Trends and Spots Magazine

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) led the inauguration of the Clark Welcome Art near the main entrance of the Clark Freeport Zone on October 8, 2026.

The landmark, titled “Gateway to Opportunity”, was inspired by Clark’s brand promise “Clark. It works. Like a Dream.”, symbolizing a Freeport that is efficient, innovative and forward-looking.

Drawing from the iconic “A” in the Clark logo, the marker for the welcome art states it “represents Clark’s continuing evolution as a destination for innovation and high-value industries, including technology complemented by tourism and aviation, where ideas, enterprise and opportunity come together”.

Also present were local government officials and officers and representatives of government agencies and Clark locators.

Text & photos: JOJO C. DUE

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭

Nepo Mart, the first shopping center in Angeles City to sell PX goods, opened a new chapter with the launch of Pasalubong Avenue, a destination for well-known Filipino heritage local products, on October 9, 2026.

The ceremonial launch and ribbon-cutting was held at the Nepo Mart Building of the Nepo Center in front of Newpoint Mall as part of the grand relaunch of Nepo Mart.

A project of the JDN Realty Group, Pasalubong Avenue aims to give the commercial space a distinct identity as the home of Pampanga's culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship.

The event was led by JDN Realty Group Assistant Vice President for Administration Maribel Ronquillo and JDN Commercial Spaces Manager Rocky Torres with Angeles City Tourism Officer John Montances extending support.

“For us, Nepo Center and JDN have always been more than a commercial address. More than building spaces, we believe in building relationships with our community that create opportunities for our local businesses to be discovered, appreciated and to reach more people and for all of us to grow together,” Ronquillo said.

Ronquillo said they also launched "The Pasalubong Vision” video featuring Miss Nepo 2026 Arielle Cabatana to promote the facility.

Meanwhile, Torres explained that seven local vendors who have been in the pasalubong business for decades compose the pasalubong strip.

The stores offer local products such as cookies, breads and pastries and delicacies, including peanuts, kasoy, chicharon, vinegar, mushroom chips, hopia and otap as well as chili paste, shrimp paste, crab paste, and fermented shrimp in rice or buru, among others.

For those with a sweet tooth, a variety of products are available, such as boat tarts, pastillas, polvoron, banana chips, strawberry jam, dried mangoes and fresh fruits.

There's no need to go to Baguio City to buy strawberry or ube jam, the chichacorn of Vigan or the dried mangoes of Cebu — these and more, to satisfy sweet, spicy or salty cravings, are available at Pasalubong Avenue.

Balikbayans now have a place to buy local products that not only help local businesses but also the personnel these retail store owners employ to produce their products.

“Despite the proliferation of malls and big shopping centers, Nepo Mart is still here as it holds a special place in Angeles City retail history as the place where PX goods were sold. Pasalubong Avenue writes the next chapter of the upcoming relaunch of Nepo Mart as it provides a space now dedicated to local products, culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship,” Torres said.

Rowena S. Ayson, the owner of Rowena's Pasalubong Shop that offers a variety of items, shared that she has been in the business for 10 years and her store was chosen as a One Town, One Product (OTOP) kiosk that supports local MSMEs.

Rowena’s Pasalubong Shop sells products from Sasmuan, Minalin, Porac and Magalang and Bulacan as its way of supporting fellow entrepreneurs. She also accepts resellers and gives special discounts.

With the theme "One Destination, Many Local Stories”, the landmark has been reimagined from a PX store into a showcase for Kapampangan craftsmanship — inviting visitors to discover local products and bring home a piece of Pampanga.

Pasalubong Avenue at Nepo Mart, Nepo Center is open daily, from 7am to 7pm.

Text and photos: ERLIN M. DUE

𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨 "𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐤𝐬" 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲

The Angeles City Local Government commemorated on October 9, 2026 the 111th birth anniversary of Renato "Katoks" D. Tayag, Sr. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Angeles City Library and Information Center.

The event was organized by the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI) in partnership with the Angeles City Local Government and the Pampanga Press Club (PPC).

The commemoration was attended by ARAW-ACI President Ricardo Rene "Abe" O. Tayag and ARAW-ACI officers, members of the Tayag family, Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr., Angeles City Public Information Officer Jose Aubrey "Jay" Pelayo IV representing City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, Vice Mayor Amos Rivera, Punto! Central Luzon Editor Caesar "B**g" Lacson, Pampanga Press Club President Lincoln M. Baluyut, Angeles City Librarian Erma R. Manalo, and Councilor Atty. Jessel Dayrit.

In his message delivered by Pelayo, Mayor Lazatin said: "Tatang Katoks is a true treasure of Angeles City. His contributions are not just measured by the works he wrote or the recognitions he received in the field of literature. His real legacy lies in the stories he left behind — stories about our fellow citizens, our culture, our history, and the soul of Angeles. And it is only fitting that we honor him right here at the City Library — a place that serves as a home for knowledge, literature, and the memories of our city”.

Tayag was remembered not only as a civic leader but also as a practicing journalist. He wrote for the Manila Times in 1964 and was noted for his stories about Red China. His works, including Recollections and Digressions, The Angeles Story, and The Sinners of Angeles, brought him fame and earned him respect and credibility as an author. He was one of the early members of the Pampanga Press Club.

In October 1972, he and his family donated a 1,690-square-meter lot to the Angeles City Government to be used for a city library that would house Filipiniana and Law sections, a manifestation of his love for the city and his desire to share his passion for history, journalism, law, culture, and the arts with young Angeleños. His memorabilia are displayed on the second floor of the Angeles City Library and Information Center and is open to the public.

"It was during the time of my late grandfather, Rafael 'Apung Feleng' Lazatin who was then mayor of Angeles City, that Tatang Katoks Tayag's family donated the parcel of land upon which the Angeles Government constructed the Angeles City Library," the congressman related.

Later, Katoks served as a director of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for 20 years until his death on August 13, 1985.

In 1990, the Pampanga Press Club established the Renato "Katoks" Tayag Award of Excellence in High School Journalism in his honor to propagate Kapampangan journalistic heritage among the young generation of writers.

The wreath-laying ceremony was led by Katoks’ sons Gerry and Claude Tayag, Abe Tayag, B**g Lacson, Lincoln Baluyut, Rep. Lazatin, Vice Mayor Rivera and Pelayo which was followed by a message from the Tayag family delivered by Claude Tayag and a viewing of the Katoks Tayag memorabilia.

At the same time, ARAW-ACI presented a resolution to the Angeles City Council requesting to declare October 9 as Renato "Katoks" Tayag Day, a special day of celebration in honor and memory of Tayag's contributions to the city.

Text & Photos: ERLIN M. DUE

𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

A Philippine investment roadshow was held in Japan recently to woo Japanese companies into exploring investment opportunities across the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).

The Philippine Investment Forum-Japan conducted in Osaka on 01 October 2026 and in Tokyo on 05 October 2026 brought the Philippines’ investment proposition directly to more than 200 Japanese private company senior executives and business organizations.

READ FULL STORY BELOW

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐈 𝐆𝐌𝐌

The Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc.(MACCII) held its General Membership Meeting (GMM) on October 6, 2026 at the Best Western Metro Clark Driving Range but this time with a twist as it focused on building connections, growth and new beginnings.

The meeting was a productive night of business matching and networking, aimed at building meaningful linkages to help members maximize opportunities to grow their businesses as the program also included the formal induction of new members and the election of new directors.

A highlight of the evening was the MACCII YES (Young Entrepreneurs) Mini Trade Fair where student entrepreneurs and sponsors showcased their products and services to the business community.

The Mini Trade Fair was made possible through the support of sponsors Wilarts Corporation, GO21 Logistics, Alveo Land, Asialink, Ayala Land Holdings Corporation, Faithworks, Bank of Florida, Edna's Cakeland, and Hausland Development Corporation who made the night engaging and dynamic.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

Text and photos by ERLIN M. DUE

The four days we spent seeing the place, tasting the food, experiencing the local culture and the majestic wonders of nature made me fall in love with Calbayog and I would love to visit the place again.

There are still a lot of waterfalls and great places to see. Calbayog City is, after all, known as the City of Waterfalls.

READ STORY https://www.trendsandspots.com/bestfinds/experiencing-calbayog-city/?fbclid=IwVERDUAUyuOZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmQGBdo0_GRWJ7HASsoanAovOb-kdkkMgDt8UldeS9WBeHq3HEhttNUtQTrO_aem_kDBPsXTlPzsCj-grOHDO9A

𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠

Text and Photos by ERLIN M. DUE

Small packs, big impact.

This is the tagline and advocacy of Gud is Better, an earth-friendly foodware brand that was discovered by Trends and Spots Magazine during the One Pampanga Food and Beverage Expo (OPFBEX) 2026 last September 19-20, 2026 at the SMX Convention Center Clark to showcase its wide range of sustainable food packaging such as cups, food containers, straws, and paper bags, championing earth-friendly food packaging.

READ BELOW👇

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐈𝐍𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Park Inn by Radisson Clark showcased its Specialty Holiday Collection during its Appreciation Night for partners and corporate clients, including the media, on September 25, 2026.

The event followed the theme “Sip, Sample, Celebrate” with a variety of welcome cocktails and networking and the welcome remarks by Park Inn by Radisson Clark General Manager Lorenzo Tang, who thanked the guests for their support and said he looks forward to their continuing partnerships in 2027 and beyond.

This was followed by a showcase by Head Chef Marcos Dungca who presented The Holiday Collection, the 4-star hotel’s lineup of festive specialty selections for the coming holidays season, and the Sweet station crafted by Pastry Chef Marsha Anicete and presented Chef Art Velayo.

The “Sample” part had the guests experience the special holiday offerings in advance, time-honored dishes such as pork asadung matwa, biringhe, Kapampangan beef morcon and ham, among others, and desserts such as fruit, carrot and pistachio cakes, praline crunch bars, meringue and a variety of cookies and cocktail food.

Entertainment for the “Celebrate” part came courtesy of the Hums and Strings duo, a raffle and an after-party.

Park Inn by Radisson Clark is a 4-star, mid-range international hotel located right next to the SM City Clark in Angeles City. Mere minutes away from the Clark International Airport, the hotel features 254 rooms and suites, the Hues Restaurant, and wellness and recreation facilities.

Text & photos: JOJO C. DUE

𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐓-𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐒

A total of 2,620 families in San Simon, Sasmuan, Guagua, Masantol, Macabebe, and San Luis in Pampanga received relief packages from the Hann Foundation, Inc. (HFI) in its three-day disaster relief operations following recent flooding in the province.

The effort is part of Project BayaniHANN, the signature disaster relief operations program of HFI, which brought much-needed assistance to communities badly affected by Habagat.

From September 15 to 17, flood-affected families received relief packages containing food and essential supplies to help them through immediate challenges they face as they recover and start going back to their daily lives.

The distribution activities were made possible through the dedication and selflessness of Hann employee-volunteers, whose time and willingness to serve ensured the assistance reached the farthest communities facing the most dire circumstances.

The project was also supported by local government units, community leaders, and the Philippine Air Force-Civil Military Operations.

For the past eight years, HFI remains committed to standing with communities during times of need through Project BayaniHANN.

“While we may not be able to take away the difficulties brought by a disaster, we hope these simple acts of kindness and solidarity can bring comfort and remind our kababayans that they are not alone,” HFI stated in a post.