...the WEF PH jump

PH jumps 8 notches in WEF global trade index

 

The index measures how well countries facilitate the flow of goods and services over borders to their jurisdictions

 

 

 Rappler.com                      

Apr 03, 2014

 

 

UP 8 NOTCHES. The Philippines improves its ranking in the World Economic Forum's Enabling Trade Index 2014 report

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines advanced 8 places in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual survey measuring how open countries are to international trade.

The Philippines ranked 64th out of 138 economies in WEF's 2014 Enabling Trade Index, up from 72nd in 2012. The country has risen 28 places since 2010, when it landed on 92nd spot.

In ASEAN, the Philippines was 5th, following Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Following the Philippines were Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.

The Enabling Trade index "assesses the extent to which economies have in place institutions, policies, infrastructures and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders and to their destination." These trade-enabling factors are classified under 4 categories: market access, border administration, infrastructure, and operating environment.

WEF said the Philippines did well on market access, but there was room for improvement with respect to the other categories. It said border administration was mired by corruption and red tape – two things that also weakened general operating environment in the country.

WEF added, "Like many countries in the region, the Philippines’ biggest weakness is the lack of adequate transport infrastructure." It cited shortcomings in airport and port infrastructure, and insufficient associated logistics services.

Despite persistent challenges, the Philippines enjoyed competitive advantages in several areas, according to Peter Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club, which has been a partner institute of WEF in the Philippines for its trade and competitiveness surveys.

These areas included "specific tariffs, tariffs faced, cost to export, cost to import, tariff dispersion, ease and affordability of shipment, available international airline seats in kilometers per week, customs services index, access to finance, share of duty-free imports, number of distinct tariffs, efficiency of clearance process, tariff rate, number of days to import, and ICT use for business-to-business transactions.”

When it comes to exporting in the Philippines, the top 5 problematic factors were "high cost or delays caused by domestic transportation, access to imported inputs at competitive prices, technical requirements and standards abroad, identifying potential markets and buyers, and difficulties in meeting quality/quantity requirements of buyers."

When it comes to importing, the problematic factors were "burdensome import procedures, corruption at the border, tariffs, high cost or delays caused by domestic transportation, and high cost or delays caused by international transportation." – Rappler.com

 

...the Singaporean food experience

Singaporean writes book on Filipino food

By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer Central Luzon

 April 1st, 2014

 

PHILIPPINE CUISINE AUTHOR. Singaporean Bryan Koh , 30, has written a three-volume book, “Milk Pig and Violet Gold (Philippine Cookery),” that is arranged according to the three main island groups Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. His inspiration in compiling recipes from Aparri town to Zamboanga City were his Filipino nannies who cooked “pinakbet,” “adobo,” “sinigang” and other Philippine dishes for his family when he was a young boy. PHOTOS BY E.I. REYMOND T. OREJAS/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

ANGELES CITY, Philippines—On Saturday night when Singaporean Bryan Koh launched his book, “Milk Pigs and Violet Gold (Philippine Cookery),” Filipinos, including heritage-food chef Lilian Borromeo, were profuse with thanks.

Their gratitude to the 30-year-old Singaporean was well placed.

Koh must have been the first foreigner to produce a wide compilation of recipes painstakingly gathered from local cooks through meals in public markets, restaurants, carinderia (eateries), cafés and private kitchens from Aparri town in the northern tip of Luzon mainland to Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Accompanying the recipes were good photographs, light accounts and a helpful glossary and index.

“It’s an authentic snapshot of Filipino cuisine,” Koh told the Inquirer, speaking of his three-volume book that is arranged according to the three main islands of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

It was copublished by Holy Angel University’s Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS).

Koh remains humble even as his output of four years helps the world’s culinary community understand Filipino food.

“I did not want to come across as an authority. I’m on a journey. I’m just a scribe,” said Koh, a mathematics major from National University of Singapore, the same university where the idea for a Southeast Asian cookbook cropped up before he took up Master of Management in Hospitality at Cornell-Nanyang Institute.

The book’s title comes from what he calls two icons: the lechon de leche (roasted suckling pig) and ube (purple yam).

Inspired by nannies

Koh’s curiosity, later passion, for Filipino food was ignited by his Filipino nannies, Lydia Baltazar of La Union province and Evelyn Mendoza of Laguna province.

“This goes way back, from my yayas (nannies),” he said.

He was 2 years old when Baltazar worked for the Koh household beginning in 1986. She made adobo, sinigang and pinakbet weekly fares, he remembered.

Koh said Baltazar left in 1997 when she reached her 50s and moved to her relatives in Canada.

Mendoza cooked the same meals and introduced more fish dishes as she worked from 1997 until she left for Russia in 2009.

“They were two of the best cooks in the household. It’s a different experience when the cooking comes with care and love. I was fortunate to be exposed to such food,” Koh said.

He said he was grateful to his nannies because they allowed him to cook with them. “They gave me the foundations,” he said.

He honored them by relating how they cooked the family’s favorite meals.

It was when he took an assignment, as a freelance journalist, that he encountered The Farm, a place for wellness in San Benito in Lipa City in Batangas province, in 2008.



“After eating their raw food, I was completely riveted,” Koh said.

That was when he decided that he would write a Southeast Asian cookbook by starting with the Philippines “by learning more, going into the unexplored [cuisine] that few cookbooks pursued and understanding why Philippine food is misunderstood.”

Koh is a patient researcher, said retired advertising creative director Alex Castro.
‘Dinuguan’

“Two years ago, I got an e-mail signed ‘K. Bryan’ who asked for my mom’s recipe for tidtad (dinuguan or blood stew), which had two kinds of blood. He found this out from Ajinomoto’s book, ‘Pinoy Umami on Mekeni’s Meals,’” Castro said.

This, he said, began their friendship.

“[Koh] got around from the kindness of total strangers,” Castro said, pointing out that many Filipinos helped Koh complete his adventure.

 

Robby Tantingco, CKS executive director, said Koh documented the way the late Doreen Fernandez, Ana Besa and Claude Tayag did.

“Thanks for celebrating our cuisine,” Tantingco told Koh.

“He’s no more a stranger to the culinary delights of our country,” Castro said.


 

...the new Miss Universe Philippines

 Mary Jean Lastimosa is new Miss Universe Philippines

By Kristine Angeli Sabillo
INQUIRER.net

Monday, March 31st, 2014

Winners of the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 pose during the coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum From left are: Hannah Sison, 2nd runner-up; Parul Shah, Bb. Pilipinas Tourism; Kris Janson, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental; Mary Jean Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas Universe; Mary Anne Guidotti, Bb. Pilipinas International, Yvethe Marie Santiago, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational; and Laura Lehman, 1st runner-up. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

 

 

MANILA, Philippines—North Cotabato native Mary Jean Lastimosa was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2014 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday night.

 

An emotional Lastimosa, who also won the Best in Swimsuit award, received her crown from reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela.

 

Mary Jean Lastimosa (center) is crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2014 by last year's winner Ariella Arida (right) and assisted by reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler. The 26-year old North Cotabato beauty bested 39 other contestants in the coronation night Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.  

Best in Swimsuit

Bagging the Bb. Pilipinas International title was Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti from Taguig. The statuesque beauty queen also won Best in Long Gown.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile the Bb. Pilipinas Tourism crown was awarded to half-Indian half-Filipino Parul Shah of Pangasinan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yvethe Marie Santiago, the 20-year old accountant from Albay, was announced Bb. Pilipinas Supranational.

 

 

On the other hand, Kris Janson of Cebu was awarded with the Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental crown.

She was also the pageant’s Best in National Costume and Miss Photogenic.

 

Declared first runner-up was Laura Lehman, and second runner-up was Hannah Sison. Both hailed from Makati.

 

Other candidates who received a special award were Gabrielle Erika Tilokani for Miss Talent and Racquel Kabigting for Miss Friendship.

 

It was the third time that the 26-year old Lastimosa joined the pageant, winning second runner-up in 2011 and landing in the Top 12 in 2012.

“Binibining Pilipinas’ Maricar Balagtas is her inspiration for joining the pageant again, because she joined three times before winning. Whenever she feels down, she looks up at her and thinks that if she was able to do it and so can she,” read Lastimosa’s profile at the Bb. Pilipinas website.

Balagtas won the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title in 2004, the third time she joined the contest.

 

Because of her long experience in the pageant circuit, Lastimosa has developed close friendships with other beauty queens. Last December, she was included in the wedding entourage of her best friend Shamcey Supsup, who finished third runner-up in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant in Brazil.

 

Lastimosa will compete at the 63^rd Miss Universe pageant later this year.