BusinessWeek Mindanao (January 9-10, 2013 Issue)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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Cagayan de Oro City

Issue No. 148, Volume III •

Wednesday-Thursday

Now every Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays

January 9-10, 2013

P15.00

Market Indicators As of 5:56 pm Jan. 7, 2013 (Monday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P40.89

6,044.91 points

X X Briefly 2 cents

73.46 points

Cooking demo

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10, with the Department of Education (DepEd) and city local government on Dec. 27, 2012 held a training on Pangasius Filleting, Cooking Demo and Taste Testing to various restaurant owners and food processors in Barangay Bulua, here.

There are several reasons why such training was conducted according to Irwin Jayson Jamaca of DTI-Misamis Oriental. The three top most purposes are to serve the need of restaurant owners for fish fillet; decrease imports of Pangasius, popularly known as “cream dory,” this is also based on the data from restaurant proprietors wherein there is a market for one ton per week; lastly, make use of local skills and make available additional income opportunities for locals in the city.

Kalahi-CIDSS

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Caraga closed the year 2012 with a near-perfect fund utilization for its anti-poverty project called Kalahi-CIDSS. This was learned during the project’s year-end assessment and evaluation meeting last December.

A total of P135,771,894.53 was utilized by beneficiary communities from the P136,979,959.78 that was released and downloaded directly to community accounts.

“We were projecting a hundred percent fund disbursement at the start of 2012 but with the variety of sub-projects the communities are implementing, there are those that need facilitating payment of contract works,” Mita G. Lim said, DSWD Caraga assistant regional director for operation and project manager.

By NELSON V. CONSTANTINO, Editor-in-Chief with BWM News Bureau

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched on Monday the Northern Mindanao Credit Surety Fund (NMCSF) in a bid to make funds more accessible to small businesses in the region.

Fi f teen cooperat ives with total contributions of about P9.4 million signed a memorandum of agreement creating the fund, with the Misamis Oriental government pledging P2 million.

Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno led the signing ceremony which was held in time with the celebration of the province’s 83rd anniversary.

In lieu of hard collateral, the fund will serve as loan surety in favor of micro, small and medium enterprises when they borrow from banks, Bangko Sentral noted.

The fund will give cooperatives and businessmen

in need of capital something similar to a stamp of creditworthiness, and the lenders the confidence to release loans to deserving enterprises.

The credit surety fund, which started in August 2008, has been institutionalized in 19 provinces and seven cities, Bangko Sentral noted.

“The Credit Surety Fund represents our joint effort with the national government through the BSP, the private sector through the banks and the people through the cooperatives to help make more readily available loans that will accelerate growth in the entrepreneurial sector,” Gov. Moreno said. credit/PAGE 7

AIDS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS. Aside from the various local donors, foreign and international assistance keep coming in Compostela Valley through the United Nations and other agencies. photo by ben arche

Davao City eyes BPOs, real estate investments in 2013

By LORIE ANN CASCARO Mindanews

DAVAO City (MindaNews) – A number of business process outsourcing (BPO) invest-

ments and possibly some residential projects are expected investments this year, city investment promotion head Jason Magnaye said

Wednesday.

He added that the Davao City Investment Promotion Center will pursue investment promotion activities based on the updated set of priority areas as provided for in the newly promulgated Investment Incentive Code (IIC).

The Davao City Investment Incentives Code of 1994, which was amended last year, has additional two investment priority areas in the city, Magnaye said earlier. investments/PAGE 7

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Foreign aids keep coming for flood victims in ComVal

By BEN ARCHE, Correspondent

COMPOSTELA Valley -- Aside from the various local donors, foreign and international assistance keep coming in through the United Nations with agencies like World Food Program, United Nation’s Children’s Fund or UNICEF, World Health Organization, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Population Fund, International Labor Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Organization for Migration, among others.

These agencies extended support ranging from food and non-food, and even to the technical procedures and coordination management of the distribution of assistance.

Correspondingly, to fast track the province’s recovery from the destruction caused by the Typhoon Pablo in December 2012, Governor Arturo T. Uy has strengthen the coordination system by organizing a Provincial Coordinating

Team which is parallel to the clustering system of the United Nations in facilitating for humanitarian response and recovery.

The provincial team is composed of different clusters like Food & Non-Food, Health & Psychosocial, Agriculture, Emergency Telecom, Information Management, WASH, Education, Early Recovery, Infrastructure/ Shelter, Logistics, Camp Coordination & Management, Protection, Nutrition, and Livelihood.

Each cluster shall facilitate in the provision of the needed assistance of the affected families and the necessary technical measures for the immediate recovery of the province.

The move is part of the Rebuilding Program launched

by Governor Uy on December 19 which is anchored on the battlecry, “Tindog ComVal, Walang Iwanan.”

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THE BUDGET department has released P745.5 million for development and infrastructure projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under t he government’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program.

“The release complements the progress we’ve so far made

at facilitating security and development in the ARMM,” said Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad in a statement on Friday.

The Aquino government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed an agreement setting the framework for a formal peace deal in October.

The disbursement is part of the P32.29-billion worth of additional “quick-disbursing” expenditure items that the department announced last week, charged against savings and windfall revenues.

The PAMANA project is jointly implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, the Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the ARMM. It seeks to deliver critical social services to conf lict-affected and risk-prone communities in the ARMM.

Comelec deputizes electric cooperatives THE Commissions on Elections (Comelec) has deputized electric cooperatives in the country to ensure that electrical supply continues during the May 2013 elections.

Election Supervisor Cirilo F. Nala, Jr. of Misamis Occidental said Comelec Resolution No. 9597 deputized electric cooperatives, the National Power Corp. (Napocor), and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) from May 13 to May 20 this year to make sure that power supplies are assured during the election period.

Nala said that the Comelec wants the conduct of elections, canvassing, and proclamation of winners without delay.

He said the resolution also authorized cooperatives, Napocor, and NEA to shut off power supplies in areas believed to affect the conduct of the elections. (PNA)

General Motors recalls Cars, homes smarten up more than 69,000 cars at Vegas tech extravaganza GENERAL Motors Co is recalling more than 69,000 full-size trucks and vans globally that could roll away after being parked due to a potential steering column defect, the automaker said on Friday.

T he vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock a c t u a t o r g e a r, a n d could roll away after the driver has exited t he vehicle, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

GM sa id most of the affected vehicles are believed to be still on dea ler lots or in transit to dealers. It said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the defect.

Only about one in 1,000 of the recalled vehicles are expected to have the defect, it said.

About 55,000 of the

vehicles in the recall are in the United States, 6,310 are in Canada and 7,084 are exports, GM said. Another 670 are in Mexico.

Affected vehicles include cer tain 2013-model Cadillac Esca lade, Esca lade EXT and Escalade ESV SUVs; Chevrolet Express vans, Silverado and Avalanche pickup trucks, and Tahoe and Suburban SUVs; and GMC Savanna vans, Sierra pickup trucks, and Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs, GM said.

If the steering column defect is present, a driver could shift from “park ” while the key

is removed from the ignition or the key is in the “off ” position, GM said. The transmission also could be shifted out of “park” with application of the brake pedal while the key is in the “off ” position, or the key may be rotated to the “off ” position and removed while the shifter is not in “park.”

GM said the steeri ng colu m n w i l l be replaced if necessary at no cost to the vehicle owner. Letters are expected to be mailed to vehicle owners alerting them to the recall beginning January 22.

— Reuters

SAN FR ANCISCO/NEW YORK — At the world’s largest technology conference that kicks off on Monday, the most intriguing innovations showcased may be gadgets and technology that turn everyday items into connected, smarter machines.

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas promises a new generation of “smart” gadgets, some controlled by voice and gestures, and technology advancements in cars, some of which already let you dictate emails or check real-time gas prices.

Pundits have long predicted that home appliances like refrigerators and stoves will be networked, creating an “Internet of things.” With advancements in chips and the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, it’s now happening.

“We’ve been ta l k i ng about this convergence of consumer electronics and computers and content for 20 years. It will actually be somewhat of a reality here, in that your phone, your tablet, your PC, your TV, your car, have a capability to all be connected,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Despite the absence of

tech heav y weights Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp, CES still draws thousands of exhibitors, from giants like Intel Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to startups hungry for funding.

Wireless chip ma ker Qualcomm Inc’s CEO, Paul Jacobs, opens the festivities with a keynote speech on Monday, taking a spot traditionally reserved for Microsoft, which decided last year to sever ties with the show.

Jacobs said in a recent interview on PBS that he will show how wireless technology will be pushed way beyond smartphones into homes, cars and healthcare.

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Las Vegas — more than 1.9 million sq. ft. (176,516 sq. metres) — CES is an annual rite for those keen to glimpse the newest gadgets before they hit store shelves. The show, which started in 1967 in New York, was the launch pad for the VCR, camcorder, DVD and HDTV. While retailers prowl for products to fill their shelves, Wall Street investors look for products that are the next hit.

Intel and Qualcomm are expected to highlight improvements in “perceptual computing,” which involves using cameras, GPS, sensors and microphones to make devices detect and respond to user activity.

“The idea is that if your devices are so smart, they cars/PAGE 7

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Mobile to revolutionize advertising industry GLOBE Mobile President and CEO Ernest Cu expressed bullish prospects about the growing ubiquity of mobile phones in the Philippines, with mobile set to change the landscape of traditional advertising in the country.

As keynote speaker at the 2012 Mobile Marketing Conference of the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) with his speech “How Mobile is Changing the Advertising Industry”, Cu cited the strong potential of mobile as an effective medium for brands to reach target audiences.

“The mobile phone has clearly taken great prominence in the human value chain. Time Magazine’s Mobility Poll revealed that out of 5,000 respondents across 8 countries, 68% sleep with their mobile phones next to them, and 66% would

rather take their mobile phones to work instead of lunch,” said Cu. Citing an example closer to home, Cu revealed that in the Philippines, 9 out of 10 people own mobile phones, putting mobile phone penetration at its highest peak compared to any other form of medium such as TV. “Indeed, mobile is the way to go to connect with and engage today’s consumers, as well as to create a rich consumer experience that goes beyond traditional marketing,” Cu confirmed.

For Cu, the use of mobile as a channel to communicate with a target market pushes brand activation to the limits of a consumer’s imagination, citing augmented reality as an effective platform to bring advertising campaigns to life. Cu also said that mobile advertising opens creative corridors for dynamic and

GLOBE Mobile President and CEO Ernest Cu

more compelling content, capitalizing on strong visual stimulation to entice consumers further. Lastly, Cu hyped the interactivity that mobile encourages, allowing consumers to instantly send feedback, making the retail experience more relevant and meaningful.

“Mobile technology has definitely changed the way brands talk to their consumers. Because it’s so personal and powerful, it enables the unique efficiency of reaching out to very precise target markets with mobile advertising-driven campaigns hinging on the capability to profile customers and touch them directly,” and 50,000 partially damaged. Cu added.

In 2010, Globe partnered with Out There Media in launching its own mobile advertising platform My Rewards, My Globe Plus, now with over 2 million opt-in subscribers. Top consumer brands such as McDonald’s, Clear and Sunsilk have effectively used the platform to engage and establish affinity with their target consumers.

Taking the track of extensively profiling the customer, Globe is embarking on a massive USD90M IT and systems transformation that will monitor demographics, usage, product subscriptions, transactions, bill payment and behavior

of its subscribers. “As soon as we see that a customer has the propensity to top up load, to roam, or to subscribe to a promo on any given day, we can push the relevant service in an instant, to the right customer, at the right time,” Cu shared.

Cu joined internationallyrenowned industry bigwigs such Nick Wiggin, Global Head of Advertising of Huawei; Phalgun Raju, General Manager for Southeast Asia at InMobi; Joshua Maa, CEO of Madhouse China; Mark Bookman, CEO of MCN and other global thought leaders from a diverse range of industries during the 2-day congress.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) successfully conducted a one day Value Formation/Strengthening and Environmental Awareness Seminar recently.

Selected members of the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC) – Technical Working Group (TWG), people’s organizations (POs) from the province of Bukidnon and personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources participated in the seminar which was held in Cagayan de Oro City on December 27, 2012.

The activity was sponsored by DENR through the CDORBMC which is chaired by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma and co-chaired

by DENR 10 Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan and Regional Director Rene Burdeos of

the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Forester Arnulfo Osio of DENR 10 gave a lecture about the Environment while Dr. Miguela Napierre gave a lecture on Values. The one day activity was capped with a Mass which was celebrated

by Father Jose Daniel Coronel. Gising Barangay Movement National Convenor and vice-chairman of the TWG – Community Development delivered a message during the opening program. The activity was organized by the CDORBMC Project Management Office headed by Forester Fidel Gamos, Jr. Representatives of the People’s Organizations from the municipalities of Talakag and Baungon, Bukidnon participated in the said activity. The POs live near Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park which is part of the Cagayan de

Oro River Basin. The POs are also partners of the DENR in the National Greening Program (NGP).

Representatives from the POs from the municipality of Baungon, Bukidnon include the Kalangan San Vicente Farmers Association (KALASANFA), Langam Farmers Association (LAFA), Sta. Cruz Laculac Farmers Association (SALAFA) and Kalilangan United Forest Farmers Association (KUFFA). The POs from the municipality of Talakag include Sagaran Farmers Association (SAFA), Inc., Pagsabuwahan Pag-awit Hu Intunda, Inc. (PPHI), Lantud Kahibunan Igtulin Farmers Association (LAKIFA), Cosina Farmers Association, Inc. (COPA, Inc) and Liguron – Dagundalahon – Sagaran ISF (Integrated Social Forestry) Project. (ldc/denr10/rpao#01-0032013)

Bukidnon gives financial aid to ComVal, Davao Or

By Fredelyn Ragandang MALAYBALAY - The Provincial Government of Bukidnon headed by Board Member Alfeo U. Baguio of Bukidnon-3rd District delivered the P1-M check each to ComVal Governor Arturo Uy and Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon.

This after typhoon “Pablo” ravaged the two provinces and wrought unprecedented destruction on the lives and properties of the residents of said provinces. . Bukidnon was under storm signal number 3 and also suffered millions of damages on infra and agri sector. However, the damages that Pablo had caused in Bukidnon is lesser compared to its neighboring provinces of ComVal and Davao Oriental where some municipalities had been wiped out.

According to Governor Uy, the P1-M check is a big help especially that they are still in the stage of recovery and rehabilitation, and in sustaining foods for the victims who have nothing to rely on, when it comes to their source of income (Coconut producer).

The governor said that Pablo has damage to P10-B on Agri Sector and P3-B on Infrastructure; 80% of the 245 barangays were affected; 38,000 totally damaged houses

An estimated more than 1000 fatalities and more than 400 persons are still missing.

On the other hand, Davao Oriental Governor Malanyaon stated that in their province there were 406 fatalities; 3,018 injured; 22 missing; 51,763 total numbers of families affected, around 30,000 or 53% were from the 3 worst hit municipalities: Baganga, Cateel and Boston.

P8.5-B worth of Agriculture products and facilities were damaged and 30% on Coral Resources were also damaged; 132, 105 hectares of forestlands are destroyed. Approximately P333 million cost of losses on Trade and services.

Governor Malanyaon declared that all financial assistance be alloted for the construction of shelters for the TS Pablo victims. With the PGB’s P1-M check of financial assistance, most probably 12 housing units can be built out from it and it will be named after Bukidnon. Accordingly, when the construction will be finished, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental will invite the Provincial Officials of Bukidnon to formally turnover the 12 housing units.

The lady-governor thanked the PGB’s generosity and compassion in helping them ease the pain and sufferings they’re facing right now.

DENR 10 holds Environmental Awareness, Values seminar

Senate asked to approve hike of SSS pension bill Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares has urged both Houses of Congress to consider the bill increasing the monthly pension of all SSS pensioners by a maximum of P2, 000.00 as one of the priority bills Congress should pass when Congress resumes on January 21.

This is in response to the announcement that both the Senate and the House will discuss bills that will be prioritized before the congressional recess in February.

“The House of Representatives passed on Third Reading last December 15, House Bill 4365 which increased SSS pension by a maximum of two thousand pesos per month. If the Senate will also approve its pending bills increasing SSS pension, then the bills can immediately be signed into law and the increase could take place this year. Sayang at konting tulak na lang at maaabot na ang matagal nang hiling ng mga pensioners natin na taasan ang kanilang pension” said Rep. Colmenares.

“The increase will not only benefit current pensioners, but also all the other SSS members who will someday become pensioners themselves as this will effectively increase their starting pension when they retire. We ask Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Senate President Juan Enrile to include the SSS pension bills as among those bills they will give priority when we resume this month. The House has approved its version through the efforts of Speaker Belmonte and we hope the Senate will approve theirs,” the solon added.

There are various SSS bills in the Senate authored by Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Manny Villar, and Sen. Antonio Trillanes all pending before the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprise headed

by Sen. Ralph Recto.

“The passage of the SSS pension law will be of substantial help to our senior citizens many of whom continue to receive P1, 200.00 a month.

With the rising prices of food and the cost of maintenance medicine, the current SSS pension is inhuman. This will be congress’ gift to all SSS pensioners at the start of the year” said Colmenares who authored the bill at the lower house.

“The SSS has P 345 Billion in assets earning an investment income of P21-23 Billion per year and could very well afford pension increases. The P2, 000 increase in monthly pension is a far cry from the increases given to GSIS pensioners, but this is good enough for now. Congress will just have to consider further increases next Congress,” Colmenares ended.

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Banking & Finance

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Maybank donates Community Center for Sendong Victims in CdO Xavier Ecoville in CDO to house 550 displaced families MAYBANK Foundation, through Maybank Philippines, Inc. (MPI) recently finalized a donation for the Community Center at the Xavier Ecoville Resettlement Site in Cagayan de Oro for the displaced families affected by Typhoon Sendong in December 2011.

The Community Center, a 200 square meter facility at the Xavier Ecoville Resettlement Site will be the central point of activities designed to help rebuild the lives of about 550 families who lost their houses and all belongings.

Xavier Ecoville is a project spearheaded by Xavier Uni-

versity and the government of Cagayan de Oro with the support of various institutions from the private sector. It started with a 5 hectare land donated by Xavier University to the CDO government for the resettlement site.

“The Maybank Foundation is looking at the sustainable, long-term effect of the Com-

munity Center to help rebuild the lives of our fellow Filipinos in Cagayan de Oro,” said Mr. Famatigan. “We thank Xavier University for giving us the opportunity to be of service to the community.”

The Maybank Group is Malaysia’s regional financial services leader with an international network of over 2,200 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China,

PDIC files estafa charges vs couple, 86 ‘depositors’ THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) recently filed with the Department of Justice estafa charges against 88 people for allegedly conspiring to defraud the government by as much as P97.73 million.

I n it s compla i nt , t he PDIC said spouses Manu and Champa Gidwani and 86 other “depositors” were investigated and found to have gravely misrepresented themselves as insured depositors of various closed Legacy

banks.

The couple and their coaccused were also found to have falsified commercial and official documents, and thus committed deposit-insurance fraud, according to the staterun deposit insurer. The alleged crime also involved the accused filing claims for deposit insurance and receiving payments from the PDIC. The Legacy banks—12, all with a nationwide presence— were ordered closed by the Monetary Board in December

2008; another Legacy lender— the Rural Bank of Polangui in Albay province—was ordered shuttered on February 26, 2010. Their closure cost the PDIC deposit insurance fund an estimated P12 billion in deposit-insurance payments.

The banks’ failure is touted as the largest financial scam in the banking system.

The alleged fraud was discovered when a bank with a branch in the Visayas region accepted 683 “crossed checks” issued by the PDIC as deposit-

Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and the United States of America.

The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes commercial banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 45,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide.

In the Philippines, Maybank has 54 branches nationwide and has recently moved

its corporate headquarters, the Maybank Corporate Centre, to Bonifacio High

Street Central in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

insurance payments to 86 individuals who conspired with the Gidwanis in posing as the owners of accounts in the Legacy banks.

That bank allowed the checks to be deposited in a single account, despite the PDIC’s instruction that these should be “For Payees’ Account Only.”

The lender’s failure to heed the warnings and the admonitions of supervisory and regulatory authorities was tantamount to conducting business in an unsafe and unsound manner, according to the PDIC, citing Republic Act 8791 or the General Banking Law. On June 29, 2010, the PDIC issued Bulletin 2010-14, reminding member-banks to

strictly observe the provisions in its manual of regulations for banks on second-endorsed checks in relation to the payments it approved for depositinsurance claims.

Investigations showed that the Gidwanis and their co-accused maintained 471 accounts in various Legacy banks amounting to P118.19 million. These accounts were simultaneously opened and funded through checks issued by an individual or through fund transfers from a single account. Ten of the respondents who deposited a combined P20.96 million were found to be employees or household helps of the couple.

Under the PDIC Charter, all deposits in a bank maintained in the same right and

capacity of the depositor for his or her benefit, either in his or her own name or in others’, shall be consolidated into one deposit account entitled to the maximum deposit-insurance coverage—P250,000 at the time of the Legacy banks’ closure.

As co-regulator of banks, deposit insurer and receiver/ liquidator of closed banks, the PDIC is authorized to investigate and file necessary cases against erring bank officials and unscrupulous individuals. It vigorously pursues legal action against these parties that circumvent the deposit-insurance scheme for their personal benefit. The PDIC pursues erring depositors seriously to protect its deposit insurance fund.

Photo shows MPI President and CEO Hermino M. Famatigan, Jr. handing over a facsimile check to Father Robert C. Yap, President of Xavier University, to cover the expenses for building the Maybank Community Center.

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The Tale of Juan THE day that Juan remembered leaving his mom and The Financial pop’s quiet nest, striving hard to begin and stand up Doctor on his own, was his first baptism of fire.

With great delight he struck out by himself, coming face to face with his own true worth – “be financially responsible,” they said.

Then one of those days, Juan met this beauty, the girl of all his dreams. He fell head over heels, spent money to please, just to capture this young girl’s whims.

Then in one of those days, they did get hitched, and the two came together as one. Then the kids had to come and the word “budget” in haste found its way into the language of Juan.

One by one off to school they all did go and “budget” got bigger yet tighter. With school fees higher Juan finally crunched, settling then for less than the best.

As the last of the brood left school’s hallowed halls, running scat free from the lair, the couple at last did manage to catch a little bated breath of their own.

After heaving a sigh, a big sigh of relief, soon it got to be oh so clear – their minds much blunter, their bodies much weaker, and retirement seemed nearer looming out of the corner.

Time came when Juan’s earnings went short, and shorter it went still till it’s gone. Yet there he lay patiently waiting, hoping against hope for that grace called “pension.”

dr. adonis agcopra, mba, rfc®

But lo and behold, he did soon realize what he thought was enough for the real was not!

Forced to buckle his belt much tighter, a life lived in much less comfort – lived to make ends meet, for dole-outs came so scarce, and never with quite some ease. For the grownup kids had some young of their own – mouths to feed, bodies to clothe, souls to put in shelters.

So goes a tale that seemed oh so tall, yet Juan’s could’ve been so stark better! A tale so common to countless of millions, so much it’s taken for granted.

At each and every turn of the life of Juan, good foresight and preparation could have spelled that great a difference between pain and much, much comfort.

This should be what a good plan is – a helpful financial program – gets you where you should be every stage of your life, your financial goals attended. agcopra/PAGE 7

A Smart Bet THINK a minute…

In the town of Blackpool, England is a high tower almost 400 feet tall with a clear glass f loor on the top.

So when you’re up there it looks like you’re walking on air hundreds of feet high above the ground.

An English newspaper had a f unny photo of a woman at the edge of this invisible glass f loor. Her hands were covering her face as she tried to get the courage to walk on it. Even though she knew the f loor was safe, she was still afraid!

You might have f lown on an airplane before, and even though you knew the plane was safe, and the pilot was well trained, you still were nervous and scared.

Because you know there is always a chance something might go wrong!

But then, there’s nothing in this world that is perfectly safe, guaranteed with no risks whatsoever. This is true even in the simple everyday things. Any day, we can have a car or bus accident on our way to work or school; or we can find out we have cancer or some other disease; or your good, sweet little girl can get involved with the wrong guy.

But even though nothing is completely safe or riskfree, we can’t keep ourselves and our family locked away from the world so that we don’t go any where or do anything! But you know, there’s one road you can

take that’s 100% guaranteed safe and fun: to follow and live Jesus’ way - every day of your life.

You see, Jesus Christ wasn’t just a good man or teacher; and He wasn’t just a prophet. Jesus Himself said very clearly that He is God - God the Son. Jesus said that He is the One Who can forgive our sins, and He proved it - by being the only person in all of history to bring Himself back to life after being dead and buried for 3 days!

Jesus promises and guarantees you that if you’ll live His way everyday, He will always keep you safe. Even when you die, Jesus will take you through it safely, to live with Him. He will also be

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

with you now everyday to help you in all your decisions and problems. So you’ll never have to worry or fear anything again. Living for Jesus is not only a smart bet, it’s the only safe bet with your life you can make.

Just Think a Minute…

Strengthening rural banks THE role of rural banks in a predominantly agricultural country like the Philippines cannot be overestimated.

The rural banking system provides essential services in the economy, particularly in making adequate banking services available to the local communities and specialized or niche markets such as microfinance clients.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has often referred to rural banks as the “natural frontliners” in the BSP’s national program to broaden and deepen the reach of financial services to local communities.

The launching by the BSP and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) of the Strengthening Program for Rural Banks (SPR B) prov ides greater impetus to our rural banking system.

According to BSP, it is incumbent upon regulators such as the BSP and PDIC to ensure that the strength and viability of this critical segment of the Philippine banking system is sustained, especially during these challenging times.

The BSP head believes that a stronger rural banking system can be achieved by promoting mergers and consolidations between or a mong r ura l ba n k s a nd eligible strategic third party investors (STPIs).

Mergers and consolidations will result in higher capitalization, which in turn would enable rural banks to diversify their portfolios to reduce risk, fund growth and innovation, and expand their reach throughout the country. Merged rural banks are also expected to achieve economies of scale and to

attract better skills.

The SPRB has two essential components: 1. capital augmentation, and 2. regulatory relief.

T he PDIC w i l l t a k e charge of the capital augmentation and direct loan component by providing financial assistance to rural banks.

The BSP, on the other hand, will provide merger and consolidation incentives such as the conversion and opening/relocation of head offices, branches and extension offices; the waiver of penalties; and other incentives pertaining to rediscounting and emergency loans.

Without any doubt, the indispensable support of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) will be very important.

Over t he years, well-

Speaking out

IGNACIO BUNYE

managed rural banks have made significant strides as seen in the growth of branch networks, installation of ATM machines, increasing use of electronic banking, increase in deposits and loans, and a better ROE. But with the SPRB in place, the rural banking sector is projected to move forward on an even stronger footing.

The epiphany must go on WE have just celebrated the solemnity of the epiphany of the Lord, otherwise known as the feast of the 3 Kings or the 3 Magi. With this celebration we are reminded that at the “fullness of time” when the son of God was born of a woman, this God-made-man was meant not only for the Jews but all of us.

There must be a lot of drama behind this episode of the visit of these 3 magi that is largely ignored by us. That’s why it’s good that from time to time, we take the effort to study the fine print, perhaps read a good book pertinent to the matter, or consult some experts.

What can be said is that in the sweep of all the interesting and intriguing stories compiled in the Old Testament of the Bible, there must have been some people who seriously took the word of God as it was revealed in the beginning of the creation and tried to followed its indications as the signs became evident.

This was the case of the 3 magi who traveled from

distant lands to find and pay homage to the King of the Jews.

We don’t have the space here to trace the twists and turns of this event, but suffice it to say that this episode recovers the forgotten truth that the Messiah was meant for all, and not just for a few.

That is the meaning of epiphany. It’s Christ’s manifestation to all people, not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles which was the collective name to refer to all people who were not Jews, who were the chosen people.

We need to bring our understanding of epiphany to another level to refer to the fact that the Son of God who became man is not only supposed to manifest himself to all people, but also to all things and events.

In other words, we are supposed to recognize the presence of our divine redeemer, the one who saves and perfects us in our humanity and in our dignity as children of God, not only in other people, but also in things and events.

This is where we are most

negligent. While we are still way far from the ideal of recognizing Christ in every person, we can say that it is even worse when we talk about recognizing Christ in everything.

The epiphany of Christ has to go on. His manifestation to us through people and things has to continue. This time, we need to step up our attitude and skills to capture this reality.

That’s why we need to pray, to study well the doctrine of our faith which while formulated by us, men, and therefore can contain some limitations and impurities, is in substance the living and eternal word of God that never fails to bring Christ to us anytime anywhere.

We need to develop the appropriate skills of recollection, meditation and contemplation, and extricate ourselves from the web of a purely sensebased approach to knowing things, let alone, to knowing and loving God. God is the very foundation of our life and of the whole

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA universe of existing things.

We need to be able to capture this reality not only in the abstract and theoretical way, but down to the sensible and material, such that we can truly feel the presence of God and can actively cooperate in his providence.

Of course, this ideal can only be reached through stages and through an effort that is abiding. At the moment, we need to overcome certain strong and deep-seated biases and erroneous thinking that stop us from pursuing this goal.

cimagala/PAGE 7

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Cars...

Credit...

shou ld be able to k now you better and anticipate and react to your requirements,” said IDC analyst John Jackson.

This year, snazzier TVs will again dominate show space, with “ultra highdef inition” screens t hat have resolutions some four times sharper than that of current displays. The best smartphones will likely be reserved for launch at Mobile World Congress in February.

There will also be a record number of auto makers showing the latest in-vehicle navigation, entertainment and safety systems, from Toyota’s Audi to Ford, General Motors and Hyundai.

The Consumer Electronics Association has forecast the market for factory-installed tech features in cars growing 11 percent this year to $8.7 billion.

BMW, for one, already provides speech recognition that is processed instantly through datacenters, converted into text and emailed without drivers taking their hands off the wheel. The luxury carmaker also offers data about weather, fuel prices and other items.

“Automotive has been this backwater of technology for a long time. Suddenly, we’re seeing a lot of real innovation in automotive technology,” Scott McGregor, CEO of chipmaker Broadcom, told Reuters ahead of the show.

“The CSF, as guarantor, will help ease loan availability for businesses which have difficulty accessing credit. This project will help empower our small businessmen,” Moreno said.

Initiated in August 2008, the CSF is a credit enhancement scheme which pools cash contributions from participating cooperatives, local government units and partner institutions to serve as surety in lieu of hard collaterals for loans extended by banks to micro, small and medium enterprises under the CSF Program.

NMCSF seeks to improve the bankability of cooperatives and capital-short businessmen who have difficulty obtaining regular bank loans due to lack of or inadequate collateral, credit knowledge and credit track record.

Under the CSF Program, credit facilities may now be accessed even in the absence of hard collateral through the issuance of a surety cover by the CSF in favor of the lending bank.

“NMCSF is empowering our coops,” noted provincial vice governor Norris C. Babiera.

“Misamis Oriental blazes the trail in this endeavor by leading the way in Region X. This joint agreement will benefit our cooperatives and access to capital made readily available to small entrepreneurs who have difficulty complying with regular bank

from page 3

from page 1

collateral requirements. Thus, capital for our coop members is secured through this securitization,” Babiera said.

Now on its fifth year, the BSP said the CSF Program has been institutionalized in 19 provinces and seven cities nationwide. As of June 2012, BSP data disclosed 276 cooperatives and 90 non-government institutions contributing to various credit surety funds nationwide an estimated P350 million.

Investments...

from page 1 These are public-private partnership projects, and production and generation of new sources of energ y, which according to him are preferably renewable energy.

The amended IIC’s implementing rules and regulations, which was already approved by the board of directors, is yet to be signed by the mayor, Magnaye said in a text message.

Other preferred areas of new investment or expansion/diversification are agribusiness sector, tourism and recreational facilities, light manufacturing and assembly, property development, health and wellness, educational and sports facilities, environmental protection or green projects, and information and communications technology.

He said in an interview last September the new investment incentive code is more detailed such as in the preferred areas of investments, the type of projects are more particularly specified, meaning those not

included in the list cannot avail of the incentives.

For instance, for property development projects, only low cost and socialized housing, and business parks and industrial estates classified as special economic zones and IT parks, buildings and centers are listed.

Aside from peace and order, Magnaye said the stability of local laws and their consistency, meaning without gray areas, the leadership, and a faster service in business permits processing and licensing are what matter most for investors.

Busier Davao City will be busier in 2013 in terms of tourism, according to regional director Art Boncato Jr. of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11.

He cited the meetings, incentive, conference and exhibitions convention (MICECON) that will be held at the SMX Convention Center here come March.

He also said new hotels will open this year, including three- to four-star rated hotels such as the Park Inn

by Radisson near SM Lanang Premier and Kukun Hotel near Abreeza Mall.

First in Asia Pacific The Park Inn by Radisson Davao is the first Park Inn

by Radisson in Asia Pacific, said Gier Sikko, its general manager.

He said last November there are at least a hundred Park Inn by Radisson hotels in different places in Europe, Middle East and Africa that are managed by the Carlson

Rezidor Hotel Group.

“But here, this will be the first one in Asia Pacific region.

So It’s fantastic and a privilege to have an opportunity to open this one here in Davao,” he told MindaNews.

The hotel will have its softopening next month so that it can accommodate participants of the MICE Convention on March 6-9, he said.

He noted that the SM Corporation is the owner and developer of the hotel, saying, “That’s the strategic plan. They would go in other areas in the Philippines where there is growth.”

“There’s a growth in Davao.

It’s one of the most important reasons why they built a hotel here. Davao is constantly growing. It’s the city of opportunity,” he said.

He added: “And that’s a positive sign because the more hotels, the more international growth you see in Davao.

We would like to be part of that growth.” (Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews)

Agcopra...

from page 6 Ways and means you arrange, for expenses do come in due time, well-prepared or not. As in Aesop’s old tale, the ants toiled so hard for provisions to stock for winter.

And all through the while the grasshopper just went, so naïve and horsing around.

When the snowy days came the grasshopper went begging whilst the ants had food a-plenty.

In life, each of us have our choices to make – through

7

the storms we can be ant or grasshopper.

Thereafter much of the outcome is ours – either we rejoice in abundance and comfort, or suffer in scarcity and pain.

Act now! It’s time…

(Dr. Adonis Agcopra is a registered international financial strategic consultant and is client portfolio director of AFIC Meridian Consultants.

Log in towww.aficfinancialconsultants.com.)

Cimagala...

from page 6 Thus, we need to be patient, humble, simple, and at the same time, hard-working and persevering, since we need to submit ourselves to the discipline of studying, reflecting, developing the appropriate norms of piety that assures the vitality of our spirit more than our body.

We need to develop a lifestyle that gives due attention to this aspect of our life. So far, we have been negligent in this area as we tend to indulge in the sensible and material aspects of our life as well as the merely human, as in getting entangled in the technical, social, economic, political dimensions, etc.

In this present age which is marked by tremendous advances in technologies and knowledge of the sciences, it’s k ind of anomalous to realize that insofar as our spiritual life is concerned, insofar as our relation with God is concerned, we are still in the primitive or at least kindergarten stage.

8

Wednesday-Thursday I Jan. 9-10, 2013

Aggie News

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Bukidnon to promote organic farming

By WALTER I. BALANE, Mindanews

Quimba also said they will form local committees on organic agriculture at the provincial, city and municipal levels as part of the ground work for t he i mplementat ion of Republic Act 10 068 of 2010. “ T his is one of ou r major targets for 2013,” he said, although he pointed out that the provincial and municipal agriculture offices have already designated focal persons.

Bukidnon passed an organic agriculture code in 2011 patterned after RA 100068.

The code set an annual allocation of P5 million budget for organic agriculture in Bukidnon. For this year, however, only P3 million was allocated, provincial board member Ranulfo Pepito said.

Quimba said P2 million

from the budget would be spent on the education component of the program.

Pepito, the proponent of the code said the ordinance is the first in Northern Mindanao and will protect Bukidnon’s “advantage in agriculture.” “(It is) to protect and advance the right of the small and disadvantaged farmers to food security, sustainable livelihood and social equity in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” Pepito, chair of the board committee on agriculture, added in his sponsorship note for the code.

Section 14 of RA10068 defines the composition of local technical committees at the provincial, city and municipal levels.

Their task is to implement activities under National Organic Agriculture

Program in coordination with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Produc t Sta nd a rd s (BAFPS).

Mavic Hilario of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka or Pakisama-Bukidnon said it is good that the province already has its own organic agriculture code. She, however, pointed out that it still lacks implementing rules and regulations or IRR. Pepito said the Provincial Agriculture Off ice (PAO) will draft the IRR. Section 12 of the Act provides that in line with the National Organic Agricultural Program, the BAFPS sha ll submit to the National Organic Agriculture Board a plan to bring the program down to the grassroots, utilizing personnel and facilities of local government units.

The law aims to achieve cooperation not just with LGUs but also with nongovernment organizations and people’s organizations.

The country’s organic

KINOGUITAN, Misamis Oriental – FUELED to provide an alternative market for farmers’ produce through direct marketing, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) has launched three Barangay Food Terminal (BFT)

projects here last week.

Each amounting to P300,000, the BFT projects were formally turnedover to the Salicapawan K i nog u it a n Fa r mer’s Association (SaKFA) in Brgy. Salicapawan; Calubo Agrarian Reform Farmer-Beneficiaries MultiP u r pose C ooperat ive (CARFB-MPC) in Brgy.

Calubo; and the Bolisong

Unified Holistic Industries Cooperative (BUHI Coop) in Brgy. Bolisong.

According to Cora E. Balabat, BFT Focal Person, the project is primarily intended in bringing food nearer to the people. In particular, she said that it seeks to provide affordable, safe, nutritious and quality food products, wherein farmer-benefi-

MALAYBALAY City– Bukidnon will start implementing the law on organic agriculture this year with an information drive and by developing demonstration farms, provincial agriculturist Alson Quimba said.

agriculture law stresses the policy to “promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs.”

Hilario said Pakisama had submitted a proposal to the PAO for a P3.5million project for the development of demonstration farms among organic farming practitioners in their network to be used in the advocacy. As of January 4, she said the prov incia l government was yet to respond to the proposal.

Quimba cited in a n ea rl ier i nter v iew w it h MindaNews that they are working with Pakisama in The ceremonial cutting of ribbon signals that the BFT their organic agriculture projects of the DA will mobilize the economy in the program. municipality of Kinoguitan.

ciaries would have greater access to be directly linked to their respective consumers.

In effect, this would warrant increased income among farm-producers by reducing trade layers as well as guaranteed stable prices and supply of food commodities in the market. Additionally, the BFT project fosters community

3 food terminals launched in Kinoguitan town

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involvement among group members with the possible creation of employment opportunities for food repacking, processing and delivery to retail outlets.

With the newly installed BFTs in the municipality of Kinoguitan, Balabat ended by posing a challenge to the farmerbeneficiaries, that is, to properly and sustainably run the project into a successful one. After six

months of operating the BFT, she reported, that the benefiting association and cooperatives may qualify in the Search for Outstanding Food Terminal, wherein P500,000 awaits for the winner.

For the year 2012, DA10 through AMAD has awarded a total of 31 BFTs throughout Northern Mindanao.

Also in attendance during the turn-over ceremony were the local government unit staff, headed by Municipal Mayor Danilo A. Lagbas, Jr. and Vice Mayor Constantino S. Llesis, Sr., Sanggunian Bayan members, SaKFA, CARFB-MPC and BUHI Coop officers and members, DA-10 staff, among others.

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Wednesday-Thursday I Jan. 8-9, 2013

Energy Regulatory Commission executive director, said because “those who enjoy lifeline discounts are determined based only on their consumption” there is no way to identify the intended targets of the subsidy.

At present, regulators prescribe a 100 percent discount on the electricity bills for consumption below 21 kilowatthours a month in Meralco’s franchise area.

Consumption between 21-50 kilowatt-hours, 51-70 kilowatt-hours, and 71-100 kilowatt-hours were granted discounts of 50 percent, 35 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

This means even condominiums and other residences that are hardly inhabited or are using minimal electricity also enjoy the subsidy.

“We will have to work with the regulator and the legislators on that,” Reyes said.

Over 2.1 million Meralco customers are estimated to enjoy lifeline rates. This accounts for nearly half of the utility’s residential customers.

Shang Properties sells stake in Caylabne Bay Resort operator THE property development arm of Malaysia’s Kuok Group has sold its shareholdings in the owner and operator of a resort in Cavite.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Shang Properties Inc said it agreed to sell its 35 percent stake in Exchange Properties Resources Corp (EPRC), which businessman Luis Juan Virata chairs. No other details were disclosed.

Shang Properties’ stake in EPRC gave the listed real estate firm interests in the Caylabne Bay Resort project, which is situated in a 160-hectare

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Condo owners enjoying subsidized electricity MANILA - Unknown to them, consumers are subsidizing the electricity use of those rich enough to buy condominiums they hardly use.

Oscar S. Reyes, Manila Electric Co (Meralco) president, said there is a need to distinguish beneficiaries of subsidies because even those who can afford otherwise are enjoying so-called lifeline rates.

“The lifeline rates were intended for lower income consumers. But because it is kilowatt-hours based, there are a number of parties, let’s say those na may-ari ng mga condominiums, who are in that bracket,” Reyes said.

Lifeline rates pertain to below-cost tariffs that supposedly poor consumers pay for their electricity use, with the difference shouldered by the non-poor. The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 mandated the subsidy for 10 years but the government in 2011 extended this for another 10 years.

Francis Saturnino C. Juan,

Property

property in Ternate, Cavite.

In 2007, Edsa Properties Philippines Inc and Kuok Philippine Properties Inc merged to become Shang Properties.

One of the assets of Kuok Properties during the consolidation was its stake in the resort.

Shang Properties is a developer of luxurious residential projects such as One Shangri-La Place, St. Francis Shangri-La Place, The Shang Grand Tower and Shang Salcedo Place. It also owns the Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong and The Enterprise Center in Makati.

SM Prime opens fifth mall in Chicago of China SM Prime Holdings Inc., the country’s largest mall developer and operator, recently opened SM City Chongqing, its fifth mall in China. Located in Southwest China, it is the country’s fifth shopping mall in China after SM City Xiamen, SM City Jinjiang, SM City Chengdu and SM City Suzhou.

Known as the Chicago of the East, Chongqing is one of the four municipalities directly under the Central Government of China after Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou.

An economic center upstream of the Yangtze River, Chongqing’s 3,000 years of history highlights the broad and deep Bashu culture, where the foundation of prosperity is rooted.

Today, Chongqing has several economic and technological zones and is a major railway hub. The city also boasts of cultural heritage and natural attractions, and is the starting point of the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the impressive scenery of China’s Three Gorges.

The 149,080-sq-m six -level mall is located in Chongqing’s rapidly developing Yubei district. With its strategic location and transport accessibility, the mall will serve a population of approximately 30 million residents in the city of Chongqing.

SM City Chongqing’s exterior design features “fish scale” panels accented

SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy at the mall’s glass curtain and Yubei District Mayor Yulin Huang (fourth from left) and SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy (third from left) shared honors in the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand launch of SM City Chongqing. They are shown with SM Prime Holdings Chief Finance Officer and Executive Vice President Jeffrey Lim, Chongqing Commerce Commission Vice Director Guohua Chen and SM Store President Jorge Mendiola.

by lighting “fish scale” overlaps. Slanted glass panels define entrances at the lobby, giving customers a grand welcome.

Customers get a grand welcome as they enter as beige tones create a warm, cordial and clean feeling.

Huge skylights not only give customers a sense of awe, but also provide the mall with natural lighting, making it environmentfriendly.

Navigating around the mall is easy, as the plan-

ning of retail shops focuses on the circulation f low. A dazzling array of beautiful exhibits of goods can be seen through either sides of the mall lobby to enhance the shopping experience.

With 85 percent of the mall awarded to various tenants, SM City Chongqing offers a mix of local and international stores w it h Va ng ua rd Supermarket, SM Department Store and Wanda Cinema as its anchor tenants. Junior anchors include Vera

Moda, Ongly, Jack & Jones, Watsons, Starbucks and Kidswant.

SM Cit y Chongqi ng is the sixth SM mall to be opened by SM Prime this year after SM City Olongapo in Zambales, SM City Consolacion in Cebu, SM San Fernando in Pampanga, SM City General Santos in Cotobato, and SM Lanang Premier in Davao.

SM Prime now has a total of 51 malls in the Philippines and China.

Waltermart, SM forge joint venture agreement SM has partnered with the Waltermart Group of Companies.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SM Investments Corp said the conglomerate, through

subsidiaries SM Retail Inc and SM Prime Holdings Inc, entered into a joint venture agreement with the Waltermart Group. No details were disclosed.

“We cannot provide de-

tails yet as the [joint venture] agreement signed today is subject to due diligence and further negotiation,” Jeffrey Lim, SM Prime executive vice president, said.

Like SM, Waltermart

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is engaged in the shopping mall and supermarket businesses. It has established its presence in Makati, Quezon City, Paranaque, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Paranaque, according to its website.

The SM group is the country’s largest retailer and shopping mall operator.

At-end September, SM Retail had 193 stores, consisting of 46 department stores, 37 SM Supermarkets, 34 SM Hypermarkets, and 76 SaveMore stores.

SM Prime operates 46 malls in the country with a combined gross floor area of 5.5 million square meters. Including its five malls in China, SM malls have a combined gross floor area of 6.3 million square meters.

The SM Group is also in the business of real estate development, banking, hotels and convention. Aside from its core businesses, the SM group also has interests in mining, infrastructure, and geothermal energy.

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11

It’s Got To Be MEME!

by OWEN JAEN

Children enjoying last slides for 2012 at the public playground in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City, near Kiosko Kagawasan. Photo is taken, December 31, 2012 Photo by VINCENT TOM UDASCO

Do you know what’s a ‘meme’?

Lately, this internet byword has become increasingly popular.

A meme (pronounced as meem) is actually anything that goes viral or extremely popular such as an idea, concept or behavior that is spread from one person to another within a culture.

Lately online memes are gaining so much web exposures courtesy of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Memes range from videos, photos, captions, emails and blogs. In the Philippines alone, internet memes are a staple on Facebook. Try checking your FB news feed and you will see at least one or two memes posted by your online friends.

This can be in the form of the famous photo of Donya Angelica Santibanez of Marimar Fame asking Facundo (her aide) to do mostly unbelievable, hilarious and comically absurd things. Or perhaps you will see familiar stick drawings of movie stars, politicians and sports athletes in a satire comic sketch generated from one of the most popular meme site, 9gag and its

contemporary- Reddit.

These sites contain a treasure trove of popular memes worldwide ranging from the hilarious to something of the weird kind.

What’s the purpose of a meme? A meme is a way of grabbing people’s attention through humor. When a meme gets viral (spreads fast over the internet on extremely rapid pace), it becomes embedded in local culture and stays there for quite a while.

People who illicit the same response from the meme or have shared reactions or abominations create a connection albeit over the worldwide web. To some extent, memes are a useful way to get messages across although in a funny way.

Just recently, memes are generated to create a “marketing buzz” or media hype of certain products and brands by certain strategists and ad agencies.

This form of promotions is quite new in the country but it is catching on because we Filipinos are known to have a great sense of humor and laugh at almost anything.

However, some memes have

the tendency to backfire after it has gone overboard and considered no longer funny.

And since memes are a way for a culture or a society to form a sort of bond through shared concepts and common ideas, sites such as Facebook allows people to interact, connect and converse by way of commenting, sharing and liking the humor brought about by a meme.

Going back to the Donya Santibanez mentioned as an example, the meme has attracted so much buzz that it has earned a spot as one of the most trending topics on Twitter and has gained quite a huge following on Facebook.

The reason for this meme’s rise to fame is the familiarity of the Filipinos to the character being parodied and our penchant for catchy one-liners.

For 2013, which meme will rise to the occasion? It is still too early to tell but if you keep on regularly updating your FB newsfeeds, it will pop out and reveal itself eventually.

May you all have a great and wonderful year ahead!

H e r e ’s t o t h e g o o d l i f e , Cheers!

Paulo Avelino live at the Centrio Mall

K

apamilya actor, model, and tv host Paulo Avelino tickles the fancy of his Kagay-anon fans in a mall show at the Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, January 6.

The actor is better known as the character Nathan Montenegro in the recently concluded ABS-CBN hit teleserye walang Hanggan.

Avelino grabbed the 2012 Gawad Urian for best Actor Award for his performance in the film “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” together with veteran actress Jean Garcia. In 2009, Paulo starred in the movie “Aswang” with Lovi Poe. Photos Courtesy of Vincent Tom Udasco

Last year, we honored Mindanao’s homegrown businesses...

This year, let the Investors from outside the island who helped propel Mindanao’s economy for decades be recognized...thus,

present

RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT - This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Business Leaders Awards was undertaken last year to give due recognition to the achievements of various Mindanao business leaders and entrepreneurs in various categories of homegrown corporate and individual business leadership achievements.

- This year’s search is aimed at giving honor and recognition of excellent business leaders in the investors’s category.

- BusinessWeek Mindanao as a forerunner of information on economic leadership and entrepreneurial achievements of non-Mindanaoan corporations and businessmen, deems it a part of its social responsibility to trumpet the achievements of these pillars of Mindanao’s economy, for others to emulate and thus propel an awareness for the business potential that Mindanao offers in every economic and business investment plan, whether small or great.

-We are helping Mindanao achieve sustainable development of its economy through these humble efforts.

MISSION & VISION OF THE AWARDS - The holding of BWM Awards annually serves as catalyst to the ongoing efforts of business leaders and entrepreneurs who seek greater heights and strive for success in the noble mission of propelling Mindanao and its people towards full economic growth and sustainable development.

For INQUIRIES CONTACT:

(088)856-3344, (08822)74-53-80 | 09274795196 (Allan Mediante) businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

Mechanics of the Search: Duration of the Search Awards Night

: :

January 15, 2013 to May 15, 2013 June 1, 2013

Entry Requirements: 1. Individual and Company/Establishment nominations shall be accompanied with Nomination Forms available on-line at the Sponsors Website, offices of sponsors, or in the printed page of Businessweek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily issues or may be mailed, if requested, by the Awards Secretariat 2. Nominees or candidates in various categories shall be nominated by BusinessWeek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily Bureaus; individuals, organization or groups not employed by or connected to any of the nominated person or firm .

3. Nominations shall be accompanied by the ff documents which can be mailed, or emailed to the awards secretariat - MINDANAO BUSINESS LEADERS AWARDS 2013 Secretariat, Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa St., Cagayan de Oro City,not later than May 15, 2013.

4. Brief Resume and History of the Nominee (Individual or Firm) - Photos (at least 3) ; Nomination Form ; Documentary evidence such as certificates, awards or citations

MEDIA PARTNERS :