TD Crising slows down, but storm signals still hoisted

 News
Feb 192013
 
TD Crising slows down, but storm signals still hoisted

Predicted track for TD Crising as of 20Feb2013. TD Crising is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by early morning tomorrow, Thursday, 21Feb2013. Weather Central Tropical Depression (TD) Crising slowed down as it crossed the Sulu Sea before noon Wednesday, even as two areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA, in its 11 a.m. advisory, said Tropical Depression Crising was estimated at 220 km northwest of Zamboanga City as of 10 a.m. It said Crising packed maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and is moving west-northwest at 19 kph. By Thursday morning, PAGASA said Crising is expected to be 280 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City. By Thursday evening, it estimated Crising to be 480 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Southern Palawan and Zamboanga del Norte. Storm warning signals in other areas had been lowered, PAGASA said. It said Crising may bring rainfall of 5 to 15 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 300-km diameter. “Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Storm Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said.  PAGASA also reminded fishing boats and other small seacraft against going out into the northern, eastern and southern seaboards of Luzon, the central and eastern seaboards of Visayas and eastern seaboard of Mindanao. LPA off Puerto Princesa  Meanwhile, PAGASA said a low-pressure area northwest of Puerto Princesa City has dissipated. — TJD, GMA News

Renewed fervor for Google lifts stock above $800

 Economy
Feb 192013
 
Renewed fervor for Google lifts stock above $800

bSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google’s stock price topped $800 for the first time Tuesday amid renewed confidence in the company’s ability to reap higher profits from its dominance of Internet search and prominence in the growing mobile market. The milestone comes more than five years after Google’s shares initially hit $700. Not long after breaking that barrier in October 2007, the economy collapsed into the worst recession since World War II and Google’s stock tumbled into a prolonged malaise that eventually led to a change in leadership. Besides enriching Google’s employees and other shareholders, the company’s resurgent stock is an implicit endorsement of co-founder Larry Page. He replaced his managerial mentor, Eric Schmidt, as CEO in April 2011. Google’s stock has risen by 36 percent since Page took over. By contrast, the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 index has climbed by 15 percent over the same stretch. Most of Google’s gains have occurred in the past seven months — a period that has overlapped with a sharp downturn in the stock price of rival Apple Inc. The iPhone maker’s market value has plunged by about $230 billion, or 35 percent, since late September. “All that Apple money had to go somewhere,” said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis. Standard & Poor’s Capital IQ analyst Scott Kessler concurred, reasoning that many investors who have abandoned Apple are gravitating to one of its biggest rivals. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Google makes and distributes its free Android software to Read More …

Timor-Leste foreign minister arrives Thursday for official visit

 News
Feb 192013
 
Timor-Leste foreign minister arrives Thursday for official visit

By Tarra Quismundo Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:31 am | Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 Foreign Minister Jose Luis Guterres PHOTO FROM TIMOR-LESTE.GOV.TL MANILA, Philippines—Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Jose Luis Guterres will arrive Thursday for a two-day official visit in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. Guterres will hold bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and meet with President Aquino during his stay in Manila, the DFA said. “Foreign Minister Guterres’ official visit is a strong indication of the interest of both the Philippines and Timor-Leste to expand and enhance bilateral relations specifically in the areas of technical cooperation, human resource development and education,” said the DFA in a statement. Guterres returns six years since last visiting the Philippines as the then deputy prime minister of Timor-Leste. The Philippines has maintained strong ties with the young sovereign state, sending peacekeepers to the country since 1999 amid its struggle for independence from Indonesia. As the East Timor transitions to self-governance, the Philippines is tapering off the presence of its peacekeepers there.

Bea Alonzo to take a break from TV

 Entertainment
Feb 192013
 
Bea Alonzo to take a break from TV

Bea Alonzo (MNS Photo) MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) -– Actress Bea Alonzo refused to get affected by rumors that her last series “A Beautiful Affair,” with John Lloyd Cruz, did not rate well and was thus ended immediately. Alonzo said what’s important is all of them in the cast did their job well. “No, hindi na [ako affected]. Parang feeling ko, unang-una, we’re doing our job well. And parang, we just came from a movie that did so well. Parang ganun lang naman siguro talaga ‘yun. I mean, I’m sure everyone had their own good intentions, but it just didn’t… maybe it didn’t measure up or something,” she said. A lot of viewers were caught by surprise when “A Beautiful Affair” came to end only three months after its premiere episode. Alonzo said one of the many reasons it went off the air so soon is their Cruz’s hectic schedule. “Isa rin sa mga dahilan ‘yun because John Lloyd is doing a movie with Sarah Geronimo. So medyo nakaapekto rin ‘yun, kasi we were always hand-to-mouth eh. We were taping hand-to-mouth, so laging for airing. So nagiging problema rin ‘yung schedule niya,” she said. “At the same time, I guess, baka hanggang dun lang talaga ‘yung story nun. You cannot stretch it or it’s better that way. It’s better that it ended that way,” she added. After “A Beautiful Affair,” Alonzo said she will temporarily take a break from doing teleseryes as she will concentrate on her upcoming movie under Read More …

President Aquino welcomes members of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions in Malacañang

 Entertainment
Feb 192013
 
President Aquino welcomes members of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions in Malacañang

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the welcome reception for the 46th Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Governing Board Meeting delegates at the Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace on Monday (February 18). ASOSAI is one of the regional groups of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. It is an international organization composed of the Supreme Audit Institutions of 46 member countries in Asia. (MNS photo) President Benigno S. Aquino III meets with delegates to the 46th Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Governing Board Meeting for a group photo souvenir with COA officers during the Welcome Reception at the Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace on Monday (February 18). ASOSAI is one of the regional groups of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. The ASOSAI is an international organization composed of the Supreme Audit Institutions of 46 member countries in Asia. (MNS photo) MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Monday the members of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) as he expressed hope that their activities in the Philippines will give them additional knowledge and experience for the benefit of their respective countries. “I am sure that you, as members of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, understand just how important this kind of transparency is: every single peso—every yen, ringgit, or baht—must be accounted for, as we are spending this money on behalf of our people,” the President said in his speech before the ASOSAI members Read More …

‘Ready for Romance’ contest winner announced

 Entertainment
Feb 192013
 
‘Ready for Romance’ contest winner announced

Last February 10, Balita Media Inc. concluded its “Ready for Romance” raffle contest.  As a celebration of the Valentine’s Day spirit, the contest provided one lucky couple with services and prizes that were put together to make their Valentine’s Day one to remember. Balita Media, Inc. would like to proudly congratulate the contest winner, Cecile Sebrio of Buena Park, California.  Sebrio and her Valentine were provided with two facial appointments from O Skin Care, hairstyling and make-up sessions courtesy of Colina Salon and a dinner for two at Café Sierra located at the Hilton in Universal City. On behalf of O-Skincare, Colina Salon and Café Sierra, Baltia Media, Inc. wishes to thank everyone who sent in their entries for this special promotion.  For more contests and giveaways, please www.weekendbalita.com/category/free-stuff.

PBB gains 15% in market debut Yao family eyes another IPO in softdrinks unit

 Economy
Feb 192013
 
PBB gains 15% in market debut Yao family eyes another IPO in softdrinks unit

MANILA, Philippines – Thrift lender Philippine Business Bank (PBB) listed its shares at the local stock exchange yesterday, the first listing for the year. Shares of PBB, which were sold at P31.50 apiece during the IPO, opened at P34.75 each, strengthening further to end the trading day at P36.35, an upside of 15.39 percent from the IPO price. “I guess the advantage that PBB has is we focus on small and medium enterprises (SME), the underserved market,” PBB president Rolando Avante told reporters. Juanchito Dispo, president of issue under writer First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC), said the IPO, was more than four times oversubscribed amid robust demand from both institutional and retail investors. Avante said PBB expects a loan growth of 20-25 percent this year that can be used by SMEs for business expansion. PBB listed 343.33 million of its common shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Underwriters FMIC and SB Capital Investment Corp. earlier trimmed the offer P31.50 per share from a maximum P41.94 earlier to give investors more leeway to earn from stock price appreciation. Fresh capital from the IPO will allow the bank to strengthen its foothold in the SME sector. PBB plans to put up 22 additional branches to reach a total 100 branches at the end of the year. As of end-September last year, PBB is the fifth largest thrift bank in the Philippines with P29.7 billion in assets last year. PBB, which ended last year Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries