Heineken aiming for bigger Philippine market share
Dutch brewing giant Heineken International B.V. is boosting its presence in the Philippines by spending heavily on marketing to capture a bigger size of the local beer market, four years after formalizing its foray in Manila with Lucio Tan-owned Asia Brewery Inc. as its partner......»»
Top 10 e-commerce sites in the Philippines 2019 - ASEAN UP
With a dynamic economy and a large population proficient with digital technologies, the Philippines is a fast-growing market for e-commerce in Southeast Asia. Several websites and digital applications are already fighting for market share, with global, regional and national players. The growing connectivity of the Philippines, rapidly overcoming the countrys infrastructure difficulties, enable more and Continue reading &q.....»»
Philippine bond market hits $217 billion in Q4
The Philippine bond market went up slightly in the fourth quarter of 2023 due to the increase in government bond issuances, according to a report from the Asian Development Bank......»»
Bulldogs coach looks beyond UAAP semis berth
After clinching their second straight UAAP Final Four berth, the NU Bulldogs are aiming for something bigger......»»
Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service
If life were a train, then Michael Ted Macapagal’s has been quite a ride. Raised by a labor leader and human rights lawyer father who served the people of Olongapo, including the workers of the US American Base in Subic, Michael Ted Macapagal had always wanted to become a public servant. It took Ted, though, a long journey to reach his goal, first achieving success in the insurance field in the United States where he lived for 20 years starting in 1991. Today, he is the chairman of the Philippine National Railways, a position “that allows me to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen,” he shared during his recent visit to the Daily Tribune office in Makati. Ted, good-looking and affable, proudly spoke of a father, his namesake, Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal who, early on, exposed his son to a firsthand view of a gentleman who looked beyond himself and his personal interests, and instead dedicated his career to protecting the common man and bettering their lot. The elder Ted served as a city councilor for 10 years. In 1984, he ran for the Batasang Pambansa, and in the late 1980s, for city mayor. “In all these electoral processes, I was involved and saw for myself how my father related to the people. He was a sincere man who helped them in the best way he could. He provided free legal services to those in need,” Ted recounted. Ted grew up in Olongapo, his place of birth. It was in the neighboring province of Pampanga, though, at the Don Bosco Institute in Bacolor town, where he first studied, but he eventually returned home to Olongapo, where he finished high school at the St. Columban. Aiming to become a lawyer, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he majored in History, which he intended as his pre-law course. Not unexpectedly, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi, his father’s fraternity. He also joined rallies where he stood with those who wanted the retention of US bases in the Philippines, in keeping with the sentiments of his townsmen. “It was the one concern where the whole of Olongapo was united,” he recalled, “because the people’s livelihood was connected to the base and the American presence in the community.” As a lawyer who specialized in labor, his father himself handled cases for the base employees. In 1988, his father lost his mayoralty bid in Olongapo. He fought against his fraternity brother, Richard Gordon. Actually, the two had been fighting it out for decades. “Olongapo became too small for them,” shared Ted. “A vivid memory to me to this day was the night I cried after my father lost. I was heartbroken because, for the most part of my life, I saw him give his all to the people. Throughout all those years, I just loved assisting my father. I followed him whenever he visited his constituents. I was a witness to everything that happened to him, his conflict with his political adversary and the loyalty of the people who believed in him and saw in him the man who would change the face of politics in our city.” The elder Macapagal became OIC-Mayor in 1986, but only two months after he received his appointment from the new president because the incumbent mayor did not easily give up his post which he was required to vacate under the new revolutionary government. “The next local election was the most expensive political exercise that our family ever waged,” Ted recounted. “It was then that my father decided that I pursue a new life in the United States, away from politics back home. “All the while, my heart never left the Philippines. Even before I left, I promised myself I would return to continue what my father started.” First non-white president Ted stayed in San Francisco for 20 long years. He had a tough time at the beginning of his new life. “I started off doing odd jobs. I worked as a security guard, janitor and waiter in a pizza parlor. “I also guarded the heavy equipment in a construction site in San Francisco. Thievery was a problem in that kind of situation. We would sleep in a trailer. “I transferred to a construction firm because I found out it offered a bigger salary. But I didn’t know the technical aspects of construction. Once, I made a portable ladder, but it fell apart, for which I was scolded by the owner of the company. I was fired on my third day on the job. Too bad because it paid high.” Ted then decided to pursue another degree, one that would be more useful in the United States. He took up Human Resource Management, a four-year course at the University of California in Berkeley. When he finally entered the corporate world, his first job was as a clerk. It wasn’t long before he became Division President of Stewart Title Company, one of the largest underwriters in the world, with offices across the United States, and in some 80 countries around the globe. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I may have been the first non-white president,” he said. “And I was a division president for the whole of North America. I was the first Filipino to reach that level.” Of his trailblazing accomplishments, he shared, “I was able to bring cultural diversity to the company, which enhanced its value. I got the top post because I asked for a meeting with the president. I told him we were not diverse enough to appeal to the non-white clients, and there were many of them who were first-time home buyers. Then, I told him to make the rounds. He would see that none of the home buyers was white. They were of different ethnic groups. I told him that if he appointed me as vice president, I would give him multi-cultural buyers because I would appeal to them and they would be our first-time buyers. So, he appointed me, and one month later, he made me president.” As an adjunct, he lectured on the topic of title insurance and escrow procedures in several community colleges in and around the San Franciso Bay Area. Through it all, he chose to keep his Filipino citizenship. The ‘Railway President’ For all the successes he was enjoying, the Philippines beckoned. He felt he still had a mission to accomplish. “My father was surprised. He asked me why I would still want to go home when I was doing well in the States. I insisted, so I came back and I plunged into political life. I worked on difficult campaigns, like the one for Rodrigo Duterte.” Back to his first love and passion, the political arena, he was in his element and served as president of PDP LABAN in Olongapo City from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, he joined LAKAS-CMD as its local chairman. This engagement led to his original target, as his father had achieved in his lifetime — serving the people. This time, he would be appointed to key posts in the government. He became director of the Clark Board and Gulf Oil Philippines. He took his oath of office as chairman of the Philippine National Railways on 28 April 2023. It is a job in a government agency where he is confident “I could make a difference because I can see that President Bongbong Marcos is really intent on improving the railway system of the country. “On my part, I want to make a difference. I want to be able to contribute whatever I can to help the president to achieve that objective. I call him now the ‘Railway President’ because I consider him the father of the railway system in our country.” Of course, he noted that many plans have been formulated during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte. Moreover, he recognized that President Gloria Arroyo “navigated our country through the global crisis. I was in the United States when the global economic crisis happened, and the Philippines was one of the countries spared, and I give credit to her. The economic fundamentals were very strong during her time. Being an economist, she was there at the right time when the country needed her the most.” With President BBM at the helm, he is confident “we will be able to push through with our development plan and finish the projects we have started, like the North-South Commuter Railway, which is a 147-kilometer stretch from Clark to Laguna. We hope to have the dry run in 2026 and it will be fully operational in 2027.” He also looks forward to the completion of the Bicol South Long Haul project. He is equally hopeful for the North Long Haul, the Subic-Clark and the Mindanao railways. He clarified that “we are now talking with the proponents, while some negotiations are being undertaken.” Working boots and a hard hat It would seem that this successful insurance executive was out of place in the railway sector. He pointed out, though, that “coming from the outside, I have the technical advantage of being able to look outside the box. So, I’m looking at it from outside the box, looking in. I am able to see the problems that need to be fixed. Stoppage is one of the problems so we have a bus augmentation program. We will also deploy UV Express units. We are closely coordinating with the LTFRB to provide emergency alternative transportation.” On the other hand, his exposure to people of all backgrounds from his youth, being his father’s son, has given him the advantage of “knowing how it is to be one of the boys. Something that I also experienced in the United States. “When people ask me what my management style is, I tell them straight I like to go down to the ground. I like hands-on supervision. I want my hands to be dirty. If you open the trunk of my car, you will find my working boots and my hard hat. I enjoy going to the construction sites and seeing for myself the progress, the problems, whatever it is that needs to be attended to. “Finally I want those working in the field doing the most difficult tasks to be satisfied and never to be hungry. Gusto ko, busog sila lagi. I am not happy when I get invited by the constructors and I am honored with a feast-like lunch or dinner, and not knowing what the workers are eating. I am on a diet anyway, so I make sure that my hosts bring the food to where the workers are eating. I can only eat so much and I would rather that the workers and the staff are full and happy. I am vocal about my displeasure when the construction workers are not eating the same food that is served to me. I may not be able to invite them to where I am eating but I can have the food brought to them.” Smiling from heaven Without a doubt, the old man Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal is smiling happily from his heavenly perch. He had served his fellowmen well, but he had done right as well by raising a son who took after his heart, to whom service to the people and compassion for the less fortunate matter more than any personal gain. His father, according to Ted, “died a broken man at the young age of 63. But whatever he lacked in longevity and riches, he made up for it with his compassion for others, for the free legal services that he gave to the people of Olongapo. “If you didn’t have money, you went to him because he was generous with his time and expertise. He would even give you some cash to use for your transportation fare to go home. That was my father. “The people whom he helped in turn would come to our home and bring him gifts like eggs, fruits, fish, vegetables and native chickens that they raised in their backyards. My father accepted them all. When I came home and saw all this, I teased him and said that he should probably open a sari-sari store so he could resell them. “Of course, we had a good laugh. But beyond the laughter, we both knew in our hearts that doing good to one’s fellowmen is its own reward and nothing in this world can take the place of personal fulfillment for having put a smile on people’s faces because you somehow made their lives better. “I am grateful that I have been raised by such a great father.” The post Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Immigration pushes for NAIA expansion
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco has called for the expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to accommodate a bigger immigration area. The BI chief made the call Tuesday following news reports of passengers experiencing long lines at the NAIA. According to Tansingco, the long queues are the result of the transfer of more flights. NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 have witnessed an unprecedented surge in international travelers since the stoppage of international flights in Terminal 2. He added that the BI reported a record-breaking influx of passengers at both terminals, leading to long lines and a heightened need for a bigger and more modern airport. According to the latest data provided by the Bureau, NAIA Terminal 1 has experienced a remarkable increase in average daily international travelers since 16 June 2023. The terminal recorded 28,956 passengers per day, marking a significant 48.1 percent rise from the previous average of 19,553 passengers prior to the transfer. NAIA Terminal 3 also noted a substantial surge in international passenger traffic. With a daily average of 33,682 travelers since 16 June 2023, Terminal 3 witnessed an increase of 19.58 percent from the pre-transfer average of 28,168 passengers. Tansingco said they have added more immigration officers to service travelers, and now they see more immigration officers on duty than installed counters. He added that they have likewise deployed at least eight mobile counters per terminal to help ease lines. Tansingco shared that airports in other countries have big immigration areas to accommodate more counters and passengers. They are thankful to the airport management, as they have committed to expanding the immigration area, and they hope that the space will be sufficient to install more counters and deploy more officers. Recently, the Bureau deployed an additional 59 new immigration officers who graduated from its academy earlier this month. The Bureau also initiated several digitization projects, aiming to expedite processing times and enhance efficiency. It also started with tourist visa extensions and other common BI transactions. Currently, the shift of each BI officer at the NAIA T3 processes around 4,000 to 6,000 arriving and departing passengers. The Bureau believes that a bigger immigration area would allow for a faster and more convenient experience for the traveling public. The post Immigration pushes for NAIA expansion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI chief calls for airport expansion, larger area for immigration needed
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Tuesday afternoon that Commissioner Norman Tansingco called for the expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to accommodate a bigger immigration area. The BI chief made the call following news reports of passengers experiencing long lines at the NAIA. According to Tansingco, the long queues are the result of the transfer of more flights. NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 have witnessed an unprecedented surge in international travelers since the stoppage of international flights in Terminal 2. He added that the BI reported a record-breaking influx of passengers at both terminals, leading to long lines and a heightened need for a bigger and more modern airport. According to the latest data provided by the Bureau, NAIA Terminal 1 has experienced a remarkable increase in average daily international travelers since June 16, 2023. The terminal recorded 28,956 passengers per day, marking a significant 48.1% rise from the previous average of 19,553 passengers prior to the transfer. while NAIA Terminal 3 also noted a substantial surge in international passenger traffic. With a daily average of 33,682 travelers since June 16, 2023, Terminal 3 witnessed an increase of 19.58% from the pre-transfer average of 28,168 passengers. Tansingco said that they have added more immigration officers to serve travelers, and now they see more immigration officers on duty than installed counters. He added that they have likewise deployed at least eight mobile counters per terminal to help ease lines. Tansingco also shared that airports in other countries have big immigration areas to accommodate more counters and passengers. They are thankful for airport management, as they have committed to expanding the immigration area, and they hope that the space will be sufficient for us to be able to install more counters and deploy more officers. Recently, the Bureau deployed an additional 59 new immigration officers who graduated from its academy earlier this month. The Bureau also initiated several digitization projects, aiming to expedite processing times and enhance efficiency. It also started with tourist visa extensions and other common BI transactions. Currently, the shift of each BI officer at the NAIA T3 processes around 4,000 to 6,000 arriving and departing passengers. The Bureau believes that a bigger immigration area would allow for a faster and more convenient experience for the traveling public. The post BI chief calls for airport expansion, larger area for immigration needed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa warns ‘nurseless’ Phl in 3-5 years
The continuous migration of licensed nurses abroad for higher compensation would leave the country to become “nurseless” by 2026 or 2028, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa warned on Tuesday. In a radio interview, Herbosa, who is pushing to tap the pool of nursing graduates who failed to pass the board exam, stressed that the problem needs an immediate solution. “That is why I am focusing on it as early as now because if we do not do anything, I can see that in a few more years, maybe three or five years, we will run out of nurses,” he said. “That is why I am finding a way to increase the number of nurses. I am happy that there are other government agencies that are helping me,” he added. To avert the impending lack of nurses in the country, the newly appointed Health chief is aiming to hire nursing graduates who scored 70 to 74 percent in the board exam to work for public hospitals. Herbosa said that those who will be hired will be given a temporary license from the Professional Regulation Commission and work in government hospitals under supervision. “They would not like – their work would be limited only. Only those that are simple and safe to avoid the endangerments of others,” he said. Likewise, the government would also provide scholarships for those who will be hired to pass the board exam after a certain period of time. Herbosa clarified that the government would require “return of service” from those who will pass the board exam, depending on the number of years they worked as temporary nurses. The Health Department previously said that there are a total of 4,500 vacant plantilla positions for nurses in 72 DoH-hospitals across the country. ‘Money not an issue’ Herbosa noted that low compensation is not the reason behind the declining numbers of nurses in the country. “Let me clarify it, the low compensation that nurses are complaining about is from the private sector. In our government sector, their salaries depend on their ranks, from anywhere from P35,000 a month for an entry-level to P75,000 a month for higher ranks,” he said. “So, money is not an issue. The problem is there are not enough nurses applying for the vacant position,” he added. He continued: “The low compensation [is] relative to the salary offered by other nations because they offer a higher salary.” He stressed that the issue is a “complex matter,” hence an in-depth study is needed to solve the problem. According to Filipino Nurses United, the average monthly salary for nurses in private hospitals is P12,000, significantly lower compared to compensation for nurses abroad. Meanwhile, the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines Inc. admitted that there is a huge discrepancy in terms of salary between public and private hospitals. PHAPi President Dr. Rene de Grano previously said that the salary of an entry-level nurse in private hospitals varies depending on the location of the hospitals. He said bigger hospitals in Metro Manila could afford to compensate an entry-level nurse as high as P1,000 per day, while smaller hospitals in the province could only pay their nurses P570 per day. The post Herbosa warns ‘nurseless’ Phl in 3-5 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Endings and beginnings
Was it anticlimactic? When the World Health Organization announced recently that Covid-19 “is no longer a public health emergency of international concern”, I expected a more intense reaction from people. From the whole world, actually. Instead, there was nothing. Ho-hum. Moving on. It seems that more than three years after WHO first declared the pandemic in March 2020, people had become immune to the exciting news. Blasé, passive, indifferent. Call it what you may — this is another side of the pandemic, the one where the numbness has set in after years of unprecedented challenges with no end in sight. Yet that is, indeed, just one side. We all know that the health restrictions also caused many people to step up — do something — just to keep earning money. We met over a hundred of them just today (9 May at the Bellevue Manila) during the Daily Tribune’s inaugural Asian Innovation Forum where MSMEs participated in a discussion of various ways the Filipino entrepreneur can compete in a vastly changed world. If the WHO says it is “time to transition” — in their case “to long-term management of Covid-19,” it must be said that many Filipino small business owners had already done just that, over the last three years. And while it may seem like the end is in sight for the pandemic — or, indeed, that the end has come, if the WHO’s pronouncement is the basis — for our entrepreneurs, it is just another beginning. Transitioning into a world in flux is the secret to growth for small businesses aiming for a bigger share of the market. When competitiveness is key, one must innovate to keep ahead of the game. It was heartwarming to see so many business owners joining the DT forum and being really engaged in the short talks delivered by our esteemed speakers and panelists: Atty. Rowel Barba, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office Philippines; George Royeca, founder and CEO of Angkas; PCSO’s Frederick Imson, representing Honorable Mel Robles; UnionDigital’s Dr. David Hardoon; Kim Lato, founder, and CEO of Kimstore; Ida Tiongson, president and CEO of Opal Portfolio Investments Inc., and Rowena San Jose, chief trade-industry development specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry-National Capital Region. Ms Catherine Mary Biazon, head of Gender and Development of Muntinlupa, gave a talk on the city’s innovations and accomplishments toward the cause of women empowerment. I must admit that I was riveted by all their topics. This is unusual as any discussion on tech and finance naturally makes my mind drift off. Yet the stories that were shared on how they persevered through challenging times; how passion carried them through any obstacle simply because they believed in their ideas and dreams; as well as the other side of the coin, where practical steps must be taken to legitimize, grow and strengthen a brand — they resonated with me. The big turnout at the AIF, the perfect mix of speakers, and the resolve we felt when we witnessed the active exchange of ideas during the event inspired us to continue with this advocacy of helping “serve the lifeblood of our economy, the MSMEs, by boosting their confidence and helping open avenues for their growth and development,” as I hoped to say during my welcome remarks. “We take inspiration from our present leaders in urging a Bayanihan mindset — and this is one way that we, as a media organization, have been able to do that — using our platforms and resources, to harness the information, create the opportunity and put together the right people to help build a stronger community… and ultimately for the Filipino entrepreneur to get a foothold in a wider market.” The post Endings and beginnings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Star Magic to go global
Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management arm is now aiming to expand to content production, vowing to champion the talents of Filipino artists worldwide. “We dream to grow bigger and go global. To see our artists perform alongside the best artists in the world is what we will strive to achieve. Star Magic will also start […].....»»
‘Dark horse’ Valientes eye surprise wins in last leg of Chooks 3x3 tiff
After making it to the semifinals in the first leg and couple of playoff runs the following legs, the Valientes are aiming for the bigger picture: Bringing the grand title to Zamboanga City......»»
Heineken aiming for bigger Philippine market share
Dutch brewing giant Heineken International B.V. is boosting its presence in the Philippines by spending heavily on marketing to capture a bigger size of the local beer market, four years after formalizing its foray in Manila with Lucio Tan-owned Asia Brewery Inc. as its partner......»»
PCG to investigate alleged hacking of Facebook account anew
The Philippine Coast Guard announced its plan to investigate the reported breach of its social media account......»»
Your Mother s Son to premiere at IdeaFirst Film Festival
Jun Lana's controversial film "Your Mother’s Son" is set for its Philippine premiere at the EnlighTEN: The IdeaFirst Film Festival......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
PH media slam Chinese foreign ministry’s claims of manipulating WPS reports
Philippine media groups criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for suggesting that recent reports on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea involved video manipulation and sensationalism to portray the Philippines as a victim. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed offense.....»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
China: PH is ‘straying down a dangerous path’
MANILA, Philippines — China continued to blame the Philippines and its ally, the United States, for the continued tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian warned that the Philippines is going down a dangerous path. READ: No letup in Chinese water cannon attacks.....»»
Philippines beats India for back-to-back wins in women’s Asia ice hockey tiff
The Philippine women’s ice hockey team picked up where they left off after their opening win in the 2024 IIHF Women’s Asia and Oceania Cup with a 7-0 shutout of India at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday......»»
Marc Pingris speaks out vs affair rumors with Kim Rodriguez
Former Philippine Basketball Association star player Marc Pingris denied having an affair with actress Kim Rodriguez......»»