Home Blog Page 6253

Confession of a Partyphile – http://party.i.ph

By
Edge Davao
-

by Zhaun Ortega

EVER since Stressed Partyphile sent me a letter a couple of weeks back, and ever since i have moved from http://confessionsofapartyphile.blogspot.com to http://party.i.ph; I have been getting more and more questions about throwing parties and gimmick nights. And because I want to give my readers equal opportunity, I would like to take time to reply to some more of the messages I have received through my blog.

All about the invites

Dear Partyphile,

I plan to throw a big party in two weeks and I’m currently having a problem with inviting people to go to my party. What can I do or say to encourage them to go to my party?  What must I do? Please help. Thanks a lot. 🙂

Cheers,
Wee

Hey Wee!

Thank you for writing in. I know how you feel. You are probably stressed out about people not showing up to your party.
First of all, I don’t understand what is up with people not wanting to go to parties. I mean, it’s a venue to have free food, and more importantly, free drinks. Right? Right.
Seriously, my first advice would be: invite close friends; friends who love you and support you. Forget the popular crowd, forget whoever else. Just invite the people whom you love, and love you back. I am sure they would all want to come.
You could also check if your dress code is too much of a hassle. If you are going for a theme on your party, maybe you could change it or make it a little less cotume-y. Go with colors instead of a whole theme; like an all-blue party, a black party, or a pink party; whatever it is you feel like having. I hope that helps, and please update me about the party. You could even send me some fabulous pictures to post on my blog.

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,
Zhaun Ortega

Party planning 101

Dear Zhaun,

I really enjoy your articles. Though I am based in Manila, I get to read
all your articles through your blog and all I can say is they are all informative.
I am planning to invite my friends to a small party in my pad. I am targetting more or less 20 friends to be invited. since this is the first time to host a party, I’d like to ask you few questions about organizing one.

1. what are the factors do I need to consider when hosting a party?
2. What food and drinks do I need to prepare/cook for them (particularly those which are easy to prepare)?

Ed
Dear Ed,

First of all, quit being a liar. My articles are NOT all informative, sometimes, they are just full of fluff; but than k you anyway for giving me such nice compliments.
Alright, a party has several elements. Start with the Theme of the party and try to make the venue look uniform with the theme. Go crazy on decors. They really help set the mood of the party. You would also want to check the music. A party is never complete without music, and you have to choose your music wisely. If you want a hot-bangin’ party, make sure to hire a really good DJ, or burn your own mixes and play them at a volume that would be conducive for your party. If you want less talk and more dancing, turn the volume up. If you think your guests want to talk more, play something more relaxing and soothing and turn the volume at a barely audible volume. You do not want guests trying to talk over the music.
I could go on and on about the food and drinks, so maybe I would have to write an article just for that purpose. Expect it really soon. However, last week’s article, entitled “9 Ingredients, 20 Cocktails” should serve as a great guide for a novice mixologist (read: bartender). And maybe you could serve some street food on your next party, call it a “Street Party” and serve those cheap siomais they sell on the street, or maybe some fried or barbequed isaw (chicken intestines), Kwek-kwek (hard-boiled eggs, battered and fried), and  Balot (fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside). Or just serve chips and dips, fries, burgers, nachos, tacos or throw a Pizza Party. These are all easy to make (easier to order), and are all fun food to eat.
However, if you plan on throwing a party for a crowd of around 40 people or more, I suggest you hire a caterer. Most caterers adjust their price and their menu according to your budget. You can get a caterer for as low as 100 pesos per head. And trust me when I say it soooo worth it. Imagine not having to stress out before the party. Plus you have a lot less to clean up afterwards.
Just make sure to stay away from common party food like Spaghetti and sweet-style Filipino sauce, Hotdogs and Marshmallows on sticks, Pancit and Kaldereta. Trust me, people are tired of those food, no matter how many times you insist that your recipe is special and has been passed down from your Grandmother’s Grandmother.
Good luck with that party,

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,
Zhaun Ortega

Noise factor

Dear Partyphile,

I want to throw house parties but my neighbors keep on complaining about the noise. What do I do?

Anna

Dear Anna,

Im just going to quote the wise words of Franklin P. Jones for this one:
“Nothing makes you more tolerant of a neighbor’s noisy party than being there.”

I’m sure that says it all.

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,
Zhaun Ortega

For comments, suggestions, queries, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to  HYPERLINK “http://party.i.ph” http://party.i.ph

Please send in your pictures through that site as well.

Thank you for listening to Confessions of a Partyphile (the Radio Show) every Wednesday nights, 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM.

Igacos resort boom marks tourism sector’s resiliency

By
Edge Davao
-

by RG Alama

AN increase in the number of resorts in the Island Garden City of Samal is a mark of resilience that characterizes the tourism sector in Davao.
According to Araceli Ayuste, president of the Davao Region Tourism Council and proprietor of the Punta del Sol resort in Samal, said that from 20 resorts in Samal Island in 2007, there are at least 40 resorts in 2009, with more being developed.
Ayuste said that tourism in Davao is not affected by the global financial crisis judging by the tourism activities in the region. She said that even if you go to the hotels in Davao City, they are almost always fully-booked as conventions and lakbay-arals are being held here.
She added that the growth in tourism activities has encouraged many resort owners in Samal to become active asmemebsr of the Samal Island Davao Resort Owners Association or SIDROA. In the past, resort owners were hesitant to join, but with the upsurge in tourism, many are now joining because it benefits their businesses.
The group has about 40 member-resorts from the Triple A to the uncategorized. Of the number, about 25 resort-members are active in Sidroa. Together they are pushing for the region to position and promote itself, particularly as an island destination.
One tourism activity Ayuste is pushing together with technical diver Carlos Munda is diving. Currently, Samal has three resorts with diving facilities — Pearl Farm, Paradise and Ayuste’s Punta del Sol.
Munda, the only certified technical diver in Mindanao, said what is hindering the growth of the diving business here is the lack of diving tourists. About 95% of the divers are locals from Davao City while 5% are tourists.
Unlike in Anilao and Puerto Galera, where 90% of the divers are tourists spending about P6,000 to P10,000 each per weekend. He said that aside from boat rentals, tanks, food and accommodations, these tourists employ guides that generate local employment unlike local divers who are familiar with the place and spend lesser than tourists.
According to Ayuste, diving tourists would spend about P3, 000 per weekend in Davao, while local divers spend about P2, 000. Punta del Sol averages about 50 divers during weekends. She says Samal has around 17 dive sites.
Munda also points out that Igacos has no dive resort yet. These are resorts that cater only to divers and wouldn’t delve into other amenities. These resorts he says are not capital intensive and hence fit for Igacos’ community-based tourism enterprises.
Diving, he said is not about corals as divers also want to find big fishes and sea “critters” in different underwater environments. The current diving mania today Munda says is muck diving, which is diving done in muddy or mucky waters.
Muck dive sites harbor exotic and unusual organisms that live in the sediment and which make for great underwater photography subjects. [PIA]

Guidelines for restructuring, condonation program bared

By
Edge Davao
-

THE National Housing Authority is strictly following guidelines for the ongoing implementation of the restructuring and condonation program Republic Act number 9507 for delinquent housing accounts with the NHA.
NHA regional head Engr Carol Angel said RA 9507, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last October, and its implementing rules and regulations, were formulated by the government shelter agencies under the supervision of the Housing & Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
Covered by the loan restructuring and condonation program are outstanding residential accounts or loans with principal amounts not exceeding P2.5-million which have cumulative arrearages equivalent to at least three (3) months amortizations as of March 16, 2009, notwithstanding availment of previous condonation programs.
Architect Marietta Arañas and Rose Camarillo, both of the regional office, explained that the NHA will condone all penalties and delinquency charges and fifty percent (50%) of accrued and unpaid interest based on the approved application.
The restructured loan account will consist of an interest bearing portion which is the total outstanding principal balance, and a non-interest bearing portion which will be the uncondoned portion of accrued interest to be repaid in equal monthly amortizations during the term of the loan.
The maximum repayment period of the restructured loan is thirty (30) years for individual and community association accounts and ten (10) years for project implementors.
The interest bearing portion of the restructured loans will feature the following:
Six percent (6%) per annum for accounts with original loan amount of P400,000 and below; seven percent (7%) per annum for above P400,000 to P700,000.00; and 10.5% per annum for above P700,000. [PIA]

Globe launches net accelerator for a faster and optimized WAN

By
Edge Davao
-

GLOBE Business introduces a new Managed Network solution that enables enterprises to optimize the use of their bandwidth and run applications faster across their Wide Area Networks (WAN).
The Net Accelerator is a fully-managed WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration solution that addresses problems encountered on application performance, expensive connectivity, congested network, slow and long remote data backup and replication, and other network-related performance problems.
The Net Accelerator also enables business customers to derive savings as they can delay network infrastructure upgrades or potentially consolidate their IT infrastructure to meet their present network demands.  Furthermore, it can enable businesses to deploy mission critical applications in areas where high quality/low latency bandwidth is not available.
As a managed service, it relieves the customer from the hassle of evaluating, procuring installing and managing a solution to ease network congestion and latency or network delay. Globe Business, with its experienced 24/7 technical support team, will efficiently manage the availability of the WAN Optimization Solution making sure it is reliable and operating at optimal levels.
“We understand our customers and provide solutions that fit, that’s why with our new Net Accelerator Managed Service we boost enterprises’ efficiency and productivity through Globe’s OPEX-based, managed services model. It is an IT solution that offers better network performance and cost efficiency,” said Jesus C. Romero, Enterprise Segments Head at Globe Business.
He added, “As business customers enjoy the accelerated and optimized network operations, we help mitigate setbacks on money, time, productivity and opportunity losses due to network connectivity issues. As a solution that brings reliable connectivity, it helps enterprises improve their business processes.” 
As the Information and Communications Technology enabler and partner of enterprises, Globe Business delivers another customized and superior solution that brings reliable connectivity to businesses with the new Net Accelerator
For solutions that fit, contact your Account Manager or call +63[2] 730-1288 in Manila and +63[32] 415-2117 in Cebu or email customersupport@globebusiness.com.ph or visit www.globe.com.ph/business. Be a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Globe_Business.

Week in Review

By
Edge Davao
-

Sisterhood
FIVE sisterhood agreements are being finalized between Davao City and foreign cities, an initiative that is expected to strengthen Davao’s economy even in the face of an economic slowdown.
Rachelle Zozobrado, chair of the City Council committee on international relations, expects the sisterhood agreements to become final before the year ends with the cities of Manado and Bitung in Indonesia; Mersin City in Turkey; Darwin City in Northern Territory, Australia; Uijeongbu City in Korea, and Tacoma City in Washington, DC.

Extended
THE actuarial life of the Government Service Insurance System’s (GSIS) pension fund has been extended by an additional 28 years.
With investments in government security bonds and treasury bills coupled with the very selective investment outlets, the actuarial life of GSIS’s pension funds was extended to 2055 from its previous life span of only until 2027.

Peace councils
Task Force Davao yesterday reached out to the United Muslim Council for Peace and Development (UMCPD), public utility drivers and sidewalk vendors to serve as eyes and ears of the government in the fight to shield the city from terror attacks.
TF Davao urged them to help look out for suspicious-looking individuals as well as unattended baggage on busy streets and transport terminals in their respective areas.

Myth
THE Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) lambasted the proposed Hedcor hydropower plant in Tamugan-Panigan River in its new study, which was released Wednesday.
Titled “The Myth of Power Crisis: A Prelude to Water Privatization,” the study cites factors that threaten Davao City’s sole water supply, the Tamugan River. It also presents data debunking Hedcor’s proposal to solve a looming power crisis in Mindanao.

Foreign aid
THE European Commission has approved additional funding to help address the plight of thousands of civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in Mindanao.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (Echo) approved the release of an additional amount of at least P200 million in humanitarian assistance to help civilians who are suffering from the effects of the ongoing conflict.

Business sector remains calm despite bombings

By
Edge Davao
-

THE business sector in Davao City remains calm on the heels of the heightened alert mode of law enforcement agencies following a series of bombings in some parts of Mindanao.
Teolulo T. Pasawa, Trade and Industry city director, said confidence
of investors in the city has not waned, even as locators in the business process outsourcing industry continue talks with property developers.
“There has been no report of potential investors suspending their
plan to locate in the city,” Pasawa said, adding that established investors have continued operating normally.
Col. Oscar T. Lactao, commander of Task Force Davao, said his command has raised the alert in the wake of bombings in Cotabato City, Iligan City and Jolo, Sulu. “We need to be vigilant,” Lactao said, even as he allayed fears about the possible inclusion of the city in the list of those cities facing threats of terrorist attacks.
He said based on military intelligence, only one cell of the supposed Jemaah Islamiyah, a terrorist organization whose top leaders are Indonesians recruiting members in the city, was operating in the Davao Region last year.
However, only one among the five members of the group remains at large after three others have been arrested while one was killed in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. He said the  military has also intensified its intelligence gathering to preempt any terror attempt against the city.
Lactao’s command was created in 2003 when two powerful explosions in the city’s airport and wharf resulted in the death of 38 people and injuries to about 20 others. The explosions took place a month apart.
The heightening of the alert level came about after a government official, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said military intelligence units reported that the explosions were the handiwork of Jemaah Islamiyah members who had just finished their bomb-making training somewhere in Central Mindanao.
But Lactao did not want to confirm the report, adding “Let us just accept the report because I am not in a position to confirm or deny it.”

JICA holds briefing on dev’t assistance

By
Edge Davao
-

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently conducted the first regional briefing on its Country Assistance and Rolling Plan (CARP) for Mindanao at the Convention Hall, NEDA-RDC 11 Center, Bangkal, Davao City.
The JICA team was led by Masafumi Nagaishi, senior representative from the JICA Philippine office. Joining the team were Akiko Abe, country officer for Southeast Asia based at JICA Tokyo headquarters, and JICA program officers from the JICA Davao field office led by Akira Goto. The briefing was attended by twenty five participants from the national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and local government units of the Davao Region.   
Regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim of NEDA 22 said that the briefing was an offshoot of the recently ratified Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) between the Philippine and Japanese governments and for JICA to brief the NEDA regional offices on the thrusts of JICA after its merger with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in October 2008. She added that Davao Region is fortunate to host the first regional briefing for the JICA’s Country Assistance Program and Rolling Plan. She said that this kind of briefing is usually conducted at the national level.
During the briefing, Nagaishi stressed that JICA’s assistance will focus on conflict affected areas of Mindanao. He said that the assistance involves three pillars, namely: Sustainable Economic Growth aimed at creating employment opportunities, poverty reduction, and peace and stability in Mindanao.
Director Lim responded that these three pillars are in line with the goals of the region as spelled out in the updated Davao Region Development Plan (DRDP), 2008-2010 for increased job creation through economic growth, enhanced social development with direct poverty measures and good governance for attaining peace stability and human security. 
Nagaishi invited the participants to submit their proposals to JICA for consideration through the NEDA Regional Office 11 or the JICA Davao field office. The NEDA regional office here evaluates project proposals for funding by donor agencies, which include JICA and the Embassy of Japan, through its grassroots grant assistance programs. The project evaluation report of NEDA serves as the main basis in the endorsement of the proposals by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11. Proposals costing P500 million or above are further evaluated by the NEDA board investment and coordinating committee.

DTI to help Davao SMEs get financing

By
Edge Davao
-

THE Department of Trade and Industry will help small medium enterprises in the Davao Region in accessing financial services with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 
DTI city director Teolulo Pasawa said the BSP have made available the program of surety loan for SMEs to guarantee their access to finance, but borrowers have encountered difficulty due to stiff requirements set by banks.
“Collateral remains a perennial problem for them,” Pasawa said.
He said BSP has put in place groups like Masikap Foundation that would help facilitate SMEs financing.
“The problem results in the poor number of loan takers from the SME sector despite available financial packages being offered by financial institutions,” he added.
Pasawa said a measure in which the private sector such as non-government organizations and foundations will act as conduits for SMEs in gaining financial access is also being worked out. [PNA]

Multi-billion real property boom in Davao region

By
Edge Davao
-

–  P25 billion plus invested in property development
– Thousands of professionals and skilled workers employed
– City government does its share with multi-billion development projects

INVESTMENTS in the billion of pesos continue to pour into the Davao region to develop real property, seemingly oblivious  to the raging world economic turmoil.

Big developers
Many of the Philippines’ premiere developers are now in the region pursuing some of the biggest projects ever seen in this part of the country. Most of the projects are in Davao City and the other cities around the Davao Gulf — the Island Garden City of Samal, Panabo and Tagum, the latter three in Davao del Norte, the most progressive of the  four Davao provinces.
The big developers, a number of whose projects have been completed and now enjoying brisk sales or are sold out, in alphabetical order, are Ayala Land, Camella Communities, DMCI, Filinvest, Landco, Metro Pacific, Robinsons, SM Investments and  Santa Lucia Realty.

Local capitalists
The local investors, made up chiefly of the landed gentry, the nouveau riche, the homegrown developers and grizzled businessmen who have made a fortune in various other businesses, are very much in the fray — either in joint ventures with sleek out-of-towners or on their own using internally-generated resources or borrowed funds.
The locals who have joined the big league – a few of them  known for their conservative style of doing business in the past – are the Alcantaras (Northcrest, Woodridge, Fernwood), Damosa Land of the Floirendos (Abreeza, Damosa Gateway, Playa Azalea), the Bangayans (Ocean View and Linmarr Towers), the Tagum Doctors Hospital group (Samal Highlands), the Dizons (Riverfront Corporate City, Crocodile Farm), the Gaisanos, the Lims (NCCC Group), the Yaps (Felcris, Chimes and Convenience Stores), the Uys (Dimdi Group), the children of Kisan Lu (Amiya Resort Residences),  Devin Uraya (Urayaland), Henry Lopez Chua (Chula Vista) and the Villa-Abrille heirs.

The projects
The property developers are into building malls, medium rise condominiums, high-end subdivisions, residential resorts, beach resorts, contact centers and other buildings for business process outsourcing centers and hotels. One, Samal Highlands, is developing a  50-hectare property into an island resort with a medical tower, beachfront hotel, and extreme sports facilities, preserving the existing mangroves and mango orchards. Holiday Oceanview Samal of the Bangayans is described as “village, town villas, resort, island spa, marina.”
Easily, all the properties being developed in the Davao area are worth more than P25 billion according to estimates of local business writers who have extensively covered this beat.
According to Carmelito Q. Francisco, managing and business editor of the Mindanao Times who also writes for Business World, thousands of engineers, architects and skilled construction workers have been absorbed by this vibrant sector through direct employment and involvement in  secondary businesses.

Why invest in Davao?
“Out-of-town investors are also impressed by the ideal business climate in Davao City and neighboring cities,” said writer Prix Banzon, who has devoted the last five years covering the business beat.
Jerry Navarrete, president of one of the residential and commercial companies of the group of Manny Villar, confirmed Ms. Banzon’s report.
Aside from being one of the most dynamic cities in the Philippines, Navarrete said it is so easy to establish a real estate venture in Davao.
“Bureacratic red tape is non-existent, the rules are clear in the city,” Navarrete said who takes pride in the fact that the Villar group (Camella Communities) is a pioneer in vertical (condominiums) development. Camella is currently building Northpoint, a cluster of condomiums near the Dakudao-Buhangin flyover north of the city hall.
Tristan las Marias, Filinvest vice president for Visayas and Mindanao operations, told a media forum earlier here that his company is into several property projects to “provide prospective buyers a wide array of choices when the economy gets better.”
Aside from Filinvest’s  seven low and high-end projects  in the region, Las Marias said the company is embarking on two new projects to take shape before the year ends.
He also bared that Filinvest’s One Oasis, a seven-building condominium project beside SM City Davao is “enjoying brisk sales.”
Agatha Ellen S. Valencia, Davao chapter president of the United Architects of the Philippines, said the local property market has remained in good shape, despite the fact that overseas Filipino workers have slowed down in their buying due to retrenchments in their ranks.
Meanwhile, Henry L. Yap, Robinsons Land Corp. vice president for design and planning, told business reporters during the opening of Robinsons Cybergate, a P350-million mixed-use facility in Bajada last month, the company is still looking for more areas in the city and nearby localities to develop.
The quality of manpower needed by new business locators has been identified as a plus factor for Davao City, according to Lizabel “Wit” Holganza, president of ICT Davao, Inc.

City does its share
Local government units (LGUs) are also doing their share in making their localities more investor-friendly.
The city government of Davao, for instance, is currently pursuing the following multi-million-peso projects to improve vital services to its constituents, including business establishments:
Sanitary Landfill Project P265M Urban Drainage and Flood Control Project P250M Traffic Signalization Project P266M Shelter and Urban Land Reform Project P100M

Virtual library seen to boost Davao’s economic potentials

By
Edge Davao
-

by Lovely A. Carillo

THE pearly white beaches of Mati, the unexplored islands in Kopiat, Davao del Norte and the exotic wonders held by the pristine clean waters of Samal Island will soon be within the reach of your fingers.
Investors and tourists looking for information about the Davao Region can now find what they want to know without having to leave heir homes. This is made possible through the so-called “virtual library”where they can access the Internet right in the privacy and comfort of where they live or hold office.
The Davao Region Geographic Information Network, or DR-GIN, is a P5 million project that aims to strengthen the presence of the Davao Region online. It’s kilometric name aside, the virtual library helps promote local and regional development through information sharing.
“It is expected to facilitate the promotion of the region’s localities for trade, investment and tourism and cater to the needs of the private sector for business planning and research,” DR-GIN chairperson and National Economic Development Authority 11 director Maria Lourdes Lim said.
The virtual library project became official after the signing last June 23 of the a morandum of agreement between the different local executives of the Davao Region as well as the regional directors and office heads of the involved national agencies to include the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, National Statistical Coordination Board and NEDA among others.
Armed with geo-referenced information on the region’s business and investment prospects as well as bio-geophysical, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics,  investors can easily pinpoint and decide which areas of investment they can pour their money into. The easily-available information and economic profile will provide a one-stop information center which will aid investors in their market research and business planning.
Each of the signatories, Lim said, has agreed to “provide technical expertise and financial assistance as well as contribute to the pool of information technology resources for possible linkages and utilization in the regional GIS.”
Lim said the virtual library project will specifically address issues involving data gaps, duplicating data for specific indicators and other issues that usually lead to confusion and faulty data analysis by both government and the private sector.
While there is available virtual information about the different areas of the Davao Region, these are scattered information that sometimes contain conflicting data leading to confusion among future investors and tourists. Lim said they expect to remedy this by unifying the region’s major data sources into the DR-Gin Network.
Under the project, the network of local government units, the regional offices of the national government agencies, the congressional district offices and the private sector will make available up-to-date, accurate and reliable information about the Davao Region.
With exhaustive information easily accessible to investors, the region can expect more investor interest in the region which can translate to more actual investments and tourist visits.
“Aside from facilitating the promotion of the region’s localities for trade, investment and promotion, the project will also respond to the professional and business information needs of the region’s private sector for research, business planning and investments,” Lim said.
The project will not forever be at the mercy of available government funds since they have already planned strategies for its sustainability. In the long term, DR-GIN will expand its operations and will provide other IT services for a fee such as web mail, web hosting, online advertisements, video and teleconferencing and related ECT capability trainings.

1...6,2526,2536,254...6,261Page 6,253 of 6,261
© 2021 Edge Davao | All Rights Reserved.