Dec 2007-Jan 2008 Available online at www.benpres-holdings.com Season’s greetings! —mmL, OmL and eL3 First Gen wins geothermal energy bid FIRST Gen Corporation steamrolls its way into geother- Philippines, which has the second largest geothermal in- mal energy with its decisive acquisition of the govern- stalled capacity in the world next to the United States. ment’s 60%-stake in Philippine National Oil Company- First Gen, through its special holding company Red Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) during Vulcan Holdings Corporation, bested three other groups 2007 in review…p. 2 the public bidding held on November 21, 2007 in Makati vying for the government’s remaining stake in PNOC- City. With over 1,100MW equivalent of steam capac- EDC with its bid of P58.5 billion. ity, PNOC-EDC is the largest geothermal producer in the Turn to page 2 P2,900.00 only A closer look at a royal province ... page 10 The 107625-hectare Leyte Geothermal Production Field is the largest wet steam-producing field in the world. TEAM-Mindanao: Mission accomplished FOR the past three years, a story unfolded in Mindanao that might well be considered a love story. Unlike your typical love story, however, the main protagonists number in the thousands. It is Have a the story of Television Education for the Advance- ment of Muslim Mindanao or TEAM-Mindanao. Power Plant Much in the same way that “Sesame Street” influenced city kids who grew up in the 1970s and ‘80s, a new generation of children—Mindanao chil- Christmas! dren—will now have fond memories of their own ... page 14 surrogate teacher, Knowledge Channel (KCh). This followed as the alliance known as TEAM- Mindanao, after three years of crisscrossing the Doris Nuval, Thomas Crehan, Jon Linborg, grade 6 student Melvylyn Escibar, DepEd sec. Jesli Lapus and school head Lydia Jimenez. Turn to page 8 2 LOPEZLINK Dec 2007 - Jan 2008 LOPEZLINK Dec 2007 - Jan 2008 3 The year that was The 2007 ‘Lopez Link’ year-end report Search for 2nd Gawad By Karen Valeza expansion of manufacturing sector, min- in unconsolidated revenues to P12.949 B had recovered in 2006 due to a stronger Rockwell pioneered in offering loft-type Haydee Yorac awardee on ing investment, stronger property market compared to P12.725B in the compara- financial performance, reorganization and residential units. Future Joya Towers resi- LopezLink takes you back to the impor- and consumer spending brought by the tive period. increased ratings. Due to these companies’ dents will enjoy the luxury and comfort of MERALCO, in cooperation 40 years old at the tant events that took place in the Lopez upcoming elections. February success, others followed suit also. Ben- living by 2008. with the University of the Phil- time of nomination. Group in the past 12 months. Here’s a He stated that among the Lopez The four pres doubled its share price to P2.16 from Bayan formalized a partnership with ippines (UP), has launched the He/she must have brief look at the Group’s achievements Group’s priorities for 2007 were the entertain- P1.08 in 2005, while First Gen closed at Microsoft Philippines for the Philippine nationwide search for the sec- distinguished himself/ and successes. completion of the financial restructur- ment brands P56.50 in 2006. launch of Microsoft’s Windows Vista and ond Gawad Haydee Yorac for herself in serving the January ing of Benpres Holding Corporation, of Creative March 2007 Microsoft Office system. Outstanding Public Service. The public in the country, Lopez strengthening the governance system and Programs Inc. Securities Transfer April award recognizes leaders from exhibiting courage Group chair- improvement of excellence and corporate (CPI)—Hero, Services Inc. (STSI) ABS-CBN Center for Communication the private sector, government and integrity in the man Oscar M. initiatives to help improve the group’s Myx, Cin- was highlighted as a Arts Inc. (CCAI) or WORKSHOPS@ GOARN regional training participants pose at ELC front steps service and volunteer organiza- face of overwhelm- Lopez (OML), performance. ema One and “15-year-old that could ABS-CBN saved harried mothers from tions whose attributes, personal ing challenges. together with Meanwhile, Power Plant Mall was Lifestyle Net- get would-be investors a meltdown with work ethics and service to the Just like the late Lopez Group’s touted as the shopping place to be with work—proved to be among the in on the action.” its array of cours- nation are worth emulating. Yorac, the awardee executives, its four floors of fashion brands, as well most popular cable channels in the Joya Towers & es in performing, ELC hosts WHO, eBIZ confabs The first Gawad Haydee Yorac must be a role model welcomed as management’s emphasis on safety and country, giving foreign mainstays a Lofts announced its broadcast and Forty participants from the World lia, China, Cambodia, Japan, Fiji, (eBIZ) CLIMB Conference 2007. Awardee was Antonio P. Meloto, for public service. year 2007 with security. run for their money. success as all avail- media arts and Health Organization (WHO)-West- Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, Themed “Conquering Mountains founder of the antipoverty and Like her, the awardee an optimistic The increased value of the peso Lopez Group shares performed well able units of Rockwell Land’s second self-develop- ern Pacific attended the Global Out- and the WHO headquarters in of Our Business,” it kicked off with nation-building movement Ga- must have attributes, outlook. At the helped Benpres in reaching P2.981 bil- in the stock market during the first few high-rise project were already 100% sold. break Alert and Response Network Switzerland. an actual rappel climb exhibition wad Kalinga (GK). Through GK, ethics and life exam- annual budget conference, OML noted lion in net income in the first nine months months of 2006. Meralco was leading in Val Soliven, Rockwell vice president of (GOARN) regional training course Epidemiologist Amy Caw- by members of the Philippines’ Mt. Meloto inspires Filipinos to eradi- ples that guide daily the opportunities he saw in the capacity of 2006.There was also an increase of 2% stock price performance while ABS-CBN sales and marketing, proudly said that Turn to page 7 on international outbreak response thorne, one of the organizers of the Everest Expedition Team—Leo cate poverty through a pioneering manifestations of ser- held at the Eugenio Lopez Center WHO GOARN training course, Oracion and Pastor Emata, Carina movement of volunteerism. The vice and leadership. (ELC) from Nov. 4-10, 2007. expressed satisfaction with the lo- Dayondon, Noelle Wenceslao and GK movement ignites hope in The award will be Despite its offer’s being nearly 30% higher Participants included physi- cation, amenities, food and accom- Janet Belarmino. Art Valdez, team poor Filipino families by build- conferred on March 4, FIRST GEN... than the government’s floor price, observers ing them homes, setting up model Yorac’s birthday. The from page 1 cians on infectious diseases, modations provided by the ELC, leader, described the conquest of have conceded that the acquisition “a long-term professors and epidemiologists, and thanked the management and Mt. Everest as a symbol of what communities and providing sus- winner will receive a trophy by at www.meralco.com.ph/ga- investment” on the part of the First Gen-led and lecturers and consultants on staff for the great service. every Filipino can accomplish, a tainable means of livelihood. National Artist Napoleon Abueva wadhaydeeyorac. The award First Gen vice-chairman and chief executive consortium. disease control and pandemic alert Meanwhile, a virtual Mt. Ever- symbol of unsinkable spirit and The nomination is open to and a cash gift of P300,000. secretariat can be reached at officer Peter D. Garrucho Jr. described the “First Gen did its usual thorough due dili- response from WHO-Western est was installed at the ELC heli- unbreakable Filipino character. any Filipino citizen residing in Entry forms, guidelines and 632-8481. Deadline of nomina- purchase as a “transformational moment” in the gence and saw significant value in the long run. What is PNOC-EDC? Pacific countries such as Austra- pad for the eBusiness Services Inc. (Ethel Bondoc) the Philippines and who is at least other information are available tions is on January 15, 2008. nine-year-old company’s history. We went out there to win because we believe Not ordinary shares in clean energy,” First Gen president and COO CREATED in March 1976 to lead Palinpinon 1 Production Field The joint venture was only one of the two Federico “Piki” Lopez said. the Philippines’ quest for energy self- and the 80.0-MW Palinpinon 2 groups that met the P45.0 billion reserve price Excellent follow-on sufficiency, the mission of Philippine Production Field set by the Privatization Committee of PNOC, “EDC adds a host of quality assets and National Oil Company-Energy De- • Palinpinon 1 exports power to Bayan hits Meralco generation charge the other being the FDC Geo-Energy Holdings top Filipino engineering talent to the First velopment Corporation (PNOC-EDC) Bacolod City, Aklan, Iloilo, Inc., a consortium of holding company Filinvest Gen Group. This is an excellent follow-on is to explore and develop indigenous Capiz and Antique. Power from 100K BWL Development Corp. and Britain’s International to our successful acquisition of the 112-MW energy sources, focusing on those that Palinpinon 2 is exported to Cebu. down for 4th month in a row Power, with P48.5 billion. Pantabangan-Masiway Hydro Plant. Next up are clean and renewable to ensure the • Has the distinction of being the for us are the 192.5-MW Palinpinon and the preservation of the country’s environ- first geothermal project to ben- subscriber MERALCO reported a decrease in tial customers’ electricity bills Last November, the genera- 146-MW Dingle Plant,” Richard Tantoco said.