Puerto Princesa: Paradise Regained

The Royal Treatment at Puerto Princesa

With safety protocols firmly enforced, Puerto Princesa is poised to again welcome tourists with open arms. In recent years, the highly urbanized city and tourist haven has been paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, then pummeled by Typhoon Odette. But it is now on the road to recovery---as spectacularly as its scenic, romantic and gastronomic attractions.

"The tourism industry is the lifeblood of Puerto Princesa, along with agriculture. Almost 15,000 people directly or indirectly benefit from tourism. In varying degrees, most of the recent construction and development projects are related to tourism: hotel-building, parks, cruise-ship ports, street lights, roads, and many more. Unfortunately, some of these have been on hold since the onset of the pandemic," discloses Demetrio "Toto" Alvior Jr., the city tourism officer.

The Royal Connection

Puerto Princesa, the capital of postcard-perfect Palawan, sprawls across 253,982 hectares of captivating coastlines stretched over 106 kilometers. Due to its strategic geographical location, it has sufficient depth to allow ships of all sizes to anchor, earning a reputation as a "Princess of Ports," or in Spanish, "Puerto Princesa."

There’s no contention that Puerto Princesa is one of the country’s greatest pleasures. A holiday destination universally beloved by travelers, beach-combers, and trekkers; a bustling business center with a rural allure; a provincial vibe with modern amenities; and a clean and green city recognized for its lush forests, fresh air, and frontier character.

Rising Above COVID-19

The city of Puerto Princesa has been struggling to get to its feet since the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The lack of tourists, which is the main industry, has forced hundreds of tourism-related businesses to close, leaving thousands of tourism workers unemployed.

"The public-health crisis forced them to find alternative sources of income, which was made more difficult because of the restrictions of movement due to several lockdowns," Mr. Alvior reveals. "One factor of low tourist arrivals is the fluctuating number of Covid cases, which in turn affects the determination of quarantine requirements and national government intervention policies."

Today, Puerto Princesa is experiencing record lows in terms of economic losses, losing around P5 billion a year for the past two years from potential tourist receipts.

"The City Tourism Department has been strengthening its social media campaigns to encourage local tourists to visit local attractions, in a bid to boost much-needed revenues to the ailing tourism sector," a cautiously optimistic Mr. Alvior says. "We have one important wish in the City Tourism Department, and that is to prioritize the aids for the Typhoon Odette-affected tourism industry here."

The goal is to regain the city’s glory as an eco-tourism capital. "Our 2022 goals are the full restoration of all the tourist attractions affected by Typhoon Odette such as the completion of the construction of the cruise-ship port and other man-made tourist attractions. There will be wide, extensive, and aggressive promotions of Puerto Princesa to the local and international market."

The Last Frontier

Puerto Princesa has a plethora of tourist spots. But many tourists who visit the city put the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, on top of their list. As the jump-off point for exploring the world-famous Tubbataha Reef, the city also hosts a fair share of adventurers.

"Since the Covid-19 outbreak, we have never ceased to hope that the future will be better. This year 2022 is no different. And while what we want is a full recovery, we cannot afford to be careless when taking big steps. As we begin to truly understand the gravity of the situation, we also come to realize that our moves must be consistent with the bigger picture such as the national situation," Mr. Alvior says.

Since February 10, the city has been happily welcoming more visitors once again, hoping that the arrival numbers will soon be back to pre-pandemic levels. In this initiative, the tourism department shares the privilege with the private sector.

"While the government is the administrator of the State, the private sector is the bloodline. The government and the private sector are two inseparable factors for Puerto Princesa to prosper, and more importantly, to recover," Mr. Alvior says. "The key to recovery is to enable and support the private sector to keep or resume their business operations. When it comes to the city’s biggest partners, apart from government agencies, it is the collective impact of small-business operations."

Puerto Princesa maybe “The Last Frontier,” but the City Tourism Department is confident that it will always be the first choice of every traveler.

The South Yard at SM Southmall: Eat, Drink and Unwind

A food park is an outdoor space with multiple vendors that serve different types of food. The atmosphere at these parks can be lively and fun or laid back.

If we want to eat at places with diverse food options, we normally go to mall food courts or to the nearest food parks. Food parks offer a different dining ambiance. Similar to food courts, there are tables and seats and many food choices, however, but in an outdoor setting. Food parks provide a fun way to sample a variety of the best dishes and an enjoyable food crawl experience.

Here comes the South Yard. Alfresco dining at SM Southmall features affordable cuisines from small business owners. the South Yard manages to stand out and continue to gain popularity by elevating the al fresco dining experience.

Variety of Affordable Foods and Drinks

One great thing about going to a food park is the diverse food options and how affordable meals are. This enables you to sample different dishes without breaking the bank. The South Yard has a little something for everyone. A great food park has a good variety of affordable foods and drinks.

If you are looking for a food adventure and at the same time have the opportunity to support small businesses at the time we are starting to recover from the global pandemic, head out to the South Yard at SM Southmall!

Located at: Door 4, Food Street Al Fresco, SM Southmall, Las Pinas City

The South Yard is owned and managed by MBE Management Inc. partnered with organizers - May Bragado Events and Occasions First.

For inquiries: https://www.facebook.com/thesouthyard/

Rex Education and PPCRV call for voters to discern well, vote according to our values, and be Maka-Pilipinas

With the National Elections just within reach, Rex Education and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) are working together to help educate voters about the values we should be looking for in the leaders we will elect.

"How the Philippines will come out of this pandemic and handle the impending global economic recession will rely on the next 6 years. This is why it is crucial that the leaders we will elect in the upcoming May 9 elections share the heart of the Filipino people and possess the values to stand for and serve our country. We have to choose well and vote for someone who is truly Maka-Pilipinas," - Rex Education CEO, Don Timothy Buhain

The leader we deserve is Maka-Pilipinas

Varying standards, opinions, and principles come into play in the bid for national and local positions. What matters in the end when electing a leader is that it’s not enough to choose someone wise and experienced; we must also choose a leader who embodies the virtues of a true Filipino citizen and champion. PPCRV launched the voter education program that highlights what it takes to be Maka-Pilipinas to emphasize the values that make a true Filipino leader.

To be Maka-Pilipinas is to be maka-Diyos (faithful to God), maka-tao (respects life and people), maka-bayan (patriotic), at maka-kalikasan (environmentally concerned). These are the four good citizenship core values embedded in the 1987 Constitution, which highlights these core values’ roots and importance in our culture and history.

To help Filipinos better understand what makes a leader truly Maka-Pilipinas, PPCRV broke down the four core values—maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-bayan, at maka-kalikasan—into 16 good citizenship values. Does your candidate tick all the boxes of this checklist?

"We believe that through the living and the sharing of these basic values—not only by ourselves but especially by our candidates—can our national vision of improving moral standards in government and in society be achieved," PPCRV Chair Myla Villanueva said during the launch of the Maka-Pilipinas voter education program.

A champion of the people is a champion of education

Everyone is part of the solution. As champions of education—as Edukampyons—it is every Filipino’s duty to embody the 16 good citizenship values that we wish to see in our leaders. It is also up to each of us to encourage our fellow Edukampyons to live these values, so they may also know what it means to elect a leader who is truly Maka-Pilipinas.

"Voter education starts at home, where values are introduced and cultivated in our families. Under REX’s Edukampyon campaign, we want to give every Filipino learner an opportunity to have a good education, stable well-being, and a future where they can be their best selves. To do that, we must have the support of government leaders who value the same things, after our own heart, and cares just as much for the development of our learners," Buhain shared further.

To serve as a reminder to choose with discernment and vote responsibly this coming election, PPCRV created a Maka-Pilipinas comics that promote the 16 good citizenship values. A line from the comics read: "Your vote is your hope. Your vote is your prayer. Vote wisely."

The Maka-Pilipinas comics in English can be read through the PPCRV Facebook page here. Printed copies of the comics were also sponsored by Rex Education and distributed to various schools and communities.

It is also available in various Filipino dialects: Bikolano, Bisaya, Ilokano, Ilonggo, Tagalog, and Taglish.

Expect E-sports to click further in the Philippines

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2021 was sort of a banner year for the Philippines regarding its participation in various electronic sports (E-sports) events, either locally or internationally, where Pinoy players have dominated the majority of these competitions.

No wonder, with the lucrative money prizes and distinctions that await esports athletes, the esports market in the country grew further. And since smartphones continue to become the ubiquitous gadget for Filipinos, coupled with improving mobile internet connectivity, expect esports to continue to attract youngsters to the esports arena.

One such esports team is "Virgin Souls"

"Our team was named ‘Virgin Souls’ because we have a business called Virgin Soles, which is a sneaker cleaning product. We loved the name Virgin Soles because we wanted to show the other teams our "clean and smooth moves," explains Ingrid, team manager of Virgin Souls, whose members include Jetson Ignacio, Kharl Tan, Kristofer Calderon, Joshua Albino, Steven Buenaventura, Mark Cabigting, and Coach, Laurence Ruiz.

Initially, recruitment requirements for team members were not really that high because it was what she called a "passion project." However, after a few months, they started to become strict when they added Banting, one of the country’s top tanks, to the team, a child prodigy since he was only 16 years old. They made some changes to the requirements for inclusion in the team, such as high points, that recruits have to go through the process of choosing players. "What we did was we held tryouts and recruits were made to answer certain interview questions to gauge their attitude, and then we interviewed them. And we didn’t set any age requirement as long as they are dexterous enough to play the game."

She explained the choice of Goyo, who is 22, as the team captain, who was chosen because of his maturity to lead the team, someone the other team members can refer to as their "Kuya."

Why E-sports?

It was her little brother’s dream, says Ingrid, to be part of a pro team, and it was hers and her partner’s passion since he is a co-owner of the TNC Pro Team so she decided to form an amateur one. "For a professional team, the pressure is much higher, same with the costs, but the prizes are bigger. With an amateur team, the risks are also high. It’s really about investing time, and resources because the competition field is much bigger and the chances of winning are smaller."

Challenges Abound

The first challenge they faced, according to Ingrid, was recruitment, which is more skills-based. In the first stage, she said, it’s all about skills, and then after that the interview for their attitude, though that can’t be gauged immediately. By the time they went to boot camp, that’s where they saw who they really were. "Because they’re young, we saw their immaturity, their difficulty in dealing with other people, and the pandemic somewhat affected their social skills. We had to adjust things while they were at boot camp, and taught them how to go along with other people," she said.

But what she was glad about was that the majority of the players have supportive parents who wanted to support their child’s dream, although they had difficulty with some, like Haru, one of the players, who had a super strict guardian. "That was understandable so we had to explain that their children are safe with us, so we put in place protocols like regular Covid-19 testing every month."

For one of the team members, he said it was difficult to be away from his family, his child, but he needs to do it to fulfill his dreams and to prove to himself that he feels the need to be better. His sentiments were echoed by the other team members, who all shared that what they’re doing is for the fulfillment of their dreams, and of course, the bonding time with teammates is necessary to fight homesickness.

Ingrid is also proud that their team members, mostly students, still managed to excel in school despite their busy schedule in training. It all boils down to time management, she said, because she doesn’t want the players to neglect their studies since education is still important. "They’re not different from traditional sports athletes where they have to maintain good grades because we don’t want people to think that esports is a hindrance to their studies."

Legislative Action

The idea of identifying E-sports players as "athletes" much like in traditional sports, was the reason why Ingrid joined the party-list CLICK, or Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge since one of their major platforms is E-sports, where they want to help the kids gain recognition as athletes, for E-sports to be respected. "We believe CLICK can help us and other teams achieve that level of respect, that they will help the esports scene. They’re the only party list that devotes time to supporting E-sports and has future projects related to its development. It’s nice to know that there’s a group such as CLICK as a partner of the esports community."

The future of E-sports with CLICK’s Help

With CLICK’s help, Ingrid believes that esports will become a viable option for kids who want to pursue an esports career. As of now, she said, those venturing into esports are still very few, and fewer parents believe in it. "With the help of CLICK, I think they will be able to help us shape the future generation who are more open to going into esports, especially parents. Once CLICK is elected into Congress, they can come up with laws for its further development and support during competitions, especially regarding travel requirements. With the help of CLICK, we hope they can make parents understand that esports is not just a game and it’s not just a waste of time. I think CLICK can help us change that perspective."

It is all about making the right CLICK through technology. The esports community has chosen CLICK as their party list of choice. So, be ready to choose CLICK, No. 40 on the ballot.

To know more about CLICK, visit any of the following social media channels: 

Website: https://www.clickpartylist.ph 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLICKpartylist

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ClickPartylist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clickpartylist/

YouTube: https://bit.ly/CLICKPARTYLIST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/partylist-click-4b0016227/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clickpartylist

NEOPHYTE STREETWEAR BRAND MAKES NAME IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY, OPENS FLAGSHIP STORE IN TONDO

CHRCTR Clothing, a premium clothing brand originating from the province of Laguna, sets to open its second store in celebration of its first anniversary in Tondo, Manila on February 26. The new entrant clothing brand started its operations in February 2021 in Biñan, Laguna intending to be recognized as a Philippine brand to create a dent in the international streetwear industry.

Strategically located in the most culturally diverse district in the city of Manila, the expansion and opening of CHRCTR Tondo Flagship Store echo the call of the brand to have a bold, compassionate, and distinctive personality for each individual.

"We are confident that in this rich-cultured streets of Tondo, CHRCTR Clothing will open the opportunity to our kababayans to be bold, be distinct, be the person they want to be. We started with only 100 shirts on stock, now we are reaching thousands of brave souls nationwide." - JB Gajita, Founder and Managing Director of CHRCTR Clothing

Located along Velasquez Street, the new CHRCTR Tondo Flagship Store will showcase its complete product line from shirts, pants, shoes, caps, socks, and its new HARI NG TONDO branded shirts.

"We rally everyone to wear the brand that defines your personality because you are not like everyone else," said Gajita.

For more information about CHRCTR Clothing, please check the following www.chrctrclothing.com