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Angeles City News January 2019
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CDC supports 10th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1783509
- Sunday, January 20, 2019
- (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
- Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073699/quarrying-destroys-dike-sections-in-angeles-city
- Saturday, January 19, 2019
- 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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1783040
- Friday, January 18, 2019
- 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
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058832
- Thursday, January 17, 2019 (PNA)
- 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
- Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072409/angeles-clan-grows-with-city
- Wednesday, January 16, 2019
- 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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1781898/Pampanga/Business/Clark-Corp-firm-ink-MOA-to-develop-facility-for-eco-friendly-materials
- Thursday, January 10, 2019
- (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
- Source: http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/01/09/Philippines-Miss-Tourism-World-Intercontinental-2019.html
- Wednesday, January 9, 2019 14:52
- (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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1781768/Pampanga/Local-News/CDC-welcomes-500-Chinese-tourists
- Tuesday, January 8, 2019
- 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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1781572/Pampanga/Local-News/More-Angeles-villages-receive-brand-new-garbage-trucks
- Monday, January 7, 2019
- (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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1781450/Pampanga/Local-News/Angeles-City-firm-tie-up-for-environment-program
- Sunday, January 6, 2019
- 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
- Source: http://punto.com.ph/aqua-planet-in-clark-reopens/
- Saturday, January 5, 2019
- 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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1781224/Pampanga/Local-News/DepEd-to-conduct-training-on-innovative-teaching
- Friday, January 4, 2019
- 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
- Source: http://punto.com.ph/sm-cgc-mulling-hot-air-balloon-fiesta-in-clark/
- Thursday, January 3, 2019
- 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
- Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1780744/Pampanga/Local-News/SM-Clark-gives-ChriSMiles-treat-to-kids
- Tuesday, January 1, 2019
- (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.