besguerra

Market research: Quantitative or qualitative?

 General
Nov 132014
 
Market research: Quantitative or qualitative?

Question: We’re three marketing and advertising professors at an Association of Marketing Educators (AME) member school of business. We learned about your talk at the College of Business, De LaSalle Taft on Qualitative Research. We wanted to attend but we heard about it after the talk. We’re writing because your topic came as a surprise to all of us. We’ve attended many of your conference talks but they were all about your quantitative nationwide market research like your consumer coping behavior survey. We’ve also attended your marketing research seminars that were almost all quantitative. So please tell us why you are now shifting to qualitative research? Have you discovered lately that qualitative is better than quantitative? Answer: It must have been this image in your minds (the three of you) of myself as a quanti researcher that’s responsible for your deciding to attend only those conference talks and seminars of mine that are quantitative. I have many qualitative conference talks and seminars. They’re on FGDs (focus group discussions), IDIs (in-depth Interviews), ethnographics (or observation research), and others. In both talks and seminars, quantitative research and qualitative research are covered not in isolation from one another but together as co-working insighting methods. You mentioned the nationwide quantitative survey on consumer coping behavior. Consider the portion when the subject of “staple” product categories was taken up. A “staple” is a product category that the surveyed housewife considered something she “cannot live without, or cannot do without.” When I showed that the survey Read More …

Canada reforms live-in caregiver program to deter abuse

 News
Nov 112014
 
Canada reforms live-in caregiver program to deter abuse

MONTREAL CTVNEWS DALY CITY, California — Canada has unveiled important changes to its Live-In Caregiver Program, giving better protection to caregivers and as well as opportunities for them to become permanent residents. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander announced that the “live-in” aspect of the program, which required caregivers to live with their employers, is now optional. The government, he said, recognizes that in some cases, this requirement had led to exploitation of workers. For example, complaints were made against certain employers that forced caregivers to work overtime for no extra pay. Additionally, the previous regulations for this program ensured that caregivers had living expenses such as accommodation, food and utilities taken from their pay, reports CIC News http://www.cicnews.com/2014/11/major-reforms-caregiver-program-announced-canadian-government-114044.html. The recent reforms are a complete turnaround, with employers now unable to dock expenses for room and board from a worker’s compensation.   The other basic change to the caregiver program is the creation of two new categories for caregivers working in Canada on temporary work permits to seek permanent residence. One pathway to permanent residence will be for childcare providers. The other will be for caregivers who take care of the elderly or those with chronic medical needs. Caregivers will still have to work full-time for two years before being eligible to apply under these new categories. The Canadian government will aim to process applications within six months, in line with theExpress Entry immigration selection system due to come into operation on January 1, 2015. Until now, it could take more than Read More …

DFA says 3 US ships canceled port visits

 News
Nov 032014
 
DFA says 3 US ships canceled port visits

In this Oct. 17, 2014, photo, a US marine walks inside the USS Peleliu, where US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton was said to be detained after allegedly killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude at the Subic Bay free port, Zambales province. Nine US Navy ships scheduled to arrive in Subic in November until December have decided to cancel their port calls due to “anti-American sentiments” in the country after Pemberton was implicated in the slaying of Laude, a group of business owners said. AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA MANILA, Philippines–Three US Navy ships have canceled their scheduled port visits to the country this month for operational reasons, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. “The reconsideration of the port visits is a normal occurrence as US ships are deployed in many areas in the Pacific and are subject to changing operational requirements,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said at a press briefing, citing a US Embassy diplomatic note. The Inquirer reported Monday that the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce had said that nine US vessels had scrapped scheduled port calls because of “anti-American sentiments” stemming from the slaying of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Oct. 11 in an Olongapo City motel. US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton is under detention at Camp Aguinaldo in connection with the killing, which has provoked new protests by leftist groups against the United States and calls for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement between Manila and Washington. Jose said he had Read More …

PLDT insists Globe deal with Bayantel to pose unfair competition

 Economy
Nov 022014
 
PLDT insists Globe deal with Bayantel to pose unfair competition

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the country’s biggest telecommunications provider, insists that rival Globe Telecom’s acquisition of Bayan Telecommunications Inc. (Bayantel) would result in “unfair” competition. PLDT, which earlier obtained a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals that effectively blocked a Bayantel takeover by Globe, restated parts of the order in a statement, saying it “has a clear right to be protected.” The statement was in apparent reaction to recent announcements by Globe, which noted that PLDT efforts to block the deal would delay improvements to Bayantel’s about 350,000 customers. The Court of Appeals’ TRO specifically prevents the National Telecommunications Commission from acting on a joint Globe-Bayantel application aimed at allowing Globe to convert Bayantel debts into equity. The conversion of those debts would allow Globe to take a controlling stake in Bayantel, which is undergoing corporate rehabilitation. “It is the position of both PLDT and Smart (Communication) that the arrangement circumvents pertinent laws and regulations regarding the assignment, allocation, or use of radio frequencies that call for the public auction of the contested radio frequencies which remained idle for over 10 years,” PLDT said. “It should be noted that Bayantel’s franchise also specifically prohibits the transfer, sale or assignment of any right or privilege granted to it without the approval of Congress,” PLDT added. PLDT previously said the issue stemmed from an earlier position it took against an agreement between Bayantel and Globe for the joint use of frequencies. PLDT unit Smart earlier argued that the Bayantel Read More …

Banks see continued slowdown in inflation

 General
Nov 022014
 
Banks see continued slowdown in inflation

The rate of consumer price increases likely continued to slow down in October for the second consecutive month as fuel and food costs fell during the month. Fuel prices in international markets have fallen by a quarter since the start of the year. The country has also started to recover from the effects of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” that struck in November last year and supply shocks due to Manila’s truck ban earlier this year. This comes amid signals by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that benchmark interest rates would be kept on hold in the coming months to allow previous increases to work their way into the economy. “Food prices may remain elevated but easing oil prices may offset (this),” said Gundy Cahyadi, economist at Singapore’s DBS bank. DBS, Southeast Asia’s biggest lender, sees Philippine inflation slowing down to 4.2 percent in October, a view shared by BDO Unibank Inc.. This is slower than the 4.4 percent in September. Inflation peaked this year at 4.9 percent in July and August. Barclays and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. both see inflation at 4.3 percent, while Bank of the Philippine Islands expects inflation at 4.1 percent. All projections are within the BSP’s projected range of 3.7 to 4.6 percent for the month. The BSP wants to keep inflation within the 3 to 5 percent target range. Last year, inflation settled at 3 percent. Earlier this week, BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said that with price pressures easing, monetary authorities would keep Read More …

Sueselbeck visits Laude grave on eve of return to Germany

 General
Oct 312014
 
Sueselbeck visits Laude grave on eve of return to Germany

popular 1,700 flee attacks, killings, arson MP Hotel five stuns Wangs; Cagayan, JP repulse foes Mercado shows proof Mrs. Binay owns Batangas property Gilas selection group formed Flying out? MMDA clears route to airport SPD officer faces rape, trafficking raps Sueselbeck pleads: Send me home or I’ll lose my job in Germany Pork barrel still alive in 2015 budget videos Assistant Ombudsman explains why Revilla’s wealth must be seized Binay allies ‘gatecrash’ Senate probe Binay daughter’s Instagram post: ‘Our place in Batangas’ Audio recording of Binay interview‎ on Batangas property bared 100 buried alive in Sri Lanka tea region mudslide–minister Transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude poses with fiancé Marc Sueselbeck. PHOTO TAKEN FROM LAUDE’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT/LYN RILLON OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales—The German fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude visited her grave Friday morning, on the eve of his scheduled departure for Germany. Marc Sueselbeck’s request for voluntary deportation was granted by the Bureau of Immigration on Thursday, according to the Laude family’s lawyer Virgie Suarez. But being placed on an immigration blacklist, as a result of his deportation, has deprived Sueselbeck the chance to visit his girlfriend’s tomb in the future. “I’ve suffered long enough, and until now I don’t understand why the Philippine government has done this to me and Jennifer’s family,” Sueselbeck complained to the Inquirer. Sueselbeck said he would have wanted to return next year on their anniversary and again on their supposed wedding day that was planned for 2015. The German joined Laude’s sister Michelle Read More …

DTI may offer more perks to spur country’s R&D

 General
Oct 282014
 
DTI may offer more perks to spur country’s R&D

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Trade and Industry has expressed its willingness to provide new or additional incentives for companies that will set up research and development (R&D) centers in the country to help boost the local manufacturing and services sectors. Such incentives will be especially beneficial for the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry, which is being urged to upgrade to high-value activities to enable local players to move up the global value chain. Although there are existing incentives for R&D, as provided under the 2013 Investment Priorities Plan, the agency will still welcome any proposal from the private sector for other incentives that could be included in the IPP to further strengthen R&D in the country, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said. Speaking at the 13th CEO Forum of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. (Seipi), Domingo stressed the importance of R&D to the country’s manufacturers. “For the semiconductor and electronics industry, which is a major growth driver of the economy, it is important that it not only survive but continue to thrive in a highly competitive market. The industry must pursue and manage the shift from legacy products, which currently account for 80 percent of output, to new generation products,” Domingo said. “To spur innovation or the shift to high value manufacturing, the Board of Investments is focusing investments by affirming fiscal and nonfiscal incentives for R&D including the establishment of research and testing laboratories, centers of excellence and technical, vocational and educational training institutions,” he Read More …

Laude’s German fiancé may face deportation, says De Lima

 News
Oct 242014
 
Laude’s German fiancé may face deportation, says De Lima

By Tetch Torres-Tupas |INQUIRER.net 4:43 pm | Friday, October 24th, 2014 Transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude poses with fiancé Marc Sueselbeck. PHOTO TAKEN FROM LAUDE’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT/LYN RILLON MANILA, Philippines—The German fiancé of murder victim Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude may face deportation proceedings for jumping the Camp Aguinaldo fence and pushing a military police guarding the American slay suspect, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Friday. “I just talked to the Bureau of Immigration and they are waiting for a formal request from AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” De Lima told reporters. On Wednesday Marc Sueselbeck, together with Laude’s sister, climbed over the fence into the compound where Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is being held. He even pushed a guard who tried to prevent him from getting close to the US Marine’s detention facility. De Lima said even without a formal request, the Bureau of Immigration could, on its own, start the deportation proceedings Sueselbeck for breaching security in AFP’s national headquarters and showing disrespect to a person in authority. “According to [Immigration] Commissioner Fred (Siegfred Mison), they are ready to act motu proprio (on their own) on the deportation proceedings since the whole incident was caught on video,” De Lima said. De Lima said foreigners in the Philippines should learn to follow the law and respect authorities of their host country. “So those acts like breaching the security of a military cam, misbehaving and pushing a uniformed personnel is certainly disrespect and even a criminal offense,” she Read More …

Del Rosario: No renegotiation of VFA

 News
Oct 242014
 
Del Rosario: No renegotiation of VFA

By TJ Burgonio |Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:40 pm | Friday, October 24th, 2014 Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario declared Friday that neither the Philippines nor the United States was keen on renegotiating the terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement, amid fresh calls for abrogation of the agreement in the wake of the killing of a Filipino transgender woman allegedly by an American soldier. Del Rosario told a Senate committee that both parties had been reviewing the VFA, including its touchy provisions on jurisdiction and custody of US servicemen accused of committing crimes in the Philippines, long before the Oct. 11 killing of Jeffrey “Jennifer’’ Laude. But Del Rosario stressed that the consultations between the two governments were not at the level of “negotiation.’’ “I’m not sure that the US would agree [to an amendment],’’ he said in reply to a question by Senator Loren Legarda, who presided over the finance subcommittee’s hearing on the 2015 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Del Rosario told reporters later that both parties were not amenable to renegotiating the 1999 agreement, and were more interested in making it work. “We’re looking at the smooth implementation of the mechanism. At this time, we’re not for a renegotiation because if there is a material change, then we have to resubmit the whole thing back to the Senate,’’ he said. Laude’s killing inside a motel in Olongapo City on the night of Oct. 11 has set off Read More …

PH, US sign agreement on workers’ education

 News
Oct 232014
 
PH, US sign agreement on workers’ education

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 11:41 am | Friday, October 24th, 2014 Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. (left) and NLRB General Counsel Richard Griffin (right) shake hands after signing the MoU between the NLRB and the DFA at a ceremony held at the NLRB Board Hearing Room on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. (Photo by the National Labor Relations Board) MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines and the US have signed an agreement that would ensure Filipino workers there are informed and educated about their rights under US labor laws. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) signed a Memorandum of Agreement that would “provide Filipino workers, their employers, and Filipino business owners with information, guidance, and access to education regarding their rights and responsibilities under the National Labor Relations Act,” the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. said in a statement Friday. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, Jr., who signed for the DFA, described the agreement as a “step forward in the fulfillment of our mandate to protect worker rights.” “As we partner with you in helping foster greater awareness among Filipino workers of their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, we hope to do our part in promoting the essence of dignity at work which they deserve, while at the same time empowering them with decision-making capabilities available to them in a free and open society,” Cuisia said. This agreement is the third the Philippines has entered into with US labor Read More …

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