Yap gets fresh term, promises improvements for Asean meet

RETIRED Major General Adelberto F. Yap was reappointed by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) board as general manager during its monthly board meeting yesterday, considering his expertise in aviation security and safety.

Under the MCIAA Charter, the MCIAA board is the appointing authority, although the appointment is still subject to the concurrence of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Yap’s reappointement was approved on mass motion.

Earlier, Assistant Secretary Nilo Jatico of the Air Transportation Office (ATO), also MCIAA alternate chairman, said Yap deserves to be general manager because he is a decorated pilot, a multi-awarded former Philippine Air Force commanding general and has undergone seminars and training abroad on aviation security and safety.

Yap is a founding member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets the world standards for airport management.

Line-up

With his reappointment, Yap told Sun.Star Cebu that he will fast-track the completion of projects for the Asean Ministers’ Summit in December 2006.

These include the rehabilitation of airport ramps, passenger board and disembarking tubes, administration building and alternate runway.

Yap said that MCIAA board members Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Valeriano Avila, Renato Osmeña, Gordon Joseph, Winglip Chang, Nilo Jatico, Tourism Director Patria Autora Roa, Justice Under-secretary Ramon Liwag and Budget Director Ma. Teresa Abal will implement P800 million worth of projects this year. (EOB)

guys, about the meet this monday. i was accepted at peoplesupport and training starts this monday...

wow.....officemates na ta? yehey! :) :) kita kits sa office!!!!

^^ whoa congratz marki! Tagay na :drunk:

^Congrats! Who'll make the next thread?

Congrats congrats!!! Yehey!!!! in behalf of Expedia's Email Team of PeopleSupport and my sexy sup Chrizzy!! (ooops, pwede ko ba tong i-disclose? ehehehe ) Welcome To PeopleSupport! :nocrook:

What time imo shift? Yepeeee!!!!

ei arnold...wala ko kareply kay wala nakoy load! huhuhuhuhuhuhuh

waah thnx all.

@tj: job orientation tonight. i dnt know unsa ako acct.

@sinjin: do the honor. huwag lang may long narration. hehehe.

Okay, please wait for a while. ;)

Can you wait for 2 hours? Oh, seriously, It'll take at least half an hour. Is that okay? Anyway, this isn't closed yet and no moderator is online. :D

17th thread na natin? whoaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! im way too excited...i ll wait for the next hour! ehehehehehhehe i wanna be one of the first peeps to make a post sa new thread ehehehehehhe :)

i miss my kaskyscapers! ehehehehehehehehe

my 800th post.. wahaha

Guys, you create the 17th thread muna. My PC crashed and I need to begin from scratch again. :( Sorry!

my 800th post.. wahaha

tagay na bai!!!

WELCOME to CEBU: The Charm of Asia Thread XVII

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just a question Sinjin, why are you always the one creating new threads as well locking old ones? :colgate:

Unofficially Closed..

Here's thread XVII

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316718

:cheer:

Because no one else online is willing to create one? :colgate:

But, I wasn't supposed to be the one who will create this thread. It's just that the other one is full and all the Cebu forumers are offline. ;)

those that do probably don't have the time like sinjin does, or if they do he just beats them to it;) Makes everyone else's life easier :yes:


holy hell seventeen threads. You guys need a subsection.

^That would be great @Renell! :yes:

Welcome to Cebu! Urban Living with a Style!


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^Nice @TJBrewed! Cheers. :cheers:

just a question Sinjin, why are you always the one creating new threads as well locking old ones? :colgate:

i also have a question:

why call cebu the charm of asia? it would have been better if its just the charm of the philippines or the charm of the visayas..

its like regine velasquez being dubbed as asia's song bird even if she's only popular here in the country..

wala lang.. :cheers:

Ehehe, kasi it's the new title of Cebu...

Kayo na nga ang gumawa ng new thread para wala nang reklamo. :)

^^ hehe wala mn ko reklamo mike, kaw jud.. bisan asa na forum naa mn gud mokontra sa cebu, basin ila nasad nya ni himuong issue preho sa "cebu: the queen city of the south"

ambot ngano, basta cebu na gani ang topic sa mga forums daghan jud kaayo maglagot..

question ra to ako mike.. hehe

Okay, anyway, maybe we should name the next as short as possible without any titles:

Probably, CEBU: Thread XVIII lol

@mike, wa lagi nimo gi apil ako banner nga kato naay bridge, naapil raba to sa SSC banner :cry:

^^Wala nako nakit-an sa akong pag-ukay sa mga old threads. My bad. :(

Oi @Mark, it's a celebration... tagay na bai ;)
congrats coz a new window opened for you...

Ako sad diay mga bai, celebration sad kay my small sari sari business which I opened last Feb 8 was successful... tabla ra call center sa ganansya...hehe
pero maayo mo da kay productive kaayo inyo career kay naa mo call center, ako tindiro ra :D pero nung bata pa ako gusto ko na talaga maging negosyante...hehe
kinsa palit hard disk diha :D

^^Wala nako nakit-an sa akong pag-ukay sa mga old threads. My bad. :(

ok ra oi...hehe

I found this article last year about SSS building although it did not mention if it's high rise or what.


Saturday, October 29, 2005
Work on SSS Cebu bldg. to start soon

If the plan of the Social Security System (SSS) would push through, the state-run pension fund’s Cebu branch would have its own building by 2007.

In a letter sent to Sun.Star Cebu, SSS Cebu City branch officer-in-charge Cynthia Zur-bano said the construction of the Cebu branch office will push through as planned.
“The budget for the project has been approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) and the bidding for the building construction is now in progress,” she said.

Fuente tower

Zurbano denied an earlier report that SSS, currently located at the corner of Gorordo Ave. and Escario St., will soon relocate to Fuente Tower 1 (formerly Osmeña Tower).

An SSS employee told Sun.Star Cebu earlier that the SSC had ordered the Cebu branch to stop the construction work of a new building at the site of its old office on Jones Ave. last year due to budgetary reasons.

Zurbano said the construction of the new SSS Cebu building, which is estimated to be completed in 12 months, will start early next year as soon as the bidding is completed.

“The new building will be the home of the Hub Branch in the Central Visayas region and promises better facilities, more convenience and improved accessibility for our members,” she said.

SSS Cebu branch has been the subject of complaints by its members because of its limited office and parking spaces. (JBN)

Congrats:applause:
ang bilis kaayo;)

Tara na Byahe Tayo!!! :hi: :hi:



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Travel expo to exceed 2005 sales...

Organizers of the Vis-Min Travel and Lifestyle Show, 2nd International Visayas-Mindanao Travel, Tours, Leisure and Lifestyle Expo 2006 hope to exceed the P16.4M on-site sales it made last year.

Organized by Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA), Cebu Association of Tour Operators and Global-Link Business Communications Philippines Inc., the three-day trade event is the biggest gathering of tour agents, tour operators, hotels, resorts, airlines, theme parks and tourism organizations in Southern Philippines.

It will run from Feb. 17 to 19 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall.

Success

“Last year’s travel show attracted more than 10,000 visitors and generated on-site sales of more than P16 million. It was a great success for our exhibitors.

I’m excited that this year’s show is heading towards the same direction. To date, the show is fully booked with over 120 exhibitors joining us. Show visitors can expect to meet various suppliers from the best destinations around the country and in other Asian countries,” said Marget Fernan-Villarica, event chairperson and CTTA vice-chairperson.

Among the tourism offices and organizations which will be participating in the three-day trade fair are Agusan del Norte and the Caraga Region, Antique Province, Ilocos and Panga-sinan Region, Bicol Region, Cebu and the Central Visa-yas Region, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Oriental Neg-ros, Southern Leyte and Subic Bay.

Partnership

The Hong Kong Tourism Board, Malaysia Tourism, Guam Visitors Bureau, Singapore Tourism and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will also showcase their respective destinations.
“We attribute last year’s success to the close partnership with both local and national governments. We’re proud that this year the Department of Tourism, the provincial and city governments of Cebu are once again giving their full support,” Villarica said.

She also recognized the significance of the partnership with the private sector.

She acknowledged the active participation of some of travel and tourism industry’s biggest brand names and service providers.

Partners

Among these are Cebu Pacific, Cebu Grand Hotel, Enchanted Kingdom, Fox-Chit Business Solutions, Islands Souvenirs, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, SM City Cebu, Star Cruises, Superferry and Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

“The show exhibitors will treat visitors to premium vacation and adventure destinations with special deals and packages, including 50 percent discounts on trips, that can only be availed of only during the expo. Free plane tickets and free hotel/resort accommodations will also be drawn each day for lucky visitors to the show,” she said.

This year’s travel and lifestyle show will also highlight a free US Embassy presentation about US Business Visa Requirements and how to do business in the US.

Engaging

This makes the event more engaging to people, especially entrepreneurs and companies interested in business expansion in the US.

“Truly, this year’s travel expo is filled with innovative strategies in marketing domestic and international travel products.

Business relations between buyers and sellers will be more enhanced.

There’s no doubt we’ll achieve higher sales this year,” said Villarica. (PR)

^^ kewl pics!

great collage tj..

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Legend:

1.) Enclosed in RED - Protected Watersheds
2.) Enclosed in BLUE - Cebu Central National Park (Forest Reserve)

Here's a repost of photos by Sugbuanon.. :rock:


JY Square Mall and IT Center

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The Forum
-Due for expansion; a highrise building is due to rise behind this beautiful building.

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Banilad Town Center

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Emsu Hotel and Crown Regency Hotel

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Cebu Thread XVII
:applause: :applause: :applause:
Subsection for Cebu? i think it's about time :okay:

CEBU: Living in Style

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Council approves SRP landscaping for Asean summit

CEBU City Hall will spend almost P700,000 for landscaping in the South Reclamation Project (SRP), particularly the portion of the old Kawit Island.

The project, according to a resolution approved by the City Council, is among the beautification efforts of the City in its thrust to attract tourists and investors.

The Kawit Park Development Project is one of the many preparations for the Asean summit in December, which will be held for the first time outside Manila.

The summit is expected to gather the heads of state from the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and leaders from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and the US, among others.

The Cebu City Government is on a beautification blitz.

The council approved last Wednesday the detailed estimate of the project, which is pegged at P695,093. The Parks and Playground Commission will handle the beautification program.

According to the estimate, some P30,000 will be used to buy 20 Madagascar palm trees at P1,500 each, P12,000 for yellow cabbage San Francisco plants at P40 each and P25,000 for 500 forget-me-nots at P50 each.

The City will buy six trucks of garden soil at P2,500 per batch or a total of P15,000 for the soil. The rest of the budget will be used for the cement and other materials for the landscape, labor costs and contingencies.

Last Wednesday, the councilors also approved a budget of P2 million for potted flowering plants in preparation for the summit.

The plants will be used in the 5,000-square-meter covered nursery at the SRP, which is expected to produce 500,000 potted flowering plants in time for the event.

These will be used to adorn the SRP, the South Coastal Road and center islands in the city’s main thoroughfares.

According to the resolution drafted by Councilor Hilario Davide III, the potted flowers will in the long term provide employment to and generate income for the less-privileged constituents.

He said production of the potted flower plants will form part of the City Agriculture Department’s economic livelihood projects for the barangays such as its “Urban Agriculture Program.” (GAC)

any updates regarding sa water themepark? Im soooooooooo excited! nice if it will be materialized soon! lami kaayo magdate date didto! ehehehehehhe ei arnoldsa..i cant reply sa sms, kay wala pa koy load! ahuhuhuhuhuhuhuh..

sa thursday ra ko free....tmrw naa gihapon work..huhuhuh

^^

oh sure no prob.. are you coming tomorrow?

tmrw? i cant coz naa koy work...by the way naa ko new update bout sa IT park..eheheheh naay gi fence karon sa kilid sa E-office..im not sure if it will be another building...pero gifence like what they did sa The Village.....kalinya ra sya sa Globe Bldg. i hope it will be another structure...pero wonder lang ko kay gamay ra man gud ang area....

i think we could call out a tree planting donation fund for the SRP : everyone or company could buy 1 extra Madagascar palm trees at P1,500 each to compliment the 20 the governmet is already getting. they should outline the whole waterfront along the srp. each company donating P1,500 would have a brass sign with their respective names on them afront each donated tree. planting costs should be taken care of by the government. that would immedeately help beautify cebu and give it that exotic charisma !

The Cebu City Government is on a beautification blitz.

so Cebu City this coming months will slowly become more beautiful as the ASEAN summit approaches...
btw, so does this mean there will ba an activity that will be held in SRP for the ASEAN summit coz they're also prioritizing the said area...

Investor in Cebu

For the casual observer, the mere sight of more new magnificent buildings rising in our community as well as in other principal cities in the country makes one wonder how this phenomenon ever happened so fast and so soon in our lifetime considering the state of our economy and the huge investment needed in pursuing this development.

Nevertheless, one might even wonder further whether this would be an indication that better times are just around the corner. The answer, of course, is yes if the prognosis of Singapore-based market analysts is to be believed.

To recall, they were the first to welcome the unprecedented growth of the property sector in Asia as the hottest news at the turn of the century, aside from the economic boom of China.

To say that the growing confidence among the players in the property sector in the region will continue to remain in the Philippines should not be viewed as an overstatement, based on confidential information I gathered yesterday:

The Fasten Housing and Development Inc. (pronounced fas-ten) has already started the construction of a 19-storey residential condominium project at the Cebu Business Park, the premier business and recreation center in the Visayas.

I also got it from the horses mouth that Messrs. Suo Kyu Baek and Young Beomlee, president and vice president, respectively, of Fasten Housing and Developing (FHDI) flew in to Cebu from Manila and hosted a launch for a couple of friends at the Business Park.

In my talk with the noted Cebuano architect Jose Mari Cañizares and his fellow executive of the company, Cha-Cha Rama, the better half of former Cebu vice governor Enrique Rama, in their office right at the project site, he confided to me that the “lifestyle of the people in Cebu” had also been a major factor in Fasten’s decision to launch its Tower Palace at the Cebu Business Park.

“When you’re in Manila, you only exist. But in Cebu you live because Cebuanos enjoy a life of leisure,” he explained. Another point he cited was the gratitude of the people of South Korea for the presence of Filipino troops during the Korean War. This he learned from Fasten’s top officials in the course of their meeting.

Cha-Cha Rama cited the presence of an integrated business park in the community, the bright prospects of Cebu becoming the favorite home for future retires from different countries in the years ahead, and the unique development of the Cebu Business Park and its strategic location has somehow become a strong magnet for more foreign investments in this part of the country.

“The Cebuanos’ warm hospitality has somehow found a good place in the hearts of Korean investors,” Cha-Cha noted with great interest. Perhaps, the Korean investors decided to invest at the Cebu Business Park because they also want the people who will invest in their project to enjoy the unique amenities that are offered in such an integrated development. These amenities include hassle-free travel within the park, enjoyable living, shopping and recreation. It is also convenient that the place is close to service institutions, beach resorts and other favorite tourist spots in the region, Rama said.

A French investor at Cebu Business Park, Patrick Tsesemeli, who first learned about the project, had expressed high hopes for the Tower Palace. “As far as Cebu is concerned, the rapidly growing metropolis is now in a better position to host the first luxury residential condominium in the country,” he said.

Fasten officials have commissioned the J. M. Canizares Architect firm to develop the architectural design for the project.

The 19-story Tower Palace will have a total of 200 residential condominium units and 218 parking slots. Condominium unit types are one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and penthouse.

The Fasten Group of Companies, which was established 25 years ago, also maintains an office in Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the Fasten Housing which was establish to launch the Tower Palace, Fasten Construction with offices in Manila and Cebu. The Fasten Group of Companies were also engaged in some projects such as the walling system for Globe and Smart telecommunication firms. Fasten is involved in building materials supply in Manila.

wala pa may rendering photo aning tower palace no?

The Resurgence of Japan as Cebu?s Top Tourist Market

7th, 2006 by ayatollah

Japanese tourists used to be the lords of the tourist arrivals chart for many years until Koreans dislodged them two years ago. Blame it on bad publicities the country get such as the kidnappings of foreigners in the southern part of the Philippines and political squabbles that discouraged many Japanese travellers from visiting the country. The travel ban issued by its government also resulted to the decrease of the Japanese visitors to the Philippines.

Although sidelined for two years as Cebu?s second biggest tourist market, the Japanese arrivals in the previous year saw a sign of decent growth following the lifting of travel ban and the improving economy of Japan. Seeing the Japanese poised to take the top spot back it had lost to Koreans, the Department of Tourism 7 is coming up with strategy that would focus on the Japanese market alone.

One such strategy is the printing and publication of a guide book that would only cater to Japanese tourists. The book, aptly titled ?Philippine Diving: The Ultimate Guide? was printed and published in Japanese with more emphasis on the diving grounds of the country, the Visayas islands that include Apo Island, Siquijor, Bohol, and Cebu.

The book aims to entice the large population of Japanese diving enthusiasts who come for leisure and enjoy the underwater marine ecosystem of the country.

ei rowell!! musta na! naa nay rendering ang Tower Palace... :) murag na post man to sya sa previous threads nato...but if u ll get a chance to visit CBP, didto sa may area na naay union bank, if diretsohon nimo to naay gifence (soon to be 2 floors na showroom nila na) naa didto naka post ang pic sa Tower Palace... :)

i think we could call out a tree planting donation fund for the SRP : everyone or company could buy 1 extra Madagascar palm trees at P1,500 each to compliment the 20 the governmet is already getting. they should outline the whole waterfront along the srp. each company donating P1,500 would have a brass sign with their respective names on them afront each donated tree. planting costs should be taken care of by the government. that would immedeately help beautify cebu and give it that exotic charisma !


RIGHT!

A French investor at Cebu Business Park, Patrick Tsesemeli, who first learned about the project, had expressed high hopes for the Tower Palace. “As far as Cebu is concerned, the rapidly growing metropolis is now in a better position to host the first luxury residential condominium in the country,” he said.

i'm not sure about this being the first luxury residential condo. there's a good number of luxury condos in Makati. :)

this is exciting. the need of high-rise lifestyle in Cebu is surging ;)

^^

SLERZ will post the rendering of Citylights Towers Condo later on.. :)

arnoldsa, musta inyo getaway sa transcentral?

^^

Here's how a Madagascar Tree looks like. Some of these trees can also be found in the avenues of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.


http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/images/rave_ma2.jpg

@cebuwow

ok kaayo bai. we were able to buy yellow corn, some budbud. etc.. will post pics later on... :)

nice pix

i'm not sure about this being the first luxury residential condo. there's a good number of luxury condos in Makati. :)

this is exciting. the need of high-rise lifestyle in Cebu is surging ;)

Right, maybe French investor Patrick Tsesemeli does not know that there are so many luxury residential condos in Metro Manila or just a sales publicity stunt. Maybe in cebu not in the country. so this condo must be better than City Lights Garden. :)

watch this links of Cebuano Short Films.
http://www.istorya.net/forums/index.php?topic=59180.0

here's our TRANSCENTRAL hi-way roadtrip pics...
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=7360013#post7360013

@CwEoBwU, once again, a million thanks to you. you're such a nice friend...:)
sayboomyboo, matslams too bai sa tanan... ;)

ugma nalang ang uban pics...


_ _ _ ____ _ _

downtown/old CEBU

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/DTCCH.jpg

^^ sa bago ni nga building sa city hall gikuha bai slerZ? Very nice

Cebuano Short Films

The Witness
http://www.undergroundfilm.org/film...tcl?wid=1017400

Vanishing
http://www.undergroundfilm.org/film...tcl?wid=1017544

Libak
http://www.undergroundfilm.org/film...tcl?wid=1017865

Ako To'
http://www.undergroundfilm.org/film...tcl?wid=1018183

Some IAFT(Bigfoot) student projects
http://www.study-film.com/studentsproj.html


Katapusang Mga Pasiplat:

http://media.putfile.com/lastglimpses

Gibarang:

http://media.putfile.com/gibarang

Cebu-based firm submits lowest bid, atP84M, for CICC

The bidding for the P100-million substructure of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) was held yesterday, with a Cebu-based contractor submitting the lowest bid.

Only five of the 10 pre-qualified contractors made it as three submitted letters of withdrawal, one failed to show up, while another did not meet technical requirements.

The Capitol is rushing the work on the center that will rise in Mandaue City, in time for the Asean summit this December.

Work on the substructure is targeted to start by end of this month.

WT Construction entered the lowest bid of P84,487,185.

But Capitol consultant Apollo Enriquez clarified that this does not mean yet that the project will be awarded to WT Construction, as the Capitol’s bids and awards committee (BAC) will still conduct a “post-evaluation process” that will include verification of all documents submitted.

The second lowest bid was from Manila-based contractor JD Legaspi Construction, at P89,777,777.77. However, JD Legaspi did not pass in the financial aspect of document submissions, as it lacked one item.

Withdrawal

Third lowest was the second Cebu-based contractor in the list, Young Builders Corp., at P94,400,419.24.

UKC Builders Inc. of Cagayan was fourth with its bid of P98,215,036.68, followed by Tokwing Construction with P99,648,091.46.

The three contractors that submitted letters of withdrawal cited time constraints in the submission of bid documents. The company that did not arrive yesterday did not send any notice or call to explain their absence.

Hilmarc Construction was supposed to be the sixth to bid, but it was disqualified for failing to submit documents for the technical aspect.

Enriquez disclosed that Hilmarc accepted their disqualification because all the rest of the contractors submitted the document that they lacked, and they also signed beforehand their acceptance of the list of requirements.

Verification

The BAC will evaluate the supporting documents of all bidders in the next two days, and then give the final result to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

In the next two days, the BAC will be busy calling the banks to verify the companies’ credit lines, check with their clients on the veracity of their performance, and determine if the contractor will not be too busy with other projects, among other things.

“We hope to get a contractor that can focus on this project,” said Enriquez. (JPM)

wow... thread 17!!! and i thought the Burj Dubai thread is already long...

Another worldwide TV coverage for Cebu
CH to spend P400T for telecast of Charter Day celebration

Cebu City Hall will spend at least P400,000 for the television coverage and live telecast of the 69th Charter Day program next week, which will serve as the dress rehearsal of the programs for the Asean summit.

The amount will be used to pay television networks NBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) and Global Filipino Channel that will air the event live in Australia, United States, Asia and the Middle East.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he wants the world to see that Cebu is capable of hosting a very important meeting of the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“We’re televising the event to show the rest of the world that Cebu is supportive of the President and to show Manila and the hierarchy in government that we can do our job,” he told a news conference yesterday.

Charter Day program organizer Ricky Ballesteros said they have a budget of P3.4 million for the event, which will cover the food, lights and sounds, stage décor and backdrop.

Osmeña said he also hopes the major production number will convince President Arroyo to hold the Asean summit here, amid speculations the venue will be transferred to Manila.

About 1,000 delegates are expected for the gathering leaders of the 10-member Asean and the heads of state of the China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the US, among others.

The production will involve the dance troupes from 17 local universities and the Cebu City Dancesport Team who will perform the national dances of the 17 countries that will participate in the summit in December.

The President has already announced that it will be a holiday in Cebu from Dec. 11 to 14 to ease traffic and security preparations.

“They’re preparing a contingency plan to bring the event to Manila and we’re telling her don’t do that. We are doing a dress rehearsal to show her we’re prepared and para mauwawan siya ba if she changes her mind,” said the mayor.

Osmeña also defended the “Anak sa Sugbo” award the City Government will confer on the President on Wednesday next week from criticisms of some militant groups.

“I should have expected that but I still think she deserves it. Our President has been subjected to a lot of criticisms for having her inauguration here so we’re defending that position,” he said. (LCR)

nice article rusty. cebu is already over exposed on tv.

the likes of mayor tom should be replicated in the country. he has the foresight and the drive...cebu is indeed blazing a trail...leading the way.

Wow!! Its about time to put another great Philippine city in the world map!

Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Not yet open.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/IMG_1315.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/IMG_1316.jpg

^^ when are they intending to open Marco Polo? I guess theyre finishing up on interior works right? :)

^^

Next month bro..

I can't believe this. The Basak Road which is just 2 lanes will be widened to 6-8 lanes with a center island. Infact, the establishments that will be affected with the certain project have been marked by a RED X and they will receive P10,000.

where man dapit sa Basak sinjin? gikan sa Mepz II padung sa Marigondon?

I can't believe this. The Basak Road which is just 2 lanes will be widened to 6-8 lanes with a center island. Infact, the establishments that will be affected with the certain project have been marked by a RED X and they will receive P10,000.

Basak in Lapu-lapu? you mean 10,000 pesos /sq meter?

where man dapit sa Basak sinjin? gikan sa Mepz II padung sa Marigondon?

Across Petron all the way to Marigondon. But the widest part (8l lanes) will be from the one across Petron to Mactan Doctors' Hospital. From there until Marigondon, it will be 6 lanes.

Basak in Lapu-lapu? you mean 10,000 pesos /sq meter?

I do not know if it's the whole package or per square meter, sorry. :( Anyway, the residents that will be affected most are the Muslims from Jolo, Sulu.

really? from 2 lanes to 6-8 lanes? whoa. IMO that's good news.. great news! for sure the Mactan Doctors' Hospital intersection will be heavily affected.

Breaking News!! naay nagpinusilay kuno mga drug addicts ug lapu-lapu city swat duol sa mactan shrine.. daghan kuno civilian patay then gilabay pud kunong granade ang taga-swat naa sad kunoy patay. I heard sirens from our house, it was just an hour ago.

Bad shot sa mga tourista ni!! Duol ra ba sa Shangri-la ug Hilton.!!

:omg: any updates??

mao ra ana akong nadunggan kay ako man papa nagingon nako nya ang nagingon niya kay taga brgy. mactan nga nivacuate ron duol sa amoa. basta daghan kuno patay. niraid man kuno na ang swat nya naay nakabantay gilabay sila ug granada, nya niretaliate tingali maong daghan patay. bad shotta lagi ani, kay daghan ra ba kong makit-an nga mga buses molabay diri padung sa mactan.

Breaking News!! naay nagpinusilay kuno mga drug addicts ug lapu-lapu city swat duol sa mactan shrine.. daghan kuno civilian patay then gilabay pud kunong granade ang taga-swat naa sad kunoy patay. I heard sirens from our house, it was just an hour ago.

Bad shot sa mga tourista ni!! Duol ra ba sa Shangri-la ug Hilton.!!

ssshhh... ana lang. binisay-a ra para kita ray kasabot. kay you know, lain ang epekto basta i-highlight ang dautang balita. wala pa diay nahurot ang mga addicts?

ambot lang unsa nay nahitabo ngadto. bitaw binisayon lang nato para di maspread ang bad news.

^^ haha... saon pud bai sleepwalker. daghan baya kasabot diri. and if tan-awn lang daan keywords understandable na. hehehe

ma headline ra gihapon na ugma sa national tv pustahan pa. i just hope gamay ra patay oi. most tourists karon nga time for sure sa motel or sa hotel na sila. diba they usually anha sa mactan during daytime and early evening...

until these hours naa lang gihapoy mga tourists nga maglabay2 pero kana nang mga vans dili na mga buses. it's too bad nga maheadline gyud ni sa mga newspapers kung dili ugma the next day pa. Pero sa tv ambot lang.. maayo unta ari lang sa Cebu local tv ra.

hey kinsa kita sa national geographic ganiha 10 pm? it was about the PAL flight from cebu [they pronounced it as SEEBOO] to okinawa that was bombed...

i don't know exactly pa ang figures kung pila gyud ang namatay. pero i hope gamay ra.

^^ wala man kaha apil mga turista bai..

hehe. wala tingali.

hey kinsa kita sa national geographic ganiha 10 pm? it was about the PAL flight from cebu [they pronounced it as SEEBOO] to okinawa that was bombed...
wtf? kanusa ang bombing?

wtf? kanusa ang bombing?

dugay na bai. air crash investigation man to.


from wikipedia:

On December 11, 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was flying on its second leg of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Mactan-Cebu International Airport - New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport) route when a bomb on board exploded, killing a passenger. The airliner was able to make an emergency landing. Authorities later found out that Ramzi Yousef planted the bomb on the airliner to test the bomb for his Project Bojinka plot. His project was discovered in Manila after an apartment fire on the night of January 5 and the morning of January 6, 1995.

^^ sa bago ni nga building sa city hall gikuha bai slerZ? Very nice

yup bai, from 8th floor of the Cebu City hall annex building

Cebu City department exhibits inside the city hall for the Charter day celebration...
http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/9318/chd19lf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/6610/chd22av.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5408/chd34fh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/5310/chd56dm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

stairways
http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/554/ch13pb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/1214/ch26vq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/9203/ch6thflr7mz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/5563/elvatr5yn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

city budget office
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1478/bdgetoffice6ap.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

dugay na bai. air crash investigation man to.


from wikipedia:

On December 11, 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was flying on its second leg of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Mactan-Cebu International Airport - New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport) route when a bomb on board exploded, killing a passenger. The airliner was able to make an emergency landing. Authorities later found out that Ramzi Yousef planted the bomb on the airliner to test the bomb for his Project Bojinka plot. His project was discovered in Manila after an apartment fire on the night of January 5 and the morning of January 6, 1995.

whoa, was on 4th grade when that happened. obviously that time i didnt give a buzz. so glad to know that! but the news itself isn't. thanks for the article. very interesting...

^^ they of course featured our airport. it doesnt look bad.

gi salida diay sa cable? wa man gud mi cable :(

^^ yup cable bai. pangayu lang budget sa imo papa. cya baya head sa city budget office. hehehe.

^^head gud tawn... usa ra siya sa head...waaaaaa tig himog budget pero way pang budget...:D

^ unsa man nga plane ang gigamit? mao tong 747-200?

Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Not yet open.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/IMG_1315.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/IMG_1316.jpg


marco polo will have a soft opening this coming feb. 24.. i was invited by my friend to the event.. so hopefully i'll be able to take pics of the newly renovated hotel..

"mayta wala koy project next week"

Crowne Golden Hotel
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7705/crowngrdenhotel6zf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu Northwinds Hotel
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1892/dscn56770kj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Waterfront Casino Filipino
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/189/casinofilipino6gw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu Grand Convention
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9652/grandconvention0yw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Golden Peak Hotel
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8326/dscn56983fj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu Grand Hotel
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7404/dscn57010lt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1342/dscn57021jw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the Sentinel
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5329/dscn54380cq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

asa dapit ang marco polo?

@ nivel hills, lahug

asa dapit ang marco polo?

u can see it anywhere within the city bai kay naa ra mana cya sa hills sa nivel (old Cebu Plaza Hotel)

marco polo will have a soft opening this coming feb. 24.. i was invited by my friend to the event.. so hopefully i'll be able to take pics of the newly renovated hotel..

"mayta wala koy project next week"

hopefully you're not busy on that day marvs. :D i found the article but it says Feb. 22.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu schedules
Feb. 22 soft opening
Published: 15 February 2006

The soon-to-open Marco Polo Plaza Cebu will benefit from Marco Polo's worldwide sales network.

“We will leverage our hotels in Asia and our worldwide sales network to position the hotel as a leading hotel in Cebu,” Marco Polo Hotel group president Jeffrey Flowers said in a statement.

Flowers, who is upbeat on the group's second operation in the Philippines after Marco Polo Davao, sees the hotel “as a great potential in leisure, meetings and incentives markets.”

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, which is owned by the Asia Pacific Top Management International Resources Corp. (APTMIRC) and managed by The Marco Polo Hotel group, is scheduled to partially open before the end of February.

“People are excited about the opening of the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu because it used to be Cebu's premier hotel,” APTMIRC president Alfred Ty said.

Lara Constantino-Scarrow, public relations manager of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, said the hotel will soft-open on February 22, with 100 rooms, the lobby lounge and the Cafe Marco.

The hotel is undergoing renovation, which is expected to be completed by April this year, Constantino-Scarrow said.

The renovation costs is estimated to reach P500 million.

While the hotel's basic interior remains the same, she said, it also offers something different, such as the chandelier at the lobby, which is accented with Swarovski crystals.

The swimming pool is also larger and features a man-made waterfall.

The hotel’s Grand Ballroom and 12 function rooms will cater to the convention market.

Upon completion, the Marco Polo Plaza will provide 329 guest rooms and suites that offer mountain and sea views. The hotel will target business and leisure travelers who prefer city resort accommodations. /Irene R. Sino Cruz

More European buyers expected at Cebu X
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 02/15/2006

The upcoming Cebu International Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition (Cebu X) slated from February 26 to March 1 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, is expecting more buyers from European countries, after the organizers put efforts on heavy promotions in the region for the CebuX 2006.

"We went to Milan, in Italy, Paris and other countries in Europe to promote CebuX 2006 and give these markets a glimpse of Cebu-made furniture," said Michael Basubas, CebuX 2006 chairman for promotions.

The organizer, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) spent about P6.8 million to promote the exhibition especially in fertile markets like Europe and Middle East.

In Paris, CFIF has coordinated with trade attaches in order to promote CebuX 2006 to the potential market.

"We used CebuX as the forerunner of our promotions. This is to establish Cebu brand as the center for high furniture making in the Philippines," CFIF executive director Ruby Salutan said.

Salutan said branding is the key right now. Using Cebu as a brand is an edge, especially that Philippines has negative connotation in political and peace and order.

"What we noticed now in international shows abroad is they bring in their brands, not the name of their countries," Salutan said.

Last year's CebuX generated a four percent increase in sales from the 2004 show at US$27.4 million with the Middle East posting the largest purchase accounting for 32 percent of the total sales.

Same as the previous show, North America and Europe came in the second and third place at 22 percent and 17 percent respectively.

Asia ranked fourth at nine percent, South America and Africa follow with five percent each.

In terms of country performance, the United States, which is the Philippines' largest export market for furniture, still registered the highest booking at 19 percent or US$5.16 million. Saudi Arabia consistently follows the US at US$4.8 million or 18 percent.

In third place is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 10 percent, followed by Spain which is two steps up its previous raking in 2004.

This year's exhibition has larger space (10,200 sq m) compared to last year's 9,200 square meters.

As of recent figure released by CFIF, there are a total of 294 buyers registered already.

Salutan said the show is expecting increased number of buyers from Russia, through Moscow, and Eastern Europe.

She said Moscow is one of the potential emerging markets being looked at by the furniture exporters right now.

"There is good money there [Moscow]. Their purchasing power is very high. People there are demanding for contemporary to modern furniture designs," she added.

http://www.cebuexhibition.com/who_to_reach/images/enpekei_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/who_to_reach/images/traders2_lrg.gif
http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_to_expect/images/couch_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_to_expect/images/2chairs_lrg.gif
www.cebuexhibition.com
http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_is_to_know/images/movement3_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_is_to_know/images/traders_lrg.gif
"Cebu X lives up to its claim as the ‘freshest’ of the Asian fairs."

hopefully you're not busy on that day marvs. :D i found the article but it says Feb. 22.


hehe sayop diay ko resty.. bsta if maka adto ko magkuha jud ko mga pics..

mga bai, if you happen to pass by UN avenue in mandaue near the foot of the new bridge, there's a billboard of marco polo plaza that says "We'll get you back on top".

^^ back on top of nivel hills... hehehe

I'm impressed at the Cebuano Bands that are sprouting in the Music Industry ....
galing talaga, Cebuanos are vocally gifted gd ya.

Faspitch was part of a concert during the Dinagyang kase, it was my first time to hear them live. I was impressed sa vocals, and I'm pretty sure a lot of the other ilonggos had the same opinion too.

http://static.flickr.com/35/100051081_66948dd64d.jpg?v=0

Oi, can anyone contribute something on an article about Cebu at Wikitravel, I opened the page and was shocked to see it empty, other places like Bacolod already have quite alot of information written about them and it pains me to see that the page for Cebu, which happens to be the tourism capital of the Philippines, is mostly blank space. I wish i couldve done it myself pero di kayo ko may ug English and di kayo ko may mo computer...hehehe :) Please bisan gamay lang..........heres the link Wikitravel (Cebu Island) (http://wikitravel.org/en/Cebu_%28island%29)

Goodmorning, agi lang ko...
hi and Kumusta sad kuno ingon Rusty :)

postive vibes chymera00

http://www.cebuexhibition.com/who_to_reach/images/enpekei_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/who_to_reach/images/traders2_lrg.gif
http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_to_expect/images/couch_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_to_expect/images/2chairs_lrg.gif
www.cebuexhibition.com
http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_is_to_know/images/movement3_lrg.gif http://www.cebuexhibition.com/what_is_to_know/images/traders_lrg.gif
"Cebu X lives up to its claim as the ‘freshest’ of the Asian fairs."

Cool furniture! Looks like rattan... :)

^^ they are rattan :)

^^

I-invite sad mi Marvin sa opening sa hotel.. :)

^^ Feb 22 sad ang charter day bai. dili mo manan-aw?

Oi, can anyone contribute something on an article about Cebu at Wikitravel, I opened the page and was shocked to see it empty, other places like Bacolod already have quite alot of information written about them and it pains me to see that the page for Cebu, which happens to be the tourism capital of the Philippines, is mostly blank space. I wish i couldve done it myself pero di kayo ko may ug English and di kayo ko may mo computer...hehehe :) Please bisan gamay lang..........heres the link Wikitravel (Cebu Island) (http://wikitravel.org/en/Cebu_%28island%29)

Markiiboi, slerz, kamo na bahala ani... I already did my part sa MCIAA before.. Hehehehe

^^ Feb 22 sad ang charter day bai. dili mo manan-aw?

tan aw ka Mark? adto man sa Sports complex... lahi daw ang presentation sa charter day rn kay bonga, naay mga stage presentations...

btw, gi interview si MAyor Tommy ganiha sa radio... although ingon siya nga go welcome niya ang results pero guol jud iyang tingog kay murag ang Cebu daw based on the rankings and criterias wa jud daw ni excell which is the other way around...

nangumusta nasad diay si Resty ninyo rn...

tan aw ka Mark? adto man sa Sports complex... lahi daw ang presentation sa charter day rn kay bonga, naay mga stage presentations...

tan-awn lang bai if unsa ako sched next week...

hell yah it better be good! it almost has the same budget as the SEAGames opening.


btw, gi interview si MAyor Tommy ganiha sa radio... although ingon siya nga go welcome niya ang results pero guol jud iyang tingog kay murag ang Cebu daw based on the rankings and criterias wa jud daw ni excell which is the other way around...

Osmena: "The numbers speak of themselves. Why are there so many people coming to Cebu? Why are the hotels good?"

PCCRP 2005 Cebu City Ranking:

linkages and accessibility - 1st
human resources training - 4th
cost of doing business - 4th
quality of life - 8th
responsiveness to business needs - 9th
dynamism of the local economy - 10th
infrastructure - 12th

Osmena: "On dynamism of economy we ranked number 10? This is embarrassing. We have so many investors coming to Cebu and we’re not dynamic?"

the cebu article in the wikitravel is really a shameful one compare to thailand's pattaya and phuket.

A.I.M not credible...


Is something to do with Cebu oppositon status in the philippines?

there is no reason to feel low! like i have said before, i do not believe in AIM's survey.

pictures na lang!!! heheheheh. para ma-uplift ang gibati.

LET US HELP!!!

THE TALK OF THE TOWN, IT'S LIKE A BOMB THAT ROCkED CITY HALL
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6505/17020610177ev.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Friday, February 17, 2006
Mayor to Asian Institute of Management: Explain ratings
By Linette C. Ramos and Aurelia L. Castro

CEBU CITY -- Cebu’s business leaders remain confident in the city’s economic competitiveness, despite results of a study that excluded the city from the list of the most viable business sites in the country.

“However, we should take it as a wake-up call. If we have been overtaken by other cities like Davao, we should take it as a challenge and find out why,” said Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Robert Go in an interview Thursday.

Davao, Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina and Muntinlupa are among the 20 most viable cities today, according to the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.

The study used as criteria the cost of doing business, links to major urban and growth centers, dynamism of the local economy, human resource and training, adequacy and quality of infrastructure, responsiveness of local governance, and quality of life.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has requested the study’s proponents to explain their findings, which are “embarrassing to the city.”

While he thinks AIM is credible, Osmeña said he cannot help but wonder why Cebu did not make it to the top five most viable business sites, among 13 metro cities in the country.

No alibis

Cebu City ranked first in terms of linkages and accessibility, but it ranked 12th in infrastructure among the cities covered in the study.

“The one that bothers my mind is, we’re number 12 in infrastructure. We’re kulelat, considering that compared to other cities, we run our own traffic system and we’re the only one who does that... I really want to argue again but I won’t seek alibis,” said Osmeña, an outstanding alumnus of AIM in 2003.

In a separate interview, Carlos Co, former vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas, said Cebu is still among the best cities to live in and do business in the country.

“The survey might create a negative effect among investors because they might think the city is indeed not a good choice in doing business. We must improve our image,” he said.

Go, for his part, doesn’t expect the survey to have a major negative effect on Cebu’s economy and investment climate. But he stressed that the local government and private sector should look at the survey and find out why Cebu failed to land among the top choices.

“By doing that, we will know how and what to improve,” Go said.

Categories

While Cebu City could have high points in some criteria, such as quality of life, dynamism of the local economy and cost of doing business, he pointed out that the city’s infrastructure is a low point.

“Infrastructure for sure is one of our weak points. We should lobby for the National Government to fund projects in Cebu,” he said.

Cebu’s productivity would increase by 60 percent if it had Metro Manila’s infrastructure, economist Ernesto Pernia had said during a lecture on investment climate and regional development in December last year.

Leah Umali, program manager of the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2005, said Cebu City, a metro city, did not make it to the top 20 since the 20 chosen cities were further classified into three.

The 20 cities identified as most viable business sites in the country included five metro cities, five mid-sized cities and 10 small cities.

“The study covered three classifications of cities. Cebu City is a metro city and cannot be compared to mid-sized or small cities. So when we interpret the results, we do it by categories, but we do not identify them according to rank or score,” Umali told Sun.Star.

In his news conference Thursday, Osmeña said he will give AIM’s representatives a chance to explain how they came up with their conclusions.

‘Embarrassing’
“On dynamism of economy we ranked number 10? This is embarrassing. We have so many investors coming to Cebu and we’re not dynamic? AIM is supposed to be credible but I look at this and I start to scratch my head,” Osmeña said.

In the meantime, he added, he will focus on the areas where Cebu City ranked poorly, according to the study.

“I have to be responsible for whatever defects are there, precisely why I want to find out why we ranked low. My interest is to find out which areas we neglected so we can attack that right away. Ranking is only secondary,” the mayor said.

A total of 65 cities were ranked according to seven indicators: cost of doing business, dynamism of the local economy, linkages and accessibility, human resources and training, infrastructure, responsiveness to business needs and quality of life.

Cebu City ranked fourth in the cost of doing business among the 13 metro cities, 10th in dynamism of the local economy, fourth in human resources training, ninth in responsiveness to business needs and eighth in the quality of life.

In a phone interview, Umali said she suspects Cebu City was not included in the top five metro cities because of the perceptions of the respondents, who are Cebu City residents from different sectors.

Perception

Two-thirds of the weight of each indicator used in the study is based on the perception of the respondents, she added.

The University of San Carlos Research Center conducted the research with 130 respondents, using the purposive sampling method.

“I have a strong sense that if Cebu City ranked low in some drivers, it’s on the perception side. With regards to infrastructure, it’s not limited to physical infrastructure but the quality of projects as well,” Umali said.

So, even if a good traffic management system is in place but a respondent feels traffic is poorly managed, this would affect a city’s ranking, she added.

Umali advised the local government units (LGUs) concerned to invest in informing their constituents of their projects and programs so they would know what services are available to them.

The LGUs in Visayas will be informed about the findings of the study during the presentation of the results, conclusions and their assessment of each city on March 24 in Cebu City.

“This will give the cities an idea how they can help each other and how to collaborate with one another to be more competitive,” Umali said.

Osmena: "The numbers speak of themselves. Why are there so many people coming to Cebu? Why are the hotels good?"


and why are those people living in other cities flock Cebu just to find jobs?
Is that answers Cebu is kulelat interms of DYNAMISM OF LOCAL ECONOMY? to think that Cebu have given more opportunities to those peopl coming from other provinces. Osmeña was interviewed sa radio station kanina and he said "Cebu is back on it's Ceboom status coz recently Cebu's economy is growing faster accounting a double digit increase and so with its tourism which is also a big factor that Cebu was included in the top 10 in the world tourism surveys and also Cebu was considered as the best investment site than any other cities in the Philippines and we can see it now that a lot of business establishments are sprouting within the city, hotels, office buildings and other business related investments that will give more job opportunities"...

There is also a report that vigelantes is a big factor why Cebu ranked low in the quality of life coz of those unsolved vigilante killings... well it's a big question mark coz Cebu is only second interms of unsolved vigelate killings...

the way I see it still is not convincing (the survey) for me.....
I read somewhere that 2/3 of that survey is based on "perception"
Last year Cebu was like 4th or 5th, many people laughed at it, but still we maintain the momentum, for me Cebu is still the most dynamic city in PI....
and this year, 2006 Cebu will see a lot of good things coming, and if by next year we are still not in the list, then Thats the time that I won't believe in that AIM sponsored survey anymore... and I will laugh back at them..

Davao, Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina and Muntinlupa are among the 20 most viable cities today, according to the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.

The 20 cities identified as most viable business sites in the country included five metro cities, five mid-sized cities and 10 small cities.

The title should read "out of top 5" not out of top 20 . Cebu city is a metro city and there are only 12 cities competing in this category.

"Leah Umali, program manager of the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2005, said Cebu City, a metro city, did not make it to the top 20 since the 20 chosen cities were further classified into three."

howdy! just visited the VisMin Travel and Lifestyle Expo sa SM Cebu! Anyone from here been there already? You should check it out! It's worth visiting!

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/7483/newsbanner5qr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu to benefit from plan to build 3 int'l airports in Visayas
Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/regnews.asp?r=R07)

Cebu City (17 February) -- Expect a booming tourism industry when the plan to build three more international airports in the Visayas will be materialized with Cebu, the tourist hub of Central Philippines benefiting from such tourism growth.

Rep. Joey Salceda bared the National Government's plan to infuse billions of pesos for the creation of three international airports in Bohol, Iloilo and Bacolod starting next year. Within the Visayas region, only Cebu has an international airport.

The National Government recognizes the huge promising growth of the tourism industry in the Visayas while Cebu has been acknowledged as the most favored tourist destination in the country today. In 2004, out of the 2.5 M foreign tourists who visited the country, 1.7M of these visitors came to Cebu, according to Salceda.

Pouring funds for infrastructure projects is meant to create a positive investment climate for a robust trade that would redound to more employment opportunities for the people; thus, addressing the problem of poverty, the legislator added.

Salceda said the lead variable in the services sector is the tourism industry justifying the National Government's plan to build three international airports in the Visayas. (PIA-7)

___________________________________


Cebu favorite tourist destination of Russians
Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/regnews.asp?r=R07)

Cebu City (17 February) -- Cebu has become one of the favorite destinations of Russian tourists, mostly from Siberia, especially during the month of January, read a press release from the DOT website.

The DOT reported that in 2005, the country experienced an increase of 180% in arrivals from the Russian Federation and Commonwealth of Independent States after the department launched the first Philippine guidebook in Russian, hoping to capture a large share of Russia's outbound travelers.

With a population of 278 million, the Russian Federation and Commonwealth of Independent States are among the most promising markets in Europe and because of its 70 years travel restriction, tourism is its area's fastest growing sector, the release said. Based on a recent World Tourism Organization survey, the significant increase in the numbers of Russians traveling abroad is expected to place Russia in the 10th rank, with respect to tourism producing countries in 2020. The DOT release added, that is why the department is launching new marketing plans and beefing up its promotional campaigns to make its operations even more sweeping and effective in 2006.


___________________________________

howdy! just visited the VisMin Travel and Lifestyle Expo sa SM Cebu! Anyone from here been there already? You should check it out! It's worth visiting!


Travel exhibit attracts major industry players
Cebu Daily News (http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_cdn/2006/feb/ent/feb17_01.htm)

THE Cebu-based travel exhibit is attracting major players in the country's tourism industry.

The 2nd International Visayas-Mindanao Travel, Tours, Leisure and Lifestyle Expo brings together over 300 exhibitors, including participants from Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, according to organizers Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA), Cebu Association of Travel Operators (CATO) and Global -Link Marketing and Management Services Inc.

"Cebu continues to be at the center of a dynamic resurgence in tourism activities and arrivals, supporting even more its position as the tourism capital of the country," event chairperson and CTTA vice president Marget Fernan-Villarica said.

Villarica said the exhibit is organized primarily as a venue where industry stakeholders can work together to promote Cebu as one of Asia's travel hub.

The presence of a variety of destinations and industry stakeholders makes the show the most comprehensive travel show in the country, she said.

During the show, some exhibitors will be holding presentations to promote their respective products, including magic shows by Enchanted Kingdom as well as Tourism Authority of Thailand, Philippine Airlines, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board and Guam Visitor's Bureau, among others. Consul Harold Boncquist of the US Embassy in Manila will be giving tips on how to do business in the United States and US business visa requirements.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has identified Cebu as hub for the region, since it many tourists could go to nearby destinations via Cebu.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the inauguration of Cebu Hilton Resort, said Cebu accounts for about 30 percent of the country's total tourist arrivals.

___________________________________


Cebu Pacific gets marketing award for reduced fares
Sun.Star Cebu (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/02/17/bus/cebu.pacific.gets.marketing.award.for.reduced.fares.html)

Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) bagged the best in marketing effort domestic award at the 13th Travel Expo held at SM Megamall in Manila last week.

Cebu Pacific grossed a record high of close to P2 million in sales in the three-day travel mart organized by Philippine Travel Agencies Association.

The airline, well known for its year-round low fares, attributed its success to the sales, ticketing and marketing staff team work during the travel show.

galeng... lalo na yung pyuture

pictures nalang oi. AIM is getting politicized.

Here's a photo of the upcoming Lexmark bldg in Cebu Business Park. the black 22-storey bldg behind Innove Plaza (19 storeys).

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/ayala%20cebu/lexmarkbldg2.jpg

^^ that cluster will become even more defined. :okay:

let us get over with that AIM survey and be optimistic about cebu. it shouldn't bother us because we know where our beloved cebu is heading. those of you who are in cebu can see what is happening, that there is growth, that there is something going on.

^^ exactly.



btw, whoever made this thread into a sticky, SALAMAT... :)

AIM is getting politicized.

"it is more theory than practice!" kung technical pa. heheheheh.

the way I see it still is not convincing (the survey) for me.....
I read somewhere that 2/3 of that survey is based on "perception"
Last year Cebu was like 4th or 5th, many people laughed at it, but still we maintain the momentum, for me Cebu is still the most dynamic city in PI....
and this year, 2006 Cebu will see a lot of good things coming, and if by next year we are still not in the list, then Thats the time that I won't believe in that AIM sponsored survey anymore... and I will laugh back at them..

so true ashton, it's based on perception. funny AIM people have a lot of not so good things to say about Cebu City just to justify the recent survey results.

?On dynamism of economy we ranked number 10? This is embarrassing. We have so many investors coming to Cebu and we?re not dynamic? AIM is supposed to be credible but I look at this and I start to scratch my head,? Osmeña said.

^^ you see, nobody would complain if the evidence is crystal clear. not to brag or anything, Cebu just has so many stuff that those "top" cities can't even come close. oh boy. hehe... well, there's always room for improvement. and all cities always have weak points. i hope AIM will indeed foster healthy competition among cities. :D

bai rusty, lingaw ko didto sa pex katong kang mac_bolano ug efren. ako to si kuan...

bai rusty, lingaw ko didto sa pex katong kang mac_bolano ug efren. ako to si kuan...

hehe uwaw na kaayo to si mac-bobo. hehe loser kaayo tong taga bukid murag kinsa. di na ko balik didto oy. i was like swearing to death on that old man. im so bad.. whatever happened to my respect to others :(

hehe uwaw na kaayo to si mac-bobo. hehe loser kaayo tong taga bukid murag kinsa. di na ko balik didto oy. i was like swearing to death on that old man. im so bad.. whatever happened to my respect to others :(

ako sad di na ko balik didto. ako bitaw to niiingon nga gawas na ko diri kay matakdan ko diri. heheheheheh. gihilasan ko mobasa adtong mga gipangpost sa mga amaw.

let us get over with that AIM survey and be optimistic about cebu. it shouldn't bother us because we know where our beloved cebu is heading. those of you who are in cebu can see what is happening, that there is growth, that there is something going on.


Yup i agree!! kanang AIM survey...d man na makabuhi sa atoa...whether nasa top ta or not..ang important confident ang investors and tourists here in Cebu!

^^ mao gyud .. mawa imu dignidad didto, maypa lagi tanan cebuanos di nalang mo post didto kay wa gyud kahumanan kung magstorya kag tawo na bugo. aw sorry.

hi ashton! chrizzy said hello diay! know what mohawa na si meljen..u know her aight? anyway wala diay koy fwendster! huhuhuhuh

^^^ hey jech!!!!!!!!!!!! hala kalaki ka lang naka basa ka sa gi post si GreyX? na dili ta pwede magchat diri... hehehe..... its okey if u dont have fwenster..

regards sad ko ni chrizzy... and the rest of the Expedia emial team. gud luck to meljen. :)

SORRY FOR THE OT...

let us get over with that AIM survey and be optimistic about cebu. it shouldn't bother us because we know where our beloved cebu is heading. those of you who are in cebu can see what is happening, that there is growth, that there is something going on.

yup, we shouldn't be bothered by it but sa City hall specially sa Mayors office, it's still a big issue. Kung maka adto ka didto, daghan kaayog mga pangutana... coz the Mayor said nga basig maapektohan ang image sa Cebu kay ang uban nga investors day mo rely sad sa mga surveys and if 1 investor saying no to Cebu just bec of that survey will be a loss for Cebu... Mao na ang concern daw ni Osmeña mao na iya jud susihon ngano, ngano og ngano...!


:applause: to Mayor Osmeña coz he was mentioned by Mayor Lim of St. Bernard that Mayor Osmeña of Cebu City was the 1st to send rescue to the site...:okay:


btw, ang gigamit diay sa cnn nga video kay sa abs cbn cebu, hehe... wala lang..:D

First time online since two days ago...

^^ I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESULTS OF THE AIM SURVEY. That's it. :)

:applause: to Mayor Osmeña coz he was mentioned by Mayor Lim of St. Bernard that Mayor Osmeña of Cebu City was the 1st to send rescue to the site... :okay:

Nice one for uncle tom. :okay:


btw, ang gigamit diay sa cnn nga video kay sa abs cbn cebu, hehe... wala lang..:D

the same footage was also used in all other channels like bbc and channel news asia..

pareha ra na sa salida sine bai, naay dagha'g kuha nga awards pero kulelat sa takilya. naa sa'y wala kaayo'y award pero patok kaayo sa takilya. hehehe...
ang investment nahitabo ron sa cebu mao nay importante. ikaduha ra nang awards or recognition.
and I think other interested investors will see the many other foreign investors investing in cebu and not the surveys or something. after all, after a week or a month, nobody will ever remember that this survey existed IMO.
I think what is important is what you see and not what you hear right.

^^but in fairness to Mayor Osmeña, he has a point coz he's the one knows what is happening in Cebu and he just wants to clear things up that's why they invited AIM to explain their results... siya man gihapon ang mapapasama kung di ni niya i clear tanan so I think ok ra man iya gibuhat ngagi take ni niya seriously but it doesn't mean he's after for the recognition kay questionable man sad...

the mayor should fastrack the development of SRP and other access infrastructure to it. no doubt if this area is developed the perception of cebu will improve.

Kayo naman nakakaalam kung ano ang nangyayari sa Cebu at hindi mga taga-AIM diba? It's obvious how biased they really are. Who knows, maybe some high Metro Manila mayors were part of influencing their judgements, knowingly that AIM is located in MAKATI (which looks like a piece of toblerone). Masisira ang pangalan ng AIM (Ancient Institute of Management) pag ganyan sila. I was also surprised of the report too since I'm expecting Cebu to be in it.

Saturday, February 18, 2006
Cebu-based firm wins contract for 1st phase of convention center
By Jeanette P. Malinao
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

Cebu-based WT Construction will handle the first phase of the Cebu International Convention Center, which will cover the substructure.

WT Construction submitted the lowest offer in a bidding last Monday, and passed the two-day post-evaluation process to confirm the veracity of the documents it submitted to the bids and awards committee (BAC) of the Capitol.

The contractor pegged the amount for the project at P84.5 million, or about P15 million lower than the P100-million estimate of the Capitol for the undertaking.

The BAC met yesterday and passed a resolution to award the project to WT Construction.

Work on the project will not officially start until a contract is signed between the Province and the construction company.

Target

A notice to proceed with the project will then be issued.

Right now, the contractor will do a survey of the project site, which is in the reclamation area in Mandaue City.

The Cebu Provincial Government is targeting for the convention center to be completed in time for the Asean summit this December.

When asked what else is the role of Cebu Province in the Asean summit, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she will just accede to whatever Malacañang believes is best for the activity.

“This is a national event. Cebu is not the host but the Philippines. We are just the venue, so we will coordinate,” she said.

Bidding

Only five of the 10 pre-qualified contractors made it to the bidding for the convention center last Monday, as three submitted letters of withdrawal, one failed to show up, while another did not meet technical requirements.

The second lowest bid was from Manila-based contractor, JD Legaspi Construction, at P89,777,777.77. However, JD Legaspi did not pass in the financial aspect of document submissions, as it lacked one item.

Talks of building the convention center were made in the previous term yet, but the project’s realization was pushed only when President Arroyo saw the need for the structure when the Philippines hosts this December’s Asean summit.

Aside from the convention center, airport authorities are also rushing works for the needed facilities to accommodate aircraft of visiting heads of states from 17 countries.

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/7483/newsbanner5qr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Officials: Mactan airport safer than NAIA, ready for ASEAN meet
ABS-CBN News (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=30281)

CEBU CITY - The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is more secure and less prone to terrorist attacks than its counterpart in Manila, according to two top officials here.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City and MCIA General Manager Adelberto Yap said that extra measures were put in place to step up security, especially with the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations coming up in December.

Yap said the airport MCIA is better secured than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where squatters live within the perimeter fence.

"The physical layout of the airport here is different from that in Manila. Here, the airport is properly fenced and its approaches secured by the sea and no squatters encroach on the area," Yap said.

Both officials were reacting to the statement of retired general Benjamin Defensor, chairman of the antiterrorism task force of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, that airports in the country are vulnerable to shoulder-fired missiles because they are located near public roads and crowded residential areas.

Airport security in Cebu has been raised in preparation for the ASEAN summit and jumbo jets from 17 nations are expected to land at the MCIA for high-level meetings of state leaders.

Yap said antiterrorism measures are in place at the airport. Besides the 264 aviation-trained security guards, additional military and police personnel will be fielded.

Additional concrete fences and guardhouses will also be put up within the vicinity of the airport.

The airport is also buying two more baggage x-ray machines.


_________________________________



'Cebu ranked low because Cebuanos expected better'
Cebu Daily News (http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_cdn/2006/feb/new/feb18_05.htm)

MAYOR Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he realized that Cebuanos hold high-standards for their city.

This explains why Cebuano respondents in the 2005 Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project (PCCRP) rated Cebu City among the less competitive highly urbanized cities in the country, the mayor said.

"People here may have higher expectations, higher standards. It would probably be better," Osmeña said.

However, Osmeña said that what he did not agree on and considered a "big insult" was the fact that Cebu failed to land even on the category of having dynamism in local economy despite its having an investment promotion office.

Cebu placed 6th among 13 metro cities in the country in the 2005 ranking.

Cebu scored low on infrastructure, dynamism of local economy, responsiveness to business needs, and quality of life.


_________________________________



Cebu in jitters as ASEAN summit venue


Has being the proposed venue of the Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) summit meeting in December made Cebu a quaking paranoia?

Well, it could be both yes and no. But recent developments point to the situation where some Cebuano leaders feel that special interest groups or personages are trying to rock the city’s boat in order to necessitate the transfer of the projected ASEAN summit to another venue. And on top of it, the preparatory work for the meeting have still to be started just a little more than 300 days to the target date in December this year. MORE (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=30242)

from Cebu in jitters as ASEAN summit venue (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=30242)

Well, it could be both yes and no. But recent developments point to the situation where some Cebuano leaders feel that special interest groups or personages are trying to rock the city’s boat in order to necessitate the transfer of the projected ASEAN summit to another venue. And on top of it, the preparatory work for the meeting have still to be started just a little more than 300 days to the target date in December this year.

Third, the apparent psychological warfare certain special interest groups are believed to be waging against the island in order to make it seem unfit as the ASEAN summit’s venue, is said to be strongly at work. There is the recently released survey results of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) that did not include Cebu City in its list of 20 Philippine top cities as most viable sites for investment. The survey was made among RP 65 cities.

"Cebu has always been known to deliver on its commitment," said a retired regional official. "Cebuanos seldom fail on their words."


what a beautiful thing to read early morning when you wake up.... :)

Cebu City ranked 6th among metro cities is not that bad naman. let's look forward to the upcoming ASEAN Summit... :D

hmmmm this sounds fishy ah, parang sindayang mababa ang rank ng cebu in their desire to transfer the ASEAN meet, is this part of a bigger plot? smear campaign? lets see...

hmmmm this sounds fishy ah, parang sindayang mababa ang rank ng cebu in their desire to transfer the ASEAN meet, is this part of a bigger plot? smear campaign? lets see...

Cebu’s competitiveness
By Godofredo M. Roperos
Politics Also

How does one feel if suddenly he finds out he has been left out in a list of names of persons entitled to certain recognition and honor for exemplary performance and accomplishments? Definitely, one’s confidence in himself and sense of self-importance would be shaken, belittled and perhaps, debased.

Certainly, this must be what Mayor Tom Osmeña and those who hold deep concern for the city are feeling in the face of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) survey.

The survey results showed that despite Cebu City’s obvious development in the past years, in the survey respondents’ eyes certain factors may not have jived with their perception of progress or development. Thus Cebu is not in the Top 5 of the list of most viable investment sites in the country.

But to Cebuanos like me, for instance, questions arise when you realize Cebu is our second largest city. How did the survey respondents understand the questions asked of them that they responded in a way that said Cebu City is no longer a site worth investing in?

Certainly, I would like to know how the AIM survey results were arrived at.

Of course, I am just as curious as Mayor Tom, who appears to be the most directly affected by the results of the survey. It is really disturbing to our sense of balance to realize that Cebu City is not as significant an investment site as we imagine it to be.

According to the AIM, seven factors were used in determining the rank of the 65 cities included in the survey. Based on the results, the top 20 cities were chosen.

The seven factors include dynamism of the economy, cost of doing business in the city, responsiveness of the LGU to business needs, the adequacy of infrastructure, links to major urban and growth centers, the availability of human resource and training, and the quality of life.

Indeed, it is easily understandable why Mayor Tom appeared rather incensed at the AIM survey results, although he was initially very civil and polite when first confronted with it. He later showed a measure of annoyance and disbelief over it, saying, in essence, along with a number of the city’s business leaders, that such could not be a reflection of the true condition of Cebu.

I tend to concur with their impression. For regardless of what the respondents may have felt then, the contrary seems more credible.

Cebu is still one of the most livable places in the country today. What the AIM “surveyors” should have used as respondents are non-Cebuanos who have visited Cebu a number of times over, say, a period of five years, and make them answer the survey questions.

I am sure that most of them would say that they would prefer to live in Cebu than in any other urban centers of the country. Cebu has the conveniences and facilities similar to Metro Manila, but not its problems and inconveniences.

In sum, it would seem that there is really a sense of unfairness in the way the survey may have been conducted, or the way the results were arrived at.

It could be true that the survey is reflective of a certain bias against Cebu that some sectors have been nourishing all along, and we definitely could not do anything about it.

from Cebu in jitters as ASEAN summit venue (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=30242)

Well, it could be both yes and no. But recent developments point to the situation where some Cebuano leaders feel that special interest groups or personages are trying to rock the city’s boat in order to necessitate the transfer of the projected ASEAN summit to another venue. And on top of it, the preparatory work for the meeting have still to be started just a little more than 300 days to the target date in December this year.

Third, the apparent psychological warfare certain special interest groups are believed to be waging against the island in order to make it seem unfit as the ASEAN summit’s venue, is said to be strongly at work. There is the recently released survey results of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) that did not include Cebu City in its list of 20 Philippine top cities as most viable sites for investment. The survey was made among RP 65 cities.

See... I told ya. ;)

^^bahala sila oi, maypa bombahan nalang nila ang Cebu kung maoy kalipay nila...
mga pak ang dagko!!!

Cebu City

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2983/cc13yn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5026/cc60jl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4734/cc73ew.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1912/cc88ov.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3507/cc96ui.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Downtown Colon area
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/1408/cc54ha.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5663/cxc41ul.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/6317/cc38vr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8407/cc24es.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

we'll just hope that cebu can get a positive outcome despite a negative result of a survey so we can prove to them that they cannot put a good city down.

^^the survey is already affecting the image of Cebu... and it's sad... daghan naman kno nagutana nganong ubos ang grado sa Cebu sa AIM. Nag duda na tingali sila nga Cebu is really not fit for business because of the survey result. And that's mayor Toms big concern mao nangusog jud siya about ani nga issue, nag duha duha na nuon ang mga investors tungod sa result. grrrr


Mga sugbuanon, let's make our thread alive again... kay mura naman nahilom tang tanan.hehe
I know that we are all sad of those people who wants to bring Cebu down, specially in PEX, we don't know that those guys bashing Cebu there kay sinugo nato sa mga gustong pabagsakin ang Cebu, gipa himangnuan nasad gani ang mga departments sa city hall ni mayor Osmeña to be vigilant enough para dili masudlan og mga destructive nga mga documents para gamiton nga issue para mauwawan ang cebu. Mao bitaw mura sad kog naguol kay the fact nga giingnan sila to be vigilant, so naa jud diay strong intention para siraan ang cebu.
but Let's show to them that they can't bring us down.
Last na ni about ani nga issue kay murag maka way gana.
Lain nasad, pics pics nasad...hehe

The AIM survey is disguised as an ugly political smear campaign so they can have their poopoo and eat it too. Do you know their e-mail? I have a plan. Slerz, you still have that photo of cow poopoo together with photos of Cebu? Attach those photos in your email as a sign of protest.

^^ IMHO, maybe bai its because of the wrong headlines and the way the list was made. being excluded from the top 20 list is too much to bear with cebu's caliber. now thats really wrong because actually, we ranked 6th out of the 13 metro cities included, on top still of the mid-size and small cities. Bacolod, Batangas, Iligan, Iloilo, San Fernando (Pampanga), Dagupan, Koronadal, Legaspi, Naga, Olongapo, San Fernando (La Union), Sta. Rosa, Surigao, Tagbilaran, and Tagum considered better than Cebu? now that's absurd. not even close. however, damage has been done. all we have to do is prove them wrong.

all we have to do is prove them wrong.

and Mayor Tom is aggressively working on it ;)
coz it is starting to affect Cebu's image. poor guy!

^^ i can imagine bai the atmosphere at city hall, cguro everybody is wearing a frown. apil na cguro imo papa. hehe

So do you think protest emails are good ideas?

^^siya bitaw tig balita nako about ani nga issue... mao nga mrag srious kaayo ko ani...hehe

So do you think protest emails are good ideas?

Let's just leave this issue to our heads of state :D

So do you think protest emails are good ideas?


i already did mail AIM about my opinion. f u want also, here's their address: policycenter@aim.edu

^^ What did you put in there? Did you include photos?

^^ of course. a picture paints a thousand words. i attached some pics of the city's skyline. no kidding...

Okay, cool, let's rush them like zergs. :lol:

The AIM survey is disguised as an ugly political smear campaign so they can have their poopoo and eat it too. Do you know their e-mail? I have a plan. Slerz, you still have that photo of cow poopoo together with photos of Cebu? Attach those photos in your email as a sign of protest.

Sounds like a good idea, Askal. :)
I wanted to know who's responsible for this AIM survey, who funds it, where is it based? This could reveal more clues as to why Cebu did not rank higher in the results. It might be something to do with the methodology of their survey, or it could be politically motivated, as some have pointed out.

^^

AIM was not actually biased, it's just that the survey was not accurate. It was credible though but very subjective.

Why? Because the respondents who gave Cebu the score were residents of Cebu City itself. What if these respondents have high standards and expectations? That would would mean a low score even if our city has a good number of IT Zones, IT Parks, Special Economic Zones, Flyovers, Skywalks, Wide Roads, etc..etc..

Some of these respondents have not even been to other cities in the country included in the survey. So their opinion would just be based on their experiences in Cebu City alone and not on all of the cities as a whole (for comparison).

Had the survey taken into account some objective facts and physical aspects, then the results would certainly differ.

^^I'm also thinking of that... you're right with that bai...
so IMO, it's the methodogy of their survey is not that credible or accurate.

^^ Well, if its based solely on perception, it doesn't paint a very good picture of Cebu then. Knowing that it may somehow affect investor's confidence, why conduct surveys that doesn't measure up the city based on an objective assessment such as average incomes, average volume of traffic per kilometer, number of roadways, number of registered business establishments (both foreign and local), SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunites and Threats), etc... :(

^^

Even Manila City didn't make it to the top five considering it's awesome physical aspect.

Maybe they should change the title from "competitiveness" to "livable."

When we speak of competitiveness kasi what comes into the mind of the people is the physical aspect of the city itself, like how tall the buildings are, or how good the physical infrastructure is. Let's admit it, having tall buildings still remain a status symbol of progress here in Asia. I got this from Newsweek Magazine. Whereas in the west, people would equate progress with the number of museums, libraries, art centers, good restaurants, etc according to Newsweek again).

That's why many people were astonished why Cebu was shut out of the top five since it is the second most important city outside the capital. Though it may not have a Makati skyline, but at least is has all the necessary physical infrastructures worthy of a large urban center. But why only number 12 in infrastructure?

I got this from the newspaper. According to a Manila based economist, even if Cebu has all these physical infrastructures like flyovers, wide roads, skywalks or even the tunnel itself, it would still gain a low score if the respondent would say that traffic here is bad. Of course, who knows the respondent has very high standards or was expecting so much considering the status of the city? So kaya nga, subjective rin, or better yet "based on perception" and not on objective facts like what askal82 mentioned.

Junax also had a point when he said that Davao's being in the top five was worth since their tap water is good as mineral water, etc.. So meaning livable ang city.

But then again, AIM should have been more specific and objective in its criteria because it's partly misleading kasi. Furthermore, the title of the survey itself should be revised or changed.

Knowing that it may somehow affect investor's confidence, why conduct surveys that doesn't measure up the city based on an objective assessment

that is also what I'm thinking...
they made the survey coz they are capable of assesing everything, but if they are capable, so it's true that Cebu is kulelat sa dynamism of its local economy.
pero if they solely based it on perceptions, I think that they know that it can affect their company's image on surveys interms of their methodology. AIM really is correct of their findings/survey.

pero (nanaman), kahit balibaliktarin ko pa ang isip ko, Cebu should score high on its dynamism of its local economy.
but ??? :D

^^

Even Manila City didn't make it to the top five considering it's awesome physical aspect.

Maybe they should change the title from "competitiveness" to "livable."

sakto ka bai, and also their criterias.

^^

Anyway, the point here is let's just continue to work for our own good and for the good of the country.

After all, surveys are just surveys. Michael Gleissner knows more than the AIM.

:banana2:

[QUOTE=arnoldsa]^^

AIM was not actually biased, it's just that the survey was not accurate. It was credible though but very subjective.

Why? Because the respondents who gave Cebu the score were residents of Cebu City itself. What if these respondents have high standards and expectations?

I see, so perhaps the survey should have taken this into account. People's perceptions are always bound to be subjective. Their methodology does indeed look flawed. If you are living in MM and are sick and tired of the pollution and dust, then of course you would rate it quite low in terms of "livability". I suppose many Cebuano respondents felt the same way about their city. It doesn't necessarily mean they would want to relocate to Bacolod or Tagbilaran. :)
Perhaps they should have re-phrased their questions along the lines of:
"if money wasn't an issue (as if... :) ) which RP city would you most like to live in"?
I think that would have yielded a more accurate result because the question is comparative, rather than out of context.

This AIM PCCRP thing has really gotten into our nerves. But life must go on... :)

Let me change the mood of this thread with this:
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/908/asean2wm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu, soaring high for tourism

By Mila C. Espina
The province and City of Cebu will leave no stone unturned to prepare for the forthcoming Asean Summit which opens in December 2006. The Feb. 24 Charter Day celebration will allot P3 million to preview a fabulous production number. Usec Francisco Benedicto heads the Working Committee.

The book Your Guide To Cebu and Philippine Diving (Japanese Version) was launched by the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the PDP Digital Inc. led by CEO Daniel Carpentier, DOT-7 director Dawnie Roa and DOT Asec Cynthia Carrion attended to discuss the salient features of the book.

The diplomatic scenes are as interesting as ever. We had the India Tourism, Government of India, hosting dinner for the media at Hai Phong. It was a grand luncheon Hon. Francisco Benedicto and the Department of Foreign Affairs had for visiting Parliamentarians from South Wales, Australia led by Speaker of the Leadership Assembly, Hon. John Aquilina, Mr. and Mrs. John Mills, Mr. Jeff Hunter, Dr. and Mrs. Neil and Rebecca Niumetolu, Mr. David Liu, among others. A selected group of diplomatic and business leaders took the opportunity to discuss common concerns for trade and tourism.

The Salinas Drive has become a popular food street. The latest addition is Chika-an. Alex and Loreta Dytian and children Lorraine and Derek are making good their promise to make the place as good as Big Mao and Creative Cuisine.

Travel is going great, and during dinner at Lumpia House, we learned from Margie Valiente, Charles Lim, and Viveca Singson that Cebu Pacific’s low fare scheme has been running smoothly but management needs to update the passengers on its scheme of implementation. Over at the meeting of the Central Visayas Regional Tourism Council at the Cebu Midtown Hotel, Agnes Gupalor informed me that a forthcoming re-structuring of the regional management of Cebu Pacific will surely serve its clientele better. Watch out for Air Orient for new domestic travels with Cebu as the jump-point.

And what’s new with Nokia? A lot! With almost 650 million users, and a strong 141 years of productive existence, how can it go wrong? By 2008, it should go by billions! New modes and styles! New hi-tech fixtures (Watch for N-91). Nokia goes strong as life moves on!

And the theaters? Kudos to the Cebu Mary Immaculate College play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat!

Wilson Ng is the 2006 CCIC Cebu Business Month Chair! Theme this year? Entrepreneur ’06 (Information Technology, Tourism. and Entrepreneurship).

isn't it funny if we are going to consider the recent AIM results as a "wake-up call"? the fact that the city it is one of the most awake in the country. :lol: parang caffeine over-dosed with all the activities happening.

moving forward, "THE" ASEAN Summit is fast approaching. let's show everyone what our country is capable of. :cool:

The Cebuanos surveyed by the AIM probably underrated their city too much. Unsatisfaction brings action to strive more to be better I guess.

^^ you're right... evidently on how Mayor Tom handled the situation. and hey, he was rated above average on his leadership according to AIM. at least they recognize the mayor's effort to bring out the best of his city. :okay: all of the people's hardwork will bear fruit in the coming months or so. too bad no survey company can stop it. hehe

I hope the Megadome construction begins soon. I just don't understand how they will be able to finish in ten months and with the catalyst, La Nina around.

2.14.06
2GO, North Reclamation Area

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010071.jpg

ACC Interiors
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010082.jpg

SM's ad holes
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010077.jpg

^^2.14.06

UC Banilad
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010089.jpg

Cebu Business Park
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010085.jpg

The Redemptorist Church
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010135.jpg

Banilad Town Centre
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010091.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010163.jpg
^^ Richmond Hotel

^^ got pic of the Trinity building jin? it looks like richmond.

The Redemptorist Church
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010135.jpg

Banilad Town Centre
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jadesinjin/P1010091.jpg

nice shot on Redemptorist church. :D

BTC parking is always full. any updates on the parking extension lot? the place looks a lot like Metrowalk bar in Ortigas. :cool:

^^ the new parking lot is now open. located just across the exit.

The parking extension is already open.

it's a concrete parking area with designated specified parking spaces.

^^ got pic of the Trinity building jin? it looks like richmond.

diara bai ai, Trinity condominium...
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8803/trinity3td.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ lamats bai. they look like the same right? hehehe. including the occupants, mga iranians. hehehe

what do you mean wer mark?

^^ edit bai...

@Sinjin

Ey you missed St. Patrick's Square.. You were already in Redemptorist.. :)

citylights and marco polo plaza

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2394/imgp06016yc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

windland towers

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5379/imgp05786ej.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

club ultima-crown regency-etc

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8003/imgp05960ua.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

guys, i have learned from a friend, my college barkada in fact, that the whole CBP is already sold-out. Some of the lot owners are just actually waiting for the right time as to when to put up their business.
He also mentioned that bigfoot owned an area there near the kaona grill sad daw.
when I asked him about the recent AIM survey, his face frowned and doesn't believe about the result. and about cebu's progress, he said to me whispering, cebu daw is growing so fast than any other place in the philippines. actually ang term pa gai iya gigamit is nagtinga daw hehehe.. in fairness to the good cities, di man sad nuon siguro.
but i should believe him. after all he works in CHI (cehu holdings). and he knows everything about the ayala's projects basta invloving malls and real estates.

^^ yup thats true bai. and i guess with the way business is doing at cbp with the construction boom and all, these owners with also follow suit. also, the lot owned by bigfoot is located beside the golf driving bay, across the tower palace showroom.

so bai, can u ask for updates on the on going construction across Pag-ibig? and about the Tower Palace and the Lexmark?

^^ lamats bai. they look like the same right? hehehe. including the occupants, mga iranians. hehehe

yup bai but for me, Rischmond is much better... trinity is an eyesore for me...:D

^^ its because richmonde is a hotel, while trinity is just like a highrise low-cost apartment. maguwang ra gamay ang windland. hehehe. pero the important thing is, they are highrises! hehehe

@slimerbai
sa ngkai building sa mango to nimo gi take ang pics above bai? those buildings looks so tall in your pics than I usually see them...

^^ its because richmonde is a hotel, while trinity is just like a highrise low-cost apartment. maguwang ra gamay ang windland. hehehe. pero the important thing is, they are highrises! hehehe

bitaw, ang importante naa ta'y high rises bisag gamay lng kabuok...hehe
kay ganahan gud tag mga tall buildings so bisag bati ok ra gihapon...:D

is it true na naa daw serial killer from texas nga naa dri sa cebu ang ang modus kay manghatag daw og campus legends sa mga students sa campus nga iyang i visit unya ang katong naka receive kay iyang patyon the same way pud nga katong naa sa iyang campus legend nga gihatag....

asa man na nimo nabalitaa marK? kuyawa gd ana... nya sa cebu pa jd.

^^ text. hehehe. maybe it is just a hoax... :D

here is another one: beware of fastfood catsup here in cebu kay there is one HIV+ worker daw in a factory and spilled his blood on the catsup. hehehe. :dunno:

yup ive received that too...d man na tinuod oi...f ever tinuod pud matilawan man nato ang dugo jud when we use a catsup...i have a forwarded message from my friend from Manila. lahi iyang version .....pero same context gihapon..pero wala sa Cebu ang setting

Investments in hotels seen doubling to P4B
Posted: 3:52 PM | Feb. 19, 2006


THE EXPECTED robust growth in tourist arrivals in the coming years is driving up investments in hotels and accommodation facilities.

For this year, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said investments in the hotel business were expected to double to about P4 billion from last year's P2 billion.

Durano said a Korean businessman had committed to invest P2 billion this year to put up a 700-room hotel in Mactan, Cebu City. Durano did not identify the Korean businessman but said he has businesses in Guam and New York. The investor, he said, was considering to have Hyatt, Sheraton or Intercon to manage the planned first-class hotel in Mactan.

"This Korean investor went to Cebu last year for the first time and fell in love with the place," said the tourism chief during a roundtable discussion with the Inquirer business staff.

Another Korean group has also invested P500 million in a golf course in Cagayan de Oro.

Koreans make up 18.5 percent of the tourists coming to the Philippines.

Banking giants Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. and Philippine National Bank are in the process of reopening two foreclosed hotels also in Cebu City. Metrobank will soon open Marco Polo Hotel while PNB will operate the foreclosed Coral Reef Hotel.

PNB owner Lucio Tan is expected to tap the Ana Hotel Group, which also manages the Century Park Hotel, to operate Coral Reef Hotel, said Durano.

On top of these, about 10 resort operators in Boracay are planning to put up tourist facilities in Coron, Palawan, he said.

Durano said additional rooms were needed to meet growing demand. Citing an inventory of four- and five-star tourist accommodation facilities in the country last year, Durano said the country has only 12,000 rooms available. This number can accommodate three million tourists a year. However, shortage occurs during peak seasons.

Including pension houses and motels, the number of rooms would be about 24,000. "By the end of 2007, we expect additional 2,000 rooms under the four- and five- star category," said Durano.

Durano said Cebu was the preferred destination of about half of the country's visitors, with Boracay coming in next.

Tourist arrivals in 2005 were placed at 2.8 million. The Department of Tourism expects the number to increase to at least 3 million this year.

Durano said 90 percent of these tourists preferred to stay in four- and five-star hotels.

The tourism chief is counting on Shangri-la Hotel and Discovery Suites which are putting up hotels in Boracay, as well as other projects in the pipeline to help address the expected surge in the demand for tourist accommodation facilities in the country.

However, hotel projects take at least two years to complete.

He said hotels in Metro Manila and in Cebu had been beefing up their capacity in anticipation of the steady increase in tourist arrivals, which were expected to reach five million in 2010.

DOT studies showed that each tourist spends here an average of $90 a day. Japanese travelers spend at least $10 more each.

where is richmond hotel bai???? :bash:

^^ text. hehehe. maybe it is just a hoax... :D

here is another one: beware of fastfood catsup here in cebu kay there is one HIV+ worker daw in a factory and spilled his blood on the catsup. hehehe. :dunno:

i don't think that's true coz workers sa food industry na may sakit nga fluid-borne dili pwede mag work...like sa restos for example, bawal ang may hepa b and hiv though these workers can still work in other industries like sa mga call centers...

how would you know, they dont blood test them every day ;)

how would you know, they dont blood test them every day ;)

well, workers who handle food are actually required to have blood check-up twice a year...well, kung kahapon lang sya nahawa, okay fine but mamamatay din ata yung virus...ewan...hehehe...basta para sa akin imposible mahawaan ka ng hiv sa ganyang paraan...na process naman ata ng mabuti yung catsup...

just answering... yeah thats true, i took micro last sem...im so old, he he he
anyway, its not possible but mosquito bites thyre still studying.

say my boo, sa makati yata yung richmonde hotel

where is richmond hotel bai???? :bash:

Bai, Richmonde Hotel Cebu is located at the back of USC-Boys High in front of Perpetual Succour Hospital...

http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/4192/map3kf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

@tigidig14

I guess the one in Ortigas is Richmonde Hotel. The one at the back of Boys High is Richmond Hotel...

Or I think it's the other way around (Richmond or Richmonde?).

Hehehehe

guys, i have learned from a friend, my college barkada in fact, that the whole CBP is already sold-out. Some of the lot owners are just actually waiting for the right time as to when to put up their business.
He also mentioned that bigfoot owned an area there near the kaona grill sad daw.
when I asked him about the recent AIM survey, his face frowned and doesn't believe about the result. and about cebu's progress, he said to me whispering, cebu daw is growing so fast than any other place in the philippines. actually ang term pa gai iya gigamit is nagtinga daw hehehe.. in fairness to the good cities, di man sad nuon siguro.
but i should believe him. after all he works in CHI (cehu holdings). and he knows everything about the ayala's projects basta invloving malls and real estates.

Yup bai it's already sold out. I just hope that they are not speculators. You know, these kind of buyers who buy lots and let it lie idle while waiting for its value to appreciate.

This is the very reason why the North Reclamation Area looks barren. It's already sold out. Mayor Osmeña called the situation in NRA a "distorted sense of investment."

The only solution to this is to lease the property (like what our Mayor is doing for the SRP) instead of selling it, or let the buyer sign a memorandum of agreement stating that he should build a structure within a specified period of time.




By the way slimer, can you ask your friend when the expansion of Ayala would begin? And how big would it be? Thanks.. :rock:

The one in Ortigas is Richmonde Hotel. It's just a walk away from Megamall..

The one at the back of Boys High is Richmond Hotel...

Or I think it's the other way around.

Hehehehe


Yeah you're right bai. The exact name is Richmond Plaza Hotel Cebu, a 3-star hotel.

^^

By the way bai, regarding sa Hoax, there was also this text message that someone "has planted needles in some theater seats." So who knows, if you sit on it and get pricked then......

so bai, can u ask for updates on the on going construction across Pag-ibig? and about the Tower Palace and the Lexmark?


Bai I saw the construction site already. They have already made a very deep excavation for the foundation.

Durano said a Korean businessman had committed to invest P2 billion this year to put up a 700-room hotel in Mactan, Cebu City. Durano did not identify the Korean businessman but said he has businesses in Guam and New York. The investor, he said, was considering to have Hyatt, Sheraton or Intercon to manage the planned first-class hotel in Mactan.
oh my oh my... Hyatt, Sheraton or Intercon? this is what i'm talking about! :rock:

Durano said Cebu was the preferred destination of about half of the country's visitors, with Boracay coming in next.


oh well. reinforcing our "facts". :cool: we knew this from the start diba? :cool: tourism industry is very very promising :okay:

^^ dba naa nay sheraton sa cebu.... maayo unta if hyatt or intercon nalang.... hahaha, pili.an kaau... :nocrook:

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1708/newsbanner1hw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

NEDA endorses CITEX project
Cebu Daily News (http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_cdn/2006/feb/ent/feb20_01.htm)

Prospects for the implementation of the Cebu International Trade and Exhibition Center (CITEX) project have become brighter after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) endorsed it for possible funding to the Japanese government.

In a letter sent to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro, Mary Jean Pacheco, director of the NEDA office of operational planning, said the agency has included the CITEX project for possible Japan International Coordinating Agency (JICA) assistance.

The proposed CITEX was included in the list of project proposals endorsed to the Japanese government for consideration under its 2006 Technical Cooperation and Fiscal Year 2007 General Grant Aid Programs, Pacheco said.

The DTI is the proponent of the project, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises in the Visayas and Mindanao regions as well as increase their contribution to national economic growth, DTI explained in its project proposal. MORE (http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_cdn/2006/feb/ent/feb20_01.htm)

^^
The city's proposal calls for a design similar to that of other exhibition centers in other countries, such as the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center in Thailand and the Singapore Expo.

CITEX will be at par of those in Thailand and Singapore.

Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/SRP/asth01.jpghttp://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/SRP/image1.jpg

Singapore Expo
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/cebupics2/SRP/singexpo1.jpg

the proposed site is just beside the upcoming CICC (Megadome) in Cebu North Reclamation Area. oh well, not competitive? lolz

^^

CITEX?

At last, a dream come true for furniture exporters in Cebu.. :)

sigurong mas modern looking pa'to sa singapore knowingly its newer. WOW

dont worry cebu will be better than singapore. (optimistically speaking) hopefully in our lifetime :D

il try to be conservative, hehe, i dont think its gonna be more modern-looking than sing's just because its newer, sing is already a known convention/exhibition destination worldwide (and with much more funds than cebu or the phils) even if its not better than the ones in sing or thai, the citex will definitely be a big push for cebu. as long as its efficient and is serving its purpose (and not just sitting like a big underutilized monster) it will be good for businesses and investors where they can showcase their products and services. giving cebu a "competitive" edge over other areas

waaaaahhh COMPETITIVE edge!!!! (oh i forgot, cebu is not competitive diay, yeah ryt!)

though we should calm ourselves down and stop feeling low about the recent AIM "study" this news somewhat confirms our suspicion that there is a kind of "sabotage" against cebu in holding the ASEAN meet, cebu should be strong cause i feel that there are more "allegations" to come, december is still too far away and some are throwing mud this early

Cebu airport GM dares Defensor on terror tag

more (http://http://www.philstar.com/philstar/Freeman200602201901.htm)

on the other hand, some good news here...

The Philippines says ‘hai!’

According to the Delphys study, Japanese women know the Philippines for its famous Manila Bay sunset and its picture-perfect resorts. They also agree that Filipinos, in general, are a friendly lot. They also equate Cebu with the sea, classy resorts, and water sports. The challenge now for DOT is to inform potential women visitors that there’s a whole lot more to the Philippines than the sea, sunset and resorts, and yes, that it’s safe for them to travel here.

MORE (http://http://www.philstar.com/philstar/LIFESTYLE200602203802.htm)

the last thing i can say about this AIM rating is..."SOME DEFEATS ARE SUBLIME VICTORIES...WHILE SOME VICTORIES ARE DISMAL DEFEATS"

Looks like SM is aggressive enough to get it's glory back again from Ayala because Construction just has begun for its 5 level annex building (3 levels of carpark and 2 levels of shops). I have a copy of the traffic advisory SM has given with the info on the annex building but unfortunately, I left it in my school locker. Anyway, 3/4 of the current open parking will soon be occupied by the new annex building.

expanding? really?! for a city that is uncompetitive?

why not expand in the more competitive cities so AIM's rankings will be justified? langas langas!!! hehehehhe...

AIM should have named their survey, 'most peaceful, livable, and smoothest flow of traffic philippine cities.'

in my own opinion, if they intended the survey to be adequately credible they should have chosen the same respondents who all will go to each respective city being judged and let them live and experience life there. in that way, each respondent will know which city passes or fails a certain criterion or a standard other than his/her own city. while it may be true that all respondents agree their city has high standards, those standards may be low to the other cities.

and why just limit to cities, when there are towns/municipalities that fair well than their so-called 'competitive cities'?

hehhehehe, nindot lagi mga balita ron da. paabtik sa dugo!

@slimerbai
sa ngkai building sa mango to nimo gi take ang pics above bai? those buildings looks so tall in your pics than I usually see them...

sa ma. lina catering building. gi-invite man ko bunyag nya didto venue sa rooftop nila. taas-taas man sad ila building makita gyud nimo didto.

[QUOTE=arnoldsa]Yup bai it's already sold out. I just hope that they are not speculators. You know, these kind of buyers who buy lots and let it lie idle while waiting for its value to appreciate.

yes i did asked him if these are speculators and he said they're not. most of the owners daw are from manila and are just waiting for the right time.

as for ayala, i wasn't able to ask him when will it start but mentioned that the lagoon will be surrounded by boutiques or shops. something like in greenbelt although he haven't seen the actual plan pa daw.

just keep your questions posted here coz i will ask him hehehe...

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1708/newsbanner1hw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Air Orient to fly Cebu-Maasin route
Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060220.htm&no=14)

SM Cebu trade hall (20 February) -- By far the single, most tangible outcome of the province and city’s participation in the 2nd Visayas-Mindanao Travel and Lifestyle Show here was an impending deal wherein a new airline company would soon service the skies of Panan-awan, Maasin to Cebu.

Glenn K. Lamela, Vice-President for Commercial of Air Orient, Inc., personally met and talked with Provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez, and discussed the possibility of an airplane flying Maasin – Cebu to cater to the needs of fast-paced tourists.

To be included in this comprehensive data gathering are passengers from neighboring Leyte towns, even as far as Ormoc, who are bound for Cebu which can be served by the planned domestic flight.

“Southern Leyte will be Cebu’s new tourism frontier, especially with the opening of the Air Orient flight,” Garvez said, in a most optimistic tone.
MORE (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060220.htm&no=14)



^^ Strengthening further our linkages and accessibility. FYI: In the AIM PCCRP, it is only in the Linkages and Accessibility category that Cebu ranked 1st. (maybe thats the only correct part of the survey. :D )

_________________________


SM to start construction of multi-million annex
The Freeman (http://www.philstar.com/philstar/Freeman200602212001.htm)

SM City Cebu will start the construction of its two-level annex building on March 1. The extended mall is set to commercially open in May next year.

The mall will initially spend about P200 million to P300 million for the ground works for the building that will be interconnected with the existing main mall.

This is the first time since SM Cebu opened in 1992, that the mall ventured into a multi-million and huge expansion project. The main mall though has undergone several renovation and facilities' upgrading.

Marrissa Fernan, SM Supermalls senior assistant vice president for Visayas and Mindanao said the mall expansion will utilize about 104,000 square meters, and will be built to offer 168 leasable slots.

The new building will also offer three-level parking space which will accommodate over 1,000 cars. Currently the mall is giving free parking space which can accommodate 2,300 cars.

As early as now, SM City Cebu has received inquiries and letters of intent from prospective tenants of the upcoming annex mall, Fernan said.

"We can not accommodate anymore additional tenants in the main mall. There are many emerging brands in Manila that wanted to come to Cebu, we can't service them as of the moment," Fernan said.

One of the highlights of the SM Cebu mall expansion is the building of the largest (so far in Cebu) entertainment center that can host bigger events like concerts.

If the construction works will run faster, Tuvilla said the new mall might be opened ahead of schedule.

_________________________

Cebu needs more hotels to house its growing number of visitors
The Freeman (http://www.philstar.com/philstar/FREEMAN200602212002.htm)

Even with the opening of more hotels in Cebu, the Department of Tourism (DOT-7) is still calling for more investors to put up accommodation facilities in the province.

"The new hotels can't catch up with the demand. Tourist arrivals in Cebu are soaring, while more and more conventions will be held here now and then," said DOT-7 regional director Patria Aurora Roa.

The opening soon of Cebu Marco Polo Plaza with over 300 rooms, and the 235 rooms of Cebu Park Lane International Hotel may help for the long standing problem of acute room shortage, but Roa said the supply still can't catch up with the ballooning demand.

Prior to the opening of five-star Cebu Hilton Resort and Spa with 246 available room, Cebu had a little over 6,000 rooms, including the services offered by pension houses and legitimate lodging facilities.

"I hope investors will fast tract their plans to establish more hotels, or resorts in Cebu," Roa said.

Roa said that the decision of Orient Air to offer flights with Cebu as a hub to provincial destinations like Tacloban, Siquijor, Tagbilaran, among others will also help pull up arrivals and encourage traveling plans for the domestic market.

Cebu, which is not only the hub or gateway to Visayas and Mindanao but also as international gateway, should be providing more rooms.

The room shortage in Cebu has been the province's problem for years now. Slowly more and more capitalists have responded to this problem. Aside from the newly opened and soon to open hotels, there are also more hotel projects that are scheduled for opening in the next few years.

J. King and Sons Co. Inc. (JKSCI) recently announced the opening of Crown Regency Hotel in Osmeña Boulevard next month which will initially offer 100 hotel rooms.

National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) chairman Robert Lim Joseph said Cebu is capable of attracting at least 3 million tourists a year, higher than the over-all projected arrival in the country. What it needs is the facilities to accommodate its visitors.


_________________________


Let's do some math:

6000 - 2005 ++
+246 - Hilton
+300 - Marco Polo ++
+235 - Park Lane
+100 - Crown Regency (Initial)
______

6881 ++ rooms by the end of the second quarter :okay:


++ - more than

SM City Cebu to build 5-story annex by March
source: Sunstar.com.ph

Watching a movie or shopping would become more convenient at SM City Cebu, particularly for persons with disabilities and the elderly, once mall management completes a five-story annex that will rise on the parking lot fronting Kaoshiung St. at the north reclamation area in Cebu City.

SM began closing portions of the parking lot adjacent to the V-hire terminal yesterday to prepare for the construction of the annex, which will begin on March 1.

Sherry Tuvilla, SM City Cebu mall manager, said the construction of the annex is expected to be completed in May next year.

The annex will feature more shops, restaurants, a three-level parking space and possibly the biggest entertainment center among SM malls in the country, excluding the Mall of Asia, said Tuvilla.

She said the annex will provide more convenience for customers as they can park there and directly enter the SM department store and theaters.

Customers and mall tenants, though, will suffer a few inconveniences.

Prior to the closure of a section of the mall parking lot, SM City Cebu can accommodate about 2,335 cars. But with the construction of the annex, parking space will be down to 1,600 car slots.

Parking

Tuvilla said mall management will allow parking on the sidewalk near Sheraton Hotel and the motorcycle parking area will be converted to accommodate more cars.

The sidewalk near Goldilocks, on the other hand, will be made into a parking area for motorcycles.

Delivery vans of mall tenants will also be re-routed.

Although Tuvilla cannot divulge the exact cost of the construction, she said the laying of the foundation of the annex alone is estimated to cost from P200 to P300 million.

Store slots

Marissa Fernan, SM senior assistant vice president for marketing for Visayas and Mindanao, said the annex will contain 168 store slots for lease or a total area of 17,516 square meters.

She said the annex will feature some “emerging” brands and high-end shops that can no longer be accommodated at the main mall.

This early, she said, several entities have expressed interest in locating at the annex.

Asked if the shops and restaurants at the annex will try to cater to call center employees by operating 24 hours, Fernan said mall management has yet to study if it would be feasible to extend the operation of restaurants at the annex beyond normal operating hours.

Fernan also revealed that SM City has also completed the renovation of mall theaters one to four while a makeover of certain portions of the department store is nearing completion.

Fernan said the mall did “very well” last year and posted a “double-digit” growth in income.

Although she did give details on the mall’s financial performance, she said the increase is due to SM City’s ability to “be in tune with what our customers’ wants and needs.”

She cited the establishment of the Land Transportation Office and the Visayan Electric Co. office in the mall.

expanding? really?! for a city that is uncompetitive?

why not expand in the more competitive cities so AIM's rankings will be justified? langas langas!!! hehehehhe...

AIM should have named their survey, 'most peaceful, livable, and smoothest flow of traffic philippine cities.'

in my own opinion, if they intended the survey to be adequately credible they should have chosen the same respondents who all will go to each respective city being judged and let them live and experience life there. in that way, each respondent will know which city passes or fails a certain criterion or a standard other than his/her own city. while it may be true that all respondents agree their city has high standards, those standards may be low to the other cities.

and why just limit to cities, when there are towns/municipalities that fair well than their so-called 'competitive cities'?

hehhehehe, nindot lagi mga balita ron da. paabtik sa dugo!


bai, it is the answer of Cebu to AIM/s survey...

Cebu is not included in the top most competitive cities in the country because:
-malls are axpanding almost double of its sizes,
-Tourist arrivals in Cebu are soaring, while more and more conventions will be held here now and then,
-Cebu is capable of attracting at least 3 million tourists a year, higher than the over-all projected arrival in the country,
-Cebu will host the ASEAN summit,
-constructions of hotels are left and right
-etc...:D

[QUOTE=MarkiiBoi]Bai, Richmonde Hotel Cebu is located at the back of USC-Boys High in front of Perpetual Succour Hospital...

tanx markiiboy!!!!! :) :) :)

Bigfoot Builds IT Centers in Cebu City, Towns
20th, 2006 by jorge

http://www.ngkhai.net/cebu/wp-images/bigfoot.gif
Bigfoot Communications Ltd. is a diverse powerhouse of innovative communications solutions for both small and medium businesses and its global consumers market. It has global operations strategically located in New York, Hong Kong, Brussels, Korea and Cebu in the Philippines.

True to its commitment to the advancement of information & technology (IT) education in Cebu and other parts of the Visayas, Bigfoot Communications Ltd., through Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation Inc., has announced the release of a new grant worth over P5 million to the Department of Education (DepED) – Cebu City and Cebu Province Divisions.


Beneficiaries of the said grant in Cebu City are the two public schools namely - Banawa Elementary School and Cebu City National High School. Banawa Elementary School in particular will receive P800,000 for the development of its website and the construction of its computer laboratory. Cebu City National High School on the other hand will get no less than P250,000 for the upgrading project of its computer facilities.

Four towns in Cebu are the other beneficiaries of the P5 million grant. Under the agreement with the DepEd-Cebu Province Division, Bigfoot will fund the construction of an IT training center in each of the provincial schools in Alcoy, Balamban, Bogo and Dumanjug.

The new grant is part of a new phase of Bigfoot’s IT Learning Center program, which was launched over three years ago. The program implemented the construction of the Bigfoot Learning Centers in Cebu and Negros Oriental, purchase of computer equipment and the provision of basic computer skills training for public school teachers.

Based in Cebu City, Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation is a non-profit organization funded by Bigfoot Global Solutions Inc. and is dedicated to the improvement of the quality of education of children in underprivileged areas through the use of technology.

_ _ ___ _ _ _

btw, Bigfoot gave 1 million pesos donation to Leyte tragedy :okay:

^ i like their commecial here btw, i saw it in TFC
first i thought that place was california, next thing you know, it was cebu :D

^^ share mo naman tigs... hehehe. :D

o wow, parang magiging nightlife area yata yung annex ng SM Cebu! sa diagram na nakita ko sa ibang thread, the annex looks huge! hope the design is cool naman sana...SM should really get over with its shoebox buildings...

kelan daw opening?

Different AM and FM redio stations merged yesterday in Fuente Osmeña for a radiothon for the victims of Leyte tragedy.

For the first time, famous anchors of each competing (interms of rating) radio stations gathered together in broadcast (several stations hooked up in DYAB abs cbn radio) for 1 purpose, a relief campaign for the donations of helpful Cebuanos to be collected in their drop in centers in Fuente... they've set aside the rating issue and the the loss of their stations for that 1 day cancellation of their programs.

Tons of donations from ordinary Cebuano citizens gave their shares to Leyte victims as it is proven that when it comes to tragedies, Cebuanos are 1st's in giving rescue, first aids, assistance, relief goods to those affected areas.
Donors from all walks of life hope their donations will go a long way in helping the survivors and evacuees.
Jeepney and taxi drivers, students, government employees and other donors went to the drop-off center to deliver cans of sardines, blankets, rice and other relief goods as early as 7 a.m.


Cebu Province gave 5 million pesos assistance and aside from that they are the 1st one to send 1st aid rescue to the mudslide victimes just 2 hours after the deluge.
The woman governor of Cebu, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia personally went to the site and assisted rescue afforts and she also gave her personal support to Southern Leyte's woman gov., Gov. Leria by giving her a hug and shed tears for giving her more strength to face this tragedy.

Angela Calina will also have a "concert for a cause", a fund drive for donations tomorrow for the mudslide victims...

ABS CBN Cebu has also given a big share in this tragedy as a veteran anchor of NBC based in New York city used the ABS CBN Cebu facility for them to have a live feed in the United States...

The Governor said, more help is coming from Cebu by the Cebuanos and whatever and whenever it will happen, Cebu will always be there... :applause:

o wow, parang magiging nightlife area yata yung annex ng SM Cebu! sa diagram na nakita ko sa ibang thread, the annex looks huge! hope the design is cool naman sana...SM should really get over with its shoebox buildings...

kelan daw opening?


i think they are not expanding. they are building a new mall!! hehehe

Let's do some math again:

161,562 sq.m. - existing SM mall
104,000 sq.m. - proposed annex
_____________

265,562 sq.m.


opening is slated May of next year, maybe around the same time Ayala's expansion will also be opened...

Gross Floor Area (descending order):

1. SM City Cebu ---------161,562 sq.m. + 104,000 sq.m. = 265,562 sq.m.
2. SM City Bacoor -------116,892 sq.m.
3. SM City Pampanga ----110,650 sq.m.
4. SM City Baguio -------105,331 sq.m.
5. SM City Iloilo ---------101,735 sq.m.
6. SM City Marilao -------88,654 sq.m.
7. SM City Dasmariñas ---79,792 sq.m.
8. SM City Davao --------75,440 sq.m.
9. SM City Lucena -------72,057 sq.m.
10. SM City Batangas ----70,819 sq.m.
11. SM City CDO --------56,288 sq.m.
12. SM Superctr Molino ---48,248 sq.m.