...the NFL star

PH-born NFL star to set up hospital

 

January 14, 2012

Manila Bulletin

 

MANILA, Philippines — Tim Tebow, one of America's hottest new sports heroes, will help pay for a children's hospital in the Philippines where he was born, his charity partners said Friday.

The $3-million, 30-bed facility will open in Davao City in mid-2013, the US-based charity CURE said in a statement on its website where a video message from the Denver Broncos quarterback was also posted.

“I've always had a special place in my heart for the country in which I was born, and I'm very excited about this project,” Tebow said in the message as he appealed for the public to join him in donating to the hospital's fund.

“This hospital will change the lives of thousands of children in the Philippines.”

The Tebow CURE Hospital will specialize in bone disease and injuries for children, with about of a third of the young patients expected to be charity cases.

The hospital will house a “Timmy’s Playroom” to be used by children who undergo surgery.

The Tim Tebow Foundation, established in 2010, plans to build playrooms in children's hospitals around the world, and the Davao one will be the first.

CURE spokesman Matt Shandera told AFP Friday that preparatory work was under way to build the hospital this year.

"We have people working on this project there," he said in a telephone interview from the United States.

Tebow, a devout Christian dubbed by some in the press as "God's quarterback," is known for late-game heroics, leading to seemingly miraculous, come-from-behind victories for the Broncos in the National Football League.

Tebow was born in 1987 in Manila, where his Baptist parents were then serving as missionaries. (AFP)

...the Pilar of Philippine movies

Pilar Pilapil stars with British actress Virginia McKeena in migration drama

Philippine Daily Inquirer

January 14, 2012

 

PILAR Pilapil plays an elderly cleaning lady in the migration film, “Leona Calderon.”

Veteran actress Pilar Pilapil shares top billing with British stage and screen actress Virginia McKeena in Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel’s migration drama, “Leona Calderon.”

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Pilapil of being chosen to work with McKeena, a Golden Globe best actress nominee for the naturalist film “Born Free” in 1966 and a Sir Laurence Olivier best actress winner for West End’s “The King & I,” in which she starred opposite Yul Brynner in 1979. “Imagine coming face to face with an icon in British and Hollywood films. It was really an honor for me.”

In 1956, McKenna received the British Academy for Film and Television Arts (Bafta) Award for best actress for her performance in the film “A Town like Alice.” Two years later, she was nominated best actress for her role as World War II special agent Violette Szabo in 1958’s “Carve Her Name with Pride.”

Instant friends

On the set of “Leona Calderon,” which was filmed in London, Pilapil said she and McKenna became instant friends.

“Although we didn’t talk lengthily, we felt mutual respect for each other,” said Pilapil, who plays a shy, elderly woman who makes a living by cleaning establishments and private homes.

Morel, a former London-based recording artist, wrote the script of “Leona Calderon” himself. The indie filmmaker has directed the full-length features “Ec2luv,” “Moma,” “Mga Paru-Parong Rosas (Pink Butterflies),” “Mona, Singapore Escort,” “When a Gay Man Loves,” “Moving Dreams,” “Latak” and “Strictly Confidential” as well as commercials, music videos and documentaries.

“When I first met Virginia McKeena, I was mesmerized. She was really an angel who would give you peace and comfort,” said Morel of the actress, who has just wrapped up a British film titled “Love/Loss” with Vanessa Kirby, Diana Quick and Keith Michelle. “She even baked a lemon marble cake for me.”

On top of that, she agreed to appear in the film for free.

McKeena, who was featured in “Sliding Doors” in 1998 with Gwyneth Paltrow, said she fell in love with Morel’s story about an overseas Filipino worker in the United Kingdom who was facing a dilemma — whether to come home to the Philippines broke and go through onerous medical treatment for uterine cancer or to stay in London for proper health care for as long as she lives.

Since first reading the screenplay, Morel said, McKeena never had second thoughts about doing the role of an old British woman who was abandoned by her family.

Known for her serene nature, McKeena was very accommodating, said Morel.

...the friendliest countries

Phl ranked 8th friendliest country - expat survey By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star)  January 14, 2012

BAGUIO CITY ,Philippines  – The Philippines ranked 8th in the list of the “World’s Friendliest Countries” in the “Expat Explorer Survey 2011” conducted by banking giant HSBC, it was reported on the website of Forbes magazine.

The survey showed that hospitality is the greatest asset of the Philippines in the tourism industry.

The survey conducted in 100 countries worldwide between May and July 2011 rates countries based on the preference of expatriates to make them “their second home.”

The 15 friendliest countries in the world, starting from the highest rated, are New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, Canada, United States, Turkey, United Kingdom, Philippines, Spain, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, and France.

Expatriates perceive the Philippines as a country that “is friendly on wallets,” with 47 percent of the respondents reporting “an increase in access to luxuries” such as domestic staff, swimming pools, and owning properties. 

In the survey, the Philippines trails behind United Kingdom where expatriates find integration into the community to be relatively easy, though expressing concerns on the high cost of living.

The Philippines ranks ahead of Spain where expatriates “fit in well,” many of them reporting to have integrated well into their community, enjoyed the local culture, made friends, learned and used the language, and have experienced a better work-life balance than in their home countries (which included the UK, US, France, and the Netherlands.)

HSBC surveyed 3,385 expatriates in 100 countries but only 31 were ranked for the survey. This is because countries with fewer than 30 respondents were deemed statistically insignificant.

...the new tourism slogan

DOT: New tourism slogan wowed int'l travel experts

abs-cbnNEWS.com

01/14/2012

The Filipinos are already known to be one of the happiest and warmest people in the world.

MANILA, Philippines - The new Philippine tourism campaign with the slogan, "It's more fun in the Philippines", was well-received during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Manado, Indonesia this week.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said the ATF 2012 was the "perfect platform to introduce the campaign to some 1,600 international delegates of buyers and sellers, the NTO (National Tourism Organization) community and media delegates."

The campaign was unveiled during the Philippine-hosted dinner at the Sultanraja Hotel in Manado on Jan. 13, a week after it was launched by the Department of Tourism via social networking sites in the Philippines.

The campaign, Jimenez told ATF delegates, highlights the country's edge against other tourism destinations -- the Filipino people.

“Our strategy is simple: while other countries invite you to observe, Filipinos can promise a more heartfelt and interesting experience. Wherever you go, whatever you do in the country, it’s the Filipinos that will complete your vacation and will make your holiday unforgettable,” noted Jimenez.

The Filipinos are already known to be one of the happiest and warmest people in the world.

A survey conducted by international bank HSBC last year revealed that the Philippines is the 8th friendliest country for expatriates. HSBC surveyed 3,385 expats in 100 countries between May and July 2011.

Jimenez said the government is hoping that the whole country will help create positive buzz about the catchy tagline.

The campaign was trending on Twitter Friday last week, when it was first introduced to local media. Netizens flooded the web with creative ways to interpret the line through do-it-yourself memes, which could likely land on shirts, billboards, stickers and other collaterals, Jimenez said.

Meanwhile, the "#1FORFUN" local slogan aims to rally the Filipino nation to strengthen and sustain this well-appreciated fun character and be a “constant reminder to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and most of all, fun,” the tourism chief added.

---

...the 16th major economy

HSBC study sees PHL as world’s 16th biggest economy in 2050 – report

January 12, 2012

GMA News

The Philippines will likely be the world’s 16th biggest economy in 2050, CNN reported Thursday, citing a recent report by HSBC Global Research.

This reflects a 27-notch improvement from the Philippines’ position among global markets in 2010, HSBC reportedly said. http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/12/worlds-top-economies-in-2050-will-be/

The world’s number one economy in 2050 will likely be China, followed by the United States, according to HSBC.

Meanwhile, HSBC Global Research outlined conditions for such economic growth. “We openly admit that behind these projections we assume governments build on their recent progress and remain solely focused on increasing the living standards for their populations,” it said.

“If we step away from the cyclicality,” the think-tank added, “there are two ways economies can grow; either add more people to the production line via growth in the working population, or make each individual more productive.”

GMA News Online is still trying to access a full version of the HSBC report as of this posting.

The report, however, said economies could be derailed in moving forward by factors like “war, energy consumption, constraints, climate change, and growing barriers to population movement across borders,” CNN noted. — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMA News

...the woman director

Filipina directs documentary on Malacañang for National Geographic Channel

By: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

January 10, 2012

MARNIE Manicad (left) interviews President Aquino, along with four of his closest aides for the docu.Photo courtesy of JR and Arianne Rodriguez

Talk about the ultimate home invasion.

For the coming National Geographic Channel (NGC) documentary, “Inside Malacañang,” filmmaker Marnie Manicad gives viewers a peek into the country’s most tightly guarded address – the official residence and workplace of President Benigno Aquino III.

Manicad didn’t go into the project blindly; she was fully aware of the challenges. Securing all the necessary permits and gaining the insiders’ trust were only the beginning.

“We got access to the most secluded parts of the Palace,” she recounted. “We also had to convince the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that we needed to film their training sessions and operations.”

Deeper insight

Manicad and her team had to justify their every move, especially if it involved the four people who are closest to the President – the group commander of the PSG, the personal security aide, the food tester and the presidential photographer.

She was stunned to discover that there actually was a person assigned to taste the President’s meals beforehand. She admitted, “I thought the food tester was an urban legend.”

Making the docu yielded other discoveries as well. “I learned more about the history and evolution of the place. It provided us with a deeper insight on the Palace – not just the physical structure, but its meaning to us, as Filipinos.”

THE DOCUMENTARIAN (right) in the Palace kitchen. Now she knows that the food tester is no urban legend.Photo courtesy of JR and Arianne Rodriguez

In making “Inside Malacañang,” Manicad said, she was inspired by the NGC docus “Inside the Vatican,” “Inside: The Obama White House,” “Air Force One” and “Restrepo: Outpost Afghanistan.”

These “nontraditional” stories encouraged Manicad to “push the limits” of local docu-making. “It’s difficult to make docus, especially if it’s about a heavy topic,” she admitted. “In doing narrative feature films, you can adjust on the set. But with docus, you need complete grasp of the subject, because you can’t make excuses once you start shooting.”

Things are made more arduous by the very high journalistic and filmmaking standards set by NGC, whose editors went over every line of the script with a fine-toothed comb.

“For this docu, I had a 16-page voiceover script,” Manicad related. “But with the added research annotations and references, it reached over 84 pages. NGC is that strict when it comes to facts and details.”

NGC doesn’t accept popular online sources such as Wikipedia for the kind of information she needed. “You should only rely on books, actual reports and first-hand interviews,” the filmmaker said. “The script had to be cleared by NGC Singapore, Hong Kong and Washington DC before we could record the final narration, done by veteran actor Joonee Gamboa.”

It’s a landmark docu. It will not just give viewers an unprecedented, all-access pass to the Palace; it will also be shown on National Geographic channels all over the globe in the first quarter of this year.

“It’s unbelievable. I only used to dream about making docus. Now, not only did I finish one; as a bonus, it will be aired on NGC,” Manicad said.

Top supporter

Helping her every step of the way was husband Jiggy Manicad, GMA 7 reporter and anchor. “Jiggy has always been my top supporter. He breathes news and investigative docus. He gives me a lot of constructive criticism. We’re a team. He acted as creative consultant on this docu and also on my coming film.”

Apart from producing the motoring show “Turbo Zone” on GMA News TV, she also codirected with Cesar Apolinario, her husband’s fellow GMA 7 reporter, a feature film entitled “Dance of the Steelbars,” top-billed by Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin and Kapuso star Dingdong Dantes. “In the works is another docu for NGC in 2012. I also hope to produce a new TV show soon,” she said.

...the bull-run

Philippines stock index hits new record high


By: Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012


MANILA, Philippines—The local stock index broke to a new record high on Tuesday as yield-seeking investors loaded up on blue chips in anticipation of good prospects for corporate earnings in a low-interest rate environment this 2012.

The main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 19.48 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at a new record high of 4,561.08. This exceeded the previous record close of 4,550 posted on Aug. 1, 2011.

Tuesday’s upswing was led by the property counter, which surged by 1.17 percent.

Value turnover amounted to P6.26 billion. There were 100 advancers that edged out 57 decliners while 42 stocks were unchanged.

Investors snapped up shares of PLDT, Metrobank, AGI, Ayala Corp., EDC, Philex, Globe, DMCI, ICTSI, URC, ALI, Metro Pacific Investments, BPI, RLC, Aboitiz Power, First Gen and Megaworld. PNB was likewise higher in active trade.

On the other hand, there was profit-taking on BDO and Lepanto “A” (open only to local investors).

Bede Lovell Gomez, assistant vice president at First Metro Investment Corp., said that after outperforming most regional markets in 2011, the local bourse would likely perform even better this year and target the 5,000 mark by yearend.

Gomez said strong investor appetite on the local stock market was being driven by low interest rates, manageable inflation, implementation of infrastructure spending under the public-private partnership framework, a potential credit rating upgrade and bright prospects for tourism.

“Our theme for 2012 will focus on infrastructure, gaming and consumer sector,” Gomez said.

..the positive indicators

Most indicators support PHL economic growth, says FMIC  

 

TINO PAMINTUAN,

GMA News

January 10, 2012

 

 

The economy will grow by 5 percent to 6 percent this year on government spending, consumer demand and overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) remittances, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) said in a briefing Tuesday on Philippine economic outlook.
 
FMIC, a unit of Metrobank Group, is “cautiously optimistic” about the Philippine economy, noting current indicators point to robust investment inflows, strong market appetite, lower borrowing cost, ample liquidity and faster capacity to pay debt.
 
“The outlook for 2012 is very positive,” said Francisco Sebastian, FMIC chair. “The country is in very good shape with its macro-economic fundamentals still intact.”
 
Public debt is lower, inflation has eased and government remains serious with its fiscal and reform measures, he said.
 
However, threats like economic slowdown in China, a protracted debt crisis in the European Union and a weakening of commodities market remain, FMIC noted.
 
Also, the country is facing the La Niña weather phenomenon until February and that may weaken agriculture output.
 
Roberto Juanchito Dispo, FMIC president, said the economy will level up this year in terms of macro-economic fundamentals and capital markets.

'De facto upgraded'
 
Despite the US and European crises, OFW remittances will grow by 5 percent to 7 percent and inflation will stay within 3.5 percent to 3.7 percent because of stable crude oil prices, Dispo noted.
 
Exports are will also recover from a negative 4.3 percent to 5.7 percent growth while imports will increase by 10 percent, according to the FMIC president.
 
FMIC sees the peso-dollar exchange rate slip in favor of the US currency at P43:$1 to P45:$1 as the US recovers and outperforms Japan and Europe.
 
The equities market is likely to perform better, with the Philippine Stock Exchange index hitting 5,000 by year's end because of low interest rates, slower inflation and a credit rating upgrade, according to the Metrobank Group unit.
 
Growth drivers will include consumer spending, investments in tourism sector, and infrastructure development under the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership program.
 
Monetary policy will relax the first quarter and stay relatively stable the rest of the year.
 
As such government securities will have relatively low rates, including 3 percent for 91-day Treasury bills, 4.75 percent for 5-year and 10-year notes and bonds, and 6 percent for 25-year notes.
 
With this outlook, the Philippines is “de facto upgraded” with both onshore and offshore markets already pricing the country's debt instruments at investment grade levels, said.
 
He cited the sale of $1.5-billion, 25-year global bonds last week at a yield of 5 percent.
 
Last year, Fitch Ratings raised the country's long-term foreign currency bond to BB+ from BB or a notch below investment grade. Moody's Investors Service also upgraded Philippine currency bonds to Ba2 from Ba3.
 
Higher credit ratings lower the price of a nation’s debt and allow governments to easily borrow for infrastructure projects, and an investment grade attracts global institutional investors. — VS, GMA News

...the good loc

'Bourne' joins list of Hollywood films shot in PH

by Vladmir Bunoan,

ABS-CBNnews.com

01/10/2012

MANILA, Philippines -- When the cameras start rolling on Wednesday, the first shooting day in Manila for the spy drama, “Bourne Legacy,” the fourth installment in the movie series based on the novels of Robert Ludlum, will just be the latest in a not-so-long list of Hollywood movies shot in the Philippines.

“Bourne Legacy” Philippine producer Jun Juban said it was the Filipinos’ hospitality that tipped the scales in bringing the Hollywood movie's production crew to the Philippines.

"Yung slogan na 'It's more fun in the Philippines' ay very apt," said Juban, who has been involved in the production of many of the foreign films that were shot in the country.

"It's never been done before in this scale, especially in this kind of movie," Juban added. "How many times have you seen movies being shot in Vietnam ... and Dubai and minsan titingnan mo kaya naman sa Pilipinas yun, di ba? Now we have that and we have a chance to do that."

Juban said the actors and crew were not particularly bothered by peace and order issues in the country.

"In spite of the perceived problema dito, napapunta namin sila dito. Malaking bagay yun. The government has been very supportive. They felt very safe," he said.

Actors Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz are already in the country, and Juban said the general reaction from the stars is that “we are great.”

“They are very happy with the Filipinos. Alam mo naman tayo, napaka friendly,” Juban said.

Hollywood films shot in PH

Here’s a list of some of the Hollywood movies that have been shot in the Philippines:

•  “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1982). In this movie by Peter Weir, Manila subbed for Indonesia in the mid-1960s during the final days of the Sukarno regime. Mel Gibson plays an Australian journalist who falls in love with a British embassy officer played by Sigourney Weaver. When the Indonesian government rejected the request to film in Jakarta, it was decided to shoot the movie in the Philippines instead. Filipino actor Bembol Roco was cast in the film, as well as singer Kuh Ledesma.

•  “Platoon” (1986). This Oscar-winning war movie written and directed by Oliver Stone had the Philippines subbing for Vietnam. Starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe, it is the first of Stone’s Vietnam trilogy about the experiences of American soldiers during the war. “Platoon” started filming in Luzon in February 1986 at the height of the protests against then President Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted later that month. Filming for the movie, however, went on as scheduled.

•  “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989). For Stone’s next movie, which starred Tom Cruise in an Oscar-nominated performance, the director had wanted to shoot the film on location in Vietnam. But because relations between the U.S. and Vietnam were not yet normalized, the director again chose the Philippines as the location for the Vietnam War sequences, which were shot in Ilocos.

•  “Brokedown Palace” (1999). For this movie, the Philippines subbed for Thailand in this film about two Americans who were imprisoned for drug smuggling. The filming became controversial when lead actress Claire Danes told Vogue magazine that Manila was a “ghastly city.” Danes was later declared persona non grata and had to issue an apology.

•  “Apocalypse Now” (1979). Probably the most popular Hollywood movie shot in the Philippines, director Francis Ford Coppola battled storms and various rewrites during the filming of his Vietnam War opus. Principal photography began in March 1976 but just after a few days of shooting, the director decided to replace his lead actor with Martin Sheen. Then in May that year, a typhoon wrecked a key film set, which sent the production months behind schedule. But the problems didn't end there. The temperamental Marlon Brando was said to have arrived on the set “extremely overweight,” and wanted rewrites to the ending. To top it all, Sheen suffered a heart attack mid-way through the filming. What was supposed to be a five-month shoot stretched to more than a year with principal photography finally completed in May 1977.

...the FUN places

Where to go in 2012

By Ces Rodriguez

Yahoo! Southeast Asia SHE – 

Mon, Jan 9, 2012

 

 

With 16 holidays in 2012, including Chinese New Year on January 23 (which has never before been designated as a national non-working holiday), you may want to check out the following destinations based on travel trends and forecasts for 2012.

1. Spend the night with the Manobos in Agusan Marsh, Agusan del Sur, Eastern Mindanao. While it helps that the world’s biggest crocodile now resides in captivity in the 14.8-hectare marshland, noted travel blogger Ivan Henares tells Yahoo! She that he’s keen on having people spend a night with the indigenous Manobos who live in the marsh. “It's not easy to get to, and there's no electricity when you spend a night in one of the floating houses,” he says. “But you're one with nature and the local culture. Agusan Marsh is an internationally significant wetland which needs to be nurtured and protected.

2. Make like a reality TV star in San Vicente, Palawan. Quoting the website cheapflights.com, the news agency Reuters said, “Reality shows are inspiring TV junkies to consider vacation spots that, if not for their DVR, they may not have considered.” Case in point: the site of “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles.” Host Richard Gutierrez said the island in which the show was shot was breathtaking, with pristine beaches and lush vegetation. Located in northwest Palawan, San Vicente is 186 kilometers from Puerto Princesa. It has 14 kilometers of white sand beach, the longest in the Philippines. A few huts have been erected by the local government, but hurry and visit while the going is rustic; major developers are said to have snapping up parcels of land in San Vicente.

3. Get it all in Bohol. Bryan Ocampo of Mabuhay Guides, a group of professional tourist guides created by the Philippine Department of Tourism in 2009, recommends Bohol “for the variety of activities and destinations it offers,” he told Yahoo! She. “For thrill-seekers and to those who love the outdoors, E.A.T. Danao has adventure attractions. It's two hours away from [the capital of] Tagbilaran. Aside from this, Bohol has white sand beaches and majestic old churches.”

4. Camp out in Palaui Island in Cagayan.  In the northeastern tip of Luzon, Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape is one of 13 destinations being developed until 2013 by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The idea is to provide alternative livelihood to fishermen who have been displaced by efforts to conserve dwindling resources of the sea. Palaui hosts a primary forest that botanists and conservationists say harbor species that have yet to be identified and at least two unidentified floral specimens. The adventurous traveler can swim, snorkel, hike and trek to the summit of Cape Engaño to check out the marvelous views and the Spanish-era lighthouse that may soon be declared by the National Museum as an important cultural property.

5. Dream big in posh Taytay, Palawan. Sonia Lazo, managing director of Intas Destination Management, Inc., says that for high-end inbound European visitors unaffected by the crunch, the Philippines has become an attractive option.  “These are travelers who have been there, done that, and most likely have been to everywhere else except the Philippines,”  she tells Yahoo! She. They will be looking for “pristine, less touristy areas” like El Nido and  Taytay in Palawan. Taytay is 220 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa and is the jump-off point to Apulit Island, a high-end resort destination managed by the El Nido Resorts group.  The Apulit resort has 50 cottages built on stilts over turquoise waters.


6. Head to one of the world’s new 7 Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Thanks to this recent distinction, the Department of Tourism expects tourist arrivals to increase by 25% in 2012 to around 625,489.  There are 23 new hotels being constructed in Puerto Princesa. The Puerto Princesa Airport is also set for an upgrade and expansion by the end of 2012.

7. Make it the full monty. According to New York City-based Janine Yu, a travel writer who designs bespoke itineraries to Asia for an ultra luxury tour operator specializing only in Asia, most of her high-end clients have often bypassed the Philippines. “Many [property owners] do not know how to market beyond the country or the region,” she told Yahoo! She. Plus, “they are usually lacking in two things: a real understanding of international hospitality standards and strong marketing efforts that make them palatable to an international community.” But, if she could design a tour for one of her high-end clients, she would: “Start with a historical and cultural overview of the country with one of Carlos Celdran's walking tours in Manila; move on to Bicol for the seasonal whalesharks, or if they're not in residence, Bohol for its charming mix of natural beauty, ecotourism activities and historic sites; end in one of Palawan's private island resorts. If the client is adventurous enough, I would recommend adding on Batanes for a taste of something remote, rugged and just markedly different from the rest of the country.”

8. Party hard in Boracay. Intas chairman Teresita Henderson, whose company concentrates on inbound tourists, says she is now looking to emerging economies because Europe is in the doldrums. “We have in fact started making our presence felt in the Indian market as we feel that this is the market of the future,” she told Yahoo! She. As such, Boracay remains an alluring destination.  As it will be for Australians, who have saturated Bali, Indonesia and Thailand, rejoins managing director Sonia Lazo. Aussies will head to Boracay as their next “hot beach destination” for its beauty, nightlife and “dizzying slew of activities.”


9. Party harder in Manila.  If you’re in the NCR, stay put. Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez plans to counter the visible blight that turns off tourists when they land in Manila, he told members of the Philippine Tourist Operator’s Association (PHILTOA).  Jimenez wants to make the hours between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. attractive to inbound tourists because traffic has waned, the lights are on and Manila’s many restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels are in high gear. “So, when you are asked, ‘Where do you want to wake up tomorrow?’ Everybody says Singapore or Hong Kong. But when you are asked, ‘Where do you want to party tonight?’ Everyone will say, ‘Manila!’"

...the "FUN" in the Philippines

'More fun in Philippines' photos go viral

abs-cbnNEWS.com

01/09/2012

MANILA, Philippines - Some may have accused the government of copying a tourism campaign yet again, but there is no denying that "It's more fun in the Philippines" has made a positive impact as netizens continue to create their own versions of the country's newest slogan.

 

 

Several photos featuring things that are "more fun in the Philippines" have been making the rounds on the Internet, prompting others to come up with ideas of their own.

An image of spider fighting, a popular pastime in the country, read: "Street Fights. More Fun in the Philippines." A photo of Ifugaos riding wooden scooters in Mountain province, on the other hand, had the text: "High rollers. More fun in the Philippines."

"Kisses. More Fun in the Philippines" featured the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, while "Prison Break. More fun in the Philippines" showed a photo of the famous Cebu dancing inmates.

Other images poked fun at the country's culture -- a photo of Filipino bread pan de sal had the text: "Bread. More PAN in the Philippines." This as Filipinos tend to pronounce "f" as "p," "v" as "b," and "th" as either "d" or "t."

With more and more people crafting their own posters illustrating what is "more fun in the Philippines," the DOT may have an easier time spreading the word about the country.