Rising Korean arrivals feed restaurant’s expansion plans

THE continued surge of Korean arrivals in Cebu presents business opportunities not only for locals but for Korean entrepreneurs as well.

Spa hopes for quick success, Gangnam-style

AS ENTREPRENEURS in Cebu are embracing opportunities in medical tourism, a Korean-themed spa is entering the scene as a unique player in the local wellness industry.

With operations managed by Catherine Tan, Gangnam Well-Being Spa (GWBS) along AS Fortuna St. in Banilad, Mandaue City officially opened last Friday as a one-stop wellness destination in Cebu for the mid- to high-end clientele.

P500M initial investment to develop Camella township

AN INITIAL investment of P500 million has been poured in to develop a 30-hectare property in Communal, Buhangin into a township, a first of its kind in Davao City.

A joint-venture between Camella Communities and the family of Compostela Governor Arturo Uy, the residential development project called Camella Davao is the latest addition to Camella's roster of masterplanned communities in Davao Region.

Villar bats for creation of Department of OFWs

TO ADDRESS concerns and other issues affecting migrant workers, former Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar, who is running for senator under the NP-Team PNoy, has vowed to pursue the creation of the department of overseas Filipino workers.

"We believe it is important that we have a separate department for OFWs to centralize all services and functions of OFW-related government agencies or bureaus,” she said in a statement.

10 start-ups win national search

WHEN orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rene Catan proposed to create a local and cheaper total joint implant, nobody listened.

Perpetual Succour Hospitalbreaks ground on building

TO accommodate more patients and decongest their departments, the Perpetual Succour Hospital will be adding a 12-story building within their complex and expects its completion in two years.

At the groundbreaking ceremony last Saturday, hospital administrator, Sr. Santaniña Maria Bernaldez, SPC, said this new building is their response to the growing demand and expectations of their clients.

Chicken restaurant improves offerings

NOT one to chicken out of a tough competition, a restaurant in the bustling Asiatown IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City has tweaked its offerings to adjust to its clients’ demands.

According to Chicken Charlie Cebu area operations manager Marivic Ole, the original idea was to create a chicken counter with a sari-sari (convenience) store, until they realized the crowd wanted to hang out.

Banana fiber augments Davao del Norte farmers’ income

STO. TOMAS, Davao del Norte -- What is commonly regarded as farm waste is yielding huge income for banana farmers in this town.

Banana stalk, or in particular the psuedostem is a good source of silk grade fiber, which currently has a huge demand in Japan as high as five tons per month.

Goat farming is profitable

GOAT farming is gaining ground in the Philippines.

"Goats are very popular among Filipinos because they require low initial capital investment, fit the smallhold farm conditions, and multiply fast," explained the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (Pcarrd) in its investment briefer.

Air pollution, air travel woes

I'M glad to be back! The last time this column came out before I took a temporary writing leave due to an overload of consulting engagements in and out of the country was in December 10, 2012. Boy, how time flies, I can't imagine I missed 4 months of writing. Apologies to my regular readers who have been looking for my Monday columns.

Firms urged to promote Pinoy brands in China

PHILIPPINE companies exporting to China are encouraged to participate in a project meant to promote the country's famous brands in a market with 1.3 billion consumers.

Exporters who are eyeing to penetrate the huge market can use the recently launched "Asean's Famous Brands Marketing in China" as an initial platform to introduce products and services in China.

PH targets safety system for Indonesia food exports

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming to obtain country recognition for the Philippine Import and Export of Fresh Food of Plant Origin (FFPO) system in Indonesia to help boost food exports to this country.

Relevant documents have been submitted by the DA to align and make our FFPO acceptable to Indonesia. The move also hopes to avert any possible negative impacts of the implementation of Indonesia's horticultural import regulations that started in 2009 through Regulation No. 27/2009, now superseded by Regulation No. 88/Permentan/PP.340/2011.

DTI-Davao monitors helmet stores

TO ENSURE the safety of consumers, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao region is monitoring around 370 establishments selling helmets a month in Davao Region after the implementation of Helmet Law early January this year.

Republic Act (RA) 10054 or the Helmet Law, "an act mandating all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving," was fully implemented last January 3, 2013.

2 summer events seen to boost Davao tourism

TOURISM players in Davao Region are confident the scheduled 3rd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge and the Visit Samal 2013 campaign during the summer season will further boost the tourism industry in the region.

The staging of both events were announced in Friday's edition of Kapihan sa PIA.

Mobile app to help patients manage medications

TAKING stock of one's medications can be tedious especially for those who are taking medicines for maintenance.

From nursing to building

WHEN the opportunity presented itself after years of being on the move, a registered nurse found a new calling in real estate.

Twenty years after she earned a nursing degree, Zaida Lee founded in 2009 a company that develops custom homes in Cebu. By then, she was confident she had enough knowledge, capital and the support system she needed for Homilee Inc.

RCOA scheme a bright idea, SMEs say

AN official who represents the small and medium enterprises in Cebu welcomes the Department of Energy’s (DOE) initiative of making electricity cheaper, especially for establishments consuming an average of one megawatt (mw) or more.

Almirante: Management prorogative

RESPONDENT Virgilio M. Cagalawan was hired as a disconnection lineman of the petitioner, Misamis Oriental II Electric Service Cooperative (MORESCO II). Later, he was designated as acting head of the disconnection crew of its sub-office in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. In a memorandum dated May 9, 2002, MORESCO II General Manager Amado B. Ke-e transferred Cagalawan to its sub-office in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, “in the exigency of the services.”

Family-owned school to open new branch

ADOPTING a quality teaching strategy has been the inspiration of the Magdadaro family in growing their school business, Asian Learning Center (ALC).

Since the school was founded in 1991 by couple Louella and Gregorio Magdadaro, ALC now has three branches in Lapu-Lapu City and is opening a new branch in Cebu early this May.

New landmark development to rise in Communal

CAMELLA'S newest project in Davao City will be unveiled in a grand launch on Saturday at SMX Convention Center Hall 3, SM Lanang Premier in Davao City.

A self-contained masterplanned subdivision, this development will be named Camella Davao, located in Communal, Buhangin across the Davao International Airport along the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway or Diversion Road.

3-day Indocraft show slated at SM Lanang

ART and craft lovers are expected to enjoy a trip down to SM Lanang Premier as the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia holds its two-day Batik Workshop and Indocraft Exhibit 2013 starting today, Friday.

Organized in partnership with the Batik House Indonesia, the three-day program will showcase the quality design of Indonesian handicraft.

‘Put free trade pacts in order’

WITH the delay of the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO), business leaders proposed proper structuring of free trade agreements (FTAs) in promoting market access opportunities among nations.

During the recent 27th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) conference, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director for trade and international affairs Bryan Clark presented the relevance of FTAs in advancing multinational business developments.

Local real estate firm sees quick sales in 5 months

FIVE months after the firm’s official announcement that they would venture into real estate, homegrown firm Worldwide Central Properties Inc. (WCPI) announced yesterday they have already sold 40 percent of the first tower of their flagship project, Sundance Residences.

Most of the units sold since they started pre-selling last December are one-bedroom units bought mostly by local buyers within the project’s location in Banawa, WCPI president Kent Ong said.

Health drink distributor eyes Japan

ORGANIQUE Inc., the exclusive distributor of Acai Berry drinks in the country, is banking on Japan's health-conscious market to achieve growth in Asia.

The company recently invested P2 million to set up an office in Japan for customer support and warehousing.

Ng: Losing Google Reader

ONE of the things I will surely miss is Google Reader, which will reportedly cease to exist starting July 1.

For a person who reads a lot—so much so that I even read food labels while having breakfast—Reader has been one of my favorite app in the past few years.

I.Protect: International brands

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

IN THE case of Fresco Manufacturing Corp. vs. Harvard University (G.R. No. 185917, June 1, 2011), the Supreme Court enumerated some of the brands that have been considered by authorities in the Philippines to be internationally well-known pursuant to Article 6bis of the Paris Convention for the protection of Industrial Property.

Funnside Ningnangan to open Pulilan branch

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Food lovers in Bulacan will soon be able to sample authentic Kapampangan grilled food as Funnside Ningnangan will open its newest branch in Pulilan town on April 6.

Architect Jhong Naguit told Sun.Star Pampanga that they will bring not only their signature dishes and grilled food to Bulacan palates but also rich Kapampangan gastronomic heritage into the Tagalog province.

Fight vs corruption helped Philippines achieve credit upgrade

HOUSE assistant majority leader Karlo Nograles said government transparency and the unrelenting fight against graft and corruption boosted investor confidence towards the Philippines, leading to an upgrade of the country's international credit ratings.

Davao Light to open customer service center at SM Lanang

THE Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) has announced it is set to open its first full service center at SM Lanang Premier on April 6.

Ross Luga, DLPC corporate communications officer, said in Wednesday’s edition of Club 888 at Marco Polo Davao that the service center will be located at the lower ground floor of the mall and open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pasalubong SMEs post P1.3-million in sales in Q1

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the city-run one-stop shop, Pasalubong Center, registered a total of P1.293 million in sales from January to March 15, this year.

The Pasalubong Center, which opened in December 2011, also earned a total of P5.385 million last year.