Philippines' New World Record

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte, Manila Bulletin

Guinness World Records adjudicator Jack Bronkbank affirms the new record set by the Philippines

The Guinness World Records has accorded the Philippines with a new recognition: As the country with the largest coin mosaic. Measuring 250.2 square meters in size, 25 teams formed the image in 25 hours with P5 and 10 centavo copper coins, the bronze-colored 25-centavo coins, the silver finish of P1 coins, the gold finish of P5, and the dual-toned face of P10 coins.

“Forming the coin mosaic is our way of giving back to the Filipino people – the people who have helped us become what we are today. The value of the coins used in the mosaic will be used to help fund the development of chosen elementary public schools through multimedia tools and resources,” said Patricia Riingen, Western Union’s VP for South Asia and Oceania.
The mosaic is now the world’s largest in terms of surface area; bearing the image of WU’s 25th anniversary logo with the rising sun to represent hope and a brighter future while the abstract of a dove to symbolize the company’s ambition for the young children who will benefit from the undertaking.

“It’s an incredibly difficult undertaking and not an easy task at all. The Guinness World Records is an affirmation of humankind’s constant striving to be the best. The coin mosaic record was first set in the UK at 140 sq-m. This was toppled by the US in April 2015 with a 156 sq-m mosaic. And today, the Philippines sets the new record at 250 sq-m,” confirmed Guinness World Records adjudicator Jack Brockbank, who flew in from London to verify the attempt.

The worthwhile undertaking was part of WU’s TANYAG (Technology Aiding the Nation’s Youth to Accelerate Growth) project, an initiative to help educate the next generation using technology and tools to further young mind’s learning. Each of the 25chosen public elementary schools will receive 32-inch LED TV monitors, speaker sets, laptops pre-loaded with Knowledge Channel’s videos together with calendars and magazines, optical mice, HDMI cables, as well as auto voltage regulators. Also included in the package is an e-game uploaded from kchonline.ph that will help students gain a more comprehensive learning experience in mathematics and financial literacy.
“With money moved for better, the economy prospers. The company is present in 200 countries and territories worldwide, including the Philippines. 250 WU employees helped in putting together the mosaic that utilized close to half a million coins of various denominations. We earmarked P3.5-million worth of gadgetry for our school beneficiaries,” Riingen added.

250 Western Union employees completed the 250-sq.m mosaic in 25 hours

Of the 25 public elementary schools, five will come from Metro Manila (Taguig, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan and Muntinlupa), five from the Visayas (Cebu, Iloilo, Catbalogan, Tacloban and Bacolod), five from Mindanao (Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Surigao City and Davao del Norte) and ten from Luzon provinces (Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Bataan and Quezon).

Metro Pacific Seeks Majority Control of Davao Doctors Hospital

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Business ( Leaderboard Top ), pagematch: , sectionmatch: 1Metro Pacific seeks majority control of Davao Doctors Hospital for P1.6 B

By Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star) 

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The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led hospital firm commenced yesterday a general offer to acquire the remaining shares of stock in the Davao-based hospital through law firm SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices. File photo

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. (MPHHI), the healthcare unit of industrial conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is seeking a majority stake in Davao Doctors Hospital Inc. (DDH).

The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led hospital firm commenced yesterday a general offer to acquire the remaining shares of stock in the Davao-based hospital through law firm SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices.

The hospital subsidiary currently owns 313,655 shares or 34.82 percent of the outstanding capital stock of DDH and wants to acquire the remaining 587,154 shares of stock in the medical institution for roughly P1.614 billion.

MPHHI  acquired its stake in DDH for P500 million in 2009 and has since poured in P400 millionin 2009  in investments to improve the facility.

MPHHI is offering a higher price per share if it would be able to acquire a higher number of shares. It laid down three conditions as basis for the offer price.

In its offer, MPHHI said if as a result of the tender, it will acquire less than 136,747 DDH shares, the offer price shall be P2,300 per share.

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On the other hand, if as a result of the tender MPHHI acquires at least 136,747 DDH shares but less than 286,881 shares, the offer price shall be P2,600 per share.

Finally, MPHHI said if it acquires at least 286,881 DDH shares, the purchase price shall be P2,750 per share.

The offer period will be until Nov. 19, MPHHI said.

As of  end-June, the Metro Pacific Group has nine hospitals with a total bed count of 2,245: Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Asian Hospital & Medical Center and De Los Santos Medical Center in Metro Manila; Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital in Tarlac; Riverside Medical Center in the Visayas; and Davao Doctors Hospital and WMMC in Mindanao; one mall- based diagnostic and ambulatory care center located in SM Megamall; and two healthcare colleges – Riverside College Inc. in Visayas and Davao Doctors College in Mindanao.

The hospital group’s first half net income this year rose 23 percent to P565 million.

Global Competitiveness: Philippines up 5 Notches

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star) 

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The Philippines ranked 47th among 140 economies this year, an improvement from its 52nd spot among 144 countries last year, a WEF report released yesterday showed. The ranking last year was seven notches higher than the previous year’s spot.

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines continues to claw its way up the world competitiveness rankings as it climbed five notches in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Index 2015-2016.

The country ranked 47th among 140 economies this year, an improvement from its 52nd spot among 144 countries last year, a WEF report released yesterday showed. The ranking last year was seven notches higher than the previous year’s spot.

The WEF competitiveness ranking is measured based on how institutions, policies and other factors affect the level of productivity of a country.

The Philippines got the highest ranking in terms of macroeconomic environment followed by market size and business sophistication.

The country, however, lagged in terms of infrastructure, labor market efficiency and goods market efficiency.

In emerging and developing Asian economies, the report revealed that competitiveness trends are mostly positive, despite the many challenges and profound intra-regional disparities.

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China and most of the Southeast Asian countries performed well, while South Asian countries and Mongolia continued to lag behind.

The WEF report said the five largest members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Malaysia (18th), Thailand (32nd), Indonesia (37th), the Philippines (47th) and Vietnam (56th) – all rank in the top half of the overall Global Competitiveness Index rankings.

“Our report finds worrying signs that a new normal of suppressed economic and productivity growth and persistently high unemployment is damaging resilience and leaving the world vulnerable to another protracted slump,” the WEF report read.

“Here, emerging markets represent the greatest cause for concern, with many of the larger markets seeing reverses this year, having failed to enact crucial institutional and market reforms during better times (India being the notable exception),” it said.

“In Europe, we see improvement in many southern economies, helping narrow slightly the region’s north-south divide. Access to finance remains the key challenge across the region, however,” the WEF report stated.

“In Asia, three economies – Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong – appear in the top 10; the ASEAN bloc continues to perform strongly and China holds steady on 28th,” it added.

Foreign business groups welcomed the positive improvement in the country’s global ranking, but noted that there are still plenty of things that the Philippines needs to address to be totally competitive.

“It’s good to see the country’s further improvement in the survey but there is obviously the need to immediately focus on the most problematic factors, with the lack of infrastructure being the biggest danger to the competitiveness of the country’s economy,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines  vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher said.

'Heneral Luna" is Philippines' Entry to Oscars 2016

By Nathalie Tomada (The Philippine Star) 

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John Arcilla stars as Antonio Luna in the film ‘Heneral Luna.’

MANILA, Philippines - Heneral Luna has just been chosen as the Philippines’ official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of next year’s Oscars.

Directed by Jerrold Tarog, the historical biopic with John Arcilla playing the titular role as Gen. Antonio Luna, has been reaping rave reviews for its unblinking depiction of Luna’s vital role in Philippine history somewhat contrary to the accounts in Philippine history books.

Asked for a reaction regarding the latest development, Arcilla said that it’s a “self-recognition” for the country that it’s capable of making films like Heneral Luna. “The support and reaction of the people who have seen the film speaks for itself. It’s proof that Pinoys have realized that they deserve good films.”

“I’m happy for us Filipinos,” he said, “and I’m happy for Antonio Luna because we were able to shed life on his story 120 years after his death.”

In an earlier interview, Arcilla said that the film — set during the Philippine-American war — covers the period from the time Gen. Luna was assigned to be the head of the revolutionary army as general in the Philippines to his assassination. Arcilla said that the film producers and cast members like himself are ready for the long and intense Oscar campaign ahead so that they can make the final cut.  

Heneral Luna is now showing in cinemas on its second week. Last week, an online clamor erupted following news that the number of theaters playing the film was reduced to 41 after it opened last Sept. 9 in 101 cinemas.

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Arcilla happily noted that thanks to word of mouth and wellspring of support online, more theaters have now accommodated the film, now numbering to 70 nationwide.        

Develop More Filipino Athletes!

 (The Philippine Star) 

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Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Philstar.com/File

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday asked the Philippine Sports Commission to revisit its grassroots development programs and create opportunities for homegrown athletes to achieve their Olympic dreams.

And with this, Escudero said, the PSC should help minimize the recruitment of Fil-foreign athletes by national sports associations (NSAs) seeking shortcuts to victory in international competitions.

Escudero said many sports associations have relied too much on Fil-foreign athletes, leaving their doors half-closed to homegrown athletes who strive hard to get noticed in PSC-organized Batang Pinoy, the Palarong Pambansa and other regional grassroots competitions.

“It will not be good for our homegrown athletes if these NSAs would continue to rely on the Fil-foreign athletes. This is the NSAs’ shortcut formula to success, tapping trained athletes who are ready to compete,” Escudero said.

Escudero said the PSC has enough years to develop local athletes for the 2019 SEA Games, which the Philippines would host after Brunei announced its withdrawal from the task last year.

“The PSC should pounce on the opportunity from this hosting chore,” Escudero said. “There is the Palarong Pambansa, the Batang Pinoy, and other national games organized by the other NSAs. We can still aspire for the overall SEAG crown with a sound program.”

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Escudero also noted the Philippines’s drive to an Olympic medal should also focus further than next year’s Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.

“If possible, we should prepare our athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics from the Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa programs and we should refrain from relying on the Fil-foreign athletes. I am not against them, but we should create opportunities to the homegrown athletes and prove that our programs are really working,” Escudero said.

No Filipino athlete has won an Olympic medal since boxer Mansueto Velasco took home a silver from the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

The Philippines last won the overall championship when it hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2005. It was downhill for the Filipino athletes in the regional meet since then.