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Atlas Mining Corporation used to be the largest copper mine in Southeast Asia for almost 40 years until it closed down after a devastating storm in 1994 and a slump in metal prices in the world market.

Now after a little over a decade since then, the mine will reopen and start commercial operations in 2007. Located in Lutopan, Toledo City, in the western seaboard of Cebu, the mine was projected to run for another 20 more years with an estimated total copper deposits of 218 million metric tons.

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Atlas Mining Corporation used to be the largest copper mine in Southeast Asia for almost 40 years until it closed down after a devastating storm in 1994 and a slump in metal prices in the world market.

Now after a little over a decade since then, the mine will reopen and start commercial operations in 2007. Located in Lutopan, Toledo City, in the western seaboard of Cebu, the mine was projected to run for another 20 more years with an estimated total copper deposits of 218 million metric tons.

Before the closure, the copper mine giant used to generate revenue of P624M annually to the national government that turned the once sleeping town of Toledo into a vibrant city six years only after the facilities began operation. When the storm hit the province in 1994, the facilities were badly damaged that rehabilitating them would cost the company millions of pesos, compounded with the slumping metal prices, thus the forced closure of the mine.

The reopening of the mine will spur the economic activities in and around Toledo City and the city itself would again enjoy the vibrant economy it once had. The economic benefits the mine would bring would certainly uplift the living condition of some residents of the city and its environs.

On reopening, the company will be employing some 2,700 direct workers initially. That translates to an estimated P287M of annuall payroll and an increased revenue to Toledo City which is estimated to be at P12M annually while the national coffers will get a whopping P306M.

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the Mandaue Business Conference last August 24, 2005 at the Casino Espanol. It was attended by over 200 businessmen, and showcased Mandaue as a growing hub for industrial production, and economic opportunities. Here are more pictures:

-Mayor Teddy Ouano of Mandaue delivering a state of city address.
- President of Phi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Donald Dee on the keynote.
- 6 Mandaue Businessmen on a forum moderated by Cebu’s Bunny Pages.
-The President of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce with the CFIF President

Did you know that…Cebu City was the first established capital of the islands until the seat of the Spanish colonial government was moved to Manila in the early eighteenth century. Why? Can you imagine if Malacanang Palace were in Cebu City when Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972? The head of state then would have been barbecued or made “tinuwa” in Pasil in less than 24 hours. That’s the same reason why Legaspi changed his mind and moved the capital to Manila and not because Cebu was no longer a commercially viable port during the galleon trade with Acapulco. Legaspi was simply traumatized by Magellan’s defeat in Mactan and was clearly intimidated by the Cebuanos.

In Col. Manuel Segura’s book “Tabunan: The Exploits of Cebu Guerillas”, the dauntless yet under armed Cebuanos inflicted the highest number of enemy forces killed per guerilla fighter in the Philippines. The indomitable spirit and determination of the Cebuano fighters to arm themselves against the superior Japanese Forces became the progenitor of the now burgeoning gun (paltik) industry in the province. One of the most famous guerilla fighter that later became a successful arms manufacturer was Simeon Cortes who once fabricated mortars out of sewer pipes. (source:vizvoyz)

The gathering of Cebu’s best cooks and culinary experts will see action in the forthcoming staging of the 1st International Culinary Congress (ICCON) 2005 to be hel in Cebu City from September 21 to 22.

According to Chris Sagun, the Project Assistant for ICON 2005, they hope that the event will impart valuable knowledge among participants and visitors alike and take interest in the professionalism of food service as it aims to create educational experience to everybody.

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The gathering of Cebu’s best cooks and culinary experts will see action in the forthcoming staging of the 1st International Culinary Congress (ICCON) 2005 to be held in Cebu City from September 21 to 22.

According to Chris Sagun, the Project Assistant for ICON 2005, they hope that the event will impart valuable knowledge among participants and visitors alike and take interest in the professionalism of food service as it aims to create educational experience to everybody.

Eight major players in hotel and food business will be featured during the event’s Kitchen Party to reveal Cebu’s great food connoisseurs. They include Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort & Spa, Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Laguna Garden Restaurant, Creative Cuisine Catering Services, Casino Español de Cebu, City Sports Club-Cebu, and the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. Each of these establishments will have to field in their best chefs who will choose a themed menu that will be presented during the party.

Among the elite circle of top-notch chefs that will exhibit their cooking skill are Creative Cuisine’s Chef Derek Dytian with his Cajun and Creole creations, Chef Raki of Cafe Laguna will show his expertise in Vietnamese and Mexican cooking, Chef Dietmar Dietrich of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel will perform his skill in Carribean dishes, and Shangri-La’s Mactan’s Chef Trevor Stevens with his American Continental cuisine.

Marco Polo probably was the world’s first truly international explorer and most well-known celebrated traveller who traversed eastward from Europe to China leading to the discovery of the legendary hospitality of the Oriental people.

Named after this Venetian traveller who epitomized great travel experience, Marco Hotel of Hong Kong is opening up another property in the country, particularly in Cebu City. The old Cebu Plaza Hotel will be refurbished and undergo a total makeover to give a fresh look of a truly international facility that would suit the discriminating taste of today’s travellers.

Set atop the Nivel Hills in Lahug, the new Marco Polo Plaza Hotel will have a scenic view over the entire expanse of Metro Cebu and Mactan islands and beyond. Major renovation is already under way that includes the total refurbishment of 335 guest rooms and the signature Continental Club Floor.

Welcome to Cebu, Marco Polo!

The top officials of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PhilSoc) including its top honcho, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, will be arriving in Cebu City anytime this week to grace the grand launching of the Cebu SEA Games Organizing Committee (CebuSoc) tentatively set on September 2, a Friday.

Joining Cojuangco are Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, PSC Commissioner Ritchie Garcia and FIQ president Steve Hontiveros, according to Jonathan L. Guardo, CebuSoc chairman and Cebu Sports Commission head.

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The top officials of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PhilSoc) including its top honcho, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, will be arriving in Cebu City anytime this week to grace the grand launching of the Cebu SEA Games Organizing Committee (CebuSoc) tentatively set on September 2, a Friday.

Joining Cojuangco are Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, PSC Commissioner Ritchie Garcia and FIQ president Steve Hontiveros, according to Jonathan L. Guardo, CebuSoc chairman and Cebu Sports Commission head.

The grand launching of the CebuSoc is the formal designation of Cebu as co-hosts to the 23rd Southeast Asian Games. This will also start the campaign to drum for the successful hosting of the biennial event in Cebu. The officials will also meet with the province’s top executive Gwen Garcia and the mayors of Mandaue, Danao, and Cebu City who are involved in the hosting of six sports events namely: mountain biking, karatedo, judo, pencak silat, sepak takraw, and dancesport.

The 23rd SEA Games will commence in November 27 in Manila, the principal host to the biennial regional sports extravaganza to be participated in by athletes from 10 Southeast Asian nations, namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The closing ceremonies will also be held in Manila on December 3, 2005.

Cebu City will host dancesport and pencak silat at the Waterfrot Hotel in Lahug and sepak takraw at USC Gym, Mandaue will host judo and karatedo at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, while Danao will host the mountain biking.

Revered to as the country’s oldest university-based performance arts group, Cebu’s University of San Carlos Theater Guild (USC-TG) will celebrate its 30th year anniversary on August 26 to September 3, 2005.

To give their group a little more prestige, they raise the bar a notch higher as they will celebrate their 30th year with grandeur and honor. This year’s theme, ‘Still Thirsty at Thirty’, will exihibit the thespians’ fervor in their craft, that no matter how long they have been performing, they will never cease to learn new things to further hone their talents and do better to achieve more.

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Revered to as the country’s oldest university-based performance arts group, Cebu’s University of San Carlos Theater Guild (USC-TG) will celebrate its 30th year anniversary on August 26 to September 3, 2005.

To give their group a little more prestige, they raise the bar a notch higher as they will celebrate their 30th year with grandeur and honor. This year’s theme, ‘Still Thirsty at Thirty’, will exihibit the thespians’ fervor in their craft, that no matter how long they have been performing, they will never cease to learn new things to further hone their talents and do better to achieve more.

“We are equipped more than ever to face whatever trials that may come our way and we will never get tired of conquering new challenges,” declared Ms. Ofelia Ancajas, USC-TG president.

The week-long celebration will see the restaging of the first fantasy-drama play that was once staged here in Cebu, the ‘Silangan’. The ‘Silanagan’ depicts the goodness in everyone’s heart despite of the many travails and sacrifices in one’s life. The play is slated to be staged at the USC Cultural Center on August 26 and 27. Silangan is written and to be directed by Mr. Aristeo Rivera, a Cebu-bred talent.

As part of its gratitude to their God-given talents to the community, the group decided to stage the first show open and for free to street children and orphanages. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 7) and the youths of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.

To coincide with the week-long celebration, there will also be exhibits of posters, costumes, and other memorablia that depicts the group’s 30 years in existence.

Coconut and its by-products earn for the country millions of dollars in export revenue for many years. Cebu in particular has one of the country’s biggest coconut plantations along its narrow coastal plains.

With the anticipation of surging demand in coco oil and other coco by-products in the export market, the Cebu provincial government has earmarked a generous P10M for the establishment of a coconut nursery bank and financial assistance to the south Cebu farmers.

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