On 6 Dec. 2012, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) holds its Year-End Food and Agri Business Conference at its campus. Invited to delve on the Food Retail Industry is PAGASA's STC.  Entitled "Phil. Food & Agriculture: On Track for Growth?" industry speakers discussed the Food Service, Banana, Coconut and Vegetables Industries.  Dr. Rolando Dy, Exec. Dir. of the Center for Food & Agri Business of the UA&P, ends the conference with a discussion on Agriculture Scenarios in 2012-2013. Together with STC, they both tackled issues during the open forum portion of the Conference.

STC is invited once more to Umagang Kay Ganda on 4 Dec. 2012.  This time, he is interviewed by Ariel Ureta and BernadetteSembrano-Aguinaldo on the do's-and-don'ts of Christmas Shopping. STC shows a PAGASA Reusable Bag saying that for this Yuletide Season, alot of people may shift from gift wrapping their gifts to giving them inside Ecobags which are more useful and environment-friendly.

STC and "Umagang Kay Ganda" host Venus Raj are briefed by Segment Producer Ethel Sto. Domingo (in violet) before going live on the 30 Nov. 2012 edition of the popular morning show.  Venus and true-to-life boyfriend Andrei interview STC regarding Noche Buena under the trees of the Quezon Memorial Circle. After the shoot, STC takes a group shot with daughter Ana Sharmila (in white) and the regular hosts of Umagang Kay Ganda.

DTI's Dir. Dimagiba of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and ConsumerProtection (BTRCP) calls a meeting on 13 Nov. 2012 to update himself on the problems of the retail industry.  He also requested industrymembers to cooperate with BTRCP with the regular collation/monitoringof prices of basic necessities and prime commodities so that hisDepartment is fully aware of the movement of prices in the economy.

PAGASA was invited to the FILSCAP annual celebration with subscriberson 8 Nov. 2012 at the Garden Wing of the EDSA Shangrila Hotel. TheFilipino Songwriters, Composers, Arrangers and Producers (FILSCAP)Pres. Noel Cabangon is pictured with STC and Phil. Retailers' Sec.Gen. Evelyn Salire.  Another picture shows STC engaged in conversationwith SM Supercenter's Pres. Annie Garcia who also graced the affair

PAGASA's STC was invited as a Resource Speaker by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) on 18 Oct. 2012 to address the Executive Directors of the many corporate foundations and cooperatives on "How to Supply to Supermarkets." Towards a more sustained development of the various communities involved, the LCF held their annual Roundtable Discussion at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong.  Together with the Merchandise Managers of Savemore (for food/non-food/fresh produce) and Kultura, STC gave the audience pointers to remember when supplying the modern trade. An open forum ensued to clarify issues and provide consultation as necessary.

On 17 Oct. 2012, PAGASA held its 3Q General Meeting at the UCC Coffee Cafe Terrace at the Forbes Town Center inside Bonifacio Global City. Concerns on Consolidation of the Retail Industry, Ordinances on Ban/Regulation of Plastic Bags, No Vehicle Ban on Delivery Trucks for Basic Necessities during Calamities, Sin Taxes, recent Conference Learning Points and others were discussed that dusk. Members proceeded to attend the Induction Ceremony of new Officers/Directors of the Phil. Confectionery, Biscuit & Snack Food Association (PCBSA) at the Manila Polo Club. President-elect Reynaldo Go of Columbia Candy Factory poses with PAGASA Members for a souvenir shot at the end of the function.

For 2012, DTI prepared a major function to welcome the Consumer WelfareMonth Celebration on 11 Oct.  At Function Room 3 of the SMX, Pres. BenignoS. Aquino III officially gave the Keynote Address in highlighting ConsumerWelfare at the Event.  STC had a picture taken at one of the exhibition boothswith National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC) Chairman Pepito Jose andExec. Dir. Velma Lim (both in white) as well as other Members of the Council.

DTI’s Bureau of Trade Regulations & Consumer Protection (BTRCP) is in charge of drafting the new Order rationalizing fines for the revised Consumer Act of the Philippines and the Law on Standards as deliberated in Congress.  The Draft Order cites the responsibilities of Manu- facturers, Distributors/Wholesalers and Retailers and corresponding penalties if these sectors are found guilty of violating consumer’s rights and welfare, of carrying products/services that have a negative effect on national economy or the fiscal interest of a consumer or of selling products/services that have a negative effect on life, health & safety of consumers. Gerardo Calderon handled the multi-sectoral forum.

Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink 2012 was launched on 4 Oct. 2012 andPAGASA was represented at the event.  It is PAGASA's 14th year as a Co-operator of the biggest Agri-business Tradeshow in the country  (PAGASA acted as Chair of the 2007 edition of the Show). PAGASA's STC is also sworn in as the Chairman for Agri-Supermarkets of the Phil. Chamber of Agriculture and Fisheries, Inc. by Dept. of Agriculture Sec. Prospero Alcala at the same event.  This year's event was swarming with exhibitors, guests and visitors.

PAGASA's STC was invited as a guest to a live Cable TV Show called "Practical Business" on 20 Sept. 2012 at the studios of the Global News Network (GNN).  It is hosted by veteran newcaster Miguel Gil.  The other guest is Mr. Luna Go of the Textile Assn. of the Phils.  Topic was the state of the Phil. supermarket and textile industry as well as the issue on plastic bags.  GNN is seen in HK, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and the Philippines.

At the height of a little controversy in implementation and some confusion in execution on the P2 penalty charged to QC customers who do not bring their own reusable bag/s or used plastic bag/s (for retailers to collect and surrender to plastic recyclers) when they shop, GMA 7's Saleema Refran catches up with PAGASA's STC on a Sunday>9/9/12 morning at the Centris Station while the latter was doing some weekend shopping with the family. Discussion centered on the strict compliance of said QC Ordinance in public/wet markets and flea markets (temporary tiangges). The penalty was observed beginning 1 Sept. 2012.

PAGASA was invited to grace the opening of Food & Drinks Asia at the World Trade Center on 6 Sept. 2012. Together with STC (L-R) is Josephine P. Miranda/EVP of LNA Mgt. Grp. Corp.>organizer of the Show, PASI's Carlos V. Cabochan; Chef Roberto P. Francisco/Pres.-Hotel & Restaurant Chefs Assn. of the Phils.; PhilExport Pres. Sergio R. Luis-Ortiz, Jr.; Dir. Leandro H. Gazmin of DA's Agribusiness & Marketing Assitance Service and Mr. Raul Robles from the office of Pasay Congresswoman Calixto. Mr. Miguel Romero Salas/Pres.>Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Phils.(leftmost) and guests from Mexico joined in the ribbon-cutting.

PAGASA's STC was invited as a Resource Person at the third Senate Hearing on Sin Taxes on 30 August 2012. At the Session Hall were Ways & Means Committee Members Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ralph Recto (Chairman of the Committee), Franklin Drilon and Pia Cayetano. Attentively attending the Sessions were top honchos from the DOF and DOH aside from BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, DTI Usec. Adrian Cristobal, Jr. and all the stakeholders for the said Bill. The Committee was hurrying up to decide on the increase of excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes before the year ends.

PAGASA was invited to the Senate's Session Hall to contest the proposed/controversial 706% increase in cigarette taxes and to present our position on said Sin Taxes. The Hearing took the whole of 23 Aug. 2012 but only accomplished hearing the side of the manufacturers both for alcohol, cigars and cigarettes. Sen. Ralph Recto is the Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee of the Upper House. Present on that day were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Franklin Drilon and Pia Cayetano. Resource people included DOF Sec. Cesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares and many other officers involved in this Issue. Hearing for the retailers resume on 30 Aug. 2012. Being in Senate and monitoring the presentations of the pro- and anti-bill proponents, PAGASA gets a better big picture of the situation.

DOLE commissioned De la Salle University's Lecturer Christopher Cabuay to come up with career guides for various occupations. On 22 Aug., he invited PAGASA and other retailers to La Salle Campus' Ramon del Rosario Sr. Bldg. in Manila to comment on their prepared Guide to confirm the accuracy of their paper.

DTI Meeting with MMDA on Exemptions on Truck Ban Delivering Relief Items to and from Supermarkets/Relief Centers. MMDA Usec. Corazon T. Jimenez (in red) met with members of the Phil. Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Philbaking and PAGASA to announce the lifting of the truck ban in certain affected cities/municipalities during calamities for a period of five (5) days from when disaster striked. Moderating the Meeting was Director of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) Atty. Victorio Dimagiba of the DTI at his office on 22 August 2012. All stakeholders agreed to cooperate and help out asap during periods of difficulty.

PAGASA attended the PASI Conference at Bacolod on 16-17 August 2012 at the L'Fisher Hotel.  There were seven from Cebu, two from Bataan/Zambales, one from Tuguegarao (despite the on-going typhoon in that area during that time!) and six from Metro Manila/Bulacan area. After the learning, the delegates decided to go on a nature-trip in the province of Negros Occidental on 18 August. Needless to say, it was a riotous and fun-filled activity. For more pictures, Facebook/Pagasa

For 2012, the National Retail Conference & Exhibition (NRCE) was attended by six delegates from PAGASA. It was held at the SMX on 9-10 August. Robert Go of the Visayas region's Prince Warehouse Club chain of supermarkets went with eldest daughter Rhea and other manager-relatives.  Frances J. Yu of the Rustan Super Centers, Inc. gave a very inspiring, holistic and dynamic perspective of people-centered and service-oriented supermarket management.  To add spice to the presentations at the Conference, the topic of "Retailtainment" was tackled by the SM Group, the Ayala Group and Megaworld's "Lifestyle Malls" which gave the delegates a taste of Broadway's "The King and I" about to be performed at the theatre of Resorts World Manila.

PAGASA's STC was invited once again to be an organizer for this year's National Retailers Conference & Exhibitions to be held at the SMX on 9-10 Aug. 2012. Attending this first session in a series of meetings before the event, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) President Frederick Go of Robinson's Land Corp. joined in to discuss the theme for the Conference. PRA is the organizer of the annual event.

During the wee hours of August 7, 2012, heavy rainfall due to a LowPressure Area/Monsoon Rains resulted in flooding all over Metro  Manila.  Some stores were inundated and roads were inaccessible.  For those which opened, they experienced long queues at the counters. Being heavily undermanned because employees living in low-lying areas had no ride and access to work, supermarkets continued to service wary but calm customers all day through.

P AGASA attends the Inspirational Seminar called Voices of Leadership featuring (on pics) NutriAsia’s CEO Noel Lorenzana and Hapinoy Managing Director Mark Ruiz aside from Inspirational Guru Francis Kong, Hyundai’s Fe Perez-Agudo and former Presidential New Media Head Jay Jaboneta. (L-R) Johnny Lim, Roy Chua, Arvilene Añonuevo, STC, Mark Ruiz, Myke Teodoro, William Villanueva, Leticia Badilla and Agnes Jucom of PAGASA left the Seminar all inspired and fired-up to become great leaders! 

To follow through on the Public Hearing held by the Quezon City Government regarding its ordinance on the regulated use of plastic bags, staff of the QC Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department invited their consultant, Mr. Christopher L. Sabarez to dialogue with PAGASA's QC Members at Max's Restaurant at the Quezon Circle on 26 July 2012.  Camille Cammayo, Hirene Villanueva and Ronnie Perez of EPWMD were there to answer questions on the Internal Rules & Regulations of said Ordinance effective August 1, 2012.

STC was invited to a seminar organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on 7/11/12: "Leveraging Online Marketing to Expand Internationally"at Intercontinental Hotel Manila under Southeast Asian & India Region Head Loretta Wan and Simon Lo who are both based in Bangkok. They are exploring opportunities with PAGASA since their visit/meeting here last December.

The PAGASA Board held its 2/Q Meeting   at Congo Grille T. Morato to discuss the on-going consolidation of the supermarket industry.  Present (clockwise) were 680's Johnny Lim (in yellow), Welcome Supermart's Steven Cua, Simplicity Ministop's Fred Gravador, Purity Supermarket's William Villanueva and (formerly) Parco Supermarket's Patrick Ong. All other directors were out-of-the-country/town for trade shows/business.

The Public Private Partnership Centre, an attached agency of NEDA has mandated PricewaterhouseCoopers as Transaction Advisors for the establishment of a Cold Chain System for Metro Manila's needs. PwC Proj. Fin. Specialist Noel Custodio (2L) together with U.P. Professors Cecilio Costales (hands together) and Renato Reside Jr. (striped shirt) acting as Supply Chain Consultants interviewed PAGASA's William Villanueva, STC (partly hidden) and VP Fred Gravador on 6/22/12 regarding the status and preparedness of supermarkets to carry fresh produce.

On 19 June 2012, Yohann Autret/Export Manager of Domaine de la Ferrandiere visited the PAGASA Office to study the possibility of marketing their wine to the Philippine market.  Production is from their vineyard in Southern France where he hails from.

At the latest offing of MAFBEX (Manila Food & Bev. Expo) held at the World Trade Center from 13-17 June 2012, STC talks to suppliers William Lim of WL Foods (in white) and Jenelyn Antonio of Ehje Peanut Butter (with PAGASA Treasurer Bobby Ang). The Ehje Story is an inspiration for most Micro- and SME's.

PAGASA was invited to attend a Forum on Social Enterprises organized by the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship on 23 May 2012.  A House Bill (No. 6085) has been filed as the Magna Carta for Social Enterprises Act of 2012.  Businesses are asked to help in the mainstreaming of these groups aimed at self-help and poverty alleviation.

On 22 May 2012, STC attended another public hearing of the Technical Working Group for the amended Consumer Act of the Philippines at Congress representing the private sector.  The TWG was chaired by Atty. Rhodora Raterta and its Secretariat Head Valentin Palanca.  Various bill proposals are being considered by the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection & Trade Regulation headed by Cong. Tomas Apacible.

STC was invited by the Local Wine & Liquor Cluster (aided by the government) to discuss how they can penetrate the local market and possibly get on the shelves of PAGASA Member-stores. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Agriculture at its offices along Elliptical Road. Wines manufactured using local fruits were bottled with considerable improvement in packaging from years ago.