Maniolas

(NEW OFFICE). Canadian Manufacturing sales and marketing director Chand Daryanani outside their newly-opened office on A.C. Cortes St. in Mandaue City.  (Amper Campaña) A MANILA – based manufacturer of bed linens and accessories has expanded its presence in Cebu by opening a satellite office in Mandaue City. Canadian Manufacturing, which is operated by Classic Characters Inc., said it wants to grow its market share in Cebu, primarily among hotels, from 15 percent to 20 percent to 25 percent in the next five years, according to its sales and marketing director Chand Daryanani. The Canadian brand has been in the market for 56 years already, but it is only now that it opened an office in Cebu. Aside from hotels, its products also include towels and pillows. It also has a retail presence in department stores. “Cebu is one of the places in the country that is attracting a lot of tourists…Definitely, this is helping us grow,” the official said. Canadian Manufacturing also opened an office in Coron in Palawan and is targeting to open more offices in Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, where tourism is also on the upswing. “(The expansion) now is all about growth. We build and build, (increase our capacity) until we got to a point where we think we can expand,” Daryanani said. He said the company is also riding on the growth of the tourism industry, where more hotel establishments are being built yearly. Canadian Manufacturing has served the A market, down to C and Read More …

Beck performs at the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, in Los Angeles. John Shearer/Invision/AP LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Smith was the king of the Grammys, taking home three of the top four awards, including song and record of the year for “Stay With Me,” and best new artist, while Beck won album of the year. List of winners: The 57th Grammy Awards “I want to thank the man who this record is about … Thank you so much for breaking my heart because I have four Grammys,” said Smith, who also won best pop vocal album for “In the Lonely Hour.” Smith, along with Beyonce, Pharrell and Ed Sheeran, lost album of the year to Beck’s “Morning Phase,” which also won best rock album. Kanye West, who famously interrupted Taylor Swift when she beat Beyonce at the MTV Video Music Awards, almost walked onstage when Prince announced Beck’s name. Some in the audience seemed shocked, from Pharrell to Questlove. Beck’s album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and sold about 300,000 units. Pharrell and Rosanne Cash walked away with three awards each. Pharrell won best pop solo performance for a live version of “Happy,” released in 2013. He also won best music video for the song and best urban contemporary album for “G I R L,” beating Beyonce. “I am going to moonwalk my way off the stage right now,” said Pharrell, wearing a blazer and shorts. Pharrell’s performance of “Happy” Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) are continuing the exchange of technology and information to enhance service to their customers. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the information exchange. Under the memorandum, Meralco and Tepco will exchange best practices that can lead to innovative energy solutions, which will positively impact electricity customers in both countries. “The continuing partnership with Tepco is another milestone for the company as it opens opportunities for development to Meralco. This will further strengthen Meralco’s delivery of services to its customers,” Meralco president and CEO Oscar Reyes said. Meralco senior vice president and head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communications Alfredo Panlilio as well as  and Tepco executive General Manager Hideo Kojima were also present during the signing. As a power distributor, Meralco has over 5.5 million customers. It is also known to pioneer energy solutions and innovations such as prepaid electricity Kuryente Load, E-Vehicles and Power Stations, and Meralco Virtual Engine (MovE) mobile application among others. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The company is also aiming to become a world-class Internet company in the long run and not just a power firm. “The vision for Meralco is not just a power company but an Internet company with a power business,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Meralco and mobile giants PLDT and Smart Communications. This, he said, is what he wants to achieve for Meralco in the long-term to Read More …

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines will raise its concerns over China’s land reclamation in disputed reefs and discuss Manila’s new peace deal with Muslim rebels with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who arrived Sunday for a brief visit, an official said. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said President Benigno Aquino III will discuss with Jokowi how their Southeast Asian nations can strengthen defense and maritime cooperation and bolster trade and investment. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines’ concern over China’s land reclamation in disputed reefs in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea will be raised in the talks with Jokowi. The two nations are among the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-nation bloc, which has been helping resolve the long-unresolved territorial rifts involving China, Taiwan and four ASEAN member state — Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Last month, del Rosario urged fellow ASEAN foreign ministers to seek international support and demand that China immediately stop the land reclamation, warning the regional bloc’s credibility may be undermined if it remains silent on the issue. Del Rosario told the ministers that China’s massive reclamations could threaten freedom of navigation and the vast offshore region’s biodiversity. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have protested the reclamation, worried that China can transform the emerging islands into offshore military bases to reinforce Beijing’s vast territorial claims, according to Philippine officials. Indonesia and China have no formal dispute, though in 2010, Indonesia’s navy came Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John Gokongwei is expanding its hubs outside Manila by launching direct flights to Hong Kong and Japan starting next month.  Cebu Pacific announced that it would mount flights to Hong Kong from Boracay via its hub in Kalibo, Aklan starting March 2. The Boracay – Kalibo would have three weekly flights using an Airbus A320.  It is also flying to Tokyo (Narita) via the Mactan – Cebu International Airport four times a week starting March 26, using also an A320 aircraft.  Cebu Pacific operates six hubs in the Philippines including its hub at the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Aside from Cebu and Kalibo, the airline operates at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark; Davao International Airport l; and Iloilo International Airport. It has an extensive route network of 62 destinations spanning Dubai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, among others as well as the most flights and routes within the Philippines.  Cebu Pacific took delivery of its 31st brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft last Feb. 4. It now operates a fleet of 54 aircraft comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 31 A320, five A330, and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft with an average age of 4.34 years. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1  It is in the middle of a $4 billion refleeting program involving the acquisition of 50 brand new Airbus aircraft.  Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the low Read More …