Repost: Philippines won't be cast as sick man of Asia if Aquino has his way

It is often a fool’s errand to predict turning points in the more erratic Asian economies. Nowhere is that truer than the Philippines, whose greatest consistency seems to be disappointing the optimists.


Source: smh.com.au

From Roaste.com: THE PHILIPPINES SEEKS TO REGAIN TOP COFFEE RANKING

Twenty years ago the Philippines ranked third in world coffee production. Currently they sit at 76th in rank, quite a big slippage. The government is responding and seeks to hang a national economic recovery on the revival of the coffee industry. Robusta and Arabica are both grown in the Philippines, along with minor amounts of Liberica and Excelsa. It is the Arabica that is receiving the most focus right now.

Reblog: More Progressive Philippines Will Be Given 'Investment Grade' Rating

The Philippines is now rated as one notch below investment grade according to Fitch, while Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s put us at two notches below. The country stands to gain tremendous economic benefits even if just one among the three credit rating agencies puts us at investment grade. For those unaware of its significance, to be classified an “investment grade economy” is tantamount to a seal of good housekeeping. It tells the investing public that the country is a safe environment to do business in, given its sound economic policies and prudent financial management. It boosts investor confidence, which in turn translates into a deluge of hard currency flowing into the system.

From the NYTimes: Philippines Overtakes India as Hub of Call Centers

NYTimes: “Many companies have moved their customer service lines to Manila to take advantage of workers who speak lightly accented English and are familiar with American culture.”

Reblog: Philippine Department of Education - What are they planning?

Worrisome: Manila Bulletin reported the following last January 24, 2012:

“The Department of Education (DepEd) has decided to drop “Science” from the roster of subjects taken up by incoming Grade 1 pupils in line with its efforts to decongest the Basic Education Curriculum and to make learning more enjoyable to young learners.” 

Reblog - Noble and Ever Loyal City: 17 Bad Habits & Attitudes of Filipinos That Need to Change

bewilderedstateofself:

1. Thoughtless
When someone celebrates birthday, graduation or winning the lotto in the neighborhood, the party lasts through deep in the night, keeping neighbors awake by the noise of an out of tune videoke singer.

2. Inconsiderate
Even after agreeing to meet…

Source: pinoy-ofw.com

Reblog - Noble and Ever Loyal City: The Manila Tranvia

theurbanhistorian:


If you have been in Hong Kong or San Francisco once, then you might have seen their own tranvias still running, enduring the test of time. Manila had a working and efficient tranvia system, I daresay more extensive than the current LRT-MRT system we have today. The…

Source: theurbanhistorian

Reblog - F. Sionil Jose on why we, Filipinos, are shallow

coffeecigarettesand-hormones:

No photoWhy we are shallow
HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose (The Philippine Star) Updated September 12, 2011 

I was visited by an old Asian friend who lived here 10 years ago. I was floored by his observation that though we have lots of talented people, as a whole, we continue to be shallow.

Recently, I was seated beside former Senator Letty

Source: philstar.com

Thinking strategically about creating jobs in the Philippines

I had just read an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The title of the article is Philippines Bureau of Immigration Promotes Indefinite Stay to Foreigners Employing Filipinos.

The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration has called on foreigners with businesses in the Philippines to employ at least 10 Filipino workers so they could avail of the special visa for employment generation (SVEG visa) that would enable them to stay indefinitely in the country.

The aim of the Bureau of Immigration is laudable. However, the Bureau has to recognize that the barriers to opening a business are low. Now-a-days, especially for start up businesses in the digital and technology fields, you need less capital and labour to start a company. As we know, the Philippines have a lot of human talent that these kind of start ups  would like to target.

Imposing a 10 Filipino worker requirement unnecessarily imposes a burden on these entrepreneurs/companies that may want to set up a start up in the Philippines. The country should encourage job creation as much as possible. 

Thus, wouldn’t it be reasonable to lower the threshold? Why not a 3 Filipino employee requirement for the SVEG instead of 10? 

It is easier to attract 1000 companies employing at least 3 Filipinos each than trying to get 300 companies with 10 Filipinos each. In the end, it is the total number of Filipinos that get employed that matters. 

Posted by: Greg Macaltao (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Some positive news on the Philippines

“A Bank of America-Merrill Lynch survey shows global fund managers have increased their “overweight” investment positions in the Philippines, making it the survey’s third-most preferred market in the world trailing only China and Indonesia. ”

Posted by: Greg Macaltao (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Recommendations for the Philippines published by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines

From the website: “Arangkada is a comprehensive menu of recommendations for the country at this important crossroads. Published in December 2010 by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines (JFC), it reflects proposals of the 2,000 foreign and domestic business members of the JFC who are prepared to invest continuously and heavily in the country and who all envision a brighter future for all Filipinos. For this to happen, however, the business climate must be constantly improved.”

Posted by: Greg Macaltao (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

First post - What we want to achieve

This is the blog’s first post. Hopefully, it will be the start of many great posts from several bloggers. And hopefully, you, as a reader, would become part of the conversation. 

This blog’s primary aim is to raise issues and questions to make you start thinking about the state of Philippine affairs. It is all about challenging conventional wisdom and helping you see things from a different and sometimes out-of-the-box perspective. Occasionally, we’ll post something less-than-serious to remind ourselves not to take things too seriously. 

We will be critical when appropriate but never negative. Many pundits on Philippine affairs have laudable aims but sometimes they seem to be very negative to the point that what they say or write has no redeeming value. It is almost as if the Philippines - its government, society, and citizens - can do no right and that everything is a lost cause. 

We forget that a constant barrage of criticism is an abuse to our national psyche akin to what an individual suffers when hearing nothing but constant criticism from family, friends and work colleagues. What is bad for that individual is certainly bad for a nation.

We’ll do our best to shine a light on important issues. Sometimes, we’ll give our honest opinions on solutions. Sometimes, we’ll simply raise or ask questions, acknowledging that we cannot provide answers. 

But if we start a conversation about issues rather than a shout fest of negativity, we think we can do our part in elevating the level of discourse in the Philippines. Hopefully. we’ll reach a tipping point where thinking Filipinos in and outside the Philippines will have an impact in steering the course of our country’s future. 

Posted by: Greg Macaltao (Vancouver, BC, Canada)