EIU ranks the Philippines world’s best in microfinance

Posted on February 17th, 2010 under Biz Progress

[Photo courtesy ADB]

The Economist Intelligence Unit, the business information arm of The Economist Group, has declared the Philippines as the best in the world in terms of its microfinance environment.

The study conducted by the EIU looked at 55 countries and measured each country’s state of regulatory framework, investment climate and institutional development.

“In 2009, the First Annual Global Microfinance Index and Study declared the Philippines as the best in the world in terms of its microfinance regulatory framework,” the study added.

In all, the Philippines ranked third overall worldwide in terms of microfinance business environment.

“Overall, the Philippines ranked third in the world following the usual microfinance leaders — Peru, and Bolivia,” the study stated.

Latest figures show that 214 banks involved in microfinance have outstanding loans of over P6.4 billion to nearly 900,000 microentrepreneurs who have over P1.5 billion in savings.

The BSP was mandated by the General Banking Law in 2000 to recognize microfinance as a legitimate banking activity and to set the rules and regulations for its practice within the banking sector.

The BSP has, since then, institutionalized microfinance within the BSP and has proactively taken significant initiatives to enable the development of sustainable microfinance.

“In the past nine years, the BSP issued 18 circulars and undertaken major activities and initiatives for microfinance. In recent years, the success in microfinance development has paved the way for further efforts to build an inclusive financial system,” the BSP said.

The BSP’s three-pronged program include the provision of policy and regulatory environment, increasing the capacity of the BSP and the banking sector in microfinance, SME, finance operations, and promoting the development of a sound, sustainable and inclusive financial system.

Fil-Am wins bronze in Vancouver Winter Olympics

Posted on February 15th, 2010 under The Good Balita

J.R. Celski [Photo by Matthew Stockman / Getty Images]

J.R. Celski, a young Filipino-American won his first-ever Olympic medal, a bronze in 1500 meter speed skating event in the ongoing Vancouver Winter Olympics in Canada.

Celski born in Monterey, California is the youngest of three brothers. His father is Robert Celski served in the U.S. Army and his mom is a Filipina named Sue.

J.R. when he was young was an ace at in-line skating. His speed and tactics earned him many plaudits in the youth in-line circuit. But it was in 2002 that he watched his idol Apolo Ohno compete at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

As Celski watched Apolo grace the turns, salvage a silver in the 1,000 and skate to gold in the 1,500 meters, it was clear to J.R. that his future lay in short track.

Even though he missed the minimum-age requirment for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin by just over a fortnight, a bronze medal in the 500 meters at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Romania was a sign of things to come.

At the 2009 World Championships in Vienna, Celski skated to gold in the 3,000 meters and also earned another a member of the 5,000 meter relay team. He also cruised to bronze medals in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

At the 2009 World Junior Championships in Quebec, J.R. Celski was at it again, earning a gold in the 500 meters and another with the 3,000 meter relay team.

That set things up for the 2010 Winter Olympics Trials in Marquette, Mich. While Celski qualified for the 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, he was injured in a crash during the semifinals of the 500 meters. A right skate slashed into his left leg.

As he was carried off to the hospital, Celski wondered if he was going to be healed in time to join his mentor Ohno in Vancouver. It turned out that the man upstairs had a plan for the young lion from Monterey.

In heat 3 of the 1,500 meters, Celski finished second to Lee Sung-Su to advance to the semi-finals. And in the semi-finals, Celski was able to just second behind another Korea, Sung Si-Bak, to advance to the final.

However, in the last lap of the 1,500 meters at the Pacific Coliseum, it looked as if the Korea trio of Lee Jung-Su, Sung Si-Bak, and Lee Ho-Suk would make it was 1-2-3 finish for South Korea. And it was a certainty that Celski’s ambition of earning a medal would have to wait.

One must realize, however, that the sport of short track speed skating has a nasty tendency to throw curve balls as a habit. Spills occur. Nothing is certain. An anonymous observer put it simply, “That’s short track.”

Even Celski realized that he was never safe from not staying on his skates during the trials. Thankfully, it was not gonna happen to him tonight.

With Ohno ahead, and both Sung and Lee Ho-Suk behind, the latter two’s skates tangled, allowing Ohno to achieve his personal record for the most medals by an American at a winter Olympic Games.

And it also gave young J.R. Celski, the lion who overcame injury and uncertainty to come to Vancouver, his first-ever Olympic medal.

It was the symbol of six months gone full circle. Celski’s toughness and perseverance allowed him to skate away from pain and tragedy, and into triumph and redemption.

Could J.R. Celski be the next great short track hero from the USA? With the foundation set, and renewed sense of confidence, you’d better believe that when he hits the ice, this rising star with a lion-sized heart is on the prowl and will be hungry for more.

Tropical nations at the Winter Olympics

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Although traditionally associated with cold weather nations, the Winter Olympics have also had participation from several tropical nations. The typical climate of these nations is not conducive to participation in winter sports, and no Winter Olympic medals have ever been won by a tropical nation. Probably because of that, their entries are a subject of human interest stories during the Games.^[1][2][3]

The first participation of a warm weather nation in the Winter Games was Mexico. Much of Mexico is at a latitude north of the Tropic of Cancer, and most of the country has a desert or semi-arid climate, so it is not exclusively a tropical nation. Nonetheless, Mexico made its Winter debut at the 1928 Winter Olympics^[4] with a five-man bobsleigh team that finished eleventh of twenty-three entrants.^[5] Mexico did not return again to the Winter Games until 1984.^[6]

The first truly tropical nation to compete in the Winter Olympic Games is the Philippines, who sent two alpine skiers to the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.^[7] Ben Nanasca placed 42nd in the giant slalom event (out of 73 entrants), but Juan Cipriano did not finish. In the slalom event, neither skier was able to finish. Costa Rica became the second tropical nation to participate at the Winter Games, in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York,^[8] where Arturo Kinch also competed in alpine skiing events. Kinch would continue to compete for Costa Rica at three more Winter Games, including the 2006 Games at age 49. There he finished 96th in the 15 km cross-country skiing event, ahead of only Prawat Nagvajara of Thailand.^[3][9]

The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada attracted a large number of tropical nations, including Costa Rica, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.^[10] The Jamaican Bobsled Team became a fan favorite at these Games^[11] and were later the inspiration behind the 1993 motion picture Cool Runnings.

The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy marked the Winter Games debut of Ethiopia^[2] and Madagascar,^[12] and the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Canada will see the debut of the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Ghana and Peru.^[13]

Josh Santana Releases Solo Album By Star Records January 16, 2005

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Actor/singer Josh Santana has a lot to be proud of these days. After going on a short hiatus from his showbiz career to continue his studies (he's on his third year as an AB English Major at FEU), he's back once again to pursue his other dream. His fans will surely be glad to know that his much-awaited self-titled solo album has just been released. Boasting of ten diverse tracks, this album aptly showcases what Josh is all about.

What kind of music can Josh's fans expect from his album? A variety of changing moods and sounds -- from the romantic ballads "Di Ko Kaya", "Nasa'n Ka", "Maibabalik Ko Ba" and "Ikaw Lang Pala" to the R&B-flavored "Muli" and "Pagka't Sa Pangarap". From the mid-tempo easy listening tracks "Mahal Naman Kita" and "Can't Help Fallin'" to the upbeat and danceable ditty "Mahal Na Mahal". Multi-awarded and famed album producer/songwriter Jonathan Manalo produced the album.

His first single "Di Ko Kaya" is an instant hit on radio, storming the airwaves and quickly garnering top requests. Renowned television and music video director Connie Macatuno directs the music video for the song.

A multi-media talent, Josh is a TV, music and film icon in his own right. He started his showbusiness career with the boy group Boyztown. Soon after it disbanded, he succumbed to the lure of the boob tube and the silver screen with a cameo role in the feature film Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip and a guest role in the youth-oriented show Berks. His biggest acting break was the lead male role in the teleserye Bituin, wherein he played a popular and highly successful recording artist.

Proving that life imitates art, Josh's singing career soon exploded after Bituin ended. He was launched as a solo recording artist by way of the three-in-one male compilation Solo (which as of press time is certified GOLD), wherein he shared top billing with Divo Bayer and King.

Officially dubbed as the Prince of Songs, Josh's already established fan base would surely receive his own recording effort with the same ardor as they have the Solo album and his TV career. And for sure, he will also be able to attract even more followers. Based from the exceptionally great reception his first single is getting, Josh need not worry. His album has the makings of a certified hit!

Despite Josh's busy schedule -- what with juggling between his studies and career -- he maintains a sunny disposition and a pleasant personality. Rarely, if at all, can you see him with a frown on his face. "I have been singing since I was a kid -- in school, in church… I have really fallen in love with singing. For my album, I was given creative freedom in choosing the songs, in doing my own style. I wasn't dictated upon and for an artist like me, that matters a lot. I enjoyed making this album and I'm sure my fans will be able to relate to it."

Josh Santana is available on CDs and cassettes at record stores nationwide and online via Titik Pilipino, released under Star Records. Get only the original!

Key Philippine beach destinations are set to become the favorite beach-wedding locations for Taiwanese couples ahead of Hawaii.

Ireneo Reyes, director for tourism of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in Taipei, said his office will aggressively promote Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, Davao, and other island and coastal?areas to Taiwanese tourists as an alternative to Hawaii.

“The beauty of our beaches remains one of our major draws for Taiwanese. Many couples looking to get married abroad do so in Hawaii, but Philippine beaches can more than hold their own, especially when cost is factored in,” Reyes said.

He said beach wedding is one of the major themes to be exploited by the Department of Tourism and Meco in their attempt to get a bigger slice of the outbound market of Taiwan in time for the long vacation during the Chinese New Year in 2010.

The Taiwanese also showed interest in dive sites, golf and Filipino schools offering the English language program.

During a recent travel fair in Taiwan, Filipino participants in the fair were able to get a total of 221 confirmed bookings for group tours and more than 800 queries.

In the first three quarters of the year, the number of Taiwanese visitors to the Philippines declined by 14 percent to only 77,126, from 90,104 in the same period last year, but this is expected to rise yet again with more interest from Taiwanese tourists in the country’s destinations.

Tim Maddren invade Hi-5

Australian-based Performer

Tim Maddren is currently working as a professional actor and singer in Australasia.

Tim was born in Australia but educated in New Zealand. In 2003, Tim moved back to Australia to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). He graduated from WAAPA in 2005 and since then has been based in Sydney and more recently, Brisbane. During that time, he has featured in several national advertisements and has played the role of Conner Davies on the television programme BLUE WATER HIGH.(ABC)

Tim is an accomplished musician (piano,trumpet and composition) and comes from a family where Music and the Performing Arts have always played a very important role. His mother is a Music Teacher. his sister is a professional French Horn player who after playing with the NZSO for many years is currently Manager of the Queensland Orchestra; his brother who is based in London, works as a Sound Engineer for some of the world’s top music groups and has just finished up in Bejing where he was Sound Engineer for part of the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Tim is well on his way to developing a stage career for himself as a leading professional Actor/Singer in the Australian Industry.

In 2007 Tim completed the Australasian tour with the Australian cast of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF where he played the role of Fyedka alongside the famous Chaim Topol. During 2008 he performed the role of Luke as part of the original Australian cast of ALTAR BOYZ. After a successful season at the Everest theatre in the Seymour Centre in Sydney, ALTAR BOYZ completed a month long Melbourne season at the Athenaeum Theatre.

Tim is the proud creator www.142pm.com a fun website dedicated to that one very minute of the day. He is currently one of the members of Hi-5 and is excited to be a part of this incredibly special group.

• In the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's phenomenally successful TWILIGHT series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of—only to find herself in greater peril than ever before. With more of the passion, action and suspense that made TWILIGHT a worldwide phenomenon, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON is a spellbinding follow-up to the box office hit.More Details
• Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Rachelle Lefevre, Billy Burke
• Director: Chris Weitz
• Genres: Romantic Fantasy, Thriller