...the world's hottest stock markets

PH stock market is one of the world's 'hottest'

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/30/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine stock market is one of the "hottest" in the world so far this year, according to a CNN report.

On the CNN Money website, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) was ranked the 5th "hottest" stock market in the world, after Kuwait, Argentina, United Arab Emirates and Japan.

The PSEi has rallied 20% so far this year, as it breached the 7,000 level for the first time ever. The main index has reached 27 new all-time highs so far this year.

Investors have flocked to the Philippines as the country earned its first ever investment grade credit rating from any ratings agency last March.

CNN Money quoted Ashraf Laidi, chief global strategist at City Index in London, as saying investors have been attracted to the Philippines "because it's shielded from the economic slowdown in China."
"The economy doesn't depend on exports to China like many other countries in the region... It's more tied to domestic consumption," Laidi said.

As of 12 noon Tuesday, the PSEi was up 0.46% to 7,060.81.

Barely four months after it first breached the 6,000 level, the PSEi breached the 7,000 level last April 22. Analysts and fund managers are betting the PSEi will continue to rise, driven by optimism on the Philippine economy and further cut in interest rate of special deposit accounts (SDA).

The Palace earlier said the PSEi's record highs is a "manifestation of continued confidence in the prospects of our economy, not only from the international community, but also from Filipinos who are raising their stake in our country’s success."

 

...the resilient countries

RP Among ‘Resilient’ Countries – MasterCard

 

Manila Bulletin

11 February 2013



 

The Manila skyline at night. (Yen Baet)

 

The Philippines' robust economic growth has made it among the ''resilient'' countries in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East, the worldwide survey revealed.

In its latest Insights Report, MasterCard survey revealed that the Philippines along with Japan and Hong Kong ranked highest on the index as ''relatively resilient.''

The MasterCard survey assesses the extent to which a slower growing global economy and specifically a slowdown in merchandise exports, will impact the resilience of consumer confidence in key markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Following the three nations are Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. UAE was ranked lowest or ''very vulnerable.''

The index and its accompanying reports do not represent MasterCard's financial performance, the company said.

''Markets with the highest level of consumer confidence, as well as those that are most resilient to a slowdown in merchandise exports have the strongest potential to weather the economic downturn,'' MasterCard said.

''At the opposite end of the spectrum, markets with very low consumer confidence and those that are also most vulnerable to a slowdown in merchandise exports have the least potential,'' the company added.

Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, MasterCard global economic advisor and co-author of the report said the strong growth in global demand that they saw during the decade of 2000 to 2010 was unique in many ways.

Hedrink-Wong said this was underpinned by an unprecedented increase in global liquidity which provided a tremendous boost to the export-oriented economies in Asia/Pacific and Middle East.

''But growth in global demand will be a lot weaker than before. Putting it bluntly, a repeat performance is highly unlikely,'' he said.

For many markets in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, especially the export-oriented ones, Hedrink-Wong said the outlook of a slower growing global economy will mean weaker demand for exports.

''Their ability to leverage domestic demand, especially private consumption, will be critical in supporting stronger economic growth. The extent to which they may succeed will in turn depend on how resilient consumer confidence is in these markets,'' he added.

The report, meanwhile, found Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, India and China to be well positioned with the strongest potential to leverage private domestic consumption to support economic growth.

 

 

...the Gusi peace prize awardee

Filipino peace prize awardee

By Manila Standard Today
Nov. 26, 2012

Dr. James G. Dy, the Gusi Peace Prize winner for Social Services and Philanthropy, was the only Filipino among 20 Laureates out of 128 candidates from Canada, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Iraq, Kuwait, Serbia, Uganda, Mauritius, Argentina, USA, China, United Kingdom, Mexico, Slovenia, Finland, Ukraine, Malaysia, Peru, and Russia.

Recognition rites will be held on November 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center for the philanthropist, who has been involved in social, civic and charitable work for more than 30 years.

Dr. Dy is the President of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., which operates the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center that served as his vehicle in supporting various charitable causes, including fund-raising and livelihood projects, medical and dental missions to far flung areas, and relief operations to devastated communities in times of calamities and disasters.

In 2002, he was elected Governor of the Philippine Red Cross and Governor of the Philippine Constitution Association, positions which he holds up to this day.

He earned four honorary doctorate degrees: Doctor of Humanities, University of Pangasinan in 1999; Doctor of Business Administration, Lyceum-Northwestern University, Pangasinan, in March 2004; Doctor of Humanities, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, November 2006; and Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management, Technological University of the Philippines, March 2007.

Dr. Dy was named Outstanding Filipino Awardee for Humanitarian Service by the Philippine Jaycee Senate and Insular Life Insurance Ltd. He also received the Outstanding Manilans Award for having distinguished himself in business and industry, hospital administration and humanitarian advocacy during the 428th Founding Anniversary of Manila, and was the outstanding Chinese-Filipino to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Awards for Excellence. His qualities as a civic leader and as a father were recognized by the Ulirang Ama Award along with the conferment of the title Ambassador for Medical Tourism in 2001.

...the Azkal's FIFA ranking

FIFA Rankings: Azkals move up to 147 in the world, 21st in Asia

 

October 3, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The Philippine Azkals moved up to 147 in the world with 178 points, in the latest FIFA rankings released Wednesday, October 3, buoyed by a month where they won four matches.

Thanks to a win in a friendly against Singapore, and a sweep of the Peace Cup, versus Guam, Macau and Chinese-Taipei, the Azkals moved up three places from last month, and are now 21st in Asia.

Globally, the Philippines is tied with Kazakhstan, which tumbled down five places, with both countries a point shy of Cuba, ranked 146th, with 179 points.

Up next for the Azkals is a trio of friendlies against Bahrain (115 globally, 15th in Asia), Kuwait (112 globally, 13th in Asia) and Singapore (168 globally, 28th in Asia) once more, in preparation for November's Suzuki Cup.

Tops in Asia are Japan (23 globally), South Korea (25 globally), and Australia (34 globally). - AMD, GMA News

...the PH facebook 'friends'

Who is the Philippines' 'closest friend' on Facebook?

 

by Jojo Malig,

ABS-CBNNews.com

09/12/2012

 

MANILA, Philippines -Which country is the Philippines' "closest friend" on Facebook?

 

It's the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a new interactive report published by the social network website's "Stories" section.

The UAE topped the Philippines' "friends" list based on the number of Facebook users in the 2 countries who are friends, according to researcher Mia Newman.


Newman attributed this to the use of Facebook by immigrants and migrant workers who connect with their families and relatives in their countries of origin.

More than 200,000 Filipinos were working in the UAE in 2010, according to latest data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.


Saudi Arabia, which had more than 293,000 Filipino migrant workers in 2010, is the Philippines' "second-closest friend" on Facebook.

Singapore placed third, followed by Japan and Kuwait.

Facebook data also shows that the Philippines is 4th closest friend of Canada, 2nd closest friend of Japan, and 4th closest friend of South Korea, and 3rd closest friend of Singapore.

The Philippines and the United States are not apparently "close friends" on Facebook, despite the large number of migrant Filipinos in the country's former colonial ruler.

"Immigration is one of the strongest links that seems to bind these Facebook neighbors, as thousands of people pour over borders or over seas, seeking jobs or fleeing violence, and making new connections and maintaining old friendships along the way," said Newman, a Stanford graduate in International Relations.

"Economic links, through trade or investment, also seem to be strong predictors of country connectedness. And finally, one of the most overwhelming trends we found as we explored this graphic is the strong tie that remains between nations and their former colonizers, whose continued linguistic, cultural, and economic ties still echo today," she said.

...the Pinoy geophysicist

Pinoy geophysicist makes it in US but wants to serve PH

 

By Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

08/30/2012

 

 

Lawrence C. Gochioco is unknown in the Philippines, his home country.

 

 

In contrast, his adopted country, the United States of America, ranks him among its top practicing geophysicists, entrusting him with sensitive, exploratory projects both in the US mainland and resource-rich Mongolia, the only democracy in, and expected to become the future Kuwait of, Central Asia.

Geophysics, an applied science, employs physical laws to study the earth. It uses sensitive devices to probe, detect and picture anything below the ground, from shallow to very deep targets, from sub-surface geologic structures or anomalies to deeper mineral ore deposits, natural gas and oil. Practical engineering applications include roads and mine cave-ins and broken or leaking underground gas and water pipes.

He is in the Philippines to share his expertise in oil, gas and mineral exploration, including the field of renewable and sustainable energy.

Gochioco obtained his Physics degree from the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in 1978.

Considered an average student in the rigorous Ignatian academic program, he managed to balance his academics and extra-curricular activities by playing varsity volleyball and track and field since his high-school freshman year. He led both teams to back-to-back NCAA (National College Athletic Association) championships. In recognition of his athletic achievements, he was inducted into the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

The 1970s oil crises had a major impact on his decision to pursue a career in geophysics. Intrigued by the popular 1970s TV show Dallas—on the power of oil and energy in geopolitics—Gochioco decided to go to the US to study and learn the latest innovative technologies for petroleum and mineral exploration. After graduation, he taught college physics for two years at AdMU. He later received a full scholarship from Ohio University in 1980 to pursue his graduate studies in Physics. Aside from the regular course load, he took additional subjects in geology and geophysics.

In 1982 the US oil industry began to contract, resulting in thousands of jobs lost. He moved to Houston despite the poor jobs market. The first four years of his career were turbulent. As a survivor, he is always prepared for the worst-case scenario and developed back-up systems. After each layoff, he found better career opportunities with greater responsibilities. These varied technical and management positions later provided him the diverse skills needed to establish his own businesses and joint ventures.

In 1989 Gochioco published his first technical paper in Geophysics, and many more papers and feature articles soon followed. In recognition of his contributions, he was nominated to the prestigious TLE Editorial Board of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) in 2000 and later became chairman during his 2003-2004 term. He was the first Asian ever to become the editorial board chairman.

Gochioco toiled in several oil and coal-mining companies. He worked his way up and gained experience in all aspects of geophysical technologies employed in petroleum, mineral and environmental applications. In 2004 he made the “quantum leap” from employee to becoming an entrepreneur with the formation of his first geophysical consulting and services company. The timing was perfect as the US coal industry experienced a high incidence of fatal mine accidents. His expertise was in demand to employ leading edge geophysical technologies to detect and picture sub-surface man-made or natural anomalies that created adverse underground mining conditions. In 2007 his company went international, starting with exploration projects and joint ventures in Mongolia.

Gochioco is talking with Fr. Jett Villarin, AdMU president and a fellow physicist, for the establishment of an Ateneo School of Earth Sciences, an institution he is willing to fund in his desire to transfer to the next generation of Filipino geophysicists the knowledge and skills he learned abroad and the technologies he applies in his fields of work.

He launched the Germaine C. Gochioco Angel Fund Foundation in memory of his lawyer-sister who was passionate about helping people during natural disasters. The foundation aims to help natural-disaster victims and to develop mitigation and training programs. It is also looking into the installation of remote-sensing geophysical monitoring stations and early-warning systems in high-risk areas.

Gochioco does not limit the application of his expertise to for-profit ventures. Two years ago, he volunteered to help the Katy (Texas) Antioch Baptist Church conduct a non-invasive remote-sensing survey to locate the unmarked graves in the church’s cemetery. Graves sat in the 1-hectare site since 1915, but some of their actual locations were unknown. Employing a digital multi-frequency source electromagnetic equipment, he provided 3D images of the surveyed area, highlighting the accurate locations of graves.

In 2010 he formed a joint venture with local partners that manufacture and market what he calls “Eco-G3000,” a gas-saving device that does three essential things: improve vehicle mileage by 25 percent to 30 percent; boost the vehicle’s engine horsepower by 15 percent to 20 percent; and significantly cut vehicle emissions by up to 85 percent. Unknown to most of us, this device has been installed in hundreds of vehicles plying Metro Manila. The Mongolian government is interested in testing this system to address the air-pollution problems in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar.

Recognizing his robust management and geotechnical skills, the US Departments of State and Commerce have asked Gochioco to join three trade missions to Asia under their “Clean and Renewable Energies” and “Mining Technologies” programs in recognition of his geotechnical expertise. He continues to perform special projects several US government agencies agencies.

Gochioco’s advice to students: “Stay focused, have big dreams and establish realistic goals.”

In deeds and in actions, Gochioco exemplifies the reality that a Filipino can be a citizen of the world and a man for others.

...the rising FDI

BSP: First two mos. foreign direct investments up 154% to $850M

 

May 10, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) soared 154 percent in the first two months of the year, encouraged by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Thursday.
 
FDIs reached $850 million in January to February, up $515 million from $335 million a year earlier, BSP Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. noted in a statement
 
“The respectable growth of FDI reflected favorable investor sentiment as the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remained strong amid continuing concerns over the sovereign debt crisis in some parts of Europe and the moderation in global economic activity,” said Tetangco.
 
Equity placements surged 1,317 percent to $893 million from $63 million in the same comparable period, and withdrawals rose 266.7 percent to $77 million from $21 million.
 
Equity capital came from the US, Australia, Japan, and Kuwait and were placed largely in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, real estate, financial and insurance services, mining and quarrying, information and technology sectors, Tetangco pointed out.
 
However, other capital account, largely inter-company borrowings between foreign direct investors and their subsidiaries or affiliates in the Philippines, dropped by 111 percent to a net outflow of $24 million in the first two months from a net inflow of $243 million, the Bangko Sentral noted.
 
Reinvested earnings went up by 20 percent to $60 million from $50 million as foreign direct investors retained parts of their earnings in local enterprises.
 
In February alone, Tetangco noted FDI inflows fell 30.6 percent to $84 million from $121 million a year earlier as other capital account posted a net outflow of $21 million from a net inflow of $94 million.
 
Equity investments in February, however, surged 389 percent to $132 million from $27 million. Withdrawals jumped 244 percent to $55 million from $16 million.
 
Reinvested earnings surged 75 percent to $28 million from $16 million.
 
Tetangco said the bulk of inflows–or $100 million–represented final payment for the acquisition of shares by a foreign firm in a beverage manufacturer.
 
Kirin Holdings of Japan bought a 43-percent stake in diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) in 2009 for $1.06 billion and spent another $300 million in 2010 to acquire an interest in San Miguel Brewing International Ltd.
 
New York-based Standard and Poor's (S&P) recently raised the Philippines credit rating outlook to positive from stable, signaling a possible upgrade of the rating that is now two notches below investment grade.
 
Still, London-based Fitch Ratings rates the country's sovereign credit at one notch below investment grade while Moody's Investors Service and S&P rate the country's sovereign credit at two notches below investment grade with a stable outlook. —VS, GMA News

...the year of the Azkals

2011: The year the Azkals revived Philippine football

 

ROY MOORE

December 30, 2011

 

 

The year 2011 will perhaps be remembered as the Philippine football's revival. The Azkals were known, or rather barely known, for losing consistently. Four years ago the Azkals weren't even entered for the World Cup qualifiers and other competitions and lost five games in a row, one to Singapore and two each to Malaysia and Thailand, conceding four goals in every game and scoring just one in all five.

The seeds of the team were already there, though, and after the losing record they went on an 11-match unbeaten run racking up five wins and six draws. Without making a mark in any major competition or beating a well-ranked team, the team was just competing for the title of the best of the minnows in Southeast Asia.

Since Manager Dan Palami took control of the team, however, they have improved their ranks and confidence and shocked Asia with a 2-0 victory over regional powerhouse Vietnam in the 2010 Suzuki Cup. This kick-started everything and set the scene for 2011 to become the biggest year in Philippine football history since the glory days of Paulino Alcantara and the Philippines' solitary trophy in 1913 when they beat China 2-1 to win the first ever Far Eastern Games.

The team went on to become at one stage the most improved nation in the world, based on ELO ratings. This is somewhat remarkable given football was virtually unknown to the general populace. TV networks hurriedly reorganized schedules to show matches, some networks just hearing for the first time that the Philippines had a football team. So here's the first part of a two-part series looking at how the Azkals have achieved that success and the forecast for 2012.

February: Challenge Cup qualifiers 1st round
Many nations didn't have to qualify for the group stage of the Challenge Cup in 2011, which was in itself the qualifying stage for the Challenge Cup in 2012. In their group only the Philippines had to go through the knockout qualifying stage which also saw Afghanistan, Taiwan and Cambodia enter the group stage. The first leg was played in Bacolod, considered by many to be Philippine football's home given the popularity of the sport. Indeed the official 20,000 capacity crowd is perhaps an underestimate and was by far the biggest audience of any of the qualifying matches.

The Philippines dominated the match after Mongolia went down to 10 men 25 minutes into the game after Pagamsuren Altantulga was sent off. Fittingly, Ilo-ilo native Chieffy Caligdong broke the deadlock as the first half was drawing to a close. With everyone thinking it would end goalless he popped up on the left wing to dink the ball over his defender and volley it through the goalkeeper's legs.
 
In control of the game but unable to kill it off, the Philippines seemed to be heading into a tricky away leg with only a single goal advantage for all the possessions and shots. Into the fourth minute of injury time, Phil Youngshusband sent the crowd into a frenzy as he squeezed the ball in on the rebound.
 
In the return leg in Mongolia, the Azkals got off to a flying start when James Younghusband scored in the 4th minute. This put the Azkals up 3-0 on aggregate and though Mongolia came back to score two first-half goals and bring the aggregate score to 3-2 to the Philippines, they couldn't managed to score again and the Azkals qualified for the next round.
 
Success: The Philippines were the only team in this knockout round to beat a higher ranked opposition on aggregate to qualify.
 
March: Challenge Cup qualifying group stage
Having beaten Mongolia, the team now entered the group stage of qualification, a round robin of four teams with the top two making it through to the final stage of the tournament in March, 2012.
 
Drawn against Bangladesh, Palestine and hosts Myanmar, it was a tricky group which got off to a disheartening start when leading for most of the match Myanmar scored a late free-kick to take a share of the points. Palestine beat both Myanmar and Bangladesh in their other games but failed to score against the Philippines as the two played out a 0-0 draw and left an all or nothing clash in the Philippines' final game of the group against Bangladesh.
 
Anything less than a win would see Bangladesh or Myanmar qualify while a victory would guarantee progression to the finals. As it was, the Philippines finally turned on the style and the team gelled to outclass their opponents to win 3-0. Qualifying behind Palestine in the group, the team made the Challenge Cup Finals in March, 2012.
 
Success: The Philippines were the only qualifiers of the knockout round to also qualify for the final stages.
 
June-July: World Cup qualification
The Philippines were drawn against Sri Lanka in the opening round of the AFC World Cup Qualification. Moving up in the rankings, the Philippines were rated higher than Sri Lanka though things got off to a sluggish start as Sri Lanka took the lead in Colombo through a deflected free kick before Nate Burkey scored the equalizer.
 
With their backs to the walls the Azkals showed their fighting spirit again and dominated a lackluster Sri Lankan side at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Winning 4-0, the team advanced into the Second Round of World Cup Qualification, 5-1 on aggregate.
 
The draw saw the Azkals face Kuwait in the next round, a team ranked 67 places above them at the time. The start was sluggish again and the absence of Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock, due to suspensions, also didn't help the team in a 3-0 loss to Kuwait.
 
With little chance of progressing the Azkals came out strong in front of a home crowd in the second tie as Rizal Memorial Stadium started to become the team's fortress. The Philippines took the lead with what later became the Kaholeros' goal of the year: Stephan Schrock hammered the ball into the top of the net from 25 yards out.
 
Kuwait came back in the second half and equalized before having a man sent off. Pushing for an upset win, the Azkals were caught on the break and Kuwait took the lead with 10 men. The result meant that the team was knocked out of the World Cup Qualification 4-1 on aggregate but they won many plaudits along the way.
 
An honorable mention also goes to Yanti Barsales, who retired from international football in June, playing his last game for the Azkals against a UFL XI. The year 2011 has been the best for Philippine football, but the current stars owe much to standing on the shoulders of Barsales, who made his debut in 1992, and other Filipino veterans.
 
Success: The Philippines recorded their first victory in World Cup Qualification and battled to a 2-1 loss against the reigning Gulf Cup of Nations Champions, Kuwait, in the next round.
 
September-October: Long Teng Cup
Reaching the next round of World Cup Qualification had lifted the Azkals high in the public consciousness and television coverage was now almost guaranteed for each match. From being unknown, news about the team was starting to flood the nation's consciousness.
 
Tipped as potentially the Philippines' first trophy since 1913, the 2011 Long Teng Cup seemed to start in the worst possible way with Hong Kong scoring two early goals and asserting their dominance. Phil Younghusband converted a penalty to put the Azkals back into contention before half-time though and after the break Caligdong, so often the team's creative inspiration, scored twice to put the Philippines ahead. In the dying minutes of the game it seemed the Philippines had completed a remarkable comeback against the tournament's highest ranked team until Hong Kong equalized in the 86th minute.
 
In their next match, the Philippines faced Taiwan, which had already beaten Macau 3-0. Playing out a 0-0 draw the Philippines would repeat their feat in the Challenge Cup of drawing the opening two games before winning the last game to finish second in the group with five points. A 2-0 win over Macau gave the Philippines those points, though truth be told it wasn't the Azkals' best performance and the Philippines only won as Caligdong dragged his country into second place. Hong Kong meanwhile destroyed Macau 5-1 and Taiwan 6-0 to rule the Long Teng Cup for the second time.
 
Success: The Azkals improved on their position climbing to second place in the group with two draws and a win compared to a win, draw and a loss the year before.
 
Fun fact: Ian Araneta was the 2010 Long Teng Cup's top scorer, netting four goals in three games. This time around Caligdong was the only player in the tournament to score four goals to win the Golden Boot award.
 
October: Friendlies
With no tournaments left for the senior team in the year the Philippine Football Federation arranged friendly matches for the national side. First saw Singapore looking for revenge as the last encounter between the two nations ended in a 1-1 draw which eventually knocked Singapore out of the 2010 Suzuki Cup in the group stage for the first time since 2002. Singapore won the game 2-0 but they had to work for the result.
 
Ranked 30 places above the Philippines at the time it was still a worthy effort from the Azkals, who faced a Nepal side that is a place above Singapore in the FIFA rankings. Two goals from Phil Younghusband, one from his brother James and one from Matthew Hartmann had the visitors posting a 4-0 triumph.
 
Success: The Philippines established themselves as the most improved nation in the world based on ELO ratings. An arguably more accurate rating system, developed by a chess grandmaster, the ELO ratings showed the Azkals had been the most improved country in the world over the past 12 months at this point.
 
November: SEA Games
The SEA Games were perhaps the biggest disappointment of the year for football fans. Without adequate preparation, the Under-23 players struggled against their Southeast Asian rivals and recorded one win in five games.
 
The U23 team lost to Vietnam 3-1 in their opening game and was followed by a surprise 2-1 defeat to Timor Leste. The team defeated Laos in extra time as Joshua Beloya struck two late goals to turn around a 2-1 deficit and record their only points of the campaign. The Junior Azkals also suffered consecutive losses to Myanmar (5-0) and Brunei (2-1) as the Philippines dropped to the bottom of the group.
 
Success: Not much in this case though finding several younger players with great potential show Philippine football's future.
 
December: LA Galaxy
The game itself ended 6-1 in favor of the LA Galaxy, the Azkals' biggest loss of the year. Yet the result didn't matter as playing against the LA Galaxy in the first place was the achievement.
 
This capped the Azkals' year in style as David Beckham, arguably the biggest football star in recent football history, graced Manila by opening the scoring with a trademark curling shot and whipped in crosses to supply the next few goals. With teammates such as USA's top goal scorer Landon Donovan, Ireland's Robbie Keane and a host of other quality players, the spectacle was what was important this time around.
 
While it wouldn't be wise to have many such games, deflating the confidence of the Philippine players with heavy losses, as Weiss pointed out after the game, it was the perfect way to cap off the year.
 
Success: Originally the LA Galaxy had not intended to play in the Philippines. After the success of 2011, the newly crowned MLS champions were convinced that football had grown enough in popularity and quality to stop by the Philippines on the way to Australia. The LA Galaxy is the biggest club to visit the Philippines in decades. — JVP/HS, GMA News

...the BenCH

Bench bags international honors


The Philippine Star
November 06, 2011

Ben Chan at the 15th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention in Singapore. Bench won the Best Marketing Campaign award for its series of underwear shows.|

MANILA, Philippines - When you think of a local retailer that has successfully gone global, top of mind would be Bench. Now with stores in Riyadh, Kuwait, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and different cities in China (more than 27 company-owned stores and 19 franchises in this emerging superpower alone), Bench is now providing affordable and quality products to not just Filipinos based abroad, but also to fashion lovers who can’t resist the brand’s youthful, practical and trend-purveying products.

Bench’s international appeal, however, is not only consumer-reliant. Just recently the clothing and lifestyle brand proved that global success is not just based on sales or a particular number of stores when it bagged the Best Marketing Campaign Award at the 2011 FAPRA (Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association) Awards.

Bench head honchos Virgilio Lim, Ben Chan, Nenita Lim and Bryan Lim

Once just a small booth at SM Department Store, Bench, founded by Ben Chan (a dreamer with an interior design education), first entered the retail scene by peddling T-shirts. A year later, Chan opened his first boutique and expanded the Filipino wardrobe by offering bottoms and more clothing options. In 1991, Bench pursued the possibilities of advertising and released a TV commercial featuring then local heartthrob Richard Gomez. Devoid of copy or voiceover, the black-and-white TVC showed Gomez rowing a banca to a soundtrack of Chopin’s Claire de Lune.

The audacious simplicity of this ad won the Best Cinematography Award in that year’s Philippine Advertising Congress and set an internal standard for succeeding Bench advertising and marketing campaigns. The success of this TVC also became a portent to other forms of marketing recognition, a fitting precedent to the FAPRA award it recently received.

Ben Chan, on behalf of Bench, receives the Best Marketing Campaign award from FAPRA Permanent Secretariat Secretary General professor Xiaoning Cao with Dr. Jannie Tay, FABRA chairman Lee Chul Woo.

Held annually during the Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition, the largest gathering of all retailers in the region, the FAPRA Awards honors Asian merchants’ most innovative and creative efforts in the selling,
marketing, customer service  and even training categories.

This year, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) nominated Bench and its series of underwear shows as a contender for the Best Marketing Campaign Award. The much-awaited event, which had its debut showing in 1997, is mounted every two years and attracts hordes of attendees, most of whom would probably give an arm, leg and any other available limb just for a ticket. Over the years, the Bench underwear event has grown from just being a show of skin or a celebrity stage gathering to a spectacle that incorporates international acts and globally-based Filipino designers — in 2008, Bench introduced their Mobo underwear line by London-based designer Lesley Mobo, and also wowed audiences with French acrobats hanging from the ceiling, tethered just by aerial silk; in 2010, the Bench Uncut show focused on Bench’s global undertakings and featured designs of Dubai-based designers Michael Cinco and Furne One, both now making waves in Hollywood.

PRA president Frederick Go with Ben Chan, Virgilio Lim and Robert Claudio

...the Olympic shoot camp bidder

Philippines bids for Olympic shoot camp hosting

By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The country is bidding to host next year’s Youth Olympic Shooting Camp, an event that is expected to draw at least 43 nations, according to Philippine National Shooting Association president Mikee Romero.

Romero, the popular sports patron who also supports basketball, baseball and cycling, said the event will help promote shooting, particularly the shotgun events where Filipinos have a strong chance of winning internationally.

The camp, for which Malaysia and Singapore have also placed bids, is scheduled in June.

“We need this kind of activity to promote the sport of shotgun in the country,” said Romero, who is also president of port services firm Harbour Centre.

“We will learn a lot from this two-week shooting camp because current and former Olympians and coaches from all over the world will be taking part to teach young shooters.”

The PNSA is hoping to qualify as many as four shooters to the London Olympics.

Romero and PNSA executive director Larry Paredes have already informed Asian Shooting Confederation president H. E. Sheil Salman Al Sabah of Kuwait about the country’s intention to stage the camp.

The two officials attended the recent ASC congress where Al Sabah, a member of Kuwait’s royal family, vowed to help the Philippines promote the sport.

“The Sheik promised to help us, so I hope we will win the right to host the event,” said Romero.

Meanwhile, former PNSA president and Olympian Art Macapagal was reelected to the executive board of the ASC. Macapagal was one of the two Southeast Asian delegates who made it to the powerful board.

...the helping hands in Middle East

Pinoys in Middle East helping typhoon victims in PHL

10/05/2011

 

Even if they’re miles away from home, Filipinos in the Middle East are helping their kababayans who were affected by the rage of typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel."

In Kuwait, a Filipino community launched a massive in-kind donation drive, while several groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pooled in thousands of Dirham to send to the Philippines.

Typhoon “Pedring" (internationally name: “Nesat") destroyed almost P9 billion in properties and killed 66 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has recorded 10 deaths and P115 million in damages courtesy of “Quiel" (international name: “Nalgae").

"Kindness in-kind"

Spearheaded by the Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC), the donation drive in Kuwait encourages donations not only among coordinating organizations, but also from other Pinoys and even foreigners.

“This is not exclusive for members—even non-members are welcome. In fact, we appeal for help from everybody," FBC chairman Dr. Chie Umandap told the Kuwait Times on Tuesday.

Umandap said they will not accept cash donations “because we are not from government agencies and cannot process such donations."

According to "Kuwait Times," the FBC and other cooperating groups would take in:

canned goods;

instant noodles;

medicines;

clothes, and

blankets.

Umandap asked Filipinos to consider their donation an early Christmas gift to our kababayans. "If there are other nationalities who wish to donate, you are most welcome and may God bless you," he said.

He also shared that a cargo company will shoulder “at least half of the forwarding expenses."

While pleased that the organizations started a donation drive for typhoon victims, Philippine embassy Vice Consul Rea Oreta encouraged Pinoys in Kuwait to send their help to Philippine agencies like the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

Oreta also urged Filipinos to donate only to legitimate organizations with proven track records.

Pooling ‘help cash’

On the other hand, Pinoy group leaders in UAE encouraged their members to donate money to charities, after they encountered problems with relief boxes in 2009.

“It’s better for us to send cash donations. From past experience, we’ve encountered lots of problems with relief goods either with the customs, safekeeping, [or] with distribution," Benito Valeriano, consul-general in Dubai, told "The National."

Bayanihan UAE, the umbrella group of all Pinoy organizations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, said it is donating Dh10, 000 from its standing fund.

Bayanihan president Bal Junio also disclosed that they will ask their 68 constituent groups to raise more funds by October 14, after which they will send the donation to PNRC or to Caritas Manila.

Meanwhile, FilCom—the group’s counterpart in Dubai and Northern Emirates—met on Tuesday evening to discuss how they can help typhoon victims.

FilCom handles 99 community groups in the area.

Alan Bacason, the umbrella group’s governing council president, told The National that they are planning “a community-wide fund-raising campaign."

The fund-raising, however, would need the approval of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.

After “Ondoy" (international name: “Ketsana") swept Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, Pinoys in UAE also donated to typhoon victims.

According to Valeriano, they sent about 2, 000 boxes of relief goods and pooled in a total of Dh800, 000. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News

...the KL 9-ball Champ

Corteza bags Kuala Lumpur 9-ball title

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The Philippines’ Lee Van Corteza subdued Chinese-Taipei’s Ko Pin-chung, 13-8, on Sunday to win the Malaysian Golden Break 9-Ball Asian Invitational tournament at the Golden Break Snooker and Pool Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Corteza showed his class in the semifinals with an effortless 45-minute 11-1 thrashing  of Indonesia’s Riyan Setiawan, setting up a showdown with Ko, who beat his elder brother Ko Pin-yi in the other semifinal duel, 11-7.

It was Ko’s second consecutive finals appearance and also his second crushing defeat after losing to Malaysia’s Ibrahim Amir last year.

The semifinals clash between the brothers was neck-and-neck in the first few racks before Ping Chung raced to leads of 7-4 and 10-6.

Requiring just one more rack to win and enter the finals, Ko felt the pressure as Pin Yi won the 17th rack to move to within 10-7.

But Ko settled down to reel off rack No. 18 and book a place in the finals against Corteza, the 2010 US Open 10-Ball champion.

Living up to his favorite’s tag, the 32-year-old Corteza showed superior form in the semifinals.

Corteza, a four-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, raced to a 9-0 lead against Setiawan, leaving the Indonesian helplessly seated in his chair.

Finally, Corteza committed an error in the 10th rack, giving Setiawan a chance to get to the table and clinch one rack.

That was all Corteza, spearhead of Negros Billiards Stable of Jonathan Sy, would concede as he took the next two racks to wrap up the match and bag the $7,000 top purse plus trophy. Ko Pin-chung received $3,500.

Three other Filipinos, Rodolfo Luat, Antonio Lining and Allan Cuartero, who represented Kuwait, were eliminated in the early rounds.