Emma Cordero now a beauty queen too by Crispina Martinez - Belen September 28, 2016 Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/emma-cordero-now-a-beauty-queen-too/#Ps5sW6EmVBBFxM8G.99

Singer Emma Cordero, who is also a civic leader, philanthropist, and educator, won the Mrs. Southwest Asia title recently at the Mrs. Universe 2016 competition in China. When she celebrated the event with the local media, Emma held a mini concert, singing the songs we also love among them Andy Williams’ “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing.”

On Nov. 7, Emma and other prominent members of the Filipino community as well as esteemed Japanese personalities will hold a red carpet event in recognition of leaders who’ve accomplished much for their people and society. This will be held at Hotel New Otani Hakata in Fukuoka.

The event will be spearheaded by the World Class Excellence Japan Awards (WECJA), which Emma founded in 2015 with the vision to inspire people to achieve excellence in the performance of their crafts. Herself the recipient of many awards and recognition like “Asia’s Princess of Songs” given by the Asia Pacific Awards Council, and “Most Outstanding International Performer” from the 2015 Gawad Amerika Awards, Emma’s latest song is “Ai Wo Agetai (I Wanna Give Love),” which she wrote. The earnings from the song are allotted for the scholars of Our Lady of Fatima de San Pedro in Laguna.

Emma also has scholars (taking up voice lessons) under her Emcor VOAA Music International and VOAA Music Studio in Fukuoka.

As civic leader, Emma was president of the Manila Sunrise Lions Club for about a decade. She is currently an associate member of different international Lions Club in Japan.

• • •

Going for gold

Some 36 gay men (described as gorgeous and statuesque) are vying for the title Mr. Gay World Philippines 2016, for which the new Philippine National Director, Wilbert Tolentino, is very proud of.

The finalists were presented to the media at the Club 690 while the pre-pageant was held at the Trinity University of Asia.

The coronation night is on Oct. 2 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, for telecast Oct. 8, 10:30 p.m. on ABC 5. ABC 5 is a channel of TV5 Network, Inc., owned by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of the PLDT. ABC-5 is seen on Channel 21 Cebu, Channel 2 Davao, Channel 12 General Santos

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 29, go to Eggie Apostol, Mozzy Ravena, Hans Sy, Ng Tam Meng, Lally Aldeguer, Boysie Villavicencio, Richard Ching, Melissa Cuevas, Debbie Enriquez, Philip Tan, Rosalinda Ramos, Maribel Fernandez, Marie Dimapilis,Villa Granada-de Guia, Ginger Manansala, Michelle Reyes, Jenna Rose Salosa, Miguel Martin, Angie Arboleda, Ambeth Soria, Raymond Sy, Lolo Perez, Melissa Manus, Cipirano Sardoncillo, Cloti Cabanero, Kent Brian Calderon, Miguela Labrada, Tilda Cabanero, and Mike Enriquez… Sept. 30: former Sen. Leticia Shahani, Gemma Cruz, Thelma Sioson, Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, Gerry Contreras, Virgilio Gonzales, Arthur Lingad, Leonida Andrade, Aida Arceo, Baby Lavarro, Ruben Silvestre, Ma. Cristina Maralit, Sari Paz Tan, Edwin Trompeta, Mike Sandejas, Maya Encila, Alexander Gerilla of Cutz Company, Raquel Monteza, Fr. Arnold Layoc, Fr. Jeronimo Ma. Cruz and Fr. Jun Sanchez, Rev. Msgr. Hernando Coronel, Allan Llarena of New York, Alyssa Iris Nojo, Bennie Jun Bantawig, Dr. Mimi Berdin of Cordova, Cebu, Jay-R Cadao, Edz Buena, Grace Diaz, Jessica Quijano, Joshua Gerome Solon, Mary Anne Tabasa-Sabejon, Roxanne Tagudina, MIRA NAUADEZ, ANNA KABIGTING, CHATO ORDINARIO, JOE DELA CRUZ, HERNINA MARIANO, MARYLN CARAIG, Jarelle Baloyz,  Teresita Esguerra, Louis Jocson, John Carlos delos Reyes, Dona de Guzman, Cesar Faustino, Professor Marjorie Angeles, Fr. Arnold Taguinez, Nice Ramos and Denise Laurel…


Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/emma-cordero-now-a-beauty-queen-too/#Ps5sW6EmVBBFxM8G.99

SM Supermalls

Existing

1. SM City North EDSA
2. SM City Sta. Mesa
3. SM Megamall Ortigas
4. SM City Cebu
5. SM Southmall Las Pinas
6. SM City Bacoor
7. SM City Fairview
8. SM City Iloilo
9. SM City Manila
10. SM City Pampanga
11. SM City Sucat
12. SM City Davao
13. SM City Cagayan de Oro
14. SM City Bicutan
15. SM City Lucena
16. SM City Baguio
17. SM City Marilao
18. SM City Dasmarinas
19. SM City Batangas
20. SM City San Lazaro
21. SM City Valenzuela
22. SM City Molino
23. SM City Sta. Rosa
24. SM City Clark
25. SM Mall of Asia
26. SM Center Frontera Verde
27. SM City Lipa
28. SM City Bacolod
29. SM City Muntinlupa
30. SM City Taytay
31. SM City Marikina
32. SM City Rosales
33. SM City Baliuag
34. SM City Naga
35. SM Center Pamplona
36. SM City Rosario
37. SM City Tarlac
38. SM City San Pablo
39. SM City Calamba
40. SM City Novaliches
41. SM City Masinag
42. SM Marketmall Dasmarinas
43. SM City Olongapo
44. SM City Consolacion
45. SM City San Fernando Downtown
46. SM City General Santos
47. SM Lanang Premier
48. SM Aura Premier
49. SM City BF Paranaque
50. SM City Cauayan
51. SM Center Angono
52. SM Megacenter Cabanatuan
53. SM City San Mateo
54. SM City Cabanatuan
55. SM Center Sangandaan
56. SM Seaside City Cebu
57. SM City San Jose Del Monte
58. SM City Trece Martires

2016

1. SM City East Ortigas

2017
SM CDO Premier
SM Center Tuguegarao
SM City Puerto Princesa
SM Center Ormoc
SM City Urdaneta

SOON
SM City Vito Cruz (Harison Plaza)
SM Center Pulilan (Sto Cristo)
SM Center Lemery (Poblacion)
SM City Legazpi (Legazpi Grand Terminal)
SM City Butuan (Lapu-Lapu)
SM City Caloocan (Ever Gotesco Grand Central-Caloocan)
SM City Commonwealth
SM Dagupan (Pantranco Terminal)
SM City Telabastagan (Essel Supermarket)
SM Olongapo 2 (Marikit Park)
SM Urdaneta 1 (Anonas)
SM City Tuguegarao
SM Zamboanga (Mindpro Citimall)
SM City Roxas (Baybay)
SM Santa Rosa-Yulo (Sto. Domingo)
SM Santa Rosa-Cabuyao (Pulo)
SM City Sorsogon (Sorsogon Grand Terminal)
SM City Balanga (Bataan Grand Terminal)

LUZON
SM Laoag
SM Vigan
SM San Fernando La Union
SM Gapan
SM Santiago
SM Malolos
SM Cainta
SM Calapan
SM Tagaytay
SM Tanauan

VISAYAS
SM Tacloban
SM Kalibo
SM San Jose de Buenavista
SM Tagbilaran
SM Catarman
SM Calbayog
SM Dumaguete
SM Kabankalan

MINDANAO
SM Pagadian
SM Dipolog
SM Iligan
SM Valencia
SM Surigao
SM Tagum
SM Digos
SM Cotabato
SM Ozamis

NLEX-SLEX Connector Road to be finished by September 2020

8-kilometer four-lane tollway will cost an estimated Php 23.2 billion
 
Just days after being awarded the North Luzon Expressway – South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project, Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) submitted compliance requirements to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which includes the estimated cost and its target completion date.

The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project is an eight-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway estimated to cost Php 23.2 billion with an estimated date of completion set for September 2020.

The DPWH has previously received a "no objection" on the use of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Right of Way from the Department of Transportation since August of 2012 to fast-track the completion of the said project.

It will start from the end of Segment 10 of the NLEX at Circumferential Road 3 (C-3) in Caloocan City connecting to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus in Sta. Mesa with a common point at the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3.

Designed to have two interchanges at C-3 Road and España, Manila, the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is expected to reduce travel time from 1.5 to 2 hours to only 15-20 minutes.

Next activity after the issuance of Notice of Award will be the signing of Toll Concession Agreement.

MNTC borrowing P11 B for connector road project By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 28, 2016 - 12:00am

Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) president and CEO Rodrigo Franco told reporters the firm intends to borrow 70 percent of the P16 billion construction cost of the project from banks. “We’ll start with the fourth quarter, but the process will take some time,” he said.

The project which has an estimated construction cost of P16 billion and right-of-way cost of P7 billion, involves building and operating a four-lane, eight-km elevated toll expressway over the right of way of the Philippine National Railways starting at the junction of the NLEX Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City, and connecting to the SLEX through the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in Manila.

Tycoons end row on MRT hub posted September 27, 2016 at 11:55 pm by Darwin G. Amojelar

Four conglomerates agreed to end a seven-year deadlock over the location of the common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City.

SM Group’s Tessie Sy-Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s Manuel Pangilinan reached an agreement in a meeting on Sept. 8 for a unified Light Rail Transit station to make commuting more convenient to the public.

The four parties also identified a single location of the common station to be built between The Annex at SM City North EDSA and Trinoma shopping mall (between Landmark), which would connect the three urban transit lines: LRT Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line-3, and the proposed MRT-7, which would run from EDSA corner North Avenue in Quezon City to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.

The location of the common station is important to SM and Ayala because of the additional foot traffic that it can bring to their respective malls.

The station will provide a common concourse or atrium where train commuters can conveniently transfer from one line to another.

The Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Light Rail Transit Authority, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Universal LRT Corp., Light Rail Manila Consortium, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. represented by Ayala Land Inc. will finalize the agreement on Sept. 28.

The Public Works Department also assured that the underpass to be built in the area would seamlessly integrate with the common station.

The parties are set to file a joint motion to the Supreme Court  to lift the temporary restraining order.

LRT-MRT common station to rise between SM, Trinoma

After DOTr forges consensus with stakeholders

AFTER a seven-year legal deadlock, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday that it has forged a consensus with stakeholders on a single location for the common station that will connect the LRT Line 1, MRT-3, and the proposed MRT-7.

The DOTr, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI), Universal LRT Corp. (ULC) and Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation represented by Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today, September 28, to finalize the agreement.

The MOU will pave the way for the filing of a joint motion to the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order on the construction of the common station for the three urban transit lines.

The common station, which will be built between SM North EDSA and Trinoma, with access to both malls and major roads such as EDSA, will provide a common concourse or atrium for train commuters to conveniently transfer from one line to another.

The DPWH also assured that the underpass being built will seamlessly integrate with the common station.

Getting all parties to agree was among the targets set by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade within the first 100 days in office, and it involved engaging all stakeholders in meetings in order to reach a consensus.

In a meeting earlier this month, the country’s top executives–SM’s Tessie Sy Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel’s Ramon Ang, and Metro Pacific’s Manny Pangilinan–agreed that a unified station was necessary to make commuting more convenient to the public.

The Common Station project started in 2009 and has been on hold due to legal issues. The LRTA inked a deal with SMPHI to build the station near SM North EDSA. Four years later, the then-Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) decided to build the station near Ayala’s Trinoma, citing lower costs as a reason for the change of location.

The Supreme Court intervened and issued a TRO in favor of SMPHI to stop the construction of the common station.

Common station won’t separate 3 rail systems – DOTr By Ghio Ong (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 23, 2016 - 12:00am

Contrary to earlier reports, a common train station located between two malls on North Avenue in Quezon City would connect, not separate, Metro Manila’s three rail systems, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

“They will be connected via a common concourse, which will allow commuters to transfer from one line to another conveniently,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for communications Cherie Mercado-Santos wrote to The STAR.

She was referring to the Light Rail Transit Line 1, which runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in Pasay City; Light Rail Transit Line 2, which runs from Santolan in Pasig City to Recto Avenue in Manila, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City; and the MRT Line 7, which is under construction and would cover EDSA corner North Avenue in Quezon City to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

The STAR previously reported that House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez “mentioned that he was surprised when (DOTr Secretary Arthur) Tugade told him in a recent congressional hearing that MRT-7, which will run from The Annex at SM City North Edsa to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is to be detached from MRT-3 and LRT-1.”

Tugade said in August that he talked to private sector parties involved in the common station project and agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement.

The conflict over the common station started when the Department of Transportation and Communications decided to have the common station near Ayala Group’s Trinoma mall, citing savings in construction cost as well as convenience of passengers, even as the LRT Authority and SM entered into an agreement to put up a common station for the railways near the Annex at SM City North EDSA mall in 2009.

MAY BUKAS PA SA INYONG BUHAY

Huwag damdamin ang kasawian
May bukas pa sa iyong buhay
Sisikat din ang iyong araw
Ang landas mo ay mag-iilaw
Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan
Mayroong ligaya at lumbay
Maghintay at may nakalaang bukas

Koro:
May bukas pa sa iyong buhay
Tutulungan ka ng Diyos na may lalang
Ang iyong pagdaramdam
Idalangin mo sa Maykapal
Na sa puso mo ay mawala nang lubusan

Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan
Mayroong ligaya at lumbay
Maghintay at may nakalaang bukas (Koro)

Coda:
Na sa puso mo ay mawala nang lubusan.

LRT 6 delayed

THE TIMETABLE for a railway project aimed at meeting growing commuter needs in Cavite province risks being extended as the deadline for submission by interested parties of documents to qualify for bidding was on Thursday moved for a third time.

The P65.09-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 6 Project involves a 19-kilometer elevated railway that will run along the middle of Aguinaldo Highway between the terminus of the LRT 1 Cavite Extension (CavEx) in Niyog, Bacoor and Dasmariñas City.

“Currently, Cavite is experiencing rapid growth, and many of its residents travel to Manila for work and education purposes,” read a project brief on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center Web site.

“The project will improve passenger mobility and reduce the volume of vehicular traffic in the Cavite area by providing a higher capacity mass transit system. It also aims to spur economic development along the extension corridor.”

Daily LRT Line 6 passenger traffic has been estimated to grow to 256,000 by 2040 from 240,000 in 2030 and from 192,000 in 2020, according to the project brief.

A Sept. 8 notice to prospective bidders by project implementor, the Department of Transportation (DoTr), said “[t]he deadline for submission of pre-qualification documents [on Sept. 9] is deferred to a date to be advised” as “[t]he DoTr is currently reviewing concerns raised by prospective bidders and is determining how the project structure can address such concerns”.

It was the third time this deadline has been moved since the first one set last May 12.

The original timetable drawn up in February had set submission of bids in August, opening of financial offers and subsequent issuance of notice of award this month, and signing of concession agreement next month.

The government published the project’s invitation to bidders last Dec. 21.

At least 16 groups showed interest in the LRT Line 6 project by sending representatives to a pre-qualification conference last February, namely: Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.; Ayala Corp.; Bombardier, Inc.; CFP Transaction Advisors; Daelim Industrial Company Ltd.; DMCI Holdings, Inc.; Egis S.A.; First Metro Investments Corp.; Metro Builders Corp.; Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Mott MacDonald Group Ltd.; Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd.; Prime Asset Ventures, Inc.; Robinsons Land Corp.; San Miguel Corp. and Systra Ltd.

Concerns

While neither officials of DoTr nor of interested companies were immediately available on Friday to expound on “concerns raised by prospective bidders” particularly on project structure, Special Bid Bulletin No. 01-2016 issued last March 30 bared interested parties’ request that requirements for operation and maintenance contractors be eased, that the need for separate “qualified key personnel-rolling stock expert” be scrapped, and for more information on right-of-way problems along Aguinaldo Highway in order “to be able to assess the potential risks of the project”.

“We wish to note that there were many potential investors interested in past PPP projects, but eventually are not submitting pre-qualification documents because of limited information which are constraining them to do initial due diligence,” the bulletin read.

One railway project has been awarded since the PPP program was launched in the third quarter of 2010, namely: the P64.9-billion (inclusive of a P19.3-billion official development assistance component) LRT Line 1 CavEx and O&M project.

The other rail projects in the PPP pipeline are:

• P69.3-billion Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 involving a three-kilometer elevated railway line with 14 stations between MRT 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan as well as a 22-km asphalt road between an intermodal terminal in Tala, Caloocan City and Bocaue Interchange of the North Luzon Expressway (Groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 20, 2016 and pre-construction work is under way);

• P170.7-billion south line of the North-South Railway Project that involves a total of 653 km between the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) Tutuban station in Tondo, Manila and Legazpi City, Albay and whose terms are being reviewed;

• operation and maintenance of LRT Line 2 which is still being reviewed;

• PNR’s East-West Rail Project that will consist of a mostly elevated 9.4-km railway between Diliman, Quezon City and Lerma, Manila and which is still in the project evaluation stage;

• P42.89-billion LRT 4 Project that will see construction of an 11-km railway between SM City in Taytay, Rizal and the Ortigas Ave.-EDSA intersection and which is being conceptualized; and

• Manila-East Rail Transit System Project involving a railway that will connect to MRT 7 from San Mateo, Rizal, passing through Ortigas Avenue and which is also still being conceptualized.

The National Economic and Development Authority, which oversees the PPP Center, also announced last Aug. 30 that the government has received a proposal from a South Korean firm to build an LRT line in Metro Cebu.

Even earlier -- last July 5 -- the PPP Center said the PNR had submitted a project proposal, but did not give details. -- M. M. Hernande

Manila gets P17.7-m garbage-truck fleet

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has acquired a fleet of garbage trucks worth P17.7 million.

Estrada said he intends to modernize the Department of Public Services (DPS) as well as all other departments of the city hall.

“DPS [Department of Public Services] has been using old, dilapidated trucks that have been acquired in the 1980’s, and keeping them serviceable has proven to be difficult and costly,” he said.

Each with a load capacity of five cubic meters, all six diesel heavy-duty Isuzu trucks are equipped with hydraulic hoists. Each costs P2.96 million.

DPS chief Belle Borromeo has received four of the six new trucks.

Borromeo said they have been using seven old and rusty dump trucks, only five of which remain in good condition.

Meanwhile, Estrada on Monday threw his support for the plan of the Philippine Ports Authority to revive the Pasig River ferry service, which he said would make Manila more accessible to commuters and traders.

The mayor met with PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago who offered to put up ferry terminals in busy areas in Manila, including Quinta Market on Carlos Palanca Street near the Pasig River in Quiapo whose P90-million renovation will be completed soon.

Estrada said that the ferry service will cut travel time to and from Manila, particularly in downtown Quiapo, the city’s center of commerce and worship.

He earlier appropriated funds for the construction of a port on the Pasig River at the back of Quinta Market to accommodate fish buyers using the river as their route but Santiago offered to undertake the construction of the port and ferry station.

Estrada said the ferry service and the Quinta port will decongest Quezon Boulevard, the major road leading to the traffic-prone Quiapo district.

“Black Nazarene devotees coming from all over Metro Manila will also be able to reach Quiapo in less time than they do by land,” he pointed out.

The ferry service is also expected to boost sales at Quinta Market, providing easy access to fish traders and consumers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the mayor added.

Santiago, who was appointed to the PPA by President Rodrigo Duterte only last month, told Estrada that his agency is ready to finance the revival of the Pasig River ferry service, including putting up modern ferry stops at Quinta Market and other locations in Manila.

The planned ferry service will also link up with Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) stations in the city for faster and hassle-free travel, according to Santiago.

The present ferry service on the Pasig River is managed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority but its ridership remains low.

It has 14 stations including Pinagbuhatan, Maybunga and San Joaquin in Pasig City, Guadalupe and Valenzuela in Makati City, Hulo in Mandaluyong and PUP Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, Lambingan, Lawton, Escolta and Plaza Mexico in Manila.

LRMC starts installing new rails on LRT Line 1

LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) on Wednesday said it started installing new rails on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) tracks from Baclaran to 5th Avenue stations.

In a statement, LRMC said the rail replacement project is the final phase of the rehabilitation of the 32-year-old train line.

Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the previous operator, had completed the first phase of rail replacements along the southbound route in December 2015.

“This is also good news for those living in close proximity to the stations as these new set of rails will notably decrease vibrations and lessen noise levels coming from the trains,” LRMC Engineering Director Rudy Chansuyco was quoted as saying in the statement.

The company said the rail replacement project covers 21 kilometers on the northbound route and five kilometers on the southbound route.

LRMC, the consortium of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd., said the completion of the rehabilitation will increase light rail vehicles’ maximum speed to 60 kilometers per hour (kph) from its current 40 kph.

This is also expected to expand the trains’ lifespan, significantly improve the efficiency of the whole train system, and “avoid wear and tear of the rolling stock,” LRMC said.

LRMC bagged the P64.9-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension public-private partnership project, which will extend the train line from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite. It involves rehabilitation of the existing 21-kilometer (km) line and an 11.7-km extension from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite.

Construction of the LRT Cavite extension project was slated to start last year, but has been hampered by right-of-way issues.

Metro Pacific Investment Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. --Monica M. Hernandez