...the inspiration

Inspired by fun in the Philippines

            

DIPLOMATIC POUCH

By Lee Hyuk

The Philippine Star

June 12, 2014

 

 

"More than anything else, I believe that Korean tourists are flocking to the Philippines for its beauty and the hospitality of its people." - Lee Hyuk,  Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

In my two years in this country, I have visited many places that affirm the claim that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Apparently, I am not alone. Many of my fellow Koreans have been visiting the Philippines in the past, and they continue to do so in ever increasing numbers. I am happy to say that Koreans comprise about 25% of the foreigners who visited the country last year, making them the number one tourists.

Koreans are everywhere — from beach resorts to mountain trails, from diving spots to golf courses. Others have taken residence here, either in the suburbs or in the metropolis.

And where there are Koreans, there would be Korean restaurants and grocery stores. They cater as well as to the Filipinos who have developed a taste for Korean cuisine. It is part of the Korean wave or hallyu, that the Philippines has been riding for quite some time, and includes Korean-novelas on TV and K-Pop.

More than anything else, I believe that Korean tourists are flocking to the Philippines for its beauty and the hospitality of its people.

I myself have visited some popular areas, like Boracay and its pristine beaches, Bohol with its Chocolate Hills and tarsier sanctuary, and the mountain peaks of Cebu. This June, I will visit Palawan and finally get to see one of the World’s New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Underground River in Puerto Princesa.

My experiences have been fantastic. While the infrastructure may not be perfect, I expect more foreigners to arrive after the European Union removed the Philippines from its aviation blacklist last year.

On the other hand, there were more than 400,000 Filipinos who visited Korea last year. This was a 20.9% growth from the previous year. This number is significant, and indicates that Korea is becoming one of the favorite vacation spots of Filipino tourists as well.

 

Seoul has a special appeal to many visitors, and so does Jeju Island, which, incidentally, is also one of New 7 Wonders of Nature. People enticed by our own slogan, “Korea, Be Inspired,” probably visit Korea to shop for clothes, cosmetics, and electronic gadgets, as well as to have a taste of authentic Korean food, and enjoy the historical attractions. I heard that some also go to Korea for its salons and cosmetic surgery clinics. Seoul, like Metro Manila, is a “hip” and “stylish” place, especially for women, young and old.

The number of visitors may vary, but it is really a two-way exchange. While many Filipinos are in Korea on vacation, on scholarship, or as skilled and reliable workers, Koreans come to the Philippines to see the sights, to study, or to set up a business.

The affinity between our peoples is understandable. Geographically, the Philippines is our nearest neighbor in Southeast Asia. The weather is perfect for us who come from the temperate zone. And aside from the famous Filipino hospitality, we have shared values, especially with regard to the family.

Koreans in the Philippines may sometimes give the impression of detachment. Filipinos who visit Korea, however, actually have more positive encounters. In general, Koreans are relatively shy and reserved, especially when meeting people for the first time. Once people get to know us, they realize that we cherish meaningful friendships just like everyone else, and that Koreans are also a fun-loving and friendly people. The growth of Philippine tourism may just be one of the means to improve the image of Koreans in this country. After all, it’s more fun to make friends in the Philippines.

 

...the PH export growth 2012

Phl export growth in 2012 highest among East, SE Asian countries

 

 

 

By Jenny Red
Philippine Information Agency
Thursday 14th of February 2013


 

QUEZON CITY, Feb 14 (PIA) -- Filipinos have a lot to be proud of, one of which is that the country is out of the economic mire.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the posted annual growth in merchandise exports of the Philippines in December 2012 was the highest among its trade-oriented neighbors in East and Southeast Asia.

“The country’s export performance in December 2012 reflects the generally improved prospects in the global economy on the back of policy support implemented by major economies, most notably of the Euro area, the United States, and Japan,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan as merchandise exports jumped by 16.5 percent in the said month.

Other Asian economies that recorded positive export growth in December 2012 include Hong Kong (14.8 percent), the People’s Republic of China (14.1 percent), Viet Nam (14.1 percent), Thailand (13.5 percent), and Taiwan (9.0 percent).

Export earnings, meanwhile, grew by 7.6 percent to $52 billion in 2012 as compared to $48.3 billion in 2011. Balisacan said, however, that this is below the Development Budget Coordination Committee-approved export growth assumption of 10.0 percent for the year.

The country’s total export earnings reached $4 billion in December 2012 from $3.4 billion in the same period in 2011 as outward shipments of manufactured goods (17.8 percent), total agro-based products (19.1 percent), petroleum (137.0 percent) and forest products (29.9 percent) posted annual gains.

The strong performance of manufactured exports was attributed to higher receipts from machinery and transport equipment (138.8 percent), electronic equipment and parts (52.4 percent), wood manufactures (51.3 percent), processed food and beverages (40.4 percent), chemicals (15.1 percent), travel goods and handbags (453.7 percent), miscellaneous manufactures (25.1 percent), baby carriage and toys (48.4 percent), furniture and fixtures (17.6 percent), basket work, wicker work and other articles of plaiting materials (56.1 percent), footwear (96.8 percent), and iron and steel (4.3 percent).

Meanwhile, total agro-based exports amounted to $379.8 million in December 2012, up by 19.1 percent from $318.8 million in December 2011. Similarly, petroleum exports grew by 137.0 percent in December 2012 to $95.1 million from $40.1 million in the same period in 2011.

Accounting for 18.0 percent of total export receipts is Japan which was the top destination of Philippine exports in December 2012. The US came in second with a 12.7 percent-share followed by the Republic of China (10.5 percent), Hong Kong SAR (9.6 percent), and Singapore (8.6 percent). (NEDA/RJB/JGR-PIA NCR)

...the 2012's Deals of the Year

Euromoney cites PHL global peso bonds as one of 2012's Deals of the Year

GMA News

February 11, 2013

 

 

The Philippine global peso bonds launched last November was one of Euromoney's Deals of the year, a recognition that the Philippines is one of the safest emerging emerging markets for investors, the Department of Finance said Monday.

 

 

"We welcome this award as another vote of confidence in the Aquino administration's good governance reforms, and a continued nod at the effectiveness of our proactive liability management agenda," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima noted in a statement.

The US SEC-registered bond offering was part of government efforts at managing Philippine foreign debt. Issued in peso, but redeemable in US dollars, the bonds helped reduce the foreign exchange risk in the country debt portfolio. — VS, GMA News

 

...the PH growth forecast (World Bank)

WB sees PH growth at more than 6% through 2015

 

by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

ABS-CBNnews.com

01/16/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine economy is expected to continue growing by more than 6% in the next three years, according to a World Bank report.

 

In its "Global Economic Prospects 2013" report released on Wednesday, the World Bank said it projects a 6.2% growth for the Philippines in 2013; 6.4% in 2014 and 6.3% in 2015. This despite continuing concerns about the global economy's vulnerability to the risks from the euro zone crisis and fiscal policy in the United States.

The World Bank estimated the Philippines grew by 6% in 2012.

For the East Asia and the Pacific region, the World Bank sees growth at 7.9% this year, reflecting firmer growth in China to 8.4%. This is an improvement from the region's 7.5% growth in 2012.

"Improved global financial conditions, a gradual pickup of growth in high-income countries and a return to more normal global trade growth are expected to support a gradual strengthening of output in East Asia and the Pacific between 2013 and 2015," the report said.

The report also noted that "accommodative monetary policy" and and low inflation in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines is also a factor.

Major ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, are expected to continue their strong economic growth.

"Growth in this country group is expected to increase to 5.9% in 2015, as Indonesia continues to grow rapidly (at around 6.6%) and growth remains robust in Malaysia (around 5%), Thailand (4.5%) and the Philippines as well (around 6%)," it said.

Possible impact of US fiscal impasse

The World Bank cut its outlook for world growth this year. It estimates global gross domestic product will go up 2.4% this year, from 2.3% in 2012.

World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim said the global economic recovery remains fragile and uncertain, which clouds the prospects for a return to robust growth.

"Developing countries have remained remarkably resilient thus far. But we can't wait for a return to growth in the high-income countries, so we have to continue to support developing countries in making investments in infrastructure, in health, in education. This will set the stage for the stronger growth that we know that they can achieve in the future."

The growth prospects for the East Asia and Pacific region in 2013 remain vulnerable to the continuation of the euro zone crisis and the fiscal impasse in the United States.

The World Bank estimates a deepening euro zone crisis could cut East Asia and Pacific's regional GDP by 1%. The impact of the US' failure to resolve its fiscal problems could mean a 1.1% cut in East Asia and Pacific's GDP in 2013.

"Among the EAP developing economies China, Thailand and Indonesia are projected to be most affected by a growth slowdown in high income countries (about 1-1.2% cut in GDP in both 2013 and 2014 relative to the baseline) followed by Vietnam and Malaysia (about 0.8-0.7% cut in the GDP relative to the baseline) due to reduced import demand in high- income countries, much tighter international capital conditions and increased pre-cautionary savings within the region," the World Bank said.

...the PH growth outlook 2012, 2013 (World Bank)

WB hikes 2012, 2013 growth outlook for PH

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

12/19/2012

 

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank has upgraded its 2012 and 2013 growth projections for the Philippines, saying the country's economic performance so far can be sustained through more reforms and additional revenues.

 

In its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released Wednesday, World Bank raised its 2012 forecast for the Philippine economy to 6% from the 5% announced in October.

World Bank also hiked its 2013 outlook for the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 6.2% from 5%.

"Going forward, the country's high growth could be sustained and made more inclusive provided that economic reforms are aggressively pursued to create more and better jobs and reduce poverty at a faster rate; more revenues are raised to finance higher spending in physical and human capital; and global growth is supportive and rebalancing in the region continues," World Bank said.

The new 2012 projection is now equivalent to the high-end of the government's 5% to 6% target, but the 2013 outlook hovers near the low-end of government's 6% to 7% goal next year.

The economy expanded by a faster-than-expected 7.1% in the third quarter, bringing GDP growth to 6.5% in the nine months to September.

World Bank said that consumer spending, which accounts for 75% of GDP, will continue to drive growth this year until the next, as remittances from overseas Filipinos are expected to remain strong.

The main risks for the country's growth path, World Bank said, are the weak economic activity in the US, the European Union and Japan; the looming US fiscal cliff; and the slowing Chinese economy.

"With further structural reforms, especially in areas which will have more impact on the lives of the poor, along with investments in infrastructure, education, and health, the Philippines can take advantage of new opportunities arising from the global economic rebalancing and the strong growth prospects of the East Asia region," World Bank said.

"By building on its previous and current successes and by ensuring that it is prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are coming its way, the government stands to make a significant difference in the lives of Filipinos."

World Bank sees the Philippine economy further expanding by 6.4% in 2014.

...the EU's outlook

EU cites PH’s improved disaster preparedness

By Volt Contreras
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sunday, December 9th, 2012

 

 

BRUSSELS—Despite the high death toll of Typhoon “Pablo,” the European Union’s coordinating body for humanitarian aid lauded the Philippines’ preparedness for the latest killer storm to hit the country.

Officials of the European Community Humanitarian Office (Echo) on Friday cited an improvement in the government’s response, noting that it “saved a lot of lives,” compared to what was seen a year ago when Tropical Storm “Sendong” devastated parts of Mindanao, also days before Christmas.

Echo officials in the Belgian capital, host city of EU institutions, also said a team from its Bangkok office flew to Davao on Friday to assess how it can help in the emergency relief effort. The team is expected to make a report to Brussels on Sunday.

“When ‘Bopha’ (the typhoon’s international name) or Pablo hit, I think the government was more prepared than it had been in the past,” said Jenny Correia Nunes, Echo’s team leader for Southeast Asia.

Nunes was referring mainly to the preemptive evacuation of residents in areas that were in Pablo’s path.

Dominique Gryn, Echo’s desk officer for the Philippines, added: “Today the technology is so sophisticated that we can actually predict very precisely when and where the landfall will hit. And in the Philippines we’ve seen that the preparations the government made in anticipation of the storm in Mindanao were extraordinary. And that saved a lot of lives in itself.”

“And we have a clear comparison that we can draw with last year’s ‘Washi’ (international name of Sendong) which hit very similar areas and the devastation caused was much larger. Of course we’re still seeing what the impact of Bopha is. We have to be careful not to underestimate the damage. But still, we can already say that the disaster awareness and preparedness had saved a lot of lives,” she added.

Asked how she could still make this positive assessment despite Pablo’s death toll climbing to over 300 and with about an equal number of people still missing as of Friday, Gryn explained:

“Yes, the death toll is rising, nobody is countering that. What we’re only saying now is that the government has taken certain measures that probably saved a lot of lives. We know this because a year ago the death toll was a lot higher.”

The United Nations had made a similar observation.

Gryn also said Echo’s partner nongovernmental organizations in the region had also “prepositioned” themselves before the storm made landfall in the areas expected to be hit, and had begun assessing where the EU could help.

She said the EU’s assistance could fill “gaps” in the government-led relief effort.

The Echo officials spoke in a briefing with Southeast Asian reporters who were in the Belgian capital on a EU-hosted press tour.

The EU poured in some 7.6 million euros to assist storm- or flood-affected people in the Philippines in 2011. This year, it released 700,000 euros for communities affected by the floods that hit Luzon in August.

...the fastest growing bond markets

PH 2nd-fastest growing bond market in East Asia as of Q3, says ADB

By Michelle V. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Friday, November 23rd, 2012

 

 

"The Philippines was one of the most preferred sites for portfolio investments given a favorable outlook on its economy. " - ADB

 

 

 

The bond market in the Philippines was the second-fastest growing among emerging economies in East Asia as of the third quarter, as the country’s buoyant economy boosted appetite for peso-denominated instruments.

The Asian Development Bank said in a recent report that outstanding bonds in the local bond market registered one of the fastest growth rates in the region as of end-September, as economic problems in Europe and the United States prompted investors to seek higher yields in Asia.

The Philippines was one of the most preferred sites for portfolio investments given a favorable outlook on its economy, the ADB said.

According to the ADB report, the outstanding amount of local currency-denominated bonds from the Philippines reached a dollar equivalent of $91 billion as of the end of September, up by 21.8 percent from that in the same period last year.

Only Singapore posted a faster growth rate of 25.8 percent.

In absolute terms, however, the amount of outstanding bonds in the Philippine market was lower than that for most countries in the region.

Industry players admit that the country’s capital market remains small compared with its regional counterparts.

Growth rates and outstanding amounts of bond markets in the region are as follows: Vietnam, 21.1-percent growth to $21 billion; Malaysia, 20.7-percent growth to $318 billion; South Korea, 16.2-percent growth to $1.37 trillion; China, 12.5-percent growth to $3.65 trillion; and Hong Kong, 3.7-percent growth to $176 billion.

Contradicting the trend in the region, the bond market of Indonesia fell by 0.6 percent to $110 billion.

For the entire region, the outstanding amount of bonds thus stood at $6.24 trillion, rising year on year by 13.9 percent.

“Volatility spillover was directly transmitted to Asian local bond markets during the US and eurozone crises,” said the ADB as it noted the shift in investor appetite to instruments issued from emerging Asian markets.

It said the appetite for portfolio instruments from emerging Asian economies was also reflected in the increase in demand for equities, currencies and money market instruments in the region.

Data on the Philippines also showed that of the P3.8 trillion (or $91 billion) in outstanding bonds by the end of September, about P3.3 trillion was accounted for by government securities while corporate bonds accounted for the balance of P500 billion.

The outstanding amount of Philippine government securities represented a year-on-year growth of 14.7 percent, while that of corporate bonds marked an annual growth rate of 26.1 percent, the ADB said.

Although the increase in foreign portfolio investments is a welcome development, monetary officials said excessive amounts and steep increase could be destabilizing to an economy.

They said these can cause sharp and sudden appreciation of the local currency against the US dollar, adversely affecting exporters.

This is why the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has implemented several measures against excessive inflows.

...the ASEAN Telecoms head

PH New Chair Of ASEAN Telecoms Ministers

 

By EDD K. USMAN

Manila Bulletin

November 15, 2012

The Philippines is the new chair of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers (TELMIN) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Go Montejo will be TELMIN's chairman until 2013. He took over from his Myanmar counterpart.

In his speech delivered at the event, Montejo batted for a paradigm shift from an “information society” to a “smart society.”

He said ICT should not only be about giving information and attaining convenience, as he noted a shift in ICTs.

“The answer lies in the emerging role of ICTs in a world which is increasingly defined by how we use them. We may be seeing an emerging shift in ICTs manifested in directions beyond mere access to the technology, to its strategic use as it becomes embedded in all aspects of life. This is a shift from the so-called 'information society' paradigm to a new one --the paradigm of a ‘smart society,’” said the DOST Secretary.

As the cost of digital services continues to drop, he said, their sophistication grows.

The result, Montejo said, is the widespread use of devices, smart appliances, and sensors in people's every day lives.

“This increasing network of smarter/self-aware devices, have provided an abundance of real time information and data that can be analyzed and processed to help in decision making and management of systems, resulting in increased productivity, efficiency and responsiveness, enabling smarter ways of doing things in various disciplines, such as in meteorology and weather, agriculture, health services, traffic management, energy and other governance systems," he said.

Apparently, the DOST head could also be referring to the government's much-vaunted Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), a state-of-the-art response to mitigating the effect of natural calamities, save lives and properties through an early warning system.

Montejo called on his counterpart ICT ministers for stronger cooperation and collaboration.

"Let us continue to share our experiences, learnings and strategies that will respond to common challenges and go beyond a connected ASEAN to embody a Smart ASEAN, that has truly leveraged ICTs to enable the aspirations of the ASEAN people for a better future," he said.

During the event, 10-member states bloc and the ITU signed a memorandum of understanding on "Joint Cooperation on ICT Development in ASEAN.

There was also the 1st ASEAN ICT Awards as well as Mactan-Cebu Declaration signing between and among ASEAN members to push advance ICT cooperation and integration in the region, and to strengthen the Philippine commitment to socio-economic development through ICT.

From Nov. 12 to 16, the country hosted two ASEAN information and communications technology (ICT) conferences in Mactan City, Cebu.

These are 12th TELMIN and 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials' Meeting (TELSOM).

DOST's Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) organized the two events. Undersecretary Louis Napoleon C. Casambre headed the Philippines' senior officials' delegation.

ASEAN groups the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Represented in the two meetings are ASEAN's dialogue partners, such as China, India, Japan, Korea, the European Union (EU),and non-state actor the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Earlier at the TELMIN, Casambre urged the other ASEAN members to intensify "cooperation on cybersecurity, to build awareness amongst our people and institutions, and to raise our response capabilities to raise the numerous threats within and outside our borders." (Edd K. Usman)

...the PH from expat's eye

Seeing The Philippines From An Expat’s Eyes

 

 

By ANDREW JAMES MASIGAN

Manila Bulletin

October 21, 2012

 

A recent study conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce revealed that most expats of multinational companies working in the Asia Pacific region prefer to be assigned to the Philippines over any other nation. Conversely, expats already working in the country have expressed unwillingness to be transferred elsewhere.  The results of the study come as a pleasant surprise given that the Philippines is placed in direct comparison with countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. The survey shows that foreigners still prefer to live and work in the Philippines despite our lagging infrastructure and the inconveniences stemming from our densely populated cities.

The AmCham study piqued my curiosity. As a proud Pinoy, I wanted to know what made the Philippines so attractive to foreigners. I needed to get firsthand information from an expat who’s spent a significant time in the country, as well as other parts of the world. I found just the guy in Pierre Marmonier.  Pierre is a Frenchman from the southern region of León. He graduated from the prestigious Aix de Provence Business School before earning his MBA at Harford University in Connecticut. He built his career as a corporate man initially working for Swedish Match before moving on to British American Tobacco. As a marketing and export executive, Pierre spent several years working in the U.K., France, Switzerland, Algeria and the Philippines, while constantly traveling around Asia.

Not only did Pierre ask to be stationed in the Philippines twice, he also decided to settle here after his stint with the multinationals. The man from León is now happily entrenched in Philippine life, both as a family man and a thriving entrepreneur.

Why The Philippines?

Over glasses of wine, Pierre and I talked about what made him decide to raise his family and start a business in the Philippines. He is a citizen of the EU, after all, and could settle in most parts of the western world where standards of living are higher.

Pierre told me that among all the races he’s interacted with from all over the world, no one is more open and welcoming of foreigners than the Filipino. The Philippines is perhaps one among a handful of nations in the world where the locals have the compunction to make foreigners feel special. He observes how we Filipinos have it in our nature to make strangers feel welcome if he or she happens to be in our personal space. He cites how we would naturally include a stranger in a conversation if he happened to be within earshot of a chat. How we would offer a part of our meal to a stranger if he were to walk by while we were eating. How we would make the effort to speak in English if we were talking to a white person. These are traits uncommon in other nationalities, but natural to the Filipino, Pierre says.

He also finds the Pinoy to be both open-minded and tolerant of other people’s life choices. Being different in the Philippines is no big deal, he asserts. It is a welcome change from his native France, where people can be close-minded on many issues.

Here, people are not hung up on religion, skin color, cultural idiosyncrasies or even gender, he says.  He was surprised to discover that women are just as respected (sometimes, even more feared) than the men folk. He is amazed that the Muslims, Buddhists and Agnostics among a predominantly Catholic populace are looked upon with curiosity rather than resentment. He is amused that gay people are regarded as creative and “fun” rather than an object of hate. Above all, he notes how we Filipinos manage to smile even in the midst of the most dire circumstances. As far as standards of living goes, Pierre has seen it improve considerably from the first time he stepped foot in the country in 1994. Back then, he relates, brownouts were the norm, proper housing for expats were few and far between, and recreational facilities like parks, malls and country clubs were rare. Things have changed today. While infrastructure is still a problem, albeit to a lesser degree, Manila can now rival any other world cities in terms of quality of life, especially in the realm of education where numerous international schools are now in operation for the expat community. He notes, however, that there is still a lack of facilities to feed the humanities. He misses the museums, theater scene and art scene of Europe and more advanced countries in Asia. This is something not in the priority list of government, but should be.

Doing Business In The Philippines

Pierre started his business some three years ago, just when the economy started to gain traction. His timing could not have been better and he is now reaping the fruits of our favorable economic environment.

Pierre’s company manufactures artisanal jams made in the old-fashioned French manner. His products go by the name of “The Fruit Garden” and can be found in most hotels like the Dusit and Hyatt. It is also the house jam of most luxury hotel chains including the Shangri-La Group, The Peninsula, The Mandarin, The Hyatt, Discovery Shores and Oakwood, among others. Pierre is riding the tourism boom as more hotels are set to open in the next few years. He is already positioned to be part of the Raffles and Fairmont Hotels when they open next year, and he looks forward to the mammoth resorts on the rise at the Pagcor Entertainment City. My wife and I have been fans of The Fruit Garden jams for years, especially their Mango-Ginger, Strawberry-Banana and Pine-Cocorum flavors. As Pinoys, we’re not big jam eaters but this one is different. It’s light, not too sweet, and has more fruit than water and pectin. It’s become our morning fix and a regular fixture in our condiment rack. Pierre is also supplier to some of the country’s top 500 companies for their giveaways during Christmas and special events. His luxury packaging and French heritage recipes speak of class and stature, which makes it a hot seller in corporate circles.

Amidst all his success, he cites his Filipino workforce as one of his true assets. They are loyal, hardworking and have good work ethics, he says. In the manufacturing line, he finds his workers easy to train and able to retain knowledge without need for constant reminders (apparently, this is not the case with other workers in the region). In fact, he boasts of nearly zero production mistakes leading to a product reject ratio of less than one percent. He also appreciates the Filipino’s willingness to multi-task, even if not in their job description. This speaks volumes of their concern for the company.

Irritants

Still, there are irritants in doing business in the Philippines. He complains about the excessive cost of electricity and high cost of agricultural produce. For a country blessed with so much arable land, fruits are unreasonably expensive, he laments. For instance, a kilo of strawberries from Baguio can cost up to P200 while its imported equivalent from China costs less than P100. The country loses out because of its inefficient agricultural sector. Government would do good by giving it the focus it deserves, he opines.  Another issue he grapples with is the Filipino’s lack of “hunger” in generating new business. He finds it strange that companies he intends to buy from fail to act with urgency when filling his orders. They act as if they don’t need the business. Shouldn’t they be hustling to generate sales? Pierre cannot understand the laxity. In Europe, suppliers treat their clients like partners as their (the client’s) success naturally redounds to the supplier’s success. Pierre does not feel that kind of symbiotic relationships with his suppliers. If anything, their view is only up to next month’s purchase order.

But perhaps the biggest drawback in Pierre’s experience is dealing with dishonest people or people who are not forthright in their business dealings. Unfortunately, there are many of them in these parts.

Pierre told me how his landlord, a Filipino, presented his property as being suitable for commercial or industrial use, knowing full well that it was earmarked as a non-commercial zone. As a result, Pierre was unable to secure his business permits for months even after investing millions on improving the property. His landlord duped him and left him to fix the mess. Pierre was able to sort it out eventually, but not without massive setbacks on his business and personal trauma. It is unfortunate that our justice system does not provide quick recourse to address situations like this.


The Philippines Wins

In the next few months, The Fruit Garden will begin tapping the export market of Japan, Korea and China. He believes there is a demand for artisan French-made jams using the best tropical fruits from the Philippines. His closest competitor, Hero Jams, is made in Egypt and cannot compete with the wide spectrum of flavors The Fruit Garden offers.

When realized, the country stands to gain export revenues, not to mention the local taxes and employment from Pierre’s venture. In fact, even now, the country already benefits from his work on many levels. For this, he deserves our gratitude.   We should all continue to do what we naturally do best—make our expat friends feel special. As in Pierre’s case, it pays dividends a hundred-fold.

...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 Filipino brand goes international

Filipino Franchises Venture In Low Priced Markets Africa, Turkey, ME

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

July 12, 2012

Manila Bulletin

Philippine companies are setting their sights at new foreign markets, particularly low-priced markets Africa, Turkey and Middle East, which are hungry for affordable franchises, even as foreign franchises are flocking into the country in view of the economic difficulties in the EU and the US.
 
Samie Lim, the father of Philippine franchising said at the press launch of   Franchise Asia Philippines 2012 slated to be held this month by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), said that Africa is a good destination for Filipino brands as well as Turkey. He said Turkey could serve as the Philippines link to the EU.

Crystal Clear is franchising in Sierra Leone while Max’s is going to foray in other parts of the Middle East.

“Philippine franchises are going to low priced markets such as South Africa, Turkey and the Middle East as our new markets,” he said.
 
Other businesses are also breaking from their provincial territories and into Manila to promote their brands.
On the other hand, Lim said the US and the EU brands which used to snub the Philippines have no choice anymore but to go to the Philippines because of the growing power buyer of the huge Filipino population.
 
“We really have gotten the global attention of franchising following our hosting last year of the World Franchising where 30 countries participated,” he said.

“There will be foreign franchises coming in this year and next year we are unstoppable because we have already started the cycle. The Philippines is going to be the link of franchises in Asia from the EU and US to other Asian markets,” Lim added.

Based on the World Franchise 2011 report, the Philippines ranked 11th in the number of franchise concepts (124,000 concepts), fourth in number of franchises (1093 franchises) and third in the number of employment (1.023 million).

Aside from the prominence the Philippine generated from last year’s hosting of the World Franchise events here, Lim noted the strong tourism sector and the strong government support for the industry.

He said the tourism sector, which is expected to lure 6 million tourists by 2016 would need 8 million Filipino personnel. On top of these, there are an estimated 32 million local tourists.

Lim said that 40 to 60 percent of a tourist’s expense of his trip goes to shopping, thus benefiting the retail sector also.

The banks are also extending financing not to franchises but to franchisors that are still developing their franchising systems.
 
PFA chairman Robert Trota said the Philippines’ participation to the Madrid Protocol would help local franchises to expand to 85 countries globally by making one-time application with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines at a fee of only P50,000.

“This is ideal for the Philippines, you gain the opportunity to go global. If in the future you decide to go global you have already your bases covered,” Trota said noting there are over 8 million Filipinos overseas who will always patronize Philippine products.

Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta said that the main objective of Philippine franchises when they expand abroad is to be able to go mainstream because that is where the huge customer is. (BCM)

...the Madrid Protocol

Madrid Protocol to draw more investors to PH

By: Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

The Philippines expects higher investor interest in trademark registrations starting this month as the country opens applications under the Madrid Protocol, which allows brands to get protection in several countries through a single filing, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (Ipophl).

Ipophl director general Ricardo R. Blancaflor said that, overall, the number of trademark registrations is increasing and there may be 10 percent more registrations in 2012 from 2011.

“As of end-June, we’re up around 3 to 4 percent so I think we can hit 10 percent growth,” Blancaflor said.

In terms of registrations specifically under the Madrid Protocol, Blancaflor said initial reports reaching his office indicated that at least 200 trademark applications may be filed on the first day of registration alone on July 25.

Citing information from law firms specializing in trademark registration and protection, Blancaflor said the San Miguel group alone may have about 2,000 marks that may be registered under the protocol.

“We expect many Philippine brands going global. International brands [coming] to the Philippines are also expected and the bulk will come from European brands. If international brands file their marks in the United States that would cost them $400 (per filing) but in the Philippines, it’s less than $100,” Blancaflor said. “This also helps Philippine companies since they get protection when they go global.”

Blancaflor noted the Philippines can beat Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in terms of attracting filings because these Asean countries will only join the Madrid Protocol by yearend. He also said the Philippines is a significant market because of its strong middle class and Filipinos’ “very good taste” in brands.

The Philippines’ accession to the Madrid Protocol also gives investors, such as British companies, more confidence in the market, said British embassy trade and investment director Derek Page. “It enables me to promote the Philippines as a market where intellectual property rights are protected. And of course anything that lessens bureaucracy and red tape is very welcome,” Page said.

Ipophl will begin accepting applications filed via the Madrid Protocol by July 25, 2012. Trademarks registered through the protocol will also be automatically registered in the other 85 member-countries.

Trade groups have welcomed the accession as this would make their members’ trademark registration faster, easier and more affordable. A single channel will likewise facilitate renewals and changes in trademark ownership.

The Philippines’ major trading partners—including Japan, the US, China, Singapore, Korea, Australia and the European Union—are all members of the Madrid Protocol.

...the all-time high index

Philippine stocks surge to an all-time high in liquidity-driven rally; PSEi up 2.39%

By VICTOR D. SOLLORANO,

GMA News
February 17, 2012

Share prices on the Philippine Stock Exchange surged to an all-time high in a liquidity-driven rally on Friday, boosted by hopes of a bailout package for debt-ridden Greece and positive economic data from the US.

The main PSEi rose 114.14 points or 2.39 percent to close at 4,880.1, following three successive days of declines.

More than 9.895 billion shares valued at P8.292 billion were traded.

“This is a liquidity-driven rally,” said Mark Angeles, head of research at First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp.

“There are liquidity flows recurring… coming in with the optimism on US jobs data” and the bailout package for Greece, said Angeles.

The previous PSEi high was on Feb. 2, 2012 at 4,822.08 points.

Year-to-date, the PSEi has gained 11.6 percent. Friday's performance was also the index's highest point growth since October 7, 2011 when it posted a gain of 118.74 points, the PSE said in a statement.

This was also the index's highest percentage growth since October 7, 2011

when it posted a gain of 3.1 percent.

Intraday, the PSEi hit a new high at 4,886.99 points surpassing the previous

record intra-day level of 4,855.00 points posted on February 6, 2012.

"Hopes towards a second bailout for Greece as well as positive data on the US jobs and housing markets have boosted today's trading following tepid market movement in the past days. Strong corporate and local fundamentals have in turn pushed the market further as the gains we posted today topped the other market rallies in Asia." said PSE president and CEO Hans B. Sicat.

Other Asian markets reacted positively to those developments.

“Asian shares rebounded on Friday on signs euro zone officials will soon approve a long-awaited bailout for Greece, reducing the risk of a debt default, and after jobs and manufacturing data pointed to a healthier US economy," according to a Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan rose as much as 1.4 percent, recovering most of the losses during Asia's trading day on Thursday when worries about a delay in signing a Greek deal sparked fears of a Greek default, the Reuters report noted.

US jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week to a near four-year low, January housing starts came in better than forecast, and the pace of factory activity in the US Mid-Atlantic region gained momentum in February.

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose to 1,358.05 on Thursday, a nine-month high, boosted by the US data.

"Sentiment has brightened to encourage risk taking," said Masayuki Doshida, senior market analyst at Rakuten Securities.

"An easy monetary environment continues, with another liquidity injection scheduled later this month from the European Central Bank and expectations a March default by Greece can be avoided spurring 'risk-on' momentum," he said.

Euro zone officials said on Thursday they were putting the finishing touches to a second bailout deal for Greece for approval on Monday, with a focus on how Greece can prioritize debt repayment and ways to ensure Athens commits to reforms.

As global central banks create money, the financial system gets awashed with cash, said First Metro’s Angeles.

“Creating such liquidity drives equities higher and bond yields lower,” Angeles added.

Winners led losers 123 to 56, with 28 issues closing unchanged during Friday’s trading on the PSE. — With Reuters/KG, GMA News

...the Philippines in Asia

Philippines in the new East Asia context

Karen Davila,

Young Global Leader 2010,

ABS-CBN Philippines

01/29/2012

“The Philippines has a new president, Noynoy Aquino. The Philippines is the next growth story in the next 10 years, you see some investors in Indonesia already leaving and moving to the Philippines”. - Karim Raslan, Global Agenda Council on Southeast Asia

This year, I had the honor of being invited as a Young Global Leader (YGL) participant to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The World Economic Forum is undoubtedly, the most high-profile, most covered yet exclusive conference in the world – only 2,000 participants are invited to attend the annual gathering – ranging from heads of state, prime ministers, the world’s royalty from kings & queens…down to their heirs, influential politicians, nobel laureates, academicians, advocacy leaders, social entrepreneurs and not to mention, famous celebrities.

Imagine, in this one conference….

Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper each separately addressed the plenary but had one message: the world economy is in trouble and that action must be taken. But the nagging question on everybody’s mind was how to do it? Bailing out bankrupt economies? Ending the social welfare system and getting countries to be more economically productive? To keep and scrap economic unions like EU?

Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke on health & chaired another session on G20.

Chelsea Clinton moderated an event on E-Philantrophy.

The revolutionary Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank gave his insights on his breakthrough idea on the power of youth to transform society through social business.

French director Luc Besson taught a session on the power of film on how it can be an agent of change, Japanese actor Ken Watanabe spoke on the power of storytelling…famous authors Paolo Coehllo and Rick Warren, even Mick Jagger dropped by in a few YGL parties and danced with some of us, including me! Only in Davos.

Apart from Europe’s spreading economic crisis, there was discussion also on China’s emergence as the new economic power – eclipsing the United States – or if the European contagion will impact on China.

But in all these discussions - how does a small developing nation like the Philippines fit in all this?

With no representation from the Philippine government this year, the Philippines was surprisingly discussed in “The New Context in East Asia”, one of the sessions moderated by Senior Research Fellow Stephen Roach of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs & Yale University.

One of the distinguished panelists, Karim Raslan of the Global Agenda Council on South-East Asia says the Philippines will be a serious player in Asia in the next few years, “The Philippines has a new president, Noynoy Aquino. The Philippines is the next growth story in the next 10 years, you see some investors in Indonesia already leaving and moving to the Philippines”.

Raslan cites one important but often neglected quality necessary for economic growth – and tha, the says, is honesty. “Honesty in a leader is important. In Indonesia we’ve seen leaders immune from prosecution, but in the Philippines – when you’re out of office there is (prosecution)”. Clearly referring to experiences of former President Joseph Estrada and now Gloria Arroyo, Raslan laughs, “now I don’t know…some might say that’s a good thing or a bad thing”.

I think it would’ve been a plus if President Aquino came & gave a session on “Good Governance equals Good Economics”, an agenda he’s been trumpeting, which could’ve signaled how doing business with government has changed.

It’s something, he says, Malaysia can learn from. With elections coming this year, Raslan adds, its important to address deep-rooted problems like corruption, “we put off economic reforms”

But when I asked Raslan to enumerate on some immediate economic growth areas, he was quick to say – focus on creating jobs & tourism, “the much controversial Open Skies policy is critical in encouraging tourism, the Philippines is a good tourism opportunity, it’s the closest to China and that’s a huge market to tap. I think Bohol can be the Bali of the Philippines”. I found this to be quite interesting, given a random poll in Davos – most of foreigners I had spoken to either traveled to Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore – and the main reason? Simple. Direct flights to all these destinations.

Raslan also cited the Philippines overtaking India in the BPO industry, “BPO has transformed middle-class lives, good area for growth”. Mining, he admits, is a big potential source for the Philippines, but given climate change & more storms, “it's imperative that mining be worked down in a regulatory framework, you can’t turn the clock back on progress, but strict measures can be put in place”

Chang Dae-Wan, panelist & Chairman of the Maekyung Media Group from Korea says trade among Asian nations is key to each one’s growth, including the Philippines. “it is important for most Asian countries to unite economically, without excluding the European union. The west can’t get its act together, there's opportunity in crisis – the current crisis can make for greater integration in Asia”.

Which is why, Raslan ends, “the Philippines needs to know more of Asia, and not be America–centric”.

Most Asian countries are having partnerships - Thailand going to Korea to learn anti-flood methods, Korean grid wanting to connect with the Japanese grid, Asia “credit rating companies” and the Asean 10 (our version of the European Union) are now the subject of talks. With China’s growth pegged at 9.2% and even if it turns out smaller, they’re financially stable enough to pump prime it, Asia is clearly where the growth is and the Philippines needs to be part of these partnerships.

HSBC recently projected that by 2050, the Philippines will be the 16th largest economy in the world, the reason being – sound economic fundamentals, rising income per capita, improved rule of law, stronger democracy and rising education.

Raslan sees this as possible, “good policy decisions will soon trickle down to the Filipino masses…in small increments….and to Filipinos, don’t be too negative, you’ll see it”.

---

...the credit rating

Philippine credit rating on track for upgrade

BSP expects investment grade status within a year

By: Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

 

The Philippines’ global credit rating may be raised to investment grade within a year following five “positive actions” from credit watchers in 2011, according to the central bank.

Diwa Guinigundo, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor, said Wednesday that in six months to a year, it is possible for the country to attain an upgrade of “a notch or two,” especially after Standard and Poor’s improved its outlook on the country from “stable” to “positive” last month.

For borrowings from foreign lenders, Moody’s Investor Service and S&P rate the country “BB” and “Ba2,” respectively, both indicating two notches below investment grade.

But Fitch Ratings marks the country with “BB+,” which is just a step away from the level where a country’s capacity to pay off its debts is perceived to be “adequate.”

A two-notch upgrade would bring Moody’s and S&P ratings to investment grade, as a one-step uptick will do with Fitch ratings.

“If the direction of the country’s economy stays on course, I think we have sufficient basis to be confident that we shall receive a credit upgrade that we deserve,” Guinigundo said.

He said the domestic economy continued to grow in 2011 despite problems elsewhere in the world that affect the Philippines, such as the fiscal predicaments of the United States and certain countries in the European Union.

He also said that the inflow of funds from abroad remained strong with remittances from overseas-based Filipinos reaching some $16.5 billion in the 10 months to October and gross international reserves hitting $76 billion.

Guinigundo said the Philippines had been accorded “two slots” for a possible upgrade, which a positive outlook—such as that of S&P—makes all the more seemingly attainable.

“Fitch was almost immovable but they moved,” he added. “Whatever improvement from the current (ratings) is welcome, but we deserve investment grade based on our assessment.”

A credit rating upgrade would mean lower borrowing costs for the country, which would translate to easier access to funds for companies and individuals.

Last December when S&P changed its Philippine outlook to positive from stable, company analyst Agost Bernard said the move was meant to reflect the assessment that the Philippines’ external vulnerability had diminished.

...the novel that becomes tourism pitch

Pinay's hit int'l novel promotes Boracay

 

08/17/2011

GMA News

A new hit fiction novel by Filipino author Samantha Sotto is turning out to be a tourism pitch for world-famous Boracay Island in Western Visayas.

In a call on the Philippine Embassy to Washington, Sotto said that while her novel "Before Ever After" is set in Europe, Boracay figured prominently the story.

"She informed Philippine ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. that] while the setting of her novel is Europe, the famous island resort of Boracay in the Philippines is an important location in the story," the Philippine Embassy to Washington D.C. said in a news release.

"My being Filipino was definitely a plus. My living overseas was not an issue at all with my publisher," added Sotto, who lives in the Philippines.

Also, she said there are no barriers to Filipino talent and one of her goals in being an author is to raise awareness about the Philippines.

Sotto's fiction novel is published by the prestigious Random House, and was released last August 2. She is the second Filipino after National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose to have her work published by Random House.

"Before Ever After" is a love story that defies the boundaries of time and space. Sotto wrote it at a coffee shop while waiting for her son to get off from school. It is her first work.

For his part, Cuisia expressed pride at Sotto's achievement and urged her to continue with her good work to showcase Filipino talent not just in the US but in many parts of the world, the embassy said.

Sotto said she is already working on a second book. She said she is "80 percent done" with the second book and will be back in the US in October for more promotional events. — KBK, GMA News

...the young docu maker

Young Filipino counterparts wow German documentary maker

By: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

BETTINA Braun: “The docu is an individual, intellectual approach to a story.”

For the second phase of workshops on documentary filmmaking, the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Cooperative (IFC) brought in German filmmaker Bettina Braun to facilitate week-long lectures recently at the College of St. Benilde, Manila.

Braun, who has made docus in Europe, was “pleasantly surprised” by her interaction with Filipino students. “We had very intense, thorough discussions on the topics they wanted to tackle in their docus,” she told Inquirer. “They are intelligent, open-minded, very interested.”

Majority of the students’ topics revolved around poverty, she said. “But they are approaching the issue from different angles,” she clarified. “One student proposed a docu on a slum community that’s about to get demolished. Another wanted to tell the story of fisher folk who cannot send their children to school.”

Braun sees in the students’ proposed docus the conflict between “the old and new worlds.”

TEACHER screens her docu “Whatz Up?” for the Filipino students.

“The docu is an individual, intellectual approach to a story,” she said. “As a filmmaker, it’s about finding your own language, your voice – from an emotional or formal perspective.”

She showed the students one of her docus, “Whatz Up?” – which follows four Muslim teens growing up in Germany in the course of two years.

From her discussions with the participants, she said, she realized that this new generation of Filipino documentarians is eager to make films that veer away from the usual fare shown on television.

BRAUN (second from left) hits the streets to shoot with the workshop participants.

“When you watch TV, you see stories tackled the same way. It only reflects one aspect of reality in the country,” Braun noted.

She is optimistic about the future of docus in the Philippines: “There is a crowd for works that deviate from mainstream entertainment.” She hopes that the local scene will develop this audience, while “encouraging a new breed of passionate and committed filmmakers who will make movies that will truly move people.”

The IFC joined forces with the Goethe Institut Manila, the College of St. Benilde and the Film Development Council of the Philippines in mounting the docu workshops.

GERMAN documentarian (center) shares her shooting skills with the students.

IFC chair Doy del Mundo said the group is conducting a monthly Film Forum series. “We started last May with a screening of ‘Dominic,’ a film shot in Spain and France, with foreign actors and Filipino crew members.”

Last June, the IFC hosted a screening of Jim Libiran’s “Happyland” at Fully Booked on Bonifacio High Street.

IFC’s Margie Templo put together the Film Financing Forum where filmmakers pitched ideas to prospective financiers during the recently concluded Cinemalaya fest, said Del Mundo.

...the Judges Spirit awardee

OFW choir group wins Judges Spirit Award in California

By Ed Yra
FilAm Star

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

 

From the Facebook group of Prime Note Ensemble

 

“The Prime Note Ensemble captured not only the audience but also the judge’s hearts, that is why they were awarded the Judges Award for Exemplifying the CICF Spirit,” said Pat Harris, the executive director of the California International Choral Festival and Competition (CICF).

It was noted by those who attended the choral competition, which was held from June 24 to June 26 at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo, that many audience members were captivated by the overseas Filipino ensemble’s arrangement and moving rendition of the song, “The Circle of Life” from the movie The Lion King.

Operated by the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, a local nonprofit organization, the CICF competition is a world class event that began in 2007, and includes many choral groups from as far as Indonesia, Uganda, Republic of Congo, parts of Europe and the Philippines.

The gathering, which is held every other year, has been dubbed by Harris as a type of “choral Olympics,” and this year’s installment included a free concert by all choir competitors as part of the festivities at the Farmers Market along Garden Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Harris told FilAm Star that this year was unlike any of the previous competitions, where participants traditionally would stand around and sing in robes while swaying.

“The three-day event included livelier and intense performances in different categories that included Folk Song Competition, Required Pieces Competition and Choir’s Choice Competition,” said Harris.

She added: “Since this is an international choral competition, we were faced with many challenges about terrorist issues, visa issues and issues about participants coming over and not going back to their country.”

Harris noted that two choral group competitors, Lembaga Karsa Cipta Indonesia and Bangelus Choir, were not able to compete because of visa problems.

“We were thankful for the Filipino group, the Prime Note Ensemble to be able to participate on our short two week’s notice to them because of two cancellations,” Harris said. “They did not hesitate to join our competition.”

The Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male choir group composed of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW) from the Philippines who were originally based in Saudi Arabia, recently participated in another choral group competition in Reno, Nevada.

Dubbed as the only Filipino a cappella choir group from Saudi Arabia that has won awards in international competition, the story of the Prime Note Ensemble is one of taking significant risk by forming a singing group in a strict Islamic country like Saudi Arabia, which prohibits congregation or gathering of any form.

Despite their risky situations in the Middle East kingdom, the group managed to overcome arrest or punishment by doing their rehearsals discreetly at their rented soundproofed apartment near a mosque.

Founded by Medard Obida in 2001, the group with no musical experience but an unrelenting passion to sing managed to rehearse and perform under the guidance of Novern Cabios, who as a professional and experienced choirmaster and music arranger was able to capture the talent of each member of the group.

Competing in events held in places like China in 2006 and in Austria in 2008, the Prime Note Ensemble won bronze and silver medals in the music chamber choir category.

Because of their number (22) as a choral group, Prime Note Ensemble were unable to compete in the same category versus choirs, such as the University of Redlands Chapel Singers, which won the second place award, or the Riverside City College Chamber Singers, which won  the first place competition award.

“But because they inspire us with their music, talent and performance, and they embody the spirit of what the CICF competition award stands for, we award them the Judges award to them  because they made an impact in this 2011 competition,”  Harris said.

The competition and the festival according to Harris is an opportunity for “international bridge building.”

...the paintings

Paintings evoke nationalist sentiments among Dutch Pinoys

by Loui Galicia

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

06/28/2011

A painting of Rigor Esguerra featuring Filipino street vendors. by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

THE NETHERLANDS – The paintings displayed at an art exhibit in The Hague, Netherlands evoked nationalist sentiment and nostalgic feelings among Filipinos in the country.

The creative canvases that hung on the wall of the Muzee Scheveningen were very colorful.

But up close, goose bumps and heavy emotions were felt by many of the Filipinos who looked at the paintings.

The paintings are part of the exhibit on "Filipinism, what makes art Filipino?" of the Philippine Embassy and the Kunst Gallery, which made a tour of several European cities.

The exhibit featured the works of 5 Filipino painters.

The paintings by Max Balatbat, Erick Dator, Ronna Manansala, Vincent Christopher Gonzales and Rigor Esguerra brought back memories of the Philippines among the Dutch Pinoys who are long-time residents of The Netherlands.

The hit of the exhibit was "Batang Baler" Esguerra, with his paintings depicting the typical life of a street vendor and street food.

"Nakakatuwa kasi... you go on a sentimental journey. Brings back memories of your childhood and that daily life in Manila. I thank this artist here," said Philippine dance diva Becky Garcia.

Esguerra explained that he wants to show the importance of Filipino cart vendors, who contribute to the good of the country in their own little way.

Esguerra said that for a few coins, the common street food will be able to feed a hungry soul who does not have enough means.

"Yung dati na nakikita nila sa Pilipinas, tulad ng pagtitinda ng chicharon, samalamig at tubig, Marlboro cigarette, then balot. Tapos dito naman yung mga cart vendor ng fish ball, banana que, mais, toknene, 'yan ang karaniwang kinakain ng mga Pinoy," said Esguerra.

For abstractionist Balatbat, his theme is deep and intense as he aimed to show the beauty of his hometown Caloocan, which has a reputation of being a haven for prostitutes and bad elements.

"Inspirasyon ko dito kagaya netong mga patterns na to. Top view ng mga shanties sa lugar namin. Yung mismong lugar ng mga puta. Pagtinignan mo para syang tela, pinagsapalsapal na tela. Kinuha ko yun sa pagsasama ng inspirasyon ko yung mga puta, pagsasama ng mga panty ng mga puta," Balatbat said.

According to Balatbat, one should not judge a place by it exterior.

One only needs to look more closely into the hearts of its residents and see the smiles on the faces of the people living there in order to see its real beauty.

Yet again, he refers to his beloved Caloocan.

...the Ateneo glee

Ateneo choir triumphs in Europe

abs-cbnNEWS.com

06/22/2011

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club (ACGC) returned this week to Manila from their European tour bearing good news.

The ACGC, one of the oldest and most distinguished university choirs in the country, bagged several awards in Europe: grand prize and champion at the 33rd Varna International May Choir Competition in Bulgaria; first prize at the 47th Montreux Choral Festival in Switzerland; 3rd prize (Mixed Choir Category) at the Harmonie Festival 2011 in Germany, and; 2nd place at the 11th Mednarodno Zborovsko Tekmovanje Maribor (International Choral Competition Maribor) in Slovenia.

At the Varna competition, the group also won the 1st prize in the Mixed Choir Category and Best Interpretation of a Bulgarian piece. They also qualified for the European Chorale Grand Prix in 2012.

At the Montreux contest, meanwhile, ACGC also clinched the People's Choice, the Compulsory Work's Prize, and the Program's Choice and its Interpretation Prize.

Besting 11 other choirs from Belarus, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Slovenia, Uganda, Ukraine and Germany, ACGC took home the 1st Prize in Folk Song rendition at the Harmonie Festival 2011 held in Lindenholzhausen, Limburg/Lahn in Germany.

Composed of 17 girls and 17 boys, ACGC also performed at Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld in Germany for the 150th birth anniversary of Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

They capped their European tour by joining the International Choir Days in Mainhausen, Germany.

ACGC choir director Ma. Lourdes V. Hermo said their success is due to the team's hard work and dedication to bring honor to the country.