City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Covarrubias said “the festival will kick off December 2 with the traditional lantern parade and the opening program that will be highlighted by the ceremonial switch on of lights in City Hall and Plaza Pershing and the Paseo del Mar Christmas landmarks.”

Covarrubias shared, “City Mayor Celso Lobregat will spearhead the over 2000 city officials and employees in the lantern parade that will reel off 5:30 pm of Dec. 2.”

The active lady IO said other activities during the two-week festivity include the best dressed santa caluse competition set on Dec. 8; Canciones de Zamboanga , a chorale competition set on December 9; while December 15-17 is set for Christmas Food Festival, an exhibit of all specialties and delicacies saved during Christmas season .

Covarrubias added “the entry evaluation of the best Christmas landmark competition will be held Dec. 12-16.”

“The Pascua na Zamboanga is one of the most celebrated festivals and celebrations in the city that makes the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ even more meaningful,” Covarrubias was quoted as saying. (JPA/PIA-ZBST)

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Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she intends to start the Bantayan airport development in the first quarter of 2012.

Commercial flights to the island were stopped last August 7 due to the poor runway condition, said Bantayan airport officer-in-charge Joselito Seville.

Garcia said the provincial government wants to rehabilitate the airport because the presence of an airport in the island is seen to boost the area’s economy and tourism.

Bantayan Island is famous for its delicacies such as “danggit” (dried fish) and “pusit” (dried squid) and for its white sand beaches and crystal clear sea waters.

Garcia recently met with the 31 out of the 51 Lot B owners that covered the 23-hectare property.

During the meeting, the lot owners raised numerous concerns like their unpaid lots and unclear status of lot ownerships.

They said among the proof of ownership they have were their long stay in the area and their tax declarations.

Garcia said verification of the lot owners is being conducted by a committee assigned to handle the development of the airport.

”The Provincial Government intends to buy the lot, if you agree,” Garcia told the property owners.

Garcia said the province has three options: to buy the lot, swap some lots with the adjacent lots owned by the Cebu Provincial Government, or pursue expropriation proceedings for those who will not sell their properties.

The lot owners were only holding tax declarations as the areas are still considered as wilderness.

Rep. Benhur Salimbangon’s (Cebu, 4th district) bill declaring the area alienable and disposable is set for approval on third reading at the House of Representatives.

Paul Entera, real estate administrator of the Cebu Provincial Government, said that the Bantayan airport is composed of two adjacent area-Lot A, which is about 31 hectares, and Lot B, with 23.2 hectares.

The areas covered under Lot A were bought by the previous administration and the owners have already been paid in full.

However, of the 31-hectare lots bought, only three were so far transferred under the name of the Cebu Provincial Government.

Entera said his office is still trying to locate the documents of the 28 other lot parcels and the owners.

Lot A, however, was found to be a low-lying spot based on a technical study.

Salimbangon said it will take a huge amount of money to level the area and build a runway there.

This is the reason the airport runway that was supposed to be build in Lot A did not materialize, and instead the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) decided to use and construct the runway in Lot B.

The current state of the runway, however, discouraged airlines from providing commercial flights to Bantayan.

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A company official attributed the growth to Cebu’s vibrant hotel industry and the company’s good market planning and investment.

Rey Fuentes, chief operating officer of Platinum Beacon Strategic Management Corp., said the hotel has found a niche market to serve, with the growing number of corporate functions here.

Fuentes said most of its guests are from local corporations with business dealings in Cebu.

Platinum Beacon is the property management firm of Harold’s Hotel. It is responsible for the hotel’s market opportunities and positioning, product development and operations.

The 12-storey Harold’s Hotel, built at a cost of P300 million, serves the “upper mid” market and has 90 rooms, of which 36 are superior rooms, 45 are deluxe and nine are deluxe suites.

Fuentes said the establishment of the hotel is also meant to cater to the growing number of tourists in Cebu.

Domestic arrivals in Cebu grew by 6.42 percent in the first eight months of the year or 750,643 from 705,380 arrivals in the same period in 2010, according to the Department of Tourism 7.

While majority of their guests are from the domestic market, Fuentes also noted that the hotel has a good number for foreign guests.

”Filipino brand hotels are faring well despite the presence of international hotels,” Fuentes said.

He said the hotel’s edge lies on its good market planning and investment. He said the hotel is also strategically located, just minutes away from Cebu’s financial district.

Among the hotel’s amenities are a business center, function rooms, fitness center; dining and entertainment facilities like H Café, Highlights and Bread and Co.

”The hotel started well this year. The concern now is how to sustain or surpass the occupancy rate for next year,” Fuentes said.

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Lourdes Macalindong, vice president for sales and marketing for SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., in a press conference, said the Park Inn by Radisson Hotels will soon rise within the 10-hectare SM City Lanang, north of Davao City.

Macalindong said SM City Lanang is a mixed-use complex comprising of mall, a proposed convention center and the 204-room Park Inn hotel. The hotel will have 198 regular rooms and six suites or a total of 204 rooms.

“The Park Inn, which is a Carslon brand of hotel will be the first in the Philippines and in Davao City, and first ever in Asia,” she said.

Macalindong said the hotel is very edgy, hip and trendy with vibrant colors in its logo and rooms, and well-sized kind of furniture.

Park Inn hotels are mostly found in Europe and the Unites States. The world-class hotel which will sit on a two-hectare property of 8,800 square meters land area and 2,000 square meters floor area, will have its ground breaking next month while its completion is targeted on 2013 simultaneous with the completion of the over 500,000 sitter SMX Convention Center, she said.

Treena Tecson, director of marketing communications sales and marketing, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., said Park Inn hotel’s main market is from the business sector particularly those who will be coming for a convention at the SMX Convention Center.

Tecson said the hotel will be constructed beside the huge convention center. Also, the Park Inn hotel is designed to boost domestic tourism in Davao City.

She said the coming in of a Carlson brand of hotel in Davao City is an indicator that Davao City is an emerging convention center in the country.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., a newly created division of the SM Investments, has already built about three hotels in the Philippines, with the Park Inn Hotel in Davao City as the fourth.

The other three are in the cities of Cebu, General Santos and Tagaytay.

Tecson said the SM hotels is a dream come true by business tycoon Henry Sy who dreamt of building hotels when he first went to Tagaytay and visited a small hotel.

In love to Tagaytay’s beautiful scenery, Sy promised to build the hotel into a five-store hotel now named Taal Vista Hotel, which is considered a landmark hotel in Tagaytay, together with the birth of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., she added.

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For instance, tri cycles are the primary transportation mode in Boracay Island. Tourists can get to explore thumping beach sites and take back marvel memories from Boracay Island. Some of the recommended sights to explore while there includes:

• The White Beach stretch – The lush coral sand view and the ultimate view of sea can rejuvenate the senses of one and all. Tourists can get to relax in small shacks or lie around facing the beach and get to enjoy the thumping sight while sipping on their drink or while playing poker.

• Willy’s Rock – It is another highly recommended tourist attraction at Boracay. Ideal time to visit this place is in the evening when the sun is about to set. One can get to capture timeless moments while at Willy’s Rock.

• Mt. Luho – For tourists who’d love to take a bird eye view of the Boracay Island, Mt. Luho is highly recommended. The lush and beautiful Mt. Luho is the highest point in Boracay Island. IT is about 100m above the sea level. A kiosk serves cold drinks and other refreshments. Tourists can get to take rest in hammocks between the trees when tired.

• Crystal Cove – It is one of the Island hopping destinations in Boracay. The thumping sights of gushing waters hitting the rocks, huts and charming scenery makes it a popular tourist spot on the go.

• Bulabog Beach – It is a major tourist hub area and some of the popular activities that are carried out at Bulabog beach includes – windsurfing and kite boarding or even playing texas hold em.

• The Dead Forest – It is located next to the fishponds in the south of the Island. It comprises of dead trees which look remarkably fascinating in the moon light.

• The Kar-Tir Shell Museum – It is yet another popular tourist spot which in Iligan which has a rich collection of local art forms and a small collection of sea shells. Entry to the Museum is around Peso 20
Boracay is one such perfect destination in Philippines which can provide a perfect holiday adventure in a calm manner. One can get to explore beautiful sights and yet enjoy the timeless moments with one’s beloved one.

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