WITH BARELY two days before Christmas, many of us are still not done with their shopping lists. Walking through aisles at a department store has never been as frantic as during holiday rush. Armed with the Christmas wish lists of friends and family, I braved the throngs of last-minute shoppers.
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Transportation and Communications drew two offers for its first transportation hub public private partnership (PPP) deal to be located in southern Metro Manila even as most of the potential bidders snubbed the P2.5-billion project. Transportation department spokesperson Michael Sagcal said the two companies that submitted offers for the Integrated Transport System-Southwest PPP were MWM Terminals, led by Megawide Construction Corp., and Gotianun-led Filinvest Land Inc. The two were among 16 companies, including conglomerates San Miguel Corp., Ayala Corp. and Megaworld Corp., that acquired bid documents but did not submit any offers on the Dec. 22 deadline. The project, which was rolled out in December 2013 but has suffered several delays, is being implemented using a single-stage process. This means qualification, technical and financial proposals are submitted at one time and will be evaluated within the next two months. A dual-stage structure means these are submitted and evaluated separately. “Although we would have preferred to have more groups participating in the bid, we are nevertheless satisfied to have two established and reputable companies competing for the project,” Sagcal said. For Megawide, the PPP deal, which is the first of three ITS projects in the pipeline, would allow the company mainly to expand its construction portfolio and diversify its business, according to Megawide chief marketing officer Louie Ferrer. The ITS was meant to create intermodal hubs where provincial buses would disembark passengers to transfer to other in-city modes of transport such as elevated railways, city buses and UV Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – Shake, Rattle & Roll (SRR) has never ceased and failed to scare and thrill audiences from age one to 92 in many past Christmases via the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The Regal Entertainment’s movie franchise and iconic trilogy is part of every child’s entertainment experience, giving himself some sort of horror-thriller 101 early on in life. SRR introduced me, as a child growing up in the ’80s and as a pre-teener in the ’90s, to fantastical, mythological and elemental figures, which were different from the characters I had acquainted myself with in melodramas. When the first-ever SRR was screened in theaters in 1984, I was only six then and being accompanied by mom and her sisters in the movie house. I can still recall how the gorgeous Irma Alegre will transform into a flesh-thirsty nocturnal creature attacking the nerd-looking Herbert Bautista and family in the Manananggal episode, directed by Peque Gallaga. The highlight is the confrontation between the half-body flying Irma and Herbert, who kills the former by finding the creature’s lower body and putting salt in it. The good triumphs over the bad — and the evil — at the break of dawn. The Pridyider episode sees the charming Janice de Belen and family moving into a new house. Unknown to them is a ghost inhabiting inside the refrigerator and possessing it. Eventually, Janice is lured by the ref but she succeeds to save herself from becoming its next victim. The Ishmael Bernal helmed it. Read More …
Reader Francisco “Jun” Astilla sent us an email about the spate of cut-price promo sales of LED television sets which seems to be a ploy to unload certain types of television models that would soon be rendered obsolete once the National Telecommunications Commission order shifting TV broadcast services from analog to digital terrestrial takes full effect by 2020 – by which time all analog broadcast would be completely shut off. Those in the know say the digital shift would cost TV networks P8.5 to P9 billion to roll out the service in over 70 service areas for about 17 million households. Among those that have begun utilizing/testing digital broadcast in certain service areas are ABS-CBN and TV5. According to the NTC, digital terrestrial television broadcasting or DTTB would provide better signal quality, allow mobile subscribers to watch TV programs using their phones and most of all, enable the broadcast of warnings to alert the public about impending or ongoing calamities and other emergency situations. Majority of households in the Philippines – estimated at 90 percent – still use analog television sets but these would be rendered obsolete in the next three to five years as the country shifts to digital mode – something that merchants conveniently omit telling customers. Viewers, however, could continue using analog TV through a digibox (presumably similar to the “blackbox given away by broadcaster Ted Failon in his dzBB radio program) that would enable the analog unit to receive digital signal, although we’re not certain if Read More …
Bureau of Customs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) conceded on Monday that it could not hit its full-year collections goal for 2014 even as revenues during the first 11 months continued to rise double-digits on the back of “major headway made in reducing smuggling.” BOC Commissioner John Phillip P. Sevilla also pledged to introduce more reforms in 2015 to further shore up revenues while putting a stop to unscrupulous activities of some importers. Sevilla told a press conference that while the 2014 collections target of P408.1 billion cannot be achieved, the growth of almost a fifth could still be maintained until yearend. BOC data showed that the January-to-November collections increased by 17.8 percent to P331.2 billion from P281.1 billion in the same 11-month period in 2013. The collections during the first 11 months, however, were 11.9-percent below the target of P376.1 billion for the period. In the month of November alone, collections amounted to P31.2 billion, up 10.5 percent from the P28.2 billion posted in the same month in 2013. The revenues in November were 16.4-percent less than the target for the month worth P37.3 billion. Not only this year’s goal but also the P456-billion target for 2015 as earlier determined by the inter-agency, Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee may prove to be difficult to reach. “The 2015 target is impractical and unrealistic, especially with oil prices down,” Sevilla explained. Despite the challenges in hitting their collections targets, Sevilla noted that the BOC has Read More …
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday sought a Senate inquiry on the reported misuse of some P2.7 billion in pork barrel funds by some governors and mayors in 2013. In Senate Resolution 1066, Santiago cited the Commission on Audit report that at least P1.035 billion of the allocations given by representatives and senators were used “inappropriately” through projects that were not specified in the special allotment release orders (SARO) of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). COA stated that some of the local government units it audited in 2013 abused their pork barrel funds, while others exceeded the cash limits in paying cash advances for the projects and did not follow strict guidelines on the use of pork barrel funds. It also said that when the PDAF was declared unconstitutional in 2013, some P1.106 billion in idle PDAF allocations were still under the control of governors and mayors who did not return the money to the National Treasury when they were audited this year. The resolution stated that the misused funds were reportedly traced to LGUs in Metro Manila with P594.319 million; Western Visayas (Region 6) with P126.161 million; Bicol (Region 5) with P100.766 million; Calabarzon (Region 4-A) with P58.148 million; Cagayan Valley (Region 2) with P53.378 million; Central Visayas (Region 7) with P34.933 million; Ilocos (Region 1) with P33.328 million. It added that fund misuse was also reportedly noted among local governments in Mimaropa (Region 4-B) with P30.915 million; Davao (Region 11) with P26.087 million; Soccksargen (Region 12) with Read More …
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to pin down the owners of the guns confiscated from convicted drug lord Peter Co in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). The original owners – some of them politicians – of the firearms found in the detention cell of Co will be held liable, a PNP official said yesterday. Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, head of the PNP’s Firearms and Licensing Division, said the politicians would face charges should they fail to explain how their guns ended up in Co’s possession. The PNP gave the gun owners at least 10 days to give their side before imposing sanctions on them. Anduyan said revocation of license awaits the owners of the guns recovered from the drug convict. He said the Inspection and Enforcement Section was tasked to get the politicians’ side. Raiding teams from the PNP and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confiscated six guns from Co’s detention cell when they raided the NBP’s maximum security compound last week. The NBI said documents showed that the seized firearms were traced to politicians. A caliber .22 is registered under the name of Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava of the lone district of Guimaras. Another firearm is owned by Carlitos Tiquia, who ran and lost for congressman of Valenzuela in the last elections. A 9mm Taurus pistol is registered under the name of Vicente Alindada Jr., a barangay councilor in Sangandaan, Caloocan. Another gun is allegedly owned by Avelino Nicanor, Read More …
Jun Loleng is flanked by his grandson, Patrick Loleng (right) and Patrick’s girlfriend Step. Patrick, the night’s master of ceremonies, and Step are both pilots in Melbourne. MANILA, Philippines – New Jersey-based Filipino-American retired engineer Julian “Jun” Loleng was recently honored by his family and friends with a surprise birthday party marking his 80th milestone at The Bethwood, an elegant banquet hall in Totowa, N.J. Dozens of family and close relatives from the United States, Philippines, Australia and China flew in for the special occasion organized by Loleng’s wife, Aster, their children Alan, Janette, Joanne, Jenny, Janice; and grandchildren. Loleng once served as president of the Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics, now converted to Philippine State College of Aeronautics specializing in aviation courses with a flying school. Jun and wife Aster (second from left) with their “medical and spiritual angels” (from left) Dr. Emmanuel Reyes, Fr. Ryan Tabale, Dr. Catherine Torres Reyes and Dr. Theresa Madrid. — Reported by Funfare’s Big Apple Correspondent Edmund Silvestre
Cleaning up the New Bilibid Prison is a priority for the government, a Palace official said Sunday after guns, drugs, and other contraband items were found during surprise inspections there. “Noon pang unang natuklasan ‘yung pagkakaroon ng mga baril na itinatago sa mga kulungan ng pambansang piitan ay nagbigay na po ng partikular na instruksyon ang ating Pangulo na bigyan ito ng kaukulang pansin dahil mahalaga pong bagay ‘yan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday during an interview aired over state-run dzRB. Coloma added that the government, led by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, is continuing its operations against gangs members and leaders found to be living in relative luxury while serving time. “Tinutukoy na ang mga katiwaliang natuklasan hinggil diyan at sinisiyasat po kung ano ang naging partisipasyon ng mga opisyal na mayroong responsibilidad para diyan,” he said. “Ang batid lang po natin ay mataas pong prayoridad ang ibinibigay sa usaping ‘yan at may sense of urgency po ‘yung ginagawa ni Secretary De Lima,” he added. Last week, De Lima held a surprise inspection at NBP. She found a jacuzzi, a sound system, an airconditioning system, cash, jewelry, sex toys, drugs, and guns in the “kubols” or shelters of inmates. Last Friday, the Justice secretary held another surprise visit. This time she found a hidden personal gym. The Presidential Communications Operations Office chief said that the National Economic and Development Authority has already approved the construction of a new national penitentiary, but it remains on the drawing Read More …
PEOPLE, quality and service. After 20 years in the Philippines, TGIFriday’s Restaurant still puts a premium on these three elements. THE BISTRO Group COO Jean Paul Manuud And The Bistro Group—the business that launched the first American casual dining chain here in the Philippines—believes that these three ingredients will carry it through many more years in the competitive industry. Jean Paul Manuud, president and chief operating officer of The Bistro Group, admits that the journey to the 20-year mark was not all smooth sailing. “We were pioneers in the serving of huge portions of food, refillable iced teas, Jack Daniel’s, huge hats and the singing of the birthday songs to the celebrant. All these concepts were ‘alien’ to the Philippine food industry,” he says. Manuud adds that the competition was tough even back then. The most important challenge was to be consistent in terms of food and service quality “We prepare our food fresh, from scratch every day. There is no compromise on quality. We used premium ingredients,” he adds, noting that customers can really tell if short cuts were made. “This is why we don’t make it difficult for our customer. Before they leave, we fix the problem. It’s our way of turning garbage into gold,” he says. It has been a long-standing rule in TGIFriday’s to make the experience of the customer its top priority. “We don’t spend much on mainstream or on TV. Rather we focus on providing the best customer service. If the customer is not Read More …