Philippines – Page 56

PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

News

Sep 052013

PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:21 am | Friday, September 6th, 2013 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and Japan on Thursday had “very frank discussions” on the territorial disputes in regional seas without specifically mentioning China, which has been aggressively asserting its claim to islands that are within both countries’ territories. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and visiting Japanese Minister Ichita Yamamoto discussed the territorial disputes at the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo. Yamamoto, the state minister for Okinawa and affairs related to Japan’s northern territories, is the third Japanese official to visit the Philippines in the last three months. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to visit and met with President Aquino in July and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera was in Manila in June. In a statement, the defense department said Yamamoto’s visit was “aimed to further reiterate Japan’s position and views under the administration of Prime Minister Abe on regional security issues, especially [in] the East China Sea.” Gazmin and Yamamoto “acknowledged [that] the common concerns of the Philippines and Japan are issues related to maritime security,” the statement said. Arbitration It said Gazmin stressed the need for all parties, whether in the East China Sea or in the West Philippine Sea, to exercise strategic restraint. Gazmin reiterated that the Philippines would continue to deal with the West Philippine Sea dispute through arbitral proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Yamamoto supported the Philippines’ position and “stressed that Read More …

10 protests that rocked the Philippines

News

Sep 052013

Kuwento By Boying Pimentel 8:27 pm | Thursday, September 5th, 2013 Protesting has long been part of our history. And the successful anti-pork barrel rally on Monday underscored this. There have been other big, important protests in the past. Some were high-profile events that attracted worldwide action. Others were little-known acts of defiance that nevertheless had a huge impact in our history. As promised, here are 10 Filipino protests that rocked the country in the past half century. It must be stressed that this is, no doubt, an incomplete list. I’m sure there are other historic demonstrations that we could add to the list, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao. Still, just so we can put what happened on Monday in broader context, let’s start with these: Follow Us More from this Blog: 10 protests that rocked the Philippines The anti-pork protest and Martin Luther King One Filipina’s social media activism (and how it shaped the Aug. 26 protest) Pork, Freedom of Information and Aquino’s silence Why Ninoy still matters 30 years after he was murdered by the Marcos dictatorship Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Global Nation , Pork Barrel , Protest Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Read More …

Fil-Am kid singer shines at the US Open

News

Sep 042013

By Momar VisayaAJPress/INQUIRER.net News Partner 5:32 am | Thursday, September 5th, 2013 Eleven-year-old Frenie Acoba belted the US national anthem at US Open. NEW YORK—Frenie Acoba, an 11-year-old Fil-Am, kicked off the U.S. Open, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment events, by singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” in front of thousands of fans at opening night on Monday, Aug. 26. “This is my fourth time performing the national anthem here, but my first time to do it on opening night, so I was very nervous,” a visibly excited Acoba told the Asian Journal minutes after her performance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Born and raised in New York to Filipino parents Willy and Nieva, Frenie has been singing for as long as she remembers. None of her parents are musically inclined, but they encouraged her to just sing and pursue her dreams. At the age of eight, Frenie sang at the U.S. Open for the first time. This was in 2010. “We heard that they were conducting auditions and my mom asked me if I wanted to try it out. I did and I have been doing it every year since then,” Frenie said. The US Open has a tradition where boys and girls sing the national anthem and other patriotic-themed songs. The talented vocalists ages 12 and under go trough an audition process. This year, among those chosen to perform are youngsters from Arkansas, California and North Carolina. Frenie also realized one of her dreams – to be Read More …

Globe launches new service in Canada

Economy

Sep 042013

MANILA, Philippines – Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. further expanded its presence overseas by offering telecommunication services in Canada to cater to almost one million Filipino permanent resident and transients. Rizza Maniego-Eala, head for International Business Group of Globe, said the company has extended the reach of its international inbound calling offer DUO International to over 900,000 Filipinos living and working in Canada. “Almost 90 percent of Filipinos in Canada are permanent migrants who are unable to visit family and friends back home as frequent as those in other countries, and we are proud to be able to give them an innovative and affordable way to keep in touch with loved ones in the Philippines for less than CAD$1 a day,” Maniego-Eala stressed. Canada is one of the top countries worldwide that houses the most number of overseas Filipinos making it a viable market for the telco’s roster of international services. DUO International is also offered in the US, Korea, and the United Kingdom. DUO Canada is a subscription service that assigns a virtual Canadian landline number to a registered Globe number in the Philippines. This allows Filipinos in Canada to call their loved ones in the country through their virtual Canadian landline number. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Calls to the virtual Canadian landline number assigned to the Globe subscriber would be charged at domestic Canadian call rates, effectively lowering call costs. “This allows Filipinos in Canada to contact loved ones at a much affordable rate Read More …

Wego expands local operations

Economy

Sep 042013

MANILA, Philippines – Singapore-based Wego, the leading travel search site in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, is expanding its operations into the Philippines. As a participant in the first Philippine Tourism Forum and the 24th Philippine Travel Mart, Wego said it sees huge growth potential in the country’s tourism industry. Wego said it has appointed a dedicated market manager to the Philippines to extend its localization strategy to further incorporate and serve travelers, hotels, airlines and other travel industry businesses. Currently, Wego has local offices in Indonesia, India and Dubai. Wego chief marketing officer Joachim Holte said the Asia Pacific market is a strategic region for Wego. “We’ve established a successful localization program with more than 50 country sites in 30 languages worldwide in 42 currencies,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “In the Philippines, we are one of only a few travel comparison sites to display rates in Philippine peso,” he added. “Following an investment of $17 million in growth capital through the completion of a Series C preferred share offering, part of our strategy is to appoint dedicated market managers in our growth regions to extend our activities going forward. The Philippines is undergoing a surge in tourism development and economic growth which is being reflected in the growing number of Wego users from the country,” Holte said.

OFWs in Jeddah warned on repatriation scheme by fake passport office staff

News

Sep 032013

OFWs in Jeddah warned on repatriation scheme by fake passport office staff

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:25 pm | Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Jeddah against an extortion scheme promising a faster way back to the Philippines for a fee. FILE PHOTO The Consul General in Jeddah had received reports that people posing as personnel of the district passport office or “Jawazat” were approaching undocumented OFWs and asking for 100 Riyals payment in exchange for being repatriated, the DFA said in a statement Tuesday. “The OFWs are really brought to the airport but they will not be able to leave,” it said. The Jawazat personnel had claimed they were helping the OFWs go back home upon orders of the King of Saudi Arabia, the DFA said. “This information has been confirmed by the Consulate with the Jawazat. The Jawazat said that there was no such order from the King and that no one can be sent home without going through the process under the repatriation and regularization program,” DFA said. “We reiterate that the repatriation is free of charge and anyone who gets an exit visa but is unable to buy airplane tickets may ask for help from the Consulate,” it added. The DFA reminded that there are no such charges or fees to get a “reference number” on their travel document, to have their fingerprints recorded, or to get exit visas. Those who have fallen victim to such schemes, or have information to share, they may call Read More …

China set impossible conditions for Aquino visit—DFA

News

Sep 022013

China set impossible conditions for Aquino visit—DFA

Associated Press 7:37 pm | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III canceled a trip to a Chinese trade fair after Beijing demanded that he first withdraw a legal complaint over disputed territories in the South China Sea, Filipino officials said Monday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and two other diplomats relayed conditions for Aquino to attend the annual China-Asean Expo, which opens Tuesday in the southern city of Nanning, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a news conference. Hernandez declined to detail the conditions, but said these were “absolutely inimical to our national interest.” The Chinese side asked that the conditions not be publicly disclosed, he said. They were discussed by Wang and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in Beijing on Wednesday. Because of the conditions, Aquino decided to call off his publicly announced trip to the trade fair, Hernandez said, adding the Philippines will instead send a delegation headed by its trade secretary. “The president stood firm in the defense of the country’s national interest,” Hernandez said. Two Philippine officials told The Associated Press that China wanted Manila to withdraw a U.N. arbitration case over disputed islands in the South China Sea. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters. Chinese officials have also cited a new standoff between China and the Philippines over the Second Thomas Shoal, which is called Ayungin Shoal by Filipinos Read More …

Australia reiterates terror warning in parts of Mindanao

News

Aug 312013

Australia reiterates terror warning in parts of Mindanao

Australia has renewed its advice to its nationals against traveling to parts of Mindanao due to what it said a possible terrorism threat. In an Aug. 29 update to its travel advice, Australia noted the United Kingdom recently cited a “credible and imminent” kidnap threat against foreigners in Zamboanga del Norte. “We continue to strongly advise you not to travel to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago, due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, kidnapping, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups,” it said. Also, it reiterated its advice to its nationals to “reconsider your need to travel to eastern Mindanao.” On the other hand, Australia advised its nationals to “exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack and high level of serious crime.” “Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks,” it said. It reiterated terrorist attacks, including bombings, are “possible anytime, anywhere in the Philippines, including in Manila.” “We continue to receive credible reports indicating terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners,” it added. Australia earlier “strongly” advised its nationals not to travel to central and western Mindanao, including Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Misamis Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and the Sulu Archipelago Read More …

HK-based recruiters may lose permits

News

Aug 302013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:47 am | Saturday, August 31st, 2013 POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac photo from his official Twitter account. MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (Poea) on Friday threatened to strip Hong Kong-based recruitment agencies of their accreditation for collecting placement fees from Filipino household service workers (HSWs). In a Facebook post, Poea chief Hans Cacdac said the agency has received information that some Philippine-accredited agencies in Hong Kong collect placement fees through an “imaginary loan” or an ATM deposit scheme. The Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong has already issued a memorandum to all accredited Hong Kong agencies with the warning that the Philippine government will not tolerate these malpractices, Cacdac said. “Any violation committed by the Hong Kong agency will be dealt with seriously and this office (Consulate General of the Philippines) will apply the full force of Philippine laws,” said Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong. Tina G. Santos Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Construction projects in PH on the rise

Economy

Aug 302013

By Michelle V. RemoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 10:47 pm | Friday, August 30th, 2013 The value of construction projects with approved building permits rose in the second quarter from a year ago on the back of substantial demand for residential and office spaces. This was according to the National Statistics Office, which reported that construction projects with building permits were valued at P66.4 billion in the second quarter, up by nearly 18 percent from P60.9 billion reported in the same period last year. The total value was spread over 29,424 projects, lower by about 4 percent than the 30,614 approved building projects reported for the same period last year. Nearly half, or P32.6 billion, of the total value of construction projects was accounted for by the residential sector. Non-residential accounted for P28.5 billion and the balance covered repairs. The total floor area for residential projects stood at 3.3 million square meters, while that for non-residential settled at 2.1 million square meters. The total floor area for residential projects was up from 3.1 million square meters a year ago, while the total floor area for office and other non-residential projects was lower than last year’s 2.8 million square meters. The double-digit growth in the value of construction projects was attributed to still significant demand for residential and office spaces. Economists said the demand for residential spaces in the Philippines was partly boosted by remittances from overseas Filipino workers, while demand for office spaces was driven in part by demand from business process Read More …

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