Category: Economy

Philippines least ‘networked ready’ in ASEAN according to World Economic Forum

May 9, 2014 benign0 6 Comments

The Philippines ranks last in “networked readiness” among its former peers in the ASEAN’s major economies with Singapore taking the second spot in the top ten most “networked” economies in the world… This is according to the 2014 Global Information Technology Report issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Networked readiness is measured by the…

Development, Economy, Lifestyle, Media, Tech Talk

Philippine Labor Day rhetoric: the same old bullshit

April 26, 2014April 26, 2014 benign0 24 Comments

So it’s “Labor Day” again this 1st of May in the Philippines. What do the usual suspects who champion the workers’ “fight” have to offer this time in terms of rhetoric? Considering that they’ve milked the easy ones dry — anti-Americanism, anti-imperialism, anti-incumbent-government, higher wages, more jobs, etc. — what else is there? There is…

Development, Economy, Politics

Substance matters in an economic crisis

April 15, 2014July 17, 2022 benign0 4 Comments

Equity. It is that ethereal quality of an entity — be it a person, a business, or an entire society — that spells the difference between the authentic and the pretentious, the sustainable and the fleeting, the substantial and the shallow. When you think “America” what comes to mind? Most likely it will be names…

Development, Economy

Towards a more ethical regard for consumption

April 8, 2014 benign0 6 Comments

What we as ordinary people can contribute to the effort to combat climate change lies in some personal behaviours of ours that we have direct control over — our consumption habits. We just need to pause and take the time to think and reflect upon what motivates us to buy and consume the way we…

Civics, Economy, Environment, Lifestyle

P17.5 Billion Mactan Cebu International Aiport Upgrades Doomed By Dysfunctional Pinoy Competition Culture

April 2, 2014April 2, 2014 P. Farol 8 Comments

Or The Thirds’ Word War If there is one key take away from one of Sen. Sergio Osmeña the Third’s hearing on the President Benigno Aquino the Third’s Administration’s failure to get any of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) projects on the ground and running, it’s that there’s a pretty good chance that some if…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics

You Want A Progressive Economy? Let The Foreign Banks In

March 26, 2014March 26, 2014 iMoneyPH 6 Comments

The Republic Act No. 7721 is set to be amended to allow more than ten foreign banks in the country. But do you know what the financial implications on Filipinos are? The Philippine Senate committee on banks studies the approval of recent legislations and these are the pros and cons we can expect from this new legislation….

Economy, Government, Money Talks

The country we’ve made for ourselves: why we need an outsider’s perspective

March 25, 2014November 22, 2017 benign0 2 Comments

The following is a copy of the Foreword I wrote for my friend Ben Kritz’s new book Same Planet, Different World: An Outsider’s Inside View of the Philippines. You can download the book from Amazon here onto Kindle or any of a variety of apps also supported by Amazon. We in our clique of the…

Civics, Development, Economy, Government, Money Talks, Politics, Society

What Could Go Right With Manila Bay Reclamation

March 22, 2014 P. Farol 13 Comments

One thing that could go right for Manila Bay Reclamation is that it could pave the way for a new start, without the burden and limitations of a once glorious past that will never be reclaimed. Reclamation is actually a part of a plan for Manila’s growth that was started by the Americans when they…

Development, Economy, Environment