BusinessWorld (Philippines) articles from February 2011

BusinessWorld (Philippines) archives from February 2011

SPECIAL FEATURE: Hotel Executive Chefs.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Hannah M. Muralla AT SIX FEET and six inches, Marriott Hotel Manila executive chef Meik Brammer is a towering sight in the kitchen. Yet the German-born chef is anything but intimidating; before you've taken note of his height, his...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Hotel Executive Chefs.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Hannah M. Muralla ONE WOULD EXPECT Alessio Loddo, who has worked in kitchens of Italy, Dubai and Thailand, to favor elaborate dishes that would draw attention to his wide-brimmed exposure to other culinary cultures. But interestingly,...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Hotel Executive Chefs.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez RUNNING THE KITCHENS of a top hotel often means dealing with different cuisines, which may be why Ofir Yudilevich, executive chef of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, is hard-pressed to name his own specialty. As the...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Hotel Executive Chefs.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Victoria T. Vizcarra AS EXECUTIVE CHEF, Joris Rycken has his hands full behind the scenes at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, where he oversees the seven food and beverage outlets - including specialty restaurants Tides,...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Gloria Krisana L. Gallezo Recommendation: Wait to Buy DESPITE a nearly P140-million net loss in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September, Fil-Estate Land, Inc. remains a good investment, according to local brokerage...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Recommendation: Hold ANALYSTS advised investors in Belle Corp. not to dump the shares just yet despite the price straying away from the P6.49-per-share 30-day high. Belle shares lost for the sixth consecutive session on Friday to close at...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Karen Joyce Q. Ang Recommendation: Trading Buy LOCAL brokerage firm Accord Capital Equities Corp. gave Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. a "trading buy" tag following expectations the stock would gain from rising oil...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Mike Ferrer That's the title of the '80s comedy starring Steve Martin and the late John Candy. The story is about Neil Page's (Steve Martin's character) painful journey from New York to Chicago over Thanksgiving - one of the busiest...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: J. Albert Gamboa Five years ago this month, ALAB or Alay sa Bansa, a youth formation organization headed by Fr. Tito Caluag, published a book titled HEROES to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first EDSA People Power Revolution....

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Anthony Pangilinan You don't want to miss them, not any one of them. The lessons you ought to learn from mistakes committed by others. You see the results, the consequences, and the tragic falls of people, of companies and economies,...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Chiqui Escareal-Go (To be continued next week) Mansmith and Fielders, Inc. is the leading marketing and sales, strategy and innovation training company in the Philippines. Marketing Breakthroughs : From Trials to Triumphs is 208...

WEALTH MANAGER.
February 28, 2011... Tuesday, 1 March - Last day for Submission * Consolidated return of all transactions based on the reconciled data of stockbrokers, Feb. 16-28, 2011 * Annual alphabetical list of taxpayers (individual/corporations) that were issued...

Share prices expected to continue falling.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales SHARE PRICES will likely continue plummeting this week as the crises in North Africa and the Middle East rage on. On the other hand, stocks could rebound, after several days of decline. "There is no...

IT-BPO executive briefing set.
February 28, 2011... THE BUSINESS Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), Outsource2Philippines (O2P), and strategic marketing communications firm TeamAsia are organizing their first quarterly CEO breakfast briefing for IT-BPO executives for the year. ...

Book sale marks 46th year of UP Press.
February 28, 2011... THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Press (UP Press), the first university press in the country and the National Book Awards' Publisher of the Year 2009, will be celebrating its 46th year anniversary on March 16. This year, the award-winning...

CONSUMER GUIDE.
February 28, 2011... Nissan extends Year of the Rabbit promo NISSAN MOTOR Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) ushers in prosperity and good fortune in the Year of the Metal Rabbit with its "Prolific" promo packages, where customers can avail of as much as 12 monthly...

EastWest bares lowest home loan interest.
February 28, 2011... EASTWEST BANK has recently introduced its lowest home loan interest rate of 5.88% fixed for the first year. Owning a real estate property by availing of a mortgage financing facility at only 5.88% interest rate provides borrowers a great deal...

BRIEFS.
February 28, 2011... Nominations open THE BATO Balani Foundation, Inc. (BBFI), in cooperation with DIWA Learning Systems, Inc., opens anew its search for remarkable teachers who continue to inspire their students and fellow educators with "The Many Faces of the...

COURTSIDE.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong Invariably, competitiveness in the National Basketball Association requires chemistry. Only too cognizant of the lessons of history, heads of perennial contenders and would-be challengers understand the imperatives...

Del Monte wins PAL Interclub by 18 pts.
February 28, 2011... CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Del Monte Golf Club ended Canlubang's five-year reign in the 64th Philippine Airlines Men's Interclub golf team championships Saturday following a strong finish at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club. With Noel...

CHESS PIECE.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Bobby Ang Aeroflot Open "B" Moscow, Russia February 7-19, 2011 Leading Final Standings 1-3. GM Tigran Kotanjian ARM 2519, GM Darwin Laylo PHI 2516, GM Nikolai Kabanov RUS 2482, 7.0/9 4-8. GM Dorian Rogozenco ROU 2534,...

TAKE TEN.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Behn Cervantes (Part I) Lino Brocka called me up that February night of 1986 to inform me that Butz Aquino was heeding the call of Cardinal Sin for people to go to EDSA (Actually, Aquino made the call first, followed by the...

Keeping things simple.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte Luxurious yet simple - this is a new makeup trend which Max Factor is latching on to with a new line, the Xperience boutique range which is limited to only three pieces of essential makeup. "The whole concept...

Comfy doesn't mean ugly.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte "IT'S LIKE walking on air!" promises Aerosole, the US-based show brand that focuses on lightweight, comfortable women's shoes. It's spring and summer collection - which has just arrived in the Philippines -...

Electricity market for Mindanao eyed.
February 28, 2011... Byline: with Emilia Narni J. David THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) is looking at applying the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) system in Mindanao to increase power supply efficiency, Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras said in a...

Cebu court junks plea vs new rules on frozen meat.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Eliza J. Diaz A CEBU CITY Regional Trial Court was said to have junked a petition against the implementation of an administrative order regulating the frozen or chilled storage of meat and meat products, a press statement released on...

Midwives tapped to help set up rural clinics in key cities.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Diane Claire J. Jiao THE DEVELOPMENT Bank of the Philippines (DBP) plans to tap midwives as possible entrepreneurs to put up badly needed clinics in rural areas through a $400,000 grant from the Asian Development Bank Gender and...

Makati settles tax row, pays BIR P700M.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Prinz P. Magtulis DEFICIENCY TAXES dating back 10 years ago had already been settled by the Makati city government to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) although appeal to drop surcharges and interests is yet to be approved,...

Exporters ask DA for help about JPEPA.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Carmelito Q. Francisco DAVAO CITY - Exporters of agricultural products, led by the region's banana growers, have asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) during a meeting last week for help in optimizing market access through...

DPWH eyes more funds for projects in E. Visayas.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Sarwell Q. Meniano TACLOBAN CITY - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas is hoping to get more funds to finance infrastructure projects in the region this year. DPWH regional director Rolando M. Asis...

Beetles infest coconut trees in west Leyte.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Sarwell Q. Meniano PALO, LEYTE - The destructive coconut leaf beetle has continued to wreak havoc on coconut trees in Leyte, where over a hundred thousand trees remain infested. Records of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)...

SUITS THE C-SUITE.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Ma. Victoria A. Villaluz Like many jurisdictions, the Philippine tax laws, rules and regulations appear to be complex. Whether this is mere perception or hard fact, the Ways and Means Committee of the Lower House, headed by Rep....

Vista Land borrows P500M for medium-rise projects.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales PROPERTY DEVELOPER Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. has secured half a billion pesos in funding through loans from Security Bank Corp., the listed firm said in a statement. The money will be used to...

PSALM eyeing term loan to repay debts.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Emilia Narni J. David THE POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) plans to tap a loan facility this quarter to repay debts, instead of selling bonds. PSALM President Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. however said the...

Victorias Milling appoints new chairman under reorganization.
February 28, 2011... LISTED SUGAR miller Victorias Milling Co., Inc. has elected a new chairman, the company said in a statement yesterday. "Omar Byron T. Mier has resigned as chairman and member of the board of directors of Victorias Milling effective end of...

High court allows receivership case vs Cebu firm to proceed.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Nathaniel R. Melican THE SUPREME Court has reversed itself for the second time in the suit to dissolve LuDo & LuYm Development Corp. (LLDC), a Cebu-based family corporation holding real estate assets. In a Feb. 15 ruling, the...

House body OK's incentives bill for climate change aid.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Noemi M. Gonzales THE HOUSE committee on ecology has approved a bill that seeks the creation of a People's Survival Fund (PSF) for assisting local government units (LGUs) cope with climate change. House Bill 3628, also known as the...

Zamboanga regional office report moved to March 31.
February 28, 2011... SUBMISSION OF results of an interagency review on the transfer of Region 9 offices of all departments and agencies to Pagadian City from Zamboanga City has been moved to March 31. Postponement of the submission of report was contained in...

Businessmen named to ABAC.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Ana Mae G. Roa PHILIPPINE LONG Distance Telephone Co. Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan has been named member of a group of businessmen within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Palace announced yesterday. Mr....

Senators to Palace: Act fast on crisis.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Johanna Paola D. Poblete SENATORS AT the weekend have expressed concern over the impact of worsening civil unrest in the Middle East that is causing volatile oil prices, calling on the attention of Malacanang to enforce remedial...

LRT-1 stations to reopen.
February 28, 2011... THE BALINTAWAK and Roosevelt stations of Light Rail Transit Line 1 will resume operations this week the earliest after tests are being finalized to ensure safety, an official said yesterday. "[Resuming] operations the earliest would be within...

Libyans to stay in IMT.
February 28, 2011... ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Libyan army contingent in the Mindanao peace- keeping mission will be staying notwithstanding civil unrest in their country amid calls for their leader to step down. "According to the International Monitoring Team (IMT), the...

Police killed, injured.
February 28, 2011... TACLOBAN CITY - A police officer was killed while four others were injured when suspected communist rebels ambushed a vehicle convoy of Arteche town Mayor Rolando B. Evardone on Saturday. Mr. Evardone was unharmed, said Samar provincial police...

Judge fined for neglect.
February 28, 2011... THE SUPREME COURT has fined a retired judge of the Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) for delaying judgment on more than a dozen cases and his failure to act promptly on hundreds of other cases. In a decision promulgated Feb. 16, the high court's...

Officials sacked.
February 28, 2011... DAVAO CITY - The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has sacked four officials for failing to implement the total log ban ordered by Malacanang. Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna signed the...

CORPORATE WATCH.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Amelia H.C. Ylagan The people have spoken. Hosni Mubarak, 82, president of Egypt for 30 years, was the second Arab leader in a month to be removed (Feb. 11, 2011) by people power protests over poverty and government corruption, at the...

YELLOW PAD.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Sol Iglesias Sol Iglesias is director for Intellectual Exchange at the Asia-Europe Foundation, a partner of Action for Economic Reforms. The views and opinions expressed are her own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the...

INTROSPECTIVE.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Romeo L. Bernardo Fortunately, the base case, while holding some uncertainty, would be a bit easier to face. As discussed in sections below, we see the economy growing at a softer yet still quite robust pace with price risks likely to...

BEYOND BRUSHSTROKES.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Marivic Rufino Journeys to distant places - the plateau of Mongolia, the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the snowy Alps, the breathtaking lakes of Northern Italy, the ancient temples in Asia, the desert of the Middle East and the...

Forum postponed.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Amina Rasul THE FORUM entitled "From EDSA to Tahrir Square: Lessons from Two People Power Revolutions," scheduled for today, Feb. 28, and mentioned in my latest column (Feb. 25) is being postponed to a later date, in deference to...

Inflation seen faster in Feb.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Louella D. Desiderio THE COUNTRY's inflation rate is expected to have risen further this month, driven particularly by fuel prices, a poll of eight economists showed. The poll showed a median inflation estimate of 3.85% for...

Donors told of bid for 'inclusive growth'.
February 28, 2011... THE AQUINO government unveiled before the foreign donor community last Saturday the outline of the 2011-2016 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), which is designed to help the country achieve "inclusive growth." "We want to...

Executive-legislative coordination starts.
February 28, 2011... MALACANANG is scheduled to present its priority bills to leaders of Congress in the Aquino administration's first Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting today. Palace officials said over the weekend that they have drawn up...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Island Carriers.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez WANDERING AROUND with neither map nor guide may be an exciting way to explore a foreign country, but some spots are just too tough to reach on your own. And if you think guided tours are for the tame...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Island Carriers.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez YOU'VE PACKED YOUR BAGS, booked your hotel, and made it to the check- in counter on time - and yet somehow, you're stuck in town for another day. With freak storms and late planes marooning passengers on a...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Island Carriers.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Anna Patricia G. Valerio THE FOOTAGE of two planes crashing into the World Trade Center Twin Towers a decade ago is easily one of the most tragic images of the last decade - more so for aerophobics, whose intense and irrational fear...

Smart rolling out next-generation mobile services.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Marites S. Villamor CEBU CITY - Smart Communications, Inc. is pushing "next-generation" M2M (machine-to-machine) solutions for power utilities, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and subdivisions, as it goes beyond the mobile...

Napocor should pay taxes, Aboitiz insists.
February 28, 2011... LISTED ABOITIZ Power Corp. is insisting that state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) must pay for property taxes owed by the 750-megawatt (MW) Pagbilao coal-fired power plant, which local authorities are set to auction. "We heard news that...

Peso likely range-bound.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio THE PESO is expected to be range-bound this week, its movement dependent on how events in Libya unfold, traders interviewed last Friday said. The local currency closed at P43.71 per dollar on Friday,...

YIELD TRACKER.
February 28, 2011... Byline: Gloria Krisana L. Gallezo PHILIPPINE debts rallied for the first time in seven weeks as worries over rising inflation and concerns brought about by the political turmoil in Egypt eased. Bond traders, however, said the gains would...

WEEKENDER.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno The changing media landscape has not left the local FM radio industry unaffected. With the advent of the Internet and portable digital players making it easy to listen to favorite songs on demand, the need to...

WEEKENDER.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno The only thing that separates radio listening from listening to music on an iPod is that on radio, someone else decides what music to play. Because current technology allows listeners to create play lists of their...

WEEKENDER: going out.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno THEATER REVIEW Kaos Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City Until June 30 Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 3...

WEEKENDER: going out.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo THEATER REVIEW ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal: Vack with a Vengeance! Presented by Tanghalang Pilipino Until March 13 Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Tanghalang Aurelio...

WEEKENDER: going out.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno CONCERT Super Show 3: Super Junior - The Third Asia Tour Feb. 26, 7 p.m. Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City Brace for heavy traffic around Araneta Coliseum tomorrow (Feb. 26) as South Korean boy band...

WEEKENDER: movies.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Noel Vera MOVIE REVIEW The Black Swan Directed by Darren Aronofsky YES! FOR 24.99 PLUS TAX AND DELIVERY YOU CAN OWN YOUR VERY OWN COPY OF DARREN ARONOFSKY'S THE BLACK SWAN! GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU PULL ON A TUTU AND SPROUT...

WEEKENDER: movies.(Movie review)
February 25, 2011... Byline: Noel Vera MOVIE REVIEW True Grit Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen Joel and Ethan Coen's movies are such regulars now and greeted with so much anticipation it's almost impossible not to feel let-down or bewildered or defensive...

WEEKENDER: staying in.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Noel Vera DVD REVIEW The Human Centipede Directed by Tom Six IFC Films Dutch filmmaker Tom Six's movie has been touted as "100% medically accurate" and as "the most disturbing film ever made." That's too much of a...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee The venue of the launch was a bit cramped, the ceiling was low and there were not enough seats for the guests. One could only imagine how the dancers hidden inside the low stage at the Ipanema flipflop launch on...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
February 25, 2011... Foreign and local trade buyers are expected to head to Manila for the upcoming Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) - Manila Now 2011. Scheduled from March 3 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center, the event promises to be one of the...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Nanette Franco-Diyco Manny Pacquiao told Carlo Directo, who directed the recently launched Datu Puti TV commercial, that it's the best TV commercial he has appeared in. And I agree. All three commercials, an omnibus 60-seconder, a...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Terence A. Hockenhull It surprises me that so little business correspondence is exchanged here in the Philippines. In other countries I would expect a pile of letters in my mailbox everyday, much of it relating to business, clients...

WEEKENDER: travel.
February 25, 2011... Palawan island getaway TUCKED AWAY from the busy tourist spots in Palawan is Arena Island, a luxurious private destination that offers a unique, eco-friendly stay for travelers. While Arena Island offers a commune-with-nature experience, its...

WEEKENDER: travel.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Louie O. Pacardo LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO - This town's Seven Falls nature site with its zip-line is a perfect escape for adventurers who want to satisfy their cravings for picturesque landscapes and breathtaking exploits. For 11...

WEEKENDER: going out.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo American photojournalist Kim Komenich arrived in the Philippines in 1983 at the age of 27 carrying five bags stuffed with equipment. He packed an enlarger, a Leica Rangefinder camera, a couple of Nikons (though he has...

Peso slips on risk aversion.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio THE PESO slid against the greenback yesterday as market players bought dollars while the violence in Libya dragged on. The local currency settled at P43.79 per dollar, shedding 22 centavos against its...

Bond sales reach P6.5 billion.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio THE GOVERNMENT sold P6.5 billion worth of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) yesterday, substantially less than its P17.738-billion offer for the day. "By the third day of the RTB sale, the government sold a...

Stocks slump as violence in Libya escalates.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales THE STOCK market continued to be punished by the turmoil in North Africa and Middle East, which pushed oil prices to heights not seen in more than two years. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lost...

BRIEFS.
February 25, 2011... Fun run slated THE TAGAYTAY Tourism Council (TTC) will launch its first major activity for 2011: the Tagaytay Family. Fun. Run. 2011 dubbed TF2R11. TTC is a public-private sector partnership consisting of 140 business establishments and...

Toshiba launches NB520 netbook.
February 25, 2011... TOSHIBA'S SINGAPORE Computer Systems Division, a division of Toshiba Singapore Pte Ltd., recently unveiled the latest model of its new netbook family: the NB520, a model for users who want a slim and stylish netbook with enhanced sound features....

CONSUMER GUIDE.
February 25, 2011... LAMY designer pens now available locally LAMY DESIGNER pens are now available in the Philippines. Brought into the market in late 2010, the LAMY collection has received great welcome for its sleek, modern designs with precision innovative...

Davao City to host Mayor Duterte chessfest.
February 25, 2011... DAVAO CITY becomes the country's chess capital for almost two weeks with the staging of the much-awaited Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte- 2011 National Age-Group chess championships on April 25-28 and the National Junior chess championships...

GIVE AND GO.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Michael Angelo S. Murillo Philippine Basketball Association rookie center Hans Thiele played only four minutes and had one rebound to show for in his debut with the Alaska Aces; hardly an auspicious start yet his being with the milk...

CHESS PIECE.
February 25, 2011... Byline: Bobby Ang This might be a good time to play catch-up with the most recent chess news. BEST THEORETICAL NOVELTY A few columns we wrote about the contest launched by New in Chess Magazine to find the best novelty for 2010, among...