Saan ga sa inyo?

:bash:MUSTA NA GA KAYO NADITO NA KO... TAO PO..:bash::banana::cheers:..MAY BARAKO PA BA SA BATANGAS WALA NA YATA...NALIPOL NA...:bash::nuts:

Wala lang natawa ako dito... "Nalipol" talaga ang ginamit... :lol: Sila ba'y nalipol dahil sa ginunaw? Huwag naman... friends ko ang iba diyan.


Some houses at San Jose, Batangas...

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i'll be in a Calatagan beach resort on the 19th. :D

hello for rent ..free one monthhttp://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/jayvee03_photos/CopyofDSC02152.jpg

^^ :dunno:

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The church of Padre Garcia (the old town of Rosario), Batangas


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This shot is for Jun.


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One of the older bell is dated 1842. I find it curious that one of the bells is named after the patron saint of San Juan, Batangas. Could it possibly be that it was originally for the parish of San Juan? But did not reach its destination. Or was it a donation but Padre Garcia is the older parish of the 2.

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Fortunately, it seems the original adobe fence of the church is still intact.


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A pila or holy water font, which could possibly be an original/antique.

Photos by overtureph.

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Tanawin mula sa kampanaryo ng simbahan ng Padre Garcia.


Photo by overtureph.

Segunda Katigbak's house located in Lipa City, Batangas


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Photos by overtureph

Segunda Katigbak's house located in Lipa City, Batangas. Segunda Katigbak was reputedly Jose Rizal's first love or the first girl he courted.

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According to our guide, this old house, which is beside the Katigbak house was bought from Alitagtag (Batangas).

Photos by overtureph.

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Lipa Cathedral as viewed from the Segunda Katigbak house.

Taal Church, Taal, Batangas


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Photos by overtureph.

The Villavicencio ancestral house in Taal, Batangas. The house was constructed as a wedding gift and it used to have a bridge connecting to the older Villavicencio house. The house was lovingly restored and as told to us by the present owners (and also a descendant) was restored with proper care and consultations with an expert (I think they consulted Mr. Tinio). For example, they had the tiles specially copied and customed made by Mariwasa to replace the original but unusable tiles. They had also the palitada mixed with lime and the garden planted to traditional Filipino plants. Truly a magnificent and elegant house. The owners too where very kind and gracious. They where really proud of their ancestral house. And a very big thank you to them for giving us a tour of the place.

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Sorry for the blurred pictures.



Photos by overtureph

Villavicencio ancestral house Taal, Batangas


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Sorry for the blurred pictures.

Photos by overtureph.

Batangas City...

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Photos by Rudi Knust at Pbase

San Jose, Batangas


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Photos by overtureph.

I will try to go to SM Batangas on Thursday! yey!!!

Thanks for the photos! Keep them coming.

^^ can you post pictures of Lipa? I miss the place

Matabungkay Beach resort (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200807081&type=2)


by Victor Julian
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Oh kay ganda talaga ng ating bayan , mga magagandang tanawin mga isla mga resorts lalo na dito sa ala eh!
MATABUNGKAY BEACH RESORT sa Batangas Province.
Halinat ating pasyalan ang nakakahalinat na nakakaligaya.
Lalo nat kasama ang iyong minamahal sa paglubog ng haring araw ,sa ating bayan.Back to top

DOE inks 3 geothermal exploration contracts (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200807094&type=2)


By Donnabelle L. Gatdula
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Department of Energy (DOE) is set to sign geothermal exploration contracts with three firms under the Petroleum Exploration Contracting Round (PECR) 3.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said Guidance Management Corp., Biliran Geothermal Inc. and Basic Energy Corp. have been awarded the contracts to explore and develop the geothermal areas in Amacan in Compostela Valley, Biliran and Mabini in Batangas, respectively.

Reyes said he sees the need to develop more indigenous sources of energy amid the continuing volatility of crude prices.

The DOE launched in 2004 the contracting round for oil, coal, geothermal exploration areas to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel.

After PECR 3, Reyes said they would proceed with PECR 4 to offer more exploration areas.

“We are now moving in that direction and my instruction is to have these people who are wanting to do exploration and development work to present to us,” the energy chief said.

In 2006, the DOE offered under the PECR nine petroleum contract areas covering 7,263,900 hectares within the prospective basins of East Palawan and Mindoro-Cuyo as well as in the promising basins of Cagayan, Central Luzon, Visayas and Agusan-Davao.

Government hopes to generate more than $200 million worth of investments under PECR 3.

Aside from oil and gas prospects, 14 coal prospects with a combined estimated reserves of 421million metric tons (MMT) in Quezon, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga Sibugay were also offered for bidding under PECR 3.

Back to top

Nestle farm system raises coffee farmers’ income (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008071230&type=2)

Sunday, July 13, 2008
A modern farming system introduced by consumer firm Nestle Philippines is raising both the yields and incomes of coffee farmers.

The system involves the planting of so-called “companion crops” like peanuts, corn, mongo, silage and other crops to supplement the farmers’ incomes, and serve as an incentive for others to go into coffee farming.

Geared to help arrest the country’s dwindling coffee production despite its growing market, Nestle began implementing the system in the Philippines in 2004 under a Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives (SAI) program.

Ten demo farms across the country house farmers and experts who conduct lectures and presentations on SAI’s best practices.

“First-hand information on modern farming practices are more credible when coffee farmers hear it from their successful colleagues. That is why the farm owners themselves are made to do the demos and lectures,” said Nestle agricultural services head Glicerio Joel Lumagbas.

Realizing the benefits of SAI, more and more farmers are eager to adopt it, especially since it can generate income even in the first year. Previously, they had to wait for two or three years before making profits.

Lumagdas cited a farmer in Sultan Kudarat who earned P80,000 in his first year of farming two kinds of peanuts, before advancing to other high-value crops.

Other success stories include the Tara Woods Coffee Farm in Tanauan and the Talon Family Farm School in Tuy, both in Batangas. These model farms serve as satellite centers for Luzon farmers so that they need not go to Mindanao for extensive training in coffee farming technologies.

The SAI training is being offered by Nestle to interested farmers for free.

“We encourage them (farmers) to join the three-day technological seminar at the Nestle Experimental Demonstration Farm, a free training that includes board and lodging. All that the participants have to spend for is their transportation,” Lumagbas pointed out.

Nestle Philippines’ technical assistance program and procurement systems also give farmers direct market access through buying stations. Before, farmers had to sell their crops to traders. Now, they can sell even half a sack to Nestle for their first deliveries.

This SAI platform is supported by 20 companies from different industries, divided into five working groups that focus on the production of cereals, coffee, dairy, fruits and potatoes. These companies are committed to sustainable, competitive and efficient agricultural production that can protect the environment and improve the socioeconomic conditions of local communities.

These technologies and best practices are among the many others that will be featured at the Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2008, which will be staged at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on Oct. 9-11.

Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink constitute the country’s biggest and most prestigious annual international tradeshow on agribusiness, food and aquaculture. Agrilink is now on its 15th year, Foodlink on its ninth, and Aqualink on its fourth.

With the theme Sustaining Agricultural Growth through Niche Markets, these triple international events include product exhibits, technology seminars, marketing presentations, live animal and plant display, and many other activities that generate huge business for the various sectors of the agribusiness industry.

“This year, our seminars will highlight key industries and products that affect today’s agricultural growth,” said Antonio V. Roces, president of the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD), which is co-organizing the triple events with some 20 national trade associations.

Inquiries and/or booth reservations can be made with FRLD (tel. 8384549, 8384852; fax 8384573; or email frld@pldtdsl.net).

Supporting the triple events are the Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural and Fishery Council, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (Le Club).

Back to top

Helo Guys may updates ba keo sa MonteMaria shrine! nakita ko sa Inquirer eh ginagawa na yung Shrine at mas malaki pa sa Statue of Liberty ng 2x! **** update pow!

This is the very well preserved Acosta-Pastor ancestral house in Batangas City.

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/25640/-Mel-and-Joey--Hanep-Bahay

This is the very well preserved Acosta-Pastor ancestral house in Batangas City.

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/25640/-Mel-and-Joey--Hanep-Bahay

Its really remind me my grandmother old Spanish house in Quezon Province before typhoon ruin it 4 years ago!

Lipa’s ‘Barako’ coffee goes mainstream (http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=150890)

First posted 19:17:56 (Mla time) July 26, 2008
Mei Magsino
Philippine Daily Inquirer




AFTER 21 MONTHS OF SERVING “Barako” coffee or the Philippine Liberica in Café de Lipa in Barangay Mataas na Lupa in Lipa city, the owner, who comes from a century-old line of coffee farmers, decided to bring their coffee to Manila and go for the mainstream market.

Café de Lipa recently opened at the Petron commercial station along Diosdado Macagapal Boulevard.

“Our target is to put up 150 branches of Café de Lipa in 10 to 15 years. We’re also open to franchising,” says owner and founder Jose H. Mercado.

Café de Lipa is a subsidiary of Merlo Agricultural Corp. where Mercado, who belongs to the clan of coffee pioneers in Lipa, sits as chair.

“A 60-square meter coffee shop would cost between P3.5 and P5 million. The bigger the area, the higher the price,” Mercado said.

Mercado’s coffee business was featured by the Inquirer in 2002.

“We studied every aspect of the business, and coming from the clan of the pioneer coffee traders, we know the right time to invest. And our coffee is different because it’s real and comes from the place where the coffee industry is born,” Mercado says.

Coffee family

Café de Lipa’s coffee history spans more than a hundred years of family tradition of coffee blending and roasting.

The Macasaet clan, who planted the Philippine’s first coffee tree in Pinagtung-Ulan, Lipa City, in the 1800s, are Mercado’s great, great, great grandparents.

“I was born in a coffee sack, under a coffee tree,” Mercado says.

According to Mercado, the coffeeshop was his father Macario’s ultimate dream. Macario, a coffee trader, got him into the business of buying and selling coffee beans until the younger Mercado became independent and in 1974, built his own coffee business, Merlo Enterprises, with a mere capital of P3,000.

With his wife Ligaya Lopez, whose surname was combined with Mercado’s to create the Merlo company name, he leased lands to plant with coffee to ensure a steady supply. They were able to buy their own land in a short time, and like his father, enlisted the help of the entire family to work with him.

The family business grew and diversified into poultry, poultry supplies, piggery and imported animal health products. Merlo Enterprises became a corporation in 1978 with family members as incorporators.

Two years later, the company exported coffee in the US, Canada, Singapore and the Middle East, making their own blend of Lipa’s Barako coffee a sought-after coffee of five-star hotels and restaurants. The demand for their brand of coffee proved that.

Original blend

Through the massive growth of the company, Mercado never forgot his father’s biggest dream.

“My father’s dream and ultimate goal as a coffee trader is to sell coffee in a cup, in its finished form,” Mercado says.

Before the Café de Lipa coffee shop was established, the name was one of the three coffee brands that contains the Mercado family’s secret blend of coffee beans and roasting technique. The others are Batangas Brew and Kapeng Barako.

“Our quality is consistent 365 days of the year. The quality never changes. We have the technology and facilities to make sure the quality of our coffee passes the strict standards of the international matket,” Mercado says.

Merlo has modernized its entire process from the coffee beans to the cup. The company has its own coffee mill or berry de-hauler, roaster, and state of the art technology to ensure that its coffee can cope with international standards.

“The coffee harvest season is from January to May only. After that, it’s up to us to make sure that the quality of our coffee is maintained for the rest of the year,” Mercado says, “That’s where innovation and hard work comes. We’re very strict with the quality of our coffee.”

The original Café de Lipa coffee shop opened in October 2006, and was built in front of Merlo’s 5-hectare property where the family home is located.

Investing in people

The Lipeños’ response to the new coffee shop that serves coffee and pastries was overwhelming. It was followed by a branch at the Petron service station along the Southern Tagalog Access Road (STAR tollway) and, the latest, the coffee shop along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.

The Mercado family never believed in pirating other companies’ people.

“We invest in our people. We even have strict in-house training for our employees and help them create for themselves the possibilities of excelling in their own fields. We believe that’s the best way for any employer to create loyal employees,” Mercado says.

The group also has an executive chef in charge of the breads and pastries served in Café de Lipa.

Coffee experience

Drinking the real Barako coffee, according to Mercado’s son, Jose Omar, should include not just the sense of taste but also the sense of smell.

“The best way to have your Barako coffee is to have it black, no sugar please. Before you sip your Barako coffee, first, you should inhale and enjoy its aroma, then sip, and let its flavor and body stay in your mouth before you swallow,” he said, “If you appreciate this, you’ll never go back to drinking instant coffee.”

In the National Capital Region, where 97 percent of the population is used to drinking coffee, this would make a huge difference to the coffee industry and coffee drinkers.

“We see a big potential in Café de Lipa, and we want Filipinos to experience our brand of coffee that came straight from the place where the Barako coffee was born,” Ligaya, Mercado’s wife said.

Reviving the Barako

As vice chair of the Lipa Coffee Board, Mercado said the future of the Barako coffee is looking good.

“The city government is now encouraging Lipeños to once again, plant the Barako coffee. Mayor Oscar Gozos, the Lipa city Agriculturist’s office and the coffee board have devised a scheme that could revive the Barako in Lipa,” Mercado said.

According to retired Philippine Constabulary (PC) Col. Nicetas “Katy” Katigbak, chair of the Lipa Coffee Board, there are now 4,000 real Barako seedlings at the nursery section of his coffee farm, which is the biggest in the city.

“We have searched and found the remaining Barako coffee trees in Lipa and we found them in the mountainous barangay of Talisay after two years of searching Real Liberica coffee. The trees were over fifty years old and we’ve found a way to make them bear fruits again,” Katigbak said.

From the coffee berries, they started the Barako nursery farm and produced the seedlings that are now being sold.

The 4,000 seedlings of real Barako coffee are now available to coffee farmers from Lipa at a subsidized price of P20 per piece. Nonresidents of Lipa can buy them at P30 apiece.

“We’re providing technical assistance to the coffee farmers in a supervised farming scheme, we’ll also assist with the farming from the planting to the harvest, up to the marketing. Landowners who avail of this program could also have a discount in their real property tax. We’re working on that. Isn’t that enough to encourage Lipeños to venture into coffee farming?” Katigbak said.

For Katigbak and Mercado, the program would ensure that Lipa could regain its place in the coffee industry and claim the Barako legacy that could be experienced not just in Lipa, but in all the Café de Lipa coffee shops.

I was wondering if there are any pictures of some ancestral houses in Balayan?

RP call centers: Upbeat on the future (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200807278&type=2)
By Eden Estopace
Monday, July 28, 2008
There is no better proof of Thomas Friedman’s revolutionary concept that the “world is flat” than the emergence and boom of the call center industry in the Philippines.

Now with 151,000 seats and 205,000 employees, Philippine call centers are poised to grow even more rapidly in the next few years, with projections of a 23-percent growth through 2009, according to Dan Reyes, president of Sitel Philippines and director of the Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP).

“Call centers are the torchbearer of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry,” said Reyes during the opening of the Call Center Conference and Expo 2008 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City last Wednesday.

In this industry, he said, there is no tomorrow because Philippine call centers are already operating 24/7 and serving different time zones.

The two-day conference came at a time when call centers are reeling from the effects of a global economic downturn, falling foreign exchange rate and the looming impact of a recession in the United States, which is the country’s main BPO market.

Admittedly, Reyes said the challenges are greater now, but the industry is also much larger, more resilient than it was when CCAP was established seven years ago with only seven members.

In fact, if there is one thing that the current business climate has given the industry, it was opportunity, not loss.

Call center executives led by Reyes, Raffy David of Pilipinas Teleserv, Vic Endaya of Advanced Contact Solutions, Benedict Hernandez of eTelecare, and John Langford of ICT Group are one in saying that the weakening of the dollar and the US economy has directly hit the bottom line but it has also led the industry to diversify and look for other markets outside the US like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.

It has, among others, also driven companies to streamline operations to explore cost-efficiency improvements, increase volume of work and quality and strive to be on clients’ top tier service providers. And the effort paid off.

According to Reyes, CCAP, with 39 members and a combined strength of 97,700 seats and 134,000 employees, is expected to grow by yearend to 31 percent to 176,000 seats and 239,000 employees.

Revenues are also expected to grow to $4.34 billion by end of 2008, accounting for two-thirds of the projected BPO revenues for the year of $6.7 billion.

“If anything, the economic slowdown and price pressures should lead companies to operational efficiencies and cost structures,” Reyes said.

“Last year,” added Hernandez, “we got the opportunity to be better because we were faced with projections that were falling down the ground. Because we couldn’t influence the way the exchange rate is moving, we recourse to controlling what we can control better like efficiency, productivity. It has given us more focus.”

Another way of looking at the US recession is that it may even lead to more outsourced work to countries like the Philippines, according to Reyes.

“Because of the recession and its impact, calls will definitely go down for those companies which have already migrated here, but on the positive side, those not yet in the Philippines may have more pressure to offshore,” added Endaya.

As it is now, the Philippines is in the top 10 of the 2007 A. T. Kearney Global Services Location Index and was named the Best Offshoring Destination in 2007 by the UK-based National Outsourcing Association.

“Besides,” Reyes said, “the Philippines is no longer competing solely on cost arbitrage but on quality.”

Retooling for the future

In a presentation on global call center trends, William Dieu, senior research analyst at callcentres.net, introduced seven key drivers for the call center of the future.

Dieu said that, among others, a call center will continue to be the most strategic business unit in an organization as majority of customer contact is made through it.

Because of this, call centers are more going in the direction of becoming profit centers with primary revenue-generation responsibility.

In fact, in the Asia-Pacific, revenues generated from inbound and outbound calls reached $665.4 million in 2007. This is projected to grow to $13.1 billion in the next seven years.

Are Philippine call centers taking advantage of this wave? Dieu said a large percent of call centers in the country now have upselling and cross-selling opportunities, so they should be able to ride that wave.

Another thing in the horizon for call centers is the coming of the so-called Generation Y, which is expected to change the landscape of call center services of the future.

“This generation has a high preference for interacting with organizations using Internet and Web chat. It has low preference for speaking but prefers voice channels over the Internet,” said Dieu.

In line with this, he said more Philippine call centers are moving toward IP enablement.

During the press luncheon, the call center executives led by Reyes disclosed that the average age of call center workforce is 23. Admittedly, turnover and agent attrition is high. Dieu’s presentation revealed that full-time call center agents stay in a company for 22 months on average, part-time employees around 10 months, team leaders a little bit longer at 41 months, and managers up to 71 months.

“The call center is a people’s business,” said Reyes. “The positive trend is that as far as retention is concerned, there is already a significant increase in the number of months people stay in the industry. Our collective programs have helped our objective of not only retaining talent but making them happy.”

Hernandez also revealed that the Philippines is even enjoying lower attrition rates compared to other countries.

Among others, the call center industry has always been known for paying more than any other industry, with even better incentives.

“We look for talents with specialized skills and pay higher; we are creating opportunity in the workforce to move up,” Hernandez said.

But more than this, the industry is also striving to provide an even better working environment for agents inasmuch as call center employees work on graveyard shifts and ungodly hours.

It is now the norm, the executives said, in most call centers to have a 24/7 cafeteria, a place to take a nap or rest, and game rooms where they can hang out with friends.

“The thing is when you are 23 and you have income, you hang out, buy cigarettes, chill out. Part of our program in taking care of our people is to make them aware of managing their lifestyles,” Hernandez added.

The next wave

In his keynote speech during the two-day conference, Senate President Manuel Villar praised the social impact of the call centers in the country.

“The call center industry has given opportunities for people who want to stay in the country. More than jobs, it has given our people a psychic income. Those who would have left are now gainfully employed here,” Villar said.

Hernandez affirmed that more than jobs and revenues, the call center business has contributed to national pride.

“We have proven to the world that we could actually do a better job,” he said.

Perhaps even more than pride and jobs and psychic income is the expanding impact in cities outside Metro Manila.

In a statement, the CCAP bared the so-called 10 next wave cities nationwide, which are identified as new locators and crucial to the industry’s expansion in the next few years.

These new cities include Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, Laguna, Batangas, Angeles and Dumaguete.

“We are proud of the fact that this phenomenon is not isolated in Metro Manila. More and more Filipinos are benefiting from the investment and employment opportunities provided by outsourced and in-house contact centers nationwide,” Jojo Uligan, CCAP executive director, said in a statement.

The CCAP executives affirm that setting up shop in cities outside Metro Manila has even greater social impact. For one, the quality of the workforce is the same and the industry builds a culture of loyalty in the locality.

This way, the industry encourages young professionals to stay and at the same time attract many others to go back.

“The industry continues to be vibrant and thriving. We are looking forward to achieving new heights to become a global call center powerhouse,” Reyes said.

The world is flat, according to Friedman, because it has leveled the global playing field in terms of work opportunities. A call center agent in the Philippines can provide the same quality of service to a European client, for example, as his counterpart in India or China. The issue is not on who could do it but who could do it better at more competitive levels in the global marketplace.

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;16659651']itatanong ko lang po sana ano ito? kasi parang road tignan pero pag zoom in mo mga bahay pala..

highway po ba ito na ginawang pabahay?

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/wawayscreens/batangas.jpg

This used to be the narrow gauge railway line from Batangas City to Manila - this is actually called the "Batangas Branch" and is connected at the Calamba Junction to the "Bicol Express." :)

Bootkin

Firm offers Calatagan farmers 100 hectares of disputed land (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008073164&type=2)
By Katherine Adraneda
Friday, August 1, 2008
A private company planning to put up a cement factory on a 2,000-hectare property in Calatagan, Batangas is reportedly offering farmers 100 hectares of the disputed land.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said Asturias Chemicals Industries Inc. is amenable to setting aside a 100-hectare portion of the disputed property as relocation site for 98 farmers who still refuse to sell their emancipation patents to the company.

In a press conference yesterday, Atienza said the contested property remains classified as “mineralized” to this day and that his department can no longer do anything to change the classification since the Supreme Court (SC) has already ruled on the issue.

Atienza said the issue surrounding the Calatagan property is no longer legal, as the SC’s ruling on the matter has become final and executory.

“What we are working on right now is to help the affected settlers assert their rights… to avail themselves of the maximum benefits that they could have, including possibly just compensation for those who have decided to sell their piece of land,” he said.

“We are threshing out benefits and possibilities to uplift their lives there because I have been there several times and witnessed how hard life is for the people there… they have very poor roads and lack many basic amenities,” he added.

Atienza said the government is eyeing to improve the road system and put up schools and health services, among others, for the affected residents of Barangays Baha and Talibayog, with the help of Asturias.

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A Trip to Anilao (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200808013&type=2)
Aia dela Cruz
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The beach at Anilao, Mabini, Batangas is such a wonderful place great for snorkeling and diving adventures because of its magnificent and clear water, so clear that you could almost see the rocks and fish swimming underneath and your feet swaying in the water.

The first time I went there was with my college friends and housemates for almost a year. It was our first get together after graduating from college. From Manila, Anilao, Batangas was just merely three hours drive only.

We arrive there at around 7 a.m. and rent a cottage that suits our budget. And golly, it was cheaper than I thought! The cottage costs 700 only and the floating cottage costs 1500 but it was all ours for 24 hours. However, the resort owner was so nice that she gave us Php 200 discounts for the two cottages.

After everything was settled, we went to the market to buy some food, which is only few meters away from the resort. It was utterly clean and everything you need is available there for very affordable prices! It was so amazing!

We cooked and ate at the floating cottage and after resting with our full tummies, we went swimming! And though, I am not really into swimming and I am afraid of big bodies of water, I cannot resist the charm of the clear and cool seawater. I just used some life vest and enjoyed the day swimming and playing in the water with my friends! We can almost see our feet under the water and we can also see some fish swimming with us.

It was also great watching the sunset at Anilao Beach. The feeling was so surreal. Its like you are in paradise, especially with your friends around you. I honestly forgot all the stresses and pressures at work and I am quietly wishing that I could spend my entire life in that beach. Nice place, beautiful sunset, wonderful beach, magnificent scenes and kind people. The place is totally awesome! Though I’ve never been to Boracay and saw their beaches on pictures only, I can say that Anilao Beach is more relaxing and peaceful. If you are really after a short vacation, wanted to be with nature with fewer budgets, and don’t want to go very far from Manila, I highly recommend Anilao beaches. And you too, after being there, will surely say the same.

http://www.philstar.com/newphilstar/www/image/20080801/anilao1.jpg

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http://www.philstar.com/newphilstar/www/image/20080801/anilao7.jpg

http://www.philstar.com/newphilstar/www/image/20080801/anilao8.jpg


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Splendido stages Samsung tour (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080801160&type=2)

Saturday, August 2, 2008
The picturesque Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club will host the third leg of the Samsung Pilipinas Amateur Golf Tour starting Monday with national pool members Jonnel Ababa and Mark Fernando poised for a showdown.

Ababa and Fernando, the stars of the Calatagan stable, will be leading the championship division field as they make their final preparations for the national Putra Cup team eliminations next week.

Joining them is Paul Echavez and Ryan Lam, the top two finishers of the second leg last month at Camp John Hay and several Korean scratch players.

The first two days of the championship division will be held simultaneously with the competitions for men’s Class C and Class D and all three handicap classes of the ladies division. In Class A ladies, Eva Miñoza and Matet Salivio will be up against a horde of Korean rivals.

Mizuno, Autohub, Callaway/Electrobus Consolidated, Inc., Wow Magic Sing, Titleist, Pagcor-Tagaytay Custom Clubmakers, Gargol, Wave 89.1 are the other sponsors of the Samsung series. PacSports Philippines (Club Car) and Autohub (Sinski motorcycle) are hole-in-one sponsors.

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Customs surpasses collection target in July (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200808024&type=2)
By Evelyn Z. Macairan
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it surpassed its revenue target for the fourth straight month after collecting P25.57 billion for the month of July, which is P2.58 billion higher than its assigned target.

Based on a preliminary report, the BOC said it was commissioned to collect P22.991 billion in import duties and taxes in July, but actual collection reached P25.570 billion, or a surplus of P2.579 billion.

While only 10 out of the 15 ports and the Office of the Commissioner (Ocom) were able to meet their respective targets on the seventh month of the year, the agency as a whole was able to meet the targets set by the President.

“We are doing everything we can to keep on track,” said Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.

In terms of percentage, the Port of San Fernando in Pampanga was the top performer in July with 94.2-percent or a higher collection surplus of P97 million. Its target was P103 million but it collections reached P200 million.

While the Ocom’s target was P1.665 billion, its actual collection was P3.047 billion, or a surplus of P1.382 billion.

Other achievers were the Port of Manila collecting P8.361 billion compared to its target of P7.5 billion, or a surplus of P861 million; the Manila International Container Port’s target was P5.75 billion compared to its actual collection of P5.864 billion or a surplus of P114 million; the Port of Batangas target was P4.831 billion compared to its actual collection of P4.96 billion or a surplus of P129 million; the Port of Legaspi’s target of P3.1 million compared to the actual collection of P5.1 million or a surplus of P2 million; and the Port of Iloilo’s target of P24 million compared to its actual collection of P32 million or a surplus of P8.4 million.

The Port of Cebu’s target for July was P430 million compared to the actual collection of P510 million or a surplus of P80 million; the Port of Cagayan de Oro’s target was P265 million compared to its actual collection of P277 million or a surplus of 12 million; the Port of Davao’s target was P163 million compared to its actual collection of P172 million or a surplus of P9.2 million; and the Port of Clark’s target was P81 million compared to its actual collection of P82 million or a surplus of P1.2 million.

Meanwhile, the five ports that failed to meet their targets were the Port of Zamboanga that obtained a 65.4 percent deficiency rate. It was only tasked to accumulate P6 million in taxes and duties, but it’s collection only reached P2.1 million.

Other ports with lackluster performance were the Port of Surigao which was given the target of P4.3 million but it only accomplished P2.1 million; the Port of Tacloban which was assigned with P41 million but it only gathered P31 million; the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was tasked with P1.737 billion but it only managed to collect P1.646 billion; and the Port of Subic was tasked with P388 million but only collected P379 million.

“We can attribute this positive performance to the enhanced anti smuggling drive, an updated valuation database. We also got rid of suspicious importers and traders from our accredited list so most of that is left are those legitimate ones,” Morales said.

July is the fourth month in a row that the BOC was able to exceed its monthly targets. Last April, it was supposed to acquire P21.73 billion but it amassed P21.758 billion; in May, it was tasked to collect P21.462 billion and it reaped P21.904 billion; and in June it was assigned P21.47 billion and registered P25.427 billion.

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if im mistaken, kindly pm me



Japanese mission here to look for Benguet mining prospects (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080810132103.html)



By MELODY M. AGUIBA

A mission from the Japan Mining Engineering Center for International Cooperation (JMEC), a subsidiary of state-run Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corp. (JOGMEC), is in the Philippines to look for prospects in the Benguet mineral district.


JMEC representatives are meeting this week for potential joint venture with companies operating in Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, and other possible sites in Batangas and the Surigao mineral district.

"The trip will look into the possibility of engaging in mineral exploration or development through available means such as (acquisition) of original claims, joint venture, partnership, and exploration agreements," according to a government report.

JMEC, founded in 1976 as a non-profit organization for supporting stable mineral resource supply for Japan, was reorganized in 1991 to conduct technical assistance for metal mining in developing countries and Japan.

The mission is seen to potentially add up to existing Japanese mineral activities in the country. JOGMEC already has an exploration prospect in the Lobo Copper Project in a joint venture with Phelps Dodge. Another Japanese company operating here is the Sumitomo Metals at the Palawan nickel processing plant in Bataraza.

JMEC officials visiting potential mine projects are Haruhisa Morozumi, director of the geological survey department, and Masataka Ochi, senior researcher.

The company’s officials are meeting with officials of Benguet Corp., MRL Philippines Inc., Philex Mining, Anglo American, Itogon-Suyoc-Anvil, Oceana Gold, Royalco Resources, and Abra Mining.

MGB Director Horacio C. Ramos said earlier that Japan is bound to look for more mineral exploration and development sites in the Philippines given China’s increasing mineral operations in the country.

Among the Chinese companies that are now here are the Zijin Mining Corp. which has taken a stake in the Far Southeast copper-gold project in Mankayan, Benguet with Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp.; Jinchuan which is in a Palawan nickel project with Macro Asia; and Citic-UAA Group Phils. Inc., Dinagat Chromite Project.

JMEC has begun embarking on collection of data for rare metal inventory particularly for private stockpiling and research on supply and demand for seven rare metals. These are nickel, chromium, manganese, cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium.

Taal of old (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Travel&p=49&type=2&sec=48&aid=2008080990)

TEXT AND PHOTOS By Ayvi Nicolas

Sunday, August 10, 2008

I spent Independence Day in Taal, Laguna. And I left with many hopes, too many unanswered questions and one lasting image.

For a town with a pedigree like Taal, it isn’t hard for a stranger to see what its residents know. That Taal is a town with a glorious, historical past.

Taal is an Old Rich aristocrat who has suddenly realized that its past, no matter how illustrious and colorful it was, has been all but completely forgotten now and there is no other way but to live in the present no matter how strange the present might be. Genteel Taal couldn’t hide behind iron gates and capiz windows and shun the world for long. With dignified, careful steps, she walked the same old familiar streets and realized the brisk, competitive pace of modern life has fully taken over.

The words may seem a rash and sweeping statement and yet, like many other towns in the country, Taal is now described in whispered, sympathetic tones as a dying town.

Taal’s rich past dates back to early history. Internationally celebrated archaeological finds once put the town in the display cases of the world’s museums.

During the fight for Philippine freedom, Taal was the stage where great men and women plotted and played out their various roles in pursuit of independence and national identity.

Last Independence Day, the Philippine Flag was raised simultaneously in various symbolic locations in the country like Cavite and Rizal Park in Manila. In Taal, the Philippine Flag was also raised right in front of the monument of the woman who rendered the very first one. Though Marcela Agoncillo sewed the first flag with daughter Lorenza and Josefina Herbosa y Natividad (a niece of Jose Rizal) in exile in Hong Kong and though Emilio Aguinaldo would unfurl it in Kawit, Cavite, the Philippine Flag seemed to have been led home to its mother Lola Marcela, now cast in bronze standing tall and gracious at the very heart of the town she loved. And on that rainy Day of Independence, her townspeople gathered around her and relived the great stories of love and heroism that happened on the same streets where everyone gathered, lined by the very houses that stood there over a century ago.

Old glories are hard to let go, much like love stories wherein we never want the lovers to part or the fairy tale to end. Yet even the fiercest lovers have to let go of each other in mortality. And so no great town is ever truly immortal. That’s why on this day I have heard the question asked, is Taal a dying town?

This sad sentiment is reflected by its slowly disappearing crafts and trades. A long time ago Taal was a site of a bustling port where commodities and cultures were channeled through, an ideal place for artists and artisans, merchants and scholars. In recent time, the place was known for its piña cloth and balisong. Now it is sadly like any other town whose main industry is exporting professional and skilled workers overseas.

What every epic hero knows is that the story can make him immortal. And so our great Filipino heroes’ stories have been told to one generation after another keeping every name Rizal, Bonifacio Aguinaldo... all immortal. As what is true of a story’s protagonist, it may also be with a story’s setting.

Since that one day of restored glory on that Independence Day, Taal now wishes to be given a chance to tell its story to those who would come to visit. Taal yearns to showcase that by opening the heavy old wooden doors of its century-old houses. Yes, this is a town that wants to bring its old, illustrious image back. But it, too, is a town that humbly wishes to remember its identity and unique place in our nation’s fight for freedom.

I hope Taal would be able to hold on long enough to its historical treasures. I hope the Taalenos would remember the stories of heroism and love long enough. I hope the visitors would come to Taal just in time before all those are completely lost and forgotten. I have many questions as to how that will all become reality. Yet Taal today is slowly living, growing into the answer. Characteristic of its Hispanic past, a revolution is brewing right along its quiet, laidback streets.

A group of Taalenos has already formed the Taal Active Alliance League which aims to showcase Taal’s historical and architectural treasures. The league is comprised of committees on tourism, cultural mapping, a citizen watchdog, a technical working group, legal, finance and special projects and secretariat and media relations. With Vigan for an inspiration, the project to restore Taal to its rightful place in Philippine history is underway and the people behind it are aware that the first step must be for Taalenos to know their complete history and identity as a people.

Currently, volunteer teachers are taking a second look at each barangay to identify historical houses and other structures, and conduct research and interviews with the residents. Once notable landmarks and anecdotes have been identified, a group of photographers and writers will contribute their expertise to document the town’s heritage.

The project’s aim is to once again transform Taal into a quaint, interesting town with many touching sites and historical insights to offer to students and local tourists, ultimately giving the Filipinos a glimpse of their own proud history.

On the local government’s side, ordinances have already been implemented to control air and noise pollution caused by tricycles, the town’s main mode of transportation.

Like a few other towns in Batangas, Taal is a phoenix that has risen from volcanic ash. When Taal Volcano erupted in 1754, it wiped out Taal and surrounding towns Lipa and Tanauan. Through fires and floods, revolutions and legacies, Taal never ceased to be the graceful old dame of the South.

I have an image in my mind described to me one breezy afternoon on a balkonahe in one of Taal’s old houses. It’s a crowded street bustling with merchants, artists and artisans trading goods and stories while in the horizon the galleon ships’ sails flutter wildly under a blue sky and a hot sun.

^^ Erratum: As correctly pointed out by Overtureph at the Heritage Thread, that should be Taal, Batangas and not Laguna. :lol:

Leisure living at its best (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008081656&type=2)
By Dandi Galvez
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Not even an overcast sky could dampen the mood one lazy Tuesday afternoon as members of the press and officials of real estate developer Landco Pacific Corp. gathered in one of the company’s premier properties at The Peak in Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas to unveil its latest brand offering.

This was more than just a free day-off by the good folk at Landco. The 18-year-old company considers 2008 as its “coming out” year, so to speak. This is its chance to define what the company is all about. More than a leader in the leisure development arena, Landco has become a provider of that one thing that has eluded us busy city folk in our work-centered lives — a perfect resort living experience.

This is “Life at Your Leisure,” Landco’s proud battlecry, as it redefines its position in the resort living arena. More than an address to call your own, it is a philosophy; more than just a shelter, it is a dream and aspiration. Living life at your leisure means spending quality time with not just your loved ones, but with yourself. You deserve a break and Landco gives you that.

Alby Xerez-Burgos, chief marketing officer of Landco Pacific Corp., explains: “Why ‘Life at Your Leisure’? Landco is known, among other things, as the developer of prestige properties and for its integrity. Landco is also known for its creativity, and as a maverick in the real estate industry for coming up with so many industry ‘firsts.’”

In many ways, the gathering of press and lifestyle journalists at The Peak pavilion that day represents the kind of experience that Landco provides: fresh air, good food, and a relaxing atmosphere that is well away from the pressures of the city — about two-and-a-half hours away from metropolitan Manila, to be exact.

“Leisure is not just a cute-looking picture of a girl in a bikini at the beach,” says Francis Ceballos, EVP and COO of Landco Pacific Corp. “It is, in fact, a way of life. It is an attitude, a frame of mind that says, ‘We do our best and we achieve our best aspirations to get our best work done.’ That is our philosophy, our mindset, as we go on our projects.”

Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., president and CEO of Landco Pacific Corp., says that gathering up all the good things in life is something they’ve done to much satisfaction. “Whenever we’ve done projects we always try to look at the final experience of our customers at the end of the day, when the whole thing’s done. And as you can see, God makes all the beautiful things here. What we do is put them inside a frame that we can enjoy. That, to us, is leisure,” he adds.

Landco and leisure have become synonymous with each other. As a pioneer, the company has a unique understanding of leisure’s importance in a person’s life. It revolutionized the second home industry by developing the first residential resort, the first leisure farm, and the first leisure and tourism estate in the country. World-class innovations in leisure are its promise and vision in all Landco developments. Peninsula de Punta Fuego has since become the benchmark for a seaside residential resort.

And what a slew of developments there are. Of particular note is the very property we were at back then, The Peak at Terrazas de Punta Fuego.

Hidden away on the eastern side of the Nasugbu mountain range, The Peak is a 12-hectare expanse of greenery overlooking Batangas, Cavite and the South China Sea. This self-contained community mixes Asian themes with Spanish-Mediterranean touches, creating an intimate and calm atmosphere.

The Peak is just one of many nearby Landco projects around the area. After lunch, we transferred to the Terrazas de Punta Fuego Beach Club for some beachside fun and activities. This premier seaside community has private cabañas that ensure a safe and enjoyable stay. And 10 minutes away is the exclusive and world-class community of Peninsula de Punta Fuego, which has become the benchmark for a seaside residential resort.

Within Terrazas at 75 meters above sea level is Amara en Terrazas, Punta Fuego’s luxury oceanfront apartment community. The units feature two- and three-bedroom apartments, outdoor Jacuzzis, and modern leisure amenities in an Asian-Spanish architectural setting. After a brief tour, we proceeded to the Punta Fuego Yacht Club for dinner prepared by Club Punta Fuego’s executive chef, Mikel Arriet Arruiz.

Landco’s upcoming hotels and resort projects are Playa Calatagan and Hacienda Escudero, first-class developments that are intended for local and foreign tourists.

Treating leisure as a brand is working well for the Landco formula, with a trickle-down effect seen in its many existing developments and future projects. “Landco has refined and has also evolved its own brand and its own vision,” Francis says. “We see that imprinted in Terrazas de Punta Fuego and we see it in Playa Calatagan. And we are also imprinting it in our newest project, Playa Laiya in San Juan, Batangas.”

Expressing the very reasons why we need the kind of leisurely rewards that Landco provides, Alby says, “In our daily grind we are so exposed to pollution, traffic, noise and all the stresses that work gives us. We feel that it is a need for people to de-stress and get away from all that. We feel that once you get home, whether it is a primary home or second home — such as here at Terrazas — this is the time to relax and unwind. And it helps us to be better people, to rejuvenate, to be more creative at work. It helps us think about things we’ve done in the past and helps us to plan ahead.”

Alfred sums it up: “We know it’s hard work and we take great pains to try to make sure that leisure, at the end of the day, is something that our clients will enjoy. When the Filipino family dreams of leisure, it is our hope that they will aspire for only one name — Landco.”

* * *

For more information on Landco Pacific Corp., call 836-5000, e-mail at customerrelations-@landcopacific.com or log on to www.landcopacific.com

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Landco turns over Juliana-GK Village (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008082441&type=2)

Monday, August 25, 2008
Landco, the purveyor of high-end leisure and residential resort developments in the country, opened the doors to its newest development project at the Juliana-Gawad Kalinga Village at Barangay Sta. Ana, Calatagan, Batangas.

The new Juliana-Gawad Kalinga Village done in partnership with Palacio Village Corp. (PVC) and Gawad Kalinga (GK), aims to provide adequate shelters to displaced underprivileged families affected by countryside development projects.

Like any private community developed by Landco, the Juliana-GK Village exudes a peaceful and refreshing ambiance. The village is secured by a concrete fence, main gates, paved roads, sidewalks, and a well-planned drainage and sewage system. Houses are evenly spaced to give residents ample room to go about their day-to-day tasks.

Each vibrantly painted 35-square meter home is also designed with a provision for a loft and has an integrated bathroom. Juliana-GK homeowners will also be provided with CCTs (condominium certificate of title) to confirm their ownership of the houses.

These features demonstrate Landco’s endearing trademark of building carefully master-planned real estate projects. Landco’s emphasis on delivering quality properties that further enhance the lifestyle of its clients is also the reason why they partnered with Gawad Kalinga.

“We find it a special privilege to help people to have their own houses. We believe that by providing quality housing, we can help uplift the lives and dignity of the people,” said Alfred Xerez-Burgos, Landco president.

The innovative property developer and its co-sponsor, PVC, believe GK’s housing, value formation and community programs will help improve the lives of beneficiaries holistically. “We chose to partner with Gawad Kalinga because they prioritize value and spiritual formation aside from the housing needs of people,” said Burgos.

The village will house 38 families or 100 Barangay Sta. Ana residents. Homeowners expressed profound feelings of joy, excitement, disbelief, and gratitude as they received the symbolic keys and Gawad ng Katibayan certificates to their new homes.

“Napakalaking biyaya ang binigay nyo sa amin. Maraming lumipat dito na walang sariling bahay, sariling lupa. Malaki ang utang na loob namin dahil kayo ang gumabay, kayo ang tumulong sa mga beneficiaries,” said Leopoldo de Jesus, one of the new homeowners and Juliana-GK beneficiaries association president.

“Masayang-masaya kami. Una hindi kami sigurado kung totoo nga ito. Worth it ang proyektong ito. Nakakagaan ng loob. Kontento na kami,” said 30-year old Juliana-GK homeowner Richard Quia.

Juliana-GK Village is the second Landco sponsored Gawad Kalinga project. Its first GK village, Landco Dangal GK Village in San Pedro Laguna was completed and turned over last Feb.16, 2008.

Aside from housing assistance, residents of Juliana-GK Village will receive health, educational, livelihood, and environmental support from the company.

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US firm to invest in gas conversion technology for RP tricycles (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008082615&type=2)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
US-based Energtek Inc. plans to invest in the business of converting tricycles into natural gas-run vehicles for the Philippine transport sector.

Energtek chief operating officer Lev Zaidenberg said they are looking at converting half a million tricycle units in the country into gas-powered models within the next three to four years.

A number of tricycles have already been converted by Energtek, with most of these two-stroke and four-stroke three-wheelers now running optimally and efficiently on natural gas.

Zaidenberg is one of the speakers at the Compressed Natural Gas ‑ Natural Gas Vehicle (CNG-NGV) Philippines Forum to be held today (Aug. 27). Energtek is an official sponsor of the forum which aims to push natural gas vehicle solutions throughout the metropolis by 2010.

Zaidenberg said they would be highlighting in the event some samples of the first converted vehicles of the company’s commercial NGV project during the forum. These vehicles were converted using Energtek’s proprietary natural gas conversion and supply system for small vehicles, introduced during the conference as CNG Lite.

“The effects of the emissions reductions will be immediately felt throughout the Philippines . In addition to the environmental benefit, drivers of tricycles will save hundreds of dollars each year on fuel costs using CNG Lite,” Zaidenberg said.

“We are proud to deliver this technology to the Philippines, and look forward to fulfilling the government’s request to convert at least half a million of the country’s three million tricycles over the next three to four years.”

According to the company official, they are expected to convert an additional 10 vehicles during the month of September, and complete 3,000 tricycle conversions in the provinces in 2009. Similarly, Energtek aims to launch additional conversion projects over the next several months in the provinces of Cebu and Batangas.

The CNG Lite complete energy supply solution for small vehicles is powered by adsorbed natural gas technology, which enables hi-tech and cost-effective storage of natural gas by maximizing the quantities of gas stored in a tank.

The vehicles have been operating since July on natural gas extracted from the San Antonio stranded gas well. Environmental analysis of the vehicle sample reveals that carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from the tricycles are virtually eliminated following conversion.

Energtek’s CNG Lite™ conversion of gasoline-powered two-stoke tricycles reduces levels of CO from four percent to 0.6 percent, a reduction of 85 percent. Conversion of gasoline powered four-stroke tricycles reduced levels of carbon monoxide emissions from 2.5 percent to a virtually non-existent 0.05 percent, a reduction of 98 percent. — Donnabelle Gatdula

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STAR Tollway

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Photos by overtureph

STAR Tollway

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Photos by overtureph

STAR Tollway

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Photos by overtureph

STAR Tollway

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Photos by overtureph

STAR Tollway

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Photos by overtureph

San Jose, Batangas

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Photos by overtureph

@ overtuph, are there any developments being done for STAR Tollway at the moment? driving through this expressway brings some creeps. i hope the lighting system can be improved, and more residents can settle on both flanks.

@ overtuph, are there any developments being done for STAR Tollway at the moment? driving through this expressway brings some creeps. i hope the lighting system can be improved, and more residents can settle on both flanks.

Manong Bogs, mukhang mapipilitan kang umuwi para masagot ang tanong ni Kiko. :lol:

@ overtuph, are there any developments being done for STAR Tollway at the moment? driving through this expressway brings some creeps. i hope the lighting system can be improved, and more residents can settle on both flanks.

I don't know what the future plans are for the STAR tollways and for the land on both its flanks. But there is some commercial development near the Lipa entrance/exit with a gasoline station and some fast food choices.

I would prefer that the lands on both flanks remain agricultural or rural. It's soothing to the eyes as compared to seeing roofs or factories as in the case of the South Super Highway.

^^Due to lack of zoning, the lands near Philippine roads almost surely becomes commercial property. The farms beside STAR could be converted into an industrial area soon.

Manong Bogs, mukhang mapipilitan kang umuwi para masagot ang tanong ni Kiko. :lol:

Ay naku kung ganun nga lang kadali. How I wish andyan ako.

^^Due to lack of zoning, the lands near Philippine roads almost surely becomes commercial property. The farms beside STAR could be converted into an industrial area soon.

Actually most local governments now, even small towns, have Comprehensive land Use Plans, or their equivalent policies.

The problem is there is collusion between local government officials, big landowners (who are usually politicians themselves) and big developers.

As a result we are losing a lot of our farmland, and there are now so many of these empty subdivisions and industrial estates. One motive is to avoid CARP.

No wonder we have to import a lot of our rice and agricultural produce.

Customs exceeds Aug target by P2.5 B (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200809031&type=2)
By Iris C. Gonzales
Thursday, September 4, 2008


The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has exceeded its P23.2-billion revenue target for the month of August due in part to the weakening of the peso against the dollar which raised the value of imports in local currency terms.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said total revenues in August amounted to P25.8 billion or P2.536 billion higher than the agency’s target for the period.

The BOC chief attributed the rosy performance to the improvement in the agency’s database and to the realistic foreign-exchange assumption.

“We updated our database and also the foreign-exchange assumption of 46 to the dollar was also realized,” Morales said.

Ten out of the 17 ports led by Manila, Batangas, Legaspi and Cebu exceeded their collection targets for the period in review.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue,which accounts for about a two thirds of total revenue, is expected to fell short of the August target of P90 billion partly due to the recent implementation of a law exempting minimum wage earners from income taxes.

Internal Revenue commissioner Lilian Hefti said the BIR has so far collected P79 billion for the month of August, still way below the internal target for the period of P90 billion.

She said the agency is hoping to achieve even close to the target or at least P87 bilion. The BIR has yet to announce the final figures for the month of August.

Hefti said the agency lost P4 billion in revenues due to the exemption.

The National Government incurred a budget deficit of P15.4 billion in July, a marked turnaround from a surplus of P1.6 billion a year ago.

The July, figures narrowed the seven-month deficit to P33.4 billion or P6 billion lower than the budget deficit of P39.4 billion recorded in the same period last year. This was despite the slight decline in revenues and higher level of spending in July.

In July, revenues declined to P101.4 billion, 2.5 percent lower than the P104 billion last year. Expenditures, on the other hand, rose to P116.8 billion or 14.1 percent higher than the P102.4 billion last year.

Of the P101.4 billion, the BIR collected P63.4 billion or 8.1 percent higher than the P58.7 billion recorded in July last year. BOC collections, on the other hand, rose to P25 billion in July or 20.1 percent higher than the P20.8 billion recorded in the same period last year. – With Evelyn Macairan

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Power projects of Emerald Energy,
Hacienda Bio-Energy get BOI perks (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0905&062008/economy02.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


THE Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the grant of government incentives to the multibillion-peso power projects of Emerald Energy Corp. (EEC) and Hacienda Bio-Energy Corp.

Emerald Energy Corp. was deemed eligible for pioneer incentives such as income-tax holiday for up to eight years and duty-free importation of equipment and raw materials after its P36.82-billion coal-fired thermal power plant project in Calaca, Batangas, qualified under the Investment Priorities Plan.
Emerald Energy won in November 2007 the bidding for the 600-megawatt power-generation facility in Calaca, which is one of plants under disposition by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm).

The Calaca coal-fired thermal power plant, which is located inside a 167-hectare complex near the Balayan Bay, is scheduled to start commercial operation by October and will employ 479 individuals.

“Its output will generally be traded in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, and a portion will be for the bilateral contracts with electric cooperatives and other electricity off-takers where power- supply agreements have been attached to the EEC by Psalm,” the BOI said.

The agency said the project is in line with the government’s policy to encourage private investors on power- generation activities to support wider industrial development in the Southern Tagalog area.

Hacienda Bio-Energy, meanwhile, allocated a total of P385 million for 25 waste-to-energy projects in Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite, Cebu and Davao.

The company is using the anaerobic digestion technology for the swine wastewater treatment power-generation project.

The power-generation facilities will gather and convert manure from 25 different farm sites into biogas.

The electricity generated will be delivered to several farms, thus, supporting the viability of these rural enterprises, the BOI said.

“The project is aligned with the government program to increase energy self-sufficiency by using inexpensive renewable and indigenous resources. In this way, dependence on imported fossil fuel will decrease,” the BOI said in granting pioneer status to the Hacienda Bio-Energy projects.

BOI grants tax perks to 2 power plant projects (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008090414&type=2)
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Friday, September 5, 2008


Two power generation projects with a combined investment of over P37 billion has received tax breaks from the Board of Investments (BOI).

Documents released by BOI show that it has approved the P36.82 billion power generation project of Emerald Energy Corp. (EEC) and the P385.86-million waste water power generation project of Hacienda Bio-energy Corp.

EEC, formerly known as the Calaca Holdco Inc. is in the business of managing energy generating projects. It has bought the 600-megawatt Calaca Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant in 2007 from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

The government has given EEC a pioneer status for being the operator of assets acquired from the government.

According to the BOI, this project is consistent with the government’s policy to encourage private investments on power generation activities to support wide industrial development.

The plant will be operational in October and is expected to employ 479 people at full capacity.

Once in place, the plant will ensure stable and affordable power in the Calabarzon area or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The Calaca plant is on a 167-hectare power complex in Barangay San Rafael Calaca Batangas. It spans the shorelines of Balayan Bay.

According to EEC, most of the power produced from the plant will be traded in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). The remaining will be offered for bilateral contracts with electric cooperatives and other electricity off takers whose power supply agreements have been attached to EEC by PSALM under the power supply contracts.

Meanwhile, the Bioenergy project of Hacienda Bio-Energy Corp. has likewise been given pioneer status by BOI as it is expected to turn waste into energy.

The company is an example of the heightened level if ecological consciousness among private businesses in the country as it manages waste to energy activities and applies biogas technologies for energy utilization.

The project is aligned with the thrust of the government to increase energy self-sufficiency through the use of inexpensive, renewable and indigenous resources. Te project is expected to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuel.

Hacienda Corp. will build a power plant that will collect and convert manure from 25 different farm sites to biogas through “Anaerobic Digestion Swine Wastewater Treatment.”

Participating farms are in Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Cebu and Davao.

The electricity produced will be distributed to the farms in the area.

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DOT eyes more tourists from Europe (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008090615&type=2)
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Sunday, September 7, 2008


The Department of Tourism (DOT) is targeting an increased number of European visitors in the country as it participates in more trade fairs in Europe next quarter.

“Our presence in these travel trade fairs sustains our drive to bring in the European market which remains one of our highest spenders,” DOT Secretary Joseph Durano said.

The European markets outpaced the growth rates registered by other tourist source markets from January to July this year, the DOT noted.

Arrivals from the Russia Federation grew 35 percent; France, 26 percent; Spain, 22 percent; and the United Kingdom,18 percent. The Scandinavian market, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, recorded a 16-percent jump in tourist arrivals.

The first trade fair is the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Incontri, the premier business-to-business travel trade event in Italy, which will be held on Oct. 24-26 at Rimini Fiera, Italy.

“This is somewhat a venue for business planning because budgetary considerations are decided straight away,” added Durano.

Last year, more than 30,000 tour operators and 2,300 stakeholders participated in the event. The event’s highlight is the two-day business negotiations involving presentation of new products, sealing deals with partners and forging agreements between travel trade buyers and sellers.

This is followed by the Dive Show 2008 at Birmingham, England on Nov. 1-2 in the National Exhibition Center.

More than 300 exhibitors from 50 countries all over the world attend the event every year.

Through the event, Durano said the country can promote various diving destinations such Batangas, Bohol and several parts of Palawan. Another diving prospect is the Caramoan Group of Island in Camarines Sur, the venue of KohLanta, the French version of the famous Survivor reality show.

Sogod Bay in Leyte, Malapascua in Cebu, and Apo Island in Negros that are fast gaining popularity for their well-preserved coral reefs and exotic marine life will also be introduced.

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I was wondering if there are any pictures of some ancestral houses in Balayan?

bump! ko lang itong post ko dati haha

ETPI to invest P1.5 B to boost network (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008090918&type=2)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008


Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (ETPI) is investing around P1.5 billion until next year for a cable backhaul facility and network improvement.

ETPI officials said the company is spending at least P500 million for a cable backhaul facility in Nasugbu, Batangas. The facility is designed to expand ETPI’s coverage in Cavite and Laguna.

According to ETPI chief finance officer Raul Pagdanganan, the backhaul facility will serve as a link that will provide bigger bandwidth for the company’s data services to better serve more corporate clients. The cable backhaul facility will be operational by the end of the year.

ETPI is also spending P110 million to overhaul its systems capabilities with a new business support system (BSS), which will improve the company’s productivity.

Officials explained that the new system will allow for better organization of information, improvement of decision-making processes, proactively defining target clients to enhance customer acquisition, and improving customer care processes and product innovation.

The BSS, which will cost about P110 million, is expected to be the cornerstone to ensure ETPI’s network efficiency and will be operational in the fourth quarter in conjunction with the fiber optic facility.

The remaining amount will be used to spend for network improvement. For 2009, ETPI officials expect capex to be half of what will be allocated for this year.

ETPI will source half of the capex through internally generated funds and the rest from borrowings. – Mary Ann Reyes

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Just wanna share my experiences at Lipa.

Visita Iglesia de Batangas: Lipa City Part 1 (http://taralets.co.cc/2008/09/11/visita-iglesia-de-batangas-lipa-city-part-1/)

Mideastern firms eye depot in Batangas

PROPERTY FIRM Abacus Global Technovisions, Inc. is in talks with two Middle Eastern companies that supply oil to China and Japan for the development of its 30-hectare property in Simlong town in Batangas into a petroleum tank farm.

Joaquin San Diego, Abacus Global corporate secretary, said in a phone interview the two firms already have storage facilities in Singapore, but are considering putting up additional depots in Simlong, citing its beach as an ideal harbor for its tankers and the country’s proximity to its markets. He declined to identify the foreign firms.

Abacus Global, formerly a gaming equipment leasor to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, expanded its Simlong property when it merged with sister firms Batangan Foods, Inc. and Mojica Realty Corp.

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission gave the go signal for the merger plan, approved by the company’s stockholders on July 22.

Aside from Batangan’s Simlong property, Abacus Global also acquired a 2,000-square meter property in Lipa City, where it plans to set up a business process outsourcing (BPO) building. Mr. San Diego declined to identify the BPO firms interested in the office spaces.

He said the Science and Technology department has identified Lipa as one of the cities that may be developed for the BPO industry due to its developed technology backbone. There are presently two BPO facilities in Lipa.

Mr. San Diego said Abacus Global would develop two more properties in Batangas.

It will convert the Alpa Hotel into a condominium hotel, with construction to start in the fourth quarter, while Batangan Plaza will double as a culinary arts school.

Listed gaming equipment leasor Abacus Consolidated Resources and Holdings, Inc., which used to have a two-thirds stake in Abacus Global, has cut its interest in the company to 9%. The holding firm has since transferred control of Abacus Global to parent Blue Stock Development Farms, Inc.

I was in Batangas last week.i was so impressed by the star tollway,it felt like im in a tourism video.it's very different from NLEX.it's very country.Lipa is nice as well.

The following are some of the old houses in San Jose, Batangas which I find unique in that the design of these houses in general are different from other bahay-na-bato. They are more squat and both upper and lower levels are made from adobe. They remind me of one of the reconstructed houses in the Plaza San Luis complex in Intramuros.

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Photos by overtureph.

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San Jose, Batangas

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Photos by overtureph.

Some of the old houses from San Jose, Batangas that I find unique.

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Photos by overtureph.

Shot by my friend Peri from Anilao, Batangas...

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NOW AVAILABLE
at your favorite bookstores and magazine stands/outlets

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The church of the Immaculate Conception, Batangas City

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Hamilo Coast

Fishers told to keep off Batangas marine reserve (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129967/Fishers-told-to-keep-off-Batangas-marine-reserve)
10/28/2008 | 08:46 PM

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – Officials on Tuesday reminded fishers to keep off the waters of Calatagan in Batangas if they are not registered to fish in the town.

The warning came as police filed charges before the Calatagan Municipal Trial Court on Tuesday against four fishermen who were caught fishing illegally in municipal waters, which had been declared a marine reserve.

Supt. Manuel Abrugena, Calatagan police chief, identified the suspects as Jay Atienza, 36; Rolando Villela, 28; Ronald de Los Reyes, 20; Jeremias Mendoza, 23, all residents of barangay Luyahan in Lian town.

In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Abrugena said that the four suspects violated the municipal fisheries code as they failed to register themselves as fisherman and their boat used for fishing.

Quoting field reports, he said that the illegal fishermen were caught at about 5 a.m. on Monday by a combined team from the local police and the Calatagan Bantay Dagat.

Abrugena said the suspects did not resist arrest.

Recovered from the suspects were fishing nets, fishing lines and hooks, two pieces of flashlights, one propeller, one toolbox with towels and other fishing apparatuses.

"The marine resources of Calatagan are being protected and a lot of fishes can be found in this place, which perhaps attracted the fishermen," Abrugena said.

Jessie de los Reyes, chairman of the Calatagan Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, said the government has stepped up its campaign against illegal fishing over the years to protect the livelihood of local small fisherfolk.

De los Reyes said that because of overfishing, the catch of small fishers declined to 2 to 4 kilograms daily compared to 5 to 8 kg in the 80s.

"We would like to reiterate that only the registered fishers of Calatagan can fish inside the municipal waters. This means that the residents of other towns cannot fish in Calatagan," de los Reyes said.

Calatagan is a 3rd class municipality that comprises the Calatagan Peninsula between the South China Sea and Balayan Bay.

At least 19 of the 25 barangays of the Calatagan are coastal areas. - Marlon Alexander Luistro, GMANews.TV

Fair winds at Fuego (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Travel&p=49&type=2&sec=48)
RENDEZVOUS By Christine S. Dayrit
Sunday, October 26, 2008

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It was the perfect weekend as fair winds blew gently over the fiery peninsula. Impeccably paved roads traversing lush countryside views and majestic mountain ranges elicited great excitement in anticipation of the much-awaited 7th Punta Fuego Sports Fiesta in Nasugbu, Batangas. The divinely blessed scenery en route to this luxury seaside paradise, venue of the nautical competition, seemed to be a prelude to the fun and adventure that was yet to unfold. My heart skipped a beat as I gazed upon the azure sea.

The view from the reception lobby of the Marina Bar at the Yacht Club of Club Punta Fuego, a Spanish-Mediterranean-themed paradise, was awesome with the vast expanse of the South China Sea where Hobie Cats, keelboats, handsome yachts and sailboats playfully gliding past showed off their eclectic-hued masts. The colors reflected the high spirits of the sailors and spectators, epitomizing a fabulous lifestyle of leisure at its finest.

Say the words “Punta Fuego” and a luxury resort par excellence comes to mind. A luxury lifestyle that is synonymous to exhilarating leisure; a posh celebration of the best life has to offer: savory style, creative originality, impeccable service and pure gastronomy.

The dynamic property management company behind these landmark, stellar developments is Landco, a company that knows how to astonish by almost inadvertently renewing and reviving forgotten themes and suddenly transforming them with a modern touch.

In our globalized world with its tendency towards sterilized lifestyles and elevated standards of hospitality, the clamor for world-class service has become a great challenge. Fortunately, Landco, founded in 1990 by Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., has propelled an exceptionally innovative kind of global service, a privileged approach, proudly heralding precious addresses that transform an ordinary stay into something truly exceptional. Entering into any of their properties is like stepping into a world that’s more cozy, elegant, refined, luxurious and original than any other. Perfected right down to the last tiny detail, this haven of luxury is definitely something to savor. The purveyor of leisure living experiences, Landco is committed to consistently create innovative and outstanding lifestyle products that revolutionize the way people live. What began as Landco’s philosophy to create the ultimate leisure experience in each of its developments has now become a brand battle cry to deliver “Life at Your Leisure” through all its developments — whether it is a leisure community, urban or hometown community, hotels or resorts.

“Because land is a God-given, valuable and scarce resource, Landco is committed to transform it into high-quality developments that create superior value, enhance lifestyle, and preserve the environment,” said Alby Xerez-Burgos, Landco’s SVP and chief marketing officer. Being the second-generation property czar, Alby is at the helm of this trailblazing Landco group of leisure developments. He said that long before they got into their business, the concept of vacation homes (especially in Baguio) already existed. He added that they introduced to the market an organized approach towards creating luxury leisure to provide their clients with all the existing facilities and five-star amenities one desired. No need to think of whatever else you need because they have thought it out in detail already. As if that wasn’t enough, a fabulous return on investment awaits lot owners and property investors as property appreciates in value multiplying your initial investment immensely. You not only enjoy the property with family and loved ones; you also reap a profit from the property appreciation. The development has it all, if you are a lover of the sea, mountains, nature, planting, nostalgic heritage, and provincial rustic charm — a multitude of choices awaits you.

One leisure community is the Peninsula de Punta Fuego, an exclusive, world-class seaside community along the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas, which has become the benchmark for a seaside residential resort. Because of Punta Fuego’s success, Terrazas de Punta Fuego was born. The latest developments atop a premier spot overlooking the Terrazas and South China Sea is the Amara en Terrazas, an exclusive seaside residential resort condominium development with a total of 95 prestigious units arranged in a single corridor. A fusion of Asian and Western architecture, it features an unobstructed view of the pristine South China Sea, the Terrazas Cove and nearby communities. This early excitement runs high with a Balinese-themed development — the Peak, which, as the name connotes, is located at the highest point of the Punta Fuego property with exhilarating mountain views as well.

An originator of industry firsts, Landco started its first project, Canyon Woods Residential Resort, and revolutionized the second-home industry. It has coined and added to real estate jargon phrases like “residential resorts,” “leisure farms” and “leisure tourism estates.” Another first in Landco’s roster of resort communities is Hacienda Escudero, which features the country’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. Leisure Farms in Lemery, Batangas is the first agro-tourism, residential and hobby farming community in the country. Another original concept quickly followed — Ponderosa Leisure Farms, the first flower garden residential community. Plaza Laiya, with a pristine 1.5-km beachfront, in the south-easternmost tip of Batangas is another seaside residential resort community development. Uniquely rustic Asian tropical design with a touch of the contemporary, Playa Laiya is another dream property as well as Playa Azalea in Samal Island Davao and Playa Calatagan, a 92-hectare seaside residential and integrated community — the country’s first leisure tourism destination.

At the Terrazas Punta Fuego, it was indeed a night of fiery flavors as head chef Mikel Arriet Arruiz whipped up a delectable spread of Mongolian barbeque utilizing the freshest vegetables, seafood, meats and an expansive selection of sauces to satisfy each discriminating palate. Our lively group, led by Landco’s Mawi de Ocampo and Club Punta Fuego’s Marj Dayrit, certainly enjoyed the Brass and Blues, a stellar jazz band, as we learned the winners of the Hobie Cats regatta were Maria Vidoeira (first prize), Monchu Garcia (second) and Michael Ngu (third). For the IRC Class (International Rule), winners were Alan Burrell (first prize), Martin Tanco (second) and Ray Ordoveza (third). For the PY Class (Portsmouth Yardstick), winners were David McKenna (first prize), Alan Burrell (second), and tied for third prize were Martin Tanco and Nestor Soriano.

Under the fine glow of the full moon that illumined everything in its path, I thanked the good Lord for the perfect weekend — newfound friends, delightful cuisine, beautiful property developments that combine the Creator’s priceless land and seascapes and man’s ingenuity to complement it.

After all has been said and done, Logan Pearshall Smith was right when he said: “There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of people achieve the second.”

* * *
For more information, call Landco at 836-5111, 836-5000 or visit its website at www.landco.ph.

E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.

I love Punta Fuego. :)

Taal: Where history and shopping come together (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Travel&p=49&type=2&sec=48&aid=20081101101)

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Sunday, November 2, 2008
La Isla Pilipinas Tours’ distinctively innovative, easy-paced day tour of Taal, Batangas, a two-hour drive south of Metro Manila, beckons one to discover its many delightful surprises.

Privately owned 19th century Spanish colonial and early 20th century ancestral homes, exclusively made available only to participants of the tour, present intimate glimpses of the country’s unique past.

The 19th century bahay na bato (stone house) has large wooden doors and a main staircase (escalera principal) which leads into the caida (landing), so called because the women, who lifted their long skirts as they climbed the steps, let these skirts fall (caida) once they reached the top of the stairs.

Large double doors lead to the sala (living room) at the front of the house, while smaller ones on either side of the stairwell open to the comedor (dining room) and to a small bedroom.

The second floor windows use the unique rejas na buntis (iron grills shaped like a pregnant woman’s belly) which, throughout the archipelago, are usually found only on the ground floor windows fronting the street.

Upper windows overlooking the central courtyard have French doors that open into balconies with squash-shaped balusters indigenous to southern Batangas, and a floor of Portuguese azulejo (polished stone) tiles hand-painted with mauve and blue floral designs. These capture the opulence of the Victorian period when the houses were originally built.

The early 20th century ancestral houses also display the vibrancy of the era with their chandeliers of the Edwardian period, the only ones in the country, a tremor (full length dresser) made by the famous Chinese furniture maker of the rich, Ah Tay, the Flemish-styled sala, dining sets by Ortoll and Zaragosa, circa 1930s, and antique santos (images of saints) made of ivory with 22k gold-leaf.

Taal also prides itself with having the largest Catholic basilica in Asia, a reflection of its pre-eminent stature in Philippine economic, political and social history, as an important urban center, next only to Manila, during Spanish times.

Shopping is such a delight at the public market, first constructed during the American period, circa 1925. Since Taal is known for hand-embroidered items, Burdang Taal, one can’t help taking home some of them.

There are also a lot of Taaleño delicacies to take home — suman malagkit (glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves), empanadang gulay, longganisa and tapang Taal, sinaing na tulingan (small-sized tuna caught in the waters of Balayan Bay that are simmered with pork belly and camias), cassava and rice cakes, panutsa (caramelized peanuts), and cacao tableas.

An interesting stop in the tour is a visit to where the country’s most famous weapon, the balisong, is made.

La Isla Pilipinas’ Heritage and Shopping tour will run on Nov. 29 and Dec. 13, with a 10 percent “early bird” discount.

For more details, call 436-6581, 426-0093 or 0915-9269176.

Ba't parang wala pa kong nakitang Laiya o San Juan dine? Dapat i-promote... madalas ako dun at (IMHO) mas nagagandahan ako dun kun ikumpara ko sa Nasugbu o Matabungkay... :)

http://www.laiyaresorts.com/

Welcome to Laiya! Only a 140 km. drive from Manila, this seaside community located in the town of San Juan, Batangas is fast becoming a favorite tourist destination as it makes for an ideal, wholesome getaway for families, barkadas, working people and corporate groups who need a break from city life.

You will find that Laiya is an eco-friendly destination where people protect and enjoy nature: you can go trekking up Mt. Daguldol and spot various bird species, go snorkeling and diving in marine sanctuaries, go boating to see the mangroves and possibly spot some dolphins or even whalesharks and marine turtles if you’re lucky.

Between Laiya and Mindoro is the Verde Island Passage, which a 3-year study by the Global Marine Species Assessment of the World Conservation Union has shown to have the highest concentration of marine life in the world! It was declared in November 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a marine sanctuary and national protected area.

Laiya’s biodiversity is not limited to the ocean. One can find a wide variety of trees, plants and birds in its nearby hills and mountains, where even the endangered Pteropus Vampyrus , better known as the Giant Fruit Bat, can be found.

Also remarkable is Laiya’s micro-climate. Because of its location, it experiences less rainfall compared to Luzon and even other parts of Batangas. So visitors need not wait until summer, and can enjoy the beach practically all year round.

Laiya boasts a shoreline of white sand approximately 7 kilometers long and clear blue waters that make this beach inviting and comparable to world class beaches here and abroad. Whether it’s to enjoy the peace and quiet of the area or enjoy various fun activities, you’ll find our resort packages appealing and reasonable. Laiya is perfect for family getaways, company outings, weddings, or simple seaside retreats.

http://www.laiyaresorts.com/about.htm

ABOUT THE TOWN OF SAN JUAN

San Juan, Batangas is located approximately 120 kilometers south of Manila and 43 kilometers east of the provincial capitol of Batangas City. It is a coastal town Bordered by Tayabas Bay to the East and the Verde Island Passage to the South, Quezon Province to the North, and the towns of Lobo and Rosario, Batangas to the West. The second largest municipality in Batangas, it is divided into 42 barangays with total land area of 27,340 hectares and a population of almost 80,000 people.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

San Juan has a long and colorful history that has been handed down through generations mostly in an oral tradition. A written history of the municipality, including photographs and genealogy records, are available in the municipal building.

The history of San Juan is reflected in the unique architecture of numerous old houses scattered through the town. Many of these homes were built in the early 1900’s by original founders and leaders of San Juan and by prominent families. Such houses as those owned by Lorenzo Hernandez and Soledad Magtibay, the antique Porto Gualberto house in Baluarte, the all-bamboo house of Eugenia Castillo in Barangay Marikit, and the Bonito Mercado V. Marasigan house which was the site of grand balls during the 1930’s, are all privately-owned but tours can be arranged for those interested to see them.

The St. John Nepomucene Church, named after the town’s patron saint, is another attraction. Originally located in Barangay Pinagbayanan, it was moved to its present location at the Poblacion in 1890.

LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTS AND HANDICRAFTS

Lambanog – Since the 1900’s, locals have been producing lambanog, a traditional product of San Juan, and is present in at least 10 barangays. Roadside stands sell a variety of sizes and flavors.

Pottery – Clay is taken from the banks of Lawaye River and pottery is produced in numerous small factories run by local residents. The finished products are sold along the road in Palahanan I and II, as well as in Manila and surrounding provinces.

COASTAL RESOURCES

San Juan has a 33-kilometer coastline that includes 16 coastal barangays, all of which rely upon fishing as a major source of livelihood. It also has 496 hectares of mangroves and swamp areas.

Along the coast of Barangays Imelda, Bataan, Nagsaulay, and Subukin are over 100 hectares of intact mangrove forest – the largest in all of Batangas Province. Seagrass beds are found as well along the coast of San Juan. They are a vital part of the marine ecosystem because they trap sediments and hold these in their roots, preventing dirty water from disturbing the coral reefs.

http://www.laiyaresorts.com/activities.htm

Swim. Laiya’s crystal blue waters are safe, clear and free of undertows.

Ride a boat. Accredited operators provide boats that can be rented (for trips to marine sanctuaries, resort-hopping, etc.) for a fee of P800/hour for a maximum of 10 persons, and an additional P80 for every person in excess of this. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of dolphins, pawikans or even a whaleshark. Inquire at the resort of your choice on how to contact these boat operators.

Go snorkeling or scuba diving. Whether you have your own gear or wish to rent from certain resorts or even from boat operators, Laiya’s marine sanctuaries are home to various species of fish, sea turtles and corals.

Go kayaking. Some resorts have kayaks for rent. Inquire at the resort of your choice.

Go horseback riding and mountain biking. Horseback and bike trails are currently being developed and will be ready in a few months time. Watch out for updates on this attraction.

Climb Mt.Daguldol. A trained mountain guide from the mountaineers’ group HEGA can accompany a group consisting of a maximum of 15 people for P350. There is a P35/head entrance fee to the mountain, which takes approximately 4 hours to climb and another 4 hours to descend. Guests can bring packed lunches and enjoy this on the mountain before descending. For those who want to camp out on the mountain overnight, fee for the guide is P700. Porters can also be hired for P350.

See the giant fruit bats. Giant fruit bats (scientific name Pteropus Vampyrus ) can be seen on the trees at Parang Sili Dao, about 4 kilometers away. Watch out for updates on an upcoming tour being developed for Laiya guests to see this endangered species of bats.

Play volleyball or other beach games. Laiya’s long stretch of whitesand beaches makes for a good area for volleyball, Frisbee throwing, obstacle races and other beach games.

Enjoy a soothing massage. Therapists are available for P300/hour. Inquire at the resort of your choice on how to contact them.

services

Convenience Stores. The La Playa Pitstop is open daily from 6:30am to 6:30pm Mondays thru Fridays and open until 10pm on weekends during lean months. During peak season, it is open until 10pm daily.

Weekend Masses. Every Saturday at 7pm, anticipated mass is held at the Kabayan Chapel.

Emergency Medical Services. For medical emergencies, a clinic in Barangay Laiya is open daily at daytime and 24 hours on Holy Week. The district hospital of San Juan is about 20 kilometers away from Laiya, and a private hospital with even better facilities is located another half kilometer away.

http://www.laiyaresorts.com/gettingto.htm

From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway all the way to the second to the last exit (Exit 50A going to Batangas, Lucena and Legaspi.)

Drive 6.5 kilometers along this National Highway and turn right to the Star Toll Way entrance.
From Star Tollway, drive all the way to Lipa (approximately 20 kilometers and take the Tambo Exit at the end.

From Lipa City

After exiting turn left and drive towards Lipa City .
La Salle Lipa will be on your left while a Petron gas station will be on the right.

When you reach a fork with Mc Donald’s, take the road on the right.
Traverse C.M. Recto Ave. then turn right at the corner of the Mercury Drug store. This is P. Torres St. Drive 8.5 kms. towards Padre Garcia town.
When you see a rotary sign on your left, make a left turn on that road going to Padre Garcia town market.

Turn right immediately after passing the Padre Garcia town market/shopping center.

Drive 4.5 kms. and merge with the road coming from Rosario. This road leads all the way to San Juan which is approximately 19 kms.

When you see the sign leading to the Batangas Racing Circuit veer left and head straight for San Juan town proper.

Turn right immediately after the Municipal Hall of San Juan. This is the main road of Laiya.

:cheers: O, ano pang inaantay nyo? Tara na!! :lol:

andito po ang pinakamagagandang beach sa buong batangas vist lang po >><http://www.mabini.gov.ph/mab_tourism_01.htm

hey guys.. meron ba Private transportation (for hire or something) papunta sa mga beaches ng LAIYA??? di kasi namin kabisado ang lugar... mga ilang minutes yang Laiya beaches from Subic???

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5218/metrowaterdt5.jpg
PROJECT NAME:
THREE-STOREY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

LOCATION:
BST COMPOUND, BRGY. BALINTAWAK, LIPA CITY

COMPLETION:
DECEMBER 2009

SITE AREA:
3,024m²

GROSS AREA:
2,408m²

BUILDING HEIGHT:
14 METERS

CLIENT/ OWNER:
METRO LIPA WATER DISTRICT

ARCHITECTURAL FIRM:
JOSE ELMER N. BORLAZA ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING / DESIGN &
COSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT:
JOSE ELMER N. BORLAZA

MAIN CONTRACTOR:
BY ADMINISTRATION

Source (http://uapalabangchapter.wordpress.com/elmer-borlaza-arch-page/)

^^
Wow, may sarili ng Water District ang Lipa City, at take note, Metro Lipa:banana::cheers::banana:

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

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Photo by when milko shoots (http://flickr.com/photos/when_milko_shoots/)

:banana::banana::banana:Merry Christmas to everyone!!!:banana::banana::banana:

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* Architect: Javier Design Studio, Manila
* Project Name: The Pontefino Country Club Estates
* Location: Gulod, Batangas City
* Site Area: 10HAS
* Floor Area: 15,000SM
* Storey/Floors: 15 Floors Maximum

Remarks: Amenities of this project include a full service hotel and convention center, club house, spa, condotel and condominiums, town houses and a luxury residence estate.

Source (http://uapalabangchapter.wordpress.com/joseph-javier-arch-page/)

hello ibinibenta ba yan.pwede bumili ng 1 unit

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* Architect: Javier Design Studio, Manila
* Project Name: The Pontefino Country Club Estates
* Location: Gulod, Batangas City
* Site Area: 10HAS
* Floor Area: 15,000SM
* Storey/Floors: 15 Floors Maximum

Remarks: Amenities of this project include a full service hotel and convention center, club house, spa, condotel and condominiums, town houses and a luxury residence estate.

Source (http://uapalabangchapter.wordpress.com/joseph-javier-arch-page/)

By Anabelle E. Plantilla (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/dec/27/yehey/opinion/20081227opi4.html)

I didn’t know that De La Salle made their own coffee until I received a nicely wrapped pack of Café De La Salle for Christmas from my friends Benjie and Bambi. I was informed that it is a blend of Arabica and Liberica coffee beans and specially roasted for them.

According to the coffee table book, Forged in Fire, the Philippine coffee industry originated in Batangas particularly in the municipality of Lipa which nurtured those first plants and harvested the first crops. Coffee was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1740 by a Franciscan friar but it was the Augustinian priests, Fathers Elias Nebreda and Benito Varas, who propagated the crop. Augustinians encouraged its cultivation in the towns of San Jose, Ibaan, Tanauan, Taal and Lemery.

After the American Civil War in 1865 there was a sudden demand for Philippine coffee because it was cheaper to import coffee from Manila and ship it to San Francisco than buy cheap coffee in Brazil and ship it to San Francisco.

In that year, California alone bought half of the Philippines’ coffee exports, while a third went to the tasteful French. Exports reached over 2,000 metric tons, more than five times what it had been a decade before. Barako coffee was sold at more than five times the price of the best Java beans.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 linked the huge European market to Philippine produce and England became the biggest buyer of local beans. By the 1870s, coffee exports exceeded 3,370 metric tons and reached its peak in the following decade when the coffee plantations of Brazil, the world’s largest producer then and now, were destroyed by a viral disease. By the late 1880s the disease had spread to Africa and Java thus, from 1887 to 1889 the Philippines were the only source of coffee beans in the world. In 1887, Lipa alone produced almost 10,000 metric tons of coffee at double the 1865 price, thereby realizing over P2.5 million in gross receipts, a sum equivalent to P1 billion today. The last quarter of the 19th century was the golden age of Lipa and signaled the construction of huge mansions, some of which still stand today.

The residents flaunted their wealth and drove around in magnificent decorated carriages drawn by superb horses with silver harnesses. Diamonds from the newly discovered mines of South Africa were in such demand that Estrella del Norte, the leading French jewelry store in Manila, opened a branch in Lipa. Even the most ordinary objects like writing pens, prayer books and the insteps of ladies’ slippers or corchos were studded with diamonds! Many families had resident gold—and silversmiths to fashion jewelry and objects which, when completed, would be the talk of the town. Pedrong Kuba, a hunchback was the most famous goldsmith of Lipa.

The richest families adopted European manners and spoke only Spanish. People who did not live in Calle Real (during the Spanish period, this street was exclusively for the rich) were not welcomed in the houses of those who did, unless they were relatives. However, foreigners were welcomed with open arms as they were targeted for husbands. Grand balls were commonplace, and picnics in Balete were popular. Balete is a barrio beside Lake Taal and which was the site of the old Lipa that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of 1754.

Sadly, by the last decade of the century, the dreaded viral disease came to Philippine shores and destroyed the coffee plantations. It is said that in 1889, one of the planters’ daughters traversed the length of the cathedral nave on bended knees, clutching a coffee branch in her hands, asking God to lift the scourge that was destroying Lipa and her family’s fortunes. That ended the coffee boom. Traveling across Batangas, one will notice that although natural causes may have led to the demise of the industry at the turn of the 20th century, the modern-day scourge is now real estate development that is sweeping the province. orgsus@haribon.org.ph

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ALL AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATES TONIGHT


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From SSC-Iligan City

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

From SSC Naga

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Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club and Residential Estates (http://www.malarayat.com/)

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It is an exclusive retreat from the pressures of city living, in a place you can call your very own. Get into the swing of things. Shall it be the golf course with friends in the morning? The country club with the kids in the afternoon? A quiet dinner at a restaurant with your wife? Here, you can do everything... or do absolutely nothing!

This is how life is to be lived: At your own pace... in the company of friends... in the bosom of your family... in a world-class resort and leisure environment like no other.

Golf Club

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Imagine taking it easy in the cool highland climate of Lipa, basking in the windswept beauty of landscaped evergreens with a spectacular view of an expansive verdant mountainscape.

The centerpiece of this magnificent scenery is our 27-hole all-weather championship golf course designed by the internationally-renowned J. Michael Poellet Design Group. Our Mount Makulot Par 5 Hole Number 7 was voted by Golf Magazine as among the "Top 500 Best Holes in the World."

Country Club

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Take your slice of life and enjoy it too!

There are so many amenities and facilities to enjoy at the Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club... so you and your family can enjoy sporting pleasures to your hearts' delight. There are also food and beverage establishments for more tasteful pursuits.

All in all, it is a quality of life that is a cut above the rest.

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Club Hotel

Twenty (20) De Luxe hotel rooms with two (2) double beds, tub & bath with hot and cold shower, satellite TV, writing desk and deluxe guest amenities.

Eleven (11) De Luxe hotel rooms with loft, four (4) single beds, two (2) tub & bath, aircon, IDD/NDD, fully stocked mini-bar, satellite TV, de luxe guest amenities.

One (1) De Luxe premier room with loft and lounge area, four (4) single beds, two tub & bath with hot & cold shower, writing desk, aircon, IDD/NDD, fully stocked mini-bar, satellite TV, de luxe guest amenities.

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Residential Estates

The Mount Malarayat Residential Estates is a first-class residential subdivision within a world-class golf course resort, the Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club.

The Residential Estates is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Metro Manila, and a short hop from the many malls, schools and churches of Lipa city proper - near all the conveniences of modern living, yet far enough from the noise, pollution, traffic and overcrowding.

- Two (2) landscaped entrances
- Tree-lined wide concrete roads with concrete sidewalks
- Landscaped open spaces
- Concrete curbs and gutters
- Concrete perimeter fence
- Centralized water distribution system and elevated water tank
- Underground drainage system
- Overhead electrical distribution system
- Street lighting

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The Suites at Mount Malarayat

A cluster of first-class low-rise condominiums within the Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club and Residential Estates envisioned for successful individuals with a sporty and leisure lifestyle who want a regular and easily-accessible getaway that offers modern conveniences without the maintenance requirements that come with a traditional house and lot.

The Narra and Tanguile buildings have fully-furnished units available to a select few.

The third building, Yakal, is currently under construction. Property previews can be pre-arranged.

The Suites at Mount Malarayat is available for overnight stay, unit ownership, vacation ownership, or business opportunities.

Visit The Suites' buildings and check out the units and their availability.

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The Inns at Mount Malarayat

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Explore Lipa, Batangas

The City of Lipa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Lipa) is a first class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It is one of the three chartered cities of Batangas province (the others being Batangas City and the City of Tanauan). It is situated 78 kilometers south of Manila. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 218,447 people in 41,962 households.

Lipa City is bounded by the town of Santo Tomas in the northeast, San Pablo City of Laguna and San Antonio of Quezon in the east, the municipalities of Padre Garcia and Rosario in the southeast, the municipalities of Ibaan and San Jose in the southwest, the municipaltities of Cuenca and Mataas Na Kahoy and Taal Lake in the west and the municipalities of Balete and Malvar in the northwest.



The city's location, in a valley located between Mount Malarayat mountain range - makes it a low risk area. These two mountains serve as a wind breaker in times of typhoon. Mount Makulot at the western portion also served as shield of the city in times of eruption of Taal Volcano.

Lipa City is a major recreational, religious, commercial, industrial and educational center in central Batangas province, as shown with the presence in the city of entities like Nestle Philippines, De La Salle Lipa, The Nazareth School, the San Sebastian Cathedral (seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa), The Mabini Academy which was founded in 1922, the Carmelite Convent, Robinson's Place Lipa Mall, Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, Summit Point Golf and Country Club and SM City Lipa Mall. The City is also home to the Fernando Air Base, the former headquarters of the Philippine Air Force's 100th Training Wing and Air Education and Training Command (AETC) which is known in military circles as the Baguio of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Is the golf course and the facilities open for public use for a fee of course, or is it exclusive for members and invited guest only?

the basilica of the immaculate conception parish in batangas city was built in the year 1875...the belltower or was called kampanaryo was built in december 1934

Batangas coastline?

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it's definitely Batangas, I believe...

^My guess is that it is Cavite's coastline...

hello musta ga kayo

Legal dispute stalls Batangas port dev’t (http://http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20090218bus4.html)
02/18/2009

A costly P6.162-billion port development project in the Batangas port is incurring overruns of P3 billion a year including interest payments which the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) blamed on a legal dispute over the cost of land at which it would pay lot owners over mostly now the cargo terminal.

The PPA hopes to settle the legal tussle with Batangas residents that is now with the Supreme Court to allow it to bid out this year a 25-year management contract for the port’s cargo terminal in which already big names in the industry such as International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) had expressed interest to praticipate.

The ATI currently operates the domestic and international port terminal on a yearly contract but a port official said there is barely any cargo business to keep the interest of investors going for the 25-year international cargo contract.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation which funded the loan for the project had required the international port and terminal operator to pay the PPA a fee of $2.2 million a year for the first two years of operations which will rise to as much $5 million a year depending on the cargo volume that the operator will handle.

Two quay or ship-to-shore cranes and four rubber-tyred gantries or RTGs will be provided to the winning bidder as start-up equipment to operate the container terminal. The units were delivered into the port and was ready since November 2007 on expectations that the bidding would have had a result by last year.

The PPA has rescheduled the bid this year but the legal dispute with Batangas residents and delayed completion of collateral infrastructure works are conspiring to make investors think twice before committing their money to the project particularly amid a global downturn in trade.

American President Lines, Maersk Lines, Aboitiz and Lorenzo Shipping were at separate times lessees in the Batangas international cargo terminal but left subsequently because of high freight costs shouldered by their customers since truckers and brokers are mainly based in Manila and doing business in Batangas is also costlier for them.

Batangas fire kills 4 youngsters (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/march/10/yehey/prov/20090310pro1.html)
Father too drunk to save his children in the blaze caused by gas lamp

BATANGAS CITY: Four children died when their home in Barangay Payapa, Padre Garcia, in Batangas was engulfed by flames and their father was too drunk to rescue them, police said.

Batangas Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Jesus Gatchalian identified the victims as Paula Marice, 9; Prell Marilyn, 8; Prell Monique, 6; and Patrick Marlon, 5 all surnamed Bolanos.

The mother of the children, aged between 4 and 9 years old, was at work at the time when the blaze destroyed the house in Batangas. She later went to pick up another Bolanos child at the plaza.

The children “were all charred beyond recognition,” local police spokesman Senior Insp. Edgardo Dimaano told reporters.

“We received a report that the father was sleeping inside the house when the incident occurred,” said Dimaano.

The father, who saved himself, said he had been drunk after a local fiesta celebration the previous day.

Investigators traced the cause of the blaze to an unattended kerosene lamp, Dimaano said.

The blaze came just days after the Philippines kicked off a fire prevention awareness campaign last week.
--Roselle Aquino with AFP

Pupil unearths vintage hand grenade (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090311-193544/Pupil-unearths-vintage-hand-grenade)
By Marrah Erika Lesaba
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 14:07:00 03/11/2009

BATANGAS CITY – A Grade 3 pupil who was playing at his family’s backyard in Bauan, Batangas, unearthed a vintage hand grenade on Tuesday morning, police disclosed on Wednesday.

At around 10 a.m., barangay (village) officials called for police assistance regarding the pupil's find on Legaspi Street, Bolo village, Bauan, said Superintendent Cosme Abrenica, Bauan police chief.

The Bauan police and the Regional Bomb Squad immediately secured the area, Abrenica said.

Abrenica said the boy found the grenade while digging and mistook it for a toy, which he played with for a couple of minutes before asking his mother to identify it.

The boy’s mother immediately notified officials about his son’s find, which Abrenica said had no pin attached to it so that it could have been easily detonated, if dropped.

The grenade was quite old and might have been of World War II vintage, he said, adding the pin could have been removed over time.

Police detonated the grenade in an area away from the village.

Abrenica said police never tried searching for more vintage grenades in the village because it was not known as a hideout for soldiers during the last war.

He told villagers to promptly inform authorities should they find any more vintage bombs.

Bacnotan sells Batangas industrial park stake to Phoenix Petroleum (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/152282/Bacnotan-sells-Batangas-industrial-park-stake-to-Phoenix-Petroleum)
03/11/2009 | 05:12 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Bacnotan Consolidated Industries Inc. sold its stake in a Batangas industrial park manager to Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., a listed oil wholesaler and trader.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Wednesday, Bacnotan said that it sold all of its 60-percent equity interest – comprising 3.6 million shares – in Bacnotan Industrial Park Corp. (BIPC)
for P109.81 per share to Phoenix Petroleum.

The stake was worth P395.3 million.

Phoenix Petroleum has agreed to pay 18 percent of the amount as down payment and the balance to be spread out in monthly installments over a period of five years.

Earlier, the PSE halted trading of Phoenix Petroleum shares after it acquired BIPC, which runs an industrial park in Batangas.

In January, the company announced plans of acquiring 100 percent of BIPC for P658 million or P109.80 per share.

The company’s board of directors has already approved a memorandum of agreement with BIPC shareholders for a due diligence covering its possible acquisition of the industrial park manager and other properties, Phoenix said in a letter to the PSE.

A parcel of industrial land consisting of 39,420 square meters, situated in Lumbang Calzada, and Calaca in Batangas are also being examined.

BIPC is the industrial property development arm of the Philippine Investment Management Inc. (Phinma), a conglomerate privately-held by the Del Rosario family.

The BUIP in Calaca, Batangas is BIPC’s first development venture.

Besides having its own port, it was designed to serve light and heavy industries within the high growth sector of the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (CALABARZON) zone.

Phoenix Petroleum said Petroterminals Philippines Inc., its unit in charge of its depot and terminal facilities, is a locator in BUIP. Petroterminals plan to provide oil supplies in the Luzon area, the company said. GMANews.TV

Fire hits Batangas vice mayor's 200-year-old ancestral home - report (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/152377/Fire-hits-Batangas-vice-mayors-200-year-old-ancestral-home---report)
03/12/2009 | 08:54 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Fire believed caused by an electrical short circuit razed the ancestral home of the vice mayor of San Juan town in Batangas province Wednesday afternoon.

Radio dzRH reported the fire that hit the 200-year-old ancestral home of Vice Mayor Octavio Antonio Marasigan occurred at about 1:30 p.m.

The report said the fire may have caused up to P50 million damage to property.

A separate report on dzXL radio said the fire was declared out at 3:30 p.m.

Initial investigation showed the fire started at the second floor of the house, even as firefighters had a hard time battling the blaze. - GMANews.TV

Top 10 PMA graduating cadets share humble beginnings
Manila Times
12 March 2009 | 1:10 AM

FORT DEL Pilar, Baguio City: Majority of this year’s top 10 graduating members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Masiglahi Class 2009 were raised by middle-income parents but they have proven their worth in the premier military institution in Asia.

A check on the profile of the top 10 class members revealed that their fathers were plain farmer in their respective provinces while their mothers were plain housewives.

Another distinction they shared with one another was having graduated valedictorians or with honors in their secondary education.

Topping this year’s PMA graduation is 23-year-old Air Force cadet Karl Winston Cacanindin of Aurora province whose father is a draftsman while his mother is a high school teacher.

Cacanindin, who will graduate magna cum laude, will receive the Presidential Saber and PGMA Achievement Award for academic excellence from President Gloria Arroyo, who will be the guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites at the Borromeo Fields on March 16.

The valedictorian will also receive the Philippine Air Force Saber, Athletic Saber, Mathematics and Natural Sciences plaques besides the Joint United States Military Assistance Group or Jusmag award.

This year’s salutatorian is Army Cadet Leemuel Manicdo, 22, from Moncada, Tarlac, whose father is a mechanic and mother, another simple housewife.

Manicdo, who graduated as high school salutatorian, will receive the Vice Presidential Saber, Philippine Army Saber, Academics Group award, Humanities, Management, Social Sciences and Army Professional courses plaques, Jusmag award, Association of Generals and Flag Officers award and for the Australian Defense best over all performance award.

Navy Cadet Roger Flores, 25, of Iloilo City, who was raised by an accountant father and housewife mother, ranked number three in the class. He will receive the Secretary of National Defense Saber, Philippine Navy Saber and Jusmag award.

Fourth is Navy Cadet Nelson Liwanag, 24, of Tanauan, Batangas, whose father is a farmer while his mother is a vendor. He will receive the Navy Professional Courses plaque, Australian Defense Best Over all performance in the Navy and Jusmag award.

Army Cadet Larry Longe Mayao, 25, of Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province is ranked fifth and the only Cordillerans to be in the elite rank of topnotch cadets this year.

Mayao, who graduated from Pines City National High School and Pinsao Elementary School, was 10 years old when his mother passed on. His father was once a laborer who had to raise him along with nine other siblings.

Assistant PMA Supt. Brig. Gen. Rommel Martin of Bontoc, Mountain Province and member of PMA Class 1978 congratulated Mayao for proving that a cadet from the minority group was in equal footing with the other cadets.

Another Army cadet, Erick Ryan Mabborang at age 23 is among the younger graduating cadets is the son of farmers from Enrile, Cagayan, ranked sixth over all.

Army Cadet Carlito Santiago, 24, of Isabela, whose parents are farmers and traders, ranked 7th and he will receive the PGMA Achievement Award for Excellence, Chief of Staff Saber and Tactics Group award.

Army Cadet Glenn de Ramos, 22, of Pasay City whose parents are farmer and housewife ranked 8th and one of the brigade commanders of the class.

Just as Filipino women are celebrating the Women’s Month, Air Force Cadet Cynthia Forteza, 22, of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan landed ninth place in the overall roll of merits.

Forteza is also the recipient of the Computing and Info Sciences plaque, Leadership plaque, Air Force Professional Courses plaque and Australian Defense Best Overall Performance award.

Completing the topnotch list is Air Force Cadet Christopher Ian Dupalco, 22, of Bohol, whose father had died and raised by his mother, a teacher.

PMA Supt. Vice Admiral Leo-nardo Calderon Jr. told reporters that the topnotch graduating cadets have good academic records during their elementary and high school days, even with parents from low and middle-income earners.

There are 161 male and 23 female members of the Masiglahi Class 2009. One hundred of them will join the Army, 37 in the Air Force and 47 in the Navy.-- Harley F. Palangchao

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Batangas coastline?

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isn't it the Hamilo Coast? anyway, it looks like the Batman insignia... :)

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calatagan, batangas as seen from the plane (from palawan).
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Virgin Beach Resort
19 April 2009

:okay: :okay: :okay:

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^Nice beach, Christian!

Meanwhile:

Hamilo Coast
by p@ragon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paragon1/)

Pico de Loro
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Pool
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Pico de Loro Country Club
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Hidden within the folds of the rocky island of Anilao in Batangas, the half hectare boutique resort, Vivere Azure marries world class Filipino fusion resort design with the natural beauty of marine biodiversity and coastal natural resources.

A two-hour drive south of Manila, the resort immediately greets you with the element from which it takes its name. The ocean’s vast and calm waters are introduced by an 18x54 feet infinity pool fronting the Maricaban strait. The pool serves, according to architect Ryan Untivero, as the resort’s focal amenity and design statement of “living in the blue”.

A series of winding steps made from adobe stone slabs, wooden stilts, and crushed pebble rock lead guests through a vista-filled trek down the island’s sloping, rocky terrain to each of the 13 private luxury suites of the resort hotel. Each room uses its location to full potential, siting rooms to maximize views, sea breezes and daylight through ten-foot high yakal framed sliding glass doors and casement windows. Another clear architectural intent was to provide each suite with its own distinct view of surrounding tropical foliage.

Interior designer Ronnie Bugay focused on creating 12 design themes for each room, providing guests with options for choosing designs that suit their taste or interest. Each room, according to Bugay, infuses Asian concepts with Filipino culture and elements. The result is a distinctively unique balance of pattern, color and material that enhances Filipino, Asian and South American aesthetics. The rooms proudly utilize native materials for wall hangings, mats, furniture and fabrics, Bugay points out, “to let foreign guests know that Filipinos are world class and are really ready to compete globally, design wise.”

Bantangas PNR Questions

Can someone in Batangas please help me?
I am trying to trace where the old station was. The junction in Batangas was just north of Vergara street, from Vergara street it looks like it is now a bit of a road, but I lose it (on Google Earth) after that.
Did it actually go on to cross Rizal Avenue?
Where is the station site compared to Rizal Ave if it did cross?
Did the tracks actually go down to the pier as well?

Many thanks.
Brad

Are there plans for a subdivision type developement in Hamilo Coast in the future to sell individual lots perhaps in one of their other coves as opposed to the condominium type buildings in Pico de Loro cove?

I think in the Pico de Loro cove, they will construct townhouses in addition to the condos. Maybe in the other 12 coves, there may be plan to sell indvidual lots for single home construction. Please visit the Hamilo Coast thread for specific discussion on HC.

On the basis of their respective Average Annual Income for CYs 2004-2007, as certified to by the Commission on Audit, the new classification of CALABARZON provinces, effective July 29,2008, shall be as follows:

1. LAGUNA - 1,149.411 billion (1st class)
2. Cavite - 1,135.806 billion (1st class)
3. Quezon - 1,063.143 billion (1st class)
4. Batangas - 1,023.565 billion (1st class)
5. Rizal - 912.625 million (1st class)

Consequently, pursuant to Section 2 of the aforementioned Department Order No. 23-08, the classification of Provinces shall be based on the income brackets,a s follows:

First Class - 450 million or more

Second Class - 360 million or more 450 million

Third Class - 270 million or more but less than 360 million

Fourth Class - 180 million or more but less than 270 million

Fifth Class - 90 million or more but less than 180 million

Sixth Class - Below 90 million

Source: Bureau of Local Government Finance

THE PROGRESS OF BATANGAS... ANG IT'S NEIGHBOR PROVINCES!!!!

But the most important segment of the 200-kilometer CALABARZON Highway is the 94-kilometer Lucena City-Batangas City Coastal Road. It starts at Lucena and will connect the coastal areas of Quezon and Batangas, passing through the towns of Sariaya, Candelaria in Quezon, and the municipalities of San Juan, Lobo up to the Batangas City International Port.

"The proposed coastal road will traverse large tracts of fertile agricultural land—planted to coconuts, vast rice lands, vegetable fields, breathtaking forested coastline and white sand beaches," explains DPWH Region 4-A Director Bonifacio O. Seguit. "What’s more, the villages along the Batangas shoreline face the Verde Island Passage, which was recently declared by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as the Center of the Centers of Marine Bio-diversity in the world.

"Verde Island Passage has 1,900 species of marine life, more than those found in Sulawesi in Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia!" exclaims Seguit, who conceptualized the 29-kilometer Lucena-San Juan, Batangas Eco-Tourism Road, which is a segment of the 60-kilometer highway to Batangas City, way back in 1998 when he was still the Quezon Second District engineer. "Its seascape is at the heart of the `coral triangle’ formation which accounts for 50 per cent of the world’s coral reef species."

The Mount Banahaw foothill towns of Dolores, Candelaria and Sariaya have cold climes suited for planting upland vegetables such as chicharo (Baguio beans), broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, carrots and sayote. Organically-grown, these cash crops now fill up 25 per cent of vegetable requirement of Metro Manila.

"With the opening of the 29-kilometer Eco-Tourism Road in the Second District of Quezon, which is being constructed by Second District Engineering Office of the DPWH under District Engineer Celestial Flancia, and its subsequent connection to the planned extension of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Calamba to Lucena, which will begin next year, travel time from Nichols toll gate up to Lucena will be a breezy 1-1/2 hours only!" exclaims Seguit. "On the other hand, with the opening of the STAR 2 (Second Southern Tagalog Arterial Road) from Lipa City to Batangas City, and the construction to close the so-called `missing link’ (of SLEX) from Calamba to Sto. Tomas, Batangas, travel time from Manila to Batangas City will just be an hour."

The Quezon Eco-Tourism Road is part of the legacy program of PGMA under the supervision of DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. Once the proposed Lucena City-Batangas City Coastal Road project is finished, agricultural activities in the area where it will pass will be enhanced to support higher food production. Most of all, it will surely increase investments in the local tourism industry due to the opening up of its otherwise inaccessible forest and coastal areas with high tourism potentials

"When it’s completed, all export container vans bound for southern Quezon, Bicol and the Visayas, will pass through the traffic-free Eco-Tourism highway from the Batangas International Port," says Proceso J. Alcala, representative of the second district of Quezon, who was instrumental in funding the R900-million Quezon leg of the road project. "It will also improve peace and order here because farmers will triple their earnings due to the new farm-to-market road. When they gain more than what they used to earn, peace is assured because everybody is contented.

"Daily, 30 tons of organically-grown prime vegetables are traded at the Sariaya Trading Post, whose 6,000-square meter floor area is twice the size of that in La Trinidad in Benguet," explains Alcala, who built the trading post last year. "Along the Eco-Tourism Road, we will also set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in a 150-hectare area along the coast complete with a port in Sariaya," says the indefatigable Alcala, a civil engineer by profession. If this pushed through, it will be the first time that CALABARZON will have a SEZ with port facilities. Batangas City has only an international port but no SEZ."

Other benefits of the coastal road’s opening are decongesting heavy traffic along the Maharlika Highway, specially along the traffic jam-prone towns of Candelaria and Sariaya (the former will have a bypass road this year, while the latter will have one next year), it will attract industries to come in due to cheaper land acquisition compared with those near Metro Manila, and finally, it will complete the entire coastal road network for CALABARZON.

With all these road arteries in place within the next couple of years, which are vital to strengthening economic growth in the region, more people, both holidaymakers and business travelers, will be able to finally savor what these exotic places have to offer.



Dapat bigyan ng pansin ang Batangas Port.... kasi ito ang alternative route ng mga taong papuntang Visayas...(Mindoro.. etc...)

PAG-ASA Latest Weather Bulletin (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/tcupdate.shtml)

Severe Weather Bulletin Number THREE
Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm "FERIA"
Issued at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Tropical Storm "FERIA" has made landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Location of Center: (as of 4:00 p.m.) 40 kms South Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar
Coordinates: 12.2°N, 124.8°E
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and
Gustiness of up to 90 kph
Movement: West Northwest at 22 kph.
Forecast Positions/Outlook: Wednesday afternoon: 70 kms Southwest of Metro Manila
Thursday afternoon: 260 kms West Northwest of Laoag City
Friday afternoon: 500 kms North Northwest of Basco, Batanes

Areas Having Public Storm Warning Signal

Signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds)

Masbate
Ticao Island
Sorsogon
Albay
Camarines Provinces
Catanduanes
Marinduque
Romblon
Burias Island
Southern Quezon
Oriental Mindoro
Samar Provinces
Leyte Provinces
Biliran Island
Northern Iloilo
Northern Negros
Northern Cebu
Aklan
Capiz

Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds)

Occidental Mindoro
Lubang Island
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Rizal
Northern Quezon
Polilio Island
Calamian group
Cuyo Island
Bataan
Bulacan
Metro Manila
Bohol
Rest of Cebu
Rest of Negros
Guimaras
Southern Iloilo
Antique
Siquijor
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Dinagat Island
Camiguin


Residents living in low lying and mountainous including coastal areas under signal #2 and 1 are alerted against possible flashloods and landslides.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 P.M. today.

Verde Island as seen from the site of Monte Maria in Batangas City
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Photos of Batangas west coast and Fortune island.

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View of Batangas City from the sea.


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Keppel Shipyard in Barangay Bolo, Baun Batangas


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More photos of Barangay Bolo, Baun Batangas and the Keppel Shipyard.

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Daily morning meeting onboard ship.

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^^ mga kabalen.....
may itatayong Waltermart sa Tanauan,,,,
22o na pala ito...
sa Darasa ang site...
=) 1st Mall in Tanauan...

Bantangas PNR Questions

Can someone in Batangas please help me?
I am trying to trace where the old station was. The junction in Batangas was just north of Vergara street, from Vergara street it looks like it is now a bit of a road, but I lose it (on Google Earth) after that.
Did it actually go on to cross Rizal Avenue?
Where is the station site compared to Rizal Ave if it did cross?
Did the tracks actually go down to the pier as well?

Many thanks.
Brad

I believe the tracks does not cross into Rizal Ave. The tracks from what I know crosses Calicanto (near Caedo old mall) and runs to Vergara St. and which ends (I believe) near the old public market. That place is called "estasyon" or RR Station. If I remember it correctly, theres an old building there thats connected or has a connection to the old rail system.

For some reason or another, the trains where not revived after the war which is such a waste and lacks foresight. There where talks a few years ago about it's revival. As usual, nothing still has come out of it.

^^ mga kabalen.....
may itatayong Waltermart sa Tanauan,,,,
22o na pala ito...
sa Darasa ang site...
=) 1st Mall in Tanauan...

ang alam ko magkakaron na din daw ng SM City Tanauan.

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Taal church, note the painted ceiling.

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Balayan church c.1900. Notice the American flag atop the facade.

Ex-Gov to Rectos: Surrender Ricky! (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/21/09/ex-batangas-gov-rectos-surrender-ricky)

MANILA - Former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez on Saturday warned the Liberal Party (LP) against a possible problem with its new members, incumbent governor Vilma Santos and former socioeconomic secretary Ralph Recto.

Sanchez said the LP, which is projecting a clean image, might draw flak for having members related to a murder suspect.

The former governor said that before Recto formally launches his campaign for his re-election to the Senate, he should first surrender his older brother, Ricky Recto.

"Maaapektuhan sila sa Liberal Party. Sa eleksyon, lalabas at babatikusin sila, 'Kapatid ba yan ng nagtatago?'," Sanchez said. "Mas makakatulong kung isu-surrender ang kanilang kapatid."

He said it would be impossible for Recto not to know where his brother is hiding.

In response, Mr. Recto said in a text message: "I am not my brother's keeper. Never have been."

Sanchez has offered a bounty for the arrest of the older Recto, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 2006 bombing attack on Sanchez.

The former governor survived the attack, but his driver Luisito Icaro and close-in security Police Officer 2 Eric Landicho died.

The older Recto is facing charges of double murder, frustrated murder and destruction of property.

The former secretary has been included in the LP's senatorial slate. Santos, meanwhile, is the LP's bet in the gubernatorial race in Batangas.

Sanchez, a former member of President Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino, confirmed that he is running for governor of Batangas again under the Nacionalista Party (NP).

He lost to Santos in the last elections.

Sanchez leads Liberal revolt in Batangas
(http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2009/november/23/news2.isx&d=/2009/november/23)
FORMER Batangas Gov. Armando Sanchez bolted the Liberal Party and brought his band of 175 local officials over to the Nationalista Party, to which they took their oath before NP standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar on Saturday.

Sanchez said he felt it was like “adding insult to injury” when the Liberals allowed Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and husband Ralph Recto to join the party.

Recto is the brother of Sanchez’s former vice governor, Richard Recto, whom Sanchez had accused of attempting to murder him, while movie actress Santos-Recto defeated Sanchez in the 2007 gubernatorial race.

“As soon as [Sanchez] heard the news that the Rectos were asked to join the LP, Sanchez immediately called up Senator Villar and volunteered that he be made Vilma Santos-Recto’s opponent in the gubernatorial race,” a Nacionalista official said.

Of the 34 municipalities in Batangas, only five mayors went with Santos-Recto to join the Liberals, the official said, adding that the 175 local executives that went with Sanchez practically wiped out the party’s slate in Batangas.

Senatorial aspirant Sergio Osmeña III last week also bolted the Liberals because of the Rectos, citing in particular Recto’s having served as an Arroyo economic planning secretary.

Recto’s brother, the vice governor in September 2005, had charged Sanchez with graft and corruption before the Ombudsman. The rivalry escalated when the Ombudsman suspended Sanchez and ordered him to vacate the governor’s office, but Sanchez barricaded the provincial capitol until he was able to secure a court order stopping the Ombudsman.

The former vice governor is now in hiding because of a warrant for his arrest, and after Sanchez had accused him of having plotted the bombing of his Humvee in June 2006, when Sanchez narrowly escaped death while two of his aides died in the explosion.

Recto and his suspected accomplice, lawyer Francisco Belmonte, nephew of Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, remain at large.

Despite the attack, the Liberal Party still chose Santos-Recto over Sanchez for his failure to curve illegal gambling in the province.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, a party stalwart, belittled the ongoing defections, saying the Liberals were better off than the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the mass exodus in it.

“Because of the massive outpouring of support for the Noynoy-Mar ticket throughout the country, it is but natural that there will be differing and opposing views in the organization. This is how it is in a democracy,” Pangilinan said.

“As regards former Senator Osmeña III, it is clear from his public statements that he continues to support Noynoy and believes that Noynoy has both the sincerity and integrity needed to lead the country toward a new direction in governance and political change. We are sorry to have to see him leave the coalition, and we hope that he will, in the coming months, reconsider his decision.”

ang alam ko magkakaron na din daw ng SM City Tanauan.

It's just a rumor like SM Balayan. Kapag galing na sa website ng SM ung na.

Totoo ba na ang katicket ni Vilma bilang vice governor ay si Leviste? Tapos katicket ni Sanchez si Ermita? parang nagpalitan sila ng vice.

PSALM turns over Calaca power plant to DMCIHI

Manila (13 December) -- The privatization of the 600-megawatt (MW) Batangas Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant was formally closed last 3 December 2009, through a simple ceremonial turnover conducted by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation.

Before the ceremony held at its Makati City office, PSALM received USD150.79 million (USD150,790,000) from new owner DMCI Holdings, Inc. (DMCIHI) as its down payment for the power facility located in Calaca, Batangas. DMCIHI offered USD361,709,000 for the Southern Luzon-based power plant.

The power plant will be operated by Sem-Calaca Power Corp., a new company recently established by Semirara Mining Corp., the coal mining arm of DMCIHI.

PSALM President and Chief Executive Officer Jose C. Ibazeta noted that the successful negotiated sale of the power facility last 08 July 2009 was a "turning point of the privatization program."

"By the closing of Calaca, we effectively breached the 70% requirement under the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) for the generation side," he said. "So we now have to work on the IPP (Independent power producer) side. We can achieve open access, one year after we do that."

The sale of the Calaca plant also substantially contributed to sustaining PSALM's privatization program this year, which is currently at the 81.3% mark for all its generating assets in the Luzon and Visayas grids.

Mr. Ibazeta congratulated DMCIHI's entry in the electricity sector, saying that it "certainly bolsters the confidence of the private sector in the future of the power industry."

DMCIHI President Isidro Consunji, who praised PSALM for a fair and transparent bidding process, took pride in saying that the "Calaca [power plant], as of today, will be the only coal-fired power plant in Luzon that is owned and operated by Filipinos."

"We believe that Calaca employees, who are all Filipino, are very well equipped and very much capable to make Calaca a world-class coal-fired power plant," he said.

Saying that DMCIHI will be a vital player in the electricity industry, National Power Corporation President Froilan A. Tampinco acknowledged the "openness and the receptiveness" of Sem-Calaca in recognizing the issues and concerns of the employees of National Power who, he said, "are now their employees starting today."

Mr. Tampinco said National Power would continue to support the government's power privatization program. (PIA-MMIO)

Please post some pics of the construction of Walter Mart - Tanauan..

I hope the ff. first class municipalities will be converted into cities:
1. Balayan
2. Nasugbu
3. San Juan
4. Sto. Tomas
5. Lemery
6. Bauan
7. Calaca
8. San Jose
9. Rosario
10. San Pascual

I think it's about time to convert these municipalities into cities. However, based on what I've read, only Nasugbu and Balayan (along with Dasma, Binan, San Pedro, etc.) filed their papers in the League of the Philippine Cities.

Batangas' ‘bulalo,’ ‘tapa’ and ‘maliputo’ attract holidaymakers, vacationers (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Batangas_bulalo_tapa_and_maliputo_attract_holidaymakers_vacationers.shtml)

TAAL, Batangas, Jan. 4 (PNA) – Thousands of local tourists, mostly Christmas and New Year holidaymakers, were attracted to Batangas’ pride, ‘Bulalo’ (Batangas Beef Bone Marrow Soup) and Tapa (Dried Beef) served in restaurants and road side eateries here and other parts of the province.

One of those who tasted the delicacies is Hugo “Buboy” Yonzon III, director of the Public Affairs Service (PAS) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). He resides in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

Yonzon brought along his friends here after soaking in the history and culture of Batangas.

They got a taste of local cuisine in the cattle country of Batangas but skipped the ubiquitous 'bulalo' and 'lomi' joints scattered along the highway – there is much better fare to be had in traditional Taal food.

Glenda Villano-Tenorio, who manages La Azotea restaurant in the municipality of Taal, shared to Yonzon and his friends the secrets of her hometown’s cooking.

Unlike the usual tapa which is beef, tapang Taal is pork marinated in soy sauce, lots of garlic, and calamansi and fried to yummy perfection.

Their version of bistek (beaf steak) is made of tenderloin slices from Batangas beef, with potatoes on the side.

The dinaing na tilapia is steeped in vinegar and garlic before it is fried to a crisp. For breakfast, these dishes are best washed down with a steaming cup of thick hot chocolate, a must-try in the province.

Dessert specialties include mango balls in a creamy sauce with sago, served with the popular suman nilatik, sticky rice topped with coconut jam and toasted bits.

The restaurant caters to local residents looking for fine dining options at reasonable prices in the rural area. The priciest item on the menu is the maliputo fish, which can cost more than P500 per order.

At the nearby Taal Bayview Bistro, manager Joseph Razon explains why the fresh water fish from Taal Lake is a prized delicacy.

Razon said it is not available in the market and can only be bought in San Nicolas town at P600 per kilo from reliable suppliers.
There was also deep-fried tawilis from the lake and a salad of tomatoes, green mango, and eggplant with bagoong Balayan, also a Batangas specialty. (PNA)

Trans-Asia to put up 135-MW coal-fired plant in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines - Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. is planning to put up a 135-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas.

A public consultation on the project, in connection with a review by the Environment Department, will be held on January 19, the publicly listed unit of Philippine Investment Management Inc. (Phinma) said.

The company did not say how much investment it would need for the plant but based on industry estimates, a coal-fired plant costs about $2 million per megawatt.

Aside from putting up a plant, Trans-Asia is also eyeing to bid for 4 assets of National Power Corp. (Napocor) that are up for privatization this year.

"We're looking at Malaya, Bac-man and Bauang diesel in Luzon and Iligan diesel in Mindanao," said Trans-Asia president Francisco Viray.

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), the government's privatization agency, plans to auction off the 150-MW Bacon-Manito (Bac-Man) geotheral power plants in the first quarter.

Within the year, PSALM is also likely to bid out the contracted capacity of the 650-MW Malaya thermal power plant.

PSALM has yet to determine the bidding date for the 114-MW Iligan I & II Diesel Power Plant complex in Northern Mindanao while the Bauang plant will be sold once its contract with Napocor expires.

At present, Trans-Asia runs a 3.4-MW bunker coal-fired plant in Jordan, Guimaras, and a 52-MW plant that supplies the power requirements of Union Cement Corp. in Norzagaray, Bulacan; and Bacnotan, La Union.

The company also owns a 21-MW diesel plant located at the Carmelray Industrial Park II in Calamba City, Laguna.

Trans-Asia, which is also engaged into oil and wind development projects, earlier bagged 10 wind energy service contracts with the Department of Energy.

These contracts involve a total area of 22,000 hectares in several sites including Cagayan, Guimaras, Aklan, Camarines Norte and Iloilo.

That's a good news. It will help a lot for the people and economy of Calaca.

SMC sets sights on Ilijan power facility contract (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/20889-smc-sets-sights-on-ilijan-power-facility-contract.html)

FOOD and drinks conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) plans to expand its energy holdings portfolio, disclosing its bid for the independent power producer administrator (IPPA) contract for  a gas-fired power plant in Batangas province.

In a text message on Wednesday, SMC president Ramon Ang said the diversifying company will bid for the government’s contract to buy the output of the 1,200-megawatt (MW) facility Ilijan, Batangas.

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm) Corp. has started the bidding process for the National Power Corp.’s contract in the plant.

On its website, Psalm said interested bidders should submit a letter of intent by January 29 while the actual bidding is set on April 16 this year. The parties will also have to pay a participation fee of $10,000 by February 5 to avail of a bidding package.

SMC’s interest in the Ilijan facility is not the company’s first foray into the power sector since it announced an aggressive diversification plan over two years ago.

In August last year, the company won the bidding for the 620-MW Limay combined-cycle power plant after submitting the lone bid of $13.502 million. SMC also won the deal to manage the 1,000-MW Sual coal-fired power plant for $1.07 billion.

Last month, the conglomerate bagged the contract to manage 345-MW San Roque hydropower plant for $450 million.

The move into the power sector is seen to complement the firm’s other acquisitions in power distribution, telecommunications, toll roads.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act requires Psalm to privatize at least 70 percent of the contracted capacities of the IPPs in the Luzon and Visayas grids.

The Ilijan plant is being operated by the Korea Electric Power Corp.  through Kepco Ilijan Corp.

The Ilijan plant comprises dual-fuel electricity generation facilities with a design life of 25 years. It was put up to operate as a baseload unit using natural gas from the Malampaya gas fields in Palawan, with diesel as backup.-- Miguel R. Camus with a report from Bloomberg.

^^ d ako makakuha ng pics.. pero tapos na ung mga "bones" ng structure.. o ung mga poste.. lahat natapos na.. nandun na cla sa 2nd floor.. bilis ng construction!

Basic Energy to pursue ethanol venture


Listed Basic Energy Corp. will focus on developing renewable energy projects such as a proposed bioethanol plant in Zamboanga del Norte and a geothermal service contract in Batangas this year.

“Basic Energy’s focus in 2010 will still be in biofuels and renewable energy,” the company said in a statement.

De Venecia-led Basic Energy is eyeing to put up a bioethanol plant in a 6,000-hectare land in Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte. The facility will use cassava as feedstock. The company started developing the area for cassava in 2008 under unit Basic EcoMarket Farms.

“Cassava has an intermediate market and can be a source of revenue while the planned bioethanol plant is still being developed and constructed,” Basic Energy said.

The two other existing bioethanol plants in the country, San Carlos Bionergy, Inc.’s 40-million-liter-per-year facility in Negros Occidental and Leyte Agri Corp.’s 3.6-million-liter-per-year plant, use sugarcane as feedstock.

The company did not give capacity projections and a timetable for construction of the plant.

“Finalization of the plans for the bioethanol plant will depend largely on when a critical hectarage necessary to supply the feedstock requirements of a bioethanol plant is achieved and when the equity and debt funding for the project are set in place,” the company said.

Republic Act No. 9637, the biofuels law, requires all gasoline sold in the Philippines to be blended with 5% ethanol. By 2011, the minimum blend will be increased to 10%.

The firm will also start mapping its geothermal service contract in Batangas early this year.

“We shall be commencing the geophysics and geological studies in our geothermal service contract area in Mabini, Batangas in the first quarter of 2010,” the company said. “Drilling schedule will depend on the results of these studies,” the company added.

Basic Energy is also involved in oil exploration activities through wholly owned subsidiary Southwest Resources, Inc.

Shares in the firm went down by 3% to P0.0155 apiece yesterday. -- J. B. F. Santos

Trans-Asia finalizes Batangas lot purchase deal

LISTED Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., the power arm of Philippines Investment Management Corp., on Monday signed a contract with Bacnotan Industrial Park Corp. (BIPC) for the sale and purchase of industrial lots.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Trans-Asia said the contract gives them option until April 1, 2010 to purchase 78,900 square meters of industrial land at the Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park at Calaca, Batangas and 52,100 square meters of land to be acquired by BIPC.

Trans-Asia said the purchase price amounts to P333.835 million which is payable in several tranches. About P15.630 million will initially be paid downpayment, P31.260 million upon exercise of the option, P46.890 million upon purchase of the land for BIPC acquisition, P46.890 million upon submission of documentary deliverables, and the balance and the title to all of the properties.

In March last year, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. acquired BIPC to further strengthen its asset and equity position as it locates its terminal in Calaca. The company plans to put up a 50-million-liter storage facility and a short pier in the area.

Phinma unit to buy part of industrial park in Batangas

Listed Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. has signed a contract allowing it to purchase a portion of the 108-hectare Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park in Batangas from the Bacnotan Industrial Park Corp.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange yesterday, Trans-Asia said it would have the option to buy until April 1 a total of 78,900 square meters, or about 8 hectares, of the terminal.

The total purchase is P333 million, to be paid in tranches upon exercise of the option.

The firm did not provide further details. Officials could not be reached for comment.

Trans-Asia, the power unit of the Phinma group, posted P37.2 million in profits for the third quarter of 2009, reversing a net loss of P78.9 million in the same period last year.

Trans-Asia has investments in electricity trading, power generation, renewable energy, mining, and housing development, through Phinma Property Holdings Corp.

Shares in Trans-Asia stayed at P1.28 apiece yesterday.

Bacnotan Industrial Park Corp. is owned by listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. The company purchased the industrial estate for P680 million early last year.

Phoenix Petroleum has a total of 109 fuel stations in Luzon, Cebu, and Mindanao. It is the first retail oil company to be publicly listed after the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998.

Shares in the oil firm closed 1.4% lower at P7 apiece yesterday.

La Finca (http://www.filproperty.com/article.php?story=lafinca)
Lipa, Batangas

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFinca.jpg?t=1265430750

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincaCountryClub.jpg?t=1265430825

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincaclubhouse.jpg?t=1265430849

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincaclubhousepool2.jpg?t=1265430895
club poolside

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincaclubhousepool.jpg?t=1265430919
club pool

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincacasitasreception2.jpg?t=1265430941
Casitas reception area with small putting green outside

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/LaFincaunitpoolhouse.jpg?t=1265430967
private pool with guesthouse

Capitolio

http://images.icarusrising.multiply.com/image/1/photos/254/1200x1200/9/IMGP8199.JPG?et=psrNwNPIqGPtRbTNnXkZUw&nmid=317527702

Please if someone has time, post some pictures of Tabangao Shell Refinery in Tabangao, Batangas. Magandang infrastructure ito. TY.

Sto.Tomas, Nasugbu, Lemery, and Balayan for Cityhood!

http://www.wowbatangas.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/800px-roasted_coffee_beans.jpg

The original - Batangas Coffee.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs034.snc3/12141_103307506354320_100000252148395_92370_5532647_n.jpg
Vistamar Anilao.

‘Gateway’ to Nasugbu’s Sandari opens (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22500:gateway-to-nasugbus-sandari-opens-&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/2010/Mar2010/03032010/nation01.jpg

WITH a vision to offer the first mountainside township development where people do not disturb nature but nourish themselves from being in close contact with her, the people behind Sandari Batulao officially opened at the weekend the “Gateway to Sandari,” with the blessing of the main entranceway and nature-oriented family bonding activities for visitors.

Guests and buyers had a sneak preview of what is billed as the Sandari Adventure of the Senses, highlighted by a trek along the banks of the Calamias River and horseback riding, with the tired “souls and soles” later offered a chance to relax at the Massage Nook—with its breathtaking view of Mount Batulao, Mount Talamitan and the Nasugbu Bay.

Earlier, Sunday Mass was officiated by Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan of the St. Francis Xavier Parish of Nasugbu. Among those in attendance were executives of Sandari’s developer, Citystate Properties and Management Corp. (CPMC), led by its chairman, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua; its EVP and general manager Randy Libre; CFO Benjamin Ramos; and CPMC treasurer Dominga Rufina Cabangon-Chua.

They were joined by Miguel Puyat, the joint-venture partner of Citystate Properties.

The leisure community arising in Sandari Batulao sits on 800 hectares of lush hills, dubbed Nasugbu’s Highlands, with its unique development concept and community features set at the foot of the famed Mount Batulao.

Ambassador Cabangon Chua of the ALC Group of companies, and CPMC in joint venture with Filipino and Singaporean investors, will handle this project.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/2010/Mar2010/03032010/nation02.jpg

Sandari’s 300- to 600-meter above- sea-level elevation offers temperatures ranging from 18 to 27 degrees Celsius, providing residents and guests cool weather and scenic views of Mount Batulao in the southeast and Mount Talamitam on the west, the Nasugbu Bay and South China Sea.

To ensure the high quality of construction, architectural design and site planning suited to Sandari’s natural environment, Cabangon Chua coordinated with Singaporean architect Liu Thai Ker as the project’s master consultant. Liu Thai Ker is associated with the successful spatial planning and the implementation of Singapore’s urban development.

A contemporary Southeast Asian tropical design shall be adopted as the architectural style of Sandari, consistent with mountain-oriented communities and developments found in Ubud, Bali in Indonesia and Chiangmai, Thailand.

Those behind Sandari say the leisure community will respect the natural environment; and tree-lined roads and landscaped pedestrian walkways, complementing nature, will encourage residents and guests to walk or hike around the community and open spaces.

Located at Km 77, just 10 minutes from Metro Tagaytay, along the Nasugbu-Tourism National Hi-way, Sandari Batulao is a 90-minute drive from Makati via the South Luzon Expressway, through Santa Rosa.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4415649266_8dc72dc19f_o.jpg

Lopez Group to invest US$ 100 million in solar wafer facility in Batangas (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=263345)

MANILA, March 9 (PNA) -- Lopez owned-First Philippine Holdings (FPH) is expanding its solar wafer facility in Batangas.

Dan Lachica, president and CEO of First Philec Solar Corp. (FPSC), a subsdiary of FPH said they are allocating US$ 100 million this year for the expansion plans of its solar wafer manufacturing facility in Batangas.

FPSC started its operations in June 2008 in its plant located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, using a wire saw technology in manufacturing the solar wafer.

At present, it has 43 wire saws in its building but Lachica said they expect to accommodate 100 wire saw once the expansion is completed.

The 100 wire saw can produce up to 240 million wafers yearly. The Batangas plant has a total of 535 workers.

“This will support approximately 720 megawatts of solar energy. At full build, (the facility) will be one of the biggest in Asia,” he told reporters during the press briefing.

Asked where they will source the funding for their expansion, Lachica said they will tap funding institutions, and use internally-generated funds.

He said the expansion or its phase 2 will require US$ 20 million budget and is expected to be completed by 2013.

Lachica also revealed that they are eyeing overseas expansion where demand for silicon wafers will likewise increase. Global growth for solar industry is projected to reach 30 percent.

The official said they are looking at US$ 120 million revenue annually and a net income of US$ 20 million yearly once the expansion is finished.

"From our standpoint, we're still bullish about pursuing expansion projects because the demand is there. Additionally, US growth is being stimulated by President Obama's policy of giving incentives for the solar industry, including low-interest loans and extension of the income tax credits,” he explained.

Lachica said its major client is the SunPower Philippines Manufacturing Ltd. in Laguna but they are willing to accept other clients. (PNA)

Capitolio

http://images.icarusrising.multiply.com/image/1/photos/254/1200x1200/9/IMGP8199.JPG?et=psrNwNPIqGPtRbTNnXkZUw&nmid=317527702

ganda naman ng kapitolyo ng Batangas,pero mas maganda sana kung ung kulay ay babaguhin gaya ng kapitlyo sa amin,comment ko lang poh,,,,,peace:):):)

Sto.Tomas, Nasugbu, Lemery, and Balayan for Cityhood!

^^Ang dami naman para sa Cityhood yan, hmmmmmm..

Taal Lake view from Talisay...

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8664/talisay1.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/talisay1.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9107/talisay2.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/talisay2.jpg/)

Talisay road...

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/5373/talisay3.jpg (http://img682.imageshack.us/i/talisay3.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1381/talisay4.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/talisay4.jpg/)

Testing lang...

Ama, Ina, Anak at Anak
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/69/BatangasLoop90.jpg?et=J%2BYWUTe%2CfFhLmvruwpZxUw&nmid=323638730

Espada ni Panday
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/63/BatangasLoop84.jpg?et=6v0sNHyac1PsiKfXyocT8A&nmid=323638730
Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas

ito ang walter marthttp://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8681/arjun0005d.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/arjun0005d.jpg/)

ito pa..haha
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8807/arjun0031.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/arjun0031.jpg/)

Nice pics...

Santuario de La Nuestra Señora de Caysasay
Taal, Batangas

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/394/600x600/1/BatangasLoop20.jpg?et=XvL%2C73dNN1%2CuSBptZ44g6g&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/2/BatangasLoop21.jpg?et=OCgvffpf4ZoCh%2CltLeB9jg&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/6/BatangasLoop25.jpg?et=QrWCV7yLd2LwadXD%2B1f3jQ&nmid=323638730

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http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/14/BatangasLoop33.jpg?et=KViDfLZDKV9kWXqJBUDduw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/16/BatangasLoop35.jpg?et=wLhb2AHo%2CL7nCd1Ng4zlOg&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/17/BatangasLoop36.jpg?et=QVe8yapOQzCkH8V3hzIZLw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/18/BatangasLoop37.jpg?et=5JsWTYp%2BthS8WvVh39GxKg&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/19/BatangasLoop38.jpg?et=LlZ2%2CWFm%2B%2C42HmMqlCycpQ&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/20/BatangasLoop39.jpg?et=XAhZ40pH8eM1Iy3T%2BwA9xA&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/22/BatangasLoop41.jpg?et=8cZ6dM3qX6pEvHTKRE0nCw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/28/BatangasLoop47.jpg?et=AKj%2C0SSuhzQEJboHrV4opQ&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/34/BatangasLoop53.jpg?et=yrBOL27UfVIZAjACF2TlHQ&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/40/BatangasLoop59.jpg?et=%2CxWMEC%2CBCVHcmqWrs34zRg&nmid=323638730

Basilica Minore de San Martin de Tours
Taal, Batangas

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/43/BatangasLoop64.jpg?et=0%2CbPPUAcjAB6%2Cnim85LwIw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/44/BatangasLoop65.jpg?et=r2gSu7j2ytlYG%2CMLcOs6QA&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/45/BatangasLoop66.jpg?et=qDgqaYTNhX9WROSuJEY0XQ&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/46/BatangasLoop67.jpg?et=Toib4diOe7PRz3r6bU%2Bpiw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/48/BatangasLoop69.jpg?et=h3MyyKd%2ClBxy9TgP%2B%2CNLaA&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/53/BatangasLoop74.jpg?et=JzGErioNjnmyUWv4g36fVA&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/57/BatangasLoop78.jpg?et=dvw9ziX06yi6x7jjOXfGHA&nmid=323638730


The Plaza and its surrounding areas
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/49/BatangasLoop70.jpg?et=Y8FC6hoU1PsJvnqNwMEENw&nmid=323638730

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/394/600x600/50/BatangasLoop71.jpg?et=iitYLGgCe8XkRFFKYH5oUA&nmid=323638730

ito pa..haha
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8807/arjun0031.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/arjun0031.jpg/) Kayganda ng Waltermart sa Tanauan. Hindi mukhang warehouse

Ala eh...

ala eh.. ay kaganda ng Taal! :)

Tumpak ka diyan eh...Talagang maganda ang Taal eh...Ala eh...:lol:

^^ ala.. basta sa kagandahan e wag na kayong magulat.. e lahat ata ng kailangan ay nandito na sa Batangas eh..

ATI, PPA ink Batangas terminal deal
MANILA, April 4 (PNA) - Port operator Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) finally signed the 25-year management and operations contract to operate Batangas Port’s container terminal.

Under the contract, the PPA will earn USD190 million in the next 25 years on top of the USD124-million fixed fee ATI has already paid and the variable fee of at least million.

“With the contract already signed, ATI can take over immediately,” PPA general manager Atty Oscar Sevilla said.

ATI earlier announced that it is bringing in two ship-to-shore cranes for such facility.

"ATI is continuously investing in South Harbor to enable us to provide more reliable and efficient services to our customers," ATI vice president Ernst Schulze said in a statement.

"We are investing now in preparation for greater volumes and even better services in the future," he added.

Manufactured by Liebherr, the cranes are capable of twin lifts of up to 60 tons. They will be operational next year.

Aside from continuous upgrade in equipment and facilities, ATI has placed emphasis on business processes through information technology.

Since 2008, the operator of the country's second biggest international gateway has introduced several system innovation, including automated exit gates which have provided port users with easier and more secure port access.

ATI also expanded and automated its truck holding area, entry and exit gates as well as introduced self-service kiosks for truck drivers' ease of processing.

The automation projects complement the Bureau of Custom's electronic-to-mobile system which provides a single-window processing for a paperless, queueless and cashless transaction at the port.

Over the last five years, the South Harbor Container Terminal's annual throughput capacity has grown to 850,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) with continuous expansion of its container yard.(PNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267759

PHIVOLCS calms fears of Taal eruption after photos posted on FB
GMANews.TV (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100403/tph-phivolcs-calms-fears-of-taal-eruptio-ce44f36.html) - Sunday, April 4

Chief government volcanologist Renato Solidum assured the public that Taal Volcano was not erupting after tourists in Tagaytay reported seeing a fire inside one of the craters. Solidum said that there was no seismic activity monitored that would indicate an impending explosion.

One traveler posted pictures of a glowing Taal crater on GMANews.TV's Facebook fan page.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs402.snc3/24374_408715924749_514339749_4987094_1073896_n.jpg

Contacted by GMANews.TV by phone late Saturday night, Director Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said lava flows will always be accompanied by seismic activity in the volcano’s vicinity, and so far the agency has not monitored any.

Photos were posted on GMANews.TV’s Facebook fan page on Saturday evening, indicating lava-like activity in the Binintiang Malaki crater of Taal island, which is not Taal Volcano’s main crater.

Lava flow-like activity glows on a part of the Taal volcanic island, taken on the evening of April 3, 2010, as posted by Carlo Miguel Saavedra on the GMANews.TV Facebook page. PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum says the agency has not monitored any seismic activity in the area, which will always accompany any lava flow.

At around 7 p.m. Saturday, Virgie Luvidece posted an inquiry asking, “Wala ba kayong update tungkol sa Taal volcano... sumasabog ito parang fountain.. maraming tourista ang kumukuha ng picture nito ngayon."

Carlo Miguel Saavedra also posted a picture showing a sizable fire in or near one of the craters, saying that it was around 6:30 p.m. when the volcano “started to show some magma flow over the side."

Solidum surmised that the glowing spots in the pictures might merely be local residents engaged in kaingin, or slash-and-burn clearing of slopes prior to planting, although he hastened to add that he has not seen the pictures yet.

A check with the PHIVOLCS website showed no recent activity report for Taal volcano.—JV/HS, GMANews.TV



^^ I was looking at the flowing lava on our way home from Tagaytay and I didn't think it was "kaingin" :ohno: :D

from the car (apologies for the bad quality):
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/Taallava.jpg?t=1270351987

EARLIER in the afternoon:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/Taalsmoke.jpg?t=1270351289

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/SNL_oRbz/SSC/Taalday.jpg?t=1270351280

Does anyone here know what cities/towns comprises Metro Batangas? Someone asked me that and I had no clue how to answer it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. :okay:

^^ bale ang Metro Batangas ay hindi na kasali sa mga listahan ng mga Metropolitan Areas sa Pinas, pero ang pagkakaalam ko binubuo ito ng Batangas City, San Pascual and Bauan.. pero sana kung magkakaroon nito, isama na nila ang Lipa, Malvar, Tanauan at Sto. Tomas...

Hello SSCers-Batangas......we planned to have our summer outing sa Ligpo..... tanong ko lang sana ko safe yung parking area na provided ng Beach owner... medyo malayo daw yun kasi sa mismong beach sa parking area.....

^^ dun sa mga gustong mag- outing sa Batangas.. sa Balay Isabel na lang kayo pumunta... bale nasa Talisay Batangas siya pero may kamahalan nga lang 16k.. hehe...


^^ oo nga pala... Waltermart Tanauan will open in May 27 2010...

waltermart sa tanauan another cause of traffic.

waltermart sa tanauan another cause of traffic.

Yup, kailangan na rin siguro ng bagong rehimen ng tanauan para maayos ang buhol-buhol na traffic diyan lalong lalo sa may crossing.

^^ nagkaroon na ng road widening sa part ng Sto. Tomas to Lipa.. sana makatulong ito..

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4618942426_acf99a208a_b.jpg

Batangas City Seaport
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4586407983_cffd3e8ce9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwin_magayanes/4586407983/)

Batangas City
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4586408343_d5b1916d5d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwin_magayanes/4586408343/)

^^ expect heavy traffic every:
4pm onwards closing ng waltermart
Linggo
Sabado

sa part ng Tanauan...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4618942426_acf99a208a_b.jpg
nice...
this can be moved to Cavite province thread. :)

nice...
this can be moved to Cavite province thread. :)

@Biboy...Summit Ridge ba ay sa Tagaytay?
If yes, then Tagaytay is a component City...right?

^^ Yes. It's in Tagaytay, a component city of Cavite. :)

Congrats sa Tanauan City! May mall na kayo dyan! :D

Sino mayor ng Sto. Tomas Batangas?

^^ ang alam ko ung pumalit kay Sanchez??
ang malaking controversy sa pagkamatay ni Sanchez ay..

1. Kung nanalo si Edna Sanchez sa pagiging Governor, legal na ba sa COMOLEC?
2. Pumalit nga si Edna sa asawa niya, e pano ung position.. may pumalit nga.. pero ang pagkakaalam ko sa rules ng COMELEC..

"Pwede lang pumalit ang isang tao sa isang position kung Kung namatayan, nagkaroon ng malubhang sakit.. nakalagay yan sa COMOLEC rules.. kaya kung nanalo ung pumalit kay Sanchez... legal din ba ito sa COMOLEC?

Congrats sa Tanauan City! May mall na kayo dyan! :D

dati nga nagkaroon pa ng rumors na papalitan ng SM ung palengke namin eh.. pero kahit Walter lng.. OK na!... thx sa pagbati mo..

Batangas City
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4586408343_d5b1916d5d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwin_magayanes/4586408343/)

nakakamiss ang ganda ng dagat sa batangas.hehe, dyan ako sumasakay papuntang calapan,sandali nalang ang papunta jan ngayon no?me bagong gawwang express di ko alam pangalan ang labas sa balagtas na sa batangas.hehe

^^ ang alam ko ung pumalit kay Sanchez??
ang malaking controversy sa pagkamatay ni Sanchez ay..

1. Kung nanalo si Edna Sanchez sa pagiging Governor, legal na ba sa COMOLEC?
2. Pumalit nga si Edna sa asawa niya, e pano ung position.. may pumalit nga.. pero ang pagkakaalam ko sa rules ng COMELEC..

"Pwede lang pumalit ang isang tao sa isang position kung Kung namatayan, nagkaroon ng malubhang sakit.. nakalagay yan sa COMOLEC rules.. kaya kung nanalo ung pumalit kay Sanchez... legal din ba ito sa COMOLEC?




dati nga nagkaroon pa ng rumors na papalitan ng SM ung palengke namin eh.. pero kahit Walter lng.. OK na!... thx sa pagbati mo..

taga batangas ka pala..gustong gusto ko yung signature mo.hehe, gusto ko nga gayahin kaya lang wag na..hehe,
---yung sanchez ba yung namatay na kalaban ni vilma?:D

^^ yup... bale asawa niya ung namatay...

pwede mong ilagay sa sig mo --->>> All things are possible; tomorrow's success begins today.

^^ nakikita ko nga yung pangalan nung sanchez sa batangas port we..nakalimutan ko kung anong building at kung para san yon pero malaki yung building.haha
--oo maganda yung tommorow's success begins today..haha,

May 22,2010
Laiya-Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas
Laiya Coco Grove Resort


SIGAYAN BAY
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ano kaya itong mountain ranges na ito?
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http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/36/74/19014763/2_921374846l.jpg
A view from one of their Tree House

^^ payapang payapa..hehe, :D :D :D

SA loob at labas ng Walter Mart Tanauan City..

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Yan ung Main Entrance..

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8963/kapilas0071.jpg (http://img413.imageshack.us/i/kapilas0071.jpg/)

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At ang parking na nasa basement..

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ano pong update sa taal volcano?:D
-yung walter wala ring aircon sa loob kagaya ng sa sta.maria bulacan?:D

Nice Waltermart Tanauan....so far yun yung pinakamalaking Waltermart na nakita ko sa Southern Luzon area...

Nice Waltermart Tanauan....so far yun yung pinakamalaking Waltermart na nakita ko sa Southern Luzon area...

onga malaki siya..me basement pa for parking.. :D

hi batangas..update update naman jan.hehe


kayo ang may pinakamaraming view na thread sa cities and places>luzon hehe

just asking.. sirs and maa'ms.. madumi pa ba yung beaches sa Lemery? thanks in advance..

Wow parang ang laki ng Waltermart Tanauan!!

Waltermart Sta. Maria na yata ang pinakamaliit? :ohno:

^Hindi lang sa laki ng mall ang meron sa WM tanauan, higit sa lahat ay kakaiba ang pag-kadesign ng mall nya.

just asking.. sirs and maa'ms.. madumi pa ba yung beaches sa Lemery? thanks in advance..

yes madumi ang beaches sa lemery and the sand is like blackish in color, i was there last holy week fully book na kasi ang laiya i didnt bother swimming in the beach puro kalat coming from the masa visitor kakainis makita ang mga taong walang disiplina. naglasingan na lang kami ng sanpits ko para di sayang ang trip :)

La suena brisa, Batangas

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Lemery beach (puro basura nga..)

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St. Martin de tours, Taal Batangas (biggest Cathedral??)

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an old house in taal

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^^ sa mga hindi nakakaalam:
PUREGOLD Jr. TANAUAN opens last Saturday, July 24.. ang location nito ay ang dating Sioland Tanauan...

asensado na pala tanauan palibhasa di na me nakakadaan dyan palagi ng via star toll, makapunta pala walter, free po ba ang parking? ilang floors po? at may puregold na rin ah. nice tanauan.

^^ hahaha
2 floors ang walter.. ung may basement parking... malaki sya pero napagkakamalang maliit kasi box type ung mall maluwag ung daanan...

Jr lang ung sa tanauan (Puregold)... tama lang sa isang lugar na katulad namin.. pero

may mga balita na gagawin ulit ang Citimart Tanauan.. (ung nasunog)... isang malaking labanan ng mga grocery ang maglalaban-laban (TSM, Puregold Jr. at Citimart)

kaya PROUD ako sa bayan namin =)

jr lang ba hahaha. at least puregold pa din. di ko type citimart pero mababa presyo nila compared to others. mas convinient pa rin talaga sa sm supermarket kumpleto pa. balita ko yung south supermarket sa ayala gagawin daw puregold.

^^ hindi..... imposibleng gawin yan..

napakingan ko lang pinaguusapan nung nagpapagawa me sa may ayala.
anyways ano bang mga major projects in store para sa batangas?

sana may tollway from batangas city to bauan, sobra kasing traffic dyan. or sana magkaroon ng spur road ang star puntang bauan para hindi na dadaan pa ng batangas.
or railway. or sm sa lemery patok yun. sana magkaroon din tayo ng mga high rise buildings.

wala lang mga naisip ko lang :lol:

^^ sabi nila.. magkakaroon daw ng Circumferential Road sa paligid ng Taal Lake... un lang ang alam kong major infra road sa Batangas. at ung Batangas-Quezon Costal Road (d e2 expressway..... highway lng ata)..

Im from malvar, between of course, the two cities of Lipa and Tanauan.. Im happy na may mall n din sa tanauan, at may puregold pa. Kaya lang they are smaller, yung walter nga ang kalahati di naman aircon. kaya kahit mas malapit ang tanauan, sa lipa pa din kami nagpupunta. It has bigger, more modern and complete malls na pwede pag pilian, SM, Robinsons at may South Supermarket pa. Tanauan is improving, pero di pa din makahabol sa lipa in terms of modern conveniences. May shakeys at starbucks pa na favorite hang out ka. Sa Tanauan wala namang nadagdag na new restos, inulit lang o nagdadag lang ng branch ang kfc at jolibee sa walter. Haaay, sana. ginandahan nila ang mall na ito, kung mall nga siya matatawag..

yung mga barkada ko nga from tanauan mismo, balik-tambay sa lipa, sm, rob, cafe d lipa, starbucks, etc. Kasi sa walter, supermarket at appliances lang ang medyo ok. For shopping, sa lipa pa din talaga, mas complete, or better yet, manila siyempre. By the way, ang balita yung building na ginagawa sa tapat ng mercado hospital eh stabucks daw o shakeys, sana totoo.. Pero siyempre pag sa palengke, tanauan pa din ako. mas tukoy ko at madami nabibili... kaya Go Go Go Tanauan, habol ka sa Lipa at sa karatig pa siyudad ng calamba, san pablo na magkakaron na din ng SM, para naman maging deserving na matawag na city. di Ba?

By the way, qualified na ang batangas and Lipa and ma-elevate sa status ng Highly-urbanized cities, like cebu, baguio, muntinlupa, lucena, angeles etc. Kasi lahat ng qualifications na meet na, particularly population and income. Both have population of more than 250,000 as of 2007, and income of close to 1 billion pesos. As of now, Tanauan is classified as third class compononent city, with a population of 142,000 as of 2007 and an income of around 450,000.00.

sa nagwiwish, yung startoll na maideretso sa bauan, malabo labo pa. yung lipa to batangas city nga di pa tapos, kalahati pa lang. SM Lemery, why not? Its possible, kasi walang mall dyan sa western batangas. Pwede din sa Balayan... By the way, ask ko lang po, alin sa two most popular resort towns natin (Nasugbu and San Juan as of now) and nagbabalak na maging siyudad. Nabalitaan ko lang

hahahaha... maganda ung mga post mo.... dami nga eh!!

1st post: Ibang iba ang Tanauan sa Lipa... kaya hindi masyadong umuunlad ang Tanauan kasi konti lang ang nasasakop ng National Highway.. kaya ung mga ibang barangay namin hindi umuunlad.. pero pagnatuloy ung road na iikot sa Taal Lake... at ung iniisip kong Tanauan-Calamba Road... magkakaroon ng access ung mga ibang barangay sa amin.. mas uunlad...

2nd post: katulad ng sinabi ko sa kanina... hindi sakop ang ibang areas ng Tanauan.. kaya imposibleng magkaroon ng SM sa Tanauan... mga Sambat pwede pa.. ung Starbucks?? haha ngayon ko lng nalaman un ah... sana nga.. sana...

3rd post: Un din ang iniisip ko.. bakit hindi pa naitataas ung status ng aming city??? 3rd pa lang kame... pero ok lang un.. ang mahalaga umuunlad kami...

4th post: may proposal sa congress na maging city ang Balayan... ewan ko lng ung Nasugbu at San Juan... ang magandang paraan na lang na naiisip ko ay:

Si P-Noy ay nagiisip ng Cavite-Laguna Expressway... ngaun naisip ko lang na i-extend ito papuntang Batangas.. imposible ito (dahit mabundok ang Tagaytay) ngunit may mga ibang route akong nakikita para magkatotoo ito... ang mga uunlad na lugar sa Batangas kung mangyayari ito ay Balayan, Lian, Nasugbu, Tuy at ung iba pang parts ng Western Batangas... Star Tollway??? imposible pero kung another access road to Bauan?? may chance pa!! kaya dapat MAGISIP ang capitolyo natin!!

a nice infra project in batangas would be...
lrt sa loob ng batangas city that would be great di ba :nuts:
ideal terminals would be
cityhall/rizal ave.-
lawas-
kapitolio-
alangilan-
sm/pallocan.
puedeng elevated siya na single rail since kulang sa space paikot ikot nalang na one direction...:nuts:
sana one day...
Ate Vi ano masasabi mo sa suggestion ko???:lol:

^Nice one,:nuts::lol: Tama, nalutas mo na nga ang problema, bakit hindi mo subukan i-PM si gov v sakanyang FB baka, ilan sa mga nabangit mo ay maambunan ng infra.:lol:

im working on a thesis, and eto ang na reasearch ko sa NEDA. There are many built-up areas in our country now. Built-up area means an agglomeration of cities/towns where business and economic activities are concentrated and revolve in the area thereby creating a metropolitan center. In our province, there are two metropolitan center or built-up area as recognized by the NEDA:

1. Metro Lipa - composed of Lipa City as the center and its twin city of Tanauan, and the towns of Malvar and Sto. Tomas. It is also called north batangas metro by some sectors, specifically by FAITH which spearheads the North Batangas Summit every two years.

2. Metro Batangas - composed of Batangas City as the center, and the towns of San Pascual, Bauan and San Jose.

Other built-up areas in Calabarzon Region are: Upper Cavite, Metro Tagaytay-Silang, North Laguna and San Pablo-Metro Lucena

our prof from manila asked this: which is more progressive, batangas city or lipa city. No one readily answered. here are some comments:

1. For one, batangas city is the capital, and host the international seaport, but lipa city is as progressive and urbanized as well. It will have an airport when the Fernando Airbase is developed as planned to complement the batangas seaport. Both are industrialized. Batangas with its heavy industries and lipa with its light industries and agri-business.

2. Lipa City is the seat of the Archdiocese. It has more churches, convents and pilgrimage sites. It has cooler climate hence it has more resort-type and high-end subdivisions.

3. Both have large no. of working population, but lipa has more entrepreneurs and businessmen.

4. Batangas has more tertiary schools, but Lipa hosts the exclusive De La Salle and Ateneo Graduate School.

5. Batangas has two public markets. But Lipa has more malls and supermarkets.

6. Their city centers are both congested and teeming with people and business activities. But lipa has an uptown area. Batangas has the new pallocan business district.

7. Both have SM, but lipa has a robinsons and a south supermarket, batangas has makro.

8. Both have many banks, fastfood chains, insurance companies and other businesses.

9. Batangas have bigger hotels, Lipa has smaller ones. Lipa has bigger and more modern hospitals, batangas has fewer.

10. Lipa has word-class golf courses, resort farms and spa. Batangas has power plants, oil refineries and manufacturing plants.

11. Lipa has more feedmills, batangas has few. But both host two of the country's largest cooperatives, limcoma and sidci respectively.

12. Lipa is nearing its goal to becoming a billionaire city, batangas is already a billionaire city and has long exceeded the mark.

13. For long, Lipa is known for having the good quality of life, but batangas has catched up with its big budget for the delivery of basic services.

14. Both have consistently ranked well in the Philippines City Competitiveness Ranking. Batangas was ahead, but in the latest study, Lipa is ranked no. 11, Batangas no. 17...

... and the discussion went on and on... until one said, pero bakit mas malakas ang SM sa Lipa kesa SM sa Batangas. And many agreed.. Well that's another topic... Kayo, alin sa tingin nyo, which is really more progressive, Batangas City or Lipa City. Remember, there are many indicators and signs of development, not just physical features, accessibility to modern conveniences, but the quality of life as well... In the end, our professor said. But the rapid growth in Sto.Tomas-Tanauan cannot be ignored. The area is the gateway to the province, and it is like wise also progressive, with the FPIP (industrial site) and various subdivisions too.. good day to all.

hahahaha... maganda ung mga post mo.... dami nga eh!!

1st post: Ibang iba ang Tanauan sa Lipa... kaya hindi masyadong umuunlad ang Tanauan kasi konti lang ang nasasakop ng National Highway.. kaya ung mga ibang barangay namin hindi umuunlad.. pero pagnatuloy ung road na iikot sa Taal Lake... at ung iniisip kong Tanauan-Calamba Road... magkakaroon ng access ung mga ibang barangay sa amin.. mas uunlad...

2nd post: katulad ng sinabi ko sa kanina... hindi sakop ang ibang areas ng Tanauan.. kaya imposibleng magkaroon ng SM sa Tanauan... mga Sambat pwede pa.. ung Starbucks?? haha ngayon ko lng nalaman un ah... sana nga.. sana...

3rd post: Un din ang iniisip ko.. bakit hindi pa naitataas ung status ng aming city??? 3rd pa lang kame... pero ok lang un.. ang mahalaga umuunlad kami...

4th post: may proposal sa congress na maging city ang Balayan... ewan ko lng ung Nasugbu at San Juan... ang magandang paraan na lang na naiisip ko ay:

Si P-Noy ay nagiisip ng Cavite-Laguna Expressway... ngaun naisip ko lang na i-extend ito papuntang Batangas.. imposible ito (dahit mabundok ang Tagaytay) ngunit may mga ibang route akong nakikita para magkatotoo ito... ang mga uunlad na lugar sa Batangas kung mangyayari ito ay Balayan, Lian, Nasugbu, Tuy at ung iba pang parts ng Western Batangas... Star Tollway??? imposible pero kung another access road to Bauan?? may chance pa!! kaya dapat MAGISIP ang capitolyo natin!!

MR. NICK NAME FOR LIFE> tHANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY POSTS. Alam mo ba na nag-bebenefit ang Tanauan (as well as malvar) sa spill-over developments ng Lipa. The businesses and activites in Lipa are spreading over to adjacent towns. One example. Dati kasi may waltermart sa fiesta mall, but when robinsons and sm came in, they closed shop and decided to look for a better site along national hi-way to build a stand-alone mall/supermarket. But it apparently faced very stiff competition. Hence, they decided to relocate it to Tanauan, where there is likewise a big market potential. At andyan na nga. DTI and NEDA is predicting that Tanauan City will progress and develop faster now more so because of its accessibility and being in-tandem with nearby Sto.Tomas town, already a progressive and industrialized town, qualified to become a city. Good mayor and governance by the city executives will greatly help, too.

lipa ako. batangas congested na.

I am originally from Lipa kaya puede ninyong sabihin na biased ako. Lipa is geographically in the center of the province and naturally the people of the surrounding towns: Balete, Malvar, Tanauan, Padre Garcia, Rosario, Ibaan, San Jose, Cuenca, Alitagtag and Mataas na Kahoy, would tend to gravitate towards Lipa. When I was growing up I never imagined that Lipa would be able to sustain the business generated by two large malls (SM and Rob) on top of the still vibrant public market and a third relatively smaller mall (Fiesta).

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Puregold ng Tanauan..

hahaha... taga tanauan ako pero ngaun ko lang ito nakita hahaha... d kasi ako nakakagala eh.. ayus pala ang Puregold namen!!!

i am from malvar, hence i can never be accused of being biased. For 12 years my job as an account executive for a pharmaceutical company takes me to batangas and lipa ( and in other places depending on the assignment) quite often. My one observation is that when a manila-based restaurant or fast food wants to open a branch in the province, they put up a branch in Lipa first, or test the market in Lipa for viability in the province. Remember RACKS? it operated in Lipa. Max's and Kenny Rogers put their first branches in Lipa, and Pizza Hut as well. These has long been in Lipa before they branched out to Batangas. With the exception of Jollibee which first put up a store in Batangas, McDonalds and Goldilocks in Lipa operated a few years in Lipa before having their stores in Batangas... This is one gauge of the sustainability of the local business, the capability of the city to absorb manila based establishments, like these restaurants and the large malls, SM and Robinsons. And Lipa has proven that. Of course, Batangas will always be a magnet for businesses and investments because it is the capital city, and the growth center of southern tagalog. But Lipa is catching much of the investments as well because of its central location. Let's not consider them as rivals, for both cities complement each other. In fact they are dubbed as the "twin cities" of southern tagalog and in fact they have left their contemporaries san pablo and lucena in terms of progress and growth.. Take note that in Calabarzon,the highly developed cities of Santa Rosa, Antipolo, Calamba, Dasmarinas and Binan are relatively new cities, but they are growing so fast, particularly Sta. Rosa. The original old cities are Tagaytay, San Pablo, Lipa, Lucena and Batangas, in that order according to the year they were chartered.

hahaha... taga tanauan ako pero ngaun ko lang ito nakita hahaha... d kasi ako nakakagala eh.. ayus pala ang Puregold namen!!!

.. oo nga. ngayon ko lang din nakita. I will visit that tomorrow, kapag namalengke ako. Is this the place previously occupied by Sioland? at the corner of the public market going to Bagumbayan. You know, I enjoy roaming around the town proper of Tanauan. To me its like one big outdoor mall, with fast food joints, service shops, retail stores and amost everything I need. Basta wag lang mainit at maulan, nag iikot ako dyan. Its the nearest commercial center from our place here in Malvar. Happy weekend to all.

^^ yup.. it is previously occupied by Sioland... ewan ko lang kung bakit ito nagdowngrade at pinalitan ng Puregold...

i agree in your 1st post... sa tingin ko pagtagal ng panahon.. uunlad din ang mga nakapaligid sa Lipa (kasama tayo dyan ^_^) kasi magiging crowded ang Lipa.. hahanap ng lugar ang mga investors... dun tayo papasok.. uunlad din tayo.

why not convert FAB to a domestic airport? nakakatakot minsan yung mga single prop planes doon mas matatanda pa ata yun sa lolo ko. i wondering why they still have to fly this planes.

^^ haha... kasi kung hindi natin gagamitin ang mga ito.. wala tayong eroplano... bulok pa kasi sistema natin eh...

may proposal ata maging Domestic Airport ung sa Lipa.. ganda kasi daw ng location at higit sa lahat... malaki pa ang space

sori.. DP

sa totoo lang ano bang silbi ng FAB? subdivision ng mga tauhan ng paf? golf course? air defense in case? bago sila makapagpalipad ng isang eroplano sabog na buong fab. tatawanan lang sila. pwede pa siguro iconvert sa us base siguradong mas secure tayo. kaso baka sasama imahe ng lipa dadami prosti hehe.
domestic airport or logistics hub lalaki pa income ng lipa.
para naman may pakinabang hindi yung ginagastusan ng gobyerno para display lang.

^^ FYI: sa FAB makikita ng PAF Air Education and Training Command..... na isa sa mga mahalagang commands sa Philippine Air Force... nandito din ang command center ng PAF na sumasakop sa buong Batangas.. kaya wag nating sasabihin na wala itong pakinabang...

^^ FYI: sa FAB makikita ng PAF Air Education and Training Command..... na isa sa mga mahalagang commands sa Philippine Air Force... nandito din ang command center ng PAF na sumasakop sa buong Batangas.. kaya wag nating sasabihin na wala itong pakinabang...

:dance2::dance2::dance2:In addition to this, I heard that the facilities of Villamor Air Base will be distributed amongst the different air force bases, one of which is FAB. As you can see, NAIA already ate a great part of VAB. I think that the gov't will eventually sell VAB. There are also rumors that FAB had already bought land for expansion next to their Mataas na Kahoy perimeter.

im working on a thesis, and eto ang na reasearch ko sa NEDA. There are many built-up areas in our country now. Built-up area means an agglomeration of cities/towns where business and economic activities are concentrated and revolve in the area thereby creating a metropolitan center. In our province, there are two metropolitan center or built-up area as recognized by the NEDA:

1. Metro Lipa - composed of Lipa City as the center and its twin city of Tanauan, and the towns of Malvar and Sto. Tomas. It is also called north batangas metro by some sectors, specifically by FAITH which spearheads the North Batangas Summit every two years.

2. Metro Batangas - composed of Batangas City as the center, and the towns of San Pascual, Bauan and San Jose.

Other built-up areas in Calabarzon Region are: Upper Cavite, Metro Tagaytay-Silang, North Laguna and San Pablo-Metro Lucena

Did I hear it right or saw it somewhere...San Juan is now a City?San Juan Batangas yan mga kababayan...

San Juan, Batangas is not a city yet. The mayor is still pushing for its cityhood. It is one of the two most popular resort towns in our province, the other one is Nasugbu, also pushing for cityhood. As we all now, the tiny San Juan City is in Metro Manila.

^^ yup.. it is previously occupied by Sioland... ewan ko lang kung bakit ito nagdowngrade at pinalitan ng Puregold...

i agree in your 1st post... sa tingin ko pagtagal ng panahon.. uunlad din ang mga nakapaligid sa Lipa (kasama tayo dyan ^_^) kasi magiging crowded ang Lipa.. hahanap ng lugar ang mga investors... dun tayo papasok.. uunlad din tayo.

.. as i said, I visited Puregold Jr. Tanauan, for curiosity and to buy na din basic items. The place is cool, quite small, but organized at ang daming tao ha. Nice na din, imagine an airconditioned supermarket right at your doorstep, just beside the public market. Eh maski sa Lipa nga or batangas city, wala ka namang makikita supermarket inside the downtown nila, you will drive your car pa, or magsasakay ka tricyle o jeep para lang makapunta sa aircond supermarket sa labas ng bayan. Tanauan is improving, really, in its own right...

:dance2::dance2::dance2:In addition to this, I heard that the facilities of Villamor Air Base will be distributed amongst the different air force bases, one of which is FAB. As you can see, NAIA already ate a great part of VAB. I think that the gov't will eventually sell VAB. There are also rumors that FAB had already bought land for expansion next to their Mataas na Kahoy perimeter.

.. yep time pa ni ramos yung plan, at time pa ni mandanas. medyo na shelved kasi and then pushed again nung time ni erap. then gloria came, at inuna naman yung clark. In fact in the 90's binili na nga yong adjacent properties for expansion. And then yung mga nearby areas, idevelop sana into ecozone, much like LIMA.

...oops, heard that there is a plan to put up a Casino in Lipa. Totoo ba?

^^ wow!! hindi ko alam ah.... pero sapalagay ko "Hearsay" palang ata ito...

may classmate said pinaguusapan na daw sa regular session ng sanggunian sa lipa. Pero marami tutol lalo na ang arsobispo

I'm a true blooded batangueno, and i'd like to share its many characterestics. Unahin ko na malvar ha, kasi taga dito ako. here it goes:

1. Malvar - a town named after Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last revolutionary hero.
It used to be part of Lipa until the end of 19th century. It has an
eco-zone that it shares with Lipa City (LIMA).
2. Sto. Tomas - The Gateway to Batangas
3. Tanauan City - The Cradle of Noble Heroes
4. Lipa City - The Pride of Batangas, The Coffee Capital of the Philippines, The Rome of the Philippines, The Agri-business center of the Province
The Prayer Capital, The Next-Wave City, The Commercial Center of the Province
5. San Jose - Egg Basket of the Philippines
6. Padre Garcia - The Cattle Capital of Calabarzon
7. Cuenca - Home of the Bakers
8. Batangas City - The Industrial Port City, The Growth Center of the Calabar
zon, Gateway to the Visayas and MIndanao. One of the
nation's top revenue earning cities. The Educational Center of the Province
9. Nasugbu - The Premier Resort town
10. Taal - The Heritage Town, The Balisong and Embroidery Capital
.......... and the list goes on

I'm a true blooded batangueno, and i'd like to share its many characterestics. Unahin ko na malvar ha, kasi taga dito ako. here it goes:

1. Malvar - a town named after Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last revolutionary hero.
It used to be part of Lipa until the end of 19th century. It has an
eco-zone that it shares with Lipa City (LIMA).
2. Sto. Tomas - The Gateway to Batangas
3. Tanauan City - The Cradle of Noble Heroes
4. Lipa City - The Pride of Batangas, The Coffee Capital of the Philippines, The Rome of the Philippines, The Agri-business center of the Province
The Prayer Capital, The Next-Wave City, The Commercial Center of the Province
5. San Jose - Egg Basket of the Philippines
6. Padre Garcia - The Cattle Capital of Calabarzon
7. Cuenca - Home of the Bakers
8. Batangas City - The Industrial Port City, The Growth Center of the Calabar
zon, Gateway to the Visayas and MIndanao. One of the
nation's top revenue earning cities. The Educational Center of the Province
9. Nasugbu - The Premier Resort town
10. Taal - The Heritage Town, The Balisong and Embroidery Capital
.......... and the list goes on
lipa pala ang cofee capital ng pinas. :D
at ang egg basket ay san jose.haha,dito ang egg basket ng probinsya namin ay sta.maria ata.tapos sa pampanga minalin.sa buong pinas san jose. :)

^Ang akala ko sa amadeo ang coffee capital of the philippines:D

^Ang akala ko sa amadeo ang coffee capital of the philippines:D

sinearch ko sa wiki oo nga amadeo ang coffee capital.haha, :)

I'm a true blooded batangueno, and i'd like to share its many characterestics. Unahin ko na malvar ha, kasi taga dito ako. here it goes:

1. Malvar - a town named after Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last revolutionary hero.
It used to be part of Lipa until the end of 19th century. It has an
eco-zone that it shares with Lipa City (LIMA).
2. Sto. Tomas - The Gateway to Batangas
3. Tanauan City - The Cradle of Noble Heroes
4. Lipa City - The Pride of Batangas, The Coffee Capital of the Philippines, The Rome of the Philippines, The Agri-business center of the Province
The Prayer Capital, The Next-Wave City, The Commercial Center of the Province
5. San Jose - Egg Basket of the Philippines
6. Padre Garcia - The Cattle Capital of Calabarzon
7. Cuenca - Home of the Bakers
8. Batangas City - The Industrial Port City, The Growth Center of the Calabar
zon, Gateway to the Visayas and MIndanao. One of the
nation's top revenue earning cities. The Educational Center of the Province
9. Nasugbu - The Premier Resort town
10. Taal - The Heritage Town, The Balisong and Embroidery Capital
.......... and the list goes on

Hello guys (forumenrs of Batangas thread)..I am visiting for now...not to stick my nose on your issues...but would like to comment on all those city tag...I thought it is dinitely wonderful thing to do for your cities in Batangas. Way to go guys...just love it!!!!!:cheers: