Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Paint maker expands in Mandaue

A Manila-based paint manufacturing company has set up a color mixing facility in Mandaue City to cater to its growing market in Metro Cebu.

Charter Chemical and Coating Corp., manufacturer of Davies Paints, opened the facility to answer a growing demand for colored paints.

Edison Oribiana, business development manager of Davies Paints, said the expansion is aimed at catering to the increasing demand for colored paints in the entire Visayas.

Growing demand

“The Davies Color Factory aims to cater to the growing number of color- conscious customers in key cities in the country like Cebu,” said Oribiana.

Davies Color Factory outlets are also found in Metro Manila and other major cities in Luzon and in Davao.

Davies Color Factory is the first and only fully computerized color mixing facility in the Philippines.

Its stations offer its customers a choice of over 7,000 ready-to-mix colors. These colors come from various European color standards or references, such as the British Standard of UK, Natural Color System of Europe, RAL Colors of Germany and Nova Colors of Scandinavia, among others.

Oribiana said that aside from the standard color selection, customers can also opt to have their own colors matched.

Automated

For a minimum purchase of one liter, customers can have their color mixing done in minute at the station.

“All stations feature fully automated tinting machines attached to a computer that dispenses colorants automatically in seconds, as well as a gyro mixer or shaker that mixes paints thoroughly in minutes,” Oribiana said.

Customers can also see how the mixed color would look like in their house or buildings through Color Image, another added feature of the Davies color business.

“A digital photograph of your home or building can be downloaded to a computer where areas you want to paint (can be masked with) ready-to-mix (paints) in the Davies Color Factory color gallery,” said Oribiana.

The Davies Color Factory will be one of the innovations that will be featured during the 14th Construction Show Cebu, which will run from June 2 to 5 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. (PR)

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
SM to bring IMAX theater to Cebu if people are ready

Everything about the Mall of Asia, located on 60-hectare property at the Bay City in Pasay, seems to be big—even its entertainment building, which houses the country’s first IMax theater.

The IMAX theater has a screen with a dimension of 22 meters by 30 meters, the approximate height of an eight-story building, and can sit 600 people. It is the first of its kind in the country and shows three-dimensional (3D) films using the IMAX technology.

Millions

Marissa Fernan, SM senior assistant vice president for marketing for Visayas and Mindanao, said if Cebuanos “are ready” for IMAX, SM will bring the technology to its mall in Cebu.



im ready.. hehe

^^ sus, abi nako mga P500 ang usa ka salida sa IMAX, P250 man diay... mahal cya pr0 i think it's really worth it, considering that it's a really new technology (in our country i guess). i think Cebu is ready for an IMAX theatre, watcha think?? :D

Kaohsiung to donate 6 more buses to city

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said his visit to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, last week yielded positive results as six more buses are set to be donated to Cebu City plus a possible transfer of a technology that might give Cebu additional income.

Osmeña left work for three days starting Wednesday last week to visit Cebu's sister city Kaohsiung. Earlier, Kaohsiung City signified establishing stronger diplomatic ties with Cebu City through an exchange of ideas for development.

Osmeña was glad to inform reporters that six more buses have been donated to Cebu City, which the city government will use to augment the existing Kaohsiung buses that are being used on occasions that need adequate transport accommodation.

These new buses are reportedly bigger than the existing Kaohsiung buses and only need some fixing to be as good as new.

Also, two leaders of aquaculture organizations in Taiwan have reportedly expressed their interest to initiate a marine research facility here in Cebu for the breeding of "Lapu-Lapu" and "tilapia" fishes that can be exported.

Osmeña said he is very excited about it considering that the research facility will definitely rake in additional income for the city should the breeding be successful. He is eyeing the South Reclamation Project, particularly Pond A, as the location of the facility.

Over the years, Taiwan has attained remarkable economic progress and democratization, internationally known as "economic miracle" and "political miracle." Taiwan and the Philippines continue to maintain substantial relations in trade, investment, labor, culture and tourism.

Kaohsiung City has donated more than 90 used buses and cars to the Cebu City government since 1989 after they established sister city-relationship in 1969.

---------

Yehey... daghan na ko masakyan na kaohsiung... hehe, I rode that bus only once.. hoping to ride more.. wakekee.. :D

^^ i was able to ride in one of those kaohsiung too, kato nadakpan ko jaywalking sa colon. hehehe. :D

Puede mo mag-boto para sa Philippine Independence Day Banner? Link: http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=353343&page=1&pp=25

Thanks! Salamat! ¡Gracias!

:bow:

Two not-so-common establishments, so guess what are these buildings and where they are located:


http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5264/image0996dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4904/image1031ps.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

somewhere in Jackosalem St. ??? :D

CENTRO MAXIMO

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5264/image0996dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


BAYANTEL BLDG.
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4904/image1031ps.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ i was able to ride in one of those kaohsiung too, kato nadakpan ko jaywalking sa colon. hehehe. :D

but me, I wasn't able to ride coz when I was caught jaywalking in Colon, I paid P50 fine...hehe.

Two not-so-common establishments, so guess what are these buildings and where they are located:


http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5264/image0996dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4904/image1031ps.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ka hugaw na tan-awon sa bayantel building uy!

i used to live in this area.
i forgot the name of the street though but it was the street where sacred heart church is, we used to go to church there every sunday.

^^ jakosalem st.

One might think that this is a Village, but this is actually a hotel.

Each well-appointed house serves as a "suite."


http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/8906/60056384img38415xd.jpg

In the News Today................


GMA supports declaration of entire Cebu Province as a "Special Economic Zone."

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_headline02.jpg


Newly Elected CCCI President Francis Monera said that Cebu's success lies mainly on its ability to grab opportunities. Such an ability enabled Cebu to establish the first and only major IT Park outside Luzon, after it realized that its future lies on it being an ICT Hub.

Business leaders are also pushing for the declaration of the entire Cebu Province as a Special Economic Zone.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_wednesday01.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_wednesday02.jpg


Once the biggest copper mine in Southeast Asia, Atlas is set to reopen soon.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_wednesday03.jpg

i went to keppel this morning with my amigo.. i saw workers digging and installing metal posts on the lot where the large rendering of lexmark is standing.. but im not sure if they're already fencing the area i'll just check the place maybe next week.. and from keppel we went to sm.. the construction of the annex building is already in full swing..

on our way home to labangon we passed by srp.. a huge lot beside the coastal road is already leveled.. could be a new development in srp.. also the center island going to mambaling access road is beautifully landscaped.. looks like the center islands of asiatown and the cbp..

Ey resty, Crown Regency Hotel Suites is now operating at the Club Ultima building so says a banner that was put at the entrance. The banner also says, "This way to the lobby."

oh really? i think the Club Ultima building is opening 50 hotel rooms. and another 300+ rooms in Tower II. so glad to know!

thanks for the photos @markii.. what about the glass elevator? i still can't picture out how it looks like from the outside :D

One might think that this is a Village, but this is actually a hotel.

Each well-appointed house serves as a "suite."


crown regency looks very good in and out, especially the suites.

but i guess cebu's growth could be limited by its lack of resources such as water and electricity...well, maybe it could always innovate as it has done many times before...or look to its neighbors....and one more thing, negros oriental was already a special economic zone according to the SEZ act of 1995(?), only my province isn't taking advantage of such a provision in our law, and cebu is enjoying the windfall of investments in this part of the country...i hope my province would soon wake up to this, and i guess it is beginning to shape up judging from the recent developments there now...

thanks for the photos @markii.. what about the glass elevator? i still can't picture out how it looks like from the outside :D


The glass elevator of Club Ultima? i dont know if it will be visible from the outside. Basta the Club at night is really visible with the signage and two floors that are already open.

Business leaders are also pushing for the declaration of the entire Cebu Province as a Special Economic Zone.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_wednesday01.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cdn_wednesday02.jpg

my dad wants me to put up a BPO company daw oi! then ako operations manager, owner, CEO and president. saon? we're thinking of leasing a few office units in Club Ultima building or Asiatown. apply mo ha? :lol: serious ni but nothing final yet. a year or two pa siguro.

i'm looking for 2D & 3D graphics/digital artists, web developers, programmers and call center agents (sales and tech support). my company is set to rival Bigfoot Communications (how i wish) :cool: if everything goes well, i'll invite SSC World sa press con during launching :D

^^oh! kewl... akoy manager sa mga janitors og janitress ha? ehehe

and then put up pud ka branch sa dumaguete pre...hehehe.

my dad wants me to put up a BPO company daw oi! then ako operations manager, owner, CEO and president. saon? we're thinking of leasing a few office units in Club Ultima building or Asiatown. apply mo ha? :lol: serious ni but nothing final yet. a year or two pa siguro.

i'm looking for 2D & 3D graphics/digital artists, web developers, programmers and call center agents (sales and tech support). my company is set to rival Bigfoot Communications (how i wish) :cool: if everything goes well, i'll invite SSC World sa press con during launching :D

pwede ko programmer hehehehheheh. let's combine forces...

let's combine forces... y not...i guess visayas should start thinking of getting away from manila...if we could just unite, like also taking bacolod, bohol, i guess there's a big possibility that we could also siphon the resources in our area and compete with manila in a big way...

^^

Right.. Integration would be accelerated with the construction of the bridge linking Dumaguete City with Cebu Island.

This project was proposed during the time of Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia. I think they are currently undergoing a feasibility study now.

With regards to integration, Cebu for example can serve as the financial backbone, Dumaguete on the other hand can become an educational hub and research center. Bohol might focus on becoming the next tourism hub of the region especially that Mactan is starting to get crowded. These provinces as of now are linked by fastcrafts.

my dad wants me to put up a BPO company daw oi! then ako operations manager, owner, CEO and president. saon? we're thinking of leasing a few office units in Club Ultima building or Asiatown. apply mo ha? :lol: serious ni but nothing final yet. a year or two pa siguro.

i'm looking for 2D & 3D graphics/digital artists, web developers, programmers and call center agents (sales and tech support). my company is set to rival Bigfoot Communications (how i wish) :cool: if everything goes well, i'll invite SSC World sa press con during launching :D

oki ra nako resty akoy tig-abli sa pultahan basta libre lang kaon ug load sa celfon.. :D

^^

Pwede ko member sa Board of Directors rusty? :colgate:

^^ can i be 1 of d programmers??? :D


$a = array('c','e','b','u');
for ($i=0;$i<=3;$i++){
echo $a[$i];
}

its against corporate law to be CEO and president simultaneously at a corporation... wala lang

so y not soLe proprietorship na Lang?? hehe.,

so y not soLe proprietorship na Lang?? hehe.,
pwede sab partnership or pwede sab limited partnership kung di mo gnahan sa solidary liabilities sa partnership

my dad wants me to put up a BPO company daw oi! then ako operations manager, owner, CEO and president. saon? we're thinking of leasing a few office units in Club Ultima building or Asiatown. apply mo ha? :lol: serious ni but nothing final yet. a year or two pa siguro.

i'm looking for 2D & 3D graphics/digital artists, web developers, programmers and call center agents (sales and tech support). my company is set to rival Bigfoot Communications (how i wish) :cool: if everything goes well, i'll invite SSC World sa press con during launching :D

kung mo-apply si kim, dawata baya ha.

http://teen1.pinoybigbrother.com/Portals/5/Gallery/Album/145/Kim02.jpg

^^ muse sa companya ni rusty18.. nya ako ang prince charming.. haha

mura bagay raba mi duha.. :D

^^ muse sa companya ni rusty18.. nya ako ang prince charming.. haha

mura bagay raba mi duha.. :D
wa ka nabuang... under-age biya na... patay satutory rape na!!! hehehehe

marvs, hurot ako load sigeg boto kay kim.

sulayi daw og FLAMES - Kimberly Sue Chiu og ang imong ngalan tan-awon nato kung bagay ba mo. haha.

^^

Under age pa man si Marvin.. ako sad marv, underage pa sad ko basin pwede ko ana nga muse... :colgate:

School board for code of duties
By Jhunnex Napallacan, Dale G. Israel


School officials in Cebu fully support the proposed ordinance of provincial board member Juan Bolo to require the private and public school students to recite the Code of Duties and Responsibilities for Cebuanos.

Dr. Recaredo Borgonia, provincial schools division superintendent, said the board he co-chairs with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had already agreed to support the move.

Garcia said it should be recited in English although a Cebuano translation will be available “for the old people.”

She said the idea to come up with the code of duties came from her during a meeting with the Provincial School Board. She said the board approved her suggestion.

She said people often talk about their rights but not their duties.

“It's my right. It's my right and nakalimot na man to ug unsay atong (and we forget about our) duties. That is why we are in such bad shape because everybody keeps on insisting on their rights,” she said.

Garcia was referring to the street protests organized against the government. She said these people have not given any help to solve the problems in the country.

“What about our duties to our fellowmen, our community? What about our duty as decent human beings?” she asked.

“Adto man ni itudlo sa atong kabataan (They point to the youth, so) we might be able to raise a generation of young Cebuanos who would be more mindful of their duties rather than their rights. Then we shall have hope,” she added.

Borgonia said the board also saw the need for students to know their responsibilities, hence the code.

Borgonia said the teaching of the code aimed to balance the rights of the students with their duties and responsibilities.

“We wanted to give emphasis on the responsibilities and duties of the students. We agreed with Governor Garcia’s comments that only the rights of the students are being emphasized now,” Borgonia said.

Borgonia said if approved, the code would be recited during the flag-raising ceremony in all private and public elementary and high schools.

He, however, assured that before they would implement the ordinance, the Department of Education will exert efforts to explain the ordinance to the parents and the students.

Borgonia said they want the students to accept it freely so that the recitation of the code would not be mere lip service.

Aside from the code, Borgonia said the board had also agreed earlier to ask the provincial board to pass an ordinance for the revival of the “Cebu Hymn.”

Garcia also explained that the code would be recited in English in line with “our move for our children to re-learn our English” in order to be globally competitive.

She explained that reciting it in English “does not take away a single ounce of our patriotism and nationalism.”

----------

I totaLLy support this one.. I mean, people are always looking for the violation of their rights (if this is what people in ahemm call it).. and have rarely thought of the "obligations and duties" as citizens of this fragile country. as a result, there are always demonstators and rallyists who in no way contribute to the progress and growth of our nation as what is also stated in the article above...

------

kinsa dinhi kaybaw sa Cebu Hymn?? hehehe :D

basta ako, 2D/3D artist lang resty hehehe.. maghimo tag 3D animation ni Kim hehehe...

nyahaha, of course guys. there is this manila chic who wants to venture pud sa business nako. join dayon mo kay inspired pa mo pirme! hehe joke! dugay² pa nuon ni.

kung legal age na si kim, himu-on nako siya image model. we can't touch kim for now, or baka she's "barely legal" :hilarious 18 na ba na siya?

basta, for now nag explore pa lang ko. mag abroad pa gyud ko. at least kani nga idea kay full support sa akong amahan, di nako magproblema sa capital. hehe

just like in the article, cebuanos are able to spot great opportunities and grab it in a timely fashion. and time will come nga kelangan pud nako i-prove akong worth as a cebuano entrepreneur. hehe seryoso noh? panag-sa ra gyud ni. ;)

its against corporate law to be CEO and president simultaneously at a corporation... wala lang

ah mao ba? coz there are tons of companies at least in the US where the CEO and President are the same person. but of course i'm referring to small-medium businesses. large corporations or organizations hinuon dapat separate.

i'd prefer sole proprietorship, simply becuz it's the quickest and easiest way to set up a business operation. solo ni nako, wa pman pud ko spouse. hehe

the philippine corporate code is different from the united states corporate code ever since we made a new corporate code in 1938 by the colonial philippine assembly

The Skyrise IT Building at night:

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3049/dsc01263copy8xa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



The Main Entrance:

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/370/dsc01264copy1fu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

oh i missed these photos. any idea which part of skyrise will starbucks and mcdo open? any sign of progress? thanks...

wait, what happened to The Village? any updates?

and besides it can still be a corporatio even if its an SME... SME is just a category to refer to capital availability an labor force. If i were you, i'd put up a limited partnership since it would have a bigger capital investment potential than a sole proprietorship but still smaller than a corporation's posibility. According to the corporate code, the minimum requirment of a corporation is a capital of not less than A. 5,000 pesos, B. 25% of all capital stock (shares) should have been subscribed ( take note: subscription... yes like a magazine but it can be both paid or not paid), C. 25% of those subscribed stock should HAVE been PAID.

wa ka nabuang... under-age biya na... patay satutory rape na!!! hehehehe
ahh nya nagtuo sad diay ka ka tiguwang nako.. wala paman gani ko mo 18.. mao gani wala pako uyab kay unya ra ko sugtan sa ako mama inig 18 nako.. usa sab dili sad ko makig jerjer ni kim.. wholesome bya ko.. hahaha
marvs, hurot ako load sigeg boto kay kim.

sulayi daw og FLAMES - Kimberly Sue Chiu og ang imong ngalan tan-awon nato kung bagay ba mo. haha.
mao diay nataktak kato tagadavao sa PBB dave kay imo votes puro diay para kay kim.. hehe ako na sulayan dave Friends ra daw mi.. ahak oi bagay ta raba mi .. kung kami magkadayon amo anak cute siguro kaayo.. haha

^^

Under age pa man si Marvin.. ako sad marv, underage pa sad ko basin pwede ko ana nga muse... :colgate:
mao jud.. sa mga cebuano forumers dire usa mi ni arnold sa pinakabata.. si arnold magulang rana nako ug 11 months.. ayaw bai ako nay naka-una ni kim ngita lang mo lain.. si jamilla lang imo kay naay trophy pakapin.. haha

kung mo-apply si kim, dawata baya ha.

http://teen1.pinoybigbrother.com/Portals/5/Gallery/Album/145/Kim02.jpg

aw mao diay ni Kim nga hisgutan perme sa among silingan... pang Korean novela tuod... wafa sad and I hope siya modaog. ;)

http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/4524/cis7fm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2254/campus0196sr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6687/campus0166zh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/663/campus0148mo.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6260/campus0107ke.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/9007/campus0126iu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/1360/campus0139iq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/7218/athletics0131cq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/4139/athletics0175oe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/738/students056cf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/3825/campus033uc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/2654/students091ib.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5109/students0304uk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Oil exploration at Tañon strait: Guv to back Japan oil firm's project

The Freeman 05/25/2006

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia yesterday told Department of Energy undersecretary Guillermo Balce and officials of the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd., or Japex, that she will support the firm's planned oil explorations and drilling at the Tañon Strait in the coming months.

Garcia, however, made clear that her support would only go once the firm secures an environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Balce and Japex officials apprised the governor of the firm's activities over the Tañon Strait, which is part of the Visayan Basin and located between Cebu and Negros Oriental provinces.

Japex officials told the governor that the firm's seismic survey and other studies over Tañon Strait last December showed there is bright prospect of considerable deposits of oil and gas.

The project "would ultimately redound to the benefits of Cebu and the Cebuanos," agreed Garcia, but who said that it should be carried out in close coordination with the provincial government and other affected local government units.

There are currently four other oil explorations projects in the Visayan Basin (in Bohol Strait, and the seas off central Cebu, southern Cebu and northwestern Leyte) undertaken by other foreign firms but the DOE tapped Japex for the Tañon explorations.

The DOE also tapped Forum Explorations Inc. for similar undertakings in the seas off northern Cebu, which is still part of the Visayan Basin. The area and the Tañon Strait have been considered among the most promising areas for oil in the country, Balce said.

Last year, the DOE claimed that it had just discovered that the Visayan Basin, specifically the part located in northern Cebu, and the Tañon Strait have a petroleum resource potential of about one billion barrels. - Cristina C. Birondo

Viewpoint : Hottest ‘pinpoint’

First posted 11:10pm (Mla time) May 24, 2006
By Juan Mercado
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A10 of the May 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE hottest “bio-diversity hotspot” in the country could well be a pinpoint, 30 meters by 30 meters, alongside one of Cebu island’s more picturesque waterfalls.

“In this needle spot in Kawasan Nature Park, five threatened species of the highest diversity value were bunched up -- only on one of the river’s banks,” observes University of San Carlos’ Franz Seidenschwarz. “The magic of it all is this unique pinpoint looks similar to other stretches along the river. Nothing seems special. And yet, it is the hottest bio-diversity hotspot on Cebu island, perhaps in the entire Philippines.”

In Kawasan, Dr. Ernest Krach, for example, found a very rare alga: batrachospermum. No other Philippine town has it. Japan is the only other place in the world where it grows -- in Miyako’s Nu-gusuku-ga springs.

Kawasan at Matutinao, Badian, is 120 kilometers south of Cebu City. “Matud nila tin-aw” means “they say it’s very clear” -- a reference to the water’s sparkling purity.

The valley is one of a denuded province’s last habitats. It holds rare birds, including bee-eaters, hornbills, kingfishers. At least 10 pairs of the endangered black shama (copsycus cebuensis) were seen. “This thrushbird is found only in Cebu, nowhere else,” USC studies show. Highly endangered trees, like “ipil” (instia bijuga) and “tugas” (vitex parviflora), among others, flourish.

But in 1989, a mini-hydropower plant threatened to wreck the falls and valley’s tropical ravine forest. And few paid attention when then-power firm manager Fr. Francisco Silva and engineer Lutz Scholz of Germany’s aid agency GTZ decisively redrew the plans.

Their revised plans conserved the falls by staggered operating hours. It integrated a nature park component. The park dammed up intrusion into the valley’s vegetation. Guidelines for construction were drawn to protect wildlife.

What emerged, when the turbines first turned, on May 31, 1990, was an eco-friendly hydropower plant. It serves tourists. Its conserved bio-diversity trove draws scientists from Silliman University and universities abroad.

“Bio-diversity” refers to the full abundance of plant, animal and microbial life and ecosystems where these species interlock. Their unique genes are building blocks of life. High-yielding rice, for example, is spliced from different genes. So are hybrid livestock. Medicine against AIDS or cancer comes from plants.

Oxford University’s Norman Myers led scientists, in the early 1980s, in warning against the spiraling loss of plant and animal species. When species go extinct, so do their unique genes. It forecloses options for the future.

Myers also helped identify a series of “hotspots” worldwide. Among the five “hottest of the hotspots” pinpointed was the Philippines.

There is also the “accident” of history. The Philippines, Taiwan, Borneo and Sulawesi are separated by deep-sea trenches. Over millions of years, these trenches have resulted in a very high degree of endemism, i.e. many species occur only in this region.

Of the almost 400 species of birds in the Philippines, 44 percent are endemic. For mammals, it’s 64 percent, and 70 percent for reptiles. Thus, more than half of the country’s bio-diversity is found nowhere else in the world.

Fourteen years after the Kawasan hydro-plant-cum-nature-park started, the San Carlos Botany Research Group resurveyed the area. Among its conclusions were:

There’s been substantial re-growth of trees, mostly indigenous species, along Kawasan River. The initial rapid conversion of riverside vegetation into cottage areas is now balanced.

“Valley inhabitants generate substantial income from tourism. The power company is following agreements to maintain natural water flow to preserve the waterfalls.”

The nature park approach “assured the survival of species that were not even known at the onset of the project... Several very rare endemic species were discovered in the following years.”

Three damselfly species, all endemic to Cebu, were discovered in August 1999 and February 2001. The three are now scientifically catalogued, the latest being the Kawasan mosquito hawk (protostica plicata). The Kawasan paper kite butterfly was named after the renowned Cebu-lepidopterist, Julian Jumalon.

“The new findings were surprising,” the report notes. “It was thought that all species of forest dwelling damselflies would have already been extinct in Cebu because of the massive loss of forest cover.

“These species are very much endangered. Without the nature park concept, they would have vanished without even being discovered.”

And that’s precisely what happened 50 km up the road, at the Mantayupan Falls in Barili. There, a mini-hydropower plant was built with little regard for the falls and the surroundings. “Go, live in Africa,” then-governor Pablo Garcia of Cebu province taunted green groups.

Today, his daughter, Gov. Gwen Garcia, is revisiting a project that has wrecked the falls and the surroundings. It is one of those little ironies of history.

But it will be too late for some species. “We may never know what we lost,” Seidenschwarz observes.

At San Carlos University, he is finalizing a book on the issue. To come off the press later this year is “The Rare and the Vanishing: Cebu’s Special Plants and Animals.” The book will document the threatened plant and animal species of an island that markedly differs from those of its neighbors.

“There is no mechanism that can recall them from extinction,” Seidenschwarz says.

* * *

E-mail: juan_mercado@pacific.net.ph



Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=76887&col=110

Cebu looking for Silicon Valley formula for ‘Silicon Island’
By Alexander Villafania
INQ7.net

Cebu City’s IT firms are religiously seeking ways of becoming a true Silicon Valley by actually going to the famed location.
Cebu’s elite businessmen, IT firms and government officials are banding together to find the “missing ingredients” that made Silicon Valley into the world’s breeding ground for technological advancements and the prime spot for IT entrepreneurship.

The group recently made its first study tour of Silicon Valley April this year, visiting several IT companies, which included the research facility of Microsoft in San Jose, California.

The group is led by the Cebu Educational Foundation for IT (CEDFIT), which is a young private organization of IT firms that aims to promote IT business in Cebu. The organization is also laying out a strategy that hopes to make Cebu City an IT hub much like Silicon Valley.

Cebu City has even formed last March a new multi-sectoral organization called the Provincial ICT Council that aims to realize their Silicon Valley plans,
in which case, to call Cebu as the “Silicon Island.”

Although the plan is lofty, not to mention that it is the same battle cry adopted by other cities, CEDFIT Executive Director Bonifacio Belen explained that while other local government units are staking their claims to become ICT hubs, few have long-term goals to realize their plans.

Belen noted that Silicon Valley’s success story did not stem from the presence of privately owned firms but because of the close collaboration of startup companies with the educational institutions that were the source of commercially viable ideas.

“Then the government came in to legalize this collaboration between the private sector and schools by making laws that strengthened partnerships and by putting up agencies that helped protect the intellectual property of businessmen and the educational institutions,” Belen said.

In particular, Belen mentioned the presence of Stanford University’s Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), which serves as a clearinghouse for school research materials that could be made into actual products.

“The OTL gets 920 million US dollars of funding every year just to protect research materials. Eighty-seven percent of this amount comes from the government and 13 percent from the private sector. This is the kind of ecosystem that CEDFIT wants to happen in Cebu,” Belen said.

Belen also pointed out that while the Philippines is indeed in the map of worldwide ICT hubs, it is only because of the contact center services that the country is offering and not for the innovations that come from it. To go beyond services and into innovating is the real purpose of CEDFIT, he said.

“We’re good at marketing the country’s services but are we good in creating an environment where innovation is accepted? Silicon Valley became successful for its innovations that nearly all of us are using. Perhaps this should be our long-term goal,” Belen said.

Dumaguete also has a long-term vision for IT, largely because we drew from the advices of the CEDF-IT which helped us initially in setting up the soon-to-be next IT hub of the Visayas backed up by 2 multinational corporations (and growing). And while most LGUs are concentrating on callcenters, Dumaguete has been tracking the path of Cebu which is also to go into software development and other areas of IT such as medical transcription, etc.

In fact, I guesst the Cebu-Dumaguete IT Corridor will be realized and naturally evolve in no time whether or not authorities in both areas push for it...

Hey, and if you look at the fiber optics network of major telecom firms, they are concentrated in the Cebu-Dumaguete area...

from www.mb.com.ph

Asia Spa Magazine hails RP resort among world’s top 10





Foreign journalist and spa expert, Marc Tessier of Asia Spa Magazine, one of Asia’s leading spa publications hailed Badian Island Resort and Spa in the island of Cebu as number eight among the world’s top 10 in its May-June 2006 issue.


The resort is nestled between a cliff and Badian Bay and is only a five-minute ride from southwestern Cebu, where an intuitive "hilot" massage awaits guests. While many rub downs have predetermined strokes, this massage, native to the Philippines, is customized to each individual.

Aside from the tranquil setting and beautiful scenery, world-class Badian boasts of its Badehaus where spa treatment use centuries’ old blends and recipes combined with modern techniques. It offers its special baths such as herbal, guava, pandan, rampe and Cleopatra.

Likewise, the healing power of island’s seawater in Thalasso coming from the word "Thalassa" meaning "ocean" is a breakthrough in spa treatment. It contains a complex blend of natural minerals and antibacterial properties, and submersion in seawater, which promotes relaxation and rebalancing of the body’s mineral deficiencies.

Currently, health holidays are growing globally significant. Asia has already developed health tourism product since health and wellness using traditional healing methods like massage, healing and herbs is very much a part of Asian culture.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) continues to broaden the marketability of the Philippines as a destination by way of diversifying its tourism product offerings such as wellness and medical tourism in a bid to position the country as a premier health holiday destination in Southeast Asia.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said, "It is not difficult to invite foreign patients to come to the Philippines since treatments here are cheaper than in other countries. The Filipino’s facility in English as a second language in addition to our competent health professionals who were trained in the United States and Europe was also a plus factor."

The magazine ranked the top 10 list of island spas in the world namely: Le Taha’a Private Island in French Polynesia; Soneva Fushi Resort in Maldives; Pangkor Laut Resort, Perak Island, Malaysia; The Racha in Thailand; Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands in Caribbean; Evason Hideaway and Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara in Vietnam; Badian Island Resort and Spa, The Sentosa Resort and Spa at Sentosa Island in Singapore; and The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa in Hawaii, USA.

Number one on the list is La Taha’a Private Island Resort in French Polynesia which is situated 230 kms. from Tahiti in the South Pacific. The sheltered retreat boasts views of Bora-Bora and Taha’a Island. This ultimate island getaway tops the list for so many reasons. It boasts of 48 suites hovering above the ocean and 12 villas. The breezy Manea Spa lies in a coconut grove between a small lake and lagoon where the monoi pape miti vanira massage includes locally grown vanilla. Pushing indulgence to new heights, are two body-shaping sessions which take the massage table into the lagoon with the therapist waist-deep in water.

Ranked as second world’s best spa island is Soneva Fushi Resort, a stand out choice in Maldives. The resort’s Kunfunadhoo Island is both private and surrounded by a coral lagoon. Each villa is only a few steps from a dip in the warmth of the Indian Ocean and hidden from the others by dense vegetation. It’s enough to make it seem as though the island is uninhabited. It’s Six Senses Spa serves up an impressive range of treatments specifically its sensory spa journey where two therapists work in harmony pressing and stroking in unison during the body aroma massage. It all starts with a foot bath followed by a scalp massage and facial.

And third on the list is Pangkor Laut Resort in Perak Island, Malaysia which is a secluded resort located in the Straits of Malacca with signature sea villas built on stilts over the water. It’s cozy Spa Village nestled between the island’s rainforest and a tranquil bay with a menu that provides treatments from across Asia, is said to be addictive. The half-day Malay package using its unique lapis-lapis herbal wrap and campur-campur body treatment that highlights the extravagance soothes the body from head to toe.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) associate health spas or resort destinations with travel where the primary purpose is to improve the traveler’s physical well-being through a regimen of physical exercise and therapy, dietary control, medical services relative to health maintenance.

Meanwhile, to further intensify marketing efforts, the DoT will participate in the Spa Industry Seminar, an international spa event to be held at Shangri-La Mactan Island and Resort in Cebu on Sept. 15-17. The country will also host the Wellness Summit in 2007 in EDSA Shangri-La where some 500 foreign participants are expected to attend.

allow me to rekindle the issue regarding the juan luna ave. flyover as i have read commentaries from the opinion section of today's publication of the sunstar daily that gives the same issue some degree of sensation.


excerpt from: Controversial Juan Luna flyover (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/05/25/oped/elias.l..espinoza.html)
By Elias L. Espinoza

With all due respect, I could not agree with the claim of the protesters that the flyover would violate their privacy. Such reasoning is senseless if not absurd.

Perhaps, they think that motorists are “Peeping Toms.” But isn’t it silly for them to stop at the top of the flyover to look at someone else’s place?

Besides, the flyover will be constructed in the middle of Juan Luna Ave. and will not intrude into anyone’s property. And since no private property will be affected by the flyover’s construction, opposition to the project is nada.


excerpt from: Those nuns don’t fly (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/05/25/oped/pachico.a..seares.news.sense.html)
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense

I asked Rep. Raul del Mar, project author, why the nuns promptly got attention.

I said the nuns don't march or carry placards. Well, they sing but only during mass. And, for sure, these nuns don't fly, do they?

Raul said, "They send letters all over---perhaps even to God." The congressman, huge devotee of Santo Niño and great admirer of Cardinal Vidal, said that with only a faint trace of humor.

Raul can win elections handily without Carmelite votes but anti-rain prayers during campaign stumps can help.

And, who knows, God may now be chuckling over the nuns' letter.

from www.mb.com.ph

Asia Spa Magazine hails RP resort among world’s top 10





Foreign journalist and spa expert, Marc Tessier of Asia Spa Magazine, one of Asia’s leading spa publications hailed Badian Island Resort and Spa in the island of Cebu as number eight among the world’s top 10 in its May-June 2006 issue.


The resort is nestled between a cliff and Badian Bay and is only a five-minute ride from southwestern Cebu, where an intuitive "hilot" massage awaits guests. While many rub downs have predetermined strokes, this massage, native to the Philippines, is customized to each individual.



damn im proud of my hometown! :cheers:

^^
ya, thats not just Asia, its the whole WORLD man. Beat that if you can! :)

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/9796/badian76qa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/4734/badian84oq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/7507/badian95hu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



www.badianhotel.com

wooow.. cebu is the 8th best island destination in asia; shangrila mactan of cebu is the 9th best resort also in asia; and now badian island resort and spa is 8th among the world's top 10.. now what's next? marvin is the sugbuanon of the year.. hehehe

and also manny pacquiao is 3rd among the world's top pound-for-pound boxers.. he's the only asian in the list..

dabest jud ang pinoy.. :)

^^tinuod gud... basta pinoy

im proud to be a half cebuano.... congrats cebu...

but i guess cebu's growth could be limited by its lack of resources such as water and electricity...well, maybe it could always innovate as it has done many times before...or look to its neighbors....

i think this would not be a problem bai that's why i agree with your second statement. cebu's like singapore, an island not so rich in natural resources. i saw one feature in cnn way way back that singapore is dependent on malaysia on its water suppply. if you've heard it before, there were also plans of bringing bohol water to cebu pero murag wala na push through but it's still possible. our source of energy man sad gani comes from leyte and negros... :)

http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/4524/cis7fm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2254/campus0196sr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6687/campus0166zh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/663/campus0148mo.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6260/campus0107ke.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/9007/campus0126iu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/1360/campus0139iq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/7218/athletics0131cq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/4139/athletics0175oe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/738/students056cf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/3825/campus033uc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/2654/students091ib.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5109/students0304uk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ingon ani diay ang ilang sulod sa campus? I.S. gyud! cge lang ko kita sa ila bldg pero gawas lang... silingan gyud ni nako sa pit-os ang CIS... mag lagot lang ko kay mao naka busy sa pit-os... imagine, one big SUV with 1 cute grade school child inside! unsaon?!

@marv, CIE na pod sunod kay mas daghan ug HUBAG didto...hehe.. their school is like a hotel bai, they have LIFTS inside and a very nice lobby... and this reminds me of asking if na post na ba dire sa ssc ang pic sa CIE bldg.

Cebu looking for Silicon Valley formula for ‘Silicon Island’
By Alexander Villafania
INQ7.net

Cebu City’s IT firms are religiously seeking ways of becoming a true Silicon Valley by actually going to the famed location.
Cebu’s elite businessmen, IT firms and government officials are banding together to find the “missing ingredients” that made Silicon Valley into the world’s breeding ground for technological advancements and the prime spot for IT entrepreneurship.



and if they're looking for an endorser of CEBU, as a Sillicon Island, wala nay problema, naa na si Keanna Reeves, the SILLICON GIRL herself... hehehe :jk:

^^ thanks for this OVERTUREPH but you could have posted this in our 25th thread..we have one already... btw, im a university of san carlos alumnus myself.. hehe out of topic :)

Another one for Badian!





Viewpoint : Hottest ‘pinpoint’

First posted 11:10pm (Mla time) May 24, 2006
By Juan Mercado
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A10 of the May 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE hottest “bio-diversity hotspot” in the country could well be a pinpoint, 30 meters by 30 meters, alongside one of Cebu island’s more picturesque waterfalls.


“In this needle spot in Kawasan Nature Park, five threatened species of the highest diversity value were bunched up -- only on one of the river’s banks,” observes University of San Carlos’ Franz Seidenschwarz. “The magic of it all is this unique pinpoint looks similar to other stretches along the river. Nothing seems special. And yet, it is the hottest bio-diversity hotspot on Cebu island, perhaps in the entire Philippines.”


In Kawasan, Dr. Ernest Krach, for example, found a very rare alga: batrachospermum. No other Philippine town has it. Japan is the only other place in the world where it grows -- in Miyako’s Nu-gusuku-ga springs.

Kawasan at Matutinao, Badian, is 120 kilometers south of Cebu City. “Matud nila tin-aw” means “they say it’s very clear” -- a reference to the water’s sparkling purity.

The valley is one of a denuded province’s last habitats. It holds rare birds, including bee-eaters, hornbills, kingfishers. At least 10 pairs of the endangered black shama (copsycus cebuensis) were seen. “This thrushbird is found only in Cebu, nowhere else,” USC studies show. Highly endangered trees, like “ipil” (instia bijuga) and “tugas” (vitex parviflora), among others, flourish.

But in 1989, a mini-hydropower plant threatened to wreck the falls and valley’s tropical ravine forest. And few paid attention when then-power firm manager Fr. Francisco Silva and engineer Lutz Scholz of Germany’s aid agency GTZ decisively redrew the plans.

Their revised plans conserved the falls by staggered operating hours. It integrated a nature park component. The park dammed up intrusion into the valley’s vegetation. Guidelines for construction were drawn to protect wildlife.

What emerged, when the turbines first turned, on May 31, 1990, was an eco-friendly hydropower plant. It serves tourists. Its conserved bio-diversity trove draws scientists from Silliman University and universities abroad.

“Bio-diversity” refers to the full abundance of plant, animal and microbial life and ecosystems where these species interlock. Their unique genes are building blocks of life. High-yielding rice, for example, is spliced from different genes. So are hybrid livestock. Medicine against AIDS or cancer comes from plants.

Oxford University’s Norman Myers led scientists, in the early 1980s, in warning against the spiraling loss of plant and animal species. When species go extinct, so do their unique genes. It forecloses options for the future.

Myers also helped identify a series of “hotspots” worldwide. Among the five “hottest of the hotspots” pinpointed was the Philippines.

There is also the “accident” of history. The Philippines, Taiwan, Borneo and Sulawesi are separated by deep-sea trenches. Over millions of years, these trenches have resulted in a very high degree of endemism, i.e. many species occur only in this region.

Of the almost 400 species of birds in the Philippines, 44 percent are endemic. For mammals, it’s 64 percent, and 70 percent for reptiles. Thus, more than half of the country’s bio-diversity is found nowhere else in the world.

Fourteen years after the Kawasan hydro-plant-cum-nature-park started, the San Carlos Botany Research Group resurveyed the area. Among its conclusions were:

There’s been substantial re-growth of trees, mostly indigenous species, along Kawasan River. The initial rapid conversion of riverside vegetation into cottage areas is now balanced.

“Valley inhabitants generate substantial income from tourism. The power company is following agreements to maintain natural water flow to preserve the waterfalls.”

The nature park approach “assured the survival of species that were not even known at the onset of the project... Several very rare endemic species were discovered in the following years.”

Three damselfly species, all endemic to Cebu, were discovered in August 1999 and February 2001. The three are now scientifically catalogued, the latest being the Kawasan mosquito hawk (protostica plicata). The Kawasan paper kite butterfly was named after the renowned Cebu-lepidopterist, Julian Jumalon.

“The new findings were surprising,” the report notes. “It was thought that all species of forest dwelling damselflies would have already been extinct in Cebu because of the massive loss of forest cover.

“These species are very much endangered. Without the nature park concept, they would have vanished without even being discovered.”

And that’s precisely what happened 50 km up the road, at the Mantayupan Falls in Barili. There, a mini-hydropower plant was built with little regard for the falls and the surroundings. “Go, live in Africa,” then-governor Pablo Garcia of Cebu province taunted green groups.

Today, his daughter, Gov. Gwen Garcia, is revisiting a project that has wrecked the falls and the surroundings. It is one of those little ironies of history.

But it will be too late for some species. “We may never know what we lost,” Seidenschwarz observes.

At San Carlos University, he is finalizing a book on the issue. To come off the press later this year is “The Rare and the Vanishing: Cebu’s Special Plants and Animals.” The book will document the threatened plant and animal species of an island that markedly differs from those of its neighbors.

“There is no mechanism that can recall them from extinction,” Seidenschwarz says.

* * *

E-mail: juan_mercado@pacific.net.ph



Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=76887&col=110

^^ - Hey, the light of "o" in Polo was replaced already. :) Now, you can take a picture of it. :cool:

^^ that's neat... at least they're quick enough to respond not to mention that it's cLearLy visibLe from the city, i hope the midtown hoteL wiLL foLLow.. i think the letters 'i' and 'd' are not functioning, nasa fuente pa man.. :D

its against corporate law to be CEO and president simultaneously at a corporation... wala lang
Eugenio Lopez III, President & CEO - ABS-CBN
Napoleon L. Nazareno, President & CEO - PLDT
Atty. Felipe Gozon, Chairman, President & CEO - GMA7

and besides it can still be a corporatio even if its an SME... SME is just a category to refer to capital availability an labor force.
hehehehe i know.. :)

If i were you, i'd put up a limited partnership since it would have a bigger capital investment potential than a sole proprietorship but still smaller than a corporation's posibility.

i would still opt for a sole proprietorship. i already have a 'Business Name' registered sa DTI under my name when i turned 18. about the partnership thing that u suggested, yes it would have been easier for me to raise capital, but not necessary in my case. i actually know a lot of friends here who run their own business under sole proprietorship.

for partnership? any personal rifts between you and your partner will literally shred the alliance and the business. i wanna be the boss, mao gani mag put up ko og business nga ako ra magbuot-buot. i intend to start small. with proprietorship form of business, it would behard to expand labor force in large-scale. i'm not referring to a BPO type of business yet, as it requires huge capital. by that time, naa nakoy na form na corporation for sure, not just partnership.

oh by the way, i know this guy in cebu who owns a call center nga siya ra pud nag operate. around 20 employees lang sila. i'll pay him a visit end of this year pa.

ingon ani diay ang ilang sulod sa campus? I.S. gyud! cge lang ko kita sa ila bldg pero gawas lang... silingan gyud ni nako sa pit-os ang CIS... mag lagot lang ko kay mao naka busy sa pit-os... imagine, one big SUV with 1 cute grade school child inside! unsaon?!

@marv, CIE na pod sunod kay mas daghan ug HUBAG didto...hehe.. their school is like a hotel bai, they have LIFTS inside and a very nice lobby... and this reminds me of asking if na post na ba dire sa ssc ang pic sa CIE bldg.

naa nakoy nakit-an na pic sa CIE pero usa palang kabuok napa jud mga teachers nag posing2.. samok kaayo tanawn.. hehe mangukay lang nya ko balik sa internet basin naa ko makit-an lain na mga pics..


http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7125/39728038dsc010586lu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

mao rani ako pic sa CIE

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9569/15140170163a679e3e4b6bv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/336/15140170893d2c7c44eb1rq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9187/151401706625da6a0f6b8go.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

photos by: lokku's

naa nakoy nakit-an na pic sa CIE pero usa palang kabuok napa jud mga teachers nag posing2.. samok kaayo tanawn.. hehe mangukay lang nya ko balik sa internet basin naa ko makit-an lain na mga pics..


http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7125/39728038dsc010586lu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

mao rani ako pic sa CIE
hehe, nakasud na ko dinha.. perteng murag hoteL.. my mother wanted to enroLL my brother there but upon Learning that the tuition was like more than a hundred thousand pesos, she went no further steps... hehe..:D

Universitatis Sancti Caroli


USC Main building houses the administrative offices. USC currently has 4 large campuses, the biggest of which is the sprawling USC Talamban Campus.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main09.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main08.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main07.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main10.jpg


Newly improved sidewalks with Spanish-style lamps and palm trees.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main06.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main03.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main02.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main01.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main04.jpg


The pre-war USC Boys High School Building located beside the USC main building has been remodeled to house Jollibee and Netopia.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/usc_main12.jpg

^^ ingon ana palang tanan sidewalks sa cebu dili na siguro ko magjeep.. :D

More than a decade of "friendship" with South Korea?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/road_signs01.jpg

A Sidewalk
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/cebu_road14.jpg

The 12-storey Annex Building A of Chong Hua Hospital. At the back of it is Annex Building B. Both buildings are connected by covered walkways.

The shorter building at the foreground is the original Chong Hua Hospital building.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/ChongHuaHospital.jpg

Fuente area
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/crown_regency02.jpg

Emsu Hotel Building, the city's shorter version of Jardine House.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/crown_regency10.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/crown_regency11.jpg

This ain't an expensive car but at least it's cute. :)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/2006_05_25/cute_car.jpg

hehe, nakasud na ko dinha.. perteng murag hoteL.. my mother wanted to enroLL my brother there but upon Learning that the tuition was like more than a hundred thousand pesos, she went no further steps... hehe..:D

actually, the concept of the CIE building is really for hotel. the owner said if in case the school business won't do good, converting the facility into a hotel would be easier. the hotelish interiors and layout is very noticeable at the school lobby... there are elevators, etc. :)

CIE actually expanded here in Manila. they're currently holding classes at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Building expo opens today, targets architects, eng’rs


THIS year’s Philippine Building and Construction Expo (Expo) is expected to be bigger and grander than the previous years, as the event’s organizers decided to get closer to the public by holding Philbex in Ayala Center Cebu (ACC).

“We decided to transfer to Ayala because we have observed that people in Cebu prefer to participate in events held in malls rather than hotels,” Worldbex Services International (WSI) founding chairman Joseph Ang said.

“With Ayala Center as our new venue, we are confident that Philbex Cebu 2006 is the ideal venue to promote products, services and companies,” he said.

Strategic

WSI is the organizer of the three-day Philbex, which has been held in Cebu for the fourth year now. The event was held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino last year.

“Cebu will be hosting (again) Philbex, its fourth in a row because we see Cebu as a strategic venue for establishing new markets and generating more sales. It continues to be recognized for its track record of progress and growth,” Ang said.

Ang said the event’s transfer of venue has attracted more local players in the construction industry.

Manila-based construction companies, as well as those from other countries, will participate in the event.

More than 170 exhibitors engaged in the distribution of building materials, interior design and renovation, security and fire equipment, construction promotion, information technology and telecommunications as well government and private institutions will participate in the event, which will kick off tomorrow.

Converge

Philbex, the local version of Worldbex, is expected to converge architects, interior designers, engineers, distributors, importers and exporters, project managers, purchasing managers and other decision makers from the Visayas and Mindanao, Ang said.

He said WSI has spent more for this year’s expo. Aside from the booths that will be set up at the activity center of ACC, a fully air-conditioned and carpeted tent brought in from Germany will also be constructed at the lagoon area, between Cebu City Marriott Hotel and Laguna Garden Café.

One of the highlights of the event is a free seminar, dubbed “Converging Construction Innovations Toward Globalization,” which will be conducted by international speakers Jose Ma. Hubilla, president of Hubilla Design Group; architect Gilbert Yu and Tan Khoon Yong, feng shui consultant and founder of the Way OnNet Group.

Hubilla and Yu will discuss about trends in interior design while Tan will share his wisdom on feng shui theories and case studies that will provide a way “to meet the needs of the modern people in the 21st century.”

Work on Amara building to begin


CEBU Holdings Inc. (CHI) is set to begin construction of the clubhouse of its latest seaside development, Amara.

Amara, which is located at Barangay Catarman, Liloan, is a seaside residential community project of Ayala Land Inc.-affiliate CHI, in partnership with Coastal Highpoint Ventures Inc.

The ceremonial ground-breaking of the clubhouse is slated today at the clubhouse site. The structure is designed to compliment the community at Amara, one of the few lighthouse communities in the world.

The clubhouse will feature an infinity pool, among others.

At the launch last year of the project’s first phase, which involves 114 lots, Amara gained positive response from both local and foreign buyers.

The company is set to launch phase two, which offers a view of the Mactan Channel, within the year.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5992/amaramaingate250w9am.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9028/amaraph1clubhouse3250w7tv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7320/amaraph1clubhouse1250w7mh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7320/amarasportsfacility250w1vd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu seen as leading BPO support provider
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/26/2006

Cebu is projected to lead the world's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) support capabilities if only it could sustain and further improve its labor force.

According to a computer and IT research company XMG Asia Pacific, Cebu has the capability to go beyond the BPOs or merely as a call center hub.

XMG Asia Pacific senior analyst Cesar Tolentino made this projection of Cebu as a legitimate IT hub in the Philippines, during the first day of the 3-day 2nd Cebu ICT Summit currently held at the Cebu provincial capitol social hall.

"Because Cebu's pool of IT skills is more on engineering and high technology capabilities, it can lead in positioning as a high-end IT investment hub, not just customer service based call centers," Tolentino said.

More backroom operations like accounting, human resource, and legal services will be locating in Cebu, if the province will be able to effectively highlight this capability in the international market place.

Because Cebu is known not only as the second best offshore seat in the Philippines, (next to Manila) for BPO companies, but for sustainable supply of highly skilled IT engineers, and software developers, the trend for investment in the province is projected to take on the higher ground, which is into more industry-specific sourcing BPO like engineering, design, publications/content development and research and development (R&D).

From pure customer service like call center investments, or the pure outsourcers, Cebu has slowly gained international interest from investors in its capability to host more of back sourced BPO or shared service centers.

Tolentino expressed optimism of Cebu's potential to attract multi-million dollar investments in the next evolutionary step to outsourcing, such as Contract Manufacturing Service (CMS) and high-powered technology-based outsourcing.

He mentioned that case of Tsuneishi Technical Services Philippines, and Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, wherein the company, which is partly owned by the Aboitiz Group, started in Cebu as shipbuilding firm, now it has progressed into a ship design facility.

Also, more multinational companies, which have existing operations in Cebu, have already followed in establishing technology-based or software development facilities in Cebu, like NEC Telecoms Software Philippines, Inc., Lexmark's Research and Development Corporation, and Fairchild Semiconductor.

The investment charm in Cebu in terms of luring BPO investments is expected to moving higher from companies that are Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) to contract manufacturing.

Some companies in Europe, he said are now scouting for good investment sites for back-office outsourcing that require highly skilled or technology-based manpower pool.

He said Cebu has the advantage to get this kind of investments, thereby urging the government and private sector players in Cebu to work together in positioning Cebu as a high-end IT investment destination, rather than focusing on customer service base of BPO investments.

The BPO services global market is expected to grow by at least 40 percent to US$2.4 billion by the end of 2006. While the IT services market is expected to grow by at least 36 percent to US$1.14 billion by the end of 2006.

This year's 2nd Cebu ICT Strategy Summit carried a theme dubbed "Defining the Tasks for a United Cebu."

Philbex 2006 highlights feng shui
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/26/2006

The 4th Philippine Building and Construction Expo (PhilBex) in Cebu, which will open today at the Ayala Center Cebu (ACC), is highlighting its free feng shui seminar as this has become one of the primary requirements in the construction industry today.

"For the first time, we included a feng shui seminar to PhilBex Cebu, we see the need for architects and constructors to be well oriented in the feng shui to complete their masterplan," said WordBex Services International founding chairman Joseph Ang. WordBex is the organizer of PhilBex.

World class feng shui consultant Master Tan will be in Cebu to speak on the feng shui feature in constructing and designing a building or residential structure.

Ang said Master Tan will share his wisdom on feng shui theories and case studies that will provide ways "to meet the needs of modern people in the 21st century."

According to Ang, the feng shui feature has now become part of the requirements of most construction project clients in the Philippines. Architects and contractors must be able to get a glimpse on feng shui from a world known expert.

A descendant of an imperial feng shui master in Ming Dynasty, China 600 years ago, Singapore-based expert Master Tan is recognized as the 20th generation disciple of the Quan Zhen Hua Shan Sect.

The free feng shui seminar, which will be adopting a "first-come-first-serve" concept will be held at the Ayala Theater's One Stage Cinema, which can only accommodate around 570 participants.

The PhilBex event at Ayala Center Cebu, has built an airconditioned-tent to occupy the 1,400 square-meter exhibition area in Ayala's parking lot 5 and 6.

The exhibition will also occupy ACC's activity center, the Lagoon Area, to accommodate the 170 exhibitors from all over the country, and abroad.

This time, he said there are exhibitors from Malaysia, Thailand, and China, bringing in the newest trend in door, window products, among others.

In the last three years, PhilBex was held in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Ang said he decided to hold the exhibition in the mall, as Cebuanos would prefer to go to the mall, than in hotel events.

Ang added that this year, the exhibition is expecting a stronger volume of exhibition goers, and seminar participation, as Cebu's construction industry is on the upswing.

"With Ayala Center as our new venue, we are confident that PhilBex Cebu 2006 is the ideal venue to promote products, services and companies," he added.

Trade professionals from Visayas and Mindanao are expected to converge in Cebu starting today to witness topnotch companies from Manila, Cebu, as well as from other countries showcase their products and services.

Other seminar speakers on May 27 include; Jose Ma. Hubilla, president of Hubilla Design Group, Architech Gilbert Uy, recognized as the foremost "business architect" in the Philippines.

Hubilla and Yu will discuss and delve into themes like "Interior Design and Trends" and "A United Construction Industry: Great Things Can Be Done," respectively.

The 4th PhilBex Cebu 2006 is seen as a strategic venue for establishing new markets and generating more sales.

Last year's PhilBex Cebu gathered 300 booths from over 10 countries and attracted 20,000 visitors

MCWD starts P1.7M rehab of well in Sudlon, Lahug
The Freeman 05/26/2006

The P1.7-million rehabilitation works of the three-decade-old water well at Sudlon in barangay Lahug near the Central Command headquarters in barangay Apas have started, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District announced recently.

MCWD public affairs manager Terry Andaya disclosed that Well MC 27, which was built in the 1970s, was supposed to supply water to the areas near the camp but it stopped operating in the latter part of 1980 due to the deteriorating source of water then.

But recent study of the MCWD environment and water resources department showed that the available source of water has been restored already, prompting the agency to rehabilitate the well, said Andaya.

The rehabilitation works will include the construction of "flush to the ground concrete pump chamber," two levels of concrete control structure, installation of a submersible pump and gas chlorinating facility for direct water treatment process.

The project is estimated to be completed by the middle part of this year and is expected to increase the volume of water supply in the areas of Sanson Road, Sudlon, Lahug and in areas near BC Homes in barangay -Gregg M. RubioLahug


YEHEY!!! more water to us...

Baggage x-ray devices to be installed at ports
The Freeman 05/26/2006

Four baggage x-ray machines will be installed at Pier 1 and Pier 3, and two at Fifth Street, Passenger Terminal for Manila to beef up security measures in domestic ports and facilitate the comfortable travel of people.

These baggage x-ray machines are expected to arrive from Manila next week, according to Aimee Sibul, the spokesperson of the Cebu Ports Authority.

Another security device, the "walk through metal detector" already arrived here last week, Sibul added.

In related developments, security measures have already been in place to assure the safety and convenience of the public while traveling through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

The integration mode of transport system by land and sea has reportedly encouraged easy transportation and less fare expense for farmers.

Those traveling through the nautical highway can avail of the Roll-on-Roll-off Transport System provided by the shipping industries in cooperation with the Philippine Ports Authority. - Gregg M. Rubio

Are there any plans of renovating the USC main building? mura mag hugaw na cya tanawon..

^^actully bai that side along junquera street was already renovated but I don't think thae main building shpuld be renovated coz of its unique design...

btw, taga pardo ka @jrevalde, aight? og si pmarl? I if remembered it right, pardo public market before was one of the dirties in the city? per now it is already the model market here in the city for it's cleanliness og maoy representative sa city sa contest for the cleanest public market in the country, maytag maka daog...hehe

wooow.. cebu is the 8th best island destination in asia; shangrila mactan of cebu is the 9th best resort also in asia; and now badian island resort and spa is 8th among the world's top 10.. now what's next? marvin is the sugbuanon of the year.. hehehe

and also manny pacquiao is 3rd among the world's top pound-for-pound boxers.. he's the only asian in the list..

dabest jud ang pinoy.. :)


oh really? Badian, Badian, Badian? one of the BEST in the world? Oh my, Cebu is great... wapa raba jud ko kaadto anang badian, maytag naay mo dala nato didto kanang taga didto ba :D

Badian, 8th among the worlds top ten, youtube repost...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l68vIC7y6js

Eugenio Lopez III, President & CEO - ABS-CBN
Napoleon L. Nazareno, President & CEO - PLDT
Atty. Felipe Gozon, Chairman, President & CEO - GMA7


hehehehe i know.. :)



i would still opt for a sole proprietorship. i already have a 'Business Name' registered sa DTI under my name when i turned 18. about the partnership thing that u suggested, yes it would have been easier for me to raise capital, but not necessary in my case. i actually know a lot of friends here who run their own business under sole proprietorship.

for partnership? any personal rifts between you and your partner will literally shred the alliance and the business. i wanna be the boss, mao gani mag put up ko og business nga ako ra magbuot-buot. i intend to start small. with proprietorship form of business, it would behard to expand labor force in large-scale. i'm not referring to a BPO type of business yet, as it requires huge capital. by that time, naa nakoy na form na corporation for sure, not just partnership.

oh by the way, i know this guy in cebu who owns a call center nga siya ra pud nag operate. around 20 employees lang sila. i'll pay him a visit end of this year pa.
sory sayop diay. bawal mahimog treasurer ug president at the same time, bawal sab mahimog BOD secretary ug president at the same time... pero pwede mahimog BOD secretary ug treasurer at the same time... piskat... masuko gyud akong partnership and corporation law professor ani.

good morning Cebu.. ! (hehe, late na baya).. we've got cLear bLue skies today., perfect time for picture2x... maYta maka-picture2x nako uiz bisan ceLphone Lang.., paeta aneng waLay wawartz ui.. hehe :D

Lots of good news for Cebu! :applause:

GMA: Cebu should be ecozone

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

CEBU should be converted into an economic zone so enterprises there can enjoy tax breaks and special incentives that would boost the province as a major trade and investment hub in the region, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged businessmen during her visit Wednesday.

Francis Monera, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the President asked their group to formally ask the government to convert the province into an economic zone.

?She believed that whatever loss the country will have in terms of taxation can be offset by more vigorous development and economic activities in Cebu,? Monera quoted the President as saying when she inducted the new set of CCCI officers at the Marriott Hotel recently.

Firms located in ecozones have the option to pay a special 5 percent tax on gross income instead of national and local taxes. Ecozone locators, though, are still required to pay real estate taxes.

If Mrs. Arroyo?s wish would push through, Cebu would be the first province in the country to be declared a special economic zone.

?Cebu could be a good test-case because it is strategically located,? Monera added.

At present Cebu has four smaller ecozones: the Mactan Export Processing Zones 1 and 2, the West Cebu Industrial Park Zone in Balamban town, and the Asiatown IT Park in Cebu City

Any application for economic zone status has to be endorsed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to President Arroyo for her approval.

Monera said projects in information communication technology and tourism remain the two main engines for Cebu?s economic growth.

?The President recognizes the need to create an incentive-oriented environment for value-chain players specifically in the ICT and tourism industry,? he added.

Monera said President Arroyo also suggested that the CCCI touch base with local government units to help craft the incentives that can be granted to both local and foreign businessmen once the province is declared an ecozone.

?The President anticipated that there could be possible losses in taxation in the local level. She said the LGUs have to agree to give the incentives,? he said.

The CCCI, which began as an association of traders way back in 1913, has 722 member-companies whose headquarters are based in Cebu and have satellite offices in other parts of Central Visayas.

does this photo tell us that the lexmark building construction is going to commence soon?
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/mel74313/cbp.jpg

^^ is that a new photo..

^^ is that a new photo..

very recently bai. i clipped it from today's edition of cebu daily news cover page.

but is it lexmark's lot?

Mactan-Cebu bridges to get 5 cams each

By Dale G. Israel
Last updated 01:51pm (Mla time) 05/26/2006

CEBU GOV. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday announced that the two Mactan-Cebu bridges will each be getting five security cameras to help prevent vandalism and increase security.

Garcia, chairperson of the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB), said the P400,000 contract with Californa Electronics Systems, which would install the cameras, would be finalized and signed soon.

California Electronics is the same firm that installed the security cameras at the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound and the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

All 10 cameras will be operated and monitored from a temporary police outpost made out of 40-foot container vans to be set up on the Mactan side of the bridges.

Garcia earlier said the Capitol and the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) would also be able to monitor the camera feed some time after the devices are installed.

The governor, after a closed-door meeting with the MCBMB, said the cameras would help secure the facilities during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December.

Aside from getting equipped with cameras, Garcia said the bridges will also get a fresh coat of paint, courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways, which volunteered for the task in preparation for the summit.

does this photo tell us that the lexmark building construction is going to commence soon?
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/mel74313/cbp.jpg

Is the lot (with cut trees) owned by Lexmark?

Is the lot (with cut trees) owned by Lexmark?

i think not. where could that be? another development?

^^actully bai that side along junquera street was already renovated but I don't think thae main building shpuld be renovated coz of its unique design...

btw, taga pardo ka @jrevalde, aight? og si pmarl? I if remembered it right, pardo public market before was one of the dirties in the city? per now it is already the model market here in the city for it's cleanliness og maoy representative sa city sa contest for the cleanest public market in the country, maytag maka daog...hehe

Hehe, di man gyud ko technically tagaPardo kay amo balay naa naman sa pikas side sa tulay so Bulacao talisay nagyud amo, pero anha man gud ko tigsimba sa Pardo kay mao may pinakaduol(mas daghan sag gwapa manimba sa pardo kaysa tabunok.....pasayluon ta kos ginoo)...hehe.....btaw nindota sa cleanest nadiay ang Pardo public market karon! kahinomdom ko bago pa na cya na human, marag brandnew nga barko, hastang limpyoha pero mao lage wa ray tuig nagkamoritsing na, hahaiz saun taman pilipino man. pero maygani na limpyo ra gyud nila sa, giunsa man nila gipasiritag tubig sa bombero nga tuas pikas tapad... :)

Is the lot (with cut trees) owned by Lexmark?


yup that's lexmark! they are now fencing two lots, one for the RND and one for the corporate tower. an it involves the cutting down of the trees.

very recently bai. i clipped it from today's edition of cebu daily news cover page.

but is it lexmark's lot?

bai ning adto ko sa ayala gnina hapon nya nihapit lang sad ko sa site.. dako kaayo na lot ang gikural.. ang lot likod sa globe innove ug sa cebu holdings ky apil sa ilang gikural.. nya nangutana ko sa usa sa mga trabahante dunganon daw ug tukod ang duha.. ambot kung tinuod ba iya gisulti kay nagsnacks raba to siya basin gisamukan to nako kay sige lang ko pangutana.. basin gatando-tando lang to siya.. hehe

bai ning adto ko sa ayala gnina hapon nya nihapit lang sad ko sa site.. dako kaayo na lot ang gikural.. ang lot likod sa globe innove ug sa cebu holdings ky apil sa ilang gikural.. nya nangutana ko sa usa sa mga trabahante dunganon daw ug tukod ang duha.. ambot kung tinuod ba iya gisulti kay nagsnacks raba to siya basin gisamukan to nako kay sige lang ko pangutana.. basin gatando-tando lang to siya.. hehe


giadto gyud diay o, hehehehe. di gyud paawahi sugbuanon sa balita. kung naa pa ko cebu niadto sad ta ko sa site unya picturan dayon para naa koy mapost. nahanaw tanang punuan didto bai? pwerte na raba untang dagkoa sa acacia didto da. nindota diha tan-awon sa ayala no kay daghan kaayong construction. daghang madatu nga contractor ani.

bati diay ilaag diha sa ayala rong mga panahona kay daghang gikural. hehehe.

mao ra bya ni kalipay nato makahatag ug updates dire sa SSC.. hehe

putol na tanan kahoy didto hasta mga sagbot wala pasaylu-a.. pero oki ra kato mga dagko na kahoy wala man naapil naa ra sila gawas sa gikural.. daghan na kaayo gipang kural didto bai nya busy kaayo sa CBP ky naay uban trabahante naglandscape sa mga center islands ang uban nag cemento sa mga gipang ayo na dalan sa CBP..

Hehe, di man gyud ko technically tagaPardo kay amo balay naa naman sa pikas side sa tulay so Bulacao talisay nagyud amo, pero anha man gud ko tigsimba sa Pardo kay mao may pinakaduol(mas daghan sag gwapa manimba sa pardo kaysa tabunok.....pasayluon ta kos ginoo)...hehe.....btaw nindota sa cleanest nadiay ang Pardo public market karon! kahinomdom ko bago pa na cya na human, marag brandnew nga barko, hastang limpyoha pero mao lage wa ray tuig nagkamoritsing na, hahaiz saun taman pilipino man. pero maygani na limpyo ra gyud nila sa, giunsa man nila gipasiritag tubig sa bombero nga tuas pikas tapad... :)

wala pasiritig tubig bai...hehe... gistrikto na nilag maayo sa mga vendors association sa pardo market nga manglimyo after human og tinda og imaintain ang kalimpyo samtang nagtinda pa... gikasab an man gani ko atong usang adlaw kay gisud nko ang bisiklita, di naman diay pwede og ang naganahan nako kay dako kaayo ilang altar sa entrance gyud nga naay dako nga sto niño...mao tingali gikaloy an pud sila bisag dollar ila presyo...hehe. infact bai mostly mga adunahan sa tabunok adto mangupra sa pardo market kay hugaw daw ang sa tabunok, nagpaila lang gyud nga mga arte...hehe. May nalang nalimpyo ang market pero ang barangay captain dri maayong ihog sa kanal kay wa gyoy nahimo... cg lag basket...:D

you mean gitawag nilag titanic kay murag barko ang third floor... pero karon ang second og third floor gihimo naman og extension sa pardo public highschool... pero ang ceiling sa ist floor kay itom gihapon after nasunog atong 2004.

mao ra bya ni kalipay nato makahatag ug updates dire sa SSC.. hehe

putol na tanan kahoy didto hasta mga sagbot wala pasaylu-a.. pero oki ra kato mga dagko na kahoy wala man naapil naa ra sila gawas sa gikural.. daghan na kaayo gipang kural didto bai nya busy kaayo sa CBP ky naay uban trabahante naglandscape sa mga center islands ang uban nag cemento sa mga gipang ayo na dalan sa CBP..


kung ingon ana karon ang kahimtang diha sa cebu, unsa pa kaha inig kahuman sa asean summit. dako kaayong kausaban bisan ug tuig lang.

thanks kaayo sa mga good news bai. hope Lexmark will start the construction para maibog ang ubang lot owners diha.

got this this mga 5:30 krng hapon... di kaayo mklaro kay kusog ayo dagan mark...

nagfence na tuod nila ang Lexmark and outch to those old acacia trees...
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/kmf1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/kmf2.jpg

nagfence na tuod nila ang Lexmark and outch to those old acacia trees...



"A tree must die to let the seed grow." ;)

^^ok, thanks bai... now i know :)

Kapamilya Media Forum
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/kapamilya_media_forum.jpg

Microsoft has officially arrived in Cebu
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/microsoft_career_day.jpg

LUV CEBU!!!GOTTA LUV IT!!! :cheers: :gunz: :tyty: :cool: :yes: :angel: :carrot: :lovethem: :angel1: :rock: :cheers:

Microsoft has officially arrived in Cebu
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/microsoft_career_day.jpg


This one is in relation to the 2nd Cebu ICT Strategy Summit held last May 24 and 25 conducted by the Cebu Provincial ICT Council, and introduced the Cebu Silicon Island strategy, which aims to make Cebu an integral part within the country’s cyber-services corridor, and ways to bridge the digital divide within Cebu’s growth and development corridor.


more pix:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/DSC01312copy.jpg


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/DSC01308copy.jpg


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/DSC01310copy.jpg

SM City Cebu

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_city_cebu02.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_city_cebu03.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_city_cebu05.jpg


SM City's Annex Building, currently under construction

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_city_cebu06.jpg


Cebu Travel Fair at SM City

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair11.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair12.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair06.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair05.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair09.jpg


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair08.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/sm_travel_fair07.jpg

^^ola... guadalajara,hopiamanipopcorn, welcome to jollibee! este... CEBU!!! :D:jk:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/kmf3.jpg

btw, kudos to Kapamilya Media Forum... I really like their setting ;)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/kmf4.jpg

^^ ''their'' setting, or ''her'' setting? hehehe

^^ oi adto nasad nya mo picture sa philbex sa ayala.. gnina daghan kaayo tao sa ila exhibit.. :)

^^ adto bitaw ko ugma bai. tan-aw ko X3! hehehe.

Filinvest leisure group to build resort village
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/27/2006

The leisure group of Filinvest Development Corporation is building its first biggest project in the country, which will be a 12-hectare ultra high-end resort town called Seascapes at Mactan Island.

The P4 billion project, Seascapes is a world-class development envisioned to be the premier seaside resort village in Cebu that will be comparable with the best in the world.

The construction, which will start in 2007, will include 56-exclusive seaside lots as permanent or vacation homes, a beach club and spa, villas and casitas, and in the later part the company will build condominium units.

"This is absolutely not a subdivision, this is a resort. The 56 lot/home owners will have the world class standard resort as their playground," said Maitel A. Miñana, Filivest leisure group vice president.

This year, the group is focusing on marketing its 56 exclusive lot offering to discriminating market segment.

According to Miñana, this is the first of its kind project, in Cebu, if not in the Philippines, because it has a tourism component, which has a commercial resort component, offering 100 fully furnished casitas accommodation, and 40 villas.

The Casitas will be available for overnight or short time vacation via time share. While the 40 exclusive villas can be owned by somebody and have it rented to vacationers.

"This project is capitalizing the tourism charm of Cebu. It offers a little of everything. It has exclusive residence and tourism components combined," she said in an interview.

This year, the company is focusing to market the 56 exclusive lots. However, before the group put all its effort to attract the wealthy market, 50 percent of the available lots are already reserved.

"We are very careful in choosing our buyers for the exclusive lots. We can't give it in to any person although he has money," she said.

This is the first time, that the Filinvest leisure group has come to Cebu, although its sister company, the Filinvest Land has several residential projects that are geared to middle range market.

The 56 exclusive lot offering, which owners can automatically own a time share and avail of the facilities in the entire resort, has an average cut of 250 square-meter, which price is currently pegged between P10,500 to P12,500 per square-meter.

Filinvest chairman Andrew Gotianun Sr., who has a Cebuano root, has hand-picked the location of this biggest and most expensive project ventured by the leisure group, located in Barangay Dapdap, in Mactan Island.

Miñana said by June of 2008, the Beach Club and Spa will be opened, and Casitas and Villas will be on full swing.

Filinvest Development Corporation is one of the largest developers in the Philippines, developed 1,500 hectares of land in the last four decades, shopping centers, it also engaged in different businesses like banking (East West Bank), and projects like shopping centers, central business districts, high-rise offices, and condominiums, recreational farms, leisure clubs, industrial estates and an information technology park.

Backed up by the 'deep pocket' of the Gotianun business empire, Seascapes is positioned to be the leading private recreational resort in the area where one can live permanently, or simply enjoy it as a weekend getaway or a short vacation. The usage of the resort facilities will be exclusive to lot and unit owners, beach club members and short-term Casita guests.

Kapamilya Media Forum
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/skyscrapercity/kapamilya_media_forum.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/DSC01312copy.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/DSC01308copy.jpg

bravo guyz! :applause: thanks for the photos... i'm so excited for Lexmark!!! :rock: and Microsoft ;) it's good to see these companies giving job opportunities not just for Cebuanos :cool:

ASEAN SUMMIT: 5 ambassadors here to inspect facilities
The Freeman 05/27/2006

Five ambassadors and 10 other representatives from member countries of the Association of Southeast Nations and its dialogue partners were here in Cebu yesterday to inspect the five hotels where the delegates shall be billeted as well as the construction site of the Cebu International Convention Center where the ASEAN summit and related summits will be held this December.

The governor, who went to meet the five ambassadors at the CICC site in the North Reclamation Area of Mandaue City, told reporters the latter were reportedly impressed with the pace of the construction.

This as while the targeted date for the completion of the CICC was originally slated for November 15, the schedule has been moved earlier to October 31.

The ambassadors who came were those from Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. A representative from Cambodia was also present. All five countries are member countries of the ASEAN.

The ambassador of Korea, one of its dialogue partners were also here together with China's deputy chief of nation, Japan's and New Zealand's first secretary, India's first secretary and charge d' affaires, and the representatives of other countries, such as Australia.

The ambassadors and representatives from other countries that will take part in the upcoming 12th ASEAN Summit and related summits were here yesterday to check on various hotels where their chiefs of states will be billeted.

These are the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, Plantation Bay Resort, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel, and Marriott Cebu City Hotel.

The ambassadors and others representatives were also here to check on the progress of the CICC.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., who sits as the secretary general for the national organizing committee and as chairman of the local organizing committee for the ASEAN Summit preparations, had already clarified that 90 percent of the activities related to the summit will be held in the CICC.

The completion of the CICC substructure is almost a month ahead of its construction work schedule, that is it was already completed last April 28 instead of its targeted completion date last May 23.

In the absence of a negative slippage, the Project Monitoring Office of the said project led by Enriquez will be recommending to the Bids and Awards Committee for infrastructure projects that the contract for the construction of the superstructure will also be awarded to the same contractor, the WT Construction.

WT quoted the lowest bid at P84.5 million for the construction of the 100-million substructure of the CICC and has passed all the criteria for post-qualification.

Capitol has allocated a total P250 million for the construction of both the substructure and superstructure of the CICC. It intends to keep within the budget.

In the meantime, the contractor is doing the site development and fencing, which works should have started sometime in July or August, while waiting for the awarding of the contract for the superstructure.

The PMO is on the process of evaluating the cost of the superstructure because its project cost is needed before bidding and/or subsequent awarding of the contract can be done. - Cristina C. Birondo

Filinvest leisure group to build resort village
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/27/2006

The leisure group of Filinvest Development Corporation is building its first biggest project in the country, which will be a 12-hectare ultra high-end resort town called Seascapes at Mactan Island.

The P4 billion project, Seascapes is a world-class development envisioned to be the premier seaside resort village in Cebu that will be comparable with the best in the world.




not another one! woohoo! :rock:

ASEAN SUMMIT: 5 ambassadors here to inspect facilities
The Freeman 05/27/2006

Five ambassadors and 10 other representatives from member countries of the Association of Southeast Nations and its dialogue partners were here in Cebu yesterday to inspect the five hotels where the delegates shall be billeted as well as the construction site of the Cebu International Convention Center where the ASEAN summit and related summits will be held this December.


Maybe this is the reason why a chopper was hovering all day yesterday over mactan and cebu city.

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7684/dsc01360copy6xx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7613/dsc01386copy1on.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

more...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf9.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf8.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf7.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf6.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf5.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf4.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf2.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf1.jpg


SO ANOTHER BIG RESORT FOR CEBU:rock::rock::rock:

It's actually a flight training of PAF. And some instances, the Fokker will go rounds with different kinds of approaches. By the way, the UH-1 can conduct night flights (I guess it's the new N model, it's night capable).

If you wonder why C-130 keeps on doing touch and goes last time, they are actually test flights after overhauling their engines, airframes, and avionics at Clark.


Maybe this is the reason why a chopper was hovering all day yesterday over mactan and cebu city.

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7684/dsc01360copy6xx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7613/dsc01386copy1on.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Oh ok. salamat bai.

By the way, yesterday amo gituyok ang isla sa mactan. Niagi me sa Cebu Light Industrial Park. Nagsugod na man jud d i ang road widening didto dapita. dba dapit man didto inyo bai wind shear? hehe.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/mfbkmf1.jpg



actually not only one, but two! that's how secure the park is.


http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/273/dsc01365copy7gj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Oh ok. salamat bai.

By the way, yesterday amo gituyok ang isla sa mactan. Niagi me sa Cebu Light Industrial Park. Nagsugod na man jud d i ang road widening didto dapita. dba dapit man didto inyo bai wind shear? hehe.

Sugod na ang road widening sa among dapit. In fact they are building drainage system.

Speaking of Cebu Light Industrial Park, naa na pud tukod isa ka building. Gibutang ang karatula sa luna tapad sa among building gitrabaho-an.

^^ SO CLIP has its own construction boom. pics unya bai. :D

Filinvest leisure group to build resort village
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/27/2006

The leisure group of Filinvest Development Corporation is building its first biggest project in the country, which will be a 12-hectare ultra high-end resort town called Seascapes at Mactan Island.

The P4 billion project, Seascapes is a world-class development envisioned to be the premier seaside resort village in Cebu that will be comparable with the best in the world.


nice!!! another worldclass resort in mactan.. cebu never runs out of good news.. :)

^^ SO CLIP has its own construction boom. pics unya bai. :D

Hopefully, I can borrow a digicam to take photos.

^^ panghulam ni mark or ni slerz bai windshear.. hehe si mark ay daghan kaayo na digicam.. ingon gani siya tagaan kuno ko niya ug usa.. :D

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9667/1524095159683d38d4bbyf3av.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6637/ssc12dm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4908/ssc23fi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9663/1524094265b5811930db7mn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cebu business park


photos by: steve inga

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7995/15240947637e20ffacbb4uh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4426/1524090181c6da64146b3ug.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2995/152409086b4c3abc779b9ri.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4135/152409120ac4ea16169b1ce.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cebu business park


photos by: steve inga

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/3164/sunstar0059xc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cebu business park

waterfront hotel@ night
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/slerz3/wtrfntabd.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8412/image0026js.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

3rd fuente tower: [proposal]

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7797/image0089xl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

asian college of technology: [u/c]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9002/image0070us.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

commercial bldg: [proposal]

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4600/image0066hd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

a new landmark in cebu: proposed shrine and lake park

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4246/riodejaniero2ok.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


location: nivel hills near marco polo plaza hotel

features:

- amphitheater
- chapel
- a large lagoon/lake
- park
- a statue standing more than 10-storeys similar to the famous landmark of rio de janiero
- blah, blah, blah.. klimot nako sa uban

Use int’l summit exposure to market Cebu’s potentials


The Asean summit in December offers a huge economic opportunity for Cebu and the business sector must take advantage of this, a senator said yesterday.

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Cebu should market its investment potentials during the gathering of the heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their dialogue partners, including the United States and China.

“Hosting the summit is a good opportunity for Cebu to showcase its best,” Roxas told youth leaders during a national convention in Lapu-Lapu City.

That was the argument local business chambers and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano used, in opposing earlier this year a proposal to declare a non-working holiday in Cebu during the Asean summit. That proposal, however, was approved.

In terms of contributions to the national economy, Roxas said Cebu is competing with the special economic zone of Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon).

“Kinaiingitan ang Cebu (Cebu is the object of envy),” said Roxas, a former investment banker and trade secretary before he ran for the Senate in 2004.

During his speech at the first annual National Youth Conference on Caring Leadership (NYCCL), Roxas also stressed the importance of good governance.

He cited studies by international institutions that revealed there is no causal link between the form of government and economic development—yet good governance results in economic progress.

Cebu, Roxas said, “is doing great.”

When asked to give specifics, he said tourism is thriving, with several direct flights from other countries, good infrastructure, strong and attractive investments, specifically in the export sector, and the perceived unity among Cebuanos.

He said some foreign investors prefer Calabarzon because of its proximity to Metro Manila. But the labor costs and real estate there are rising, together with traffic problems, making Cebu more attractive.

He cited Lexmark’s success at the Mactan Economic Zone.

Roxas said some semi-conductor companies are also planning to relocate to Cebu because of its improving international air traffic connections.

As for security matters ahead of the Asean summit, Roxas said:

“We should be careful with what we say and not engage in speculations.”

Local government and police officials are making sure the Asean summit is going to be a success, with security being tightened especially after a bomb was left at the entrance of SM City mall last May 11.

Police were alerted. They defused the bomb and shot two suspected bombers during a chase.

NYCCL invited Roxas as one of their speakers on “a vision for the future.” The conference is a joint project of Cebu Jaycees and Alay sa Bansa.

The activity brought together 120 youth leaders, 18 to 35, and mentor-leaders to discuss plans based on the framework of “caring leadership.”

Use int’l summit exposure to market Cebu’s potentials


In terms of contributions to the national economy, Roxas said Cebu is competing with the special economic zone of Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon).

“Kinaiingitan ang Cebu

(Cebu is the object of envy),” said Roxas, a former investment banker and trade secretary before he ran for the Senate in 2004.

Cebu, Roxas said, “is doing great.”

He said some foreign investors prefer Calabarzon because of its proximity to Metro Manila. But the labor costs and real estate there are rising, together with traffic problems, making Cebu more attractive. ”

grabe ka roxas, modako man sad ako atay nimo :)

Councilor wants state auditors to ‘preview’ SRP sales


Before bidding the 295-hectare South Reclamation Project (SRP) to investors, specific guidelines should be submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA), a Cebu City councilor said.

Councilor Gabriel Leyson, chairman of the committee on infrastructure and foreign-assisted projects, suggested that the committee on awards for real property disposal adopt terms of reference and have these reviewed by City Council and COA.

This way, the City Government will avoid problems with state auditors when they review the multi-million peso deals that the City will enter into with SRP tenants.

Leyson explained that this is the first time that the City will be selling a huge property declared as a special economic zone.

However, there have been precedents of a local government unit (LGU) selling properties to private entities, like what former Cebu governor Emilio Osmeña did with the old Lahug airport and the Club Filipino in Barangay Banilad, Leyson said.

“Perhaps they can follow the same procedures like how they sold Block 27 in the North Reclamation Area. But is this acceptable to COA when it conducts the post-audit? How can the City answer them? Good thing that except for the Gokongweis, nobody else was interested to buy the property and there was a failure of bids,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

Consultants

Leyson is the former project director of the Metro Cebu Development Project (MCDP) 1 and 2, the office tasked to oversee the road-widening projects of Cebu City in the late 1980s.

“What the Provincial Government did at that time was to meet the private sector, some consultants and bidders and asked them to submit draft guidelines that would be studied for the Capitol to adopt. I’m sure that passed COA,” he added.

Leyson said he is wary about the lack of proper guidelines because COA this time has no pre-audit on the government agencies’ financial transactions, only post-audit.

So, state auditors will not be in the position to warn the government against a certain transaction, irregular or not, he said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña told the committee on awards for property disposal “to hold in abeyance” the publication of the invitation to interested investors to bid for the 20-hectare portion of the SRP.

City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said they still have to complete the bid documents and other requirements for the bidding of the lots.

The City expects to earn P2 billion from the property at P10,000 per square meter, according to the committee on awards for real property disposal.

The City still lacks the approval from COA for the sale of the 20-hectare portion, said Fernandez.

COA will not let City Hall follow procedures adopted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered companies, which are owned by private corporations.

@sugbuanon: cool lagi ang 3rd fuente tower. so this is beside the tower 1? ila na diay na acquire ang yuta nga gibarogan anang naay 4 storey grey bldg (kanang naay silver dollar club) between thier lot and metrobank?

^^ murag na acquire na man cguro bai kay last february gi demolish na man ang uban houses sa luyo sa silver dollar. basin inig human sa crown regency pa idemolish sad ang silver dollar.

^^ murag na acquire na man cguro bai kay last february gi demolish na man ang uban houses sa luyo sa silver dollar. basin inig human sa crown regency pa idemolish sad ang silver dollar.

mao ba na ang tapad sa metrobank bai? kung naa sa tunga sa metrobank ug tower 2, mura ug dako dako na ang lote no?

ingon ana ka grabe diha nga dili kabasta basta ug picture? kuyawa gud!!! binoang man na! hehheheh murag unique na diha sa ato nga bawal magpicture picture.

ato suwayan dito pangutana sa cebu city forums kung asa kutob pwede magkuha ug pictures. kung pwede ang turista, ngano ang locals dili? ayaw ko ug ingna nga gukdon nila ang hapon o koreano kung mamicture. i don't see the logic behind it. terrorism?

mamadlung ra sila bai basta mag picture2 ka ug buildings.. mura gud sila magduda nimo basin na nya ka lain plano.. kapila nako giduol ug gwardya pero wala nuon sila manuko.. mangutana ra sila nganu nag picture2 ko.. ako pasangil pirme kay para project namo sa architecture.. pero ngadto sa philbex oki raman mag picture2 didto..

mamadlung ra sila bai basta mag picture2 ka ug buildings.. mura gud sila magduda nimo basin na nya ka lain plano.. kapila nako giduol ug gwardya pero wala nuon sila manuko.. mangutana ra sila nganu nag picture2 ko.. ako pasangil pirme kay para project namo sa architecture.. pero ngadto sa philbex oki raman mag picture2 didto..



ako lagi gahapun bai pirti nako pic-pic wala lagi ko badlunga. hehehe. bisag wala ko nanaghid.

^^ ako diay wala man sad ko nananghid gahapon.. hehe

ako pasabot na building kay kanang building na tinuod ba.. preho atong nahitabo nato sa asiatown..

^^ aw bitaw. hehehe. sunod bai kita na sad magdala ug shotgun.

^^ panghulam ni mark or ni slerz bai windshear.. hehe si mark ay daghan kaayo na digicam.. ingon gani siya tagaan kuno ko niya ug usa.. :D

Pwede? :D ehehehehehe... *sheepish mode*

^^ hehehe. pwd man bai. unya sunod basta makasuroy me dha balik sa mactan.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4600/image0066hd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

a new landmark in cebu: proposed shrine and lake park

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4246/riodejaniero2ok.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


location: nivel hills near marco polo plaza hotel

features:

- amphitheater
- chapel
- a large lagoon/lake
- park
- a statue standing more than 10-storeys similar to the famous landmark of rio de janiero
- blah, blah, blah.. klimot nako sa uban

Oh my, :runaway: Another Cebu landmark in the works!

[center]http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4600/image0066hd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

a new landmark in cebu: proposed shrine and lake park

location: nivel hills near marco polo plaza hotel

features:

- amphitheater
- chapel
- a large lagoon/lake
- park
- a statue standing more than 10-storeys similar to the famous landmark of rio de janiero
- blah, blah, blah.. klimot nako sa uban

Is this shrine/park part of of Marco Polo Plaza?

as usual, here are my revised edition. hehe
images posted by Sugbuanon

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4908/ssc23fi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a301/rusty2die4/blender/tpc01_render.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8412/image0026js.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
^^i don't quite understand the concept rendering of Tower III. it's like diagonal pero i don't think there's still enough space on that area.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a301/rusty2die4/blender/v1-fuente-triangle02.jpg
here's my 3D version of the Fuente Triangle

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a301/rusty2die4/blender/v1-fuente-triangle02.jpg
here's my 3D version of the Fuente Triangle


Neat! This would prolly be the outcome if theyll build tower 3 in that area. Nice job bai. :okay:

Neat! This would prolly be the outcome if theyll build tower 3 in that area. Nice job bai. :okay:

hehe thanks.. they should come up with more detailed renderings. tower II's construction update even looks pretty edgy as opposed to their rendering which looks plain box.

by the way, all of Tower III's residential units are loft-type. so the height is about 1.7x taller than the usual standard single level bedroom unit.

^^ and is it going to be 36 storeys high? so it will turn out to become higher than Crown Regency aight?

^^no it wont.

example: its not 36 floors x 1.7.
it's 1.7 x the number of floors = 36. hehe

based on my rendering, the residential levels are counted as 2 floors. so all in all, murag 36 floors ra pud siya. :) residential level starts at the 9th floor. 7th-8th floor are for commercial/office units.

^^ oh ok. thnx. anyway we wont be seeing this one rise any sooner. at least not in the next 2-3 years. hehehe.


________

from a travel brochure:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2082/brochure8ht.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ayala Center looks so massive in that pic even if it was chopped. :cool:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4600/image0066hd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

a new landmark in cebu: proposed shrine and lake park

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4246/riodejaniero2ok.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


location: nivel hills near marco polo plaza hotel

features:

- amphitheater
- chapel
- a large lagoon/lake
- park
- a statue standing more than 10-storeys similar to the famous landmark of rio de janiero
- blah, blah, blah.. klimot nako sa uban



Is this shrine/park part of of Marco Polo Plaza?

it looks pretty close to the hotel bai but it's not part of marco polo plaza.. but it would be a good idea if they'll connect the hotel to the park.. marco polo would surely benefit from it..

^^

That brochure by Mark was given to us at the Travel Fair Booth in SM City. It features an updated map of Cebu Province complete with heritage and tourist destinations, some pictures, facts, directory (hotel and commerical establishments), etc.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/brochure_cebu01.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/brochure_cebu02.jpg


The proposed BRT will run from Talisay City up to Mandaue City (Jagobiao?). The total distance is more or less 24 kilometers.

A BRT will also run from Minglanilla, passing by South Coastal Road, up to the Cebu Presidential Office.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cebucity_map.jpg

^^ and the first map ive seen with SRP on it.

it looks pretty close to the hotel bai but it's not part of marco polo plaza.. but it would be a good idea if they'll connect the hotel to the park.. marco polo would surely benefit from it..


naa na ni timetable bai? what will be the make of the shrine (cement, metal, etc)?

@Sugbuanon


Marvin, do you have any idea who is behind this project?

The area where this will be built looks like the exact location of Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung's sprawling mansion compound.

If this is her project then for sure this will be realized considering that her husband is a tycoon from Hongkong. She is a Cebuana Philantropist and her company owns the Mactan Island Memorial Park. I think they also have a diamond trading business in Hongkong.


http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4600/image0066hd.jpg

@ mark: there was no info bout the shrine bai only the rendering and pics of the actual site..

@arnold: it's a project of arch't. nestor mangio.. but i forgot the name of the developer.. here's another project displayed at the booth of arch't. n.s. mangio: http://www.lakeshore.com.ph/ hope the shrine would turn out like lakeshore..

^^

ahh okay because from that view, it seems that the project will either be at the Bethania Retreat House or, as I've mentioned earlier, at Yeung's sprawling compound.

a 10-storey structure sitting atop nivel hills will definitely be visible in the city especially at night. hopefully they will build it very soon.

when wiLL the BRT start its operation? Is this reaLLy going to push through or is it stiLL in its proposaL stage? :D

^^ According to Mr. Ging-Ging Osmena of LTFRB, it will be implemented two months from now. A private company already invested an initial P20 M for 16 buses plying Mandaue-Cebu-Talisay City route.

^^ According to Mr. Ging-Ging Osmena of LTFRB, it will be implemented two months from now. A private company already invested an initial P20 M for 16 buses plying Mandaue-Cebu-Talisay City route.

are those brand new buses bai? kuyaw ug karaan kay ang polusyon.

^^ other that those information wala na lain gisulti si Mr. Osmena. but im pretty sure that itll be new buses. after all its an investment from a private company, not just any donation from another city or entity.

Everything's going so fast... What's this BRT system?

^^ Its the Bus Rapid transit jin. more info in the trasport and infra thread.. ;)

SM mulls building another commercial center in Cebu
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 05/29/2006

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) is currently in search for a three-hectare property in Cebu for its planned SM Supercenter Hypermart in Cebu.

SMPHI president Hans Sy said that the company would want to buy a strategic location around Cebu of at least three-hectares, after SMPHI failed to win the bid offered by Cebu Province to dispose its 2.85-hectare Banilad property, formerly the location of Cebu International School and Cebu Tennis Club, for commercial use on a Build-Transfer-Operate (BOT) scheme.

The Cebu SM Supercenter and Hypermart will have a huge supermarket, or grocery component, while it will also be open for retail merchants.

"We are hoping to develop a Supercenter and HyperMart in Cebu," Sy said in an interview.

However, Sy declined to further elaborate on this plan to build another commercial center in Cebu, but he mentioned that the SM Group is bullish of the retail industry in the Philippines, including Cebu.

Sy mentioned that the increasing dollar remittances to the Philippines, from the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and the growing number of call center workers, are the two main drivers of the Philippine economy.

The increasing dollar remittances in the Philippines, which is projected to grow P2 billion to P3 billion more annually, is seen to uplift the purchasing power of the Filipinos. He added that the increasing number of call center workers is also one of the primary markets for retail in the Philippines.

Last year, the dollar remittances that came in to the Philippine economy reached P10.5 billion.

Aside from OFWs and call center agents, tourists are also great contributors to push consumer demand in the Philippines.

Although he said that the company is currently in negotiations with two International hotel chains to pursue the construction of its unfinished hotel project in Cebu, he expressed stronger interest in investing in another commercial project in Cebu.

The company's SM City Cebu has started a P200 million to P300 million expansion project, a two-level annex, an extended mall set to commercially open in May next year.

SM City Cebu owns about 18-hectare property at the North Reclamation Area, this already include the area where the unfinished hotel is built. The main SM City Cebu mall has utilized about 13 hectares.

Last year, SM City Cebu registered a double-digit sales performance, amid the country's "perceived" economic struggles, coupled with political instability.

Recently, the SMPHI opened its most expensive and largest shopping center ever built in the Philippines, the 400,000 square-meter size Mall of Asia. According to Sy, the establishment of the P6.5 billion Mall of Asia is the group's gesture of positive outlook in the Philippine economy.

"The Philippines is here to see a better economic future," Sy concluded.

btw, here's some of Kapamilya Media Forum discussions about Cebu's Mass Transport System..

Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ZNcRrPaig

Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZmsLxAJtBo

Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i-zeCnB3pA

Kato wala kapaminaw, paminawa para maklaro ninyo unsa gyud ang plano nila regarding Cebu's mass transport system...

^^

The proposed BRT will run from Talisay City up to Mandaue City (Jagobiao?). The total distance is more or less 24 kilometers.

A BRT will also run from Minglanilla, passing by South Coastal Road, up to the Cebu Presidential Office.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/cebucity_map.jpg

nice! the city of hamilton here in canada is also getting a brt. is cebu's brt gonna be like this?

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6821/untitled1sx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

and are the jeepneys not allowed to serve places with brt?

^^ Btw, do we have exclusive bus lanes (called as yellow lanes in Manila) in Metro Cebu already?

^^ According to Mr. Osmena, the PUV lanes (Both for jeepneys and buses) will be implemented before the BRT, so within two months.

^^ - I don't see exclusive bus lanes yet. Maybe they're going to expand the current roads to accomodate the bus lanes.. and i think they should, because if current roads will have a bus lane, i think there will be more congestion on the streets. :)

it's nice to hear that there will be exclusive lanes for jeepneys and buses.. at least my father won't have a hard time driving anymore coz he hates those jeepneys stopping in the middle of the road just to load/unload passengers..., hehe.. :D

^^ - I don't see exclusive bus lanes yet. Maybe they're going to expand the current roads to accomodate the bus lanes.. and i think they should, because if current roads will have a bus lane, i think there will be more congestion on the streets. :)

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3231/miniestbus6qy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

narrow roads? no problem.. here's the solution.. hehe


http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7008/front8zq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4228/neobus17zr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i suggest they'll use buses than run on natural gas.. aside from its cheaper than diesel its also environment-friendly..

Upon my post, we're already half the life of the 25th thread, lol...

I can't wait for our Gold (50th) thread. :lol:

guys... asa dapit ang plaridel??

France to join ASEAN Summit


Last updated 12:44pm (Mla time) 05/29/2006

One of Europe’s biggest economies, France, is set to sit in during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December in Cebu.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who chairs the Cebu Organizing Committee, said Ambassador Marciano Paynor confirmed the participation of the French delegation during a meeting last Friday.

Garcia said French President Jacques Chirac will be joining the ASEAN meetings and the East Asia Summit, which follows the formal meeting between heads of state from the ASEAN member countries.

In the East Asia Summit, the 10 ASEAN countries will be meeting with dialogue partners India, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China and Russia.

Garcia said France, which is a member of the European Union, signified its interest to join the East Asia Summit.

“They have expressed interest maybe because ASEAN has been able to realize its objectives as an organization, gain ground in forging cooperation and unity among its members in the different issues that affect us,” Garcia told Cebu Daily News.

Garcia believes that France is interested in discussing basic issues like terrorism and trade with ASEAN countries.

“The world is getting to be smaller for us and the traditional dividing lines are no longer there. Europe is no longer so far away,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) already acquired some motorcycles and security cars needed for the ASEAN Summit.

Police Regional Office director Silverio Alarcio Jr. said he would go to Camp Crame in Manila on Monday to check whether the logistical equipment can already be shipped to Cebu.

He said he does not yet know how many of the vehicles were purchased.

“I was just told by the logistics officer that some of our procurements needed for the summit have been arriving already,” he said.

Alarcio said communication and other equipment needed for the summit would be purchased soon.

He said the PNP needs at least 5,000 personnel to secure the summit, which could be filled with some reinforcement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. /Reporter Kathy Navarro with correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan

^^ - I don't see exclusive bus lanes yet. Maybe they're going to expand the current roads to accomodate the bus lanes.. and i think they should, because if current roads will have a bus lane, i think there will be more congestion on the streets. :)


Yup bai, Mr. Rogelio mentioned that some roads along the route will be widened. :)

I hope they can implement this as soon as possible. :)

SM mulls building another commercial center in Cebu

"We are hoping to develop a Supercenter and HyperMart in Cebu," Sy said in an interview.




What's the difference between a mall and Supercenter/Hypermart?

guys... asa dapit ang plaridel??


If you mean Plaridel street sa Cebu, kanang kalsada from 14 storey-Ludo & Luym Bldg (cor. Juan Luna) paingon sa Carbon.

thanks jimbu

What's the difference between a mall and Supercenter/Hypermart?

a hypermart has a big grocery store/supermarket as its main component. you go to a hypermart to buy mainly foodstuffs, meat, etc. a mall is an alley lined with shops and a supermarket could be one of those shops.

What's the difference between a mall and Supercenter/Hypermart?

supermarket - a large self-service grocery store selling groceries and dairy products and household goods

hypermarket -A very large commercial establishment that is a combination of a department store and a supermarket.

Wikipedia
hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore which combines a supermarket and a department store. The result is a gigantic retail facility which carries an enormous range of products under one roof, including full lines of fresh groceries and apparel. When they are planned, constructed, and executed correctly, a consumer can ideally satisfy all of their routine weekly shopping needs in one trip to the hypermarket.

A shopping mall (or simply mall), shopping center, or shopping arcade is a building or set of buildings that contain stores and have interconnecting walkways that make it easy for people to walk from store to store. The walkways might be enclosed. In the United Kingdom and Australia these are called shopping centres (and sometimes a mall) or shopping arcades. In North America the term mall is preferred.

What's the difference between a mall and Supercenter/Hypermart?

SM's definition of a supercenter:

>An SM Supercenter is an SM Supermall that has huge potential for future expansion. An SM Hypermarket on the other hand is a supermarket and department store coined into one.

Business groups to help develop Mandaue roads

By Kathy Navarro
Last updated 12:51pm (Mla time) 05/29/2006


In preparation for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, Mandaue businesses have volunteered to help in the beautification efforts of the city government, particularly the roads around the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Architect Florentino Nimor of the City Zoning Office said F. F. Cruz, the developer of Mandaue's South Reclamation Area, has adopted Ouano Drive for beautification.

The Gaisano family, owners of the Gaisano chain of department stores and the Taft I.T. Zone, has promised to beautify the Mantawi International Drive.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will work on C.D. Seno Street.

The businesses, Nimor said, took it upon themselves to help the Mandaue City government because funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the repair of roads had been minimal and was not enough to complete the objectives of the city's beautification program.

Nimor, a member of the city's beautification committee headed by city first lady Linda Ouano, said the city government has already started landscaping C.D. Seno Street, which would serve as a model for the other beautification efforts.

Officials from the city’s beautification committee, Nimor said, have met with representatives from the business groups. An agreement has been reached on the scope of each business’ beautification effort.

One such agreement was to landscape the center islands of each road to be beautified.

Nimor said Ouano wanted the area around the CICC as well as the roads that delegates were expected to pass through – such as those going to the airport and hotels – developed first.

During the meeting of the ASEAN national organizing committee last Friday at the Grand Convention Center, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia presented the beautification plans of three local government units involved in the ASEAN preparations – Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town.

Cheryl Ouano, who represented Mandaue, said the city government was able to solicit funds from the DPWH and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

The money would be used by the city government in its beautification plans for the Mandaue, she said.

Ouano added that during her trip to Manila last week, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane promised to repair some of the local roads, prioritizing those near the CICC.

She added that the LBP had also committed to contribute P1 million. The city had asked LBP for P2.5 million.

HI..Everyone..!!!I like very much Cebu..!!!I wish i can go to Cebu very soon..!!!Go Go GO,,,,!!!!CEBU>>>..!!!

^^ hi kianshi.. welcome to the cebu thread.. :)


na-usab na lagi ang SSC.. nigamay

^^
unsai ni gamay, ang mga forumers? basta ako pirmi ko online dili lang ko pirmi post -- :)

^^ ako sigeg tanaw lang... tanaw ug pics... ui, pics pa...

maghimo na sad ta banners for cebu. the new banner size is 719x123.

mas ni-nindot Lagi ang SSC run... okee na kaau ang layout.. hehe, unya mas dako pa jud ang banner.. :D

^^
unsai ni gamay, ang mga forumers? basta ako pirmi ko online dili lang ko pirmi post -- :)

dili ang forumers ashton.. :)

na-usab iya lay-out nabaghu-an ko.. nigamay siya dili preho sauna na lapad.. ila unta ni e black instead sa white ky sakit kaayo sa mata.. :D

by wantet
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/252/flickrwantet1tl.jpg


by vpcola
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8174/flickrvpcola2hh.jpg


by RoyTC
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2765/flickrroytc25mk.jpg

^^ nacopy lagi nimo pic ni wantet mark? imo na gi print screen?

mi sunod ko nimo bai gipangbutangan nasad nako ug signature ako mga pics.. hehe

by wantet
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/252/flickrwantet1tl.jpg


by vpcola
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8174/flickrvpcola2hh.jpg


by RoyTC
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2765/flickrroytc25mk.jpg
kaLami ba tanawun gud... :D, one of the best pics of cebu I've seen.., thank you for posting those kuya Mark.. :D

^^ nacopy lagi nimo pic ni wantet mark? imo na gi print screen?

mi sunod ko nimo bai gipangbutangan nasad nako ug signature ako mga pics.. hehe


yup print screen bai. naglaway ko sa mga pics-pics didto bai. :D

ang kato border bai kay ako ra sad to gisunod sa style ni BoNduRanT. hehe

^^ dili ta palupig post sad ta ato mga pics didto.. hehe

bitaw makasuya kaayo ila mga pics nindot man gud kaayo ila mga cam.. ako mentinar lang ko ug guba-on intawn.. hehe

^^ dili man na sa cam bai, naa na sa talent. pareho nimo ba nga talentado kaayu! hehehe.

Call centers in RP heading north, says property consultant
Cebu City now 'least favored'
inq7.net (http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=7&story_id=77422)


CALL centers in the Philippines are looking at the possibility of locating their expanding operations north of the capital Manila, a property consultant told INQ7.net.

David Leechiu, president and general manager of Leechiu and Associates, said that many offshore call centers are looking at key areas in the north, including Baguio City, Dagupan City, and La Union province, as potential areas for expansion.

"We're bringing companies outside of Metro Manila now," added the property consultant, whose firm, an international affiliate of Savills, has handled property deals for outsourcing operations.
[B]
Cebu City in the central Philippines has also been a good destination for call centers but the executive said the city is now "least favored."

"I believe they want to give the city a breather, giving the industry there time to grow. Too many call centers are going there now," he added.

ai o no.. kabantay ko .. hehe :)

dili ang forumers ashton.. :)

na-usab iya lay-out nabaghu-an ko.. nigamay siya dili preho sauna na lapad.. ila unta ni e black instead sa white ky sakit kaayo sa mata.. :D

^^ dili man na sa cam bai, naa na sa talent. pareho nimo ba nga talentado kaayu! hehehe.

haha bukhad man sad ato atay ug batikon.. :D

Cebu known for its pool of software developers
Last updated 02:35pm (Mla time) 05/29/2006

Cebu should capitalize on its competitive edge in software development, according to Cesar Tolentino, XMG director of intelligence and data services and senior analyst for market intelligence.

Speaking during the recent Cebu ICT Strategy Summit, Tolentino noted that Cebu is increasingly known for its sustainable pool of quality talent for software development.

Cebu is also known for its growing pool of software development companies that form the building blocks for higher-valued information technology (IT) services such as business process outsourcing (BPOs), he added.

Tolentino cited the presence of good universities in Cebu, which produce graduates with more technical skills in various fields, such as accounting and engineering. Because of this, he said, Cebu would attract more BPOs, rather than call centers.

These would include those engaged in back-room operations (accounting and human resource) and more industry-specific sourcing such as engineering design, publications and content development, and research and development, Tolentino pointed out.

“The IT services is expected to remain the biggest segment of the information and communications technology (ICT) services global market by the end of 2006, possibly accounting for at least 90 percent share of the global market,” Tolentino told the summit participants.

In the Philippines, the IT services market is estimated to grow by at least 36 percent to $1.1 billion by the end of 2006, he said.

However, the IT services contributed only $0.10 billion to the country’s ICT revenues generated by Philippine-based companies, amounting to $1.8 billion in 2005. About $1.7 billion came from BPOs, the bulk from call centers.

The BPO services market is expected to grow by at least 40 percent to $2.4 billion by the end of 2006, Tolentino said.

The most significant trends in the BPO services sector are the back sourcing and the selective sourcing. The back sourcing refers to taking back a portion of what has been outsourced, while selective sourcing is the breaking up of business processes into more than one vendor. /Irene R. Sino Cruz

^^ waaat?? when Leechiu said the cebu is now 'Least favored', was he referring onLy to their company, or to aLL caLL centers in general??? hehe.., :D

Cebu known for its pool of software developers

...Cebu is also known for its growing pool of software development companies that form the building blocks for higher-valued information technology (IT) services such as business process outsourcing (BPOs), he added.

Tolentino cited the presence of good universities in Cebu, which produce graduates with more technical skills in various fields, such as accounting and engineering. Because of this, he said, Cebu would attract more BPOs, rather than call centers.

These would include those engaged in back-room operations (accounting and human resource) and more industry-specific sourcing such as engineering design, publications and content development, and research and development, Tolentino pointed out.
...

Call centers in RP heading north, says property consultant
Cebu City now 'least favored'


Cebu City in the central Philippines has also been a good destination for call centers but the executive said the city is now "least favored."

"I believe they want to give the city a breather, giving the industry there time to grow. Too many call centers are going there now," he added.

Maybe they do not want to oversaturate the market, so as of the moment the 12+ call centers is enough for Cebu.

Still for me, Cebu is the best in terms of ICT outside MM.

But maybe its time to venture to other BPO's as well.

ya i think the other article states that we have to capitalize on our advantage as having a pool of talents in software development.
just an example is lexmark. the 22 storey bldg that they will construct will house their software development while the 8-storey will be for hardware with their laboratories also in it.

^^ its not sad, its an opportune moment for cebu to develop other industries. there should be more investment in a) industrial activities specifically heavy insudtries such as shipbuilding, car manufacturing, and even gun/military hardware manufacturing (our very own gunsmiths in danao can more than meet the demand for small arms by police forces in the country) in fact the Philippine company Armscor is one of the largest military hardware provider in southeast asia and in south africa... this industry for legitimate buyers such as governments, no crimelords involved. we should convince russian military manufacturers to invest here. b) tourism. c) financial/banking institutions. d) creative/design industries maybe its time that filipinos should be serious with making computer games. the all-filipino computer game anino was awarded as the best indie computer game before despite the lack of financial resources and lack of experience by the makers.

Maybe they do not want to oversaturate the market, so as of the moment the 12+ call centers is enough for Cebu.

Still for me, Cebu is the best in terms of ICT outside MM.

But maybe its time to venture to other BPO's as well.

although call centers are more famous than software development companies in cebu, but the latter even in their silence have contributed so much also into our local ict industy. people may not know that cebu hosts to big software development firms like lexmark, nec, epson, ncr (national cash register of the u.s.), bigfoot, timex, apti/adtx, ng khai, esprint, etc. microsoft and ibm will soon join the bandwagon. there are other unheard software development companies making waves too. the first few companies i mentioned employ at least 300 each and they are still growing.

most importantly, we have to address the dilemma on our substandard educational system. capitalizing on human resource above all else is tantamount to strengthening all industries.

^^ exactly... you watched Oprah yesterday on starworld? you could relate our situation to that one except far more advanced/worse.

knsa na si Wantet Marvin? unsa na nga site? unsay printscreen?

^^ sa flickr.com arnold.. usa na siya sa magsige ug post ug mga pictures sa cebu.. tanawa lang sa site nya e search "cebu".. 11,000 kabuok pics sa cebu didto kaso dili lang tanan ma download..

OT: tanaw nya mo unya 11:30 sa "Travel Time" sa Studio 23.. they'll be talking bout the tourism industry of the country.. their guest speaker is no less than sec. ace durano himself..

i also tried searching and it returned around 15,000 results contrary to what kuya marv said.., astang daghana'g nndot nga pictures ui., nndot sad baya.. professional quality in many ways.. :D

Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Filinvest to develop P4B resort in Mactan

Cebuano taipan Andrew Gotianun has chosen Cebu as the host of its biggest investment in property development.

Filinvest Development Corp. vice president Maitel Miñana said the company, the leisure group and holding company of the Filinvest group of companies, is banking on Cebu’s tourism potential for its P4-billion premier residential and resort project.

“This is so far the biggest project of Filinvest’s leisure group. This is four times bigger than Palms Country Club, our most successful leisure project in Manila,” she said in an interview.

The 12-hectare Seascapes Resort Town, located in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, is a world-class development envisioned to be the premier seaside resort village in Cebu that will be comparable with the best in the world, Miñana said.

She said Filinvest is bullish on this project because the company believes that Cebu is ready for this kind of development.

Vibrant

“We believe Cebu is ready. It’s about time. You feel the movement of the economy here than in Metro Manila. People there seem hopeless and trapped. But not in Cebu. The economy here is vibrant, especially on tourism because Cebu has become the tourism capital of the Philippines,” Miñana said.

Seascapes, the first of its kind in Cebu, is composed of 56 exclusive seaside lots, which could be used for permanent or vacation homes, a beach club and spa, villas, casitas and condominium units.

The beach club and spa will have several themed restaurants and bars, private meeting rooms, a children’s center and sports facilities that include badminton, tennis, swimming and other water sports.

The villas and casitas are spacious units with a living room, bedroom terrace and bathroom.

Exclusive

Miñana said the use of the resort facilities will be exclusive to lot and unit owners, beach club members and short-term casita guests.

She added that the resort will be built in phases with the first half of 2008 as the target completion date. Land development for the 56 lots and casita models are ongoing and will be completed within the year.

The Filinvest group’s maiden project in Cebu is the 34-hectare middle-end project, Corona del Mar, located in Pooc, Talisay City. (JBN)

http://images.inq7.net/news/nation/images/2006/may/30/index_nerv.jpg

yehey! ma-alegre nasad ang toledo

Cebu Silicon Island
By DENNIS POSADAS
Business World 2006/05/30

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Cebu ICT Summit last May 24, which had the objective of developing a consensus and plans to make Cebu a "Silicon Island."

Judging from the excitement of the attendees in the convention, I think Cebu has the makings of an innovation zone, and I will tell you why.

For starters, the initiative is driven from the top. Governor Gwen Garcia was there to encourage the delegates to develop Cebu into an ICT zone, and yet reminded the audience that the benefits of ICT also need to trickle down to the underpriviledged.

Another thing going for Cebu is its compactness. Everyone is just 30 minutes away from each other. It has a large expatriate community; it has direct flights to and from key Asian cities; it has multi-national technology companies like Lexmark, NEC, Terradyne, and a host of others. There are also homegrown hardware and software com-panies here, and the universities are also interested in developing technologies for commercialization.

One of the organizers even mentioned that the Cebu business community was willing to put up its own angel fund for ICT startups. He called it "majjong" money, a reference to the fact that the Cebu businessmen were willing to take their bets on people with brilliant ideas, just to get the technopreneurship thrust going. A major university also mentioned that it was beefing up its computer science department; many of the faculty in the audience actually have degrees from the US and Japan, and are interested in developing technologies like advanced algorithms for search (like Google and Yahoo).

Cebu, I think, has the makings of a Philippine Silicon Valley. It’s not only the resources and the people they have, but more importantly they have (as a city) decided that they are going to do it; to try to join the ranks of innovation areas in Asia like Dalian (China), Zhongguancun (Beijing), Pudong (Shanghai), Shenzhen (China), Bangalore (India), and Hsinchu (Taiwan).

And I believe they can do it.

nag start naman diay ang MCIA Admin building I saw it last nyt, paspas kaau ang construction sayang wala lang ko kadala ug cam.

^^ bitaw, they are now on the 2nd floor.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9462/5679388781060bg8gk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

on the 20th floor will be a Chinese Restaurant having a spectacular view of the City - capable to accommodate 500 heads.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5852/9679388781060bg6pc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Actual Photo - GYM on the 15th Floor (Operational)

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/4074/2779388781060bg9un.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Actual Photo - ROOMs exclusively for Club Ultima Members - Fully Furnished & Operational

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/7390/4779388781060bg5vi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Actual Photo - OFFICES for Business Meetings - Exclusively for Club Ultima Members. OPERATIONAL on the 19th Floor (Tower-1)

Wow kalami! hehehe . Pwede ba makasulod bai ang dili members basta naa lang kuyog na member sab? Maayu unta to naa si Resty para makasulod ta. hehehe

mao jud.. pero oki lang ky hasta si cebuwow member man sad.. basin inig uli nila ngari sa cebu pasudlon ta nila sa hotel.. nya pakan-on pa jud ta sa chinese restaurant.. hehe

France To Sit In Asean Summit

May 29, 2006 7:54 p.m. EST


Josephine Roque - All Headline News Contributor

(AHN) - It has been confirmed that France will join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December in Cebu.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor has confirmed the attendance of the French delegation.

French President Jacques Chirac will be joining the ASEAN meetings and the East Asia Summit, which follows the formal meeting between heads of state from the ASEAN member countries reports Cebu Daily news.

The 10 ASEAN countries participating are:India, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China and Russia.

France to join ASEAN Summit


Last updated 12:44pm (Mla time) 05/29/2006


One of Europe?s biggest economies, France, is set to sit in during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December in Cebu.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who chairs the Cebu Organizing Committee, said Ambassador Marciano Paynor confirmed the participation of the French delegation during a meeting last Friday.

Garcia said French President Jacques Chirac will be joining the ASEAN meetings and the East Asia Summit, which follows the formal meeting between heads of state from the ASEAN member countries.

In the East Asia Summit, the 10 ASEAN countries will be meeting with dialogue partners India, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China and Russia.

Garcia said France, which is a member of the European Union, signified its interest to join the East Asia Summit.

"They have expressed interest maybe because ASEAN has been able to realize its objectives as an organization, gain ground in forging cooperation and unity among its members in the different issues that affect us," Garcia told Cebu Daily News.

Garcia believes that France is interested in discussing basic issues like terrorism and trade with ASEAN countries.

"The world is getting to be smaller for us and the traditional dividing lines are no longer there. Europe is no longer so far away," she added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) already acquired some motorcycles and security cars needed for the ASEAN Summit.

Police Regional Office director Silverio Alarcio Jr. said he would go to Camp Crame in Manila on Monday to check whether the logistical equipment can already be shipped to Cebu.

He said he does not yet know how many of the vehicles were purchased.

"I was just told by the logistics officer that some of our procurements needed for the summit have been arriving already," he said.

Alarcio said communication and other equipment needed for the summit would be purchased soon.

He said the PNP needs at least 5,000 personnel to secure the summit, which could be filled with some reinforcement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

i've just read that Central Visayas with a population of about 6 million contributed 8% to the Philippines' GDP.

Philippines GDP (PPP) $451.3 billion
Central Visayas GDP (PPP) $36.1 billion
Central Visayas GDP per capita $6,017
-----------------------------
Metro Cebu (56% of CV) $20.2 billion
Metro Cebu GDP per capita PPP (2 million) $10,108

City to replace PUJs with buses

By Doris C. Bongcac
Last updated 08:22am (Mla time) 05/30/2006


Cebu City is planning to implement a rapid bus transit system, according to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña during Monday’s meeting with operators and drivers of jeepneys plying routes from Mandaue City.

Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (NADSU) chairman Anthony Pogado said Osmeña told him about the plan during the closed-door meeting held at the mayor’s conference room to try to discuss the implementation of the terminal ordinance.

However, Osmeña also assured that the city government would assist public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators during the transition, Pogado said during the meeting.

“I told them (PUJ operators) that we have to shift to buses. Their (jeepneys’) days are already numbered,” the mayor said.

While he opposed proposals for the establishment of a “highly expensive” mass transit system in Cebu, Osmeña said, he wanted to try a rapid bus transit.

The city government may decide to buy buses and lease these to private operators who would spearhead the implementation of the rapid bus transit program.

Initially, buses would be operated in routes that are without PUJs, Osmeña said.

“We have to pioneer something. We can't just go on war with the drivers forever. We have to take a risk as part of our learning process,” the mayor said.

Mayor Osmeña has been meeting with drivers and operators in past weeks to hear their plea to have the implementation of the terminal ordinance deferred pending a review of its legality.

Instead, the mayor warned drivers that they would be arrested and their vehicles impounded if they insist on plying their routes and pass through Osmeña Boulevard.

Osmeña said the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) would continue to implement the terminal ordinance that would require drivers to load and unload passengers only in designated terminals.

Pogado said they presented to Osmeña an option that would lessen the entry of Mandaue City PUJs into the city without having to necessarily ban them.

Pogado said CITOM may impose a selective ban on PUJs with plate numbers ending in numbers 1 and 2 on Monday.

Those with plate numbers ending in numbers 3 and 4 may be prohibited from using city streets on Tuesdays. However, he was told to instead bring his proposal to CITOM executive officer Arnel Tancinco, Pogado said.

“We also do not want to go to the extent of implementing an odd-even scheme here. That would be too much of a burden for the operators.” he said in the dialect.

-edit-

Goodbye Jeepneys! :cry:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3231/miniestbus6qy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

narrow roads? no problem.. here's the solution.. hehe


http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7008/front8zq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4228/neobus17zr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i suggest they'll use buses than run on natural gas.. aside from its cheaper than diesel its also environment-friendly..

I wonder if there are also buses that run on 100% ethanol. They shoud get those kind they have in Brazil (if they really do exist), so the city can also help the sugarcane industry.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4920/intro12gs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/7672/4308323261060bg6gc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/1269/540731483060bg6sn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7078/930731483060bg9is.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/5335/420731483060bg2wn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4920/intro12gs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4600/310731483060bg9yg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9595/510731483060bg8gn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6008/710731483060bg7hh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3889/910731483060bg5pu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

nidako na sad lagi balik ang layout sa ssc. hehe

CH considers letting companies maintain Fort San Pedro, plaza


Cebu City Hall may let the private sector manage and maintain the Fort San Pedro and the Plaza Independencia, two of Cebu’s historical landmarks.

This way, the City Government can avoid the “headaches” of running a public park, maintaining its cleanliness and making it attractive to visitors, as well as its peace and order, said Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

He wants to test the limits of the private sector participation in government.

“I discussed it with the vice mayor. Why don’t we give it to the private sector, somebody like San Miguel Beer or Jollibee or Michel Lhuillier, whatever, because I’m very strongly influenced by what has transpired in Ontario, Canada. There’s a park there where you can only buy Pepsi Cola. Pepsi runs the park and the government does not spend anything,” he told a news conference yesterday.

He said he can either let San Miguel Corp. or Asia Brewery or Mc Donald’s take care of and run the park.

Test

“Let them serve beer and barbecue and let them take care of the peace and order also,” he said.

He will test the scheme for about two years and bid it out. But in the meantime, the mayor said, he will give special concession to the “first guy who is willing to assume the risk.”

The City Council last Wednesday passed a resolution authorizing Osmeña to enter into an agreement with the Philippine Tourism Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the management of Fort San Pedro, including the building occupied by the offices of the employees of the authority.

The agreement would authorize the City to tap nongovernment organizations or foundations to manage and maintain the fort.

Osmeña said the authority means he has an option, not that the council can order him.

He said he will have to review the terms and conditions of the agreement.

“We’ll have to start thinking out of the box because if you will let the business sector run it, they will try to make it attractive to the population, otherwise alkanse gyud sila. I offered Plaza Independencia five years ago to San Miguel Corp. but they were not interested. If we’re going to turn it over, it will be very nice after the highway there and the Palace (Malacañang of the South) is there.

Whatever, let them make the proposal,” the mayor said.

Resources

He assured that the City would not let the private sector do anything that would erode the significance of the historical landmarks.

“We’re not going to let them carve San Miguel in the fort or something like that.

We are trying to save the resources of the government and allowing private initiative to come in. Of course, what they will do will have to be in good taste.

It will have to be fairly substantial to public acceptance. I’m sure they won’t have a bikini open or Saturday night or something like that,” the mayor said.

^^ Bilib jud ko ani Tomas da. Naa jud plano. Maayu unta dawatun na sa SMC this time, and I wouldnt mind if they will rename it to Plaza Independencia San Miguel, it still sounds spanish. hehehe.

Woot! Nice pictures.

I'll be in Cebu city in...oh....like 24-30 hours. I'm in the USA right now.

I'll also be visiting borucay (sp?), tuburan (my grandpa was mayor here), and alcoy (sp?).

If anyone sees a mestizo (me), old white guy (dad), and filipina mother (old, but she doesn't look old) wondering around...that's us :)

mao jud.. pero oki lang ky hasta si cebuwow member man sad.. basin inig uli nila ngari sa cebu pasudlon ta nila sa hotel.. nya pakan-on pa jud ta sa chinese restaurant.. hehe

walay problema na! sige pakan-on pud ta mo, hehehehehe! hopefully sometime in august.

^^ looking forward to that bai. hehehe. maayu unta humana ang resto sa club ultima by that time. hehe

Wow kalami! hehehe . Pwede ba makasulod bai ang dili members basta naa lang kuyog na member sab? Maayu unta to naa si Resty para makasulod ta. hehehe

ganahan mo mosulod? ako ingnon ako manghud nga paubanan mo para makapicture picture ug para makakita sad mo sa actual, ug dili lang kay ang gawas ra pirmi. ato lang pud paubanon si sayboomyboo para di mo mauwaw. kanus-a man? sa june 8 naa na sa cebu si sayboo. unsa man?

^^ sure bai! hehehe. anytime kana dili mahasol imo manghud unya inig abot na ni harvey. ok ra man cguro weekends so maybe june 10 or 11. thnx in advance ;)

Woot! Nice pictures.

I'll be in Cebu city in...oh....like 24-30 hours. I'm in the USA right now.

I'll also be visiting borucay (sp?), tuburan (my grandpa was mayor here), and alcoy (sp?).

If anyone sees a mestizo (me), old white guy (dad), and filipina mother (old, but she doesn't look old) wondering around...that's us :)

really? hope you enjoy your stay here bro.

if you will see somebody taking pictures of buildings, then he's gotta be one of us here. hehe. :D

Bon Voyage!

^^ sure bai! hehehe. anytime kana dili mahasol imo manghud unya inig abot na ni harvey. ok ra man cguro weekends so maybe june 10 or 11. thnx in advance ;)

ok ra sa weekdays. you can try it out at crown regency mactan too if you may wish.

What: Concert and Fireworks Display


When: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 @ 08:00 pm


Where: Banilad Town Center in Banilad, Cebu.

ok ra sa weekdays. you can try it out at crown regency mactan too if you may wish.

ok ra sad kaayu bai. mangutana lang sa ko unsa consensus sa uban. basta thanks so much in advance bai.

Ruiz wants bridge shanties gone

By Kathy Navarro
Last updated 08:54am (Mla time) 05/30/2006
Cebu Daily News

Squatters living underneath the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge may have to give way to Mandaue City’s beautification program for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

Architect Florentino Nimor of the City’s Zoning Office said Representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, sixth district) wanted the illegal settlers located in Sitio Paradise Island gone because they are visible from the bridges and roads where ASEAN delegates are expected to pass through.

The Paradise Island settlers had been named recipients of the Mandaue City government’s low-cost condominium project, which was put on hold due to delays in the city’s submission of requirements with the National Housing Authority.

But Frank Guillena, head of Mandaue Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO), played down the congresswoman’s concern over the area.

Guillena pointed out that the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge would only be a secondary route for ASEAN visitors, since the Marcelo Fernan bridge would be the “ceremonial road” for the summit.

He said the situation in Paradise Island would be better by the time visitors start arriving.

Houses that had encroached on roads or those that had been built over creeks, are scheduled for demolition starting July, Guillena said.

Those that would be left just need a “face-lift,” he added.

^^ Kasosyal gud ug name sa slum area, "Paradise Island" :rofl:

walay problema na! sige pakan-on pud ta mo, hehehehehe! hopefully sometime in august.

sige bai cewbouw hapit na raba august.. dili jud raba ko ma ulaw basta kaon na hisgutan.. hehe

^^ Bilib jud ko ani Tomas da. Naa jud plano. Maayu unta dawatun na sa SMC this time, and I wouldnt mind if they will rename it to Plaza Independencia San Miguel, it still sounds spanish. hehehe.

Bitaw bai no, mao sad diay advantage if well-travelled ang ato mayor... re the naming of cebu's historic sites, I have one suggestion but i think it won't sound good: McPlaza Independencia! hehehe!!!

sige bai cewbouw hapit na raba august.. dili jud raba ko ma ulaw basta kaon na hisgutan.. hehe
oi, e-apil sad ko ninyo ha! if i remember it right, resty will also be in cebu this august.. i hope naa na TENTATIVE DATE para ma arrange na sad nako ako leave of absence and my plane ticket! :)

Mmmhh.. Mayor Tom's moves seem to be very mysterious but surprising. I wonder what are those that are still left behind his sleeves. GoGoGo ToMMy!!.. wakekeke. :D

oi, e-apil sad ko ninyo ha! if i remember it right, resty will also be in cebu this august.. i hope naa na TENTATIVE DATE para ma arrange na sad nako ako leave of absence and my plane ticket! :)

oi maayo div kay mag-abot mo tanan.. si butch "d'transporter" ky mo uli sad ngari nig august.. hikay diay ta ani.. hehe

oi maayo div kay mag-abot mo tanan.. si butch "d'transporter" ky mo uli sad ngari nig august.. hikay diay ta ani.. hehe

unsa na man ni?! grand homecoming? :D

^^ murag ingon ana jud bai.. hehe

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1593/logo1ku.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort offers the best of Cebu for those who seek the ideal balance of creature comforts and nature's wonders. The Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is located just 15 minutes away from the Mactan Cebu International Airport. All the diverse pleasures of island living are at your doorstep, scuba diving, snorkeling, beach combing, swimming or just simply lazing under the tropical sun. And yet, the temptations of city life are but a short 40 minute drive away! In historical Cebu City you can have your fill of shopping, fine dining, casino gambling and sightseeing. Whatever you want to do, Maribago Bluewater is the perfect seaside haven for refreshing body and soul.


http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9485/1421362112496807b76b4id.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3369/15124760383947eb442o4nq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8105/142136393c92c4006feb6xr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1443/maribagobeach9wk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)