Philippine stock market, peso to outperform SEA neighbors in 2012

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch sees the Philippine stock market and the peso outperforming all other ASEAN countries in 2012 as investors favor the country’s growth trajectory, supported mainly by domestic consumption.

“Indonesia and the Philippines have very strong domestic consumption so it’s a multi-year story. It’s a favorite area. How long it will last – there would be probably a rotation. Previous analyses show that every time developed markets are weak, ASEAN especially – those with strong domestic consumption – will outperform,” Victoria Ip, Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific chief investment strategist, said in a briefing on Friday.

This year, Merrill Lynch has seen funds flowing out of Asia, especially from North Asia, since the region is more liquid than Europe and North America. Investors are also concerned about China’s slowing economy.

“But when the developed markets get relief on the macro side, and the valuation is cheap, ASEAN countries will underperform,” Ip said.

Record peso gain, market high

On Tuesday, the peso hit a four-year high of P41.72 against the dollar. Analysts saw this as unusual in a period traditionally seen as an imports season, when businesses withdraw huge volumes of foreign currency to stock up on raw materials.

The BSP said the peso’s strength was brought about by the interest of foreign investors in the Philippines’ fiscal position and growth story, in contrast to more developed countries’ debt-ridden situation.

Along with the peso, the Philippine Stock Exchange’s main index hit another all-time high of 5,369.98, erasing the record level reached on Tuesday.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Amando Tetangco Jr. had told reporters this week that they haven’t seen any asset bubble yet. They will, however, guard the peso from speculation by tweaking rules on non-deliverable forwards and special deposit accounts, which are possible entry points for speculators.

“I think the Philippines is the one country that is very fortunate to see its currency move up,” said Merrill Lynch’s Ip. “Actually if you think about other ASEAN countries like Indonesia earlier, a month or so ago, they are thinking about [instituting] measures to keep money from moving out.”

“What has happened is that they have very high foreign ownership in their bond market and because there is a concern that there would be a reduction of [government] subsidies and inflation would be going up, people are selling their bonds. Market is taking out money from Asia,” she added.

PH will stand out

That said, the Philippines will “stand out” since other currencies of other ASEAN countries would weaken against the US dollar, Ip said, as they stimulate their economies in the face of a slowdown in global trade. These could be achieved through interest rate cuts by their respective central banks; their hands are no longer tied since inflation pressure has eased with dropping prices. Given such actions from the likes of China, Indonesia, India and other Asian countries, currencies in the region would then weaken against the US dollar.

For the Philippines, however, Ip sees the peso firming up against the greenback, to hover around P42 from last year’s P43.3, based on BSP figures.

Except for tweaking rules on NDFs and SDAs to block potential avenues for speculators, Philippine monetary authorities would not make administrative interventions that would control capital inflows because of the relatively stable macroeconomic environment, Tetangco had said.

Johannes Jooste, Merrill Lynch chief investment office director, said their euro-based clients are looking to diversify their holdings to include good quality, non-dollar assets from emerging markets such as the Philippines.

“Capital controls would send negative signals to investors. It might be a short-term fix for certain issues,” he said. He added that it is not a smart move since these portfolio investments might suddenly leave the country when Europe and the US start showing signs of stability.

Policy rates seen steady

For the rest of the year, Merrill Lynch sees that the BSP will keep its policy rates steady despite the easing inflation as it hiked its gross domestic product growth from 4.4 percent to 5.6 percent. For 2013, the investment bank trimmed its forecast from 5.9 percent to 5.7 percent on weaker exports outlook and higher imports to fuel a faster economic growth.

There is enough surplus capacity in banking and properties to accomodate this stronger demand and capital expenditures by water utilities and telecommunications will be apace with GDP growth.

“The main areas we believe where dependable supply is lacking are the power and transportation sectors. Note that the strong 1Q12 GDP growth rate was achieved despite the absence of public private partnership (PPP) projects. The private sector is already addressing gaps in power, and the growth outlook may improve further if PPPs materialize, particularly in transport,” Merrill Lynch said in its mid-year research note.

(Story courtesy of Likha Cuevas-Miel, InterAksyon.com)

Philippines’ Ariara Island is Top 1 in British Vogue’s 100 Best Holiday Destinations!

A July 16, 2012 press release from the Department of Tourism

Philippine tourism is poised to benefit from the worldwide recognition of Ariara Island in Calamian, Palawan for ranking first in the Top 100 holiday destinations, which will be released in Vogue-UK Magazine’s August 2012 issue.

This luxurious and spacious private getaway has attracted and welcomed a number of high-profile groups with its all-inclusive package of exclusivity, relaxation, 24-hour service, excellent cuisine, and a host of amenities both for the laidback and adventurous.  Ariara is the ultimate “off the beaten track” destination where the structures are contemporary in style and have been designed with sensitivity to the environment.

The resort website describes it to have eight spacious villas and beach cottages situated along Ariara’s 600-meter white sand beach with uninterrupted views of the sea and neighbouring islands. All bedrooms have private terraces and gardens, scattered with hanging chairs and hammocks. Many have vaulted ceilings, four poster style beds, walk-in wardrobes, enormous bathrooms, and open-air showers. Every item of furniture in Ariara has been designed, made, and upholstered in-house by local carpenters and craftsmen in the island’s own workshops or outsourced to Filipino artisans. Materials were sourced locally and all furnishings were created using traditional methods: marble bath hand carved from single blocks of Romblon marble, wooden bath made using traditional boat-building techniques, local wood and rattan, cushions made from tribal fabrics in Mindanao, and intricate wooden chests by indigenous Palawan woodcarvers. Ariara’s decorative flair is accentuated by striking wall hangings, heliographs and ceramics made by a talented Filipino artist Ugu Bigyan.

“What is remarkable is that the entire resort is a testament to the unique artistry and skills of Filipino designers and artisans. The use of local materials and traditional techniques serves as good advertising for Filipino craftsmanship and world-class products. Tourism is not just about counting tourist arrivals. More importantly, it is about building opportunities on the ground and improving lives, in communities in very real places,” beamed Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr.

“Furthermore, the resort’s properly planned development and low density shows the owners’ respect for the environment.  We want to see more of this type of investment which supports the principles of responsible, ethical, and sustainable tourism,” the Tourism Secretary added.

Prior to Vogue’s recognition, Ariara was likewise featured in various magazines in the United Kingdom. The annual travel issue of Times Magazine hailed it as the “Best Private Island Resort” and described as “a Philippine island of such prettiness that you almost expect Johnny Depp to pop out with a parrot on his shoulder” and “beyond a forest of coconut palms, ridiculously blue water stretches out to a techno-colored reef, where pink, fluffy, Barbra Cartland-esque corals and rainbow-hued creatures waft in the tropical current.”

In Independent‘s “Life’s a Tag: 2012′s Most Surprising Holiday Destinations”, Ariara was listed as one of the best islands to visit this year. Black Tomato, on the other hand, hailed the island resort as “the” place to visit in 2012 in the Evening Standard.  Other illustrious UK magazines which featured the private island destination are Angels and Urchins, Harrods Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The Spectator, Wine and Dine, Urbanollogy,and Tatler.

Roxanne, a British guest, had this to say about her group’s experience: “We had to pinch ourselves to be sure that the unique mixture of stunning beauty, cosseting luxury, and peace from anyone’s agenda other than our own wrapped in the friendliest of support teams were all real. With all our varied needs, tastes, and energy levels, every member of the family felt it was the most exciting, stimulating, restful, cleansing, and privileged break they had ever experienced.”

UK remains to be a key generator of tourist arrivals to the Philippines. The UK market grew stronger in 2011 and registered 104,466 year-end tourist arrivals—a first in its history to yield over 100,000. January to May 2012 statistics also attest to the market’s continued growth as it yielded 50,327 tourist arrivals rising one notch higher from its previous 10^th place. The market’s performance is expected to be better with heightened awareness and current promotional efforts in UK via London taxicabs, double-decker buses, and posters in strategic places at the underground rail stations in time for the Queen’s Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.

To learn more about Ariara, log on to www.ariaraisland.com.

VIDEOS: Nicki Minaj LIVE in MANILA (Pink Friday Tour) Performances

Last July 11, 2012 at the MOA Arena, Nicki Minaj performed for her loyal Filipino Fans for her Pink Friday Tour. The sold-out concert was indeed a success with an estimated crowd of at least 20,000. And Nicki obviously had a great time performing for the Filipinos.

Here are Nicki Minaj’s tweet right after her concert at the MOA Arena:

I think manila had the loudest encore screams I've ever heard! "WE WANT MORE, WE WANT MORE!!!!" So I ran bak out in my new pink robe! Ha!

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 11, 2012

Manila, I can't thank u enough for tonight! You guys were absolutely incredible. Best night ever! Thank u! Speechless...

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 11, 2012

Below are performance videos from Nicki Minaj LIVE IN MANILA (Pink Friday Tour):

Photo credit: Pusangkalye.net

Häagen-Dazs is closing down in PH

As announced in the Häagen-Dazs Philippines website, the ice cream brand is closing down its operations in the country. The Häagen-Dazs outlets at the SM Mall of Asia and Robimsons Place Manila both closed shop on June 30. The Shangri-la Plaza Mall and Eastwood Mall branches are set to close on August 31, 2012.

Photo credit: manilafoodistas

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“Survivor: Philippines” (Survivor USA Season 25) Premieres Sept. 19!

The 25th season of the original reality series “Survivor” (US) will feature the beautiful Caramoan Islands of the Philippines as its setting.

Survivor: Philippines is the twenty-fifth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, which is set to premiere on September 19, 2012.

According to a press release by CBS, this season will feature several new castaways competing with three returning castaways who were removed from their previous seasons due to illness or injury. It will be the first season since Survivor: All-Stars to begin with exactly three tribes and the seventh season overall to feature returning castaways.

The trailer for the 25th season “Survivor” says the Philippines is “its most treacherous location yet!”

So where in the Philippines? It’s in the beautiful Caramoan Islands in the southern part of Luzon.

We at PinoyPundit were the first to reveal to you last March that Philippines was indeed the chosen location for the latest season of Survivor USA.

Watch the official trailer here:

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‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Grosses P271.54-M in PHL in 10 Days

Comic book hero Peter Parker triumphantly returned to Philippine cinemas, re-igniting the Spider-Man film franchise with a ten-day nationwide gross of a staggering P271.54-million for “The Amazing Spider-Man.” This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of film distributor Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Topping the local box-office for two weeks in a row, the “Spider-Man” reboot is now the second-highest grossing movie of the year, and on track to become one of the most successful titles of all-time.

In the US, the brand new “Spider-Man” spun itself a $65 million opening weekend and $140 million in its first six days at theaters, July 3 to 8. Overseas, it added $129.1 million, raising its international total to $201.6 million and worldwide haul to $341.2 million since it began rolling out a week earlier in some foreign markets.

Back in the Philippines, “Amazing” opened June 29 with the biggest rollout ever in the industry: 530 cinemas, including 90 Digital 3D and 4 IMAX 3D screens. SM Mall of Asia registered the highest box-office receipts with P21.58-M, followed by SM North EDSA with P16.81-M, and Trinoma at P13.70-M.

Other top-performing screens are SM Megamall (P10.08-M), Glorietta 4 (P8.74-M), SM Cebu (P7.36-M), Greenbelt 3 (P6.32-M), SM Southmall (P6.21-M), Power Plant (P6.19M) and Eastwood (P6.05-M).

Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Alabang Town Center (P5.92-M), Gateway (P5.79-M), SM Fairview (P5.64-M), Newport (P5.34-M), Robinsons Ermita (P4.97-M), SM San Lazaro (P4.68-M), Shangri-la (P4.49-M), Market! Market! (P4.28-M), Greenhills (P4.25-M) and Robinsons Galleria (P4.02-M).

One of the world’s most beloved characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to OsCorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

Now playing across the Philippines in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Today Show Names Boracay, Philippines as World’s Best Island!

NBC’s Daily morning talk show, The Today Show, just named Boracay as the their No. 1 World’s Best Island. This list was from a survey featured on Travel and Leisure Magazine. Boracay beats out the beaches and islands of Bali, Thailand, and the Caribbean. This will certainly boost the flock of foreign tourists to our lovely islands!

Philippines’ Lolong Now Officially The Largest Croc In Captivity – Guinness

A crocodile blamed for deadly attacks in the southern Philippines has been confirmed as the biggest in captivity.

The saltwater crocodile, named Lolong, was caught last September in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province. It measures 6.17 metres (20.24 ft) and weighs more than a ton, said a Guinness World Records spokeswoman, Anne-Lise Rouse. The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile named Cassius, which measured 5.48 metres.

The hunt for Lolong began after a girl was killed and a fisherman went missing, both cases claiming Lolong as the main suspect.

The animal has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research centre in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists since news of its capture spread. Elorde said the town had made 3m pesos (₱3,000,597 (£46,000)) from entrance fees, most of which was being used to feed and care for the crocodile and for park maintenance.

Lolong was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt, after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area, officials said.

About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane on to a truck. It was named after a government official who died from a heart attack after travelling to Bunawan to help capture the animal, Elorde said.

He claimed to have seen a larger crocodile escape where Lolong was captured, and villagers remain wary of fishing in Bunawan at night. He said he has a new team of hunters and would seek government permission to start looking for the reptile.

The environment and natural resources secretary, Ramon Paje, welcomed the Guinness announcement and the growing attention being given to the crocodile, saying it would help promote the biodiversity of the area and the need to protect it.

Less Pinoys see themselves poor

The number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor decreased to 10.3 million households in the second quarter of 2012, based on the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

During the May 24 to 27 survey period, SWS found that 51 percent or about 10.3 million families rated themselves as poor, down from 55 percent or 11.1 million households in March.

The nationwide survey, first published on BusinessWorld, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 respondents.

The respondents were asked: "Where would you place your family in this card?" A card with words "not poor," "on the line," and "poor" were shown to the respondents.

Self-rated poverty is highest in Mindanao with 65 percent, followed by Visayas (57 percent), rest of Luzon (43 percent), and 41 percent in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the survey found that self-rated poverty is higher in the rural areas (61 percent) than in the urban areas (42 percent).

It also found that self-rated food poverty or those who said they are food-poor decreased from 45 to 39 percent (9.1 million families to 7.9 million families).

For self-rated food poverty, the respondents were asked: "Tungkol naman sa klase ng pagkain ng pamilya ninyo, saan po ninyo ilalagay ang inyong pamilya sa kard na ito?" ("Based on the type of food eaten by your family, where would you place your family on this card?") A similar showcard with the choices 'hindi mahirap' (not poor), "sa linya" (on the line), "mahirap" (poor) was shown to the respondent.

Self-rated food poverty is highest in Mindanao with 53 percent, followed by 46 percent in the Visayas, 32 percent in the rest of Luzon and 25 percent in Metro Manila

The median poverty threshold for poor families in Metro Manila increased from P12,000 to P15,000, and in the Visayas and Mindanao to P10,000 (from P8,000 and P7,000, respectively).

Meanwhile, the amount declined from P 10,000 to P9,000 in the rest of Luzon.

It also showed that median food-poverty thresholds increased to P7,000 from P6,500 in Metro Manila and to P5,000 in Mindanao and the Visayas from P4,000 and P4,500, respectively.

However, it decreased to P4,500 from P5,000 in the rest of Luzon.

Source | Photo Credit

Ford PH set to shut down Laguna factory by end of 2012

Ford Motor Co. Philippines will close down its Sta. Rosa, Laguna factory by the end of the year.

The company said the closure stems from the country's small automotive market and the global phase-out of the US carmaker's remaining Philippine-assembled model, the Ford Escape SUV.

“Today we announced that our Santa Rosa manufacturing operations in the Philippines will close at the end of this year. The plant closure is part of the restructuring of our regional manufacturing operations to improve efficiencies and costs, and better leverage economies of scale. During a lengthy and extensive assessment, Ford looked at every possible opportunity and scenario to bring a new product program to the Philippines, but ultimately we could not build a strong enough business case,” the company said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Located at the Greenfield Automotive Park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Ford's $270-million factory can assemble 36,000 vehicles a year, across four different vehicle platforms. Besides the Escape, the Laguna plant used to assemble the Ford Lynx sedan, Ford Ranger, Mazda Tribute SUV, Mazda3 sedan and Ford Focus.

The factory employs 360 people, but its closure would displace 250, with the remaining 110 to stay on and support sales and marketing.

During a briefing, Peter Fleet, Ford Motor Co. Asean president, said management will sit down with the affected employees to have "personal conversations" so that they would be able to get an idea as to what the workers' options are.

"Clearly we will have a redundancy program for our employees but we will continue to have a sizeable national sales company in the Philippine, which will continue to offer employment. We clearly have opportunities with our dealers too, where we are growing our dealer network, doubling it by 2015,” he said.

Ford was the only participant in the Philippine government's auto export program, having shipped 80,000 units worth more than $1 billion since 2002. Besides the Escape, the company had shipped the Focus and Mazda3 models to other Asean countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The company ended local assembly of the Ranger in December 2002, followed by the Tribute in November 2009, the Mazda3 in January 2012 and the Focus this month.

Edward Krieger, Ford Philippines chief, had said the cost of building and shipping out a Focus from the Philippines was $1,500 more expensive than in Thailand. This gap was "too big" to justify the export of the model, he said.

The $400-per-unit fiscal incentive the Philippine government gave to the company expired two years ago. The company asked the Aquino administration to reinstate this fiscal perk to keep local production of the Escape to no avail.

Ford was one of the local car assemblers that had lobbied for a new motor vehicle development program, aimed at sustaining domestic manufacturing. The Aquino administration however had opted not to pursue the program.

Ford's domestic sales fell to 675 units last month from 677 in April. Domestic sales were driver by the Ford Fiesta and Ford Explorer, both completely built up units imported from other markets. The company also imports CBUs of the Everest, Ranger, Expedition, and Chateau Wagon models.

“Although we are closing the Santa Rosa manufacturing facility, Ford remains absolutely committed to the Philippines. Our national sales company (Ford Group Philippines) will continue to support the marketing, sales and service of Ford vehicles through our growing nationwide network of authorized Ford dealers,” the company said.

“Ford is poised for continued growth in the Philippines, supported by the introduction of eight all-new One Ford vehicles by mid-decade, including all-new Ranger and all-new Focus, as well as the Ford Mustang this year. We are also planning the continued expansion of our authorized Ford dealer network, which will include opening 12 new dealerships this year and doubling the network by 2015,” the company added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/35921/ford-to-shut-down-philippine-assembly-operationsSource

Philippine Delegation to the 2012 London Olympic Games Ready to Bring Home the Victory!

"Laban Atletang Pinoy!" Philippine Delegation to the 2012 London Olympic Games Ready to Bring Home the Victory

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), with the help of Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines, kicks off the journey of the country’s contingent to the London 2012 Olympic Games with warm wishes and inspirational messages at the Grand Send-off ceremony held at The Blue Leaf on the 25th of June, 2012.

With the valuable support of Olympic partners ICTSI, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Mizuno and Samsonite, as well as backing from Petron, Smart Sports, PRC, SportsCore and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the event contributed greatly to the motivation and excitement of the athletes who were grateful for the encouragement.

Gracing the event were top sports officials from the POC and PSC, NSA presidents, past Olympians, coaches, athletes’ family members and sponsors of the Philippine delegation, brought together by their desire to support the country’s finest athletes as they compete in the world’s most prestigious athletic competition.

“The most important thing is for our athletes to do their best and show the heart and determination that is present in every Filipino. Our focus is to show the world that we have the makings of champions and that we are unyielding and steadfast in achieving our goals.” said Mr. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, President of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Among the Olympians present were boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, runner Rene Herrera, long-jumper Marestella Torres, swimmers Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi, shooter Paul Brian Rosario and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

The other members of the 2012 Philippine Olympic Team who were not present because they are training outside the country are cyclist Daniel Manabat Caluag (currently in the US) and Judo athlete Tomohiko Aldaba Hoshina (currently in Japan).

Their moms were, the greatest cheerleaders of the Olympians as they pursued their dreams of Olympic gold. Yet the day’s event went beyond honoring the Olympic delegates as it also recognized the loving mothers behind these athletes’ success.

“P&G’s mission is touching and improving all people’s lives – and what better way to do this during the Olympic year than to honor mothers, who were the very first to see the heroes and champions in our athletes and in all of us, whose love and support helped us to believe in ourselves and our dreams,” explained Mr. Chad Sotelo, P&G Country Marketing Manager.

With this goal in mind, P&G launched its “Thank you Mom” campaign, which seeks to inspire everyone to pay tribute to their own moms and acknowledge the many sacrifices they’ve made to help us become who we are today.

“To our athletes, we wish you the best of luck in the 2012 London Games. In our eyes, you are already winners and we are sure that you will make the country proud,” Sotelo said.

“And to their moms and all Filipino moms, thank you for the love and sacrifice you’ve shown daily that helped create these world-class athletes, and that helped raise everyday heroes. P&G continues to be one with you in your effort to provide the best for your children and your families.”

Philippines rank 133 of 153 in terms of ‘Peacefulness’

Vision of Humanity has just released their Global Peace Index for 2012. The Global Peace Index (GPI) is an attempt to measure the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness. It is claimed to be the first study to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness. It ranks 153 countries .

Out of the 153 countries ranked, the Philippines ranked poorly at 133.

CLICK HERE to see the full list.

What do you guys think? Should the government exert more effort in keeping peace in the country? Share your thoughts below.

VIDEO: Better & Longer “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” TV ad out on the Internet

There’s really no denying on the viral success of DOT’s newest tourism campaign, It’s More Fun in The Philippines which was launched earlier this year replacing the very controversial “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan.

An international TVC was launched at the end of April this year on CNN for this said campaign but many felt it was too short and lacking.

Now a better and longer video has been put up on Facebook and YouTube and has been getting great feedback from the public. Still there are no words from DOT if this particular video is an official ad from them. Nevertheless, this is much better and should replace the shorter international ad that was launched earlier.

5 PH schools in Asia’s top 300 universities!

Five tertiary schools made it in the Top 300 Asian Universities list of education and career network Quacquarelli Symonds.

State-run University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City remains the country’s top school, ranking 68th in Asia.

UP is followed by private schools Ateneo de Manila University (86th), De La Salle University (142nd) and University of Santo Tomas (148th).

University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City, a newcomer, made it to the 251-300 bracket.

Slipping in Asian rankings

All four Philippine schools slipped in the Asian University rankings this year.

In 2011, UP ranked 62nd in Asia, while Ateneo closely followed at the 65th spot.

UST and La Salle ranked 104th and 107th last year, respectively.

HK, S. Korea dominate list

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is the top Asian University for the second consecutive year, according to QS.

National University Singapore ranked second, while University of Hong Kong slipped to third place.

The rest of the Top 10 Asian universities are as follows: Seoul National University (South Korea), Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Peking University (China), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (South Korea), University of Tokyo (Japan), Pohang University of Science and Technology (South Korea), and Kyoto University (Japan).

"Based very loosely on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in the US, but operated on a much simpler basis, these classifications take into account three key aspects of each university to assign their label: SIZE, FOCUS, RESEARCH INTENSITY, AGE," QS said on its website.

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Philippines is the world’s best country in business English proficiency!

Well, people will now have to think twice before mocking Pinoys' use of the English language.
 

The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.
 
GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.
 
For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."
 
“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.
 
The Philippines, which scored 7.11 and the lone country in the intermediate level, were joined by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19) in the top five.
 
GlobalEnglish noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success.
 
“It is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank,” it added.
 
Meanwhile, struggling economic powers (Japan, Italy and Mexico) and fast-growth emerging markets (Brazil, Columbia and Chile) scored below a 4.0 in business English proficiency, placing them at a disadvantage when competing in a global marketplace, the study said.
 
It also pointed out that shifts in global talent have put even English-speaking countries at risk.
 
“Surprisingly the BEI score for global workers in the U.S. declined from 6.9 to 5.09 since the original 2011 BEI benchmark, which is attributed to a majority of test takers being foreign-born engineers and scientists,” the report said.
 
Rest of the world ranked beginner and basic level

Based on a scale of 1-10, the average 2012 BEI score across 108,000 test takers around the world is 4.15 which is lower than last year’s 4.46.
 
Nearly four out of 10 (38.2 percent) global workers from 76 countries were ranked as business English beginners, meaning that, on average, they can’t understand or communicate basic information during virtual or in-person meetings, read or write professional emails in English or deal with complexity and rapid change in a global business environment, the study said.
 
Meanwhile, the majority of global workers (60.5 percent) from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, below an intermediate level, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions or perform relatively complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations, it added.
 
GlobalEnglish stressed that the 2012 BEI which showed a lack of business English proficiency is threatening the productivity of companies, industries and country-specific economies this year.
 
“Poor Business English skills are bad for global businesses and this year’s Business English Index suggests that many companies will be hard-pressed to achieve their desired performance goals during 2012,” said Tom Kahl, GlobalEnglish President.
 
“Addressing English skills gaps and ensuring that employees can immediately perform at the necessary proficiency level should be viewed as a strategic imperative for multinational businesses, as Enterprise Fluency, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate within global organizations, can deliver significant financial upside,” Kahl added.
 
Headquartered in Brisbane, California, GlobalEnglish works with multinational companies – including Cisco, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Phzer – to support performance in business English across the workforce around the world.

Here's the list of the 10 best and worst countries in the world for business English proficiency based on GlobalEnglish's 2012 BEI:

10 Best Countries:

Philippines
Norway
Serbia
Slovenia
Australia
Malaysia
India
Lithuania
Singapore
Canada

10 Worst Countries:

Armenia
Cote d'Ivoire
Taiwan
Honduras
Columbia
Chile
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Philippines grows 6.4% in first quarter, second fastest after China!

The Philippine economy grew sharply in the first quarter of the year, creating 1.1 million jobs and making it Asia's second fastest-growing economy after China.

The National Statistical Coordination Board on Thursday reported that the Philippines' gross domestic product grew by 6.4 percent in the January to March period, from the revised 4.9 percent expansion in the same period last year.

In a briefing, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the first-quarter growth is well above the market's consensus forecast of 4.8 percent, and the fastest in Asia except China, which expanded by 8.1 percent.

Within Asean, the Philippines' economic performance was above the region's average of 3.7 percent, growing faster than Indonesia (6.3 percent), Vietnam (four percent), Singapore (1.6 percent) and Thailand (0.3 percent).

Growth in other Asian countries likewise was slower: India (5.3 percent), Hong Kong (0.4 percent), Republic of Korea (2.8 percent), and Japan (2.8 percent).

In a research note, HSBC said growth "in most Asian countries grinded to a halt in the first quarter."

"But in the Philippines, the first quarter showed another strong uptick. This reflects policy makers' preparedness for anticipated weaker external demand in 2012, prompting them to boost domestic spending through fiscal and other policy measures," the bank said.

"Broad-based"

Balisacan said the first-quarter expansion was "broad-based," citing "services and industry sectors on the supply side and by net exports, household final consumption expenditure, and government consumption on the demand side."

Romulo Virola, NSCB secretary general, said the above-expectations growth benefited from benign inflation and drew from the revitalized services sector, particularly trade and other services.

Services expanded by 8.5 percent in the first quarter from 3.6 percent in the same period last year, while the industry sector rose 4.9 percent and agriculture, one percent.

"It also got a big boost from manufacturing which has recovered some ground that got eroded during the third quarter and fourth quarter," Virola said.

On the demand side, net exports - exports less imports - led growth at 5.2 percent, followed by consumer spending at 4.6 percent. Government spending, which increased 24 percent, contributed 2.3 percent to overall growth.

"Given the preliminary first quarter 2012 estimate, we expect that the full year 2012 real GDP growth rate projection of five to six percent is well within reach, or may even exceed it," Balisacan said, adding that growth generated 1.101 million jobs.

He said there is more room for government spending to increase, citing the potential contribution of public-private partnership projects.

Barclays Research said it was increasing its growth forecast for the Philippines.

"Given the strong first quarter GDP print and taking into account increased risks to global growth, we are raising our 2012 GDP growth forecast to 5.5 percent from 4.2 percent," Barclays said.

Highest in non-election year

Abigail Valte, Malacanang deputy spokesperson, said the country's first-quarter growth is also the highest in a non-election year since 2006.

"The first quarter GDP figure validates the optimistic outlook of the President and his economic team," she said.

"We are confident that the positive trajectory of our GDP will be sustained in the latter quarters of the year, which have traditionally shown more robust and dynamic economic performance," she added.

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TRAILER: New ‘Bourne Legacy’ Trailer features scenes from Manila!

A new trailer for the ‘Bourne Legacy’ movie just came out and the scenes that were shot in Manila were featured.  This is the first official full-length trailer for the new Bourne film.

The fourth movie based on Robert Ludlum's novels (though it's not taken from the book called "The Bourne Legacy") stars Jeremy Renner ("The Avengers") as Aaron Cross (or Kenneth Gidson), an operative whose skill set is described in the trailer as "Treadstone without the inconsistency." The movie picks up after the events of "The Bourne Ultimatum," with several actors, including Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Albert Finney, reprising their roles.

First-time "Bourne" director Tony Gilroy (he wrote or co-wrote the first three movies) doesn't skimp on the franchise's action sequences: There's a knockout motorcycle chase featured about two-thirds of the way through the trailer, and the stunt work looks pretty fantastic. The trailer doesn't do much to clarify the plot, but it's apparently still very much about Jason Bourne. The CIA is still looking for him, and everyone freaks out when word leaks that he's made his way to New York (you'll even see Damon's face in a news broadcast at the 1:12 mark).

"The Bourne Legacy" also stars Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton. It hits theaters Aug. 3.
What do you think of the trailer?

VIDEO: DOT Launches #itsMoreFunInThePhilippines International TVC on CNN!

The Department of Tourism has just launched a short TVC for the International viewers on CNN earlier today. The short video was a collection of It’s more Fun in the Philippines memes that the FIlipinos have come up with. The Music was by Duck Sauce's 'Barbra Streissand' and it was rapped by one very proud pinoy, International singer apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.

Watch the video below.

New purple crab species found in Palawan, Philippines!

Four new species of freshwater crab, bright purple in color, have been discovered in the biologically diverse Philippines, according to a scientific paper.

The tiny crustaceans were found in streams in remote areas of the Palawan island group, according to a team led by Hendrik Freitag, of Germany’s Senckenberg Museum of Zoology.

“They are semi-aquatic and hide in burrows at the stream bank, which are usually found under boulders and roots,” said his paper published in the latest edition of the National University of Singapore’s Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

Their eggs hatch directly into juvenile crabs, and the creatures emerge at night to forage under water, Freitag added.

Photographs of the adult crabs published on the website of Dresden-based Senckenberg museum showed them with a purple carapace, and with claws and legs tipped red.

Scientists began extensive investigations of similar freshwater crabs in the area in the late 1980s, with one new species being found — the Insulamon unicorn — Freitag’s paper said.

More field work in the noughties led Freitag to conclude there were four other unique species.

“Based on available new material, a total of five species are recognized… four of which are new to science,” Freitag said.

The biggest, Insulamon magnum, is just 53 millimeters by 41.8 millimeters while the smallest, Insulamon porculum, measures 33.1 by 25.1 millimeters.

The two other new species were Insulamon palawense and Insulamon johannchristiani.

The four slightly differ from the first find, and from each other, in the shapes of their body shells, legs, and sex organs.

US-based Conservation International lists the Philippines as one of 17 countries that harbors most of Earth’s plant and animal life.

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Philippine Disneyland: Disneyland in Clark, Pampanga soon?

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga - First District Rep. Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin has written Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company based in Burbank, California, USA, to ask him to consider Clark for their next Walt Disney park, saying that Clark's 4,400 hectare main zone and 27,600-hectare subzone will be the best place for a new Disneyland.
"Aside from the huge space it provides, the Clark Freeport Zone can be an attractive destination for Disneyland theme park because of the tax-free privileges given to locators," said Lazatin in his letter dated April 11.
Lazatin also cited Clark International Airport, world-class airport which is expected to serve at least P1.6-million passengers this year.
"The airport will be making it easier for tourists to enjoy the amenities and entertainment Disneyland is famous for without the hassles of long travels," he said.
Lazatin also told Iger that hotel accommodations will not be a problem as Clark has the best hotels in its roster where visitors can enjoy the hospitality Filipinos are known for.
The lawmaker said the Philippines is a favorite tourist destination in Southeast Asia, with an average arrival of four million foreign visitors a year and for 2012, the government is eyeing to hit the 5-million mark.
"Together with our population of more than 90 million Filipinos, a Disneyland theme park in the Philippines could be a major income generating site for your company," he said.
Disneyland theme parks are the highest-earning theme parks in the world.
In 2009, the company's theme parks hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, making Disney Parks the world's most visited theme park company, ahead of the second most visited, British rival Merlin Entertainments.
In Asia, Disneyland theme parks are located in Hong Kong, Tokyo (Japan), and Shanghai (China).
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