People & Events
The brand-new look of SM Green Bag with vivid designs representing the four elements of environment – land, energy, water and air, which intend to inspire a life conscious and Eco friendly shopper – was celebrated simultaneously across 37 malls last August 6, 2010.
Eco Bag Launching
At SM City Clark, the ceremonial cutting of ribbon was led by Ms. Cecile Yumul, the spokesperson of Save the Trees Coalition, Albert Lacanlale, Editor-in-Chief of Central Luzon Newsweek and a Broadcaster of RW 95.1, Mr. Bernard Silvala – President of PAMET, Pamp Chapter, Director of Research & Development Center of RCC and Ms. Ana T. Datu, Asst Mall Manager of SM City Clark.
Also present in the event were the students, principals and teachers of Alberto Pabalan Elementary School and Rafael Lazatin High School. SM City Clark homegrown talent Jonathan Barrera of performed a pro-environment song entitled “PARAISO”.
The new face of SM eco bag is a call to action adapting the four simple philosophies, Renew. Spark. Flow. Breathe. People can make the difference in the race to save the planet. RENEW our earth by reducing our waste, SPARK a revolution for smarter energy. Let’s make our water FLOW with life and let’s BREATHE clean, pristine air once again.
Vice-mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting led the 112th Independence Day celebrations at SM City Clark on Saturday urging officials of the mall and mall goers to keep the spirit of fighting for freedom alive in the consciousness of the younger-generation.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting who led the formal flag raising ceremonies here was accompanied by top management officials of SM City Clark led by Assistant Mall Manager Ana Datu. The event was marked by a calesa parade in the vicinity of the mall and the presentation of famous Filipino patriotic songs rendered by Jonathan Barrera of AUF Performing Arts.
Honoring the flag
In her speech before the spectators, Vega-Cabigting said that the fight for freedom does not end with the yearly commemoration of the Independence Day. She said that fighting for freedom is still relevant in today’s time as the Filipino society is still plagued by social oppression of various sorts.
Ms. Ana Datu, for her part, urged tenants of the mall to contribute in their little way in promoting Filipino values in their workplace as well as in their homes.
After the program, Vice Mayor Vega and Ms. Ana T. Datu led the opening of the 6 feet by 12 feet Giant Pulburon Exhibit assisted by Mr. Rene Del Rosario at the The Event Center. The delicacy was made by the famous Sasmuan Delicacies, a local brand name famous for popularizing local native delicacies in Pampanga. (Story by SM City Clark)
The local government of Mabalacat has formed of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fort Stotsenburg Pampanga Chapter on January 14.
The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fort Stotsenburg Pampanga Chapter is a private, nonsectarian, nonpartisan, not-for-profit association, organized and operated exclusively for educational and preservation purposes.
Elected provisionary set of officers were: Lt. Edgar L. Hilbero-President, Chief Inspector NIcanor Targa-Vice-President, Teodoro L. David-Treasurer, Roman D. Goce- Secretary, Roseller A. Romero-PRO. Members are Ma. Theresa Romero and Scott Slaten. In order to become a recognized chapter, Morales said the group shall have a membership of at least fifteen (15) members and the members are classified according to categories:
Category I-Phil. Scouts/US Armed Forces Veterans;
Category II- Spouses/Widow/Sons/Daughters/Grandchildren, and;
Category III- Relatives/Friends of Veterans.
Mayor Marino “Boking” P. Morales, Honorary Chairman of the organization and Guy Hilbero the acting chapter president have work for the establishment of the Philippine Scouts Pampanga Chapter within Clark Freeport Zone.
Morales said the establishment of the group seeks preserve the history, heritage and legacy of the Philippine Scouts. It is also meant to enhance the collection and presentation of books, manuscripts and memorabilia relating to the Philippine Scouts. One of their objectives is to develop relevant activities and programs including educating the American public in history of the Philippine Scouts.
The proposed initial project of the organization is to commemorate the “Valor Day” or the “Araw ng Kagitingan” on April 09, 2010. Part of this activity will be a wreath laying ceremony to be held at the Death March Shrine, Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac and to be attended by all members and officers preferably in uniforms (replicas).
Next meeting was slated on February 2, 2010, 0530-0600pm where the following set of officers will be installed for the following positions: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, Historian, Counselor and Museum Liaison Officer. The organization has an annual membership dues amounting to $10.00 or its peso equivalent, $5.00 will be given for the chapter and $5.00 for the national. Life membership fees ages under 50 is $75.00, ($60.00) ages 50 to 59, ($50.00) ages 60 to 69, ($40.00) ages 70 to 79 and ($30.00) ages 80 and above. If chapter membership is chosen, dues are divided equally with the national organization. The membership for Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fort Stotsenburg Pampanga Chapter is still open for those who are interested to join. (Story by: Clarence Flores)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -Telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has teamed up with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to put Subic at the frontlines of the country’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.
PLDT Subictel president Dennis Magbatoc said they have “agreed in principle” to partner with SBMA in the promotion of this free port’s emerging IT capabilities to enable Subic to directly compete with leading ICT players like Manila, Cebu, Davao, Laguna and others.
“We would like to position Subic in the forefront, one of the newest choices when it comes to ICT,” said Magbatoc.
He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between SBMA, PLDT and its subsidiary PLDT Subic Telecom (Subictel) is scheduled for signing late this month.
Magbatoc said the agreement would pave the way for tripartite collaborative projects that would benefit the Subic Bay Freeport’s ICT industry.
He said the projects would bank on PLDT’s most recent ICT investments here that are worth more than P40-million.These include the fiber optics cable that connects Subic Bay to Manila and the entire Luzon grid, and the P20-million Innovation Laboratory (Innolab) of Subictel that was unveiled last October.
SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said meanwhile that Subictel’s hi-tech IT facility, which sits beside Subic’s Spanish Gate landmark, has been included in the itinerary for potential investors visiting this former naval base.
He said that Subic Bay’s IT and telecommunications infrastructure, available and soon-to-be-offered telecoms solutions that cater to business process outsourcing (BPO) operations, retail and manufacturing businesses, and even the hotel industry, will be staged at the Subic Innolab, the fifth such PLDT facility in the country.
“With this one-stop IT center, the SBMA will get to showcase the IT aspect of doing business in Subic, on top of its other strengths like strategic location, tax and duty-free perks, highly-skilled manpower, superb support industries and infrastructure, and a highly-secured and tourist-friendly environment,” said Arreza.
“When it comes to IT support, we now have everything and anything you need,” Arreza added, referring to the “fully loaded” theme of Subictel’s Innolab.
Arreza said the SBMA is keen on having Subic take the path to knowledge-based industries, as some IT analysts expect the ICT industry to grow by 30%-35% annually, generating one million new jobs for 2010 alone.
“With PLDT as partner, the Subic Bay Freeport can now shift from labor-intensive industries to knowledge-based industries, guided by the emerging trends in the IT sector,” he said.
Arreza also said that the vertical expansion thrust of this free port is being taken to accommodate the entire gamut of BPO and IT-related services like back-office outsourcing, software and games development, engineering design, and digital animation, among others.
