A Newsletter of the Philippine Retirement Authority www.pra.gov.ph January-February 2010

Chairman’s Message PDGen EDGAR B. AGLIPAY, PNP (Ret.)

PRA Celebrates its Silver Anniversary

T he advent of this New Year (2010) and this New Decade symbolizes a fresh start and a

new chapter in our retirement industry history. In recent years, we have seen a dramatic growth of enrollees to the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) Program, bolstering our confidence that truly the Philippines is not only a popular haven for tourism, investments and medical wellness, but it has also become Asia’s retirement destination. We owe this success to all of you : the PRA retiree visa holders, our indefatigable partners in the government and private sectors, and the dedi-cated PRA officers and staff.

We are doubly delighted that this year, the PRA will mark its Silver Anniversary. So we shall invite you to join us in upcom-ing fun-filled and fruitful activities. As part of our objectives this year, we are committed to continue improving our services to the retirees, to add more retiree privileges and to build a more efficient line of communication with all of you. The PRA will also spearhead programs to help uplift other sectors of our soci-ety, like our Yuletide party with the indigent Filipino elderly, and projects to help protect our environment like our recent tree-planting activity. MABUHAY ANG ATING RETIRE-MENT INDUSTRY! MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT!

T he Philippine Retirement Authority is celebrating 25

years of service to the Filipino nation and to its clients starting with the adoption of the theme “Serving with Pride at 25!”

Created by virtue of Executive Order 1037 on July 4, 1985, the Philippine Retirement Authority was tasked to promote the Philippines as a retirement destination for foreigners and for former Filipinos. While helping the retirees enjoy the privileges of the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) and the various retirement

facilities and services offered by the retirement industry part-ners, the PRA has promoted the country’s economic develop-ment by attracting the flow of foreign investments from these retirees through these years. Fun run, cultural shows, anniversary parties, raffles and corpo-rate souvenir items await foreign retiree members and industry partners during the various activities lined up this year to mark this significant event. Looking beyond 2010, the PRA aims to reach greater heights in promoting the country as a second home to retirees in search of 7,107 island reasons to experience the joy in living in the Phil-ippines.

I f there’s one trait that is uniquely Filipino,

it’s perhaps our innate love and care of our elderly. Just ask anyone of his childhood memo-ries, and for sure he would tell you countless stories about his grand-mother and grandfather with much fondness. Even as they advance in age, the love and care for them remains and grows even deeper. The Philippine Retirement Authority is committed to serve not only its foreign retiree members but is likewise attuned to the needs of our indigent eld-erly countrymen. During the recent Yuletide festivi-ties, its officers and staff

visited various homes for the aged all over the coun-try to spread cheers in celebration of the season. These include, Manila Boystown in Marikina City, Gasa sa Gugma in Cebu City, Bahay Pag-Ibig in San Fernando, Pampanga, Cu Sugian Center for the Elderly and Care for the Elderly in Davao City. Cont. to page 2

Closest to our Hearts...Our Elders

Philippine Retirement Authority 2

L ast December 12, 2009, the Philip-pine Retirement Authority (PRA),

as part of its corporate social responsibil-ity, launched a nature-conservation pro-gram in four (4) selected areas in Metro Manila recently devastated by the Super typhoon “Ondoy”, namely, Cainta, Ma-rikina, Pasig and Quezon City. The PRA officers and employees were assisted by foreign retirees, Korean youth volunteers and accredited retire-ment industry partners during the initial tree planting project. The planned PRA 3-year Tree Planting Program aims to plant 500,000 tree sap-lings all over the country. Other pilot areas being studied include Cebu, Da-vao, Northern and Central Luzon. PRA Acting General Manager Reynaldo De Leon Lingat during the project’s inauguration remarked, “The PRA ini-

tiated this tree-planting project to help create more awareness on the effects of climate change not only in our country but also from a global per-spective.” Citing that the potential damage brought by ty-phoons could be mini-mized through proper conservation of our natu-ral environment, Mr. Lingat emphasized, “By planting more trees that can prevent floods, we aim to make our country a better and safer place to live in for ourselves and for the next genera-tions”.

PRA Tree Planting Project in Eusebio St., Pasig City

PRA officers, employees and Korean volunteers in North Olympus Subd. Zabarte Rd., Novaliches, Quezon City

In serving both the foreign retirees and our indigent eld-ers, our vision of a border-less world of retirement is accented with understanding, love and constant care. We in the PRA hope to achieve this vision with the sincere dedication of each individual in our organization, as well as with our business partners and industry friends.

Cont. from page 1 Closest to our Hearts...

Acting General Manager Reynaldo Lingat leads the Yuletide out-reach activity in Boystown, Marikina City. Photo shows: (from left) Ms. Jean Ramos of Manila Boystown, Scarlet Lachica, OIC-Client Relations Division, Dr. Hernando Delizo of Clinica Manila, and PRA Chairman Edgar B. Aglipay.

A Haven for “Wellness” and “Healthy” Retirement

D epartment of Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano predicted the fast growth of the “Wellness and Health” Tourism and Retirement

industry in the country with the unification of the various health services and medical tourism groups under one organization called Health and Wellness Alliance of the Philippines (HEAL Philippines) during their oath-taking ceremonies held last January 27, 2010. The newly formed organization seeks to promote the Philippines as a prime destination for global healthcare, medical wellness and “healthy” retirement at par with international standards but offered at more reason-able costs compared to other countries. The group, formed with the sup-port of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH), is composed of representatives from several hospitals, accredited spas, medical clinics, faith healers and retirement facilities. Also suppor-tive of this new group’s plans are the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) and the Philippine Retirement, Inc. (PRI), the government agency and the private sector lead group, respectively, of the international retire-ment industry. The "Wellness and Health” Tourism and Retirement industry is a billion-dollar economic engine that can boost our nation’s development, accord-ing to Secretary Durano. (Turn to Page 4)

PRA Tree-Planting Activity : “A tree planted today can prevent the floods tomorrow.”

Yoshihiko Ono, a Japanese Retiree member plants a Mahogany Tree at Cainta, Rizal

PRA Tree Planting Project in Marikina City

In line with the 25th year anniversary of PRA and continuous promotional campaign of the retirement programs of the govern-ment, the Marketing Department headed by its OIC, Ms. Noehl D. Bautista, in coordination with PRA Interim Systems Unit (PRAISU) Division led by Ms. Donna V. Baranda, met with the LGU officials, officers of different local Chambers of Com-merce, officers of different Tourism Councils, other business associations, owners of different establishments to keep them abreast of the activities and the plans of the Authority for 2010.

Ms. Bautista went to Cebu with RRSC staff Remus Palmos and Nap Manguiat to work with the Cebu Satellite Office’s OIC, Ms. Elma Corbeta, in line with the Cebu Sinulog Festival. The group met Ms. Anita Blanco of Citilights Garden regarding the accreditation of their retirement facilities and benefits to be ac-corded to our retiree-members.

Ms. Bautista, Ms. Baranda and the OIC of the Davao Satellite Office, Mr. Jaime Llames visited Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin Island with the assistance of Mr. Patrick Daylo, Board Member of Mindanao Tourism Council and Marketing Manager of Paras Resort. The Camiguin Highlands Resort, Paras Resort and Ba-hay-Bakasyunan signified their intention for accreditation as service providers of PRA. The Airport Manager of CDO and Area IX, Moh. Naga Rascal, conveyed his support to the retire-ment program of the government.

Likewise, the group, along with Gen. Edgar B. Aglipay, traveled to Baguio to speak before the Blessed Association of Retired Persons’ (BARP) Annual General Assembly. Gen. Aglipay briefed and re-oriented the establishments which signified sup-port thru the PRA LIRA System including the Baguio Country Club during its marketing blitz. These activities were in coordi-nation with the PRA Baguio Satellite Office OIC, Mr. Eric Pati.

T here couldn’t be any better way to say it, but Love truly heals.

The love that we know and experience is something borne out of our bondage with our parents. A mother’s love knows no boundaries, and yet our children’s love is as boundless as well and marked with true innocence.

Falling in love is a different thing. It is combined with other facets like respect and honor. Yet it encompasses a far-reaching goal – that which binds man and woman into husband and wife.

Curious as it may seem, but even scientific studies prove that people who are loved and who are in-love are in much better health than those whose life is centered on negativism and misery. Medical tests made on observing heart beat pattern show that positive emotions such as love and appreciation creates a more rhythmic and coherent beating pattern.

The effects of love to the body are very evident. Happy smiles, laughter and a sunny disposition are seen in people who live in a loving environ-ment. Another thing similar to this observation, is “You are what you think”.

In this month of hearts, we hope to always bring to mind that love con-quers fear, fuels hope, and attract all the positive influences in the world.

May we have this feeling of love throughout the coming years, and throughout our lives.

Philippine Retirement Authority 3

P RA Chairman Edgar B. Aglipay lauded the ef-

forts of 15 marketers during the Philippine Retirement Authority Accredited Market-ers Inc. (PRAAMAI) Yule-tide Get-Together last Dec. 17, 2009.

The marketers are: Winplex Consultants Phils., MRL Ser-vices, Mary Jane Gomez Visa Consultancy, Madangbal, Inc., Cebu Flospb Mgmt. & Consultancy Services, Ange-les Int’l Travel Center, Dacodion Int’l Travel Corp., Hua Xia Consultancy Ser-vices, RJ Visa Immigration

Love as a Therapy

GM’s Message GEN. REYNALDO DE LEON LINGAT, RET. (CSEE) Acting General Manager

Consultancy Services, Em-pire Int’l Travel and Tours, Noberose Documentation & Consultancy Services, PRA Marketing Services (360 Me-dia Inc.), MSA Marketing, Rah Rah Phils. Retirement Services, and AMJ Docu-mentation Consultancy.

Top PRA Marketers in 2009 Cited

PRAAMAI News

PRA Intensifies Its Marketing Campaign

To consolidate efforts to promote the Philippines as a Medical Tourism and Retirement Destination, key private sector stakeholders, including the Philippine Retirement Inc., with the support of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Health, launched an

organization dubbed as the Health and Wellness Alliance of the Philippines (HEAL Philippines).

With several hospitals, accredited spas, clinics, faith healers, and retirement facilities, the newly formed organization seeks to pro-mote the Philippines as a prime destination for global healthcare and retirement at very reasonable prices.

During the HEAL Phils induction of officers, DOT Sec. Joseph Ace Durano said that the country's fledgling medical tourism is expected to grow bigger through the years with the unification of health services and medical tourism providers.

Promoting the Country as a Medical Tourism and Retirement Destination PRI News

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CUSTOMER NAME Street Address City Zip Code

PRA Satellite Offices Baguio Satellite Office: Nevada Square Unit 8 Bldg. 3 # 2 Loakan Road Baguio City Tel. no. : +6374.423.3123 Fax no. : + 6374.424.1423 Mobile no. : +63928.551.0953 Email : baguio@pra.gov.ph Cebu Satellite Office: Shop no.7 2nd Level, Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City Tel. nos. :+6332.238.5693 +6332.238.8001 E-mail : cebu@pra.gov.ph

DTI-NERBAC, Lapu-Lapu St. Cebu City Tel. no. :+6332.238.6428 Mobile no. :+63918.979.0793 E-mail : cebu@pra.gov.ph Subic / Clark Satellite Office: G/F City Tourism Office, Olongapo Convention Center Old Hospital Road, East Tapinac, Olongapo City Mobile no. :+63918.924.0585 E-mail : clark-subic@pra.gov.ph

2/F DTI -Region 3 Office, Angeles Business Center Bldg., Teresa Street Nepomart Complex, Angeles City Pampanga Mobile no. : +63918.924.0585 E-mail : clark-subic@pra.gov.ph Davao Satellite Office: 2/F The Royal Mandaya Hotel J. Palma Gil. St. Davao City Tel no. : +6382.225.8888 loc.6299 Mobile no. : +63928.551.0954

4 Philippine Retirement Authority

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“The Philippines is now my permanent home. I want to give something back (to the Philip-pines) which I really love,” said Albert “Al” Pena Jr. An American of Mexican decent, Al de-cided to retire in the Philippines after years of traveling all over the globe. As a businessman on the constant go, Al often had hotel rooms as his “home”. The constant packing and unpacking was his usual routine, adding to the compounding stress that came along with work. In 1977, Al found himself assigned in Asia, where the tropical weather seemed very much the same as his native state of New Mexico. He frequently traveled to the Philippines and found that its people and its culture are very much favorable to him. “As an American with Mexican an-cestry, I find Filipinos very warm and caring, very much like us,” he said. “I also find the Filipino culture most unique in Asia. It’s a traditional culture that blended with Western culture,” he added.

Another unique feature Al discovered when he retired in the Philippines back in 1995 is that the cost of living. Living in the Philippines is very reasonable, and Al saw his money go a long way. Al still continues to run his own business, at the same time puts in his modest contri-bution to several local charities. “I take trips to Davao and Cebu (major islands in Southern Philippines). I simply love the mountain views and the beaches,“ he said. And for the rest of his free time, Al spends it with his friends at the golf course, a great way to cap-off living in the Philippines.

Sec. Durano mentioned, “We have world-class hospitals like St. Luke's Medical Center at Boni-facio Global City and Chong Hua in Cebu which are technologically at par with those in the US or Europe, but most of all the Filipi-nos are unique in the sense that they are compassionate, caring and competent when it comes to looking after patients, of all ages". Durano also reiterated the follow-ing advantages that can make our country the best haven for medi-cal-tourism and for a healthy re-tirement, “we offer holistic ser-vices from treatment to healing, rest and recuperation after trauma, travel to the countryside for rec-reation and cultural enrichment plus the possibility of retirement here for foreign clients".

Cont. from page 2

“This is My Permanent Home”

Al Pena