BusinessWorld (Philippines) articles from December 2005

BusinessWorld (Philippines) archives from December 2005

WEEKENDER.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee That all Champagnes are sparkling wines but not all sparkling wines are Champagnes is a statement you're bound to come across numerous times when researching on these...

WEEKENDER: going out.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Vanni de Sequera It's the maddest night of the year, and any drinking establishment worth its salt will be bursting at the seams with revellers, many of whom will awake full of regrets on...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Josefa L. Cagoco MOVIE REVIEW Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend Continues! Directed by Tony Y. Reyes The Kabisotes are continuing the magical family adventure...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Josefa Labay Cagoco MOVIE REVIEW Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom Directed by Erik Matti The last of the mortal race is in danger as a tyrant campaigns to wipe out what...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Anna Barbara L. Lorenzo MOVIE REVIEW Mulawin: The Movie Directed by Dominic Zapata and Mark Reyes Mulawin, the prime-time series, took GMA Network flying to the top of the...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee MOVIE REVIEW Kutob Directed by Jose Javier Reyes There is a certain feeling of dread (kutob) in this movie, although it's not really one of horror. Rather,...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Anna Barbara L. Lorenzo MOVIE REVIEW Terrorist Hunter Directed by Val Iglesias The title itself is a dead give-away. Veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who topbills the movie, IS the...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Anna Barbara L. Lorenzo MOVIE REVIEW Ako Legal Wife (Mano Po 4?!) Directed by Joel Lamangan Mak-kano palaki suso? (How much does it cost to enlarge my breasts?)" This is...

WEEKENDER: movies.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee MOVIE REVIEW Shake, Rattle and Roll 2K5 Directed by Uro dela Cruz, Rico Maria Ilarde and Richard Somes Like its predecessors, the latest instalment of the...

WEEKENDER: environment.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Norman P. Aquino BusinessWorld was invited to a live-aboard to Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro early this month. The program seeks to transform recreational divers into conservationists,...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Benjamin G. Defensor BOOK REVIEW Rizal, Through a Glass, Darkly: A Spiritual Biography By Javier de Pedro University of Asia and the Pacific, 2005 (Second of two parts) ...

WEEKENDER: environment.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ellen P. Red Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental - In the northwestern portion of Mindanao, the 60-hectare Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park tries to balance environmental protection and tourism...

WEEKENDER: environment.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento Koronadal City - Environment officials have reminded local government units in Central Mindanao to fast-track the development of sanitary landfills as all controlled dump...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Computer Associates (CA) has launched a new integrated global branding program that shows its thrust to unify and simplify the management of enterprise-wide information technology (IT) to help ensure...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) For the past seven years, Reader's Digest has been providing consumers a venue to make their choices known in terms of what brands they prefer when selecting products and services ranging from luxury...

WEEKENDER: health.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced that the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has approved entecavir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The indication is in adults with...

WEEKENDER: travel.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento Koronadal City - Scenic Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato is being groomed to become the center of culture and arts in Central Mindanao. And to beef up the tourism...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Nanette Franco-Diyco Several years ago, the Christmas card was a great medium and opportunity to advertise your company's creativity. I remember my good friend Edwina Arroyo, former creative...

WEEKENDER: hot this weekend.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Anna Barbara L. Lorenzo Giant chrysanthemums, multicolored rain, and sparks and lightning will light up the skies of the south and the water of the Manila Bay as the World Pyro Olympics...

WEEKENDER: travel.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ellen P. Red Iligan City - Islam does not celebrate Christmas but Muslim residents in this city have helped build a Yuletide landmark, a huge replica of the city hall. On top of this...

GSIS to subscribe to Equitable PCI capital increase - Garcia.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Paolo Joseph L. Lising and Ma. Elisa P.Osorio State-run pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is ready to buy additional Equitable PCI Bank shares to maintain its 12.15%...

List of electronic banking services expands.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Paolo Joseph L. Lising The internet remains the most popular way of providing electronic banking service to clients, but banks have introduced new offerings with the potential of boosting...

China Bank sets P3.2-B profit target.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ma. Elisa P. Osorio China Banking Corp. of mall magnate Henry Sy is predicting a good banking year in 2006 as it sets a P3.2-billion income target, P400 million higher than this year's...

BPI-Prudential merger gets final SEC approval.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ma. Elisa P. Osorio The merger between Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Prudential Bank was finalized yesterday, the last business day of the year. In a disclosure to...

Bohol, Negros Oriental named best LGUs.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) The provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental shared the limelight in this year's 12th Gawad Galing Pook, an annual search for the country's most outstanding and innovative local government programs. ...

De Castro turns over North Rail's first phase to NLRC.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Vice-President Noli de Castro turned over to the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) the cleared 37-kilometer Philippine National Railways (PNR) right-of-way stretching from Caloocan to Malolos City,...

Dream TV offers Catholic channel.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) With the recent agreement between Dream Satellite TV and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) Episcopal Commission for Social Communications and Media, Filipinos will soon have...

Trend Micro provides anti-virus solutions to 2005 SEA Games.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Trend Micro, Inc. provided anti-virus solutions to the organizers of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to protect the latter's computer network before and during the event, which was concluded...

CONSUMER GUIDE.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Country Waffles art exhibit Artist Elsie "Inday" Reyes-Cadapan's paintings, characterized by dynamic energy, simple rhythms, and visual tension, are currently on display at Country Waffles located...

BRIEFS.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) SAS homecoming Silver jubilarians Saint Anthony School (SAS) Batch '81, in cooperation with the SAS Alumni Association, Inc., is inviting all alumni, teachers, and friends to the SAS Grand Alumni...

Convicts find livelihood in corn husk handicraft making.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento Koronadal City - Corn husk handicraft making has drawn the attention not just of unemployed housewives in South Cotabato but also of convicts on parole or probation. ...

Pasig firms push industrial peace.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Rommer M. Balaba Fifteen Pasig City-based companies were recent participants in efforts to improve industrial peace in Metro Manila. On December 12, the labor education program, a joint...

IN THE WORKPLACE.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Reylito A.H. Elbo How do you convince a worker to accept a difficult work assignment? In some cases, it could be easily resolved by making the assignment lucrative for the worker like paying...

COURTSIDE.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong Don't look now, but New Jersey's on a huge roll, and it's on track to be the first National Basketball Association franchise to hit double figures in winning streaks this...

WEEKENDER: hot this weekend.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Not relishing the idea of spending New Year's Eve at home, contending with the incessant blasts of judas belts and super lolos? Then hie off to one of the many New Year's Eve Countdown Parties which...

Insurance examiners to closely monitor insurers starting 2006.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Karl Lester M. Yap The Insurance Commission will be sending field examiners to all insurance firms next year as part of its campaign to strictly enforce the law and give the public better...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento Gen. Santos City - For ages, boats have been made from wood. But for the past years in this city, fiberglass has replaced the traditional material. The fiberglass...

GIVE AND GO.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Michael Angelo S. Murillo Conclusion Year 2005 is also a banner year for sports on the local front as far as breakthrough performances and comebacks are concerned. Without doubt the...

CHESS PIECE.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Bobby Ang The year 2005 has been pretty tumultuous for me. Aside from a sister being involved in a very nasty vehicular accident, necessitating hospitalization for two months, and my mother...

TAKE TEN.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Behn Cervantes Part eight of 11 parts Since the Filipinos were the last migrant group to sail to Hawaii, they were at a distinct social, political, economic and cultural disadvantage....

Asahi Glass property granted special economic zone status.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Francis Y. Capistrano The 28-hectare manufacturing facility of Asahi Glass Philippines in Pasig has been declared a special economic zone (SPEZ). The order was contained in Presidential...

$300-M loan expected for Terminal 3.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Kerlyn G. Bautista and Paolo Joseph L. Lising The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) expects approval of a $300-million syndicated loan facility next month for the mothballed...

Powerbooks holds Narnia art tilt.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Powerbooks Specialty Store is launching the "Draw Your Favorite Narnia Scene with Koko" art competition where children ages six to 12 can create their own interpretation of a scene or event from The...

Stock market shrugs off shocks.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Rubie Anne M. Rubio Amid skyrocketing world oil prices, domestic political controversies and weak economic data, 2005 turned out to be a good year for the Philippine stock market. ...

3G firms post P300-M performance bonds.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Kerlyn G. Bautista The four telecommunications companies granted licenses to offer 3G (third generation) mobile technology to the Philippines have each put up P300 million in performance...

Stronger peso hangs over first quarter export earnings.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno Foreign exchange earnings from merchandise exports are likely to extend their current fall to early next year due to the continued strengthening of the peso, US-based...

SMEs can tap P3-B fund in '06.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Iris Cecilia C. Gonzales Available funding worth P1 to P3 billion will prop up the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector next year. SME comprise 99% of the economy. Francisco R....

Garments group to start lobby.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) The Confederation of Garments Exporters of the Philippines (Congep) will meet with the United States Trade Representative as well as US some congressmen next month to seek their support for allowing the...

RP should claim trade fair market share.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) The country must include in its development priorities a bid to seize market share in Asia's multibillion-dollar international trade fair industry. The Philippines has fallen far behind other...

Malacanang wants to remove travel tax.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Felipe F. Salvosa II In a bid to spur tourism, Malacanang has asked the Department of Finance to consider scrapping the travel tax on departures. The Finance department, however, appears...

Two million jobs created in Jan.-Sept., says Palace report.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Francis Y. Capistrano Almost two million jobs were created in the first nine months, according to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). In a report by Rigoberto D. Tiglao, outgoing...

P45M available for forest conservation under debt-nature swap.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Beverly T. Natividad Some P45 million is expected to be spent for forest conservation efforts nationwide, which would come from the debt-for-nature scheme for loans with the United States...

Peso gains in 2005.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Karen L. Lema and Karl Lester M. Yap The peso yesterday ended the year as the best performing Asian currency, appreciating more than 5% against the US dollar despite the greenback's...

Substantial cut set for 1st quarter gov't borrowings.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Karl Lester M. Yap The government plans to borrow less next year, as reflected in its borrowing program for the first quarter of 2006, as more revenues are expected to pour in from a higher...

Health sector loan mulled.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) The World Bank is planning to provide next year a loan worth at least P1 billion to improve health services in the poorest provinces. A source from the National Economic and Development Authority...

Thrift banks increase lending to property sector.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Karen L. Lema Thrift banks lent more money for real-estate projects in the third quarter than they did in the previous quarter and in the same period last year, indicating strong activity...

STREETWISE.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Carol Pagaduan-Araullo The Arroyo regime's facade of strength and staying power in the aftermath of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's worst political crisis shows serious, if not deadly,...

Spanish businesses looking into investments.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Spanish businessmen will start investing in garments and herbal products and put up a joint venture to produce and export religious items to Spain and Asia next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs...

VECTOR.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Sonny Coloma When he was president of Rotary International in 1986-1987, lawyer Mateo Armando Tengco Caparas chose the theme, "Rotary Brings Hope" to underline the importance of providing an...

RULE OF LAW.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Augusto R. Bundang They say old people tend to be more sensitive and emotional. If that is the case, I admit, I must really be getting old. Just recently, I was disturbed by how children and...

Stocks climb 1.39% on '05 final trading day.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ruby Anne M. Rubio After falling to a one-week low, stocks ended the year on an upbeat note as investors accumulated more shares in anticipation of a better year in 2006. Jose Vistan,...

Nestle sues Chocquik maker for infringement (Cites Milo, Nesquik.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ma. Eloisa I. Calderon Food and beverage giant Nestle Philippines, Inc. has sued Columbia International Food Products, Inc. for alleged trademark infringement and unfair competition for its...

Napocor eyes transfer of debts, loans to PSALM by first quarter.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ira May Joyce P. Pedrasa The National Power Corp. (Napocor) wants to complete the transfer of all its obligations and assets to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp....

P7.087B worth of projects granted fiscal incentives.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Jennifer A. Ng The Board of Investments has approved the grant of fiscal incentives including income tax holidays to three projects costing P7.087 billion, under its one-day approval...

Cityland, sister firm City & Land sales edge up.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Roulee Jane F. Calayag The country's improving economic conditions drove Cityland Development Corp. and sister company City & Land Developers, Inc. to record an increase in their November...

San Miguel acquires full control of Australian juice maker Berri.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Roulee Jane F. Calayag San Miguel Corp. yesterday said it had acquired full control of Australia's Berri Ltd. for almost A$169 million (P10.64 billion). In a statement, the company said...

COMMENTARY.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Pablo S. Trilla III Let me take you back to the year 1872. On a crisp February morning, three Filipino priests - Mariano Gomes, Jacinto Zamora and Jose Burgos - were marched to the killing...

P200-M rehabilitation of Ortigas Center under way.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Maricel E. Estavillo Efforts are now under way to upgrade the landscape of the 100-hectare Ortigas Center, part of the five-year initiative to revive the glory of the business district. ...

STREET STRATEGIST.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Thads Bentulan Final installment Economics combines both science and human psychology, and to ignore this linkage is fatal to any economic theory. Two equally good choices under...

FENCE SITTER.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Antonio R. Samson "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill." This aphorism on a tee shirt (I can't find any attribution for it) was supposed to have been given by comedian...

PNOC unit to tap private investors.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Jennee Grace U. Rubrico State-owned Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) wants to tap private investors for three geothermal power plants the firm is set to...

Broker raises profit view for Manila Water in 2006.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ruby Anne M. Rubio ATR Kim Eng Securities, Inc. analyst Laura Dy-Liacco upgraded the full-year profit estimate of Manila Water Co., Inc. for next year after the Board of Investments extended...

Growers told not to use pesticide in mango exports to Japan.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Beverly T. Natividad The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has temporarily banned the use of all products containing the pesticide chlorpyrifos to protect the export market for...

China's Synergy commits to invest $200M in natural gas venture.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ira May Joyce P. Pedrasa China-based Synergy International Resources Group Co. Ltd. has agreed to infuse $200 million to build compressed natural gas filling stations to service the needs of...

Erap allowed more time outside prison.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Ma. Eloisa I. Calderon The Sandiganbayan has given former President Joseph E. Estrada 14 more hours to celebrate the New Year with his family. Last week, the jailed leader sought a...

Measure widens basis for legal separation.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Paul C.H. How A lawmaker has filed a bill that seeks to expand the grounds for legal separation, saying this would be a better option than legalizing divorce in the country. Occidental...

Zamboanga airport falling apart.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Darwin T. Wee Zamboanga City - The regional Air Transportation Office (ATO) has urged the National Government to fix Zamboanga's dilapidated airport runway to avoid accidents. ...

China donates P80 million worth of equipment to AFP.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Kristine L. Alave The Chinese government has donated 12 units of heavy equipment worth P80 million to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The shipment, which consisted of six...

House panel approves increase in number of NLRC members.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Paul C.H. How The committee on labor and employment of the House of Representatives has approved a bill that seeks to increase the number of commissioners in the National Labor Relations...

Activist shot dead in Cebu.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Jun P. Tagalog Cebu City - Two unidentified men on shot and killed an activist belonging to the leftist political party Bayan Muna in Tuburan town, around 87 kilometers northwest of this...

Perks for litigators sought by senator.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Francis Y. Capistrano A bill that seeks to expand the retirement benefits for prosecutors has been filed at the Senate. To be covered by Senator Edgardo J. Angara's Senate Bill 2177 are...

DFA issues travel advisory to OFWs bound for Kuwait.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday advised overseas Filipino workers (OFW) bound for Kuwait to ensure that they have the proper documents...

VAT increase will not hike prices.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Francis Y. Capistrano The increase to 12% of the value-added tax (VAT) next year will have minimal effect on prices of basic commodities and petroleum products, Trade Secretary Peter Favila...

RP sends troops to Liberia, Haiti.
December 30, 2005... (From BusinessWorld (Philippines)) Byline: Kristine L. Alave The Armed Forces is sending troops to Haiti and Liberia to augment the United Nations (UN) peace-keeping forces in the two war-torn countries. The military is sending...