Philippine Daily Inquirer articles from November 2008, page 9

Philippine Daily Inquirer archives from November 2008

Bayan expects 08 revenue to hit P4.6B.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Riza T. Olchondra BAYAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS (Bayan) said that its revenue performance in 2008 would likely exceed that of 2007, citing robust growth of its wireless landline, Internet and corporate data businesses. Our...

Paulsons turnabout.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Ron Nathan THE G-20 MET AND AGREED TO WORK together to tackle the ever-worsening global crisis. That is about all they did and set another meeting for next April. However, the G-7, which comprises the most important European...

The bid and Goliath.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Conrado R. Banal III A GOLIATH OF A SWISS MINING company called Xstrata just suffered an embarrassing defeat to the small shareholders of Indophil. Whats that, David and Goliath? Anyway, as everybody knows, except perhaps the...

Remittances surged 17% in Sept. to P1.3B.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Doris C. Dumlao MONEY SENT HOME BY OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SURGED AT A faster year-on-year pace of 16.94 percent in September from 10.36 percent in August, remaining resilient so far to the financial turbulence that has dragged down...

Electric jeeps get LTO license.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Ronnel W. Domingo LOCAL AUTO PARTS MAKERS ARE SET TO mass produce electric jeepneys as the Land Transportation Office issued license plates for the pioneering unit that is being used in Makati City. The Motor Vehicle Parts...

Fertilizer prices dropped by as much as 30% in Nov.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Amy R. Remo LOCAL PRICES OF PETROCHEMICAL fertilizers have fallen by as much as 30 percent in November alone, due to the softening of fuel prices in the world market, said Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap. The significant...

First Gen net profit down 64%.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Ronnel W. Domingo LOPEZ GROUP UNIT FIRST GEN CORP.S third-quarter profits went down 64.1 percent to $35.6 million from $99.1 million a year ago in the wake of its acquiring a controlling stake in the privatized Energy Development...

3.7% growth for RP in 09 optimistic, says UBS.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Michelle V. Remo THE GOVERNMENTS ECONOMIC growth forecast next year of 3.7 percent may still be too optimistic given the looming global recession that would adversely impact the local economy. This was according to investment...

October BOP deficit swells to $1.19B.
November 18, 2008... THE PHILIPPINES INCURRED A BALANCE-of-payments (BOP) deficit of $1.19 billion in October, the biggest monthly shortfall seen in nine years, due to large outflows of foreign investments following the financial shakeout in Wall Street. The...

P700.6B set aside to service debt in 09.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Michelle V. Remo THE GOVERNMENT HAS raised the amount it will spend for debt servicing for 2009from the original P681.5 billion to P700.6 billionto accommodate more liabilities that will emerge as a result of a growing budget...

Solid Group nets P40M in 9 months.
November 18, 2008... SOLID GROUP INC., THE FLAGSHIP FIRM of the Lim family, is back in the black with a net profit of P40 million in the first nine months as against a P20-million net loss in 2007, as revenues soared 98 percent due to sales of mobile phone units....

How to be fit during the holidays.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Mitch Felipe, Contributor WITH THE HOLIDAYS JUST around the corner, theres a great chance to set aside ones fitness routine and disregard healthy meals. Think about the consequences if you will temporarily stop the habit,...

Lecture on karma 33,000 feet above the ground.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Jaime T. Licauco ON THE WAY BACK FROM Cyprus to Manila, our plane made a stopover at Dubai. On the Dubai to Manila flight, one of the almost all-Filipino crew named Kristine recognized my name when I presented my boarding...

Scrub time.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Emmarose Policarpio, Contributor GETTING A VIGOROUS rub down is an ideal way to re-energize, improving blood circulation in the same way a soothing massage revitalizes the body. But the ultimate perk that makes spa-goers go...

Karylle vs Marian.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Dolly Anne Carvajal I WILL CHOOSE TO BE WITH the one I love than the one who loves me, said Dingdong Dantes. I was tempted to ask Dong if he was referring to his ex Karylle or Marian Rivera, but I didnt want to rock the boat. ...

Search for solutions.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Bayani San Diego Jr. (Conclusion) THE FIRST PHILIPPINE Independent Film Summit was envisioned to find creative solutions drawn up by the stakeholders themselves. Mounted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines...

Anne has faith in Sam.
November 18, 2008... Byline: Marinel R. Cruz FOR ACTRESS Anne Curtis, theres no telling how soon a broken heart would heal. She recently ended her two-year relationship with actor Sam Milby. The split-up was too much for me in the beginning... Im slowly...

2 Army soldiers slain.
November 17, 2008... MAASIM, SARANGANITWO ARMY SOLdiers were killed when their vehicle was hit by a battery-operated improvised explosive while on their way back to camp in early Saturday here. Col. Edgar de Leon, commander of the Armys 73rd Infantry...

Ateneo cagers, tossers triumph.
November 17, 2008... DAVAO CITYATEneo de Davao ruled basketball and volleyball in the First Mindanao Childrens Games which ended yesterday at the University of Mindanao-Matina Gym here. The Blue Knights crushed the Immaculate Conception cagers, 93-64, for...

Cardona fires 42, lifts Texters; Kings score.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Musong R. Castillo NATIONAL COACH YENG GUIAO RECENTly got burned by players he selected to the RP squad. Last night, someone who felt that he was left out torched Guiaos Red Bull squad. Mac-Mac Cardona tossed in a career-high...

Close brush for Nutri-C cagebelles.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Jasmine W. Payo NUTRI-C ATENEO WAITED FOR A FEW tensed seconds before pulling off a 59-58 escape over Oracare-St. Benilde to grab the solo lead in the Womens Philippine Basketball League yesterday at the Lyceum Manila gym. ...

Peace through human rights.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Kristian Herbolzheimer NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD WHERE A ceasefire and peace talks are formally still holding are people suffering from conflict as much as in Mindanao. Nowhere else have half a million people been displaced in...

Did you know.
November 17, 2008... MANILA saw its first silent film in 1879. Most silent films shown in the city came from France and Italy. Interpreters were hired to shout out to viewers the translations of the French and Italian subtitles. Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer...

DILG orders resumption of services in Bataan.
November 17, 2008... CITY OF SAN FERNANDOTHE Department of the Interior and Local Government expects Bataan Vice Gov. Serafin Roman, now acting governor, to bring back normal operations to the capitol in Balanga City today to prevent further disruption of...

DOH to buy body freezer for hospital.
November 17, 2008... Byline: David Israel Sinay, Inquirer Visayas ILOILO CITYThe Department of Health will allocate funds to buy a cadaver freezer for Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), the prime government hospital in the region, Health Secretary ...

Dolphins sink Mariners anew.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Marc Anthony Reyes CEBU MADE SHORT WORK OF MUN-tinlupa to firm up its hold of top spot even as Taguig stayed in touch of the leader by disposing of Dumaguete after yesterdays triple bill in the Baseball Philippines Series 4 at the...

In the face of crisis, RP whistles in dark.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Amando Doronila THE PHILIPPINES LAST WEEK SOUGHT refuge behind an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report that the country was not immune to the worst financial crisis to hit the global economy since the Great Depression, but...

Raiding the treasury.
November 17, 2008... EVEN IF WE WERE TO ASSUME THE IMPROBABLE and consider both former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Joc-Joc Bolante and retired police general Eliseo de la Paz to be telling the truth, they would still be guilty of official wrongdoing. Even...

Euro big fish sought.
November 17, 2008... RETIRED POLICE DIRECTOR Eliseo de la Paz has offered himself as a punching bag to shield his bosses from prosecution arising from the Moscow fund mess, lawmakers said yesterday. Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said that De la Pazs...

The Armed Forces take, the jail wardens give.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Ramon J. Farolan TWO WEEKS AGO, SOME 30 NPA GUERRILLAS DISGUISED as anti-narcotics and SWAT commandos managed to sweet-talk their way into the Quezon Provincial Jail in Lucena City. Pretending to turn over a new prisoner, they...

First round to Bolante in Senate probeSatur.
November 17, 2008... JOCELYN JOC-JOC BOLANTE WON THE first round last week in his battle against his Senate tormentors who obviously did not do their homework during all the years that he had snubbed them. This was the observation of Bayan Muna Rep....

Freed aid worker dreamed of her angels.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao ZAMBOANGA CITYSTRONG FAITH and prayers helped Merlie Milet Mendoza survive a 2-month ordeal at the hands of the notorious kidnap gang Abu Sayyaf. Its been a journey of many miracles, said...

Gallego, Luat dispute Bacolod leg crown.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Roy Luarca BACOLOD CITYLOCAL POOL IDOL Ramil Gallego capped his 11-8 victory over Efren Bata Reyes with a golden break yesterday, arranging an all-Negros title duel with Roberto Luat in the Bacolod leg of the First Senate...

Points for dialogue.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J. A VERY WELCOME DEVELOPMENT IS THE DEsire of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to enter into dialogue with legislators about some controversial provisions of the Reproductive Health...

Kin of former PNP chief killed.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Nancy C. Carvajal A RELATIVE OF A FORMER Philippine National Police chief was reportedly shot dead by a policeman who was called in to break up a fight inside a bar in Quezon City yesterday. Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo...

Lady Stags end Adamson run.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Cedelf P. Tupas SAN SEBASTIAN PUT A STOP TO ADAMsons five-game winning run as the Lady Stags walloped the Lady Falcons, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, last night to complete the semifinal cast in the Shakeys V-League second...

Leyte takes over Palo beach resort built by Imelda.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas TACLOBAN CITYPRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-Arroyo has directed the provincial government to take over the management and operations of a P100-million beach resort built by then First Lady Imelda...

Lighten up, workers advise GSIS execs.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Jerome Aning A MODERATE LABOR GROUP yesterday called on officials of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to stop bullying the press by filing libel cases, saying journalists highly critical of the state-run pension...

Marijuana grown in Abu hideout, say Marines.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Arlyn dela Cruz, Contributor DEEP IN THE ABU SAYYAF LAIR IN Maimbung, Sulu, joint forces of the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) uprooted some 100,000 fully grown marijuana plants measuring at...

Third suspect in P500,000 heist falls.
November 17, 2008... POLICE have arrested another suspect in Fridays payroll robbery in Taguig City which resulted in the loss of P500,000 in cash. The arrest of Ramil Reblora, however, led to the recovery of the money, Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan, Taguig police...

Pasig police chief vows to solve robbery.
November 17, 2008... THE NEW officer-in-charge of the Pasig City police said he would pay special attention to solving last weeks daring robbery that left a woman dead after she tried to fight off her attackers. Although Supt. Ramiro Bausa admitted that there...

13 hurt in another accident on Edsa.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Nancy C. Carvajal THE NUMBER 13 PROVED TO BE UNLUCKY FOR A group of people who sustained injuries when their vehicles figured in an accident on the northbound lane of North Avenue, Edsa, at 6:40 a.m. yesterday. Quezon City...

Migrants decry GMA plea in OFWs case.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Jerome Aning PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO DID three Filipinos sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia a disservice when she appealed for clemency in their behalf from the crown prince of the Middle East kingdom, said a militant overseas...

National govt to release P70M for Naga market.
November 17, 2008... NAGA CITYTHE NATIONAL government will release P70 million to finance the immediate reconstruction of the citys three-story public market whose second and third floors were burned by a fire on Nov. 6-7. This was announced by Sen. Joker...

Strengthen our laws against perjury.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Neal H. Cruz THE RESULTS OF LAST WEEKS SENATE investigations into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and the so-called euro generals show how effete are our laws against perjury. Most of the senators believe that resigned...

Presidential debates illegal, says poll lawyer.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Jerome Aning A FORMER LAWYER OF PRESIdent Macapagal-Arroyos yesterday assailed a proposal to require presidential candidates to participate in debates, saying it was unconstitutional. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the...

Walk the talk, congressmen.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Manuel L. Quezon III IN HIS BLOG (WWW.MAROCHARIM.COM), Marck Ronald Rimorin, a blogger co-intervenor, wrote the following on Nov. 12 to explain why he signed the intervention we filed before the House: I think that when you blog...

Pathetic.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Conrado de Quiros I NEARLY FELL OFF MY SEAT LAUGHING LAST week when I heard Eduardo Ermitas reaction to the latest Pulse Asia survey showing the public distrusting GMA even more. GMA was in the United States then, and with the...

Rush approval of typhoon funds, solons urged.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas ILOILO CITYTHE task force Bangon Panay on Thursday urged Congress to fast-track the passage of the rehabilitation fund for areas ravaged by Typhoon Frank. Presidential Assistant for...

Schools to teach own version of sex ed, says bishop.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Dona Pazzibugan and Leila B. Salaverria CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WANT TO teach their students about sex their way to foil the single sex education curriculum mandated in the controversial reproductive health bill being debated in...

Spiritual guru enables less abled to find peace.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Jocelyn R. Uy A LONDONER, WHO WORKED IN A big architecture company, became blind and turned into a feeble and bitter man. Somehow, he found his way to a meditation workshop by respected spiritual teacher Jayanti Kirplani, who...

RP chessers rise to tie for 14th.
November 17, 2008... Standings after three rounds: 6.0 pointsRussia, Ukraine, Armenia,Spain, Germany, Norway, England, India, Romania. 5.0Hungary, USA, Azerbaijan, Netherlands 4.0Philippines, China, Poland, Lithuania, Bosnia, Italy, Switzerland,...

26 Subic residents displaced by Hanjin ask court for help.
November 17, 2008... CITY OF SAN FERNANDOAT LEAST 26 residents displaced from their lands in Subic, Zambales, have asked a court to order the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Korean-owned Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., to...

Tacloban plebiscite set Dec. 18.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas TACLOBAN CITYThe Commission on Elections has set for Dec. 18 the holding of a plebiscite to decide on whether Tacloban should be reclassified from a component city into a highly urbanized one. ...

Tams gain crossover games.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Cedelf P. Tupas FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY HAMMERED out a tight 77-71 victory over Xavier U Saturday night to advance to the crossover semifinals as the No. 1 team from group A of the Philippine Collegiate Championship Mindanao...

Tan lawyers want to speed up 21-yr-old case.
November 17, 2008... DEFENSE LAWyers have asked the Sandiganbayan to schedule more trial dates to speed up the 21-year-old graft case against tycoon Lucio Tan, claiming that the unavailability of a special counsel of the Presidential Commission on Good Government...

Tananta tops Holcim tilt.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Marc Anthony Reyes SIZE DOESNT MATTER. At 5-foot flat, Lavinia Tananta of Indonesia took small, brisk steps to chase shots. Her forehands lacked fury. And her reach was shorter than the round and sturdy arms of her compatriot...

Palace wants more feel-good stories in media.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Christian V. Esguerra MORE FEEL-GOOD STORIES, please. Malacanang wants the local media to play up more positive stories about President Macapagal-Arroyo, who has received a battering in recent public approval and public trust...

ADB assures RP of assistance.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Michelle V. Remo THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAID IT was willing to provide financial assistance to the Philippines if the credit crunch being experienced in advanced economies would spill over to the domestic financial system. ...

Benpres posted net loss of P841M in 9 months.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Elizabeth S. Lacson BENPRES HOLDINGS CORP., THE flagship firm of the Lopez group for its investments in television, power distribution and power generation, reported a net loss of P841 million in the first nine months from a net...

Bidding for 2 Napocor plants fails.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Abigail L. Ho POWER SECTOR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Management Corp. has declared a failed bidding for the 108-megawatt (MW) Aplaya and 22.3-MW General Santos decommissioned plant package. A person familiar with the matter said...

BOP surplus seen wiped out in 09.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Doris C. Dumlao THE PHILIPPINES MAY RUN OUT OF A BALance of payments surplus next year, for the first time since 2005, as the global downturn drives more funds out of emerging markets, the International Monetary Fund said. In...

British firm to invest $200M in biomass projects in RP.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Abigail L. Ho BRITISH FIRM GREEN POWER PLC CORP. has committed to infuse $200 million into five biomass projects that can generate an additional 87.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity. David de Montaigne, GGPC founder and chief...

BSP seen keeping rates unchanged.
November 17, 2008... THE BANGKO SENtral ng Pilipinas is widely expected to keep its key interest rates steady during its policy rate-setting meeting this Thursday to avoid stoking inflation after the recent 2-percentage point cut in the reserve requirement,...

6 local banks vie for Philam savings bank.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Doris C. Dumlao SIX LOCAL BANKS, INCLUDing those owned by taipans Henry Sy, John Gokongwei and Andrew Gotianiun, are in the short list of bidders for AIGs consumer banking arm Philam Savings Bank and auto financing company...

The buzz about Bohol Bee Farm.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Rita Festin, Contributor PANGLAO, BOHOLIN THIS PROVINCE, The Buzz is not a showbiz-oriented show but a souvenir store, which sells various byproducts from Bohol Bee Farms organic garden. The Buzz is in the farm and has a...

Pricey coffee helps put Mindanao kids in school.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Daxim L. Lucas WHEN STARBUCKS FIRST LANDED on local shores a little over a decade ago, its outlets were hangouts for the sosyal crowd of all ages. At the outset, many people would frequent its outlets to see and be seen,...

Doing twice as much for half the credit.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Riza T. Olchondra AMADOU DIALLO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE officer of DHL Global Forwarding for South Asia Pacific, is based at the regional headquarters in Singapore. But his heart, truth be told, is still in Senegal. Shuttling...

DOST advocates technological interventions to boost SMEs.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon OLONGAPO CITYTHE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology has started applying technology to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost their production and expand their business. The DOST...

Easycall raising funds for projects.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Riza T. Olchondra PUBLICLY LISTED EASYCALL COMMUNIcations Philippines Inc. seeks to raise P11.5 million for its proposed wireless broadband network targeted at medical and educational institutions nationwide. Easycall, a...

Fil-Estate defers joint venture.
November 17, 2008... FIL-ESTATE LAND Inc. said tough times have prompted it to put on hold for now a P2-billion resort community joint venture with office landlord Megaworld Corp. However, Fil-Estate chair Robert John Sobrepena said the property company...

FLI profit down 11.9% in 9 mos.
November 17, 2008... FILINVEST LAND INC., THE PROPERTY arm of the Gotianun family, said its net income slid 11.9 percent to P1.15 billion in the first nine months, from P1.3 billion in the same period last year. In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the...

Infra, services, food top crisis investment picks.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Daxim L. Lucas INVESTORS WITH STRONG RISK APPETITE should look out for opportunities in sectors that are expected to weather the earliest what is being touted as the most severe economic downturn in the last 80 years. In...

A new concept of entrepreneurship.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Niceto S. Poblador ENTREPRENEURSHIP HAS long been regarded as an essential ingredient of economic development, especially in emerging markets. I fully agree. This observation is especially true in todays innovation-driven new...

NFA should stay out of rice marketing, says IMF.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Amy R. Remo THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY Fund has urged the Philippine government to take out the market operations function of the National Food Authority as this only distorts market prices, said Agriculture Secretary Arthur C....

Clean air and livable cities.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Cielito F. Habito IF THE LAW REQUIRES CIGARETTE PACKS to prominently indicate that cigarette smoking harms ones health, shouldnt we have billboards all over the city warning us likewise that breathing Metro Manilas air endangers...

RFM net profit up 6.8% to P158.9M.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson RFM CORP. MANAGED TO POST a 6.8-percent net income growth for the first nine months to P158.9 million from P148.8 million during the same period last year. In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock...

Security Bank posts 9-mo. profit of P1.72B.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Doris C. Dumlao SECURITY BANK CHALKED UP a net income of P1.72 billion in the first nine months, 6 percent lower than a year ago, amid a turbulent global environment. The decline in profit growth, however, was more modest...

Singer lands dream gig after two decades.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Tina Arceo-Dumlao IT WAS DURING A 1984 singing stint at the Calesa Bar of the Hyatt hotel when jazz singer Richard Merk first thought of having his own bar and bistro. Merk saw then how music fans lined up just to get a table...

Sons carry on fathers dream of a forest.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon BAY, LAGUNATHE FOREST CLUB eco-resort here, located at about 65 kilometers or about 30 minutes from the Calamba Exit of the South Luzon Expressway, resembles a patch of forest at the foot of...

Special funds abolition sought.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Michelle V. Remo LEGISLATORS AND ECONOMIC MANagers are looking at the abolition of the so-called special funds so that all tax payments collected by the government would go only to the general appropriations fund. Special...

This one aint feeling the pinch.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Tina Arceo-Dumlao ONE SECTOR THAT IS NOT FEELING AS pessimistic about its growth prospects over the next few years as the banks and real estate companies is the business process outsourcing industry. Industry players believe...

Transco franchise bill seen signed soon.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Abigail L. Ho THE CONGRESSIONAL FRANchise for the operation, maintenance and expansion of the countrys electricity superhighway is expected to be signed soon, as the National Transmission Corp. Franchise Bill is now up for third...

Why youth entrepreneurship matters.
November 17, 2008... Byline: Carl Schramm, Contributor IT IS easy to belittle the no-tion of youth entrepreneurship. To quite a few people, the notion itself still evokes images of lemonade stands, which children set up in their neighborhoodoften at their...