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Friday, August 31, 2007

NEWS ARCHIVE August 2007

Labels: ARCHIVE

Drug pusher nabbed

OLONGAPO City – A drug pusher was arrested by operatives of the Drug pusher was arrested by operatives of the Drug Enforcement Group of the city police in a buy bust I Barangay Sta. Rita Tuesday night.

City police director Senior Supt. Angelito Pacia identified. The suspect as Gilbert Merano, 32, of Domingo Ext., Barangay Gordon Heights, this city.

A team led by Insp. Julius Javier arrested the suspect after selling a plastic sachet of shabu worth P200 to a poseur buyer. Police recovered three more plaxric sachets of shabu from the suspect who face drug charges.

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL
Johnny R. Reblando

Labels: arrested, Drug Enforcement Group, drug pusher

8 held for illegal gambling in ‘Gapo

OLONGAPO City – The Police Station 3 arrested Sunday night eight persons in raid at the Mini Fair on Magsaysay Avenue and the PAg-Asa Public Market.

Police said they raided the area after minors were allowed to place bets on color games.
The gambling den was allegedly operated by Jong of Barangay San Nicolas, Zambales and Rey of Bulacan.

Police confiscated four tables for color games, 12 pieces of drop ball and P 1,500. The suspects face illegal gambling charges.

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL
Johnny R. Reblando

Labels: arrested, eight persons, pag-asa

5 small Subic villages to be demolished

SUBIC, Zambales – Five more sitios in Barangay Cawag here are set to be dismantled due to the ongoing expansion of Korean giant shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.

Gov. Amor Deloso, in a meeting with local leaders Tuesday, said sitios Nagyantok, Nagtulong, Kabitaogan, Kinabuksan, and Silangin must be go for the “progress and development of the province.”

The five small communities are occupied by fishermen, upland farmers and members of the indigenous Aeta tribe.These areas are also part of Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio town where some 1,000 families reside.

Deloso forewarned Hanjin Company, SBMA and other offices allied with the project to take necessary precaution, adhere to laws and observe human rights in the area.
“Huwag ninyong partisan ang nangyari sa Sitio Agusuin kung saan nilansag ang baryo sa marahas na paraan at parang hayop na itinaboy ang mga residente doon,” Deloso warned authorities.

Sitio Agusuhin, home to some 460 families, was dismantled by alleged forces of the government, including forest rangers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
The displaced residents claimed “they were brutally dumped in sleep and dirty beside the company site.”

Alberto Salcedo, leader of Samahang Nagkakaisang Residente ng Agusuin, said the P18 million fund allocated by the company for the displaced residents was mishandled and a huge part of it was reported missing.

PEOPLES JOURNAL
By: Johnny R. Reblando

Labels: demolished, five small communities, subic

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

PRODUCTION OPERATORS
MACHINE ENGINEER
ARCHITECT
INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIAN / MECHANIC PERSONNEL
LICENSED ELECTRICIAN
COMPANY DRIVER
PAINTER
FABRICATION WORKER
INJECTION OPERATOR
TRAINEE TEAM LEADER

Labels: Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

BCDA eyes extension of project deadline

CLARK, Pampanga -- The government-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it is considering a request of Japanese contractor for a 54-day extension of the deadline for the completion of work on the Clark-to-Tarlac segment of SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

BCDA said, however, that it will see to it that "the interest of government is protected in this R21-billion project."

BCDA President and CEO Narciso L. Abaya said: "The bottom line is that government is not being shortchanged or placed at a disadvantage when the BCDA board would grant the request of the contractor, Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel Joint Venture (HTNJV).

"The government’s interest is paramount in our talks with the contractor," Abaya said.

The BCDA board is evaluating the contractor’s request and reviewing costs and legal implications related to the possible extension of the project schedule, he also said.

Earlier, the BCDA chief announced that the 43.27-kilometer Clark-to-Tarlac segment is already 95 percent complete, and this percentage completion "constitutes substantial compliance with the contract" by the Package 2 contractor.

As of yesterday, the entire 43.27-kilometer Package 2 roadway is being subjected to "punchlisting," a technical term for conducting a quality checklist for every 20-meter sub-segment covering the entire distance.

"If the findings show that the work done is not up to specifications, BCDA will call the attention of the contractor and require him to conform with the approved technical specifications of the project," Abaya said.

This strict quality control program has one goal: Make sure that the contractor delivers the 43.27-kilometer road according to world-class standards.

The BCDA chief said that this final quality check on completed work is a requirement that has to be complied with before BCDA’s acceptance of the project from the contractor.

He noted that quality control checks and corresponding repairs may be completed before the end of October. (Fred Roxas - Manila Bulletin)

Labels: bcda, clark, sctex

GMA firm on bid to make Clark mega logistics hub

Orders drafting of EO allotting 300 hectares for airport expansion

By FRED ROXAS - Manila Bulletin

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – President Arroyo has directed the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) to draft an executive order in connection with a plan to regain a 300-hectare area which would be used for the future expansion of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

Earlier, the area was allotted by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) as site for the proposed Central Business District, but this was turned down by the President.

CIAC chairman Nestor Mangio said that the President is firm on her plan to convert the Clark into a mega logistics and services hub in Asia.

Mangio said the 300-hectare area would be used as sites for cargo terminal, warehouses, buildings, and logistic center for the airport complex.

"The President instructed us (CIAC) to draft an executive order to seal the 300 hectares for CIAC," he said.

"Anyway I told the Clark Development Corporation, any economic benefit for CIAC will redown to the benefit of the parent company," Mangio said.

He also said that the approved 2005 master plan for the development of DMIA is now being studied by Synergy, a Chinese consortuim, to update the plan and tailor it to the proposal.

"But most likely, it is using the same master plan, layout, especially for the terminal, the taxiways which cannot be removed from the master plan, as well as those runways," he said.

Mangio also said the Chinese consortuim will submit by the end of this month a proposal which includes a low-fare terminal or Terminal ll which would be expanded so as to accommodate at least two million passengers, and another expansion at the other side will increase it to five million passengers.

He said that the existing terminal cannot accommodate the influx of passengers being transported by the low-cost air carriers using DMIA.

"So this will serve as the Interim Legacy Carrier Terminal which would be use for the long-haul flights," he also said.

"But after that, we will do the main terminal, which will be the Premier Gateway, and that proposal will come at the end of September," he said.

Mangio said that the Premier Gateway will accommodate some 10 million passengers, announcing that the Chinese consortuim will fund the project at no cost to the government.

Synergy has offered to fund the project at no cost, no loan, no guarantee and equity, he said.

He said that cost of the project could reach .6 billion for the main gateway, and the other terminal expansion could cost about R2 billion.

Labels: cdc, clark, dmia

Philippines Clamps Down On Imported Vehicles

Komfie Manalo - AHN News Writer
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in central Philippines on Thursday ordered stringent measures on the importation of vehicles, three weeks after an anti-smuggling task force destroyed 18 smuggled vehicles.

Armand Arreza, administrator of SBMA said the new measures were aimed at stamping out illegal activities in the port. The new rule requires importers to obtain clearance from the Bureau of Import Services and provide details of shipment brought into the Freeport.

He adds that a private auditor was hired by the SBMA board of directors to conduct real-time audit of goods entering and leaving Subic.

"The idea behind these measures is to introduce a more effective means of merchandise control," Arreza explained.

According to Arrreza, the stringent measures would prevent smugglers from misdeclaring or undervaluing their cargoes.

At the same time, a special investigative committee was created to probe any SBMA officials and employees who assists smugglers in their illegal activities.

Labels: arreza, auditor, sbma, smuggling, subic, vehicles

AES subsidiary commits to pay Masinloc bond

Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. yesterday said it will deliver the performance bond equivalent to 2 percent of its winning bid price of $930 million for the 600-megawatt Masinloc coal-fired power plant in Zambales next month.

Masinloc Power received a certificate of effectivity on the sale of the power plant in Zambales from Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

PSALM handed the certificate to Masinloc Power, a unit of the AES Group of the US, two weeks after it issued the notice of award on Aug. 14.

Masinloc Power is required to deliver the performance bond to PSALM within 10 days after receiving the certificate.

PSALM also issued the final transaction documents for the sale of the Masinloc facility, including the asset purchase agreement and the land lease agreement. The documents were signed by PSALM president and chief executive Jose Ibazeta on Aug. 22.

A statement said PSALM and Masinloc Power are expected to complete their documentary requirements within 60 days from the effective date for the closing of the transaction.

Ibazeta expressed confidence that the Masinloc power facility would be operated efficiently.

“We’ll be working in the next two months to close the transaction and operate the plant as if it was built yesterday,” said Masinloc Power representative Matthew Bartley.

Masinloc Power is a limited partnership established in the Philippines to invest in and hold power production and electric generating facilities in the country. Its parent company, AES Corp., is listed in the New York Stock Exchange.

Masinloc Power on July 26 posted the highest offer of $930 million for the Zambales-based power facility. All bid prices exceeded the $650-million price ceiling set by the government. Alena Mae S. Flores - Manila Standard Todat

Labels: Aboitiz Power Corp, aes transpower, masinloc, psalm, zambales

Thursday, August 30, 2007

SUBIC, Zambales: Residents are up in arms over the failure of the Subic police

SUBIC, Zambales: Residents are up in arms over the failure of the Subic police
and town officials to stop the growing popularity of girlie shows and prostitution in Barangay Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales. The clubs are located along the national highway and are a stone’s throw away from the Subic police office and the municipal hall. A resident who asked not to be named said that club owners are openly promoting the shows, including girls taking a shower in front of an audience. “Sobrang lantad na sila kung mag pashow, hindi na sila natatakot,” he added. The Manila Times called Police Supt. Cezar Jocob; head of the Subic Police, but he was out of the office. Among the nightclubs reported offering bold shows are Kalesa’ Club Ma-el, Hot Line, Chicuitita, Churatcha, Pepekaka. The Zambales Criminal Investigation and Detection Team based in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City, has also been reported to shy away from the clubs.

THE MANILA TIMES
Anthony Bayarong

Labels: subic, zambales

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST
RADIOLOGIC TECHNICIAN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
FABRICATION FOREMAN
MACHINIST
STOCKCLERK
CUSTOMER RELATIONS PERSONNEL
SALES / MARKETING PERSONNEL
DESIGN ENGINEERS
CASHIER
RECEPTIONIST
OFFICE ASSISTANT
NAUTICAL ENGINEER
HOUSEKEEPING
ASSEMBLY WORKER

Labels: Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

PONDO SA INFRA PROJECTS SA BARANGAY STA RITA, APPROVED SA COUNCIL!

Aprubado na nang Sangguniang Panlungsod ang pondo para sa apat (4) na infra-structure projects sa Olongapo. Sa regular session na isinagawa kamakailan lamang sa mosyon ni Kgd. Anselmo A. Aquino na co-sponsored sina Kgd. Edwin J. Piano at Kgd. Rodel Cerezo ay binalangkas at pumasa na sa council ang Resolution Nos. 91, 92, 93 at 94 (series of 2007).

Ang mga lansangan at daluyan ng tubig sa Barangay Sta Rita na nangangailangan ng pagsasa-ayos ay batay sa rekomendasyon ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. sa Committee on Engineering and Public Works na isama ang mga ito bilang priority projects bilang tugon sa mga pagbaha na narararanasan ng mga residente ng barangay.

Sa bisa ng Resolution No. 91 (series of 2007), in-aprubahan ang halagang One Million Two Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Three Pesos and Forty three Centavos (P1,267,323.43) para sa concreting of road sa Cristobal Street Baltazar Street, Sta Rita.

Ang Resolution No. 92 (series of 2007) ay nag-aapruba naman sa pondong Two Million Two Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Forty Eight Pesos and Nineteen Centavos (P2,249,548.19) laan para sa concreting of road and construction of drainage system sa Magiting Street, Del Rosario Street-Dead End, Sta Rita.

Ang Resolution No. 93 (series of 2007) ay nag-aapruba sa halagang One Million Seven Hundred Forty Seven Thousand One Hundred Eleven Pesos and Eighty Four Centavos (P1,747,111.84) para sa Asphalting of Road sa Camia Street, Sta Rita (Filtration Street-Amapola Street).

Halagang Four Million Thirty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Six Pesos and Ten Centavos (P4,038,376.10) rin ang inilaan para sa concreting of road and construction of drainage system sa Cristobal Street, (Sta Rita Road-Cristobal Extension) Sta Rita batay sa Resolution No. 94 (series of 2007).

Umabot sa mahigit Nine Million Three Hundred Two Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Nine Pesos and Fifty Six Centavos (P9,302,359.56) ang pondong inilaan ng Pamahalaang Lokal ng Olongapo sa apat (4) na priority projects na sisimulan ang implementation sa mga susunod na araw.

Pao/rem

Labels: Aprubado, pondo, projects, Sangguniang Panlungsod

80 ESTUDYANTE NG GORDON COLLEGE, PASADO SA LICENSURE EXAMS

Walumpong (80) Nursing Graduates mula sa Gordon College ang nakapasa sa Nurse Licensure Examinations na ibinigay ng Board of Nursing and Professional Regulation Commission noong nakaraang buwan ng Hunyo sa Lungsod ng Maynila.

Buong pagmamalaking ibinalita ni City Administrator Ferddie Magrata sa Flag Raising Ceremony ng mga city officials at employees sa Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Hall ang 80 bagong Registered Nurses (RN) na produkto ng Gordon College.

Animnapung porsiyento (60%) ng Nursing Graduates ng Batch 2007 ng Gordon College na kumuha ng naturang pagsusulit ang nakapasa, mas mataas sa 48% na national board passing rate.

“This is proof that Gordon College truly offers a quality education”, pahayag ni Magrata.

Samantala, narito ang mga bagong Registered Nurses ng Olongapo:

1. Aguimatang, Myra B.
2. Almazan, Alma E.
3. Alvarado, Julie Ann P.s
4. Andrada, Jealanie A.
5. Arcala, Jennifer A.
6. Ballao, Ruby Ann G.
7. Barnedo, Richard Allen G.
8. Belino, Maria Angelica M.
9. Beltran, Rose Ann A.
10. Buguina, Daryl M.
11. Burlaza, Rovelyn F.
12. Cabral, Kris Ann C.
13. Calbone, Joyce L.
14. Carandang, Maria L.
15. Carbonel, Theresa O.
16. Cordova, Katherine M.
17. Corpuz, Marvic B.
18.Cruz, Shiela Roselle D.
19. Cunanan, April C.
20. De Castro, Anthony Raye A.
21. Dela Peña, Christine Grace L.
22. Del Rosario, Roselyn G.
23. Delos Angeles, Judith E.
24. Delos Reyes, Leah R.
25. Dinglasan, Evangeline R.
26. Ducil, Jennifer M.
27. Dumayas, Shenna L.
28. Elicerio, Ruth D.
29. Elomina, Jonald M.
30. Evangelista, Eric D.
31. Ferrer, Rosalyn V.
32. Fredeluces, Dianne Rose Ann N.
33. Gonzeles, Jivy V.
34. Gopez, Angelica Marie Q.
35. Guardian, Sheryl M.
36. Guerrero, Alquinn I.
37. Guintu, Bronze Ivory D.
38. Gutang, Edsel T.
39. Infante, Kristine M.
40. Jaring, Jordan N.
41. Jimeno, Janina N.
42. Juganas, Jezebelle F.
43. Laguatan, Marife M.
44. Legrama, Ann Michelle P.
45. Maaghop, Tracy Lloyd L.
46. Macalintal, Nesser M.
47. Mago, Daisy C.
48. Magrata, Marlyn M.
49. Mallari, Jerald D.
50. Mallari, Roby Charlie G.
51. Manuel, Bersalieh Q.
52. Manzano, Kristine Joy D.
53. Mata, Rachel Ann G.
54. Mendoza, Jennalyn V.
55. Mendoza, John Christopher R.
56. Menor, Michelle S.
57. Mojica, Jeffrey A.
58. Moreno, Mary Grace B.
59. Nayve, Albert JP
60. Nobles, Michelle Marie R.
61. Oconer, Joseph A.
62. Pagaduan, Rachel Joy D.
63. Rabanal, Marlon M.
64. Rabaya, Mildred P.
65. Raguine, Maroe L.
66. Raguini, Jayson Ray L.
67. Raymundo, Zyra T.
68. Rodolfo, Janice S.
69. Santos, Beverly B.
70. Santos, Emelyn V.
71. Serrano, Owen V.
72. Somoray, Every Mae
73. Son, Myrtle Joy L.
74. Soriano, Suzette M.
75. Sundiam, Ivy Celeste J.
76. Tiamzon, Robi Evert A.
77. Tomeldan, Ruby Ann S.
78. Vallo, Karen Marie J.
79. Valmonte, Jade T.
80. Viernes, Jenny Rose

PAO/jpb

Labels: 80 Nursing Graduates, gordon college, Nakapasa, Nurse Licensure Examinations

20TH AD CONGRESS, GAGANAPIN SA ‘GAPO

Napiling paglunsaran ng 20th Philippine Advertising Congress (PAC) ang Lungsod ng Olongapo sa darating ng ika-21 hanggang 24 ng Nobyembre.

Piniling isagawa sa Olongapo City ang mga aktibidad ng PAC na may tema “The New Order” tampok ang ministeryo ng mga katutubong Aeta.

Dahil sa kilala ang Olongapo at Subic na orihinal na panahanan ng mga katutubong Aeta ay angkop ang pagkakapili sa lungsod upang pagganapan ng Ad Congress activities.

Kaugnay ng Ad Congrass, kaabang-abang rin ang mga interesanteng aktibidad na magaganap sa Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Samantala, inaasaan namang ang pagkakapili sa Olongapo at Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) na venue ng Ad Congress ay daragdag sa sigla ng turismo sa lungsod.

PAO/jpb

Labels: “The New Order”, 20th Philippine Advertising Congress

MIDWIFERY GRADS NG GORDON COLLEGE, WORLD CLASS

Dinaluhan ni Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. ang 5th Pinning and Candlelighting Ceremonies ng College of Allied Medical Studies – Midwifery Program ng Gordon College nitong ika-14 ng Agosto.

Sa pangunguna ng pamunuan ng Gordon College ay matagumpay na naisagawa ang seremonya ng pagtatapos ng limampo’t pitong (57) midwifery graduates sa Olongapo City Convention Center.

Kaugnay nito ay ipinahayag ni Mayor Bong Gordon ang kanyang mainit na pagbati sa mga nagsipagtapos kalakip ang hamon na tuparin ang isinasaad ng tema ng seremonyang “ Fighting for Global Excellence in Midwifery Profession”.

Tiniyak naman ni Mayor Gordon na bagama’t ilang taon pa lamang ang Gordon College ay mayroon na itong magandang reputasyon sa paghuhulma ng mga estudyante upang maging mga “de-kalidad” na propesyunal.

Sinabi pa ng City Mayor na kaakibat ng kolehiyo ang City Government sa patuloy na pagpapatatag ng Gordon College.

“We will produce world-class graduates!” wika ni Mayor Gordon sa kanyang inspirational message.

PAO/jpb

Labels: gordon college, Jr., Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Midwifery Program

AKTIBIDADES PARA SA 107TH ‘CIVIL SERVICE CELEBRATION’ NG GAPO, RARATSADA NA!

Nakahanda na ang ‘’ final schedule of events’’ na pangangasiwaan ng Olongapo City Government sa pangunguna ng City Personnel’s Office at patnubay ni Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. para sa selebrasyon ng ika-isandaan at pitong (107th) anibersaryo ng Civil Service sa darating na Setyembre.

Sa ilalim ng temang ‘’Itaguyod ang Kasarinlan ng Career Service’’ ay bibigyang kahalagahan ang mga kawani ng Lokal na Pamahalaan ng Olongapo sa pamamagitan ng mga ‘’seminars’’ at ‘’trainings’’ na magbibigay kaalaman sa kanilang mga karapatan gayundin ang paghubog sa kanilang mga kakayahan, kagalingan at maging ng kanilang buhay pampamilya at espirituwal.

‘’It’s just and proper to pay tribute to the government officials for they fuel most, if not all, government activities,’’ wika ni Mayor Gordon.

Upang pasinayaan ang isang (1) buwang paggunita ay isasagawa ang ‘’flag raising ceremony’’ sa ika-3 ng Setyembre na gaganapin sa Rizal Triangle Covered Court at pangungunahan ng tanggapan ng City Personnel kasama ang City Library at City Livelihood Office.

Narito ang ‘’schedule’’ ng mga ‘’seminars,’’ ‘’trainings,’’ at ‘’workshops,’’ para sa mga empleyado ng City Govrnment:

August 28 – BILIS AKSYON PROGRAM (re-echo)
- by Kgd. Gina Perez

September 5 – GSIS, PAG-IBIG, PHILHEALTH
- by GSIS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig Representatives

September 6 – LEAVE ADMINISTRATION
- by Civil Service Commission

September 19-21 – VALUES ORIENTATION
- by Civil Service Commission

September 28 – WORKPLACE’S SPIRITUALITY

Magkakaroon rin ng Family Week Celebration sa ika-24 hanggang ika-30 ng Setyembre na ioorganisa naman ng City Social Welfare and Development.

Matatandaan na bago pa man mapagkayarian ang ‘’final schedule’’ para sa 107th Civil Service Commemoration sa Lungsod ng Olongapo ay inorganisa na ng Olongapo City Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (OCGEMPCI) ang ‘’free review session’’ para sa mga ‘’city government employees’’ na kukuha ng ‘’civil service examination.’’

Pao/jms

Labels: ‘’Itaguyod ang Kasarinlan ng Career Service’’, 107th Annivesarry, Civil Service

Gov’t loses P2M daily to oil smuggling

By Ansbert Joaquin - Inquirer

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE—The government is losing P2.2 million daily to oil smuggling. In the last seven months, it lost a total of P470 million.

This was revealed on Wednesday by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arreza, who said that sheer volume (of reported oil importation) gave an SBMA business locator away.

“It has come to our attention that this company brought in 193 million liters of oil over a seven-month period. When we checked based on official SBMA and Bureau of Customs audit reports, 127 million liters of oil were unliquidated,” he said.

“Meaning, what we know is that (currently) they have an inventory of about 50 million liters of oil, where are the others?” he asked.

Arreza said the SBMA audit of the companies was done annually under a customs administrative order.

In the case of the locator, the SBMA received an advance report from the BoC showing that it only paid P20 million in taxes, he said.

Measly sum

From receipt of that report, he said the SBMA worked back to see if the company could liquidate 193 million liters.

“That is when we conducted a full scale audit and we’ve seen several discrepancies. So Antonio Villar (head of the Presidential Anti Smuggling Group) filed cases against them,” Arreza said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“When a truck loaded oil at the tank farm and went out of Subic that is smuggling. Isn’t it? If they have not paid any taxes, that is smuggling,” he said.

He also said 5,498 trucks loaded at the tank farm in a span of seven months.

12 million liters

“How could that be? How did that happen?” he asked.

Arreza said material balances reconciliation from the company managing the tank farm showed that in December last year, 514 trucks loaded 12 million liters of diesel.

Officials of the SBMA locator claimed in their liquidation report that they sold two million liters to Asian International Auctioneer, a vehicle importer here in Subic, according to Arreza.

He said they wrote AIA to confirm. AIA replied that it “did not purchase any diesel fuel or gasoline” from the Subic locator.

He said an SBMA audit has placed the volume of unliquidated oil at 138 million liters.

“At P3.30 in tax per liter, the figure would reach P472 million,” he said. “And if there is an element of fraud, you multiply that amount by eight as penalty and that would reach P3.2 billion.”

Arreza said the SBMA has suspended the importation of the Subic locator and withheld its inventory of 51 million liters of diesel worth P1.7 billion in a tank farm in Subic.

Smuggling bases

“The SBMA is withholding the inventory precisely because if the company is found to have defrauded the government and fails to pay P3 billion, then its stock (of oil) goes to the government,” he said.

Villar’s task force was also investigating the smuggling of cars through the Subic and Clark economic zones.

Several luxury vehicles and sports utility vehicles that were believed smuggled through Subic were destroyed recently in a move that the government hoped would discourage smuggling.

Labels: customs, oil, pasg, sbma, smuggling, subic

SCTEx delay worsens as Japan firm seeks new extension

By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer

CLARK FREEPORT—The national flagship project Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) has suffered another deadline snag.

This happened as Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel Joint Venture (HTN) sought a 54-day extension, beginning Aug. 18, to finish the 44-kilometer Pampanga-Tarlac portion of the 94-km highway, according to an Inquirer source in Malacañang.

HTN, according to its contract, is supposed to finish that segment by Aug. 30. The entire road, worth P21 billion, is being built on a loan from the Japanese government.

The board of directors of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, the SCTEx’s proponent, met on Tuesday to discuss HTN’s request for more time, a BCDA source said.

The Palace source did not say how much money the HTN was claiming in its “arbitration case” against the BCDA. Another source said it amounted to about P500 million to cover the cost of accelerating the works.

HTN project Kunio Kimata on Tuesday did not answer the Inquirer’s calls.

BCDA president Narciso Abaya did not reply to Inquirer’s calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone.

Pacific Consultants International-Katahira and Engineers International-Nippon Koei Ltd. (PCI-KEI-NK), the project’s consultant, has reportedly ruled that HTN was “entitled” to the extension because of the “late delivery of right-of-way” at the spur road junction of the North Luzon Expressway.

That pertained to some 800 square meters of land in Mabalacat, Pampanga, which the BCDA claimed through an expropriation case against landowners who were selling that property at 10 times the old rate of P1,000 per square meter.

The source said the Pampanga-Tarlac side was over 95-percent complete as of last week, and the remaining works involved the correcting of defects and repair of damages from recent typhoons.

A Japanese engineer had sent text messages to the Inquirer as early as May to report about the “improper design of slope protection.”

The engineer said “consultant engineers hesitated to change [the design] because it [would] affect [the] completion date [and the project would be] delayed for six to eight months.”

The same source later said they were “instructed to repair damaged area in [an] improper manner [by] just covering [it] with soil without compaction.”

“[The] consultant’s concern [is] only [to complete it] on time. We don’t like to sacrifice quality,” he said.

HTN’s claim came after it withdrew its “Claim for Extension of Time No. 2” dated March 29.

Tetsuro Marui, Hazama general manager for international division, flew in from Tokyo to assure the BCDA that the consortium’s part would be finished on time, Abaya had said in a statement on April 16.

SCTEx’s other contractor, Kajima-Obayashi-JFE Engineering and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Joint Venture (KOJM), was allowed by President Macapagal-Arroyo in July to get a four-month extension up to March 2008 at no direct cost to the Philippine government.

Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, chair of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council, said he recommended the extension since Philippine agencies were equally liable for the delay in KOJM’s works.

However, an official involved in projects in Subic and Clark free ports assailed the government for constantly adjusting the completion dates and not charging the Japanese contractors liquidated damages at a cost of P5.1 million for every day of delay.

Labels: clark, expressway, sctex, subic

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

FOOD CHECKER
COOK / COOK HELPER
DRIVER / HELPER
ACCOUNTING CLERK
SENIOR CLERK CASHIER
OFFICE STAFF – SUBIC OFFICE
OFFICE PERSONNEL – ADMIN AFFAIRS
LATHE MACHINE OPERATOR / SETTER
QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
JUNIOR ACCOUNTANT
CUSTOM BROKER

Labels: Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

Central Luzon College of Science and Technology

A model in education for global competitiveness

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

A towering center of knowledge and a model institution for higher learning, with its tall buildings, state- of- the- art facilities and focused vision for quality education, Central Luzon College of Science and Technology (CLCST) or CELTECH College stands strong as the only ISO 9001:2000 accredited school in Olongapo City, and one of the biggest schools in the region with three campuses in Olongapo, Zambales and Pampanga.

CELTECH College traces its origins from the Artistic Vocational School (AVS) founded by the enterprising and illustrious Doña Helen P. Legaspi on May 20, 1959 in San Fernando, Pampanga in response to the needs of the youth in the region for quality vocational education. Through Mrs. Legaspi’s pioneering work, the AVS provided low-cost quality education to the poor and hard-working youths of Pampanga and neighboring provinces and a chance to earn a living through their new skills that would alleviate their families from poverty.

The Artistic Vocational School created a niche in vocational education when it was awarded the most outstanding vocational school in Pampanga by the Lira Pampanguena. In 1964, a demand for a bigger building to accommodate its expanding student population, led to the construction of a four-storey building at B. Mendoza Street in San Fernando which is the present site of the CLCST San Fernando Campus. By 1967, another AVS branch was opened in Angeles, Pampanga and shortly after had its commencement exercises with 205 graduates.

The school proved that it is not just an ordinary vocational school when it won First Prize in the National Hair Styling Contest in 1968.

In 1970, Dona Helen Legaspi was cited as The Most Outstanding Vocational Educator of the Philippines, owing to her dedication towards the improvement of vocational education. That same year the Olongapo City branch was opened with complete technical, vocational and secretarial courses.

Three years later, the management through the initiative of the Branch Administrator and EVP Renato P. Legaspi, Sr., acquired a lot and a building at 1860 Rizal Avenue in East Bajac-Bajac in Olongapo. It has since been renovated into a four-storey structure and now known as the Rizal Campus of CELTECH College.

In 1975, the 24 Radio Telephone and Radio Telegraphy Operator graduates successfully passed the National Telecommunications Commission 2nd Class Radio Operator’s Licensure Examination. Topnotcher on the national level was an AVS graduate, Israel Portugal, with a rating of 92.6 percent.

From 1977-2002, AVS became a consistent Champion in both the Provincial and Regional Skills Competitions in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Electronics, Electrical and Automotive Technology.

In 1981, the school pioneered the offering of Maritime Courses in Olongapo City, Zambales and Region III. By this time, the Board of Trustees had changed the name of the school to Central Luzon Technical Institute (CLTI). With a surge in enrolment, the Board, through negotiations by the EVP, acquired the former Olongapo Doctor’s Hospital in Upper Kalaklan. Now known as the Kalaklan College Campus, it has been renovated into a towering structure which houses most of its curricular programs. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, it has fully air-conditioned classrooms and laboratories, a mini-hospital, a mini-hotel, and a spacious auditorium. It also has a complete and spacious laboratory for the Automotive and Electrical Courses, a modern photo and crime laboratory for Criminology, a College Library with a 200-seating capacity soon to be equipped with its own Internet Room, and a school cafeteria which serves complete meals.

The installation of Dr. Renato P. Legaspi as the second President of the College in 1987 started an unprecedented pace of development. He traveled extensively to the United States, Southeast Asia and Canada representing the country in international conferences in education and laying down the ground work for linkages with companies, colleges and universities for on-the-job-training, scholarships and future employment.

By 1999, the school passed the International Standard Organization (ISO 9001) as certified by the Anglo Japanese American Environmental Quality System (AJAEQS) and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Society (UKAS) in London. Shortly thereafter, its two courses passed 100% compliance of the STCW 95 / CHED / IMO requirements.

In keeping with its continuing development, CLTI became Central Luzon College of Technology (CLCT) in 1999 and finally Central Luzon College of Science and Technology or CELTECH College in November, 2001.

PRESENT TIMES

CELTECH College prides itself not only for its modern facilities but more so for its highly skilled graduates annually yielding a high percentage of passers

in the TESDA trade tests in Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology and Caregiver Course, and in the Professional Board Exams in Customs Administration, Marine Engineering, Marine Transportation, Criminology and Nursing. Danilo Corpuz, a graduate of BS Marine Engineering, topped the board exam for fourth Marine Engineer Officer. Indeed, through the unyielding efforts and visionary leadership of its current College President, Dr. Renato P. Legaspi, CELTECH College aspires to be a model institution for globally competitive education.

Continually growing and keeping in step with the need to cater to the educational needs and aspirations of the youth in Region III, particularly in the Subic and Clark Economic Zone, Olongapo City, Pampanga and Zambales, the College has expanded its curricular offerings which now include BS Information Technology, BS Criminology, BS Business Administration, BS Accountancy, BS Customs Administration and Hotel and Restaurant Management. In June, 2002, the College pioneered the opening of BS Nursing in Olongapo City and Zambales.

In a span of 42 years, the vision of Dona Helen Legaspi for the school to be a leading center in the field of vocational education has been exceeded. CELTECH College today is considered a by-word in the field of education in Region III producing topnotch graduates. With Dr. Renato P. Legaspi at the helm and the dynamic Board of Trustees, the school did more than just make the founder’s vision turn into a reality. They have created a functioning model of a dynamic educational institution capable of withstanding the challenges of the times.

Manila Bulletin

Labels: celtech, clcst, college, olongapo, zambales

Pagasa insists on acquiring Doppler radars

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reiterated the need to acquire a Doppler radars, in the wake of the havoc created by the tornadoes which consecutively hit provinces in Central Luzon the past weeks.

Aside from the capability to predict the volume of rainfall during frequent typhoons, Doppler radars can see the "inside" of a thunderstorm and detect hazardous weather conditions such as tornadoes.

A tornado, or a twister, is a localized windstorm with a speed of 450 kilometers per hour, characterized by funnel-shaped, rapidly whirling cloud extending downward from the base of a dark cumulonimbus or thunderstorm clouds.

Since July 30 this year, five tornadoes have struck Central Luzon - each in towns of Baliuag, San Rafael, San Miguel, Bocaue, all in Bulacan, and one in Candaba, Pampanga.

Twisters are spawned by severe weather condition, including the prevalence of low pressure area and cloudiness associated with intertropical convergence zone. These promote the formation of thunderstorm clouds, the breeding grounds of twisters.

"Central Luzon, particularly Bulacan, is not high-risk to tornadoes," said Jun Dalida, assistant chief of the Pagasa National Disaster Reduction Branch. She clarified amidst earlier reports that said province should expect more twisters in the coming days.

A total of 172 tornadoes has occured nationwide, mostly in Mindanao, since 1994, data from the Pagasa said.

On Nov. 29, 1994, a tornado struck Cotabato City and farming villages in southern Philippines, where 14 people went missing. A month earlier, on Oct. 16, three people were killed when a tornado struck an evacuation center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

On July 2, 1994, a tornado killed two children in a riverside village near Cagayan de Oro City. But the heaviest toll was recorded on June 14, 1990 when 30 people were killed when a tornado swept through a village in Manukan town, Zamboanga del Norte province.

Two Doppler radars, worth P110 million are currently at the bidding process at the Procurement Office at the Department of Budget and Management.

Once acquired, the radars will be installed in Subic, Olongapo and Tagaytay in Cavite.

The government is embarking on a grand plan, which seeks to have 10 doppler radars installed in various parts of the country by year 2010. (PNA)

Labels: doppler, olongapo, pag-asa, radar, subic, weather

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

PASG, Customs getting on each other’s nerves

Relations between the heads of the Presidential Antismuggling Group (PASG) and Bureau of Customs are showing signs of fraying.

In a news forum on Monday, Undersecretary Antonio A. Villar Jr., PASG chief, noted the delay on the part of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales in providing the PAGC with the documents it needs to build a strong case against suspected smugglers.

“I don’t know what’s taking them so long to give us the necessary documents for us to pursue the cases against suspected smugglers. President Arroyo has already instructed them to cooperate with us,” Villar said, referring to Morales.

The PASG chief made it clear that he was not blaming Morales but Morales must discipline his personnel suspected of engaging in questionable activities.

Villar said the PASG was gathering evidence for several smuggling cases and 50 percent of the cases had spurious documents. “That is why we are asking the BOC to provide us with the [original] copies,” he said.

Villar said he decided to bypass Morales and seek the help instead of Customs Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, who produced at least some of the documents.

He cited one incident in which he asked Morales for a visitation pass in connection with PASG’s operation against car dealers in Metro Manila suspected of selling smuggled vehicles.

Only the Customs chief can issue a visitation pass, which PASG agents needed to inspect the car firms.

Villar said it took Morales two days to issue the passes. When his men inspected the car shops the supposed smuggled vehicles were already gone.

“I’m not implying anything but this was the reason why I decided to coordinate instead with deputy commissioner Templo,” Villar said.

Villar also said Customs released highly taxable goods worth at least P100 million without the correct duties and taxes.

The goods were seized by PASG agents who raided a warehouse in Tondo last Friday.

Villar said Monday that a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) was served to the warehouse owner, Ran Property and Management, after a monthlong surveillance confirmed the presence of contraband in at least two warehouses in the compound.

“I gave the owners of the contraband 72 hours to present proper documents to prove that their goods are not smuggled. After my men swooped down on the warehouse, not one of the owners of the goods showed up, hinting that they, indeed, are into some kind of illegal activity,” Villar said.

The PASG agents also invited for questioning 22 Chinese nationals who were manning the warehouses.

The aliens were not able to produce proper travel documents and would be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for proper action.

Among the contraband were chemicals, agricultural produce, electronic items, toys, DVD players, sleepers, RTW, hardware, and personal items such as towels and blankets.

Villar said the goods had no bill of lading, packing list, corresponding entries, gate pass and Customs official receipts which must be acquired before any shipment of goods is considered legally imported.

Villar said the importers of the goods, particularly the foodstuff, should have complied with the proper requirements such as clearance from the Bureau of Food and Drugs, certificate of product registration, accreditation from the Bureau of Product Standard for marking duty, country of origin, import permit from Sugar Regulatory Administration and National Food Authority and should have the approval of the International Compliance Certificate.

Villar said Customs allowed the PASG to exercise its visitorial power over the warehouses.
By Jefferson Antiporda and William B. Depasupil - Manila Times Reporters

Labels: customs, pasg, subic, villar

Put smugglers behind bars, says PGMA

By Miriam P. Aquino - PIA

San Fernando City, La Union -- The government's resolve to put an end to the perennial problem of smuggling in the country brings all parties responsible for this misdeed in hot seats.

Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to destroy the 18 confiscated vehicles worth P30 million, to which the Bureau complied by using four backhoes in crushing these said cars into shreds at the Subic Bay Economic Zone impounding compound.

This action shows a strong indication that the government is serious on putting an end to smuggling in the country.

The President though, assured that destruction of these smuggled vehicles doesn't mean withdrawing the cases filed against those who are responsible but pursuing for their prosecution.

She even added that these smugglers and their protectors will be barred from future auctions and eventually putting them behind bars.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said that this kind of action by the government will continue as smuggling brings government loss from P64 to P65 billion in annual potential revenues.

Fiscal authorities are hoping that these implemented measures to eradicate smuggling would boost revenues and help the government to slash the budget deficit from January to July this year at P39.4 billion, and hopes to patch up the P63 billion deficit by yearend. (PIA La Union)

Labels: customs, smuggling, subic

Olongapo education exec suspended

By: Jeffrey C. Tiangco - Journal

THE Department of Education (DepEd) meted a 90-day preventive suspension on an education official in Olongapo City who was implicated in the so-called “teacher position for sale racket.”

Assistant District Superintendent Naomi Arzadon was suspended after a fact-finding team from the DepEd central office found “prima facie” evidence against her.

Arzadon, aside from administrative charges, is also facing grave misconduct before the DepEd’s legal department headed by Education Undersecretary for legal affairs Atty. Franklin Sunga.

Sunga said Arzadon’s suspension was dated July 5. He, however, did not confirm if the preventive suspension was immediately enforced.

Earlier, it was learned that Arzadon filed a motion for reconsideration and even allegedly asked for a reassignment.

But Sunga said an official accused of such charges could not seek any reassignment to prevent him or her from “tampering with case papers and influencing the conduct of the investigation.”

Arzadon’s case stemmed from a complaint filed by Judith Olayvar Pasustento, an applicant for a teaching position, who accused the former of demanding P25,000 in exchange for a permanent teacher position.

“We’re still waiting for her (Arzadon) formal reply to the charges (administrative and grave misconduct),” Sunga said.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, for his part, disclosed that he approved Sunga’s recommendation for Arzadon’s preventive suspension.

Lapus added that Arzadon’s case will be heard at the national level by a committee since her position is under the jurisdiction of the DepEd central office.

Labels: arzadon, deped, suspended

Who's sabotaging PASG?

By: Jess V. Antiporda - Journal
SHORT of sabotaging the Palace-initiated campaign against smugglers, the Bureau of Customs appears to have thrown a monkey wrench into the operation of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group to stop it from carrying out the directive of President Macapagal-Arroyo to help raise more Customs revenues and jail Aduana crooks.

Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. has complained that on several occasions, the Customs officials had refused and even disregarded the President’s direct order to assist and cooperate with the PASG in eradicating smuggling.

Villar Jr. said that although he is not blaming Commissioner Napoleon Morales for the recent botched operation against suspected smugglers of luxury cars in Metro Manila, he complained that BoC officials took all of two days before releasing the Customs documents he had requested.

“Because of the delay, all the targeted smuggled luxury vehicles had already been replaced with tax-paid local brand cars when we raided the place,” he complained.
Customs insiders had briefed Villar about the “strong possibility that some people in the Office of the Customs Commissioner could have easily tipped off the smugglers.”

“Hindi maganda na bintangan ko na merong Hudas na pumo-protekta sa smugglers dahil may bilin sa amin pati si Secretary Gary Taves na magtulungan kami ni Commissioner Morales upang masugpo ang smuggling at mga katiwaliang nangyayari sa loob ng Aduana,” Villar told the People’s Journal.

“I don’t know what took them so long to give us the requested Customs documents. But even with the explicit instructions from the President we are not really getting any help from Customs,” Villar told media men at the weekly Kapihan ng Bayan forum yesterday.

The PASG chief suggested that Morales discipline some his personnel who are involved in questionable activities.

“We are now in the process of completing evidence against several smuggler and we found out that half of the cases involved fictitious documents. This is the reason why we have requested the BoC to provide us with even photocopies of some Customs documents,” Villar said.

Already tired of waiting for Morales, who seems to be “freezing the ball,” Villar had decided to seek the help of Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, who is in charge of the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG).

Last week, PASG and NBI operatives raided 22 Customs bodegas inside the old PNR compound in Tondo, Manila, where government agents also arrested 22 undocumented aliens hiding inside the warehouses containing suspected smuggled goods from Customs.

Villar gave the bodega operators 72 hours to present Customs tax receipts and other documents showing that the goods were legally imported into the country.

Reports said that the 22 Tondo bodegas were the same Customs-bonded warehouses raided by Morales and his Customs policemen last year. Customs insiders said that if the report was correct, how come Morales failed to do his job by closing down the smuggler’s bodegas?

Customs insiders also claimed that the same bodegas are protected by “Super Mario,” said to be the bagman of a crooked Customs official

Labels: customs, pasg, smuggling, subic, villar

Villar cites lack of cooperation

DESPITE President Arroyo’s orders, the Bureau of Customs has failed to coordinate and cooperate with the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, PASG chief Antonio Villar Jr. said yesterday.

Villar said the agency has not provided the PASG with documents it has been asking since last month that would help in its anti-smuggling drive.

“I don’t know what’s taking them too long to give us the necessary documents for us to pursue the cases against suspected smugglers. President Arroyo has already instructed them to cooperate with us,” Villar said at the weekly Kapihan ng Bayan forum sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The PASG chief, however, made it clear that he is not blaming Commissioner Napoleon Morales, adding there was need for him to discipline his personnel, who are reportedly engaging in illegal activities.

Villar said he cannot see any reason why the BOC failed to give them the documents.

“In fact, we are only asking photo copies of these documents which we can use to pursue our case,” he added.

“We have been completing evidence against several smuggling cases and 50 percent of the cases we have reported turned out to have fictitious document, which why we are asking the BOC to provide us with certified copies of their original,” Villar said.

Villar disclosed that Customs Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo managed to provide them with some of the documents they need.

He cited one incident when he asked Morales for a visitation pass in connection with PASG’s operation against car dealers in Metro Manila that are being suspected selling smuggled cars.

The visitation pass is require for the PASG to inspect car exchange firms.

The BOC commissioner is the only person authorized to issue them.

Villar said it took Morales two days before he could issue the passes.

So when they tried to inspect the car exchange shops, Villar claimed that the owners manage to remove the suspected smuggled vehicles they earlier saw.

“I’m not implicating anyone but this was the reason why I decided to coordinate instead with Templo, who also heads the Bureau Intelligence and Enforcement Group,” Villar explained.

He added that the PASG is also receiving strong support from the Federation of Philippine Industries, headed by Jesus Arranza, which an organization that is helping the government in its anti-smuggling campaign.

By: Jess V. Antiporda - Journal

Labels: pasg, smuggling, subic

Jazz Fans are Clamoring for Charmaine

Rene Villaroman - Asianjournal.com
LOS ANGELES -- FilAm jazz vocalist Charmaine Clamor, who has combined American jazz with indigenous Filipino instruments and the song structure of the traditional kundiman (Filipino torch song) into a fusion called "jazzipino", is set to wow jazz cognoscenti in two back-to-back concerts at Hollywoodâ€™s Catalina Bar & Grill on August 31st and September 1st.

Ms. Clamor, who was introduced to L.A. jazz fans in the 2nd Filipino American Jazz Festival held at Catalina Bar last year, will release her second CD by Freeham Records entitled “Flippin’ Out”. One of the songs from this CD, “Minamahal Kita”, has already attained regular airplay on radio station KCRW (L.A.) and music critics from New York to L.A., and from Canada to Australia have predicted that Clamor and “Flippin’ Out” as the next breakthrough jazz and world music artist.

Clamor’s second CD contains songs like “Candy”, “Be My Love”, “I Hadn’t Anyone ‘Til You”, and a riveting rendition of U2’s “With or Without You”, showcases a new world music genre that Ms. Clamor has dubbed “jazzipino”.

“Her music is a perfect bridge of two cultures, done with passion that can be heard in a voice that should be experienced in every jazz venue across the nation, if not the world,” comments John Book in Music for America. “Clamor is an asset to jazz music, and a contributor to the continued traditions of women in jazz,” Book added.

The Los Angeles Times’ Don Heckman said: “When Charmaine Clamor’s warm, luscious contralto slips into a seductive rhythm or purrs through tender lyrics, there’s no doubt that a first-rate jazz talent is present. Her debut album (“Searching for the Soul”) announced the arrival of an impressive new vocal artist.”

Charmaine was born in Subic, in Zambales province, Philippines, and started singing at age three, entertaining passengers in buses traveling to Manila—whether the liked it or not. She was raised in a home filled with beautiful kundiman, the traditional Filipino torch song. She was steeped in Ella Fitzgerald and Mario Lanza-- their songs being played constantly on radio and the turntable--Ms. Clamor was simultaneously immersed in two different but complimentary musical cultures. She loved Filipino music and American music equally, and dreamed of one day blending her two passions.

At 16, she and her family immigrated to the United States, and she graduated valedictorian in high school, and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in physical therapy. But music remained her life’s calling.

“Flippin’ Out”, a groundbreaking albums (out September 1, 2007 at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, and at Iridium in New York City on September 12th), opens with “My Funny Brown Pinay”, a startling re-invention of the familiar Rodgers & Hart tune, “My Funny Valentine”. Clamor transformed a classic love song into an anthem of native pride. Brought up in a culture that often vainly attempts to mimic its colonial Spanish and American conquerors, she celebrates her brown skin and flat nose, nudging a well-known L.A. writer to jokingly describe Ms. Clamor as “Sarah Vaughn trapped in the body of a supermodel.”

Her timeless performance of “I Hadn’t Anyone ‘til You” is her way of telling her fans that the torch singer they adore isn’t going anywhere. Ms. Clamor is backed by renowned musicians Christian Jacob on piano, Trey Henry on bass, Ray Brinker on drums—and FilAms Julius Tolentino, alto sax, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., ukulele, and Gustavo Garcia, percussion—Richard Ickard, guitar, Zaxariades guitar, percussion, vocals, and Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble.

The centerpiece of “Flippin’ Out” is the Filipino Suite, five tracks in Tagalog and Visayan, that features the kulintang, a percussion ensemble of Philippine tribal drums and gongs that have been played for centuries in the Philippines, and the ukulele, played by Hawaii-based prodigy, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., a featured artist in last year’s Fil-Am Jazzfest.

Charmaine concludes her “Flippin’ Out” CD with the first song she remembers hearing in her childhood home: Mario Lanza’s “Be My Love” in Tagalog and English.

Filipinos are not new to jazz music. This American music genre arrived in the Philippines in late 19th Century and took hold in the 1920’s, during an era of American occupation. Filipinos in and outside of the Philippines would take their love of jazz with them, and while not gaining a headway at the forefront, early Filipino jazz musicians have contributed to jazz’s popularity during the 20th century. During the last 40 years, jazz musicians like Gabe Baltazar, Nohelani Cipriano, Bobby Gonzalez and Matt Catingub have made an impact in this music genre. Even today, in its latest incarnation as “smooth jazz”, Filipinos are slowly gaining acceptance and commercial success, not just in the Philippines but also in America.

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

FACILITY ENGINEERING STAFF
PACKAGING STAFFF
ENGINEERING STAFF
TECHNICIAN
PURCHASING STAFF
INSPECTOR
ASSEMBLY WORKERS
PRODUCTION OPERATOR
MART CASHIER GAS STATION CASHIER
GAS ATTENDANT
MANICURIST
THERAPIST
OFFICE ENGINEER
CAD OPERATOR

Labels: Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

BARANGAY STA RITA BINIGYANG KOMENDASYON NG CITY COUNCIL

Kinilala ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Olongapo ang galing ng Barangay Sta Rita Rescue Team ng tanghalin itong no.1 kamakailan lamang sa prestiyosong ‘’2006 Gawad Kalasag Awards’’ sa ilalim ng kategoryang ‘’Best Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council.’’

Sa bisa ng Resolution No. 99 (series of 2007) na may titulong, ‘’A Resolution Congratulating and Recognizing Barangay Sta Rita for Winning the Regional Gawad Kalasag as the Best Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council in Region III,’’ sa mosyon ni Kgd. Rodel Cerezo ay partikular na binigyang komendasyon ng konseho ang ipinakitang kahandaan ng team pagdating sa emergency response and humanitarian assistance sa barangay.

Sa resolusyon ay pinapurihan rin ang Sta Rita Rescue Team personnel na may mataas na dedikasyon sa serbisyo at pagresponde sa mahigit halos lahat na emergency situations at emergency calls gayundin ang pag-responde ng team sa mga karatig-barangay kung kinakailangan.

‘’Ang karangalang tinanggap ng Barangay Sta Rita ay hindi lamang pagkilala sa iisang barangay bagkus ito ay pagkilala sa buong Olongapo,’’ wika ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr.

Maliban sa Barangay Sta Rita ay sumasailalim na rin sa disaster management, preparedness and response training sa pamamagitan ng City Disaster Management Office (DMO) ang iba pang barangay sa lungsod upang sa gayo’y maka-agapay sa mas mabilis na pag-responde sa nasasakupan nito.

Matatandaan na kamakailan lamang ay kinilala rin ang galing ng Olongapo sa dalawang kategorya ng Gawad Kalasag kabilang na ang ‘’Best Highly Urbanized City Disaster Coordinating Council’’ at ‘’Best Government Emergency Responders’’ (GOERS) sa pamamagitan ng Olongapo Fire and Rescue Team (OFRT).

Pao/rem

Labels: Barangay Sta Rita Rescue Team, Kinilala, Sangguniang Panlungsod

PAMPUBLIKONG SASAKYAN SASAILALIM SA BODY NUMBER CODING

Inaprubahan na ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Olongapo ang Resolution Number 101 Series of 2007 na sumosoporta sa implementasyon ng “Body Number Coding for Public Utility Jeepneys” nitong ika-8 ng Agosto.

Sa panukala ni Kgd. John Carlos delos Reyes ay ipinasa sa City Council ang adapsyon ng dating Resolution for the Experimental Implementaion of the Body Number Coding for Public Utility Jeepneys.

Nilalayon ng Resolution No.101 na makatulong upang maibsan ang bumibigat na daloy ng trapiko sa lungsod dulot ng dumaraming mga sasakyan.

Binibigyan din ng naturang resolusyon ng isang araw na pahinga ang mga pampasaherong jeepney kung saan ay tinatayang limampu (50) sa mga ito ang hindi papasada kada araw na magiging malaking kontribusyon naman sa paggaan ng daloy ng trapiko.

Samantala, narito ang detalye ng Number Coding Schedule:

Body Number Days Off
J01 001 – 050 Monday
J01 051 – 100 Tuesday
J01 101 – 150 Wednesday
J01 151 – 200 Thursday
J01 201 – 250 Friday
J01 251 – 270 Saturday
J11 001 – 030 Saturday
J11 030 – 080 Saturday

Naniniwala naman ang Office of the Traffic Management and Public Safety (OTMPS) na sa pagkakapasa ng naturang resolusyon ay mas mapagbubuti nito ang lagay ng trapiko sa lungsod gayundin ay mas masisiguro ang disiplina at kaligtasan ng publiko. Sa paglalaan din ng isang araw na pahinga para sa mga driver ay magkakaroon ang mga ito ng panahon upang masiguro na nasa maayos na kondisyon ang kanilang ipinapasadang pampublikong sasakyan.

Ayon sa resolusyon, ang Body Number coding ay magiing experimental muna at ipapatupad mula sa pagkaaproba ng resolusyon hanggang Sept. 30, 2007 lamang.

Ang pagkakapasa sa nabanggit na resolusyon ay batay rin sa rekomendasyon ni Jose Ramos, dating Head ng OTMPS.

PAO/jpb

Labels: Body Number Coding for Public Utility Jeepneys”, Inaprubahan, Sangguniang Panlungsod

ASINAN AT PAG-ASA, MAGLULUNSAD NG MINI FAIRS

Inaprubahan na ng Olongapo City Council ang Resolution Number 88 at 87 Series of 2007 na sumasang-ayon na maglunsad ng mini-fair ang Brgy. Asinan at Brgy. Pag-asa.

Matapos mailatag ang mga Barangay Resolutions No.10 at 11 na humihiling ng permiso mula sa Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Olongapo na maglunsad ng mini fair ang Asinan at Pag-asa ay inaprubahan ito ng konseho nitong ika-1 ng Agosto.

Kaugnay ng nalalapit na City Fiesta, ang mini fairs na ilulunsad ng mga nabanggit na lugar ay inaasahang makatutulong upang makalikom ng sapat na pondo ang dalawang barangay para sa pagsasakatuparan ng kani-kanilang mga proyekto.

Samantala, binigyang diin naman ng resolusyon na kinakailangang magsumite ng financial statement ang dalawang barangay pagkatapos ng mga kaganapan.

Ang nasabing resolusyon ay ipinanukala ni Kgd. Anghelito “Gie” Baloy.

PAO/jpb

Labels: Brgy. Asinan at Brgy. Pag-asa., Inaprubahan, mini-fair, Olongapo City Council

JOB OPPORTUNITY, HANDOG NG PESO

Magsasagawa ng job interview ang Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) ng Olongapo para sa mga job hunters ng lungsod sa ika-1 ng Setyembre na gaganapin sa FMA Hall, 2nd Floor ng Olongapo City Hall.

Sa inisyatiba ni Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. at sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-koordinasyon ng PESO sa Cyber City Teleservices, Phil., Inc. ay mabibigyang pagkakataon ang maraming Olongapeñong naghahanap ng trabaho.

Oportunidad bilang call center agents ang hatid ng kumpanyang Cyber City Teleservices kung saan, ang mga papalaring makapasa sa naturang job interview ay may pagkakataong maging kabahagi ng nabanggit na kumpanya.

Maaaring dumalo ang lahat ng interesadong job seekers sa itinakdang araw ng job interview bitbit ang kani-kanilang mga resume.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa tanggapan ng PESO, telephone numbers 045 – 599 – 5353 local 10335 o bumisita sa website ng Cyber City Teleservices: www.cctll.com.

PAO/jpb

Labels: job interview, peso

Monday, August 27, 2007

Texas Instruments builds $1B facility at Clark

City of San Fernando, Pampanga -- From among other regional capitals in Asia, American giant company Texas Instruments (TI) chose to locate in the Philippines, specifically at the Clark Freeport.

There must be something special about us for TI to choose us over other more developed capitals in Asia, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she recently led in the groundbreaking of the US$1B TI facility at the Clark Freeport, Pampanga.

"We have an updated education system and a labor force which speaks good English. And we are right in the center of the region, three hours away from any of the other capitals such as Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur."

The President also said that TI is "our image model for demonstrating that the Philippines is the best place for investors to locate".

She referred to Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila as the "personification that we are cutting red tape for investors" when Favila headed the team which led to TI setting up its base in Clark.

Kevin Ritchie, Senior Vice President for Technology of TI, disclosed that their company has a long history in the Philippines, having been situated in Baguio for the last 27 years.

He thanked the Favila-led team, the local officials, the US Embassy officials and TI employees who have all contributed to negotiations leading to TI locating in the Clark facility and expansion of its Baguio plant.

Ritchie said that TI will be opening 6,000 jobs by next year and for this, they shall be needing "specialized and highly skilled personnel" to man its semi-conductor operations.

As an immediate response to this need, Emmanuel Angeles of the Angeles University Foundation has offered to re-engineer the university curriculum to suit the manpower needs of TI.

The President expressed her appreciation of Angeles's proposal and made him a member of the nine-member task force formed to update the educational system – three members from government and five from the private sector.

In addition to TI, the President mentioned other big companies who have invested in the country: Marubeni which has purchased $1B power plant, Sun Power, $400M worth of solar panels and Asahi is coming in as well, with one investor triggering another.

"This is clear proof that the Philippines is now recognized worldwide as a good business environment, getting even better," the President declared.

She also instructed Narciso Abaya, chair of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), to build an interchange between the Angeles City and Porac border and to ensure that the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEp) can best serve not only investors but residents of Central and North Luzon as well. This was an offshoot of her meeting with local officials in Pampanga prior to the TI groundbreaking.

The President urged all sectors to continue contributing to a healthy business environment to ensure the coming in of TI-type investments.

Present during the groundbreaking activity were Favila, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales of the province's third district, Rep. Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin, first district, Mabalacat Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales, officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and TI. (by Eloisa P. Galang PIA-Pampanga)

Labels: clark, sctep, texas instrument

Olongapo SubicBay BatangGapo Newscenter

Friday, August 31, 2007

NEWS ARCHIVE August 2007

Drug pusher nabbed

8 held for illegal gambling in ‘Gapo

5 small Subic villages to be demolished

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

BCDA eyes extension of project deadline

GMA firm on bid to make Clark mega logistics hub

Philippines Clamps Down On Imported Vehicles

AES subsidiary commits to pay Masinloc bond

Thursday, August 30, 2007

SUBIC, Zambales: Residents are up in arms over the failure of the Subic police

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

PONDO SA INFRA PROJECTS SA BARANGAY STA RITA, APPROVED SA COUNCIL!

80 ESTUDYANTE NG GORDON COLLEGE, PASADO SA LICENSURE EXAMS

20TH AD CONGRESS, GAGANAPIN SA ‘GAPO

MIDWIFERY GRADS NG GORDON COLLEGE, WORLD CLASS

AKTIBIDADES PARA SA 107TH ‘CIVIL SERVICE CELEBRATION’ NG GAPO, RARATSADA NA!

Gov’t loses P2M daily to oil smuggling

SCTEx delay worsens as Japan firm seeks new extension

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

Central Luzon College of Science and Technology

Pagasa insists on acquiring Doppler radars

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

PASG, Customs getting on each other’s nerves

Put smugglers behind bars, says PGMA

Olongapo education exec suspended

Who's sabotaging PASG?

Villar cites lack of cooperation

Jazz Fans are Clamoring for Charmaine

Job Opportunities in Olongapo-Subic Bay

BARANGAY STA RITA BINIGYANG KOMENDASYON NG CITY COUNCIL

PAMPUBLIKONG SASAKYAN SASAILALIM SA BODY NUMBER CODING

ASINAN AT PAG-ASA, MAGLULUNSAD NG MINI FAIRS

JOB OPPORTUNITY, HANDOG NG PESO

Monday, August 27, 2007

Texas Instruments builds $1B facility at Clark

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