WOMEN'S RIGHTS: MTRCB summons Pinoy Big Brother over nude challenge.The MTRCB invoked its 2012 Memorandum of Understanding with ABS-CBN and other networks for the positive and non-derogatory portrayal of women in television in support of the Magna Carta of Women of 2009.

MTRCB summons Pinoy Big Brother over nude challenge | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "The MTRCB has invited resource persons for the proceedings, including representatives from the Philippine Commission on Women.

Binay, Cayetano slam PBB

Meanwhile, Senators Nancy Binay and Pia Cayetano yesterday slammed the producers of “PBB: All In” for disrespecting the rights of women when they challenged female contestants to pose nude for a painting.

Binay said she intends to file a resolution within the week for a possible inquiry into the issue.

She urged the MTRCB to look into the possible ethical breach committed by the show.

“This may be a reality show but its contestants, especially the female housemates, should be accorded due respect without compromising their dignity and rights as women,” Binay said.

“I believe this is the second time PBB went overboard. How far can reality TV go for high ratings? Will we allow the network to exploit women and children for ratings sake?” she added.

Binay recalled that in 2009, PBB had been entangled in a morality issue over its “Naked Fan Dance” challenge, where the housemates were made to wear flimsy underwear."



'via Blog this'

SPORTS UPDATE: In a rare display of camaraderie, Vietnam, Philippines turn to sports in Spratlys

Vietnam, Philippines turn to sports in Spratlys - The Washington Post: "Vietnamese and Philippine naval personnel played football, volleyball and tug of war Sunday in a rare display of camaraderie in the South China Sea, where their territorial rifts with China have flared alarmingly.

The daylong sports festival was held on Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay Island and also included cultural presentations, the two countries’ navies said in a joint statement. Philippine officials said about 40 Filipino navy personnel sailed by boat to the island, bringing local delicacies such as rice cakes.

China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, a group of mostly barren islands, reefs and atolls that are believed to be sitting atop oil and natural gas deposits and straddle some of the world’s most traversed sea lanes."



'via Blog this'

WELLNESS IN SCIENCE & TECH: DOST and IBM Collaborate to Build an Intelligent Operations Center for the Philippines

CLICK LINK TO READ MORE: Press Releases - News - Stockhouse: "A centralized source of data and analytics will mitigate risk and improve response planning in the wake of natural disasters
MANILA, Philippines, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a new intelligent operations center to provide a central point of command for disaster management. The new center will help the Philippine government better manage ongoing and future disaster response and recovery efforts following Typhoon Yolanda in 2013."



'via Blog this'

WELLNESS IN TRADE & INDUSTRY: DTI-CAR to hold ASEAN Economic Community forum.The Department of Trade and Industry – Cordillera Administrative Region will conduct ASEAN Economic Forum with the theme “ASEAN Economic Integration 2015 on June 23, 2014 at Hotel Elizabeth , Baguio City. The activity aims to give the participants an overview of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 and its effects and implications to the Philippine trade, industry, agriculture and tourism sectors. The Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN) is currently considered as one of the world’s fastest evolving regions aimed at fully realizing its growth .The AEC is the goal of regional economic integration by 2015

CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE: PIA | DTI-CAR to hold ASEAN Economic Community forum:



'via Blog this'

WELLNESS IN BUSINESS: Major retailers in the Philippines are expanding toward the convenience store space as competition and demand for the business grows. This could be attributed to the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and the changing lifestyle of the people due to improving income of the middle class

Puregold takes in Japan's Lawson for a cut in Philippine convenience store business | Economy | GMA News Online: "The decision to go into the convenience store business is a "natural extension of Puregold's presence in the local retail landscape," the disclosure read.
 
"It's a different format from our present businesses," Perez said. At present, the company operates hypermarkets through "Puregold Price Club," supermarkets under "Puregold Junior" and discounters through "Puregold Extra."
 
It also has S&R Membership Shopping, a wholesale and retail supermarket chain which caters mostly to registered members.
 
"We're basically going into food service with Lawson," the company official added.
 
According to its website, Lawson is a Japanese retailer which operates over 11,000 convenience stores throughout Japan. It also operates stores in China, Thailand, Indonesia and Hawaii.
 
 
In April, the SM Group said it intends to operate convenience stores this year as part of its business expansion and strategy.
 
The Villar group of former Senator Manuel B. Villar is also joining the fray via All Day which was originally called Finds Store.
 
In November 2012, Ayala Land brought Japanese convenience store FamilyMart into the Philippines after its joint venture with Tantoco-led Rustan's group signed a shareholder agreement with FamilyMart Co. Ltd. and Itochu Corp. 
 
The Gokongwei group, under Robinsons Convenience Stores Inc., has been operating Mini Stop since 2001. Mini Stop is a Japanese convenience store chain owned by the Mitsubishi Group of Japan.
 
Meanwhile, Philippine Seven Corp. is the local franchise holder of 7-Eleven convenience stores. – VS, GMA News
 "



'via Blog this'