Maniolas

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas MANILA (Mabuhay) — Foreign direct investments (FDI) registered net inflows of $464 million in November 2015, up 16.4 percent from a year earlier. “The robust FDI net inflows during the month were underpinned by sustained investor confidence on the economy on the back of the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals,” the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Thursday. Intercompany borrowings contributed largely to the FDI net inflows. These were net placements by parent companies overseas in debt instruments issued by their Philippine-based affiliates. The central bank noted intercompany borrowings expanded by 26.6 percent to $187 million from $148 million. Net placements in equity capital rose by 11.2 percent to $224 million from $201 million. This development reflected equity capital withdrawals of $10 million compared with the total placements of $234 million. The bulk of equity capital placements came from the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and United States. “By economic activity, equity capital investments were channeled mainly to manufacturing, financial and insurance, real estate, wholesale and retail trade, and information and communication activities,” the central bank said. Reinvested earnings increased by 7.5 percent to $53 million. In the 11 months to November 2015, FDI registered net inflows $5.5 billion or 3.4 percent lower than the $5.6 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier. “This was mainly on account of the 9.9 percent decline in net placements in debt instruments to $3 billion compared with $3.3 billion a year earlier, the central bank said. Read More …

Gerald Anderson (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Is it love at first sight for Gerald Anderson? Anderson admitted that he was captivated by Arci Munoz the very first time he saw her. The two are working together on Star Cinema’s post-Valentine offering, “Always Be My Maybe.” “Standout beauty talaga,” he said. “‘Yung ganda niya ay ‘yung parang maiilang ka o mahihiya ka.” But as they spent more time together on the set of their movie, Anderson revealed that Munoz is actually “kalog and down to earth.” “Magaan katrabaho,” he said of the actress, who is currently starring in the ABS-CBN series “Pasion de Amor.” In a separate interview, Anderson said that he can’t believe this is only Munoz’s first lead role in a film. “Kapag nagre-rehearse kami, parang ginagawa na namin ‘yung eksena… Siya, talagang ginagawa niya kung paano niya gagawin sa eksena. Ako, first time ko na-encounter yung ganon, kasi nga doon siya nagsimula sa teatro,” he said. Meanwhile, Munoz also told Star Cinema that she finds Anderson easy to work with. “Sobrang galing ni Ge. Sobrang professional at sobrang masayang katrabaho.” she said. “Tahimik lang si Ge, pero kapag nasa eksena na doon niya ibinubuhos ang lahat.” Directed by Dan Villegas, “Always Be My Maybe” also features Jane Oineza, Kakai Bautista, Ahron Villena, Matt Evans, Carlo Aquino and Pepe Herrera. (MNS)

Jasmine Curtis-Smith (MNS Photo) Actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith admitted on Wednesday that she was baffled by the fans’ negative reaction towards her Snapchat video with Erwan Heussaff, the boyfriend of her sister Anne Curtis. The 21-year-old Jasmine opened up about the viral screenshot that shows her sharing a hug with Heussaff, which was taken from her sister’s private account. “Ewan ko ba. Actually, hindi ako nasaktan. More than anything, nagulat lang the way people reacted,” the actress said. “But, at the end of the day, you can’t avoid that there are cultural differences, there are people who might just don’t understand the relationship that the three of us have,” she added. According to Jasmine, she and Heussaff have always shared a playful relationship since the host-chef became her sister’s boyfriend back in 2011. “We’ve been that way ever since they’ve been dating. So it’s not that biglaan lang na may na-develop na ganun na closeness between us,” she explained. Asked if her relationship with Heussaff was affected by the criticisms she received, Jasmine replied: “No. …More than anything siguro, kinukuwestiyon ko lang paano ‘yung ganun… ‘yung mga isip ng mga tao.” (MNS)