Mindanao tourism sites up for promotion

The government has line up tourism sites up for promotion by a subregional economic group.

In the list is Mt. Apo and 10 other areas in Mindanao and Palawan.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council report showed the other Mindanao sites are Malawi Island and Dapitan in the Zamboanga peninsula, Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao, Davao Gulf and Samal Island in the Davao Region, Lake Sebu in Central Mindanao, Aguasan Marsh in the Caraga Region and Lake Lanao in the autonomous Muslim region. Identified sites in Palawan are Kayangan and Barracuda lakes in Coron Island.

For OFWs … here are some useful info for Pag-IBIG membership

MEMBERSHIP

Coverage:

Membership under the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program (POP) shall be open to all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with valid visas or employment contracts. Likewise, it shall be open to Filipino immigrants and to Filipinos naturalized in other countries.

Contribution Rate:

The POP member shall contribute monthly an amount equivalent to US $5. Should a POP member decide to apply for a housing loan and which to avail of a higher loanable amount, he would be required to upgrade his membership contribution as follows:

CONTRIBUTION RATE PESO EQUIVALENT LOAN ENTITLEMENT
US $5 Up to P250,000
US$ equivalent at point of availment
P300 Over P250,000-P375,000
400 Over P375,000- P500,000
600 Over P500,000 - P750,000
800 Over P750,000 - P1,000,000
1000 Over P1,000,000- P1,250,000
1,200 Over P1,250,000-P1,500,000
1,400 Over P1,500,000-P1,750,000
1,600 Over P1,750,000-P2,000,000

The upgraded membership contribution shall be incorporated as part of the housing loan monthly amortization

Dividend Rate:

Variable dividends from surplus earnings of the Fund shall be distributed annually to all POP members, to be credited to their Total Accumulated Values (TAV).

Membership Term/Maturity:

The accumulated savings under the program may only be withdrawn at the end of five (5), ten (10), fifteen (15), or twenty (20) years at the option of the member upon membership registration. Withdrawal of contributions shall be in Philippine peso. Contributions in foreign denomination shall be converted to Philippine peso based on the prevailing US dollar exchange rate as of payment date.

LOAN AVAILMENT

POP members may avail themselves of the housing loan benefit, subject to the provisions of the existing Consolidated Guidelines of the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Program, through their immediate family members with the execution of a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), duly certified by the Philippine embassy or consulate in the country of their workplace. They can also avail of the Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL), subject to the existing guidelines of the MPL Program

WHERE CAN MEMBERS FILE THEIR APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP, WITHDRAWAL OF SAVINGS, REMIT OR PAY THEIR MONTHLY SAVINGS?

Pag-IBIG Overseas Program Office
POP Overseas Offices
Accredited Overseas Marketing Representatives
Metro Manila and Provincial Offices
Accredited Collecting Banks/Remittance Companies

WHAT DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT TO APPLY FOR REFUND OF SAVINGS?

-Original copy of POP Passbook
-Application for Provident Benefit
-Special Power of Attorney ( if applicable)

HOW LONG IS THE PROCESSING PERIOD?

Three (3) working days

Planning to build your own house in the Philippines ...

Here are some useful information that you might be interested as offered by Pag-IBIG Fund or Home Development Mutual Fund ....

As they say .... owning a house is the most practically thing to do given the affordable rates offered by Pag-IBIG Fund ... pick a choice now !

AFFORDABLE MONTHLY AMORTIZATIONS (comparative from old to new rate)

Loan Package Monthly Payment Savings

P300,000 P1,798.65 (before P2,413.87) P 615.22

P500,000 P3,326.51 (before P4,38.86) P1,061.35

HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF THIS ? - for those of you still renting a house probably your rental is higher than this amortization rate. REMEMBER : RENTING IS NOT OWNING THE HOUSE. HURRY ! You still have enough time before you reach the age of 70, by then you will no longer qualify … Your time is now so grab this !

INTEREST RATES (Comparative from old to new rates)

Amount New Interest Rates

Up to P300,000 6% (before 9 %)

Over P300,000 to P750,000 10% 7% (before 10%)

Over P750,000 to P2 M 10.5% (before 11-12%)

WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A HOUSING LOAN TAKE NOTE OF THIS PLEASE !

Eligibility requirements

1. A Pag-IBIG member for at least 24 months and has remitted 24 monthly contributions
2. Not more than 70 years old at loan maturity and must be insurable
3. Has no outstanding Pag-IBIG housing loan either as principal or as co-borrower
4. Has legal capacity to acquire and encumber real property
5. Has passed satisfactory background/credit and employment/business checks
6. Has no Pag-IBIG multi-purpose loan in arrears at the time of application
7. Has no Pag-IBIG housing loan that was foreclosed, cancelled, bought back or subjected to dacion en pago

Schedule of Loans

Monthly Member’s Contribution Loan Entitlement

200 Up to P500,000

250 Over P500,000 to P600,000

300 Over P600,000 to P700,000

350 Over P700,000 to P800,000

400 Over P800,000 to P900,000

450 Over P900,000 to P1M

500 Over P1M to P1.1M

550 Over P1.1M to P1.2M

600 Over P1.2M to P1.3M

650 Over P1.3M to P1.4M

700 Over P1.4M to P1.5M

750 Over P1.5M to P1.6M

800 Over P1.6M to P1.7M

850 Over P1.7M to P1.8M

900 Over P1.8M to P1.9M

950 Over P1.9M to P2M

Processing Fee P3,000.00

Pay P1,000.00 upon filing

Pay balance of P2,000.00 upon loan take-out

"Tonyo" didn't break its way here ....

In yesterday's advisory from the country's weather bureau it released storm signal no. 1 in areas that will be mostly affected and two provinces here davao del and davao oriental were included. Later in the afternoon it also indicated in their advisory that davao city will also experience such bad weather.

It was the first time that areas in davao were included in the storm signal advisory.

I was also apprehensive because when our place (in Davao del Norte) will be affected it will damage agri crops including thousands of banana trees that are grown in farms back home. (Thank you Lord for sparing us !)

Although the weather yesterday was a bit gloomy and even til the evening of November 15 with dark clouds hovering on us and rains in between, people continued with their jobs and their schedules.

Everything went on normal and in fact my daughter went malling with her classmates after she hosted an awarding program in school and arrived home almost 10 pm.

However at home I did receive so many text messages and even calls asking me about "Tonyo" because they too were worried but told them it will be on Saturday and the weather most likely would change direction if not develop into a storm and advised them to keep posted on updates through media. And early today my "suki" for weekly supply of fishes told me (because they live by the shore) they were apprehensive and had themselves glued on tv and radio for the latest advisory. Maayo na lang nipahawa dayon si Tonyo (it's good thing that Tonyo left early).

This only shows that people here are aware and already knew where to get the information. It's a good sign after all.

And ‘Tonyo’ moves toward southern Negros oriental. We are thankful that it didn't come and we remain a typhoon free country.

Here's a portion of that GMA online news ....

MANILA, Philippines - At least seven areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1 as tropical depression "Tonyo" moved towards the southern coast of Negros Oriental Friday night.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said "Tonyo" was in the vicinity of Siquijor Island or 40 km east of Dumaguete City as of 10 p.m. Friday.

It said "Tonyo" packed maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and was moving west-northwest at 22 kph.

Pagasa said "Tonyo" was expected to be 40 kms northeast of Puerto Princesa City Saturday evening, and 500 km west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City Sunday evening.

Under Storm Signal No. 1 were Southern Negros, Southern Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Camiguin Island.

Pagasa warned residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under Signal 1 as well as the provinces of Eastern Visayas against possible flashfloods and lands

In the Philippines (southern mindanao)

Kids and adults enjoyed it and even dressed themselves to complete the merriment and this was how they celebrated Halloween and had fun with Trick or Treat ... sharing you some photos taken during the event.

Good prospects for BPOs despite the crisis (US)

BPO players see prospects from US financial crisis

The Operators of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms are looking at the US Financial Crisis at the positive side where more BPOs would maintain its outbound or inbound jobs in the Philippines.

Marienita del Monte, chief of Cybercity Services in Davao looks at it as additional clients coming in or opening of additional contact centers here.

In the case of their company she said new clients already had contract with them for inbound jobs considering that it is more cost effective.

This is good for Filipinos because the opportunity is big for people looking for jobs and there is work in the call center.

For as long as the person knows the English language and pass the requirements regardless of age they can get a job on line.

This kind of jobs is highly dependent on the cabling network and most BPOs are looking at Davao City as the preferred site.

Citing some facts she said a nationally organized survey indicated that Davao City for three occasions was named as the preferred city to put up a BPO while an Asian survey also mentioned Davao City once of the ten countries to pick for contact center operations.

Not bad because over the others, Dabawenyos have all the chance for this kind of job. So check out the language schools here so that when the BPOs come marching you will be the first to take the seat.

This is foul !

A domestic helper, if I am to elaborate, helps, assists or does household work for homeowners anywhere in the world and not about sexual acts. Busy homeowners do not have time to work in their homes for household chores and for the rich who can afford it, this task is left to the DH.

I've known famous and rich families but I have not heard them make fun with their worker and in fact they are grateful as things are easier for them especially with Filipinas who are known to be industrious and hardworking.

But this time that DHs are portrayed as such by influential media network like BBC, the government-owned British Broadcasting Corp for its reportedly "racist and humiliating" portaryal of a Filipina domestic worker is a FOUL, just like what Desperate Housewives did to Filipino doctors in one of their sitcom.

Media is a strong force because it could either make or unmake a person, a country, or a race.

I am a Filipina and I strongly denounced you guys out there making fun of us. You don't own the universe that you can just make fun of anyone.

I expect those that run the networks as responsible and with ethics.

But as this developed, concerted efforts are being worked out here and in the UK where protest actions are being planned.

An email campaign "condemning" the BBC and a demand for apology are likewise being circulated among the community.

The controversial skit, aired in the September 26 episode of "Harry and Paul," showed comedian Harry Enfield telling a postman that he is ordering his Filipino maid to mate with his friend Paul Whitehouse.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said the humiliating portrayal of Filipina workers "promotes negative stereotypes that cultivate impunity among those who abuse Filipina workers abroad."

She added that making overseas Filipinas appear as submissive sex objects reinforces the notion that foreigners could easily hire small and sexy Filipina domestic helpers and turn them into sexual objects.

"By making it a joke, it encourages a consciousness that promotes human trafficking," Hontiveros said.

BBC stop that dirty game not only among Filipinas but all the women in the world. Your homes too have women that are to be respected by men and everybody ! We do respect men too because we love our fathers, brothers, grandfathers, sons, nephews and male friends all because they are not ill mannered. Filipinos are kind and peace loving people. What about that BBC ?

Timely: Melamine scare

Timely: Melamine scare

Melamine scare

Something good happen when the melamine issue broke out because in a far away barangay of Davao del Sur the Lao Farm that has several heads of goat as part of its integrated farm is now the source of goats milk that many consumers and even food producers sourced their supply.

There is an increase in orders that the farm produces immediately after the milk scare laden with melamine came out.

But the ten gallons of goat milk that it produces everyday is not enough to the current demand.

Cash Action for Sustainable and Healthy (CASH) Lifestyle Network president Cesar Ledesma viewed this as a positive developement for consumers already becoming conscious of safe food.

People he said would rather go for locally produce products this time.

"The scare really made an impact in the sense that people are now conscious on food safety," he said.

I think it is high time that people choose the food they eat or is it late to notice that Chinese products that flood the market around the world must be subjected first to thorough screening. What about the kids that cry out loud asking from Mom when in the supermarket to buy a bag of candies. I remember that candies of different label and packaging are displayed prominently at the entrance to get the buyers attention. I've tasted some of them (and they are chocolate) but I don't know whether those have melamine.

I bought those candies only once and did not attempt to buy again after I got an email also about Chinese produced food.

The controversy is a wake up call for consumers to be conscious on food safety.

Meanwhile i found this article on the net about goat's milk at http// www.whfoods.org which I posted below for more information about the milk

Delicious with a slightly sweet and sometimes salty undertone, goat's milk is the milk of choice in most of the world. Although not popular in the United States, it can be found in markets and health foods stores throughout the year.

Unlike cow's milk there is no need to homogenize goat's milk. While the fat globules in cow's milk tend to separate to the surface, the globules in goat's milk are much smaller and will remain suspended in solution. When individuals have sensitivity to cow's milk, goat's milk can sometimes be used as an alternative.

Export ore compliance urged

A mining industry leader noted that permits for exporting ore is necessary.

Chamber of Mines of the Philippines president Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez urged the industry stakeholders to adhere to the government requirement.

Mining companies and mineral traders are required to get a mineral ore export permit (MOEP) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before they are allowed to ship out all kinds of minerals and their byproducts outside the country.

According to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza shipments of mineral products, including gold bullions and mine tailings, will be confiscated if the shipper or transporter cold not show the MOEP issued by his office as well as the proof of payment of the required excise tax.

The guidelines for the MOEP is covered under Administrative Order No. 2008-20 entitled “Issuance of Mineral Ore Export Permit for Transport/Shipment Outside of the Philippines of Mineral Ores, Including Tailings” which takes effect 15 days after publication in a general circulation newspaper. The order is pursuant to the Mining Act (RA 7942) and Executive Order 469 as amended.

The MOEP will be able to address many of the issues that seem to defeat the purpose of the revitalization of the mining industry.

The MOEP also established a mechanism to monitor the shipment of mineral products, to ensure that they are extracted legitimately, pay the proper taxes, and declare the correct tonnage, grade and volume of shipment.

Mining firms and traders used to seek an export clearance from the government before shipping out mineral products, but this requirement was eliminated after the government pursued a policy of export liberalization.

In relation to this Romualdez encouraged also the mining industry stakeholders to adhere to the requirement of the government by giving their share back through legitimate extraction as well as adhere to responsible mining.

“Without it we will not be granted that social license and also if we can not prove that to the community that we are into responsible mining,” he added.

Lehman Brothers collapse no effect to RP ?

The Philippine banking system remains sound despite the collapse of US investment firm Lehman Brothers said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco

The country's banking system has not been significantly affected. Furthermore, the Philippine domestic banks' exposure to structured products issued by Lehman are well-cushioned by the banks' capital base, the government authorities kept on assuring the public.

The government also vowed to continue to monitor developments in the global financial markets since these could effect impact not just in the banking sector but in economic growth as well.

We only hope it will not affect really the Philippine economy because if it does it will be the small ones that will be hit badly although the poor would not care maybe on the collapse of the Lehman Brothers, they would not even know who could they be.

But what they are more concern is when the value of peso would be getting smaller and smaller. We hope that the Lehman Brothers bad state will be the only and the last. Or are there others on the line too. I hope none so far - God Forbids if others are marching down the line !

Korean-Filipino mining partnership starts exploration in Sultan Kudarat

A Korean investor with local partners in Sultan Kudarat started mining exploration in barangay Kinayao, Bagumbayan town within the 4,500 hectares with approved mineral production sharing agreement (MSPA) issued to FADICASU.

The partnership was registered under FMC & GRCO Fadicasu Mining Corp & General Resources Co. Ltd.

The corporation's operation manager, Rudolf Joseph C. Lopez said Fadicasu Mining Corp is the Filipino partner while General Resources Co., Ltd. is the Korean investor.

Fadicasu represents the name of the Filipino shareholders that all reside in Bagumbayan namely Faducan, Dida, Caspe and Subere.

Although the MSPA was approved in 1998, the exploration only started May 2008 and work is already into its 600 meters depth drilling of 10 holes.

Mineral deposits within the Daguma Range are copper and gold but the resource is more of copper with the gold deposits of 22 K.

Drilling has to go down to 2,000 meters to determine the volume of the reserves which is expected to be complete by December this year with 100 holes.

With an initial investments of over P100 million, the company plan to put up processing plant in the area only after determining the volume because what they will ship to Korea are copper concentrate.

Within the Damuga Range are about 11 MPSA holders and for the whole of Sultan Kuradat some 50 of them including mineral tenements were issued same agreement.

Like in any other mining explorations there are issues raised and one of this is the siltation in the Allah River, the threat to landslide and other related issues.

But the company officer said prior to their entry in the area siltation is already present and the threat to landslide is outside of the approved MPSA.

However. he said they are closely cooperating with the local government unit because they have the responsibility to play in relation to their investment in the area.

Both sector agreed to forge an agreement on how to handle the issues even as the pr

government is supporting investors like this company because it is the only foreign investor in the province.

Hotel industry notes positive trend towards yearend

Tourists continue to come despite the economic slowdown as the hotel industry noted a positive trend towards the yearend.

One player, the Millennium Plaza Serviced Residences of Makati City, noted good business as it experienced enjoys occupancy rate of 88 percent, with 45 percent of their clients are tourists both international and local.

In the Davao City sales blitz sales manager Desiree Gernale-Posadas and Joaquin F. Mercado II, rooms division manager expressed the need to reach out to the prospective provincial clients considering that many of their clients are businessmen from either Davao and Cebu.

Based on their tracking of guests these guests accounted for only 3 percent coming from the out- of-town because they still do not know about the place and they wanted reach out to them as they aimed to increase the provincial guests to at least 15 percent.

The Millennium Plaza offers personalized service to their guests of five-star service at surprisingly affordable rates with special promotional packages. Foreign tourists booked on line, other travel agents also handle the account for their guests.

The Millennium Plaza also as part of their package, extend sweet deals to students who can avail of the "Stay and Learn Package" for as low as P2,900 for four persons sharing a room while conference and banquet packages are also available at discounted rates and the promo runs until April 2009.

Most of the guests have transactions in embassies as it is located nearby among others the Canadian Embassy.

Hotel staff goes out of their way to assist the guests as to their purpose of coming considering that the hotel is strategically located near the business offices as well guide them on how and where to get there as well as and other concerns.

Add-on privileges are given to frequent guest offering them free overnight accommodation on their 8th visit with set breakfasts. Privilege cards are also given to Overseas Filipino Workers which entitles them to special discount to partner establishments like Barrio Fiesta, St. Tropezz Bar and Restaurant and Music 21.

Their partnership with Baron Travel allows their guests to a city tour through their Discover Manila Package that pass through Intramuros, Rizal Park or Fort Santiago, the Mall of Asia and others and to large group which are given discounts for a minimum of 10 rooms booked.

The Millennium Plaza also caters to long staying guests and they are mostly expats and CEOs of corporations.

These guests stay for a month or up to six months with special packages and access to amenities like unlimited use of internet at the business center with free breakfast daily, availability of gym and beauty salon facilities of partner establishments, etc. and entrance passes to Karl Edward Bazaars for the year 2008

Malaysia willing to share tourism expertise

With the huge volume of tourists that Malaysia hosts each year, the latest figure in 2007 pegged at 20 million, the country is willing to share their expertise to other neighboring countries insofar as tourism related services is concerned.

Malaysia Consul General to Davao Hon. Nik Mustafa Kamal Nik Ahmad in an interview at the Club 888 Forum of the Marco Polo Davao said projects like exchange studies would allow students to have wider exposure to the international tourism industry.

He said the Filipino trainees while in their country must work hard because the Malaysian and other tourists there love to dine and all hotels and restaurants are open 24 hours and their long exposure would make them more skilled as they would interact with tourists of different nationalities.

Malaysia is among the top 3 destinations in Asia and tourism industry workers will be exposed among others to clients in the Middle East.

"With more exposure they will have the good chance of increasing their marketability," he said.

Meanwhile he observed that there is not enough Malaysian coming to Mindanao because of their impression that the island is dangerous.

They (Malaysian) do not even know that there is a consulate base in Davao City even as he said that their government has not issued travel advisories banning their nationals to come to Mindanao.

"Issuing travel advisory is unfair and we do not want to do that to our neighbor," he said.

The other concern aired there number of people coming to Manila instead to Davao because of the lack of air linkages.

It is a good thing that Cebu Pacific had started the route and hopefully there would be more Malaysians traveling here because they love to travel and when they travel they want to go to several destinations.

He said tourists destinations here are really beautiful and has rich resources but it needs a lot of promotion.

The sites are comparable to places in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand only that it was not extensively promoted and there are a lot of untouched destinations here worth exploring.

Mining stakeholders urge Philippine government to relax mining exploration application

Stakeholders of the mining industry in Mindanao, Philippines urged the government to relax the rigid process on the application of permits for mining exploration.

The business sector in the island will submit a resolution through Secretary Lito Atienza to look at the issuance of mining exploration permit during the Mining Summit that will be held in Davao City on September 18 to 19, 2008 even as they are saying there is no point in making different rules of miining exploration application.

It was learned that at the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau office based in Davao City there are 14 pending applications while 20 applications were endorsed to MGB central office and none so far have been approved.

The business sector of Mindanao supports the mining industry and they are there to see to it that mining investment must be protected. But the country has antiquated mining laws and this has to be addressed.

The country has been ranked in the top ten for mineral reserves yet it also falls among the top 50 countries with no investments.

These reserves must be explored inorder for the government to know how much of these resources are there said the business sector even as they expressed that application of mining permits should not be caught with bureaucratic red tapes even and they vowed they will not take it sitting down.

In fact he said they had conducted dialogues with different sectors including the religious because they want to know the sentiments of all sectors.

At the Mining Summit there will be workshops and sessions and among these are discussions on social responsibility within the community and for the business sector to see mining investors comply with responsible mining.

The business sector want responsible mining to take place in Mindanao otherwise they will also be the first to take action against those who will exploit the mineral resource even as they warned that proper mitigation be applied to ensure that the resource is protected.

It may be recalled that with the passage of the Philippine Mining Act in 1995 (RA 7942), the mining industry experienced slow investments pouring into the country. As this developed, a National Policy Action Plan was crafted which prompted President Arroyo to sign Executive Order No. 270, the National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing the Mining Industry in the Philippines to boost investments in the industry.

Over the years, emerging issues crop up brought about by the tedious process of applying for mining permit and the practice of some applications to sit on their mining claims for more than two years.

Travel advisories affect completion of review and assessment of Mindanao 2000

The completion of the review and assessment of the Mindanao 2000 both by the government and the private sector has been affected by the travel advisories issued by various embassies due to the ongoing conflict in Central Mindanao.

With the participation of the Australian government as one of the donor countries to fund projects in Mindanao, the embassy of Australia does not allow the team to visit all areas where the (Australian government) has programs and projects.

The team is only allowed to travel to the cities of Davao, Butuan and Cagayan but not in the cities of General Santos, Zamboanga and Iligan although request was already raised to repeal the ban inorder to come up with a comprehensive study. Participating the review are 21 government agencies and the Mindanao Business Council representing the private sector.

The review will run for 48 days on whether the plan has been implemented and properly funded.

Already on its 14th day of work initially finding surgaced that there are policies that are inconsistent citing for instance on food security where the Philippines wants to move up from agriculture dependent to industry. On food security aspect certain policies allow the country to import rice. Rather than this strategy it should adopt food sufficiency and focus on local production as well as subsidizing inputs like seeds and fertilizers to encourage more people to go back to farming.

The country's subsidy for buying rice is getting bigger and if this will continue there is nobody to farm and the next generation would not be encouraged to go farming. Through food sustainability government should focus on giving subsidy for production.

The completion of the review and assessment of the Mindanao 2000 would allow the team to come up with a development framework for Mindanao 2020

Under this framework emphasis should be on ownership of the plan by stakeholders to ensure that the programs and plans are implemented accordingly.

The Mindanao Development Plan was formulated in 1995 and will end in 2010 and with the new plan for the island dubbed as Mindanao 2020 those involved must be part of it.

Davao's Beauty Hotel

Determined to go into medical tourism, a Davao born cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist ventured into operating a beauty hotel now named as Oroderm Hotel where guests could indulge into various services from spa, facial or body massage within the hotel.

Dr. Neil Oropesa who first practiced his profession seven years ago in Davao City and made good in treating the skin of Dabawenyos opened up 25 other branches all over the country but made a hit in 2006 when he opened 12 branches within that year.

Noting the increasing number of clients that come from other parts of the island and even the balikbayans, he decided to open a hotel where he could offer to clients a place where they could stay and at the same take their regimen for their skin care.

Beside the hotel is the Gazing Restaurant where it offers its specialty menu - "paksiw na buntot ng tuna". Hotel guests like foreigners love to hang out in the restaurant not only because of its varied menus but they could also catch the dawn scene of farmers dropping their agricultural produce at the "bagsakan center" just across the street.

Amelda Saramosing Oropesa, mother of Dr. Oropesa, helped in the operation of the businesses and in an interview said they are fulfilled when they find their clients satisfied of the services they offered.

The old Oropesa as far as the hotel operation is concerned even go into the details of selecting the beds and the pillows for the 27 rooms that they operate.

The guest has choices of rooms from suite, family, standard, double, or single. All aircondition rooms are equipped with hot and cold shower, telephone, cable tv and the six floors hotel has a service lift, a function room and fire exit.

She said they never thought this business would click even as she said that they are guided by the principle of good, quality and transparent business.

Right now the hotel other than servicing their regular clients also capture new clients for the dermatological procedures done by Dr. Oropesa or to the Oropesa Spa and Medical Clinic.

The Oropesa's, she said is into business since the 70s where her husband Roger manages Radiowealth branch offices which grew to 18 branches during his watch.

The Oropesa Marketing was into selling appliances but in the 80s there store was among those that were affected by the San Pedro Street fire. Though heavy with her second child she went into the store and tried to save some of their records. She failed to gather those records and instead got a third degree burn on her face because of the heat of the fire.

"My face got burned and it was destroyed," she said.

She recalled hopping from one dermatologists to another in Cebu and in Manila because none was available in Davao that time and they incurred big amount just for her skin treatment. She then ventured into the dermhaus business where she opened an outlet.

The business also was doing well that time until finally the Oroderm Clinic was established.

She said medicine was not the love of Dr. Oropesa because he wanted to become a lawyer. "I did not pushed him to take up medicine but just throw the idea to him. And maybe because of my condition perhaps he was challenged.

Dr. Oropesa in his clinic has over a dozen top of the line laser machines that cost millions of pesos. These high end equipment are the same equipment found in Belo Medical Clinic in Manila.

Now you could not see any trace of burned skin (please see top photo of mother Oropesa in green tops). The Oropesa's toured us to their hotel and am sharing you some of these photographs.

Paradise ...

In time for summer we stayed overnight at the nearest beach resort across Davao City of 10 minutes ride by boat across ... The Paradise Island Beach Resort at the Island Garden City of Samal.

We were greeted with resort staff bringing with them welcome drinks as they ushered us to the front desk for us to check in. We took the premier aircon accommodation, take note - with hot and cold shower, cable tv and intercom, a veranda and a garden plus room service for food and drinks. The room for three cost us only less than US $100.

It was our promise for the kids to cross the sea and enjoy the Samal sea waters during semestral break but our unica hija decided not to join us because her sked for enrolment for summer classes was the next day so there were only the three of us, me and my husband and our son who stayed for two weeks vacation then back to Manila for his summer classes too. All that stayed overnight were families spending time for bonding. Some were newly weds vacationing before going back to their home while others were foreigners who like us bathe till they dropped.

After depositing our things in our room we toured the resort and saw the mini zoo, the kids playground, the spa, the convention area, the kitchen, souvenir shops, the pearl shop, aquasport gear, the play area for billard and table tennis and the restaurant.

We had cold drinks and halo halo then we move on to swimming till evening. We started swimming at 5 in the afternoon where the sun was moving to where it will rest for the night and when it was dark the bright moon appeared and the lamp post plus the the spot light lighted the blue and calm waters. Twas cold but we did not mind it.

Our dinner of grilled tuna belly, prawn, sizzling squid and calamares was served by the sea with lighted candle and capped with fresh fruits and ice cream for dessert. The cost of food was also reasonable.

Not contented, all of us again went swimming at 6 in the morning again as we saw the workers picking the leaves and raking the sand. They do this everyday preparing the resort for the coming in of visitors. Guests started coming and all the line up tables by the shore had occupants.

We had a light breakfast of bread and egg omelet and fruits again and at 11 we had our full meal of boneless bangus, corned beef, buttered chicken and fruit salad for our dessert. While dining we were serenaded by a local band.

We left the resort at 12 contended and satisfied with our day and night swimming and our overnight stay worth a come back. I am sharing you some of the pictures I took.