PAGASA held its 2007 Christmas Party at the newly-opened Mandarin Oriental Suites at the top floor of Gateway Mall at the Araneta Center, Quezon City. In one of the tables, (L-R) Pres. Steve Cua, Andrew Paul and Aileen Lim (Andrew’s Grocery-Palawan), Letty Badilla (Royal Family Superstore), Dir. Liansel Sy (Liana’s Supermarket) and George T. Cua (Welcome Supermart)- founding Treasurer of PAGASA. Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )

PAGASA congratulates Liana’s Supermarket on the Grand Opening of its 9th store located at Evacom, Sucat, Paranaque on 3 December 2007. PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua (4th from R) joined in the festivities with PAGASA Dir. Robert Ang (3rd from R) and son, Ivan Ang beside him. Team Liana’s is made up of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sy (center), sister Grace Sy-Ong (in blue), sons Liansel (PAGASA Dir.) with wife Winky and 5-month old Chloe Anneka (at the back) and Hansel (rightmost). Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua was a Presentor at the recent Retailer of the Year Awards 2007 held by the Philippine Retailers Association at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Together with of the famed National Bookstore chain, they presented the award of the Best Retailer for Services to Picture City. PAGASA is an affiliate-member of the Phil. Retailers Assn. (PRA) it being that Supermarkets are a sub-sector of the Retail Industry. Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )

PAGASA Board for 2007-2009 recently held its election of Officers at The Old Swiss Inn in Makati: (Clockwise from rightmost) Steven Cua/Welcome Supermart (Pres.), William Villanueva/Purity Supermarket (Treas.), Roy Chua/Daily Supermarket (VP), Liansel Sy/Liana’s Supermarket, Fred Gravador/Simplicity Ministop (standing), Robert Ang/Topline Supermarket (P.R.O.), Johnny Lim/680 Supermart and Karl Marxist Tan/Budgetlane Sukimart (Corp. Sec.).

Last October 24, 2007, PAGASA members are treated to a tour of the My Own Meat Shop. Shop owner, Jesus Cham showed samples of the different products and explained the merits of his packaged products compared to the wet market. Pictured on the left are William Villanueva (Purity Supermarket), Juanito Cua (Welcome Supermarket), Johnny Lim (680 Supermart) and Jesus Cham. Mr. Cham gave a tour of the plant and show how the products are packaged during tour of the plant where walk-in freezers kept at a contant temperature of -18 degrees ensure the quality of the meat. Picture on the right shows Robert Ang and (Topline Supermarket), Juanito Cua (Welcome Supermart), William Villanueva (Purity Supermarket) and Mr. Jesus Cham. Mr. Cham using a laser thermometer to take the temperature of the products inside the freezers. Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 March 2008 )

One of the benefits of being a PAGASA member is getting your own pagasa.org.ph email address. You can have an e-mail like "name_of_your_store @ pagasa.org.ph". PAGASA mailboxes are now powered by Google. This means that you get about 4.5mb (and counting) of mailbox, superior spam and virus protection and you can access your e-mail using your favorite mail reader, use a web browser and even your cellphone! If you are a member in good standing, just get in touch with the secretariat and request for your personalized mailbox.

Timberland Sports and Nature Club was the host for the evening of 3rd Quarterly PAGASA Gen Meet. Timberland Sports and Nature Club is a first-rate private membership club that offers a wide range of activities and amenities for the entire family. It is just a 15-minute drive from the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. The club is situated within the masterplanned Timberland Heights, a vast 677-hectare resort town development of Filinvest Land in San Mateo, Rizal. The 9-hectare sports and recreational development has an elevation of 345 meters above sea level, affording a fabulous view of Manila Bay, Makati, and Ortigas skylines. From gourmet dining to poolside relaxation, scale the peaks of luxury in a postcard-perfect club setting.

Timberland Sports and Nature Club was the host for the evening of 3rd Quarterly PAGASA Gen Meet. Timberland Sports and Nature Club is a first-rate private membership club that offers a wide range of activities and amenities for the entire family. It is just a 15-minute drive from the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. The club is situated within the masterplanned Timberland Heights, a vast 677-hectare resort town development of Filinvest Land in San Mateo, Rizal. The 9-hectare sports and recreational development has an elevation of 345 meters above sea level, affording a fabulous view of Manila Bay, Makati, and Ortigas skylines. From gourmet dining to poolside relaxation, scale the peaks of luxury in a postcard-perfect club setting.

Last September 28, PAGASA members held its 3rd quarterly gen meet for the year at the Mangan restaurant in Trinoma. After the meeting, the members held an election for a new set of directors for the terms 2007 - 2009. Elected that night were Steven Cua, Roy Chua, Liansel Sy, Karl Tan, Robert Ang, Johnny Lim, Fred Gravador, Edgar Robles and William Villanueva. Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 March 2008 )

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua speaks at the Formal Opening of AsiaFood Expo 2007. To his left are Jesse M. Tanchanco, Jr./Chairman-Food Entrepreneurs & Exporters of the Philippines (FEOP), Senate Majority Floor Leader Francisco Pangilinan, Phil. Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) Pres. Samie Lim, Pamela J. Forshage/Pres.-Phil. Chamber of Food Manufacturers and Phil. Assn. of Food Technologists Pres. Leticia S. Pilando. Senate Majority Floor Leader Francisco Pangilinan tours the exhibits presented at AsiaFood 2007 with PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua. To the Senator’s right is Phil. Chamber of Commerce & Industry Pres. Samie Lim.

PAGASA Members at the 2007 National Retailers Conference & Exhibition are fascinated by the new print technology from Korea, a machine which can print anything on any surface instantly. Fil-Canadian exhibitor Edward Liangco (2nd from left) illustrates to PAGASA Dir. Robert Ang-Topline, Member Freddie Gravador-Simplicity Ministop (in green) and Dir. Edgar Robes-Susanamart. Nope! The four in red costume are not PAGASA Delegates who attended NARCE 2007. They are part of a presentation made by Speaker John Calvin Yu for Philips Lighting in stressing proper lighting and color rendition. With them are (from left) PAGASA Dir. Edgar Robes-Susanamart, Pres. Steven Cua-Welcome and Paul Elton & Wesley Lao of Drugman Drughouse & Supermarket from Palawan.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua was the presentor for the 2nd day’s first afternoon session at the National Retailers Conference 2007. He handled the session of John Calvin Yu, Marketing Manager of Philips Lighting, who just turned 26! Unfortunately, the picture of Mr. Yu did not turn out clear.

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua is invited as resource speaker by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. on the topic of Food Packaging Appealing to the Consumer as part of a 10-day Seminar on Food Packaging. His session was held on 15 August 2007 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao. The Seminar takes a break as participants sip coffee and exchange notes. Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. Pres. John Gaisano (in barong) with PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua and Seminar Organizer Alice Pineda gamely takes a shot with Seminar participants.

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua (in jacket) joins representatives of retailers from SM, Mercury and PASI in citing observations to the proposed Discounts for Disabled Persons as an amendment to the law>Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and for other Purposes>granting additional privileges and incentives. Presiding Officer for the Dept. of Trade & Industry, Asst. Sec. Maria Lourdes T. Baua (5th from left) stresses a point at the Consultative Meeting to grant discounts to Disabled Persons. With her from left are Joy Garcia-CEO/Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Richard Arceno-Nat’l.Coordinator/PHILCOCHED, Dep. Exec. Dir. Mateo Lee of the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP), and Atty./Dir. Benjamin Subido-DTI-OLA aside from other participants from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the National Food Authority, Dept. of Interiors & Local Gov’t. and others.

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua is invited as resource speaker by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. on the topic of Food Packaging Appealing to the Consumer as part of a 10-day Seminar on Food Packaging. His session was held on 15 August 2007 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao. The Seminar takes a break as participants sip coffee and exchange notes. Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. Pres. John Gaisano (in barong) with PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua and Seminar Organizer Alice Pineda gamely takes a shot with Seminar participants.

On 11 August 2007, unto PAGASA was born its newest member-outlet in the shape of Budgetlane SulitMarket! It is strategically located practically at the junction of General Luna St. in San Mateo, Rizal and Banaba Road (which connects to Batasan Road, QC); where foot and vehicle traffic is pretty heavy and lucrative. Standing “conspicuously” in the middle of the picture is proud owner Dir. Karl Marxist Tan, PAGASA’s Sec.Gen. This counts as PAGASA’s 144th member-store.

PAGASA is invited to a Discussion Meeting of the Department of Agriculture on the Supply of Chicken in Metro Manila. On the left side of the Board Room table at the Penthouse of the Landbank Plaza in Ermita, Manila sits Secretary Arthur Yap (3rd from left) and his undersecretaries/assistant secretaries while opposite them are the key stakeholders in the chicken industry including market vendors and supermarket operators.

The 16th National Retailers Conference will be held at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel, Mandaluyong City EXPO - August 15-17 CONFERENCE - August 16-17 2 days of information-packed sessions by industry leaders & experts on the latest trends, growth strategies and innovations to help retailers transform their business to world-class standards! 3 days of STORES ASIA EXPO showcasing the latest tools and technologies to grow your business at the only dedicated and FOCUSED Retail Suppliers Expo in the country! Contact PHILIPPINE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION (PRA) for more details @ 687-4180/4181 email: ebbs@nwave.net / philretailers@gmail.com cellphone: 0920-2347840

PAGASA Buying Delegates at the 2nd Yamang Mindanao OTOP (One Town One Product project of the Dept. of Trade & Industry) Island Fair held at the “densely populated” KCC Mall in General Santos City in Mindanao. From left, Steve Cua representing Royal Family Superstore, Johnny Lim of 680 Supermarket, Karl Tan of the SuperPalengke Group and Bobby Ang of Watson’s Supermarket.

PAGASA will have its 3rd Quarter Gen Meet on June 29, 2007

Manila Food and Beverage Expo 2007 June 20 - 24, 2007 World Trade Center

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry held a consultative hearing regarding a joint Senior Citizen booklet last June 7, 2007 at the Apacible Hall of the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City. The meeting included representatives from the different Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) chapters, representatives from the Philippine Association of Supermarkets (PASI) led by Attorney Fred Plez, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA) led by its president Steve Cua, and a representative from Mercury Drug. The government was represented by people from the Department of Social Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Director Dimagiba for the Department of Trade and Industry.

PAGASA Members joined the CEO Forum for Retailers and Department Stores organized by GS1 (Global System 1) Phils. in standardizing bar codes and procedures that go with barcoding held in Mar. 2007.

PAGASA President Steven Cua is key note speaker on Retailing at the launch of Barter Merchandise Management System by Ripple e-Business, Inc. recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

PAGASA President Steven T. Cua (center) is invited as guest at the Saturday morning radio program of the Vice President of the Phil., Hon. Noli de Castro (upper right) to discuss recent price movements in milk products and vegetables. To Mr. Cua's right is the representative from the Market Vendors Association (NAMVESCO), Lyndon Tan (Pres.-Vegetable Growers Association of the Phil.), Dept. of Trade & Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (back to the camera in violet) and PASI Spokesperson Atty. Federico Ples (in green).

PAGASA Members recently joined a Retail Marketing Seminar handled by Trade Dynamics, Inc.'s dynamic Managing Director Migs Suterio (standing at center). Listening intently are PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua (beside Migs) and Desmond Chua of Daily Supermart (rightmost with glasses) surrounded by other retailers and PAGASA members.