Speak Out: In defense of Angeles City and all Angeleños

WE WRITE to demand a public apology from Mr. Arnel San Pedro for the callous and reckless manner with which he has maliciously depicted the City of Angeles as nothing more than a place of prostitution and gambling in his column appearing in the March 26, 2012 issue of Sun.Star Pampanga entitled “More domestic flights.”
We feel aggrieved, insulted and utterly victimized by Mr. San Pedro’s traitorous remarks that tend to pull down the emerging image of Angeles City as, according to respected columnist Mr. Bong Lacson, a place with “more than enough reasons to like, aye, to love” (“Liking Angeles,” by Bong Lacson, Punto Central Luzon, 18 October 2012).
Traitorous, indeed, if we are to point out that while Mr. Lacson hails not from our beloved city, Mr. San Pedro is supposed to be a long-time resident.
We would have forgiven Mr. San Pedro’s hollow efforts to publicize what has already been reported in both local and national media that, true enough, more and more domestic and international flights are coming into the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport inside Clark Freeport Zone.
Setting aside professional media ethics, we can only expect a pseudo-reporter like Mr. San Pedro to exploit such propitious developments to mouth mindless paeans to Mr. Victor Luciano, the president of Clark International Airport Corporation where Mr. San Pedro is gainfully employed.
We would have forgiven Mr. San Pedro’s strained efforts to also herald the increased activities at the DMIA as a glorious boon to the much-delayed aspirations of nearby Municipality of Mabalacat to become a component city.
Never mind why Mr. San Pedro suddenly goes off on a tangent. Just bear in mind that Mr. San Pedro has been profitably moonlighting as an amateur publicity agent of Mabalacat’s municipal government.
But what we cannot forgive, what utterly disturbs our sense of community with the rest of Metro Clark area, is the fact that after all his positive cerebration of current events, Mr. San Pedro goes on a rabid attack against the City of Angeles and its people without any provocation and without any sane reason for it.
First and out of nowhere, Mr. San Pedro goes out on a limb and suddenly declares that “the Clark International Airport is not located in Angeles City — only the gate of the Clark Freeport Zone is located in Angeles City.”
What is he trying to say? That Angeles City is an insignificant geographical accident to the booming Clark airport? That the large number of hotel rooms, restaurants, tourist transport operators, travel agencies and tour operators, specialty shops and other tourism establishments that can be found in Angeles City are not important considerations for airlines and passengers to come to Clark airport? Even though the Department of Tourism and everyone else in the industry have often said so?
More importantly, who cares if Clark airport is in the territorial jurisdiction of Mabalacat or Angeles or Porac or Bamban or Capas? The undeniable fact is that Angeles City was at the forefront of efforts of these local government units in lobbying for the passage of RA 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992. Such lobbying efforts culminated with each LGU’s legislative branch giving their respective concurrence by resolution that paved the way for the creation of Clark Freeport Zone and subsequently the development of the Clark airport.
Clearly, with his inutile insistence that Clark airport is not in Angeles City, Mr. San Pedro betrays his myopic view that local economic development is purely anchored on parochial and personal interests.
Next and the unkindest cut of all, Mr. San Pedro blindsides Angeles City and its hardworking people by saying “we should now give emphasis on the development of our fledgling tourism industry. Tourism is not all about prostitution dens along Fields Avenue or the poker lairs that mushroom in Angeles City.”
Again, what is he trying to say? That there is nothing else worth visiting or liking in Angeles? That Mr. Bong Lacson is wrong? That Angeles City does not have “Tigtigan, Terakan Keng Dalan” attended by tens of thousands of people every year? No sizzling sisig people from all over the country and the world can’t help but come back for? No five star international hotels, giant shopping malls, world-class restaurants and coffee shops, and grand palazzos and golf course? No La Naval and Apu fiestas? No Center for Kapampangan Studies, Pamintuan Mansion, Museo ning Angeles, and Holy Rosary Church?
Again, we are perplexed why such a crude and cruel putdown would come from a supposed son of Angeles City. What has our city done to Mr. San Pedro but to be the choice of his and his family’s residence through all these years?
In the light of these and in defense of Angeles City and all Angeleños, we demand a public apology from Mr. Arnel San Pedro for his irresponsible and baseless remarks, for the undeserved damnation he has brought upon our city and its people and for belittling our people’s long history of hard work and perseverance to build and rebuild a city we can all be proud of.
In the event of his refusal to apologize to the people of Angeles City, we petition the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Angeles to issue a resolution declaring Mr. Arnel San Pedro a persona non-grata.
Angeles City Multi-Sector Consultative Council
27 March 2012
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2012/04/02/speak-out-defense-angeles-city-and-all-angelenos-214439
Subic is a popular destination for visitors from Manila bringing family out of town for a short getaway to the north. Many visitors stopover in Clark Philippines for gourmet dinner at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar and shop for fine vintage wine in Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine and rare vintage wines only available in the Freeport zone. With the SCTex – Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway – now opened and the travel time between Clark and Subic reduced to a mere 30 minutes, Clark is much more accessible to residents of Subic. Residents of Subic and nearby towns of Pampanga such as San Fernando frequently travel to Clark to wine and dine at this top rated restaurant. Many stay on after dinner to relax and unwind in the beautiful wine bar called The Magnum Room.

Residents of Manila travel out of town for a short getaway up north visit Angeles city, Clark, Pampanga, Philippines to wine and dine and enjoy a special dinner at the best restaurants in the country. Even people from Subic and Cebu travel to Clark to enjoy a special evening and some great food and rare vintage wine at this fine dining restaurant. The famous wine shop outside Manila in Pampanga called Clark Wine Center is frequently visited by wine lovers and tourists for a bit of wine shopping.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

If you are looking for things to do in Clark Philippines and Angeles City Pampanga, why don’t you do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center? One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today this wine shop in Clark Pampanga offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s famous wine shop, Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is a well known wine shop that is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com