Josh Bowman, star of the hit US TV series Revenge, gives his foolproof fashion advice for guys.
Apr 272014
Apr 272014
THE GOVERNMENT has lowered the subsidy ceiling for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension (LRT-1 CavEx) after cutting out an obligation borne by the concessionaire.
Apr 272014
A PRIVATE American wheat industry group has backed the Philippine government’s move to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imported wheat flour from Turkey that has been found to be sold locally at unfairly low prices.
Apr 272014
(Third in a five-part series) THE PHILIPPINE economy is driven by the services sector. The country’s banks, telcos, malls, and call centers all hum with a level of frenzied activity, unmatched by farms and factories. Just last year, the sector accounted for roughly 60% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Apr 272014
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, in her commencement speech to the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s graduating class of 2014, on Sunday urged the fresh graduates to use their youthful energies to create a just and free country, clear of corruption. “Nasa inyong mga kamay ang pagkakataon, oras, katawan at lakas. Higit sa lahat nasa inyo ang mga boses na sisigaw na ‘tama na, tama na ang katiwalian, tama na ang lamangan, tama na ang kasuwapangan.’ Panahon na para ang katarungan ang manaig,” Sereno said in her speech. Sereno, the first female to head the judiciary, was the guest of honor in the state university’s 103rd commencement exercises. In her speech, Sereno referenced the controversial multi-billion pork barrel scam and the personalities involved, noting how the electorate was barely holding their politicians accountable for their misdeeds. “Alam po ng lahat na ang mga mansyon ng mga matataas na mga opisyales ay hindi po nila kayang ipagawa sa lehitimong kita, lalo na po’t maraming mga kerida o pamilya. Ngunit kakaunti lamang po ang makapagtataas ng boses sa garapalang buhay na magara,” Sereno said. “Noon, impossible malaman magkano o gaano kalaki ang pandarambong sa kaban ng bayan. Iba na po ang ihip ng hangin ngayon,” she added. But despite Sereno’s perception of the public’s reaction, the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund became a hot topic in July of 2013 after bogus NGOs were reported to have been used by lawmakers as conduits for “pork barrel” kickbacks, amounting to billions of pesos. Read More …
Apr 272014
WASHINGTON – A new 10-year security pact between the United States and the Philippines could lead to modest increases in U.S. weapons sales in coming years, especially for maritime surveillance equipment, analysts said on Sunday. The agreement, to be signed on Monday, establishes a framework for an increased U.S. military presence in the Philippines and is part of a “rebalancing” of U.S. resources toward the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. The deal comes 23 years after the Philippine Senate voted to evict the U.S. military from bases there, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Asian nation. Virginia-based defense analyst Loren Thompson noted that the deal came as China increasingly encroaches on maritime areas claimed by Manila in the South China Sea, even as a long-running Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines is abating. “What Manila needs most in the way of military technology is weapons that can help enforce its claim to areas in the South China Sea,” Thompson said. That could include P-8A maritime patrol aircraft built by Boeing Co, which have already been sold to India, conventional munitions such as the Standard Missile-3 built by Raytheon Co and small warships built by Lockheed Martin Corp or Australia’s Austal, he said. A renewal of counter-insurgency operations would probably move helicopters up the list of acquisition priorities, particularly UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp. U.S. industry executives said they were keeping a close eye on the situation in the Philippines, but Read More …
Apr 272014
MANILA, Philippines – Guy Custodio illustrates the 14 Stations of the Cross in “Cenaculo,” which is on view until May 15 at Arte Luna Gallery in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The show, organized and presented by Pinto Art Museum, is the first of three curated exhibits for the new art space located in the vicinity of the world-renowned Paoay Church. For inquiries, call 697-1015 or email pintoartmuseum@yahoo.com. * * * ‘New Olds’ at Yuchengco Museum Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA), together with German curator Volker Albus, presents “New Olds: Design Between Tradition and Innovation,” which opens on May 9 at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Ayala corner Sen. Gil Puyat Aves., Makati City. The show runs until June 6. The show features 60 objects that explore the relationship between tradition and innovation in contemporary design. For the Philippine leg of “New Olds,” curator Albus will especially feature chairs designed by Gabriel Barredo and Dem Bitantes. To complement the “New Olds” traveling exhibit, the Yuchengco Museum presents “Design Insights Philippines,” a showcase of works by local designers — Olivia d’Aboville, Anton del Castillo, Daniel Latorre Cruz and Wataru Sakuma — that experiment with material, pattern, construction and functionality. A curator’s talk with Albus is also slated on May 9 at 4 p.m. For inquiries, call 889-1234 or visit www.yuchengcomuseum.org. * * * Ben Cruz and Joselito Jadayan at Kaida Contemporary Ben Cruz and Joselito Jadayan depict the ladies across South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Read More …
Apr 272014
MANILA, Philippines – A forum on “Managing In a Crisis Situation” will be held on May 29 & 30 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Quezon City. For more information you may call tel. nos. 475-9996, 631-9801 & 746-1468. E-mail: commbiz19@yahoo.com. Ber Pacheco, president of CommBiz Inc., said crisis happens; whether we like it or not. The important thing is: “Is the company prepared?” And: “Are you?” Speakers invited to share their talents on the topics are: Carlos Gundran, president, Philippine Society of Emergency Medical Technicians & Medical Director, Life Support Training International (Conducting Emergency Operations In Times Of Disasters & Calamities); Col. Sebastian C. Siga-An (Ret.), security consultant, Fluor Daniel, Inc.-Philippines (Carrying Out A Security & Protection Plan During Crisis Situation); Max Edralin, PR consultant, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas & former vice president-PR, CitiBank (Key Role Of Public Relations In Crisis Management); Dr. Nick Fontanilla, president, The Asia Pacific Center for Research & past president, Philippine Marketing Association (Methodologies To Use For Business Continuity During Crisis Situation); and Col. Mateo Luga (Ret.), security & management consultant & former head, Asset Protection Center, PLDT (Preparing The Crisis Management Plan).
Apr 272014
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom) has bought a controlling stake in Banco Dipolog Inc. (BDI), a multi-branch rural bank headquartered in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. PBCom has recently signed a memorandum of agreement with BDI officials to allow it to acquire majority stake in the Mindanao-based rural bank. PBCom president and CEO Nina D. Aguas, however, said the agreement has yet to be approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Founded in 1957, BDI was the first bank to open in Dipolog. It currently has 11 branches and seven other banking offices located in Mindanao and the Visayas, and is set to open two more branches in the region by July. BDI caters primarily to small entrepreneurs, educators, farmers and government employees. As of December 2013, BDI had over P1 Billion in total assets. Aguas said the investment in BDI would allow PBCom to strengthen its presence in Mindanao, while bringing BDI’s client base an expanded suite of products and services that PBCom offers as a commercial bank. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In March of this year, PBCom announced its acquisition of the Rural Bank of Nagcarlan, a six-branch bank based in Laguna. “Expanding our footprint across the country through these acquisitions will allow us to contribute to the development and strengthening of communities nationwide,” Aguas said.
Apr 272014
MANILA, Philippines – The Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) reported a 61-percent decline in net to P1.54 billion in the first quarter of the year from P4 billion in the same period last year. Net interest income gained nearly 25 percent to P2.56 billion from P2 billion. Loans expanded by two percent to P2.13 billion this year from P2.09 billion in the first three months of 2013. Deposits likewise inched up to P988 million, or a nearly two percent from last year’s P969 million. Overall trading and investment in securities recorded gains of 22.8 percent to P1.1 billion. Non-interest income, however, plunged 66 percent to P1.8 billion in the first quarter from P5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2013. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Net gains from trading fell by roughly 88 percent contributing significantly to the huge drop in non-interest net earnings. From P3.37 billion in the first quarter of 2013, net earnings from securities and foreign currency trading plummeted to just P421-million this year. Likewise, premium revenues fell nearly 86 percent, to P58 million from P393 million. Transactions classified as “miscellaneous” also reported negative results, declining 57 percent from P1 billion in the first three months of 2013 to just P445 million. Meanwhile, total resources grew to P411.4 billion, or four percent better than the P396 billion last year. Capital funds likewise fell to P44.6 billion, slightly lower than the P44.9 billion that year before. UnionBank is a member of the Read More …