Northrail redux?

It was fortuitous timing: en route from the Asean+3 and East Asia Summits in Malaysia, Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and his wife stopped by the Philippines upon the invitation of President Macapagal-Arroyo. On the agenda for the hectic three-day state visit were a bilateral summit with GMA, a rather poignant reception for the Philippine veterans of the Korean War from 1950-53, and the laying of a time capsule on Philippine National Railroad (PNR) Tutuban Main Terminal grounds.

The PNR ceremony took less then 45 minutes – not counting having to undulate in and out of hellish pre-Christmas traffic along Divisoria’s tight, claustrophobic streets – but the occasion itself was fraught with symbolism: not least the timelessness of Korea’s friendship, its confidence in the country and in – drumroll! – the Philippine National railroad system.

First China. Now Korea.

Who hasn’t heard about the troubles, trials and tribulations of the controversy-dogged Northrail project? Or perhaps even contributed to it?

Unfortunate timing: all of the alleged Northrail anomalies surfacing like flotsam and jetsam in the wake of impeachment complaints against President Macapagal-Arroyo. Not only the US$400-million contract came under intense albeit flawed scrutiny, but the Chinese group, CNMEG itself, the concomitant squatter relocation to select NHA sites, then NHA itself, and the right-of-way clearing operations – culminating in the brandishing of that swashbuckling all-encompassing, all-powerful weapon in the arsenal of a country replete with under-employed lawyers – a temporary restraining order.

Mercifully junked.

So at the same aforementioned summit, President Macapagal-Arroyo yet again reassured Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that the transfer of Northrail’s squatters — oops, informal settlers — was proceeding apace and that the order to Chinese engineers to "start the ball rolling," should already be issued. (The first assurance was in September, in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council meeting.)

Even in the run-up to President Roh’s state visit, NGOs descended upon the Caloocan office of PNR’s General Manager Joey Sarsola, much like this week’s unseasonal rain clouds, or more accurately, a swarm of wasps. Buzang, buzzing . . . over what is anyone’s guess at this stage.

Still and yet, President Roh and his First Lady and President Macapagal-Arroyo and the First Gentleman lowered a time capsule amid little fanfare Thursday. Seated in the capsule were the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project summary, the loan agreement, a map of the alignment, and the day’s newspapers that carried the announcement of the launch (The Philippine STAR included, of course) and some coins.

That signaled the start of the rehabilitation and modernization of Phase I, which connects the north terminal of the Northrail Project in Caloocan to the north end of the Southrail Project: 32 km. of track from Caloocan to Alabang, 16 stations, a projected passenger volume of 187,000 commuters daily, 21 spanking-new diesel railcars, and end-to-end travel time of 30-35 minutes.

Korea has, since last year, committed US$50-42 million for Phase I. Seventy percent of US$35 million emanates from the country’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) in a concessional loan at 2.5 percent interest per annum, payable over 20 years, with additional 10-year grace period for the principal amount. The balance, or US$15.42 million, is in the form of export credit from the Korean Export-Import Bank, payable in 10 years.

Factor in Phase 2, which extends the commuter rail service to Calamba, and the total bill approaches US$126.76 million. This visit of President Roh just guaranteed financing for Phase 2. That, plus EDCF disbursements to bankroll infrastructure improvement, notably the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo road; and cooperation in energy and mineral resources projects — all aimed at advancing socio-economic development of the Philippines.

As things stand, we already enjoy solid bilateral relations with Korea. Trade soared to US$5.5 billion in 2004, making us that nation’s fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN. Korean businesses have invested an aggregate of US$1.05 billion to date. In the past year, a total of 400,000 Korean tourists sojourned to our shores, making Korea our second largest tourism market after the US. Some 46,000 Koreans reside here, thus constituting the largest expatriate Korean community in southeast Asia.

Go figure: a reinvigorated PNR that decongests Manila, that allows for inexpensive and efficient mass transit, that ushers trade and commerce and easy accessibility to and from and within this growth zone of Marilarque (Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon). How can you not like it?

But will this be Northrail redux?

Amazing isn’t it, that the Chinese and Koreans have greater faith in us, than we have in ourselves. And manifesting it around Christmas, too. Exquisite timing.

* * *

TALKING ABOUT EXQUISITE TIMING, the Cordova family of Valle Verde IV, Pasig and Vigan, are enjoying the benefits of the Christmas season, as evidenced by the success of their business ventures. Bobby and Mercy have long been in the importation and distribution of salmon from Norway. Just recently, they opened a stall at Tiendesita, the Ortigas commercial village along C-5, Pasig, their main product, Vigan empanaditas (and ukoy and longanisa on the side). The empanaditas have been selling at almost 500 pieces every day.

The amiable Mercy attributes the success of this venture to the Lord. "All these years I was wishing I had a place to sell empanaditas the way people from Vigan do it. Then I was offered this place – at the corner of the section on antique furniture and stuff. I said, my goodness, my prayer has been answered.

"Customers like the idea of the pastry being done right before their eyes. The man in charge of rolling the dough is Genuine Ilocano – as are my other staffers who buy the rice flour for the dough and the vegetables at dawn every day. Everything has to be fresh."

The stall has been featured in TV shows and magazines, so people are curious to know how the pastry is made, but most of the customers, says Mercy, come from the Ilocos, who know genuine empanaditas when they see ours."

Helping at the stall are the Cordova daughters Boogie (a former Saudia flight stewardess) and Marlene. The father, Bobby is at the stall nearly the whole day, handling the cash register.

* * *

THERE’S ANOTHER CORDOVA entrepreneur, yet – Adele, who the other day, was beaming at the launch of Our Home, an affiliate of SM, at the Greenhills Commercial Center. The reason was she was also introducing her new line of real classy products at Our Home-Greenhills. She has stalls also at Our Home in SM Megamall, Pampanga, Southmall (Las Pinas), and Bacoor.

A marketing major from the UP, Adelle was making exquisite Christmas décor and selling her productions at bazaars for a couple of years. Now, more than ten years later, she has blossomed into a "consignee," with her own stalls. And she’s not just into Christmas décor, but also into home décor the whole year round. She is in demand as an interior designer. At Greenhills, she showed off limited editions of lidded clear glass jars and vases in red, amber and green colors and silk flowers, orchids, tropical flowers, bamboo and succulents. She travels to China and Bangkok, the US and European countries to see what’s the latest in designs. Her exquisite items are imported from 18 K Canada, and Aldik, Zodax and Raz in the US.

Having overcome her grief over the tragic death of her husband, Adele exudes serenity and joy. Business is exponentially good, she says, but she savors more the reality that she has found herself, and enjoys what she is doing.

* * *

My email: [email protected]