GenSan News Online Mag

This week,  the first in a series of national gatherings in General Santos for the year happens with the conduct of the Philippine Councilors League’s 1st Quarterly National Executive Officers and National Board Meeting.

For three days, from February 4 to 6, 2010, more than 1,800 delegates making up the officers of the Philippine Councilors League together with  councilor honorees will be converging at the Tuna Capital.  These honorees, numbering about 2,500 are councilors who are into their last and 3rd terms and will be given tokens for their accomplishment as THREE TERMERS.

With this big number of visitors to the city, the local secretariat headed by Councilor Richard Atendido, has tapped all available rooms for their lodging, be it at the big hotels like East Asia Royale and Sydney, smaller inns like Leah’s and Pensionne Alonso, resorts like Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel and Isla Parilla and even drive-inns like Prince Field and King’s Valley.

Here then is the programme for the Philippine Councilors League 1st Quarterly National Executive and National Board Meeting:

FIRST DAY – LECTURES/DISCUSSIONS (General Santos City)

The two-day gathering kicks off on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the KCC Convention and Activity Center, with lectures on two topics:

• Rules and Regulations on Automated Elections 2010 – by Atty. Ferdinand P. Rafanan of the Commission on Elections
• The Consequences of Global Warming and Climate Change – by Dr. Samuel P. Martin of the School of Environment Science & Environment, UPLB

This is followed by the Opening Program leading to the Welcome Dinner hosted by the Honorable GenSan City Mayor Pedro “Jun” Acharon.  Scheduled to speak that night are the Honorable Darlene Custodio, Representative of 1st District of South Cotabato.

Keynote Speaker, the Honorable Mar Roxas, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

SECOND DAY – TOUR AND FELLOWSHIP DINNER

Keynote Speaker is the Honorable Manuel B. Villar, Senator and Presidentiable.

Lunch will be hosted by Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes of South Cotabato.

Closing Program and Fellowship Dinner will be hosted by Hon. Migue Rene “Migz” Domingquez, Governor of Sarangani.

Keynote Speaker is Hon. Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr., former Secretary, Department of Defense.

SHOWBIZ PERSONALITIES:

Expected to grace the proceedings are showbiz personalities who have moved into politics and are now councilors in their own hometowns.  So if you’re joining the Philippine Coucilors League in GenSan, you might be able to spot Councilors Alma Moreno, Aiko Melendez, Yul Servo, Franz Pumaren, Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, and many more.

If the hosts of this national gathering pull it through and Bariles bets that they will, then it really be a testament to the fact that General Santos City is now ready to be CONVENTION CAPITAL OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINDANAO!

Thanks to the enterprising guys over at Skyscraper City, a top forum site, I was able to get hold of this very important news for those seeking GenSan jobs.

SM Supermalls has released a JOB VACANCY Announcement for its SuperMalls Management in Training Program (SMiTPro), requiring management trainees who qualifies to undergo training in Manila but will eventually be assigned in SM City – General Santos City.   Here’s the whole notice, thanks to nj_than.

SMiTPro Trainee (General Santos City honor students/graduates)

Responsibilities:

CALLING ON ALL APPLICANTS WHO HAVE LIVED, STUDIED OR WORKED IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY BUT ARE WILLING TO BE TRAINED FOR 6 MONTHS IN MANILA AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE STATIONED IN SM CITY – GENSAN!!!

Do you see yourself in a management position in SM Supermalls?

If so, then join and be a part of our Supermalls Management in Training Program (SMitPro) MANAGEMENT TRAINEES – 5th Batch!!!

SMitPro is a 6 month intensive training program designed to prepare our Management Trainees for mid-level management in the organization.

* The graduates of the first 4 batches of our Management Trainees were given the following career opportunities:

• meaningful career development opportunities as ASSISTANT MALL MANAGER or LEASING MANAGER
• high visibility in the organization
• frequent performance evaluation
• interaction with all levels of Management
• experience in a cross-section of function and operating environments
• intensive training program
• included in a pool of middle managers with extensive knowledge of the functions, operation and values of the SM Supermalls from which senior management positions can be filled in the future.

* SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN HIGHLY CHALLENGING GENSAN JOBS!!

Requirements:

* So if you are:

• young, aggressive, highly motivated and career-driven;

• articulate, creative, and passionate about work;

• with experience in the areas of leasing, marketing, public relations, sales, management, customer service, tenant relations and / or operations;

• strongly committed to customer satisfaction, with high attributes of initiative, leadership and tenacity;

• keen on details and with good sense of judgment;

• capable of working on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; and

• willing to be trained in Pasay City and later to be assigned in different malls in the Philippines, including General Santos City.

YOU ARE THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR!!!

* We will only accept degree holders from reputable universities or colleges. Those with advance studies, i.e. Masters Degree have an advantage.

* Candidates with INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE, whether on business, work, pleasure or studies are encouraged to apply.

* Should you be interested for this position, please send UPDATED RESUME and PICTURE to pjlj@smsupermalls.com and quote: SM Mall – MT Gen San.

So there, if you think you have got what it takes and possess all the qualities and requirement that a Management Trainee Position at SM GenSan require, then go for it! It will be one hell of a pressure-laden job am sure but it will prove as a worthwhile challenge to you and being a general, Bariles is sure you will make it!

If the training commences in February 2010, then by August 2010, these Management Trainees will definitely come home to start working for the owners of the biggest malls in the Philippines.

SM – GenSan, or more formally, SM CITY-GENERAL SANTOS is scheduled to being construction first half of 2010 and will open 3rd quarter of 2011.

Everything is ready for General Santos City’s hosting of the 11th PREX National Convention!  This is a gathering of 5,000 of the country’s Catholic faithful who took the PREX or Parish Renewal Experience Seminar in their respective parishes.

The PREX Seminar first started in Manila in the 80s and has since spread all over the Philippines, reaching Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, dowtown GenSan  in 1988 and eventually, all the parishes in the Diocese of Marbel, including the most active for its number of outreaches, the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish of Barangay Lagao, GenSan.

(Trivia:  The parents of Bariles were graduates of Batch #1 at OLPGV while he himself was a member of Batch #81.)

When the first PREX National Convention was started, it was meant  to gather members and officers of the different PREX parishes (or parishes which conduct regular PREX seminar) to listen and learn from the talks and testimonaial speeches of invited speakers from the clergy and the laity.

The conduct of the 11th PREX National Convention in GenSan is the fruition of years of hard work of the the Kuya’s and Ate’s (as they call each other) from PREX-Lagao, which has conducted the most number of outreach PREX SEMINARS in Mindanao and the Visayas (including Cebu).  They also spearhead the annual PREX Family Day where they invite all their outreach parishes from Mindanao and the Visayas.

For this convention, PREX Lagao’s Kuya Bebot and Ate Meme Haw were designated as Convention Assistant Chaircouple.

THE PREX CONVENTION POSTER.

Anyway, about 5,000 PREX graduates are expected to converge in GenSan for the three-day affair and the local PREX Convention Secretariat has tapped different schools in the city to serve as billeting centers for those who could not be accommodated in the hotels.

And as with past and succesful conventions in General Santos, security is very tight especially for the whole month of February 2010 where we will also be hosting the National Conventions of the Philippine Councilors League, the Population, Health and Environment, and the Rotary Clubs of the Philippines.

The theme for the 11th PREX National Convention is “The Call to Social Transformation”. Convention dates are from February 19, 20, and 21, 2010.

Assigned to give talks and preside in the masses are the following:

• Most Rev. Dinualdo G. Gutierrez, DD (Bishop of Marbel) – Presider & Homilist for Talk 1:  “Social Transformatio, Where to Begin? Humility aand HOpe”
• Msgr. Jesus Romulo C. Ranada, NAPPS National Spiritual Director – Inspirational Talk
• Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga, Parish Priest, Holy Cross Parish, Gen. T.De Leon Valenzuela City, Commission on Formation Chairman, Diocese of Malolos- Speaker for Talk2: “Mary’s Life: A Model of Discernment”
• Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB,DD (Bishop of Maasin) – Speaker for Talk 3: “Care for the Environment: A Moral & Social Responsibility”
• Most Rev. George B. Rimando, DD (Auxilliary Bishop of Davao)- Speaker for Talk 4: “Prayer & Social Transformation”
• Rev. Fr. Ramon Ramos, CP, Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Sun Valley, Paranaque, Metro Manila – Speaker Talk 5: “Building the Kingdom of God thru Social Transformation”
• Ambassador Henrietta “Tita” de Villa, Chairperson, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) – Speaker for Talk 6: “Discerning for the Common Good: The Call to Clean and HOnest Elections”
• Most Rev. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD (Auxilliary Bishop of Cotabato) – Speaker for Talk 7: “Achieving Peace & Social Transformation thru Inter-Faith Dialogue”

We will be featuring the schedule of activities here later, so please check back for updates.  Thanks.

In its desire to attract more customers to their fledgling mall in GenSan, effective this Sunday, January 24, 2009, and once every month thereafter, Robinsons Place General Santos will be conducting a Family Day for shoppers.

"ROBINSONS' MONTHLY FAMILY DAY SCHEDULE"

The first Family Day this Sunday will start at 3:00pm at the Atrium or Activity Center of Robinsons.  Although it doesn’t say in the poster above, the games they have prepared is open to kids and adults, since it is a “Family” Day.

Robinsons Shopping Bags will be given out to the participants as prizes for the games.

In between the games and a Magic Show will be dance numbers from local artists XB GenSan Dance Group and an exhibition round from the MTM Taekwando Jins.

All these will be happening from 3pm to 5pm so that would keep you preoccupied if you’re in Robinsons Place -GenSan this Sunday.

By the way, management has announced that its weekly regular Sunday Mass is cancelled until after the Presbyterium of the Diocese of Marbel in February 2010 where it will be taken up for approval.

Bariles  just received an invitation from the owners of Sydney Hotel and Isla Parilla to the “soft opening” of their newest baby – the Isla Jardin Del Mar, a beach resort at Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani Province on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

"THE PICTURE FILE OF THE INVITATION TO THE ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR SOFT OPENING OF JANUARY 23, 2009"

Situated at what was once a secluded cove along the shorelines of Gumasa, right after the property of the Salazars and the Adarna’s,  the whole resort occupies a total of 34 hectares, half of which have earmarked for development.

Isla Jardin Del Mar which literally means “Island Garden of the Sea” in Spanish is managed by Charlemagne “Wanchin” Tan-Delfino.  She gushes about how the provincial Governor Migs Dominguez and Glan Municipality Mayor Yoyong Yap were instrumental in the resort’s development with their provision for a road to be built from the highway to the beach.

Why that name?  Because if viewed from the air, Isla Jardin del Mar looks like a “peninsula connected to a small island… with the cottages and a restaurant floating over two separate white sand bars.”, according to the Sarangani Provincial Office P.R. The P.R. continues:  “The pinkish white shoreline stretches and curves 750 meters, which gives one an impression that the beachfront is part of a small island”.

"TWO OF THE COTTAGES AVAILABLE FOR OVERNITE STAYING VISITORS. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFO OFC"

Each available airconditioned bamboo cottage with terrace and private bathroom may be rented out for P2,000 per day and is inclusive of free breakfast for two.  Ten more fan-equipped cottages are cheaper at P1,500 and is good for four people.  There is also a line of open cottages for those who don’t plan to stay overnite.

There is a lagoon at the other side of the road and a fish pond is being readied for fishing hobbyists.  Mountain trek activities have been arranged for would-be nature enthusiasts and the views from the hills which serve as boundaries for the property should delight everyone. Just at the other side of the road is a lagoon.

"SANDRA MATUTINO, REIGNING PEARL OF SARANGANI PLAY WITH THE PINKISH-WHITE SAND OF THE 750-METER BEACHFRONT OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR. A FEW METERS TOWARDS THE SEA BEHIND HER IS A CORAL GARDEN FOR SNORKELERS TO ENJOY. PHOTO BY COCOY SEXCION."

“There will be crabs and a fish pond in the future so we can do fishing,” Wanchin disclosed. The lagoon has a breathtaking view of a small lake and the Sarangani Bay atop the hills which serve as the boundaries for Isla Jardin Del Mar.

At the beach there is a coral garden about 25 meters from the shoreline which can be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers due to this thriving school of colorful coral fish.

So what are you waiting for?  Get that phone and contact the following numbers for your reservations:  Sydney Hotel – 552-5479 to 81 or 0910-758-1239.   Tell them Bariles sent you.

Watch out for a follow up article on Isla jardin del Mar, this time with more pictures.  Bariles and his friends will be at the opening where a Beach Volleyball competition and an SMB Beach Party with live band await them. Yey!

Bariles, our beloved author of GenSan News Online Mag is taking some time off to celebrate his natal day today, January 19th.

He will be off partying with personal friends, childhood friends, office friends, Plurk friends, Facebook friends, blogger friends and forever-friends at his brother Orman‘s mansion.  Orman is the author of Ganda Ever So Much, a funny blog that is starting to make waves.

Right now, the Capricornian, who was born on the Year of the Tiger is busy preparing the venue hoping that his Potluck Party will have enough food and drinks for everyone.

By the way, since you are a regular reader here…. you are invited to the Party tonight.

Just make sure you bring something to eat… or drink… or both.

Happy Birthday Bariles!!!

For those with high-end cellphones, Instant Messaging (or IM) and Mobile Email are now the new ways of keeping in touch with friends, family members, business associates or just about anybody who’s wired to the Internet. Since almost everyone needs to constantly stay connected with other people, doing so without missing a beat is the ultimate high!

Bariles has been doing it with his Nokia E63 which is his free retainer phone from Smart when he signed on to another two years of post-paid services.   His wish however is to get the higher model – the Nokia E72.

According to its P.R., “The Nokia E72 is a high performance device tailor-made for seamless business and personal communication – perfect for blasting emails and instant messages!”

WOW!  Now stop drooling and listen to this:

Anybody can stand a chance to win this awesome phone!

How?

By answering the following question in English and in not more than 100 words “Why would you use Email or Instant Messaging on mobile to connect with your family and friends?” in their promo site www.winNokiaE71.com/ph.

This promotion is applicable  to all Smart subscribers who activate their Yahoo! Mail via Nokia Messaging on their Nokia phone*.

Nokia Messaging by Smart Gold costs only Php 299 per month for unlimited push email on Nokia devices.

Visit the nearest SMART Wireless Center to activate and subscribe to Nokia Messaging.  Here in GenSan, the SMART Wireless Center may be found at KCC Mall of GenSan upper floor.

For details, please call *888 through your SMART cellphone or (02) 888-1111 through landline.

Four lucky winners will receive a brand new Nokia E72 each in the weekly draws.

Deadline of submission of entries will be on January 15, 2010, January 22, 2010, January 29, 2010, and February 5, 2010.  That gives everyone 3 more weeks to do what they have to do to win this must-have Nokia phone.

Good luck everyone!!!  Meanwhile, care to exchange IM names?

*To check if your phone is compatible with Nokia Messaging go to http://www.nokia.com.ph/nokiamessaging

Yes, dear readers.  You read it right.  Geoff Eigenmann, a Kapuso talent will be in General Santos City for a mall show at Robinsons Place GenSan.

This will happen tomorrow, Saturday, January 16, 2010, 5pm at the mall’s wide activity center.

"KAPUSO STAR GEOFF EIGENMANN IN HIS COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE SPREAD."

Geoff started his career with ABS-CBN and is the son of thespians Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar.  With his transfer to GMA-7 last year, he was given lead roles in their soap operas, the latest of which is “Rosalinda“.

For the Robinsons GenSan Mall Show, he will be frontacted by up and coming singer Carl Guevarra.

You must have heard the story of how a pregnant woman gave birth inside a tricycle, while on her way to the General Santos City Hospital through Fernandez Street, the hospital road from the National Highway-Gaisano junction.  The ride was so bumpy owing to the wide craters along the asphalt road causing the poor woman to have contractions, which immediately resulted to her giving birth even before reaching the hospital gates.

Whether that story is true or just one of those urban legends developed overtime, one thing is certain though.  The hospital road is definitely one of GenSan’s ugliest and almost impassable city artery.  Although it is the shortest route to the City Hospital (formerly called District or Emergency), drivers try to avoid it due to its moon-surface condition.  The craters are wide and deep and although they are constantly filled with gravel, this solution is only temporary since rain water washes them away just as fast.

But now, we have good news for everyone.  The GenSan Hospital Road or Fernandez Street is now fully concreted!

"The newly concreted hospital road, Fernandez Street."

Finished at the cost of P6.26 million, including the construction of a drainage system, the whole concreted road measures 700 linear meters and stops right the the corner turning right to the hospital entrance and about 10 meters ahead to the GenSan City Water District Building.

Other than that, the first batch of 11 million worth of Hospital equipment from the Department of Health has arrived and turned over to city officials yesterday.  This was through the initiative of Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Mayor Jun Acharon who were present at yesterday’s presentation of the following equipment:

• 1 unit Radio Fluoro X-ray 500 ma with film processor  – P 4.6 million
• 2 units Operating Table @ P480,000 each -  P 900.000
• Mobile X-ray unit 300Ma  -  P1.56 million

For delivery anytime this month are the following:

• 1 unit Generator  -  P2.45 million
• 2 units Operating Room LED lights @ 785,000 each -  1.57 million

"GENSAN CITY MAYOR JUN ACHARON, HOSPITAL EO DESIGNATE RONALD GONZALES INSPECT THE P1.56 MILLION MOBILE X-RAY WHICH WAS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY HOSPTAL AS PART OF THE 11 MILLION WORTH OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE DOH."

Noteworthy is the delivery of the Generator Set within this month at because that will pave the way for the full use of the Intensive Care Unit of the GenSan Hospital.  The 400 KVA genset can reportedly service a whole city block and once this happens, the hospital patients and workers can expect an uninterrupted power supply 24/7.

According to City Mayor Jun Acharon, once the ICU is operational, this strenghten’s the city’s bid to be elevated from being classified as Secondary Hospital currently to being a Tertiary Hospital.

With these in place, and many more improvements on the GenSan City Hospital coming up, we can only hope for a better services coming from them.

"CONGRESSWOMAN DARLENE CUSTODIO WITH GENSAN HOSPITAL OFFICIALS AND STAFF DURING THE INSPECTION OF NEW HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE DOH. ALSO IN PHOTO ARE CITY ADMINISTRATOR MAR DOSPUEBLOS, HOSPTIAL CHIEF DR. ARVIN ALEJANDRO, RONALD GONZALES, DR. HERCEDA, ASSISTANT HOSPITAL ADMIN ZENY ETURMA, AMONG OTHERS. "

If you have been a frequent traveller along the GenSan National Highway near the East Asia Royale Hotel for the past two months, you must have noticed this conspicuous presence of an establishment which is undergoing frenzied construction right beside the 18th Hole Driving Range entrance alley.

"THIS MYSTERIOUS BUILDING ALONG THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY BESIDE THE 18TH HOLE DRIVING RANGE WILL BE GENSAN'S NEWEST DINING COMPLEX"

The two-story building, now almost nearing completion sits in a half-hectare lot beside the Mabuhay I.T. Park at the back end.  Reportedly owned by a consortium led by Mitchy’s Car Accessories, Davao City’s Chimes and   Davao Golden Hardware, among others, the edifice will house various dining establishments meant to cater to the AB market of Soccsksargen.

One is them is reportedly Cafee Firenzo, a Davao-based coffee shop which also has two branches in the Durian City and a branch in Tagum City.  Read Davao blogger Blogie Robillo‘s take on the place by CLICKING HERE. Blogalag’s blog post can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

Other occupants of the 1480 square meter available space of the building include fine-dining restaurants to be put up by more investors from Davao.

Only one existing local GenSan restaurant will be joining them, having passed the standards and requirements of the building owners.  This distinction goes to “Gusteau’s Shrimps and Crabs“, which GenSan News Online Mag featured last year.  The resto is one of the many along the famous dining strip in Lagao -Tiongson Arcade.  Take a bow, owner Allan Lopez.

Although we still have no idea on the identities of the other establishments in this new GenSan restaurant complex which, according to Bariles’ source, will be unveiled on April 2010,  Bariles is hoping that it would include a Thai Restaurant, an authentic Japanese restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant, a purely seafood restaurant (to cater to non-pork eaters) and a resto-bar with a nightly band.

But whether they materialize or not, and whatever new dining haunts would fill in this new GenSan restaurant complex, this new development will surely strengthen the Tuna Capital’s bid to be the entertainment and dining capital of South Central Mindanao.