...the PH growth outlook 2013 (S&P)

S&P hikes Phl growth outlook

By Prinz P. Magtulis

The Philippine Star

March 7, 2013

 

MANILA, Philippines - Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) raised its growth forecast for the Philippines, noting of an improving economic picture in developed markets that bodes well for the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Philippine economic growth could hit 5.9 percent this year before slightly slowing down to 5.7 percent in 2014, S&P said in a report released yesterday. The outlooks were up from the original forecasts of five percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The debt watcher also provided its 2015 forecast for the first time. By that year, the local economy may expand 5.4 percent. The economy grew by 6.6 percent last year.

“The drivers continue to be consumption, investment and government spending as well…The government’s commitment to good governance and anti-corruption efforts also contribute,” S&P credit analyst Andrew Palmer told The STAR in a phone interview.

The revised figures, although an improvement from September, still fell below the Aquino administration’s targets: six to seven-percent for 2013, 6.5 to 7.5-percent for 2014 and seven to eight-percent for 2015.

The Philippines, nonetheless, will continue to stand out among its peers in the Asia-Pacific, which is collectively projected to grow five percent this year from 4.7 percent in 2012.

In the report, the credit rater said the region is expected to post a steady growth or a little stronger this year as situation in debt-ridden developed markets “improved mildly.” Inflationary pressures have also eased.

Risks however persist, S&P said, noting among others, the potential impact of US budget cuts and the question of whether the eurozone nations will be able to recover from the debt crisis. US and Europe remain top export markets for most Asia-Pacific countries.

In the Philippines, S&P analyst Ivan Tan said robust growth have provided credit “room to grow” in the economy without “clear and present risks.”

However, bank regulators need to be vigilant as the local banking system is “not used to such high growth” which could later on backfire in the form of bubbles. Bank loans grew 15.4 percent in January, central bank data showed.

....the tourism rising star

PH a 'rising star' in tourism - WEF report

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

03/07/2013

 

 

 

 

"The Philippines is the most improved country in the region, ranking 16th regionally and 82nd overall, up 12 places since the last edition..." - World Economic Forum
 

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is living up to its tourism slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines," as the country jumped 12 places in the 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF) .

 

The Makati Business Club released the WEF report, noting that the Philippines' ranking improved to 82 out of 140 countries, from its 94th ranking in the 2011 report.

The Philippines was named one of the "rising stars" in the WEF report, as it was the "most improved country" in the Asia Pacific region.

"The Philippines is the most improved country in the region, ranking 16th regionally and 82nd overall, up 12 places since the last edition. Among the country’s comparative strengths are its natural resources (44th), its price competitiveness (24th), and a very strong—and improving—prioritization of the Travel & Tourism industry (this indicator ranks 15th, as government spending on the sector as a percentage of GDP is now 1st in the world, and tourism marketing and branding campaigns are seen to be increasingly effective)," the WEF report stated.

The Philippines was also cited for changes in its policy rules and regulation that will help develop the travel and tourism industry.

"Among these are better protection of property rights, more openness toward foreign investments, and few visa requirements for foreign visitors (ranked 7th)," it said.

The Philippines also showed it is competitive in terms of price (ranked 24th) and in natural resources (ranked 44th).

Challenges remain

However, the report noted that the Philippines still has to address some challenges such as difficulty in starting a business, both in both cost and length of the process (ranked 94th and 117th, respectively.

The Philippines also has to address safety and security concerns (ranked 103rd), inadequate health and hygiene (94th); and underdeveloped ground transport, tourism, and ICT infrastructure. The WEF report noted these challenges are "holding back the potential of the economy’s T&T competitiveness."

Overall, Switzerland, Germany and Austria lead the world in terms of travel and tourism competitiveness, occupying the top 3 spots of the index.

While the Philippines' travel and tourism competitiveness has improved, it ranked 16th in the Asia Pacific region, lagging behind its neighbors.

Singapore was the only country in the top 10, ranking 10th. It was followed by Australia (11), New Zealand (12), Japan (14), Hong Kong (15), South Korea (25), Taiwan (33) Malaysia (34), Thailand (43), China (45), India (65) Indonesia (70) and Brunei (72), Sri Lanka (74) and Vietnam (80).

"Industry resilience has been driven by the growth of the middle class in emerging markets, although advanced economies too are displaying positive momentum. Better policies, harnessing technology and facilitating the movement of people over borders will allow the industry to capitalize on this tailwind and support rising prosperity into the future,” said Jennifer Blanke, WEF chief economist and head of the global competitiveness and benchmarking network.

The WEF's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index covers 140 countries, using data from publicly available sources, international travel and tourism institutions and experts.

 

...the basketball mecca

The Philippines as a basketball mecca

 

 

 

By Charlie Cuna | Judgment Call

06 March 2013

 

 

 

                             FIBA Asia Championship, Manila  - 01 August to 13 August 2013

             NBA Preseason Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers, MOA Arena - 10 October 2013 

 

 

Jeremy Lin and James Harden will hit town in October for a preseason game. (Getty Images)

The Philippines has been considered a generally basketball-loving country for decades now. There are leagues all over scattered into different categories (like the under 6-feet tall league), for different age groups, for members of a certain profession, intra and inter-company tournaments, etc. As you drive around on long road trips from province to province, you see basketball courts or goals, some well-built with strong material, some makeshift, all over the place. The PBA has prided itself on being Asia’s first play-for-pay league, and the resurgence in fan support and the highest quality of basketball is a sure sign that, despite the critics and crabs, the Filipinos’ love for basketball remains.

 

For many years, the PBA has employed imports to spice things up. Mostly Americans, they venture from far away to play basketball here. Even in the collegiate leagues, foreign student-athletes have journeyed from as far as Africa and are playing basketball while (hopefully) receiving a high level of education. Filipinos who were born and/or raised abroad have voyaged to the Philippines to play hoops, and many have excelled and endeared themselves to those who watch and appreciate good basketball. In one way or another, it is the love for the game of basketball that has brought all these people here.

Through the years, many have come back a few times either to play again (“balik-import”), or just enjoy the warmth of the Filipinos and the beauty of the Philippines. Some came and decided to stay, making the Philippines their home. Coach Norman Black of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters is the primary example. Seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks is another one who is based here now, and his son, Ray, is one of the primetime players in the UAAP for NU and is considered to be one of the foundations for the national team in the future. Even coaches have come to share their knowledge and ended up staying for years (Ron Jacobs, Rajko Toroman, and former NBA center Alton Lister).

Famous international basketball players and teams have travelled to the Philippines to promote certain products, conduct clinics, and/or play exhibition games. NBA stars past and present have been visiting the Philippines for many years in a row, especially because the NBA presence is strong here, with games televised live, and NBA merchandise is available in many stores, plus the fact that the NBA created a website specifically for Filipinos. Most, if not all these players and teams leave with the vivid image of Filipinos going crazy over their mere presence, applauding, cheering, or screaming at their magical moves and superb skills on the hardcourt.

 

An American, Rafe Bartholomew, even wrote a book called “Pacific Rims”, about what he calls “the Philippines’ unlikely love affair with basketball.” He came here, looked around, noticed the passion for the sport, and dedicated himself to write about it and all the different stories basketball has spun for Filipinos all around the country. Every Filipino fan who appreciates basketball should read the book. We may not agree with everything he says in it, but he surely has some enlightening perspectives.

So many people who come from far, far away end up in the Philippines because of basketball – to play it, to coach it, to watch it, or to experience it. Truly, basketball in the Philippines is quite an experience. It brings out passion and fuels up emotions.

In August, the FIBA Asia Championship will be held here in the Philippines, and the national teams of our Asian neighbors will make the trek to Manila with the objective of perhaps making it to the FIBA World Championships. Certainly, Filipino fans will come out in droves to cheer on Gilas Pilipinas as it takes on the other Asian basketball powers.

Then, as most of you already know, it was just announced that only two months after FIBA Asia, the NBA will hold, for the first time in history, a live pre-season game between the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets, here in the Philippines on 10 October 2013. The Mall of Asia Arena will be the venue, and the NBA promised that the lineups of both teams will be complete, and the mascots will be here, as well as the cheerdancers (very important) of both teams. No less than NBA Commissioner David Stern made the announcement on video, and Rockets Coach and NBA Hall of Famer Kevin McHale also shared his message.

It’s mind-blowing to think that the NBA decided to stage a game here, even if it’s not of the regular season variety. I am excited beyond words and intend to be there when it happens. It wasn’t something impossible, but it came sooner than I expected. The past few years indicated the high probability of having an actual game in Manila, with the constant NBA events being held here, and the active relationship between the PBA and the NBA, and the NBA with its local carriers (BTV and Studio 23).

There are many other countries all over the world that would gladly host an NBA game, countries who are commonly considered as “more popular” than the Philippines. The NBA has played in many cities in Europe, and recently played some games in China. Why here? Obviously, the NBA saw something in the Philippines that set it apart from other nations and put it on the same level as many other bigger countries, as far as basketball is concerned. The NBA felt the passion, the utter love for basketball that Filipinos have, despite it being a “tall man’s sport.” As I always say, there are millions of basketball “experts” here who watch the games in the different leagues here and abroad, and are very knowledgeable about them. The fight for tickets to this game will be almost as spectacular as the event itself.

So it seems that it isn’t just the Philippines’ beautiful beaches and natural wonders that entice visitors to come onto our shores. Sometimes, the reason is basketball.

 

...the upbeat Filipinos

SWS: More Filipinos upbeat in 2013

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

 

 

Almost two of every five adult Filipinos are optimistic about their quality of life, while one in three are optimistic about the Philippine economy this year, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

The survey, conducted from Dec. 8 to 11 and first reported in BusinessWorld, found that 37 percent of Filipinos were optimistic that their quality of life would improve in the next 12 months, as against 8 percent who said it would get worse, for a “high” net optimism score (optimists minus pessimists) of plus 29.

The SWS asked respondents: “In your opinion, what will be the quality of your life in the coming 12 months?” and were told to choose from two answers: “Will be better” (optimists) or “Will be worse” (pessimists).

Better economy

The same survey found that 33 percent were optimistic the Philippine economy would be better this year while 14 percent were pessimistic, for a “very high” net optimism score of plus 19.

But the survey also found a bigger proportion (32 percent) saying their life had worsened compared to a year ago (losers) while 25 percent said their life had improved over the same period (gainers), for a “fair” net score of minus 8.

Across classes, net optimism about their own quality of life ranged from a “high” plus 24 among class E to a “very high” plus 40 among classes ABC. It was at plus 30 (“very high”) among class D.

Very high in Metro

Across areas, it ranged from a “fair” plus 19 in Mindanao to a “very high” plus 35 in Metro Manila and the Balance of Luzon. It was at plus 23 (“high”) in the Visayas.

Net optimism on the economy across classes, on the other hand, ranged from a “very high” plus 16 among class E to a “very high” plus 28 among classes ABC. It was at plus 19 (“very high”) among class D.

Net economic optimism across areas ranged from a “high” plus 9 in Mindanao to a “very high” plus 26 in Balance Luzon. It was at plus 11 in the Visayas and at plus 21 in Metro Manila (both “very high” scores).

Meanwhile, the net percentage of gainers over losers across classes was a “very high” plus 29 among classes ABC, a “fair” minus 7 among class D and a “mediocre” minus 17 among class E.

Across areas, the net percentage score of gainers over losers was a “fair” minus 7 in Metro Manila, zero in Luzon outside Metro Manila (“fair”), minus 13 in the Visayas (“mediocre”), and minus 18 in Mindanao (“mediocre”).

For net personal optimism, SWS considers scores of plus 30 and above as “very high”; scores from plus 20 to plus 29, “high”; plus 10 to plus 19, “fair”; plus 1 to plus 9, “mediocre”; zero to minus 9, “low”; and minus 10 and below, “very low.”

Face-to-face interviews

For net economic optimism and net gainers, SWS classifies scores from plus 10 and above “very high”; plus 1 to plus 9, “high”; minus 9 to zero, “fair”; minus 10 to minus 19, “mediocre”; minus 20 to minus 29, “low”; minus 30 and below, “very low”

The survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.—Inquirer Research

 

 

...the richest Filipinos

11 Filipino tycoons make it to Forbes list

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—Eleven tycoons from the Philippines made it to Forbes Magazine’s 2013 roster of richest people on the planet, still led by Henry Sy and family whose group dominates local retailing, residential and mall development, and banking.

The number of Philippine tycoons that made it to the elite club swelled from only six in 2012 as the buoyant local stock market boosted wealth valuations of local tycoons. Lucio Tan, Enrique Razon Jr., Andrew Tan and Roberto Ongpin are still on this year’s list.

The new members this year are David Consunji and family, George Ty and family, Lucio and Susan Co, Robert Coyiuto Jr., Tony Tan Caktiong and family and Andrew Gotianun and family.

Sy remained the country’s wealthiest man with an estimated net worth of $13.2 billion, followed by Lucio Tan with $5 billion. Sy, whose “SM” group is a household brand in the Philippines, ranked 68th richest globally while the latter ranked 248th.




1     68     Henry Sy,     $13.2B



2     248     Lucio Tan,     $5B

3     258     Enrique Razon Jr,     $4.9B

 

4     345     Andrew Tan,      $3.95B

5     503     David Consunji,      $2.8B

Razon, who is in international port terminal operations through flagship International Container Terminal Services Inc., was the country’s third wealthiest man valued at $4.9 billion, followed by Andrew Tan with $3.95 billion, Consunji at $2.8 billion, Ty at $2.6 billion, Co at $2 billion, Coyiuto at $1.6 billion, Tan Caktiong at $1.4 billion and Gotianun and Ongpin both at $1.2 billion.

6     554     George Ty,     $2.6B

 

7     736     Lucio & Susan Co,     $2B    

8     931     Robert Coyiuto Jr.,     $1.6B  

9     1031     Tony Tan Caktiong,     $1.4B

 

10     1175     Andrew Gotianun,     $1.2B



10     1175     Roberto Ongpin,      $1.2B

The 2013 Forbes list has 1,426 billionaires across the globe on its roster with an aggregate net worth of $5.4 trillion. Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim is still the wealthiest man on the planet, followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Amancio Ortega of Spanish retailer Zara.

...the "Fun" tops Thailand travel fair

'More fun in PH' booth tops Thai travel fair

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

03/05/2013

 

 

“It’s more fun in the Philippines”

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism’s (DOT) “It’s more fun in the Philippines” booth topped the recently held Thai International Travel Fair in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a statement, the DOT said it won the Best Booth Display award during the event, besting 14 other national tourism organizations (NTOs).

The Philippines’ participation in the fair was able to book flights to Manila, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan to “a sizeable number of Thai tourists,” it added.

“There is no stopping the country from riding high on a wave of global attention. This is certainly another feather in our cap,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

“As the world’s perception of the Philippines begins to improve, all the more should the groundwork begin on market development – our topmost and crucial job for the next three years. We have definitely managed to hit the ground running in Thailand with this winning feat,” Jimenez added.

This year’s Thai International Travel Fair, held from February 14 to 17, drew nearly 600,000 visitors and almost 1,000 booths from 14 NTOs, three embassies, 19 airlines, 132 travel agents and other travel-related suppliers.

A total of 40,987 Thai tourists came to the Philippines last month, according to the DOT. The “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign was introduced to travel operators in Thailand last year.

 

...the Robotic Olympiad top awardees

PHL students win top awards in Robotics Olympiad

 

 

Written by Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Business Mirror

03 March 2013

 

THE Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed with pride two teams that represented the country in the 2012 World Robotics Olympiad (WRO) where they won the gold and silver medals. DepEd officials expressed confidence that the team the country fields in this year’s edition of the Robotics Olympiad will retain the crown.

 

Education Undersecretary for Plans and Programs Yolanda Quijano personally welcomed the winning teams composed of students from the Dr. Yanga Colleges Inc. (DYCI) in Bocaue, Bulacan and the Grace Christian College (GCC) in Quezon City in a simple ceremony at the DepEd Central Office recently. The teams brought with them their innovative robotic inventions that won them the gold and silver awards held in November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

Quijano paid tribute to the students for besting some 405 teams from 30 countries worldwide, citing the expertise of Filipino students in science and technology.

 

“This is something that we should be proud of, especially since we bagged the first and second place in the competition. This is not the first time, though, that our team won the top awards,” Quijano said, adding that “I know that this year, we will also bag the top honors.”

 

Mylene Abiva, national organizer of the Philippine Robotics Olympiad, said the country also won the top award (gold) in 2007 and in 2010 when the country hosted the event.

 

Abiva said the team from DYCI composed of students Claire Receli Renosa, Trisha Carmela Santos and Chelsea Andrea Morales and their coach Romyr Gimeno and director Michael Yanga won the gold medal while the silver medal was awarded to the GCC team composed of students Patricia Ong, Josh Daniel Ong, Calvin Alexander Yu-Ng, their coach, Melanie Tizon and Wareen Ong Pe and supervisor Lucy Sia.

 

The DYCI team presented their winning robotic invention dubbed H.E.R.O (Humanoid for Educational Reinforcement Operation), a robot whose aim is to effectively connect with people through education.

 

The robot clad with recycled materials made from discarded aluminum and peanut-butter bottle caps can mimic facial expressions; play rock, paper and scissors game; and be used as visual aids for students. Moreover, it has a feature called Stratified Learning Evaluation Scheme, where students learn the basics of English, science and mathematics through video lessons aided by puppets.

 

The GCC team presented their I-Learn (Interactive Learning with Exciting and Advanced Robot Navigation) robot which they said offers alternative learning through interactive activities to help students develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

 

Among these activities are Codebreaker which is a teasing activity for students that challenges their logical reasoning and thinking skills; and Hotshots, a lively activity youngsters can use to master counting and recognition of basic colors.

 

In a related development, both Quijano and Abiva said contrary to perception that only private institutions can afford to participate in such competitions, public schools have actively participated in the elimination round for the Philippine Robotics Olympiad.