One Pacific Residences of The Mactan Newtown. For more information call (63 999) 993-1990 or e-mail themactannewtown@megaworldcorp.com

PinoyWorld was invited to the launching of The Mactan Newtown — the premier township project of the country’s top real estate company Megaworld.

Just barely five months after its official launch, the first residential property at barangay Mactan, Lapulapu City just announced that it is 95% SOLD to prospect buyers and a new cluster will be launched and soon to be opened to the public.

WALL CLIMBING Area

According to our sources, the new cluster will be launched first quarter this year and will be the provided with top-notch amenities such as 20-meter-long pool, pocket gardens, rock climbing wall, an aqua gym and a yoga/taichi area. And the list wont end there. One Pacific Square is expected to flourish at the ground level and will house of chic and fab retail stores and boutiques.

Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc. President Noli Hernandez shares:

“We are bringing luxury and lifestyle convenience to new heights. One Pacific Residence will showcase the best of ‘Newtown’ living.”

It can be recalled that One Pacific Residence was publicly unveiled on August 2012. One Pacific Residence received positive response from Cebuano, including Lapu-lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza who was the Guest of Honor that night. In her previous speech, the dynamic Mayor of Lapu-lapu City exclaimed, ”

“Megaworld’s investment in Lapu-Lapu City is the bright beacon that will catapult the metropolis to become an economic force to reckon with.”

What to expect? What’s next?

One Pacific Square

The common question that comes up to cynics is, Will this property and township named The Mactan Newtown reach the projected success it hopes to have?

Looking at examples like Eastwood City, McKinley Hill and Newport City, these are all township projects initiated by Megaworld. Success after success in launching properties and township, they must have learned their craft well to introduce the ‘live-work-play’concept it had pioneered in the Philippines. It will not be for long when the 16-hectare township in barangay Mactan will also become another preferred locations of leading IT and BPO offices since new locators (which are not currently in Cebu) will also bring in more seats for Cebuano’s to occupy.

Mr. Hernandez adds in our interview during the launching of McDonald’s Mactan Newtown :

“There is more to watch out for in The Mactan Newtown. The launching of McDonald’s The Mactan Newtown is just the beginning.”

Upscale entertainment hotspots, five-star hotels and posh shopping spaces which are all soon-to-rise within the township.

Questions about The Mactan Newtown? Call (63 999) 993-1990 or e-mail themactannewtown@megaworldcorp.com.

Over 100 youth volunteers joined the 1st Online Newsroom Workshop held at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex last October 7.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz C. Radaza challenged the young participants to help the city in inculcating a culture of tourism and in creating a culture of excellence in this digital age.

Radaza in her speech said she is hopeful that the Oponganon youth will be of great help in shaping the city.

The activity, organized by the office of the mayor was attended by members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Lapu-Lapu City campus journalists from the different schools in the city.

“The fact is, there are so many good news in our city,” Radaza said.

The mayor bared she is partnering with the youth to spread the good news to the world about the city of Lapu-Lapu.

Radaza said “your innate ability to use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram can catapult our city to heights never imagined before”.

She announced that she is “investing” on the youth to help the city develop new tourism products and to help the city promote its eco-tourism.

According to the mayor, the activity was history in the making since the city is “the only LGU that has harnessed the youth on two very strategic front – tourism and the world wide web”.

The workshop was given by Max Limpag, co-founder of InnoPub. The activity was supported by SK Federation President Nicole Balao and the local Department of Education (DepEd).

Mandaue Business Month  (MBM) 2012  is held for the 8th time in Cebu International Convention Center  at Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines.

For those who are asking, MBM is an annual event organized by Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI). Themed “Staying Ahead Of the Game”, the event is co presented by the Province of Cebu which is also celebrating its 443 anniversary.

Pinoyworld is now covering the event with Bjorn Cebuano.

• Serial Entrepreneur Bunny Pages is hosting this annual event for the 8th straight year.

• Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) new president, Philip Tan welcomes participant to the summit. For the past years, Eric Ng Mendoza has led the organization in organizing industry envigorating activities.

• Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also acknowledged MCCI’s efforts in advancing public-partnership in the city and inculcating the value of dynamic thinking in addressing local concerns.

• Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia is already introduced as “the next senator of the public” by Mr. Pages. What is remarkable about her talk is how she had lead the Province of Cebu and how this first lady governor of Cebu had highlighted on the focus of engraining to the public servants the value efficiency and effectiveness. Paraphrasing her statement, the most successful and meaningful projects done by the provincial government are those projects that have been done in partnership with the private sector.

• ABS-CBN Chairman and CEO Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III highlighted the value of a company’s foundation, its core values, as he tackles:”Creating a Long Term Competitive Advantage Over Your Main Competitors.” Paraphrasing Mr. Lopez: “An organization must not change its core. It is the anchor and the foundation of all that it does.” For ABS-CBN it is the matra that the great “Kapitan” that stirs this organization to be on top of the game providing content — “In the service of the Filipino Worldwide.”

Four Hundred Ninety One years ago today, politics was brewing in the island of Mactan. Some external influence encouraged neighboring chieftains to upset Datu Lapu-Lapu.

Thinking that Oponganon’s can be just swayed away with threats and intimidation, the violence that erupted in the Battle of Mactan proved them all wrong…

Thus the first Filipino victory and hero was made!

And why only the sons and daughters of Lapu-Lapu is celebrating it today? This ought to be celebrated nationally and in fact should be a national holiday.

I find it very strange that the country is fond of celebrating defeats like deaths of heroes, defeats in battles and even a death march have become national holidays.

Then Lapu-Lapu, who fought and was victorious against the first foreign invader, was just relegated to become your favorite steamed fish or sweet and sour dish.

This is why I want “Kadaugan sa Mactan” to become the next big attraction in the country and be known internationally. And as you witnessed we have started to expand and make it a real victory party when I began my administration. I wanted a victory party in its true sense for people to come and celebrate.

This year will be the second year of the “Kadaugan Street Party” and I can assure you it has become bigger. It has generated interest that increased the number of contingents this time for the “Rampada.”

The private sector has began to notice and want to be part of the celebration. Participation has been expanded to include a trade fair from the women’s group of Lapu-Lapu City and other sectors of the constituency.

My mandate is to have it evolve into the best form and shape it may take to generate interest not only from the domestic tourism market but internationally.

This year, we are hosting an international convention of an organization that was scheduled in such a way that they will have a chance to witness the re-enactment of this historical event and join the party.

If its more fun in the Philippines, its double the fun in Lapu-Lapu City.

It’s the biggest commemoration of a historical event and victory party this side of the country!

Erramon Aboitiz, President and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures joined by Ms Cebu 2011, Mia Faridoon during the ceremonial switch off last year held at The Persimmon. Photo contributed by Danny Ybanez

The Aboitiz Group is taking its efforts to reduce carbon footprint a step higher by partnering with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Cebu City Government in celebrating Earth Hour 2012.

On March 31, the Aboitiz Group and its partners will join the rest of the country and the world in shutting off lights for an hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., as a way to conserve energy and lessen carbon dioxide emissions.

In line with this year’s Earth Hour theme “Uniting Filipinos to Protect the Planet,” the WWF will present a live streaming broadcast of the other Earth Hour activities taking place in Manila and Davao. It will also show video messages of President Benigno Aquino III and international leaders of WWF.

Also before lights will be shut off, Earth Hour co-founder Andy Ridley will deliver his keynote message, which will also be shown through live streaming.

Activities in Cebu will kick off with essay-writing and poster-making contests among high school and college students, respectively, at The Persimmon Plus in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City. There will also be an eco-bazaar that will display items from recycled waste and organic food.

At 5:30 p.m., Aboitiz Group team members and residents of Cebu City’s 80 barangays will walk from the Fuente Osmeña to the Plaza Independencia as their way of supporting global environmental initiatives.

Aboitiz Group President & CEO Erramon Aboitiz will lead Group executives in the shut-off ceremony. He will be joined by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, Miss Cebu 2012 Pierre Anther Infante and her court, and WWF representatives.

The Aboitiz Group has adopted sustainability as a strategic goal in the operations of its various businesses. Sustainability is striking a balance among People, Planet and Profit. Various activities are being developed across the Group through its five sustainability pillars of Reduce, Reuse/recycle, Rejuvenate nature, Renewable energy and Recharged communities.

Paintings and sculptures of contemporary Cebuano artists were featured in the art exhibit, dubbed Contemporary Cebu, which opened last Jan. 4 at the Cebu City Museum.

The exhibit, which is curated by JV Castro, is designed to bring national attention to contemporary Cebuano artists and their works. It is open to the public until Jan. 31.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, during the opening ceremonies, lauded the initiative undertaken to make the exhibit possible, saying it is a way to recognize Cebuano talents in visual arts as well as to promote the Cebu City Museum.

The Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), and The Grove by Rockwell, partnered together to launch this annual exhibit. The first exhibit was held in June 2011 in Manila at the Ateneo de Manila University and Picasso Boutique Hotel.

This year’s Contemporary Cebu art exhibit features the works of Palmy Pe-Tudtud, Marvin Natural, Kidlat of the Junks Collective, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, Ritchie Quijano, and Tito Cuevas. Russ Ligtas will give Butoh performances on Jan. 12 and 13.

“It is an exhibition that features some of the finest artists we have in Cebu. All the works in the exhibit are done by Cebuano artists who specialize in contemporary works, meaning the portrayal of subjects are different. In a way, we want to promote Cebu in a different light,” Castro said.

Dennis “Sio” Montera, one of the participating artists shared the inspiration and stories behind his paintings.

“My art is more on expression of the things that have been relevant in my life—happiness, sadness, loss of loved one, any life experience. For me, the best way I can communicate or deal with my emotions is to paint. It is more likely the reflection of a current situation of my life. It’s like a diary, mirroring what is happening around me,” he said.

Alternative Contemporary Art Studio and RAFI have been partners since Contemporary Cebu’s inception in 2011. This year, they took in The Grove by Rockwell as a major partner. The other sponsors of the exhibit are the Cebu City Government, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission of Cebu City, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Blue Shield Risk Management, Gothong Southern, Michelangelo Pizzeria, and Hola España.

“Contemporary Cebu is a good opportunity for introducing the Cebuano audience to contemporary arts and for them to be familiar who the Cebuano contemporary visual artists are,” said Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of Culture and Heritage of RAFI. (Hannah Reoma/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. intern)

August 26, 2011 (Friday) will mark another milestone for Cebu, as Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and Casa Gorordo Museum Opens its door to the public for the initial viewing and exhibit of “Mga Bayani sa Sugbo: Cebu’s Contributions to Nation-building”.

The exhibit commemorates popular and less known individuals-among them, Pantaleon Villegas, Arcadio Maxilom, Sergio Osmeña, Vicente Rama, and Juan Climaco - who have made significant contributions to Cebu from 1898 to the 1930s. The exhibit, which will run until October 21, is a feature event of the year-long celebration of Cebu City as ASEAN City of Culture.

Both the exhibit and the trivia event are initiated by RAFI in partnership with the Cebu City Government in celebration of the National Heroes Day on August 29 and the Language Month in August.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña is expected to grace the event with their presence with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Culture & Heritage unit Executive Director Dr. Jocelyn B. Gerra, who will also sit with the honorary guest during the press briefing.

“Triviang Binisaya sa Casa Gorordo: A Benefit Event for the Institutionalization of Cebuano Language in Schools” event will follow

Both the exhibit and the trivia event are initiated by RAFI in partnership with the Cebu City Government in celebration of the National Heroes Day on August 29 and the Language Month in August.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT, Contact:

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI)
Tel. No. (63 32) 418 7234 local 520
Mobile No. +63 917 395 9423,
E-mail: Nancy.Cudis@rafi.org.ph

Casa Gorordo Museum
Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City
6000 PHILIPPINES