Maniolas

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. while delivering his remarks during arrival and send off ceremony for passengers of Philippine Airlines maiden flight to NewYork in mid-March this year at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Emil Fernandez) WASHINGTON, DC  – Investments in people, infrastructure and reforms have transformed the Philippines into a prime destination for foreign capital in recent years, according to Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who was one of the keynote speakers at the Economic Briefing and Investment Conference held on 26 June 2015 at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Entitled “Invest in the Philippines: Asia’s Bright Spot,” the New York Conference underscored the significant improvements the country has  made in terms of macroeconomic governance, promoting transparency, enhancing the ease of doing business, and focusing on infrastructure development. These factors, combined with a competent, hardworking and growing workforce, and a central location in an economically dynamic region, have increased the attractiveness of the Philippines in the eyes of foreign investors. “The Philippines is not perfect, nor is it completely efficient, but to investors like you, it is an opportunity. In fact, many companies are already silently making money,” Secretary Purisima stated. BPI Capital Corporation President Dennis Montecillo agreed with the bullish assessment, saying that there has been a noticeable shift in the demand for foreign private equity. Montecillo, who previously worked for Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, recounted how private equity clients have now developed a keen interest in the Philippines, with some Read More …

My daughter Marissa and I spent our Father’s Day weekend, amused and totally entertained watching the more than a dozen hot air balloons soaring above the sky at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival held at the Kaiser Community Park in the town of Windsor, California and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Windsor. Story has it that in 1998, “Windsor was a struggling, newly-incorporated town, looking for a great event that will attract people from all over Sonoma County, or maybe even the Bay Area.”  And so, the officers and members of the Rotary Club of Windsor developed and incorporated their non-profit organization, to enable their group to take on the name to promote the annual event. Myrna and her daughter Marissa at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival held at the Kaiser Community Park in the town of Windsor, California “During the first couple of years, they didn’t make any money and it was only through some very tenacious people in the town of Windsor that the event survived. And, it did survive most importantly because it was a completely voluntary-run event, designed as a spectacular special event and fundraiser.” My daughter Marissa and I have also learned that the volunteers came from all over California and some from out of state. We spoke with some of the volunteers who claimed that they were there to help out because they know the proceeds are intended for Windsor’s “very special non-profit organizations, as well as for the educational Read More …

Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Leopoldo Alano (right) shares a light moment with U.S. Navy Rear Admiral William Merz during the opening ceremony on Monday of the joint exercise between the two countries’ navies in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the nearest province in the disputed Spratly Islands. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines (AFP)  – The Philippines said Thursday it wants to acquire defence equipment from Japan, as the two allies strengthen defense ties in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Manila was particularly keen on the P-3C Orion surveillance plane flown by Japanese pilots during recent joint exercises over disputed waters also claimed by Beijing, a defence ministry spokesman said. “Yes, we are interested in getting a P-3,” Peter Paul Galvez told reporters. “Naturally, we are looking if it will become an excess defence article, then we can get it at a very low price,” he added without giving further details. Cash-strapped Manila has been strengthening military ties with better-equipped allies such as Japan and the US as tensions have flared with regional superpower China. Beijing is locked in disputes with several neighbors over its claims to almost the entire South China Sea, where it has started reclaiming land, as well as with Japan over islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines has conducted naval exercises with Japan and is now pushing for an agreement to allow large-scale joint military exercises similar to those it holds annually with the US. It has also asked a United Nations Read More …

Not in Las Vegas or Other Established Gaming/Resort City – Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California is the favorite United States casino, according to a nationwide poll by 10Best.com, part of USA TODAY Travel, that ended Monday, June 22. The Native American owned and operated resort/casino claims the top spot after four weeks of voting by readers. It edged out well-known resort/casinos including the Bellagio, Borgata and L’Auberge in established gaming destinations such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the South. Pechanga, the largest resort/casino in the state, initially made the 10Best.com list, along with two other California resort/casinos. “We are ecstatic about being voted number one,” said Lee Torres, Pechanga vice president of marketing. “We say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who cast their ballot for Pechanga. We all try every day to offer a distinguished standard of customer service. Being the nation’s favorite casino is an incredible honor, and it’s a testament to the perseverance of the Pechanga Tribe.” Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. The Pechanga Band and the Temecula region celebrate the opening its original casino operation 20 years ago this July. In 1995, the Tribe opened the Pechanga Entertainment Center, housed in modular structures, with 200 gaming positions and 135 employees. They opened the permanent Pechanga Resort & Casino on June 24, 2002 with an 88,000-square foot casino floor, 517 hotel rooms, and a 1,200-seat theater. The tribe reinvested into the property, expanding its Read More …

Minions the movie is not out yet, but these adorably-yellow creatures have already started a craze.