Maniolas

In the middle of leisure time, or of an office meeting, a call is insisting to be picked up. To be sure, you interrupt yourself and answer the call. A telemarketer is on the other line. This common disturbance happens to almost anyone. How did they get your mobile number? The bigger question is: “Does this violate your right to privacy?” The right to privacy is the favorite defense invoked in Senate inquiries. We have seen it used in the impeachment proceedings, and recently in the legislative investigation of the Makati City government. The “right to privacy” is not in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution. It is more of a derivative right from “unreasonable searches and seizures”. So if you can invoke your right against unreasonable search for evidence or information in your own house, you can also invoke it when someone is compelling you to produce the evidence or information – if that is a private matter. Our Civil Code also recognizes the right to privacy, and even the right to “peace of mind”. Section 26 of the Civil Code mandates that “every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons.” Then came the relatively recent Data Privacy Act of 2012, which criminalizes unauthorized access and use of personal data of individuals. Does this law improve the protection of privacy? A good analogous case involving a Hollywood actress comes to mind. She brought a suit in relation to Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. is spending P51 million to improve water service in Filinvest East Homes in Cainta, Rizal. The East Zone water concessionaire said it recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Fil East Homeowners Association in Cainta, Rizal for the implementation of the pipelaying project that will benefit around 1, 101 households. “This project is part of our commitment to give individual connections to Filinvest Land that will benefit 1,101 households,” Manila Water East Zone Business Operations Group director Ferdinand Dela Cruz said. The pipelaying project along Marcos Highway will start in January 2015 and will be completed in October the same year. Manila Water services the Metro Manila east zone concession area that covers parts of Quezon City and Makati, the southeastern parts of Manila, Taguig, Pateros, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Rizal province. In Vietnam, it operates Thu Duc Water and Kenh Dong Water. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The company also continues to pursue expansion opportunities in Myanmar and Indonesia. The company is actively scouting for areas outside Metro Manila where it can gain water supply rights, such as locales with a population of half a million, an economically viable population for providing bulk water service. Manila Water is also amenable to taking on non-revenue water reduction projects in provinces that already have water service providers. Subsidiaries Boracay Water and Laguna Water also continue to expand service coverage in water and wastewater services.

MANILA, Philippines – Cosco Capital Inc., the investment vehicle of retail magnate Lucio Co., has acquired a new land for its planned chain of community malls in the country. In a disclosure to the local bourse, Cosco Capital said its subsidiary Ellimac Prime Holdings Inc. has purchased 3,192-square meter lot in Biñan, Laguna. The newly acquired location will serve as one of the sites for Cosco Capital’s planned chain of com- munity malls over the near term. “Cosco Capital intends to use the said premises for the establishment and development of a community mall at the center of Binan, Laguna,” the listed firm said. The firm on Tuesday reported that it secured through a lease agreement a 7,168-square meter land along Liwasang Kalayaan in Marikina Heights. The land will also serve as a site for a community mall. Cosco Capital is into supermarkets (Puregold Price Club Inc.), liquor importation (Premier Wine & Spirits Inc.), commercial real estate and oil storage and oil exploration activities. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The firm earlier this year acquired the 35,000-square meter NE Pacific, the largest commercial mall in Nueva Ecija. In August, it bought out liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier Liquigaz at a cost of about $80 million. The company’s earnings grew slightly in the first half of the year to P1.5 billion from P1.49 billion the previous year. Aside from being the operator of the country’s sec-ond largest grocery chain, Cosco Capital also claims to be the country’s Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Discovery Primea, Discovery Leisure Group’s luxury business hotel in Ayala Avenue recently signed a partnership with the prestigious Preferred Hotel Group (PHG) as a member of their Summit Hotels & Resorts brand. Preferred Hotel Group is a global collection of more than 650 independent hotels and resorts in over 85 countries, comprising destination resorts, city center hotels, luxury residences, and unique hotel groups. The company provides independent hotel owners and operators a competitive advantage, with services including strategic group, corporate, and leisure sales, integrated marketing solutions, comprehensive revenue management, global connectivity through reservations services, progressive distribution technology, and individualized guest support. All guests of Discovery Primea are eligible to enrol in iPrefer, the world’s first guest loyalty program for independent hotels, which extends points redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, elite status, and special benefits such as complimentary Internet to members upon every stay at more than 500 participating Preferred Hotel Group locations worldwide. As Jun C. Parreno, Chief Operating Officer, The Discovery Leisure Company Inc. (TDLCI) enthuses, “Discovery Primea’s decision to partner with the Preferred Hotel Group is proving to be a most prudent business choice as it leverages our hotel, providing worldwide exposure to go head on head with hotel brands and properties elsewhere in the world, offering unequalled booking convenience, perks and prestige.” Discovery Primea is a 68-story building in Ayala and is home to 141 rooms and suites, together with 90 luxury serviced apartments. It prides itself in providing relevant luxuries to business and Read More …

THE country’s leading airline, Cebu Pacific Air, is the official airline partner of the ongoing 2nd BIMP-Eaga and IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders’ Conference in Davao City. “CEB is proud to be the airline partner of this event, as the region comes together to discuss important developmental issues. We remain invested in boosting tourism and trade in all the destinations we fly to, and continue to work with government and private partners for a competitive region,” said Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and distribution. BIMP-Eaga stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East Asean Growth Area, while the IMT-GT stands for Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle. “While both growth triangles have their respective road maps, this convergence will enhance our competitiveness by turning the sub-region into a single investment area and production network, thereby accelerating economic growth in Southeast Asia,” said Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), the Philippine coordinating office for BIMP-Eaga. Also on the agenda are Climate Change Adaptation and the alignment of the four pillars of BIMP-Eaga, namely, connectivity, food basket, tourism, and environment. Investment programs within the Mindanao Development Corridors, the island-region’s spatial development framework, were also presented. The trade fair, which was dovetailed by the Business Leaders’ Conference, showcased the finest and unique products of participating countries as well as current developments in the services sector, technology innovations, and investment opportunities. Business-matching sessions were conducted simultaneously with the trade fair and the business conference. IMT-GT was formed in Read More …