Why Luis is Lucky

 General
Feb 082015
 
Why Luis is Lucky

Luis Manzano works his hosting charm again in the new season of Kapamilya Deal or No Deal which airs weekdays beginning today. — STAR/Allan Sancon MANILA, Philippines – If you’ve been reading the entertainment news or tuning in to your favorite showbiz talk show, then you know exactly that Luis Manzano and girlfriend Angel Locsin have talked about marriage in passing. However, Luis said that there are no concrete plans yet. Neither has he popped that heartening, music-to-the-ears one-liner “Will you marry me?” to his ladylove on bended knee. Still, questions pertaining to marriage seemed endless during the presscon for the new season airing of Kapamilya Deal or No Deal where televiewers will get to see Luis once more as the witty and charming host. The game show airs weekdays on ABS-CBN’s afternoon block beginning today. “Well, let’s see because I’m (now) 33 and she’s not getting any younger,” said Luis when asked if he plans to propose to Angel anytime this year. “It’s only a matter of waiting and seeing if that’s really our time.” What is certain though is their mutual desire of spending a sweet, happy lifetime together. “Even Angel, when she answered in (her) Aquino & Abunda Tonight interview awhile back, she said that at this point she already knows that whatever happens, we will end up together, (that) we are destined for each other. She was nearly echoing what we are both feeling,” Luis added. It was years ago when Luis and Angel went their Read More …

Meralco, Tepco tie up for innovative energy solutions

 General
Feb 082015
 
Meralco, Tepco tie up for innovative energy solutions

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) are continuing the exchange of technology and information to enhance service to their customers. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the information exchange. Under the memorandum, Meralco and Tepco will exchange best practices that can lead to innovative energy solutions, which will positively impact electricity customers in both countries. “The continuing partnership with Tepco is another milestone for the company as it opens opportunities for development to Meralco. This will further strengthen Meralco’s delivery of services to its customers,” Meralco president and CEO Oscar Reyes said. Meralco senior vice president and head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communications Alfredo Panlilio as well as  and Tepco executive General Manager Hideo Kojima were also present during the signing. As a power distributor, Meralco has over 5.5 million customers. It is also known to pioneer energy solutions and innovations such as prepaid electricity Kuryente Load, E-Vehicles and Power Stations, and Meralco Virtual Engine (MovE) mobile application among others. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The company is also aiming to become a world-class Internet company in the long run and not just a power firm. “The vision for Meralco is not just a power company but an Internet company with a power business,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Meralco and mobile giants PLDT and Smart Communications. This, he said, is what he wants to achieve for Meralco in the long-term to Read More …

A clueless bureaucrat?

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
A clueless bureaucrat?

For a taxpayer who must work over four months of a year to pay a bureaucrat’s salary, it is frustrating to hear them publicly exposing their lack of knowledge. We all know that the problem of congestion at NAIA is on account of its single working runway. (They have stopped using the other cross runway for safety reasons.) Even if we build 10 terminals there but if there is only one runway, planes will still have to fall in line to take off and circle around to land. That is simple and logical even laymen should be able to understand. Here is how someone with technical knowledge explained the situation for me: “At present the separation between aircraft movements is 1.5 mins. or 40 per hour. On landing that means the aircraft behind you is only six km away and as you slow down for final landing that aircraft is only four km away.  To try to compress the separation is too risky. “On departures, the push back time from the terminal is critical to meet your take off slots. A delay in terminal departures destroys the entire slot program for that hour and creates a domino effect on the other hours. “Yes you will hear guys talking about NAIA doing 60/hr on one runway. They are talking through their ears. That is only possible with a multi-runway airport with the correct ICAO design standards. Yes you can bring aircraft movements close to even 20 to 30 secs separation but Read More …

Philippine stock market: The outperformer

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Philippine stock market: The outperformer

The Philippine stock market continues its record run as it enters the 7th year of its secular bull market.  Since bottoming out in 2008-2009, the PSE index has been one of the best performing in the world, gaining more than 350 percent.  This year, we at Philequity, expect the PSE index to continue outperforming as it tries to scale above the 8,000 level for the first time.  A standout in the global economic environment The Philippine economy stands out in a global economic environment of “slow and uneven” growth.  The IMF recently raised its Philippine growth forecast while cutting the global outlook, saying the country will get a boost from higher public spending and lower oil prices. In its recent World Economic Outlook update dated January 2015, the IMF expressed concern over the marked growth divergences across major economies.  Among developed economies, only the US rebounded ahead of expectations while economic performance in Japan and Europe fell short of expectations.  Among emerging markets, growth is expected to be lower in China while downward revisions are expected in commodity exporters such as Russia and members of OPEC. This highlights the Philippine economy which the IMF expects to grow by 6.6 percent in 2015 and 6.4 percent in 2016. CBs continue to flood the global economy with liquidity With the exception of the US and Asia, many countries continue to struggle with their respective economies and are still on the easing path.  While the US is preparing to tighten its noose on Read More …

Emirates seeks P-Noy intervention in 3rd daily flight row

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Emirates seeks P-Noy intervention in 3rd daily flight row

MANILA, Philippines – Emirates is seeking the intervention of President Aquino after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) decided to end the airline’s third daily flight for the Manila-Dubai route late last month. Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said the Gulf carrier has elevated the case to the Office of the President after CAB denied its petition to further extend its third daily flights for the Manila – Dubai route that expired last Jan. 26.  “What I understand is that they (Emirates) elevated (the case) to the OP. I am not sure if CAB received anything,” Lotilla said. According to him, Emirates is probably following the administrative procedure by elevating the case to Malacanang instead of filing an appeal before the Court of Appeals (CA).  “They should have gone to the CA but they went to the OP. Probably, they are following the administrative procedure,” Emirates said. President Aquino attended the one-off commercial flight by Emirates using the world’s largest passenger aircraft – Airbus A380 – that landed at the recently completed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) last Oct. 7. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 CAB last October turned down petition of Emirates to use the unutilized frequency of PAL until March this year. The Middle Eastern carrier filed an appeal before the CAB. While the appeal was pending, CAB granted Emirates a 30-day extension to continue its third daily flight between Manila and Dubai until Nov. 26. Read More …

Phl stocks attract interest in Tokyo roadshow

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Phl stocks attract interest in Tokyo roadshow

MANILA, Philippines – More Japanese firms are showing strong interest in Philippine stocks, the operator of the country’s sole stock market reported. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said it saw more participation from Japanese firms during this year’s roadshow in Tokyo compared with that of 2014. “We understand that when we sent out the invitation to participants in December last year, the event became fully booked within three hours. We are delighted by the strong interest by Japanese investors in our market and we thank our partners for helping us promote more businesses and investments between Japan and the Philippines,” said PSE president and chief executive officer Hans B. Sicat. The Tokyo roadshow in the Land of the Rising Sun held last January 21 to 23 featured a Philippine Corporate Day which was co-organized with DBP-Daiwa Capital Markets Philippines Inc. and a Philippine Business Environment Seminar. This was in partnership with KPMG Japan, Mori Hamada and Matsumoto Law, and Takara Printing Co. Ltd. The roadshow was aimed at courting Japanese firms to list in the local bourse by serving as a venue to discuss the listing structure and rules of the PSE. The PSE said the roadshow this year registered a 37 percent increase in investor turnout and a 58 percent growth in the number of fund houses present compared to last year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Furthermore, the PSE reported a 32 percent increase in meetings between the listed companies and major Japanese investors. Read More …

Philippine, Indonesian leaders to discuss territorial spats

 General
Feb 082015
 
Philippine, Indonesian leaders to discuss territorial spats

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines will raise its concerns over China’s land reclamation in disputed reefs and discuss Manila’s new peace deal with Muslim rebels with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who arrived Sunday for a brief visit, an official said. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said President Benigno Aquino III will discuss with Jokowi how their Southeast Asian nations can strengthen defense and maritime cooperation and bolster trade and investment. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines’ concern over China’s land reclamation in disputed reefs in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea will be raised in the talks with Jokowi. The two nations are among the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-nation bloc, which has been helping resolve the long-unresolved territorial rifts involving China, Taiwan and four ASEAN member state — Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Last month, del Rosario urged fellow ASEAN foreign ministers to seek international support and demand that China immediately stop the land reclamation, warning the regional bloc’s credibility may be undermined if it remains silent on the issue. Del Rosario told the ministers that China’s massive reclamations could threaten freedom of navigation and the vast offshore region’s biodiversity. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have protested the reclamation, worried that China can transform the emerging islands into offshore military bases to reinforce Beijing’s vast territorial claims, according to Philippine officials. Indonesia and China have no formal dispute, though in 2010, Indonesia’s navy came Read More …

Military helps MILF men besieged by Abu Sayyaf – AFP

 General
Feb 082015
 
Military helps MILF men besieged by Abu Sayyaf – AFP

Soldiers rescued members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from an attack by the Abu Sayyaf despite frayed ties over the killing of 44 policemen last month, a military report said Sunday. The members of the MILF,  which is engaged in a peace process with the government, were besieged by the rival Abu Sayyaf group in the troubled island of Basilan on Saturday, requiring military intervention, said a statement from the regional military command. “Three platoons… along with armored vehicles together with some members of MILF in the area… proceeded to the encounter site to reinforce the beleaguered MILF members who were engaged in the firefight,” the statement said. One wounded MILF fighter was evacuated by the soldiers who later overran an Abu Sayyaf camp and are believed to have killed one Abu Sayyaf leader, the report added. MILF members and other Muslim fighters ambushed and killed 44 police commandos while they were on an anti-terror operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25. The incident violated a ceasefire between the government and the MILF and threatened President Benigno Aquino’s efforts to complete a peace process which would create an autonomous Muslim area in the south. The MILF have said they were only acting in self-defense but the killings have led many people to question their sincerity. Aquino has said the peace process must continue to avoid a return to decades of fighting that claimed tens of thousands of lives over previous decades. It was unclear why the MILF members Read More …

No More Bangsamoro, Period!

 News
Feb 072015
 

With each passing day, it is becoming increasingly clear that the idea of a Bangsamoro is a bad idea. Just as the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) spearheaded by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was a bad idea (and declared unconstitutional in 2008 by the Supreme Court). Just as the failed Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the 1990s was a bad idea …

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