Emblems of Bacolod pride

That do hospitals and department stores have in common? Is it the readiness to serve their clientele’s varying demands? Is it offering what one will need in just one stop? Or is it the promptness of its staff to serve its patrons?

In Bacolod, both the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital and the Lopue Department Stores have become a source of pride and joy not only to their founding families but to all Negrenses as well.

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial, a hospital situated in the heart of Bacolod, is not just the region’s premier hospital, but is considered a top rate medical institution with facilities that can definitely compete with Metro Manila hospitals.

In another part of the city is the main hub of a province-wide chain of department stores owned by the Lopue family. Starting out as a sari-sari store during the Japanese regime, the company slowly climbed to the top, becoming the retail cluster giant that it is today.

Known for breaking ground in the field of health service, Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital is the first hospital outside Metro Manila to use the Bio Z cardiac monitor, a NASA-developed machine that measures the mechanical function of the heart.

 The hospital also boasts of being the first medical institution in the country to use the Pneumatic-tube system which both alleviates and augments the speed of transfer of laboratory specimens and medicines to the different areas of the hospital. Only the most modern hospitals in the USA use this kind of method.

All these were made possible because of the remarkable leadership of Joaquin Torre, the hospital’s very able president.

With its founder Ben Lopue Sr., fondly called “Big Boss” by his employees, as catalyst, Lopue’s slowly inched its way to profitability, setting up branches and constructing warehouses to support the retail stores’ needs. Being a visionary and enterprising man, Lopue saw an economic growth opportunity in the area.

Today, there are ten Lopue’s branches scattered across Negros. In the coming years, Negrenses may see more stores opening such as Lopue’s Silay, the latest addition to the chain of Lopue’s stores which will commence operations this year. Lopue’s Department Stores shall always stay true to its thrust of bringing the market to the people.

For their remarkable contributions in spearheading business growth in Bacolod, as well as providing livelihood to their kababayans, Benjamin Kho Lopue Sr. and Joaquin Torre will be among the Most Inspiring Bacolod Entrepreneurs to be awarded by President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III on July 13-14, 2007 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.

The citation is given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) as part of the Go Negosyo sa Bacolod, part of PCE’s Go Negosyo Caravan which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions to key cities outside Metro Manila.

Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is held in cooperation with Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, DTI-OTOP and RFM Corp. Other event partners include University of St. La Salle, SM Supermalls and the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corp., and Full Circle Communications.

Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is supported by the Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bacolod City Economic and Business Council through the representation of Bobby Montelibano (president) and Bro. Rolly Dizon (chairman), respectively.