70,000 Breads & Other Food Given by Quezon City’s Oldest Bakery in #WorldPandesalDay

Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte, GMA Network, Inc. chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon and Congressman Neri Colmenares led guests who assisted Kamuning Bakery Café owner Wilson Lee Flores in giving away 70,000 pandesal, cheese, sardines, noodles and other foods on the 4th “World Pandesal Day” on October 16.

Despite a February 6 fire from a neighboring resto bar which burned down Quezon City’s pioneer and award-winning 79-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café, its owner Wilson Lee Flores, staff and bakers are still optimistic.He is not discouraged, because he said he has overcome many other past crises ever since the death of his father when he was only seven years old and he had also witnessed his late teacher mother’s strong faith.

Wilson Lee Flores is a writer, teacher and realty entrepreneur who bought and revived Kamuning Bakery in 2014 due to his passion for history and good food.

On Oct. 12 at Quezon City’s 79th anniversary celebration at Crowne Plaza Galleria Hotel, the city government led by Mayor Herbert Bautista, Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte and City Council Majority Floor Leader Franz Pumarengave Wilson Lee Flores the “Manuel L. Quezon GawadParangal Award” for being one of Quezon City’s most outstanding citizens. The GawadParangalSelection Board included former U.P. President Prof. Emerlinda Roman, former Budget Minister Manuel Alba, writer Prof. Butch Dalisay, City Administrator Aldrin Cuña and former actress, former Vice-Mayor Connie Angeles.

Wilson Lee Flores said he accepted the Manuel L. Quezon GawadParangal Award in behalf of his late parents who died when he was young but who inspired him, his supportive younger sister Marilou F. So, his loyal and hardworking staff and bakers.

The annual #WorldPandesalDay as civic & cultural endeavor.

The 4th “World Pandesal Day” was held on October 16, 2018 at the burnt ruins in Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon Citywhere Kamuning Bakery Café gave free 70,000 pandesal breads and other foods.

On October 28 Sunday 8 a.m., the public is also invited to a free medical, dental and optical mission at Kamuning Bakery Café in cooperation with Chinese General Hospital led by its CEO Dr. James G. Dy.

These Oct. 16 and Oct. 28 events are the last two events to be held here, before Kamuning Bakery Café’s burnt ruins shall be totally demolished, except for two surviving pugonbrick ovens which shall be retained for heritage preservation during its reconstruction.

With hashtag #WorldPandesalDay, this is a unique socio-civic and cultural endeavor to highlight the importance of the Philippines’ humble yet popular pandesal bread, to underscore the importance of all people helping solve the age-old problem of hunger.

Wilson Lee Flores said an inspiration for World Pandesal Day is the Bible story of a poor boy who gave 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, which faith in Godmultiplied to feed thousands.

The non-partisan Pandesal Forum, donating public schools

As part of its non-traditional civic and cultural causes, Kamuning Bakery Cafe also hosts the tertulia-inspired and non-partisan “Pandesal Forum” for newsmakers and leaders to dialogue with media and intellectuals over meals of pandesal with other foods and coffee brewed from Benguet province arabica beans. Kamuning Bakery Café owner Wilson Lee Flores said: “In this liberal and informal Pandesal Forum which is part of this company’s unique CSR or corporate social responsibility, discussions focus on socio-economic, gut or “pandesal” issues affecting the people, and other topics. The pandesal is unique to the Philippines, loved by the masses, middle-class and by all, it symbolizes people’s simple happiness and wish for liberation from hunger.”

Kamuning Bakery Café is also the first Philippine bakery café to celebrate “World Poetry Day” every March 21, by inviting the public to send in original poems as payments for their coffee or tea.

Ever since Wilson Lee Flores took over and revived Kamuning Bakery Café, it has championed diverse socio-civic, cultural, arts and other causes including the donation of four public schoolbuildings. The first public school was donated in the historic seaside town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar province. This fourth-class municipality was victim of cruel colonial war over a century ago from 1901 to 1902, with its stolen church bells still in the U.S.

Analysts Laud Duterte’s Successful Diplomacy on Arbitration Decision & Spratlys

July 12 marks second anniversary of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands on the case filed by the Philippines against China on the territorial dispute in the Spratlys and the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, causing problems in bilateral diplomatic and economic relations as well as increasing tensions in the region.

On July 9, the non-partisan Pandesal Forum with media in Quezon City had three geopolitics and diplomacy experts former Undersecretary Butch Valdes, former Philippine diplomat to Washington, D. C. Adolfo “Ado” Paglinawan and Ateneo de Manila University lecturer Lucio Pitlo III to discuss this issue, and they lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s “pragmatic approach of normalizing diplomatic ties with China and engaging in bilateral negotiations without forsaking the Philippines’ territorial claims and without losing the PCA victory”.  Moderator of Pandesal Forum is Wilson Lee Flores, owner of the 79-year-old Kamuninhg Bakery Café.

The three experts said the Duterte administration’s wise and sober handling of the PCA decision and upholding an independent foreign policy of befriending all the world’s big powers USA, China and Russia have “resulted in lowering tensions in the region and contributing to peace in Asean as well as Asia”.

Three geopolitics analysts recently said this is the second anniversary of the Duterte administration’s “successful high-level diplomacy and independent foreign policy which advance and protect the Philippines’ national interests without forsaking territorial claims”.

Pagkalinawan and Valdes pointed out that the PCA isn’t a United Nations body and not a court, but an ad hoc arbitration mechanism similar to a local barangay hearing to arbitrate with two conflicting persons after which an unsettled dispute can thereafter be elevated to a real court. They pointed out that the PCA also has no enforcement mechanism and that the other party, China, had refused to participate. Valdes and Pagkalinawan concluded that the previous Aquino administration’s filing of this case at this PCA without China’s participation had therefore rendered the ruling as “more for propaganda purposes rather than as a way for resolution of the territorial dispute”.

Valdes and Paglinawan both lauded the Duterte administration’s “wise, pragmatic and high level diplomacy” approach to setting aside the PCA decision, but not forsaking it, while normalizing the ancient bilateral diplomatic and economic ties of the Philippines with the world’s No. 2 economic superpower China.

Valdes and Pagkalinawan agreed with President Duterte’s openness to possible joint exploration of the disputed area and joint development of any resources in the Spratlys, pointing to the Philippines’ joint venture with Western countries in the gas project of Malampalaya, Palawan as an example.

Academic scholar Lucio Pitlo III said bilateral negotiations between the Philippines and China has good precedents based on two countries’ histories. He said the Philippines has successfully, peacefully settled with Indonesia on our maritime borders after 20 years of patient, bilateral negotiations, while China has also successfully concluded its border demarcation boundaries with 13 countries out of 14 neighbor countries that have land borders with China such as Russia, Mongolia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afganistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.  As of today, China have settled its border disputes through years of peaceful, bilateral negotiations with 13 of the 14 countries (all except India).

Kamuning Bakery Cafe Burnt, but Continues to Bake

Quezon City’s pioneeer, artisanal and iconic 79-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe wishes to express sincere gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of concern and support by multi-generation customers, friends, the general public and others including many artists, intellectuals, government and business leaders, diverse NGOs, etc. after it suffered an accidental and destructive fire last February 6, 2018.

            Special thanks to the media for support in this difficult and sad crisis.

            Kamuning Bakery Cafe also wishes to thank the Quezon City local government and firemen as well as many Filipino Chinese volunteer fire brigades of Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Kalookan, Valenzuela, Bulacan and others for their assistance.

            The plan of Kamuning Bakery Cafe is to somehow, in time and after good planning, rebuild with a special focus on restoration and heritage preservation. The two antique “pugon” or wood-fired brick ovens, parts of the building facade and some memorabilia survived the fire.  

            

Despite the burning of Kamuning Bakery Cafe on February 6, 2018 from   12:52 a.m.to 2:43 p.m., which destroyed most of the establishment and its equipment’s estimated by the Quezon City Fire Department in its February 21, 2018 official report at P22,384,054.46 million pesos in total losses or damages, KBC announced that it has resumed selling some breads and pastries outside the old site at Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Quezon City starting February 22, 2018. Its selling hours are shorter from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., due to lack of electricity. 

            Before the fire, Kamuning Bakery Cafe has already operated two small branches at 100 Scout Delgado Street, Quezon City (beside Annabel Restaurant, Morato Avenue) and at SM North Edsa’s 2nd-floor East Bridge (between parking building & main mall, near SM Cinema). These two small branches continue to serve customers despite the fire, with some baking facilities at the Scout Delgado branch.

            Kamuning Bakery Cafe shall continue its various socio-civic undertakings, such as the non-partisan and tertulia-inspired Pandesal Forum with media and intellectuals. Pandesal Forum hosts leaders, newsmakers, artists, and reformers for dialogue with media and intellectuals, with the goal of helping elevate the quality and idealism of public discourse on issues.

Duterte’s handling of Arbitral Tribunal case described as “win-win diplomacy”

Defense/diplomacy expert General Victor Corpus and geopolitics analyst former Education Undersecretary Antonio "Butch" Valdes on July 11 at non-partisan “Pandesal Forum” of 78-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City said President  Rody R. Duterte's wise, nationalist and pragmatic handling of the July 12, 2016 Arbitral Tribunal decision victory of the Philippines "has brought about stability to Asia, lessening of regional tensions, promoted a win-win strategy benefiting both the Philippines and China, upholding our pursuit of a truly independent foreign policy".

General Corpus said the Philippines had basically two approaches to handle the arbitrary case, the win-lose option or the win-win option. He explained that the win-lose approach calls for pushing the Philippines' total win at the arbitral tribunal and to force the non-participant party China into a total loss position, while Duterte's successful win-win strategy now allows both countries not to surrender or compromise any sovereignty rights and also not endlessly quarrelling, but both countries agreeing to disagree while continuously negotiating, improving the two countries’ ancient bilateral diplomatic and economic relations.

Corpus said President Duterte’s independent foreign policy reform still asserts the Philippines’ sovereignty claims in the Spratlys vis-à-vis those of the rival claims of China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and others, but these territorial disputes shouldn’t sour the Philippines’ important diplomatic and economic relations with all these Asean and Asian neighbors. On the question on how best to respond to China’s constructions in the disputed Spratlys, General Corpus said that he believes the best Philippine response is the Duterte administration’s current policy of maintaining the status quo in the region: the Philippines continues to occupy and build on islets we hold on to, while China and other Asian governments can do so in their respective areas that they now physically hold on to, negotiating for demilitarization of the region and for a Code of Conduct for the region.

Valdes said that President Rody R. Duterte’s independent foreign policy has stabilized Asia, that peace isn’t just the absence of war and that the Philippines’ new “win-win” approach to diplomacy is bringing more economic development benefits to the country and to the whole region.

General Victor Corpus also added that President Duterte’s adroit handling of the Arbitral Tribunal case victory and his high-level statesmanship helped “prevent the possibility of war breaking out in this region”, because Duterte has lessened the possibility of war and of the Philippines becoming a target country in case of superpower rivalry between our military treaty ally U.S.A. and China. Corpus explained that he Duterte is correct in analyzing that China is willing to go to war for the disputed Spratlys and has built port facilities in the disputed islets because it doesn’t want the strategic Straits of Malacca to be blockaded by any foreign country since that area is where much of China’s global trade and imported oil pass.

Corpus also pointed out that China’s government has built up its defense capabilities in this region, in order to safeguard against or block any nuclear and other military strikes against its economically vital coastal cities.

General Corpus said President Duterte’s “successful, nationalistic and win-win diplomacy should be supported by all sectors of our Philippine society”. He said that the Philippines’ independent foreign policy should be guided only by what is beneficial for the national interests and sovereignty of the country, not to be beholden to or dictated upon any big power.

Both Corpus and Valdes said Duterte’s independent foreign policy has resulted in the Philippines becoming now a friend and trading partner of all the world’s big powers USA, China and Russia, the country is no longer considered a foe or a threat to any big power. They both said that the Philippines is becoming more similar to any normal sovereign Asean or Asian country, an ally to all big powers in an equidistant manner and gaining from economic and strategic advantages from all these big powers.

The non-partisan, tertulia-inspired Pandesal Forum of the 78-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café hopes to help elevate the quality of public discourse on national and international issues, current affairs, focusing more on reforms. The Pandesal Forum invites newsmakers, leaders and experts to dialogue with media and intellectuals.

This July 11 Pandesal Forum on the Arbitral Tribunal Case was co-organized with the Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI) and the Phil-BRICS Strategic Studies.

Singapore envoy marks World Poetry Day, extols bilateral ties & Asean progress at Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café

Singapore Ambassador Madame Kok Li Peng joined award-winning poets Jose F. Lacaba and Marra Pl. Lanot on March 21 morning to celebrate UNESCO’s “World Poetry Day” at the Pandesal Forum of 78-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. The envoy also discussed Philippine-Singapore relations and Asean issues with the media and intellectuals at the two-hour forum. This artisanal café also gave away free coffee or tea drinks the whole day to all people who came to pay with their original poems, in a unique civic and cultural project.

            To celebrate “World Poetry Day”, Kamuning Bakery Café’s Wilson Lee Flores invited Singapore Ambassador Kok to recite one of her favorite poems entitled “The road not taken” by Robert Frost. Lacaba and Lanot both also each recited their original poems in the Filipino language.

            During the free-wheeling Pandesal Forum with local and international media, Ambassador Kok extolled the warm diplomatic and economic ties between the Philippines and Singapore, as well as the general optimism of the Asean region as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with a high-level summit hosted by chairman the Philippines. She said that there are high hopes on the RCEP economic agreement being worked out between the 10-member nations of Asean region and China, that she thinks both this RCEP and even the TPP are all good initiatives to promote freer global trade.

            Ambassador Kok declined to comment to media’s questions on controversies like some Western criticisms of the draconian war on illegal drugs and the new death penalty bill, she reiterated that Singapore respects the sovereignty of its nation to govern itself and solve its own problems. She said Singapore has a very strong policy against illegal drugs. Kok also declined to comment on territorial dispute issues, since Singapore isn’t a claimant state but expressed hopes that Asian regional peace and stability shall be maintained by all Asian countries in order to sustain the region’s strong economic growth.

            Kok also said that Singapore’s founding father the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Philippine President Duterte live in different eras and face divergent challenges, but Ambassador Kok said that both Lee and Duterte are similar in their “strong political will and being doers”. She said during President Duterte’s state visit to Singapore, she had witnessed his “magnetic appeal”, charisma and humility in meeting with ordinary people at his short walk at a mall.

            Ambassador Kok said that Singapore is optimistic about bilateral ties and the Philippines’ economic future, especially with strong economic growth and strong will to achieve national peace. She lauded government’s on-going peace negotiations with the Communist rebels and the Moro secessionist rebels.

QC’s First bakery supports “Sunday Beauty Queen” & other 2016 MMFF movies

Moviegoers are encouraged to watch all eight entries of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on opening day December 25, to share reviews on social media and to ask more theaters to show these films. This call was voiced by filmmakers behind “Sunday Beauty Queen”, “Saving Sally”, “Oro” and “Kabisera”---joined by MMFF leaders Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, Prof. Ed Cabagnot, Moira Lee, MMFF Selection Committee’s Prof. Nic Tiongson, Krip Yuson and Mae Paner, Quezon City Congressman Alfred Vargas’ representative Noel Ferrer---at two sessions of the “Pandesal Forum” with media at 77-year-old, artisanal KamuningBakery Café in Quezon City.  

            Apart from the support of Kamuning Bakery Café for the 2016 MMFF, the senior citizens association of  Quezon City’s oldest Barangay Kamuning offered a “surprise Christmas gift” to express support for the film “Sunday Beauty Queen”, for all OFWs worldwide and for the 2016 MMFF by singing Christmas carols wearing traditional Filipiniana attires at the December 20 Pandesal Forum attended by MMFF Executive Committee’s Prof. Ed Cabagnot, MMFF Screening Committee member Mae Paner, “Sunday Beauty Queen” film director Babyruth Villarama, OFW talent from Hong Kong Mylyn Jacobo & TBA producer Vincent Nebrida, and others.

            “Sunday Beauty Queen” is the first ever documentary film to have qualified to join the MMFF in its history. Rated G for general patronage by the MTRCB, it was also graded “A” by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) unanimously by all 10 CEB reviewers, although it is one of the underdog film entries in the 2016 MMFF since it has no movie actress or actor.

Venice & Singapore film festival officials join John Lloyd as jurors, Vilma begged off as juror

            For the first time, the 2016 MMFF jurors shall include two officials of prestigious international film festivals---film critic and producer Paolo Bertolin of the Venice International Film Festival, and film critic Philip Cheah of the Singapore International Film Festival. They shall join other jurors like actor John Lloyd Cruz. MMFF’s Ed Cabagnot said that Batangas Congresswoman Vilma Santos Recto had declined to be a juror.

Heneral Luna had weak box office for first week, but became hit by the third week

            Vincent Nebrida of TBA, producers of the indie film “Heneral Luna”, asked at the Pandesal Forum that 2016 MMFF films like their “Sunday Beauty Queen” be shown at least one week and and not just the two days earlier promised, he also asked for more theaters to accommodate their film. Nebrida pointed out that “General Luna” had weak box office during its first week but it became “the record all-time highest grossing third-week movie in the Philippines.” Nebrida recounted “Heneral Luna” started out with 80 theaters, but after weak box office in the first week, there were only 40 theaters showing it, but after favorable word-of-mouth and social media reviews, “Heneral Luna” became a box office success.  

            Also at the December 8 Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café, Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo, Moira Lang, Prof. Nic Tiongson, Krip Yuson, Noel Ferrer, filmmakers and actors of “Oro”, “Saving Sally” and “Kabisera” films led by directors Alvin Yapan and Avid Liongoren, actors Ricky Davao and Acey Aguilar and scriptwriter Charlene Rodriguez, all of them invited the public to watch the eight diverse genre films of the 2016 MMFF which will showcase fun, excellent movies. 

            The 2016 MMFF’s two Pandesal Forum sessions at Kamuning Bakery Café were sponsored by  bakery customer Joeben Tai of J & T Plasticware, and also by Pandesal Forum moderator and Ricky Lee scriptwriting workshop graduate Wilson Lee Flores.

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            Ever since writer and realty entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores bought and revived Kamuning Bakery Cafe in 2014, it has been featured on TV by numerous local and even international TV shows such as those hosted by Anne Curtis, Kris Aquino, Marian Rivera, Jessica Soho and others. The old cafe was restored and re-opened on March 20, 2015 with actress Anne Curtis as its first guest.     

            Among many showbiz, arts, literary, political, media and other celebrities who have patronized Kamuning Bakery Cafe for the past 77 years included TV5 founder and the late newspaper publisher Joaquin “Chino” Roces and his father the pre-war media tycoon Don Alejandro Roces. In fact, it was the elder Roces who had invitedKamuning Bakery Cafe founder Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier to open Quezon City’s first bakery in 1939. Among its many other clients included President Cory C. Aquino, food critic Dr. Doreen G. Fernandez and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

            Flores said that among the numerous Kamuning Bakery Cafe customers included many literary, political, media and showbiz celebrities for 77 years. ForKamuning Bakery Cafe’s unique annual October 16 celebration of “World Pandesal Day” of giving away free pugon-baked pandesal breads, this project was publicly supported by President Rody Duterte, ex-actor and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Metro Manila Film Festival primemover and now Ilocos Norte Cong. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Senator Sonny Angara, GMA 7 Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon and actor Dingdong Dantes.

            The ambassadors of China, Russia, Britain and the U.S.---Zhao Jianhua, Igor Khovaev, Asif Ahmad and Philip Goldberg---also spoke at rare sessions of the Pandesal Forum with media and intellectuals at Kamuning Bakery Café this 2016.

2017: charter change, fastest Philippine economic growth of 7.5% to 8%, sports reforms

“We at the House of Representatives guided by the priorities of President Duterte and under the leadership of Speaker Alvarez, we shall prioritize charter change for new year 2017 and other socio-economic reforms. We foresee the fastest ever Philippine economic growth ranging from 7.5% to 8% a year for the coming 5 years due to more massive new infrastructure projects and other reforms” 1-Pacman Partylist Congressman Mikee Romero said at the December 13 non-partisan “Pandesal Forum” of 77-year-old, artisanal Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. Romero was accompanied by his partymates Congressman Eric Pineda and Pampanga Congressman Dong Gonzales.  

            At the free-wheeling Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café, Congressman Mikee Romero said that legislators now in Congress are different in terms of successful daily quorum in attendance and in the speed of passing priority bills such as the National Budget for 2017.

            Cong. Romero foresees charter change towards federalism to move forward smoothly in 2017, with debates and public consultations for creating 12 new federal regions for the Philippines which shall hopefully improve political and economic democracy. Romero said if the charter change work moves on schedule, it is possible to hold a nationwide plebiscite in time for the 2019 mid-term elections.

            On President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, congressmen Romero, Pineda and Gonzales all expressed strong support, saying: “The war on illegal drugs is a war on ‘narco-politics’, this war will dramatically improve peace and order nationwide and thus lead to better Philippine economic growth. We support President Duterte’s sincere wish and goal of ensuring social peace for the next generation of the Filipino nation by ending the illegal drugs menacel.” They said 2017 will see accelerated debates and public consultations on such new priority bills as the re-imposition of the death penalty on heinous crimes and the lowering of the age for criminal liabilities because many drug dealers have been using young people as illegal drug couriers or accomplices.

           

            Cong. Mikee Romero admitted that there is opposition to the death penalty bill by certain sectors, such as the Roman Catholic Church, but he said the legislators will hold debates and public consultations before making their final vote on this proposal. Romero also stressed that it is not true that the proposed death penalty will be unfair to poor offenders of heinous crimes since rich convicts tend to hire better lawyers, he stressed that laws apply to all rich or poor and what we should ensure is improvement of efficiency and fairness of the criminal justice system.

            Congressmen Mike Romero, Eric Pineda and Dong Gonzales also announced the good news for 2017 of the proposed new “Department of Sports”, this bill they had filed. They also shared the good news that President Duterte is giving government budget of P3 billion pesos for the construction of the new “Philippine Olympic Training Center” on 50 hectares of land in Clark, Pampanga. The legislators hope reforms can help make the Philippines become more competitive in international sports competitions, no longer a laggard in Asean or Asia.

            Congressmen Romero, Pineda and Gonzales lauded the good leadership and reforms by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez, while severely criticizing the “failed leadership” of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr. who just recently won his fourth term. Congressman Mikee Romero also publicly called for former Congressman Peping Cojuangco to resign from the POC, to give way to new vigor and new reforms in Philippine sports.

           

            Cong. Mikee Romero also appealed to Transportation Secretary Art Tugade to speed up reforms to solve what he described as “the horrible traffic mess in Metro Manila which people have been suffering daily for years”, and he lamented that DOTC has “not yet shown any positive results in the past six months”.

            Congressman Eric Pineda also made a public appeal for improvement of the country’s telecommunications services and the construction of more cell sites as among his legislative priorities for 2017.

Philippine infrastructures budget P8.2 to P9 trillion in 6 years

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno on November 28 at the Pandesal Forum of the 77-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City announced the new “golden age of infrastructures” for the Philippines under the Duterte administration in the coming six years with a projected record-high budget of P8.2 trillion pesos to P9 trillion pesos.

Former University of the Philippines (U.P.) economics professor, Secretary Diokno said: “We are reforming and opening up the Philippine economy. Local and foreign investors are welcome to be part of the fastest-growing economy of the Philippines in the fastest-growing region in the world which is Asia.”

Among the announcements made by Secretary Diokno at the Pandesal Forum included:

1. The Philippine government can register 8% annual economic growth by year 2022.

2. NEDA has already approved 18 public infrastructure projects.

3. Duterte administration plans to build a new 600-kilometers train system from Tutuban in downtown Manila through Albay and to Sorsogon province in Bicol region, with estimated construction costs of US$250 million to $300 million and to be completed in 4 to 5 years.

4. Infrastructures construction projects will be undertaken by the Duterte administration 24 hours daily and for 7 days a week, Duterte described it as “non-stop and full-speed”.

5. Infrastructures budget for 2017 shall be P861 billion pesos.

6. President Rody Duterte has already convened 9 cabinet meetings in less than 5 months, usually lasting from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in order to fast-track socio-economic development projects and reforms.

7. Dr. Diokno said that infrastructure projects will help solve Metro Manila’s chronic traffic problem, which he said is costing the Philippine economy P2.4 billion pesos of productivity losses daily. He added: “I think this will get worse until they get better, due to the coming construction activities and infrastructure projects.”

8. The Duterte administration is planning to reduce personal income tax rate from 32% to 25%, and to increase the number of people who shall enjoy tax exemptions. Diokno said: “President Duterte is the first president of the country to submit a tax reform policy within only a few months in office.”

9. Diokno said that the ideal ratio of infrastructures budget to a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is 5%, but the Philippines ever since Edsa 1986 to now or the past 30 years averaged “not over 35”. Diokno said: “Under the Aquino administration of the past 6 byears, infrastructure budget averaged only 2.7% to 2.9% of GDP. Under the Duterte administration, the target is 7% to 8%, and that’s the conservative target only. The cost of borrowing money in the world now is so low, government should increase infrastructure developments and socio-economic services. National economic growth which is not inclusive or not felt by the ordinary citizens, this should change and this Duterte administration wants high economic growth should improve the lives of bthe people.”

10. The Philippines is subscribing to and becoming an active member of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as part of efforts to speed up infrastructure developments all over the country.

11. The creation of a new government center is possible, perhaps in Clark. During President Joseph Estrada’s short-lived term, there was a plan to create a new government center in Quezon City where Trinoma mall is now located and this was already planned by architect Jun Palafox, but the Estrada government fell. Another possible option is the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, which has 50 hectares of government land.

12. Diokno said President Duterte is expected to decide on what to do with our existing congested international airport, either go for Clark, or San Miguel Corporation’s proposal of a new airport in Bulacan or SM Group’s proposal in Sangley Point  in Cavite.

13. Secretary Diokno said: “The Duterte administration shall continue the Private Public Partnership (PPP) but with a twist, there shall be reforms such as the government entertaining unsolicited bids and others.”

14. The Duterte administration targets to create at least one million new jobs a year.

15. The Duterte administration targets to reduce poverty by 1.25% to 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) every year.

Russia seeks stronger economic and military ties with Philippines

Russian Federation Ambassador Igor Khovaev on November 29 at the Pandesal Forum of 77-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City expressed optimism on strengthening of Philippine-Russia diplomatic, economic, military, cultural, anti-crime and anti-terrorism cooperation after what he described as “the successful meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Rody Duterte in Lima, Peru”. He said Russia looks forward to President Duterte’s 2017 state visit to his country as “a historic event”, that details are still being planned by both sides, that President Duterte prefers not to go to Moscow during the cold winter.

Khovaev stressed that Russia is against any closed military alliances which usually target third-party countries, that is why Russia has no military alliances in Asia but just close strategic partnerships with China, Vietnam and India. In the same way, Ambassador Kovaev said Russia seeks partnership with the Philippines, but not any military alliance.

Ambassador Kohvaev added that Russia can sell and export modern military equipments and arms to the Philippines, that Russia does not sell second-hand weapons or vehicles, that their military sales shall also include support for military training and technology transfers. He cited as a good example of a good customer for Russian military exports for decades is the country of Vietnam.

Ambassador Khovaev said he likes the Benguet province high mountains’ Arabica coffee served at Kamuning Bakery Café (he drank 4 cups), urging the Philippines to be more aggressive in exporting agriculture and food products to Russia. In eating the pugon-baked pandesal breads and trying the old-style pugon baking process of Kamuning Bakery Café, Khovaev also said Russia is today the world’s

No. 1 biggest wheat producer but the Philippines still doesn’t import any Russian wheat yet. Still on the huge economic potentials of expanding cooperation, Khovaev said there are now 4,000 overseas Filipino workers in Russia, many of whom are in the oil industry of Sakhalin Islands. He said Russia welcomes more Filipino workers to his country, because Filipinos are talented.

On tourism, Ambassador Kohvaev said that the Philippines only welcomes 30,000 Russian tourists yearly while our Asean competitor and neighbor Thailand welcomes one million Russian tourists per year, so he urged the Philippines “to be more aggressive” in attracting Russian tourists. He added that 10% out of Russia’s 150 million people travel abroad every year as tourists, that the Philippines should aggressively tap this tourism market since the Philippines has many beautiful tourist attractions.

Ambassador Kohvaev supports the Philippines’ new reform of pursuing an independent foreign policy, because this pragmatic and wise policy is most beneficial fopr the Philippines’ national interests, can add to the country’s number of friends and allows for more maneuvering in diplomacy and economics too. He said Russia hopes to see the rise of “a new world order” where all countries big or small shall have mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs of each sovereign nation, that is why Ambassador Kohvaev said that Russia doesn’t want to comment or criticize the on-going war on illegal drugs of President Duterte, but Russia wishes the Philippines and the Duterte government great success in all anti-crime efforts and socio-economic development policies. He said Russia supports and will cooperate with the Philippines on anti-crime, anti-narcotics, anti-terrorism and other efforts.

Hillary Clinton wins “Pandesal Survey” at 77-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe, QC, Philippines

Former New York senator and former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton has already won on November 7, 2016 as the first woman president in USA history with 37.138% or 475 votes out of the total 1,279 votes cast in the unique “Pandesal Survey” of the 77-year-old, artisanal, pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Cafe of Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Pandesal Survey used different pandesal sandwiches for each of the U.S. presidential candidates.

            Coming in second in the Pandesal Survey was “Pan de Nada” or none of the above at 36.4347% or 466 votes, while coming in No. 3 was realty tycoon & reality TV star Donald Trump at 26.426% or 338 votes.

            The “pandesal” is the versatile and popular national bread of the Philippines, and Kamuning Bakery Cafe celebrates “World Pandesal Day” every October 16---also globally marked as “World Bread Day”---since 2015. The Philippines is America’s only former colony in Asia and has copied much of its presidential system of elections since the 1930s Commonwealth election won by President Manuel L. Quezon while still under U.S. colonial rule.

            From August 2016 up to November 7, 2016 to measure the popularity of the 2 USA presidential candidates and to encourage discussions of USA politics, the unique “Presidential Pandesal Survey” was conducted by Quezon City’s pioneer artisanal Kamuning Bakery Cafe which is also venue of the newsmakers’ “Pandesal Forum” with media and intellectuals.

            Included in its all-day breakfast menu, customers can vote for their favorite USA presidentiable by buying thepugon-baked pandesal sandwich and drink assigned to each bet at No. 43 Judge Jimenez St. corner K-1st Street, Kamuning, Quezon City.  The first edition ofKamuning Bakery Cafe’s Presidential “Pandesal Survey” was held from late 2015 to May 2016, which was won by former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The following Pandesal sandwiches were offered in the latest “Pandesal Survey” and won by Hillary Clinton:

***“Pan de Clinton”--- Pugon-baked corned beef Pandesal sandwich served with FREE Kape Americano for Hillary Clinton, although Kamuning Bakery Cafe owner Wilson Lee Flores researched that Hillary likes salami sandwiches.

***“Pan de Trump”---Pugon-baked meat loaf Pandesal sandwich, served with FREE Hot Choco for Donald Trump, because KBC owner Wilson Lee Flores researched that Donald Trump likes meat loaf sandwiches.

*** “Pan de Nada”---Pugon-baked ham & egg pandesal with Brewed Coffee (using the cartoon of Mickey Mouse as image) for those who prefer “none of the above”. This third choice was added byKamuning Bakery Cafe owner and writer Wilson Lee Flores, because he believes “voters in elections should be given the right to reject all candidates offered by major political parties, if they are not morally and intellectually qualified to be leaders”.

According to Kamuning Bakery Cafe, vote buying is not only allowed but encouraged here in its Pandesal Survey!!!   Below are the caricatures used inKamuning Bakery Cafe’s US Presidential “Pandesal Survey” won by Hillary Clinton.

 History of the Philippines’ Kamuning Bakery Cafe with intellectuals, artists & reform stalwarts: Kamuning Bakery was founded in 1939 as Quezon City’s first bakery upon the invitation of pre-war newspaper tycoon Don Alejandro Roces who arranged for sale of government land at 15 centavos per square meter to founders Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier and her husband Lt. Marcelo Javier (he died fighting the Japanese invaders of World War II in the Battle of Manila). It was acquired and revived in December 2013 by writer, history buff, foodie and realty entrepreneur Wilson Lee Flores. He restored the old cafe on March 20, 2015. KBC today continues its artisanal and “pugon” or wood-fired brick oven baking.


Among its many colorful clients include Don Alejandro Roces, his son the newspaper publisher & activist Joaquin “Chino” Roces, press freedom stalwart U.P. Dean Armando Malay, the late President Cory C. Aquino, national artists like Nick Joaquin and Levi Celerio, many showbiz celebrities, to a public school student who used to walk here to buy pugon-baked breads and is now the first female Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.


Information on KBC’s “Pandesal Forum”: The non-partisan, liberal, pro-people and informal Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe was started on September 15, 2015 by writer Wilson Lee Flores as convenor and moderator. It welcomes all speakers, not just limited to political leaders. It is inspired by the centuries-old tradition of the “tertulia”---the informal and learned salon discussions of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America; it is also inspired by ancient China’s “li lun” or intellectual discourses. Apart from 80 candidates for the 2016 Philippine national elections as well as historic visits by both the U.S. and China ambassadors, other guests at Kamuning Bakery Cafe’s Pandesal Forum included political and showbiz celebrities, business leaders, writers, intellectuals, activists, artists, musicians, athletes, etc.


The “Pandesal Forum” hopes to help elevate the quality of public discourse in the Philippines on current affairs, politics and other topics, also focusing on economic, gut or “pandesal” issues. KBC’s Pandesal Forum also advocates genuine reforms and new ideas, not just our present obsession with personalities.

Erap, Imelda, Atty. Gozon greets “World Pandesal Day” on Oct. 16

Free 50,000 pugon-baked breads & gifts packs, Free medical/dental/optical mission



Ex-President & Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos, GMA Network, Inc. CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon expressed support for the holding of the “World Pandesal Day” with gift-giving plus free medical/dental/optical mission on October 16, 2016 Sunday at the 77-year-old, artisanal Kamuning Bakery Café at No. 43 Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. October 16 is globally marked every year as “World Bread Day”, but celebrated since 2015 as “World Pandesal Day” by Kamuning Bakery Cafe.



On October 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, a free medical, dental and optical mission shall be conducted by 50 volunteer doctors and dentists by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association and the Chinese General Hospital for the less privileged and urban poor at the “World Pandesal Day”. The ceremonial gift-giving of 30,000 pugon-baked pandesal breads and gift packs will start at 9: 30 a.m.



Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said: “My warmest greetings to the artisans, staff and operators of the celebrated Kamuning Bakery Café as they observe World Bread Day through their own adaptation known as the World Pandesal Day.”

Estrada continued: “This occasion is a fitting tribute to our humble and favorite Filipino breakfast staple which is a nourishing fixture in our dining tables as families start their day or as friends congregate in between breaks.”

“I commend the Kamuning Bakery Café and Wilson Lee Flores for expanding the relevance of the event by tackling the issue of widespread hunger. It is an issue that we are familiar with and currently addressing in the City of Manila through daily provision of free and nutritious breakfast set of vitamin-fortified bread and milk to thousands of malnourished elementary schoolchildren. In its initial implementation, we have seen how previously severely wasted students became healthy and active kids.”

Estrada added: “Further, I laud the historic cafe for honoring our local heritage by preserving traditional cooking methods, supporting local produce, and providing a venue for intelligent discussion of social issues. In this age of modernity and constant progression, it is encouraging to know that businesses can successfully thrive by remaining true to their roots.”





Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos said: “My warmest greetings to the Kamuning Bakery Café, for taking this initiative of honoring our well-loved pan de sal by celebrating the World Pandesal Day, concurrent with the global celebration of the World Bread Day.”

Congresswoman Marcos continued: “The humble bread of the Filipinos now takes the center stage as we honor its value, and the symbol it represents in every family. The pan de sal surely gives everyone a special memory of breakfasts and snack times shared with our loved ones. Like the pandesal that transcends every strata of our society, may we all be inspired to break social barriers and be advocates for poverty-alleviation. Congratulations and more power to you!”





GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Atty. Felipe Gozon said: “Congratulations on Kamuning Bakery Café’s celebration of the ‘World Pandesal Day’ which coincides with the global celebration of the ‘World Bread Day’. It is only fitting that a recognized institution in traditional Filipino-inspired bread making would honor such an iconic recipe which has been part of our culture for many years. The pandesal is the only bread that transcends social classes in our country. The Filipino household will never be the same without the pandesal. I am also one with you in helping our underprivileged countrymen through your own simple way. Your modest act of generosity can create a rippling effect.”



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Why “World Pandesal Day”? —The pandesal is the historic and unique national bread of the Philippines, it is bread eaten by the masses, middle-class and by all. The pandesal is a basic necessity of the people, like rice. The humble pandesal bread represents the people’s simple wish for liberation from hunger. Hot freshly pugon-baked pandesal also represents happiness. In celebrating “World Pandesal Day”, Kamuning Bakery Café hopes to give honor to this humble yet great Filipino bread, and to remind all about the goal of eradicating poverty, inequalities and the age-old problem of hunger.





Backgrounder—“World Pandesal Day” was started on October 16, 2015 by Kamuning Bakery Cafe owner & writer Wilson Lee Flores at this historic bakery cafe at 43 Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Kamuning, Quezon City, the Philippines which coincided with the annual “World Bread Day”. Wheat foods do make up 20 percent of the world’s calories, according to the United Nationsa

Hashtags: #worldpandesalday #ChristmasInOctober #kamuningbakerycafe

 

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Actor and then National Youth Commission official Dingdong Dantes graced the Oct. 16, 2015 launching of the “World Pandesal Day” at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City.