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GUMAMELA GOWN GOES ON PUBLIC VIEW
By Mark Sison

The coral "Gumamela" national costume that carried Ma. Katrina Llegado to the Miss Supranational 2026 crown is on display this weekend at the Bridal Expo Filipino, running September 25 to 27 at SM City Pampanga.

Llegado wore the piece during the pageant's national costume segment in Poland, ahead of the July 31 coronation that made her the country's second Miss Supranational titleholder, ending a 13-year wait since Mutya Datul's historic 2013 win.

Designer Mich Viray built the gown around the hibiscus, a flower the designer says stands for endurance and grace beneath a delicate surface "resilient, delicate, yet able to bloom wherever it grows," Viray said, describing the intent to make Llegado "appear like a Gumamela in full bloom."

The finished piece was a voluminous coral-pink gown built from layered petals with scalloped edges, creating the effect of a flower in full bloom, paired with a gold headpiece trailing metallic strands and a matching floral halo behind Llegado's head.

Llegado, a 28-year-old Taguig native and Philippine Air Force reservist, echoed the same theme on social media, saying the costume "blooms with resilience, strength, and beauty" wherever it takes root...values she said she carried into the competition.

Before Miss Supranational, Llegado had placed in the Top 6 of Miss Universe Philippines 2025 and won Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2019.

📸Mich Viray Casa Moda by Mich Viray

NOW News, Opinion, Wit BapNews Mark Sison MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

ONE MOON, ONE HUMANITY

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) marked its 3rd Mid‑Autumn Festival on September 25 at Mangan Tamu, Clark Freeport Zone, underscoring the power of culture to unite communities.

CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera welcomed the festival as an opportunity for Clark’s diverse communities to connect, noting the moon as a universal symbol that transcends cultures.

Anchored on the theme “Celebrating Culture, Tradition, and Togetherness,” the event featured lantern lighting, cultural performances, hands‑on heritage activities, and the ceremonial slicing of a giant mooncake — symbols of hope, harmony, friendship, and unity.

The celebration was co‑hosted by CDC’s Tourism Promotions Division and New Asya Pacific Foundation. Also present at the Mid‑Autumn Festival were CDC Vice Presidents Atty. Noelle Mina Meneses, Engr. Teresito Tiotuyco, and PMGen. Lina Sarmiento (Ret.), along with Special Assistant to the President and CEO Ma. Zoraida Camello and Assistant Vice President Atty. Bonifacio Tarenio. Tourism Promotions Division Manager Elenita Lorenzo, Communications Division Manager Astrud Aguinaldo, and Construction Management Division Manager Engr. Erwin Bognot and Lourdes Tanhueco-Nepomuceno, director of the University of the Philippines Confucius Institute likewise joined the celebration.

📸CDC

Clark Development Corporation NOW News, Opinion, Wit BapNews Mark Sison MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

SIP, SAMPLE, CELEBRATE | Park Inn by Radisson Clark Unveils Holiday Lineup
By Mark Sison

Park Inn by Radisson Clark kicked off the countdown to the holidays this Friday, September 25, with "Sip, Sample, Celebrate," an evening built around its Holiday Collection.

General Manager Lorenzo Tang welcomed guests during the program's opening remarks, followed by a Chef's Holiday Showcase led by Head Chef Marcos Dungca, who walked guests through this season's offerings ahead of the tasting.
Regional Director Dr. Richard Daenos, Department of Tourism - Region3, was also in attendance.

The night moved through its billing as promised...sip, then sample with a Holiday Tasting Experience giving guests a first taste of the property's Christmas spread, paired with welcome drinks and networking among the early arrivals.

Entertainment came courtesy of Hums and Strings, setting the mood for the evening's raffle, holiday giveaway, and after-party that capped the program.

Park Inn by Radisson BapNews Mark Sison NOW News, Opinion, Wit MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

BREAKING: Nilagdaan na ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang panukalang batas na nagpapaliban sa Halalan ng Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) hanggang 2028.

Itinatakda rin ng Republic Act No. 12326 ang limang (5) taong termino ng mga opisyal ng barangay at SK.

Sa ilalim ng bagong batas, ang susunod na regular na BSKE ay itinakda na ngayon sa Nobyembre 13, 2028.

BapNews Mark Sison NOW News, Opinion, Wit MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

MOA PARA SA MABALACAT CITY SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, NILAGDAAN

Sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pakikipag-ugnayan ni Mabalacat City Mayor Atty. Geld Aquino sa national government, lumagda siya ngayong araw Setyembre 24 sa PAGCOR Main office sa Pasay City kasama ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation at Department of Education sa isang Memorandum of Agreement para sa paglalaan ng pondo sa pagpapatayo ng Mabalacat City Science High School building

Malaking tulong ang pondong inilaan para sa pagpapatayo ng Mabalacat City Science High School building, lalo na at isa sa mga isinulong ni Mayor Aquino ang pagkakaroon ng kauna-unahang Science High School sa Mabalacat upang higit na mapalawak ang oportunidad para sa dekalidad na edukasyon ng mga kabataang Mabalaqueñians.

Prayoridad ni Mayor Aquino ang edukasyon ng mga Mabalaqueñian kaya patuloy niyang isinusulong ang mga programang pang edukasyon at pakikipag-ugnayan sa national government upang mas maparami pa ang mga school facilities sa syudad.

Kasama sa paglagda sa MOA sina Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, at Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda. Dumalo rin sa naturang MOA signing sina Mabalacat City Administrator Oscar Deang Jr at City Engineer Rod De Leon.

Mayor Geld Aquino Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II BapNews Mark Sison NOW News, Opinion, Wit MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II signs a ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the construction of additional classrooms for the City College of Angeles (CCA).

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Al Tengco and Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara were also present during the ceremonial signing.

The initiative aims to further expand CCA’s learning facilities and provide more students with a conducive environment for quality and accessible higher education.



Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II Mayor Geld Aquino NOW News, Opinion, Wit BapNews Mark Sison MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

DRAGON ROYALE | AcroCity's Entertainment Complex Advances as Bulacan's Rail, Airport Projects Take Shape
By Mark Sison

GUIGUINTO, BULACAN — AcroCity, a mixed-use development along McArthur Highway here, continues to grow its entertainment and hospitality offerings even as two of Central Luzon's largest infrastructure projects — the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) — advance nearby, projects officials say will eventually reshape how the province connects to Metro Manila and beyond.

Dragon Royale Gaming and Development Corp. operates a licensed entertainment venue at AcroCity, with Eric Tan serving as general manager of Dragon Royale Casino.

AcroCity property houses dining outlets Flavors From Home, serving Filipino, Chinese and Japanese comfort food, and Jackpot Bar, along with a membership program offering guests access to raffles, events and dining rewards. The property operates around the clock and is positioned as part of AcroCity's broader hospitality and commercial offerings, which include accommodations and other dining and retail establishments.

Dragon Royale's operations are licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and that eligibility is subject to applicable regulatory requirements. The company lists five guiding brand values...diversity, luxury, innovation, responsibility and excellence, and states a commitment to "responsible gaming and positive community impact."

The Infrastrure Backdrop

AcroCity sits along the planned alignment of the NSCR's Malolos-Tutuban segment, which includes a Guiguinto station roughly 58 kilometers from Tutuban, Manila. The Department of Transportation has said it aims to open initial NSCR passenger service between Valenzuela City and Malolos by December 2027, with trainsets currently arriving in the country for testing, according to statements from the department and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reported in September 2026.

The line's northern extension toward Clark Freeport in Pampanga passing through Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando and Angeles City remains under construction, with officials targeting completion before the end of the current administration's term in 2028.

Separately, San Miguel Corporation's New Manila International Airport, under construction on a 2,500-hectare reclaimed site in Bulakan, Bulacan, a different municipality from Guiguinto but within the same province, is targeting a first runway and initial terminal operations by 2028, following delays tied to land-development materials sourcing, SMC chair Ramon Ang has said.

The airport is designed to eventually accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, easing pressure on Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Neither project is affiliated with AcroCity or Dragon Royale. Both, however, sit along the same NLEX-McArthur Highway corridor the property cites for its accessibility, and both are framed by government planners as long-term tourism and investment drivers for Bulacan and Central Luzon. Whether either project measurably changes visitor patterns along that corridor will not be known until both are operational a timeline still several years away.

📸Dragon Royale

AcroCity Dragon Royale BapNews Mark Sison MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories NOW News, Opinion, Wit Pampanga Media Circle

STAY, DINE, PLAY, CELEBRATE | AcroCity's Bigger, Bolder Bulacan Playground
By Mark Sison

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan — Three years ago, AcroCity was a rendering and a pitch. On September 24, 2026, it was a working destination with a hotel full of guests, courts full of players, and a media crowd getting the full walkthrough during a familiarization tour and press conference hosted by the Czark Mak Group.

What started in 2023 as a 20-plus-hectare commercial and industrial development in Barangay Tabang has filled itself in fast...hotel rooms, restaurants, clinics, sports courts, and now a casino wing all sharing one address just off the NLEX Tabang Exit, about 35 kilometers from Manila.

A Hotel That Doubled as a Wellness Stop

Acro Residences, AcroCity's business-and-leisure hotel, has grown to 80 rooms with an outdoor pool...solid numbers for a property chasing business travelers, families, and staycationers alike.

What makes it worth a second look is what's sharing the building. DX3 Fitness Gym, Kore Klub Yoga, and RVP Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, all under the same roof as the guest rooms. Check in, then work out, get a facial, or take a yoga class without leaving the lobby's orbit.

NDW Plaza, groundbroken the same year as AcroCity itself, has taken a similar turn from a planned wellness community center on paper to an actual daily-use hub with six operating tenants rendering medical, wellness, banking, insurance, and event services. There's a dialysis center, banking, massage, salon and grooming services, aesthetics, and Pilates, plus function space that seats close to 250 for anyone planning a party or a corporate sit-down.

For open-air affairs, Ang Hardin handles the garden-wedding-and-reception crowd, rounding out AcroCity's events lineup alongside NDW Plaza.

Where to Eat, Where to Sweat

The food side keeps things simple and satisfying...Mt. Fuji for Japanese, Mighty King for Chinese, Café de Margaux for an all-day local-and-international spread, and Flavors from Home for straight-up Filipino comfort food.

Sports is where AcroCity is pushing hardest right now. Mighty Sports Center's five courts currently host pickleball and badminton regulars, but that number climbs to seven this Sunday, September 27, when two new courts built for basketball and volleyball officially open four sports under one roof.

Opening day comes with an inauguration ceremony, a charity and community component, and an exhibition basketball game, with sports personalities and guests to be confirmed closer to the date.

Backing that expansion is The Xtreme Hustle Fitness, a performance-training concept launched earlier this year with PBA guard Scottie Thompson and former boxing world champion Gerry Peñalosa attached, a clear bid to be taken seriously as a training destination, not just a place to burn a Sunday afternoon.

On the industrial side, the 15-hectare T12 Polo Land Industrial Estates keeps AcroCity's commercial engine running behind the scenes a reminder that the leisure gloss sits on top of an actual working development.

Steering the bigger-picture conversation was Caesar Angelo Wongchuking, Executive Vice President and Director, who laid out AcroCity's growth trajectory and investment story. His take "When someone comes to AcroCity for an event, a meal, a game, or an overnight stay, we want them to discover something else while they are here. That is the opportunity we see in building AcroCity not simply as a location, but as a destination where different experiences connect."

Also fielding the questions was Tyrone Tang, AcroCity's Business Development Head, who broke down Mighty Sports Center's current programming, its community footprint, and what to expect from the September 27 court launch.

Entertainment Joins the Lineup

Dragon Royale brings the casino-and-entertainment piece to AcroCity's growing roster, and it came with its own spotlight at the September 24 event. Eric Tan, General Manager of Dragon Royale Casino, spoke on the venue's strategic direction operations, business development, guest experience, and its ambitions to stand as a premier gaming and entertainment destination in its own right.

Rounding out the event's front-facing team was Lena Sison, Marketing Consultant and Media Coordinator, who organized the tour and press conference, invited the visiting mediamen, and coordinated logistics with AcroCity's executives throughout the day.

Why Guiguinto, Why Now

AcroCity's timing isn't accidental. Guiguinto itself is getting a station on the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) one of six planned for the Marilao-to-Guiguinto stretch of the line, and currently under construction as an elevated stop along MacArthur Highway. Once the northern segment connecting Clark to Malolos comes online, the Department of Transportation has pointed to 2027 for partial operations, with the segment reported at roughly 90 percent complete as of early 2026 commuters and day-trippers alike could have a rail option running close to AcroCity's doorstep, cutting down what's currently a road-only trip from Metro Manila.

A little further south, in the neighboring town of Bulakan, San Miguel Corporation's New Manila International Airport is rising on a 2,500-hectare site, the country's next major gateway, designed to eventually handle up to 100 million passengers a year.

The airport's first runway remains targeted for completion in 2028, with San Miguel executives saying it could even land ahead of schedule, while the passenger terminal and other components are expected to take longer. It's a project still years from welcoming its first commercial flight, but its scale alone signals that this stretch of Bulacan, AcroCity included is being positioned for a very different kind of traffic in the years ahead.

None of that changes what AcroCity offers today. But it does explain the confidence behind the buildout, a destination betting that Bulacan won't just be a pass-through point between Manila and Central Luzon much longer.

The Takeaway

AcroCity's pitch has quietly evolved from "come visit our development" to "come spend your whole day here." Check into Acro Residences, grab a meal at Café de Margaux or Mighty King, play a set at Mighty Sports Center, host your event at NDW Plaza or Ang Hardin, then close out the night at Dragon Royale.

Stay. Dine. Play. Celebrate. The tagline reads less like a slogan now and more like an actual weekend plan. With Sunday's court opening just days away, that plan is only getting fuller.

AcroCity Acro Residences Mighty Sports Center Bulacan Dragon Royale BapNews Mark Sison NOW News, Opinion, Wit MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle

Dumalo si Mabalacat City Mayor Atty. Geld Aquino kasama si Vice Mayor Jun Castro sa ginanap na Province-Wide Orientation for Pampanga District I & II Local Chief Executives ngayong Setyembre 23

Tinalakay sa aktibidad ang PhilHealth YAKAP Program, na kung saan mas pinalawak a g saklaw nito sa mga serbisyong nakatuon sa prevention, detection, at pag-iwas sa paglala ng iba’t ibang karamdaman.

Suportado naman ito ni Mayor Aquino. Ayon sa kanya, mahalagang mas mapalakas ang mga programang nakatuon sa prevention upang maagapan ang mga karamdaman at mabawasan ang posibilidad na humantong ang mga ito sa mas malubhang kondisyon.

Dagdag ni Mayor Aquino, patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan ang Mabalacat City LGU sa PhilHealth upang mas maraming Mabalaqueñian ang matulungan at magkaroon ng mas madaling access sa mga benepisyo at serbisyong pangkalusugan na maaari nilang makuha.

Isa sa mga prayoridad ng administrasyong Aquino ang pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng mga mabalaqueñan, kaya patuloy nitong pinalalakas ang mga programa at pakikipagtulungan sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan upang higit na mailapit sa mga Mabalaqueñian ang serbisyong pangkalusugan.

Mayor Geld Aquino Vice Mayor Jun Castro - Mabalacat City BapNews Mark Sison NOW News, Opinion, Wit MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories Pampanga Media Circle