The
CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly de Oro
Volume 4 | No. 28 | Cagayan de Oro City | February 20-26, 2017
Discovering the Chapel of the Holy Relics By Amy Monsalud
Working as a TRAVELPRENUER, I often get calls from people coming from different walks of life to go to different places in the country or outside the country. Just this year I have received 3 calls from clients wanting to go to the Chapel of the Holy Relics.
I normally gave instructions on how to get to the place, but I myself had not visited it. It is not at all uncommon to answer such inquiries with information I have researched, as opposed to personal experience. After all, even travel agents have not been everywhere!
This was the situation until I myself was directed to go there due to the severe pain I felt after losing my baby. Recently I gave birth to a baby with Patau Syndrome (a trisomy 13 abnormality which won't allow the baby to live more than a week). On my road to recovery, I have been looking for a safe place to grieve, to
cry my heart out. The burial of my one-day-old son, was followed by 3 sleepless nights. I tried my best to eat and drink my medicine as advised by friends, family and loved ones. I pray hard until my tears run dry, no more voice coming out to guide me and give my strength. I had been asking chapel/PAGE 5
The Night Stalker:
Liceo hosts Marshall McLuhan Forum Series on Responsible Media
L
iceo de Cagayan University hosts the fifth in a series of forums of the Marshall McLuhan Forum Series on Responsible Media on 22 February 2016 at the AVR 3, 2nd Floor, North Academic Cluster, Liceo de Cagayan University.
“The fellowship is that of the late Canadian-born Marshall Mcluhan, a media and communication theorist (who) coined the term global village in 1964 to describe the phenomenon of the world’s culture shrinking and expanding at the same time due to pervasive technological
advances that allow for instantaneous sharing of culture (Johnson 1992),” said Ramon G. Abrera, Jr., MA Eng., Chair, Dept. of Communications and Literature. The main forum speaker will be Gigi Grande, 2016 McLuhan fellow of ABS-CBN’s forum/PAGE 7
Joseph Morong interacts with a participant to the 15 Dec 2015 Marshall McLuhan Lecture at LdCU
75th Jubilee of Breakout from Corregidor
Sked set for General Douglas MacArthur Week
The local government units of Cagayan de Oro City and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon are now in the thick of
preparations for General Douglas MacArthur Week. “This marks the 75th anniversary of General
Willys Jeep at the MacArthur Memorial Visitor’s Center
MacArthur’s breakout from Corregidor when he rode the PT Boat to Cagayan, Misamis and eventually reached
Australia by B-17 bomber,” said Dr. Erlinda M. Burton, chairperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Historical & Cultural Commission (Hiscom) which is coordinating the event. On March 11, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, his family and general staff ran the Imperial Japanese Navy blockade and arrived in Macabalan Pier at Cagayan, Misamis at 7:00AM of March 13th. After sweating it out in Del Monte, Tankulan (present day Manolo Fortich) for four days waiting for their flight to Australia, the party finally boarded two macarthur/PAGE 5
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The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
now on its ninth year Story and Photos by MARK FRANCISCO
H
OLCIM Cement is one of the major sponsors for this year’s Deconex 2017. Jointly organized by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Cagayan de Oro and GoldCDO chapters, Deconex 2017 is the premier yearly design and construction exhibit in this part of the country. Now on its ninth annum at Centrio in Cagayan de Oro City, Deconex 2017 has always been held in partnership with Holcim Cement. Boyd Ormita, Holcim Philippines sales officer for North Central Mindanao, said Holcim is assisting UAP members all year-
round in their continuing education initiatives. Ormita said the company is lucky to be part of the bigger Swissbased LafargeHolcim. The parent company regularly sends in some of its technical experts to the Philippines to conduct professional lectures such as continuing education for professionals like architects, civil engineers, etc. At Deconex 2017 which was held from February 23 to 26 this year, Holcim Philippines also held cement mixing demos at their booth for its Holcim WallRight and Holcim Premium products. There was also a product
presentation on Saturday afternoon. Ormita said that Holcim Philippines conducts safety trainings to its clients too throughout the year. Holcim Philippines North Central Mindanao which is based in Lugait, Misamis Oriental covers the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin and neighboring provinces. Ormita beamingly announced that Deconex has tremendously helped a lot in bridging the company to its government, industry and household clients in this part of Mindanao. There were more than 50 exhibitors for Deconex 2017.
quality tarpaulin printing contact: mindanao daily news publishing corporation Mdntarps@gmail.com
(0935) 161 3398 look for Anabelle, (088)881-0100
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The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
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ePLDT, Dell EMC strengthen partnership to optimize enterprise services February 20-26, 2017
e PLDT, Inc., an industryleading enabler of digital business solutions to enterprises in the Philippines, recently penned a strategic partnership with Dell EMC to align their strengths and technical expertise in offering transformational business value to clients in the country. With the partnership, ePLDT and Dell EMC will be able to simplify enterprise processes for customers through robust solutions—from a single vendor consortium with a single point of contact. According to ePLDT Group COO Nerisse Ramos, digital transformation is shaking up enterprises in the country, making dynamic digital infrastructure imperative to staying ahead of the competition. For ePLDT to accelerate the delivery of these solutions, engaging in a partnership with likeminded IT innovators
objectives and more.” He said, “Dell EMC is passionate about providing our customers with a comprehensive IT ecosystem – from edge to core to cloud. Our partnership with ePLDT, an industry leader in digital innovation and one of the premier system integrators in the country, further expands our leadership in navigating Philippine IT landscape, identifying the right solution to address customers’ needs, and help them innovate and move idea or concept to a robust deployment.” Dell EMC is a subsidiary of Dell Inc., which offers a trusted (L-R) Chris Papa, Dell EMC Channels General Manager; Ronnie Latinazo, Dell EMC Country General Manager; foundation for businesses Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer; Nico Alcoseba, PLDT VP & Head of Disruptive Business to transform IT through Group strengthen their partnership to better offer valuable business solutions to customers in the Philippines. the creation of hybrid cloud and transform such as Dell EMC is and service innovation deliver solutions that are EMC Channels General business through the “more important than to give customers a relevant and meaningful Manager, emphasized creation of cloud-native ever.” competitive advantage to enterprises and both the companies’ applications, and big “As one of the premier in the market,” Ramos empower businesses with commitment in data solutions. system integrators said. “This is why the best practices that are at “architecting unique IT Know more about in the country, partnership with Dell par with international solutions geared towards ePLDT, Inc. through its ePLDT leverages on EMC is a strategic standards.” helping customers website at www.epldt. continuous product fit. Together, we will Chris Papa, Dell achieve their business com.
Major reforms to exempt 4.6-M Filipinos from income taxation Some 4.66 million taxpayers, or more than double the current figure of 1.8 million, will no longer pay their personal income tax (PIT) under the government’s highly progressive Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), which aims to make the tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient, especially for low- and middle-income Filipino families. Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the Department of Finance (DOF)-endorsed tax reform bill now pending in the Congress will exempt 83 percent of individual taxpayers from the PIT, including 1.8 million minimum-wage workers who are already paying zero income tax as mandated by law, and close to another 3 million earners with a net taxable income of P250,000 and below, based on Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) data. He said House Bill No. 4774, which represents Package One of the CTRP, also provides for revenueenhancing measures to offset the revenue erosion from the lower PIT rates. HB 4774 was authored by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the House ways and means
committee. “These revenueenhancing measures primarily targets rich consumers and taxpayers so the government can still raise enough money for its unprecedented massive public investment program under the Duterte administration,” Chua said at the recent hearing of the House ways and means panel. At the hearing, which focused on the PIT reductions, Chua said those earning between the above-minimum wage rate and P22,000 a month will pay zero tax under HB 4774. The first P82,000 in the 13th month pay and other bonuses will be exempted from the PIT computation. For instance, a call center agent who earns P21,000 a month with a gross income of P273,000 inclusive of the 13th month pay and other benefits, will still fall under the zero-tax bracket. This will save him or her almost P22,000 in foregone income tax payments because under the current system, the call center agent, even with two dependents, would still have to pay P21,867 in income tax because of an outdated tax structure in which
his or her net taxable income of P136,834 would still be taxed P8,500 plus 20 percent in excess of P70,000. Chua noted that HB 4774 aims to correct this form of “income creeping” through the adoption of a simplified and fairer system where the call center agent’s declared deductions and exemptions of P36,166-inclusive of the 13th month pay and mandatory contributions--would be deducted from the gross income of P273,000. This will yield for this type of taxpayer a net taxable income of P236,834, which still falls under the zero-tax bracket, Chua said. “Thus, under the tax reform bill, the call center agent’s take home pay will effectively increase by P21,867 annually because he would no longer have to pay this amount of income tax under the current system,” Chua said. Public school tutors classified as Teacher I and II are also covered by the zero-tax bracket. A Teacher II who earns P20,651 monthly or a gross income of P299,114 a year inclusive of benefits, will be taxed P18,011 under the current system. But under the proposed tax reform plan, a Teacher II will
already be PIT-exempt, which means he or she gets to take home P18,011 more per year or an additional P1,500 a month. An above-minimum wage earner with a monthly pay of P15,000 will get to take home at least P7,200 more with tax reform, because of his or her PIT-exempt status. Chua said even middleclass taxpayers will benefit from tax reform by way of substantially lower PIT rates. A government employee with Salary Grade 24, or one earning P56,610 a month, will have to pay P137,981 in PIT. But under HB 4774, the tax will be substantially reduced to only P90,141, effectively increasing the take-home pay to P47,840 a year or an addition of almost P4,000 a month. HB 4774, Chua said, will shift the tax burden to rich taxpayers. For instance a highincome earner who is paid P877,500 a month shells out P4,048,456 in PIT under the current system. Under HB 4774, this PIT will increase to P4,200,186 or by P152,730. Chua pointed out though, that taxing the ultra-rich through their income is not enough because they comprise only less than 1 percent of
the country’s individual taxpayers, based on BIR data. Those with a net taxable income of over P80,000 comprise only 3 percent of the individual taxpayer base. The PIT reforms will lead to revenue losses estimated at P63 billion in the second half of 2017, P138 billion in 2018 and P152 billion in 2019, Chua said. Thus, to raise enough funds for the Duterte administration accelerated spending on infrastructure, education, health, and social protection for the poorest of the poor, a set of revenue-enhancing measures is also tucked in HB 4774. These include expanding the valueadded tax (VAT) base but retaining exemptions for seniors and persons with disabilities, and adjusting the excise taxes on automobiles and fuel, which will hit rich consumers the most as these are all consumption taxes. Estate and donor taxes will also be reduced to a flat 6 percent under the tax reform bill. Cua’s bill also includes legislated administrative reforms at the BIR and Bureau of Customs (BOC) such as a fuel marking
and monitoring system to prevent oil smuggling, the use of e-receipts, the mandatory connection of the point-of-sale system of all establishments to the BIR, and the relaxation of bank secrecy laws for investigating and combating tax fraud. Complementary reforms to HB 4774 include introducing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, indexing the motor vehicle user’s charge to inflation, and granting an amnesty to past estate tax cases. At a previous House hearing, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Duterte administration’s target is to ramp up spending on infrastructure to P1.73 trillion; on education and training to P1.27 trillion; on health to P272 billion; and on social protection, welfare and job generation for the poorest of the poor to P509 billion by 2022--for a total public investment budget of P2.2 trillion over the medium term. This would mean an estimated additional investment of P1.07 trillion for infrastructure, P718 billion for education, P139 billion for health, and P267 billion for social protection each year over the next six years, he said.
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The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
Cherry Popping Bachelors on Auction-Date for a Healthy Cause Fourteen (14) gorgeous bachelors, including celebrity photographer BJ Pascual and TV chef Jeremy Favia, will be auctioned off for a date at the LoveYourself ’s “Cherry Poppin’: The 3rd Party” to be held on 25 February at the One Canvas Events Place, 2235 Don Chino Roces Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati City.
Cherry Poppin’ is an annual fundraising activity through a betting-dating game party, which is on its third year now. For a donation of PhP300, Cherry Poppin’ party guests (donors) should register at go.loveyourself.ph/ cherrytickets to get one ticket to the party, a free drink, and a chance
to bid and go out on a romantic date with the 14 auctionees. Proceeds will help fund Loveyourself ’s HIV awareness and testing operations, including the opening of two new community centers in Metro Manila. LoveYourself Executive Director and 2016 Ten Outstanding Young Men Awardee Ronivin G. Pagtakhan said “We keep on trying innovative and engaging activities to constantly attract and reach more people to rally for our cause. Cherry Poppin’ assures us 14 gorgeous men to
ripple the message of the organization in a very fun and romantic way.” Fashion Show & Performances The 14 auctionees will also show off the apparel creations of Don Cristobal and Jaggy Glarino. Starting at 8 p.m., Cherry Poppin’ participants, particularly the winning bidders, may also enjoy packages from Bliss, Victoria Court, MAC Cosmetics, Sip & Gogh, Lemiel Cafe, Aramesh Spa and Wellness, and Sparta Philippines. Cherry Poppin’ also showcases a surprise
number from A Love to Last actor Prince Estefan, divalicious performance from Venus of O-Bar, and raving house music from DJs Kio Priest and Mike Lavarez. In the days leading up to the auction date, Cherry Poppin promotional activities will also be held at Nectar and Red Rabbit Bars. TestMNL Awareness Campaign Coinciding with Cherry Poppin’ event, LoveYourself will also launch the TestMNL HIV awareness campaign, which is patterned after
TV Chef Jeremy Favia
The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
CAGAYAN TIMES Publisher PINKY DOMINGO Marketing Manager MIKE BAÑOS JOE PALABAO CHENG ORDOÑEZ MARK FRANCISCO Board of Editors MARK FRANCISCO Lifestyle Editor CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Art Director ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel
The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691. TIN No. 311-982-549-000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayantimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)
facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES
Celebrity Photographer BJ Pascual
the TestBKK campaign in Bangkok, Thailand. TestMNL is a campaign funded by the Elton John foundation through the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), a regional organization that promotes HIV issues that affect the lives of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people, including rights, health and well-being. About LoveYourself LoveYourself is a nongovernment organization providing free and bachelors/PAGE 7
A Guardian Angel? I learned it at school and found out a lot of passages in religious books: an angel represents the spirit who conveys God’s will to man. An angel constitutes a heavenly messenger, who keeps watch over us and protects us from danger by way of caution or defence. An angel is always ready to accompany us. An angel takes us under his wings... . Without knowing it, every one of us has a lifeguard all the time. We call it “accidental”: a chance meeting, it is a pure chance. We make a chance acquaintance or a f luke or a lucky goal. We can be persons who have been also involved in a casualty or contingency, so to speak in an accident, but, thanks God, we got off with no more than a fright, because our Guardian Angel has been with us. It looks like a miracle, sometimes, if we still remember the incident, being scared to death that time. The times of anxiety, fear and darkness - everybody knows them from their own experiences. Especially now, it is necessary to have deep respect for the superior wisdom - an act of God. He wants us to grow during these bad times by being patient. We have no other chance, whether we like it or not. But, try to talk to your Guardian Angel. Yes, you can do it. He listens at you any time you call him, because he is willing to listen to him. Means to say: pray and talk to somebody in your surroundings, who is willing to listen to you. Just open your eyes, you will
find him. Such H ave M y Say persons will never mention any excuses: they are always there for you. Your Guardian Angel is sad, if you don’t need him. He is happy, if you ask for help and advice. Klaus Doring Everybody has a Guardian Angel” the children around us; people we love very much, even those people who might put us into a lot of trouble and enjoy torturing us with arrogance, ignorance and unbelievable excuses; people, we miss much just right in this moment. We have many things to do and we are conscious of our duties. We feel sometimes that they crush and overwhelm us. Suddenly, our last hour comes but we know in our heart of hearts that our own Guardian Angel lives. And, very important: check it out: maybe you are the Guardian Angel of someone in your surroundings. Then you really have a great responsibility. Carry it but also enjoy it, because it is a great and wonderful task and it needs a lot of will power. If we know how to dig, we will also understand how to develop an inexhaustible source. +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail or visit www. germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or follow me in Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter.
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Feature
MacArthur... from page 1
B-17E bombers which brought them safely to Batchelor Field, Northern Territory in Australia. On his way to Melbourne, MacArthur met journalists in Terowie, South Australia where he uttered what has probably become the most famous phrase to come out of World War II: “I Shall Return!” To celebrate the 75th Diamond Jubilee of MacArthur’s Breakout, the Cagayan de Oro City Council has officially declared March 13-17, 2017 as “General Douglas MacArthur Week.” A week-long schedule of events has been coordinated by the Hiscom starting with the re-enactment of MacArthur’s Arrival in Macabalan Pier & Convoy to Del Monte, Tankulan (Manolo Fortich) on March 13. Spectators will be treated to a spectacle of World War II vintage vehicles such as Willys MB jeeps ridden by reenactors dressed in military uniforms of the time (March 1942) and armed with vintage weapons like the BAR, Garand, Thompson submachine gun and Springfield 1903 rifle as the convoy winds its way along Julio Pacana Street and C.M. Recto Avenue and up to Sayre Highway to Dicklum, Tankulan (now Manolo Fortich) where a whole day activity has been planned by the LGU of Manolo Fortich as part of its Centennial celebration as a municipality. On March 14-17, the movies “Unsurrendered 2” and “Valor: The Legacy of Col. Emmanuel V. De Ocampo” by the Film Production Company Spyron-AV Manila, will be screened for free every morning at 8AM and 10AM in all Centrio Ayala Cinemas. These documentaries tell the stories of the forgotten Filipino Guerrillas who fought against the Japanese during WWII. Written and directed by Bani Logroño, a Kagay-anon. The Hiscom is coordinating with the DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro to bring high school history students to watch the films. The Field Service Extension Office-Region X of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is also coordinating to bring WW2 veterans and their kin to the free screenings. A symposium will be held after each screening with the
film maker and WWII veterans to answer questions from the audience. History students, teachers, researchers and World War II enthusiasts are invited to attend a series of symposiums on how it was in Mindanao during the time. These include “Guerrilla Daughter” by Virginia Hansen Holmes on 10AM Tuesday, 14 March at the Centrio Activity Center. Ms. Hansen is the President of the American Guerrillas of Mindanao Descendants Group (AGOM) and will share her personal experience her family spent in Lanao, Misamis Oriental and Surigao from the late 1930s through WWII. Her Dad operated a sawmill in Lanao while her three older brothers attended Ateneo de Cagayan (present day Xavier University) while her sister attended Lourdes Academy (now Lourdes College). The Hansen family later moved to northern Surigao where her father worked as Plant Superintendent of a gold mine. Her father and two elder brothers were guerrillas in Wendell Fertig’s group during WWII. Ms. Hansen will again lecture on Wendell Fertig and his Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines (Fighting the Japanese Occupation 1942-1945), a book written by her husband Kent Holmes the following day, Wednesday, 15 March at 10:30AM at the Centrio Mall Activity Center. The book is an indepth study of Col Wendell Fertig and the challenges he had to overcome while organizing and leading the 10th Military District in Mindanao and contains valuable research material for those interested in historical details about the guerrilla resistance movement in Mindanao during WWII -- SPYRON submarine missions, radio communications, coast watcher stations, etc. Kent Holmes is a retired Central Intelligence Agency officer and a member of CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service. He served overseas for 15 years in six countries, including two years in Laos supervising paramilitary operations in northwest Laos. He lives in Falls Church, Virginia and is married to Ms. Holmes. Ms. Hansen’s presentation will be followed at 2PM of the
same day at the same venue by Finding Our Heroes (The Brig. Gen. Francisco Licuanan, Jr. Memorial Collection Philippine Guerrilla Files from the US National Archives) to be presented by Marie Vallejo, Head Researcher. Having worked with Intel, Ms. Vallejo has helped digitize extant records of Filipino soldiers during WWII. Through her extensive research, many Filipino veterans have qualified for more benefits from their service during the war. She renders another lecture on the same topic on Thursday, 16 February at 10:30AM at the Liceo de Cagayan University Library. Another interactive event awaits on Wednesday, 15 March with the launching of the MacArthur Breakout Exhibit at 10AM at the 3rd floor foyer of Centrio Mall. The exhibit will feature pictures from the MacArthur Memorial of Norfolk, Virginia through the Cagayan de Oro City Committee of the Norfolk Sister Cities Association, the Cagayan de Oro City Historical & Cultural Heritage Commission and Cagayan de Oro MacArthur Memorial Core Group and relics from local collectors. Visitors will get a first-hand look at pictures of MacArthur’s time in Del Monte while he was waiting for his B-17 ride to Australia, weapons, uniforms and other gear of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and Japanese Imperial Army. Another exhibit will be opened on Thursday, 16 March at the Liceo de Cagayan University Library focusing on Mindanao Guerrillas especially local heroes like Col. Fidencio Laplap, the Tiano Brothers, the Montalvan Brothers, Maj. Angel Limena, Pastor and Jake Ilogon, Salipada Pendatun and Busran Kalaw. Not the least, an Eyesight 20/20 Optometric Mission will be conducted on March 15-16 at the J.R. Borja Memorial General Hospital from 8am-4PM daily. This is a free Eye Care Medical Mission led by Dr. Chris Buniel, president of the Optometric Association of the Philippines (OAP) for a maximum 300 patients. Newly purchased reading and prescription eyeglasses will be dispensed to deserving indigent patients—
MMM’s tribute of friendship to Kagayanons. Sponsored by Montero Medical Missions in coordination with the Cagayan de Oro Eyesight Board, Optometric Association of the Philippines CDO-Chapter, Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (Mother Club), J.R. Borja Memorial General Hospital, Cagayan de Oro Eyesight Board and PVAO FSEO-10 office. The week’s events come to a close with a Thanksgiving Mass at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral to be officiated by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J, and Fr. Daniel Coronel, SSJV. The week concludes with a Thanksgiving Program and 75th Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Dinner at Casa Real, VIP Hotel. The program will include the recognition of Mindanao Guerrillas and Veterans who fought the Japanese Occupation. General Douglas MacArthur Week is a joint project of the Cagayan de Oro Historical & Cultural Commission, Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Council and Manolo Fortich Municipal Tourism Office, in coordination with General Douglas MacArthur Foundation (Norfolk, Virginia); Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA, Norfolk, Virginia); Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Council, Cagayan de Oro City Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office, Cagayan de Oro City Council Tourism Committee, Manolo Fortich Municipal Board Tourism Committee; Rotary Club of Northern Bukidnon, Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro, and Department of Education Cagayan de Oro City Division of City Schools. The organizers would also like to recognize the contribution of the following sponsors: Philippine Ports Authority, Montero Medical Missions, Philippine Veterans Bank, Centrio Mall, Ayala Mall Cinemas, 4th Infantry Division (Philippine Army), Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (Philippine Navy), UC-1 Corporation, Cebu Pacific Air, Smart Telecommunications, Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Davies Paints Philippines, Seda Centrio, Liceo de Cagayan University, V.V. Security Agency, STEAG State Power Inc. and Ms. Gigi G. Go.
The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
5
I Shall Return (photo courtesy of Terowie Citizens Assn Inc.)
Cebu Landmasters readies to go public via IPO Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), the leading homegrown developer in Metro Cebu, intends to raise up to P3.8 billion from an initial public offering scheduled for May to fund land acquisition and development costs for its expansion plans to five key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Part of the proceeds will also be used for debt repayment and working capital requirements. In a prospectus submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission today, Cebu Landmasters is listing and selling firm shares of 505 million common shares with an over allotment option of 75 million shares on the local bourse targeting mid-to late-May 2017. This represents up to 34% of the company’s outstanding common shares, post-IPO. Of the firm shares, 430 million are new shares forming the primary tranche, while 75 million are existing shares forming the secondary tranche. The 75 million shares from the greenshoe will be from existing shareholders. The IPO will be priced at up to P6.56 per share. BDO Capital will serve as the sole issue manager for CLI’s stock market debut. Joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners are BDO Capital and BPI Capital. CLI is the first Cebu-based real estate developer to apply for an IPO and the leading local real estate developer in the Metro Cebu residential condominium arena. It accounts for 11 per cent market share of the total supply of residential condominium units in Metro Cebu,
second only to Ayala Land, according to a market study by CBRE Philippines (now Santos Knight Frank). In just 13 years, Cebu Landmasters has diversified from the residential segment into commercial, hospitality, industrial and mixeduse product offerings further distinguishing it from other VisMin real estate players. CLI president and CEO Jose Soberano III observed: “We will use our flexibility to create new developments in the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo and new Cebu locations. These projects will maximize the demand and supply indicators in each location with the best uses for each site.” In highly urbanized areas exhibiting strong sustained growth like the booming Cebu I.T. Park, for instance, it will offer a high-end New York inspired residential development masterplanned by global designers to be part of a mixed-use hub with a retail plaza, park and a future office component. In rapidly urbanizing cities like Davao and Cagayan de Oro, it will offer mid-market residential condominiums that meet the needs, aspirations and price points of BPO and other employees as well as those of OFWs. In fact, the first phase of its Cagayan de Oro project sold out in less than a year. Meanwhile, in the so-called Next Wave Cities like Dumaguete, Iloilo and Bacolod where BPO firms are locating and fueling the economy together with OFW remittances, it landmasters/PAGE 7
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6
The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
OPINION
Not to WESM, Yes to Economic Dispatch in Mindanao
I
t is economic dispatch that needs to be implemented in the Mindanao grid, instead of illegally parachuting the WESM into a grid that is not connected to the LuzonVisayas grid. Economic dispatch of power plants will solve the perceived problems of overcapacity, overand under-contracting, uncontracted capacity, etc., in the electric power industry in Mindanao. This paper discusses what economic dispatch is, how it is being done at present in Mindanao and in the LuzonVisayas WESM, and how it should be done to enable economically efficient contracting and interchange of power capacity in a grid without a WESM. The paper is intended mainly to guide the technical working group of the AMRECO, as they work on the development of rules to govern the dispatching of generating plants in the Mindanao grid. But it is also intended for the general information of memberconsumer-owners of the electric cooperatives, as we battle in the public square against the scheme of the DOE, instigated and funded by the oligarchs in the electric power industry, to establish an illegal WESM in Mindanao. Economic Dispatch Economic dispatch is generally defined as: The operation of the electric generating plants connected to a transmission system in order to produce enough energy at the lowest cost to serve consumers reliably, while taking account of any operational limits of the generating plants and the transmission system. In economic dispatch, the cost to be minimized, usually called variable costs as distinct from the fixed costs of the generating plants, refers to the short-term costs of using available generating plants to supply the electrical needs of customers. The operating procedure for attaining economic dispatch is simple: When more than one generating plant must be operated to supply electricity to the loads connected to a transmission system, the generating plant with lower marginal cost must
be dispatched before the generating plant with higher marginal cost. The last generating plant that is dispatched in order to make total supply equal to total load or demand will have the highest marginal cost among all the power plants that have been made to operate. Economic Dispatch in the Luzon-Visayas Grid and in the Mindanao Grids The same procedures are followed in carrying out economic dispatch in different electric power systems such as the Luzon-Visayas grid, which has a wholesale electricity spot market, and the Mindanao grid, which does not have a WESM. As actually practiced in both the Luzon-Visayas and the Mindanao power systems, economic dispatch is done by dispatching first the renewable energy power plants, which have virtually zero marginal costs. The RE power plants are followed by coalfueled power plants, followed by oil-fueled power plants, which generally have the highest marginal costs and are dispatched last. In Luzon-Visayas, natural gas fueled power plants are dispatched after coal plants and before diesel power plants. Mindanao does not have natural gas. So it is not the dispatching procedure that is different between a grid that has a WESM and a grid without a WESM. The difference is in the pricing of the output of the generating plants that are dispatched. In the Mindanao grid, the price paid by consumers for generation that is not covered by contracts will be the ERC-approved rates for the power plants that are dispatched. The rates are different for various types of power plants, with the rates being around 3.00 pesos per kWh for hydro plants, 4.00 pesos for coal plants, and 6.00 pesos for oil-fueled power plants. In the Luzon-Visayas grid which hosts the Philippine WESM, the price paid by consumers for all generation purchased from the WESM will be the highest bid price of the generators that are dispatched, and the same price will be paid to all the generating plants regardless of type.
David A. Tauli
High Rates of Electricity with the Establishment of a WESM in Mindanao The pricing system used in the Philippine WESM will be used in Mindanao if the DOE and the GENCOs succeed in establishing a WESM in Mindanao. At present the marginal cost of the highest-cost peaking power plant in Mindanao is around 20 pesos per kilowatt-hour. This will be the price for all generation purchased from a Mindanao WESM if the GENCOs are required to bid their true marginal costs. The price of purchases from a Mindanao WESM could even rise higher than the true marginal costs of the highest-cost peaking plant (to 30, or 50, or even 100 pesos per kWh), if the GENCOs are allowed to submit their Desired-Bid and not their true marginal cost. This is the crime that will be committed against power consumers in Mindanao if the DOE succeeds in its scheme to implement a WESM in Mindanao. The consumers will pay at least 20 pesos per kWh for all electricity that is purchased from the WESM, whereas they are now paying at most 4.50 pesos per kWh for any uncontracted electricity that is delivered by generators under the economic dispatch being carried out by the NGCP. It is a crime not only against power consumers but against all Mindanaoans. High rates of electricity in Mindanao will drive away business and industrial corporations who are heavily dependent on electric power to carry out their operations. High rates of electricity will force all consumers to reduce their consumption. And the uncontracted capacity of the GENCOs will remain uncontracted, while the capacity that is already contracted will have to be reduced. So the problem of uncontracted capacity
that a WESM is supposed to address will become worse. And in the process the WESM will wreak economic havoc on the people of Mindanao. Why is the DOE trying to foist a WESM on Mindanao? Without a WESM, there would be no problem in continuing with the existing method of economic dispatch in the Mindanao grid, if all the available capacity of power plants were contracted by the distribution utility companies and directlyconnected customers. But, starting in 2012 with the Aboitiz 300-MW coal plant in Davao, a number of coal-fueled power plants were constructed, with the last coal plant to be completed by the end of 2017. Some of these coal plants are not fully covered by long-term contracts, particularly the 300-MW coal plant of the San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation. So the SMCPC wants to contract with consumers who are now getting their power supply from the electric cooperatives and the investor-owned distribution utility companies. Unfortunately for the SMCPC, the EPIRA does not allow generating companies to supply consumers who are connected to the distribution systems. This will be allowed only when a regime of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) is approved for implementation in the Mindanao grid. The SMCPC went to the DOE to tell them to implement RCOA in Mindanao so that they could sell electricity directly to customers of the distribution utility companies. The DOE told SMCPC that RCOA could not be implemented until there is a WESM in Mindanao. Then put a WESM in Mindanao, said the SMCPC to the DOE. And, wonder of wonders, the DOE said:
Okay Mr. SMCPC we will establish a WESM in Mindanao. Immediately after this the DOE carried out information campaigns in Mindanao telling the distribution utility companies and the power consumers, without so much as a by-yourleave, that the Duterte government will be launching the WESM in Mindanao. What the DOE is not saying is that the Mindanao WESM will enable the oligarchs in the electric power industry to become richer at the expense of the poor power consumers. The DOE is not saying that because PRRD is very loud and very frequent in his pronouncements that his government is pro-poor and anti-oligarch, whereas the Mindanao WESM is definitely pro-oligarch and anti-poor. The power consumers will oppose the imposition of a WESM on Mindanao because that will result in certain economic disaster for Mindanao. But the electric cooperatives and the investor-owned distribution utility companies need to work on a revised system of economic dispatch for the Mindanao grid in order to address the power supply problems that the DOE is now deviously claiming to require the establishment of a WESM. A revised economic dispatch that addresses power supply problems will provide additional proof that the WESM scam hatched by the DOE and the SMCPC is useless for economic operations of the Mindanao grid. A Revised Economic Dispatch for the Mindanao Grid The revisions to the economic dispatch operations being carried out by the NGCP include the following rules: 1. Economic dispatch must be done in three stages, first, for the variable or nondispatchable renewable energy power plants (in compliance with the Renewable Energy
Law), then for baseload power plants, and last for intermediate and peaking (I-P) power plants. 2. Priority of dispatch for baseload power plants and I-P power plants must be based on ERCapproved rates for the power plants (instead of using marginal costs), with power plants having lower rates dispatched first for each category. This means that for baseload requirements, the power plant with lowest rate will be dispatched first until the baseload power supply is equal to the demand for baseload. Then the power plants for intermediate and peaking load will be dispatched in the order of ERC-approved rates, from lowest to highest. 3. Only the minimum power of the Agus hydro plants should be used for baseload power supply, and any generation above the minimum requirement should be used for intermediate peaking power supply. 4. Generation of coal plants above their minimum power for operating may be used for intermediate power supply when it is economical for the coal plants to supply intermediate load and the effective rate is lower than that of oilfueled intermediate power plants. 5. The Pulangi hydro plant should be operated at all times as a run-ofriver power plant, and only coal- or oil-fueled power plants should be used as dispatchable reserve. Whatever set of rules for economic dispatch will be finally adopted, the primary objective in the revision of the economic dispatch procedures should be least-cost power supply for consumers. That is opposite to the objective of the proposed Mindanao WESM, which is the maximization of profits for the oligarch owners of the generating plants. (Engr. David A. Tauli is the president of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers)
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
Chapel... from page 1
for intervention prayers from family and friends. And then one day I reached out to a very close friend and she shared me the place where she normally goes every week, and which I have heard from clients in travel and tours recently as they also seek healing or thanksgiving of blessings received. For 38 years in this world I have been to many churches, temples, mosques and places of worship. Yet this is the first time--just as we were about to enter the main door of the church-I had goosebumps. I could feel the holiness as I walk through the Chapel of the Holy Relics wherein the more than a life size St. Rita of Casia, the Patron Saint of Impossible Requests can be found on the right side. I was speechless as I entered the church with hundreds of relics of different saints which I myself may not be familiar of all or I may just heard from my grandfathers as those names was used by our ancestors from left to right and in front of the altar inside the chapel. You can see the reliquaries of Sto. Pio, St. Philomena, St. Lucy, and too many others to mention, categorized from 1st class to 3rd class relics depending on which part it came from. There is also an image of St. Rita lying prostate in the altar. I reached out to the hand of St. Rita of Casia in the glass hole wherein I asked for an impossible favor. To make me feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and to guide me to the road of recovery and to relieve all the pain I felt, to take away my sadness, to take away the hurts, the pain, sorrows, anger and guide me back to be happy. Many devotees go there daily and the place is crowded during weekends. There are areas wherein family can sit and have their meals or snacks. They have souvenir shop and canteen. You can buy candle, novena, offer masses for the soul, healing, thanksgiving or asking favor. They also have Sto. Pio and St. Rita of Casia holy oil - one can have and you just give donations. If you feel alone, are seeking God's favor or just want to bring your family for pilgrimage, this place is a must visit in Cebu City. One can reach out to your devoted saints and see
many reliquaries, do your novena asking God's favor or hear the mass. The Chapel of the Holy Relics is celebrating the feast day of St. Rita of Casia every 22nd of May and they are having novena for 15 Thursday that started this year on February 9. You can visit Chapel of the Holy Relics in OAD Tabor Hills, Talamban, Cebu City. Note that there are hundreds to thousands of devotees celebrating their faith during the Holy Week as there is a Station of the Cross also there commemorating the life of Jesus Christ. About the writer: Amy Monsalud is a traveler herself, having her passion develop in so many years working from real estate to various field of sales she found herself in the travel and tours business at present. As she develop it she is also sharing her inner self and wanted to contribute more to the economic development that draws tourism a boosts and other reliable information she can share that is helpful to the general public. You may reach her at 09166597223 AIMWORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS.
Forum... from page 1
Investigative and Research Group. She will discuss “Journalism in Challenging Times: Media as Guardians of Democracy and Watchdog of Society.” “We like to share you this event considering the critical role of responsible media especially these days when social media could run wild and do more harm than good,” said Dr. Teresita T. Tumapon, Ph.D., Professorial Lecturer, School of Graduate Studies. Among McLuhan fellows we previously graced the forums were Glenda Gloria, McLuhan 2009 fellow and (ANC) Chief Operating Officer, Ed Linggao, veteran journalist of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) who spoke on the “Changing Dynamics of the Role of Media in Society”, and GMA News Reporter Joseph Morong, who spoke on the “Narrative of the Bangsa Moro Peace Process.” The forum is a joint undertaking of the Embassy of Canada and Liceo de Cagayan University, through the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) and the Department of Languages, Literature,
Communications, and Performing Arts (DLLCPA) of the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Owen S. Jaen, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs. Participants are representative of the Embassy of Canada, select local media, communication arts and students, campus paper writers, and select representatives from other universities and colleges in the city.
Bachelors... from page 4
confidential HIV testing, counseling, education, and recently treatment. It currently has two clinics: LoveYourself Anglo in Shaw near Starmall and LoveYourself Uni in TaftGil Puyat near the LRT station. These clinics are open on WednesdaysSaturdays (12:00 nn-7:00 p.m.) and Sundays (9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.). For more details on LoveYourself ’s services and projects, individuals may visit the group’s official website at www.
loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @ loveyourself.ph, Twitter@loveyourselfph and Instagram- @ loveyourself.ph.
Landmasters... from page 5
will offer its economic housing brand known for its generous amenities and ideal location. In 2016, Cebu Landmasters generated revenues of P2.17 billion and net profits of P702 million. Its recent projects include residential condominiums Mivesa Garden Residences and Midori Residences identified by CBRE as the top-selling projects in Metro Cebu. It also sold office projects and partnered with The Ascott Limited to develop Citadines Cebu City to open by 2019 with 180 serviced apartments. CLI has also built its track record on projects that offer exceptional values to clients. Soberano explained that
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 18 Cagayan de Oro City BDO UNIBANK, INC., EJF FILE NO. 2017-046 Mortgagee, -versus- FOR: EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL SPS. PATRICK YAMBA AND ESTATE MORTGAGE ROWENA YAMBA Mortgagors, x-------------------------------------------/ Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by BDO UNIBANK, INC., Mortgagee, with principal Office address at BDO Corporate Center, 7899 Makati Ave., Makati City, against SPS. PATRICK YAMBA and ROWENA YAMBA, Mortgagors, with postal address at 1137 Borja Cmpd., Brgy. Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of January 3, 2017, amounted to FOUR MILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX PESOS (Php4,158,286.00) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at public auction on March 22, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 18, Hall of Justice (City Tourism Hall), Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below including all existing improvements found thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. 137-2011000898 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 2106-A-6-I-9-I-6-E-3, PSD-104305020366, being a portion of Lot 2106-A-6-I-9-I-6-E, PSD-10-008770), Situated in the Barrio of Camaman-an, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of NINETY TWO (92) SQUARE METERS, More or less. Transfer Certificate of Title No. 137-2011000899 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 2106-A-6-I-9-I-6-E-1, PSD-104305020366, being a portion of Lot 2106-A-6-I-9-I-6-E, PSD-10-008-770), Situated in the Barrio of Camaman-an, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TEN (110) SQUARE METERS, more or less. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication. Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title herein above described and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.
Cagayan de Oro City, February 13, 2017.
FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF CT: Feb. 20, 27 & Mar. 7, 2017
(SGD.) NIZA P. TACANDONG Sheriff IV
its being a homegrown company allows it to tap the best suppliers and best deals in VisMin locations and to pass on the savings to customers. “Being value-focused Visayans ourselves, we have a good idea of the kind of spaces clients
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appreciate and how much they will willingly pay for them.” CLI is set to continue its hands-on approach and maximize its knowledge of the local market to achieve high client satisfaction scores across VisMin, he emphasized.
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF FILE NO. 2017-041 Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (Pag-IBIG), as mortgage against HADIYAH VALERIE L. BONITE, as mortgago, to which the indebtedness as of January 4, 2017, amount of THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS AND 03/100 (₱360,320.03) inclusive of interest and penalty charges, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned will SELL TO PUBLIC Auction on March 13, 2017 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the entrance door Regional Trial Court Branch-23, City Tourism Hall, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s checks and in Philippine Currency, the following described properties, to wit; TRANSFER CERTIFICATE TITLE NO. 137-2015000208 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 74, Block 8, OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAN, Psd-10-031036, being a portion of Pcn-10-000226,). Situated in Barangay of Lumbia, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TEN (110) sq. meters more or less. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the aboved-stated date, time and place. In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication. Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the title herein above-described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Done this February 3, 2017 in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. (Sgd) RICO A. REMALIG Sheriff IV
CT: Feb. 13, 20 & 27, 2017
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT AND EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF NOTICE OF EXTRA JUDICIAL SALE File No. EJF-2017-008 ‘’Upon extrajudicial petition for sale under Act No. 3135 as amended by Act No. 4118, filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (PAG-IBIG) against NICOLAS NORMAN L. NIERE married to JOCELYN T. NIERE of Lot 17, Block 6, Golden Glow Village, Cagayan de Oro City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 28, 2016 amounts to ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS AND 56/100 (P1,182,500.56), including interests and penalty charges, but excluding expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned will sell at public auction on March 29, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. AT THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, TOURISM HALL, City Hall, Cagayan de Oro City to the highest bidder, for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below including all existing improvements found thereon, to wit: TCT No. T- 201813 Lot : Portion of Lot : As Surveyed for : Land Use : Location : Area :
17, Block 6, Psd-10-046824 Lot 18303-C-4-E-2-C-2, Psd-10-045728 PUEBLO DE ORO DEVELOPMENT CORP. (Golden Glow Village North) Residential Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City One Hundred Eight (108) Square Meters More or Less
All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date. In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication. Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title hereinabove described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Cagayan de Oro City, January 30, 2017.
(SGD.) AL PONCIANO R. DATU Sheriff IV
CT: Feb. 6, 13 & 20, 2017
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The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro
February 20-26, 2017
The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424