON Productions (Oscar Nava's) of Iloilo.
1. Iloilo City Festivals
2. Dinagyang Festival
3. Hala Bira Iloilo Music Video

These have been showing in Sky Cable and was brought to Bacolod during the WVTA. I'll be posting the videos maybe later this week or so or kon sin-o may yara nga Youtube copy.

Congrats 40 thread
:dance:

nothing short of an awe,
this earth called iloilo
cementing her glorious past
by breaking grounds fast.
----------------------------
post away guys!:D

nice ecclesiastic

congrats!

Our weather situation in Iloilo for the past 2 days:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/SSCP01.jpg
Early Afternoon.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/SSCE01.jpg
^^ Good thing the Ilonggo authorities learned their lessons eversince that big billboard in Bakhaw fell several years ago. Its all wrapped up for preventing any accidents.

The situation of the controversial flyover as of yesterday. They are reconfiguring/reinforcing the posts of the flyover.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/SSCP03.jpg

Seeing the still unfinished flyover reminds me of the one in Baguio. Both unfinished due to anomalies. :ohno: But Iloilo's is almost done.

The situation of the controversial flyover as of yesterday. They are reconfiguring/reinforcing the posts of the flyover.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/SSCP03.jpg

That's retrofitting...^^

Seeing the still unfinished flyover reminds me of the one in Baguio. Both unfinished due to anomalies. :ohno: But Iloilo's is almost done.

Like the two pedestrian overpasses in La Paz and in Gen. Luna....:ohno: waste

Anyway, there are 3 new vidoes produced by ON Productions (Oscar Nava's) of Iloilo.
1. Iloilo City Festivals
2. Dinagyang Festival
3. Hala Bira Iloilo Music Video

These have been showing in Sky Cable and was brought to Bacolod during the WVTA. I'll be posting the videos maybe later this week or so or kon sin-o may yara nga Youtube copy.

these videos are the ones that made me rant in the previous thread :lol:
good thing you will be posting it soon online.

the hala bira themesong is very catchy and nice rhythm and beat. :banana:

Like the two pedestrian overpasses in La Paz and in Gen. Luna....:ohno: waste

halos tana nga overpasses sa Iloilo are "wasted" except cguro ang naga kabit sa gaisano city.

the people behind those projects were thinking of copying the infras of megamanila not solutions loal problems :bash:

* hopefully once the flyover opens, the city will also think of widening the roads mismo dira sa may stoplight para sa mga nagaliko kay daw puro one lane na ang guwa sina :lol:

When will our traffic planners ever see that they can alleviate the traffic woes in the city by turning some streets into one way and eliminating left turns in some intersections. They can also strictly enforce the anti-jay walking and loading/unloading zone ordinance.

When will our traffic planners ever see that they can alleviate the traffic woes in the city by turning some streets into one way and eliminating left turns in some intersections. They can also strictly enforce the anti-jay walking and loading/unloading zone ordinance.

Iloilo is an old city...that's why chaotic na ang present situation... what the city needs are urban planning and traffic professionals...not those mere traffic police chief's experimenting the city routes...:ohno: or politicians who would just think of implementing a project which will lead to nowhere...:ohno:

First should be planning: data gathering...etc.
then implementation...dry run etc...

When will our traffic planners ever see that they can alleviate the traffic woes in the city by turning some streets into one way and eliminating left turns in some intersections. They can also strictly enforce the anti-jay walking and loading/unloading zones ordinance.

Emphasis supplied.. A lot of traffic in Iloilo City is caused by jeepneys loading, unloading, and waiting anywhere. A very good example is the Plazoleta Gay area.

Guys saw "Iloilo" the book launching sa Bandila...

Saw it too. My, it looks thick and really grand.. Iba na kung Lopez foundation ang nagpasimuno. Where can we order a copy? I wonder how much it will cost...

2k something (and hardbound but they are going to release a soft bound nga burubarato in the future), Bern is going to attend the Investors Forum, I think. pero ako ma apas lang ko ya sa book launching in Nelly Garden ^_^

guys bakal kita!!! hehehe

Iloilo is an old city...that's why chaotic na ang present situation... what the city needs are urban planning and traffic professionals...not those mere traffic police chief's experimenting the city routes...:ohno: or politicians who would just think of implementing a project which will lead to nowhere...:ohno:

First should be planning: data gathering...etc.
then implementation...dry run etc...

Whatever policy they are going to have if they are not going to strictly implement nothing will really happen. I can say it's both policy-making and policy-implementation.

Also, traffic professionals are not fit to do the job... they need traffic engineers to create a fully functional traffic system.

They need to minimize the jeepney density in the major streets in the old CBD (JM basa, Iznart, etc..) and major bottlenecks (general luna, luna street, etc...) at any given time.

Saw it too. My, it looks thick and really grand.. Iba na kung Lopez foundation ang nagpasimuno. Where can we order a copy? I wonder how much it will cost...

Check iririmaw thread. Nong lloyd (sugraboy) posted some info there, as well as bernie.

Stakeholders gear for Iloilo investment gab

INVESTORS are gearing up for a comprehensive business and investment forum in Iloilo City Nov. 27 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel in a move to unlock opportunities and reshape the future of the city and province in this Visayan island.

Some 200 stakeholders have positive expectations as they registered their bullish attitude in reshaping the potentials of Iloilo as the next emerging investment capital and possibly regain the title of the Queen City of the South.

The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation Inc. (ILED) chaired by Dr. Alfonso Uy and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas will lead the forum which aims to attract national and international investors to this city. They will be complemented by ILED president Rex C. Drilon and ILED vice president Antonio S. Jon of the Iloilo Business Club.

Ilonggo industrialist Oscar M. Lopez, chair of the Lopez Group of Companies, will deliver a keynote address themed “Iloilo: The Best is Yet to Be.”

University of Asia and the Pacific Ilonggo Professor Winston Conrad Padojinog will talk on “Iloilo: Gearing Up for Comeback” while PEZA Director General Lilia B. de Lima will explain Peza’s leadership role in enhancing the country’s investment climate.

The forum will also feature presentations on the Iloilo-Guimaras infrastructure master plan by CONCEP president Nathaniel von Eisendel and the Iloilo-Guimaras tourism master plan by former DOT secretary Narzalina Z. Lim who is now the president of Asia Pacific Projects Inc.

Canadian Urban Institute regional manager Francis Gentoral will focus on the Iloilo City roadmap while Iloilo provincial planning officer Mario N. Nillos will talk on the Iloilo Province strategic plan.

Dean Rolando T. Dy of the University of Asia and the Pacific will explain the Iloilo Agribusiness roadmap while Dr. Glenn D. Aguilar of UPV and president of the Iloilo Federation for IT will talk on the topic “Is Iloilo Ready for BPOs?”.

The affair will be capped with the launching of a coffee table book “Iloilo: A Rich and Noble Land” at the famous Nelly Garden in Jaro district. (LCP/PIO)

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

Iloilo: Asia’s emerging investment haven
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

ILOILO is poised to become the newest investment haven not just in the Philippines but in Asia.

This is the aim of Iloilo Investment Forum on Nov. 27 at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City.

Themed “Unlocking Opportunities, Reshaping the Future” the business summit is spearheaded by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDF), Iloilo City and provincial governments and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

Taking on a challenge of globalization, Iloilo gears up to embark on an aggressive campaign to attract local and foreign direct investments, the organizers said.

“Opportunities on areas of tourism, agribusiness, information and communications technology (ICT) and infrastructure will be unveiled as Iloilo is launched as the new haven for investments in Asia,” the forum’s overview stressed.

“Industries all over the world can once again maximize Iloilo’s strategic qualities to improve business operations, link up with new partners and expand market coverage,” it added.

Iloilo Business Club, Inc. (IBC) executive director Lea Lara said the investment forum will showcase featured companies from Manila including Global Business Power Corp. (Global Power), Megaworld and TeleTech which have pipeline projects for Iloilo.

Global Power is planning to put up 164 MW coal fired power plant within the Panay Power Corp. property at Barangay Ingore in La Paz district.

Giant real estate developer Megaworld is set to develop the 54-hectare old airport site in Mandurriao district with the P1.5 billion Iloilo Business Park—a live-work-play-learn community hosting BPO (business process outsourcing) offices, residential units, hotels, convention center, commercial and retail outlets, skills training center, and recreational facilities.

Call center firm TeleTech readies to expand its operations at SM City Iloilo.

“These are companies which will implement projects with their existing capacities,” Lara told The Daily Guardian.

She said Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. president Francis Chua and top officials of donor agencies are expected to grace the investment forum to be attended by some 300 participants.

“We have to campaign to companies to see Iloilo opportunities. We have problems like power and water situation but it’s better to start the process. We treat these problems as opportunities and look at the bright side. It’s the best time to campaign to the private sector—there’s something promising for the city and province—why come late?” Lara stressed.

She asserted: “We have to showcase that we’re not lagging behind. We’re doing these things to realize the goal of the city to become a premiere city. Prospective investments are now at a high despite the problems.”

Lara explained that the entry of Megaworld has been a boost to investments in the metropolis.

“We are very optimistic. The developments will really changed not just the landscape but the viability of Iloilo as investment haven. Megaworld is bringing investments and home for new industries,” she pointed out.

Lara affirmed that top business executives will be vouching for Iloilo as business hub as well as highlighting the general picture of investment climate and available incentives for investors.

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

Welcome

to

Iloilo, The Heart of the Philippines

Thread 40



Hala Bira! Hala Bira! Hala Bira! Hala Bira! Hala Bira!

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/van1975/picbase800xmas.jpg

ILOILO: Old World Charm,Vibrant Future
Thread XL
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8342/iloilofuentepd2.gif

Saw it too. My, it looks thick and really grand.. Iba na kung Lopez foundation ang nagpasimuno. Where can we order a copy? I wonder how much it will cost...

^^mapabakal bla ako sa tita ko. heheh


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/SSCP03.jpg

^^as long as they are making this fly-over safe,that's ok, we can wait, but hopefully the wait will not be that long. :)

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ligans/ecards/sanrio/thanksgiving/pcthanx.gif
Happy Turkey Day!!!

That's retrofitting...^^


Pardon my curiosity, but what will they do during retrofitting? :D

EDIT: Ok, I'm guessing it's this from wikipedia: "Such columns are reinforced by excavating to the foundation pad, driving additional pilings, and adding a new, larger pad, well connected with rebar along side of or into the column."

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9320/frontnov22yp8.jpg
Ilonggo businessmen will gather next week to explore opportunities to make Iloilo City the next business destination in Asia.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ligans/ecards/sanrio/thanksgiving/pcthanx.gif
Happy Turkey Day!!!

^^ Happy Thanksgiving Day to you... :)

^^ salamaaaaat!

DA pushes for construction of big irrigation dam in Iloilo

The Department of Agriculture regional management committee envisions to put up a big irrigation dam or a reservoir to lessen farmers’ dependence on rain and eventually help them improve their production.
DA regional OIC regional executive director Larry Nacionales said they intend to construct the infrastructure in the Municipality of Calinog, he center of big watersheds situated in Tapaz and Jamindan in Capiz and other central municipalities of Iloilo.
The reservoir will have a series of mini-dams that will be used as access in the distribution of the irrigation.
The project, which would cost some P3.8 billion, will benefit not only farmers in Iloilo but also those from neighboring provinces.
“We have initial consultations with some of our congressmen here because we are asking their support for the project to be endorsed next year,” Nacionales said.
Nacionales explained that only 132,000 of the 309,000 hectares of the rice area here are irrigated with about 60,000 hectares being serviced by the National Irrigation Administration, which are also dependent.
The rest, he said, are communal.
“Most of our irrigations are river surface run-off types, which are also dependent on rains. With the proposed reservoir we hope to lessen the number of farmers who are dependent on rain and see an increase in their production,” he added. (PNA)

source: http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1638&Itemid=137

PLDT myDSL Speed Circuit
in Iloilo City

THE car swung around on the wet road as if it was out of control. The car spun in circles but the driver recovered from the drift and kept moving.

Ilonggos couldn’t help but be amused with the car drifting exhibition of the PLDT myDSL Speed Circuit event at the Boardwalk, Diversion Road, Iloilo City on November 18, 2007.

The rainy afternoon turned so hot with Nancy Castiliogne gracing the show. Castiliogne, one of the country’s sexiest and most-sought young actresses, arrived in the city on November 16, 2007 with the myDSL crew.

The car drifting event was part of the campaign of PLDT myDSL introducing Quick Install Kit or the QIK promo.

Subscribers who want to experience the fastest connection of a broadband can have the PLDT myDSL QIK from PLDT Business Centers. It is easy to install to your personal computer so you could enjoy the fastest service of internet connection. At a very affordable price, surf with the speed a hundred times faster than that of a dial-up.

Feed your need for speed with PLDT myDSL QIK.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/business4.htm)

Agri dep’t bats for big
irrigation dam in Iloilo

ILOILO – The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional management committee envisions to put up a big irrigation dam or a reservoir to lessen farmers’ dependence on rain and eventually help them improve their production.

DA Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said they intend to construct the infrastructure in the Municipality of Calinog, the center of big watersheds situated in Tapaz and Jamindan in Capiz and other central municipalities of Iloilo.

The reservoir will have a series of mini-dams that will be used as access in the distribution of the irrigation.

The project, which would cost some P3.8 billion, will benefit not only farmers in Iloilo but also those from neighboring provinces.

“We have initial consultations with some of our congressmen here because we are asking their support for the project to be endorsed next year,” Nacionales said.

Nacionales explained that only 132,000 of the 309,000 hectares of the rice area here are irrigated with about 60,000 hectares being serviced by the National Irrigation Administration, which are also dependent.

The rest, he said, are communal.

“Most of our irrigations are river surface run-off types, which are also dependent on rains. With the proposed reservoir we hope to lessen the number of farmers who are dependent on rain and see an increase in their production,” he added.

Nacionales also mentioned that Presidential Asst. for Panay and Guimaras Dr. Raul Banias also assured them that he will help push for the realization of the project.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo5.htm)

New growth areas bared in Iloilo

This country's southern city is hosting several potential economic growth areas for investment and development as the city braces to become the next investment capital of the Visayas.

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas reported the recently opened areas within the city jurisdiction due to opening up of new roads and new communities, riverbed reclamation and the multi-billion peso investment brought by Megaworld Corp.

Treñas said that Megaworld bought the 54 hectares old airport area for P1.2 billion and would soon invest another P1.5 billion in putting up various infrastructures here.

The new airport operation was transferred to Cabatuan town, some 35 kilometers away from the city, thus setting the pace for development in this city.

Another new growth area was pinpointed along the new diversion and San Rafael Tabucan road and investors are currently making inquiries on possible expansion on this new area.

The government is also completing the Carpenter Bridge in Mandurriao district under the mega floodcontrol project and has allowed the reclamation of riverbeds to become another potential growth area, Treñas said.

Another area ready to absorb investors is the newly opened agricultural area in Sta Rosa, Mandurriao which the city started with the construction of a new bridge and allow a new road to connect up to Mandurriao housing project that shortens the land travel by some seven kilometers.

Several growth areas in Brgy Ingore in Lapaz district are also expected to sprout once the DPWH mega floodway project is completed. (PNA)

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/22/new.growth.areas.bared.in.iloilo.html)

Computer literacy program up for OFWs in Iloilo City

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in this city can look forward to a computer literacy program that will be opened for them by the office of Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog before the year ends.

The program is a tie-up with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) regional office and Microsoft Philippines.

Mabilog said not only the OFWs can benefit from the program, but also their families and beneficiaries.

"We will have experts who will train them in various computer programs and applications so they will have additional skills," he said.

Teachers will come from the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) here, who will handle the 40-hour computer course.

Mabilog said 25 students will be accommodated per class.

OWWA is currently accepting applications for the said program. (PNA)

source: Panay News (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/22/computer.literacy.program.up.for.ofws.in.iloilo.city.html)

Bamboo and hablon explosion
Zedrick Señeres
PageMaker

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc1Nov21.jpg
Angelette Borja-Ragus’ bursting color accents

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc2Nov21.jpg
The opening rites (l-r) Iloilo City First Lady Rosalie Treñas, Iloilo province’s First Lady Myrna Tupas and Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., and Presidential Assistant for Panay and Guimaras Raul Banias

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc3Nov21.jpg
Bo Parcon’s black and silver stunner

THE Iloilo Kawayan Market Celebration last Nov. 12 at the sprawling fountain area of Robinsons Place Iloilo featured world class bamboo furniture and stunning designs made of hand woven hablon fabric.

The opening day kicked off with sumptuous cocktails attended by guests from Cosmo Iloilo’s business, political and society sectors.

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc4Nov21.jpg
Eric Delos Santos luxurious signature.

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc5Nov21.jpg
Sisters Pane and Beverly “Pangging” Rosales with Robinson Place GM Ditas Taleon

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc6Nov21.jpg
Jaki Peñalosa’s hablon plus factor.

Streams of shoppers witnessed with fascination the hablon fashion show featuring the creations of top Iloilo designers.

Hablon Moda Fashion Show burst with color and pomp as stunning models invaded the bamboo-decked runway.

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc7Nov21.jpg
Linda Hoblitzel and former Jaro Queen Rita Peña

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc8Nov21.jpg
Couple Judgee and Sarah Peña

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc9Nov21.jpg
Marjorie Florete and Mega Mag fashion editor Patrick Ty

Cosmo Iloilo’s acclaimed fashion designers joined the show – Bo Parcon, Eric Delos Santos, Claire Jarantilla-Gabayeron, Angelette Borja-Ragus and Jaki Peñalosa.

Manila-based PJ Arañador also introduced his year-round hablon collection on the catwalk.

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc10Nov21.jpg
Rossana Ng-Jamora and Bords Viterbo

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc11Nov21.jpg
DTI Regional Director Dominique Abad

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc12Nov21.jpg
Miguel Cordova and fashion designer Eric Delos Santos

Ilongga model Ria Bolivar led the mannequins who paraded the special hablon designs.

The anuual Iloilo Kawayan Market Celebration was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the provincial and city governments of Iloilo, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, UP Visayas- School of Technology, the municipal government of Maasin and WESVARRDEC. (Photos by Neil Valera)

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc13Nov21.jpg
Men’s collection by PJ Arañador

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc14Nov21.jpg
Engel and Bulak Loring

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc15Nov21.jpg
Eric Delos Santos’ matador

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc16Nov21.jpg
Ria Bolivar struts PJ Aranador’s stylish creation

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc17Nov21.jpg
(L-R) Fashion designers PJ Arañador, Bo Parcon and Jaki Peñalosa

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/soc18Nov21.jpg
Claire Jarantilla-Gabayeron’s feminine touch

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

2k something (and hardbound but they are going to release a soft bound nga burubarato in the future), Bern is going to attend the Investors Forum, I think. pero ako ma apas lang ko ya sa book launching in Nelly Garden ^_^

Saw it too. My, it looks thick and really grand.. Iba na kung Lopez foundation ang nagpasimuno. Where can we order a copy? I wonder how much it will cost...

Guys, Iloilo: A Rich and Noble Land has been released in Manila and will be following its grand launch here in Nelly Garden next Tuesday (November 27, 2007).

From what I've heard, the hard bound costs more or less P2,200. But I think they will be also publishing low-cost books for the benefit of the students.

According to Sir Henry (Funtecha) who is one of the writers of the book, it is a coffeetable book that can be used as a reference for scholastic researches.

Here's the invite of the upcoming launch this next Tues.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00001.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00002.jpg

^^ She's really gearing up to something! Because by within this said timeframe, something is brewing up in Iloilo! :banana: Manifesting the true Ilonggo spirit! Never say die!

these videos are the ones that made me rant in the previous thread :lol:
good thing you will be posting it soon online.

the hala bira themesong is very catchy and nice rhythm and beat. :banana:

Daw ok man sya rather seeing nga kachipipay ang production. I have a DVD copy of it here but can someone help me posting this at Youtube? May yara na blessing halin kay sir Ben Jimena for internet video streaming. ;)

When will our traffic planners ever see that they can alleviate the traffic woes in the city by turning some streets into one way and eliminating left turns in some intersections. They can also strictly enforce the anti-jay walking and loading/unloading zone ordinance.

Emphasis supplied.. A lot of traffic in Iloilo City is caused by jeepneys loading, unloading, and waiting anywhere. A very good example is the Plazoleta Gay area.

Yes, indeed. Eversince that great flyover was constructed, the queue for Diversion-bound vehicles extended almost all the way to San Agustin! :bash:

Plagata on the other hand might extend for another 1 month on what is supposed to be a month traffic experimentation.

On the other hand, the jeepney associations blame the private vehicles for clogging the streets (as if they're not clogging Calle Real and E.Lopez St!!)

@SSC peeps. Alimol will be leaving for Manila tomorrow and bound for UK. Details at Iririmaw later.

DA pushes for construction of big irrigation dam in Iloilo

The Department of Agriculture regional management committee envisions to put up a big irrigation dam or a reservoir to lessen farmers’ dependence on rain and eventually help them improve their production.
DA regional OIC regional executive director Larry Nacionales said they intend to construct the infrastructure in the Municipality of Calinog, he center of big watersheds situated in Tapaz and Jamindan in Capiz and other central municipalities of Iloilo.
The reservoir will have a series of mini-dams that will be used as access in the distribution of the irrigation.
The project, which would cost some P3.8 billion, will benefit not only farmers in Iloilo but also those from neighboring provinces.
“We have initial consultations with some of our congressmen here because we are asking their support for the project to be endorsed next year,” Nacionales said.
Nacionales explained that only 132,000 of the 309,000 hectares of the rice area here are irrigated with about 60,000 hectares being serviced by the National Irrigation Administration, which are also dependent.
The rest, he said, are communal.
“Most of our irrigations are river surface run-off types, which are also dependent on rains. With the proposed reservoir we hope to lessen the number of farmers who are dependent on rain and see an increase in their production,” he added. (PNA)

source: http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1638&Itemid=137

if this dam in the calinog town will be realized, that's good news for the farmers in the central and northern part of the province. it will complement the capacity that the existing dam in the town of dingle already has! with it's P3.8 billion proposed cost, that ought to further strengthen our palay/rice and other agricultural industry.

^^that's miss marjorie florete in one of the pictures indeed! one of iloilo city's socialites.

Guys, Iloilo: A Rich and Noble Land has been released in Manila and will be following its grand launch here in Nelly Garden next Tuesday (November 27, 2007).

From what I've heard, the hard bound costs more or less P2,200. But I think they will be also publishing low-cost books for the benefit of the students.

According to Sir Henry (Funtecha) who is one of the writers of the book, it is a coffeetable book that can be used as a reference for scholastic researches.

Here's the invite of the upcoming launch this next Tues.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00001.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00002.jpg

^^ She's really gearing up to something! Because by within this said timeframe, something is brewing up in Iloilo! :banana: Manifesting the true Ilonggo spirit! Never say die!

where was it launched in manila berns? i hope to buy a copy of this one for myself this yuletide season!

^^ No idea, i'm so sorry. Pero daw ginfeature man na sa Bandila kagab-i.
Ang launching sa Iloilo next week sa Nelly Garden.

^^ok, i'll just make inquiries sa mga bookstores diri, especially sa moa!:)

Congrats 40 thread
:dance:



nice ecclesiastic

OT:

you find that ecclesiastical?;) i don't personally!:lol: it's just inspirational lines. but your signature undoubtedly was taken from the book of ecclesiasstes. king solomon (the wisest king- and according to the bible, wisest mortal who ever lived) wrote it.

I want a copy of that book!! I hope they make that book available on line so that people abroad can buy them as well.

^^it's a good collector's item especially for ofws like you @shyaman.;)

* maayo kay gingami gid man sang mga lopezes ang abs cbn for the eventual promotion of the "their" book. it takes something of THEIRS to use THEIRS :lol: hopefully it doesnt start and end in books

* daw okay na ang kuryente subong wala na naga brownout since sunday and to think may bagyo pa tani nga manalasa

* based on the scanned pages of the book, "we" really put aside our lost title. though it is not totally that "bad" pero we have to live up the present and forget bringing up the dead. :lol:

* BERNS hopefully you can upload the said videos kay it will be a very big help gid in the promo of the city (well better that than nothing at all).

^^well, don't count on it for long regarding the non-brown out. for sure, it'll go back again. what with our unstable power supply.

Guys, Iloilo: A Rich and Noble Land has been released in Manila and will be following its grand launch here in Nelly Garden next Tuesday (November 27, 2007).

From what I've heard, the hard bound costs more or less P2,200. But I think they will be also publishing low-cost books for the benefit of the students.

According to Sir Henry (Funtecha) who is one of the writers of the book, it is a coffeetable book that can be used as a reference for scholastic researches.

Here's the invite of the upcoming launch this next Tues.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00001.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Image00002.jpg

^^ She's really gearing up to something! Because by within this said timeframe, something is brewing up in Iloilo! :banana: Manifesting the true Ilonggo spirit! Never say die!

It made me teary-eyed. I'm so so happy with what's happening in Iloilo at present. I'll ask a relative to buy for me. Where can we get this?

I think the presentation is not only grand but superb.

Way to go ILOILO ! :banana::banana::banana:

if this dam in the calinog town will be realized, that's good news for the farmers in the central and northern part of the province. it will complement the capacity that the existing dam in the town of dingle already has! with it's P3.8 billion proposed cost, that ought to further strengthen our palay/rice and other agricultural industry.

this will be a great big dam. With the budget of a whooping 3.8 billion, this dam will definitely be a good one. I'm hoping that we'll get the nod from the National Government regarding this project. Indeed, the whole Iloilo Province is moving forward. Keep it up !

Wish:
I hope they'll build a park within the Dam's vicinity and make it as another turistic spot in Central Iloilo.

* maayo kay gingami gid man sang mga lopezes ang abs cbn for the eventual promotion of the "their" book. it takes something of THEIRS to use THEIRS :lol: hopefully it doesnt start and end in books

* daw okay na ang kuryente subong wala na naga brownout since sunday and to think may bagyo pa tani nga manalasa

* based on the scanned pages of the book, "we" really put aside our lost title. though it is not totally that "bad" pero we have to live up the present and forget bringing up the dead. :lol:

* BERNS hopefully you can upload the said videos kay it will be a very big help gid in the promo of the city (well better that than nothing at all).
we haven't seen the power of the Lopezes yet. I want them to come back and invest in Iloilo, where their ancestors came from. As much as we need other investors, we need Lopzes to help the city and province to make a good jumpstart of developing our economy further.

^^does their clan still owns the university of iloilo?

^^ yes. They still owned the University of Iloilo, I believed.

the fashion industry of Iloilo is really moving forward with more and more talents coming out to prove Iloilo's emerging fashion industry.

Congrats Iloilo !

^^then a good start for their comeback maybe a major investment for the improvement of the school! this could be both the physical and academic improvements, imo.

the schools is run by the local Lopezes, ie Puckett and Albertito. We need bigger investments from other Lopezes clan esp of Oscar Lopez, based in Manila.

* yup they still own UI and that they refused to sell it to FEU since the former had a 1-BILLION peso tag price

* lets just wait and see if the lopezes are really keen on coming back or basi asta lang sa libro (though i really hope they would come back)

* i chanced upon sikat ka iloilo, the morning program of abs cbn.they had a feature on some houses in iloilo. i was expecting the old mansion but it wasn't.they featured the palatial home of former anilao mayor debuque.grabe!daw palasyo gid.balinese ang architecture and eveything looks grand even though locally sourced ang halos 90%.daw resort ang panan awan mo sa guwa.i was really impressed sa balay nila.it reportedly cost 30million.and yes pacman's gen santos city mansion pales in comparison.

* may ara man mansion sa sta.barbara, super home man though it will lose to the debuques in scale pero its also breathtaking.t is owned by teh sotomil's who reportedly won 100 million dollars sa lottery sa US.if you want to pass by it, just ask for directions pakadto sa cemetery you'll pass by there before you get to the cemetery :lol:

^^indeed, the manila based lopezes.

* yup they still own UI and that they refused to sell it to FEU since the former had a 1-BILLION peso tag price

* lets just wait and see if the lopezes are really keen on coming back or basi asta lang sa libro (though i really hope they would come back)

* i chanced upon sikat ka iloilo, the mornign progmra of abs cbn.they had a feature on great houses in iloilo. iwas expecting the old mansion but it wasn't.they featured the palatial home of former anilao mayor debuque.grabe!daw palasyo gid.balinese ang architecture and eveything looks grand even though locally sourced ang halos 90%.daw resort ang panan awan mo sa guwa.i was really impressed sa balay nila.it reportedly cost 30million.and yes pacman's gen santis city mansion pales in comparison.

* may ara man mansion sa sta.barbara, super home man though it will lose to the debuques in scale pero its also breathtaking.t is owned by teh sotomil's who reportedly won 100 million dollars sa lottery sa US.if you want to pass by it, just ask for directions pakadto sa cemetery you'll pass by there before you get to the cemetery :lol:

teh sotomil's wife is, i believed from the town of dingle where they constructed a P10 million worth of school building in the dingle central elementary school. it's a science building.

* yup they still own UI and that they refused to sell it to FEU since the former had a 1-BILLION peso tag price

* lets just wait and see if the lopezes are really keen on coming back or basi asta lang sa libro (though i really hope they would come back)

* i chanced upon sikat ka iloilo, the morning program of abs cbn.they had a feature on some houses in iloilo. i was expecting the old mansion but it wasn't.they featured the palatial home of former anilao mayor debuque.grabe!daw palasyo gid.balinese ang architecture and eveything looks grand even though locally sourced ang halos 90%.daw resort ang panan awan mo sa guwa.i was really impressed sa balay nila.it reportedly cost 30million.and yes pacman's gen santos city mansion pales in comparison.

* may ara man mansion sa sta.barbara, super home man though it will lose to the debuques in scale pero its also breathtaking.t is owned by teh sotomil's who reportedly won 100 million dollars sa lottery sa US.if you want to pass by it, just ask for directions pakadto sa cemetery you'll pass by there before you get to the cemetery :lol:

^^ano bang biz ni mayor debuque? surely that's not only from a mayors salary. Lola ko debuque man.

may kilala ako nga mga sotomil sa St barbs mo, mga taga CPU,they are singers.

* yup they still own UI and that they refused to sell it to FEU since the former had a 1-BILLION peso tag price

* lets just wait and see if the lopezes are really keen on coming back or basi asta lang sa libro (though i really hope they would come back)

* i chanced upon sikat ka iloilo, the morning program of abs cbn.they had a feature on some houses in iloilo. i was expecting the old mansion but it wasn't.they featured the palatial home of former anilao mayor debuque.grabe!daw palasyo gid.balinese ang architecture and eveything looks grand even though locally sourced ang halos 90%.daw resort ang panan awan mo sa guwa.i was really impressed sa balay nila.it reportedly cost 30million.and yes pacman's gen santos city mansion pales in comparison.

* may ara man mansion sa sta.barbara, super home man though it will lose to the debuques in scale pero its also breathtaking.t is owned by teh sotomil's who reportedly won 100 million dollars sa lottery sa US.if you want to pass by it, just ask for directions pakadto sa cemetery you'll pass by there before you get to the cemetery :lol:

what was the date of that episode? i watch sikat ka iloilo on line so i will watch out for it.

teh sotomil's wife is, i believed from the town of dingle where they constructed a P10 million worth of school building in the dingle central elementary school. it's a science building.

pete sotomil married to bambi palabrica. they won the mega lottery in illinois a few years back.

GOOD MORNING ILOILO...pa Office na ko...see you karon...

^^teh nonoy halong lang, hehehe

GOOD MORNING ILOILO...pa Office na ko...see you karon...

Abaw! Nagpagwa na sang nawung sa avatar, wahehehe!!! Bisan dugay na nakapost iya pic sa SSC, wahehehe!!!

Anyway, maayong aga Iloilo. Nothing new, just preparing for the upcoming Iloilo Investors Forum man lang.

The hottest news here are just:
The coal
The crematorium

Thats it for now. Probably be posting some pix later. :D

That's one of the reasons why everyone wants to be in politics hehehe basta sa dira nga mga area sang Iloilo pakadto na to ajuy...daw "puro-puro" gid mga pulitiko da....paglab-ot mo da sa Batad gabarakang man da mansion(daw mini sarabia w/ pool pa) sang mga alarcon/panes pero ang ila munisipyo daw kurungan ka manok!(as featured by imbestigador) hehehe

^^ano bang biz ni mayor debuque? surely that's not only from a mayors salary. Lola ko debuque man.

may kilala ako nga mga sotomil sa St barbs mo, mga taga CPU,they are singers.

btw...Planters Development Bank was formally inaugurated yesterday...I attended their presentation at Centennial Hotel yesterday and SME's gid ang ila focus...which means bentaha ini sa mga negosyante sa Iloilo...this is their only branch in WV...

amo pa gid ni gle ang ila gina promote: http://sme.com.ph/ --- soon we might see a lot of Ilonggo SME's featured sa ila site

I'm so confused with the debate of renewable energy source and of coal power plant. Its like I do not want to give opinions for now. Each side is giving their justifications and that makes me a bit confused.

pete sotomil married to bambi palabrica. they won the mega lottery in illinois a few years back.

yup! i think his brother is dr. palabrica who is now the mayor of dingle

Abaw! Nagpagwa na sang nawung sa avatar, wahehehe!!! Bisan dugay na nakapost iya pic sa SSC, wahehehe!!!

Anyway, maayong aga Iloilo. Nothing new, just preparing for the upcoming Iloilo Investors Forum man lang.

The hottest news here are just:
The coal
The crematorium

Thats it for now. Probably be posting some pix later. :D
what's with the crematorium? Is it the one in Sta Barbara or in the city?

I'm so confused with the debate of renewable energy source and of coal power plant. Its like I do not want to give opinions for now. Each side is giving their justifications and that makes me a bit confused.
they can't make you confuse, Bern, and nobody will. It's a personal choice we have to make, and either opinions will have a lesser persuasion or impact on anyone's side. It's either you are or you are not. That's how I see it, anyway. The decision will always be yours. :)

btw...Planters Development Bank was formally inaugurated yesterday...I attended their presentation at Centennial Hotel yesterday and SME's gid ang ila focus...which means bentaha ini sa mga negosyante sa Iloilo...this is their only branch in WV...

amo pa gid ni gle ang ila gina promote: http://sme.com.ph/ --- soon we might see a lot of Ilonggo SME's featured sa ila site
very good. This will greatly help the small and medium entrepreneurs to set up their jobs in Iloilo. I'm glad another national bank sets foot in Iloilo. They can see a very good business and economic change already happening in Iloilo.

By the way, when will HSBC is coming back to Iloilo? And the Bank of America? Any idea?

I've read in the past that HSBC will put up a branch in Iloilo early next year. And have heard that the Bank of America is coming back to Iloilo as well.

12 Iloilo towns undergo geohazard assessment

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has completed the conduct of rapid geohazard assessment in 12 municipalities in Iloilo province.

MGB chief geologist, Engr. Rolly Calomarde, said the municipalities that were chosen to undergo assessment were those that they felt were prone to natural hazards such as landslide and flood.

These municipalities are San Joaquin, Miag-ao, Guimbal, Oton, Alimodian, Banate, Dumangas, Tigbauan, Janiuay, Barotac Nuevo, Cabatuan, and Maasin.

Engr. Calomarde said the assessment covered all the barangays of the target municipalities. He said the degree of risk of each barangay was classified into high, moderate or low as against the type of geohazard that threatens the area.

"We already presented the result to the local officials together with a letter of advisory which they can share with their constituents," he said.

The MGB also distributed information and education campaign materials to the residents. (PNA)

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/12.iloilo.towns.undergo.geohazard.assessment.html)

City is determined to continue traffic experiment—Plagata
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The demands set forth by the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) fell on deaf ears as the city government's Traffic Technical Working Group (TWG) is determined to continue the traffic experimentation until next month.

City Councilor Erwin Plagata, TWG head, stressed that the terms laid down by Icada is "not acceptable."

"It's the same statement they (Icada) made since the traffic experimentation started," noted Plagata.

Plagata said they will not waive their obligation to fix the city's traffic just because of the opinion of Icada led by its president Nick Dalisay. "They are a party of interest in the traffic experimentation," Plagata said, adding "We will not attend to their call, it is baseless."

"Groups under Icada objected to the traffic experimentation from the start. They refused to recognize the importance of the traffic experimentation. They do not want the TWG to initiate changes in their routes," Plagata said.

Different drivers groups under Icada recently came out with a position paper asking that the traffic experimentation be stopped as it affected their daily earnings and same time did not solve the city's traffic problems.

The group laid down their so-called alternative proposals in solving the city's traffic problem. First, regulate all private vehicles along major roads on selective time periods. Second, a call for the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to immediately stop granting additional new PUJ franchises and the strict implementation of one-out, one-in policy on franchises for public utility jeepneys. Third, strictly implement the no parking policy along major roads in the city.

Plagata, who is also the chair of committee on transportation, communication and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said they will not allow the organization to divert the TWG's objectives.

The traffic scheme should benefit all sectors not just one sector especially the Icada, he said.

"They only want the traffic scheme to be favorable to them. We will not lose focus on our job just because of their opposition," the councilor added.

Plagata explained that drivers organizations from the then Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC) are now members of the Icada.

They want the traffic experimentation to stop to allow the MIDC routes to again enter the city's main streets, Plagata said.

He said they want to give more priority to the city loop drivers rather than those from the MIDC routes which include PUJs from Leganes, San Miguel Pavia and Sta. Barbara.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/city.is.determined.to.continue.traffic.experiment.plagata.html)

^^oy, Bank of America, that's my bank, heheh

More innovations in Dinagyang '08
By Maricar M. Calubiran

The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) will initiate more changes in 2008 Dinagyang Festival to make the affair more colorful and festive.

from changing the color of the body paint of Dinagyang tribes performers, IDFI executive director Ben Jimena said there will also be the infusion of "Hala Bira Iloilo" song during the street dancing, reduction of performance stages and addition of drum and bugle competition.

As of press time, the foundation is also deliberating on the possibility of transferring the Dinagyang tribes competition from morning to afternoon. Traditionally, the tribes competition is being held in the morning of Sunday, the festival's last day.

Jimena said they came up with an idea to transfer the time of the competition from morning to afternoon to avoid a lull after the tribes have performed. He said holding the competition in the afternoon would also force the visitors to stay in the city. It will mean more income to kiosk owners, hotels and restaurants, said Jimena.

He said if it would be agreed that the tribes competition be held in the afternoon, a drum and bugle competition will be held in the morning. In the proposed afternoon schedule, the tribes will start to perform at 1 pm. Presently, 16 tribes expressed intention to join in the tribes competition.

Nevertheless, if it would be decided that the morning schedule be retained, the drum and bugle competition will be held in the afternoon after the tribes competition. The drum and bugle competition is an added attraction, Jimena said.

The performance stages for the Dinagyang tribes competition will be reduced from five to four. The performance area at Plazoleta Gay will already be scrapped.

Dinagyang tribes will just have to perform in four stages: Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma and in front of the statue of Ma. Clara near the central market.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/more.innovations.in.dinagyang.08.html)

Dance showdown at Dinagyang fest

ILOILO City – Another special event will be added to the activities of the Dinagyang Festival here on January 2008 – dance showdown for barangay-based dance groups. This specifically aims to steer the youth away from criminal elements and activities.

This is the focus of Councilor Lex Tupas, a major proponent of the Dinagyang Dance Showdown in cooperation with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., SM City Iloilo and ABS-CBN here.

Tupas said city district auditions will be conducted starting December 10 while the elimination rounds will be held from December 26 until December 30.

The grand finals will come from winners in the seven district eliminations to be held on January 25 at the SM City activity center here.

Tupas said the contest is open to all professional or non-professional dance groups with 8-10 members. The winners will receive P20,000 cash prize for the first, P10,000 for the second, P6,000 for the third and P1,500 each for the fourth up to seventh placer.

The grand prize winner will have a chance to perform at the national television show of ABS-CBN.

Dinagyang is celebrated every last week of January yearly but special events are held for the whole month.

Dinagyang was also selected recently as the top tourism event in the country by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo5.htm)

OT:

you find that ecclesiastical?;) i don't personally!:lol: it's just inspirational lines. but your signature undoubtedly was taken from the book of ecclesiasstes. king solomon (the wisest king- and according to the bible, wisest mortal who ever lived) wrote it.

coz i like much his wisdom he wrote in that book than compare to the proverbs

PJ Aranador's summer collections bared
By Ramon C. Salvilla

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/beachmood22.jpg
Beachmood Collection

PJ Arañador, international lifestyle designer, wants a headstart. Thus, he launched his Summer 2008 collection at the SM City Carpark last Nov. 10, 2007.

His exciting collection came in the colors orange, purple, blue, green, white, camel brown and metallics.

The show was for the benefit of the Panay Loom Weavers Association (PALWA).

Manila-based Ilonggo models who donned his collection were Ria Bolivar, Dimples dela Cruz, Joe Ozbot and Aman Garganera.

The show was directed by Bombette Marin. The models' makeup were done by Nonoy Mosquera and Benjie Sevilla.

Cocktails followed the fashion show.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/pj1.jpg
Beachmood 2
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/pj2.jpg
Beachmood 1

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/pj.aranadors.summer.collections.bared.html)

I hope the weather condition here in Western Visayas would still be calm for the next few days. Mina I think has now entered Bicolandia aerospace. We pray for their safety and deliverance from catastrophe.

Here's the city skyline as of this afternoon:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO02.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO03.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO04.jpg
The wharf was jampacked with fishing vessels, seeking shelter from one of Philippine's safest harbours.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/edc58092.jpg
Uring traders

Here's the city skyline as of this afternoon:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO03.jpg
nice...excited man ko matapos na ang project dira sa may nabitasan ayon,,,permi ko dira ga ride w/ a bike only...mayo man ang tiempo subong

^^ Yeah. Kon magka-mountain bike ko, pamasyar dira.

But regarding the weather, I don't trust the calmness of the sky.

Present Status of Iloilo City Hall
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/city.hall.ground.zero_tn.jpg
Down to ground zero. A new high-rise city hall will rise from the spot. I estimate it to take three years to finish.
Photo by A. Chris Fernandez

^^three years? that's quite long, imo.

^^ Well the Capitol took three years right (or wrong?). I believe the city hall will go high, probably higher than the Capitol herself. Well who knows.

^^i was thinking in terms of the airport. a much bigger project which took about 3 (or 4?) years to build!:)

^^ Oh. The airport is way bigger a project than the city hall. I was wondering how Treñas described it as a high rise when it's only 9 floors? Probably it'll reach 12, just maybe(pray for the best)

^^that's right, it's way bigger and they finished it within the 3-4 year span. i hope they can finish in a shorter time, the new city hall because it's a smaller project. based on the renderings, it's a 9 story building.

what was the date of that episode? i watch sikat ka iloilo on line so i will watch out for it.

Nov 22. thursday.
can you pls post the link where you watch it online?
is it free?
thanks

pete sotomil married to bambi palabrica. they won the mega lottery in illinois a few years back.

i really had no idea about that.
it was only last nov1 that i knew having seen their "super"mansion :lol:

^^ Yeah. Kon magka-mountain bike ko, pamasyar dira.

But regarding the weather, I don't trust the calmness of the sky.

Baw lagaw lagw lang da sya ba... kami dri just visited by the prexy of the company...Her comment? better than the block...

^^three years? that's quite long, imo.

That's too long...:bash:

^^ Well the Capitol took three years right (or wrong?). I believe the city hall will go high, probably higher than the Capitol herself. Well who knows.

damu man ya pulitika nag capitol construction...:ohno:

^^ano bang biz ni mayor debuque? surely that's not only from a mayors salary. Lola ko debuque man.

may kilala ako nga mga sotomil sa St barbs mo, mga taga CPU,they are singers.


i really have no idea since it's my first time to hear about them :lol: during that feature.

batch ko ko ang isa sa ila
mga ANG TV KIDS hehehe

cguro 1 year lang tapos na ang city hall.that is kung wala political delays.
its NOT a skyscraper you know :lol:

That's too long...:bash:



damu man ya pulitika nag capitol construction...:ohno:

so i wonder what really are the timelines given for the duration of this city hall construction. have they posted, like, a target date of the starting and finishing dates of its construction period?

Nov 22. thursday.
can you pls post the link where you watch it online?
is it free?
thanks



i really had no idea about that.
it was only last nov1 that i knew having seen their "super"mansion :lol:

i'm not really sure if this is a free service. i was able to access this because i subscribed to some of their pay-per-view movies. anyway, here's the link

https://now.abs-cbn.com//index-tvpreg.aspx

i really have no idea since it's my first time to hear about them :lol: during that feature.

batch ko ko ang isa sa ila
mga ANG TV KIDS hehehe

^^sino si christine? or si alvin? i know them both, si christine classmate ko anay 1st yr nursing cpu.

Present Status of Iloilo City Hall
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/city.hall.ground.zero_tn.jpg
Down to ground zero. A new high-rise city hall will rise from the spot. I estimate it to take three years to finish.
Photo by A. Chris Fernandez

^^cguro it will be finished by mid 2009.

so i wonder what really are the timelines given for the duration of this city hall construction. have they posted, like, a target date of the starting and finishing dates of its construction period?

Expect politics to seed in. :bash:

^^in this case,politics can be used to the advantage.:lol: the presidential election is due for 2010.that's like 2 years from now! so it'll be generally advantageous for our city's politicians for the new city hall to be finished by that time.

Folded & Hung now in Iloilo
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1613/soc2nov24zb9.jpg
The brand Folded & Hung has been considered as a quality brand for men and ...
at the Ilonggo's fingertips when it opened its branch at SM City Iloilo. ...
www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/folded.and.hung.now.in.iloilo.html

^^in this case,politics can be used to the advantage.:lol: the presidential election is due for 2010.that's like 2 years from now! so it'll be generally advantageous for our city's politicians for the new city hall to be finished by that time.

^^I think Mayor Trenas is keen on finishing this structure before he leaves office. It's one of his crowning achievements, so hopefully before 2010 finished na.

it could be one of his enduring legacies if it will be finished by that time!

^^ And that of the architect's. If I remember it well, the architect offered the design free of charge (or discount?) because it's his enduring legacies. The architect also designed the Iloilo Capitol. Expect it to look identical. :)

cguro 1 year lang tapos na ang city hall.that is kung wala political delays.
its NOT a skyscraper you know :lol:

agree,,,1 or 2 years is enough for the completion

^^ Yeah. Kon magka-mountain bike ko, pamasyar dira.

But regarding the weather, I don't trust the calmness of the sky.

kinanglan mo man nga magbike para ma maintain mo pa gid ang diet mo...lols..hopefully they will put-up a road at the riverbank from Gaisano city to jalandoni bridge or to the bridge of Diversion road

^^ They will, they are just waiting for the funds to pour in.

As of the news that I saw regarding the dismal status of our roads within the city limits, I think it was also suggested to be not just part of the Iloilo City budget but of the MIGEDC budget that may be funded through AusAid.

The traffic computerization/systematication on the other hand, is being held by JICA.

^^ And that of the architect's. If I remember it well, the architect offered the design free of charge (or discount?) because it's his enduring legacies. The architect also designed the Iloilo Capitol. Expect it to look identical. :)

identical? there's a difference between "identical" and being "similar". when you say "identical" the blueprints are "exactly" the same. i don't think the identical designs will happen here. at the very most, they maybe both were designed showcasing some of iloilo city's heritage landmarks.

^^ They will, they are just waiting for the funds to pour in.

As of the news that I saw regarding the dismal status of our roads within the city limits, I think it was also suggested to be not just part of the Iloilo City budget but of the MIGEDC budget that may be funded through AusAid.

The traffic computerization/systematication on the other hand, is being held by JICA.

it's about time they include the whole MIDJEC areas in their urban planning, development, and funding. that's for better overall urban management.

identical? there's a difference between "identical" and being "similar". when you say "identical" the blueprints are "exactly" the same. i don't think the identical designs will happen here. at the very most, they maybe both were designed showcasing some of iloilo city's heritage landmarks.

Sorry, it's similar. Thanks for the correction.

^^no need for apologies on this one! to err is human!;) hehe

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00001-1.jpg
West Visayas State University (Quezon Hall)
I went there to inquire for graduate studies, wahehehe!!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00002.jpg
Deco's Gaisano City La Paz

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00005.jpg
The Atrium Mall

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00006.jpg
La Terraza, Marymart Mall

Sugarfreak, thanks for accompanying me and letting me surf the net in Iloilo Doctors, wahehehe!!! :D

Lower Mandurriao District by Nightfall

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00009.jpg
Full Moon over the city

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00011.jpg
Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00012.jpg
Hotel del Rio

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00013.jpg
Medicus, BBQ Park and Riverside Boardwalk

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00014.jpg
Riverside Boardwalk

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00016.jpg
Smallville Commercial Complex under full moon

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00019-1.jpg
The MO2 Commercial Complex (MO2 Bar&Resto, Annex and Westown Hotel & Convention Center)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00020.jpg
Smallville Commercial Complex and Iloilo Business Hotel

Its just 6:30PM when I took the photos, later by 9 or 10PM, the whole area will be filled-up with partypeople. :D

^^ Wow!!! Great pics bernie!!! pinakagusto ko yung streak of lights!!! :)

Has anyone seen the new advertisement of Dept. of Tourism? It featured Iloilo City's Dinagyang Festival (for a mere 6 secs but wow, it's being shown internationally :nuts:)

^^ The Smart advertisement for X'mas called "I'm Home". Yup. :okay:
Hay, lets suggest to Sir Ben that he must invest in promotion with the media more (kay bisan sya hambal man nga bisan agresibo ang promotion ugaling may kulang pa), not just Dinagyang but the rest of Iloilo, Metro Iloilo (MIGEDC) and Guimaras.

gud pm!!! the moon on dat pic. is fabulous..... nice very nice.... gud pm iloilo

Has anyone seen the new advertisement of Dept. of Tourism? It featured Iloilo City's Dinagyang Festival (for a mere 6 secs but wow, it's being shown internationally :nuts:)

do you have a link for this one @iloilocitykid?

:wave:

* i was really :banana: :pepper: to have seen that the new DOT/SMART tvc featured dinagyang but then, it could also be ati atihan which is more likely, but who cares :lol: we can have have a share of limelight which i believe it could be the best festival representing the country (the one with ati ati tribes whatever the celebration maybe, ati atihan, dinagyang, etc) i mean the ati ati is the most copied festival all over the country :lol:

* re: media promotion. i was thinking of suggesting na how about a dinagyang 2008 promo on a national scale, lets say over gma and abs cbn ran for lets say 1 week when dinagyang nears. i mean if dinagyang can have a spot on, let's say gma's marimar (rating aound 45 while competitors at 25) it would surely get attention/curiousity of the whole country.

* BUT i heard that promo budget is around phP1million and a spot on primetime over these two stations would cost around 250,000 per 30second (im not really sure) so ................ :lol: lets just wait and see

* lets just hope megaworld can help iloilo city through this kind of promo ( national broadsheet ad for their new city, etc etc)

* re: road conditions :lol: kahuluya sa mga bisita perwisyo sa mga regular travelers.even the main roads are full of potholes/etc.hopefully they will priotize the ones linking the city and the airport plus the other most congested part ( going to leganes / oton)

* december na in a few days and is there hope of inaugurating the flyover this year? :lol: basi mas dugay pa ang delay sang 400million flyvoer kesa 8billion airport naton :lol:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00001-1.jpg
West Visayas State University (Quezon Hall)
I went there to inquire for graduate studies, wahehehe!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00005.jpg
The Atrium Mall



^^Quezon Hall, dira man ako nag study for my TOEFL, which is one of the requirements for nurses going to the US, hehe,nami sang mga campuses sa iloilo,IMO

Gutok ang atrium bah,one of my favorite mall,maskin magamay lang, i remembered Dayanara Torres going to this mall before when she was the official guest by one of the leading clothing company in the country.

Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Leaders Summit , December 2007
http://www.iloiloguimarassummit.com/
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8755/migdcvh9.png
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2473/migdc2fv4.png

^^ The Smart advertisement for X'mas called "I'm Home". Yup. :okay:
Hay, lets suggest to Sir Ben that he must invest in promotion with the media more (kay bisan sya hambal man nga bisan agresibo ang promotion ugaling may kulang pa), not just Dinagyang but the rest of Iloilo, Metro Iloilo (MIGEDC) and Guimaras.

amo ini berns?
IgN0e8DJHvM

:wave:

* i was really :banana: :pepper: to have seen that the new DOT/SMART tvc featured dinagyang but then, it could also be ati atihan which is more likely, but who cares :lol: we can have have a share of limelight which i believe it could be the best festival representing the country (the one with ati ati tribes whatever the celebration maybe, ati atihan, dinagyang, etc) i mean the ati ati is the most copied festival all over the country :lol:

* re: media promotion. i was thinking of suggesting na how about a dinagyang 2008 promo on a national scale, lets say over gma and abs cbn ran for lets say 1 week when dinagyang nears. i mean if dinagyang can have a spot on, let's say gma's marimar (rating aound 45 while competitors at 25) it would surely get attention/curiousity of the whole country.

* BUT i heard that promo budget is around phP1million and a spot on primetime over these two stations would cost around 250,000 per 30second (im not really sure) so ................ :lol: lets just wait and see

* lets just hope megaworld can help iloilo city through this kind of promo ( national broadsheet ad for their new city, etc etc)

* re: road conditions :lol: kahuluya sa mga bisita perwisyo sa mga regular travelers.even the main roads are full of potholes/etc.hopefully they will priotize the ones linking the city and the airport plus the other most congested part ( going to leganes / oton)

* december na in a few days and is there hope of inaugurating the flyover this year? :lol: basi mas dugay pa ang delay sang 400million flyvoer kesa 8billion airport naton :lol:

if i'm not mistaken, last year, "iloilo: the next big thing" slogan were posted all over the LRT statations here in manila. i think that was the time near, during, and even way after the dinagyang festivities.

I believe it's already Dinagyang they promoted there, especially with the Sto. Niño. That's why they should change it to black so that tourists will get familiar.

what black color? the painted bodies?

PhilRrice briefs Iloilo farmers on latest technology for increased production

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) executive director Leocadio S. Sebastian led the briefing and distribution of kits containing program on latest technologies to more than 500 rice extension workers (REWs) in Iloilo Tuesday.
The kits contain information on PalayCheck and Palayamanan as well as the Open Academy for the Philippine Agriculture.
Sebastian explained that PalayCheck serves as a guide for best practices in rice production starting from land preparation to harvest management.
“There are indicators that will determine whether or not they are doing the right procedure,” he said.
The Palayamanan on the other hand promotes integrated farming with organic fertilizer production as another component.
“The objective is to reduce the cost of producing and increase production while the Palayamanan seeks to increase their income and lessen their expenses by urging them to plant other crops,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the open academy will serve as a link between the extension workers, PhilRice and the Department of Agriculture (DA) using the internet or through text messaging.
Sebastian added that through text, experts can easily respond to queries from REWs or farmers.
REWs can also avail of online courses made available by the open academy.
The distribution of kits is part of the activities lined up for the celebration of the national rice awareness this month.
PhilRice also distributed same kits to REWs in Negros Occidental and Capiz while distribution in Antique, Aklan and Guimaras will be held next month. (PNA)

http://dailyinformer.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1639&Itemid=137

what black color? the painted bodies?

Yes. :)

guys please nominate Marcos Caratao Jr sa http://philippines.canurb.com/ula.html
please... Mr. Nereo Lujan asked me to nominate him pro indi ko ma-edit ang page, maybe you can try..please... lapit nalang deadline...i just recieved the message this morning...

re: dinagyang promotions, i saw one article in mabuhay magazine (PAL) featuring ati-atihan, and i was amazed to see the surroundings being surely iloilo... weird!

re: body paints..... i believe innovations are welcome but as for the body paint, it has to be strictly limited to the originally accepted colors... this way, dinagyang's identity will be distinguished fully from other festivals who are already into colorful body paints... anyways, what's more relevant here is the performance level, as long as the tribes will leave the audience jaws locked in awe... that would be cool... this is just one man's idea... what would e decided by the majority is still a good development...

guys please nominate Marcos Caratao Jr sa http://philippines.canurb.com/ula.html
please... Mr. Nereo Lujan asked me to nominate him pro indi ko ma-edit ang page, maybe you can try..please... lapit nalang deadline...i just recieved the message this morning...
ambot lng I don't think I fit in any of the categories presented, hehe.

amo ini berns?
IgN0e8DJHvM

i like this commercial too! so this has gone international already?

yo bernie! ugma ha :D

‘Chinatown’ needs rehab

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3557/banner1126vz7.jpg
DOWNTOWN Iloilo, dubbed as the Central Business District (CBD) Heritage Zone and the city’s “Chinatown”, needs rehabilitation, the Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning, Inc. (Concep) said in its study.

Concep was hired by the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) to draft an Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan Project which is a package assistance funded by Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAid) Local Governance Development Program (LGDP).

“In general, downtown Iloilo, particularly the Heritage Zone, conveys an image similar to Binondo in downtown Manila of several years ago—old, run-down buildings with interesting architectural facades but needing repairs and renovation,” Concep stressed in its report.

Iloilo’s Chinatown encompasses the triangular area bounded by Iznart-JM Basa-Aldeguer streets in the City Proper.

The Heritage Zone includes commercial-residential mixed blocks bounded by the major streets of JM Basa, Iznart, Muelle Loney, Rizal and General Luna.

It stretches to neighboring blocks bounded by the side streets of Guanco, Arroyo, Aldeguer, Arsenal, Mapa, Delgado, Yulo, Solis, and Aduana.

“The land use is dominantly commercial with very little residential uses which also appear rundown and poorly maintained,” Concep added.

What’s “killing” the Chinatown?

“Traffic congestion is pervasive as evidenced by several streets serving as jeepney routes and mixing of different transport modes including tricycles and trisikads. There also appears a lack of parking as some sidewalks are used for the purpose. This is further aggravated by jaywalking and general disregard for designated loading/unloading zones,” the consultant firm assessed.

“While the buildings are arcaded, sidewalks are also congested caused mainly by ambulant vendors and illegal structures. Certain establishments also extend their business operations onto the sidewalks including repair of cars and installation of car accessories,” it added.

The Chinese-Filipino dominated business hub in the heart of metropolis has been “chaotic.”

“Signs and billboards are chaotic, most of it not blending with the beautiful architectural ornaments of the Art Deco-style buildings. Further promoting the overall chaotic visual image of the area is the spaghetti-like overhead wires and cables,” Concep said.

Is the Chinatown here really dying?

“According to several city residents, due to the competition from the newer shopping malls, many of the small businesses in the downtown area have closed down resulting in general decline of the area’s economy,” Concep disclosed.

“The enterprises remained are the ones which appear to have been able to adjust to the changing business environment. In spite of the economic downturn, business in the downtown area still manages to attract a good number of people,” the study explained.

What’s keeping the Chinatown alive as a thriving business haven?

“The public market is still a magnet for shoppers despite its congestion. There are also many banks in the area. Certain streets still enjoy a certain level of business especially those which have become identified with specific products they offer,” the consultants clarified.

It reveals that Guanco Street has been synonymous to jewelry and goldsmith shops; Aldeguer Street for dry goods, textiles and pawnshops; Iznart Street for hardware and banks; and JM Basa for retail stores, restaurants and Central market.

“The downtown area was the city’s original commercial hub and offered a wide range of retail, service and entertainment facilities. It also includes residential units including those in the upper floors of commercial buildings,” the study’s findings said.

“However, the growth of the city coupled with changes in demographics and retail shopping preferences basically altered the role of the main street commercial centers. As people became more affluent and dependent on motor vehicles, they moved to newer residential communities further out, preferring larger stores with convenient parking over smaller neighborhood shops,” Concep noted.

It added: “This trend continues, with many consumers favoring full-service shopping malls and modern office centers.

“The deterioration of downtown area can be attributed to several factors with some of the external causes such as changes brought about by new arterial roads which opened up new areas for development; increased reliance on motor vehicles; inability of the pre-automobile street to cope with major space and movement demands; and locational decisions of industries vis-à-vis transport,” said the urban development assessment.

The entry of giant malls is considered a threat to Chinatown.

“Another major external factor is new developments in outer areas such as shopping malls. Internal causes to downtown area include shortage of space and higher rents causing businesses to move out to outer cheaper areas. It is also the neglect in maintenance, traffic congestion, ineffective building controls and the inability to manage urban growth,” Concep said.

The mushrooming subdivisions in neighboring areas have also pulled out investments from the urban center.

“But most of all, it is the exodus of the people to outlying suburban residential areas such as Jaro and Mandurriao and even as far as municipalities of Pavia and San Miguel. The overall result is the considerable weakening of the downtown in its primary function— service as a retail center,” Concep observed.

An analysis of the existing situation reveals that while there are ongoing initiatives to energize the CBD, these initiatives are insufficient and will need strengthening especially in the light of competition from emerging new commercial places.

In order to achieve the goals as well as benefits of revitalizing the CBD, an explicit Downtown Improvement Program needs to be organized based upon a comprehensive Downtown Redevelopment Plan.

Concep recommended that actions should be undertaken including defining the commercial role of CBD as an alternative shopping mall and initiating establishment of a downtown improvement office, among others.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

Iloilo bank deposits used in Manila, Cebu, Davao

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE mushrooming banks in Iloilo have a great potential in financing possible infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo and Guimaras (MIG) to boost the local economy, the Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning, Inc. (Concep) said in its study.

Concep has been hired by the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) for the drafting of an Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan Project, a package assistance funded by Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAid) Local Governance Development Program (LGDP).

Iloilo City is “where the banks are” while these financial establishments are obviously located in every block in the metropolis.

Concep has assessed that private sector participation in infrastructure development in MIG region has not been very strong, except in investments in land and water-based public transport.

“However, the private sector may be a major factor as it is in Metro Manila where they are involved in huge investments in mass transit system, water supply and sewerage, power distribution, toll roads, solid waste management, port operations and provisions for affordable housing,” the consultancy firm explained.

Concep has noted that bank deposits here are considered substantial.

“The Iloilo Bankers Association estimates total deposits in the banking system in Metro Iloilo at present to be considerable—these funds are lying idle in the banking system and a huge part of these are used by banks to meet demands for loans and other investment instruments in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao,” the report disclosed.

“This huge amount lying idle in Metro Iloilo banks provide a resource which can be tapped to encourage greater local private sector investments in business ventures and infrastructure development here,” the consultants suggested.

Concep affirmed that financing growth and infrastructure development in MIG is a major problem as resources are hardly enough to meet the requirements for addressing existing infrastructure gaps and deficiencies as well as expanding infrastructure and utilities to meet future needs and promote economic growth at the same time.

Resources which are currently available for infrastructure development come mainly from the national government and local government units (LGUs) comprising the MIG region.

From 2002 to 2006, the LGUs of Iloilo City, Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara and Guimaras invested P460 million or about eight percent of total income in capital outlays in their respective jurisdictions.

In the next three years, these LGUs may be able to invest a maximum of P7-8 billion in infrastructures through a combination of surplus funds and loans using their respective borrowing capacities.

Concep stressed that LGUs can substantially improve their revenues if they can improve local resource mobilization in terms of both tax and non-tax based sources.

“Collections from real property tax can be improved significantly and even doubled in some LGUs if efforts are made to improve assessment, billing and collection systems.

Proceeds from business taxes can be increased considerably if the information base is improved and efficient assessment and collections systems are in place,” Concep asserted.

It added that revenues from economic enterprises, user charges and licenses/fees can also be improved by the LGUs.

Meanwhile, the committed total national government infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo amount to P13.9 billion from 2004-2010.

These include the new Iloilo Airport which costs P8.7 billion; Iloilo Flood Control Project – P4.2 billion; Iloilo East Coast-Lapuz Road – P496.47 million and Sta. Barbara-Iloilo City Road – P568 million.

Projections of additional national government infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo in the next three years show that moderate growth in the national economy will bring about P7.3 billion while high growth may likely provide about P17.5 billion for new development projects.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

^^this just proves how ilonggos are about with regards to money. simple lang pro ga awas ang kwarta sa bangko, not showy and pretentious. now,we see that ilonggos have a great potential in affecting change especially on the local scene. get some of the money out there,heheh :banana::banana::banana:

Consunji subsidiary to put up
P7-B Panay coal power plant

MANILA – The subsidiary of construction giant Consunji Group announced that it is keen on pursuing its plan to put up of a clean coal power plant in Panay.

Nestor Dadivas, president and chief executive officer of DMCI Power Corp. (the power arm of Consunji) said they hope to start the P7-billion clean coal power plant in Panay the soonest possible time.

"We hope to break ground in the next few months," Dadivas said.

Dadivas reported they expected to commission the 100 megawatt (MW) coal facility by July 2010.

Davidas said DMCI Power, a wholly owned power generation subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., was now talking with foreign and local lenders to raise the needed financing for the construction of the coal plant.

"We are presently negotiating with foreign and local lenders. We hope to get financial closing soon," he said.

At the same time, Dadivas said no formal agreement has been set with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group for the possibility of jointly developing the coal facility in Concepcion, Iloilo.

The plant will use a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology considered as "clean coal technology" in terms of air emissions.

The plant will utilize coal from Semirara Mining Corp. (SMC), another DMCI company based in Antique. Once construction is completed, the coal plant will help assure adequate power supply in the Visayas, particularly Panay....

3 cities to pilot Germany-backed
solid waste project

ILOILO City -- Three cities in the Visayas were chosen as pilot areas for the Solid Waste Management Program for Local Government Units Project in the Visayas of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ-AHT SWM4LGUs).

This was confirmed by GTZ-AHT SWM4LGUs team leader, Dr. Johannes Paul, adding that the pilot areas will be recipients of technical assistance to include capacity building measures, strengthening of organizational development, providing access to technologies, expert development and transfer of technologies from outside the country.

The pilot areas are Iloilo City, Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, mostly provincial or regional centers, where a center will be put up to accommodate 12 local government units in a cluster.

“This is the limit we can afford, given our time and resources, but I do believe that such number of LGUs will give enough opportunity to establish good model practices which can be used by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to be transported to the other LGUs,” Paul explained.

He added that they are presently situated in areas where many local leaders are optimistic to learn more on how to manage their solid wastes.

“Very often, LGUs tend to say "can we afford that?" I think we are on the spot where many local leaders say this is not a question. The question is "can we afford not to do it" and we cannot afford not to address environmental problems,” he said.

Layers of Ilonggo reality


By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer
Last updated 00:53am (Mla time) 11/26/2007


MANILA, Philippines - The book, “Iloilo, a rich and Noble Land,” launched last week by the Lopez Group Foundation, uncovers the province’s agricultural, civic and social history that interweave to form the multi-layered Ilonggo reality that gives the province and its people such a strong identity.

Ask any Filipino and he will tell you that Iloilo is unlike any other place in the country. She is one of the few places in the Philippines with an identity and image distinct from that of any other province.

Filipinos know Iloilo as the gentle, genteel land of smiles, imagining Iloilo days as unfolding graciously and moving in measured choreography of the rigodón, the outdated, stylized dance ritual highlighting each glittering baile (ball) in moneyed mansions.

Fiesta mode is what Filipinos imagine Iloilo life to be most of the time: laid-back, peaceful, refined and always celebratory.

Another layer of Ilonggo reality overlaps the celebratory layer. Hard-working Ilonggos are vigorously entrepreneurial.

In Iloilo, the moneyed and working classes join in business activities that uphold the province as a vital national economic force, a position first attained with the surge of the sugar industry during the later years of the Spanish colonial era.

The Manila Daily Bulletin reported in September 1907 that the City of Iloilo was “the metropolis of the Visayan Islands, [the] second city of importance in the archipelago and the greatest market for sugar in this part of the world.”

Sugar put Iloilo on the map. In the 1850s, Nicholas Loney, a British merchant, settled there and “fostered the opening up of the sugar lands of Panay and Negros.” Loney introduced new technology, improved yield, and improved the quality of Iloilo sugar to world-market standards.

Unrivaled

For many years Iloilo prosperity was unrivaled, reaching a peak when the irritating delay and occasional damage to cargo caused by transshipment of sugar through the Port of Manila was finally bypassed, and from 1865 produce was exported directly to international points from Iloilo.

“The condition of business in Iloilo largely depends on the size of the sugar crop and the price of the staple,” further reported the Manila Daily Bulletin in 1907. When the sugar trade boomed, so did Iloilo. Now known as the Queen City of the South, roads and infrastructure were laid out, hospitals and schools opened.

In 1907, Iloilo was no backwater. “Iloilo has an electric-light plant and the city is well-lighted. There is also an ice factory and cold-storage plant. Among the possibilities of the near future are an up-to-date telephone system and streetcar line connecting all parts of the city.

One institution Iloilo can boast of, that might well be copied in other parts of the archipelago, [is] an up-to-date department store, Hoskyns & Company, a British firm, was established in 1868. In their large store on Calle Real can be found a complete stock of goods at prices, for the most part, far below Manila prices.”

Iloilo prosperity was on the rise and the grand planter lifestyle had to be lived in worthy surroundings. Mansions were witness to the opulent moneyed lifestyle that has now all but died out due to 21st-century economic and social realities.

Mansions built on generous plots of land in quiet pre-World War II outskirts were swallowed up without warning by rapid, unregulated urban growth. Now finding themselves situated on valuable city center properties, mansion owners have been forced to reevaluate their properties and lifestyles.

Some downsized to smaller houses, renting out their mansions to commercial tenants. Others built rental buildings on their front lawns to generate additional income, hiding their mansions behind a layer of nondescript commercial structures built right along the street, changing the streetscape forever.

A few simply abandoned their mansions. The postwar years saw many of the moneyed Ilonggos moving out of their downtown mansions into smaller houses.

Mobility, dignity

Today’s middle- and working-class homes, smaller and more modest, reflect lifestyle conditions of a majority of Iloilo City residents. Instead of projecting stability and gentility as the old mansions once did, the aura of the middle-class neighborhood is mobility, dignity, work and a strong sense of community.

Unlike the genteel streets of the moneyed class where nobody is seen outside of their fenced gardens, streets in middle- and working-class districts fill with everyday life. Residents live their lives on the street.

The local barangay hall spills out into the street, bringing governance to the people level, as it were. The street is where men hang out, drink or play basketball tournaments. The street is a social center, where the overflow of guests at a neighborhood christening, wedding or funeral is seated.

On the other hand, the rural landscape, dotted with bahay-kubo clustered in barrios and agricultural land, tells another story. To Filipinos, the bahay-kubo are generic, and the Ilonggo house is no exception. But the high level of outstanding bamboo craftsmanship sets the humble Ilonggo kubo far above the typical and generic.

For many generations, Ilonggo craftsmen embroider not with needle and thread but with bamboo. Their bamboo work achieves a play of texture by mixing peeled and unpeeled strips or combining dyed and natural-colored strips handwoven into repeating diamond patterns for the “lowly” sawali matting.

Bamboo sections are scored, flattened and framed for wall panels. They are cut into slats for above-the-ground flooring and stripped into ribbons thin enough for weaving. Absolutely amazing are bamboo slat patterns, grilles of most delicately plaited bamboo lacework executed in fine, hand-embroidery quality.

Ilonggo architectural bamboo craftsmanship, totally unknown and unappreciated, is naïf Ilonggo folk art at its finest.

Iloilo bamboo houses, solid but fragile, enclosed but transparent, embody the observation that the Philippine bahay-kubo is in essence a “basket for living.”

Romantic view

There exists a romantic view of downtown Iloilo remaining in a time warp, woven around blocks of superlative, intact 1920s-’40s commercial structures, heritage that gives Iloilo one of the most elegant business areas in the country.

What a graceful, outstanding heritage ensemble, it is probably the best, most extensive remaining collection of heritage commercial buildings in the country.

Buildings of the same height, size and of similar design line streets, a rare but vanishing example of urban unity of architectural scale and style in the Philippines. Building layouts are similar—shophouse-type, two-story rental spaces connected by an arcaded sidewalk.

The style of embellishment indicates the date of construction. Structures from the 1920s are decorated in the feminine, lacy Iloilo wedding-cake style.

The next generation of buildings designed in Art Deco geometry of the 1930s is followed by a post-World War II generation of structures in the robust, no-nonsense 1950s International Style.

Not all downtown buildings in Iloilo are of heritage quality. New shopping destinations coexist with the traditional stores that have always been in the city center, heightening the commercial counterplay between old and new.

An architectural “read” reveals the Iloilo story. A walk through Iloilo today reveals so much more to the city behind the scenes.

Behind a generic-looking commercial building may stand a grand old mansion. Step back (if Iloilo traffic won’t run you over) to discover that a covered sidewalk is part of a sagging heritage commercial building, a redoubtable dowager whose better days can once again be relived after a simple nip-and-tuck operation.

Heritage surprises

To really know Iloilo today, one must look beyond the overlapping layers of decay, congestion, chaotic architecture and pockets of wealth existing almost side by side with pockets of poverty. Peel back the multiple layers of architecture, bad architectural facelifts and urban blight for the surprise of your life.

Layer after forgotten layer of the Iloilo story comes to view. Uncover revealing evidence about the city and what her people were like, culturally, socially and economically during key epochs of Iloilo city’s rich history.

Walk the downtown area to the point of sensory overload. Suddenly come to the old, majestic Customs House by the Iloilo River, a monument to the former Queen City of the South.

Around the corner, step farther back to a vanishing era. Find a Spanish colonial-era warehouse where young women still twine abaca strands by hand into rope as they have done for centuries.

Iloilo is at a cusp. The city has to deal with the ill effects of progress, traffic, congestion, uncontrolled development, urban sprawl from the conversion of neighboring agricultural land into middle-class subdivisions.

The age of super modernization has set in. Iloilo now boasts of a mix of heritage architecture; modern buildings; up-to-date malls; new inner city and suburban land developments; and, at long last, a brand-new state-of-art airport in neighboring Canatuan.

Iloilo is alive. Nothing is dormant about her. History and heritage anchor her. They give her an image so singular and unique that no other place in the country has. Her economy provides income-generating activities for anybody in search of it.

Iloilo’s layered existence embraces everyone, old or young, moneyed or working class, educated or uneducated. She democratically offers something for everyone.

For inquiries on the book, “Iloilo, A Rich and Noble Land,” call 4545192 or 4545195. E-mail the author at pride.place@gmail.com

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=103069

^^ I want to cry and got goosebumps when Sir Toti wrote this. The question is where can I buy it?

Tomorrow is the big launching day of the book here in Iloilo at Nelly Garden. Also, we will soon find out what the investors are brewing up in tomorrow's forum at Sarabia Manor.

Indeed, it is a dawn of a new day. :banana:

Regarding Iloilo's Chinatown (a.k.a Calle Real), I saw Iloilo's downfall in the 50's as somewhat a blessing in disguise. If we are still to be leading port here in the Visayas, do you think we can still see those old buildings lining up in the Calle Real area.

Its a good thing too that the LGU is very supportive of the heritage conservation efforts as it brings back the Ilonggo identity. :okay: The Pride of Place. Its just quite frustrating though that some of the owners of the old buildings are hard-headed when it comes to conservation. Basta gina-rentahan lang ah, ok na ina. :ohno:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO01-1.jpg
Old World Charm, Vibrant Future

Wala gaandar ang fountain kay tungod nga gab-i na gid katama kag domingo pa, wahehehe!!! Watch out na lang pag-abot sang Dinagyang. :D

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/ILO01-1.jpg
Old World Charm, Vibrant Future

Wala gaandar ang fountain kay tungod nga gab-i na gid katama kag domingo pa, wahehehe!!! Watch out na lang pag-abot sang Dinagyang. :D

^^“Iloilo, A Rich and Noble Land” I Love You Yloilo! :banana::banana::banana:

Folded & Hung now in Iloilo
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1613/soc2nov24zb9.jpg
The brand Folded & Hung has been considered as a quality brand for men and ...
at the Ilonggo's fingertips when it opened its branch at SM City Iloilo. ...
www.thenewstoday.info/2007/11/23/folded.and.hung.now.in.iloilo.html

^^ I want to cry and got goosebumps when Sir Toti wrote this. The question is where can I buy it?

Tomorrow is the big launching day of the book here in Iloilo at Nelly Garden. Also, we will soon find out what the investors are brewing up in tomorrow's forum at Sarabia Manor.

Indeed, it is a dawn of a new day. :banana:

Regarding Iloilo's Chinatown (a.k.a Calle Real), I saw Iloilo's downfall in the 50's as somewhat a blessing in disguise. If we are still to be leading port here in the Visayas, do you think we can still see those old buildings lining up in the Calle Real area.

Its a good thing too that the LGU is very supportive of the heritage conservation efforts as it brings back the Ilonggo identity. :okay: The Pride of Place. Its just quite frustrating though that some of the owners of the old buildings are hard-headed when it comes to conservation. Basta gina-rentahan lang ah, ok na ina. :ohno:

^^ditto, same feelings here bern. gusto ko tuloy maging narrator. eheheh

wjytYsq3g3s
i just want to repost this great iloilo vid.:)

Sugarfreak, thanks for accompanying me and letting me surf the net in Iloilo Doctors, wahehehe!!! :D

Lower Mandurriao District by Nightfall

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00009.jpg
Full Moon over the city

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00011.jpg
Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road)


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00013.jpg
Medicus, BBQ Park and Riverside Boardwalk



http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00016.jpg
Smallville Commercial Complex under full moon

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00019-1.jpg
The MO2 Commercial Complex (MO2 Bar&Resto, Annex and Westown Hotel & Convention Center)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/Iloilo%20and%20Negros/Image00020.jpg
Smallville Commercial Complex and Iloilo Business Hotel

Its just 6:30PM when I took the photos, later by 9 or 10PM, the whole area will be filled-up with partypeople. :D

gorgeous shots bro,,,i like the full moon and the road,,,spotty nighty...if you have available time on every saturday afternoon you can go here and you can use our internet to surf for a free of charge only,,,no probs

gud pm!!! the moon on dat pic. is fabulous..... nice very nice.... gud pm iloilo

welcome and enjoy here

Iloilo bank deposits used in Manila, Cebu, Davao

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE mushrooming banks in Iloilo have a great potential in financing possible infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo and Guimaras (MIG) to boost the local economy, the Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning, Inc. (Concep) said in its study.

Concep has been hired by the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) for the drafting of an Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan Project, a package assistance funded by Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAid) Local Governance Development Program (LGDP).

Iloilo City is “where the banks are” while these financial establishments are obviously located in every block in the metropolis.

Concep has assessed that private sector participation in infrastructure development in MIG region has not been very strong, except in investments in land and water-based public transport.

“However, the private sector may be a major factor as it is in Metro Manila where they are involved in huge investments in mass transit system, water supply and sewerage, power distribution, toll roads, solid waste management, port operations and provisions for affordable housing,” the consultancy firm explained.

Concep has noted that bank deposits here are considered substantial.

“The Iloilo Bankers Association estimates total deposits in the banking system in Metro Iloilo at present to be considerable—these funds are lying idle in the banking system and a huge part of these are used by banks to meet demands for loans and other investment instruments in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao,” the report disclosed.

“This huge amount lying idle in Metro Iloilo banks provide a resource which can be tapped to encourage greater local private sector investments in business ventures and infrastructure development here,” the consultants suggested.

Concep affirmed that financing growth and infrastructure development in MIG is a major problem as resources are hardly enough to meet the requirements for addressing existing infrastructure gaps and deficiencies as well as expanding infrastructure and utilities to meet future needs and promote economic growth at the same time.

Resources which are currently available for infrastructure development come mainly from the national government and local government units (LGUs) comprising the MIG region.

From 2002 to 2006, the LGUs of Iloilo City, Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara and Guimaras invested P460 million or about eight percent of total income in capital outlays in their respective jurisdictions.

In the next three years, these LGUs may be able to invest a maximum of P7-8 billion in infrastructures through a combination of surplus funds and loans using their respective borrowing capacities.

Concep stressed that LGUs can substantially improve their revenues if they can improve local resource mobilization in terms of both tax and non-tax based sources.

“Collections from real property tax can be improved significantly and even doubled in some LGUs if efforts are made to improve assessment, billing and collection systems.

Proceeds from business taxes can be increased considerably if the information base is improved and efficient assessment and collections systems are in place,” Concep asserted.

It added that revenues from economic enterprises, user charges and licenses/fees can also be improved by the LGUs.

Meanwhile, the committed total national government infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo amount to P13.9 billion from 2004-2010.

These include the new Iloilo Airport which costs P8.7 billion; Iloilo Flood Control Project – P4.2 billion; Iloilo East Coast-Lapuz Road – P496.47 million and Sta. Barbara-Iloilo City Road – P568 million.

Projections of additional national government infrastructure investments in Metro Iloilo in the next three years show that moderate growth in the national economy will bring about P7.3 billion while high growth may likely provide about P17.5 billion for new development projects.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

^^this just proves how ilonggos are about with regards to money. simple lang pro ga awas ang kwarta sa bangko, not showy and pretentious. now,we see that ilonggos have a great potential in affecting change especially on the local scene. get some of the money out there,heheh :banana::banana::banana:

a high savings rate courtesy of our strong middle class. this has always been the relative strength of our city!:) it's nice to know that our idle savings rate is used to fund developments in other parts of the country. i hope in the near future, a substancial portion of this pattern of funding flow will be redirected to our own development. this could only happen if there will be huge increases in investments in our city.

‘Chinatown’ needs rehab

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

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DOWNTOWN Iloilo, dubbed as the Central Business District (CBD) Heritage Zone and the city’s “Chinatown”, needs rehabilitation, the Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning, Inc. (Concep) said in its study.

Concep was hired by the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) to draft an Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan Project which is a package assistance funded by Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAid) Local Governance Development Program (LGDP).

“In general, downtown Iloilo, particularly the Heritage Zone, conveys an image similar to Binondo in downtown Manila of several years ago—old, run-down buildings with interesting architectural facades but needing repairs and renovation,” Concep stressed in its report.

Iloilo’s Chinatown encompasses the triangular area bounded by Iznart-JM Basa-Aldeguer streets in the City Proper.

The Heritage Zone includes commercial-residential mixed blocks bounded by the major streets of JM Basa, Iznart, Muelle Loney, Rizal and General Luna.

It stretches to neighboring blocks bounded by the side streets of Guanco, Arroyo, Aldeguer, Arsenal, Mapa, Delgado, Yulo, Solis, and Aduana.

“The land use is dominantly commercial with very little residential uses which also appear rundown and poorly maintained,” Concep added.

What’s “killing” the Chinatown?

“Traffic congestion is pervasive as evidenced by several streets serving as jeepney routes and mixing of different transport modes including tricycles and trisikads. There also appears a lack of parking as some sidewalks are used for the purpose. This is further aggravated by jaywalking and general disregard for designated loading/unloading zones,” the consultant firm assessed.

“While the buildings are arcaded, sidewalks are also congested caused mainly by ambulant vendors and illegal structures. Certain establishments also extend their business operations onto the sidewalks including repair of cars and installation of car accessories,” it added.

The Chinese-Filipino dominated business hub in the heart of metropolis has been “chaotic.”

“Signs and billboards are chaotic, most of it not blending with the beautiful architectural ornaments of the Art Deco-style buildings. Further promoting the overall chaotic visual image of the area is the spaghetti-like overhead wires and cables,” Concep said.

Is the Chinatown here really dying?

“According to several city residents, due to the competition from the newer shopping malls, many of the small businesses in the downtown area have closed down resulting in general decline of the area’s economy,” Concep disclosed.

“The enterprises remained are the ones which appear to have been able to adjust to the changing business environment. In spite of the economic downturn, business in the downtown area still manages to attract a good number of people,” the study explained.

What’s keeping the Chinatown alive as a thriving business haven?

“The public market is still a magnet for shoppers despite its congestion. There are also many banks in the area. Certain streets still enjoy a certain level of business especially those which have become identified with specific products they offer,” the consultants clarified.

It reveals that Guanco Street has been synonymous to jewelry and goldsmith shops; Aldeguer Street for dry goods, textiles and pawnshops; Iznart Street for hardware and banks; and JM Basa for retail stores, restaurants and Central market.

“The downtown area was the city’s original commercial hub and offered a wide range of retail, service and entertainment facilities. It also includes residential units including those in the upper floors of commercial buildings,” the study’s findings said.

“However, the growth of the city coupled with changes in demographics and retail shopping preferences basically altered the role of the main street commercial centers. As people became more affluent and dependent on motor vehicles, they moved to newer residential communities further out, preferring larger stores with convenient parking over smaller neighborhood shops,” Concep noted.

It added: “This trend continues, with many consumers favoring full-service shopping malls and modern office centers.

“The deterioration of downtown area can be attributed to several factors with some of the external causes such as changes brought about by new arterial roads which opened up new areas for development; increased reliance on motor vehicles; inability of the pre-automobile street to cope with major space and movement demands; and locational decisions of industries vis-à-vis transport,” said the urban development assessment.

The entry of giant malls is considered a threat to Chinatown.

“Another major external factor is new developments in outer areas such as shopping malls. Internal causes to downtown area include shortage of space and higher rents causing businesses to move out to outer cheaper areas. It is also the neglect in maintenance, traffic congestion, ineffective building controls and the inability to manage urban growth,” Concep said.

The mushrooming subdivisions in neighboring areas have also pulled out investments from the urban center.

“But most of all, it is the exodus of the people to outlying suburban residential areas such as Jaro and Mandurriao and even as far as municipalities of Pavia and San Miguel. The overall result is the considerable weakening of the downtown in its primary function— service as a retail center,” Concep observed.

An analysis of the existing situation reveals that while there are ongoing initiatives to energize the CBD, these initiatives are insufficient and will need strengthening especially in the light of competition from emerging new commercial places.

In order to achieve the goals as well as benefits of revitalizing the CBD, an explicit Downtown Improvement Program needs to be organized based upon a comprehensive Downtown Redevelopment Plan.

Concep recommended that actions should be undertaken including defining the commercial role of CBD as an alternative shopping mall and initiating establishment of a downtown improvement office, among others.

http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/

this Downtown Development Program is a timely creation to re-inject some life to our good old chinatown! actually we must not take this in the negative as it simply shows development is spreading out. it has to! our city is only about 70 sq. km. in area. what the area might evolve into might be like a paradise for bargain hunters or something like that.

good urban management and building rehabilitation and beautification are also sorely needed. this is especially true of our heritage landmarks!

Layers of Ilonggo reality


By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer
Last updated 00:53am (Mla time) 11/26/2007


MANILA, Philippines - The book, “Iloilo, a rich and Noble Land,” launched last week by the Lopez Group Foundation, uncovers the province’s agricultural, civic and social history that interweave to form the multi-layered Ilonggo reality that gives the province and its people such a strong identity.

Ask any Filipino and he will tell you that Iloilo is unlike any other place in the country. She is one of the few places in the Philippines with an identity and image distinct from that of any other province.

Filipinos know Iloilo as the gentle, genteel land of smiles, imagining Iloilo days as unfolding graciously and moving in measured choreography of the rigodón, the outdated, stylized dance ritual highlighting each glittering baile (ball) in moneyed mansions.

Fiesta mode is what Filipinos imagine Iloilo life to be most of the time: laid-back, peaceful, refined and always celebratory.

Another layer of Ilonggo reality overlaps the celebratory layer. Hard-working Ilonggos are vigorously entrepreneurial.

In Iloilo, the moneyed and working classes join in business activities that uphold the province as a vital national economic force, a position first attained with the surge of the sugar industry during the later years of the Spanish colonial era.

The Manila Daily Bulletin reported in September 1907 that the City of Iloilo was “the metropolis of the Visayan Islands, [the] second city of importance in the archipelago and the greatest market for sugar in this part of the world.”

Sugar put Iloilo on the map. In the 1850s, Nicholas Loney, a British merchant, settled there and “fostered the opening up of the sugar lands of Panay and Negros.” Loney introduced new technology, improved yield, and improved the quality of Iloilo sugar to world-market standards.

Unrivaled

For many years Iloilo prosperity was unrivaled, reaching a peak when the irritating delay and occasional damage to cargo caused by transshipment of sugar through the Port of Manila was finally bypassed, and from 1865 produce was exported directly to international points from Iloilo.

“The condition of business in Iloilo largely depends on the size of the sugar crop and the price of the staple,” further reported the Manila Daily Bulletin in 1907. When the sugar trade boomed, so did Iloilo. Now known as the Queen City of the South, roads and infrastructure were laid out, hospitals and schools opened.

In 1907, Iloilo was no backwater. “Iloilo has an electric-light plant and the city is well-lighted. There is also an ice factory and cold-storage plant. Among the possibilities of the near future are an up-to-date telephone system and streetcar line connecting all parts of the city.

One institution Iloilo can boast of, that might well be copied in other parts of the archipelago, [is] an up-to-date department store, Hoskyns & Company, a British firm, was established in 1868. In their large store on Calle Real can be found a complete stock of goods at prices, for the most part, far below Manila prices.”

Iloilo prosperity was on the rise and the grand planter lifestyle had to be lived in worthy surroundings. Mansions were witness to the opulent moneyed lifestyle that has now all but died out due to 21st-century economic and social realities.

Mansions built on generous plots of land in quiet pre-World War II outskirts were swallowed up without warning by rapid, unregulated urban growth. Now finding themselves situated on valuable city center properties, mansion owners have been forced to reevaluate their properties and lifestyles.

Some downsized to smaller houses, renting out their mansions to commercial tenants. Others built rental buildings on their front lawns to generate additional income, hiding their mansions behind a layer of nondescript commercial structures built right along the street, changing the streetscape forever.

A few simply abandoned their mansions. The postwar years saw many of the moneyed Ilonggos moving out of their downtown mansions into smaller houses.

Mobility, dignity

Today’s middle- and working-class homes, smaller and more modest, reflect lifestyle conditions of a majority of Iloilo City residents. Instead of projecting stability and gentility as the old mansions once did, the aura of the middle-class neighborhood is mobility, dignity, work and a strong sense of community.

Unlike the genteel streets of the moneyed class where nobody is seen outside of their fenced gardens, streets in middle- and working-class districts fill with everyday life. Residents live their lives on the street.

The local barangay hall spills out into the street, bringing governance to the people level, as it were. The street is where men hang out, drink or play basketball tournaments. The street is a social center, where the overflow of guests at a neighborhood christening, wedding or funeral is seated.

On the other hand, the rural landscape, dotted with bahay-kubo clustered in barrios and agricultural land, tells another story. To Filipinos, the bahay-kubo are generic, and the Ilonggo house is no exception. But the high level of outstanding bamboo craftsmanship sets the humble Ilonggo kubo far above the typical and generic.

For many generations, Ilonggo craftsmen embroider not with needle and thread but with bamboo. Their bamboo work achieves a play of texture by mixing peeled and unpeeled strips or combining dyed and natural-colored strips handwoven into repeating diamond patterns for the “lowly” sawali matting.

Bamboo sections are scored, flattened and framed for wall panels. They are cut into slats for above-the-ground flooring and stripped into ribbons thin enough for weaving. Absolutely amazing are bamboo slat patterns, grilles of most delicately plaited bamboo lacework executed in fine, hand-embroidery quality.

Ilonggo architectural bamboo craftsmanship, totally unknown and unappreciated, is naïf Ilonggo folk art at its finest.

Iloilo bamboo houses, solid but fragile, enclosed but transparent, embody the observation that the Philippine bahay-kubo is in essence a “basket for living.”

Romantic view

There exists a romantic view of downtown Iloilo remaining in a time warp, woven around blocks of superlative, intact 1920s-’40s commercial structures, heritage that gives Iloilo one of the most elegant business areas in the country.

What a graceful, outstanding heritage ensemble, it is probably the best, most extensive remaining collection of heritage commercial buildings in the country.

Buildings of the same height, size and of similar design line streets, a rare but vanishing example of urban unity of architectural scale and style in the Philippines. Building layouts are similar—shophouse-type, two-story rental spaces connected by an arcaded sidewalk.

The style of embellishment indicates the date of construction. Structures from the 1920s are decorated in the feminine, lacy Iloilo wedding-cake style.

The next generation of buildings designed in Art Deco geometry of the 1930s is followed by a post-World War II generation of structures in the robust, no-nonsense 1950s International Style.

Not all downtown buildings in Iloilo are of heritage quality. New shopping destinations coexist with the traditional stores that have always been in the city center, heightening the commercial counterplay between old and new.

An architectural “read” reveals the Iloilo story. A walk through Iloilo today reveals so much more to the city behind the scenes.

Behind a generic-looking commercial building may stand a grand old mansion. Step back (if Iloilo traffic won’t run you over) to discover that a covered sidewalk is part of a sagging heritage commercial building, a redoubtable dowager whose better days can once again be relived after a simple nip-and-tuck operation.

Heritage surprises

To really know Iloilo today, one must look beyond the overlapping layers of decay, congestion, chaotic architecture and pockets of wealth existing almost side by side with pockets of poverty. Peel back the multiple layers of architecture, bad architectural facelifts and urban blight for the surprise of your life.

Layer after forgotten layer of the Iloilo story comes to view. Uncover revealing evidence about the city and what her people were like, culturally, socially and economically during key epochs of Iloilo city’s rich history.

Walk the downtown area to the point of sensory overload. Suddenly come to the old, majestic Customs House by the Iloilo River, a monument to the former Queen City of the South.

Around the corner, step farther back to a vanishing era. Find a Spanish colonial-era warehouse where young women still twine abaca strands by hand into rope as they have done for centuries.

Iloilo is at a cusp. The city has to deal with the ill effects of progress, traffic, congestion, uncontrolled development, urban sprawl from the conversion of neighboring agricultural land into middle-class subdivisions.

The age of super modernization has set in. Iloilo now boasts of a mix of heritage architecture; modern buildings; up-to-date malls; new inner city and suburban land developments; and, at long last, a brand-new state-of-art airport in neighboring Canatuan.

Iloilo is alive. Nothing is dormant about her. History and heritage anchor her. They give her an image so singular and unique that no other place in the country has. Her economy provides income-generating activities for anybody in search of it.

Iloilo’s layered existence embraces everyone, old or young, moneyed or working class, educated or uneducated. She democratically offers something for everyone.

For inquiries on the book, “Iloilo, A Rich and Noble Land,” call 4545192 or 4545195. E-mail the author at pride.place@gmail.com

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=103069

such gilded fame!
now hard to reclaim
Iloilo, move forward!
though times are hard.

Consunji subsidiary to put up
P7-B Panay coal power plant

MANILA – The subsidiary of construction giant Consunji Group announced that it is keen on pursuing its plan to put up of a clean coal power plant in Panay.

Nestor Dadivas, president and chief executive officer of DMCI Power Corp. (the power arm of Consunji) said they hope to start the P7-billion clean coal power plant in Panay the soonest possible time.

"We hope to break ground in the next few months," Dadivas said.

Dadivas reported they expected to commission the 100 megawatt (MW) coal facility by July 2010.

Davidas said DMCI Power, a wholly owned power generation subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., was now talking with foreign and local lenders to raise the needed financing for the construction of the coal plant.

"We are presently negotiating with foreign and local lenders. We hope to get financial closing soon," he said.

At the same time, Dadivas said no formal agreement has been set with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group for the possibility of jointly developing the coal facility in Concepcion, Iloilo.

The plant will use a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology considered as "clean coal technology" in terms of air emissions.

The plant will utilize coal from Semirara Mining Corp. (SMC), another DMCI company based in Antique. Once construction is completed, the coal plant will help assure adequate power supply in the Visayas, particularly Panay....

P7 billion budget for a coal plant???? i hope this doesn't just remain a pipe dream and will become a reality.

Aftermath of the fire in brgy. Bolilao this morning. It englulfed a few structures. Luckily it didn't hit Sandpipers. :lol:

And most of all, nobody died...

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^^ Dali lang, ang Nato and Helen nasunog man?

^^ I don't know. But that place is right beside the street crossing to SandPipers. @Berns, the location of Ayala Land is near Felix Gorriceta Ave daw. Do you know the exact location? They say it's not yet fully owned by ALI and they're still in negotiations. Luckily it's very very huge!

^^ I don't know. But that place is right beside the street crossing to SandPipers. @Berns, the location of Ayala Land is near Felix Gorriceta Ave daw. Do you know the exact location? They say it's not yet fully owned by ALI and they're still in negotiations. Luckily it's very very huge!

A ok. Gets ko na ang nasunog. Daw mga patay-sindi suga kag videoke bar man gali nasunog ai. :D

Regarding ALI's acquisition, it is still just a heresay and there is no confirmation yet from the municipio although from what the information officer told me that there is a big company that will invest in residential sector.

But let's just find out within few months time from now.
Tomorrow, lets see what the investors say regarding the development of Iloilo City and Province in ILED's 1st Iloilo Investors' Forum which will be done at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center. I'll let everyone know in SSC about the updates of the said event that is crucial to the city and province's development.

Oscar Lopez will be the keynote speaker while by 6PM the guests will be transferred to Nelly Garden for the launching of the coffeetable book "ILoilo: A Rich and Noble Land". :)

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^^Bukas na pala...hope to keep us updated. Thanks :)

GUIMBAL ILOILO

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