...the expat builders of the nation

Expat Pinoy engineers to come home to build Metro Manila Subway: DOTr

ABS-CBN  News | 3 October  2019

MANILA - Dozens of Filipino engineers who are currently working on rail projects abroad are willing to go back to the Philippines to help build railways, particularly the Metro Manila Subway, the country's transportation secretary said on Thursday.

More than 60 Filipino railway engineers and technicians currently employed in Bahrain, Qatar and Denmark agreed to work on rail projects in the Philippines, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told senators. 

The engineers said that they want to help build infrastructure in the Philippines, as well as be closer to their families.

"Pumirma ho sila ng mga application form. Basta maumpisahan lang yung subway project, given a reasonable time, they are ready to come back," Tugade said during a Senate hearing on his Department's budget. 

(They signed application forms. When the subway project starts, and they are given a reasonable time, they are ready to come back.) 

The Metro Manila subway broke ground in February this year but actual drilling of the subway tunnels is not expected to begin until November or December this year.

The underground rail system, which is the country's first, is among the flagship projects under President Rodrigo Duterte's P8 trillion infrastructure program.

The 36-kilometer subway will stretch from Valenzuela on the capital's northern end to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, promising as fast as 30 minutes of travel time from end to end.

The government earlier said it hopes to open the first 3 stations in Valenzuela, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue before Duterte's term ends in 2022.

Kyodo News, however, reported that contractors and people familiar with the project said the government's target timeline may increase the total cost, while the acquisition of land for its stations could take longer than estimated

...the OFWs contribution in GCC

Why GCC would not be the same without Filipinos

By Dr Jasim Ali,
Special to Gulf News
First Published:  May 24, 2014

 

"Much to their credit, OFWS have made the first impression with respect to working habits and ethics.

They are admired for possessing traits of productivity, discipline, customer service, attention to detail, and ease of communicating in English, and presentable.

It is not unfair to claim that Filipinos have emerged as a factor in local economic activities in all GCC countries. And it can be asserted that quality of life in the GCC cannot be the same without the OFWs on the back of their significant presence in diverse sectors."   - Dr. Jasim Ali, Member of Parliament, Bahrain

 

 

The Gulf countries are home to the largest number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and it’s an arrangement which benefits both sides. For instance, for the Philippines, the workers send home billions of dollars.
 

GCC airlines benefit from the traffic to the Philippines, with Emirates dominating the Manila route.

Fact is, a sizable number of Filipinos live and work abroad for economic reasons, with their number estimated at around 10.5 million and comprising around 11 per cent of the country’s total population. The stats include some 5 million permanently living abroad and about 1.5 million irregulars.
 

However, this piece focuses on OFWs, officially estimated at more than 2.2 million by end 2012, including some 0.45 million working on the high seas. Yet, thousands of Filipinos were exposed for overstaying their work permits following the implementation of the Nitaqat scheme in Saudi Arabia in July. The controversial project is meant to make Saudi nationals, rather than immigrant workers, employees of choice in the private sector.

 

Notably, five of the six Gulf countries are on the list of top 10 destinations for OFWs, an evidence of openness of the economies of the grouping.
 

Saudi Arabia continues to maintain its position as the top destination for OFWs, which has been the case since 2004, followed by the UAE. In 2012, Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounted for 20 and 16 per cent of OFWs, respectively. Qatar emerges in fourth popular place after Singapore in third position. Qatar alone boasts some 200,000 Filipinos.
 

Service workers
 

The increasing significance of Gulf countries for Filipinos partly reflects the changing composition of OFWs, with more emphasis placed on household services workers. Unlike the GCC, Western countries are known for applying relatively strict conditions on employment of live-in housemaids.
 

To a degree, the changing make up of OFWs is in response to difficulties surrounding employment in the Philippines. The challenges include an unemployment rate of 7 per cent, and under-employment of nearly 20 per cent. More than 40 per cent of the employed work in the informal sector.
 

The Philippines enticed some $24 billion (Dh88 billion) in remittances in 2012, the third highest worldwide after India and China, according to the World Bank. The amount represents around 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This sum is inclusive of money sent via financial institutions, cash carried by returning and visiting Filipinos and others in-kind.
 

The figure could be higher for the lifestyle of Filipinos, who are known to spend in the local economies. The habit of spending a considerable amount of their salaries in local markets adds to the attraction of having Filipinos in the GCC workforce.
 

Much to their credit, OFWS have made the first impression with respect to working habits and ethics.

They are admired for possessing traits of productivity, discipline, customer service, attention to detail, and ease of communicating in English, and presentable.
 

It is not unfair to claim that Filipinos have emerged as a factor in local economic activities in all GCC countries. And it can be asserted that quality of life in the GCC cannot be the same without the OFWs on the back of their significant presence in diverse sectors.
 

The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain.

...the world's most emotional societies

 

PH named 'most emotional society' in global list

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

22 November 2012

 

Pinoy fans show a variety of emotions during a football game in Manila. (File Photo by Marlo Cueto, NPPA Images)

 

 

It has been dubbed as a "bright spot" amid a global slowdown and a "rising tiger" in Southeast Asia, and now the Philippines is also deemed the best in a criteria money can't buy: emotions.

This, as the Philippines is named "most emotional society" in over 140 countries surveyed by U.S. pollster Gallup, a Businessweek report Wednesday said.

Asked questions aimed at determining recently felt emotions, 60 percent of Filipino respondents answered "yes."

But that doesn't necessarily make most Pinoys drama queens, as it could also easily mean that they are the clowns.

Among the questions in the Gallup survey, Businessweek said, are: "Did you feel well rested yesterday? Were you treated with respect all day yesterday? Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?"
 

Respondents were also asked if they experienced enjoyment, physical pain, worry, sadness, stress or anger "during a lot" of the previous day.

Next to the Philippines in terms of feelings are El Salvador, where 57 percent admit to expriencing a lot of emotions; Bahrain, 56 percent; and Oman, 55 percent.

Tied at 55 percent "yes" are Chile, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and the U.S.

Singapore, meanwhile, emerged as the "most emotionless" society with only 36 percent of respondents saying they experienced a lot of feelings in the previous day.

It was followed by Georgia and Lithuania at 37 percent; and Russia, Madagascar, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazahkstan, Nepal and Kyrgystan, which are tied at 38 percent.

Earlier this year, the Philippines figured in the group of countries deemed "happy" in a separate global survey dubbed the "Happy Planet Index."

The country ranked 25th in the latest Happy Planet list, dropping from being 14th in 2009, with an index score of 52.4.

Meanwhile, official government measure of happiness was pegged at 66.2 index points in 2010, down from 67.24 in 2008.

Pinoys are happiest in the areas of education, love life, friends, family and work, data from the National Statistical Coordination Board showed.

However, Filipinos think that the "most important" sources of happiness are family, health, religion or spiritual work, work as well as peace and security.

...the Azkal's FIFA ranking

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

 

October 3, 2012

GMA News

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

...the PH 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 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 BenCH

Bench bags international honors


The Philippine Star
November 06, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

...the little Kingdom with a big heart

Bahrain's PM donates to Bukidnon High School

abs-cbnNEWS.com

8/27/2011

BAHRAIN – Poor Filipinos have long been benefiting from the generosity of Sheik Khalifa Salman bin Al-Khalife, the prime minister of Bahrain.

Whenever the country faces a calamity like typhoon Ondoy, the prime minister is always on the list of foreign donors helping the country.

Recently, he responded to the request of a sick teacher in Bukidnon High School in Malaybalay.

Sarah Querol has been teaching for 32 years in Bukidnon.

Most of her students belong to cultural minorities and lack knowledge on new technology.

Querol said she just read on the newspaper that Sheikh Khalifa helps the poor.

Although it was a long shot, Querol still sent him a handwritten letter requesting for a DVD set and a computer. She never expected that her small wish would come true.

Students and faculty members of the Bukidnon High School were so happy with the donation they received from the prime minister.

Sheikh Khalifa also helped in the medication of Querol when he heard that the teacher is suffering from hypertension.

He hopes to one day visit the school to personally meet Querol and her students.

Prince Khalifa admitted having a soft spot for Filipinos because his house help and the nannies of his grandchildren are all Filipinos.

He even introduced to the news team 2 of his grandchildren who can speak a little Tagalog and Ilocano.

Also for the first time, the prime minister admitted having a hand in the safe release of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz and finance specialist Robert Tarongoy—the 2 Filipinos abducted in Baghdad in 2004. – Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau Chief