ABS-CBN allots P600 M for shift to digital TV

 General
Feb 122015
 
ABS-CBN allots P600 M for shift to digital TV

MANILA, Philippines – Broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. is spending another P600 million to expand its digital terrestrial television (DTT) service nationwide as part of the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to shift to DTT broadcast over the next few years. Ronaldo Valdueza, chief financial officer of the ABS-CBN Group, said in an interview with reporters during the launch of its DTT service via the ABS-CBN TVplus Wednesday evening that the additional investment would cover its expansion to provinces including Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, and Naga.  “Based on our estimate it would be around P600 million this year. We are still looking at the investment to cover nationwide. We will see how the market response first,” Valdueza said. The listed broadcast company has invested at least P3 billion for the shift to DTT from analog signal. According to Valdueza, the DTT service now covers Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Cebu but would soon be widely available in more areas as it aims to bring more digitally clear signal and a more enjoyable TV viewing experience for all Filipinos nationwide. ABS-CBN TVplus, a digital box more popularly known as the ‘mahiwagang black box,’ was officially rolled out at a ceremonial switch-on last Wednesday. The box delivers dramatically clear picture and sound that is comparable to seeing a movie on DVD, a far cry from the prevailing analog system. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 ABS-CBN TVplus also Read More …

BSP keeps rates unchanged

 Economy
Feb 122015
 
BSP keeps rates unchanged

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. Photo by MIKE MOROSO MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept its key policy rates steady as inflation is expected to continue to be manageable this year until the next. BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said in a briefing the overnight borrowing and overnight lending rates were maintained at four percent and six percent, respectively. The interest rates on the reverse repurchase, repurchase, and the special deposit account facility and the reserve requirement ratios were also kept on hold. “The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment that prevailing monetary policy settings remain appropriate. Latest baseline forecasts show a lower inflation path… while inflation expectations remain firmly anchored,” Tetangco said. “Inflation pressures have moderated further since the previous monetary policy meeting, reflecting mainly the significant decline in international oil prices,” he added.  “At the same time, the Monetary Board observed that prospects for domestic activity continue to be firm, and positive growth dynamics are expected to be supported by buoyant private demand, sustained bank lending growth, and upbeat business sentiment,” Tetangco further said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Inflation is forecast to average 2.3 percent this year, lower than the BSP’s December estimate of three percent. The central bank also lowered its 2016 projection for average inflation to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent. All projections are within the government and BSP’s two to four percent target range for this year until 2016. Tetangco recounted that Read More …

Cristine, boyfriend welcome baby girl — report

 Entertainment
Feb 122015
 
Cristine, boyfriend welcome baby girl -- report

ACTRESS Cristine Reyes and non-showbiz boyfriend Ali Khatibi reportedly welcomed their first child, a girl, on Sunday, February 8. Entertainment website PEP.ph reported that Reyes gave birth last Sunday, triggering a flurry of congratulatory messages posted on their respective Instagram accounts. Khatibi, a mixed martial arts fighter and businessman, responded by thanking most of their followers. He also posted a photo of him and Cristine with the caption: “Late dinner with this hot momah.” A photo posted by Ali Khatibi (@alijoshua) on Feb 11, 2015 at 7:10am PST Cristine, for her part, posted a photo of a baby bath set sent by her Dreamscape family. A photo posted by twitter:@_cristinereyes_ (@queencristinereyes) on Feb 6, 2015 at 8:53pm PST The television actress earlier announced that she’s expecting her first child. Months after the confirmation, Cristine and boyfriend hosted a party where it was revealed that they were expecting a baby girl. (Sunnex) DISCLAIMER: Sun.Star website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not necessary reflect the views of the Sun.Star management and its affiliates. Sun.Star reserves the right to delete, reproduce or modify comments posted here without notice. Posts that are inappropriate will automatically be deleted. Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!

UERM doctor invents cheap bone fracture surgery fix

 News
Feb 122015
 
UERM doctor invents cheap bone fracture surgery fix

Dr. Juan Agustin Coruña IV [via Philstar] A resident doctor at a Department of Health regional hospital in Central Philippines has invented a surgical technique to fix bone fractures with the use of nylon cable ties. The nylon cable ties, commercially available as nylon ties used to organize and keep computer cables from tangling, are meant to replace the more expensive stainless steel wires used to strengthen fracture fixation in broken bones with the same healing effect to the bone. The use of nylon cable ties is expected to reduce orthopaedic surgery costs. Dr. Juan Agustin Coruña IV, a doctor in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of the government-run Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental has been presenting the new orthopaedic cabling system in medical conventions around the world. Dr. Coruña, a University of the East Ramon Magsaysay College of Medicine graduate and Ateneo de Manila University BS Psychology alumnus started developing the new cerclage system in 2012. Together with CLMMRH colleagues Dr. Jose Maria R. Coruña, Orthopaedics and Traumatology department chairman, with Dr. Hans Francis D. Ferraris, Laboratory department and Research Committee chairman, and Dr. Dove A. Demandante, resident of Laboratory department, Dr. Coruña developed the study for presentation to clinicians, academicians and researchers. Dr. Coruña is expected to perform strength testing on the nylon cable ties before applying the new surgical technique to humans. The post UERM doctor invents cheap bone fracture surgery fix appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: UST picked Read More …

Fil-Am Let It Go composer wins 2015 Grammy Award

 News
Feb 122015
 
Fil-Am Let It Go composer wins 2015 Grammy Award

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez [by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage.com via The 57th Grammy’s] The musical works of Filipino-American composer Robert Lopez with writing partner and wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez received major awards at the 2015 Annual Grammys. The songwriting duo’s huge hit, “Let It Go” sung by Idina Menzel for the film blockbuster “Frozen” won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, besting The Hobbit’s “I See Fire,” The Lego Movie’s “Everything is Awesome,” Her’s “The Moon Song,” and Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me’s “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.” The couple also received the Grammy for Frozen as the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, along with album compilation producers Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan. The Walt Disney Records album release beat American Hustle, Get On Up: The James Brown Story, Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1, and The Wolf of Wall Street. The Grammy is a recognition given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. The couple has previously won awards for the same song, taking home two Oscars last year. Lopez is the 12th and youngest person to join the elite circle of EGOT winners, the nick for an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award in a span of 10 years. The post Fil-Am Let It Go composer wins 2015 Grammy Award appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Fil-Am composer wins Oscar for Frozen’s Let It Go Read More …

London’s Lord Mayor in town to firm up trade ties with PH

 General
Feb 112015
 
London’s Lord Mayor in town to firm up trade ties with PH

MANILA, Philippines—A ranking government official from the United Kingdom is in the country for a two-day visit, as part of the UK’s effort to sustain economic ties with the Philippines. According to the British Embassy in Manila, the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Alan Yarrow is arriving today to “strengthen UK-Philippine partnerships and promote British capabilities in the areas of public-private partnerships (PPP), and financial and professional services, as well as to promote inward investment into the UK for companies looking to expand into Europe.” The Lord Mayor is the ambassador of UK-based financial and professional services industry. His Manila visit is part of a tour of Southeast Asia, which includes Myanmar and Thailand. He is expected to bring a business delegation. During his stay, the Lord Mayor will be meeting with key government officials including the heads of Congress, Department of Finance, the Bangko Sentral ng Philippines and PPP Center, as well as senior executives from top UK and Philippine companies. He is also set to address the trading community and meet with board members of the Philippine Stock Exchange. More UK-based companies have begun to take stock of the potential trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines, which has been considered to be an ideal hub or launchpad for companies that hope to expand throughout the Asean. Iain Mansfield, director of the UK Trade and Investment Manila, told the Inquirer that about eight UK business delegations, involving firms engaged in financial services, Read More …

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