RAFT: REVIVING THE PASIG RIVER

 News
Mar 302014
 
RAFT: REVIVING THE PASIG RIVER

By Nikki Boncan-Buensalido AS I was driving through Edsa the other day, I was reminded of an idea that my design team came up with a couple of years ago.  It was an idea spurred by the kind of optimism that can help our development as a nation one step at a time. The idea had something to do with the Pasig River and its gentrification, and I share this in the hopes that this can become a spark, a catalyst for change, if you may. Our source of inspiration is the Pasig River and how we can bring it back to life and how we can utilize it to help improve our nation through the process of urban regeneration. This call hopes to instill a community revival that can engage Filipinos to go a step further toward nation-building. Concerned citizens have been calling on government for generations to rehabilitate this tragic body of water that was once became the inspiration for art and music, and served as the backdrop for romantic interludes. Corporate sponsors and non-governmental organizations have created and continue to create programs to help revive the river, but only a few concrete and tangible actions have been actually done. Will the time ever arrive when people can return to the banks of the Pasig River? I’m still hopeful that I get to see this come into fruition in my generation. In many countries, the river plays a major role in capturing the identity and culture of a Read More …

AFP: Civilian ship sent to avoid standoff at Ayungin

 News
Mar 302014
 
AFP: Civilian ship sent to avoid standoff at Ayungin

A dilapidated Philippine Navy ship LT 57 (Sierra Madre) with Philippine troops deployed on board is anchored off Second Thomas Shoal (local name: Ayungin Shoal) Saturday, March 29, 2014 off West Philippine Sea. An hour from the shoal, the Chinese coast guard ship closed in on the Philippines supply vessel and twice crossed its bow. AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said it sent a government civilian ship to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) over the weekend to avoid confrontation with Chinese naval forces patrolling disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea. Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, maintained that the mission of the civilian vessel, which figured in a two-hour standoff with two Chinese Coast Guard ships on Saturday, was to resupply Marines manning the grounded Philippine Navy ship on Ayungin Shoal and replace them with a new team of soldiers. “The objective was just to resupply our troops. The mission is done,” Zagala told the Inquirer in a phone interview. “We sent a civilian vessel to avoid a confrontation [with the Chinese forces]. We simply want to reprovision and rotate our troops there,” he said. “We used a civilian vessel to show them our intent, which was to reprovision and rotate our personnel, and nothing more,” Zagala said, adding that it was a regular mission. Other countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea also resupply their troops, he said. Until March 9, when the Chinese Coast Guard Read More …

PH expands claim to include Ayungin

 News
Mar 302014
 
PH expands claim to include Ayungin

PLAYTIME. Philippine Marines, who have been staying for almost five months aboard the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal, pose for a local television news crew. A China Coast Guard ship earlier tried to block a vessel that brought supplies and replacement troops on Saturday. AP MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, saying it was “defending what is legitimately ours,” filed Sunday a memorandum in the United Nations arbitration court on its territorial dispute with China, expanding its claim to include Ayungin Shoal, the current scene of confrontation between Manila and Beijing. True to its word, the government met the deadline for submission of its memorandum, or memorial, which discussed its position that the arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over all the claims made by Manila in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). And from identifying eight West Philippine Sea shoals and reefs that form part of the Philippine territory that China has allegedly illegally occupied, the memorial included Ayungin Shoal in its statement of claim. “The memorial presents the Philippines’ case on the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal and the merits of its claims,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said at a news conference. “With firm conviction, the ultimate purpose of the memorial is our national interest. It is about defending what is legitimately ours. It is about securing our children’s future. It is about guaranteeing freedom of navigation for all nations. It is about helping to preserve regional peace, security and stability. And finally, it is about seeking Read More …

Tigerair Philippines leases Airbus A320 from Cebu Pacific

 General
Mar 302014
 
Tigerair Philippines leases Airbus A320 from Cebu Pacific

Tiger’s tale: As part of the strategic alliance of Tigerair with Cebu Pacific Air, Tigerair Philippines now operates an Airbus A320 aircraft from Cebu Pacific. MANILA, Philippines – As part of the strategic alliance of Tigerair with Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), Tigerair Philippines now operates an Airbus A320 aircraft from Cebu Pacific, the first of four aircraft that will be transferred on lease to Tigerair Philippines.  Tigerair Philippines pilots and cabin crew will fly the aircraft from Terminal 4.  The aircraft will serve the Tigerair Philippines menu.  The leased aircraft will complement the three Airbus A320 aircraft of Tigerair Philippines.  “We give you more reasons to fly with us,” says Tigerair’s vice president for commercial Joey Laurente.  “With our alliance with Cebu Pacific, our customers can now expect a more vibrant and dynamic Tigerair as we leverage on their wide network, flight frequencies, and customer service.  Watch us move as we collaborate to bring you innovative deals in the coming days.” Tigerair flies you to Cebu, Bacolod, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Puerto Princesa.  For bookings and inquiries, visit www.cebupacificair.com or call reservation hotlines 702-0888 or 230-8888.  The latest seat sale can be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@cebupacificair) and Facebook pages.

Shell and nation-building

 Economy
Mar 302014
 
Shell and nation-building

Photo shows Shell employees and a tanker of the Petroleum Distribution Association of the Philippines in 1945. After the war, Stephen Crawford took over as general manager of the Shell Company of the Philippine Islands as it helped in rebuilding efforts. MANILA, Philippines – The opportunity for businesses and enterprises to step up to the challenge of nation-building becomes especially apparent in times of difficulty or crisis, such as during a war. In December 1941, when the Philippines faced the Japanese invasion during World War II, one company played a vital role in powering the lives of Filipinos, literally and figuratively. Shell, as a trusted power, energy and gas technology brand that it is today, counts that dark period in Philippine history as an important milestone in its 100 years in the country. In the few years before WWII broke out, there were around 56,000 registered motor vehicles in the Philippines. Shell, then operating under the consortium Asiatic Petroleum Corporation, had grown from its original workforce of six personnel in 1914 to about 72 expatriates and 180 Filipinos. As war broke out, the company’s oil products and tankers were immediately utilized by the defense forces. At that time, the Pandacan oil depot was already in operation, and Shell had an efficient production and distribution system in place. When enemy capture of the Pandacan installation became imminent, the United States Army set the depot ablaze to prevent the opponents from exploiting its fuel supplies. The war unraveled for four years in Read More …

Instagram inspires fashion journalist to become an entrepreneur

 General
Mar 292014
 
Instagram inspires fashion journalist to become an entrepreneur

BLUE Carreon: “No one is going to look after the business except you.” Photo by Nelson Matawaran It only took a distinct perspective, a flair for style, well-composed vignettes and engagement with his Instagram followers that got fashion journalist Blue Carreon into retail. When he opened his 35-sqm store, Blue Carreon Home at Century City Mall, friends from the local media made a beeline for interviews and pictorials. “I was going to pitch to Forbes.com how Instagram got me to open my own store,” says Carreon, a fashion columnist for the South China Morning, Forbes.com and Huffington Post. The store is a collection of functional and decorative objects for the home. He designed the furniture and put them under his brand name Blue Carreon Home, while the accessories are sourced from India, China and America. His vision is to share his sensibilities through his designs. “My aesthetic is classic with a twist,” Carreon says. He points to a square mirror, framed with black metal that is an abstraction of the solihiya, the traditional cross-weaving pattern found in local furniture. New word of mouth When Carreon was renovating his apartments in Makati, Midlevels Hong Kong and Midtown Manhattan, he met various suppliers, manufacturers and visited trade shows. He would post the way he styled his three apartments. Followers on his personal Instagram account (@bluecarreon) would always comment or ask where he sourced his décor. His personal account  served as a documentation of his travels, homes and lifestyle. “People appreciated my postings Read More …

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