Investments in Central Visayas continue to grow in the first half of the year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 reported.

The DTI 7 said the growth is reflected in the 10.3 percent increase in the number of business establishments registered between January and June this year over that of 2005.

In the first half of this year, the DTI 7 reported 7,662 registered business establishments, up by 720 over last year’s 6,942. More…

During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines (over 300 years from 1561-1889) the barong tagalog was required by the Spanish government for Filipinos (indios) to be worn at most times to show the difference between the rich and the poor. He said that the poor who serve the rich must always be in uniform.
Take their chauffeurs, maids, and employees as examples. They are in uniform to immediately distinguish them from the employers. When the Spaniards colonized the Filipinos, they had to make it abundantly clear who the boss was through the imposition of a dress code. Men were not allowed to tuck their shirttails in. That was the mark of his inferior status.

Second, the cloth material should be transparent so that he could not conceal any weapon
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Mandaue City will be celebrating its 37th Charter Day at the Mandaue City Heritage Plaza. There will be a liturgical mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph followed by the ceremonial flag raising. Motorcade will follow then.

Parade route will be assembly area at the City Sports Comples along A.S. Fortuna (Plaridel Stree) to UN avenue (Super Metro) -Basak-Jagobiao- bakc to MC Briones Street going to the Innodata in Subangdaku then go back to A. Del Roasario Street and back to the City Sprts Complex.

Fellowship Dinner and Awards Night will follow. Gracing the event will be Hon. Mayor Thadeo Quano and Vice MAyor Amadeo Seno, Jr.

The Singapore Tourism Board-Philippines (STB-P) joins in celebrating the re-entry of Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) into Singapore, a favorite tourist destination among Filipinos with its great shopping, diversity of wonderful cuisine, world-class attractions and iconic events all year round. More…

Down South in Cebu, there’s one magnificent place that will surely keep you charmed and awed.

Only 30 minutes away from Cebu, Plantation Bay—the 8-hectare resort hotel is one of the largest privately-owned waterways in the world. It is the best place to soothe your senses and to rejuvenate after all that stress from the workplace or from city dwelling.

Plantation Bay can be described as a tropical plantation where you and your family can enjoy a relaxing vacation. Staying at Plantation Bay is definitely a refreshingly different experience.

At Plantation Bay, enjoy a variety of delectable cuisines plus elegance. Every room offers a view of the splendid landscape and architecture inside the resort. And it’s absolutely a no-tipping resort. Visit the place to believe it!

Olio bar & restaurant, located @ Crossroads, Banilad, Cebu continues to offer its sizzling treat of “Double Your Oysters Plate” promo till the end of August. This is to accomodate oyster lovers who just can’t get enough of this succulent dish.
Olio’s oyster specialty is a particular hit with its eight different cooking styles designed to please every Oyster Fan. This delectable shellfish is always served fresh so you can be assured of only the best quality.
For added indulgence, Olio’s resident chef also prepares the special oysters plate upon order so you can enjoy at least of your favorite cooking varieties at the same time.
Upon order of your Oyster Plate, get your second one on the house!

Cebu Businessman, Johnny “Pawe” Uy was elected President of Toastmasters International during the 75th Annual Toastmasters International Convention in Washington, D.C., August 23-26, 2006.

He is the first Filipino and the first Asian to head this prestigious organization, which counts over 10,500 clubs worldwide with more than 200,00 members in approximately 90 countries.  Moe information about Toastmasters and Johnny Uy.

The total external trade in goods for the first six months of 2006 increased by 12.3 percent to $47.308 billion from $42.137 billion in the same period last year.

For the first half of the year imports grew by 8.4 percent to $24.571 billion from $22.665 billion, while exports increased by 16.8 percent to $22.737 billion from $19.471 billion.

The double-digit growth of exports lowered the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) to $1.834 billion compared with $3.194 billion in the same period last year. More …

The Commission of audit recently released the financial highlights of local government units. cebu was ranked 7th among the cities with teh highest gross income of P2.135 billion. It was 6th among cities with highest net income of P511.1 million, and 7th in the list of cities with highest expenses of P1.623 billion.

In terms of current assets, Cebu was 6th with P1.744 billion, and it also has P1.044 billion in the bank.

The province of Cebu holds the top in assets among the provinces with total of P1.242 billion, followed by Zamboanga del Norte with about P800 million. Cebu province also topped the provinces in terms of cash in bank with P899 million. Cebu Province posted P1.409 billion in total gross income, and posted a net income of P247 milion which put it 7th in the top 10.

An international firm specializing in
construction and communication projects is investing P1.4 billion in
development projects in Cebu.

Fastem Group of Companies (FGC) said the influx of foreign
investment, particularly in the information and communications
technology (ICT) industry in Cebu, is “a clear indication that Cebu
City is a hotspot for foreign investors looking for an opportunity to
do business.”  More …

President Arroyo appointed Tourism
Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano of Cebu to head Central Philippines, one of the
government’s economic “super-regions.”

Durano was promoted as “Super Region Champion,” the name for the cabinet officer-in-charge for one super region. More …

THE Cardiovascular Hospitals of America (CHA), an American firm that
builds and owns hospitals in the United States, is constructing a
world-class, state-of-the-art, medical tourism center in Cebu City,
according to Philip S. Chua.

Chua is CHA vice president for Far East Operations, and currently
the chairman of cardiovascular surgery at the Cebu Doctors University
Hospital in Cebu City, which he helped establish in 1996.

Dr. Chua, who is a Fil-Am cardiac surgeon from Indiana and Las Vegas, recently spoke before a group of Iloilo physicians   More ….