Jollibee posts fastest profit growth in 7 yrs

 Economy
Feb 142014
 
Jollibee posts fastest profit growth in 7 yrs

MANILA, Philippines – Strong sales in existing branches and new stores drove fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) to its fastest earnings growth in seven years. In a regulatory filing, JFC said its net income jumped nearly a quarter to P4.64 billion in 2013 from P3.72 billion in 2012. Systemwide sales, which measures sales to consumers both from company-owned and franchised stores, picked up 12.8 percent to P104.9 billion from P92.27 billion. “The company increased its sales by 12.8 percent, the highest organic sales growth in six years, enabling JFC to breach the P100-billion sales mark for the first time,” said JFC chief operating officer and incoming COO Ernesto Tanmantiong. “Our progress in building the business has been taking place across our brands in different countries,” Tanmantiong said, adding the profit growth was the fastest in seven years. In the fourth quarter alone, JFC’s profits climbed 20.3 percent to P1.51 billion from P1.26 billion as systemwide retail sales rose 13.9 percent to P28.86 billion from P25.35 billion. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Specifically, systemwide sales in the Philippines gained 12.2 percent, China by 19.2 percent, US by 17.2 percent, and Southeast Asia and Middle East by 35.3 percent. Tanmantiong said the fastfood chain opened 98 new stores in the fourth quarter, the highest number of new stores opened in one quarter in JFC’s 35-year history. In 2013, JFC spent P4.1 billion as it opened 235 new stores worldwide. “In the years ahead, we look forward to Read More …

Philippines slides further down the World Press Freedom Index rankings

 News
Feb 122014
 
Philippines slides further down the World Press Freedom Index rankings

The Philippines sank further down a global ranking of press freedom by the international media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders.  In its “2014 World Press Freedom Index” released Wednesday, the RSF placed the Philippines at the 149th place among the 180 countries included in the list. The Philippines slid two rungs lower on the ladder from 2013 when it landed on the 147th spot. The country was at the 140th rank in 2011-2012 and at 156th in 2010 after the Maguindanao Massacre on Nov. 23, 2009 where 32 of the 58 people killed were journalists. The Philippines was at 122nd place in 2009. Started in 2002, the annual RSF report scored countries based on a questionnaire sent to RSF partner organizations around the world. “It reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news organizations and netizens enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom,” the RSF said in its report’s methodology. For its 2014 report, the RSF said the questionnaires were sent to “18 freedom of expression NGOs located in all five continents, to our network of 150 correspondents, and to journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists.” Questions were divided into six general criteria namely: the extent of pluralism, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency of the institutions and procedures that affect production of news and information, and the quality of infrastructure that supports the production of news and information. Remaining in Read More …

PHL thanks world for typhoon aid with billboards, tweets

 Entertainment
Feb 112014
 
PHL thanks world for typhoon aid with billboards, tweets

Electronic billboards lit up with “Thank you” signs at New York’s Times Square (shown above), Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing, London’s Piccadilly Circus and five other cities at 2040 GMT Friday, exactly three months after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines. MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines took to social media and bought ad space in the world’s most prominent strips Saturday to thank the global community for its help three months after a devastating typhoon that killed 8,000 people. Electronic billboards lit up simultaneously at New York’s Times Square, Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing, and London’s Piccadilly Circus early Saturday, at the exact time Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines on November 8, 2013. “The number of lives lost and affected is unprecedented. But ever since then, the world has been one with the Philippines in helping rebuild the nation,” the tourism ministry behind the ad campaign said on its website. “This February 8… exactly three months after the typhoon, we want to be one in expressing our gratitude,” the ministry said on its Twitter account, where it also posted pictures of the billboards. Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever to hit land, smashed across 171 towns and cities in the central islands with a combined land area the size of Portugal, wrecking the homes of more than four million people. The government is still collecting corpses and looking for nearly 2,000 missing people after the deaths of 6,201 victims were confirmed, many Read More …

At least 3 more Catholic schools eyeing academic calendar shift

 News
Feb 082014
 
At least 3 more Catholic schools eyeing academic calendar shift

After Ateneo de Manila University, at least three more Catholic universities are considering shifting to the international school calendar where classes start around August. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), a grouping of Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines, said these include University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, and Adamson University. “We can only show our support to them for taking the step towards a globally competitive education institution,” CEAP advocacy and information management officer Anthony Coloma said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. He said the three are “autonomous schools” because they have a “long tradition of excellence in the area of education.” Earlier, Ateneo announced it is shifting its calendar to start in August and end in May. This applies to its undergraduate and graduate schools starting School Year 2015-2016. “Although ADMU is a CEAP member school, it is their discretion and communal decision to move into a new school calendar,” Atty. Coloma said. The CBCP also noted the University of the Philippines will adopt a new calendar that starts in August, starting academic year 2014-2015, except in the Diliman (Quezon City) campus. — LBG, GMA News

US warship docks at Manila port for five-day goodwill visit

 News
Feb 082014
 
US warship docks at Manila port for five-day goodwill visit

USS Pinckney docks at Manila harbor . Destroyer USS Pinckney docks at Manila South Harbor on Saturday February 8, 2014, for a routine port call and a five-day goodwill visit to highlight strong ties between the US and the Philippines. Danny Pata The USS Pinckney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer docked at the South Habor in Manila for a routine port call according to a report from GMA’s Balitanghali program on Saturday. Commanding officer Frank Okata said this is the first time the warship visited the Philippines and the South East Asian region. Its crew members will be staying for a five-day goodwill visit which Okata said will give the US Navy crew a chance to interact with Filipinos and visit Metro Manila. Also he said their crew members meticulously prepared for their visit to the country to avoid a repeat of an incident last year when the USS Guardian ran aground at the Tubbataha Reef, a World Heritage Site. Among USS Pinckney’s crew members is Filipino-American US Navy seal Geraldine Igualdo who originally hails from Benguet province, the report said. According to Igualdo, there were a dozen Pinckney sailors of Filipino descent. The USS Pinckney is home-ported at San Diego, California, and traveled a month to reach the Philippines. — Andrei Medina /LBG, GMA News

Palace open to 'help' from third party on row with HK

 News
Feb 082014
 
Palace open to 'help' from third party on row with HK

Malacañang indicated Saturday it is open to third-party help in resolving its row with Hong Kong, which recently imposed sanctions stemming from the hostage tragedy in Manila in 2010. But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said such third-party help should be “consistent” with Philippine national interest and the position of the Philippine government. “(If) it is a private initiative that will effect better relations with Hong Kong and (is) consistent with national interest, why not?” Lacierda said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. A report on BusinessMirror newspaper had quoted physician and Chinese General Hospital director James Dy as saying he plans to appeal to Hong Kong chief executive C.Y. Leung to reconsider the Hong Kong government’s decision. Earlier this month, Hong Kong revoked the visa-free privileges of holders of official Philippine passports after the Philippines refused to apologize for the 2010 tragedy. The August 2010 tragedy involved a dismissed policeman who took a busload of tourists hostage in Manila to demand his reinstatement. But the policeman and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a botched police rescue operation. While the Philippines expressed regret over the tragedy that killed eight Hong Kong tourists, it has not issued an apology. President Benigno Aquino III, in an interview with The New York Times, reiterated that he has no plans to apologize as doing so could create a “legal liability.”  — LBG, GMA News

PHL, New Zealand to launch working holiday scheme

 Entertainment
Feb 062014
 
PHL, New Zealand to launch working holiday scheme

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the non-resident Ambassadors from Different countries during their Presentation of Credentials held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (June 10) in photo is Department Of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario. (MNS photo) Another significant milestone in Philippines-New Zealand bilateral relations has been reached with the launch of the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS). Effective 05 February 2014, Filipinos and New Zealanders, ages 18 to 30 years, will be able to apply for the WHS visa allowing them the opportunity to stay for one year in New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively, for leisure, holiday or temporary work. WHS participants may enroll in training or study for a maximum period of three months or work for one year with a limit of three months per employer. They will have to leave the country at the end of the temporary 12-month entry visa.  A quota of 100 WHS visas per year will be issued to successful Filipino applicants and the same number to successful New Zealand applicants. The arrangement on the WHS, the first of its kind for the Philippines and one of 34 arrangements with other countries for New Zealand, was signed between Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully and witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister John Key in Wellington on 23 October 2012. The implementation of the WHS is expected to generate closer people-to-people understanding and goodwill Read More …

Nido Petroleum bullish on Phl Indonesia prospects

 Economy
Feb 032014
 
Nido Petroleum bullish on Phl Indonesia prospects

MANILA, Philippines –  Nido Petroleum an Australia-listed oil and gas company, is banking on favorable prospects for its projects  this year,  including an exploration venture in the Philippines. In its 2014 outlook published yesterday, Nido managing director Phil Byrne said the company is looking forward to positive results for its projects in Indonesia and the Philippines. “We are very excited about 2014. We have underlying production from the Galoc field produce of about over $50-million net free cash flow which will underpin our work program through 2014,” he said. He said the focus is four well drillings, which will form Nido’s cornerstone of activities for 2014.  “We got three wells in Indonesia and one well in Philippines,” he said, referring to Service Contract 63 in Northwest Palawan. He said Nido hopes to start the drilling program for the four wells within this month. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 For SC 63, Nido has signed a farm-in agreement with Dragon Oil, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based company. Under the agreement signed last month, Dragon Oil will acquire a 40-percent participating interest in SC 63 from Nido’s current 50-percent participating interest in the service contract. To earn its 40-percent interest from Nido, Dragon Oil will pay on behalf of Nido, 56 percent of the cost of the Baragatan-1 exploration well based on a $25- million cost cap. For the second stage of the farm-out agreement, Nido will seek to secure an additional 10-percent participating interest in SC 63 Read More …

American 6th graders raise funds for Typhoon Yolanda victims

 News
Feb 022014
 
American 6th graders raise funds for Typhoon Yolanda victims

Kirsten Solloway, left, and Ryleigh Justice, sixth-graders at Elkridge Landing Middle School, pose with money they raised to help typhoon and tornado victims. [via Elkridge Landing Middle School] When Kirsten Solloway learned how Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in November, she knew she had to do something. After all, her stepfather is Filipino, and with members of his family living in the Philippines, she felt a personal connection to the tragedy. Kirsten, 12, started discussing ideas to help with her friend and sixth grade classmate at Elkridge Landing Middle School, Ryleigh Justice, 11. At the same time, she learned about tornadoes wreaking havoc in Illinois in November, and she said the two of them felt compelled to help victims of both weather events. “We decided we didn’t want to help just one group when the damage was going on in both places,” Ryleigh said. Their idea was a change-collection drive they held from Dec. 3 to 20. They decorated 30 Ball Mason jars, one for the front office and the others for each classroom and asked classmates and teachers to donate their spare change. The amount raised – $1,017 – surprised even the girls. They donated the money to the American Red Cross. “We didn’t think we were going to raise that much. We thought, $600 at the most. We never thought we’d hit a thousand,” Ryleigh said. “It was crazy,” Kirsten said. And, it got crazier. Classrooms started competing against each other, although it wasn’t part of the girls’ Read More …

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