Cebu City News October 2017

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Aerial View of Metro Cebu

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Cebu City Cathedral
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Magellan's Cross in Cebu City
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Mormon Temple Lahug cebu city philippines

City Hall hosts trick or treat for children

By Alven Marie A. Timtim (Silliman University Intern)

OFFICES inside the Cebu City Hall celebrated Halloween on Monday with a trick or treat, games and a mini-horror booth for kids.

The annual trick or treat or the giving of candies and food to the children of City Hall employees and to kids who would come and visit during the activity has become a tradition according to Lea Japson, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS).

According to Japson, more than 150 children took part in this year’s trick or treat which is higher that last year’s attendance of 100 plus kids. Japson said they were more prepared this year.

“Last year 100 raman amoa gi-prepare unya more than 100 man na abot so amo gi-increase og 150. So nagpa-register mi, first 150 gi tagaan og snacks (Last year we prepared 100 [snacks] but more than 100 [children] came so we increased our count to 150 then we let the first 150 kids register and gave them snacks),” said Japson.

The offices were not required to prepare candies and snacks according to Glaise Onngcoy, Executive Secretary of Councilor James Cuenco. But because it has become a tradition, every office would prepare snacks or anything that they could give to the visiting kids. Some offices also had their own “pakulo” like the office of Councilor Joel Garganera which was transformed into a horror booth.

Children were greeted with people wearing scary costumes like a ghost nun and other monsters waiting inside the dimly lit office, complete with candles and even a fogging machine. Kids screamed as they tried to find their way through.

Those brave enough went inside and left with candies and chocolates while the scared ones cried and refused to go in.

There was also a contest for the kid with the best costume. Seven-year-old Chelsie Coino, who was dressed as Amihan of the popular TV fantaserye Encantadia, won the best in costume award.

Temporary city hospital eyed as mental facility

By Jean Marvette A. Demecillo (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Once the new 10-story Cebu City Medical Center is fully operational, the city government is planning to convert the temporary city hospital at the Bureau of Fire Protection building into a Neurobehavioral Science Institute.

Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, deputy mayor for health matters, said the institute would be the first in the country.

“It aims to bring mental health in the realm of medical practice to provide an acute care stabilization unit, out-patient diagnostic, an opportunity to collaborate, treatment, and education with research,” she said in a privilege speech during the October 24 regular session.

The institute, De los Santos said, will complement the barangay health units.

She said the increase of shattering incidents like the mentally-ill man who beheaded his common-law wife in Consolacion town in Cebu, and a senior high school student who jumped off the seventh floor of a college building in Barangay Kalubihan in Cebu City, among others prompted her to push for the establishment of a mental health facility.

Dominic Pahugot, 27, beheaded his live-in partner, Lovely Jane Quiño, 25. Pahugot, who was allegedly under the influence of illegal drugs and was suffering from mental illness, was eventually gunned down by responding policemen.

Pahugot was reportedly a patient of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center but he was not confined because of lack of space.

According to De los Santos, Dr. Rene Obra, an expert of mental diseases and chief of VSMMC Behavioral Sciences, wants to treat severe mental health patients but they cannot be accommodated at the facility for a long period of time due to space constraints.

VSMMC’s facility is designed for 60 patients only but it is currently housing over a hundred.

De los Santos said there is a “strong evidence of an epidemic of a long neglected medical condition known as the mental illness.”

She said the ignorance of mental health and mental illness has contributed to the social dilemma as the government lacks sensitivity in addressing them like constructing treatment facilities.

She said Senator Risa Hontiveros has already submitted a proposed bill to the Senate, mandating all the local government units to address the mental health problems in their respective jurisdiction.

In Cebu City, de los Santos authored the approved City Ordinance No. 2479, which creates the Barangay Behavioral Health Units (BBHUs) in every village.

She said the ordinance has to be enforced strictly to increase public awareness on mental health.

She said Mayor Tomas Osmeña already agreed, in principle, of her proposal.

In a separate interview, CCMC Hospital Administrator Kenneth Siasar said the first phase of the new CCMC is now 80 percent complete.

The first phase includes the first six floors, including the basement, of the 10-story building.

The six floors are expected to be operational late this year or early next year, Siasar said.

The old CCMC building was declared unfit for occupancy after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol last October 15, 2013. The hospital is temporarily operating at the BFP compound right across the new building.

P15M for sardines-for-trash pushed

By Odessa O. Leyson (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — In order to fund the expansion of Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko project of the Cebu City government, a budget of P15 million is being pushed, according to Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr.

Gabuya, chairman of the council committee on public services, told to The FREEMAN yesterday that Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already approved the budget to be charged under Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) fund.

“I am proposing P15 million… Okay na, gi-approve na niya (Osmeña),” Gabuya said.

The proposed budget will be used for the BMSK project in general, including procurement of additional sardine supplies.

“In general, for the program gyud and, of course, it includes sa ubang expenses kay before mi mo-implement anang baranggaya, among ipulong-pulong man ang sitios concerned,” Gabuya said.

The project is be expanded to the coastal barangays of the city, which include Sambag I, Sambag II, Bulacao, Inayawan, Guadalupe, Tisa, Tinago, among others.

The proposed P15 million budget will be presented before and subject to the approval of City Council through a resolution to be sponsored by Gabuya.

In a separate interview, Councilor Joel Garganera, who used to head the council’s environment committee, said he stands firm on his earlier opinion that this project is not an effective way in solving the garbage problem of the city.

“We have so many solutions that may give better results like the proper segregation of wastes, establishing an effective material recovery facility in several barangays, regular maintenance of drainage, establishing catch basins up stream, improving our drainage plan. I mean, there are a million ways to do this, but he would choose to stick to sardines? Come on, this is ridiculous. We are a premiere city and this is the only solution we can offer?” Garganera said.

To recall, the city government launched the project in January this year in Barangays Cogon-Pardo and Lahug. Since the project’s inception, the city has purchased P5 million worth of sardines charged under Accelerated Social Amelioration Program account.

CCSC dangles P100,000 for Zumba contest

(RCM)

THE Cebu City Sports Commission will hold the 1st Shape Your Body Dance Fitness Challenge 2017 on Nov. 25 at the Ayala Terraces.

Cebu City councilor and deputy mayor for sports Jerry Guardo said the different Zumba groups from the city are excited for the event.

“In our observation, a lot of women are actively into zumba in the different barangays. This is why we came up with the idea of staging this competition so that these women can showcase their talents. They are very excited considering the huge cash prices the city government allocated for this event,” Guardo said during the launching of the event yesterday.

CCSC is allocationg P100,000 in cash prizes for the event.

“We are expecting many clubs will join this event because the zumba community in Cebu City is growing bigger,” said Lovena Guardo, who is one of the prime movers of this event.

Each women-only group must have a minimum of 15 members or a maximum of 25. No professional or zumba instructors allowed.

According to Lovena, four groups have signed up for the event, which will have a limit of 16 teams.

“We are planning to make this an annual event so the women who are into zumba will have something to look forward to every year, ” said Lovena.

City Hall rescues nine ‘abandoned’ kids

By Inna Gian Mejia, Rosalie O. Abatayo (USJ-R Intern)

Cebu City social workers rescued nine minors aged between 8 to 15 years old from roadside shanties which they occupied along the North Reclamation Area (NRA) and in downtown Cebu City.

All of the nine rescued children were already turned over on Thursday and Friday to the Pari-an Drop-In Center where they could stay for the next two years.

Leah Japson, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said that the minors — five girls and four boys — were without parents and were left to fend for themselves.

Four siblings were rescued on October 17 from makeshift shanties built along the sidewalks of the South Road Properties (SRP).

Japson said the four were left in the care of an older sister after their parents were jailed for an illegal drugs case a few months ago.

But since their older sister left for Manila, the minors were on their own at their roadside shanty.

“Since then, sila na lang didto. Naa man silay iyaan pud somewhere near but di pud mopasalig nga maoy mo-take care sa mga bata (Since their sister left, the kids were left on their own. They have an aunt in the city, but she could not also commit to care for them),” said Japson.

The five others were rescued on October 18 from the sidewalks of Osmeña Boulevard and B. Rodriguez Street.

Japson said they learned of the minors’ living condition from a Facebook post that was shared to an office staff of Councilor Margot Osmeña.

Redentor Betito, a program officer of Parian Drop-In Center, said that they are now coordinating with the DSWS to locate the minors’ parents.

He said there is a need to determine if they should be returned to their parents.

Betito said that the children will also be made to undergo psychosocial intervention while they stay at the Pari-an Drop-In center to correct the wrong practices that they learned while they were on the streets.

“We will trace their records, birth certificates to know their real age, if they still have parents or other relatives and to determine our next step with them,” he said.

Betito said rescued kids may stay at the center for a maximum of two years.

Agents support plan for Call Center City

By Jean Marvette A. Demecillo (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — At least 3,500 or 92.7 percent of the 3,800 call center agents expressed support for the establishment of Call Center City at South Road Properties.

This was the result of the survey that Call Center Program Head Nanette Garong conducted to get the view of the agents about the project.

Yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña presented the result of the survey at his press conference.

“I’m happy with this kind of response. I’m very happy because the feasibility is very high,” he said, adding that the survey was conducted to test the idea of putting up a Call Center City at SRP. X logo

The Call Center City is a one-stop shop for outsourcing where all amenities like a dormitory, offices for call center, facilities for education, gym, restaurants, among others, will be offered to the agents.

The survey shows that at least 2,100 of the 3,800 agents are college graduate, 1,200 agents are college level and less than 100 agents are high school graduates. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

Osmeña said the Call Center City will assist the college graduate to get a master’s degree; assist the college level agents to get college diploma; and assist the high school graduates to finish college.

The survey shows that majority of the 3,800 respondents are from Cebu but are renting near their working place.

Also, majority of the respondents do not have children or dependents.

“What we have here is we have a big potential to put up a BPO city where a school, a dormitory, and the BPO is all in the same building,” Osmeña said.

The mayor said the city is doing this to improve the lives of call center agents who will work, study, and live in the same area once the Call Center City will be operational.

Osmeña said he salutes all call center agents that are currently enrolled in a class and at the same time working in the BPO industry.

The survey is not yet completed since there are several questionnaires that will be distributed to agents like the design of the building, the facilities to be offered, the courses to be offered, the degree programs to be offered, among others.

The city government will disclose the result of the survey so that other people who dreamed of furthering their education will be enticed to work in a call center and avail of the services.

Further, Osmeña said he has yet to discuss with the agents and BPO companies as to the mode of payment of the education and the boarding house, among other facilities.

“The moment we will have enough people committed to the first building, we’ll start already,” he said, adding that he is targeting to do it next year as the survey will take some time.

RCMC, Cebu City Health set kids’ hearing screening

(SunStar Cebu)

SIX to eight newborns in every thousand will be diagnosed with deafness in every thousand live births in the Philippines.

The signing of the Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act in 2009 provides hope for those born with a hearing disability. However, implementation is scarce.

This prompted the Rotary Club of Metro Cebu (RCMC) to launch the project, “A Thousand Hearing, Making A Deaf-erence” on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at the conference room of the Cebu City Health Office.

The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program and Early Intervention Act (Republic Act 9709) will have a life-changing benefit for a child diagnosed with deafness.

This year, with the thousand registry cards to start off the newborns of Barangays Talamban, Mabolo, Carreta, Guadalupe and Inayawan will be the beneficiaries.

The project has five phases that will cover screening, confirmation of diagnosis, hearing aid fitting, speech therapy, transition to regular school and integration in a regular classroom. This will be the first full implementation of the law in Cebu and the whole Philippines.

This hearing project is in line with the Rotary International’s area of focus, namely, disease prevention, maternal and child care as well as basic education and literacy.

Dr. Marjorie Anne Bernardo, RCMC president 2017-2018, said she is excited that the project will go into full swing.

The hearing project chairman, Mary Ann Soria, who is a member of RCMC, will head and supervise the implementation, together with the director for community service Dr. Wyben Briones.

The event is in partnership with the Cebu City Health Office under Dr. Alma P Corpin, Abby Atonducan as the project social worker volunteer, the Rotaractors of RCMC, Gruppo Hearing with First Hand Foundation and M&J Hear Well Live Well Audiology.

This multi-organizational partnership enables Rotary to make a lasting impact in making a difference in the lives of people in the community.

The project will enable these deaf kids to grow in a world where hearing is possible and communication is attainable.

Guadalupe seniors get P2K cash aid from city

By Rosalie O. Abatayo

Former fish vendor Emerencia Bardago was all smiles as she walked into the Barangay Guadalupe Sports Complex in anticipation of the senior citizens’ cash aid that she and 4,588 beneficiaries were about to receive from Cebu City Hall.

“Malipay pud intawn kay maayo na lang ni para sa pang-adlaw-adlaw,” (We are happy of course. This can at least help us in our daily needs),” said Bardago, who was with her 72-year-old husband at the sports complex.

“Akong mga anak, pobre man pud tawn kaayo. Mohatag sila maayo na lang pamugas kani para tawn panud-an (My children are also very poor. They give me money to buy rice while this money, we will use to buy viand),” she said.

Jovan Villanueva, Department of Public Services officer who was assigned to oversee the Guadalupe distribution, said 80 percent of the beneficiaries already claimed their assistance.

Another beneficiary, 71-year-old Elisea Gabutan, said the distribution of cash aid was more organized than the previous years.

Having the most number of senior citizen beneficiaries, City Hall organized 46 stations to service the seniors.

The seniors were given a specific station number based on alphabetical sequence.

A separate team also delivered the cash assistance to bedridden seniors at their homes.

Domingo Chavez Jr., chief of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, said the seniors who were unable to claim their cash aid for three consecutive distributions will be dropped from the list of beneficiaries.

He said the distribution of cash assistance will continue at Plaza Sugbu for the next two weeks.

14th Moonwalk on Oct. 28

By Franz V. Correa (SunStar Philippines)

THE Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) is set to hold its annual breast cancer awareness walk on October 28, dubbed as “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness.”

The event is in observance with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is celebrated every October.

Moonwalk, now on its 14th year, aims to promote the importance of monthly breast self-examination for women 20 years old and above, to educate the public the causes of breast cancer, and how to effectively fight it.

The assembly area for participants will be at Fuente Osmeña Circle at 4 p.m. and a short program will follow after.

Dr. Michelle Cabañesas, medical oncologist of Chong Hua Hospital, said in a press conference held on Wednesday, October 18, that the breast cancer advocacy should be patient healthcare and community related.

“A holistic approach is mandatory, especially bringing patients back to work, and to the community to lead normal lives like the others,” Cabañesas added.

Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos said the City Government supports the advocacy.

“In behalf of the City Government, we will be 101 percent supportive to this advocacy,” delos Santos said.

In spreading awareness on breast cancer, Cabañesas said it should start with the health workers.

“Our health workers would be the one educating the community,” she said.

Breast cancer is the leading disease that kills women in the country. A total of 2,870 cases have been recorded from 2003 to 2012.

CCMC gets supplies, P600T from sister-city

(RTF)

CEBU City’s Dutch sister city Haarlemmermeer turned over some 10,000 euros or around P600,000 in financial assistance to Cebu City Medical Center’s (CCMC) pediatric ward.

The turnover ceremony last Monday was attended by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vriendschapsband Haarlemmermeer-Cebu (VHC) board members Peter Janssen, Jan Willem Ittman and Stephan Elst.

Also in attendance were Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Mary Ann delos Santos, CCMC administrator Kenneth Siasar and Alvin Dizon, head of the Sister Cities Commission.

In his speech, Janssen said the cash aid was generated through fund raising activities conducted in Haarlemmermeer.

Aside from raising the financial assistance, youth organizations in their city also collected toys, and first aid and hygiene materials to be donated to children confined in CCMC’s pediatric ward.

This is not the first time the VHC has extended assistance to CCMC.

In 2015, VHC turned over 15 hospital beds, bedside tables, cabinets and IV fluid stands worth P1 million to the hospital.

“This is an opportunity for us to hand over to you our donations. This is in line with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of our sister city relationship,” Janssen said.

Cebu Innovation Boot Camp begins

By Katlene O. Cacho

SOME 600 senior high school students in Cebu City will be given the opportunity to develop an application that would help solve real world problems.

IBM and Education Development Center (EDC) inked a partnership on Tuesday for the roll out of the Cebu Innovation Boot Camp, which will start next month. Five public senior high schools in Cebu will benefit from the project, which will run for two years.

The Cebu Innovation Boot Camp aims to promote the readiness of the youth for employment and to increase their competitiveness in the workplace by demonstrating both their technical and work readiness skills.

According to IBM Philippines country manager Luis Pineda, the bootcamp is in line with IBM’s focus on disruptive technologies to accelerate innovation, as well as IBM’s corporate social responsibility program’s focus to strengthen K-12 education.

Pineda said that in this partnership, senior high school students will be given the opportunity to solve real world problems by developing and deploying applications using the IBM Bluemix cloud platform - a modular set of infrastructure services where they can scale on virtual servers and build microservices with event-driven models.

Their training will include master classes so they can be familiar with the latest information technologies, ideation sessions to let them apply what they’ve learned, prototyping a model of their solution, and pitch their solution to a panel of judges for evaluation.

The Cebu Innovation Bootcamp, which will be done in batches, is also in collaboration with the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board, Department of Education, and the Department of Information and Communication Technology.

Angelique Roux, Philippines manager of EDC’s Project Aware, welcomed its partnership with IBM, saying that the bootcamp will enable students to prepare themselves for the digital economy.

EDC has been implementing Project Aware in NCR and Cebu for the past two years. The project touched on soft skills training and work immersion methods.

This year, Roux said they have added the digital component in the project, knowing that today’s youth is facing a different landscape at work.

“The digital economy demands that our youth be ready with the different set of literacies, competencies and qualities,” said Roux.

Citing a World Economic Forum report New Vision for Education: Fostering Social and Emotional Learning Through Technology released in 2016, Roux said there are 16 skills that students must posses in the 21st century to succeed in the evolving digital economy.

These are literacy, numeracy, scientific literacy, ICT literacy, financial literacy, cultural and civic literacy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, curiosity, initiative, persistence/grit, adaptability, leadership and social and cultural awareness.

Cebu City to deploy buses for stranded passengers on Monday

By Jose Santino S. Bunachita

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak assured that 15 Kaohsiung buses will be on standby for stranded passengers on Monday, October 16 due to a scheduled transport strike.

Transport group Piston will be holding a nationwide transport strike tomorrow.

Tumulak said the buses will only be deployed in areas where there will be stranded commuters. The Kaohsiung buses are free of charge.

Aside from the Kaoshiung buses, another 10 Ceres buses will also be on standby. Commuters who will choose to take the Ceres buses would have to pay a minimum fare.

Tumulak said he was able to talk to PISTON-Cebu coordinator Greg Perez who assured him that Cebu City won’t be gravely affected by the strike since they only have a few members in Cebu City.

The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are expected to bear the brunt of tomorrow’s transport strike.

Malacañang Palace announced the suspension of government work, and classes at all levels of both public and private nationwide tomorrow.

For employees of private companies who will still have to report for work tomorrow, Tumulak said there will still be public transportation available.

Cebu City Transportation Office operations chief Francisco Ouano added that other alternative transportation like Angkas, Grab, Uber and even motorcycles for hire can be used by them.

Ouano said traffic enforcers will be deployed as is in their usual areas of responsibility.

Eight traffic patrol cars will be roving around the city to check the situation.

Cebu City eyes P6.2-billion budget for 2018

By Marcel L. Woo

CEBU CITY—The Cebu City government will operate in 2018 on a budget that is P1 billion lower than this year’s, based on the proposal of the city’s budget office.

City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said her office will submit a P6.2-billion budget for the city government next year to the City Council for deliberation.

The 2018 proposed budget allocation is P1 billion lower than this year’s budget of P7.2 billion. The scaled-down budget is in line with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s “bare bones” budgeting approach. Gumia said the complete breakdown of the budget will be furnished to the council on October 16.

Osmeña earlier said the priorities under next year’s budget will include garbage, peace and order and traffic.

In the neighboring city of Talisay, Mayor Eduardo Gullas submitted the city’s proposed 2018 budget worth P1 billion to the City Council.

The proposed budget is 25 percent higher compared to this year’s annual budget of P888 million.

Bulk of the 2018 budget will go to maintenance and operating expenses, which get a P572-million allocation.

SM Seaside City Cebu awarded PWD-friendly establishment

(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

THE Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. awarded SM Seaside City Cebu the 2017 Apolinario Mabini Award for PWD-Friendly Establishment of the Year with Silver Compliance.

The foundation commends SM Seaside City Cebu for being most responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities by providing facilities and services which make their access to, exit out, and stay in the establishments safer, more pleasant and convenient.

SM Seaside City Cebu’s facilities designed for persons with disabilities include ramps, wheelchair, PWD-friendly restrooms and elevators, golf carts to aboard elderlies and PWDs around the mall, and a cinema with special area for PWD clients.

The Apolinario Mabini Awards, a major biennial program that honors individuals, groups and agencies that have made outstanding contributions to persons with disabilities, promotes the recognition of persons with disabilities as self-respecting, self-reliant and productive members of the society.

Other SM malls awarded the PWD-friendly establishment include SM City Cabanatuan, SM City Cauayan, SM City Clark, SM City BF Parañaque, SM Store Sucat, SM Store Cabanatuan, SM Store San Jose Del Monte, SM East Ortigas, SM Store Trece Martires, SM Seaside City Cebu Supermarket, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Rosario, and SM Store Makati. Latest

Summit expands its ‘collection’ with new Cebu hotel

By Linda B. Bolido (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The new Summit Galleria Cebu is both a celebration of the things that make the Queen City of the South distinct and an acknowledgment of the roots of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) and JG Summit business group founder John Gokongwei Jr.

The 220-room business and leisure hotel that stands next door to Robinsons Galleria, itself a feather on RLC’s cap and described by City Mayor Tomas Osmeña as the “most beautiful mall in Cebu,” showcases the city and the province’s history, tradition, culture, arts and crafts.

In both big and little things, Summit Galleria Cebu constantly reminds guests that this is the city of fine furniture, exquisite personal and lifestyle accessories and exhilarating festivals.

The artworks, depicting Gokongwei’s life as a family man and tycoon, a collaborative project of visual artists August Santiago of Malabon City and Nemi Miranda of Angono, Rizal, chronicle the rise of a business conglomerate that had its modest beginnings in Cebu.

The flagship of Summit Hotels and Resorts, the 220-room business and leisure Summit Galleria Cebu stands on reclaimed land near the city’s commercial port and is 45 minutes away from the airport.

It is designed to appeal to both ordinary travelers, including families, wanting relaxing and comfortable lodgings but do not want the uniformity of hotel chains; and to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) participants, providing all the amenities and services they need and expect.

Summit collection

Bernard B. Mariano, RLC project director for Robinsons Hotels & Resorts, said Summit was a “collection of hotels,” rather than a chain.

“We took our inspiration from the place it is located, Cebu and its culture.” It was also fitting, he said, to pay tribute to founder Gokongwei, who is Cebu-born and bred.

Lisette A. Arena, senior marketing manager, explained that the Summit “collection” meant that every property would give guests a unique experience that would be different from what other members of the group would offer. The Summit brand would not be “generic,” every project being just like the others.

“Each hotel would adapt to the host community—different design and features,” Arena said.

“The design [features primarily] contemporary and geometric shapes,” Mariano said, and the interiors were done in different shades of gray.

The whole concept for Summit Galleria Cebu, he said, was inspired by the vibrant, evolving, global host city, one of the most popular destinations for both local and foreign travellers. It was a celebration of Cebu’s rich history and tradition of excellent craftmanship.

Working with the interior design firm, Design HQ (Hirayama + Quesada), Mariano sought to bring Cebu to the hotel to give guests a feel of the city even before they step outside.

Arena said the overall design motif was an abbreviated story of Cebu’s past that led to its current international reputation as a producer of fine furniture and accessories.

Son of Cebu

Features and details were carefully and thoughtfully chosen to showcase Cebuano talent and to make the hotel “a fitting tribute to JG Summit’s visionary founder John Gokongwei Jr [and] to celebrate his life as a son of Cebu,” she said.

Roseanne Villegas, RLC director for corporate public relations, said that because the Summit founder was from Cebu, the city’s and province’s distinguishing characteristics became organic features of the hotel like the mango, capiz (mother of pearl) and the Sinulog festival, from which the very festive colors in individual rooms were taken.

The lobby features ceiling lights, each in the shape of pusô, diamond-shaped container made of woven coconut palm fronds which is the traditional way of packaging rice for trips.

Summit Galleria Cebu, the city’s newest boutique hotel attached to an upscale mall, is near major transport hubs, including the Mactan International Airport, the country’s second busiest after Manila, and Port of Cebu, which should attract travellers looking for convenience and accessibility. The old city is less than an hour away and regular shuttle service is available.

The hotel is also designed to be a top choice as a MICE venue in Cebu. Just as the guest rooms were done with careful attention to detail, the three function halls, averaging 300 square meters each and can easily accommodate up to 150 guests, are equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi access and well-designed acoustics powered by top-of-the-line sound systems.

The hotel’s food and beverage outlet and catering requirements for big meetings, conventions and special occasions will be handled by the Raintree Hospitality Group, which started in 1998 and now runs 30 restaurants, food halls and hotel food and beverage services. The main restaurant is the market-style innovative Providore on the ground floor that connects the hotel lobby to the mall.

Summit Galleria Cebu, which formally opened in August, the tycoon’s birthday month, was a tribute to Gokongwei as a businessman and family man, who cared not just for his own but his “adopted families too,” said Elizabeth D. Gregorio, general manager of the Summit Hotels and Resorts, like the RLC staff, those working in his other businesses, and Cebu itself.

28 hotels give linen, toiletries to Cebu City

(RTF)

AT least 28 hotels in Cebu City have extended at least 5,000 recycled, unused and/or used toiletries to the City Government through Project H.O.P.E (Hotel Outreach Program for the Environment).

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that the project is aimed at giving support to public hospitals, schools and shelters with the help of the private companies, and the community towards environmental conservation and proper hygiene.

Its beneficiaries included the Cebu City Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Barangay Guba Cebu City Hospital, Operation Smile and Community Scouts.

Other beneficiaries were Parian Drop-in Center, Cebu City Task Force on Street Children, Bitlag Integrated School in Barangay Sudlon I, Kang-atis Elementary Scool in Barangay Lusaran and Cantipla Integrated School in Barangay Tabunan.

Survivors of recent fire incidents and other calamities will also be receiving toiletries through Project H.O.P.E.

“When I was in a hotel in Manila (recently), I wondered what happens to all these things in the hotel, whether they were used or not. Sayang if mausik (It would go to waste if not used). So I invited these hotels and they gave positive response,” said Osmeña.

The donating companies included Best Western Lex Hotel, Castle Peak Hotel, Summit Circle Hotel, and Golden Valley Hotel, among others.

City buys P6.7M worth of police equipment

(RTF)

TO improve its response to emergencies, the Cebu City Government will buy close to P6.8 million worth of firefighting and police equipment.

In his approved resolution during last week’s regular session, Councilor Dave Tumulak said better police and fire equipment may mean the difference between saving someone’s life from an accident and disaster.

“Emergency responders are sometimes under incredible stress to perform work at the highest caliber due to poor equipment and supplies,” reads a portion of the resolution.

Of the amount, P3.7 million has been set aside for ballistic helmets and vests to be distributed to personnel of the Cebu City Police Office Special Weapons and Tactics unit.

Some P2 million has also been allocated for the installation of two fire pumps in water tankers, while around P780,000 and P275,000 have been set aside to purchase portable radios and repeaters, respectively.

The purchase for these equipment was requested by the Peace and Order Program headed by executive assistant Arnel Tancinco. Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved the request for purchase last Sept. 13.

The purchase will be charged to the Philippine Amusement and Games Corp. (Pagcor) funds.

The City Treasurer’s Office has issued a certificate of availability of funds, which means the City Government has money for the purchase.

This, though, is not the only equipment assistance City Hall will be extending to the police.

In an earlier report, it was announced that the Fuente Osmeña Police Station will receive P1 million worth of equipment from the City for its active effort in the war against illegal drugs.

The granting of assistance came after City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) Head Garry Lao endorsed the police station to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

They will be receiving additional radio units, flashlights, raincoats and rubber shoes, among others.

The purchase for these equipment will also be charged to Pagcor funds.

Five Kaohsiung buses to be donated to Cebu City

By Inna Gian Mejia

CEBU City will soon receive five additional second hand buses donated by Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

“(The trucks are) second hand but in very good condition. The buses can help make traveling easier for our constituents especially the elderly and students,” said Alvin Dizon, the mayor’s consultant and Sister Cities Commission chief.

These buses will be used to fetch stranded commuters and those attending funeral rites, Dizon said.

The buses were given to the city in a symbolic turnover ceremony last Tuesday that was attended by Mayor Chu Chen together with other city officials of Kaohsiung.

Dizon said Mayor Chen, also requested the presence of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña at the 2018 Global Harbor Cities Forum to be held in Kaohsiung on Sept 25-27 next year.

He said representatives of 50 harbor cities from 25 countries will take part in the global conference.

Dizon, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia and lawyer Rafael Yap, chief of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Management Office attended the turnover ceremony.

Dizon said the buses will ply the city streets within this year.

He said the city government is still working on the shipment arrangement.

Cebu City established sister city ties with Kaohsiung in 1990.

Since then, the Taiwanese city donated more than 100 buses and cars to Cebu City.

A Cebu City Hall delegation attended the 3rd Eco-Mobility World Congress which showed how cities can build an eco-friendly urban transportation culture.

Dizon, Garcia and Yap were among the 800 delegates from around the world who took part in the activity.

“It also gives residents the chance to experience how traveling through integrated, socially inclusive and healthy transport options can improve their quality of life,” he said. Latest

Planned multi-sport complex expected to boost sports dev’t

By James Savellon

Cebu’s top sports honchos were delighted with Dynamic Herb Sports Incorporated’s initiative to construct a multi-sport complex that will feature the region’s first FIFA-standard artificial field at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

Dubbed the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex, the facility will cover at least 12,000 square meters and it will feature an AstroTurf playing field and an indoor gymnasium that can be venues for sports such as basketball, futsal, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, among others.

The construction of the state-of-the-art sports complex will start this December and is expected to be completed by mid-2018. ADVERTISEMENT

Cebu Football Association (CFA) vice president Rico Navarro lauded the move, especially since Cebu lacks venues like this.

“If you want to develop football, you just need a lot of good fields. This will be a very big help,” said Navarro. “It will be a pride to Cebu football.”

Navarro also appreciated Dynamic Herb Sports Inc managing director Ugur Tasci for his effort in developing local sports despite belonging to the private sector.

Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco, meanwhile, expressed willingness to work with the support from Tasci.

“The city is always welcome to private initiatives,” said Hayco. “The private sector is an important ingredient to any sport. It plays a vital role.”

Tasci, who spearheaded this major property development project, revealed in a press conference at Raphael’s Cafe in SM Seaside City yesterday that the property, which was leased from the Borromeo brothers, will have shower rooms, locker rooms, coaching staff offices, group meeting spaces, press boxes, gear rental services, and medical and first aid facility for persons with disabilities.

City savings grants kits to teachers in Cebu City

(SunStar Cebu)

EDUCATORS from the Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School in Cebu City received teaching kits composed of visual aid materials and stationery from the City Savings Bank (CitySavings) last Sept. 18.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank CitySavings for the support to our teachers. We would also like to thank our former colleague, Dr. Marlene Padigos, for her effort to reach out to the bank. We are inspired by both acts of kindness, especially that we are now celebrating National Teachers’ Month to honor our teachers,” said principal Eileen Irina Tayactac during the turnover ceremony.

Education has always been at the forefront of CitySavings’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, particularly in terms of looking after the welfare of the Filipino public school teachers.

“Since 2008, we have been working closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement various multi-intervention projects. CitySavings recognizes the teachers’ role in influencing the students to be good leaders. We hope that these 160 teaching kits will go a long way to help our educators drive change for a better world” said Reputation Management head Paula Ruelan.

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