Alturas pioneered and revolutionized mega-retail business in Bohol, which ushered in a variety of changes both in the socio-economic and cultural milieu of what was once a sleepy town. To cater to the needs of the inhabitants of Northern Tagbilaran and the adjoining municipalities, Plaza Marcela came to the scene, further burgeoning the market by making basic commodities more accessible to the community.

That was on April 19, 1997. Now, the area of Cogon where Plaza Marcela stands is where commercial activities have been polarized. It has become a city within a city, in the same manner that Island City Mall made the Dampas-Dao District another Satellite City.

Manning Plaza Marcela is a certified bachelor who has lately come to terms with life after a decade of hits-and misses while funding for himself as he tried to figure out the level of his competence and the extent of his love for adventure. Now he has realized he belongs to the world of retail business, while acknowledging his knack for handling personnel.

Mr. Danilo Añana Torreon (DAT), the Store Manager of Plaza Marcela, is a product of the University of Bohol, where he finished Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting in 1985. Trying to find out the world outside the classroom, he landed on a far jobs in his home province, Cebu City and Mandaue City until he realized where he could enhance his potentials and put to good use his talents and capabilities. He hails from Inabanga, Bohol where he studied in his elementary grades, before the 4-year secondary curriculum at the Bohol National High School.

His 14-year exposure to provincial and city life came in handy when he decided to accept the challenge to manage the personnel and staff of Plaza Marcela.

Danny Torreon recalled that the trend of inviting celebrities, most particularly popular actors and actresses, started with Plaza Marcela. He can remember Marvin Agustin, Diether Ocampo, Piolo Pascual, Kristine Hermosa, Rico Yan, Robert Jaworski, Dodot Jaworski, Michelle Aldana, Ruffa Mae Quinto, and Jericho Rosales who graced the anniversaries of Plaza Marcela, aside from outstanding Boholanos through concerts. He has also invited local and national bands occasionally, all for the entertainment of Tagbilaran consumer.

On the eleventh anniversary of the premier store Danny Torreon and his marketing staff has prepared various activities for the customers. It is all-systems-go for Plaza Marcela as it celebrates a milestone in consumer service.

LMP: Daghan na ba ang mga trabaho nga imong naagian?
DAT: Yes, sir. This is my fourth job already. After graduation, nag-start na ko ug trabaho sa Alturas Supermarket Corporation as Assistant ni Sir Lok-Lok Uy. After my two years of employment in Alturas, I went to Cebu to work at Arkane International Corporation as Production Manager. It's an export company sa mga rattan based in Jagobiao, Mandaue. Pero mihawa ko kay mag-conduct sige ang kompanya ug overtime, maabtan ug buntag, three times a week pa gyod. I finally realized that it was not the greener pasture I was looking for.

LMP: What motivated you to come back to Bohol?
DAT: My first experience was in a supermarket, so I decided nga mobalik sa Alturas because natan-aw nako nga naa sa sales gyod ang akong linya.

LMP: Pagbalik nimo sa Alturas, what was the job given to you?
DAT: My first assignment was as Check-Out Counter Supervisor at Plaza Marcela. After that I was promoted to Senior Supervisor sa grocery section. Then, I became the Officer-In-Charge in 1998. Until I was designated In-Charge sa over all operation of Plaza Marcela.

LMP: Nagpasabot ba na nga gisuwayan ka nila?
DAT: Gisuwayan pod siguro nila, Sir, kay sa kadaghan nga Supervisors adto nga time, ako pa gyod ang ilang gipili. It was an honor gyod. Dugay-dugay pod ko na OIC, but ang trabaho sa OIC ug Store Manager, pareha ra man.

LMP: In your status nga daghan na ug naagian, unsay matawag nimo nga kinadak-an nga problema nga imong na-atubang?
DAT: Sa tanan nga akong naagian, Sir, ang lisod gyod is dealing with the different attitudes and characters of the subordinates.

LMP: Unsa man imong gihimo aron masulbad kini nga mga problema?
DAT: I called their attention, then I did counseling. Hangtod karon.

LMP: Importante ba ang communication sa management?
DAT: Yes, Sir. Importante gyod na. Kinahanglan nga kanunay bukas ang pagbayloay ug huna-huna aron magkasinabot.

LMP: How many years have you been the manager of Plaza Marcela?
DAT: I was the OIC since 1998, then I became the Store Manager late 2007.

LMP: You have been the Manager of Plaza Marcela for 10 years. What is the feeling upon reaching that far?
DAT: As for me, the same lang gihapon ang feeling, Sir, kay although mas taas ang years nga OIC ko, the same raman gihapon ang work load ug ang trabaho sa dihang Store Manager nako. But, of course, nalipay ko nga na-promote.

LMP: Pila na ka tuig ang Plaza Marcela?
DAT: Eleven years na, Sir.

LMP: I can still recall that every year, there was always a celebration and Plaza Marcela was the first to bring to town a number of celebrities during each anniversary. Can you still remember kung kinsa kadtong mga artista nga gi- invite sa Plaza Marcela?
DAT: During the first anniversary in 1998, it was Marvin Agustin and Diether Ocampo. Adto nga time, bagets pa sila.

LMP: What was the reaction of the people?
DAT: They were glad gyod, Sir, kay first time man to mahitabo nga nag-invite ta ug artista dinhi sa Bohol.

LMP: How about sa second year?
DAT: The next anniversary, sila Piolo Pascual ug Kristine Hermosa. Diha poy performance sa South Border. The next were Ruffa Mae Quinto and Jericho Rosales which was held at Bohol Wisdom School. Diha pod kadto'y fashion show nga gihimo at the same time. Plaza Macela was the first to bring to town mga elite and professional models and popular actors and actresses in the movies. I would also like to note, Sir, that Plaza Marcela ang unang tindahan nga naghimo sa Revolution Raffle Promo. Mao pa gyod paggawas sa Revo cars adto nga time. Mao to atong gihimo nga prizes.

LMP: Now that Plaza Marcela will celebrate another year, unsa inyong mga plano?
DAT: Himoon nato ang selebrasyon for two days. On April 18, Friday, aduna kita'y grocery raid at 11:00 AM. Usa na ka customer sa buntag, usa pod sa hapon sa alas tres. P10, 000 worth of grocery items ang ilang i- raid for 30 seconds only. At 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. aduna pod kita'y free tattoo for a minimum of P300worth of purchase at the Home and Fashion Section.

LMP: Mo-click ba pod nang free tattoo?
DAT: Yes, Sir, mostly sa mga teenagers. Gihimo naman pod na nato sa ICM before. Summer na ug ganahan ang mga kabataan niini.

LMP: Unsa pay uban?
DAT: At 4:00 p.m. aduna'y mascot appearance uban nila Jollibee, Hetty, Twirlie, Mr. Yum, Susie ug Gino. Pwede magpapicture uban sa mga mascots for only P20 at Kodak. No need to purchase anything. Then at 7:00 p.m. we will have a program to be held sa carpark extension sa Belderol Street. Showdown na siya sa Kabarangay Dance finalists

LMP: Aduna bay elimination rounds ani nga contest?
DAT: Naa, Sir. Gihimo ang mga elimination rounds sa March 15, March 29, April 5, and April 12.

LMP: Unsa man ang mga requirements ani nga contest?
DAT: The group consists of 6-8 members must purchase products from Monde Nissin worth P200. Kinahanglan pod nga maka-present sila ug certification from the Barangy Captain nga nagpamatuod nga didto gyod sila nagpuyo.

LMP: How much is the prize during the finals?
DAT: First prize P8, 000, 2nd is P6, 000 ug ang ika-tulo is P3, 000. Aduna pod kita'y 5 consolation prizes for the remaining groups worth P1, 000 each. Sa lima ka elimination rounds, duha ka-grupo ang kuhaon, ug kini sila makadaog ug P2, 000 each. The non winners will receive P800 as consolation. Then we have the Voter's choice Award. In the Grand Finals, there will be two winners for the Voter's Choice Award. They will receive P1, 000. The group with the highest point will also receive an additional P1, 000.

LMP: Aside from that, naa pa ba'y lain nga himoon?
DAT: Aduna'y Pepsi Cola game show wherein the grand prize is P10, 000. At 8 p.m. naay Kiddie Model Search for 5-10 year-old nga mga bata. Ang Estranghero band mao ang mo-conclude sa affair.

LMP: How about the programs for the following day?
DAT: At 5:30 a.m. naa kita'y misa sa Carpark. For the first 100 customers, inig open sa store, maka-receive sila ug free t-shirts for every P250 worth of purchase at any department and free balloons for the first 200 kids with P150 worth of purchase. At 10:00 a.m., naay motorcade with Saisy Aguila of Pinoy Big Brother, sponsored by Globe. Then grocery raid napod at 11:00; usa ka customer gihapon.

At that same time, naa'y "Eat-All-You-Can" sa FoodMix with acoustic band, free tattoo at 2:00 pm, then another grocery raid at 3:00. We will again have a mascot appearance at 4:00, and then "Eat-All-You-Can" again at 6:00-7:00 pm with stand-up comedians from Cebu. After that, Anniversary Special na gyod sa gawas sa Plaza Marcela. Mao na pod na ang grand finals sa Kabarangay Dance Competition with performance sa Suitcase 101 band, ang National Champion sa Globe Kantabataan. Mugawas pod si Saisy aron mosayaw ug mokanta.

LMP: With all that you have done, can you say that you are already fulfilled?
DAT: Yes, Sir. Plaza Marcela is a part of my life. Mao ni akong kintas-an nga employment. My interest is also in handling sales and I want to reach the retirable age nga naa sa Plaza Marcela lang gihapon.

LMP: What has Plaza Marcela done to Tagbilaran?
DAT: Sa wa pa ang Plaza Marcela, mingaw ang Cogon District. Karon, daghan na ang tindahan, mga kan-anan, ug uban pang negosyo. Plaza Marcela has contributed a lot to the economic development of the City.

For total customer satisfaction the third floor of Plaza Marcela has been converted into an entertainment venue. A stage has been constructed in an area that can accommodate 200 seated audiences. This is aside from Foodmix, which is also utilized for entertaining customers of a lesser number. This is in line with the managements' decision lately to make room for actual upliftment.

From here on various talent competitions are planned, with priority on music and dance. Live entertainment will reverberate through Plaza Marcela, especially on weekends. In all these, its Store Manager, Danny Torreon, has an involvement that cannot be delegated.