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Remittances: Keeping RP’s Economy Healthy

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 10:41 Cynthia De Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

Around 9 million of the Philippines’ 90 million population live and work outside of the country -- mostly as seafarers, construction and IT workers, nurses, doctors, care-givers and domestic helpers. While many decry the fact that an average of around 2,500 Filipinos leave the country everyday to work abroad, we cannot help but be grateful that the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been propping up the country’s economy. For the past years, the remittances sent by OFWs to their families in the Philippines have boosted the purchasing power of Pinoys back home. It also lifts foreign exchange reserves, and the current account and deposits in the banking system. In fact, for the past six years, 10 percent of the country’s GDP (gross domestic product) come from remittances. It is truly keeping the Philippine economy away from the sick ward.

Last February 2009, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that remittances reached $16.43 billion in 2008, registering a 13.7-percent growth from $14.45 billion in 2007. The latest growth rate of remittances was faster than the 13.2 percent in 2007.

Why it’s the best time to travel to the Philippines

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 10:35 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

THREE years ago, paying less than $900 for a round trip ticket to the Philippines from Los Angeles with months in advance would have been a bargain.

Nowadays, balikbayans can get a last minute ticket to the Philippines for $900.

The ‘Woman in Yellow’ who brought light to a darkened nation

Wednesday, 05 August 2009 00:41 Nickee de Leon-Huld / AJ Press Los Angeles

(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

The ‘Woman in Yellow’ who brought light to a darkened nation

It is always difficult to write about someone’s passing. One could only feel pain even while reminiscing fond memories of the person who died -- an unfathomable sense of bereavement and loss.

Corazon Cojuangco Aquino tried her best to lead a normal life, but as it turned out, she was meant for greater things. She became the first woman President of the Philippines, a role model for women and a staunch advocate of nationalism. To most Filipinos, she was, foremost, a mother figure and an icon of democracy that brought light and hope to a once oppressed nation. Many became witness to this historic transformation, a country once ruled by a tyrannical dictator became a nation for the people and by the people.

An under-the-radar revolution

Wednesday, 29 July 2009 09:17 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

Two Filipinas are setting a new standard and breaking male domination in the energy marketing and trading business in America

The gas industry plays a critical role in driving the global economy. Since natural gas is considered among the world’s most important resources, the trading and marketing of this vital product is a highly essential business. In America, one of the industry’s top new energy trading companies is Anahau Energy, a company that generates over $350 million dollars in gross annual sales revenue and an award winner of the "2008 National Supplier of the Year" by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc (NMSDC), founded by Fil-Am Suyen Encarnacion Pell, and her sister and partner, Theresa Encarnacion Gendron. This prestigious award recognizes Anahau for excellence in business acumen and community service. Only four out of 15,000 companies across the country received this award (one per profit category). For winning the award, Anahau Energy was featured in the May issue of Fortune Magazine.

A Pinay to take centerstage at the Miss International 2009

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 08:00 Malou Liwanag-Aguilar / AJPress Los Angeles with Photos courtesy of Danny Pozon

(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

A Pinay to take centerstage at the Miss International 2009

Newly crowned Aileen Jan V. Yap to represent the US in this year's pageant in Macau

The Filipina is a beautiful person, inside and out. She stands out from the crowd with her morena skin, disarming smile, deep dark brown eyes and long, silky hair. But colonial mentality has progressed in such a way that some of us see a different kind of Filipina – mestiza or fair-skinned, a lighter shade of hair and a number may have opted for physical enhancements.

But then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say. And in a country where beauty pageants abound, when someone is crowned the winner, we better believe it that she’s the fairest of them all. Yet when a Filipina gets a title outside her own country, you would know that there is more to her than her winning smile or beautiful gowns.