Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup at PAL Interclub launch

Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup just made the Philippine Airlines' (PAL) announcement of the start of the PAL Interclub at Marco Polo Hotel, more interesting. PAL Interclub, which is the longest and the oldest running team golf tournament in the country, expects 1,500 participants in
the two divisions, the Senior Division which will start on February 16, and the Regular Men's Division which will start on February 22.

PAL vice president for marketing support Felix Cruz said the golf tournament is expected to pour in up to P60 million to the city's coffers in terms of the plane fare, accommodation, meals, souvenirs, caddy, shopping and other related expenses of the golfers and their supporters.

"This is a big boost to Davao City's economy, aside from the fact that it will promote the city as an ideal place for sports tourism," he said.

Supsup admitted she was never the sporty type as she only played piko, taguan, tumbang preso and other games popular in the rural areas while she was growing up in General Santos City. However, she said, it was the same discipline practiced by the athletes which helped her surmount life's challenges, including the Ms. Universe search.

Investors Urged: Put Money In Mindanao Livelihood Projects

Mindanao Business Council chair Vicente Lao urged investors attending the Mindanao Investment Conference which opened at the Marco Polo Hotel Tuesday day to put their money on livelihood projects for Mindanao even as he said no amount of economic growth can justify the increase in poverty incidence in the island.

Over 300 participants from the business and government sectors, peoples organizations and non government organizations joined the Investment Conference.

“We have the idea that the region’s economy is doing well but the increase in poverty incidence belies that,” Lao said. Mindanao, he added, is the second largest island but it lags behind in terms of economy as shown by the fact that 16 of the 23 poorest provinces in the country are in Mindanao.

Lao said Mindanao’s insurgency problem is caused by lack of opportunities in the region that is why these people have to do something else instead of making a living.

“Let us throw away the parochial concept of investment because it is no longer economically profitable to grow everything in your backyard,” he said. Instead he added, people should develop the networking concept and the value chain concept of supply and demand.

He said it would be more viable for the island to work as a whole network group where one product is produced by another area, using resources from another area and similar networking arrangements.

Lao also urged the community to help promote small and medium enterprises citing the SME’s role in Davao City’s economic turn-around.

“The 36,860 business permits issued by the city of Davao last year is evident of the SME’s role in promoting development,” Lao said. He said the conduct of the Mindanao Investment Conference will hopefully equip SME’s with inputs to manage their businesses

Mindanao Investment Conference Slated In Davao Nov. 25

Davao City will host the Mindanao Investment Conference (Min iCon)at the Marco Polo Hotel on November 25 and 26.

Min Icon, with the theme "Drive the Wheels for Peace. Invest in MindaNOW!", is expected to highlight various investment opportunities in Mindanao that will promote peace in the region.

The conference will present investment opportunities in Mindanao that are ideal for small and medium entrepreneurs including the production and processing of seaweeds, coffee, honeybee, banana, rubber, moringa tree and Cream Dory Fish or Pangasius.

"With this conference, we are optimistic that we can encourage more businessmen to pour in their investments in Mindanao so that we can offer more jobs to Mindanaoans," Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Southern Mindanao regional director Marizon S. Loreto said.

See The Pacquiao-Marquez Fight Live At Marco Polo Davao

Dabawenyos can celebrate the 71st Araw ng Davao and watch the Pacquiao-Marquez fight tomorrow. How? The Araw Parade usually passes by the Marco Polo Hotel so you can still watch the Pacquiao-Marquez bout LIVE at the Eagles Bar of Marco Polo Hotel and then just sneak out when the parade contingents are right in front of the hotel.

Watching the boxing bout LIVE at Eagles Bar tomorrow, SUnday, March 16, will set you back by P200 but this is inclusive a one drink and you also get 20% off on all food items from the hotel's F&B outlets.

The fight will start at 8AM so be at the Eagles Bar early so you can get the best seat!

Marco Polo Davao's Teddy Bear X'mas Tree

Can you guess how many teddy bears are on this tree?

I would have counted from top to bottom except that my friend Prix is already tugging my sleeves so we can go up to Club 888's press conference and Christmas Party at the 4th floor of Marco Polo Hotel. Such creativity, you may say...

The Teddy Bear is a world-known stuffed toy but a lot of children clutch their teddy bears not knowing how it came to be. The original Teddy Bear was actually inspired by a political cartoon created by Clifford Berryman of Washington Star. The cartoon showed US President Theodore Roosevelt holding a rifle with a baby bear at his back. Roosevelt was supposed to go hunting while settling the Mississippi-Louisiana boundary dispute. The hunting trip turned out lousy as there were no good catch. To accommodate him, his staff captured a black bear cub but Roosevelt turned his back and refused to shoot the cub which was tied to a tree.
But that‘s not the end of the story. Toy maker and owner Morris Michtom saw the political cartoon, made a stuffed bear and displayed it on his window. He got so many orders that he sought the permission of Roosevelt for the use of his name. There goes your Teddy Bear!