...the PH consumer confidence

Consumer confidence hits record high

            

By Prinz P. Magtulis

(The Philippine Star) 

June 15, 2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - Consumer confidence has hit record high this quarter as the country’s strong economic growth is expected to translate to more investments, more hiring and higher salaries, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.

According to the results of the Consumer Expectations Survey, the overall confidence index (CI) climbed to -5.7 percent for the next quarter from -11.2 percent in the previous three months.

The current CI – although still negative – is the highest since the BSP survey began in the first quarter of 2007, central bank assistant governor Ma. Cyd Tuaño-Amador told reporters in a briefing.

A negative result in the index indicates the pessimists outnumber the optimists “although the margin between the two declined to its lowest ever,” she said.

Rosabel Guerrero, director of the BSP’s department of economic statistics, attributed the result to “better job opportunities, increased investment inflows that would support job creation and salary increases.”

“Consumers also cited the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals and the investment grade credit rating by Fitch Ratings as factors that contributed to their more bullish outlook,” she told reporters.

The local economy expanded 7.8 percent in the first three months of the year, surpassing market expectations to become Asia’s fastest growing economy. This was achieved against the backdrop of a slow three-percent inflation.

 

Slow inflation and a “stable” foreign exchange rate give consumers more purchasing power to spend for goods and services, in addition to public savings.

Based on the results, the savings rate declined to 22.4 percent from 24.5 percent, indicating “people needed cash at hand” to spend for their basic needs such as during the enrollment period, Amador said.

In contrast, the spending outlook for the current quarter was “broadly steady” at 39.5 percent for the next quarter. “More respondents considered the current quarter as a favorable time to buy big-ticket items,” the survey said.

Since the economy is 70 percent made up of consumption activities, Amador said a “respectable” growth rate for the current quarter should be expected, especially since election spending could have kicked in during this period.

“There is reasonable belief that (the economy) can grow faster,” she pointed out, declining to elaborate.

For the next quarter though, the CI dipped to 4.1 percent from 7.8 percent, while for the next 12 months, it went down to 16.1 percent from 18.5 percent.

“The less sanguine outlook stemmed from expectations of lower harvests and slower business activities during the rainy season which could cause work interruptions,” Guerrero explained.
The survey, held from April 3 to 15, was conducted from 5,884 households nationwide. A response rate of 97.3 percent.

 

...the DC Comics Superhero

DC Comics superhero is from the Philippines

The super-strong Captain Steel is the latest character in mainstream American comics to have Filipino roots

By Ruel S. De Vera
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Saturday, June 15th, 2013

CAPTAIN Steel in DC Comics’ “Earth 2” #13

Believe it or not, the Philippines appears in mainstream American comics fairly often, though the country is usually shown being ravaged by a natural disaster—a tidal wave or a volcano erupting—and is in the process of being rescued by a superhero.

Sometimes, the superheroes can speak a little Filipino while they’re at it—even villains do it occasionally. A Filipino artist will sometimes drop a visual reference or two, such as when Leinil Yu had an alien shape-shifter take on the appearance of a certain former Philippine president in an issue of Marvel Comics’ “Secret Invasion” miniseries.

What is extremely rare is for a superhero appearing in DC Comics, Marvel, Image Comics or Dark Horse Comics as a Filipino character.

Salvador Joel Alonday

The Filipino superhero who has appeared in American comics is Salvador Joel Alonday, the erstwhile Philippine Scout Ranger with energy powers code-named Grail. Created by Filipino-American comics artist Whilce Portacio for his “WetWorks” series in Image Comics, Alonday debuted in “WildC.A.T.S” #2 in 1992. Portacio later gave a supernaturally Filipino feel to his series “Stone” for Avalon Studios.

Ginaldo

The earliest appearance by any kind of Filipino character in Marvel Comics is the badly stereotypical, bolo-wielding villain Ginaldo, a Filipino assassin working for the Japanese during World War II who appears in 1941’s “Marvel Mystery Comics” #26, according to Marvel’s Wikia.

Super team

Marvel gave the Philippines its own super team when writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larocca introduced the Triumph Division in “The Invincible Iron Man” #2 in 2008. They had a headquarters known as Triumph Hall, and teamed up with Iron Man to battle longtime nemesis the Mandarin. Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, also hired a Filipino scientist named Timothy “Tim” Cababa for his new company, Stark Resilient.

Manuel Lago

DC Comics had its first recurring Filipino character in Manuel Lago, an old friend of the Flash (Barry Allen), but he essentially became the duplicating clone villain Mob Rule in Filipino-Canadian writer/artist Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s “The Flash” #4 in 2011.

Captain Steel

DC has never had a hero with Filipino roots until now. In “Earth 2” #13, which shipped to comic shops last June 5, the character known as Captain Steel was revealed to have Filipino origins.

This wasn’t always the case. The original character, then just called Steel, was thoroughly American—his real name was Henry Heywood—and first appeared in 1978’s “Steel: The Indestructible Man” #1, later becoming known as Commander Steel, with adventures set during WWII.

His two grandsons became superheroes as well, with Hank Heywood III joining the Justice League of America as Steel in 1984, and Nathan Heywood joining the Justice Society of America as Citizen Steel in 2007.

That continuity was erased after DC’s “New 52” reboot. The series “Earth 2” featured a parallel world where the invading forces of the planet Apokolips had killed Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman—thus paving the way for a new generation of heroes, called “wonders.”

Thus, “Earth 2” #13 had the World Army’s Commander Khan describing Captain Steel this way: “Although an American citizen, he’s native Filipino—born in the Philippines. His father—natural or adopted, we’re still unclear—wanted the best for his son.”

Congenital defect

But Hank Heywood Jr. suffered from a congenital defect causing his bones to grow increasingly brittle. So, his scientist father created a metal substance and replaced his bones, organs and limbs with it, giving him super strength (this was also pretty much the origin and superpower set of the previous Steels, along with a degree of invulnerability).

Additionally, Captain Steel has gained the ability to control anything made of metal. This version of Steel was created by writer James Robinson and drawn by Yildiray Cinar. Captain Steel makes one heck of an initial impression as he pilots an experimental craft known as the Red Torpedo into an Apokolips Fire Pit in Brazil, only to emerge alive but injured and on fire.

In March, Robinson told reporters he was including a Filipino superhero to add diversity to the book. That proved to be Captain Steel. Robinson, however, has since left the title after finishing “Earth 2” #16, which likely ships in September or October.

Who knows what’s in store for DC’s first superhero from the Philippines?

Budjette Tan, cocreator of the comic book series “Trese,” says: “Considering how we Pinoys are so proud of fellow Filipinos whenever they win competitions abroad, even if they’re just 1/4 Pinoy, we already feel like we also won! If the character is handled right, then he can be a hero that Pinoy kids can look up to.”

Trickle-down effect

Tan cites the trickle-down effect of having a young Hispanic hero like the new Blue Beetle or an African-American teen like the current Ultimate Spider-Man: “Kids can easily imagine themselves as those heroes.”

Says Paolo Fabregas, writer/artist of “the Filipino Heroes League”: “If we can look heroic in any aspect in Western media, I’ll take it. There may be more Filipino characters. There are millions of us in the US and our numbers are still growing, so we’re getting difficult to ignore. Is there a need for such characters? Well, I guess that would depend on the author’s intentions. I hope that they give a just depiction of us.”

Tan adds: “If the story calls for it, it would be great to see more Filipino characters from the big four. It would be inspiring to see a Pinoy character in the comics we read on a monthly basis.”

 

...the Pinay poet

Filipina poet recognized abroad

 

 

Manila Bulletin

15 June 2013

Caroline Nazareno, Ceri Naz to her friends and followers, is a poet, journalist, public speaker, linguist and educator. She was invited as a featured poet at Vancouver Word On The Street and World Poetry Canada and International. She was likewise an active participant in Poetry Reading at World Poetry Night Out New Westminster, in British Columbia, Canada.

 

 

 

 

Two years ago, World Poetry Canada and International (WPCI) honored Ceri Naz with the "Certificate of Appreciation for the International Peace Festival 2011". WCPI was founded by Ariadne Sawyer, a distinguished published poet and author whose advocacy of promoting world peace through poetry has fostered brotherhood among peoples of all colors, creeds, and races. In the same year, Poetry Around The Globe, an organization headed by Lucia Gorea, Ph.D., an award-winning poet, widely published writer, literary translator and English/ESL professor, presented Ceri Naz with the "Certificate of Outstanding Achievement in Poetry" as a World Poet.

World Poetry Canada and International Peace Festival 2013, a prestigious gathering of poets from across all continents, adjudged her "World Poetry Empowered Poet 2013".

Graduating cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Elementary Education, major in General Science, at Pangasinan State University, Ceri Naz pursued higher studies in journalism, public speaking and leadership. She earned her postgraduate studies in Administration and Supervision at Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, gained her creative writing workshops and trainings at University of the Philippines-Diliman, and storytelling at Philippine Normal University in coordination with the Philippine National Library. She has been a member of Division of Quezon City Schools Press and School Paper Advisers Association.

At Glendale, California, Ceri Naz was co-anchor of Manny Calpito's Hulahok and OTUSA.TV, an internet television. As co-founder of Doc PenPen B. Takipsilim's "2011 "i" Inspire The World Friendship Poetry Event" held in Cloud 9, Antipolo City, Ceri Naz was instrumental in the success of said event.

On 2012, her stirring poem, "where peace can be", was published at the New York-based blogsite of well-known poet, Romeo Dela Valle, and on March 2013 the same poem saw print on World Poetry E-Anthology.

Her poem, "pandora escapes unto my hands", so impressed Haris Adhikari, editor of Misty Mountain Review, an e-magazine based in Nepal, that the latter featured it on May 2012. Another poem, "the song my heart sings", invited the attention of the publisher of KIRAZ HABERTRAK Magazine, the cultural oasis of elite Turkish poets, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and art lovers, and published it on its July 2011 issue.

At the "Leaders & Writers Convergence 2013, Boracay", an event for practising and wannabe writers, Ceri Naz was one of the resource speakers. Currently, she writes for the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star.

 

...the PH wildlife

"Spectacular" PH wildlife fascinates NatGeo host

 

 

Manila Bulletin

15 June 2013

loQal - yahoo-apr17-story1-butandingSS

 

 

Manila, Philippines --- He has been to 70 countries looking for "dangerous" wildlife liaisons for the last 20 years. Dr. Brady Barr, a National Geographic (NatGeo) Channel Asia TV host and ambassador, had been face-to-face with the wildest and most dangerous animal, as he goes around the world to raise awareness on wildlife conservation. But one of his biggest wishes is to see a whale shark, locally called in the Philippines as "butanding."

"I am interacting with everything from giant squid to polar bears to electric eels, elephants, platypus, you name it. But I have never seen a whale shark. That's on top of my list. I will come back here and experience the whale shark," Dr. Barr told this reporter.

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world's largest living fish species, classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). During peak season, Donsol in Sorsogon is one of the best places to see whale sharks.

Aside from whale shark, Dr. Barr also hopes to see other species of animals that thrive in the Philippines.

"You've got spectacular animals, giant beautiful eagles and endemic crocodiles. I've never seen a pangolin (and) you got an endemic species of pangolin. You've got the world's smallest species of primate, the tarsier, which I have never seen. You've got all of these special stuff," he said.

"These are set in a spectacular and beautiful landscape. Filipinos are nice and friendly, they make me feel at home so all that adds up to a great situation and I will definitely come back," he added.

Dr. Barr expressed enthusiasm that the National Geographic Channel will be able to produce new documentaries in the future to "introduce what we're talking about to the entire world and the beauty of the Philippines."

"I like unspoiled, natural places almost unexplored. In the Philippines, there are so many islands. And there are so many areas that look just like a thousand years ago. You don't have this crash of humanity like you do in some other Asian countries and that's not only special to me but it's a special place for all these animals we are talking about," he said.

As a herpetologist, an expert on amphibians and reptiles, Dr. Barr had a quick trip to Palawan to "meet" a giant saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) named 'Surigao' last June 12.

"I raise awareness for conservation issue as ambassador of the National Geographic. And talk about reptiles in general and dispel any myths or misconceptions, like crocodiles. Crocodiles are not these blood-thirsty monsters that will just going to attack and kill you. They are important, intelligent animals that need to be protected," he explained.

"We heard about a large crocodile that might be a record. That piqued my interest and I actually want to see this crocodile so that pretty much taken much of our time. Looked around and quickly investigated this crocodile," he said.

"It was a great experience because you don't see giant crocodiles more often. The Philippines is blessed with many giant crocodiles. This is a special place for giant crocodiles, I don't know why. It isn't bigger than 'Lolong,' it isn't bigger than the one in captivity in Australia, Cassius. But it (Surigao) is still five and a half meters long, probably weighs a ton and it's a beautiful specimen. It wasn't as big as 'Lolong,' but it was a magnificent animal," he added. "It's amazing that both Lolong and Surigao were found in the Philippines. The country should take pride in its rich wildlife and consider it a national treasure, as well as take steps to conserve it."

Lolong, also a saltwater crocodile, used to be the largest living crocodile in captivity in the world, before its death last February 10. It was held captive for 18 months in an eco-tourism park in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur since its capture in September 2011 at the Agusan Marsh. It officially measures 6.17 meters or 20.24 feet. However, the record as "world's biggest living crocodile in captivity" was reverted to 'Cassius,' which measures 5.84 meters or about 19 feet.

Dr. Barr describes crocodile species in the Philippines that "get larger than other species of crocodiles."

"There are 23 different types of crocodiles in the world but this is the biggest. Here in the Philippines you have two species. One is the Philippine crocodile, which is found nowhere else in the world. It is a very special animal but it is critically endangered and then you have the saltwater crocodile, which is found all over Southeast Asia which gets giant, enormous sizes, you can find it swimming a hundred kilometers swimming into the open ocean, it's a big animal and it travels," he said.

The expert has also expressed his view on Lolong. "I don't know how the government handled the animal but I know that it died. If you have a crocodile deemed a nuisance or problem crocodile, one that attacks people, has killed livestock or threatened children, then it's a dangerous animal. You have two options: You kill the animal or you have to put it in captivity. But it is a crime to kill an animal that big something that is 70, 80 or a hundred years old. It is better to put it in captivity," he said.

"I think they (government) did the right thing by putting it in captivity. Because then it becomes an ambassador for species, to raise awareness, to let people get close and personal, to see the beauty and majesty of a species like this. It's a tragedy that it died. But I think their hearts where in the right place trying to keep it alive in captivity when the alternative was just to kill it, sink it in the river and no one will see it," he added.

...the PH schools in Asian ranking

5 PH schools in Asia's Top 300 universities

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

06/12/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Just like last year, five tertiary schools in the Philippines made it to the 2013 Top 300 Asian universities list of the London-based education and career network Quacquarelli Symonds.

State-run University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City remains the country’s top school, ranking 67th in Asia, a notch higher than last year at 68th place.

UP is followed by private schools Ateneo de Manila University, which fell to 109th place from last year’s 86th; University of Santo Tomas, which dropped two notches to 150th place from last year’s 148th; and De La Salle University, which slumped to the 151-160 bracket from 142nd place in 2012.

The University of Southeastern Philippines, meanwhile, remains unchanged in the 251-300 bracket.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is the top Asian university for the third consecutive year, according to QS.

The National University of Singapore and the University of Hong Kong are tied at second place. Landing in fourth place is Seoul National University (South Korea), followed by Peking University (China) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Pohang University of Science and Technology (South Korea) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong share the seventh spot. The University of Tokyo ranked ninth, while Kyoto University and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) are tied at tenth place.

The universities were ranked by QS according to academic and employer reputation, faculty and student population, and international students and faculty.

 

...the PH growth forecast 2013 (UBS)

UBS hikes 2013 PH growth forecast anew to 7%

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

06/12/2013

 

 

MANILA -- Global financial services firm UBS has again upgraded its 2013 growth forecast for the Philippines to 7%, following the faster-than-expected first quarter economic expansion.

"Spending ahead of the May mid-term elections and a boom in construction helped push real [first quarter] GDP growth to 7.8% on the year, handily surpassing expectations of circa 6%. We revise our 2013 real GDP growth forecast higher again to 7.0% from 6.3%," UBS said in a research note.

The bank previously hiked its Philippine economic forecast to 6.3% from 4.5% in May.

UBS noted "benign inflation, a current account surplus, a bullish government and a dovish central bank suggests Philippine policy settings are among the most likely in ASEAN-5 to provide insurance against downside risks to growth."

However, it pointed out a key risk to the country's growth story may be its "overly-low" rates that may be vulnerable to a rise in global rates or a sudden fall in the country's savings surplus.

For 2014, UBS has also hiked its Philippine economic forecast to 6% from 5.5%.

The slowdown from 2013 was owed to "slower government spending post elections and because we do not think the pace of expansion in construction - which we link to low interest rates - will be sustained."

The Philippine economy expanded by a stellar 6.8% in 2012 from a lackluster 3.6% in 2011.

 

...the modern hero

Fil-Am hero in Santa Monica shooting

 

By Steve Angeles,

ABS-CBN North America Bureau

06/12/2013

 

 

SANTA MONICA, California - With a memorial standing at the school entrance and library, classes resumed at Santa Monica City college just days after gunman John Zawahri killed five people in the surrounding area.

Thousands gathered at the school, joining the families of the victims in prayer.

Filipino American Marcel Kahn, the library worker who helped shelter eight other people as the gunman fired his way into the library, is still shaken up by the events.

"Honestly, it just saddens me that this happened, this whole thing happened. Really unexpected," he said.

News of the 22-year-old Filipino’s heroism went viral online after the Los Angeles Times snapped a picture of him.

"I only did what I could do and that was to follow my instinct. When that situation happens, you don’t know what you're going to do," he recalled.

Six people, including the gunman, died in what has been described as a 13-minute rampage, which started when Zawahri killed his father and brother and set their house on fire.

 

...the Filipiniana

Filipiniana fashion shines in New York show

 

By Rio Rose Ribaya |

Yahoo! SHE

12 June 2012

Yahoo! SHE - About 20 Filipiniana dresses were featured in the "Filipiniana Romance" exhibit, which was launched by the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Center in New York City. (Photo from …more gov.ph)  

A special exhibit featuring Philippine fashion has brought established and promising designers with Filipino roots in New York last week.

About 20 Filipiniana dresses were featured in the "Filipiniana Romance" exhibit, which was launched by the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Center in the Big Apple.

“What makes the exhibit doubly special is that the featured pieces are from private collections of members of the Filipino-American community in the U.S. Northeast,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

“(It) speaks volumes about the great pride these women have in their cultural heritage,” it added.

Pitoy Moreno, Rene Salud, and Patis Tesoro were among the designers, who contributed their works for the city’s month-long celebration of Philippine independence from Spain.

Philippine national artists for fashion Leonard Co, Ben Farrales, Edgard Madamba, Cora Manimbo, and Elvira Reyes also created dresses for the exhibit.

Live models also worked the runway showcasing up-and-coming young Filipino designer Anna Purugganan’s modern take on the terno during the exhibit’s opening on June 5.

The pieces on display all have the common features of the basic Baro’t Saya, the Maria Clara design, and their more modern cousin, the Terno.

Only designer Alfonso Guino-o featured a one-of-a-kind ethnic costume the collection of April Talangbayan.

...the International Celebs on PH

8 International Celebrities Who Said Good Things About The Philippines

 

 

By Wincy Aquino Ong

8list.ph

 

 

The Philippines. It’s definitely not paradise. Dan Brown could be right on some points.

 

But despite the flak our nation has received from international media from time to time, there still must be something pleasant about our nation, right?

Yes, there are many bad and ugly things about The Philippines. But if one can see past a cartoonized Third World reputation, surely there is gold to be found here, to paraphrase the great Steven Seagal.

Read on, because for every naysayer out there, there’s one or two who genuinely enjoyed their stay here.

The Philippines. It’s definitely not paradise, but we’re sure as hell it’s not inferno either.




Quentin Tarantino | Director of Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill

• "I've been wanting to come to the Philippines since I was a little boy, and to actually come here, actually have people know who I am and actually welcome me in this way...it's overwhelming. Absolutely overwhelming!
  
• In 2007, film auteur Quentin Tarantino visited Manila for the Cinemanila International Film Festival. And guess what? Being a lifelong fan of grindhouse movies produced in our archipelago in the ‘70s, Tarantino had a blast riding the pedicab on his way to Malacañang to meet then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He even wore a Barong Tagalog in the event’s ceremonies.

 

 

 

 

Mark Millar | Comic Book Writer of Wanted, Kick Ass and The Ultimates

 

“The Manila signing was the best signing I’ve done. I was amazed at the patience of the people queuing up to eight hours. What a lovely country and people!”

In 2012, Scottish comic book scribe Mark Millar visited for a fan signing of his book Supercrooks at Glorietta 5 in Makati. In a heartwarming and hilariously written blog entry about his visit, he waxes about how his jetlag disappeared upon witnessing the crowd of Filipino fans who cheered.







Neil Gaiman | Writer of Sandman and American Gods

"#itsmorefuninthephilippines hashtag is a true one. They applaud loudly and hug you a lot." 

The award-winning fantasy author Neil Gaiman has been to the Philippines numerous times to host his fiction-writing contest for Fully Booked. Greeted by his legion of fans during his many book signings, Gaiman has developed a love for the Filipinos and even cited the mananangal as his favorite Filipino mythological monster.

 

 

 

Rachel Weisz | Actress

“Palawan is more like the Emerald City. It’s like a fantasy. Maybe it’s real to you but to me, it looked like a fantasy place.”

The Oscar-winning English actress visited the Philippines to shoot the third act of The Bourne Legacy in Manila and Navotas. It seems like she enjoyed the food here, like lumpia, adobo, and, yes, Soup Number 5. She also seemed to have a grand time in Palawan, comparing the island to the Emerald City.

 

 

 

Zach Efron | Actor

 

“We had lunch on top of a volcano!”

 

In an interview with Ellen Degeneres, the High School Musical star and Penshoppe endorser raved about the wonders of our archipelago, when he toured Legazpi City. He even shared his experience about eating balut.

 

 

 

 

 

Ernest Hemingway | Writer of The Old Man and The Sea

 

On what makes a good novel: “It’s a good story if it is like The Manila Hotel

 

In 1941, one of America’s greatest novelists stayed for a long stopover as a war correspondent at The Manila Hotel. It seems that he liked the tropical clime of the city and enjoyed the gentle breeze from Manila Bay.

 

• 

  Johnny Depp | Actor

  “We landed in the Philippines on March 2, 1986. It was just days after Marcos had left the country and Corazon Aquino had taken power, and they were trying to figure out what to do with Imelda’s shoes. There were tanks in the streets. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. All in all, it was, as I’ve said, an amazing experience.”
  The eccentric character actor’s first trip outside the United States of America was Manila for a shoot of Oliver Stone’s war drama Platoon. Coincidentally, it was also around the time of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, so Depp, who was bunkered in a hotel, witnessed the spectacle of nuns and civilians stopping tanks with roses and songs—a story he often tells during interviews.

 

• 
•  
• 

• David Pomeranz | Singer and Composer

  Need we say more? David Pomeranz has become so ubiquitous in our country that he practically lives here.

 

...the APEC and WEF host

PH preparing to host 2 summits

By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sunday, June 9th, 2013

 

 

The Philippines will host two international summits—the World Economic Forum on East Asia in 2014 and the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) in 2015–as the government seeks to showcase the country’s march to progress, according to Palace officials.

“We have preparations in place,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a radio interview on Saturday.

He disclosed that the President had already designated a “lead agency” tasked to make the summits a success. “We will just have to confirm first which is the lead agency, and we’ll let you know,” Lacierda said.

He later told the Inquirer by text that the Office of the President itself would be on top of the preparations for the two summits.

When he attended the WEF on East Asia at Naypyitaw, Burma (Myanmar) on Friday, Mr. Aquino formally accepted Manila’s hosting of the next East Asia summit. He had earlier consented to hosting the 23rd summit when he attended the global WEF in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, who accompanied the President to Burma, told the Inquirer yesterday that “there’s a committee doing the planning” for both the WEF and Apec.

“(The committee) is composed of the same group working on Apec,” said Carandang.

He added, “(The government will show) that this is a country that you can do business in, and that has a vibrant but still under-appreciated cultural life.” The summits would “also show what opportunities are available for investment.”

He said tourism and businesses would also benefit from holding the summits here.

Brightest spark

In his departure statement before leaving for Burma, the President said his attendance at the 22nd WEF regional summit was doubly significant because of Manila’s hosting of the 23rd summit.

“This means that we have an opportunity to announce the exemplary performance of the economy because of the straight path, and encourage the leaders and business not to waste the chance to join in the flight of what is being recognized as Southeast Asia’s brightest spark—no other than our beloved Philippines,” said Mr. Aquino.

Apec considers itself as the “premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia Pacific.” It has no treaty obligations unlike the World Trade Organization, but provides an avenue for global leaders to undertake commitments “on a voluntary basis.”

A Geneva-based nonprofit organization, the WEF is an independent international organization committed “to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.”

Mr. Aquino arrived in Manila from Burma on board a chartered Philippine Airlines plane at 12:40 a.m. on Saturday.

 

His day-long stay in Burma allowed him to meet with Burmese President Thein Sein and WEF founder and executive chair Klaus Schwab. He also attended a luncheon hosted by Ayala Corp

The President also met with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, chair and general secretary of the National League for Democracy.