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Vol. 1 | No.15 | Cagayan de Oro City | November 18-24, 2012 P10.00

Your Weekly Lifestyle Newspaper

CHEVROLET sparks CDO with showroom opening

The OFWs, who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 1 aboard Gulf Air 154 at 10:10 a.m., expressed their profound gratitude to the Villar Foundation led by its Managing Director, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Villar personally met the OFWs and assured to help them and their relatives start a new life as part of her advocacies.

Since the Villar Foundation was established in 1992, it has endeavored on the repatriation

o f OFWs , pa r t i cu l a r l y those who had encountered harrowing ordeal in the hands of their employers.

The Villar Foundation also provides medical assistance to ‘sick’ returning workers and help them be equipped with skills to find new employment.

The former congresswoman cited the need for the OFWs to have new skills to easily land a job and get them reintegrated in the society.

“In coordination with the Ople Center, we will teach

Villar Foundation repatriates 10 OFWs from Riyadh, KSATEN distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), some of them endured maltreatment and other forms of abuses from their employers, returned to the country on Monday from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the help of the Villar Foundation.

OFW | 1

CHEVY | Page 10

The opening day rolls out with a motorcade mid-morning with 12 Chevrolet cars parading on the city streets, with “Bumblebee” [Chevrolet Camaro] leading the way as car number one.

The afternoon segment of the opening started with a Eucharistic Mass followed by the r ibbon cutt ing ceremony and blessing of the showroom, office spaces and the service area.

The evening event was the highlight of Chevrolet CDO’s opening day, among those present are members of the Cagayan de Oro media, public off icials

By: ShauN alejaNdrae YaP uY, Editor-in-Chief

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – CHEVROLET CDO formally opens its showroom, November 16 at Kauswagan National Highway.

from the city and around Northern Mindanao. The celebration is topped off with a fireworks display, much to the delight of the principals and guests.

E a r l i e r t h i s w e e k , Wednesday, November 14, Chevrolet sponsored “A Night with Business Partners” at the showroom that brought together personalit ies from the banking and f inancial institutions in the city.

Chevrolet CDO General Manager Bobby Y. Fornolles enthused that “The event was successful; we were able to meet their expectations,

(L-R) Renowned auto journalist Rey Butch Gamboa, Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla – President and Managing Director of The Covenant Car Company Inc., Peter U. Po – President of Grand Cars Inc., Jan Andrew Po – VP of Grand Cars, Inc., pose for the cameras during the grand launching of the Chevrolet Showroom, Kauswagan National Highway, this city. Photo by RONALD MASTAIL

Delecta...

Colours...story on page 2

story on page 4

MetroSpect2 | NOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 CAGAYANTIMES

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THREE-term Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar has asserted that their running in an election is merely all about public service and not building a political dynasty.

“We just want to serve,” said Villar, whose husband, Sen. Manny Villar was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President.

Senator Villar’s term ends in 2013. Their son, Mark, is seeking his second term as congressman of Las Pinas City.

However, the former congresswoman assured she will strictly adhere to the law if it would later say that this is not allowed.

“If there is a law on political dynasty, we will follow it. It’s not only in running for public office wherein we can serve the people,” said Villar who served as President of the Lady Legislators of the House during the 12th, 13th, and 14th Congress.

At present, she noted there is no law in the 1987 Constitution that specifically bars relatives from running for public office.

“What is prohibited right now is with regards to term limits... there are no other prohibitions,” she pointed out.

But Villar averred that aside from running in a (political)

position, they can do other things to serve and help people.

Since 1992, when the Villar Foundation was founded, Villar has been actively espousing programs for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), providing livelihood and caring for the environment.

Villar also sees nothing wrong in campaigning with Makabayan Koalisyon ng Mamayan (Makabayan) which endorsed her candidacy and that of other senatorial hopefuls, incumbent Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former MTRCB chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares.

She said Makabayan, a pol i t ical a l l iance of 11 party l i s t organizat ions, does not actual ly have a stage where they campaign.

Recal l ing her exper ience with the group, Vi l lar said they just had meet ings, and they ask you to jo in.

“ I t ’s just a smal l group where they explain thei r s tand on i ssues. I t ’ s s imi lar to a town hal l meet ing,” added Vi l lar , a Nacional i s ta Party candidate running under the ru l ing L iberal Party and i ts coal i t ion partners .

VILLAR says they just want to serve

CDO TIMES FILE PHOTO | S.Uy

The Colours Digital Foto launched its first store in Cagayan de Oro City in time with the Centrio’s opening on November 9.

Colours Digital Foto houses various digital cameras including Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) and gadget accessories on trusted brands such as Canon, Sony, Samsung, Pentax, Nikon, EOS Digital, and Kodak Express.

According to Kelly Uy, owner of the Colours Digital Foto, for 25 years, Colours has continued bringing color to the world of photographs and has afforded the people in Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete quality photo printing

and now it invaded Cagayan de Oro, of course to serve the same.

To supplement their name, the Colours DigItal Foto also caters services on quality photo printing, t-shirt prints and photo mugs ensuring good photo prints to preserve captured moments.

Colours Digital Foto is the main branch of Sony Centre in Limketkai which also offers latest gadgets and gadgets alike.

“People in Cagayan de Oro can now buy with confidence with Colours Digital Foto front lining with quality gadgets and quality photo printing services”, Uy added.

Colours Digital Foto opens its first store in Oro

By CHRISTINE H. CAbIASA, Correspondent

Global Chips introduce Apple Learning Tour

at the BWM Media Center

“Do more with your pictures”

(standing L-R) Ed Mainit-MDN Marketing Consultant, Rolando Sudaria-Editor-in-Chief of Mindanao STAR Balita, Joe delPuerto Felicilda-Managing Editor-MDN, Nikki Malagar-Asst Manager of Global Chips Technologies CDO, William Malagar-General Manager of Global Chips Technologies CDO, BWM CEO Dante Sudaria, Allan Mediante-Executive Editor of BusinessWeek Mindanao, and Bjorn Paje-Solutions Specialist of Global Chips Technologies CDO; (Kneeling L-R) Ruel Pelone-Editor-in-Chief of Mindanao Daily News, Arjay Felicilda-News Editor of Mindanao STAR Balita, Felix Santillan and Ronald Mastail - Layout and Graphic Artists of BWM strike a pose after the nearly 3-hour demonstration of the iPAD2 held at the BWM Media Center in Cagayan de Oro City, November 14. Photo by SHAUN UY

CYNTHIA VILLAR


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FIRST 35 YEARS. The Ledesma Audiological Center, Inc. (LACI), a diagnostic and rehabilitation center for the deaf and hard of hearing, celebrated 35 years of service. Headed by its founder, Dr. Nelly R. Ledesma (center), the first Clinical Audiologist in the Philippines, it continues to help the hearing impaired enjoy the sounds of life just like any normal hearing person does.The nation’s largest hearing aid sales center is located at major cities nationwide. The head office is located at Makati Cinema Square in Makati (Tel. no. 818-8564). Other branches are in Harrison Plaza in Manila, SM Cubao in Quezon City, SM Center in Valenzuela, GMT Bldg. in Cebu, SM City in Davao, H&J Palad Bldg. in Cagayan de Oro, Marymart Bldg. in Iloilo, Ago Gen. Hospital in Legaspi and Chowking Bldg. in Baguio.The company recently celebrated its 35th anniversary with a Mass at the Harrison Plaza Chapel, followed by dinner at the Century Park Hotel.

bOOTCAMP director Zachary Cohn of Startup Weekend Headquarters in Seattle is scheduled to arrive on Nov. 8 to facilitate the staging of Startup Weekend Cebu 2 on Nov. 16-18 at St. Ezekiel Moreno Bldg., University of San Jose Recoletos Basak Campus.

Cohn said he will be in the country not just to facilitate the event but also to give the Filipino public more insight about Startup Weekend.

He said some people still don’t know a thing about Startup Weekend and varying questions have been asked about it.

“When you first hear about it, Startup

Weekend might sound kind of crazy,” Cohn said. “Why are the attendees doing this? Why are the organizers even doing this? It’s not like they’re getting paid to do this or anything. Well, you have to be a bit crazy to get involved with startups.”

He said one can think of it like the next generation of gambling. “In gambling, you bet a certain amount of money with the anticipation of a payoff that is multiples higher. For low risk bets it might be a 2x return. For a high risk bet, maybe it’s 20x.”

“Startups are the same way. You could invest in Apple stock and you know

it will probably keep going up, and if you stick with it you will probably get a 10-20% return. Or you could invest in a startup. The risk is much higher (you will probably lose all your money)… but the possibly payoff is 10x, 20x, even 100x what you put in.”

“And that’s why it’s so fun and so addicting. Sometimes people invest time (founders), sometimes they invest money (angel investors, VCs, etc), but either way everyone is hoping for that Homerun return.

“So why are people so excited about Startup Weekend? Because it’s a way for anyone to get involved. It’s a safe place

for someone who’s heard of this ‘entrepreneurship’ thing and wants to learn more. And that’s awesome, because the more people who are involved in a startup community, the more everyone learns, the better everyone does, and the stronger it gets.”

Cohn said Startup Weekend is a great way to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial communities. “It can invigorate more people to get involved. And once there’s a critical mass of entrepreneurs, the rest of the infrastructure will happen.”

“Accelerators and incubators will pop up. More angels and VCs

will start investing. Infrastructure itself (faster internet, etc) will improve as there is an increase in demand. Once it’s obvious that there is opportunity, Universities may even start changing their curriculum to help better prepare students for starting their own companies instead of working for someone else.”

“When it comes down to it, the more entrepreneurs there are, the better for everyone. Initially there will be more services to support those entrepreneurs. In a short amount of time, those entrepreneurs will be creating more jobs, which means people can find

interesting, intellectually stimulating, and high paying jobs locally, instead of having to move abroad.”

“So why should you get involved with Startup Weekend? Because with more than 550 events in 2012 alone, we are helping to catalyze this change all over the world. But this isn’t a top-down effort. We’re providing the framework, but we need people on the ground, the locals like you, to carry the torch to make their startup community really grow.”

For more information about the two Startup Weekend events, please visit or register at http://cebu.startupweekend.org.

Why help Startup Weekend happen?

City Lite4 | NOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 CAGAYANTIMES

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OrOquieta City––Gracing the Pasungko S’g MisOcc Festival, Mrs. Cynthia Villar did not only send her message of concern to the festival but send a message of hope for the Misamisnons celebrating the 83rd charter anniversary of the province.

Last November 10, during the celebration of the Festival of all Festival of Misamis Occidental dubbed as Pasungko S’g MisOcc or the acknowledging the blessing from the “Magbabaya” of the lumads of Misamis Occidental, Mrs Cynthia Villar

who was also enthrowned as “Bae Pinyalan” during the 64th Charter anniversary of Ozamiz City came and graced the celebration.

Villar told Mindanao Daily News that the lady governor and she had talkon plans in the development of some projects for the Subanen of Misamis Occidental, one of which is establishing a Subanen ancestral House to cater transfer of technology scheme from the Villar Foundation in regards to livelihood assistance.

Villar further said that with

the Villar Foundation dealing on indigenous materials to produce native products, this can help augment the livelihood of the Subanens, not only to them but for the people of Misamis Occidental.

after seeing the 1st Misamis Occidental Coconut Processing Center in Barangay Bolibol in Oroquieta City, the Villar Foundation will donate some machine for the coconut quire making and improving the techniques of making coco nets that is now marketable not only in the country but as well as

to foreign countries using the coc net in infrasturture projects.

it may be known that the province of Misamis Occidental is one of the coconut producers of the country, but in Misamis Occidental the only produce from coconut industr y focuses on copra and with the 1st Misamis Occidental Coconut Processing Center, Villar Foundation also found out that other materials from the coconut is now processes like in Las Pinas City, that is why Mrs. Cynthia Villar as

the CeO of the foundation opted to help Misamisnons thru the Coconut industry especially on by-products coconut.

W i t h t h i s c o n c e r n , Governor Hermie ramiro who had been a friend and college in Congress in the 12th Congress, she said to Mindanao Daily News that with her relationship with the former Las Pinas Congresswoman, she is ve r y p r o u d to b e h e r visitor during the 83rd Founding anniversary of her province.

Villar, Ramiro workout plans for Subanenby PJ TREMEDAL of Mindanao Star Balita

Governor Hermie Ramiro (left) shared messages of hope to the people of Misamis Occidental on its 83rd Founding Anniversary. A Subanen does a tribal dance (center). Former Rep. Cynthia Villar of Las Pinas came to witness and send a message of hope for the people (right). | PJTREMEDAL with photo courtesy of Oroquieta City Photo Club and Tingog Misamisnon

Mouth- watering food? Home-made-accented delicacies served with smiles? East-meets-west dishes? Delectable goodies?

Well, you can have it now all-in-one, as Iligan’s pride Delecta invades Cagayan de Oro City and has opened its first branch in Centrio.

Delecta is a family-owned restaurant serving abundant portions of affordable good food, featuring signature one-of-a-kind dishes while ensuring great service in a comfortable, relaxed and friendly ambiance.

According to Monica Garcia, General Manager, that Delecta was coined from the word “delectable” because the restaurant guarantees serving-only superb food that would satisfy even the most discriminating taste bud. In such a way that the word means a lot, even intended connotations, Delecta also means delightful foodstuff, literally, you will be delighted even if you will only have a pinch of their served dishes ‘cause

really every piece and every slice is soothing.

“The very first Delecta restaurant was launched in 1973 in Iligan City”, Garcia added. It is through a husband-wife tandem of Amanda and Antonio Koppin that

Delecta was realized and was established first at Tibanga near MSU-IIT.

Amanda who grew up influenced by her mother’s love of trying various recipes was in charge of the kitchen. “It was really an idea out of dishes’ love by our great grandparents”, Garcia shared.

And Antonio, who is an architect by profession, was in charge of the logistics, set-up, and design of the restaurant.

“It was an idea coupled with love”, Garcia stressed. The house specialties back then were steak and

crispy pata which were a big hit among Iliganons.

For almost 40 years since its inception, Delecta Diner and Café is still going strong and growing and has never stopped innovating delicious yet affordable

dishes, as Monica boasted their top-rated and “all-time favorite of the Iliganons”, the Delecta Sweet Potato Salad.

The moment we heard it, as if “Oh oh, this is it!” from its signature name, sweet potatoes turned salad, kind of different.

The Delecta Sweet Potato Salad is comprised of three kinds of steamed sweet potatoes with their own Delecta Signature Dressing- the Delecta way.

I have asked customers also on how they find the dishes served at Delecta.

“Worth it gayud siya balik balikan kay lami man gyud labi naning Fruity Garden Salad tapos the best pud siya sa mga family gatherings” (it’s worth coming back to, it’s really tasteful, especially the Fruity Garden Salad, and it’s [Delecta] best for family gatherings), Engr. Almalyn Lanot said. “Kani pud ilang baby back ribs ug Delecta Coolers bitaw, lami kaayu.” (Their baby back ribs and Delecta Coolers are really tasty) “Maski sa Iligan mi maka adto, Delecta gyud mi paingon, balikan gyud namu” (even when we go to Iligan, we always go to Delecta, we always go back), Lester, her husband added.

Delecta Sweet Potato Salad? Baby Back Ribs? Delecta Coolers? Fruity Garden Salad? Oh, sounds yummy, right? To taste all of those, come and visit Delecta Restaurant and Café, 3rd floor Centrio and be delectably delighted.

DELECTA- DELICIOUSLY FILIPINO.

Iligan’s Delecta cooks its way to OroBy: CHRISTINE H. CAbIASA, Correspondent

Photos by JAQUILYN CAGAMPANG

Delecta Pioneers: The Garcias. (L-R) Gina, Danilo, Angelica, and Dominic.

“The very first delecta restaurant was launched in 1973 in Iligan City”


Agriculture UpdatesNOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 | 5CAGAYANTIMES

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S U P P L Y - D E M A N D ANALYSIS:

The Philippine coffee industry, among the top three suppliers to the World at the start of the 19th Century, is now 76th out of 79 Coffee Producing Countries- unable to satisfy its domestic demand, much less exporting to other Countries.

Presently, Filipinos are consuming 61 million kg of coffee per year and produce at most 30 million kg (some say less than 20 million kg), creating a demand-supply gap of 31 million kg., with an economic value of P2.8 Billion in 2012. And since production is declining amidst rising domestic demand, imports are increasing and expected to reach 124 million kg by 2022 and 361 million kg by 2032.

D E FA U LT O N J O b GENERATION:

Failing to capitalize on this economic opportunity in our own backyard represents 30,000 jobs that benefits Vietnam (our chief supplier today), 64,000 in 2017, 125,000 by 2022, and 361,000 jobs by 2032.

Activity Total 5 Years YearlyNurseries 646,498,856 129,299,771 Seedlings 3,232,494,281 646,498,856 Fertilizer 29,076,336,878 5,815,267,376 Plantation 10,774,980,938 2,154,996,188 43,730,310,953 8,746,062,191

REVIVING COFFEE - TOWARDS RURAL PEACE AND PROSPERITY:

A 20 Year Scenario for a Renewed Philippine Coffee IndustryBy Pierre Yves Cote and Roberto Ansaldo

The Philippine Government has a golden opportunity before it today. Renewing the long neglected Coffee Industry is the Country’s Gateway to Rural Peace and Prosperity.

DEFAULT ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:

In terms of economic value, the Philippine will give Vietnam P 22 Billion within 5 years, P 68 Billion within 10 years, and P 291 Billion over 20 years. This coffee importing situation will make Philippine coffee importers rich, in collaboration with Vietnamese coffee farmers. But potential Filipino coffee farmers, particularly our neglected Highland Communities, who reside in the best coffee growing areas, will remain poor. Given the national cry for INCLUSIVE GROWTH, we cannot allow this to happen.

T H E C O F F E E PAT H FORWARD:

A national objective to remove this supply-demand gap within 5 years must be given the highest priority. And it can be done! The solution is to invest massively in the development of coffee nurseries, coffee plantations, and coffee mills nationwide in the Philippines.

Our Country is one of the best locations in the world for

coffee plantation development. We have vast tracts of high elevation lands with the right climate, plenty of rainfall, and fertile soil.

Additionally, highland Communities have a history of Arabica Coffee cultivation from their forefathers. So it is not a foreign crop being introduced for the first time with doubts regarding being environmentally friendly or even sustainability.

By developing our coffee industry, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created in the Rural Areas that need them - enticing them to remain on their lands as Producers versus going to Cities to look for jobs.

Furthermore, hundreds of bi l l ions in economic development will be generated rather than exporting our jobs and remitting our money to Vietnam.

I N I T I A L 5 Y E A R I N V E S T M E N T REQUIREMENTS:

To remove the demand-supply gap within 5 years and turn the Philippines from a Net Importer into a Net Exporter, the Philippines will need to invest an initial P 45 Billion in 5 years, or P 9 Billion / year as follows:

These investments will not only benefit farmers. It will also create thousands of jobs and economic benefits for the entire coffee VALUE CHAIN including farm input manufacturers/traders involved in compost making, supply of chicken manure, seedling nurseries, and fert i l izer producers as listed above.

These AGRI-sectors will bring huge economic benefits throughout the Rural Areas with our coffee industry revival.

2ND FIVE YEAR COFFEE EXPANSION:

As the Philippine population is growing and its middle class fast emerging, demand for coffee will grow- projected to reach 100 million kg by 2018. More investments will be needed to avoid reversing the gain of the next 5 years.

It is estimated that, after the initial investment of P 45 Billion for the period 2013-2017, another P 88 Billion or P 17 Billion / year will be needed from 2018 to 2022 just to stay ahead of the demand curve.

In term of hectares of land

and trees planted, we need to develop a minimum of 13,000 Ha / year for 5 years equivalent to planting 20 million trees / year or 100 million for the next 5 years. By the second 5 year period, the Philippines will need to sustain demand by developing 20,000 hectares yearly for the next 15 years, and this means planting 30 million trees annually from 2018 onward until 2032.

In terms of farms; this means developing at least 26 farm Clusters of 500 hectares each, or its equivalent from 2013-2018.

COFFEE | Page 9

Agricultural stakeholders, especially the farmers and fisherfolks, in the province of Misamis Occidental exulted as Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has personally handed-over more than P100 million worth of assistance for their respective farming and fishing ventures during the province’s month-long 83rd anniversary celebration on November 14, 2012 at the Capitol Grounds, Provincial Capitol. During the forum – witnessed by more than 1,000 farmers and fisherfolks, including local executives, officials and other esteemed guests in Misamis Occidental – Sec. Alcala assured that the department will carry on in steering the province’s course towards agricultural development, characterized in achieving food sufficiency while also taking into account in alleviating the conditions of farmers and fisherfolks. In behalf of the province, Honorable Governor Herminia M. Ramiro received the certificates of award and turn-over from the Secretary. On top of this, Sec. Alcala has committed in establishing a corn mill in the two municipalities of the province, namely Concepcion and Bonifacio and a multi-species hatchery in the municipality of Sapang Dalaga.

3rd PAS’UNGKO S’G FESTIVAL

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ALA MODE by OWeN jaeN

WORDS & NOTES by deBBIe CaBaGue

It’s few more weeks to go before Christmas right? Most of us will be very busy by then doing our Christmas parties, reunions, gift giving and so on…

But in the midst of these activities, one plays an important role in it and that is MUSIC. Try to imagine the sa id act iv i t ies without music and for sure you’ll be bored.

Why? Music itself is life. It is a life giving entity to majority of the things we do. And in this special season of the year, Christmas carols bring life to our gatherings.

A s i d e f r o m t h e gatherings, when we hear Christmas carols in the air, personally it affects us.

When the “ber” month hits and we start hearing Christmas songs in the air , i t makes us realize that Christmas is just around the corner and we can

suddenly recognize the cool breeze of the air.

S o m e o f t h e songs also makes us reminisce, thus we feel blue or happy as we allow our emotions to flow as a Christmas song goes.

For us musicians, the special season makes u s g l a d b e c a u s e Chr i s tmas mus ic ’ s unique characteristic is in the melody wherein it refreshes and gives us a heart-warming feel ing, aside from the overwhelming requests of our clients to be part of their gatherings.

M o r e o v e r , celebrating the season brings me back to the real reason why we have the celebration today, that is of course the birth of Jesus Christ.

Music is but just the spice, an important s p i c e w e c a n n o t n e g l e c t l i k e s a l t without it, it is tasteless.

‘Tis this season may we celebrate with our love ones along with good Christmas carols. Above al l may we always be reminded that the very reason for the season is Jesus, not the parties we will have.

W e c e l e b r a t e because Jesus lives in our hearts.

For this whole year our band D’blends has been b lessed with so many singing engagements and as the year ends we feel more b lessed as Starbucks here in Cdeo invited us for a night of Christmas with violinist Jan Martin Legaspi on December 5, 2012 from 6-9pm.

A great privi lege indeed we are al l looking forward to, so if you’re free that time come and listen to some Christmas carols and other heart -warming songs. See you then!

EDITORIAL

T h a t ’ s t h e m o s t appropriate word to label the recent petitions filed by three utilities with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to charge to consumers the cost of their damages arising from Tropical Storm Sendong and the floods arising from it.

When a court uses the word unconscionable to describe conduct, it means that the conduct does not conform to the dictates of conscience. I n a d d i t i o n , w h e n something is judged unconscionable, a court will refuse to allow the perpetrator of the conduct to benefit.

In contract law, an unconscionable contract is one that is unjust or extremely one-sided in favor of the person who has the superior bargaining power. An unconscionable contract is one that no person who is mentally competent would enter into and that no fair and honest person would accept. Courts find that unconscionable contracts usually result

from the exploitation of consumers who are often poorly educated, i m p o v e r i s h e d , a n d unable to find the best price available in the competitive marketplace.

While we can hardly ca l l the consumers o f C E P A L C O , M O R E S C O - 1 a n d t h e N G C P p o o r l y educated, much less mentally challenged o r i m p o v e r i s h e d , their conduct to take advantage of existing laws which allow this kind of “cost recovery” for a catastrophe like S e n d o n g c e r t a i n l y qualifies that act to be called “unconscionable”.

In a month or so, i t wi l l be the f i r s t anniversary of Tropical Storm Sendong’s grisly passage through Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The timing of these three firms peti t ions with the ERC would also brand them as blasé, deadened to the agony of the throngs of humanity who suffered cruelly in the raging passage of that deadly storm.

Mark the words of Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez: “We will oppose this at the ERC and Congress. How can they pass on these damages to the consumers who already suffered the floods of Sendong? There is no legal and moral basis for this claim and we will oppose this petition in every forum it is brought up.”

O r t h e s c a t h i n g rejoinder of an enraged member of the fourth estate:“Binuang naman na ila ipasa ang damyos sa Sendong sa ato! Na double dead man ta ana! Dawbe kadtong apektado ug namatyan sa Sendong? Pabayran pa giyod sa damyos? Ka hayahay ba sad nila!”

The petitioners have just successfully thrown years o f Corpora te Social Responsibility posturings out of the window wi th these petitions. Show them they are wrong and withdraw these immediately in the Name of God and Humanity.

Have a heart!

TOdaY getting up at six in the morning, dashing through the house to get ready for work, speeding off to the off ice and punching in the t ime card i s something others never do anymore. Not because they do not have jobs to keep it’s just that their job is wherever they are, in the comforts of their home, in a coffee shop or practically anywhere with an internet connection. Online jobs are now starting to mushroom i n t h e c o u n t r y thanks to fas te r and inexpens ive internet connections, a v a i l a b i l i t y o f affordable computer devices plus the skills and dedication of Filipinos. Nowadays, young technical savvy Pinoys can clock in as low as three to four hours in a day and earn a hundred dollars or

more by the end of the month. Jobs like becoming a virtual assistant, a remote researcher, a ghost writer and even an events planner for a party halfway across the globe are just a few of the myriad of options available for the eager cyber employee.

The good thing about hav ing a virtual job is that you can work at your own convenience. No more worries of coming to the office late and no more office drama. All you need to do is meet deadlines and reach targets laid out by your online employer. Others that I have asked regarding their online jobs have more than employer and they multi-task to earn even greater. Some that I know of earn as high as P30,000.00 pesos a month by handling

four different jobs!Sounds tempting?

T h i n k a g a i n . T o delve into the cyber workforce looks like an easy, lazy way to a fat paycheck but in reality it is not. It needs dedication, resourcefulness, focus and discipline to be able to beat the deadlines as well as pull yourself together to attend to your job and not wander around with all the free t ime in your hands. Also, an online job’s salary may be quite higher than the usual employment rates in the country but it does not have the safety nets and benefits like regular workers get. The risk of finishing an output and not receiving any pay is also something to consider. Try asking around and research on your potential on l ine employer before committing to avoid working for

bogus companies and online scams. There are legitimate websites you can check and submit your applications online. Just be sure to prepare your body of work and update your portfol io for higher chances of getting accepted.

For fresh graduates and no plans of going to work full time yet, an online job is a viable option but it would be best to make it as a secondary or s idel ine work, something to while away extra time and harness one’s skills and not something to be f inancial ly dependent on.

So, you got some s p a r e t i m e a n d want to earn extra cash? Try hunting the cyber world and hope you can find a virtual job for you!

H a v e a g r e a t w e e k e v e r y o n e ! Cheers!

an unconscionable Imposition on the double dead

Christmas Carols in the air

The PINOY VIrTual WOrKFOrCe

Points of ViewNOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 | 7CAGAYANTIMES

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TRAVERSING THE TOURISM HI-WAY

by: Ped T. QuIaMjOT

hOTelS in Cagayan de Oro this November are showing modest occupancy figures higher than the previous months and perhaps a prelude of how Christmas will spel l bus iness? With demands back to pre-recession levels, hoteliers are focusing on the best ways to capitalize and drive revenues for every available room in the city.

The local hotel industry players are now shifting from reactive to proactive that focus on items that are not really urgent but important.

This introduces the bus iness process of connecting relationship with hotel guests and connecting with them throughout their stay.

M a i n t a i n i n g relationship is an industry practice with no written rules but to optimize revenue potentials.

R e l a t i o n s h i p i s patterned after the banking industry practice of cultivating a wider

base of clients to increase transactions for loans and deposits.

P e r i o d i c w e e k l y r e v e n u e m e e t i n g s among team members are conducted to make sure at least a great percentage is focused on f inding so lut ions to guest s needs to overcome h i s tor ical t rends on negat ive guests’ comments that may affect poss ible repeat business.

Facil itating weekly meetings create fusions of the minds among team members . I t ’ s collaborative and not just one person speaking out. This strategy form part of revenue management team.

Night Clerks find it easy to print revenue reports from the day transactions. Hotel owners can read it and be amused with the recovery prospects. But whether it can be of value is to talk about the why and how?

H o t e l ’ s r e v e n u e

management scheme is not only driven by competition but the team members should push for emotional pricing or setting rates depending on price movement of the hotels that double as a resort and the hotels located in the downtown areas which enjoys easy accessibility to restaurants and shopping.

Business class hotels adjacent to malls or shopping centers have the advantage for the walk-in short haul market.

W h i l e s a l e s a n d marketing executives are continuously surfing the net for the latest on-line booking placed by web based travel.com or government portals announcing conference schedules and out of town meetings.

V a r i o u s d i s c o u n t schemes are made favorable to corporate business which has been supporting the industry. Travel agencies that sells inbound destination

like the Phil ippines in general and Cagayan de Oro in part icular h a v e c o n t r a c t e d arrangements earning for the agency percentage of rebates for booking the business.

W h i l e a i r l i n e companies integrate hotels and breakfast meals to their passage t ickets as come-on promotions to sell more destinations.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines have pioneered on tours although they have left the city, their Palakbayan Tour Program has been in existence for the last decade earning loyalty patronage from the business community and the returning Filipino residents from abroad.

For travelers to the islands destination, like Bohol and Palawan or Boracay, Palakbayan Tours simplify an all in booking arrangement for the passenger at a cost attractive to the budget.

On the other hand,

Cebu Pacific Air has made their forwarding destinations convenient with their Go Hotels tie up.

A program supported by the hotel properties owned by sister company, Robinson Land, which is into business class hotel venture.

Not to be outdone with competition, Air Ph i l ipp ines Exp res s , r e c e n t l y l a u n c h e d their Adven Tours in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the Phi l ippine Hotel Reservations systems.

Pryce Plaza signed up for this tie-up to become the exclusive booking partner hotel of Air Phil Express in Cagayan de Oro City. Air Phil Adven Tours is anchored on the White Water Rafting attraction of the city which e levated the Cagayan de Oro eco-tourism product for more international exposure.

A new player in the airline industry, Air Asia which now flies the Clark to Davao destination and

soon the Asian cities in the BIMP- EAGA region developed attractive travel packages tied up to their Red Planet Hotels Limited of Malaysia under the brand of Tune Hotel which is making their presence in Clark, Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Final stages for their Cagayan de Oro entry is in progress at the Tune Hotel construction ris ing along Lapasan highway right smack at three downtown business class hotels expected to slug it out for market dominance.

Mallbery Suites 300 rooms or more, LimKetKai Hotels 224 rooms and Ayala Kukun’s 150 rooms by local standards are now the biggest hotels in the city.

Bench marking the bus iness for growth comes with the pudding and with more hotels and property development; there is no turning back but to raise the bar of luxury in the city.

HEALTH IN fOcUSby: dr. Mary jean loreche

healTh is not just the absence of disease. Health is the totality of a person: mental, physical, emotional, spiritual.

Once a break occurs in any of these, then a disorder or illness is present, which may hamper one’s ability to live a full, quality life.

Despite our claim that we are in the 21st century, which makes this generation to be more open and accepting to the so called freaks , there seems to be a hesitance as yet to admit that we, or a family member may be suffering from a mental illness.

The tendency is to deny such existence, which can be hazardous to the patient, as help becomes delayed or denied.

Schizophrenia is one such mental disorder. In the early stages, it may be difficult to tell if the person is suffering from such, as the symptoms develop slowly over months or years. It is a chronic, severe and disabling disorder.

As a Medical student, many years back, I was privileged to be enrolled in a school whose Neuro-

Psychiatry Department was one of the best. My exposure to patients with mental disorders ranging from personality disorders to Psychotics to Schizophrenia was such that, my skills to detect the illness was honed.

I nearly fell in love with the Specialty, and would have chosen it. Until, a patient under my care, who I thought was well enough to be discharged, committed suicide.

That was when I decided that it wasn’t for me.

To be labelled as a ”mentally ill person“ carries with it a responsibility.

If a friend, a family member or an acquaintance is mentally ill, this person needs help as he/she may pose a threat to himself/herself, and to the people around them.

Diagnosing it correctly, just like other diseases, is of utmost importance, as treatment is vital to the patient’s capacity to a near normal existence.

For schizophrenia, a Psychiatric evaluation is a MUST, as the medical history taken from the interview of the patient and the family, is central to its

diagnosis. Otherwise, for

anybody to just label one as a schizophrenic may not be a wise thing to do.

Patients who are diagnosed as Schizophrenics have problems with their thoughts, which may be disorganized, claim to hear voices like someone is talking to them, controlling their minds or plotting against them.

When this happens, the patient may withdraw and sit for hours without moving, losing touch with reality. At other times, hallucinations or delusions may occur.

If one were in the hallucinatory stage, he/she would claim seeing, hearing feeling or sensing things or voices that others do not see, hear or feel. Delusions on one hand are false beliefs, wherein the patient may be believed that his/her neighbour can control their behaviours through magnetic waves. These false beliefs can vary, but nonetheless is present. Schizophrenics often say meaningless words “neologisms”.

Their emotions are usually “flat” meaning they have no facial

expressions at all: may profess to be happy and yet the face doesn’t reflect it at all! The patient likewise shows no pleasure at all for everyday living and usually is so quiet, keeping to himself/herself. There is no attempt to even dress up or clean themselves.

Not to forget, that a schizophrenic has agitated bodily movements or may be catatonic: staying still with no sign of any movements at all.

If one were diagnosed as such, with treatment, there may be improvement, but the prognosis is really is difficult to tell. Religious taking of the medications and a strong family support, are most needed by patients not just with schizophrenia but for all mental disorders.

Labels or name calling is nothing but a show of ignorance. An evidence based, scientific approach to diagnosis is important in helping a patient or a loved one.

Caring for the mentally ill takes a lot of courage and compassion, and, if they are left on their own, they may not make it through in the jungles of life...

OPTIMIZING reVeNueS ThIS NOVeMBer

a Basic Introduction to Schizophrenia

On a weekend, I had the leisure to reflect about many concerns including governance. Of the many mind boggling issues, one interesting question popped into my mind: When can we say that government employees are receiving salaries much more than what they put in for public service? This maybe a contentious issue for politicians and the public, however, we cannot deny that the general public labeled government employees as incompetent and underproductive workers or in the simplest term overpaid bureaucrats.

Nearly everyone in the community would profess that interactions or experiences with these so-called “overpaid bureaucrats” are unpleasant or disappointing. Numerous negative feedbacks from different sectors on noxious attitudes and spiteful behaviors of government employees are observed.

T h e y a r e s a i d t o b e enjoying their state of languor or incompetence. A concrete example is on matters of data requests where one will have to bear with their incapability, either it takes eons for them to perform simple data retrieval or the same typographical error is continuously repeated.

Somehow I cannot help but agree to such portrayal that public workers are “worthless slugs living on the people’s taxes” to quote an acquaintance complaining about his frustration in getting legal documents certified for weeks which could have taken only an hour.

As a public servant myself, I find these observations and feedbacks extremely demeaning and alarming. I personally abhor negative impressions especially regarding work performance. Maybe sad but true, we cannot stop negative reactions from the general public, whom we know are the taxpayers, their discontent about public workers.

We hear a lot about them who overpopulate the government swarming like insects backed up by powerful politicians. Nepotism is a corrupt practice but it is rampant in our system because the government is not pushing the policy against nepotism and bosses are not serious about cracking their whips.

Many spent their whole life in public service working in the same office with the same job for a superficial reason not to be uprooted from their comfort zones. They are already contented with simple daily routines from reading a newspaper on business hours down to gossiping other worker’s personal lives. On top of these, they are the ones getting the promotion owing to their long years in service! The merit-based policy in personnel selection is more often than not rubbish.

One can attest that some have fortunately discovered the secrets how to suck up with the bosses. Some have enjoyed a lot in their positions without lifting any finger and effortlessly getting promotion with the help of their sponsors or big time backers.

Fragments of my thoughts

By Marigold Cherie

CHERIE | Page 9

8 | NOVeMBer 18-24, 2012

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By: John D

reINVeNTING NMWS After paying such

a high price… a very important lesson learned by the core group (Northern Mindanao Wedding Suppliers) as well as the most basic: is that gaining the customers TRUST is of utmost importance. The storm has passed NMWS. Members are encouraged to be vigilant, to keep an open eye for such unprofessional suppliers and swindlers even.

The idea of gathering the best suppliers from all over Northern Mindanao with the ultimate goal of uplifting professional standards in the event, wedding industry is no easy task. NMWS is a work in progress. We have already accomplished

reaching out to suppliers from all over the area, and it was now time to separate the professionals from the amateurs.

First things first, NMWS had to re-invent itself, not only to improve itself but to start all over again with the members screened before acknowledging their affiliation. A new core group was formed last October 2012 that then would constitute the directorial board of the group. Legitimacy of the group was the first priority, graduating from just a facebook group of suppliers to a duly registered organization. A regular Wednesday meet up of suppliers as started last year at Brewberry Café was a good venue for exchanging

of ideas amongst the core members. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to those who attended the meeting with special thanks to Miss Ann Ato of Brewberry Café’.

The New NMWS with a fresh start went on “reboot” mode and members were required to re-apply with complete documents that will prove their businesses legitimacy. Certified members will be enjoying premium mileage and perks depending on their membership. We do not seek quantity in terms of membership, NMWS needs quality suppliers and professionals who will not shame the industry and maintain a standard of excellence.

PART II – MOVING FORWARD

MOVING FOrWardMembers and clients alike await the re-birth of NMWS. It will be moving forward with new developments. The aim or objective of the group is not only to gather the best suppliers and uplift professional standards but to bring clients to suppliers of who we can guarantee professional, honest service.The new NMWS website is in its development stage and would be re-launched soon. From www.northminweddings.weebly.com NMWS now has its new web address www.northminweddings.orgIf you want to know more about NMWS, Please feel free to visit our website or email us

for inquiries. It does not hurt to investigate and check the background of your wedding supplier. We guarantee you that all will be kept confidential. This is a call to readers, would be married couples and even those who have complaints on certain wedding suppliers in our area: We NEED FEEDBACK in order to improve the industry standards and assure better service from wedding professionals in Northern Mindanao.Congratulations to those who have already submitted their application to NMWS. I firmly believe that alone I cannot make it but as a team WE CAN. We NorthMin Wedding Suppliers would never

sacrifice quality over price. Wedding Planners/Coordinators have suffered bad reviews and feedbacks for giving false promises and non-delivery of expected performance. Wedding Planners are the front-liners of this industry.On the next issue, we will be giving tips or advice on how to get the best wedding planner and what to expect from them. NMWS will be posting Wedding coordinators/planners who are “COMMISION FREE” and with your help in our feedback section identify dishonest coordinators who are proven to abuse the trust of fellow suppliers and customers alike.

NorthMin Weddings: NMWS Going 2…Looking back and Moving Forward!

REUNION of MOGCHS BATCH 91’ with Guy Jason Reyes as President (White Polo Barong) with Andreanie Asmuni Pulido and Randy V. Banas of Kairosolutions Inc. (second from left side) dated October 27, 2012 @ Mallberry Suites, CDO.

T a k e y o u r c i n e m a experience to the next level as Centrio Mall officially opened their four s tate-of- the-art cinemas to movie goers and movie enthusiasts on November 15.

Y o u r m o v i e entertainment adventure will take its feet higher with dazzling sound and imagery offered by each cinema. Plus your viewing comfort will be of an A stand and dynamic ambiance as it enlivened first brand of customer service drawing movie aficionados a movie watching like no other.

Centrio Mall Cinemas v e n t u r e d o n l i n e purchasing and booking

of tickets also to respond the growing population of movie goers for them to have convenient and easy access on ticketing service via the Internet through M-Pass.

The M-Pass is a prepaid service that allows you to pay for your movie tickets and now even movie snacks ahead of time, so the next time you use SureSeats, you can charge it all to your M-Pass load. Sure Seats is a scheme in which even if you are at home, at the office or you are a tourist, you can reserve or purchase your tickets using credit card online at www.sureseats.com.

For its launch, Cinema

2 features the movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

The movie watching advent wi l l be more rewarding as Centrio Mall Cinemas treat its moviegoers to free photo souvenirs when they watch Breaking Dawn: Part Two with their family and friends on November 17 and 18.

Also, they wil l get a chance to win a BARKADA MOVIE BLOW OUT inclusive of movie passes, popcorn and drinks plus other exciting prizes when they watch from November 15 to 21.

If you want heightened movie escapade, explore Centrio Mall Cinemas.

Centrio Mall Cinemas officially openedBy CHRISTINE H. CAbIASA

Photo by J. CAGAMPANG

Advertise Now!

like us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES

Call us at 09177121424 or 09273373917email: [email protected]


FeatureNOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 | 9CAGAYANTIMES

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Most disappointing are the high salaried workers who rely on the younger breed in performing their jobs and remained deaf to the fact that work load should commensurate their salaries. I pity the younger staff, although it is an opportunity to learn and show their competence, then again, isn’t it sickening to effortlessly earn higher salary and claim ownership of a very well written report done by lower paid staff?

Even more appalling is that since these high salaried workers have lesser workload, they have ample time during office hours for personal agenda including shopping, texting, facebooking moving from one colleague's table to another for a chat, reading the newspaper, chatting, surfing the Internet, chit-chatting on co-workers’ personal lives, showbiz updates and the worst case is sleeping while on duty!

Hence, the term “retired on active duty” personnel would best describe them.

More ghastly is the fact that these are the same workers grumbling about their jobs and throwing complaints to the bosses! If we are to check their time cards, they are consistent in topping the list of employees with most number of tardiness and absences.

Hostility is not new in the government. There are workers who presume they are far better than the rest, antagonizing their co-workers including clients. They are busy degrading other people while seated on their chairs for years enjoying the security blanket from their backers (who are mostly close relatives and friends) while mutually protecting their backers’ corrupt practices.

We cannot always assume that all public workers are

corrupt; however, the public’s perception about government corruption already taints the dignity of the workers. It is my conviction that corruption comes in many different ways not only in public fund malversation but also in the use of public resources for private gain. A simple safekeeping of office food provision for personal consumption is already an indication of corruption or kleptocracy.

We cannot deny the existence of “crabs” in the office, which push themselves up by using other people’s work and ideas and are experts in the “copy paste” technique. Whether these people are any less prevalent in the government, I couldn’t say no; I simply resent public workers not pulling their weight further because they’re on the taxpayers’ payroll.

This long standing prejudice

against government workers indicate that these attitudes are contributory to the slowing down of our country’s economic growth while their apathetic behaviors are not putt ing anything worthwhile for the public’s interest but worsening the ‘already stained’ condition.

W e a r e h o p i n g t h e government’s rationalization plan will fix this problem to eradicate bad apples or deadwoods. If the ratplan kills the disease, the next question should be about timelines. The clock has no freeze button, time does not have the ability to stop itself, and hence, the fixing in the government must be done immediately.

If I were projecting myself as a noble public servant, I cannot allow myself to be tainted with these prejudices by the general public of government workers being unproductive drones and public resource wasters.

Numerous questions kept pouring in as I tried to reflect deeper. Much worse, I panicked at the thought that I am likened to under-producing but overpaid sloth. With these reflections, I am confronted with the question how to make a change in the government. I would say that it takes people to make a change not the government itself.

We have already suffered much from unfavorable public opinion for decades. We have been perceived and stereotyped as ineffective and mediocre. Are we supposed to accept these allegations and continue being deaf and dumb?

I wish to coax you out from your honeycombs and take the cudgels. Let us defy apathy in the government workplace and demonstrate our capabilities to excel. We cannot allow indolence or mediocrity in our careers in the government. It is time to step

up our efforts to demonstrate quality service and disprove negative impressions about public workers.

Al low me to make this one reverberating call to all fellow government workers, that job performance is sine qua non of job security, that the constitutional guarantee on security of tenure is not our shield or defense for incompetence, inaptitude and ineffectiveness from work.

Let us be challenged and a i m t o w a r d s e x c e l l e n c e . L e t u s a s c e r t a i n t h a t t he ranks o f gove rnmen t work fo rce a re pos i t i oned by ind iv idua ls , who do no t on l y ho l d above-a ve ra ge qua l i f i c a t i ons bu t whose educat ion, e l ig ib i l i t ies and competenc ies a re beyond ques t ion .

Mabuhay ang serb isyo pub l iko !

CHERIE...from Page 7

The Story… The Department of Tourism

Region 10 in Coordination with Cagayan de Oro Transport Cooperative (CDOTRANSCO) conducted a Taxi Driver’s Summit last November 6, 2012 at the atrium of SM City, Cagayan de Oro. This activity was participated in by the Drivers and Operators of taxis in the city that provide safe transportation to the riding public. This one day seminar for the drivers - front liners served as the venue to enhance the skills of the drivers in dealing with passengers and an opportunity to address concerns about their daily operations. Resource came from different agencies: Land Transportation Office, Land Transportat ion Franchising and Regulatory Board, Roads and Traff ic Administrat ion, Department of Transportation

and Communication, Department o f T o u r i s m , C o o p e r a t i v e D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y , Department of Trade and Industry City Government of Cagayan de Oro and CDOTRANSCO

Recognizing the important roles that our taxi drivers are playing in the tourism industry, the activity aimed to elevate the standards of services that our drivers provide. Several sessions and discussions on how to improve customer service, hygiene, crisis management and traffic rules and regulations were shared to create and inculcate values, maintain positive image and equip them to handle a bigger influx of tourists into the city and the region. Also part of the seminar was the emphasis on the values of honesty and integrity of our drivers in the country.

One of the Drivers of Kelco Taxi operating in the city has strengthened the foundation of honesty and integrity of Kagay-anons. Last November 12, 2012 CDOTRANSCO, an organization of taxis here in Cagayan de Oro City returned an Acer Laptop to the Department of Tourism Office. The Laptop was left behind in the back seat of the taxi by a passenger during the rush on her way home. Mr. Bennie Go, the taxi driver didn’t notice the laptop because it was placed on the floor at the back seat of his taxi. According to him, the next passenger noticed the black bag. And asked him who could left the bag inside the vehicle. He checked the bag and he found a laptop. Thinking of the possibility that the owner would look for the laptop, he immediately coordinated with the

CDOTRANSCO officers to help him find the owner. The officers of the organization brought the laptop to the DOT office and coordinated on how to find the owner of the laptop.

The day after, DOT 10 was able to contact the owner of the laptop through the information retrieved inside the bag. Ms. Catalina Gaite, a Communications Director in one of the universities in the city came over and happily claimed her laptop. She said that she left the laptop inside the taxi on her way home together with her family. Files and reports were saved in the laptop that she has worked hard for a couple of days already and how to retrieve them were priority in her mind. But when she received a phone call about how her laptop was found, tears of joy flowed.

In the office of DOT-10, the

This Coffee Industry Development Plan shall target areas like Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) where indigenous people l ive or Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) created by DAR, typically areas of unrest due to under-development.

By the very nature of these areas as well as the Communities who live there, the Coffee Development Plan will become an integral part of the President’s Peace Initiatives by following-up the successful peace n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h a Livelihood Model capable of generating upwards of P200,000/ hectare/ year by the 3rd-4th year thru coffee cultivation.

ENAbLING POLICIES: V A R I E T A L CONSIDERATIONS:

A key consideration will be which coffee variety the Agriculture Department/Government planners decide to prioritize. If Arabica coffee that requires high elevation areas, economic benefits could be three times higher as Arabica coffee normally fetches P 200 / kg while Robusta (that grows in low lands) sell at P 75 / kg.

So instead of generating

P 22 Billion in economic benefits in 5 years by focusing on Robusta, the Philippines could generate P 68 Billion in economic benefits if it chose to prioritize Highland Arabica coffee.

Clearly, the Philippines needs Robusta, but it is a lower priced coffee variety. It would be economically dis-advantageous to neglect Arabica while al l other coun t r i e s w i th s imi l a r high altitude areas like the Philippines cashes in on this valuable commodity.

ACCESS TO CAPITAL: Whatever the business

development model selected by entrepreneurs, the Coffee Industry Development Plan must provide Capital Access to a variety of entrepreneurs - be they Small Enterprises (SME), large agri-business corporations, cooperatives, associations, or indigenous people organizations.

P R O M O T I N G PARTNERSHIPS:

At the end of the day, coffee cultivation will need land. It is unavoidable that entrepreneurs wil l need to partner with clusters of small farmers, Indigenous people, or Agrarian Reform beneficiaries and share the

economic pie with them. Philippine Government

agencies like DENR (who manage the CBFM program and protect the environment), NCIP (who protect the rights and interests of Indigenous people) and DAR (who manage Agrarian Reform Communities) will play a key role to make sure that these investments translate into business opportunities and economic prosperity for the poorest among the poor.

Hopefully, not through Lease Arrangements, but through Win-Win partnerships that engage the small farmers as an integral part of a Contract –Growing Nucleus Farm on the 100-500 cluster hectares mentioned earlier.

O t h e r G o v e r n m e n t Agencies like DTI, BOI, and PEZA could provide incentives for investors who venture into less developed areas. And certainly, DA will play a key role in encouraging dependable private-sector nurseries through efficient accreditation and quality monitoring, supplying farmers with DA financed seedlings, and counter-parting funds for farm-to-market roads with concerned LGU’s to bring the coffee to the market – thereby integrating remote farmers into the Market Economy.

I D E N T I F Y I N G INVESTORS:

The key question is - who wil l develop these plantations? Who will borrow the money? And how will the banks lend money to these groups? What will be the collateral? What Guarantee Mechanisms can be provided to encourage Investors given the significant risks involved?

And more importantly, w h a t D e v e l o p m e n t a l l y Inclined Policies do the Banks need to identify, adopt, and implement immediately t o p r o t e c t t h e B a n k ’s interest while releasing the financing needs of the Coffee Development Plan in a timely and expeditious manner.

Clearly, the private sector shall take the initiative. But for the private sector to invest, they will need to borrow money, and the banks will need to feel safe in lending this money.

The number one challenge in implementing the Coffee Industry Development Plan will be the disbursement capacity of the Philippine government banks promoting agricultural development-particularly the Landbank and Development Bank of the Philippines.

The banks will need to establish rapidly new lending

mechanics (facilities) or financial instruments adapted to the need of the industry that are bankable and acceptable to the private sector.

These lending mechanics should not only protect the interest of the bank, but also make access to credit easy and fast to entrepreneurs that wish to invest in the coffee industry, mindful of the urgencies mentioned earlier.

Bear in mind that unlike Industry that is minimally a f f e c t e d b y w e a t h e r agricultural projects can be set back by one or two years should the released loans fail to catch the rains and planting seasons.

CONCLUSION: A lot is at stake for the

Philippines as a nation-hundreds of thousands of jobs, hundreds of Billions in economic benefits, and even the possibility of turning the Philippines from its “developing” status into a developed country in less than 10 years . But this will happen if, and only if, we include farmers and indigenous people in the cycle of economic development.

Coffee is the unique crop to the Phi l ippines that provides the golden opportunity mentioned at the

start of this paper. Simply look at what coffee has done for Vietnam and Indonesia; and what Palm Oil, Rubber and Cacao did for Malaysia. These three ASEAN neighbors successfully crafted their Agricultural Policy towards basic commodities that their land, weather, and topography provided COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE for. We can do the same in the Philippines.

And coffee is one of the distinct commodities o f I n t e rna t i ona l Trade i m p o r t a n c e t h a t h a s comparative advantage in the Philippines. It is not too late to recover the Philippines early reputation of being Premium Coffee suppliers to the World. But let’s start with satisfying our own domestic needs, vis-à-vis the Guidelines described earlier.

It is our deepest wish that the ideas and vision p r e s e n t e d w i l l a s s i s t the dec i s ion makers in providing the necessary boost to the Agricultural Sector, par t icular ly the of ten neglec ted Upland Communities whose future will be greatly improved with the necessary leadership and support to a Renewed Coffee I n d u s t r y D e v e l o p m e n t Program.

COFFEE...from Page 5

CDO: a City of Honest Drivers

paths of the Taxi driver who returned the laptop and the owner teacher crossed. Words of gratitude abound and the recently held training was underscored. Then the honourable legend of the honest Kagay-anon drivers commenced.

It may also be recalled that the Director of the Department of Tourism himself left his cellphone behind inside a taxi four years

ago. In similar incidents, two of his staff left behind their personal belongings and cellphones inside a taxi as well. But all items were recovered and returned to the owners complete and the soonest time possible. These gestures only show and prove that Cagayan de Oro indeed is not only the City of Golden Friendship but also the City of Honest Drivers.

LifeStyle10 | NOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 CAGAYANTIMES

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we wanted to introduce Chevrolet first to those who will help our customers finance our products, of course those are the banks and financial institutions, this will be the official dealer for CDO, Northern Mindanao, Region 10 and nearby regions.”

More than 80 personalities from the commercial banking and financial institutions of the city attended the event.

Among the guests are representatives from key banks in the city, BDO, BPI, MayBank, PS Bank, Metrobank, RCBC, Union Bank, UCPB, EastWest, China Bank, PBCOM to name a few.

Attorney Alberto B. Arcilla, President and Managing Director of The Covenant Car Company, Incorporated said that “we are very optimistic, prior to us formally appointing the group of Jan Andrew Po for Cagayan de Oro, Chevrolet already had a very good following here, though it wasn’t through a formal channel, most of our clients would purchase our product from neighboring cities and sub-dealers around.”

Furthermore, Attorney Arcilla says that “we were already optimistic even before our own presence here; people were already appreciating the products, when we took over the brand Chevrolet, Our company, The Covenant Car Company, Inc. identified Cagayan de

Oro as one of the growth potentials in our regional dealer network.”

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. took over the brand Chevrolet in 2009.

Chevrolet has a wide range of products suited for the consumers’ needs. Attorney Arcilla states that the model that has a strong following is the Colorado which is a pickup truck.

Arcilla states “when buying a car, I always ask what’s your ‘life stage’ and what you’re going to use it for… like if you’re still single, most probably you don’t need much space, then what’s your ‘lifestyle’… like if your lifestyle only takes you from home-to-work or to the mall, then the passenger car is for you but if you like going out of town, then the commercial vehicles are for you”.

Jan Andrew Po, Vice President of Grand Cars, Inc. says that they are very optimistic about Chevrolet’s presence in the city, “five years from now, we’ve probably expanded all the way to the back area, extended our service area because we have excellent products that we are offering to the market right now, it’s basically tailor-fitted to the Cagayan de Oro market, right now the target would be for them to choose Chevrolet.”

Mr. Po also introduces a new product, “right now we have a new product

– the Trailblazer, it’s a mid-size SUV, and has a diesel engine… a magazine considered as the new ‘king’ of the segment… it’s actually ‘hands-down’ better than [what] our competitors [have] – larger, more powerful, pricing – it’s very competitive.”

The All-New Chevrolet Trailblazer, like the Colorodo, is designed, engineered, executed and validated at GM do Brasil in Sao Paulo through GM’s global vehicle development process.

Asked whether the Transformers movies helped the Chevrolet brand, Arcilla says “very strong, we, The Covenant Car Company, were very fortunate that when we took over the brand Chevrolet, that was the year that General Motors partnered with the Transformers movie, and this gave the Chevrolet very high visibility, children would bring their parents to Chevrolet to look at ‘Bumblebee’ (Camaro) and ‘Skids’ (Spark).”

The exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the Philippines is The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCCI)

The duly appointed dealer for Cagayan de Oro City is Grand Cars Inc. lead by Peter U. Po as President and Jan Andrew Po as Vice President.

(L-R) Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla – President and Managing Director of The Covenant Car Company, Leah Avante, Lorenzo Aguilar, Jan Andrew Po – VP of Grand Cars, Inc., Rose Dimalanta, Bobby Fornolles – General Manager of Chevrolet CDO, Caroline T. Po – Chevrolet CDo Comptroller and Peter U. Po – President of Grand Cars, Inc. pose with the Camaro SS at the Chevrolet Showroom, Kauswagan National Highway, this city.

Photo by RONALD MASTAIL

CHEVY...from Page 1

Photo by SHAUN UY

Photo by SHAUN UY

Photo by SHAUN UY

Photo by SHAUN UY

NOVeMBer 18-24, 2012 | 11CAGAYANTIMESThe

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them new skills for their livelihood,’ said Villar who is running for senator under the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners.”

“We also hold yearly OFW Summits – this year it is set on Nov. 22 at World Trade Center, Pasay- to uplift the lives of our OFWs through bus iness oppor tun i t i es , especially to those who have not been lucky in their bid to find greener pastures abroad. We want to give them another option other than being a worker abroad, that is, being an entrepreneur in our own country,” Villar said.

S t r e s s ing t ha t OFW programs are among the advocacies closest to their hearts , Vil lar said they are happy that they are in a position to help our countrymen especially OFWs who endured leaving their families hoping they can uplift

their economic situation but did not get good treatment from their employers abroad.

“We cannot rescue them all so it is good that both the private sector and the government are extending similar help to OFWs,” she said.

The Villar Foundation has repatriated thousands of OFWs, with assistance from the Office of Sen. Manny Villar and other related government offices l ike the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) as well as the Blas Ople Center and Migrante.

The repatriated OFWs are Roselyn Polo, Inopocan, Leyte; Sal ly Cast i l l ion, Cotabato City; Baingan Sumael, Sultan Matsura, Maguindanao; Elin Aidala,

Jolo, Sulu; Merly Muay; Dalisay Ebio, Tanza, Cavite; Virginia Ocampo, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija; Evangeline Arcena, Davao City; Pilar Melendres, Lamita, Basilan and Charli ta Mamporte, General Santos City.

They all fled from their employers and sought refuge at the Bahay Kalinga, a shelter for OFWS under Philippine Overseas Labor Off ice/OWWA in Riyadh while awaiting their repatriation to the Philippines.

Thirty-two year Polo, a domestic helper, was initially deployed in Kuwait, but her employer sent her to Riyadh on August 19, 2012. She escaped and asked help f rom POLO-OWWA on September 19, 2012. She was immediately admitted at the Bahay Kalinga where she underwent treatment for some psychological problems.

She was reported to have suffered from hallucinations due to unknown reasons.

Castillion, Sumael and Aida la who worked as domestic helpers were victims of maltreatment.

E m p l o y e d t h r o u g h Active Manpower Agency since December 31, 2008, Castillion ran away from her employer, and was endorsed in Bahay Kalinga on August 25, 2012. She was given an exit visa through the Saudi Social Welfare Administration (SSWA) on October 2, 2012.

Aside from the physical and emotional abuses incurred, Sumael who went to the Middle East country on June 20, 2009, also complained of delayed and unpaid salaries. She stayed at Bahay Kalinga since September 17, 2012 until she was sent back to the Philippines.

Aidala arrived in Riyadh

on May 12, 2012 but was admitted in Bahay Kalinga four months later. Aside from maltreatment, she likewise had to withstand the poor working and living conditions in her employer’s house.

Muay also bore the fate of Aidala—the poor working and living conditions, but unlike the latter, she held on to her job.

Coming to Riyadh on March 11, 2012, she left her employers’ house without their permission after over a year. She escaped and went to Bahay Kalinga on August 18, 2012. She obtained her final exit visa through SSWA.

On the other hand, the employers of Ebio, Ocampo and Arcena refused to give them their final exit visa which drove them to escape and begged for assistance from authorities.

Melendres objected to her

contract substitution having arrived in Riyadh only on January 17, 2012. She ran away from her employer’s house and stayed at Bahay Kalinga since July 21. The SSWA gave her exit visa on September 19, 2012.

Mamporte finished her one and half year contract on July 28, 2012 but her employer declined to send her back home.

T h e a i r f a r e s o f t h e OFWs were provided by the Villar Foundation through i ts Sagip-OFW helpl ine program. Likewise, the Villar Foundation also arranged for their trip back to their hometowns.

For more detai ls about OFW-related activities and other programs of the Villar Foundation, please visit its website:www.villarfoundation.org

OFW...from Page 1

Senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar believes inclusion in the “Magic 6” of Makabayang

Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan), which extols almost 4 million membership nationwide, will boost chances of winning in the 2013 midterm elections.

Aside from Villar, Makabayan also endorsed the candidacy of re-electionists Senators Loren Legarda, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former MTRCB chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares.

“Yes, they will reinforce our candidacy rather than us reinforcing their candidacy,” said Villar.

She noted that Makabayan has several organizations and partylist groups campaigning all

over the nation.“Of course, we hope

to get the support of members and supporters of the organizations under Makabayan,” said Villar.

Makabayan is a political coalition of 11 party list organizations namely: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Migrante, Courage, Akap Bata, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Piston, Katribu, and Kalikasan.

It is fielding just one official candidate, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino who is running as an Independent candidate for senator in next year’s polls.

Villar also stressed that the so-called “6 Senate Champions” of the Makabayan share the same advocacies.

“They laid down their

advocacies. We read them. We agreed to support in varying degrees certain advocacies of Makabayan. We saw no problem since they are good,” she said.

Sharing Makabayan’s advocacies was the reason cited by the group’s president, former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in taking in the five as guest candidates.

Ocampo said they adopted the candidacy of the five based on a history of cooperative relationship with each of them on people’s issues and advocacies.

Among the Makabayan advocacies shared by Villar are lowering the prices of oil products, water, power and other basic commodities and services; pushing for genuine agrarian reform, pro-people mining policies

and environmental protection; equitable minimum wage and salary adjustments in the public and private sectors and subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk.

Villar also vouches for increasing budgetary allocations for essential social services; asserting national sovereignty and pepole’s interest; working for the passage of the Freedom of Information and Whistleblowers Act; seeking an end to extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances of activists and journalists and amnesty to political prisoners and repealing or amending the Cybercrime Law and decriminalizing libel and pushing for resumption of peace talks.

Villar sees nothing wrong in the Makabayan

endorsement since all of them are running under the ticket of the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners.

Except for Villar and Pimentel, Legarda, Escudero and Poe are also guest candidates of both LP and the United Nationalist Alliance, a coalition of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada and PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The former congresswoman has likewise maintained that having several endorsements would not prejudice chances of winning of a candidate due to alleged ‘overexposure.”

“The more, the better,” added Villar, as she reminded the electorate to focus on issues and not on personalities.”

VILLAR says MAKABAYAN endorsement will boost candidacy

MAKABAYAN proclaimed its six (6) Senate Champions for 2013 senatorial election, namely, MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe Llamanzares, Sen. Francis Escudero, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino, Sen. Loren Legarda, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Koko Pimentel represented by Atty. Gwenn Pimentel. Also in photo are Makabayan President Satur Ocampo and Makabayan Co- Chairperson Liza Masa.

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MANILA, Philippines –There’s nothing more beautiful than coming together for a special cause—t h i s w a s w h a t representatives of MyPhone and MISS EARTH have to say about their newly-sealed partnership, a s c o n t r a c t s were s igned at t h e C a r o u s e l P r o d u c t i o n s , I n c . y e s t e r d a y , November 12, 2012.

MyPhone, the country’s first and leading dual SIM p h o n e b r a n d ’ s affinity with the MISS EARTH is a sign of its support for the e n v i r o n m e n t a l causes which the pageant advocates.

“We are proud to be a partner of the MISS EARTH which promotes ‘beauty for a cause’, not only to the Philippines where it originated, but a l so to the wor ld,” expla ins Richie de Quina, VP for Marketing a n d B u s i n e s s

Development of the MyPhone brand.

The MISS EARTH beauty pageant was lunched by Carousel Productions, Inc. in Manila in 2001. Now on its twelfth year, it continues to be the most prestigious and relevant beauty pageant in the world that pushes for the promotion and protection of Mother Earth.

M y P h o n e h a s been an act ive supporter of the MISS PHILIPPINES-EARTH since the early years of the pageant, and according to MyPhone’s president Jaime Alcantara, s u p p o r t i n g t h e p a g e a n t ’ s i n t e r n a t i o n a l counterpart i s a much welcomed step-up.

E a c h y e a r , MISS EARTH brings together some 80 to 90 gorgeous e n v i r o n m e n t ambassadress from all over the globe to compete for the

prestigious crown. As one of the

pageant’s partners, MyPhone wil l be awarding pr izes, as well as a special Miss MyPhone award on pre-pageant act iv i t ies of the candidates.

M i s s L o r r a i n e Schuck, Executive Vice President of Carousel Productions (the organizers of the environment-d r i v e n b e a u t y contest) expressed her gratitude for MyPhone’s belief and suppor t to MISS EARTH and its advocacy.

W h e n a s k e d what she can say about MyPhone as a partner, Ms. Schuck shared, “MyPhone, just like MISS EARTH, is a Filipino brand. W e ’ v e a l w a y s thought it best to work with brands of our own, and as a partner, MyPhone has always been wonderful. We are very grateful for their support.”

(L-R) Jaime Alcantara – President, MyPhone, Lorraine E. Schuck – Executive Vice-President , Carousel Productions, Inc. & Richard DeQuina – Vice President Business Development Sales & Marketing, MyPhone

MyPhone Supports MISS earTh’s

Beautiful Cause

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