BCDA Collective | Issue 2 2018

COLLECTIVE
is a quarterly publication of the
Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
Table of Contents
3 The race to fulfill a vision
7 A showcase of PH economic growth and Build Build Build
10 New Clark City by the numbers
11 News
15 Building Smart Cities
16 10 interesting facts about Arch. Royal Pineda
18 Why South Koreans do business in Clark
19 Heroes: What it takes to liberate Marawi
23 Beers and bikes: Clark as a sports tourism hub
25 Snapshots of BCDA Events
26 Freeports and Ecozones
31 A Diner's Digest: Salt at Widus Hotel and Casino
32 Icon: Dating Tagpuan
ON THE COVER
A rendering of New Clark City
shows the National Government
Administrative Center, including the
SEA Games facilities, at night.
Gregorio D. Garcia III
Chairman
Vivencio B. Dizon
President and CEO
Editor-in-Chief: Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet
Executive Editor: Maricar Gay Savella-Villamil
Managing Editor: Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez
Art Director: Ana Trina Sulit
Associate Editor: Patricia Ruth Cailao
Writers: Lanquin Seyer Gacusan, Michelle San Juan-De Vera
Regina Abuyuan
Photographers: Samuel Luke Galivo, Garry Cativo,
Lanquin Seyer Gacusan
Contributors:
Clark Development Corporation
Clark International Airport Corporation
John Hay Management Corporation
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
Renders by: Budji + Royal Architecture + Design
Megawide
Filinvest
Circulation: Mareynel Toquero
TheBCDAGroup
Editorial Address:
BCDA Corporate Center
2/F, Bonifacio Technology Center,
31st Street cor. 2nd Ave.
Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig City, Philippines
Contact No.
(632) 575-1700
Fax
(632) 816-0996
E-mail
bcda@bcda.gov.ph
Website
http://www.bcda.gov.ph

MTD CLARK INC.
HAS TO FINISH THE JOB IN
19
MONTHS
The race to
fulfill a vision
By
REGINA ABUYUAN

B
BCDA joint venture partner MTD Clark, Inc. is
racing against the clock to deliver a project that
would, under normal circumstances, take four
years to complete, from start to finish.
They have to do it all in 19 months.
“We’re building a mini city of 40 hectares,”
says MTD Clark, Inc. President Engr. Patrick
Nicholas David, referring to Phase 1A of
the 200-hectare National Government
Administrative Center (NGAC), deliverable by
October 2019. This new center, inspired by
government center Putrajaya in Malaysia, will
house backup offices—or resiliency offices—of
various government agencies.
“In the private sector, this is what you call
having a business continuity plan. Should
anything happen in Metro Manila, and should
agencies want to transfer, this facility is for
them,” says David.
The NGAC will also be bringing “smaller
government centers across the region into one
place, so that when you need to transact with any
of them, you’ll only have to go to one area (to do it).
You don’t have to travel from one place to another.
Efficiency is vastly improved,” says Engr. David.
The only difference between Putrajaya and
NGAC in Clark is that the seat of government
remains in Metro Manila. But the majestic
wide spaces, walkability, parks, commercial
and residential nature of the place—those will
be replicated in Clark, and then some.
Aside from NGAC, MTD is tasked with
constructing the world-class facilities for the
Southeast Asian Games in November 2019.
“Usually, with this kind of project, we give
ourselves enough time to design, study,
construct, and of course do everything in
accordance with the deliverables. But in this
case, there’s a specific deadline that cannot
be moved, a specific event that’s not going to
change,” says David.
The tight deadline compelled MTD to come up
with new and creative solutions to accelerate
processes and work with the country’s fickle
weather patterns. They broke ground in late
January 2018, and had until February or March
for the design phase. “We understood we had
to accelerate everything. So, at our own risk, we
cleared the area.”
To do so, MTD needed four to five times the
usual amount of construction equipment.
About 200 units of heavy equipment ran at
4 COLLECTIVE

“We micro managed,
we worked 24/7;
if there were 25 hours to a day,
they would've taken that hour too."
the same time. A common joke tossed about in
the construction industry was that 90 percent
of North Luzon was to be found in New Clark
City. “If you took a photo, just standing where
you are, no drone, you’d be able to fit four to
five pieces of equipment in one frame. Easily.
Bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks, running
around like ants on site. That’s not normal.
Usually, this would be done inch by inch.”
The goal was to have 90 percent of the
foundation up, and finish the roads and critical
facilities by May, and the buried facilities
above ground by June. “We micro-managed,
we worked 24/7,” says David. If there were 25
hours to a day, they would’ve taken that hour
too, he jokes.
Currently, almost 2,000 workers and
supervisors are hands-on with NGAC and
the Southeast Asian Games complex. “We
have about 1,572 workers. If you include site
and construction supervision, independent
consultants, and our own supervision team,
that will probably be another 300. This does
not include people working off-site like people
bending rebars.”
Even during the negotiation stage with BCDA,
MTD began to move strategically, tracking
where to get sand, aggregates, steel, extra
equipment, and subcontractors. “We got
everything we could get our hands on,” David
says, “we tracked all those down—and made
sure every decision (we made) will comply
with the strict program we have (with BCDA).”
“We had to re-engineer our normal strategy
of procurement, engineering, design, nearly
everything. We had to compress it and
make sure everything would be in place,” he
continues. “There’s no simple way to describe
it. It’s technical, it’s detail, it’s all rolled into one.”
COLLECTIVE 5

The NGAC should
embody the vision
put forth by BCDA
for New Clark City.
He cites pre-casting the all-steel columns and
roofs of the athletic and aquatic stadiums to save
time; as well as pre-fabricating all the floors of
one of the buildings in the athlete’s village. It was
a matter of programming what needs to be done,
and finding the right partners to do it.
A collective goal
BCDA is an aggressive partner, Engr. David says.
But this is needed to accomplish an impeccable
job. “When we signed the contract, we had a
collective goal. To bring forth New Clark City; our
part would be the NGAC. They’ve set their goals,
we’ve set our goals, and collectively, we’re intent
on delivering those goals.”
Though uncompromising, BCDA is also
unfailingly cooperative. “If we need something,
they’re there to help us get things done, and on
time. They’re delivering everything that was
promised in the JV. They’re also assisting us
with access to those (places and persons) that
are beyond our site.”
When the NGAC and Southeast Asian Games
facilities are fully complete and operational,
both MTD and BCDA hope they will become a
legacy for its future tenants and end-users. The
stadiums, for one, should be enjoyed and utilized
long after the sports events have been held there.
The NGAC should embody the vision put forth by
BCDA for New Clark City.
“The vision is to have a city that is walkable,
livable, one that brings you back to the essentials,
not spending your time in congested streets
inside your car or public transport, but with
your kids, in the park, or at home. What a waste
of productivity and time—stressing it out in our
vehicles.” says David.
It may be ironic that this much rush and pressure
is needed to build a city that upholds completely
opposite values, but what a relief and triumph it
will be when this is all done: to finally walk streets
that breathe, transact with government agencies
more efficiently than ever before, to be able to
just do more, and live better.
6 COLLECTIVE

A showcase of
PH economic growth
and Build Build Build
Reports from Department of Finance, Department of
Transportation, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
TTop economic and infrastructure managers
under the Duterte administration showcased
the Philippines’ stable economic growth and the
government’s Build Build Build infrastructure
program in Philippine Economic Briefings (PEB)
held in Manila and London.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III led the
delegation as he assured that the Philippines
remains to be “one of the best performing
economies in the region.”
According to Dominguez, the Philippines’
performance is reflected in the surge in foreign
direct investments (FDIs) by almost half to $5.8
billion in the year’s first semester.
He pointed out that the most remarkable aspect
of the country’s economic performance so far this
year is its turn into an increasingly investmentled
growth, following a 27.4-percent jump in
capital formation as President Duterte’s“Build,
Build, Build” initiative continued to gain
momentum.
Confidence in fiscal management has been
reinforced further, he said, by the successful
passage into law of the first package of the
Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP),
which has led to a 21-percent increase in total
revenue collections over the past seven months
while putting more money into the pockets of 99
percent of Filipino taxpayers.
“With these reforms and with the infrastructure
program, we expect our economy to create more
jobs, improve productivity in all sectors and
remove roadblocks to clear the way for more
rapid economic expansion,” Dominguez said at
the PEB in Manila.
“The role played here by decisive leadership
cannot be understated,” he added. “The road
towards sustainable and inclusive growth is now
open.”
Part 2 of the PEB in Manila was a site visit in Clark,
including New Clark City, organized by the BCDA
and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
COLLECTIVE 7

A group of local and regional bank analysts,
portfolio strategists, and economists was the
audience in separate briefings held at the
National Government Administrative Center
(NGAC) in New Clark City, Marriott Hotel in
Clark Freeport Zone, and the Clark International
Airport construction area.
“We are in exciting times. The Philippines
is undergoing massive infrastructure
transformation pushing the economy toward its
next stage of development, and we are eager to
take everyone onboard in this journey,” BCDA
President and CEO Vivencio Dizon said.
New Clark City will be the country’s first smart,
green, and resilient city. It is expected to be a
major alternative growth hub outside Metro
Manila. It measures 9,450 hectares.
Currently being constructed is Phase 1A, which
will house the NGAC and a world-class Sports
Complex. It is targeted to be completed by
September 2019.
First roadshow in London
Economic and infrastructure managers also
briefed British investors on the opportunities in
Philippines’ infrastructure, energy and tourism
sectors during their trip to London.
These are
exciting times
for our economic
development.
We invite you to
participate in
building a strong &
resilient economy.
Dominguez expressed confidence that the
economic partnership with the UK would grow in
the years ahead, given that the British economy
has been a reliable partner of the Philippines.
“These are exciting times for our economic
development. We invite you to participate
in building a strong and resilient economy,”
Dominguez said during the PEB.
Attended by around 250 participants, the PEB
carried the theme “Strengthening Economic
Resilience and Spurring Infrastructure
Development for Inclusive Growth.” Among those
present at the event were British Ambassador
to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, Philippine
Ambassador to the UK Antonio Lagdameo, and
top executives of Standard Chartered, UBS, Bank
of China, J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Credit Suisse and
Goldman Sachs.
Aside from Dominguez, other government
officials present were Budget Secretary
Benjamin Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning
8 COLLECTIVE

Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo,
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public
Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar,
BCDA President and CEO Dizon, Trade and
Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Tourism
Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Tugade, who made the presentation in behalf
of the infrastructure cluster, said the massive
infrastructure program is envisioned to
strengthen the economy, increase incomes, and
improve the investment climate that will lead to
more job opportunities for Filipinos.
He explained that building bridges, roads,
and modern transport systems is vital in an
archipelagic country like the Philippines in terms
of enhancing interconnectivity and mobility to
promote growth and develop industries.
Partner with us as
we walk and as we
do a quest on what
our President calls
the golden age of
infrastructure.
A R T H U R T U G A D E
Secretary, Department of Transportation
“Without infrastructure, there will be no
connectivity. Connectivity must come in terms
of bridges, roads, and farm to market roads.
Connectivity must come in watershed and
effective facilities,” he said.
“I would like to encourage you to come to the
Philippines and partner with us as we walk and
as we do a quest on what our President calls the
golden age of infrastructure,” Tugade said.
COLLECTIVE 9

NEWS
NEW
CLARK
CITY
by the
numbers
CITY OF THE FUTURE
1st
smart, green, and resilient
metropolis in the Philippines
Clark Special Economic Zone
9,450 hectares
1.2 million residents
600,000 workers + provide indirect
employment opportunities in
Central Luzon
Soon to rise
National Government
Administrative Center
Philippine Sports City
Food Processing Terminal
International Food Market
Mixed-use real estate by Filinvest
Schools:
University of the Philippines
Technological University
of the Philippines
Philippine Science High School
10 COLLECTIVE

NEWS
The Philippines
is building a green,
disaster-resilient city
JANE BRACHER
CNN International
IIn one of the most disaster-prone regions on the
planet, a new city has been designed specifically
to withstand natural calamities -- and it’s being
built using remnants of a major disaster.
The Philippines has begun building a “back-up”
city, from where government offices can still
function should capital Manila succumb to a
natural disaster such as an earthquake.
The proposed metropolis, located 100
kilometers north of Manila, is called New Clark
City. With plans to cover 9,450 hectares, it will be
bigger than Manhattan and could accommodate
as many as 1.2 million people.
As well as being able to withstand typhoons,
flooding, and earthquakes -- inevitable parts
of life for a country located on the Pacific Ring
of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic
activity -- the city aims to be pollution-free.
But how does it intend to achieve such a lofty goal?
Vivencio Dizon, president of government
owned and controlled Bases Conversion and
Development Authority (BCDA), which is
spearheading the project, says one key is to
minimize traffic pollution. Large areas of the
city will be pedestrianized, and a river walkway
will run right through the city. Efficient mass
transportation is planned, to reduce the need for
cars.
“When we build this city, we are building for
people, we’re not building for cars. It’s a big
difference,” Dizon tells CNN.
He says public utilities will use greener energy
sources, such as solar power, liquefied natural
gas and waste-to-energy facilities. Buildings will
be designed to use little energy.
The planners also intend to preserve the natural
landscape of the area, retaining its river and
avoiding cutting down trees.
They’re also taking a more unusual approach --
using a unique, locally sourced building material
called lahar, which Dizon says will form the
“main fabric” of the city’s infrastructure to make
it more sustainable.
Lahar is a term used to describe a violent
volcanic mudflow that cascades down volcanoes
COLLECTIVE 11

NEWS
There’s no such
thing as being
too ambitious.
V I N C E D I Z O N
President and CEO, BCDA
and comes to rest in a valley. It contains rocks,
debris and ash, and solidified lahars are found in
many areas around the Mount Pinatubo volcano,
located less than 40km from New Clark City.
Dizon says lahar will be combined with concrete
to construct all the buildings.
Dutch architect Matthijs Bouw, who was asked to
review an early version of the city master plan,
says the production of concrete can take huge
amounts of energy and water and create a lot of
pollution from particulate matter released into
the atmosphere.
But he adds that using lahar in place of some of
the concrete, doesn’t necessarily mean a lower
environmental impact.
Bouw says New Clark City’s green planning will
go a long way to ensuring pollution levels in
the city will be “drastically different and much
lower” compared with other Asian cities.
Overcoming Mother Nature
Central to New Clark City’s disaster resilience is
its location. It is on a much higher elevation than
Manila, making it less vulnerable to flooding,
says Dizon. The city will further implement
wide drainage systems and “no-build zones” to
mitigate any flooding that may occur.
It is also surrounded by a nearby mountain
range that could protect it against strong winds
from typhoons.
While Manila is vulnerable to earthquakes
and sits on a massive valley fault system that
could move any day, Dizon says experts have
confirmed New Clark City does not have any
fault lines close to it.
12 COLLECTIVE
But Kelvin Rodolfo, professor of Earth &
Environmental Sciences at the University
of Illinois in Chicago, tells CNN: “All of the
Philippines is subject to earthquake risks. It is a
serious misconception that only areas close to
faults are at risk.”
New Clark City’s proximity to the Mount
Pinatubo volcano could be a cause for concern.
The volcano is infamous for its last catastrophic
eruption in 1991, the second largest volcanic
eruption of the 20th century, but experts say
another big eruption isn’t expected for hundreds
of years.
The name New Clark City alludes to its location
within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic
Zone, a former military area for American and
Filipino forces.
The first of at least five phases of building
the city will cost the government and private
funders nearly $2 billion, according to Dizon.
Construction has already started, with a sports
complex, government buildings and housing
for government employees expected to be up
and running in time for the Southeast Asian
Games, which are being held in the Philippines
in December 2019, says Dizon.
The first phase is expected to be completed by
2022 but it will take at least 30 years to finish, he
adds.
It’s an enormous undertaking, but Dizon does
not believe the ambitions for New Clark City are
too grand.
“That’s the worst kind of attitude we Filipinos
could have,” says Dizon. “There’s no such thing
as being too ambitious.”
(This article was published by CNN International on 23
July 2018.)

NEWS
Hired on the spot:
Build Build Build
gives Jobs Jobs Jobs
By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ
& LANQUIN SEYER GACUSAN
MMore Filipinos in search of employment
opportunities were hired under the Duterte
administration’s Build Build Build infrastructure
program during the first Build Build Build = Jobs
Jobs Jobs Caravan held in Manila.
Despite strong rains and wind caused by typhoon
“Karding” (Yagi), thousands of job seekers still
flocked the caravan to apply for the 17,000 jobs
available.
Sanny Belarmino, a former overseas Filipino
worker, was one of those who were hired on the
spot.
“This is such a big help to me and my family.
I have three kids who are all still in school,”
Belarmino said in Tagalog.
“This is the second time that I have something
to thank for this administration. Back in 2016,
me and my companions in Saudi were given
financial assistance by the government when we
were sent home,” he said.
Belarmino was hired as a safety officer during
the caravan.
Over 35 contractors for major Build Build
Build projects also hired new civil engineers,
architects, plumbers, and carpenters, among
others.
Johndel Parizal, hired as a field civil engineer,
advised job applicants to seek opportunities in
the Philippines rather than overseas.
“It is really difficult to find work here especially in
big companies. It’s overwhelming. But after this
caravan, I would like to tell the others who are
still looking for a job to search for opportunities
here in the Philippines so we also contribute to
its progress,” he said.
COLLECTIVE 13

NEWS
Ace Ramirez said he came from Palawan for a
job interview in Manila but was unfortunately
rejected.
“Fortunately, one of my Facebook friends shared
something about this event, this Jobs caravan.
I did not think twice, and luckily, I was hired on
the spot,” said Ramirez, now quality control
inspector for a construction company.
The Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan held at the SMX
Convention Center is only the first of many job
fairs to be organized by the Build Build Build
agencies nationwide.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Build
Build Build program also seeks to encourage
OFWs to come home.
“The Build Build Build is envisioned to increase
the productive capacity of our economy by
creating more jobs and creating an investment
climate that will sustain inclusive growth and
uplift the living conditions of all our Filipino
countrymen, especially our Bagong Bayani, our
overseas Filipino workers,” Bello said.
Aside from Secretary Bello, the Caravan was also
led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez,
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark
Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade,
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and
Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also pledged
the support of his department through the
contractors registered under the Construction
Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP).
Thousands of jobs generated from the Build
Build Build program are still available and
accessible via the Jobs portal or at http://www.
build.gov.ph/Home/Jobs.
14 COLLECTIVE

SMART CITIES NEWS
PH’s own
‘Rungis’ food market
By PATRICIA RUTH CAILAO
CConstruction of modern structures in New Clark
City is well underway with the vision to make
it the newest investment hub in Asia. More
people are witnessing the developments inside
the new city, such as the government center
that will house the sports facilities for the 2019
Southeast Asian Games, commercial buildings,
and back-up government offices for service
continuity in case of disasters. But another
exciting infrastructure to look forward to is the
Philippines’ own “Rungis” food market right in
New Clark City.
About 200 hectares will be allotted in building
the country’s first Food Processing Terminal and
International Food Market that will streamline
the exchange of fresh agricultural produce
and processed products. For this, BCDA has
partnered with the Metro Pacific Investment
Corp. (MPIC) and French firm SEMMARIS, the
operator of the Rungis Market.
Sprawling over 234 hectares outside Paris,
the Rungis Market is considered the largest
wholesale food market in the world—so huge
it’s often likened to a city in itself. Rungis is
organized by halls called pavilions where one
can find quantities of quality meat, seafood,
fruits, vegetables, dairy, and organic goods. It
supplies much of the top-tier restaurants in Paris
and reaches 18 million consumers annually.
The top wholesale market also reportedly yields
about €9 billion and each year, €30 to €40 million
are invested to its renovation and establishment
of new buildings.
SEMMARIS recognizes that food security
continues to be a big challenge for governments
worldwide. Establishing Asia’s version of a
Rungis Market can help address the problem by
making sure countries who can supply quality
food can bring it to areas where it’s needed.
SEMMARIS sees that creating the Philippines’
own version of a Rungis market can attract largescale
distribution companies with the objective
of improving and ensuring regular food supply.
New Clark City’s strategic location makes
it ideal for the international food market to
connect buyers and sellers of agri-products not
just in Northern and Central Luzon but also in
neighboring countries such as China, Thailand,
and Japan. The market will also bring economic
gains as Clark will soon be home to many massive
infrastructure such as airports, railways, and an
alternative city where different industries can do
business.
Anyone who is serious about food should be sure
to visit the Philippines’ first world-class food
market. It will truly be a feast for the senses.
COLLECTIVE 15

PROFILES
NEWS
His favorite architectural
design is “Fallingwater”
(1935) by Frank Lloyd
Wright.
Arch. Pineda: What’s iconic about the design is
that it’s within the wilderness—you see a nice
creek surrounding the modern lines of the house,
and the organic materials of plaster and stone. It’s
an elegant composition of planes, surfaces and
nature. I felt many messages embedded in that
particular design. (Pictured below)
10 interesting
facts about
Arch. Royal Pineda
By PATRICIA RUTH CAILAO
H
He’s the first architect in the
family.
Arch. Pineda: I started sketching places and people
in second grade. As a kid, I kept a notepad and
drew anything that I saw. I also remember my
father teaching me how to draw and then he would
crumple his sketches and tell me, “Now you do it.”
He was only 22 years old
when he started working
for Philippine National
Artist for Architecture
Leandro Locsin.
Arch. Pineda: I remember going to Locsin’s firm
and with me were my sample works. I called his
office and his secretary informed me that the firm
has no vacancy but that I can still come and submit
my application and portfolio. I told the secretary
“Can I come in now because I’m already at the
entrance of your office?” I was lucky to be hired
that same day. I was even interviewed by Locsin’s
partner and also a renowned architect, Edgardo
“Ed” Ledesma, who eventually became my mentor.
He wanted to be an
architect because he
wants to improve his
surroundings.
Arch. Pineda: Growing up in Pasig City, there was
more space and more nature. Now, all of the green
spaces are covered by the density of the people.
You see things that you want to improve. But you
also see things that you wanted to keep. As an
architect, I now try to understand when there
is growth, there’s a threat. You kill the city. You
become a survivor in the city because things start
to become scarce; land becomes expensive. You’re
now struggling for space.
Quality time with family is his
kind of adventure.
Arch. Pineda: I enjoy walking around our village
with my son, August. My son also adores the beach
and loves hiking so when he wants to go, my wife
and I pack our bags and drive out of town.
16 COLLECTIVE

PROFILES NEWS
Creativity and design
keeps my spirit young
and dynamic.
He values equality and
education.
Arch. Pineda: I learned from my father the
importance of showing respect to others
regardless of their position or status in life. It’s
connected to having a good education because it
will equip us to face life. I remember him telling
me, “Son, with good education, you can face
anybody because you have something to offer to
the world.”
His favorite art piece are
photos taken by Jaime
Zobel de Ayala.
Arch. Pineda: It’s a quadriptych—a set of four black
and white photographs, acquired eight years
ago. The photos are his first subject. It’s actually
a ruin, an architectural wall of an old castle in
Spain. I like how it represents a modern image of
an old architecture which somehow resonates a
progressive spirit.
Going basic is his personal
style.
Arch. Pineda: I usually wear basic colors such as
blue, white, black and gray. But I’m very particular
with the silhouette and fit of my clothes. I have
everything tailored to my specs. Something basic
keeps me from thinking of what to wear everyday
yet, the details of my clothes have to be very
personal and should stick to my liking.
His top favorite cities are
Istanbul, Paris, and Tokyo.
Arch. Pineda: I love Istanbul because of its
authenticity and distinct character. It’s rich in
culture and still expresses the people’s way of life in
the past like the old structures.
Paris is beautiful. I like its fusion and dynamic flow
of fashion and the arts.
Tokyo is vibrant with modernity and culture. I’ve
always admired the discipline and the order of
things of the Japanese people.
He doesn’t stop designing
even during his free time.
Arch. Pineda: It’s hard not to be connected with
designing ‘cause it’s really my therapy. I work, I
sketch, I get in a trance—it’s my leisure. Creativity
and design keeps my spirit young and dynamic. If
I stop, I might lose some great ideas.
COLLECTIVE 17

TRAVEL
HEROES
Why South Koreans
do business in Clark
By LANQUIN SEYER GACUSAN
SSouth Korea’s influence to the Philippines
goes way beyond popular culture and
entertainment. Korea has greatly contributed
to the Philippine economy throughout the
years, and one proof of this is the presence of
Korean businessmen and investors in Clark,
Pampanga.
Byong Jae Choi used to own jewelry
manufacturing factories in South Korea and
China. He used to export finished jewelries
to other countries like the United States of
America, Middle East, and many others.
In 2004, he moved to Clark to expand his
business. But as fate (and a financial crisis)
would have it, he had to close up shop. Now,
he does consultancy work to assist interested
South Korean investors in understanding the
market and business set-up in the Philippines,
especially in Clark. Choi also works as an
adviser to the Chairman of the Korean
Community Association Central Luzon
(KCACL).
But why do South Koreans choose Clark as
their investment venue? What are the factors
that encourage South Koreans to move to
Clark? Mr. Choi shares the facts.
Too much competition in
South Korea
Even with a small capital, South Koreans find it
easier to break through the Philippine market than
that of their home country because of the faster
return of investment (ROI) ratio, cheaper lot rental
costs, and higher demand for goods/commodities/
services versus the supply, among others.
One-stop shop
government center
Although Koreans face challenges in
communication and shifts in internal policies,
overall, processing of business permits and other
related documents is simpler and easier.
More accessible airport
It only takes three hours and 10 minutes to fly from
Seoul, South Korea to Clark compared to other
parts of the Philippines. Traffic congestion is also
not a problem within the Clark Freeport Zone.
Attractive retirement
destination
Clark is progressive but still keeps the provincial
atmosphere—slow paced, peaceful, etc.—making
the economic zone a good place for retirement,
Kapampangans are also, of course, very welcoming
and hospitable.
Safe
Despite some reported cases of criminality last
year, Koreans still find Clark as a safe place to
reside in. They also believe that their investments
are secured in the economic zone.
Easy communication
Koreans feel they can communicate what they
want to say without being and feeling intimidated.
With all the upcoming developments in the
Clark Freeport Zone—expansion of the Clark
International Airport and creation of New Clark
City—Koreans are still positively looking at the
zone as an ideal investment hub in the Philippines.
Choi is confident that Koreans will still choose to do
business in Clark in the years to come.
COLLECTIVE 18

HEROES
Source: Operations
Research Center,
Philippine Army
(ORCPA)
What it takes
to liberate Marawi
By MARICAR GAY SAVELLA-VILLAMIL
In "Heroes," BCDA tells the stories of ordinary
Filipino soldiers doing extraordinary duties
for love of country.
The interview for this piece happened in September,
weeks before Bautista retired from the military.
I“It was really a brain-draining daily activity.”
A year after the five-month Marawi siege,
Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito Bautista,
commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, recalls
how challenging it was to lead our troops in one of
the fiercest military combat operations against the
ISIS-Maute terrorist group.
Bautista was Commander of the Philippine
Army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division in Southern
Mindanao when the Marawi siege happened.
After its liberation, he was appointed by President
Rodrigo Duterte to the helm of the Philippine Army,
serving as its Commanding General until October
15. A year has gone by but nothing about Marawi
can ever be forgotten.
SOFT POWER, HARD POWER
One of the biggest challenges in Marawi was the
division of the populace—from the town’s elders,
the political leaders and even among the youths in
the area. There was a great need for the military to
build the trust and confidence of the people.
“It was a battle of perception,” he stressed.
Bautista pointed out how the terrorists took to
social media the massive campaign to establish
and create a divide between Muslims and
Christians. Once exploited, a civil war can erupt,
a war between Muslims and Christians, and this
threatened further the mission of the military.
He then explained the “soft power” approach.
One way of gaining the support of the populace
is to ensure that you will address their needs. You
COLLECTIVE 19

HEROES
“Walang iwanan.
Sama-sama
nating tapusin.”
should be able to explain to them the legitimacy of
the operations of the military.
“Explain to your Muslim brothers that what the
military is doing is only against the terrorists. They
should see your sincerity for them to believe you,”
he asserted.
The “hard power” approach entailed the utilization
of all the available military resources, infusing
strategy, leadership, tactics, among others, in
pursuing the mission.
Of course, another great challenge was the
pressure from the national leadership to have
immediate resolution of the conflict. The orders
of each day were: first, to rescue hostages and
trapped civilians; second, minimize casualties on
the government side.
As Joint Task Force Commander, Bautista revealed
how important it was for him to join the troops in
the frontline “kahit nagpuputukan.” Whenever
there was a chance, he saw to it that his presence
was felt by being with the soldiers, listening to
their concerns, visiting the wounded—to keep
them motivated, inspired and determined to rally
behind one common objective which is to liberate
Marawi from the terrorists.
“Lahat tayo, sabay-sabay nating tapusin ang
problema,” he emphasized.
The “problem” was resolved in October 17, 2017,
following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration
of the liberation of Marawi. The number one
terrorist leader Isnilon Hapilon, a key figure in the
Maute terrorist group was killed and neutralized in
Marawi City.
EMBRACING THE MANDATE
“Seldom are you given the opportunity to give your
life for the country,” he professed firmly.
As the leader of such an intense mission, he
admitted that while assessing the situation, and
looking into the different angles of winning the
conflict, there were times when he dealt with
very low morale because of the large number of
casualties.
“Imagine every day you hear sa radio, may tama
ako, sir, kailangan i-evacuate ako. And for almost
five months before liberation, yan ang maririnig
mo,” reveals the Commander.
But the painful losses even made the troops
stronger. The camaraderie was even more
meaningful. The esprit de corps, even stronger. As
defenders of the country, it was their mandate to
protect the people.
“Walang iwanan. Sama-sama nating tapusin.”
Again, the battle cry.
It helped that President Rodrigo Dutere was “very
supportive” to the troops. According to Bautista,
the President showed commitment by fast tracking
the military modernization program, ensured that
salaries were raised, benefits were improved, and
recognized the wounded and those killed in action.
He said the President even joined the troops in the
front line during conflict or despite bad weather,
and even went to places “where others do not want
to go.”
“Talagang ipinakita nya what a Commander-In-
Chief is. He not only provided direction, but he
answers for his men, taking responsibility for their
actions as long as they are under the rule of law.
He displayed real genuine concern for the welfare
of the soldiers. Leadership and commandership
which we did not see since the moment I entered
military service.”
20 COLLECTIVE

HEROES
Marawi saw the death of 165 heroes—killed
in action. Over 1,700 uniformed men were
wounded. Yet of the 1,700 wounded, more than
50 percent volunteered to go back in the frontline
and contribute to attaining the mission—truly a
remarkable display of courage and love for our
country.
“Marawi is only the beginning of the bigger
problem,” he warned.
Indeed, there is no room for failure in rehabilitating
and reconstructing Marawi.
Bautista declared that the liberation of Marawi
entailed a long process. A crucial part of the
rehabilitation process is continuous engagement.
“Kill the ideology,” he emphasized. “Say what you
mean and mean what you say. Consult with the
populace,” he added.
Though the upgrade of military equipment is an
important thing, it is very significant to counter the
violent ideology espoused in hearts and minds of
probable recruits or the orphaned.
The work of our troops does not end in victory.
Bautista recognized that the root cause of the
conflict is poverty, the lack of education, lack of
livelihood, among others.
WANTED: ARMY OFFICER IN THE FIELD
President Duterte calls him Rolly.
The former Army chief was the first commander
of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) under
President Duterte.
But the journey of the younger Rolly actually began
at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), where
he graduated in 1985.
The idea of entering the military came after
being able to watch a parade of the PMA cadets.
For him, it meant free education, free clothing,
free everything. “At the same time, I saw the
contribution of the military particularly the army
in nation-building and in providing the necessary
security to the country.”
With this perspective, the younger Rolando could
not resist the call to serve the country. He wanted
to live up to how civilians and cadets looked up to
the army as defenders and vanguards of peace and
security.
The timing was right. It was the early eighties, the
height of communist insurgency. The country
was entering the advance stage of communist
terrorism. There was a need for an army officer
in the field. His response, sort of speak, was a
gateway to history.
COLLECTIVE 21

HEROES
RECALLING THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
“My greatest experience was when I joined the
Scout Ranger, one of the elite units of the Philippine
Army tasked to counter insurgency operation.
I was 23 or 24 then,” he recalled. “We were in
Surigao, on foot patrol and we did not know where
the enemies were. Explosions fired, yet we did not
know where they were coming from.”
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), in order to prevent
the military from pursuing them, established
camps near the MILF camps. Similar to the Marawi
siege, the challenge for the military was how to
effectively engage the MILF to gain confidence in
them and how to tell them and the populace not to
support the ASG.
In the conflict area, “blood is thicker than water.”
Source: ORCPA
Bautista shared what ran through his mind then.
His first thought was how to survive. But as the
volume of fire-fighting intensified, he no longer
thought of his life, but instead of saving the lives of
his companions. At some point, he found himself
calling up above, then recovering composure.
This started his perspective in life: that no career
was easy. You had to work hard.
I asked him, what his most challenging mission
was. “Actually, all my assignments in Mindanao
were very challenging.”
He was once Brigade Commander in the 104th
Brigade in Basilan, pursuing the Abu Sayyaf who
was then headed by Hapilon. He remembered
the dynamics of the situation and the extreme
difficulty they were in.
“We were confronting a terrorist group and at
the same time engaging the MILF (Moro Islamic
Liberation Front).”
“Basilan is a Muslim province. Ang tingin nila sayo
you’re an alien. You do not belong here. May clan
wars, pero pag sundalo ang kalaban nila nag-uunite
sila.”
And then of course, there was Marawi. Throughout
these missions, there was always the willingness to
risk his life for the country.
Towards the end of the interview, Bautista defined
heroism: “Heroism for me is synonymous to
serving the country, giving your life for your
country or accepting the opportunity to serve your
country when you are needed.”
Retired but not tired, Bautista pursues another
mission upon the direction of his commander-inchief,
President Duterte. The former military man
has been appointed secretary of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development.
22 COLLECTIVE

LOCATORS
Beers and bikes: Clark
as a sports tourism hub
By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ
More than 10 years ago, they started training to
become triathletes. Fast forward to 2018, they now
run their own bike shop and café.
Opened in 2016, Cycles & Brew was born out of
passion and envisioned to be a “hub” of amateur
and professional triathletes alike. The place is
owned by brothers Abe and Jumbo Tayag, their
cousin Alan Galang, and friend Marvin Manalang,
all passionate amateurs competing in local and
international triathlon events.
“We cycle, we run, but pagdating sa Clark, wala
kaming lugar. So we thought of putting up Hubble.
We thought of the name Hubble as parang hub,
pwedeng mag-kape, mag-beer, pwede meeting
place,” says Jumbo. They sell local craft beers, and
they even have a portable beer dispenser for their
sporting events. “We also organize events, multisports,
running, triathlon, duathlon, mostly also
of these events are held in Clark.”
“People who come to our shop, maybe more
than 50 percent, are not from here. They are not
from this area. We get people from Quezon City,
Bulacan, and Tarlac. They go here to train,” he
says.
Eventually, the hub transformed into a second
home of triathletes. Shower rooms were added
for customers training on mornings and
weekends. On Fridays, the owners run a training
running session free for all ages. On Saturdays,
free breakfast is served to the athletes, thanks in
part to the shop’s sponsors.
“Everyone’s invited,” says Jumbo. “Yung training
walang bayad. Anyone can join, although meron
COLLECTIVE 23

LOCATORS
Cycles & Brew Facebook
There’s no harm
in drinking beer
after a workout!
Cycles & Brew Facebook
Brothers Abe and Jumbo Tayag help
promote sports tourism in Clark
through their cafe built for triathletes.
kaming coaches dito. Pag nagpa-coach sila, doon
lang may bayad,” he says.
It’s also in these small ways that Cycles & Brew is
helping nurture a community of athletes in Clark.
Jumbo says they also maximize the use of their
social media accounts by helping sports tourism
in Clark even if it just means recommending a
good hotel where the athletes can spend the night.
The Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga was
named Sports Tourism Destination of the Year at
the 1st Philippine Sports Tourism Awards in 2016.
According to the owners, they do part every day
24 COLLECTIVE
to make sure Clark retains its status as a preferred
destination of athletes.
For aspiring triathletes in Clark and even outside
the freeport zone, Abe says there is no shortcut to
success.
“If you want to run, run consistently. If you want
to bike, then do that; but you also have to do
it consistently,” he says. “And of course, don’t
overwhelm yourself.”
Lastly, as the Tayag brothers say, there’s no harm in
drinking beer after a hard workout!
Cycles & Brew by Hubble
East Jacinto St., Clark Freeport Zone
Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (+63) 943 703 0667

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
Snapshots
A round-up of BCDA's milestones in the past quarter.
AUGUST 12 - Build Build Build = Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan
Build Build Build agencies and contractors offer thousands of employment opportunities
at the first Jobs Jobs Jobs caravan held at the SMX Convention Center.
SEPTEMBER 14 - Marriott opening
Marriott Hotel, the first five-star hotel at the Clark
Freeport Zone, officially opens.
SEPTEMBER 19 - PEB Clark
MTD Clark, Inc. briefs representatives from the
business sector about the ongoing construction of
the National Government Administrative Center.
SEPTEMBER 24 - Canary Wharf
BCDA makes a stop at the Canary Wharf while on
their way to the London Olympic Village to observe
the moveable modern bridge.
OCTOBER 4 - Philippines-Sweden Smart City Collaboration
Swedish and Philippine key stakeholders, including BCDA and DOTr, hold a
dialogue about smart city development.
October 9 - ADB Book launch
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) formally turns over its New Clark City
River Study book to BCDA .
COLLECTIVE 25

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
Rethinking energy and
going green in Clark
JULIA IGNACIO
Clark Development Corporation
We want to introduce the
benefits of renewable energy
and hopefully inspire other
businesses to do the same.
AAware of the harmful environmental effects of
using fossil fuel as an energy source, Viskase Asia
Pacific Corporation, a manufacturing company
in Clark, Pampanga, is pioneering the drive to go
green by installing the first industrial-scale solar
power rooftop project.
Viskase manufactures cellulose, collagen, plastic
casings, and packaging materials for meat
products.
Josh Go, plant operations manager, said the
food industry is one of the major consumers
of electricity and a main contributor of carbon
emission. Because of this, promoting the use of
solar power became the thrust of Viskase’s energy
strategy.
“We want to introduce the benefits of renewable
energy and hopefully inspire other businesses to
do the same,” said Go.
With a $680,000 contract, Viskase partnered with
Mettle and Grip, a leading contractor and developer
of solar energy in the country to install 1,900 solar
panels that will help eliminate at least 12.3 million
pounds of carbon footprint and will generate
892,580 kilowatt hour solar production per annum
with a module efficiency of 16.72 percent. The
project started last September and is expected to
finish in February 2019.
Beyond the purpose of reducing their operating
cost, this project also serves as the company’s
commitment to ensure environmentally sound
operations.
Energy source is vital for businesses to thrive.
Viskase sets an example for companies to advocate
eco-friendly operations while expanding their
business ventures.
26 COLLECTIVE

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
Clark airport roadshow
targets millennials
KARL DE LEON
Clark International Airport Corporation
I
once read an article from Forbes magazine about
how millennials would change the workplace
one day. The article said they would usher in new
standards of leadership, as they will push for values
that matter the most to them. Millennials would
take the world by storm. This is why it is absolutely
necessary to reach this audience.
The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC)
recently held a campus roadshow in three colleges
and universities in Pampanga to reach out to the
youth and give them a glimpse of what’s in store
for the future of the Clark International Airport
(International Code: CRK) .
Through the CRK Campus Roadshow 2018, CIAC
aims to enhance its strategies to position the
Clark International Airport as Asia’s next premier
gateway. It’s the first-ever event of such kind held
by CIAC.
“Holding campus roadshows are important given
that there’s a lot of good things about CRK which I
didn’t know before,” says Adrian Pamintuan, an
Information Technology student from Mary the
Queen College in Guagua, Pampanga.
As of October this year, the airport hosts 440 flights
per week, 280 of which are domestic flights and
162 are international flights. The airport also
accommodated 1.9 million passengers in the same
month.
Airlines flying in and out of CRK include Philippines
Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates,
Cathay Dragon, Tiger Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin
Air, CebGo, Air Swift, Air Asia, Jetstar Airways,
Alphaland Aviation, and Singapore-airline Scoot.
CRK will soon accommodate Royal Air Charter
Service starting on November.
Currently, the airport has domestic flights to Davao,
Cebu, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Naga,
Catarman, Masbate, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro,
Virace, Basco, Iloilo, Balesin, Tuguegarao, Tacloban,
Cagayan Norte, Calbayog, Caticlan, San Vicente,
COLLECTIVE 27

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
CRK Flights (2017)
704
Flights via
Qatar Airways
DOHA
698
Flights via
Emirates
DUBAI
INCHEON
2,002
Flights via Asiana Airlines
and Jin Air
Flights
537via Jin Air
BUSAN
(2017)
FLIGHTS
from
CLARK
457
Flights via
Cebu Pacific
MACAU
1,252
Flights via
Cebu Pacific
Tigerair SG (Scoot)
CLARK
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
1,237
1,399
Flights via
Cebu Pacific
Cathay Dragon
HONG KONG
Flights via
Philippine Airlines
CATICLAN
DAVAO
542
Flights via
Cebu Pacific
and Air Asia
BALESIN
388
Flights via
Alphaland Airlines
*chartered flights
CEBU
1,192
Flights via
Cebu Pacific
SINGAPORE
and Tagbilaran. Meanwhile CRK has international
flights to Incheon, Busan, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Doha, Dubai, Osaka, Macau, and Taiwan.
CIAC conducted two legs of the roadshow in
Jocson College, Systems Plus College Foundation
(SPCF), City College of Angeles, Angeles University
Foundation, and Holy Angel University. Each leg
was participated by around 350 students and
faculty members.
Gaining new perspectives
The roadshow also served as information sharing
for the universities and CIAC as the latter got to
learn how the younger generation perceives the
Clark airport and its facilities.
For former CIAC President and CEO Alexander
Cauguiran, it’s time for CIAC to drum up its
information campaign for students to know what
CRK offers and make it their top airport choice in
North and Central Luzon. After all, millennials love
to travel.
“It’s only fair that college students, particularly
those from tourism and aviation-related courses,
know more about what CIAC has in store now, as
they are part of our stakeholders,” Cauguiran said.
“And as our stakeholders, it has always been our
obligation to educate them on all of these,” he said.
When asked about how CIAC has evolved in terms
of accessibility, CIAC Media Relations Officer
Eugene Orejas recalls the time when his fellow
classmates struggled just to know more about CRK.
“We had to exhaust our connections just to
know if there were opportunities for us Tourism
students to work in the airport,” Orejas said. “Now
everything has changed because CIAC is the one
that’s reaching out. It’s amazing.”
28 COLLECTIVE

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
The secrets of
Camp John Hay
ZYRELLE DEL PRADO
John Hay Management Corporation
AAside from its towering pine trees and green
pathways, Camp John Hay is the keeper of
unexplored underground tunnels that were used
as shelters and hidey-holes of our forefathers.
Carved into the walls are World War II stories,
secrets, and fears.
Gradually though, vegetation covered these caves
and tunnels, even erasing the tracks leading
to them. Hidden and camouflaged, only those
who know about their existence could enter
unannounced.
We only know why they were made, but the how,
where and who dwelt in these caves remain a
mystery. Just peeping through already sends chills,
and gives a feeling of uncontrollable fear. Knowing
that the caves reside in remoteness makes one
question as to why one would submit himself to a
horrific experience of staying in the dark.
Still, I must admit that it’s fun to explore secret and
spooky locations. As we walked deeper into the
Camp, it felt like modern civilization began to fade.
It’s been raining the past few weeks and the claylike
soil of Baguio loosened up, making way for an
unforgiving, slippery path. We leave footprints in
the same paths where historical events transpired.
The biggest cave inside the Camp was located just
below Cottage 629. This cave, engulfed in darkness,
has several openings. One leads to the Outlook
Drive Barangay, another to the Igorot Lodge, and
the other to the Botanical Garden.
Like the caves and tunnels, Camp John Hay trails
are equally fascinating. Various entry points are
scattered around the reservation. Blue, white,
yellow, and red, these trails give you a 360-degree
view of teeming old Benguet pine trees and
saplings. There are also different varieties of
mushrooms and wildflowers depending on the
season.
Out of all the trails, the white trail is both the most
interesting and challenging. A round plate tin
pinned on the bark of an old pine tree served
as a guide to another cave. This cave, almost
unnoticeable because of the tall grass hiding it, has
a small opening and we had to crawl to get in.
With an elevation of 4,823 feet above sea level,
Camp John Hay trails give you the bird’s eye view
of neighboring barangays like Country Club
Village and Happy Hollow, including Kadaclan, the
municipality of Itogon.
Camp John Hay is attractive not just for its tourism,
but its mystery. Many of its secrets are still hidden
and some of its stories may never be told. For now,
Camp John Hay continues to wait for a wanderer
looking for natural beauty.
COLLECTIVE 29

FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
Asia’s next cruise ship
playground
RUBEN VELORIA
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
SSubic Bay is starting to become Asia’s next cruise
ship playground as more international cruise ships
docked at the Freeport earlier this year.
First to arrive was the Italian-flagged Costa
Atlantica which weighed 85,600 tons and is about
293 meters long. It carried more than 2,000 foreign
passengers upon arrival.
well as the pre-World War II San Roque Chapel, go
shopping, or enjoy a food trip.
Bus tours are also available for those who want to
experience Olongapo City or the historical places in
Bataan such as the Mount Samat National Shrine
in Pilar, and the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in
Bagac.
“I hope that this will spark our dream of making
Subic a part of the inter-island itinerary of
international cruise ships,” said Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Atty.
Wilma Eisma.
The SBMA Chairman led the Subic community in
welcoming the passengers aboard Costa Atlantica
which arrived at Alava Pier. The ship has returned
several times since its arrival last February and
made its 12th port call in Subic on September.
So far, the Freeport recorded 20 cruise ship visits,
including the 151,300-ton MV World Dream
carrying 3,300 passengers. MS Ovation of the Seas,
one of the world’s biggest cruise ships operating in
Asia, also arrived in Subic with 4,905 passengers.
Popular destinations in Subic for the passengers
are the Ocean Adventure, Zoobic Safari, Treetop
Adventure, and the Pamulaklakin Aeta Village.
Tourists may opt to walk around Subic’s central
business district, visit the historic Spanish Gate, as
According to SBMA, growing cruise ship arrivals
in Subic could generate a total income of P1.32
million per day.
“[The arrival of cruise ships] would further
boost the development of Subic Freeport and
the communities inside,” SBMA Cruise Ship
Committee Chairman Marcelino Sanqui said.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based MV Superstar
Gemini will arrive this October with at least 2,200
passengers while Costa Atlantica will make its 13th
visit on December carrying some 2,600 passengers.
Atty. Eisma said that at least 25 port calls have
been confirmed for 2019. More proposals are also
coming from other cruise ship operators.
She said the growing number of bookings in the
Freeport manifests SBMA’s capability to efficiently
handle the demands of the cruise ship industry
while strengthening local tourism.
30 COLLECTIVE

FREEPORTS A DINER’S AND ECOZONES DIGEST
Salt Resto at Widus
Hotel and Casino
By MICHELLE SAN JUAN-DE VERA
Whether you’re looking for Western cuisine or
craving for Asian cooking, you can be sure that the
array of restaurants at the Clark Freeport Zone in
Pampanga will satisfy your taste buds. At the socalled
Culinary Capital of the Philippines, there
is no shortage of must-try food from cheap eats
in local diners to signature dishes in fine dining
restaurants.
If you’re looking for an all-day casual dining
place serving delectable local and international
cuisines, you can never go wrong with “Salt Resto”
at the Widus Hotel and Casino. Chefs prepare the
dishes in an open kitchen giving customers an
accommodating feel of the restaurant.
Diners are welcomed with complimentary bread
and butter while waiting for their orders at the
cozy ambiance of the restaurants. Appetizers
range from crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls served
with sweet chili dip to Japanese-inspired Wasabi
Prawns served in house-made wasabi mayonnaise
with mango salsa. Salt also offers other starters
such as Crab Cake, Pork Lumpia, Szechuan Salt
and Pepper Squid, and the classic Filipino favorite
Fresh Lumpia—all catering to the diversified
palates of its diners.
For those who are looking for healthy options, Salt’s
salad menu includes the all-time favourite Caesar
Salad which comes in three (3) choices: Smoked
Salmon, Prawns, and Chicken. Also offered in
the salad menu are the Marinated and Roasted
Vegetables, French-originated Seared Tuna
Nicoise Salad, and the Indonesian traditional salad
Gado Gado.
Diners can also opt to skip the appetizers and
indulge in the main courses starting with the Pan-
Fried Salmon served with lemon butter sauce then
the slow-cooked Barbeque Pork Ribs made from
baby back ribs with the restaurant’s signature
homemade barbeque sauce. Both dishes taste
heavenly that it’s hard to pick a favorite!
Filipino dishes that should not be missed are Crispy
Pata or pork knuckles, the classic Chicken and
Pork Adobo, and the tamarind-based soup Salmon
Sinigang. Salt Resto also offers Batangas’ famous
Bulalo made of tender beef shanks, bone marrow
and mixed vegetables all cooked to precision. Of
course, the star of Kapampangan dishes is the
sisig, a local staple made of pork and chicken
liver sautéed in garlic and onion topped with chili
peppers. We advise devouring these dishes with
rice, of course!
A meal is never complete without a plate of desert.
Diners can choose from Fresh Fruit Platters to
cakes and ice cream flavors of their choice. Salt
Resto brags about—and rightly so—its best seller
Mango Cheesecake which is served with fresh
slices of mango and cherry on the side perfectly
plated by its resident chef.
They say you don’t have to spend too much to feed
a hungry soul and that is true about Salt Resto. It’s
menu is reasonably priced and are mostly good
for sharing. So the next time you and your friends
are in Clark, make sure to try Widus’ Salt Resto and
indulge on the mouth-watering dishes it offers.
Salt Resto at Widus Hotel and Casino
5400 Manuel A. Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport Zone
Operating Hours: 12 noon to 10:30 p.m. (+63 45) 499 1000
COLLECTIVE 31

DATING TAGPUAN
"Dating Tagpuan," a mural in Bonifacio Global City, refers to an old meeting place of
lovers. Lead artist John Paul Antido said he wanted to create the impression that the
two characters were meeting each other. This breathtaking street art can be seen
at the 30th St. cor. 7th Ave., C3 Annex, Bonifacio High Street Central.