6 days with the GPC

March 2005
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Promo runs from November 28, 2004 to March 31, 2005 only.
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 5846, Series of 2004.
The 2004 Lopez
Achievement Award
page 4
The
big
picturewith
Ressa
page 9
Rina Lopez-Bautista with Synergos Institute chair Peggy Dulany and GPC-members on Day 3 of GPC’s Country Learning Visit to the
Philippines
6 days with the GPC
THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY LEARNED—The Global Philanthropists Circle's
Learning Visit to the Philippines, February 24 to March 2, 2005
Travel feature
Fisherfolk tune in
to classical music...
page 12
SEVENTEEN delegates of the Global
Philanthropists Circle (GPC) flew to
Manila recently for a weeklong visit of
Lopez- and Zobel-led corporate social responsibility programs. The philanthropists came from the United States,
Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand,
France and India and were headed by The
Synergos Institute founder and chairman,
Peggy Dulany (daughter of philanthropist
and banker David Rockefeller).
In his welcome address, Lopez Group
chair Oscar M. Lopez was thankful that
not even media advisories prevented his
fellow philanthropists from coming to
the Philippines.
The GPC, a program of The Synergos
Institute, is dedicated to the development
of solutions to poverty. It brings together
leading philanthropic families to deepen
the impact of their social investments.
The exclusive Circle is composed of 50
philanthropic families from 15 countries
who meet globally and visit each other's
countries to gain in-depth knowledge of
national initiatives in social and economic
development and strategic philanthropy.
During their "Learning Country Visits," the members exchange ideas with
other serious philanthropists, learn about
successful initiatives or projects in an
unbiased manner and meet a cross-section of leaders in government, business
and civil society. They are committed to
investigate, learn about and invest in
trailblazing efforts to reduce poverty.
In the past three years, the members
have been to Mexico, South Africa and
Brazil to familiarize with the culture and
philanthropic practices in each country.
This year, they have chosen the Philippines and their hosts were the Lopez and
Zobel families, the only two Filipino
families that are members of the GPC.
An important component of the GPC is
its intergenerational nature, focusing on
successor generations-family members
between their teens and early 30s who
are striving to become effective social
investors and philanthropists.
Turn to page 6
2
LOPEZLINK March 2005
BayanTel firms up position in dial-up
Internet market with “unlimited” plans
BAYANTEL firmed up its position as one of the market
leaders in the dial-up Internet market with the launch of
Sky Internet P499, the lowest priced premium quality postpaid dial-up plan that offers unlimited Internet usage.
BayanTel vice president for Metro Manila retail
market Rodrigo Montinola said that its dial-up service,
Sky Internet, will now be primarily offering packages
with unlimited hours of Internet use in response to the
market's demand for fast, reliable and affordably
priced Internet services.
Montinola believes that "by offering purely unlimited Internet use for a fixed monthly charge, we are further building up Sky Internet's market position as the
pioneering and innovative Internet service provider in
the country. An unlimited package spells out in clear
terms the amount a subscriber needs to pay on a
monthly basis without the hassle of monitoring additional charges for use during on-peak hours or going
beyond the hours prescribed under the plan."
Montinola also stressed that Sky Internet P499 is a
regular price service and not a limited promotional offer. He disclosed that the price point was borne out of
research conducted by BayanTel which showed that
the average prepaid Internet user spends P100 for a
prepaid card once a week, or P400 per month.
Bayantel also recently introduced the XLR8 Technology, a new feature that speeds up Internet surfing up
to six times higher than regular dial-up speeds based on
internal tests. This feature is exclusive only for Sky Internet users for a minimum fee.
XLR8 works by decreasing transmission traffic
through compression, caching, file download acceleration and ad blocking. It also comes with privacy and
security features that shield the user's PC from harmful
viruses and annoying applications acquired from the
Internet.
Sky Internet P499 is initially available only to
Metro Manila users only.
BayanTel, AT&T establish data partnership for BPOs
BAYANTEL and telecommunications firm AT&T signed a partnership agreement that would allow
both companies to jointly tap the
growing opportunities in providing
international connectivity solutions
for US-based business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, particularly call centers and other multinational companies with international
data connectivity requirements.
The bilateral agreement includes
the establishment of pre-provisioned international circuits and
joint selling and marketing of services. It also includes the establishment of very high degrees of service level commitments to ensure
that services are best in class.
Joevel Rivera, BayanTel vice
president for product development,
said that BayanTel's capability as a
wide range provider of corporate
data services will be further enhanced by the partnership with
AT&T.
"With the Philippines increasingly becoming competitive as an
attractive location for business processing outsourcing companies
based in the US, BayanTel can gain
a firm foothold in the market as one
of, if not the, preferred telecommunication solutions provider to these
industries."
R o m u l o C a r l o s J r. , AT & T
Philippines managing director for
wholesale business said: "We are
pleased with our data partnership
with BayanTel as it would allow
AT&T to strengthen its international traffic business in the Philippines
to meet the demands of US-based
corporations."
(From left) AT&T
sales director
Jonar Lusung;
AT&T managing
director Romulo
Carlos; BayanTel
chief consultant
Tunde Fafunwa;
vice president for
corporate and
business markets
Sherry Ann
Supelana; and
vice president for
product
development
Joevel Rivera.
Internet hanggang sawa sa SkyDSL
IKAW ba'y naghahanap ng DSL Internet package na swak sa budget?
Sa SkyDSL, pwede ka nang magsurf hanggang sawa, maglaro, magblog at mag-download ng pinakamabigat na files sa halagang P999
lang kada buwan. Hanggang April
30, 2005 lang ito.
Ang P999 package ay para sa
unang tatlong buwan ng iyong subscription. Pagkatapos ng pangatlong
buwan, ang babayaran mo lang para
sa 256 kbps na Internet speed ay
P1,699 kada buwan.
At sa dagdag na P300 bawat
buwan, meron nang kasamang
Phone Plus ang subscription mo.
Para sa libreng five-day trial service, tumawag sa SkyDSL (4493293 or 4493118) o mag-e-mail sa
<http://www.skyinet.net/>
Kung di ka pa bilib dyan, nangangako ang SkyDSL na mag-responde
sa anumang connection problems sa
loob ng apat na oras. Ire-reconnect
din nila ang iyong Internet sa loob
ng 24 oras sa pamamagitan ng kanilang 24 Hour Guaranteed Quick
Service program. Kung di nila ito
matupad, babayaran ka ng SkyDSL
ng P500 sa bawat araw ng delay.
Maari itong umabot sa equivalent ng
iyong monthly fee!
Sa kasalukuyan, ang SkyDSL ay
available sa mga piling lugar sa
Quezon City, Manila, Malabon at
Valenzuela.
Meron ding higher bandwidth
package ang SkyDSL: sa halagang
P1,999 sa unang tatlong buwan ay
maari kang magroon ng 640 kbps at
may libreng installation pa! Umpisa
sa ikaapat na buwan ay ia-aaply na
ang regular rate na P2,699. Hanggang April 30 lang din ang promo na
ito.
Good news para sa mga Lopez Group
employees na bumabaybay sa NLE!
AYON sa Manila North Tollways
Corporation (MNTC), may dalawang
k l a s e n g E C Ta g s u b s c r i p t i o n
schemes na maaring gamitin sa open
at close systems ng North Luzon Expressway (NLE)-at kung Lopez
Group employee ka, pwede kang
mag-avail ng discount sa mga naturang payment schemes. Ang mga ito
ay ang Summit Plan (yellow application form) at Premiere Plan (blue application form).
Ang Summit Plan ay para sa isang
sasakyan lamang at ito ay nire-reload
in cash sa lane o sa Customer Service
centers. Makakatanggap ka ng 5% na
bonus load sa bawat pag-reload.
Ang Premier Plan naman ay para sa
single o multiple vehicle account.
May ilang paraan ng pag-reload nito:
sa Customer Service Centers, sa pamamagitan ng credit cards, bank arrangements or over the counter sa mga
accredited na bangko. May "frequentuser rebate scheme" na 5% to 10% sa
Premier Plan, depende kung gaano ito
kadalas gamitin sa isang buwan.
Para mag-avail ng discounted EC
Tags, tumawag kay Ms. Wheng Santos sa 638 4380. Kailangan ng
nakumpletong application form
(pwedeng makuha sa HR Department), photocopy ng OR at CR ng
bawat sasakyan na covered ng bibilhing plan at photocopy ng dalawang
valid IDs (ang isa ay dapat Lopez
Group company ID).
Ang transponder device ng EC Tag
ay nagkakahalaga ng P900 at P500 naman ang minimum load.
Telecom backbone expanded to improve RP's ICT infrastructure
The National Digital Transmission Network
(NDTN) was recently expanded to increase
its capacity to deliver reliable and quality
long distance services, cellular traffic, highspeed data, video, Internet, broadcast signals and other communication services to
major cities and localities nationwide.
The NDTN, the second nationwide fiber
optic backbone in the country owned by
seven major telecommunication carriers,
has been expanded from 2.5 Gb/s (gigabyte
per second) to a 10 Gb/sec network. This
means an increase of more than 120,000
lines of simultaneous voice and data transmission or increased bandwidth capacity of
more than four times the initial service the
NDTN previously provided.
Installed in 1999 at a cost of US$70 million, the NDTN is majority-owned by
Bayan Telecommunications (BayanTel),
with Digitel, Eastern Telecom, Extelcom,
Globe Telecom, PT&T, and Smart as co-
owners. It is managed and operated by Telecoms Infrastructure Corporation of the
Philippines (TelicPhil) and covers a distance of 2,762 kilometers stretching from
San Fernando, La Union and Santiago City
in the north to Davao in the south via Cebu
and consists of microwave, submarine and
land cable segments.
BayanTel chief consultant Tunde Fafunwa said that with BayanTel as the lead owner, the higher bandwidth from the NDTN
expansion would serve as the foundation
from which the company will build the Internet protocol (IP) infrastructure that it is
undertaking.
"Once completed, we can now deliver
voice, data, video and Internet/IP services at
faster speeds and higher reliability at any
point nationwide from a single network.
This enhanced capability will allow business and residential customers to benefit
from new services and applications includ-
ing VoIP, video-conferencing, multi-branch
communications, etc.," Fafunwa added.
TelicPhil president Henry Galingan said
the expansion was brought about by the
dramatic increase in traffic traversing the
network driven by increased telephone
density, the boom in cellular phones and
high Internet utilization all over the country, which stretched the network's capacity
to almost maximum by the end of last
year.
With the increased capacity at lower cost,
even people living outside Metro Manila
can experience real speed and broadband
access just as affordably. The NDTN expansion particularly would benefit data traffic
between Manila and Cebu as well the Lucena-Tigbauan, Dumaguete-Cebu, ManilaLucena, and Dumaguete-Cagayan de Oro
routes.
The expanded network would likewise
help exploit the full potential of the coun-
try's knowledge economy, which has the potential to generate millions of jobs in techintensive sectors such as call centers, animation companies, software development,
medical and legal transcription companies
and other business process outsourcing
(BPO) services for countries like Japan, the
U.S. and Europe.
The expanded NDTN allows investors to
have the option to put up offices in other
major cities outside of Metro Manila like
those in Visayas and Mindanao, which can
lead to the economic development of those
regions with the generation of new jobs and
investments.
ECI Telecom, a global provider of advanced telecommunications solutions to
leading carriers and service providers, was
selected as the project partner to undertake
the expansion program based on its track
record as a global provider of advance telecom solutions.
LOPEZLINK March 2005
3
P3 bilyong bond issuance muna bago ang First Gen IPO
NAGHAIN ng aplikasyon sa Securities and Exchange Commission ang (SEC) First Generation
Holdings Corporation (First Gen)
para mag-issue ng hanggang P3
bilyong fixed rate bonds.
Balak ng First Gen na ibenta
ang five-year bonds sa second
quarter ng taon upang mapondohan ang mga proyekto nito,
kasama na ang mga acquisitions.
ING Bank N.V. ang napiling
sole bookrunner ng First Gen, at
kasamang joint lead manager ang
BDO Capital and Investment
Corporation.
Bagong COO sa Beyond Cable
ITINALAGA kamakailan si Carlo L. Katigbak
bilang chief operating officer (COO) ng Beyond
Cable Holdings, Inc. Datihan na sa cable business
si Katigbak, naglingkod mula 1994 sa iba-ibang
departamento ng SKY Cable kabilang na ang corporate finance, provincial operations, network operations at corporate planning. Naging hepe din
siya minsan ng Pilipino Cable Corporation at ng
Creative Programs Inc. (CPI). at managing director ng ABS-CBN Interactive, Inc. mula 1999. Nitong Pebrero 16 ay bumalik si Katigbak sa Beyond Cable bilang COO. (Carla Paras-Sison)
A n g F i r s t G e n a n g h u m ahawak sa mga power and energyrelated na negosyo ng Lopez
Group.
S a p a m a m a g i t a n n g s u bsidiaries at investees nito, hawak
ng First Gen ang 1,725 megawatts na installed capacity upang
mapabilang sa pinakamalalaking
independent power producers sa
Pilipinas. Ang parent company
ng First Gen ay ang First Philippine Holdings Corporation, na
may-ari ng 88.44%.
Ang iba pa ay pag-aari ng
AIDEC (7.75%) at ng Sumitomo
(3.81%). Ang AIDEC ay isang
US$400 milyon na investment
fund na nakalaan para sa mga
proyektong pang-infrastructure
ng pribadong sektor sa Asya. Ang
Sumitomo naman ay isa sa
pinakamalalaking conglomerates
sa Japan. (C. Paras-Sison)
Pinarangalan ng Philippine National
Volunteer Service Coordinating
Agency (PNVSCA) ang Meralco sa
nakaraang Search for Outstanding
Volunteers 2004 dahil sa mga civic
programs nito na nakatulong at nagpabuti ng kalagayan ng libu-libong
mahihirap na Pilipino.
Ilan sa mga programang ito ay ang
mga sumusunod:
•Munting Mukha ng Ligaya Outreach at Meralco Employees Fund for
Charity, mga programa na nagbibigay
ng tulong pinansiyal at iba pang uri ng
charitable assistance sa mga may kapansanan (mental at pisikal) at sa mga
biktima ng kalamidad at trahedya.
•Ang Teacher Education project,
kung saan tinuturuan ng basic computer knowledge ang mga guro sa
pampublikong paaralan. Sila ay
binibigyan din ng educational materials, lalo na para sa science, math at
English subjects.
•Libro Ko, Alay Ko, isang book
drive na naglilikom ng encyclopedias, early readers at reference materials para sa public school students.
•Brigada Eskuwela, one-week program kasama ang Department of Education kung saan nililinis at pinapaganda ng mga estudyante, guro, pribadong
organisasyon at pati na ng mga residente ang mga paaralan sa isang lugar.
Ayon kay William Bayona, analyst
sa Corporate Planning, maliban sa personal satisfaction na nakukuha niya sa
volunteer work, ito ay nakatulong din sa
pag-improve ng kanyang interpersonal
skills. "Mas may confidence ako sa sarili at mga kakayahan ko, at naniniwala
akong nakatulong ito upang mapabuti
ko ang aking trabaho," ani Bayona.
"Nakakataba ng puso ang pag-volunteer ng mga empleyado, lalo na't
kadalasan ay tuwing Sabado ginagawa ang mga outreach project at
hindi ito credited sa kanilang performance evaluations," pahayag ni Jessica Santos, head ng Corporate Social
Responsibility Office (CSRO).
Ang volunteerism ay naging bahagi
ng buhay ng mga taga-Meralco mula
1977, nang itinatag ang Meralco Employees Fund for Charity Inc. (MEFCI), isang organisasyon na pinamahalaan ng mismong mga empleyado ng
Meralco. Ang MEFCI ay nagtataguyod ng scholarship funds, at bumubuo
ng medical at dental missions at iba
pang relief projects. Pinopondohan ito
sa pamamagitan ng salary deductions
sa mga empleyado.
Meralco pinarangalan sa 2004 SOV
Sakay na
Beyond Riders naglakbay
sa binagyong barangay
By Carla Paras-Sison
SINAMANTALA ng mga kasapi
ng Beyond Riders Club ang
idineklarang holiday noong Pebrero 25 upang mamahagi ng relief
goods sa 200 pamilya sa Barangay
Bantilan, Infanta, Quezon.
Ang Beyond Riders Club ay binubuo ng mga Beyond Cable employees
na nagmomotorsiklo bilang libangan
o bilang pang-araw araw na transportasyon. Karamihan sa kanila'y mula sa operations department ng pinagsamang SKYCable at Home Cable.
Mula noong isang taon, nakagawian na ng Beyond Riders ang maglakbay sa mga lalawigan gamit ang
kani-kanilang mga motorsiklo upang makita ang magagandang
tanawin sa Pilipinas. Ngayo'y naisip
nilang gawing higit na makabuluhan ang kanilang libangan sa pamamagitan ng pamamahagi ng relief goods na kinalap mula sa mga
kasamahan nila sa Beyond Cable.
Bawa't kasapi ay nagbigay ng
anim na kilong bigas, bukod pa sa
kani-kaniyang gastusin para sa
gasolina at pagkain para sa relief
operation na tinawag nilang "Lakbay ng Pagmamahal."
Sa pakikipagtulungan ng SKYCable Employees Union at ng mga
opisyal ng Human Resource Organization Development sa Beyond
Cable, nakalikom ng 200 bags ng
relief goods ang Beyond Riders.
Kulang pa ito para sa 702 pamilyang residente ng Barangay Bantilan, kaya naman nangako silang
babalik sa binagyong barangay sa
mga darating na panahon.
"Rough road ang dadaanan kaya
delikado rin ang biyahe lalo na sa
mga hindi pa sanay magmotorsiklo.
Nadaanan namin ang mga bundok na
eroded na ang kalahati, o kaya'y mga
daang under construction at meron
pang falling debris. Kaya kailangan
din ng commitment mula sa mga
Riders," sabi ni Alfred Go, founding
chairman ng Beyond Riders Club.
Inaasahan ni Go at ng mga kapwa
niyang Beyond Riders ang patuloy
na pagsuporta ng kanilang mga
kasamahan sa Beyond Cable upang
matupad ang pangakong bumalik sa
Barangay Bantilan at makatulong pa
sa higit na nakararaming pamilya.
Half of Beyond Riders start off from the head office in Benpres Building (above) while the other half waits for them in
Tikling district of Taytay, Rizal; the riders wait for the relief convoy in Real, Quezon (upper left).
Barangay residents queue for their bags at one per family. 502 unserved families will wait for the Beyond Riders' return.
4
LOPEZLINK March 2005
Some of the winners' thoughts on
their award:
Surge effects simulation team, Maynilad:
The team members are happy, honored and
proud to be one the recipients of this prestigious
award not only because of the monetary incentives but more because of the recognition of
their achievement. They are grateful to the
Maynilad president for giving them the hand to
implement the project which provided them the
opportunity to demonstrate their expertise and
improved working relationship among the team
members. This award will surely serve as an inspiration, not only to the winning group, but also
for the rest, to strive harder and seek for similar
beneficial projects.
Management team, Meralco:
The award is especially meaningful because the achievement validates all the
hopes, hard work and sacrifice of every Meralco volunteer. It gives us corporate strength in
knowing that the Meralco workforce is able to
transcend itself even in the most difficult and
trying of conditions. We are humbled that we
are able to share with the rest of the Lopez
Group an intrinsic part of Meralco's culture-our
value of malasakit.
We share the award with the rest of the Meralco workforce-the lifeblood of all our CSR projects.
Human resource team, Meralco:
We are truly honored and inspired by the
recognition that Meralco's human resources
team has been given. The journey continues
and Meralco remains fully committed to sustain its efforts in aligning the organization and
our culture with the requirements of the changing and deregulated business environment.
Engr. Roberto C. Rubina:
I am deeply honored and proud to be one of
the recipients of this year's Lopez Achievement Awards. I will treasure this as much as
the Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan award I
received last year from the Department of Labor and Employment, the primary reason why I
am being recognized. I just hope that by winning these awards, I can become a role model
in promoting and raising the standards of environmental, occupational safety and health
awareness within the Lopez Group, thereby
convincing and motivating other practitioners
and other employees to prioritize ESH.
Networks team, Meralco:
The LAA is a welcome recognition of the efforts that Meralco has exerted in improving the
quality of service that it provides to its customers. It is a realization of the cardinal truth that
"one reaps what he sows." It is a strong testimony to the dedication, competence and malasakit
of the men and women of the networks organization as well as the unwavering support that
Meralco's management has provided.
According to some networks heads, the
award "strengthened our sense of purpose
and excellence." "It makes us proud of being a
member of the Meralco family," said the head
of subtransmission services. "It sort of gave us
a 'pat on the back' for a job well done. It made
us proud that our efforts were recognized not
only within the company but in the business
community as well … It will surely provide the
fuel and inspire us to keep on striving to
achieve perfection," added the head of substation process management.
The head of network process-maintenance
stressed: "It is a fitting recognition of the great
accomplishments of the networks organization."
Be that as it may, the networks team acknowledges the award with honor and humility.
The 2004 Lopez Achievement Award
Exemplars of Lopez Group Core Values Honored
By Maribel Relatado
The Lopez Achievement Award
(LAA), the premier award and
recognition program for team and
individual achievements in the
Lopez Group, culminated in an
awarding ceremony held at Studio
1 of ABS-CBN last February.
The LAA honors individuals
and teams that make a difference,
a positive impact on their customers, companies, colleagues,
environment and stakeholders.
There are three criteria for the
award: contribution to business
objectives, as evidenced by results; demonstration of the Group
core values of entrepreneurship,
nationalism, strong work ethic and
teamwork; and exceptionality of
the achievement in terms of challenges or success. A team or individual's achievement may impact
one or more of the following business areas: customer focus, operations management, human resource focus, corporate image
building and public responsibility.
All nominations were reviewed
and evaluated by the panel of
judges, both individually and as a
group.
The winners are then presented
to Lopez Group chairman Oscar
M. Lopez. This year's panel of
judges is composed of Rod
Salazar, Rina Lopez-Bautista,
Hector Dimacali, Reggie Casas,
Pinky Diokno and Danny Gozo.
For Public Responsibility
The "Bayanihan Bayan Tubig"
and the employee volunteerism
programs of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Meralco, respect i v e l y, w e r e c i t e d f o r t h e i r
achievements in the area of public
responsibility.
The implementation of the
"Bayanihan Bayan Tubig" program enabled the company to continue serving its low-income urban communities despite severe
financial constraints, while instilling the spirit of bayanihan and
sense of ownership among the
beneficiaries as they themselves
built the structures that made possible the delivery of their most basic requirement-clean, potable
water-into their homes.
The team was led by business
area managers Christopher
Lichauco, Brigitte Mendoza, Benjamin Nacion, Normen Kahulugan, Regino Cruz, Ricardo Arguel, Roberto Arandia and Rolando de Ausen.
Meralco, through its employee
volunteerism program, has been
able to enhance its CSR presence
without significant additional resource outlays. In a highly regulated environment where its expenses are heavily scrutinized, enhancing the company's relationship with its publics would
otherwise have been extremely
difficult.
Management team members Oscar M. Lopez and ABS-CBN Chair Eugenio “Gabby”
are Manuel M. Lopez, Jesus P. Lopez III with Engr. Robin Rubina
Francisco, Leonisa de la Llana,
Miguel L. Lopez, Jessica Santos,
Roberto Almazora, Atty. Gil San
Diego, Rafael Andrada, Ruben
Sapitula and Edmund Silverio.
For Business Management
By veering away from the traditional approach of marketing
music, adopting a more creative
approach in consolidating content
and integrating with other ABSCBN products, Star Records rose ABS-CBN’s Ad Congress Team
from an eight-year streak of losses
to post a positive EBITDA and net
income, and higher listening interest. This achievement fosters
within the organization the culture
of winning and innovation that it
needs to succeed and flourish in
the music recording and distribution business.
The members of the management team are Joaquin Enrico
Santos, Annabelle Regalado,
Jonathan Manalo, Christian Martinez, Estrellita Castro, Matthew Star Record’s Management Team
Rosanes, Regie Sandel, Heinrich
Ngo, Nixon Sy, Catherine Marcelo, Percival Fontanilla, Beverly
Fernandez, Leo Santos, Norman
Santiago, Ma. Christina Beroin,
Arthur Pablico, Galilee Cansino,
Ceasar Apostol, Cynthia Roque
and Elena Millan.
For Operations Management
The surge effects simulation
team of Maynilad Water Services
Inc. carried out a project that resulted in considerable savings and
a more efficient use of a valuable Maynilad’s Business Area Operations Team
asset, thereby improving the company's water delivery processes,
systems and capabilities in the
northern area of its concession.
The North A pump station
surge effects simulation team is
made up of Fiorello Estuar, Alben
Bukuhan, Alfredo Salinda, Rafael
Aguado, Anna Lee Bukuhan,
Benjamin Nacion, Rodrigo Yabut,
Dan Fabic, Eduardo del Mundo,
Jesus Matubis, Jr., Enrique Eguia,
Ernani Beran, Irineo Gonzales,
Exequiel Dumpit, Manuel Villon, Maynilad’s Surge Effects Simulation Team
LOPEZLINK March 2005
Romeo Posadas, Marlon Conquilla,
Merito Mabunga, Julius Iglesia, Rodelio David, Rodolfo Cristobal, Jr., Irineo
Dimaano, Romeo de Villa and Rolando
de Ausen.
Meralco’s Human Resource Team
Meralco’s Network Team
Meralco’s Management Team
For Operations Management
By reducing power interruptions
through a combination of radical improvements in processes, systems and
organization, Meralco achieved high
levels of customer satisfaction and
higher energy sales.
The networks team responsible for
Meralco's improved electric system reliability include Ricardo Buencamino,
Mario Candazo, Fortunato Leynes,
Ernesto Mariano, Romeo Mendiola,
Clemens Rivera, Jesus Malana, Adelfo
Sebastian, Francisco Narvaez, Ernesto
Iglesia, Crispulo Crusem, Rustico de
Borja, Jr., Rommel Bona, Carl Aquino,
Ferdinand Salvosa, Lazaro Gelle, Pio
Reyes, Jr. and Godofredo Dayrit
For Operations Management
Achieving ISO 9001, ISO 14001
and OHSAS 18001 certification simultaneously without prior certification
experience is a first in the Philippines,
within the Lopez Group and among
British Gas's assets worldwide, and reflects First Gas's commitment to sound
management. The certification elevated further the quality and efficiency
levels in First Gas's processes, and at
the same time, set a new standard in
managing Quality, Environment, Safety and Health.
The First Gas integrated management system team is composed of Engr. Roberto Rubina, Eduardo Sese, Ramon Ocampo, Rommel Altamirano,
Maynilad’s Tondo Pilot Project
For Human Resource Focus
Meralco was able to align the culture of its employees with a competitive environment through culture
change. Its company-wide reorganization and reengineering of human resource policies, processes and systems
resulted in internalized core competencies among employees. Through this
effort, Meralco gained employees' cooperation on certain programs and
policies.
The Meralco human resource team
members are Manuel M. Lopez, Jesus
P. Francisco, Leonisa de la Llana, Angelita Atanacio, Ruben Sapitula,
Arthur Luis Florentin, Emilio Diokno
and Roy Bautista.
For Corporate Image Building
First Gas's Engr. Roberto Rubina received the Secretary of Labor and Employment's Award, the highest award
conferred to individuals during the 4th
Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan
(GKK) Award, for his outstanding
achievements in advancing safety and
health of workers, workplaces and
communities. His achievement reflects
his company's commitment to occupational safety and health, and the promotion of professional and personal
development of employees.
Special Award
The Tondo pilot project team rejuvenated "the oldest water pipe network
in Asia" -the Tondo water pipe net-
work. The rehabilitation was completed at minimal cost to the company,
with dramatic operational and financial
results by being completed ahead of
schedule and in record time. The project has become a viable engineering
and commercial solution for the cost
effective recovery of lost water and
elimination of public health threat
posed by contaminated water.
The Tondo Foreshore F-1 Zone pilot
project team is composed of Philip
Rosete, Ireneo Gonzales, Romeo
Posadas, Hipolito Gadia, Julius Iglesias,
Rafael Aguado, Benjamin Reyes, Sisenando Lampa, Eric Dumancas, Rustico
Icamina, Virgilio Agustin, Eva Corazon
Manalang, Christopher Lichauco, Ignacio Gimenez, Jesus S. Matubis Jr., Rodrigo Yabut and Arturo Millan.
Special Award
Year 2003 was the first time that a
broadcast network owner was elected
chairman of the Ad Congress. Eugenio
"Gabby" Lopez III, together with his
executive team, sponsored the 18th Ad
Congress last November 2003. ABSCBN set milestones in the history of
Ad Congress management and is the
benchmark for future congresses.
The ABS-CBN executive team
members cited for their leadership, organization and management of the
18th Philippine Advertising Congress
were Eugenio L. Lopez III, Charito
Santos-Concio, Lawrence Tan, Arnedo
Lucas, Cindy Muñoz, Johnny Sy, Maloli Manalastas, Ron Valdueza, Orly
Galang, Jose Garcia, Nicanor Gabunada, Dave Dominguez, Carmencita
Guerrero, Jose Ramon Olives and Cory
Vidanes.
SMART na ang Maynilad
‘SMART SMS Speak’ project
puts Maynilad a text away
By Jess Matubis
First Gas’s Integrated Management System Team
Ariel Pitagan, Maricar Tugade, Shirley
Hombrebueno, Jerome Cainglet, Janina Bonoan, Dennis Gonzales and Vincent Villegas.
5
MAY problema ka ba sa tubig?
Ang customers sa West Zone na may
nais itanong tungkol sa kanilang water
bill, magreklamo tungkol sa water supply
sa kanilang lugar o mag-report tungkol sa
tumutulong tubo ng tubig ay maaari nang
makipag-ugnayan sa Maynilad Water Services, Inc. sa pamamagitan ng ilang pindot sa keypad.
Isang proyekto, ang "SMART SMS
Speak," ang inilunsad ng Maynilad noong
Pebrero para mabigyan ang kanilang customers ng alternatibong paraan ng
pakipag-ugnayan sa utility firm at para na
rin maiwasang ma-clog ang call center ng
kumpanya.
Ang "SMART SMS Speak" ay isang
short message service (SMS)-based interactive customer care solution na pwedeng
gamitin ng Maynilad customers para mag-
report ng water pipe leaks at illegal connections, magtanong tungkol sa kanilang
bill o maghain ng kahit anong problemang
may kinalaman sa kanilang water supply.
Ang lahat ng ito ay maaari nang iparating
sa Maynilad sa pamamagitan ng texting.
Naghanda ang Maynilad ng talaan ng
keywords na ita-type ng customer sa
kanyang cell phone. Ang mga keywords
na ito ay makakatulong para madaling
ma-identify ng kumpanya ang nararapat
na aksyon sa puna ng customer.
Ang mga keyword ay ang sumusunod:
LEAK (para sa leak-related problems),
BILL (para sa billing queries), METER
(para sa meters at meter risers), SUPPLY
(para sa water supply), QUALITY (para
sa water quality), ILLEGAL (para sa illegal connections) at OTHERS (para sa
ibang concerns na di sakop ng mga nabanggit na keyword).
Para magpadala ng concerns at sugges-
tions, i-type ang angkop na keyword,
maglagay ng patlang at idugtong ang inyong mensahe. Ipadala sa 7001626
(SMART, Talk 'n' Text at Addict Mobile
users). Ito ay matatanggap ng customer
care personnel ng Maynilad, na silang
mag-e-endorse ng mensahe sa nararapat
na unit para agad itong maaksyunan.
Ang customer ay makakatanggap ng
acknowledgment ng kanyang mensahe
kasama ng isang reference number. At
para maproteksyunan ang customer, hindi
makikita ng receiver ang cell phone
number nito kundi isang number code
lamang.
May singil na P2.50 sa bawat text message na mapadala.
Sa pamamagitan ng bagong programang ito, meron nang choice ang customer sa pagpaparating ng kanyang mga
hinaing: sa pamamagitan ng text o sa pagdial sa Maynilad hotline 1626.
6
LOPEZLINK March 2005
6 DAYS...
from page 1
The planning took several weeks of meetings by organizers of the visit coordinated by
The Synergos Institute regional consultant
Gina Velasco. The secretariat consisted of
key Zobel and Lopez family event organizers. For the Lopez side, Rina Lopez-Bautista
led the team composed of Lopez Group
Foundation's (LGF) Dario Pagkaliwagan,
Knowledge Channel's Cita Musni and Risa
Muñoz, ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s (AFI)
Dulce Festin-Baybay and Angelie Agbulos,
and Benpres Group PR Rosan Cruz.
The security aspect was handled by both
the Lopez and Zobel families' security departments.
DAY 1
The GPC visit kicked off with a lively discussion on the Philippines' social, economic,
and political environment. The panelists
were Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, who is
considered one of the original community
organizers in the Philippines; former Minister of Economic Planning Solita Monsod,
professor of economics at the University of
the Philippines (UP) and chair of the Philippine Human Development Network; Randolf David, professor of Sociology at UP and
a noted columnist; and Trade and Industry
Secretary Juan B. Santos, former chairman
of Nestle Philippines and a trustee of Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
UP professor Solita Monsod and with ABS-CBN
consultant Maria Ressa
After the panel discussion, dinner was
served at the Rockwell Club's Blue Shade,
which was transformed into a Mindanao
scene complete with a vinta floating on the
pool. Oscar M. Lopez welcomed the guests
together with his cohosts, the ZobelsJaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala or JAZA,
Fernando, Sofia, and their spouses. The
Filipino buffet spread included fresh buko
juice, deep-fried suckling pig and the alltime favorite desserts, halo-halo and bibingka. A cultural dance was performed by
Oscar M. Lopez discussing with GPC-member
(USA) Ian Simmons and Jaime Augusto Zobel de
Ayala (JAZA), with floating vinta behind.
the Sindao Dance Company.
Peggy Dulany in her closing statement
said that the bibingka, which is thoroughly
cooked from top to bottom, was a perfect
metaphor for their trip. The GPC participants
received such a very thorough briefing on
the country's situation from their hosts and
they felt like perfectly cooked bibingka.
Day 2
The second day started off with a morning workshop called "Bridging Divides in
Mindanao" at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). The recurring armed conflict in the region and its resulting challenges-such as national development neglect, poor governance at the local government level and lack of tolerance and
respect for religious, ethnic and cultural
differences-were discussed.
The discussion was led by AIM professors Ernesto Garilao and Jacinto Gavino.
The story of
Datu Ibrahim
"Toto" Paglas
as a bridging
leader was used
as a case to
highlight the
potential of dynamic leaders
to effect transformation in divided communities.
In the afternoon, the guests
toured the Zobels' newly built
four-story Ayala
Museum. The
Datu Toto Paglas
evening coincided with the anniversary of the Edsa Revolution; former president Corazon C.
Aquino, garbed in her symbolic yellow, was
keynote speaker during the program on "Financing for the Poor."
David Windner of Synergos said that the
Eco Park project is one of the finest examples of multi-stakeholder cooperation to
build a common ground among diverse
stakeholders in a way that stimulates positive, collective action.
GPC members interact with Healthy Start
beneficiaries
The GPC participants were split into
s m a l l g r o u p s a n d v i s i t e d d i ff e r e n t
barangays, interacting with several families. During her ocular visit prior to the visit, Knowledge Channel's Risa Muñoz was
bitten by a dog in the area.
After the morning's visit, the group traveled to La Mesa Eco Park. AFI managing
director Gina Lopez toured the philanthropists around and gave a briefing on the
Lopez Group's environment initiatives.
Lunch was served at the Eco Park's orchidarium.
Synergos Country Programs director sings a
Scottish song about nature
From La Mesa, the GPC group went
back to the hotel where they had a private
discussion on tsunami relief efforts led by
GPC member Enki Tan of Indonesia.
Day 4
Day 4 started with a visit to one of ABSCBN Bayan Foundation's micro finance
program sites in Quezon City. The briefing
was led by Bayan's Anna Mendoza and
Nimrod de la Pena. They interacted with
various clients engaged in making papier
mache and a sari-sari store vendor, among
others. Mendoza said that Bayan already
has 30,000 clients in 123 municipalities
and over 1,000 barangays.
The wife of a GPC member from Mexico, Laura Gonzales, bought several pieces
of papier mache products made by an ABSGina Lopez touring the La Mesa EcoPark with CBN Bayan client. When the clients found
out that her husband Claudio, who was also
Peggy Dulany
part of the delegation, knew TV star Thalia
The park's partners, Quezon City Mayor through his family's Televisa Broadcasting
Sonny Belmonte and MWSS administrator Corporation, the women practically delOrlando Hondrade, commended Gina uged him with questions about the famous
Lopez for her efforts in saving the last re- Mexican actress and requested for Thalia's
maining watershed in Manila. She narrated picture and autograph.
their experience trying to evict the squatters and cockfight enthusiasts, including
the beheading of a forester by those engaged in illegal activities.
Private sector partners HSBC president
Warner Manning and Unilever's Chito
Macapagal also remarked on how creative
Gina Lopez is in raising funds. Manning
mentioned his "Tree-A-Thlon" charity
family fun event next month where he
pledged to complete a 10-km. trail run and
Former President Cory C. Aquino as keynote 20-km. bike ride. If he is unable to finish,
Warner will donate the total collected AFI’s Dulce Festin-Baybay moderating the disspeaker
pledges to La Mesa and the Children's cussion with Bayan micro finance beneDay 3
ficiaries
Hour.
The third day commenced onsite at the
community-based, early prevention and
intervention program of Consuelo Foundation called Healthy Start Interaction 2 in
Paco, Manila. Healthy Start aims to address the challenges of raising infants and
young children in conditions of severe
poverty and as a result, prevent child abuse
and neglect among impoverished families.
The briefing was led by Consuelo Foundation executive director Fely Rixhon and
Families and Children for Empowerment
Zeni Kitamura (Japan) with AFI’s Angelie
and Development (FCED) president TereAgbulos and LGF’s Dario Pagkaliwagan
HSBC CEO Warner Manning
sita Silva.
LOPEZLINK March 2005
The GPC then proceeded to Children's
Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan, with Gina
Lopez herself giving a briefing on the bus
en route. Gina explained that the village is
an integrated care facility built to provide
the best possible childcare for children rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment using Bantay Bata 163. She emphasized that a key factor in the effectiveness
of the system is its partnership with
DSWD.
Children’s Village kids welcome the GPC
members with a song
GPC-members (Mexico) Claudio and Laura
Gonzalez of Mexico flank DepEd Sec. Florencio
Abad
Emcee for
the dinner is
AFI vice
president for
logistics, HR
Council
chair and
Lopez
Memorial
Museum
director
Cedie
Vargas
Day 5
The fifth day started with a briefing on
the state of education in the Philippines led
by Education Secretary Florencio Abad,
Senator Mar Roxas and Nene Guevarra.
Key education initiatives from both families were presented by Rina LopezGPC-member (Mexico) Claudio Gonzalez
Bautista and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Aylearns how to make a kite
ala and his wife Lizzie.
The GPC then proceeded to Tondo to
visit the Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education (Centex). The people
behind the center believe that improving a
school’s physical, financial and human resources could transform it into a center of
excellence accessible to children of underresourced families.
GPC-member
GPC-member (France) Youssef Dib teaches
students how to sing
The rest joined the open discussion facilitated by Ricky Santos. The GPC members
were curious to find out if the students really learned from KCh. They confirmed a
rippling effect after one mother shared that
her son had recounted what he learned
about clouds from the Knowledge Channel
available in his school.
Senate President Franklin Drilon with Synergos
The guests broke into two groups to in- Institute’s Bill Bohnett
teract with the children. GPC member
Laura Gonzalez enjoyed kite-flying with
the children while her husband Claudio began thinking about replicating the hot line
(BB 163) in Mexico, where he heads the
foundation of Televisa, the largest media
company in Mexico.
Second generation
Adrienne Dreiss
The GPC also visited Text2Teach and
Youth Tech.
Text2Teach is a project of "Bridgeit," a global program by Nokia, the International Youth
Foundation, Pearson and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP). Using
Nokia-supplied mobile phones, teachers may
request for any of more than 80 full-length
science videos through text messaging.
The video is sent via satellite to a digital
recorder connected to a television in the
teacher's classroom. Youth Tech is a computer laboratory with Internet connection. These
are set up in selected public high schools, and
the teachers are provided with training on Internet use and basic network administration.
After visiting Centex, Sofia Zobel
brought the GPC on a walking tour of Intramuros with Carlos Celdran as tour guide.
7
(USA)
In the evening, the GPC members were
hosted by Oscar M. Lopez and his wife
Connie in their residence where he narrated the history of the Lopez family's philanthropic activities. Peggy Dulany also
shared her reflections on the events of the Kit Zobel de Ayala explains what the children
day.
are doing
Sofia Zobel and the GPC members listen to
Carlos Celdran
Dinner was hosted by Jaime and Lizzie
Zobel de Ayala in their residence, where
the members mingled with other Filipino
philanthropic families that are not yet
members of GPC.
Day 6
On the sixth day, the GPC visited Binakod Elementary School, one of Knowledge Channel's beneficiaries in Bulacan, accessible only by a 20-minute pump boat ride.
Rina Lopez-Bautista and Doris Nuval gave
an orientation on the education initiative.
Knowledge Channel’s Ricky Santos facilitates
the discussion with barangay and DepEd
officials and parents
They learned about the need to improve
the school facility because during the rainy
season, waist-deep water inundates the
area, requiring a long cleanup process.
Nuval said KCh was preparing a 10-module livelihood program to be aired in the
evenings where different micro enterprises will
be taught. Those that graduate can go to Bayan
Foundation and apply for micro financing.
The Binakod children during lunch
danced, sang, and read a heart-warming
"Thank You" card signed by all the 30 students of the school.
In the evening, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a sumptuous dinner
in Malacañang.
The GPC members ride a pump boat to Binakod
Elementary School
The guests were sent off with a performance by the San Jose Elementary School's
drum and lyre band. They were welcomed
at the school by Mayor Gonzales, DepEd
division and district heads and barangay
heads. The philanthropists were then divided into two groups. Some interacted with
DepEd, barangay officials and parents,
while others became teachers for a day.
GPC’s Ian Simmons taught the kids how
to tell the weather and his translator was codelegate Mrs. Kitamura, a Filipina who met
her husband in New York. Youssef Dib
taught the students to sing "Father Jacques"
in French, with co-delegate Gina Velasco acting as his translator.
Dinner was hosted by President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang
GPC and CSR:
The philanthropists came to see how
CSR is being practiced in the Philippines.
They saw for themselves the impact
among the poorest of the poor. And they
learned that when global philanthropists
work in solidarity, the world indeed can
become a better place to live in. (R. Cruz
and D. Festin-Baybay)
8
LOPEZLINK March 2005
LITTLE LIVES, BIG DEEDS
“I’ve always loved
the Philippines, but I
didn't realize talaga
how beautiful it was
until this run. She's
so beautiful you
really have to take
care of her,” Joy
Rojas said.
Joy Rojas's Dream Run
JOY Rojas, a staff writer for ABS-CBN
Publishing's Metro magazine, had traveled
across the country to bring her message of
hope and impart the importance of education and sports to students in several public
and private high schools-and the greater
wonder is that she had accomplished it by
running-yes, running-across the country.
But Joy, tanned and lean after about
2,000 kilometers and almost two months on
the road, doesn't make a big deal about being the first Filipina to run cross-country or
about the fact that she did so with a loftier
goal than to see the sights.
"I was perfectly content to run, but Cesar,
with whom I had been discussing the run
since 1997, said, 'why not pick an advocacy
so you can share it with people?''' Joy recalled. "Ako naman kasi I run for running's
sake. I just love it lang talaga, di ako katulad
nina Father [Robert Reyes] na kailangan
may advocacy na dala."
"Cesar" is Cesar Guarin, owner of the
shop Botak who had done his own crosscountry run in the early 1980s, the first Filipino ever to accomplish the feat. Years later, Guarin would mentor "running priest" Fr.
Reyes during his three-year transnational
run in 1996 to 1998; Joy had actually joined
the Visayas leg of the run in 1997 on the invitation of Fr. Reyes, whom she had interviewed a few months prior.
"I like the environment, I like peace, but I
cannot talk about them at length," Joy admitted. So Guarin suggested that she share
"the root of the whole thing," which is that it
was her dream to run across the country.
Why don't you use that, talk to kids in high
schools around the country about pursuing
their dreams, Guarin had prodded.
Thus, "Hakbang Pangarap"-which
snaked through the eastern side of the country from Davao, Surigao, Leyte, Samar, Bicol, Quezon, Laguna, Manila, Bulacan,
Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Baguio and
La Union and Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte in a
month and a half-was born.
The record-setting aspect of the run was
something that Joy had tried to downplay,
even evade. The magnitude of the feat sank
in only when the team-running partner Mat
Macabe, run coordinator Jojo Martinez and
a succession of support vehicle drivers-was
back in Manila and Joy looked at a Philippine map (she had avoided doing so during
the run). "My gosh, ang layo pala!" she
couldn't help marveling.
Joy and her team would start out at 4:00
a.m. everyday, run an average of 50 kilometers, drop in on a school to give her talk, and
wrap up by 4:00 p.m. "The latest that we
would finish was about 7:00 p.m., when the
roads were so bad that we had to walk. If
there was time, we would wash our clothes,
then have dinner together; if there was a
television in our accommodations, the others would watch the news, while Mat and I
would go to sleep."
During their stopovers in public and private high schools, Joy and Mat would stand
in front of the students in their running attire, and Joy would ask: "We came from this
town and now we're here in your place. How
do you think did we get here?"
By car, bus or jeep, the students would
reply.
Told that the two got there on foot, the
students would be incredulous. "They just
couldn't really believe it," Joy laughed.
Then she would proceed to share the message of "Hakbang Pangarap": "Kung kami
we could do some seemingly impossible
task like run across the Philippines, then
what more pa yung mga dreams ninyo? It
just takes a lot of hard work and dedication,"
Joy would say.
Then the two would bid the students
goodbye: "Kita na lang tayo sa kalsada. If
you see us, kaway-kaway na lang kayo ha?"
Sure enough, later in the day, students on
their way home would call out to her and Mat
from jeepneys or tricycles: "Ma'am, sir! Idol!"
"During the course of the run, I was like,
my gosh, I'm so happy I want to live. I know
it sounds baduy but I really really want to
live some more, I want to run some more, I
want to experience that happiness, that fulfillment that I experienced everyday on the
road. So I said [after the run], Mat, dali buksan mo yung mapa, maghanap tayo ng lugar
na we can run."
And the lessons that Joy Rojas came
away with?
"My God, the country is so beautiful, it's
just so beautiful! Can you imagine running
and you make a right turn and suddenly Mt.
Mayon is in front of you? Or the mountains
in Kennon Road? Ang ganda-ganda talaga
niya. Mindanao is also so beautiful. I like
running in places na parang gubat, forest,
lush talaga na puro green, there was nothing
but trees. All you can hear is the sound of
your feet on the road, and the birds. Favorite
na favorite ko talaga yan," Joy gushed.
"The Filipinos, ang babait talaga nila, total strangers. They will help you talaga,
whether it's giving you directions or taking
you in for the night, or letting you use their
bathroom, ang babait talaga nila. I mean, I've
always loved the Philippines-Father Robert
taught me when I would run with him that we
have to take care of the Philippines-but I
didn't realize talaga how beautiful it was until
this run. She's so beautiful you really have to
take care of her. That's my lesson."
Years from now, Filipino youths from as
far apart as Davao in Mindanao and Ilocos
Norte in Luzon will also remember the lesson taught by Joy, the woman from the big
city who ran into their high school classrooms and encouraged them to follow their
dreams. (J. Javier)
Support the Save the La Mesa Watershed
Project, bring back the green into our lives
Bantay Kalikasan is launching
the La Mesa EcoPark located at
the La Mesa Dam Compound,
East Fairview, Quezon City on
April 2005. The project will sustain the Save the La Mesa Watershed Project which aims to rehabilitate and protect the La Mesa
Reservoir, and in effect, the
source of the drinking water of
Metro Manila's 12 million residents. The La Mesa EcoPark is a
perfect haven for one to relax, enjoy and just go back to the basics.
It boasts of excellent facilities
like the Salt Water Swimming
Pool, the Orchidarium, the Boating Lagoon, the Picnic Gardens,
and best of all, tall trees and its
unspoiled natural beauty you
would discover right inside the for PhP1,500 and PhP500 for the activities and entrance to the that each company will support
busy metro.
kids, and that already covers all EcoPark amenities!! We hope us by getting/sponsoring:
"TREE-A-THLON": A Family
Fun Day at the La Mesa EcoPark
on April 10, 2005. This will be
the formal launching of the La
Mesa EcoPark. There are so
many activities in store for the
whole family, including: duathlon
race, fun run, caricature making,
face painting, henna tattoo, art
workshop, candle making demo,
massage by the salt water pool,
jewelry making, taka Painting,
storytelling sessions, yoga, family boat race at the lagoon, origami
and ikebana making, musical
play by Trumpets, food bazaar,
plants and flowers bazaar, relay
games, etc! Tickets for adults are
9
LOPEZLINK March 2005
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
By Carla Paras-Sison
The
AFTER logging in a brief stint with ABSCBN in 1987, back when Cheche Lazaro was
head of Public Affairs, Maria Ressa returned
on January 3, 2005 as a consultant for the
News and Current Affairs Group.
"My job is to train our people from the
ground up, help set standards of merit, evaluate our systems and workflow. The goal is to
push our group to hit international standards
of excellence and performance," says Ressa.
ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio "Gabby"
Lopez III (EL3) and Ressa, who considers
Manila her home although her family lives in
New York, have been in touch for years.
"I was always interested in ABS-CBN because I knew it held tremendous power, and
Gabby and I spoke often and frankly over
many years about its strengths and weaknesses. He wanted to further professionalize his
news organization, and even though I was
with CNN, I wanted to help in any way I
could. I offered a different view," she recalls.
Ressa, who spent over 17 years with CNN
and who since 1995 was chief of its Jakarta
bureau, admits the move back to ABS-CBN
and the Philippines may mean less security, financial and otherwise. Nonetheless, she headed home to Manila for "the ability to chart
(her) own destiny."
"You gotta love what you do. I've done
breaking news. I can reel off the themes of all
the stories in each country in the region. I can
tell you the leaders of the terrorist organizations in any country in Southeast Asia. Been
there, done that, want something more. I'm
old enough to have experience but young
enough to still want to make a difference," she
says.
In the short term, Ressa sees an opportunity
to raise quality and performance standards at
ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. In the
long term, she believes the ABS-CBN team
can create an Asian network that can rival, if
not beat, CNN in terms of journalism and
reach.
And with competition becoming fiercer in
the industry, Ressa offers a fresh look at the
ratings game.
"Ratings are only tools. I use them to gauge
whether our stories were interesting…ratings
big picture with
Maria Ressa
should not be the only factor to determine the
direction we're headed in. They merely evaluate how well you did your job in the past.
Were your skills up to speed? Are we implementing each part of the process properly? If
you manage by ratings alone, you're letting
the past dictate the future. In addition, we
have to put that in the context of our society.
Television can be an incredibly powerful tool
for education. How can we raise our overall
standards without boring and losing our
viewers?"
ABS-CBN president Luis F. Alejandro has
made "satisfying the viewer" the company's
ultimate goal. Ressa believes audiences will
watch if they find something they want and
need to live their lives better.
"Ratings and awards will happen if we do
our jobs right. But they're not the goals you
work for on a daily basis. They are the byproducts of excellent television journalism,"
she says.
Ressa has been running workshops for
News and Current Affairs people since she
came in and is quite happy with the initial
results.
"You'll be surprised to learn our cameramen implemented some relatively sophisticated concepts within 24 hours of a one-day
workshop. They were better than some of the
guys I worked with at CNN!"
She stresses that the first step is to pull together as a team. "Respect and understand
each other's input and use that to head to the
same goal. And no one person is responsible
for anything-not the good, not the bad. Television is all about teamwork."
Ressa notes that a personality-centered
culture may be an obstacle to achieving fine
broadcast journalism.
"My answer is to change the culture,
shifting from personalities to goals. If we focus only on personalities, then we're not seeing the big picture. Personalities are a byproduct of television, but we should never
manage using that perspective. So we go
back to the basics. We work
on skills. If we get everyone of us working at getting better in our individual areas of influence,
then we multiply our
ability for excellence
and set the stage for a
win. In the end, if we
d o n ' t f o c u s o n s u bstance and teamwork,
we will lose the fight,"
she says.
Ressa thanks her colleagues at ABS-CBN
as well as the larger
Lopez Group for
the "warm welcome" she has received, saying
returning to
ABS-CBN "fit
(her) big picture
personally."
Maria Ressa at the
December 2003 launch
of her book, Seeds of
Terror: An Eyewitness
Account of Al-Qaeda's
Newest Center of
Operations in Southeast
Asia, published by Free
Press, a division of
Simon & Schuster.
30 bagong shows sadyang binuo ng
ABS-CBN para sa mga manonood
TATLUMPONG bagong shows ang
binuo ng ABS-CBN para sa ikatutuwa ng mga manonood! Narito na
ang kakaibang saya ng tawanan, excitement ng laro, sarap ng tsikahan,
lalim ng damayan at lalim ng pangarap na mararamdaman mo lang sa
piling ng kapamilya.
Kayo ang bida sa umaga, kasama
ang no nonsense talk show na "Home
Boy" ni Boy Abunda at ang all-request program M.R.S. (Most Requested Show). Umaapaw na saya at
papremyo ang handog ng back-toback noontime game shows na "Pilipinas, Game KNB?" at "Wowowee."
Mai-in love naman kayo tuwing
weeknights sa Korea-novelang "Save
the Last Dance for Me" at light drama
series na "Till Death Do Us Part."
Maki-party rin kasama ang mga paborito ninyong artista sa ASAP 05; saksihan ang mahigpit na labanan para maging next singing sensation sa "Search
for the Star in a Million," o dance superstar sa "Star Dance." Huwag pahuli
sa maiinit na isyu sa loob at labas ng
showbiz na dala ng "ETK" (Entertainment Konek) at "Y Speak Now!"
Pasukin ang mundo ng kababalaghan sa "Nginiiig, season 5;" tanggapin ang mga hamon ng "Kamao" at
"Kaya Mo Ba 'To?;" balik-balikan ang
mga pelikulang Pinoy na miss na miss
na ninyo sa "Star Cinema Presents" at
Sunday Family Cinema"; hatid naman
ng "SCQpids," "My First" at "i-bol
TV" ang kilig at ang iba't-ibang sorpresang patok sa panlasang Pinoy.
Patatawanin kayo ng mga kwelang
barkada ng "Goin' Bulilit," "Ava Naman," "A.S.T.I.G." (All Star Tawanan,
Iba't-ibang Gudtym), "Tonight at the
Manzanos," "Bora," at "Quizon Avenue." Narito na rin ang mga programang tinangkilik ng husto sa iba'tibang bansa: ang mga anime na "Mission Odyssey" at "Getbackers" at ang
mga telenovelang "Farewell Firefly,"
"Rubi" at "Mirada de Mujer."
Kaya huwag bibitiw sa kapamilya
network para sa kumpletong putaheng magpapabago ng viewing experience ninyo!
10
LOPEZLINK March 2005
Advice for
By Norman Sison
YOUR kid is graduating this March? Congratulations! Natapos din ang iyong pagdurusa na
pag-aralin siya. Congratulations din sa anak mo
pala. Welcome to the world of the unemployed.
Pero hindi pa tapos ang iyong trabaho bilang magulang-natatapos ba iyon?-dahil mangangailangan ang iyong anak ng trabaho rin.
Sorry kung biglang nawala ang saya mo.
Sa gayon, ano naman ang maipapayo mo sa
anak mo bago siya bumili ng diyaryo at tumingin sa classified ads section? Uh, Philippine
Star ang bilhin ninyo nga pala ha? Doon ako
nagtatrabaho eh. Hehe!
Of course, the advice they need is obvious:
What points to keep in mind when writing an
application letter, what to highlight when making a resume, how to project during an interview, how to dress for success, how to speak
with confidence, how to look for job opportunities, etc.
new graduates
But I think the best advice you can give your
kid is this: Follow your heart and plan ahead.
What course did your big kid take up in
school? Did he do well in it? If he did, was he
truly happy about the course he took? Did he
take it because he wanted it or because you
wanted him to? Would he be happy taking a job
not related to his degree at all?
Itanong ninyo ang mga iyon sa sarili ninyo
dahil ang mga tanong na iyon ay makakatulong sa
anak ninyo sa paghanap ng trabaho. Ilan ba sa atin
diyan ang may trabaho na hindi tugma sa kursong
kinuha natin sa unibersidad? Get the point?
May mga kumuha ng economics pero naging
journalist. May mga kumuha ng dentistry pero nasa
stock market ngayon. May mga nag-stock market
pero nasa TV news ngayon. John Grisham took up
law but he became successful as a novelist.
The point is: If your kid took up dentistry
but won't be happy looking into other people's
mouths, that kid is possibly looking at a future
in a job that may not be fulfilling to him.
Kahit alam natin kung ano ang mabuti
para sa ating mga anak, may mga bagay na
dapat sila ang gagawa ng desisyon. Ang
trabaho ng magulang ay magbigay ng direksyon at maging gabay sa anak.
Hindi natin sila itinayo at inusad ang
kanilang mga paa para matutong lumakad
nang sila'y sanggol pa. Kailangan nilang
matutunan iyon ng sarili nila. Ang trabaho
natin ay hawakan ang kanilang mga kamay.
Yes, it's important that your kid earns income. But is that what life is about?
Life is about happiness. That is because of
our survival instinct. That is why we don't do
things that will make us unhappy and miserable
and look old.
And what happens when we do things in the
working world that give us fulfillment? We
find happiness and success. And that feeling
you pour all out from your heart to reach that
certain goal is called passion. It's that feeling of
giving it your all, your best shot.
Ano ba ang gusto ng anak ninyo sa buhay?
Pag-usapan ninyo ito. At doon mo malalaman
kung paano mo siya matutulungan bilang isang
magulang at hindi manggugulang.
SWEET PEAS AND MUSHROOMS
Preparation Time: -5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
THE Power Plant Mall at Rockwell
Center will turn Easter into a funfilled event with an exciting lineup
of activities. And with Power Plant's
beloved Easter tradition, kids are
sure to go crazy over the cute and
cuddly bunnies to be given away!
For your kids aged 1-12 to avail
of this special treat, simply collect
Php1,000 worth of accumulated receipts from purchases made from
any Power Plant Mall establishment.
Present the receipts to the customer care desk and your child is automatically entitled to one colorcoded ticket, which includes one
free ride at
the Kiddie Carnival and participation in the Easter Egg Hunt that
starts at 11:00 A.M. and lasts until
2:00 P.M. on March 27, 2005. Plus,
the freebie of all freebies: color-coded ticket holders get a slice of the
best part of Power Plant Mall's Easter tradition, a cute and cuddly bunny
to call their own!
At 3:00 P.M., the Rockwell Tent
at the Plaza will be a venue for classic circus entertainment, filling every child's heart with gladness
through magic, puppets and a dog
and monkey show. Activity booths
will provide special treats like balloon twisting, face painting, a caricaturist, kiddie salon, glitter and
henna tattoo, Color-Me-Mine and
egg painting.
The rides that gave children
bouts of endless laughter last
Christmas will once again set
camp on the grounds of Rockwell Center on Easter Sunday
till after the summer season. A
good enough reason to take
the little tykes out for a
jump on the inflatable
castle, get on a pony in the
carousel and take a ride on
the train and Convoy Race.
One need not worry about filling hungry tummies as food booths
will be located right at the Plaza Garden, just a stone's throw away from
where all the Easter fun at the Power
Plant Mall will happen! (C. Solidum)
Preparing a graduation party for
your kid? FOOD Magazine, the
largest selling culinary publication
put out by ABS-CBN Publishing
Inc., has come up with the "Eat and
Run Cookbook," more than a hundred glossy pages of salads, soups,
main dishes, desserts and drinks
that you can whip up in about 30
minutes for fast yet fancy fare for
your child’s graduation party--or for
whatever occasion. Editor in chief
Norma O. Chikiamco assures that
prepping a great dish can be done
within this time span-it's all a matter
of knowing which ingredients to use
and how to blend them into one harmonious whole. The volume even
comes with an index and a glossary
of kitchen terms.
½ kilo frozen sweet green peas,
thawed
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt, plus additional
for seasoning
1 cup fresh oyster OR button
mushrooms
Fresh mint leaves
• In a deep pan, combine peas, bouillon cubes, water, and one teaspoon of the salt.
Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one minute.
• Add the mushrooms and continue cooking over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Remove from heat and drain. Season to taste with salt. Spoon
into serving platter.
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves before serving. Makes 6 servings
TARRAGON CHICKEN
AND SHRIMP SALAD
6-8 chicken breast fillets, diced
¼ kilo medium shrimp, peeled and diced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons corn oil
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup peeled and diced cucumber
¼ cup minced fresh parsley
¼ cup minced fresh tarragon OR
½ teaspoon dried tarragon
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes
• Season chicken and shrimp with salt and pepper.
Set aside.
• In a medium skillet, heat corn oil and sauté garlic
until brown. Add chicken and sauté until almost
cooked. Add shrimp and stir fry until shrimp and
chicken are fully cooked. Remove from pan and let
cool.
• In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream,
celery, cucumber, parsley and tarragon. Fold in
chicken and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper to
taste. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Serve chilled.
Makes 4-6 servings.(Recipe of Rachel Joy Go)
LOPEZLINK March 2005
11
Workshops @ ABS-CBN
EUGENIO LÓPEZ FOUNDATION, INC.
Summer is just around the corner and kids' vacation is getFor inquiries, please call 415-3828 or 416-9366 or visit us
ting near. Let your children enjoy summer the different way. at the WORKSHOPS@ABS-CBN office, 6th Flr. DTC Bldg.,
Enroll them in ABS-CBN's Summer Workshops for kids, ABS-CBN Compound, Eugenio Lopez St., Q.C. e-mail: workteens and adults and give them a summer vacation they [email protected]. TEXT "WORKSHOPS" to 2366
would never forget!
YOUR FUTURE BEGINS HERE…
This summer, Eugenio Lopez Foundation, Inc is holding workshops for children
and adults from April to June 2005. Learn new and valuable ideas that you can
make use of. Enroll now and spend your summer vacation uniquely!
(ABS-CBN Center for Communication Arts, Inc.)
SUMMER WORKSHOPS SCHEDULE
ACTING CLASSES
April 4-April 22, 2005
15 sessions
BASIC ACTING FOR KIDS
4-8 y.o: 9:00am-12:00nn
9-12 y.o: 9:00am-12:00nn
Php 5,550
BASIC ACTING FOR TEENS
1:00pm-5:00pm Php 5,950
BASIC ACTING FOR ADULTS
6:00pm-10:00pm Php 5,950
MUSICAL THEATER
April 4-April 22, 2005
15 sessions
MUSICAL THEATER FOR KIDS
9:00am-12:00nn Php 6,500
MUSICAL THEATER FOR TEENS
& ADULTS
1:00pm-4:00pm Php 6,500
VOICE LESSONS
April 4-April 22, 2005
15 sessions
BASIC VOICE FOR KIDS
(6y.o-12y.o)
10:00am-12:00nn Php 5,550
BASIC VOICE FOR TEENS
3:00pm-5:00pm Php 5,740
BASIC VOICE FOR ADULTS
7:00pm-9:00pm Php 5, 740
DANCE CLASSES
April 4-April 22, 2005
15 sessions
STREETDANCE FOR KIDS
10:00am-12:00nn Php 4,550
STREETDANCE FOR TEENS
1:00pm-3:00pm Php 4,550
MODERN JAZZ FOR TEENS
3:00pm-5:00pm Php 4,550
• PRICES AND SCHEDULES ARE
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
MODELING ( Class 1)
April 11-April 15, 2005
5 sessions
1:00pm-5:00pm Php 4,000
MODELING (Class 2)
April 25-April 29, 2005
5 sessions
1:00pm-5:00pm Php 4,000
IMAGING
(Personality Development)
April 18-april 22, 2005
5 sessions
1:00pm-5:00pm
Php 4,500
TRY OUR NEW COURSES
TALK FUN
Speech classes for kids
(7-11 y.o.) 15 sessions
10:00am-12:00nn Php 5,000
BREAKDANCING
15 sessions
5:00pm- 7:00pm Php 4,550
MAY BATCH OF CLASSES:
MAY 9-27, 2005
SUMMER ART WORKSHOPS
For children, 7-12 years old
For older art enthusiasts
Creative Writing Workshop
Comic Book Writing
Facilitated by Ms. Carla Pacis
April 4-8, 10am-12nn
Fee: Php 3,000.00
Basic Drawing
Facilitated by Mr Freddie Aquilizan
April 11-15, 10am-12nn
Fee: Php 2,500. 00
Creative Paper Cut-Outs
Facilitated by Ms Alma Quinto
April 18-22, 10am-12nn
Fee: PhP 3,000.00
Mask Making Workshop
Facilitated by Ms Amy Aragon
April 25-29, 10am-12nn
Fee: Php 3,000.00
Clay Sculpture for Children
Facilitated by Ms Aba Dalena
May 2-6, 10am-12nn
Fee: Php 4,500. 00
Basic Chinese Painting Workshop
13 years old and above
Facilitated by Prof Arnold Esguerra
April 9, 16, 23 & 30, 1-4pm
Fee: Php 3,500.00
13 years old and above
Facilitated by Mr Emil Flores
April 11-15, 2-4pm
Fee: Php 3,000.00
Basic Printmaking
13 years old and above
F a c i l i t a t e d b y PA P ( M s A m b i e
Abano)
May 2-6, 1-5pm
Fee: Php 3,000. 00
Photography Workshop
College students and older
Facilitated by Ms. RJ Fernandez
May 9-13, 1-5pm
Fee: PhP 5,500.00
Contemporary Bookbinding
Workshop
13 years old and above
Facilitated by Mr Loreto Apilado
May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 9am-12nn
Fee: Php 4,500. 00
Book Art Workshop
(must have background in bookbinding)
Facilitated by Mr Loreto Apilado
May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 1-4pm
Fee: Php 4,500. 00
Contact Person: Ms Fanny San Pedro
Contact details: tel. 6312417/
email: [email protected]
Ground Floor, Benpres Bldg., Exchange Rd. cor. Meralco Ave., 1600 Pasig City
Tel Nos. : Adm. 6359545- telefax (632)6312417
Library - (632)4492355
How bloodletting can save a stroke sufferer's life
WHEN someone you know suffers a stroke, stay calm. No matter
where the victim is, do not move him/her. Otherwise, the brain's
capillaries will burst. Help the victim to sit up where he is to prevent him from falling over, and then the bloodletting can begin.
If you have an injection syringe handy, that would be the best;
if not, a sewing needle or a straight pin will do. Place the needle/pin over fire to sterilize it, and then use it to prick all of the
victim's fingertips. There are no specific acupuncture points, just
prick about a millimeter from the fingernail. Prick till blood
comes out.
If blood does not start to drip from the victim's fingers,
squeeze them with your hands. When all 10 digits are bleeding,
wait a few minutes then the victim will regain consciousness. If
the victim's mouth is crooked, pull on his ears until they are red.
Then prick each earlobe twice until two drops of blood come
from each earlobe.
The victim should regain consciousness after a few minutes.
Wait till he regains his normal state without any abnormal symptoms, and then take him to the hospital. Note that if he is taken to
the hospital in a hurry, the bumpy trip will cause the capillaries
in his brain to burst.
I learned about letting blood to save a life from a Chinese traditional doctor. As I had practical experience with this method, I
can say that it is 100% effective.
In the late '70s, when I was conducting one of my classes, another teacher came running to my classroom and said, panting:
"Come quick, our supervisor has had a stroke." I immediately
went to the third floor, where I saw the supervisor. His color was
off, his speech was slurred, his mouth was crooked-all the symptoms of a stroke.
I asked one of the practicum students to go to the pharmacy outside the school to buy a syringe, which I used to prick the supervisor's
fingertips. When all 10 fingers were bleeding (each with a pea-sized
drop of blood), the supervisor's face regained its color. But his mouth
was still crooked. So I pulled on his ears to fill them with blood, and
when his ears became red, I pricked his right earlobe twice to let out
two drops of blood. When both earlobes had two drops of blood
each, a miracle happened. Within three to five minutes, the shape of
his mouth returned to normal and his speech became clear.
We let him rest a while, gave him a cup of hot tea, and then
drove him to the hospital. He rested one night and was released
the next day to return to school to teach. Everything worked normally; there were no ill aftereffects.
The usual stroke victim suffers irreparable bursting of the brain
capillaries on the way to the hospital. As a result, these victims
never recover. That's why it is the number two cause of death. The
lucky ones will stay alive but remain paralyzed for life.
It is such a horrible disease. If we can all remember this
method and start the lifesaving process immediately, the victim
can be revived and regain 100% normality.
We hope you can tell others about this first aid method. This
way, stroke can be removed from the list of top causes of death.
12
travel
LOPEZLINK March 2005
PUNDAQUIT FESTIVAL’S
12th Season
March 27, 6 p.m.
EASTER SUNDAY
Concert III
Special Guest: Ronan Ferer / Maria
Saporsantos / Chris Ong
Tickets: P300/200/100/50
PUNDAQUIT
VIRTUOSI
March 20, 6 p.m.
FESTIVAL OPENING
FOUNDATION DAY
PALM SATURDAY
Concert I
The facade of Casa San Miguel (main photo); San
Antonio, Zambales, the home of Casa San Miguel, is
not too far from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone; Coke
teaches the youngest violin soloist, 7-year old son of
a community doctor, Miguel Estrada who started the
Special Guest: Loboc Children's
Choir
Tickets: P500/300/200/100/50
March 27, 6 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY
Concert II
Tickets: P200/100/50/25
RESIDENCIES
April 2, 6 P.M.
SATURDAY
Metro Manila
Community Orchestra
Josefino Toledo, conductor
Tickets: P100
April 15/16, 6 P.M.
LUDUS
FRI/SAT
Myra Beltran's Dance Forum
(2001 NCCA Alab Ng Haraya
Awardee)
Special Guests: Airdance and
Pundaquit Virtuosi
Direction: Myra Beltran
Tickets: P200
Fisherfolk tune in to classical music in Zambales
CASA San Miguel Foundation is
opening its 12th Season of the Pundaquit Festival this March. Set in a
mango orchard by the sea, CASA San
Miguel is a community-based arts
center in the fishing village of San
Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales.
Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata, president and musical director, established
Casa San Miguel in his family's mango orchard in 2004 when he returned
home from his studies at Julliard
School of Music in New York and
University of Indiana. He wanted to
set up an Arts center to expose the local community to different cultural
forms, particularly classical music. In
1996 it opened its workshop modules
designed to identify and develop potential talents within the local community in music, theater, and the visual arts, working with children coming from different backgrounds including the marginalized sectors of
farmers and fisherfolk. The Foundation believes in culture as a means of
providing rural families a measure of
self-esteem, using values from the
craft towards a positive attitude in
work, family, and community. Bolipata said, "this is truly a unique cultural endeavor. There is nothing like
this in the Philippines or anywhere
else in the world."
Every year the Festivals feature
artists of different nationalities at
CASA San Miguel's various
venues: Ramon Corpus Hall, the
Outdoor Theater, or Anita Gallery.
The Festivals are a vital and most
visible part of the CASA San
Miguel's role in linking the multisectoral communities of artists, educators, children, farmers, and fisherfolk. It is the Festival that weaves
CASA San Miguel's programs to
create dynamic and exciting collaborations with endless possibilities.
On March 20, 2005, Palm Sunday
at 6:00 p.m., the Loboc Children's
Choir from Bohol will perform with
Casa San Miguel's Pundaquit Virtuosi
in an evening of enchanting music
written for children's choir and children's orchestra. This remarkable musical tandem will perform Kalesa,
Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika, Presto
from Beethoven String Quartet (Op.
59, #3), Ernest Bloch's Concerto
Grosso, Sa Kabukiran, Ilokano Medley, Visayan Medley, Medition from
Thais, and much more. The Pundaquit
Virtuosi is a string orchestra comprising of children aged 5 to 15 from the
local community and neighboring
provinces, Pampanga and Bataan.
The Loboc Children's Choir was
founded in 1980. It is composed of 30
schoolchildren between nine and 13
years old, who all attend the Loboc
Central Elementary School. The choir
was the National Champion in the
category of Children's Choirs during
the National Music Competitions for
Young Artists in 2001. The choir represented the country during the International Children's Culture and Arts
Festival in Tianjin, China (2000),
toured key cities in the United States
in a concert dubbed, "On Angels'
LopezLink is published by Benpres PR Group
4/F Benpres Bldg., Ortigas, Pasig City
Telefax: 633-3520
For feeback, please email:
[email protected]
Wings: From Bohol to the World
"and performed in other countries
outside the Philippines, It has become
a 'cultural treasure' of Bohol, often
performing for visiting dignitaries,
and local and foreign tourists. The
Loboc Children's Choir is not only
heard in concert halls or auditoriums,
but also in prisons, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged, where
its music of hope, love, and joy also
find its meaning.
Today CASA San Miguel trains
over 100 gifted children from the
community whose ages range from 7
- 16 years old, spending weekends at
CASA San Miguel honing their talents. What these special children
share is their common talent in music.
They have won prizes in the National
Music Competition for Young Artists
and some have been chosen to represent Promil for the promotion of its
Gifted Child Campaign. They have
been featured as well in numerous
television documentaries, both foreign and local, for their unique contribution to the development of classical
music in the Philippines. They are a
regular feature at the Pundaquit Festival in Zambales, sharing their talents
with the community by performing in
plazas, schools, and later this year in
hospitals and orphanages.
The opening event coincides with
the 11th Anniversary of the CASA
San Miguel Foundation. Companies
that donated scholarship programs are
Citigroup Foundation (New York),
SIEMENS (Philippines), the Subic
Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the Metrobank Foundation,
among others.
The Festival continues with weekly performances through May. Don't
miss the candlelight performance of
Haydn's Seven Last Words on Good
Friday, March 25, 6:00 p.m., and the
Easter Sunday concert on Sunday,
March 27, 6:00 p.m., featuring the
Pundaquit Virtuosi with special
guests Ronan Ferrer, Maria Saporsantos, and Chris Ong.
Watch these gifted children make
musical magic in the midst of mangoes.
Tickets are available by calling 9038657
and 9332392, or you can make reservations through this e-mail address [email protected]. Ticket prices are
P500, 300, 200, 100, and 50. CASA San
Miguel can get discounts at the Legenda
Hotel (047) 252 1888 loc. 1110 or (047)
712 9888 in Bldg. 294, Subic Legend
Resorts and Casinos, Jefferson St., Subic
Bay Freeport Zone, Subic, Olongapo
City, and Playa Papagayo (047
2223825) in Barrio Barretto, Subic.
Simply show your validated ticket stubs
upon checking out to avail of a discount
on your room.
The Pundaquit Virtuosi is a string orchestra composed of children
aged 5 to 15 years old
SUMMER
WORKSHOPS
April 23/30,
May 7, 6 P.M.
SATURDAYS
Si Julian, Yung Sirena
At Ang Dagat
(Zambales Folktale adapted by Coke
Bolipata / Translation: Miles
Pardalis)
Direction: Daniel Querijero
Special Participation (Dance
Choreography): Myra Beltran
Tickets: P50
April 22-May 22
Summer Music Camp
APR 22
YOUNG
ARTIST SERIES
Mar. 20 - Apr. 20
KARIMLAN
Zaniel Mariano Exhibit
FREE ENTRANCE
April 29, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
Joseph Valdes (PROMIL
Gifted Child / Miriam College
Scholar)
Tickets: P100/50/25
May 6 , 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
Christian Tan (PROMIL Gifted
Child / Winner, National Music
Competition for Young Artists)
Tickets: P200
FRIDAY
Student Recital
May 13, 6 p.m.
Student Recital
2000/2004 National Music
Competition for Young Artists /
Member, Asian Youth Orchestra /
CASA San Miguel Resident Artist)
Tickets: P200/100/50
MAY 1, 2 P.M.
MAY 8, 2 P.M.
Student Recital
SUNDAYS
Tickets: P50
FRIDAY
Lorenzo Raval (Winner,