Look no further for your next scuba diving vacation!

Malapascua Island dive sites have it all!
Sharks, mantas, macro, wrecks and coral...

Look no further for your next scuba diving vacation!

Malapascua Island has something for all divers, so come and dive the best kept secret of the Philippines - indeed of South East Asia. Make your next scuba diving trip to Malapascua Island!

Malapascua diving offers: sharks and mantas, wrecksand reefs, coral gardens, wall dives, caves, muck dives and much more...

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FORMO CHICKEN WRAP is an all-time fave.

ip-smacking yummy wrapped in this comfort food for the urban warrior's soul.
The FORMO CHICKEN WRAP is an all-time fave.

Go CHEWS-DAY with this :)

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October 31 declared a holiday

(UPDATE) Malacanang has declared October 31 a special non-working day to give Filipinos more travel time during the traditional commemoration of the dead.

In Proclamation 265 signed by Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, October 31, Monday, is declared a holiday throughout the country.

This is to "give full opportunity to our people to properly observe the day with all its religious fervor which invariably requires them to travel to and from different regions of the country," the proclamation noted.

All Saints Day on November 1, Tuesday, has earlier been declared as special non-working day.

To avoid confusion, we are posting in full the Department of Labor and Employment on pay rules on a special non-working day.

"a. If the day is unworked, the "no work, no pay" principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day even if the day is unworked.

b. If worked, the employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent on the first eight hours of work. In excess of eight hours, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.

c. If the day falls on the employee's rest day and is worked, he/she shall be paid an additional 50 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent on the first eight hours of work. In excess of eight hours, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate."

Meanwhile, people who work on regular holidays are entitled to 200 percent of their basic wages for the first eight hours.

In excess of eight hours, the employer must give an additional 30 percent of the worker’s wage on an hourly basis.

If an employee is not working on regular holidays, he or she is still entitled to 100 percent of his or her regular daily rate, “provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.”

Meanwhile, if an employee works on a regular holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she is entitled to 200 percent of the daily rate for the first eight hours and an additional 30 percent for additional hours.

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(BPO) industry and Cebu’s workforce.

Top officials said the company’s expansion in Cebu signifies their commitment to and confidence in the country’s booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and Cebu’s workforce.

GLOBAL outsourcing firm Aegis PeopleSupport launched yesterday its 12-storey Aegis Tower Cebu at the Asiatown I.T. Park.

Top officials said the company’s expansion in Cebu signifies their commitment to and confidence in the country’s booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and Cebu’s workforce.

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“We are the only (BPO company) that is putting dollars on the ground, which means we are here for good,” said Aegis Limited managing director and global chief executive officer Aparup Sengupta in a press conference at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

Sengupta cited proximity, hospitality, excellent English communication skills and strong service culture as among Cebu’s attractive characteristics for BPO investors.

“We aim to become a $1-billion company, crossing the 60,000 mark in headcount by March 2012. The Philippine market plays a big part in helping us achieve our goals,” Sengupta said.

Commitment

Aegis invested P2 billion for the building of Aegis Tower Cebu, whose development comes in two phases.

“It’s a proof of our commitment to the Philippines and to the Filipino talent. Cebu continues to provide an extremely skilled workforce providing great affinity with the right experience for our local and international clients,” said Rajiv Ahuja, Aegis Limited president for Asean and ANZ.

Aegis has about 50, 000 employees in 50 locations in 12 countries.

In the Philippines, the firm has about 12,000 employees with other offices located in Manila and Baguio. Cebu has about 4,000 employees. Ahuja said they hope to increase the Cebu workforce by hiring 2,000 more employees with the completion of the Tower’s Phase 2.

Aegis Tower Cebu sits on a 3,300 square meter property. Apart from the being the first
company-owned BPO building, the facility also boasts of being one of the first BPO green buildings in the country.

According to the firm, the building was designed to maximize energy efficiency, using sustainable materials sourced from suppliers with environment-friendly practices.

The tower’s Phase 1 aims to become the first Gold-Level purpose-built BPO building in the Philippines, certified under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) version 2.2 standard for new construction and major renovation. The Phase 2 project, which will be completed next year, also aims for the same certification under the LEED.

Liza Lamzon, Aegis PeopleSupport Inc. vice president for strategic programs, said the company will be fully integrated by the end of 2012 with the completion of its Phase 2 building. She said the firm is currently in transition, transferring manpower and resources from previous locations at e-Office and Skyrise 1.

The combined phases of the building will bring a total capacity of 8, 000 employees.

Among the tower’s amenities include a customized applicant experience center; a two-level fitness center with dance studio; a recreation center; a roof-top garden; two basements and three floors of parking spaces.

Growing faster

The global outsourcing and offshoring industry is estimated to reach $270 billion in the next five years. growing at an average of 15 percent a year, according to Aegis chief people officer S.M. Gupta.

He said the Philippines is growing faster than the global growth rate of more than 23 percent in the last 10 years. Gupta said the country has to take advantage of this growth and continue producing a large talent pool for the BPO and IT industry.

However, talent pool requirement is one of the major challenges faced by the BPO sector. Sengupta said this is one major area that needs to be addressed by the government and other private stakeholders considering that Cebu has become a preferred BPO destination.

“What if we will be hiring 1,000 employees in three months, will Cebu have the ability to produce the required number?” Sengupta said. He noted that talent pool in metro cities is slowly drying up.

Search for talent

“We are looking at either going to provinces and searching for this talent or going to these provinces and putting up establishments,” he said.

Aegis serves a spectrum of industries such as banking, financial services, insurance, telecom, healthcare, travel and hospitality, consumer goods, retail and technology.

Known for its aggressive acquisition strategy, Aegis Limited entered into a definitive merger agreement with PeopleSupport in 2008. Aegis is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Essar Group, a $17-billion conglomerate based in Mumbai, India.

Aegis was ranked third among top BPO players in India in a recent survey by Dataquest, a leading knowledge publication. The firm is also recognized among the top four BPO companies in Nasscom’s recent annual BPO ranking this year.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 11, 2011.

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CEBU TOURIST AND LEISURE SPOT DESTINATIONS

Badian Island

97 km. southwest of Cebu City. Famous for beautiful corals, reefs, and white sandy beaches, making it an excellent diving spot.

Olango Wildlife Sanctuary

Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country. Migration starts from the birds’ breeding places of in Siberia, Northern China, and Japan. Based in data gathering so far, the birds use Olango as a major refueling station as well as a wintering ground. At Olango, the birds can replenish their fat reverses by feeding on rich supplies of invertebrates in the intertidal mudflats. These fat reserves must fuel the birds on the next lap of their journey which may cover from 3,000 to 15,000 km. of nonstop flight.

Moalboal

89 km. southwest of Cebu City. Offers white sandy beaches and rich marine life for scuba diving. Notable as an excellent diving area is the water around Pescador Island.

Nonoc Cave

(Borbon). 83 km. north of Cebu City. Very picturesque view, shelter for picnic goers and bathers.

Mactan Island

(across Mandaue City). Famous for its beach resorts of international standards and excellent diving, its proximity to Cebu makes it a prime destination for local and foreign travelers. It is also the site of the Export Processing Zone, with over 100 companies in operation, employing close to 40,000 people.

Religious

Basilica Minor del Santo Niño This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565. The first structure of the church was however destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568. It was rebuilt in 1602 under the administration of Juan Albaran and was rehabilitated in 1740. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minor del Santo Niño by Cardinal Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.

Image of Santo Niño

Considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 21, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, on Apri1 27, 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, who formally Christianized the Cebuanos, found the natives hostile. Legaspi himself besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was on one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Santo Niño unscratched. Since then the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as their Patron Saint. At present, the miraculous image is kept in the Parish Covent, and a replica is adorned with gold and precious stones and enshrined in glass. It is housed in a side altar inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño.

Taoist Temple

(Beverly Hills, Cebu City). The temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday people climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) to light joss sticks and have their fortune read.

Phu-Sian Temple

A Buddhist Temple, the third Chinese temple on Beverly Hills, located at the right side of the road to the Taoist Temple.

Chapel of the Last Supper

Life-sized carvings of the Lord Jesus and his 12 apostles seated at a long table for the Last Supper. This is the only one of its kind in the country. This treasured relic is found in the Church of Mandaue City that dates back to 1601.

Celestial Garden

(Banawa Hills, Cebu City). Owned and managed by the Tanchan Foundation. Twelve hectares of rolling hills where life-size statues depicting the drama of the Stations of the Cross were built.

Man-Made

Cebu Botanical Garden

(Camp Marina, Capitol Hills). Where plant hobbyists can see a collection of greenery.

Liloan Lighthouse

Found in the municipality of Liloan, around 18 km. north of Cebu City. Built by the American in 1904.

Mandaue-Mactan Bridge

Built in 1972 at a cost of P65 million. This 864-meter bridge connects the islands of Mactan and Cebu.

Plaza Independencia

A popular hangout during weekends, centuries-old acacia trees dot this park.

Fuente Osmeña Park

(Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City). A lovely circular park with a beautiful fountain in the middle. Named after Cebu’s Grand Old Man, the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

Tops

Situated 2,000 above sea level on the cool hills of Busay, it is an excellent sight-seeing spot which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and the islands of Mactan and Olango. Open kiosks are available for daytime picnics and instant evening parties.

Guitar Factories

(Maribago District, Lapulapu City). One can actually see how guitars are made. It is amazing to note that while guitar-making is the occupation of the people of Mactan District, the raw materials used have to be shipped from Mindanao and nowhere on the island can be found such materials.

Festivals

Sinulog

(every 3rd Sunday of January). Cebu’s biggest and most popular festival. The feast is in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Santo Niño de Cebu. Fiesta Senyor, as it is widely known, is the most celebrated among Cebu’s festivals, where people converge along the routes of a grand solemn procession and partake in the gaiety amidst a madri gras parade immersed in wild colors and the constant beating of drums.

Pasko sa Sugbo

(Cebu City/province-wide). An annual Christmas celebration by lighting & decorating the main thoroughfare in Cebu, starting from capitol down to Plaza Independencia. Other activities include nightly cultural shows by the different schools, parol, Christmas tree & daygon competition.

Sanayon

Agro-tourism festival in the southern towns of the second district about 100 km. from the city. A month-long activity to spread out tourism to the countryside.

Paskuhan

(Cebu City/province-wide). A Christmas celebration of songs and lantern making held during the month of December to spread good cheer to local residents and visitors alike.

Kadaugan sa Mactan

(Lapulapu City). A one-day re-enactment celebrated with pomp and pageantry every 27th of April to commemorate the historic battle of Mactan between the forces of Lapulapu and Ferdinand Magellan.

Pasko sa Kasakit

(Bantayan Island; Holy Thursday & Good Friday). A religious procession of life-size images of the death and passion of Jesus Christ carried in richly decorated & lighted carrozas.

Tagbo

(Poro, Camotes Island, Cebu; every January). Celebrated in honor of the Patron Santo Niño de Poro. Beloved memoir of a living past, Tagbo is the cornerstone from which this great municipality has sprung. Rich in cultural heritage and deep in spiritual values, Tagbo is a very significant event preluding the birth of a town very dear to the hearts of her sons and daughters.

Cassava Festival

(Camotes Island, Cebu). Held with the aim of creating awareness among the people on the different uses and economic opportunities offered by cultivating cassava.

Carcar Fiesta

(Carcal, Cebu; November 24-25). Celebrated in honor of the town's patron, St. Catherine of Alexandria. Carcar town is noted for its old Spanish style houses in the quiet countryside setting. During fiestas, the residents would invite friends, relatives, and town visitors into their homes to taste popular local delicacies. A lively and enjoyable event.

Barangayan

An annual celebration of Philippine independence held every June 12.

Via Crucis

(Banawa Hills, Cebu City). A Lenten activity where devotees do their penitential procession through the Stations of the Cross built on 12 hectares of rolling hills.

Dinagat Festival

(Cordova, Cebu). The festival is characterized by street dancing & an interpretative dance competition based on the fishing rituals & culture of the Cordovahanons.

Nuestra Señora de Regla Fiesta

(Lapulapu City; November 20-21). Held to honor the patroness of Opon. This religious and social event reveals the deep religious faith of the people and their penchant for merry making. A food fair, carnival, procession, and a coronation of the Fiesta Queen highlight the festivity.

Special Interest

Crocolandia

(Biasong, Talisay City). Situated beside the Mananga River in Talisay, it has for its main attraction a mini-zoo and a botanical garden. It is also equipped with picnic areas, restaurants, refreshment center, souvenir shops, butterfly sanctuary, boat & fishing area, and a library. CROCOLANDIA Biasong, Talisay City Tel. no. (63-32) 273-1842

Family Park

(Nasipit, Talamban). Nestled in the Nasipit mini-watershed, it provides families with an alternative and wholesome recreation site within the city. This 20-hectare area is nature-friendly. Trees surround the whole complex, the product of a reforestation effort in 1983. FAMILY PARK

Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City

Tel. no. c/o MCWD (63-32) 419-3124 to 25 / 254-8434 to 39

Mountain View Nature's Park

(Sitio Garahe, Busay). Overlooking the city, it is situated near the cool flower gardens of Busay. This park comes with a mini-zoo, accommodations, and canteen. MOUNTAIN VIEW NATURE'S PARK

Sitio Gorohe, Busay, Cebu City

Tel. no. (63-32) 231-5444 /231-5454

Manager: Edgar Castillo

Golf Courses

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club

(Aznar Road, Pardo). Situated in the lower mountains of Pardo, this golf course offers a different and challenging terrain for the avid golfer. The golf course covers 60 hectares for a world-class, par 72, 18-hole course covering 5,670 meters. CONTACT INFORMATION: Aznar Road, Pardo, Cebu City;

Tel. no. (Registration Counter) (6332) 2727971 to 74 / (Golf Operators Office) (6332) 2727977; Telfax No. (6332) 2724090;E-mail: avgcc@skynet.net

Verdemar Golf Club

(Barangay Bancasan, San Remigio, Cebu). Situated near the sea, it also offers sea-side accommodations (Casa del Mar Resort Hotel). CONTACT INFORMATION: Barangay Bancasan, San Remigio, Cebu;

Telfax no. (Cebu office) (63-32) 344-8181/82 / (Resort & Golf club) (6332) 435-2222;

Cebu Country Club Inc.

Situated just a few minutes from the heart of the city, it is the oldest existing golf course in Cebu. The course is spread over an area of 52 hectares of what used to be sugarland in the pre-war days. CONTACT INFORMATION; P.O. Box 698 Banilad, Cebu City;

Tel. no. (6332) 231-0345; Fax no. (63-32) 2314096

Club Filipino Inc. de Cebu.

It is an 18 hole golf course covering 59 hectares. CONTACT INFORMATION: Pulangyuta, Sabang, Danao City;

Tel. no. (6332) 2311676/2311666;

Fax no. (6332) 231-1667; Danao office tel. no. (6332) 200-4321

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100% electric bus line

Developed to expand transport provision in cities, e-BRT (environnementally-friendly electrical Bus Rapid Transit) is an economic and a high performance system. Made for Bus Rapid Transit Lines, the e-BRT system is an integrated "no wire" solution with intelligent bus stations enabling rapid energy transfer, and 100% electric vehicles. While stopped at a station, the bus receives the energy needed to reach the next one through an electrical contact with station infrastructure.
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Arrival figures in Cebu were also up.

Arrival figures in Cebu were also up.

Cebu recorded 1,131,230 visitors in the first seven months of the year, up by 10.52 percent from 1,023,564 in the same period last year.

The DOT 7 said Cebu’s foreign visitor arrivals grew by 16.26 percent or 473,133 from 406,955 arrivals last year. Domestic arrivals, likewise, grew by 6.73 percent from 616,609 arrivals to 658,097.

TOURIST arrivals in the country grew by 11.72 percent in the first eight months of the year from 2,330,584 in 2010 to 2,603,675 visitors this year.

Koreans still account for the biggest number of arrivals, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

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About 24 percent or 615,218 of the total arrivals in the Philippines were from South Korea. The DOT said the Korean market continued to register a double-digit growth at 29.68 percent, from its 474,395 arrivals last year.

An average of 300,000 arrivals per month was observed.

The largest group of arrivals was in July, with 360,784, while the growth rate was highest in February, an 18.52 percent.

US arrivals accounted 16.49 percent of the total, at 429,280. The US market also grew by 5.32 percent compared to its 407,613 arrivals recorded last year.

Despite the tsunami in March, Japanese visitors continued to travel to the Philippines, with 253,529 arrivals, a 5.41 percent growth from the 240,528 in the same period last year.

In terms of regional sources of visitors, the DOT said the East Asian region accounted for nearly half at 46.71 percent or 1,216,222 arrivals in the first eight months of the year.

The region recorded 16.72 percent growth from its 1,041,980 arrivals in the Philippines in 2010.

North American visitors made up the second largest group, by region, at 19.46 percent with 506,772 visitors. This was up by 6.65 percent from 475,181 arrivals in the previous year.

The Southeast Asian region is the country’s third biggest source of tourists with 217,454 arrivals or 8.53 percent. The region posted a growth of 13.02 percent from 192,410 arrivals last year.

The Aquino administration aims to draw 6.3 million tourists into the country by 2016.

Arrival figures in Cebu were also up.

Cebu recorded 1,131,230 visitors in the first seven months of the year, up by 10.52 percent from 1,023,564 in the same period last year.

The DOT 7 said Cebu’s foreign visitor arrivals grew by 16.26 percent or 473,133 from 406,955 arrivals last year. Domestic arrivals, likewise, grew by 6.73 percent from 616,609 arrivals to 658,097.

Arrivals from Korea grew more than half at 53.01 percent from 135,207 arrivals last year to 206,885 this year. Koreans were followed by the Japanese, with arrival figures growing at 3.28 percent or 87,461 arrivals from 84,686 recorded in the same period in 2010.

The US market grew by 6.15 percent from 41,760 to 44,329 arrivals this year.

Meanwhile, arrivals from China dropped by almost half at 45.38 percent from 26,427 arrivals last year to 14,435 this year. The Australian market, on the other hand, grew by 19.70 percent or 12,755 arrivals this year compared to 10,656 arrivals recorded in the previous year.

Other top markets of Cebu included the United Kingdom with 7,915 arrivals; Hong Kong at 7,612; Germany at 7,567; Canada at 6,550; and Singapore at 6,257.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 15, 2011.

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Mid-Sea Express, a cebu base local carrier, is a new player in the aviation industry.

ENCOURAGED by the growing number of foreign and local tourists who prefer faster travel to island destinations, Cebu-based local carrier Mid-Sea Express announced its expansion to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

The company also said it is scheduled to get a new aircraft before the end of the year.

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Mid-Sea Express general manager Erlon Ryan Libiran said they are optimistic about their business prospects because of the growing demand for short hub flights in the aviation industry. He said foreign and local tourists prefer faster transport services to the country’s island destinations.

Mid-Sea Express is a new player in the aviation industry. It first served the Cebu-Bohol route since it started operation this year. The company later added new routes to Bantayan, Camiguin, Siquijor and Caticlan.

Unserved areas

“The goal is to mount flights on unserved areas,” Libiran said during the company’s launching last Friday.

Libiran said their airlines operate on a non-scheduled basis, allowing them to cater to a particular niche market. He said Koreans, who compose Cebu’s top travel market, are among their leading clients.

Cebu recorded 206,885 Korean arrivals in the first seven months of this year.

According to the company, it wanted to promote tourism within smaller islands while still serving the routes and destinations that are in high demand.

“With the large and increasing tourist demand in Bohol, the Cebu-Bohol flights are helping increase the island’s chances of making a name among the world’s travelers, just as Boracay recently did in a recent worldwide publication,” the company said.

The company currently maintains two planes with a combined capacity of 18 passengers.

Mid-Sea Express flies 400 to 500 passengers a month. Later this year, Libiran said the company will mount additional flights to the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

The has purchased a 21-seater British Aesrospace Jetstream 32,which it expected to be delivered next month.

The new aircraft will complement its existing routes from Cebu to Bantayan, Bohol, Siquijor and Camiguin.

Urgent issues

The company also expects the delivery of a 107-seater Fokker 100 by the third quarter of 2012.

While the company expressed optimism in the industry, Libiran said the government should address urgent issues besetting the industry such as the open skies policy and the aviation safety system.

“The industry’s downgrade by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Category 2 hinders airline carriers from mounting flights to other countries and bringing additional foreign tourists to the country. This would also hinder small players like us from getting into their network and system,” Libiran said.

While the open skies policy is beneficial to the industry, Libiran said it should include reciprocity to also allow small players to serve other countries.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 18, 2011.

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The name of our lechon manok is BALAMBANOK is here

It's official! The name of our lechon manok is BALAMBANOK. We would like to congratulate Ms. Gemma Mordeno as our winner. Enjoy your P3,000 Gift certificate from Balamban Liempo.

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