Monday, December 18, 2006

Rediscover Hong Kong!

To many Filipinos, it’s the destination of their first overseas journey. Only ninety minutes away by plane, Hong Kong is the the leading Asian destination for Filipino tourists, businesspeople and migrant workers.

Asia’s premiere International center, Hong Kong is ever-changing and always exciting. Seven million people live here, including about a million expatriates, and a hundred thousand kababayans, placing us among the top non-Chinese ethnic group in the territory.

Our kababayans occupy a wide range of positions from domestic helpers, to mission workers, to musicians, entrepreneurs, and professionals in major Hong Kong companies. Even most of Mickey’s performers in Disneyland are Filipino!

If all you’ve seen in Hong Kong is Tsim Sha Tsui, with maybe a peek at Causeway Bay, and The Peak, there’s still so much more to Hong Kong that will amaze you!

The highly developed public transport system in Hong Kong ensures that it’s easy to get around and plan your own tours whether on foot, by cab, by ferry, or Mass Transit. And with Hong Kong’s advanced road and transit network, you’ll rarely waste time b eing stuck in traffic.

In the arrival area, right after customs, be sure to pick up a handful of Hong Kong Tourism Board’s free brochures: The essential Hong Kong Visitor’s Guide with a comprehensive overview of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Walks do it yourself walking tours guide to the scenic and shopping districts, The Hong Kong Family Fun Guide with directions to major family attractions and children’s shopping districts, the Hong Kong Leisure Guide for Business Travellers with information on major shopping malls, dining centers, local nightlife, and sport venues.

Don’t forget the free maps for everyone in your travel group, and go ahead, get extra copies for friends in Manila planning a visit to Hong Kong.

Many of these guides are available online as well. There are even downloadable interactive versions for Windows CE and Palm PDAs available on the site.

Hi-tech Hong Kong offers the Mobile Host service, a guided audio tour delivered via your mobile phone for for 72 hours of service. For details, read the Mobile Host guidebook and be sure to purchase a local SIM card at a 7-11 to avoid prohibitive roaming charges. Your Hong Kong friends will also appreciate being able to contact you without IDD charges.

Local SIMs vary from HKD50 to HKD100 depending on features (more expensive SIMs offer free IDD to selected countries — North America, and selected European countries, but not the Philippines).

For special interests, there is the Hong Kong Museums and Heritage Guide with directions to local museums and sites of archeological interest; the 2006 Winterfest Guide for the seasonal events until January 1st; the Hong Kong Jockey Club Guide for Horse Racing aficionados, also available online at http:// ; the Newsletter of the Hong Kong Museum of Art; and the Disneyland brochure.

The ever helpful Hong Kong Tourism Board also has two public centres to provide the latest information on tourist activities, and help you plan itineraries, or book HKTB sponsored tours.

On Kowloon side, visit the HKTB Info Center at the Star Ferry Terminal. On Hong Kong side, visit the HKTB Info Center inside the Causeway Bay MTR Station. There is also a visitor hotline +852 2508 1234, available 8am-6pm daily, to assist with your travel queries.

Also, HKTB has organized the Quality Tourism Services seal of approval, that requires merchants to provide only genuine products with clearly displayed prices, present accurate product information and/or menus in food establishments, and employ staff with extensive product knowledge.

The QTS sign makes it easy to find shops and restaurants to trust, just look for it prominently displayed in establishments that have qualified for this exclusive recognition.

Among Hong Kong’s must–visit attractions are four major theme parks with exciting adventures for everyone:

Disneyland Hong Kong on Lantau Island, is the first in a territory that doesn’t require visas from Filipino travellers. Join Mickey and friends as they welcome you into their magical kingdom, and invite you to stay at picturesque Disneyland Hotel or glitzy Disney Hollywood Hotel.

Ngong Ping 360 Theme Park on Lantau Island is built right next to the world’s largest sitting Buddha. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch at the Po Lin Monastery, enjoy the serenity of the Temple grounds, then journey through the culturally themed village and watch enlightening shows about the life of Buddha. Then take a cable car ride on the Ngong Ping Skyrail with panoramic views of Lantau Island, Chek Lap Kok Airport, and the South China Sea.

Ocean Park in Aberdeen, Hong Kong Island, has more than 40 parkwide rides and attractions, spread out over six main areas: Lowland Gardens, Kid’s World, Marine Land, Headland rides, Adventureland, and Birds Paradise. Take a scenic cable car ride to see stunning performances by seals, dolphins and sea lions, the Atoll Reef with its huge coral aquarium, and the all-new sea jelly aquarium, the first in Asia.

The Wetland Park builds upon existing wetland ecosystems in Tin Shui Wai, NT, Hong Kong. With 60 hectares of opportunities to learn about wetlands, it features outdoor exhibits, boardwalks, and bird hides.

Over 250 different species have been recorded in the park, so you’re sure to see something new each time! A 10,000 sqm. visitor’s centre features interactive exhibits to illustrate the biodiversity of wetlands and mangrove areas and issues related to human culture and conservation.

History buffs will appreciate the 80 declared monuments in Hong Kong, including thousand year old stone carvings, ancient Chinese temples and villages, 19th Century colonial buildings, forts and lighthouses, some in city centres, and many easily accessible by the public transport system.

The diversity of Hong Kong surprises even the most jaded traveller.

Located on the south side of the Island in the quiet town of Shek O, the Shek O Beach offers white sand and the clean waters of the South China Sea. On weekends, the beach is filled with locals having beach barbecues, so its best to go on weekdays to enjoy the beach or savor the fresh seafood cuisine.

The outlying islands of Cheung Chau and Lamma also offer a glimpse of a more relaxed seaside lifestyle, with good hiking and beaches, and delicious fresh seafood restaurants. Yung Shue Wan town on Lamma has a refreshing mix of Western and Chinese style seaside bars and restuarants.

Then, of course, there’s the shopping!

In Hong Kong, you can dress like a million bucks for a million bucks, or spend much less, depending on where and how you shop. For the fashion shopper, Hong Kong offers three distinct shopping venues:

The premiere shopping districts in Central and select high-end malls feature the world’s fabled brands at prices guaranteed to bust your credit cards. But, hey, if you’ve got to have it, Hong Kong’s highend shops gladly oblige!

The mid-market shopping districts are where most Hongkongers shop. These are mainly in East and West Central, Causeway Bay, and in major malls in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tai Koo, and Whampoa Gardens, featuring a mix of local brands and affordable international brands.

Also, in this mix are specialty shops in Causeway Bay and Mongkok that offer high quality unbranded and unknown brand goods from around the world, from leather goods, cocktail dresses for ladies, and office suits for men.

Then, there’s the bargain hunters’ paradises, centered around the specialty street markets in Fa Yuen St., Tung Choi, and Temple Sts. in Mongkok, and the market at the expat enclave of Stanley on the Island’s south side. All offer a dizzying mix of designer label over-runs (be sure to check for small tears and stains, as the items are not returnable), out of season items, lowcost clothes from China, cheap gadgets and curios.

Technology is no longer the bargain it once was with Manila prices more or less in line with regional prices, but Hong Kong offers a wider selection of hard to find items for photo and computer hobbyists. Specialty malls in Wanchai, Causeway Bay, Mongkok, and ShamShuiPo are the best places to shop.

Remember to check equipment for compatibility with our own standards, and if it matters to you, verify that the warranty is honored worldwide. Electronics goods legally imported into Hong Kong are accompanied by an English language manual. Goods with foreign language (usually Japanese or Korean) manuals are often grey market imports without warranty.

Like fashion, eating out in Hong Kong can be affordable. Western fastfoods, like Mcdonald’s, have the cheapest eats in Hong Kong, as does 7-11 with its delicious Chinese rice bowls.

But for a real Hong Kong adventure, try out the little Chinese noodle and congee shops, dim sum parlors, and hot pot restaurants of West Central, Causeway Bay, Wanchai, North Point and Mongkok. English skills vary, so look for the QTS seal for the assurance of an English Menu.

For ethnic cuisine, stroll the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Central Hollywood and SoHo districts for small regional restuarants. Times Square in Causeway Bay offers a variety of casual dining resturants in the upper floors.

Hong Kong’s nightlife has something for everyone, whether it’s a quiet dinner at a fancy restaurant, dining alfresco near the the sea, or joining a boisterous crowd at a trendy nightspot.

Visit the highend restaurants in Central, The Peak or Repulse Bay for some quiet dining, and if you’re in town for business, be sure to drop by the Captain’s Bar at the Mandarin Oriental, where the expat community unwinds daily from 5-8 pm.

For dining by the sea, try the seafood markets in Lei Yue Mun, or Sai Kung or the tourist oriented floating restaurants in Aberdeen.

Hong Kong’s trendy nightlife centers around bars in the Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo districts, the newly redeveloped artsy cafes of Starstreet next to Pacific Place in Admiralty, and Knutsford Terrace in northern Tsim Sha Shui.

Visit Cafe Havana at Knutsford and enjoy their delicious buffet, then groove to the beat of Mang Tony’s pop and reggae band, one of dozens of Filipino bands performing in Hong Kong.

And when you’re done with the weekend nightlife, Sundays are a time to relax in Hong Kong, to visit an outlying Island: Cheung Chau or Lamma via the ferries at Central; or take a bus to Stanley to savor the relaxed European Cafe lifestyle. But don’t forget the late afternoon mass at Rosary Church in Tsim Sha Tsui East, where our kababayans, both residents and tourists, congregate to see who’s in town.

(Photos taken with a compact, affordable and near professional quality Olympus SP-500 series digital camera, courtesy of Nancy Harel & Associates, Axis Distribution, and Olympus Imaging Corp.)

Saturday, December 02, 2006

The World of Jade

Part of the Beijing Series of Articles, the result of a media Tour organized by Sponsors Philippine Airlines, Panda Travel, Marco Polo Hotels, and American Tourister Luggage.

The World of Jade

When polished and professionally worked, it is a beautiful luminous gemstone. For many, it symbolizes love and virtue. For the Chinese, it symbolizes the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, and compassion, although its first known use was in arrowheads and axes.

The Aztecs and many other pre-Columbian American cultures valued it more highly than gold. In many cultures, from the Egyptians to the Maoris of New Zealand, it is believed to be a lucky, protective stone.

Trade with the East brought this gemstone to Europe in the 16th Century, but it was the Spaniards, who found another source in Central America, that gave its name: Piedra de Hijada, later shortened to simply "Jade."

But it's not always what you think it is.


Until about 1786, most Jade in China was Nephrite, a similar looking mineral, but with a different composition. In fact, both minerals look so similar that it was only in the late 19th Century that it was determined that the "Jade" in China was a different "Jade" from that mined in Burma.

In Mandarin, Jadeite is known as "ying yu," hard Jade, and Nephrite is known as "ruan yu," soft Jade. The word "Yu," by itself, means precious ornamental rock, a description that can be applied to any valuable stone.

True Jade is Jadeite, a sodium-rich aluminous pyroxene, obtained mainly from northern Burma, but with minor sources throughout the world. Jadeite is a metamorphous rock formed under specific conditions of high-pressure and low temperature.

The colors of jadeite vary: Yellow to gold, pink to blue lavenders, rusty reds, light to dark greens, pure white, brown, and black are jadeite colors. It is slightly harder than Nephrite, with a hardness rating of 7.

Nephrite is a fine-grained, calcium-rich, magnesium and iron aluminous amphibole with a hardness of 6.5. It is also a metamorphous rock, but unlike Jadeite, it does not require specific conditions of pressure and cold to form. It is available in fewer colors than Jadeite: Creamy white, and shades of green, brown and black.

Some colors of Nephrite are hard to distinguish from Jadeite by visual inspection, but an ultraviolet money checker can distinguish the two: Jadeite flouresces weakly like human teeth, Nephrite does not flouresce. The sheen of a finished piece is another distinguishing feature: Jadeite is glass like, while Nephrite finishes to a fine luster.

In the US, only Jadeite and Nephrite can be labelled "Jade," but disreputable traders often mislabel other more common stones "jade varieties" to confuse the unwary. Reputable dealers will not use the following misleading terms: Amazon Jade, Colorado Jade: Green Feldspar; American Jade: Californite (Green Idocrase); Mexican Jade: Green-dyed Calcite; Indian Jade: Adventurine; Korea Jade: Serpentine; Oregon or Swiss Jade: Chalcedony; and Transvaal Jade: Green hydroglossular garnet.

Most of these stones are softer than Jadeite and Nephrite and will not scratch glass (hardness 5) .

The best Nephrite from China is a creamy white variety known as "mutton fat." Spinach Nephrite, the color of the cooked vegetable, is also popular. Ancient Chinese jade items made before the 1800's are usually Nephrite.

Believed to preserve the body after death, Chinese emperors had burial suits made of Nephrite, and filled their tombs with items of this material.

Since 1786, true Jadeite has been imported into China from northern Burma. Every year, the Myanmar Gems Enterprise holds an auction of rough Jade for registered Jade dealers. Jade dealers are seasoned gamblers: The rough stone looks like an ordinary boulder with a small window ground into the surface, only when the stone is cut up will the buyer know whether he's purchased a valuable raw material or a low grade rock.

Burmese Jadeite quickly replaced Chinese Nephrite as the Imperial variety of Jade because of its superior luminosity, translucency, and hardness, hence its prestigious status in Chinese jewelry, where it is sold alongside local Nephrite. Before the 1800s, only Chinese Nephrite was considered true Jade, but the adoption by the Imperial household of the Burmese Jadeite reversed the situation.

Imperial Jade is the most expensive, colored a specific emerald-like green with an inner glow not found in other stones. The more uniform the green in an Imperial Jade piece, the greater its value. Some pieces can be worth millions, and it is rare that you will find a true Imperial Jade quality piece except in Museums.

Uniformity of color usually enhances value, but there are also unique color patterns that are highly sought after. The next most valuable colors are in the pink to lavender range, followed by the lighter and darker greens. Spotty greens (moss in snow) are highly sought after.

Because certain colors are more valuable than others, some merchants dye the Jade. Dyed jade is difficult to detect with the naked eye, but a magnifying loupe will show color accumulation along grain boundaries in a dyed stone. A Chelsea filter, a tool of Jade merchants, will show red streaks in a dyed stone.

When buying a piece that is claimed to be natural in color, have the seller mark on the receipt or certificate that the Jade is "natural color."

Microscopic flaws, dark spots, veins, splotches, and cracks in a Jadeite piece may dramatically reduce an item's value, but honest dealers price their items accordingly, noting the item's characteristics in the certificate of authenticity.

Jade pieces with barely detectable flaws provide excellent value as jewelry accents, but a true collector will want only the most perfect items.

Surface waxing is the only method of enhancement acceptable to serious collectors, but bleaching and acid treaments, dyeing, and heating may be used to alter the material.

It is important that if any of these techniques (other than waxing) are used, these are disclosed by the Jade merchant as these may reduce its value as a collection item.

Given the pitfalls of buying Jade, it is important to deal only with reputable merchants and Jade factories. Honest dealers price accordingly and describe the characteristics of the item you've purchased in the receipt or accompanying certificate. They will not misrepresent an item in order to obtain a higher price, but will take the time to explain why seemingly identical items have widely varying prices.

Visits to reputable Jade and Jewelry factories are included in many of Panda Travel's China Tours. Through its partnership with China Panorama, Panda Travel provides an affordable, exciting and informative perspective of Ancient and Modern China.

Philippine Airlines flies four times weekly to Beijing. For extra Mabuhay Miles credits, book your stay at a Marco Polo Hotel, and bring along American Tourister luggage. American Tourister is Samsonite's value priced line of durable luggage.

The Never Ending Story

As a result of this and other similar articles, Philippine National Oil Corporation created and implemented a sustained rehabilitation program for the affected areas.


The Never Ending Story

Over a hundred square kilometers of marine sanctuary and rich fishing
grounds are threatened by yet another oil spill off Guimaras, the
second so far this year.

International Maritime Law requires that environmentally dangerous
cargo, such as fuel oils, be transported only in double hulled ships to
minimize tragedies such as these.

Petron was quick to point out that as cargo owner, they have no
liability. This, of course, did not sit well with the Justice
Department, which points out that Petron also selected the shipping
company, knowing full well that the ships transporting their cargo had
single hulls.

We take such irresponsible liberties with our environment, and so soon
after the President had declared the area of the spill as the tourism
hub of the country.

Millions are being spent today to clean up this mess. But the effects
of this disastrous oil spill go far beyond today's news.

Oil spills go far beyond the immediate effects of the visible oil. The
seas off Guimaras will produce less fish for the next twenty years.
Hectares of lush coral remain covered in sludge.

And those local hires, working with little protective gear for P150/day
have just acquired a lifetime of potential health problems in the
bargain.

But, it will all be forgotten by then.

The fishermen and the local laborers are little people. Their lives
have forever been affected by this tragedy, but once the headlines are
gone, they will be forgotten.

When the Exxon Valdez spilled ten million gallons of oil in 1989, the
clean up took over ten years, and the legal claims continue seventeen
years later, centered around punitive damages of $5Bln, or Exxon's
single year profit in 1989.

This is aside from the $2Bln Exxon already claims to have spent in the
clean-up and $1Bln paid out to various civil claimants, mainly
businesses damaged by the viscous oil.

Are these enough? Not according to some experts. The damage to the
environment and local businesses has run into tens of billions of
dollars, and seventeen years later, there is still much work to be
done.

None of these can be handled by a quick fix solution.

Mopping up the oil is an immediate concern, but longer term approaches
to repair the local environment and provide support to the displaced
local economy are essential. Corals and affected businesses do not
miraculously re-grow when the visible oil is gone.

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/ created by the State of Alaska handles the long term management of the oil spill's damage to the environment and the rich fishing grounds off
Alaska.

The Philippines Super-Tourism Program

Super-Tourism!

Super-Tourism is how Undersecretary Phineas Alburo defines the Department of Tourism's strategy to develop the Tourism Super Region defined in President GMA's 2006 SONA. Comprising Regions 5,6,7,8 and Palawan, the Super Region includes the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Going beyond the traditional approach of simply marketing the Philippines as a tourist destination, the DOT's wholistic strategy incorporates the whole spectrum of tourism-related issues.

"Infrastructure first, Programs second," says Alburo, explaining the DOT's new role coordinating tourism related infrastructure projects of DOTC and DPWH. "We need to focus on building the roads, bridges, and RO-RO Seaports going to tourist destinations, next, we need to involve the local communities in providing tourist services."

Aside from the usual beaches and resorts, the tourism strategy aims to develop tourism products in three areas: 1) Heritage Sites comprising old Spanish fortresses, historical churches, homes, and estates. 2) Wellness and Spa resorts where tourists can relax and provide employment to hundreds of wellness professionals. 3) Medical Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Health, encouraging foreign nationals to avail of our value priced, yet state of the art, medical facilities.

U.S. Tourists comprise the bulk of foreign arrivals at 40%, but Alburo would like to see more third generation Filipino-Americans visit the Islands. "Many of these Filipino nationals have never seen the land of their ancestry. We would like to invite them over to visit the Philippines and bring their mainstream American friends," says Alburo.

Third generation Filipino-Americans are more likely to invest in the Philippines, according to DOT's studies, investing in Philippine real estate and helping Philippine based relatives establish businesses.

The next most important audience are the Koreans and the Japanese, many of whom fly directly to Cebu for rest and relaxation. Cebu's International Airport handles 42 International flights a week, 21 of which travel routes to Korea and Japan.

Intra-South East Asian tourism is also booming. With direct flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei, Cebu is the preferred destination for recreational tourists looking for a quick getaway.

Another important market, according to Alburo, is the so-called M.I.C.E. Market: Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions. The forthcoming ASEAN convention is an extraordinary example of convention tourism. With two thousand official delegates, and four thousand expected guests, the ASEAN summit will help promote Cebu and the Philippines to the entire region.

Promoting local tourism is another key element in the tourism strategy. Local tourists help maintain the tourist infrastructure by providing a year round market for tourism service providers. The DOT identifies two segments in the local tourism market: The first are tourists from other parts of the country, and the second are tourists from within the provinces themselves.

"Many Cebuanos have not seen the northern and southern ends of the island, and we encourage them to traverse the island to visit resorts and other interesting spots," says Alburo. "The same is true of any other island in the Philippines, and encouraging local travel helps develop the infrastructure to service all kinds of tourists."

Involving the local communities is another key element in the wholistic strategy.

"We're encouraging local communities to train tour guides and produce souvenirs, while encouraging tour operators to avail of local services. For instance, we actively discourage operators from bringing along packed lunches, directing them to local caterers and restaurants for their tourist meals," says Alburo, citing their current pilot project in the Olango Island nature reserve near Mactan.

Alburo is also encouraged by our discussion about liberalizing the telecommunications infrastructure, something he promised to discuss with the DOTC and NTC during their next meeting.

If we can provide free and low-cost Community Internet access in our tourist spots, Alburo believes it will encourage tourists to stay longer, and provide the community with up-to-date information on the latest industry trends.

When the Department of Tourism talks about marketing the Philippines, that's just tourism, but when it takes a wholistic approach, considering every aspect of the tourism experience, and involves the local communities as partners, they've gone one step beyond into a strategy that can only be called Super-Tourism.

Cebu: Island Republic, The Culture of Boom

The market was busy the day Magellan first landed. Merchants from Thailand, China, and the East Indies noisily bartered their wares of silk, ceramics, iron and bronze for the natives' produce of pearls, tortoise shell, gold and spices, paying little attention to the political circus then unfolding.

Rajah Humabon, eager to find a way to avoid paying tribute to the Sultan of Sulu, accepted Magellan's offer of protection and allowed himself to be baptized a Catholic. Thus began our conversion to become the leading outpost of Christianity in Asia.

Of course, that did not stop the Cebuanos from continuing robust trade with the Buddhist Siamese and the Malay Muslim communities.

Then, as today, Cebu is a melting pot for Asians of different persuasions, including the Chinese. With the arrival of the Hispanics, Cebu welcomed them too, creating a melting pot culture disparate in its origins but unified by common values of trade and entrepreneurship.

Cebu City's metropolitan area has grown to encompass two other cities, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island. When the President chose Cebu as the site of the Philippines' Southern Capital, Cebuanos were quick to point out that in the early years of Spain's rule, Cebu was the Philippines' capital, and the move is simply modern-day recognition of its historic place.

In the last three decades, Cebu has led the country in economic growth, with rates averaging 20% above the national figures. It has its own International Seaport, the busiest outside Manila, with direct ports of call to Asian centers Hong Kong and Singapore.

As the country's most popular tourist destination, the International Airport in Mactan handles 42 direct flights a week from Hong Kong, Singapore, Narita (Japan), Incheon (Korea), Pusan (Korea), Doha (Qatar), Taipei (Taiwan), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Tourist spots throughout Central and Southern Philippines are also a short trip, by land or sea, away from Cebu. Bohol province, with its pristine beaches and spectacular dive spots is a thirty minute ferry ride away.

Long marketing itself abroad as an island in the Pacific, Cebu has managed to insulate itself from the political storms occasionally distracting Imperial Manila. That doesn't mean Cebuanos don't involve themselves in their own politics: Cebuano TV regularly broadcasts provincial and city council sessions. Cebu business, after all, relies on the local governments, headed by Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia, and City Mayor Tommy Osmena, to maintain their business friendly environment.

In Cebu, entrepreneurs and businessmen are the local heroes. In this culture, it is the home-grown entrepreneurs who endorse products on print ads, billboards, and local TV. It is this kind of role-modelling that has developed Cebu into the Central Philippines' center of trade and commerce with leading positions in electronics exports, furniture manufacturing, mining, and now, business process outsourcing.

Big Business has also found its way to Cebu: Major Property developers Ayala Land, Robinson's Land, and Federal Land are all here, eager to develop quality office and residential spaces for the City's booming outsourcing industries and growing population. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry envisions their metropolis as the software, and e-services hub not just for the Philippines, but for the entire Southeast Asia.

The old golf course, converted to the Cebu Business Park in the 1990s, wanted for locators until outsourcers discovered Cebu. Then it became a boomtown. The old airport at Lahug, converted into a business park also in the 1990s, is Asiatown I.T. Park, with purpose built developments hosting international call center operators.

Two decades ago, Rustan's was the only Manila based department store operating in Cebu, followed by Robinson's in the late-1980s. Today, SM and Ayala both operate large malls in the city, competing with the home-grown Gaisano Malls, and the dozens of pocket malls that line the city streets.

These pocket malls play an important role in the continuing boom, providing incubators for hundreds of start-up businesses, a preferred career path for many young Cebuanos. Visit any of these little malls to experience the ideas of Cebu's innovative entrepreneurs, themselves an invigorating mix of old-money and new talent.

From unique gift shops to delicious restaurants and exciting watering holes, Cebu's entrepreneurs are constantly testing new concepts. Many, like Bo's Coffee Corner, Julie's Bakeshop, Penshoppe, Oxygen, and Island Souvenirs have become nationally recognized brand names.


Bright ideas are the currency of Cebu's continuing boom and the value creators of Cebu's economy are its export designers, people like furniture designer Kenneth CoBonPue, Asia Design Awardee 2005, and Ma. Concepcion Barba, who with her daughters, and one-time student Belinda Mangayon, comprise Vanya Creations, a leading exporter of fashion and costume jewelry.

Cobonpue's designs have gained international recognition, filling the celebrity homes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, with cameo appearances in the latest James Bond flick "Casino Royale," while Vanya's creations have made the fashion pages of Vogue, Elle, and every devil wearing prada edited magazine.

Julia Barba of Vanya laments that Chinese manufacturers often try to copy their designs, sneakily attempting to photograph their products at trade shows in Milan, Tokyo, and Paris. "I must have the most photographed palms in the world," says Barba, describing attempts to fend off would-be pirates from photographing their wares at trade shows.

Competition and copycats are a threat, but Cobonpue deals with IP violations creatively: "We're constantly creating new designs, if they copy our designs, by the time they make it to market, they're selling fakes of last year's designs."

The process of reinvention is key to Cobonpue's success, next year's designs may carry elements from last year's ideas, or be entirely fresh. It is the combination of old and new that creates excitement, the use of traditional materials with new forms, or new materials with traditional forms.

This same process of reinvention keeps the boom times rolling in Cebu: Combining old with the new, guided by a centuries old tradition of trade and commerce.

The Grand Dame has a New Name

Written for Federal Land, and the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, following a media familiarization tour.

The Grand Dame has a New Name

She towers majestically over Metro Cebu in Nivel Hills, Lahug, an unmistakeable landmark in a remarkable city. Formerly the Cebu Plaza, she is now the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Acquired by a consortium led by Metrobank and Federal Land in 2002, Chairman George Ty takes a personal interest in this landmark project, carefully overseeing, along with Federal Land General Manager Reynaldo Villar, the Grand Dame's P800 Million renovation.

Marco Polo signed on as the hotel's operator in July 2005, the group's second hotel venture in the Philippines and eighth worldwide. Marco Polo, based in Hong Kong and one of Asia's fastest growing hotel chains, brings international hospitality standards to Cebu.

Most of the exterior structure remains intact, including the hotel's signature scenic elevator--a tribute to the original architects' forward looking design. Elegant furnishings from Cebu Plaza were spruced up and retained, and where needed, new pieces contracted from Cebu's leading furniture manufacturers.

The refurbished Grand Lobby ranks among the country's most elegant, and is certainly above anything else in Cebu. The hotel's Grand Ballroom and function rooms, lavishly upgraded to modern standards, remain a favorite for Cebu's premiere business and social events. The hotel's 329 rooms have been upgraded to Marco Polo standards, with central airconditioning and modern amenities, including broadband Internet.

For business travellers, the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu offers the Continental Club, an 81-room virtual hotel within a hotel. Guests at the Club avail of extra perks at the exclusive Club lounge on the 24th floor which offers all day snacks, wireless Internet access, a boardroom with multimedia facilities, and express check-out.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu is a major host in the forthcoming ASEAN Summit in December and several countries are competing to book their delegations at the hotel. Given the size of each delegation and their unique requirements, the hotel can only accommodate three or four countries during the summit, "but we're glad to know that we're the first choice of several countries." says PR Manager Carlo Borromeo.

Gearing up for the ASEAN Summit is what's kept the hotel's 368 person staff busy since it opened for business in January 2006. It has since hosted several important functions: Metrobank's International Conference, the Philippine Anaesthesiologists Convention, and its own Inauguration on April 27, with no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo cutting the ribbon.

The main market of the hotel, in line with the President's SONA program for tourism is the MICE market, or Meetings, Incentive Travel, Convention, and Exhibits, but it also has a generous share of the leisure travel market, says General Manager Hans Hauri, who ensures that Marco Polo's standards of service are maintained.

The hotel boasts three F&B outlets: The trademark Cafe Marco, the Lobby bar, and Garden Terrace beside the pool. The Garden Terrace, with its outdoor stage, is a popular venue for Cebu society's outdoor events.

Overseeing the hotel's food service is Executive Chef Luke Gagnon, a Canadian with over fifteen years experience in Asia's best hotels, from the Excelsior in Hong Kong, to the various Shangri-La Hotels (including Mactan), Sutera Harbor in Malaysia, and now, the Marco Polo Hotel Cebu.

Chef Gagnon enjoys cooking in Cebu where he can find the freshest ingredients and organic vegetables from a contract supplier. He loves the Cebu Mango, "the best in the world," and incorporates it into many dishes from appetizers to salads and entrees, and of course, desserts.

Walking into the Cafe Marco, one could easily proclaim this Cebu's best hotel buffet, but be careful not to let the Chef hear you: "This is not a Buffet!" proclaims Chef Gagnon, "In a buffet, you get food which is several hours old, at the Cafe Marco, food is cooked on demand by our chefs, and always served fresh and delicious."

There are many exciting things in store for the hotel's 7.5 hectare property. Federal Land, owner of the hotel property, foresees further development of the area into a premiere business, leisure, and residential complex within the city. "This is in line with our main business as a quality property developer," says General Manager Villar, "We are currently fixing up the low-rise area, formerly a sports complex and apartelles, and studying redevelopment possibilities."

"But rest assured," Villar adds, "...the Grand Dame, now the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, will always be the property's flagship and a prestigious Cebu landmark for decades to come!"