Tourism program seems adrift

 Economy
Sep 292016
 
Tourism program seems adrift

Tourism industry professionals I have been talking to are giving me the picture of a tourism industry that has gone adrift. I suspected as much and I pin the blame on the appointment of a Tourism Secretary who took an assignment that is way beyond her pay grade. I imagine that when she was appointed, President Duterte didn’t give it much thought. Tourism wasn’t on top of his list of priorities. He didn’t know what the job entailed in terms of a prospective appointee’s capability and experience. And he didn’t know too many people in the industry beyond a local travel agent. Puede na yan. Little did the President know that the job of Tourism Secretary required more than knowledge of booking tickets and taking visitors around tourist spots. It requires solid marketing experience and a level of sophistication that would allow her to sell the country in a very competitive tourism market. Luckily, the last Tourism Secretary did his homework very well. He came up with a road map for the development of the industry which includes very specific plans on things to do for a number of years beyond his term of office. He also invested in a catchy marketing campaign that can be as promising as the long term image campaigns of Thailand, Malaysia and India. It is really a pity if the current Secretary of Tourism is unable to follow through the gains of the past. Continuity is important if we want to realize dividends from Read More …

$1.3 B hot money flees in past 3 weeks

 Economy
Sep 292016
 
$1.3 B hot money flees in past 3 weeks

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed $1.27 billion worth of foreign funds were withdrawn from the markets from Sept. 1 to 16, while inflows only amounted to $567.14 million.  MANILA, Philippines – Close to $1.3 billion worth of foreign portfolio investments or ‘hot money’ were pulled out from the Philippines in the first three weeks of September amid the negative sentiment of investors. Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed $1.27 billion worth of foreign funds were withdrawn from the markets from Sept. 1 to 16, while inflows only amounted to $567.14 million. The amount pulled out from the markets was 21 percent higher than the $1.05 billion withdrawn in the same period last year. This resulted in a net outflow of $701.12 million in the first three weeks of September. Foreign portfolio investments or hot money are referred to as speculative funds controlled by investors who actively seek short-term returns and high interest rate investment opportunities. Foreign funds continued to move out of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) due to external shocks brought about by the timing of the interest rate hike in the US as well as developments in the country. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Duterte administration declared a “state of lawless violence” after 15 people were killed in an explosion in Davao City last Sept. 2. Likewise, President Duterte launched tirades against US President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the European Union Read More …

After ‘Dolce Amore,’ Liza, Enrique to work on new movie

 Entertainment
Sep 282016
 
After ‘Dolce Amore,’ Liza, Enrique to work on new movie

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano (MNS photo) Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano are set to reunite on the big screen after their hit television series “Dolce Amore.” “We are back… pitching for a movie. Abanga niyo ‘yan,” Gil said. The movie will be directed by Cathy Garcia Molina, who also did “Forevermore.” This is the third time Soberano and Gil will headline a movie following the box office success of “Just the Way You Are” and “Everyday I Love You.” Meanwhile, “Dolce Amore” is the latest Filipino TV series to be aired in Kazakhstan. This is the second time a teleserye starring the popular love team will be aired in Kazakhstan following “Forevermore” last year. Other Kapamilya shows such as “Got To Believe,” the 2015 remake of “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” and “Dream Dad” were also made available to Kazakh fans. According to ABS-CBN, “Dolce Amore” will also soon start airing in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Africa either dubbed or with subtitles. (MNS)

Simplified tax exemption for nonprofit schools

 Economy
Sep 282016
 

Nonstock, nonprofit educational institutions may have reason to be upbeat this school year with the issuance of Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 44-2016, excluding them from the renewal requirements of their tax exemption status. Readers may recall that in 2013, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued RMO No. 20-2013, requiring nonstock, nonprofit organizations under Section 30 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) to secure confirmatory BIR rulings or certificates of tax exemption by submitting an application and supporting documents for evaluation. However, this requirement was declared null and void as far as nonprofit schools were concerned when a Regional Trial Court in 2014 cited the constitutional protections enjoyed by such institutions.

‘Ballad King’ Martin Nievera & ‘Siren of the Las Vegas Strip’ Lani Misalucha in a special ‘Masquerade’ Halloween concert only at Pechanga Resort & Casino

 Entertainment
Sep 282016
 
‘Ballad King’ Martin Nievera & ‘Siren of the Las Vegas Strip’ Lani Misalucha in a special ‘Masquerade’ Halloween concert only at Pechanga Resort & Casino

A once in a lifetime tandem of primed talents—famous multi-awarded King of ballad Martin Nievera, and the ‘Siren of the Las Vegas Strip’ Lani Misalucha, will perform in a live concert at Pechanga Resort & Casino Theater on October 29 and 30. Martin Nievera bagged ‘The Box Office Entertainment Awards’ for Best Male Concert Performer of the Year on April 17, 2016, by GMMSF, Inc. For 33 years now, Nievera has been delighting his audience with not only Original Pinoy Music (OPM) but has interpreted numerous songs made famous by internationally-renowned singers.In late August, Nievera launched a new album—“ The Best of Martin Nievera – Kahapon…. Ngayon “ by Polyeast recording.A Filipino singer, songwriter and actor, Nievera garnered 18 platinum, five double platinum, three triple platinum and 1 quadruple platinum albums in his entire career. Nievera will sing back to back with ‘Asia’s Nightingale’ herself, Lani Misalucha, the first Asian to headline a main showroom of the Las Vegas strip performing with Hawaii’s Society of Seven at the Jubilee Theater of Bally’s. Misalucha is a multi-faceted artist, whose rendition of songs varies from pop, rock, jazz, soul rhythm and blues and operatic arias. Together, Nievera and Misalucha will provide a blockbuster performance that is expected to delight patrons and guests at the famed Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.Tickets are now on sale from $125, $100, $78 and $58 for an 8p.m. and 6p.m. show time, and may be purchased at the Pechanga Box Office, 877-711-2WIN (2946) or www.Pechanga.com. About Pechanga Read More …

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