Relief Goods Donation for Marinduque

On its 20th Year, PAGASA initiates a Relief Goods Donation Program within its organization to help out battered Marinduque province from the merciless winds of Super Typhoon Reming (which ravaged Albay province the most). All government effort was focused on Albay (a 200-strong caravan of relief goods was organized by the Office of the President for this province) so PAGASA decided to help out Marinduque where efforts were less concerted and organized. You can check out www.helpmarinduque.org for details.

In picture, PAGASA President Steven T. Cua (center) personally delivers the donated goods with youngest daughter, Ana Sharmila (2nd from left), to the air cargo center where relief items were air-lifted to Marinduque.

Linawin Natin

PAGASA President Steve Cua goes one-on-one with respected journalist/columnist Jarius Bondoc of The Philippine Star Daily in the weekly show "Linawin Natin" (Let's Clear Up Issues"). Topic for this episode was "Supply and Demand of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities for the Christmas Season of 2006."

PAGASA 20th Anniversary

Dear Members,

We are about to celebrate our 20th Anniversary Christmas Party at the Quezon City Sports Club’s New Air-conditioned Sports Lounge (an improvement in a section of the former Sports Lounge on the ground level beside the children’s playground) on 7 DECEMBER 2006 (Thursday) from 7:00-10:00pm.  The theme for our Party this year will be: “TWO DECADES OF SUPERMARKETS!”

 We will have a mini-exhibit of pictures of PAGASA member-stores so we hope you come and join us and tell us the stories behind your store(s). We will try to dispense with the reports this time and have a good time partying and reminiscing the early days of PAGASA (especially for those who have been with the Association since the late 80’s>calling Boy del Mundo, Jimmy Gow, Mina Catungal, George Cua and Johnny Lim).

As for our exchange gift portion, we are asking everybody joining us that evening to storm their brains (brainstorm?) and come up with the most exciting, most worthy, best value-for-money your P 20.00 can buy!  We will all bring a gift item worth P 20.00 (or less) that will capture the imagination of the recipient/receiver.  If you can bring a jewel box worth P 20.00 then you have a worthy gift for the person who will receive it.  Let’s not be tamad and try to think of something creative to give our fellow members. Now what can I buy with P 20.00? Two cans of Coke? Dito makikita ang pagiging maparaan mo bilang negosyante.  Sulit ba ang receiver ng gift mo sa P20.00 na ginastos mo? Each person who receives his (exchange) gift will open his/her gift in front of the whole party! (Of course, you can get generous and tie-up your P 20.00 gift with one that is worth P 20,000.00 and the recipient will definitely not mind receiving the additional gift attached to the original P 20.00 gift!) Let’s refrain by putting a P20.00 bill (or its pecuniary equivalent) inside a red envelope and the like.
Anyone who brings an item (pictures, pants <you can wear them to the party IF they still fit!>, pets, books or what-have-you) that is dated from 30 August 1986 (founding date of PAGASA) to 31 December 1986 (as such, paraphernalia from EDSA Revolution <Feb. of 1986> does not count) will get a special prize! There has to be proof that the item was purchased, manufactured or came into being during the period concerned. One prize per person only even if you bring items plentiful enough to fill a house.  This is just for fun purposes and to reminisce the old times or bring up new stories about yourselves during the era when PAGASA was in its infancy. Members like Emerson Sio (Sioland) can bring his cloth diapers to the party!  The more items you bring, the more stories generated that night!

Why QCSC? Have you been there lately? Yes, they lost a few of their magnificent trees because of Milenyo but those left behind have been decorated with Christmas lights to the max!  It feels like Christmas at the Club.  The New Air-conditioned Sports Lounge also has very cozy lighting and is just right for our party needs. Finally, if you are still not aware, Puregold is opening its biggest store in Metro Manila, The Puregold QI Center, right in the center of Q.I.!  It is at the corner of E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue (former Espana Extension) where you find QCSC and G. Araneta Avenue. Our party begins at 7:00pm so if you plan to visit this monstrous Puregold branch, do it early at around 5:30pm so you won’t get caught in traffic (it already being rush hour and the store is still novel to customers).  Puregold QI Center opens this  Thursday, 30 November 2006, 2 days from today!

See you at our 20th Anniversary X’mas Party!

Supermarket Conference 2006 in Baguio

A delegation from PAGASA joined the Supermarket Conference 2006 in Baguio, North of Manila. This year, the theme of the National Conference is �TAKING THE OFFENSIVE: Unleashing the Power of Teamwork.� It was held from 26-27 October at the very modern and spacious Cultural and Trade Hall inside relaxing Camp John Hay. PAGASA President Steven T. Cua was honored to have been invited to be a speaker at this Conference. He spoke on the topic: �The Retailer as the Brand AND Manufacturer/Supplier Collaboration.� (See speech in this website)

Talks ranged from �Retail Trends and Growth Strategies� by A.C. Nielsen�s Mary Margaret Martinez/Associate Director for Retail Service to �The Future Formats in the Philippines-Hypermarkets and the rest of Retail� by NCCC Supermarket�s Marketing Director, the young Tjader Regis. CVC Supermarkets� Carlos Cabochan touched on Private Labels/Store Brands and P&G�s Backy Baquiran tackled In-store Marketing. At one point, Joseph Davidson Gaisano, Jr., CEO of White Gold Club, Inc. discussed suppliers� (lack of) Key Accounts Management from a retailer�s point-of-view while Unilever�s Key Customer Manager, Ello Siccion, �criticized� retailers� Buying and Selling from a supplier�s perspective. It was pretty exciting and temperatures rose despite the very cold and nice weather in Baguio! Miguel Suterio of Trade Dynamics Int�l. refereed with his topic on Strategic Partnership between Retailers and Manufacturers/Suppliers while Cecilio Pedro, founder and CEO of Lamoiyan Corporation (makers of Hapee Toothpaste: a challenger to the Goliaths Colgate and Close-up), gave an inspirational speech on �The Future of the Filipino Manufacturing Entrepreneur� for the suppliers in the audience. Ex-Unilever & Splash Corporation point man-turned-entrepreneur Mars Aaron ended the Conference with how to be an upstart supplier in today�s congested world of retailing.

The picture by the Conference banner shows part of the PAGASA delegation with inspirational speaker and entrepreneur-extraordinaire Cecilio Pedro: (from left) Letty Badilla of Royal Family Superstore, Emerson Sio of Sioland, PAGASA Director Edgar Robes of Susanamart, PAGASA President Steven T. Cua of Welcome Supermart, Mr. Pedro, Robert Go of Prince Warehouse Club/Cebu and PAGASA Vice President Roy Chua of Daily Supermarket.

The shot by the lobby of the Conference Hall shows (from left) Zandre Gravador of Goszap, Carling Cabochan of CVC Supermarkets, Net Uy of Johnny's Supermarket/Angeles, Julie Teh (in white) of San Miguel Corporation, speaker Migs Suterio (4th from right) and Rennie Guevarra of Fernando's Supermarket (also the Conference Chairman; 3rd from right).

Public Hearing on IRR on Consumer Protection for E-Commerce

On 15 September 2006, PAGASA attended the Public Hearing on the �Rules and Regulations for Consumer Protection in a Transaction covered by the Consumer Act of the Phil. (R.A. 7394) through electronic means under the E-Commerce Act (R.A. 8792)� held at the DTI Offices in Makati. Discussions were moderated by a panel headed by DTI Dir. Dimagiba, D.A. Dir. Reyes and Phil. Senate Exec. Dir. for Congressional Oversight Committee for the E-Commerce Law Ms. Janette Toral.

Social Outreach on PAGASA's 20th Year

One of PAGASA's 20th Year activity is the Social Outreach Program with Orphans and Streetchildren. Led by Ms. Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, sportscaster/better half of Basketball Star Vince Hizon and the founder of �Everyday is Your Birthday Foundation,� PAGASA treated 400 children from Hospicio de San Jose, House of Refuge, White Cross, Paco Settlement and other charitable institutions to a afternoon of fun at the Adidas Sportskamp at the Fort. PAGASA (in green) was joined by its newest member from Commonwealth Ave. Supermarket on this occasion. Various basketball personalities and celebrities helped out on 9 September 2006 to make it a day of fun and giving.

PAGASA Graces Asiafood '06

PAGASA President (4th from left) is joined from the left by The Economic Affairs Sec.of the Romanian Embassy (3rd from left) Mr. Doris Serban, Ms. Pamela Forshage of the Phil.Assn.of Food Technologists, DTI Asst.Sec. and CITEM Head Ms. Fe Agoncillo-Reyes, Datu Tahir Sinsuat Lidasan,Jr. of the Office of Muslim Affairs (in Barong), Mr. Leonides Cuizon (Pres.of TIME,Inc.-organizer of this Trade Show), Chef Roberto Francisco (Pres. of the Hotel&Restaurant Chefs Assn.of the Phils.) and the organizers and crew of the big Nestle Phils. booth at AsiaFood Expo �06.

PAGASA Partners Up with Suppliers

On August 29, 2006, PAGASA President Steve Cua was invited by Monde Nissin for their Production Managers/Supervisors Seminar as a retailer panelist to share market sentiments toward Monde�s products. Together with 7-11's Wally Fernandez (left) and Waltermart's Josephine Gomez, the three took turns at "lambasting" Monde's products in the format of popular local Talk Shows; this one called "C-Files!"

PAGASA Delegation to the 15th NaRCE

PAGASA Delegation to the 15th National Retailers Conference at the EDSA Shangri la 17-18 August 2006 where Marketing Guru Dr. Dale Achabal and Wal-Mart's VP-Dev't. for China, Mr. Ben Cornish gave the latest on global retail trends and developments.
Other speakers were this year's Entrepreneur of the Year, Mr. Lance Gokongwei, Retail Asia's Steven Goh, Starbuck Coffee's Angela Lopez Cole and Jollibee's Inez Reyes. Our President, Steven Cua, is part of this year's Organizing Committee for this event.

Supervisors Seminar for PAGASA Member-Stores

Another project of PAGASA on its 20th Year is the PAGASA Supervisors Seminar held at the Hotel Astoria Plaza on 20 July 2006. Supervisors of PAGASA Member-Stores from as far as Rodriguez, Rizal and Pakil, Laguna joined in to shape up supervisory skills and benchmark against the industry�s best practices in honing their acumen in the service of the Filipino people!

Nestle hosts Counterfeit Product Awareness

Last March 8, 2006, Nestle Philippines hosted a counterfeit product awareness seminar at the Department of Trade and Industry building.
Since 2002, there has been an increasing number of counterfeit Nestle products such as Bear Brand, Milo, Nescafe, Coffeemate and Nido. During the seminar, Nestle speakers compared the original products with the counterfeit products and how to detect them.
The seminar was participated by government employees, market masters as well as from the supermarket industry including PAGASA.
Nestle Philippines has promised rewards of up to P1 Million to those who report counterfeiters. This may be reported to their 24-hour hotline at 8108266

Sustainable What

A new trend in retailing worldwide has to do with Sustainable Development. Sustainable what? Sustainable Development pertains to economic development with an eye for the sustainability of our environment. It keeps an eye on the ecological balance of one’s neighborhood resulting to the total good of one’s city and the standard of life in that community. It is also known as Environmental Sustainability.

PAGASA 2006 2nd Qtr Gen Meet

PAGASA will have its 2006 second quarter general meeting on March 24, 2006. Please get in touch with the secretariat as to the time and venue.

PAGASA members attends UNEP Seminar

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA) led by its President Steve Cua attended the United Nations Environment Program workshop seminar held last March 1 and 2, 2006 at the Astoria Plaza, Escriva Drive, Pasig.
The training workshop dubbed "Training Program on Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Retail Industry" sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme is a continuing workshop which aims to increase the awareness of the people if the impact of consumption and production practices to the environment. The agency acknowledges the retail sector as a powerful medium to encourage manufacturers to use "green production" methods as well as teach consumers on protecting the environment.

Free Reformed VAT Seminar

The Fellowship of Christians in Government (FOCIG) will be holding a free seminar regarding the reformed vat and witholding tax laws on February 23, 2006, Thursday at the FOCIG office located at Room 403, Don Raul Building #77 Kamuning Rd. Quezon City.
Limited seats available.
For registration, please call Chona Poblete at 410 03 75

United Nations Environment Programme Workshop

he Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Assocation (PAGASA) will be co-hosting the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) worshop on Sustainable Consumption with the Philippine Retailers Assocation (PRA) on March 1-2, 2006 at the Hotel Astoria Plaza.
For any inquiries, you may contact Jenny at 732-0509. Payment will be collected in cheque or cash at the workshop. This Seminar Workshop has limited seats.
For more information regarding this, you may visit the UNEP website

PAGASA 2005 Christmas Party

PAGASA 2005 Christmas Party will be held on December 9, 2005 at the Podium.

DA Administrative Order No. 37 (s2005)

The Department of Agriculture will be conducting a meeting on February 16, 2006 (Thursday) 9:00am at the Apacible Conference Room, NAFC, Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Quezon City to discuss the DA's proposed format of purchase booklet for the grant of discount to senior citizens on the the purchase of basic agricultural commodities. This is in line with the implementation of DA Administrative Order No. 37 series of 2005 also known as the Department of Agriculture's Implementing Rules and Regulations on Section 4 (L) of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act or RA 9257.

PAGASA Speaks at the 5th Phil. Food Expo

PAGASA President Steven T. Cua was invited to give a seminar to the attendees of the 5th Philippine Food Exposition at the Megatrade Hall of the SM Megamall on 28 January 2006. The topic was on �How to Supply Food Products to Supermarkets?� Picture depicts involvement of the participants during Open Forum.