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.

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."

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-mon

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 David

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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!

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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 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.