BCDA Collective | Issue 1 2018
BCDA External Newsletter
BCDA External Newsletter
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COLLECTIVE<br />
is a quarterly publication of the<br />
Bases Conversion and Development Authority.<br />
Table of Contents<br />
3 Building the City of the Future<br />
8 Clark Airport: A showcase of modern Filipino sensibility<br />
11 Build Build Build by the Numbers<br />
12 News<br />
15 Building Smart Cities<br />
16 Fast Talk with the New Directors<br />
18 No regrets for Marawi soldier<br />
20 Unwind in Thunderbird Resorts<br />
21 The Silent Workers of La Forge<br />
24 Snapshots of <strong>BCDA</strong> Events<br />
25 Freeports and Ecozones<br />
31 A Diner's Digest of Matam-ih restaurant<br />
32 Icon: Alab ng Puso<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
A rendering of New Clark City<br />
shows plenty of green space amid<br />
the hustle and bustle of the<br />
new metropolis.<br />
Gregorio D. Garcia III<br />
Chairman<br />
Vivencio B. Dizon<br />
President and CEO<br />
Editor-in-Chief: Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet<br />
Executive Editor: Maricar Gay Savella-Villamil<br />
Managing Editor: Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez<br />
Art Director: Ana Trina Sulit<br />
Associate Editor: Patricia Ruth Cailao<br />
Writers: Michelle San Juan-De Vera, Lanquin Seyer Gacusan<br />
Photographers: Samuel Luke Galivo, Garry Cativo,<br />
Lanquin Seyer Gacusan<br />
Contributors:<br />
Clark Development Corporation<br />
Clark International Airport Corporation<br />
John Hay Management Corporation<br />
Poro Point Management Corporation<br />
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority<br />
Renders by: Budji + Royal Architecture + Design<br />
Megawide<br />
Circulation: Mareynel Toquero<br />
The<strong>BCDA</strong>Group<br />
Editorial Address:<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> Corporate Center<br />
2/F, Bonifacio Technology Center,<br />
31st Street cor. 2nd Ave.<br />
Bonifacio Global City,<br />
Taguig City, Philippines<br />
Contact No.<br />
(632) 575-1700<br />
Fax<br />
(632) 816-0996<br />
E-mail<br />
bcda@bcda.gov.ph<br />
Website<br />
http://www.bcda.gov.ph
B U I L D I N G<br />
T H E C I T Y<br />
OF THE<br />
FUTURE<br />
T O T A K E S O M E<br />
P R E S S U R E O F F<br />
M E T R O M A N I L A ,<br />
A W E L L - P L A N N E D<br />
M E T R O P O L I S R I S E S<br />
J U S T A B O U T<br />
1 0 0 K I L O M E T E R S<br />
N O R T H O F T H E<br />
B U S Y M E G A C I T Y .<br />
THIS IS<br />
NEW CLARK CITY.<br />
By<br />
KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ
Every day, we hear horror stories of commuters<br />
taking public transportation in crowded Metro<br />
Manila. Traffic has become so horrendous in<br />
Manila’s major roads that the term “Carmageddon”<br />
has been coined to describe the bumperto-bumper<br />
congestion. The situation also results<br />
in P3.5 billion in lost opportunities a day,<br />
according to the Japan International Cooperation<br />
Agency or JICA. To take some of the pressure<br />
off, a well-planned metropolis rises just<br />
about 100 kilometers north of the busy megacity.<br />
This is New Clark City.<br />
New Clark City, located within the Clark Special<br />
Economic Zone, is envisioned to be a “city of the<br />
future,” a model for future developments in the<br />
country. In partnership with industry-leading<br />
firms from Japan and Singapore, New Clark<br />
City was designed to be the first smart, green,<br />
resilient, and sustainable city in the Philippines.<br />
For Surbana Jurong, one of the partners of the<br />
Bases Conversion and Development Authority<br />
(<strong>BCDA</strong>), the logical way to develop is “outward”<br />
the neighboring provinces of Metro Manila.<br />
“The way to develop is outward so that you also<br />
have a twin city, or you have a second wing to<br />
a city...I think New Clark City will play that role<br />
vis-a-vis Manila. And I think that this is the right<br />
strategy, and an exciting vision if you want to<br />
grow Manila in exciting ways,” Teo Eng Cheong,<br />
Surbana Jurong’s chief executive officer (International),<br />
says.<br />
New Clark City is the<br />
right strategy, and an<br />
exciting vision if you<br />
want to grow Manila in<br />
exciting ways.<br />
T E O E N G C H E O N G<br />
CEO, Surbana Jurong<br />
4 COLLECTIVE
Connectivity is in Clark,<br />
and connectivity is going to be<br />
enhanced even further in the<br />
very near future.<br />
V I N C E D I Z O N<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> President and CEO<br />
Construction of the first phase has started with<br />
government buildings, a river walkway, and a<br />
world-class sports complex to be used for the<br />
country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games<br />
in November 2019. Access roads leading up to<br />
New Clark City from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway<br />
(SCTEx), and the Clark International<br />
Airport are set to be finished by October 2019,<br />
and January 2020. But the “game-changer”<br />
for <strong>BCDA</strong> President and Chief Executive Officer<br />
Vivencio Dizon is the Manila-Clark railway<br />
project, which will cut the Manila to Clark travel<br />
time from two hours to just 55 minutes. “Connectivity<br />
is in Clark and connectivity is going<br />
to be enhanced even further in the very near<br />
future,” says Dizon. Not to mention that a new<br />
terminal building at the Clark International Airport<br />
will already be operational in two years,<br />
allowing Clark to accommodate an additional<br />
eight million passengers per annum.<br />
For its transportation infrastructure alone, New<br />
Clark City is a city that functions better.<br />
DISASTER-RESILIENT<br />
With a minimum elevation of 54 meters above<br />
sea level, the 9,450-hectare new metropolis will<br />
likely not experience any flooding, also a typical<br />
problem in most parts of Metro Manila whenever<br />
a typhoon strikes. The master plan for New<br />
Clark City stays true to the vision of creating a<br />
green city but also respects the natural identity<br />
of the area.<br />
Sylvester Wong, vice president for strategies<br />
and development of master planning firm AE-<br />
COLLECTIVE 5
COM, points out a unique factor of New Clark<br />
City -- “the broad expanse of natural community.”<br />
“We looked at how to create resilience in the<br />
city so that it can withstand shocks and stresses;<br />
provide a new walkable, connected place<br />
so that we bring back time to the people of the<br />
Philippines; and<br />
so that it’s a green<br />
place–a place of<br />
breathability,” says<br />
Wong.<br />
S Y L V E S T E R W O N G<br />
Strategically located<br />
in Central<br />
and Development, AECOM<br />
Vice President for Strategies<br />
Luzon, New Clark<br />
City will also house<br />
satellite government offices, and an Integrated<br />
Operations Center and Disaster Risk Recovery<br />
Center to ensure continuous operations and<br />
services in case of natural disasters and calamities.<br />
For MTD Philippines President Engr. Patrick<br />
Nicholas David, building the Philippines’ own<br />
Putrajaya is also about improving efficiency.<br />
“It’s about bringing the government offices together,<br />
bringing the agencies that work together<br />
closer to make sure that there is efficiency in<br />
doing business, efficiency in delivering government<br />
service. Our vision is not for us to travel<br />
around Metro Manila’s traffic just to get our<br />
business done. It’s to make sure that it is efficient,<br />
conducive,<br />
and productive,”<br />
says David. MTD<br />
It’s a green place -<br />
a place of breathability.<br />
Philippines’ parent<br />
company,<br />
MTD Capital Berhad,<br />
was behind<br />
the proposal for<br />
the development<br />
of the National<br />
Government Administrative Center (NGAC).<br />
Apart from government offices, <strong>BCDA</strong> is also<br />
keen on attracting foreign investors to set up<br />
shop in the new metropolis. After all, New Clark<br />
City, one of the high-impact projects pursued by<br />
the Duterte administration, is also envisioned to<br />
be not just a viable alternative to the capital, but<br />
also the next investment hub in Asia.<br />
6 COLLECTIVE
New Clark City may be an<br />
ambitious project, but it’s<br />
also been long overdue.<br />
PH identity<br />
Architect Royal Pineda, half of the design duo<br />
behind New Clark City, says the project is also<br />
an exhibit of the Philippines’ identity.<br />
“The soul of the Philippines should really be<br />
presented and this is where we believe that<br />
modern Filipino architecture, modern Filipino<br />
sensibility should always be a part of; especially<br />
that this is the face not just of Clark, but the face<br />
of the country. This is the modern face of the<br />
country,” says Pineda.<br />
“We always look for the authenticity of the<br />
place,” Pineda adds. And what could be more<br />
“authentic” in constructing New Clark City<br />
than using lahar or volcanic mudflow from the<br />
Mount Pinatubo eruption back in 1991.<br />
“If you look at the ancient cities of Europe, they are<br />
built with stones and boulders of their places. This<br />
time, in New Clark City or the entire Clark, we are<br />
trying to put it together and give that new fiber of<br />
the city, which is the lahar concrete,” says Pineda.<br />
Even the designs behind the 20,000-seater<br />
Athletic Stadium, and the Aquatics Center<br />
with a 2,000 seating capacity was inspired by<br />
Mount Pinatubo.<br />
New Clark City, formerly the Clark Green City<br />
project, used to be just all talk. Now, the project<br />
is not too far from becoming a reality.<br />
In just six months since Phase 1 of the project<br />
broke ground, MTD says it is 20-percent<br />
complete. The Economic Development, and<br />
Infrastructure clusters led by Finance Secretary<br />
Carlos Dominguez III, and Public Works<br />
Secretary Mark Villar saw first-hand the construction<br />
of New Clark City when they visited<br />
the area in July. For Dominguez, the project is<br />
the “showcase of the Duterte administration’s<br />
economic strategy.”<br />
New Clark City may be an ambitious project,<br />
but it’s also been long overdue.<br />
COLLECTIVE 7
Clark<br />
International<br />
Airport<br />
A S H O W C A S E O F<br />
M O D E R N F I L I P I N O<br />
S E N S I B I L I T Y<br />
By<br />
PATRICIA RUTH CAILAO<br />
8 COLLECTIVE
The expansion of the Clark International Airport<br />
(CRK) is finally making headway after its<br />
conceptualization for more than two decades.<br />
For a long time, infrastructure projects in the<br />
country have been hounded with controversies<br />
and delays. But the present administration at<br />
the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and<br />
the Bases Conversion and Development Authority<br />
(<strong>BCDA</strong>) vows not to count Clark airport as just<br />
another delayed project. The project is on track<br />
and people are getting closer to witnessing the<br />
airport transform into an alternative global<br />
gateway that would bring in huge investments<br />
in the region and in the whole archipelago.<br />
The Clark International airport operates in a<br />
2,400-hectare land, roughly four times the size<br />
of the entire Ninoy Aquino International Airport<br />
(NAIA) complex in Manila. The average daily passenger<br />
at the Clark airport is 7,000 and served by<br />
a total of 481 weekly flights, 158 of which are international<br />
flights and 323 are domestic routes.<br />
The expansion of the airport, being handled by<br />
the Megawide-GMR consortium, broke ground<br />
in December 2017. The first phase of the project<br />
entails the construction of a 10.2-hectare new,<br />
world-class terminal in the airport which will<br />
increase passenger capacity to eight million per<br />
annum from the existing 4.2 million passengers<br />
per year.<br />
Aside from decongesting NAIA, what’s<br />
promising about the Clark International<br />
Airport is the design that will manifest the<br />
modern Filipino architecture.<br />
COLLECTIVE 9
NEWS<br />
materials will be used in constructing the new<br />
Clark International Airport terminal building as<br />
well as New Clark City. Lahar concrete brought<br />
out by Mt. Pinatubo will be the main fabric and<br />
common component in the said projects.<br />
NATURE-BASED DESIGN<br />
The new terminal’s facade is inspired by the terrains<br />
of Mt. Arayat and the Sierra Madre mountain<br />
range. This will be echoed in the airport’s roofline.<br />
Inside the new terminal, Pampanga’s local cultural<br />
identity is celebrated with the ceiling inspired<br />
by the province’s famous symbols, like<br />
the parol or star lantern.<br />
The Budji+Royal firm is behind the architectural<br />
concept design of the new terminal.<br />
According to Royal Pineda, principal architect<br />
and CEO of the firm, embedding what’s authentic<br />
about the Filipino sensibility in the project’s<br />
design is not enough—there’s also a need to exhibit<br />
a progressive Philippines to invite foreign<br />
investors in Clark.<br />
“Hopefully this time, we really get to present to<br />
the world our modern and present status as a<br />
nation, that we are ready for business,” he said.<br />
Budji+Royal was also tapped by <strong>BCDA</strong> to design<br />
the sports facilities in New Clark City for the<br />
Philippines’ hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian<br />
Games in 2019.<br />
According to Pineda, advanced and sustainable<br />
Arch. Pineda said that the send-off and welcome<br />
sections at the entrance of the new terminal<br />
will be open areas and surrounded by gardens<br />
called the Tropical Plaza. The Tropical Plaza is<br />
designed to reflect the warmth and friendliness<br />
of Filipinos, he said.<br />
Another local material, the bamboo, will be<br />
used in the airport’s interiors to highlight a<br />
cozy ambiance.<br />
Lahar will also be used in the flooring of the airport<br />
to imitate a terrazzo or marble finish for a<br />
sophisticated look.<br />
The expansion of the Clark International Airport<br />
is expected to boost tourism and investments<br />
in Central Luzon along with other projects<br />
that will provide interconnectivity in the<br />
whole archipelago.<br />
Boarding gates at the new terminal open in the<br />
first half of 2020.<br />
10 COLLECTIVE
NEWS<br />
COLLECTIVE 11
NEWS<br />
“ Solid Backbone<br />
for PH Growth<br />
T<br />
The government’s P8-trillion infrastructure<br />
program under the “Build Build Build” strategy<br />
will fuel economic growth in the country,<br />
said President Rodrigo Duterte.<br />
At the Boao Forum for Asia held in China on<br />
April 10, <strong>2018</strong>, the President said Build Build<br />
Build will not only upgrade the country’s infrastructure<br />
but also provide interconnectivity<br />
among communities.<br />
“Our Build, Build, Build program will provide<br />
the solid backbone for growth. This will continue<br />
to upgrade the infrastructure, connect<br />
more people and communities and create<br />
more jobs. Already we have started a threeyear<br />
rolling program amounting to over US$69<br />
billion until 2022,” Duterte said.<br />
Some of the key infrastructure projects of<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> under the Build program are the expansion<br />
of the Clark International Airport, and the<br />
construction of the Subic-Clark railway and<br />
the first smart and sustainable metropolis<br />
called the New Clark City.<br />
With all the developments in Clark, economic<br />
managers are envisioning the area as the<br />
“showcase” of the Duterte government’s strategy<br />
to make growth more inclusive.<br />
“It captures what the Build, Build, Build program<br />
aspires to achieve: a coherent national<br />
logistics circuit that will support our country’s<br />
rapid and inclusive development,” Finance<br />
Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III said<br />
at the second leg of the Philippine Economic<br />
Briefing held in Clark.<br />
“This, truly, is where the future begins. We envision<br />
this as the hub of agro-industrial activities<br />
as well as the home for cutting-edge technology<br />
companies. Clark, in the near future,<br />
will be the growth driver for Luzon,” he said.<br />
And with Build, Build, Build comes Jobs, Jobs,<br />
Jobs.<br />
On May 29, the Build team launched the Jobs<br />
portal, an online jobs site aimed at consolidating<br />
all employment opportunities from all<br />
concessionaires and construction companies<br />
involved in the government’s flagship infrastructure<br />
program.<br />
12 COLLECTIVE
NEWS<br />
World-class sports facilities<br />
for world-class athletes<br />
Once in a while, there are athletes like boxing<br />
champion Manny Pacquiao, weightlifter Hidilyn<br />
Diaz, and figure skater Michael Martinez,<br />
who, despite the sorry state of Philippine sports,<br />
manage to emerge victorious and win medals<br />
for the country.<br />
And while there are a lot of talented Filipino athletes,<br />
they still need all the support they can get<br />
from the government.<br />
This is why <strong>BCDA</strong>, together with infrastructure<br />
developer MTD Philippines, is fast tracking the<br />
construction of world-class sports facilities in<br />
New Clark City. MTD commits to finish the Athletic<br />
Stadium and Aquatics Center by mid-October<br />
in 2019, more than a month away from the<br />
opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.<br />
The sports facilities form part of the National<br />
Government Administrative Center (NGAC)<br />
Phase 1A that broke ground in January. Barely<br />
six months later, steel columns were already<br />
being installed for the Athletic Stadium. That’s<br />
how fast the construction is at the NGAC.<br />
On July 4, several Cabinet secretaries led by<br />
Finance chief Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III<br />
personally visited and saw the developments<br />
at NGAC. For Dominguez, the NGAC was an example<br />
of a “quick project.” “We are trying to go<br />
as fast as we can. This is the result,” Dominguez<br />
told the media.<br />
Joining Dominguez were Socioeconomic Planning<br />
Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Transportation<br />
Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary<br />
Mark Villar, and <strong>BCDA</strong> President and CEO<br />
Vivencio Dizon.<br />
A few days later, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan<br />
Peter Cayetano led the Philippine SEA Games<br />
Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) in a visit to<br />
the construction site. Cayetano sits as the chairman<br />
of the PHISGOC.<br />
Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky<br />
Vargas said he was “very moved for the athletes.”<br />
“The athletes will be encouraged by it, moved<br />
by it to even perform better. Parang binihisan<br />
mo sila eh. The athletes get into sports not only<br />
for the love of sports but for many of them it’s<br />
a way out of poverty and you’re showing them<br />
the way how they can excel and helping them in<br />
that process,” Vargas said.<br />
The Athletic Stadium will have a 20,000 seating<br />
capacity, while the Aquatic Center can accommodate<br />
2,000 people. Aside from the two facilities,<br />
an Athletes Village, which can accommodate<br />
1,000 people, is also being constructed.<br />
Indeed, the government’s support–not just<br />
through words–will motivate athletes to work<br />
harder for the flag.<br />
COLLECTIVE 13
NEWS<br />
AFP gets record-high<br />
share from <strong>BCDA</strong><br />
Php 8.2 Billion to the AFP during<br />
the first 2 years of the Duterte administration<br />
Committed to its promise of strengthening the<br />
Armed Forces while building great cities, the<br />
Bases Conversion and Development Authority<br />
(<strong>BCDA</strong>) contributed P8.2 billion to the AFP<br />
during the first two years of the present administration<br />
under President Rodrigo Duterte.<br />
The amount represents 20 percent of the total<br />
P40 billion received by the men and women in<br />
uniform from <strong>BCDA</strong> since the state-run agency<br />
was created in 1992.<br />
“That just shows everyone how important the<br />
AFP is to this administration. We want this to<br />
just keep on growing and growing. We want that<br />
trend to keep on going up,” said <strong>BCDA</strong> President<br />
and CEO Vivencio Dizon.<br />
But more than the monetary contributions,<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> is also honoring the sacrifices of the men<br />
and women in uniform through other ways.<br />
In April, <strong>BCDA</strong>, together with the Fort Bonifacio<br />
Development Corporation (FBDC) unveiled the<br />
Alab ng Puso sculpture as a tribute to the services<br />
of the AFP.<br />
Alab ng Puso (Fire in the Heart) sculpted by artist<br />
Daniel dela Cruz portrays an ordinary Filipino<br />
soldier with his weapon set aside, reading a<br />
letter from his family.<br />
For Dizon, the sculpture represents a soldier’s<br />
commitment to put country first above self.<br />
Two of the bravest soldiers who fought in Marawi<br />
know exactly what it means to put country<br />
first above self. <strong>BCDA</strong> was able to speak to Private<br />
First Class Romeo Esperida Jr. and Corporal<br />
Domingo Torreon, two of the 52 soldiers<br />
who were granted hospitalization assistance by<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> in 2017.<br />
Esperida and Torreon were beneficiaries of the<br />
P5-million fund set up by <strong>BCDA</strong> in honor of the<br />
heroism and bravery of the troops who fought<br />
for the liberation of Marawi City. The fund allowed<br />
injured troops to access medical treatments<br />
at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> is planning to make the P5-million allocation<br />
a revolving fund for troops who cannot receive<br />
the needed medical care in military hospitals<br />
due to lack of facilities and doctors.<br />
14 COLLECTIVE
SMART NEWS CITIES<br />
ROADS IN NEW CLARK CITY<br />
First-of-its kind<br />
in the Philippines<br />
By<br />
PATRICIA RUTH CAILAO<br />
Quality roads and an efficient public transportation<br />
system are basic necessities in highly<br />
urbanized cities. But in Metro Manila which is<br />
home to a population of 12.8 million, poorly designed<br />
roads that result in traffic jams and congestion<br />
greet commuters every day.<br />
In a 2017 study, the Japan International Cooperation<br />
Agency (JICA) cited that the daily gridlock<br />
in Metro Manila streets is costing the country<br />
P3.5 billion in lost opportunities per day. And<br />
the said economic cost is likely to reach P5.4 billion<br />
a day in 2035.<br />
Experts say this urban challenge can be blamed<br />
from the lack of infrastructure that has hindered<br />
the country’s growth for decades.<br />
The World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness<br />
Report for 2017-<strong>2018</strong> showed the Philippines’<br />
overall infrastructure lagging behind its Southeast<br />
Asian neighbors, with a score of 3.4, seven<br />
being the highest. The ASEAN economies’ infrastructure<br />
performance was assessed in terms<br />
of the quality and availability of roads, railroads,<br />
ports, air transport, electricity, and telephones.<br />
One of <strong>BCDA</strong>’s high-impact projects, the New<br />
Clark City, will reverse the negative perception<br />
about the country’s infrastructure. The wellplanned<br />
New Clark City is designed to be the<br />
country’s first smart, green, resilient metropolis.<br />
The road network and public transportation<br />
is already part of the first phase of the ongoing<br />
construction.<br />
Roads in New Clark City will be the first of their<br />
kind in the Philippines. One of the primary<br />
roads being built is a 55-meter, four-lane road<br />
network which will have wider and walkable<br />
sidewalks, bike lanes, and carriageways on opposite<br />
sides.<br />
Eco-friendly developments are also embedded<br />
in the city’s road character. Part of the plan is to<br />
have adequate space for street trees and ground<br />
level plantings in its roads with bio-retention<br />
swale to filter water runoff.<br />
Another 55-meter, three-lane primary road will<br />
also be built to include a bus rapid transit system<br />
or a light rail transit envisioned to be the<br />
main mode for mass transportation in the city.<br />
The design of road networks in New Clark City<br />
hopes to encourage riding public transportation,<br />
walking, and cycling. In New Clark City,<br />
everyone will reach their destinations on time<br />
and stress-free.<br />
COLLECTIVE 15
PROFILES<br />
Fast Talk with<br />
the Directors<br />
The Corporate Communication Office gets up<br />
close and personal with <strong>BCDA</strong>'s newest additions<br />
to its corporate family. Get to know the<br />
other side of Board Directors Mr. David Diwa<br />
and Mr. Gerard Camina.<br />
~<br />
Interviews by<br />
MICHELLE SAN JUAN-DE VERA<br />
Who inspires you?<br />
G. Camiña: God, because I owe everything<br />
to Him.<br />
What and where is your favourite place in the<br />
world?<br />
G. Camiña: My farm in Guimaras where we<br />
plant cacao, mangoes and coconuts.<br />
Q: What are you most passionate about?<br />
G. Camiña: Aside from my job, I am passionate<br />
about golf. If I have free time, I usually do golf<br />
four times a week. My home course is in Iloilo<br />
Golf and Country Club but when I am in here in<br />
Manila, I usually play in Villamor Air Base Golf<br />
Course, the Philippine Navy Golf Club and Sta.<br />
Elena Golf and Country Club.<br />
Name one unique trait that you have.<br />
G. Camiña: Loyalty.<br />
What's your secret talent?<br />
G. Camiña: I am very keen into details.<br />
How do you find working in <strong>BCDA</strong> so far?<br />
G. Camiña: Ooohhh…it’s challenging. <strong>BCDA</strong> is a<br />
huge organization and I hope I can keep up.<br />
GERARD<br />
CAMINA<br />
~<br />
Date of Appointment:<br />
May 8, <strong>2018</strong><br />
16 COLLECTIVE
PROFILES<br />
Who inspires you?<br />
D. Diwa: Moses. Visionary. Fighter. Builder.<br />
Leader. Faithful.<br />
What and where is your favourite place in<br />
the world?<br />
D. Diwa: A beach in a small sitio in Western<br />
Samar.<br />
DAVID<br />
DIWA<br />
Date of Appointment:<br />
February 7, <strong>2018</strong><br />
What are you most passionate about?<br />
D. Diwa: Helping other people, especially<br />
exploited workers.<br />
Name one unique trait that you have.<br />
D. Diwa: Impulsive at times, especially<br />
towards unfriendly people.<br />
What's your secret talent?<br />
D. Diwa: I can read a 200-page book in<br />
one day.<br />
How do you find working in <strong>BCDA</strong> so far?<br />
D. Diwa: Ever heard of a labor leader participating<br />
in making decisions about building<br />
railroads, airports, gateway stations or urban<br />
habitat worth billions of pesos in one<br />
or two board meetings? That’s how <strong>BCDA</strong><br />
works and I find it truly important, challenging<br />
and fulfilling.<br />
COLLECTIVE 17
HEROES<br />
Photo: PCOO<br />
No regrets for<br />
Marawi soldier<br />
who almost went blind<br />
18 COLLECTIVE<br />
In "Heroes," <strong>BCDA</strong> tells the stories of ordinary Filipino soldiers<br />
doing extraordinary duties for love of country.<br />
By<br />
KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ<br />
OOn February 13, <strong>2018</strong>, Private First Class Romeo<br />
Esperida Jr. was awarded the Order of Lapu-<br />
Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan by President<br />
Rodrigo Duterte in a ceremony in Malacaňang.<br />
Dressed in full military gear, Esperida gave his<br />
snappiest salute to his commander-in-chief.<br />
Seeing the photo, it’s a bit difficult to imagine<br />
that just eight months ago, the 27-year-old soldier<br />
was fighting for his life in the battleground<br />
of Marawi City. Marawi was declared “liberated”<br />
in October 2017 by the President after months<br />
of fighting between the Maute Group terrorists<br />
and government troops.
HEROES<br />
Esperida, a member of the 63rd Company of<br />
the Marine Special Operations Group, suffered<br />
severe injuries in a firefight with Maute Group<br />
militants on June 9, 2017, wherein 13 of his<br />
comrades died.<br />
A newspaper report on the incident said Esperida<br />
was “the most injured among the 40 troops<br />
wounded in the clash.” Esperida suffered serious<br />
injuries from a mortar shrapnel which tore<br />
through his leg, arm, groin, and right eye.<br />
Recalling what transpired, Esperida said he felt<br />
that he only had a 50 percent chance of surviving.<br />
“Paunti-unti, nagba-blackout na ako. Yung<br />
tropa, grabe sampal sakin kasi alam na natutulog<br />
na’ko…Hanggang sa pag-evacuate sa’min,<br />
binibira kami ng ISIS.”<br />
“Nag-decide yung officers na pa-withdraw na<br />
kami kasi yung kalaban dumidikit na. Halos talagang<br />
pwersahan na yung ginagawa ng Maute<br />
ISIS fighters,” he said.<br />
Esperida was one of the 52 soldiers granted<br />
hospitalization assistance by <strong>BCDA</strong> in 2017.<br />
An initial fund of P5 million was set up in honor<br />
of the heroism and bravery of the troops who<br />
fought for the liberation of Marawi City. The<br />
fund allowed injured troops to access medical<br />
treatments at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.<br />
Photo: PCOO<br />
Asked if he regrets<br />
signing up for a task<br />
that almost cost him his<br />
life, Esperida said<br />
without hesitation:<br />
“Wala.”<br />
Esperida was initially brought to Iligan and<br />
Cagayan de Oro before he was transferred to the<br />
V. Luna General Hospital in Quezon City. He said<br />
he was informed of the <strong>BCDA</strong> fund for wounded<br />
Marawi soldiers, allowing him to have his right<br />
eye operated on at St. Luke’s in Taguig City.<br />
“Okay na rin yung pakiramdam ko ngayon…<br />
Parang normal na,” Esperida told <strong>BCDA</strong> in May.<br />
Asked if he regrets signing up for a task that<br />
almost cost him his life, Esperida said without<br />
hesitation: “Wala.”<br />
The <strong>BCDA</strong> is planning to make the P5-million<br />
allocation a revolving fund for troops who cannot<br />
receive the needed medical care in military<br />
hospitals due to lack of facilities and doctors.<br />
COLLECTIVE 19
TRAVEL<br />
Unwind in<br />
Thunderbird<br />
Resorts<br />
By<br />
PATRICIA RUTH CAILAO<br />
The Thunderbird Resorts & Casinos inside the<br />
Poro Point Freeport Zone is one of the most<br />
unique tourist destinations in North Luzon.<br />
This Santorini-inspired resort not just offers a<br />
stunning view of the ocean, but also a number of<br />
luxurious amenities that families will sure enjoy.<br />
Here are top things to do inside the resort:<br />
SWIM<br />
Plunge into Thunderbird’s famous infinity pool<br />
which both kids and adults can enjoy. The infinity<br />
pool also offers a beautiful scenery of<br />
the ocean, the sunset, and the gorgeous Greek<br />
design of the resort. It’s also convenient for visitors<br />
to dine after a quick swim as restaurants<br />
are just a few steps away from the infinity pool.<br />
PLAY<br />
Have a one-of-a-kind golfing experience at The<br />
Cliffs Golf & Beach Club in Thunderbird! Their<br />
3,372 dash yard and 9-hole all-weather golf<br />
course features challenging obstacles of varying<br />
degrees yet boasts well-maintained green<br />
landscape and a breath-taking scenery of the<br />
San Fernando Bay.<br />
Since Thunderbird prioritizes the value of family,<br />
included in their recreational spaces are<br />
rooms such as the Kids’ Club and the Teenagers’<br />
Club with a variety of electronic gaming facilities<br />
for both parents and kids to bond.<br />
WORKOUT<br />
& DE-STRESS<br />
Another way to unwind is to experience the<br />
first-rate amenities in the hotel’s gym inside the<br />
new clubhouse. Guests may also take advantage<br />
of the wide and clean boardwalk/jogging paths<br />
in Thunderbird where they can do their morning<br />
exercise.<br />
Aside from water sports, the resort also has<br />
dedicated areas for playing basketball, volleyball,<br />
and tennis.<br />
INDULGE<br />
Explore good food and various cuisines from<br />
Thunderbird’s restaurants such as Olives<br />
Restaurant that serves Mediterranean breakfast,<br />
lunch and dinner; the Fira Beach Club, a<br />
restobar that serves Japanese food; and Pianosa<br />
Deli Shop that serves high-quality deli products<br />
and mouth-watering pastries.<br />
20 COLLECTIVE
LOCATORS<br />
THE<br />
S I L E N T<br />
WORKERS<br />
TWO YEARS AGO, WU RECALLS,<br />
A TOURISM DEPARTMENT<br />
OFFICER RECOMMENDED THE<br />
E M P L O Y M E N T O F P E R S O N S W I T H<br />
D I S A B I L I T I E S ( P W D S ) . W I T H O U T<br />
A N Y H E S I T A T I O N , T H E C O U P L E<br />
S T A R T E D H I R I N G D E A F W O R K E R S<br />
B E C A U S E , A S T H E Y S A Y ,<br />
WHY NOT?<br />
By<br />
KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ<br />
COLLECTIVE 21
LOCATORS<br />
V<br />
Vanessa Ada Cruz works an eight-hour shift,<br />
six days a week, to earn a living for her family.<br />
Wearing a face mask and an apron, she carefully<br />
paints one of the metal frames to be used for<br />
lighting fixtures exported to the US. Vanessa is<br />
one of the 15 Deaf staff employed by La Forge<br />
Designs, Inc. at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.<br />
Nobody is disabled here.<br />
We are all able to do<br />
the work.<br />
R O M M E L B U N D A L I A N<br />
Chief Designer, La Forge<br />
Rommel Bundalian and his wife, Rossy Wu,<br />
manages La Forge, a partner of US-based company<br />
Varaluz. Varaluz prides itself of producing<br />
“unique” handmade lighting fixtures from<br />
as simple as vanity lights to as something as<br />
high-end as crystal chandeliers. According to<br />
Bundalian, 95 percent of the products sold by<br />
Varaluz are produced in Clark by La Forge—<br />
each stamped with “Made in the Philippines.”<br />
Some of the fixtures they produce even boast of<br />
being eco-friendly as La Forge is also into recycling<br />
shells and glass bottles, among others, for<br />
their pieces. The pieces, sold mostly in the US,<br />
usually range from US$15 to US$2,000. Bundalian<br />
says they once designed a custom-made<br />
lighting fixture for a church in San Francisco,<br />
California measuring eight feet in height. He<br />
says they usually join a biannual trade show in<br />
Dallas, Texas where most of the orders come in.<br />
As the demand for their products grew, La<br />
Forge had to hire more people. Two years ago,<br />
Wu recalls, a Tourism department officer recommended<br />
the employment of persons with<br />
disabilities (PWDs). Without any hesitation, the<br />
couple started hiring Deaf workers because, as<br />
they say, why not?<br />
“I am very flexible. As long as there are more<br />
people, they are healthy, they are willing to<br />
work, [that’s fine]. We found out that these people<br />
not only can work as good as normal people,<br />
but at the same time, they have a very good<br />
heart,” Wu said in an interview.<br />
“They are just people with different abilities instead<br />
of people with disabilities. They make a<br />
good contribution to our company. We feel good<br />
to have a group of workers like them,” she says.<br />
A few meters away from where we spoke with<br />
22 COLLECTIVE
LOCATORS<br />
normal as everybody here. Just like what we<br />
keep telling our workers, nobody is disabled<br />
here. We are all able to do the work,” he says.<br />
La Forge’s owners, a group of young ones—we<br />
were told their ages ranged from 20 to 30 years<br />
old—huddled in a sofa waiting for their turn to<br />
be interviewed.<br />
La Forge’s Human Resources Department Manager<br />
Blue Manansala was holding a clipboard<br />
and a pen. He tells us that they usually converse<br />
with their Deaf staff through writing. Asked<br />
why they chose to work for La Forge, they look<br />
at each other then turn to Vanessa to write what<br />
the group wants to say. She writes: “Because we<br />
want to help [provide] the needs of our families<br />
and for some, our kids. Also, we are here to help<br />
improve the company.”<br />
We then ask if they encounter any difficulties<br />
with work, Vanessa writes that they consider<br />
challenges as “experiences.” “We have learned<br />
to work here in different items, and together<br />
with teams,” she says.<br />
They pose for a group photo with a sign they<br />
made up that said “I love La Forge.”<br />
According to Bundalian, their Deaf employees<br />
do different kinds of work for the company:<br />
frame preparations, sanding, painting, accessory<br />
attachment, and packaging.<br />
“They are treated here as normal persons. We<br />
don’t discriminate. We actually treat them as<br />
“We are all equal. Everybody is happy to mingle<br />
with them. Everybody is trying to learn what<br />
they are doing,” he adds.<br />
Some of their employees have taken the initiative<br />
to learn sign language. “In that sense,<br />
natutulungan din nila yung ibang workers,” Accounting<br />
Manager Merlyn Manalo says.<br />
Manansala says the Deaf workers’ special education<br />
teacher prior to working, “Ma’am May,”<br />
usually visits them often. Some of the Deaf<br />
workers, he says, underwent training with the<br />
Technical Education and Skills Development<br />
Authority (TESDA).<br />
“Sa work, tinuturo, ito gagawin, yun ang gagawin.<br />
Sa communication, parang nahihirapan sila.<br />
Kailangan talaga i-demo,” Manansala says. He<br />
was quick to add that some of the Deaf workers<br />
“excel better in their work stations.”<br />
And for the couple behind La Forge, the more,<br />
the merrier. “If it is possible hire more, why<br />
not?” says Wu.<br />
At the end of our interview, the couple hand out<br />
their business cards to us. We notice the tagline<br />
of their company. It says “we bring light to life.”<br />
This, of course, is true for Vanessa and the 14<br />
others who were welcomed with open arms at<br />
La Forge.<br />
COLLECTIVE 23
Snapshots<br />
A round-up of <strong>BCDA</strong>'s milestones in the past quarter.<br />
APRIL 4<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> President and CEO Vivencio Dizon presents developments of New Clark City project to President Rodrigo Duterte.<br />
APRIL 16<br />
Together with the Fort Bonifacio Development<br />
Corporation, <strong>BCDA</strong> unveils the Alab ng<br />
Puso sculpture as a tribute to the AFP.<br />
APRIL 25 MAY 29<br />
MTD Philippines starts the concrete pouring<br />
at the National Government Administrative<br />
Center in New Clark City.<br />
<strong>BCDA</strong> transfers the replicated Philippine<br />
Air Force (PAF) facilities and utilities to DND-<br />
PAF through Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.<br />
JULY 4<br />
The economic team holds a site visit in New Clark City to check the<br />
progress of the project's first phase.<br />
JULY 7<br />
Members of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee hold<br />
a site visit in New Clark City to inspect the construction of sports<br />
facilities.<br />
24 COLLECTIVE
FREEPORTS FREEPORTS AND AND ECOZONES<br />
ECOZONES<br />
Five Stars<br />
for Clark Tourism<br />
JULIA IGNACIO<br />
Clark Development Corporation<br />
Imagine scrolling through your social media<br />
feed and chancing upon a post about your<br />
dream destination - blue skies, crystal clear water,<br />
tropical blooms, and a picturesque scenery<br />
of a magnificent island.<br />
Back in the days, traveling for leisure is considered<br />
a luxury. But now, thanks to low-cost flights,<br />
and the government’s resolve to improve infrastructure,<br />
many tourists -- domestic and foreign<br />
alike -- are exploring the Philippines. At Clark in<br />
Pampanga, the influx of tourists created more<br />
opportunities for the hospitality industry.<br />
Just as Clark’s history and culture evolved<br />
throughout the years, the number of businesses<br />
and tourists also increased. International hotel<br />
brands saw the market as the number of passengers<br />
grew from 654,184 in 2010 to 1,514,531<br />
in 2017. That’s a 59-percent increase in just<br />
seven years. These numbers pushed the confidence<br />
of hospitality developers in shaping their<br />
companies’ future in a place like Clark.<br />
Marriott Hotel is one of the leading brands that<br />
saw an opportunity to be part of that progress.<br />
It is the first five-star hotel to rise in Clark. Unknown<br />
to many, the hotel started as a root beer<br />
stand and later became a key player in the hospitality<br />
industry, accommodating the needs of<br />
every tourist around the world. Marriott chose<br />
to expand its reach in offering modern accommodation,<br />
exceptional dining, and contemporary<br />
elegance to travelers of and locals in Central<br />
Luzon.<br />
A $60-million investment with a towering<br />
16-storey structure nestled in the complex of<br />
Widus Hotel and Casino to serve business and<br />
holiday travellers, Marriott is set to change the<br />
landscape of hotel businesses in Clark. With<br />
approximately 260 rooms, the hotel will feature<br />
various facilities and other amenities which will<br />
fulfill your perfect getaway. This prestigious hotel,<br />
which integrates luxury and modernity, is<br />
set to open in September of this year. Alongside<br />
other hotel chains and brands offering a cozy<br />
and friendly vibe, Marriott Hotel will complement<br />
the growth of Clark and of the country in<br />
the coming years.<br />
Developments may have touched the “wanderer”<br />
within many people, but now more than<br />
ever, what’s important is that they get a quick<br />
escape from the strain of life. But for whatever<br />
type of travel, rest assured that there will always<br />
be a nearby hotel in Clark that’s always open<br />
and ready to accommodate.<br />
COLLECTIVE 25
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
Nowhere to go<br />
but up<br />
KARL DE LEON<br />
Clark International Airport Corporation<br />
With the increased number of domestic and<br />
international flights and record-breaking passenger<br />
count, Clark International Airport (CRK)<br />
continues to manifest its much-touted role as<br />
Asia’s next premier gateway as it extends its<br />
wingspan to Northern Luzon.<br />
There is an ongoing effort to further develop the<br />
facilities of Clark International Airport. Divided<br />
into four phases, the expansion is scheduled to<br />
be completed before President Rodrigo Duterte<br />
ends his term in 2022.<br />
The primary stage of the four-phase development,<br />
which started in December 2017, expects<br />
to raise the terminal’s capacity to handle eight<br />
million passengers every year. The said phase<br />
also includes creating two access ways to the<br />
terminal, one of which permits vehicles coming<br />
from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SC-<br />
TEX) to access the terminal without having to enter<br />
the Clark Freeport Zone. The first phase also<br />
includes a separate building to accommodate<br />
meeters and greeters and a bigger parking area.<br />
The succeeding stages would further raise<br />
CRK’s capacity from 22 million travelers, to 46<br />
million, and ultimately to 80 million annually.<br />
There will be a cargo terminal, a hangar for private<br />
planes, and a new runway, which will allow<br />
simultaneous take off and landing.<br />
Clark’s civil flight complex expansion is doable,<br />
what with its sufficient space of 2,367 hectares<br />
(has), which is four times Ninoy Aquino International<br />
Airport’s 600 has.<br />
AIRPORT OF CHOICE<br />
This is why the Clark airport has become an airport<br />
of choice not only for Kapampangans, but<br />
also for those residing in Regions 1, 2, and 3,<br />
the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and<br />
some parts of Manila.<br />
With the increased availability of domestic and<br />
international flights and its proximity to the<br />
said target regions, CRK aims and continues<br />
to become more accessible than ever. Clark is<br />
now easier to reach with the Point to Point (P2P)<br />
transport buses that bring travelers from Metro<br />
Manila, Baguio City, Nueva Ecija, and Baler town<br />
in Aurora area to Clark and vice versa.<br />
Last May 24, CRK was able to reach its 1-millionth<br />
passenger count in only five months and<br />
is very likely to break the 1.5 million passenger<br />
count of 2017, and even reach two million passengers<br />
before the year ends. Such milestone<br />
could be attributed with the increased number<br />
of flights for the year <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
For CIAC President Alexander Cauguiran, the<br />
goals are clear: to improve the facilities and<br />
enhance the services to cope with the growing<br />
demand of air travel.<br />
Truly, in these times, one must keep moving<br />
forward. Making a change sounds too big of a<br />
task at first, but when one focuses on developing<br />
on what one has been given, the burden of<br />
creating a better Philippines becomes lighter.<br />
With CIAC, there is nowhere to go but up.<br />
26 COLLECTIVE
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
PORO POINT BAYWALK<br />
A New<br />
Recreational Haven<br />
By<br />
PORO POINT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION<br />
Bikers and fun run enthusiasts in San Fernando<br />
City, La Union will have something to look forward<br />
to as developments in Poro Point Baywalk<br />
are underway to encourage the conduct of more<br />
recreational activities in the area.<br />
The Department of Public Works and Highways<br />
(DPWH) , in coordination with <strong>BCDA</strong> and its subsidiary,<br />
the Poro Point Management Corporation<br />
(PPMC), is constructing a 1.3-kilometer access<br />
road leading to the Poro Point Baywalk tourism<br />
and commercial areas. The P92-million project<br />
consists of a bicycle lane, playgrounds, picnic<br />
area, gazebos, amphitheatre and a commercial<br />
strip.<br />
Already, the baywalk has been significant in<br />
boosting tourism and investments in San Fernando<br />
City as the venue of the annual Sillag<br />
Festival of Lights—one of the main events in the<br />
Poro Point Freeport Zone.<br />
The road project will not only improve the<br />
transport experience of the people in the area<br />
but will also immensely benefit the city’s growing<br />
number of health and wellness groups who<br />
frequently use the baywalk to hold their various<br />
activities such as Zumba and fun runs.<br />
Though the road used to be a one-way asphalt<br />
dirt path used only for security cars patrolling<br />
inside the freeport zone, a food house and a<br />
travel tour shop are also in operation to serve<br />
guests and clients coming in the baywalk.<br />
In 2017, the Association of Tourism Industries<br />
and Networks in the City of San Fernando, in<br />
partnership with the local government, had an<br />
innovative way of promoting fitness while observing<br />
religious practice through “Visitkleta<br />
Iglesia” (a spiritual excursion through biking).<br />
The said activity benefited the community of<br />
300 cyclists in the city.<br />
Aside from the wellness groups that would<br />
surely enjoy the said development, PPMC said<br />
that the road project will eventually encourage<br />
more locators to invest, which helps increase<br />
revenues in the freeport zone.<br />
COLLECTIVE 27
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
FROM 2 to 52:<br />
Mang Ponce<br />
Recalls the<br />
Old Days of<br />
John Hay<br />
ZYRELLE DEL PRADO<br />
John Hay Management Corporation<br />
HALF A DECADE NOW,<br />
Mang Ponce continues to walk on the same ground though the routes<br />
have changed. Seeing the same pine trees, though some are no longer<br />
standing, gives him a nostalgic feeling.<br />
Half a decade ago and he still talks like he just turned two yesterday.<br />
28 COLLECTIVE
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
Mang Ponce Recalls the<br />
Old Days of John Hay<br />
W<br />
“With a knitted bonnet on my head and dressed how<br />
with a layer of thick clothes, I would always get excited<br />
to tag along with my Papa going to his work.”<br />
Mr. Ponciano delos Reyes, Jr. or Mang Ponce as<br />
he is fondly called is talking like it happened<br />
yesterday. Now he is 52 and still walking on the<br />
same grounds when he was a two-year old.<br />
Camp John Hay was ordered by the President<br />
of the United States in October 10, 1903 as a<br />
mountain retreat for its military and civilian<br />
personnel. It was established as a resort and vacation<br />
haven, designed to rejuvenate weary servicemen<br />
from combat in order to regain their<br />
strength and vigor.<br />
“Every gate was jointly guarded by US and Filipino<br />
soldiers. There were sturdy and upright<br />
men in their camouflage uniforms, 360-degrees<br />
of green manicured grass slopes, and a<br />
thick canopy of Benguet pine trees. And, oh,<br />
that piney smell at dawn mixed with the morning<br />
dew is unmatched by the most recommended<br />
air freshener in the metro,” says Mang Ponce.<br />
The Camp was the most spacious and stunning<br />
U.S. military installation during its era. With its<br />
sprawling area of 1,764 hectares, originally, it<br />
was the refuge of a hundred cottages, a hospital, a<br />
chapel, a movie house, mess halls, stores, and various<br />
facilities for some sports and social activities.<br />
A pet project of the US Commanding Generals<br />
who assumed command since 1911, improvements,<br />
renovations, and construction of roads,<br />
hydro-electric plant, and water pumping station<br />
were introduced. These made the Camp<br />
self-sufficient, independent, and advanced<br />
compared to other facilities established during<br />
its time.<br />
“The smell of their bread about to puff in the<br />
oven still lingers in my mind. It’s extraordinary!<br />
Incomparable with our famous pandesal, it<br />
tastes soulful—my stomach would never forget<br />
it battled the hunger with the mouth-watering<br />
taste then.”<br />
“May to June are my favorite months. And my<br />
favorite months come with my favorite line<br />
from my Papa - ‘Get a bag and lets go mushroom<br />
picking. Picking wild mushrooms is one<br />
of my most treasured memories of me and my<br />
Papa. After the rain, we spend the whole afternoon<br />
going on expeditions and it’s like playing<br />
peek-a-boo in between pine trees. If we have<br />
extra, I would trade a portion of it in exchange<br />
for bread in the bakery.”<br />
“Facilities and amenities inside the Camp were<br />
manned by Filipino crewmen. Hence, as a kid, I<br />
was always sought for,” he reminisced.<br />
Half a decade now, Mang Ponce continues to<br />
walk on the same ground though the routes<br />
have changed. Seeing the same pine trees,<br />
though some are no longer standing, gives him<br />
a nostalgic feeling. Half a decade ago and he<br />
still talks like he just turned two yesterday.<br />
“How I wish we could go back through a time<br />
capsule and you could travel with me. I will<br />
show you more trees, more mushrooms, the<br />
best bakery I’ve known, that wonderfully tastyv<br />
loaf, the greener sceneries, the colder climate,<br />
the environmentally-conscious camp.” “Oh<br />
how I wish… If only...,” Mang Ponce says as he<br />
closes his eyes as if to turn back time.<br />
Fast forward to <strong>2018</strong>, Mang Ponce, the cottage<br />
attendant, is also an accomplished father to<br />
three wonderful children. He bragged about<br />
his son, Jay-ar, who is now a Certified Public<br />
Accountant, his daughter, Jay Ann, who finished<br />
a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management<br />
and Accountancy, while the youngest, Jo<br />
Anne is still in school under the K-12 program<br />
of the government.<br />
Now, he dreams of having a grandchild.<br />
COLLECTIVE 29
FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES<br />
Subic steps up<br />
as the next Boracay<br />
RUBEN VELORIA<br />
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority<br />
Tourists don’t need to search far for an alternative<br />
destination following the recent closure of<br />
Boracay Island.<br />
More than an investment haven and industrial<br />
center, Subic offers unforgettable travel experiences<br />
to both local and foreign visitors. In fact,<br />
the former military base draws in more than two<br />
million tourists every year resulting in P56 billion<br />
worth of revenues.<br />
With the influx of tourists, the Subic Bay Metropolitan<br />
Authority (SBMA) has urged tourism operators<br />
in the Subic Bay Freeport to upgrade its<br />
facilities and services in order to take advantage of<br />
the clean-up period in Boracay. SBMA Chairman<br />
and Administrator Wilma Eisma challenged nearby<br />
communities to keep up with the demand by<br />
offering more world-class attractions for visitors.<br />
GO TREKKING<br />
Hike in Subic’s triple canopy forest and be<br />
amazed by the beauty of its beautiful flora and<br />
fauna. Tourists may also take a dip in one of the<br />
many hidden streams fed by waterfalls, or choose<br />
to interact with the local indigenous people who<br />
teaches how to make fire and cook lunch using<br />
bamboo tubes, and drink water from jungle vines.<br />
WATERSPORTS<br />
Summer is not the only time to enjoy watersports<br />
in Subic. People can go swimming, windsurfing,<br />
jet-skiing, parasailing, ride a yacht, go fishing, canoeing<br />
or scuba diving. These activities may also<br />
be enjoyed even during the rainy season.<br />
VISIT THE ZOOBIC SAFARI<br />
Zoobic Safari offers visitors a close encounter<br />
with the largest members of the cat family—the<br />
tigers, and other exotic animals, unlike the other<br />
zoos in the country.<br />
The Zoobic Safari is also home to the best animal<br />
shows and educational entertainment about the<br />
marine life with facilities like the Ocean Adventure<br />
and the Beach Adventure Water Park.<br />
LEARN HISTORY<br />
Visitors may also take pleasure among historical<br />
sites inside the Subic Freeport. These include the<br />
Spanish Gate, San Roque Chapel, Tappan Park,<br />
and other structures built during the Spanish rule.<br />
A lot of underwater treasures can also be found<br />
here in the form of sunken ships and other relics<br />
that are open to divers.<br />
30 COLLECTIVE
FREEPORTS AND DINER’S ECOZONES DIGEST<br />
By:<br />
LANQUIN SEYER GACUSAN<br />
Risen from the ashes at the very heart<br />
of Central Luzon is Clark, a developing<br />
metropolis now becoming one of the<br />
premier locations for local and foreign<br />
businesses repositioning from the<br />
busy and congested Metro Manila.<br />
The Rodriguez family from Capas,<br />
Tarlac found Clark as a perfect and<br />
strategic site to build their diner concept<br />
of serving the best of authentic<br />
Kapampangan cuisine. A few years<br />
back, the Rodriguezes’ plan was only to<br />
franchise an already established food<br />
chain but they wanted to do more—<br />
to give hope to the Aeta and Abelling<br />
tribes of Capas. Their goal was to help<br />
elevate the livelihood of the indigenous<br />
people from their hometown.<br />
Hence, the idea of putting up a restaurant<br />
was born, and Clark’s logistical<br />
location turned the concept into full<br />
circle. The Rodriguezes then relocated<br />
the Aetas and Abellings they hired<br />
from Capas to Clark, and supplied<br />
them with basic needs like housing,<br />
clothing, and food and transportation<br />
allowance, among other things.<br />
Matam-Ih means “delicious” in the Aeta<br />
dialect, which is proven by the food that<br />
they serve. Their wide array of authentic<br />
Kapampangan selection is not only<br />
delicious but also reasonably priced,<br />
perfect for sharing with your special<br />
someone, friends, or family. Their bestseller<br />
meals are the adobong babi (pork<br />
adobo), pritong hito, mustasa at buro<br />
(fried catfish with mustard leaves and<br />
fermented rice), and the bekugan babi<br />
(pork sautéed in shrimp paste). They<br />
also serve soups like braised pork or<br />
beef, and the Filipino favorite sinigang,<br />
and vegetable and grilled/barbecued<br />
viands, and merienda or Filipino afternoon<br />
snack choices.<br />
But if you are into daring food delicacies,<br />
the exotic fares like the betute tugak<br />
(fried stuffed native frog), adobong<br />
salagubang (beetle adobo), and pritong<br />
adobong camaru (fried mole crickets)<br />
should be a sure hit for you. Matam-Ih<br />
also serves dishes using crocodile<br />
meat occasionally. All the dishes at<br />
Matam-Ih are served by the friendly<br />
waiters given local celebrity names like<br />
Anne Curtis and Kris Aquino, and even<br />
international stars like Angelina Jolie<br />
and Brad Pitt.<br />
Not only will Matam-Ih satisfy your taste<br />
buds, it will also surely amaze you with<br />
the inviting ambiance of their restaurant’s<br />
interiors, and the power ballads<br />
belted out by the staff themselves.<br />
Matam-Ih restaurant truly represents<br />
what the Kapampangans are known<br />
for—from the art of cooking to its culture<br />
and history. Matam-Ih should unquestionably<br />
be part of your bucket list<br />
when visiting Pampanga.<br />
Dine at Matam-ih! M. A, Manuel A. Roxas Hwy,<br />
Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles, 2009 Pampanga<br />
COLLECTIVE 31
ALAB NG PUSO<br />
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (<strong>BCDA</strong>) and the Fort Bonifacio<br />
Development Corporation (FBDC) pay tribute to the sacrifices of the men and women<br />
in uniform through the "Alab ng Puso" sculpture installed at the Bonifacio Global City<br />
in Taguig. The image, sculpted by artist Daniel dela Cruz, portrays an ordinary Filipino<br />
soldier with his weapon set aside, reading a letter from his family.