Chinoys bullish in investing in Philippines

Filipino-Chinese (Chinoy's) are still bullish in investing in the Philippines despite the travel ban the Chinese government has imposed to the country.
Ryan Ang, local spokesperson of the CityMall Commercial Centers Incorporated (CMCCI), said in a press conference here Thursday that the company is investing P500 million for the new investment. It hopes to employ around 1,000 new jobseekers.
The CMCCI is being partnered by Chinoys namely Egar 'Injap' Sia of Double Dragon and Tony Tan Caktiong, founder of Jolibee Food Corporation.
"The company is actually planning to invest around 100 citymalls around the country by year 2025," said Ang.
The citymalls features environmental awareness on the mall, business center, hotel and transport terminal. It will be using 50 percent solar generated power and 30 percent rainwater .
"Already, we are accepting local businessmen to take advantage of our available stalls for the mall," said Ang who expects it to open by 2015.
He added that the incorporation has chosen Kalibo as one of their areas of operation because of the growing demand of the tourism industry brought by Boracay Island.
"We are envisioning ourselves to be one of the top four malls in the country in the years to come," Ang said.

Boracay business group now offering discounts on hotels

The Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) has supported the call of the Department of Tourism-Western Visayas to provide discount rates to both foreign and local tourists.
Dionisio Salme, BFI president, said that discounts however depend on their members.
"We see the initiative of the DoT in calling for discounted rates as good," said Salme.
The DoT has called for discounted rates following the declaration by the Chinese government of a travel ban to the Philippines. The travel ban caused the cancellation of reservations for Chinese tourists coming to Boracay.
Salme said the travel ban has greatly affected large hotels as they usually lure group tours. Small hotels still enjoy the influx of mostly local tourists and other nationalities such as Koreans and Taiwanese.
The BFI is a business organization in this resort island with more than 300 members.
Aside from the discounted rates in hotels, the DoT also called for discounted rates on airplanes.

Cruise ship tourism not affected by Chinese travel ban, says jetty port exec

The arrival of cruise ships in this resort island is not affected by the travel ban imposed by the Chinese government.
Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said in fact, they are preparing for the arrival of two cruise ships on November 6 and December 30.
"Details of their arrivals are not yet in place. However, we are already preparing since the month of September is being considered an entry to the super peak season for this resort island," said Maquirang.
The Department of Tourism earlier reported that the Chinese travel ban has caused cancellations of room bookings in this resort island. The Chinese government imposed a travel ban following the isolated case of abduction of a Chinese teenager in Zamboanga.
Star Cruises has included Boracay as one of the favorite destination maps.

Coron, Boracay eye ‘sisterhood’

To boost their tourism industries, the local governments of Coron, Palawan and Malay, Aklan are eyeing a sisterhood agreement.
Mayor Clara Reyes of Coron said Mayor John Yap of Malay had agreed to discuss matters regarding the proposed agreement.
Reyes was in this resort island recently to announce the availability of a 30-minute direct flight from Coron to Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, or the Caticlan airport, and vice versa via Air Juan.
“Mayor John Yap has agreed to discuss with us their experiences and the challenges they face in developing Boracay,” said Reyes. “(For our part), we (in Coron) could help Boracay increase its European tourists.”
A total of 91,580 foreign and local tourists visited Coron last year, according to the municipality’s tourism office.
Coron is considered the second most popular tourist destination in Palawan, next to Puerto Princesa, the province’s capital city.
Malay has jurisdiction over Boracay, which targets to accommodate 1.5 million tourists by the end of the year./

Australian national, Filipino companion saved from drowning

A 51-year-old Australian national and his Filipino companion survived a near-drowning incident in this resort island Friday after a service boat where they were on board capsized.

P01 Condrito Alvarez, of the Philipine Coast Guard-Caticlan, identified the victims as Richard Allan and his female companion Jeselyn Lobo, 21, a Filipino. Three other Filipinos who are crews of the capsized boat had been rescued.

Alvarez said that based on their investigation, the incident happened around 9:10 am Friday several minutes after they boarded the Island Mariner 4 boat at Cagban Port in Malay. They were supposed to go to this resort island when the incident happened.

The said banca is a service boat of a resort here. Alvarez said inclement weather caused the boat to capsize.

Boat operators nearby rescued the victims and brought them to the PCG Office in Caticlan for investigation.

Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Jimmy Vingno, PCG head Caticlan, said that all sea sports activities including swimming at the white beach had been discouraged by their office due to inclement weather.

Boat operation also depends on the operators as long as they could survive the rough seas.

Coron town prepares for ASEAN integration

The local government unit (LGU) of Coron, Palawan is paving its way for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration in 2015.

In an interview, Coron Mayor Clara Reyes said that she is now in talks with several investors in Japan and Malaysia.

"We also expect a boost in tourism arrivals as the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is currently upgrading the Busuanga Airport to reach international standards," she said.

Reyes is here in Boracay to announce the 30-minute direct flight from Coron to the tourist island by the Air Juan.

Coron is considered as the second most popular destination in Palawan next to Puerto Princesa with 91,580 visitors in 2013.

Reyes said she also came to Boracay to discuss a possible sisterhood agreement with the island's LGU.

More cruise ships want to dock in Boracay

 The Aklan Provincial Government welcomes the initiative of international cruise ship companies to dock in this resort island.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that the United Kingdom-based Oceania Cruises has started selling tickets for its new route.

"Boracay is becoming at par with the worldwide trend on Cruise Ship Tourism. On our part, we are developing the jetty port to reach the international standard," said Maquirang.

While the Oceania Cruises has already been starting to sell tickets, the Aklan provincial government is yet to receive notification from the management.

Britanny Chrusciel, editorial assistant of the Oceania Cruise, said that Boracay has been included in their 12 new destinations around the world.

Aside from Boracay, other port destinations for winter itineraries include Jeju, South Korea; Luderitz, Namibia; Cooktown, and Australia, among others.

For the Boracay route, the Oceania Cruises will be using its Nautica vessel which will sail in both Asia and Africa for eight itineraries in 2015. These include overnight in ports like Singapore, Ha Long Bay, Tokyo, Cape Town and Namibia.

Nautica will also complete a 35-night voyage from Hong Kong to Istanbul that navigates the Suez Canal.

Chrusciel said that the lines itineraries, 27 of them, are considered brand new and now focused on longer, destination-intensive sailings with 76 percent spanning two weeks or longer.

Rare bead artifact found in Aklan

A rare type of bead has been found during the four-day archaeological digging inside two caves in Kalibo, Aklan.

National Museum Researcher Giovanni Bautista said the team found a piece of Carnelian bead, which is a semi-precious gem stone that is used as jewelry in India, Brazil, Siberia and Germany.

“What puzzles us is why a Carnelian bead has been found at the caves,” said Bautista, who led the three-man research team of the National Museum.

“The Chinese traders may have brought it here. Since we had only seen one piece, we believe they are still more of them that have to be unearthed,” added Bautista.

The National Museum team also found 15 kilos of teeth, earthen wares and other Chinese artifacts believed to trace back during the Ming Dynasty.

Bautista noted that the two caves of Tigayon Hill, which is the highest peak in Aklan, have different characteristics.

“The first cave may have been a burial site,” said Bautista as it is where the 15 kilos of human teeth were found.

“The second cave was where most artifacts were found including the ceramics,” he said.

With little time to explore the other caves, Bautista reiterated he will suggest to the National Museum to conduct more diggings at Tigayon Hill.

It was the local government of Kalibo that requested the National Museum to conduct archaeological excavation to provide more information that will boost its historical and cultural tourism.

APEC hosting to boost investments in Boracay

The Caticlan and Cagban Jetty Port in this resort island is confident that the forthcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) hosting would boost tourism investments.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said Monday that they are currently upgrading the jetty port to become a world class tourism service for Boracay. The jetty port serves as the gateway for both foreign and local tourists coming to this resort island.

"The Aklan Provincial Government is positive of the economic development that will come along with the hosting of the APEC. Preparations are now underway," he said.

For his part, Malay Councilor Rowen Aguirre said that they had already formed a task group for the APEC preparation.

"We do not have a timeline yet. We're still on the planning stage. We would provide details as soon as we are ready," said Aguirre who is the local APEC focal person for Boracay.

Archaeological artifacts unearthed in Aklan caves

Archaeological artifacts have been unearthed by a team from the National Museum inside two caves in Kalibo, Aklan.

“We have recovered human teeth, human bones, decorated earthen wares, and other fragments,” said National Museum researcher Giovanni Bautista.

The team has been conducting diggings since September 12 in two caves on the peak of Tigayon Hill in Aklan’s capital town which is known as a pilgrimage site for Catholics particularly during Holy Week.

“Based on initial observation, Tigayon Hill is a possible burial site during the pre-Hispanic era when the concept of cemetery burials was not practiced,” Bautista noted.

The team that also included Jose Santiago and Antonio Peñalosa found human teeth belonging to both adults and children.

Pieces of decorated earthen ware found could also support claims by local history buffs that Tigayon Hill, which is close to Aklan River, used to be a Chinese settlement site.

More than a decade ago, the Kalibo local government had requested the National Museum to conduct archaeological excavation at Tigayon Hill to boost historical and cultural tourism.

With the latest finding, Bautista is suggesting that more diggings be undertaken in over a dozen caves more in Tigayon Hill.

The National Museum would also like to find physical evidence tracing the history of Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan festival which is dubbed as the country’s mother of all festivals.

The festival basically depicts the Barter of Panay, which tells the story of 10 Bornean datus settling on Panay Island, including what is now known as the province of Aklan, and trading land with the native Atis or Aetas.

To date, there is no hard archaeological evidence that can definitively substantiate the historicity of the so-called Barter of Panay.

Expanded tourism destination introduced in Kalibo

A Boracay-based tourism magnate has partnered with the Kalibo Save the Mangrove (KASAMA) for the introduction of a new tourism destination in this Ati-atihan town.

KASAMA president Allen Quimpo said Wednesday in a press conference that they welcome the partnership of Ariel Abriam. Abriam owns several successful Boracay investments namely the Boracay Beach Club, Ariel's House and Ariel's Point in Buruanga.

Even though he is only starting the new endeavor, the KASAMA, which is an organization of mangrove farmers, is already ensured of revenue worth P100,000 monthly.

"The KASAMA will continue its effort in mangrove reforestation projects while Abriam is on the business and marketing side of the mangrove," said Quimpo, a former congressman of Aklan.

Among the planned new facilities to be developed in the mangrove area at Barangay Old Buswang here were boardwalk trail, bamboo rafting, kayaking, swimming, clam culture, crab culture farm, Green Charcoal Briquette Making, Shingles Making, Native Cabanas, Tamilok Eating Demonstration and native delicacies.

The Kalibo Mangrove Eco-Park has won awards from the United Nations for its initiative. From a wetland area, it has become a sprawling habitat of mangrove forests.

In the past 23 years, it has already been planted with 1.6 million mangrove trees in 250-hectare area. In 2013, it has registered 33,000 tourists both foreign and local to have visited the area.

"We are hoping to get more share of tourists with 40 flights daily at the Kalibo International Airport. Some 15 of them come from different countries," said Quimpo. (

Boracay school free from child prostitution, says principal

 The principal of the Boracay National High School in this resort island said that her students are not engaged in child prostitution.

In an interview, Jose Niro Nillasca, school principal, said that they had actually conducted a survey among their students and so it is safe for him to declare absence of child prostitution among students.

According to previous reports coming from End Child Prostitution and Trafficking, a non-government international organization, child prostitution exists in this resort island.

Last month, at least 35 women, some of them minors, were rescued by the police operatives in several videoke bars in Boracay.

The Boracay National High School is situated at Barangay Balabag at the center of highly commercial and tourism area in this resort island. Nillasca said they had more than 700 students.

Some of the students come from the nearby Romblon province.

OFW TESTED FOR MERS-COV

An adult male Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) reportedly underwent health examination for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in a hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. Aklan Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., said the unnamed OFW was recently tested at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital. The OFW was among those who boarded a plane that recently landed in the country with two nurses suspected to be MERS-CoV-afflicted. Cuachon advised Aklanons to stay calm. “Our populace has nothing to worry as our health surveillance referral system is activated,” he assured.

Suspected NPA commander arrested

 Aklan police operatives arrested a suspected commander of the New Peoples Army (NPA) in Barangay Agmalik, Sta. Fe, Romblon Tuesday afternoon.

Intelligence police operatives said Salvatico was considered a suspect in the killing of Malay (Boracay) Mayor Roger Aguirre on May 1990. According to reports, Mayor Aguirre was gunned down, including his two body guards, by suspected rebels while attending a benefit dance.

The Aklan police operatives had coordinated with the Romblon PNP prior to the arrest.

Salvatico, who was born in Nabas, Aklan, was facing charges of double murder and multiple murder, respectively, in different branches of the Kalibo Regional Trial Court. He is currently detained at the Kalibo PNP.

The suspect was considered as the 25th most wanted person in WV.

BFP sets Fire Exit Drill in Boracay

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Boracay is currently mapping out plans to organize the first Fire Exit Drill in this resort island.

Fire Inspector Stephen Jardelesa, newly appointed BFP Chief, said the fire exit drill will be held in different resorts in this resort island. It was not yet clear whether the fire drill will be done simultaneously.

"But we are planning that the fire drill will be a part of the requirement on a business establishment before they could renew their business permit," said Jardelesa.

This undertaking is part of the BFP contributions for the preparations for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference hosting in 2015.

Jardelesa said that part of his priority program as fire safety chief to ensure the safety of both foreign and local tourists.

"We are currently evaluating how we could be able to strengthen our fire safety inspection and emergency response in this resort island," Jardelesa said.

BORACAY MASSAGE WORKERS

Massage therapists working at popular resort destination of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan are facing problems over licensure issues. The local government of Malay town wants to require them to undergo a training that will be conducted by Department of Health (DOH) as part of the accreditation process. However, the practicing massage therapists have already been trained and accredited by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Ely Arensol, specialist of TESDA-Aklan provincial office, confirmed that Boracay-based massage therapists have complained of the separate training and accreditation required by the Malay local government. According to Arensol, the requirement is an added cost to the massage therapists. To prevent the issue from escalating, TESDA-Aklan will intervene to help.

‘Boracay country’s economic driver’

Its huge contribution to the country’s tourism industry, among others, makes this island resort a “great economic driver,” said Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr.
In 2013, Western Visayas put in some P3.6 billion in the Philippine economy, about P2.4 billion of which came from Aklan, including Boracay, Haresco said.
“Aside from this, Aklan and Boracay also source food from other provinces,” transported via the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, said the congressman.
The provincial government is currently negotiating with the Department of Budget and Management for the allocation of at least 20 percent of its contribution to boost the island resort’s tourism.
For her part, Department of Tourism regional director Helen Catalbas cited the importance of locally produced food.
Enabling local communities to produce more food “will further decrease food prices in this island resort,” Catalbas said. Lower food prices will “lure more tourists to Boracay,” she stressed./

Boracay records one million tourist arrivals for 2014

The provincial government of Aklan has reported achieving one million tourists for 2014.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that they are hoping that Boracay would add more 500,000 to achieve its 1.5 million tourists target for this year.

The one million tourists have been registered last August 31, 2014.

Based on the August data, Koreans still top the foreign tourist arrivals, Chinese tourists ranked second and Taiwanese comes third.

The Department of Tourism has noted that the number of tourists coming in has slightly decreased during the month of August due to changing weather condition.

Maquirang said the month of September is considered as the start of a 'super peak' months in this resort island.