Negros Occidental Garden Club June birthday celebrators

Negros Occidental Garden Club June birthday celebrators at the club’s monthly meeting at the Pavillon Hotel on Saturday (l-r) Hazel Stuart, Yoly Kilayko, Jane Lizares, Hazelyn Guerrero

Marapara Rotary donates school bags and supplies

Bata Elementary School oic Mary Jane Asan, Marapara Rotary members Gemma Lopez, president Rico Cajili, Mike Bantug, Fidel Henares, Jojo Montinola (I-r back row). Bata students Charlie Dorias, Matty Prevano, Jenelle Natasha Jarder, Angelica Serdeña (l-r front row)

 

For the third consecutive year, the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara donated school bags and  supplies to Grade 1 students at the Bata Elementary School 11 in Bacolod City at a special ceremony on Thursday.

The bags and supplies were turned over to the school’s officer-in-charge Mary Jane Asan by club president Rico Cajili assisted by club members.

Speaking at the ceremony President Cajili said he was pleased the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara
was once again able to support the children at the club’s adopted school.

School oic Marty Jane Asan said the bags and supplies would be very useful, especially for those children from poor families which cannot afford to buy such items.

The bags were donated in association with three South Korean Rotary Clubs and the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo.

The Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara undertakes many community activities each year including medical missions for indigent patients who might not otherwise have the chance of seeing a doctor.

It’s main fund-raising event is the annual ‘Rotary-Golf for a Cause’ tournament held at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Special Citation

Robert Harland, NDB features writer, chef and former graduate from the Institute for Culinary Arts at the University of St. La Salle, received a special citation from the university on Wednesday for winning a silver medal for the Philippines in the 2012 World Marmalade Championships in England in February. Pictured with (l-r) ICA director Chef Richard Ynayan and Br. Ray Suplido, USLS president and chancellor

 

Customer service. What’s that then?

Good customer service is vital to the success if any organization. And it often differentiates a company from its competitors.

A company with good customer service will almost certainly get repeat business so it will benefit with greater sales and profits. But a company with poor customer service will usually lose customers, which means a loss of sales and profits.

According to research, when a customer is dissatisfied with the treatment he’s received from a company, he’ll tell about 25 people. Those people in turn are likely to mention it some time or other in the future. So, the bad news spreads.

Take Globe Telecoms for example. Their people in Bacolod are terrific and couldn’t be more helpful. But, I found it a different story when dealing with their head office in Manila.

And say what you like about the Philippine Postal Service, but I have nothing but praise for them. I have always found them helpful and efficient. And in 11 years I’ve only lost one package.

Helpful and efficient

Wedgwood – outstanding customer relations

An example of outstanding customer service was my experience with Wedgwood, the British china tableware company. Years ago I bought a Wedgwood china clock in Singapore. The actual clock was brass. I put it in storage and decided to use it last year. When I unpacked it the brass was badly tarnished.

Thumbs down for Sheaffer pens

I photographed it and emailed the picture to Wedgwood in the UK and explained the problem. By return, I received a polite and apologetic reply and in five days, a new brass clock movement arrived and it was free of charge. That’s terrific service.

Other companies I’ve had good experiences with include Philippine Airlines, Ibis Hotels in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific and Hertz car rentals.

On the other hand, I’d had dismal dealings with Cebu Pacific (who hasn’t?), Sheaffer pens and Tipco, the Thailand-based juice company.

Tipco – good juices, but would not admit
to packaging problems

By and large, I find Bacolod companies practice good customer relations, but usually only if you deal with the boss. It seems that few employees are given the authority to act on their own which is a pity.

Company bosses should remember that good customer service is much cheaper and far more effective then getting new customers through expensive marketing programs. And happy customers invariably will recommend a business to others.

Word of mouth is a very cost-effective marketing tool, but can also be the most detrimental if you are not looking after your customers.

Bacolod Celebrates Santacruzan

Excitement filled the air on Saturday as a host of beautiful young ladies adorned in glittering gowns paraded along Araneta Street in downtown Bacolod City in celebration of Santacruzan, the Festival of the Holy Cross.

The Bacolod Cultural Foundation (BCFI) has hosted this religious event in the city for the past 26 years. It was staged in association with the Bacolod City Government, the Negros Occidental Cultural and Sports Foundation and SM Bacolod.

BCFI members and officers: (l-r) Nina Comia, Beverly Bautista (Hermana Mayor), BCFI president Araceli Mirano, Emilie Zayco, Evelynda Gerogalin, Celia Ferrer, Pacita Adeva

Spectators lined Araneta Street to watch as children and the sagalas proceeded to the SM Event Center for a ceremony to pay tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Speakers at the ceremony included Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who expressed the city’s appreciation of the Foundation’s long-standing involvement with the Santacruzan.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and the Hermana Mayor, Beverly Baustista

The festival ended with all children, sagalas,  officials and members of the Bacolod Cultural Foundation laying flowers at the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Reyna Elena, Johanna Gabrielle Chua with Prince Constantine, Robert Harland Jr

The Santacruzan tradition, introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards, honors the story of Saint Helena. She and her son, Constantine the Great, emperor of the Byzantine empire, made a pilgrimage to Calvary in the hopes of finding the original cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

Maricris Butantan, Reina Caridad; Cindy Tempbrevilla, Reina Esperanza; Febelyn Sagje, Reina Fe;Janice Javier, Reina Banderada:

After some archeological diggings at the site of the Crucifixion, she unearthed three crosses. She tested each one by asking a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ’s.

Santacruzan set for May 19

An Angel in last year’s procession

The Bacolod Cultural Foundation, Inc (BCFI) will celebrate Flores de Mayo – the month of flowers – in tribute to the Virgin Mary with the traditional Santacruzan ceremony on Saturday, May 19.

The Santacruzan procession will start at 3pm from the old Bacolod City Hall and finish at the Event Center at  the North Wing of SM City.

The Santacruzan is a popular religious-historical event and is held in Bacolod and many other cities, towns and villages throughout the Philippines every May.

The BCFI has been organizing the Santacruzan for the past 26 years, and it has become one of the most colorful and anticipated religious May-time festivals in the city.

Shien Abdallah, the 2011 Reina Elena

“We are expecting a big crowd to see the beautiful sagalas. We invite all Bacolodnons to enjoy this glittering celebration,” said BCFI president Araceli Mirano.”

The Blessed Virgin Mary being escorted by members of the Bacolod Cultural Foundation

The Santacruzan commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration of thanksgiving.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson with the 2011 Herman Mayor Dr. Evangeline Johnson and Ced Torrecarion

Marapara Rotaract Voted The Most Outstanding Club

The Rotaract Club of Marapara has been voted the most outstanding out of 26 clubs in Rotary District 3850 which stretches from Boracay to Zamboanga.

Rotaract is a service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. The Marapara group is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara.

Marapara Rotaract was chartered in June 22, 2009. It has 17 members ranging in age from 17 to 21. In the past year, the group has undertaken various community projects including feeding children in economically-challenged communities, teaching basic education to street children, building houses and medical missions in collaboration with different advocacy groups.

Said club president Cherry Mijares, “When doing activities, we make sure that despite our numbers we will push through and we will surely enjoy while helping. This is our passion and it’s priceless.”

Rico Cajili, Marapara Rotary Club president, said he was very impressed and proud of the accomplishments of the Rotaract Group.

“With such enthusiastic young people, the future of the Rotary movement in indeed secure,” he added.

The Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara has also been commended by the district for its community programs.

Negros Interior Biodiversity Expedition Ends

The 2012 Negros Interior Biodiversity Expedition (NIBE) to the interior of the North Negros Natural Park (NNNP) ended on Tuesday.

The expedition team, comprising scientists, biologists, mountaineers, teachers and logistics experts from the UK and the Philippines, set off on March 24 to the park’s interior on a mission to undertake a comprehensive survey of the rare and unique mammals inhabiting the area.

NIBE leader James Sawyer (left) with two members of the team James Benares,
mountain leader and Dr. Neil D'Cruze, research leader.

Using 20 remote cameras team members were able to capture some 4,000 hours of footage, much of which showed evidence that the park is still home to a multitude of rare and endemic species.

The team also undertook an extensive study of study of various insects and rare reptiles and amphibians.

Expedition leader James Sawyer said the trip had been physically challenging, but it had been “a beautiful experience”. He added that the wealth of data collected on the expedition now had to be analyzed and assessed by local and international experts before any solid results could be released. He expects initial results to be available in the next few weeks.

The expedition was supported DENR, PEMO and the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation (NFEFI)

The UK members of the expedition will return to England Later this week.

Gomez Takes Rotary Title

Local sugar planter Bojie Gomez was the overall champion at last weekend’s Rotary ‘Golf for a Cause’ tournament held at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bata Subdivision.

Group A champion, Max Javelona with past Marapara Rotary president Jojo Montinola and incumbent president Rico Cajili (l-r)

With a handicap of 12, he had a nett score of 45 points under the Stableford system.

Other winners were Group A, Max Javelona (hcp 6) 41 points. Group B, Paul Chang (hcp 18) 42 points. Group C, James Salva from the Rotary Club of San Pedro, Laguna (hcp 30) 44 points. The ladies’ champion was Cynthia Capay (hcp 23) with 36 points.

“This was the 14th Rotary ‘Go for a Cause’ tournament,” said Rico Cajili, president of the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara, organizers of the event.

Ladies' champion Cynthia Capay with Marapara Rotary president Rico Cajili

“We would like to thank all the players, sponsors and volunteers for helping to

Cynthia Capay, 2012 Rotary 'Golf for a Cause' ladies' champion

make the event such a success with a special mention of main sponsors, Coca-Cola, UCPB Insurance, Bantug Realty, Silay City Mayor’s Office and Tanduay Distillers.

“Not only is this tournament great fun, it raises much-needed funds which enables our club to continue its program of community projects aimed at helping the less fortunate in our society.”

Second Negros Interior Biodiversity Expedition Underway

A team of environmentalists from the UK and the Philippines set off on Saturday on its second biological expedition to the interior of the North Negros Natural Park (NNNP).

The Negros Interior Biodiversity Expedition (NIBE) team, which includes scientists, biologists, mountaineers, teachers and logistics experts, first ventured into the park in April 2009.

NFEFI president Paul Lizares, Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz, NIBE team leader James Sawyer, Dr. Neil D'Cruze, Dr. David Farrance, Ruth De Vere, Steven Megson, James Benares, Michael de la Peña, NFEFI trustee Robert Harland (l-r standing). Emerson Trinidad, Errol James Mallorca, June Rey Alib, Ernie Mallaoca (l-r front row)

Team leader, London-based James Sawyer, said the findings of the 2009 expedition clearly showed that the center of the park contains some unique habitats.

“These require further scientific study, and that’s why we are back,” said Sawyer. “We hope the expedition will provide us with more data and analysis that confirms the park is of major biological importance.”

The park is home to a multitude of rare and endemic species, while also playing a vital role in watershed protection for surrounding communities.

Among its many activities during the three week expedition, the team will position 20 remote cameras in strategic areas so any movements by rare and threatened species such as Visayan Spotted Deer and Visayan Warty Pigs can be recorded.

The team will also undertake a study of local dung beetles as they feed on the waste of certain animals and they will indicate the presence of those animals.

And using pitfall traps, the team will be able to ascertain which reptiles and amphibians are present in the park.

The expedition is partnered by the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc (NFEFI) which sponsored the permit enabling the expedition to enter the park.

Said Paul Lizares, president of NFEFI: “We are delighted once again to be working with the NIBE team.
We hope the results will be of further value in the management of this important park as well as help raise its profile even further.”

The expedition is also being supported by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of Oxford University, the University of Texas, the Philippines National Museum and the Natural History Museum of Oxford.

Adding support with logistics and security is Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz who praised the collaboration between a team of foreign nationals and local mountain trek leaders in  working together to preserve the biodiversity of local forests, particularly in the area of DSB.

The expedition will end on April 19.