Lopezlink, a monthly publication of the Lopez Group of Companies

A good start in the year of the Water Dragon

It's full steam ahead for Energy Development Corporation's (EDC's) global expansion as it goes to Latin America!

EDC boldly ventures into its first international concession area near the Chilean capital. Backed by its vaunted "35-year head start in geothermal power development," the company will carry out this 2012 the "pre-work activities that will tell you where you should drill, so you can maximize your chances of getting good wells," revealed president Richard Tantoco. This achievement is a perfect example of the Lopez Values of pioneering entrepreneurial spirit and nationalism. Congratulations, EDC!

Another pioneer advocates sustainable tourism: ABS-CBN's Choose Philippines led by Charie Villa.

Ever since the Department of Tourism challenged us to capture thefun, good-natured spirit that Pinoys inject into everything and anything,we have been busy cranking out memes and one-liners. For this month's cover feature we came up with our own take-"It's more fun to Choose Philippines." Choose Philippines, an advocacy of ABS-CBN's Regional Network Group, has actually been around since 2009. Now with RNG News and Online Business head Villa as "chief loudspeaker," the Choose Philippines team keeps traveling around the country to spotlight our 7,107 assets. Find out why more than 250,000 people "choose Philippines"-
and why you should as well!


Where were you last December 16, 2011? That Friday, many Manileños were keeping a wary eye on the track of severe tropical storm Sendong, which was forecast to hit Manila; Pedring, after all, had happened only three months earlier and the memory of tsunami-like waves inundating Roxas Blvd. was still fresh on everyone's mind. They finally went to bed assured that they were out of harm's way. Unfortunately, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, where such natural disasters were hitherto unheard of, bore the brunt of Sendong's early-morning rampage: the rains, overflowing rivers and floods made for a deadly combination that resulted in the death of almost 1,500 people and the displacement of almost half a million others.

Lopez Group companies wasted no time in marshalling their resources to get help out to the Cagayanons and Iliganons, as well as to the residents of other areas devastated by Sendong. For hundreds of personnel of and volunteers from companies like First Philippine Holdings, EDC and Adtel, Christmas and the attendant hustle and bustle was not a reason not to come to their needy countrymen's aid-it was precisely because it was Christmas that they did so. The generosity of our Lopez Group kapamilya certainly expressed the spirit of the
season: love.

In the same spirit of love, we can look forward to Valentine's Day this month, taking a more light-hearted approach to the customary LopezLink business- and personal fortune-forecast. Since Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away, Kapamilya and Certified Astro*Carto*Grapher Zenaida Seva looks into how we will fare in the love and romance department in the Year of the Water Dragon. And if the forecast is positive, it will certainly help your cause to drop by Power Plant Mall this month for gift and date suggestions, don't you think? Happy Valentine's Day!