The Event

The big event we've been preparing for is over.

The 14th Caraga Business Conference was finally over. And the turn out is a gratifying one. From the 200 target participants, we have gathered 350+. And from zero sponsor, we have contracted 3. So in spite of all the pressures that marks wrinkles in my face (although i am already ampalaya-wrinkled), everything have been rewarding.

We are superhumans (or shall i self acclaim). Who would have thought that for only 5 manpower doing the planning and legwork for 25 days, a successful conference can be produced. But of course, thanks goes to those who have help us out in some aspects like the following:

• the SEDF for the distribution of the invitations to the local municipal executives,
  
• the company messengers for the distribution of the communications around the city,
• the GEM-USAID for inviting outside participants from as far as Kidapawan City, Pagadian City, and Dipolog City. GEM-USAID is also our major sponsor.
  
• the DTI Caraga Region and Province for handling the Trade Fair and Exhibit and distribution of communications and promotional materials, especially to Sir Driggs (the dynamite, my work idol) for drafting the conference resolutions.
• the City and Provincial Government for the all-out support. ALWAYS.
• the Philex Mining, Globe Telecom, Daydream Laguna Resort, and Taganito Mining for sponsoring the activity
• the participants for making things happen
• Screwface and PCA for the plaque and ID layout
  
• the PCCI National and PCCI Mindanao
• absolutely God who answered my prayers during Sunday Mass to make the event a success.
  

The well-selected topics really served its best purpose and suits the expectations of the participants. The BIR was there to discuss the alarming issues of the agency and address the gap between them and the business community. Real Estate business opportunities was presented. The participants were also inspired by the stories of the Surigao City LGU and the Metro Naga Chamber in their success in public-private partnership. And no less than Philex Mining Corporation Chairman, Dr. Walter W. Brown, personally attended and presented their companies programs and opportunities.

The acknowledged guests that includes Officials from PCCI and GEM, Caraga Chamber Presidents and other presentors opened the Trade Fair and Exhibit cum Christmas Bazaar that will run until December 5, 2008. It showcases the local export-quality products under the OTOP Program of the DTI.

The 14th CBC was not only a jampacked conference, but one which has substance. And definitely unforgettable.

It was closed by not the usual speech of a politician but rather an inspiring individual who hails from Surigao City and written a book of his biography and journey towards success. And the inspired me have my copy of his booked autographed...

God is really good. The month of November was full of heavy rains and our preparation was showered with curtains of it causing us some delays in the workplan. But during the activity, the skies were crystal clear and hot as hell. The Eagle Shrine Tour this morning in Dinagat Islands was even a scorching one with the warm welcome of delegates organized by Dinagat's provincial government. It was flocked by locales and students waving their colorful banderitas. Thank you Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands for sponsoring the tour. You indeed showcased one of your mystical jewels. Thank you also Philippine Navy-Surigao for bringing the participants to Dinagat Islands.

'Til next Caraga Business Conference again in Surigao City in 2012..

Pose with the emcee

Intramuros on Foot

After the calesa ride session, we opted to take a walk in the walls of Intramuros as suggested by Manong Calesa driver. He said strolling on top the fortress is a refreshing experience not only because we've got to see its wide greeneries of exterior afar from the tall buildings that crowd the place but simply being on top is a satisfying experience like we can assume we are fortress guards. How come we prefer to become guards? Maybe what he refers to is the power of a fortress guard back the historic years.

But since i am clothed with a barong which i used during the Filipiniana themed opening of the conference, i chose to imagine like i am a run-away groom. Haha.

Since I ran out of narrations due to lack of creative imaginations and i believe that the picture paints a thousand words, so i prefer to share to you our finds of the Intramuros walls and let the photo do the talking:
















There... care to share what the photos tell you?
As we returned back to the event, one of my bosses asked us where have we been. So we told him in an exciting mode, like we were done with the place, that we roamed around the Intramuros compound riding a calesa. Then he said, "Oh, but you have not actually roamed INtramuros, you were just around the EXtramuros".. referring to the fact that most of the precious possessions of the place can be found in some of the historic sites like the artifacts in the museum, the things inside the San Agustin Church, and the interior of the Manila Cathedral.

Well, another series of strolling isnt bad so i guess there would be a repeat of Intramuros.

Intruding Intramuros

Even before going to Manila to attend the 34th Philippine Business Conference, I already have the list of itinerary just in case I find the luxury of time. I got 5 in my list but was able to visit only three… Mall of Asia, Intramuros, and the Manila Ocean Park.

MOA did not capture much of my interest, maybe because it appears barren to me, so I skip this post in favor of the historic Intramuros.

Since it was just a block away from Manila Hotel, the conference venue, we managed to breakout from the slightly mind-numbing affair. Aided with a sketch saved in my mind, we searched the way to the entrance of Intramuros. Walking the pathway along Roxas Boulevard was our first hint. Good thing we saw a calesa heading north so we followed it.

The calesa stopped in not so distant with the foreign couple unloading from it. We posed with the calesa but the female guest offered to take us a photo so out of her generosity we made her the photographer at her best. And here goes…

She cut the horse’s head. Lol

While searching for the entry point to Intramuros, I noticed a neat landscape of golf course fenced in just beside the highway. Later I found out it was the outer parcel of our quest. And a little later we were able to find the entrance. We memorized the spots of interest posted at the entrance and moved our way in.

Too early to appreciate the place but I was mesmerized by the antiquities of the fortress. And because it’s too huge to conquer for just an hour, we opted to ride the calesa not minding how much it costs. P250.00 for one ride around Intramuros is already too much for me but that time what matters to me is the lifetime opportunity. (Like I don’t have the chance to visit it anymore. Hehe)

Here are my finds in our merry-go-round calesa ride:

The Puerta de Santa Lucia

Walls of Puerta Real

Carranza
Also called Baluarte de San Andres or Baluarte de San Nicolas, built in 1603 designed to protect the old Real Gate and reinforce the southeastern part of Intramuros. It was reconstructed in 1733 with the addition of a bomb-proof arsenal for gun powder storage, a watchtower (garita), and barracks. This was destroyed during the British siege of Manila in 1762 and rebuilt after its occupation. Damaged during the battle of Manila in 1945 and was restored in 1987.

Antediluvian-designed McDonalds branch suiting its style in the place

The remnants of the former Central Bank

The sidewalk refreshment stalls

The Governor's Palace
the former official home of the Spanish Viceroyalties to the Philippines

The Manila Cathedral

The CPCP House

Casa Manila

The San Agustin Church
undergoes renovation during our visit

The Islander riding the ill-fated Pegasus now drawing wooden carriages. Lol

And I also found out, Intramuros is home to some prestigious universities like Mapua, Lyceum, Letran, and Pamantasan ng Maynila… and that it houses the Manila Bulletin publishings.

Up next... Intramuros by feet.

2008 MOCHA Awardee for Mindanao

Im back from Manila and to the blogworld. And above all else that i am about to post from my Manila trip, i would like to dedicate this come back post to my ever beloved organization to which i devote my entire career life.

The Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) just won the 2008 Most Outstanding Chamber Award for Mindanao, a prestigious award for business organizations conferred by no less than the Philippines' business giants and handed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Working with other chambers nationwide, especially to the ones who have won it, i used to dream that someday we will have the recognition too. And last week i grabbed in my hands the plaque that engraved our organization as one of the best in the country. Finally. Though it appears in blue glass, i looked at it as gold. Lol.

Thanks to our very dynamic and innovative president who in 1-term time have made a remarkable difference since SCCI's debut in 1985 with his father, Dr. Josefino Miranda, as charter president. For my 6 years stay and for the 3 past presidents that i have gone, it just took a Johann Jake Miranda to bring recognition to the organization. Getting him to the SCCI brought him to various positions and capacities that stretches his knowledge as an advocate of change. He truly can move mountains. And in moving mountains, my helping hands should be engaged too. That's why for the past months and days, i seldom post entries.. my helping hands are off to implement projects and activities. Lol.

Acknowledgment also goes to our partner LGU (Surigao City) and our Civil Society Organization counterpart REACH Foundation. Also to the Mindanao Business Council, the Chambers of Commerce in Caraga, GEM-USAID, The Asia Foundation, and some others who have contributed to what SCCI is now.

I was just right to love the organization which even though unpopular to many but i never disown. If i was proud before, now nobody can be more prouder than i am.. the cog of the wheel.

And the 34th Philippines Business Conference that we have attended last week deserves our red carpet walk.. and pose...

Spelunking Silop Cave

Equipped with a paraffin lamp commonly known as petromax, one of the barangay councilor accompanied us in our spelunking (FYI, for only Php150 for his service since they have not organized their Tour Guiding Team yet). The beginning of our hike from the barangay proper was adventure-filled. The weather was rainy so we have to traverse the muddy and sticky path going to the cave, trek the slippery woods and stepped on sharp limestone rocks barefooted.

Along the way huge limestone rocks greeted us; signifying that we have approached the cave site consists of 4 chambers with 12 different entrances. We skipped the first cave which was inhabited by flocks of fruit bats and proceeded to the second one just in its nearby. The way down was so steep. Nevertheless, the harder the thing to do, the hyper it gets.


The cave retained its raw features that for me made it amazing. I found my expectations for a cave there. Not overdeveloped, no grafittis. And everything seems to progress the work of nature. Witness to it the presence of the non-attacking type of cave snakes around and feeling at home in the cave. While there were dead calcites around, there were also some that are about to grow. And though there was no fantastic formations that developed, looking at what appears to be curtains of thin stalactites walling the chambers and some serving as chandeliers was an amazing sight.


From the chain of columns in the cave, we went next to the Bat Room. No, it wasn’t misspelled. It really is a bat room –a dome shaped hollow chamber with a cylindrical ceiling with fruit bats hanging on it and tons of its guano filling the ground. Adventure would not be complete if I didn’t do something crazy. So I stepped on the guano and I found out it was sticky. Tasting it would be the last craziest thing that I'm gonna do, though.

And of course, the photo ops isn't crazy... so there, strike!

Silop Cave is located and named after its host place, Barangay Silop, 9.7 kilometers from the City of Surigao (some 15 minutes ride). Their local mode of transportation is through a tricycle faring at P10.00. Habal-habal is also available at a negotiated rate.