Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Province - Compiled Threads

[valium]

YUP! We will play bacolod's game but we dont wanna play your game.

have you been properly reading my post? whoever said anything about MY game??? nada!

Dont worry gravy...majority of the forumers are ignoring him...he thrives on that crap.

Sa mga bago rito...dont be falling on his(and *****) trap...he(and *****) has done nothing but promote animosity between cities.

promote animosity between cities? am i the one promoting animosity between cities here now? try reading you and your fellows posts here in the bacolod thread. it might clear your mind up. cant you see, this is THEIR thread and the only thing you (and your fellow) do here is bash bacolod for whatever bitterness you have with them. im only critical with you because you cant seem to say anything positive about them, and your knees always seem to tremble whenever there is a possibility or even just a proposal of any kind of development this city has.

So true,

While the forumers have already moved on with this issue, he's still stuck behind his own little shell, still stuck behind issues that have really no relevance to people from those cities anymore. It's only him who starts and sensationalizes the "bickering" that supposedly goes on.

And the nerve of this guy, to take the moral ascendance to tell people to channel focus into positive attitude .... he should really talk to a mirror one of these days.

look who's talking about being stucked in time (little shell, issues) remember yesteryears? the glorious past? and if these issues really have no relevance to people at all, why then are you reacting this way???? try to scroll back and read what was posted before i even posted my reaction. we know what that person means, he was talking about wind energy, but its totally unrelated and irrelevant to the quoted text. do you know how to read between lines? are you even familiar with figures of speech?

yups...boring naman kung walang clown eh hehehe

you dont sound so intelligent. im not saying youre dumb though, but people who lack and had a mediocre kind of education almost always resort to personal attacks. and im not about to do this lowly kind of tactic just to get back at you. because i respect you as a person, when im critical about other cities i dont go beyond the standards and limits that i have set for myself. and besides, i know the forum prohibits and discourages personal attacks.

ciao ciao!

[daks2003]

You seemed to be confused.

Remember calling Ilonggos "unggoy"??? Dont act like ur some saint here.

Dont be surprised if ur being treated as a clown. You chose to be a clown, so u will be treated like a clown.

Btw, you dont need to act like ur somebody else. K??

:) :) :)



have you been properly reading my post? whoever said anything about MY game??? nada!



promote animosity between cities? am i the one promoting animosity between cities here now? try reading you and your fellows posts here in the bacolod thread. it might clear your mind up. cant you see, this is THEIR thread and the only thing you (and your fellow) do here is bash bacolod for whatever bitterness you have with them. im only critical with you because you cant seem to say anything positive about them, and your knees always seem to tremble whenever there is a possibility or even just a proposal of any kind of development this city has.



look who's talking about being stucked in time (little shell, issues) remember yesteryears? the glorious past? and if these issues really have no relevance to people at all, why then are you reacting this way???? try to scroll back and read what was posted before i even posted my reaction. we know what that person means, he was talking about wind energy, but its totally unrelated and irrelevant to the quoted text. do you know how to read between lines? are you even familiar with figures of speech?



you dont sound so intelligent. im not saying youre dumb though, but people who lack and had a mediocre kind of education almost always resort to personal attacks. and im not about to do this lowly kind of tactic just to get back at you. because i respect you as a person, when im critical about other cities i dont go beyond the standards and limits that i have set for myself. and besides, i know the forum prohibits and discourages personal attacks.

ciao ciao!

[c0kelitr0]

is that a slum area? side by side with (high end) community?

i don't think that's a slum area, that's just maybe be a lower-middle class community.

[c0kelitr0]

A fair portion of the poor deserve to be poor because of their laziness, indolence and refusal to break free from their situation arising from a mindset that says, this is how we were born...and this is how we will carry on with our meager existence on this earth.


you're right sugarboy! there are so many oppotunities for the poor but most of them just don't do anything...

[sugarboy]

^^ the pathetic thing is that those who have the capacity actually try their best to open up new industries in order to let the wealth cascade to the lower echelons of society. however, those who most need the help do not even lift a finger to help themselves. :( and at the end of it, the disparity in wealth distribution is blamed on the industrialists?! what gives?! i guess this why a lot of bacolodnons have wisened up to invest elsewhere apart from negros. sad...but true.

[valium]

You seemed to be confused.

Remember calling Ilonggos "unggoy"??? Dont act like ur some saint here.

Dont be surprised if ur being treated as a clown. You chose to be a clown, so u will be treated like a clown.

Btw, you dont need to act like ur somebody else. K??

:) :) :)

haha, this is a cheap shot, intelligent rebuttal please!

[TJ]

is that a slum area? side by side with (high end) community?

Yep u got that right.. :) that's a squatters area with filled with diseased and sick and hungry people... with drugs as common as food where crime is accepted as a way of life. And right next to it is an extravangant communtiy of socialeros and socilaeras where you can see the likes of bryanboy... where luxury and extravagance is an everyday thing... :) and these communties are living side by side in one place separated by a wall of concrete and another wall which is exist in their mentality. :)

[overtureph]

Bacolod as music country

By Pablo Tariman
Inquirer
Last updated 00:24am (Mla time) 07/03/2006

Published on page C2 of the July 3, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

ONE FRIDAY NIGHT LAST month, I found myself in Bacolod listening to the post-concert open forum of the 12th “Romantic Piano Concerto Journey” of pianists Ingrid Sala Santamaria and Reynaldo Reyes.

The forum was held in an intimate hall of Sacred Heart Seminary. After excerpts from the Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Beethoven concertos, the audience —consisting mostly of young seminarians and music lovers from Bacolod—had a full serving of the Schumann A Minor concerto.

The concert opened with Mallotte’s “Our Father,” sang with inner fervor (and a capella) by Charles Kevin Tan.

The post-concert reactions varied. One said the music brought him to another world, another said the music allowed him to look into himself with detachment.

Seminary rector Fr. Jerry Alminasa said music was another way of making us feel about God’s presence. Msgr. Guillermo Gaston (cousin of the first and last Filipino mezzo of consequence, Conchita Gaston) agreed that music should be part of everyone’s growth.

After the concert, there was sudden interest in piano playing and Reyes gave everyone hope by saying a great pianist actually managed his first recital at age 55!

On that same day in between rehearsals and performance, I visited L’Fisher Hotel where in the ’90s I mounted concerts for Cecile Licad, Antonio Meneses, Andrew Fernando, Makie Misawa, Gary del Rosario, Joseph Esmilla.

The hotel brought back many musical memories. I must say Bacolod is a city that loves music.

I got the urge to visit Bacolod for the first time when I saw the Peque Gallaga film “Oro, Plata, Mata,” which featured operatic arias in its crucial scenes.

And so I joined a Manila Symphony tour of Bacolod under conductor Gilopez Kabayao playing the Liszt concerto with Corazon Kabayao as a feisty soloist in the mid-’80s. While there, I checked possible concert venues.

I always like staying in the pension house of Carmen Kilayko, whose late doctor-husband was a cellist. When Ms Kilayko heard Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses for the first time in Bacolod, she profusely thanked me not just for the music but for the cello which allowed her to recall happy musical days with her late husband.

I wondered why I felt so close to this Kilayko garden house. At one moment Ms Kilayko caught me staring in another room of the house, she pointed out: “That room was where soprano Helen Traubel stayed when she performed in Bacolod in the early ’50s.”

Traubel happened to be one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos to appear in the American opera scene.

When I heard a 1949 Voice of America recording of mezzo soprano Conchita Gaston in Silay City many years back, I fell in love with the voice. No wonder Leonard Bernstein easily liked her.

I met and heard La Gaston briefly in 1980 when she was introduced to me and the Rumanian diva Nelly Miricioiu by the late music-loving lawyer, Honorario Poblador.

When I dropped by briefly at the Bacolod Cathedral, I recalled a dying Conchita Gaston trying to finish Gounod’s “Ave Maria” with the remaining vocal strength she had but in vain. She collapsed, and a few months later, she passed way in the arms of her husband on the veranda of her Netherlands villa. It was death reminiscent of “La Traviata.”

I brought baritone Andrew Fernando to the Gaston Museum in the late ’90s. This was before his stint with LA Opera and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

Santamaria and Reyes also capped their concerto journey in Negros in that historic Silay Museum last week. What was heartening was the presence of youthful offenders in the audience. Indeed, Msgr. Gaston was determined to bring music not just to the well-off but also to the socially marginalized.

My musical journey to Bacolod resumes on July 24, when two-time Namcya winner Oliver Salonga interprets Beethoven, Prokofiev and Chopin at the La Proa Ballroom of L’Fisher Hotel.

Salonga’s first solo recital at the Philam-life last week was cheered by critics and music lovers alike. “A really amazing pianist!” said Sis. Maria Anunciata Sta. Ana, head of the College of Music and Performing Arts.

“There is no doubt this young Salonga will go very far as a pianist,” said P.T. Martin, father of filmmaker Raya Martin.

For tickets to the Salonga concert in Bacolod City, call 9007023 or 0906-5104270.

Here and there

Young Filipino cellist Victor Michael Coo is always in demand in music festivals abroad. He just came back from the Sarasota Music Festival. Next week, he returns to Fontainbleau in France for another festival engagement. He might come back to Manila in December for a solo recital.

Tenor Otoniel Gonzaga will have a concert with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Philam-life Theater. It is called “Christmas Spectacular with Otoniel Gonzaga.” He will team up for the first time with conductor Rodel Colmenar.

To get early ticket discount, call 9007023 or 0906-5104270.


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

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=7786

[Christendom]

Main Threads

Thread 1
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=301526

Thread 2
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=311875 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=311875)

Thread 3
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=331428 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=331428)

Thread 4
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=363193 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=363193)

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=247159 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=363193)

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Affiliatted Threads

DUMAGUETE CITY AND NEGROS ORIENTAL

Thread 2

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=356438 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342739)

Dumaguete/Oriental Negros is IT!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=328464

My comments on Dumaguete's quality of life...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=254526 (http://http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=254526)



www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[BYAHILO]

mmmmmmm ara na naman naga init na naman ang temperature diri...


thanks for posting all the related threads here.

[Christendom]

1. Binalbagan
http://www.geocities.com/metropolitanbacolod/cityhalls_binalbagan.jpg
2. Pontevedra



there are currently 22 towns in the Philippines pushing for cityhood... these are

BOGO, Cebu
CARCAR, Cebu
NAGA, Cebu
TABUK, Kalinga
BINALBAGAN, Negros Occidental
PONTEVEDRA, Negros Occidental
LAMITAN, Basilan
EL SALVADOR, Misamis Oriental
CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental
SAN JUAN, Metro Manila
GUIHULNGAN, Negros Oriental
MATI, Davao Oriental
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar
CATBALOGAN, Samar
CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur
BAYUGAN, Agusan del Sur
POTOTAN, Iloilo
BAYBAY, Leyte
SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro
BATAC, Ilocos Norte
TANDAG, Surigao del Sur

5 now have pictures

reli d binalbagan and pontevedra would be a philippines new cities? dats a great...den d cities of negros occidental will be 15 all- 2nd 2 d metro manila.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF TOWN CITIES:
1. Bacolod City
2. Bago City
3. Cadiz City
4. Escalante City
5. Himamaylan City
6. Kabankalan City
7. La Carlota City
8. Sagay City
9. San Carlos City
10. Silay City
11. Sipalay City
12. Talisay City
13. Victorias City

would be new city:
14. Binalbagan City
15. Pontevedra City

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF CITY METRO:
1. Metro Bacolod


www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[kyle@1008]

^^ yes, and I could not even keep up postings dem all in this thread.... the pics and info here are mostly dat of Bacolod AND Silay.....

[kyle@1008]

[
A divided city between Super rich and the super poor... where the harsh utter reality of poverty, drugs and crime and the extravagant luxury lifestlyes of rich socialeros and socaileras mix everyday.. :)

Lino Brocka would be proud of you TJ,... I suggest you watch Oro Plata Mata.,, Peque Gallaga pointed out this problem....

[Dinho]

1. Binalbagan
2. Pontevedra





reli d binalbagan and pontevedra would be a philippines new cities? dats a great...den d cities of negros occidental will be 15 all- 2nd 2 d metro manila.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF TOWN CITIES:
1. Bacolod City
2. Bago City
3. Cadiz City
4. Escalante City
5. Himamaylan City - Shouldn't be a city
6. Kabankalan City
7. La Carlota City - Shouldn't be a city
8. Sagay City
9. San Carlos City
10. Silay City
11. Sipalay City - Shouldn't be a city
12. Talisay City
13. Victorias City

would be new city:
14. Binalbagan City - Shouldn't be a city
15. Pontevedra City - Shouldn't be a city

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF CITY METRO:
1. Metro Bacolod

Well, TJ and some folks across the Strait are right about some cities in Negros that shouldn't be cities yet. I've labelled which ones shouldn't have been pronounced as cities because they lack the infrastructure and bustle of cities. I think Hinigaran would have been a better city than the one main street city of Himamaylan.

[kyle@1008]

Oh and speaking of wealth , these are the richest men in RP and their corresponding residences....

Lucio Tan... 1.6 billion Metro Manila
Henry Sy.....1.4 billion Metro Manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala....1.2 billion Metro Manila
Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco ....400 million Negros Occidental
George Ty......360 million Metro Manila
John Gokongwei Jr......330 million Metro Cebu
Tony Tan Caktiong......270 million Metro Manila

-Oh well, at least there's two from southern phillipines....
and Negros is home to the richest and most powerful man in the south :cheers:

[Dinho]

Lino Brocka would be proud of you TJ,... I suggest you watch Oro Plata Mata.,, Peque Gallaga pointed out this problem....

TJ, 'tis good that you mentioned it. Could you suggest anything to improve their situation? Better yet, could you do something about it? I've done my part, have you done your part to help them?

Sugarboy, are you saying that the poor of Negros are all lazy? I don't think that is true. I know a lot of poor people here in Metro Bacolod and elsewhere in Negros who've improved their life by sheer hardwork and dedication. It would be better to keep trying to help them without giving them doleouts.

That is why I never give any money to the beggars who could still stand and beg in the main roads. BUT I always give a little extra to the people who sell papers, flannels or even food I don't care to eat because I can see that they have some sense left in them to realize that if they need money, they should work for it.

[Dinho]

Oh and speaking of wealth , these are the richest men in RP and their corresponding residences....

Lucio Tan... 1.6 billion Metro Manila
Henry Sy.....1.4 billion Metro Manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala....1.2 billion Metro Manila
Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco ....400 million Negros Occidental
George Ty......360 million Metro Manila
John Gokongwei Jr......330 million Metro Cebu
Tony Tan Caktiong......270 million Metro Manila

-Oh well, at least there's two from southern phillipines....
and Negros is home to the richest and most powerful man in the south :cheers:

What about the Yanson's? I think that they could make it to the top ten. They would not dare spend over 50m for a house if they only had 100m would they?

[Dinho]

Oh and speaking of wealth , these are the richest men in RP and their corresponding residences....

Lucio Tan... 1.6 billion Metro Manila
Henry Sy.....1.4 billion Metro Manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala....1.2 billion Metro Manila
Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco ....400 million Negros Occidental
George Ty......360 million Metro Manila
John Gokongwei Jr......330 million Metro Cebu
Tony Tan Caktiong......270 million Metro Manila

-Oh well, at least there's two from southern phillipines....
and Negros is home to the richest and most powerful man in the south :cheers:

And how about the Lopezes of Iloilo?

[kyle@1008]

A fair portion of the poor deserve to be poor because of their laziness, indolence and refusal to break free from their situation arising from a mindset that says, this is how we were born...and this is how we will carry on with our meager existence on this earth.


. ;)

true.... and Ill qoute an ancient chinese proverb

Do not give a man fish,... but teach him how to fish
-Lao Tzu

[Christendom]

Well, TJ and some folks across the Strait are right about some cities in Negros that shouldn't be cities yet. I've labelled which ones shouldn't have been pronounced as cities because they lack the infrastructure and bustle of cities. I think Hinigaran would have been a better city than the one main street city of Himamaylan.


yahhh i also agree...d Hinigaran will b d best city compare 2 himamaylan city. d newly under construction of Lopues Hinigaran is now going on...

[c0kelitr0]

What about the Yanson's? I think that they could make it to the top ten. They would not dare spend over 50m for a house if they only had 100m would they?

those are in US dollars ;)

actually Tony Caktiong is worth over $400 million according to Forbes list of SEA's richest people of 2005. Kyle's list was from 2004 i think.

[kyle@1008]

And how about the Lopezes of Iloilo?

the wealthier lopezes are the Eugenio Lopez side of the family which migrated to Manila during the 1960's... Vice President Fernando Lopez's family are the ones that stayed behind in Iloilo.... during the height of marshal law,.. the assets of the brothers were split with eugenio's family getting the manila slice...

Currently the assets of the Lopez family are split between the grandsons of Eugenio Lopez.... not big enough to make it to Southeast asia's forty richest...

[Dinho]

true.... and Ill qoute an ancient chinese proverb

Do not give a man fish,... but teach him how to fish
-Lao Tzu

That's right! If you so much as give the poor money or medicines or food, they will expect you to continue doing so. But if you train them to earn money by learning some new skills, you will improve their lot.

I think that the ANP showroom did get started because of some enterprising women who thought of ways to help the poor by teaching them new skills and providing them jobs where they could hone their skills. So if any of you guys here plan to visit Bacolod, do try to check out the ANP Showroom at Lacson St. in front of the PNB building.

[Dinho]

yahhh i also agree...d Hinigaran will b d best city compare 2 himamaylan city. d newly under construction of Lopues Hinigaran is now going on...

You sure about that? Where'd you get the information? Who is the architect?

[kyle@1008]

those are in US dollars ;)

actually Tony Caktiong is worth over $400 million according to Forbes list of SEA's richest people of 2005.

I need an update.... I got the figures from the 2003-2004 SEA'a richest... can u provide the new complete one Coke????

[c0kelitr0]

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/09/07/southeast-asia-richest-cz_05sealand.html

$355 million lang pala kay Tony Tan Caktiong ;)

[kyle@1008]

TJ, 'tis good that you mentioned it. Could you suggest anything to improve their situation? Better yet, could you do something about it? I've done my part, have you done your part to help them?

.

Of course man, were not talking heads here... , I've done FGD's on the countryside,.. but I also learn the side of their masters. and do investigate,. I try to raise awareness on the plight of the saccadas,.... and aid the church in it's stand...

[TJ]

Lino Brocka would be proud of you TJ,... I suggest you watch Oro Plata Mata.,, Peque Gallaga pointed out this problem....

I see it in real life so no need for me to see their shows.. :) they are the ones who actually need to see the reality i see.. :)

I have a cousin who is super rich and sosyal she would not even ride a jeepney or pedicab ever in life... hehe :)

Also i have cousin that is a fisherman and they live in the slums and they are poor and he got stabbed to death over some argument with his fellow fisherman over some few fish.

[kyle@1008]

Okay I saw Coke's link here are the new figures....they are in dollars okay?

Lucio Tan ....1.9 billion .... metro manila
Henry Sy..... !.6 billion.... metro manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala.....1.1 billion... metro manila
Danding Cojuangco......750 million.....Negros Occidental
John Gokongwei.....420 million..... Metro Cebu
George Ty......420 million..... metro manila
Tony Tan Caktiong.....355 million..... metro manila

okay danding cojuangco is nearing a billion.... hopefully by next year,.. Negros will have a billionaire

[kyle@1008]

I see it in real life so no need for me to see their shows.. :) they are the ones who actually need to see the reality i see.. :)

I have a cousin who is super rich and sosyal she would not even ride a jeepney or pedicab ever in life... hehe :)

Also i have cousin that is a fisherman and they live in the slums and they are poor and he got stabbed to death over some argument with his fellow fisherman over some few fish.

too sosyal.... I have classmates who are super rich,... but rides the jeep..
remember the old adage

old rich: if you have it, hide it...
new rich; if you have it flaunt it....
-Master of the Game, Sidney Sheldon...

[TJ]

TJ, 'tis good that you mentioned it. Could you suggest anything to improve their situation? Better yet, could you do something about it? I've done my part, have you done your part to help them?

=====================================================

Yeah, i did :) but not that much... :)

Once i was on duty on provincial hospital it was last march when a family needed money for their baby's CT scan and they are short. And the situation was critical the doctor needs the CT scan result to proceed with his diagnosis. So i lend them some money.... and the baby was found out to have meningitis and the necesary action was taken and the baby was saved.

:)

[TJ]

too sosyal.... I have classmates who are super rich,... but rides the jeep..
remember the old adage

old rich: if you have it, hide it...
new rich; if you have it flaunt it....
-Master of the Game, Sidney Sheldon...

My cousin that won't ride jeep or pedicabs ever in life is an old rich... :)

[kyle@1008]

My cousin that won't ride jeep or pedicabs ever in life is an old rich... :)

oh dat kind..... st. scho??? I hav friends who are simple,... I use to remeber Pablo Torre walking from La salle to RIverside or Carmel, a niece of Speaker of the House Ramon Mitra, riding the jeep to her home in Sta. Clara,.. simple people but with money to burn, you'll only see it in formal occasions :colgate:

[sugarboy]

Sugarboy, are you saying that the poor of Negros are all lazy? I don't think that is true. I know a lot of poor people here in Metro Bacolod and elsewhere in Negros who've improved their life by sheer hardwork and dedication. It would be better to keep trying to help them without giving them doleouts.

That is why I never give any money to the beggars who could still stand and beg in the main roads. BUT I always give a little extra to the people who sell papers, flannels or even food I don't care to eat because I can see that they have some sense left in them to realize that if they need money, they should work for it.

No, that's not what I'm saying. Just review my statement. I don't have to explain.

[kyle@1008]

oh btw... I'd like to share this... I was touring two koreans in bacolod... lovely sisters I might add. And they quickly remarked about how many Bob's there are,.. and how nice and unique each restaurant is,..they were surprised and pleased when I told them that the owner's were from bacolod

One of the girls said to me "I'am glad that Bacolod has many fine restaurants and cafes and to top it all,..it's owned by the local people,.. we as Asians should stop being fascinated with western products and buy our own..."

oh and when we went for a few beers.. she was even more pleased and surprised that San Miguel beer Asia's no. 1 beer is owned by somone who lives in Negros. They both loved the city and are enjoying their stay and have even invited me and a friend to their home in Busan,... to experience korean culture, she says...

[TJ]

yeah, i dont even get it why some people don't wanna ride jeep and or trisikad?? they prefer to call on their service or ride taxi..

i used to have a friend that is afraid of even crossing the street and she don't even know how to get home and she is in 4th year HS already.. wahaha!! :) and she havent ridden a jeep in her entire life until one time we took her with us and she was happy to see things on the other side hehe :)

We took her to the slums, we took her to hardcore places, she slept with us in our friends house in the slums after hanging out the whole night.. twas her first time in being in shanty houses with roofs leaking, with lots of rat and roches and gritty smelly sewages all around the place.

We let her eat poor peoples food that she never eaten before. We let her drink ginebra and tanduay with no ice instead of the expensive drinks she was used to. hehe

She walked with us in muddied kiosko houses in the reclaimation area during maskara with her expensive shoes covered in mud. She smoked cheap cigarettes with us instead of those classy ones she drink native coffe and pandesal insteas of the Bob's.. haha

And she didn't cared about sosyalismo anymore since then... :) And refered to her old sosyal friends as lamee and gayy.. and she was so right!! :)

[kyle@1008]

yeah, i dont even get it why some people don't wanna ride jeep and or trisikad?? they prefer to call on their service or ride taxi..

i used to have a friend that is afraid of even crossing the street and she don't even know how to get home and she is in 4th year HS already.. wahaha!! :) and she havent ridden a jeep in her entire life until one time we took her with us and she was happy to see things on the other side hehe :)

We took her to the slums, we took her to hardcore places, she slept with us in our friends house in the slums after hanging out the whole night.. twas her first time in being in shanty houses with roofs leaking, with lots of rat and roches and gritty smelly sewages all around the place.

We let her eat poor peoples food that she never eaten before. We let her drink ginebra and tanduay with no ice instead of the expensive drinks she was used to. hehe

She walked with us in muddied kiosko houses in the reclaimation area during maskara with her expensive shoes covered in mud. She smoked cheap cigarettes with us instead of those classy ones she drink native coffe and pandesal insteas of the Bob's.. haha

And she didn't cared about sosyalismo anymore since then... :) And refered to her old sosyal friends as lamee and gayy.. and she was so right!! :)

as I have known , most people are afraid for their reputation. Image is everything,... have you heard about the story of Pipoy the son of Presdntl advisor Rafael Coscoluella,... sneaking away from his body gaurds and riding the jeep over and over again just for the sake of it. I laughed so hard when I heard of it,..

[c0kelitr0]

@TJ: hahaha that must have been quite an experience for her!
------------------

[kyle@1008]

^^ Pipoy is a dude coke....

[c0kelitr0]

^^ sorry i was not talking about pipoy kyle :D

[kyle@1008]

okay I take that back....^^

[TJ]

Lazy people are not poor people some poor are just not given enough opportunities becoz our country lacks these opportunities. So therefore it is wrong to dismiss it in that manner.

If manny pacqiauo did get invovled in boxing he would remained a contruction worker or a baker like he used to and it is not becoz he was lazy it is becoz there was not enough luck and oppurtunity for him that was available. There are many people out there that just never made it becoz of lack of oppurtunties availble no matter how hard they strive. Many of the poor no matter how hard they work will reamain poor becoz our country does offer enough for them. So therefore it is wrong to dismiss that the poor is poor becoz they are lazy. It is always easy for people born already rich to say such things but they have no idea at all... :)

"Sa isang suntok maaring mag bago ay iyong kapalaran bilog ang mundo pre" - Pacman :)

[kyle@1008]

^^ not really TJ,... remember that Henry SY and Lucio Tan used to be mangbobotes when they were younger.....

In my FGD's I have found that sugarboy does give a good point.... but there is a truth to what you say ,...in Murcia we went to interview a few saccadas and we found that the local school had teachers who were always late and left early therefore depriving their children of a proper education,... when we went to the Local DECS office they were mum about it.... corruption is killing our society,...

[demented_pigeon]

^^ yes but not all magbobotes become millionaires. you also have to understand the unequal social structure working in our society.

[TJ]

^^ not really TJ,... remember that Henry SY and Lucio Tan used to be mangbobotes when they were younger.....

In my FGD's I have found that sugarboy does give a good point.... but there is a truth to what you say ,...in Murcia we went to interview a few saccadas and we found that the local school had teachers who were always late and left early therefore depriving their children of a proper education,... when we went to the Local DECS office they were mum about it.... corruption is killing our society,...

It's a matter of hardwork + luck i know a lot chinese like them with same similar stories and they became rich too but not as rich as them henry sy's and lucio tan's maybe it is becoz the path they choose did get as blooming as the path henry sy and lucio tan choose.
Same with none chinese after the war my family was left with nothing... the japs burned the house down along with all the property killed everyone except one. Luckily my granny was taken and saved by a nice jap officer after the war she was left alive to fend for herself at 7 years old. And by her 20's she already having a good buisness and up to now all has been well though she did not reach the henry sy and lucio tan success type but the story was still an amazing feat from rags to riches.. :) it was a combination of luck + hardwork and making the right decision :)...

there are poor people who no matter how hard they work and save without luck they still remain poor... you must not dismiss that the poor are poor becoz they are lazy becoz it is wrong... u must first look at the story of each individual and not judge them as a whole.. :)

[death327]

yup! the bickering and bashing has not yet ended. too bad they dwell too much on what has been said here. instead of bickering with bacolod, why dont they translate their frustrations into positive attitude, focus and plan for their city across the strait, its their city anyway, isnt it sad the the once premiere city outside manila is fuming and mudslinging at bacolod, which was once a just mole in the giant and mighty iloilo of yesteryears? why do they always freeze and shoot everytime developments about bacolod are posted here, HERE in the bacolod thread, i dont think the people of bacolod are trying to compete with them, or with any other city for that matter, the problem here is whenever developments in and around bacolod are published here, they see it as a form of intimidation. insecurity take you nowhere. its an open game, i dont think bacolod is trying to compete with them, but if they feel it that way, let them compete with bacolod. they choose to compete then let them play bacolods game!


Please prove that... ? I have been checking all the threads here but I never encountered anyone doing this to bacolod.

[Dinho]

^^ yes but not all magbobotes become millionaires. you also have to understand the unequal social structure working in our society.

Are you a commie? You sure sound like one. At least I know that TJ isn't one. TJ is only frustrated by the seeming disparity of wealth in Negros but he never blamed it on the "unequal structure of our society". Remember that communism has never worked because the world cannot ever be perfect enough for it to succeed. By the same token, democratic states have their own problems, but the good thing is that each individual is given the opportunity to do what he wants and it all depends on him what he makes of the freedom that he has. Cuba, China, Russia, and so many Eastern Bloc countries had to switch to capitalism because the Stalinist, Marxist, Leninist ideology or whatever you call it JUST DOESN'T WORK.

[Dinho]

Please prove that... ? I have been checking all the threads here but I never encountered anyone doing this to bacolod.

Oh, you hadn't been reviewing it well enough. This thread isn't really Bacolod and Negros Thread IV because some of the folks here got confused as to whether to include Negros Oriental along with this thread or not. There should've been 6-8 threads already about Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Negros and Negros Island. Somehow you'll find what Valium had been saying.

[death327]

Oh you are not really answering my question. I am referring not only in this thread but in the all threads in general.

Please cite any message that proves the above statement (bold ones).

Thank you

[Dinho]

Oh you are not really answering my question. I am referring not only in this thread but in the all threads in general.

Please cite any message that proves the above statement (bold ones).

Thank you

I was just telling you that there are some old threads that you should review since you are asking that question. Shouldn't be anwering a question addressed to Valium, so you had better wait for him.

[kyle@1008]

It's a matter of hardwork + luck i know a lot chinese like them with same similar stories and they became rich too but not as rich as them henry sy's and lucio tan's maybe it is becoz the path they choose did get as blooming as the path henry sy and lucio tan choose.
Same with none chinese after the war my family was left with nothing... the japs burned the house down along with all the property killed everyone except one. Luckily my granny was taken and saved by a nice jap officer after the war she was left alive to fend for herself at 7 years old. And by her 20's she already having a good buisness and up to now all has been well though she did not reach the henry sy and lucio tan success type but the story was still an amazing feat from rags to riches.. :) it was a combination of luck + hardwork and making the right decision :)...

there are poor people who no matter how hard they work and save without luck they still remain poor... you must not dismiss that the poor are poor becoz they are lazy becoz it is wrong... u must first look at the story of each individual and not judge them as a whole.. :)

point taken.... I'm not saying all poor people are lazy,.. it's just that some of them are...that's why they're poor.:colgate:

[kyle@1008]

Oh you are not really answering my question. I am referring not only in this thread but in the all threads in general.

Please cite any message that proves the above statement (bold ones).

Thank you

Err,.. I'd rather we don't dig back to the past,.. It might reawaken animosity:colgate:

[kyle@1008]

The B.C.
Apart from the place, it's the people
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/withguitar.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/ent_1-1.jpg
Bacolod City and Negros over the years has been known as a hotbed of Artists, producing the likes of National Artist for architecture Leandro Locsin, noted international soprano Conchita Gaston, Award winning film and stage director Peque Gallaga, and Pop Diva kuh Ledesma just to name a few...in honor of this time honored cultural tradition Negros has chosen to nurture its artistic heritage with the following programs...
The Negros Summer Workshops
In 1990, a host of Negrense artists from all over the country were awarded the Negros Centennial Awards for the Arts. A group of artists decided they wanted to give back their time and resources to the province that has nurtured and fostered their artistry. Immediately, the University of St. La Salle, through Bro. Augustine Boquer, FSC and Dr. Elsie Coscolluela, offered the facilities of the school for this planned undertaking.

The group headed by Mr. Peque Gallaga and La Salle’s Dr. Coscolluela conducted their first summer workshops in 1991. For the past 15 years, Mr. Gallaga has been bringing together a team of professionals and for theatre, film, television and advertising to teach students, artists and professionals. For one whole month, these resource persons decline projects in Manila and forgo substantial income to be able to dedicate their time to sharing their talents and expertise. They believe that by sharing their art, craft, and technical knowledge, we ensure that our artistic and cultural traditions remain vibrant and alive and that the seeds of inspiration, discipline and craft are handed over to the future artists of our country

The workshops have done much to decentralize film training in the province. It has also managed to develop and produce original theatre and film materials which have been presented to the community and have received citations from nationally prestigious award-giving bodies such as the Palanca and Bahaghari Awards.

For its first twelve years, the workshops managed with no government subsidy, except for two years in the early 90s when a grant from the Pagcor was made available. On its 13th year, the Negros Summer Workshops was awarded a grant by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Committees on Film and Dramatic Arts. The grant enabled the workshop to finally realize its vision of reaching out to other areas outside Negros by providing a big number of scholarships to interested and deserving applicants coming from all over the Western Visayas Region.

With the full support of the NCCA and other affiliate organizations, the Negros Summer Workshops hope to persist in its mission to disperse opportunities for people to come together in the spirit of sharing creativity and self-expression.

the faculty
MAURICE RUIZ de LUZURIAGA GALLAGA
"Peque"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/ent_2-1.jpg
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Artist-in-Residence University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City
Instructor Mass Communication Department
La Salle College, Bacolod
Chairman/Instructor Negros Summer Workshop
Drama Teacher De La Salle College, Manila
St. Scholastica, Manila
Founding Member/Instructor Actors Workshop Foundation
Head Instructor ABS-CBN Workshop, Manila
Copywriter/Copy Chief Ace Compton
Creative Director/Copy Chief Ideas, Inc
Creative Director/President Head Communications

COMMUNITY WORK
President Crossing Negros Cultural Foundation
Founding Member Handurawan Arts Foundation. Inc.
Handumanan Foundation of La Salle, Bacolod
Balangay Negrosanon
Media Consultant Dept. of Health National Oral Rehydration Project
Member Film Academy of the Philippines
PDGP Constitution & By-Laws Committee.
PDGP Rep. for the FAP Task Force for Censorship
Kapisanan ng mga Direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino
Film Classification Board
Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines
Directors Guild of the Philippines
Board Member 1990-1991 Kapisanan ng mga Direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino
Chairman PDGP of Grievance Committee (2 years)
Vice President 1996-1997 Directors Guild of the Philippines
Production Designers Guild (2 years)
President 1997-1998 Directors Guild of the Philippines

NOMINATIONS IN FILMS


Best Production Design:
Famas
Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon

Urian
Ito ba ang ating mga anak

Film Academy of the Philippines
Ito ba ang ating mga anak

Best Screenplay:

Star awards
Tiyanak

Catholic mass media awards
Isang Araw Walang Diyos

Metro manila film festival
Shake, Rattle & Roll 2

metro manila film festival
Shake, Rattle & Roll 4

Best Direction:

Oro, Plata, Mata
Oro, Plata, Mata
Virgin Forest
Virgin Forest
Unfaithful Wife
Unfaithful Wife
Kid, Huwag kang Susuko
Kid, Huwag kang Susuko
Tiyanak
Isang Araw Walang Diyos
Shake, Rattle & Roll 2
Shake, Rattle & Roll 4


GABBY FERNANDEZ
Professional Experience

Director: Comfort Room Comedy Bar
Bing Bang Improv Group
Kinengkoy Comedy Express

2003
2003
2000
Acting Coach: Various Shows-GMA 7 2003
Assistant Director Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw (TV Series) GMA 7
Kakabakaba/Sa Dako pa Roon-GMA 7 2002
2001
Scriptwriter: Regal Films: Sa Piling ng mga Aswang 1999
Art Dept. Manager: Viva Films: Unfaithful Wife 2 1999
Production Designer: Viva Films-Kabitn ni Mrs. Montero 1999
Art Director: Star Cinema: Puso ng Pasko
Photographer: Animo Magazine: Cover & Features
Ebisu Restaurand, Land Co. Pacifico Co.
Punta Fuego, John Robert Powers, Boa Sports
Alexander Designs Inc.
Instructor: NSW Theatre Improvisation Class
NSW Being Class
NSW Basic Acting Class

2000-present
1998-present
1998
Awards Bro. Alexis Gonzales Award
Negros Summer Workshop 2002

LORENZO ABLON REYES

Professional Experience

Graphic Designer and Print Production Artist for seven years

Copy Writer/Audio-Visual Producer Linang Kayumanggi
Copywriter/Print Manager Girl Friday Design
Art Department Producer Boys of Company C
Print Production Manager World Executive's Digest
Production Manager “Blood Moon
"Misteryo sa Tuwa”
“Virgin Forest”
“Scorpio Nights”
“Unfaithful Wife”
Instructor Being Workshop
ABS-CBN Talent Centre
(produced the first five generations of the
ABS-CBN Star Circle talents)
Founding member Directors Guild of the Philippines (DGPI

Director of the following in:
Film "Dama de Noche”
“Sa Piling ng Aswang”
"Unfaithful Wife”
“Kabit ni Mrs. Montero”
“Dama de Noche”,
“Gangland”
“Magic Kingdom"
“Diliryo”
“Bampira”
“Magic Temple”
“Baby Love”
“Batang X”
“Darna:ang Pagbabalik”
“Dugo ng Panday”
“Shake, Rattle & Roll 4”
“Korona ng Birhen”
“Aswang”
“Shake, Rattle & Roll 3”
“Trese”
“Shake, Rattle & Roll 2”
"Abandonada”
“Wak Wak: Isang Araw Walang Diyos”
“Tiyanak”, “Hiwaga sa Balete Drive”
“Kid, Huwag Kang Susuko”
“Once Upon a Time”
TV Ang Iibigin Ko'y Ikaw
Kakabakaba
15 episodes of "Sa Dako pa Room"
Awards Bahaghari Award for Best Directing for Television

RENE HINOJALES

Professional Experience

Member CCP Dance Company

Movement Director for television commercials:

Lux, Magnolia Chocolait, Tanduay, Manila Beer, Sun-glo,
Cheez Whiz, Jag, Palmolive, Ajinomoto, Ovaltine, Jollibee,
Oil of Olay, Mitsubishi L-300,
Sime Darby and Lifebouy

Talent Endorser Chowking, Strepsils, Jollibee and Carslberg

Instructor Movement Class
Negros Summer Workshops, La Salle-Bacolod

Faculty Mass Communications Department
USLS, Bacolod City

Artistic Director Jean-Baptist Dance Company
USLS, Bacolod City


Awards

* Centennial Award for Choreography


here is the complete list of instructors....

Instructors:

* Benito, Manuel
* Fernandez, Gabby
* Gallaga, Maurice Ruiz de Luzuriaga "Peque"
* Gallaga, Jubal
* Gonzales, Gino
* Hinojales, Rene
* Martinez, Eero
* Montelibano, Manny
* Trinidad, Michelle y Gallaga
* Triño, Jack II
* Reyes, Lorenzo y Ablon "Lore"
* Veneracion, Ian


Facilitators

* Aguilar, Amber
* Arceo, John
* Hiballes, Rhea Sol
* Lacson, RJ
* Lindaya, Paolo
* Montelibano, Jun-Jun
* Morales, Noel
* Navarra, Michelle Therese

[kyle@1008]

The B.C.
Apart from the place, It's the people

here are articles concerning The negros summer workshops

Mulawin’ director holds
Bacolod film workshop

LORE REYES, the director of top GMA-7 fantaseryes Mulawin and Sugo, returns to Bacolod City in the Visayas to again hold the annual summer Film Production course.

In the summer, Reyes always takes time off from directing and line producing in Manila to lead the Negros workshops, which he cofounded with Gallaga and University of St. La Salle President, Bro. Augustine Boquer in 1991.

The special course will tackle all aspects of film and video production from preproduction to shooting, editing and postproduction. The workshops will also offer acting courses for children, teens and adults.

Beginning April 24 at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, this summer’s courses include Peque Gallaga’s Director’s Apprenticeship, an intensive three-week flagship course of the Negros Summer Workshops. Amateur and professional applicants interested in Gallaga’s course will be admitted based on submitted video reel samples of previous work, and/or screening interviews. Accepted apprentices are required to bring their own video cameras for various film-directing exercises. Recent alumnae of the apprenticeship include actor-directors Zoren Legaspi and Ian Veneracion.

The workshops boast of a teaching staff of seasoned professionals, among them film director and workshop head, Gabby Fernandez, who recently made his debut in the critically acclaimed high-budget indie Nasaan si Francis, multiawarded film and TV makeup artist Manuela Benito, Manny Montelibano, Rene Hinojales, Michelle Gallaga and Jadesnow Dionzon.

The workshop’s Crystal Piaya Competition for Short Film on Video confers a P25,000 cash prize to the best film. These year’s jurors include renowned painter Bencab, film directors Butch Perez and Don Escudero, actor Michael de Mesa and film buff Teddy Co.

Other courses this summer are Production Design, Advanced Acting (Being), Basic Acting, Acting for Children, Teen Acting, Film Production, Theater Improvisation, Movement, Choreography, Stage Production, and Makeup for Film, TV and Stage.

Workshop registration is until April 24 at the Office of the Artist-in*-Residence, University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City. Call head of secretariat Rose Barrera at (034) 434-5998. Assistance for housing arrangements for non-Bacolod and Manila-based participants is available upon request.

-The Manila Times

[kyle@1008]

The B.C.
Apart from the place, It's the people

here are articles concerning The negros summer workshops

Nasaan si Francis (2006)
Directed by
Gabriel Fernandez
Gabriel Fernandez

Writing credits
Gabriel Fernandez
Gabriel Fernandez (screenplay)
(more)


Plot Summary for
Nasaan si Francis (2006)
Two friends (Contis, newcomer Blanco) go to Francis' (Quizon) hacienda house set in Victorias to borrow money. Instead of lending them money, Francis proposes a drug deal involving Ecstasy which will earn the two a lot of money. But before they are able to get the drugs, Francis gets a heart attack and dies. Thus, the two look for the Ecstasy all over the house. In the meantime, a parade of characters - Francis' siblings, his pusher (Christopher de Leon), his girlfriend, his GRO's - come into the house and look for Francis. What ensues is a hilarious cat-and-mouse game wherein the two friends hide the body or make him look like he's sleeping while they search for the drugs

Credited cast:
Jeffrey Quizon .... Francis
Paolo Contis .... Boy
Rico Blanco .... Sonny
Christopher De Leon .... Drug King
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angel Aquino .... Anne
Rita Avila .... Linlin
Julia Clarete .... Candy
Ricky Davao .... Junjun
Michael De Mesa
Tanya Garcia .... Sofia
Mark Gil
Rio Locsin .... Mama Bel
Karl Roy .... Marmar
(more)

Trivia for
Nasaan si Francis (2006)
Based from the play "Diin na si Francis?" (Where is Francis?), written by Gabriel Fernandez. "Francis?" was originally staged as an output of the Being Class of the Negros Summer Workshops in 2003. From a story concept of Peque Gallaga and Fernandez, the actors improvised on the scenes to create a one-act play.

aside for Nasaan na si Francis....

Bacolod and Negros has been the background and theme of other films such as "Sa Piling ng Aswang" , " Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero"
and of course the highly acclaimed "Oro Plata Mata"

[kyle@1008]

^^ oh and dear people I was there when Diin na si francis was originally staged at Gallaga theatre in 2003,...

I myself has been enrolled ta the Negros Summer workshops and I vouch for its credibility,... oh and bonus points you'll get to meet and even have professional actors and actresses as your classmates.... or teachers...

the likes of Ian Veneracion, Zoren legaspi, et. al have been at one time enrolled in the workshops, Richard Gomez, his wife Lucy Torrres and Boots Anson-Roa are also known contributors......

and here's an open secret in the phillippine showbiz community....
the Negros summer workshops is regarded as being the finest training ground for aspiring performing artists in the nation and has been for the past decade :colgate:

[Christendom]

1. The smile and warmth of the people. Hospitality at its best. It's a large city with a small town mentality.

2. The clean unpolluted air and the stress-free environment. Everything is reachable within 20 minutes so no time wasted. Besides, the lifestyle is so laidback, people hardly look at the time.

3. It's just 2 hours to Mambucal for some awesome camping and hiking experience and it's just 3 hours away to the white-sand beaches of Lakawon in the north and Sipalay to the south.

4. The is virtually no traffic and people do not honk their horns. The road system is first class with wide streets and adequate sidewalks.

5. The very very low crime rate for a highly-urbanized city. Even Makati is seedier compared to Bacolod. Well, common-sense is needed, naturally.

6. The food is legendary. Bacolod is the culinary nexus of the Visayas with food such as Inasal, piyaya, napoleones, batchoy, etc.

7. Masskara Festival and Panaad Festival!! The best of the island in one go!

8. The nightlife in Bacolod, though small, rivals those in Manila in terms of the crowd sophistication, urbanity and style.

9. The completeness of everything. You don't have to go to Manila for the basic stuff- everything is available in Bacolod. From medical treatment, to books, to education, to internet connection, etc.

10. People prefer speaking either in Ilonggo or in English, so there is no language barrier when staying in this jewel of a city.


www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[kyle@1008]

Lucio Tan ....1.9 billion .... metro manila
Henry Sy..... 1.6 billion.... metro manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala.....1.1 billion... metro manila
Danding Cojuangco......750 million.....Negros Occidental
John Gokongwei.....420 million..... Metro Cebu
George Ty......420 million..... metro manila
Tony Tan Caktiong.....355 million..... metro manila

I just realize something,.... the richest filipinos are in fact not pure filipinos, theyre either spanish (Jaime Zobel) or chinese (Lucio Tan ) or both, (Danding Cojuangco, chinese spanish meztiso)......

let me add something to what TJ said, it's not only a a matter of luck and Hardwork but also a matter of race and blood to achieve somehting in the phils.....

[kyle@1008]

Bacolod's L'Fisher Hotel has recently been featured on Bluprint magazine's htel and restaurant issue with Cebu's Waterfront Hotel and Manila's Pavilion....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/lfisher-hotel-ballroom.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/lfisher-hotel-restaurant.jpg

Here's the article

Bacolod impresses upon you that you are in a big, little town or city for that matter . Though it is one of Negros' more progressive areas and one of its major financial hubs, it lacks the harried that most cities evoke . With the number of plantation houses and the way people carry on with a laid back attitude, it seems to be our version of the Big Easy. And in the midst of it all is yet another respite that anyone who visits Bacolod can seek- the L'Fisher Hotel

One of the city's first class hotels, it first opened its doors to the public in 1990. Designed by local architects, Ramiro Garcia and Silverio Ureta, the project was imbued with the Mediterranean Style that was all the rage at that time.......

For the complete article see Blu print's current issue

Blu print magazine will also feature , Victorias Milling Company's world famous Angry Christ Mural in Victorias City , Negros Occidental in their next issue... cheers :cheers:

[Christendom]

Saturday, March 18, 2006

First Condo In City To Boost Local Tourism

(Adapt from Sunstar, By Roberto L. Bacasong)

THE first condominium to be built at the reclamation area will provide jobs and employment for the people of Bacolod.

Bacolod business mogul Simplicio Palanca said the construction of the Horizon Tower would boost the tourism landscape in the city. Palanca, president of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco), said the Horizon Tower will house 56 condominium units of sizes varying from 43 sq.m. to 57 sq.m.

Architect Victor Costales said once this imposing tower is completed, it would be the tallest structure in the city with its eight floors plus a landscaped roof deck.

Costales said an extensive use of glass for the building would ensure an unobstructed view of both the sea and the mountains towards the east.

From the proposed design and building plans, the ground floor would be dedicated for commercial use, to provide all the services and conveniences for the unit owners.

While the building footprint is only 500 sq.m., the design allows for a geometrically planned park on the rear of the building, which includes a prominent sculpture and groves of ornamental trees with picturesque rock gardens and waterfalls.

The lobby would be clad entirely in glass to illustrate wide spaces and use Zen-inspired interior design motifs.

Palanca said the condo construction will cost millions of pesos and will be funded by the Bredco management.

The condominium is due to be completed within this year.

The Reclamation area, said Palanca, is really a conducive place for high-rise condo because it offers an added bonus like the beautiful sceneries of the Guimaras Strait on the seaside portion and Mounts Silay and Kanlaon on the eastern side.

He added that condo residents would also have an easy access to shopping at the SM-Bacolod, which would be located beside the proposed condominium structures.


www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[TJ]

a matter of race and blood to achieve somehting in the phils.....

now that's racist.. haha :)

[TJ]

bacolod is a clean city around the la salle, lagoon and lacson area where most people get their first impression.. but once youve been in banago, burgos, libertad, central market and other aresa.. well thats a different story.. haha it's not so clean and not so green but the opposite... :)

[kyle@1008]

^^ of course it is.,, the irony of it all,... the phils has always been racist

[death327]

I was just telling you that there are some old threads that you should review since you are asking that question. Shouldn't be anwering a question addressed to Valium, so you had better wait for him.

Okiedokie... I will wait for valium then. :)

[TJ]

^^ of course it is.,, the irony of it all,... the phils has always been racist

But me im not racist... to me all men are equal regardless of what.. :)

[valium]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/jdb289/Philippines/IMG_3568.jpg

ricefields and fishponds......... they call this a metropolitan area?

anyway, its a good thing bacolod city is not too much affected by dengue fever, not too much fatalities. its a sad thing that it has to happen to that city. two girls died, its a sad thing really, poverty = unclean sorroundings, poverty = difficult access to hospital care and services. premiere city = poverty????

isnt it ironic?

[TJ]

To me IMHO bacolod is not yet a metro... talisay silay bago victorias cadiz sagay are not yet cities in my view but townships... the ony cities in my view are kabangkalan san carlos and dumaguete.. :)

Of course it's only my views... :P

[rooster2369]

A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs.
A metropolitan area usually combines an agglomeration (the contiguous built-up area) with peripheral zones not themselves necessarily urban in character, but closely bound to the centre by employment or commerce; these zones are also sometimes known as a commuter belt, and may extend well beyond the urban periphery depending on the definition used.
The core cities in a polycentric metropolitan area need not be physically connected by continuous built-up development, distinguishing the concept from conurbation, which requires urban contiguity. In a metropolitan area, it is sufficient that central cities together constitute a large population nucleus with which other constituent parts have a high degree of integration.
In practice the parameters of metropolitan areas, in both official and unofficial usage, are not consistent. Sometimes they are little different from an urban area, and in other cases they cover broad regions that have little relation to the traditional concept of a city as a single urban settlement. Thus all metropolitan area figures should be treated as interpretations rather than as hard facts. Metro area population figures given by different sources for the same place can vary by millions, and there is a tendency for people to promote the highest figure available for their own "city". However the most ambitious metropolitan area population figures are often better seen as the population of a "metropolitan region" than of a "city".

[TJ]

If that be the case then angeles and san fernando should be metro too... and also dagupan.. haha :)

[tj_brewed]

If that be the case then angeles and san fernando should be metro too... and also dagupan.. haha :)


The only metropolises in the Philippines :)

Associated with the country’s drive to become more modern and competitive global economy is the emergence of metropolises, which is defined in theory as large urban settlement having at least one million population. Given such definitions, the only metropolises that would qualify are Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. There are, however, other metropolises that do not qualify to the theoretical standards but behave functionally as such and are henceforth classified as metropolitan arrangement. Its emergence, whether fleeting or a prelude to the future trend, is the main concern of this paper. The paper also examines whether there are significant benefits to this form of geopolitical cooperation and how this can be strengthened and enhanced as an alternative mechanism for efficient delivery of urban service.

Source : Philippine Institute for Development Studies (http://publication.pids.gov.ph/details.phtml?pid=242)

[Dinho]

If that be the case then angeles and san fernando should be metro too... and also dagupan.. haha :)

Add to that Kabankalan-Himamaylan-Binalbagan, Metro-Dumaguete, Bais-Tanjay, San Carlos-Calatrava-Escalante-Sagay, and Victorias-EB Magalona-Cadiz. At least they all have neighboring cities right next to each other.

TJ, have you been to Talisay lately? It might be small but it has a bustling urban core and a very prosperous "suburban" area where some of the wealthiest Negrenses live. It also has a sizable expatriate community too. Honda and Ford has car dealerships in Talisay and both companies wouldn't dare put up a dealership in a small town. The only thing lacking in Talisay are cinemas and big department stores. Who needs one if both neighboring cities of Bacolod and Silay have their own movie theaters and they are both a short drive away. Ayala will be putting up their mall in Talisay and SM might build a second one here too. Uniwide would have had their first big mall in the Visayas & Mindanao in Talisay City, Metro Bacolod if they had not been hit by the Asian Economic Crisis. Lopue's also has some tracts of land along the highway for future development. Active has its Trafalgar Square which has yet to be built though.

[Dinho]

The only metropolises in the Philippines :)

Associated with the country’s drive to become more modern and competitive global economy is the emergence of metropolises, which is defined in theory as large urban settlement having at least one million population. Given such definitions, the only metropolises that would qualify are Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. There are, however, other metropolises that do not qualify to the theoretical standards but behave functionally as such and are henceforth classified as metropolitan arrangement. Its emergence, whether fleeting or a prelude to the future trend, is the main concern of this paper. The paper also examines whether there are significant benefits to this form of geopolitical cooperation and how this can be strengthened and enhanced as an alternative mechanism for efficient delivery of urban service.

Source : Philippine Institute for Development Studies (http://publication.pids.gov.ph/details.phtml?pid=242)

Well, the real definition of a metropolitan area doesn't require that the main city and its neighboring cities and towns should have at least one million people. Metro Bacolod as it is now has about 850,000 people and growing at 150,000 +/- every five years. Metro Bacolod should hit the 1 million mark between 4 - 10 years from now. BUT, we would prefer our Metropolis to be sprawling and uncongested unlike Metro Manila and other primary urban areas in the country. But even though it has not yet hit 1 million in population, it has already been recognized as the fourth most important metropolitan area in the country by an international "urbanity" expert.

Bacolod has achieved its present status without the help of SM which is purportedly a guarantee that the city will become progressive. In fact SM has been wrong to disregard Metro Bacolod for so long. They are only coming in now because they are ashamed not to be here when Robinson's is already here and making good money (except for Robinson's Metro Bacolod which was put up in a wrong location... remember that location, location, and location is very important for any business).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metropolitan Area - "A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, made up of a neighboring city and towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs. The core cities in a polycentric metropolitan area need not be physically connected by continuous built-up development, distinguishing the concept from conurbation, which requires urban contiguity. In a metropolitan area, it is sufficient that central cities together constitute a large population nucleus with which other constituent parts have a high degree of integration."

As per the definition of a metropolitan area, there are currently four metropolitan areas in the country. These are Metro Manila, MEtro Cebu, Metro Davao, and Metro Bacolod. It is interesting to note that the definition says cities and not a city and its outlying towns. I think I was right after all in asserting that a metropolitan area should at least have one other city aside from the main city or cities after which the metropolitan area is named. There is no need for the government to recognize this since these metropolitan areas have already been recognized internationally as evidenced by this website.

http://www.world-gazetteer.com/

http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1146567062&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=200&geo=-171&srt=pnan&col=aohdqcfbeimg

[dexter06]

Guys, how about devoting this thread into topics such as what the government and enterpreneurs can do to improve our city and province? Wala pa tayo sa kalingkingan ng Manila in terms of development. (And to think Manila is wala pa sa kalingkingan compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors). No matter how rich we talk about our city, the fact is our city and province does not offer much opportunities to its people. Generally, educated but unlanded people have to get out of Negros Occidental to pursue their dreams of a better and more comfortable life. Our system is still feudal and our consumer purchasing power is fueled by overseas money.

SM and other mall projects, although they create employment opportunities and provide services, they also bring money out of the locality. How about developing sustainable businesses like what the Asso. of Negros Producers is doing. Though it is already an institution, they have not yet attained a considerable volume that can employ a significant number of our population. That is why, i prefer investors like call centers because they bring in money to the place. Also, there are support businesses that will sprout as a result of these types of businesses. How about developing IT business parks just like the ones in Cavite, Subic, Clark and Cebu? And also, we can develop leisure resorts. Yes, we have resorts, but they are all stand alone each having its own reservation/ representative office in Bacolod and Manila. What i am saying is why don't we develop an economic master plan to develop Bacolod.

Business parks:
Just like the business parks in other parts of the country, if we construct one and give investor incentives, i am sure, they will relocate here. Then, there will be factories here so that the poor will improve their lot and that there will be economic mobility (people moving up the economic ladder). Let us be less conscious about social taste and about being ahead when it comes to what is hip, cool and sosyal. Instead, let us improve our lot. Look at Cebu, we can only salivate at what they have achieved so far . . . . and they are not resting on their laurels. Imagine, they can host ASEAN Summit already because they have several 5 star hotels and resorts.

Tourism Industry:
Negros Occidental is between Iloilo (where Boracay belongs) and Cebu. Our flora and fauna is rich. We also have a lot of interesting dive sites. If we have a master plan to develop our tourism potential then we can have a lot of tourists coming. Just imagine, if somebody inquires about Negros, they just go to one representative office in Manila, there they can inquire about the province, book for tours and also book for hotels and resorts. Centralized na. Ngayon kasi, bawat resort, and bawat hotel, kanya kanya. With the tourists, we need to construct hotels and resorts. We do not even have an international hotel chain here. Iloilo has Days Inn, Davao has Marco Polo, Century, etc., Cagayan also has Pryce Hotel, Cebu, obvious ba?

A lot of Negrenses who leave the province excel elsewhere. I am sure our human resources can be tapped to develop our place. Sayang, pirmi na lang ta potential. How about doing something to make it a reality. I will be happy to see a Rustan's and a Citibank. That will be the day. Why Citibank you say? Because it means there is overseas money circulating due to foreign investors here who transact internationally. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia have branches of international banks in five other cities outside of their capital cities. They are our neighbors, so it is not too ambitious to use them as benchmarks. Dream big!!

Let's discuss how we can further improve ourselves.

P.S.
The Citibank at the corner of Galo and Lacson Sts. is Citibank Savings - an offshoot of the business ties of Citibank with Cititrust Savings. It is a purely local/ domestic enterprise and not the real McCoy. But for the sake of argument, we can have that for starters.

[Dinho]

Guys, how about devoting this thread into topics such as what the government and enterpreneurs can do to improve our city and province? Wala pa tayo sa kalingkingan ng Manila in terms of development. (And to think Manila is wala pa sa kalingkingan compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors). No matter how rich we talk about our city, the fact is our city and province does not offer much opportunities to its people. Generally, educated but unlanded people have to get out of Negros Occidental to pursue their dreams of a better and more comfortable life. Our system is still feudal and our consumer purchasing power is fueled by overseas money.

SM and other mall projects, although they create employment opportunities and provide services, they also bring money out of the locality. How about developing sustainable businesses like what the Asso. of Negros Producers is doing. Though it is already an institution, they have not yet attained a considerable volume that can employ a significant number of our population. That is why, i prefer investors like call centers because they bring in money to the place. Also, there are support businesses that will sprout as a result of these types of businesses. How about developing IT business parks just like the ones in Cavite, Subic, Clark and Cebu? And also, we can develop leisure resorts. Yes, we have resorts, but they are all stand alone each having its own reservation/ representative office in Bacolod and Manila. What i am saying is why don't we develop an economic master plan to develop Bacolod.

Business parks:
Just like the business parks in other parts of the country, if we construct one and give investor incentives, i am sure, they will relocate here. Then, there will be factories here so that the poor will improve their lot and that there will be economic mobility (people moving up the economic ladder). Let us be less conscious about social taste and about being ahead when it comes to what is hip, cool and sosyal. Instead, let us improve our lot. Look at Cebu, we can only salivate at what they have achieved so far . . . . and they are not resting on their laurels. Imagine, they can host ASEAN Summit already because they have several 5 star hotels and resorts.

Tourism Industry:
Negros Occidental is between Iloilo (where Boracay belongs) and Cebu. Our flora and fauna is rich. We also have a lot of interesting dive sites. If we have a master plan to develop our tourism potential then we can have a lot of tourists coming. Just imagine, if somebody inquires about Negros, they just go to one representative office in Manila, there they can inquire about the province, book for tours and also book for hotels and resorts. Centralized na. Ngayon kasi, bawat resort, and bawat hotel, kanya kanya. With the tourists, we need to construct hotels and resorts. We do not even have an international hotel chain here. Iloilo has Days Inn, Davao has Marco Polo, Century, etc., Cagayan also has Pryce Hotel, Cebu, obvious ba?

A lot of Negrenses who leave the province excel elsewhere. I am sure our human resources can be tapped to develop our place. Sayang, pirmi na lang ta potential. How about doing something to make it a reality. I will be happy to see a Rustan's and a Citibank. That will be the day. Why Citibank you say? Because it means there is overseas money circulating due to foreign investors here who transact internationally. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia have branches of international banks in five other cities outside of their capital cities. They are our neighbors, so it is not too ambitious to use them as benchmarks. Dream big!!

Let's discuss how we can further improve ourselves.

I agree with you Dexter. I apologize for having gotten carried away with all the stuff other guys had been pointing out that I had forgotten about a lot of things.

Good news is that Bacolod now has a Citibank... It's a small branch located at Insular Life building along Lacson St. I had been praying and hoping that BCPH would be bought by a multinational group. But it would be even better if they don't come in at all. What the Negrense people should do is build up there business and expand outside the city first then try to go oversees. Another possibility is that our wealthy businessmen, like the Yanson's and Cojuanco's, relocate the HQ of their corporations to Metro Bacolod which is the most livable city in the country and also centrally located. I hope that Quan, Bar 21, MO2, Ceres/Bachelor/Rural Transit, and NS Ocana could become more successful than they currently are so that they could eventually get to expand beyond the PI's borders. Would also like to see Lopue's, Bob's L'Fisher/Ciocon group, Calea, and Pendy's expanding beyond Metro Bacolod and Negros Island.

While we do not have the resources to provide jobs for the poor yet, we should start training and educating them to equip them for work both here in Negros and outside our borders. We should train them technical and relational skills so that they would not become like our neighbors up North who are narrow minded. English should also be emphasized at our schools, and Tagalog should even be eliminated from the Negrense Curriculum.

[TJ]

TJ, have you been to Talisay lately? It might be small but it has a bustling urban core and a very prosperous "suburban" area where some of the wealthiest Negrenses live. It also has a sizable expatriate community too. Honda and Ford has car dealerships in Talisay and both companies wouldn't dare put up a dealership in a small town. The only thing lacking in Talisay are cinemas and big department stores. Who needs one if both neighboring cities of Bacolod and Silay have their own movie theaters and they are both a short drive away. Ayala will be putting up their mall in Talisay and SM might build a second one here too. Uniwide would have had their first big mall in the Visayas & Mindanao in Talisay City, Metro Bacolod if they had not been hit by the Asian Economic Crisis. Lopue's also has some tracts of land along the highway for future development. Active has its Trafalgar Square which has yet to be built though.

Yes but until that time talisay will remain not a city to me but a town... :)

To me in my opinion what makes metropolis is that the urban area such as commericial building establishments and residential establishments meet up. But up to this time there is still a huge gap of rice fileds and sugar cane fields between talisay and bacolod so i cannot view it as a metropolis same with bago silay and murica and pulupandan.. the idea of bacolod metropolis right now is just far fetched and over-hyped.

[WawaY[625]]

^^^ same with my hometown davao city.. why are people so eager to call their cities "metro" anyway? so you call your city metro since "technically" is is, but to the common person its just davao city and bacolod city for them, and when you insist on referring to the city as "metro davao" or "metro bacolod", they give you a sarcastic grin and say "metro?"

[sugarboy]

^^^ same with my hometown davao city.. why are people so eager to call their cities "metro" anyway? so you call your city metro since "technically" is is, but to the common person its just davao city and bacolod city for them, and when you insist on referring to the city as "metro davao" or "metro bacolod", they give you a sarcastic grin and say "metro?"

that's true clark. why so much fuzz about whether davao or bacolod is metro?

what about metro gaisano in taguig city? how do our friends explain its being a metro? :rofl:

[WawaY[625]]

^^^ right on! metro gaisano hahaha.

[sugarboy]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/pdi01.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/pdi02.jpg

[rooster2369]

Given the definitions of experts on the "metro" thing, then Dagupan-Lingayen, CDO-Iligan and Angeles-San Fernando should be metro areas.

A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs.

A metropolitan area usually combines an agglomeration (the contiguous built-up area) with peripheral zones not themselves necessarily urban in character, but closely bound to the centre by employment or commerce; these zones are also sometimes known as a commuter belt, and may extend well beyond the urban periphery depending on the definition used.

So, it is not correct to say "I think I was right after all in asserting that a metropolitan area should at least have one other city aside from the main city or cities after which the metropolitan area is named."

Be that as it may, why do these other "theoritical metro areas" not that insistent as "metro Bacolod" in shouting to the world that "we are a metro area!!!" Excuse me, but the only de facto metro areas in the country are Manila and Cebu; Davao is just a theoritical metro.

C'mon Dinho, I know you are a smart guy, and I know that you know how it feels to be in a metro area.

Everybody knows how it feels to be in Metro Manila. Metro Cebu feels like Metro Manila nowadays; to a lesser extent, though.

And didn't you know that Iloilo has been a sort of a "metro" since 1937? Yes, that was the time when the municipalities of Jaro, La Paz, Molo, Mandurriao and Arevalo were incorporated with Iloilo City. :D :D :D

Oo gali, may branch na kami di sg isa ka international chain of supermarkets; dugay na. Ang Makro bala. He, he, he...

[kyle@1008]

uy... metro... metro lang,.. yan.

[overtureph]

Sex videos alarm Bacolod parents, Church authorities
THE SOUTHERN BEAT By Rolly Espina
The Philippine Star 07/06/2006

I was about to write about a change of schedule for the meeting of the Regional Development Council of Region 6 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Cebu City. But I suddenly found myself confronted by a report from a distraught Jimmy Araneta about the proliferation of cellular phone videos of students engaging in sex in Bacolod.

Prior to that first-hand testimony by Jimmy, I had already heard similar stories about these sex videos. From Araneta’s revelation, the one his son showed him was of a group of coeds of a Catholic school who "molested" a neophyte during a sorority hazing.

"They (the group of girls) entered a comfort room where the tyro was. Then, they (removed) her dress and they took turns molesting her. It was shocking," was how Araneta described.

RGMA Radyo also reported yesterday that a mother had raised concern about secondary students engaging in sexual acts recorded by their cellular phones’ video cameras.

Even Senior Superintendent Pedro Merced, the police chief, suspect that students who allowed themselves to be videotaped engaging in sex may actually be high on drugs.

"These acts do not appear to be those of normal people," he declared.

Msgr. Vicente Rivas, Bacolod vicar general, stressed the importance of imparting spiritual values to the young, stressing that they should be made to understand that it is morally wrong to have sex before marriage.

Negros Occidental school superintendent Eva Belicena appealed to parents to keep a close watch on their children after class activities as well as their surfing of the Internet.

Actually, the Internet gives students easy access to pornographic materials, including those explicitly sexual.

She also asked parents to limit the use of cellular phones by their children, especially students.

Araneta, on the other hand, also told me that he had seen similar sex videos on cellular phones in Manila.

"Now, it seems that fad has arrived in Negros and local coeds seem to have taken up to it," he said.

The most horrible sight, he added, was that of girls molesting one of their own. That shows the deterioration of the morals of the young, he added.
Interdiction
The beating up of a policeman-member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently was actually the third time this happened in Puroks Patuloy and Antonio Luna Interior of Barangay Mambulca in Silay City.

This prompted Silay City Mayor Carlo Gamban yesterday to plan the establishment of two police outposts in the area to seal it off. This was also backed by Silay police chief Celestino Guara.

Actually, three police officers had been beaten up and mobbed by local residents on three occasions. The three were PO3 Vener Cabilitasan, PO1 Dante Victor Escorpion, and SPO1 Mateo Requintana.

The last incident involved Cabilitasan of the PDEA last week only. When he arrested an alleged drug pusher, Roda Mae Alimoot, during a buy-bust operation in Mambucal, a local group mobbed and beat him up.

Cabilitasan managed to grab two sachets of suspected shabu from Roda Mae plus P500 in marked money.

Three weeks earlier, Requintina also arrested two barangay residents for estafa and illegal possession of a deadly weapon. The same happened to him. He was mobbed. Even his residence was stoned by unidentified men who also ransacked and destroyed it several times. This prompted the policeman to abandon his Mambulac home.

Actually, interdiction as a drug-infested village is nothing new. This has been tried in several cases in Iloilo and Bacolod.

A Bacolod barangay found itself virtually isolated from outsiders last year. It was the hotbed of drugs, pointed out PDEA regional director Rolen Balquin.

Gaura said he will request the services of the 6th Regional Mobile Group in the two police outposts.

Police have already identified the alleged financier of the drug trade in the area. He is reportedly called by his neighbors as "Robin Hood" because of his benevolence.

Well, it seems that the PDEA should be able to implement more stringent measures against the locals which are also the ones protecting the drug trade in their area.
Hinobaan mayor dies after Pacquiao match
Hinobaan (Negros Occidental) Mayor Francisco Bilbao passed away at the Riverside Medical Center Tuesday, but not before he was able to watch the delayed telecast of Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Mexican Oscar Larios.

Bilbao succumbed to lung cancer. He was 72 years old. He was also suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, according to Dr. John Ledesma, his attending physician.

His wife, Ma. Teresa Locsin-Bilbao, reportedly decided to take him to the Bacolod hospital when he was about to watch the Pacquiao-Larios match. But Sunday afternoon, he resumed watching the match and just slipped away quietly, according to his brother, Ernesto.

Actually, Bilbao’s cancer was discovered in November last year. He was treated in Manila for a time, but returned to Hinobaan to resume his post, according to the family.

When he was rushed to the hospital, Dr. Ledesma said, Bilbao was suffering from low sodium. This was corrected. Monday, however, he developed shortness of breath and was transferred to the intensive care unit, said Dr. Ledesma.

The family decided not to place him on a respirator anymore. Thus, Bilbao managed to just slip away peacefully, according to his attending physician.

His widow and children Hope and Francisco Jr. joined Ernesto, brother of "Paquit," at his bedside.

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon said Bilbao was not only a friend but a man who had dedicated his life to the service of Hinobaan.

Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco described him as a dedicated town mayor.

Although born in Iloilo City, Bilbao graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in management in Spain.

Aside from the two previously mentioned, his other children are Gerard Eugenio, Jean Paul, and Felicidad.

His remains lie in state at Rolling Hill. They will stay there for two days, after which they will be transferred to Hinobaan where he will be buried. Details of the funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Vice Mayor Jane Cubid will assume the mayorship with first councilor Jodybonne Octavio becoming the vice mayor vice Cubid.
Antiqueños in US
It was a surprise to hear Antique Gov. and Regional Development Council chairwoman Sally Zaldivar-Perez report that the Antiqueños in the US (ACUSA) have expressed interest in putting up bonds for the expansion and decongestion of the new Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital.

One of the ACUSA donors, Vince Sungcaywon, pledged $40,000 (equivalent to P2 million).

"He only requested for one wing to be named after his father. The lowest pledge was $500," said Gov. Perez.

In short, the trip was worth it. And she added that the ACUSA sponsored the plane tickets and the board and lodging for the Antique delegation which included artists who put up an impromptu cultural show.

Well, the RDC 6, she added, has set for July 7 their trip to Cebu City for the consultations with President Arroyo for the mega-regional planning program.

The President, according to Gov. Perez, will preside over the joint RDC-Cabinet meetings where NEDA will present the prospects of "supra regions" delineated by the President.

The RDCs will present prospects to carry out locally initiated development, tapping the potentials of better-off regions and giving attention to lagging areas.

Through this initiative, local leaders are expected to think beyond the concerns of their own locality or region, Gov. Perez declared.

ADDENDUM: Three more persons were charged for the death of 21-year-old Jan Angelo Dollete who died last May 6 following the initiation rites of the Alpha Phi Omega in Sapian, Capiz. The three suspects charged were Archie Durana, Carlette Caldea-Prieta, and Irineo Deneo, a former manager of RCL Marketing in Kalibo, Aklan. Earlier, Task Force Dollete charged 11 suspects for Dollete’s death. The victim was a fifth-year electrical engineering student of the Capiz State University.

http://philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200607069909.htm

[WawaY[625]]

Given the definitions of experts on the "metro" thing, then Dagupan-Lingayen, CDO-Iligan and Angeles-San Fernando should be metro areas.

A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs.

A metropolitan area usually combines an agglomeration (the contiguous built-up area) with peripheral zones not themselves necessarily urban in character, but closely bound to the centre by employment or commerce; these zones are also sometimes known as a commuter belt, and may extend well beyond the urban periphery depending on the definition used.

So, it is not correct to say "I think I was right after all in asserting that a metropolitan area should at least have one other city aside from the main city or cities after which the metropolitan area is named."

Be that as it may, why do these other "theoritical metro areas" not that insistent as "metro Bacolod" in shouting to the world that "we are a metro area!!!" Excuse me, but the only de facto metro areas in the country are Manila and Cebu; Davao is just a theoritical metro.

C'mon Dinho, I know you are a smart guy, and I know that you know how it feels to be in a metro area.

Everybody knows how it feels to be in Metro Manila. Metro Cebu feels like Metro Manila nowadays; to a lesser extent, though.

And didn't you know that Iloilo has been a sort of a "metro" since 1937? Yes, that was the time when the municipalities of Jaro, La Paz, Molo, Mandurriao and Arevalo were incorporated with Iloilo City. :D :D :D

Oo gali, may branch na kami di sg isa ka international chain of supermarkets; dugay na. Ang Makro bala. He, he, he...


my point exactly..unless its already generally used title, then a metro bacolod..even metro davao (my city) isnt that proper yet.

[kyle@1008]

^^ yup,.....
we should stick to davao and bacolod only,.... metroness is to overrated.....

[kyle@1008]

New women of Bacolod
By Inquirer News Service

NEGRENSE women are the quintessential southern belles of lore and vintage LVN movies. They were to the hacienda born, with a silver spoon of muscovado in their mouths. They move with the languid hauteur of the rich who, as Fitzgerald said, are different from you and me. Right? Nothing could be more wrong. Yes, they are graciosa, as only an Ilongga can be, but they are no different from their cosmopolitan sisters who are tough and driven and ambitious. The more privileged among them also feel noblesse obliged to make a difference in the lives of the people around them, while enriching their own.

Lyn Besa Gamboa is the doyenne of culture in Western Negros, and if anyone dares to contest that, or aspire for the title, he or she should be prepared for the thankless job of nurturing the arts and culture of Negros, which is not a funding priority of the local government and other philistine people calloused by difficult economic times. (Gretchen Cojuangco, although a great supporter of the arts, has been heard to dismiss the archness of it all, saying, "Ano'ng culture-culture? I'm just a jardinera.")

Lyn likewise has little patience with the elitism connected with arts and culture. "I only want to keep the arts and culture of Negros alive for generations to come," she says. "People are more cohesive and richer for their traditions and history." In everything she's done, she has always involved the people, especially children. When she transformed the Gaston ancestral house in Silay into the Balay Negrense, she got schoolchildren to cut the grass in the yard and polish the floors in the house. Balay Negrense, a re-creation of the sugar-baron lifestyle of yesteryears, is today a landmark in Negros.

More recently, Lyn, now familiar with the enthusiasm of schoolchildren, put up the Museo Pambata in Sagay, north of Bacolod. "It's a beautiful little interactive museum for youngsters," she says. Her crowning glory, however, has got to be The Negros Museum, now relocated to the Old Agricultural Building along Gatuslao Street, which sports (upon her insistence) the six Roman columns that were the distinguishing features of its former site at the nearby Capitol building, as well as a museum shop, a coffee shop and bigger function rooms.

Lyn has always counted on the help of Cristina Montelibano, a true-blue Bacoleña, who's as low-key as Lyn is eternally keyed up. These days Lyn wants to revive the delicacies of the manuglibud, the itinerant vendor who carried on a bilao balanced on her head such delicious merienda fare as piaya, lumpia, suman, ibus mais, salab, puto lanzon and others, favored by the mahjongeras and panginggeras at the turn of the century. Lyn has no intention of reviving the afternoon mahjong and card games, only the native delicacies, now a dying industry in the barrios. She believes these delicacies can improve the earnings of the locals and attract to their communities guests and visitors who crave traditional fare.

She herself will be launching her own deli food named Savor de Silay, initially offering classy bottled jaleya de tomate, marmelada de cebolla, and salsa manga (her version of the salsa monja, the comfort food of the old Spanish nuns). "My children keep scolding me for giving away all my recipes," she says. Now she's branding them and expects to launch them on November 12 at the Dasmariñas Clubhouse, with the dishes of chef Ed Quimson especially using her products.

A stalwart among women in travel, Lyn will assume the chairmanship of the International Federation of Women Travel Organizations in January 2004. Her bragging rights: She will be the first from the Asia-Pacific region to hold this post in the 34-year history of the federation, which is based in Torremolinos, Spain.

So, why is Lyn, a Tarlaqueña married to the Gamboas of Silay, doing all this for Negros? "Because, whether they like it or not, I am a Negrense. And also because it's a burning need for me to put Negros on the map, and it is now." Lyn has a sharp tongue, which rankles some people in Bacolod, but they will admit that she gets things done.

Likewise working to put Negros on the tourism map, in her own dynamic way, is Ruth Minerva Cruz, vice president of the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel, the first hotel there to address the needs of the conventions market soon after the 1989 earthquake that struck down the big hotels in Baguio. Since then, Bacolod, eventually boosted by more rooms in new hotels of all sizes, has been strengthening its position as the "alternative" conventions destination, after Manila, Angeles, Cebu.

When she was called home by her family to take up the management of the hotel, Ruth was then living and studying in Europe, mastering the German and French languages in Gottingen, Frankfurt, in Freiburg in the Black Forest and in Nantes, northwest of Paris, with the dream of becoming an interpreter, hopefully at the United Nations, or at a multinational corporation. But family duties beckoned.

The manager's post is distributed on a round-robin scheme among the investors' families. It apparently has not worked: The hotel is now floated on the market, for the right price.
Knowledgeable people are saying that if Ruth had been allowed to run the hotel by herself, it would have been going great guns, considering that it's the only hotel in Bacolod with a capacious conference hall and space for small ground-level industrial exhibitions and garden shows.

Ruth has not let up in her efforts to make Bacolod a meetings destination. Through Attain (Alliance of Travel Trade Associations in Negros), organized by the managers of the five big hotels in Bacolod, events are continually being created to draw people from the region and beyond. She's also been active, through Attain, in training and professionalizing tour operators and tour guides in Bacolod -- "Tourists, especially Germans, are very specific in their questions about Bacolod's sugar industry, which tour guides are not knowledgeable about" -- and in raising greater awareness among people in the barangays on the tourist potential of their charming, rustic communities.

Realizing that the hotel has now become too small for the meetings market, the Cruz family built the 24-room Prominence Inn, a bed-and-breakfast type that fits the Philippine setting well. More recently, Ruth opened The Quiet Place in Bago City, a 20-minute drive from downtown Bacolod, situated in a ricefield bowl cleared for cottages and gardens accommodating 30 to 40 people for small, quiet seminars, and soon a spa offering herbal massage and healing (lutay). It is a pioneering agri-tourism project, now popular with student groups and locals, and let everyone know that Ruth is running it herself this time.

Millie Kilayko has been a leading light in the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) since it was born in a time of great distress in Negros Occidental, when world sugar prices plummeted and government took control of sugar trading. That awful time saw 84 percent of Negrenses living below the poverty line and 60 percent of their children languishing in malnutrition. "Many people left the province to seek greener pastures elsewhere," recalls Millie, "and many others ran to the hills to embrace ideologies which promised a better life after violent change."

A handful of Negrenses, mostly housewives, sought better alternatives. Coming from seminars in Manila on starting a kitchen or backyard business with certain crafts and skills, the women shared their knowledge with wives of farm workers. They had to be very inventive, as western Negros did not have a tradition of crafts they could call their own, like the Ifugaos and Maranaos have with their weaving and woodcarving. This gave rise to the ANP.

Millie gave ANP a larger vision and a more professional stance. Under her presidency, the ANP implemented the projects of then President Ramos's National Economic Enterprise Development. "In partnership with DTI, among others, we helped handicraft producers in the 20 poorest provinces," she says. "Many times I could not believe what I was doing-riding public buses with chickens and pigs through the mountains, going to remote areas where government troops and rebels were clashing."

Many of the entrepreneurs coming from these poor areas have gone on to participate in big trade shows. "My greatest joy is when they come to me and boast to me about their sales figures-and I find that their figures exceed my own!"

In 2000, the 12th anniversary of ANP, Millie worked for the creation of the Negros Island Inc. (NII), with the ANP holding majority ownership and the balance of shares of stock available to individual producers and other Negrenses invited as investors. "In an era of global competitiveness, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs like us will find it increasingly difficult to compete in the international market and join expensive trade shows if we continue to do things as individuals." The 2002 European show organized by NII on a collective basis proved her point: "Buyers were standing in line for their turn at our 54-square-meter booth. They liked the idea of having to deal with only one company to commit the quality, production and delivery of the goods."

Since ANP has other priorities to serve, Millie and two friends have offered to buy majority ownership of NII and run it like a business outfit, with ANP still holding some shares of stocks. Millie also announces that ANP will be opening its showroom in Manila -- "a dream for ANP members for the past 10 years" -- this month, at 2205 Zobel Street, San Miguel Village, Makati. "The showroom offers not only Negrense products but the best of the islands," Millie says.

These days, Millie, together with a partner, is into horticulture and the production of ceramic home accessories, called Poetry in Clay, for export. Their latest venture is the Garden Center, a restaurant amidst blooms and foliage in the heart of the city. Will she ever stop coming up with new projects or new ventures? "I guess not," she says. "As long as there's an opportunity to create one more job, to bring in one more tourist, and to earn one more peso or dollar to help our economy in a little way."

Joy S.Valdez is the incumbent mayor of Bacolod City, the first elected woman mayor in the city's history. She also happens to be an outsider (tapik, in the derogatory word of the Bacolodnons), the daughter of a cardiologist from Pangasinan, who's married into a family of schoolteachers from Pontevedra. Her husband is presently the DOTC undersecretary.

"You cannot imagine the odds against me when I first joined Bacolod politics," she says. "Bacolod is a very feudal society; I simply didn't belong." But like Lyn Gamboa, Joy Valdez had her heart in the best for Bacolod, although it didn't help at first that family and friends sternly warned her that "politics is a dirty game at puro lalake ang kasama mo (you'll be in the company of men).'' From being the first woman councilor in Bacolod during the term of Mayor Alfredo Montelibano to vice mayor and then mayor, she has became the icon of a growing feminist group in that city.

Joy, before she joined politics, had worked as voluntary worker and consultant of the World Health Organization (WHO) in its program to "demystify" rehabilitation, especially in its work for children with disabilities. "WHO realized that it worked better in the Philippine situation to deal with children with disabilities at home by teaching their parents to handle them than to commit the children to an institution," she explains. Her ability to work in different communities and deal with people from all walks of life was "probably my greatest strength when I joined politics," she says.

This, together with a woman's unfailing intuition for what people need and aspire for and coupled with the compassion and will to do something about it, is what Joy as a woman is bringing to Bacolod's feudal politics. And she's doing it very well indeed. The Asian Institute of Management has named Bacolod "The Most Livable City" in the country, and the Clean and Green Program has catapulted it to the Hall of Fame for winning the environmental contest three years in a row. Her administration has also been rated excellent by a local productivity performance test in the areas of economic and social services and environmental protection.

[kyle@1008]

Negros Occidental - It’s More than Fiesta’s and Sugar
Text by Yves Acol

-Pilmap Travel and Leisure Magazine
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While Negros Occidental has a lot in store for the festival adventurer (Maskara, Panaad, Paraw Regatta, etc.) it has more to offer than just lively celebrations. One of the seven provinces comprising Western Visayas, boot-shaped Negros is the country’s fourth largest island and lies smack in the middle of the Philippine archipelago. Negros Occidental occupies the northwestern part, stretching 372 kilometers from the northern tip of San Carlos to the southern end of Hinoba-an. Known as the Sugarbowl of the Philippines, the island has 196,789 hectares of sugarcane plantation.

Negros has lots to offer its visitors, from the casual tourists to the history buff to the intrepid, backpacking adventurer. Negros Occidental is blessed with natural wonders and a sound socio-economic base, with all the necessary infrastructures in place. Good roads are conveniently networked for easy access to hotels, inns, restaurants, museums and transport systems. Negros is also endowed with a rich historical heritage and geographic diversity.

As one descends the Bacolod airport, the visual spectacle begins. The tip of the airport runway is bordered by an emerald green coast, stretching into a straight concrete path ringed on both sides by rice fields. Most major hotels are just minutes away. All modes of transport are readily available, including taxicabs, vans and multi-seater AUV’s for hire.

Bacolod is the provincial capitol, and the entire island’s economic and political nerve center. The dynamic Joseph Maranon is the current governor of the province. Bacolod City has been named one of the best cities in the country due to its outstanding environmental maintenance, low business cost, mobility, strong presence of cellular phone signals – hardly any dead spots, digitally connected and the low crime rate, among others.

And it is indeed a travel friendly place. Among the best hotels you can stay include the stately Casino Filipino Hotel whose lobby took inspiration from the traditionally grandiose Negrense mansions and dining establishments like Aboy’s and Korean Grill Bar, which are within walking distance from important business centers, commercial establishments and other restaurants (not to forget the famous chicken barbecues/inasals).

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As far as tourism promotions is concerned, the governor’s tourism office has been on an all out drive to promote Negros Occidental as a leading tourist destination not only within the country but also abroad. Under Ms. Jennelynd Cordero, the tourism office is heavily promoting the province’s crafts, culture, cuisine and lately as a new convention destination.

For a look at the past of Negros, with its rich historical and cultural past, the Negrense Museum (formerly the Governor’s Mansion) portrays the story of its people through detailed dioramas and exhibits.

Although Bacolod is the gateway to the rest of the province, escape is just an hour away. That’s the beauty of this province. Be it mountain resorts or beaches, everything’s reachable by land. Every drive is a trip through endless fields of sugarcane, which can reach gigantic heights during harvest season from September to October

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Silay City is perhaps the best representation of suburban Negros. It has been called the “Paris of the South” because of it’s smattering of art-decostyle buildings and lavish ancestral mansions. Silay is just an hour’s drive north of Bacolod.

Per historical account, Negros Occidental produced 4,000 piculs of sugar in 1856 to its current capacity of approximately 800,000 metric tons in 2003. Roughly 40-50% of sugar produced by the country is milled in Negros Occidental. Currently there are only 9 sugar mills fully operational out of the thirteen sugar mills that used to operate back in 1997-1998.

One of the most efficient sugar mills in Silay, is Hawaiian-Philippine Company. The Mill’s Human Resource Manager Mr. John P. Etabag allowed us to witness a real muscovado mill in use and at the same time lucky enough to be given product samples. It took Mr. Rodolfo Casis and his team three hours to cook the sugar juice after they produced it with the help of a carabao. The carabao is used to turn the mill that grinds that sugar cane to produce the cane juice. They added hydrated lime and then coconut milk as surfactant. The flavor has a caramel taste to it reminding one the taste of panocha. Silay aside from its sugar mills is best noted for its ancestral homes, most of which still have families living in this mansions.

The Balay Negrense a lifestyle museum is the ancestral home of Don Victor Fernandez Gaston constructed of wood and stone. It was the first museum in Negros Occidental. It shows how the sugar planters lived. From the outside you will notice the spacious land where the house stands and the ventanas (windows) and the intricate woodworks on it. Upon entering you will be greeted by a wide hall that used to be host to a lot of gatherings during its time and connects with the big hall on second floor by the stairway with the imposing portrait of Don Victor Fernandez. The house has 12 bedrooms surrounded by shutters, hemmed in by carved transoms. In one of the rooms, the table of red Narra is set with fine porcelain, French silver and glasses an epitome of the lifestyle they had. The house is filled with taste and refinements of that time.

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Another lifestyle museum in Silay City is the Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House built in 1908 and commonly called the “Pink House.” The house was constructed of hardwood from the province of Mindoro and was influenced by the original nipa hut design of the roof and its square structure. Any visitor will notice the intricate artwork on the room’s dividers and the beautifully embossed steel trayed ceilings molded in Hamburg, Germany. A Steinway piano circa 1907 dominates one area, Luis Quince Style table lamp of baccarat crystal, pillow cases embroidered in the 19th century, even the silver pitcher and cups originally owned by the first American naval officer to come to Negros Occidental are there for everyone to appreciate.

Further up, one passes through Manapla (renowned for its distinctly flavored rice cakes), Cadiz City, then Sagay, a rustic but socially dynamic city with a lot of character. One of this city’s interesting highlights is its coastline and coral islets that are home to a wide variety of marine life, making it one of island’s major fishing grounds. A sizeable sandbar in the middle of the sea is the picture-perfect Carbin Reef, which serves as a marine sanctuary and is great for picnics or romantic sunsets.

Less than 30 minutes away by motorized banca from the coast of Sagay is Jomabo Resort, a picturesque strip of sand, rocks and quaint guest huts with reasonable rates. The resort huts are unique, because their back doors directly open to the sea, so you can jump in anytime.

Another resort worth a visit east of Bacolod City is the Mambukal Resort that lies 1,200 feet above sea level. Originally developed by a Japanese architect named Ishiwata in 1927, the resort started as a bathhouse and picnic garden.

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The hot sulfur springs spur out some odorous smell but its medicinal waters continually feeds the dipping pool and provides rejuvenating remedies for some people. The resort now offers other activities in the area including a Canopy Walk with its hanging bridges on the way to the water falls, seven water falls if you really want to tackle all of them, or you can go boating in the lagoon or sleep and relax in the Tourist Lodge with its air-conditioned cottages or at the plain and simple camp sites. The 23.6 hectares resort can relax your body and soul. The administration of Governor Marañon is responsible for the improvement of the resort, it is owned by the provincial government. There are other resorts in the province worth a visit including Bonista, Whispering Palm, Artistic Diving and Punta Bulata.

Today when mention of Negros Occidental province is concerned, not just sugar is top of mind, but the best fighting cocks can also be found and bought here. The fighting cocks from Negros Occidental now command a premium price in the local market. One should visit the breeding farm of the Lizares brothers – Francis, Tony and Teddy. Tony has been a consistent winner in several competitions that his cocks have been sought after breeds. His younger brother Tony won the 7-cock championship in Bacolod in 2003. The Lizares brothers have formally started their commercial breeding activity as early as 1991 by establishing their own breeding farm in Barangay Alangilan. According to Francis, the Department of Tourism has already declared Barangay Alangilan, the last barangay in the east as a tourism site because of the hundreds of game fowl breeding farms that are based here. There are literally thousands of game fowls on this barangay.

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Of course a visit to Negros is not complete without a taste of Negrense cuisine. One must partake of their grilled chicken called inasal. It is an original Negrense method of marinating and roasting. Once cooked, it is usually dipped in a special vinegar-herb concoction called sinamak and eaten with garlic rice. A smoky strip in Bacolod City is worth a visit if only to try this local cuisine. A taste of the local seafood selection must also be on any visitor’s “to do list.” For your souvenir destination, check out some local delicacies including piaya, barquillos and sweet tarts at the Association of Negros Producers or ANP Showroom in downtown Bacolod. Famous local brands including baye-baye, inday-inday, bitchokoy, bicho-bicho and kalamay hati, can be found here. Sugar plantations, year-round fiestas, breathtaking mountain views, scenic beaches, interesting mansions and savory local dishes are tell-tale signs of what a good time in Negros Occidental await visitors out on a roll.

[kyle@1008]

. What the Negrense people should do is build up there business and expand outside the city first then try to go oversees. Another possibility is that our wealthy businessmen, like the Yanson's and Cojuanco's, relocate the HQ of their corporations to Metro Bacolod which is the most livable city in the country and also centrally located. I hope that Quan, Bar 21, MO2, Ceres/Bachelor/Rural Transit, and NS Ocana could become more successful than they currently are so that they could eventually get to expand beyond the PI's borders. Would also like to see Lopue's, Bob's L'Fisher/Ciocon group, Calea, and Pendy's expanding beyond Metro Bacolod and Negros Island.

While we do not have the resources to provide jobs for the poor yet, we should start training and educating them to equip them for work both here in Negros and outside our borders. We should train them technical and relational skills so that they would not become like our neighbors up North who are narrow minded. English should also be emphasized at our schools, and Tagalog should even be eliminated from the Negrense Curriculum.

-It already is in place ANP has opened a showroom in Makati and Milan.... and are exporting abroad,..Orly ONg has opened MO2 in Iloilo,.... then , Bacolod chicken, chicken house and Bacolod chicken Inasal are expanding in manila. Yusay Credit, Golden Sun and other lending companies are operating in major cities in the country. The Yansons own Phil Rabbit bus co. of manila and Yellow Bus of Mindanao,....and Danding Cojuangco of course owns Asia's Largest Food and beverage co.: San Miguel... , and Rose Lacson-Porteous owns one of Australia's largest corporation....the list goes on....

-on the homefront... well Let's just say that after the SEA games,.. think of what has happened...
-A new hotel has opened, SM city is on the way... Five international call centers are now here,... Two highrise condominums are on the works,.. a new building in front of Robinsons...etc..etc... give it two years,.. The SEA games gave bacolod international exposure and the media attention has helped a lot....:colgate:

[TJ]

ive been to one of those spooky houses and something tells and i can feel that something in there is watching me.... and following me... and i like it..hehe :)
i like spooky houses... :D

[kyle@1008]

^^ yes, .... friends of mine once did a documentary on those...
In cebu they have such a place called CASA gorordo,.. when your in there yer not allowed to take pictures cos, ghosts would often appear on the prints...

[Dinho]

-It already is in place ANP has opened a showroom in Makati and Milan.... and are exporting abroad,..Orly ONg has opened MO2 in Iloilo,.... then , Bacolod chicken, chicken house and Bacolod chicken Inasal are expanding in manila. Yusay Credit, Golden Sun and other lending companies are operating in major cities in the country. The Yansons own Phil Rabbit bus co. of manila and Yellow Bus of Mindanao,....and Danding Cojuangco of course owns Asia's Largest Food and beverage co.: San Miguel... , and Rose Lacson-Porteous owns one of Australia's largest corporation....the list goes on....

-on the homefront... well Let's just say that after the SEA games,.. think of what has happened...
-A new hotel has opened, SM city is on the way... Five international call centers are now here,... Two highrise condominums are on the works,.. a new building in front of Robinsons...etc..etc... give it two years,.. The SEA games gave bacolod international exposure and the media attention has helped a lot....:colgate:

Thanks for the summary of big Negrense corporations and Negrense owned corporations. How I long for the day when they would build high rise office HQ buildings in one of Metro Bacolod's business parks.

I still haven't seen any sign of the construction of those supposed highrise but more like medium rise residential condominiums at the reclamation area. Do you have any idea where it is?

[BYAHILO]

those old house in Silay are very lovely!

I will be going to Vigan and Laoag next week, and i just cantg help compare silay to Vigan.

While vigan has already gained international exposure, being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, i do hope that Silay LGU and the provincial govt, must take steps to protect these old houses, educate the people why these these old houses are very important as part of our rich heritage.

Pag maka puli ako sa october, makadto man ko dira sa Silay, for the meantime., sa laoag lang ko anay. heheh

PS: what i said sa ibabaw doesnt just hold true sa mga taga silay.. include man naton ang mga taga jaro..

there are only 3 places i know of nga damo damo old houses. 1 vigan, 2 jaro iloilo and 3 silay.

lets protect these heritage structures from further degradation.

[Dinho]

those old house in Silay are very lovely!

I will be going to Vigan and Laoag next week, and i just cantg help compare silay to Vigan.

While vigan has already gained international exposure, being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, i do hope that Silay LGU and the provincial govt, must take steps to protect these old houses, educate the people why these these old houses are very important as part of our rich heritage.

Pag maka puli ako sa october, makadto man ko dira sa Silay, for the meantime., sa laoag lang ko anay. heheh

PS: what i said sa ibabaw doesnt just hold true sa mga taga silay.. include man naton ang mga taga jaro..

there are only 3 places i know of nga damo damo old houses. 1 vigan, 2 jaro iloilo and 3 silay.

lets protect these heritage structures from further degradation.

If Vigan is already a recognized Heritage site, I think Jaro is the exact opposite as most of the homes there seem to belong to the Art Deco style and not the Filipino-Spanish architecture found in both Vigan and Silay City.

[sugarboy]

while the houses in silay are beautiful, i think the general public miss out on the fact that there are a few ancestral homes in bacolod which have better architecture and history altogether.

[rooster2369]

What about the hacienda houses across the whole of Negros? I have been to Hacienda Antolanga, slept in one of its high-ceilinged, airy rooms and pooped in its elegant "banos". While there, you can actually feel like you are in a different world, a different time; relaxing along its verandas and looking down on the workers below...

We should preserve this heritage, too. The "Haciendero-Sacada Heritage".

[rooster2369]

If Vigan is already a recognized Heritage site, I think Jaro is the exact opposite as most of the homes there seem to belong to the Art Deco style and not the Filipino-Spanish architecture found in both Vigan and Silay City.

What about the hacienda houses across the whole of Negros? I have been to Hacienda Antolanga, slept in one of its high-ceilinged, airy rooms and pooped in its elegant "banos". While there, you can actually feel like you are in a different world, a different time; relaxing along its verandas and looking down on the workers below...

We should preserve this heritage, too. The "Haciendero-Sacada Heritage".

[BYAHILO]

What about the hacienda houses across the whole of Negros? I have been to Hacienda Antolanga, slept in one of its high-ceilinged, airy rooms and pooped in its elegant "banos". While there, you can actually feel like you are in a different world, a different time; relaxing along its verandas and looking down on the workers below...

We should preserve this heritage, too. The "Haciendero-Sacada Heritage".

it's tru that both Iloilo and Negros are very very rich in cultural heritage, by the mere presence of its old houses. but.. as what chymera told me before.. only a few, are able to fully appreciate these structures since most of these houses are closed to the public.

i must admit, i grew up in bacolod, pero balay negrense pa lang gid nasudlan ko. ill try to attemp maka sulod sa iban when i get back home.

i can remember sometime last month, Korina Sanchez did an episode in her show about old houses. She was never allowed to get inside the Pink House of Iloilo.

ti didto lang sya ya sa gate nag shoot sang segment eh.

i hope these heritage houses, will be opened to the public. para ma appreciate sang younger generation ang history sang ila syudad.

i bet these young student nowadays doesnt know who aniceto lacson, tan juan, or Yves gaston is....

(sa mga wala kahibalo yves gaston is the original owner of the balay negrense, he is the pioneer of the sugar industry in negros)

[BYAHILO]

i was actually thinking last night to conduct an informal /random sutdents in bacolod mag puli ako if they still know our local heros.. kay daw feeling ko daw indi na nila kilala eh..

and if survey results look bad, ill try to send peition to DepEd through bacolod city mayor to include the local history of negros in our elementary and high school curiculum.

its pathetic to see a bacoleno or a negrense nga wala nakahibalo sang istorya sang iya probinsya.

do u guys think this is doable?

[J_lim2k2]

i was actually thinking last night to conduct an informal /random sutdents in bacolod mag puli ako if they still know our local heros.. kay daw feeling ko daw indi na nila kilala eh..

and if survey results look bad, ill try to send peition to DepEd through bacolod city mayor to include the local history of negros in our elementary and high school curiculum.

its pathetic to see a bacoleno or a negrense nga wala nakahibalo sang istorya sang iya probinsya.

do u guys think this is doable?

i doubt the success outcome of your survey... the problem is local history is not taught in school. I never knew negros history in my school. most of it I learn outside from school. I've never heared that "Republica de Negros" existed untill just about 2-3 yrs ago.

I do support your plan to petition it to the government. galing as always I doubt if they would even mind your petition. you know how are government works.

[J_lim2k2]

Lucio Tan ....1.9 billion .... metro manila
Henry Sy..... 1.6 billion.... metro manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala.....1.1 billion... metro manila
Danding Cojuangco......750 million.....Negros Occidental
John Gokongwei.....420 million..... Metro Cebu
George Ty......420 million..... metro manila
Tony Tan Caktiong.....355 million..... metro manila

I just realize something,.... the richest filipinos are in fact not pure filipinos, theyre either spanish (Jaime Zobel) or chinese (Lucio Tan ) or both, (Danding Cojuangco, chinese spanish meztiso)......

let me add something to what TJ said, it's not only a a matter of luck and Hardwork but also a matter of race and blood to achieve somehting in the phils.....


what do you mean by not pure filipino? there is no such thing as filipino race. we are all foreign here before. the only local here are the "itas" in the mountain. most of us where malaysians,indonesians and other SEA nations and a mixture of chinese,japanese, spanish and maericans and other race.

so stop that racist thing. most of us (including me a filipino-chinese) havent even been to china or knew any relatives from china. and most of us here cant even speak the mother tongue of our ancestors. try lookin singapore for example. they're compose of chinese, south asians and malays mostly but they never say they are not PURE SINGAPOREANS because they know there is no singaporean race.

I just wanna correct the mind of some here. That WE ARE PURE FILIPINOS!

[Dinho]

What about the hacienda houses across the whole of Negros? I have been to Hacienda Antolanga, slept in one of its high-ceilinged, airy rooms and pooped in its elegant "banos". While there, you can actually feel like you are in a different world, a different time; relaxing along its verandas and looking down on the workers below...

We should preserve this heritage, too. The "Haciendero-Sacada Heritage".

I can sense some sarcasm... You think we Negrenses couldn't read between the lines?

[oboi]

Oh and speaking of wealth , these are the richest men in RP and their corresponding residences....

Lucio Tan... 1.6 billion Metro Manila
Henry Sy.....1.4 billion Metro Manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala....1.2 billion Metro Manila
Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco ....400 million Negros Occidental
George Ty......360 million Metro Manila
John Gokongwei Jr......330 million Metro Cebu
Tony Tan Caktiong......270 million Metro Manila

-Oh well, at least there's two from southern phillipines....
and Negros is home to the richest and most powerful man in the south :cheers:

Just wondering... As far as I know, the Cojuangcos are from Tarlac. Former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr. resides at Balete Drive, New Manila, Quezon City though he has vast landholdings in Negros Occidental (about 11 haciendas covering numerous cities and municipalities). His son Carlos "Charlie" O. Cojuangco is the one that resides at Hda. Balbina, Pondevedra, Negros Occidental as he is currently the representative of the 4th district. His other son, Mark O. Cojuangco is also a member of congress and represents the 5th district of Pangasinan and resides at Brgy. Labayug, Sison, Pangasinan. All three of them were born in Manila...

[overtureph]

High on History ang Heritage in Negros




Unlike high levels of cholesterol, an overdose of art and culture, history and heritage, is good for the heart. It makes you feel rich, full, fulfilled, content, like your cup runneth over. It keeps the spirit soaring without having to worry about getting a heart attack.

A recent weekend in Negros Occidental, specifically, in Bacolod and its nearby northern component cities, sent us on an overdrive of everything Filipiniana in all its varied hues, forms, tastes, and influences. Our heart is still singing as we write.

Negros Occidental hosted recently the closing ceremonies of National Heritage Month, which began auspiciously with a Cecile Licad concert at the historic Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte on May 1. The celebration, steered by the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. chaired by Mita Bantug Rufino with Bambi L. Harper as festival director, then echoed throughout the country.

Heritage Month climaxed in western Negros and Iloilo May 26-31 via an avalanche of cultural presentations, lifestyle exhibits, tours of heritage homes, food festivals, lectures, and a straight, old-fashioned Hiligaynon mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral, which was built in 1876.

In-between were trips that brought us to enchanted trees in Talisay and primitive pottery makers in Silay. Topping the cake for us, however, was the staging of an Ilongo zarzuela called Dandansoy: Ang Gugma ni Dansoy kag Rosing at a multi-purpose gym fronting the Bacolod Plaza.

Dandansoy, a production of TAPAS, or the Tourism and Performing Arts Society, tells a forbidden love between a farm boy and the daughter of a farm manager (encargado). Spread out within a 90-minute running time are seven sequences, 47 musical works, beautiful costumes of baro’t saya, camisa y chino, and embroidered terno’s and barongs. A live rondalla served as musical accompaniment to the zarzuela directed by Aaron Sorbito and written by Salome Sorbito.

Best of all, the zarzuela, which is set in Negros province during the 1900s and based on an actual story, uses popular Ilongo folk songs from the past. At the performance, 76-year old Florecita Jurilla De los Santos, whose granddaughter formed part of the chorus, was teary-eyed as she hummed each and every song performed on stage.

She said the songs, both happy and sad, vibrant and melancholic, were the same songs her own mother and grandmother sang. They were the songs Ilongos sang as they put a baby to sleep (Ang Alibangbang), to respond during a harana (Walang Angay Ang Ka Mingaw), to entertain guests during a tertulia (Lubi-Lubi, Karabaw, Bilong-bilong).

Throughout our three-day tour, a short tertulia prefaced every stop, either at a heritage home, a hotel lobby before an exhibit, or a museum. One of the most enjoyable was a performance by the Silay Kabataan Ensemble at the Balay Negrense in Silay.

The 30-member ensemble, which has won awards both nationally and internationally, is composed of a rondalla and a dance troupe whose members are no older than 17.

The Silay experience was, to a romantic like us, beyond words. As first-timers in the small city 15 kilometers away from Bacolod, we were awed by the row of old houses and commercial apartments that lined Rizal Street, the main road downtown. It was the same road that caused an uproar years ago when a government plan to widen it was met with fierce opposition by cultural workers.

Had the plan succeeded, we would not have been able to view Silay’s past as evidenced by the imposing 1908 Jalandoni mansion which now runs as a museum. Among many other attractions are an old, old bakery called El Ideal which has survived the test of time and a low-rise home that still makes good old piaya based on a 100-year old recipe. Silay has 31 heritage houses, although not all of them are open to the public.

A leisurely walk along equally historic Cinco de Noviembre Street under a light drizzle revealed more old yet still elegant houses. The most notable of these is the 1934 Hofilena home, declared as a heritage home, and which shelters a trove of art pieces, paintings, prints, old books, and tons of antiquities. Seventy-two year old cultural lecturer Ramon Hofilena, who guided us around Silay, said efforts to preserve Silay’s reputation as the Paris of Negros remain a priority in the humdrum of every day life marked by high costs of living.

Silay was founded as a town in 1760. In 1898, it became a leading sugar producing town, thanks to the Horno Economico, a sugar mill introduced by a Frenchman who became a Silaynon, Yves Leopold Germain Gaston. Gaston, who married Prudencia Fernandez, a Batanguena from Calatagan, was to build a 12-room colonial mansion that is now the Balay Negrense.

In a short speech during one of the lifestyle exhibits, Msgr. Guillermo Gascon said it is clear that while our cultural heritage may have sharp foreign influences, we have given them a distinct Filipino image and ambience. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia vowed to keep these national treasures alive, much like the way they do it in Paris. Negros Occidental, which is never lacking in historical societies and heritage committees, has strict laws that protect the preservation of heritage homes and other landmarks.

"It is our task to reawaken cultural consciousness among the youth, so they can have a better understanding of our heritage," Leonardia said.

For starters, the twin exhibits, Palanublion Negrosanon and Bacolod Kahapon, will go on a tour of schools around the region. Additional performances of Dandansoy are also being planned.

Cultural preservation isn’t limited to historical structures or edifices. Harper suggested that it’s just as important that we preserve culture’s intangible aspects such as poetry, music, etc. She said culture connects the past and the future.

On the eve of a Dandansoy performance, Harper proudly stated that she had just come from a re-staging of a 105-year old Pampango zarzuela in Angeles City. The zarzuela, Ing Managpi (The Patcher), written by Mariano Proceso Pabalan Byron, was first staged on September 13, 1900 at the Teatro Sabina in Bacolor, Pampanga. Earlier, a comedia was also mounted in Ilocos as part of the four-year old celebration of National Heritage Month.

Heritage Month is being carried out yearly by the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. under a special grant by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Tourism. Chichi Salas, a member of the Festival committee, says next year’s celebration shall have bamboo for its theme and will open and close in other places around the country, the better to highlight other less known aspects of our rich cultural life.

(email me at nescuar@yahoo.com)

http://www.panorama.com.ph/news.php?aid=681

[Dinho]

Just wondering... As far as I know, the Cojuangcos are from Tarlac. Former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr. resides at Balete Drive, New Manila, Quezon City though he has vast landholdings in Negros Occidental (about 11 haciendas covering numerous cities and municipalities). His son Carlos "Charlie" O. Cojuangco is the one that resides at Hda. Balbina, Pondevedra, Negros Occidental as he is currently the representative of the 4th district. His other son, Mark O. Cojuangco is also a member of congress and represents the 5th district of Pangasinan and resides at Brgy. Labayug, Sison, Pangasinan. All three of them were born in Manila...

You are right about them coming from Tarlac, but you are wrong in assuming that they are not Negrense just because they came from some other place. Charlie resides in Pontevedra while Mr. E. Cojuanco is a resident of one of the neighboring cities. He is married to a Negrense and you get to see him sometimes in the streets of Bacolod driving by himself on a motorbike or a big pickup truck. As far as I know, he doesn't reside or maintain a residence in Bacolod City itself, thus Bacolod cannot lay claim to having one of the ten richest Filipinos in the country.

The wealthiest Bacoleno is the transport magnate who own bus companies from Luzon to Mindanao. He could easily be in the 15 richest men of the Philippine Islands.

Talisay is know home to more than twenty of the biggest homes in Region VI. Some of these homes are owned by these expatriates who could be even wealthier then both men but we will never know them because their properties and assets are located offshore and they prefer not to make themselves known.

Talisay City is fast becoming a very wealthy suburb but the City Government needs to do a lot of work since its wealthiest residents hardly ever venture into downtown Talisay itself. It is the first city to have car dealerships outside of the provincial capital in the whole Region 6. The CG needs to upgrade its core and maybe relocate its public market to the interior so as to reduce the traffic on the main road.

[BYAHILO]

i doubt the success outcome of your survey... the problem is local history is not taught in school. I never knew negros history in my school. most of it I learn outside from school. I've never heared that "Republica de Negros" existed untill just about 2-3 yrs ago.

I do support your plan to petition it to the government. galing as always I doubt if they would even mind your petition. you know how are government works.

mo na gani.. its very pathetic. our province is rich in history. and the younger generation doesnt know about this.

malamang theydidnt know that the spaniards were dead frightened when they saw the battalion of TanJuan araneta carrying the rolled sawali. they thought it was canons!. natakot sila they surrendered. thats how ingeniuos we negrenses are.

but the question is: do the younger generations know this? or our educators care to tell this to our students?

kung ara lang ako tani sa bacolod subong, i couldstart this plan as earlyas now..

i must admit, i alsolearned the story of juan araneta through my dad (who is a native of bago). and i never learned thisfromthe fourcorners of myschool.

[TJ]

mo na gani.. its very pathetic. our province is rich in history. and the younger generation doesnt know about this.

malamang theydidnt know that the spaniards were dead frightened when they saw the battalion of TanJuan araneta carrying the rolled sawali. they thought it was canons!. natakot sila they surrendered. thats how ingeniuos we negrenses are.

but the question is: do the younger generations know this? or our educators care to tell this to our students?

kung ara lang ako tani sa bacolod subong, i couldstart this plan as earlyas now..

i must admit, i alsolearned the story of juan araneta through my dad (who is a native of bago). and i never learned thisfromthe fourcorners of myschool.

I heard that from skool but the explaination wasn't detailed and i also have seen it from TV during the negros independence day thing. hehe :)

[habagatcentral1]

i was actually thinking last night to conduct an informal /random sutdents in bacolod mag puli ako if they still know our local heros.. kay daw feeling ko daw indi na nila kilala eh..

and if survey results look bad, ill try to send peition to DepEd through bacolod city mayor to include the local history of negros in our elementary and high school curiculum.

its pathetic to see a bacoleno or a negrense nga wala nakahibalo sang istorya sang iya probinsya.

do u guys think this is doable?

A tragedy of Filipino proportions! Ang ginakalain pa sang bu-ot ko, why is it that most of the "significant things" that happened in the Philippine history is written though the eyes of the Tagalog and the foreigner and as always, centered in Manila and the environs! Biskan gani ang 8 rays sang adlaw sang hayahay naka-base man sa Katagalugan!

Negros has its own history...The Cinco de Noviembre, Papa Isio and more. But this is obscure to the students unless opened up or even to college history books. Puro lang mention by-passing.

Matuod ayhan nga ang Pinoy guid wa'y matun-an sa kasaysayan amo na nga daw ka-cyclical sang aton nga mga events?

[oboi]

According to the Philippine Insurgents' Records of the National Library, sub-titled, "Las Familias Insurrectos del Pueblo de Molo", the Araneta family actively participated in the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896 - 1898.

Don Felix Araneta y Militante, an influential supporter and financier of the revolutionary movement in Iloilo, and his brother Agaton M. Araneta, and sister Ceferina Araneta de Esteban, were all listed in the said Las Familias Insurrectos del Pueblo de Molo. While some members of the family were involved in the covert operations of the revolutionary movement, others distinguished themselves in the field of battles.

On August 28, 1898, Pablo Araneta y Soriano who was the Commanding General of the Panay Revolutionary Forces, together with General Martin Delgado, encountered several fierce battles in San Miguel, Pavia and in the outskirt of Jaro, more notably the battle of Oton to Arevalo. Along with General Angel Corteza and General Leandro Fullon of Antique, who fired the first shot, they crushed the Spanish Garrisons. His brother Jose Araneta y Soriano, was a "Capitan" assigned to the revolutionary headquarters in Pavia, also fought in the battle of Tacas, Balangtan in Jaro. The Aranetas of Anilao, headed by Eusebio Araneta, with Casamiro, Emilio, Mariano and Faustino Araneta also actively fought the Spaniards. Emboldened by their success, the Ilongos formed a revolutionary government from which evolved the Republic of the Visayas in early December. Their main objective was to drive the Spaniards out of Panay province.

In La Carlota, Negros Occidental, Marciano Araneta y Soriano, with his younger brother Anastacio Araneta y Soriano, led the revolutionary forces that fought and captured the General Headquarters of the Spanish Garrison in Mangkas, presently known as La Carlota. Anastacio, who fought valiantly for the freedom of his country, was shot and killed during the battle by the remnants of the "guardia civil". Marciano Araneta y Soriano became a founding member of the Cantonal Government of the Independent Federal Republic of Negros.

Gregorio Araneta y Soriano, another brother, was a member of the National Assembly representing the province of Iloilo. He advocated reforms for the welfare of the Filipino people. On the fourteenth of September 1898, he was appointed by General Emilio Aguinaldo as the first Secretary General and a delegate to the Malolos Republic. Gregorio Araneta was also a member of the committee to draft the Constitution. He was the youngest Secretary of Justice of the Philippine Republic, circa September 26, 1898.

Juan Anacleto Araneta y Torres, an illustrious and influential resident of Bago, Negros Occidental and Aniceto Lacson, were both designated Commanding General of the Negros revolutionary forces. Together they established a revolutionary committee in the municipalities, raising funds and gathering armaments. General Juan Araneta was placed in command of the south zone, while General Aniceto Lacson took charge of the north.

On the night of November 4, 1898, the town of Manapla started the revolt. Other towns followed the next day. With the rebels' success in these towns, a pincer attack was planned against the Spanish forces in Bacolod. Araneta's army was to move in from the south while that of Lacson's was to come from the north. Knowing that they were short of arms, Araneta and Lacson ordered their men to put stems on their shoulders so they would appear to have rifles. Bamboo mats were rolled to the size of cannons and mounted on carts to simulate artillery pieces. The ruse of Araneta and Lacson worked. At the sight of such a "formidable" force, the Spanish officials in Bacolod surrendered.

The following day, November 5, 1898, Araneta and his men raised the Philippine flag for the first time and a provisional revolutionary government was established, with Juan Araneta as Secretary of War and Aniceto Lacson as President. In a meeting of the provisional government on November 26, 1898, General Araneta sponsored two resolutions which were unanimously approved. The first of this was a proposal to set up a Federal Republic and the second proposal called for a military expedition to Negros Oriental. The proposal was carried out by one thousand soldiers who joined the revolutionary troops of Negros Oriental to set up the province free by the end of November. The two provinces were then fused under one government.

The Federal Republic of the Visayas and the Independent Federal Republic of Negros, which were greatly influenced by the Araneta family, and the well-established Malolos Republic fizzled-out and ultimately decided to unite for a common cause which eventually paved the way for the birth of the first Philippine Republic.

[BYAHILO]

A tragedy of Filipino proportions! Ang ginakalain pa sang bu-ot ko, why is it that most of the "significant things" that happened in the Philippine history is written though the eyes of the Tagalog and the foreigner and as always, centered in Manila and the environs! Biskan gani ang 8 rays sang adlaw sang hayahay naka-base man sa Katagalugan!

Negros has its own history...The Cinco de Noviembre, Papa Isio and more. But this is obscure to the students unless opened up or even to college history books. Puro lang mention by-passing.

Matuod ayhan nga ang Pinoy guid wa'y matun-an sa kasaysayan amo na nga daw ka-cyclical sang aton nga mga events?


its really true that our history books are biased towards the Tagalogs.

i hope that our LGU will one day wake up realizing that our younger generation doesnt know their history...

[J_lim2k2]

The following day, November 5, 1898, Araneta and his men raised the Philippine flag for the first time and a provisional revolutionary government was established, with Juan Araneta as Secretary of War and Aniceto Lacson as President. In a meeting of the provisional government on November 26, 1898, General Araneta sponsored two resolutions which were unanimously approved. The first of this was a proposal to set up a Federal Republic and the second proposal called for a military expedition to Negros Oriental. The proposal was carried out by one thousand soldiers who joined the revolutionary troops of Negros Oriental to set up the province free by the end of November. The two provinces were then fused under one government.

The Federal Republic of the Visayas and the Independent Federal Republic of Negros, which were greatly influenced by the Araneta family, and the well-established Malolos Republic fizzled-out and ultimately decided to unite for a common cause which eventually paved the way for the birth of the first Philippine Republic.

what was that again? Philippine flag? how could that be if there were no philippines yet? i mean, is that the same flag as we have today? I'm really poor about Negros history.

[J_lim2k2]

its really true that our history books are biased towards the Tagalogs.

i hope that our LGU will one day wake up realizing that our younger generation doesnt know their history...

not only that. the government is based on the malolos republic. that why there are clashes in the south for a separation of the philippines from the moro lands. plus the imperialist manila issue. the selecting of national language etc...

[Christendom]

there are currently 22 towns in the Philippines pushing for cityhood... these are

BOGO, Cebu
CARCAR, Cebu
NAGA, Cebu
TABUK, Kalinga
BINALBAGAN, Negros Occidental
PONTEVEDRA, Negros Occidental
LAMITAN, Basilan
EL SALVADOR, Misamis Oriental
CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental
SAN JUAN, Metro Manila
GUIHULNGAN, Negros Oriental
MATI, Davao Oriental
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar
CATBALOGAN, Samar
CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur
BAYUGAN, Agusan del Sur
POTOTAN, Iloilo
BAYBAY, Leyte
SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro
BATAC, Ilocos Norte
TANDAG, Surigao del Sur

5 now have pictures

binalbagan and pontevedra would be a philippines new cities in the province of Negros Occidental...den d cities of negros occidental will be 15 all- 2nd 2 d metro manila.
http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/cityhalls_binalbagan.jpg
Binalbagan City Hall
http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/malls_mountcarmelarcadebinalbagan.jpg
Binalbagan Mount Carmel Arcade
http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/streets_binalbagan.jpg
A wide road of Binalbagan

http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/churches_pontevedra.jpg
Pontevedra Church
http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/publicmarket_pontevedra.jpg
Pontevedra Public Market

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF TOWN CITIES:
1. Bacolod City
2. Bago City
3. Cadiz City
4. Escalante City
5. Himamaylan City
6. Kabankalan City
7. La Carlota City
8. Sagay City
9. San Carlos City
10. Silay City
11. Sipalay City
12. Talisay City
13. Victorias City

would be new city:
14. Binalbagan City
15. Pontevedra City

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL LIST OF CITY METRO:
1. Metro Bacolod

[chymera00]

Thursday, July 06, 2006
W. Visayas soon an IT hub
By Roberto L. Bacasong

THE cities of Bacolod and Iloilo may soon become the next Information Technology center in Western Visayas with eight call centers already operating in the two cities.

Carlos Boteros, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), said that many US-based contact centers have expressed interest on expanding their companies in Bacolod and Iloilo.

Iloilo and Bacolod have four call centers each. Those in Bacolod include the I/O Asia, Teleperformance, Focus Communication and TeleTech. Those in Iloilo include PLDT eVentus, Echo, Callbox, and IV

"Young professionals as well as newly graduated students will benefit from these as more jobs will be opened. The English proficiency in Western Visayas are very good," he said.

Boteros added that they already have the data of the total number of jobs generated in the opening of IT companies and will soon be releasing this report.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who headed the Bacolod IT Focus Team, disclosed that Bacolod City now has two sites declared by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as information technology (IT) zones under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

Malacañang has officially informed Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia this week of Presidential Proclamation No. 1078 dated May 29, 2006 creating and designating certain parcels of land located in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, as an IT park under Republic Act No. 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 as amended by Republic Act No. 8748.

Presidential Proclamation No. 963 declaring Robinson's Metro Bacolod as an IT building was approved by President Arroyo on December 27, 2005. Teletech will soon start call center operations in the said area.
Boteros, in related interview, said that from January up to the present, Western Visayas has 2.9 million labor force.

He added that the region has 2.37 employed persons and 258,000 unemployed. The region's employment rate is 91 percent while its underemployed rate is nine percent.

[habagatcentral1]

not only that. the government is based on the malolos republic. that why there are clashes in the south for a separation of the philippines from the moro lands. plus the imperialist manila issue. the selecting of national language etc...

Negros has something to be proud of...The Negros Republic and the Cinco de Noviembre and Papa Isio and the likes.

Its a pity that this is not discussed in the elementary and high school curriculum. Pity. I wish our LGUs will respond with that.

And it is not the problem of Negros alone...Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Bohol and most especially Mindanao.

[BYAHILO]

hay nakita ko na naman ang binalbagan.. i really missed that place.. the last time i visited binalbagan was 3 or 4 years ago.. sang dira pa ako sa bacolod ga istar. i used to frequent that place kay:

1. ara da ang barkada ko
2. namit talaba
3. may gina karir ko da sang una

dont ask about #3 hahahahahaahha

how i wish maka balik ko dira sa october.

[kyle@1008]

i was actually thinking last night to conduct an informal /random sutdents in bacolod mag puli ako if they still know our local heros.. kay daw feeling ko daw indi na nila kilala eh..

and if survey results look bad, ill try to send peition to DepEd through bacolod city mayor to include the local history of negros in our elementary and high school curiculum.

its pathetic to see a bacoleno or a negrense nga wala nakahibalo sang istorya sang iya probinsya.

do u guys think this is doable?

yes,... In my highschool we have a history of negros elective,..that is given when were in grade 9...

[kyle@1008]

Just wondering... As far as I know, the Cojuangcos are from Tarlac. Former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr. resides at Balete Drive, New Manila, Quezon City though he has vast landholdings in Negros Occidental (about 11 haciendas covering numerous cities and municipalities). His son Carlos "Charlie" O. Cojuangco is the one that resides at Hda. Balbina, Pondevedra, Negros Occidental as he is currently the representative of the 4th district. His other son, Mark O. Cojuangco is also a member of congress and represents the 5th district of Pangasinan and resides at Brgy. Labayug, Sison, Pangasinan. All three of them were born in Manila...

His principaL registered residence is in Hacienda Balbina,..Pontevedra Negros Occidental,... he spends most of his time in Negros and usually flies to manila on business..... former Pres. Joseph Estrada is known to make courtesy calls to him at Hacienda Balbina,.... :cheers:

[kyle@1008]

^^ But if you wish to know who is the wealthiest native negrense (Danding Cojuangco is Negrense by affinity and by choice of residence)

..... that won't be Roy Yanson,... ( there are plenty others wealthier than he is..)
by estimate that would be Silay born, filipina-australian socialite Rose Lacson Porteous who married ore magnate Lang hancock ,... regarded as one of australia's wealthiest with a networth of 400-600 million dollars.

She maintains a house in bacolod but prefers to live in her husband's estate at perth... :colgate:

[BYAHILO]

^^ But if you wish to know who is the wealthiest native negrense (Danding Cojuangco is Negrense by affinity and by choice of residence)

..... that won't be Roy Yanson,... ( there are plenty others wealthier than he is..)
by estimate that would be Silay born, filipina-australian socialite Rose Lacson Porteous who married ore magnate Lang hancock ,... regarded as one of australia's wealthiest with a networth of 400-600 million dollars.

She maintains a house in bacolod but prefers to live in her husband's estate at perth... :colgate:

i can still remember when i was still living in bacolod that this hulabaloo broke out in the newspapers.. kay gin akusar sya sang daughter sang gin pamana nya..

i just dont know if the case has already been settled.

[Christendom]

You don't even need to ponder upon it because Bacolod has progressed quickly enough to catch up with Iloilo despite being a mere village when Iloilo was already the Queen City of the South. We do not need SM in Bacolod because is dynamic enough to progress on its own due to its abundant resources and not due to the much hyped presence of an SM Mall. In fact, a lot of Ilonggos were wondering why Bacolod had a construction boom in the 90's despite the absence of the said mall.

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[FrancisXavier]

hala zyanz, that would surely provoke something.

[Christendom]

.....my oh my... bickering has not ended yet...

Oh well.... oh Btw Robinsons Metro is now hosting an operating call center,... Teletech is now recieving calls from the states and so far has hired three batches of employees...their offices have occupied half the first floor,.. and according to management since the call center has more than 500 employees,.. it is feasible for other businesses to start operating there... to cater to the new batch of yuppies with money to spend...

:colgate:


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/callcentesr_robinsonsmetrobacolod.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/callcenters_robinsonsmetrobacolod1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/callcenters_robinsonsmetrobacolodco.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[rooster2369]

hala zyanz, that would surely provoke something.

Indi man guro Franz, ah. Of course we know that Zyans is just misinformed.

[kianshi]

[QUOTE=zyanz]sayang naman ang iloilo city that they called A QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH gling sng una pa....naunahan na gali sng CEBU, DAVAO, BACOLOD, & CDO CITIES....layo lng ang gap ba....iloilo is narrow streets, diutay ang nyt lyf..branch lng gli sng M02 Bacolod ang dri sa iloilo...wla ka mayo lagawan except lng sa SM city nla dako...sa mga park & plazas wla mayo mprovements...

Speaking of Narrow Roads about Iloilo,this is the latest news that will really change the fate of this city..!WATCH OUT!!!

BILLIONS FOR ROAD PROJECTS
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE national government will pour billions of pesos for Iloilo road improvement projects in preparation for possible investments that the new airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan area will generate.

This was learned from Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas who attended the joint Regional Development Councils meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo relative to the creation of the Central Philippines “mega-region” in Cebu last week.

The Central Philippines mega-region is composed of Regions 4-B, 5, 6, 7 and 8. It aims to identify ongoing and proposed projects by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), particularly infrastructure projects that need priority funding.

The mega region setup is covered by a four-year development plan from 2006-2010 aimed at spurring investments in the regions.

Treñas said Western Visayas will get the bulk of funding for improvement of roads and power supply.

“The funding is allotted for proposed road-widening projects in preparation for the operations of the new Iloilo airport,” Treñas said.

Treñas said the Iloilo-Sta. Barbara road rehabilitation starting from El 98 in Jaro district got an allocation of P268million.Some P235million is intended for the expansion of the two-lane road from Montinola Bridge in Simon Ledesma, Jaro to Zarraga town.

“It will decongest heavy vehicular traffic in the said area,” the mayor stressed.

Treñas added that a P1-billion circumferential road will be established in the metropolis linking Jaro, Mandurriao and Arevalo districts.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have also considered the construction of a P6-billion Metro Iloilo Road Network which will include six circumferential roads connecting the city to nearby municipalities.
There is also the ongoing Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Road project costing P476million while a P1.2-billion Iloilo East-West Road that will traverse the Concepcion-Sara-San Rafael-Passi-Calinog is being proposed.

Iloilo City, being the gateway to Panay especially to the world-famous Boracay Island, is also eyed for the implementation of the proposed P2.664-billion Iloilo City-Caticlan, Aklan highway.To improve the southbound route to Antique province, there is the ongoing P142-million Iloilo-Asluman road rehabilitation and the P448-million Iloilo-Anini-y-V. Jimenez, Antique road section project.

There is also the proposed P235-million inter-provincial road connecting Leon-Tubungan in Iloilo to San Remigio, Antique.

[J_lim2k2]

a ok... thats good news ky malapad na mn gid and dalan sg iloilo. gling large part of the budget is for road widening lng? I wonder what will Bacolod-Negros get in the mega-region. laban2x smaller amount lng e spend sa road-building compare sa Panay ky we have already better roads so far. maybe large part of the budget will be spend on other infrastructure not just roads. like kabankalan airport and other infrastructures. I hope the mega-region thing can spur development in negros.

[BYAHILO]

sayang naman ang iloilo city that they called A QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH gling sng una pa....naunahan na gali sng CEBU, DAVAO, BACOLOD, & CDO CITIES....layo lng ang gap ba....iloilo is narrow streets, diutay ang nyt lyf..branch lng gli sng M02 Bacolod ang dri sa iloilo...wla ka mayo lagawan except lng sa SM city nla dako...sa mga park & plazas wla mayo mprovements...


www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

DISCLAIMER: WALA AKO GA PANG HANGKAT AWAY HA.. ILL JUST STATE SOME FACTS...

Iloilo has, since time immemorial has been called the "QUEEN'S city of the south" while Cebu, grabbed the title "QUEEN City of the south"

notice the difference?

Iloilo did not get the title just because they want to be called that way. The reason they became the queen's city of the south was due to a ROYAL DECREE issued by the crown of Spain.

Iloilo city has been the pet city of the queen of spain.

Iloilo got the queen's city of the south, while the Ciudad Murada, Intramuros got the original "Queen's City" title

for the cebuanos.. i think they just got that title being the ost progressive city of the south.

[BYAHILO]

May update na kamo sa masskara 2006?

I have been receiving a lot of inquiries already since 3 weeks ago. mostly from foreigners nga naga kadto sa site ko www.byahilo.com how pathetic, offline ang site sang bacolod. pero i read from daily star nga naga prepare na kuno.. i just dont know kung ano na ang update.
===================================================

Another Update...

The Babaylan Festival of Bago City, which won the 10th place in the recently concluded aliwan Festival (which was participated by 30 other festivals) are currently out of the country.

An informer told me that last june 29, they left for USA to perform in various key cities in the east and west coast. after this, they will also be performing in several key cities of Europe too.

the group is expected to return on September 2006.

[tigidig14]

ano na pala nangyari dun sa bagong airport ng BACOLOD
may updated pics :)

[TJ]

zyanz i know bacolod like the palm of my hand so please stop overating and making it ridicolous...

im from bacolod and i aknowledge iloilo to be a better more progressive city there are no biases whatsoever im just saying simply the truth... :)

[fundraiser]

DISCLAIMER: WALA AKO GA PANG HANGKAT AWAY HA.. ILL JUST STATE SOME FACTS...

Iloilo has, since time immemorial has been called the "QUEEN'S city of the south" while Cebu, grabbed the title "QUEEN City of the south"

notice the difference?

Iloilo did not get the title just because they want to be called that way. The reason they became the queen's city of the south was due to a ROYAL DECREE issued by the crown of Spain.

Iloilo city has been the pet city of the queen of spain.

Iloilo got the queen's city of the south, while the Ciudad Murada, Intramuros got the original "Queen's City" title

for the cebuanos.. i think they just got that title being the ost progressive city of the south.

i dont really wanna dip my fingers into this cheap argument about titles or monikers but to say cebu grabbed the title is an insult. i dont think it was the cebuanos who wanted the title for themselves (im not a cebuano by birth) it was given to cebu by the people.

[J_lim2k2]

Thursday, July 13, 2006
W. Visayas needs $200M for infra dev't
By Genalin D. Ducay and Christine Mae Pelayo

ABOUT $200 million is needed by the Western Visayas Region for the proposed infrastructure projects that is to be implemented within the "Super Regions."

The projects would include the consolidation of roads and bridges, airports, railways, forest and watershed management, irrigation and ports among others.

These are part of the seven strategic areas identified for economic development in order to harness the potential of marine resources, linking of islands through transportation and communication facilities, the promotion of the Central Philippines Tourism Center, developing agribusiness, pursuing responsible mining and quarrying, optimizing power supply and enhancing the social services.

To optimize power potential and meet the demand growth in Negros Occidental, feasibility studies for 30 MW San Carlos Wind Farm that would generate 9 MW power, is ongoing as well as the Negros V Transmission Project that would serve from San Carlos to Guinhulngan.

This would require a total of P21 million investment from both private and government sectors for the whole Western Visayas power generation.

The construction of the 34-km Bacolod Circumferential Road, which is halfway done and has a P687.6 million funding. The target period for its implementation would start in year 2009 until 2017.

The construction of the Bacolod City Airport is also ongoing with 42 percent overall physical arrangement completed and the Pulupandan port is also ongoing.

The new airport access road, wherein 10.1 kilometer road will be constructed to provide smooth access and reduce traffic congestion from the north section of the Bacolod Coastal Road to the new Bacolod Airport in Silay City.

The said project has an allotment of P643.2 million which will be implemented together with the road construction at the Circumferential area in 2009-2017.

The improvement and widening of the 8.3 kilometer road from Bacolod to Granada section has an allotment of P196.5 million to be implemented in 2007-2009.

Governor Joseph Marañon said that majority of the officials who attended the meeting on development planning for super regions at Malacañang supported the idea of a super region.

"But the major breakthrough of the super-region system is the direct access to foreign financial institution for concessional loans," Marañon said.

Marañon who describes the projects as "very ambitious" as according to him it requires a huge financial requirement, nevertheless praised the administration's plan.

He said the plan is beginning to be realized with feasibility studies being undertaken.

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Isidro Zayco earlier said the conception of the Super Regions would only "entail inconvenience" to provinces in the country.

But Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the projects would help ease traffic congestions in the city and improve road networks for easy access from rural areas to major roads.

Leonardia disclosed the projects listed in the Super Regions scheme which have direct impact to the infra development in Bacolod City.

This project aims to address the worsening traffic congestion problem along the city's business and commercial areas.

[Christendom]

[QUOTE=ericd001]

sorry dat i hav offence u specialy sa mga taga iloilo...na short petience lng ko evry travel bout sa traffics....

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[Dinho]

zyanz i know bacolod like the palm of my hand so please stop overating and making it ridicolous...

im from bacolod and i aknowledge iloilo to be a better more progressive city there are no biases whatsoever im just saying simply the truth... :)

Oh really, I was in Iloilo over the weekend and I wasn't impressed at all. It is just another highly urbanized Filipino City. Bacolod is just as progressive as Iloilo City. It seems that we even have more construction projects here right now. I didn't see any major new building there.

[Christendom]

ano na pala nangyari dun sa bagong airport ng BACOLOD
may updated pics :)


Bacolod International Airport Development Update as of June 7, 2006

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalbaco.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-7.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-5.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-4.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-6.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-1.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[TJ]

Oh really, I was in Iloilo over the weekend and I wasn't impressed at all. It is just another highly urbanized Filipino City. Bacolod is just as progressive as Iloilo City. It seems that we even have more construction projects here right now. I didn't see any major new building there.

pound for pound iloilo has a huge lead on bacolod.. and im saying this without any biases and sorry for those who are offended but this is the truth what can i do?? lie??

[tigidig14]

baka mauna pa yan buksan sa T3

[kiretoce]

Cool! Hope it doesn't turn out like the stalled NAIA T3. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! :colgate:

[rooster2369]

pound for pound iloilo has a huge lead on bacolod.. and im saying this without any biases and sorry for those who are offended but this is the truth what can i do?? lie??

Pabay-i na lang da TJ. Anhon mo kay ang iban sa aton cannot look at things objectively. Masiling pa sila nga wala kuno sila ma-impress. How can you impress a highly opinionated person? Maybe they had a very traumatic experience with Iloilo before, waay lang ta kabalo kun ano.

[daks2003]

YUP! That's what Eric was saying, and by saying "GRABBED" he meant cebu "EARNED" it.



i dont really wanna dip my fingers into this cheap argument about titles or monikers but to say cebu grabbed the title is an insult. i dont think it was the cebuanos who wanted the title for themselves (im not a cebuano by birth) it was given to cebu by the people.

[FrancisXavier]

Bacolod International Airport Development Update as of June 7, 2006

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalbaco.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-7.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-5.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-4.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-6.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-1.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)
OMG, i thought this airport is opening late this year? so i expected that they are now doing the finishing touches. it seems to me that it would take another year or two. plus the overlaying pa of asphalt sa runway.

[BYAHILO]

wow..

gina imagine ko na ang akon antos mag puli ko da kalayo sang airport. ahahahaha
to think that i live on the southern outskirts of Bacolod (im from Tangub)..

well, its inevitable nga mag move out ang development sa province.. daw pareho man bala sa santa barbara airport in Iloilo.. and the Cebu Airport.. nga malayo sa city proper..

wish ko lang nga indi na ini mag pareho sa terminal 3 nga nalumos na sa scandalo.. asta subong wala pa mabuksan.. pity..

[Jimbu]

i dont really wanna dip my fingers into this cheap argument about titles or monikers but to say cebu grabbed the title is an insult. i dont think it was the cebuanos who wanted the title for themselves (im not a cebuano by birth) it was given to cebu by the people.

right. btw why is this "Queen City" title a hot topic even in other forums. also when did cebu grabbed this title, anybody? i've lived in Bacolod and stayed in Iloilo for a job assignment but during that time there was no internet yet so i never knew that there's two cities claiming the "Queen City" title.

[Sinjin P.]

Thanks for the update zyanz. I thought the airport was still a proposal, never heard any news about it yet now, it's under construction. Dunno if it's on schedule though.

[Christendom]

BACOLOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Friday, January 27, 2006

New Airport Work On Track - Cano

BRGY. BAGTIC, Silay City - Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan of the Department of Transportation and Communication yesterday assured the people of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental he will oversee the construction of the New Bacolod (Silay) Airport Development Project until its completion in the first quarter of 2007.
Tan, who conducted an ocular inspection of the airport site yesterday together with DOTC project engineers, said the P4.37-billion airport of international standards is expected to be operational by the second quarter of next year.
We are now on our 17th month of implementation and construction work has already reached 29.04 percent as of end-December 2005, he said.
Tan said there is a slight delay in the schedule of a maximum of 15 days, but the contractor has prepared a revised catch-up program to overcome the delay and complete the project as scheduled, he said.
The airport, which has a total area of 187.02 hectares, is being constructed by Japanese contractor Takenaka Itochu Joint Venture and being funded by the Philippine government's 25th Yen Loan Package.
Now under construction is the 6,180-square meter terminal building, the two-kilometer runway, and the DOTC's Project Management Office and consultant's office.
The embarkment work in the parking area, which can accommodate at least 350 vehicles, is almost complete, Tan said.
With this new airport, he said, passengers can already avail of advanced airport facilities such as boarding bridges and modern baggage conveyors.
Technologically advanced control tower and state-of-the-art navigational equipment, conforming to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Board, will also be installed.
The 3.5-kilometer Silay-Guimbalaon diversion road, amounting to P68 million, is also almost complete.
For the access road going to the airport site, there are two proposed routes - the 4.8-kilometer McKinley Road and the 6.5-kilometer Guinhalaran Road.
Tan said that based on a study, the Guinhalaran Road is preferable because vehicles using this road will no longer pass by the three cemeteries that are located along the McKinley Road.
The Silay City government, he said, has already given instructions to proceed with the survey of the area as residents have already confirmed their intention to sell their lands.*NLG

Source_ http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/January/27/topstory5.htm
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalbaco.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalb-2.jpg http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalb-1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-5.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-4.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/tourstravels_airportinternationa-1.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)


KABANKALAN CITY DOMESTIC AIRPORT

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Purchase Of Airport Site In Kabankalan Set: Zayco
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Kabankalan City government is preparing to buy a 60-hectare property in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan, as the site of an airport estimated to cost P200 million, Acting Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said yesterday.
He said the sugarland to be purchased at Voluntary Offer to Sell rates is expected to cost about P12 million.
The 60-hectare property belongs to about 25 owners who have agreed to sell and a meeting is set between them and Mayor Pedro Zayco Wednesday, Zayco said.
The survey of the land to be purchased has already been completed so the landowners will be informed of what is to be purchased from them, he said.
The site is located on a plateau so it will be flood free, Zayco added.
The building of the airport, which location and design has been approved by the Air Transportation Office, is expected to take three years, Zayco said.
The new airport, that will initially allow the landing of small aircraft, is expected to boost tourism and economic activity in southern Negros, he said.
The new airport will enable faster transport of tourists and cargo in and out of southern Negros, Zayco said.
The ATO, our consultant, said they will be the ones to eventually look for the flights, he added.
Gov. Joseph Marañon has committed a counterpart fund for the project, Zayco said.*CPG

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/February/11/topstory8.htm
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportkabankalan.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportkabankalan1.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)


SAN CARLOS CITY COMMUNITY AIRPORT

Project Name - San Carlos City Community Airport
Project Concept - To enable commuter aircraft access to San Carlos
Project Proponent - Local Government Unit of San Carlos City
Project Location - Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
Project Description :
Area - 40 Hectares
Facilities - Concrete Runway, Taxiways and Apron
- Day Markings and Night Lighting Facilities
- Navigational Instrumentation
- Operations and Terminal Building
ATO Application Type - Conforming to A.O. No. 5, Series of 1967 AGA 14.02 / 14.03 s. 1973, Civil Air Regulations
Runway Length - Stage 1 - 1,000 meters x 18 meters
- Stage 2 - 1,350 meters x 30 meters
Aircraft Types - Stage 1 - 12,500 pounds AUW - 12-30 seat aircraft
- Stage 2 - 25,000 pounds AUW - 60-80 seat aircraft
Project Cost - Stage 1 - P115 Million
Start of Project - August 1998
Start of Construction - CY 2001

Engineering Consultant - Woodward-Clyde Philippines, Inc.
Aviation Consultant - International Air Transport Association (IATA), Singapore
Environmental Consultant - Woodward-Clyde Philippines, Inc.

Source: http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/communityairport.html

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportsancarlosmap.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[kyle@1008]

right. btw why is this "Queen City" title a hot topic even in other forums. also when did cebu grabbed this title, anybody? i've lived in Bacolod and stayed in Iloilo for a job assignment but during that time there was no internet yet so i never knew that there's two cities claiming the "Queen City" title.

no, there's no grabbing the title.... way back in the late 1800's Yloilo was known as the Queen City of Southern Philippines.... the city lost it's titlte during the economic depression that happened at the end of world war II,...

Iloilo's wealth came from the rise of the sugar industry way back in the rearly 1900's,... Iloilo's port was used to transport sugar ... and the banks of Iloilo were used to loan planters to update their hacienda ,.. as well the city benefited from middlemen who transacted migrant workers to go to negros during harvest season... and are transported back ( this system contineous today) .....

after 1945,... world war II has caused scars... Most of the plantation houses in Negros were burned down ( some under orders of the owners ,.. and some burned by the japanes).... this caused a period of building in bacolod,... the planters decided to build a city of their own... 1950's-1970's were the years of the sugar boom... the establishment of banks (the rural banks, Republic planters bank and traders royal bank) .... the opening of the banago port and the silay wharf, the cadiz port and such... Casino filipino opened in bacolod... and Casino Espanol closed down ....

with a port of its own and the transfer of regional banking centers (PNB, the bangko sentral ng pilipinas, SSS , the BIR, BPI) to bacolod,... the sugar industry relied on its own resources....

Iloilo went into decline 1950's onward... and Cebu began moving on a faster pace... since its port was not dependent on sugar qouta and its banking system did not rely on the planters and millers... but instead began developing its own highly succesful shipping industry...

the last blow was the 1980's when the new republic under Corazon Cojuangco Aquino who came from a sugar planting family ( the cojuangco family has intermarried with several negrense houses over generations)... decided to transfer the regional center to negros...( at the end of the sugar crisis).... naturally this caused protests from officials in Iloilo ...

In the end a compromise was reached, with the insistence of Gov. Bitay Lacson... all the regional offices that were transferred to bacolod would be retained... but Iloilo would retain the title of official regional center...

^^ now you know were all the bad blood came from.... :cheers:

[kyle@1008]

i can still remember when i was still living in bacolod that this hulabaloo broke out in the newspapers.. kay gin akusar sya sang daughter sang gin pamana nya..

i just dont know if the case has already been settled.

the case has been settled and she married another multi-millionaire "Porteous" a business associate of Lang Hancock,... there was no proof...

Oh and rose is rumoured to have sold her Prix D' amour (price of love ) mansion for thirty million dollars and moved to a new but equally ostentanious property inuptown perth.... :)

[kyle@1008]

binalbagan and pontevedra would be a philippines new cities in the province of Negros Occidental...den d cities of negros occidental will be 15 all- 2nd 2 d metro manila.
[http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/churches_pontevedra.jpg
Pontevedra Church
http://www.geocities.com/metro_bacolod/publicmarket_pontevedra.jpg



this was originally a very ugly church but, Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco (danding"s wife) fixed up, she considered it her pet project,.... according to the grape vine,...when the new bishop of kabankalan was to be installed by then Papal nuncio antonio franco,... Gretchen wanted to fetch the papal nuncio via private plane,.. have him land at their private airstrip in hacienda balbina and just to show off the chuch she rebuilt... to the chagrin of the bishop-in-waiting and the people of kabankalan who had a schedule to keep..
In the end the kabankalenos won out... Archbishop Franco refused the plane and was fetched by the diocece at bacolod airport,.. but of course madama gretchen didn't give up,.. when the motorcade reached pnotevedra she had the convoy slow down ... so she could point out her "church" :)

[kyle@1008]

oh and another great negrense artist

Everybody knows about Peque Gallaga, Erik Matti, Joel Torre and Kuh Ledesma
but, what about world class stage designer Eduardo Sicangco

Eduardo Sicangco is the son of Nena Varela and Pepito Sicangco ( if you remember Pepito's , they own it) and the nephew of Conchita Varela and Homero Sicangco who of course own the famous Bob's chain of retaurants...
His sister is also a famous artist Prima Ballerina Cecille Sicangco who has been featured in the Caltrate plus commercials as its spokes model....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/stage-227.jpg

Eduardo Sicangco is a stage designer in Broadway New York,... he has worked with many greats and is also an accomplished artist... he has also been featured in the lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Inspiration for a Song
Music drives the creative process for Connecticut Opera designer

by Charles Hix - October 2003

ARtView Eduardo Sicangco: "My first and only professional aspiration was to somehow end up in show business."

With characteristic puckish humor, Eduardo Sicangco remarks, "You don't go to the opera to see Lucia di Lammermoor stab herself. You go because you want to hear her sing about it."
As a set and costume designer for theater, dance and film as well as opera, Sicangco brings a special perspective on music in the performing arts. "When music, especially glorious music, is added to the mix, then it becomes a whole other ballgame," he says. "For me, it's what drives the creative process in opera and musical theater. Instead of delving into the text as one would in a play, I put on the recording over and over again as I draw. The music becomes a major source of ideas -- more emotional, less empirical."

His ingenious design work will be showcased when Connecticut Opera launches its 62nd season in Hartford at The Bushnell with three fully staged performances of Gioachino Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) beginning Oct. 23. Conducted by Kyle Swann in his company debut, Barbiere will be followed in March by Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, then Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto in April/May to conclude an all-Italian 2003-2004 season.

First performed in Rome in 1816, Rossini's Barbiere would become a perennial favorite in the world of grand opera. While formulating his designs for the comedic classic, Sicangco strove for a degree of historical verisimilitude. "But not library accuracy," he stipulates. "I thoroughly researched the architecture, social mores, interior and exterior details of 18th-century Seville. The design is much more music-driven than historically correct. So in the end I sort of ended up with a whimsical take on Spanish architecture." He elaborates, "I also did extensive research on Spanish fans. To reflect what I refer to as the 'tricky fun' quality of Rossini's score, I decided to base the design on nothing but fan shapes."

Kent Loika, Connecticut Opera's production manager, praises Sicangco for his dexterity. "The fan motif runs throughout," he notes. "The show curtain is painted as a huge fan, and then smaller elements follow, such as fans painted into the tile work, and fans in the grillwork. Even the leaves in a tree are shaped into a fan."

"There's a fair number of them, but it's not a fan invasion," Sicangco says dryly. "Some are subtle, as in the general silhouettes of the architecture. Some are hidden or hinted at, as in the alcove shapes and inlaid patterns on furniture. It's a sort of visual guessing game: How many fan shapes can you spot in the design?"

Disguise is also integral to Barbiere's plot. The barber of the title is the lively Figaro, a jack of many trades. Exploding onto the stage, he enters singing one of opera's most famous arias (Largo al factotum), proclaiming in speedy patter "Figaro here, Figaro there."

At the premiere of Rossini's Barbiere back in 1816, audiences were already familiar with the exploits of Figaro. Indeed, at least two well-known operas had already featured this rambunctious figure, first brought to literary life by the French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799) in two comedies of intrigue, Le Barbier de Sévile (1775) and Le Mariage de Figaro (1784). Although the archetype of the scheming servant stretched back to ancient Roman times, Beaumarchais depicted his Figaro not merely as a stock figure of farce but with definite class-conscious sympathy.

The opening night of Rossini's Barbiere was disrupted by partisan bickering. Some audience members preferred the still-fresh-in-their-memory operatic version of Il barbiere di Siviglia as written by another Italian composer, Giovanni Paisiello, set in 1782. This claque caused such a commotion that the entire Second Act was inaudible. (First-night opera audiences have proved notoriously faulty in their judgments. Bizet's Carmen was so reviled at its premiere in Paris that it wasn't seen there again for eight years.)

No less a towering figure than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had also already composed another Beaumarchais-inspired opera, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), first performed in Vienna in 1786. Although Rossini's Barbiere came three decades later, in a curious way it can be considered a "prequel" to Mozart's Figaro.

In Barbiere, the cunning barber and general factotum Figaro aids a young nobleman, Count Almaviva, to woo the beautiful and wealthy Rosina and to thwart her avaricious guardian, who intends to take Rosina as his own bride.

In Figaro, Count Almaviva is no longer a hero but the opera's villain. Now in his third year of marriage to Rosina, the duplicitous Almaviva attempts to seduce Figaro's intended, the comely maid Susanna.

So, while a number of the same characters appear in both the Mozart and the Rossini operas, the bond between Barbiere and Figaro is more genealogical than psychological or philosophical. In its indictment of the "noble" classes, Figaro is barbed, while Barbiere is more accepting of human folly and frailty. Mozart is caustic; Rossini is generous. Mozart's opera contains dark shadows; Rossini's is all light.

Sicangco translates the mirth and zest of Rossini's rollicking score visually. He relates, "The fact is, the scenery for this particular production of Barbiere has a rather long history. It started as a touring production for Texas Opera Theater way back when. Then it was co-opted by the Houston Grand Opera for their main season and expanded to fit their stage. Virginia Opera took it next, which gave me another chance to tweak the design, like adding new drops and architectural details. It has been rented by many companies since then, which explains its debut in Connecticut. Truth is, the set is probably old enough to vote."

Born in the Philippines, the amiable designer says, "My first and only professional aspiration was to somehow end up in show business in some capacity." He teaches set design at New York University and for the past 26 years has called New York City home. In Connecticut, he has designed productions at the Goodspeed Opera House and for Hartford Stage. He earlier conceived a production of Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) for Connecticut Opera's current managing director, Linda Jackson, during her tenure as artistic director at Chautauqua Opera.

Sicangco explains, "Set and costume rentals are fairly common in opera due to the high cost of mounting a new production and a rather challenging situation with regards to arts funding in this country."

The Barber of Seville will be performed in Italian with supertitles at Mortensen Hall at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, with evening performances on Thurs., Oct. 23 and Sat., Oct. 25, and a matinee on Sun., Oct. 26. For ticket information, call (860) 527-0713.

[Christendom]

OMG, i thought this airport is opening late this year? so i expected that they are now doing the finishing touches. it seems to me that it would take another year or two. plus the overlaying pa of asphalt sa runway.


BACOLOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT READY FOR JANUARY 2007

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Silay airport ready by 2007

By Avelyn Z. Agudon

SILAY CITY -- President Arroyo led the groundbreaking and capsule laying ceremonies for the New Bacolod Airport, which is of international standards and will be operational in three years time.

The 4.367-billion airport will cater to the increasing number of air passengers and cargo traffic in Negros Occidental and its influenced areas to boost economic development of the Visayas region and improve air transportation and safety in compliance with international standards.

Of the P4.3 billion, 77 percent will come from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and 23 percent from the national government.

In Tuesday's groundbreaking, Department of Transportation and Communication Sec. Leandro Mendoza assisted Arroyo together with Osamo Morato, representative of JBIC, Gov. Joseph Marañon, Silay Mayor Carlo Gamban, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and Bacolod Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia.

Background

The airport of international standards that will be completed in 2007 was among the four that DOTC identified as major national government airports particularly those classified as trunkline airports for developments.

Three others are in Iloilo, Tacloban and Legaspi that DOTC found with high growth of air passengers and cargo volume.

In 1997, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica) conducted the study on selected airports master planning project and formulated the long-term development requirements of the four trunkline airports identified in the study.

To supplement the Jica study, the DOTC implemented the selected airports development project in the same year and recommended the medium term development plans for the New Bacolod Airport within the framework of the long term development plans formulated.

The study found the existing facilities of Bacolod airport insufficient to accommodate even the present levels of air traffic volume.

The passenger terminal buildings are owned by the airlines operating in the area, thus, limiting the possibility of other airlines to use the airport and the area surrounding the airport has been densely urbanized that expansion would be difficult and costly.

With this, the study recommended that Bacolod airport will be relocated and a new site was identified in Barangay Bagtic, here.

In February 1999, the government through DOTC requested Japan through JICA to undertake the detailed design study of the selected airports development project.

The study was undertaken through a grant by JICA in the amount of Y430 million and this was completed in March 2000.

Jica commissioned Pacific Consultants International as project consultant. In August 25, 2003, the proposed new airport was bidded out and was awarded to the lowest complying bidder, TI Joint Venture.

In July 9, 2004, the notice to proceed was issued to the winning contractor and subsequently construction commenced last August 4, 2004.

SOURCES:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2004/10/20/news/silay.airport.ready.by.2007.html
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2006/01/27/news/new.bacolod.airport.20.complete.html
http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/bacolod/

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/traveltour_airportinternationalbaco.jpg

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[kyle@1008]

STRIVING FOR ORIGINALITY SET DESIGNER PROVIDES FRAMEWORK FOR ``ELIXIR OF LOVE''
EDUARDO SICANGCO does not normally find himself at a loss for ideas.

[He's designed sets and costumes for New York City Opera and Houston Grand Opera and has worked on Broadway, off-Broadway and with Radio City Music Hall. Projects this year alone include a world premiere musical, a new play and, most recently, a production in the Philippines of the ballet ``Romeo and Juliet.''

Soon, he'll be in Las Vegas to collaborate with spangly magicians Siegfried and Roy, and then he'll be off to Irvine, Calif., for Opera Pacific's ``The Daughter of the Regiment'' by Gaetano Donizetti.
That brings up ``The Elixir of Love.''
Sicangco didn't exactly leap at the offer when Virginia Opera recruited him to create sets and costumes for Donizetti's opera buffa, which opens Friday at the Harrison Opera House.

``I don't want them to see another tired production of happy peasants in dirndl skirts,'' he said. ``It's what happened when I was offered this opera. I said, `Oh my God, another happy-peasant opera with the grapes and trellises.' You know what I'm saying?''

Repetition is a designer's second-biggest sin, and Sicangco spelled that out when he and Worth Gardner, who is directing ``Elixir,'' met in New York.

``I said, `My God, Worth, I don't want to do anymore of this pictorial, picturesque countryside,' '' Sicangco said. ``It's been done and it's been done very well. I didn't want to repeat that. Worth was actually instrumental in the concept. He said, `Hey, listen. It is pictorial, so why not be blatantly picturesque? Wink at the audience. What about a giant gilded frame?'

``That phrase clicked in my mind, and I said, `Oh my God, you're absolutely right.' That gave me my out. Then I could bring in the trellises, bring in the grapevines. So, in effect, this opera, as we're doing it, is a series of staged pictures - hopefully, gorgeous staged pictures.''

Sicangco, who is working with Virginia Opera for the fifth time, used 6,000 sheets of gold leaf to create the frame, besting his personal record of 4,500 for the company's 1988 production of ``Manon.'' ``The neutral in this production is gold, believe it or not,'' he said.

Blatant + gold (EQ) easy call. But before he set about designing sets and costumes (the latter with Lars Andersen), Sicangco went through the same process he does whenever he works on an opera or ballet.

He listens to the music. Then he listens again. And again.

What he hears, and sees, is the full palette: colors, textures, finishes.

``It's hard to explain,'' said Sicangco, a native of the Philippines. ``When you listen to `Rhapsody in Blue,' don't you see blue? When I hear Stravinsky, I see reds and brilliant colors and metallics. There's a sweetness to `Elixir' that I found very affecting. I think the music gets richer and richer as the opera progresses, and you will see that.

``In plays, you are supposed to be subservient. You know, you're supposed to just take a back seat and let the play breathe, which is good. The opera experience, to me, is about people not only wanting to hear glorious music and glorious singing, but also wanting to be dazzled.

``So it's a visual experience as well as an aural experience - as well as an intellectual experience, hopefully. So that is my role as designer. People expect to see . . . I don't want to say opulence, but something their eyes can feast on.''

The role also requires something of a high-wire act. Sicangco doesn't want audiences to be so awed by his creations that they aren't paying attention to what is transpiring on stage.

He also realizes that some purists will be put off because he's tampered with tradition.

``You can't try and please everybody,'' Sicangco said. ``Ultimately, I think, you have to please the artist in you and, hopefully, opt for always doing something, if not new, that is at least fresh. That's the word I like to use in my work. I strive for it, anyway. I don't always succeed.

``But the purists will probably gawk and say, `Oh my God, what have they done to this piece?' To the purists, I say, `Yes, we are being fresh; however, we are also respecting the music of Donizetti. We're just reflecting it in a not quite so literal way.' ''

Besides, Sicangco wouldn't have it any other way.

``Why do it if you can't take any risks?'' he said. ``There will be people who love this and there will be people who will be offended. But they're reacting.

``The biggest sin you can commit in the theater is to have someone fall asleep on your production. You know what I mean? I do not like to design for tired businessmen in the audience. And if I do, I want them to wake up.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

IAN MARTIN/The Virginian-Pilot

Eduardo Sicangco at first was reluctant to design...

[kyle@1008]

^^He's just one of those that not only Negros but the philippines should be proud of...

[WawaY[625]]

mga pare ko..magtatanong lang ako ha..may durian ba sa bacolod? or if its a commonly found fruit there? naa man gud koy kasturya (not from bacolod though) nga ga insist na daghan daw durian sa bacolod...

[Dinho]

right. btw why is this "Queen City" title a hot topic even in other forums. also when did cebu grabbed this title, anybody? i've lived in Bacolod and stayed in Iloilo for a job assignment but during that time there was no internet yet so i never knew that there's two cities claiming the "Queen City" title.

Jimbu, Bacolod doesn't care for this "Queen City of the South" monicker because even though we don't have it, our twin city across the Guimaras Strait is already trembling because they feel so threatened by the growth of Bacolod City. Well, they are lucky to have the "aviation fuel depot" at the new Sta. Barbara Airport. If the new Silay Airport would have one, then Iloilo would have no clear advantage over Bacolod.

As far as I am concerned, Cebu is the Queen City of the South and the Financial center as well. Both Cebu and Iloilo had been blessed with a good harbor and location... both of which Bacolod City could not claim and yet Bacolod has been able to catch up with Iloilo... this just shows that location, a good harbor and the presence of SM may be important but any city could grow just as well if its people are dynamic enough and productive enough despite the absence of these factors.

[J_lim2k2]

mga pare ko..magtatanong lang ako ha..may durian ba sa bacolod? or if its a commonly found fruit there? naa man gud koy kasturya (not from bacolod though) nga ga insist na daghan daw durian sa bacolod...

yes there are lots of durian here, though not that much compare to other provinces like Davao.

[WawaY[625]]

is it considered a common fruit like say bananas or mangoes? how much does it cost? sensya na OT ako ha

[Dinho]

Here is a satellite photo of San Carlos. At the upper right corner is a long strip of concrete which looks like a runway. Is this the community airport that was mentioned a while ago? I sure hope that they'd be able to utilize this airport fully as a domestic airport.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h266/MDcarmen/SanCarlosCityairport.jpg

Negros Occidental will soon have two domestic airport and one international standard airport. It just proves that Negros is a very important area since it is the only area outside Luzon that could support 13 cities and three new airports. If Bacolod City was set up like other provincial capitals, I am sure it would be bigger than Iloilo and San Carlos... But due to the existence of so many medium sized cities, it has to share some of the infrastructure and business and educational institutions with the rest of the cities.

[death327]

by Manila Times Wednesday, June 28, 2006


BACOLOD CITY: The provincial government of Negros Occidental is reinforcing its relationship with the Australian government, eyeing various economic opportunities and partnerships, particularly in agricultural development.

Trade between Australia and the province started 149 years ago when 270 tons of raw sugar from Negros and Panay was exported to Melbourne, Australia, on March 1, 1859.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Anthony John Hely and Counsellor for Development Cooperation Angus Edward met with Acting Gov. Isidro Zayco, the 31 mayors from the various towns and cities, provincial legislators and Negros congressmen Tranquilino Carmona (1st District), Alfredo Marañon Jr. (2nd District), Carlos Cojuangco (4th District) and Genaro Alvarez Jr. (6th District) over the weekend during a private visit with former Amb. Eduardo “Dan*ding” Cojuangco at the latter’s farm, Hda. Balbina, Pontevedra.

Zayco thanked the elder Cojuangco for linking the province with Australia, adding that this presents a “start of a stronger relationship” between the two economies on the 60th year of Philippine-Australian relations.

Hely said Australia and the Philippines are “bound by many com*monalities” including “shared values and a strong and abiding interest in peace and prosperity in the Asian region.” He lauded Cojuangco for being the “largest Filipino investor in Australia” where Cojuangco has a farm.

“He [Cojuangco] is very important to Australia,” Hely said citing San Miguel Corp.’s investment in the food and beverage industry in their country.

Also present at the luncheon were Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco and former Negros solons, Jules Ledesma and Alfredo Marañon, Sr.
--Ma. Ester L. Espinas

source: Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/june/28/yehey/prov/20060628pro3.html)

[oboi]

Let us be objective and factual.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/taxcollection.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/taxcollection2.jpg

[BYAHILO]

the case has been settled and she married another multi-millionaire "Porteous" a business associate of Lang Hancock,... there was no proof...

Oh and rose is rumoured to have sold her Prix D' amour (price of love ) mansion for thirty million dollars and moved to a new but equally ostentanious property inuptown perth.... :)

huwaaaawww

damo wawarts ba.. now that what i call FILTHY RICH. eheheh

for those who do not know who Lang Hancock is.. well...he is the letter H of DHL.

and they live to deliver. :D

[BYAHILO]

is it considered a common fruit like say bananas or mangoes? how much does it cost? sensya na OT ako ha

it is not a common fruit inbacolod, as compared to in davao. na kahit saan sulok ka pumunta may puno ng durian..

in bacolod is is being grown only by ECJ Farm. the farm is owned and operated by Eduardo "Danding" Cojuanco JR. (thus the name ECJ)

peor i heard from some folks that there are several farms in davao na sa bacolod na kumukuha ng seedlings for their davao plantaion...

[sugarboy]

Mayor wants city
airport to stay open
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio yesterday said he believes that the present domestic airport in Bacolod City should continue to be operational even after the construction of the new Negros Occidental airport is completed.

The new airport of international standards in Silay City is expected to be finished next year.

Leonardia said he asked a committee headed by Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo to study what options should be taken on the present airport. "Personally, I believe that if it can still be used as an alternative airport, it should continue to be operational even after the new airport is completed, if that is possible," he said.

Leonardia said that during the joint Regional Development Council and Cabinet meeting held Tuesday, he noted that Iloilo has a budget of P3.6 billion while Bacolod has only P2.5 billion for the construction of a new airport. "So we can assume that the Iloilo airport will be much bigger than the Bacolod airport," he said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the President said the super region concept will result in a more coordinated development planning and that overlapping of projects will be avoided, Leonardia said.

He said among the projects listed that will directly affect Bacolod are the Bacolod-Kabankalan road with a funding of P231 million from the national government, the Bacolod-Murcia-Don Salvador Benedicto-San Carlos City road - P984 million, the Bacolod City-Granada road which is within the vicinity of the proposed new government center - P196.5 million, the new airport access road - P643.2 million, and the new Bacolod circumferential road - 687.6 million. All these were reviewed by the President with the mayors and governors so they can be finalized, Leonardia said.*CGS

[TJ]

Mayor wants city
airport to stay open
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio yesterday said he believes that the present domestic airport in Bacolod City should continue to be operational even after the construction of the new Negros Occidental airport is completed.

The new airport of international standards in Silay City is expected to be finished next year.

Leonardia said he asked a committee headed by Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo to study what options should be taken on the present airport. "Personally, I believe that if it can still be used as an alternative airport, it should continue to be operational even after the new airport is completed, if that is possible," he said.

Leonardia said that during the joint Regional Development Council and Cabinet meeting held Tuesday, he noted that Iloilo has a budget of P3.6 billion while Bacolod has only P2.5 billion for the construction of a new airport. "So we can assume that the Iloilo airport will be much bigger than the Bacolod airport," he said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the President said the super region concept will result in a more coordinated development planning and that overlapping of projects will be avoided, Leonardia said.

He said among the projects listed that will directly affect Bacolod are the Bacolod-Kabankalan road with a funding of P231 million from the national government, the Bacolod-Murcia-Don Salvador Benedicto-San Carlos City road - P984 million, the Bacolod City-Granada road which is within the vicinity of the proposed new government center - P196.5 million, the new airport access road - P643.2 million, and the new Bacolod circumferential road - 687.6 million. All these were reviewed by the President with the mayors and governors so they can be finalized, Leonardia said.*CGS


Yes i agree with that becoz silay is too far away for people living in the south.. :)

[Christendom]

Mayor wants city
airport to stay open
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio yesterday said he believes that the present domestic airport in Bacolod City should continue to be operational even after the construction of the new Negros Occidental airport is completed.

The new airport of international standards in Silay City is expected to be finished next year.

Leonardia said he asked a committee headed by Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo to study what options should be taken on the present airport. "Personally, I believe that if it can still be used as an alternative airport, it should continue to be operational even after the new airport is completed, if that is possible," he said.

Leonardia said that during the joint Regional Development Council and Cabinet meeting held Tuesday, he noted that Iloilo has a budget of P3.6 billion while Bacolod has only P2.5 billion for the construction of a new airport. "So we can assume that the Iloilo airport will be much bigger than the Bacolod airport," he said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the President said the super region concept will result in a more coordinated development planning and that overlapping of projects will be avoided, Leonardia said.

He said among the projects listed that will directly affect Bacolod are the Bacolod-Kabankalan road with a funding of P231 million from the national government, the Bacolod-Murcia-Don Salvador Benedicto-San Carlos City road - P984 million, the Bacolod City-Granada road which is within the vicinity of the proposed new government center - P196.5 million, the new airport access road - P643.2 million, and the new Bacolod circumferential road - 687.6 million. All these were reviewed by the President with the mayors and governors so they can be finalized, Leonardia said.*CGS


abi ko kon kwaon nada ang bacolod domestic airport sa singcang, tni kwaon nlng ky para matag-as mn ang mga building nila kon magpatindog cla lapit daan sa GOLDENFILED- 1 of d bacolod's premier night business districts specialy mga hotel & motel establishments. tan-awa ang SUGARLAND HOTEL imbis nga nahuman na taas gin panubuan nlng ky tungod sa airport, also like d GAISANO CITY ang plano mn tani nila taas gling ky 2ngod sa airport mn wla na dayon...

later my airport naman sa KABANKALAN CITY nd namn na gru malayo gd ah mga lapit 2 hours traveling frm BACOLOD 2 KABANKALAN CITIES..

depende nlng sa mga government officials ah...mayo mana ma 4 na ang airport sang NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, sa DUMAGUETE CITY new finish renovation of their airport pa...d philippine province na pinaka damu nga airports & also cities manug 15 all cities add sng BINALBAGAN & PONTEVEDRA.

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

[Christendom]

Here is a satellite photo of San Carlos. At the upper right corner is a long strip of concrete which looks like a runway. Is this the community airport that was mentioned a while ago? I sure hope that they'd be able to utilize this airport fully as a domestic airport.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h266/MDcarmen/SanCarlosCityairport.jpg
Negros Occidental will soon have two domestic airport and one international standard airport. It just proves that Negros is a very important area since it is the only area outside Luzon that could support 13 cities and three new airports. If Bacolod City was set up like other provincial capitals, I am sure it would be bigger than Iloilo and San Carlos... But due to the existence of so many medium sized cities, it has to share some of the infrastructure and business and educational institutions with the rest of the cities.

Mayor wants city
airport to stay open
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio yesterday said he believes that the present domestic airport in Bacolod City should continue to be operational even after the construction of the new Negros Occidental airport is completed.

The new airport of international standards in Silay City is expected to be finished next year.

Leonardia said he asked a committee headed by Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo to study what options should be taken on the present airport. "Personally, I believe that if it can still be used as an alternative airport, it should continue to be operational even after the new airport is completed, if that is possible," he said.

Leonardia said that during the joint Regional Development Council and Cabinet meeting held Tuesday, he noted that Iloilo has a budget of P3.6 billion while Bacolod has only P2.5 billion for the construction of a new airport. "So we can assume that the Iloilo airport will be much bigger than the Bacolod airport," he said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the President said the super region concept will result in a more coordinated development planning and that overlapping of projects will be avoided, Leonardia said.

He said among the projects listed that will directly affect Bacolod are the Bacolod-Kabankalan road with a funding of P231 million from the national government, the Bacolod-Murcia-Don Salvador Benedicto-San Carlos City road - P984 million, the Bacolod City-Granada road which is within the vicinity of the proposed new government center - P196.5 million, the new airport access road - P643.2 million, and the new Bacolod circumferential road - 687.6 million. All these were reviewed by the President with the mayors and governors so they can be finalized, Leonardia said.*CGS


abi ko kon kwaon nada ang bacolod domestic airport sa singcang, tni kwaon nlng ky para matag-as mn ang mga building nila kon magpatindog cla lapit daan sa GOLDENFILED- 1 of d bacolod's premier night business districts specialy mga hotel & motel establishments. tan-awa ang SUGARLAND HOTEL imbis nga nahuman na taas gin panubuan nlng ky tungod sa airport, also like d GAISANO CITY ang plano mn tani nila taas gling ky 2ngod sa airport mn wla na dayon...

later my airport naman sa KABANKALAN CITY nd namn na gru malayo gd ah mga lapit 2 hours traveling frm BACOLOD 2 KABANKALAN CITIES..

depende nlng sa mga government officials ah...mayo mana ma 4 na ang airport sang NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, sa DUMAGUETE CITY new finish renovation of their airport pa...d philippine province na pinaka damu nga airports & also cities manug 15 all cities add sng BINALBAGAN & PONTEVEDRA.

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

[kyle@1008]

^^ err,... how about flights between bacolod and Kabankalan...
...THat would be fun...itll be a five minute flight...

Pilot: This is PR 177 flight to kabankalan from bacolod cruising at an---- Tayo na po ay palapag na sa paliparan ng kabankalan......

[J_lim2k2]

grabe nagid na nga tripping ang bacolod-kabankalan flight ya! hahaha! or san carlos-kabankalan? bacolod-san carlos?

[J_lim2k2]

Negros organic
industry given boost
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The bid of Negros Island to join the fast-growing multi-million dollar organic food industry got a further boost from the Department of Agriculture yesterday.

At the start of the 1st Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival in Bacolod City, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban assured DA help in advertising and marketing the island's organic products and said he is giving Negros a drier for the processing of its produce.

Earlier, the DA gave the Negros Occidental and Oriental provincial governments P5 million each for their joint organic venture.

Organic food is in great the demand in the world market and Negros is the first in the country to go organic island-wide, he said, "which is worth the support of the national government".

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes congratulated Negros Island for going organic, saying it is "the wave of the future".

"I urge everyone to pursue organic farming," he said.

Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz said yesterday's launching of the organic festival heralds the entry of Negros Island into the organic food market.

"It serves as a springboard towards making our presence felt in the international community and in our participation in the International Farmer's Congress in 2010," Arnaiz said.

He noted that the demand for organic food is growing at a remarkable rate.

Consumers want organically-produced food because of their higher quality, taste and texture, he said, and the market is limited by the availability of supply.

"That is why we in Negros aim to make our entire island the organic food bowl of Asia," he said.

"We have also bound ourselves to prohibit the entry of genetically-modified plants and animals in the island," he said

Arnaiz added that use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers should be minimized and eliminated in the long term.

Arnaiz, who noted that the level of interest in organic farming in Negros has grown, stressed the need for farmers to maintain high standards no matter how great the demand for their produce is.

"We must all be vigilant in protecting what has been achieved, by ensuring that the organic sector has no room for the 'get rich quick' mentality, nor for second-rate produce," he said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon said the island wide organic venture will strengthen the relationship between the two Negros provinces.

The second Negros organic festival will be held in the oriental side next year, he said.

Marañon said the response of the private sector to organic farming in Negros has been fantastic.

This is very good because the worldwide l volume of organic food sales is $25 million annually and increasing by 10 percent every year, he said.*CPG

[chymera00]

abi ko kon kwaon nada ang bacolod domestic airport sa singcang, tni kwaon nlng ky para matag-as mn ang mga building nila kon magpatindog cla lapit daan sa GOLDENFILED- 1 of d bacolod's premier night business districts specialy mga hotel & motel establishments. tan-awa ang SUGARLAND HOTEL imbis nga nahuman na taas gin panubuan nlng ky tungod sa airport, also like d GAISANO CITY ang plano mn tani nila taas gling ky 2ngod sa airport mn wla na dayon...
I agree, the Bacolod airport should be closed. Not only will the gov't earn from the sale of the lot, but it will eliminate the limitation on the development of the area..... kung as bagay, Bacolod still has a lot of open spaces to expand pa man and air traffic might be too busy in the new airport so kinanlan pa guro alternative airport to accomodate the excess.

[TJ]

^^^ but the kabangkalan airport is not yet exisiting the singcang airport should remain open for the mean time even when the international airport is opened in silay.

[Christendom]

grabe nagid na nga tripping ang bacolod-kabankalan flight ya! hahaha! or san carlos-kabankalan? bacolod-san carlos?

basi kabankalan-manila-cebu-davao ang flights sng kabankalan airport & san carlos-manila-cebu-davao namn ang flights sng san carlos airport.....if inside negros lng kalapit mn lng....i think my good openion is that....ky hmbal sng mga most taga kabankalanon budlayan cla nga mapa bacolod airport pa cla pakad2 flight sa manila, cebu, or 2 d mindanao...

kabankalan needed gid ang airport ky kadamu daan sng foreigner nga naga kad2 sa SIPALAY CITY BEACHES, SCUBA & DIVING RESORTS....same man ang sa SAN CARLOS CITY...

balita ko gani ma butang naman sng CALL CENTER sa SAN CARLOS CITY...

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

[J_lim2k2]

basi kabankalan-manila-cebu-davao ang flights sng kabankalan airport & san carlos-manila-cebu-davao namn ang flights sng san carlos airport.....if inside negros lng kalapit mn lng....i think my good openion is that....ky hmbal sng mga most taga kabankalanon budlayan cla nga mapa bacolod airport pa cla pakad2 flight sa manila, cebu, or 2 d mindanao...

kabankalan needed gid ang airport ky kadamu daan sng foreigner nga naga kad2 sa SIPALAY CITY BEACHES, SCUBA & DIVING RESORTS....same man ang sa SAN CARLOS CITY...

balita ko gani ma butang naman sng CALL CENTER sa SAN CARLOS CITY...

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

i was just jokin about the within negros flights. anyway nami mn gid if ma separate and flights. most southern negrense would prefer the kanbankalan flight and most northern the san carlos flight. ang central negrense dayon the silay airport. galing we dunno if its viable. considering the cost and the demands for flights. bisan once a day flight lng tani or once a week to manila or cebu would do.

[J_lim2k2]

with 3 airports and pending additional 2 cities(to total of 15 cities) in negros, it just shows that negros is progressing province wise instead of capital city lng or "imperial Capital". I believe its better ky if capital city lng tanan there would be influx of rural to urban. it could make bacolod congest more and increase more squatters.

[Christendom]

i was just jokin about the within negros flights. anyway nami mn gid if ma separate and flights. most southern negrense would prefer the kanbankalan flight and most northern the san carlos flight. ang central negrense dayon the silay airport. galing we dunno if its viable. considering the cost and the demands for flights. bisan once a day flight lng tani or once a week to manila or cebu would do.

oo man bskan once a week lng...sa bagay nami gd man within negros my flights bskan sa dumaguete nlng..

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

[J_lim2k2]

oo man bskan once a week lng...sa bagay nami gd man within negros my flights bskan sa dumaguete nlng..

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

galing daw more of a joy ride kung within negros... hehehe just imagine, hapos nlng mgpa dgte instead of the long tiring landtrip from bacolod to dgte. maybe in the future ang silay airport would concentrate more on international flights less on domestic. just give the domestic air traffic to san carlos or kabankalan dayon.

[Dinho]

with 3 airports and pending additional 2 cities(to total of 15 cities) in negros, it just shows that negros is progressing province wise instead of capital city lng or "imperial Capital". I believe its better ky if capital city lng tanan there would be influx of rural to urban. it could make bacolod congest more and increase more squatters.

This is what makes Bacolod and Negros so different from the rest of the country. We do not have a sole imperial capital lording it over the rest of the island or province. All resources are distributed more equably, thus we have more cities, albeit small by other people's standards. Our educational, and financial centers are located at opposite ends of the island.

It would be great if the Capital of the new Visayan "state" or Super region would be located in Mabinay, which is the most centrally located community in the Visayas.

[J_lim2k2]

Monday, July 17, 2006
DepEd vows to enhance English program for it boom
By Roberto L. Bacasong

MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering Bacolod City as the training center for English instruction in the Visayas.

Alice Pañares, deputy director for National Educators Academy of the Philippines (Neap), said that the DepEd may provide trainings to teachers from the elementary and high school levels in order to further develop their English communication skills.

"We did this already in other DepEd offices in the country which include the cities of Bacolod and Sagay in Negros Occidental, Davao, Cebu and some parts of Mindanao," said Pañares.

She added that they have seen the poor English teaching efficiency in most schools in the country even when the country is known to be the center for English learning by neighboring Asian countries like Korea, China and Japan.

"Our President has realized how important is the English medium in the BPO industries," said Pañares.

She claimed that 19 percent or 54,000 teachers nationwide in the high school level did not pass in their English proficiency test.

She also added that for every 15 students, six passed the elementary level but only four actually made it to high schools. Of the four, only two were able to make it to college.

"Our English is much better in the 1950s because the American really taught Filipinos of adopting English medium as the major language," said Pañares.

She added that DepEd has imposed stiffer standard of qualification to applicants for teaching.

These include passing the licensure examinations for teachers, English capability, teaching demonstrations and oral interaction.

On the other hand, Information Technology School Network (ITSNet) chairman Anthony Visitacion said that there is a big potential in the BPO industry especially that Bacolod is now considered as one of the BPO center of development by foreign countries.

ITSNet is composed of 40 colleges and universities all over Negros Occidental.

These includes the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle, Visayan Maritime Academy and the MTC-Academy.

"We are primarily tying up with the call center companies in order to help the City's English communication and at the same time to make the city as IT ready," Visitacion said.

He added that they also coordinated with Tesda in the implementation of the scholarship given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is also encouraging Bacoleños to prioritize English.

Pañares said that call center companies like the Convergys are helping the DepEd in giving free English training for teachers in the elementary and high school level.

Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue also believes that investments will flow in Bacolod once the IT Focus Team and other concerned group will cooperate in achieving one goal.

In a separate interview, Michael Alexander Ang, honorary consulate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said he is willing to help DepEd in uplifting the standard of English language in the country.

[Dinho]

Monday, July 17, 2006
DepEd vows to enhance English program for it boom
By Roberto L. Bacasong

MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering Bacolod City as the training center for English instruction in the Visayas.

Alice Pañares, deputy director for National Educators Academy of the Philippines (Neap), said that the DepEd may provide trainings to teachers from the elementary and high school levels in order to further develop their English communication skills.

"We did this already in other DepEd offices in the country which include the cities of Bacolod and Sagay in Negros Occidental, Davao, Cebu and some parts of Mindanao," said Pañares.

She added that they have seen the poor English teaching efficiency in most schools in the country even when the country is known to be the center for English learning by neighboring Asian countries like Korea, China and Japan.

"Our President has realized how important is the English medium in the BPO industries," said Pañares.

She claimed that 19 percent or 54,000 teachers nationwide in the high school level did not pass in their English proficiency test.

She also added that for every 15 students, six passed the elementary level but only four actually made it to high schools. Of the four, only two were able to make it to college.

"Our English is much better in the 1950s because the American really taught Filipinos of adopting English medium as the major language," said Pañares.

She added that DepEd has imposed stiffer standard of qualification to applicants for teaching.

These include passing the licensure examinations for teachers, English capability, teaching demonstrations and oral interaction.

On the other hand, Information Technology School Network (ITSNet) chairman Anthony Visitacion said that there is a big potential in the BPO industry especially that Bacolod is now considered as one of the BPO center of development by foreign countries.

ITSNet is composed of 40 colleges and universities all over Negros Occidental.

These includes the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle, Visayan Maritime Academy and the MTC-Academy.

"We are primarily tying up with the call center companies in order to help the City's English communication and at the same time to make the city as IT ready," Visitacion said.

He added that they also coordinated with Tesda in the implementation of the scholarship given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is also encouraging Bacoleños to prioritize English.

Pañares said that call center companies like the Convergys are helping the DepEd in giving free English training for teachers in the elementary and high school level.

Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue also believes that investments will flow in Bacolod once the IT Focus Team and other concerned group will cooperate in achieving one goal.

In a separate interview, Michael Alexander Ang, honorary consulate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said he is willing to help DepEd in uplifting the standard of English language in the country.

That is a very interesting article, though, I must point out that we did have American teachers at schools like Trinity Christian School up to the early eighties. It is indeed true that we Negrenses have a better grasp of English.

Some of the Bacoleno forumers here need to review their spelling and grammar before posting messages before posting it. We must keep in mind that investors could decide to stay away from Bacolod when they see a lot of our people could not write properly in English. I myself have some difficulty identifying where a sentence should stop and when it is time for a new paragraph.

[TJ]

I noticed the philippines is composed of 3 main regions and the center of is visayas.. visayas is composed of three main cities and the center is bacolod. Then bacolod is the heart and the center of the philippines :) yehey!!! hehe

[valium]

aaahhh the center of the philippines :cheers: but geographically... its not :runaway:

got these data from another thread

As of December 2005, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board in their latest Philippine Countryside in Figures.


7,621 Philippines (Number of Banks)

2,645 Metro Manila
383 Cebu
335 Laguna
286 Cavite
241 Bulacan
229 Batangas
213 Pangasinan
203 Pampanga
177 Rizal
169 Davao del Sur
156 Iloilo
others




P2.971 trillion bank deposits nationwide

P1.845 trillion Metro Manila
P134.225 billion Cebu
P63.953 billion Laguna
P49.142 billion Cavite
P49.016 billion Pampanga
P48.928 billion Davao del Sur
P37.991 billion Negros Occidental
P36.462 billion Batangas
P34.999 billion Iloilo
P33.170 billion Bulacan
P31.296 billion Pangasinan
P31.127 billion Rizal
others

i thought that "other" city has the most number of banks, like its in every corner of the city?

too many banks with so little money????

[BYAHILO]

hay no comment. =)

indi ko gusto maguba mood ko subong hehehehe

peeps im leaving for another round of heritage tour later. kadto ko baguio, benguet; vigan and Santa Maria ilocos sur; paoay laoag, batac and sarrat in ilocos norte.

[Dinho]

aaahhh the center of the philippines :cheers: but geographically... its not :runaway:

got these data from another thread

As of December 2005, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board in their latest Philippine Countryside in Figures.


7,621 Philippines (Number of Banks)

2,645 Metro Manila
383 Cebu
335 Laguna
286 Cavite
241 Bulacan
229 Batangas
213 Pangasinan
203 Pampanga
177 Rizal
169 Davao del Sur
156 Iloilo
others




P2.971 trillion bank deposits nationwide

P1.845 trillion Metro Manila
P134.225 billion Cebu
P63.953 billion Laguna
P49.142 billion Cavite
P49.016 billion Pampanga
P48.928 billion Davao del Sur
P37.991 billion Negros Occidental
P36.462 billion Batangas
P34.999 billion Iloilo
P33.170 billion Bulacan
P31.296 billion Pangasinan
P31.127 billion Rizal
others

i thought that "other" city has the most number of banks, like its in every corner of the city?

too many banks with so little money????

Val, It doesn't look like little to me. I guess that if they posted details of each city, the other city would have more banks and more deposits since it is the sole Imperial city on that Island. But I must say that our banks are a lot taller and bigger. Negros Occidental does have many banks in the rest of the cities in the province.

[kevinb]

CENTRAL PHILIPPINES
‘Super region’ infra to cost P300 billion


By Irene R. Sino-Cruz
Inquirer
Last updated 03:01am (Mla time) 07/17/2006

Published on Page A21 of the July 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

CEBU CITY—Infrastructure requirements for the five-year development of Central Philippines could reach P300 billion, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri.

Neri, who was interviewed after the joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cabinet meeting held on July 7 at the Malacañang sa Sugbo here, said part of the amount would come from the government and the rest from the private sector through a build-operate-transfer scheme.

He could not say, however, how much of the amount would come from the government. The key infrastructure projects for Central Philippines include construction or rehabilitation of roads, ports, airports, power, irrigation and flood control projects, Neri said.

During the opening of the joint RDC-Cabinet meeting, President Macapagal-Arroyo identified Central Philippines—composed of the Visayas, Bicol, Palawan and Romblon, Camiguin and the Mindanao islands of Dapitan and Siargao—as the tourism center of the Philippines.

The President said the government must increase investments in education and infrastructure to make Central Philippines the tourism hub.

“To their competitive advantage, we will bolster education, invest in infrastructure and encourage greater tourism investments and business process outsourcing in Cebu and its immediate neighbors, like Dumaguete,” Ms Arroyo said.

During the RDC-Cabinet meeting, Neri said the national government identified several strategies for Central Philippines.

These include harnessing the vast coastal and marine resources and addressing the small islands’ fragile ecosystem; linking the islands through efficient transportation and communication facilities; promoting the Southern Tourism Center; developing the potentials of agribusiness, export and small and medium enterprises; pursuing responsible mining and quarrying; optimizing power potentials and ensuring adequacy and sustainability of the supply; and enhancing social services.

During a presentation on Central Philippines, Neri noted that the region accounted for 39 percent of the country’s total coastline. It has several rich fishing grounds, such as the Visayan Sea, Lamon Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, Romblon Pass, Bohol Sea, Sibuyan Sea, Iloilo Strait, Tañon Strait, Samar Sea and Leyte Gulf.

The Central Philippines’ share in the country’s total fish production is 37 percent.

The government is also proposing the establishment of mariculture parks in the super region. Mariculture is the cultivation of marine organisms for food.

In addition to the 10 existing parks, the government plans to set up mariculture parks in Samar, Camotes Island in Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Palawan.

Central Philippines also contributes 20.8 percent of gross domestic product, he added. Its growth centers include Metro Naga, Metro Legazpi, Metro Tacloban, the cities of Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran, and Metro Cebu.

The national government also plans to improve the linkages of the existing nautical highway by developing or rehabilitating lateral roads that connect to existing or proposed ports with roll-on, roll off facilities.

The implementation of the various infrastructure projects is expected to reduce travel time from Mindanao through Visayas to Luzon, and vice versa, by 10 hours.

[Christendom]

CENTRAL PHILIPPINES
‘Super region’ infra to cost P300 billion


By Irene R. Sino-Cruz
Inquirer
Last updated 03:01am (Mla time) 07/17/2006

Published on Page A21 of the July 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

CEBU CITY—Infrastructure requirements for the five-year development of Central Philippines could reach P300 billion, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri.

Neri, who was interviewed after the joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cabinet meeting held on July 7 at the Malacañang sa Sugbo here, said part of the amount would come from the government and the rest from the private sector through a build-operate-transfer scheme.

He could not say, however, how much of the amount would come from the government. The key infrastructure projects for Central Philippines include construction or rehabilitation of roads, ports, airports, power, irrigation and flood control projects, Neri said.

During the opening of the joint RDC-Cabinet meeting, President Macapagal-Arroyo identified Central Philippines—composed of the Visayas, Bicol, Palawan and Romblon, Camiguin and the Mindanao islands of Dapitan and Siargao—as the tourism center of the Philippines.

The President said the government must increase investments in education and infrastructure to make Central Philippines the tourism hub.

“To their competitive advantage, we will bolster education, invest in infrastructure and encourage greater tourism investments and business process outsourcing in Cebu and its immediate neighbors, like Dumaguete,” Ms Arroyo said.

During the RDC-Cabinet meeting, Neri said the national government identified several strategies for Central Philippines.

These include harnessing the vast coastal and marine resources and addressing the small islands’ fragile ecosystem; linking the islands through efficient transportation and communication facilities; promoting the Southern Tourism Center; developing the potentials of agribusiness, export and small and medium enterprises; pursuing responsible mining and quarrying; optimizing power potentials and ensuring adequacy and sustainability of the supply; and enhancing social services.

During a presentation on Central Philippines, Neri noted that the region accounted for 39 percent of the country’s total coastline. It has several rich fishing grounds, such as the Visayan Sea, Lamon Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, Romblon Pass, Bohol Sea, Sibuyan Sea, Iloilo Strait, Tañon Strait, Samar Sea and Leyte Gulf.

The Central Philippines’ share in the country’s total fish production is 37 percent.

The government is also proposing the establishment of mariculture parks in the super region. Mariculture is the cultivation of marine organisms for food.

In addition to the 10 existing parks, the government plans to set up mariculture parks in Samar, Camotes Island in Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Palawan.

Central Philippines also contributes 20.8 percent of gross domestic product, he added. Its growth centers include Metro Naga, Metro Legazpi, Metro Tacloban, the cities of Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran, and Metro Cebu.

The national government also plans to improve the linkages of the existing nautical highway by developing or rehabilitating lateral roads that connect to existing or proposed ports with roll-on, roll off facilities.

The implementation of the various infrastructure projects is expected to reduce travel time from Mindanao through Visayas to Luzon, and vice versa, by 10 hours.

the city of naga, legazpi, tacloban is a metropolitan cities? i got no read on any the news & magazines...metro manila, cebu, davao & bacolod only i know...


PHILIPPINES METROPOLITAN SOURCE:
http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1152166080&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=200&geo=-171&srt=pnan&col=aohdqcfbeimg&va=&pt=a
http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-171&srt=npan&col=aohdq&va=&pt=a
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[rooster2369]

aaahhh the center of the philippines :cheers: but geographically... its not :runaway:

got these data from another thread

As of December 2005, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board in their latest Philippine Countryside in Figures.


7,621 Philippines (Number of Banks)

2,645 Metro Manila
383 Cebu
335 Laguna
286 Cavite
241 Bulacan
229 Batangas
213 Pangasinan
203 Pampanga
177 Rizal
169 Davao del Sur
156 Iloilo
others




P2.971 trillion bank deposits nationwide

P1.845 trillion Metro Manila
P134.225 billion Cebu
P63.953 billion Laguna
P49.142 billion Cavite
P49.016 billion Pampanga
P48.928 billion Davao del Sur
P37.991 billion Negros Occidental
P36.462 billion Batangas
P34.999 billion Iloilo
P33.170 billion Bulacan
P31.296 billion Pangasinan
P31.127 billion Rizal
others

i thought that "other" city has the most number of banks, like its in every corner of the city?

too many banks with so little money????

Negros Occidental Population: 2,565,723
Bank Deposit : P 37.991 B
Bank Deposit Per Capita: P 14,807

"Other" Province Population : 1,952,002
Bank Deposit : P 34.999 B
Bank Deposit Per Capita: P 17,939

Let the figures speak for themselves.

[rooster2369]

Jimbu, Bacolod doesn't care for this "Queen City of the South" monicker because even though we don't have it, our twin city across the Guimaras Strait is already trembling because they feel so threatened by the growth of Bacolod City. Well, they are lucky to have the "aviation fuel depot" at the new Sta. Barbara Airport. If the new Silay Airport would have one, then Iloilo would have no clear advantage over Bacolod.

As far as I am concerned, Cebu is the Queen City of the South and the Financial center as well. Both Cebu and Iloilo had been blessed with a good harbor and location... both of which Bacolod City could not claim and yet Bacolod has been able to catch up with Iloilo... this just shows that location, a good harbor and the presence of SM may be important but any city could grow just as well if its people are dynamic enough and productive enough despite the absence of these factors.

An aviation fuel depot is only fit and proper to be located on the fourth (4th) busiest airport in the country, which is ILO, as in ILO-MLA-ILO, MLA-ILO-DVO, MLA-ILO-GSC, CEB-ILO-PTO-VV and CEB-ILO-CEB.

[Christendom]

I noticed the philippines is composed of 3 main regions and the center of is visayas.. visayas is composed of three main cities and the center is bacolod. Then bacolod is the heart and the center of the philippines :) yehey!!! hehe


NEGROS WILL BE A PHILIPPINES BUSIEST IN TRANSPORTATION OUTSIDE METRO MANILA

if the interconnection of the bridges between the three major philippine regions cebu-negros-panay it is more good to the negrenses economics and businesses because all the land transportation will be ride first in negros from cebu-panay; panay-cebu. so hoping that the traffic is possible an easy going in-out. no problem for the air transportation because the 3 or maybe 4 (bacolod airpot will remain if possible) or 5 (plus dumaguete airport) will be a good convenient air services for us. then i think the negros will be soon a philippine busiest and more of air transports. YAHOO!.. :)

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[Christendom]

Metro Bacolod Beautiful Skyscraper Banks

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/bank_dbpbacolodlagoon.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/bank_dbpbacolod.jpg
Development Bank Of The Philippines

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/bank_pnbbacolod.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/bank_pnbbacolod1.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/bacolod_bankpnbnight.jpg
Philippine National Bank

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/park_lagoonbacoloddbp.jpg
Capitol Lagoon Park between on the two banks
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

[death327]

aaahhh the center of the philippines :cheers: but geographically... its not :runaway:

got these data from another thread

[B]As of December 2005, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board in their latest Philippine Countryside in Figures.


i thought that "other" city has the most number of banks, like its in every corner of the city?

too many banks with so little money????

off topic... this is something personal

Hi Valium... after several months... at last I have seen your face (if that's you in the pic)... I think I like you... :) Hope to know more about you soon... :)

[Dinho]

NEGROS WILL BE A PHILIPPINES BUSIEST IN TRANSPORTATION OUTSIDE METRO MANILA

if the interconnection of the bridges between the three major philippine regions cebu-negros-panay it is more good to the negrenses economics and businesses because all the land transportation will be ride first in negros from cebu-panay; panay-cebu. so hoping that the traffic is possible an easy going in-out. no problem for the air transportation because the 3 or maybe 4 (bacolod airpot will remain if possible) or 5 (plus dumaguete airport) will be a good convenient air services for us. then i think the negros will be soon a philippine busiest and more of air transports. YAHOO!.. :)

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

I think that these proposed bridges are just a bit too far fetched. Don't count on it. But I think that our new Bacolod-Silay airport deserves a fuel farm too since it is only trailing behind Iloilo's by a single notch. Perhaps, Iloilo could get international flights from Europe and South East Asia since it is on that side while Bacolod would have flights to Northern Asia (Korea & Japan) as well as the Pacific Rim. Perhaps both airports could have a once weekly flight to the USA. Like Mondays would be Iloilo-San Fransisco-Iloilo and on Friday, the flights would be from Bacolod - Chicago - Bacolod.

I think that it is not wise to retain the old airport near downtown as it is just too near a desnely populated area. It would be best to demolish it and have it converted to other uses. Maybe they could retain a part of it as a heliport so that it could serve as a jump-off point for the VIP's and those Negrenses who could afford their own helicopters... I am sure that there are a lot of them who could get one.

[dexter06]

Guys, lets keep our conversations on the level.

Banks
Did you know that the total deposits of the biggest private bank in the Philippines (which is Metrobank. BPI is number 2) is not even equal to the number 10 bank in Thailand? And the biggest bank in Southeast Asia is not even from Thailand, it is DBS (Devt Bank of Singapore). Southeast Asian banks are not even in the Top 50 banks in the world compared to such international banking giants as Citibank, ChemicalChase, Bank of Tokyo, StandardChartered, HSBC. So, please, lets stop the insular mindset. We have a lot of work to do to compete even with Manila or Cebu alone. Ano pa internationally? (International flights, my foot).

Airport
Kabankalan needs an airport all right more because of increasing commerce and business in that area of Negros. Maybe a once a week flight.

Proposed Bridge linkages
I think this is feasible. This is not difficult infrastructure wise. Remember the Channel Tunnel? That underground tunnel (below sea level) that traverses the English Channel between France and England? That is why, people from Paris now have the option to take the train to London (instead of taking the plane)? The reason for the bridges is to seamlessly connect Iloilo, Negros and Cebu to enhance mobility and economic activity. The synergy of these three provinces and their principal cities have a very significant impact on their economies. Just imagine if we only work together, if we create bridges instead of walls, the potential is enormous. We have a long way to go guys.

Although our heritage (and our colorful past) is important, let us concentrate on the "now". Where we are now and what we have now. Work on why we have not progressed as fast and why local people have to leave our province to improve their lives. Then, recognize our strengths and build on that and then find ways to improve where we have failed so we can grow. Husto na bala ang "tigas gid kami ya" mindset. Damu ilonggo ga shine kung ara sa Manila, Cebu, CDO or abroad. I tell you, if there will be opportunities here, they will come back and contribute.

And when we have attained a significant degree of progress, our colorful heritage and rich past will have a more profound meaning. Attention will be granted to our heritage without us necessarily making noise. They will seek it.

[J_lim2k2]

Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Capitol gets P4M aid from Spanish Embassy
By Danny B. Dangcalan

NEGROS Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon Tuesday said the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines recently donated P4 million to the Provincial Government.

Marañon said the amount will be used in purchasing hospital equipment and instruments for the Dr. Jose C. Locsin Memorial Provincial Hospital (DJCLMPH) in Silay City as stipulated in the Deed of Donation.

The Teresita L. Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital, which is expected to be operational by August, may also use the equipments, he added.

The list of priority equipment includes a respirator, defibrillator, ECG monitor, radiant warmer, mobile surgical suction unit, operating table, anesthesia machine, dental chair, chemistry analyzer, x-ray machine and hospital beds.

As stated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the procurement of the equipments should be done within the year.

[habagatcentral1]

I think that it is not wise to retain the old airport near downtown as it is just too near a desnely populated area. It would be best to demolish it and have it converted to other uses. Maybe they could retain a part of it as a heliport so that it could serve as a jump-off point for the VIP's and those Negrenses who could afford their own helicopters... I am sure that there are a lot of them who could get one.

I agree. It'll be an additional cost for the city gov't or the prov'l govt to operate it. Anyway, south Bacolod area is conducive to business and it'll be best to convert it to commercial/residential zone.

[Christendom]

[QUOTE=zyanz]sayang naman ang iloilo city that they called A QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH gling sng una pa....naunahan na gali sng CEBU, DAVAO, BACOLOD, & CDO CITIES....layo lng ang gap ba....iloilo is narrow streets, diutay ang nyt lyf..branch lng gli sng M02 Bacolod ang dri sa iloilo...wla ka mayo lagawan except lng sa SM city nla dako...sa mga park & plazas wla mayo mprovements...

Speaking of Narrow Roads about Iloilo,this is the latest news that will really change the fate of this city..!WATCH OUT!!!

BILLIONS FOR ROAD PROJECTS
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE national government will pour billions of pesos for Iloilo road improvement projects in preparation for possible investments that the new airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan area will generate.

This was learned from Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas who attended the joint Regional Development Councils meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo relative to the creation of the Central Philippines “mega-region” in Cebu last week.

The Central Philippines mega-region is composed of Regions 4-B, 5, 6, 7 and 8. It aims to identify ongoing and proposed projects by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), particularly infrastructure projects that need priority funding.

The mega region setup is covered by a four-year development plan from 2006-2010 aimed at spurring investments in the regions.

Treñas said Western Visayas will get the bulk of funding for improvement of roads and power supply.

“The funding is allotted for proposed road-widening projects in preparation for the operations of the new Iloilo airport,” Treñas said.

Treñas said the Iloilo-Sta. Barbara road rehabilitation starting from El 98 in Jaro district got an allocation of P268million.Some P235million is intended for the expansion of the two-lane road from Montinola Bridge in Simon Ledesma, Jaro to Zarraga town.

“It will decongest heavy vehicular traffic in the said area,” the mayor stressed.

Treñas added that a P1-billion circumferential road will be established in the metropolis linking Jaro, Mandurriao and Arevalo districts.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have also considered the construction of a P6-billion Metro Iloilo Road Network which will include six circumferential roads connecting the city to nearby municipalities.
There is also the ongoing Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Road project costing P476million while a P1.2-billion Iloilo East-West Road that will traverse the Concepcion-Sara-San Rafael-Passi-Calinog is being proposed.

Iloilo City, being the gateway to Panay especially to the world-famous Boracay Island, is also eyed for the implementation of the proposed P2.664-billion Iloilo City-Caticlan, Aklan highway.To improve the southbound route to Antique province, there is the ongoing P142-million Iloilo-Asluman road rehabilitation and the P448-million Iloilo-Anini-y-V. Jimenez, Antique road section project.

There is also the proposed P235-million inter-provincial road connecting Leon-Tubungan in Iloilo to San Remigio, Antique.


I mean for the present situations. that is a good project, very soon will be an easy going in-out.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[lewdsaint]

You forgot to consider the population and the land area.

Hehehe! I know don't what's your agenda in pulling down that other city. Siguro nahisa ka lang! :bash:

aaahhh the center of the philippines :cheers: but geographically... its not :runaway:

got these data from another thread

As of December 2005, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board in their latest Philippine Countryside in Figures.


7,621 Philippines (Number of Banks)

2,645 Metro Manila
383 Cebu
335 Laguna
286 Cavite
241 Bulacan
229 Batangas
213 Pangasinan
203 Pampanga
177 Rizal
169 Davao del Sur
156 Iloilo
others




P2.971 trillion bank deposits nationwide

P1.845 trillion Metro Manila
P134.225 billion Cebu
P63.953 billion Laguna
P49.142 billion Cavite
P49.016 billion Pampanga
P48.928 billion Davao del Sur
P37.991 billion Negros Occidental
P36.462 billion Batangas
P34.999 billion Iloilo
P33.170 billion Bulacan
P31.296 billion Pangasinan
P31.127 billion Rizal
others

i thought that "other" city has the most number of banks, like its in every corner of the city?

too many banks with so little money????

[Christendom]

I agree. It'll be an additional cost for the city gov't or the prov'l govt to operate it. Anyway, south Bacolod area is conducive to business and it'll be best to convert it to commercial/residential zone.

i agree also. because the GOLDENFIELD COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMANT COMPLEX is the bacolod's busiest night life is there. it is a great advantages to the nights life commercial establishments especially like the hotel and restaurants and condominiums. look the sugarland hotel and gaisano city supposed to be that is a high. so since the bacolod airport is there you cannot establish some high rise buildings.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[habagatcentral1]

i agree also. because the GOLDENFIELD COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMANT COMPLEX is the bacolod's busiest night life is there. it is a great advantages to the nights life commercial establishments especially like the hotel and restaurants and condominiums. look the sugarland hotel and gaisano city supposed to be that is a high. so since the bacolod airport is there you cannot establish some high rise buildings.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

Lessons from the old aviation disaster that happened a few years ago, sang guin-araro sang PAL ang mga kabalayan sa punta sang runway. Miscalculation kuno kag guin-blame nila sa Sugarland Hotel kay ginapataas kuno nila at that time. Well, its time to add up additional floors pag-operational na ang BCD-Silay Airport.

[SamwiseGamgee]

You forgot to consider the population and the land area.

Hehehe! I know don't what's your agenda in pulling down that other city. Siguro nahisa ka lang! :bash:

Grabe gid kaakig ya, Lew. Indi ya na ma-mention ang ngalan. Hehehehe... The "other city" na lang panawag ya. Ano ayhan nga traumatic experience ang natabo sa iya sa Iloilo?

[TJ]

Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Capitol gets P4M aid from Spanish Embassy
By Danny B. Dangcalan

NEGROS Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon Tuesday said the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines recently donated P4 million to the Provincial Government.

Marañon said the amount will be used in purchasing hospital equipment and instruments for the Dr. Jose C. Locsin Memorial Provincial Hospital (DJCLMPH) in Silay City as stipulated in the Deed of Donation.

The Teresita L. Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital, which is expected to be operational by August, may also use the equipments, he added.

The list of priority equipment includes a respirator, defibrillator, ECG monitor, radiant warmer, mobile surgical suction unit, operating table, anesthesia machine, dental chair, chemistry analyzer, x-ray machine and hospital beds.

As stated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the procurement of the equipments should be done within the year.

I hope i will see the results of it when we are on duty next week on silay.. hehe :)

[J_lim2k2]

I hope i will see the results of it when we are on duty next week on silay.. hehe :)

sometime in august pa man ma fully operational ang new hospital. basi next week you'll still be on the old provincial hospital. any news if what will the government do with the current hospital after moving to the new one?

I just hope they would maintain it. basi pabay-an naman nila bala haw ky pulitika naman ang irason.

[valium]

Hope to know more about you soon... :)

not a prob, sure thing! i can be friendly...

[valium]

Grabe gid kaakig ya, Lew. Indi ya na ma-mention ang ngalan. Hehehehe... The "other city" na lang panawag ya. Ano ayhan nga traumatic experience ang natabo sa iya sa Iloilo?

a newbie! welcome, its just so sad that your first post in SSC has to be about me. no matter what i post, im sure to get a "reaction" from people of your flock. my bad, am a very controversial personality, heh!

[slerz]

I love Central Philippines ;)

[rage@cebu]

I love Central Philippines ;)

I love Bayawan City, Negros Oriental!

[SamwiseGamgee]

a newbie! welcome, its just so sad that your first post in SSC has to be about me. no matter what i post, im sure to get a "reaction" from people of your flock. my bad, am a very controversial personality, heh!

Salamat sa welcome, Valium. Daw ka-controversial gid abi sg mga posts mo, ano pa amo gid ang nakita ko dayon. Pero indi ya ikaw ang controversial, ang actions mo lang...

[Christendom]

not a prob, sure thing! i can be friendly...

wat u meant by? dats an nteresting maybe...

[Christendom]

in short Negros is not limited to bacolod alone. unlike in iloilo that most of the development is in iloilo city alone. thats why even upto now bacolod is not as congested as like to other cities in the phils. though Negros has the most number of cities second to NCR. Iloilo city have will more larger buildings in the future due to the fact that it is already congested while in the case of bacolod, vast of land is still available for development thats why investors probably think is best to have several small-medium sized business establishment spread across bacolod and negros than making one large establishment in one area.

for those watchdogs here. Iloilo is indeed congested:

Metro Manila- 41,014 people/km². most populated city in the world.
Quezon city- 13,492/km²
Makati city- 16,260/km²
mandaluyong city- 13,098/km²

Iloilo City- 6533/km²
Bacolod City- 2,657.6/km²
Cebu City- 2565.4/km²
Cagayan de oro City- 785/km²
Davao City- 540/km²

source wikipedia.


ya..look at the iloilo city out of towns you cannot see a medium size malls only to the iloilo city alone. unlike the bacolod city out of towns they have more like the GAISANO MALLS COMPANY: the GAISANO CITY- KABANKALAN CITY, GAISANO CITY- SAN CARLOS CITY; LOPUES COMPANY: LOPUES- KABANKALAN CITY, LOPUES- VICTORIAS CITY, LOPUES- SAGAY CITY, LOPUES-HINIGARAN is now going under construction; CENTER MALL- SAN CARLOS CITY and many more, other are visions.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[Christendom]

You sure about that? Where'd you get the information? Who is the architect?

Nope. The last sentence seemed like you were saying that Bacolod could only accomodate a small SM City.

Truth is, Metro Bacolod is very much capable of supporting bigger malls because of its big population, and its dynamic economy that is not dependent upon the remittances of OFW's. SM is said to have acquired the old Tasimico Compound for future development. Ayala is planning to put up its own shopping center as soon as its residential communities in Talisay City are filled up and sold out. Active has plans to build a shopping mall at the Active Center in Bacolod and at Trafalgar Square in Talisay City. The only setback has been the closure of Robinson's Metro and the pending closure of Servando's. Servando's is closing because the spinster owner is aging while the Robinson's Metro was built in a bad location for a shopping center and the fact that it did not have the drawing power of a big mall with complete facilities.

But then again, Negros Occidental has many shopping centers located outside the capital city unlike your home province where everything, but for UPV, is located in Iloilo City. Lopue's has branches in Kabankalan City, Sagay City, Victorias City, and another one seems to be under construction in Hinigaran. Gaisano has medium sized malls in Kabankalan City and San Carlos City. Dumaguete has several big malls going up for such a small city. And I don't even know what is going on in Cadiz City - the third biggest city in Negros Occidental. This is why Bacolod's malls are not as crowded as Iloilo's malls... but it doesn't mean that Bacoleno's don't have the money to spend, because if they don't, I am sure that Lopue's South Square would have closed a long time ago because the place is almost totally deserted but for a few customers. The few customers who go there are enough to support the entire complex because they spend more money than the average customer in other malls and shopping centers in the region.


when i ride to bacolod-candoni on last summer vacation, i saw the LOPUES- HINIGARAN that an under construction along the main street proper of HINIGARAN. also the LOPUES- MANSILINGAN for vision. i heard about the GAISANO METRO visioning at the area back of Bacolod Capitol Building. the squatter there were demolished. that is a wide lot area. any updates about that pls?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/park_plazahinigaranheroes.jpg
HINIGARAN PUBLIC PLAZA HEROES MONUMENT

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtibong.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[BYAHILO]

when i ride to bacolod-candoni on last summer vacation, i saw the LOPUES- HINIGARAN that an under construction along the main street proper of HINIGARAN. also the LOPUES- MANSILINGAN for vision. i heard about the GAISANO METRO visioning at the area back of Bacolod Capitol Building. the squatter there were demolished. that is a wide lot area. any updates about that pls?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/park_plazahinigaranheroes.jpg
HINIGARAN PUBLIC PLAZA HEROES MONUMENT

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtibong.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

greeting from the City of Pines! gahulat ako diri sang bus ko pakadto Vigan subong..

neways..

that Hinigaran Plaza looks like a Vietnamese plaza to me. Notice the Red rectangle with the Red star on it. it resembles a vietnamese flag.

wala na gid da ya iban nga color haw? tsk tsk

[TJ]

^^^ The area is used temporarily used for agriculture you see vegtable farms at the back of the capitol and hope it gets developed soon.. :)

[WawaY[625]]

a newbie! welcome, its just so sad that your first post in SSC has to be about me. no matter what i post, im sure to get a "reaction" from people of your flock. my bad, am a very controversial personality, heh!

haha valium to say that you are a "controversial personality" here in SSC would be an understatement pa nga eh.LOLS peace man

pero everytime i see a "valium" post..i always be eager to read it..hmmmm

[ritche]

Negros Occidental is one of the most urbanized provinces in the country as it has the largest number of cities among provinces in the Philippines...

[TJ]

^^^ yet our most of those cities are undeveloped and are just mere towns.. the only cities in negros occ. worthy to be called cities is only kabangkalan and bacolod the rest are just mere towns that were given title of cities which means nothing but only a title. And most people from other places or even from bacolod feel that same sort of way except those people in the rural towns that fight to push their little towns and villages to be cities even if would make them look ridiculous.

[J_lim2k2]

^^^ yet our most of those cities are undeveloped and are just mere towns.. the only cities in negros occ. worthy to be called cities is only kabangkalan and bacolod the rest are just mere towns that were given title of cities which means nothing but only a title. And most people from other places or even from bacolod feel that same sort of way except those people in the rural towns that fight to push their little towns and villages to be cities even if would make them look ridiculous.

its not just about the title. if a certain town is converted into a city so thus its budget and IRA is change from a town to a city level. usually a town is very dependent on the Provincial government while a component city can have a liltle more independence to the provincial government.

[habagatcentral1]

its not just about the title. if a certain town is converted into a city so thus its budget and IRA is change from a town to a city level. usually a town is very dependent on the Provincial government while a component city can have a liltle more independence to the provincial government.

Most of the towns that became cities at Negros Occidental was and still due to the sugar economy. Daku man ang kita-on sa syudad kuno sa sugar industry (especially if the gov't pushed through that ethanol thing) Usually, you see sugar centrals per city right? Sa Sipalay guro ang tungod sa mina. Correct me if im wrong.

[J_lim2k2]

Most of the towns that became cities at Negros Occidental was and still due to the sugar economy. Daku man ang kita-on sa syudad kuno sa sugar industry (especially if the gov't pushed through that ethanol thing) Usually, you see sugar centrals per city right? Sa Sipalay guro ang tungod sa mina. Correct me if im wrong.

I think its a known fact that Negros specially the Occ. side is largely dependent on Sugarcane. say its our local industry. we should be proud atleast we have a sugar industry here than like other provinces that has none. though we all hope we'll have other sources of income not just sugar.

Some may say without sugar negros is nothin. I partly agree, sugar is indeed the life of negros past-present and till the future. it may not be similar like the past but in the future, we hope Negros will be a major producer & ethanol exporter, in and out of the country.

as of now mining ang sa Sipalay but i think the future of Sipalay is tourism with its beautiful beaches.

[habagatcentral1]

By the way, has anyone seen the design of SM Bacolod? Basi pareho naman sila sang mga SM like Bacoor, Iloilo, Fairview and the likes.

[J_lim2k2]

By the way, has anyone seen the design of SM Bacolod? Basi pareho naman sila sang mga SM like Bacoor, Iloilo, Fairview and the likes.


just go back to the previous posts. may picture nada sg SM bacolod.

[Christendom]

By the way, has anyone seen the design of SM Bacolod? Basi pareho naman sila sang mga SM like Bacoor, Iloilo, Fairview and the likes.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/mall_smcitybacolod.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[BYAHILO]

By the way, has anyone seen the design of SM Bacolod? Basi pareho naman sila sang mga SM like Bacoor, Iloilo, Fairview and the likes.
\im currently here in Laoag. i was in baguio last tue-thu and i can say that there SM has a very unique design.

but can u stioll remember last week ang bagyo... grabe gasinulod kuno ang tubig sa mall. since indi sealed ang bilog nga area.. daw tent lang sya ya... mag fog gani todo man.. kag wala sila erkon sa sulod

[Ady001]

Okay I saw Coke's link here are the new figures....they are in dollars okay?

Lucio Tan ....1.9 billion .... metro manila
Henry Sy..... !.6 billion.... metro manila
Jaime Zobel de Ayala.....1.1 billion... metro manila
Danding Cojuangco......750 million.....Negros Occidental
John Gokongwei.....420 million..... Metro Cebu
George Ty......420 million..... metro manila
Tony Tan Caktiong.....355 million..... metro manila

okay danding cojuangco is nearing a billion.... hopefully by next year,.. Negros will have a billionaire

Tony Tan Caktiong FYI was schooled in Davao. I'm not sure if you'll agree. And also Amable Aguiluz...

[Christendom]

I think its a known fact that Negros specially the Occ. side is largely dependent on Sugarcane. say its our local industry. we should be proud atleast we have a sugar industry here than like other provinces that has none. though we all hope we'll have other sources of income not just sugar.

Some may say without sugar negros is nothin. I partly agree, sugar is indeed the life of negros past-present and till the future. it may not be similar like the past but in the future, we hope Negros will be a major producer & ethanol exporter, in and out of the country.

as of now mining ang sa Sipalay but i think the future of Sipalay is tourism with its beautiful beaches.


Among the investment prospects involving billions of pesos being promoted by the Capitol is a retirement village and high-rise hotel at the Mambukal Resort, and development of tourism destinations in Sipalay City, he said.

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2005/July/07/topstory1.htm

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[J_lim2k2]

\im currently here in Laoag. i was in baguio last tue-thu and i can say that there SM has a very unique design.

but can u stioll remember last week ang bagyo... grabe gasinulod kuno ang tubig sa mall. since indi sealed ang bilog nga area.. daw tent lang sya ya... mag fog gani todo man.. kag wala sila erkon sa sulod

wala aircon? hahaha daku ma save korente eh... save electricity anyone?

[sugarboy]

\im currently here in Laoag. i was in baguio last tue-thu and i can say that there SM has a very unique design.

but can u stioll remember last week ang bagyo... grabe gasinulod kuno ang tubig sa mall. since indi sealed ang bilog nga area.. daw tent lang sya ya... mag fog gani todo man.. kag wala sila erkon sa sulod

grabe lagaw mo amigo :okay:

[habagatcentral1]

\im currently here in Laoag. i was in baguio last tue-thu and i can say that there SM has a very unique design.

but can u stioll remember last week ang bagyo... grabe gasinulod kuno ang tubig sa mall. since indi sealed ang bilog nga area.. daw tent lang sya ya... mag fog gani todo man.. kag wala sila erkon sa sulod

Unique guid. Free boating...kumpetensya sa Burnham Park Lagoon ang boating sa SM Baguio hehehe! peace!

[Christendom]

Unique guid. Free boating...kumpetensya sa Burnham Park Lagoon ang boating sa SM Baguio hehehe! peace!

like in BACOLOD they have a famous lagoon park also. the SM City is far from the lagoon park but nearby to the sea port and nothing water go over there when having a flood. good spot and site of SM City - Bacolod. :cheers:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[SamwiseGamgee]

^^^ yet our most of those cities are undeveloped and are just mere towns.. the only cities in negros occ. worthy to be called cities is only kabangkalan and bacolod the rest are just mere towns that were given title of cities which means nothing but only a title. And most people from other places or even from bacolod feel that same sort of way except those people in the rural towns that fight to push their little towns and villages to be cities even if would make them look ridiculous.

Right, TJ. Congress should add to their criteria in creating "cities". Income and population is not enough. The degree of urbanization should be also considered, e.g., 25% of the barangays should be urbanized, or something to that effect. It is really ridiculous to have a city with only the poblacion as the urbanized area.

Estancia and Pototan are more urbanized than some "cities" of Negros Occidental, yet were not declared as cities, because they don't have the required income yet; which in the case of the so called "cities" of Negros Occidental come from sugar.

Come to think about it. Do you deserve to be called a city just because you have the population (which by the way is so scattered in your very vast territory) and the one-product income?

[Christendom]

SIPALAY CITY SCUBA DIVING AND BEACH RESORTS
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_nataasanbeachborderflowersip.gif
CAMPOMANES BAY

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_takatukadivemainpicssipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_takatukadivenamepicssipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_takatukadiveborderfunsipalay.jpg
TAKATUKA DIVING

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdivemainsipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdivefarviewsipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdiveroadsipalay.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdivesideviewsipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdiveviewsipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_wreckdivepoolsipalay.jpg
WRECK DIVING

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_easydivebeachlogosipalay.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_easydivebeachwhitesandsipala.jpg
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EASY DIVING

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ARTISTIC DIVING

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TURTLE ISLAND

THAT'S WHY THEY CALLED ALSO A CITY NOT ONLY A MINING. YAHOO!!!
:tiasd:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_mainlogo.jpg
WWW.METROBACOLOD.CQ.BZ

[habagatcentral1]

And with regards to the beauty of southern Negros, kabay pa na mapadayon ang pagpalangga sa environment sang Sipalaynon.

Maayo man ang pagmina sa ekonomiya ugaling kon indi na sya bantayon, kanugon sang katahum sang Sipalay.

Be vigilant Sipalaynons, for a progressive Sipalay!

[Animo]

NEGROS Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon Tuesday said the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines recently donated P4 million to the Provincial Government.

Marañon said the amount will be used in purchasing hospital equipment and instruments for the Dr. Jose C. Locsin Memorial Provincial Hospital (DJCLMPH) in Silay City as stipulated in the Deed of Donation.

The Teresita L. Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital, which is expected to be operational by August, may also use the equipments, he added.

The list of priority equipment includes a respirator, defibrillator, ECG monitor, radiant warmer, mobile surgical suction unit, operating table, anesthesia machine, dental chair, chemistry analyzer, x-ray machine and hospital beds.

As stated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the procurement of the equipments should be done within the year.

[J_lim2k2]

Right, TJ. Congress should add to their criteria in creating "cities". Income and population is not enough. The degree of urbanization should be also considered, e.g., 25% of the barangays should be urbanized, or something to that effect. It is really ridiculous to have a city with only the poblacion as the urbanized area.

Estancia and Pototan are more urbanized than some "cities" of Negros Occidental, yet were not declared as cities, because they don't have the required income yet; which in the case of the so called "cities" of Negros Occidental come from sugar.

Come to think about it. Do you deserve to be called a city just because you have the population (which by the way is so scattered in your very vast territory) and the one-product income?

whats with the sugar? its better than none at all. its our very own industry not just for negrenses but the country's as well.

thats the point, its not just population at all. having a dense population with small income wouldn't be called a city but would be a mere town.

town
1. A population center that is larger than a village and smaller than a city.
2. A territorial and political unit governed by a town meeting, especially in New England.
3. Informal. A city: New York is a big town.
4. Chiefly British. A rural village that has a market or fair periodically.
5. The residents of a town: The whole town was upset at the news.
2. An area that is more densely populated or developed than the surrounding area: going into town to shop.
3. The residents of a community in which a university or college is located, as opposed to the students and faculty: a dispute pitting town against gown.
4. A group of prairie dog burrows.

so if population alone is a basis then it falls into a town.

city
1. A center of population, commerce, and culture; a town of significant size and importance.
1. An incorporated municipality in the United States with definite boundaries and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the state.
2. A Canadian municipality of high rank, usually determined by population but varying by province.
3. A large incorporated town in Great Britain, usually the seat of a bishop, with its title conferred by the Crown.
3. The inhabitants of a city considered as a group.
4. An ancient Greek city-state.
5. Slang. Used in combination as an intensive: The playing field was mud city after the big rain.
6. City The financial and commercial center of London. Used with the.


but for a city

A center of population, commerce, and culture it has to be composed of the three(3) or atleast.

though some, if not most, of the city in negros is indeed a city even though its not as populated, not as much income(commerce) and not as much of a cultural center than the other cities. but it its a city of its own right. a small city that is. a city in a Philippine setting cause each country varies.

say: certain (residential population + commercial population + industrial population + income from the three(3) = City)? so that it would look more of a city. what do you think?

[BYAHILO]

Unique guid. Free boating...kumpetensya sa Burnham Park Lagoon ang boating sa SM Baguio hehehe! peace!

mayung aga sa tanan! im finally back here in manila. thank god wala ako naabtan sang bagyo. hehehe

may mga talithi lang sa baguio pag hapon kag gabi pero it was so damn hot and sunny sa vigan, batac and laoag.

didnt stay that long sa burnham kay ka basa. nag kadto ako sa vigan.. know for their Kamestizoan District sa calle crisologo. and i really admired kung paano nila na preserve ang mga ancestral houses didto. i just hope that mga old houses sa sila ma continue man gihapon ma preserve.

i also went to the pagburnayan village, and it reminded me of two negros vilalges: Baranggay Pahanocoy, bacolod and the Baranggay Guinhal;aran of Silay.

i also hope that this small thriving industry in negros will be further enhanced. kay daw amo man lang ini nga lugar sa negros ang naga pang ubra masetera kag mga banga.

[Animo]

^^ Do you have photos of Vigan? If you do can you post it in the Vidan thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=9120495#post9120495

Thanks!

[BYAHILO]

^^ Do you have photos of Vigan? If you do can you post it in the Vidan thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=9120495#post9120495

Thanks!


Animo> yup.. ihave lots of pictures.. the problem is..medyo busy pa ako. hopefully i can upload them all sa blog ko before weekend. cge post ko rin sa Vigan/Laoag /ilocos/and Baguio threads photos ko.

btw, i might be going to Pampanga this coming fri-monday.

[dexter06]

From the July 22, 2006 of the Visayan Daily Star.

Now they are talking!!!

If the local government continue with progressive policies like this, real prosperity will not be far behind. Economic mobility will be realized in our province thus enlarging and strengthening the middle class.

==========================

'Ecozones should be thrust
of Bacolod beyond IT firms'
The establishment of manufacturing and exports industry within economic zones should be the thrust of Bacolod City beyond the coming in of information technology and business process outsourcing companies, Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairperson of the city's IT Focus Team, said.

She said that a number of local government units already enjoy the 40 percent on gross income of all ecozone and IT zone investors in their localities annually after the expiration of the income tax holiday period. Batapa-Sigue said that at present, 70 percent of the country's revenues come from export zones, according to the presentation of Director for Operations Elmer San Pascual of the Philippine Export Zones Authority during their meeting in Manila last week.

She said, PEZA, has three goals - investment promotion, employment creation, and export generation - and she believes this should be the thrust of every LGU.

She also said the Bacolod business sector must get a copy of San Pascual's presentation to know about the trends in business and export, the prospects and limitations, and the possibilities and limitations in establishing economic zones until 2010.

She said that Bacolod can also learn from Sto. Rosa, Laguna, then a fourth class municipality, declared a city just a few months back, that is now reaping hundreds of millions in revenues from IT, exports and manufacturing.*NLG

[kyle@1008]

^^ yes, bacolod's IT industry is developing quite rapidly,...
....so far four international It companies have placed outsourcing facilities here.. (I.e call centers)... kudos also to Dumaguete for bringing in its own on the other side of the island,...and peeps don't confuse local and international call centers... in the south, only dumaguete, bacolod and cebu have international centers...

Teletech is currently the first one to operate in the city,.. in temporary offices at the first floor of robinsons metro,... by the end of august they will open the new office at the second floor,... which the site director is designing to be the most beautiful and innovative call center office in the country,... hopefully it could surpass the glamour of teletech cainta... which is on top...

I can't go to details,.. but they'll be new facilities,.. they're tryin to keep it quiet...
:colgate:

[Dinho]

^^ yes, bacolod's IT industry is developing quite rapidly,...
....so far four international It companies have placed outsourcing facilities here.. (I.e call centers)... kudos also to Dumaguete for bringing in its own on the other side of the island,...and peeps don't confuse local and international call centers... in the south, only dumaguete, bacolod and cebu have international centers...

Teletech is currently the first one to operate in the city,.. in temporary offices at the first floor of robinsons metro,... by the end of august they will open the new office at the second floor,... which the site director is designing to be the most beautiful and innovative call center office in the country,... hopefully it could surpass the glamour of teletech cainta... which is on top...

I can't go to details,.. but they'll be new facilities,.. they're tryin to keep it quiet...
:colgate:

That's great Kyle. Just one question... Doesn't Iloilo have many call centers? Are they just local ones?

[kyle@1008]

^^ yes, there are call centers,...but there are owned by local corporations...
the likes of Teletech, Teleperformance and Convergys are multinational corporations...
the two largest and stiff competitors are Convergys and Teletech....the compensation and especially the benefits for CSRs as well as chance for promotion is higher in this companies.....since it runs on corporate american standards....

[BYAHILO]

ahheheh wish ko lang may sykes na da.. para dira na lng ko dayun ma ubra sa bacolod. eheheh pero i heard rumors that peoplesupport is planning to expand operationsa in iloilo.

lapit na lang october!! mapuli ko da sa masskara ehehehe

[Ady001]

Gloria announced in her SONA about the prospects in BCD.

BTW, why do you shortcut Bacolod to BCD? Pag may place na Pacolod, PCD... :D

[habagatcentral1]

ahheheh wish ko lang may sykes na da.. para dira na lng ko dayun ma ubra sa bacolod. eheheh pero i heard rumors that peoplesupport is planning to expand operationsa in iloilo.

lapit na lang october!! mapuli ko da sa masskara ehehehe

They may be or may not be....PS is still expanding its ops in Cebu and will prioritize anay sa expansion sa Cebu before expand to other places.

Bong Borja (prexy sa PS) once mentioned that ang problem nila kuno sa expansion is ang consti sang Pinas kuno kay di ginapasugtan ang multi-nat'l companies nga mag-go beyond 60/40 nga parte.

[BYAHILO]

They may be or may not be....PS is still expanding its ops in Cebu and will prioritize anay sa expansion sa Cebu before expand to other places.

Bong Borja (prexy sa PS) once mentioned that ang problem nila kuno sa expansion is ang consti sang Pinas kuno kay di ginapasugtan ang multi-nat'l companies nga mag-go beyond 60/40 nga parte.


yup...

its clearly stated in our 1987 constitution that company ownership should be on a 60/40 ratio. majority should be pinoys. this was originally included in the constitution to protect our local businessmen.

this is one of the items that i want to be amended in the constitution. i guess it wont really hurt us much kung let's say mag 50/50 na ownership. para naman mas madamo ang developments.

and i guess increasing the foreign ownershp percentage would eraDICATE illegal businesses. u know.. mga foreign owned businesses nga naga create pa pinoy dummies para lang maka continue negosyo.

[Christendom]

Arroyo Backs Sipalay Tourism, Lauds Bacolod For Call Centers

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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday stressed the need to develop Sipalay's beaches as major tourism destinations, lauded Bacolod for the opening of call centers, and emphasized the need to build a convention center to boost the local economy.
Arroyo, who was in Bacolod City as keynote speaker of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines, said "there is indeed tourism potential in Negros Occidental."
She congratulated Negros Occidental and Sipalay City because, in the last convention of Women and Travel, the Sipalay beaches and other tourism attractions were named as the Philippines most outstanding "secret" tourism destinations.
"Let's not make it a secret anymore, let's have more investments in tourism," she said.
We have the competitive edge in tourism with the natural wonders of our country and the warmth of our people, he said.
"I hope Bacolod and Negros Occidental will invest in more rooms and more convention centers and facilities to fulfill their tourism potential," she said.
"It's a good time to make direct investments because interest rates are at the lowest in more than 30 years - the peso is up, the stock market is strong, and our budget is under control," she said.
Japan's rating agency has just upgraded the Philippines outlook from negative to stable, she said.
This is part of the fruits of our fiscal and economic reforms on the vibrancy of our local governments and hard working communities, she said. She said the building of an airport in Kabankalan City is important to developing tourism in southern Negros Occidental.
She said she would also look into whether the old airport of Maricalum Mining Corp. in Sipalay could be opened for use.
Sipalay can become the tourism hub and the Boracay of Negros Occidental, she said.
What we need to do is work out what support is needed to develop Sipalay as the next Boracay, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said.
Primarily it would be the road networks and the airport, he said.

CALL CENTERS

The President also noted the gains of the nation in the growth of information technology in the country that is providing thousands of jobs.
She congratulated Bacolod for the opening of call centers in the city.
Arroyo noted that the Bacolod Convention Center where she was speaking is set to be converted into a call center that will employ more than 1,000 employees connected to the world.
She pointed out that in her first state of the nation address in 2001 she declared then that her administration would promote fast growing industries where high value jobs are most plentiful, one of them being information and communications technology.
In 2001 we only had 2000 employees and just five years later we have 125,000 employees and looking for 100,000 more, she said.
I hope all the municipalities and cities of Negros Occidental and the whole Philippines will be able to benefit from this tremendous demand of 100,000 workers, she said.
On her arrival in Bacolod City, the president briefly met with Gov. Joseph Marañon, Vice Gov. Isdiro Zayco, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Representatives Monico Puntevella, Tranquilino Carmona, Alfredo Marañon III, Jose Carlos Lacson and Ignacio Arroyo Jr., Presidential Adviser Rafael Coscolluela said.
The chairman of the national convention of the VMLP in Bacolod that ends Sunday is Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero.*CPG

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/April/29/topstory3.htm

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/resort_takatukadivemainpicssipalay.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[Christendom]

TWO ANOTHER CALL CENTERS EYEING BACOLOD CITY

Thursday, May 25, 2006
World's largest call center eyeing Bacolod operation

Bacolod City is one of the areas being considered as a potential site of the world's largest US-based call center.
Representatives of the Convergys One led by its vice president and country general manager Marife Zamora were welcomed by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday at City Hall yesterday.
Zamora said their company has already six call centers in Manila and one in Cebu and that a number of their agents come from Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
Leonardia said: "We want to see to it that the entry and official operation of Convergys in Bacolod could be hastened." IO Asia has already started its operation in the city while Teleperformance, Teletech and Focus Communications are set to operate within this year.
"With the entry of these call centers aside from the entry of Shoe Mart, 2006 is going to be a boom year for Bacolod City in terms of employment opportunities and economic stimulation," Leonardia said. We have to concentrate on taking efforts to train our people in order to fill in the manpower requirement of the call centers, he said.
Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said the city will hold a Human Resource Summit in Bacolod in July after the Mayor approved the budget for the Bacolod Information Technology Team.
We will gather all school heads of the 40 colleges and universities in the province for a dialog with the academe and the call centers in order for them to map out a human resource growth plan for the region, she said.
Batapa-Sigue said the city will not discourage the coming on of other call centers but they have to self-regulate. For the meantime, the city can only handle five and later on, as we manage the resource growth, we will be able to handle other call centers, she said.
After the five call centers, the city will focus on developing its manpower so that it will be able to support and fully satisfy the requirement of these call centers, Batapa-Sigue said.
"In the meantime, our focus will be on software development and legal transcription. We have a good number of medical transcription businesses coming in, and we will link with companies in Manila to be able to train our potential animators," she said.
Leonardia assured the Convergys representatives that the city government will provide them a climate that would help them grow in Bacolod and that they will be entitled to tax incentives.
Batapa-Sigue said all IT industries in the Philippines will also enjoy incentives offered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority if these are located in an IT park or building owned by a locator.
"In Bacolod, even without locators, we have already convinced real property owners to prepare their sites for accreditation with PEZA," she said.*CGS

SOURCE: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/May/25/topstory5.htm


Monday, May 22, 2006
e-PLDT unit to increase presence

CALL-CENTER operator e-PLDT Ventus said it may increase the number of its centers in the country and double the number of seats in the next two years.
Alberto Santos, e-PLDT’s vice president for operations, said the company will invest around $40 million in adding six to seven new centers to their current seven sites.
“[The addition] will also double the number of seats from 4,028 to 8,000 in two years,” Santos told The Times in an interview.
He added that they plan to locate the new sites outside Metro Manila, possibly in Dumaguete City, Bacolod City, Baguio City and even Batangas. Currently, e-PLDT operates six call centers in Metro Manila and one in Iloilo.
The company, through its voice-based service, mainly caters to American clients, which make for 80 percent of its entire portfolio, and is looking at Australia, the United Kingdom and the Asean countries to beef up its clientele.
Its domestic client is only around 15 percent to 20 percent, Santos said.
The company has recently tied up with The Manila Times Language Institute to address the problem of declining number of qualified call-center agents in the Philippines.
The e-PLDT has invested in English proficiency software provided by The Manila Times, saying that while the investment is not substantial it has a right value for its money.
“We see it as a very important and timely tool to help us address the communication skills problems by most our workers today,” Rosalie Montenegro, e-PLDT Ventus’s president, said.
The software acquisition, Montenegro said, is part of their expansion plans, which will also involve establishing new centers in many areas in the country.
Besides the tie up with The Manila Times Language Institute, e-PLDT has signed up with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines for its “English School: Proud to be Bilingual” program.

SOURCE: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/may/22/yehey/business/20060522bus8.html


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

[J_lim2k2]

Negrenses are future
biofuels exporters
BY GILBERT BAYOARN

MANILA - Negros has great potentials not only as the number one producer of ethanol in the Philippines but as future importer and exporter of bio-fuels in other parts of the world, Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri said after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday stressed the importance of ethanol as an alternative source of fuel during her State of the Nation Address.

The Bio-ethanol Fuel Act authored by Zubiri has already been approved by the House of Representatives. However, it is facing rough sailing in the Senate, Zubiri and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said.

Zubiri said the ethanol program will increase agricultural productivity in the countrysides as well as reduce prices of gasoline and crude oil.

Speaker Jose de Venecia also said the bio-ethanol act will work to lessen the country's independence on imported oil and hasten the search for alternatives to fossil fuels, as crude oil has now breached $85 per barrel.

Puentevella, however, did not share the optimism of Zubiri and De Venecia as the ethanol program is still being debated in the Senate. "That is still a long-range program," he said.

However, he added, the people in Negros are now very excited as the price of sugar, is very, very high.

The production of ethanol for which a power plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental is expected to be completed next year, was mentioned by Arroyo during her SONA yesterday.

"Negros has the potential to be great again as it not only provides raw and refined sugar but also ethanol," Zubiri said.

He also stressed the unity among the sugar bloc in supporting the program and for the lobbying of its passage in the Senate to complete the bill that will give incentives to the producers.

Biofuels are now being used in Japan, Malaysia and China.

According to the Department of Energy, the use of a 10 percent ethanol blend with gasoline would displace about 565 million liters of gasoline, resulting in the annual foreign exchange savings of $354 million.

Bronzeoak Philippines Ltd. has tied up with the National Development Corporation to establish the San Carlos Bio-Energy Inc., plant, an integrated facility that will be able to produce some 100,000 liters of ethanol a day.*GPB

[J_lim2k2]

IT Team pushes
for MT industry

The Bacolod City IT Focus Team and Mayor Evelio Leonardia are pushing for the establishment of the Medical Transcription Industry in the city, citing the growing demand of more hospitals in the United States that are outsourcing their MT needs to the Philippines, a press release from the office of Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said.

Batapa said the IT Team and MT Industry can provide job opportunities for nurses and unemployed graduates of medical courses in Bacolod.

There is a growing demand for MT now because more hospitals are outsourcing their MT needs to the Philippines because of a US law that requires all medical records to be digitized, MT trainer Ryan Herrera of MTC Academy said in the same press release. An efficient medical transcriptionist can earn as much as P3,000 a day based on the records of Accutype and Innovaquest, two firms all specializing in medical transcription, Batapa said.

Based on MTC Academy information, medical transcription is the process of converting into written form the dictated reports, procedures and notes of physicians and other healthcare professionals to document patient care and facilitate healthcare services, the press release also said.

These files represent patient's treatment, history, including assessment, workup, therapeutic procedures, clinical course, diagnosis and prognosis, Batapa also said.*

[BYAHILO]

lapit na lang masskara... lapit na lang ako mag puli...


Preparations for 27th MassKara on

Preparations are underway for the 27th MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, which is set Oct.. 1 to Oct. 22, this year, a press release from festival organizers said yesterday.

A workshop for choreographers and managers of the street dance competition entries is scheduled 5 p.m. Friday at the BAY Center.

This year's MassKara will have "Masks of the World" as its creative anchor, festival director Eli F.J.Tajanlangit said in the same press release.

Considering the economic strides Bacolod has experienced during the past year, "Masks of the World" will celebrate our city's emergence in the global village, Tajanlangit said.

The entry of call centers, out-sourcing businesses, and of SM City, and the rise of a robust expatriate community in the city during the past year have not only confirmed our presence in the global village, Tajanlangit said. They are also attesting to our importance in the global platform and our position as a vital link in the international business network , he said, adding, "That is what MassKara 2006 will celebrate."

Bacolod is also firming up its position as site for international sports competitions.

After the Southeast Asian Games last year, it is also going to be site of the qualifying round for the Asian Football Cup, formerly the Tiger Cup, in November.

Last year, the festival focused on "Masks of Southeast Asia" in preparation for the SEA Games.

Helping the organizers this year is the International Friendship Club of Negros Island, a group of Filipinos and expats headed by John Bertrand.

The festival music, now under development by Bacolod musician Gerry Grey, will incorporate the beat of the seven continents of the world, street dancing committee chair Rudy Reveche said. The street dancing competitions are scheduled Oct. 20, 21 and 22.

A foreign group has already listed up as an entry in the open category dance parade competition, Tajanlangit said, adding that details about its participation and other components of the festival will be announced soon.

"Most of our activities this year will have an international flavor to it. New ones will be introduced while the traditional activities like the MassKara Queen pageant will be re-engineered to align them to global trends," he added.

A website, www.bacolodmasskara.com will be activated this week to promote the MassKara in the internet as well as manage the information flow across the globe among those who are interested to be part of the festivities, Tajanlangit added.

We promise a very interesting festival this year, Tajanlangit said.

It will keep "Sige Lang…Sige Na! Bacolod, Bato Kita [Its Ok…Its all right! Bacolod fights on!"] - our bold declaration of hope against all odds -- as the festival theme, Tajanlangit added.*

[TJ]

BACOLOD CITY MEDIUM MALLS, BIG MALLS AND BIG DEPARTMENT STORES

If list is not complete please tell me i will add.


http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9752/sqyo0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lopues South Square

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8243/sbaw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lopues San Sebastian

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4125/eastsx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lopues East

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9123/drtw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lopues araneta interconnected with Iris mall and De la Rama Mall

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4577/gael3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Gaisano City

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5707/gaidtzq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Gaisano Downtown

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/3231/robak1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Robinsons Place

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4425/robavi0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Robinsons Metro Bacolod - Now finished

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4970/mflf8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mayfair Plaza

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4200/smdj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SM Bacolod - U/C

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6779/unihu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Uniwide Mall - Unfinished Abandoned Project

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2946/plio7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

7 interconnected Malls - Plaza mart mall, Bargain sqaure mall, Villa Angela Mall, Era mall, Limmans Mall, and 2 unamed malls i forgot the name.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2359/ceed6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Centroplex Mall and another mall which i forgot the name

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/771/ltan8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Libertad Town Center

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8181/sffu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

St. Francis Mall

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3604/nonuc2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Another mall which i forgot the name

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8995/cigp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bacolod Circle Inn - Finished

You may add becoz maybe i missed something :)

[death327]

TWO ANOTHER CALL CENTERS EYEING BACOLOD CITY

Thursday, May 25, 2006
World's largest call center eyeing Bacolod operation

Bacolod City is one of the areas being considered as a potential site of the world's largest US-based call center.
Representatives of the Convergys One led by its vice president and country general manager Marife Zamora were welcomed by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday at City Hall yesterday.

SOURCE: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/May/25/topstory5.htm


Monday, May 22, 2006
e-PLDT unit to increase presence

SOURCE: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/may/22/yehey/business/20060522bus8.html


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz (http://www.metrobacolod.cq.bz)

This is good news for Bacolod. I hope they will choose Bacolod.... more job opportunity for the Ilonggo's!

[kyle@1008]

ahheheh wish ko lang may sykes na da.. para dira na lng ko dayun ma ubra sa bacolod. eheheh pero i heard rumors that peoplesupport is planning to expand operationsa in iloilo.

lapit na lang october!! mapuli ko da sa masskara ehehehe

Sykes asia may be operating in bacolod soon ain't sure though,.... :)

[BYAHILO]

Sykes asia may be operating in bacolod soon ain't sure though,.... :)


hay wish ko lang.. pero as of now.. wala pa news diri sa sykes asia pacific headquarters about it.

what i know is theyre busy hiring peeps from cebu and neighboring cities , ans well as from baguio... to work here in manila with relocation package.

pag mag open da sila sa bacolod masaylo na ko dira dayun ah.. ehe

[Sinjin P.]

Ang daming malls sa Bacolod ah, galing! :)