Alturas honors loyal employees in celebration of golden anniversary

By Leo Udtohan

At least 469 employees of Alturas Group of Companies (AGC) were honored during the company's golden anniversary. 

The founders' second generation presented the awards to the 10-to-30-year awardees, while the three 40-year awardees received their tokens from incorporators Marlito Uy and Nelita Uy-Fuertes.

Uy, who also serves as AGC’s general manager, expressed his gratitude to all the awardees, acknowledging that their efforts have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the group. 

"We believe that our employees are our greatest asset. Their hard work and dedication have been instrumental in our success. We are honored to celebrate the 26th Alturas Group Loyalty Awards with them.  We look forward to continuing to take care of our employees by recognizing their loyalty and hard work,” he said.

The ceremony also included testimonials from representatives of the awardees, namely, Anna Palban, Armicito Bitero Jr., Rolando and Ma. Fe Jagunos, and Romulo Polinar. 

To make the occasion more exciting, 20 lucky awardees won Php 10,000 each in the instant raffle, while others took home minor prizes. There were 40 winners of P2,000 and 25 winners of P5,000. 

Since 1998, AGC has valued the length of employment service and dedication of its workforce,  through the ups and downs of the business. The same tradition continued even during the pandemic, where deserving employees were conferred with the same tokens without formal gatherings. 

In addition to the Loyalty Awards ceremony, AGC also hosted its annual Family Get Together event at the CPG Sports Complex earlier this year. More than 12,000 employees joined in the celebration, which was filled with fun and laughter.  Over P3 million worth of raffle prizes were given away.

As AGC celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company reaffirms its commitment to driving strategic, sustainable progress that benefits Bohol and the rest of the Visayas. 

"We are excited to celebrate another milestone and are looking forward to another year of meaningful and impactful experiences for our customers. We remain committed to our mission of serving the community and uplifting lives and continuing our contribution to the growth and progress of the areas that we serve,” Uy said.

AGC is a highly-diversified and integrated retail, tourism, commercial, and agro-industrial conglomerate known for the values incorporated in its slogan, "Serving the community, Uplifting Lives." 

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M/V Filipinas Ubay launched for Ubay-Cebu route

By Leo Udtohan

With the launching of MV Filipinas Ubay, you can now travel from Ubay town, Bohol to Cebu and vice versa by boat for 4 hours. 

The blessing and launching ceremony on Saturday, March 11, was attended by Chester Cokaliong, CEO and COO of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc.,  Anna Lynne Cokaliong, Chanel Cokaliong, Gov. Aris Aumentado, Vice Gov. Victor Balite, 2nd district Rep. Vanessa Aumentado, Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes, Vice Mayor Victor Bonghanoy, Ubay councilors IC Besas, Violeta Reyes and other local officials,  Clarin Mayor Eugene Ibarra and officials of the Philippine Ports Authority. 

In his message, Chester said he heeded to the "kakulitan" of Aris to invest in Bohol. 

He said M/V Filipinas Ubay, which is worth P110 million, was purposely bought for the town of Ubay upon the request of Aris. 

"Mingsud ta diri tungod sa request ni  [Gov.] Aris [Aumentado] . Nanawag si Aris nako 'Gobernador nako Sir, ayaw nako balibari sa barko para sa Ubay.' Panahon siya sa Congressman pa sigeg update nako," Chester said in his message. 

"Nag-invest ang Cokaliong sa municipality of Ubay og P110 million," he added. 

The  MV Filipinas is the smallest and 16th vessel of Cokaliong Shipping Lines. 

It is a roll-on-roll-off passenger ferry, it has a passenger capacity of 350 and cargo capacity of 20-25 trucks. 

As of today, Cokaliong Shipping Lines has been connecting Mindanao and Visayas with their 15 vessels.

Aris said the new Ubay-Cebu route will have greater connectivity, improved competition in the shipping industry, and lower cargo costs. 

"Pinaagi sa M/V Filipinas Ubay sa Cokaliong Shipping Lines, mas mapadali na pagbiyahe sa atong mga higala sa Ubay ug sa Segundo Distrito," said Aumentado. 

Vanessa said it will make the province more connected as well as help boost its economic activity.  

She added that the new ship will also enhance the province's attractiveness as a destination by promising greater passenger safety, welfare and comfort.  

"This will greatly contribute to the development of Ubay and Bohol, and it will open more opportunities," said Vanessa. 

The new daily trip schedules: Ubay-Cebu from 8:00 A.M.-12:00 NN and Cebu-Ubay from 8:00 P.M.-12:00 MN.

Tickets cost P400 for economy and P440 for tourist.

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ECPay is reliable for cashless transactions

By Leo Udtohan

The first ECPay in Bohol was launched last  Feb. 27, 2023. The do-it-yourself Vending Machine Online Payment by Globe Telecom can be found outside the Plaza Marcela. 

Present during the event were Dennis Ruiz, operation manager of M &M celldepot; Airen Te, operation manager of Globe Broadband; Aldrin Avergonzado, business development expert; and Edsel Angeles, mall manager of Plaza Marcela.

Ruiz said Globe Telecom has introduced the use of ECPay for a cashless-contactless transactions. 

He said ECPay is reliable and convenient as many Filipinos have shifted to digital channels.

ECPay is a company engaged in the provision of information technology and electronic commerce related solutions, and operates a multi-tiered platform that offers secure electronic solutions for various transactions such as load purchases.

"Mobile technologies continue to evolve to make our life easier and we now see cashless payments using mobile phones," said Avergonzado. 

Avergonzado said they place ECPay machines in towns. 

 This time, members of the Association of United Development Information Officers (Audio)-Bohol, have helped to combat cybercrimes in the country by conducting a SIM Sign-Up Drive.

The info drive in partnership with Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Bohol was held at Bohol Island State University (BISU)- Tagbilaran Campus on Thursday, March 2.

As of 12 noon, there were are at least 400  teachers and students have their prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards registered.

Ma. Lydia Bantugan, president of Audio, said that the info drive would lessen victims of fraud and scam.

"This is to spread awareness on the importance of registering their SIM cards as this will help combat cybercrimes in the country," she said.

"They should register at once and not to wait for the deadline to lapse to avoid the inconvenience of getting deactivated," Bantugan added.

After BISU-Tagbilaran, Audio plans to hold the info drive in other campuses and schools.

Audio is composed of information officers from municipalities and government agencies.

Bantugan said they could help to promote responsible use of SIM cards, educate their stakeholders on the benefits of mandatory SIM card registration and guide them through the whole registration process.

Invited speakers were lawyer Alan Felix Macaraya, Jr., legal officer of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); Victor Magallanes, provincial officer of  Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Tiarra Cabilla, Smart Communication's  Stakeholder Management Officer-Visayas; and Jose Luis Varquez, Globe Telecom’s Channel Transportation Strategy Development manager.

Macaraya explained Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Card Registration and its importance in fighting text and online scams which are becoming more prevalent in recent years.

Varquez urged their customers to take the opportunity of registering their pre-paid SIM cards now to avoid a surge in the system when the deadline comes.

Aldrin Avergonzado, Globe Telecom’s Consumer Business Development Expert, shared that Globe customers can now register their SIMs through the GlobeOne app, another convenient and accessible option to comply with the SIM Registration Act.

By making SIM registration available on the app, Globe hopes to expand reach to its subscribers and finish registration of roughly 86.7 million SIM users under the Globe network by the deadline.

Under the law, all existing SIM card users must register their number to their name by submitting requirements — personal details, identification cards, business names, and other information — on a website provided by the telecommunication company that provided the SIM Card.

All prepaid subscribers in three telcos — Globe, Smart, and Dito —have until April 26, 2023 as deadline for registration.

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HOLLYWOOD STREET CLOSURES FOR 2023 OSCAR® WEEK

LOS ANGELES, CA – To ensure public safety, support security strategies and facilitate the production of this year’s Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles have finalized street closure plans around the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. To accommodate the construction of press risers and pre-show stages along the Oscars red carpet, all lanes of Hollywood Boulevard are closed from Orange Drive to Highland Avenue until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. MTA will begin re-routing bus traffic and subway trains will bypass the Ovation Hollywood station after the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday, March 11, until the first scheduled train after 6 a.m. on Monday, March 13. Between Sunday, March 5, and Oscar Sunday, March 12, additional streets and sidewalks will be closed for varying periods. Details of the closures and maps of affected areas are available from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Thirteenth District City Council field offices and on the Academy's website at https://oscars.org/closures.    The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

All’s well that ends well for Mayor Che and CongW Alexie Tutor

By Leo Udtohan 

There was no more need to dig up old grudges, no recriminations. They embraced in tearful silence and let bygones be bygones, only looking ahead and not backward.

That about sums up the reconciliation between Board Member Nathaniel Binlod and 3rd district Rep. Alexie Besas-Tutor and Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-Delos Reyes, when they met during the 154th Foundation Day of Carmen town Wednesday, March 1. 

The "rift" started during the campaign (which seems to have taken a turn for the worse). It was supposed to be "part of the game." Of course, it hurts, especially if most of them are lies, half-truths. 

"Everything has been said...has been done. It’s all out in the open. I have spoken. Let the time tell the sincerity of our commitment," said Tutor. "Let us be together." 

She said "loyalty" should not be for a person but for the people. 

Tutor said she had no abhor feelings against Binlod. In fact, she praised him for his hardwork. 

Tutor said that no barangay or town will be left behind. In Carmen, she allocated funds worth P93.5 million for this year for its barangays because her service is impartial.

Delos Reyes said that her alliance with the administration of Aumentado and Tutor, she hopes for the better development of her town. 

 "I will work very hard, I will try my very best together with the LGU family that we can give our best to the people. Para nako, with Board Member Nathan ang kaayuhan ug ikaayo sa katawhan sa lungsod sa Carmen ug lalawigan sa Bohol maoy among gitan-aw. Serbisyo lang mao maghiusa mi, nagkahiusa mi, makig-usa mi.. and that's very very clear, " said Mayor Che. 

The reconcialition was witnessed by third district mayors Dodo Jumawid (Batuan), Norman Palacio (Bilar), Raymond Jala (Loboc), Juliet Dano (Sevilla), Michael Doria (Sierra Bullones), Wilson Pajo (Pilar), Arturo Jed Piollo (Lila), Randolph Ang (Dimiao), Dionisio Neil Balite (Valencia), Jess Baja (Garcia Hernandez),  Al Cadorniga Taculad (Duero), Ben Balo (Guindulman) and Lahar  Ayuban (Loay). 

After that, the three and the local chief executives ended enjoying a hearty lunch at Chocolate Hills Complex. 

They agreed to forget the past and to move on. 

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Oscars Governors Ball returns for 64th year

By PR | 04:50 PM March 01, 2023 

The Governors Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official post-Oscars celebration, which will immediately follow the 95th Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 12, returns for its 64th year.  For details on this year’s ball, including décor renderings and sustainability efforts, visit the press kit here (registration is required).

Wolfgang Puck Catering celebrates its 29th year at the Governors Ball with a menu created by Wolfgang Puck and Eric Klein, and pastry design by Kamel Guechida and Garry Larduinat 

Acclaimed mixologist Charles Joly will again curate a selection of Tequila Don Julio specialty cocktails, including “Director’s Martini” and “Showtime Margarita”

Champagne Fleur de MIRAVAL—the only Champagne house exclusively devoted to Rosé—returns for a second consecutive year

Clarendelle, Quintus and Haut-Brion, from the Domaine Clarence Dillon family of wines, will be the exclusive red and white wines poured at the Governors Ball and other Oscar-related events. 

The Governors Ball will take place in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of Ovation Hollywood immediately following the Oscars broadcast.

The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

AND THE BAFTA GOES TO...

By Leo Udtohan 

It was a star-studded event at London's Royal Festival Hall this evening as the biggest and brightest talent came together to celebrate the past year in film. 

Hosted by dream-team Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond and with stunning performances by Little Simz and Ariana DeBose, it was a night to remember. 

The big winners were All Quiet on the Western Front with seven BAFTAs, including Best Film and Director, and The Banshees of Inisherin and Elvis with four.

The legendary costume designer Sandy Powell was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship.

The winner of this year's EE Rising Star, the only award chosen by you, the public, was Emma Mackey. We can't wait to see her again on the silver screen!

BEST FILM

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Malte Grunert

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh

ELVIS Gail Berman, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Patrick McCormick, Schuyler Weiss

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang

TÁR Todd Field, Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

AFTERSUN Charlotte Wells, Mark Ceryak, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski

WINNER - THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin

BRIAN AND CHARLES Jim Archer, Rupert Majendie, David Earl, Chris Hayward

EMPIRE OF LIGHT Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE Sophie Hyde, Debbie Gray, Adrian Politowski, Katy Brand

LIVING Oliver Hermanus, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Kazuo Ishiguro

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL Matthew Warchus, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn, Luke Kelly, Dennis Kelly

SEE HOW THEY RUN Tom George, Gina Carter, Damian Jones, Mark Chappell

THE SWIMMERS Sally El Hosaini, Tim Bevan, Tim Cole, Eric Fellner, Ali Jaafar, Jack Thorne

THE WONDER Sebastián Lelio, Ed Guiney, Juliette Howell, Andrew Lowe, Tessa Ross, Alice Birch, Emma Donoghue

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

WINNER- AFTERSUN Charlotte Wells (Writer/Director)

BLUE JEAN Georgia Oakley (Writer/Director), Hélène Sifre (Producer)

ELECTRIC MALADY Marie Lidén (Director)

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE Katy Brand (Writer)

REBELLION Elena Sánchez Bellot (Director) Maia Kenworthy (Director) 

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Edward Berger, Malte Grunert

ARGENTINA, 1985 Santiago Mitre, Victoria Alonso, Agustina Llambi Campbell, Axel Kuschevatzky, Federico Posternak

CORSAGE Marie Kreutzer, Alexander Glehr

DECISION TO LEAVE Park Chan-wook, Ko Dae-seok

THE QUIET GIRL Colm Bairéad, Cleona Ní Chrualaoi

DOCUMENTARY

ALL THAT BREATHES Shaunak Sen, Teddy Leifer, Aman Mann

ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons

FIRE OF LOVE Sara Dosa, Shane Boris, Ina Fichman

MOONAGE DAYDREAM Brett Morgen

WINNER - NAVALNY Daniel Roher, Diane Becker, Shane Boris, Melanie Miller, Odessa Rae

ANIMATED FILM

WINNER - GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, Alex Bulkley

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON Dean Fleisher Camp, Andrew Goldman, Elisabeth Holm, Caroline Kaplan, Paul Mezey

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH Joel Crawford, Mark Swift

TURNING RED Domee Shi, Lindsey Collins

DIRECTOR

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Edward Berger

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Martin McDonagh

DECISION TO LEAVE Park Chan-wook

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

TÁR Todd Field

THE WOMAN KING Gina Prince-Bythewood

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

WINNER - THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Martin McDonagh

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

THE FABELMANS Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg

TÁR Todd Field

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Ruben Östlund

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell

LIVING Kazuo Ishiguro

THE QUIET GIRL Colm Bairéad

SHE SAID Rebecca Lenkiewicz

THE WHALE Samuel D. Hunter

LEADING ACTRESS

WINNER - CATE BLANCHETT Tár

VIOLA DAVIS The Woman King

DANIELLE DEADWYLER Till

ANA DE ARMAS Blonde

EMMA THOMPSON Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

MICHELLE YEOH Everything Everywhere All At Once

LEADING ACTOR

WINNER - AUSTIN BUTLER Elvis

COLIN FARRELL The Banshees of Inisherin

BRENDAN FRASER The Whale

DARYL McCORMACK Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

PAUL MESCAL Aftersun

BILL NIGHY Living

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

ANGELA BASSETT Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

HONG CHAU The Whale

WINNER - KERRY CONDON The Banshees of Inisherin

DOLLY DE LEON Triangle of Sadness

JAMIE LEE CURTIS Everything Everywhere All At Once

CAREY MULLIGAN She Said

SUPPORTING ACTOR

BRENDAN GLEESON The Banshees of Inisherin

WINNER - BARRY KEOGHAN The Banshees of Inisherin

KE HUY QUAN Everything Everywhere All At Once

EDDIE REDMAYNE The Good Nurse

ALBRECHT SCHUCH All Quiet on the Western Front

MICHEAL WARD Empire of Light

ORIGINAL SCORE

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Volker Bertelmann

BABYLON Justin Hurwitz

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Carter Burwell

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Son Lux

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO Alexandre Desplat

CASTING

AFTERSUN Lucy Pardee

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Simone Bär

WINNER - ELVIS Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamian

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Sarah Halley Finn

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Pauline Hansson

CINEMATOGRAPHY

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT James Friend

THE BATMAN Greig Fraser

ELVIS Mandy Walker

EMPIRE OF LIGHT Roger Deakins

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Claudio Miranda

EDITING

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Sven Budelmann

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Mikkel E. G. Nielsen

ELVIS Jonathan Redmond, Matt Villa

WINNER - EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Paul Rogers

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Eddie Hamilton

PRODUCTION DESIGN

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Christian M. Goldbeck, Ernestine Hipper

WINNER - BABYLON Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino

THE BATMAN James Chinlund, Lee Sandales

ELVIS Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, Bev Dunn

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO Curt Enderle, Guy Davis

COSTUME DESIGN

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Lisy Christl

AMSTERDAM J.R. Hawbaker, Albert Wolsky

BABYLON Mary Zophres

WINNER - ELVIS Catherine Martin

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS Jenny Beavan

MAKE UP & HAIR

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Heike Merker

THE BATMAN Naomi Donne, Mike Marino, Zoe Tahir

WINNER - ELVIS Jason Baird, Mark Coulier, Louise Coulston, Shane Thomas

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL Laura Blount, Naomi Donne, Barrie Gower, Sharon Martin

THE WHALE Anne Marie Bradley, Judy Chin, Adrien Morot

SOUND

WINNER - ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Lars Ginzel, Frank Kruse, Viktor Prášil, Markus Stemler

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Julian Howarth, Gary Summers, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

ELVIS Michael Keller, David Lee, Andy Nelson, Wayne Pashley

TÁR Deb Adair, Stephen Griffiths, Andy Shelley, Steve Single, Roland Winke 

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Mark Taylor, Mark Weingarten

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Markus Frank, Kamil Jafar, Viktor Müller, Frank Petzold

WINNER - AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon

THE BATMAN Russell Earl, Dan Lemmon, Anders Langlands, Dominic Tuohy

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Jeff Desom, Ethan Feldbau, Jonathan Kombrinck, Zak Stoltz

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Seth Hill, Scott R. Fisher, Bryan Litson, Ryan Tudhope

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

WINNER - THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE Peter Baynton, Charlie Mackesy, Cara Speller, Hannah Minghella

MIDDLE WATCH John Stevenson, Aiesha Penwarden, Giles Healy

YOUR MOUNTAIN IS WAITING Hannah Jacobs, Zoe Muslim, Harriet Gillian

BRITISH SHORT FILM

THE BALLAD OF OLIVE MORRIS Alex Kayode-Kay

BAZIGAGA Jo Ingabire Moys, Stephanie Charmail

BUS GIRL Jessica Henwick, Louise Palmkvist Hansen

A DRIFTING UP Jacob Lee

WINNER- AN IRISH GOODBYE Tom Berkeley, Ross White

EE RISING STAR AWARD

AIMEE LOU WOOD

DARYL McCORMACK

WINNER - EMMA MACKEY

NAOMI ACKIE

SHEILA ATIM