MANILA, April 24 (Mabuhay) — The government has set aside around P7 million for the attendance of President Benigno Aquino III to the 22nd high-level meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Brunei Darussalam from April 24 to 25. Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Wednesday said the President will leave […]
MANILA, Apr 24 (Mabuhay) – Passenger volume at the Clark International Airport surged 62 percent in the first quarter of the year, or 408,895 compared to 252,163 in the same period last year, according to the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC). On a by-month basis, CIAC said passengers who used the international gateway in Pampanga surged […]
by : Myrna Aquitania Premiere showing today, Saturday April 26, 2013, the film “Graceland” opens in 22 theatres across the USA. Written and directed by American-born 34 year-old Ron Morales, this film has garnered multi-awards such as: Second Place Audience Award winner for Narrative at the Tribeca (NY) Film Festival, 2012; Best Narrative Feature Award at the […]
MANILA, Apr 19 (Mabuhay) – Five cities and municipalities across the Philippines were named “child-friendly” by the government, recognizing efforts to protect, promote, and preserve the rights of children. The five cities and municipalities awarded are: Tubigon, Bohol for the 1st-3rd class municipalities category; Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya for the 4th–6th class municipalities category; Tagaytay City for […]
MANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) -– Did President Benigno Aquino III go on a date with beauty queen-turned-actress Bianca Manalo? Manalo played down the rumors, as she stressed that the country’s bachelor President is not pursuing her. However, the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 winner did not deny that she indeed had dinner with Aquino. “Na-meet ko po […]
MANILA, Philippines – Share prices slipped for the second straight day yesterday on continued profit taking. The Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 0.14 percent or 9.67 points to settle at 6,972.69, while the broader all shares index fell 0.31 percent or 13.61 points to 4,351.17. Profit takers continued pocketing gains made in the past few trading days, said BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco. “That’s just a normal up and down movement of the market, nothing intrinsically negative about it,” Francisco said. The market bucked the trend in Wall Street, whose Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.1 percent or 152.29 points to close at 14,719.46 while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed one percent or 16.28 points to 1,578.78 given the run up of selected companies. Locally, all counters, save for industrial companies that inched up 0.73 percent or 76.71 points to 10,606.43, were in the red. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The laggards were led by mining and oil that lost 1.23 percent or 253.83 points to 20,381.48. Turnover value jumped to P27.02 billion, boosted by a P15.26-billion share sale of Melco Philippines Resorts, from P11.82 billion on Tuesday. Decliners outplayed advancers, 109 to 65, while 36 stocks did not change. Casino and resort operator Melco Crown (-14.81 percent), Alliance Global Group Inc. (-3.43 percent) and Ayala Land Inc. (-1.59 percent) paced the losers.
MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration is confident that the ban imposed by the US and Europe preventing local airlines from flying and mounting additional long haul flights would finally be lifted within the year. (Ret) Gen. William Hotchkiss lll, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), told reporters that the government is confident that the results of the audit to be conducted by the US Federal Aviation Authority (US FAA) and the European Union within the next two months would be positive. Hotchkiss said US FAA manager for international programs and policy John Barbagallo is scheduled to conduct a check in visit starting May 2 to validate whether the Philippines has complied with the recommendations made in 2010. He pointed out that the EU Commission directorate general for mobility and transport (DG MOVE) had accepted its invitation for the EU representative on Air Safety to conduct an on-site visit to the Philippines from June 3 to 7. He said the on-site visit would coincide with the meeting of the EU Air Safety Committee on the last week of June in Belgium. “This committee is the one tasked to determine whether a country can be removed from the EU blacklist,” he stressed. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Hotchkiss said the Philippines was informed about the on-site visit during his recent trip to Brussels, Belgium where he met with EU Commission DG MOVE head director Matthew Baldwin last April 16. “Hopefully within the Read More …
As the midterm election draws near, the call to vote for the most deserving candidates becomes stronger. We need people who can help us sustain the positive economic climate that we are having. We know that the backbone of our economy is the MSMEs, but aside from their innate entrepreneurial mindset, they will need a legislator who can push for laws that will make success easier for them to attain. I came across Sonny Angara during our Technopreneur summit last January, and I really find his track record quite impressive. As he runs for a higher position this coming elections, I asked him what is in store for the micro, small, and medium negosyantes should he get elected. Let me share with you his answers. Entrepreneurship creates jobs. Do you think this is a very good alternative to the OFW phenomenon? Yes, definitely. The main reason why our OFWs have to go to other countries is to look for jobs that they cannot find here. Thus, if we can create the needed jobs through successful business ventures, there will be no necessity for our OFWs to seek employment abroad. Having more entrepreneurs that employ our workforce would mean lesser Filipinos having to leave the country and their families. What are your platforms to support job generation through entrepreneurship? To generate decent jobs, I have been pushing for economic and investment policies that promote growth and development of the economy since I became a legislator. To date, I have principally authored Read More …
MANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) – With just 20 days before the midterm elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes says there is no more time for political parties and interested groups to do a review of the precinct count optical scan machine (PCOS) source code. Brillantes says even if the code is released now, […]
Avoid large crowds and heed the election bans on firearms and liquor as the May 13 elections draw closer. This was the gist of the advice the United Kingdom on Wednesday gave to its nationals in the Philippines. “The Philippine government has put in place enhanced security measures in the lead up to the May 2013 congressional and local government elections. These include a ban on bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons. The enhanced measures will remain in place until 13 June 2013,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in an update to its travel advice for the Philippines. It also noted there will be increased checkpoints run by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. UK nationals were likewise advised there will be a liquor ban in place from May 9 to 13. “Keep up to date with local and international developments, and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings of people,” the FCO advised. The FCO also maintained its advice against all travel to Southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of “ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.” The FCO also advised against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao for similar reasons. Some 113,282 British nationals visited the Philippines in 2012, with most visits being trouble-free, the FCO said. — BM, GMA News