^^



:hahaha:

http://www.cbcponline.org/cebu/assets/collage.jpg

Welcome to the 15th Thread of Cebu: The Metropolis and Province!

*CEBU CITY, the Charming City of Asia
*CEBU, the Charm of Asia
*CEBU, the Queen City of the South
*CEBU, home to the Sinulog, the biggest, the largest Philippine Festival; the new generation mother of Philippine Festivals
*CEBU, number one because we are one!
*CEBU, more than the usual, beyond the expected
*CEBU, the tourism capital of the Philippines
*CEBU, the home to the Sto. Niño
*CEBU, host to the ASEAN Summit 2006

mana bai, wala kase eh nag buhat ng ika kinse eh, kaya ako nalang eh... haha

mana bai, wala kase eh nag buhat ng ika kinse eh, kaya ako nalang eh... haha

tagalog pala ka, pareho pala ta... :hahaha:

This seems funny. The first few threads of Cebu were closed not even reaching 490 posts and now, it's the other way around. It's overflowing. :D


:lock:
No posts shall be made after this unofficial closure. Violators shall be brigged :jk:

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6444/cebu7kv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
With an island-long stretch of sandy beaches and beautiful resorts
complementing a bustling metropolis, it’s no wonder Cebu is oftentimes referred to as
THE business and leisure paradise in the Pacific.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/banner9.jpg


“Right in the Heart”

Cebu is literally situated in the center of the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. Located in the Visayas region, Cebu has the convenient luxury of being in the middle of all trade and commerce from Luzon to Mindanao. So, when you talk about being in the loop, Cebu is definitely it.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/banner15.jpg


“Hey, Joe!”

Home to approximately 3 million, Cebu is known for its warmth and hospitality. You may immediately notice this, as even people you’ve never met before call you by first name and hug you like long lost family. Okay, so your name isn’t actually Joe, but to most Cebuanos, it’s all in the ritual of welcoming foreigners to the big Cebuano family. Visayan is the native tongue, while Tagalog and English are commonly understood and spoken – very well! You won’t have to use that tiny pocket dictionary after all!


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/banner2.jpg


“Present, Sir!”

Cebu is the education center for Central and Eastern Visayas as well as Northern Mindanao. At last count, there are around a dozen colleges and universities in Cebu and probably twice that number of high schools. Literacy is high and with the quality of education people are receiving here, it’s no wonder more and more international companies recruit from our region. In fact, the Philippines is ranked #1 in the availability of knowledge-based job and workers worldwide, and ranked 4th among Asian nations in labor quality, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. based Meta Group.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/banner13.jpg


“Tourist Country”

Imagine pristine white sand beaches and azure tropical waters. Cebu is home to the best resorts in the country and is considered by many as the diving capital of the Philippines. And the best thing about Cebu is that many of the beaches and resorts are only about an hour's drive from downtown - so you can snorkel by day and dress for cocktails at night. Need we say more? But if you think that’s all there is to Cebu, think again! Cebu, being the oldest city in the Philippines, is dotted with remarkable landmarks rich in history and culture, each with a fascinating story to tell about this enchanting island in the Pacific.


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“Life’s a Beach”

The good news is that Cebu has fine weather all year round. Cebu enjoys a tropical climate with moderate variations in weather and temperature. So bask away under the tropical sun. Just don’t forget your sun block.

Cebu

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/banner13.jpg

WoW, nice banner for Cebu... I love it! manh...

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:


CEBU

:banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2:

The Developing Cebu
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/panorama_cebu.jpg

Who says religiosity can't mix with progress and modernity?

"This is far more worst than the one in Quiapo!...," complained a man. This was probably his first time to join the Santo Niño de Cebu Procession which was attended by more than 800,000 people (Police Estimates). The procession started at around 2 pm, and ended at around 730 pm in the evening.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/gvhotel03.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/gvhotel02.jpg

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Bato Balani sa Gugma. Police estimated around 800,000 plus faithful who attended the procession.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/santonino04.jpg


"Bullshiiit! Son of a bitch!!..," cried an American who got caught in what could have been a stampede. Police could no longer resist the crowd who were eager to get inside the Basilica whose iron gates were shut to keep people from continuously coming in.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/santonino06.jpg

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An Agustinian's nightmare of getting it lost, a thief's ambition to steal it, and a collector's dream of having it. The original image of the Santo Niño de Cebu is displayed to the public only once a year inside the bank vault-like Basilica chapel that boasts of a bullet proof window, a heavily made pedestal of marble, and a locked door of solid wood.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/santonino03.jpg



It failed to open in time for the Sinulog, so along with Parklane International Hotel, a similar streamer was hung which said: "See You on the Next Sinulog!"


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/IMG_0650.jpg

edit

and that's CEBU, a Religious Progressive Modern City...

:horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse:
:dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2:

:dance:

LONG LIVE QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH!
VIVA LA CIUDAD DE REINA DEL SUR!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/magellanmonument.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/mactanbrnyt.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/fortsanpedro0.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/nomdeusuario/cebucityaer.jpg

Congrats to our 15th thread! Long Live Cebu.

!!Zeeebooom!! :applause: :applause: :applause: Congratulations!!

CEBU.. para sayo ang laban na to!!!!

^^ international news always connect pacquiao to cebu city. "manny pacquiao of cebu city, philippines"..."erik morales of tijuana, mexico"

Mactan airport spared from 'no touch' policy

The Freeman 01/23/2006

As 'no-touch' security rules are now being implemented in different stages at US and European airports, it is least likely that it will be implemented at Mactan - except perhaps if there are direct Cebu-US flights. But even if implementation here is unlikely, it has drawn mixed reactions from Cebu air passengers.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority general manager Adelberto Yap said last Friday that the "no-touch" or "hands-off" security policy on baggage checks will not be implemented here because of the absence of direct flights to the US.

The 'no-touch' or 'hands-off' policy bars international passengers from access to their checked-in baggage after these go through x-ray machines. Deputized personnel or porters bring these from screening areas to airline check-in counters. Implemented at the Centennial International Airport on Jan. 7, the checks were discontinued and deferred after foreign airline operators assailed this to have lengthened queuing time for baggage checks.

Tirso G. Serrano, MIAA spokesperson said the authority is still reviewing the system and will not resume until enforcement kinks are fine-tuned.

The no-touch security policy was apparently adopted following periodic inspections from representatives of the Transport Security Administration and the International Civil Aeronautics Organization. Both agencies did not prescribe what measures to adopt but OTS came up with policies after discussions with agency representatives.

Yap said TSA imposed "no-touch" policies on airports that have direct US flights such that airports that don't impose the policy are denied entry.

There were mixed reactions in a random survey of 10 passengers at the Mactan airport, four said they want 'no-touch' policy imposed for both domestic and international operations to "deter terrorist schemes" among the loop of airports in the country. Four said they did not want the policy imposed here because of delays and "the waiting will bore us." Two were mum on the issue saying, "we don't know yet how this will work so we cannot foresee the pros and cons."

Elfinito Ortiz of Mandaue City who has been a regular flier for five years objects to no-touch policy all together with, "I abhor this policy because it is being set to victimize us. Our authorities cannot be relied upon on these things. What if they inject or plant something illegal on our luggage. The passenger is the one disadvantaged."

wow 15th na ha!

rowell_sk,

An Island In The Pacific! That one never gets old.

^^ international news always connect pacquiao to cebu city. "manny pacquiao of cebu city, philippines"..."erik morales of tijuana, mexico"

I thought Pacquiao is from Gensan

:hi: :cheers: Happy Sinulog to all the Cebuanos!!

I thought Pacquiao is from Gensan

yes, he is from there. let's give the credit to the people of gensan...

PB declares Mantalongon as Cebu's 'summer capital'
By Jose P. Sollano
The Freeman 01/24/2006

The Provincial Board yesterday approved the recommendation to declare barangay Mantalongon of Dalaguete town as the "summer capital" of Cebu province.

In yesterday's regular session, PB member Agnes Magpale submitted the tourism committee's recommendation to approve the Dalaguete municipal resolution declaring Mantalongon as a summer capital of the province.

PB member Antonio Almirante endorsed the Magpale committee recommendation, which eventually gained the nod of the provincial legislature.

With the declaration, Dalaguete officials said they could now promote Mantalongon, a barangay that Magpale also described as the town's "vegetable basket" that would not fail to attract tourists.

On the other hand, the PB also declared barangay Gaas and Mount Manunggal at barangay Magsaysay, both in Balamban town, as "eco-tourism zones" of Cebu province.

Magpale said local officials of Cebu have been identifying areas that have promising potentials for tourism purposes.


_______________________________

^^ I dont know why... :dunno:

^^

Credit goes to the heirs of the Cuenco family for planting Pine trees in Mantalangon. It's a great spot -- it has a waterfalls, a spring, and everything that could beat Busay out! It also has some trails (mountainbike and hiking) that connect directly to Kawasan Falls in Badian

^ pine trees? in cebu? sounds like a very nice place. any pics of it?

Airports here in the Philippines should not depend on the dictates of the TSA, which is an agency of the US. It should enforce its own security rules like what other Asian countries are doing..

Mactan airport spared from 'no touch' policy

The Freeman 01/23/2006

As 'no-touch' security rules are now being implemented in different stages at US and European airports, it is least likely that it will be implemented at Mactan - except perhaps if there are direct Cebu-US flights. But even if implementation here is unlikely, it has drawn mixed reactions from Cebu air passengers.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority general manager Adelberto Yap said last Friday that the "no-touch" or "hands-off" security policy on baggage checks will not be implemented here because of the absence of direct flights to the US.

The 'no-touch' or 'hands-off' policy bars international passengers from access to their checked-in baggage after these go through x-ray machines. Deputized personnel or porters bring these from screening areas to airline check-in counters. Implemented at the Centennial International Airport on Jan. 7, the checks were discontinued and deferred after foreign airline operators assailed this to have lengthened queuing time for baggage checks.

Tirso G. Serrano, MIAA spokesperson said the authority is still reviewing the system and will not resume until enforcement kinks are fine-tuned.

The no-touch security policy was apparently adopted following periodic inspections from representatives of the Transport Security Administration and the International Civil Aeronautics Organization. Both agencies did not prescribe what measures to adopt but OTS came up with policies after discussions with agency representatives.

Yap said TSA imposed "no-touch" policies on airports that have direct US flights such that airports that don't impose the policy are denied entry.

There were mixed reactions in a random survey of 10 passengers at the Mactan airport, four said they want 'no-touch' policy imposed for both domestic and international operations to "deter terrorist schemes" among the loop of airports in the country. Four said they did not want the policy imposed here because of delays and "the waiting will bore us." Two were mum on the issue saying, "we don't know yet how this will work so we cannot foresee the pros and cons."

Elfinito Ortiz of Mandaue City who has been a regular flier for five years objects to no-touch policy all together with, "I abhor this policy because it is being set to victimize us. Our authorities cannot be relied upon on these things. What if they inject or plant something illegal on our luggage. The passenger is the one disadvantaged."

^ pine trees? in cebu? sounds like a very nice place. any pics of it?

Yup, there's a part of it that looks very much like Baguio with all those Pine trees..

Busay (and the entire stretch of the Transcentral Highway itself all the way to Balamban) is different because walang Pine trees although meron din fog tapos elevated..

I thought Pacquiao is from Gensan

General Santos and the pioneers of Mindanao were mostly Cebuano.
Cebu can run its own country you know. Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Camiguin, So. Leyte plus majority of Mindanao are Cebuanophone.

Tagalog is just Calabarzon and Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, southern Zambales, Aurora, Marinduque and Mindoro. :)

Lapu-Lapu City gov’t begins
ASEAN summit preparations
Published: 24 January 2006

by Doris C. Bongcac

The Lapu-Lapu City government is starting its preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

Among the activities prioritized are the retraining of the local police force, the widening and beautification of roads, and the dissemination of information on the scheduled visits of ASEAN ministers.

Mayor Arturo Radaza has also ordered the creation of an ad hoc committee on January 3 to implement government programs, which must be completed by October.

Paz Radaza, the mayor’s wife and head of the city’s cleanliness and beautification campaign, was appointed head of the ad hoc committee, with City Administrator Teudolo Ybañez, city hall department heads, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, city police chief, and the management of the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) as the committee members.
Superintendent Louie Oppus, chief of the Lapu-Lapu Police Station, said he has begun the re-training program for the city’s police force last Saturday.

Additional sessions are yet to come, he said.

“I don’t want to wait for the higher ups to tell me what to do. Whether the summit pushes through or not, at least we will still be able to serve the people well,” he said.

Oppus said he was also working for the improvement of police precincts located in barangays Mactan and Ibo, where resorts, hotels and the export zones are located.

Improvement of other police stations located in barangays Poblacion and Marigondon and on Olango Island will follow.

“This may be a small island but we wanted to put up modern precincts because this is a showcase for the police,” he said.

City Administrator Ybañez proposed to Mayor Radaza the dissemination of information on the ASEAN Summit. He also wanted to entice the barangays to take an active participation in its preparations.

“What we lack in infrastructure and amenities compared with the previous hosts, we will compensate with the warm Cebuano hospitality and assurance of their security,” said Ybañez's memo.

Ybañez also proposed to the mayor the rehabilitation of traffic lights along ML Quezon Avenue, and for utility companies to address the problem of having unsightly “spaghetti” wires especially along national roads.

A temporary ban on tricycles, he said, should be implemented along the road on the way to the airport until the vicinity of Savemore. Parking must be prohibited on both sides of the road during the duration of the summit, he said.

Ybañez said there was a need to re-mark pedestrian lanes and improve center islands located along ML Quezon Avenue, which is a route used by those coming from the airport and headed to either of the two Mandaue Mactan Bridges.

As a contribution to the city’s preparations, Paz Radaza proposed that the city government tap the assistance of MEPZ locators in the city’s beautification and greening programs, Ybañez told CDN in an interview Monday.

The improvement of roads and other infrastructure preparations was assigned to the engineering office while security concerns would have to be assigned to Oppus, he said.

Ybañez is also proposing that the City Traffic Management Office look into the rehabilitation of streetlights.

Members of the ad hoc Committee are scheduled to meet twice a month to update themselves on their preparations.

General Santos and the pioneers of Mindanao were mostly Cebuano.
Cebu can run its own country you know. Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Camiguin, So. Leyte plus majority of Mindanao are Cebuanophone.

Tagalog is just Calabarzon and Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, southern Zambales, Aurora, Marinduque and Mindoro. :)

Maybe his parents are but he is Gensan native. Will you say that Morales is Spaniard while he's from Mexico just because he speaks Spanish? Like myself, I consider myself Manilan because that is where I was born and live even though my parents are from Visayas and Mindanao. ;)

how about the squatters?

wow the 15 thread already so fast !!! :O wohoooooo!1

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1052/z19sj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1038/picture0652kb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4677/picture0669ih.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2459/688371070bbff99c94b2ck.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2271/673915074e9eb15a05o5il.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2640/shangrilamactan2si.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


for the new forumers.. :)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3030/49944615mainimg05222jw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1714/hiltonhotel16kl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8421/hiltonhotel37qn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7987/hiltonhotelinterior4yk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


for the new forumers.. :)

@Askal82

Actually, some here in Cebu would like to consider Manny Pacquiao as an adopted son because he actually lived here for some time. Maybe that's the reason.

^^ but in the news today bai uncle tom will not make pacman an adopted son of cebu. but he will be invited in the city's charter celebration.

^^

Yup, Daddy Tom even said that Chavit and the First Gentleman spoiled the victory of Pacquiao.. Dunno what he meant by that. I saw this as a headline in a Tabloid man sad..

Is this an illusion?? When viewed in front from the seashore, the two buildings look the same in terms of height; but when viewed from the side, one building is remarkably shorter while the other one is taller!

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4677/picture0669ih.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3030/49944615mainimg05222jw.jpg

oo nga.

but what i dont understand bai is why they have to paint the roof blue.

aaahhh nagkagubot sa pikas (pex) tagbaw tawn kog damage control! ahak!

^^ bai nalingaw ko sa inyo away sa pex! hehehe

nah, wa tawn nako siya awaya, i was just tryin to calm her down kay murag she's on fire! hehehehe, and i was worried na uban forumers from cebu mu rebutt ug bati, patay! hehehe, pero with her latest reply, its obvious, she's havin fun bashing cebu. il stop with my last post there, post na lang kog maayong balita gikan sugbo until she gets back to her senses.

20% of RP furniture exports from Cebu

Cebu’s furniture export industry accounts for 20 percent of the total volume of furniture exports of the country in 2005, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7.

The country’s total furniture exports last year were reportedly worth $270 million.

But while local furniture exporters are optimistic that export sales will expand this year, they admit the Philippines cannot yet compete with China, the leading furniture exporter with total volume of export sales amounting to $8 billion annually, said the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in a statement.

Other products

Aside from furniture, Cebu also exports electronics, fashion accessories, processed foods, gifts, toys and houseware.

The electronics sector compose 24 percent of the total export industry in Cebu province, PIA said.

DTI 7 institutional development division chief Rose Mae Quiñanola said that based on a comparative trade and industry indicators report, from 2002 to 2004, the value of Cebu exports has been on an uptrend.

In 2002, total exports were reported to have a total value $686.5 million, which increased by 12 percent to $770.56 million the following year.

In 2004, the growth in exports soared 23 percent to $943.98 million.

Collector Paul Alcazaren, chief of the Port of Cebu Customs Bonded Warehouse Division, said the volume of exports last year totaled 5,504,359,541 kilos worth $1.867 billion.

The volume of exports does not yet include the exports coming from the Mactan Economic Zone, Alcazaren said.

waaaah, Towers 3 and 4 will be the second and final phase (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/01/25/bus/work.on.2.citylights.towers.to.start.soon.completion.target.set.in.2008.html) of the Citylights Gardens development.

ngeek. di ba 6 towers man unta na?

ang original plan jud was 10 then ila gi 7 nya karon 4 ra..

sayanga oi.

@Askal82

Actually, some here in Cebu would like to consider Manny Pacquiao as an adopted son because he actually lived here for some time. Maybe that's the reason.

Oh okay. I got you now. :)

Based from the pictures of the last page, ang ganda talaga ng pagkadevelop ng mga resorts sa Cebu. No wonder malaki talaga ang potential nito to be the next Bali or Phuket. I wish Surigao Islands too will follow. Sa Boracay medyo na disappoint ako- sayang ba.

^^ bai nalingaw ko sa inyo away sa pex! hehehe


unsa na nga thread bai?

unsa na nga thread bai?


At Pinoy Exchange (http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92443&page=18&pp=40)

ang original plan jud was 10 then ila gi 7 nya karon 4 ra..


no cause for an alarm! the news don't tell the exact figures everytime.

At Pinoy Exchange (http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92443&page=18&pp=40)

arigatou gozaimashita.

Cebu needs a public golf course
By Edgar R. Chiongbian
Teetime

One step forward and two steps back, one step forward and two steps back. And that is why we are not going anywhere. But hey, these are the Sinulog base steps!

Maybe we can learn from this by taking one big step forward, two small steps back, and off you are closer to your goal or destination.

You know the hottest topic in Cebu is the Asean Summit, which will be in Cebu this December. Everyone is preparing for it and rightfully so because the pride of Cebu is on the line. I am convinced that this will be the most successful summit in the Philippines. Gov. Gwen Garcia is working on the Megadome; Mactan airport GM Bert Yap is working on the second runway and another new hotel will be ready by then. But do we really need them for the summit? Maybe not, but we surely need it for our future.

All of this will put Cebu on the map for all to see during the summit. But what is the reality is that we are still missing a public golf course for people to play on.

You can play any sport in Cebu but you cannot play golf on equal level as everyone unless you are a member of a golf club. We had the Kang-irag golf course but the government sold that to a developer and everybody’s investment is hanging as a result.

There is no need to build a spectacular or regulation golf course. An executive golf course just like the Intramurus golf club is good enough for this purpose. A lot of people want to learn to play golf and a lot of visitors or tourists want to play golf but have no real access to it. The big reason that the local government is not interested is because a golf course will not make money unless you sell shares and let the members support it.

The real value of a public course is the revenue it gets when the tourists come and spend money in the city. It is indirectly a money-making proposition. What makes this an unpopular proposition is that it is a rich man’s sport so it does not directly benefit the common people who cannot afford to play it. But their benefits will come in terms of employment and environmentally clean air since a golf course is like a park with trees and lots of grass, which is non-existent in Cebu.

Check this out: Shangrila Mactan tops the Conde Nast 2006 Gold List (http://www.concierge.com/bestof/goldlist/category/activities) in Best for Activities

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/conde3.jpg

^^ no doubt!

Check this out: Shangrila Mactan tops the Conde Nast 2006 Gold List (http://www.concierge.com/bestof/goldlist/category/activities) in Best for Activities

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/conde3.jpg

I really like their pools plus the location is excellent - close to diving sites if I'm not mistaken.

The Cebu leg of the ATF tours was held last Jan 21 - 23 with 39 delegates. They were housed at Waterfront, Maribago, and Badian (http://www.badianhotel.com/e/index.html). Galing!

check out this Moalboal dutch website.
http://www.magicisland.nl/english/index.php

and found this cool underwater pics on Moalboal.
http://www.magicisland.nl/nederlands/gallery/underwater05.jpg
http://www.magicisland.nl/nederlands/gallery/underwater11.jpg
http://www.magicisland.nl/nederlands/gallery/underwater02.jpg

^^ :eek2: Wow!!! Saan ba yung moalboal?

southern part of cebu

2 Cebu firms vie for P250-M
Megadome project
Published: 25 January 2006



The bidding process for the P250-million Megadome project has started and two Cebu-based companies are at the forefront.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Tuesday two Cebu-based construction companies, Young Builders and WT Construction, and 17 other firms had already submitted letters of intent to the Capitol Bids and Awards Committee for Infrastructure.

Based on the schedule prepared by the committee, notices for eligibility of interested contractors were supposed to have been released Tuesday.

Garcia said the Capitol would issue the plans for the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) to qualified bidders any time between January 24 and 27.

This was confirmed by Roy Ursal, legal officer of the Commission on Audit 7.

In a telephone interview, Ursal expressed confidence that the committee would complete the bidding for the project on the third week of February, as scheduled.

In the absence of protests from losing bidders, construction of the CICC and the Megadome's shell could begin as early as March 1, Ursal said.

A pre-bid conference is slated for February 1 to give the committee enough time to study the contractors' eligibility.

Ursal said qualified bidders would be asked to submit their proposals on February 13. The committee would then evaluate the bids.

In an executive order, Governor Garcia appointed Ursal and a representative from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers Cebu chapter as observers in the bidding process.

“It is very important that in every step of the bidding process they invite us to maintain transparency,” Ursal said.

He said even the chairman of the committee was “very conscious” about maintaining transparency in the bidding process.

In a related development, Garcia and the Capitol's Technical Working Group for the CICC was set to finalize the provisions of the contract with architect Alexius Medalla, who won the Megadome design contest in 2002.

Medalla was promised five percent of the P250-million budget for the project, or about P12.5 million.

Once finalized, the contract will be referred to the Cebu Provincial Board for approval, Garcia said.

The CICC was incorporated into the original design of the Megadome project to provide a venue for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December.

Hoping to complete the project on time, Garcia searched for ways to shorten the bidding, awarding and procurement processes and start the 10-month construction by March.

The CICC got the approval of the majority of Provincial Board members after the governor assured them that no Capitol funds would be used for the project.

But the Capitol would still need to release initial funding for the project, hoping the amount could be reimbursed once private investors come in to finish the entire structure through a reimburse-operate-transfer scheme.

I really like their pools plus the location is excellent - close to diving sites if I'm not mistaken.

nakapunta kana dito sa cebu steve.. yup maganda talaga ang shangrila mactan

aaahhh nagkagubot sa pikas (pex) tagbaw tawn kog damage control! ahak!

That's the reason why I stopped posting in that forum. It's full of people with crab-mentality albeit also full of communists..

Out of Topic:

I've been wondering why i can't access anymore the city vs. city thread http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=467
Can anyone explain why? Thanks

there's no more city vs city thread.. it has long been removed because it's always been the cause of word wars between forumers..

there's no more city vs city thread.. it has long been removed because it's always been the cause of word wars between forumers..

Thanks ..

you seem so busy right now bai jimbu..

^^

if you want you can join the other CITY vs CITY (http://www.cityvscity.co.nr/)

naa diay

^^ nakit-an ra sad na nako bai. although gamay ra man cguro members.

you seem so busy right now bai jimbu..

actually not. just came from vacation. balik trabaho, balik SSC.
lingaw man jud ang mga pics SSC city vs. city. maayo pa sa Pex may war Cebu vs. Davao.

The Freeman 01/26/2006

Oil drillings in Cebu still going on - DOE

The Department of Energy said that oil explorations in Cebu are still going on.

Eduardo Amante, chief of the energy resource development and utilization division of the DOE regional office, said that their Manila office would soon announce the commercial viability of the oil deposits in areas that are being explored.

In the southern part of Cebu, he added that drilling already reached as deep as six thousand feet but they could not yet determine the amount of gas deposits.

"As of the moment, 6,000 feet na naabot sa drilling and they would be doing some testing works and we do not know what would be the outcome," Amante said.

Amante added that he could not yet give any data as to the commercial viability of the fields being explored. "I'm not in position to say it because this has something to do with the stock market, it might be interpreted as favorable or what. We will just wait for the official announcement of the DOE (Manila)."

Presently, at least five oil explorations are being conducted in the Visayas. These include the drillings in Tañon Strait, Bohol Strait, central Cebu, southern Cebu and northwestern Leyte being undertaken by foreign-owned companies.

So far, however, only Forum Exploration has found gas reserves in its Libertad gas field in Bogo, Cebu.

Amante said that DOE has already determined the commercial viability of the gas field in Bogo, adding that the Libertad gas is viable as small-scale.

Once developed and operated, energy officials said Bogo would benefit from cheaper power and more revenues because there are plans to develop the gas well into a power plant that would not only benefit Bogo but the entire province as well.

Forum Exploration, the contractor of the project, will operate the power plant and sell electricity to Cebu Electric Company.

Earlier, Energy undersecretary Guillermo Balce said the Bogo natural gas is only second to Malampaya gas fields in Palawan in term of volume. He said that Malampaya has deposits of up to 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is being used to fuel power plants in Luzon.

On the other hand, the Bogo gas field has about one billion cubic feet that is enough to run a 1.75-megawatt power plant that Forum Exploration plans to develop and operate this year.

At present, Amante said that Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd., is analyzing the results of the survey in the Tañon Strait. It will also conduct geological and geophysical studies and will drill up to three wells. Gas 2 Grid is also conducting the same studies in central Cebu, Phil-Mal Patroenergy Corp. in southern Cebu, and Alcorn resources in northwestern Leyte.

If oil sources are located, the government gets 60 percent of the earnings while the exploration firm, which would serve as contractor, would get 40 percent as service fee.

"This is still exploration and no time frame when it would finish. Contractors continue exploring to determine the existence of gas deposits and their commercial quantity and viability," Amante said. - Wenna A. Berondo

actually not. just came from vacation. balik trabaho, balik SSC.
lingaw man jud ang mga pics SSC city vs. city. maayo pa sa Pex may war Cebu vs. Davao.

humana ang war sa pex, na am aman na ang bata...hehe


_ _ _ _ _

McDonald’s now open for business, club meets

McDonalds now makes its restaurants available for business and club meetings.

Any company or any organization can make their bookings anytime, especially in the evening when most clubs hold their gatherings, disclosed Christian C. Eje, operations consultant of McDonald’s in Cebu.

As McDonald’s marks its 25th year in the Philippines, the company in Cebu opens more its doors beyond children-oriented functions to activities of the professionals, entrepreneurs, marketing networkers, civic-oriented groups and spiritual fellowships.

Eje said the function rooms of McDonald’s Jones and Ayala Center Cebu are ready to accommodate the requirements of these groups beyond just serving food, especially in gatherings for seminars, product presentations and press conferences.

“Our function rooms now have an excellent audio facility and they also support multi-media presentations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the function rooms of McDonald’s at Cebu South Road, JY Square Mall and Mactan can also accommodate simple meetings and fellowships, Eje disclosed

whats pex?

Pinoy Exchange Forum (http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91) Cebu or Davao thread.

nakapunta kana dito sa cebu steve.. yup maganda talaga ang shangrila mactan

Hindi pa Marvin, next time I will try to make Cebu a priority! :)
My sister went to Mactan and Bohol recently and she really enjoyed it.

Lapu-Lapu starts modifying roads
for ASEAN Summit in December
Published: 26 January 2006

CDN


IN ANTICIPATION of heavy traffic during an international summit this December, the Lapu-Lapu City government is widening key roads in the city.

City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already started to reduce the size of center islands of certain streets, allowing more cars to occupy the road.

Ybañez said the city is expecting traffic to increase dramatically when delegates start to arrive for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this December.

Ybañez said DPWH and the city government needed to improve and beautify 40 kilometers worth of major thoroughfares, but that most of the responsibility is on the DPWH.

"The need to improve tourists roads especially, the Circumferential Road, is a DPWH responsibility. The ball is now with them as far as road repair is concerned," he said.

Major roads set for improvement include the Circumferential Road, which runs the radius of Mactan Island, and Patalinghug and ML Quezon Avenues.

Currently, Ybañez said the DPWH is concentrating on reducing center islands on roads down to at most two meters wide.

Beautification

Aside from widening roads, Paz Radaza, chairman of the ad hoc committee, has proposed that the city also ask for the help of companies at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) to aid in the city's beautification programs.

Paz said MEPZ companies could establish flower pots along the road.

Ybañez said the ad hoc committee would also call on the various utility companies to do something about utility wires that have become tangled.

The committee had already prepared a program of works to clean up the city.

"This is the most opportune time to gather together the key players in our city to pursue a common agenda of showcasing our best and brightest in holding activities," the program of works read.

In a previous meeting, the ad hoc committee had stressed the need for infrastructure improvements, including the asphalting of roads and refurbishment of the city hall building.

The committee expects all infrastructure improvements to be finished by October. Reporter Doris C. Bongcac

Pinoy Exchange Forum (http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91) Cebu or Davao thread.

sshhh... ayg saba. secret nato ni ha nga ako si kulaskusgan... ikaw si hurtyp... etc...

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/175/frontpagejan26popup5cp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the area beside the cebu business park is really an eyesore especially if you're on top in one of those highrises beside it. sana they will relocate them.

sshhh... ayg saba. secret nato ni ha nga ako si kulaskusgan... ikaw si hurtyp... etc...

sige, bantay imo isulti ha :D

^^ ayaw sad saba nga ako sa markiiboi ha, ug si sugbuanun kay si sugbuanun. hehehe bisag klaro na kaayu sa ngan.

^^ ayaw sad saba nga ako sa markiiboi ha, ug si sugbuanun kay si sugbuanun. hehehe


o lagi. dili mi mosaba maski sikat naka. ato ato lang na. promise!

unya ako sikat ko bai? o dili? :lol:

^^ pwede! take the challenge... ano kaya mo? @ samahan.

Hindi pa Marvin, next time I will try to make Cebu a priority! :)
My sister went to Mactan and Bohol recently and she really enjoyed it.

pls inform us steve when you'll be coming to cebu so we could prepare a welcome party for you.. hehehe

si sleepwalker mga bai ky si kulas_kusgan sa PEX.. wana kabalo na sila dave hahaha

Hindi pa Marvin, next time I will try to make Cebu a priority!
My sister went to Mactan and Bohol recently and she really enjoyed it.


and bring your sister with you.. hehehe

^^ minyo naman mark

^^ toinkz.


okey. just bring any chic [with pink * ] with you. j/k



oops sorry for the OT...

si sleepwalker mga bai ky si kulas_kusgan sa PEX.. wana kabalo na sila dave hahaha

og KagironPrime sa http://www.carolinianonline.tk/

^Ikaw diay to sleep? Wer nga section ka ganahan ma mod? :D

Arroyo proclaims Mango mall Cebu’s latest IT bldg

President Arroyo has proclaimed Luym-owned and managed Mango Square as an information technology (IT) building, entitling IT firms that will locate there tax perks and holidays.

Mango Square has been declared an IT building under Presidential Proclamation 960, issued by Arroyo on Dec. 27, 2005.

IT and IT-related tenants of Mango Square registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) can now avail themselves of incentives, such as income tax holiday for four years for non-pioneer (IT) enterprises.

Pioneer IT enterprises can enjoy a six-year income tax holiday.

IT firms at Mango Square also have the option to pay a special five percent tax on gross income instead of national and local taxes, except real property taxes.

IT investors are exempted from payment of import duties and taxes on imported machinery, equipment and raw materials.

They can also deduct half of their training expenses on their gross income tax.

Investors

Foreign investors, who make an initial investment of $150,000 on IT projects, will also be granted permanent resident status in the country.

In an interview, Mango Square center head Joanson Luym said he is confident that Mango Square, which stands on a 13,662-square-meter lot along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City, can attract more IT and IT-related companies with this development.

The location of the building is another advantage, he said.

“Despite the (trend that shows) development (is) going to the north, we believe that our location is still a prime location. It is at the heart of the city and the cost of the house rent nearby is still low,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

Arroyo issued the proclamation in accordance to Republic Act 8748 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 and upon the recommendation of Peza.



________________________________


^^ i have used their Wi-Fi already. i think this is the only establishment with Wi-Fi, aside from the different Bo's coffee clubs. [but corrent me if im wrong]

Wealthbank reports 80% growth in assets, deposits

Despite uncertainties in the country’s political and economic climate last year, the banking arm of the Metro Gaisano group of companies reported a more than 80 percent growth, both in total assets and deposits.

According to Wealth Development Bank (Wealth-bank) president Sabiniano Villamor, the bank owes its continued rise in market share to the increasing patronage and confidence on its various products and the synergy of the Metro Gaisano group of companies.

“Our products —which are designed to serve the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and low-income earners— and the big boost from the bank’s synergy with Metro Gaisano have contributed much to the outstanding performance of the bank,” he said.

For a Wealthbank account to earn interest, the bank requires a minimum balance of only P500. But one can open an account for just P200.

For this year, Wealthbank plans to upgrade its information technology infrastructure and to acquire automatic teller machines to be installed in its branches and other strategic locations to give more convenience to its clients, Villamor said.

More branches

To maximize the synergy potentials of the Metro Gaisano group, the bank also plans to open more branches in major cities where Metro Gaisano has presence, such as Taguig, Metro Manila.

“The tremendous success of Market Market, the anchor mall of Ayala Land Inc. in Taguig, highlights the urgency of expanding Wealthbank’s presence in Luzon,” Villamor said.

Villamor said Wealth-bank would continue to focus on the SME market.

The bank also sees an increase in its housing loans this year as well as other consumer products, such as its pre-owned car loan program.

“The increasing share of the market on deposit products will be given greater focus to achieve an ambitious target for the year,” Villamor said.

Friday, January 27, 2006
Development council backs convention center project

The Cebu Provincial Development Council is endorsing the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center, which is targeted to be the venue of the 12th Asean Summit this December.

Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Cebu, moved for the approval of the resolution in yesterday’s meeting.

It was approved without objection even though some town officials identified with the political rivals of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia attended yesterday’s meeting.

Cesante also said he discussed the move with 28 mayors and no one expressed opposition.

Needed

He felt they needed to formalize their support for the convention center, a facility he believes Cebu needs.

Toledo City Vice Mayor Aurelio Espinosa and Tuburan Mayor Rosemarie Suezo were present yesterday. Both are known allies of Rep. Antonio Yapha, a stalwart of former senator John Osmeña.

Tabuelan Mayor Raul Gerona, San Remegio Mayor Mariano Martinez and Medellin Mayor Manreza Lim, all from the district of former congressman Celestino Martinez Jr., were also around.

“Their attendance was a welcome surprise,” said Garcia.

“They’re starting to realize that our PDC (Provincial Development Council) meetings are really very important and have relevance to their own efforts in improving and developing their own LGUs (local government units).

Furthermore, when it comes to development, there really should be no political boundaries because service to the people and development of our province is and should be a collaborative effort among all of us officials,” said the governor. (MBG)

Furthermore, when it comes to development, there really should be no political boundaries because service to the people and development of our province is and should be a collaborative effort among all of us officials,” said the governor.

now thats more i like it. no administration, no opposition. all for service.

We are really number 1 because we ONE.

Cebu in Hong Kong

Cebu Pacific, now the country's second largest airline, held a grand opening bash for its first regional office in Hong Kong, at Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, palanggas.

The new office handles ticket sales, reservations and customer service. This will definitely boost the airline's awesome promotions and marketing operations in Hong Kong, China, Macao, Taiwan and Japan.

At the cocktail reception, Cebu Pacific's GM, Bong Mojica, said that with the establishment of the new Hong Kong office, "it will be more convenient for travelers to make ticket purchases and reservations."

The transportation head of Invest Hong Kong, Benjamin Wong, welcomed the opening of the office. "We are particularly pleased to see Cebu Pacific choosing Hong Kong as the location for its first office outside the Philippines. We wish the airline all the best in its future development in Hong Kong and in the region," he said.

Cebu Pacific, a unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc., now operates the Manille-Hong Kong route, using its slick and brand-new 150-seater Airbus A319.

"We currently fly four of our new Airbus aircraft and expect to have a total of 14 aircraft by the time we complete Cebu Pacific's refleeting program by early 2007," Mojica said.

Lapu-Lapu police station chosen as country's best

The Freeman 01/27/2006

The regional police office has added another feather to its cap after two of its police units were adjudged as the best in the country after a series of inspections that started last year and culminated on January 2.

In a memorandum dated January 20, Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao declared Lapu-Lapu City Police Station as the best city police station and Lazi, Siquijor Police Station as the best municipal police station in the country.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Station, under Supt. Louie Oppus, bested other city police stations from Surigao del Norte, Antique and Bataan.

The selection process took a long way before the winners were determined. It started with the annual inspections in the provincial level with the winners competing in the regional level first before competing in the national level.

The ratings in the competition were based on grades garnered after several inspections such as Unit Performance Evaluation, Annual General Inspection and Field Inspection, which for the city police station category, was conducted by Deputy Director General for Operations Avelino Razon Jr. on January 2.

In an interview with The FREEMAN Wednesday night, Oppus said they have no secret to their success other than "just doing your job right" since the winners were adjudged by their overall performance in operational and administrative aspects of police work.

Lapu-Lapu City was hit with robberies last year, but Oppus said: "Crime efficiency is not only about how mubo or how taas but how you made a difference compared to the previous year."

"Based on overall rating man gud na nga award. Apil na diha ang performance on how you coordinate with the community and your partnership with the local government unit. Apil ana ang inyong coordination in implementing ordinances and national laws," he pointed out.

Since his assignment in Lapu-Lapu City in November 2003, Oppus was able to establish four police precincts in the city's key areas, which was a big boost to crime prevention.

Since then, Oppus managed to create the Special Weapons and Tactics team, push for computerization and technology enhancement, renovation of the workplace, and strengthen the basic police response in terms of productivity, proactive, preventive and preemptive approach.

Hailed by Metrobank as one of the 10 outstanding policemen last year, Oppus used to be the station chief of Tagbiliran City. He was then appointed as Regional Police Community Relations Chief and was finally transferred to Lapu-Lapu City.

Oppus will join other winners for the awarding ceremony to be held during the PNP's 15th anniversary celebration in Camp Crame on Monday.

Regional Deputy Chief for Administration Ronald Roderos said that as far as he could remember since 2000, this was the first time that police units from Central Visayas won the national competition.

In the previous years, Roderos said individual awards were being given to Police Non-Commissioned Officers in the region, but the win by the two police units was a bigger development.

Arroyo proclaims Mango mall Cebu’s latest IT bldg

President Arroyo has proclaimed Luym-owned and managed Mango Square as an information technology (IT) building, entitling IT firms that will locate there tax perks and holidays.

Mango Square has been declared an IT building under Presidential Proclamation 960, issued by Arroyo on Dec. 27, 2005.

IT and IT-related tenants of Mango Square registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) can now avail themselves of incentives, such as income tax holiday for four years for non-pioneer (IT) enterprises.

Pioneer IT enterprises can enjoy a six-year income tax holiday.

IT firms at Mango Square also have the option to pay a special five percent tax on gross income instead of national and local taxes, except real property taxes.

IT investors are exempted from payment of import duties and taxes on imported machinery, equipment and raw materials.

They can also deduct half of their training expenses on their gross income tax.

Investors

Foreign investors, who make an initial investment of $150,000 on IT projects, will also be granted permanent resident status in the country.

In an interview, Mango Square center head Joanson Luym said he is confident that Mango Square, which stands on a 13,662-square-meter lot along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City, can attract more IT and IT-related companies with this development.

The location of the building is another advantage, he said.

“Despite the (trend that shows) development (is) going to the north, we believe that our location is still a prime location. It is at the heart of the city and the cost of the house rent nearby is still low,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

Arroyo issued the proclamation in accordance to Republic Act 8748 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 and upon the recommendation of Peza. (JBN)

Cebu in Hong Kong

Cebu Pacific, now the country's second largest airline, held a grand opening bash for its first regional office in Hong Kong, at Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, palanggas.

The new office handles ticket sales, reservations and customer service. This will definitely boost the airline's awesome promotions and marketing operations in Hong Kong, China, Macao, Taiwan and Japan.

At the cocktail reception, Cebu Pacific's GM, Bong Mojica, said that with the establishment of the new Hong Kong office, "it will be more convenient for travelers to make ticket purchases and reservations."

The transportation head of Invest Hong Kong, Benjamin Wong, welcomed the opening of the office. "We are particularly pleased to see Cebu Pacific choosing Hong Kong as the location for its first office outside the Philippines. We wish the airline all the best in its future development in Hong Kong and in the region," he said.

Cebu Pacific, a unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc., now operates the Manille-Hong Kong route, using its slick and brand-new 150-seater Airbus A319.

"We currently fly four of our new Airbus aircraft and expect to have a total of 14 aircraft by the time we complete Cebu Pacific's refleeting program by early 2007," Mojica said.


I wish they will have a service to US in the near future para mas masaya.

TALISAY CITY Cebu, typical street scene

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7127/talisay12ms.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6138/talisay25lf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1399/talisay37bm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4939/talisay47bz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/571/talisay56wn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3293/talisay64mj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8562/talisay77ty.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2292/tal84ha.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2972/tal97lx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3857/tal114dq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5334/tal100gu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8562/talisay77ty.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The street scene with these kinds of PU's reminds me of Davao city.

^^most of the PU's here in Cebu serves from the municipalities and the city of Talisay upto Labangon area, but in Cebu City proper they are seldom found.

@ bai slerz: pasensya bai ha, but i really find talisay very unattractive. hehehe

the only place that looks clean is the new city hall and the talisay portion of the south coastal road. could this be symptoms of OSMEŇA-ISM? :D :D

^^most of the PU's here in Cebu serves from the municipalities and the city of Talisay upto Labangon area, but in Cebu City proper they are seldom found.

How far is Talisay city from Cebu city proper and is Talisay already part of Metro Cebu?

Yup Talisay is part of Metropolitan Cebu. It is 5 minutes away from cebu city via the south costal road, and 10-20 minutes via the national highway depending on the traffic.

@ bai slerz: pasensya bai ha, but i really find talisay very unattractive. hehehe

the only place that looks clean is the new city hall and the talisay portion of the south coastal road. could this be symptoms of OSMEŇA-ISM? :D :D


don't worry, ako sad...
mas attractive pa nako ang Minglanilla:lol:
Pero their officials baya are doing their best to uplift the social look of their city, pariha anag center island nila, ika tulo na sila sige usab usab kay un attractive man gihapon tan awn aka BATI bisag unsaon :D
Suko man gani kaayo ako papa anang gullas kay giingnan niya ang mga budget officers sa Cebu City hall di kbaw mo budget, unsay pag tuo niya sa akong papa, bujo :gaah

^^ para palang Metro Manila ang setup. Anong city ng Metro Cebu yung hindi pa gaano ka develop?

Yup Talisay is part of Metropolitan Cebu. It is 5 minutes away from cebu city via the south costal road, and 10-20 minutes via the national highway depending on the traffic.

10-20 mins is an abnormal situation,
but normally it will take 45 mins to 1 hour :D

^^ para palang Metro Manila ang setup. Anong city ng Metro Cebu yung hindi pa gaano ka develop?

Talisay City

^^ Of the six component cities, cguro Cebu City at Mandaue City lang talaga ang developed.

talisay, danao, lapu-lapu and toledo are only cities by name i guess.

10-20 mins is an abnormal situation,
but normally it will take 45 mins to 1 hour :D

Ngeee! :runaway:

Talisay City

It doesn't look that bad however the streets are quite narrow.

Then next to Talisay City is the Municipality of Minglanilla

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6433/plazamingla5sd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Minglanilla typical street scenes
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9634/ming0oz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2186/ming16ie.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/999/ming37jo.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9982/mingla14re.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/551/mingla27jv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7723/minla37lg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5005/minla61no.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mingla Jollibee
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/8137/minla40nt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Tita Gwapa sa Minglanilla.. lol
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5959/minla55jp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

pero revenue-wise, it is Naga bai slerz.

Then next to Municipality of Minglanilla is the Municipality of Naga Cebu

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6599/nag9id.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8991/m53io.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3557/m60it.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9804/nag15pt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6714/nag23bv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8523/nag51fj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3327/nag45gd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

South General Hospital, Naga Cebu
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3707/naga24zb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7237/naga18yx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Kinsa tita nga gwapa? :lol:

^^ toinkz.


okey. just bring any chic [with pink * ] with you. j/k



oops sorry for the OT...

Its ok, no probs, I will try to bring as many as poss hehe :)

Kinsa tita nga gwapa? :lol:

It's a local Supermarket (if I may say) here in Cebu that is fast becoming like Julies bakeshop...hehe

bai, birthday man diay karun ni Marvin a.k.a. Sugbuanun. Maayu unta naa mangimbitar ug pakal or inom ba. heheheh


HAPI BEERDAY SUGBUANUN!!!

@Mark, wa ko'y picture sa Naga proper kay layo na kaayo, basing masaag nya ko, kutob ra ko's tuyan...hehe

Catchy naman ng pangalan. Okay ang mga marketing strategists dyan sa atin. :lol:

mao ba?

Malipayong ADLAW sa atong pinalanggang SUGBUANON aka Marvin!

more power :okay:

@ bai slerz: sulti paka bai, pahuwamun tka ug lana. lols :D

Catchy naman ng pangalan. Okay ang mga marketing strategists dyan sa atin. :lol:
what do you maean bai? I didn't get it..:D

@ bai slerz: sulti paka bai, pahuwamun tka ug lana. lols :D

bitaw, nag baktas ra nuon ko... naa man diay ka lana.
Pero as usual, Naga is very clean... lots of brooms eh... :jk:

Bawal ang mga sibatir. :lol:

what do you maean bai? I didn't get it..:D


Yung Tita guwapa. Baka mag-akala ang mga tao kung sinong tita ang guwapa kadtuan nila ba. :lol:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUGBUANON!!!

bai, birthday man diay karun ni Marvin a.k.a. Sugbuanun. Maayu unta naa mangimbitar ug pakal or inom ba. heheheh

SUGBUANUN!!![/size][/center][/b][/color]

manginom sad diay mo? gimingaw na ko ug tagay! hhehehe.

Slerz, naa ba ka work?

Kuyog ta Carcar na mga Monday cguro.. plano ko muadto... text me lang..

actually not. just came from vacation. balik trabaho, balik SSC.
lingaw man jud ang mga pics SSC city vs. city. maayo pa sa Pex may war Cebu vs. Davao.


I guess there's no such thing as a war between Cebu and Davao, Cebu and Manila, or Ilo-ilo and Bacolod.

It's just that some people (especially in PEX) are trying to make it an issue..

Wanna eat real MEXICAN FOOD? Then try Mooon Cafe, located at Guadalupe, Cebu City. It's a restaurant-converted mansion. It also features an Art Gallery and a wall full of retro memorabilias..


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/moon02.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/moon03.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/moon01.jpg

Slerz, naa ba ka work?

Kuyog ta Carcar na mga Monday cguro.. plano ko muadto... text me lang..

uban ko beh!

^^

Cge bai kuyog nya.. You're in Cebu now?

^^ bitaw, heheheheh, kung pwede lang. i missed cebu so badly.

Lapu police station is ‘best nationwide’

Friday, January 27, 2006

Know your police officers and the community. Be transparent and regularly inform higher headquarters and local officials of your moves. And respect the rights of suspects and criminals, even as you strictly enforce the law.

That advice for law enforcers comes from Supt. Louie Oppus, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station, which will receive next week the Police Station of the Year Award from Camp Crame.

Oppus thanked his team and city officials for their support.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Station outperformed the Balanga City Police Station (2nd) in Bataan and Surigao City Police Station (3rd) in Surigao del Norte for the top plum.

Another awardee from Central Visayas is the Lazi Municipal Police Station in Siquijor, headed by Insp. Ronald Laggu, which bagged the award for the best municipal police station.

The awardees will be honored during the 15th PNP anniversary on Jan. 30 in Camp Crame.

Senior Supt. Vicente Loot yesterday said he expected Lapu-Lapu City Police Station to win, not only because the station met all requirements, but also because of Supt. Oppus’ good leadership and the Lapu-Lapu City Government’s full support.

Earlier, Loot also said the city was “in good hands,” as he called for a careful study on the plan to create a Mactan Island Police Office.

He also said the individual police personnel of the station were committed.

“It’s an honor for us,” he said.

The awardees are chosen during the PNP’s nationwide annual general inspections every year, said Oppus.

Contenders are evaluated on their administrative systems, operations, general information, police operational procedures, community acceptability and supplies, he added.

No stranger to national awards, Oppus was chosen one of the country’s 10 most outstanding policemen in 2003.

The Philippine Military Academy graduate (class of 1984) was also head of the Tagbilaran City Police Station when it was awarded the country’s best, among component cities, by the National Peace and Order Council.

Though the Cebu Provincial Police Office was a contender for best police office, Loot said the status of their headquarters affected their rating.

For a time, the CPPO has been a contender for the best police office, but always hits a snag because they do not have a permanent headquarters.

Loot hopes to bag the award next year, as plans for the new headquarters in Consolacion are underway.

He is assured of the Provincial Government’s support in building the new headquarters.

For now, Loot is focusing on the completion of the tactical operations center at their present headquarters in Sudlon, Lahug. (OCP/MEA)

Slerz, naa ba ka work?

Kuyog ta Carcar na mga Monday cguro.. plano ko muadto... text me lang..

Na! kuyog ta na... mao jud na ako ampay, adventure... ;)
gahapon ako ra jud ga lakaw gikay sa tuyan naga padong sa minglanilla plaza, pirte man diay layoa og dili man kuyaw coz people there are very friendly...

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/175/frontpagejan26popup5cp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the area beside the cebu business park is really an eyesore especially if you're on top in one of those highrises beside it. sana they will relocate them.
Unsa diay na kanang area diha squatters? Wala lagi ko kabantay ana last time I visited.

O yeah, excellent tour @ Slerz. Finally I've seen a glimpse of what Southern Cebu looks like since the farthest Ive gone south is only Talisay SRP. :cheers:

Unsa diay na kanang area diha squatters? Wala lagi ko kabantay ana last time I visited.


i dont know if they are illegal squatters or just the urban poor. it is right across the old Grand Convention Center.

I remember diay that arnoldsa or fundraiser told me during our meet that the area was already bought by CHI and some families have already relocated.

OIC. Some of the houses look like they are made of concrete tho. If all the roofs were updated those houses would look okay IMO in time for the Asean Summit. Thanks for the reply.

yeah repainting their roofs is the least thing that they could do. but relocation would be a better option, at least for that area...

i think the lots are awarded to them. it is part of barangay luz, one of the most, if not the most efficient barangay when it comes to making money out of garbage.

Just wanna share the newly renovated municipal hall of Badian..

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/hall.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/hall2.jpg

^^is it finished @Mark? It looks modern specially @ night.

i think the lots are awarded to them. it is part of barangay luz, one of the most, if not the most efficient barangay when it comes to making money out of garbage.

aw naa diay nang Barangay Luz diha?

suroy nya mi didto inyo @mark ha! lami kaayong isda didto kay lab-as, barato pa gyud.

kanang isda nga tag as og tiil, mao nay lab as og barato :lol:

adto sad si Arnlold sa Carcar... pila kahay plete ana @Mark?

^^ unya "pink" pa ug ......................... hasang?

^^padong naman nag ka dobok ang pink, puwa moy lami kay bag o pang haw ang sa tubig :lol:

mao ba? hahahhahah mas presko diay nang puwa pa? sige lain na lang nga pink nga karne... di lang isda.

lamia ikaon ug escabecheng lapulapu.

It seems this thread is quite for sometime. Nag-blowout party tingali ang mga tawo diri sa birthday ni Sugbuanon.

kanang isda nga tag as og tiil, mao nay lab as og barato :lol:

adto sad si Arnlold sa Carcar... pila kahay plete ana @Mark?

carcar maybe 40-50, badian maybe 90-100.

yep humana ang municipal hall bai. modern guid.


dili lang isda lab-as didto bai, daghan pa. :D :D

Cebu emerges as center
for seaweed processing
Published: 27 January 2006

by Irene R. Sino Cruz

CEBU has emerged as the global center for processing of raw seaweed into carrageenan.

Based on the statistics supplied by the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP), Cebu is now home to the world's major seaweed processors.

The three major suppliers of processed seaweed or carrageenan are CP Kelco Philippines (which is based in Sibonga), Mandaue City-based FMC Marine Colloids Phils. and Shemberg Marketing Corporation.

The combined production capacity of three Cebu-based processors exceeds 14,000 metric tons while the world's combined capacity reaches 23,000 metric tons per year.

In 2005, CP Kelco carrageenan exports reached over 5,000 metric tons valued at US$41.358 million while the Shemberg group exported over 7,000 metric tons valued at US$39.708 million.

On the other hand, FMC Marine Colloids exported over12,000 metric tons of raw seaweed and carrageenan valued at US$26.947 million.

The country's total raw and processed seaweed exports last year reached US$153.244 million, up from the 2004 exports of US$144.027 million.

Aside from this, the Philippines remains the world's top producer of seaweed, according to SIAP president Benson U. Dakay.

In 2004, the Philippines seaweed production reached 115,000 metric tons with Indonesia coming in a far second with its production at 25,000 metric tons.

The other sources of raw seaweed are Chile, which produces 13,000 metric tons of seaweed; Canada, Zanzibar, France and Spain.

The country's seaweed industry started in the Philippines with the gathering of wild seaweed in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte and exporting these unprocessed.

However, the rising demand for raw seaweed encouraged the establishment of commercial farms.

Dakay, who is recognized as the father of the seaweed processing industry, decided to start processing seaweed to have more value-added, than just exporting raw seaweed.

At present, carrageenan processors and exporters reach 27 while seaweed farmers number over 100,000 families.

Because of its livelihood component, the government recognizes the contribution of the industry to the job creation program of the present administration.

On its own, SIAP members came up with the Adopt-an-island program as a way of encouraging more seaweed farmers and opening up more areas.

As of 2004, the total area planted to seaweed has reached over 58 hectares.

The processors are also encouraging farmers to improve the quality of dried seaweed to improve yield.

The association has been actively seeking government support and has been urging agencies to come up with a financing program to help farmers increase the production areas.

It seems this thread is quite for sometime. Nag-blowout party tingali ang mga tawo diri sa birthday ni Sugbuanon.


wala man jud nagparamdam ang ka bertday bai. nagpaabut ra jud me sa txt. hehe

mao gyud! nagabii na lang wa gyud txt, greet na lang ko happy beerday sa may birthday!!!

carcar maybe 40-50, badian maybe 90-100.

yep humana ang municipal hall bai. modern guid.


dili lang isda lab-as didto bai, daghan pa. :D :D

oi, kamahal gud... abi nako baynti ra.
guid? amo guid? :D

im just experimenting with my cam. the club ultima from my apartment unit..


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/DSC00052.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/DSC00059.jpg

^^maypa ka kay bisag naa kas inyo kita kag taas nga building, ako diri taas nga barong barong :bash:

^^

The last time I went to Badian, I paid P75 to the VHire. That was around 2002.

I'll post nya some sunset pics of Badian which I took at La Playa Beach Resort..

^^ bai, naincrease na pliti tungod sa gasolina. basin mulapas na gani 100. basta ako kay half ra man gud bayaran. hehehe.

yeah post some pics bai. maayu pa ka, naka-stay sa la playa. ako nga taga didto wala jud! hehehe

We went to alegria thrice in 2002. The v-hire is 100 and bus is 60.

salamat mga sugbuanon.. 19 na jud ko.. haha makasulod nako mga hubo-hubo

nineteen pa diay ka sugbuanon? second year college pa ka USC?

salamat mga sugbuanon.. 19 na jud ko.. haha makasulod nako mga hubo-hubo

teenager pa diay gihapon? sa japan kay 20 ila para dili na considered minor. dili pwede sigarilyo ug alcohol basta less than 20. hubo hubo mura ug ok ra. heheheh.

haha dili oi.. 22 na ko.. hehe pero ulitaw pa ghapon ko.. :D

^^

The last time I went to Badian, I paid P75 to the VHire. That was around 2002.

I'll post nya some sunset pics of Badian which I took at La Playa Beach Resort..

jeep diay? lainan ko v hire kay kasukaon ko sa airconsa sakyanan... wa ko naanad.hehehe


@sugbuanon, welcome back... musta tagay :D

^^ bitaw, mura ug dili na kaayo active atong igsoong sugbuanon. grabe tingaling pinartihay! heheheh.

jeep diay? lainan ko v hire kay kasukaon ko sa airconsa sakyanan... wa ko naanad.hehehe


@sugbuanon, welcome back... musta tagay :D

I like to ride VHire better. Although it's more expensive, it's convenient since you'll have to take 1 ride only. :D

^^ bitaw, mura ug dili na kaayo active atong igsoong sugbuanon. grabe tingaling pinartihay! heheheh.

Maybe he's now serious with his architecture class. :D

I like to ride VHire better. Although it's more expensive, it's convenient since you'll have to take 1 ride only. :D

yup, it's convenient but I'm not for the convenience... I like natures natural air and the natural noise of the place... Para nako, kung naa ta's syudad, sosyal ta and we go for convenience pero og sa province na, I should go with nature's obstacles. I don't like to hear music when travelling to the province coz for me there's a lot any kinds of music in the city. I like to hear the natural music of nature... well, that's how it takes when you love nature and adventure... weee :D

^^

There's a new Bus Line, kanang CERES... The buses are very clean and modern.. How much would it cost to go to Carcar?

^^

There's a new Bus Line, kanang CERES... The buses are very clean and modern.. How much would it cost to go to Carcar?

Ceres? Ceres is an Iloilo-Negros company. May byahe ang Ceres from Manila to Iloilo via Roro. :)

^^

Yup, they're new here in Cebu

Slerz, here's the Badian Pics I took six years ago. I was still first year college then. These are scanned pics..

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian13.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian08.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian09.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian10.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian05.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian03.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian01.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian07.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian11.jpg

...And Mariquita Salimbangon's Palace in DaanBantayan, Cebu.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Badian12.jpg

^^ actually more or less 2 years na man cguro ang ceres diri. they bought the ABC or the Abines Bus Co. of course owned by the Abines's at the height of their political reign. Ceres also has a cebu-negros route. and it is very clean and efficient.... but the people of badian are just simply loyal to the Librando's. hehehe

^^

Not to mention that most of the bus drivers down south are known for being notorious.. Hehehe..

^^ ang ABC man to b4 bai ang notorious. pero wala naman karun. ang mga bus hinuon padung sa north, esp the Rough RIders Bus, and the name can speak for itself already. hehehe.


bai salamat sa pics! imo ko gihimung turista sa akung kaugalingung lungsod. hehehe

^^

no prob bai.. :)

@sugbuanon, welcome back... musta tagay :D

karon pa gabie ang tagay ky mana man midterm namo gnina.. hubog nasad!!! :D


oist asa man ko pwede paayo ako digicam na dili kaayo mahal? mokarat naman iya LCD nya mo violet usahay iya color.. mao na wala na ko post mga pics.. pero usahay maayo siya ug kalit.. Canon A300 diay ako cam..

salamat daan mga sugbuanon

^^ suwayi sa canon service center sa sm marvs.

Slerz, here's the Badian Pics I took six years ago. I was still first year college then. These are scanned pics..



mao jud mga pics sa akong mga co workers, nag basol bitaw ko hangtod ngano wa ko mokuyog sa amo outing sa Badian nya nag overnyt pa jud sila didto... :bash:

hello.. just wanna say hi to all my fellow cebuanos :)

Nuroy ta Carrcarr bai, turis ta ba kunuhay :D
http://www.youtube.com/?v=A2sjuttVHRw

Sunday, January 29, 2006
Capitol lines up P752M for infra
By Minerva B. Gerodias
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

At least P752 million worth of projects are scheduled for implementation by the Cebu Provincial Government within the first half of this year, according to Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre.

Among the big projects the Capitol is preparing to implement are the conversion of the Carcar District Hospital into a provincial hospital, the construction of a roll-on, roll-off port in Daanbantayan and the asphalting of more than 100 kilometers of roads.

Also in the list are the construction of 25 two-classroom school buildings for public high schools and the construction of the Women’s Center in Camp Marina.

With all these projects scheduled, 2006 is shaping up to be an infrastructure-focused year for the Provincial Government. It also intends to build an international convention center in time for the Asean Ministers’ Summit in Cebu this December.

Promises

The creation of provincial hospitals for Cebu was one of the campaign promises the candidates raised before the May 2004 elections.

Without well-equipped provincial hospitals, many emergency and surgery cases end up getting sent to Cebu City, where the government hospitals are already bursting at the seams.

Carcar’s 10-bed hospital will soon be converted into a 100-bed Provincial Hospital.

For the project, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has appropriated P100 million, which will pay for another building, additional equipment and more personnel for the district hospital.

Aside from Carcar, Danao District Hospital in the north will also be upgraded, along with another hospital on the western side.

Links

The construction of a roll-on, roll-off port in Daanbantayan in northern Cebu was conceptualized when Garcia was still a consultant to her father, then governor Pablo Garcia.

At least P15 million has been allocated for this project, which Daanbantayan officials requested so they will have a better jump-off point for Malapascua Island, a well-known tourist destination in the north.

The port will also serve travelers bound for Boracay, Iloilo and Leyte, among others.

The asphalting of 154 kilometers of provincials road in the different towns may start next month.

This project, which has an appropriation of P300 million, was supposed to start last year, but the contractors’ bids overshot the Province’s projections.

Garcia has pledged to asphalt at least 400 kilometers of provincial roads in her three-year-term, which ends in 2007.

Schools too

Beyond roads, a port and hospitals, the Province also hopes to build schools within the first semester of the year.

Pelayre said that initially, the Province will construct 25 school buildings worth P480,000 each.

The design is finished, but recipients have yet to be identified.

Garcia has been criticized for giving priority to the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), while schools suffer from a perennial shortage of school buildings.

She has assured, however, that the CICC project will not erode the Capitol’s budget for schools and hospitals—even if building schools is not a primary responsibility of the Provincial Government but that of the Department of Education.

“We’ll take care of this problem, even though it is not ours really,” she has said.

At least P25 million has also been set aside for the construction of a Provincial Women’s Center in Camp Marina, near the Cebu Zoo.

The center will house women who are victims of domestic violence.

The design is ready, said Pelayre, except for some minor revisions.

The center is a brainchild of the Provincial Women’s Commission, under Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale. (MBG)

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6338/adc97kt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Camotes Airstrip Starts Attracting Investors

The Freeman 01/29/2006

The five-hectare airstrip in San Francisco town, Camotes Island has started to attract investors.

Mactan Airport General Manager Adelberto Yap said there have already been inquiries about the possibility of putting up aviation and skydiving schools in San Francisco town after he turned down applications for such at the airport in Mactan.

Yap said the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority no longer allows the putting up of new aviation schools in Mactan because of the number of domestic and international flights that the airport caters to. Because of this, he said, he has referred queries for such schools to San Francisco, especially with the opening of the airstrip there.

He said German businessmen headed by Ralf Schulz visited him recently and announced their intention to put up a first-class skydiving school in Lapu-Lapu City. But Yap said he advised them to visit San Francisco town because it is an ideal site.

Schulz, who is married to a Cebuana for 10 years now, said his group is eyeing Cebu province as a good place for a skydiving school after they heard of a German couple who got married while skydiving in the skies over Tagbilaran City in nearby Bohol province. -

welcome to SSC calmero

Why Cebu City is a big Chinatown

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/CEBU/article_161700_jan29.jpg

Cebu City's Chinese New Year 2006

AS the Chinese Lunar New Year waxes more fully, Cebu City begins to sway to the rhythm of the Lion Dance.

But a visitor will wonder where its Chinatown is. Searching the surface, he will not find one, frustrating even the most perceptive traveler who sees all signs of Chinese presence yet finds no heart of a Chinatown.

Cebu, in truth, has had two Chinatowns. This is history, for the direct trade between southern Chinese ports and the island of Cebu existed since at least a century before the Spanish conquista.

It was the increased opportunities in the island’s trade and commerce that brought Chinese settlers to its shores, especially at the onset of the Galleon Trade in which Cebu was involved from 1594 to 1604. The Galleon Trade fully realized the Chinaman’s role as a middleman, a role whose potential for profit proved irresistible.

The Parian

The early Chinamen were called “sangleyes” by the Spaniards. Composed of 200 traders and artisans, they were herded to their own ghetto as Cebu (“La Ciudad de Santissimo Nombre de Jesus”) took more solid shape as a Spanish city in 1594.

The ghetto was called the “Parian” and built just outside the Spanish ciudad like the one of Manila.

By 1596, the citizens of Parian, led by their principales, were baptized as Catholics, thus creating the Chino cristianos. By virtue of their new faith, they were more free than the “infidel” (unconverted Chinese) and could marry the natives.

The Chino cristianos, their wives (Bisayan or Moluccan, according to one account, for there were no Chinese women in the Philippines then due to China’s restriction to their travel), and mestizo offspring (the word mestizo originally referred only to the Chinese half-caste) were numerous enough that by Oct. 22, 1614, their own parish church, the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, was erected.

Were it not for the notoriety of the Chinese as a perceived threat to national security, among other prejudices toward them, the Parian would have remained Cebu’s Chinese enclave well into the 20th century. But many times, their expulsion from the Philippines was ordered.

Chinese complicity in the British Occupation of Manila (1762-64) made matters worse. The retaking of Manila by the Spaniards led to a long-drawn Chinese diaspora. Its aftermath, culture historian Michael Cullinane observes of late 18th-century Cebu, “resulted in the Parian becoming an almost exclusively Chinese mestizo community, nearly devoid of Chinese.”

The Chinese mestizos soon lost fluency of Chinese, a fact some historians blame on the acculturation by their non-Chinese mothers. At the end of the Spanish rule, they were a “hispanized” group, cultural hybrids that denied and repressed their Chinese legacy.

By legal fiction, Spanish law recognized them as distinct from the Chinese and they were accorded unique rights and privileges within the context of colonial bureaucracy. What “Chinese-ness” they might have lost did not, however, include the flair for commerce.

In the 19th century, they were clearly the most dominant force socially and economically, and their activities spread throughout the province and the region.

The Parian produced Cebu’s first identifiable elite, according to Cullinane. These were the elite whose names still resound today: Osmeña, Velez, Cui and Veloso, among others.

When former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña said that “the whole of Cebu is a Chinatown” and that “there is no family in Cebu who does not have Chinese blood,” he might well mean those of the Old Parian.

The Lutaos

The opening of the Cebu port to international trade in 1860 hastened the economic growth of the city. Foreigners came in increasing numbers, attracted by the prospect of brisk business. Foremost among them were the Chinese, but unlike in the old days, they were no longer confined to the Parian for the mestizos held sway there by that time.

Instead, the Chinese gravitated closer to where the new action was, the Lutaos area close to the port. Soon graced by a customs house, the port was equipped to accommodate big ships, unlike the estuaries that used to be the lifeblood of the Parian. These ancient esteros were giving themselves up to silt and were by now unnavigable.

Location abetted the rise of the new Chinese immigrants. Initially settled at the south side of the Fort San Pedro, they fanned out along the coast of the present-day M.C. Briones Street up to the Carbon public market (Ermita area), inland toward Magallanes, and into feeder roads like Plaridel.

This swathe of Lutaos-Ermita land became the new Chinatown. Unlike the Parian, it was not a planned development hewed to the divide-and-rule dictum of the Spaniards.

The Chinese population in Cebu reached a critical mass (stimulated as it was by friendlier laws and swifter transport modes) beginning in the 1880s that a separate tax ward was created for them, the Gremio de Chinos. The gremio or “tribute-paying corporations … organized by ethnicity rather than by place of residence” might have been greatly instrumental in dispersing the Chinese throughout Cebu City. Wherever business took them, there they would be.

It was in the Lutaos-Ermita Chinatown that Cebu saw the emergence of its most distinguished Chinese family, the Gos. Penniless immigrants late in the 19th century, they have parlayed their initial modest gains into a considerable fortune. Or several fortunes.

The scions of the Go patriarch, Don Pedro Singson Go Tiaoco, are some of today’s taipans in Philippine business—the Gokongweis of the hotel, airline, and publishing concern; the Gotianuys of the school and mall; and the Gaisanos of retailing.

Postscript

Of Cebu as one big Chinatown, one can look at the Lutao-Ermita model for answers. The clue lies in its organic, unplanned development.

Cebu, then as now, was a magnet to the Chinese for the real and time-tested economic opportunities it presents.

In 1900, the American colonists drew plans to improve its port. By 1917, Cebu surpassed its long-time rival Iloilo as premier city of the South.

As the city grew, its Chinese population also burgeoned, spilling-over beyond the port area and encroaching into traditionally non-Chinese neighborhoods. They were to be found in all the major markets from Taboan to T. Padilla, or in tannery operations in the barrio of Mabolo.

Indeed, it was in the 20th century that Cebu itself became a Chinatown whose boundaries of ethnicity were blurred in the pursuit of business opportunities. The Chinese established their own schools, churches, cemeteries, hospitals, charitable foundations, and family associations.

They also formed their own chamber of commerce and a fire brigade to complete the proud display of their identity.

As the 21st century trudges in its infancy, one finds the Cebu Chinatown not in the nooks and crannies of half-forgotten places but in the big picture of a dynamic metropolis.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/CEBU/itpark.jpg



Cebu is a more cost-effective place to set up a business process-outsourcing company compared to Metro Manila, said Cebu representative Eduardo Gullas.

Urging government to develop the province into a global business process outsourcing hub, Gullas said national economic development planners should help further build the province into an ideal location for information technology-enabled services.

"Cebu can take in more BPO providers. The province has all the attributes needed by BPO providers. [It has] a business-friendly local policy environment, extensive infrastructure, efficient connectivity, and adequate human resources," he said.

A former provincial governor, Gullas noted that Cebu offers highly competitive office rent and wages compared to Metro Manila.

"Cebu is the center of higher learning in Visayas and Mindanao. We produce thousands of English speaking, high work ethic, computer literate, and Internet savvy college graduates each year," he added.

The Philippine outsourcing industry remains optimistic about prospects in 2006, despite challenges of finding more quality skills to man the booming industry.

Notwithstanding competition from other countries like India, the local outsourcing industry still expects to grow this year. In a joint forecast by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Board of Investments (BOI) and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the Philippine outsourcing industry is expected to generate 103,000 new jobs in 2006 -- a 44-percent increase from 2005.

The same forecast showed that about 81,000 new jobs were created in 2005, a 53 percent growth from 2004 figures. Based on these growth rates, a slowdown is foreseen in the generation of new jobs year-on-year.

The forecast also said that the outsourcing industry is expected to generate 3.7 billion dollars in revenues in 2006, a 52 percent growth over 2005.

Meanwhile Congressman Gullas note that over 80 percent of BPO providers operating in the country are in Metro Manila.

Twelve call centers are now located in Cebu, including those operated by US-based global BPO providers Convergys Corp., Sykes Enterprises Inc., eTelecare Global Solutions Inc., and PeopleSupport Inc.

Convergys' Cebu call center is located in Banawa, Cebu City, while Sykes' is in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The Cebu call centers of eTelecare and PeopleSupport are both at the 24-hectare Ayala-owned Asiatown IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City.

Besides their four call centers in Cebu, the four global BPO providers combined also operate 14 call centers in Metro Manila.

Gullas urged the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Commission on Higher Education to draw up a plan to further hone Cebu's competitive edge as an outsourcing hub.

"Going forward, we have to reinforce the skill sets of our college graduates, for them to readily qualify for more IT-enabled service jobs. For instance, we may have to identify and invigorate two or three local universities as potential centers for English mastery and engineering proficiency," Gullas said.

He also urged RDC to help identify more buildings in Cebu that may qualify for IT zone status.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority recently lowered the minimum floor size requirement of a building outside Metro Manila and Metro Cebu that may seek IT zone status from 5,000 to 2,000 square meters.

IT zone locators enjoy income tax holidays, tax-free capital equipment importation, exemption from local government imposts, simplified customs procedure, and permanent residency for foreign investors.

Postscript

Of Cebu as one big Chinatown, one can look at the Lutao-Ermita model for answers. The clue lies in its organic, unplanned development.

Cebu, then as now, was a magnet to the Chinese for the real and time-tested economic opportunities it presents.

In 1900, the American colonists drew plans to improve its port. By 1917, Cebu surpassed its long-time rival Iloilo as premier city of the South.

As the city grew, its Chinese population also burgeoned, spilling-over beyond the port area and encroaching into traditionally non-Chinese neighborhoods. They were to be found in all the major markets from Taboan to T. Padilla, or in tannery operations in the barrio of Mabolo.

Indeed, it was in the 20th century that Cebu itself became a Chinatown whose boundaries of ethnicity were blurred in the pursuit of business opportunities. The Chinese established their own schools, churches, cemeteries, hospitals, charitable foundations, and family associations.

They also formed their own chamber of commerce and a fire brigade to complete the proud display of their identity.

As the 21st century trudges in its infancy, one finds the Cebu Chinatown not in the nooks and crannies of half-forgotten places but in the big picture of a dynamic metropolis.

I like this story of Cebu about its being a big Chinatown... Chinese made Cebu this big today, on the other hand, Cebu made Chinese a big something to our nations economy today.

^^

An article once stated that Cebu's progress can be attributed to the fact that it is an open city, a melting pot of people who want to live here and make a difference; thus, the reason why there is no Chinatown, or Little Korea, or Little Tokyo. Such "places", according to the article only symbolize "ghettos" that create racial divides instead of bringing the people together..

Lito Osmeña also said, that from the original chinatown town of Pari-an in downtown Cebu, it has evolved to include the entire city itself. So there it goes, the city according to him is one big chinatown..

Taipans put in P5B to get 5M tourists in 5 years

THE country’s taipans are at the forefront of a business offensive aimed at hitting the private sector’s “singko-singko” goal and propelling Philippine tourism to its golden age.

Their “5-5-5-5-5” target simply means: To invest $5 billion to bring in 5 million tourists that would generate $5 billion in revenues and 5 million jobs in 5 years.

Marketing whiz Samie Lim said the country’s billionaires were buying new planes and ships, erecting new malls and hotels, and building word-class resorts and casinos, confident that tourism would be the next big thing in the Philippine economy.

“We’re happy that the taipans have bought into our 5-A strategy—arrival, access, accommodations, attractions and activities—by spending money in these specific areas needed to bring in the tourists,’’ said Lim, the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Taipan Lucio Tan is leading the pack with the $814 million refleeting program of Philippine Airlines and is spending a few billion pesos more to mark his entry into the shopping mall business (his Allied Bank has foreclosed on the Ever Gotesco properties).

Retail king Henry Sy’s gigantic P7 billion Mall of Asia off Manila Bay is being positioned as a major tourist destination not only for its world-class shopping facilities but also for its terminal that will have ferries carrying tourists to sites along the coast line.

“Next to our beaches, tourists come to the Philippines for shopping,’’ said Lim, explaining the importance of shopping malls in their strategy.

Flush with cash from a stock offering last year, Sy is also building Hamilo Cove, a 5,200-hectare seaside property in Nasugbu, Batangas, as his flagship business in tourism and leisure.

Taipan John Gokongwei is pouring in $670 million to refleet Cebu Pacific, in tandem with the expansion of his hotel empire (Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza).

Metrobank’s George Ty has quietly moved in with an initial P500 million investment in the heart of Philippine tourism, Cebu.

Through the family’s property arm, Federal Land Inc., Ty will reopen the shuttered Cebu Plaza Hotel in partnership with the Marco Polo hotel chain. Federal Land is keeping its options open as it might consider building more hotels to meet the acute shortage of rooms to accommodate the surge in tourist arrivals.

But to achieve the 5-5-5-5-5 goal, Lim said the country would need more than the taipans’ money.

“We’re getting interest from other businessmen wanting to put their money in budget hotels, budget airlines, tourism transport services and toilet facilities because they see the taipans leading the way,’’ Lim said.

5 gateways

For example, Lim said, the Philippines would join its Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors in establishing a budget hotel chain charging only $25 a night.

In contrast to the government’s plodding and cluttered tourist promotion program in the past years, the private sector-led BizTour 5 program is clear-cut and results-driven.

Instead of promoting the entire Philippines, the BizTour program has identified only five international gateways—Laoag, Manila, Subic-Clark, Cebu and Davao—where all investments in infrastructure, accommodations and attractions would be built or enhanced.

Security a top concern

“Tourists should be able to get to their destinations within an hour or two after stepping off the plane or boat,’’ Lim said.

Aside from ensuring that investments were focused in key areas for maximum results, Lim said that this would also ensure that the government would have enough resources to maintain peace and security, a major concern of tourists.

Lim said the 5-million tourists target in 2010—double the expected 2.5 million tourists last year—“might look big but this is actually modest compared to other countries.’

Left behind

The World Tourism Council reported that a total of 800 million people travel every year, spending $1.7 trillion in fares, accommodations, food and shopping.

Until 2004, Lim said the Philippines had never broken through the 2-million tourists mark in 25 years, during which time neighbors like Malaysia (15 million) and Vietnam (3 million) surpassed the country.

“Even the small Phuket island in Thailand has more tourists (2.5 million) than us,’’ Lim said.

Philippine tourism is fast gathering momentum with the Department of Tourism expecting arrivals to hit 2.6 million in 2005.

Aggressive Northerners

“We commend the government for its role in bringing in more tourists here, especially from Korea and China. The private sector’s role is to ensure that they stay here longer and come back with more of their relatives and friends,’’ Lim said.

Aside from spending P700 million for tourism promotion, Lim said the government also spent P35 billion in the last two years to build new airports and seaports and modernize existing facilities to make tourist spots more accessible to foreign visitors.

Lim said that while Cebu was way ahead of any region in terms of tourism development, Northern Luzon was the most aggressive in turning itself into a tourist mecca under the leadership of the governors of the Ilocos provinces, Pangasinan and La Union.

God’s gift

“There are now more flights to Laoag than Cebu, with big groups of casino players, mostly from China, flying in,’’ Lim said.

But of all the tourist gateways, Lim said Subic-Clark still had the most potential because of its huge land bank and strategic location.

Ultimately, Lim said, tourism would make up 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

“We may not be competitive in other industries but God gave our country natural beauty and we should use it properly to our advantage,’’ he said.

Once envisioned as a well-planned garden city by its visionaries, thus the tree lined Osmeña Boulevard leading all the way to the Provincial Capitol from the downtown area with a dramatic background of mountains. Uptown Cebu was in fact carefully laid out by its planners with all those streets that follow a grid-line pattern. Today, some of these thoroughfares need to be "taken back" as some of these have been closed to traffic for decades already and taken over by squatters.


Here's a map that erroneously combined the old establishments (that no longer existed) in Cebu with the new ones. One can still see the old Lahug Airport (instead of the Waterfront Hotel) together with the CBP and its current locators..

One can also still see the old rotunda (a mini fuente osmeña) at the intersection of P.del Rosario and Osmeña Boulevard; another mistake I guess since this was supposed to be a 1998 map of Cebu City..

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/Cebu_City_map.jpg

Old Cebu
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/old_cebu.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/old_cebu.jpg

http://elcproperties.com/capitol.jpg

http://www.asiatravelling.net/philippines/cebu/images/cebu_capitol.jpg

http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/images/capitol.jpg

http://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_1___Cebu_City/Capitol-Cebu.gif

yeah i think thats a relatively old outdated map. they only altered the area of the CBP to make it new. i never knew that there is a little rotunda in the del rosario-osmena blvd intersection.

the former horse karerahan at hepodromo below the CBP that you told me is very clear bai..

During the early 90s, Former Cebu Governor Lito Osmeña once proposed that Barangay Capitol be made into a separate Provincial Capital District of the Cebu Province. It would be headed by a somewhat appointed administrator with powers equal to that of a municipal mayor. This stemmed from the fact that the capitol building lies at Cebu City, a charter city, with its own congressional districts, which is not under direct regulation from the province.

However, some of the Barangay officials of Capitol were opposed to this as it would mean a demotion from their current status as a Barangay of a first class city to that of a mere 3rd class municipality. The proposal didn't push through though since another proposal was also drawn up --> to transfer the capital from Cebu City to Balamban in the west.

A photo of Barangay Capitol and its gridlike streets..
http://www.cebucity.gov.ph/assets/graphics/map/capitol-site.jpg

yeah i think thats a relatively old outdated map. they only altered the area of the CBP to make it new. i never knew that there is a little rotunda in the del rosario-osmena blvd intersection.

the former horse karerahan at hepodromo below the CBP that you told me is very clear bai..

Naka-abot pa ko sa katung mini-rotunda bai.. I was grade one when it was demolished. That was way back 1990 siguro.

so mao na ang junction bounded by Bangko Sentral, Abellana, Landbank, and DBP..

1990? naa pa ko sa bukid sa badian ana bai. wala pa ko nakalugsong sa dakbayan. hehehe

The former Hipodromo Racetrack is far more visible here Mark,
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/hipodromo.jpg

North Reclamation Area. The grid-like avenues and streets are not so much emphasized in this map maybe because some of it are closed to traffic
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/reclamation.jpg

Cebu's heritage district -- downtown
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/downtown.jpg

I wonder where Slerz and the south gang live
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/pardo.jpg

so mao na ang junction bounded by Bangko Sentral, Abellana, Landbank, and DBP..

1990? naa pa ko sa bukid sa badian ana bai. wala pa ko nakalugsong sa dakbayan. hehehe

If I remember it right, the rotunda was a bit smaller than the one in Carcar..

hello.. just wanna say hi to all my fellow cebuanos :)

hi calmero, welcome to SSC Philippines and Cebu Thread :okay:

pipz, nice to be back here. lotza commitments, career etc. tsk tsk. happy bday marvin! i won't be back there in Cebu til August! mingaw na kaayo ko mga tao diha. :bash:

megadome updates? :?

Bigfoot Co. Video Presentation
Cebu City

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4699261946156989400&q=cebu

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo01.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo02.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo03.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo04.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo05.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo06.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo07.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo08.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo09.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo10.jpg

^:applause: Nice rusty! The 1st one will do good as a banner.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/metropolis/citylights-cebu.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/metropolis/soon03.jpg

images i'd like to share :D

omg, well done rusty. I like the first one. very much.

thanks sinjin and ashton! at first glance, you'd think of Hong Kong! :lol:

i saw the photo online, i added the text and borders. :) isn't it beautiful? ;) walang ganyan sa *tooot* and *tooot*!

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/01/29/article_161689_01-29-2006.jpg
Fireworks light up Cebu City's skies on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
(Sun.Star Cebu/Arni Aclao)

Kung Hei Fat Choy SSC!

Taipans put in P5B to get 5M tourists in 5 years

THE country’s taipans are at the forefront of a business offensive aimed at hitting the private sector’s “singko-singko” goal and propelling Philippine tourism to its golden age.

Their “5-5-5-5-5” target simply means: To invest $5 billion to bring in 5 million tourists that would generate $5 billion in revenues and 5 million jobs in 5 years.

Marketing whiz Samie Lim said the country’s billionaires were buying new planes and ships, erecting new malls and hotels, and building word-class resorts and casinos, confident that tourism would be the next big thing in the Philippine economy.

“We’re happy that the taipans have bought into our 5-A strategy—arrival, access, accommodations, attractions and activities—by spending money in these specific areas needed to bring in the tourists,’’ said Lim, the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Taipan Lucio Tan is leading the pack with the $814 million refleeting program of Philippine Airlines and is spending a few billion pesos more to mark his entry into the shopping mall business (his Allied Bank has foreclosed on the Ever Gotesco properties).

Retail king Henry Sy’s gigantic P7 billion Mall of Asia off Manila Bay is being positioned as a major tourist destination not only for its world-class shopping facilities but also for its terminal that will have ferries carrying tourists to sites along the coast line.

“Next to our beaches, tourists come to the Philippines for shopping,’’ said Lim, explaining the importance of shopping malls in their strategy.

Flush with cash from a stock offering last year, Sy is also building Hamilo Cove, a 5,200-hectare seaside property in Nasugbu, Batangas, as his flagship business in tourism and leisure.

Taipan John Gokongwei is pouring in $670 million to refleet Cebu Pacific, in tandem with the expansion of his hotel empire (Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza).

Metrobank’s George Ty has quietly moved in with an initial P500 million investment in the heart of Philippine tourism, Cebu.

Through the family’s property arm, Federal Land Inc., Ty will reopen the shuttered Cebu Plaza Hotel in partnership with the Marco Polo hotel chain. Federal Land is keeping its options open as it might consider building more hotels to meet the acute shortage of rooms to accommodate the surge in tourist arrivals.

But to achieve the 5-5-5-5-5 goal, Lim said the country would need more than the taipans’ money.

“We’re getting interest from other businessmen wanting to put their money in budget hotels, budget airlines, tourism transport services and toilet facilities because they see the taipans leading the way,’’ Lim said.

5 gateways

For example, Lim said, the Philippines would join its Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors in establishing a budget hotel chain charging only $25 a night.

In contrast to the government’s plodding and cluttered tourist promotion program in the past years, the private sector-led BizTour 5 program is clear-cut and results-driven.

Instead of promoting the entire Philippines, the BizTour program has identified only five international gateways—Laoag, Manila, Subic-Clark, Cebu and Davao—where all investments in infrastructure, accommodations and attractions would be built or enhanced.

Security a top concern

“Tourists should be able to get to their destinations within an hour or two after stepping off the plane or boat,’’ Lim said.

Aside from ensuring that investments were focused in key areas for maximum results, Lim said that this would also ensure that the government would have enough resources to maintain peace and security, a major concern of tourists.

Lim said the 5-million tourists target in 2010—double the expected 2.5 million tourists last year—“might look big but this is actually modest compared to other countries.’

Left behind

The World Tourism Council reported that a total of 800 million people travel every year, spending $1.7 trillion in fares, accommodations, food and shopping.

Until 2004, Lim said the Philippines had never broken through the 2-million tourists mark in 25 years, during which time neighbors like Malaysia (15 million) and Vietnam (3 million) surpassed the country.

“Even the small Phuket island in Thailand has more tourists (2.5 million) than us,’’ Lim said.

Philippine tourism is fast gathering momentum with the Department of Tourism expecting arrivals to hit 2.6 million in 2005.

Aggressive Northerners

“We commend the government for its role in bringing in more tourists here, especially from Korea and China. The private sector’s role is to ensure that they stay here longer and come back with more of their relatives and friends,’’ Lim said.

Aside from spending P700 million for tourism promotion, Lim said the government also spent P35 billion in the last two years to build new airports and seaports and modernize existing facilities to make tourist spots more accessible to foreign visitors.

Lim said that while Cebu was way ahead of any region in terms of tourism development, Northern Luzon was the most aggressive in turning itself into a tourist mecca under the leadership of the governors of the Ilocos provinces, Pangasinan and La Union.

God’s gift

“There are now more flights to Laoag than Cebu, with big groups of casino players, mostly from China, flying in,’’ Lim said.

But of all the tourist gateways, Lim said Subic-Clark still had the most potential because of its huge land bank and strategic location.

Ultimately, Lim said, tourism would make up 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

“We may not be competitive in other industries but God gave our country natural beauty and we should use it properly to our advantage,’’ he said.


THAT´S THE SPIRIT philippines ! go go go !!!!!
:-)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo02.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo06.jpg



Badian!! :) :)

yes. Iba talaga yung first pix parang sa abroad (hehe lisuda typon sa tagalog oi) :)

thanks sinjin and ashton! at first glance, you'd think of Hong Kong! :lol:

i saw the photo online, i added the text and borders. :) isn't it beautiful? ;) walang ganyan sa *tooot* and *tooot*!

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/01/29/article_161689_01-29-2006.jpg
Fireworks light up Cebu City's skies on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
(Sun.Star Cebu/Arni Aclao)

Kung Hei Fat Choy SSC!

Even if it's very far, still visible here in Pardo the fireworks of last nights Chinse New Years eve... Daghan gihapon botot botot...

_ _ _ _ _ _

@Arnoldsa, thanks for your presentation about the Cebu street maps... Wa lagi ko kabantay atong mini rotonda last 1990 but I'm still not that particular about Cebu's developments man gud, I'm still excited about malls at that time.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/01/29/article_161689_01-29-2006.jpg
Fireworks light up Cebu City's skies on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
(Sun.Star Cebu/Arni Aclao)

Kung Hei Fat Choy SSC!

This is very beautiful!!! :)

At Home In Cebu
By Nathalie M. Tomada
The Freeman 01/29/2006

To the eye of this foreigner, the Philippines is not at all a hopeless mess as many of us are beginning to believe.

With the negative press this country has been getting abroad, underscored by the persistent issuance of travel advisories, 31-year-old Demetrio Calo, a national athlete from Italy, could have easily settled on any other sun-drenched nation where he could practice intensely, while the running tracks of his home country are clad in snow. But Calo came anyway-and harbors no regrets over his decision.

Calo, a track and field athlete for the AICS Atletica Milano, set foot in the country for the first time last year, and after spending two days in Manila, then roughly two weeks in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, he flew to Cebu upon the recommendation of friends who formerly lived in Lapu-Lapu City. Soon after his arrival in the Queen City of the South, he found himself caught up in a merry-go-round of action, many thanks to a friendship he quickly established with Hiroshi Football Club team captain Voltaire Montebon.

Montebon "discovered" Calo while taking a jog around the oval of the Abellana Sports Complex. Knowing that practically every European male knows a thing or two about football, Montebon invited the tall, toned and lean Calo to play for Hiroshi. Calo has figured in recent Hiroshi games for free. He admires the camaraderie within the football organization of Cebu. What surprises me even more is that Calo, who took time out to play spectator in the 2005 SEA Games, have nice things to say about our sports facilities.

Though Calo steers clear of late-night gimmicks, making sure instead that his itinerary doesn't stray from his focal purpose of coming to the country - which is to train hard and physically condition himself for forthcoming competitions - he however, made room for some sampling of the small ecstasies inherently Filipino.

He professes a love for Cebu's seafood, especially guso. And he eats balut, too! When I told him that balut was even used to gross out the contenders in the top-rated American reality TV show "Fear Factor," he couldn't understand why because balut tastes good. Besides food-tripping, he has also hit the surf and sand of some beaches in Lapu-Lapu City.

Indeed, heading for his hometown this February 2 would mean leaving newfound friends and a cache of good memories behind. He says he has bonded so well with his co-players at Hiroshi not just because of a mutual love for football, but also because of the genuine hospitality accorded to him in a short span of time.

In return, he has extended an invitation to his teammates to visit Italy, promising to look after them the way the guys made him feel at home, and prepare an Italian feast courtesy of his mother ("best cook ever").

But he will be back to this country, most definitely next year, he declares. Expect him to spread the good word about the country, as well. And when he returns, he vows to bring along 10 or more co-athletes, not just to train here, but also to enjoy the plethora of attractions the Philippines has to offer.

Sometimes, really, it takes a foreigner to make us feel good about ourselves and our country.

^^ sakto

i recognize this woman in maroon, she's from usc, morag ahead nako ug one year nya computer engineer..
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo10.jpg

Nalzaro: Is Tomas bullying investors?
By Bobby Nalzaro



CEBU City Hall did not issue a business permit to one of the country?s leading manufacturers of well-known household brands, the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI), because the company refused to pay the City Government the 70 percent share of sales tax on IPI goods sold outside the city. The company claimed it was already paying 100 percent of the sales tax to other local government units where it has branches.

The Castillos, who are full-bloodied Cebuanos, own IPI. The company has been operating here for quite sometime. Its main office and plant are in Mabolo. It has contributed to the booming economic activity in this part of the country by employing thousands of local residents. I am sure the company has religiously been paying its tax obligations to local and national governments because its owners are very religious.

So does the City Government have the right to collect sales tax for IPI goods sold outside the city? This move is still debatable and only the court can settle this issue. And why is the City doing it only now, considering that IPI has been operating here for years? Is Mayor Tomas Osmeña?s trying to ?arm-twist? IPI, like what City Hall has done to other companies and establishments because it needs a lot of money to pay off its financial obligations to the idle South Reclamation Project?

For me, the refusal of City Hall to issue a business permit to IPI is tantamount to taking the company hostage so it will be forced to succumb to the whims and caprices of the powers that be.

The mayor did a similar thing to telecommunication companies, when he demanded a local franchise tax. Now, he is ?bullying? another company. This is not good for the city?s investment climate. Companies may be obliged to pay taxes to the government, but the imposition of additional taxes will only trigger dire consequences for consumers.

If IPI is forced to bow to the City Government?s will, then it will surely be forced to raise its prices. Worst, it might go ahead with its plan to close operations here and transfer somewhere else. Can Tomas Osmeña provide employment to displaced employees? What the mayor is doing to IPI is the highest form of extortion.

Cebu more attractive than Manila for BPO firms -- solon

First posted 00:09am (Mla time) Jan 29, 2006
By Erwin Lemuel Oliva
INQ7.net


Cebu is a more cost-effective place to set up a business process-outsourcing company compared to Metro Manila, said Cebu representative Eduardo Gullas.

Urging government to develop the province into a global business process outsourcing hub, Gullas said national economic development planners should help further build the province into an ideal location for information technology-enabled services.

"Cebu can take in more BPO providers. The province has all the attributes needed by BPO providers. [It has] a business-friendly local policy environment, extensive infrastructure, efficient connectivity, and adequate human resources," he said.

A former provincial governor, Gullas noted that Cebu offers highly competitive office rent and wages compared to Metro Manila.

"Cebu is the center of higher learning in Visayas and Mindanao. We produce thousands of English speaking, high work ethic, computer literate, and Internet savvy college graduates each year," he added.

Philippine outsourcing industry remains optimistic about prospects in 2006, despite challenges of finding more quality skills to man the booming industry.

Notwithstanding competition from other countries like India, the local outsourcing industry still expects to grow this year. In a joint forecast by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Board of Investments (BOI) and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the Philippine outsourcing industry is expected to generate 103,000 new jobs in 2006 -- a 44-percent increase from 2005.

The same forecast showed that about 81,000 new jobs were created in 2005, a 53 percent growth from 2004 figures. Based on these growth rates, a slowdown is foreseen in the generation of new jobs year-on-year.

The forecast also said that the outsourcing industry is expected to generate 3.7 billion dollars in revenues in 2006, a 52 percent growth over 2005.

Meanwhile Congressman Gullas note that over 80 percent of BPO providers operating in the country are in Metro Manila.

Twelve call centers are now located in Cebu, including those operated by US-based global BPO providers Convergys Corp., Sykes Enterprises Inc., eTelecare Global Solutions Inc., and PeopleSupport Inc.

Convergys' Cebu call center is located in Banawa, Cebu City, while Sykes' is in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The Cebu call centers of eTelecare and PeopleSupport are both at the 24-hectare Ayala-owned Asiatown IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City.

Besides their four call centers in Cebu, the four global BPO providers combined also operate 14 call centers in Metro Manila.

Gullas urged the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Commission on Higher Education to draw up a plan to further hone Cebu's competitive edge as an outsourcing hub.

"Going forward, we have to reinforce the skill sets of our college graduates, for them to readily qualify for more IT-enabled service jobs. For instance, we may have to identify and invigorate two or three local universities as potential centers for English mastery and engineering proficiency," Gullas said.

He also urged RDC to help identify more buildings in Cebu that may qualify for IT zone status.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority recently lowered the minimum floor size requirement of a building outside Metro Manila and Metro Cebu that may seek IT zone status from 5,000 to 2,000 square meters.

IT zone locators enjoy income tax holidays, tax-free capital equipment importation, exemption from local government imposts, simplified customs procedure, and permanent residency for foreign investors.

i recognize this woman in maroon, she's from usc, morag ahead nako ug one year nya computer engineer..
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/bigfoot%20video/bigfootvideo10.jpg

She's Miya Balansag, our validictorian sa highschool dri sa Holy Rosary school.

At Home In Cebu
By Nathalie M. Tomada
The Freeman 01/29/2006

To the eye of this foreigner, the Philippines is not at all a hopeless mess as many of us are beginning to believe.


But he will be back to this country, most definitely next year, he declares. Expect him to spread the good word about the country, as well. And when he returns, he vows to bring along 10 or more co-athletes, not just to train here, but also to enjoy the plethora of attractions the Philippines has to offer.

Sometimes, really, it takes a foreigner to make us feel good about ourselves and our country.


mao mao ra lagi ni gi sturyaan namo sa akong mama og papa pag panihapon namo. From a start, we argued about TV Patrol... my father is happy for TV Patrol coz all their news lately is about Manny Pacquiao all the time, no politics... he said, there are many good news to broadcast like the growing foreign tourists coming here in Cebu and Cebu is the no 1 tourists destination in the country and everyday, he passes within the Sto. Niño church just to see those large number of white people visiting the church, there are a lot of Ilonggo speaking local tourists too... Then my mother said, my auntie daw is already renovating her house for tourists to flock this ASEAN summit coz they're also aware diay that Cebu lacks rooms for tourists (abi nakog kita ray nahisgut hisgut aning mga butanga, asta man diay mga katiguwangan.:D). Nya ingon dayon nako, mao bitaw na pirme namo sturyaan sa internet particularly sa SSC...hehe. He also said, though Phuket or Thailand has a lot more tourists than ours, our hospitality is still the best thing that we can offer. But my fathers negative sentiment are the badjaos daw, he's ashamed to the foreigners coz of the badjaos asking money to tourists in the vicinity of the Magellans Cross. He said that the City Hall courtesy of v mayor Mike Rama already took those children out of the area but the problem is another batch of badjaos arrived... Magellans Cross is one of the most visited land marks in the country and the badjaos is the biggest headache the city hall is having.
Once, there was a time that badjaos were forced to leave Cebu to the extent that water canons were used just to force them to board the ship back to mindanao but after that incident, it didn't happen again... nabalutan ng awa ang mga taga city hall kaya hindi na na ulit ang ganong sksena and right now they're still roaming around the City and because of them, Cebu looks like a big mess.



_ _ _ _ _ _

Sunday, January 29, 2006
Capitol lines up P752M for infra
By Minerva B. Gerodias


At least P752 million worth of projects are scheduled for implementation by the Cebu Provincial Government within the first half of this year, according to Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre.

Among the big projects the Capitol is preparing to implement are the conversion of the Carcar District Hospital into a provincial hospital, the construction of a roll-on, roll-off port in Daanbantayan and the asphalting of more than 100 kilometers of roads.

Also in the list are the construction of 25 two-classroom school buildings for public high schools and the construction of the Women’s Center in Camp Marina.

With all these projects scheduled, 2006 is shaping up to be an infrastructure-focused year for the Provincial Government. It also intends to build an international convention center in time for the Asean Ministers’ Summit in Cebu this December.

Promises

The creation of provincial hospitals for Cebu was one of the campaign promises the candidates raised before the May 2004 elections.

Without well-equipped provincial hospitals, many emergency and surgery cases end up getting sent to Cebu City, where the government hospitals are already bursting at the seams.

Carcar’s 10-bed hospital will soon be converted into a 100-bed Provincial Hospital.

For the project, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has appropriated P100 million, which will pay for another building, additional equipment and more personnel for the district hospital.

Aside from Carcar, Danao District Hospital in the north will also be upgraded, along with another hospital on the western side.

Links

The construction of a roll-on, roll-off port in Daanbantayan in northern Cebu was conceptualized when Garcia was still a consultant to her father, then governor Pablo Garcia.

At least P15 million has been allocated for this project, which Daanbantayan officials requested so they will have a better jump-off point for Malapascua Island, a well-known tourist destination in the north.

The port will also serve travelers bound for Boracay, Iloilo and Leyte, among others.

The asphalting of 154 kilometers of provincials road in the different towns may start next month.

This project, which has an appropriation of P300 million, was supposed to start last year, but the contractors’ bids overshot the Province’s projections.

Garcia has pledged to asphalt at least 400 kilometers of provincial roads in her three-year-term, which ends in 2007.

Schools too

Beyond roads, a port and hospitals, the Province also hopes to build schools within the first semester of the year.

Pelayre said that initially, the Province will construct 25 school buildings worth P480,000 each.

The design is finished, but recipients have yet to be identified.

Garcia has been criticized for giving priority to the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), while schools suffer from a perennial shortage of school buildings.

She has assured, however, that the CICC project will not erode the Capitol’s budget for schools and hospitals—even if building schools is not a primary responsibility of the Provincial Government but that of the Department of Education.

“We’ll take care of this problem, even though it is not ours really,” :applause: she has said.

At least P25 million has also been set aside for the construction of a Provincial Women’s Center in Camp Marina, near the Cebu Zoo.

The center will house women who are victims of domestic violence.

The design is ready, said Pelayre, except for some minor revisions.

The center is a brainchild of the Provincial Women’s Commission, under Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale. (MBG)

^^ Badjaos, mamasko bisan manang pasko, unya mamalikas kkon tagaan sinsilyo! "Katihik ba nimo sir, kanang mapiko among gusto!"

^^mao na diha, imbes malooy ta kay pobre, lami na nuon kaayo panumbagon kay mo demand pa jud og ma piko... sa sunod, kung mangayo og mapiko, hatagi og resibo sa ATM kay mapiko man ghapon na!

^^ di man gyud angay manghatag sa dan kay piligro, usa sad, 'it is not the right place to do charity.' kay kung imo tagaan, maanad unya ang ila tuo, naay panginabuhi didto so adto na lang sila pirmi. kay tingali kung walay mohatag, walay magtuga tuga ug adto nga mga manglimos.

the discipline should come from both parties, moreso with those riding on those cars. mas naay edukasyon katong nagsakay kaysa nanglimos.

di sad ta angay maluoy kay kasagaran, kaning mga tawhana tapulan sad gyud ug dili angay anaron. they are mostly from other places outside of cebu, especially those cities that bash cebu like hell. apprehend the beggar and the donor.

^^ Badjaos, mamasko bisan manang pasko, unya mamalikas kkon tagaan sinsilyo! "Katihik ba nimo sir, kanang mapiko among gusto!"


i think they are not just badjaos but from other places as well. basin magtuo ang mga taga ubang lugar ba nga ang gahugaw hugaw kay puro ra badjao ug ilang mga kalahi wala maghugaw hugaw sa cebu.

wala nay bag-ong pictures? heheheh.

Badian!! :) :)

one of the best places to visit in cebu, badian.

images i'd like to share :D

wonderful!

aside from osmena boulevard, what other streets in cebu are boulevards?

^^ di man gyud angay manghatag sa dan kay piligro, usa sad, 'it is not the right place to do charity.' kay kung imo tagaan, maanad unya ang ila tuo, naay panginabuhi didto so adto na lang sila pirmi. kay tingali kung walay mohatag, walay magtuga tuga ug adto nga mga manglimos.

the discipline should come from both parties, moreso with those riding on those cars. mas naay edukasyon katong nagsakay kaysa nanglimos.

di sad ta angay maluoy kay kasagaran, kaning mga tawhana tapulan sad gyud ug dili angay anaron. they are mostly from other places outside of cebu, especially those cities that bash cebu like hell. apprehend the beggar and the donor.

mao jud na ila panginabuhi, panglimos... bisan gihatagan nag tindahan, di siya kay mang limos jud siya. Ig moduol bitaw sila nako kay mangayo, sigaan dayon nako sa akong mata para mahadlok. Ako tagaan kato raman mga pongkol, bakol, buta og tunga ray lawas :lol:


one of the best places to visit in cebu, badian.

best gud tawn, dili oi... ma best rana kung maka adto nako :D

kinsay naay links sa ranking sa cities with high rise buildings? 300 plus gani ang cebu sa ranking f im not mistaken.

best gud tawn, dili oi... ma best rana kung maka adto nako :D

wa pa diay ka kaadto?

^^naka agi ra katong bata pa ko...hehe

mangadto unya ta ninyo!

^^oi Mark, joke ra to oi...hehe

hehehehe. aw joke ra diay. serious unta ko nga nag invite. hehehe. cge dili na lang ta mangadto. manglibre unta ko! :D

na! naunsa... bitaw, joke ra sad to ako post 231... :lol:

Top cities in Asia
http://www.asiahotels.com/

^^a complement for us :okay:

hehehehe. aw joke ra diay. serious unta ko nga nag invite. hehehe. cge dili na lang ta mangadto. manglibre unta ko! :D

unya na mo pangadto ug maabot na ko diha!!! heheheheh ok ra bisan di libre! nindot kaayo beach diha. naa pa gyud duol ang kawasan.

01/30/2006
Cebu emerges as global center for carrageenan

By Minerva BC ******

Cebu City (30 January) -- As the national government calls on all sectors to take up the challenge of reshaping our political and economic landscape as part of our national battle plan to fight poverty and compete with the world, Cebu has emerged as the global center for the processing of raw seaweed into Carrageenan having the most number of the world's major seaweed processors.

The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) bared this in a report given to media recently. The SIAP report said, three major suppliers of Carrageenan-CPKelco Philippines in Sibonga; FMC Marine Colloids Philippines and Shemberg Marketing Corporation based in Mandaue City have a combined production capacity of more than 14,000 metric tons, a good 50% of the world's combined capacity of 23,000 metric tons per year.

According to SIAP president, Benson dakay, the Philippines remains the world's top producer of seaweed. Its total raw and processed seaweed exports in 2005 reached US$153.244-million, an increased of more than US$9.217 million from the 2004 exports figures of US$144.027 million.

Dakay further said, the country's seaweed industry started in the Philippines with the gathering of wild seaweed in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte and exporting them raw. The rising demand for raw seaweed had encouraged Dakay to establish commercial farms and decided to start processing seaweed into Carrageenan.

Today, there are now 27 Carrageenan processors and exporters benefiting directly over 100,000 seaweed farmers and their families. As of 2004, SIAP has adopted some 58 hectares of sea beds that had been planted to seaweed," the report said.

Due to its livelihood component and its contribution to the job creation program of the Arroyo administration, SIAP has actively sought government support as well as urging agencies for financing programs that would help the seaweed farmers increase their production areas.

_ _ _ _ _ _

01/30/2006
Firm installs lamps in exchange for banner ad space

by Mimi Bern-Edaga

Cebu City (30 January) -- The Mandaue-Mactan and Marcelo Fernan Bridges will parade new form in February when 120 lamp posts along the two bridges will be beautifully illuminated and dressed with streamers.

For one year starting February, APM will pay P211,000 monthly on advertisements to the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board aside from handling all the expenses for the installation and maintenance of the lamp posts with insurance coverage and monthly power bills and bulbs.

In return, APM wants to have exclusive rights to use the lamp posts as banner or advertising posts for five consecutive years. They offered to pay the local government units a rental of P100 per lamp post per month on the second year.

APM Ad and Promo Management is also offering to light the thoroughfares of the towns and cities to boost Cebu's tourism industry. An initial of 1000 lamp posts and welcome arches in the center islands of the component cities will be installed in the proposed P11.2M project cost.

The APM through its general manger Alex Montanez and Cebu Gov. Gewndolyn Garcia signed the memorandum of agreement for the project undertaking in the two bridges.

After a long wait for advertisers to bid for the the hanging of streamers in the lamp posts of the Mandaue-Mactan and the Marcelo Fernan Bridges, APM Ad and Promo Management, a Davao-based firm, emerged as the winning bidder over six others who sent their letter of intent.

_ _ _ _ _ _

from Saipan Tribune
Hotel occupancy drops but room rates slightly improve

Monday, January 30, 2006

The CNMI's hotel occupancy rate averaged 70.16 percent in 2005-a figure that the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands claims as not profitable for most local hotels-even as the average monthly room rate for the year improved to $84.54.

HANMI statistics showed the occupancy rate drop slightly from the 2004 average of 71.75 percent. Except for the 2004 average, the 2005 figure appeared to be the highest average occupancy rate for the past seven years, but it settled way below record highs of 85.57 and 81.35 percent in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

HANMI chairperson Lynn Knight said the 2005 occupancy rate fell below the targeted average of 80-some percent. She said that, even as the average room rate slightly increased from 2004's $80.42 average, the 2005 rate settled at almost $52 below the record high of $136.06 in 1997. In 1996, the average room rate for the year was $127.73.

"The industry has still a long way to go to get back up to a healthy, profitable position wherein investors are getting a return on the business," Knight said in an interview Friday.

Knight further noted that many hotels have been embarking on improvements of their respective establishments, saying that some $40 million have been spent so far for hotel improvements in the past two years.

Knight added, though, that the improvements would benefit the CNMI as a destination, as other competing destinations like Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines' Cebu and Japan's Okinawa witness similar development. She said it is best to make improvements now that business has slowed down.

The 2005 average room rate, though, has been the highest since 2002, but lower than the annual average from 1992 to 2001, when the average reached $89.27 even after the 911 attacks impacted global travel during the last quarter of that year.

December 2005's average room rate reached $90.66, slightly improving from December 2004's $87.21, but much lower than the peak December average of $143.52 in 1996.

The year's peak average monthly room rate reached $99.08 in August, even higher than 2004's $91.95 for the same month, but way below the $162.96 average in 1996.

Occupancy rate for December 2005 dropped to 63.20 percent compared to December 2004's 71.59 percent. Hotel occupancy for December reached its peak of 83.51 percent in 1995.

The highest monthly occupancy average in 2005 reached 79.65 percent, slightly higher than December 2004's 79.33 percent, just before Japan Airlines pulled out its regular flights to Saipan in October

^^ now they are seeing Cebu, more that any other city, as a threat. waah that sounds good. :) the difference is that our hotel occupancy last year didnt drop, but increased.. :)

wow.. cebu is getting the fame... :D

yup, Cebu is still starting but it's already a threat to famous international destinations... I dunno why they included Cebu together with Guam, Hawaii, and Okinawa.
but its Another sign for Cebu to be one of the worlds major tourist destination sooner :okay:
Kudos to our Cebu officials...:applause:

^^ and reached to a point where cebu hotels have to turn down bookings. tsk tsk.

for those who didn't know, Cebu needs 15000 hotel rooms as in now na to address the present demand. astig dba!

as in now jud bai? mangita na lang ta ug magician na para padaghanun ang ato mga hotels. hehehe. :D


you can observe also that their ave occupancy stays within the 70+ mark, while we are enjoying an 85-100% rate! woohoooo

in relation to Cebu's tourism, those illegal vendors vending beside the Magellans Cross was already demolished this morning... Now, the Magellans Cross park is a whole lot cleaner than before. I hope those badjao problem will also be addressed immediately before November ends...hehe

^^ i think the badjao problem is part of the rehabilitation of our road networks since they are in any way the major problem i our streets..

they should not only clean the vicinity of the kiosk bai but the city hall grounds as well. that area is really in a sorry state...

got this pic from bluprint back issues...

hilton cebu

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/ishtefh/architecture/Sheng171.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/ishtefh/architecture/Sheng173.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/ishtefh/architecture/Sheng172.jpg

^^I think murag apil na sa ilang itinerary for beautification of MC Briones street.

as in now jud bai? mangita na lang ta ug magician na para padaghanun ang ato mga hotels. hehehe. :D


you can observe also that their ave occupancy stays within the 70+ mark, while we are enjoying an 85-100% rate! woohoooo

that's at least 85% all-year-round ha. :cool:

^^then why is your smileys kinda sleepy, isn't your comment a disappointing one :?

^^ sus kelan pa kaya ako makakapasuk sa hilton na yan! hehehe