Briefer: APEC Philippines 2015 p.4 From small acorns p.14

A guide to the art of Christmas shopping p.3

Understanding upscale furniture p.12

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Gateway to business

Staffing and manpower specialist Cristiano Castaneda explains why the Philippines is primed to be the next regional hub for international business

Vol. 4 No.13 Q4 2015Philippine EditionISSN No.

www.theimmigrant.com.ph

People, location, ASEAN community, cost and English. When you make them an acronym, you get “PLACE,” but when you look at them in context, these are the advantages the Philippines has that will make it the next

regional hub for international business.As evidenced by the Philippines’ recent hosting of the Asia-

Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit, the world “now looks at our country in a new light,” according to President Benigno Aquino III. True, there are a lot of areas of improvement that the Aquino administration will have to pass on to the country’s next leadership, but the past five-plus years of relative stability and consistent economic growth have prepared the Philippines to take the next higher rung in the global community.

Within 2015 alone, several big players in the aerospace, logistics and business franchising industries have expressed

their readiness to plant their flags on our soil. But allow me to recite the reasons why the Philippines already is in the early stages of being a regional hub for global business:

1 The Filipino peopleDespite an abundance of natural resources, the

Philippines’ greatest asset continues to be its people, whether overseas or at home. At my company, Drake Beacon Morris, we have been proud to facilitate the staffing needs of local and international firms for top Filipino talent – the very same ones that are now coming home and betting on their country by starting their own firms and sharing the knowledge and practices they have gained from their years of service in America, Europe, and the rest of the world.

We have always known why Filipinos make great workers: they are flexible and can adapt to different circumstances. No matter what kind of task or position

are given to them, Filipinos tend to do their best. That our overseas Filipino workers have different kinds of jobs all over the world shows that they are not just excellent workers, but also good communicators.

Filipinos can work with any nationality, and can be assigned to head office branches abroad and do well. The Philippines is also in a demographic sweet spot courtesy of its growing population – which leads to a steady stream of young, trainable, talented workers ready to take on the world.

2 Strategic locationSay what you want about the growing tensions in the

West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, but our country’s location is extremely significant to the global economic powers – China, Japan, and Singapore on our side of the

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ON THE COVER:A young boy passes by a vendor of Christmas lights and lawn ornaments in Malate, Manila. The Philippines has one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world – starting as early as September – and sees brighter prospects beyond 2015 as it proves, by hosting the APEC Summit and other big world economic meetings, that it is ready to become the regional hub for international business. Photo by Danilo Santos for FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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bytesnewsIranian Ambassador bids farewell

Outgoing Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Philippines Ali Asghar Mohammadi made a farewell courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario after serving for almost five years in the Philippines.

Del Rosario and Mohammadi expressed their appreciation for the mutual support that was extended during the Ambassador’s term of assignment in the Philippines. The Secretary thanked the Ambassador for his outstanding work in maintaining the good bilateral relations between the Philippines and Iran.

“There is much to be grateful for, among which were the commutation of the death sentence of a convicted Filipino national in Iran, which was made possible through the mediation of Ambassador Mohammadi, Iran’s support for the Mindanao Peace Process, as well as the humanitarian assistance that Iran extended in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan,” Del Rosario added.

Calling Philippines-Iran relations a special relationship, Del Rosario expressed optimism on the promise of closer relations between the two countries in the post-sanctions period after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program, through an upsurge in trade and investments, close cooperation in the fight against violence and extremism, and an active promotion of tourism.

US Government promotes entrepreneurship in Iloilo

The United States Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a 17-month project that will empower 10,000 people in the province of Iloilo through entrepreneurship.

The project, implemented in partnership with International Care Ministries (ICM), will deliver an intensive 16-week training program to Iloilo’s poorest households, improving access to health, providing opportunities for entrepreneurship, and bolstering families with basic resources to stabilize their lives.

Dr. Stephen Andoseh, USAID Philippines Acting Chief for the Office of Economic Development and Governance, and ICM Chair of the Board of Directors David Sutherland, together with representatives from Iloilo local government units, participated in the launching ceremony in Iloilo City.

The project is aligned with USAID’s commitment to eradicating extreme poverty under USAID’s Cities Development Initiative, which promotes inclusive and sustained economic growth in second-tier cities, including Iloilo, in the Philippines.

David Sutherland (left), Chairman of the Board of International Care Ministries, and Stephen Andoseh, Acting Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Economic Development and Governance, visits one of the 90 communities supported by USAID and ICM’s entrepreneurship project in Iloilo City.

The Philippines...From page 1

Leaders and representatives from the 21 member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) had their official family photo taken on November 19, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center for the Philippine hosting of 2015 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Manila.

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Pacific, and the United States, Canada, and Latin American countries on the other.

This makes the Philippines a gateway for travel and commerce to and from either side of the Pacific Ocean. In terms of time, Manila is roughly 12 hours from New York, seven hours from London, and an hour from Tokyo, so according to the financial analyst Felix Bustos: “If you’re trying to keep your transaction flow the whole day, then we’re a good alternate to other financial centers (like Singapore and Hong Kong).”

Our proximity to China and Japan has also led the US to bolster relations with the Philippines. As an ally, the United States is acting to maintain the balance of power and control the growing influence of the Chinese in the seas of Southeast Asia, which only benefits our country in the long run.

This is crucial for Filipinos, and anyone who invests here, since East Asia (composed of China, Korea, and Japan) is the Philippines’ biggest trading partner, taking 51 percent of the country’s merchandise export market as of 2013, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

3 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

By December 31, 2015, the Philippines will be integrated into the single regional market and production base of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community, expanding its market from a domestic (national) customer base of about 100 million “to the 616 million people living across the region,” according to DTI Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen Perlada in a recent forum we attended.

ASEAN countries already take 16 percent of the Philippines’ total merchandise exports; in comparison, the United States is at 15 percent, and the European Union at 12 percent. But with electronics, modern technology, and the Internet facilitating trade across nations, business happens without borders, and “businesses that have already mastered their domestic markets should expect challenges from strong foreign competitors,” Perlada added.

The Philippines is well-positioned in the AEC, Perlada stresses, as it is the fastest-growing country (in terms of GDP) in the fastest-growing subregion (ASEAN) in the fastest growing region (Asia) in the world. The recent APEC hosting and the World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia event held in Makati earlier this year underscores that.

4 Cost advantageThe emergence of the Philippines as the Number 1

country for business process outsourcing (BPO), edging out India, shows the advantage in terms of cost for foreign enterprises setting up shop here. Even the cost of living is much lower here for working expatriates compared with

other hubs in Asia, and most of these expats have in fact laid down roots here.

The Philippines is an attractive destination for businesses, says the financial analyst Bustos, because its labor cost is one-fourth of China’s, which used to be the go-to hub for trade.

But when many companies moved to China to benefit from its low labor costs, “the country got saturated and the cost of housing and other necessities went up, thus many businesses are moving out of China to look for that cost advantage again,” he adds. “This is where the Philippines comes in as the next viable option.”

The Philippines also offers lower rates than the likes of Singapore and Hong Kong in terms of business space rental, home rental, good schools, and general living expenses. That alone can attract foreign firms to invest and consider our country as their next business hub.

Of course, the Philippine government must continue to address the backlogs in terms of infrastructure, transportation, and cheap energy to make the country an even more attractive hub for business, but with consistent economic growth and a clear development plan that will happen sooner than later, we at Drake Beacon Morris believe.

5English and language ability

Indeed, Filipinos know their English, but they also know their Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin or Hokien), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Italian, and virtually the language of any culture that the Philippines has come across.

The country’s English language infrastructure, however, is one of its enduring assets. Foreigners find it easy to do business here because government, legal, and corporate documents are often rendered in English,

removing the need for translation. For instance, in the information technology (IT) industry, both programming and documentation are accomplished in English, and this great connectivity is the reason why many BPOs end up here.

In everyday encounters, almost all Filipinos know how to speak and understand the language, and the working sector is trained to communicate in English. Indeed, it is easy for expats to dive into work without worrying about a language barrier, and the Filipino’s natural warmth and hospitality melt any other barriers to communication.

With these and many more reasons, the Philippines will be a significant player in the world economy for years to come. Companies local and foreign can use the country as a springboard for their globalization, which, according to DTI Director Perlada, “must be taken for granted. There will be only one standard for corporate success: international market share. The winning corporations will win by finding markets all over the world.”

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation and one of the members of the APEC Business Advisory Council, had said way back in 2005: “The global economy has opened tremendous opportunities, and it is imperative that the Philippines seeks integration and finds its niche in this new economic order.” With the right players within its shores, there’s no doubt the Philippines is indeed the place to be.

People, location, ASEAN community, cost, and English. When you make them an acronym, you get “PLACE,” these are the advantages the Philippines has that will make it the next regional hub for international business.

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T he frantic season of shopping known as Christmas is already here, and if you haven’t given a thought to getting yourself and

your loved ones a present for the holidays, we’ve done the thinking for you and thus, present you with the following suggestions to make your buying and haggling less stressful:

List, budget, and categorize

Get organized. Write down all who are worthy of your largesse in sets of family, friends, co-workers, and special someones, then peg a budget for each person. Whether you use cash or credit, don’t go beyond your limit – leave some funds for you to party with. Determine where you can buy groups of gifts (if you’re not just handing out fruitcakes) to save you time, travel, and tiredness shuttling from mall to flea markets to Christmas bazaars.

Timeline, transportation, and gear

Get organized Part 2: Decide when you’ll do your shopping, which is usually better in the mornings when stores are just opening and on weekdays to avoid the crush of the weekend crowds. (Bonus: you get first crack at items on sale if you’re early.) You don’t have to do it in one go; buying a few presents every day for a week will help you commute to and from shopping places, especially if you don’t have your own car. And even if you do, traveling light – with just your wallet and phone if possible – will free your hands for several gift bags or bulkier items. Just beware of snatchers and pickpockets.

Get comfy, get cozy, get to tiangges

Wearing comfortable clothes and shoes are a must for the Christmas bargain hunter.

Definitely no high heels or platform shoes for the ladies, no hard-leather brogues or boots for the men, and no loose clothing either (you’d hate to get snagged on your fellow shoppers’ gift boxes or worse, fragile items on display). Your favorite T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a nice-fitting jacket to fend off excessive air conditioning will do just fine, especially when you start wading into tiangges and their narrow aisles. Tiangges also offer unique items and the opportunity to haggle with the vendors.

Go online, look for quality, and buy in bulk

If your search on foot for the perfect gift is fruitless, sit down and turn to online shopping portals like Lazada, Groupon, Metrodeal, and the like. If items aren’t your type of presents, gift certificates to spas, hotels, and restaurants will surely be appreciated, along with discount cards to specialty stores. But if you persist on trudging through the malls and picking items yourself, don’t sacrifice the quality of your gifts for their price. You’re already spending

time and effort to look for the perfect present, so don’t waste your money as well – and speaking of which, buying in bulk is one way to save on a pretty penny.

Save the receipt, stash an extra, and secure your presents

Always ask for an official receipt for your purchases, to facilitate returns and exchanges if your “giftee” somehow doesn’t like your present, or if it’s defective and really needs replacing. Of course, receipts will help you tally your expenses and see if you’ve stayed within, or strayed from, your budget. Buying and stashing an extra gift that’s suitable for anyone – especially for the people you inadvertently left out of your list – is always a good thing to do. When you find such an item, or anything that you deem valuable or present-worthy, don’t hesitate to pick it up. Other bargain hunters may beat you to the punch for that, and you may end up looking in vain for a similar item. Remember, in the end it’s not the gift, but the thought behind it that counts.

A guide to the art of Christmas shoppingJean Vizcocho is a veteran of the holiday shopping

rush, and proves it with her points below

High-end watches for the discerningThere’s nothing like a classy, classic chronograph to tell the time. Marian Pamaran enlightens us

on which watch is worth adorning our wrists

W ith high-end watches, you really can’t go wrong with having one. As one of their

advertisements says, “You don’t just own a (insert brand name here), you take care of it for the next generation.” But since we live in the here and now, let’s take a look at six outstanding watch brands (in no particular order) and see which of these you fancy, based on your preferences and sense of style. It doesn’t hurt that most of these are available in the Philippines as well, for the right price:

AUDEMARS PIGUETFounder/Year: Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet, 1875 (Le Brassus, Switzerland)A partnership of childhood friends from the “Siberia of Switzerland” where making watches from iron oxides was a way to survive the harsh winters in high altitudes, Audemars Piguet already had a century of watchmaking expertise under their respective families’ belts before they teamed up. They excelled in complicated mechanisms like the smallest five-minute repeater caliber and the jumping second hand. All “AP” watches, like their flagship Royal Oak Grande Complication, are still made by hand today.

PATEK PHILIPPEFounder/Year: Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe, 1851 (Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland)A partnership of the Polish watchmaker Patek and the Frenchman Philippe, the brand pioneered the keyless winding mechanism, perpetual calendar, split-seconds hand, chronograph, and minute repeater. It has been synonymous with luxury watches for years, and for some of its limited-edition creations, one has to be a long-time, influential client of the company to get a timepiece – as were the likes of Pope Pius IX and Queen Victoria of Britain.

CHOPARDFounder/Year: Louis-Ulysses Chopard, 1860 (Paris)Chopard started his business at 24 years old and specialized in pocket watches and chronometers, making them from his factory in Sonviller, Switzerland. His son Andre moved Chopard to Geneva, and thus it was one of the first brands to be certified for the Geneva Seal of quality for watches. Around the mid-1970s it started producing ladies’ and jewelry timepieces, including one diamond-encrusted model that fetched a cool $25 million. Now it is the official timepiece partner of the Cannes Film Festival.

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THE DIPLOMATBy H.E. Bill Tweddell Ambassador to the Philippines Commonwealth of Australia

Northern Australia is where I grew up and studied. I am honored to be an alumnus of James Cook University in Townsville, Northern Queensland, an academic institute ranked in the top four percent of universities worldwide. In particular,

James Cook University specializes in tropical research – coral reefs, marine biology, agriculture, and medicine – among other disciplines.

Northern Australia, which comprises north Queensland, the Northern Territory and the northern part of Western Australia, covers over three million square kilometers (about 10 times the size of the Philippines, and about 40 percent of Australia’s land mass), and has a population of just over one million people. It is home to some of Australia’s most treasured national icons such as the Great Barrier Reef, the wet tropics of Queensland, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kakadu, and Cable Beach.

However, it’s not just beautiful natural attractions that you will find. Northern Australia is increasingly being recognized as an attractive place for Philippine and international firms to do business. On June 18 the Australian Government announced new plans to unlock the great potential and opportunities of the North.

The Australian Government is putting in place key policies that enable businesses to invest, innovate, and collaborate in Northern Australia. It seeks to integrate Northern Australia into the region, with a vision for mutual economic prosperity and security through stronger people-to-people and business-to-business links. Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory and a key northern Australian trade port which lies just over 2,000 kilometers from Mindanao, comparable to the distances from Manila to Singapore or Tokyo.

A series of policy reforms announced in the “White Paper on Developing Northern Australia: Our North, Our Future” will provide a welcoming investment environment, including cutting red tape for investors, and a single point of entry for all regulatory approvals for major investors. Australia will invest in infrastructure that will help lead to lower business

Northern Australia is open for businessThe Australian Government is opening up Darwin and the rest of the region to the world

and household costs. The White Paper includes an AU$5-billion Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility, an AU$600 million roads package in the North, and an AU$100-million Beef Roads Fund which will help improve cattle supply chains.

Australia will also invest in collaborative research in the North, including with foreign partners, where there is potential for commercialization or improved productivity and competitiveness. This includes Australia establishing a new AU$75-million Cooperative Research Centre to focus on tropical agriculture, food, and medicine where pre-commercial research and development is needed to kick-start new industries. Foreign partners will be invited to collaborate in tropical health research through seed funding of AU$2 million over two years to enable it to work on trans-boundary health threats in the region.

In addition, there will be approximately AU$8.5 million in grants to attract foreign investors to support commercialization of Australian tropical medicine research. An additional AU$6.9 million will go towards research in Australia on diseases endemic to the tropics.

To bring interested business partners together, the Australian Government will host a major Northern Australia investment forum in Darwin in late 2015. The forum will bring together international investors and focus on the new investment prospectus “Northern Australia: Emerging Opportunities In An Advanced Economy.” More information on investing in North Australia is available at: https://northernaustralia.dpmc.gov.au/

I am hoping Australia’s Prime Minister and our Foreign and Trade Ministers will visit Manila later this year as part of the Philippines’ APEC year to further promote these exciting business opportunities in Northern Australia. Until their visits, the Australian Embassy in Manila plans to speak to select business leaders about opportunities to be part of the development to unlock the potential of Northern Australia.

(This article was originally published on the Philippine STAR on September 17, 2015).

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has 21 members, referred to as “member economies,” which account for approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, approximately 54 percent of

world Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and about 47 percent of world trade.

The APEC platform is composed of various policy-making and technical-level fora, each with a particular sector or topic of focus. APEC Leaders and Ministers as chief policymakers define the policy direction of the region, to be implemented by government officials and technical experts throughout the APEC year.

The Senior Officials’ Meeting is the repository of all the activities, initiatives, and policy recommendations emanating from the more than 30 APEC technical working groups and committees. At the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, as their final meeting before the Leaders’ Summit, Officials are tasked to process one year’s worth of work, prioritizing deliverables (e.g. action plans and statements) to be endorsed to Ministers and Leaders, for adoption.

The APEC process thus comes full circle when the Ministers

After almost two decades, the Philippines hosts and chairs the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. Here’s what you need to know straight from the organization itself.

and Leaders, in the form of the Joint (Foreign Affairs and Trade) Ministerial Statement and Leaders’ Declaration, issue their policy guidance for the APEC year ahead and long-term vision.

APEC 2015 had a total of 229 meetings, including meetings under the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process, sectoral ministerial meetings and high-level policy dialogues, and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) as the private sector arm of APEC.

These meetings identified and developed the following policies, initiatives, and programs, among others:

Inclusive growth through regional economic integration

• Every year, APEC reaffirms its commitment to strengthen the rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a non-binding forum, APEC serves as an incubator of ideas and policy pathfinder for areas that are deemed sensitive in more formal negotiations. Through APEC, participating WTO members have been able to gain

ground in the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and in the negotiations for the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

• To further APEC’s multi-year efforts towards the realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), APEC has made progress in the conduct of the Collective Strategic Study on Issues Related to the Realization of the FTAAP, including the establishment of a core drafting group. The study will be completed by the end of 2016. In August, the Philippines also hosted an FTAAP seminar that included rich discussion on how ongoing regional trade agreement negotiations, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), relate and contribute to an FTAAP.

• In 2015, APEC Structural Reform Ministers endorsed the Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR) as the continuation of APEC’s structural reform work program until 2020. The RAASR reaffirms economies’ commitment to accelerate our efforts to address institution building in our economies through structural reform and

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Policies, initiatives, and programs

Briefer:

5

ASEAN celebrates 48th founding anniversaryT he Association of Southeast

Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 48th founding anniversary on

August 19 with much to look forward to. In four months, ASEAN will become a community of nations.

Held at the historic Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the ASEAN Day reception was a showcase of the integration of the region’s 10 different cultures.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario led the Department of Foreign Affairs in welcoming the diplomatic community to ASEAN’s founding anniversary before this important milestone in the regional bloc’s history.

By way of basic statistics, a community of nations means an ASEAN of over 600 million people with a combined GDP of US$2.6 trillion.

On the practical side, this diversity and the potentials for integrating ASEAN culture is evident in the colorful fusion buffet prepared by Rockwell Club’s Chef Jessie.

The reception’s around 300 guests were treated to the most iconic dishes – like banh cuon (Vietnamese spring roll) and beef satay with peanut sauce (Malaysian beef barbeque) – from each of the grouping’s ten member states.

Other treats included Indonesian bean sprout salad, fish amok (Cambodian fish curry), pad Thai (Thai stir-fried noodles),

mu shu (Brunei chicken wrap), and Singaporean chili shrimps.

Dessert was all about Filipino sweet favorites like mini turon and mango-sago custard as well as Laos’ khao pard chun (steamed pandan layer cake) and Burmese flan.

“As the realization of the ASEAN Community 2015 draws near, our people need to understand what it means to be part of an integrated region where there are good opportunities for businesses, communities and professional growth,” del Rosario said in his welcome remarks.

DFa Secretary albert del rosario and the aSeaN ambassadors show unity through the trademark aSeaN handshake.

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Twenty youth ambassadors from the Republic of China visited Manila from September 12 to15

in a trip highlighted by a donation of 500 kilograms of rice to the non-profit Tuloy Foundation.

“This generous act shows Taiwan’s willingness to extend its loving care and kindness to its closest southern neighboring country,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said in a statement.

The young envoys visited the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation Streetchildren Village in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on September 15. The donation will benefit more than 1,000 students of the foundation, which trains “at risk” children to be contributing members of society.

To foster closer understanding with Filipino youth, the delegation also held interactions with Filipino students at the Ateneo de Manila University and Lyceum of the Philippines on September 14 and 15.

The delegation also held a courtesy visit at the House of Representatives and treated the public to a free performance at the Liberty Hall of the Filipino-Chinese Cultural and Economic Association in Binondo, Manila.

The Taiwan Youth Ambassadors are part of a larger group of 160 college and university students selected to visit 41 cities in 35 countries in the Asia-Pacific, North and Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and West Asia.

Taiwan youth envoys

visit PH

DFa assistant Secretary charles Jose shares a laugh with US ambassador Philip Goldberg.

DFa Secretary albert del rosario delivers his opening remarks at the 48th aSeaN Day Diplomatic reception held at the cultural center of the Philippines.

ADB holds SME seminar

The Asian Development Bank launched its latest Asia SME Finance Monitor providing insights

into ways that developing Asia can address funding needs for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The launch is the highlight of the “Seminar on Enhancing Financial Accessibility for SMEs: Lessons from

National Practices on Improving Access to Finance in Asia and the Pacific” hosted by ADB.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines and other Asian countries need better access to financing if countries across the region want to be well-positioned to reap the benefits of increased regional trade.

J-Pop Anime Sing and Dance Contest holds Grand Finals

Japanese pop music boomed from SM Mall of Asia Centerstage as the J-Pop Anime Sing and Dance Contest held its

Grand Finals on July 25.Japanese instructor Maychell Hernandez

from Pasay City bagged the Grand Prize

for this year’s singing category with her passionate rendition of “Kimi ni Todoke” by May’s.

The five-member dance group Fluffy Unicorns, meantime, bagged first prize for the dance category with their “kawaii” idol moves.

J-Pop Anime Sing and Dance Contest, now on its seventh year, has developed quite a following within the still-booming anime and manga enthusiast crowd in the Philippines.

The 10 finalists for the singing category and five groups in the dance category competed before an energetic crowd of 400 people.

The Japanese Embassy’s No Plan Band, Doraemon and Friends, and the 2014 singing category top winner Hikari also wowed the audience.

The J-Pop Anime Sing and Dance Contest aims to promote goodwill and understanding through music and Japanese culture.

It was organized by the Embassy of Japan in cooperation with The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

Japanese ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa (center) hands over prize certificate to the 2015 J-pop Anime Sing and Dance contest Grand Prize winner for the singing category, maychell hernandez. also in photo from left to right: mr. tatsuo Kitagawa, Director of the Japan Information and culture center (JIcc); mr. Shuji takatori, Director, the Japan Founda-tion, manila (JFm); mr. Philip Sanvictores, President, Nihongo center Foundation; ms. Jojo estacio-Neri, channel head of hero tV; ms. Gwendolyn albarracin, President of center for Pop Philippines; and mr. Nestor Palabrica, General manager of toei Philippines.

Calendar of National Holidays*from the United Nations websiteOctober 1 china cyprus Nigeria tuvalu2 Guinea3 Germany4 Lesotho9 Uganda10 Fiji taiwan12 equatorial Guinea Spain18 azerbaijan24 Zambia26 austria27 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines turkmenistan28 czech republic29 turkey

November1 antigua and Barbuda2 algeria3 algeria Dominica micronesia Panama9 cambodia11 angola18 Latvia oman19 monaco22 Lebanon25 Suriname28 albania mauritania30 Barbados

December1 central african republic romania2 United arab emirates5 thailand6 Finland12 Kenya16 Bahrain16 Kazakhstan17 Bhutan18 Niger22 Laos24 Libya

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Coffee the Amadeo wayTagaytay’s upland neighbor has been growing beans for over 135 years.

Dexter Montilla takes another look at this Cavite community

Just off the ridge of Tagaytay City, there’s a town that has laid claim to the title of “Coffee Capital of the Philippines,” and for good reason. Amadeo in Cavite is probably the best source of kapeng barako and

other high-grade coffee variants anywhere in the country, and it’s definitely worth the side trip once you’ve taken in the sight of Taal Lake and Tagaytay’s other delights.

Named after King Amadeo I of Spain, the town is best known for its Pahimis (Thanksgiving) Festival, held on the last weekend of February and celebrating its history of growing coffee since at least the 1880s.

Apart from the “barako” or Liberica variant, Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and “Pahimis Blend” beans are also grown and sold from its nearly 4,000 hectares of coffee farms that make up 80 percent of Amadeo’s land area.

Most coffee farmers here sell to the big coffee companies like Nestle and Universal Robina Corp., but some who have managed to buy their own coffee roasters sell their product from P275 (pure Robusta) to P445 (pure Arabica) a kilo, at prices recommended by the Café Amadeo Development Cooperative. Half-kilo and quarter-kilo bags are also available in jute or paper boxes, foil packs, or plain plastic bags.

“Pahimis Blend” is Café Amadeo’s best seller, an exclusive blend of the four coffee varieties roasted to bring out their authentic flavor and aroma. “Premium Blend” is a mix of Robusta, Arabica, and Excelsa and is popular with customers from abroad. Farmers also benefit from the National Coffee Research Development and Extension Center at the Cavite State University campus in neighboring Indang town.

Visitors witnessing the Pahimis Festival also enjoy its festive atmosphere. Street dancers participating in the feast are all dressed in coffee costumes, while the aroma of overflowing cups of the famous kapeng barako permeates the normally quiet and peaceful town that is home to about 4,000 coffee farmers.

If for some reason coffee isn’t your thing, Amadeo’s pristine countryside holds other attractions. One is Balite Falls, a modest waterfall inside the eco-tourism zone in Barangay Tamakan.

Stone steps lead to the falls, where hydro-therapy, swimming and cottage areas are also set up. Swimming is allowed in the fall’s catch basins for a fee of P75 per person, and cottages may be rented starting at P300. Food is allowed if bought from Cafe Amadeo.

The religious may choose to visit the Saint Mary Magdalene Parish Church, built in 1872. The church was restored with the help of proceeds from coffee sales at the height of Amadeo’s coffee boom after World War II. During the war, the Japanese used the church as a garrison, where 19 guerillas were killed during a raid. Visitors are urged to pray for the souls of these martyrs.

Later, the National Historical Institute declared the church a National Historical Landmark in 1984 when it celebrated its 100th year as a parish church.

Other small-scale industries such as tailoring and dressmaking, merchandising, food trading, transportation, and commercial poultry and livestock, are present in the town, but coffee remains Amadeo’s major crop for trade, with 80 percent of the coffee grown here the Robusta variety.

But with the demand for coffee continuing to grow in the Philippines and worldwide, visitors to Cavite’s cool highlands may yet skip Tagaytay and go straight to Amadeo’s robust, thriving community.

Theislander

Waste not, want notBoracay resident Katja Kaliani hopes proper waste management

will help the island avert an environmental disaster – and force her to find a new home

It’s safe to say that everyone, including myself, who has spent time in Boracay, feels that the island isn’t the pristine tropical paradise that it used to be. Hotels and resorts are rising left and right, tourists are still coming in droves, and residents seem to multiply by

the day in hopes of finding their fortune here.These developments have led to what many experts have

called the “critical environment condition” of Boracay, which threatens the very reason why the island is a tourist attraction in the first place: its natural beauty. That was the reason why in September, hundreds of residents rallied at the renowned Willy’s Rock for what they called “Boracay’s Last Stand.”

Truly, Boracay is bursting at the seams. With a land area of just over 10 square kilometers, over 28,000 people officially call it home – but they also have to accommodate about 1.5 million visitors a year, as per Department of Tourism (DOT) records. That means an extra 125,000 people a month, on average, cram into the island, making its population density comparable to the suburbs of Metro Manila like Cavite, Bulacan and Rizal, as environmental planner Mark Evidente noted in an opinion piece for Rappler.com.

No wonder some tourists have decided to shun Boracay because, in their words, “it just feels too crowded,” even on regular days. And with that many people comes the

unfortunate by-product called waste, in all its forms. Where does that all go? Just consider some of the articles this year about this phenomena:

• In March, Manila Times columnist Atty. Dodo Dulay wrote that Boracay “is in danger of turning into an environmental disaster due to the spotty enforcement of sanitation and wastewater rules – a problem further compounded by the island’s incomplete sewerage and drainage system.”

• In May, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the activist group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to put its foot down on more development activities in Boracay and regulate the number of tourists going to the island amid findings that coliform bacteria, partly caused by human and animal feces, continue to pollute the island’s waters.

• In June, CNN Philippines reported that Boracay faced “an imminent loss” of its marine and coastal ecosystems, after a five-year study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and a group of Japanese and Filipino scientists discovered that the island’s coral reef ecosystem “has been seriously degraded by tourism-related activities” including snorkeling and diving activities.

How can Boracay solve this dilemma? Curiously, as early as 2007, the Philippine government asked its Japanese counterparts for help in creating an integrated solid waste management plan for the whole municipality of Malay, Aklan, to which Boracay belongs. Japan tapped JICA to become the implementing partner for this study, which laid out several important plans, as follows:1) A sanitary landfill facility, on the Malay mainland and not on Boracay itself;2) A centralized Materials Recovery Facility (MRF);3) The rehabilitation of the old dumpsite on Boracay; and 4) A 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan in accordance with Republic Act 9003 (the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

By most accounts, these plans were successfully executed, to the point that the Boracay MRF became a model for others to follow, as the facility could process as much as 35 truckloads of garbage equal to about 175 cubic meters of solid waste a day. It even helped provide work for some residents of the island who helped make vermicompost,

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Beauty and satisfaction guaranteedat Vine Holistic Medical Aesthetics

Dr. Emehly Sevilla - Castillo, M.D. President

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Wrinkle Correction

Skin Health (warts, syringoma)Sclerotherapy (Varicose Vein Therapy)Chin, Cheeks & Nose AugmentationSkin Rejuvenation & Anti-Aging TherapyEyebags TreatmentStretchmarks CorrectionWeight ManagementCellulite Treatment

In pursuit of beauty, men and women go the extra mile and look for ways to delay the signs of aging and enhance their appearance. It is no wonder that aesthetic centers in the metro continue to offer innovative solutions to beauty problems.

Once such center that aims to deliver beauty and satisfac-tion is the Vine Holistic Medical Aesthetics, founded by Dr. Emehly Sevilla-Castillo. Opening its doors to the public in September 2013, Vine Holistic Medical Aesthetic continues to provide services that not only enhance the beauty of their clients, but also improve their lives.

According to Dr. Em, the clinic started with the unique concept of treatment planning where top priority is given to sterilization and patient information, consultation and ex-planation of treatment and the follow up after treatment. Customers are assured that they are in good hands as Vine’s therapists, nurses and wellness consultants are well-trained and highly qualified. The doctors and staff will personally guide clients in selecting the best procedure for their beauty dilemmas.

Each case is different, and therefore, consultants will go over the patient’s history and assess the problem to create the appropriate treatment plan to target the particular area of con-cern. The staff records the whole process and makes sure that the client is well-informed before, during and after treatment. At Vine, good rapport with clients is important. However, they make sure that all clients will be treated equally and fairly.

Since clients are top priority, Vine offers a comprehensive range of medical aesthetic treatments that have minimal or no downtime. These non-surgical treatments include facelift, nose lifting, laser skin treatments, fillers, botox, peels, facials, non-invasive body contouring, and more.

Dr. Em revealed that she treats patients like family. Like a mother who has to protect her children, the head doctor makes sure that all the treatments and procedures are safe. To achieve that, Dr. Em tries the services herself before rec-ommending it to her patients. Her patients’ satisfaction is her goal, she says.

As an example, she did not offer nose lifting with Hiko threads in the past as it required using sharp needles. She is very cautious in using sharp needles as it comes with possible complications. The only time she decided to offer Hiko pro-cedure was when the sharp needles were replaced with blank cannulas. With blank cannulas, the treatment has become much safer for her patients.

The head doctor has gained valuable experiences and expertise in the field of aesthetics, anti-aging and regenerative medicine though continuous education. Before choosing treat-ments to be offered in the clinic, Dr. Em takes time in assess-ing what is needed by her patients.

She is certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Med-icine, Associate Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery and member of the Philippine Academy of Aesthetic and Age Management Medicine. Dr. Em is certified by the American Council of Exercise as a group fitness instructor and certified by the International Sports Sciences Association as fitness nutrition specialist.

Vine Aesthetics is located at Unit 2H Mezzanine Level, Grand Hamptons Tower II, 1st Ave. cor. 31st St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries, call tel. nos. 09178590642, 217-2687, 843-3023, email vineaesthetics@gmail.com

or visit www.vineaesthetics.com

8

companygood

Denmark partyRGM&Co. holds luncheon in honor of

Danish Ambassador Jan Top ChristensenBy maurice arcache

R.G. Manabat & Co. (RGM&Co.), the Philippine member firm of KPMG International, recently

hosted a welcome luncheon for Ambassador of Denmark to the Philippines Jan Top Christensen at the Tower Club in Makati City. In attendance during the luncheon were members of the Danish business community in the Philippines and RGM&Co. executives.

These include Arla Foods Country Manager Jens Christian Krog Nielsen, Arla Foods Vice President for Southeast Asia Patrick Hanson, Danfoss, Inc. Country Manager Allan Almendrala, Global Process Manager, Inc. President Erik Nielsen, Grundfos Holding A/S General Manager Hans Ole Steensig, ISS Facility Services Phils., Inc. CEO Peter Lund, Scan Global Logistics, Inc. Managing Director Klaus

Rasmussen, SEMCO Maritime A/S Global Service Manager Jens Kristian Mygent, Skandinavian Solar Corp. President Leo Sørensen, TORM Shipping Philippines, Inc. Senior Finance Manager Crisalde Julaton, Nordic Business Council Philippines Project Manager Joni Koro, and Royal Danish Consulate General Honorary Consul General Perry Pe.

RGM&Co. executives present were Chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat, Vice Chairman and Head of Tax and Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Bonoan, Chief Finance Officer Pacifico Castañeda, Audit Partner Emy Bagnes, Tax Principal Carmela Peralta, and Advisory Partner Michael Guarin.

During the luncheon, RGM&Co. COO Bonoan introduced KPMG’s Thought Leadership publication entitled 2015 Change Readiness Index, a report which evaluates the ability of 127 countries to prepare for, manage, and respond to change.

Bonoan cited the Philippines’ strong performance in the survey report, where it ranks first in the lower-middle income nations and 33rd in the overall index, above high-income countries such as Spain and Italy. Ambassador Christensen expressed his appreciation for the luncheon hosted by the firm and acknowledged RGM&Co. and KPMG International’s important role

in bringing more Danish businesses to the country, while addressing barriers to investments with the support of the Royal Danish Embassy.

“We look forward to deepen our strong relationship with the Royal Danish Embassy and the Danish business community in further attracting foreign

direct investments in order to sustain our country’s strong economic performance,” said Manabat, RGM&Co. CEO.

RGM&Co. is a full professional services firm that offers audit, tax, and financial or business advisory. For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

(L-R) RGM&Co. Tax Principal Carmela Peralta, RGM&Co. CFO Pacifico Castañeda, RGM&Co. Vice Chairman and Head of Tax, Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Bonoan, RGM&Co. Chairman and CEO Roberto manabat, rGm&co. advisory Partner michael Guarin, rGm&co. audit Partner emy Bagnes and ambassador of Denmark to the Philippines Jan top christensen(center)

(L-R) Danfoss, Inc. country manager allan almendrala, ambassador of Denmark to the Philippines Jan top christensen, and royal Danish consulate General honorary consul General Perry Pe

(L-r) rGm&co. audit Partner emy Bagnes, torm Shipping Philippines, Inc. Senior Finance manager crisalde Julaton, and rGm&co. tax Principal carmelaPeralta

arla Foods country manager Jens christian Krog Nielsen, and rGm&co. chairman and ceo roberto manabat

(L-R) torm Shipping Philippines, Inc. Senior Finance manager crisalde Julaton, rGm&co. Vice chairman and Head of Tax, Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Bonoan, Grundfos holding a/S General manager hans ole Steensig, and Danfoss, Inc. country manager allan almendrala

chairman and ceo roberto manabat,ambassador of Denmark to the Philippines Jan top christensen, and Global Process manager, Inc. President erik Nielsen

9

targeted capacity building on economic governance, unilateral reforms aimed at further improving the services sector, regulatory infrastructure, and competition policy.

• This November, Leaders are expected to endorse the APEC Services Cooperation Framework (ASCF) as a long-term strategic document, which will provide a common direction and more coherence in APEC’s work on services and help economies gain a deeper understanding of the policy and regulatory settings that will best facilitate innovative, productive, and vibrant services sectors, as appropriate to their needs. This Framework recognizes that more competitive services sectors help create jobs, produce quality goods, widen choices for consumers, and harness opportunities for businesses particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The ASCF is complemented by the APEC Virtual Knowledge Center (to be launched at CSOM), the APEC Services Trade Access Requirements (STAR) Database, and the recently endorsed Manufacturing-Related Services Action Plan and Environmental Services Action Plan.

• The Philippines as host economy, in partnership with ABAC and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, organized the APEC 2015 Public-Private Dialogues on Services and the Regional Conference of Services Coalitions to discuss ways to address impediments to and facilitate services trade growth. The Regional Conference also served as the preparatory meeting to launch the Asia-Pacific Coalition of Services, touted to be the largest services coalition the world.

• APEC Finance Ministers developed the Cebu Action Plan (CAP), which works on four pillars: (i) promoting financial

integration; (ii) advancing fiscal reforms and transparency; (iii) enhancing financial resiliency; and (iv) accelerating infrastructure development and financing. The CAP is a roadmap and a living document that will guide economies in promoting intra-regional trade and investments, connectivity, infrastructure development, and MSME and supply chain financing.

• Trade Ministers developed the Boracay Action Agenda (BAA) to Globalize MSMEs, which outlines actions that are practical and important for MSMEs’ participation in global trade, such as access to finance, e-commerce, and markets. APEC officials have also developed an Implementation Plan which will guide economies to identify areas of convergence across APEC fora, and work with ABAC on complementary projects and efficient use of resources in implementing MSME initiatives.

• The BAA is complemented by the APEC Iloilo Initiative: Growing Global SMEs for Inclusive Development, which is a guiding framework for integrating SMEs into international trade and global value chains. APEC has also introduced the APEC MSME

Marketplace as a tool to promote cooperation and linkage across MSMEs and other stakeholders.

• With APEC’s guidance, economies are on track to fulfill the ground-breaking commitment to reduce applied tariffs on the APEC List of 54 Environmental Goods to five percent or less by the end of this year, as agreed by Leaders in 2012.

• APEC will launch the APEC Trade Repository (APECTR) as a one-stop portal for information on trade-related regulations, in line with member economies’ commitment to transparency and predictability in trade.

• APEC has developed Investment Facilitation Action Plan (IFAP) priority actions for 2015-2016. Economies are encouraged to support a more predictable and transparent investment climate and strengthen the role of investment as a driver of growth and jobs. On infrastructure investment specifically, APEC has welcomed the publication of the Guidebook on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Frameworks in the APEC Region as a useful reference for APEC economies in developing PPP infrastructure frameworks. Capacity building in this area

will be strengthened by the initiatives of the APEC PPP Experts Advisory Panel.• Economies have welcomed the interim progress report on the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (SCFAP) in support of our Leaders’ APEC-wide target of achieving a 10-percent improvement in supply chain performance. APEC will continue to move towards this goal by participating in the Capacity Building Plan to Improve Supply Chain Performance, particularly on pre-arrival processing, expedited shipments, advance rulings, release of goods, and electronic payments. Other ongoing APEC programs include the Single Window, Advanced Risk Management, Passenger Name Record, Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network (APMEN), and Authorized Economic Operators (AEO,) which will help develop trade facilitation frameworks that allow efficient transport of legitimate cargo processing.

• APEC has developed Principles on the Movement of Humanitarian Goods and Equipment to facilitate the movement of goods and equipment to disaster areas, address potential capacity gaps in APEC economies, and strengthen cooperation among government institutions, business, and local communities.

• APEC recognizes the constructive role of the Internet and digital economy in harnessing the full potential of businesses and economies, taking into account the need to bridge the digital divide. Through the Ad Hoc Steering Group on the Internet Economy, APEC promotes cooperation and facilitates technological and policy exchanges on cross-cutting internet and digital economy issues.

• 2015 marks the mid-term assessment of the Travel Facilitation Initiative (TFI) launched by Leaders in 2011 as “a cross-cutting initiative to expedite the movement of travelers across the Asia-Pacific region, with the goal of enabling more efficient, more

Briefer: APEC...From page 4

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Investing in a Tourism Enterprise ZoneTourism business consultant John Michael Evidente explains why enlisting with TIEZA

is an attractive proposition for entrepreneurs both local and foreign.

No matter how you look at it, the Philippines has it all, tourism-wise. Apart from its breathtaking natural

resources, our country boasts of centuries-old cultural and heritage attractions that make a business rooted in tourism a viable proposition to the brave of heart (and wallet).

Making tourism an even bigger engine of socioeconomic growth is the goal behind Republic Act 9593, also known as the Tourism Act of 2009. This law also created the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

As the infrastructure and investment arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the TIEZA designates, regulates and supervises the Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs) established under RA 9593. So for those who are keen on investing in tourism enterprises, enlisting with TIEZA to qualify for the incentives under the Tourism Act is a must.

Who qualifies for the TEZ incentives? As TIEZA defines it, it’s “any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any

other form of business organization that is involved in tourism activities inside a designated Tourism Enterprise Zone.”

This goes for anyone putting up tourist facilities, attractions and services such as hotels, resorts, boutique bed-and-breakfast inns, restaurants, shops, department stores, sports and recreational centers, museums and galleries, zoos and theme parks, convention centers, travel and tours, tourist transport, tour guides, adventure sports, and tourism estate management, and other enterprises that may be identified by the DOT or TIEZA.

Registered Tourism Enterprises (RTEs) operating outside a TEZ may also register and apply for the incentives under RA 9593 if they will undertake “a substantial expansion or upgrade of its facilities” that should be at least 50 percent of their original investment.

The law outlines the characteristics of a geographical area that may be designated as a TEZ and the policies for its establishment. A Tourism Enterprise Zone is defined as an area determined by TIEZA of at least

five hectares meant for tourism-related development, whether “brownfield” (with any existing infrastructure or development) or “greenfield” (without development).

Incentives for RTEsThe law clearly states that to avail of

incentives, a tourism enterprise must locate in a TEZ and must register with TIEZA. However, only those existing accommodation establishments located outside of the TEZ can be a Registered Tourism Enterprise and may avail of incentives from TIEZA.

Other tourism enterprises may avail of incentives, which are both fiscal and non-fiscal, provided that their tourism activities are included in the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) of the DOT.

TIEZA says it offers a package of fiscal incentives “superior to those of other Philippine investment agencies, if not those in the region.” In summary, they are:• A six-year income tax holiday (ITH), extendible for up to an additional six years, under certain conditions;

• A preferential tax rate of 5 percent on gross income upon expiration of the income tax holiday; • Tax and duty-free importation of capital equipment; • Under certain conditions, the tax-free importation of goods, or tax credits for local sourced goods, that are consumed in the course of providing services within TEZs; and • A social responsibility incentive for environment, culture, or community livelihood projects, as a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the cost of such projects.

The ITH may last up to a dozen years at the most if the tourism enterprise undertakes substantial expansion or upgrade of facilities before the original six-year ITH period expires. Existing tourism enterprises may also be entitled to the six-year ITH if they can undertake expansions and upgrades.

There is a provision for loss carry-over for the next six consecutive years immediately following the year of the loss, according to a commentary by Joy S. Formaran Duclan of P&A-Grant Thornton. “As this incentive is under the ITH section, it is not clear, however, how this privilege can be availed of if the enterprise is already enjoying ITH,” she adds.

After the income tax holiday, the 5 percent tax on the gross income of new tourism enterprises is in lieu of all other national and local taxes, license fees, imposts and assessments, except real estate taxes and such fees as may be imposed by TIEZA. Gross income shall be determined based on the provisions of the Tax Code.

Image courtesy of Bugphai at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10

Life at the active north side

A vida Land Corp. adds to its roster of developments on the active north side of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) with The

Montane on 8th Avenue. Situated at the center of North BGC, The Montane is a high-rise residential development with unit specifications upgraded from Avida’s usual offerings, and design that is inspired by simplicity and sophistication.

Residents of The Montane can look forward to brighter days in BGC, from the moment they awake to free-flowing air and sunlight. The development is ideal for individuals and families who prefer active establishments and green spaces integrated into the urban landscape.

Landscaped gardens, a lap pool, and viewing decks for lounging are just some amenities within The Montane. Step outside, and parks, a Turf football field, a trapeze school, and Kidzania, the newest edutainment center for children, are just a short walk away. Whatever you choose to do within or outside your unit, it’s all part of a lifestyle that lights you up.

With the Montane, residents can relish the best of BGC, being within walking distance of world-class establishments and all that BGC has to offer. To be specific, there are five commercial areas, three hotels, two churches, five active zones, one international school, and a museum all within BGC Active North -- all satisfying the body, mind, and spirit.

With 33 of its 39 floors dedicated to residential spaces, The Montane will have five podium parking levels, retail spaces in its ground floor and lobby area, amenities and garden units on the seventh level, and bi-level units on its two topmost levels. Units are maximized for natural lighting and ventilation.

The Montane is ready for telephone, cable and Internet connections, and the project also features a centralized garbage disposal system, a mailbox per unit, bicycle racks and motorcycle parking, and reserved parking for three-bedroom and four-bedroom loft units. Safety features such as a fully addressable alarm and sprinkler system, two fire exits per floor, emergency power and CCTVs in critical areas come standard.

will include a sports complex, an active park, and rows of greenery around its residential and office buildings by Avida. Indeed, this Avida development is ideal for urbanites who seek a balance between home, work, and an active lifestyle. With over 30 percent of BGC dedicated to permanent open spaces, such a balance will remain for years to come.

The Montane on 8th Avenue of Bonifacio Global City is where life radiates

The project is also strategically located on 8th Avenue, which stretches to Kalayaan Avenue, granting easy access to C-5 Road and Makati City. The Montane is also a short walk from one of BGC’s main thoroughfares, 32nd Street, which has offices and a variety of retail establishments.

Future developments in the North BGC

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Look forward to brighter days with the montane

and be part of a lifestyle that lights you up.

secure, and less stressful travel” (TFI Progress Report). The TFI focuses on promoting improvements in such key areas as passenger security screening, immigration and customs processing, fostering regional adoption of best practices for airports, and the pursuit of next-generation approaches to facilitating regional travel. The TFI encompasses six main pillars: the Airport Partnership Program, the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), the Trusted Traveler Program, Air Passenger Security Screening, Advance Passenger Information (API), and Checked Baggage Facilitation.

• Economies confirmed the extension of validity of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) from three to a maximum of five years beginning September 1, 2015. The ABTC allows business people to travel visa-free in the APEC region (implemented by 19 out of 21 economies)

Inclusive growth through good governance

• APEC has thus put forward an APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth that embeds the principles of institution building, social cohesion/equity, and concern for environmental impact of economic/industrial activities as new dimensions with which growth should be pursued. The strategy underscores how quality growth is about the economic well-being of every individual and of every economy, focusing on how growth can be sustained over the medium- to long-term. Thus, governments of each APEC economy are called to ensure the principles of good governance, transparency, and inclusion

Briefer: APEC...From page 9

in their individual economic pursuits.• In the next five years until 2020, this

document will serve as a strategic guide for APEC as an institution and as individual economies in strengthening quality growth through agreed initiatives that could be pursued collectively or unilaterally. Initiatives cover various areas: health, access to quality education, skills training, mobility, MSMEs’ access to capital, and preparedness for and resilience to disasters such as by adopting set principles for the movement of humanitarian goods during disasters. The framework also supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, reduce inequality, and ensure the well-being of all.

Inclusive growth through resilient and sustainable communities

• APEC 2015 discussions have thus focused on the human and societal dimensions of our APEC work: such as actions to address the core issues of income disparity, access to food and water, disruptive and abrupt technological shifts, changing demographics, problems of uncontrolled urbanization, pandemics, disaster risks, and climate change.

• The work of the APEC Human Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG) has been geared towards developing 21st century skills that increase people’s employability, productivity, and ability to respond to emerging business demands. Their work includes programs aimed at promoting competitiveness by facilitating the mobility of skilled labor, and

ensuring the quality of skills and competencies that meet supply chain demands of the region. Current projects include the APEC Labor Market Portal, APEC Occupational Standards Referencing Framework, APEC Vocational Training Project in Cooperation with Enterprises, and the HRDWG 2015-2018 Action Plan directed towards vulnerable groups in society, such as persons with disabilities, women and children, as well as mobile workers.

• This year, APEC met its target of 1 million intra-APEC university-level students per year by 2020, through the contributions of the APEC Higher Education Research Center and APEC Scholarship Initiative.

• APEC recognizes the significant role women play in the economy. APEC has developed the Strategic Plan of the Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE) 2015-2018 to advance women’s full and equal economic participation through improved access to capital and assets; access to markets; skills, capacity building, and health; women’s leadership, voice, and agency; and innovation and technology.

• Projects include the Women and the

Economy Dashboard to track, measure, and communicate progress in reducing barriers to women’s economic participation; the Guide in Gender Criteria for APEC Project Proposal to ensure mainstreaming of gender perspectives across APEC; and the Policy Toolkit on Healthy Women, Healthy Economy to improve the physical and mental health, safety, and well-being of women in the workplace.

• The APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework facilitates collective work in building adaptive and disaster-resilient economies supporting inclusive and sustainable development in the face of the “new normal” – the increasing frequency, magnitude and scope of natural disasters, and the resultant disruption on the increasingly integrated and interlinked production and supply chains. The framework enables collaboration on the four inter-operable and mutually reinforcing pillars, namely: Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Rehabilitation and Build Back Better.

• The APEC High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue Economy Plan of Action enhances efforts to ensure the security of the region’s food supply and sustainable agricultural and water management. The plan ensures all citizens have access to food through the reduction in waste and loss along the food supply chain, agribusiness promotion, market development, and open and fair trade that enable the integration of small scale fishers and fish farmers into global food chains.

• APEC economies are working on the aspirational target of reducing aggregate energy intensity from 2005 levels by 45 percent by 2035 through collaboration on energy-efficient and low carbon development. APEC is also committed to prioritize clean and renewable energy

Turn to page 14Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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charcoal briquettes, bio-fertilizers, pots, and garbage bins.What remains to be resolved now is the wastewater

treatment and coastal management for the island. The notable “green bloom” of algae on Boracay’s white sands and the stench on some parts of the beach are due to the “dangerously high” levels of coliform bacteria seeping out of the island’s sewer system, and some establishments have been accused of running their effluents straight into the ocean.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, according to Dulay’s column in the Times, pointed to the failure of these establishments to properly connect to the sewerage lines being operated by the Boracay Island Water Company (BWIC). The company is building a water transmission line and a sewage treatment plant that will reportedly cost around P600 million.

Dulay, however, asserts that some homes or businesses “would find it difficult if not impossible to connect to the sewerage grid” because BWIC has not finished the sewer and

Waste not... Investing in...From page 6 From page 9

drainage lines. “As a result, untreated wastewater continues to find its way into the coastal waters,” the columnist adds.

Finally, the JICA study reported by CNN Philippines, which is part of a larger project called Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management, notes that Boracay’s coral cover declined by 70 percent from 1998 to 2011. The fastest rate of the decline happened from 2008 to 2011 when tourist arrivals rose by over 38 percent.

If the trend continues, the JICA team said that Boracay would endanger its most notable asset – its powdery white sand – as the island is already experiencing beach erosion. The coral reefs around the island help prevent that erosion by softening the impact of the ocean waves on the beaches, the CNN report explained.

Without its white sand, Boracay is just another tropical island, not worthy of being visited by millions of Filipinos and foreigners yearly. And if the waste that its people and visitors leave behind continues to grow into an untamed monster, then it’s time for people like me who have lived here to find another island to call home.

The Philippines is touted as the Milan of Asia in the global market for furniture. The unparalleled design and craftsmanship of locally manufactured furniture pieces have earned for Philippine furniture a prime spot

in the world market.Many people, however, have differing ideas on what

exactly constitutes upscale furniture, which Pinoy-made pieces are now an integral part of, owing to continued international recognition for excellence in product design and craftsmanship, as well as creativity and innovation in the application of materials.

We consulted architect and interior designer Alessandra Nati, an Italian consultant for a Filipino-Italian design company based in Makati City, on the reasons why Filipino furniture continues to make an impact in this highly-competitive market, as local manufacturers keep selling

premium quality furniture to the world’s middle to high-end furniture markets. Here are some reasons that she shared:

Filipino furniture is uniqueIn general, the affluent and so-called high net worth

individuals (HNWI) “want to have one-of-a-kind objects in their houses that no one else has,” and Philippine furniture is certainly outstanding in that regard, Nati says. “People are shifting from big brands to local artisans and small boutiques. If you go to the luxury shops, you will find the same assortment of goods no matter where you are. How can a thing be considered luxurious – where the buyer doesn’t mind how much it costs – if it is not original and rare?” It’s one reason, Nati adds, that even Filipino vintage pieces have become so popular.

Furniture is an experienceBefore, people tended to buy tangible “status” things

to demonstrate their wealth, but today “they prefer to buy unique experiences,” Nati says. How does that affect furniture? “People want to have luxury experiences in their houses, whether it is a spa-center in their bathroom or a home cinema system.” Clients have forced this trend on interior designers, she adds, as they expect their furniture to become an experience as well. That is the reason why most high-end stores today have 3D visualization software, which has become a compulsory element of furniture and design

presentation.

The sustainability movement

More people, especially the wealthy, have embraced their responsibility to the environment

and want their furniture to reflect the same, says Nati. “Sustainable no longer means cheap,” she adds. “For

example, furniture producers make stunning furniture from reclaimed wood, which adds unique character and history to the item.” Designers also no longer debate about the possibility of merging luxury and sustainability, as luxury is already becoming environmentally conscious,” Nati says.

An expression of individualityAnother change in the upscale furniture market today

is that people become less affected by fashion and trends. “They will not buy thing just because it is super-popular if they don’t like it,” Nati says. “They want their house to be built and decorated according to their needs and tastes.” Luxury, in this sense, means “custom-anything”: from custom furniture to custom lampshades.

Nati adds that nowadays, there is no certain definition of luxury, as everybody has his or her own understanding of it. “Luxury is freedom to live the life you want. You have to answer the question: What does luxury mean to you?” That goes even with the upscale, Philippine-made furniture you adorn your home with.

Understanding upscale furnitureAn Italian interior designer talks to Todd delos Santos on why Philippine-made furniture is the darling of the world’s middle-to-high-end markets

What’s “special and peculiar” about RA 9593, added Duclan, is that the grant of incentives is not limited to RTEs within TEZs. “The law recognizes that there are other laws under which tourism enterprises may enjoy incentives such as the PEZA law or the Omnibus Investments Code administered by the Board of Investments, as well as the Bases Conversion and Development Act,” she notes.

Non-fiscal benefits for tourism enterprises, meanwhile, are the administrative incentives offered by TIEZA in the form of a “one-stop shop” for services. The agency says it “has worked closely with other government agencies to ensure the speedy and responsible approval of applications.”

Thus, TIEZA says it offers a package “superior to that of other investment agencies,” because of all the reasons above that in essence promotes sustainable and responsible tourism. If you have the heart – and the wallet – for a tourist business, then it’s time to sign up today.

14

sports

HUBLOTFounder/Year: Carlo Crocco, 1980 (Geneva, Switzerland) Crocco is a scion of Italy’s Binda Group watchmaking dynasty founded by Innocente Binda in 1906, so Hublot has pedigree despite its relatively young age. Crocco struck out on his own in 1976, named the brand after the French word for “porthole,” and created the first natural rubber strap in watchmaking history. The luxury brands group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) bought Hublot from Crocco in 2008, and now the watch is on the wrists of celebrities like the rapper Jay-Z, football stars Leo Messi and David Beckham, and basketball icon Kobe Bryant.

PANERAIFounder/Year: Giovanni Panerai, 1860 (Florence, Italy)

The brand, with headquarters in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, made its mark in World War II by supplying

timepieces for the Royal Italian Navy, using cases designed and made by Rolex.

It owes a lot of its popularity to actor Sylvester Stallone, who in 1995 bought a small batch from a jeweler in Rome to give to friends. Two years later, the luxury goods conglomerate Richemont bought the brand, which is now sported by the likes of Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Hugh Grant, Russell Crowe and Pierce Brosnan.

BREGUETFounder/Year: Abraham-Louis Breguet, 1775 (Paris)Breguet invented both the tourbillon (a device that helps counter the effects of gravity in a mechanical watch, a staple of high-end watches) and the wrist watch, and the brand gained its prominence by being the favored timepiece of the French Royal Family, particularly Marie Antoinette (yes, the queen beheaded by guillotine during the French Revolution). Modern-day Breguets, now made by The Swatch Group, command prices in the millions of dollars.

High-end watches...From page 3

HONORABLE MENTIONS (because we simply don’t have enough space to discuss them all): Moinet, Jaeger Le Coultre, IWC, Rolex, Omega, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Blancpain, and Bulgari.

technologies, taking into account APEC’s aspirational goal of doubling the shares of renewables in the APEC energy mix from 2010 levels by 2030.

• APEC commits to accelerate our efforts to enhance productivity through safe, secure, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems, and to promote innovations in the transportation sector as we move towards achieving inclusive mobility and global supply chain resilience. To this end, APEC implements the APEC Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan through projects including: Promoting Regional Economic Integration by Deriving Supply Chain Connectivity Benefits over Cross-Cutting Issues in Transport, Energy, Environment and Human Health; Global Supply Chain Resilience (Phase 3); and IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Implementation Assistance Program (ICIAP).

• APEC commits to enhance the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities and to eliminate barriers to their economic participation. To contribute to the development of a disability-inclusive economy, APEC established the APEC Group of Friends on Disability to promote sharing of information, resources and good practices on disability issues among APEC members. APEC is also developing an Inclusive Mobility Framework in 2016 aimed to develop safe, secure and accessible transportation for persons with disabilities.

[Editor’s Note: This article was taken from a press release

posted on APEC 2015’s official website, apec2015.ph]

Briefer: APEC...From page 10

From small acornsRugby in the Philippines is still in its

infancy, but our sports editor Dimitris Lyritzis says it has the potential to grow

players as mighty as oak trees

R ugby is not a game you’d normally associate with the Philippines, but, the way things are going, you soon will.

The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) was actually founded in 1999, but, until around 2005, its activities were limited, mostly due to the very simple fact that there was only one team registered, Nomads. They had no one else to play with, so they scrambled around playing touring sides, or occasionally going abroad to take part in other tournaments, and players were predominantly expats.

But the last few years have seen the formation of several other teams, mostly made up of Filipino nationals who were living abroad and have now returned, a large contingency of locals, several students from places like Fiji and Samoa who are now studying here, and a mere smattering of foreign nationals.

A national team was formed around ten years ago, the Philippine Volcanoes, made up of mostly Filipinos living abroad, and they joined the Asian Rugby Football Union competing in the third tier, mostly losing against teams like Korea, Hong Kong, or Japan, and occasionally winning against teams like Brunei, Guam, India, or Iran. In 2012, they finally entered the International

ranks), Clarke, Mavericks – but it is not a league as such, and more of a series of mini-tournaments held over the space of two weeks or so.

There are three different competitions, the 7’s (running from October until Christmas), the 10’s (January to March), and the 15’s (April to May), and teams compete in all-day tournaments over two to three weekends where they all play each other in a type of knockout format, with the final held on the last day.

While the standard of players is variable, it is rapidly improving, with more and more national team members coming back to live and work in the Philippines and putting more hours into coaching, and more players joining up while the existing ones just keep on progressing.

It seems that the game’s organized

Rugby Board (IRB) World Rankings for the first time, ranked 71st place, soon rising to 55th within just one year.

They actively went to work trying to persuade some of the players to “come home” and invest in the future of the sport, and many have since done just that,

and structured in an ad hoc, organic, constantly-evolving type of way, which is par for the course for a sport in its infancy and still plying its wares in a niche market place. One tournament that has been going on since 1989, and has helped raise rugby’s profile in this country, is the Nomads 10’s International, a huge weekend event held at Nomads Sports Club in March and which attracts teams from all over Asia, with even an All Blacks representative team taking part.

Rugby has only been around for a few years, and, like any new sport, especially in a country dominated by basketball, volleyball and boxing, it will take a while to be widely accepted. But the sport has made huge strides in a relatively short period of time, and, with the standard constantly rising, the future looks promising.

procuring employment in different companies and putting a little back into the game by coaching the teams that they play for.

The “league” is made up of the handful of teams which exist – like Nomads, Globe, Eagles (from Alabang, and probably the strongest team with several national players in their

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