Business Local Listings asked:


Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is the official web site developer of Amnesty International Philippines.

Amnesty International is a global movement of people campaigning actively for the protection of human rights and taking action against human rights abuses. Such action comes in the form of information campaigns through communication and media channels, as well as public pressure through mass demonstrations, vigils and lobbying.

Amnesty International Philippines was officially recognized as an Amnesty International section on January 27, 1987. Among its many accomplishments is its role in the repeal of the Death Penalty Law in the Philippines in 2005 and its participation in the successful campaign to get UN approval for a moratorium on executions in 2007, with the Philippines as co-author and signatory of the resolution.

The Amnesty International Philippines web site developed by Web Dot Com is packed with information that is systematically categorized and labeled. Despite the huge amount of data on the entire site, the visitor is not overwhelmed. Perhaps this is because the landing pages are bright and feature a clean layout which clearly displays the various sections. Navigation is definitely not a problem since links are properly labeled.

Given a prominent position is the link to the Amnesty International Report of 2009. There are Spotlights on Human Rights and Poverty, Violence against Women, Counter Terror with Justice, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). There is a section on News and Updates alongside a section on Appeals for Action. There is a special link to Good News and another one to CampAIgn, the Amnesty International newsletter.

There are buttons labeled Donate to Amnesty International, Join Amnesty International, and More ways to get involved.

There are also several search buttons. One is to select a country where Amnesty International is active and another is to select a country with human rights abuses.

There are buttons leading to the sections on Amnesty International in the Philippines, Act Now, Join Us, Activities and Publications.

The Amnesty International Philippines section is comprised of subsections titled Who We Are, explaining Amnesty International; AI Philippines; Networks, Statute of AI, AIPh ByLaws, UDHR and FAQ.

The Act Now section is comprised of subsections titled Direct Appeals, Urgent Actions and Donate.

The Join Us sections has subsections titled Members, Local Groups, Form a Group and Volunteers.

The Activities section has a list of AI Philippines activities since 1998, categorized by year.

The Publications section contains downloadable materials as well as subsections for the Newsletter, Reports, Library and Archives.

Indeed, the Amnesty International Philippines is a fitting showcase of the web development and design skills of Web Dot Com.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. has been successfully serving an international clientele from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Korea, the British Virgin Islands and the Philippines for the last ten years. From Manila, Web Dot Com offers various business process outsourcing (BPO) services, including outsourcing web development and contact center services.

In the area of web development, the web hosting provider also offers domain name registration and low cost advanced web site development packages. Depending on the client’s needs, this may include advanced interactive database driven web site development, advanced portal development, heavy web based programming, web application development, content management systems, good website design, graphic design and multimedia components including flash animation development, e-commerce site solutions including a shopping cart using osCommerce, web site maintenance and support, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and social media marketing. Its programmers and developers are highly skilled at php, mysql, JavaScript and other internet languages and tools.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is your One Stop Shop Internet and Contact Center Solutions Vendor for the Global Market. Make it your own web site developer, as well.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc.

Address:

2nd Floor, BT&T Center

#20 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis (C-5),

Quezon City, 1110 Philippines

E-mail: info@webdc.com.ph

Telephone numbers: (632) 634-4625; (632) 635-6104

Business Local Listings asked:


An interactive web site is undeniably more attractive to visitors and holds them longer. It also invariably earns many return visits. To make your interactive web site even more attractive, here are some features you may want to add to it, if your site does not have them yet. According to statistics, they will be even more effective if placed in your landing pages.

Discussion forums

Discussion forums are very popular among online users. Here users united by a certain interest can congregate and have online conversations, encouraging them to return again and again. Eventually, these users form an online community that becomes the solid and loyal base of the website.

Newsletter

You can also build and consolidate a long term relationship with your web site visitors by asking them to subscribe to your newsletter. At no cost, they will be able to receive updates and other useful information by email. Of course, the newsletter will also contains invitations and links to pages you want them to visit.

Online guestbook

An online guest book may take the place of a discussion forum or may co-exist with it. The difference is that comments by visitors on a guest book are about the web site and their experience on it. This may be password-protected to allow you to screen and approve or disapprove comments. This could also be a way of gathering your visitors’ email addresses if you do not have a newsletter.

Site search engine

A site search engine allows users to more easily search for something within your site. This encourages them to explore your site, too.

News column

A news column adds value to your web site by flashing up to the minute news to your visitors. This could also spark discussion with and among your visitors.

Personalized postcards

You can offer a selection of free postcards on your site, preferably with a theme related to your topic. It would be best if your visitor is able to send the postcard to an unlimited number of recipients, with a personalized message. Of course, each postcard contains a link back to your site.

Online calendar

The online calendar is particularly effective for web sites with registered users. Each one gets an individual calendar customizable with his or her appointments and alerts. This will entice the users to spend more time on the site and to check in regularly.

Calculator

A calculator is particularly handy for web sites that sell online. The user can use the calculator to figure out costs and totals before deciding on buying.

If you still do not have an interactive web site, or any web site for that matter, Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. can help you. Based in Manila, this web site developer and web hosting provider offers domain name registration services as well as low cost advanced web site development packages. These packages include advanced interactive database driven web site development, advanced portal development, heavy web based programming, web application development, content management systems, good website design, graphic design and multimedia components including flash animation development, e-commerce site solutions including a shopping cart using osCommerce, web site maintenance and support, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and social media marketing. The company gives employment to highly trained programmers and developers equipped with skills in php, mysql, JavaScript and other internet applications.

Web Dot Com also provides business process outsourcing (BPO) services to companies from around the world outsourcing web development and other back office and front office business processes. Indeed, Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is your One Stop Shop Internet and Contact Center Solutions Vendor for the Global Market. You can rely on it to create your interactive web site.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc.

Address:

2nd Floor, BT&T Center

#20 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis (C-5),

Quezon City, 1110 Philippines

E-mail: info@webdc.com.ph

Telephone numbers: (632) 634-4625; (632) 635-6104

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.

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)

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

Business Local Listings asked:


It could have been a daunting task designing a website for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines (WPPP) considering the fact that this organization is comprised of masters of aesthetics. Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc., did not, however, flinch from the task. Its web developers and web designers stood up to the challenge and produced wppp.ph. Indeed, the flash website displays the breathtaking photographs of WPPP members at their best.

Founded on March 31, 2001 and duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the WPPP is an organization of professional wedding photographers. With a mere ten members in the original group, the organization has now grown to include 78 active members from Metro Manila, Baguio, Boracay, Bulacan, Cavite, Davao, Iloilo, Laguna, Batangas, La Union, Pampanga, Vigan, Bacolod, Legazpi City and Sorsogon.

The WPPP goal is to be the leading organization of wedding photographers locally to represent Philippine wedding photographers internationally. Its mission and vision encompasses the upliftment of photography and production work in order to shape the future of the industry. It aims to develop artistic and technical proficiency, competence and dedication among professional wedding photographers.

As part of its program, the WPPP fosters knowledge and idea sharing and learning among its members, upgrading skills and techniques through technical trainings, seminars and symposia. Networking is encouraged so that the most number of members benefit from resources.

All these are directed toward continually improving services to clients so as to gain their trust and respect, and to build and nurture lasting relationships with them. The WPPP believes that only such level of quality service will create a truly positive public perception of the industry.

Part of the image building efforts of the WPPP is its website. Aside from showcasing some of the stunning photographs of members, it features news on WPPP events and activities. The website also contains information on membership requirements and application to the organization.

It is not surprising that Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. would deliver excellent results on the WPPP website. After all, Web Dot Com has been providing full and advanced website development services to corporate and individual clients around the world for the past ten years. Its clientele comes from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Korea and the British Virgin Islands, aside from the Philippines.

Web Dot Com has in-house programmers and designers highly skilled in advanced interactive database driven web site development, advanced portal development, heavy web based programming, web application development, content management systems, web site design, graphic design and multimedia components including flash animation development, e-commerce site solutions, web site maintenance and support, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and social media marketing.

The partnership between the WPPP and Web Dot Com led to the conceptualization and actualization of a Philippine-based site providing individual websites that could stand as online portfolios for professional photographers. This was envisioned to enable professional Filipino photographers to promote their world class talent to the world market. The result is azuldomain.com. It offers free hosting, free domain name registration and free email accounts, as well as a choice of unique and beautiful templates that are ideal frames for exquisite photographs. Each template is customizable and unlimited updates can be done any time through intuitive website creation tools and easy web management tools.

Azuldomain.com stands as a concrete testimony to the unified goals of the WPPP and Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. to highlight and endorse the capabilities of Filipinos globally. With azuldomain.com, the bond between these two organizations is affirmed.

Jack R. Lesley, Jr. asked:


Outsourcing: A love / **** relationship for U.S. I.T. professionals.  Ask the average employee in any I.T. organization, and hearing about fear of jobs going to India and China is almost unavoidable.  Although many have started the move toward business service management (BSM) to address the chaotic labor trends, I.T. labor itself still consumes over one-third of I.T. budgets.  This figure is perfectly in line with a recently published Gartner report stating that 37% of the typical I.T. budget goes directly to personnel costs.  What are you as the CIO going to do to manage this frenzied situation?  Is outsourcing, or “offshoring,” the answer?  

 

How can you outsource your operations to a foreign country and still maintain compliance with best practice frameworks such as ITIL or MOF?  How do you maintain Sarbanes-Oxley, PCI, or HIPAA compliance when utilizing 100% offshore resources with far less control?  

 

Almost everyone in the I.T. sector has at least one story about various operational tasks being “offshored” to India, and no call-center, network operations center (NOC), or infrastructure team has been immune to rumors of jobs going offshore.  No longer are the cities of Mumbai and Delhi simple manufacturing hubs and suppliers of raw materials.  The country is home to some of the largest corporate call centers and development centers in the world.  In late 2005, the Indian outsourcing workforce numbered 350,000 individuals.  That total is now estimated at well over 800,000, with many new positions going unfilled due to the lack of qualified candidates.

 

Eleven years ago this month, USA Today published an article titled “Can political instability be eliminated in India?”  Looking solely at the news of the past six months, the answer to that question is an obvious NO.

 

The trend toward a twenty-first century India has not fostered the sort of sweeping political change one might expect from the world’s most populous democracy.  Moreover, the unwillingness of the Indian government to more robustly combat intellectual property theft is the stuff that causes your legal team to lose MANY nights of sleep.

 

Recession has made its way to India as well.  The 4 December 2008 issue of The New York Times ran an article discussing the wave of outsourcing firms scaling back their daily operations in India due to the unhealthy global financial climate.  As of this week, the Indian rupee is at a record low.

 

India makes a strong case as the “global back office,” yet it has failed to produce an environment supporting front-office operations such as product innovation and corporate strategies.  The prevailing thought of the past 5 years has been that Indian outsourcing firms are masterful in the art of efficiency and product development measures.  What about now?

 

On 7 January 2009, Indian stocks took a nosedive in the wake of announcements by Satyam Computer Services that corporate profit summaries had been inflated for several years.  The announcement by Satyam’s chairman and co-founder that he had directly falsified accounting documents on an ongoing basis has thrown the entire Indian outsourcing industry into dramatic turmoil.  As a provider of back-office services for many of the largest banks and healthcare institutions in the world, the result of the SATYAM crisis is nothing short of devastating.

 

By Friday, January 9, 2009 news sources were reporting that interim CEO Ram Mynampati does not have faith that the firm can continue past the next few weeks.  Mynampati stated they were working to find the liquidity to pay current employees, suppliers, and creditors. 

 

In less than a week, the crisis has crossed the Pacific Ocean and hit U.S. shores.  Auditing giant PricewaterhouseCoopers is expected to pay a hefty price for the emerging fraud.  The auditor has been responsible for Satyam financial oversight for over eight years, and Satyam investors are expected to go to court in attempts to recoup losses. According to legal sources from within India, most are likely to attack PricewaterhouseCoopers directly rather than Satyam.

 

The tragic events of November 2008 in Mumbai clearly show that the concerns go much deeper. Over 200 people were killed in the attacks, and the entire central business district in Mumbai ground to a halt for several days, resulting in billions of dollars in lost labor.   Within one week of the attacks, five high-profile Indian cabinet members were forced to resign.  On 1 December, TIME magazine posed the question “Will India’s Government Survive the Mumbai Massacre?”

 

Many companies are selecting alternate destinations, and some trends show an actual migration OUT of India to other knowledge-rich environments such as Singapore, The Philippines, Armenia, Pakistan, and various Latin American countries.  Companies requiring less interaction with the public (for example, a software development center) may select destinations where English is not the primary language, or in some cases, is not a language spoken at all.  Companies building public-facing operations such as helpdesks or call centers are being forced to reconsider earlier decisions, and many are moving to more English-centric countries like Taiwan and the Philippines.

 

Key players are making a strong case for themselves as these trends develop.  In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica and Peru have marvelous records of rock-solid software development and high customer satisfaction ratings.  In Europe, Armenia is emerging as a major powerhouse and model of efficiency.  In Asia, many are discovering that the almost-perfect English spoken in Taiwan and the Philippines combined with some labor costs equal to or less than those in India make each a destination of choice.  In fact, the November 30 edition of The New York Times Magazine featured a four-page article touting the viability of the Philippines as a premier outsourcing destination.

 

While China, Russia, and Korea have fantastic talent pools, the labor cost and in some cases difficulty dealing with local and national governments make them less attractive to some U.S. based companies.

 

While being one of the lesser-mentioned yet more historically colorful European countries, Armenia is a virtual strongbox of extraordinary talent.  As mentioned by the CIA World Factbook, 18% of Armenia’s current population is under the age of 15, meaning the talent pool is poised for huge growth.

 

Armenia declared independence from the former Soviet Union on 21 September, 1991 and is now a bastion of political stability (a particularly attractive factor for the O&O industry).  A healthy GDP real-growth rate of 13.7% makes Armenia one of the top producers in the EU.

 

Additionally, Armenia is rapidly becoming a major challenger in the index of relative economic freedom. As reported by the Heritage Foundation, the change has been nothing short of amazing. In 2000, Armenia ranked 84th in relative economic freedom. As of late 2008, Armenia ranked 28th – ahead of European powerhouses Spain (31st) and France (48th) and just behind Sweden at 27th.

 

Hong Kong ranked #1 on the list for 2008, with the U.S.A. at #5.

 

The appraisal of economic freedom is based on 50 economic indicators within the following categories: capital flow and foreign investment; financial systems; monetary, budget, and trade policies; salaries and prices; government interference in the economy; property rights and regulations; and black markets.

 

Many outsourcing experts are finding a presence in Armenia quite successful for many of their clients and partners.  The cooperation offered by the Armenian government to ease immigration and visa restrictions for executives and other technical employees traveling between Armenia and the United States has been a huge advantage to many, and this is compounded by great satisfaction with the talent pool offered by this European country.

 

Having a stable presence in Armenia is but one example of alternatives to the current Indian instability.  There are numerous other alternatives as well, and diversification is going to be the keystone to success over the next few years.  

 

As pointed out by one CEO, “…the logical approach for today’s global economy is to diversify.  Many of my contacts who previously invested heavily in Indian resources are already asking for new alternatives, and we believe the best approach is to simply avoid the old cliché of “putting all the eggs in one basket.”

 

Singapore has emerged as another destination of choice, with an extremely stable economy and government as well as strictly enforced laws on intellectual property rights.  Perfect English is widely spoken, and the country is considered one of the top-five technical innovators in the world.

 

Originally founded as a British trading colony in 1818, Singapore joined the Malaysian federation for a short two years ending in 1965. Now completely independent, Singapore is undeniably one of the most prosperous, diverse, and cosmopolitan destinations in the world and has a per capita GDP greater than that of many “leaders” in Western Europe.  

 

In 2006, the World Bank rated Singapore as “the most business-friendly economy in the world.”  Immediately behind London, New York, and Tokyo, Singapore is the fourth largest foreign exchange trading hub in the world.  

 

The country is home to three major state universities:  The National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University, resulting in a literacy rate over 93%.  The island nation accomplishes it all with a geographic size only three times that of Washington, DC.

 

The Philippines and U.S.A. share not only a very similar legal system but the English language as well. Companies in the legal sector consider this fact especially attractive. Once a U.S. colony, the Philippines has a workforce that is already familiar with many legal factors not readily obvious to those in countries with less of a seasoned relationship with the United States. 

 

A few facts about the Philippines:

 Population of 91,000,000 as of 2008  550,000 college graduates per year on Average  Educated labor pool of Over 30,000,000  Entry-level I.T. salaries average $2500—$8000 USD P.A.  Top-quality CBD real-estate costs average $17 PSF  95% literacy rate  English as a primary language

 

One of the top-three law firms in the world relocated their entire network operations center from Chicago to Fort Bonifacio, Manila, in 2003. That operation has since grown much larger, also encompassing legal operations and software development.

 

From 1997 to 2008, companies such as Citibank, Fluor, IBM, Convergys, Telus, HSBC, Dell, JP Morgan, Siemens, and Deutsche Bank have all opened major offshore facilities in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines.

 

More than just a country filled with call centers, the Philippines is home to dozens of offshore operations involving network operations, wireless services, energy, shipping and logistics, legal and medical transcription, finance and accounting, and software development.

 

The country is now recognized by some as the top destination of choice in Southeast Asia. In 2006, the country generated in excess of $3.0 billion in outsourced operations, and that figure is expected to more than double by the end of 2009. The Philippine government has targeted a global market share of 8 to 10% in the O&O market by 2011.

 

Regardless of where you go, there is no “single best answer” to every situation.  When looking for that “trusted advisor” to help you make your next outsourcing, offshoring, development, or infrastructure decision, you need a firm with the knowledge, process, devotion, and proven direction to make it a success.

 

Only by in-depth knowledge of your core business can any firm help in an effective O&O engagement. You need a firm that endeavors to understand and optimize how the process will enhance not only the I.T. department, but all other business units as well.

 

 O&O will continue to gain momentum over the next few years, regardless of what happens in the Indian subcontinent.   The recent events in India and the surrounding territories are but a small stumbling-block to an ever-evolving global business model.  

 

Businesses today realize that three very important factors have emerged in the outsourcing and offshoring industry: 



O&O cannot and should not be based on the “one size fits all” methodology anymore.   Diversification is the key. Every situation is different. Unless you are prepared to invest in learning foreign tax and H/R systems, unfamiliar holidays, unique infrastructure, governmental regulations, and possibly a few foreign languages, you NEED a trusted advisor on your side.



 

Companies and their investors who spent the billions of dollars (and thousands of man-hours) building outsourced operations based solely in India have found that trying to separate the technology from the actual business process is not only foolish—it is futile.   Outsourcing and offshoring can provide limitless possibilities, but they must be done with precision , care, and proper distribution.  Rather than outright withdrawal from offshoring operations, now is the time for diversification.

 

“There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this..” 

Miyamoto Musashi , 1645

 

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