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Author: Abrown Admin
Rappler producer/editor Ms. Krista Garcia, along with ABCI CorpComm Manager and media producer/editor Ms. Shai Lagarde, held their second “Writing and Photography for Web” workshop on March 9, 2017 at the head office in Xavier Estates, Cagayan de Oro.
As a follow-up to the first one in 2014, ABCI’s HRD officers organized the said workshop for the benefit of Brown Group employees who have the potential and are interested in honing their skills in written communication and photography, specifically for business and corporate. Similarly, this year’s seminar was geared towards contributing these skills to the documentation and reportage of various events, activities, promotional campaigns, and features relevant to the company.
Digital Content by Krista Garcia
Content Producer and BrandRap Editor, Rappler
Krista is a Content Producer for Rappler and is currently the section editor for BrandRap. She handles sponsored pieces, making sure that brand messages are delivered with taste, relevance, and substance.
She has been writing and producing professionally since 2009 and her work has appeared on TV, print, radio, and online. She graduated with a degree in Communication Arts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Her thesis, an anthology of short fiction, included two stories that have been published locally. Her first “real” job was in TV production, where she learned to edit 30-second plugs and create monthly media strategies for a local cable channel. In 2011, she went freelance and became a pioneer writer and segment producer for two lifestyle and fashion-themed shows, Etcetera and ETC HQ. During this stint she also wrote and produced content for various TV commercials, magazines, radio ads, and events.
She is currently completing her Master’s Thesis for Graduate Film Studies at UP Diliman. She aims to eventually venture into writing for cinema. In the meantime, she is fully embracing this opportunity to learn a new way of telling stories. Her personal blog is waketimestories.com.
Photography for Web by Shai Lagarde
Corporate Communications Manager
Apart from handling Corporate Communications for the Brown Group, Shai is a freelance writer, editor, producer, lifestyle blogger, photographer, creative consultant, and speaker.
She started professionally in 2006 and has since worked with various media outlets. Shai produced for TV shows on GMA Network and ETC Channel, lifestyle stories for publications such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, and magazines like Metro, Meg, Chalk, and Candy. Her blog lovechic.ph has earned local and international recognition, through which Shai has collaborated with various brands on advertising and marketing campaigns, from handling sponsored features to creating viral video content.
She graduated with a degree in Communication from Ateneo de Manila University, and holds a Professional Diploma in Family Ministries (Psycho-Spiritual Counseling) from the Center for Family Ministries under Ateneo’s Loyola School of Theology. She incorporates her media work experience into her passion for personal development, visiting campuses and organizations to hold skill-building workshops.
ABCI President and CEO Roel Z. Castro has been elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippines-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC). He took his oath along with the year’s new set of officers during the PhilKorEc Induction and Networking lunch, held on February 9, 2017 at the Sarika Room of Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. (Scroll down for the photo gallery)
PHILKOREC is a non-stock, non-profit corporation organized under Philippine laws in June 1978 under the auspices of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to promote mutually beneficial business opportunities and enterprise as well as fellowship between the Republics of the Philippines and South Korea.
Its objectives are as follows:
- To promote, in general, goodwill, friendship, and understanding between the business communities of the Philippines and South Korea, and in particular, to establish closer cooperation in areas which will enhance the growth and development of the Philippines.
- To promote and strengthen trade, tourism, and economic cooperation between the Philippines and Korea.
- To establish and maintain channels of communication with its counterparts in Korea and with other agencies and organizations involved in, or concerned with, the promotion of Philippine-Korean economic relations.
- To organize or promote missions, whether trade or economic, and arrange receptions of visitors when considered proper and appropriate.
Mr. Castro will serve as a Director for 2017-2018.
ABCI, headed by Mr Roel Z. Castro, hosted a special business lunch for Philippine and Russian delegations in the Narra A function room of Shangri-La at The Fort on January 27, 2017. The gathering was held to discuss and explore business cooperation opportunities between the two economies. (Scroll below for the photo gallery)
A Brown Company, Inc.
- Roel Z. Castro – President/CEO, President/CEO of Palm Concepcion Power Corp., Director of Phil-Korea Economic Council (PKEC)
- Walter W. Brown – Chairman Emeritus, President/COO of Apex Mining Co. Inc. (AMCI)
- Robert E. Pizarro – Chairman, President of Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Director of Philippine Palm Oil Development Association
- Paul B. Juat – Assistant to the Chairman Emeritus
- Victor Delgado – Senior Manager
- Shai Lagarde – Corporate Communications Manager
Philippine Business Delegation
- Gerardo C. Garcia – President of Private Equity Investment and Development Corp., Chairman of PKEC
- Eduardo Francisco – President/CEO of Banco de Oro Capital
- Joselito H. Sibayan – President/CEO of Mabuhay Capital Corp.
- Anthony L. Almeda – Chairman/CEO of ALAlmeda Inc.
- Graciano P. Yumul – Vice President of AMCI
- Atty. Manuel Manaligod Jr. – Director of East West Rail Transit Corp. (EWRTC)
- Gordon Allan Joseph – President/CEO of Philinsure
- Andrew T. Yap – Senior Vice President of Asia United Bank
- Atty. Cyril del Callar – Managing Partner of Del Callar & Partners Law
- Vincent Arcenas – President of Arava Development Corp.
- Ma. Lourdes Arcenas – Director of Development Bank of the Philippines
- Robert Lester F. Aranton – Chairman/CEO of Primestar Translogistic Corp.
- Herve D. Laumond – Vice Chairman/CEO of Systra Philippines
- Joselito Lumain – Office of the President/Malacañang
- Grace M. Lumain – Vice President of Piso Point Development Corp (PPDC)
- Kiele M. Lumain – Executive VP for Marketing of PPDC
- Kaesar M. Lumain – Executive VP for Business Development of PPDC
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
- Hon. Alexander V. Tsybulskiy – Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and Russian Co-chair of the Russia-Philippines Joint commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation
- Anna N. Popova – Deputy Director of Interregional and Crossborder Cooperation Department
- Vsevolod V. Vovchenko – Head of the Asia-Pacific Division of the Department of Cooperation with the Asia, Africa, and Latin America countries
Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation
- Yuri B. Petrov – Assistant to the Minister
- Maria S. Timofeeva – Chief Specialist of the Department of International Cooperation
Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance
- Marina L. Litovchenko – Deputy Director of Rostov, subsidiary of FGI (Center for Grain Quality Assessment)
- Sergey A. Potapov – Director of Overseas Markets Analysis of FGI
- Dmitriy Yu. Selivanov – Division Director of Agricultural Surveillance and Grain Quality Control Authority
Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines
- Vadim V. Velikanov – Minister-Counsellor
- Andrey P. Sapozhnikov – Trade Counsellor
- Ruslan V. Kuzmin – First Secretary
- Egor A. Simonov – Regional Vice President of Rusatom
- Artiom V. Goncharuk – Chief Specialist of the International Cooperation Department
Russian Business Delegation
- Anton V. Berlin – Marketing Director of Norilsk Nickel PJSC
- Evgeniy V. Dorot – Deputy Director General for Innovation Development of RzhDstroy, subsidiary of JSC (Russian railways)
- Dmitriy V. Novikov – Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation in Civil Aviation PJSC (United Aircraft Building Company)
- Ivan V. Polyakov – Director General of Interstate Development Corporation
- Denis Yu. Krivstov – Director General of OOO Machinery Works (Tonar)
- Ilya M. Filatov – Commercial Division Chief of Tonar
- Alexander V. Filippov – Director General of OOO (High Speed Boats MG)
- Denis Yu. Tsvetov – Chief Specialist of OOO (GAZ International)
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ABERDI receives award from DOH
ABERDI was among the recipients of the Regional Sandugo Award from the Department of Health (DOH) regional office X during its 2016 Regional Sandugo Recognition and Awarding Ceremony held at Pryce Plaza Hotel this December.
The Sandugo Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Health to various supporters of the voluntary blood donation program. The Award was received by ABCI HR Manager Vivien Lawansa and ABERDI ComRel Manager Ruffy Magbanua.
The DOH Sandugo Award was given to ABERDI for its active involvement in the government’s blood donation program for the year 2016.
By Ruffy Magbanua
ABCI Executive Chairman Robertino E.Pizarro took the oath of office as the new president of Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (Oro Chamber) for 2017 in a simple yet meaningful ceremony last December 2, 2016 held at Ketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
Dr. Walter W. Brown, ABCI Chairman Emeritus, graced the occasion as special guest of honor and speaker.
Pizarro won the votes of the chamber trustees during the election of officers on November 12, 2016, replacing outgoing president Jeffrey Ang.
During his acceptance speech, Pizzaro presented his platform and plans for the chamber which include the promotion of good business climate for Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao, as well as strengthening government and business partnerships across the region.
He vowed to bring in more tourists in the city, increase the number of business meetings and conventions and promote a conducive business atmosphere.
Pizzaro said he would take advantage of the Duterte administration’s thrusts in terms of developing the countryside and ramping up economic activities in rural areas that would help spur development in the city. He also expressed support for the upcoming Mindanao Business Conference 2017 on September 9, 2017 where Cagayan de Oro will be the host city.
Pizzaro led a new set of board including Anna Marie Medes of the Southland Events, Inc., who was voted Vice President for the Services Sector, and Irene Floro of the Skills Mastery Institute, who was voted Vice President for Business Support Organization.
Arthur Quiblat of Del Monte Philippines was voted Vice President for the Agri-Business Sector, Efren Cababat of the Pilipinas Kao Inc. became Vice President for Manufacturing and Industry and Jan Michael Uy of the YSU Marketing Corporation was voted Vice President for Trade and Commerce. Jessie Co of the New CCH Hardware was elected Treasurer while Cosme Pacana of the M&A Resource Training and Publishing Inc. was voted as the new Corporate Secretary.
A Brown is a publicly listed company with a strategic interests in real estate, power, water, among others. Its sister company A Brown Energy and Resources Development, Inc. (ABERDI) specializes in agribusiness, particularly palm oil plantations and milling, and has been an active member of the Oro Chamber for more than a decade.
The chamber was organized on December 1982 by a convener group of only 25 firms and elected as charter president Virgilio Neri.
At present, Oro Chamber has about 400 members.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration of the 135-megawatt (MW) Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) power plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corporation on Monday, November 28, in Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace Manila.
The power plant which is located in Concepcion, Iloilo is a baseload power plant which was commercially operated last August 2016 and has contributed significantly in the reliability of power supply in the Visayas.
President Duterte, who was the Keynote Speaker in the event, also led the ceremonial switch-on of the power plant, together with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, PCPC Chairman Dr. Walter Brown, PCPC President and CEO Roel Castro and Advisor to the Board Jacinto Ng, Jr.
Castro in his welcome message, highlighted that the new plant is a combination of technology from Europe and the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor from China.
“We are among the few to have used this technology with reheat and as a consequence, we are one of the most fuel efficient plants operating and at the same time compliant with the environmental criteria set by both national and international agencies,“ Castro said.
“As a result of using the latest and most efficient technologies, we have one of the lowest tariffs in this same class of plants that the consumers are able to enjoy,” he added.
The power project generated a total investment of about $280 million, one of the biggest investments in Iloilo province. The construction and commissioning of the power plant including the transmission facilities were all completed within 37 months.
One of the highlights of the event is the donation of PCPC to support President Duterte’s program against drugs, which was announced by PCPC Chairman Walter Brown.
Dr. Brown also stressed in his message that the power plant project would not be possible without the full cooperation of its shareholders and partners as well as local and national government officials who on the whole were supportive of the project.
Aside from the plant’s contribution in increasing the available power generation capacity in the Visayas, the community and local government unit hosting the power plant likewise benefitted in the various CSR projects that PCPC poured in for the development of the people and communities and in protecting the environment. The company invested more than PhP150 million, even before the company sold its first kilowatt, for projects like concrete roads, scholarships, livelihood projects, capability building of the local leaders and residents, disaster preparedness, and more importantly massive reforestation and mangrove development. On top of this, they are also beneficiaries of different projects under the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94, particularly electrification projects, development and livelihood projects and reforestation, watershed management and environment enhancement, as part of the benefits to host communities.
Secretary Cusi of DOE believes that this power plant will help speed up economic activities in this side of the country.
“The inauguration of this 135-MW Concepcion power plant is a crucial energy infrastructure project to help sustain the economic growth in the Visayas and we expect to have a livelier business environment in the region,” he said.
While the power plant is fueled by imported coal, the company uses circulating fluidized-bed combustion which is the latest in clean coal technology. It is also equipped with an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), a filtration device that removes over 99% of ash particles.
At present, the power plant is delivering power generation supply to its customers in Panay, Negros and the rest of Visayas.
PCPC is a joint venture between Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corporation (PTCHC), a subsidiary of A Brown Co. Inc. (ABCI), and Jin Navitas Resource Inc. (JNRI).
By Quarren del Rosario
The Brown Group continues to uphold the mission of “incessantly providing means for its workers to develop their potentials to the fullest and living the company’s shared values of integrity, passion for excellence and family spirit in everything we do” by addressing the different professional development needs of employees in terms of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude, also known as competencies.
Throughout the year, Human Resources, in coordination with the different department heads, organizes and develops activities, programs, learning sessions, seminars, and trainings with competent and high-caliber speakers in their specialized fields to help employees improve their performance, address their weaknesses, and provide satisfaction in their work.
The programs developed and implemented for 2016 were as follows: Professional Development: Knowledge & Skills, Employee Care & Recognition, Safety Health & Wellness, Workplace Spirituality, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
The continuous professional development programs of the company aim to keep employees on the cutting edge of industry developments. The company believes that employees who are competent and on top of ever-evolving industry standards, will help the company maintain its position as a leader and strong competitor within the industry.