PAGASA's Steven Cua was invited on 3 December 2023 as guest of the recently-formed "Kapihan sa QC." It was held at Mangan-tila Restaurant along Scout Torillo, QC. Major tv stations & news networks gathered to the get the freshest news in the country over a weekend. To complete the picture on the state of the economy is Chairman Rodolfo "Ka RJ" Javellana of UFCC (United Filipino Consumers & Commuters). Angelo Almonte hosted the affair with Cecille Lardizabal.

PAGASA's STC met with visitors from Brunei on 29 November 2023 at the lobby of The Manila Peninsula. They were interested in the Philippine halal market. Introduced to PAGASA by his friend Gil Gonzales/Exec. Dir. of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) were Ms. Norlela Suhailee/Enterprise Dev't. Dir. of Darussalam Enterprise & her colleague, Ms. Siti Normardinah bte Pg Hj Omarali. They were in town to study the consumer habits of Filipinos to find a good match for their products.

In the morning of 21 November 2023, DTI finally releases to media the long-awaited List of SRPs for 240 Noche Buena Items now renamed as Price Guide (and not List of SRPs anymore). Media immediately went to work by interviewing Pres. Steven T. Cua about PAGASA's take on this new development. DTI allowed more than 50% of those on the list to reflect increase in prices. Mr. Cua said the government should allow the natural market forces to dictate prices of BNPCs. After all, he says, items priced beyond the reach of targetted market will soon find themselves out-of-the- market. Media online, offline & via SMS or phone patch went busy that day.

Close to 3 decades ago, a piece of coal entered what was then the Chamber of Dept. Stores (precursor of the PRA). I say coal not because it was black or it dirtied its surroundings but because it was capable of producing diamonds within. It was so they say, Evelyn was a diamond in the rough.

I was fortunate to have represented PAGASA as its VP during the early years of the PRA. The Phil. Amalgamated Supermarkets Assn. has matured through the years holding the hands of Kuya PRA.

Through these years, the diamond within Evelyn Balmeo-Salire was developed and polished as its color shined through brightly, carats of initiated activities turned priceless into retail tradition, clarity of her purpose at the PRA became national as well as global and cuts of her diamond grew into a Team of honed staff ready to carry out PRA's thrusts for any given year.

Coal no more, we salute the diamond that in one way or the other propelled the PRA into what it is today. Of course, the Officers coursed the PRA through good times & bad but Evelyn carried out their decisions & made things happen for the PRA. Rest well, my friend...until we all meet again.

In the morning of 8 November 2023, PAGASA Pres. STC guested via Zoom live over TV5's "One Business News Now." Program was hosted by Diego Castro. A clearer picture regarding stability of prices during this Season to be featured soon in an upcoming National Price Coordinating Council meeting to be called by the DTI Secretary.

In the morning of 4 November 2023, PAGASA Pres. Steven Cua guested via Zoom together with PCAFI Pres. Danny Fausto at TV-Radio Program of "Dito sa Bayan ni Juan" over DZAR with hosts Jesse Lim Arranza & Admar Villando. PCAFI is the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food, Inc. Discussion focused on supply/prices of goods & fresh produce this coming X'mas Season and reasons why costs of production keep getting higher.

On the same eve and at the same venue as the General Meeting for the fourth quarter of 2023, PAGASA held its biennial elections for its new Board of Directors for the term 2023-2025. Former VP Karl Tan of the former SuperBudget Lane Group was invited to head the elections as COMELEC Chairman. He announced the results as soon as the votes were counted that evening.

PAGASA had one of its most well-attended GenMeets on 25 October 2023 held at Chairman Fu Hotpot inside the new Grand Wing of Newport Mall at Resorts World. Among the topics discussed:

The Dev't. Academy of the Phils. (DAP) had invited PAGASA back in 2018 to review their (MGRP) Modernizing Government Regulations Program and find out if too much regulation was strangling the growth of the different industries including that of FMCG's. Interrupted by the pandemic, the DAP resumed the review in the morning of 17 October 2023 at their Head Office in Ortigas Center, Pasig. Focus of discussion centered on DTI's price control via their SRP system, indecisiveness by government when it comes to rules & regulations and its lack of development of the different industries leading to a void in self-sufficiency and food security. Consultation was done by DAP's Research Associate Janine Coleen D. de Villa and Supervisor Reuel Hermoso.

In the fine morning of 13 October 2023, the Jinjiang City Hometown Association of the Philippines opened at the World Trade Center SilkRoad Phils. 2023, an exhibition showcasing the best of products from Jinjiang City. PAGASA was invited to be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies and to sign a symbolic agreement to cooperate in the generation of businesses between Jinjiang City in Fujian Province, China and the Philippines.