Jun 302015
 

DAVAO CITY — Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and exporters in Davao Region have expressed support for the P18.99-billion Sasa Port modernization project under the public-private partnership (PPP) program, providing a base of support for the project, which has drawn criticism from big business groups and local governments.

Jun 292015
 

A few days ago, I was invited to discuss estate taxes. One of the questions proferred by viewers was whether the Philippines should repeal estate taxes. The viewer probably thought that imposing estate tax on top of the various taxes that we as taxpayers have to shoulder is a huge an imposition on our overstretched budgets.

Jun 292015
 
New York Conference promotes PHL as premier investment destination

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. while delivering his remarks during arrival and send off ceremony for passengers of Philippine Airlines maiden flight to NewYork in mid-March this year at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Emil Fernandez) WASHINGTON, DC  – Investments in people, infrastructure and reforms have transformed the Philippines into a prime destination for foreign capital in recent years, according to Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who was one of the keynote speakers at the Economic Briefing and Investment Conference held on 26 June 2015 at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Entitled “Invest in the Philippines: Asia’s Bright Spot,” the New York Conference underscored the significant improvements the country has  made in terms of macroeconomic governance, promoting transparency, enhancing the ease of doing business, and focusing on infrastructure development. These factors, combined with a competent, hardworking and growing workforce, and a central location in an economically dynamic region, have increased the attractiveness of the Philippines in the eyes of foreign investors. “The Philippines is not perfect, nor is it completely efficient, but to investors like you, it is an opportunity. In fact, many companies are already silently making money,” Secretary Purisima stated. BPI Capital Corporation President Dennis Montecillo agreed with the bullish assessment, saying that there has been a noticeable shift in the demand for foreign private equity. Montecillo, who previously worked for Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, recounted how private equity clients have now developed a keen interest in the Philippines, with some Read More …

Jun 292015
 
Kelley Blue Book says Mitsubishi Outlander is among the most affordable 3-Row Vehicle for 2015

Alex Jacinto at Puente Hills Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced that the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander seven-passenger crossover has been named by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com as one of its “10 Most Affordable 3-Row Vehicles.” In 2014, Outlander also was recognized for its affordability by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. In its assessment this year, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com noted that the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander “is loaded with value” and that “in addition to its available three rows of seats, the Outlander also comes standard with micron air filtration, hill-start assist, traction and stability control, seven air bags and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the industry’s best.” “The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander is an outstanding value proposition and comes with a long list of standard safety features and amenities,” states Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President, MMNA. “And for 2016, the Outlander will feature bold new styling and over 100 key engineering and interior refinements, adding even more value to an already feature-laden vehicle.” The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” – the highest safety achievement designated by the non-profit agency that performs crash test evaluations on vehicles – because of the availability of Forward Collision Mitigation. The 2015 model also includes standard features including an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Mitsubishi Motors’ patented Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body/chassis construction technology that helps absorb and/or dissipate Read More …

Jun 292015
 
Colorful ‘giant bubbles’ in the sky at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic Festival

My daughter Marissa and I spent our Father’s Day weekend, amused and totally entertained watching the more than a dozen hot air balloons soaring above the sky at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival held at the Kaiser Community Park in the town of Windsor, California and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Windsor. Story has it that in 1998, “Windsor was a struggling, newly-incorporated town, looking for a great event that will attract people from all over Sonoma County, or maybe even the Bay Area.”  And so, the officers and members of the Rotary Club of Windsor developed and incorporated their non-profit organization, to enable their group to take on the name to promote the annual event. Myrna and her daughter Marissa at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival held at the Kaiser Community Park in the town of Windsor, California “During the first couple of years, they didn’t make any money and it was only through some very tenacious people in the town of Windsor that the event survived. And, it did survive most importantly because it was a completely voluntary-run event, designed as a spectacular special event and fundraiser.” My daughter Marissa and I have also learned that the volunteers came from all over California and some from out of state. We spoke with some of the volunteers who claimed that they were there to help out because they know the proceeds are intended for Windsor’s “very special non-profit organizations, as well as for the educational Read More …