...the most underrated country

PH most underrated country in the world, says Purisima

 

by Iris C. Gonzales,

The Philippine Star

03/24/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is the most underrated country in the world, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said yesterday during a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

 

Purisima said that the credit rating of the Philippines– currently below investment grade – “are four levels below where it should be.”

 

“The Philippines is the most underrated country in the world. I am confident that the credit rating agencies would catch up with their ratings sooner rather than later,” he told reporters.

 

He believes the Philippines deserves an upgrade soon because of “the improving fiscal situation, the well-managed macroeconomy and also because of the Aquino administration’s good governance platform.”

 

Purisima recently met with a review team of global debt watcher Standard & Poor’s (S&P).

 

The S&P team met with fiscal and monetary officials as part of its regular assessment of the country’s economic fundamentals.

 

The review team also sought updates on measures to raise revenues including the status of the proposed sin tax measure which is pending in Congress.

 

The government is pushing for House Bill 5757, authored by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya. The measure, currently pending at the House Ways and Means Committee, calls for the adoption of a unitary tax system for tobacco and liquor and indexation of taxes to inflation.

 

In December, the global debt watcher upgraded the credit rating outlook of the Philippines to positive from stable in December 2011.

 

An improved credit rating translates to lower borrowing costs of the government which, in turn, would result in an improved fiscal position or more resources for social service and infrastructure.

 

In 2011, the government incurred a budget gap of P197.8 billion, well below the P300 billion ceiling set for last year.

 

In February, Purisima met with representatives from S&P, Fitch Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service in London to provide them an update of the Philippine economic landscape

...the FB's new apps

PH techies create app, win big in Facebook tilt

By: Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

From “text capital” to “social media capital of the world.” That’s how the Philippines would henceforth be known, thanks to four Filipino programmers who bagged a major prize at the recent Facebook Mobile held in Singapore.

Besting other programmers from several Asian countries, Jason Sia, Miko Ignacio, Melvin Fetalvero and Josh Basarte, programmers working for home-grown technology firm Chikka.com, won the “Hackathon’s” Best Mobile Open Graph award for creating “Hear Me,” an application that lets users post audio notes on their Facebook home page.

The term Hackathon was coined by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Featured in the Academy Award winning film “The Social Network,” Hackathons are Facebook’s main recruitment method for finding talented programmers to work for the Internet giant.

At the recent Hackathon in Singapore, developer teams were tasked to conceptualize, write programs and present the finished application within a short period of time.

“I don’t think we won because of what we came up with in four hours, but because of what  Hear Me can become in the hands of other Facebook users and the developer community,” said Chikka team leader Melvin Fetalvero.

iPhone app

“They can surely build on it (and) run with it to launch very engaging content: think rapping bouts and ‘pick-up line’ battles. They can now bring those experiences to social media,” Fetalvero said.

The Hear Me application was developed as an iPhone application or “app” that would allow users to record voice greetings and post these on their own or on other users’ Facebook pages. Other users can then listen to the recording, “like” it, and even share it with their friends.

The app was created using Facebook’s Open Graph application programming interface (API), which enables developers to create apps that take advantage of Facebook’s social ecosystem.

Web, mobile integration

The team from Chikka—now a subsidiary of Smart Communications—was able to create Hear Me in just four hours and without the need to use expensive IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and VoIP (Voice Over IP) systems-technologies used in popular Internet communications software such as Skype and Yahoo! Messenger.

In a statement, Chikka founder Dennis Mendiola said: “It seems like only yesterday when we were called the text capital of the world. Today, it’s well documented how we are the ‘social media capital.’ It is why the world tends to expect innovation in this area from Filipinos; we take to social media like fish to water.”

Chikka’s flagship Chikka Text Messenger, which allowed Internet users to send short messaging service (SMS) or “text” messages to mobile phone users, was the world’s first commercially successful integration of web and mobile services.

Mendiola said Filipino telecom firms also invented the card-less over-the-air and peer-to-peer exchange of load between mobiles, which is now adopted in major mobile markets all over the world. Filipinos are pioneers as well in user-generated status broadcasts to a base of mobile followers, a precursor to such popular social media apps as Twitter, he said.

Passion and pride

“It’s in our blood. The Facebook Hackathon represents some of the world’s finest mobile applications developers. Beyond expertise, talent and creativity, there is passion and pride in what we do,” Mendiola said.

Chikka.com recently merged with Wolfpac Mobile Inc., also owned by Smart Communications, to form one of the largest web and mobile applications developers in the Philippines that cater to mobile Internet communities’ demand for apps of high utility and high entertainment value.

“We’re very happy with what the (group has) accomplished in Singapore,” Smart spokesperson Ramon Isberto said in an interview. “This is very much in line with our push in innovating in the application space,”  he added.

“As you know, smartphones are now becoming more popular and at the core of this are relevant applications,” Isberto said, adding that Smart Communications would build on Chikka’s success to create more developer activity in the Philippines “so we can generate more innovations here to find international markets for Filipino developers.”

...the Bloomberg awardee

PHL NGO awarded by NY Mayor Bloomberg for anti-tobacco fight

 

 

March 22, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Singapore - A small Philippine advocacy group was honored at a major international conference in this city-state Thursday for its fight against the tobacco industry.

HealthJustice Philippines was given a Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control by New York City Mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg for "its terrific job" in monitoring tobacco industry interference in public health policy in the Philippines.

In his acceptance speech, HealthJustice president Dr. Daniel Tan called tobacco industry interference "the single biggest threat to tobacco control."

The award comes at a time of vociferous debate in the Philippines over Congressional proposals to increase sin taxes, including the cigarette tax, to raise government revenues and lower tobacco consumption, especially among the youth.

Proponents argue that a powerful tobacco lobby composed of cigarette companies and congressmen from tobacco-growing regions stands in the way of new sin taxes and other efforts in the Philippines to keep up with tobacco control initiatives in other countries.

Dr. Tan, a pulmonologist, said the tobacco industry's "interference" includes cigarette companies' challenges in court to anti-tobacco policies such as graphic warnings on cigarette packs and even "personal attacks" on advocates like himself.

Tan said in an interview that he and his colleagues once received a postcard of the Marlboro Man with the message on the back, "You don't know what you're getting into."

"That scared us," Tan said.

He and his colleagues can boast of a powerful ally in Bloomberg, one of the world's leading philanthropists, who pledged at Thursday's awards ceremony an additional US$220 million in the next four years for global tobacco control.

HealthJustice will need all the help it can get considering that the Philippines has one of the highest rates of smoking prevalence among the youth in Asia and the cheapest cigarettes.

In addition to HealthJustice Philippines, five organizations from four other countries received awards from Bloomberg, who was introduced by World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan.

The awards were part of the program at the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, where Chan was the keynote speaker. -- HS, GMA News

...the strong performer

Philippine Environmental Policies' Strong Performance

March 21, 2012

Manila Bulletin

Editorial

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is ranked as a “strong performer” in environmental policies in the latest biennial Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The Philippines was ranked 42nd among 132 countries under the "strong performer" category in 2012. It retained its ranking of 8th in the Asia-Pacific Region. It gained perfect scores in the indicators for outdoor air pollution, change in forest cover, and growing stocks in forests.

The government attributes the country’s strong performance to several factors, among them, intensified regulatory efforts, issuance of Executive Orders 23 and 26 dealing with forest protection, more stringent motor vehicle emission standards, tighter monitoring of private emission testing and vehicle inspection centers, and better enforcement of laws against smoke belching.

The EPI ranked 132 countries on 22 performance indicators across 10 policy categories under two policy objectives – Environmental Health and Ecosystem Vitality. These indicators gauge how close countries are to achieving environmental policy goals. A higher EPI rank, such as “strong” indicates that a country or region is close to achieving its established goals in environmental policy.

The EPI, developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy of Yale University and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network of Columbia University, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Center of the European Commission, analyzes how the global community is doing on policy issues against environmental pressures, and steers countries toward environmental sustainability. The index, designed to supplement the environment targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, is being used as benchmark by governments, policy and decision makers, environmental scientists, advocates and the general public. For 2012, the EPI’s “strongest” performers that ranked first to 10th are Switzerland, followed by Latvia, Norway, Luxembourg, Costa Rica, France, Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.

Government, the private sector, and civil society continue to exert efforts for cleaner air in Metro Manila and other urban centers of the country, and to fully implement the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Local government units assist by stepping up their anti-smoke belching campaigns and strict implementation of emission tests prior to vehicle registration to help the national government succeed in its goal of a pollution-free environment. CONGRATULATIONS!

...the Future Electronic site operation

Canada’s Future Electronics eyes expanding PHL operations

 

March 22, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Canada’s Future Electronics, distributor of electronic and electrical components, plans to expand its Philippine operations, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
 
The Canadian company operates a distribution facility in the Philippines and is eyeing to expand its marketing and technical training in its Philippine operations, as well as its distribution business, according to the DFA.
 
"Future Electronics has operations in 169 locations in 42 countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It currently operates a distribution facility in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila which connects to its regional hub, based in Singapore," the department said in a note on its website.
 
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan called on Future Electronics president Robert Miller last March 16 at the company’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
 
Miller welcomed assurances from Gatan, saying he was impressed by investment opportunities in the Philippines and its considerable human resource pool, the DFA noted.
 
"Further details of the expansion will be worked out and is expected to be announced in the coming months," the DFA said.
 
Future Electronics generates annual sales of over CAD$4.5 billion. — VS, GMA News

...the tourism record high

PHL tourist arrivals up 17% to record high in Jan. – DOT

March 22, 2012

GMA News

Visitor arrivals reached a record-breaking high of 411,064 last January, up 17.5 percent from 349,713 a year earlier, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday.

That was the same month that the government launched its popular "More fun in the Philippines" tourism slogan, which quickly became viral and a meme with countless online participants.

“We are happy to set a new all-time high for the industry, as we have now reached and surpassed the 400,000-visitor arrival mark for the first time in any single month,” the department said in a statement, citing Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr.

It may also signal that the country has finally overcome the tourism setback caused by the massacre of eight Hong Kong tourists in August 2010, resulting in an immediate drop in tourism arrivals. The government has also had to cope with the effects of kidnappings of foreigners, including two bird scientists in Tawi-Tawi in late January.

The US' State Department issued a stern warning to its citizens in Juanuary about the dangers of travelling in the Philippines.

Jimenez is said to be a marketing genius, creating a spin that highlights the joyful spirit of Filipinos and papers over the country's myriad problems, from a high crime rate to unmaintained public toilets to an international airport repeatedly called one of the world's worst.

“We expect that these numbers will continue to steadily increase with the introduction of our new brand campaign this year and the convergence initiatives and efforts that the DOT has been undertaking with other government agencies and the private sector,” Jimenez added.

Koreans accounted for the biggest number of visitors at 102,166, or 24.9 percent of the total. “This achieves another feat for PHL tourism, as this also marks the first time that a market achieved more than 100,000 in any single month,” the department said.

Visitors from the United States were the second largest at 63,160 or 15.4 percent of the inbound traffic.

The Chinese market bested the Japanese market as the third biggest volume of 42,868 arrivals — a triple-digit growth of 173.8 percent from 15,656. The heavy influx of Chinese tourists was attributed the Chinese New Year in the third week of January.

The Japanese and the Taiwanese ranked as fourth and fifth top visitors, with 32,089 and 21,995 arrivals, respectively. The Japanese arrivals were 1.6 percent higher year-on-year and accounted for 7.8 percent of the total arrivals.

Tourists from Taiwan was 60.7 percent more in volume terms, capturing 5.4 percent of the total arrivals.

Overseas Filipinos — or Filipinos permanently residing abroad —accounted for 15,531 arrivals, or 3.8 percent of the total volume.

“We are excited to meet our year-end target of 4.6 million arrivals with the full roll-out of the campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” Jimenez said.

“Policy reforms and convergence projects with other government agencies will seek to address impediments to tourism growth, particularly accessibility, connectivity and entry procedures,” the secretary noted.

“More importantly, everybody’s support is critical in creating the fun and competitive image that we are selling to the world,” he added. — VS/HS, GMA News

...the growth momentum

Phl poised for faster growth - BSP

 

Philstar

22 March 2012

 

 

“Our country is poised to achieve solid growth this year with both our monetary and fiscal engines running” -  Amando Tetangco Jr., Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

 

MANILA, Philippines – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the Philippines is poised for a faster economic growth this year on the back of the emerging economic recovery in the US and the resolution of the debt crisis in Europe. Tetangco told reporters on the sidelines of the 2012 Convention of the Chamber of Thrift Banks yesterday that the two most recent external developments point to a stronger and faster gross domestic product (GDP) expansion for the Philippines this year.

 
“While the global economy continues to grapple with the adverse impact of the debt crisis in Europe and slower growth in developed countries, the Philippines continues to generate good macro-economic numbers,” he said.

The BSP chief pointed out that the country’s export sector would benefit from the signs of recovery in the US economy with the release of favorable economic data.

The weak global demand that pulled down the country’s export earnings by 6.9 percent as well as cautious spending by the Aquino government resulted in a slower GDP growth of 3.7 percent last year compared to 7.6 percent in 2010.

He also noted the recent favorable developments pertaining to the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone area after Greece reached an agreement with multilateral lenders led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second bail-out package.

According to him, there is emerging stability in the situation in Europe unlike last month when there was a great deal of uncertainty on whether Greece would be able to come up with an agreement.

“Europe is still a concern but there are signs of stabilization. This would lead to less volatility in financial markets, equities with the Philippine Stock Exchange index has been showing record high level,” Tetangco added.

Likewise, the BSP chief explained that cautious government spending that pulled down last year’s economic growth has been addressed as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already disbursed about 80 percent to 90 percent of this year’s budget.

“Our country is poised to achieve solid growth this year with both our monetary and fiscal engines running,” he said.

The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) sees the country’s GDP growth expanding between five percent and six percent this year.

So far, Tetangco said inflation rate dipped to a 29-month low of 2.7 percent in February from four percent in January while the PSE index continued to hit new all-time high levels.

He added that the country’s external payments position remained healthy with the gross international reserves (GIR) hitting a new record level of $77.7 billion and balance of payments position (BOP) posting a surplus of $1.45 billion as of end-February this year. - By Lawrence Agcaoili (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

...the Olympic torch bearer

Pinoy in UK to carry Olympic torch for OFWs

 

ROSE-AN JESSICA DIOQUINO

GMA News

March 21, 2012

 

 

Reymund Enteria, a Filipino occupational therapist in the United Kingdom will be carrying the torch for some nine million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the world in the 2012 Olympics this July.

The 30-year-old, who hails from Antipolo City, disclosed to GMA News Online via e-mail that he will be running on July 22, the last Sunday before the Olympic’s opening ceremony at the Barking and Dagenham Borough of London.

“I am running in behalf of the OFWs,” he wrote, adding that he received the news only last Saturday, after waiting for five months. “I was very surprised [because] I’m not an athlete—just an ordinary individual.”
 
Enteria said he was proud to represent his fellow OFWs, who he said are “not all about money, but courage and determination.”

Currently working for a medical center based in Tonbridge Kent, Enteria was chosen as one of the 8,000 “Coca-Cola Future Flame” participants, or the “inspirational people who will carry the Olympic Flame” as it goes around this year’s host country for 70 days.
 
The list for the torch relay, made public on Monday, has 7,300 confirmed places. It is posted at http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-torch-relay/torchbearers/.
 
In a blog entry he wrote for the UK-based Filipino site AdoboRice.com, Enteria said he entered the “Future Flame” call for nominations with his insights on the sacrifices of OFW families, which he drew from the fact that he eventually followed in his mother’s footsteps of working abroad. 
 
The occupational therapist said the first kind of loneliness that he had to endure as part of an OFW family was being apart from his mother, who left the Philippines for a better job overseas when he was only nine years old.
 
His mother, he said, worked abroad for four years with two-year contracts that left them with no choice but to communicate via snail mail and expensive long distance phone calls.
 
Years later as a licensed occupational therapist, Enteria would leave his career beginnings in the Philippines to work in Saudi Arabia, where he first experienced the loneliness of being apart from his family, coupled by “differences in employment benefits and beliefs.”
 
“I went to Saudi Arabia with thoughts of using that opportunity as a stepping stone to be in a much better place like the UK or the USA,” he wrote on his AdoboRice.com piece. “The reality is that inequality happens [there]… I [had] the same job like other OTs (occupational therapists), but we received [different] salaries and [because I’m] from the Philippines, mine was the lowest rate.”
 
The hopes he pinned on his sacrifices in the Arab country paid off, however. Aside from the chance to provide for his family, Enteria said he was “recognized in the biggest rehabilitation hospital in the Middle East, where I became the first OT to handle the newly opened brain injury unit.”
 
Two years into his work in Saudi Arabia, he got an offer from UK’s The Raphael Medical Center, where he has been working as a full-time OT specialist for more than four years.
 
Saying that not all OFWs are “lucky” to work with good employers, Enteria will dedicate his torch-bearing run to his fellow Filipinos abroad, who have to sacrifice a lot of things and bear with loneliness in order to give their families a better life.
 
“It is true that we OFWs are considered modern heroes as we help not only our families but also the growth of [the] economy. All overseas workers, particularly the Filipinos, deserve to be recognized as inspiring individuals who have burning passion of spreading happiness to others,” he wrote. - VVP, GMA News

...the Tribeca film fest entries

PH thriller film to premiere in Tribeca

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 03/21/2012

 

 

Arnold Reyes plays the lead role of Marlon Villar in the film "Graceland," which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival next month. Photo from the Tribeca Film Festival website

MANILA, Philippines – Aside from a documentary on Journey frontman Arnel Pineda, another Filipino-made film will have its premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City next month.

The thriller “Graceland,” which touches on kidnapping and prostitution in the Philippines, will be screened at AMC Loews Village 7-1 on April 20, and at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 4 and 8 on April 21 and 28, respectively.

The film’s director, Ron Morales, described “Graceland” as “another addition to the new wave of Filipino cinema that is coming out of my homeland.”

He said he received funding from Kickstarter for the film.

“It’s a Filipino film with Filipino actors. I think it shows the best and worst of the Philippines. It’s something people need to see,” Morales said in an interview posted on Tribeca’s website.

“I also hope that this story stays with the viewers long enough to discuss its subject matter with friends, family, strangers and/or hop on the Internet and research what is happening in the Philippines,” he added.

Morales graduated from Parsons with a photography degree, and from the NYU Film School.

At age 29, he directed his award-winning debut feature, “Santa Mesa,” starring Melissa Leo. He has also created a number of short films, commercials, and promotional and music videos.

Asked to give advice to aspiring filmmakers, Morales said: “The best thing I can suggest is to do what we did – which was write, write and take a DSL, two or three good actors, and get out there and workshop a scene.

That’s what I did.”

“All kinds of magic can happen on film (or video nowadays) in the editing room.”

“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey” by Filipino filmmaker Ramona Diaz will also be screened at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

It is a documentary on how life has changed for Pineda after he was chosen to become the lead singer of Journey, an American rock band.

---

...the growth forecast (DBS Bank - Singapore)

PHL economy to grow 4.2% this year, says Singapore’s DBS

March 20, 2012

GMANews

Philippine output or gross domestic product will grow 4.2 percent this year and 5.2 percent in 2013 - DBS Bank Ltd., Singapore

Philippine output or gross domestic product will grow 4.2 percent this year and 5.2 percent in 2013, largely on higher government spending low interest rates, Singapore’s DBS Bank Ltd. said in a report Tuesday.

Poor global demand and insufficient domestic demand have turned 180 degrees, DEB economist Eugene Leow noted in a country report, “Philippines: Cushion in Place,” in the bank’s Q2 2012 Economics Market Strategy.

“This should translate into GDP growth of 4.2 percent in 2012 and 5.2 percent in 2013,” said Leow.

Philippine output grew 3.7 percent last year, from 7.6 percent in 2010 as a sputtering US economy, the euro debt crisis, and the natural disasters in Asia weakened global demand and disrupted the industrial supply chain. The Philippine situation was aggravated by the Aquino administration’s underspending.

“However, the situation has changed for the better. In the coming quarter, domestic demand will be bolstered by low interest rates and a ramp up in government spending,” according to the DBS economist, citing an imminent recovery of the country’s electronics sector.

In the first quarter, the Philippine GDP will expand by 3.5 percent, 4.2 percent in the second, 4.6 percent in the third, and 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter, the bank said.

Slower private sector spending  

The Philippines’ Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), made up of economic departments, expects the GDP to expand between 5 percent and 6 percent this year.

Government spending would expand by 7.9 percent this year and 4.1 percent next year, fueled by the public private partnership (PPP) program, according to DBS.

Public sector spending contracted by 0.7 percent last year.

Still, DEB sees private spending growing at a slower 5.5 percent this year and 5 percent next year, from 6.1 percent last year.

“Government spending should also be kicked up several notches in the first half of 2012 as the authorities continue to frontload expenditures… Once the projects are bid out, the resulting positive investment on investment growth should start to materialize in the second half,” said Leow.

Inflation, averaging four percent this year and 4.7 percent next year, will allow the Bangko Sentral to keep interest rates low. Thus, boosting consumption and supporting credit and economic growth, Leow added.

While inflation would trace a mild uptrend from mid-2012, Leow said it should not prompt monetary tightening this year — that would likely happen in the first quarter of 2012.

The Bangko Sentral sees inflation averaging between 3 percent and 5 percent this year and next year.

Key interest rates are 4 percent for overnight borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending. — VS, GMA News

...the spectacular place

NatGeo host tells Pinoys: You live in a spectacular place

ABS-CBNnews.com

 03/20/2012

 

MANILA, Philippines – Most Filipinos dream of leaving the country to visit other parts of the world, but an American herpetologist said they are lucky to be living in a place with a spectacular natural habitat.

 

Dr. Brady Barr, who has hosted over 100 documentaries for National Geographic, is planning to spend the next few years in Asia to concentrate on the region’s wildlife.

He is the first person in the world to capture and study all 23 species of wild crocodiles.

He said he has also seen the country’s very own giant crocodile, Lolong.

“Getting my hands on that crocodile in the Philippines is very, very special,” the herpetologist said in an interview on “Mornings@ANC” on Tuesday.

Herpetology is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians.

“You here in the Philippines, you are very lucky. You live in a spectacular place. However, sadly, many plants and animals are threatened with extinction because of the actions of us humans,” Barr added.

“We need to change our ways because extinction is forever. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

Barr said he has been to over 70 countries and has seen “sights and sounds that most people can’t even imagine,” but he has yet to make the most out of the many animals in Asia.

Aside from giant crocodiles, Barr said he loves the Philippines and other Asian countries for having different species of snakes, lizards and other reptiles.

“It’s like a land of the giants out here,” he said.

Reptiles ‘just as important’

Reptiles refer to cold-blooded vertebrates such as turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles.

There are more than 8,000 species of reptiles in the world, living on every continent except Antarctica.

Barr noted that people are naturally drawn to “warm and cuddly” animals such as puppies, but stressed that reptiles, despite their dangerous appearance, are just as important.

“They need our help more than the warm and cuddly animals,” he said.

“The first thing is education. Update yourself with what is going on with these animals. Then share that knowledge with somebody else. That’s the first step.

“I’m kind of an ambassador for all these animals. They need our help, they need our protection,” Barr ended.

---

...the take off

Philippines seen on verge of economic takeoff

All elements are in place, says former NEDA chief

By:Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, March 19th, 2012

 

 

For the Philippines, 2012 does not mean the end of the world as predicted by the ancient Mayans, but could instead herald the beginning of a much-awaited economic takeoff, according to former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito.

 

In a briefing for Malayan Bank last week, the economist from the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development said that after lagging neighboring countries in the last decade, all the elements for takeoff were in place.

The government is now in a position to accelerate spending after putting the brakes on spending that in turn gnawed at growth last year; infrastructure thus has no way to go but up.

Governance improvements are taking hold, sending a good signal to businessmen. Private domestic investment has come out of a decade of lethargy. Change is also coming to Mindanao, which promises to be a new growth pole. Japan and Thailand—hit by a massive earthquake and flooding, respectively—have recovered from their respective disasters and the indirect impact on the local economy is waning; and China is no longer the juggernaut it appeared to be but is now more an opportunity than a threat.

Based on Habito’s P-T-K gauge, referring to presyo (price), trabaho (jobs) and kita (earnings), the economist sees good indicators for this year.

On inflation, he projected that the uptick in consumer prices would be kept at 3-4 percent or well within the goal of the inflation-targeting central bank.

On jobs, he noted that the unemployment rate had gone down to 6 percent.

“We haven’t seen that in a while,” he said, adding that the rate would likely be kept at 6-7 percent.

With regards to incomes, Habito said it would be prudent to assume an economic growth rate of 4-5 percent this year.

The more aggressive, he said, could plan around 5-6 percent.

In the case of China, “China is no longer as fearsome as it used to be. Its own success is catching up with it.

China is now an opportunity to sell goods than a threat. If you look at that huge market, then you can see how much potential that is,” Habito said, alluding to the likes of businessman Carlos Chan whose Oishi snack brand is making waves in China.

Habito added that there were some factories now returning from China, which has seen a sharp increase in labor costs. Related to this, manufacturing was thus seen as a renewed growth driver for the country. Habito said the Philippines could be competitive in food manufacturing, design-based products such as high-end apparel, furniture and fixtures as well as higher value-added consumer electronic products.

The economist also encouraged investments in Mindanao, citing huge untapped potentials such as in producing coconut, oil palm, rubber, coffee, cacao, cassava and fruits.

In tourism, he said “good promotion is essential, but not sufficient.” He noted that the excessive protectionism in civil aviation was not in the national interest. Likewise cited as a “critical and urgent constraint” was the Philippines’ category 2 in FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], effectively preventing local carriers from expanding their flights to the United States.

Medical, wellness and retirement tourism are also key components to boosting tourism in the Philippines, he said.

On the other hand, business process outsourcing was cited by Habito as a “recession-resilient” industry that was projected to grow by 20 percent each year over the next five years.

...the Golden Boot awardee

Phil Younghusband wins Golden Boot award

by Jojo Malig, ABS-CBNNews.com

03/19/2012

 

 

Philippine Azkals striker Phil Younghusband won the Golden Boot award for the most number of goals scored during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. Photo courtesy of Neil Etheridge

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Azkals striker Phil Younghusband won the Golden Boot award for the most number of goals scored in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup tournament.

Younghusband scored 6 goals in the tournament to lead the Philippines to a historic third-place finish in the competition.

The former Chelsea reserve player opened the scoring for the Azkals in their nerve-gripping 4-3 victory over Palestine on Monday.

His second goal in the match came via a penalty in the 24th minute.

Azkals coach Michael Weiss said he is proud of what his wards have achieved. "I am very proud to be part of this development of Philippines' football and I look forward to it continuing."

"I also want to take the opportunity to thank all our fans in the Philippines, in the Gulf, in Europe and all over the world who have supported us. Without them, what we have achieved would not have been possible," he told the-afc.com in a post-match interview.

The German gaffer said he also did not expect the third-place match to go down the wire. "It was a thriller. A do-or-die game and we were lucky in the end."

"Overall, I think we deserved to finish third and I thank my players for their never-say-die attitude," he said.
Other members of the Philippine Azkals were also on cloud 9 with their victory over Palestine.

"Maraming salamat po sa pagsubaybay nyo sa aking twitter updates. Masaya ako na nakapaglaro ulit ako para sa Pilipinas at naka-3rd place kami," goalkeeper Neil Etheridge said.

"Salamat sa lahat na sumusuporta sa team. So proud of you," Chieffy Caligdong said.

"Another amazing achievement from this amazing team. We thank all those who contributed along the way and for everyone's wonderful support," Rob Gier said.

"That match was our Final and we ended with a bang! Great achievement to come home with a bronze. So damn proud!" said Aly Borromeo.

"Tanggapin nyo ang taos puso naming pasasalamat sa inyo sa walang sawa nyo na suporta sa amin! Mabuhay ang Pinoy!" Ian Araneta said.

The Azkals also received praise from Palestinian football fans on social media site Twitter.

"Philippines has improved tremendously in 12 months. Not just saying that because they put 4 past us- their play is a lot more nuanced," said @FutbolPalestine. "Thought the fourth goal was absolutely superb from Philippines. Beautiful overlapping play really shows how far they've come."

"Quite obvious today that Philippines was hungrier, angrier. Congratulations Azkals on the third place finish. See you at Challenge Cup 2014!" @FutbolPalestine added.

Azkals fans, meanwhile made a public show of support by gathering at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati on Monday night.

Two members of the group stepped into the hotel's large outdoor fountain bearing the Azkals flag as the rest cheered on.

North Korea won the tournament by beating Turkmenistan, 2-1, in a tightly fought final on Monday.

...the major Asian Film Awardees

Domingo, Buencamino win at Asian Film Awards

ABS-CBNnews.com

03/20/2012

HONG KONG, China - Eugene Domingo and Shamaine Buencamino won 2 major trophies at the 6th Asian Film Awards ceremony in Hong Kong on Monday.

Domingo took home the People's Choice most popular actress award for her performance in "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank."

Eugene Domingo

Buencamino won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in "Niño."

Sharmaine Buencamino

Filipina actress Eugene Domingo and Hong Kong actor Andy Lau pose with their trophies after winning the most popular actor and actress awards through online voting, at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Monday. Reuters/Bobby Yip

 

The other awardees are:

Best Film: A Separation (Iran)

Best Director: Asghar Farhadi (A Separation -- Iran)

Best Actor: Donny Damara (Lovely Man -- Indonesia)

Best Actress: Deanie Ip (A Simple Life -- Hong Kong)

Best Newcomer: Ni Ni (The Flowers of War -- Mainland China)

Best Supporting Actor: Lawrence Ko (Jump! Ashin -- Taiwan)

Best Screenwriter: Asghar Farhadi (A Separation -- Iran)

Best Cinematographer: Jake Pollock, Lai Yiu-fai (Wu Xia -- Mainland China/ Hong Kong)

Best Production Designer: Yee Chung-man, Sun Li (Wu Xia -- Mainland China/ Hong Kong)

Best Composer: Chan Kwong-wing, Peter Kam, Chatchai Pongprapaphan (Wu Xia -- Mainland China/ Hong Kong)

Best Editor: Hayedeh Safiyari (A Separation -- Iran)

Best Visual Effects: Wook Kim, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung (The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate -- Hong Kong/Mainland China)

Best Costume Designer: Yee Chung-man, Lai Hsuan-wu (The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate -- Hong Kong/Mainland Chia)

The Edward Yang New Talent Award: Edwin (Indonesia)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ann Hui (Hong Kong)

- reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse

...the (Credit Suisse) growth forecast

Credit Suisse hikes PH growth forecast

By Lawrence Agcaoili

The Philippine Star

03/18/2012

“We are increasing our 2012 real GDP growth forecast to 3.5% from 3% earlier...”  - Santitarn Sathirath, Credit Suisse economist

MANILA, Philippines -- Zurich-based Credit Suisse has hiked its economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.5% instead of 3% this year on the back of higher government spending and recovering exports sector.

Santitarn Sathirath, an economist of Credit Suisse, said in a study that both exports and government spending that served as key factors holding back growth last year are now showing signs of turnaround this year.

“We are increasing our 2012 real GDP growth forecast to 3.5% from 3% earlier,” Sathirath said.

The investment bank said the country’s merchandise exports would pick up starting the second quarter due to improving semiconductor book-to-bill ratios and would support both the GDP and current account balance assuming there is no full-blown European crisis.

Furthermore, he pointed out that Credit Suisse sees improvement in the government’s budget disbursement with the launch of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme after cautious spending by the Aquino administration last year.

“We think the key tool for boosting growth is fiscal policy as the government is looking to put $16 billion or about seven percent of GDP in rail and airport projects. These planned expenditures form part of the government’s spending plan,” he added.

The government hopes to keep the country’s budget deficit to 2.6% of GDP this year after trimming the shortfall to two percent of GDP last year due to cautious spending.

“While we remain cautious about the execution of policy, we have seen some promising signs that the government can deliver the promised spending when it really wants to,” he said.

The country’s GDP growth slackened to 3.7% last year from 7.6% in 2010 due to the weak global trade and government underspending. This year, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee sees the country’s GDP expanding between 5% and 6%.

Sathirath also pointed out that Credit Suisse decided to slash its inflation forecast to 3.2% instead of 3.7% that could boost household real spending.

“While year-on-year inflation is likely to pick up in the second half of the year, the speed of increase will depend largely on global oil prices as the government will not subsidize fuel prices,” he said.

According to him, a Dubai oil price of around $120 per barrel is still manageable for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that has set an inflation target of between three percent and five percent this year and next.

After cutting interest rates by 50 basis points so far this year, the economist said the BSP would likely keep the overnight borrowing rate at a record low of 4% and the overnight lending rate at 6% this year.

“The BSP is likely to stay put for the rest of this year. We maintain our expectation that the BSP will keep the policy rate at 4% going forward. The policy rate is already at its lowest level,” Sathirath said.

---

...the raised investment

BOI investments ascend 249% in Feb. to P3.22-B

March 17, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Foreign investments approved in February at the Board of Investments (BOI) climbed 249 percent to reach P3.22 billion and raised the first two months’ total to P12.4 billion. Total approved investments in February last year were worth P924 million.
 
In a statement, the BOI said 3,250 new jobs are expected to be created by the 24 projects granted incentives under the Investment Priorities Plan.
 
Thailand topped the list of countries that committed projects “with investments amounting to P2.2B followed by Japan (with) P703M, and different nationalities including Taiwan and the United States (at) P182M,” the BOI said.
 
“CP Foods, a major transnational conglomerate in Thailand’s agribusiness industry, will construct a modern aqua feeds plant with an annual capacity of 114, 000 metric tons,” according to the BOI.
 
The agency revealed that CP Foods “will help supply aqua feeds for the local aquaculture and fisheries industries. They will also source their raw materials from local and foreign suppliers and will need local supply utilities.”
 
240 projects await approval
 
“Our February figures show more jobs for every peso of investments,” BOI Managing Head Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. was quoted as saying. He also said many more projects await the investment promotion agency’s stamp.
 
“There are 240 more projects in the pipeline for BOI approval as of February this year,” Cristobal said.
 
“Our February figures show more jobs for every peso of investments,” he added.

Other projects approved in February include:
 

• Toyota Motor Philippines’ production of the Vios model in its Laguna plant;
• Quadriver Energy Corp.’s hydroelectric power generation project in Bohol;
• Zanorte Palm-Rubber’s Plantation in Zamboanga; and 
• Pueblo de Oro Development Corp.'s property development in Batangas.

 
“The Zanorte Palm-Rubber plantation project is expected to harness the potential of rubber as a new growth industry in the country. Initial target buyers for dried rubber are Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Yokohama,” the BOI said.

The BOI also disclosed that the approved Toyota Motor Philippines project "will strengthen the country’s foothold in production of compact sedans.”
 
“SME suppliers are also expected to benefit from the project through Toyota’s cluster development program “Big Enterprise Small Enterprise” where they monitor and cascade supply development programs to SMEs,” the BOI added. — ELR, GMA News

...the scientists

Pinoy scientists excel at research, from superconductivity to micropaleontology

 

Barbara Marchadesch

March 17, 2012

 

 

In fields ranging from superconductivity to micropaleontology, nine Filipino scientists were recognized for their significant contributions to the national and international science communities.

 

The National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) —the oldest scientific collegial body in the Asia Pacific region— feted the scientists at its recent 79th General Membership Assembly:

 

Dr. Vicenta Macuja-Cervera: recognized for her significant research contributions in psychology, guidance and counseling, and other fields. A prolific author and editor of books and several official journals of professional organizations, Dr. Cervera also developed psychological tests that are widely used in the country today. She is a member of the Philippine Team of the 2006 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM).

 

Dr. Macrina Tamayo-Zafaralla: her quality scientific and technological output has significantly contributed to the abundance of the national fish supply, and is therefore important in the goal of food security and poverty alleviation. Her efforts have also contributed to reducing health risks in river bank communities.

 

Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia: his landmark studies on population and development in the Philippines and Asia include the economic impact on population change; migration and economic development; and the population, nutrition, health, and economic costs of children. He also developed a model of individual and household migration, and an analysis of the economic and social impact of small industry promotion.

 

Dr. Roland V. Sarmago: honored for his research efforts in the field of superconductivity. His original contributions have also been cited by the international scientific community, and extended to future applications.

 

Dr. Alicia M. Aguinaldo: recognized for her work in the field of the chemistry of natural products. She was also exemplary as a mentor, school administrator, and a member of various professional organizations.

 

Dr. Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo: her major contributions to the field of cultural research, specifically on Philippine literature and language, folklore, and history, include her Cebuano findings, which have inspired others to undertake similar studies. The books she edited, including literary anthologies with translations and dictionaries of indigenous arts, have been used as instructional materials in schools.

 

Dr. Edanjarlo J. Marquez: his outstanding work in the area of micropaleontology earned him his award. His researches, published in local and international peer-reviewed journals, have contributed to the understanding of the geologic history of the Philippines. In his mentorship of his students, he upheld the need for greater environmental awareness in the Philippines.

 

Dr. Remigio M. Olveda: cited for being the principal investigator of two prestigious grants—for research on schistosomiasis from the World Health Organization/TDR-Rockefeller Foundation North-South and the Tropical Medicine Research Center grant from the US National Institute of Health on schistosomiasis, malaria, and leprosy. Under his leadership, the first Good Manufacturing Practices Certified Vaccine Production Plant at RITM was established. The plant can produce locally affordable and high quality vaccines.

 

Dr. Joseph S. Masangkay: honored for his significant contributions in the field of veterinary medicine, specifically on laboratory animal genetics and wildlife animal pathology in the Philippines. His research has provided valuable information on the protection, conservation and proper use of animals as laboratory models in biochemical research.

 

Established in 1933, the NRCP has 2,809 member researchers, scientists, and technologists spread over the 13 NRCP Scientific Divisions. — TJD, GMA News