Foreign investors unaffected by impeachment trial, say
experts
First good news: Manila has just been upgraded in commercial investments prospects this year. Second good news: International property investors are not at all bothered by the ongoing impeachment trial proceedings in the Senate.
In an exclusive Web interview with Urban Land Institute trustee and South Asia chair Simon Treacy in the office of ULI Philippines founding chair Carlos Rufino on Dec. 14, 2011, he stated that he was aware of the showdown between Malacañang and the Supreme Court Chief Justice. He stressed that this political issue would not affect the perception of foreign property investors.
“In majority of countries, I think people look at these headlines every day, they look beyond that and people such as investors as well as these respondents are interested in the Philippines increasingly."
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Green Architrends
Baguio is for everyone
Baguio is a popular destination for Filipinos. Many sign up for professional and student seminars and conferences if the venue is Baguio. Families go up to Baguio for long holidays. A number of newlywed couples spend their honeymoon in Baguio.
My siblings and I have fond memories of beautiful summer vacations spent in our uncle’s house in Baguio. Many people now share the nostalgia for the scent of pine trees even as you start the ascent on Kennon Road, the very pleasant cool weather, the cleanliness and orderliness then in Baguio.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
IMF cuts growth forecast for Philippines, Asean
The International Monetary Fund has cut its growth projection even for the better-performing Asean region, which includes the Philippines, citing a mild recession likely to happen in Europe this year that may dampen growth of other areas.The IMF now sees the Asean 5—composed of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore—posting an average growth of 5.2 this year and 5.6 percent in 2013 on the back of the prolonged crisis in the eurozone. In its previous forecast, the IMF said the Asean 5 could grow 5.6 and 5.8 percent this year and next.
“The global recovery is threatened by intensifying strains in the euro area and fragilities elsewhere. Financial conditions have deteriorated, growth prospects have dimmed, and downside risks have escalated,” the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Funkier Prius is here, and it’s more affordable!
It’s quite ironic that the price of being an Earth-friendly, fuel-miser motorist in the Philippines still isn’t at the down-to-earth levels. Saving the planet, it seems, has been confined to exclusivity.Take, for example, the cost of the third-generation Toyota Prius. Sans the much-needed tax breaks from the government, the price tag on Toyota’s hybrid vehicle is a discouraging P2.265 million, which only a few will actually buy (in fact, there have been only around 70 takers of the Prius in the country, so far).
Toyota, however, seems to have found a way around this dilemma, and, tax break or none, the world leader in automotive manufacturing has been able to bring down the price of the Prius to as low as P1.475 million.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Liqui Moly Oil sponsors Car Festival
German lubricant brand Car Porn Racing, together with Liqui Moly Oil, kicked off the year with a Car Porn Fest on the open fair grounds of King’s Playground of drift expert Ian King located at the FTI Complex in Taguig City. The hot morning sun welcomed over 100 cars and hundreds of motor and drift racing enthusiasts.Aside from the open-air car show, another highlight of the event was the Gymkhana Challenge, where race prepped cars had to undergo a race course with some obstacles challenging the driver’s skills and the car’s performance. The Gymkhana Challenge is a lap-timed race format designed for drift cars. The drift car drivers will have to run the course with the shortest lap time to win the challenge. Winner of the Gymkhana Challenge was Rick Wee from Autoindustriya, with Paolo Agregado bagging second place while the third place went to Nino Garcia from Rockstar energy drinks.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
