Angeles City News July 2017

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City Hall of 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.

Angeles city catholic church.jpg
Angeles City Catholic Church
Angeles city crucifixion of the faithfuls.jpg
Sacrifice of the faithfuls by crucifying themselves.

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.

Cabalen opens 31st branch at Ayala MarQuee Mall

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CABALEN, a buffet restaurant chain serving traditional Filipino dishes on the influences from Pampanga, has opened its 31st branch at the Ayala Marquee Mall in Angeles City on July 27.

This coincided with the opening of another store in San Bruno, California, United States of America, which proves that Cabalen is committed to bring the authentic Kapampangan cuisine to people here and abroad.

Cabalen never fails to excite its customers with a wide array of food in the buffet style.

With Cabalen, which is tagged as Home of the Best Kare-kare, Cabalen and other sumptuous Kapampangan dishes like dinuguan, caldereta, letchon paksiw, crispy kangkong, and tibok-tibok, your cravings for Filipino food will truly be satisfied.

For three decades now, Cabalen has proven its position as the standard excellent Filipino cuisine.

With its freshest ingredients and the most stringent quality control, Cabalen has kept customers’ continuous patronage.

Cabalen remains true to its mission of bringing Filipino families closer together by offering functions where families could celebrate momentous occasions.

Aside from its appetizing food, Cabalen also offers export quality products called Filipina Deli which are available in all of its outlets.

Cabalen has stores at Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 2, Ayala Harbour Point in Subic, Market! Market!, Robinsons Place Ilocos, Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, SM City Bacolod, SM City Bacoor, SM City Baliuag, SM City Cabanatuan, SM City Cebu, SM City Clark, SM City Dasmarinas, SM City Davao, SM City Fairview, SM City Iloilo, SM City Lipa, SM City Manila, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, SM City Pampanga, SM City San Jose Del Monte, SM City San Lazaro, SM Seaside Cebu, SM City Southmall, SM Trese Martires, Trinoma Mall, and West Avenue Quezon City.

Cabalen will be opening stores at SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Baguio, Robinsons Place Naga, and Robinsons Place Tacloban.

EdPam delivers SOCA

(Angeles CIO)

ANGELES CITY - Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan addressed the Angeleños during his ‘Ulat sa Bayan 2017: the State of the City Address (SOCA) about the local government’s economic stability, achievements, and priority projects, on Tuesday July 25 at the New Legislative Hall.

Pamintuan has presented updates on the various development programs for infrastructure, education, health, tourism, and peace and order aligned with his comprehensive 8-point agenda known as the Contract With the Angeleños (CWA).

“The Duterte administration is pouring it all to “Build, Build, Build!”. President Rodrigo Duterte and his economic team believe that infrastructure is the most eff ective engine for economic growth,” Mayor Pamintuan said.

The mayor highlighted the major infrastructure projects on the year that have passed which includes the first public cemetery of the city, the Php 99M Angeles City Public Memorial Park,, and the 50M-worth renovation and modernization of the Pampang Public Market where order, sanitation, and freshness of produce is strictly adhered.

Also, Angeleños are now provided with more treatment centers through the construction of Renal Care Unit, Intensive Cardiac Care Unit, and Chemotherapy Infusion Unit at the Ospital ning Angeles.

Meanwhile, security program was heightened to reduce the crime rate and to monitor the city 24/7 through the state-of-theart Angeles City Agyu Tamu Emergency and Disaster Command Center (ACATEDCC) which supplements the CCTV cameras installed all over the city.

“Many tourism stakeholders are now very optimistic of and bullish about their industry. The more tourists count, the more jobs and business opportunities for our people,” the mayor said.

According to Secretary Alberto Romulo, Pamintuan has done a great job in uplifting the state of Angeles City.

“He has the initiative and the will which are important traits of being a leader. Angeles City is lucky to have Pamintuan as their mayor because of the successful programs and plans that greatly helped all of his constituents,” said Romulo.

Through the leadership of Mayor Pamintuan, more major infrastructure projects are now on its way to further the support for the “Build! Build! Build!” program of the national government which include the PhP 211.43-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project, and the PhP 12.55-billion expansion of the Clark International Airport, as approved by the National Economic Development Authority.

“The period July 2016 to July 2017 was most fruitful for Angeles City. Our city has come a long way and may all of us strive and persevere to continue what we have started,” said Mayor Pamintuan.

For his part, Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno pledged the support of the city council and that they will continuously help in implementing the projects of the local government through the creation of ordinances and resolutions.

Present during the SOCA 2017 were Clark international Airport Corporation Chairman Alexander Cauguiran, Traffic czar Dan Concepcion, Kuliat Foundation Incorporated President Marco Nepomuceno, Mark Savino, Friends of Ed, Freddie So, and representatives of the government offices of the local government unit.

Quest Hotel Clark teamed up with the Philippine Red Cross to save lives through the blood donation event

(Press release)

Quest gives back through annual blood drive

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them save lives with the very thing that also keeps them alive.

In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, Quest Hotel and Conference Center – Clark organized its annual blood donation activity on July 20, 2017 at The Hilltop, with participants comprised of hotel and Mimosa golf staff members.

Among the donors were the General Manager himself, Patrick Beck, Hotel Manager Ric Lopez, and Food and Beverage Director Frank Wagner. A group coming from Midori Clark Hotel and Casino was also invited to take part in the activity.

“We believe that this is a great way to give back to the local community, and we are sure that through the blood drive, we supply the Red Cross with healthy and reliable blood from the employees of Quest and Mimosa,” Beck said. The general manager was a regular in donating blood.

According to Ana Laguerta, Human Resources Manager, the blood donation activity was the second one initiated by the company, and that it would be a staple event for the years to come.

Dubbed as the event where “every blood donor is a hero,” a total of 35 bags of blood were collected. Besides providing their medical and health history through questionnaires, participants were also counseled and physically examined by The Red Cross staff to confirm if they were fit enough to undergo the session.

The collected blood will be kept by the Philippine Red Cross for patients and emergencies needing them. Each unit of blood collected will be examined for five transfusion- transmissible infectious diseases, namely: HIV, Malaria, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C before it is transfused to the patients.

The Red Cross assures that donating blood is completely safe. Needles are ensured to be sterile and disposed after a single use.

Not only does this act save patients’ lives, but also improves the overall health of the donors themselves. Repeated blood donations may aid the blood flow in a way that is less damaging to the lining of the blood vessels, and could result in fewer arterial blockages. Donating can also regulate the body’s iron levels and prevent the accumulation of toxic quantities.

Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City

The Mimosa Leisure Estate is home to Quest Hotel and Conference Center, Clark, a 303-room hotel with eight spacious function rooms for MICE and life’s most meaningful events.

It is also home to the Mimosa Golf Course, with two, par- 72, 18-hole courses that tests both enthusiasts and veterans alike.

For bookings and inquiries, visit www.questhotelsandresort s.com/clark and mimosagolf. com or call +63 (45) 599 8000.

Embraer inks deal with SIAEP

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT – Embraer, the third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world has signed an agreement with SIA Engineering Philippines (SIAEP) as its authorized service center in the Asia-Pacific region.

Embraer is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft and provides aeronautical services.

SIAEP, based at A. Bonifacio Street here, is a joint venture of SIA Engineering Corporation and Cebu Pacific Air that performs primarily Base Maintenance and Line Maintenance, with 12 air-worthiness approvals.

The deal makes SIAEP as the only Embraer service center in the entire Asia-Pacifi c region.

Rene Banzon, SIAEP manager, announce the deal on Tuesday at the media forum “News@Hues” organized by the Pampanga Press Club in cooperation with Park Inn Hotel by Radisson at the SM City Clark complex here.

Banzon said there is also an Embraer service center in China but it caters mostly to Chinese Embraer aircraft.

He said no domestic carrier has a similar aircraft in the Philippines but there are about 150 Embraer aircraft from different airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. “So that’s what we’re targeting,” he said.

Banzon said an airline from Australia is coming in two months and two more are expected to arrive after.

Banzon said SIAEP has three hangars that have five phases which technically mean that you can put five aircrafts in the hangars but they can also park outside.

Last February, Banzon said, they had their hands full handling 14 aircrafts at the same time.

Banzon said with the contract with Embraer, they have increased their capability by training some of their personnel in Brazil and have purchased new equipment.

Meanwhile, Banzon disclosed that “there were no formal arrangements done with SIAEP for the coming ASEAN Summit in November but it was mentioned in passing that we should be prepared because our line maintenance which handles turnaround aircrafts can also handle all sorts of aircrafts.

Banzon said SIAEP is also capable of handling Airbus and Boeing aircrafts with its close to 500 employees.

He said SIAEP handles majority of the airlines flying into the Clark airport which can be classified into five different types of Boeing and several types of airbus.

Banzon said for base maintenance SIAEP is handling A320s, A330s among others and their base load customers are Cebu Pacific, Philippines Air Asia, Tiger Airways Singapore and Australia and Silk Air which is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.

“SIAEP is also handling lessor aircrafts as well as airlines from Myanmar and even a Russian aircraft where we did the checks, registration and painting before it was fl own and delivered to its new owner in Russia,” he said.

Volkswagen brings child safety initiative in Pampanga

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- Volkswagen Philippines, in cooperation with the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP) and Samsung, has conducted a two-day road safety seminar for children at the Ayala Marquee Mall over the weekend.

Engineer Alberto Suansing, secretary general of PGRSP, said that they organized the Child Safety Initiative of Volkswagen three years ago.

“We are teaching children about road safety. Although they cannot drive yet, at their tender age we are explaining to them the importance of road safety, Suansing said.

The project has set up a junior driving course as a miniature roadway, complete with road signs, signal lights and kiddie vehicles.

The driving course is set up in malls, schools, corporate events and inside the Volkswagen Philippines showroom. Children aged 4 to 8 learn the basics of road safety by actually driving through a mini community.

Aside from the simulated roadway, the children were exposed to a full course where they learn about road signs, road courtesy, proper driving techniques, and the importance of using the safety features of the car – such as seat belts and child seats.

“We are teaching them different kinds of road signs para maipapaalala ng bata sa matand kung ano yung mga dapat sundin,” Suansing said.

Je Borromeo, Volkswagen Philippines Corporate Social Responsibility and Special Projects manager, said they employed an interactive play during the workshop for an effective learning on the part of the participating children.

Borromeo said Volkswagen Philippines launched its Child Safety Initiative in April 2015 at the Manila International Auto Show.

The Philippine campaign is part of the global CSI strategy of the German automaker which has already rolled out in various countries, she said.

“So nag-evolve na po siya, this one [at Marquee Mall] is a junior driving course for children 4 to 8 years old. In some areas kapag galing na kami doon at nakapag junior driving course na kami in malls ang nilalagay naman ay yung steps to safety for children 9 to 12 years and for pedestrian safety naman,” Borromeo said.

Volkswagen has also tied up with Samsung for a virtual reality application using a VR gear where children may experience crossing and walking in a simulated road network, according to Borromeo.

The Child Safety Initiative is aimed to prevent accidents by teaching children and their parents of the possible dangers on the roads.

Aside from this, the program underscores the importance of the passive safety devices in passenger vehicles, especially the child safety seats.

In 2013, World Health Organization Global reported 1.25 million deaths each year due to traffic crashes or 3,400 deaths a day.

Studies revealed that wearing a seat-belt can reduce fatalities by up to 50 percent and among rear-seat car passengers by up to 75 percent.

Volkswagen stated that child seats for infants and booster seats for older children, greatly decrease the risk of death in a crash.

Angeles City mayor leads command center launching

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan Wednesday, July 19, led the formal opening of a state-of-the-art command center in line with local government’s drive against illegal drugs, criminality, and terrorism.

The “Agyu Tamu Emergency Disaster Command Center,” was built at the ground floor of the city hall where the old city council session hall is formerly located.

The command center houses the central monitoring team for the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras including its hardware and software.

“The opening of the command center is only the first phase of our effort to make Angeles City a ‘smart city’ at par with the modern and highly-urbanized metropolis of the world. This will be used for emergency and disaster relief and mitigation as well as anti-criminality. It will also integrate the city’s vehicle traffic system,” Pamintuan said.

The command center employs modern fiber optic technology and all-weather cameras with digital and zoom lens capable of identifying the plate numbers of vehicles and taking clear shots of the faces of drivers even if the vehicles are heavily tinted.

“Phase 1 shall cover major areas of the city then the next phases will integrate all identified strategic points and roads, and will integrate the various aspects of the command center – from emergency and disaster response to anti-criminality to traffic system and others,” Pamintuan added.

Built by Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., the Angeles City Agyu Tamu Emergency Disaster Command Center was the first facility in the entire region to employ end-to-end pure fiber optic connections.

AC opens new, state-of-the-art command center

(Angeles CIO)

ANGELES CITY - The city government led by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has formally inaugurated the Angeles City Agyu Tamu Emergency and Disaster Command Center (ACATEDCC), Wednesday at the City Hall.

The P70-M ACATEDCC serves as an integrated department of coordinating bodies on matters of public safety, emergency response, and law enforcement. It is powered with the latest technologies from the leaders in information and telecommunications equipment and services, Huawei and Converge ICT Solutions.

According to Mayor Pamintuan, the facility is the first of its kind in the province, if not the region, that is designed to monitor real-time activities in the vicinity, particularly the streets of Angeles City.

Housed inside the former Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, Pamintuan sees the ACATEDCC as an additional aid in furthering the city’s programs on traffic management, disaster mitigation, and crime reduction.

“This command center aims to help ease the Peace and Order situation of the city which will suppress, solve, and reduce criminal activities, monitor the traffic conditions, and give quick response to emergencies and disasters,” said Mayor Pamintuan.

ACATEDCC is equipped with the latest technologies in surveillance as it features more than 87 high-definition closed circuit television (HDCCTV) cameras with facial recognition technology, night vision capabilities, zoom-in and zoom-out features, and other modern technical specifications that can provide clear visuals even in low light conditions.

The command post also utilizes an intelligent video analytic software which allows the local government to closely monitor movements in main road networks, intersections, entries and exits to the city, highly populated areas like schools, business centers, religious centers, public markets, government buildings, and the heritage district on a 24/7 basis.

Not less than 20 welltrained personnel, IT specialists, and technical administrators are assigned to man the command center through shifting.

Dennis Uy, Chief Executive Officer of Converge ICT Solutions, who was born and raised in Angeles City stated that the project is his way of paying back and sharing his resources and expertise to the people of Angeles. Uy promised further that he will, in the near future, connect all the 33 barangays to the internet and will roll down new facilities to provide faster but cheaper internet service.

“This is my way of giving back to the city. I pledge my full support to Mayor Pamintuan in making Angeles the next “Smart City” in the country through the use of the best technology from Converge,” Uy said.

In his capabilities as the National President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), Mayor Pamintuan wants the project to be replicated throughout the country as he urged neighboring towns and cities to also build their own command center.

“We should not discount public safety and order especially now that we are experiencing security crisis. If this would be imitated by the cities, the country will have a stronger and efficient method in solving and preventing crimes and misconduct.

Among those who attended the inauguration were Clark Development Corporation Chairman Jose De Jesus, Clark International Airport Corporation Chairman Alexander Cauguiran, PRO-3 RD PCSupt. Aaron Aquino, Mayors Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan, Cris Garbo of Mabalacat City, Nestor Alvarez of Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija; Ambrocio Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Jopet Inton of Hermosa, Bataan and Rolen Paulino of Olongapo City. Huawei Technology Phil. President Jacky Gao also graced the occasion. The inauguration was capped with a tour of the facility led by Pamintuan and Dennis Uy, with an actual simulation exercise organized by the Angeles City Police Office.

Angeles City's PHP70-M state-of-the-art disaster command center opens

By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario (PNA) 


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 19 -- The city government on Wednesday formally inaugurated its PHP70-million Agyu Tamu Emergency and Disaster Command Center (ACATEDCC), the first real-time command post in the province.

The command center is equipped with the latest technologies in surveillance as it features more than 87 high-definition closed circuit television (HD-CCTV) cameras with facial recognition technology, night vision capabilities, zoom-in and zoom-out features, and other modern technical specifications that can provide clear visuals even in low light conditions.


This will also serve as an integrated department of coordinating bodies on matters of public safety, emergency response, and law enforcement.

It is powered with the latest technologies from the leaders in information and telecommunications equipment and services, Huawei and Converge ICT Solutions.

City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the facility is the first of its kind in the province, if not the region, that is designed to monitor real-time activities in the vicinity, particularly the streets of Angeles City.

Housed inside the former Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, Pamintuan sees the ACATEDCC as an additional aid in furthering the city’s programs on traffic management, disaster mitigation, and crime reduction.

“This command center aims to help ease the peace and order situation of the city which will suppress, solve, and reduce criminal activities, monitor the traffic conditions, and give quick response to emergencies and disasters,” Pamintuan said.

The command post also utilizes an intelligent video analytic software which allows the local government to closely monitor movements in main road networks, intersections, entries and exits to the city, highly populated areas like schools, business centers, religious centers, public markets, government buildings, and the heritage district on a 24/7 basis.

At least 20 well-trained personnel, IT specialists, and technical administrators are assigned to man the command center through shifting.

Dennis Uy, chief executive officer of Converge ICT Solutions, who was born and raised in Angeles City, said that the project is his way of paying back and sharing his resources and expertise to the people here.

Uy promised that he will, in the near future, connect all the 33 barangays to the internet and will roll down new facilities to provide faster but cheaper internet service.

“This is my way of giving back to the city. I pledge my full support to Mayor Pamintuan in making Angeles the next “smart city” in the country through the use of the best technology from Converge,” Uy said.

In his capabilities as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), Pamintuan wants the project to be replicated throughout the country as he urged neighboring towns and cities to also build their own command center.

“We should not discount public safety and order especially now that we are experiencing security crisis. If this would be imitated by the cities, the country will have a stronger and efficient method in solving and preventing crimes and misconduct," he said.

During the inauguration, Pamintuan and Uy made a tour of the facility with an actual simulation exercise organized by the Angeles City Police Office.

Group lauds Lazatin for support on health project

(Press release)

ANGELES CITY – The Rotary Club of Clarkfield on Monday lauded Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II for his invaluable support to the recent “3rd International Conference on Prevention and Control of Dengue” held in a university here.

Rotary Club 3790 Past District Governor Dr. Ruben G. Henson and his spouse Josie D. Henson, president of Rotary Club of Clarkfield, led other Rotary members in recognizing Congressman Lazatin’s vital contribution for the successful staging of the health-related event at Holy Angel University.

Henson said the lawmaker has “illustrated his genuine concern for the health of the masses” by participating actively in the worldwide campaign of Rotarians to realize the goal of a dengue-free Asia – starting in Pampanga and the Philippines.

He likewise cited Lazatin’s health advocacy in his jurisdiction, describing them as parallel and consistent with the Rotary Club’s mission and vision.

Lazatin, for his part, said the Rotary Club of Clarkfield has been an effective partner of the government in advancing initiatives geared towards helping the community.

“It is with deep honor that you invited me to be a part of your laudable and timely project. Truly, this forum about the deadly diseases currently taking heavy toll on our constituents is another testament of your enduring commitment,” Lazatin stressed in his message to the Rotary.

A project of the Pampanga Mayors’ League in cooperation with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Rotary Club of Clarkfield, the global forum aims to empower barangay health workers in Pampanga about the latest prevention and control strategies on dengue, Zika virus, malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

–Press releas

DTI warns vs unauthorized emission testing centers

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Luzon Region has warned motorists against unauthorized emission testing centers.

The DTI said that the motoring public should transact only with private emission testing centers (PETCs) which are authorized and licensed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and duly accredited by the DTI.

Transactions with PETCs are required during vehicle registration.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently furnished the DTI with a list of emission testing centers whose authorizations to operate have been revoked.

Among the list of revoked authorizations are 16 PETCs operating in Central Luzon. Nine of these are in Bulacan, five in Pampanga, one in Nueva Ecija and one in Tarlac.

Under Republic Act 9003 or the Clean Air Act, the DOTr through its Land Transportation Office issues the license to operate of PETCs while the DTI issues PETC accreditation.

From January to June 2017, DTI-3 has accredited 25 PETCs in Central Luzon, majority of which are in Pampanga (eight), while seven are in Bulacan. Bataan has four and Tarlac has three accredited PETCs while Zambales and Nueva Ecija have two and one PETCs respectively.

The DTI also regularly inspects emission testing centers to check their work area, personnel and equipment.

Airlines urged to mount more flights in Clark

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- Business leaders in Pampanga province have urged airlines to mount additional domestic and international flights at Clark International Airport (CRK).

The local traders made the move for Clark airport to lure more tourists to visit the country and at the same time help ease the congestion in Metro Manila.

“We hope to see more flights at Clark airport especially routes to the US and Europe as CRK offers numerous destinations in the country that are attractive to tourists and investments,” Arni Valdes, president of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., said during a forum with Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) representatives held recently in Angeles City.

Valdes added that mounting additional flights at CRK will decongest the overcrowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MJ Olidan, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP), said her group hopes that airlines “will seriously consider adding North America flights via CRK.”

“Hotels and restaurants in Central Luzon are excited with the developments taking place (at CRK) and we hope to entice more passengers from the north (of the Philippines) and to attract more tourists to visit the country via Clark,” Olidan added.

The Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP) also expressed hopes to see additional CRK-Tacloban flights and the return of the CRK-Kuala Lumpur and CRK-Kota Kinabalu routes.

“Clark’s development and the Manila-Clark railway will mostly benefit the business and tourism sectors and these pose a huge challenge to us to aggressively promote Clark airport and to attract more tourists,” Gilda Padua, ATTAP’s past president, said.

While travelers from Metro Manila up to Bicol in the south use NAIA, CRK caters to those from Northern and Central Luzon, according to CIAC President and CEO Alexander Cauguiran.

The CIAC chief added that out of the almost 37 million passengers that used NAIA in 2015, up to 27 percent came from Northern and Central Luzon, the source of Clark’s main catchment population.

Cauguiran also said negotiations for direct flights from Clark to the US, Japan, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan and Thailand are ongoing.

Francisco Villanueva, MACCII chairman, said the business sector is “upbeat on upcoming projects such as the (Manila-Clark) railway and the new passenger terminal that will attract more investors and will benefit the whole country.”

In his first State of the Nation Address in 2016, President Duterte mentioned Clark as an alternative airport that can be utilized to shift some operations of domestic and international airlines, a plan that has the support of the business sector in Pampanga, according to businessman Renato Tayag, MACCII’s past president.

“Clark is the airport of the North and its full potential must be utilized. This has been MACCII’s advocacy for a long time and that is why we urge more airlines to mount more flights here,” Tayag added.

Earlier, an executive of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines said the overall objective was to assist in the government’s drive to ease congestion at NAIA.

“This is also a venue for PAL to grow. If we will just depend on the available capacity of NAIA, we cannot grow much anymore,” PAL President Jaime Bautista, said.

Aside from the flag carrier, airlines that mount international and domestic flights at CRK are Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Jin Air, Qatar Airways, Tiger Air, Air Asia, Air Swift, AlphaLand, and Wakay Air.

China Eastern Airlines, China's second largest carrier by passenger numbers, will begin its Clark-Shanghai flights on October 18.

According to Cauguiran, CRK currently has 130 international flights and 114 domestic flights weekly and passenger traffic is projected to reach 1.5 million by end of 2017.

The construction of CRK’s new terminal-building that can take in 8 million passengers annually is scheduled to be finished by the first quarter of 2020. The project is spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon.

China Eastern to fly via Clark starting Oct. 18

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT—Beginning October 18, China’s second-largest carrier by passenger numbers will begin flights from Clark to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.

This was confirmed by China Eastern Airlines last Thursday as the announcement came on the heels of a successful deal between the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and the airline to augment its flight network and use the Clark airport as one of its global hubs.

China Eastern Airlines is a legacy carrier with a strong presence on routes in Asia, North America and Australia and offers first-class and business-class seating, including a frequent-flyer program.

“The great news is that travelers from North and Central Luzon may now fly China Eastern from Clark to Shanghai and easily connect to the US and other major destinations in Europe and Asia and other international routes,” said Alexander Cauguiran, CIAC officer in charge.

The airport logged in a total of 6,205 international and domestic flights with 950,732 passengers for local and foreign routes in 2016.

After President Duterte called for the greater utilization of Clark airport, there has been an increase in flight and passenger traffic.

From January to May Clark airport already registered 632,713 passengers and 4,603 domestic and international flights. Clark currently has 130 international flights and 114 domestic flights weekly. Passenger traffic is projected to reach 1.5 million by end of 2017.

Earlier, a representative of China Eastern said the airline is keen on mounting flights via Clark as it is “encouraged by its marketability and the increasing number of its local destinations”.

“China Eastern also targets mostly business travelers and Chinese-family tourists who wish to visit popular local destinations. The influx of Chinese tourists will boost the local hotel industry and business communities in North and Central Luzon,” Cauguiran said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) counts China as the third-largest market of Philippine tourism. Around 630,000 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines from January to November 2016, but with warmer ties with Beijing, the DOT expects this number of arrivals to double by the end of 2017.

In addition to expanding its commercial horizons, the construction of CRK’s new terminal-building that can take in 8 million passengers annually is scheduled to be finished by the first quarter of 2020.

The project is spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon.

Cauguiran said negotiations for direct flights from Clark to the US, Japan, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan and Thailand are ongoing.

This developed as business leaders in Pampanga urged airlines to mount additional domestic and international flights at this airport in a bid to lure more tourists to visit the country and at the same time, help ease the congestion in Metro Manila.

“We hope to see more flights at Clark airport especially routes to the US and Europe as CRK offers numerous destinations in the country that are attractive to tourists and investments,” Arni Valdes, president of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., said at the sidelines during a forum with representatives of CIAC held recently in Angeles City.

MJ Olidan, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP), said their group hopes that airlines “will seriously consider adding North America flights via CRK.”

“Hotels and restaurants in Central Luzon are excited with the developments taking place [at CRK] and we hope to entice more passengers from the north [of the Philippines] and to attract more tourists to visit the country via Clark,” Olidan added.

The Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP) also hopes to see additional CRK-Tacloban flights and the return of the CRK-Kuala Lumpur and CRK-Kota Kinabalu routes.

“Clark’s development and the Manila-Clark railway will mostly benefit the business and tourism sectors and these pose a huge challenge to us to aggressively promote Clark airport and to attract more tourists,” said Gilda Padua, ATTAP’s past president.

Aside from the Philippine Airlines, airlines that mount international and domestic flights at CRK are Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Jin Air, Qatar Airways, Tiger Air, Air Asia, Air Swift, AlphaLand, and Wakay Air.

Angeles mayor’s camp: Service more important than political tirades

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- The camp of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan stated that there are more important things to work on for the people of Angeles than answering tirades from political opponents.

Pamintuan’s camp stressed this in reaction to the statement of former Congressman and City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin accusing the incumbent mayor of irregularities.

“The camp of League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) President, Regional Development Council (RDC) Chairman and Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan brushed off the recent press release by Lazatin,” the mayor’s camp stated.

Pamintuan’s group reiterated that the people of Angeles City have already spoken when the 2012 Top 8 World Mayor defeated Lazatin in the 2013 mayoralty race.

“The Pamintuan camp will not comment on his political tirades as there are much important things to work on like the fight against illegal drugs and terrorism and the delivery of quality education and better health and social services for the Angeleños,” the mayor’s camp added.

Broadcaster Jay Pelayo, Pamintuan’s media relations officer, said the mayor has implemented several legacy projects including the city’s command center, public cemetery, traffic decongestion, clearing of the MacArthur Highway of obstruction and “spaghetti wires”, and others.

Pelayo added that Pamintuan is a known ally and supporter of President Duterte. “Our mayor fully supports PRRD’s campaign against illegal drugs and corruption.”

AC holds march against drugs, terrorism

(Angeles CIO)

ANGELES CITY - The City Government led by Angeles City Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan staged a rally against drug and terrorism on July 5, in this city.

The anti-drug and anti-terrorism rally titled “Martsa kontra sa iligal na droga at terrorismo para sa mapayapang bansa” aims to raise awareness and vigilance to the citizens as the number of terror attacks rises in the different parts of the country.

According to Pamintuan, “this rally is our way to remind the people of the dangers brought by the use illegal drugs and to fight for peace and order not only for our city, but for the Philippines as well.”

The march began at 3pm at various points within the city, namely Chevalier School , Sta. Teresita Crossing, Dieg’s Bakery Sto. Cristo Rotonda and Nepo Center, as it converged towards Plaza Miranda, along Miranda Street.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) R-3 Director Ismael G. Fajardo Jr. stated that “Angeles is one of the cities with the least number of remaining drug-related cases.”

“This city and the whole region 3 is aggressive in the campaign against illegal drugs and through the efforts of the Angeles City Anti Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) and the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), the number of victims constantly decreases,” Fajardo added.

Meanwhile, despite the terrorism threats circulating in the city, Pamintuan assured the people that the city is safe from attacks and they [Angeleños] should not be worried.

“The ACPO is on alert every hour of every day for possible attacks. There is nothing to fear for we are doing everything to ensure the safety of the city and its people,” said Pamintuan.

The mayor also added that with the Command center’s completion, Angeles would be more safe heighten the security measures and surveillance capabilities of the city.

The state-of-the-art command center is expected to be fully operational within the third quarter of the year…

The said rally was participated by different groups from both private and public sectors such as the Friends of Ed, Abe Kapampangan, students from different high schools and colleges, and employees from government agencies and offices.

Also present during the rally are the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by vice mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, all 33 barangay captains and Alex Cauguiran, Clark International Airport Corp. President.

To cap the rally, the city government officials, together with the representatives from other agencies, released the ‘doves for peace’ as a sign of commitment and hope for a peaceful and safe country.

Business groups want more flights via Clark

(Marna Dagumboy-Del Rosario (PNA)

CLARK, Pampanga, July 11 -- Business leaders in Pampanga have asked airline companies to mount additional domestic and international flights at Clark International Airport (CRK) in a bid to lure more tourists to visit the country and at the same time, help ease the congestion in Metro Manila.

"We hope to see more flights at Clark airport especially routes to the US and Europe as CRK offers numerous destinations in the country that are attractive to tourists and investments,” Arni Valdes, president of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., said.

Valdes also said that mounting additional flights at CRK will decongest the overcrowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MJ Olidan, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP), said her group hopes that airlines “will seriously consider adding North America flights via CRK.”

“Hotels and restaurants in Central Luzon are excited with the developments taking place (at CRK) and we hope to entice more passengers from the north (of the Philippines) and to attract more tourists to visit the country via Clark,” Olidan said.

The Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP) also hopes to see additional CRK-Tacloban flights and the return of the CRK-Kuala Lumpur and CRK-Kota Kinabalu routes.

“Clark’s development and the Manila-Clark railway will mostly benefit the business and tourism sectors and these pose a huge challenge to us to aggressively promote Clark airport and to attract more tourists,” Gilda Padua, ATTAP past president, said.

While travelers from Metro Manila up to Bicol in the south use NAIA, CRK caters to those from Northern and Central Luzon, according to CIAC president and CEO Alexander Cauguiran.

The CIAC chief added that out of the almost 37 million passengers that used NAIA in 2015, up to 27 percent came from Northern and Central Luzon, the source of Clark’s main catchment population.

Cauguiran also said negotiations for direct flights from Clark to the US, Japan, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan and Thailand are ongoing. In his first State of the Nation Address in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned Clark as an alternative airport that can be utilized to shift some operations of domestic and international airlines, a plan that has the support of the business sector in Pampanga, according to businessman Renato Tayag, MACCI past president.

"Clark is the airport of the North and its full potential must be utilized. This has been MACCII’s advocacy for a long time and that is why we urge more airlines to mount more flights here,” Tayag added.

Earlier, an executive official of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines said the overall objective was to assist in the government’s drive to ease congestion at NAIA.

“This is also a venue for PAL to grow. If we will just depend on the available capacity of NAIA, we cannot grow much anymore,” PAL president Jaime Bautista, said.

Aside from the flag carrier, airlines that mount international and domestic flights at CRK are Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Jin Air, Qatar Airways, Tiger Air, Air Asia, Air Swift, AlphaLand, and Wakay Air.

China Eastern Airlines, China's second largest carrier by passenger numbers, will begin its Clark-Shanghai flights on October 18.

Cauguiran said that CRK currently has 130 international flights and 114 domestic flights weekly and passenger traffic is projected to reach 1.5 million by end of 2017.

In addition to expanding its commercial horizons, the construction of CRK’s new terminal-building that can take in eight million passengers annually is scheduled to be finished by the first quarter of 2020.

The project is spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon.

Central Luzon export up more than 50% in 2016

By Princess Clea Arcellaz

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Export products from Central Luzon grew by more than 50 percent in 2016 compared to the region’s export performance in 2015.

Based on the report of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon Office, the total export of the region for 2016 amounted to US $ 8.11 billion compared to $5.38 billion in 2015 or an increase of $2.72 billion.

For 2016, Central Luzon’s top export is still electronics, with a total amount of $ 5.31 billion or almost 66 percent of the total export amount for the region. The amount represented an increase of $1.49 billion worth of electronic products as electronics exports in 2015 only reached $3.82 billion. The major contributor of electronic products exports is the Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines at the Clark Freeport Zone.

Machineries and transport equipment export also rose by 138 percent from $682.95 million in 2015 to $1.59 billion worth of products exported in 2016. The machineries sector represents almost 20 percent of the total export of Central Luzon.

Garments and textiles also made significant contribution in the growth of export in the region. For 2016, export of garments reached S 395 Million compared to $237 million in 2015, or an increase of $157 million. The garments sector make up almost five percent of the region’s total export.

Other products contributing to the region’s healthy export performance in 2016 are fashion and leather goods ($245 million), consumer manufacture ($186 million), industrial manufacture ($147.37 million), metal manufacture and food products ($64 million).

The top two markets for Central Luzon products in 2016 were China (29.28 percent of total exports) and the United States (18.16 percent). Other top export markets for the region include Hong Kong (12.45 percent), Japan (10.44 percent) and Thailand (3.01 percent).

DTI-Central Luzon regularly monitors export performance based on the reports of the Clark Development Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Luisita Industrial Park and the one-stop export documentation centers in Manila, Bataan, Clark and Subic.

Japan offers financing for Manila-Clark railway: Dominguez

By Dharel Placido (ABS-CBN News)

MANILA - Japan has offered to fund a P255-billion railway that will connect the capital's main air terminal to Clark International Airport, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Thursday.

Filipino and Japanese officials are meeting in Manila this week to discuss how Japan can help President Rodrigo Duterte build P8 trillion in new infrastructure.

Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed to strengthen their two nations' strategic during meetings in Manila and Tokyo since late last year.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is also helping the Philippines design the first ever subway system in the capital.

The Department of Transportation recently unveiled five of the 17 stations of the Manila-Clark railway: Marilao, Meycauyan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban. The line, when finished, will include Tondo in Manila, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, and Calumpit in Bulacan, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and New Clark City in Tarlac.

Construction of the railway system is expected to begin this year, and transportation officials hope it will be operational by 2020, one year ahead of JICA's projection.

Japan is offering a loan with low interest for the project, Dominguez said.

Public spending will pick up in the second half, Dominguez said after First Metro Investments Corp. trimmed its growth projection for the economy, citing slow moving government projects.

He also defended the government’s decision to forgo tap loans or official development assistance instead of purely private sector funding for infrastructure projects.

“[It] takes three years from the time you have the idea of a PPP to the time you start the project,” he said, referring to the public private partnership scheme.

“That’s why the last administration was only able to do four projects. Because the PPP process is very long. So, we have decided that we are going to start the project, okay, using our own funds… We know that we don’t have to go through the long negotiations for the PPP,” he said.

CSC cites top govt agencies in Central Luzon

By JERRY HERNANDEZ

TARLAC: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office, through its Honor Awards Program, cited top government agencies in Central Luzon that have demonstrated exemplary frontline service to the public.

Conferred with Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence Award–Three Star awardees were Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)–Balanga Member Services, Land Transportation Office Angeles City District Office, and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)–Iba Extension Office.

CSC Regional Director Nelson Sarmiento said the conferment aims to motivate government employees to improve the quality of their performance and instil deeper involvement in public service.

Four Star awardees that got a glass seal were Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Local Health Insurance Office–Balanga Branch, Social Security System–Tarlac Branch, SSS San Jose City Branch, and GSIS–Tarlac City Branch.

For the highest distinction – the Five Star awardees who each received a glass seal and P100,000 include GSIS branches in Pampanga, Cabanatuan and Malolos; SSS Malolos Branch and HDMF branches in Angeles Member Services and SM Pampanga.

Angeles City observes Nutrition Month 2017

(PR)

ANGELES CITY -- The local government, through the City Nutrition Office (CNO) led the formal launching of this year’s celebration of Nutrition Month on Monday, July 3, at the City Hall Compound, Pulung Maragul village here.

With its theme “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit – For Life!”, the event targets to spread awareness on the importance of having a healthy diet to prevent malnutrition and to reduce obesity.

“The city has been a staunch advocate of promoting healthy living to fight chronic diseases by making various health programs for the Angeleños,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said.

According to city nutrition officer Arnel Calaguas, the 43rd Nutrition Month also addresses the proper infant and young child feeding with focus on breast feeding.

The CNO introduced the calendar of activities from different agencies for the month of July.

To kick-off the month-long celebration, the CNO organized a two-day food fair held at the City Hall on July 3 to 4, featuring varieties of vegetables, fruits, and healthy drinks.

In relation to the nutrition month, the City Health Office through the Population and Development Integration will be holding a family planning seminar every Friday of the month.

The CHO will be hosting a discussion regarding Infant and Young Child Feeding program on July 11 until July 25 at selected barangays of the city.

Several contests are formed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office like cooking contest, finding the healthiest child, and composing a jingle related to the month’s celebration theme.

An on-the-spot poster making contest led by the Department of Education (DepEd) is scheduled on the 27th of the month.

The Public Employment Services Office will be having a seminar on meat processing on the 31st of July and dressmaking, cosmetology and events management training throughout the month.

To culminate the Nutrition Month will be the Nutri-Jingle Contest to be led by DepEd at the SM City Clark on August 5.

ASEAN brings peace, stability amid Mindanao conflict

By Jose Mari M. Garcia (CLJD/JMMG-PIA 3)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, July 5 (PIA) -- One of the ways to protect our families against terrorism, amid the ongoing tension in Mindanao, is to know more about the benefits of ASEAN.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Chair of the Regional Development Council and President of the League of Cities of the Philippines, focused on this key message as the Philippines hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits this year that coincide with the bloc’s 50th anniversary.

“Kailangan natin ngayong malaman ang buod ng ASEAN, lalo na ngayon na nagkakaroon ng problema sa Mindanao (We need to know now the essence of ASEAN, especially now when we are facing problem in Mindanao),” Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan joined hundreds of government employees, students and sector representatives in the first ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Forum in the region organized by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) last June 28 at SM City Pampanga.

“Everybody should now form a mindset of supporting ASEAN integration,” he said.

As Philippines confronts maritime issues in the west and armed conflict in the south, ASEAN aims to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic, and harmonious environment.

This vision of peace is espoused in the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Pillar, according to PIA-National Capital Region Assistant Regional Director Emver Cortez.

“Peace and stability in the region, maritime security and cooperation, and model of regionalism and a global player are the top three priorities of the [APSC] Pillar,” Cortez said.

The other two pillars of ASEAN that benefit Filipinos are the Economic Community (AEC), and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

For Agnes Perpetua Legaspi, Assistant Director of Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry, the AEC Pillar accentuates that competitiveness among Filipino entrepreneurs and local governments is key for Philippine businesses to go global.

“We want to work with other trade partners so working with them, doing businesses with them, we can conquer the rest of the world,” Legaspi said.

The ASCC aims to achieve a regional community that is people-oriented and socially responsible, a task greatly amplified through benefits in education.

According to Gemma Gabuya, Regional Director of Department of Social Welfare and Development, the state-sponsored education vouchers given to students are part of the ASEAN benefits.

The Multi-Sectoral Forum also featured an Information and Service Caravan where citizens got immediate support, consultation and free items from participating government agencies.

“I think ASEAN can really help me as a person because, after all, ASEAN is one vision and community. It shows how much ASEAN can help each (member),” Fresh Aira Sison, student of International Studies, said.

Aside from forums, PIA has been staging campus tours in colleges and universities, and information kiosks in public areas all over Central Luzon.

“We are doing this campaign, not only because we chair this year’s ASEAN, but also because we want to raise public awareness about ASEAN. We want the people to know the fullness of ASEAN,” PIA Regional Director William Beltran said.

Strict implementation of billboard ordinance urged

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- A city councilor here urged the City Council to strictly enforce an ordinance requiring establishments to include English translations on their billboards and signages with foreign characters.

Councilor Jesus Sangil said the City Government should implement City Council ordinance 225, particularly at the Korea Town in Barangay Anunas.

The ordinance “requires all trade establishments and enterprises with signages, billboards, and other forms of advertisements with foreign characters and inscriptions to include translation in English in their advertising materials as medium.”

Sangil said the ordinance stipulates penalties for violators with a fine of P2,500 and removal of signage/billboards by the City Government for the first offense, a fine of P5,000 and one month suspension of business permit for the second offense, and revocation of business permit for the third offense.

The ordinance was sponsored by Sangil and councilors Ruben Maniago and Rudy Simeon.

Sangil also cited resolution 4909 urging Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and other foreigners to provide English translation on all their sign and billboard advertisements for other nationalities to understand.

Pampanga addresses local tourism problems during summit

(PR)

CLARK FREEPORT -- Officials of the Provincial Government and stakeholders gathered here recently in a summit to address local tourism problems and improve the condition of the tourism industry in the province.

The tourism summit with the theme “Strengthening Tourism Synergy in Pampanga” held at Royce Hotel is part of the series of forums organized by the provincial government in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

According to Provincial Tourism Officer Arwin Lingat, the event aims to synergize the efforts and resources of the province and other industry sectors that play a huge part in boosting the tourism industry in Pampanga.

“Our aim is to synergize. Tourism is a private sector driven industry so we need to get the participation and commitment from our partner stakeholders like hotels, transport groups, tour operators, restaurants, for peace and security,” Lingat said.

During the summit, Governor Lilia Pined urged hotels, restaurants and other tourism destinations in the province to put up stalls where tourists can buy Kapampangan products.

The governor assured local and foreign tourists that they will enjoy their stay as the peace and order situation in the province is stable.

The Provincial Government, through the help of the stakeholders, is formulating a new brand for the province to make it more attractive to tourists.

Lord Francis Musni, a local historian, and consultant for Heritage Museum said Pampanga should be a tourism destination and not only a stopover for tourists.

He also encouraged the local tourism officers to come up with a brand that will entice tourists to visit the province.

The governor, for her part, vowed to provide the necessary funding for the brand that will effectively promote and uplift the tourism industry in Pampanga.

Kapampangan heritage preserved in modern Capital Town

By ARLO CUSTODIO
P30-B Megaworld project to spur development in Central Luzon

When Mount Pinatubo erupted in June 1991, most of the Province of Pampanga was buried in volcanic debris and lahar. The immediate pull-out of American facilities Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base due to the catastrophe amplified the residents’ woes, and was taken as a literal end of the road for them for it meant the loss of treasured jobs and businesses forever.

Angeles City and Olongapo City were most affected by this chain of events. Three years later in 1995, it was Pampanga’s capital of San Fernando’s turn to be heavily damaged as a result of floods and mudflow from the volcano.

Over time, however, the Kapampangan resilience found momentum again as the province literally rose out of the ashes.

As Region 3’s central hub, it was all the more important for San Fernando to muster strength and courage to rebuild its ravaged environs.

More than two decades later, the municipality, which became the Philippines’ 99th city on February 4, 2001 by virtue of Republic Act 8990, is now a bustling urban center. Its location as a gateway to Clark, Subic, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and the rest of Northern Luzon is conducive to development—particularly of the Live, Work, Play and Learn atmosphere of modern communities.

But as modernization and globalization engulf the world, especially the younger population called millennials, Kapampangan heritage and culture are not exempt from being significantly eroded with the advent of technology, sidelining even their native tongue.

“We asked locals and long-time residents of San Fernando, Bacolor and Guagua what’s their main concern when we acquired the Pasudeco (Pampanga Sugar Development Company) estate to turn it into an integrated central business district (CBD) and township lifestyle community,” Megaworld Pampanga First Vice President for Sales and Marketing Eugene Lozano told The Manila Times.

Their resounding answer was to preserve what makes their province truly Kapampangan.

P30-billion development plan

Plans for a 35.6-hectare property—once the site of historic sugar central mill and plantation, which only stopped operations in 2015 following rehabilitation from the havoc of Mount Pinatubo—has been laid by renowned developer Megaworld. It is projected for completion in five years and fully functional as a CBD in 10 years.

Called the Capital Town, the P30-billion project was born out of the clamor from Megaworld’s business process outsourcing (BPO) clients and locators in Metro Manila where they can expand operations outside the megalopolis tapping talents and resources for their accounts.

By providence, the Pasudeco estate became available. Mixing the township concept which Megaworld has successfully undertaken in other areas with the Kapampangans’ desire to preserve their heritage, Capital Town will precisely be the crowning jewel of the real estate development and cultural hub in Central Luzon.

“The mall will be built in the shape of the old sugar mill building, with the machinery and the train used to transport sugar cane tubes from the field as main fixtures. Stalls will have the Kapampangan flair and the Kapampangan language will be encouraged as the medium of conversation,” Lozano revealed, reminiscing his personal experience passing along the refinery and smelling the sweet aroma wafting from the Pasudeco chimneys as a young native of San Fernando and Guagua.

Also envisioned to adorn the mall will be items and artefacts made out of lahar. Monuments of Kapampangan heroes and famous personalities will be erected along roads, alleys, hallways, nooks and pocket parks in the township. Furniture will be supplied by the famous artisans of Betis, and food offerings will of course feature the best of the famed Kapampangan cuisine.

“Moreover, what we call the ‘Learn’ component of the township concept will not lead only to schools and learning institutions, but in the mall itself being a museum. It will be like a living encyclopaedia. The goal is to make available heritage and culture immersion while living, working, playing or just strolling around Capital Town,” added Lozano.

Across the mall and residential hub will rise the commercial district comprised of BPO towers and business offices. Megaworld foresees the generation of 250,000 direct and indirect jobs in the BPO, retail, food, construction and transport sectors when the township becomes functional.

Accessibility

While the BPO hub at Clark poses challenges for commuting workers especially at night and the wee hours of the morning, those working at Capital Town will be assured of stress-free travel as it is just five minutes away from NLEX (North Luzon Expressway). It is also situated on the same road as the provincial capitol and easily accessible from the Olongapo-Gapan Road.

The main thoroughfare of the township will be the 30-meter wide, six-lane San Fernando Boulevard. Though Megaworld has not come as far as naming the streets in honor of Pampanga heroes and martyrs, there may be a consideration to likewise recognize beauties – which Pampanga is also known for – who brought pride to the province, like 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez.

The flagship of the development will be the six-hectare Shophouse District – a lifestyle hub within the community for people who want to build their businesses and live there at the same time. It will be highlighted with post-colonial architecture exuding a vibe from the ’40s to the ’50s, all through three-level shophouses.

Since the majority of his immediate family is abroad, Lozano said on a personal note that the township is a good reason for his kin to come back and re-settle in the place they first called home. This very much applies to other clans and families in Pampanga and Central Luzon as well.

“Capital Town will now be a good reason for those who have been living abroad for the longest time to come back home and re-settle where the amenities are modern yet the feel abounds with heritage and culture. The Shophouse District makes a unique offering for those who may want to tend to their businesses in the first two levels then use the third level as their residence,” expressed Lozano.

The making of Capital Town

San Fernando derived its name from King Fernando 6th of Spain, who was king at the time a new town was created in 1754 in the middle of Bacolor and Mexico for better administration of the cura parrocos.

The first families in the new pueblo were the Arrozals, Catacutans and Davids. The first administrator, called gobernadorcillo, was Don Vidal de Arrozal. The first parish priest was Father Sebastian Moreno.

San Fernando is considered the birthplace of the labor movement, with the first organized strike happening in 1872 when printers from the government press staged a protest against plant foremen. The first labor union was also established in the printing plant of the La Independencia, edited by General Antonio Luna.

The socialist movement further had its roots in the town early part of 20th century under the leadership of Pedro Abad Santos.

The San Fernando Train Station was opened as part of the Bagbag-Mabalacat stretch of the Manila-Dagupan Railway system in February 1892. It signalled the beginning of the rapid development of the town resulting from the sugar industry boom in Pampanga. The national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, visited the town four months later to recruit members to the La Liga Filipina.

On October 9, 1998, newly proclaimed president General Emilio Aguinaldo visited San Fernando and was joyously welcomed by the residents. Some accounts say that when the Philippine-American war erupted, the town proper became the temporary seat of the Philippine Revolutionary Government from April 1 to May 4, 1899, when the army of General Luna burned the poblacion, church and casa municipal.

When the war was over, the town’s public school was built under the direction of an American engineer. In December 1902, the American Calvary in San Fernando was transferred to Angeles.

Less than two years later in 1904, the provincial capitol was transferred from Bacolor, paving the way for the town to become the capital of Pampanga.

In 1914, the Iglesia Ni Cristo was founded by Felix Manalo at Sto. Niño Viejo.

In 1921, the sugar central of the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (Pasudeco) began its operations. The plant was destroyed by the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1995, was rehabilitated and ceased operations in 2015.

The Socialist Party of the Philippines, espousing communistic idealism, was founded in 1930 by Pedro Abad Santos – brother of the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Jose Abad Santos – along with former Mayor Vivencio Cuyugan and Lino Dizon as head.

Pampanga High School was erected before the outbreak of World War 2. In 1941, the town was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and made it as the base of their operations in their assault of Bataan.

On January 29, 1945, the Liberation Force under General Douglas MacArthur entered San Fernando and the civil government was established with Cuyugan becoming mayor again. Rodolfo Hizon took the reins of government in July 1946.

Buried by volcanic ash in 1991 due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, San Fernando became heavily damaged as a result of floods and mudflows from the volcano in 1995.

San Fernando became the 99th City of the Republic of the Philippines on February 4, 2001 by virtue of Republic Act 8990.

Pampanga’s capital is also known for its annual giant lantern contest during the Christmas season. Its popularity made the Department of Tourism create the Paskuhan Village to showcase Filipino culture and tradition all-year long.

In 2016, Megaworld acquired the Pasudeco estate raising the value of lots and real estate in adjacent areas multifold.

This year, the City of San Fernando was given the Business Friendly Award (for ease of doing business) in The Manila Times Philippine Model Cities Forum and Awards held the New World Manila Bay Hotel on May 11. Mayor Edwin Santiago received the distinction for his city from P&A Grant Thornton.

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