Mindanao’s Parasat Cable TV boosts service with Globe Business connectivity solutions

(L-R) Parasat Cable TV Chairman Elpidio Paras and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu formalize the partnership between Globe and PARASAT.

Parasat Cable Television (PARASAT), Mindanao's only digital television system provider, further boosts its services with connectivity solutions from Globe Business, the information and communications technology arm of Globe Telecom, in response to high demand for broadband internet in the region.

PARASAT has signed up for Globe Business’ Direct Internet which allows the company to offer its customers fast and reliable internet access supported by a robust and broad international and domestic network.

Elpidio Paras, Chairman of PARASAT said, “We continuously improve our operations to achieve a level of excellence that is vastly superior to all others in the industry. Thus, we put our trust in Globe Business to help us strengthen our leadership in state-of-the-art cable TV and broadband services in Southern Philippines and allow us to expand our reach not only in Mindanao but also in Visayas.”

Mike Frausing, Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT Enabled Services Group, on the other hand, said: “We are thrilled and privileged to have been chosen by PARASAT. We are very excited for the partnership and we look forward to the different ways Globe Business can help grow their business through the services that they availed from us.”

To date, PARASAT has coverage in the following areas: Cagayan de Oro City and municipalities of Opol and Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; and San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. It has also formed partnerships with other cable operators in El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan, and Balingasag in Misamis Oriental, as well as in Don Carlos and Valencia in Bukidnon. It is continuously expanding its coverage to the east and west sides of Misamis Oriental.

To learn more about Globe Connectivity Solutions, visit business.globe.com.ph/solution s/connectivity or contact a Globe Business Account Manager.

BOC raises alerts vs agri-products smuggling from India

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has raised alarm against smuggling of agricultural products with the discovery that unscrupulous traders have recently added India in its list of best sources of red onions and other farm yields.

Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon said that the uplifting of BOC’s vigilance on imports of farm products was triggered by the bust of a P15-million worth of smuggled fresh red onions contained in 11 40-footer container vans shipped from India through an Indian-registered vessel E.R. Felixstowe 032 to the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

“It is my first time to hear that onions were imported from India since I took office in July 2017,” Faeldon said.

BOC records, so far, bare that commonly-apprehended smuggled onions came from China and other Asian countries.

Faeldon underscored BOC’s fight against smuggling of agricultural products as a top effort between the agency (through point person Federico E. Laciste, Jr.) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), with full support of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. who heads the inter-agency committee on anti-agricultural smuggling.

BOC is a member of the inter-agency committee on anti-agricultural smuggling composed of the National Food Authority, DA, and the Office of the President through the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

“I have directed the officers of 17 ports and sub-ports to give due attention to importation of agricultural products and closely verify, authenticate, and double check its documents and required permits so that BOC and the inter-agency can and will be able to protect the interest and welfare of Filipino farmers and stop all forms of economic sabotage,” Faeldon said.

Faeldon noted that the seizure of the 11 40-footer container vans of fresh red onions was effected in compliance to the memorandum order of Assistant Secretary Laciste dated December 24, 2016, which cited that the filing of SPS permit validation for agricultural products was allowed until December 31, 2016 only. The onion shipments arrived on January 1, 2017, thus its previous import permit elapsed effectively violating the provisions of Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Neil L. Estrella, citing a report from MICP-CIIS Officer-In-Charge Teodoro Sagaral, said that the 11 40-footer CVs onion importations have two consignees namely: Mheriban Sales Corporation (MSC) with address Room 892 Artex Building, 435Juan Luna Street, Barangay 287, Zone 27, Binondo, Manila and Malaya Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC) with address at Mapaniqui, Candaba, Pampanga.

Of the 11 40-footed CVs, eight (8) were consigned to MSC and three (3) were named to MMPC.

Sagaral, in a report, said the 8 40-footer CVs of MSC were contained in import entry numbers: 2013-17, 1935-17, and 1963-17. The 3 CVs of MMPC were lodged under one import entry numbered: 1381-17.

The MSC onions were loaded in CVs numbered: TTNU8282130; GESU9594042; TTNU8280842; SZLU9154400; SZLU9174768; SZLU9174285; TEMU9033802; and TEMU9158271. The MMPC onion shipments were in CVs numbered: SZLU9175194; TTNU8282167; and TTNU8281160.

EDSAPeoplePower@31 Essay Contest

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. invites students in grades nine through twelve in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland to join an essay writing contest in line with the celebration of the 31st Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

Students from public, private, and parochial schools are eligible to join the contest. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted.

The essay must address the question, “What does freedom mean to you?”

All submissions must be original work, in the English language, not more than 500 words in length, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Arial with a one-inch margin on all sides of the page.

On a separate page, please write full name, grade level, name of school, telephone number, home address, and essay word count. Kindly note that the word count does not apply to cited sources.

Entries must be submitted as Word files to info@philippinesusa.org with EDSAPeoplePower@31 Essay Contest in the subject line.

The deadline for submission is 12:00 PM EST, 21 February 2017.

The winner will receive $200, a certificate of achievement, and the opportunity to meet the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The winning essay will be published on the Embassy’s website (www.philippineembassy-usa.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/philippinesusa) on 25 February 2017.

The EDSA People Power Revolution refers to a series of popular demonstrations that led to the end of the Marcos regime and to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines 31 years ago. The majority of the demonstrations took place on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, more commonly known by its acronym EDSA, in Metro Manila from February 22 to 25, 1986. 

The first peaceful uprising in history, the EDSA People Power Revolution not only restored democracy and supremacy of civilian authority in the Philippines, but also laid out for the world to see the best of the Filipino – peace-loving, courageous and compassionate. It served as an inspiration for similar movements in other countries. 

The theme of this year’s commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution is “A Day of Reflection: Celebrating People Power.”

BOC to auction items at MICP, anticipates more than P16-M in revenue

Philippines -  The Bureau of Customs is expected to generate an additional P16,160,649.62 in revenue as one of its major ports bid out to the public twenty-three (23) lots of abandoned and/or seized goods.

The Manila International Container Port (MICP) will hold on 30 January a public auction sale of various items, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1129 and 1139 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to CAO 10-2007 dated November 28, 2007, and other relevant Customs Memorandum Orders.

The shipments up for auction include four (4) units of Cadillac Escalade and one (1) unit of Lincoln Navigator with a floor price of P2,250,000.00; two (2) units of used car pegged at P600,000.00; two (2) containers of forty (4) footer bicycle parts and accessories pegged at P1,474,000.00; five (5) containers of forty (40) footer color sandwich panels color plate pegged at P2,963,438.62, and one (1) container of forty (40) footer e-bike parts and accessories priced at P1,000,000.00.

Other items up for bidding are forty-eight (48) containers of twenty (20) footer bunker/slop oil with a floor price of P1,096,035.00; two (2) units used Hyundai Starex Ambulance 2003 pegged at P600,000.00; two (2) containers of forty (40) footer Mizuno golf bags and shoes, pegged at P989,100.00; one (1) unit used Kawasaki motorcycle without key, and one (1) unit Valiant rescue boat with key, all valued at P130,000.00; and three (3) units IAC 250 series mini sound shelter pegged at P150,000.00.

Other merchandise includes damaged bags, wallets, and shoes; garments; foamboard; Chumpo e-bike; structural accessories for window covering; sacks of white salt; used household goods; sacks of Portland cement; donated medical supplies and religious books/leaflets.

Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for all qualified bidders is on 26-27 January at the MICP. Interested bidders may inquire with the said port at telephone numbers 245-4101 loc. 2283 or 247-0977, or through our website www.customs.gov.ph.

PH Embassy, Filcom reaffirm enduring PH-US ties on eve of US pres'l inauguration

(L-R) Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Minister Patrick Chuasoto; Philippine Presidential Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar; Philippine National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.; and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State W. Patrick Murphy toast to the enduring ties between the Philippines and the United States at a reception marking the inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump, held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery on 19 January 2017.

WASHINGTON, DC — “We view transitions as opportunities to further relations. The US and the Philippines are treaty allies and we are ready to work on bolstering this alliance on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect. We believe friends help each other and utilize constructive engagement to achieve common goals of greater peace, progress and prosperity. We hope that the close ties between the Philippines and the US will continue to be strengthened in pursuit of common objectives, mutual interest and shared commitment to world peace,” said Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Philippine Embassy, in his welcome remarks at a reception marking the inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump.

The reception was held at the Embassy’s Chancery Annex Building on 19 January 2017, a day before Mr. Trump would be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. Most of the more than 120 attendees are Filipino-Americans from different parts of the US who traveled to Washington, D.C. to witness the historic event.

“The Filipino diaspora has a lot to account for the strong people-to-people ties that bind the Philippines and the US…. It is in this context that Filipino-Americans continue to be an important bridge between our two countries. All of you have the resources, skills and expertise to help perpetuate the conditions for a sustainable, symbiotic, and mutually beneficial engagement between the Philippines and the United States,” Minister Chuasoto remarked.

Philippine Secretary of Presidential Communications Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. were present at the reception. Both officials are in the US capital for the presidential inauguration. They expressed optimism about the future of Philippines-US relations under the Duterte and Trump Administrations.

“Wala po tayong dapat ikabahala, magiging maayos po ang relasyon natin, ang Pilipinas at Amerika. We have this long history of good relations, the United States being the big brother of the Philippines and with more than 3.5 million Filipinos who live in the US,” Secretary Andanar said.

“We join hands with the Americans in witnessing the assumption of office of President Donald Trump and we are honored by that. We look at the presidency as an opportunity for us to renew our ties, strengthen our ties with a long-term ally who has been supporting us since we got our independence up to now,” added Secretary Esperon.

Mr. W. Patrick Murphy, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State agreed and emphasized the shared democratic values, close cooperation, and rich people-to-people ties between the two countries.

“In 2017 we look forward to working with the Philippines for many reasons but one of the most important is that the Philippines has assumed chairmanship of ASEAN and ASEAN is pivotal, it is our keystone to our engagement with the entire Asia Pacific,” Deputy Assistant Secretary Murphy said.

Minister Chuasoto then led the group in a toast to the Filipino-American community, the American people and US Government, and the longstanding partnership and friendship between the Philippines and the United States.

The program concluded with a screening of the video on the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Minister Patrick Chuasoto delivers his welcome remarks at the reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy marking the inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump in the evening of 19 January 2017. 

Philippine Secretary of Presidential Communications Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar (left) and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. (right), who are both in the US capital for the presidential inauguration, graced the reception.

Over 120 guests from the Filipino-American communities of the United States attended the reception marking the US Presidential inauguration held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery on 19 January 2017.

SC says gov't must return tax on PEACe bonds

Philippines, Manila - The Supreme Court (SC) has junked with finality the government's appeal to stop the return of nearly P5 billion in withholding taxes it charged on anti-poverty bonds and pay interest for failure to comply promptly with the court's earlier ruling.

The high court denied the government’s second motion for reconsideration filed by the Office of the Solicitor General for lack of merit.

It said no further pleadings will be entertained.

In August 2016, the Supreme Court ordered the Bureau of Treasury to pay P4,966,207,796 plus a six percent interest per annum from October 2011.

"It is a strong message that the government should not change rules midway to the prejudice of investors in our country," said Francis Lim, a lawyer for the banks.

Former President Gloria Arroyo's administration raised P10.17 billion from the issuance of 10-year Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificates (PEACe) bonds in 2001 and sold them at a discount to non-profit group CODE NGO.

The bonds were later resold, mostly to banks and insurance companies.

The bonds attracted investor interest due to representation that it was exempted from the 20 percent final withholding tax.

But the BIR lifted the exemption days before the bonds matured in October 2011.

The best travel deals for your next dream getaway

Globe Platinum customers get the best deals at the Singapore Airlines Showcase and Travel Fair

Kick-start 2017 with wonderful travels to inspiring destinations. Now on its 4th year of partnership since 2013, Globe Platinum and Singapore Airlines bring theSingapore Airlines Showcase and Travel Fair to Manila starting January 20 to February 20, 2017. Globe Platinum customers can enjoy discounted round trip all-in-fares and other wonderful surprises during this year’s event.

The Globe Platinum & Roaming Team with Singapore Airlines Team during the Singapore Airlines Showcase and Travel Fair press conference at Le Petit Soufle, Makati.

"Traveling is one of our customers’ biggest passions and our longstanding partnership with Singapore Airlines allows us to provide some of the best travel deals! This exclusive access is just some of the many privileges that only we can offer. Our partnership complements the already existing travel privileges of a Globe Platinum customer, such as access to over 800 international airport lounges and our worldwide concierge service. This is just the start of many exciting things and travel opportunities for our customers this 2017,” shares Kaisie del Carmen, Globe Platinum Head.

Kaisie del Carmen, Globe Platinum Head.

Wonderful travel destinations in Southeast Asia, North Asia, West Asia, Africa, Europe and USA, can now be accessed directly from the Philippines through Singapore Airlines (SQ) and SilkAir (MI) with the most affordable fares. Globe Platinum customers can exclusively enjoy year-round discounted flights to these destinations if they purchase their flights from January 20 to February 20, 2017 at any Singapore Airlines Showcase and Travel Fair. Customers can also book their flights to any of these said destinations using their BPI credit card through http://www.singaporeair.com/en _UK/ph/home.

Apart from good deals and discounted fares, customers are in for more treats when they drop by the Globe Platinum lounge during the fair and by simply subscribing to Easy Roam 149. Customers can get a chance to win Moto Z smartphones with Moto Mods by just registering in the lounge onsite. Travelers are also in for a treat as Globe Platinum will give away a Rimowa Hand carry luggage to one lucky customer from the Easy Roam 149 signups during the event. 

Easy Roam 149 is the latest roaming service of Globe that lets customers enjoy 5 cumulative days of data roaming in any of the 120 destination​s​ for only P149/month, charged to their bill. This is perfect for travelers who like to plan ahead for their travels, and save up in the process. To register to Easy Roam, customers just need to text​ Easy Roam 149 to 8080 before leaving the country. Should the customer still be on data roaming​ after the 5 allotted days, the regular rate of P599 for unlimited 24-hour data roaming will apply.

The Singapore Airlines Showcase and Travel Fair will be held in different malls in the Philippines nationwide. On January 27-29, the first run will be held in Ayala Center Cebu- The Gallery. From January 20-22, it will be in Glorietta Activity Center, on February 26-28 in Trinoma Activity Center, and the last and biggest leg within Metro Manila will be at the SMX Convention Center from February 10-12. Customers in Davao can also enjoy discounts and wonderful prizes from February 17-19 in Davao Abreeza Mall Activity Center.

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