...the best country for business English

PH: World's best country in business English

By Shielo Mendoza

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

25 April 2012

Well, people will now have to think twice before mocking Pinoys' use of the English language.

The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.

GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.

For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."

“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.

The Philippines, which scored 7.11 and the lone country in the intermediate level, were joined by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19) in the top five.

GlobalEnglish noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success.

“It is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank,” it added.

Meanwhile, struggling economic powers (Japan, Italy and Mexico) and fast-growth emerging markets (Brazil, Columbia and Chile) scored below a 4.0 in business English proficiency, placing them at a disadvantage when competing in a global marketplace, the study said.

It also pointed out that shifts in global talent have put even English-speaking countries at risk.

“Surprisingly the BEI score for global workers in the U.S. declined from 6.9 to 5.09 since the original 2011 BEI benchmark, which is attributed to a majority of test takers being foreign-born engineers and scientists,” the report said.

Rest of the world ranked beginner and basic level

Based on a scale of 1-10, the average 2012 BEI score across 108,000 test takers around the world is 4.15 which is lower than last year’s 4.46.

Nearly four out of 10 (38.2 percent) global workers from 76 countries were ranked as business English beginners, meaning that, on average, they can’t understand or communicate basic information during virtual or in-person meetings, read or write professional emails in English or deal with complexity and rapid change in a global business environment, the study said.

Meanwhile, the majority of global workers (60.5 percent) from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, below an intermediate level, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions or perform relatively complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations, it added.

GlobalEnglish stressed that the 2012 BEI which showed a lack of business English proficiency is threatening the productivity of companies, industries and country-specific economies this year.

“Poor Business English skills are bad for global businesses and this year’s Business English Index suggests that many companies will be hard-pressed to achieve their desired performance goals during 2012,” said Tom Kahl, GlobalEnglish President.

“Addressing English skills gaps and ensuring that employees can immediately perform at the necessary proficiency level should be viewed as a strategic imperative for multinational businesses, as Enterprise Fluency, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate within global organizations, can deliver significant financial upside,” Kahl added.

Headquartered in Brisbane, California, GlobalEnglish works with multinational companies – including Cisco, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Phzer – to support performance in business English across the workforce around the world.

Here's the list of the 10 best and worst countries in the world for business English proficiency based on GlobalEnglish's 2012 BEI:

10 Best Countries:
Philippines
Norway
Serbia
Slovenia
Australia
Malaysia
India
Lithuania
Singapore
Canada

10 Worst Countries:
Armenia
Cote d'Ivoire
Taiwan
Honduras
Columbia
Chile
El Salvador
Saudi Arabia
Israel
Brazil

...the Volcano rank

PH Volcanoes up 17 places in world rankings

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/24/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Volcanoes made a significant jump in the world rugby rankings following their stellar performance and victory in the Asian 5 Nations Division 1 championship in Manila.

 

Based on the International Rugby Board (IRB) rankings, the Volcanoes climbed 17 rungs up the world rugby standings after taking home the Division 1 title.

Before becoming Division 1 champions, the Volcanoes were ranked No. 72.

Three victories over Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka catapulted the Philippines to No. 55.

The Philippine side earned a promotion to Top 5, which means a qualification to compete in the 2013 Asian 5 Nations Top 5.

Philippine Rugby Union (PRU) President Alvin San Diego said he expected the high placing for the Volcanoes especially after their win over the higher-ranked Sri Lankans.

He said the Volcanoes, made up mostly of Filipinos who have mixed heritage, placed the Philippines on the rugby world map.

“This whole series is all being about three things for the Volcanoes: respect, discipline and Pinoy pride.”

---

...the achievers in New Zealand

Seven Pinoy achievers feted in New Zealand

 

April 24, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Seven New Zealand-based Filipinos were feted for promoting the best of the Philippines at an event at the Philippine Embassy on April 13.
 
Philippine Ambassador Virginia Benavidez hosted the event dubbed an “Evening to Remember and Recognize Filipino Talents and Creativity” as part of the embassy’s cultural diplomacy.
 
In a news release on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the event “showcased the positive image of the Philippines as the home of world-class talents and raised the profile of the Filipino community as among the best immigrant groups who have integrated themselves well in the local communities throughout New Zealand.” 
 
Those feted during the event were:
 

• Sylvia Shirin Zonoobi, the first Filipino to be appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Refugees and Migrant Communities in the New Year Honors List of New Zealand for 2003;

• Dr. Antonio Noblejas, Queen’s Service Medal Awardee for Services to the Filipino Community in New Zealand’s 2008 New Year Honors List and Recipient of the “Banaag Award” of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ 2008 Presidential Awards for Individuals and Organizations Overseas 

• Anita Mansell, Queen’s service medal awardee for services to the Filipino community in New Zealand’s 2011 Queen’s Birthday

• Oscar and Miriam Batucan, the first ever Filipino-New Zealand couple to be awarded the Benemerenti Medal given by Pope Benedict XVI on July 20, 2009

• Ivy Rose Padilla, Best Actress in a Leading Role – Musical North Area Performance Theatre Awards for 2011, and

• Josephine Garcia-Jowett, finalist of the Open Section, 2007 and 2010 World of Wearable Arts Awards Show, Commended in the Red Section of the  2003 World of Wearable Arts Awards Show and AKLnzPINOYS, Print Journalism Awardees in the 1st Media and Migration Advocacy Awards of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas for 2011.

 
Benavidez also tendered a thanksgiving dinner for the honorees and their families.
 
Those present during the occasion were Cora Noblejas, Ken Mansell, Patrick Padilla, Carlo and Rhodora Jaminola representing the AKLnzPINOYS, Mico Santos, Cultural Officer Liza Jane Estalilla, and Cindy Santos.
 
The awardees conveyed their deep appreciation to the Philippine government for the acknowledgement of their inspiring testimonies to the good traits of Filipinos in New Zealand.
 
“They are the Philippine Embassy’s valuable partners in promoting the welfare and interests of Filipinos in New Zealand, supporting programs to highlight the rich and varied cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage of the Philippines and contributing, in their respective ways, to growth and progress in the Philippines,” Benavidez said. - VVP, GMA News

...the high tech exporter

Manila exporting more high-tech equipment By Delon Porcalla The Philippine Star Updated April 23, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - While the progress of some countries puts the Philippines in an awkward situation, one major source of pride for President Aquino is the fact that Manila exports more hi-tech equipment than its far more advanced neighbors.

He cited the case of the oil-rich Middle East, where the country “trades from them in basic energy supplies, petrochemical products (for instance), dairy products and the like.”

“We, in turn, export to them all of these, shall we say, more high-tech products, maybe the electronic outputs, from projectors to assemblies and automotive parts and so on and so forth. That is a major source of pride,” Aquino said.

The Chief Executive made the remarks in Friday’s 108th General Membership Meeting of the 17th World Electronics Forum (WEF) and Semiconductors Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) that was attended by more than 200 chief executive officers in Cebu.

Aquino also took the opportunity to praise Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for giving assurance that the government will soon be a rice exporter after the country had been importing rice for the last decade.

“He is telling us that we would probably be a net exporter by 2013, not of the basic varieties but of the higher-end varieties of rice. Just two years ago, we were conditioned to believe that we need to import at least 1.3 million tons of rice a year. And roughly about a little over two and a half years into our term, we will now be exporting,” he said.

He also mentioned his previous experience when he was “embarrassed” to hear from his Asian counterparts about their success stories in growing rice “primarily because a lot of their senior ministers and experts were educated in our country.”

“So, they learned how to plant rice from us, they imbibed the lessons really well; we go to them to import the rice which we can’t grow. And that was obviously a major source of embarrassment,” Aquino admitted.

...the best dive site for Japanese

PHL voted among top 3 dive destinations in Tokyo tilt

April 23, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The Philippines has been voted one of the top three dive destinations in the Marine Diving Fair 2012 in Tokyo, Japan, the Department of Tourism said Monday.

 

In a news release, the DOT said the Philippines was the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the top three, which also included Palau and Maldives.

 

This comes after an international travel website earlier this month cited Tubbataha Reef in Palawan and Puerto Galera’s The Canyons as two of the world’s 50 best dive sites. 

 

The DOT also said Blue Coral was named the favorite dive operator for 2012 in the Tokyo tilt, while the Good Dive Shop, another dive operator, was included in the top 10 for the same category. 
 

Since 2006, the Philippines has been consecutively included in Marine Diving Fair’s top five "Best Overseas Destinations,” said DOT. The country has also been consistently awarded as one of the top 10 "Dream Destinations."

 

Also, it said that since the Philippines' participation in the event in 2000, it had been continuously recognized as one of the top five dive destinations.

 

The DOT said these awards were given after subscribers of Marine Diving Magazine, one of the most prestigious dive publications in Japan, cast their votes.

 

It added the Marine Diving Fair 2012, one of the largest diving and beach resort exhibitions in Asia, attracts over 50,000 visitors annually.

 

For this year, the event had 200 exhibitors from 50 different countries.

 

The Philippines' colorful booth inspired by the DOT's slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” drew crowds at the event.

 

It had five aquariums and marine life paintings, and attracted visitors to discover what makes diving “more fun” in the Philippines.

 

The DOT said its participation at the event aimed to maintain the high profile of the Philippines as a premier and competitive dive destination among Japanese overseas divers.

 

For his part, DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said the Philippines once again proved it is a must-see dive destination by garnering awards in all four major award categories.

 

“Our partnership with the private sector dive tour operators has paid off nicely.  We encourage more suppliers to keep raising the bar for service excellence to grow this market segment,” he said.

 

Japan is among the top three sources of foreign tourist arrivals visiting the country in 2011. –KG, GMA News

...the artist in Saipan

Pinoy places first in Saipan art tilt

 

April 23, 2012

GMA News

 

 

A Filipino artist in Saipan — Eduardo “Edong” Elenzano — recently won first place in the 3rd "CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) Bridge Capital Art Competition."

According to a report of the news site Marianas Variety, Elenzano won $1,500 for his painting of a father and son at the beach.

Wood carver Michael Finey won the grand prize or "Best in Show" along with a $2,500 prize for his artwork depicting navigators at sea.

The other winners included:

• Joseph Weaver, second place and $1,000 prize for his painting titled “Peek-a-Boo,” about a huge turtle surfacing in the sea, and
• Robert Hunter, third place and a prize of $500, for his painting “Managaha Bound,” depicting a boy on a boat.

Marianas Variety said there were over 40 entries in the adult category.

The awarding ceremony was held on April 21 during the Flame Tree Arts Festival, according to the website of Bridge Capital, LLC, sponsor of the competition.

Bridge Capital said the competition aims to "promote and support" CNMI artists. - VVP, GMA News

...the rugby boys

Phl Volcanoes spew fire, rip Sri Lankans

Philstar 

22 April 2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - They bled for every point.

And when the dust settled, the Philippine Volcanoes were rewarded with a 28-18 victory over fancied Sri Lanka and a coveted slot in the 2013 HSBC Asian 5 Nations Championship.

No rugby team representing the Philippines has ever reached the Asian 5 Nations event, and last night’s victory at the Rizal Memorial Stadium made sure one would get there.

“This blood is for the country,” said 26-year-old center Justin Coveney, still bleeding from the nose, as the rest of the Volcanoes celebrated their hard-earned victory.

Coveney, who sealed the win for the Volcanoes with a try on the 31st minute, banged bodies with the Sri Lankans all night. He was bruised all over by the end of the final match for this Asian 5 Nations Division 1 tournament.

“Opportunities only come when you totally put yourself into it. This is a team effort. But now we’re in Asia’s top five. Watch out for the Volcanoes,” he said.

“Tonight we put the Philippines in the rugby map.”

In the Asian 5 Nations, which offers a slot to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, the Volcanoes will be pitted against teams they’ve hardly thought of facing before:  Japan, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and Korea.

But now it’s a reality that the Volcanoes have crashed Asia’s top five.

“I’m speechless. But this is the best ever. We’ve been working on this for a long time. There’s no better feeling than playing for the Philippines,” said Jaime Urquijo, who plays lock.

As the Volcanoes continued to celebrate, the Sri Lankans headed to their dressing room, and one of them, burly and standing perhaps 6-foot-5, was seen crying.

The Philippine Volcanoes celebrate their historic 28-18 victory over Sri Lanka in the Asian rugby eliminations last night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Jun Mendoza

 

It was a painful defeat for the Sri Lankans, once ranked 49th in the world. They are now in 56th place, eight notches higher than the Philippines.

But Sri Lanka had been to the Asian 5 Nations Championship, and its players, two of them sons of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, took great pain in the loss.

The pre-dominantly Filipino crowd led by the Zobel de Ayalas erupted after the final whistle, and the Volcanoes whooped it up like they’ve won the World Cup.

They chanted, “Vol-ca-noes! Vol-ca-noes!”

“We knew that the only thing that could beat us was us,” said team captain Michael Letts, who kept the team glued throughout the match.

The Volcanoes broke the ice with three minutes into the match, a penalty kick by Oli Saunders. He added two more kicks and gave his team a 9-0 lead with 17 minutes gone.

Letts then reached in for a try in the 29th minute, and adding a field goal to it gave the Volcanoes a 16-0 lead. By halftime, the lead had gone up to 23-0.

But the Sri Lankans opened the final 40 minutes of play with the aggression that was missing in the first half, and slowly they chopped the lead.

The Sri Lankans came close at 18-23, and in fact had so many chances to even up or take the upper hand. But the Volcanoes hung on till the end.

“Discipline! That’s the only thing that’s stopping us,” the Volcanoes’ field coach blurted out from the sidelines. “Composure! Composure!”

The Vocanoes responded, and sealed the victory in the 32nd minute when Coveney broke loose for the try he will never forget.

It’s time to put those sizzling billboards back up. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)