WELLNESS IN BUSINESS: Philippine Banking Industry remains attractive due to its 100 million population and low credit

Yuanta Bank is the second Taiwanese bank and the fifth foreign bank permitted to do business in the Philippines following the passage of the amended foreign banks law last year. The revised measure, signed into law by President Aquino in July last year, removed the limit of foreign banks in the country earlier set at only 10. Under the new law, foreign banks may now own as much as 100 percent of any local bank, removing the previous cap of 60 percent. The BSP started receiving applications for new foreign banks in late December last year following the release of the implementing rules and regulations in November.
Since January, the central bank has approved the entry of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui, South Korea’s Shinhan Bank, Taiwan’s Cathay United, and the Industrial Bank of Korea. BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenila Jr said the BSP is still processing the application of another Asian bank, which he declined to name.
“I cannot give details yet,” he said. Espenilla said banks in the Asia Pacific region are setting its sights on the Philippines. “Asia is the growing part of the global economy and Asia itself is trading amongst themselves. We also have this Asean Economic Community so there are so many economic drivers that is why that is the case,” he added. According to him, banks from the US and Europe have also expressed interest in setting up shop in the Philippines. “They (European and US banks) have asked about our law. My sense is they are not yet moving now but they are clearly looking at future opportunities,” the BSP official said.

Read source:  http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/07/07/1473976/bsp-welcomes-more-foreign-banks

WELLNESS IN ARTS: Extraordinary Art by Extraordinary People where Disability did not limit Artists' Achievements

The Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine presented “Obra: An Exhibit,”a benefit show featuring works by differently abled artists, at the Museum of a History of Ideas, UP Manila.
The show, which was part of a larger project called “ObraX: Extraordinary Art by Extraordinary People” whose advocacy revolved around the promotion of the many capabilities of the differently abled, featured 40 paintings made by abled artists Nice So, Christopher Solis and Association of Mouth and Foot Painters (AMFPA) representatives Jovito Sasutona, John Feruelo and Amado Dulnuan.
Dr. Gregorio T. Alvior Jr., an alumnus of the UP College of Medicine, opened the exhibit. He was joined by alumni brothers Dr. Ruter Maralit, Dr. Jose Alvin Mojica, and Dr. Rafael Bundoc with Dr. Josephine Bundoc. In his closing remarks, Dr. Copernico Villaruel Jr., an active supporter of the arts, said disability must not limit a person’s achievements. In a silent auction, guests bid on their favored pieces. Through their paintings, these abled artists were instrumental in reaching out to the pediatric patients of UP-PGH with hearing impairment. Three members of the AMFPA also attended a live exhibition of their talent in mouth and foot painting. Vell Baria, a singer with autism, performed Mutya ng Pasig in the interim. She was also part of “Reverb: Echoing Awareness through the Arts,” a concert featuring the differently abled, still under “ObraX.”
Source: http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/2015/05/25/1457903/obra-manila

PEACE UPDATE: DFA hopes Chinese military to use possible factor to contribute in maintenance of peace and stability

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose was reacting to the Chinese military white paper that said it might shift its strategy from defense to offense. "We are still studying the latest white paper on military strategy. We hope the Chinese military will use possible factor to contribute in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region," Jose said in a press briefing. Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, sent a "gentle reminder" to the Philippines that it's not going to bully smaller countries but Manila must not provoke and instigate tensions in the region. She also said the United States, which is sending its most advanced military ship to the region, must stop "inflammatory" activities there.This was after a state-owned Global Times editorial said a war is inevitable between China and the US if Washington doesn't stop demanding Beijing to halt reclamation activities in the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. Jose said Washington's increased presence in the region is still part of its rebalance to Asia policy, which was announced at the start of US President Barack Obama's second term."[There's] nothing new with that. The timetable [was] advanced because of the reclamation work that poses threat to freedom of navigation and unimpeded flow of commerce and the marine degradation," Jose said.He added that the Philippines is committed to its diplomatic and legal approach, as well as trying to enhance Manila's defense capabilities. Jose said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) remains to be the international law that must be followed to resolve the disputes in the sea peacefully. The Philippines brought the sea dispute to the UN Arbitral Tribunal last year.China claims almost 90 percent of the 3.5 million square kilometers West Philippine Sea.

Source:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/05/28/philippines-china-use-military-peace-409975

WELLNESS TOUR: Clairemont Hills' 1st Health and Wellness Seminar with Amb Zara Jane Juan as Speaker

Anchor Land’s newest residential enclave in San Juan, Clairemont Hills organized its first ever Health and Wellness Seminar for its clients last March 28, 2015. Clairemont Hills, considered as one of Anchor Land’s highly premium projects consists of a 16-story residential condominium and urban townhouses that offe modernist structure and design as well as an ideal place to raise and live with the family. Clairemont Hills boasts of manicured gardens, modern amenities, spaceous grounds all in an enclosed yet intimate community. The seminar focused on Mindfulness and Wellness which was, facilitated by Ambassador Zara Jane Juan. Along with the discussions are the basic tips on how to handle stress, wellness tips on food that nourish and detox , and how to engage in a holistic lifestyle. “Meditation is an effective way to manage stress and heal the mind, body and soul” Amb. Zara stressed during her talk. Basic meditation techniques were also taught to all participants as part of the seminar activity which also include Focused Meditation Technique, Activity-Oriented Meditation Technique, Mindfulness Technique and Meditative Prayer. Everyone was also participative during the question and answer portion, as clients were given a chance to raise their questions. Foods and refreshments were served right after the program. Anchor Land aims to mount more activities and events at Clairemont Hills that focus on the many facets of Health and Wellness.

WELLNESS IN CULTURE: Three Filipinos Selected to Attend International Science Journalism Conference

Ten science journalists from Asia have been selected by the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) to attend the 9th World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ). The WCSJ will take place in South Korea, with a post-conference tour to Japan. Out of 40 applicants from nine Asian countries, only 10 journalists were selected. And out of the 10 journalists, three come from the Philippines. GMA News Online’s own SciTech editor, Timothy James Dimacali, is among the journalists who received the travel grant. The other journalists chosen were: Yunanto Wiji Utomo Uyung Pramudiarja Ruby Shaira Panela (Philippines) Imelda Abano (Philippines) Van Manh Tran Mi Hoang Van Hiep Le Pitambar Sigdel Sudarsha Chanaka De Silva The grant is part of the Science journalism COOPeration (SjCOOP) Asia, the WFSJ’s flagship project which aims to help science journalists develop the skills necessary to efficiently cover science-related news. Aside from receiving a travel grant to attend the WCSJ, the winners will also be taught data journalism reporting. —Bea Montenegro/KG, GMA News https://ph.news.yahoo.com/3-pinoys-attend-int-l-science-journalism-conference-075106177.html

WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Philippines being developed as Asia’s hub of flying schools

With the number of foreign students increasing every year, the Philippines is being developed as a hub of flying schools in Asia, prompting schools to upgrade and increase investments, sources said. “The Philippines is already playing an important role in the air transport sector in the region because it is becoming a destination of choice for foreign students who are pursuing aviation studies,” said retired Lt Gen William Hotchkiss, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The Philippines has already gained “competitive edge in training of pilots, aviation technicians and skilled (aviation) workers as shown by the records of at least 36 flying schools in the Philippines,” said Hotchkiss. The government should firm up policies to help the country’s aviation education sector, said Hotchkiss, adding that this will strengthen the edge already achieved by the country’s aviation education sector with the coming economic integration of the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) by end of 2015. Enhancement of the aviation education sector should be included in the government’s programme to integrate the whole air transport sector and ensure that its safety meets international standards, said Hotchkiss. The European Commission lifted its ban of the Philippine Airlines in 2013, and Cebu Pacific in 2014.

PEACE UPDATE: President Aquino called on the young not to be weighed down by negativism and to always do the right thing.

President Aquino said he has lived up to the spirit of the 1986 EDSA people power revolution by ensuring that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated and by leaving a much better Philippines to the next generation. The President made the statement during the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) awarding ceremonies held yesterday at the Heroes Hall of the Palace in celebration of the 29th anniversary of the revolution. Aquino also said that in regaining democracy through a peaceful uprising against the dictatorial rule of the Marcos regime, the interest of the majority prevailed, along with freedom from a crooked system that could be passed on to the next generation. “We really have come far because we chose to do what was necessary and put the interest of the majority first. Despite this, we know that we have a lot more trials to face. But do we give up now that we are able to realize what were mere ambitions before? Do we draw back when many more of us are working toward greater development now?” he added. But the President admitted that the challenges he faced were not easy. He cited the crises that hit the country in 2013 like the strong earthquake that struck Cebu and Bohol, the Zamboanga City siege and Super Typhoon Yolanda that devastated the Visayas. But the President gave assurance that he would continue to strive for a better economy and improve social services for all Filipinos. He said the government is also working to provide jobs for the people to lift them from poverty. The President called on the young not to be weighed down by negativism and to always do the right thing. He told the winners of the TAYO Awards that once the wisdom of the older generation is infused with the vibrancy of young people, the nation could go far. The winners of this year’s TAYO Awards are the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority, Kanlungan Pilipinas Movement, Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID), the Cauayan City National High School-Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team, Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Santiagueño, ACCESS-PYLP Alumni Association, Move This World-Pilipinas, Youth for Environment in School Organization, Indigenous Youth Servant Leaders Association of the Philippines, and the University of San Agustin Little Theater. Meanwhile, the military said it did not detect any threat or coup plot that would threaten the leadership of the President and disrupt the celebration of the 29th anniversary of people power. Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said crowd management, not ouster plots, is the main concern for the anniversary of the revolution, which comes exactly a month after the Mamasapano clash. –With Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe