...the expat-friendly PH

Editorial

Expatriates-Friendly Philippines

September 21, 2012

Manila Bulletin

 

 

MANILA, Philippines — Expatriates working in the Philippines enjoy their stay in the country, largely due to the hospitality of Filipinos. They easily adapt to the country’s culture. This is reflected in the recent survey by the United States Chamber of Commerce on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Outlook 2012/2013.

Results of the survey showed that two out of five or 40 percent of American firms in the Philippines said they regularly receive requests from employees based in other parts of the world to work in the Philippines. This is an increase from 21 percent in 2011 and 15 percent in 2010. All the surveyed American firms operating in the Philippines answered yes when asked: “Are your expatriate employees generally satisfied with their assignments in your response location?” The 100 percent score is an increase from 93 percent in 2011 and 86 percent in 2010. More and more employees also want to stay in the Philippines longer, the survey showed further. The country’s strengths include its positive relations with the US, availability of skilled manpower, low cost of labor and lease costs.

The survey polled 356 senior executives who work for American companies in Southeast Asia. It showed that an increasing number of US companies plan to shift their overseas operations to Southeast Asia over the years. In the Philippines, 92 percent of respondents “maintain a positive outlook for the ASEAN region as an investment opportunity for their companies.” The surveyed executives see member-countries of the ASEAN as being favorable for doing business in. Of the ASEAN member countries – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei – the Philippines and Malaysia are top choices for expansion, each country receiving 27 percent of the votes from those polled.

An earlier HSBS Expat Explorer Survey ranked the Philippines as the world’s 8th friendliest country for expats. It rated 31 countries based on a survey conducted among 3,885 expatriates. Respondents scored their host countries based on four categories: Easy to befriend locals, learn the local language, integrate to local community, and fit into the new culture.

We wish Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo and Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., all the best and success in their combined efforts to showcase the Philippines before the international community. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!

...the NASA project manager

Pinoy project manager at NASA at the front of space exploration

 

Shaira Panela,

GMA News

September 21, 2012

 

 

In 1969, it was said that “America conquered the moon, but the Philippines conquered the Universe.”

 

 

That was the same year Apollo 11 with three American astronauts from NASA —Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collin— successfully landed on the moon. The moon landing coincided with the Philippines’ first Miss Universe crown won by Gloria Diaz.

 

 

But more than 40 years later, Filipinos are moving to conquer the universe for real —through space exploration and research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Pinoy pioneers
 

In fact, one of the engineers who worked on the Mars rover Curiosity is Filipino-American Gregory Villar III, who went to high school at St. Louis University in Baguio City.

 

 

There's also Lloyd Manglapus, a former student of the University of Santo Tomas. He is Curiosity's flight software technical lead.
 

And now, here's yet another Filipino leading the way in space research: Dr. Ralph Basilio, the lead person behind NASA’s research on carbon dioxide in space.

 

^{Dr. Ralph Basilio (Photo: NASA)}

 

 

Carbon dioxide in space

 

 

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of building blocks of life on Earth.

 

 

On the NASA website, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Project (OCO-2) is the “first Earth-dedicated remote sensing satellite to study atmospheric carbon dioxide from space.”

 

 

Talking about the importance of the project, Basilio said in an email interview, “Over the last 60 years or so, scientists have determined that only about one-half of the carbon emitted into the atmosphere stays in the atmosphere. Where is the other one-half going? Is it being absorbed, for example, by the southern oceans?”

 

 

Other than OCO-2 Project, Basilio also handles OCO-3 mission of Opportunity. OCO-3, on the other hand, intends to investigate about the “distribution of carbon dioxide on Earth in relation to its growing population and changing patterns of fuel combustion.” It is set to be launched on 2014.

 

 

Typical day(s) at NASA

 

 

Because Basilio’s responsibility extends from technical to administrative aspects, he believes there is not really a “typical” day at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he holds office.

 

 

“Some days I spend attending to technical challenges, some days I work on evaluating budget and schedule performance, and some days I do advanced planning,” said Basilio.

 

 

Previous works

 

 

Basilio worked for other NASA projects, such as the Mars Pathfinder where they landed a small remote-controlled robot on The Red Planet, Deep Space 1 where they were able to demonstrate advanced technologies in space, and on CloudSat, where they operated a radar system to analyze the structure of clouds for climate and weather forecasting.

 

 

“Each of these projects allowed me the opportunity to work in relatively small teams and to take on increasing roles on responsibilities that helped me to eventually become a project manager,” said Basilio.

 

 

Basilio was also able to get his hands on the Space Shuttle Program while working for Rockwell International, a major American manufacturer of aircrafts and space vehicle components.

 

 

On that, Basilio said, “I enjoyed working on the manned space program and meeting the astronauts.”

 

 

Truly Filipino

 

 

Basilio migrated to the United States with his parents and brother when he was three years old. Basilio’s dad was an accountant and his mother, an optometrist. His parents are now retired, and are still happily staying in the US.

 

 

“I think the greatest Fil-Am trait that has allowed me to succeed is hard-work and perseverance. I may not be the most brilliant engineer/scientist, but no one has a better work ethic,” shared Basilio.

 

 

His father hails from Tacloban City, Leyte, and his mother from Lamitan, Basilan.

 

“I credit my parents and our culture…. They brought with them from the Philippines the Filipino culture and our Catholic faith,” added Basilio.

 

 

Basilio took up Aerospace Engineering at the California State Polytechnic University. After that, he took up his Master’s and PhD from the University of Southern California.

 

 

Basilio said his work ethic helped him obtain his PhD on a part-time basis over seven years. He was also proud to say that his Filipino traits helped him to be able to attain a deputy position at NASA, and now project-manage while in his 40s.

 

 

Since migrating to the United States, he had only been back to the Philippines thrice.

 

 

“I definitely wanted to return,” Basilio said. — TJD, GMA News

...the Asia's corporate governance ranking

Philippines improves standing on corporate governance list

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Corporate Philippines has modestly improved its standing on a regional watchlist compiled by investment house CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets as the Aquino administration ushered in much-needed governance reforms, tackling government corruption and improving transparency and accountability.

Based on the report “CG Watch 2012 Corporate Governance in Asia” dated September 10, the Philippines’ overall score improved by 4 percentage points to 41 percent this year, rising a notch from the bottom of the list. This year’s cellar dweller on the CLSA’s CG Watch list is Indonesia.

“It is tempting to state that the improvement in our survey is a result of a concerted effort among government, regulators, NGOs [nongovernment organizations] and companies alike to improve standards. Indeed, there is evidence that our candidly accurate assessment of the dilapidated state of governance under the Arroyo regime, along with the reformist impetus from President Aquino’s new administration, galvanized interested parties into positive action that has borne some fruit,” said the report, which is published by CLSA every two years in collaboration with the Asian Corporate Governance Association.

The Philippines is still in the bottom half of the CG Watch list, joining the ranks of India (51 percent), South Korea (49 percent), China (45 percent) and Indonesia (37 percent). The higher-ranked markets include Singapore (69 percent), Hong Kong (66 percent), Thailand (58 percent); Japan and Malaysia (both 55 percent) and Taiwan (53 percent).

Since issuing its last CG Watch report in 2010, the CLSA noted that “cracks” in Asian corporate governance have become more apparent, resulting in lower scores for some of the countries like Japan, which declined by 2 percentage points; Taiwan, down 2 percentage points; China, down 4 percentage points; and Indonesia down 3 percentage points.

The CLSA report favorably noted how in June 2011, the government passed the Governance Act, which created a new body to oversee 157 government-owned or -controlled corporations. It also noted how a new bankruptcy law was enacted.

“What is still lacking, however, is solid evidence among many companies that their approach to corporate governance is more than a compliance exercise imposed on them by regulators, who still lack the resources and firepower to enforce better corporate behavior,” the report said.

...the Aussie media awardee

Pinoy wins media award in Australia

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

09/21/2012

 

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino who established an online publication to serve the Filipino-Australian community won an award for its coverage of community affairs in Australia.

 

Romeo Cayabyab, editor and publisher of “The Filipino Australian”, received the award at ceremonies for the first New South Wales Multicultural Media Awards at the State Parliament last September 15.

 

An accountant by profession, Cayabyab migrated to Australia in 1981. He lives in Minchinburry, New South Wales with his family.

The native of Capas, Tarlac is a self-taught encoder, programmer and web publisher.

In 1998, Cayabyab co-founded emanila.com with multimedia specialist, Rom Zamora. Two years after, emanila.com became the first recipient of the Technology Award under Australia's National Multicultural Marketing Awards.

Cayabyab further used his expertise to establish "The Filipino Australian" in 2005 to provide online news services to the Filipino-Australian community.

Honorable Shaoquett Moselmane, Member of the Legislative Council, NSW Parliament, said it is fitting to recognize the multicultural and indigenous journalists who bring communities together and promote multiculturalism in Australia.

Moselmane founded and chaired the Awards.

...the CCT (4P's)

Editorial

Philippine Program Reaping Good Results

September 20, 2012

Manila Bulletin

 

MANILA, Philippines — An Impact Evaluation by the World Bank (WB) showed that the Philippine Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program is “strong and consistent” in improving the quality of lives of poor Filipino families, and that it is on track in achieving its objectives, primarily in human development, by investing in health and education of poor children aged 0-14 years old, and rural women.

The WB Impact Evaluation, done in cooperation with Asian Development Bank and Australian Agency for International Development, as well as research group Social Weather Stations, was the result of over a year of data collection and analysis.

The WB said the Philippines, through the CCT or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” is in a better position to attain in three years the Millennium Development Goals. Under this program, poor families receive cash, provided their children go to public schools, visit health centers for checkup and treatment, and pregnant mothers undergo checkup.

The government has set target of 4.3 million poor households by 2016. As of July 1, 2012, the program had 3,041,152 household-beneficiaries in 1,400 cities and municipalities in 79 provinces nationwide. It is lengthening the five-year period that beneficiaries receive aid. By December 31, 2013, some 321,000 beneficiaries will have graduated from the 4Ps, but the families would continue to be assisted by government through sustainable livelihood programs to keep them self-reliant when they leave the program.

We wish the Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, Social Weather Stations President Dr. Mahar Mangahas, World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi, Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda, and Australian Agency for International Development Director-General Peter Baxter, all the best and success in their coordinated approach to reduce poverty and upgrade the lives of Filipinos. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!

...the PH economic freedom rank

Phl moves up to 61st in economic freedom rankings By Jose Katigbak STAR Washington Bureau (The Philippine Star)  September 20, 2012

WASHINGTON – The Philippines leapfrogged to 61st place from 77th previously in the annual rankings on economic freedom around the world.

The country’s score also jumped to 7.12 from 6.84, said the Economic Freedom of the World: 2012 annual report.

Out of 144 countries and territories surveyed for the report released by the Fraser Institute, Canada’s leading public policy think tank, Hong Kong topped the field with a score of 8.9 out of 10.

Economic freedom is measured in five different areas: size of government (big government reduces the space for free exchange), legal system and security of property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, and regulation of credit, labor, and business.

Fred McMahon, vice-president international research of the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute, told The STAR on Tuesday that the Philippines’ big improvement came in sound money, particularly allowing people to own foreign currency bank accounts.

There were also relatively small improvements in two other variables in this area: money growth and inflation variability.

“The Philippines also saw an increased score in size of government, in other words, government got slightly less intrusive in the economy,” he said.

“Overall, these factors led to an increase in the Philippines’ score from 6.84 to 7.12 out of 10. Because nations are tightly packed around these scores, this led to a move up in the ranks from 77 to 61,” he added.

The rankings in this year’s report are based on 2010 data, the most recent year for which comprehensive figures are available.

The other top 10 nations listed in descending order after Hong Kong with their scores in brackets were: Singapore (8.69), New Zealand (8.36), Switzerland (8.24), Australia (7.97), Canada (7.97), Bahrain (7.94), Mauritius (7.90), Finland (7.88) and Chile (7.84).

Rankings (and scores) of other large economies in this year’s index included: United Kingdom, 12th (7.75); United States, 18th (7.69); Japan, 20th (7.64); Germany, 31st (7.52); Russia, 95th (6.56); China, 107th (6.35); and India, 111th (6.26).

Venezuela was in last place with a score of 4.07 among the countries surveyed.

Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Republic of the Congo and Angola rounded out the bottom five nations.

Singapore was the best performer among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in the world rankings in 2nd place, followed by the Philippines (61st), Malaysia (71st), Indonesia (76th), Thailand (87th) and Vietnam (96th).

Following were the economic freedom scores and world rankings in brackets for the Philippines: Size of government 8.31 (9), Legal system and property rights 4.37 (110), Sound money 9.29 (39), Freedom to trade internationally 6.69 (97), and Regulation 6.92 (74).

 

...the sweet spot to export

PHL in 'sweet spot' to expand exports into EU — DFA Usec

 

 

September 20, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The country's improvement in the 2012 global competitiveness ranking could facilitate the expansion of exports to the European markets, a Department of Trade and Industry official said.

"Looking at our macro-economic fundamentals and increased ranking in international competitiveness surveys, we can say that we are in a sweet spot to grow and expand [in] markets like the EU," Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal said during the Philippines–EU Trade Policy Consultations on Thursday.

The recent global competitiveness survey showed the Philippines jumped 10 notches higher from 75 last year to 65 this year.

Cristobal also said there is a need to diversify the country's exports and not rely solely on electronics.

"Electronics, our key export product to the EU, is mostly FDI [foreign direct investment]-driven. While we see growth of non-electronics exports to the EU [4 percent] and agriculture products [20 percent], we also recognize the need to diversify our exports and product offerings while attracting more investments," Cristobal said.

He said the DTI is also working on the formulation of sound industry development policies to increase the competitiveness of Philippine industries in FTA markets.

Currently, the Philippines has free trade agreements with the ASEAN, Japan, China, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Cristobal said the analysis and recommendations on a potential Philippine-EU FTA are vital inputs to crafting trade policies, negotiating positions and industry development.

In 2010, Philippine exports to the EU registered its highest growth at 34 percent. Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines was the sixth top exporter to the EU.

The DTI had been actively doing "Doing Business in Free Trade Areas" seminars nationwide to inform businessmen, particularly local exporters, on the benefits of the FTAs the country has entered into.

Among the issues usually tackled in the previous consultations were tariff rate quotas, need for technical assistance to enter a particular market, foregone revenues in FTAs, impact of trade agreements in employment, issues on the movement of natural persons, and the need for better information dissemination about FTAs.

"Since last year, we have held stakeholder consultations on the Japan-Philippines Economic Agreement [JPEPA] and Philippine-EU FTA in key cities and provinces nationwide," Cristobal said.

Among these cities were Cebu, Davao, Manila, General Santos, and Southern Luzon (Tagaytay).

The consultations brought together stakeholders from government, civil society groups, academe, and the private sector. — BM, GMA News

...the street kid hero

Filipino street kid, 13, wins $130,000 peace prize

Agence France-Presse

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

Cris “Kesz” Valdez INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

THE HAGUE—A young Filipino who lived off a rubbish dump and slept in an open tomb has won a prestigious children’s award in the Netherlands for his work to improve the rights of his fellow street kids.

Cris “Kesz” Valdez, aged 13, was handed this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize at a glittering ceremony in The Hague on Wednesday, where he received a 100,000 euro ($130,000) prize.





Cris “Kesz” Valdez, 13, proudly accepts his prize from Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu in ceremonies held in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Wednesday. AFP

 

Valdez was chosen from three finalists for the work of his “Championing Community Children” charity which raises funds to hand out gift parcels to needy children in Cavite City, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Manila.

“You are wonderful,” Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu, who handed over this year’s prize, told Valdez at a press conference shortly after the ceremony, held in The Hague’s historic Knight’s Hall.

“My message to children around the world is not to lose hope” and to remember things like hygiene, said Valdez, who added that the prize would help him get an education and perhaps realize his dream of becoming a doctor.

Through his charity, Valdez has handed out more than 5,000 gifts to destitute children that included everyday articles like flip-flops, toys, sweets and clothes, said the KidsRights Foundation, the prize’s initiator.

In all, he has helped some 10,000 children in his area on health, hygiene and children’s rights, the foundation added.

Some 246,000 street children are, like Valdez was as a young child, subjected to abuse, violence and child labor in the Philippines, it said.

Asked about the prize money, KidsRights Foundation chairman Marc Dullaert said a committee was now to decide, together with Valdez, to which projects it would be donated.

Archbishop Tutu, the South African peace icon who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize is in the Netherlands for a nine-day visit.

...the hopeful FIBA Asia host

Phl looms best bet to host FIBA Asia By Nelson Beltran The Philippine Star September 19, 2012

TOKYO – The Philippines has emerged as having the best chance to host the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

Talks making the rounds on the eve of the FIBA Asia executive board meeting Wednesday were favorable for the Philippines which is bidding to host the biennial regional event for the first time in four decades.

For one, Iran, another serious bidder, has conceded the Philippines would earn the rights to host the Asian meet with the Tehran Times already reporting on Tuesday that the event will be held in Manila.

China hinted at making a bid in the last minute, but it is unlikely to get the nod of the FIBA Asia board, having hosted the last two editions (in Tianjin in 2009 and in Wuhan in 2011) of the event.

Qatar has reportedly dropped its plan to join the bidding presentation set during the FIBA Asia executive board meeting at the International Convention Center of Grand Prince New Takanawa Hotel at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

At the start of the knock out stage Thursday, the Philippines plays Chinese Taipei which placed third in Group B following a 75-73 squeaker over Qatar.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is determined to make good impression that it is sending a high-powered cast of Filipino cage officials in the meeting.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios will make a presentation on behalf of the Philippine federation which intends to bring the event at the brand-new SM MOA Arena as the main venue and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium as the second venue.

 

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan will also attend the meeting with PBA officials, led by commissioner Chito Salud and board chairman Robert Non, lending their presence on the sideline to show full backing on the Philippine bid.

The Philippines has never played host to this event since the 1973 meet which the country ruled with a team including Robert Jaworski, Mon Fernandez and Bogs Adornado among others. The event was still then called ABC (Asian Basketball Confederation) Championship.

The other only huge FIBA event the country hosted since then was the 1978 World Championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

In 2010, the SBP showcased the Philsports Arena in hosting the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

The latest significant move done by the SBP was inviting FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian to inspect the SM MOA Arena a few weeks back.

Khajirian told SBP officials then that, for him, SM MOA Arena “is more than acceptable as primary venue of the FIBA Asia Championship.”

The FIBA Asia leadership includes president Sheikh Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani from Qatar, chairman Xin Lancheng from China, first vice president Adel Al Assomi from Bahrain, second vice president Yushi Samuro from Japan, treasurer Quek Hiang Chiang from Singapore, assistant sec-gen Mahmoud Mashhoun from Iran and women’s representative Noviantika Nasution from Indonesia.

Meanwhile, defending champion Lebanon and reigning FIBA Asia titlist China rolled past Uzbekistan and Macau, respectively, to catch up with Smart Gilas Pilipinas at 3-1 at the close of the fourth FIBA Asia Cup group plays at the Ota Gymnasium.

The Lebanese blasted the Uzbeks, 84-49, while the Chinese ripped their Macau neighbors, 84-49.

Lebanon, the Philippines and China finished on that order following the application of the quotient tiebreak system. Uzbekistan was the fourth quarters qualifier from Group A.


UPDATE: Lebanon beats Philippines as FIBA hosts
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=850815&keyword=sp_pba

...the oldest Chinatown

Soup No. 5 in Manila cited in CNN's most scenic Chinatowns

 

September 17, 2012

GMA News

Binondo in Manila, established in 1594, is said to be the world's oldest Chinatown. Sophia Cuevas

Sneer at it all you want, but the "infamous" Soup No. 5 has been cited by an international travel guide as among the notable features of Manila's Chinatown.

 

 

Manila's Chinatown district was tagged by Cable News Network's CNNGo as one of the nine most scenic Chinatowns in the world.

 

 

It recommended the "infamous Soup No. 5, made from a bulls' testicles," as its Dish to Order.

 

 

Because of the main ingredient, the dish is believed to be an aphrodisiac.

 

 

BlurtIt.com lists it as among the world's weirdest aphrodisiacs, while OverseasPinoyCooking.net has instructions on how to prepare it.
 

On the other hand, CNNGo also recommended that visitors dine at Café Mezzanine above the Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli across Binondo Church.

 

 

While Eng Bee Tin is famous for its hopia ube and other flavored hopias, CNNGo noted part of the restaurant’s income goes to Binondo’s fire volunteers.

 

 

The Ube Engine, the fire volunteers' iconic machine, is parked beside the Binondo Church.

 

 

Other features of Manila's Chinatown that CNNGo cited included the dragon decor in the area.

 

 

It also recommended that the best place to start a tour is on Carvajal Street, also known as "Umbrella Alley" due to the umbrellas at the small street stalls.

 

 

CNNGo also cited the Big Binondo Food Wok tour run by Old Manila Walks, co-owned by tour guide Ivan Man Dy.

 

 

"Each participant on the guided walk is given a souvenir Big Binondo Food Wok Map, which lists restaurant and shops, as well as coupons for businesses in the area," it said.

 

 

The Binondo Church itself was cited as another feature by CNNGo, which described it as the home of the Santo Cristo de Longos (Crucified Christ).

 

 

"In the 16th century, a deaf-mute Chinese supposedly regained the power of speech after finding the image," it said.

 

 

Other scenic Chinatowns cited by CNNGo were in:

• Havana, Cuba
• Kolkata, India
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Melbourne, Australia
• Vancouver, Canada
• San Francisco, US
• London, UK

...the top holiday destinations in Asia

Palawan named no. 4 in top holiday destinations in Asia

 

September 18, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Palawan’s powdery sand, crystal waters, and breathtaking scenery have won over travelers and tourists once more as the island earned the number four spot in the Top 10 Holiday Destinations category of a worldwide poll by online travel magazine, Smart Travel Asia.

Limestone cliffs at El Nido. Manix Abrera

Palawan had moved up a spot from last year’s ranking of number 5. This year, it shares its place with Siem Reap and Maldives.

Hong Kong ranked third in the category, while Phuket, Thailand came in second, and Bali, Indonesia placed first.

Not surprisingly, travelers also sang praises of Palawan’s resorts, three of which ranked high in the poll’s Top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts category.

Miniloc Island Resort in El Nido came in 16th place on the countdown, while the mysterious and luxurious Amanpulo came in 15th.

Ranking highest in the category was Lagen Island Resort, also in El Nido, coming in at ninth place.

 

 

El Nido had also been cited as one of the country’s best beaches by CNN Go earlier in the year.

 

 

It was also in El Nido where the international cast and crew of the Hollywood film “The Bourne Legacy” stayed. The film’s location manager Dow Griffith even said that "El Nido, on Palawan Island, is paradise, and for a family trip, you are very well looked after at any of the resorts."

 

 

SmartTravelAsia.com’s travel poll ran from May to July, and is now on its eighth year. Majority of voters were based in Asia, while 15 percent came from Europe, and 15 percent from North America.

 

 

Other Filipino winners in the poll include Cebu Pacific for top 3 Budget Airline in Asia, Makati Shangri-la and the Peninsula Manila for top 24 Business Hotels in Asia, and Shangri-la Mactan in Cebu for top 16 Best Spa Resort. –Amanda Lago/KG, GMA News

...the Penshoppe goes to Jakarta

Penshoppe gets into Indonesia’s huge market

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

A Penshoppe poster FROM PENSHOPPE.COM

MANILA, Philippines—Retailer Penshoppe has gained a foothold in Southeast Asia’s most populous market, Indonesia, as part of its road map for global expansion via the franchising mode.

Bernie Liu, president of retailer Golden ABC Inc., which owns the Penshoppe trademark, announced in a press briefing on Tuesday that his company has entered into a franchising partnership with the MAP group of Indonesia, which has been planning to open at least 150 Penshoppe stores across Indonesia within the next 10 years.

The first two stores are opening this December—a 476.86-square-meter flagship store in Jakarta’s Central Park Mall and a 355-sqm store at the brand-new Mall@Alam Sutera in neighboring Tangerang City.

His vision, Liu said, was “planting the Filipino flag in as many countries in the coming years.” Being a P1-trillion economy with a population nearly three times that of the Philippines and a $5,000 per capita income, Liu said Indonesia has always been part of Penshoppe’s offshore expansion strategy.

In the Philippines, Golden ABC has about 600 stores employing over 3,000 people. The flagship Penshoppe brand has 300 stores in the Philippines. The next-biggest brand is Oxygen, which has 100 stores. Other brands in the retailing group are ForMe, Memo, Regatta, Tyler and its direct-selling subsidiary Red Logo.

Overseas stores currently number 12, which will increase to 30-40 by 2013, according to Liu.

 

Penshoppe is now present in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, and it also operates stores in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Jubail, Al Khobar, Dammam, Manama and by next month, will open its first store in Dubai.

Liu’s ambition is to eventually grow the international business so that it would be larger than the local business, similar to the business model of Spanish retailer Zara.

With its franchise deal, Penshoppe becomes the first Asian brand to be carried in Indonesia by the publicly listed MAP group, which has a portfolio of over 100 lifestyle brands from around the world.

“Asian brands are just as good as the Western brands. If they have the capability and desire to elevate their standards to become one of the best in the world, then they should be treated equal to Western brands,” said Agus Gozali, president of MAP group’s PT Prima Mode Indonesia.

“We believe Penshoppe is such a brand. It is a fast fashion brand with great up-to-date styles and product design. Its stores provide its customers with world-class shopping experience,” he said in a statement.

The MAP group’s portfolio in Indonesia includes Sogo, Seibu, Debenhams as well as fashion stores under Zara, Marks & Spencer, Topman, Topshop, Lacoste, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and DKNY. It also operates food and beverage stores such as Starbucks and Krispy Kreme, a bookstore chain and a lifestyle supermarket.

PT Prima Mode was created by MAP group for the sole purpose of managing Penshoppe’s retail operations in Indonesia.

...the 'Idol'

Jessica Sanchez: I'm proud to be Pinoy

 

ANDREI MEDINA,

GMA News

September 18, 2012

 

 

"American Idol" Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez, who is in Manila for a concert on September 21, said she was proud of her heritage and proud to be a Filipino.

 

 

“I’m proud of my culture and proud to say that I’m Pinoy and everything so I’m very excited to be here and this is like at the top of my list of the things that I’ve done in my life,” Sanchez said in an interview with Katrina Son on GMA Network's “News to Go” program.

Sanchez said, “I am definitely excited to be here. It’s the first time I’ve ever been out of country and I’m here with all the people that have been supporting me since the beginning and it’s good to know that these people are proud of me.”

On her official Twitter account, Sanchez, 17, said: “Can't believe I'm here. Manila will def be one of my best memories. <3.”
 

"American Idol" concert

The "American Idol" concert will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 21, which also happens to be the 40th anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines.

 

 

 Sanchez’s Filipino fans called “Blujays Philippines” have been waiting for Sanchez's arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 since 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday. and were delighted to finally see their “World Idol.”
 

 

Asked why they like Sanchez, one of her fans said, “Aside sa magaling siya kumanta, yung talent niya is unbelievable at super sweet kasi siya sa amin.”

 

Another fan also said, “I just want to say that [Jessica,] it’s more fun in the Philippines and I hope na mag-enjoy siya dito."

 

The Blujays brought Sanchez’s CDs and a large tarpaulin banner with a message of their support for the young singer.

 

 

On Twitter, many Filipinos also welcomed Sanchez's arrival.

 

Karen Galarpe: “She’s here :) ~ American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez arrives in Manila http://shar.es/uZSFc via @gmanews”

 

Rowell Aurellano: “Jessica Sanchez arrives in Manila :))”

 

 

iamjjb: “Welcome to Manila Ms Jessica Sanchez #americanidol”

 

Wants to visit Bataan

Sanchez will be staying in Manila for a week with the "American Idol" Season 11 top 10 finalists for a week where they will have a concert as a part of their live tour.

 

Sanchez also mentioned that she will be extending her stay to visit famous places in the Philippines and that she also wants to meet her relatives in her mother’s hometown — Bataan.

 

“I definitely want to [see them]. So, they live in Bataan, so I’m going to try to make some time,” she said.

 

 

Her mother's kababayans

 

 

In Orani, Bataan, Jessica’s grandfather Eddie Bugay said he was going to the Manila Hotel with Samal Mayor Gene dela Fuente and a few others to meet his granddaughter Sanchez, his daughter Editha (Sanchez's mom) and his wife Virgie (Sanchez's grandmother).

 

Asked what he would say upon seeing his granddaughter, the retired American navy man said “I am proud of you!"

 

Bugay's grandchild Yeth Cruz, on the other hand, said she will tell her cousin Jessica whom she will meet for the first time, “Excited to meet you personally."

 

Bugay's residence in Orani was being renovated for the possible arrival of Sanchez.

 

 

“Malalaman ko mismo sa asawa ko at anak na si Editha kung uuwi dito si Jessica at ipapaalam ko agad sa inyo,” said Bugay.

 

Bugay used to live in Samal town where most of their relatives are. However, he transferred to Orani a few years after his retirement from the US Navy. - with a report from Ernie Esconde, VVP, GMA News

...the case of speaking Filipino

Filipinos win settlement in English-only case

Associated Press

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

 

 

DELANO, California — Dozens of Filipino hospital workers in California will share a nearly $1 million settlement in a lawsuit claiming they were targeted by a rule requiring English only at work, federal officials said Monday.

The settlement involves nearly 70 nurses and medical staff members who accused Delano Regional Medical Center in California’s Kern County of banning them from speaking Tagalog and other Filipino languages while letting other workers speak in their native languages, including Spanish, the US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission announced.

The lawsuit, filed jointly by the commission and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in 2010, accused the hospital of creating a hostile working environment for Filipinos by singling them out for reprimands and by encouraging other staff to report them.

The medical center defended its English-only policy as essential to patient care. In a written statement, officials said the hospital did nothing wrong.

Under California law, employers can require workers to speak English if there is a business necessity.

For decades, thousands of nurses from the Philippines have migrated to the United States to alleviate the nursing shortage. More than half of American nurses trained abroad are from the Philippines.

Filipino nurses in Delano said they were called to a special meeting with hospital managers in 2006, warned not to speak Tagalog, and told surveillance cameras would be installed, if necessary, to monitor them. No other language groups were included in the meeting, the lawsuit states.

Since then, workers said, they were told on a daily basis by fellow staffers to speak only English, even on breaks. The workers allege they were targets of undue scrutiny, discipline, harassment and threats over the issue.

The hospital’s policy, which requires the use of either English or the patient’s preferred language while care is provides, remains in effect, the hospital’s statement said, though it has been updated.

As part of the settlement, the hospital also agreed to develop strong protocols for handling complaints of harassment and discrimination; adopt a language policy that complies with the Civil Rights Act; and conduct anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all staff with additional training for supervisors.

Delano Regional Medical Center is a 156-bed hospital located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Bakersfield.

 

...the Pinoy Emmy nominees

2 Pinoys get Emmy nods for work on 'Pan-Am,' 'Touch'

 

by Yong Chavez,

ABS-CBN North America Bureau

 09/17/2012

 

 

LOS ANGELES, California - Two Filipinos were nominated for Emmys for their visual effects work in two US TV shows "Pan-Am" and "Touch."

 

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Meliza Fermin and Tony Ocampo said they are proud to represent Filipinos at the Creative Arts Emmys.

One week before the primetime Emmys, the prestigious organization honors outstanding work featured on Hollywood's best shows.

Walking alongside stars on the red carpet are other nominated choreographers, animators, musicians and other people who work behind the scenes.

Fermin previously won an Emmy for her work in the TV show "Heroes."

"If you're passionate about it, it doesn't feel like you're working hard because you're so into that you just get lost in your work, so it's nice," she said.

Ocampo said there are a growing number of Filipinos in the industry.

"Ah, madami na. The thing is you have to prove yourself eh. When you come here, you have to prove yourself. You can't just come here and expect them to give you a work visa, a green card, you have to prove yourself talaga," he said.

Ocampo has already received several trophies from the Visual Effects Society and nominations for his work in TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI," and "Walking Dead."

...the Sultry Pinay

Sultry Pinay is a sports and fitness journalist in US

 

 

September 17, 2012

GMA News

 

 

Jeannette Josue used to imagine herself a broadcast journalist like Connie Chung, whom she and her grandmother would watch on the evening news and admire. But it was a thought that lingered unshared because at that time, Jeannette was conscious of her “speech impediment.”

“I had a Filipino accent and had difficulty pronouncing my “Th’s, Sh’s and D’s,” she told The FilAm. “Even though I was born and raised in Jersey City, my parents spoke mostly Tagalog at home.”

Jeannette got over the inferiority complex after a guidance counselor in high school encouraged her to compete in the beauty pageant Miss New Jersey’s Perfect Teen. In high school, “my world began evolving,” she said.

She went places she never imagined would open for her and met people she once thought she could only watch on TV. Public speaking courses also helped paved the road.

Today, Jeannette is a reporter for MarblePlayTV, a sports and fitness web channel, where she holds the enviable job interviewing sports luminaries such as tennis legend John McEnroe, Olympic medalist Wesley Korir, retired wide receiver Amani Toomer and many more.

Jeannette is slated to co-host this year’s Filipino Heritage Night with the New York Mets on September 17.

“I was a pretty shy teenager,” she said. She recognized now why her guidance counselor continued to encourage her telling her the beauty competition could change the way she saw herself. “She was right.”

In college, Jeannette earned a modeling contract and began acting classes. Soon, she was appearing in commercials and print ads and gracing fashion magazines.

“I had tiny parts in ‘All My Children’ and ‘Sex in the City,’” she shared.

Her sultry looks won her more beauty pageant titles, the latest being Ms. New York-USA 2012.

Not quite satisfied being just ‘another pretty face,’ she earned a degree in Economics at NYU “in three years.” From being a model, she went straight to working for a financial company — a “huge adjustment,” she conceded.

“By the time it was 2009, my resume became a collection of jobs all from different fields,” she said.

MarblePlayTV was a happy accident. She was hired as an advertising sales rep, working closely with a video producer to find various revenue streams.

“One day the freelance reporter cancelled last minute and the producer asked me to cover an event. And there I was, hosting my first interview, at Lincoln Center, for a health detox juice.”

The Pinay who fretted about her accent is now covering more than 15 events each month, and enjoys shaking hands with Mayor Bloomberg, Councilman Peter Koo, and other city officials and celebrities.

“MarblePlayTV is helping mature into this role, and the more I run around chasing stories, the more I love what I do,” she said.

While hers may seem like a glamorous job, Jeannette said running around the five boroughs using mass transit is far from the romanticized movie depiction of a journalist.

“But I enjoy it, and that’s a blessing,” she said. “Not a lot of people get to say that about their job.” - The FilAm

...the PH stocks new highs

Philippine stocks seen testing new highs

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Local share prices could test record highs this week with momentum supported by the central bank’s recent decision to keep rates at record lows to sustain economic growth.

After ending the week at a five-week high, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is seen testing higher ground, also partially due to the coming fourth-quarter holiday season.

The PSEi surged 2.33 percent week on week to close at 5,322.47 on Friday. “Local monetary authorities’ move to maintain benchmark interest rates will help build momentum, especially with the start of the fourth quarter,” brokerage 2TradeAsia.com said.

In a weekly note, the firm said lower interest rates would be positive for listed firms’ income statements as debt servicing was kept low.

“This is also conducive to capital expenditure (capex) strategy, especially for those that ventured into high-growth, capital-intensive initiatives. Property firms are also likely to benefit with the extension of flexible payment terms,” it added.

The optimism was also fueled by the US Fed’s call in the middle of the week to hold another bond purchase plan. Part of the support came from Germany’s ratification of a 500-billion euro bailout fund.

The firm said traders should see a recovery from the recent consolidation especially after the PSEi managed to keep its head above the 5,200 level.—Paolo G. Montecillo

...the new Japanese factory hub

Japanese manufacturers move to Philippines

Rising yen, risk factors in other countries

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 Monday, September 17th, 2012

The Furukawa Automotive Systems plant in Vietnam PHOTO FROM FURUKAWA.CO.JP

Japanese manufacturers are making a beeline to the Philippines due to its young, English-speaking labor market following a rising yen at home and risk factors like floods and political changes in other hubs.

Electronics firm Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. and adhesives maker Cemedine Co. Ltd. are the latest to invest with a combined 1.016 billion yen in initial capitalization alone. This brought new Philippine investments by major Japanese companies to at least 16.51 billion yen so far this year.

Furukawa Electric’s subsidiary, Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc. (FAS), established a wholly owned unit called Furukawa Automotive Systems Lima Philippines Inc. with a capitalization of 1 billion yen to make wire harnesses for Japan-made automobiles by March next year. FAS said in a report that increasing demand for its products made it put up a “first step” export hub in the Philippine for its Asian expansion.

Cemedine will establish Cemedine Philippines Corp. with a capitalization of 16 million yen to manufacture and sell adhesive, ceiling and related products by April 2013.

Also setting up new facilities by 2013 are Bandai, the toy maker of Power Rangers and Gundam fame (744 million yen); Fujifilm Corp., which will make optical lenses for digital cameras, projectors and surveillance cameras in Laguna (2.3 billion yen); and electronics components maker Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (620 million yen).

Expanding their Philippine presence are Canon Inc. and Brother Industries Ltd., which are set to make printers with initial investments of 6 billion yen and 4.23 million yen, respectively.

These companies are targeting Asia, Latin America and Europe for exports, according to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (JCCIP), which has 500 member-companies. As Japanese manufacturers locate in the Philippines, their suppliers will follow suit. This would create a supply chain that would attract a wider range of manufacturers and suppliers, JCCIP vice president Nobuo Fujii said.

Analysts said the Philippines has high-quality labor with lower cost and more stable growth compared with China or Vietnam. Transportation distance to Japan is also shorter from Manila and while Thailand has been a traditional choice for manufacturing expansion, the flooding that further hit supply chains that suffered from the triple tragedy in Japan in 2011 has made companies seek alternatives.

To nurture the Philippines’ supply chain, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said in a phone interview that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) helped in marketing not only the major manufacturers but also their suppliers in a bid to nurture the Philippines’ supply chain. Exports zone locators also get incentives such as income tax holidays and exemption from duties on imported capital equipment.

Fujii also expressed hope that Japanese firms would soon be able to monetize billions of tax credits that were due way back in 2002 and 2003. He said the JCCPI was awaiting the schedule and rates to be provided by the Bureaus of Internal Revenue and of Customs. A tax credit is a rebate or refund of import taxes and duties paid to the government by a firm or manufacturer registered with the Board of Investments for raw materials, supplies and semi-manufactured products it has brought abroad to produce the goods it will export thereafter. To facilitate the refunds, the JCCPI has long been urging the Philippine government to implement a more flexible tax rebate system by allowing cash refunds, cross utilization and fast releases at par with those of other Asean economies.

The DTI and the Japanese Embassy have jointly reported that despite “difficult situations” the two countries faced, particularly in 2011, trade volume between the Philippines and Japan increased to P382.7 billion from P335.4 billion in 2010. Japan remains the biggest investor in the Philippines, with total investments of P77.4 billion last year, P19.1 billion more than P58.3 billion in 2010.

 

Asian Development Bank senior country economist Norio Usui has said in a presentation that manufacturing investments are good for the Philippines as these create more jobs than other sectors.

Nomura Research Institute’s Kengo Mizuno and Yoshihiko Iwadare have recommended that the Philippines target non-semiconductor electronic products (printers, multifunction peripheral, projectors, scanners, digital cameras, etc.) makers, shipbuilders, and their suppliers as potential investors.

Japan International Cooperation Agency economist Toru Yoshida said that although foreign direct investments across Asia plunged in 2009 during the global financial crisis, the Philippines lagged behind its neighbors in terms of attracting investors. However, the Philippines could take advantage of rapidly changing global conditions (labor issues in traditional manufacturing hubs, supply chain disruption due to Asian floods, hyper-appreciation of the yen that made firms look for new sites) to present itself as a new growth area.

...the tourism target

Philippines likely to get 4.5M tourist arrivals in 2012—DoT

By Michelle V. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.: Aiming for 18-percent growth. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Tourism (DoT) has expressed confidence that the number of foreign visitors to the country will hit at least 4.5 million this year, based on the tourist arrivals in the first half.

The targeted full-year tourist arrivals are higher by nearly 18 percent from the 3.917 million tourists that came to the country in 2011.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. sees a good chance the country can hit an 18-percent growth in tourist arrivals in 2012, citing the encouraging figure for the first semester.

Data from the DoT showed that foreigners who visited the Philippines in the first half totaled 2.14 million, up by 11.68 percent from close to 1.92 million in the same period in 2011.

“The second semester is actually the peak season for tourism. We are well on our way to hitting 4.5 million tourist arrivals,” Jimenez said on Monday, during an economic briefing by the government’s economic team.

Given the popular belief that the Philippines has much room to grow in terms of tourist arrivals and tourism revenues, the Aquino administration has decided to beef up the country’s tourism campaign.

The promotion is punctuated by advertisements carrying the tagline “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

The government considers tourism as one of its priority areas for development, citing the ability of the sector to generate more jobs.

Given the country’s natural resources, officials say sufficient promotion will significantly boost tourist arrivals.

Jimenez said, however, that the government should not be overly aggressive in its promotion. He said the increase in tourist arrivals should be at a pace consistent with the country’s ability to develop sufficient tourism facilities.

He said the country at this point would not be able to accommodate quite a sharp rise in tourist arrivals, pending the full development or upgrading of tourism facilities and infrastructure.

“We are calibrating the demand [for hotel rooms and other tourism facilities] because we might bust the machine,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has announced plans of the government to significantly boost budget for tourism infrastructure and for training of manpower for the tourism sector.

“We (Department of Tourism) are working closely with Tesda [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority]. We will announce a convergence program for hospitality training,” Jimenez said.

...the growth forecast (NEDA)

PH tips economy to grow 6% in 2012

Agence France-Presse

 Monday, September 17th, 2012

AFP FILE PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO

MANILA – The Philippine economy could grow by almost six percent this year thanks to improving business optimism despite a series of destructive storms in recent months, officials said Monday.

The economy, which grew by 6.1 percent on year in the first half, could do even better in the rest of the year as the government implements measures to boost laggard sectors, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

He added outsourced businesses, trade and tourism were all doing well and agriculture and manufacturing were expected to pick up in the second half.

“With the healthy macroeconomic fundamentals and the higher business optimism, we will most likely hit the upper end of the 5-6 (percent) target,” he told a forum with investors.

Heavy rains and storms last month and early September, which left huge parts of the capital flooded, killings scores and displacing millions, had only a minimal effect on the economy, Balisacan added.

He said farmers still had time to re-plant after the storms, adding that the floods affected mostly small businesses and not the large factories or call centers.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez cited the 11.68 percent rise in tourist arrivals to 2.2 million in the first half of the year as a further reason for optimism.

Central bank governor Amando Tetangco reported a 5.3 percent rise in remittances from the millions of Filipino working overseas to $13.3 billion in the first seven months of 2012.

The officials also reported increased interest from potential foreign investors, following President Benigno Aquino’s election in 2010 on an anti-corruption platform.

Aquino was already addressing corruption which had long been cited as one of the main deterrents to investment in this country, the officials said.

But they were also working to make the economy more efficient and streamlined, to address the investors’ other concerns as well.

 

 

 

...the Supranational beauty

Philippine bet Elaine Kay Moll is Miss Supranational’s 3rd runner up

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Elaine Kay Moll. PHOTO FROM MISSOSOLOGY.INFO/PINOYAMBISYOSO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

 

 

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s representative, Elaine Kay Moll, places third runner up in the 2012 Miss Supranational pageant held in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday (Manila time).

 

Belarus’ Katsyariana Buraya wins the crown. Thailand’s Nanthawan Wannachutta placed first runner up and Czech Republic’s Michaela Dihiova is second runner up.

 

 

Miss Belarus/Miss Supranational 2012

Miss Thailand/First Runner-up

 

Miss Czech Republic/2nd Runner-up

Miss Philippines/3rd Runner-up 

Miss Ecuador/4th Runner-up

 

...the fastest growing smartphone market

Philippines fastest growing market for smartphones in SE Asia

1 in 4 mobile devices in PH a smartphone, says GfK

By Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S III, right, and Apple’s iPhone 4S are displayed at a mobile phone shop in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. South Korea’s Samsung won a home court ruling in its global smartphone battle against Apple on Friday when Seoul judges said the company didn’t copy the look and feel of the U.S. company’s iPhone, and that Apple infringed on Samsung’s wireless technology. However, in a split decision on patents, the panel also said Samsung violated Apple technology behind the bounce-back feature when scrolling on touch screens, and ordered both sides to pay limited damages. AP/Ahn Young-joon

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines remained the fastest-growing market for smartphones in Southeast Asia, with the number of devices jumping more than four-fold as of July from the same period last year.

Singapore-based research firm GfK in a report released Monday showed that one in four mobile devices sold in the Philippines as of July was a smartphone.

“The Philippines continues to report exponential three-fold growth of 326 percent in smartphone volume sales, rendering it the fastest-growing market for smartphones in Southeast Asia region,” GfK said.

“(The Philippines was) also the country with the highest jump in smartphone market share within a year, from 9 to 24 percent,” the report said.

The sales growth in the country was significantly higher than the 78-percent growth recorded in Southeast Asia’s seven major markets, namely the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

“Feature phones still reign as the more prevalent mobile phone type used by consumers in the region’s emerging markets,” GfK digital technology account director Gerard Tan said in a statement, “However, smartphones adoption is escalating at a rapid pace.”

Total mobile-phone sales, which include low-priced “feature phones,” grew in the seven countries by 24 percent year on year as of July.

While more feature phones were sold in the region, GfK said more money was spent on smartphones. Of the total $13.7 billion spent on new phones in the seven-month period, $8.75 billion went to smartphones.

GfK said the smartphone growth in the region was driven primarily by the entry of more affordable devices worth $100 to $200 each, which are now dominating the market.

“With major manufacturers recently announcing their intentions to launch low-end smartphones priced below $100, the device will be within the reach of an even larger pool of consumers and the market is expected to grow even faster when these models are made widely available,” Tan said.

“This move is likely to significantly expedite the demand surge for smartphones in the region’s yet to be converted feature phone user population, which we expect to see continued robust growth for at least the next two years,” he said.

In a previous report, GfK said the relatively low penetration of smartphones in the Philippines was a major factor behind the high growth rates.

The region’s most mature markets are Malaysia and Singapore, where penetration rates are at 90 percent.

In markets like the Philippines, three-quarters of phones sold are still feature phones, which are mainly used to call and send text messages.

The country’s top telcos Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and sister Sun Cellular have all started to bundle smartphone models with their affordable post-paid plans in a bid to make it easier for consumers to decide to switch phones.

...the booming sector

Booming software sector seen to employ 80,000 in PHL in 2013

 

September 16, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The software industry is projecting $1.5 billion in revenues next year and expects to employ more workers as market demand increases, an industry executive said over the weekend.

“[W]e hope to sustain our momentum. By 2013, PSIA aims to achieve revenue of $1.5 billion and increase employment... to about 80,000 employees,” Philippine Software Industry Association president Nora Terrado said in a statement.

The software industry is among top contributors to the growth of the local information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry, says the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

According to BPAP president Benedict Hernandez, the software industry earned $993 million in revenues in 2011 and employed 50,000 full-time workers.

“The Philippine software industry is positioned competitively in the global market,” he said.

The PSIA is composed of approximately 150 companies engaged in software development and IT outsourcing. It is also one of the BPAP's five partner associations.

A recent report by global management consulting firm Everest Group said the Philippines is a mature global location for software services, joining the ranks of China, Brazil, India, and Poland.

Hernandez said these gains clearly demonstrate the potential of the Philippine software industry as the demand for these value-added services is increasing exponentially.

Outsourcing summit

The growth of the software sector in the Philippines and in services centers elsewhere is among the key topics on the agenda of the fourth annual International Outsourcing Summit scheduled on Oct. 7 to 9 in Manila.

Organizers said the event provides a venue for top executives, domain experts, analysts, and representatives of key industry players to discuss opportunities and challenges for IT-BPO industry.

Around 500 delegates from almost 20 countries and 70 high-level speakers and panelists from around the world are expected to attend the annual summit. — BM, GMA News