Rovilson Fernandez encourages more support for this year’s Earth Hour on March 28.
Mar 202015
Mar 202015
Southeast Asia’s dream of raising living standards to equal advanced economies will stretch for decades and the road will be paved with tough reforms that promise to test policymakers’ resolve. A senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said these countries faced several challenges to raising incomes, among them the need to sustain high levels of infrastructure spending amid funding constraints, and the modernization of job-generating industries. “No doubt, the process of convergence is a long one; it extends over several decades,” said David Lipton, IMF first deputy managing director, in a speech in Kuala Lumpur. He said that while some, such as Malaysia and Singapore, were nearing the high-income threshold, most countries in the region were still behind the curve in terms of so-called “convergence” with advanced markets. Twenty years ago, Malaysia’s per capita income was about $3,500. Now it has risen to $11,000 or near the $15,000 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita required for a country to be called rich. The Philippines’ GDP per capita stands at around $1,600, according to research group Trading Economics. “Full convergence with advanced economies is a more distant goal for some other Southeast Asian countries,” he said. Economies in the region are mostly stable and governments have comfortable fiscal buffers. Lipton said countries should use this space to sustain high infrastructure spending. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has estimated Asia’s infrastructure needs at $8 trillion over 10 years, of which about $1 trillion was needed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Read More …
Mar 202015
Re-elected Pamra President, Reno Villanueva and wife Lynn Villanueva. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Pilipino American Retirees Association Military Retirees Association’s (Pamra) biennial tour and ball was a resounding success! The Pamra activities started with a tour in Batangas and Bicol that included visits to heritage structures, historical and natural landmarks, churches, enjoying and immersing in various cultural activities and of course feasting, on native delicacies. This biennial week long engagement is a chance for the Pamra members, not only to visit their land of origin, but also a way for these indefatigable men from the military service – comprised of retired members of the US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Army, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, Noaa, USPHS, and US Merchant Marine – to help the local economy via tourism and encourage second and third-generation Filipino-Americans to get to experience and appreciate the country of their grandparents and parents. LCDR Ireneo “Reno” Villanueva of the US Coast Guard (Ret.), currently the president of Pamra shared: “Pamra was founded in 1995 and most of the coast the coastguards who retired went back to the Philippines for a vacation. The first event happened at the Manila Hotel. After their vacation, the group was formed and since then, a reunion every two years transpires here in Manila.” Roy and Naomi Estaris of The Travel Outlet. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Villanueva served for three decades in the US Coast Guard and now that there is more time in his hands to enjoy the fruits of Read More …
Mar 202015
DESPITE a slight delay, the 150-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. is still expected to provide additional supply in the dry months.
Mar 202015
THE 23-megawatt (MW) plant of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (Sacasol) has been certified under the feed-in tariff (FIT) system, allowing the company to dispatch the plant’s output to the grid at a premium rate.
Mar 202015
CUSTOMS offices at the country’s biggest ports will be open for business during some of the major holidays next month, the Bureau of Customs said on Friday in an advisory.
Mar 202015
One date in March turns special for two celebrity couples. Instagram/ Janna Veneracion | Patrick Garcia MANILA, Philippines – The date March 21 turns extra special for two celebrity couples. Karylle Tatlonghari and Yael Yuzon celebrate their first wedding anniversary, while Patrick Garcia and his girlfriend are about to tie the knot. It was March 21 when Karylle and Yael had an intimate wedding in San Antonio de Padua Church in Tagaytay. On Saturday, Karylle posted on her Instagram account a short video of her and Yael singing “Killing Me Softly,” while having a “salubong dinner.” Happy anniv jamming from our date to your phone. Thanks kuya Rudy for playing some random love songs to end our date! #CafeJuanita #KYwedding #MrsY Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 A video posted by karylle tatlonghari-yuzon (@anakarylle) on Mar 20, 2015 at 9:13am PDT Meanwhile, Patrick will have a Christian wedding with Nikka Martinez today at the Blue Leaf Pavillion in Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. A photo posted by Patrick Garcia (@onlypatrickgarcia) on Mar 16, 2015 at 10:54pm PDT A few weeks before his wedding, Patrick said he hasn’t felt any wedding jitters yet since he was still busy with his teleserye “Two Wives.” The couple has a daughter named Chelsea, who will be the “little bride” in the wedding. While his son Alex Jazz will also have a special part in the wedding.
Mar 202015
A happy Trinidad Torres flashes some of her winnings. WLV PHOTO LAS VEGAS, Nevada — A Filipina from Utah hit the jackpot at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Saturday, March 14, hotel officials announced. Trinidad Torres, a 78-year-old from Magna, Utah, and a first-time visitor to the hotel, was in Las Vegas with a friend who was playing in Westgate’s blackjack tournament. Torres put $100 in the IGT $1 Megabucks slot machine and made several $3 bets before reaching the $10,744,293.40 jackpot around 1 p.m. on Saturday, said Westgate spokeswoman Amy Chasey. “We’re thrilled that she won on our property,” David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts said in a statement. “What an exciting weekend for our lucky winner. Westgate Las Vegas is proving to be a fantastic place to stay and play. This huge win adds to the excitement of all of that we have going on at the property, including new shows, renovated rooms and dining experiences.” With her earnings, Torres plans to visit her family in the Philippines that she has not seen in many years. She will also buy a yellow Mustang, her dream car,. Torres, a huge Elvis Presley fan, plans to return to Westgate Las Vegas next month for the grand opening of the newly announced “Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition – The Show – The Experience.” The last winner on a Megabucks slot machine was in December 2014 when a Las Vegas man won $14.3 million at Rampart Casino, according to the Read More …
Mar 202015
SAN FRANCISCO — On the phone, the woman was so scared for herself and her family in the Philippines, she would only go by the name “Nora.” In 2011, she was working at the Le Coeur de France bakery in Manila when she was approached by the former owner, Analiza Moitinho de Almeida, who had moved to the U.S. Almeida, the daughter of Philippine Social Security chair Juan B. Santos, was starting a new bakery in Beverly Hills and Torrance, California —L’Amande Bakery–and asked Nora to come work for her. Nora said Ana offered $2,000 and an E2 visa. It’s a temporary visa, good for five years for skilled workers to America. Ana took care of everything for Nora and ten others. She is alleged to have made up some things in the paperwork to get the visas. An E-2 visa is for skilled workers. But when Nora and the others arrived, they were put to work as household domestics, doing dishes, cleaning, cooking and yard work for Almeida. On top of that, they did other manual labor like cleaning of Almeida’s rental properties. Oh, and the pay? Not $2,000 a month. Try $360 a month. About the same amount that the workers got if they stayed put in their old jobs in Manila. But this was Los Angeles not Metro Manila. Never mind. They stayed together in the Almeida’s laundry room, sleeping on the floor. Did they even have a banig? “Nora” began crying as I talked to her Read More …
Mar 202015
popular Privatization of coco levy funds underway Chopper deal probe sought $5K ‘weed bond’ imposed on One Direction De Lima: Ramos gave ‘confused’ view on chain of command Senate report blasts subservience of peace panel to MILF Actress Liezl Martinez, wife of actor Albert Martinez, passes away Two mayors in Makati: Binay on 21st floor, Peña on hallway of old building Remembering Jabidah videos PBA: Ginebra’s LA Tenorio comfortable on the floor with Emman Monfort PBA: Agustin credits good defense, big men performance for win over Purefoods PBA: Warner’s maturity big thing for Globalport, says coach Gonzales Crime watchdog wants advisory body composed of bishops, inter-religious leaders Former Tarlac Governor calls Aquino to resign SAN FRANCISCO – Today, March 20, is the deadline for nominations for the 2015 Asian Pacific American Heritage Awards. As part of San.Francisco’s celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the APA Heritage awards will be presented to three individuals for their professional achievements as well as community contributions in creativity in design. The awards ceremony will take place at City Hall on May 4. Nominations are accepted online at www.apasf.org. Get Inquirer updates while on the go, add us on these apps: Tags: Asian Pacific American Heritage Awards Asian Pacific American Heritage Month cultural celebration San Francisco City Hall Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai baby scandal Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in Read More …