February 2015 – Page 16

MILF formally turns over to govt firearms of slain SAF men

Feb 192015

At a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, February 4, AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. shows a map where the January 25 Mamasapano clash that killed over 50 people, most of them PNP-SAF commandos, took place. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday turned over to the government the firearms of Special Action Force troopers slain in a clash in Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Jan. 25. Wednesday’s turnover was held during ceremonies at Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Handshakes among representatives from the government and the MILF highlighted the turnover of the firearms. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. was among the officials present. At least 16 firearms, including two machine guns, were included in the turnover. One of the firearms was an M-4 rifle with optics, laser designator and tactical flashlight. The Philippine National Police-SAF had lost about 63 firearms during the Mamasapano operation. Forty-four SAF troopers died during the hours-long gunfight with the MILF and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The troopers were then on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan of Jemaah Islamiyah and Filipino bomb maker and Abu Sayyaf member Basit Usman. Government peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said it was not easy to reach this step. “Hindi po madaling makarating sa araw na ito. Tulad po ng mga pamilya ng Special Action Forces, namatayan rin ng guerilla ang Read More …

Pinoy solar bottle bulb wins international light award

News

Feb 192015

Pinoy solar bottle bulb wins international light award

Illac Diaz with Al Gore [via Facebook] A Filipino social enterprise distributing do-it-yourself house lamps, lanterns, and streetlights to impoverished communities has won the prestigious 7th Zayed Future Energy Prize 2015. MyShelter Foundation’s A Liter of Light project won the world’s biggest award for renewable energy and sustainability in the Non-Profit Organization category for its ingenious solar bottle bulb which reuses empty plastic soda one-liter bottles, turning them into solar-powered light bulbs. Founder and Executive Director Illac Diaz of the A Liter of Light project leads his team in teaching communities how to manufacture and install the solar light bulbs, in the process collaborating with local governments to install 12,000 solar bottle bulbs, providing light for 10,000 homes in Manila and surrounding Philippine provinces. The technology is simple enough, developed by Diaz after coming across the original bottle light technology while studying alternative architecture and urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The repurposed plastic bottle is filled with bleached water, installed on the roof, and as sunlight is refracted through the water and coursed into the room, a solar-powered 55-watt bulb is lighted up. The night lights version uses a small solar panel, four LED lights, a simple circuit, a battery, some plastic tubing, and the plastic soda bottle. The resulting three-watt bulbs provide enough light to a 15 square meter area. The circuits are designed to automatically switch on and off when detecting the presence or absence of daylight. A 10-ft PVC pipe can transform the Read More …

DreamWorks opens 1st global indoor theme park in Manila

News

Feb 192015

DreamWorks opens 1st global indoor theme park in Manila

DreamPlay by DreamWorks [via Smart Parenting] Dreamworks Animation is set to open its first indoor theme park outside Hollywood this March. The theme park is designed exclusively for the City of Dreams entertainment centre in Roxas Boulevard, Manila and introduces “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” a new approach to learning and family entertainment with its interactive activities inspired by an educational play centre. The interactive entertainment concept “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” employs hands on activities featuring characters from their movies. The theme park promises to be the perfect place for fans of DreamWorks movies and families looking to unwind and have fun with their favourite characters from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and many more. Fans who wish to learn How to Train Your Dragon can become a dragon rider, learn Kung Fu from Master Shifu himself, bake cookies with Gingy the gingerbread man and hang out with the Penguins of Madagascar as their favourite characters come to life with the theme park’s various DreamPlay attractions. Activities include 4D theatres, cooking, toy building, games and wall climbing. Parents, kids and adults who wish to relax after hours of play can eat at the DreamWorks Café. Dim sum, pizza, ice cream and other family favourites are on the menu. The post DreamWorks opens 1st global indoor theme park in Manila appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Sarah Geronimo sings Disney’s “The Glow” theme song Fil-Am wins 1st Global Denim Awards in Amsterdam Global travel group names Luneta among Asia’s best parks DLSU-D ranks Read More …

Samsung buying mobile-pay co. in bid to challenge Apple Pay

Economy

Feb 182015

Samsung buying mobile-pay co. in bid to challenge Apple Pay

This product image provided by LoopPay shows the LoopPay card, front, and the LoopPay app for Android. Samsung is buying mobile-payment startup LoopPay as the Korean phone maker steps up its rivalry with Apple and its payment system on iPhones. AP/LoopPay NEW YORK — Samsung is buying mobile-payment startup LoopPay as the Korean phone maker steps up to challenge Apple and its payment system on iPhones. The deal strengthens speculation that Samsung Electronics Co. plans to include mobile-payment technology in its next major phone, which is expected to be announced March 1 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Launched a year ago, LoopPay works by reproducing the signals from a credit card’s magnetic swipe as users tap a LoopPay device next to a retailer’s card reader. That means LoopPay should work with most retailers’ existing payment terminals. Most other mobile-payment systems, including Apple Inc.’s Apple Pay, require newer terminals with wireless chips called near-field communication, or NFC. That limits the number of retailers that can accept such payments. But LoopPay has had trouble with some older readers; restaurants and bars often couldn’t process LoopPay transactions due to a variety of hardware and software issues. It also doesn’t work with transit fares, parking meters and other machines that require the customer to fully insert a card, like a bank ATM. Plus, it’s not clear what will happen when merchants hit an October deadline for accepting cards with stronger security known as EMV, as LoopPay offers only the basic magnetic signals. Read More …

Akrame’s creative, complex cuisine

General

Feb 182015

Favorite dish: Raw lobster poached in front of you with edible black charcoal velouté Always on a hunt for new places to dine in, my husband and I were excited to try Akrame in Hong Kong. Recommended by a foodie couple that has tried chef Akrame Benallal’s cuisine both in Paris and in Hong Kong, we were amazed by the fact that the chef de cuisine gained a Michelin star within six months of operation at his Paris outpost. A second Michelin star soon followed and two years later he decided to go global and opened in Hong Kong — his only restaurant in Asia, which recently gained its first Michelin star as well. A great achievement for a chef in his 30s, but I guess being trained by Pierre Gagnaire and Ferran Adria does not hurt at all. Located along hip Ship Street, its nondescript exteriors blend in with the other new haunts in the area. The interior, mostly in blacks and grays, is quite minimalist and gives a sense of calmness — undeniably French but the feeling and impression is Japanese, somewhat Franco-Japanese, which in this case works out well. This union extends to the cuisine, in which you may choose four, six, or eight courses from HK$888 to HK$1,398. That’s as far as the menu goes since the ingredients may change daily depending on the produce they purchase that day, so be prepared to listen closely when they describe each course because, as subtle as it looks, Read More …

Economic freedom and oil price changes

Economy

Feb 182015

Hifalutin words like economic freedom seldom ring a bell for majority of our citizens who aspire for a better life. Somehow, these words just don’t seem to connect to their everyday lives. Yet, this simple phrase spells the difference between a dogged day-to-day existence and one where they are able to realistically plan for a brighter future. Yes, economic freedom is a measurement that is tracked by a few international agencies, the two highest ranked being that of Fraser Institute (Economic Freedom of the World or EFW) and The Heritage Foundation with The Wall Street Journal (Index of Economic Freedom or IEF). Both are guided by the principle that a country’s laws can be measured to equate to how an individual is able to accumulate wealth in a free economic environment. The EFW tracker is more comprehensive and authoritative but is about two years late. The IEF, on the other hand, is more current and used by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and as such will be cited in this column. In the most recent IEF ranking, the Philippines performed well, with its standing moving to 76, clearly now belonging to the top half of the list of 178 countries. In the previous year, the country was at the lower half, having been ranked 89th. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The IEF indices for economic wealth are: property rights, freedom from corruption, fiscal freedom, government spending, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, Read More …

BOP swings to surplus in January

Economy

Feb 182015

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s balance of payments position swung to a surplus in January from a deficit a year ago due to the steady inflow of hot money during the period, the Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas reported yesterday. Central bank data showed a BOP surplus of $136 million in January, a reversal of the $4.48-billion deficit recorded in the same month last year. The figure, however, is lower than the $864-million surplus recorded in December. “Foreign portfolio investments alone ended January with a net surplus. I would also say that the current account must have continued to be resilient particularly exports, tourism, BPO (business process outsourcing) revenues, and remittances,” BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said. The BOP is a summary of a country’s transactions with the rest of the world. Its components are trade, foreign direct and portfolio investments, and remittances from Filipinos overseas. Latest available data showed foreign portfolio investments or hot money amounted to a net inflow of $591.62 million in January amid offerings and share sales by two listed holding firms and a universal bank. According to Guinigundo, the January data “confirms our initial forecast of a $1-billion surplus for 2015.” Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The BOP ended in a deficit last year after being in surplus for nine consecutive years. A BOP deficit of $2.879 billion was recorded in 2014, a turnaround from the $5.085-billion surplus in 2013. The country’s BOP position last year has been largely affected by Read More …

Senators should also protect shareholders

Economy

Feb 182015

Senators should also protect shareholders

Many who watched the Senate hearing on the land deal between Alphaland Corp. and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) were under the impression that certain senators already had “ready made” conclusions regardless of the explanations given by resource persons that included Alphaland chairman Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin and president Mario “Babes” Oreta. Former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado had made allegations that Vice President Jojo Binay made money in the land deal – something that Alphaland vehemently denies, subsequently filing a P100 million libel complaint against Mercado. At the hearing, Ongpin explained that the joint venture agreement was above board and that the original P600 million investment of the BSP (in the form of land) is now valued at P3 billion contrary to the claims of Mercado – an erstwhile ally of Binay until things turned sour – that the deal was onerous or disadvantageous to the Boy Scouts. Many also admitted being confused by the technical jargon and the various numbers recited during the hearing – plus discussions on toilets and cabinets – prompting some to comment that Mercado et. al. should just file a case in court if they have documents to prove the allegations. Bobby Ongpin is used to controversial situations like the one currently being conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, but it is different in the case of Babes Oreta, known by colleagues in the law profession and construction industry as decent and straight. As Oreta told the Senate hearing, he spent half Read More …

No deadline extension for Lakeshore project

Economy

Feb 182015

No deadline extension for Lakeshore project

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the government is no longer extending the deadline for the submission of qualification documents for the P123 billion Laguna Lakeshore expressway and dike project. DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut has issued a supplemental bid bulletin giving interested companies until Feb. 27 to submit their qualification documents for largest public private partnership (PPP) project rolled out by the government so far. “No extension will be given to the submission of qualification documents so as not to adversely affect the schedule of the bidding process,” he said. Under the original schedule, the DPWH should have notified the prequalified bidders last Feb. 8 paving the way for the submission of bid proposals on July 6. The DPWH intends to issue the Notice of Award on Aug. 4 g and sign the concession agreement on Sept. 4. According to Yabut, DPWH would no longer defer the deadline as companies have been given ample time after the submission was deferred twice to Jan. 14 and then to Feb. 27. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “Previous extensions granted by this office were provided to afford sufficient time for this department to release additional information related to the project and for prospective bidders to identify and engage participants in the bidding process,” Yabut said. PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao earlier reported that a total of 24 companies have expressed interest in the government’s largest PPP project. The LLEDP involves the construction Read More …

Philrealty sells 4 lots

Economy

Feb 182015

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp. (PhilRealty) has sold four parcels of land in La Union for P202.1 million. Two parcels of land located in Barrio Carlatan, San Fernando and another two parcels in Barrio San Juan, in La Union were sold to Humboltbay Holdings Inc., Philrealty said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange. Philrealty said the proceeds of the sale will boost the company’s liquidity. The properties will be paid in 20 percent donwpayment while the remaining 80 percent is payable in 24 equal monthly installments. The real estate developer noted that the president of Humboltbay, Antonio Reyes-Cuerva, is the also president of Tektite Insurance Brokers Inc., a subsidiary of PhilRealty. PhilRealty exited court receivership last year following a 12-year court-assisted rehabilitation. The company aims to return to mainstream to reclaim its old glory. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Once a high-profile real estate company, Philrealty is primarily known for its projects in the Ortigas Center, foremost of which is the Textite Towers, which used to house the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Philrealty’s other notable projects include the Alexandra, a luxury mid-rise residential condominium in Ortigas ;and La Isla, an exclusive high-end condominium with 28 units on a 20-storey building. The company filed for rehabilitation with the courts after being saddled with losses since the slump of the real estate industry in 1997. To mark its grand comeback, PhilRealty earlier unveiled a P10 billion 10-year investment in Andrea North, an upscale Read More …

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