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

[Khabz02]

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@ tj mixxed

ask lang ko kinsa proponent ana nga project?

[diehardbisdak]

The expansion of the Cebu International Convention Center (above, as of Sept. 16, 2006) into an international sports arena is one venture that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia asked foreign investors to evaluate in a recent forum. But first things first: organizers are optimistic the CICC will be ready in time for the Asean summit in December. (Sun.star file photo)

[diehardbisdak]

Investors test Cebu prospects

Another investor has expressed interest to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to do business in Cebu, after the recent Asia Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Hong Kong.

Bill Banks, director of project finance of Ernst and Young Transaction Advisory Services Ltd., sent a letter to Garcia saying he is now “looking for ways of finding a trip to Cebu” the soonest possible time.

Banks, who was also a speaker at the conference, said he would be “very keen” to meet Garcia and “discuss opportunities” to work together on “major infrastructure projects.”

Garcia delivered a speech at the infrastructure congress, revealing Cebu’s history and strengths, and enumerating possible projects that the private sector can invest in.

She mentioned the expansion of the Cebu International Convention Center into an international sports arena, the P400-million farmers’ center, the P300-million backbone highway traversing Cebu’s mountains and the putting up of a solid waste management facility to cater to the towns and cities.

“I must say I enjoyed your speech very much,” said Banks, who talked about the need for private businesses to fill the infrastructure gap in the Asia-Pacific region, considering the lack of financial resources among its governments.

Private-public partnerships are needed to sustain whatever growth Asia has attained in the previous years, and the private sector must be willing to help, Banks has said.

The governor also received mail from investors she met in Hong Kong, who wanted to make a formal follow-up of the verbal pronouncements and assurances that they gave Garcia during the conference.

See Yin Tan, senior director of the United Engineers of Malaysia (UEM) International Business, said in his letter that Garcia’s speech has “certainly attracted much attention on what Cebu has to offer to potential investors.”

In an interview in Hong Kong, he had admitted that the Philippines was not in their list of priority areas but the presentation on Cebu made them change their minds.

See Yin Tan attached to his letter some documents on the capabilities and achievements of UEM, which is owned by the Malaysian Government’s finance department and has at least 40 companies under it that are into various fields of investment.

He told the governor that his company would want to liaise with Garcia’s office as they want to obtain information on projects that Garcia presented in Hong Kong, “for internal preliminary analysis” and so they could make arrangements for a fact-finding trip by their team.

UEM is interested in major projects such as the trans-axial road projects and the solid waste management facility.

Another foreign investor, Maygi Tsui of First Glory Limited, has also written the governor to say she was glad of the information about Cebu’s growth and revealed that they will be having an expansion.

“Being one of the investors, I feel confident and comfortable... We are planning to employ more workers in our Cebu factory,” wrote Tsui. (JPM)

[diehardbisdak]

Microsoft to open office in Cebu for Visayas, Mindanao markets

Recognizing the vast potential of the Visayas and Mindanao market to its growth in the country, Microsoft Philippines has decided to open an office in Cebu.

The move is also one of the strategies of the company to address the rampant use of unlicensed Microsoft software, specifically by players of the growing Internet café sector in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“The Visayas and Mindanao markets are very important to our business, definitely contributing to the phenomenal growth that we have had in the current year alone. With the competitive Cebu business climate and the many products that Microsoft has and will be releasing in the near future, we thought it best to have a presence (here) to support our customers and partners,” said Antonio Javier, Microsoft Philippines managing director.

Boy Bawal, sales operations director for Southern Philippines, said the local office will enable Microsoft to respond efficiently to the concerns of the local market.

IT hub

“We also believe that Cebu is the next information technology hub in the country,” he said in an interview last Thursday.

Bawal said Microsoft has also observed and recognized the high software piracy rate in the south, especially in Internet cafés.

Instead of threatening Internet cafés that are using unlicensed software, Microsoft has employed a positive strategy to combat the problem.

Link

Bawal said the company has been talking to members of Internet café associations in key cities in Visayas and Mindanao, such as Cebu and Davao.

Microsoft is encouraging members of the groups to get licensed software by linking with financing institutions for assistance.

“They themselves confessed to us that they are using unlicensed software but they are willing to pay for the license, if only they can. We are linking them with financing institutions so that they can pay on installment basis,” he said.

Bawal said the Microsoft-Cebu office was officially opened in July. It is temporarily holding office in the Ayala FGU Center, Cebu Business Park.

In November, the office will be move to the Asiatown IT Park.

Microsoft has about 2,000 partners all over the country and some of its Microsoft gold certified partners are Cebu-based, according to a statement. (JBN)

[diehardbisdak]

i just got this update from @arnoldsa (Cebu Forumer)

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There's a new condominium that's going to be constructed in Ramos street. The name is Ramos Tower and will be around 30-floors. A scale model is currently on display at SM CITY Cebu.

[Tj-Mixxed]

^^ I saw its rendering when i attended the BWH Expo @ SM City Cebu. Same developer ng Ultima Residences, Crown Regency Tower, and Club Ultima.

[Tj-Mixxed]

[img width=266 height=500]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/ultima.jpg[/img]

The Ultimate City...Cebu

Welcome to the city of divergence and convergence.

With mangoes and danggit in one hand, and otap, turrones and masareal in the other. This mountain-side city hosts historic churches and Magellan landmarks, while malls, high-rise and info tech parks are their neighbors. The people enshrine the city with the timeless Sinulog and ancient Chinese temples. The government endows it as the other Malacañan.

Cebu City is a tradition and sophistication. The upbeat tempo of the city's rapid development is softly lulled by a back beat of ocean waves. Abundant in nature's simple banquet, its cuisine is complemented by a medley of mouth-watering worldwide inspirations.

Supported by good governance, Cebu City is the best kept secret hide-away not too far from the Philippine Capital.

In the heart of the magnificent Cebu, amidst the city bedlam, a triumvirate towers over the metro's skyline.

In its lofty location, it guarantees a tranquil bedtime and cuddles you with warmth and comfort for your family in the sheltering arm of your own home.

Experience........Ultima Residences!

for more queries...or if anyone is interested, then just pm me or send me an email at cebuislandph@yahoo.com

[diehardbisdak]

RP dance athletes make waves
By Manolo Iñigo
Inquirer
Last updated 01:39am (Mla time) 09/25/2006

Published on page A34 of the September 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

FILIPINO DANCE athletes, who swept the gold medals in last year’s Southeast Asian Games, have continued their winning ways by capturing the gold and silver medals in the United States and making the elite finals of the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF) championships held in Singapore and Macau.

With their terpsichorean talents honed to perfection, dancers from Team Cebu won the golds and silvers in the 38th International Grandball Championships in San Francisco, California; the 2006 Empire State Dance Sport contest in Manhattan, New York; and Nevada Star Ball Dance Sport tourney in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And at the just-ended IDSF Open Latin Championships in Singapore, rising stars Richard Obong and Jenevieve Camacho made it to the magic 6 where European couples won the top 4 positions. At the IDSF Asia Pacific competitions held in Macau last Sept. 10, veteran internationalists John Erolle Melencio and Dearlie Gerodias placed a respectable fifth behind dance athletes from Japan, China, Thailand and Kazakhstan.

“With the all-out backing of the Dance Sport Council of the Philippines board, our dance athletes are now making enormous strides in the international dance scene,” proudly said DSCP president Becky Garcia, who is also the vice president of the Asian Dance Sport Federation and chair of the Philippine Olympic Committee education and culture commission.

“We are still young compared with the other dance organizations which have been there for ages yet our dance athletes are already a team to reckon with in the world,” added Ms Garcia, who co-founded the local council in 1996, the same year it joined the Germany-based International Dance Sport Federation, the ruling body for amateur dance recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

For their efforts in promoting dance sport in their countries, Ms Garcia and dance officials from China and Korea were awarded plaques of recognition by the Asian Dance Sport Federation during the ADSF general assembly held in Macau.

In Hong Kong, the indefatigable Garcia was also cited for sending the biggest number of dance athletes to the recent 2006 Hong Kong International Open competitions where DSCP treasurer and IDSF licensed adjudicator Gloria Alcala served as one of the judges. Alcala also acted as an adjudicator in the Macau dancefest.

“We are moving toward making our dancers globally competitive,” said Ms Garcia. “And we have invited seven international adjudicators from Europe to officiate at the 2nd Manila IDSF Open Latin and Standard Championships at the PhilSports Arena this coming Nov. 18 and 19.”

* * *

CEBUANA LHUILLIER IN TAIWAN. After years of experience and international exposure in Jakarta and Bangkok, Team Cebuana Lhuillier has included the 7th Asia Slo-Pitch Softball Tournament in Taipei in its itinerary.

“We’re going there to enjoy a good game of softball and, if we win along the way, then it will make the trip all the more worthwhile,” said playing team owner Jean Henri Lhuillier. The all-star team is also composed of national players Apol Rosales, Jasper Cabrera, Oscar Bradshaw, Fidel Moncera, Mark Rae Ramirez, Manolito Binarao, Anthony Santos and playing coach Randy Dizer.

[diehardbisdak]

Cebu's latest hotel address.....

CEBU PARKLANE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL





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website: http://www.parklanehotel.com.ph

[malaysia]

daang maharlika, davao del norte
[img width=500 height=332]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/tagum3.jpg[/img]

davao LRT sm davao north to south line
[img width=500 height=375]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/train1.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/train2.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/train3.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/train4.jpg[/img]

damosa gateway, lanang, davao city
[img width=249 height=500]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/damosa.jpg[/img]