The Manila Times
Wednesday, June 27, 2007


Governor eager to see
entire Cebu an ecozone


CEBU CITY: Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu said on Monday that the bid to declare the entire Cebu province a special economic zone, a private-sector initiative which requires an act of Congress, “has the full backing of the people and goverment of Cebu.”

Garcia, who spoke before delegates of the recent 2nd Philippine Investment Conference at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort in Lapu-Lapu City, said the proposed ecozone would be “fully oriented toward the emerging supply-chain network that has been rapidly integrating East Asia and connecting the region with the best of the world.”

The Cebu-wide ecozone is a brainchild of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), which began seriously considering it in 2006 when Francis Monera was elected chamber president.

A CCCI-commissioned study on the benefits of a Cebu ecozone and how to make it autonomous from national bodies is in its final stages, said Monera.

Cebu province supported the hosting of the two-day Euromoney Conference, which brought together to the province high-profile business leaders, policymakers and corporations from all over the world to discuss opportunities for business, trade and investment.

Governor Garcia said Cebu’s public and private sector enjoyed a strong partnership, particularly in tourism and information technology.

Garcia said a “special economic zone status would give us even greater flexibility, in terms of incentives in attractive new investments on this island.”

She said it would also mean being committed to global norms and conventions and global best practices to promote trade in goods, money and ideas.

Monera recalled telling Garcia about the ecozone plan during one of his courtesy visits last year.

”She told me to go ahead with the plan because it was a good idea. She said she wants it to be private sector-led. She also said that the province will be behind us all the way,” he said.

Under the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7918), no taxes, local and national, shall be imposed on business establishments operating within an ecozone.

In lieu of paying taxes, 5 percent of the gross income earned by all enterprises in the zone would be remitted to the national government. From this, a 1-percent share would go to the affected local government, 1 percent to the development fund and 3 percent to the national government.

Monera said a Cebu ecozone would improve the business environment and make it globally competitive.

Several areas of Cebu are already declared ecozones like the Mactan Export Processing Zone 1 and 2, part of Balamban town and the Asiatown IT Park in Cebu City.

Robert Go, regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said an ecozone would bring jobs to the countryside.

But he noted that Cebu would have to invest heavily in infrastructure to make it viable—roads, highways, telephone lines and seaports.

”In China, they build freeways in six months. Here in the Philippines, in six years, it’s not done yet. That is something to look at,” he said.

He supported the lobby for Cebu’s ecozone status, saying it would place the island “at the center of an economic storm. Cebu will become the best place to invest in the Philippines.
--PNA

New city bus?


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2502.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2501.jpg

Repainting of Golden Peak:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2503.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2504.jpg

Lexmark RDU has topped-off:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2506.jpg

The future home of accenture:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2507.jpg

Ayala lagoon redevelopment:


http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4827/panolagoonfinalog7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

New city bus?


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2502.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2501.jpg

i've seen buses like this during the Sinulog parked near the Capitol...

i could only dream that the city government would purchase and entire fleet of buses like these and operate a semi-public bus transit system...:)

Ayala mall expansion (nothing is really new with the design and color scheme):


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2513.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2514.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2511.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2512.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2509.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2508.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2510.jpg

SM North Block:


http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2184/panosmfinalnp4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

We were wondering before why they covered the ramp with that blue tarps. The reason being, they are actually tearing down the ramp on both sides in its entirety. I dunno why :dunno:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2515.jpg


More:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2519.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2518.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2517.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2516.jpg

Site of another McDo:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2520.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2521.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8152/635684012226a9493ceoiw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
From Flickr.com by ANAKIN

Aerials by ANAKIN~ of flickr.com:


APO: Progress at nature's expense

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5741/634851717b510f52d78olu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



SRP:

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8152/635684012226a9493ceoiw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Aerials by ANAKIN~ of flickr.com:

SRP:

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8152/635684012226a9493ceoiw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ I just love this view....imagine 20 years from now, the same angle but filled with skyscrapers...making SRP as a bustling business district. whoa....ei slemarken....keep this photo so we can compare it 20 years from now...weeee

he is residing near the headquarters of Cafe Laguna in Brgy. Apas... he said the scooter costs him $2,000 jackie Chans shop in Hongkong... he was one of those guyz i remember dancing the tune "ang Tigulang" Bisrock @ a concert here!

haha, wow haven't seen anyone who uses that thing yet.. at least to those places i frequent. :cool:

wow... i was surprised when i visited sunstar website.... they now have the E-Paper... i guess this is the first in Philippines....

you may visit their e-paper at http://epaper.sunstar.com.ph/

Btw, this has never been discussed here. What is that oil exploration in Western Cebu all about?

the exploration of at the cebu-bohol straight is actually just a seismic survey, the usual first phase of oil exploration... i guess the fishermen who cried foul on this project were not just properly educated on such kind of project... this will not actually damage the marine life (fish, corals, etc.) since this seismic survey only determines the profile of the seabed for possible oil or gas deposits... the only problem that i see in such kind of exploration is that fishermen won't be allowed to fish near the exploration ship.. though i think they can fish 10km away from the ship....

kabalo na ka sa mga wala kabalo about this stuff.. so they project just got scared that this project will take away their livelihood.

wow... i was surprised when i visited sunstar website.... they now have the E-Paper... i guess this is the first in Philippines....

you may visit their e-paper at http://epaper.sunstar.com.ph/

yeah. i subscribed today. very cool. i think it's a first.

very nice layout too.

http://i10.tinypic.com/52qhgsy.jpg

Is this thing free or does it have a subscription fee? If it doesn't, how can SunStar - Cebu profit from such operations? :?

Is this thing free or does it have a subscription fee? If it doesn't, how can SunStar - Cebu profit from such operations? :?

no, it's not free. these are their subscription fees:

1 day = 1 USD
1 month = 3.9 USD
6 months = 19.90 USD
1 year = 29.90 USD

Aerials by ANAKIN~ of flickr.com:


APO: Progress at nature's expense

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5741/634851717b510f52d78olu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


:ohno: Goodness, gracious! :shocked:

Repainting of Golden Peak:


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2503.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/MarkiiBoi3/SSCJune2504.jpg

Is someone able to visualize how this tower will look like after the repainting is completed?

ANP to launch exhibit
of Negrense furniture
Five groups of Negrense entrepreneurs will showcase their world-class furniture and furnishing products in an exhibit called "Matahum" to be launched by the Association of Negros Producers - Negros Showroom on June 30.

The ANP exhibitors are Art Energy, Hacienda Crafts, Tumandok Crafts, Atelier Aguila and Golden Furnishing.

"Matahum," which will open at 5 p.m. at the 3rd floor gallery of the Negros Showroom, will display the latest and most innovative furniture and home furnishing pieces made in Negros.

The exhibit will be opened to the public from July 1 to December 31 this year.

The latest furniture designs and pieces, all designed and crafted by Negrense producers, are being marketed both in the Philippines and abroad.

Art Energy, owned and managed by husband and wife team of Felix and Cathy Hagad, has been known for its contemporary and innnovative furniture designs. Hacienda Crafts, also by husband and wife team, Joey and Christina Gaston, is a leading manufacturer of lamps, gifts and décor, and home furnishings and well known for its coco twig creations, fiber glass lamp furnishings, and unique tableware products.

Behind Tumandok Crafts is Josephine Locsin, also an exporter of furnishing and home decorative products, and a leading producer of wood and laminated table top décor, lamps, tableware, and home furnishing items.

Golden Furnishing, by Jaime Chan, is a leading local manufacturer of top quality rattan and wicker furniture - from living room sets, dining sets, and bedroom furniture.

Karl Aguila, a young Negrense artist, is at the helm of Atelier Aguila, a furnishings company which manufactures some of the most unique design pieces in the country. Atelier Aguila, based San Carlos City, uses recycled wood materials for its highly creative designs, innovative furniture pieces, and contemporary furnishings.*

sorry for the large pics.. too lazy to resize them.. :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/malls/park168001.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/malls/park168002.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/malls/park168003.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/malls/park168004.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/malls/park168005.jpg

parkmall @ 168

^ Nah they're fine. Thanks for posting sugbuanon! :okay: The floor plan seems cool. A combination of tiangge+leasable spaces+al fresco dining+supermarket then they'll have a sunken amphitheater (:shocked:), a playground and an events area :okay:

the exploration of at the cebu-bohol straight is actually just a seismic survey, the usual first phase of oil exploration... i guess the fishermen who cried foul on this project were not just properly educated on such kind of project... this will not actually damage the marine life (fish, corals, etc.) since this seismic survey only determines the profile of the seabed for possible oil or gas deposits... the only problem that i see in such kind of exploration is that fishermen won't be allowed to fish near the exploration ship.. though i think they can fish 10km away from the ship....

kabalo na ka sa mga wala kabalo about this stuff.. so they project just got scared that this project will take away their livelihood.

I think they also did this in Tañon Strait (between Cebu and Negros). Environmentalists and fishermen were also calling for foul and complaining about its long-term effects in the livelihood and ecology.

btw
i saw a pile driver in Mandaue's SRA just beside the under construction dormitory which is beside CDU. thought it was just being parked there or something but when i saw this concrete thingy it's burying, i thought there'll be a structure to be built there.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071207.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071212.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071200.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071197.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071222.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071221.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071216-1.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071209.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071208.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071196.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071203.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/280420071201.jpg


here's a house designed by cebuano architect [ako ni idol :D], arch't. medalla.. why hire architects from the capital when our very own architects are at par with the best in the world.. :D

^^ i thought it's one of those houses in Hollywood...

^^ yes bai its really in hollywood.. diba cebu is now the hollywood in asia, thanx to bigfoot.. :D bitaw naa rana sa talamban.. hehe

Marvs, kinsa nang balay??? how much did it cost to build that house??? I like the style very much

Rawr, I'm drooling at that house! :colgate:

That's in Talamban? Very nice. I've gone inside a house designed by the same architect, somewhere in Guadalupe. Was attending a party. Was quite awed by the design. Really looked at almost all the rooms. No compare!

Sweet BeJeezzuussss!!! That's one chic post-modernist piece of architectural wonder that house is. ;)

its a shame the house is all glass, di ka puede maglakawlakaw nga way tapis. btaw, it really is very modern and the design is very unique. pla kahay cost patukod ana sa? mura mag million dollar nang balaya

its a shame the house is all glass, di ka puede maglakawlakaw nga way tapis. btaw, it really is very post-modern and the design is very unique. pla kahay cost patukod ana sa? mura mag million dollar nang balaya

It's post-modern architecture not modern. Modern architecture were the architectural designs during the 1970s and 1980s. :yes: ;)

Btw, I agree that this all-glass design concept ain't practical for a house in such a location. I don't care if it's an all-glass house or "glass house" as long as it's in a remote area (think: Tops or anywhere like that)...but this is in a middle of a dense suburban neighborhood! The neighbors will be able to see everything. :runaway: :lol:

Sugbuanon, that parkmall blueprint must be one of the first drawings as I've seen an updated version, for the inside aspect, its much different already. It will be presented to any prospect tenant kasi. As far as the facade is concerned, it still looks more or less the same. The facade is designed by Architect Gan from Manila, and is reportedly one of the to 5 or top 3 architects of Manila (or the Philippines?), so I expect it to look very very good once it is actually built and finished.

damn... that house looooooooksss gorgeous... from the first look i thought it was a high end shoppin center or boutique something...

@sugbuanon

Nice update bai, ty! Update gyud na update!

Idol sad na nako si Arch't. Alex Medalla bai. He is the interior designer of our office. Ala Megadome spinning disc on the ceiling and on the walls with colorful paints and lightings that will surely make you feel so alive and happy even if our office building is nah, ugly!

Cebu City Harbour as viewed from Convergys I2. (Sorry for the greenish ambiance, the tint of the windows here are of that colour and I'm hiding my camera from the guards, hehehe!! :D)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/500x500/60/DSCF0143.JPG?et=uZKjEq3ltXKgoBvid0IUPA

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/500x500/61/DSCF0144.JPG?et=0CkykP4jHaRWJ06lfoFBgQ
Mandaue area

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/500x500/62/DSCF0145.JPG?et=T5OmjxUFK6vBV92GWkVWig
Cebu Business Park/Ayala Area

-----------------------
Star-crossed politicians, hehehehe!!! Couple of the year. :D

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/5/photos/27/500x500/63/DSCF0146.JPG?et=Z%2BCsVM1tGy615kFNHhR5PQ
Somewhere in uptown Cebu, these two streets meet near the contested land areas. Coincidentially, this street is located near Fuente Osmeña and Larsian Road. :D

When will they ever stop bashing and instead, work together for the better for Sugbo?

I think they also did this in Tañon Strait (between Cebu and Negros). Environmentalists and fishermen were also calling for foul and complaining about its long-term effects in the livelihood and ecology.

yup, they did. i'm not really sure if this kind of exploration has long term effects in the marine life.... though i believe it has some kind of effect in the underground movements since part of the exploration is blasting the underground (thousands of feet below sea bed) to look for possible oil and gas deposits.

its a shame the house is all glass, di ka puede maglakawlakaw nga way tapis. btaw, it really is very modern and the design is very unique. pla kahay cost patukod ana sa? mura mag million dollar nang balaya

hehehehe... i remembered asking my friend how he makes love with his wife with such kind of house (glass house)... no problem actually with the "glass ding-ding" because they can put blinds or curtains to block people from seeing what's going on inside the house.. the problem was, his house' ceiling is also made of glass... though nindot sya katulgan because you can see all the stars from up above pag natulog naka.

^ But when thunderstorm season comes, patay, you'll see the ever-bright lightning :D

^ But when thunderstorm season comes, patay, you'll see the ever-bright lightning :D

yup, it's kinda scary during stormy season... his kids has to sleep in the ground floor.. they own a glass company kase that's why pati bahay nya ay made of glass lahat....

oppsss.. this is out of topic.. pero let me just say this... the price of glass is really expensive in the Philippines.. especially in cebu. Bakit?

qwBIaauNFjk

Gov. Gwen Garcia is pointing fingers! that the SRP is not sellable and that the media should investigate the project...

again she is diverting the issues against her Regarding the CICC. last May 3 she said that the CICC is only php581Million, she even invited the academe, businessmen and various sectors!

Now! iya na gi.ankon nga ang CICC is already php800Million! a LIAR! because Businessman Crisologo now has the Real Facts presented to media. what if Crisologo didn't expose it?

kinsa man ang ato tuohan? an arrogant mayor? or a cheating Governor?

@Fundraiser: Nice video!
@rage: I was really pissed with the governor's statements yesterday when the media was so curious about the real costs of the CICC. She was complaining why she was deeply investigated and why not Tomas and Cebu City that is currently carrying a huge debt over the SRP which she doubts if it is sellable or profitable or will give benefits to the constituents of the city. To Mother Gwen: Mind your own business, girl! :okay:

^^
I can't decide nor I can take side.

I just hope that the two will shut up and move on as if nothing happens. If they can't, then they should let the court decide on the fate of the affected constituents and interests. But sad to say, the court can't even decide because the city and the province didn't sue each other. Instead, they opted for a word war! I think the two should change their strategies. I think it's a lot better for the two to go into cold war, sue each other and shut up. Let their respective lawyers do their jobs, and let the court decide.

i was kinda hoping that ssc-cebu would avoid political issues in the main thread. but then again, maybe its just me.

Perhaps the two are just having their own dose of "hormonal imbalance". :lol: They're so hyper!! :lol:

i was kinda hoping that ssc-cebu would avoid political issues in the main thread. but then again, maybe its just me.

Indeed but it is unavoidable. If this conflict will go worse (which I hope won't happen) to the extent that skyscrapers, infrastructure and other projects from the private sector will be stalled, then that will be a major issue for a skyscraper/urban forum such as SSC :ohno:

Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1381/639847876_d67b276e26_o.jpg
An aerial view of the southeastern tip of Bantayan Island off the coast of northern Cebu. The photo shows the town of Santa Fe and its white sandy beach.


Bagacay Point (a small peninsula part of Liloan, Cebu), Philippines
This point(a small cape so to speak) was a once a quiet, majestic place to visit, with an old Spanish lighthouse on it. Times have changes, and greed is slowly taking the peaceful view away. A housing developer is greedily tearing the place a part. Well, how often do Filipinos care about history and about view's anyway. I'm a Filipino, and if you are -- then there's no point in arguing -- unless you're part of those greedy bastards.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1243/639842084_36bfa8416e_o.jpg

^ I think he's referring to Amara. Do you agree with his sentiments though?

by Storm Crypt (http://flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/)

Mactan Shrine by derimachea (http://flickr.com/photos/derimachea/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1257/634701187_e65784ea11_o.jpg

A Creek in Kawasan Falls by tagigi (http://flickr.com/photos/tagigi/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/634620563_c183665788_b.jpg

Northern Tip of Cebu by chuck_beng2004 (http://flickr.com/photos/9430848@N08/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1242/634446603_a849c64353_b.jpg

Kawasan Falls by The Viewfinder (http://flickr.com/photos/eil/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/631257141_ac74bc6c98_o.jpg

Sunset in Dumanjug by The Viewfinder (http://flickr.com/photos/eil/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1012/632164024_3335f45ec4_o.jpg

Crooked Reflection by sweetsexything (http://flickr.com/photos/43802765@N00/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1257/628289958_64a45fb666_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1004/620663749_4b1988d545_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/621262126_cfb7116b35_b.jpg

Cebu Midtown Hotel Poolside by kilmerpeterson (http://flickr.com/photos/kilmerpeterson/)

lola gwen and lolo tomas could be really annoying.... though we cannot deny the fact that these two have done great things for our beloved Cebu Province! don't expect these tomas-gwen brouhaha to stop... expect this to go on until next election because i'm pretty sure tomas will run for governor in next election amidst constant denial that he's not running. let's just hope that their childish acts won't hurt cebu big time, since effects of their conflicts have actually started to be visible, even here in skyscraper forum.

@Fundraiser: Nice video!
@rage: I was really pissed with the governor's statements yesterday when the media was so curious about the real costs of the CICC. She was complaining why she was deeply investigated and why not Tomas and Cebu City that is currently carrying a huge debt over the SRP which she doubts if it is sellable or profitable or will give benefits to the constituents of the city. To Mother Gwen: Mind your own business, girl! :okay:

gwen said: "kapoy kaayo ning media kay koti-kotihon jud ko nila" "kato plang SRP ilang kotihon kay wa jud nahalin" "ang CICC 2 months nikita na ug 3Million, ang SRP 5yrs. na nahuman hangtud karon wala ghapon nahalin"

why not koti-koti gweN? imagine if more than php200Million nawala? :bash: nganu ang city govt. iya pa man apilon? klaro kaayo nga she is diverting all the attention to Tomas para dili ma.concentrate ang media sa kapalpakan sa Capitol...

Very effective mam gwen! pero nasakpan naman cya... :bash: hehehehe!

^^ anyone who had any real knowledge of the current situation of the SRP or of its potential wouldnt make such comments nga wa daw "mahalin". and i thought madam gwen knew any better, western-educated man kaha na cya? im really disappointed with all the comments shes been making lately.

[QUOTE=Jhaelnis;13980916]Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1381/639847876_d67b276e26_o.jpg
An aerial view of the southeastern tip of Bantayan Island off the coast of northern Cebu. The photo shows the town of Santa Fe and its white sandy beach.


^^ looks like somewhere in the Yucatan peninsula of mexico, where the desert meets the sea. and whats that large swath of red soil at the upper-right corner of the pic?

Hmm, when Mary Ann de los Santos threw false accusations/information about the SRP, her claims were then proven wrong by Mr. Nigel Paul Villarete (who occasionally posts here in SSC). I hope he also does the same to Ms. Garcia. :laugh:

-----
Btw, has anyone of you seen the situation at Florencio Urot Elementary School in Mabolo during dismissal time? It's a mess! There's is supposedly a wide sidewalk for the students to use but they choose to use the main road instead since the sidewalk has been occupied by different stalls (usually cellphone shops). So what's the use of the sidewalk then? Attention: Cebu City Government :)

^^post that on the cebu city forums bai sinjin, im sure someone will take notice

Widening of Escario street has commenced but the shape is unusual. The yellow lines show the extent of the development (concreting). I hope that they will work something out from that area across Golden Peak rather than leave it as it is,

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/escario_street_new.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/escario_street_new-1.jpg




..

^ When is the target completion date for the Escario project? I am quite sure it is being done by phases.

Remodeling of "The Village" in Asiatown IT Park has now started

Status: Digging

^^

@Jhaelnis


Maybe it will look like this but I hope not, hehe :dunno: :dunno:


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/escario_street_new_02.jpg




..

^^ I assume this "widened" area of the Escario St. would serve as a side-street parallel parking stretch. :yes:

The former SVD Formation House is now an extension of USC-North Campus.

It's now called USC Montessori Center


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/usc_north.jpg




..

^^ I assume this "widened" area of the Escario St. would serve as a side-street parallel parking stretch. :yes:



Hehehehe, reminds me of a jeepney driver who said that the reason why roads are being expanded is to provide space for the jeepneys to park during lunch, to provide space where make-shift stages can be built during fiestas for Ms. Barangay beauty pageants, etc.. It was just a joke by the driver but he actually had a point, hehehe..

Sa V.Rama hangtod karon mao ra gihapon ang problema..


..

There will be a solar panels installed on the top most floor or the roof top of the Hongkong Plaza Hotel

gwen said: "kapoy kaayo ning media kay koti-kotihon jud ko nila" "kato plang SRP ilang kotihon kay wa jud nahalin" "ang CICC 2 months nikita na ug 3Million, ang SRP 5yrs. na nahuman hangtud karon wala ghapon nahalin"

why not koti-koti gweN? imagine if more than php200Million nawala? :bash: nganu ang city govt. iya pa man apilon? klaro kaayo nga she is diverting all the attention to Tomas para dili ma.concentrate ang media sa kapalpakan sa Capitol...

Very effective mam gwen! pero nasakpan naman cya... :bash: hehehehe!

Here are my two cents worth on this issue:
1. tomas is posturing now against gwen because he is running for governor in 2010. remember this is last term. another osmena will run for city mayor (serge?). That is why this "conflict" will go all the way to 2010. They're both agthering ammunitions.
2. the osmenas are consolidating their forces because they now realize that the garcias can now win elections without their support.
3. The garcias are building up their own political dynasty.

The former SVD Formation House is now an extension of USC-North Campus.

It's now called USC Montessori Center


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/usc_north.jpg




..

Yes, it is called the University of San Carlos Montessori Academy. They accept students from Preparatory School to 3rd Grade. Classes have begun. They have 200 enrollees in all levels. Tuition fee is playing at P37,000 ;)

------------
Btw, what do you mean by building under construction in USC North Campus? I think there's none. :)

^^

Are they basically going to transfer the elementary school there?


Sa soccer field, nag diggings na.. basin naa i construct, hehe..



..

^ Nah, its just a drainage project. :)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/pvillarete/americantroopsposingwithcebuanofarm.jpg
American Troops Posing with Cebuano Farmers

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/pvillarete/anoldchurchcebuislandofcebucirca.jpg
An Old Church, Cebu, Island of Cebu, Circa 1900

images reproduced into digital format from the Book: CASA GORORDO IN CEBU: Urban Residence in a Philippine Province, by Resil B. Mojares (originally posted by zidlakan in CCF)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/pvillarete/callemagallanes.jpg
Calle Magallanes, Circa 1930

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/pvillarete/callevalerianoweylernowtresdeabrils.jpg
Calle Valeriano Weyler, now Tres de Abril Street

images reproduced into digital format from the Book: CASA GORORDO IN CEBU: Urban Residence in a Philippine Province, by Resil B. Mojares (originally posted by zidlakan in CCF)

More photos in the Cebu Heritage Walk thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=436723

First of, I'll post a link to a YouTube video regarding Tokyo's main line, the Yamanote Line. This line literally encircles Tokyo's central wards and is the transportation backbone to this metropolis of 41 million people (OMG! :eek:). It forms a loop around an area home to 8 million "Central Tokyoites". Almost all of Greater Tokyo Area's 136 transit lines, commuter lines and inter-city lines have one or more stations connected in some way to this dense loop of railway lines.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IcV3wnxc3g

Now, if Metro Cebu can have a mini-version of this efficient and practical piece of infrastructure then all our traffic woes would be gone.

I'd imagine this "theoretical" Metro Cebu circle-line would be centered around the Cebu Business Park. :yes:

I hope you guys sit through the four minutes to appreciate this piece of infrastructure and be able to co-relate a "theoretical" counterpart of which to our own metropolis.

Nice idea but our government doesn't prioritize this project

^^ I'm afraid you're right. :(

But if the city government doesn't do anything...God knows what Cebu's, relatively, narrow roads and streets will look like. I'd think of it as one huge parking lot during rush hours. :ohno:

in addition ... worst sidewalks that occupied by vendors

^^ Yah...gamay na gani kaayo ang atong mga sidewalks maski walay mga street vendors. :no:

Well...that's the reality here in the Philippines.

Marvs, kinsa nang balay??? how much did it cost to build that house??? I like the style very much

i think an expat owns the house bai butch.. i have no idea with the cost but klaro na kaayo na mahal jud kaayo nang balaya..


That's in Talamban? Very nice. I've gone inside a house designed by the same architect, somewhere in Guadalupe. Was attending a party. Was quite awed by the design. Really looked at almost all the rooms. No compare!

its at north town, talamban..

Sugbuanon, that parkmall blueprint must be one of the first drawings as I've seen an updated version, for the inside aspect, its much different already. It will be presented to any prospect tenant kasi. As far as the facade is concerned, it still looks more or less the same. The facade is designed by Architect Gan from Manila, and is reportedly one of the to 5 or top 3 architects of Manila (or the Philippines?), so I expect it to look very very good once it is actually built and finished.

the one i posted was just given to me by a friend.. ill post the "new version" of the mall if ever i could secure a copy of it..

@sugbuanon

Nice update bai, ty! Update gyud na update!

Idol sad na nako si Arch't. Alex Medalla bai. He is the interior designer of our office. Ala Megadome spinning disc on the ceiling and on the walls with colorful paints and lightings that will surely make you feel so alive and happy even if our office building is nah, ugly!

his style is really unique among the local architects here in cebu.. truly worldclass.. theres also another young cebuano architect, archt. richnold sia.. he's also got the same style as medalla.. and im proud to say that theyre all products of university of san carlos..

puhon nig graduate nako akoy mopuli sa ila trono.. hehe

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5349/exhibit052yp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/111/exhibit054uz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ another residential project of arch't. medalla

^^ nice one.. Why is there a "lake" inside?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02388gy.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02373bb.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02595ag.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02604jd.jpg

residential projects of another promising cebuano architect.. archt. francisco noel

^^ Maayo gyud bitaw nang mga architect graduates of USC - Talamban.

Btw, kanang laing residential project ni Architect Madella gina-contruct na ba 'ron or is it still in the proposed stage? :?

Na notice nako, bai, nga gone were the days where a "luxurious" mansion/manor would have to look intricately chiselled on its exteriors and over-decorated in its interiors.

Nowadays, glass-and-steel post-modernist/minimalist na gyud ang uso'ng motiff sa...?

here's a house designed by cebuano architect [ako ni idol :D], arch't. medalla.. why hire architects from the capital when our very own architects are at par with the best in the world.. :D

i agree. in fact, one of the architectural firms that handles big projects in dubai is spearheaded by a Cebuano (a Senior Architect). I just forgot his name. I'll ask my friend again. just not good in remembering names hehe..

breaking news (not yet in the newstands though hehe)

By July 2007, another IT building will be build in AITP. It will be located beside the Globe bldg (naa ni siya sa corner). It will be a 12-storey and is also wide. My friend promise to give me a copy of the rendering but after they will decide on the design. Hopefully by next week. He even bragged that it's not the usual building you see in AITP. It's very nice and unique. Of course, it's from Ayala.
They already have tenants and one has even paid already and will occupy 60% of it. Maybe later I will divulge the name of this company hehehe...

^^ Yah...gamay na gani kaayo ang atong mga sidewalks maski walay mga street vendors. :no:

Well...that's the reality here in the Philippines.

if the city really serious attracting a tourist and investor they must fix this basic problems in the city...





http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5349/exhibit052yp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/111/exhibit054uz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ another residential project of arch't. medalla

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02388gy.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02373bb.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02595ag.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02604jd.jpg

residential projects of another promising cebuano architect.. archt. francisco noel


^^^ simply world class cebuano talent and skill ^^^

a new trend of architecture and design... in Cebu...cool!

breaking news (not yet in the newstands though hehe)

By July 2007, another IT building will be build in AITP. It will be located beside the Globe bldg (naa ni siya sa corner). It will be a 12-storey and is also wide. My friend promise to give me a copy of the rendering but after they will decide on the design. Hopefully by next week. He even bragged that it's not the usual building you see in AITP. It's very nice and unique. Of course, it's from Ayala.
They already have tenants and one has even paid already and will occupy 60% of it. Maybe later I will divulge the name of this company hehehe...

...i dont know if its related on what im heard before... its on beside Globe but its only a 4-storey building...
anyway...Good news indeed!

lobby of i2, one of the magnificent edifice in southern philippines premier IT park.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01353.jpg

puhon nig graduate nako akoy mopuli sa ila trono.. hehe



Hopefully. Not only will you be the pride of USC, but also the pride of Cebu and the pride of SSC :okay:

Btw, tomorrow will be the plebiscite for the cityhood of Carcar. As of latest news reports, the constituents are divided whether they will vote Yes or No. Those who plan to vote No reasoned out that they do not want crime, traffic and pollution to worsen. They also do not want to pay yearly taxes. On the other hand, those who planned to vote Yes reasoned out that the cityhood will pave the way for the entry of new investments to their town. We'll know by Sunday whether Carcar will or will not become a city ;)

Yes, Cebu is putting up a second international seaport, this time in the township of Naga.

Interestingly, the town will also host an industrial park entirely for small exporters, a first in the country. The industrial park is a project of Planters Development Bank, which foreclosed the MCR property during the 1997 financial crisis. (MCR stockholders include Manny Osmena, whose latest baby is a resort spa time-sharing concept in Cebu that will be managed by the Hilton chain of hotels).

To be formally launched in mid-July by PlantersBank chairman and chief executive officer Jesus Tambunting, the park will be initially managed by the bank. The bank will also lend the locators the money to buy the land and to build their factories. So far, about 11 exporters have signed up. At full capacity, the park will have 50 locators.

Oh yes, Philippine Economic Zone Authority director general Lilia de Lima has approved the park as an eco-zone. That means locators will get tax incentives for up to 10 years.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0629&302007/companies05.html

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2647.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2650.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2651.jpg

Ma. Luisa...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2598.jpg

Mr. Aldeguer's house...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2580.jpg

Citylights Today...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2585.jpg

Centcom View Park...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2591.jpg

expensive real estate... Aznar's propery in the hills.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/IMG_2602.jpg

^^ thanx for the pics bai rage..

^^ Maayo gyud biutaw nang mga architect graduates of USC - Talamban.

Btw, kanang laing residential project ni Architect Madella gina-contruct na ba 'ron or is it still in the proposed stage? :?

its already being constructed bai ..

Na notice nako, bai, nga gone were the days where a "luxurious" mansion/manor would have to look intricately chiselled on its exteriors and over-decorated in its interiors.

Nowadays, glass-and-steel post-modernist/minimalist na gyud ang uso'ng motiff sa...?

i think this has something to do with our new generation of young architects who are open to new ideas and are constantly experimenting with their designs..

i agree. in fact, one of the architectural firms that handles big projects in dubai is spearheaded by a Cebuano (a Senior Architect). I just forgot his name. I'll ask my friend again. just not good in remembering names hehe..

filipinos in general are truly worldclass.. we have palafox associates which is the only architectural firm from southeast asia that breaks into the top 100 architectural firms in the world..

breaking news (not yet in the newstands though hehe)

By July 2007, another IT building will be build in AITP. It will be located beside the Globe bldg (naa ni siya sa corner). It will be a 12-storey and is also wide. My friend promise to give me a copy of the rendering but after they will decide on the design. Hopefully by next week. He even bragged that it's not the usual building you see in AITP. It's very nice and unique. Of course, it's from Ayala.
They already have tenants and one has even paid already and will occupy 60% of it. Maybe later I will divulge the name of this company hehehe...

thats good news bai slimer.. another breaking news pud.. :D

an architect friend of mine has seen a scale model of a highrise bldg inside the office of arch't. guanzon.. it stands about 20-30 storeys "daw".. according to the guy working on the model , it will be constructed somewhere in nivel hills "daw".. but its still on the conceptual stage, everything has yet to be finalized..

ill update you guys on this.. ill try to get info on this new development from my contacts..

also, yesterday i was at the site of the UC dormitory in banilad.. it will be completed "hopefully" this coming september.. after its completion, augusto go will construct "daw" a 6-8 storey school right beside the dormitory..

Hopefully. Not only will you be the pride of USC, but also the pride of Cebu and the pride of SSC :okay:

first project nako tingale ky SSC Cebu Tower.. hehe

the ambassador of germany together with the chief justice of the Phil. is coming here today for the Honoris Causa. (I dont know what is all about) It is held at the UC-Banilad. Ill keep track about these as soon as I can.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02388gy.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02373bb.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02595ag.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/others/img02604jd.jpg

residential projects of another promising cebuano architect.. archt. francisco noel

gawd.. i want one of these!!!!!!!! galing naman nya!!!!

Did you know that Cebu has the first Dental Center/Hospital in the Philippines? :banana:

DIMOC Center was incorporated on June 2006. It commenced its operations on November 02, 2006. The DIMOC Center offers a unique environment for both dental and medical professionals as they are grouped to provide globally competitive service industries that specialize in the area of dental-oral-maxillofacial region. It is an institution that provides full-service specialist dental center.

DIMOC Center aims to be an institution center of excellence aimed in delivering the highest standards of oral health care to its patients.

This new Dental Center is owned and manned by Cebu's top Dental proffessionals; who are also among the top and well known Dentists in the country. And 90% of them are board licensure topnotchers.. most of them graduated in Cebu Doctors University as well.

http://www.dimoccenter.com/images/facilities/001.jpg

http://www.dimoccenter.com/images/facilities/etl_5331.jpg

This is the only Dental Center in the Philippines where all dental services are provided. Among their services are :

Maxillofacial, Diagnostic and Surgical Department
Consultation
Tooth Extraction
Odontectomy
Dental Implants (Surgery Part)
Periodontal Surgery
Major Maxillofacial surgeries (maxillary advancement/mandibular set back)
Other Osteotomy procedures are done in nearby Hospital

Restorative Dental Department
Consultation
Oral Prophylaxis
Tooth Restoration
Crowns and Bridges (Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns, Acrylic Crowns, Veneers)
Dentures (Complete Dentures, Removable Partial Denture)
Endodontic Therapy
Scaling and Root Planning
Pits and Fissure Sealants
Vitality Testing
Fluoride Application
Orthodontic Treatment
Bleaching
Dental Implants (Prosthetic Part)
TMJ evaluation and treatment

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... mga gwapa ug single ang ilang dentists!!! Problema kay mga board top notchers.. medyo intimidating. hehehe Let me know gusto mo sa name sa gwapa nila nga dentists :)

You may visit their website at : http://www.dimoccenter.com/

the ambassador of germany together with the chief justice of the Phil. is coming here today for the Honoris Causa. (I dont know what is all about) It is held at the UC-Banilad. Ill keep track about these as soon as I can.

Honoris causa means honorary degree. Most likely a doctorate degree, like Doctor of humanities, honoris causa, for his outstanding achievement in human development, or civic work, or diplomacy, etc.

...UC BANILAD is so peaceful right at this moment...You cannot see even one nursing student in the vicinity... Its like there is no class today... but they are all inside...

The Ayala Center Cebu Rustan's Building is NOW OPEN!!! They had their ribbon cutting ceremony earlier. The Rustan's Fresh Supermarket though is still closed and will open some time in July. Metro Ayala Supermarket is preparing for competition with them by offering even a wider selection of fresh produce :banana:

Rustans supermarket is 2,000 sqm, kinda small, but still significant enough to touch a nerve with the metro gaisano supermarket. However, rustans have to adjust their prices. They are generally more expensive than Metro Gaisano.

They can afford to do that... Its an upscale supermarket. You pay for the ambiance, convenience and name. Although I wouldn't do my groceries there.

^^hehe given a choice, iwont go there either. ma-aan kog boy didto, especially since i usually wear shirts with holes when i do my groceries. kon mapugos man gani kog adto, suoton cguro nako akong korbata aron di ko ma-OP....hehe

Really? Can take some photos please? Thanks

The Ayala Center Cebu Rustan's Building is NOW OPEN!!! They had their ribbon cutting ceremony earlier. The Rustan's Fresh Supermarket though is still closed and will open some time in July. Metro Ayala Supermarket is preparing for competition with them by offering even a wider selection of fresh produce :banana:

Really? Can take some photos please? Thanks

I'll try when we go there tomorrow. But then, I'm afraid SleMarKen may have taken some shots now :colgate: All I can say is it's very clean, very bright and the ambiance is really classy ;)

Rustans supermarket is 2,000 sqm, kinda small, but still significant enough to touch a nerve with the metro gaisano supermarket. However, rustans have to adjust their prices. They are generally more expensive than Metro Gaisano.

It's about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of Metro Supermarket. That's big enough considering that they're expected to have the smaller pie of the market ;)

Ambasador of Federal Republic of Germany Axel Weishaupt was the one conducted the conferment rites of Doctor of Laws held in UC Banilad AVR. that's all that I've gathered some informations about.

rustans fresh supermarket will open on july 10

im not sure if it's true but you cannot access "daw" rustan's supermarket from inside ACC. you have to pass through their main entrance outside the main mall. perhaps an assurance for metro gaisano?

...i dont know if its related on what im heard before... its on beside Globe but its only a 4-storey building...
anyway...Good news indeed!

i dont know if it's directly beside globe. basta it's somewhere in that area after globe. this is an Ayala project btw. so expect it to be grand.

Okey, thanks.... :)

I'll try when we go there tomorrow. But then, I'm afraid SleMarKen may have taken some shots now :colgate: All I can say is it's very clean, very bright and the ambiance is really classy ;)



It's about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of Metro Supermarket. That's big enough considering that they're expected to have the smaller pie of the market ;)

Saturday, June 30, 2007
Capitol offers to help Cebu City on SRP woes
(http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/06/30/news/capitol.offers.to.help.cebu.city.on.srp.woes.html)
AFTER much debate with the Cebu City Government, the Cebu Provincial Government now offers to “help” the City with the South Road Properties (SRP).

Capitol consultant on revenue generation Rory Jon Sepulveda refused to elaborate on what kind of help they would extend if the offer is accepted.

But he said they “recognize the plight of the City vis-à-vis its burgeoning obligation and the negative impact it will have on our beloved city and of course, more importantly, on Cebuanos.”

“The Province is in the position and is willing to help the City,” said Sepulveda.

Earlier, Capitol officials urged critics harping against the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) not to limit their scrutiny to a particular sector.

They also said people should not be alarmed over the continuing debate between the City and the Capitol as they are only amplifying issues to protect the interests of their constituents.

What’s more alarming, according to some Capitol officials, is not the verbal exchange but the “ballooning” debt for the SRP that will affect delivery of basic services.

He said it was the “unanimous consensus of the governor’s team” that “it is just right and proper that the Province should offer to help the City.”

“We read in the newspapers that the City is already offering commissions even to lawyers who can help sell the SRP and the need to generate some P3 billion to further improve the SRP. We can’t help but realize the urgency of the problem. Offering commissions shows the urgency of the problem,” said Sepulveda, who is also Capitol consultant on information.

Early this week, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña decided to allow middlemen to market and sell the SRP to fast-track the bidding of the 30-hectare lot he wants to dispose of this year.

He had made the same offer of a two percent commission in October 2005.

Osmeña announced days ago that the City will give 1.5 to two percent commission to licensed real estate brokers, lawyers, securities dealers, banking institutions and certified public accountants who can sell SRP lots.

In his news conference, the mayor said the City will use the proceeds not for loan payments but to fund other projects like interior roads at the SRP, lighting facilities for the circumferential fence and the development of the white sand beach at Kawit Point.

Saturday, June 30, 2007
On second term, guv to focus on macro projects (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/06/30/news/on.second.term.guv.to.focus.on.macro.projects.html)

THREE years ago today, Vice President Noli de Castro did the same thing he will be doing this afternoon: administer the oath of office of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

As she caps her first term as Cebu’s first woman governor, Garcia said she is bent on living by her slogan, “Action, not words.”

“It’s been a legacy of performance beyond expectations and at times, against seemingly insurmountable odds. And with my high visibility, performance with a face,” Garcia said.

But she admits much has to be done. She plans to embark on “macro projects” such as a bulkwater supply system and wind-generated power supply in her second term.

She initially saw conflict from vocal local opposition officials but this subsided with Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez and his allies’ decision to support her.

From a slim margin of 7,000 votes in 2004, Garcia garnered a “historic” 461,052 margin last May 14. Her father, Rep. Pablo Garcia, and President Arroyo consider it “unprecedented not only for Cebu but the whole country.”

For her, it’s “a message loud and clear” of trust from Cebuanos despite the unending criticisms. “That trust gives me strength and greater resolve to do the things that I must do.”

She steered the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), where 17 heads of states gathered, in under nine months.

The CICC continues to gather criticisms, suspicions and even graft cases but for Garcia, it represents the “indomitable spirit” of the Cebuanos as “hundreds pushed beyond the limits of human endurance to deliver.”

Money spent for the CICC did not affect other concerns, she said, claiming she delivered beyond her 12-point agenda.

Cebu made the biggest enrollment for the Philhealth program in the country.

Hospitals in Balamban and Carcar are being upgraded into provincial hospitals, and next in Danao City. Purchase of medicines was decentralized, as each hospital was given a standby fund for emergency purchases.

Accident insurance was given to day-care workers, barangay officials, tanods, lupong tagapamayapa, health workers, secretaries and treasurers.

Technology

Some 200 classrooms are being constructed.

She created the Provincial Information and Technology Council “to make technology significant to the lives of ordinary people,” formed the Provincial Tourism and Heritage Council to preserve and promote Cebuano culture. To place towns “in the limelight,” she held the Suroy-Suroy Program. The Cebu Performing Arts building was also completed after years of being taken for granted.

A Sugbo Maisan Project was launched, and “inefficient” Capitol workers were sent to plant corn. Security cameras were placed at the Capitol, prodding workers to “work for every cent the public pays them.”

Some 1,600 inmates were transferred from the old jail to a “highly equipped” new detention center. Technology failed to prevent escapes, so she fired two wardens. Inmates now have bank accounts, for money they get being the “labor component” of an export firm. They are taught how to make soap, print T-shirts and sew clothes.

She targeted paving 300 kilometers of roads and improving 30 bridges but as of last May, her engineers reported 447 kilometers completed and ongoing asphalting projects and 69 bridges made from wooden to concrete.

What’s pending

She outsourced security services, medical personnel and some clerical jobs. She dismantled the “inefficient” engineering task forces and outsourced heavy equipment.

She also defended Cebu Province from being split into four territories.

The governor moved to recover provincial properties. Some agencies like the military agreed, while some are still resisting.

Public-private partnership is also being tested with the Capitol’s P1.2-billion joint venture with Ciudad, but this got tangled in a conflict with the Cebu City Government.

Still pending among her promises is a farmers’ center. Among those promised, but whose works are ongoing, is the women’s center for victims of abuse, and a provincial museum.

In her visits to places, people ask her not only for pictures, but also autographs, her brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia noted. Requests were not only for help, but also for her to appear in television shows.

“In her first term, she showed performance, substance and style. She’s a social phenomenon. A politician turned rock star,” Pablo John joked.

15 House seats for Cebu? Pablo bares plan (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/06/30/news/15.house.seats.for.cebu.pablo.bares.plan.html)

REP. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) will meet with other Cebuano lawmakers to discuss what he sees as the need for more districts in Cebu.

In the midst of his campaign to become House Speaker, Garcia told reporters that Cebu Province is already entitled to at least 12 representatives while Cebu City has to have at least three.

“We can be a powerful bloc in Congress,” the former three-term Cebu governor said.

Today, Cebu has eight districts: two in Cebu City and six in the province.

If all the lawmakers in Cebu can agree on this matter, Garcia will file a bill on this make it one of his priorities when his term starts at midday today.

For a district to be created, the place must have a population of 250,000. The creation of legislative districts has no land area or income requirement.

Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu Province, 6th district) has already expressed her support for redistricting.

When interviewed after her proclamation last month, she said she wants Mandaue City and Consolacion to be one district while Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova will be another district.

This is also Garcia’s suggestion.

If the redistricting will be enacted into law before 2010, then Cebu will have to hold special elections for congressmen for the new districts.

Garcia pointed out that Cebu is bigger than Bicol Region or the entire Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in terms of voting population.

There have been several other places that have also implemented redistricting. “Nabiyaan na ta. Now, we have to double-time aron maapsan nato sila (We have been left behind. We have to work double-time to overtake them),” he said.

Even before he was elected as congressman of the second district, Garcia has always been vocal about the need for Cebu to get more districts.

Did you know that Cebu has the first Dental Center/Hospital in the Philippines? :banana:

DIMOC Center was incorporated on June 2006. It commenced its operations on November 02, 2006. The DIMOC Center offers a unique environment for both dental and medical professionals as they are grouped to provide globally competitive service industries that specialize in the area of dental-oral-maxillofacial region. It is an institution that provides full-service specialist dental center.

DIMOC Center aims to be an institution center of excellence aimed in delivering the highest standards of oral health care to its patients.

This new Dental Center is owned and manned by Cebu's top Dental proffessionals; who are also among the top and well known Dentists in the country. And 90% of them are board licensure topnotchers.. most of them graduated in Cebu Doctors University as well.

http://www.dimoccenter.com/images/facilities/001.jpg

http://www.dimoccenter.com/images/facilities/etl_5331.jpg

This is the only Dental Center in the Philippines where all dental services are provided. Among their services are :

Maxillofacial, Diagnostic and Surgical Department
Consultation
Tooth Extraction
Odontectomy
Dental Implants (Surgery Part)
Periodontal Surgery
Major Maxillofacial surgeries (maxillary advancement/mandibular set back)
Other Osteotomy procedures are done in nearby Hospital

Restorative Dental Department
Consultation
Oral Prophylaxis
Tooth Restoration
Crowns and Bridges (Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns, Acrylic Crowns, Veneers)
Dentures (Complete Dentures, Removable Partial Denture)
Endodontic Therapy
Scaling and Root Planning
Pits and Fissure Sealants
Vitality Testing
Fluoride Application
Orthodontic Treatment
Bleaching
Dental Implants (Prosthetic Part)
TMJ evaluation and treatment

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... mga gwapa ug single ang ilang dentists!!! Problema kay mga board top notchers.. medyo intimidating. hehehe Let me know gusto mo sa name sa gwapa nila nga dentists :)

You may visit their website at : http://www.dimoccenter.com/

actually, the 1st dental hospital is located in imelda ave, cainta, rizal. :) tagal na nitong nag-ooperate.. na-feature na din sa TV.., :)

15 House seats for Cebu? Pablo bares plan (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/06/30/news/15.house.seats.for.cebu.pablo.bares.plan.html)



i'm all out for this...after the one million Cebuano votes that gave GMA the presidency, the voice of the Cebuanos should be given a chance of getting heard...IMO, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu should be given one district--or even two--each

[QUOTE=Jhaelnis;14015887]Saturday, June 30, 2007


I think this one is a good move for the governor's camp... Baka gusto lang ni Tomas ng tulong.. Since the province is promoting the whole province baka gusto rin ni tomas to include his.. especially the SRP.. waah.:bash:

OT:
Hey! careful guys when shopping in ayala, as well as other places. my wife's wallet was picked pocket in one of the shops there. she just noticed it when she was about to pay to the cashier.

also recently, expensive watches was stolen in Rustans, during office hours and despite the security and the employees inside it.

my point is, we should always be careful and be vigilant. we never know who they will victimize next! :ohno:

15 House seats for Cebu? Pablo bares plan (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/06/30/news/15.house.seats.for.cebu.pablo.bares.plan.html)


^^ This reminds me of Rajah Humabon and Lapu-Lapu during the early days.

Hopefully if this pushes through, it will be the voice of Cebuanos that will prevail and not their personal interests.

---------------
OT: Attention to all SSC Cebu forumers, you are invited in an EB/SSC Saturday meet later at 7:30PM at Bo's Capitol. Everyone is invited to come.

For postings regarding the meet, kindly refer to the "Magkita ta Bai thread" of Samahan sub-forums. Thanks! :okay:

i'm all out for this...after the one million Cebuano votes that gave GMA the presidency, the voice of the Cebuanos should be given a chance of getting heard...IMO, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu should be given one district--or even two--each

What's the population of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue? Based on the Constitution, a district should have a population of at least 250,000 :)

CEBU - The Metropolis and Province - T61

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3919/flowerga8.jpg

Marine View Park, Balamban, Cebu, Philippines

Previous Threads: 1 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=98672)|2 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=193913)|3 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=245389)|4 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=262347)|5 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=259961)|6 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=268633)|7 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=277230)|8 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282843)|9 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=288296)|10 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=293124)|
11 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=295748)|12 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=298002)|13 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=300434)|14 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=304342)|15 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=309694)|16 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=313380)|17 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316718)|18 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=323203)|19 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=328398)|20 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=331437)|
21 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334211)|22 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=338852)|23 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=341722)|24 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=347207)|25 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=352310)|26 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=358178)|27 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=362605)|28 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=374034)|29 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=373923)|30 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=381971)|
31 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=388291)|32 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=388295)|33 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=387532)|34 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=390268)|35 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=395921)|36 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=401770)|37 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=402281)|38 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=405406)|39 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=408194)|40 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409957)|
41 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=412081)|42 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=414757)|43 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=416950)|44 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=418415)|45 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=420172)|46 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=423635)|47 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=426130)|48 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=429816)|49 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=432207)|50 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=434795)|
51 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=436636)|52 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=438774)|53 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441318)|54 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=443770)|55 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=446508)|56 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=452052)|57 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=456278)|58 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=463371)|59 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=469653)|60 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=480785)|

congratz 61 na jud paspasa oi....that means a lot is going on in our city:)

Saturday, June 30, 2007
Capitol offers to help Cebu City on SRP woes

AFTER much debate with the Cebu City Government, the Cebu Provincial Government now offers to “help” the City with the South Road Properties (SRP).

Capitol consultant on revenue generation Rory Jon Sepulveda refused to elaborate on what kind of help they would extend if the offer is accepted.

But he said they “recognize the plight of the City vis-à-vis its burgeoning obligation and the negative impact it will have on our beloved city and of course, more importantly, on Cebuanos.”

“The Province is in the position and is willing to help the City,” said Sepulveda.

Earlier, Capitol officials urged critics harping against the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) not to limit their scrutiny to a particular sector.

They also said people should not be alarmed over the continuing debate between the City and the Capitol as they are only amplifying issues to protect the interests of their constituents.

What’s more alarming, according to some Capitol officials, is not the verbal exchange but the “ballooning” debt for the SRP that will affect delivery of basic services.

He said it was the “unanimous consensus of the governor’s team” that “it is just right and proper that the Province should offer to help the City.”

“We read in the newspapers that the City is already offering commissions even to lawyers who can help sell the SRP and the need to generate some P3 billion to further improve the SRP. We can’t help but realize the urgency of the problem. Offering commissions shows the urgency of the problem,” said Sepulveda, who is also Capitol consultant on information.

Early this week, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña decided to allow middlemen to market and sell the SRP to fast-track the bidding of the 30-hectare lot he wants to dispose of this year.

He had made the same offer of a two percent commission in October 2005.

Osmeña announced days ago that the City will give 1.5 to two percent commission to licensed real estate brokers, lawyers, securities dealers, banking institutions and certified public accountants who can sell SRP lots.

In his news conference, the mayor said the City will use the proceeds not for loan payments but to fund other projects like interior roads at the SRP, lighting facilities for the circumferential fence and the development of the white sand beach at Kawit Point.


wise move ni lola gwen para ma in-debt sa iayaha si tomas, thus.. tomas would then decide not to run for governor comes election... or they simply want to start an issue on cebu's debt tungod sa SRP...

whatever their intentions are... clean or hindi.... this would still help Cebu City.. i hope tomas will say yes... pero, if its true na pag nabaligya na ang portion sa SRP.. they would have enough money to pay in full the debt.. then wag ng pansinin ang offer ni lola gwen...

^^ Sinj....this is something new! I love ur intro! and nice shot as well!

@sinjin: mandaue has 250K+, and Lapu-Lapu City is close to the figure, and if we count Cordova, then it would make the mark...if the MUNICIPALITY of San Juan has its own seat, why cant the CITIES of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu (Mactan Island)?

Cesafi games to kick off Olympic style
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

LAST year, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) raked in hefty gains from gate sales.

Because of this, a first for the Cesafi books, the opening ceremony veers the limelight from basketball and expands its coverage on all events of the meet.

Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage

View here the list of local winners

Cesafi’s usual kickoffs in the last six years were held right before the basketball games. There is a separate opening when the auxiliary events start.

“Before, basketball starts ahead of the others because this is the most watched event and we depend on its gate sales to help support the opening of the other events,” said University of Cebu athletic director Bernard Ricablanca.

Ricablanca said that with what the Cesafi earned last year, it can now stand on its own.

This year, although still pending the approval of the board of directors, it will have an Olympics feel and will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center oval, in the afternoon of Aug. 4 instead of on the basketball courts.

“This will erase the notion that Cesafi is merely a basketball league and will give a bigger picture that we also give as much importance to the other events,” said Ricablanca.

Cesafi holds events in athletics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, football, lawn tennis, table tennis, dancesport, taekwondo among others. Cesafi also serves as the selection event that will make up the Cebu team competing in the Private Schools Athletic Association.

This year’s host will be University of Southern Philippines Foundation, whose top honcho Rolly Villa, was named Cesafi president for this season.

“Our concept will be an Olympic-style opening ceremony, where we gather all athletes from all events parading and with the usual colorful presentations,” Ricablanca said. This year’s motif and theme will still be discussed in this Monday’s meeting of athletic directors and choreographers.

^ wow new thread very fast indeed!

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/500x500/64/P1130658.JPG?et=zQ7pdvCBRbvB0xHArb4gGA
Waiting for my ride to come

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/5/photos/27/500x500/65/P1130659.JPG?et=ndb6fenANY2LT3StDRo6Ag

^^

Thanks for the photos of the interiors of the balikbayan box, hehehehehe...

Anymore? Gym? Classrooms? etc..etc..

@bernie: who's the DSA of CDU Mandaue? my friend got into trouble with him/her...they had an exchange of verbal assaults regarding the dress code :lol:

btw, about the waiting for the ride thing, are queues always that long when students wait for the bus everyday?

^^it's actually a pond that would soon be filled-up to accomodate more locators once the need arises...

and as for the huge 'puddle' beside the road, well that's basicaly just what it is, a huge puddle...

^^it's actually a pond that would soon be filled-up to accomodate more locators once the need arises...

and as for the huge 'puddle' beside the road, well that's basicaly just what it is, a huge puddle...

Ive readed before in the SSC that this "puddle" is actually land sinking. Is it true? Has there been any remedy made?

eto... world class bisaya

rZIaFogqNXA

@bernie: who's the DSA of CDU Mandaue? my friend got into trouble with him/her...they had an exchange of verbal assaults regarding the dress code :lol:

btw, about the waiting for the ride thing, are queues always that long when students wait for the bus everyday?

the queue is long only during peak hours (3-5pm). in fact, during those hours, the line could end up at the other entrance of CDU.. so it's just completely normal for some if they'd dish out P50 from their pockets for a taxi going to SM just to save time and energy.. :D

^^

Thanks for the photos of the interiors of the balikbayan box, hehehehehe...

Anymore? Gym? Classrooms? etc..etc..

i guess you wouldn't wanna see those.. you'd just be disappointed.. hehehe.. :D

eto... world class bisaya

rZIaFogqNXA

nice one.. :lol:

@TJ: Thanks
@Bernie: Nice photos of CDU-Mandaue. It seems that the main atrium is bright, are they using skylights for natural light to get through?
@Dabert: At the Ayala Terminal, I've seen a streamer that says, "V-Hires for Ayala Terminal to CDU-Mandaue will be available starting June 12". So I assume there's already a V-Hire terminal near the campus?
@Pirena: San Juan is already a city since June 16th. :D But their 2000 population was 117,680 :bash: Unfair! :lol:

Anyone knows how the plebiscite of Carcar went through? :?
EDIT: Oh, the plebiscite is scheduled today, I though it was scheduled yesterday :bash:

Btw, I've been to Balamban yesterday. Wala Lang, roadtrip. But I wasn't quite impressed. Balamban is a 1st class municipality right? But it seems that Consolacion (2nd class municipality) is more progressive than Balamban. What are the criteria for such rankings? If its just income, then I'd understand since Balamban is home to Tsuneishi. :)

wise move ni lola gwen para ma in-debt sa iayaha si tomas, thus.. tomas would then decide not to run for governor comes election... or they simply want to start an issue on cebu's debt tungod sa SRP...

whatever their intentions are... clean or hindi.... this would still help Cebu City.. i hope tomas will say yes... pero, if its true na pag nabaligya na ang portion sa SRP.. they would have enough money to pay in full the debt.. then wag ng pansinin ang offer ni lola gwen...

Capitol’s help? No, thanks: Tomas (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/07/01/news/capitol.s.help.no.thanks.tomas.html)

FOR Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the Capitol’s offer to help market the South Road Properties (SRP) is one the City Government doesn’t need.

“That’s just a publicity stunt. After they keep insulting us, they will offer to help. We are going to strongly emphasize that the City is not the Province and the Province is not the City. We can cope with our loan payments; we have been able to cope in the last five years,” he told reporters.

Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage

View here the list of local winners

Saying the Province recognizes the plight of the City in relation to the SRP loan payments, Capitol consultant on revenue generation Rory Jon Sepulveda offered to help the City.

He did not specify, though, in what way the Province will help.

But in an interview after their oath-taking yesterday noon, Osmeña said his decision to give a commission to those who can help sell lots at the SRP should not be understood as a desperate move on his part to raise money for loan payments.

Offering commissions, he said, is a way of doing business, in the same way that airline and insurance companies give commissions to their agents.

“We don’t need assistance from the Province for investors to come in.

They’re the ones who need our assistance. There is no more cooperation between the City and Province. They’re the ones with the problem, not us,” he continued, without elaborating.

Ciudad, the Capitol’s development project on a Province-owned lot along Gov. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City has been stalled after the City Government implemented a moratorium on new constructions in the area.

City Hall ceased from processing applications for building permits and other clearances, pending a traffic study.

“It’s clearly emerging that we don’t even share the same principles because with the Province taking a position of bringing investors in their properties and they’re neglecting the plight of the dwellers, it’s clearly becoming a government for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, and we don’t share that principle,” Osmeña added.

The cancellation of a land swap agreement has triggered an exchange of words between city and provincial officials.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/500x500/64/P1130658.JPG?et=zQ7pdvCBRbvB0xHArb4gGA
Waiting for my ride to come

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/5/photos/27/500x500/65/P1130659.JPG?et=ndb6fenANY2LT3StDRo6Ag


^^ Wow! Probably the best (for me) school building there is in Cebu! It's huge and massive....Plain in the outside but definitely worth staying in the inside! I love it...shift na lang ako...weeeeeeeeeee

This SM stands for SubMerged city (http://philstar.com/index.php?Transportation&p=52&type=2&sec=125)
IN MY PACK By Ruth G. Mercado
Saturday, June 30, 2007

Death, destruction and inundation are no respecters of cities. From Europe to Texas to Australia to India to Pakistan deluge and rains are turning cities into watery graves. Millions have been homeless and hundreds have died owing to floods. But while the United Nations did not at first identify these areas to be disaster-prone, these are the first to be hit. Strangely, the Philippines has been identified as among the disaster-prone countries and Manila as among disaster-prone cities of the world, what is to prevent it from being hit with floods, storms and devastation.

Only this week, Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced that he is serious about cleaning up the ports from illegal port users and especially squatters. The mayor wants to build a tunnel that would snake through the reclamation area. If we were to stretch our imagination that would perhaps be an underwater tunnel because the reclamation area is nothing but water underneath.

There is a bit of prescience with the mayor’s plan and vision. In fact, Mayor Osmeña will not even have to lift a finger if he wants squatters wiped out of the reclamation area for good. Nature and the devastating consequences of climate change in storms and rising sea levels will do that for him.

It is just a matter of time before the seas will roar and mountains will bow down and will no longer be found. There is nothing alarmist or cynical about these events because these are plain and simple Bible truth. Just this week there were successive earthquakes in Leyte, Cotabato and General Santos with magnitudes of intensity 7. The Bible, scientists and environmentalists all agree that with successive earthquakes, water will gush out from the earth and above the earth and every living thing in the reclamation area will be submerged to oblivion. That means including the squatters. Nature’s wrath will actually give Mayor Osmeña a nice favor.

For many years — decades even — illegal port users, squatters and trisikad drivers have turned the port into their living rooms, comfort rooms and bedrooms. While the Cebu Port Authority has been trying to evict squatters, its initiatives were often impeded because politicians and the Church intervened in favor of squatters. A former CPA general manager who was so resolute about evicting illegal port users, ended up being evicted from his post instead.

Shipowners and other port users have since lobbied for the eviction of squatters who often commit theft, pilferage and vandalism on passengers and cargo.

It was only when the International Maritime Organization made it mandatory for foreign trading ports to be compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, did politicians accede to a compromise but comfortable arrangement of evicting illegal port users at the international port. Compliance to the code required that ports must be free from squatters. Hence, port authorities were confronted with just one option, either squatters are removed to become ISPS compliant or tolerate squatters and lose trading with foreign ships. As ISPS entered into force, squatters at the Cebu International Port were removed.

But domestic port squatters are not that easy to evict. Thanks to the plan of Mayor Osmeña these squatters will finally be uprooted. But then again, Mayor Osmeña does not have to order his anti-squatting team to do it. Before September, a disaster is bound to happen in Cebu’s coastal areas owing to rising sea levels. The seas will roar with successive earthquakes, storms and rains, inundating the reclamation area. <-------WHAT?!?! - sinjin

Inundation did not spare the cities of Texas, Europe and Australia from being submerged despite having well-planned sewage and drainage infrastructures. How much more for Cebu that does not have drainage and sewage facilities or flood-mitigation infrastructures to speak of?

The seas will roar and deluge will clean the reclamation area of its sinful ways and so will squatters be flushed out.

As a contingency, the Coast Guard must keep fuel tanks of their search and rescue vessels full should this disaster happen. For where the carcasses are, there the eagles will be also.

@TJ: Thanks
@Bernie: Nice photos of CDU-Mandaue. It seems that the main atrium is bright, are they using skylights for natural light to get through?


Yup. Blue. But when a strong rain comes, the lobby would become a swimming pool, hahahaha!! :D

^^

Thanks for the photos of the interiors of the balikbayan box, hehehehehe...

Anymore? Gym? Classrooms? etc..etc..

Later na lang bai. I will post the pictures later.

^^ Wow! Probably the best (for me) school building there is in Cebu! It's huge and massive....Plain in the outside but definitely worth staying in the inside! I love it...shift na lang ako...weeeeeeeeeee

Sige. Nursing ka na lang or Compsci TJ, wahehehe!! :lol:

This SM stands for SubMerged city (http://philstar.com/index.php?Transportation&p=52&type=2&sec=125)
IN MY PACK By Ruth G. Mercado
Saturday, June 30, 2007

Death, destruction and inundation are no respecters of cities. From Europe to Texas to Australia to India to Pakistan deluge and rains are turning cities into watery graves. Millions have been homeless and hundreds have died owing to floods. But while the United Nations did not at first identify these areas to be disaster-prone, these are the first to be hit. Strangely, the Philippines has been identified as among the disaster-prone countries and Manila as among disaster-prone cities of the world, what is to prevent it from being hit with floods, storms and devastation.

Only this week, Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced that he is serious about cleaning up the ports from illegal port users and especially squatters. The mayor wants to build a tunnel that would snake through the reclamation area. If we were to stretch our imagination that would perhaps be an underwater tunnel because the reclamation area is nothing but water underneath.

But domestic port squatters are not that easy to evict. Thanks to the plan of Mayor Osmeña these squatters will finally be uprooted. But then again, Mayor Osmeña does not have to order his anti-squatting team to do it. Before September, a disaster is bound to happen in Cebu’s coastal areas owing to rising sea levels. The seas will roar with successive earthquakes, storms and rains, inundating the reclamation area. <-------WHAT?!?! - sinjin

The seas will roar and deluge will clean the reclamation area of its sinful ways and so will squatters be flushed out.

As a contingency, the Coast Guard must keep fuel tanks of their search and rescue vessels full should this disaster happen. For where the carcasses are, there the eagles will be also.

^^ Wow! Visionary! Like Y2K bug. :D

I don't know but the way she writes has some biases of doomsday. :bash: She loves seeing Cebu submerged and wash of its "sinful ways". She's like one of those "doomsday prophets" screaming "the end is near". And I see she's angry at Tomas. Thats why I'm doubting her integrity of this write-up since she said that before September, reclamation would be submerged.

We can accept the fact that human beings have been always living in the edge but seriously this write-up is like back to those old days of the Y2k Bug scare.

And regarding Global Warming, its already a stated fact. Why bother saying the negative doomsday (and to a specific city pa!) write-ups when we as human beings can do something to help Mother Nature minimize her anger.

Speaking of global warming, I was really shocked kanina. We ate lunch at Feling's Store at Palm Beach in Mactan Island and oh my, napapas jud ang mga bas (nabura ang buhangin! The sand was totally covered by the seawater). Kuyawan jud ko kay hapit jud muoverflow ang dagat (I was really nervous since they sea almost overflowed!). Since the owners of the restaurant are family friends, we asked them whether this happens regularly. They said that it only began happening this year. And the worst happening was on June 23rd, 2007 when the sea did overflow. ;)

Construction Updates as of 07.01.07 (no photos)

Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort - all buildings are now rising on their 2nd-4th levels

EGI Condotel - Tower 3 has topped off.

^^ just rumors... but defiitely not true! :)

Speaking of global warming, I was really shocked kanina. We ate lunch at Feling's Store at Palm Beach in Mactan Island and oh my, napapas jud ang mga bas (nabura ang buhangin! The sand was totally covered by the seawater). Kuyawan jud ko kay hapit jud muoverflow ang dagat (I was really nervous since they sea almost overflowed!). Since the owners of the restaurant are family friends, we asked them whether this happens regularly. They said that it only began happening this year. And the worst happening was on June 23rd, 2007 when the sea did overflow. ;)

Back in our city, the seawater is almost as the same level as of the city proper level already during high tide. Today is the 2nd time. If I'm not mistaken yesterday was a "blue moon" or the 2nd full moon in a month.

But anyway, the global climate cycle. Sea level rises then ice age then melt again. If there would be a cataclysmic eruption of a volcano similar to Mount Pinatubo's, will there another short-term global cooling again?

Anyway, back to the topic. Yup, the writer may be just angry with Tomas but she has this "doomsday prophet syndrome" pud. :D

@Dabert: At the Ayala Terminal, I've seen a streamer that says, "V-Hires for Ayala Terminal to CDU-Mandaue will be available starting June 12". So I assume there's already a V-Hire terminal near the campus?


nop.. but there are reserved parking areas for those v-hires that are 'recognized' by CDU..

Construction Updates as of 07.01.07 (no photos)

Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort - all buildings are now rising on their 2nd-4th levels



http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/imperial.jpg

^ Yeah :rock:

nop.. but there are reserved parking areas for those v-hires that are 'recognized' by CDU..

Do you know how much the fare for the Ayala-CDU V-Hire is? Does the V-Hire also bring passengers back to Ayala? And, is there a V-Hire from SM-CDU? :D

Mercado's article is just a metaphor, hehe..

I think pIrena is referring to that small guy with eye glasses but with a loud voice, hehe (Wear your ID! Wear your uniform!).. What's a DSA anyway?

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7018/untitleddq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

old feel, new world

by paopaosanchez

is anyone has a product key of OFFICE XP... just pm me...tnx in advanced

^^ you can download it in any torrent sites..

ACC's new annex

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01363.jpg

^^ unsay mga new stores?

12T voters make Carcar City
By Garry A. Cabotaje


CARCAR CITY -- A fireworks display that started at 9:05 Sunday night and lit up the skies for two minutes signaled the triumphant end of the long campaign to make the new city of Carcar.

A total of 13,483, about 28 percent of the former heritage town’s registered voters, turned up to vote. Of them, 11,699 or about 87 percent voted “yes.” The “no” votes amounted to 1,748.

“We should not miss this opportunity because this town deserves to become one,” newly reelected Mayor Patrick Barcenas told reporters after he cast his “yes” vote at 9:35 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion 1.

Barcenas believes the conversion should have happened eight years ago, ahead of neighboring Talisay City’s change in status.

Carcar is the second town in Cebu to become a city this year, following Bogo in the north, which held its plebiscite last June 16.

While Carcar failed to surpass the 60.8 percent turnout in Bogo, its turnout was still higher than Parañaque’s 7 percent and San Juan and Navotas’ 12 percent.

Low-key affairz

But except for “Yes to cityhood" streamers displayed in strategic places and leaflets detailing six major “cityhood benefits," there was not much fanfare in the former heritage town.

Carcaranons, who are known for their ingenuity in making shoes as much as for their famous chicharon, went on with their normal routines.

Internet cafes teemed with teenagers, while others spent much of their Sunday in the town’s department store and a food chain.

The initially sluggish turnout didn’t escape Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano’s notice, and he observed that some of the residents spent their day at the beach to celebrate St. Peter’s Day.

Castillano initially projected a 30 to 40 percent turnout of voters, more than enough to ratify Republic Act 9436, the law converting Carcar town into a component city.

Castillano, who supervised the local board of canvassers, visited Perrelos and Guadalupe, Carcar’s vote-rich barangays.

82% last May

Carcar has 47,897 registered voters spread throughout 226 precincts. It recorded an 82 percent turnout, one of the highest among Cebu towns, during the May 14 elections.

Before voting, Barcenas and his wife attended the 8 a.m. mass at the St. Catherine Parish Church.

Like other campaigners for Carcar City, the mayor said the benefits will be tremendous, starting with the town’s P72-million annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) that could triple.

More IRA funds, he said, will finance a bigger public market and a bus terminal, new school buildings, as well as the opening of two diversion roads.

The first diversion road would link Barangay Poblacion 3 to Barangay Poblacion 1, stretching about four kilometers and leading to Barili town. The second one will connect Barangays Valladolid and Bolinawan, a seven-kilometer alternate road heading towards Argao town.

These two new roads will unclog traffic especially at the historic rotunda, Barcenas said.

No tax hike

A “Yes to cityhood" leaflet printed in bold letters the guarantee that Carcar would not impose new tax rates within 10 years.

Barcenas also vowed to provide funds for the improvement of the local shoemaking industry through training, promotions and soft loans.

Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura, for his part, promised to pass a measure extending the tax hike moratorium to 10 years, so as not to overburden the Carcaranons and entice more investors to come in.

The newly approved RA 9436, written by Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district), guarantees only a five-year suspension of any local tax increases.

Apura, who will preside the local council’s inaugural session on Wednesday, also sees the need for “extensive” urban planning and the development of the town’s tourism sites.

But businessman Julius Sarmiento, 39, described the tax hike moratorium as just a bait for Carcaranons to favor the conversion.

“Even if Carcar remains a town, it can still move forward and entice businessmen to pour in their investments here," he said.

Sarmiento, who cast his “no” vote in Barangay Poblacion 1, said that his clan supported his stance. He helped in the distribution of at least 200 copies of flyers arguing against making their town into a city.

About five hours after the precincts closed, the canvassing was over. Two sub-committees speed up the counting, spending five minutes, on average, on each plebiscite return.

By 9:05 p.m. came the formal proclamation, followed by the brief flare of bright lights over Cebu’s newest city.

Source: Sun.Star Cebu

Take off by Sunset on Youtube
by aiahot18

6me7u2mnwS4

even before Carcar became a city, its rotunda has been very very bustling. Traffic is already terrible on certain times of the day. It just shows how progressive Carcar is already. Good luck to its LGU officials to guide the new city. I don't know how they can widen the road as I don't think it is as simple as expropriating the land on either or both sides of the highway as there are some old buildings there, especially near the rotunda and the church.

^^traffic tinuora, kanang mamaligyag ampao ay mangharang ug sakyanan, and if nay bus mo hunong, sa daplin, tipukan na nilas kilid bahalag moabot pa clas tunga sa kalsada. the mayor should really do something about it, not only is it a danger sa mga vendors, its also very inconvenient for the motorists kay matraffic gyud kayo dinha lugara. perhaps they should spend some of the money they get from their greatly expanded IRA allotment, to finance a traffic division for the city

even before Carcar became a city, its rotunda has been very very bustling. Traffic is already terrible on certain times of the day. It just shows how progressive Carcar is already. Good luck to its LGU officials to guide the new city. I don't know how they can widen the road as I don't think it is as simple as expropriating the land on either or both sides of the highway as there are some old buildings there, especially near the rotunda and the church.

The National Highway in Carcar won't be widened according to the city mayor as it would entail the demolishing of a lot of heritage structures (which they want to preserve). So instead, they will be pushing for the construction of 2 diversionary roads. And then also in the pipeline is a new public market and transport hub for Carcar.

Speaking of public market, the New Mandaue City Public Market is fast rising. :)

------
@PinoyMeat: Thanks for the ACC annex photo. I just can't wait for the ACC redevelopment in 2010. I read in one of the ALI/CHI Annual Reports kasi that after the opening of the Rustan's Building, the lagoon redevelopment will go full blast. As it becomes operational, phase 2 of the ACC Expansion will begin and after the 2nd phase expansion will be the redevelopment of the main building. :banana:

^^

Thanks for the photos of the interiors of the balikbayan box, hehehehehe...

Anymore? Gym? Classrooms? etc..etc..

more interior shots of the balikbayan box..

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6475/dsc00286gf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4541/dsc00287ou1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3338/dsc00288mv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6387/dsc00289yj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6950/dsc00290mo8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1217/dsc00303pw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/554/dsc00295pn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^ Still, nice photos! :okay:

And congratulations to Carcar City :applause: Next on the list is Naga :banana:

I also heard that there are plans to convert Consolacion into a city since 2 years from now "daw", it will be the "new residential area" of Metro Cebu. Hopefully. :)

^^ Yikes! It reminds me that I have to go na, wahehehehe!!! Thats the libe on the last pic. :D

^ Still, nice photos! :okay:

And congratulations to Carcar City :applause: Next on the list is Naga :banana:

I also heard that there are plans to convert Consolacion into a city since 2 years from now "daw", it will be the "new residential area" of Metro Cebu. Hopefully. :)

i think mas una pa siguro ma-syudad ang Minglanilla ug Balamban kay 1st class municipalities naman sila... ang Consolacion kay 2nd class pa man

Do you know how much the fare for the Ayala-CDU V-Hire is? Does the V-Hire also bring passengers back to Ayala? And, is there a V-Hire from SM-CDU? :D

VHire:
CDU-SM = P10
CDU-Ayala = P15

CDU School Bus:
CDU-SM = P0 (hehehe)

CEBU, the place with the most number of foreign direct investors outside manila, a testament to cebu's strong local economy and investor confidence

as of january 2007, taken from PEZA's website.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Asia Town Information Technology Park
Lahug and Apas, Cebu City
COMPANY NAME / NATIONALITY / ORIGINAL REGISTERED ACTIVITY

1 & 1 Internet (Philippines), Inc.

99.97 German
0.03% - Filipino

To engage in I.T.-enabled services, particularly, I.T. call center which provides technical support via telephone and e-mail for internet-based products

Dash Engineering Philippines, Inc.

99.999993% - Japanese
00.000007% - Filipino

To engage in computer-aided engineering and design for petrochemical, gas, refinery and chemical plants in the field of process, equipment, electrical, instrumentation, piping, civil, project coordination and services for construction and procurement

E-Telecare International, Inc.

75.72% -Filipino
21.12% - American
03.16% - Hongkong

Development and operation of a call center business that serves overseas clients, by providing customer relationship management services through various media, and any and all allied or related businesses

Epson Precision (Philippines), Inc.

100% - Japanese

To engage in software development and application, including programming and adaptation of system softwares and middlewares for Epson products

NCR-Cebu Development Center, Inc.

99.99% - Dutch
00.01% - Filipino, American, British

To provide software, mechanical and electrical engineering services

NEC Telecom Software Philippines, Inc. (CEBU)

100% - Japanese

Development and export of operation management software for telecommunication equipment and transmission systems and system engineering such as, but not limited to, fiber optic transmission system (multiplexer), high performance internet routers

PeopleSupport (Philippines), Inc.

99.99994% - American
00.00006% - Filipino

Contact Center (outsourced customer care services)

SPI Healthcare Documentation, Inc.

100% - Filipino

To engage in the design and implementation of healthcare documentation solutions for the healthcare business process outsourcing market, and non-medical transcription activity

SPI Litigation Direct, Inc.

100% - Filipino

Provide IT-enabled services with emphasis on the creation of electronic data discovery (EDD), legal automation activities, and the presentation of data in formats for distribution via intranet, internet and optical media

SPI Publisher Services, Inc.

100% - Filipino

Provide specialized services of an IT and Communication (ITC) -enabled nature with emphasis on technical editing, graphic formatting and content databasing of peer-reviewed research information to be distributed to the global research community

Tsuneishi Technical Services (Philippines), Inc.

100% - Japanese

Engage in ship design, Computer Aided Ship Design (CASD), Computer Aided Engineering Design (CAED) and Electronic Data Archival (EDA

Versagrafx Designs Philippines, Inc.

99.9% - American
00.1% - Filipino

To engage in the conceptualization and computer-aided design of motion picture promotional collaterals, i.e., cinema standees, DVD tower casing, and web pages

not in the list... convergys, Qualfon!

Garcia cites Cebu’s edge as a top investment area
By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.Manila Bulletin

CEBU CITY - Citing the many advantages of Cebu, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia urged yesterday foreign and domestic investors to pour in more investments in the province.

"We account for the bulk of the industrial and service activities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Our major manufacturing industries such as furniture, shipbuilding, fashion accessories, electronics and semi conductors are growing at a rate of 5.5 percent," said Garcia.

She also said that the major service industries such as tourism, business process outsourcing, call center, and other IT-related services have registered a 6.2 percent growth rate this year and is continuously rising.

Cebu, now getting for more than 60 percent of tourist arrivals in the country, is also acknowledged as the tourism capital of the Philippines, is fast becoming the hub for information and communications technology and ICT-enabled industries outside Manila.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo hailed Cebu for being the favorite destination in the country of foreign tourists particularly Koreans and Japanese.

The President plans to boost the development of Central Philippines with Cebu as the center as the nation’s international tourism area.

CIT - A quick tour within Cebu Institute of Technology's Campus.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cito.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/citl.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/citn.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/citk.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/citj.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/citi.jpg

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http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1g.jpg

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http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1e.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1d.jpg

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http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1a.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cit1b.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/cith.jpg

edit

CEBU- a future greater hongkong.

even before Carcar became a city, its rotunda has been very very bustling. Traffic is already terrible on certain times of the day. It just shows how progressive Carcar is already. Good luck to its LGU officials to guide the new city. I don't know how they can widen the road as I don't think it is as simple as expropriating the land on either or both sides of the highway as there are some old buildings there, especially near the rotunda and the church.


They will have to build a new highway away from the town proper probably one that would traverse the Carcar coastline since the existing one can't be widened.


..

i got a look at Ayala's "shoe-box" a while ago...quite impressive, the rest rooms in particular were world-class, and the glass railings were making a statement :applause:

^^

Nice jud ang Ayala..


Anyway, the interiors of CIT looks like a smaller version of CDU, hehehe.. The last time I went there was more than 10 years ago pa.


..

Maayong Gabi-i Sugbo!
Photo by Michael Ragandac (rage@cebu)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/4/photos/57/orig/6/P1130635.JPG?et=ej%2CE0hrtcx8nv7SdoVFR6g

VHire:
CDU-SM = P10
CDU-Ayala = P15

CDU School Bus:
CDU-SM = P0 (hehehe)

Add this up:

CDU-Opon Mercado = P20

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Ignore Capitol threats: Tomas (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/07/03/news/ignore.capitol.threats.tomas.html)
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

MAYOR Tomas Os-meña began his final term yesterday by calling on the City Council and their constituents to focus on the needs of Cebu City, including the South Road Prop-erties (SRP), and ignore “threats of distraction” from the Capitol.

Osmeña and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia are currently in a row that started over disagreements over a proposed land swap.

Osmeña said the City will do well if its officials and the community focus on helping Cebu City become self-sufficient and dynamic, as it did two years ago when political conflicts affected Manila.

But this time, the distraction is coming from the Provincial Government, he said.

More dangerous

“We are again faced with distraction of a much closer and therefore more dangerous situation. The media features it as a personal fight, of course not. We were friends until she threatened the forcible eviction and homelessness of 5,000 Cebu City families,” said the mayor.

In his inaugural address, Osmeña said the City can progress without the Province’s help and the businesses it can bring to the city.

He also talked about succeeding with and improving the SRP, which he said will host movie companies, outsourcing firms and a mix-use development project. It will also have a state-of-the art air-conditioning system using lithium bromide.

Osmeña pledged that as the city transforms the SRP into a world-class facility, City Hall will not leave the urban poor and other marginal sectors behind, particularly occupants of Capitol-owned lots.

For the mayor, the City’s and the Province’s principles are different, as shown by Capitol’s move to evict urban poor settlers and prioritize development of their properties.

“We can prosper even without the Ciudad project and we are going to defend those that will be severely traumatized and dislocated because of the movement of the Provincial Government,” said Osmeña.

“We will not allow ourselves to be distracted. We are going to give the City the leadership it deserves. Remember that we are constitutionally independent from the Province. We do not need the assistance of the Province. The province has most of its property in the city. They need the assistance of the City. It’s there problem, not ours,” he said.

In an interview after yesterday’s inaugural session, the mayor said he will wait for the Province to move before he decides on the fate of Ciudad, the Capitol’s development project along Gov. Cuenco Ave.

“We’ll see first what they will do with the 4,000 families and then they can taste what we can do to them. They’re not the only ones who can say ‘Watch me’,” Osmeña told reporters.

Osmeña also talked about teamwork and how the SRP will help Cebu City continue to soar.

Aside from the P2 billion to P4 billion the City Government will make from the sale of 30 hectares of land, the City will also earn some P300,000 per hectare a month in royalties from the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco).

Royalties

For the electricity Veco will supply to SRP locators, it will pay the City Government some 40 centavos per kilowatt-hour.

Osmeña said that with the export zone status given to the SRP, the City can provide power supply to the locators. But since it does not have the facility and expertise, the City will sign an agreement with Veco for the latter to supply electricity in exchange for royalties.

“With the SRP, we now have the means to take off and with us focusing on the needs of the city, Cebu City will continue to soar. Like the proverbial old man and his ugly mountain, let us continue to help create more useful terraces in that mountain, to make it useful for future generations. Little by little, sooner than later we will reach our dream of making Cebu City a viable place in the world,” Osmeña said.

after singha beer of thailand opened a distribution facility in cebu, here comes another one from siam!!!

PTT of Thailand to open Cebu depot as part of expansion
By Roderick T. dela Cruz

BANGKOK, Thailand—PTT Public Co. Ltd., one of the largest energy companies in Southeast Asia, said it will commercially open its five-million liter depot in Cebu province this month, as a part of its P3-billion expansion program in the Philippines.

In a special media briefing organized by PTT and regional budget carrier Cebu Pacific for Filipino transport reporters in the Thai capital over the weekend, Artasith Pothiapinyanvisuth, executive vice president for commercial and international marketing of PTT oil business group, said the depot had been completed and would start commercial operation this month.

He said the commercial operation of the depot in Cebu was a part of PTT’s international operations, which are expected to account for a fifth of the company’s total revenues by 2012. PTT supplies aviation fuel to Cebu Pacific and other carriers based in the Philippines.

PTT is also actively involved in gas and petrochemical businesses in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong and China.

“For the next five years, PTT group aspirations gear to increase to 20 percent the revenue contribution of its international operations, including the expansion business program in the Philippines,” Artasith said.

Sukanya Jindanuwat, chief finance officer of PTT Philippines Corp., said the new depot would allow the PTT group to open four additional retail stations in Cebu province this year, on top of the first one which was opened in January.

The oil depot is envisioned to launch the PTT network in the Visayas. PTT first entered Luzon in 1996 through a joint venture with Coastal Corp. of the US for an oil storage and terminal facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

From around 20 retail stations at present, Artasith said PTT was committed to the continued expansion of its retail network in the Philippines by supplying dependable, quality and competitively priced fuels for its transport sector.

“In the next five to 10 years, PTT Philippines Corp. expects to put up some 100 to 200 stations nationwide,” he said, adding that this could entail about P3 billion in fresh investments.

PTT, which is actively involved in natural gas development and utilization, is also in discussion with PNOC-Exploration Corp. for the Malampaya natural gas pipeline project.

HERE (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business5_july2_2007)

leave the "danggit-danggit" to other places who want to sell themselves CHEAP! cebu's market is UPscale, hehe! ilaha na lang nang ginagmay. waaaah

cebu is fine wagyu meat..... the others??? double dead carcass!

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Travel group and province draft 20-year masterplan

The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) partners with the Cebu Provincial Government in crafting an extensive 20-year tourism development masterplan for the province.

Naitas chairman Robert Lim Joseph said in a press conference recently that the group is highly confident of the tourism advantage of Cebu, and this can be realized in long term if a good tourism development plan will be in place.

“Among all provinces, it is Cebu,” said Joseph, who leads over a thousand travel agent members in the Philippines.

Naitas already talked with Governor Gwen Garcia on this plan, and Joseph said Garcia has verbally approved the idea, but still has to formalize this soon.

“We have to help the province. You have a dynamic Governor, she’s a progressive leader,” said Joseph.

Also, Naitas is planning to collaborate with the Cebu City government through Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña for similar program. However, Joseph said he still has to talk with the Mayor purposely on this matter.

“The government has to work closely hand-in-hand with the private sector players, because we know the real happening on the ground,” he said.

“There are people, who are just ‘talkers’ wala palang alam, [in the tourism industry],” he added.

Joseph, who is one of the pro-active tourism advocates in the Philippines, said although this 20-year master-plan is not a one-shot deal, it could provide further confidence to Cebu, as the premier or center for tourism in the Philippines.

Among other factors that shall be given priorities in the master-plan is the strong campaign for “culture of tourism” that would be done hand in hand with the tourism stakeholders and the local government units (LGUs).

Also, he said good transportation system, electricity, water supply, and most importantly protection of the environment would be taken into serious consideration.

The Cebu Provincial government should implement a strong environmental protection for the whole Cebu beaches, to preserve the charm of the province.

“If we do not protect the environment in year’s time, we will have cauliform. What will happen to these resorts?” he added.

He reiterated that Cebu should insists in being a high-end destination, and that more Shangri-La should be built, and more luxury accommodations for high-end tourists.

“We should not be content on selling ‘danggit-danggit lang’. We should develop also, more high-end shopping centers,” he said.

Joseph stressed that Cebu is already a sophisticated destination, but it needs complementary infrastructure to strengthen this advantage, such as more five-star resort accommodations, shopping destinations for high-end tourists, and others.

With these suggestions, he said the government should work together with the players who know the need and demands of the target market, Cebu is aiming for. — Ehda M. Dagooc

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/27/500x500/67/P1130551.JPG?et=HUnzGBBNQkb4ObBWAn9KgA

Capitol sues City, Tomas
(http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/07/03/news/capitol.sues.city.tomas.html)
AS Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, together with Capitol department heads, inspected Fuente Osmeña yesterday, lawyers of the Provincial Government finally went to court to recover possession of the park.

In a civil suit for quieting of title and recovery of possession, Capitol cited two separate titles, claiming it was issued by the Cebu City Register of Deeds, and asked the court to declare it as “valid, legal and binding against the City of Cebu and Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña and the whole world.”

Capitol asked the Regional Trial Court to declare the Province as the “legal and rightful owner” of the property, to direct the City Government and the mayor to respect the Province’s rights as owner and to turn over their possession and control of the property.

The suit, prepared by Acting Provincial At-torney Marino Martinquilla, also said the Province is merely tolerating the City’s long-time administration of the property and maintained that in no instance did it express its consent to such an administration.

But Osmeña, when sought for a reaction, insisted that the City’s grounds for holding on to the park are very strong because of Supreme Court rulings on titled lots neglected by their owners.

“We will answer it in court, no problem,” he said. :applause:

Garcia and Capitol officials walked around the Fuente rotunda and checked the fountain, with the governor even talking with policemen that Osmeña deployed there to guard the place after the park’s ownership debate heated up.

“I’m wondering if there are tilapia here. Maayo siguro butangan ni ug isda kay daghan og lumot. Naa say fish pen,” she said referring to the dirty fountain. :bash:

Contrast

She noted that the rotunda was not properly maintained in contrast with the “beautiful landscape” of the Provincial Capitol. :bash:

“We will go to court and take our claim, our ownership. I don’t want to reduce this to that kind of melodrama and soap opera.

We will proceed prudently but resolutely, legally but firmly,” she said of Capitol’s moves.

Before going to Fuente Osmeña, Garcia also visited Larsian and the Fuente Police Station and assured its chief, Insp. Henry Biñas, that in her effort to recover Province-owned lots, no one will be left without a roof over their heads.

Professionalism

The area where the police station stands is also owned by the Province.

Earlier in the day, the governor gathered her employees after the flag-raising ceremony and reminded them that she demands professionalism and efficiency from them in order to deliver the services that the public deserves.

Garcia issued this policy when she first assumed office as governor and told the employees at that time that she did not expect the employees’ love, but was instead demanding professionalism and good work from them.

This time around, she commended employees and department heads who have shown great improvements and lived up to her standards, although she expressed disappointment over those who still continue their old sloppy ways.

“Even after three years of observing me, of working in this institution with Gwen Garcia at the helm, you still mistakenly believe that I never meant business,” she said.

During the assembly, Capitol consultant on security Byron Garcia showed video footage and pictures of employees who were caught violating office rules like eating during working hours, not wearing proper uniforms, not turning off the computers during noon breaks and texting during office hours.

Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla said memoranda have been sent to the concerned employees ordering them to explain why they should not be sanctioned.

Example

Garcia said the showing of the footage and pictures should be done often.

“You will be the stars of your own movies and you will be appropriately paid with the appropriate memorandum and appropriate investigation because leadership by example is not enough. I have realized since then that you will have to be your own example,” she said.

Among those she also mentioned were the employees she described as “phenomenally disloyal creatures,” who she said stole Capitol documents to be used against her and even openly campaigned against her, a violation of civil service rules.

She told these employees that if they do not trust her and do not agree with how things are being run under administration, they must step aside.

------
I just heard over the radio, across some AM stations, that we should keep a very close look on Fuente Osmena this coming days because it will transform to become Cebu's grandest and most beautiful landmark and regain its glory. :)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5093/freemansf2.jpg

sinulog presented to world leaders...

vhgIyUVnTd8

Talents inside the confines of the four walls of CPDRC (wa pa man tingali ni ma post diri). I am sure after watching the videos below, you will have different reactions. Hala, watch and enjoy the grand production numbers.

WjMd2Vabcv8


fptZ3FY-AwY

^ :master: They should participate in Sinulog or any other event that would need a production number

^ hahaha...I think pwede, pero they have to perform inside the CPDRC compound kay basin mangikyas nya na sila ( they might escape) if they will participate in the street dancing sa Sinulog...na dakong gubot!

^ They should use hand cuffs and and feet cuffs as props :lol:

I remember back then, when I was still a devout Christian and when I still followed the events in the Sinulog Mardi Gras, that there was an all-women contingent from the BBRC who danced to the beat of a Latino/Salsa music. :yes:

i had a great time chatting with a couple from Luxemburg while i was in a jeep on my way to Ayala from school...they were such a nice couple who happened to be in a 3-month holiday, going around the country...they told me that they loved Cebu and that it reminded them of Hawaii...what struck me most was that they told me that riding a jeepney was better than being on a taxi--take that from tourists--since being in a taxi makes them feel 'boxed-in', while to them, being in a jeepney makes them feel that 'everyone in the jeepney was family'

Int’l IT firm to open Cebu branch
Sunstar Online Cebu
July 4, 2007


ONE of the world’s major management and technology consulting organization will begin its Cebu operations next week.

This was announced by Manolito Tayag, senior executive of Accenture Inc., on the sidelines of the Cebu Information Communication Technology (ICT) 2007 International Conference and Exhibition last week.

Tayag said investor confidence in the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Cebu has led Accenture to open its ninth branch in the Philippines.

Accenture in Cebu is scheduled for soft opening on July 16 while full operations are expected on the first week of August, Tayag said in an interview.

The company will occupy six floors of a high-rise building that is currently under construction at Cebu Business Park.

Many services

“The Cebu office will not just be a call center but will offer a whole range of service line,” he said, adding that some 500 people will be hired within the year.

Tayag said the company’s expansion in Cebu, which is the center of business activity in the Visayas, “is part of our cornerstone growth strategy.”

He added that stories of successful BPO companies like call centers that have long established operations in the province triggered their decision to finally set up their first facility outside of Metro Manila.

Accenture in Manila focuses on technology and outsourcing and operates primarily as a delivery center. It operates in eight locations within prominent districts like Makati City and Pasig City and employ over 1,000 professionals.

Innovative solutions

Tayag said he is optimistic that, like its Manila branches, Accenture-Cebu will deliver innovative solutions to its pool of clients owing to the skilled workforce in the province.

Accenture, which was founded in 1985, is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

It aims to identify new business and technology trends; and develop solutions to help clients worldwide enter new markets, increase revenues in existing ones, improve operational performance and deliver products effectively and efficiently, its website said.

The company has grown to more than 40 centers around the world with the Philippines, according to Tayag, as one of its largest offshore arm.

^^ That's Pioneer Building...the site of ACCENTURE CEBU! :banana:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/bizpark13.jpg

Thanks for the info @TJ! i actually thought it was Cebu Commercial Tower. :) glad the Pioneer house is almost done. looking good!

their employees currently based in Manila are excited with the Cebu office expansion as a good number of them, mostly those coming from the Visayas and Mindanao will get the chance to work in Cebu. much closer to home. :D a good friend of mine who is based in Manila volunteered to relocate there, saying he just wanna experience Cebu. of course with my help, i provided him a list of chillout places, recommended a good place to stay for months etc. :cool: i can also ask him to join the SSC-Cebu night out's some time, welcome nyo sya ha! :D

@rusty - Sure we would! Just advise us if ur friend is here na..]

Anyway, I thought it was Cebu Commercial Tower too till I saw their logo displayed dun sa Pioneer Bldg.

Yeah Im pretty excited with Accenture too for some personal reasons ehehehehehhe....

Tomas tells Gwen not to touch park (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=52&type=2&sec=70&aid=20070703167)
By Wenna A. Berondo
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

“She can’t touch it because we have possession of the park. She has to have a court order,” said Mayor Tomas Osmeña referring to the action of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of going to court for the province to regain ownership of the park.

Osmeña said that if in case Capitol will also ask that the Fuente Police Station be removed from its lot, the city “will have make adjustments.”

The mayor said that the city government will still look for an appropriate lot for the police station in the area.

Garcia went to the Fuente Osmeña Monday and also paid a visit to the police station shortly before Capitol filed a case for the recovery of the lot being occupied by the Fuente Osmeña.

Meanwhile, Osmeña also refused to heed the call of Dilaab, a religious organization, which asked that the mayor and governor be gagged to prevent the further escalation of their verbal tussle.

He instead blamed Garcia as the one who started the problem.

Recently, the Dilaab Foundation headed by Fr. Carmelo Diola, conducted a survey to know the concerns and recommendations of the people on the worsening rivalry between the two local government leaders. The most common recommendation of the people is for the two officials to stop trading barbs and instead focus on their duties to serve their constituents.

“Why will I put scotch tape over my mouth? Let me remind you that I really don’t have to comment on anything, we’re fine, but let me just point out to you who was the person who said ‘watch me.’ Who was the person who was making pang-artista, pang-artista there saying ‘watch me.’ Nagsugod siya iyang gisirad-an ang Larsian and demanding that the police move out, everybody move out. Siya nagsugod ana, di man ako ba,” Osmeña said.

The mayor further explained that keeping silent is disadvantageous to him because even if he and Garcia keep quiet, the newspaper owned by the relatives of the governor will keep on attacking him.

“No, because Sun Star is the rubberstamp of the Garcias so, alkanse gyud ko kay I don’t have any newspaper, you all know that already. I cannot defend myself. If she keeps quiet, I keep quiet pero ang newspaper mobunal gyud. Kinsa man alkanse niana? Your (referring to the news reporters) writing is fine pero pag-abot sa mga editorial and things like that, alkanse gyud ko,” Osmeña added.

He said that it is okay for the governor to visit Fuente Osmeña, because it is a public place, but warned her not to make any changes.

“Just don’t’ take the law into your own hands, use the court,” he told the governor.

Moratorium

Osmeña also said that the moratorium on development projects in the Banilad area will stay despite the recent complaints by some businessmen, who are planning to invest there. One of the major development projects affected by the moratorium is the Capitol’s multi-billion “Ciudad” project.

The mayor said that the city may even make the moratorium permanent while it tries to implement other solutions like banning of private cars in the area during rush hours.

Osmeña told businessmen who have purchased lots and are planning to do development projects in Banilad, that business risk is part of buying a property. He added that before they bought the lots, the businessmen could have sought clarifications with him.

He said that at present, the city government is very transparent on its plan to solve the worsening traffic situation in the Banilad area.

“Right now we are allowing room for public discussion so people would understand.”

To make the moratorium permanent, he said that there has to be public discussion before the city comes up with proposal, and public hearing to know if people like the idea.

Osmeña said that the University of Cebu had also expressed plans to put up a grade school near the Gaisano Country Mall but the city is still studying its proposal, and may approve it if it could not add to the traffic congestion in the area.

He said that he has required the project proponent to first get the approval of the barangay captains of Banilad, Talamban and Bacayan while the city validates and consults the parents and students on what they think about the project.

“May be we will approve it. We’re very sensitive already on what to approve and not to approve. There is need for an impact study on what we approve and not approve,” he explained.

In a related development, Osmeña yesterday said that the Gokongwei family will be putting up a multi-purpose complex in the lot that is presently occupied by the SWAT and Mobile Patrol Group in the north reclamation area.

The mayor said that there is possibility that these two police units might be transferred to the South Road Properties, which is just five minutes away to the City Hall.

He added that he finds no problem in relocating SWAT and MPG to SRP because even if they would be housed outside the city’s business center, they could respond to alarms immediately because it would be faster for them to drive since the area is not congested. — (/NLQ)

Immigration cites continuing influx of foreign students
By JUN RAMIREZ

The Philippines is fast emerging as the newest educational hub in the Asia-Pacific as a result of the continuing influx of foreign students studying in various schools of the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.


BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan disclosed that last year alone, more than 30,000 foreigners had secured special study permits and student visas from the bureau.

Libanan said Koreans account for about 95 percent of the foreign students and that most of them are minors and teenagers enrolled in various private schools and learning centers throughout the country.

A special study permit (SSP) is issued to a foreigner studying in elementary and high school and other non-degree courses while a student visa is given to one pursuing a college degree.

Libanan said he intends to institute new policy guidelines that will expedite and cut red tape in the processing and issuance of study visas and permits by the BI.

He bared that recently, the BI extended from one month to six months the length of visa extensions that the bureau gives to SSP holders.

Libanan added that he would arrange a meeting with officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to discuss programs that would boost the country’s reputation as a haven for foreign students.

However, the BI chief warned that any foreigner who study here without obtaining a permit or visa will be sanctioned for immigration law violations.

He cautioned school registrars not to admit foreigners who do not have study permits or visas or the BI will withdraw their authority to accept foreign students.

Teodulo Estrada, head of the BI student desk, bared that aside from Metro Manila, there is also a high concentration of foreign students in the cities of Baguio and Cebu.

Estrada said that from January to May this year, some 10,000 foreigners, mostly Koreans, have applied for study permits and visas.

New expansion for Plantation Bay
By Richard A. Ramos

PLANTATION BAY Resort & Spa has recently expanded its facilities in order to cater to ever-growing clientele traffic and industry trends.

No less than 18 new spa rooms have been added, three of which are live-in rooms for overnight purposes. These facilities have been designed to complement the Mogambo Springs, Plantation Bay’s in-house spa.

According to Angela Panaguiton, officer-in-charge of sales, the new rooms were constructed in conformity of the Tokogawa Era in 17th century Japan where architecture and interior design are reminiscent of ancient Japan.

“We will also change the entire façade of the Mogambo Springs. The reception area will be expanded, while the layout of the lockers will be altered. We will do these by phases so as not to disrupt its services and clientele movements,” she told what’s On & Expat.

The opening of the spa facilities is set anytime this month as the construction is presently on its finishing touches to enhance the spa ambiance.

Other spa amenities and features include yoga classes, wellness menus, parlor services, cascading falls, etc.

Meanwhile, Palermo, the resort’s prime Italian restaurant, now offers cocktails with live music every Thursday and Saturday nights to enliven resort nightlife.

The Kilimanjaro Café also offers a Korean Hotpot promo every Tuesday to cater to the resort’s leading market patrons.

Russians, locals, balikbayans, and Manila guests comprise the resort’s other markets as well. Occupancy rate is pegged at an enviable 90 percent.

Another attraction is the daily themed breakfast buffet where motif shifts, from North American, to Chinese, to Mediterranean, to Filipino, etc.

From its initial 188 rooms, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa now boasts of 250 rooms due to the opening of its new poolside bungalows.

wow..
almost all the sorroundings...
are developing (for resorts, hotels, etc)
and expanding (for malls)

The oldest dated house in the Philippines is now in Cebu,


Photos by Stanley Cabigas
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/jesuithouse2copy.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/jesuithouse1copy.jpg


..

wow..
almost all the sorroundings...
are developing (for resorts, hotels, etc)
and expanding (for malls)

sarossa hotel will also be expanding.. ive seen its blueprint just tonight.. the new structure will rise just beside the existing hotel and will be 10-storey tall..

^^ thanks for this very fresh news bai marv! would you happen to know which side are they gonna expand? i'm having a hard time thinking of any vacant space for expansion near the old structure.

^ They should use hand cuffs and and feet cuffs as props :lol:

OT: this is so not funny. insensitive.

^^ Murag kabantay pud ko nga naa gyud bitaw'y plano kay naa may murag crane nga ga standby dra sa tupad anang Sarossa International Hotel

^^ so that means naa pa jud diay vacant lot bai near sarossa? well and good!!! that area would soon become a commercial and less of a residential. just like the place where parklane stands right now. still remember about the rumor that the aboitiz or lhuillier (??not sure??) family is planning to sell off their property beside parklane coz they lost their privacy daw... might also happen in mabolo area...

^^ thanks for this very fresh news bai marv! would you happen to know which side are they gonna expand? i'm having a hard time thinking of any vacant space for expansion near the old structure.

im not sure with the exact location coz ive only seen some of its floor plans and an elevation.. basta mag tapad ra jud ang duha div..

^^ Murag kabantay pud ko nga naa gyud bitaw'y plano kay naa may murag crane nga ga standby dra sa tupad anang Sarossa International Hotel

btw the design of the 2nd structure is pretty much the same with the existing hotel..

^^ thanks again bai marv... hmmm... naa nasad bag-o check-inanan ako fwend... hehehe!

Cebu is seriously developing...nonstop!

thnks for the info marv...

^^ Mas musamot ang paglambo sa Metro Cebu kung ang mga transportation bottlenecks caused by the lack of a comprehensive mass-transportation infrastructure will be taken care of by our local government the soonest time possible. (Think: Bus Rapid Transit System/Network [BRT] or Mass-Transit Railways System/Network [MRT])

^ Amen to that. ;)

The oldest dated house in the Philippines is now in Cebu,


Photos by Stanley Cabigas
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/jesuithouse2copy.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/jesuithouse1copy.jpg


..


Nice find. Where is its exact location?

sarossa hotel will also be expanding.. ive seen its blueprint just tonight.. the new structure will rise just beside the existing hotel and will be 10-storey tall..

Nice. Thanks for the info. :okay: Nag-una jud pirme ang SSC (SSC always delivers news first) :banana:

OT: this is so not funny. insensitive.

Well how are we gonna make sure that if they dance on the streets, they can't escape? Nothing else than having to put hand cuffs and foot cuffs, then they'll just show some creative body movements as they dance on the streets ;)

Sitoy aims to make Cordova 1st-class town by end of his term (http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/07/05/news/sitoy.aims.to.make.cordova.1st.class.town.by.end.of.his.term.html)

INSPIRED by the transformation of Bogo and Carcar towns into cities, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy urged members of the new municipal council to work with him to upgrade the town’s classification into a first-class municipality before the end of his term.

With Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) at P28 million this year and a territory of 1,200 hectares, the town can move from its current fourth-class standing if the council approves ordinances to compel the issuance of tax declarations for the “untouched” 3,500 hectares of foreshore lands.

“With larger territory we can double our IRA by three to four times,” he said in his inaugural speech.

Adelino is replacing his son, former mayor Arleigh Sitoy, who held Cordova for nine years. Yesterday, Adelino discussed his 12-point development thrusts that include protection of the town’s ecosystem and the privatization of the management of the 14.89- hectare marine sanctuary in Gilutongan islet.

But he did not answer concerns raised by the group of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as about problems on illegal drugs, over-fishing in the marine sanctuary, and accepting more development that threatens the town’s coastal resources.

“I don’t know that,” Sitoy said when reached by reporters to comment on the opposition’s concerns.

Each member of the council, including Jumao-as, made a short speech at the opening of the inaugural session.

There were three in the opposition who ran under the ticket of Lakas-NUCD with former vice mayor Danny Sinugbuhan, but they pledged to support measures beneficial to the town.

The marine sanctuary in Gilutongan was established in 1991 and since then the town earned millions of pesos from foreign and local divers at P50 to P100 per head. This year, income is estimated to hit P4 million.

Despite opening the sanctuary to private investors, however, Cordova will retain “absolute control and supervision” over it.

“It is only about business purposes in relation to the efforts of dive shops to bring tourists to the area that we are going to bid out to interested individuals, because we cannot monitor the selling of tickets which has been a fat source of graft,” Sitoy told reporters.

He also urged the council to support him in determining territorial jurisdiction over Shell Island. Rental for this from businessman Augusto Go goes to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Go uses the islet as docking area for his marine and nautical training vessels.

“We are supposed to receive that rental because the islet belongs to Cordova, not DENR,” he said.

HP creates new concept store in Cebu (http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/07/05/bus/hp.creates.new.concept.store.in.cebu.html)

RECOGNIZING the need for companies and individual consumers to witness the “interplay” of the hardware and software components of their computers, Hewlett-Packard (HP) Philippines has rolled out its first solution center in the country as well as in Southeast Asia.

“It’s not your typical retail store,” said Larry Devera, HP-Philippines solution partner organizations country director.

He said, HP which partnered with Ng Khai Development Corp. for the center’s full operations, has decided to implement the new concept in Cebu because of the province’s “bustling and dynamic market” fueled by growth in the information technology-enabled companies, tourism and the huge bulk of small and medium enterprise (SME) players.

Local partner

Devera also said part of the reason was Ng Khai’s willingness to invest in their concept.

“We helped Ng Khai identify which designer is best to execute the idea,” he said.

HP Solution Center located on the third level of Ayala Center Cebu’s new wing, offers a complete solution of commercial products for big companies like call centers and even SMEs.

“If you are interested in the call center solution, you can go to the call center portfolio and check the available hardware the industry is using,” Devera said.

Baby project

“Customers would easily grasp the cost effective solution for their business,” he added.

In an interview with reporters during the center’s launching last Tuesday, Devera said the inquisitive nature of Filipinos and their fondness to window shop gave birth to HP’s “baby project.”

He considers the center an effective medium to reach out to Cebuanos who are always on the look out for new innovations that will provide convenience to their daily business operations.

This early, other HP partners have signified interest to adopt the concept, said Devera. Two of them are in Metro Manila and the others are Pampanga, Tarlac and Cgayan de Oro.

“We hope to open another one within the year,” he said.

Creation of new barangay only needs ordinance
(http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view_article.php?article_id=74745)

Cebu Daily News
Last updated 12:30pm (Mla time) 07/04/2007

Cebu City, Philippines – The plan of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to carve a new barangay (village) out of Pardo can be done through a mere ordinance of the City Council, according to an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Danilo Almendras, DILG legal officer in Central Visayas, said the only criteria needed for a highly urbanized city like Cebu City to form a new barangay was that the new political unit should have a population of at least 5,000.

But the proposal did not sit well with the officials of Barangay Pardo who did not want their village divided into two because it would further cut down the size of its population and land area.

Mayor Osmeña bared his plan to create a new barangay out of Pardo during his inaugural address to the City Council on Monday, the first working day of all elective officials.

The 100-hectare property located near Alta Vista in Pardo would serve as relocation site for displaced urban poor families. It would be like a new barangay, as it would have a school, a market and church.

The new barangay would be connected to the South Coastal Road and the South Road Properties through a highway that would be built by the city government.

Osmeña said the city was in the process of negotiating with the Aznar family who owns the property.

“This is a plan which we will start to implement over the next two years and we will show that we are not leaving the poor behind,” Osmeña said in his inaugural address to the City Council on Monday.

Almendras said the mayor's plan could be done because the only requirement was that the new barangay should have a population of not less than 5,000.

But in creating a new barangay, he said the population of the original barangay should not be reduced to less than 5,000 in the case of an urbanized city and 2,000 for a municipality.

If this happens, the barangay cannot be divided, he added.

If the requirement is met, Almendras said the City Council will then pass an ordinance, creating the new barangay.

Then the constituents of the original barangay would decide through a plebiscite if they favored the creation of the new barangay.

Danilo Lim, barangay captain of Poblacion Pardo, said they will oppose any move to divide their barangay because its size is not as big as the others. Pardo's total land area is only 226 hectares. It has a population of 16,000.

“Mogamay og samot ang among barangay. Nganong di man ang Guadalupe nga mahimong bahinon bisan katulo pa tungod sa ka dako (The size of our barangay will be further reduced. Why not divide Guadalupe? They can divide it at least three times because it has a big land area)," Lim said.

Guadalupe is the city's biggest barangay. Based on the data from the Commission on Elections released during the May 14 polls, its voting population reached 28,851.

Lim also expressed doubt on the viability of the mayor's plan because only a few people were living in the hinterland areas in Pardo.

“Kon ang tanang mga urban poor sa siyudad ang yang papuy-on sa bukid siguro makuha dayon nila ang 5,000 nga requirement alang sa bag-ong barangay (If he would take all urban poor families in the city and make them live in the mountain, then the requirement for a new barangay would be met),” he said.

He also raised doubts on whether the city government could afford to buy the land when it was still straddled with a P6-billion loan because of the South Reclamation Project.

CITOM income from January to June reaches P26.5 million (http://philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=52&type=2&sec=70&aid=20070704176)

Thursday, July 5, 2007

The City Traffic Operations Management has collected at least P26. 5 million of revenues from January to June this year, more than half of the amount came from parking fees of vehicles parked along the city streets.

CITOM executive officer Arnel Tancinco said the average weekly collection of parking fees is P580,000 to P600,000, bringing the total parking fee collections from January to June 30 to P14,449,615.

During the weekly meeting of the CITOM Board yesterday, it was agreed that more parking bays are to be established in the city where vehicle owners are required to pay P15 for every hour of parking.

Several roadsides in the city have been declared as parking bays by the City Council upon the recommendation of CITOM.

But a vehicle owner from barangay Basak-San Nicolas said that: “Binuang na man ning ilang gibuhat. Dako na kaayo ta’g gibayad nga registration fee kay apil na man ang road users tax, karon dugangan pa sa gihimo sa Citom.”

Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, who presided over the meeting being the chairman of the City Council committee on transportation, requested other members of the board to help identify other areas to be declared as parking bays.

Aside from the parking fees, other CITOM revenues came from fines of traffic violators and delivery permit fees.

From January to June, collections from bicycle registration reached only P82,290.

It was also learned that CITOM has failed to strictly enforce the law ordering bicycle owners to register their units with the local government.

Well how are we gonna make sure that if they dance on the streets, they can't escape? Nothing else than having to put hand cuffs and foot cuffs, then they'll just show some creative body movements as they dance on the streets ;)

riiiiight.:ohno:

Check out SM Cebu's old logo and how the mall looked back then

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z156/bobtess/2005-PI/ea26.jpg

And how it looks now

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o311/amgoto/Philippines/2007/2007-03/1073g009SMMall.jpg

@Sinjin

That's in Pari-an. Just a walk away from Casa Gorordo.


Anyway, I hope Tomas can really turn his plan into a reality. One thing I've noticed in him kay usahay puros lang istorya and plano unlike ni Gwen nga naa jud action. If the officials in Pardo are opposed to his move, then the Mayor can still go to Talamban. Lots of available space there. There's really a need to relocate all the squatters in Cebu especially those living in Pasil-Ermita and the North Reclamation Area.

I hope he can create an enclave of high rise or at least mid-rise apartment blocks like those in China.

The old schemes for SM CIty - Cebu were too tacky for my taste. I prefer the newer more understated interiors of SM. :yes:

^ I agree. It doesn't look dull anymore :)

Ever wished that SM City - Cebu and Ayala Center - Cebu would be connected by a monorail? That would be soooooooooooo awesome! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Yeah, I'd love all the major shopping malls in Cebu to get connected through a rail line ;)

why not relocate all the settlers to a place outside of the city...seriously, this is one of the reasons why we need a MCDC...a relocation site on the hills of Pardo simply wont do...many notorious criminals live in the Pasil-Ermita area, and moving them near a country club and the relatively peaceful barangay Pardo doesnt look very pretty indeed...perhaps he should builds decent looking high-rise mass housing blocks like what @arnold suggests, and screen the potential occupants and residents...i dont want to see a village of meth addicts living in tin-roof houses sprout like mushrooms over my home village

We should create an online petition proposing an MCDC and link them to SkyscraperCity Cebu :rock:

If there'd be a Metro Cebu Development Authority our metropolis would definitely look tidier and more orderly. That is, of course, with the assumption that it incorporates the same schemes as MMDA. :yes:

^ It doesn't necessarily need to be patterned after MMDA. It should be patterned after what Cebu needs and what Cebu wants to be ;)

We need to have more golf courses here in Cebu. Koreans are addicted to this sport. If we build enough of these golf courses here in our city...we'd entice them to play golf here rather than in their country since golf club membership fees there are stratospherically-priced.

^^and that's exactly why i'm against the prospect of building a relocation village on the hills of Pardo, since we have in there a decent golf course, that when given the right push, would be a great attraction for those who wish to burn their money

^ It doesn't necessarily need to be patterned after MMDA. It should be patterned after what Cebu needs and what Cebu wants to be ;)
amen to that... mcda should be even better!!!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/sk.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/sk1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/echoshots/sk3.jpg

^^and that's exactly why i'm against the prospect of building a relocation village on the hills of Pardo, since we have in there a decent golf course, that when given the right push, would be a great attraction for those who wish to burn their money

o btaw sa, they should relocate those illegal settlers to municipalities outside metro cebu,aron ma decongest ang ciudad

there will be another starbucks at the first level of ACC's new annex, cebu's 5th starbucks...

ONE ACACIA PLACE

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01370.jpg

PJL CORPORATE CENTER

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01371.jpg

GOLDEN PRINCE SUITES

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01372.jpg

the parlane hotel (left) with the U/C cebu commercial IT tower (right)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01378.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01374.jpg

AYALA CENTER CEBU

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01376.jpg

PAG-IBIG CORPORATE TOWER

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01379.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01380.jpg

LEISURE OASIS / ACC lagoon redevelopment

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01382.jpg

CEBU city street scenes

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01381.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01383.jpg

sidewalk scenes

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01384.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01385.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01386.jpg

the cute security bank :lol:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01388.jpg

the cute metrobank and the keppel

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01389.jpg

central business district street scene

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01390.jpg

Lexmark (USA) research and development facility u/c

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01391.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01398.jpg

the first HSBC outside luzon

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01392.jpg

the PARK TOWER CONDOMINIUM

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01393.jpg

A pocket park at cebu's CBD

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01394.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01397.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01399.jpg

the first marriott brand in the philippines, the marriott cebu!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01395.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01402.jpg

urban snapshot

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01401.jpg

sosyal na public vehicle terminal :lol:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01403.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01407.jpg

sosyal na public vehicle terminal :banana:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01409.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x102/pinakamaldito/DSC01408.jpg