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CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly DE ORO
Volume 9 | No. 5 | Cagayan de Oro City | September 6-12, 2021
New campus to boost Xavier Ateneo’s health science programs, services
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HE “Campus of the Future” of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan seeks to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the new normal, becoming a testament of hope and strength in the midst of a health crisis. XU President Fr Mars P Tan SJ has underscored the crucial role of health sciences in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus, making it a priority in the masterplan of the new campus. “We firmly believe that this new campus project is what Xavier Ateneo needs to move forward to become a leading ASEAN university — more
resilient and more responsive to the needs of the new normal and beyond,” Fr Mars said. "The pandemic has shown us that we need more health programs and professionals to augment and strengthen the healthcare system in our country, so we take it as a challenge to form men and women for others as doctors, nurses, and other essential health workers to better serve the local communities, especially the poor and the less privileged,” he added. New era for XU health programs Dr Ruth Semilla-Beltran, Dean of the XU Jose P Rizal School of Medicine during the conceptualization of the
new campus, underscored the urgent need for “a stronger medical course now and postpandemic.” “This won’t be the last pandemic that we will face, especially if we don't care about our environment and climate” Dr Beltran warned. “The new campus should be an interdisciplinary learning area for the university units to help combat diseases and tackle all sorts of problems even beyond medicine." "We need to broaden our horizon,” she stressed. “This project will intensify the service-learning and primary care programs, especially in impoverished communities, as embedded in our curriculum.”
Xavier Ateneo considers the new campus as paving the way for a "new era" for its health programs, in addition to its top-performing Medicine (PAASCU Level III Accreditation) and Nursing (100% NLE passing rate for 10 consecutive years) courses. “The completion of the new campus with the concomitant improvements in infrastructure and efficient technology would transform the XU School of Medicine into a key player not just in our country, but also in the ASEAN region,” Dr Beltran noted. She added that the Campus of the Future will allow the university to offer more health-related courses and
services. “In fact, this will be the time for the university to propose and expand its health programs and offer paramedical courses, such as medical technology, pharmacy, and physical therapy, among others.” Masterson Campus and University Township In honor of the great visionary Jesuit, Fr William Masterson SJ, who foresaw the potential of Manresa in the 1960s, the new campus will be known as the "Masterson Campus.” Its main elements include an abundance of open and green spaces, the main plaza, CAMPUS/PAGE 7
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
September 6-12, 2021
Sports Tourism is Alive!
By CHARLES LIM
Viva Ronaldo! at the Old Trafford Cristiano Ronaldo's historic return to Old Trafford turned out to be a memorable afternoon as he scored not one, but two goals as Manchester United thrashed Newcastle 4-1 in an English Football League (EPL) encounter that catapulted his team to the top of the EPL table. Over an hour after the final whistle, thousands of United fans were still in the stadium
demanding to honor the Portuguese megastar with a standing ovation as he appeared to do a tv interview. Such is the devotion and admiration this typical English tribo has for a player who left them for Real Madrid in 2009. "My return to Old Trafford was just a brief reminder of why this stadium is known as the Theater of Dreams. For me, it has always been a
magical place where you can achieve everything you set your mind to," posted the 36 year old star on his Instagram. Ronaldo's transfer back to United from Juventus is a juggernaut to club and fans, but what about his fellow team mates? Will he dislodge many who are all geared up to perform well and contribute to a successful season? Will he cut
short the dream of other strikers who had hoped to be constantly on the starting eleven. Already we hear of who will be the first choice for penalty kicks? Will Ronaldo now replace Bruno Fernandez? Will mainstays like Jess Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford move away at first window that comes along, fearing intimidation and lesser roles to play in United? Will newly signed Jadon Sancho feel he made the wrong move this summer to move from Borussia Dortmund? Time will tell. United's head coach and boss, Ole Gunner Solskjaer was a teammate of Ronaldo in his debut at Old Trafford in the 20034 season. Other notable teammates who have all retired from playing includes Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Ruud
Van Nistelrooy. Almost 20 years ago under the iconic manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Gee, that seems like a long time ago, a generation perhaps. Ronaldo has scored more than 800 goals so far for club and country; out of this, 118 was from his first stint with United. Undoubtedly, he and Messi ruled the football world in Europe in the decades that just passed, as goal scoring machines. Messi sadly transferred from Barcelona to Paris St Germain this summer when Barcelona declared they cannot afford him any longer.
On the other hand, the British media hype, club dynamism and attractiveness of United will instill great interest for Ronaldo in the current league and in future seasons. His second debuting at Old Trafford will solidify his status as one of the alltime greats alongside Pele and Maradona. As he settles down - with club and family in England, cynics will scrutinize his attitude towards players and manager, commitment to the club and hints on how his playing career will RONALDO/PAGE 7
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DANTE SUDARIA Publisher MIKE BAÑOS Editor-in-Chief SUSAN P. DENNIS GEAN T. CESAR RANDY FAMACION MAI MAI SISON KLAUS DORING ANNIE GORRA RAGO WENDY RAMOS-GARCIA Contributing Editors CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Layout Artist PINKY DOMINGO Marketing KHRISTHA RIVA FELICILDA Advertising ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel The Metro CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691. TIN No. 311-982-549-000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayandeorotimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)
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Buy all you can and fly when you can to any PH destination for only PHP99 each Cebu Pacific’s 25th year celebration is far from over as the Philippines’ leading airline once again offers its innovative, first-of-itskind CEB Super Pass from September 9, until the 16th! Because CEB remains committed to enable everyJuan to fly, it is determined to welcome ‘Ber’ months in a SUPER way with this limited time offer! Made especially for Juans who value flexibility, convenience, and affordability, this 99peso (one-way base fare) is perfect for you! Whether you want to go on a vacation, or travel to visit family and friends, or even for work – CEB has you covered with the CEB Super Pass which you may use for ANY of the airline’s over 30 domestic destinations! What’s more – you can buy all you can and fly when you can – perfect as gifts to our loved ones this Christmas season! Travel period for these passes is September 16, 2021 all the way up to September 30, 2022. Passengers who have existing Travel Funds may also make use of their virtual wallets to stock up on these vouchers. “We want to keep inspiring everyJuan to look forward to traveling no matter what their
reason may be – be it for immediate travel, or for the coming months. Because the situation continues to be fluid, we know the CEB Super Pass is a timely option for guests who know they want and need to travel, but are unsure of destinations and dates. With this voucher, everyJuan is guaranteed a very affordable fare,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience. How to purchase the CEB Super Pass Purchasing the CEB Super Pass can be done in just four easy steps: all “Juan” has to do is go to http://bit.ly/CSP9-9, input the number of passes you want, add passenger names, and pay! Payment may be settled via existing Travel Funds, or other online payment options such as credit cards. Once successful, your CEB Super Pass will be sent via email, for keeping until you are ready to redeem with a final place and date in mind. How to redeem the CEB Super Pass Booking the CEB Super Pass can be done via the “Redeem CEB Super Pass” tab on the website as early as thirty (30) days before the flight’s departure or until seven (7) days before intended flight date, as long as seats are still available.
Vouchers may be redeemed from September 9, 2021 to September 23, 2022. Guests may redeem CEB Super Pass by clicking the ‘CEB Super Pass’ icon under ‘Book’ on the menu on the CEB website. A maximum of 10 vouchers per transaction is allowed, however there is NO limit to the number of total vouchers each passenger can avail until September 16 – allowing everyJuan to buy as many
vouchers as they want! “You can count on us to ensure we continue fulfilling our commitment to provide seamless connectivity and value-for-money deals so we keep enabling everyJuan to fly,” added Iyog. CEB currently flies to 32 domestic destinations, mainly from its hubs in Manila and Cebu. For more information on CEB Super Pass, visit www. cebupacificair.com
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
September 6-12, 2021
This Week in World War II History
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76th Anniversary of the Japanese Surrender in Mindanao By MIKE BAÑOS
Col. Hal Hardenbergh escorts IJA 35th Army CG Gyosaku Morozumi between ranks of the 31st Division Headquarters, Special Troops after the surrender at Malaybalay (courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.) as President of the 124th Infantry Regiment Association & posted by The History Crier, a publication of IndianaMilitary.org
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HE 8th of September 2021 should be remembered by Filipinos in Mindanao because it marks the 76th Anniversary of the official end of hostilities on the island between the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and the Allied Forces. Three quarters of a century earlier on 08 September 1945 the Japanese 35th Army signed the terms of unconditional surrender at Camp Impalambong, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Signing on behalf of the Imperial Japanese Army was Lieutenant General Gyokasu Morozumi, acting commanding general of the IJA 35th Army and commanding general of the 30th Panther (Leopard, in other reports) Division. Signing on behalf of the Allied Forces was Brig. Gen. Joseph C. Hutchinson, commanding general of the 31st Infantry Division (AUS). Under the terms of the unconditional surrender, Morozumi surrendered all the officers and men, arms, military equipment, records and supplies under his command to Hutchinson in his capacity as commanding general, 31st Infantry Division (AUS). The terms further stipulated that Morozumi would use all means in his possession to secure as early as possible the assembly of all troops under his command within the Reception Centers established by the US Army, and take action under Hutchinson’s direction to liaison with units and individuals who had not yet surrendered at that point. Not the least, Morozumi committed to report all known locations of explosives and mines, both land and water, whose presence constitute a hazard to life and property. The surrender of Japanese troops in Mindanao came five days after the official surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines on 03 September 1945 and six days after the official Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. Like the USAFFE surrender in Mindanao on 10 May 1942, the delay was due to the time it took for the official orders to trickle down south from Manila. Photos provided to the December 2002, Vol. 8 No. 12 issue of The History Crier, a publication of IndianaMilitary. org, by Mrs. Marion Hess, (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.)
in her capacity as President of the 124th Infantry Regiment Association, provide some interesting sidelights to the surrender ceremony. The 124th Regiment was one of the three organic infantry regiments of the 31st Division, along with the 155th and 167th. The unit saw intense fighting on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines in 1945,
in both English and Japanese characters) and also assure both documents were correct in form and substance. On the other hand, Hutchison looks like he has his entire staff and officers witnessing the signing behind him, while Morozumi only had his interpreter beside him. Another photo shows Morozumi escorted by Col. Hal
Brig Gen Joseph Hutchinson & Lt Gen Gyosaku Moruzumi signing the Surrender Document at Malaybalay, Bukidnon. (courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.) as President of the 124th Infantry Regiment Association & posted by The History Crier, a publication of IndianaMilitary.org
Japanese Lt. Gen. Gyosaku Morozumi signs the surrender document as 31st Infantry Dixie Division CG Joseph C. Hutchinson and staff look on Sept. 8, 1945 at Camp Impalambong, Malaybalay (courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.) as President of the 124th Infantry Regiment Association & posted by The History Crier, a publication of IndianaMilitary.org
especially in the Battle of Colgan Woods, named after Father Thomas Colgan, the Regimental Chaplain, who was killed in action while assisting wounded. On 5 June, Corporal Harry R. Harr was killed covering a Japanese grenade with his body to save those around him. For this action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Lacking artillery support and facing an entrenched opponent, the 124th advanced for six days. The unit survived two banzai charges and inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese. In the fighting, the 124th suffered 69 killed and 177 wounded. The regiment was inactivated 16 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California. The surrender rites were held in a makeshift thatched roof building at Camp Impalambong in Malaybalay, which is now Camp Osito D. Bahian, headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 403rd “Peacemaker” Brigade. According to the notes scribbled on the photo of the signing, Morozumi had an interpreter at his side to ostensibly explain to him the terms of the surrender (the surrender document was written
Hardenbergh between the ranks of the 31st Headquarters, Special Troops after the signing. The caption said Hardenbergh handpicked the troops so that all were 6 feet tall or taller so they would tower over the Japanese general! Hutchison was one of the few brigadier generals in the National Guard serving in the South Pacific War Theatre. His 21 months in combat ended Sept. 8, 1945, when he accepted the surrender of the Japanese 35th Army. His World War II military honors include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. He retired as a lieutenant general in the National Guard in 1952. On the other hand,
Morozumi was a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and served with the IJA 58th Infantry Regiment during the tail end of the Russo-Japanese War. He later served as battalion commander IJA 59th Infantry Regiment, IJA 1st Infantry Regiment, IJA 29th Infantry Regiment and IJA 65th Infantry Regiments and as commander of the Hongo Regimental District. The IJA 65th Fukushima Regiment was one of the units at the Battle of Nanking in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War and was accused of the massacre of prisoners of war following the battle’s end. Morozumi was promoted to major general and assigned to the IJA 39th Division, which was still engaged in operations on the Chinese mainland, including the Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang and the Central Hubei Operation. In 1943, he became commander of the IJA 5th Depot Division In March 1944, Morozumi was promoted to lieutenant general and was given command of the IJA 30th Division, a garrison force based in Korea. However, in November of the same year, the IJA 30th Division
Assembly of surrendered Japanese troops near the bank of Pulangui river at Lumbo or Poblacion Valencia (NARA)
was ordered to the Philippines and Morozumi was based at Surigao in northeastern Mindanao under the overall command of the IJA 35th Army. After General Sosaku Suzuki, commander of the IJA 35th Army transferred to Leyte to coordinate defenses against the invading Allies in the Battle of Leyte, Morozumi was left in command with the defenses of
supervision of the other elements under his nominal command. He was forced to surrender Mindanao by the war’s end. The 31st Infantry Division (“Dixie”) was an infantry division of the United States Army National Guard, active almost continuously from 1917 to 1968. Organized in 1917 during World War I from the national guardsmen of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, the division deployed to France in September 1918, arriving weeks before the Armistice of 11 November that ended the war. In France, it was reduced to a cadre and most of its troops used to provide replacements for units already in France. It returned to the United States in December and was demobilized in January 1919. The 31st was reorganized in 1923 with national guardsmen from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It was mobilized in 1940 during World War II, and spent several years training in the United States. In 1944 it was sent to the SouthWest Pacific Area, fighting in the
Pre-War Camp Impalambong, Malaybalay now Camp Osito D. Bahian (NARA)
the island of Mindanao, which soon came under attack by the American 24th, 31st, and 40th Infantry Divisions and the Philippine Commonwealth military including local resistance fighters. Most of his division was fed into the defense of Leyte in October to November 1944. By April 1945, his forces were split and isolated. Morozumi was officially confirmed as commander of the IJA 35th Army after Suzuki was killed in battle on April 19th. However, in practice, Morozumi largely ignored his appointment, knowing that communications were too poor to permit any real
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New Guinea campaign and in the Battle of Mindanao. On 22 April 1945, the 31st Infantry Division landed on Mindanao to take part in the liberation of the Philippines, along with units of the 24th and later 40th Divisions. Moving up the Sayre Highway and driving down the Kibawe-Talomo trail, fighting in knee-deep mud and through torrential rains, the 31st with the help of Filipino guerrillas forced the enemy to withdraw into the interior and blocked off other Japanese in the Davao area. After the end of the war the division was demobilized in December 1945.
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
September 6-12, 2021
This Week in World War II History
77th Anniversary of the US Air Raids in Mindanao during WWII
Cagayan bombed 16 times in eight months F
By MIKE BAÑOS
ROM September 9, 1944 to March 10, 1945, US Army Air Force, Navy and Marine aircraft bombed Cagayan, Misamis and its immediate areas no less than sixteen times in a span of eight months or approximately three times a month during the period. These initial air raids, along with the discovery of the Koga papers, convinced the allied forces to revise their strategy to liberate the Philippines and other key islands in the Pacific due to the weakness of the Japanese air opposition and the heavy damage inflicted on their aircraft and ground installations. Key Airfields Foremost among the targets the US airmen were eyeing during this period were the Del Monte Airfield Complex in Tankulan, Maluko (present day Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon). There were eight airfields comprising the Del Monte group, within a radius of 15 air miles of Del Monte No. 1. Three of the fields were not operational when the Japanese captured them in 1942, two being used for cold storage of planes (#5 Palais, #6 Tigiptip) and the third an old golf course abandoned as unsuitable (#2). The other five airfields were classed among the best in Mindanao with Del Monte Nos. 1, 7 and 8 among the best in the group. The three were grouped together on parallel plains and connected by a common road. A later G-2 intelligence report indicated all airfields were in operational condition as of MarchApril 1944. Also prime targets of the American bombing raids were the two airfields in Cagayan: Lumbia Airfield, a Japanese constructed pursuit field with a capacity of 20 planes, and Cagayan East (Cagayan/Patag Airfield), both utilized as fighter fields. Other Japanese air units which had access to the air corridor in the Cagayan-Bukidnon-Misamis areas were based in Zamboanga and Davao. Not the least were smaller auxiliary/dispersal airfields at Malaybalay, Valencia, Maramag, Impasug-ong, Dalwangan, and Kibawe, also in Bukidnon. By February, 1945 Japanese air power in the Philippines had dwindled due to attrition and transfers of air elements to the southern fronts or back to the homelands. There were a few sporadic flights from Mindanao but none as a cohesive fighting unit. Terrible Swift Sword The first recorded bombings of Cagayan by the returning US forces occurred on September 9-10, 1944 of which we are fortunate to have eyewitness/ primary accounts both from
The Bishop’s House and St Augustine Cathedral after the 21 October 1944 bombing of Cagayan by US bombers (Jesuit Archives Manila)
Fr Edward James Haggerty S.J. was known to the Mindanao Resistance as the Guerrilla Padre. He was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Bronze Star by the US Government for his wartime services as chaplain of guerrilla groups in Mindanao. (Jesuit Archives thru Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz). eyewitnesses on the ground and from reports filed by the attacking US airmen themselves. Perhaps the most popular, mainly perhaps because of the status of the author and the accessibility of many students to his memoirs is Guerrilla Padre in Mindanao by Fr James Edward Haggerty, S.J, Rector of Ateneo de Cagayan, then the most prestigious school at the time mostly due to the efforts of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) which owned and operated it. Haggerty describes his eyewitness accounts of the day’s events in a chapter titled “The Planes are Ours”. “It began just as I was finishing Mass-this wonderful day. A roar of planes-many planesswept over us just before the end of Mass. I turned around and told the congregation to take cover. I unvested and stepped down into a little creek which formed a tunnel. Strangely, I felt no fear this time, although from the number of planes and the nearness of the bombings I though the Japs were beginning a really systematic clean-up of guerrillas. To my amazement my boys dashed breathlessly happy down the hill to our gully. "Our planes! Our planes!" they shouted. "The Jap airfields are both on fire! The planes dived at the wharf of Cagayan! The town is on fire! Ships are exploding in the bay! " I ran up the hill, saw great black columns of smoke at the Lumbia Airfield at Kilometer Seven - then explosions at the Patag Airfield. But the planes were gone. The boys said there had been about forty of them-not like those old Jap training planes that machine-gunned us - those were real planes! “The hills around us
each had its little group who had climbed out of their hiding places as the news swept around. Even now they were jumping up and down, and cheers came from far away on the breeze.” They knew it was America's day, and in delirium they shouted over to me: "Father, Father, America has kept her promise to return." Two hours later another roar grew louder out of the east. Racing up the steep hill we counted the tiny specks rushing nearer-twelve, sixteen, eighteen, more, more, the sky full of them as they circled. We caught the glint of silver wings, the dark markings on the wingtipscarrier planes-carrier planes. They dived from all directions, and as the thick smoke rolled up they flashed in and out of it - one of the most beautiful sights, it seemed, I had ever seen. A little off to the right, I knew, was the college, and the big gymnasium that the students themselves had helped to build. It was our pride; the only one outside of Manila. From that direction the smoke was thicker, and I felt not even a pang of regret-it was the Japanese stronghold. Three hours later planes returned for another pounding. Now the whole horizon is filled with billows of smoke. For hours explosion after explosion has continued. Just now, fourteen hours after the first attack, the sky above Cagayan is aglow and a heavy black pall hangs over the area for miles. Occasionally still an explosion like a bursting shell roars out, and the flames leap high again. It has been a happy day!” The American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) in its unpublished manuscript “History of the Mindanao Guerrillas” (a copy of which was provided to us by the late AGOM President
What remained of the Ateneo de Cagayan after the American bombings of 21 October 1944 (Photo from Xavier University Museo de Oro).
Virginia Hansen Holmes), reported witnessing the flights of American planes coming over Col. Fertig’s new headquarters on the Agusan River Valley. “On 9 Sept 1944, a large formation of planes flew directly over the encampment. Some arguments arose as to whether they were American or Jap planes. Some claimed having caught glimpses of stars on the wings. Others were pessimistic having been schooled for three years in seeing always a red ball on the planes.” “But a couple of hours later, messages began pouring in from stations all over Mindanao. Friendly planes! One station reported the actual bombing practically play by play, of the town of Cagayan, capital of Misamis Oriental. From then on, American planes were continuously flying in large groups over the camp.” In the March 26, 1949 issue of the Philippine Free Press, Jose A. Bautista wrote this account from his story about Ang Katarungan, the oldest newspaper in Mindanao entitled “Born 1903-Still Going Strong:” “Then came the war on December 8, 1941, and in 1942 the Japs looted the press, and when the American bombers blasted the enemy headquarters on September 9-10, 1944, all was again wiped out.” The Blue Ghost The aircraft that Haggerty and Bautista were referring to were the fighter, bomber and torpedo planes of the USS Lexington operating from the far-away Caroline islands in New Guinea. Lexington arrived in the Carolines on 7 September for three days of strikes against Yap and Ulithi, then began attacks on Mindanao, the Visayas, the Manila area, and shipping along the west coast of Luzon, preparing for the coming assault on Leyte. Lexington's first air group (AG-16), consisted of 89 aircraft that included 32 F6f-3 Hellcat fighters (VF-16), 35 SBD-5 Dauntless dive-bombers (VB-16) and 18 TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bombers (VT-16). In the Damage Assessment Reports of fliers from the USS Lexington filed on 09 September 1944, they reported the following: two Nakajima B6N Tenzan “Jills") carrier-borne torpedo bombers destroyed on the ground at Lumbia airfield; one Topsy Mitsubishi Ki-57 and one Tabby Shōwa L2D transport planes destroyed on the ground at Cagayan (Patag) Airfield, five Nick Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu twin-engine fighters and Dinah Mitsubishi Ki-46 reconnaissance planes of the Imperial Japanese Army destroyed on the ground at Del Monte airfield; one steam roller and one truck destroyed on the ground at Maramag airfield; two army trucks destroyed at Cagayan; 10
The residence of Pastor Ilogon at Licoan suffered a direct hit from a B-25 on May 10, 1945 during the Battle for the Liberation of Cagayan de Misamis. (photo courtesy of Raul B. Ilogon) large barracks plus several other buildings destroyed at Valencia Airfield; four sampans and two other sea vessels sunk or probably sunk and damaged in Cagayan Harbor. On 10 September there were further air attacks, as well as a cruiser-destroyer raid off Eastern Mindanao coast, which caught and annihilated a convoy of 32 small freighters. FEAF/SoWesPac From October 16, 1944 to May 10, 1944 Cagayan and its immediate areas were again attacked by no less than fourteen bombing missions by various elements of the Far East Air Force, SouthWest Pacific Area (FEAF, SoWesPac) On October 16, 1944 P-38 Lightning fighter-bombers struck facilities and shipping at Cagayan Harbor, airfields and trucks at Cagayan. Five days later, seven B-24 Liberators destroyed the Ateneo de Cagayan, the Macabalan Wharf (Cagayan pier), St. Augustine Church and the Bishop’s House and Convent. Fr. Haggerty’s account of the October 21, 1944 air raid wasn’t as ebullient as his first one. “The next day, October 21st, we saw for the first time flights of Liberators. Explosion after explosion came up the wind to us. As we trotted down the road to home other flights were circling overhead. Those Liberators wrecked the town of Cagayan and its wharves. When the day was over the old transit showed our college in ruins, the century-old cathedral gone, and the lovely house of the Bishop a heap of concrete.” I wrote simply in my diary: "One group of seven Liberators destroyed in fifteen minutes our material labor of fifteen years. What is now left to show we gave her the best years of our life, unless we look into the souls of our people." A mission report filed by elements of the 22nd Bomb Group to which the B-24s belonged said “On October 21st, the government school at Cagayan [sic], doing double duty on the north coast of Mindanao, was destroyed by a wing strike.”
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The following day, October 22nd, another bombing run was conducted by 12 B-24 Liberators of the 43rd Bomb Group on Cagayan. The mission reports how “Due to extensive mechanical problems, only 12 of 18 planes sent by the 43rd made it to Cagayan, but they recorded an excellent bombing run, with seven administrative buildings destroyed in the attack. Among the target buildings was one with a red cross on the roof, which did not deter the bombing crews. One 64th Squadron airman recalled it blew up “like an oil explosion.” Apparently, the Japanese troops weren’t above using the Red Cross to camouflage vital installations and supplies but considering too the penchant of the Japanese to bait seemingly attractive targets with oil barrels which exploded with a huge fireball when bombed and strafed, leaves us uncertain as to who got the last laugh in that exchange. The last bombing raid on Cagayan and its immediate areas were conducted in support of the 108th Regimental Combat Team of the 40th Division landing on Tin-ao, Agusan (codename: Brown Beach) on 10 May 1945. A reconnaissance report lists only 15 Japanese aircraft within the immediate vicinity. The bombings commenced at 0734 Hrs. with 16 B-25s bombing and strafing Tagoloan. Each carried 12 100-pound bombs. 90% of the bombs were in the target. 16 additional B-25s hit Cagayan in the same manner with 90% of their bombs on target, starting small fires. Of the 62 sorties launched by the USAAC, USN and USMC, not one encountered a single enemy aircraft nor was any anti-aircraft fire reported by the B-25s bombing Tagoloan and Cagayan. On 12 May 1945 an allFilipino guerrilla force led by Filipino guerrilla officers from the east and west corridors of the town finally cleared Cagayan of Japanese forces. This is an abridged version of this story. For the full account, please go to https://www. metrocdo.com/2021/01/07/ sixteen-air-raids-in-six-months/
Feature
Sesame Sandwich Shop at Executive Centrum
VIP Hotel’s Comedor Real, now renamed Casa Real
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
September 6-12, 2021
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PJoe’s Diner at the Rosario Strip of Limketkai Center (photo courtesy of Mike Mendoza via Flickr)
Cagayan de Oro Dateline 2008:
Culinary Adventures in the Land of White Water A look back to the beginnings of the emerging Urban Culinary Landscape in Cagayan de Oro 13 years ago
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LREADY fast gaining a reputation as the Adventure Sports Capital of the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro looks to embellish that well-earned sobriquet as a culinary destination that can stand on its own merits and reputation. After an exhilarating day of white water rafting, zip lining and trail riding on horseback, famished adventurers have found to their delight there’s more to this “City of Golden Friendship” than adventure sports. Like its rapids and ziplines, Cagayan de Oro’s food trips offers a plethora of sensations for the picky gourmand or just plain hungry: Havelano Square (the area framed by Hayes-Velez-Abejuela and Capistrano streets) near Plaza Divisoria; the Rosario Arcade of Limketkai Center; the Masterson Mile in Uptown Cagayan de Oro in Pueblo de Oro across Xavier Estates; and for those who
don’t mind mixing with the hoi polloi, the food sections (known locally as pa-initan) in the Cogon and Carmen public markets. They say the culinary heritage of a particular locality starts with home cooking, and this is certainly one department where Cagayan de Oro would not be found wanting. Family specialties like the keseo (kesong puti) and the fresh carabao milk ice cream of Mitos Ortega are yet to be found in the commercial mainstream, but others which have their origins in family businesses such as the “VIP” siopao and fresh corned beef of the Canoy family which originally started as part of the VIP Hotel’s menu, are now produced regularly by spin-off businesses such as the Best Bake shop. In the city’s early days, there were not many specialty bake shops like Gloria Dychauco’s Pots’n’Pans, the Robillos family’s Rosita’s Bakeshop, Helen Cichon’s Merrymaid or Carol Abriña’s
The orignal Bagong-Lipunan Restaurant today
eponymously-named snack bar and bake shop. What the locals did whenever they hosted a party or celebrated a milestone was order specialties from various families like Cuala Tablan’s moist chocolate cake which you had to order personally from her residence in Mabini-Burgos street. Of course, you could also save yourself the trouble of having to hosting the event in your home by arranging it to be held in a local hotel or restaurant, but even then that was considered very expensive and only for the elite. Favored venues for this
purpose included the VIP Hotel’s venerable Embassy Hall or the smaller but definitely classier Comedor Real in the top floor. For ordinary days when its was just impossible to cook lunch or dinner at home for one reason or another, residents had their choice of either pansit guisado or sari-sari from Bagong Lipunan Kitchenette or Yee’s Restaurant, both of which continue to do thriving business in this niche in the present day of fast-food and fine dining establishments. The night life in the sleepy town of Cagayan de
Old photo of Bagong Lipunan Restaurant
Oro in those days was limited to folk houses such as the Canoy’s Shakey’s Pizza at Yacapin-Pabayo streets which was later joined by the small but often packed Bahia Jazz Bar, or live band music from Bobby Rojas’ Thrives Music Lounge in Kauswagan facing Kong Hua school, or the Payag in Gusa. There were exactly three discos: One Up! in KalambagohanCapistrano, Salamin in the posh Mindanao Hotel in Corrales-Chaves streets and Channel One in the rather distant Caprice-by-the-Sea restaurant in Gusa. Cebuano-speaking
peoples are more often than not inclined to sinugba or ihaw-ihaw during those days although not on the scale they do now. Payag in Gusa and Amakan along Pabayo street were two of the more upscale places where one could get a decent barbecue, but the more budget conscious went to Chicken a la carte along Toribio Chaves street behind the Philippine National Bank or its bigger branch at Tiano Brothers. For Magnolia ice cream or frozen delights (there was no other brand before), one went to either Ice Cream Palace
CULINARY/PAGE 7
Kagay-anon Cuisine 2021:
A Taste Of Thailand In Macajalar Shores by KELLY RAMOS
POPULAR cuisine in the Philippines is heavily influenced by the vagaries of history more than geography; the colonized adopting the taste of the colonizers. By fully embracing the tastes of Spain and the U.S.A as if they were beloved guests who have carved out their niche in our hearts and come to stay, Cagayan de Oro is living up to its hospitable reputation as the City of Golden Friendship. In the eighties, Elpie and Rose Paras had an American style café in the downtown area called Sesame Sandwich Shop. The Italian themed Paolo’s Ristorante of brother Jess and Nena Paras soon followed. The city has had her own favorites when it comes to indigenized Chinese food, the siopao from VIP Hotel and
the pancit at Bagong Lipunan Restaurant in Velez Street. And as with every town, there are well-kept recipes from private kitchens of generations past, only seen at the tables of the old families. Some of these can be classified as native Filipino cuisine, while others can be traced back to the Spanish influence: carabao milk ice cream, sikwate, binaki, pastillas de leche, banana candies, puto and yema, sans rival, brazo de mercedez, boat
tarts, budin, guinamos, fresh water pigok, bihod, and keseo. A few of these local dishes are now available commercially if one knows where to look. But the culinary landscape of Cagayan de Oro has expanded dramatically and is currently shaped by an array of established restaurants. The small town has transformed herself into a highly urbanized city in the first quarter of the 21st century. In a pre-pandemic government report, she is
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number 5 in a list of richest cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. As befitting an urban center with vast culinary offerings, Cagayan de Oro is host to an organized group of restaurateurs and hoteliers called COHARA. One of its member restaurants is a Southeast Asian-themed one known by the catchy name of Thai Me Up. This makes it the perfect opportunity for Kagay-anons
TASTE/PAGE 7
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
Pueblo de Oro breaks ground for The HUB at Bamboo Lane September 6-12, 2021
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EADING Cagayan de Oro developer Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PDO) held groundbreaking rites for its newest commercial center, The Hub at Bamboo Lane on September 10, 2021. The three-story commercial building will have an anchor grocery tenant on the ground floor with al fresco dining and commercial and office spaces on the second and third floors. Other features include car and motorcycle parking slots, and restrooms on every floor. Following the principles of “New Urbanism”, The Hub is envisioned as a community center serving the needs of residential subdivisions while avoiding the hustle and bustle of the congested downtown area. The Hub is strategically located at the junction of San Agustin and PN Roa Sr. Avenues within the valley portion of the Pueblo de Oro Township. It will give residents in villages such as Bamboo Lane, Familia Apartments, Forest View Homes, San Agustin Valley Homes, Westwoods, and other nearby communities the convenience of having everything they need only a short distance away from their homes. The Hub is part of the 400-hectare Pueblo de Oro Township, a master planned community in Uptown Cagayan de Oro City composed of several upscale and exclusive residential subdivisions, reputable educational institutions such as Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) and Corpus Christi School, the par-72 championship Pueblo de Oro Golf & Country Club, and the St. Francis Xavier church. Commercial operations at The Hub are targeted to start by the middle of 2022. For lease inquiries, please contact the Pueblo de Oro Sales & Marketing Department at 8588976.
Architect’s Perspective of The Hub at Bamboo Lane
Aboitiz Group wins Gold Stevie Award for Employer of the Year
The Aboitiz Group bagged several awards recognizing the company as a great employer by exemplifying exceptional employee engagement programs. The prestigious honors were conferred by global award-giving body Stevie® Awards. The Group took home the Gold Stevie® for Employer of the Year in the Conglomerates category and a Silver Stevie® for Achievement in Employee Engagement for its entry Aboitiz Group: Leaders as Primary Drivers of A Positive Culture of Engagement’ at the 2021 Stevie® Awards for Great Employers. “At the core of our business are our people and it will always be about our people. Their dedication and innovation enable us to stay focused on ensuring that our vital services remain
available for all our stakeholders, especially through challenging times,” said Aboitiz Group President and CEO, Sabin M. Aboitiz. “These awards affirm the unwavering commitment of our A-People as we create for ourselves the kind of environment that allows individuals to thrive both in their careers and in their personal lives.” Susan V. Valdez, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Corporate Services Officer for Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), highlighted the company’s early pivot to the digitalization of different employee activities, which kept them engaged and productive even within a virtual set-up. “With the ongoing pandemic, we had to quickly shift all our learning and development to
Sabin Aboitiz and a team member during one of the early episodes of SuperDuperCon
the virtual space and the results showed that uptake on our e-learning surpassed even the physical classes from pre-COVID. Early digital transformation had a lot to do with it but, more than that, it’s because we have an agile and engaged workforce that can adapt quickly to unexpected challenges and opportunities,” Valdez noted. “We believe the key is assuring team members that their well-being is top priority for the Aboitiz Group, no matter what. All of these are strong drivers to achieving our overall environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) goals,” she added. Meanwhile, the Aboitiz Group’s banking and financial subsidiary, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), was awarded a Silver Stevie® for Employer of the Year in the Banking category and a Bronze Stevie® for UnionBank’s Michelle Rubio as Chief Human Resource Officer of the Year. Conceived as a means to enhance public confidence and investor trust, the Stevie® Awards for Great Employers is an international business awards competition open to organizations worldwide. The awards recognize the world's best companies to work for, and the HR teams, professionals, achievements, new products, and suppliers that help create and
Aboitiz Group CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz welcomes a new batch of team members during a Welcome A-board session
drive great places to work. Stevie judges were composed of over a hundred esteemed professionals from around the world. The judges expressed admiration for the centuryold conglomerate’s tenacity, resilience, and ability to rollout new initiatives, as well as the leadership’s proactive approach to employee engagement. “The engagement of your CEO is admirable and impactful,” one of the judges said. “Great initiatives with the CEO like the SuperDuperCon town hall meetings, Welcome A-board, up close sessions to give opportunities to increase awareness, comfort, and psychological safety across the company. Very well done!” another judge remarked. SuperDuperCon sessions
are regular Group-wide virtual discussions hosted by the Group CEO himself. During the sessions, he shares updates on Group directions and topics relevant to employees. Apart from updates, the core of every SuperDuperCon is a live Q&A session where all team members can participate by asking questions or providing feedback in real time. Similarly, newly-hired team members are invited to Welcome A-board, a personal meet-anddiscuss session with the Group CEO to cultivate a culture of open communication and courageous authenticity early into an Aboitiz employee’s journey. Through this session, they are introduced to the Aboitiz Way, a summation of the Group’s culture and values. UpClose with SMA are small
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group sessions that provide opportunities for other team members and executives across different business units to get up close and personal with Group CEO Sabin Aboitiz. In these sessions, everyone has the opportunity to learn with and from each other by giving feedback and sharing ideas. Among the Aboitiz Group’s many initiatives to support its A-people personally and professionally include the vaccination rollout for all its team members, an expansion of healthcare coverage to include LGBTQ+ and common law partners of employees, and a multitude of learning and development opportunities offered through LinkedIn Learning and other similar programs.
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
Campus...
September 6-12, 2021
he is still a ruthless and critical goal scorer, he from page 1 smells the big moments interconnected and senses when there are courtyards, campus-wide goals." wireless connectivity, bike As a true red United lanes, sports facilities, fan, I do not mind staying from page 2 an amphitheater, and up to 2am on weekends a University Forum end, either with United or until May of 2022 to see which will incorporate a beyond. In Portugal, he you guys lift the trophies museum, theatre, and a is what Pele is to Brazil, of the EPL and FA Cup. gallery. Messi is to Argentina You do your share; I will The Masterson and Pacquiao is to the do mine. Campus will be Philippines. (Oooops! What are the teams constructed on a You know what I mean). to watch in the EPL this 21-hectare land in Being strong-willed season? Champions Manresa, adjacent to the and wanting to prove Manchester City crashed 14.3-hectare township to his worth to United is on opening day to be known as “Manresa one thing. Performing Tottenham Hotspur. After Town.” The 25-hectare it with grace, affection four games, no team has forest reserve and animal and respect for others is a 100% clean record but sanctuaries will be another. watch out for Chelsea, retained on the uptown Ronaldo has to bend City and Liverpool. The property. (not like Beckham; gap and dominance City “We are not just pardon the pun) but in and Liverpool enjoyed building a university his own style and merit, in previous seasons will campus, but a university to inspire his team mates, never be apparent this township, surrounded enjoy mutual respect for season. by the 25-hectare his manager and all the As for this week, Man forest reserve that can other 19 teams of the EPL U sits on top of the table, blend in to pursue the and, continue the love but only just. sustainable environment affair with his fans. the Campus of the Future "He does what he from page 5 truly deserves,” said Jose does," said Solskjaer. along Capistrano street next “Joe” R. Soberano III, "He lifts everyone; he to the now defunct Roket Chairman, President gets everyone so focused movie theatre, or Tivoli in and CEO of Cebu around the place. He Landmasters, XU's puts demands on himself Plaza Divisoria. Somewhat partner developer for this which then puts demands later, there was also a shortlived Coney Island stall project. on his team mates and Soberano, in his demands on us and that's opposite Kairo theatre which targeted but was not too message during the MOA why he's done so much signing ceremony to in his career, he's been so successful in luring movie undertake the project, disciplined. He's evolved, goers. mentioned the possibility he's developed as a player, Before the fast-food wave hit the shores of Cagayan of constructing a hospital he's a different type of uptown, a wellness center player to when he left but de Oro, local entrepreneurs for elderly Jesuits, and other smart facilities within the university township. (File photo from XU Archives)
Ronaldo...
Culinary...
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Regional BRANCH 21 Cagayan de Oro City IN RE: PETITION FOR THE RE-ISSUANCE OF OWNER’S DUPLICATE OF OCT 14061 REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME MAURICO TABALBAG, MELODINA B. DRUBBELS, Petitioner, -versusTHE REGISTER OF DEED OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL, Respondent. x----------------------------------------------------/
MISC. CASE NO. R-CDO-21-02210-LR
ORDER This is a verified Amended Petition for the re-issuance of owner’s duplicate of OCT P-14061 registered under the name MAURICIO TABALBAG is filed by herein petitioner, MELODINA DRUBBELS, alleging among others that petitioner is a new owner of a land situated in Barrio Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, having acquired the same through a Deed of Absolute Sale from the Heirs of Mauricio and Benita Tabalbag on February 9, 2018; that sometime on March 23, 2019, when she was abroad a jeepney coming from Register of Deeds of Cagayan de Oro, she had lost a brown envelope containing document, including the Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of OCT P-14061; that an Affidavit of Loss was executed by herein petitioner to prove the fact of loss and the same affidavit was duly annotated by the Register of Deeds of Misamis Oriental; that the Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of OCT P-14061 was turned over nor mortgaged to any third party of financial institution; that Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of OCT P-14061 in on file and intact in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Misamis Oriental. Thus, this petition. Finding the amended petition sufficient in form and substance, let the initial hearing be made on OCTOBER 4, 2021 [MONDAY] at 8:30 in the morning at the Ground Floor, Hall of Justice, Masterson Avenue corner Macapagal Road, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. During the hearing, the jurisdictional requirements of posting, publication and notice to all persons who have interest which would be affected by this petition, will be proved. At the expense of the petitioner, let copy of this Order , together with copies of the petition and its annexes, be published at least once a week for three [3] consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Misamis Oriental. Let also a copy of this Order, together with copies of the Petition and its annexes, be posted at the Bulletin Board of the Barangay Hall of Barrio Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, where the property covered by the subject title is located; at the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Registry of Deeds of Misamis Oriental; at the Bulletin Board of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental and at the Bulletin Board of this Court at the Ground Floor, Hall of Justice, Masterson Avenue corner Macapagal Road, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City at least fourteen [14] days prior to the date of hearing. Any person having or claiming any interest over the property subject of the lost title is directed file their written opposition and may appear on the said date of hearing. Let a copy of this Order be furnished to Petitioner’s Counsel, Atty. Odilon Apolinario , and the Register of Deeds of Misamis Oriental.
SO ORDERED. Done this 7th day of July 2021 in Cagayan de Oro City.
(SGD) GIL G. BOLLOZOS Presiding Judge CT: Sept. 6, 13 & 20, 2021
strove mightily to fill the gap. Notable among these pioneers is the couple Elpie and Rose Paras whose Sesame Sandwich Shop (its Big Bird Burger was a worthy counterpart of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and lives on at P.Joe’s Diner), Sugbahan Central and Tia Nanang’s Filipino Restaurant were local institutions in their day. His brother Jess and wife Nena also set up Paolo’s Ristorante, the city’s first Italian Restaurant, initially at the ground floor of the Casa del Chino Ygua, and later at a nearby location, now occupied by sister Angel and her Gazebo Café. Things started picking up in the mid-90s when a new breed of entrepreneurs like the yuppies behind Bigby’s Café & Restaurant and X-Site Live Music Venue got together and organized themselves to promote Havelano Square (the area enclosed by Hayes-VelezAbejuela and Capistrano streets) as the new “in-place” to be. These young professionals expanded the traditional clientele of restaurants and cafes by making them affordable even to university students from nearby Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan, and attractive enough for the young employees and professionals who were just starting out with their families. When the new malls started coming in, they brought to fore the fast-food revolution, with McDonald’s setting up its first outlet ever in Mindanao at the upscale Limketkai Center. These branded food chains offered stiff competition to the locals, who did not take it sitting down, but struck back with their own new or upgraded creations such as Elpie Paras’ P.Joe’s Diner (an Americanthemed restaurant), Consuelo’s Steakhouse (the cowboy-inspired beef specialty restaurant of the Aberasturi’s), Kagayanon Restaurant (native Kagay-anon fine dining), Countryside Steakhouse and Green Haven vegetarian resto of the Limketkais. Most of these latter establishments were strategically co-located at the Rosario Arcade, now renamed Rosario Strip of Limketkai Center, a food and entertainment center of 17 establishments which aims to give locals and their visitors a complete dining and entertainment experience in one location. Fast-growing real estate projects in what has since been recognized as Cagayan de Oro’s “Uptown” also set up their own “food strips”, notably Xavier Square in Xavier Estates and Pueblo de Oro’s “Masterson Mile” anchored by SM Cagayan de Oro just across the street. With these developments
came another new wave of food and entertainment concepts such as “real” international cuisine introduced by Turquoise Turkish Restaurant, Kamogawa Japanese Restaurant, Karachi Restaurant, and Persian Palate; and the family KTV in tandem with the ubiquitous “sugbahan”. With the family culinary tradition established by the old families of the city in tandem with the new breed of yuppie entrepreneurs and professional chefs, the City of Golden Friendship appears to have the right combination of ingredients to ensure its place in Filipino culinary heritage. However, the Cagayan de Oro Hotels and Restaurant Association (COHARA) is taking one step further to ensure that heritage remains true to its roots and the latest developments are tucked into the fold with the establishment of Kumbira! probably the first but definitely biggest culinary show outside Metro Manila. Now in its 12th year, Kumbira’s biggest followers are the budding chefs and entrepreneurs of Mindanao’s academe for which it has unfailingly served as a source of inspiration for both the student and professionals of the industry alike. With COHARA committed to the continued upgrading and professionalization of the city’s culinary industry, the Kagay-anons can rest easy: the future of its culinary legacy is assured of being passed on in the way it was meant to be to the next generation. (by Tito Mike)
Taste... from page 5
to reconnect with the cultures of our geographic neighbors through food. The steaming plate of Thai bagoong rice before me… The scent of an elusive herb wafts from my stir fried morning glory... I am in awe of the spring rolls diagonally sliced... A delicious filling of mushroom, vegetable, and rice noodles peek out of a crisp roll... Beside it an intricate arrangement of cucumber thinly sliced and shaped into a rosette... I am in Thai Me Up restaurant in Uptown Pueblo, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines… It was established in 2009 by restaurateur couple Jan Michael Uy and Maggie Uy, with Cathy Dano joining them as a business partner in 2012. In a conversation with Cathy, she shares the excitement of working together with her partners to enhance the bold flavors of Thai dishes while preserving the sense of the traditional. “We see it as a blessing to be given the chance to share our passion for Thailand and its food. If the act of eating can transport a person to another place, then our goal as a restaurant is to transport you to the streets of Thailand with
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each dish,” says Cathy. She mentions the delicate balance of keeping to the authenticity of the dish while being adventurous and modern. She says that this balance is achieved because only the freshest and purest ingredients are used for each dish. “Our restaurant will never compromise on quality,” she emphatically declares. Thai food is known for the use of culinary herbs and spices, and for fresh and healthy vegetable ingredients. It is also known to be spicy, but Thai Me Up offers customers the option to choose any level of spiciness when making orders. Behind the Scenes in Restaurant Management During a Worldwide Pandemic With the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic now on its second year, Thai Me Up’s owners made the decision to close their Centrio Mall branch and reopen in Uptown Pueblo. This stand-alone restaurant at the new location in Pueblo de Oro’s Masterson Mile turned out to be more convenient for families, and for those people who do enjoy eating out, but are cautious about going to a mall these days. Cathy is quick to reassure that the safety of customers and staff is of the highest priority. “The restaurant,” she says, “already has safety precautions installed at the new venue. And our team is fully vaccinated.” There is an alfresco area for dine-in customers when health guidelines allow. There is the option for takeout, pickup orders, and door-to-door deliveries. This can be done with a phone call or a few clicks of the keyboard. “How is everyone doing?” I ask. “I see this restaurant as a blessing that we share with customers and our staff,” says Cathy. “And we are continuously improving our dishes to be able to serve the best Thai food in town.” This positive outlook and the willingness to soldier on despite odds is what keeps humanity going. Indeed, Thai Me Up is busy cooking up more of the healthy vegetarian options to add to its menu, “and will be open for breakfast soon,” says Cathy as of this writing. In anticipation, I look at the food before me and marvel at how similar it looks to Filipino food… The morning glory is locally known as kangkong… Thai spring rolls are fried lumpia, and yet they aren’t… The sweet-spicy sauce is exquisite... The play of sweet but not sugary… The ingredients are so ffamiliar, and yet… The pairing of flavors, the use of certain herbs… The elusive herb is identified as cilantro, a staple of Thai dishes… The balance of taste makes all the difference… I ruminate on the delicate balance of taste…I can’t help but philosophize on the precarious balance of life under COVID… (photos courtesy of ThaiMeUp)
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ARTS & CULTURE | HEALTH | EVENTS | TRAVEL & TOURISM | PEOPLE
CAGAYANTIMES Feature DE ORO
September 6-12, 2021
Page 8
Real estate investment hotspots in CDO uncovered during exclusive webinar “Cagayan de Oro is a very promising real estate investment hotspot”. This was the ultimate conclusion during the overall exciting and well attended webinar that was held on Friday the 3rd of September with the name of “SOAR 2021 Conference” where SOAR stands for Sustainable Opportunities and Advocacies in Region X and CdO. It was a conference with the aim to discover the region's growth and investment hotspots and especially where to invest in real estate. To answer these questions there were the main government agency and the major industry stakeholders. A must watch for every businessman and real estate investor in the region. The event was organised by Olacon with exclusive speakers from the National Economic Development Authority, the banking sector and the private sector with Italpinas Development Corporation (IDC) partnering this special event. NEDA Regional Director Ms Mylah Faye Aurora Carino, businessman and local tycoon Elpidio Paras, the tech-savvy licensed real estate broker Alex Zeta, Italpinas Development Corporation's Chairman and CEO Architect Romolo Nati and BPI's Vice President and Retail Mortgage Head of BPI Family Savings Bank, Herbert Tuason gathered
in a round of presentations and talks moderated by Lorens Ziller, the host and at the same time the Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. The general focus was definitely on real estate but NEDA's regional director Ms. Carino underlined all contributing factors to the economic growth of the region. With the infrastructure developments playing a major role in the economic development of the whole region much progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in alleviating poverty and increasing livelihoods with an increase in growth in most sectors. Director Carino also mentioned the many investment opportunities there presently are like in agriculture, food processing, logistics, services and of course real estate development. NEDA gave a brilliant picture of the situation
in Northern Mindanao, analysing its strategic position and growth drivers while underlining the various future development prospects. Elpidio Paras took the opportunity to discuss the severely hit tourism and leisure sector for which he is a major regional stakeholder as he is the president of renowned attractions such as the Seven Seas Waterpark and the Dahilayan Adventure Park. He lamented how the pandemic forced these attractions to temporarily close to the public and how on the other side, farm-tourism and rural land speculations have increased dramatically. With people and children being forced to stay home, his other business, Parasat Cable TV, has had a major boost with this new situation where home entertainment services have had great increase in demand. Alex Zeta, a well known real estate broker from Cagayan de Oro, explained the
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various investment trends of the region with the many subdivisions rising all over the city but with Uptown CdO being the real investment hotspot. Uptown earns the top place also because of the road infrastructure, the malls, the dining areas, the golf course, the upcoming hospital and the overall quality of life of the area. The ideal place to live and work. This was further underlined by Architect Romolo Nati, Chairman and CEO of Italpinas Development Corporation, who have their two landmark projects in Pueblo de Oro Business Park, just besides SM City Mall. Primavera Residences and Primavera City, whose first phase is soon for turnover, are the real jewels of the city when we talk about condo-living. These mixed-use buildings have a very distinct Italian design and also progressive passive green design features to enhance shading, natural light and ventilation as well as energy savings thanks to solar panels on the roof-tops. The modern condo-living lifestyle, especially with the newly gained post-pandemic awareness where personal spaces have gained more importance primarily for those who really value a safe and healthy environment and sustainable lifestyle. As a special event partner, IDC also launched a special zero-reservation payment promotion for their condounits of Primavera City. BPI's Herbert Tuason explained how customers can avail of privileged home loans and mortgages with a lower interest rate if they buy a unit with IDC. He also explained the several banking services that are available for clients wishing to request a loan with BPI. The following Q&A session was able to give an answer. to some questions of the many attendees with Lorens Ziller underlining how migration from Metro Manila and the returning OFWs are contributing to an enhanced growth of the city with influx of new workforce and also new ideas for business. All factors indicate that Metro Cagayan de Oro has everything to attract investments in all areas and especially in real estate development as the city grows at a fast pace. What better place to live with the sea, beach, tropical forests and the mountains just within short reach?