Being an archipelago, the Philippines needs an efficient maritime transportation industry to attain inclusive growth and economic progress, since shipping links the islands and connects archipelagic economies to international commerce and trade.
I have been asked many times by business people from Bonifacio Global City, from Makati to Binondo, by tycoons, foreign investors and media about the economic prospects of the Philippines after the May 2016 presidential election. Who, they ask, would be good for the economy? Are the various pundits correct in claiming that popular Senator Grace Poe “lacks political experience,” that populist Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay is allegedly “corrupt” and that ex-Wall Street guy and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is allegedly “inept and indecisive,” thus their election as president would derail or even imperil Philippine economic progress? I vehemently disagree! Here are my objective and quite bullish analyses of our positive future, based on the not bad — although imperfect — economic stewardships of Ateneo economics graduate President Noynoy C. Aquino and also that of his ex-professor economics doctorate alumna ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and based on the Philippines’ positive demographic and other factors. 1. Senator Grace Poe. Based on my research, interviews with many people who know her and her family, as well as my personal encounters with her through the years, I think Senator Grace Poe is today more intellectually, emotionally and politically prepared to serve as president of the Philippines than President Noy Aquino was in May 2010. The bright, honest and diligent Grace Poe is today more prepared to be president than similar first-term Senator Barack Obama was when he first took presidential office in the US; more so than Erap Estrada was when he Read More …
Monika Sta. Maria grateful for Georgina Wilson’s mentorship.
By Abner Galino If you live in the US, can you really say that you are proud to be Pinoy? You should be because Filipinos are outstanding immigrants. Well, it may not be something that you can say everyday, but you could say it loud through the most part of the year. By the way, we are not tooting our own horn here. The affirmation about Pinoys being outstanding US immigrants was recently disclosed in an exhaustive report by the Migration Information Source (MIS), the online journal of the Migration Policy Institute. The report was written by Keith Mcnamara and Jeanne Batalova. The report was accompanied by tables and a graph that showed how we have been moving along here in the so-called “land of opportunities.” Interestingly, folklore character Juan Tamad (Lazy John), which has been used by foreign and local rulers to explain away the root of poverty in the Philippines, was nowhere near the description of Filipinos in the US. The MIS noted that Pinoys participated in the labor force at “slightly higher rates than both the overall immigrant and US-born populations.” In 2013, said the report, about 69 percent of Pinoys 16 and above were working in the civilian labor force. This is two percent higher than all immigrants which was determined at 67 percent, posting even higher than the employment rates among native born Americans which was pegged at 63 percent. Filipinos were likely to be employed in management, business, sciences and arts occupations. And of Read More …
Monique Lualhati and Katrina Velarde are products of The Voice Philippines and X-Factor Philippines, respectively.
RJ Dela Fuente, who was part of Team Lea in The Voice Philippines Season 1, signs a four-year contract with VIVA.
Bianca Manalo open to doing kontrabida roles: “O, intimidating ako, ‘di ba?”
There are ten reasons why Kuya J resto is worth a visit. Read on.
Nice Day Coffee, according to Alice Dixson, is “the only coffee I know that has a whitening, cleansing, and slimming effect.”
Chinkee Tan Have you ever wondered if it is a smart idea to invest when the economy is down? Or you have the money and you want to make it grow, but you are hesitant because of the unstable economy that you might lose your hard-earned money, so better not invest? Let me tell you something; there’s an old saying that goes like this, “BUY LOW, SELL HIGH.” “Chinkee, when will you know it is low?” Aside from making your personal research, asking the experts, trusting your instinct, you just got to TAKE THE RISK. Everything is a risk, yes, but in investing, it is a calculated one, a risk that can either make you gain a lot from it or lose some or all your money. I can still recall when I bought some plans from an insurance company. This was the time when the economy was not doing well and we heard of them going public via stock market. I just bought because my sister was the one who sold it. Truly enough, after a few years, she called me and told me, “Ahia, the insurance you purchased made money. The company went public and for every plan holder they will receive shares from the profit made. You will receive a 6 digit check amount.” I was happy at the same time sad. Happy because I will receive money from an investment I never expected; sad because I only invested a little. Investing per se requires a SELF CHECK, Read More …