Difference between revisions of "Angeles City News"

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{{:Countdown to SEA Games 2019 begins}}
{{:Countdown to SEA Games 2019 begins}}
==[[Season of joy ushered in at SM City malls]]==
{{:Season of joy ushered in at SM City malls}}
==[[Angeles City gov’t releases accomplishments of Mayor Pamintuan]]==
{{:Angeles City gov’t releases accomplishments of Mayor Pamintuan}}
==[[Tourism seen incentivizing good governance CL-wide]]==
{{:Tourism seen incentivizing good governance CL-wide}}
==[[Pampanga city, town cited for heritage programs]]==
{{:Pampanga city, town cited for heritage programs}}
==[[ACWD eyes septage management implementation by early 2019]]==
{{:ACWD eyes septage management implementation by early 2019}}
==[[Angeles City, property owners ink land acquisition pact]]==
{{:Angeles City, property owners ink land acquisition pact}}
==[[SSS offers loan to pensioners]]==
{{:SSS offers loan to pensioners}}
==[[7 Beans Café now brewing in AC]]==
{{:7 Beans Café now brewing in AC}}
==[[SM joins quarterly nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill]]==
{{:SM joins quarterly nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill}}
==[[Mayoral aspirant asks city officials to stop P1-B worth of projects]]==
{{:Mayoral aspirant asks city officials to stop P1-B worth of projects}}
==[[CDC execs, staff to undergo Mandarin language training]]==
{{:CDC execs, staff to undergo Mandarin language training}}
==[[Council Magsaysay backs Councilor Pamintuan’s bid for Angeles VM]]==
{{:Council Magsaysay backs Councilor Pamintuan’s bid for Angeles VM}}
==[[Converge CEO Dennis Uy sponsors Angeles’ TTKD 2018]]==
{{:Converge CEO Dennis Uy sponsors Angeles’ TTKD 2018}}


==[[Angeles City Archived News]]==
==[[Angeles City Archived News]]==
The older news reports are kept [[Angeles City Archived News|here]]
The older news reports are kept [[Angeles City Archived News|here]]

Revision as of 03:37, 17 May 2019

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Angeles City - Archived News

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.
Nophoto.gif
Angeles City

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.

20 more lanes to boost capacity of SCTEX toll plazas

(SunStar Pampanga)

IN ITS commitment to further improve customer processing time at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the NLEX Corporation will construct 20 additional lanes in strategically located SCTEX toll plazas.

The toll plaza capacity expansion project, which is expected to start in July and to be completed by November this year, covers Clark North, Clark South, San Miguel, Bamban, and Tarlac toll plazas.

One new toll lane each will be built in Clark North entry/exit and Clark South B exit. Two new toll lanes each will be added at Clark South A exit and Tarlac entry/exit to serve the growing number of motorists traveling in these areas.

The NLEX Corporation will also bolster the service capacity of San Miguel (Luisita) and convert it to a full interchange. This means that San Miguel will be more accessible to motorists, as those coming to and from San Miguel will now have complete entry and exit points from both northbound and southbound directions.

Meanwhile, two lanes each will be constructed at San Miguel northbound entry and southbound exit and another toll lane will be added to the northbound exit.

The soon-to-open Bamban Interchange will likewise have three entry and three exit lanes. The new interchange will become the direct connection to New Clark City, the main venue for this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Luigi Bautista, president and general manager of NLEX Corporation, said “the additional toll lanes will help improve SCTEX's connectivity in its areas, particularly in Clark, which is being positioned as Asia's next aerotropolis and investment center.”

The new lanes aim to enable speedy toll transactions even during peak hours and holidays when traffic volume on the expressway rises sharply.

In the previous years, the NLEX Corporation, together with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), implemented several enhancement projects along SCTEX's 94-kilometer stretch. These projects include the NLEX-SCTEX electronic toll collection integration, the expansion of Tipo Toll Plaza and the Mabiga Interchange. NLEX also completed the pavement rehabilitation of the entire expressway.

CCTV System, LED lights, emergency call boxes, crash cushions, and reflective delineator plates were also installed at the expressway to enhance the safety of motorists. A new traffic control room was built in Dolores, Mabalacat City to track real-time traffic at SCTEX.


Foundation rehabilitates Angeles public library

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

IN TIME for the celebration of the 60th Public Library Day, Widus Foundation Inc.(WFI) rehabilitated the Angeles City Public Library.

Under the project, the foundation donated an Information and Technology Center, a Leisure Reading Center, and a Center for Kapampangan Cultural Heritage to the learning facility which was opened to the public on Monday, March 11.

The P1.6-million library rehabilitation project included installation of 12 desktop computer units with printer, donation of 12 mesh chairs, metal frame bookshelves, a sala set, and a newly refurbished office set up for the Language Service Unit equipped with its own desktop computer, laptop and LCD projector.

The event also highlighted the newly established The Center for Kapampangan Cultural Heritage also known as “Sinupan Singsing.”

The center was established to host free activities and seminars focused on local heritage education.

WFI executive director Neki Liwanag cited the challenges the Kapampangan language and culture is facing. She said that WFI has chosen to support Angeles City Library because of the importance of history and culture in education.

“By further strengthening a place like Angeles City Library which provides free access of information and nurtures learning, we are able to promote and preserve our language and culture not only for today’s society but also for the years to come. It may seem challenging now but Widus Foundation is in it for the long haul until we achieve our common goal,” Liwanag added.

For his part, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan lauded WFI for taking part of the city’s renaissance with its continuous contribution to the community.

The turnover rites were led by Liwanag, Widus human resources director Ana Christi Galura, and Widus general manager Tarek Aouini together with Pamintuan, Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno, Pagcor Gaming and Licensing Development Department head Angeline Papica-Entienza, and Pagcor-Casino Filipino Angeles Sr. customer relations officer Oscar Rodriguez, Jr.

Friendship Bridge opens in Pampanga

(PR)

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Traveling along Angeles City and nearby towns would be much faster and easier starting Tuesday, with the opening of the newly-widened Friendship Bridge along the Friendship Circumferential Road West here.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) opened the newly-widened and more secure Friendship Bridge located in Barangay Anunas, Angeles City immediately after a two-week waterproof curing of the concrete pavement.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar led the ceremonial drive-through and inauguration rites to mark the official opening of the bridge constructed under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Villar said the widening of the Friendship Bridge is vital to better accommodate commuters and motorists doing business in the bustling cities of San Fernando and Angeles City, including the Clark Freeport Zone, and Porac town.

“The new Friendship Bridge is the solution (to the) bottleneck traffic situation caused by the existing bridge in as much as the load section before and after the bridge had been widened,” he said.

DPWH 3 (Central Luzon) Director Roseller Tolentino, meanwhile, said the project included the construction of an additional two lanes and road widening, as well as maintenance work, such as repainting with anti-corrosion paint all metal structures, and repair of cracks on the Friendship Bridge.

“We constructed (a) new bridge and approach with a total net length of 618 meters, and an additional bridge with a length of 240.8 linear meters, two lanes RCDG on Bored Pile foundation and approaches,” Tolentino said.

He added that the bridge also has provision for concrete slope protection for approaches and abutments and safety devices, such as concrete railings, hazard markers (chevron signs) and pavement markings.

Pampanga skyline to burst with spectacular colors every Saturday night from February 23 to March 30

(INQUIRER.net BrandRoom)

Catch the 10th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC) at The Meeting Place in SM City Clark in Angeles, Pampanga. The biggest, brightest and grandest fireworks competition in the world is an annual tradition that, for the past 9 years, has managed to gain popularity and has increasingly become highly anticipated by thousands of fireworks enthusiasts and spectators, both local and foreign.

With the theme, “A Decade of Lights, Music, and Magic,” this year’s competition is participated in by 10 world-class competing fireworks manufacturers from different countries all over the world. The participants will take on the challenge of showcasing their prowess to set the night sky ablaze with vividly bright colors that dance in perfect harmony with music.

PIPC will run every Saturday night from February 23 to March 30, with two countries trying to literally outshine each other in a colorful match where the sky will serve as their battlefield and the crowd their captive audience.

The criteria for judging are variety, music, choreography, crowd participation, and safety. Thus, aside from the grand prizes, contenders will also get the chance to bring home a People’s Choice Award. The 5-7 judges headed by Mr. James Deakin will surely have a hard time coming up with this year’s winners.

This SM Supermalls-hosted event has always complied with the international standards for environmental safety, at par with countries like Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, and the most famous theme parks around the globe.

The annual PIPC also welcomes amateur and professional photographers for the PIPC Photo Contest. Special prizes from the event’s partners and sponsors are up for grabs.

This writer took the time to go to Clark during the first two Saturdays of the competition (and I intend to be there for the next four Saturdays, too, until the finale) to see for myself what the buzz was all about.

The show started at exactly 7:30 in the evening but, as early as 5 pm, there was already a queue near the entrance to The Meeting Place. Half an hour before the Pampanga skyline lighted up with astounding colors, the place was already packed with an excited crowd and was turned into one big picnic ground. People were coming in pairs as couples, or in huge groups of families and friends, proving that the PIPC is indeed a fireworks spectacle for all ages, classes and bunches. The air was cool and, the atmosphere, festive. Food booths were scattered in the area, merchandise of all kinds and sizes were being peddled, and a band was playing nonstop.

A picture paints a thousand words, according to one song. But with the showdown of the brightest fireworks during the PIPC in Clark, no picture or video could ever do justice to the spectacular fireworks display that filled the sky with a breathtaking kaleidoscope of colors and the air with a symphony of sounds – with the two blending together in perfect harmony.

Only one word would come to mind upon witnessing such extravaganza. Magic.

WATCH: The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (Official) defending champion Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke from…

由 SM Supermalls 发布于 2019年3月5日周二

For those who want to experience the same magic that I did, you may buy your tickets at www.pyrophilippines.com or through SM Tickets, SM Cinemas, SM Mall of Asia and SM City Clark ticket booths, and Metrodeal. Ticket prices range from P1,800 for Patron with dinner, P600 for VIP, P350 for Gold, and P120 for Silver. Ticket prices, however, will vary for the March 30 finale show.

Philippines’ very own Platinum Fireworks Inc. will provide the opening exhibition during the first night and the closing exhibition during the finale. The epic closing exhibition will surely leave the viewers wide-eyed and open-mouthed – a fitting conclusion to a decade of competition among the best fireworks manufacturers in the world. The competing countries with their corresponding schedules are as follows:

February 23: Opening Exhibition; Belgium’s CBF Pyrotechnics

March 02: Portugal’s Pirotecnia Minhota; Germany’s Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke

March 09: France’s Brezac Artefices; Finland’s Oy Pyroman

March 16: Italy’s Viviano S.R.L.; United Kingdom’s Pyrotex Fireworks Ltd.

March 23: China’s Polaris Fireworks; Canada’s Fireworks Spectaculars

March 30: Poland’s Surex Firma Rodzinna; Closing Exhibition

This Brightest Show on Earth is made possible with Platinum Fireworks Inc., the City of Angeles, Pampanga, the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Philippine Reclamation Authority, and their many sponsors.

For more information, inquiries and block reservation, visit the SM Supermalls social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and bit.ly/10thPIPCFAQs or call any of their hotline numbers:

Platinum: 0966-9682256; 0947-5989523; (02) 3591486

SM Mall of Asia: (02) 556-0660

S Maison: (02) 946-3848

SM By The Bay: (02) 556-6244

SM City Clark: (045) 499-0198

SM Tickets: (02) 470-2222

Metro Deal: (02) 823-1955

DOH intensifies immunization drive in Pampanga

By IAN OCAMPO FLORA

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Central Luzon region has been conducting a series of intensified measles outbreak response immunization.

DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion and the Philippine National Police in Pampanga led the vaccination of children in Barangays Balibago and Pampang in Angeles City over the weekend.

This was simultaneous with the Japanese encephalitis immunization program.

At the same time, he said the DOH is coordinating with the executives in the region on the possible extension of vaccination services to include weekends.

Data from the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) showed that from January to February 12, there were 721 measles cases with 14 deaths in the region.

The three provinces with the highest number of measles in Central Luzon were: Bulacan with 222 cases and four deaths; Pampanga with 191 cases and four deaths; and Tarlac with 180 cases and four deaths.

Measles is a highly infectious and communicable disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include high fever, cough, conjunctivitis and colds.

If not properly managed, it can lead to complications, such as blindness, encephalitis, pneumonia, diarrhea and even death.

This March, the Health department is in full operation to vaccinate all children 9 to 59 months of age against Japanese encephalitis.

Japanese encephalitis is a disease spread through mosquito bites and its symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, confusion and difficulty of moving, could lead to swelling of the brain and coma and eventually death.

The DOH said that there is no specific antiviral treatment for Japanese encephalitis. Vaccination is the single most important control measure.

The department is advising the public to get in touch with their local public health officers for the schedule of vaccinations.

Gokongwei, Nepomuceno share vision for Clark airport

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

ANGELES CITY -- Lance Gokongwei, the chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Bryan Nepomuceno, this city’s incumbent vice mayor, have vowed to work together for the full development of Clark International Airport (CRK).

During their recent meeting, the duo have shared their vision that Clark airport will continue on its path of becoming the country's major international and domestic hub.

“We both agreed that Clark airport must continue to develop as a major hub in the region, and one of the best ways to do this is a strong partnership between the airport management and city government,” said Nepomuceno, the official candidate for mayor of the local dominant party Partido Abe Kapampangan in the coming May 2019 elections.

Nepomuceno was invited by Gokongwei for a meeting last Thursday morning at the Robinsons Equitable Tower in Pasig, the corporate headquarters of JG Summit.

JG Summit is part of the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) which signed with government-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) a 25-year concession agreement for the operation and maintenance of the CRK.

Gokongwei is also president and CEO of Cebu Pacific airlines, a subsidiary of JG Summit that already operates at CRK international flights to Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, and domestic routes to Cebu, Davao and Tagbilaran and to Caticlan starting March 31.

“Through our close partnership with the airport operator, with the entry of more airlines and arrival of more tourists at Clark airport, Angeles City and its people stand to benefit from more business and employment opportunities,” Nepomuceno said.

If elected mayor, Nepomuceno vowed to work on programs to ensure that tourists in the city enjoy safe transportation.

“It is very important for tourists to feel safe as they go around the city and not worry about being hustled or overcharged. We can help ensure this through our Angeles City-Accredited Safe Tourist Transport Providers program,” Nepomuceno said.

The consensus frontrunner in the mayoral race likewise vowed to continue to help attract more investments into Clark similar to the $25 million business jet aviation center of Hong Kong-based Metrojet Ltd.

Nepomuceno and his wife, bar topnotcher Erika Jimenez-Nepomuceno, provided the needed legal services that finally convinced Hong Kong-based lawyers of Metrojet to accept Philippine legal standards contained in their 50-year lease contract with government for their hangar project inside Clark airport.

“Aside from their $25 million investment at Clark airport, Metrojet’s business aviation center will generate high paying jobs for our people as well as provide them additional training in aircraft maintenance that is in high demand all over the world,” Nepomuceno said.

Metrojet is part of the Kadoorie Group owned by on Michael David Kadoorie, one of Hong Kong’s richest billionaire who also owns among others the international chain Peninsula Hotels.

SM City Clark hosts 10th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

By Leony Garcia

All roads led to Angeles City, Pampanga, for the opening ceremonies of the 10th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC) held for the first time at SM City Clark. Locals, including foreigners living in the city patiently, waited as the Pampanga skyline bursts with vibrant colors, as the country’s very own Platinum Fireworks Inc. took to the sky opening the festivity together with an amazing drone-exhibit show.

The much-awaited pyromusical show is a tradition at the SM Mall of Asia that has brought endless enjoyment to millions of Filipinos each year. But in support of the ongoing Manila Bay rehabilitation program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, SM Supermalls has decided to move the 10th edition to SM City Clark starting from February 23 to March 30.

SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Steven Tan welcomed the media, guests, participants and mall goers as the first contender, CBF Pyrotechnics from Belgium, also presented their pyrotechnic delights.

Accordingly, the pyrotechnics competition always complies with international standards for environmental safety, at par with countries, like Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, and famous theme parks around the world for the past nine years.

Tickets to the 10th PIPC are available at www.pyrophilippines.com, through SM Tickets and Cinemas, and SM Mall of Asia and Clark ticket booths. This magnificent family-friendly bonding experience is made possible with Platinum Fireworks Inc., the city of Angeles, Pampanga, the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Philippine Reclamation authority and others.

The annual PIPC photo contest will also highlight entries from amateur and professional photographers wherein will receive special prizes from PIPC’s partners and sponsors.

The PIPC’s annual program has 10 competing countries taking on a battle of breathtaking fireworks performances amid the symphony of sounds. On March 2 Germany’s ninth PIPC champs “Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke” and Portugal’s “Pirotecnia Minhota” will treat crowd with their tradition and mastery of skills in the sky.

On March 9 the Pampanga skyline will witness France’s “Brezac Artifices”, followed by a burst of vibrant colors by Finland’s “Oy Pyroman”. Italy’s very own “Viviano SRL” and last year’s champion, United Kingdom’s “Pyrotex Fireworx”, will battle it out on March 16.

Canada’s turn to paint the night sky bursting with colors will be on March 23 with their very own “Fireworks Spectaculars” and China’s “Polaris Fireworks” will surely stun the crowds.

To cap off the competition and close a decade of giving the best pyromusical exhibition in the Philippines, March 30 promises the most spectacular display of colors and surprises with Poland’s “Surex Firma Roidzinna” and the country’s own Platinum Fireworks Inc. in a grand finale like no other.

USD25-M aviation parking facility to rise in Clark

By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario (PNA)

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – A USD25-million state-of-the-art business aviation parking and maintenance facility will soon be built at the Civil Aviation Complex inside this Freeport zone.

Officials of Metrojet Limited led by its manager for commercial Justin Yeung, together with Angeles City Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility that is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2020.

Bruce Watson, chief operating officer of Metrojet Limited, said the construction of the USD25-million facility is part of the company’s Southeast Asian expansion.

"This development represents the largest investment made by Metrojet in its 21-year history, demonstrating our commitment to the development of business aviation in the Philippines. With this Clark facility, we at Metrojet are strengthening our footprint in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Watson added that the growing strategic importance of Clark, with its freedom of operations and Freeport zone, enabled them to provide their clients with a high quality and very competitive hangar parking and maintenance facility in the region, especially with locations such as Hong Kong and Singapore becoming increasingly expensive and having the capacity constraints. Dwyn Jones, Metrojet Limited’s regional manager for operational excellence and special projects, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for the support of the Philippine government in this investment as part of the economic and innovative growth of Clark airport.

"Not only will this facility help us to provide high-quality aircraft services to our clients, but this investment represents our commitment to create local jobs and build opportunities,” Jones said.

Vince Dizon, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, for his part, cited Clark not only as a strong business district but also an ideal aviation and logistics hub.

“The ongoing expansion of the Clark International Airport positions Clark as a premier international gateway in the Philippines. I am optimistic that this would bode well for Metrojet's new investment in Clark and for future investors from the aviation industry," the BCDA official said.

The 26,000-square meter facility was designed to provide a world-class customer experience while maximizing safety and productivity in all activities.

With over 7,100-square meter of hangar floor space, the facility can typically accommodate up to 10 long-range business jets.

Set to be built to the highest international standards, the aviation parking facility will include a full typhoon-proof structure, an aviation specific fire suppression system, and over 2,500-square meter customer accommodation and storage area.

With a dedicated taxi-way and parking ramp of over 11,000 square meters, it will provide secure and private aircraft parking, and maintenance.

Also present during the groundbreaking ceremony were Metrojet Engineering (Clark) Ltd. general manager Wesley Slate; Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive officer Jaime Alberto Melo; Bases Conversion and Development Authority vice president Arrey Perez; and Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo.

Angeles gov’t breaks ground for new, ‘green’ city hall

(PR)

ANGELES City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno led Tuesday’s groundbreaking and time-capsule laying ceremony for the new annex building of the Angeles City Hall in Barangay Pulung Maragul.

Pamintuan said that the construction of the new city hall will help the local government in intensifying its operations especially now that the demand for public service and frontline transactions are increasing as manifested by the daily surge of people availing government services.

“More than a physical structure, this for me represents the city’s seat of power and leadership, and our shared vision that propelled the city to what it has attained over the years,” said Pamintuan.

The five-story structure will have approximately 3,630 square meters per floor level and a total floor area of 16,023.70 square meters. It will house spacious executive, legislative and frontline government offices; additional amenities such as conference rooms, auditorium and multipurpose hall; multi-level parking and driveway; and rentable spaces on the ground floor.

The city mayor also added that the project is another major breakthrough for the local government as it advocates environmental-friendliness conforming to the Green Building Regulations.

“Our new city hall will also feature an integrated modern design with elevators and improved safety, sanitary, and traffic conditions within the vicinity which will make the nit PWD and senior citizens friendly,” the mayor added.

In affirmation, Nepomuceno said “the new facility will provide service to the Angeleños in an easy one-stop experience and will be a source of pride for all the residents of Angeles City.”

Meanwhile, the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) projected the construction and completion of the new P580-million Angeles City Hall in 600 calendar days.

Pamintuan said that it is about time for Angeles to have “a government complex fit for a highly-urbanized city”.

“This is a much-deserve breakthrough for the people of the City: a perfect edifice to house world-class local governance and public service for the Angeleños, and a fitting tribute to the legacies of our city for the generations to treasure,” the mayor said.

Present during the ceremony were incumbent City Councilor Edgardo Pamintuan Jr., City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan, representatives from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Angeles City, PNP Director Narvin Mangune, Kuliat Foundation President Marco Nepomuceno, AC-DILG Director Martin Pores Moral, CLAC President Thelma Indiongco, Tabun Barangay Captain Alma Mercado, former City Communications Officer Jay Pelayo IV, City Hall Land Benefactor Reynaldo So, businessman Ricardo Tan, and the department heads of the local government.

Midori Clark launches Treats 4 the Graduates promo

(Press release)

GRADUATION DAY is coming! Since you’ve been stressing out yourself for months due to sleepless nights in making projects, beating the deadlines and reviewing for exams. We know how stressful it is. But you made it and it’s all worth it! And because of that, you deserve a celebration with the whole family to mark your achievement.

Toscana Dining has a treat for you, graduates of 2019 get to eat for free as it launches the Treats 4 the Graduates Promo. Simply bring FOUR (4) full paying adults and present ANY of the following: Diploma, Graduation Photo, or Graduation Program with the graduate’s name/ceremony invitation (all supported by the school ID) and you can dine for free! Promo is available daily excluding holidays.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday – Feast like no other at the Weekend Buffet priced at P1, 199+ for Adults and P600+ for kids. Enjoy an array of international dishes paired with UNLIMITED DRINKS, WINE, AND BEER available from 6 PM to 10 PM.

Monday – Thursday – How about satisfying your Chinese cravings in for your celebration? Dim Sum All You Can is available from 11 AM to 2 PM for lunch and 6 PM to 10 PM for dinner for only P699+ / head.

Another option is to relish in an enticing freshly grilled barbecue offerings at our unlimited Poolside BBQ for only P799+. Pair it with UNLIMITED BEER for only P200+.

Promo cannot be used in conjunctions with other in-house promotions or discounts. Treats 4 Graduates runs from March 1, 2019, to April 30, 2019.

Reward yourself for a job well done and celebrate your milestone at Midori. You may also book our ongoing room promotions for a complete treat! Enjoy 60% off from our Published Rate with our Summer Madness promotion available from Sunday to Thursday or avail our Flash Sale every Sunday and Monday for only P5,500 net/night at a Superior Room. Both promotions are inclusive of Breakfast Buffet for two (2), use of hotel amenities and scheduled shuttle service from SM City Clark – vice versa.

For room reservations, email reservations@midorihotel.com for room and restaurants@ midorihotel.com for restaurants. You may also call 045 308 8888 / 09178195163. Be updated! Visit www.midorihotel.com or stay connected, like Facebook.com/midoriclarkhotel, follow @midoriclark on Twitter and @midorihotelcasino on Instagram.

Pampanga to host 3 SEA Games events

(JTD)

IT’S history in the making for Pampanga as the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) has chosen and affirmed the LausGroup Event Centre as the venue for judo, jujitsu and Koresh competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on December 1 to 11, a first in the annals of the province and the City of San Fernando.

During the formal talks at the equally historic Mt. Pinatubo Room of the Laus Group of Companies corporate headquarters here, PHISGOC Venues Director David F. Carter disclosed that they have decided to hold the martial arts and contact sports competitions in Pampanga and not in Metro Manila due to its proximity to the SEA games main venue at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

“The LausGroup Event Centre has very nice facilities and Chairman Levy [P. Laus] is very accommodating. At the same time, the province of Pampanga and the city is free from pollution and traffic. So why should we still bring the events to another venue? Although we were being convinced to transfer it to Manila, it will be here and it is final,” he said.

“These events will bring in multiple golds during the SEA games. And news, not only nationwide and Southeast Asia but the whole world as well, will be focused here. In judo, we are looking at five golds, six to seven in jujitsu and koresh could deliver three to four golds. We are looking at 277 athletes and officials for judo alone. So multiply that by three plus double the number of relatives and supporters of the athletes who will come with them so you have a huge crowd coming to the province and the city which could positively affect the local economy. That is why the help of Chairman Levy and the support of Pampanga and San Fernando is a welcome development because of the budget cuts in the SEA games. And with the accommodation accorded us by officials here, others might take their competitions here, too,” Carter added.

Both Vice-Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda and San Fernando Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago vowed full support for the hosting of the three sports events in Pampanga’s capital city, especially since the dates fall on the timelines of the Pampanga Day celebrations and giant lantern festival.

“We are very happy about hosting some of the SEA games events because Pampanga and the City of San Fernando will be known as places for sports development and sports tourism. And since these will coincide with giant lantern festival timeline, we will have the opportunity to showcase the culture of Kapampangans. Definitely, the city government will extend its full support to the SEA games,” Santiago said.

For his part, Pineda extended his gratitude to the PHISGOC.

“I thank the PHISGOC for choosing the LausGroup Event Centre located in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga as the official venue of the games especially martial arts. It’s a big honor for the province,” he said.

The vice-governor stressed that the provincial government would take care of security and other logistical concerns the PHISGOC needs.

“We have already committed to take care of security and immediately, I will bring this up with the Philippine National Police. We will extend full support together with the city on other concerns the committee would have as this is history for Pampanga. At the same time, we will make the SEA games events here one of the highlights of our Pampanga Day celebration,” Vice-Governor Pineda added.

Meanwhile, Laus disclosed that the LausGroup is prepared to assist the PHISGOC for the hosting of the games.

“Practically, modesty aside, the LausGroup has everything from two-wheel vehicles to big trucks. We also mentioned to them that we can provide a helicopter to transport their VIPs as we have a helipad here. That would certainly interest them,” he said.

“We are very happy about this. I made sure that they will get very supportive rates for the LausGroup Event Centre in the name of national interest. It’s very historical for the province. We feel we should never miss this opportunity that is why we are supporting them with much enthusiasm,” concluded Laus.

City College of Angeles celebrates 7 years of academic excellence

(Angeles CIO)

ANGELES CITY- Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councilor Edgardo Pamintuan Jr. together with school administrators and students of the City College of Angeles (CCA) led this institution’s 7th founding anniversary held Tuesday in Barangay Pampang.

Themed “Siyete Sitenta: Kapagmasusyan ning Pamagpasalamat”, the occasion highlights the accomplishments of the educational institution and its students, and the inspiration instilled by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan to achieve excellence.

In his welcome remarks, CCA President Dr. Richard Daenos reiterated CCA’s solemn pledge to the Angeleños of providing free and quality tertiary-level education especially to the less fortunate yet truly deserving students.

The 3-day anniversary celebration is marked by various academic, cultural and sports competition all geared to serve as platforms for CCA students to showcase their talents and skills, and to strengthen their sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

In just a span of seven years, the school has produced three batches of graduates and has welcomed more than 2,000 students this academic year. CCA is also a proud recipient of numerous awards, recognitions and accreditations bestowed by higher educational institutions and international organizations.

To date, CCA gets a candidate accreditation status from the the Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (ALCUCOA). CCA is also an International Center of Excellence for Events Management and Center of Excellence in Library Information Science, Physical Education and Technical Teacher Education given by the Asia Pacific Institute for Events Management, to name a few.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Nepomuceno congratulated everyone for making CCA a top-notch educational institution considering it is the youngest community college in Central Luzon. He added that the establishment of the city college is the best decision the city government have ever made as it strongly manifests its stern commitment of delivering quality education to young Angeleños.

“Contentment is not something that should be in for the City College of Angeles rather the challenge now is to take it to the next level. Much has been done but much is still needed to accomplish for our very own city college. The best is yet to come for our students who wish to breakaway from the shackles of poverty,” said Nepomuceno.

For his part, Mayor Pamintuan also extended his congratulations to the school administration and teaching force for materializing his promise to the Angeleños.

“May the beginnings and accolades gained by this institution inspire all of us to strive more for the betterment of our students. CCA will always have a big place in my heart,” said Pamintuan as he considers CCA as his administration’s greatest achievement enshrined in his 8-point platform of governance dubbed “Contract with the Angeleños”.

DPWH set to open Friendship Bridge

By IAN OCAMPO FLORA

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a news release said that it is set to open the new Friendship Bridge along the Friendship Circumferential Road West in Angeles City.

However, the DPWH, in its news release on Thursday, did not specify the exact date of opening of the said structure to public traffic. The said project was completed last January 15, 2019.

“DPWH Secretary Mark Villar will lead the inauguration of the new P130-million infrastructure facility in Barangay Anunas, Angeles City constructed under the national government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” the DPWH added.

DPWH Region III Director Roseller Tolentino said the project included the construction of additional two lanes and road widening, as well as maintenance work such as repainting using anti-corrosion paint on metal structures and repair of cracks on the Friendship bridge.

“We constructed the new bridge and approach with a total net length of 618 meters, and an additional bridge with a length of 240.8 linear meters, 2 lanes RCDG on Bored Pile foundation and approaches,” Tolentino said.

Angeles City Council named 2018 best local legislative body in Central Luzon

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

ANGELES CITY -- Incumbent Vice-Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno is set to receive an award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognizing the City Council as the best in its category in Central Luzon.

Nepomuceno, presiding officer of the Council and mayoral candidate of the Partido Abe Kampampangan for the May 2019 elections, was informed by DILG regional director Julie Daquioag that the City Council under Nepomuceno’s leadership will receive the “2018 Local Legislative Award–Highly Urbanized Cities Category Regional Winner.”

“We commend your efforts and initiatives in advocating public service excellence by fostering and ensuring an effective legislative body,” Daquioag told Nepomuceno.

Nepomuceno said the prestigious award is a testament of the City Council’s strict adherence to prescribed rules and procedures in the conduct of its business during the last three years.

“Contrary to what our political opponents during these elections are saying, the DILG award clearly proves that everything we have done during our term have all been according to laws, rules and regulations especially to the Local Government Code of 1991,” Nepomuceno said.

“Siguro ay dahil lang sa kanilang ambisyon ngayong eleksiyon kaya tayo ay binabatikos ng walang katotohanan (Their baseless accusations are just probably because of the elections),” Nepomuceno lamented.

According to Daquioag, the city’s legislators “garnered a score of 91.79 points out of 100 on the basis of the functionality criteria of the 2018 Local Legislative Awards which, among others, include the responsiveness of the legislative agenda, effectiveness and efficiency of the Council, availability of documents, and other citations.”

DILG City Director Martin Porres Moral likewise congratulated Nepomuceno for his achievements.

“We re-echo the congratulatory message of the regional management for the milestone achieved towards excellence in local governance,” Moral told Nepomuceno.

“We would not have accomplished this milestone without the support, cooperation and hardwork of the other members of the Council, especially councilor Edu Pamintuan who championed the public education programs for the benefit of poor students,” Nepomuceno said.

Edu, the son of incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and running mate for vice mayor of Nepomuceno, is the chairman of the committee on education and environment of the City Council.

The DILG Local Legislative Award, is given every three years, corresponding to each council’s term. The award is jointly organized by the DILG and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in order to recognize exemplary performance of Council’s legislating measures that help build the foundation of meaningful local administration and development.

As the regional winner, Angeles City will represent Central Luzon in the national levels competing against other highly urbanized cities around the country like Quezon City, Davao City, Mandaue City, and Manila.

As a local legislator, Nepomuceno has authored numerous ordinances toward these objectives such as exempting indigent residents from fees and charges at the Local Civil Registrar; regulating the use of plastic bags; prohibiting disposable styrofoam/styropor items like cups and plates; institutionalizing the Public Employment Services Office; enacting a Poverty Diagnosis Plan; and “The Empowerment Ordinance of Angeles City” to promote and ensure a system of partnership in local governance among all stakeholders in the city.

CDC supports 10th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon

(PR)

CLARK Development Corporation (CDC) recently expressed its support to the staging of the 10th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon which will be held in Clark Freeport on March 10 of this year.

CDC together with Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Angeles City Government, Medical City and Lasik Center – AUF conveyed their support of the said event which is organized by the De La Salle Alumni Association- Pampanga Chapter (DLSAA-Pampanga).

CDC president and CEO Noel Manankil lauded the event during a press conference held at the Clark Global City.

In a statement, DLSAA – Pampanga president Melvin Panlilio said that this year’s event will offer a more exciting experience for participants as the courses for the marathon have been given international certification.

“We’re likewise proud to announce that for 2019, our courses have been given international certification by the International Association of Athletic Federations and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (IAAF-AIMS),” Panlilio said.

Meanwhile, some 10,000 runners are expected to participate in the event which will feature various distances like 42.2 km marathon, half marathon, as well as 10 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km courses. Cash prizes will also be awarded to first, second and third placers of the various categories while a special award will be given to participants with the best costume.

Apart from their mission of successfully holding the marathon, the DLSAA- Pampanga also aims to give back to the community. The proceeds of the run will be used to fund their organization’s environmental and community projects like tree planting, maintenance of Angeles City Watershed, support for the La Salle Botanical Gardens in Alviera, Porac as well as the Yellow Boat Foundation for the marginal school children of coastal Pampanga.

The said event is also supported by Tata Consultancy, one of the biggest consultancy company in this Freeport. DLSAA- Pampanga encourages prospective participants to register at www.tcsclarkanimo.com.

Quarrying destroys dike sections in Angeles City

By Tonette Orejas (/lzb, Inquirer Central Luzon)

ANGELES CITY – Three sections of the slope protection of a dike controlling the flow of Mt. Pinatubo’s lahar on Abacan River here have slid down on Wednesday morning.

A resident in Barangay (village) Ninoy Aquino where the dike is situated described the damaged portions as having “fallen down like a curtain.”

Arnold Ocampo, assistant district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Pampanga Third District Engineering Office, said the damage was caused by quarrying on the Mexico town side of Abacan, making the river bed fall by three meters.

The damaged sections spanned 50 meters, 60 meters, and 80 meters, all on the side of Barangay Ninoy Aquino, Ocampo said.

No families were directly in harm’s way, he said.

Ocampo noted that the DPWH began doing remedial measures on Wednesday. A bulldozer machine was also sent to temporarily rechannel the water away from the damaged portions.

Because the structure was completed and accepted in 2016, he said the DPWH would need to reinforce it at a cost of about P20 million.

Rivers in Pampanga are quarried for sand needed by the construction sector.

The local governments are checking if operators have permits to quarry on Abacan River.

Mayoralty bet eyes tourism for employment, economy

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

CITING an international travel and tourism report that for every 30 new tourists, one new job is created, Angeles City mayoralty bet and Alexander Cauguiran vowed to push the city’s tourism industry to be “one of the key drivers for employment and business opportunities for its residents.”

“According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) travel and tourism report,” the Kambilan official candidate said, “thirty new tourists create one job at the point of destination. This means that if 600,000 new tourists come to Angeles City in one year, we will be able to create 20,000 jobs. With the upgrading of the Clark International Airport (CRK) to service eight million passengers per year, we need to create attractive tourist packages and build better ground infrastructure to increase our share of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.”

Cauguiran, who was president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) before he filed his certificate of candidacy, issued the statement following the commitment of North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) to invest P6 billion for the modernization of Clark International Airport (CRK) and double its terminal capacity to eight million passengers per year.

Describing its vision for the CRK, Josephine Gotianun-Yap, president and chief executive officer of the Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), one of the firms that comprise the NLAC, said that transforming “the CRK into a world-class airport will help boost the region’s tourism industry and related businesses.”

“It is NLAC’s vision to redefine the air travel experience at Clark International Airport. The airport will be the Northern and Central Luzon’s gateway, connecting the region to the rest of the Philippines and the world,” Gotianun-Yap said.

“The more tourists,” Cauguiran said, “the more jobs, the more tourism-based enterprises we create. This is precisely the reason why regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities are aggressively competing to attract more tourists to their destinations. Metro Manila and Cebu have become the country’s top tourist destinations primarily because of their airports. But with a bigger and more modern international airport we can now be at par with other top destinations.”

“Aside from generating employment,” Cauguiran said, “the tourism value chain benefits a wide range of local businesses including hotels, restaurants, resorts, transport, travel agencies, health and wellness, souvenirs and handicrafts, food production, other tourism-related enterprises. Tourism is like an export without the goods and services leaving their location. It is a veritable goldmine that we must aggressively but sustainably as well as responsibly exploit.”

“Employment opportunities,” he explained, “will not be solely confined to graduates of tourism courses, as businesses will need drivers, tourist guides and translators, IT technicians, accountants, bookkeepers, cashiers, clerks, janitors and utility men, and other forms of jobs.”

“Our challenge,” he said, “is to be more competitive with other destinations. The best way to do this is to adopt a well-studied framework for travel and tourism competitiveness which the WEF has provided.”

“In the last meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Pampanga (HARP),” Cauguiran said, “I have briefly discussed the specific concerns that the city government must address in the context of the WEF travel and tourism competitiveness model. The four pillars of that model include: Enabling Environment, Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure, and Natural and Cultural Resources.”

“In our party’s platform of government, “he explained, “our initiatives for Enabling Environment include, the ‘ease of doing business;’ development of IT mobile access to information on services, programs, and activities of the city government; grant of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for construction of new hotels and tourism establishments adopting green architecture; ensuring industry workers’ access to quality hospitalization services at the Ospital ng Angeles (ONA); maintenance of peace and order and solutions to vehicular traffic problems; and improvement of sanitation and hygiene throughout the city.”

“Initiatives under Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions,” he continued, “shall include a 5-year tourism development plan in coordination with the private sector and tourism-related organizations, and the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies; implementation of a branding strategy for Angeles City in coordination with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB); and yearly strategic planning to be participated in by the city’s tourism industry stakeholders.”

“In support of the private sector’s improvement of their hotels and ground infrastructure, the city government shall initiate the construction of “last mile” roads connecting the national highways with existing or potential tourist destinations areas in the city in coordination with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA); and the installation of more streetlights in areas frequented by tourists,” he said.

As one of the founders of Tigtikan-Terakan Keng Dalan (TTKD) which has now gained widespread popularity, Cauguiran vowed to make the event as one of the yearly attractions for domestic and foreign tourists. “We want it bigger, better, and more tourist-friendly,” he said.

Cauguiran also proposed the establishment of a world-class cuisine institute to be funded by the city government, to make Angeles City internationally known for its food and delicacies. “We shall promote our culture, as a showcase of our identity and as a source of pride of Angelenos,” he said.

“We shall coordinate with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Institute of the Philippines (NHIP) to help identify, preserve and protect more historical, religious, heritage, and cultural sites in Angeles City,” Cauguiran said.

Angeleños fete Ms. Tourism World Intercontinental 2019

By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario

ANGELES CITY -- Miss Tourism World Intercontinental 2019 Francesca Taruc was warmly welcomed by Angeleños as she returned home on Monday, a week after winning the beauty title.

Taruc, who paid a courtesy call on Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, was greeted and congratulated by city government officials, employees, friends, and fans who supported her throughout her 23-day pageant journey in Nanjing, China.

A certificate of distinction was awarded by the city government to Taruc “for giving pride to the city and its people.”

The recognition was also bestowed to her as “a manifestation of the local government’s appreciation of her achievements that placed Angeleña beauty, confidence and wit to the international pageant arena”.

In an interview with the 20-year-old lass, she said that joining beauty pageants has been her holy grail since she was young.

As she pursues her dreams of becoming a beauty queen, Taruc has earned local and national titles such as the Mutya ning Angeles-Youth Ambassador in 2017 and Miss Freedom of the World-Philippines in 2018.

“Honestly, it still hasn’t sunk in yet. I still remember attending the flag ceremony here to ask for your support and now, you are all congratulating me,” she said.

Talking about her plans after winning the first international crown for the Philippines for 2019, Taruc said she will soon return to China to fulfill her duties as an international ambassadress.

Taruc said that she also plans to pursue a career in show business and join Binibining Pilipinas, with the hopes of bringing home another international crown for the country.

“I will also be active in charities and other meaningful causes,” she said.

Pamintuan, for his part, said that “Angeles City is indeed privileged to have a beauty queen whose backstory is more than the usual plot of failure and conquest. You are destined to triumph and give pride to the city just like the legacy of your ancestors.”

Francesca, or Fran as she is fondly called by her family and friends, was born in San Luis town and was raised in this city.

She holds a degree in Communication Arts from Holy Angel University.

Angeles clan grows with city

By Tonette Orejas (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

ANGELES CITY — Without fail for the past 25 years, one of the city’s oldest clans has been holding reunions that nurture the value of family heritage.

On Jan. 13, about 600 members of the Valdes clan will assemble at Ely’s Orchard in Barangay Mining, where the gatherings began in 1995, according to Eloisa Rivera-Narciso, granddaughter of Agripina J. Valdes and Orchard owner.

Their forebears, Francisca Valdes and Cenon de Jesus, lived in Bacolor town and migrated elsewhere in Pampanga. Cenon’s namesake was a revolutionary during the Spanish colonial period, while the children used their mother’s family name.

Three of the children — Agripina, Maria and Emiliano — settled in Angeles, then named Kuliat town, to raise their families. Their sister Agueda migrated to Zamboanga while brother Pedro moved to Malabon.

Married names

After the 1896 Revolution, half of them again used De Jesus as their surname.

“The surname Valdes may not be often heard now in Angeles as the female Valdeses have assumed their married names,” Narciso said in a narrative.

Villages in Santa Maria, where the Tinio family settled, are named after their mother, Maria Valdes de Jesus Tinio, she said.

“Agripina J. Valdes is the grandmother of the Riveras, Jimenezes, Tiamzons, Garcias [and] Dizons,” Narciso said.

Before World War II broke out, Emiliano J. Valdes became mayor of Angeles. He donated 5 hectares with a two-story building to serve as hospital for people with tuberculosis.

The main street of Marisol Village at Barangay Ninoy Aquino leading to TB Pavilion was named after Emiliano, who was said to have started the cane industry in the Philippines in 1910, and produced and exported cane furniture.

Family lines

Two prewar mansions in Angeles belonged to the Valdeses.

Dr. Gregorio Valdes served as councilor and health officer for two decades. Tramo, the road near the railway, was named after him.

They are related to Supreme Court Justice Camilo D. Quiazon, former Education Secretary Armand Fabella whose family started Jose Rizal University and who donated land for hospitals in Manila, Ambassador Carlos J. Valdes, and businesswoman Florencia Coronel who forged the Cinderella shopping brand.

They are also relatives of Fr. Rodolfo Rody Valdes, SJ; Sister Maria Cecilia Valdes; culinary arts celebrity Africa Valdes-Reynoso, matriarch of the Valdes-Reynoso families of culinary fame; and furniture manufacturer Remedios Panlilio.

A forerunner of the country’s department stores was Valleson (Valdes Lilles de Leon), which operated after World War II.

The Jan. 13 reunion gathers the families of Sisenando, Pedro, Emiliano, Agripina, Maria and Agueda, who belong to the Valdes family line of Francisca; Galicano, Paula and Apolonia from the first generation’s Ignacio; Felisa, Leonardo, Florencia and Laurentina from Leodegaria; and Felicisima, Jose, Pedro, Rosario and Florentina from Roman.

Anna, a first generation Valdes, died at infancy.

After the Reynosos, Tinios, Quiazons, Coronels, Lilleses and Narcisos organized the first reunion, Fabella made the genealogy book and directory of the Valdeses.

“Family has always been very important to the early Valdeses. In gatherings, they would always talk of their ancestry and pride themselves with their achievements. To this day, the current generation looks up to their forebears and emulates their goodness, brilliance, stature and dignity,” Narciso said.

Clark Corp, firm ink MOA to develop facility for eco-friendly materials

(PR)

CLARK Development Corporation (CDC) recently inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Green Antz Builders, Inc. (Green Antz) to develop an Innovation, Research and Development Facility and Training Center that will be instrumental for generating eco– friendly construction materials.

CDC President-CEO Noel Manankil and Green Antz President-CEO Rommel Benig signed the MOA which will help usher collaborative efforts in exploring ways and means in promoting the conservation of the environment by developing eco-friendly supplies including eco-bricks and porous pavers.

Green Antz, a provider of environment–friendly products and solutions for the construction industry will collaborate with CDC for the construction and development of the said facility which is envisioned to be a platform in revolutionizing environment-friendly products.

The partnership between the state-owned firm and Green Antz will also reinforce their mission to formulate programs that will encourage participation from all stakeholders in the Clark Freeport to disseminate proper ecological practices to business enterprises in pursuit of a clean and safe environment.

Manankil said the project is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the state-owned firm that is geared towards the promotion of environmental consciousness.

“The project is more aligned to a CSR concept. And the next step after the completion of the construction of facility will be identifying and awarding to the beneficiaries the training and empower them to have successful stories so that the support of the management would always be there,” he said.

Accordingly, Benig said that their partnership with CDC will create a platform in realizing their mission to raise awareness of environmental preservation not only in this Freeport but also for other areas across the country.

“To really clean up the Philippines, one community at a time and one break at a time,” Benig said.

Another Filipina wins in international beauty pageant

(CNN Philippines Staff)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — The Philippines welcomed 2019 with a win in an international beauty pageant.

Philippine bet Francesca Taruc was crowned Miss Tourism World Intercontinental 2019 in Nanjing, China on Tuesday.

Her win comes less than a month after the country's pride Catriona Gray bagged its fourth Miss Universe crown.

Tatarsan was the first runner-up, while Ukraine bagged the second runner-up title.

During the preliminary competition, Taruc, who is based in Angeles, Pampanga, shared that she was awarded "Best Body."

Her homecoming will be on Thursday.

CDC welcomes 500 Chinese tourists

By Reynaldo G. Navales

THE Clark Development Corporation (CDC) recently welcomed some 525 Chinese tourists who arrived on board luxury cruise ship MV World Dream, which docked at the Alava Wharf in the Port of Subic Bay.

Passengers of the said cruise ship were then transported in 15 buses to visit various destinations such as the Nayong Pilipino and Clark Museum.

Clark Freeport and Subic are increasingly becoming popular destinations for cruise ships. Several cruise ships now call on the Port of Subic Bay.

The CDC said that together with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), they have been undertaking capacity-building initiatives to address the influx of Chinese tourists and investments.

Recognizing China as one of its major markets for tourism and business-related pursuits, it can be recalled that CDC entered in a memorandum of understanding to give better services by fully understanding language and culture.

This was signed along with SBMA and University of the Philippines Diliman Confucius Institute to train their officers and front line services staff on learning Mandarin language.

The conduct of the said training is seen to give better services to foreign tourists to usher in better communication by understanding their culture.

More Angeles villages receive brand new garbage trucks

(SunStar Pampanga)

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno led the turnover of 14 dump trucks to the third batch of recipient-barangays during the flag raising rites at the City Hall on Monday, January 7.

The ceremony marks the completion of the City Government’s distribution of garbage trucks.

“We have successfully turned-over all the garbage trucks to our 33 barangays. Our goal here is to assist and equip our villages with equipment necessary for their solid waste management campaign,” said Pamintuan.

The brand new Hino garbage trucks were formally received by all the village chiefs and councilmen of each respective barangays.

Vice Mayor Nepomuceno reminded the village officials to take good care of the vehicles as these will be of great help to bolster the city’s waste disposal campaign.

“We were never picky on which barangay shall receive these garbage trucks for we believe that the problem of one barangay is the problem of the city as a whole. We are all in this together since cooperation in any government undertaking is indispensable,” the vice mayor said.

The mayor pitched a hint on the groundbreaking of the first Waste2Worth facility in the Philippines this year which will be built in the city.

It is remembered that in 2017, Pamintuan inked a Joint Venture Agreement with Procter & Gamble for the establishment of the facility which is seen to help the city intensify its ecological solid waste management and cut government’s spending on waste disposal.

“What we can do now, we can do better; what we can do five years from now, we are doing it here. I would like to express my gratitude to our villages who have been painstakingly performing their mandates as front-liners of government service,” the five-term mayor said.

“We will continue the legacy of good change. I may not be here as your mayor but rest assured that the interest of the city government for development for its people will be forever etched,” Pamintuan said.

Joining Pamintuan and Nepomuceno in the turnover ceremony are Hino Motors Philippines – Pampanga Chief Operating Officer Marco Hizon, Development Bank of the Philippines Senior Manager Regin Soliman, and Account Officer Aileen Candelaria.

Also present during the rite are incumbent Councilors Edgardo Pamintuan Jr., Danilo Lacson, Jericho Aguas and wife JC Parker-Aguas, Alexander Indiongco and wife CLAC President Thelma Indiongco, former City Communications Officer Jay Pelayo IV, Tabun Barangay Captain Alma Mercado, Mining Barangay Captain Chris Cortez, and Raco Del Rosario.

Angeles City, firm tie up for environment program

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

ANGELES CITY -- The City Government has tied up with a septic tank disposal firm to remove used oil from drainage systems which partly causes flooding in the city.

Councilor Jesus "Jay" Sangil said the cooperation of the local government unit (LGU) with Soliman E.C. Septic Tank Disposal was made following the amendment of Section 87 or the Disposal of Septage, Grease, Used Oil and Used Cooking Oil of the City Ordinance Number 431 Series of 2017 otherwise known as the Angeles City Environment Code.

Sangil and Councilor Edu Pamintuan sponsored an ordinance amending Chapter 7 and 13 of the said ordinance to implement the project.

The pilot project was conducted in Barangay Santo Domingo Saturday, January 5, according to Sangil.

"Of course, we will do the same thing in other barangays. This is the first time in Angeles City, hauling of collected used oil held on January 5, at the Barangay Hall of Santo Domingo," Sangil said.

The councilor described the project as partnership of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) and the Soliman EC.

Sangil thanked Association of Barangay Councils president Jerry Alejandrino and the Santo Domingo barangay officials led by village chief Oliver Chaneco for supporting the project.

"Sa konting malasakit, we are saving our communities and our city from massive flooding and environmental disaster," Sangil said.

He said the effort is also in line with Soliman EC's project dubbed "Iwas Baha, Iwas Sakit, Konting Malasakit.”

Aqua Planet in Clark reopens

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT— Aqua Planet has announced its reopening on January 15 after being closed for maintenance and other safety concerns for three months.

The reopening was announced with new ticket prices at P1,180 for adults and P980 for kids below four feet every weekend (Saturdays- Sundays) or weekday rates at P950 for adults and P750 for kids.

Senior citizens can avail of their 20 percent discounts as well as persons with disabilities (PWDs) while infants are free of charge.

However, online booking is yet to be announced.

Aqua Planet, which is now headed by acting general manager Simon Jiang, has passed the third-party certification which means it is now at par with international standards in terms of safety.

BB International is the developer of the 10-hectare water theme park located at the northwest section of this freeport. Aqua Planet is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

DepEd to conduct training on innovative teaching

By PRINCESS CLEA ARCELLAZ

THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Central Luzon is setting the path of public school teachers into practicing a more developed and competitive teaching method.

Starting January, a total of 100 selected educators in Central Luzon will undergo a flexible learning course which aims to develop and enhance their facilitating skills as Southeast Asian teachers.

The chosen teachers will be enrolled in the online training course entitled “Gearing up Responsible and Outstanding Teachers in Southeast Asia for the 21st Century (GURO21)” and will run from the third week of January until the last week of March.

The 54-hour self-pace training course seeks to build the competencies of teachers for them to effectively play their role as learning leaders of the 21st century in a knowledge-based economy.

“The Department of Education Regional Office III initiated this effort in partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization or SEAMEO Innotech and allotted the registration fees for the 100 teacher recipients coming from the twenty schools division offices in the region,” DepEd-Central Luzon director Beatriz Torno said.

The GURO21, developed based on the Southeast Asian Region-validated Competency Framework for Southeast Asian Teachers of the 21st Century, is a menu of flexible learning courses that aims to address the teachers’ needs in relation to the technological advances and changing educational trends of the 21st century.

It is also expected to enhance the teachers’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values (KSAVs) on teaching and learning in the new century that they can pass on to their students to help them face challenges.

The learning process involves use of self-instructional modules, synchronous and asynchronous discussion sessions, provisions for learning support, and face-to-face or online revalida.

Successful course completers will receive an international course certificate from SEAMEO Innotech and at least six units of advance academic credit from SEAMEO Innotech partner universities.

SM, CGC mulling hot air balloon fiesta in Clark

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT – Plans are afoot that SM Supermalls owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Clark Global City (CGC) owned the Udenna Group of Davao businessman Dennis Uy are planning to hold the hot air balloon fiesta here in March.

This developed after the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) led by Capt. Joy Roa recently cancelled the annual event for what it said was “lack of government support.” According to Serafin Tolentino, one of the organizers of the Lubao International Balloon Festival (LIBF) who is privy to the negotiations, the two private corporations in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) are in the thick of plans on how to conduct the hot air balloon fiesta here with limited flight capabilities.

This means that only tethered hot air balloons will fly. The event is planned in the first week of March at the back of SM City Clark at the sprawling area of the 177-hectare CGC which is now being advertised as the next center of economic growth in the country.

Tolentino said the activities at the Clark airport cannot be compromised with a Notice To Airmen (Notam) to allow the hot air balloons to fl y with the wind, thus the tethered flights.

However, Tolentino said the Lubao International Hot Air Balloon Festival is set on April 5,6 and 7 at the Pradera Verde in Barangay Prado Siongco in Lubao where balloonists from all over the world are set to participate.

Meanwhile, the PIHABF, held annually every February in this freeport for more than two decades, has been cancelled for this year, according to its announcement.

The organizers of the event said the holding of the annual spectacle did not push through for this year due to lack of government support.

“We regret to inform you that because PIHABF has not received the commitment from our government partners on time, we will not be able to organize the annual The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (and The Weekend of Everything that Flies!) in Clark this coming February 2019,” a statement from PIHABF said.

“Thanks to everyone’s abiding enthusiasm, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) hosted 22 years of ‘A Weekend of Everything that Flies’ in Clark, Pampanga,” it added.

However, the PIHABF also said it may organize air shows outside this freeport for this year. “We will announce plans and developments on our website, www.philballoonfest.net, and social media channels and we welcome your continued enthusiastic participation,” the PIHABF said.

The PIHABF said the event is the longest-running sports aviation event in Asia, gathering aviators and spectators from around the world for four days of non-stop flying action.

“From hot air balloons to aerobatic exhibitions, formation flying to radio-controlled aircraft, paragliding, skydiving, and dozens of on-ground activities, visitors are always guaranteed to have an unforgettable weekend,” the PIHABF said.

It can be recalled that hot air ballooning started in Clark in 1994 to drum up attention and support to this former US air base which was devastated by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo three years earlier.

The Department of Tourism formed a committee through its Secretary Mina Gabor with regional director Ronnie Tiotuico as executive director who then organized the first hot air balloon fiesta with original members Noel Castro, Bernie Bituin, Joel Santos, Lerma Quiambao, Sol Medina, Raidis Plateros and Tolentino.

Joining the organizing committee were Korean businessman and hot air balloon pilots Sung Kee Paik, British Airways general manager John Emery and German aviation enthusiasts Max Motschmann. In 1996, the event was transferred by the DOT to Air Ads, Inc. led by Roa.

SM Clark gives ChriSMiles treat to kids

(PR)

FOR the past years, SM’s ChriSMiles has brought a genuinely sweet smiles to underprivileged kids, it’s an annual “Share Your Blessings” activity of SM employees that helps extend the joy of Christmas and touch the lives of those in need.

“I know waking up very early in the morning is not in your system, but for the sake of giving joy to these kids, you came,” SM Olongapo mall manager Mark Herrera said in his speech.

“ChriSMiles is just one of the programs of SM Cares, a simple way of giving back to the community,” he added.

This year, the mall has chosen Barangay Gordon Heights as beneficiary. Kids were welcomed in the mall where they received gift packs and enjoyed the parlor games and dance number prepared for them by volunteer employees. These kids also showed their talents in dancing and singing in return.

“Sa ngalan po ng Barangay Gordon Heights kami po’y nagpapasalamat sa SM dahil ang mga bata ng barangay ang inyong napili para sa activity na ito (In behalf of Barangay Gordon Heights, we thanked SM for choosing our kids in the barangay of this activity),” said Nancy Bolo, purok leader.

SM City Clark

SM City Clark volunteers shared their time, resources and walked at least one kilometer for the ChriSMiles project to bring holiday cheer to the kids of Sitio Haduan in Mabalacat.

About 50 Aeta children ages five to 12 years old enjoyed a day of fun.

To make the activity more meaningful for the beneficiaries, the employees distributed meals, gifts wrapped by the employees themselves and shared the Bears of Joy.

“ChriSMiles”, is a nationwide employees’ volunteerism activity of SM Supermalls that aims to bring smiles to chosen beneficiaries. The program also encourages all SM employees to be more appreciative of their blessings by sharing these with the underprivileged sectors of society.

More than 3,000 employees of SM Supermalls brought cheers through various charitable activities throughout the Christmas season.

Village chairman calls for Angeles leadership change

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

MALABANIAS Chairman Reynaldo "Jumong" Gueco urged his fellow barangay officials and constituents to support the call for a change in leadership in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The city is shared by some 14 barangay chairmen.

Gueco said that members of the village chiefs' group called Jungle 14 reunited after the demise of City Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin and discussed their advocacy.

The group agreed to support the mayoralty bid of Lazatin's son, Councilor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin, who is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Gueco said.

Members of the Jungle 14 recognize the need to pay back for the legacy of Congressman Tarzan Lazatin, according to Gueco.

“Congressman Tarzan Lazatin in his over 30 years of public service was not involved in issues of corruption and irregularities. He was the father of resettlement centers for Mount Pinatubo victims. Many roads and bridges were built and many people benefited from services during his terms,” Gueco said.”

“It's payback time. If we really love Congressman Lazatin, we should support his sons, Councilor Pogi Lazatin and Congressman Carmelo

‘JonJon’ Lazatin II,” he added.

Christmas in Central Luzon safe, peaceful

By PRINCESS CLEA ARCELLAZ

CENTRAL Luzon police on Thursday, December 27, said Christmas celebration in the region was generally safe and peaceful.

“Central Luzon’s Christmas celebration is generally safe and peaceful with zero-crime incident reported particularly in the eve of Christmas (December 24) and on Christmas Day (December 25). There was no single reported case of indiscriminate firing and stray bullet incidents noted from the police and military as well as from the civilian sector,” said Chief Superintendent Joel Napoleon M. Coronel, Police Regional Office in Central Luzon (PRO-3) regional director, said.

He added that the situation was a result of PRO-3’s tight security measures and intensified police visibility.

“This can be attributed to the tight security measures and intensified police presence being conducted by the entire PRO-3 personnel in line with the strict implementation of “IMPLAN 29/2018” (Ligtas Paskuhan) through the continuous conduct of checkpoint operations, security inspections among bus terminals and other places of public convergence, stringent anti-criminality information drive as well as public support and cooperation,” he said.

Coronel once again called on the public for cooperation to keep Central Luzon safe and peaceful, especially this coming New Year’s Eve on December 31.

“Once again, I enjoin our communities to continuously cooperate and work with us so that we can all celebrate the coming festivity safely and joyously,” Coronel said.

Gov’t lauded for awarding Clark airport operation to Changi group

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

CLARK FREEPORT --- The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) lauded the government for awarding the operation and maintenance of the Clark International Airport to a Changi-led group.

This was gleaned in a statement sent to SunStar Pampanga over the weekend.

"The PamCham lauds the government for successfully bidding out the operations and maintenance contract (O&M) of the Clark International Airport in record time and yet carried out in a very transparent manner with its transaction adviser, the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank (IFC-WB), that aired all the activities live on its social media pages," the statement read.

The quality of service and passenger experience in the airport is expected to be maximized with the operation and maintenance expertise of the Changi consortium.

"The careful and rigorous selection process undertaken by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), that led to the awarding of the contract to the consortium led by Changi Airport Group, operator of the number one airport in the world, also composed of the Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc., assures the chamber that the best airport service and VIP passenger experience awaits local and foreign travelers in Clark," the PamCham added.

This North Luzon Airport Consortium brings together Changi’s expertise and experience, and Filinvest and JG Summit’s strengths in the local development market, the chamber stated.

PamCham officials and members also commended President Duterte for convertin Clark airport into one of the country's main gateway.

"We commend the Duterte Administration for heeding the appeal of the business community in Pampanga and Central Luzon, for the full development of the Clark International Airport as Asia’s next premier gateway. Once a dream, now finally becoming a reality through its massive infrastructure program - Build Build Build," the business chamber added.

Firm faces raps for failure to remit withholding tax

By IAN OCAMPO FLORA

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region 4 filed charges against Great Fortune Agro Corp. for alleged 23 counts of “Willful Failure to Remit Taxes Withheld” on the compensation income of its employees and creditable income taxes withheld from 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The BIR also named as respondents the firm’s president Emerson Co and treasurer Edward Co.

The BIR, in a press conference, said that records show that Great Fortune Agro Corp., a registered taxpayer of RDO 21A – North Pampanga, filed 12 BIR Form No. 1601-E and eleven BIR Form No. 1601-C through electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS), however, despite repeated notice, the subject corporation failed to remit to BIR RDO 21A – North Pampanga, the taxes it withheld.

BIR regional director Jethro Sabariaga said that such failure to remit is punishable, for each act or omission, by a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos and suffer imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than ten years and a penalty equal to the total amount of the tax not accounted for and remitted.

The corporation, upon conviction for each act or omission, shall be punished by a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more P100,000.

Bong Go to work on 4-year term for barangay leaders

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

SENATORIAL aspirant Christopher “Bong” Go has vowed to work on the extension of terms among barangay officials from three to four years.

Go issued the statement during a gathering of Aetas in Central Luzon in Clark Friday, December 21.

Dring the event attended by more than 3,000 Aetas from Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac, Go said he already talked to President Duterte about his plan to exetend the terms of barangay chairmen and councilmen.

Incumbent barangay leaders' terms was already reduced to only two years following the extension of terms of the previous village officials, according to Go.

“Nakausap ko po si Pangulong Duterte. Kung sakaling kaawaan po ako isusulong ko po yung pag-extend ng termino ninyong kapitan kasi kulang yung two years ninyo. Atsaka kinain ng previous term yung isang taon ninyo. Anong magagawa ninyo sa dalawang taon? Dapat minimum of four years ang inyong term (I talked to President Duterte. If they pity me, I will push for the term extension of barangay captains because two years is not enough. Besides, one term has already been taken previously. What can you do in two years? The term should be a minimum of four years),” he added.

In coordination with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Dino, Go said he is pushing for the extension of the village chiefs' terms.

He also vowed to prioritize the Magna Carta for barangay chairmen.

“Nagusap na kami ni Usec Dino, ilalaban namin yung magna carta para sa mga barangay chairmen (Undersecretary Dino and I already discussed this and we will fight for the magna carta of barangay chairmen).”

If elected senator, Go said he will implement medical programs, anti-drugs, peace and order, agriculture, education and others.

Go told newsmen that there is a need to help the indigenous people all over the country. “Marami silang nabanggit na issues at problema so kailangan tulungan natin sila, mga Pilipino din naman ang mga yaan (They mentioned a lot of issues and problems so we need to help them. They are Filipinos anyway).”

Local officials present during the event initiated by the Alayansa Ng Katutubong Ayta n Pilipinas (AKAP) were Former President and Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Vice-Governor Dennis Pineda, Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan, Mabalacat City Vice-Mayor Christian Halili and others.

Various organizations in Central Luzon, including the Alpha Phi Omega, Guardians, and Masons, vowed support to Go's senatorial bid.

Changi-led consortium to take over Clark airport ops, maintenance

By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS (/NB, GMA News)

A consortium led by the Changi Airport Group — operator of Singapore's famed Changi Airport — is set to take over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Clark International Airport.

In an emailed statement on Thursday, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said the P5.61-billion contract for the O&M of the CIA was awarded the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) consortium on December 19.

NLAC counts as members Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International Pte. Ltd; Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc.

"The bid was awarded after the Special Bids and Awards Committee conducted a stringent and very transparent process with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank (IFC-WB) as its transaction adviser, and the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC)," the BCDA said.

With a 25-year concession period, NLAC will take charge of the development and marketing of the Clark International Airport as a major gateway to Northern and Central Luzon.

The project involves the operations and maintenance of the existing and the proposed new passenger terminal buildings on the airport located in the Clark Special Economic and Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Changi Group was also earlier tapped by the NAIA Consortium to provide technical support in the bid to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

NLEX-SCTEX all set for Christmas rush

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

CLARK FREEPORT -- The NLEX Corporation, concessionaire of NLEX-SCTEX, is ready to implement its “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program for the anticipated 10 percent surge in traffic volume on Christmas and New Year holidays.

The SMSK is the motorist assistance program of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) to ensure hassle-free travel during holidays in NLEX-SCTEX.

With the peak travel season expected to start by the third week of December 2018, NLEX-SCTEX traffic personnel will render extended working hours beginning December 14 for intensified operations. They will be prepared to assist motorists and closely monitor traffic conditions at Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Luisita, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas as well as at the SCTEX Mabalacat ramps and NLEX-SCTEX fuel stations.

During the peak hours of December 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, the Balintawak Toll Plaza will open a maximum of 28 toll collection points while Mindanao Avenue and Tarlac toll plazas will have a maximum of 10 and 28 toll collection points, respectively, to better accommodate motorists going to the provinces in the north. The Bocaue Toll Plaza will open 44 toll collection points during the same period.

Portabooths and portable toll collection handheld units will be used to lessen motorist waiting time at the toll plazas.

On December 25, 26, and 27, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will open about 50 to 60 toll collection points to serve motorists bound for Metro Manila. The set-up will be the same on January 1 and 2, 2019.

The entry lanes of Tarlac Toll Plaza will also be increased to 5 instead of the usual 3 to facilitate faster transactions during traffic surges. Toll tellers at the said plaza will also be ready to issue pre-encoded transit tickets to southbound motorists.

The additional toll lanes at Angeles (2), Mexico (1), San Fernando southbound entry (1) and San Fernando southbound exit (2) will also be operational in time for the holidays.

Free towing services to the nearest exit will be available for Class 1 vehicles from 6 a.m. of December 22 to 11:59 p.m. of December 23 and from 6 a.m. of January 1 to 11:59 p.m. of January 2.

The tollway company will also set up counterflow lanes in strategic areas to ensure smooth traffic flow in case of untoward incidents.

Clark airport lists 2.5-M passengers

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

CLARK FREEPORT -- THE Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) said it broke the 2.5-million passenger mark on Monday, the highest number in passenger traffic in the airport’s 23-year history.

“We tallied a total of 2,500,052 passengers as of 7:58 p.m. on Monday (December 17), the highest record, so far, in the history of CIAC, which means more revenues for the government and more flights to come,” Jaime Melo, CIAC president, said.

The CIAC executive added this all-time high record was reached via Emirates Flight No. EK338 bound for Dubai. By December 31, CIAC is expected to tally in a total of 2,611,362.

“What was once relegated as just a dream for CRK is now working in full throttle. Since President Rodrigo Duterte called for the greater utilization of Clark airport in 2016, CIAC was able to increase flights and passenger volume and profitability has also improved commensurately, a huge improvement from three to five years ago with more airlines signifying to mount flights,” he added.

The average daily passenger volume at the CRK is 8,000 and served by a total of 656 weekly flights, 202 of which are international flights while the remaining 454 are domestic flights.

The airport chief said these record-breaking figures are attributed to the Duterte administration’s full support, citing Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, whose agency oversees the airport’s operation, and CIAC’s parent company, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), headed by its president Vince Dizon.

Also this year, CRK tallied a total of 242,840 passengers from May 1 to 31 - the highest monthly total passengers recorded while the biggest number of travelers served in just one day was last May 26 at 8,662 passengers, the CIAC chief added.

“The dream has further come to reality now that a new terminal building will be operational by 2020 and able to accommodate an additional 8 million passengers per annum,” Melo said.

By the end of the year 2022, CIAC’s target is to have 4,457,046 passengers flying via Clark.

International destinations from Clark include Doha and Dubai in the Middle East, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Singapore while negotiations are ongoing for airlines to mount Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur flights, among others.

The airport is also connected to major domestic destinations including Cebu, Boracay, Bacolod, Davao and Palawan.

Hevea Hotel & Resort now open in Angeles City

By ERIKA MARIEL GINES

LOOKING for the best enclave within the city? Finding a piece of home in the busy streets of Angeles City can be daunting at times, but not anymore, as Hevea Hotel and Resort has recently opened its doors to discerning guests.

Modern, elegant, and strategically located within the city’s major landmarks and is only a mere 15-minute drive from Clark International Airport, the hotel promises a one-of-a-kind respite where you’ll feel closest to nature.

With its 120 well-appointed and luxurious suite rooms, it has set its standards high enough to give local and international guests a quality and well-deserved lodging experience that is incontestably warm and welcoming.

Hevea Hotel & Resort Chairman and CEO Lee Seung Keun shared that opening of the property was driven by his desire to offer the most convenient and satisfactory accommodation in the area –making it the perfect choice for smart travelers.

He said he is honored to help bring growth and progress to the thriving community, through the new development.

“Over the past decade, while visiting here, I was mesmerized by its scenic climate. I started dreaming and planning this project to create the best place where family, friends, locals, and tourists alike can relax and unwind,” he noted.

“I believe that everyone is entitled to the privilege of experiencing heaven through comfortable, spacious, and clean rooms as well as serene and tranquil surroundings,” he added.

The executive highlighted that the business and leisure destination also takes pride of its complete amenities like swimming pool; F&B outlets namely The Table Restaurant which serves an array of Filipino and international specialties and The Cafe which offers exquisite coffee, refreshing drinks, and delectable appetizers; and three function rooms perfect for special celebrations and corporate gatherings.

Moreover, General Manager Rowena Villanueva said that more than its world-class accommodation services, Hevea Hotel & Resort boasts of its competitive rates.

“This holiday season, as part of our Christmas treat and grand opening promo, we’re offering our 45-square meter Deluxe King suite for as low as P3,800. We also have the Deluxe Twin and Family Deluxe suites for a very affordable price,” she relayed.

“All these rooms are equipped with stylish furniture pieces, state-of-the-art automatic key card system, electronic doorbell, 42” flat screen TV set with cable network, mini bar, hot and cold shower with bath sets, in-room electronic safety box deposit, and of course high-speed wireless internet access, all to assure that occupants get a well-deserved lodging experience that is unlike any other,” she concluded.

For a blissful getaway “where heaven meets nature,” visit Hevea Hotel & Resort located at Lot 4, Furniture Village, Fil-Am Friendship Highway, Brgy. Cutcut, Angeles City, Pampanga. For bookings and reservations, call +45 436 5932 / 0927 596 8282 / 0939 144 7000.

Midori grants Christmas wishes of 800 children

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

THE Midori Hotel and Casino has granted the Christmas wishes of some 800 children, who are mostly Aetas, as part of its yearly gift-giving project dubbed Angels' Dream.

Dr. Irineo Alvaro, BB International president and Midori hotel general manager, led the ceremonial distribution of gifts during a ceremony at the hotel Tuesday, December 18.

During the event, Alvaro told the kids that Christmas is the time when people share their blessings to each other.

“In our own little way, this is how we express how thankful we are, the group of BB International which operates Midori, Aqua Planet, Eaglesky to share our blessings to little children,” Alvaro said.

Chan, for his part, said the beneficiaries of the Angels' Dream are expected to reach 1,000 next year.

More than a month after the launch and hanging of wishes, the 800 kids are back to the hotel to receive their presents and fulfill their dreams.

After the gift-giving day, Midori representatives will personally visit schools in in Sapang Bato, Sitio Target and Monicayo, Haduan, Calapi, Macapagal and Marcos Village.

Midori’s top officials including Midori Casino general manager Manny Aure were present.

Jumong Rogando, a pupil at Sapang Bato Elementary School, shared his experience and delivered his gratitude to the Midori and its executives.

“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa mga biyayang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa amin. Sa oras pong ito ay umaapaw sa aming mga puso ang galak dahil ipinagkaloob kayo sa amin ng Poong Maykapal/Apu. Mula po sa aming mga batang Ayta, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.”

Angels’ Dream is the corporate social responsibility program of Midori Clark Hotel and Casino. Launched in 2016, the program granted the wishes of about 300 Aeta kids during its first year and 600 wishes last 2017.

On its third year, the program had aimed to beat its 2017 record by fulfilling the wishes of 800 Aeta kids.

Darlene Achumbre, Midori Hotel's assistant sales and marketing manager, said that “Angels’ Dream aims to make the Yuletide Season even brighter, more meaningful and something that always leaves a jolly mark on the heart.”

Achumbre thanked their sponsors and the media for supporting their “noble project.”

Dine and Drive in Clark

By Bernard L. Supetran

MENTION Clark and two things immediately come to mind—world-class golf and a gastronomic journey—and for good reason. Since reopening as a free port and tourist zone in the mid-1990s, it has hosted countless of golfers from all over the world who would later wolf down on dishes in the heart of the country’s acknowledged “culinary capital.”

Two decades hence, this merry mix of drive and dine continues, only this time more seamlessly, at Quest Plus Conference Center, located at arguably the most enviable spot in the sprawling colony.

Nestled in the heart of Filinvest Mimosa Leisure City, the property is a reincarnation of a landmark hotel, which is being jazzed to be an integrated estate up by its new developers. The refurbished hotel has 303 rooms, six private villas, a grand ballroom and a rebooted restaurant, which has tickled the palate of Kapampangans and the dining public at large.

Across the hotel will rise a cluster of low-density lifestyle boutiques whose design will adopt to the natural environment.

Then, throw in a par-72, 18-hole course, and you have a consummate “dine and drive” experience in a scenic getaway just an hour north of the metropolis.

But first, we dine.

Mequeni Live, the all-day dining restaurant of Quest Plus, is the new edition of the well-loved Mequeni, which has been perpetually on Pampanga’s foodie list. Literally meaning “come here”, the newly relaunched resto beckons you to feast on its succulent buffet, which spans grilled, dim sum, noodle, appetizer, dessert, fry, pizza, sushi and Kapampangan food.

What makes this unique is its nine “live” stations where your choice dishes can be cooked your way by the resto’s chefs. Enhancing the dining experience is the cozy interiors, elegant furnishings and the soothing music at the Mequeni Lounge.

Not to be missed is the inimitable flair of Pampango dishes, most notably the pork sisig which the food and beverage managers of Quest Plus painstakingly researched in communities to be as faithful as possible to its traditional rendition. Connoisseurs who have sampled the hotel’s version would swear to their parents’s grave that it is as authentic as it can be, close to what celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain would have feasted on at a popular eatery in Angeles City.

Also within Mequeni Live’s spread of provincial delights are the all-time favorite noodle palabok, the paella-like bringhe sticky rice, kalderetang kambing (goat stew) and a rotating cycle of Filipino signature dishes prepared by chefs who hail from Pampanga.

Your craving for international flavors won’t be disappointed by Mequeni Live’s array of Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Italian specialties.

If you got a sweet tooth, the dessert section is a visual delight, specially with the rotating rainbow-colored gelato wheel.

For a nightcap, you can sip your favorite spirit at Charley’s Bar, a favorite watering hole in the freeport zone, particularly by sports aficionados.

An innovation that the hotel introduced is the Q Executive Lounge, which is exclusive to those booked in Club Rooms and Suites, and likewise serves as an express check-in counter. At the panoramic seventh floor, guests can partake on a relaxed breakfast, all-day coffee, refreshments and sunset cocktails, or conduct business in the lounge’s function rooms.

Families or small groups who need their own space can stay at the stately villas, which can be booked as a three-room mansion, or as three separate bungalows each with a private pool and a view of the golf course. Built purposely for the American and Russian heads of state who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the villas can give you that presidential feeling even for a few fleeting hours.

After we dine, we drive.

A must-do in the free port is to play golf, a sport associated with Clark for more than a century, dating back to the heydays of American air servicemen.

Complementing Quest Plus is the adjacent Mimosa Golf Course, which boasts of world-grade fairways that make for a game worth remembering. With the hotel and course now owned by the Filinvest Hospitality Corp., getting your golfing slot is as easy as it can get.

The Nelson and Haworth-designed course is friendly enticing greenhorns to get their hand in golfing for the first time, and get hooked into it.

The driving range is equipped with 12 covered hitting bays, complete with practice greens and bunkers on both sides. There is also a large putting green beside the clubhouse near the starters’ area where you can perfect the simple but tricky art of putting and scoring a birdie, coupled with body English.

Each hole has a unique character, which only the seasoned and sun-tanned golfer can effectively map out. But suffice it to say that its undulating fairways, crisp countryside air and perfectly manicured greens are enough to make a newbie a convert to this elite sport.

After a game, take a break and dine at Q by Mimosa, a Korean restaurant inside the pro-shop. With its stunning sceneries, the golf course is also famous for the Hilltop Garden, which is ideal for intimate gatherings, special events or simply for chilling out and watching the world go by.

But if swinging clubs isn’t your cup of tea, the hotel can arrange other recreational activities, such as culinary and heritage tours around Pampanga, horse-back riding, mountain biking, ultralight plane flight, or a foray into the Aeta’s ancestral domain.

With great food and gorgeous greens, Quest Clark is undoubtedly the best place to dine, drive and do everything in between.

P1 M marijuana leaves seized in Angeles City; 4 arrested

By Franco Regala

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Authorities confiscated some P1 million worth of dried marijuana leaves in a buy – bust operation here, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) disclosed Saturday.

Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, PRO3 director said the drug sting targetted Jayvee Canillo, 21, of Marikina City.

Three of his cohorts were also arrested during the operation and were identified as Charles Liclican, 26, of Baguio City; Joshua Manzan, 22, of Manila and Nicole Meneses, 23, of Baguio City.

They will be charhed with violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002.

Senior Supt. Enrico Vargas, Angeles City police director, said that an undercover police officer transacted with Camillo who sold him P500 worth of marijuana leaves.

When he sensed the operation, Canillo, according to the police, tried to flee.

It was during the chase in his residence that the three other suspects were spotted packing marijuana leaves in palstic bags, worth approximately P1 million.

When frisked, Canillo yielded the marked P500 bill.

Vargas said appropriate charges will be filed against the arrested suspects.

Pampanga ‘Food Street’ soon in Clark

By Reynaldo G. Navales

TOURISTS and guests in the Clark Freeport Area will soon have a better experience of Kapampangan culinary delights and local products through Pampanga “Food Street” that will soon open.

The Pampanga Food Street will feature 43 stalls which will showcase authentic Kapampangan cuisine and souvenir items. It is located along the Cardinal Santos Street adjacent to the parade grounds.

The Clark Development Corporation Engineering Services Department (CDC-ESD) had recently announced on radio that construction of the said establishment will soon be finished to offer better experience to tourists and guests visiting the Freeport.

The CDC–ESD also reported that the development and improvement of the CDC Children’s Playground, also near the Parade Grounds, is also on-going. The work involves site development, landscaping, installation of playground equipment for the over-all beautification of the site.

Other improvement projects in this Freeport include the asphalt overlay along M.A. Roxas Highway and provision of bike lanes among others.

Angeles, Olongapo pilot areas of anti-crime programs in C. Luzon

By Ric Sapnu (PNA)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The two highly-urbanized cities of Angeles and Olongapo were chosen as pilot areas for the implementation of the Barangay and Pulisya Laban sa Krimen (BPLK) program in Central Luzon.

The BPLK is a crime prevention program that emphasizes the partnership of the community and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to combat criminality and aims to promote safe, peaceful and orderly communities.

DILG-Angeles City Director Martin Porres B. Moral said at the sidelines of the "Orientation on Barangay and Pulisya Laban sa Krimen" program for local officials in Angeles City on Thursday, that the BPLK program emphasizes partnership between the barangay and police with the participation of business sectors, non- government organizations, civil society organizations, faith based organizations and other volunteer sectors.

“It is designed to enhance awareness on the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders in the community in peace keeping efforts,” he said.

Moral said DILG-Angeles City, in coordination with the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), has started conducting orientation on the BPLK program for the city’s 33 villages.

He said the ACPO partners discussed topics on understanding criminality, crime prevention and the role of police and the community in crime prevention to the barangay officials.

“I am encouraging the punong barangays to issue an executive order organizing the neighborhood watch, who will serve as the auxiliary team of the Barangay Peace and Order Committee,” he added.

Through the neighborhood watch, he said, citizens remain alert for suspicious activities and report such to appropriate authorities like the barangay officials and the police.

“Through this way, collaboration and partnership will be strengthened as one of the means in addressing criminality,” he added.

Wyndham Shares Christmas Cheer with Aeta Community in Pampanga

(Press release)

CLARK, PHILIPPINES – Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific staff based in Clark in the Philippines personally delivered gifts to more than 50 children living in the rural community of Sitio Monicayo earlier in the week.

The initiative was inspired by the company’s philanthropic program, Wishes by Wyndham, which aims to improve the lives of children and their families.

Sitio Monicayo is a small community formed by nearly 500 Aetas who relocated after losing their homes in the mountains after a 1991 volcano eruption. While the community has access to electricity and water today, its economic wellbeing is entirely dependent on the yield of a group of small farms.

A small team of employees visited on Wednesday to distribute the gifts, which were donations from over 170 staff employed by Wyndham in the Philippines.

“This initiative is our way of giving back to the local community and we all felt a sense of fulfilment to see children smile. This was a huge effort from our team, who personally paid for, sourced and packed canned foods, toys, clothes and storybooks, and prepared meals for the kids,” said Jerry Estrada, Director of Operations, Wyndham Services Asia Pacific (Philippines) (WSAPPI).

“This is the second year that the team organised an outreach for children and we are looking forward to conducting this initiative in the years to come.”

The outreach was a partnership with the Lions Club Philippines, which organised a medical and dental check-up for 250 adults on the same day.

WSAPPI, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, employs over 170 staff in Clark across a number of different functions, including customer support, technical and IT support, communications and creative services, human resources, finance, customer experience, sales, revenue and marketing.

The office is located at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, a two-hour drive from the capital city of Manila.

Pogi Lazatin continues Christmas tradition

(Press release)

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Opposition Councilor and Mayoralty Aspirant Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. continues his annual Christmas tradition as he distributes Christmas hams to Barangay leaders and Senior Citizens in all 33 barangays of this city.

Since 2014, Lazatin has distributed some 8,000 Christmas hams every year as a way of thanking people for their continuous support for him ever since he entered public service back in 2013.

“Magmula po ng una akong manungkulan bilang konsehal ay walang sawa po ang natanggap kong suporta, which is why I have made it a point to show my gratitude every Christmas,” Lazatin said.

“Kung tutuusin, maliit lang po na bagay ang pamimigay ng ham compared to the overwhelming support I’ve received, but I hope that in this manner, I am able to show how thankful I am,” he added.

Lazatin also announced that when elected, he will endeavor to bring back his father’s former program of providing free medicine in rural health centers, which has been discontinued in recent administrations.

Lazatin added that he aims to raise the level of health care for Angelenos through the renovation of all existing health centers in the city and enhancing the capabilities of the city’s health workers through continuous training.

The provision of free medicine and providing access to affordable healthcare has always been the cornerstone of the ‘Lazatin brand’ of public service, even during the time of Lazatin’s father, and Pogi Lazatin wishes to continue it.

Angeles City candidate crowned Mutya ning Kapampangan 2018

By Leah Isidro De Fiesta

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Out of the 22 candidates vying for the Mutya Ning Kapampangan crown, Angeles City's Angela Maria Robson won the title.

She also got the Miss Photogenic and the most elegant gown of the night.

The coronation night was held at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center (BZGCC) Monday, December 10, where Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda lauded the Kapampangan beauties, saying they all deserved to bring home the crown.

For her, it is already a privilege to stand in front of the crowd to represent their respective cities and municipalities.

Robson will also be representing the province in the Miss Millennial in Eat Bulaga, the country's top noontime show.

Meanwhile, Miss Lubao, Reziah Angelica Famorcan, bagged the Miss Angel Skin and first runner-up followed by Kim Leana Pabustan of Mabalacat City (second runner up) who was also hailed as best in swimwear and Miss Montage Choice Award; Mickey Charles Dimacali of San Luis (third runner-up), also the Best in Pre-Colonial costume and Queen of Estancia 2018; and Angelica Bianca Lapuz of Mexico (fourth runner-up), got the Miss Ysa and Body Experts, Best in Talent and Miss Texter's Choice.

Other special awards were best in casual wear, Miss Nuan Model of the Year, Miss Aguman Kapampangan UK, and Miss SM Choice Award for Jaimee Nicole Manio, Mutya Ning San Fernando.

Kervee Mae Cabuso of Guagua was awarded as Miss Congeniality; Jessa Paran of Bacolor as Miss Telegenic and Miss Yuki Skin Care Pampanga; Micah Songco of Floridablanca as Miss Dream Aesthetica; Kristine Heide Manarang of Sto. Tomas as Miss Ysa and Body Experts; Irah Bonifacio of Porac as Miss Ellie Beau PH and Jessel France Navarro as Darling of the Press and Miss Yuki Angeles.

The coronation night was attended by Vice-Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, Provincial Board members, local chief executives headed by Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, department heads led by Provincial Administrator Andres Pangilinan, Jr. and popular artists such as Ruby Rodriguez and Kenneth of Eat Bulaga; host-comedian Vice Ganda of ABS-CBN noontime show, It’s Showtime; and basketball players Calvin Abueva and Arwind Santos of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Pineda commended the efforts of the Mutya Ning Kapampangan committee headed by Board Members Cherry Manalo and Fritzie David-Dizon and the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga.

WATCH: Kapampangans preserve indigenous 'Kulitan' script

By Rosette Adel (philstar.com)

ANGELES, Pampanga — At least once a month, well-known cultural activist and an internationally acknowledged expert on Kapampángan language and culture Mike Pangilinan works on preserving Kulitan—one of the indigenous writing systems of the Philippines—by teaching it to fellow Pampangos and others who are interested.

The Kulitan script is used to write Kapampangan, a language spoken in Pampanga and in nearby areas.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6xf8vy

Pangilinan started teaching the basic Kulitan script in April 2016 when he was invited to give the staff of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Division of the Angeles City Tourism Office lessons in it. His lecture received good feedback and attracted more students than the ACTO could accommodate.

Herminia Pámintuan, called the Mother of the Kapampángan Cultural and Linguistic Revival of Angeles City, inaugurated the Sídduan ning Kabiasnan Kapampángan at Pámanigáral Kulitan (Institute for Kapampángan Research and Kulitan Studies) in October 2016 so Pangilinan could hold regular lectures on Kulitan.

Pangilinan also holds lectures on Kapampangan language, history, and culture.

Earlier in 2016, he was was given the Talasínup king Singsing (Keeper of Heritage) lifetime achievement award by the local government and people of Angeles City for his expertise on the Kapampángan language and script. Kulitan better represents Kapampangan

Pangilinan stresses the importance of learning Kulitan, saying it represents the language of the Kapampangan people. He said Kapampangan is currently endangered because some parents are no longer passing the language on to their children, hence his passion to further preserve both Kapampangan and Kulitan script

“It accurately represents the Kapampangan language – the sounds of the Kapampangan language ... unlike the Tagalog, who only have five vowels,” Pangilinan says of Kulitan during the Skechers’ Heritage Walk in Angeles, Pampanga in September.

READ: Travel guide: Discovering Angeles City through heritage, culinary walking tour

“We have more than five vowel sounds that are accurately represented in Kulitan,” he adds. More to pre-Hispanic writing than Baybayin

Pangilinan says some Tagalog students have also noted the difference between the Kapampangan and Tagalog script Baybayin.

Due to this, Pangilinan says he is not in favor of making Baybayin, one of the pre-Hispanic writing systems used in the Philippines, as the country's national writing system.

In April this year, a committee of the House of Representatives approved House Bill 1022 or the proposed "National Writing System Act" to declare Baybayin the Philippines’ national writing system.

READ: House panel approves use of Baybayin as country's national writing system

The bill was filed by Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan). It was supported by the Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Buhayin, a Baybayin advocacy group.

“The importance of writing in general and of the alphabet in particular for the preservation and progress of civilization is incalculable,” Bataoil was quoted in April in a press release from the House Press and Public Affairs Bureau.

Pangilinan, however, says Pampanga should retain its own indigenous writing system.

“So, that’s why you cannot impose someone else's script on our script,” Pangilinan says.

“We don’t approve that Baybayin bill or whatever it is ‘cause we have our own writing which are accurately represents our own language,” he adds.

At present, Pangilinan offers basic Kulitan classes at least one Saturday month at the receiving lounge of ACTO. The class size is limited to ten participants.

House approves bill renaming Clark airport

By KEITH A. CALAYAG (SunStar Philippines)

THE House of Representatives passed on third reading a bill that seeks to rename the Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

A total of 199 lawmakers voted yes to House Bill 8649 during the plenary session on December 3. No one voted against it.

The bill mandates the Department of Transportation to place appropriate markers on the airport and its facilities and issue the necessary orders and circulars to implement the provisions of the Act.

Authors of the bill are Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., Deputy Speaker Arthur Yap, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rodante Marcoleta (Partylist, 1-Sagip), Representative Carmelo Lazatin II (1st District, Pampanga) and Representative Aurelio Gonzales (3rd District, Pampanga).

According to the authors of the measure, it is but fitting to revert the name of the airport to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in honor of the late former President Diosdado Macapagal.

On July 27, 2018, the Provincial Board of Pampanga issued Resolution 5124, titled “A resolution urging His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and both houses of Congress to issue a presidential proclamation and appropriate legislation, respectively, reverting or renaming the Clark International Airport located at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.”

The present board of the Clark International Airport likewise approved a resolution renaming the airport as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport on the 108th birthday of the late President last September.

The renaming of the airport was pushed during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Macapagal is the father of former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Group eyes firms support on watershed protection

By REYNALDO G. NAVALES

ANGELES CITY -- A newly-formed green organization is eyeing the support of various companies on water stewardship and watershed protection.

The Pampanga Aguman Da Reng Talaingat Danum (PADRTD), headed by businessman Louie Reyes, is set to coordinate with all stakeholders including the corporate sector to ensure the sufficient water supply for future generations.

The group's officers stated that they already tap several companies around the Metro Clark area which utilize a big volume of water.

Reyes, a former city councilor here, said that the organization has already applied for a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration to support the implementation of its projects.

Renato "Abong" Tayag Jr, an environmentalist and members of the PADRTD, has underscored the need to reforest Barangay Sapang Bato and other adjacent upland villages which serves as watershed of the city and other nearby places including Mabalacat City.

Paolo Pagaduan, project manager of the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF), recently met with officers and members of the PADRTD and discussed several principles regarding water stewardship and environment project implementation.

"We call the program water stewardship, primarily this is for getting support from corporates. Obviously, we need resources to move and do what we want to do," Pagaduan said.

The organization is set to implement a hydraulic ram pump project which will serve as irrigation for tree seedlings that will be planted at the Sapang Bato area.

Reyes said the ram pump will not use energy and will rely on gravity.

With the ram pump, water from a spring or stream in a valley can be pumped to a village or irrigation scheme on the hillside.

Wherever a fall of water can be obtained, the ram pump can be used as a comparatively cheap, simple, and reliable means of raising water to considerable heights.

Angeles Water District inaugurates 2 pumping stations

(SunStar Pampanga)

THE Angeles City Water District (ACWD) has inaugurated two pumping stations which are expected to prevent the recurrence of water shortage in barangays Margot and Sapangbato.

Engineer Reynaldo Liwanag, ACWD general manager, said the commissioning of the two pumps will ensure sufficient water supply in the two upland villages which was affected by water shortage early this year.

On June 10, 2018, the ACWD completed its P10 million-pump in Sapangbato ending the water crisis which started in February this year. The water shortage stemmed from the reduction in the volume of supply the water district procures from the Clark Water.

The Sapangbato Pumping Station has a capacity of 12 liters per second which can supply more than 1,000 households, according to Liwanag. The ACWD constructed a separate pumping station in Barangay Margot which was commissioned in July this year.

Liwanag said the two pumps can provide water supply to more than 2,800 concessionaires in the two villages. Five months ago, the City Council declared a state of calamity in the two barangays following the water shortage.

He then assured the local officials that their pumps will be completed and water supply will be restored in four months.

City gov’t needs to be a business partner – Lazatin

(Press release)

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Opposition Councilor and Angeles City Mayoralty Aspirant Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. declared that the city government needs to partner up and work closely with the private sector, in order to further enhance the growth of the business sector in the city.

Lazatin made the statement during the Angeles City’s Mayoral Candidates Forum sponsored by Hotel and Restaurants Association in Pampanga, Inc. (HARP) on November 21 at Oasis Hotel, after he was asked about his plans on how to support and sustain the business sector in the city once he is elected as mayor.

Further, Lazatin added that his first order of business in office will be to clean out the “rotten eggs” in the city government, especially those who use their position to extort businesses in the city.

“Ang magiging administration po natin ay may paninindigan,” Lazatin stressed, “Ang ibig pong sabihin nito, we will clean out the corrupt employees in the city government, regardless of their affiliation.”

Lazatin also said that the application for business permits in the city will be effectively modernized under his administration.

“The present Business- One-Stop-Shop was first implemented during the administration of my father,” Lazatin said, referring to former three-term Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, “Under our administration, we plan to improve this further by properly implementing the city’s online business application system, starting with proper information dissemination. We are in the age of information technology and we need to take advantage and use it to improve the delivery of public services.”

At present, the Angeles City Government has an online business application system in place called E-BOSS or Electronic Business One- Stop Shop, however, the service has yet to be widely used by businesses in the city.

According to the Business Permit and Licensing Division, in 2017, only 16 businesses applied for their permits through the E-BOSS system.

Pampanga 2018 Gawad Kalasag Nat’l Awards grand winner

By Joel Mapiles (PNA)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The province of Pampanga bagged the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance Award given by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) during the 20th Gawad Kalasag National Awards program on Tuesday.

The award was personally received by Vice Governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda, 3rd District Board Member Rosve V. Henson, Angelina S. Blanco, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and other provincial officials during the awarding ceremony held at the AFP Theater in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The provincial government received a PHP500,000 cash incentive as part of the award.

The National Gawad Kalasag award for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance was signed by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana as chairperson of the NDRRMC and Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, executive director and Civil Defense administrator.

“Pampanga has been chosen for its effective utilization of the local disaster risk reduction and management funds to address risk-based issues, thereby, ensuring that response actions in times of disasters are in place,” the citation read.

The NDRRMC also recognized the efficient and innovative DRRM systems, processes and protocols as demonstrated in its reporting system, incident command system, contingency planning, communication flow, and response operations, including advanced collapsed structure search and rescue, and vehicular extrication, among others.

Pampanga was also cited for its heightened disaster risk awareness and the promotion of inclusive participation through the involvement of the "Nanay" community workers’ education, business communities in the information education and communication on DRRM.

The NDRRMC also lauded the efforts of the provincial government of Pampanga for undertaking disaster prevention and mitigation measures through the year-round desilting of rivers and waterways to address flood susceptibilities in the communities.

The province's eco-friendly and gender-responsive permanent evacuation centers, which can accommodate enough number of evacuees with complete facilities applying the Build Back Better principle to ensure the safety of evacuees, was also recognized.

The NDRRMC said the accomplishments of the provincial government of Pampanga are all notable contributions to the national efforts to build a safer, climate change adaptive and disaster resilient Philippines, worthy of emulation by the people and recognition from the Gawad Kalasag.

"Expect a more determined and intensive approach to ensure the safety of the Kapampangans from different disasters and calamities," Blanco said as she expressed gratitude and appreciation to all council member agencies for their concerted efforts in pursuing a disaster-resilient Pampanga.

Meanwhile, Angeles City and the City of San Fernando landed second place for Best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance Award in the highly-urbanized city and component city categories, respectively. Each received PHP200,000 cash incentive.

The other two finalists for best provincial DRRM are the provinces of Quirino and Dinagat Islands, each received a plaque of appreciation and PHP200,000 incentive.

Preview of Kapampangan Pop Song Festival 2018 entries held

(PR)

ALL 10 entries for the most awaited Kapampangan Pop Song Festival (KPSF) in Angeles City are set for the grand finals on December 11, 7 p.m., at the AUF Sports and Cultural Center.

An exclusive preview of all the compositions was held recently with Angeles City Heritage, Culture and Arts Officer Joy Cruz, Culture and Arts Council of Angeles Executive Director Wing Pingol, Angeles University Foundation (AUF) President Dr. Joseph Emmanuel Angeles, AUF Center for Culture and the Arts (AUF-CCA) Director Gildo “Boron” Garcia Jr., and all the composers of the songs.

Garcia presented the songs of the 10 finalists to give everyone an idea on how the entries were arranged and recorded through the help of Filipino music genius and composer, Vehnee Saturno.

All entries are set to be heard in various occasions and events in and around Angeles City. The order of presentation, scheduled interviews, promotions and guesting were also finalized during the call.

"The contest seeks to perpetuate the Kapampangan prose in its stylish and rhythmical form while harnessing the aptness of talents of the Kapampangan songwriters and championing solidarity among different cities and towns of Pampanga," said Pingol.

“This event will be an annual activity in line with the celebration of Fiestang Kuliat,” he added.

Meanwhile, the theme for the first-ever KPSF is “lugud” or “love”. The public is urged to vote for their favorite composition through text votes by keying VOTE Song Code and send to 8933. Voting is exclusive for Smart, TNT, and Sun Cellular subscribers.

The final entries with their composers and corresponding codes are [RF1] “Dalagang Kapampangan” by Clark Vencci Pelayo; [RF2] “Sabi Da” by Romeo Canilao; [RF3] “Bulan” by Calvin Concepcion and Jhon Sevilla; [RF4] “Kanyaman Lulugud” by Leonardo Calma and Paul Edward Concepcion; [RF5] “Aguiang Na” by Dennis Gomez, Eleonor Rodriguez, and Harold Diamsay; [RF6] “Ika Mu” by Kenneth Macapugay; [RF7] “Lugud Mu Ing Bie” by Shane Kim Lumanog; [RF8] “Pengakung Luguran” by Richard Co and Jemima Co; [RF9] “Prinsesa” by Mark David Ocampo; and [RF10] “Kampay” by Daniel Dato.

The Kapampangan Pop Song Festival is a songwriting competition with the Kapampangan language as the medium. The event is in line with the city’s advocacy on promoting Kapampangan as Angeles City’s official language alongside existing national languages.

SEA Games champ urges fellow athletes to dream big

By Mar Jay S. Delas Alas

ANGELES CITY (PIA) -- Keep dreaming big so the bigger you dream, the farther you get.

This was the message of two-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) Gold medalist Nikko Huelgas to fellow athletes during the One-Year Countdown for SEA Games 2019 held at Bayanihan Park.

Huelgas, also the Chairperson of the Philippine Olympic Committee Athlete’s Commission, shared the journey of achieving his dream of becoming a national athlete and eventually bringing home gold medals in the triathlon event of the SEA Games.

“We [the Philippines] last hosted the SEA Games back in 2005 and if I can remember it correctly, I was just 14, a young high school student playing badminton as a varsity and at the same time, I didn’t know about anything about the SEA Games,” Huelgas said.

He shared that he dreamed of becoming a national athlete realizing the essence of sports in the community.

“It’s not about only the games — it’s about hearing the word national athlete — and being a national athlete, being an inspiration, being a role model and what it does to the community,” he said.

“That’s what sport does. That’s what the SEA Games does. It gives us dreams. It gives us a purpose to do something,” he furthered.

Huelgas urged his fellow national athletes to serve as inspiration to the youth and to those looking up to their dreams.

“To all our national athletes, I wish you guys that you give your very best in order for this event to create an impact not only to athletes but to everybody here in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia that we can make a difference,” he stressed.

Huelgas is the first Filipino athlete to win the Gold medal in the SEA games triathlon in 2015 in Singapore and successfully defending his title in the following meet in 2017 in Malaysia.

The 30th SEA Games will be held from November 30-December 11, 2019. A total of 9,840 athletes from 11 countries will compete in 529 events of 56 sports. There are 47 venues in three competition hubs namely Clark, Subic and Metro Manila.

It carries the theme “We Win as One” which encapsulates unity, togetherness, and singularity of purpose and the desire to work together in a diverse community to achieve peace, progress and inclusivity. (CLJD/MJSD-PIA 3)

‘Sports can fight drugs, build goodwill’ -- Cayetano

By Mar Jay S. Delas Alas (CLJD/MJSD-PIA 3)

ANGELES CITY (PIA) -- Philippine Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) Organizing Committee Chairperson Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the role of sports in bringing positive transformation in the community.

During the One-Year Countdown to 2019 SEA Games held at the Bayanihan Park, Cayetano said sports participation prevents drug use among the youth.

“How many of us are caught in the problems in our nations especially of drugs and instead of saying, ‘Don’t do drugs,’ we’re telling them alternatives and sports is one thing that can fight drugs,” the official said.

“Athletes sacrifice eating delicious food. They sacrifice sleeping late and going to parties. So definitely, drugs are out when you’re into sports,” he added.

Cayetano also said sports is one of the best kinds of diplomacy among neighboring countries.

“Sportsmanship, camaraderie, brotherhood, sisterhood and building goodwill are all essential in transforming into a strong community,” he said.

He noted the importance of coming together of the Southeast Asian countries for the 30th SEA Games which proves strong relationship and unity among other nations.

“Sixty years ago in 1958, the games were conceptualize. The next year, six countries came together with the hope and aspirations of fostering friendship and a sense of community,” he furthered.

The 30th SEA Games will be held from November 30-December 11, 2019. A total of 9,840 athletes from 11 countries will compete in 529 events of 56 sports. There are 47 venues in three competition hubs namely Clark, Subic and Metro Manila.

It carries the theme “We Win as One” which encapsulates unity, togetherness, and singularity of purpose and the desire to work together in a diverse community to achieve peace, progress and inclusivity.

PSC assures world class sports facilities for Filipino athletes

By Cherie Joyce V. Flores (CLJD/CJVF-PIA 3)

ANGELES CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA) -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) assures world class sports facilities for Filipino athletes with New Clark City (NCC) at the center of it.

“It has always been our mission to put Filipino athletes on the world stage to compete against the world’s best,” PSC Chairperson Butch Ramirez said during the One-Year Countdown for the 30thSoutheast Asian Games (SEA) Games 2019 held at Bayanihan Park.

“As part of our commitment to our athletes, hectares of land in Capas, Tarlac are now being develop into a world class sports facility for the SEA Games. The NCC Hub will host the banner of sports for the games,” Ramirez, who is also Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Co-Vice Chair furthered.

“It will contain a 20,000 seating capacity Athletic Stadium, 2,000 seating capacity Aquatics Center, an Athletes’ Villageand high-performance gym that will offer the latest scientific training equipment and methodology,” he disclosed.

After SEA Games, the sports hub will become a training center not just for the Filipino athletes but also athletes from around the world.

“To our National athletes and to those who aspire to represent our country, believe in yourselves because we believe in you,” Ramirez emphasized.

“Together we can make great things happen. We will continue to develop the athletes of tomorrow and the future of global sports and the Philippines will be at the center of it,” he said.

The 30thSEA Games will be held from November 30-December 11, 2019. A total of 9,840 athletes from 11 countries will compete in 529 events of 56 sports. There are 47 venues in three competition hubs namely Clark, Subic and Metro Manila.

It carries the theme “We Win as One” which encapsulates unity, togetherness, and singularity of purpose and the desire to work together in a diverse community to achieve peace, progress and inclusivity.

Countdown to SEA Games 2019 begins

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu (CLJD-PIA 3)

ANGELES CITY (PIA) -- Preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2019 officially came to a full swing Friday evening with the unveiling of a countdown clock at the Bayanihan Park.

“The activation of this countdown clock represents our optimism for a future that is full of promises. It symbolizes the common aspirations of our South East Asian family for a stronger regional community that is bound by friendship, camaraderie, cooperation, and teamwork,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

“The next 365 days will be more than just a period of anticipation and excitement for the Philippines. It will also be a challenging time for the entire country as we prepare to host the biggest sports event in the region. We are confident that the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee will hurdle all obstacles along the way,” he added.

“Our hosting of this biennial event comes at a time when the government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development program. From our seamless network of highways that traverse the plains of Central Luzon to the Clark International Airport to the world class facilities the we erected for this games (in New Clark City), we can confidently claim that the Philippines is indeed ready to become a regional hub of international sporting events,” the cabinet official furthered.

“This is also a time for the Philippines to show the rest of the world the warm Filipino hospitality and our drive to excel in various fields of sports. It is indeed a chance for our athletes to compete and at the same time forge lasting friendships with their counterparts from other countries,” Medialdea said.

A time honored tradition of the SEA Games, the Philippines as host country leads the Countdown Ceremony to signal the start of a series of activities, functions and gatherings leading up to the Opening of the 30th SEA Games in 2019.

The logo- 11 colored linked rings- brings together and incorporates the 11 participating countries laid out in the likeness and figure of the Philippine map.

The 30th SEA Games will be held from November 30-December 11, 2019. A total of 9,840 athletes from 11 countries will compete in 529 events of 56 sports. There are 47 venues in 3 competition hubs namely Clark, Subic and Metro Manila.

Opening Ceremony will be held at the 55,000 seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on November 30. The Closing Ceremony, on the other hand, will be at the 20,000 seater Athletics Stadium at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The theme “We Win as One” encapsulates unity, togetherness, and singularity of purpose and the desire to work together in a diverse community to achieve peace, progress and inclusivity.

Angeles City Archived News

The older news reports are kept here

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