Tulabut: Metro Clark’s Bests in 2011

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

AND SO, a new year is here. While we look ahead for greater prospects, we can always review 2011 and how its significant people, events, and places (PEP) could help steer 2012.

I have tried, to the best that I can, review the year that was for Clark and have come up with my own PEP list. It is my own A list that would tell us that the past year was not bad. Not at all.

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Fund Raising – Human Chain for Sendong victims last December 28. Hands down, this is the best benefit event held in Pampanga for people affected in the south. With only a week of preparations, the outcome was so moving that some 3,000 people trooped to Clark’s Parade Grounds. And it was obvious in the faces of those who joined the formation of a heart-shaped chain that they were so willing to help.

The event raised about P600,000. What was also good about it is that Governor Lilia Pineda, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and other politicians threw their support to CDC President Ping Remollo in the solemn event where prayers were offered while everyone held candles in their hands. This is one outstanding event that is even being talked about now in social media.

The formation of heart-shaped chain, like a work of art on the ground, has had masterful strokes from Remollo’s chief lieutenants EVP Philip Panlilio and VP Frank Madlangbayan. There’s this momentary brilliance too of Community Relations OIC Marcial Caniones who first broached the idea to this writer and colleague Peter Alagos on December 22.

I must admit that I could not jump on Marc’s idea right that moment as I was nursing a high-grade fever then. Good thing Peter took the cudgels and suggested some representations that had to be made by locators and other sectors to complete a chain link. On initial estimates, we expected a two-layer of people that would occupy a heart that was drawn over about eight basketball courts. In the actual gathering, there were four to five layers of people who willingly joined.

Not to be forgotten, of course, is the “Kabahagi Ako...” fund raising for classrooms of Congressman Carmelo Lazatin that was launched in Clark in June last year.

This was an equally commendable feat by the veteran politician who has really gone so brilliant with his legislative programs (including that stem cell bill, take a bow IC, the incomparable chief of staff).

This initiative that addresses the classroom backlog in Mabalacat, Magalang and Angeles City has raised a total of P288 million in six months, and the amount will be good for 444 classrooms.

Who does such a move? Only a seasoned politician (and handler) that commands great respect from business, local leaders and traders, and other sectors.

New Investments – The taipans are coming to Clark. And they are racing to establish a foothold there. MegaWorld’s Andrew Tan signed a P7-billion investment project that will rise inside Clark. This is the same guy that put up Resorts World Manila and Eastwood City. The same guy too behind the success of Emperador brandy.

An hour after Tan signed his contract in CDC came Augusto Zobel who witnessed the Turnover of Consent of the CDC Board of Directors on the buyout of Clark Water by Manila Water which is owned by the Ayalas.

The Gokongweis’ Cebu Pacific is already in Clark with its hub at DMIA that has flights to Cebu City, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

This is one reason why Lucio Tan’s Airphil Express has also signed a contract with CIAC as the sister airline company of Philippine Airlines, exploring the viability of air routes in and out of Clark. Henry Sy is way ahead though with his SM Clark that opened few years ago.

With these guys that occupy spots in Top 5 of Forbes Magazine’s wealthiest businessmen in the Philippines, Clark continues to be a sellers’ market where each property is becoming a prime and a prized find.

CEOs – Following the line above, there is no doubt about it that Remollo is doing a splendid job bringing in fresh investments, improving the physical state of the Freeport, strengthening ties with local leaders and traders, coming up with bright ideas (such as the sports tourism thrusts), extending help to communities, exuding with great PR, and many more. Such a well-rounded leader.

What more could we ask for from an executive who is really doing his job and performing his mandate? Remollo, while his vision for a new Clark landscape is slowly taking shape, has his feet on the ground as well.

He knows the realities of running a government corporation that also calls his attention to solve a thousand and one issues and concerns by the locators, employees, business leaders, environment advocates – the whole spectrum (read: burden). Yet, he looks pretty determined in making Clark soar to new heights.

President Aquino did the right thing in placing him at CDC and Remollo is giving that appointment more than its worth. He has such an attitude and work ethics that inspire and motivate people to work and accomplish things.

Remollo has a good tandem with Chichos Luciano, president of CIAC, who is equally determined to bring wonders not only to the aviation complex but also to the whole of Metro Clark.

Unfazed by controversies thrown at him, Luciano continues to bring in airlines and airport-related businesses to Clark. This translates to not just creation of jobs but more importantly the attainment of a long-overdue national objective of making Clark as the site for the country’s premier gateway.

While Luciano certainly does not have a monopoly of talents that continues to bring in more flights in and out of Clark, he has proven though that he deserves the re-appointment or retention at his post as CIAC’s top honcho.

Under Luciano’s leadership, the airlines did not only bring in flights but they set up hubs at DMIA (ex. Cebu Pacific, Air Asia) while some expanded operations (Seair, Asiana). The airport did not just have a new and bigger terminal but it has also won awards and certifications conferred by reknown aviation experts (Asia Pacific Airport of the Year Award: Best Practices Awards Program, Most Promising Upstart Airport, ISO, etc). Job opportunities also did not just abound but they manifested the best workmanship of the Pinoy in value-added and good paying jobs in aircraft maintenance (ex. MRO of SIAEC).

This Cabalen certainly knows his job and he absolutely deserves to be around.

Movers and shakers – Mayors Edgardo Pamintuan and Marino “Boking” Morales definitely made waves again in outstanding governance.

Mayor Edpam’s work ethics from his Cabinet days that were carried to his mayorship certainly benefitted the Angeleños as he stopped at nothing to fulfill his promise of reforms in managing the affairs of the city.
From licking the waste disposal issue where millions of pesos of city debts were paid, from facing head-on the budget deficit and traffic mess, Edpam continues to turn Angeles around from its miry state into something respectable. No wonder it won various awards too including the Good Housekeeping Award where a corresponding P25 million was given as an incentive.

The social services (health and education) thrusts of the Pamintuan administration topped my list for 2011. Most notable of which is the completion and operation of Dialysis Center and the improvements at the Ospital Ning Angeles.

Another worthy endeavor too is the community college project where funds or loan for the unnecessary sports complex will be funneled instead to putting up buildings and other facilities for the college.

People should note too that under this initiative, it is the Mayor’s son, Councilor Edu, who has been initiating moves at the City Council (public hearings, sponsorships, etc) to have this college fully realized soon.
Mayor Boking, on the other hand, remains to be well-loved by his constituency in Mabalacat.

He enjoys enormous support for the Cityhood which is now on its final stages of approval in the Senate. That has been Boking’s dream from many years ago, yet, he remains unfazed by criticisms and opposition thrown by his detractors (which principally and ironically are from Tarlac!).

The dashing-debonair mayor (and his trusted men Jun Magbalot, Rosan Pacquia, Deng Pangilinan, et al) are also preparing for the town’s 300th foundation which may coincide with the declaration of Cityhood in early part of this year.