...the UK's top 10 destination list

Philippines in UK’s top 10 countries to see in 2014
 

by Ron B. Lopez

Manila Bulletin
January 5, 2014

 

 

The Philippines is among the Top 10 Countries worldwide to visit this 2014, according to British travel guidebook Rough Guides.

In its 2014 edition, the Philippines made it to the 10th place along with other beautiful and culturally-rich countries. Rough Guides cited Philippines’ natural places that are “not to miss” which include the islands of Boracay, the limestone islands El Nido in Palawan, the coasts of Coron that hides beautiful beaches and pristine mountain lakes, and Puerto Gallera.

Rough Guides said Boracay’s enchanting white beach on picture-postcard setting is one of the country’s

major tourist draws.

The Rough Guides, known for its travel references, has also recommended a must-visit in Chocolate Hills in Bohol, despite being partly damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake the struck the province last year. It also recommended to visitors to see the tiny primate Tarsiers in the region.

“Soak up the bizarre landscape of Bohol’s iconic Chocolate Hills, conical brown-green mounds said to be the calcified tears of a broken-hearted giant,” Rough Guides said.

Aside from the crystal-clear waters of Philippine beaches, Rough Guides also suggest to tourists to also try to explore the country’s beautiful mountains and the majestic top views they offier, including the perfectly-coned Mt. Mayon and mountain lakes in Mt. Pinatubo.

Rough Guide describes the crystal-clear waters of Apo Reef Marine Natural Park in Mindoro as a “scuba diver’s dream,” along with other underground river in the country.

Aside from places, tourist should also explore the traditions and colorful festivals in the country like the Ati-Atihan Festival on Panay to see the “indigenous dress and learn tribal dances,” the travel advisor said, adding that if one gets exhausted from the heat of the sun, a tall glass of Halo-halo, a local sweet icy dessert, will quench tourist’ thirst.

Other countries in Rough Guides’ Top 10 countries to visit in 2014 are Georgia in Central Asia, Turkey, Macedonia, Japan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Brazil, Bulgaria and Madagascar.

 

...the Miss Tourism International 2013

 

Philippines wins 2013 Miss Tourism International
 

by Robert R. Requintina
January 2, 2014

ANOTHER PINAY WOWS THE WORLD (AP) — Angeli Dione Gomez of Cebu City reacts after being crowned as 2013-2014 Miss Tourism International in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Dec. 31, 2013. She took the crown from another Cebuana, Rizzini Alexis Gomez, the previous winner of the international beauty pageant.

Angeli Dione Gomez, 20, was crowned 2013 Miss Tourism International in the beauty pageant held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on New Year’s Eve.

Angeli won the 2013 title, succeeding Rizzini Alexis Gomez, the 2012 Miss Tourism International. Angeli and Rizzini, who are both from Cebu City, are not related.

She is the third Filipino to win the Miss Tourism International title, the first was Maria Esperanza Manzano in 2000. Her win gives the Philippines the record for the country with the most number of titles in this pageant.

New Year’s Eve Pageant

In the New Year’s Eve pageant, Angeli Gomez, who stands 5’6, bested 59 other candidates in the contest which started at the final hour of 2013 and ended as the New Year entered.

First runner-up honors went to Miss Thailand Sunidporn Srisuwan; Miss Australia Sarah Czarnuch, second runner-up; Miss Dominican Republic Michelle Alexis Torres, third runner-up; and Miss Malaysia Thaarah Ganesan, fourth runner-up.

Beauty Queen Destiny

The new Miss Tourism International is a film major from the International Academy of Film and Television in Mactan.

Angeli believes that she is destined to become a beauty queen. “Beauty queens are born, not made,” the Cebuana beauty said.

She was also crowned 2012 Reyna ng Aliwan and joined the 2013 Bb. Pilipinas Gold Edition and Miss Resorts World in 2011.

In July, 2013, she was crowned 2013 Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International in a beauty contest held in Taguig City.

Mutya in Germany

Meanwhile, fellow “Mutya” winner Andrea Koreen Medina of Quezon City won third runner-up in the 2013 Miss Intercontinental contest in Madgeburg, Germany, last December 14. It was the highest place the country achieved since Maria Sovietskaya Laviano Bacud placed second runner-up in the same pageant in 1993.

2013 Beauty Queens

This was the second time in 2013 that beauty queen mentor Rodgil Flores produced an international beauty queen. Last December, Bea Rose Santiago won the 2013 Miss International beauty contest in Tokyo, Japan. 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman Alcaraz also belonged to the “Kagandahang Flores” group.

The year 2013 finished with an impressive four major crowns for the Philippines and Top 5 placements in international beauty pageants.

In 2013, Mutya Johanna Datul won the first title for the country in the Miss Supranational contest in Belarus.

It was followed by Megan Lynne Young, the country’s first Miss World, in a pageant held in Bali, Indonesia;

 

Bea Rose Santiago, 2013 Miss International;

and now Angeli Gomez, 2013 Miss Tourism International.

Miss Philippines Maria Isabelle Zaragoza Mendoza, of San Beda College, was also crowned 2013/2014 Miss Campus World contest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last December 6. Mister Philippines Ronald William de Dios finished second in the same contest.

 

Other notable placements were Ariella Arida, third runner-up, 2013 Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Russia;

Gil Wagas, fourth runner-up, 2013 Mister International contest, Bali, Indonesia;
and Ali Forbes, 2013 Miss Grand International pageant, in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

...the Top Economies of 2028

Philippine economy forecast to be among the top 30 by 2028

BusinessWorld Online

02 January 2014

THE PHILIPPINES is expected to become one of the world’s 30 biggest economies by 2028, buoyed by improving macroeconomic fundamentals and a continued global reordering, a United Kingdom-based think tank said.

People walk among debris next to a ship washed ashore in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda at Anibong, Tacloban in this Nov. 11, 2013 photo. The storm, which killed over 6,100 poeple and caused some P36.7 billion in damage, is expected to weigh on near-term Philippine economic growth. -- AFP

“We forecast that the Philippines will rise gradually from 42nd position in 2012 to 28th in 2028,” the Centre for Economics and Business Research said in its World Economic League Table (WELT) report for 2013.

Released annually, the WELT identifies the world’s 30 biggest economies based on nominal gross domestic product (GDP). It also forecasts which countries will be in the top 30 in five, 10 and 15 years.

“This year’s report is updated to take account of the likely surplus of energy and falling oil and gas prices in the 2020s, weaker commodity prices than had previously been expected and the sell-off of some emerging market currencies in mid-2013,” CEBR said.

It noted that the Philippine economy was currently being weighed down by the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), which devastated parts of the country last November.

The impact is expected to extend to this year, particularly in terms of agriculture output.

“But it (the Philippines) is expected to recover in 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile, the improved outlook for the US economy is important for the Philippines, which has much closer economic links with the US than other ASEAN economies,” CEBR said.

The country’s projected rise in the rankings, it noted, has to do with an expected reordering among economies.

For 2013 the US continued to best other nations in the WELT, followed by China, Japan, Germany, and France, respectively. Rounding out the top ten were the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, Italy, and Canada. Russia overtook Italy to gain 8th place, while Canada snatched 10th from India, which fell to 11th.

“Below the top 20 some of the changes are more dramatic -- Iran drops from 21st position to 30th as sanctions bite; South Africa drops from 28th out of the top 30 (to 33rd) as strikes, slow growth and a weakening currency affect its position,” the report noted.

CEBR predicts that by 2028, China will replace the US to become the world’s largest economy. India is likewise seen to overtake Japan to become the world’s third largest economy. Japan will fall to fourth, and Brazil, seventh in 2013, will climb up to fifth.

“The UK is the West’s second-best performing economy. Indeed it is the only major Western economy expected to move up the league table becoming the world’s 5th largest economy in 2018 by overtaking France. After that it slips back to 7th place in 2023 and 2028 as India and Brazil overtake,” CEBR said.

“But by 2028 the UK economy is forecast to be only 3% smaller than the German economy and is likely to overtake Germany to become the largest Western European economy around 2030.”

More emerging economies will start climbing up the ranks by 2018, it said, a trend seen to continue in the following ten years.

“By 2028 the league table is being reordered. China has moved to No. 1; India to No 3. Mexico is in the top 10 at No 9. Korea and Turkey are 11th and 12th and have overtaken France,” it said.

“As symbols of the new world order, Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq and the Philippines break into the top 30. All the latter group depend on maintaining or in some cases regaining political stability.”

 

...the PH Azkal's new rank

Philippines reaches new high in FIFA ranking

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 12/19/2013

 

 

MANILA – The Philippine Azkals recorded another milestone by reaching its highest ranking ever in the FIFA world men’s list.

Previously ranked number 133 in the world, the Philippines jumped six places higher at number 127.

The Azkals are now a notch above Kazakhstan and one place below Cyprus.

The Philippines also improved its ranking in the Asian level, climbing to 17th place from its previous ranking of 19th.

Spain remained on top of the world’s list, followed by Germany and Argentina.

In their most recent outing last November, the Filipino booters held India to a 1-1 draw.

The Azkals are set to compete in the AFC Challenge Cup main draw, which kicks off in Maldives in May 2014.

...the world's fastest economies

Phl still among world’s fastest growing economies

            

By Kathleen A. Martin

The Philippine Star

December 18, 2013

 

 

“The Philippines continues to outperform and will remain one of the world’s fastest growing economies in 2014,”  - Glenn Levine, Moody's Analytics senior economist

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine economy is expected to sustain its strong growth next year and remain as one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Moody’s Analytics said yesterday.

“The Philippines continues to outperform and will remain one of the world’s fastest growing economies in 2014,” senior economist Glenn Levine said in a report titled Asia Pacific Outlook 2014: Realizing Potential.

“Confidence is high, and investment, both public and private, is driving the economy forward.
Demand should rebound quickly after Typhoon Haiyan,” he continued.

The Philippine economy expanded by 7.4 percent in the first nine months of the year, faster than the government’s six to seven percent target for the year.

The growth was attributed to strong consumer demand that continues to make up the bulk of the country’s gross domestic product (gdp), government spending, and rising investments.

Although the government and economists forecast a dip in economic output in the fourth quarter following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda and other recent calamities, rebuilding efforts in early 2014 are expected to prop up the economy.

Thus, growth is expected to remain within the government’s target of a 6.5 to 7.5 percent range next year.

 

Levine said the Philippine economy’s performance will be in line with the region’s performance as global demand picks up.

“The Asia Pacific region enters 2014 growing solidly with a mild tailwind from growing global demand. The global and regional economies are on a slow cyclical upturn and downside risks are receding,” Levine said.

“Next year should be better than 2013, with most national economies growing near or at potential rates by year’s end,” he continued.

“Yet there are reasons to believe 2014 will be better. The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) leading indicator of economic activity is accelerating, suggesting that developed world GDP will improve in the coming quarters,” Levine said.

 

...the Miss International 2013

Miss Philippines wins Miss International 2013

by Rappler.com
12/17/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013 on Tuesday, December 17, at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall in Tokyo.

This is the 5th Miss International title for the Philippines and the 3rd major crown by a Filipina this year, following wins by Megan Young at Miss World and Mutya Datul at Miss Supranational.

Minutes before her crowning, Santiago delivered her final statement using the opportunity to thank the world for standing with the Philippines during the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan. Calling for unity among nations, she said, "If I win the crown, I will help promote camaraderie among countries."

Santiago dedicated her win to her countrymen. "This is for the Philippines. I love you, Philippines.”
Miss Netherlands was crowned first runner up and Miss New Zealand was second runner up. Other members of the Top 5 were Colombia and Hungary.

The Top 15 were Gibraltar, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Hungary, Netherlands, United States, Philippines, New Zealand, Lithuania, Iceland, Colombia, Russia, Thailand, and Spain.



Special Awards:
Miss National Costume: Miss Aruba Erialda Croes
Miss Friendship: Miss New Zealand Casey Radley
Miss Internet: Miss Macau Adela Ka-Wai Sou
Miss Photogenic: Miss Lithuania Elma Segzdaviciute



Over 60 candidates from all over the world competed in the pageant held to "promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges as international contributions."

Since 1960, the pageant has been strengthening ties among nations through international exchanges and social programs geared toward "world peace and mutual understanding."

The Philippines has a rich history in the Miss International pageant beginning with Gemma Teresa Cruz (Araneta) who was the first Filipino and first Asian to win the pageant in 1964. Other winners include Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005. – Rappler.com

 

...the Miss Intercontinental 2013 runner-up

Philippines is Miss Intercontinental 2013 3rd runner-up


SunStar
Sunday, December 15, 2013

MANILA -- Philippines pride Koreen Medina landed third runner-up in Saturday's Miss Intercontinental 2013 held in Maritim Hotel Magdeburg, Germany.

Miss Russia Ekaterina Plekhova bested the other contestants as she bagged the top crown, followed by Miss Puerto Rico Aleyda E. Ortiz Rodriguez, 1st runner-up; Miss Colombia Margarita Maria Peralta Tovar, 2nd runner-up; and Miss South Africa Kayla Nel; 4th runner-up.

Photo courtesy: Koreen Medina's official Facebook fan page

Other intercontinental beauties who also took home special awards were Miss Portugal, Miss Photogenic; Miss Turkey, Miss Press; Miss Germany, Miss Congeniality; Miss Argentina, Best in Evening Gown; Miss Puerto rico, Best in Swimsuit and Best in Smile; and Miss Panama, Best in National Costume.

Medina represented the country after winning Mutya ng Pilipinas - Asia Pacific International 2013.

She also won several beauty and talent search competitions like ABS-CBN's My Girl 2012 and Coca Cola Music 2011. (NMP/Sunnex)