INFLATION is expected to remain benign throughout the first half of 2016, an analyst said on Monday, with depressed oil prices seen tempering any upside price shocks.
Feb 292016
Feb 292016
THE NATIONAL Power Corp. (Napocor) is rebidding this month a solar-diesel hybrid power plant on Limasawa island that could serve as a template for similar projects to be bid out to private companies to hasten the electrification of remote villages.
Feb 292016
You’ve probably heard that some Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) examiners are asking for transfer pricing documentation as part of regular audits. We are also aware that the BIR International Tax Affairs Division (ITAD) has been asking for transfer pricing documentation from companies applying for tax treaty relief for transactions involving related parties.
Feb 292016
Chinkee Tan Have you experienced a pain? Have you been hurt? How did you face it? Did you just keep the pain to yourself, as if it didn’t happen? If your answer is yes, why are you avoiding it? Why are you afraid to talk about it? The pain we feel from negative experiences is like trash, no matter how we try to hide it, its stench is going to eventually come out. If you choose to face your pain alone, there will come a time when you will break down because of the weight of the pain you bear. Keeping everything to yourself will not help you, in fact, the more it will harm you. It may even come to the point where whatever help given or solution offered to you will be of no use anymore because it is too late. So as early as now, do something about it and LET IT OUT. What should we do to properly manage the pain? ADMIT THAT YOU ARE IN PAIN Admit that you are hurt! A WOUND CAN’T BE HEALED IF ONE ACTS LIKE IT DOESN’T EXIST. Like what I’ve said, pretending like it didn’t happen will only make the burden heavier because you’re prolonging the agony in your heart. Let go of it because only as you let go will you clearly see the things that you need to do. ADMIT THAT HEALING TAKES TIME Acknowledging the pain doesn’t necessarily mean that it will immediately go away. Healing Read More …
Feb 282016
Joey Albert (MNS photo) Joey Albert is back home “more victorious” than the last time she was here. In an interview, the Canada-based singer said she has survived cancer a third time. Last year, during her Valentine’s Day concert with The Company, Joey kept her health condition under wraps as she wanted people to “come and watch the show not because I’m sick.” “(But) my manager knew, The CompanY knew (about it), and they were just extremely supportive,” she said. “They made everything easy for me. It was a meaningful performance.” Joey was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1995. After a successful operation, the cancer returned in 2003, this time affecting her colon. Despite having it removed through another operation, the cancer recurred last year. Joey said that more than the cancer itself, the real struggle for her was overcoming depression. “Akala nila, ‘Kayang-kaya naman ni Joey ’yan,’ but they don’t really see what’s inside, ’yung ’pag mag-isa ka na lang,” she said. “There are friends – they come once in a while – but in the quiet of your own room, this is when the battle really begins.” But giving up is not in her vocabulary and she remained positive throughout the ordeal. “It’s how you keep your head above the water, it’s how you carry yourself,” she said. “It’s how you use a lemon and turn into lemon juice.” Did she ever ask God, ‘Why me?’ “No. You will just end up disappointing yourself when you ask Read More …
Feb 282016
President reminds voters he’s the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos By Cecil Morella Victims who endured human rights abuses during the late Ferdinand Marcos’ two-decade-long reign, on Monday, protest against the possible return of any Marcos to the presidential palace. The group vowed to derail the vice-presidential bid of Sen. Bongbong Marcos in the May 9 elections.(MNS photo) Manila, Philippines | AFP | – Philippine President Benigno Aquino urged voters Thursday to stamp out the stunning political resurgence of Ferdinand Marcos’ family, as the nation marked 30 years since a “People Power” uprising toppled the late dictator. The election campaign is the latest chapter in an almost Shakespearean tale of feuding between the Aquino and Marcos families, two of the most powerful clans in a nation famed for elite dynasty rule. Human rights groups say tens of thousands were thrown in prison and tortured during the elder Marcos’ 20-year rule, and the government estimates the family plundered $10 billion from state coffers. But pollsters say a young electorate is likely to help the charismatic and unrepentant Ferdinand Marcos Jnr become vice president in May elections. “Mr. Marcos’ rule was not the golden age. It was a very painful chapter of our history,” Aquino told about 3,000 students and government workers at a ceremony marking the 1986 uprising. Aquino’s late father and namesake was shot dead by pro-Marcos soldiers and police at Manila airport in 1983 as he tried to return from US exile to lead opposition to the dictator. Public outrage over the murder Read More …
Feb 282016
A man installs Philippine flaglets at the People Power Monument along EDSA, Quezon City on Tuesday in preparation for the 30th celebration of People Power Anniversary on February 25. Thousands are expected to join the traditional Salubungan to reenact the 1986 uprising against dicator Ferdinand Marcos.(MNS photo) LAUR, Nueva Ecija, (Mabuhay) – Administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Wednesday urged the public to shun candidates running in the national elections who want to return to an abusive dictatorship. “May kasabihan tayo, ‘Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.’ Kung kakalimutan natin ang lahat ng mga leksyon ng ating mga karanasan, ng ating mga nakalipas ay mawawala tayo, malilito tayo, maloloko tayo,” Roxas told reporters in an interview. “At may mga tao dyan na nais bumalik tayo sa nakaraan, bumalik tayo sa dating sistema at mapigil ang ating pagusad,” he added. Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, stopped by at the Aquino-Diokno memorial shrine in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on the eve of the EDSA People Power Revolution. It was in this facility where opposition senators Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. and Jose “Pepe” Diokno were brought for a one-month solitary confinement during the martial law period. Aquino codenamed “Alpha” and Diokno referred to as “Delta” were detained from March 12 to April 11 in 1973. They were isolated from their families, friends, and even from each other as they were detained in separate rooms inside the facility. Roxas said seeing the detention Read More …
Feb 282016
Protesters from different social movements form the word dignity (dignidad) during a protest in Quezon City, Monday. The coalition urged candidates to adopt social protection in their election agenda, citing what it described as unequal access to basic social services like health care, jobs and education.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Even with the hefty decline registered in December, the government is confident that imports will continue to be supported by the strong demand and growing investor confidence in the country. “Despite this decline in December, strong domestic demand will prop up imports in the near term, as we expect continued expansion in inward shipments of power-generating machines, office and electronic data processing machines, and telecommunications equipment,” NEDA Deputy General and OIC Margarita R. Songco said in an emailed statement. “Investor confidence in the country is still growing and is seen to increase investments. This will in turn boost demand for imports of capital goods as well as raw materials and intermediate goods,” Songco added. This developed after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday announced that imports dropped nearly 26 percent in December, its sharpest fall since 2009 as semiconductor shipments contracted by almost 40 percent. The same sentiment was shared by University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Economic Program Vice Dean Cid Terosa who said that the drop in December was expected but it is not seen to linger for the rest of the year. “It was expected to drop but it was surprising that it dropped by Read More …
Feb 282016
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) general assembly Wednesday (February 10) at the grand ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. The President commended the group for its dynamic, pro-people and patriotic alliance championing excellence in governance towards genuine local autonomy. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan has ordered South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr. suspended for 60 days in connection with the lawmaker’s graft trial. The Office of the Ombudsman said the Sandiganbayan granted its motion to suspend Acharon, who is facing graft charges over the allegedly anomalous P2.5 million US junket in 2006. The Ombudsman asked the anti-graft court in October last year to suspend Acharon pending his trial. The Ombudsman said that in dismissing Acharon’s opposition to its petition, the Sandiganbayan said, “[there] is no merit [too] in the argument of the accused that as Congressman of the First District of South Cotabato, he no longer approves or implements disbursement of public funds, as he used to do as former City Mayor of General Santos City in which capacity he was charged in this case, or that his constituents would be deprived of representation if he were to be suspended.” “For as long as the accused occupies a public office, he can be suspended pendente lite” as “suspension follows the accused in whatever other government position which he/she may be holding at the time of suspension,” the resolution added. Acharon and four other officials from General Read More …
Feb 282016
Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her acceptance message to be the official LP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2016 National Elections during the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05). (MNS photo) LAUR, Nueva Ecija (Mabuhay) – Joining the ruling Liberal Party (LP) should come without expectations, administration vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo said on Wednesday, as she dismissed a newspaper report in Bicol that said she received P500 million to run alongside administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Robredo said the allegation from the local paper was just “black propaganda” from political foes. “May black propaganda na lumabas na binigyan daw ako ng P500 million at palagay ko kayo na rin makakapagsabi, kung P500 million siguro, matutulog na lamang ako,” Robredo said. “Kung titingnan ninyo ang newspaper na pinanggalingan noon ay newspaper ng kalaban sa politika kaya hindi na dapat patulan,” Robredo, the incumbent congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s third district, said. Robredo said LP wasn’t a party of financial favors but of the same political beliefs. “Mula noong sa asawa ko pa hanggang ngayon, alam naman ng aking mga kasamahan na ang samahan namin ay hindi talaga tungkol sa pera,” she said. The same report said Robredo’s allies in the local level have jumped ship because of the lack of financial support. “Kung ang dahilan kaya ka sumama sa partido ay Read More …