CEBU and DAVAO, hand in hand for a stronger Philippines!

[diehardbisdak]

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....more pics of AYALA CENTER CEBU and its surrounding

...originally posted by @fundraiser

[img width=500 height=400]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/Photo-0126.jpg[/img]

starbucks lower ground level/smoking area


driveway of the ayala entertainment center
[img width=500 height=375]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/IMG_1382.jpg[/img]

footpath to the public utility vehicle (PUV) terminal
[img width=500 height=375]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/506210b5.jpg[/img]

shangrila mactan also offers regular pick up time at ayala center cebu. talk about partnership in tourism


the lagoon area
[img width=500 height=375]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/fundraiser2.jpg[/img]

footpath to the marriott hotel
[img width=500 height=375]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/fundraiser3.jpg[/img]

[diehardbisdak]

One of Cebu's pride....
The ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURE
(owner of Unionbank and Superferry).......

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Unionbank, iBank merger to be completed this month

The merger of Aboitiz-led UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and iBank is expected to be completed anytime this month, the chief honcho of Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) said.

In an interview, AEV president and chief executive officer Jon Ramon Aboitiz said UnionBank shelled out some P13.5 billion in purchasing 97 percent of the stake of iBank, a commercial bank.

Once completed, Union-Bank will have a total of 195 branches nationwide.

Aboitiz said the bank will have to move branches that are near each other and spread these out to strategic areas.

Commercial

A commercial bank established in 1995, iBank currently has 79 branches nationwide with a total resources of P60 billion, as of the end of 2005.

Its major shareholders are JTKC Equities, iVantage Corp., Razon Industries, Greenhills Properties Inc. and Philippine Realty Holdings Corp.

Visibility

UnionBank’s attempt to buy into semi-government owned Philippine National Bank was spoiled when PNB part-owner Lucio Tan exercised his right to match.

“(But) we are always looking for an opportunity to increase our visibility in order to increase our customer base and shareholder value,” UnionBank chairman and chief executive officer Justo Ortiz had said.

UnionBank’s board of directors approved the closing of the sale and the purchase agreement with selling shareholders of iBank last June.

The shares were acquired at P42.5 each.

[Tj-Mixxed]

and thanks to Aboitiz, they would be investing around $450 Million in Davao!

[malaysia]

Actually bai @malaysia, it doesn't mean nga kulelat na ang ubang malls because each mall in the country has it has its own standard operating procedure to follow. It happened that Ayala Center Cebu's S.O.P Manual on sustaining quality, environmental management and occupational health and safety was acknowledged by ISO. The 3 certification from ISO which was awarded to Ayala Center Cebu "is geared towards improving their internal business processes, the way they do quality business and how they deal with their customers. It is a set of disciplined processes to ensure that quality is always in everyone's job and customer is always first".

Basically, the management of each mall all over the Philippines have the same goal, but the only edge which Ayala Center Cebu has is the way they're running their business which is based on international standards that is recognized by ISO. Ayala Center Cebu had been working on this ISO Certification since 2004 and it was a long process invloving the tenants, customers and the management in creating the mall's manual of operation. Afterwards, they applied for ISO Certification and the ISO people get to review of their manual, procedures etc. and also, ISO people get to observe when the manual is implemented and then, ISO people decides if they pass the standards being set or not. Many malls in our country have common S.O.P. but wala pa lang nila gipa-certify sa ISO....

ah ok, so meaning ang glorietta or MOA wala pa diay nag pa certify sa ISO mao and ACC ra ang certified sa whole philippines. abi nako nag pa certify sila unya na deny mao nakaingon ko kulelat sila. i wonder ngano wala nag pa certify ang ayala sa manila nga ayala ra may tagiya sa tanan, siguro dili sila kapasa sa environmental aspect.

[diehardbisdak]

ah ok, so meaning ang glorietta or MOA wala pa diay nag pa certify sa ISO mao and ACC ra ang certified sa whole philippines. abi nako nag pa certify sila unya na deny mao nakaingon ko kulelat sila. i wonder ngano wala nag pa certify ang ayala sa manila nga ayala ra may tagiya sa tanan, siguro dili sila kapasa sa environmental aspect.

... but i read just recently: "Ayala Center Cebu is the first ISO Certified Mall in the country" ...meaning, or basin na-a nay uban nga mall nga ISO certified but I don't have any idea kung unsa nga mall....

[diehardbisdak]

Alegre Resort improves facility for Asean summit



The expected influx of foreign visitors in the province for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) summit prompted owners of some beach resorts to upgrade their facilities and services.

“We are continuously doing major renovations for our rooms and installing wi-fi (Internet) connection,” said Fritz Kahler, general manager for Alegre Beach Resort.

The nine-hectare beach resort located in Sogod, Cebu is an hour-and-a-half drive to the north from the city proper.

In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu during the re-launching of its satellite office in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City last Friday, Kahler said Alegre has an estimated 30 hectares of property ready for any possible expansion.

Challenge

He added that the shortage of rooms in the region’s tourism industry poses as a major challenge for them but reassures that “we are looking into adding more rooms soon.”

“We are renovating one cabana at a time so as not to disturb our guests,” Kahler said.

Apart from renovated rooms and a new kitchen, they are also adding an open-air beach bar.

Alegre beach resort has 38 rooms available, and the entire resort could accommodate between 80 and 100 guests.

Koreans, Japanese and local tourists are among the resort’s top visitors who stay at an average of three days, Kahler said.

However, he said the European visitors are the ones that “spend more” since they “stay longer” or approximately one week the least.

Meanwhile, Kahler said Alegre’s new set of spa menu now incorporates the Filipino-style massage called “hilot.”

Promote

Earlier, Spa and Well-ness Association of Cebu (SWAC) president Johnie Lim said the industry will start to “aggressively” promote this authentic Filipino massage to boost the spa and wellness tourism market of Cebu.

Lim said “hilot” is a more complete wellness process as it involves both physical and spiritual aspects.

He added that industry players will bring the “hilot” service in a “re-constructive, spa-like ambience.”

A five-day “hilot” workshop will be held in the last week of the month.

It will be conducted by Victor Dunayre, who holds a doctorate in hilot from the Philippine Holistic and Wellness Institute in Manila. (MMM)

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AWARDS:

* Department of Tourism: winner 2000 Kalakbay Award for Eco-Tourism Best Business Practice Category

* 16th Annual University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension Hotel Industry Investment Conference -
1st Place Environmental Awarness Category.

* Department of Tourism: winner 1996 Kalakbay Resort of the Year

[diehardbisdak]

.... this is one proof that indeed, Cebuanos are intrepreneurial by nature

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Canadian firm eyeing Cebuanos as investors
Cebu Daily News
Last updated 11:51am (Mla time) 09/05/2006

A Canadian real estate development firm is targeting Cebuanos as potential investors in the oil-rich province of Alberta, Canada.

Edgeworth Properties Inc. (EPI) recently set up its Philippine headquarters in Cebu at the FGU Building in Cebu Business Park, one of the company's three offices in the Asia Pacific.

“There is a tremendous potential here in Cebu to sell land to people of the Philippines and provide them the opportunity to sell money,” said EPI president and chief financial officer C. Vaughn Minor.

EPI, a subsidiary of Edgeworth Ventures Inc., is engaged in the purchase, development and sale of real estate across the Western Hemisphere, with particular focus on the oil-rich provinces of Canada, like Alberta.

The company in coordination with the government of Alberta is extending opportunities to non-Canadian investors to own raw land in Canada.

EPI, however, has a “unique concept” of investment model, which allows investors to just sit back and relax while making money.

The concept is like buying shares or stocks in a company. Investors will get a land title for a particular size or parcel of land but with no specific spot.

Currently, EPI has 758 acres of land in contract for sale all over the world.

Minor said one Cebuano has already reserved for purchase two-and-a-half acres of land for Canadian $39,000.

The company is also targeting returning overseas Filipino workers or Balikbayans, who are looking for opportunities to invest their earnings.

Vincent Lee, EPI vice president for international marketing, on the other hand, expressed confidence that the company would grow strongly in the next 12 months in Cebu.

“Cebu is not just an economic powerhouse in the Philippines, but also the melting pot of the country's most enterprising individuals,” he said. /Correspondent Regina Aguilar

[diehardbisdak]

.... another proof

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REPOST:

Entrepreneur school looks for deal for Cebu campus

THE daughter of taipan Lucio Tan has decided to reconnect the family to Cebu—the humble beginnings of his father—by bringing her school of entrepreneurship to the province.

In a press conference over the weekend at the City Sports Club, Entrepreneurs School of Asia (ESA) founder Vivienne Tan announced that the school’s decision to open a branch in Cebu is already final.

“We are now talking with possible partners for the establishment of the school here. We are looking at four possible sites, including the South Road Properties (South Reclamation Project),” she said.

Final

“We will make the final announcements before the year ends,” she added.

Tan, the sixth of seven children of the Philippine Airlines magnate, visited Cebu last April to explore the province and feel the environment.

“I personally felt the environment in Cebu is very conducive to entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial spirit is here in Cebu,” Tan said.

She said the school is willing to build on its own the Cebu campus if it won’t be able to find a partner.

ESA’s co-founder, Joel Santos, said ESA has been looking for ways to bring its students in Manila to Cebu to “feel the entrepreneurial spirit” of the province.

“This (entrepreneurial spirit) is a gift of Cebu because it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years and years to cultivate. And it’s very important to continue to cultivate this gift among the youth,” he said.

ESA will operate for one day a mentoring booth, which will conduct free consultation with “wannabe entrepreneurs” during the Entrepreneurship Conference on June 23 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Pioneering

Established in 1999, ESA is one of the pioneering academic institutions in the Asia Pacific region to offer a bachelors degree in entrepreneurship. The institution also offers other courses, including business administration, diploma in marketing and in mass communication, among others.

The school recently established a campus in China by partnering with the Zhejiang Youth College, an institution owned by the Youth Ministry of Zhejiang, China.

One of the visions of ESA is to attract foreign students to come and study in the Philippines.

For the school’s expansion in the Philippines, she said the company is looking for a “safer” yet “not so provincial” place.

Tan said the Cebu campus would be “bigger” and would require a larger investment than what it took to build the school’s multimillion structure in Libis, Quezon City.

ESA is giving a special rate to Filipinos and offer scholarships to deserving students as well. (JBN)

[diehardbisdak]

...originally posted by @slerz

Cebu... night pics

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt1.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt3.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt4.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt6.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt7.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/dwntwnnyt8.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/Slerz2/mcross.jpg[/img]

[diehardbisdak]

..... another feather to its cap...... Cebu's IT Industry

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Update: ACT's IT Mall

[img width=500 height=375]http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3530/image00101hy3.jpg[/img]


[img width=500 height=375]http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/494/image00102rs1.jpg[/img]

Now working on its 4th and 5th floors, they are almost halfway to the top (11F).