BusinessWorld (Philippines) articles from August 2009

BusinessWorld (Philippines) archives from August 2009

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Virgil B. Lopez Recommendation: BUY A&A Securities Corp. has put a "buy" tag on Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. (BDO), citing the bank's potential to retain its market leadership with its purchase of GE Money Bank, Inc. "Even if...

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Adriel B. Paglinawan Recommendation: SELL Analysts-Traders Equities Training Center placed a "sell" tag on Megaworld Corp. (MEG) shares, saying they are overbought due to high investor demand. "Generally, an overbought situation...

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa Businesses planning to cut costs to cope with the economic crisis may be overlooking one expense: insurance premiums. A company, according to a global consultancy firm, may be spending too much on insurance...

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Adriel M. Paglinawan Filipino cuisine is never complete without the "sawsawan" - flavorful dips and sauces that are served with almost every meal. Tina C. Vitas, 40, aims to make Chile Vitas, the soon-to-be relaunched brand name of...

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Adoracion A. Cabrera "Each person, however profoundly he or she may be handicapped, is called to be a source of grace and peace for the community, for the church, and for all humanity." Such is the belief of Faith and Light, an...

TAKE TEN.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Behn Cervantes First of two parts I received an invitation from the American Embassy inviting me to go to the visiting aircraft carrier George Washington. I accepted the invitation for the look-see and cocktail party because I have...

Designer stretches her range.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Johanna D. Poblete "I have to capture the younger market because a lot of my customers have gone already," half-joked Criselda Lontok, at the unveiling of her holiday collection at Rustan's The Gallerie on Aug. 28. The lady for...

Hippie chic at Greenbelt 5.
August 31, 2009... American designer denim company Lucky Brand Jeans, a subsidiary of the Liz Claiborne company since 1990, has debuted in Manila, carrying with it the vintage jean styles and shirt designs that founders Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman sold back...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Anton Javier B. Dizon After a year of single digit growth, it's no wonder that the telecommunications industry, despite better performance indicators this year, still prefers to take cautious steps in its climb back to recovery. ...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Anton Javier B. Dizon After a sluggish start this year, the local information technology industry is bent on speeding up its pace in the second semester. Stephen Thomas Misa, country manager of Cisco Systems Philippines, says the...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernice Marie V. Berida Stephen Thomas Misa wants to double the size of his firm in three years. For him to do that, Mr. Misa, country manager of Cisco Systems, Inc., is bringing in the best and brightest professionals in the field to...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Globe Business, the corporate arm of Globe telecom, has come up with a new solution that fits into the needs of businesses: ONEcall, the first virtual trunkline service in the country. A specially designed office mobility package for...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Hannah M. Muralla Edgar Doctolero, then a fresh business administration graduate from the University of the East, was on his way to become a full-fledged accountant when he was swayed to a different career course. At the time, Mr....

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Hannah M. Muralla Napoleon Nazareno has held top-level executive positions in packaging, bottling, petrochemicals, and real estate industries. But it may be in the communications industry, as concurrent president and CEO of Philippine...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Anton Javier B. Dizon Having conquered the consumer market in the last decade, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) began to setting its sights on an equally bustling territory: the small and medium enterprise (SME)...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernice Marie V. Berida The call that changed Gil Genio's career came in 1997, when the IT specialist, now head of Globe Business and Carrier Services, was asked to join the Ayala Group as chief financial officer (CFO) of Globe. ...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Who's Who in the I.T. and Telecom Industry.
August 31, 2009... PLDT-SME Nation recently introduced Negosyo Boost, a line of communications packages geared towards start-ups and expanding businesses. The Negosyo Boost bundles hardware and Internet connectivity solutions to provide business owners...

Landbank raises budget for Tier 2 note purchases.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Gerard S. dela Pena State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank), the country's fourth largest in terms of assets, has nearly doubled the funds set aside to support moves among rural banks to increase their capital. Landbank...

BSP warns vs fake securities.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Paolo Luis G. Montecillo The public should take caution against malicious groups selling false investment papers passed off as issued or guaranteed by the central bank and sold to innocent investors. In a letter posted on its...

YIELD TRACKER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Ma. Aizl Camille B. Cabarles Philippine debt yields inched up a bit nearly across the board last week on anticipation over the Bureau of the Treasury's plan to sell retail bonds and on belief that the stronger-than-expected growth...

5-year bond rate expected to rise.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Gerard S. dela Pena The five-year Treasury bond rate is seen rising at tomorrow's auction on expectations a retail Treasury bond (RTB) issue would flood the market with a fresh supply of debt papers. Market players have also ruled...

Stocks surge in one of market's best weeks.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Kristine Jane R. Liu Stocks had one of their best weeks last week, boosted mainly by the strong performance of the US market and a string of positive local and overseas news, analysts said. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange...

Viloria keeps IBF light fly title (Banal, Laurente prevail over.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Michael Angelo S. Murillo Fil-Am Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria made a successful defense of his IBF light flyweight title yesterday as he beat Mexican Jesus "El Azul" Iribe via a unanimous decision in their scheduled 12-rounder...

COURTSIDE.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong It's not often that Tiger Woods finds himself compelled to seek the help of caddie Steve Williams in reading putts. In fact, as he acknowledged after he finished his third round at The Barclays yesterday, he hasn't...

CHESSPIECE.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bobby Ang Tigran V. Petrosian Memorial (A Grand Prix Tournament) Jermuk, Armenia Aug. 8-24, 2009 Final Standings 1. GM Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2703, 8.5/13 2-3. GM Levon Aronian ARM 2768, GM Boris Gelfand ISR 2755,...

Megadike project to spare four major cities from floods.
August 31, 2009... The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is rushing the completion of the P5.18-billion megadike project in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area in order to spare 2.56 million people from persistent floods and...

HKTB partners with Asian Food Channel to promote Hong Kong Food and.
August 31, 2009... Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) partners with Asian Food Channel (AFC), the region's only 24-hour food channel, to serve up superb Hong Kong taste and flavors in promotion of the Hong Kong Food and Wine Year throughout Asia. The partnership...

Convergys completes local expansion.
August 31, 2009... Convergys Corp., a global leader in relationship management, has announced that it has completed its major five-site expansion in the Philippines with the opening of Convergys' newest contact center in San Lazaro, Manila. Located in an...

CONSUMER GUIDE.
August 31, 2009... The Spa launches holistic healing treatment The Spa, one of the country's premier centers for health and wellness, introduced the Bowen Therapeutic Technique for the first time in the Philippines through a wellness seminar recently held at...

BRIEFS.
August 31, 2009... Summit scheduled Go Negosyo will be holding a Youth Entrepreneurship Summit on Sept. 11 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. With the theme "Go Negosyo: Sigaw ng Kabataan," the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit...

ROOTS.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jose S. Arcilla S.J. Values are all those things we are willing to die for, or, negatively, those which we avoid at all costs. Among our pre-Hispanic ancestors, freedom was a value, although not as we understand it today. The...

CORPORATE WATCH.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Amelia H.C. Ylagan Time was when "tightening your belt" was the only prudent solution to a financial problem. But perhaps that has gone away with the generation that suffered and learned from the deprivations of World War II, those...

FENCE SITTER.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Antonio. R. Samson Why has Filipino cuisine not graduated from home cooking, comfort food, and noisy restaurants with singing waiters to international acceptability? Is it the brown sauce that seems to douse everything we eat that...

MAP query of the week.
August 31, 2009... Today's question: WHAT NEW INITIATIVES IS THE GOVERNMENTINTENDING TO PURSUE TOWARD ENHANCING PHILIPPINE COMPETITIVE POSITION FOR BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO)? MAP believes that BPO is a sunrise industry that should be fully supported...

YELLOW PAD.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Margarita F. Gomez I recently watched Bertolt Brecht's Threepenny Opera at the PETA theater. The play is about bribery and betrayal among thieves, and Anton Juan artfully gave the audience a greater sense of association and enjoyment...

INTROSPECTIVE.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Romeo L. Bernardo The latest World Bank Philippines Quarterly Update, "Sailing through stormy waters" (July 2009), has some good news to tell. Tucked among pages discussing the country's expected poorer economic prospects this year is...

BEYOND BRUSHSTROKES.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Marivic Rufino During this long season of angst, members of the affluent class display disparate behavioral traits. To illustrate, observe the low-key scions of the old families with vintage fortunes. As sensible, socially aware...

Landbank expects remittances to grow at least 3% this year.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Alexis Douglas B. Romero DESPITE the global economic downturn, remittances may grow by as much as 3.1% this year as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to send more money to their families this semester as the holiday season...

House and Senate Set Timetable to Ensure December Budget OK
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernard U. Allauigan and Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez BOTH CHAMBERS of Congress have set the timetable to ensure ratification by December of the proposed P1.541-trillion general appropriations for 2010, even as one former Budget...

Splash taps distributor for Kuala Lumpur.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Kristine Jane R. Liu Listed Splash Corp. has signed an agreement with a Malaysian distributor that will allow the homegrown personal care manufacturer to tap a larger number of customers in the neighboring country. In a statement,...

Appeals court affirms dismissal of Nestle workers.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Ira P. Pedrasa The Court of Appeals has upheld Nestle Philippines, Inc.'s decision to terminate over 500 workers for staging illegal strikes and work shutdowns in 2002. In a 34-page decision penned by Associate Justice Vicente S.E....

Firm selling compressed natural gas offering to buy Shell's Mamplasan.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jose Bimbo F. Santos Callandra LCNG Fuels Corp., the company developing the country's first commercial compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling infrastructure, said it is in talks with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. to buy the latter's...

Stock option plan approved.
August 31, 2009... The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has exempted London- listed software firm Misys Plc from registering shares it plans to sell to the employees of its local subsidiary as part of an incentive program. The firm will sell 260,000...

SEC clears two directors of Legacy group.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Don Gil K. Carreon The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has lifted the cease-and- desist order (CDO) against two officials linked to the failed Legacy financial group, which had barred them from disposing of assets without the...

Siemens pushing water treatment business in RP.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Virgil B. Lopez Warning of an impending water shortage, the local unit of Siemens, Inc., Europe's largest engineering company, is calling for more water and wastewater treatment facilities for industries and municipalities to sustain...

State electrification body claims 'sound financial position'.
August 31, 2009... The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has remained in a "sound financial position," allowing the repayment of debts following a restructuring in 2004, the state-owned corporation said in a press release last week. NEA said it was...

CORP FILE.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa Good old-fashioned planning is still the best way to ensure business success especially in cyclical businesses such as agriculture. Case in point: Conrado L. Diaz's back-to-back agri-enterprises. In roughly...

RP growth to stay positive.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Paolo Luis G. Montecillo Quarterly growth results for the Philippines will be positive for the entire year, international analysts said, making the country one of a few to achieve the feat. The economy will also likely grow at the...

Ayala Land looks north for strategic expansion.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Kristine Jane R. Liu Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) has set its sights on the north, citing a shift in economic activity brought about by newly completed infrastructure projects in the area. Company President Antonio T. Aquino, in an...

Deferment of higher bank capitalization rule urged.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa Business leaders in the region have urged their governments and members of the affluent Group of 20 (G-20) to postpone the implementation of stricter banking rules until a global economic recovery takes firmer...

'Merchandise passports' could boost exports.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa Product samples for use in overseas trade fairs and other promotions may soon enjoy duty-free entry as the Philippines is expected to sign on to an international system next month. The Philippine Chamber of...

Funding schemes for displaced persons submitted.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Michael Paolo T. Jamias Mayors of Maguindanao province have submitted funding proposals for the return of families displaced by armed conflict, which the government will review before finalizing next week its aid allocation, a Social...

Candidates pledge clean, honest elections.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Louella D. Desiderio Thirteen presidential and vice-presidential aspirants yesterday expressed their commitment for clean and honest elections in 2010. In an early morning fun run called "Eleksyon 2010 na, Tatakbo Ka Ba?" organized...

Nonappearance for FG.
August 31, 2009... First Gentleman (FG) Jose Miguel T. Arroyo will not appear in tomorrow's Senate hearing on the scrapped $329-million broadband deal with China's ZTE Corp. Mr. Arroyo's lawyer Ruy Rondain yesterday said his client has already submitted three...

Political ads accepted.
August 31, 2009... DAVAO CITY - Botika ng Barangay (BnB) outlets are now open to accepting political advertisements. Far from insulating the project from politicians, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said during his visit here on Friday that candidates in...

City seeks ISA title.
August 31, 2009... ILOILO CITY - The city government is hoping to achieve "institutionalized status," the highest given by the nongovernmental organization Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) to a local government unit implementing a public governance system....

Senate body wants four issues clarified in gov't-MILF talks.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Darwin T. Wee ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Senate committee on national defense and security will confer with the peace panels of the government and Moro rebels to clarify issues in the suspended talks. Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon, committee...

No budget for con-con delegate polls.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo and Emilia Narni J. David There is no budget for the proposed election of constitutional convention (con-con) delegates to coincide with next year's elections, Budget Secretary Rolando G. Andaya said in a...

Weekend peace negotiations unlikely; demand maintained.
August 31, 2009... The communist leadership is standing pat on its demand for the release of all negotiators and consultants for the peace talks to proceed, further dimming prospects of proposed talks this weekend with the government rejecting the release of...

Project transfer schedule reset.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Louella D. Desiderio The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be taking over the operation and management of the P5-billion Caloocan-Malabon- Navotas-Valenzuela flood control project after the Department of Public...

Arrear payment ensured.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez The House of Representatives has committed funds to pay for arrears to the state health insurer. Appropriations committee chairman and Quirino Rep. Junie E. Cua said they would provide in next year's...

ICT sector needs to upgrade to compete.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Don Gil K. Carreon THE COUNTRY's information and communication technology (ICT) sectors should develop more technologies that meet international standards, while the government needs to have clear policies on ICT development, in order...

Euro chamber to put up library on furniture, decor materials.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa A LIBRARY of books and material samples and design techniques for the use of furniture, home decor and accessories manufacturers will be put up in Metro Manila, a foreign business group said. The European...

Corn farmers decry cut in government buying price.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales CORN FARMERS yesterday cried foul over the Agriculture department's recent decision to cut support price for corn to P10 per kilo from P13/kg, citing a lack of consultation with them. "We are totally dismayed...

Tax effort drops further in 1st half.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Alexis Douglas B. Romero REVENUE-LOSING measures and lower import volumes pulled down the government's tax effort in the first half, Finance department data showed, but collections are expected to improve in the next quarter on the...

Possible total fishing ban in Manila bay by 2015 - regulator.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Ira P. Pedrasa The government is considering a fishing ban in Manila de Bay by 2015 pursuant to a Supreme Court directive for certain state agencies to clean up and rehabilitate the polluted bay. In a compliance report submitted to...

Senate resolution to be filed reviewing visiting forces pact.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernard U. Allauigan A RESOLUTION would be filed in the Senate tomorrow that would seek to renegotiate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, amid criticisms it has made permanent the stay of US troops who are...

President off to Libya; Muslim issues top talks.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Libya early morning today to hold bilateral talks with leaders of South Asian and African states on economic and political issues as well as the peace process in...

WEEKENDER.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo The Promethean spark of creativity that separates man from beast has traveled a long way from the Lascaux caves in France, where prehistoric artists painted aurochs and equines, to a stage in Australia where a young...

WEEKENDER.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo An empty room with lights going on and off, an hour-long video of actors dressed as policemen standing still, a man in a bear costume roaming the empty halls of a museum - these are a few works that have been lauded by...

WEEKENDER: going out.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno CONCERT Sessionistas Live at the Araneta Aug. 28, 8 p.m. Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, QC A fashionista loves the latest trends, while a recessionista is a fashionista on a budget. What then is a sessionista?...

WEEKENDER: going out.
August 28, 2009... THEATER Tanyag: Our Lady of Arlegui; Baka Sakali; Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna Aug. 29 and 30, 3 p.m. Philamlife Theater, U.N. Ave., Ermita, Manila This weekend, three Palanca award-winning one-act plays about contemporary Philippine...

WEEKENDER: going out.
August 28, 2009... For the opening of its flagship project on Children's Rights, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is offering a Pay-What- You Can promo on the first 100 reservations for the Aug. 30 staging of Ismail at Isabel. The...

WEEKENDER: going out.
August 28, 2009... PERFORMANCES Only Love Remains. Aug. 28 and 29, Sept. 16-18. Rigodon Ballroom, The Peninsula Manila, Makati Ave., Makati. This is part of a series of projects promoting the recently launched double CD compilation of songs composed by...

WEEKENDER: movies.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Noel Vera MOVIE REVIEW District 9 Directed by Neill Blomkamp The mix of genres that is Neill Blomkamp's District 9 is, I would argue, more monstrous than anything you see in the movie itself - imagine a military action...

WEEKENDER: movies.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Mira Gloria MOVIE REVIEW Tarot Directed by Jun Lana In Tarot, Regal Films' horror suspense film starring Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo, the deck of ominous psychic cards makes its first appearance at the beginning of the...

WEEKENDER: movies.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Anna Gan MOVIE REVIEW Dinig Sana Kita Directed by Mike Sandejas Every year, Cinemalaya has its sweetheart. It was Endo one year, and now it's Dinig Sana Kita, a love story on many levels, mainly focusing on how right or wrong...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Johanna D. Poblete For its sesquicentennial, Ateneo de Manila University looks back at its history, from its beginnings in Intramuros as the private school for Spanish boys - Escuela Municipal in 1859, renamed Ateneo Municipal de...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Jennifer O. Cuaycong BOOK REVIEW 150: The Ateneo Way By Jose S. Arcilla, S.J. For most of my life, there has always been an Atenean (or two, or three) in the family. My brothers went to the Ateneo Grade School and High...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Johanna D. Poblete CD REVIEW Lenka Sony BMG Music Entertainment Listening to Lenka is like taking a happy pill and wandering into a Telly Tubbies set, all blue skies and flowering fields - without any of those overgrown alien...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno CD REVIEW Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 - The Motown Years MCA Music The legendary pop superstar Michael Jackson would have been celebrating his 51st birthday tomorrow, Aug. 29, had he not died due to a...

WEEKENDER: environment.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Arlyn VCD P. Romualdo The Philippines is the world's second-largest producer of dried sea cucumber products after Indonesia. To generate scientific basis and development technologies to help manage the industry, three constituent...

WEEKENDER: environment.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales The Sta. Rosa watershed in Laguna loses about 86% of water to evaporation and water runoff, which contributes to flooding in low-lying areas in southern Luzon. A study commissioned by the World Wide Fund for...

WEEKENDER: health.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Louise G. Dumas CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Education and the League of Provinces of the Philippines have intensified the application of a basic hygiene routine developed and piloted by Fit for School Inc., a nongovernment...