Philippines – Page 88

Eula Valdez: ‘As an artist, it’s okay to go crazy with your choice of projects’

Mar 132013

By Edwin P. Sallan Eula Valdez at the story conference for ‘Cassandra: Warrior Angel’. Unlike other kids her age, Eula Valdez didn’t want to be a princess in a fairy tale. Believe it or not, her original fantasy was to be a ninja. It came as no surprise, therefore, that Eula collected the Marvel comic book “Elektra: Assasin” back in high school. Written by Frank Miller in 1986, the comic features the sword-wielding, ninja-trained female assassin who is both an enemy and a love interest to the superhero Daredevil. She would later be portrayed by Jennifer Garner in a feature film version. Right about the same time, Eula also started collecting medieval swords. So when TV5 offered her to star as Eula Caballero’s mysterious mother in “Cassandra: Warrior Angel” in an epic story that involves a war between angels and demons, the elder Eula knew that this was a project that was right up her alley. “Na-excite ako. I’m a physical type of person so I think I’m going to enjoy this. Gusto ko din kasing action. I don’t always get to be in fantaseryestaposdito, may superpowers pa ang character ko so I’m really looking forward to doing this,” the 44-year old actress told InterAksyon during the show’s story conference last week. Always the free-spirited type, Eula’s career has not been defined by conforming to trends, which also explains her longevity in the business. She chooses her vehicles well and for the most part, those choice have paid off well. Read More …

PH Seeks More Public-Private Partnership Projects

Entertainment

Mar 132013

PH Seeks More Public-Private Partnership Projects

Public-Private Partnership. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. presents the challenges and opportunities in infrastructure investments in the Philippines in a panel discussion on Monday, 11 March 2012, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Lilibeth Almonte-Arbez) WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Philippines wants to enter into more partnerships with the private sector as Manila continues to invest in the development of key infrastructure to help sustain its economic growth. “The Philippine government remains committed to driving infrastructure development as it recognizes its importance to future rapid and sustainable economic growth,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) here on Monday, 11 March 2013. In his presentation “Philippines: Opportunities and Challenges in Infrastructure Investment,” Ambassador Cuisia urged investors to take another look at the Philippines and take advantage of the country’s unprecedented growth that has made it the s0-called rising star of East Asia. Ambassador Cuisia said that under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, the government of President Benigno S. Aquino III seeks to not only accelerate infrastructure development but also provide safe, efficient, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure. With the 6.6 percent growth in GDP, which was the highest in Southeast Asia in 2012, Ambassador Cuisia said the Philippines can be expected to continue increasing infrastructure spending to as much as 5 percent of GDP by 2016. Last year, the Philippines allocated 2.6 percent of GDP for infrastructure spending from 1 percent in 2005. Read More …

Mariwasa jacks up sales target

Economy

Mar 132013

MANILA, Philippines – The parent firm of tile maker Mariwasa Siam Ceramics is banking on the country’s rosy economic prospects to jack up its sales target to $170 million this year. This as new and existing product lines will be offered to property and infrastructure developments nationwide, a company executive said. “In the Philippines, we will have 18 percent growth,” Jakkrit Suwansilp, vice-president for sales and marketing of Mariwasa, said in a briefing. “The growth will come from Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Cotto products. We also have organic growth from Mariwasa,” he said, adding that higher sales will mean another record high for the company. Parent firm SCG of Thailand earlier announced that the company’s revenues from its Philippine operations reached $142 million, surging 50 percent from a year ago. “In the Philippines, we see the economy booming. This is a good opportunity for us to bring in our innovative products,” Suwansilp said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The company is hoping to generate more sales in the housing segment and through the launching of more Public-Private Partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects, Suwansilp said. The Philippines accounts for around eight percent of SCG’s consolidated sales in Southeast Asia, which hit $1.004 billion last year. Suwansilp said the company wants to grow the contribution of the Philippines in the region and produce more products here, but is hampered by high cost of electricity. SCG operates in the Philippines through Mariwasa-Siam, constructive and decorative building materials seller SCG Read More …

Dismantling of US minesweeper halfway through

News

Mar 132013

Dismantling of US minesweeper halfway through

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:31 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 In a photo released by the U.S. Navy, the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian sits aground in this Jan. 22, 2013 file photo on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea in the Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The dismantling of the USS Guardian stuck on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea is about 50 percent complete, the Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday. In a report to the PCG headquarters in Manila, Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, head of Task Force Tubbataha and commander of the Coast Guard’s Palawan district, said on Tuesday the US Navy-contracted salvage team had dismantled about 50 percent of the grounded minesweeper. The salvage team is “expecting calm weather in the next three to four days so work will continue on the USS Guardian,” he added. Aside from the PCG, the task force includes the Philippine Navy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Tubbataha Reef Foundation and local government units in the island-province of Palawan. Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, the PCG’s spokesman, said on Wednesday that “with wind speeds of 10 to 15 knots and waves of less than one meter, weather conditions in the reef area have been very favorable to continue the salvage operation.” “Today, the salvage team will continue removing the pipelines in the engine room of the Guardian. The team is also scheduled to remove the remaining main engine and two auxiliary engines, as well as the Read More …

PHL still far from water security — ADB

News

Mar 132013

Although the Philippines is surrounded by water and experiences at least 20 cyclones in a year, it is still far from achieving water security, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Based on the National Water Security Index, the Philippines comes out of level two out of five, said Wouter Lincklaen Arriens, ADB’s water resources specialist. “It means it still has some quite a way to go,” Arriens said. The index contained in the Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 measures the water adequacy of 48 countries in Asia and the Pacific region. Although institutional arrangement and levels of public investment has been increasing, a level two in the index means that the Philippine government had “inadequate” legislation and policy toward securing water. Focus on PHL According to the latest study, the Philippine lagged in urban water security index, which gauges water services and management in cities. The country scored one out of five. Urban water security also gauges the country’s public infrastructure and utilities, especially wastewater treatment. To this, Arriens noted: “Much has to be done, especially in cities which is an area of serious concern.” The fastest increase in water demand now comes from industries and cities, ADB revealed. “Cities occupy 2 percent of the world’s land, [but] uses 75 percent of its resources.” The city’s wastewater was often released into rivers and lakes with only a fifth or 22 percent of discharges being treated, the study showed. The study added that 80 percent of Asia’s rivers are in Read More …

Think tank head: Insurgents, calls for autonomy may 'inflame' Sabah conflict

News

Mar 132013

Think tank head: Insurgents, calls for autonomy may 'inflame' Sabah conflict

Insurgents and groups calling for Sabah’s autonomy may further “inflame” the ongoing conflict in the area between Malaysian authorities and followers of the Sulu sultanate asserting their claim in the territory, the head of a think tank said Wednesday. Amina Rasul-Bernardo, president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), warned that the situation in Sabah may encourage some disgruntled residents to respond to calls from some groups to push for the area’s political independence. “Sinasabi ng mga Sabahans, lahat kontrolado, gaya rin ng Mindanao at Manila, lahat kontrolado ng Kuala Lumpur. Na ‘yung benefits ng kanilang resources, hindi naman nila natitikman… Ano ang possibility na yung mga namamaltrato, yung mga dinedeport, na kahit na small percentage of that, ay tumugon dito sa issue na siguro dapat may independence na tayo?” Rasul-Bernardo said in an interview over GMA News’ “News To Go.” She added that such a situation may lead to “destabilization” in the region, which she said has been “very peaceful” for the past years. Followers of the sultanate of Sulu are currently engaged in a battle with Malaysian authorities in Sabah, supposedly to assert the sultanate’s claim on what it calls its ancestral territory. Malaysian news daily The Star reported that 57 of the sultanate’s followers and nine Malaysian security forces have been killed in the battle so far. The Islamic sultanate, which is based in Mindanao, once controlled parts of Borneo. The sultanate’s heirs have been receiving a nominal yearly compensation package from Malaysia under a Read More …

Meralco, First Pac likely to borrow for Singapore venture

Economy

Mar 122013

Meralco, First Pac likely to borrow for Singapore venture

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor, and Hong Kong-based investment holding First Pacific Co. Ltd., are eyeing to borrow from lenders to fund their S$600-million ($488 million) acquisition of a Singaporean power firm, a top executive said. Meralco chairman and First Pacific managing director Manuel V. Pangilinan said the two companies have enough funds though to close the deal by the end of the month but are likely to refinance the acquisition costs. “Both Meralco and First Pacific have the funds necessary to close. We’re now looking at, as part of the total consideration, borrowing some of the acquisition funding. We don’t know the exact quantum yet, but both First Pacific and Meralco have the funds,” Pangilinan said on the sidelines of Meralco’s Luminaries Awards Monday night. Last week, Meralco announced that together with First Pacific, it would “take a 70-percent interest in a Singapore power project using a joint venture company formed for this purpose.” Both companies have formed FPM Power Holdings Ltd. (FPMP) to acquire GMR Energy (Singapore) Pte Ltd. from India’s GMR Infrastructure Ltd. (GMRIL). The joint venture company will shell out S$600 million plus foreign exchange adjustments to buy out GMRIL’s entire 70-percent share in GMR Energy. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “We have the funds necessary to close it on due date. Most likely, we will refinance with some leverage post-closing (date),” Pangilinan stressed. GMR Energy is currently in the advanced stage of construction of Read More …

Cebu Pac now has more aircraft than PAL

Economy

Mar 122013

MANILA, Philippines – Publicly-held budget carrier Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) now has more aircraft that rival national flag carrier Philippines Airlines (PAL). Cebu Pacific accepted the delivery of its 43rd aircraft last March 7 from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The airline’s new Airbus A320 is the second of its kind in the Philippines equipped with Sharklets, a new fuel-saving wing tip device. “Cebu Pacific now operates the largest Airbus fleet in the Philippines,” the company said in a statement. The airline’s fleet now includes 25 Airbus A320, 10 A319 aircraft and eight ATR 72-500 aircraft. Cebu Pacific is scheduled to take the delivery of 51 more aircraft consisting of 17 A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and four more A330-300 between 2013 and 2021 With this fleet, the low cost carrier is set to add flights during the Holy Week period to accommodate demand, and provide more opportunities for travel. It will mount an additional daily flight from Manila to Hong Kong from March 20 to 30, 2013. There will also be an additional flight from Manila to Legazpi on March 27 to 28, as well as an additional flight from Manila to Naga on March 28 and 30. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Travelers bound for Puerto Princesa from Manila may also book seats on the airline’s additional flight on March 29. Cebu Pacific operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic and 21 international destinations and hubs in Manila, Cebu, Read More …

AFP confirms scheduled release of Filipino peacekeepers

News

Mar 082013

By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net; Radyo Inquirer 2:42 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed Friday a CNN report saying the 21 UN Filipino peacekeepers were set to be freed by the Syrian rebels on Friday. Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos confirmed the television report when interviewed by Radio Inquirer 990AM. The soldiers, part of a 333-strong Filipino peacekeeping unit, were detained at a rebel observation point on Wednesday by gunmen who said the troops would be held until Syrian regime forces pulled back from a Golan village. “If ever they will be released within the day, they will be turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Burgos said, citing reports from their personnel in Golan Heights. He said the rebels agreed to that arrangement. A UN Disengagement Force has been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974. The United Nations has reported a growing number of incidents in the Golan over the past year. It has sent extra armored vehicles and communications equipment to reinforce security for the mission. Up to the end of February there were about 1,000 troops from Austria, Croatia, India and the Philippines operating in the ceasefire force. With Agence France-Presse

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

News

Mar 082013

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

Agence France-Presse 2:14 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that rebels who are holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers hostage in the Golan Heights are insisting Syrian troops leave the area before releasing their captives. The refusal by the Syrian rebels to compromise had dampened hopes of the UN peacekeepers being released quickly, and forced the government to step up its negotiation efforts, foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. “The demand of the rebels for the re-positioning of Syrian forces in the area of Jamla is still outstanding so this is still being worked out,” he said on ABS-CBN television. The rebels want the Syrian troops to move 20 kilometers (12 miles) back from Jamla, an area in the Golan’s ceasefire zone, before they will free the Filipinos, he said. “That is the main demand of the rebel group,” he told AFP, adding he did not know of any other conditions. The Philippine government had previously received information that raised hopes the 21 would be released on Friday morning, Philippine time, and the government now did not know if or when they would be freed, Hernandez said. “We are trying to intensify our negotiations with the rebel groups,” he said. However he said the Filipino peacekeepers were still being treated well. “(They are) being treated as guests and are unharmed,” Hernandez said. The 21 Filipino troops, members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) observing a 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel, were abducted Read More …

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