PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua is interviewed by ABS-CBN's Pinky Webb on highly-*rated Morning Show "Umagang Kay Ganda" regarding supply of sugar and pricewatch on popular food items for the coming Christmas.

In view of the alleged shortage in the supply of sugar in the market for the last few weeks of 2009 and its resulting swift increase in price, the Dept. of Trade & Industry has coordinated with the Sugar Regulatory Administration under Administrator Rafael L. Coscolluela (left, with glasses) to discuss with sugar distributors and retailers (STC, middle background) on how to even out supply to the market at affordable prices.

PAGASA's 4Q GenMeet-cum-Christmas Get-together was hosted by iPay Solutions, Inc.>a payment gateway do-it-all card Company. It was held at the Techportal Building within the UP-Ayala TechnoHub along Commonwealth Avenue where I.T. Incubation projects are hatched.

PAGASA's Steve Cua was tasked to be a presentor at the Outstanding Filipino Retailers & Shopping Centers of the Year Awards organized by the Philippine Retailers Association. This year's recipient for the President's Award for Retailer of the Year goes to Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. here shown with STC.

Mr. Buddhika Haputhanthri is from the Credit & Research Team of Mizuho Corporate Bank (2nd Biggest Bank in Japan). He is based in Singapore and was on an Asean tour to do a study on retail developments in the region. Here he is shown interviewing PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua.

PAGASA Pres. STC was the invited Speaker to talk about “Entrepreneurial Investments” at the Ateneo National Student-Investors’ Convention by the Ateneo Management Economics Org. done at the Leong Hall Auditorium of the Ateneo de Manila University. Students from some 15 Schools in Metro Manila attended the 1-day Convention.

Gen. Rosales discussed about the available technologies that can help the police force and retailers in their security and safety needs and how it helps augment the capability of the police force thus effectively decreasing the incidence of crime in Metro Manila. He encouraged the business community to hook up with the NCRPO in its efforts to make the capital more secure for everyone and for the group to share resources for the procurement of new technology.

PAGASA Dir. Karl Tan (3rd from left) stresses a point at Meeting of National Price Coordinating Council regarding Price Controls and its ill effects on supply and demand. PAGASA Pres. STC (center, background) listens intently at the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Meeting chaired by Vice Pres. Noli de Castro and Dept. of Trade & Industry Sec. Peter Favila. The Body assessed the situation and conditions for lifting of Price Controls in the aftermath of Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi.

With the spate of urban bombings meant to sow confusion and the recent high-profile hold-up of a Rolex Shop, PAGASA joined the Phil. Retailers Assn. when it held a Dialogue with Major Gen. Roberto Rosales/Police Director for the National Capital Region at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig. Major topics discussed were shoplifting and securing the malls during peak hours.

IDEA (Inst. For Dev’t. and Econometric Analysis, Inc.) interviews PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua for a study on SMEs. Study was carried out by Marianne Vital and Anthony Chua.

As the issue on Price Control heats up due to the recent spate of typhoons (Ketsana/Ondoy & Parma/Pepeng), PAGASA’s STC (right on lower frame) is invited as guest on 10/10/09 at the radio-television program of DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (in orange top frame) and anchorman Alvin Elchico to clear up gray areas in implementation of said Control. With STC is PASI’s Atty. Federico Ples and Asst. Sec. Angel Pelayo of the Dept. of Trade & Industry.

PAGASA’s STC is invited as guest on NBN-4’s noontime show “Money Matters” on 9 Oct. 2009 to discuss Supply and Demand of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities in the light of Typhoons Ketsana/Ondoy & Parma/Pepeng.

STC lends a hand at the opening of the country’s biggest Agri-business Show AGRILINK, FOODLINK, AQUALINK at the World Trade Center on 8 Oct. 2009. With him is Franklin M. Panahon, one of the Show’s Organizers and the mascot of B-Meg Feeds.

PAGASA was invited to set up a booth to showcase our Position on the Recycling of Plastic Bags at Plastics Phils. 2009>one of 8 Shows at the Manufacturing Technology World 2009 held at SMX from 7-10 October

Dept. of Trade & Industry Sec. Favila (in yellow), Dept. of Agriculture Sec. Yap (in white beside Favila) and DTI Usec. Maglaya (in pink) call an Emergency Meeting two days after Ondoy struck to take stock of the situation with industry leaders. Across the 3 are the officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The two Sec.’s mentioned that they will implement price ceilings on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities to avoid manipulation by retailers/businessmen.

VP Roy Chua (in jacket) and Pres. Steve Cua (with daughter Ana Sharmila) donates relief goods in behalf of PAGASA at Tulong Bayan Headquarters in Cubao a day after the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana

Ondoy/Ketsana’s wrath is illustrated in this PAGASA Member-store’s mad scramble by customers for a pair of decent slippers after theirs were washed away in the floods they had to wade on. There was also an uptick in the sales of panties and men’s underwear just to emphasize the height of floods that day!

Alveo Land Corporation, a division of the AyalaLand Group catering to the middle income high-rise market, hosted the 3rd Quarterly General Membership Meeting of PAGASA held at the Mile Hi Diner within the Mezza Residences Complex in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

PhilBAKING, the Association of top Bread Producers in the country (supplying over 70% of commercial breads sold locally) invited PAGASA’s STC as the speaker for their 09/09 Monthly General Meeting at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. He presented the various displays of breads in the different supermarkets in Metro Manila.

Ms. Cathy M. Romero of Matutum Meat Packing Corp. comes all the way from Polomolok, So. Cotabato to meet STC to offer PAGASA Members quality chilled pork cuts from down south.

PAGASA attended the BIR Briefing organized by the PRA on Revenue Memo Circular No. 19-2009 regarding Procedures on Issuance/Cancellation of “Permit to Use” CRM, POS, SPM and Similar Sales Machines which take effect on 1 July 2009.

PAGASA Pres. STC gives the Senior Entrepreneurship Students of De la Salle University along Taft Avenue a lecture on Retail Entrepreneurship in their Integration Course o n 25 Aug.’09.

Attendees to the National Retailers Conference 2009 held at the SMX-Mall of Asia Complex. (L-R) Jovee Dimayuga/Isetann, STC, Romeo Tan/Liberty Commercial Corp (LCC), Patrick Ong and Ciara Santos of Parco Supermart. This year’s interesting Conference and Stores Asia Exhibit was moved to a new location.

3rd Board Meeting ’09 was held at the residence of Dir. Karl Tan who converted his abode into a cozy dining place.  To transform his culinary expertise into a fine dining experience, Karl (center) donned his chef’s attire and invited two of his chef-associates to prepare the evening’s meal for the PAGASA Board (L-R) Roy Chua, Jay Sia, STC, Karl, Bobby Ang, Johnny Lim and Liansel Sy. Missing the night’s elegance was William Villanueva and Fred Gravador.

Mr. Sunny Chau, Economist from the HongKong Trade Development Council interviews STC on the economic state of food retailers given the global recession experienced by most countries in 2009.  With them is Ms. Maribeth M. Barros who coordinates for the HKTDC in the Philippines.

Mr. Filas Fu-Sheng Chen/Director (L) of the Eco. Div. of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in the Phils. hosted lunch for the Directors of PAGASA who attended the Taipei Food Show June of 2009 at EDSA Shangrila’s Senju Jap. Restaurant. Missing in picture is Mr. Harry Chen Huei-Chin who paved the way for this lunch meeting. (L-R) PAGASA Directors Fred Gravador, Johnny Lim, STC, Bobby Ang and Roy Chua enjoyed discussions with the genteel diplomat.

PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua meets up with U.N. F.A.O.’s Andrew Shepherd for discussions on food supply and distribution channels in the country for a Study the latter is doing for the World Bank. Discussions took place at EDSA Shangrila’s Lobby Lounge on 17 July 2009.

PAGASA Members meet for the 2nd Q ’09 at Eastwood City’s Shanghai Bistro. Oracle Systems Phils., Inc. hosts for the evening Attendees line up to listen to the Session on “Accessing Bigger Markets” for SME’s at the CSR (Corp. Social Responsibility) Expo ‘09 organized by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) at the SMX. PAGASA Pres. STC speaks at this Session. PAGASA Pres. STC (seated, 2nd-L) exchanges information with SM Super Value, Inc.’s EVP Robert Kwee at the Session on “Accessing Bigger Markets” at CSR Expo 2009 CSR Expo ‘09’s session host Pam Castro of Pilipinas Shell Foundation acknowledges the four speakers on the Session “Accessing Bigger Markets”: (L-R) SDC Asia’s Exec. Dir. Marianne Boquiren, STC, SM’s EVP Robert Kwee and Grace Tacuyong, Manager of Upland Marketing Foundation which integrates products from the micro enterprises.

Steven T. Cua, President of PAGASA gets his caricature award from Robert Go/Prince Warehouse Club of Cebu (also PAGASA Member) who is on the Board of the Phil. Retailers Association’s Cebu Chapter. Mr. Cua spoke on Green Retailing at the Chapter’s 3rd Annual Conference at Parklane Hotel, Cebu. PAGASA’s STC poses with (L-R) Melanie Ng/ Pres.-PRA Cebu Chap./Ng Khai Group of Co.’s, Mars Chua/PRA’s Past Pres. & current Vice Chairman/Sports House, Jay Aldeguer/ PRA Cebu’s founding Pres. & current Chairman/Islands Souvenirs, Chris Tiu/Conf. Host/Board Member-Cebu Chap., Evelyn Balmeo Salire/PRA Sec.Gen. and Bernie Liu/Pres.-elect, Phil. Retailers Assn./Penshoppe Group of Co.’s at the 3rd Cebu Retailers Conference. After the 3rd Annual Conference of the Cebu Retailers, PAGASA’s STC joins (L-R) Robert Go/ Past Pres. of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (also PAGASA Member), Chef Raki Urbina of the highly successful Café de Laguna and

PAGASA officers led by President Steven Cua attended the Taiwan International Food Show held in Taipei last June 23-26, 2009. Five PAGASA Board Members attended the Taipei Food Show held at the Nankang World Trade Center. (L-R) Pres. Steve Cua. Dir. Johnny Lim, Dir. Fred Gravador, Corp. Sec. Karl Tan and VP Roy Chua PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua about to sample a unique-flavored instant noodle at the Taipei Food Show with the exhibitor’s Export Manager (beside him), Simplicity Ministop’s Fred Gravador (PAGASA Director) and PAGASA VP Roy Chua/ Daily Supermarket (right) It’s pleasure after business as PAGASA Board Members who attended the Taipei Food Show enjoy an authentic Taiwanese Shabu-Shabu dinner. (L-R) Daily Supermarket’s Roy Chua, 680 Home Appliances/Supermarket’s Johnny Lim, Budgetlane Group’s Karl Tan, Welcome Supermart’s Steve Cua and Simplicity Ministop’s Fred Gravador savors a hearty meal.

PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua entertains visitors from the Office of Muslim Affairs promoting halal at the Manila Food and Beverage Expo ‘09 PAGASA Dir. Jay Sia and wife Alma visit the Association’s booth at MAFBEX on 20 June 2009. With them are (L-R) PAGASA Staff Joylen Villanueva and Nerissa Nalos. The PAGASA Booth at MAFBEX ‘09 (Mla. Food & Bev. Expo) enjoyed a good number of visitors looking into the activities of the Association

PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua (center) meets with other members of the Organizer’s Committee for the 2009-edition of the National Retailers Conference organized by the Phil. Retailers Association (PRA)

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua receives from Chairman Emeritus of the Phil. Retailers Association and past President of the Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mr. Sammie Lim a Plaque of Distinction in behalf of PAGASA for Active Participation at the National Retailers Conference 2008. Given on 17 June 2009 at the General Meeting of the Philippine Retailers Association.

PAGASA President Steven T. Cua was the Industry Speaker at the IBM Business Reality Summit held on 4 June at the Peninsula Manila. He represented the Phil. Retailers Association in behalf of PAGASA which is an active affiliate-member of the PRA to deliver the talk on Prospects for Retailing in 2009.

Pinoy ME (stands for Filipino Micro-Enterprises) is an NGO under the Cory Aquino Foundation. It held its Annual 2-day Conference for the country’s many Non-Governmental Organizations in the summer city of Tagaytay. PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua (center) handled the workshop on How Micro-Enterprises can Supply Supermarkets as part of PAGASA’s contribution in practicing Social Responsibility.

PAGASA Vice Pres. Roy Chua gives a talk on Packaging at the World Food Expo WOFEX Visayas on 4/22/09. Event was held at the Cebu International Convention Center. Shown congratulating him are Organizers Joel Pascual and Olivia Dizon of Premier Events Plus Group, Inc.

PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua is invited as guest at ANC’s 1-hour entrepreneur show Shoptalk with host Pia Hontiveros (right) and other guests on the topic of the Wholesale Industry.

Pres. Steven T. Cua gave a lecture on Leadership to a class of foreign exchange students and Ateneo students who studied abroad for one semester in their Leadership and Strategy Class at the Ateneo Campus on 11 March 2009.

PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua (seated, right) was invited as a Resource Panelist at discussions on World-Class Pinoy at the 1st EntrePinoy Student Camp at CrossRoad 77 where thousands of college students from all over the country attended to listen to entrepreneurs share their stories. The session’s moderator was workshop speaker Raju Mandhyan and participated by (L-R) Steven Ching/Robbie Rabbit Bags, celebrity Regine Tolentino/Boutique & Dance Studio and Bing Limjoco/Francorp & Phil. Franchising Assn.