ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

 The Visayas will soon have a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratory, which will be housed at the University of San Agustin, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said on Friday. This will be the first NMR laboratory outside the National Capital Region and Region 4-A, he said. "The NMR facility will be used to study the physical, chemical, and biological properties to determine molecular identity and structure of materials in the 'Tuklas Lunas' (drug discovery) program of the DOST," Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara told the Philippine News Agency. Tuklas Lunas program enables the DOST to harness the country's biodiversity to develop supplements, herbal drugs, and functional foods, she added. The DOST central office has allocated PHP124 million for the NMR, while PHP8.1 million will come from the DOST-Region 6. Guevara said the agency targets to start this project by June, and sees construction would end by May 2023. ...

Company achieves 100% occupancy in its 100,000-square meter PEZA-accredited office spaces in Iloilo Business Park even during the pandemic Megaworld, the largest office lessor in the country, reports that it is now dominating the office leasing market in Iloilo City, with a remarkable 70% market share based on an internal study conducted in April. As of end-April this year, the company has a total leasable office portfolio of 100,000 square meters in its nine (9) completed office towers inside the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park, the company’s premier township development in the city.  These office towers include One Techno Place, Two Techno Place, Three Techno Place, One Global Center, Two Global Center, Festive Walk 1B, Richmonde Tower, One Fintech Place, and Two Fintech Place.  To date, all office towers are 100% occupied by mostly Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, which Megaworld helped bring to Iloilo for the first time.  “In the middle of the...

Mompreneur, or "momtrepreneurs," is a slang term describing women who run their own businesses while also acting as a full-time parent, thus the word is the combination of “mom” and “entrepreneur”. Not all heroes wear a cape, some wears an apron and prepares delicious recipes in the kitchen. And so goes these Mompreneurs who run successful businesses in SM malls in Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa. Let us get to know their secret recipes for success. MIA ROBLES-NG  Breakthrough Restaurant SM City Iloilo When in Iloilo, trying the delicious cuisine of the place is a must. Breakthrough Restaurant is a go-to place and as they say, you haven’t been to Iloilo if you haven’t gone to this place. Mia Robles-Ng is the new generation handling this business of good-tasting Ilonggo cuisine to the Ilonggos as well as local and international tourists. “Breakthrough Restaurant is a brainchild of my parents, Munding & Daday Robles. Both UP Diliman graduates - BS Marine Bio & Hotel...

Property giant Megaworld Corporation  breaks ground for Belmont Hotel Iloilo inside the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Leading the groundbreaking ceremony were: Rey Orio, estate manager, Iloilo Business Park (extreme left); Engr. Daisy Villanueva, head of operations, Iloilo Business Park (2nd from left); Jennifer Palmares-Fong, vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Iloilo (center); and Engr. Rufino Pamaran, Jr., project manager, Belmont Hotel Iloilo (2nd from right). Belmont Hotel Iloilo will be a 12-storey mid-rise structure  with 405 suites that will make up the hotel- making it one of the biggest hotels in Iloilo in term of number of rooms. These suites  are classified as Twin Suites, Queen Suites, Junior Suites, Executive Suites and Specially-Abled Suites for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Among the amenities of Belmont Hotel Iloilo are the swimming pool with in-pool lounge, landscaped deck with pool bar and out...

This Mother’s Day, these strong women are highlighted and honoured for their exemplary role in raising their families and tend to their own businesses and still manage to do it with flying colors. Mompreneur, or "momtrepreneurs," is a slang term describing women who run their own businesses while also acting as a full-time parent, thus the word is the combination of “mom” and “entrepreneur”. Not all heroes wear a cape, some wears an apron and prepares delicious recipes in the kitchen. And so goes these Mompreneurs who run successful businesses in SM malls in Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa. Let us get to know their secret recipes for success. WILDA WUTHRICH USI Sue’s Cake Gallery at SM City Iloilo  “Motherhood, though challenging, is the most fulfilling thing for me. My family has always been my top priority, despite the demands of being an Entrepreneur. There is no substitute for “time” spent with them and for them. I make sure I am “present” in all the things that matte...

Not all heroes wear a cape, some wears an apron and prepares delicious recipes in the kitchen. And so goes these Mompreneurs who run successful businesses in SM malls in Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa. Mompreneur, or "momtrepreneurs," is a slang term describing women who run their own businesses while also acting as a full-time parent, thus the word is the combination of “mom” and “entrepreneur”. This Mother’s Day, these strong women are highlighted and honoured for their exemplary role in raising their families and tend to their own businesses and still manage to do it with flying colors. Let us get to know their secret recipes for success. MIA ROBLES-NG  Breakthrough Restaurant at SM City Iloilo When in Iloilo, trying the delicious cuisine of the place is a must. Breakthrough Restaurant is a go-to place and as they say, you haven’t been to Iloilo if you haven’t gone to this place. Mia Robles-Ng is the new generation handling this business of good-tasting Ilonggo cuisin...

THE City Government of Iloilo, with support from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines, is developing and will be launching the Iloilo City Central and Terminal Public Markets Project, the two proposed developments are referred to as the "Project." Photo from the PPP site A Call for Participants: Market Sounding Activity has been conducted from April 21 to 30, 2021 facilitated through an online form or one-on-one meeting with PPP Center. The Project’s indicative investment cost ranges from P2.9 to 3.6 billion. The Project involves design, finance and construction of mixed-use buildings, operation and maintenance of commercial spaces, and maintenance of the whole facility for 30 years, subject to finalization of business case. A proposal posted online by Arch. Paulo Alcazaren Potential revenue sources for the private sector proponent may include rental fees from public market and commercial spaces, cargo-handling charges, vehicular docking charges, war...