Sunday, January 31, 2010

Nursing Board Exam Results November 2009!



The result of the Philippine (NLE) Nursing Licensure (Board) Examination, which was held in Manila & all Regional Offices on November 29 & 30, 2009 has been released by the PRC.

A total of 37, 527 out of 94,462 (39.73%) nursing graduates passed the November, 2009 licensure examination.

The examination was given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Sulu, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last November 2009.

Nursing BOARD Exam Results November 2009

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Globe and STI's Kuha Mo Photo Contest!



Take a Picture, Take a Stand.

Get a chance to Win a Nikon D3000 SLR Camera, a Nokia 6300 Camera Phone and a scholarships to the Photo Journalism course at STI Fort Bonifacio.

Promo Duration: December 9, 2009 to March 9, 2010
Availability: Globe Postpaid and Prepaid Subscribers

How to join:

  1. Photo theme: National Issues facing the 2010 Elections

  2. Without any post-processing, upload your photo to Pixlink by sending your photo as a MMS. To send your photo, compose a multi-media message, attach the photo together with MMS KUHAMO then send it to 2988. P2.50 per MMS upload.You will receive a SMS reply from 2988 informing you of your successful mobile photo upload

  3. All successful mobile photo uploads also automatically get uploaded to the dedicated Pixlink page at http://tattoo.globe.com.ph/kuhamo.

  4. No post-processing (editing or photo enhancements) of photos

  5. Judging Criteria



  • 50% Quality of Content

  • 40% Presentation/Overall look

  • 10% Mastery of the technology and tools


View complete contest mechanics

For more information, log on to tattoo.globe.com.ph/kuhamo

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Figaro Chimes 50% OF on all Pasta Anniversary Treat this weekend!



The Figaro Coffee Company branch at Chimes Davao is celebrating its Anniversary this weekend January 39-31, 2010 with %0% discount on all Pasta dishes!

50% discounts on all their Pasta dishes for the Anniversary of Figaro Chimes. This is their way of thanking their avid costumers who are loyal to their products.

To all Pasta lovers in Davao City this is the time to enjoy your favorite pasta at  a huge discount.

Figaro Chimes is located at Sales St. Davao City.

Chimes Shoe and Bag Sale Jan. 29-31, 2010!


Chimes Specialty Store is located at Sales St. , Davao City is having a Shoe & Bag Sale this coming weekend, January 29-31, 2010!

For all fashion enthusiast who wants to have something new this coming Year of the Tiger, this is the time for a new pair of shoes and a bag to go with it. Go and visit Chimes this weekend and you will find something that will fit your budget and style.

Laptop bags and camera bags are also on sale at PowerHub and Focus Lab at Chimes.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Hong Kong and Singapore Seat Sale with free domestic connection!


Get your free domestic connection in our Hong Kong and Singapore Seat Sale
Other Asian destinations for as low as P999!

Great news for passengers in select Visayas and Mindanao destinations, here's your chance to go to Hong Kong and Singapore (via Cebu) for the ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare of only P1,499!

The seat sale period starts now until January 29, 2010, for travel March 1 to May 31, 2010.

This innovative seat sale is offered for the first time to passengers from Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Ozamiz, Siargao, Surigao and Zamboanga.

  • We also offer a fantastic seat sale deal for as low as P999 for Manila-Taipei, Clark-Hong Kong and Clark- Macau flights.

  • Avail of our ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare of P1,499 from Manila to Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Macau.

  • P1,999 ‘Go Lite’ seats are up for grabs for the following flights: Manila to Incheon or Shanghai, and Cebu to Busan or Incheon.

  • Manila-Osaka seat sale is also available for the ‘Go’ fare of P1,999.

  • P1,499 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale for Manila-Ho Chi Minh flights,


Sale starts now until January 29, 2010, for travel beginning May 1 to July 31, 2010.

Take advantage of CEB’s inter-connecting flights via Cebu to Hong Kong and Singapore and get your domestic flight to Cebu for free; or travel to popoular Asian destinations: Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Vietnam with our unbeatable seat sale!
Hurry, grab these amazing deals at www.cebupacificair.com!

"Tag 'Em" and Win 8GB iPod Touch Contest!



Get a chance to win a brand new 8GB iPod Touch just be tagging your friends to our banner. Whoever has the most tagged friends wins. The contest will run until February 8 (2 weeks) and the winner will be announced on that day.

Contest Mechanics:

1. You must be a registered *member at aloo.ph AND a fan in our Facebook Fan Page to join the contest

2. Download the image from the "Tag 'Em Contest" photo album that we have created (Here is the link:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3219439&id=159277207301)

3. Upload this image to your Facebook account and add this caption "The Philippines' First Location-based Social Networking Site - http://aloo.ph"

4. TAG the uploaded picture with as many friends as you can . (* The minimum number of tagged friends is - 50.)

5. Once you have finished tagging, reply to this discussion topic and tell us how many friends you have tagged. (For example: Paolo Reyes - 154 tagged friends)

6. We will need to confirm your entry. If you're Facebook account is private, you will need to accept a friend request from our Administrator in order for him to verify the picture you have uploaded. (You can un-friend him as soon as he verifies it.)

That's it! The contest officially starts today January 25 and ends on February 8. Make sure you follow the steps correctly, entries that don't will be deemed invalid. Enjoy and GOODLUCK! (If you have any questions or clarifications, please feel free to reply to this topic.)

* The minimum number is there for assurance that the winner will at least have 50 tagged friends.
* You must be currently living in the Philippines (since this is a location-based site).

Sunday, January 24, 2010

“The Juicy Cat Dolls – No preservatives Added” ft. Mitch Valdes, Nanette Inventor and Pilita Corrales in Davao City on April 17!



Watch Mitch Valdes, Nanette Inventor and Pilita Corrales in their latest comedy-and-musical revue “The Juicy Cat Dolls – No Preservatives  Added” Live in Davao City Concert on April 17, 2010, Saturday,  7:30pm at the CAP Grand Auditorium.

The show takes a long and loving look at a variety of topics: Maturity and ageing, the compulsive need to lose weight, the “querida,” the political wives as well as the fads and foibles of the society. Mitch and Nanette have long established themselves as legends in the field of stand-up comedy, and their track record shows that the brand of humor they dish out is always consistently intelligent as well as scathingly funny.

This is for the audience who wants substance as well as fun, maturity as well as laughter, rollicking good times along with biting social insight.

Special guest Cyntia Patag makes a surprise comeback as a “Cougar”, an older woman with a taste for younger men, yet another new fixture in the social scene.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Mojito is Marco Polo Davao's Eagles' Bar drink of the month!



Eagles Bar located at the ground floor of Marco Polo Hotel Davao, just at the left side of the main entrance of the hotel.


They are offering a monthly cocktail special for the whole year and for the month of January, taking the center stage is the sweet and minty Cuban drink, Mojito. The Mojito was a favorite drink of author Ernest Hemingway. He frequented the bar named "La Bodeguita del medio" where he gets his Mojitos and he wrote on the wall of the bar "Mi mojito en la Bodeguita" ( My mojito at the Bodeguita). This expression can still be seen on the walls of the bar today in his own handwritting.


The Eagles bar in Marco Polo is a small and cozy place to bring your friends after work or just to unwind with your business partners after closing a deal.  What is great with this months special, the Mojito is that the bartenders will even let you mix your own drink yourself and they will show you the secrets to mixing the famous cocktail.



They also have a variety of "pica-pica" to choose from to accompany your drinks with.



For more information and details,Eagles through the Marco Polo Davao number 221-088 extension 7225.

Marco Polo Davao is locates at C.M. Recto St., Davao City.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars for Philippine High School for the Arts is now on!


Attention all graduating grade 6 or 7 students from public or private schools with exceptional talents in music, dance, visual arts, creative writing, and drama, this is your chance to enhance and enjoy your high school life in a very special environment.

The Philippine Science High School for the Arts in Makiling, Laguna is now accepting applicants for their scholarship for schoolyear 2010-1011!

Each PHSA scholar is provided free tuition,  housing, food, and  monthly allowance. Each student will get at least P300,000 a year.

All applications, documents, and requirements must be received by the ANSYAS Committee on or before the following dates:

Luzon applicants - 08 February 2010

Visayas applicants - 22 February 2010

Mindanao applicants - 08 March 2010

For inquiries, write or call the Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS), Philippine High School for the Arts, National Arts Center, Mt Makiling, Los Baños 4030, Laguna

For information, call 049-5365972, email phsa@ laguna. net, website www.psha.edu.ph.

Davaoeña Bangs Garcia bags lead role in "Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal?"!



Davaoeña Bangs Garcia gets the biggest break in her career, she landed a lead role in a teleserye in ABS-CBN's "Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal?" which will be seen every afternoon starting January 25, 2010!

It is directed by Chito Roño!

Bangs Garcia is just a second choice to star in the telesertye it was first offered to Roxanne Ginoo but to Bangs luck she backed out of the project. She is joined by Rayver Cruz and Sid Lucero as her leading men.

"Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal?" was based on a movie that stars Zsa Zsa Padilla, Joel Torre at Christopher de Leon under the direction of Laurice Guillen.

In "Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?", Bangs will play the role of  Carmela,  a very obedient daughter that will do anything for the love of her life.

Together in the cast are Mickey Ferriols, Emilio Garcia, Bing Pimentel, Debraliz Valasote, Beverly Salviejo, Nikki Valdez, Paw Diaz, Bettina Carlos, Makisig Morales, Martin Rosario, Ella Cruz and Joshua Dionisio.

Watch the full trailer below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyxkyp98__I[/youtube]

P788 seats for Cebu and Davao hub flights; P1,499 for Bangkok flights! Until Jan. 21!



Fly to prime destinations like Palawan, Legaspi and Caticlan with our P788 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale for all Cebu and Davao hub flights starting now until January 21, 2010, for travel this February 1 to March 31, 2010.

This special P788 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale is for direct flights from Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Clark, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Manila, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.

Direct flights from Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Manila and Zamboanga are also up for grabs for only P788.


We're offering great discounts to the Land of Smiles, with P1,499 Bangkok seats from both Clark and Manila. The seat sale period starts now until January 21, 2010, for travel this May 1 to July 31, 2010.

CEB flies to Bangkok every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Clark, and daily from Manila. We offer an unbeatable 30 kilos free baggage allowance promo for those with check-in luggage on Clark-Bangkok flights until June 30, 2010.

Fun Tours Bangkok package also go as low as P5,495 through the CEB website. This is inclusive of round-trip airfare, and 4 days-3 nights hotel accommodation with daily breakfast, and is subject to availability.

Those with check-in luggage will just add P100 upon booking.

Book your seats now at www.cebupacificair.com!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Grab the Cebu Pacific's P999 seat for the summer now up to Jan. 15!



Jumpstart the summer travel season with our P999 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale starting now until January 15, 2010, for travel this February 1 to April 4, 2010.

Up for grabs are major local tourist destinations such as Boracay (Kalibo), Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, Naga, Legazpi, San Jose (Mindoro), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Cebu, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Siargao, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

We have a total of 32 domestic destinations to choose from and accessible through hubs across the country: Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao. Try our Inter-island routes, a smash hit for those going home or opting to take weekend vacations with friends. These routes include Davao-Iloilo, Davao-Cagayan de Oro, Cebu-Dumaguete, Cebu-Ozamiz and Clark-Cebu.

Log on to www.cebupacificair.com and plan your summer travels as early as now!

Passengers without credit cards can book online and pay through CEB partner banks (Bancnet, Megalink, Metrobank, Banco de Oro and Robinsons Savings Bank).

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Official List of Davao City Candidates for 2010 Elections!



The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Davao has registered a total of 126 individuals from Davao City who filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) seeking for local elective positions. COMELEC Regional Director Remlane Tambuang said that the following, in alphabetical order, are vying for the local elective positions:

For Congressional seats in the House of Representatives are:
District 1: Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta, Bernard Sabino Custodio, Jocelyn Roa Duterte, Anacleto Belleza Millendez, Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles, Robert Elnar Olanolan, and Juan Resemilla Zamora;

District 2: Dexter Antonio Alcebar, Joji Ilagan Bian, Danilo Castillo Dayanghirang, Mylene de Joya Garcia, and Diosdado Angelo Abello Mahipus;

District 3: Victorio Sabulana Advincula, Wilberto Echavez Al-ag, Gerardo Caalaman Braganza, Gregorio Chavez Canada, Ruy Elias Concepcion Lopez, and Isidro Tom Ungab.

For City Mayor: Rodrigo Jr. Punzalan Buenzon, Sara Zimmerman Duterte, Magdaleno Sumampong Marcellones, Prospero Castillo Nograles, and Rodrigo Jomoc Suliman

For City Vice Mayor: Benjamin Cacatian de Guzman, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and Roberto Viloria Macaraeg

For Councilor, First District: Nilo Jr. Malig Abellera, Domingo Antipuesto Andolina, Rodolfo Farma Antolin, Lester Lawrence Trinidad Avila, Wendel Eliot Avisado, Jo Anne Bonguyan, Inocentes Jr. Bornea, Pilar Cañeda Braga, Carlos Jimena Cirilio, Hector Emmanuel de los Reyes, Shane Lim Dolor, Eddie Codilan Fuentes, Emmanuel Dellergan Galicia, Arlex Luayon Galido, Edwin Abecia Gonzaga, Jeff Ong Ho, Edgar Ramos Ibuyan, Evelyn Gonzales Laviña, Raneolo Carillo Leonar, Leah Alonsabe Librado, Christian Jay Lim, Ferdinand Carabuena Lu, Ernesto Jr. Neuman Macasaet, Magompara Muto Magadia, Amil Bangsa Manding, Napoleon Tac-an Militar, Prospero Pardiñas Mojica, Rogelio Cañete Paconia, Pablito Pilapil Parilla, Randy Reyes Ponteras, J Melchor Vega Quitain, William Icalina Ramirez, Stella Marissa Viacrucis Reyes, Benjamin Jr. Guatlo Rivera, Joel Arroyo Santes, Micheal Manila Tabelo, Antonio Harada Vergara, Rene Alexis Villrente, Jose Joel Goloso Virador, Alberto Chiong Yap, and Jocelyn Palad Yap.

For Councilor, Second District: Richard Antonio Alcebar, Alryan Sumicad Alejandre, Ernie Ilagan Alterado, Senforiano Jr. Ilagan Alterado, Jose Enoc Amban, Angelo Abelardo Aportadera, Micheal Protacio Aportadera, Dante Laude Apostol, Leonardo Miguel Aquino, Gerald Anthony Bangoy, Louie John Bonguyan, Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, Leopoldo Lagat Cagatin, Ariel Baring Casilao, April Marie Dayap, Jimmy Gestuveo Dureza, Dino Ferdinancd Galido, Lito Bucton Lapitan, Joji Jude Lumanog, Tomas IV, Joyce Monteverde, Rhoda Franco Noriega, Beethoven Lavisores Orcullo, Nenita Roldan Orcullo, Anthony Fabroa Pichon, Lius Jr. Quindoy Rodriguez, Marissa Palcado Salvador-Abella, Joseph Pinili Saucejo, Elvira Juezan Sederiosa, and Richard Cuizon Unla

For Councilor, Third District: Magno Jr. Gallinero Adalin, Lyndon Gamil Aballe, Victorio Jr. Uy Advincula, Bernard Echavez Al-ag, Conrado Calimbayan, Rogelio Balogbog Bantiles, Karlo Santos Bello, Salvador Virtucio Caingles, Genaro Maunto Casumpa, Domingo Gerolin Dalodo, Myrna Gerolin Dalodo-Ortiz, Allan Lim Dolor, Ernesto Villar Gerodias, Daniel Garandang Guillen, Lucio Jr. Graciosa Gutierrez, Samuel Edillo Lasay, Aldion Narciso Layao, Rene Elias Concepcion Lopez, Cecilio Jr. Espelita Manaois, Teresita Cayanong Mata-Marañon, Rogelio Alabata Montajes, Gregorio Rerora Pantig, Reynaldo Parcon Reyes, Romeo Sr. Caminero Saberon, Angelico Jr. Tondo Santander, Lolito Obeso Sucayre, Allan Joy Apat Sumandang, Eduard Bingcay Trinidad, Jose Louie Papas Villafuerte, and Rachel Paradela Zozobrado.

Friday, January 8, 2010

To do list in 2010 for Health, Personality, Society and Life!



Health

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.

3. Eat more food that grows on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2009.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for seven hours per night.

10. Take a 10 to 30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality

11. Don’t compare your life to that of others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy on the positive present moment.

13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does.

15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her past mistakes. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum, they appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society

25. Call  your family often.

26. Give something good to others every day.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and those under the age of six.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life

32. Do the right thing.

33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. God heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you wake up in the morning, thank God for it.

39. Your innermost is always happy. So, be happy.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Join Officially Philippines Photo Contest!


Officially Philippines Photo Contest is now officially accepting entries!


You have 5 categories to choose from - Filipino Celebrations, Kaugaliang Pinoy, Hidden Treasures, Food & Places, and Filipino Represent. Each category winner will take homeP3,000 CASH. The grand prize winner will be selected from the 5 category winners who will walk away with an additional P20,000 CASH plus a Thinktank Photo Camera Bag

The contest is open to all members of the public, both Professional and Amateur photographers.

Category Topics and Submission Timeline:

1. Filipino Celebrations - Weddings, fiestas, etc. December 10, 2009 - February 9, 2010 (on or before 11:59 pm)
2. Kaugaliang Pinoy - Filipinos are known for their warm smiles and friendly nature. Capture this and other traits that are truly Filipino (ex. Bayanihan during Ondoy) February 10 - March 9, 2010 (on or before 11:59 pm)
3. Hidden Treasures - show us the other beautiful sights of the Philippines that are yet to be explored March 10 - April 9, 2010 (on or before 11:59 pm)
4. Food & Places - local Filipino cuisine, colorful kakanin, cooking the old fashion way, Spanish influences on our architecture, modern Filipino architecture, Intramuros April 10 - May 9, 2010 (on or before 11:59 pm)
5. Filipino Represent - artistic shots of our Flag, or other symbolisms of being Filipino (jeepneys, flag, tattoos, monuments, etc) May 10 - June 9, 2010 (on or before 11:59 pm)

The Grand Prize winner shall be selected among the 5 category winners!

CATEGORY WINNERS                   CASH                                   CATEGORY PERIOD
Filipino Celebrations                  P3,000                          Dec. 10, 2009 - Feb. 9, 2010
Kaugaliang Pinoy                          P3,000                          Feb. 10 - Mar. 9, 2010
Hidden Treasures                         P3,000                           Mar. 10 - Apr. 9, 2010
Food & Places                                 P3,000                           Apr. 10 - May 9, 2010
Filipino "Represent" P3,000 May 10 - Jun. 9, 2010

How to join:


  1. All photos taken must be of Philippines

  2. JPEG or TIFF format

  3. No larger than 2 MB

  4. Minimum of 1200 pixels by 1600 pixels with a resolution of 72 dpi

  5. Photoshop may be used, but only for basic post-processing actions for contrast, color-balancing, sharpening, cropping, and dodging & burning



  • No watermarks, signatures, frames

  • Winners must submit a 300 dpi resolution image prior to being awarded with the prize


Upload your photos on the officiallyphilippines.com website

Judging Criteria

  • 30% Online Votes

  • 70% Panel of Judges

  • 50% Substance and originality

  • 30% Online votes

  • 20% Loyalty to theme and clarity (able to see the idea of the picture clearly)


View complete contest mechanics

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Davoaeña Erich Gonzales is on the cover of MEGA!



The most popular celebrity from Davao, 19 year old Erich Gonzalez graces the cover og MEGA Magazine for January 2010!

Erich Gonzales won as 14 year old then in a reality show Star Circle Quest and after waiting for five years she was given the biggest break in "Katorse" which became a big hit on ABS-CBN!

The series is now about to end and a new one will be replaced and she is still the lead star in "Tanging Yaman"! Good acting and lots of luck and patience is on her side as she is now one of the fast rising drama princess on Philippine television.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Want to search the tweets of your friends? "Flocking.me" is the answer!

Screen-shot-2009-12-21-at-12.20.53-PM
Twitter has a search tool, but it's a broad one. But if you want to search just your tweets and the tweets of your friends? Flocking.me is the right answer for you.

If you are searching for the tweet of your friends made weeks ago it is really a very long task to do. Thanks to Flocking.me it made life easier. It also  creates an index of the tweets you and your friends have sent and lets you search just within this micro-pool of Twitter entries.

You can go to their website here and it's for free!

Watch the video below and be amazed!

Top 25 BitTorrent sites for 2009!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

2010 Dates of Philippine Holidays and long weekends revealed!

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Here is the schedule of Philippine holidays and long-weekends for 2010 based on RA 9492 and Proclamation 1841:




  • January 1 (Fri) - New Year's Day (five-day long weekend from December 30 to January 3)

  • February 22 (Mon) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (holiday for schools only, three-day long weekend from February 21 to 23)

  • April 1 (Thu) - Holy Thursday

  • April 2 (Fri) - Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)

  • April 9 (Fri) - Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)

  • May 1 (Sat) - Labor Day

  • June 14 (Mon) - Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)

  • August 23 (Mon) - Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from August 21 to 23)

  • August 30 (Mon) - National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from August 28 to 30)

  • September - Eid'l Fitr (to be announced, calculated September 10, possible three-day long weekend from September 10 to 12)

  • November 1 (Mon) - All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from October 30 to November 1)

  • November - Eid 'l Adha (to be announced, calculated November 16)

  • November 29 (Mon) - Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from November 27 to 29)

  • December 24 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday

  • December 25 (Sat) - Christmas

  • December 27 (Mon) - Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from December 24 to 27)

  • December 31 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday

  • January 1 - (Sat) New Year's Day (three-day long weekend from December 31 to January 2)

Friday, January 1, 2010

Davao's growth should not outpace basic infastructure!

davao-city

The chief of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (IPC) said the economic growth of this city, the premier port in Mindanao, should not outpace its basic infrastructure that has become constricted and outdated.

Roberto Teo, chief of the IPC here, said that the city has experienced the highest growth this year in a decade that is about to close, reaching P5.1 billion.

Eighty percent of this growth has been powered by consistent investments in real estate, mostly in housing projects targeting the middle and high-end market, and in tourism, which would continue to carry the growth in the next decade, Teo said.

The growth curve continues its upward path despite the global financial crisis and the intermittent fighting in the central and southwestern part of Mindanao that dragged the city down in terms of the repercussion in foreign travel advisories and sudden disinterest in business and travel to any part of the island.

“So far, the growth can still be manageable, but while we strive for more and bigger investments in the city, we also don’t want to have a growth faster than we can absorb,” he said. “We don’t want traffic congestion and pollution, and we don’t want flooding and garbage problems.”

He said the drainage system in the city is already more than 50 years old “and we are spending a lot, but only for remedial measures to contain the flood. We need much more budget to put up a modern system.”

He said the road networks and garbage remained manageable although the traffic gridlocks could occur occasionally. On garbage management, the city has prided itself with the reputation of being one of the cleanest cities in the country.

Teo warned, however, that the growth could still shot upwards if the city would be successful in its repeated promotion of being the safest place in Mindanao. “In fact, many people even from Metro Manila and Luzon have found the city ideal for comfortable living, with affordable food and rental rates.”

In tourism, the Department of Tourism has logged 700,000 visitors last year, up from only 100,000 in 2002. “We are one of the preferred destinations for Lakbay Aral, receiving at least one visit per week, aside from being the favorite venue of national conventions and conferences.”

“These growth indicators could have been much higher if we can persuade and assure visitors and investors that Davao City is far from the areas of conflict and we are the safest place for people to reside and invest,” he said.

Teo said that residents should develop more entrepreneurial efforts “to increase economic activity.”

He said that this city of 1.3 million residents is estimated to have an economy worth P175 billion, “based only in the business name registrations that we got.”

“We have a budget of another P3 billion, the amount of money that the local government is pouring into the local economy every year. That’s the money in circulation every year,” he said. “If many of us here would try to capitalize on that money in circulation, we would see a lot more business activities and purchasing power of local consumers.”

“From the business point of view, that is a lot to go around,” he said.

With the national elections next year, he said he would not expect new investments coming election funds, “but more consumer spending instead. Politicians are giving away money and people would only be too happy to spend them, too.”

“We would expect sales to increase among those engaged in the printing business,” he said.

Source: Manuel T. Cayon, BusinessMirror.com.ph