CLMA Pampanga Chapter

04/09/2025

Romero Bats for Clark, Pampanga SMEs in Vietnam Trade Mission

HO CHI MINH CITY — Clark Freeport Zone, New Clark City, and Pampanga’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are being positioned as prime investment destinations as Pampanga business leader Rene Romero joins the Philippine delegation to the Vietnam Trade Mission 2025.

The weeklong mission, organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) with the Philippines-Vietnam Business Council, gathers 95 industry leaders and entrepreneurs from across the country. Delegates are set to explore trade opportunities, secure investments, and strengthen economic cooperation with Vietnam.

Romero, Chairman and CEO of the ROMAC Group and Vice Chair of the Philippine Chamber Development Institute, Inc. (PhilCDI), is joined by his wife Agnes Romero of Romac Group, company president and COO Lorenzo Consulta, and Jerry Arenas of Aresun Manpower Services. Their participation underscores Pampanga’s push to showcase Clark and its SME sector on the international stage, complementing efforts by Manila-based firms to expand bilateral trade.

For Romero, the mission highlights how Pampanga’s economic assets, from Clark’s world-class infrastructure to the resilience of its SMEs, can be leveraged to attract global partnerships. The delegation aims to position the province not only as a regional growth driver but also as a vital link in the Philippines’ trade and investment network with Vietnam.

Vietnam enters this year with its strongest economic performance in more than a decade. According to the Vietnam Economic Outlook and Growth Strategy 2025–2026 Report, GDP grew 7.52% in the first half of 2025, prompting the government to raise its full-year target to 8.3–8.5%. The growth plan centers on macroeconomic stability, private sector expansion, and deeper integration into global supply chains.

Major projects are also underway, including the country’s first nuclear plants, a high-speed rail link to China, and wide-ranging digital governance reforms. Inflation remains manageable at below 4.5%, while public investment and foreign direct investment disbursements continue to rise despite global headwinds.

Looking ahead, Hanoi is positioning Vietnam as a regional innovation hub with double-digit growth targeted for 2026. The strategy shifts focus from traditional industries to high-tech manufacturing, digital economies, and green industries, backed by easier business regulations and streamlined bureaucracy. With declining public debt, stronger social investment, and “China+1” positioning in supply chains, Vietnam is signaling long-term resilience and sustained investor confidence.

Romero emphasized that Pampanga’s SMEs stand to benefit from cross-border partnerships in manpower services, logistics, agri-business, and light manufacturing. By tapping these synergies, the delegation seeks to unlock new export opportunities, attract technology and capital, and generate jobs anchoring Pampanga more firmly as a growth hub for Central Luzon and a strong player in regional trade.

BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

03/09/2025

UNIQLO’s 8th Roadside Store Opens at Infinity Angeles City
By Mark Sison

HOLIDAY STYLE gets a head start as UNIQLO unveils its first roadside store in Central Luzon this Friday, September 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. at The Infinity in Angeles City.

Fittingly, the location marks the brand’s 8th roadside branch nationwide, a lucky number that, when flipped, mirrors the infinity symbol, a playful coincidence for a global label built on timeless, seasonless fashion.

Strategically located near the NLEX Angeles Exit and City Hall, and surrounded by fast-food chains, cafés, and restaurants, the new store offers PWD-friendly fitting rooms, modern restrooms, and a wide parking area, designed for shoppers on the go.

Ahead of the grand opening, media invitees gathered at Chef Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung for a “media kamustahan brunch” before heading to a VIP shopping preview inside the store. The event drew Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, city officials, stakeholders, and special guests.

Geraldine Sia, Chief Operating Officer of UNIQLO Philippines, and Romina Cunanan, Senior Marketing Manager for PR and Sustainability, delivered messages underscoring the brand’s drive for accessible and sustainable fashion.

On opening day, the first 100 shoppers will be treated to Bale Dutung specialties such as Inasal Yakitori, Talangka Sushi, Filipino Tamago, and Sugarcane Soda, along with UNIQLO giveaways including thermal mugs, bag charms, duffle bags, vouchers, and a tasting menu for four.

THE UNIQLO FORMULA
Founded in Japan in 1984, UNIQLO has grown into a global retail powerhouse with more than 2,400 stores worldwide. Since entering the Philippines in 2012, it has earned a loyal following with its LifeWear line everyday apparel known for comfort, simplicity, and quality.

Today, UNIQLO operates 77 stores across the country, blending affordability with thoughtful design. Beyond wardrobe staples, it advances sustainability initiatives such as RE.UNIQLO recycling drives, community programs, and app-exclusive perks like vouchers, birthday discounts, and limited-edition collections.

INFINITY AND 8
The Infinity complex isn’t just a landmark address, it’s a symbolic match. This new branch is the 8th UNIQLO roadside store nationwide. The number 8, when turned sideways, forms the infinity symbol, echoing the brand’s philosophy of timeless, versatile clothing that endures across seasons.

The name UNIQLO is short for “Unique Clothing.” The brand began in Hiroshima in 1984 as “Unique Clothing Warehouse,” later shortened to “Uni-Clo.” A registration slip-up in Hong Kong in 1988 accidentally changed “Uni-Clo” to “Uni-Qlo.” The company embraced the error, and the name UNIQLO was born. Today, it’s the flagship label of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., one of the world’s largest apparel companies.

With its strategic location and festive timing at the start of the Ber months, UNIQLO Angeles Roadside is primed to anchor holiday shopping in Central Luzon merging lifestyle, convenience, and fashion in one stop.

BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

03/09/2025

OPEN LETTER |
DPWH SECRETARY VINCE DIZON
By Alexander Sangalang Cauguiran

Kagalang-galang na Kalihim Dizon,

Mainit po namin kayong binabati sa inyong bagong tungkulin bilang Kalihim ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), isa sa pinakamalaking ahensya ng pamahalaan at itinuturing na “infrastructure arm” ng ating bansa.

Kasabay po ng pagbati ay ang aming apela at panawagan: Ano po ang inyong kongkretong plano upang tuluyang wakasan ang malalim at matagal nang suliranin ng katiwalian sa DPWH?

Ayon sa mga ulat ng midya, kayo po ay humiling ng “courtesy resignations” mula sa lahat ng undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, regional at district engineers sa buong bansa. Bagama’t ito ay maaaring magsilbing panimulang hakbang, hindi pa rin po ito garantiya ng tunay na pagbabago.

Ang mas mahalagang tanong ng publiko:
-Ano po ang magiging pamantayan ninyo sa pagpili kung sino ang mananatili at sino ang papalitan?
-May bago po bang sistemang ipatutupad, o mauuwi lamang ito sa pagpapalit ng mga pangalan ngunit hindi ng kalakaran?

Batid ng marami na ang DPWH, bilang isang pangunahing ahensya sa imprastruktura, ay matagal nang inuugnay sa mga isyu ng katiwalian.

Bahagi po ito ng mas malawak na problemang tinatawag ng mga progresibong liders ng mga makabayang organisasyong masa at aktibista na SYSTEMIC BREAUCRAT CAPITALISM — kung saan ang pondo at kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan ay nagagamit hindi para sa tunay na serbisyo publiko kundi para sa pansariling interes ng iilan.

Dahil po dito, napakahalaga pong malinawan ang mamamayan sa magiging direksyon ng inyong pamumuno:
-Ano po ang mga konkretong reporma upang matiyak na ang mga kontrobersiyang bumabalot sa DPWH ay hindi na mauulit?

-Paano po ninyo haharapin at mapipigilan ang mga budgetary insertions ng ilang mambabatas na nagiging ugat ng iregularidad?

-Handa po ba kayong tumindig laban sa mga political pressures na naglalobby para sa mga proyektong hindi naaayon sa tunay na pangangailangan ng bayan?

Mahalaga rin pong marinig kung paano po ninyo ipatutupad ang transparency at accountability sa lahat ng antas ng kagawaran — mula bidding process, pagpili ng contractors, monitoring ng proyekto, hanggang auditing ng pondo.

Kalihim Dizon, sawang-sawa na po ang mamamayan sa mga pangako ng reporma na nauuwi lamang sa pagpapalit ng mga tao ngunit nananatili ang parehong bulok na sistema.

Ngayon po nasa inyong mga kamay ang pagkakataong patunayan na kayo po ay hindi lamang panibagong pangalan sa listahan ng mga naging kalihim, kundi lider na tunay na magdadala ng makabuluhang pagbabago.

Naniniwala po kami na ang tunay na reporma ay hindi lamang nakasalalay sa mga opisyal ng DPWH, kundi sa pagbuwag sa kulturang nagpapalaganap ng katiwalian at sa pagbabalik ng tiwala ng taumbayan.

Magalang po kaming nananawagan: ipakita po ninyo na kayang baguhin ng DPWH ang matagal nang imahe nito bilang problemadong ahensya at gawin itong tunay na instrumento para sa pambansang kaunlaran.

Magalang pong sumasainyo,

Advocates for Genuine and Outstanding Services (AGOS)

Alexander Cauguiran
Convenor

📸Presidential Communications Office Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

02/09/2025

KOMENTARYO | MAGBUBUKID O HARI NG KONTRATA?
Ni Alexander Sangalang Cauguiran

Ang party-list system ay nilikha upang bigyan ng tinig ang mga nasa laylayan. Para sa magsasaka, ito ang pagkakataon na marinig sa Kongreso ang kanilang hinaing.

Ngunit tila nagiging kabalintunaan ang sistemang ito sa katauhan ng neophyte Congressman Ferdinand Beltran ng Pampanga.

Si Beltran, kinatawan ng MAGBUBUKID party-list, ay hindi lamang lingkod-bayan. Ayon sa mga ulat, siya rin ang may-ari ng Ferdstar Builders Contractors, Inc., na balitang nakakuha ng mahigit ₱800 milyon na flood control projects sa Pampanga.

Habang abala sa malalaking kontrata, ang mga tunay na magsasaka ay lugi sa mababang presyo ng palay, baon sa utang, at patuloy na nakikisaka sa lupang hindi kanila. Sila’y nananalangin na sana’y hindi lumubog sa baha o malanta sa tagtuyot ang kanilang taniman.

Isang matindi at nakapangingilabot na kabalintunaan: ang tinig ng mga magbubukid ay kinakatawan ng isang super-rich na kontratista. Ang magbubukid mismo, nananatiling hikahos, walang katiyakan sa ani, at walang sapat na suporta mula sa pamahalaan. Sino ba ang tunay na kinakatawan?

Kung magpapatuloy ang ganitong kalakaran, ang party-list system ay mawawalan ng saysay at magiging larangan na lamang ng mayayaman at makapangyarihan.

Panahon na para maging mas mapanuri ang taumbayan at hingin ang pananagutan ng mga nakaupo—dahil ang tunay na magsasaka ay karapat-dapat sa mas malinaw at mas tunay na tinig sa Kongreso.

BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

02/09/2025

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BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

02/09/2025

Get Ready to Spell It Out: SM Super Spelling Bee is Back for Year 2!

The buzz is back, and it is all about words! The SM Super Spelling Bee is making its much-awaited return this year, inviting young spelling champs from across the country to take the stage, test their skills, and have a whole lot of fun.

After a successful debut last year, this year’s competition brings together 40 participating SM Supermalls nationwide. From classroom word wizards to kids who simply love a good challenge, everyone is welcome to join and experience the thrill of a live spelling showdown.

This year’s edition is extra special as SM Supermalls celebrates its 40th year, a milestone that reflects its continued growth and dedication to creating spaces where families can learn, connect, and enjoy meaningful experiences. In this new era, SM Supermalls continues evolving with you, making every visit more than just a day at the mall.

“SM Supermalls has always been a happy place for kids to learn and explore,” shared Hanna Carinna T. Sy, AVP for Marketing Special Events and Leasing at SM Supermalls. “The SM Super Spelling Bee is our way of celebrating learning while giving our a chance to shine and make memories they’ll always cherish.”

The 2025 Spelling Bee Elimination Round is set to take place in seven malls in Central Luzon, offering young spellers a unique opportunity to showcase their skills in front of their local communities. The event will run from August 23 to September 20, with each mall hosting a local round of the competition.

The series kicked off on August 23 at SM City Marilao, will be followed by rounds at SM City Tarlac and SM City Bataan on September 6, SM City Clark and SM City Baliwag on September 13, and SM City Clark,SM City Olongapo Central and SM City Grand Central on September 20.

Registration is easy—just sign up through the SM Malls Online app or proceed to the Mall Admin Office of any participating mall to submit your accomplished registration form. Check out the full list of participating malls and schedules at www.smsupermalls.com/superspellingbee.

The event is made extra special thanks to the support of National Book Store, National University, Power Mac Center, and Jollibee—partners who believe in the power of learning, reading, and giving kids the confidence to reach for their dreams.

Exciting prizes, the thrill of competition, and the chance to be crowned one of the country’s top spellers await. So whether you are a parent cheering from the sidelines, a teacher rooting for your students, or a young wordsmith ready to spell your heart out, this is your moment.
Sharpen those pencils, crack open the dictionary, and get ready to spell your way to victory!


BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/09/2025

VIEWPOINT | Bad Precedent of Letting Officials Walk Away
By Mark Sison

A few days ago, Secretary Manuel Bonoan insisted he would not resign, saying that “leaving or avoiding responsibility is not the proper way of finding solutions” amid a deluge of anomalous flood-control projects. Yet, barely 24 hours later, he quietly stepped down and when Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Sen. Rodante Marcoleta offered him a chance to beg off, Bonoan responded: “In view of this circumstance… since I am no longer the secretary of Public Works and Highways … I may be excused from the proceedings at this point in time.”

With that, the man at the center of a multibillion-peso scandal simply walked away setting a dangerous precedent.

But resignation is not redemption. It is not immunity. Philippine law is clear "Cabinet secretaries face threefold liability administrative, civil, and criminal. Stepping down does not erase command responsibility. Executive Order No. 226 leaves no gray area: when corruption or negligence occurs under your watch and you fail to act, the law follows you".

Dismissal, forfeiture of benefits, perpetual disqualification, criminal prosecution, these are not abstract penalties. They are mandated by the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Revised Penal Code, and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials. The real question is whether political institutions have the courage to enforce them.

By excusing Bonoan, the Blue Ribbon Committee composed of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, B**g Go, Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, among others risks turning its flood-control probe into political theater without consequence. And if Malacañang accepts resignation as the end of the story, it signals that accountability can still be sidestepped by a simple letter of departure.

The doctrine of command responsibility is not ornamental. It makes officials accountable when crimes or anomalies happen under their watch, even if they did not personally benefit. It is meant to stop the culture of “I didn’t know” or “It wasn’t me.” Resignation, therefore, should never serve as the shortcut out of investigation.

The precedent is dangerous. Consider Pampanga’s Gonzales clan. Former congressman and ex–Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “D**g” Gonzales Jr. could just as easily echo Bonoan’s words: “I am no longer in office,” and treat that as a shield from scrutiny. His daughter, Rep. Mica Gonzales, now occupies the congressional seat he vacated and is tied to their family business, AD Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co. Inc., a AAA-category contractor. She openly pledged to “continue her father’s programs,” especially in areas like health, education, and public works. But if resignation is allowed to be the great escape, who truly believes Mica would ever step aside surrendering both political clout and the family’s foothold in public contracts?

This framing illustrates a political dynasty that straddles governance and business, a fusion that tends to blur the lines of accountability. If resignation becomes the accepted exit strategy, influential families like the Gonzaleses can simply rotate roles while maintaining uninterrupted influence.

The public deserves more than theater. This isn’t just about one resignation, this is about billions in flood-control funds and the question of who will answer for them. The Palace and the Senate now face a defining test,will they enforce the law or will they let the exit door stand wide open for the powerful?

BAP NEWS MARK SISON BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga Chapter MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/09/2025

KOMENTARYO | BONOAN AT PANANAGUTAN | Alexander Sangalang Cauguiran

“Since I am no longer the secretary of DPWH and I don’t have the official capacity to represent the Department, may I be excused on the proceedings at this point in time.”

Iyan ang pahayag ni dating DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan sa isang pagdinig ng Senado kamakailan, na para bang ang pagbaba niya sa puwesto ay sapat nang dahilan para umiwas sa pananagutan.

Ngunit malinaw: ang mga proyektong flood control na pinondohan ng bilyun-bilyong piso ay naisagawa sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno. Hindi puwedeng idahilan na wala na siyang “capacity” upang ipaliwanag ang mga ito.

Ang prinsipyo ng public accountability ay hindi natatapos sa pag-alis sa opisina. Maraming dating kalihim na humarap sa mga imbestigasyon upang linawin ang mga desisyon sa kanilang termino. Kung si Bonoan ay tatalikod, hindi lamang ito taliwas sa nakaugaliang praktis kundi mag-iiwan ng impresyon ng pag-iwas.

Higit pa rito, siya ang may hawak ng mahalagang kaalaman—mula sa pag-apruba, pag-release ng pondo, hanggang sa pagpili ng kontratista. Kung siya’y tatahimik, paano malalaman ng taumbayan ang buong katotohanan?

Sa huli, ito ay hindi lamang usaping legal kundi moral. Sa kabila ng napakalaking pondo, nananatiling binabaha ang Pampanga at iba pang lugar. Kung tunay na wala siyang itinatago, mas mainam na humarap siya sa Senado at ipakita ang kanyang integridad.

Ginoong Bonoan, tandaan: ang pananagutan ay hindi natatapos sa pagbaba sa posisyon.

📸Diumano

BAP NEWS MARK SISONBapNews Mark SisonPampanga Newsweek CLMA Pampanga ChapterMAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/09/2025

01/09/2025