Aug 012013
 
TFC’s myRemit maintains outreach gains

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 1:39 am | Friday, August 2nd, 2013 REDWOOD CITY, California—Money transfer service myREMIT, which offers phone, online and over-the-counter remittance services through partner outlets, is keeping up its successful effort to reach more Filipinos in the United States. MyREMIT, a Kapamilya Service of The Filipino Channel (TFC), this year introduced the Kapamilya Exclusive Deal, which offers a US$2 discount on myRemit transaction fees to U.S. subscribers of TFC on any platform. “Our ongoing Kapamilya Exclusive Deal is our way of acknowledging and thanking the loyal subscribers of TFC,” said ABS-CBN North America Remittance and Cargo Marketing Manager Ray Olano. “We are very enthused by how this promo was received by the subscribers. We will make sure that the promo offerings of myRemit will continue to show appreciation for their patronage of TFC.” TFC myREMIT has also been active in community events. On July 27, together with TFC and StarKargo, it held the festive “Summer Show sa Island Pacific Cerritos” as part of the ongoing TFC Sama Saya Kapamilya event series. Adobo Nation’s Ana Diaz of the “LA Chika” segment and Gelo of “Barangay USA” hosted the event, which featured singer Jackie Chavez, hailed as the Acoustic Gem of the Bay Area.  Fun activities included games and prizes plus an amateur singing contest that drew many musically inclined Filipinos in Cerritos, an affluent city in Los Angeles County where Filipinos comprise the third largest Asian population based on the 2010 U.S. Census. “Our solid partnerships with respected Filipino Read More …

Aug 012013
 
Same sex US fiancée visa petitions now OK – but beware of scammers

No Limitation By Ted Laguatan 12:06 am | Friday, August 2nd, 2013 Last month, the US Supreme Court decided that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. Essentially, DOMA was a federal law that defines a legal marriage as that between a man and a woman. By striking it down as being unconstitutional, this meant that laws in various states allowing same sex marriages are now considered legal. This major US Supreme Court decision has far-reaching ramifications. For all practical and theoretical purposes, same sex spouses will now be treated legally as similar to opposite sex spouses. They will have the same legal benefits and liabilities as opposite sex spouses. For example: Real or personal property, acquired during marriage, generally becomes community property (unless the source of the acquisition funds is identified and recognized as separate property belonging to only one of the spouses). The debt of one party generally also becomes community debt with some exceptions. Issues re social security benefits, pension rights, insurance coverage, widow or widower benefits, estate inheritance, etc. – are all affected. Shortly after the US Supreme Court decision, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a directive that henceforth, same sex spouses will have the same benefits under the US immigration laws as opposite sex spouses. For example: Immigrant visas can now be filed by US citizens for their same sex spouses; Those entering the US on nonimmigrant working visas or investors’ visas can  also now include their same sex spouses as their Read More …

Aug 012013
 
We’re not ready for tourism prime time

One of the first lessons in advertising I learned many years ago from the late Antonio de Joya is this: nothing kills a good product or service faster than great advertising. I am seeing this happening right now in our tourism effort. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez belongs to my generation of advertising professionals who has become as legendary, if not more so, than the likes of my late mentor Tony de Joya. I worked with Mon on the Petron account in the early ’80s, followed his fantastic career and I can say he has to be one of the best in my generation. Mon is in the habit of creating great advertising. Working with a younger generation of advertising geniuses, he has produced just about the most effective advertising campaign for Philippine tourism ever. It’s more fun in the Philippines, we promised, and it has created an interest in our country like we have not seen in a long time. And that seems to be the problem we now have to face: we cannot live up to its promise. Sure, we have the great beaches, and even greater people with our world renowned hospitality. But we have horrible infrastructure and that problem will negate our efforts to promote tourism if that has not started to happen already. For example, let us take Kalibo International Airport, the gateway to Boracay, our principal tourist destination. Interest in Boracay is so high that there is no longer a low season… tourists are flocking Read More …

Aug 012013
 

A Mass, champagne brunch, colorful, ornate tea hats, and music with dancing was the way former students of Colegio de Sta. Isabel welcomed their new set of officers. The induction ceremonies of Colegio de Sta. Isabel Alumni Association-Foreign Based (CSIAA-FB) officers for 2013-2014 was held on Sunday, July 21st at Almasor Court in Los Angeles […]

Aug 012013
 
Sandiganbayan orders arrest of 13 ex-DBP execs

The Sandiganbayan has issued arrest warrants against former Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) officials and other private individuals who were implicated in the alleged P660-million behest loans extended to a Roberto Ongpin-led corporation in 2009. Among those ordered arrested was former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, who is also the erstwhile chairperson of the DBP. “The court found that probable cause exists for the issuance of warrants of arrest against all the accused-movants,” the Office of the Ombudsman quoted the anti-graft court as saying in a statement Thursday. Aside from Sto. Tomas, the other ordered arrested were: Alexander Magno Ramon Durano IV Floro Oliveros Renato Velasco Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. Arturo Baliton Perla Soleta Warred De Guzman Teresita Tolentino Marissa Cayetano Nelson Macatlang Rodolfo Cerezo The resolution also ordered the arrest of Deltaventures Resources, Inc. (DVRI) president Josephine Manalo and Goldenmedia Corporation treasurer Ma. Lourdes Torres. Ongpin is the general manager of DVRI. Since Ongpin and other ex-DBP officials have posted bail, the Sandiganbayan have not issued arrest warrants against them, the Ombudsman statement read. Those who posted bail were former DBP president and vice-chairman Reynaldo David, and ex-officers Franklin Velarde, Joseph Donato Pangilinan, Miguel Romero, Edgardo Garcia, Armando Samia, Rolando Geronimo, Jesus Guevarra II, and Cresencia Bundoc. Last year, the Ombudsman filed criminal charges against Ongpin and former DBP officials in connection to the P660 million loan extended by the state-run bank to Ongpin’s DVRI.  DBP extended two loan facilities in the amounts of P150 million and P510 Read More …

Aug 012013
 
PH eyes to purchase 2 light planes for territorial defense support

INQURER.net 6:12 pm | Thursday, August 1st, 2013 AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense is looking to acquire two brand new light lift fixed wing aircraft worth about P800 million. DND Undersecretary for Bids and Awards Committee Fernando Manalo said the aircraft must be able to “provide organic general support for territorial defense, internal peace and security plan, internal security operations, disaster response and national development.” The funds, which  will be sourced from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act Trust Fund, are worth P814,000,000. The bidding documents can be purchased for P75,000, with a bid opening on August 23 at DND Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for August 9. The bidders must have completed a similar project within the last five years. The winning supplier is required to deliver the aircraft within 548 calendar days from the letter of credit, Manalo said. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: AFP modernization , Features , Global Nation Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Aug 012013
 
BRP Ramon Alcaraz enters PH – Navy

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 2:32 pm | Thursday, August 1st, 2013 The BRP Ramon Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippine Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program of the United States. The ship was named after Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a World War II hero who commanded the Philippine Offshore Patrol’s Q-Boat Q-112 Abra which shot down three Japanese aircraft. US EMBASSY PHOTO RELEASE MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ second warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, arrived early Thursday from an almost-two month voyage from the United States. The warship, with 88 Navy personnel on board led by Captain Ernesto Baldovino, entered the Philippine area of responsibility past 1 a.m., Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic  told INQUIRER.net. “It is expected to be in Casiguran, Aurora by Friday morning,” Fabic said, but declined to provide the current location of the ship for operational security purposes. In Casiguran, BRP Ramon Alcaraz will be welcomed by local fishing vessels. The next day (August 3), BRP Gregorio del Pilar will welcome BRP Ramon Alcaraz on Bolinao waters. The ship is expected to anchor in Subic Bay on Sunday (August 4). A formal welcome ceremony  will be held at Alava Wharf at Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales on Tuesday (August 6). The decommissioned US Coast Guard ship, left Charleston in South Carolina in USA last June 10. It made port stops in Mayport in Florida; San Diego in California; Hawaii and Guam. Related story: Country’s 2nd warship starts Read More …