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Unhealthy Effect of Social Media Use

Stratosphere Networks, an IT managed service provider, has become a member of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), a not-for-profit organization that focuses on scaling Illinois tech companies.

ITA has hundreds of members, including big companies like Google, Microsoft, and Gogo, as well as leading growth-stage companies like Outcome Health, SAP Fieldglass, kCura, and SAVO. The organization was founded in 2005 and evolved from the Chicago Software Association and the Illinois IT Association to serve the tech community in Chicago and in Illinois overall. Since 2013, ITA has concentrated its full energy on growth-stage technology companies in response to the changing nature of the local tech industry.
“We are excited to welcome Stratosphere Networks to the Illinois Technology Association as a new member,” said Julia Kanouse, CEO of the Illinois Technology Association. “With 500 corporate members, ITA is committed to helping to scale local tech firms by growing their businesses, their brands and their teams.”

The organization offers its members three main benefits: Access to connections that can lead to new business, partnerships and employees; resources for finding and retaining top talent; and increased visibility (e.g., through the ITA blog and newsletter).
“We’re very pleased to become part of the Illinois Technology Association,” said Kevin Rubin, president and COO of Stratosphere Networks. “Joining ITA gives us a great opportunity to connect with others in the Chicago tech community and grow our business.”

Stratosphere Networks, based in Chicago, provides comprehensive IT support and solutions to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. The company offers full maintenance services, desktop support, disaster recovery, business continuity, proactive monitoring, remote and onsite support, and more. Call 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com for more information.
To learn more about ITA, call 312-435-2805, email membership@illinoistech.org, or visit https://www.illinoistech.org.

About Stratosphere Networks
Stratosphere Networks is a Chicago-based multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed the always-changing, diverse business needs. Since 2003, Stratosphere Networks has grown exponentially and continues to provide the best-in-class and cost-effective solutions to businesses in all industries. Visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information.
For more information contact:
Lori Leonardo
847-440-8608
LoriL(at)stratospherenetworks(dot)com

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In 1973, Teresa Lawrence, owner of Delta Personnel Inc. in Metairie, Louisiana, arrived in Miami on the last Freedom Flight from Cuba in search of a better life. After taking up residence in New Orleans with her mother, grandmother and brother, Lawrence, who spoke no English, learned that the road to U.S. citizenship would not be easy. At that time, federal immigration policy required that her family reside within the state of Louisiana for eight consecutive years before applying for citizenship. After many years of patiently waiting and working hard to embrace the American dream, Lawrence and her family earned their citizenship and a chance to build a life in the U.S.

As a first-generation immigrant, Lawrence’s road to business success was paved with the same persistence and dedication she and her family demonstrated during their journey to become American citizens. Lawrence, a staunch advocate for Latina and women’s rights, helps to build bridges of opportunity for minorities within a country she prides with being founded on the aspirations and ideology of inclusiveness and acceptance.
“In America, we live as one people, on one body of land that we share collectively, learn to build bridges on when our views differ, and pull together, when needed, to ensure that our country exemplifies unity and liberty for everyone,” said Lawrence.

Earning a seat at the table for women and Latina business owners is a mission Lawrence has championed since becoming the sole owner of Delta Personnel in 2000. Transforming the company, which opened its doors in 1968, into a multi-million-dollar staffing solutions agency with more than 900 employees is only one of the many accomplishments she has achieved. Next year, the company will celebrate 50 years in business - a milestone she will honor with a new and reinvigorated mission to expand Delta Personnel nationwide.

"We are working to open two new locations, to offer additional services and to provide temporary and permanent employees for industries we haven't serviced in the past," said Lawrence. "During this process, we will partner with minority businesses and lend our voice to issues important to advocating for diversity in business."

Her dedication to the New Orleans community and advocacy for women’s rights and diversity has led her to a national platform focused on ensuring that Hispanics and women receive and retain their rightful place at the table of business and economic opportunity. Lawrence, who served as the New Orleans’ Regional Director for Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South) and held a seat at the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), has won several top women in business awards and has a reputation for hiring skilled women and minorities to work in Delta’s in-house staff, temporary and permanent positions.

“I want my staff to be reflective of my belief in diversity and inclusiveness,” said Lawrence. “At Delta, our mission is to hire the best talent, to provide exceptional customer service to our clients and to ensure that all workers have the opportunity to join the workforce at a fair wage.”

On a recent trip to Washington D.C. for a U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce meeting, Lawrence and other accomplished Latina business women were unexpectedly invited to participate in a round table discussion hosted by Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump. Representing industries ranging from healthcare to technology to non-profit organizations, the attendees were given a rare opportunity to engage with the Trump Administration about issues pertinent to minority and Hispanic business ownership.
Lawrence acknowledges the hard work of Javier Palomarez, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president, Nina Vaca, Pinnacle Group chairman and chief executive officer and Mayra Pineda, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana president for, “continuing to blaze a path for Hispanic businesses to grow, prosper and lead the way in building a solid foundation for Latina and U.S. economic growth.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics contribute to over 50% of the U.S. population growth. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of Latina owned firms increased by 137% versus 45% for overall women-owned firms. This growth trend also aligns with the demographic shifts and growth Hispanics represent.

“As women, we face similar challenges around equal pay, access to capital and juggling of work and family. As a Latina woman business owner, we face issues particularly concerning to the economy, job growth for our community and backlash from policies that will strain the growth of minority businesses across the board,” said Lawrence. “It is our job to provide our leaders, regardless of the politics, with as much information about who we are, why our needs are important and what we envision the country to look like and to exemplify to us and to the next generation.”

Lawrence is committed to add her voice to conversations within the business community about fairness and diversity. According to the recently released, New Americans in Greater New Orleans report, in 2014, foreign-born residents of Greater New Orleans â€" 7.4% of overall population â€" contributed greatly to the federal, state and local taxes. Foreign-born households contributed $7.6 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Greater New Orleans metro area. Immigrant-owned businesses generated $174 million in business income.

“It takes a village to drive growth and ignite change,” said Lawrence. “As an immigrant, Latina and business owner, I will not forget where I came from, and I will not take for granted the opportunities I have been afforded as an American. Lending my voice to constructive discussions about diversity and inclusiveness is an intricate part of my personal and professional goals.”

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MOC1 Solutions, LLC, a leading U.S. provider of PC tablet driven software solutions to New Car Dealer Service Departments, is now operating as WSA Solutions. Their Fixed Operations Technology Solution (Fixed Ops. SDS) has evolved to be an all-inclusive technology solution for Dealer’s Fixed Operations Departments. Launching their Advanced Service Scheduling, a full service Bi-directional Texting, MPI Inspection, Electronic Route Sheet, Online Bill Pay and Cashiering modules has enabled them to be a one-stop technology provider to New Car Dealerships.
WSA Solutions flagship product Wireless Service Advisor “WSA” remains the industry premier mobile write-up solution.

Dave Waco, President of the company commented, "It is amazing how the Dealer Service Department Technology has progressed over the past 12 years. We wanted to emphasize our technology position in the Industry and make sure dealers and OEM’s know that we are 100% focused on executing the OEM’s and Dealer’s desired workflow and processes. I am excited to see how Dealers and OEM’s are embracing the mobile technology and focusing in on the best possible customer experience. We are committed to continuing to raise the bar and playing a significant role in assisting Dealers and OEM’s by positively impacting their service operations and taking their service experience to an entirely new level.”

About WSA Solutions (http://www.wsaauto.com) WSA Solutions, based in Glendora, California, provides automotive dealers intuitive high-value software solutions that enhance efficiency, profitability, and service management, while creating a better customer experience. The Fixed Ops SDS technology package (Schedule/ Write/ Track/ Inspect/ Retain) currently integrates with all major DMS’s within the US and Canada and allows dealerships to bring to life their desired service drive workflow and enable Service Departments to perform a quality write-up while delivering an extraordinary customer service experience.

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IgniteNetâ,,¢ is excited to announce the launch of its one-of-a-kind aiming application, Linq Assistâ,,¢, allowing more reliable PTP/PTMP wireless connections for MetroLinqâ,,¢ 60Ghz products. Alignment accuracy is essential in acquiring successful wireless links and any misalignment may cause critical performance issues or even loss of connectivity. Linq Assist provides faster initialization, more precise results, improved responsiveness, and a more intuitive operational process than previous implementations. With the aiming assistance utility, the alignment experience is simplified and installation is significantly improved.

It is no longer necessary to login to both ends of the MetroLinq or connect cumbersome equipment to the radios when using Linq Assist. The new aiming utility requires only a supported blue tooth dongle connected to an available port on one radio on a single side of the connection. Linq Assist is designed to lower network installation costs, since it is no longer necessary to keep a “man on the ground” relaying alignment data. The aiming app streams alignment data directly to your iOS or Android phone or tablet in real-time, saving you both time and labor expense.
“We believe Linq Assist is a great addition to the MetroLinq product line and will foster incredibly dependable link alignments in the field,” reports Chad Dewey, VP of Product Design at IgniteNet. “We always knew we needed a better tool to achieve high-capacity links and we are thrilled to offer the new app free of charge.”

Never before has link alignment been this trouble-free and informative for MetroLinq PTP/PTMP connections. And with IgniteNet’s newly enhanced Web UI, aiming is now more simple, accurate and responsive than ever before. Both the aiming app and enriched Web UI are a true win-win for service providers and installers alike. Linq Assist can be downloaded for both iOS and Android mobile devices in the app store.

Headquartered in Irvine, CA, IgniteNet is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC Networks, Inc. IgniteNet has a proven track record of producing powerful, reliable, and easy to deploy, innovative cloud managed wireless solutions and the industry's lowest cost 60 GHz wireless technology through channel partners worldwide focused on Enterprises and service providers. For more information about the the entire MetroLinq product line, visit the IgniteNet website.

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SharePoint Fest returns to Denver, Colorado for the third time and will begin with a day of pre-conference workshops (May 30), followed by two days of conference sessions (May 31 and June 1), and will end with post-conference workshops (June 2). Attendees will be able to mix and match the 100+ workshops and sessions based on what content best meets their current needs. Nintex, a title sponsor, will be on the expo hall floor with Neudesic May 31 - June 1, 2017. Be sure to stop by their booth!

About Nintex
Nintex, with its industry-leading workflow and content automation (WCA) technology, empowers professionals across business and IT departments to quickly turn inefficient manual processes into automated well-run engines. Nintex Workflow Cloudâ,,¢, the company’s cloud platform, connects with all content repositories, systems of record, and people to consistently fuel successful business outcomes. The platform adapts as a business evolves, delivering the visibility and intelligence to take control of current and future workflow challenges and opportunities. Visit http://www.nintex.com to learn more.

About SharePoint Fest
SharePoint Fest is in its seventh year. It offers a two-day conference (with optional pre-conference and post-conference workshops days) that brings together SharePoint enthusiasts and practitioners, with many of the leading SharePoint experts and solution providers in the country.

Attend SharePoint Fest Denver where attendees will be able to attend workshops and seminars â€" taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers, Microsoft engineers, and Microsoft MCM's and MVPs â€" covering Enterprise Content Management, Implementation/Administration, Business Value, Search, Business Intelligence, Office 365 and SharePoint Development. Attendees will be able to choose one complete learning track or mix and match based on what content best meets their current needs.

At SharePoint Fest Denver, there will be sessions created for SharePoint administrators, software developers, business analysts, information architects, and knowledge workers, which will ensure that attendees walk away with as much knowledge as they desire to truly leverage SharePoint in their current environment.
Web Site: http://www.sharepointfest.com/Denver

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Virtualsense Ltd, a real business operating in a virtual world, announced today that their 2nd Annual St Patrick's Day Event on Monria was a mind blower. Monria is the virtual Moon real estate purchased on November 26, 2015 within Entropia Universe, a Real Cash Economy MMO whose virtual reality platform was developed by Mindark PE AB located in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Monria's Management Team presented their 2nd Annual St Patrick's Day Event during the weekend of March 18th and 19th in epic proportions. What better event to elaborate on for an Irish-based company in a virtual world than St Patrick's Day. They gave new meaning to their motto "Expect the Unexpected," and elevated the experiences of the participants attending this event to new heights.

"We are very community centric," says Dark Moon Enigma (game name), Monria's Community Manager, "and we as a team under the leadership of Monria's owner, Eugenio "Anhithe" Wilde (game name) are dedicated to learning what works and what doesn't work by listening to the community."
In conjunction with the in-world virtual event, Monria had a display booth at this year's GamerCon convention that was held in Dublin, Ireland on March 18th and 19th. Monria's in-world event activities were shown on a big screen, and GamerCon attendees were actually able to experience the event first-hand by playing one of two Monria event avatars specifically created for this purpose … Monria Event Girl and Monria Event Guy so that the community knew who to assist.
This year's event topped anything Monria has done in the past and kept participants highly engaged with activities such as the St Patrick's Day Parade which was larger than last year, Hunting and Mining events, Irish-related Fashion Contest, Best in Show Pet Competition, a Scavenger Hunt, multiple boxing and PvP events in Monria's own Boxing Ring, and even an After Event Party.
Probably the most memorable experiences during this 48 hour extravaganza were the unexpected moments that caught everyone off guard ... there's something to be said for the element of surprise. At the end of the parade while everyone gathered on the bridge at the foot of Massacre Hill, total chaos broke out with an attack by high-level creatures called Big Bulk, but also 30 minutes each of an onslaught of two of Monria's boss creatures (Shub-Niggurath and Cultists), as well as the introduction of their higher level Evil Green Leprechaun, all shared loot.

However, the piece de resistance occurred just before the end of the event on Sunday the 19th when all available hunters were summoned to the old abandoned mine elevated above the Main Crater by another of Monria's Management Team, Curtis "Pusherman" Mayfield (game name), where a massive attack took place against the community and its allies by all four of Monria’s boss creatures (Shub-Niggurath, Cultists, Yog-Sothoth, and Shoggoths), along with more Big Bulk that required as much firepower as possible.

Monria had the largest participation ever in one of their events with a long list of winning results.

The video presented is the product of "Anny" Divine Thundergirl (game name), a member of the Monria Media Team, and someone who captures Entropia Universe on film at her Entropia Movies website. Her offering as a collage and story of our St Patrick's Day Event is superbly done and well worth the view.
Monria is a 3D Horror MMORPG with a Cthulhu Mythos-based Storyline that pays homage to H.P. Lovecraft, and all of our creatures are named and designed accordingly. The Monria Team has an exciting roadmap for future development, and leave you with one last thought:
"Expect the Unexpected is not just reserved for our events ..."
For more information about Monria, please contact info(at)monria(dot)com, or visit monria.com.

Monria can also be reached through social media by following the links provided below:
https://twitter.com/monriathegame
https://www.facebook.com/monriagame
https://www.google.com/+Monria
https://www.facebook.com/dmemonria
https://twitter.com/DarkMoonEnigma

About Entropia
Universe Entropia Universe is the largest Real Cash Economy Massively Multiplayer Online Game in the world. Entropia Universe offers players the ability to participate in a unique virtual world where they have no monthly costs. Its innovative real money economy uses a virtual currency which has a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. This allows players to deposit and withdraw real funds for their adventures on any virtual planet or in the real world. Entropia Universe uses a state of the art graphics engine to deliver the highest quality visuals in an MMO today.

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10 Best Design is honored to present the winners of its Best Brochure Design Firm awards, selecting Drawing from Memory as the leader in this category for March 2017.
With the modern market moving toward an entirely online infrastructure, it is nearly impossible for brands to survive without some sort of web-based presence. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the older formats have completely lost their efficiency at advertising and increasing brand recognition and visibility. Perhaps the best way this is exemplified is through digital marketing and graphic design agencies that still offer amazing brochure and print design services to supplement their digital services. There are so many agencies out there that offer such services, but which ones are the best?

That is the question 10 Best Design is constantly trying to address, and they aim to find the answer by offering comprehensive monthly awards that rank the very best agencies in the field of brochure design and print. These awards are released at the beginning of every month, and the winners for March 2017 have already been selected. The top three winners are provided in detail below, and the rest of the ten winners can be seen online.

Drawing From Memory is well-deserving of the Best Brochure Design Agency award for March 2017. Being a leading brochure design firm, Drawing From Memory has successfully differentiated itself in the marketplace. The firm was created by two graduates from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2008. They operated under a philosophy that says creativity requires production without a reference point, just like drawing from memory for an artist. It is only fitting that they have won the honor of being this month's top brochure design firm.

Ranking as the second best brochure design agency is Hartford Design. Hartford Design is an exceptional agency that is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. They work with some of the most well-known brands in the world, and they are proud to serve both large enterprise businesses as well as nonprofits and new startups. Their team is made up of some of the most talented individuals in marketing and print design.

The third-place winner on this month’s list of top brochure design firms is Rivington Design House. One of the most influential agencies in New York City, the company has a professional team that features young professionals from a variety of fields. Rivington Design House offers a number of comprehensive marketing services that go beyond print brochure design.

For more information about the winners for the month of March, please visit http://www.10bestdesign.com.

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Wind Sail Receptor, Inc. has a new windmill unlike anything in the industry. The blades have a patented and distinct design which emulates the sails of a ship, thus allowing for the unit to effectively capture the wind. Four blades on the unit allow for all of the wind in that circumference to be captured, instead of the three-bladed design seen today where most of the wind flows through the unit. The polyurethane blades are more durable than the carbon blades of competitors, and are manufactured without any dangerous VOCs. The easy capture of the wind also allows Wind Sail Receptor units to run in 3 miles per hour wind, and can handle wind speeds of over 50 miles per hour.
Wind Sail Receptor, Inc. is pleased to announce that the best windmill in the world is for sale. The six foot diameter windmill, which has the capacity to generate 5 kilowatts of energy at 35 miles per hour of wind, is currently being sold at a price of $8,000 USD. The unit can work both on the grid and off-grid, and is perfect for residential use and small commercial use. The windmill design allows for the unit to operate in low winds of 3 miles per hour and no noise comes off of the unit. If purchased, customers will receive the generator, hub, nacelle, controller, inverter, load dump, two sets of blades, and instruction manual. Shipping is included if shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. Does not include poles and installation, but poles can be provided if requested. Shipping outside continental U.S. can be provided at a fee. See our website for more details, or call us for more information on this offer.

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Cynopsis Sports announced the finalists for its eSports awards program, honoring the top events, campaigns and influencers in a thriving and fast-growing business. Among the finalists are Activision Blizzard, Anheuser Busch, Arby’s, Turner’s ELEAGUE, Intel Extreme Masters, MLG, Mountain Dew, Playstation, Riot, XFINITY Comcast and more. View the list here.
The Cynopsis eSports Award winners will be announced during the Cynopsis World eSports Summit on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at 10 on the Park in the Times Warner Center in Manhattan. The immersive, information-packed conference will include keynotes, panels and case studies from publishers, team owners, networks, and brands. Save your seat here: http://www.cynopsisesportsconference.com. For registration questions or issues, contact Jenn Ocampo at Jenn(at)cynopsis(dot)com. For sponsorship information or to purchase a congratulatory ad for the eSports Award finalists, contact VP of Sales and Marketing Mike Farina at mike(at)cynopsis(dot)com.
The Summit will feature a lineup of speakers from companies with expertise and insights on leveraging this exploding market, such as Intel, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch, Daybreak Game Company, Amazon Game Studios, Gamma Labs, AEG Global Partnerships, Go To Team, ESL, Twitch, Philadelphia 76ers/TeamDignitas, Splyce, MLG, PromaxGAMES, theScore eSports, Polygon, Super Evil Megacorp, NGE, ELEAGUE, Bruin Sports Capital, SuperData Research, eSports Ad Bureau, Canoe Venutures, Magid, Whistle Sports, Intersport, Machinima, Optic Gaming, NFL, Misfits, rEvXP, Ultimate Media Ventures, WorldGaming, WESA and more. View the full speaker list: http://www.cynopsisesportsconference.com/speakers.
Cynopsis produces the weekly eNewsletter, Cynopsis eSports & Gaming. Published on Thursday mornings, it offers exclusive Q&As, expert data insights, the top business stories this week, hot trailers and coming events that connect the dots for the gaming industry, brands, technology, media and audiences. Subscribe for free: http://www.cynopsis.com/subscribe.

About Cynopsis Media:
Cynopsis is what the TV industry reads first every day. The Cynopsis family of products includes the media industry's most-read daily, Cynopsis, plus sister dailies Cynopsis Digital and Cynopsis Sports; weekly eSports, the Cynopsis Jobs board and special reports. Serving TV, agency and brand professionals, Cynopsis Media produces conferences, webinars, and awards programs that are second to none. Find out more at cynopsis.com.

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People looking for jobs and employers trying to fill them have a game-changing new tool available. It is called Moniklâ€"an intuitive and innovative online platform, designed to make profitable long-term employment decisions.
Where traditional staffing methods tend to focus on comparing job descriptions to resumes, Monikl does much more. It accounts for work-style preferences, company cultures and other factors that contribute to the success or failure in hiring decisions.
Zachary Senz-Kamler, co-founder of Monikl, puts it this way: “We’re like a dating service for the staffing industry. We don’t just look at skill sets and positions. Monikl looks at the whole person in context of an entire corporate culture, part of which is the specific job involved.”

Staffing challenges are very familiar for Senz-Kamler, who started working for his parents in the staffing business at the age of 12. After years observing the challenges of the hiring process, he began focusing on how to be a more effective matchmaker in the marketplace.

Meanwhile, Senz-Kamler’s friend, Ken, was experiencing typical difficulties of hiring through job boards and postings. “I was trying to fill a Senior Developer position,” he says, “Out of hundreds of applicants, most were completely unqualified, or didn’t fit the culture.” He eventually mentioned his problem to Senz-Kamler, which led to the co-founding of Monikl.

Featuring a simple interface that takes only minutes to navigate, Monikl uses advanced algorithms that make finding the right job or the right employee easier, faster and cheaper than traditional methods. Unlike job boards, there is no searching. You are alerted when there is a match for you.

Monikl is based in Tampa Bay, Florida. Check out Monikl.com to find out more about this new approach to populating the workforce. As Senz-Kamler puts it: “Monikl exists because we wanted to change the way the world works by changing the way the world finds work."

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Bravo Pawn Systems, the fastest-growing software platform for Pawnbrokers, will announce its new “Mobile Shop” feature in InstaPawn -- the industry’s 1st mobile app -- at CAPA’s Spring Conference on April 2, 2017.
With InstaPawn, customers can now shop their favorite pawn stores 24/7 from the convenience of a mobile phone. InstaPawn allows customers to see all their pawn transactions and even make a payment in the app. For Pawnstore owners, the transaction is 100% automated and funds are directly deposited into their account. Pawn stores can literally double their pawn service fees and layaway business by allowing customers to pay on mobile.

Attendees at CAPA (California Pawnbroker’’s Association) Spring Conference on April 2, 2017 can see InstaPawn in action at Bravo’s Exhibit in Booth #3.

“In 2017, we expect over 500 stores added to the Bravo Platform, and we’re on target for the best year ever with the biggest pawn shop brands switching to Bravo. Pawnbrokers of all sizes - single store, multiple store operators, and international enterprises are choosing Bravo,” said Tally Mack, CEO of Bravo Pawn Systems.

Mack added, “Bravo continues to charge ahead with innovation, eCommerce, new applications, Mobile, Machine Learning AI, and best practices that drive efficiency and profits for Pawnbrokers.”

“We’re excited to show CAPA attendee’s the newest features in Bravo,” Mack said.
Bravo Pawn Systems is exhibiting at CAPA’s Spring Conference in Booth 3.

About Bravo Pawn Systems
Founded in 2010, Bravo Pawn Systems is the Fastest-growing Pawnbroker Platform with customers in the USA, Europe, Mexico and Canada. Built with the features pawnbrokers need most. Bravo’s mission is to exceed pawnbrokers’ expectations by offering affordable, yet high-value services, without the burden of complicated hardware and back-ups. For more information about Bravo Pawn Systems, please visit http://www.bravopawnsystems.com
Bravo Pawn Systems Contact:     
Debby Ford, Media Relations
(888) 407-6287 ext 142
debby(at)buya(dot)com

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Shore Excursions Group has assembled exciting new ways to immerse yourself with Cuba’s historical culture, toe-tapping sounds and taste-tingling flavors, including:
Old Havana Walking Tour - Old Havana is a true living time capsule, full of history now accessible to US tourists.

Exclusive Footsteps of Hemingway â€" Find inspiration like Ernest Hemingway did, during a guided journey that follows his passion for danger, love and adventure.

Club Tropicana “Under the Stars” â€" Paris is known for the Moulin Rouge, New York had Studio 54, but Havana has Club Tropicana!
Evening at Cabaret Parisien â€" Enjoy the extravagant show “Cubano, Cubano” at Havana’s renowned Cabaret Parisien, located inside the Hotel Nacional.

Cigar Factory and Rum Museum â€" What could be more synonymous with Cuba than cigars and rum? Tour a cigar factory and the Havana Club Museum of Rum.

Cuba’s Classic Cars â€" Cruise the streets of Havana in vintage style.
Buena Vista Social Club â€" Experience for yourself what it must have been like in Havana in the early 1900s.

“Cuba is a unique destination where having guided shore excursions is the safest, best way to taste and experience the culture,” said Brad Miller, co-founder of Shore Excursions Group which offers over 3,000 excursions and tours in over 300 destinations. Cuba has been called the ‘land of miracles,’ where time stands still. The isolation from the more modern world for decades has helped Cuba to conserve its personality and very unique culture.

According to Miller, travel agents will appreciate having greater access to Cuba, as well as its company policies, including:
Guaranteed Tour Departure â€" Shore Excursions Group does not have booking minimums. Even when your clients are the only ones booked, their tour is guaranteed to depart.

Guaranteed Return to Ship â€" Shore Excursions Group is extraordinarily focused on getting all customers back to their ship on time. In the extremely unlikely event a customer missed their ship, Shore Excursions Group will pay all expenses to get them to the next port including accommodations, transportation, food and $500 USD for the inconvenience.

Money Back Guarantee â€" If your clients are not completely satisfied with their excursion, Shore Excursions Group provides a full refund.

Full white-labeling capabilities, and free marketing support
Easy to Use Automated Technology â€" Shore Excursions Group sends automated and timed email reminders offering the cruise passengers shore excursions, aligned perfectly with the customers’ cruise itinerary, making the sale process quicker, simpler, and easier for travel agents and their customers.
Shore Excursions Group pays the highest travel agency commissions.

Click here for the latest travel-related rules, published by the US Department of Treasury. While ordinary tourism remains banned by law, new rules put in place in January 2015 make it easier for Americans to visit Cuba than it has been for most of the last half-century.

About Shore Excursions Group LLC
Based in Weston, Florida, Shore Excursions Group provides more than 3,000 excursions and tours to cruise passengers visiting ports in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Europe, Asia, the Arabian Gulf, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, and South America. Delivered by trusted local experts, Shore Excursions Group delivers memorable experiences through its smaller-size tours, and affinity groups in various ports of call, large or small. Shore Excursions Group has become the leading excursion company in the world and offers unique benefits to travel agents â€" from Money Back Guarantees, Guaranteed Departure, Guaranteed Return to Ship, to 24/7 Hotline for the travelers. Visit http://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com, follow us on Facebook or Twitter @ShoreExcursions, or call 866-999-6590.

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octoScope, the leader in accurate and repeatable automated wireless testbeds, today introduced the latest addition to the octoBox® product line, the compact, stackable, and rackable BOX-18 test chamber. Like all octoBox models, BOX-18 provisions an optimal environment for isolated over-the-air (OTA) testing. With 16 RF connectors (8 on each side) addressing even advanced MIMO configurations, BOX-18 is ideal for testing and evaluating the performance of a wide variety of wireless mesh and Internet of Things (IoT) topologies, including Wi-Fi extenders, handoff behavior, load balancing, and performance optimization.

Measuring only 18 inches wide by 12 inches high by 29 inches deep and fully rack-mountable, BOX-18 is ideal for high-density, compact installations where each individual device under test (DUT) requires its own isolated environment. This is particularly important in mesh, IoT, and similar test situations, where collocating devices in a single larger chamber could result in mutual interference. BOX-18 makes it easy to customize test configurations, and to modify these with minimal effort. BOX-18 is thus ideal for a broad range of wireless testing scenarios, with complete interoperability with the larger BOX-26 and BOX-38 octoBox models and the remainder of the octoScope product line, including the quadAtten® programmable attenuator, iGenTM interference generator, Pal® client and AP emulators, monitors, load generators, MPE2 multipath emulator, and a broad array of test and analysis software. octoScope provides the most robust and capable wireless testing solutions available today. BOX-18 enables flexible new testbed topologies for product developers, manufacturers, and carriers and operators everywhere.

Benefits of Complete Environmental isolation
It’s nearly impossible to test and evaluate wireless devices in open-air, “freespace” settings, especially in the unlicensed bands used by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and many other products. Radio-wave propagation cannot be controlled, or even predicted, and interference is always a concern.

The octoBox product line provisions complete isolation from the unmanageable real world, creating a controlled and repeatable environment that enables level-playing-field comparisons, precise reproducibility, and productivity-optimizing ease of use. Such common tests as throughput vs. range, throughput vs. orientation, throughput vs. interference, channel- and rate-adaptation behavior, error-rate analysis, and many more are made easy via the octoBox and other members of the octoScope product family.
BOX-18 provides the same broad set of capabilities and benefits as the other members of the octoBox family. Standard features include complete isolation from outside interference, filtered ventilation and filtered data and power ports, and a replaceable door gasket. The octoBox is effective across a very board range frequencies, from 700 MHz. to 6 GHz.
“We’ve been testing wireless products for more than two decades, and the octoBox has dramatically improved both our productivity and the accuracy of our results,” said Craig Mathias of the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group. “BOX-18’s compact size means we can configure tests of meaningful scale in minimal physical space, especially important when examining the behavior of mesh and IoT products.”

BOX-18 and Wireless Mesh Networks
Wireless mesh networks are self-organizing, building wireless relay links between mesh nodes on the fly for optimum Wi-Fi reliability and throughput performance. Because the operational behavior of a mesh network can be complex, it’s important to isolate each mesh node in its own test chamber and interconnect the chambers in order to evaluate this behavior effectively and productively. BOX-18 is ideal for this application â€" its small size enables as many nodes as required to be configured for test in minimal lab space.

BOX-18 and Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
The testing and evaluation of IoT devices similarly requires the isolation of each device. BOX-18 makes it easy to configure connections between multiple devices simply by stringing cables between the RF connectors on each BOX-18 and integrating other octoBox RF building blocks, such as quadAttens, Pals, multipath emulators, iGen interference generators, MIMO RF splitters, and more. BOX-18 thus makes it easy to configure and evaluate a vast set of possible alternatives with minimal time and effort, and maximum flexibility and reproducibility.

Roaming Without Motion
Testing and evaluating roaming behavior is essential for all mobile client devices. BOX-18, coupled with octoScope’s quadAtten programmable attenuator and Pal partner devices can provide accurate and reproducible roaming behavior for mesh, IoT, and many other test scenarios, enabling the evaluation of roaming speed and other handoff behavior with minimal engineering effort.

For more, see the octoScope roaming video. For more information on BOX-18, see here.
The Leading Wireless Test Solution
octoBox is being used by wireless operators, device manufacturers and chipset vendors to test Wi-Fi, LTE, ZigBee, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies. octoBox is an accurate, automated, flexible, and scalable testbed for validating wireless devices and systems. With its complete isolation and consistent controllable test environment in labs around the world, the octoBox solution is highly-praised for both performance and value by its diverse users.

About octoScope
octoScope is the market leader in accurate and repeatable automated wireless testbeds. Our patented technology redefines the accuracy, stability, economics and value of over-the-air wireless testing. octoScope’s product line includes robust solutions for isolation, interference generation and evaluation, client emulation, and essentially all of the elements required to evaluate the behavior and performance of a broad range of wireless devices and systems. octoScope’s headquarters is in Littleton, Massachusetts.

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Ombudsman suspends Western Samar officials for misconduct
28 March 2017

Seven local government officials of Hinabangan, Western Samar, have been found administratively and criminally liable for irregularities in multi-million peso procurement projects undertaken from 2010 until 2011.   Facing indictment for four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices (Republic Act No. 3019) are former Mayor Alejandro Abarratigue, Esmeralda Frincillo (Municipal Accountant), Lesarbo Mengote (Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator), Raul Tapia (Municipal Treasurer), Renato Abayare (Municipal Assessor), Roel Pazon (Nurse) and Alan Babon (BAC Secretariat).

Aside from criminal indictment, the respondents were found guilty of Simple Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.  As a result, the Ombudsman ordered their suspension without pay for one year.  In case of separation from the service, the suspension is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for six months.

From January 2010 to October 2011, the municipality conducted four separate procurement projects for the purchase of medicines and medical supplies.  The total budget for the four contracts was P 7,500,000.00.  Investigation uncovered that no bidding documents were made available for posting and instead respondents merely handed out requests for price quotations to prospective suppliers.  A review of procurement activities show that the pre-bid conference and opening of bids were held on the same day in violation of the implementing rules and regulations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9184).   During project implementation, only partial delivery of medicines and medical supplies were made.

In its Joint Resolution, the Ombudsman stated that “these circumstances show that respondents were united under a common design when they willfully deviated from the normal procedures in the conduct of competitive public bidding.”

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales noted that “respondents coldly allowed, not only once, but in four separate occasions, atypical procurement activities to consummate feigned compliance with the rules.  Clearly, by their collective conduct, respondents had effectively mocked and vandalized the underlying public policies of R.A. No. 9184.

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Valladolid, Negros Occidental officials to be tried for graft
29 March 2017

Eight officials of Valladolid, Negros Occidental have been found liable for the irregularities that attended the disbursement of public funds in 2008.  Former Mayor Romel Yogore, Giovanni Robles (Municipal Agricultural Officer), Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members Joseph Alfonso Manayon, Ernesto Genobis, Daisy Galve, Cherryl Aguirre, Merlene Magbanua, and Ramonito Amazona, are set to face trial before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). Also included in the charge sheet is Romeo Tanalgo of FranMar Agro-Industrial Sales.

More importantly, the Ombudsman also found Yogore, et. al. liable for Grave Misconduct and were all ordered dismissed from the service.  The dismissal order carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.  In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to one year’s salary.

In-depth fact-finding investigation conducted by the Ombudsman Regional Office in Iloilo City found that in September 2008, the Sangguniang Bayan passed a Resolution approving the project for the rehabilitation of the Municipal Level Grain Center and the repair of two mechanical grain dryers.  The project had a P1,000,00.00 budget to cover the agricultural projects.

The problem began when respondents contracted the services of Franmar Agro Industrial Sales for the repair of the grain dryers without conducting any public bidding.  Yogore and the BAC members awarded the project for the repair of the grain dryers to Franmar at a cost of P698,000.00 availing of the alternative method of Shopping.   

Under relevant procurement rules, shopping may be resorted to for projects involving “readily available off-the-shelf goods or ordinary/regular office equipment to be procured directly from suppliers of known qualifications.”  The Ombudsman added that “the status of Franmar as the alleged exclusive distributor of Chung Ching mechanical dryers does not merit the resort to Shopping” as the “condition of exclusivity of the source is applicable only in Direct Contracting.”  Clearly, Shopping is not the suitable mode for contracting the repair of the mechanical dryers.  No BAC resolution was also presented by the respondents to justify the resort to Shopping and investigation also showed that Franmar is only a sub-dealer of the brand of dryers.

According to the Ombudsman, “it is an established public policy, as well as statutory mandate, that all government procurement shall be done through competitive public bidding.  Alternative methods shall be resorted to only in the highly exceptional cases provided under the law.”

Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

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PH strengthens economic ties with Hungary
Hungarian embassy in PH re-opens today

The Philippines and Hungary are determined to bring their partnership into a more strategic direction, following the signing of an economic cooperation agreement in Makati and the re-opening of the Embassy of Hungary in Taguig on 28 March.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez and Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto signed the Philippines-Hungarian Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) in Makati, which aims at creating a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) for both sides to serve as a platform to discuss trade, investments, economic cooperation and other related matters.

The JEC will be a venue to discuss sectors or areas of mutual interests, as well as means to broaden and intensify cooperation between both countries.

“Cooperation activities include exchange of information, participation in trade- and investment-related activities and promotion of economic cooperation among institutions,” said Sec. Lopez.

The JEC will also promote cooperation in terms of expert services, financial institutions and banking sectors, establishment of joint ventures and facilitation of the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The trade chief also said that the agreement is an additional dimension to the trade relationship between the Philippines and Hungary given the ongoing PHâ€"European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, adding that it is in line with the current strategy of President Rodrigo Duterte to re-balance trade relations with non-traditional trading partners.

On trade, the Philippines is determined to promote products in terms of electronics, auto parts, processed food (marine products, fruits, snack food, etc.), costume jewelry/giftware (including costume jewelry), and personal care products, as well as promote the tourism sector.

Meanwhile, sectors for investment promotion are in the areas of manufacturing, aerospace, processed and specialty food, IT-BPM, energy efficiency technologies, retail, and training center.

The Philippines can also capitalize on Hungary’s strengths and expertise to enhance implementation of existing industry roadmaps on automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, information and communications technology (ICT) and food, according to the trade chief.

In 2016, Hungary ranked as the Philippines’ 40th trading partner (out of 226), 26th export market (out of 213) and 63rd import supplier (out of 206).

In 2015, the Philippines was Hungary’s 4th import supplier among the ASEAN Member States (AMS). As an export market, the Philippines ranked 5th. The JEC will also provide the Philippines an opportunity to improve its standing as a trade partner with Hungary among the AMS.

Meanwhile, both sides also convened a bilateral meeting on the same day. Sec. Lopez discussed with his Hungarian counterpart the Europe strategy, the operationalization of the PH-Hungary economic partnership and the manufacturing resurgence program.

Sec. Lopez also shared with his counterpart the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS) and the Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) that focuses on the growth and development of five priority industries: (1) manufacturing; (2) agribusiness; (3) IT-business process management, particularly knowledge process outsourcing; (4) tourism; and (5) infrastructure and logistics.

The Philippines acknowledged the importance of manufacturing as a driver of the country’s economy. He reported that in the last seven years (2010-2016), the manufacturing sector has grown at an average of 7.5% annually. Just in 2016, the manufacturing output posted growth at 8% (2016) from a mere 2.5% in 2015, and has already outpaced that of the service sector.

“This shows that government’s MRP is beginning to gain traction and that our industrial base is now widening after decades of slowdown. This further indicates that we are becoming less of a consumer-driven economy and more an investment-led one,” he concluded.

PROSYNC mulls further expansion

Process Synergy Inc (PROSYNC), the business process outsourcing (BPO) company of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), has announced plans to expand further in the Philippines and grow its client base. PROSYNC, which has over 700 team members across three delivery centers in Ortigas, Eastwood, and Iloilo, is steadily carving its own niche despite the increasingly competitive BPO space. The company was established as the San Miguel Group's contact center in 2006, handling customer inquiries for various SMC businesses. PROSYNC offers customer service, finance and accounting, end-to-end sales order management, procurement support services, loyalty card operations, human resources, payroll, training and quality management, and workforce management.

ICT sector among Davao City's economic boosters

Information and communication technology (ICT) remains one of the key drivers of Davao City's economy, according to the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIP). ICT joins services and tourism sectors as the three major contributors to the city's economic landscape. DCIP officer-in-charge Lemuel Ortonio said the services and ICT sector continues to grow as homegrown and multinational business process outsourcing companies expand their services from voice to also include non-voice. The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (DCCCII) has also noted growing interest from foreign investors to Davao City.

2nd IT-BPM Cyber Security Summit Set

Industry experts and practitioners are gathering in Pasay City for the 2nd IT-BPM Summit on Cyber Security this coming 29 March at the Marriott Hotel. Organized by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), this year's summit carries the theme "Enhancing Capabilities to Combat Evolving Cyber Threats". Experts in the fields of advanced security automation, threat intelligence, and security analytics solutions are expected to attend the one-day summit. IBPAP said this year’s IT-BPM Summit on Cyber Security presents a strong proposition for the significant breakthroughs that can be achieved when the combined resources of governments and the private sector are put forth to effectively combat cyber threats.

Outsourcing sector to need 100 million sq ft of office space

The outsourcing sector will need around 100 million square feet of office spaces in the Philippines and India through 2020, according to global property consultant Cushman & Wakefield. In a report, the company said the need for office space in both countries will be driven mostly be global banks seeking to establish call centers in the Philippines and India. The report added that global financial giants are increasingly opting for more cost-efficient locations to house their back-end operations, in line with efforts to contain costs. Among global financial firms looking to add office space are Barclays, Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered, and Citigroup.

Wipro wins 12-year healthcare IT contract in Scotland

NHS Scotland, the publicly funded healthcare system in Scotland, has awarded technology outsourcing firm Wipro a 12-year contract to build an Enterprise Master Patient Index (eMPI) solution. Wipro and NextGate will work together to carry out the project, which seeks to help NHS Scotland transition from its current legacy Community Health Index System to an effective, efficient, paperless and patient-friendly healthcare services in Scotland. With NextGate, Wipro will build a scalable solution to enable healthcare providers in the Scottish healthcare boards to maintain unique patient identifiers. Headquartered in Bangalore, India, Wipro also operates centers in the Philippines.

Genpact to acquire AI firm Rage Framework

Global business process management firm Genpact is acquiring Rage Frameworks, an automation technology and services company providing Artificial Intelligence (AI) services, for a still undisclosed amount. The acquisition forms part of Genpact’s investments in leading technologies as it seeks to drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligence operations for its clients. Genpact president and CEO NV Tyagarajan said elements of human expertise and machine intelligence will be critical to gain and sustain competitive advantage. When the acquisition is complete, Genpact will embed Rage's AI in its business operations, allowing clients to generate insights and drive decisions.

Qualfon takes part in reforestation project

Some 42 Qualfon employee volunteers recently cleared weeds and shrubs from a 1-hectare reforestation area of the Mananga Watershed and Forest Reserve in Cebu as of part of its two-year commitment in rehabilitating hectares of land. The Qualfon Cebu volunteers joined members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and representatives of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in removing weeds, grass, and underbrush that were crowding out tree seedlings planted back in July 2016. It was in 2016 when Qualfon adopted the plantation, becoming the first PBSP corporate partner to fully commit to the two-year, multi-phased project.

Wipro opens automotive engineering center in the US

IT and software outsourcing firm Wipro is offering automotive engineering services in the US, with plans to open an automotive engineering center in Detroit. In a statement, Wipro said the center is part of the company's vision to build a global network of delivery centers that offer engineering and IT services, augmented by automotive domain and digital solutions. Aside from working on vehicles concepts from deign to vehicle data analytics, the center will serve as a hub to support the automotive engineering and IT needs of Original Equipment Manufacturers and tier-I suppliers based in North America.

China's outsourcing industry passes USD145bn

China continues to cement its status as one of the global outsourcing locations in the world, with the country's outsourcing industry surpassing Rmb1tr (USD145bn) for the first time in 2015. Chinese businesses inked service outsourcing contracts worth Rmb1.02tr in 2016, up 20.1% from 2015, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said. China is the world's second-largest service outsourcing provider, accounting for 33% of the global market. The top seven globally accepted locations in specific order are India, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil and Indonesia. China is becoming the favorite for basic low value services, the Philippines is preferred destination for financial services and voice-based support.

WNS acquires HealthHelp

Business process management (BPM) services provider WNS Limited has acquired HealthHelp, a care management leader, for USD92 million. The acquisition of HealthHelp further strengthens the end-to-end healthcare and insurance BPM offerings of WNS, said WNS CEO Keshav Murugesh. The company plans to leverage HealthHelp's industry-leading capability in care management to address payor, provider and insurance organizations. HealthHelp, founded in 1999 and based in Texas, currently employs approximately 400 medical and operational professionals in the US. WNS recently increased its global headcount to 32,184 across 42 delivery centers worldwide, including the Philippines.

Convergent Outsourcing opens new center in Iloilo

Convergent Outsourcing has announced the opening of its new customer contact center in Iloilo City. The new contact center is located in the Megaworld Business District, directly across from the Iloilo City Convention Center. The new Convergent site covers more than 30,600 square feet of office space and has over 400 employee workstations. Convergent CEO Mike Meyer said the new center is a result of the company's steady growth and the abundance of highly talented contact handling resources in the city. The new center will open with two training classes on 3 April. Most of the new positions will involve customer service support, supervisory, and training positions.

Conduent names Lokesh Prasad India CEO

Business process services provider Conduent has named Lokesh Prasad as Chief Executive Officer of Conduent India. Conduent, a BPO company originally created as a divestiture from Xerox, said Prasad will be responsible for further developing the USD6.5bn company's presence in India. In a statement, Conduent CEO Ashok Vemuri said Prasad's background will help Conduent India push the envelope of tech-led business services and expand its already impressive workforce. Prasad, who will be based in Gurgaon, is also tasked to grow the 10,000-employee workforce of Conduent in India. He previously served as Head of Emerging Markets for UnitedHealth Group in Gurgaon, and was responsible for managing profit and loss (P&L) for India and the Middle East. He was instrumental in creating a global sourcing and delivery strategy for UnitedHealth Group, and setting up their IT and BPO business in the US and Asia.

ADP named leader in payroll BPO services anew

For the fourth consecutive year, American HR management software and services provider ADP has been named a "Leader" in payroll business process outsourcing services. The recognition was handed to ADP by global BPO and IT services analyst firm NelsonHall based on two key dimensions - ability to deliver immediate benefits and ability to meet clients' future requirements. Among ADP's payroll strengths that NelsonHall highlighted is the company's global presence in 112 countries and ability to provide multi-country payroll and multilingual support across time zones while incorporating a local presence. ADP scored highly in the payroll services NEAT evaluation based on both analyst assessment and client feedback.

Sykes mulls celebrations in all of its locations for 40th anniversary

Sykes Enterprises, one of the pioneering global business process outsourcing firms, is planning celebratory events throughout the year at all of its locations for its 40th anniversary. An American multinational corporation, Sykes was the first foreign call center in the Philippines to support Filipino talent, with just 17 employees in 1997. Sykes senior director Barbie Winterbottom said the company maintains its family atmosphere even after being founded 40 years ago by John H. Sykes. The company is still run by a member of the Sykes family, Chuck Sykes. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with customer contact management centers throughout the world, Sykes provides comprehensive customer contact management solutions and services in the business process outsourcing (BPO) arena to Global 2000 companies, primarily in the communications, financial services, technology, healthcare and transportation & leisure industries.

Cubos named Innovation Council of Cebu head

Michael Cubos, founder of homegrown Performance 360 Call Center and BPO Services, was tapped to head the newly formed Innovation Council of Cebu (ICC). The ICC aims to create opportunities for stakeholders to organize themselves and build a supportive ecosystem for SMEs in the sector. The group's initial clusters include BPO, software developers, digital markets, tech startups, cyber security, multimedia, IT-enabled services, e-commerce, and makers. ICC was formed by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry 7. CCCI President Melanie Ng said it is the goal of the chamber to establish the ICT industry organization to address the needs of the various ICT sub-sectors in Cebu. ICC officers are set to meet to discuss bylaws before the group is officially launched in June.

Central bank says BPO firms not exiting the Philippines

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said it is very unlikely for business process outsourcing (BPO) firms to pull out from the Philippines despite the US administration's new policies. Guinigundo said BPO companies will remain, although expansion plans may be put on hold. After all, he said, there are very few options or alternatives to the Philippines as a hub for BPOs. Concerns of a possible BPO exit surfaced when US President Donald Trump made public his anti-outsourcing stance. The BSP official made the comment as he announced that the central bank expects the country's balance of payments (BOP) surplus to hit USD1bn this year. BPO is one of the components of the BOP.

Cognizant could turn over 6,000 employees this year

Global consultancy and outsourcing firm Cognizant is likely to fire more than 6,000 employees this year, according to a report on the ETtech website. The layoffs, however, are part of the company's normal employee appraisal process, a trend common among IT companies. A Cognizant spokesperson was quoted as saying that the regular performance reviews is part of the company's workforce management strategy. This process results in changes, including some employees transitioning out of Cognizant, the spokesperson said. Cognizant, which has over 265,000 employees in various countries, generally lets go 2-3% of its workforce, who are under-performers, in a typical year.

BPO Firm Alorica Seeks to Hire 10,000 Filipinos

Alorica, the largest provider of customer experience solutions to the US market, announced plans to hire 10,000 Filipinos to serve its fast growth client base and internal global support requirements. The announcement was made during the company's inauguration of its newest site in Makati City, The Alorica Center. The new facility features inspiring work spaces for the company's growing workforce in the Philippines, which now totals more than 35,000 team members. Bong Borja, Asia Region President for Alorica, said the company needs to expand rapidly in the Philippines to meet the increased demand for customer engagement experts. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Alorica is expanding its global workforce, which is located in 150 locations on five continents in 16 countries.

IBPAP welcomes new Board of Trustees for 2017-2019

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) welcomes its new Board of Trustees for 2017-2019. The Board of Trustees is elected by IBPAP members to oversee the activities of the association. The IBPAP Board Trustees for Industry are Cathy Ileto of Sutherland Global Services; Kamal Narang of Cognizant, Nix Nolledo of Xurpass; Luis Pineda of IMB; and Lito Tayag of Accenture. For Non-Industry, Board Trustees are Mike Frausing of Globe Business; Jovy Hernandez of PLDT Enterprise; and Davide Leechiu of Leechiu Property Consultants. Karen Batungbacal of QBE Group Shared Services Centre is Board Trustee for Global In-house Center Council while Alvin Juban of Synergy88 Digital is Board Trustee for the Game Developers Association of the Philippines.

Government inks contractualization rules

Instead of totally abolishing contracting and outsourcing work, the Philippine government has signed Department Order 174, which lays out rules on contractualization. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said he has not the power to abolish contractual work, as has been demanded by various workers' groups. Department Order 174 bans a number of practices, such as labor-only contracting and outsourcing work due to a strike. It also prohibits employers from making their workers sign agreements like post-dated resignation letters and waivers for minimum wage and welfare benefits. All other practices designed to circumvent the law and withhold workers' rights are also banned. The order still recognizes manpower agencies as long as they are registered every two years and put up a capital of P5 million.

Suwaki ug Bahaw, a Perfect Combination
Photo by Emma Gomez (Pamilacan Island)

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Death Brings Much Fruit

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12:24

Some things must die in order to be productive. Certain seeds will not germinate into a plant unless they freeze during the winter. Jesus knew that His death would bring salvation to the world.

The moment you became a Christian, your sinful nature died (Rom. 6:6), but there remained sinful aspects of your character that had not gone to their graves willingly. Before you became a Christian were you self-centered? You may discover selfishness lingering in your life when you ought to be freely sharing what you have in the name of Christ (Matt. 10:. Did you have a volatile temper? Now as a believer, you experience moments when anger wells up within you. Were you driven by ambition? You may still find yourself with the same motivation as you strive for recognition and position in the kingdom of God.

If these sinful attitudes are allowed to remain alive, they will stifle the fruits of the Spirit. Your temper may prevent some from coming to Jesus. Your selfishness will hinder you from being a blessing to those around you. Your ambition could cause you to use others to meet your goals. Your family may be suffering because of some areas of your life that you have never allowed Jesus to put to death. It is futile to say, “But that’s just the way I am!”  That is the way you were. But that person died with Christ; you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Allow God to complete His work in you and see what fruit your life produces.    Henry and Richard Blackaby

PNP to start 'Oplan Ligtas Sumvac 2017' on April 7

MANILA, March 30 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to officially begin its "Oplan Ligtas Sumvac 2017" on April 7.

The PNP would deploy some 65,000 to 70,000 policemen for the "Oplan Ligtas Sumvac 2017" or Operation Plan Summer Vacation 2017.

Senior Supt. Eugene Paguirigan, chief of the Public Safety Division of the PNP Directorate for Operations, in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday, said they have issued the operational guidelines for the "Sumvac 2017" wherein the deployment of policemen will start from April 7, 2017 to June 13, 2017.

Paguirigan added that the more than 95,000 force multipliers consisting of different concerned government agencies, civic-action groups and non-government organizations (NGOs) can help the PNP in insuring the safety of the vacationists and tourists, who are going to the provinces and tourist destinations.

Aside from the additional police personnel in the areas frequently during the Semana Santa (Holy Week), Paguirigan said, the PNP would also monitor the residential areas, especially in Metro Manila and other highly-urbanized cities.

The Holy Week this year will begin on April 9 (Palm Sunday) and ends on April 16 (Easter Sunday).

During the summer period, Paguirigan said, majority of the citizens are going home to their respective provinces, but the criminal elements are taking advantage of the vacation of some city residents to trespass in the vacated houses.

Likewise, the PNP would immediately cancel the leaves of policemen once the alert level status is raised in the entire country.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS PUSHED IN CONGRESS

Solon says families of Tanay field trip tragedy victims can sue school despite the waiver

When House Bill 1434 becomes the “Teachers and Students Accident Insurance Act” victims of future road mishaps will get accident coverage.

1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-list Rep. Salvador “Bong” Belaro, Jr. a former college of law dean and a private school administrator himself, opined in the case of Tanay field trip tragedy, that families of those killed and those injured can still sue the school who organized the trip despite the waiver that the parents or guardians signed.

“A waiver is a form of contract. Though signed by both parties, liability waivers are unenforceable contracts when it is proven that the school was negligent in ensuring the safety of students and teachers and personnel such as in the case of Galloway v. State of Iowa,” Rep. Belaro, a former commissioner of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said.

Last Monday, at least 15 college students died after the tourist bus they were riding slammed into an electricity post in Barangay Sampaloc in Tanay.

Author of HB 1434, Rep. Belaro said that this law shall assure survivors and the families of accident victims that they will be able to claim compensation if accidents occur. 

Pending before the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, HB 1439 seeks to provide insurance protection to both teachers and students who may encounter accidents within the school premises or during school-related activities such as field trips.

“Accidents can happen to teachers and students during laboratory activities, inter-school sports competitions, or field trips. For that, we must ensure that financial help to victims shall be available fast in case untoward incidents happen,” Rep. Belaro said.

“The insurance claim is apart from the civil liability claims they could get in case the victims files case before the regular court and win. Pursuing an insurance claim is a much faster remedy than the claims they could get from the courts,” Rep. Belaro adds.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in statement that the commission will check whether policies on the conduct of field trips were met by Bestlink College of Novaliches, the organizer of the excursion.

If passed into a law, the measure shall mandate the government to pay for the accident insurance coverage of public school students in the elementary, high school and college; while the private school owners shall shoulder the insurance premiums of the teachers they employ and the students enrolled in their school.

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education has yet to hear the side of the stakeholders who will be affected by these measure like private school owners and parents’ & teachers’ associations.

DIRECTION TRAVEL TOURS, INC.
2/F S & L Bldg., 1500 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita,
Manila
Tel: (63.2) 5255941 to 44
Fax: (63.2) 5221213 / (63.2) 5222420
Email: direction_travel@hotmail.com
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Davidson Wong, President & General Manager
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Transport Operator

Cebu, Bohol provinces gear up for ASEAN Summit meetings in April 2017

CEBU CITY, March 26 (PNA) -- The provinces of Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas will host some of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit meetings from April 3 to 22.

The ASEAN Summit meetings in Cebu will take place on April 3 to April 7, while the meetings in Bohol will be on April 18 to 22.

The local organizing committees in the two provinces said preparations are underway to ensure the success of the meetings.

The preparations include the Department of Health-Region 7 (DOH-7) and the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7).

Dr. Expedito Medalla, head of Taskforce Medical of DOH 7, said medical staff in all hospitals in Central Visayas will be put on Code White alert starting March 28 until April 25.

A Code White alert requires all doctors and nurses in hospitals to be ready for any emergencies.

Medalla said 31 medical personnel would also be on standby in the different venues and hotels in Cebu and Bohol where the ministers, senior officials and the technical working group would be having their meetings.

Chief Supt. Noli Talino, PRO-7 director, said they are considering another cell site shutdown as part of the security measures for the ASEAN Summit meetings in Cebu and Bohol.

Some cell sites in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City were temporarily shut down during the Sinulog Grand Parade and the swimwear competition of the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant in January this year.

Talino said they are considering all possible scenarios, including terrorism attacks, security threats and the possible shutting down of telecommunication signals during the summit.

But Talino said the shutdown of telecommunications signals would depend on the security situation during the ASEAN Summit meetings. (PNA)

AFP hoping armed rebels will heed CPP announcement of unilateral ceasefire

MANILA, March 30 (PNA) -- With the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) poised to declare to a unilateral ceasefire before the end of the month, the military is hoping that all armed elements of the rebel group will comply with the truce to avoid needless bloodshed.

This was stressed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla who noted that the CPP seems to have some difficulty in getting the cooperation of all of its fighters as proven by the spate of unprovoked attacks last February which resulted in the death of six troopers and abduction of three others.

At the time of the said atrocities, both the AFP and CPP were both observing a unilateral ceasefire.

In justifying their attacks, the rebels claimed that they are merely defending themselves from the presence of military units in their territories, a claim which the AFP has strongly denied.

"Hopefully, (all armed elements of the CPP) will obey the announcement of their leadership but as we have witnessed last month, they seemed to have some difficulties in getting their orders followed by all of their members," Padilla said in Filipino.

He added this resistance is brought out by the fact that some rebel groups have expressed their desire to conduct peace talks with local government units and military units operating in their respective areas.

Padilla said the AFP is receptive to this idea as it is more responsive and effective in ending hostilities in local levels. (PNA)
PRIAM F. NEPOMUCENO

Those who passed the Aeronautical Engineer November 2008 Board Exams

Last Name   First Name   Middle Name
ABALAYAN   ERIC   NACION
ACOSTA   EDRYAN   HERICO
ALDAY   BRYAN JASPER   CHUA
ALTEJOS   JASON   DESTAJO
AMPARO   EMER JUN   ODAL
APUYAN   ANTHONY   LANUZA
ARCARDO   DANIEL   DY
ARMEDILLA   ARJUN   SULLA
ASONG   JOHN LIBY   LAGRADANTE
BERNARDO   MICHAEL ELLIEL   IGNACIO
BICUA   WILWAUKEE   SOTELO
BROAS   GERALD   FRANCIA
CASABAR   ALMELO   ZAMBALE
CAUNTAY   RYAN JOHN   FRANCIA
DANGANAN   JOSEPH CHRISTOFEL   GIMENA
DELANO   JASON   VESAGAS
ENCINARES   MIGUEL JR   GALLANOSA
ESTABILLO   EMIL AUBREY   PADILLA
ESTIVA   RENZ DARWIN   FLORES
FIGUERAS   CELESTINO JR   ALCAZAREN


Last Name   First Name   Middle Name
FLORES   SANDRA   OCZON
FORMOSO   VICENTE III   DEL ROSARIO
GO   MAY ANN   BINUYA
HERNANDEZ   FRANCIS REY   MENDOZA
HUELGAS   MELVIN   SANTOS
LANGIT   DIOSDADO II   HERNANDEZ
LARGOZA   ARVIN ANGELO   CALINGASAN
LIPAT   ROLAN   YRAY
MAGHARI   RHANELL   ESCANER
MAN-ON   GHIANNY   SANTIAGO
MANUEL   RYAN JAMES   CERVANTES
MURILLO   KRISTINE ANN   TUIZA
NACINO   GILBERT   CASTILLO
PANELO   JAIME DOMINIC   COBALLES
PANGILINAN   ALVIN   SABADO
PUA   MICHAEL-JOHN   MAURICIO
RAMOS   CATHY ROSE   DE CASTRO
REYES   DENNIS   BACULO
SANTOS   JOHN PAUL   PEROLINA
TORRES   MARK ADRIAN   GADIAN

VILLAPAÃ'A   MARVIN   GORGONIA
VILLELA   MONARCH   RAMOS
ZENAROSA   BRYAN   RAGOS

Probe sought on 'rugby boys' in Tagbilaran City

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 26 (PNA) -- Street children involved in "rugby" sniffing finally drew the attention of Bohol officials after making headlines in a local newspaper.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Tomas Abapo Jr. brought up the matter during the latest SP regular session, citing his own experience with the kids.

Abapo, in a privilege speech, moved for a legislative action on the plight of street children whom he saw sniffing the solvent.

He said that if these street children, aged eight to 14, will be neglected, they will likely become criminals when they grow old.

Abapo shared that he personally observed these street kids sniffing rugby, begging by force, manifesting ill and rowdy manners as they shouted invectives when not given alms, and stealing food when not given such.

The matter was referred to the SP committee on social services for deliberation.

Citing his experience, Abapo said these street kids even snarled at him when he admonished them for sniffing rugby.

A local newspaper in Bohol ran a story in its March 22 issue about street children in Tagbilaran City sniffing rugby and harassing passersby as they loiter along major thoroughfares in the city.

These street children are different from the Badjao mothers and children who beg for coins from those who park their cars across the Island City Mall and motorists stopping at intersections of roads.(PNA)
/ANGELINE VALENCIA/RCG

DAP forges partnership with American universities

MANILA, March 30 (PNA) -- The Development Academy of the Philippines, through its Institutional Marketing Center, has forged partnerships with two American universities in its effort to explore and create partnerships with academic institutions in the United States while strengthening relations with similar groups and organizations in general.

This was done through memorandums signed during the US visit of DAP President Antonio Kalaw Jr. and IMC Managing Director Merliza Makinano, with a memorandum of agreement being forged with American University in Washington, D.C., and a memorandum of understanding being signed with the University of California, Berkely Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy.

The MOA with American University intends to “explore cooperative initiatives between the two institutions” even as the US institution and the DAP still have to identify the specific areas or activities that they will partner in over the next five years, the duration of the agreement.

California-Berkeley pact

The MOU with the University of California, Berkeley, meanwhile, intends to “take the necessary steps to encourage and promote cooperation” in such fields as exchange of students, exchange of faculty members, exchange of publications, collaborative research and other areas that may later be identified. The partnership is also for five years and is being forged to “establish a basis of cooperation and collaboration as well as working relationship towards the internationalization of higher education in the fields of research, education, and in training programs of mutual interest,” as well as to “serve as a general framework for the establishment of an academic link and cooperation… and to facilitate detailed discussions for more specific programs of collaboration and advancement of international understanding” between the two institutions.

Signatories

The agreement with American University was signed by the American school’s Vice Provost for Academic Administration Violeta T. Ettle and the DAP’s Mr. Kalaw.

Signing the MOU with the University of California, Berkeley, on the other hand, were Professor Henry Brady, the Dean of the university’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and Mr. Kalaw for the Philippine government’s research and training institution.

During the signing, Brady cited the need to train public servants in America similar to what the DAP does for the Philippine bureaucracy. The Goldman School of Public Policy also has ongoing executive programs with India, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and China.

Brady said he’s “very excited to work together” with the DAP in implementing the MOU.

Next steps

Ms. Makinano said the next step in the implementation of the said partnerships would entail identifying specific activities that will be undertaken and executed by the partner institutions.

She added that with the signing of the memorandums, one of her group’s objectives has been achieved as it further tries to strengthen relations with US institutions as well as with Filipino groups and Philippine embassies and chanceries overseas while benchmarking the curriculum of the DAP programs with those of other international academic institutions. (PNA)
PR-DAP

ALICIA   4TH class municipality in Bohol Province   
Mayor: MARNILOU S. AYUBAN       
Smart:0929-436-4046
Globe: 0917-304-1562   
Landline: 521-2070 office
E-mail address: msa_long@yahoo.com

DREAMSKY TRAVEL AND TOURS
Rm 311 3/F Sapphire Bldg., Victory Liner Cpd.,
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Email: dreamskytours@yahoo.com.ph
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Verna B. Limsico, Operations Manager
Services Offerings: IRetailer, inbound,
outbound travel services

About EC INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURS, INC.
1322 A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila
Tel: (63.2) 254.3780
Fax: (63.2) 708.0775
Email: ectravel882004@yahoo.com
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Franklin S. Hernandez, President / CEO
Services Offerings: Retailer, Outbound, Ticketing
Only, Local Tour Operator, Transport Operator

About EL SOL TOURS , INC.
563 Hormiga St., Binondo Manila
Tel: (63.2) 710.7188 / (63.2) 697.1990
Fax: (63.2) 242.0554
Email: elsol_tours@yahoo.com /
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Sophia S. Chua, General Manager
Services Offerings: Inbound, outbound,
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EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC.
Lower Lobby, Century Park Hotel, M. Adriatico
cor. P. ocampo Sts., Malate, Manila
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FAIR TRAVEL & TOURS CORPORATION
Stall 11 Olivarez Plaza, Ninoy Aquino Ave.,
Parañaque City
Tel: (63.2) 829.1668 / (63.2) 820.8233 /
(63.2) 400.4990
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Email: fairtrvl1997@yahoo.com.ph
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Thelma D. Mesina, President / Gen. Manager
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FRONTLINE 8 TRAVEL, INC.
MPI Bldg. 1052 Edsa Magallanes Village
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Fax: (63.2) 851.4634
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Ma. Bella M. Cantada, President / General
Manager
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GREAT SIGHTS TRAVEL AND TOURS
Unit 19P-A Padre Faura Center, 472 Padre Faura
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Paul So, Managing Director / Mr. Frederick
Chatico, General Manager
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packages, conference and events
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HEALTH & LEISURE GULF EXPRESS CORPORATION
2nd Floor Our Offices Building, 157 EDSA
corner Berkeley Street, Mandaluyong City
1554, Philippines
Tel: Trunkline (63.2) 724.3258 / (63.2)
215.5978 sales
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Email: info @healthandleisure.net /
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Earnest Joseph De Guzman, Sales and
Marketing Officer / Mr. Jonald Agbuya,
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KENSTAR TRAVEL CORP.
Ground Floor, Casacatalina Bldg., #63.2 Gen.
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Dante Renato Calma Jr., President/Gen. Manager
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MEDPHARM PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL
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E. Rodriguez Sr., Ave. Q.C.
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24 Hour Hotline: (63.2) 782.9344
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Email: csr@medpharmusa.net; lizel.legaspi@
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Lizel Legaspi, Operations Manager
Services Offerings: Third Party Administration
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healthcare products, home healthcare
supplies, pharmaceuticals, medical
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PHILIPPINE MEDICAL TOURISM, INC.
5/F Goodwill Building, #393 Sen. Gil. Puyat
Avenue Makati City
Tel: (63.2) 897.5813
Fax: (63.2) 310.3930
Ms. Lizel Legaspi, President
Services Offerings: Third Party Administration
(TPA) services for tourist packaged services,
travel documents,
air travel and hotel booking, medical and
wellness travel arrangements

Another Lovely Sunset in Bohol

The Beauty of Being Alone

Chocolate Hills Tour

Halo-halo sa Bohol

This way to the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Glimpse of Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol

Relaxing by the Loboc River

The Cute Bohol Tarsier

Round Trip Budget for Plane Ticket Only for Holy Week
Travel to Bohol.

RAJAH TRAVEL CORPORATION
3/F Gercon Plaza Bldg. Makati Avenue,
Makati City
Tel: (63.2) 894.0886
Fax: (63.2) 817.7903
Email: intltoursmkt@rajahtravel.com;
exomkt@rajahtravel.com
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Ms. Aileen C. Clemente, President
Services Offerings: Wholesaler,retailer,
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packages, conference and events
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Badiang Spring Resort

VELCA TRAVEL & TOUR, INC.
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Email: info@velca8@gmail.com / velca8@
gmail.com
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Ms. Lulu V. Velasco, President
Service Offerings: Retailer, inbound, outbound
travel services

BF INDUSTRIES, INC.
Crossing Bayabas, Toril Davao City,
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Tel: (63.82) 291.1977 / 291.1688 / 291.0627
Fax: (63.82) 291.0677
Email: info@bfi.com.ph
Website: www.bfi.com.ph
Bonifacio P. Fernandez, Jr., Vice-President
Product Lines: activated carbon, granulated
charcoal, charcoal briquette

LOPEZ, KIM AFFIRM VIBRANT PH-US TRADE RELATIONS. Trade ties between the Philippines and the United States pushes towards a more dynamic relationship as Department of Trade and Industry Secretary(DTI) Ramon Lopez (right) recently (30, March) met with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim (left) to discuss the trade and industry development between the Philippines and the United States. While the Philippines continues the momentum to diversify its International relations to new countries such as China and Russia, Secretary Lopez assured the Ambassador that establishing new ties to new countries does not diminish the existing PH-US trade relationship which has a strong track record being the country's 3rd largest trading partner. Ambassador Kim, on the other hand, assured continuous support of the US to the country, citing USAID support in the Mindanao as a manifestation of the firm commitment of the US to the Philippines. The Ambassador also invited DTI for the upcoming SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington D.C. on June 18-20, where multinationals, small or medium-sized enterprises and high-growth startups would come together to showcase investment opportunities around the world. Secretary Lopez, on the other hand, is enthusiastic that there are Filipino companies who are ready to expand and diversify their market in the US. “The Philippines continue to diversify its market and liberalize its priority sectors to spur competitive industry developments such as hospitals, low-cost housing, and schools,” Secretary Lopez concluded.

Atbang sa Bohol High
Now it is Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School

Bohol Beach Club
One of Bohol's best beach resorts

Kalamay from Bohol, a favorite pasalubong gikan sa Bohol

Beer Litro
Gold Eagle Beer, San Miguel Beer, Red Horse Beer

Serene Sky: Overlooking Bohol Sea

Figure skater Martinez earns 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics berth

MANILA, March 31 (PNA) -- Michael Christian Martinez has earned a slot in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games after reaching the championship round in the ongoing International Skating Union (ISU) World Figure Skating Championships at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.

Philippine Skating Union President Manuel Veguillas told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that Martinez scored 69.32 points to finish among the Top 24 in the men's short program after Thursday's (Friday in Manila) competition.

World champion Javier Fernandez was ranked first with 109.05 points followed by Shoma Uno of Japan (104.86 points) and 2014 Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada (102.13 points).

Boyang Jin of China, the 2016 World bronze medalist, placed fourth (98.64 points), Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan was fifth (98.39 points) while 2017 Four Continents Champion Nathan Chen of USA finished sixth (97.33 points). Russian Mikhail Kolyada was seventh (93.28) followed by American Jason Brown (93.10), Kazakhstan's Denis Ten (90.18) and Russian Maxim Kovtun (89.38).

Veguillas said the final round is scheduled at 10 a.m. (Helsinki time) on Saturday.

Martinez debuted at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and has competed at the Sapporo Winter Games last month.

Martinez will lead the Philippine campaign in this year's Southeast Asian Games, where figure skating will be introduced as one of the events.​

​Jules Alpe and US-based Shayane Casapao and Samantha Cabiles also saw action in Sapporo but their participation in the SEA Games scheduled on August 19 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has yet to be confirmed. (PNA)
​ JEAN T. MALANUM

Philippine Government not obliged to reciprocate ceasefire with NPAs -- Bello

MANILA, March 31 (PNA) -- Government is not obliged to reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire offered by communist rebels, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Friday said.

In a chance interview, Bello said that what the Duterte administration is pushing is a bilateral ceasefire deal that will end the five-decade insurgency, which claims thousands of lives including innocent civilians.

He said the bilateral ceasefire which is more effective can be crafted during the fourth round of peace talks on April 2 to 6 in The Netherlands.

"Right now there is no reason to declare a unilateral ceasefire because our President is more interested in obtaining a bilateral ceasefire agreement," said Bello.

"I think we should concentrate more on this more important agreement because this is where we will be assured of the lowering or the ending of hostilities, at the same time we are assured of the parameters and the terms of reference of the agreement," he added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced that it would issue a unilateral ceasefire not later than March 31, a statement Bello said would not be possible without the government declaration.

"I don't think they will declare if we will not declare," he said. "If they feel we are not prepared to declare one, then I don't think we will proceed with the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire."

According to Bello, Switzerland, Canada and Australia are willing to act as party facilitators for the bilateral ceasefire.

Duterte earlier scrapped the peace talks following the killing of soldiers after the insurgents terminated the ceasefire.

The labor chief, however, said the skirmishes were to be expected ahead of the peace talks, after the reds continued to sow terror.

"We are in a negotiation. When you negotiate, you must negotiate in a position of strength. Kaya pinapakita nila na mayroon silang lakas," Bello pointed out.

He added there is no precondition for the resumption of the negotiations following Duterte's statement that the rebels must stop collecting revolutionary taxes for the talks to bear fruit.

"I don't think the President has ever imposed that as a condition. He only mentioned this as a possible term in the bilateral ceasefire agreement," Bello concluded. (PNA)
SAMMY F. MARTIN

Pres. Duterte vows to uplift living conditions of Filipino women

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte has assured that he would help uplift the living conditions of Filipino women, particularly the poor and marginalized.

In his message during "Digong's Day for Women" in Malacañang Palace Friday, the President said his administration is extending livelihood assistance to Filipino women.

The funds will be coursed through and managed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

"But you have to attend a seminar," he said, noting that the DTI's Go Negosyo offers seminars for tailoring, for instance.

At the same time, he said he has increased the budget for agriculture and education to provide more sources of livelihood to the people.

And to demonstrate that his government is pro-women, the President said he designated women leaders to be part of his Cabinet, such as Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, and National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza.

The President said when he was Davao City mayor, he implemented policies intended to protect women. The Davao City government came up with a Women’s Code that was strictly followed.

There was also a law in the city against bigotry and discrimination to protect minorities from unfair treatment and practices, he said.

Participating agencies for Friday's event provided several services to women, among them spa and wellness, legal consultation, distribution of medical and dental referral cards, as well as TESDA scholarships. They also had a tour of the Malacañang Museum and were given snacks and goodies. (PNA)

Defense chief tells business companies not to give in to NPA extortion rackets
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has urged businesses not to give in to the extortion rackets of the New People's Army (NPA), following a series of NPA attacks against companies that refuse to give in to their demands.

"I, therefore, call upon all peace-loving Filipinos to resist these thugs, these terrorists who have brought nothing but misery to the Filipino people in the past 48 years. Let us resist their extortions because giving in will make them strong and perpetuate their criminal acts," he said in a statement Saturday.

The NPA extortion rackets and attacks against police and military units, going about their lawful business, came in wake of the announcement of the rebels' political leadership that they are resuming peace talks and a unilateral ceasefire with the government this April.

"Fellow Filipinos, in the past weeks, the Communist Terrorists who call themselves the New People's Army went on a rampage, burning equipment and properties of companies that refuse to succumb to their extortions. They do these to companies that build roads, export produce, transport people -- activities that help generate employment and wealth for Filipinos," Lorenzana stressed.

By committing these atrocities, the NPAs have shown themselves to be anti-progress and anti-poor, the defense chief added.

"We at the Department of National Defense share in the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte of building a nation worthy of Filipinos and Filipinos worthy of a nation. The path to real, lasting peace is indeed not without its struggles, thus it is important that we stay committed to this goal, and to let our actions reflect our intentions," he said.

The series of unprovoked attacks against military and civilian targets last February prompted the government to suspend its peace talks and ceasefire with the rebels.

"We stand by the President’s decision to resume the peace process but we likewise should call on the Communists to show their commitment both in words and in deeds," he added. (PNA)

NGCP: Summer outlook is positive

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- Summer is traditionally the period when energy demand peaks but according to the projections of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), if all factors remain the same, the energy outlook for March to June is positive.

”Assuming that no plant goes on unscheduled maintenance and assuming that the load at its peak does not exceed 9,870 megawatts (MW), there will be no power outage. But outside of those two conditions, we cannot give any assurance,” explained NGCP spokesperson, Atty. Cynthia Alabanza, during a media briefing on Friday.

The NGCP has projected that demand would reach its highest during the week of May 13 to 19, based on research on consumer and commercial behavior in previous years and weather forecasts for that week.

Demand peaked at 8,928 MW during the same period in 2015 and reached a high of 9,726 MW in April 2016, which was election year and the country was experiencing the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Alabanza however said they are cautiously confident that if all power plants are up and running and with judicious use of electricity, the public will be able to enjoy the summer months without any discomfort.

Like the Department of Energy (DOE), the NGCP also advocates demand-side management of power consumption and has also released energy conservation tips to the public, she said.

Alabanza suggested that ironing chores and other high-load consuming tasks be done during periods when power supply is not strained, for instance at night or during weekends.

Ironing could also be done at off-peak hours or before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. at night or once every week.

For lighting, she recommended that fluorescent lamps be wiped clean to give maximum illumination, as well as the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps for energy efficiency instead of incandescent bulbs.

For air-conditioning and refrigeration, units with a high Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) have a lower electric consumption compared to non-EER air-conditioners and refrigerators. Keeping the air-conditioning units clean and patching up possible air leaks in the room will also help in efficient cooling.

Electric fans should be kept clean, she said, adding that putting the television set on stand-by mode also consumes energy.

Unplug all appliances when not in use to avoid unnecessary consumption, she said. (PNA)

New Zealander frigate Te Kaha to pay 4-day visit to Philippines

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) --- As the country strenghten its defense ties with New Zealand, a helicopter frigate, the HMNZS Te Kaha, will be paying a goodwill and port visit to the Philippines from April 4 to 7.

Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincua said the ship, skippered by Cmdr. Stephen John Lenik, will be docking at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila.

Other ranking officials in the HMNZS Te Kaha includes Commodore James Gilmour, New Zealand Maritime component head.

Lincuna said the visiting ship will be given the usual meeting point procedure off Corregidor Island by the BRP Rajah Humabon.

The Philippines and New Zealand held Bilateral Defense Talks (BDT) last March 6, expressing their commitmen in strengthening and deepening their defense ties.

This was emphasized by Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Cardozo Luna during the Bilateral Defense Talks (BDT) held in Manila last March 6.

Present during the BDT was New Zealand Defense Minister Helen Quilter and Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna.

Both nations have a bilateral defense cooperation agreement signed in 2012.

During the meeting, Luna expressed his appreciation to New Zealand's contribution in the building up the capacity of Philippine defense forces even as he noted that bilateral relations are pursued within the ambit of multilateral platforms particularly the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

As this develops, Quilter conveyed that New Zealand looks forward to working with the Philippines once more as co-chair for 2017-2020 of the newly established ADMM-Plus Expert Working Group on Cyber Security.

She also recalled how the co-chairmanship of the Philippines and New Zealand in 2011-2014 of the ADMM-Plus EWG on Peacekeeping Operations resulted in productive undertakings that contributed in enhancing the capacity of ADMM-Plus members pursue peacekeeping operations.

Provided with an out brief of the Mutual Assistance Program Talks held earlier in by their respective military officials, Luna and Quilter commended the resulting program of action crafted by the two sides, noting the shared sense by the New Zealand and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) representatives that the MAP Talks was a tangible manifestation of the common desire to reinvigorate military-to-military interaction.

The talks took full cognizance of the needs of the AFP given the changed security environment and what NZ could offer given recent developments in the strategic landscape.

Beyond assessing the current state of bilateral defense relations and exploring ways to move the relationship forward, both defense officials likewise exchanged view on matters of common concern to include maritime security, the interactions of major powers in the Asia-Pacific and combating terrorism and violent extremism. (PNA)
PRIAM F. NEPOMUCENO

9 complainants withdraw cases vs 'rent-tangay' suspects

MANILA, March 31 (PNA) -- Nine complainants of ‘rent-tangay’ modus operandi withdrawn their complaints filed against the perpetrators behind the the scheme which has victimized car owners from different parts of the country.

During the continuation of preliminary investigation on Friday, the complainants submitted an affidavit of desistance before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Of the nine, three complainants accused the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of threatening them that they will no longer recover their vehicle unless they will file a complaint against the respondents led by Rafaela Montes Anunciacion.

Assistant State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes one of the member DoJ panel handle complaint filed by PNP-HPG on the charges for swindling and syndicated estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code and Presidential Decree 1689 against Rafaela Montes Anunciacion said that the complainants may be facing perjury raps for withdrawing the complaints.

”Katulad nyo ipinagkatiwala ang sasakyan na hindi niyo kilala ang tao. Ang HPG, hindi ganun. Nasa impounding area nila yan, may report na product ng fraudulent transactions, natural na iimbestigahan ng HPG,” Reyes said

“Hindi naman kayo pinapunta doon na kung may ID kayo uuwi na kayo dala ang sasakyan. Kaya kayo pinag-execute ng affidavit. Tapos ngayon sabihin niyo na kasalanan ng HPG?,” Reyes asked the complainants during the preliminary investigation.

“No Sir, we were only asked to give a statement,” the complainant said.

”Natural para malaman kung ano ang circumstances paano nawala ang sasakyan niyo. Tapos ngayon sasabihin niyo sa affidavit niyo na humingi kami ng tulong sa HPG para malocate ang sasakyan. Tapos sasabihin niyo na pinilit po kami ng HPG. Ano ba yan? Perjury ito,” he told the complainants.

The prosecutor pointed at the inconsistencies of the victims who issued an affidavit of desistance and allegations against the HPG saying “you said you sought the HPG’s help to find your vehicles but now you will tell me HPG forced you to file a complaint.”

”Huwag kayo basta-basta gawa nang gawa ng affidavit na di niyo naintindihan na dinadala sa DOJ. Hindi ito lokohan, seryoso ito. Isipin niyo inimbestigahan ng HPG tapos ngayon sasabihin niyo pinilit kayo. Natural bago mabawi niyo ang sasakyan nyo, iimbestigahan kayo. Wala ako magagawa yan ang mga affidavit niyo,” Reyes explained.

Police Officer 3 Aladdin Orale of the HPG lamented that “kami na nagpakahirap tapos magdedesist pa sila.”

There are a total of 29 complainants on the first batch of complaint filed by the HPG. On the second batch, there are 18 complainants.

Other respondents include Eleanor “Leah” Constantino Rosales, Tychichus Historillo Nambio, Jhennelyn Berroya, Anastacia Montes Cauyan, Eliseo Cortez, Marilou V. Cruz and Sabina Torrea.

Last Wednesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also filed charges of syndicated estafa, large scale syndicated estafa and carnapping against Anunciacion, Cauyan, Cortez, Torrea and Spouses Bienvenido Cruz and Marilou Vera Cruz.

In its complaint affidavit, NBI stated that Anunciacion led the group to the scheme to defraud the car owners by getting money from them.

The investigating DOJ panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag will consolidate the new complaints to the first batch of complaints filed by PNP-HPG and the set of complaints filed by NBI.

The other members of the panel are SASP Rex Gingoyon; Reyes, Rodan Parrocha, Bryan Jacinto Cacha Jr., Anna Noreen Devanadera, Jovyanne Escaño-Santamaria and Assistant Prosecution Attorneys Wendell Bendoval, Joan Garcia and Marc Eico Tariga.

Last March 27, Anunciacion submitted her counter affidavit on the continuation of the preliminary investigation on the complaints against the scheme.

Anunciacion was arrested last March 2 by members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A’s Special Operations Team by virtue of a warrant for estafa issued by Judge Francisco Pano of the San Pedro, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 93.

In her counter-affidavit, Anunciacion alleged that the complainants were only forced to file criminal charges against her by the Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group through a threat that they would no longer recover their vehicles.

Under the “rent-tangay” scheme, authorities said the suspects would convince car owners to become business associates in a rent-a-car service and have their cars rented for a hefty profit.

At first, the car owners will get paid but, unknowingly, in the end their vehicles will be pawned to other people and the suspects will disappear, making the victims unable to get their rented vehicles back. (PNA)

TC-90s to give PN ISR capability a big boost


MANILA, April 1 (PNA) --- With two Beechcraft King Air TC-90s in the fleet and another three more expected to be in commission within the year, the Philippine Navy's (PN) capability to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the country's vast maritime territories was greatly boosted.

This was confirmed by Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in an interview Saturday.

"The transfer of two (Japanese) TC-90s to (the PN) will boost the capabilities of the PN in conducting ISR in maritime areas of interest," he added.

The first two TC-90s were delivered to the PN during short ceremonies in Sangley Point, Cavite last March 27.

This is aside from its secondary function of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, utility, and transport missions, the Navy spokesperson further stressed.

"The TC-90 will (also) serve as a transition platform for our capability upgrade and in the future to operate the latest in military technology and equipment," Lincuna disclosed.

The TC-90s have a range of over 1,000 nautical miles, and a cruising speed of 260 knots and capable of carrying eight passengers along with the pilots.

Three more TC-90s are expected to be delivered to the PN within the end of the year. (PNA)
PRIAM F. NEPOMUCENO

PNP advises public to be careful in posting personal info on social media

MANILA - The Philippine National Police Anti-Cyber Crime Group (PNP-ACG) on Friday advised the public, especially those individuals who are “hooked” on the social media, to take the utmost precautionary measures in posting their personal information.

The PNP made the advisory in the aftermath of the controversy involving basketball player Kiefer Ravena, who was allegedly victimized by extortion using the social media or internet.

PNP-ACG spokesman Supt. Jay Guillermo said that there were many instances that the posting of several pictures, video or even personal messages on social media or viber group are merely being taken for granted by some netizens without taking into consideration whether the same would be good or just bring about danger in their respective personal life.

Guillermo noted that the posting of some personal matters sometimes bring about danger because of the modern technology.

Likewise, the PNP also advised the public never to trust or give personal information to anybody, more particularly with those people who had only been known for a short period of time. (PNA)

VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN HONORS REPLACED; FEWER COLLEGE FRESHMEN AGAIN IN JUNE-AUGUST

Freshman college enrolment next June to August will still be low like last year because of the phase-in of senior high school, 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list Congressman Salvador Belaro, Jr. said on Saturday.

Also because of changes arising from the Kindergarten to Grade 12 new curriculum, the graduation honors familiar to many like valedictorian and salutatorian are no more.

"Highest Honors" replace first honors or valedictorian or first honors and "High Honors" takes the place of second honors or salutatorian.

Unlike before when there is only one valedictorian, now there can be several students with "Highest Honors" because students who earn final grades of 98 to 100 get to receive "Highest Honors," Belaro said, referring to the DepEd Order on the new grading system.

Students who earn 95 to 97 final grade receive "High Honors", while students who reap 90 to 94 get "Honors".

The Department of Education phased-in senior high school for most schools last June 2016 with Grade 11.

"With Grade 12 introduction this year for most schools nationwide, colleges and universities will endure low freshman numbers for a second year and the impact of SHS on college enrolment will be felt over the next four to five years, Belaro said.

The House Assistant Majority Leader also said fewer college freshmen means the free college tuition plan of the Duterte administration and Commission on Higher Education "will not be too heavy a strain on the national budget."

Those who will enroll as college freshmen next school year will come from schools that have had kindergarten and 12 years of basic education before June 2016. (END)

LOWER COLLEGE ENROLLMENT IMPACT OF SENIOR HIGH TO LAST UP TO 5 YEARS - BELARO

Senior high school-induced low enrollment will continue to affect colleges and universities nationwide for the next three to four academic years, according to 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list Representative Salvador Belaro, Jr.

"Low freshman enrollment in this school year will carryover to the next year when the freshmen become sophomores and so on until this year's freshmen graduate from their four-year and five-year courses," Belaro explained on Friday.

Many colleges and universities were able to cushion the financial impact of the enrollment drop by offering senior high school (SHS), Belaro noted.

"Contrary to fears that SHS will cause many youth to drop out of school, enrollment in Grade 11 reached about 1.5 million and a good chunk of them chose SHS offered in colleges and universities," the House assistant majority leader said.

This summer, the Department of Education has scheduled the mass training of public school teachers who will handle Grade 6 and Grade 12 levels.

Belaro also said college freshman enrollment will still be low next school year because there is still Grade 12 of SHS rolling out in June. "That enrollment dip will also carryover through the next four to five years."

He added that a growing number of colleges and universities are moving the start of their school year to August but most higher education institutions still have June as their opening month.

Belaro is the author of House Bill 4044 which seeks to establish a standard academic calendar for all education levels nationwide. (END)

DTI CHIEF SPEAKS AT THE BIENNIAL CONVENTION OF FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-CHINESE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez addressed recently (26 March) hundreds of Filipino-Chinese business leaders representing 150 member organizations across the country, during the 31st Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) in Pasay City. The same event also saw election of officers and formulation of FFCCCII's new plans and commitments for the next two years. As keynote speaker, the trade chief emphasized the government's commitment to cultivate an enabling policy environment that is inclusive, as well as assured continuous improvement in the country's business climate through President Rodrigo Duterte's 10-point socio-economic agenda. Sec. Lopez called on the members of the private sector to remain active government partners towards the development of the Philippine economy, especially as it experiences sound macro-economic fundamentals, strong investors' confidence and good governance. He also hoped that the organization's future initiatives would complement current nation-building efforts, such as in mentoring micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in support of spurring economic prosperity though employment and entrepreneurship. In this photo are key members of the FFCCCII, led by its Chairman Emeritus Lucio Tan (5th from L), President Angel Ngu (4th from R) and Honorary President Alfonso Siy (4th from L).

This Is Your Wisdom

Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 4:6

Wisdom is not what you know about the world but how well you know God. Human reasoning will not make you wise. It may even lead you to reject the ways of God (1 Cor. 1:18-25). God’s purpose in creating a nation for Himself was to demonstrate His wisdom to the world through the obedience of His people (Zech. 8:23). As the Israelites followed God, He would bless them, and the wisdom of obeying God would be evident to all.

God gives you the same opportunity to base your life on His wisdom. When unbelievers make important decisions, they must rely on their own knowledge and understanding. You, as a Christian, have access to God’s wisdom. God’s Spirit is within you to guide you (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the truth of the Scriptures so that you can see things from God’s perspective. Only God sees the future, so only He can accurately lead you to make correct decisions today.

As you allow God to direct your life, those around you will see true wisdom, wisdom not of the world but of God. Others will be confused about what to do in our complicated world, but God will guide you safely to the correct choices for you. Your family will be blessed because you make wise decisions. Your friends will have a wise counselor to come to for help. Your obedient life will demonstrate the wisdom of allowing the Holy Spirit to be your Guide.Henry and Richard Blackaby

PHL, Japan officials meet on proposed projects
TOKYO - Philippine and Japanese officials have pledged here to work closely on possible projects for cooperation on infrastructure development.

In the first meeting of the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held here this week, the Philippine side presented its priority projects for possible implementation with Japan Official Development Assistance (ODA) financing and support, and the Japanese side acknowledged the list based on the Prime Minister’s commitment to provide JPY1 Trillion (about USD 9 billion) financing package to the Philippines. The priority list covers projects in railway; irrigation; and public works projects covering road and flood management.

Additional projects in the areas of public works, energy, and industrial zone development were also submitted as candidates for Japan ODA financing.

Based on the discussion, the Japanese side will review the projects for bilateral cooperation.

The first meeting of the Joint Committee took place at Kantei, the Prime Minister's Office. The Philippine side was headed by the Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, while the Japanese side was led by Dr. Hiroto Izumi, the special advisor to Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

This joint panel's formation was announced during Prime Minister Abe’s visit last January to the Philippines, where he announced the Japanese government’s commitment of one trillion yen in development assistance and investments to the Philippines within the next five years.

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Century Properties introduces official first-home division and brand

MANILA, March 30 (PNA) -- Listed real estate developer Century Properties Group, Inc. has introduced its official first-home division and brand in line with its commitment to help address the country’s housing backlog while elevating the standards in its affordable housing category at competitive price.

The brand name, PHirst Park Homes®, is a play on the words first and PH, which represents hardworking Filipino end users who deserve only high quality first homes.

PH also stands for the Park Homes concept, which integrates greenery and life-enhancing amenities into the masterplan to create a truly liveable and lovable community for first homebuyers.

“PHirst Park Homes® raises the bar of what affordable housing is and should be in the Philippines,” said Marco R. Antonio, CPG’s Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of PHirst Park Homes®.

Century’s first home brand is a partnership with the global business enterprise and one of Japan’s largest conglomerates, Mitsubishi Corporation.

It is slated to launch a series of housing communities, starting off in the second quarter of 2017 with a 26-hectare community in Tanza, Cavite.

The launch of Century’s first home segment effectively expands the company’s portfolio of residential offerings, from luxury and mid-priced condominiums in the business districts and city centres to first homes in horizontal communities within key growth areas outside Metro Manila.

Germany needs 400 nurses for Triple Win Project

MANILA, March 31 (PNA) -- Some 400 nurses are needed in Germany under the Triple Win Project, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.

With this, the agency is now accepting qualified applicants to fill up vacancies for Intensive Care Unit (ICU), general, and geriatric care wards under the International Placement Service of the German Federal Employment Agency (ZAV/BA).

In a statement, the POEA said that qualified applicants must be Filipino citizen and permanent resident of the Philippines with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (four years professional education), active Philippine Nursing License and at least two years of professional experience as nurse in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and care institutions.

It noted that applicants must have German language proficiency and is willing to undergo German language training in the Philippines to attain Level B1 (to be paid by the employer) or with Bl or B2language proficiency level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The POEA said that successful candidates shall have a starting monthly salary of â,¬1,900 (gross) and an increase to â,¬2,300 after recognition as a qualified nurse.

The employer will pay the visa and airfare from the Philippines to Germany and will assist the employee find a suitable accommodation.

The selected nurse will bear the expenses in full or in part of the board and lodging.

Qualified applicants should register online at http://www.ereqister. poea.gov. ph and personally submit the following documents (fastened in a folder) under the heading "Triple Win RSF No. 17003" at the Manpower Registry Division, Windows S and T, Ground Floor, Blas F. Ople Bldg. (formerly POEA Bldg.), Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City: Cover letter and curriculum vitae with colored passport size picture, in English and, if possible, in German High School Diploma (notarized copy) Diploma of nursing (notarized copy) Board Certificate from Professional Regulation Commission Certificates of employment from former employers (notarized copy) Certificate of German language skills, if available Copy of valid Passport

It added that applicants are required to present their original documents for authentication of written information before forwarding the resume to the employer.

The deadline of submission of application is on May 15, 2017.

The Triple Win Project is supervised by the POEA through a government-to-government arrangement with the Federal Republic of Germany. (PNA)

NEA sees ZAMCELCO TOR submission by next admin
MANILA, June 1 (PNA) -- The National Electrification Administration expects the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperatives Inc. to submit the terms of reference (TOR) for its investment and management contract in the next administration.

"TOR is still subject to deliberation by ZAMCELCO... This admin will only last until June, maybe during the next one," NEA Administrator Edith Bueno told PNA in a text message Wednesday.

The electric cooperative earlier tapped a consultant to form its TOR.

She noted the process also requires the electric cooperative to have discussions with Zamboanga city consumers.

The administrator earlier said the IMC, which requires approval from NEA, is set for bidding by the end of the year.

Power firms Aboitiz Power Corp. and the Manila Electric Co. were also reported to be interested in the contract. Both firms also own and operate distribution utilities.

The National Electrification Administration is an attached agency of the Energy Department, mandated to strengthen the electric cooperatives by ensuring efficiency, reliability and global competitiveness. (PNA)

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