BusinessWorld (Philippines) articles from October 2010

BusinessWorld (Philippines) archives from October 2010

WEEKENDER.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Johanna D. Poblete The body, in death, is defenseless. Romantic praise is heaped on the soul, whereas rather graphic paeans are devoted to the body - "this skin, this sac of dung and joy" ("Anodyne") as Yusef Komunyakaa put it -...

WEEKENDER: going out.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo CONCERT Wizards, Witches and Wacky Wands: Enter the School of Magical Sounds and Music Oct. 31, 4 p.m. Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City Warts are...

WEEKENDER: going out.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno There is this little factoid that has been spreading around the Internet: that this October is the first time in 823 years that there are five Fridays, five Saturdays, and five Sundays in one month. Gullible...

WEEKENDER: movies.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Noel Vera MOVIE REVIEWS Arang Directed by Ahn Sang-hoon The Red Shoes Directed by Kim Yong-gyun Seeing some of these recent Korean horror films, one can come to an unpleasant conclusion: the long shadow of Hideo...

WEEKENDER: movies.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Noel Vera MOVIE REVIEW The Social Network Directed by David Fincher David Fincher's The Social Network (2010) is based on a clever script by Aaron Sorkin which is based, in turn, on what is said to be a factually unreliable...

WEEKENDER: health.
October 29, 2010... With the growing number of skin clinics offering practically the same type of treatments using similar machines, it has become very important to distinguish oneself in a way that will win more clients over. One dermatologist who has managed...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee Clean, uncluttered and minimalist are words often used to describe the Japanese aesthetic. One need only picture the grid of a bento box, the right angles of a shoji screen or the sparse of well-placed blooms in an...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Nanette Franco-Diyco There are two brand new television commercials that I happily caught during the long weekend that are real stand-outs among the food products currently being advertised. I also caught Publicis Manila's top honcho,...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
October 29, 2010... It all began with a unique illumination system, the foresight of a true visionary, and the approval by an elite special operations force of the US Navy. Barry Cohen had long been in the fashion watch business when he came across a Swiss...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Terence A. Hockenhull It is rare to meet a salesperson who does not bemoan the fact that on price alone, his or her own products are not competitive with other brands in the market. Indeed, as most would tell it, all competitors make...

WEEKENDER: marketing.
October 29, 2010... Whiter teeth right now Unlike expensive whitening treatments, tedious kits and other whitening toothpastes that can take two to four weeks to take effect, Closeup White Now is the first and only product to give instantly whiter teeth. Already...

WEEKENDER: travel.
October 29, 2010... Work and play in Cebu When it comes to mixing business and leisure, the first place that comes to mind is Cebu. The southern idyll is also one of the most developed provinces in the country with the main city as the center of commerce, trade,...

WEEKENDER: travel.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Raoul J. Chee Kee The invitation to attend a cousin's wedding at a resort on Samal Island two weeks ago couldn't have come at a better time. I had been hankering for fresh durian for some time now and the standing invitation to...

WEEKENDER: going out.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Sam L. Marcelo THEATER REVIEW The Wedding Singer Oct. 29, 30, 31, Nov. 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows are at 8 p.m., while Saturday matinees are at 3:30 p.m and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. Meralco...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Global Motoring Updates.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Tito F. Hermoso The automotive arena gives utmost importance to the biennial Tokyo and Frankfurt Auto Shows. Aside from being two of the world's biggest car gatherings, both reflect the attention that Japan and Europe give to their...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Global Motoring Updates.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Tito F. Hermoso Less than 25 years ago, many auto enthusiasts would have scoffed at the thought of buying a Korean-made car. Today, the snickers come at those eyeing vehicles with a Chinese brand. One such Korean car maker, Kia,...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Global Motoring Updates.
October 29, 2010... Japanese car maker Suzuki outperformed the top 10 car manufacturers in the country in September when it sold 335 retail units in one month, up by 90% from the 176 units it sold a year ago. Suzuki's whole automobile business likewise posted a...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Global Motoring Updates.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez Public-private partnerships and build-operate-transfer ventures can put lay down the grand blueprints, but the companies currently involved in transport infrastructure do more than lay down cement. When it...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Global Motoring Updates.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Katrina Paola B. Alvarez The rains won't stop the trailblazer from taking a turn to no-man's land, but merely trudging on a muddy trail with a four-wheel drive doesn't qualify one for an adventurer's trophy. "People have varying...

Festival of trees scheduled.
October 29, 2010... Artists, businesspeople and Manila society's well-known personalities and their families will once again come together to celebrate the season of giving via the spectacular fund-raising event known as the 15th Festival of Trees on Nov. 23, 7...

Araneta, QCPD launch Tourist Police.
October 29, 2010... Araneta Center Business Association, in partnership with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), recently launched its Tourist Police Project at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte...

Binalot cited for integrating CSR in business.
October 29, 2010... Rommel Juan, president and chief executive officer of Binalot Fiesta Foods, took home a Ramon Orlina sculpture/trophy as part of the Intel-Aim Corporate Social Responsibility Award (IACRA) 2010 in the recently concluded 9th annual Asian Forum on...

CONSUMER GUIDE.
October 29, 2010... Evertrimm diet supplement boosts promotions Since its debut last April, Evertrimm has taken the country - and the figures of those willing to take the step - by storm, catching the attention, and ultimately the approval of very satisfied...

BRIEFS.
October 29, 2010... Contest announced The PBSP (Philippines Business for Social Progress) - Citi BiD Challenge Philippines 2010 with the theme "Promoting Poverty Reduction through Enterprise Development" announces that the deadline for submission of entries is...

Taipei's T. P. Chen snaps Rubilen Amit's winning run.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Marlon Bernardino RUBILEN "Bingkay" Amit of the Philippines yielded to T. P. Chen of Chinese-Taipei, 6-2, yesterday, stopping her winning run in the 2010 Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship being held at Nuvo City in Libis,...

COURTSIDE.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong Brett Favre wants to play this weekend. He has always wanted to play, even through injuries other quarterbacks are invariably compelled to recover from. It's why he holds the National Football League's Iron Man...

GIVE AND GO.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Michael Angelo S. Murillo The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters are doing themselves good by stacking up wins early in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Set to do some "sacrifice" as far as its competitiveness...

Adios, mi amigo viejo.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Tito F. Hermoso Everyone knows Kookie Ramirez, at least everyone who was ever into motorsports for the past 40 years. He was one of the legendary Pocholo Ramirez brood who all learned what the racing line was even before they learned...

SPECIAL FEATURE.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Hannah M. Muralla and Anna Patricia G. Valerio That crisis breeds opportunity is evident in the numerous ventures spawned by laid-off professionals or jobless graduates who have since turned to entrepreneurship to earn a living. A...

Revillame a ratings hit (ABS-CBN plans variety show to counter Willing.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno It is the same format, with almost the same songs. The set looks striking similar, with practically the same staff working to keep everything in order. The new TV show of controversial host Willie Revillame appears...

TAKE TEN.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Behn Cervantes I often catch myself talking of the "good old days." Naturally, younger ones around me lift their plucked eyebrows and wonder what days I am referring to. They are astounded when I tell them that my weekly allowance...

RCBC plans micro-branches.
October 29, 2010... Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) yesterday said it will open eight micro-banking offices (MBOs) and expand its microfinance portfolio, becoming the first bank to announce so after the central bank came out with regulations...

Peso strengthens on Thailand news.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Louella D. Desiderio The peso rebounded yesterday following news that credit rater Moody's Investors Service upgraded its outlook for Thailand and the release of weaker-than-expected US durable goods data. The local currency gained...

PSEi loses 24 pts as market looks for leads.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte The main index finished lower yesterday, dragged down by the global markets. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by 0.57% or 24.38 points to 4,260.69, while the broader all-share index slipped by...

SPECIAL FEATURE: ING 20th Anniversary.
October 29, 2010... Zondy Garcia, country manager of ING Bank's Manila Branch, speaks to BusinessWorld about the Dutch-based bank as well as current market and industry issues. ING Bank recently celebrated its 20th year of doing business in the Philippines with the...

Popular Economics.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Antonio Siegfrid O. Alegado The rechannelling of global capital that has resulted in very liquid emerging markets, particularly Southeast Asia, has revived talks about the role of liquidity in financial stability. A World Bank...

Economic Indicators.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Mico P. Cortez Prices, by retailers' reckoning, rose by 2.6% in August - the slowest since November last year, suggesting inflation was kept in check, data released last week by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed. The...

Visiting S&P team discussed focus on tax administration.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Prinz P. Magtulis THE AQUINO administration's tax administration reforms were the focus of discussions between Philippine government officials and representatives of Standard & Poor's (S&P) Ratings Services last Wednesday,...

Davao mulls ways to soften impact of Iran's fruit ban.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Joel B. Escovilla DAVAO CITY - The Regional Development Council (RDC) here is looking at stop-gap measures, such as a wage hike exemption for banana plantations, to soften the impact of Iran's ban on farm imports that included...

Japanese companies press government on P14-billion tax refund.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa A GROUP of Japanese firms has renewed calls, this time to the new administration, for the speedy release of about P14 billion worth of tax refunds, saying the unresolved issue has caused them cash flow problems...

US-assisted cooperative in Mindanao inks supply contract with fish.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Darwin T. Wee ZAMBOANGA CITY - An exporter has entered into an agreement with a fishing cooperative in Basilan, managed by former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), for the supply of high-value fish. In the...

Sarangani indigenous groups seek to raise abaca production.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Lumads (indigenous peoples) in Sarangani province have secured foreign help in their effort to boost abaca production. Members of the T'boli tribe in Kiamba town belonging to the Kapate...

Crop damage may be smaller.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Kathleen A. Martin AS REPORTED DAMAGE wreaked last week by typhoon Juan on crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries and infrastructure rose to P11.53 billion yesterday, the Department of Agriculture remained hopeful that the final tally...

VANTAGE POINT.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Luis V. Teodoro On July 10, or less than two weeks into his presidency, Benigno Aquino III told the Department of Justice to review the coup charges, which he described as "unjust," against former Navy lieutenant and now Senator...

FENCE SITTER.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Antonio R. Samson The "trickle-down" effect theorizes that when the rich get richer, the poor don't necessarily get poorer but get some of the wealth that is dripping down from overflowing cups at the top. Macroeconomics tends to be...

TRADE TRIPPER.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jemy Gatdula Back to trade: BusinessWorld recently reported that "foreign business groups want Congress to tread with caution as it works on drafting an antitrust law, saying a badly crafted measure could restrict business instead of...

RULE OF LAW.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Augusto R. Bundang It may not be certain if they can qualify as "BFF" or best friends forever, but at this point, they surely are "FON" or friends of Noynoy. DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno has been known to be a gun enthusiast and a...

IN THE WORKPLACE.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Reylito A. H. Elbo I've already instructed my managers to stop implementing our employee suggestion program. What's the point of securing suggestions and greater participation of employees in problem-solving when most of them refused...

First Gen contests deadline to match KEPCO's offer to BG.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Emilia Narni J. David Lopez-led First Gen Corp. said yesterday it was not bound by a 60-day period to exercise its right of first refusal following the decision of business partner British Gas (BG) group to sell its 40% stake in two...

Resorts World operator gets $300M in funds.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc., a joint venture between Andrew L. Tan-led Alliance Global Group, Inc. and Genting Hong Kong Ltd., has raised $300 million in fresh capital by selling seven-year bonds....

San Miguel subsidiary, four other companies bag tax incentives from.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa A new project of San Miguel Corp.'s (SMC) shipping arm has qualified for tax perks along with four other companies' planned business ventures worth a total of P326.3 million, the Board of Investments (BoI) said...

Duavit named GMA Network president.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Aura Marie P. Dagcutan Lawyer Felipe L. Gozon has stepped down as president of GMA Network, Inc. after a tenure of more than a decade, which saw the listed broadcaster surpass rival ABS-CBN Corp. in Mega Manila television ratings. ...

Health care BPO to tap unemployed nurses.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Aura Marie P. Dagcutan SPi Healthcare, a unit of business process outsourcing (BPO) company SPi Global Solutions, said the health care business would soon require more high-skilled workers as the market becomes more competitive. ...

Firm to drill off Leyte.
October 29, 2010... Otto Energy Ltd. said yesterday it would begin drilling at Service Contract No. 51 off Leyte early next year. In a statement, Otto Energy said wholly owned subsidiary NorAsian Energy Ltd. will drill "to a depth of 1,000 meters targeting Miocene...

Singapore flights start.
October 29, 2010... Budget carrier Airphil Express announced it started operations out of Singapore's Changi Airport Terminal 2 last Wednesday. In a statement, Maria Java, Airphil vice-president for marketing and media, said the move was in anticipation of the...

Miner raises money.
October 29, 2010... CANADA'S MBMI Resources, Inc. has secured $3 million in financing for the development of its nickel properties in Palawan. "[MBMI Resources] has arranged a non-brokered private placement financing for up to 16,666,666 units priced at $0.18 per...

Atlas shipments down.
October 29, 2010... Listed Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. said yesterday its latest shipment of copper concentrates to China decreased slightly. In a disclosure, Atlas said subsidiary Carmen Copper Corp., which operates the Toledo copper mine in...

Remittance deal bared.
October 29, 2010... Smart Communications, Inc. said yesterday Filipinos overseas using its mobile banking service can now send remittances through outlets of Western Union agents in 27 countries. In a statement, the company said users in Australia, Ireland, New...

Capital hike approved.
October 29, 2010... The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the request of Equitiworld Securities, Inc. to increase its capital stock. Equitiworld applied for an P8-million increase to its authorize capital stock, increasing it to P204 million...

Multiple murder charges filed vs Bar exam bombing suspect.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Nathaniel R. Melican THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed criminal charges against the principal suspect in the Bar examination blast last month. Multiple charges of frustrated murder and attempted murder were...

Career service officers given priority in government posts.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Ana Mae G. Roa MALACANANG YESTERDAY directed heads of agencies and offices to submit names of appointments or reappointments to career executive service (CES) posts that would be vacated by non-CES officers (non-CESOs). "Pursuant...

Convict asks acquittal from SC.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Nathaniel R. Melican A CONVICT yesterday asked the Supreme Court (SC) for his acquittal over charges of rape and murder, a day after the high court said it is ready to render justice on the case. Lawyers of Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb...

Police on full alert for holiday exodus; tollways beefed up.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio and Aura Marie P. Dagcutan THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) is on full alert starting today as people head to the provinces and transport terminals for the long holiday in observance of All Saints' Day on...

Business goes full blast to support K+12.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jo Javan A. Cerda THE PHILIPPINE Business for Education (PBEd), a group of businesses advocating reforms, said it will help the Department of Education (DepEd) in making Filipinos, especially parents, understand the benefits of adding...

Arroyos linked to NBN.
October 29, 2010... A NEWSPAPER columnist on Thursday linked former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd district) and her husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" T. Arroyo, to the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) project. In a sworn...

United front sought.
October 29, 2010... PARTICIPANTS TO an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting on human trafficking yesterday cited the need to impose stiffer punishment against illegal recruiters and to enhance regional cooperation against the banned activity....

Penalty downgraded.
October 29, 2010... THE HOUSE committee on revision of codes and laws has approved a bill that seeks to downgrade the penalty for petty crimes from imprisonment to community service. House Bill (HB) 3497, authored by Reps. Juan Edgardo M. Angara (Aurora) and Marlyn...

Villacorta new representative to ASEAN.
October 29, 2010... THE COUNTRY has a new permanent representative to the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) in the person of Wilfrido V. Villacorta, replacing Orlando S. Mercado, the Palace said yesterday. President Benigno C. Aquino III made the...

Tax evasion, smuggling cases filed vs 2 companies.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Prinz P. Magtulis A CONSTRUCTION equipment importer was sued, while a manufacturing company in Malabon City was shuttered by revenue agencies in separate crackdowns. The Bureau of Customs (BoC) yesterday sued Kingpoll Marketing, a...

81,000 poor families in E. Visayas eyed to receive cash grant.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Reyan L. Arinto TACLOBAN CITY - Around 81,000 poor families in Eastern Visayas region will be included in the expanded conditional cash grant program next year. Leticia M. Corillo, Department of Social Welfare and Development...

Watershed-based planning pushed.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Louise G. Dumas CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Misamis Oriental is shifting to watershed-based area development for a sustainable and comprehensive planning approach. "There is a common misconception that the watershed only involves the...

PSE sets changes to main, sectoral indices.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales Changes to the Philippine Stock Exchange's main and sectoral indices will take effect starting November following a regular review, the bourse yesterday announced. "The review period covered trading activity...

Group proposes policy changes for PPP initiative.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jo Javan A. Cerda policy recommendations have been offered to the Aquino administration as a means of jump-starting its public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. The PPP Coalition, composed of the Philippine Constructors...

Forex rules eased to check peso (Move comes as RP, Thailand seek.
October 29, 2010... Byline: with Ana Mae G. Roa The central bank yesterday approved new foreign exchange liberalization rules in a bid to encourage dollar outflows and stem the peso's appreciation as cash seeking higher returns deluges Asia. The new rules...

Businessmen urge action, say 'honeymoon' over.(Conference notes)
October 29, 2010... Byline: Jessica Anne D. Hermosa Declaring the honeymoon period over, business leaders from seven key sectors yesterday pressed the Aquino administration on reforms to ensure that rosy outlooks for the year will be sustained in the long run....

Minimum public float rule makes a comeback.
October 29, 2010... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales Corporate regulators have approved the reinstatement of the 10% minimum public ownership rule as a requirement for continued listing. The rule, which was revoked in 2005, will take effect at the end of next...

PANAF holds youth congress.
October 28, 2010... The Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation (PANAF) announced the 11th Integrated Marketing Communications Student's Competition and 1st Youth Congress dubbed "Techie, Artsy, Gutsy (TAG)- You're It!" "The IMC competition and...

Airphilexpress receives fourth Airbus A320.
October 28, 2010... Airphilexpress announced that its fleet expansion continues with the delivery of another brand-new Airbus A320 which arrived last Oct. 16. This is the fourth Airbus A320 added to the Airphilexpress fleet this year. The growth of...

PSEi closes short of 4,300 amid profit taking.
October 28, 2010... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte The main stock index managed to close higher yesterday but failed to break the 4,300 resistance as investors pocketed profits. Justino B. Calaycay, Jr. of brokerage firm Accord Capital Equities Corp. said in...

PNB introduces Mabuhay Prestige Fund.
October 28, 2010... Philippine National Bank (PNB) recently introduced a new trust fund to address the needs of investors for high yields, risk diversification, stability, and affordability. Banking on its professional expertise and depth of experience in the...

BPI is best wealth management house.
October 28, 2010... BPI Asset Management has been named as Best Wealth Management House, Philippines in The Asset Triple A Investment Awards 2010. Institutional and individual clients enjoy the widest selection of investment products spanning various asset...

PEOPLE.
October 28, 2010... Yuchengco given lifetime achievement award Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, chairman of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), has garnered the Lifetime Achievement Award in the recent 14th Asia Insurance Industry Awards, one of the most...

COURTSIDE.
October 28, 2010... Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong The eve of their first game of the 2010-11 campaign saw the Heat casting a moist eye on the Larry O'Brien Trophy the franchise won in 2006. Head coach Erik Spoelstra's message in bringing out the hardware as...

BRIEFS.
October 28, 2010... Contest starts The University of the East College of Education (UE CoEd) and the UNESCO NatCom (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization National Commission of the Philippines), in partnership with the UNESCO...