Icons 2024-Banking: BOF A Rural Bank

AT 60+, the go-to bank of micro, small, and medium enterprises is a continuing story, aye, a saga since its founding in 1964 as the Rural Bank of Floridablanca, persisting in its rebranding in 2022 as BOF A Rural Bank, in constant definition of its very reason for being – the development of rural communities, fostering countryside progress through inclusive banking services. 

Inclusive, as in providing financial access to underserved sectors, from small businesses to farmer and transport groups. 

“We build homegrown success through collective growth with our clients and stakeholders…” So, it is written in the BOF’s vision and mission statement. 

So, it is accomplished in the testimonials of the bank’s clientele. 

"BOF is like salt, they've helped us turn our ideas into delicious realities." So attests Chef Cherry P. Tan, proprietor of authentic Kapampangan restaurant Apag Marangle, now a prized gustatory destination in Pampanga. 

“Iba sa BOF. BOF looks after all their clients even if they’re small business owners.” So avers Gheric Manaloto, chief operating officer of RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop, now a leading exporter and distributor of top-notch meat products in Central Luzon. 

Homegrown bank channeling community savings to fund homegrown industries empowering local entrepreneurs, engendering rural development. This, in close engagement with regulators as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Securities and Exchange Commission and other stakeholders among government agencies, NGOs, and interest groups. 

Committed to supporting initiatives that drive progress and modernization in the countryside, the BOF Eco-Move Loan Program was established in support of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Through its availment, the Betis Operators & Drivers Transport Cooperative three brand-new modern PUVs, followed by the Arayat Express Jeepney Transport Service Cooperative with four, for starters.    

Rural banking as “an exercise in financial inclusion,” gets flexed in BOF’s myriad interactions with different sectors. Principal of these were the Stakeholders' Engagement Forum for Start-Up Businesses in the City of San Fernando; Seminar on Wealth Succession Planning and Tax Management; and the EmpowerEd Financial Literacy Project in collaboration with the BSP extended to business and finance students in a series of fora at the City College of San Fernando, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Mary the Queen College, and the City College of Angeles.

BOF is likewise into collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the rural banking community, as exemplified in its On-Site Learning Program at its corporate center for the Rural Bank of Solano (Nueva Vizcaya) and partnerships with the Bicol Federation of Rural Banks and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), affirming BOF’s leading role in industry-wide capacity building. In 2023, RBAP recognized BOF as a Pioneer On-Site Learning Bank for Corporate

Governance and Succession Planning and MSME Lending. 

BOF’s strong engagement with the BSP in hosting the Know Your Money seminar on the first Philippine Polymer Banknote Series BSP and in the BSP Piso Caravan Program aimed at facilitating public access to exchanging unfit and damaged money to ensure only fit currency remains in circulation led to BOF being the first in Central Luzon to have a Currency Exchange Center as part of its regular services in its different branches. 

Of its 22 branches, all but two – in Bulacan and Tarlac – are located in Pampanga with its flagship branch, the 22nd, inaugurated in June 3023 along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in the City of San Fernando, the regional and financial capital of Central Luzon.  

Like all other businesses, BOF was not spared from the economic doldrums wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s aftermath however made a totally different story for BOF, best told in its expansion – San Jose, Floridablanca and the flagship branches both in 2023, and renovation – of its branches in Mabalacat City in 2022, and in Lubao, Poblacion-Floridablanca, Sto. Tomas, and Porac Sto. Tomas in 2024. 

For the record: As of Dec. 31, 2024, BOF has P5.93 billion in total assets; P990 million in total capital; P4.56 billion in total deposits; and P4.25 billion in total gross loans. BOF ranks among the Top 10 rural banks in Central Luzon and in the Philippines.

Banking on values

“We are here to fill in the gap in the vast banking industry where banks think of their clients first as family. Emphasizing this differentiates us from our competitors; our key demographic can resonate with us better and attest to our genuine and sincere service,” declared then-BOF president and CEO Susan David-Nunga in her 2023 State of the Bank Address themed “Building Homegrown Success” focused on shared growth between the bank, its clients, and its communities. 

In his turn at the 2024 SOBA, BOF president and CEO Paolo David Carlos presented the infrastructure of that homegrown success grounded on the very core values of BOF – Competence, Accountability, Responsibility, Integrity, Nurturing, God-driven – CARING for Tomorrow. 

That which ensures BOF’s continuing story as a consistent pillar of integrity and innovation in the financial industry in Central Luzon, in the Philippines. 

   

Icons 2024-Healthcare: The Medical City Clark

 

“WITH PRIDE, we can declare, ‘We have The Medical City in Clark – an internationally accredited center of excellence.’”

Thus, Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera’s encomium at TMC Clark’s 10th anniversary celebrations last January highlighted the facility’s crucial role in the freeport’s comprehensive development; its very presence an enhancement to attract investments both domestic and foreign. 

The premier referral center in Northern and Central Luzon since its opening on Jan. 16, 2015, TMC Clark is now impressed upon the world too as the very face of healthcare in one of the Philippines’ premium investment havens and engines of economic growth.   

Hospital care can’t get any more recuperative, indeed, rejuvenating with TMC Clark’s scale and scope of highly specialized services: Cardiovascular Center – pediatric and adult cardiology, neurovascular and peripheral vascular catheterization, and interventional radiology; Breast Center; Liver and Pancreas Center; Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery; Chemo-Infusion Unit; Pain Clinic, Center for Integrative Medicine; Genomics; Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center; Diabetes and Nutrition Management Services Center; Occupational Health Center; and Wellness Center – all with state-of-the-art equipment.  

And more came in 2024: TMC-Clark established the first Allergy and Immunology Center in Central Luzon, expanded its Hemodialysis Center from 6 to 14 chairs, and procured its second magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. It was also made an accredited facility of the Maritime Industry Authority. 

With all these, plus a 103-bed capacity and staffed by 519 doctors – surgeons and specialists, 182 nurses, 143 allied health professionals, and 69 interns, no other medical facility north of Metro Manila can come anywhere close to TMC Clark.   

Indeed, the globally renowned Joint Commission International (JCI) awarding TMC Clark its Gold Seal of Approval® in December 2024, the first-ever in the region. 

JCI sets the gold standard in healthcare quality and safety, granting accreditation only to organizations that meet its rigorous benchmarks. Achieving it, therefore, affirms TMC Clark steadfast adherence to global best practices. 

As Dr. Noelito M. Lacsamana, president and CEO of TMC Clark, enthused: “This accreditation represents our hospital’s dedication to providing safe, high-quality patient care, and reflects the collective effort of every team member who has worked tirelessly to raise the bar for healthcare in the region. We are shaping the future of healthcare in North and Central Luzon together.” 

Then, at the Asia CEO Awards 2024, TMC Clark joined the Circle of Excellence Awardees of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Company of the Year. 

Through the years, certifications of excellence have been heaped along TMC Clark’s way. 

In addition to being ISO 9001-2015 certified, TMC Clark won the Gold Award in the Brand and Marketing Campaign category of the 2020 Asian Hospital Management Awards for its “A Safe Zone for All Patients” Campaign at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier on in 2019, it received the Marketing Initiative of the Year Award for “Pink Walk: #BreastWalkEver” and the Primary Care of the Year Award for Client Management Program. 

In the same year, TMC Clark received the distinction of being the only medical facility in Central Luzon accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for its Ka-Bayani Center offering pre-employment medical examination services for overseas Filipino workers and seafarers.

The distinction of excellence that distinguishes TMC Clark from all hospitals and any medical care facility north of Metro Manila is expressed in its brand philosophy, indeed, defined in its core value: “Where Patients are Partners.”

The traditional idea of the patient as a passive recipient of medical services upended to that of the patient as an active partner in his own health. 

Total Medical Care, TMC Clark gets its full meaning. TMCC photos  

Icons 2024-Lifestyle: Genteelhome

 

ON MARCH 6 at the Philippine International Furniture Show at SMX Convention Center, former Miss Universe Catriona Gray unveiled “Payak,” her first capsule furniture collection under local brand Genteelhome. 

It was a moment rich in symbolism, of the Pampanga brand’s leap from the provincial to the universal, from humble beginning to metropolitan sophistication.  

“From one commissioned piece for a client in Manila came residential projects to commercial spaces and offices, with my small garage work area,” says Genteelhome founder and principal designer Katrina Blanca de Leon of her brand’s 2013 origination.  

By 2021, Genteelhome had established its first showroom – now called Furniture Atelier – along Fil-Am Friendship Highway right at the boundary of Bacolor town and Angeles City.

The vast collection of art masterpieces and customized furniture and furnishings it showcased made an immediate impression, enhanced by the adjunct workshop – atelier, hence – where clients can watch and engage the skillful artisans crafting 

their commissioned pieces, from chairs to side tables, bedsteads and headboards, to furnishings. 

Bespoke elegance verily becomes Genteelhome with its hand-woven solihiya design, “where each rattan weave embodies the perfect marriage of form and function…its repetitive pattern not only reinforces the structure but also provides essential airflow, particularly in the tropical climate of the Philippines,” as a lifestyle editor raved about it. 

In July 2023, Genteelhome set its atelier in Manila whetting the metropolitan taste for its signature elegance in curated residential lifestyles. 

In April 2024, Genteelhome gained its foothold in Northern Luzon with its atelier sited in La Union. 

In the country’s diverse design landscape, Genteelhome has unarguably distinguished itself with that unique creativity and passion to craft bespoke pieces and fashion astounding design spaces of refined elegance.

Engaging fashion celebrity Heart Evangelista as the brand’s new ambassador in 2024, De Leon noted how she embodies Genteelhome’s very essence “of passion, pride in Filipino roots, and confidence in making a mark on the world.”

This, as Genteelhome poises itself to enter the international market in home furniture and furnishings. 

Design philosophy

WE HAVE great vision and a unique culture. One that’s built on a strong set of values of craftsmanship, functionality, and sustainability. Each client represents a “mood box” comprising of bits and pieces of the actual materials and colors we use for the design. This way, we are guided in making a personal connection with the client’s personality and surroundings. Simply creating a beautiful space that supports the wellbeing of our clients while investing in the happiness of their loved ones. 

I am proud to say that every bespoke masterpiece meticulously crafted by Genteelhome holds a story, a narrative that transcends time and connects generations. It’s a tale of love, joy, and memories, waiting to be shared and treasured by your loved ones in the years to come. We don’t just create furniture. We create milestones and legacies. We believe that the objects we surround ourselves with shape our lives and leave a lasting impact.” Katrina Blanca de Leon 

Icons 2024-Food: RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop

SO MUCH has been said, and much more will still be said of the culinary excellence of the Kapampangan, more so with Pampanga declared by legislation as the culinary capital of the Philippines. 

Kapampangan cuisine in all its exquisite glory invariably comes as main serving in every table talk on gustation. Celebrated, as fittingly should, the delectable Kapampangan dishes though are but one side of the delighting gustatory story; the other being the source of the main ingredients, even for other cuisines, regional or international, served in the province, in the region as well. And not only in matters of quality, but also in edibility, in safety. 

Here is where RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop stamps its mark. 

From its modest start in 2009, the company has grown into a key player in the meat importation industry, meticulously sourcing food products – from pork parts and cuts, chicken and seafoods to quality beef, including tomahawk and Kagoshima A5 Wagyu steak – from top global producers while rigorously ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations.

“Our commitment to quality starts at the source. We select our suppliers with the utmost care and ensure that every shipment meets rigorous safety standards,” said couple Gheric and Rizalyn Manaloto, founders of RMM Trading that evolved into the RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop, underscoring the company’s steadfast commitment to quality as they import meat products from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and some parts of Europe.

Gheric furthered that the company works closely with regulatory bodies, including the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS), to ensure compliance with stringent safety standards. 

“Actually, we have NMIS office here for proper handling. We are not allowed to open our containers if we don’t have a representative from NMIS. Our permit will come from them. If they didn’t give us the permit, we wouldn’t be able to operate),” shared Rizalyn.

Even in the face of daunting challenges like fluctuating exchange rates and heightened competition, the highest product standards are non-negotiable to RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop. The company utilizes reefer containers and adheres strictly to temperature controls to ensure optimal conditions for their products.

“At the time of the ASF (African swine fever), our proactive approach to compliance and safety has helped us maintain the highest standards of product integrity,” Gheric noted. 

A greater challenge was the Covid-19 pandemic where the first four months of the quarantine really took its toll. “We zeroed out,” recalled Rizalyn, noting that subsequently, the demand for meat products spiked, and the business even grew more. She credited this to the premium quality of their products.

Fittingly, hailed as “the biggest economic activity in Mabalacat City at the end of troubled 2020” was the opening in Barangay Sapang Biabas of RMM’s cold storage facility with a capacity of two million kilos of frozen meat and seafood products.  Four years later, in November 2024, the Manaloto couple were joined in breaking ground for the expansion of that facility by Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, citing its “impact to the local economy and even beyond” as it highlighted the growing investors’ confidence in Mabalacat City.

RMM Cold Storage & Meatshop has three more cold storage facilities located in Miranda and Bagong Bayan in Angeles City, as well as in Calibutbut in Bacolor. They also have a total of 15 meat shops principally located in Pampanga delivering nationwide.

“Our goal is to remain a leader in the industry by continuously improving our processes and ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients,” said Gheric of the company’s vision. 

Icon 2024-Education: Angeles University Foundation

A SUMMA cum laude, magna at the least, among institutions of higher learning in the Philippines – so has become the Angeles University Foundation in effect, time and again, in its outstanding performance in multidisciplinary professional licensure examinations.     

Top 7 best performing school nationwide in the Feb. 2025 licensure examination (LE) for criminologists with a passing rate (PR) of 87.5%.

A perfect 100% overall PR in the architecture LE in Jan. 2025 with the national passing rate (NPR) at 58.715. 

Top 4 best performing school nationwide in the 2024 Bar Examinations with a PR of 89.66% for first time takers and 84.38% overall, overly superior to the 37.8%. NPR. Topping the cake, yet – AUF School of Law grad Gerald C. Roxas at Top 3.  

December 2024 proved yet another month of excellence for AUF, to wit: 

Top 5 best performing school nationwide in the occupational therapist LE with 96.43% PR for first time takers and 84.62% overall. Top 8 was AUF alumna Gwyneth Amber Gonzales Martin. 

Best performing school in Central Luzon in the physical therapist LE with 93.75% PR for first time takers and 88.57% overall.

Overall PR of 94.74% and 94.44% for first time takers in the radiologic technology LE where the NPR was 57.55%. Top 9 spot achieved by Ashley Jae Banzuela. 

Even when AUF’s passing rate dipped, as in the certified public accountant LE at 63.64%, it still managed to be more than twice above the NPR of 30.17%.

In the Nov. 2024 nursing LE, four AUF takers landed in the Top 10 – Jericho de Jesus at 6th, Jan Avrahm Malonzo at 7th, Jazmine Leigh Cerezo at 9th, and Rhyan P. Garcia, 10th. The College of Nursing emerged Top 1 best performing school nationwide with 100% PR. 

In the same month, AUF was best performing school in Central Luzon in the civil engineering LE with 88.89% PR for first time takers and 73.91% overall as against the NPR of 37.09%.

With overall PR of 90.76% as against the NPR of 58.25%, AUF was Top 1 best performing school nationwide in the Oct. 2024 physicians LE, a feat made more remarkable with the exam’s getting one of the lowest NPRs in recent history.

Multiple honors anew in the August 2024 professional examinations. 

AUF’s Keiner Rosh A. Yturralde ranked Top 10 in the medical technologists LE where the school achieved a PR of 87.5% with the NPR at 69.47%.

Perfect 100% PR the school achieved in the psychologists LE. 

In the psychometricians LE, Mary Ann B. Felker emerged Top 8 and Patricia Isabel Jurado, Top 10.

Another 100% PR in the May 2024 nursing LE, with AUF’s Martina Ampy Soldevilla landing Top 7. 

Again, 100% PR in the certified public accountants LE of May 2024, the NPR a measly 30.28%.

Still no stopping the passing perfection of 100 at the April 2024 pharmacists LE among first time takers, and 80% overall.

Yes, also a 100% passing rate in the March 2024 LE for teachers.

Top 8 best performing school nationwide in the March 2024 medical technologists LE with a PR of 97.77 %.  

Crowning glory

“Your pursuit of excellence continues to uplift Central Luzon.” So goes the recurring refrain of the Commission on Higher Education in its long-playing congratulatory laudations to the Angeles University Foundation. 

The achievements of its alumni make the crowning glory of the university, so it has long been cliched. So trite that it has become a truism at AUF. A 2024 sampling:

Atty. Marie France C. Tiatco, SOL 2016, appointed Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs, Department of Transportation. 

Reden F. Galang, BSN Batch 2008, named the Best Infection Prevention and Control Nurse in the Philippines for Level 3 Hospitals by the Philippine Hospital Association. 

Engr. Christopher M. Vitug, BSCE Batch 2001, recognized as Outstanding Project Manager 2024 - Innovator of the Year by the Society of Project Managers Singapore.

Dr. Arvie C. Vitente, PhD Education Major in Education Management 2021, honored as Physical Therapist of the Year 2024 by the American Physical Therapy Association-New Mexico. USA.   

Arun Hemachandra, BS Biology Batch 2012, youngest to be elected Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment as Member of Parliament in his home country of Sri Lanka. 

Therein is an attestation to AUF’s commitment to its mission of “Total Development of Man for God and Humanity” affirmed in its placement among the nation’s, indeed, the world’s leading higher institutions of learning. 

In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings 2025, AUF is 21st top university in the Philippines, 169th in South-Eastern Asia, and in 901+ bracket in Asia, the only private higher education institution in Central Luzon to achieve this international status, showcasing its exceptional commitment to quality education.

The World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2024 for Student Mobility and Openness Category released at the 4th Hanseatic League of Universities Conference at Franklin University in Switzerland placed AUF at 57th in the world, and 3rd in the Philippines in the Student Mobility and Openness Category (A2). WURI assesses higher education institutions' real contributions to industry and society, highlighting innovative education, research, and engagement with society. 

As the AUF to the world, so its president too: Dr. Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles named commissioner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in recognition of his “exemplary leadership and expertise, which align with UNESCO’s mission of advancing education, science, culture, communication, and social and human sciences.” 

Excellence in the AUF’s academic system virtually runs through its very DNA. 

Nowhere has this become more manifest than at the inauguration of the Emmanuel Y. Angeles Center for Learning and Innovation last December held in honor of University Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles and coinciding with the 117th birth anniversary of university founder Dr. Barbara Y. Angeles.

Woman of the Year: Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, president and CEO, Clark Development Corp.

HERSTORY distinctly defined the Clark Freeport in 2024: 1,198 locators. 143,408 jobs. ₱77 billion in committed investments. $5.1 billion exports. And still rising.

Remittance of ₱1.8 billion in cash dividends to the national government (off the 2023 net income of ₱2.79 billion), the highest single-year remittance by the Clark Development Corp. since its inception in 1993. 

With a 99% score in the 2022 Performance Evaluation Scorecard of the Governance Commission for GOCCs – the very year president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera assumed leadership – growth-driven corporate governance started emerging in full measure at the freeport. 

No mean feat, indeed, for the first woman chief executive of CDC, coming as it did at the tail end of the socio-economic devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic to the nation. 

Investment haven

No less than Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go cited CDC’s role in the Philippines achieving a ₱1.9 trillion investment increase in 2024. "We'd just like to point out that the big three agencies that contributed to the performance last year are the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and the Clark Development Corp.” 

The “best location for highly urbanized or highly commercialized forms of investment.” So, the economic czar holds the Clark Freeport. So, indeed, in point of fact of expansion projects by existing locators and investments from new ones infused in 2024 and spread over phases in 2025.

Donggwang Clark Corp., a developer of tourism and leisure estates with additional ₱20 billion.

Taiwanese firm BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corp., a developer of integrated resort and water theme park facilities, with committed additional investment of ₱15 billion for the Midori Highlands, a new eco-friendly integrated township combining green spaces with urban living, including high-rise condominiums and a logistics center.

DeviceDesign Philippines Corp., a South Korean-based manufacturer specializing in wireless technology for the Internet of Things, investing ₱103 million. 

Clark Water, a subsidiary of Manila Water Philippine Ventures and the sole water and wastewater service provider in the freeport, with ₱5.56 billion in capital expenditures for service improvement projects.

Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. with ₱3.5 billion to expand manufacturing operations set for completion by the end of 2025 with daily output capacity to reach 34,100 tires increasing to an annual output of 10 million tires by 2026. 

Prodigy Maguire Concepts Inc., Nike’s exclusive partner in the Philippines for the factory store format, is constructing a ₱134.5-million Nike Factory Store on a 2,500-square-meter site along M.A. Roxas Highway. 

Inari Amerton, Inc., one of Malaysia's largest semiconductor firms, is expanding its operations with the construction of a new three-story, 2,000-square-meter building. Currently it employs some 2,000 individuals. 

The Philippine Exporter Foundation Region III Inc. with ₱30.6 million in a lifestyle showroom and pasalubong center. 

Habibia Corp. with ₱22 million. JBW Floor Center Inc. with ₱5.8 million. Otonari Food OPC with ₱40 million. 

All these contributing to the diverse business landscape driving the growth of the freeport, seen to add some 6,000 individuals to its workforce, boosting employment opportunities in the region.

Nationstar Development Corp. has broken ground for the ₱126.95-million

Filipino-led boutique hotel, The Henry Hotel-Clark, and a commercial complex.  

Construction of the Philippines’ first Wyndham Garden Hotel has also started. With a committed investment of ₱979 million, the facility will boast a 15-floor structure with 176 suite rooms, lifestyle amenities, and conference spaces tailored for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibits (MICE) events.

MICECon 2024

“Clark is first and foremost an investment destination, but after 30 years, it has transformed into something more,” said PCEO Devanadera, referencing the spirit of RA 7227 (Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992) that established the Clark Freeport as a “labor-intensive, export-oriented, aviation-driven manufacturing and investment haven” to spur the development of the areas contiguous to the former American military installation. 

“We have all the reasons for people to come over. We have vast spaces, so what did we do? First, we grouped the industries according to their business nature, and we sold the idea of MICE to people not involved in MICE or tourism,” she said as MICECon 2024 opened in July. Unarguably, that event of the year positioned Clark as a premier global destination for MICE events. 

At the JCI World Congress 2024 in Taiwan, Clark was chosen to host the JCI World Congress 2026 where delegates from over 100 countries are expected, creating opportunities for young leaders to connect globally. 

The CDC is supporting Vespa Club of the Philippines in organizing the Pilipinas Vespa Days this November 2025 and in their bid to host the 2027 World Vespa Days in Clark.

Members of the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors gathered for their 14th Philippine National Conference in November 2024, at the Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort.

The Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines, Inc. convened for their 59th National Conference at Royce Hotel just this February. 

In the MICE sector, Clark hosted 2,540 events with 364,000 attendees. Additionally, 138 major events attracted 444,000 attendees, highlighting Clark’s prominence as a key destination.

A problem of ease in mobility invariably arises with the heavy volume of people coming to Clark events. As part of the solution, CDC introduced last September the Clark Loop, the first cashless payment bus transportation system in both a freeport zone and Central Luzon, setting a new standard for regional connectivity and efficiency.

Venue for Arts, Culture Events

Post-pandemic, read: Devanadera time, the richness of local art and culture flourished at the Clark Freeport. The Clark Museum became a gallery of continuing art exhibitions by various Kapampangan artist groups in different genre. 

Only this January, there was the "Kalilukan Culiat: Pisamban Maragul" featuring the works of 27 visual artists, including meticulously designed 3D models reimagining the Holy Rosary Parish Church. 

Last December, "Paskung Kapampangan," showcased 21 works by visual storyteller Gerald Gloton highlighting the Pampanga’s renowned lantern-making heritage and festive celebrations. 

In November, the freeport hosted the travelling Vespa Museum Exhibition that featured 40 iconic Vespa models, vintage designs, and collectibles that highlight the enduring appeal of the Italian scooter brand. 

Museum Capital 

The Clark Museum will not remain for long all by its lonesome at the freeport.  

On July 23, construction commenced for the Philippines' first motor racing museum, the Clark Tony’s Motorsport Museum, sited adjacent to the Clark International Speedway. A project of Kilton Motor Corp., Pilipinas Shell, and Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc. (Mazda Phil.), the museum will feature racing bikes and motorcycles, Formula cars, racing cars, and go-karts. In addition, it will include a 1,200-square-meter conference hall for exhibitions, product launches, and private events, complete with a stage and dressing rooms.

Grander yet – in PCEO Devanadera’s words “one of the grandest things that will happen in Clark” – is the National Museum of the Philippines, now in advanced state of construction at the ruins of the former Clark Air Base Hospital.  

NMP-Clark will feature exhibitions on local history, art, culture, natural history, anthropology, and archaeology. It will also serve as an off-site location for NMP’s central office and national collection repositories, among other functions.

Top Tourism Destination

Twice in a row, Clark has been named the top tourist destination at the annual Department of Tourism-Region 3’s Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards. 

CDC was awarded the title of Filipino Brand of Service Excellence advocate, Most Creative Tourism Marketing Collateral – Social Media in the Province and Freeport Zone Category, and Most Creative Tourism Marketing Collateral – Printed (Brochure) in the Province and Freeport Zone Category.

The freeport's tourism sector has seen growth over the past three years. Visitor arrivals increased from 30 million in 2022 to 32.5 million in 2023, and further surged to 34.8 million in 2024. This includes 1.37 million overnight tourists, 1.44 million same-day visitors, and 1.21 million airport arrivals. Shopping malls in Clark attracted 30.78 million visitors, contributing to a robust domestic and international tourism presence.

Tourists spent an estimated ₱28.7 billion in 2024, based on an average daily expenditure of ₱9,147.58 and an average length of stay of 2.3 nights. Major hotels in Clark maintained an average occupancy rate of 77.92%, indicating strong demand for accommodation.

Sports Tourism

At the 6th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) held in Cebu in November, Clark Freeport was elevated to its hall of fame, the first to be given that recognition. 

Clark was cited for its consistent and multiple wins as Sports Tourism Destination of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, highlighting the freeport’s excellence in hosting premier sporting events that drive tourism and economic growth.

Major international and local sports events, including the Southeast Asian Games, triathlons, and marathons were among those held at then freeport which averages 100 events annually, drawing approximately 250,000 participants and visitors. 

The Clark International Festival of Speed featuring an auto bazaar and outdoor exhibits on the latest in automotive innovation was held at the Clark International Speedway in October and November.  

Over 150 football teams from across the country and international teams from Guam gathered at the Clark Parade Grounds for the Philippines Cup 2024 Football Tournament in December. 

Only this March 16, the annual run-bike-run Clark Duathlon Classic had its 6th iteration, drawing some 400 athletes. 

Culinary heartland  

Clark is fast emerging as the very heartland of the unlegislated culinary capital of the Philippines that is Pampanga. Beyond the dulang of regional fare, the freeport offers a banquet of international dishes. 

Hotels as well as stand-alone restaurants have their own shares of go-to cuisines, from Chinese to Italian, Japanese to American, Korean to Indian, and delectably, all in-between. But there’s no stopping the cornucopia of gustation in Clark.

New entrées in the smorgasbord of gastronomic delights are Couscousi Mediterranean Grill, the first of its kind in the freeport, and Rare Bar & Grill at the Quest+ Conference Center Clark offering the best steaks and dry-aged meats paired with handcrafted cocktails, and Huwon by Kiwa at Royce Hotel poised to be a top-tier choice for fine Korean dining.

Coming soon are Sayam House home-style Thai cooking, a food court and café, and, unarguably, the most wished-for Mario’s Restaurant, famed for its 50 years of culinary excellence. 

Sustainability

“It’s all about people. It’s all about getting connected. It’s all about continuity and making the Philippines the best source of manpower.” 

PCEO Devanadera defining the rationale of CDC entering into partnerships with higher institutions of learning to as far as the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Our people are our wealth. Your students are valuable assets to investors. We can continue to attract more investors because we have a workforce that is English-speaking, young, creative, and innovative. So, we look forward to having you, and welcome to Clark,” enthused the CDC chief.

Among the HILs the CDC has entered into MOAs with for its Clark Ambassador Program are the University of Mindanao; St. Paul University-Iloilo, Central Philippine University, and Visayas Aerospace College and Technology, all in Iloilo; Jose C. Feliciano College Foundation and University of the Assumption, both in Pampanga. 

CDC is also synergizing aviation industry-academe collaboration through MOAs 

with CAAP-approved Training Organizations (ATO), enhancing collaboration among government, academe, and the private sector to ensure educational curricula align with the aviation industry's manpower needs.

Participating ATOs include DPR Aviation College, FDSA Aviation College of Science and Technology Inc., Jocson College Inc., and Masters Aviation Academy Inc. 

PCEO Devanadera also led discussions with Southern Luzon State University- College of Engineering and SIA Engineering (Phil.) for internship opportunities for engineering students.

SCWELA Program 

“This will carry you through. Your career in CDC may have started, but it will truly take off when you have the right qualifications.” 

Thus, the CDC chief exhorted the first batch of CDC employees enrolled in the company’s Scholarship Collaboration for Workers Engaging in Learning Advancement (SCWELA) Program in partnership with the City College of Angeles.  The SCWELA Program aims to provide undergraduate CDC employees with opportunities to continue their education and enhance their professional growth. Flexible class schedules help scholars balance academic commitments with work responsibilities.

RA 7227 redux

“In short, the Clark metropolis has what it takes to be a Mecca for tourists, a magnet of investments, and a market of goods and services. We must leverage these attributes into higher visitor traffic, attracting more investments that generate better jobs and spur economic activity.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. there affirmed the vision set forth for Clark by RA 7227 during a site inspection in July 2023 of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center (CMSMC) undergoing construction on a 5.7-hectare property in the freeport. The CMSMC is envisioned to be a world-class medical facility with state-of-the-art equipment that will provide specialized care in pediatrics, renal care, cardiovascular care, and oncology.

Marcos Jr. did not expressly mention the CMSMC is in effect an accomplished part of the mission set forth in RA 7227 – the promotion of the well-being of the communities contiguous to Clark. 

What he said was broader in scope and scale: “I am happy that the province of Pampanga and Region III will again have this additional medical facility. It will also cater to patients not only from Region III but Regions I, II, and Metro Manila for the specialties in the heart, kidney, cancer, and pediatric ailments.”  

“We must acknowledge the part played by PAGCOR and the Clark Development Corp. as they had spearheaded the efforts in coordination with the Department of Health, the provincial government of Pampanga, and other partners to construct this facility,” said the president, giving special mention to Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda for her persistence in pursuing the CMSPC to its fruition.  

Made in Clark

On September 4, CDC hosted the inaugural Clark Business Interdependence Conference to promote collaboration among freeport locators and drive economic growth within the zone. It was a most auspicious occasion for the launch of “Made in Clark,” a certification by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, solidifying the Clark Freeport’s brand identity in the global market.

Enthused PCEO Devanadera: “And so, we were saying that when you are given the brand of Made in Clark Philippines, we have to make sure that you are up to quality. Made in Clark Philippines stands for excellence, and by upholding this standard, we elevate not just Clark, but the entire Philippines.”  

Registered under IPOPHL’s 2023 Revised Trademark Regulations, the certification ensures the authenticity and quality of products manufactured within the freeport, effective as of Oct. 21, 2024, valid for 10 years until 2034.

Significant as it is, Made in Clark is more than a certification, it is a testament to the verity of the CDC chief’s message in the said conference, to wit: 

“The true strength of Clark lies not just in its diversity of industries but in how these industries can collaborate, support, and elevate one another. This is the essence of business interdependence.” Not without a catalyst though, that is the CDC president and CEO.

A certification, a testament, Made in Clark is a brand of excellence – finding its full meaning in Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera. 

By the book: I read, I write, I am

 

BIBLIOPHILES, REJOICE!

The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale is coming to SMX Convention Center Clark on March 14-19, only its second coming in the Pampanga area in almost five years.  It is the World’s Biggest Book Sale that aims to provide affordable books by offering a wide range of brand-new English books across various genres with discounts of up to 50% - 90% off recommended retail price. The book sale will be open 10-to-10 and entrance is FREE!

Tidings of great joy that instantly pushed me to the old reliable Lenovo to pound something in words of a lifelong affair with books, and, but of course, reading. In the mind emerging an old short piece articulating this same delectation. Thence, the Zona files yielding: 

…THE VORACIOUS reader Ding Cervantes preaches the convenience of the tablet with its vast library of e-books, adjustable fonts, lightness of weight over the old hardbounds and paperbacks.

No tech-savvy like Ding, I prefer my books as they are – the smell of pulp actually an inducement to read, a stimulant to greater understanding, indeed, to internalizing both spirit and letter of the book.

So, to each his own preference, reading is its own reward anyways.

Comes to mind Francis Bacon’s Of Studies, thus: “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.”

Impacted during my formative years at the Mater Boni Consilii Seminary, the best of Bacon’s Essays has since served as my reading beacon.  

In the choice of books, he cautions: “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”

Many times, a cursory browse of the teaser or gist on the flaps is all it takes to “taste” the book, and finding it unsavoury promptly return it to the shelf.

Of the great finds – I read “wholly with diligence and attention” and re-read with greater diligence and interest. Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Machiavelli’s The Prince, The Confessions of St. Augustine, The Communist Manifesto, Pablo Neruda’s 20 Love Poems, and Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil are among the most prized of the over 1,000 books I have collected for my modest library. (Later additions are G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy, In Defense of Sanity, and Heretics.)

It is to Bacon too that I owe this habit of reading three books at every sitting, categorized to heavy, light, and inspirational. Currently I am into the thick of Fidel Castro’s spoken autobiography My Life, the atheist Chris Hitchens’ god is not Great subtitled How Religion Poisons Everything, and Paulo Coelho’s Manuscripts found in Accra.

Earlier were American Lion of Andrew Jackson’s years in the White House, a re-read of William Safire’s The First Dissident subtitled The Book of Job in Today’s Politics, and, finding an eternity to finish, Barbara Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror subtitled The Calamitous 14th Century.

For inspirational, restful intermissions – from all the heavy reading – Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali, the poems of Rumi, and the Dhammapada, the Buddha’s Path of Wisdom I find most pleasing.

In the wake of Putin’s audacity (mis)addressing the crisis in Crimea, I am dusting off Edvard Radzinsky’s definitive biography of Stalin and the history of the Crimean War with Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade on the side. Still remember, “…theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die: into the valley of death rode the six hundred…”? (Putin’s aggression in Ukraine presently is pushing me to a re-read of Martin Amis’ take on Stalin, Koba the Dread.) 

(In the era of Duterte, it was Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars that I readily referenced, particularly its accounts of Caligula and Nero, and Bullock’s Hitler: A Study in Tyranny. Amid this regime’s propensity for “fake news” and penchant for “alternative truths,” I re-read Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Huxley’s Brave New World.)

Obvious by now my preferred reads: history and biography, philosophy and poetry, morality and religion. Again, in submission to Bacon: “Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.”

Alas, the last fling I had with mathematics was in third year high school algebra and trigonometry. The only connection to the subject now exclusive with my Tokyo-based actuarial specialist son Jonathan.

Wise. Witty. Subtle. Deep. Grave. Not only able to contend but contentious even. The fruits of reading, the very requisites to writing. One who rarely reads but appends “writer” to his name is no more than a pompous pretender then. Not unlike the idiot who thinks anyone who can read his mail is a man of letters.

Bacon, fittingly: “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not.”

So, I read. So, I write. So, I am. 

Indeed, there is life in books. There is life to books. Inhering in human life itself.  

Read John Milton in Areopagitica: “Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; nay they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them.

Unless wariness be used, as good almost kill a man as kill a good book; who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were in the eye.

A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.”

The Good Book, aye.

(Postscript: Four of the prized books I managed to score at the BBW book sale held at the Laus Group Event Center in July 2019 were Trotsky by Robert Service, Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy, Living with a Dead Language by Ann Patty, Horace and Me by Harry Eyres.)