Robert Edmonds asked:


Satellite 2007 logiciel pour PC est téléchargeable avec facilité et vous êtes en mesure de regarder votre sport favori dans un record de 2 minutes. Le programme offre plus de 3000 chaînes de télévision, tout ce que vous pouvez regarder à partir de votre ordinateur. Cette variété de chaînes de télévision par satellite sur PC arrive à un coût de $ 49.95, qui est de loin le meilleur programme de qualité moins chère que j’ai jamais vu à la télévision le logiciel PC.

Ce satellite TV sur PC logiciel a été initialement vendu au prix de 169.00 $, mais ils semblent avoir réalisé qu’il avait besoin d’aller pour un moindre coût. Avec une amélioration et une meilleure qualité, le PC 2007 Elite Edition a offert amélioration de la programmation et de la convivialité facile à moins d’un tiers du coût initial. Pour le prix actuel, je pense que ces mecs sont PC TV offrant une meilleure qualité à un prix nettement plus bas pour PC, TV satellite.

Le logiciel est très facile d’employer le programme comme je l’ai découvert après avoir fait une hâtive téléchargement. Une fois que vous installez un PC 2007 télévision par satellite, il est conçu pour être facile à utiliser. Le logiciel PC TV offre comprend des canaux de tous les coins du monde. Vous serez en mesure d’obtenir des sports sur votre ordinateur dans de nombreuses langues différentes dans autant de pays différents.

Les chaînes de sport comprennent également celles en provenance des États-Unis et d’Europe avec des chaînes de sport ESPN et l’Euro comme Sports. Autres canaux que j’ai réussi à inclure l’accès des sports, musique, actualités, météo canaux, les canaux Kids, Educational documentaires, les films et les chaînes d’information.

Le logiciel comprend un abonnement gratuit, à regarder les chaînes de télévision sur votre PC pour la vie. Le seul temps de démarrage taxe est juste que … Une fois des honoraires. Une de l’énorme sied j’ai trouvé dans le PC 2007 Elite Edition est sa portabilité. En téléchargeant ce logiciel, vous serez en mesure de regarder la télévision par satellite à partir de stations de 70 pays et à partir de n’importe quel endroit dans le monde pour autant qu’ils disposent d’une connexion Internet.

Le logiciel PC TV donne tellement de votre choix que vous pouvez perdre l’essentiel de votre tête essayant de parcourir toutes les stations dans un court laps. Le téléchargement de PC la télévision par satellite sur votre ordinateur, vous pouvez faire tout ce que vous voulez; Que ce soit en regardant le sport à partir d’un PC en Arzbeijan aux nouvelles chaînes au Zimbabwe.

Le PC Satellite TV est un logiciel très souple et offre mobilité. Pour les voyageurs fréquents qui peuvent vouloir rattraper locales et internationales sur les chaînes d’information, vous pouvez facilement le télécharger sur votre ordinateur portable. Cela vous donne de la mobilité pour attraper sur vos chaînes de télévision locales dans n’importe quel endroit dans le monde. Le preliquisite est que vous disposez d’une connexion Internet, où que vous soyez à l’adresse.

Le PC TV satellite coups effectivement plus hors de l’eau. Ils offrent une revêtus de fer – une garantie de remboursement dans le cas où vous n’êtes pas satisfait. Sur une échelle de un à dix, je évaluer ce logiciel PC TV satellite un bon neuf. Pour plus de détails sur votre ordinateur connecter à l’Internet TV, voir mon site Web.

Nous vous invitons à faire un arrêt, veuillez visiter un de mes sites Web ci-dessous. WWWTV

Valuenotes Outsourcing Practice asked:


Over the last few years, the Philippines has been increasingly gaining traction as an offshoring destination, especially in niches like call centers, medical transcription, animation, publishing and legal services.

ValueNotes has been researching and analyzing the Indian publishing offshoring industry since 2005. With over 100 service providers, some of them with decades of experience, the Indian publishing offshoring industry is quite mature. While India commands a lion’s share in publishing outsourcing, especially in the STM (scientific, technical and medical) segment, service providers in countries like Philippines and China have been around for quite some time.

We estimate the revenues of Publishing BPO industry to be approximately $100 m in 2008. Among the 20-25 vendors, SPi Global Solutions, Innodata Isogen and Asiatype Inc. have been the early movers and have been in existence for two decades or more.

All these service providers have a strong focus on STM (Scientific, Technical and Medical) publishers, and are now beginning to look at the educational and/or corporate publishing segments. These early entrants have positioned themselves as ‘end-to-end service providers’ to the publishing industry. Most large and mid-sized players in the Philippines have been growing at approximately 20-30% per year for the last couple of years.

While publishing BPO industry in the Philippines and India began at the same time, there is a huge difference in their growth patterns. The Philippines industry is approximately one fifths of that of the Indian publishing BPO in terms of manpower. The two leading Philippines players are comparable to the leading Indian players. SPi with an over 5,000 strong workforce in the Philippines is one of the largest publishing BPOs in the world!

However, while almost 80% of the Indian revenues are contributed by the top 10-12 vendors; in the Philippines top 2 vendors comprise 80% of the total revenues. The Philippines vendor landscape is marked by an absence of a strong mid tier (200-500 employees). Apart from Xlibris (captive), Affinity Express, Asiatype and few others, there are very few companies in the mid tier vis-à-vis over 80-100 vendors in that space in India.

On the skills front, India has developed tremendous capabilities in automation and technology. While attributes like cultural proximity to the US, design and copy-editing skills are some of the strong capabilities within Philippines, there is a need to rise to the next level. There is currently an underdeveloped mid tier vendor landscape in the Philippines. Several of these mid-tier companies are subcontractors to the industry leaders. In order to capture the huge opportunity in publishing outsourcing, it is imperative for these Philippines BPOs to build differentiators in their service offerings.

Ivi asked:


I received a copy of ‘The Philippines Through the Eyes of a Foreigner’ through an email last June 2007. Why did I not react then? First, I did not have my own blog yet. Second, and more importantly, I did not see the need to do so as it was one man’s sentiment and there was some truth to it. So why am I reacting now? Well, yesterday as I was sorting out my email I chance upon the letter again and then later on as I was doing some research on Filipino culture I chance upon the same essay. This time though, I was surprised to see a lot of reactions from my kababayans, ranging from defensive to violent rections. Why be so harsh on the guy when he is merely voicing out his sentiments as he is entitled to in the first place.

Although there are some truths in his essay, there are also some overstatements.

Let me start with the sad truths:

1. Yes, it is true that we do have streets lined with street people, beggars and squatters.

But, let me remind you that those people did not dominate our sidestreets overnight.

Once upon a time, those people used to live happily in the rural areas. Then one day, a politician named Mr. Trapo arrives in a shiny limo and promises them the sun, the moon and the stars. But there is a catch, they have to go to his town to help him win elections by becoming ‘flying voters’. They were pledged mammoth promises, given a few measly bucks and picked up by huge Sarao jeepneys bound for Zion. After Mr. Trapo wins his election, he leaves all the necessitous folk behind. With their families still with them, hungry, broke and exhausted, where do they go now? With very little money left from Mr. Trapo, they begin building shanties along the sidestreets. And the rest as they say is history……..

2. Yes, it is true that our roads are cursed with pollution and our public utility vehicles are in disreputable states of repair. Yes, we have streets full of potholes and unrepaired streets.

Then one day, after Mr. Trapo is sworn into office, he becomes Congressman Trapo. He decrees that the roads be repaired and lined with asphalt. Since he has the power to pick the contractor, he selects the one who offers him the most proceeds. And because the contractor has to give a huge chunk of his earnings to Congressman Trapo, he figures that to earn more he could probably gain more by using substandard materials. That explains the potholes.

Congressman Trapo runs for the Senate and wins. Senator Trapo is now even more jaded by all his power. He does not care (or he has been bribed enough) to overlook that the other government subsidiaries are allowing bus comapnies to import buses that are really old and dilapidated. So that explains the disintegrating vehicles and the pollution that comes with it.

3. Yes, it is true that our educational system allows children to attend schools without desks or books to accommodate them. Yes, it also true that teachers, even college professors, are paid salaries so disgracefully low that it’s a wonder that anyone would want to go into the teaching profession in the first place.

Senator Trapo has his share of the The Pork Barrel, A.K.A. Pork, Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). These are funds given to both members of the Senate and Congress, these are discretionary in nature so it is up to Senator Trapo to identify the projects that will be funded from these funds. Senators get P 200 million each while the congressmen are allotted about P 70 million each. To have something to show for, Senator Trapo builds small waiting sheds with a huge picture of his face and his name in large fonts to advertise what he has done. He forgets about the public schools that cannot accommodate half the school’s population. Senator Trapo also needs more funds to help him in his re-election bid. He forgets about the teachers who, aside from a meager salary, work long, grueling hours.

There are a lot of Mr. Trapos all around us. He could very well be holding office at your Barangay Hall, the City Hall, the House of Representatives, the Senate, maybe even in Malacañang. Who knows?

There is no ending to my fairy (goblin) tale. The rest is up to you.

As for the overstatements, here’s my take on that:

1. Filipinos do not worship, almost slavishly, everything foreign. Foreigners are not looked up to and idolized.

Filipinos are essentially warm, nurturing, and tolerant to a fault.

Do not mistake Filipino hospitality for worship. Having said that, it is but natural for Filipinos, even Asians in particular to be generous givers. Luxury goods, more often than not, imported brands flatter not just the giver but the receiver as well. Isn’t that what it’s about, status quo?

Case in point, last week my husband & I were in Greenhills for an errand. In case you don’t know, it is a shopping mecca for everything faked or copied. We traverse the tiangges as I wanted to do some research on the demographics of people who patronize fakes. Surprise, surprise. In one corner, we saw 2 Americans (males) searching for an ‘authentic looking fake’ briefcase. We walk some more and more and we see 3 foriegners (they sounded British but I wasn’t sure) looking for ‘authentic looking fake’ Mont Blanc pen. We walk a bit more and we see 2 foreigners (males) looking for ‘authentic looking fake’ Louis Vuitton bags for their girlfriends. Is that what character is to you? I’m not even making this up.

Allow me to spill another anecdote. A few months ago I was at Louis Vuitton in Greenbelt waiting for my purchase to be wrapped when I was approached by a man in his 60′s (about my Dad’s age) asking my impression on 4 LV bags laid out in front of him. He said he was having a hard time deciding which one to pick as an anniversary present for his wife and the SA(sales associate) wasn’t much help. I gladly oblige. Mind you, he was Filipino, very simply and unostentastiously dressed. He didn’t look like a fashion victim nor did he look uber rich. Maybe just like the rest of us, he appreciates a little luxury. Don’t you think?

Even in HongKong, walk around and you’ll see about 60% of the locals are carrying LV bags. Real ones, I’m sure. We went to all 3 stores and all of them were packed. In one store, we had to wait in a long queue just to get in. You wouldn’t call them slaves to foreigners, would you?

2. Filipinos are not itching to leave the country.

It’s just that sometimes, for some people, there seems to be no other choice.

Do you think our OFWs would still leave the country if they were given the same rate here as they are given abroad? Domestic helpers abroad are paid more than thrice over than what our teachers are paid here.

In the United States for instance, the minimum wage (average) is about $6.00 an hour. Did you know that that same amount is the minimum wage here BUT for a full day’s labor? I **** it when I hear foreigners say, ‘Oh, the gasoline prices here are the same as in the US’ or whatever country. No matter how the numbers match, it’s still not the same. No matter how our government rubs all sorts of figures on our faces, they mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why? Because we, the Filipinos, feel nothing. The government has nothing to offer. The jobs they claim to have are mediocre compared to what we as parents have to pay for in tuition fees. What jobs await U.P., Ateneo and La Salle graduates? Jobs at call centers?

To strive for something better is no shortcoming on our part. We will always strive for the best, not just for ourselves, but for our families and our nation.

The government claims that it is helping boost tourism in our country. How exactly?

When we went to Bangkok just a few weeks ago, I wanted to visit Siam Paragon. We could’ve walked as the mall was only about 5 kilometers from our hotel, I merely wanted to ride a tuk tuk so we hail one to take us there. Since the cab and tuk tuk drivers there understood very little English I brought a map, a picture of the mall and a copy of the exact address. About 15 minutes and many kilometers later, still no mall in sight. He brings us to a jewelry store, when we asked why, he said that he’s bringing us there at no extra charge to us. It’s just that everytime they bring in tourists, they get a coupon for free LPG (their petrol) from the government. We aren’t under any obligation to buy, just come in for a visit. He then takes us to another shop (and thus my asthma was triggered by the stench of LPG). We ended up buying some goodies as he says he will get a small commission if we do so (yes, we were that gullible, but to us it was being helpful). Even during the temple tour, the tour guide told us that it was compulsory for them to bring tourists to particular spots. That is because their government encourages exactly that. Do you think the tricycle drivers here would get an incentive if they bring you to Luneta? I don’t think so.

But what about tourism in the Philippines. My husband & I were surprised to see on a cable channel that some of our museums are still open. Note that it was on a cable channel and not even a local channel. Up until that moment we thought all our museums have closed down. Is that the government’s definiton of ‘boosting’ tourism?

We are a free country. We are free people. We are entitled to our own opinion. In the same way that each of us is free to voice that opinion. If you’d want to block or edit everything negative you hear just to make it favorable to you, won’t that be the start of censorship?

The reason behind my poking fun at Filipino drivers (in my blog) isn’t to insult, ridicule or degrade them but maybe, just maybe with those little insights I could reach out to someone to do something about it, be it by doing better at it (it is a skill after all) or by at least implementing the laws that are there for a reason.

Hats off to Mr. Barth Suretsky. I do believe that it was in his best intention to put a little perspective into our culture and I take no offense whatsoever. I thank him for taking the time to analyze the things that somehow puzzle me as well.

To all foreigners, always remember this, we Filipinos have managed to unseat 2 presidents in the last 2 decades. It is my belief that we can do so again. It’s just that at this point, there is no one person who could penetrate the system and not be spoiled by it. It will take time, discipline, and the will to change in each of us. Like I said, probably not in my lifetime. But soon, I hope.

I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. I love my country and it is here that I will spend my old age until the rest of my days.

I hope you can say the same for yourselves.

Timothy Spencer asked:


So someone gave you a gift wrapped in sassy purple-and-gold paper with a fancy ribbon to top it all off. Just looking at it makes you feel all itchy and excited to find out what’s inside! Of course, you don’t want to act like a greedy kid on Christmas morning while everyone is watching you, so you just smile and say thanks as gracefully as possible while holding all the anticipation in. You wait while everyone is away—you hold the package in your hands—your lower lip might even tremble a bit while thinking about the goody inside—you tear the fancy wrap off…and a cheap picture frame you can buy at any department store for P80 pesos greets your eyes. Talk about a major letdown huh?

We’ve all had an experience like this at least once in our lives. We love getting gifts since they make us feel special, but sometimes gift-receiving tends to get pretty ugly. How? Well, the gift may be generic and useless. We know that the person is well-meaning but admit it, we want to scratch the person’s eye out for wasting money on something we can’t help but resent as decent human beings. Good intentions are cool, but there are such things as misled good intentions.

They say it’s the thought that counts in giving gifts, but if there is no thought in the first place, if there is just a mindless, automatic reaction to the occasion, then the gift would count for zilch. We **** receiving useless, generic gifts. Naturally, we shouldn’t give such gifts to other people. The idea behind giving gifts is to make the recipient feel special, not annoyed or resentful. That is why we should give practical gifts that the person can appreciate. The gift should be appropriate not only to the occasion but to the personality of the recipient as well. It need not be expensive, so long as it’s thoughtful and practical with the person’s needs in mind.

For example, if your friend loves to watch movies, giving a copy of his favorite film or something that he or she would like to watch is a good idea. If your friend tends to get stressed at work too much, a gift certificate to a spa is just perfect (plus it’s not that expensive! ). If your friend is particular, a pretty scarf or a flattering shade of lipstick may get you a lot of hugs.

For occasions such as wedding anniversaries or Valentine’s, a bunch of flowers never fail to do the trick. The keyword for such occasions is “romance” and nothing spells it better than a bouquet of fresh, high-quality flowers specially handpicked for the occasion. There are several shops that sell flowers both online and on the streets, wherein they offer delivery to your loved ones. Delivery is usually efficient and hassle-free, so you might want to try the delivery service of your chosen flower shop.

Remember, pour effort into giving gifts to the people you love. Make sure that the gift is thoughtful and practical, and who knows, the people around you may stop giving you picture frames on your birthday.

Sai Vallejos asked:


Experience a happy blending of cosmopolitan and rustic lifestyle in Negros Occidental, the sugar capital of the country. Celebrate nature’s blessings: waterfalls, caves, mountains, rivers, springs and valleys. Go hiking and camping, fishing and angling, scuba diving and snorkeling, mountain biking and sky diving with guidance from reliable locals. Travel centuries back in time visiting stately mansions in Silay City, one of the top 25 destinations of the Philippines. Or go on Iron Dinosaurs (steam locomotives) or other special interest tours.

There are varied accommodation and dining facilities from luxurious to simply modest. Rates are reasonable. Whatever you go for, Negros Occidental has it.

BRIEF HISTORY

Originally known as “Buglas” by its natives. This fourth largest island in the Philippine archipelago was given the name “Negros” by the Spanish navigators when Esteban de Rodriguez discovered the island in April, 1565 and found its earliest occupants to be dark-skinned natives belonging to the Negrito ethnic group. The natives then, occupied initially most of the southern portion of the province, being Binalbagan and Ilog. Two of the earliest native settlements which officially became towns in 1572 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now HImamaylan) and Candaguit.

In 1734, the island became a military district and Ilog became its first capital. Bacolod was made provincial capital in 1849. Then in 1856, Negros Occidental was raised to the category of a politico-military province. During this time, several more towns were established like San Carlos and Calatrava. Other towns were created, particularly Saravia, Escalante and Valladolid (1860) as a result of the growth of Population and the influx of immigrants coming from neighboring provinces such as Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, and Cebu. These growth in population and immigrants brought to the province in turn rapid material growth and development during the later part of the 18th century.

The major boon to the province at this time were two: the cultivation of sugar which brought economic boost as it later led Negros to pioneer other provinces in sugar production with its initial of 4,000 piculs of sugar in 1856 increasing to 2,000,000 piculs in 1897. With this, new machineries such as those operated by steam were used in the towns of Bacolod, Minuluan and Bago. Another boon was the opening of the ports like Iloilo and Cebu to foreign commerce.

During the last decade of the 19th century, several important events may be summarized: one, the making of Negros Occidental as a separate province in 1890. Two, the joining of the Negrense revolutionary leaders in the nationwide Katipunan Movement which overcame the Spanish garrison in the province on November 6, 1898 during one of the Filipinos?revolt against the Spanish rule. Three, the arrival of the Americans in the province in May, 1899 leading to the establishment of a Civil Government in Negros Occidental on April 20, 1901. Fouth, the ousting and surrender of the Japanese Forces in Negros (1945) after both civilian and military leaders in Negros Occidental pursued and organized a free government in the province.

After the upheaval and destruction brought by the first and second world wars, the next years following it, were dedicated to the rehabilitation and reconstructions of various sectors as Industry and Commerce, principally the sugar industry. Following this recuperation period, socio-economic growth in the province ensued.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT

Negrenses, as practically all Filipinos, are poly-lingual. Of the 87 dialects in the country, two Visayan dialects are predominantly used in the province: Ilonggo, which is spoken by 80% to 90% of the populace, and Cebuano which is used by the rest. English, however, is widely spoken; thus the English-speaking visitor will have little or no communication problem at all.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Negros Occidental is primarily an agricultural province. Of the total land area of 792,607 hectares, 588,145 hectares are arable land of which appoximately 419,305.084 hectares or 53% are devoted to agriculture.

With diversification as a major provincial development program, new land uses such as more inland fishing, livestock & poultry, grains and new crops like coffee, cacao, black pepper, orchards, ramie and others are increasing.

The province of Negros Occidental is reported by the Bureau of Mines to be rich in both metallic and non-metallic mineral resources, notably copper, gold, silver and molybdenum. Among the non-metallic minerals are stones, gravel, and sand and other construction materials, also salt and guano.

The socio-economic life of Negros Occidental from the 1950?s up to the 1980?s depended mainly on sugar, producing annually about 60% of the country?s sugar output. The four corners of the archipelago have focused their wide open eyes and melting mouth to the glory of the Negrenses. Negros is where high living and high eyebrows were. (Source:The Philippine Department of Tourism)

Timothy Spencer asked:


Boy and girl gets into an initially quiet fight, speaking in low tones, still not believing and a bit annoyed that they’re talking about what they’re talking about. Eventually, voices rise, hearts beat faster, and whatever disbelief and slight annoyance that these two lovers have about this little fight turns into bitterness, pain, and frustration. Eventually, one of them says the unspeakable words, the other hears it, and one walks out the door. It’s over.

A sleepless night follows when the girl and the boy couldn’t sleep, regretting the deed. Eventually, the girl hears a knock on the door. She doesn’t want to get up but she does. As she slowly twists the doorknob, the door reveals a contrite boy offering the reddest roses that he could find, and they embrace…

Cheesy right? You must have watched this scene in countless films and television shows since you could remember. You might have even experienced this yourself at some point in your life! The reason for the big fight, the faces, age, location, a million other details—they are different for every person, fictional or not, but the giving of flowers to say sorry and “I Love You” is always there. The thing is, the flowers are there for a reason and a good one at that.

There are times when a relationship can get very difficult for two people. There are various reasons for two lovers to want to end their relationship, reasons both simple and complex. Mistakes once made, while forgiven, are rarely forgotten. However, while there are infinite reasons to want to say goodbye, it only takes one reason to stay; as cliché as it may sound, this one reason is love. Some couples want to save their relationship for whatever its worth to them or to the world because they sincerely love each other. To emphasize the point, they give red roses to show just how much they care.

Where words fail, roses save the day. Red roses symbolize love—not petty love, but deep, passionate love. Giving roses is a practice that has survived centuries of changes in custom and tradition because of this immortal symbolism. After all, whenever a woman receives red roses, she feels special and loved. Giving those red roses can be the first step to save your relationship with the woman you love.

However, bear in mind that giving roses alone is NOT the only thing you have to do in order to save your relationship. You need to build the trust that you have lost, make the changes you need to make about yourself, and pour in effort into not making similar mistakes that you have made in the past.

Just remember: start anew with red roses.

alexda asked:


Fashion Access, the largest international trade fair for handbags, travelware, footwear, leather and fur garments, and fashion accessories in Asia, was held on 3-5 October 2007, in Hong Kong.

The theme was on the forthcoming season with the slogan ‘Let’s Go Summer 2008′.

The event attracted exhibitors from Europe, the Americas and throughout Australasian.

There were 86 first-time exhibitors (always important for buyers seeking something completely new) from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Ireland, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom. A greatly expanded handbag section accommodated the wide variety of handbag specialisation in the industry: such as sports, classic and party. Buyers were able to view an even greater range offered by suppliers from all over the world.

The well-established ‘Best of APLF Awards’ again attracted strong competition among exhibitors. A series of seminars covered topics such as visual merchandising for exhibitors; future fashion trends and – what some believe may be the next ‘big thing’ – eco-friendly fashion: with an emphasis on how it can be both fashionable and commercial.

Over the three days Fashion Access welcomed 6,238 buyers, from 63 countries and regions. Significant interest was shown by new buyers from Korea and Thailand: each recorded growth of 32%, followed by visitors from The Philippines and Japan with 27% and 10% growth respectively.

In keeping with the steady development of Fashion Access over the years more resources and facilities have been added to assist buyers (and exhibitors too) forecast emerging trends in materials, colours and designs. The Materials Trends Lounge proved invaluable while the new StyleCast enabled selected exhibitors to display their latest designs to a wide audience.

Fashion Access was held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai – the hub of Hong Kong’s vibrant commercial and entertainment district.

Click here to read about Buyers’ Comments, Exhibitors’ Comments:

The next Fashion Access will be held in Hong Kong. It will run concurrently with APLF – Materials, Manufacturing & Technology. Events not to be missed!

The theme will focus on the forthcoming season of winter 20008/09. So,’Let’s Get Ready for Fashion Access Winter 2008/09′.

For more information, please visit www.ishoesclub.com

 

Christel Lumabas asked:


One unique fact about the Philippines is that we have more than 7,000 islands altogether– and this fact can excite most travelers from around the world. Since the Philippines is situated near the equator, the country is considered as the tropics, with temperatures perfect for a day at the beach. Philippine travel usually consists of island hopping, checking out some virgin sceneries, and visits to great local cities.

For serious travelers, they may opt for luxury vacations in the Philippines through exposure to the beauty of the country’s natural resources.

In every foreign place, one would not help but think of communicating with the locals. But when you are in the Philippines, any travelers with English speaking skills need not to worry, because around 85 percent of the locals can understand English. In any case, for any vacation or travel spot in the country, there is a Filipino in the area that can speak and understand English.

Language barriers aside, the exchange rate may also be quite favorable for travelers. With cheap accommodations, food, and services, any traveler may easily have a luxurious vacation without them feeling the pain in their wallets. In other words, everything is on sale.

The tropical islands of the Philippines showcase some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, and also the most colorful coral reefs in the world. The far fetched island of Palawan features one of the country’s best hotel accommodations, with popular guests such as Mariah Carey and Brian McKnight. The island boasts of clear blue waters, pristine white sand, and rich sea life– all with a relaxed environment. Palawan may be considered as a spot for luxury vacations, simply because of the exquisite accommodations and hotels, such as the infamous Amanpulo. The resort features world class amenities that can rejuvenate and change your perspective of the country altogether. Amanpulo can be reached through charter plane from Manila, and usually costs around $300 per person. Once there, any guest can enjoy all amenities for $850 per person, for a whole week! So if you want to see and experience the Amanpulo in Palawan, try to book ahead of time so as to have proper reservations.

Another popular destination when it comes to luxury vacations would be the in the island of Boracay. This long stretch of pure white sand beach offers not only relaxation, but a boost on social gatherings with beach front parties and good restaurants, offering both local and foreign delicacies. Boracay provides luxury vacations for locals and foreigners visiting the country, with full hotel accommodations to huts by the beach front. Other key destinations include Cebu and Davao, and also key historic landmarks such as Bataan and Corregidor, not to mention the fascinating sights in Manila and Iloilo.

Christopher John Koh asked:


THE GRAMERCY RESIDENCES PHILIPPINES CONDOMINIUMS

For more details, visit my website     http://www.condosphilippinesrealestate.com

I would like to offer The Gramercy Residences at Century City, from Century Properties, Inc., Set to rise along Kalayaan Avenue , Century City is touted as “the development of the new century” and “a city within a city.”

Century City is a fully-integrated development masterplanned by Jon Adams Jerde of the Jerde Partnership International, world-renowned urban planner of the global landmarks Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles, Roppongi Hills in Tokyo Japan, City of Dreams in Macau and the 2006 Winner for Best Master-Planned Community Zlote in Warsaw Poland. It will comprise of luxury residential towers, entertainment and shopping centers, Grade A office buildings in Makati ‘s only IT park, a private recreational club, and an IT school that will be just a short walk or an elevator ride away from the residential towers.

LOCATED WITHIN GRAMERCY’S SKYPARK

The Gramercy Residences will be the only 24/365 hyper-amenitized luxury high-rise in the Philippines boasting of features and luxuries never before attempted anywhere else in the world.

AMENITIES

1. Three World-class Swimming Pools

Featuring a freeform infinity pool, a 25-meter lap-pool with multiple lanes, and a children’s pool – all with breathtaking Makati skyline views.

25-meter Lap-pool with multiple lanes Kiddie Pool Other Auxiliary/wading Pools

2. Cascading Waterfalls

The sound of rainfall like rhythm fills the air with a sense of serenity while the waterfall doubles as a distinct visual interest.

3. Three Distinct Gyms

The Gramercy will have three gyms open 24 hours a day — a general-purpose gym, a purely weights gym, and a third gym with purely aerobic machines.

4. Cafe and Restaurant

Enjoy the fantastic city view 36 levels above the ground as you take a sip of your morning brew or indulge in a hearty lunch

5. Yoga/Pilates Room

Tucked away behind a lush landscape, this facility provides a tranquil workout area for wellness seekers.

6. Spa and Massage Center

From ******* and massages to a relaxing steam bath, the spa at Gramercy provides an escape for those who want to recharge and rejuvenate.

7. Day Care Center

While you work, your small bundle of joy will receive the best care and attention from the center’s experienced and well-trained staff.

8. THX Theater

Aside from the state-of-the-art cinemas within Century City, the Gramercy will have its own surround-sound theater where you can watch your favorite films.

9. DVD Library

Choose from a whole range of Gramercy’s exclusive collection of blockbuster movies, classical masterpieces and award-winning films.

10. Resident’s Lounge

A communal space perfect for casual meetings and conversations.

11. Conference Room

A flexible function room with global communication capabilities, such as video conferencing and wireless Internet for communal use.

12. Library/Book Club

Take your pick from local and international bestselling reads.

OTHER AMENITIES WITHIN GRAMERCY

Internet and Cable TV Ready units

Children’s Playground

Meditation Garden

Wine Bar & Storage

Beauty Salon

Emergency Clinic

Place of worship

Other 5-Star Services within Gramercy

FULLY-SERVICED

The Gramercy will be fully-serviced, a dream come true for those who live the modern lifestyle. Imagine ordering a sumptuous meal served in your bedroom from any of Century City’s restaurants. Or having a personal shopper bring up some new arrivals from your favorite boutiques downstairs, a housekeeper taking care of your household chores, or the Gramercy day care center and playschool ensuring that your kids have countless hours of educational fun.

5-Star Services at the Gramercy 24-hour doormen Delivery service from all Century City restaurants Massage and spa services Personal shopping and delivery services, including groceries, cleaners, pharmacies Messenger services for local pick-ups and deliveries Newspaper delivery Pet-walking and sitting services Pick-up and delivery services for laundry and dry cleaning Technical support services for computers, entertainment centers and telecommunication equipment Extra storage space for sale for boxes, old clothes, sports equipment and the like. Your food can be delivered to your unit even late at night from any of Century City’s top restaurants Enjoy a relaxing massage anytime you want—even at 2 a.m. after a tiring workday With technicians on stand by 24 hours to fix your PC, Internet connection or any other broken electrical fixtures. Hang out with friends in any of Century City’s bars and restos, open until the wee hours of the morning

To learn more about the Jerde Partnership, please go to: www.jerde.com.

INSPIRATION

Inspired by the spirit of the great city of New York, The Gramercy Residences will be the first tower to rise at Century City.

This ultra-exclusive hyper-amenitized condo project takes its name from Manhattan’s ultra-exclusive Gramercy Park, a fenced-in private park in New York City’s most prestigious of neighborhoods, accessible only to the well-heeled residents of the buildings in the area who are assigned keys to the park. It is here that Cyrus Field conceived the Trans-Atlantic Cable, Mark Twain played pool, and an eight-year old John F. Kennedy chased the squirrels on a lazy afternoon.

It is the exclusivity, the history, and the central characteristics of Gramercy Park in New York, that has inspired in no small measure, the first urban icon set to rise in progressive Century City: The Gramercy Residences will feature interiors and aesthetics that evoke the Big Apple’s unmistakable flair, and the exclusivity and style of its Manhattanite namesake.

THE RESIDENCES

With Century City’s citizens, a new paradigm in residential high-rise development will be set, with all residential units not only providing Century Properties’ highly-acclaimed, Fully-fitted, Fully-furnished concept, but taking bespoke living to the next level with more interior design options to allow you to truly personalize your future home. Among them is the piece de resistance: The breathtaking SKYPARK with waterfalls, infinity pools, a designer restaurant, health club and more, 36 storeys above the ground and traversing the entire width of the building.

6 DESIGN OPTIONS

LUSH

Enjoy the comforts of living in an inviting contemporary style.

AZULI

An interplay of arresting blue, pristine white and butter yellow adorn this lively pad, topped off with complementary oriental accent pieces.

SLEEK

Neutral shades combined with dazzling silver, reflective light fixtures and funky artwork make this pad truly stylish and unique.

SAVANNAH

Subdued contemporary design merges with bold animal prints and rich dark leather to create the perfect pad for the adventurous frequent traveler.

ARISTO

This elegant living space combines modern design with contrasting neutrals and tones, and touches of old world furniture.

BARLEY

Black and gold merge to create a strong sense of character in this design, given a further edge by retro-classic furniture, carved mirrors and high-gloss finishes.







STANDARD UNITS CONFIGURATION:

Studio Unit -      28 sqm. to 34 sqm.

1 Bedroom Unit -39 sqm. to 45 sqm.

2 Bedroom Unit -  66 sqm.

3 Bedroom Unit -  153 sqm.

LOFT UNITS CONFIGURATION:

1 Bedroom loft Unit -  44 sqm. to 58 sqm.

2 Bedroom loft Unit -  88 sqm. to 107 sqm.

3 Bedroom loft Unit - 149 sqm.

Also, we have other condominium projects like the Knightsbridge  Residences in Century City Makati, the “Soho Central” in Mandaluyong,  the “Grand Soho Makati” in Buendia/Salcedo Village, and a high-end house and lot project “The Canyon Ranch” in Carmona, Cavite.

Should you require additional information, I would be very happy to assist you. Just let me know if you are interested and I will send you our pricing and sample quotations. If you have friends who may also be interested in our project, I would appreciate very much if you can refer our project.

Warm regards,

Mr. Christopher John T. Koh

Century Sales Officer

CENTURY PROPERTIES INC.

21st Flr. Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Makati Ave.

Makati City Philippines 1200

Mobile no. (+63)929-3737239/ (+632) 8563834

Email:  mycenturyproperties@yahoo.com

Website:  http://www.condosphilippinesrealestate.com

Peter Finch asked:


A Filipina in her early twenties, clad in a tight-fitting pair of jeans, a body-hugging shirt walks on a busy street in the Philippines. She attracts attention not only because of her looks but because she is holding hands with a foreigner who is old enough to be her grandfather.

Two blocks away, a woman in her late forties is hanging on to the arm of a 65-year old foreigner. Both women will be marrying their boyfriends soon and each had her own reasons. Every year more Filipina ladies are leaving the country each year to marry a foreigner. Here are some of the common reasons for these marriages:

The search for greener pastures.

It is undeniable that a big percentage of the Filipina girls who marry foreigners look at their husbands as a “visa” for them to go find better opportunities abroad. Filipina ladies have a mission to support their family as soon as they are able to, like help send younger siblings to school or take over the responsibility as the head of the family.

Travel and adventure

A foreigner husband is a ticket to exciting worlds beyond the desolate place she may have grown up in. She looks at him as the realization of her childhood dreams of traveling to far places.

Status elevation

As ironic as it seems, majority of the Filipino women prefers American love stories over Philippine films and they get all dreamy eyed and instantly fall in love when they see a caucasian man.

Age factor

While a woman in her late thirties is considered in the prime of life in other countries, it is not the case for a Filipina because when she is past 30 and is still unmarried, eyebrows will start to rise and her chances of getting married starts to get slim and meeting a foreigner for a prospective husband online is one of her few choices. Usually, a Filipina marries in her late teens or early 20s and should already have a child in college by the time she is 40 years old.

Failed marriages

Failure in her marriage could also push Filipina ladies to look to foreigners for a second chance. Some of these Filipina ladies are unwed mothers, while others are victims of abusive husbands, forced to do menial jobs for a meager pay just to support her children.

Average looks

An average looking Filipina (meaning not the beauty queen material) may feel she does not have to go to lengths and pay huge amounts to augment her physical features to attract a foreign husband-to-be.

True Love

You may find it hard to believe this but despite the perception that the Filipina is taking a risk marrying a person with a different set of values with a different cultural background, love could be the reason why she will marry a foreigner.