Phl lifts decade-long ban on Japanese beef

 Economy
Mar 152014
 
Phl lifts decade-long ban on Japanese beef

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is now allowing the entry of Japanese beef after a decade-long ban due to the outbreak of mad cow disease in Japan. The Philippines banned the entry of Japanese beef in 2001 following the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. Talks for the resumption for exports commenced in 2004 and were concluded recently. As of last year, the World Organization for Animal Health said Japan has a “negligible risk” of mad cow disease. In a statement, the Japanese embassy in Manila said discussions with the Philippine government on the re-entry of Japanese beef into the Philippine market had been finalized. “Since 2004, both governments of the Philippines and Japan have been discussing animal health conditions to import Japanese beef from Japan to the Philippines. The discussion has recently been finalized and the Philippine government has finally approved the importation of Japanese beef from Japan,” the embassy said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Philippines and the Animal Quarantine Service of Japan (AQS) will soon start issuing the foreign meat establishment (FME) certificates to the accredited exporters. These certificates will accompany beef shipments.

SEC warns public anew on investment scams

 Economy
Mar 152014
 
SEC warns public anew on investment scams

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s corporate watchdog has warned the public anew against conducting business with numerous firms not permitted to sell investment instruments. In a public notice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reminded investors about the banned sale of shares in a Boracay-based property developer. The SEC said the public should take note that the Court of Appeals in 2010 affirmed a cease and desist order that prevented Crown Regency Holiday International Inc., Fuente Triangle Realty Development Corp., Megatrend Realty Network Inc. and Boracay Multiple Properties Developers Inc. from selling investment contracts and preferred shares of Boracay Multiple Properties Developers Inc. The agency said the companies have yet to comply with the requisite registration statement for the securities. “The aforementioned decision was upheld by the Third Division of the Supreme Court in its resolution dated Aug. 15, 2012,” SEC said, adding that the ban was final and executory. The corporate regulator also issued a warning against Xingasia Marketing Corp., which is offering investment opportunities like “corperate bond notes” through subsidiaries Xingasia Lending & Investors Corp. and Xingasia Invest & Trust Bank Corp. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “Xingasia Marketing is not, under any circumstance, authorized or licensed to engage in activities and/or solicit investments,” the SEC said. SEC documents showed that Xingasia Marketing is not a registered issuer of securities. It is also not licensed to act as securities broker, investment adviser, investment house and transfer agent. “It has not filed nor has it Read More …

25 Occupations in Demand as of March 2014

 Entertainment
Mar 142014
 
25 Occupations in Demand as of March 2014

by : Attorney Henry Moyal MOYAL & MOYAL Canadian Immigration Lawyers (screenshot courtesy of www.moyal.com) It was only a few months ago that the Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker Category was announced and listed two hundred occupations in demand in Canada that did not require a job offer to qualify. Unfortunately, that program was restricted to only 250 applicants and it now closed. However, Canada Immigration has just announced a new program that is effective March 2014 and which does not appear to have a designated quota. It should be noted that the government reserves the right to close the program at any time and without notice. Under the new program applicants must be willing to relocate to Canada and become permanent residents. THE PROGRAM IS NOT FOR EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM IS NOT A RECRUITMENT FOR JOBS AND IS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA ONLY. The program requirements are: Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 55. Applicants do not require an offer of employment or job offer. Applicants must have completed high school and obtained a certificate or degree of at least one year after high school. Applicants do not require to have a relative living in Canada. Applicants must have “medium” proficiency in the English language. Applicants do not need to be fluent in English or French Applicants are able to include their spouse, partner and dependant Must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the last five years to apply. The work experience must be in one of the following Read More …

Charice: High-voltage baby set to conquer world’s stages this year

 Entertainment
Mar 142014
 
Charice: High-voltage baby set to conquer world’s stages this year

Charice OPRAH WINFREY called her “the most talented girl in the world.” Super producer David Foster (Andre Bocelli, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston) called her his favorite singer. Josh Groban said she possesses one of the most beautiful voices he’s heard in a long time. “When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out,” gushed “Glee” executive producer Ryan Murphy. Bruno Mars wrote a song for her. And Michael Jackson wanted her for his planned last tour. Her tiny, baby-face appearance belies a high-voltage voice and a fearless spirit that allows her to sing “big songs at a tender age” (New York Post)-indeed, Charice is a certified talent. Charice’s big break. It happened the 21st Century way: through the Internet. A fan posted her videos on YouTube that soon became viral-15 million hits-and came to the attention of South Korean talent show “Star King,” which invited Charice to perform. She sang “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” and “A Whole New World.” Actress and comedian Ellen Degeneres saw the “Star King” videos and soon after hosted Charice in her top-rating TV show-her first performance outside the Philippines. She sang “I Will Always Love You” and “And I’m Telling You.” She was 15, and was on a meteoric track to stardom. In 2008, Charice guested in “The Paul O’Grady Show” in London, and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” singing “I Have Nothing”-after which Oprah Winfrey referred her to David Foster. Charice shared the stage with Dion, Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Read More …

Easy release of SSS salary loans

 Entertainment
Mar 142014
 
Easy release of SSS salary loans

  SSS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emilio de Quiros, Jr. (center), Visa Group Country Manager for Southeast Asia Peter Maher (left) and Citi Philippines CEO Batara Sianturi (right) present an enlarged sample of the new SSS Citi Visa Prepaid Card during the media launch held at the SSS Main Office in Diliman, Quezon City on March 6. The Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with Citi Philippines and Visa for the faster, safer and more convenient release of salary loans to members thru the use of a prepaid card, instead of the usual issuance of SSS loan checks. For its pilot launch, the prepaid card will initially be available to members applying for salary loans at the SSS Diliman (along East Avenue) and SSS Makati-Gil Puyat (along Buendia Avenue) branches. Prior to SSS’ tie up with Citi Philippines and Visa, members get their salary loans as checks sent thru mail or picked up by company representatives. The card, which is issued free to first-time users and valid for three years from the date of issuance, may be used to withdraw loan funds from automated teller machines and for over-the-counter and online purchases at millions of Visa-accredited merchants in the Philippines and overseas.  

Philippines, Muslim rebels to sign peace treaty on March 27

 News
Mar 142014
 
Philippines, Muslim rebels to sign peace treaty on March 27

The Philippines and Muslim rebels are to sign a treaty on March 27 to end one of Asia’s longest and deadliest rebellions, a senior aide to President Benigno Aquino said Friday. The terms of the deal, completed in January after drawn-out talks, would see the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) disband its 12,000-member guerrilla force and share power with Manila in the Muslim south of the mainly Catholic nation. “After 17 long years of arduous negotiations, we are finally arriving at a political settlement that will seal enduring peace and progress in Mindanao,” Teresita Deles, Aquino’s chief adviser on the peace process, said in a statement. The decades-old rebellion has claimed 150,000 lives according to official estimates, and condemned large swathes of the south to poverty and violence. The insurgency also gave rise to smaller groups of Islamist militants, some allied to Al-Qaeda. “The signing… is expected to benefit not only the Bangsamoro (Filipino Muslims) but the entire country, and will radiate beyond our borders to the regional community, and perhaps the whole world,” Deles said. The Philippines’ Muslim population of around five million people regard the south as their ancestral homeland, and the MILF has led the armed quest for independence or autonomy since the early 1970s. After the peace deal signing, Aquino is to ask parliament to pass a “basic law” creating a Muslim self-rule area covering 10 percent of the country’s land, with its own police force, parliament and power to levy taxes. The political entity would Read More …

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