1. Flying fair, flying right p.4
Enhancing El Nido p.6 Race to paradise p.10
Miss Aviation p.8
The APEC meetings, which the Philippines is hosting this year, aim to build
inclusive market economies that reach the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
Inclusive
economies
PhotobyErickDantoc
By Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza, Executive Director, and Monica Melchor, Research Associate,Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center
Vol. 4 No.11 Q2 2015
Philippine Edition
ISSN No.
www.theimmigrant.com.ph
Turn to page 3

3. 3
ON THE COVER:
“Makati Skyline” by Erick Dantoc
Makati City’s Central Business District,
regarded as the Philippines’ economic
nerve center, throbs with light and activity
even at night. It’s a scene captured from
an office window by Erick Dantoc, who
manages to combine his passion for
music and traveling through shooting
concerts and the outdoors.A full-time
purchasing professional, Erick also finds
ways to listen to his vinyl collection and
climb mountains during his free time.
ALL CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2012, RESERVED for The IMMIGRANT.
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in whole
or in part, without the express written permission of
IMMIGRA PUBLISHING, the publisher of The IMMIGRANT.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of IMMIGRA PUBLISHING.
The IMMIGRANT
P.O. Box 4230
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For feedback and comments, please email us at
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(c) 2015-2016
Atty. Jose ‘Pepe’Villanueva III
Publisher
Ernesto P. Maceda Jr. • Henry S. Schumacher • Katrina Legarda
Editorial Board
Owen Orseno
Editor-at-Large
Sonny Ramirez
Art Director
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Editorial Coordinator
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Circulation Manager
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Distribution Manager
Figure 1. Gross domestic product growth
and poverty reduction, 1990s-2000s
Source: Kanbur, R. C. Rhee and J. Zhuang (2014: 2).
GDP growth (1990-2010), %
Reduction in poverty rate (1990s-2000s), percentage point
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Developing
Asia
Sub-Saharan
Africa
Latin America
and the
Caribbean
Middle East
and Northern
Africa
7
9
3.7 3.2
4.1
2.3
5.7
32
Figure 2. Annual growth of Gini coefficients,
1990s-2000s (%)
0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
PRC
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
Lao PDR
Georgia
Korea
Mongolia
Bangladesh
Singapore
India
Tajikistan
Taipei, China
Source: Asian Development Outlook 2012.
T
he Philippines has witnessed strong economic
growth in recent years, growing 6.1 percent
annually from 2012 to 2014, and averaging
5 percent growth since 2002. Leveraging strong
macroeconomic fundamentals and sound fiscal
management, the country has earned multiple credit upgrades
from major ratings agencies: Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and
Fitch. Furthermore, strong growth in manufacturing combined
with a robust services sector growth has propelled the
Philippines to be among the most dynamic emerging markets in
the Asia-Pacific region.
Nevertheless, it seems the main benefits of economic growth
have failed to trickle down to those in the lower socioeconomic
strata. Poverty reduction has been very weak, compounded
by largely unequal income distribution across and within
Philippine regions. In the latest poverty estimates by the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),
rising incomes among the poor have been wiped out by rising
prices of basic commodities, notably the main food staple, rice.
Poverty also increased in early 2014, reaching 25.8 percent
from an estimated 24.6 percent the year
before.
Hence, even as the Philippines
is climbing the global economic
competitiveness rankings and garnering
multiple upgrades in credit ratings, it will
also fail to achieve the first United Nations
Millennium Development Goal of reducing
its poverty incidence by half compared
with its incidence in 2000.
This challenge of translating broader
economic growth to “growth for all” is one
shared by countries in the broader Asia-Pacific. Analysts point
to the tension between high growth and rising inequality in the
region. The regional average annual GDP growth rate registered
7 percent from 1990 to 2010, more than twice that of Latin
America and the Caribbean (See Figure 1). About 700 million
individuals in developing Asia have been lifted out of poverty
as a result of this growth.
Inequality nevertheless persisted and rose in some
countries between the 1990s and the 2000s. Of the 28
economies with comparable data in the region, 12 –
constituting more than 80 percent of the population of
developing Asia in 2010 – saw a rise in their Gini coefficient
of per capita expenditure (See Figure 2). 13 of 36 economies
with available data registered a Gini coefficient at or greater
than 40, widely used as the threshold for “high inequality.”
(The Gini index is a measurement of the income distribution
of a country’s residents. This number, which ranges between
0 to 1 and is based on residents’net income, helps define the
gap between the rich and the poor, with 0 representing perfect
equality and 1 representing perfect inequality. –Ed.)
AmongAssociation of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN)
member states, three countries reached or surpassed this high
inequality threshold in the 2000s, namely Malaysia, Philippines,
and Thailand (See Table 1). TheASEAN average Gini coefficient
was moreover very close to the threshold at 39.8.Across
developingAsia, average per capita expenditure of the top 20
percent was seven times greater than that of the bottom 20 percent.
Inclusive markets require strong
public investments
It is in this context that Philippines set the agenda for Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015 as “Building
Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” The Philippines
set the following priorities:
• Investing in human capital development;
• Fostering small and medium enterprises’
(SMEs) participation in regional and global
economy;
• Building sustainable and resilient
communities; and
• Enhancing the regional economic
integration agenda
At its core, any effort to ensure that the
gains from economic growth and integration
trickle down evenly must recognize the
need to empower individuals through strong
public investments and effective private sector innovations
and public-private partnerships.
Framed as an alternative to the traditional aid and donor-
driven approach to development, an emerging scheme centers
on reaching a largely untapped and underserved segment of
developing country populations, the so-called “bottom-of-the-
pyramid” (BOP) – estimated to comprise 3 billion individuals,
or a little under half of the world’s population. Such an approach
focuses on the need to harness more inclusive economic growth
by strengthening marginalized individuals’access to markets as
bytesnews
Triumphant PH
return toVenice Biennale
The Philippines has returned to the Venice Biennale Art
Exhibition after a 51-year hiatus, through the efforts of the
Department of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Office
of Senator Loren Legarda and the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
For the 56th edition of theVenice Biennale, the Philippine
Pavilion will present the curatorial vision of Dr. Patrick Flores. His
theme,“Tie a String Around the World,” will feature the works
of Jose Tence Ruiz and Manny Montelibano, along with the film
“Genghis Khan” by National Artists Manuel Conde and Carlos
Francisco.
The Philippine ArtVenice Biennale (PAVB) Coordinating
Committee is now in the final stages of mounting the Philippine
Pavilion in time for its official opening on May 8 at the Palazzo
Mora inVenice.
Held every other year, theVenice Biennale is the most
prestigious gathering of the world’s outstanding artists from
different disciplines and perspectives to interpret the relationship
between art and the development of the human, social and
political world.
Some 90 countries will be represented in the 56thVenice
Biennale, where a multitude of art and culture lovers the world
over are expected to visit.The international art exhibition will be
open to the public from May 9 to November 22.
“We are confident that the Philippine Pavilion will contribute
to the dynamism of the dialogue of ideas and philosophies among
artists and visitors to theVenice Biennale,” said Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert F. del Rosario.
4 Pinoys in 2015
WorldWood Day in Turkey
Four Filipinos participated in the 2015 World Wood Day
(WWD) held in Odunpazari, Eskisehir,Turkey from March 6 to
25. It is an annual cultural event celebrating wood as an eco-
friendly and renewable bio-material, and also raises awareness of
the importance of wood in building a sustainable world through
biodiversity and forest conservation.
Rudel San Gaspar and Desiderio Marabella from Pakil, Laguna,
Dr. Consuelo dL. Habito from University of the Philippines
Los Baños (UPLB), and Danilo Cads from Paete, Laguna, joined
representatives from the Philippine Embassy at the event in
Ankara.They also discussed a future collaboration to promote
Philippine woodcrafts in Turkey.
Gaspar, owner of The
Whittler Arts and Crafts
in Pakil, took Marabella,
one of his company’s
woodcarvers, with
him to demonstrate
whittling—the art of
wood shaving by hand—
to the 2015 WWD
crowd. Marabella’s
work stood out among
the predominantly
machine-assisted
woodcarving presentations at the event.
Dr. Habito, an Associate Professor at UPLB, presented her
paper,“Bridging the Geographic Divide for Cross-Learning:
The Experience among Woodcarvers in the Philippines,” at the
symposium.The paper focused on woodcarving communities in
Luzon and the challenges they faced in pursuit of their craft.
Cads, an award-winning woodcarver from Paete, was one of 24
woodcarvers from different nationalities that collaborated on the
WWD wooden arc. Cads is highly regarded by his Filipino peers for
his expertise in carving human faces in wood.The WWD wooden
arc is now a permanent fixture of the town of Odunpazari.
Turn to page 7
Inclusive economies
From page 1
“The challenge
of translating
broader economic
growth to ‘growth
for all’ is one shared
by countries
in the broader
Asia Pacific”

4. 4
What diplomacy isall about
T
his year, the United States is excited that the Philippines,
our long-time friend and ally, is hosting the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. Over the past 25
years, APEC has strengthened diplomatic ties through its
top priorities such as advancing economic integration,
developing human capital, promoting women’s empowerment, and
combating climate change.
With 21 member economies on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, APEC
brings the region together. The Philippines is using its status as host of
APEC in 2015 to promote the theme of inclusive growth, with specific
initiatives to advance regional economic integration, increase access to
capital and markets for small and medium enterprises, and build sustainable
and resilient communities to face natural and manmade disasters.
The United States (and other APEC economies) supports the Philippine
proposal to develop an “APEC Services Framework” aimed at expanding
cross-border trade and investment in services, as well as the continuation
of work on urbanization and the Internet economy, which were put forward
during China’s host year in 2014.
The United States has itself put forward initiatives to advance diplomacy,
such as promoting economic growth, protecting the environment, and
supporting disaster resiliency. We also continue work on other APEC top
priorities including combating corruption, promoting women’s economic
empowerment, facilitating cross-border education, promoting food security,
and creating an enabling environment for infrastructure investment.
One example of US-Philippine cooperation in support of APEC goals
is the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise (AAE), a collaboration between the
Philippines, the Aspen Institute, and the Secretary of State’s Office of Global
Women’s Issues (S/GWI). Launched in November 2012, it promotes artisan
enterprises globally with a specific focus on women artisans and their families.
Within the Philippines, the project seeks to increase micro-enterprise access to
capital to allow them to become part of the global value chain and to provide
income to the communities in which these businesses operate.
Another example of how we are tackling global problems together
throughAPEC is in climate change and energy. The Philippines has agreed to
undertake a fossil fuel subsidy peer review under APEC. This review, which
the United States is supporting with financial and technical assistance, will
study how subsidies and other policies can lead to increased use of fossil
fuels and higher greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines has largely
eliminated such subsidies and can share its experience with other APEC
economies as they seek to reduce their emissions and make renewable fuels
more competitive in the marketplace. This will lead to a cleaner environment
for all of us.
As APEC enters its 26th year, it continues to be an example of countries
coming together for common causes, which is what diplomacy is all about.
faqsThe Immigrant
T
he Air Passenger Bill of Rights
is the joint administrative
order issued by the Philippine
Department of Transportation
and Communications (DOTC) and the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
for the protection of air passengers against
unsound, deceptive, or unfair business
policies and practices of air carriers. Here are
some important frequently asked questions:
Q:What flights are covered
by the Air Passenger Bill of
Rights?
A: All flights into, from, and within the
Philippines by a Philippine air carrier as
well as all flights or portions of a flight from
the Philippines by foreign air carriers.
Q:What are the rights of the
passenger before purchasing
a ticket?
A: Passengers have a right to the full, fair,
and clear disclosure of the service offered
and the terms and conditions of the trip to
be purchased, such as refund and rebooking
policies, and procedures and responsibility
for delayed and/or cancelled flights, and
other important conditions.
Air passengers also have the right to clear
and non-misleading fare advertisements.
Air carriers are required to disclose the
major restrictions (such as rebookability
or refundability) attached to the ticket,
including baggage allowance policies, fuel
surcharge, government taxes and other
crucial information.
Q:What are the
passenger’s rights after
purchasing the ticket?
A: The passenger has the right to be
processed for check-in. This means any
passenger within the designated check-in
area at least one (1) hour before the
published estimated time of departure (ETD)
cannot be considered late or a no-show and
shall not be denied check-in.
Q:What are persons with
disability (PWDs) and
senior citizens entitled to as
passengers?
A: PWDs and senior citizens are entitled to
have their own check-in counter. Moreover,
air carriers are obliged to coordinate with
the proper authorities for the use of airport
equipment, entryways and/or aerobridges
(if available) to facilitate the movement,
boarding and/or disembarkation of PWDs
and senior citizens.
Q: Can a passenger who
has checked in be denied
boarding?
A: Yes, but only for legal or valid causes
such as immigration issues, safety and
security, health concerns, non-appearance at
the boarding gate at the appointed boarding
time, or government requisition of space.
Q: Can an air carrier
overbook a flight?
A: Yes. It is an airline practice to sell
seats beyond the actual seating capacity
of the aircraft. However, any expense,
consequence, or inconvenience caused to
affected passengers must be shouldered by
the air carrier.
Q:What are the duties
and obligations of an air
carrier in case a flight is
overbooked?
A: In case of overbooking, the air carrier
shall look for volunteers willing to give
up their seats. The air carrier shall provide
the interested passengers or volunteers a
list of amenities and offers, which they
can choose from. The list of amenities
shall always include the option to be given
priority booking in the next available flight
or to be endorsed to another air carrier upon
payment of any fare difference, and/or a
cash incentive. The air carrier shall increase
the compensation package until the required
number of volunteers is met.
Q:What are the rights of a
passenger in case his/her
flight is cancelled by the air
carrier?
A: If the passenger is already at the
airport at the time of cancellation, he/she
should be given sufficient refreshments or
meals, hotel accommodation conveniently
accessible from the airport, transportation
to the hotel, free phone calls, text or emails,
and reimbursement of the full value of the
fare (including taxes and surcharges) if the
passenger decides not to fly the ticket.
If the air carrier cancels a flight at least 24
hours before the ETD, it need not give the
above amenities to the passenger. However,
the air carrier is required to notify the
passenger of the flight cancellation and to
rebook or reimburse the passenger, at the
option of the latter.
If the cancellation is due to force majeure,
or for safety and/or security reasons,
a passenger shall have the right to be
reimbursed for the full value of the fare
(including taxes and surcharges).
Q:What are the passenger’s
rights in case of a “terminal
delay” lasting at least three
(3) hours?
A: In case of terminal delay of at least three (3)
hours after ETD (whether or not attributable to
the air carrier), a passenger shall have the right
to be provided with refreshments or meals,
free phone calls, text or emails, and to rebook
or refund his/her ticket.
The salient points of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights that everyone should know
Flying fair, flying right
THE
DIPLOMAT
IllustrationbyManixAbrera
By H. E. Philip
S. Goldberg
United States
Ambassador to the
Philippines
US-Philippine ties grow stronger in APEC’s 26th year
By Atty. Brigido J. Dulay and Racquel Victoria D. Tenorio
Turn to page 7

5. 5
S
tartup businesses in the Philippines,
especially those located in the central
business districts, are often one of
the following: a small and medium
enterprise (SME) with about 20 employees, a
professional consultancy, or a satellite office or
affiliate of a foreign company just entering the
local market.
If you are running one of these types of
enterprises, what do you do when it’s your
turn to move out of your garage (a.k.a. the
“home office”) and look for space in the
central business districts such as Makati and
Bonifacio Global City (BGC) to match the
growth and rising prestige of your company?
Finding the right office space can be both
“one of the most exciting and disruptive
challenges for a business,” said Kevin Cronin,
anAmerican corporate real estate advisor.
There are several options available for
entrepreneurs, but the key is to find the office
most tailored to your specific situation, added
Andy O’Brien, co-founder of HiRise, an
online marketplace for commercial real estate.
“Do you need a distraction-free workplace
or more open, collaborative environments? Do
you feel confident in signing a long-term lease
or should your company consider a sublease?
There are always questions, and depending
on the growth of your company, you need to
be ready to make sure your office needs align
with your business strategy,” O’Brien said.
Some of those questions can be answered
by considering the following:
1.Time. It’s important to make sure
you don’t get locked into leasing or renting
office space for a period that’s longer than
you need. “You may have only 10 employees
now, but you could have 60 in six months,”
said O’Brien. “Generally speaking, you should
never sign a lease that doesn’t work for your
long-term business plan.”
In order to minimize disruption and
increase the effectiveness of your search,
Cronin said it is essential “to start with
a clear understanding of your needs,
budget and specifications, as well as of the
process and time commitment required to
successfully find and occupy a space.”
Also, most startups and SMEs
underestimate the time – and effort –
required to find office space, said Cronin.
“No matter the location, you’ll want to start
planning at least 3 to 4 months before you’re
ready to make a move,” he added.
2. Layout. A technology or creative
company may want more open space to
facilitate collaboration among employees,
but a law firm may want an office-focused,
closed-door setup. “Make sure the layout
of the space you choose is conducive to the
type of work you’ll do in it,” O’Brien said.
Also, explore options that share conference
rooms or kitchens.
Capital House, a boutique office
development at the BGC in Taguig City, is
one such example. It offers units “that can
be designed and adjusted by its owners to fit
their needs anytime” said Herbert M. Herrero,
senior division manager of the Project &
Strategic Management Group of Avida Land,
which launched the project recently.
No two spaces with the same square footage
are the same, added Cronin. Floor plan and
layout matter. “For example, a 5,000-square
foot rectangular space is much more efficient
and will support more people than layouts
with round or angled corners. Make sure
the alternatives you select have layouts that
support your business requirements.”
3. Location. This can make or break
an office space, so make sure a location
aligns with your needs, said O’Brien. For
instance, Capital House – which will be
completed in December 2017 and turned
over in the second quarter of 2018 – benefits
from the business-friendly environment and
outstanding location of BGC.
BGC has nine access points along the
EDSA and C-5 highways and the Kalayaan
and Gil Puyat flyovers. It’s practically
a stone’s throw away from the Makati
CBD and is a few minutes to the Ortigas
business district as well as the airports in
Parañaque City.
BGC is also home to a number of
lifestyle, health, and entertainment hubs,
which makes a building like Capital
House “a desirable address for companies,
employees, and residents alike,” said Pol
Tanco, head of Avida’s Project & Strategic
Management group.
Make sure your key employees weigh
in on the geographic boundaries for
your search. “Relocating is disruptive
to everyone, and most employees will
want to know whether or not the office
is convenient for them,” Cronin said. If
you see clients in your office, consider
whether or not the location boundaries are
convenient for them as well.
4. Amenities and
parking. “You should make two lists:
one of amenities your company ‘needs to have’
and another of the ones you’d ‘like to have.’
Use these to guide your search,” said O’Brien.
As for parking, study the cost, access
and the actual spaces your employees and
customers will park in, Cronin said. Stay
away from buildings where parking is
difficult or costly for them.
Capital House is well-equipped for both
amenities and parking, said Tanco. The
development offers retail spaces at its ground
floor, conference or function rooms for lease,
provisions for concessionaires, an open deck
or roof deck, and individual control of light
and power inside the office unit.
Avida also made sure to provide six
podium parking floors and three basement
parking spaces at Capital House “that will
cater to the tenants and also their visitors,”
Tanco adds.
5. Leasing vs. buying. The
longer your lease term, the more choices
you will have, Cronin said. Yet the last
thing any startup wants “is to sign a five-
year lease, only to realize in a year that
the space doesn’t meet your needs.” Lease
only for the length of term that suits you.
Of course, you may want to buy the
office space you need instead of leasing
it. Long-term leases often have annually
increasing lease rates that may be a burden.
When buying a unit, amortization is fixed.
Capital House, for its part, offers office
units that business owners can purchase
from Avida.
“If companies would operate for more
than 10 years, it would be better for them
to buy units instead of perpetually leasing
because it also reflects their monthly
rentals,” said Herrero of Avida.
When determining how much you’re
willing to spend, O’Brien advises business
owners to shy away from calculating price
per person and instead “focus on how
much you’re willing to spend monthly,
all-in, for your team.” Also, don’t forget
to calculate the hidden costs like utilities,
furniture and other office fees. “When
you’re starting from scratch, these things
can add up.”
Determine upfront your budget and office-
related costs: parking, utilities, janitorial,
relocation, tenant improvements, insurance,
furniture, and other office fees, said both
O’Brien and Cronin. Focusing only on the
alternatives that don’t exceed your budget
will help refine your search to a manageable
list. And so, happy office hunting!
FROM
THE DESK
By PeterWallace Finding
the perfect
office space
for your
startup
Whether you run a small enterprise, a consulting firm, or just a
business that needs the right amount of space for your stuff, these tips
should help you make the right choice
IllustrationbyManixAbrera
“You need to be ready
to make sure your
office needs align
with your business
strategy,”
ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
W
hen the Philippine Constitution
was written, it was a time when
the Philippines was digging
itself out of a ruthless dictatorship in a world
it understood little. A revolution and a new
democracy called for a new constitution. One
was written, but it was, in a word, parochial, at
least on the economic side. Restrictions were
put into it that should never have been there, in
detail that doesn’t belong in a constitution but
in enabling laws.
Since those turbulent days much has
changed, and one of them is the country’s
attitude to the world. Filipinos now welcome
it, want to be part of it. They want an open
economy that integrates the Philippines into
Asia and the world on an even footing.
That is what APEC is all about. Manila hosts
APEC this year, in November. And what I
like about that is it has put pressure to act on a
government that needs to act more swiftly. The
nightmare of getting to and from the airport is
to go. The Skyway link is being rushed so the
VIPs to APEC can get to the meetings, and
we’ll be able to get to the airport at last.
But it puts on other pressures too. The
Constitution must be changed if the Philippines is
to be part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
and to fully benefit from the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC). And be part of them it must.
The economic recovery experienced in recent
years is fragile. If the Philippines fails to join or
fully participate in these open-market initiatives,
it will, once again, sink into a forgotten morass.
To join those groups’reforms, real, done reforms
have to be accomplished.
Is the Philippines ready? No, but then
neither are a number of other countries,
principal for us being Vietnam now, our
nearest competitor (from far back a scant
10-15 years ago). Myanmar and Cambodia, the
others that are trailing, you don’t expect to be
ready. The other ASEAN countries are ahead.
Real integration is not going to happen in
2015, as there are still details that ASEAN
needs to work out. But it’s certainly going to
happen and the Philippines, being among the
least prepared, needs to be better prepared for
it. The fine-tuning and debugging that still have
to be done to make the system work seamlessly
should buy the Philippines time to put needed
reforms in place – a lifeline that the Philippines
shouldn’t squander. But as we have seen in the
past, the Philippines probably will. Cynicism,
sadly, too often brings one closer to the reality.
Among the critical reforms to prepare the
Philippines for ASEAN integration include:
• Automating, streamlining and improving the
transparency of business procedures at local
and national levels;
• Putting in place a National Single Window
(NSW) – single submission of applications for
permits and licenses;
• Improving port infrastructure and logistics to
lower the cost of distribution. This will need
faster implementation of relevant public-private
partnership projects, among other things;
• An information and education campaign on
AEC and providing assistance in maximizing
benefits from AEC, particularly to small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) that could
otherwise be the greatest losers. The Philippines
is lagging behind in terms of making SMEs
aware of the advantages and disadvantages of
AEC, and putting action measures in place to
make them competitive.
Pressure on
PH must act now, via APEC
Turn to page 7

6. 6
V
isitors to Palawan, the country’s “last frontier,”
can expect a better travel experience as tourism
stakeholders in the resort town of El Nido
commit themselves to preserving its natural
environment and promoting its local culture.
Located in northern Palawan, El Nido has been consistently
named as one of the world’s best island and beach getaways
by international travel magazines and websites.
“Powder-fine beaches and gin-clear waters complement
the stunning view of karst limestone formations, empty
lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls,”
CNN Travel says on its website, which lists El Nido among
the World’s 100 Best Beaches.
The town boasts of 2,645 hectares of mangrove forests,
114 bird species, 447 coral species, 888 fish species, vast
tracts of tropical rainforest, and five endemic mammal
species, including the dugong (seacow), the world’s rarest
marine mammal.
It was declared a Managed Resource Protected Area by
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in
1998, and currently has 13 community-managed Marine
Protected Areas.
Because of this global accolade and appearance in the
Hollywood hit “Bourne Legacy” (where some of the scenes
were filmed in the Philippines), tourist arrivals hit 65,000 in
2013, the biggest in its local history.
El Nido mayor Edna Gacot-Lim said the municipal
government has been collaborating with the private sector to
minimize the impact of tourism on the town’s fragile ecosystem.
Story and photos by Bernard L Supetran
Enhancing El Nido
She noted that the most notable of these programs is
the implementation of the Ecotourism Development Fee
(ETDF) for visitors in 2008, which requires visitors to pay
P200 to access tourist sites for 10 days.
Fees go to environmental protection, education and
training, resource rehabilitation, solid waste management,
and infrastructure development.
Reef watch, mooring buoys
A major project funded by the ETDF is the Reef Watch
Program of the Municipal Tourism Office, which collects
garbage from the islands, maintains mooring buoys, educates
guests and tour guides on responsible ecotourism, and
addresses other threats to the reef ecosystem. Reef Watch also
monitors environmental enforcement in Bacuit Bay 24/7.
A vital private sector initiative is the installation of
mooring buoys around the islands to prevent boat anchors
damaging the corals. Seacology, a non-profit environmental
conservation organization, and El Nido Foundation installed
70 mooring buoys in 2014, with the local government
augmenting that number.
Another important undertaking is the Green Fins, a United
Nations Environment Program-funded project, which accredits
dive shops that practice responsible marine-based activities.
El Nido is a pilot area for the accreditation of snorkeling tour
operators before it is applied in other parts of the country.
Lim revealed that the El Nido Municipal Council will be
enacting key legislation to make the local tourism industry
sustainable.
These include the passage of a comprehensive ordinance on
ecotourism, implementation of carrying capacity for tourists,
the prohibition of the use of plastics in the market and stores,
installation of waste water treatment facilities, and updating
the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan.
The mayor noted that the town’s exit-entry ordinance
is already in place, which requires boats to seek clearance
from the Tourism Office and Coast Guard at selected entry
points. This law has helped increase collection of ETDF.
Lim also said El Nido is likewise developing its cultural
destinations, while new beaches and islands in the eastern
coast are being explored to supplement existing ones.
Cuyonon culture
In Sibaltan, the town’s heritage village and settlement of the
indigenous Cuyonon tribe, proudly stands Balay Cuyonon, an
ethnographic museum and replica of a traditional house. Made
up of light materials in the bahay kubo mold, it is composed of
the main living room and an adjunct kitchen.
Residents of Palawan’s “last frontier” are taking environmental protection into their own hands
El Nido’s Big Lagoon is pristine and
inviting, yet needs diligent care.
Members of El Nido’s Reef
Watch program maintain
the mooring buoys.
This model boat
is a replica of
the traditional
Cuyonon boat.
The Pangko museum, a life-sized replica of the traditional
Cuyonon boat, which showcases the tribe’s maritime culture,
was completed last year. The pangko reflects the Cuyonons’
seafaring way of life, which brought them to various parts
of mainland Palawan from their island hometown of Cuyo
several hours away.
Funded by the United States Department of State through its
“Ancient Shores, Changing Tides” Project, the museum was
completed in October.
Another project in the pipeline is the Sibaltan Archaeological
Museum, which will house artifacts unearthed in the coastal
community. Archaeological finds are currently housed in the
barangay hall, which doubles as a community museum.
Potential spots in the neighboring villages are Makangit
Cave, where spelunkers can wade inside a chest-deep
subterranean river and explore the adjoining chambers. Also
nearby is Ille Cave, a prehistoric settlement tucked inside a
limestone mountain.

7. 7
products, and the DTI is now developing
service sector roadmaps.
But rice, corn, and other agricultural
industries are not yet ready, as the
cost of production is too high versus
other ASEAN members due to lack of
infrastructure and mechanization, high
cost of and access to farm financing, and
undue involvement of middlemen.
Given the skills of Filipinos and
willingness to relocate local management,
organizations are concerned that opening
up of professional services could lead to
poaching of Filipino talent and skills by
ASEAN neighbors. We’ll lose the best
and brightest.
There’s going to be more competition
and that will put pressure on businesses.
But it is pressure Philippine businesses
can handle, if they set their minds to
it. And the consumer will benefit from
better quality and lower prices.
Overall, big businesses are likely to
benefit more from the AEC than SMEs,
which need help in access to credit and
technology, plus simplification of business
registration and facilitation, among others.
The teething will be painful, but the end
result should be more beautiful teeth.
Disclaimer:The article above is the sole opinion of
the writer and should not constitute legal opinion or
advice. – The IMMIGRANT
More work needs to be done in opening
up services and investment, agriculture,
facilitation of trade in goods, and lowering
of transport and logistics costs. Tariffs
may have gone down to zero, but this only
applies if the importer is able to prove that
the good (product) was produced within
ASEAN using ASEAN raw materials and
other production inputs.
Sectors still to be opened up include
health care, real estate, air transport services,
insurance, non-bank financial institutions
such as securities, bonds, the stock market
and pawnshops, communications, and inter-
island shipping. Advertising and mass media
too, but for the country to join the TPP, it
needs a change in the Constitution (so foreign
investors can have greater media ownership),
- something we hope will occur after the 2016
elections.
On the positive side, the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board
of Investments have kicked off forums
nationwide to increase awareness and
understanding of the risks and opportunities
under the AEC, which includes a “Doing
Business in FTAs (free trade areas)” campaign
targeting SMEs. A number of industry
roadmaps have been completed for selected
Hiddengems
Meet Tago, Tagaytay’s newest private enclave
PhotoscourtesyofMañosaProperties
“T
agô” is the Filipino word
for hidden, and is also now
the name of the newest real
estate development rising right in the heart
of Tagaytay City, the cool, hilly hideaway of
Metro Manila’s well-heeled denizens.
Just 300 meters off the busy Aguinaldo
highway, Tagô, the private vacation
community by Mañosa Properties Inc
(MPI), is secluded yet accessible, said its
developers.
Q:What are passengers
entitled to if the “terminal
delay” extends to least six
(6) hours?
A: If the terminal delay lasts at least
six (6) hours after ETD due to causes
attributable to the air carrier, the affected
passenger is entitled to: (a) additional
compensation equivalent to the value of
the particular leg/trip that was delayed or
deemed cancelled, to be paid in the form
of cash or voucher (at the discretion of
the air carrier), and the right to board the
flight (if the air carrier proceeds with the
flight despite such delay) and the affected
passenger has not opted to rebook and/or
refund.
Q:What are the rights of
passengers in the event of
“tarmac delay?”
A: In cases of tarmac delay of at least two
(2) hours after the ETD, reckoned from
the closing of the aircraft doors, or when
the aircraft is at the gate with the doors
still open but passengers are not allowed
to deplane, a passenger shall have the
right to be provided with sufficient food
and beverage.
Q:What are the obligations
of the air carrier in case a
passenger’s baggage is off-
loaded for operation safety
or security reasons?
A: The air carrier should inform the
passenger the soonest that his/her baggage
had been off-loaded and why it was off-
loaded. The air carrier should carry the
Atty. Brigido J. Dulay is the Managing Partner of the Dulay Pagunsan & Ty Law Offices (www.dptlaw.asia).
He is also a columnist for The Manila Times, the oldest daily English language newspaper in the Philippines.
Racquel Victoria D. Tenorio is a Senior Paralegal at the Dulay Pagunsan & Ty Law Offices.
off-loaded baggage in the next available
flight and deliver it to the passenger
personally or at his/her residence.
Otherwise, the air carrier shall be liable
to pay the passenger two thousand pesos
(P2,000) for every 24 hours of delay in
such delivery. The 24-hour period starts
one (1) hour after the arrival of the flight of
the passenger carrying such baggage.
Q:What are the rights of
a passenger if his/her
baggage is lost or damaged?
A: For international flights, the passenger
shall be entitled to compensation according
to the relevant international convention.
For domestic flights, the passenger will be
compensated a maximum amount (in pesos)
equivalent to half the amount granted by the
relevant international convention.
Q:What is the liability of
air carriers in case of the
death or bodily injury of a
passenger?
A: The air carrier shall compensate a
passenger for death or bodily injury based
on the relevant international convention and
inter-carrier agreement.
Q:Where and when should
compensation be given to a
passenger?
A: Any and all compensation under the Air
Passenger Bill of Rights should be available
to the passenger at the air carrier’s counters
at the airport on the date when the incident
entitling the passenger to compensation
occurred, or at the air carrier’s main office or
branch, at the discretion of the passenger.
Disclaimer: The FAQs above are the sole opinion of
the writer/s and should not constitute as legal opinion or
advice. –The IMMIGRANT
“We acquired this Tagaytay property in
the ‘90s. It took us a while to develop it
because we wanted something that’s worth
our investment, something that we can be
proud of,” said Cesar Duque, Chairman
of United Pacific Capital Corporation,
landowner partner for Tagô. “And what MPI
had in mind matched our vision.”
Conceptualized to be very exclusive, the
Tagô development is made up of 12 “Ara-
al” homes and 40 “Adobe” homes, with
each house having its own design. The
240-square meter Adobe homes occupy
250-square meter lots, while the larger 300-
square meter Ara-al homes sit on lots that
range from 350 to 400 square meters in size.
Both homes have two storeys with three
bedrooms and a maids’ room.
“We like to leave a lot of open space and
not consume every buildable square meter,”
said MPI CEO Dino Mañosa, son of famed
Architect Bobby Mañosa, the National Artist.
Tagô is master-planned to make the most of
the raw natural beauty that surrounds it, and is
limited to only 52 homes to provide a secure,
close-knit community environment.”
Each Tagô home, Mañosa said, takes
inspiration from the classic bahay kubo,
featuring an airy, open-plan design crafted to
incorporate the green and distinctive Filipino
design elements the multi-awarded Mañosa
legacy is known for.
Intrinsic to every Mañosa design is a
deep respect and love for the land it lies
on, said Dino. Building authentic Filipino
ancestral homes intended to span multiple
generations, the Tagô development uses
locally-sourced sustainable materials and
native design elements wherever possible.
Bamboo, coconut, woven mats, native
stones, recycled lumber, and a mix of
farmed and reclaimed wood are used in the
building and interiors.
The signature Mañosa staircase with señorita
steps, the banggerahan, which is used for the
natural drying of dishes, as well as Mañosa-
designed wooden wall lamps and other
accessories, provide classic Filipino touches.
“The banggerahan is a standard for all
Mañosa homes from the inception of our
architectural firm, it is inspired by the bahay
kubo banggerahan. We build ours with
modern materials such as stainless steel,”
shared Dino.
Tagô also features a series of
environment-friendly features, harnessing
both nature and technology to showcase
green design at its finest, Dino said. Private
gardens and landscaping are painstakingly
planned to use plants that are edible and
endemic to the area.
High ceilings, wide windows, and a
clear center space allow for excellent
cross-ventilation and abundant natural
light, minimizing the need for electrically-
powered cooling and lighting. Energy-
saving lighting systems are built into
each unit, and energy star-rated kitchen
appliances, as well as gas-powered washing
machines and dryers, are offered as options.
For more information, log on to www.
Mañosa-properties.com, call 0917-8825604,
or email sales@Mañosa-properties.com.
Locally-sourced sustainable materials and the bahay kubo
template are trademarks of every Mañosa-built home.
raised several hundred thousand Hong Kong
dollars for the organization.
More events are being planned by the
yacht club in the near future, such as the
Rolex China Sea Race biennial and the
Around the Island Race, Hong Kong’s
biggest sailing event. They are also hosting
the Flying Fifteen Worlds later this year.
But nothing beats a race which is
challenging and unpredictable. Next year,
weather permitting, they will end up on the
white sands of the Luzon west coast, on the
idyllic islands of sunny Philippines.
The wood paneling and weave designs of
most Mañosa properties are present in the
bedrooms of Tago houses.
Race to...
From page 10
Flying fair...
From page 4
Mañosa-designed houses use a lot of glass windows
and LED lightbulbs to take advantage of natural
lighting and save on energy costs.
Pressure on...
From page 5

8. 8
A
nother “Weekend of Everything That
Flies” capped off a successful run as more
than 70,000 Filipinos flocked with friends,
family and loved ones to the 19th Philippine
International Hot Air Balloon Festival (PIHABF).
The Philippines’ first, foremost, longest-running and
most highly anticipated air show was held at the Philippine
Air Force ADAC Hangar at the Clark Freeport Zone in
Pampanga, where more than 30 uniquely themed hot air
balloons from all over the globe were showcased.
Crowd favorites included the Pink Elephant from
Belgium, USA’s Dog, Old McDonald’s Farm, Pink Daisy,
Little Devil and Old Lady Shoe, Netherlands’ Van Gogh,
Japan’s Octopus, and United Kingdom’s Little Girl and
Little Boy.
Aside from breathtaking air spectacles, attendees were
also treated to on-ground activities and entertainment,
notably from local artists such as Radio Republic, Aiza
Seguerra, and Paolo Valenciano.
During the four-day event, outstanding aviation industry
professionals were also recognized for their contributions
to the field.
The 2015 awardees were Airworks Aviation Academy
flight instructor and captain Joseph Gerard Perez for Flight
Instructor of the Year, multi-awarded Philippine Military
Academy (PMA) alumnus and major Gerald Escalante for
Flight Instructor of the Year under the military category,
and PMA graduate and captain Manuel Foronda and lawyer
and aviation expert Antonio Gonzales for the Outstanding
Aviator Service awards.
Japan’s Hirotsugu Tomioka and Malaysia’s Richard Ong
Flights
of fancy
Soon Lee were also recognized as Aviators of the Year.
Tomioka is one of Japan’s general aviation pioneers, being
one of the first private pilots to own a single turbine engine
and land at Chofu Airport. He was also among the first
Japanese pilots to fly around Europe and Asia in a TBM-700.
Ong Soon Lee is one of the key members of the
Sabah Flying Club, and is considered as one of the most
influential aviators on Sabah who have kept general
aviation flying alive in the island.
The Philippines’ very own Captain Roland Narciso,
the pilot-in-command of the Philippine Airlines flight that
recently brought Pope Francis safely to and from Tacloban,
was also honored as Airline Pilot of the Year.
Also a PMA graduate, Narciso was a flight commander for
the Philippine Air Force before embarking on a commercial
airlines career.
Cleo Margaret Brown, an Aviation Electronics Technology
student from Asian College of Aeronautics, bagged the Miss
Aviation Philippines crown, besting 20 other hopefuls from
the aviation industry.
According to Captain Joy Roa, PIHABF organizer and
event director, the annual fiesta has generated a lot of interest
and awareness in the aviation industry.
“Seeing families come together and appreciate the
beauty of aviation is the ultimate reward for us,” Roa said.
“Philippine aviation has a long way to go but with passionate
and dedicated professionals like the volunteers that make up
PIHABF, we can definitely put the Philippines on the map as
one of the world’s aviation leaders.”
The PIHABF 2015 was made possible with the support
of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Clark
Freeport, Clark International Airport, the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines, and the Armed Forces of
the Philippines, together with media partners Philippine
Daily Inquirer, Malaya Business Insight, Business
World, Business Mirror, Pilipino Mirror, Natural 97.9
FM, DWIZ, and ABS-CBN. Sponsors included SM City
Clark, UPS, Prudential Guarantee, Hotdog on Stick, CDO
Bibbo Hotdog, Segway, Qube, Kopiko, Rudy Project, The
Medical City, Yellow Cab, Tempra, Snow Cone, Flanax,
Bonamine, Garant Group, and Radio Republic.
Ticket sales of the event were donated to the PIHABF
Foundation Scholarship Fund, which grants scholarships
to deserving but underprivileged students pursuing an
aviation career in partnership with Air Link International
Aviation School and the Philippine Air Transport and
Training Services.
Beyond beauty
Aside from a night of glitz and glamour graced by 2002
Miss Universe-Philippines Karen Agustin, the event also
coincided with the annual Aviators Ball, which recognized
outstanding aviators within the region. The venue was filled
with celebrities, and local and international delegates led by
Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.
Miss Aviation Philippines 2015 was made possible by by
Rudy Project, YKL Fujifilm, iWhite, Nisce Skin N’ Face,
Wings Institute of Global Careers, Inc., and Island Rose.
W
ith its competitive lineup of candidates,
highly regarded founders and judges, and
a solid vision, one of the most glorified
pageants of the 1950s and the 1970s once
again proved its timeless grandeur during the recently held Miss
Aviation Philippines 2015 grand coronation night. Lighting up
the ballroom of the Manila Peninsula were the thirteen lovely
candidates, who took the stage with beauty, confidence, and
wisdom, though only one of them owned the title.
“Miss Aviation Philippines highlights the transformative,
efficient and reliable power of women in the fields of tourism
and aviation,” remarked pageant director Morena Carla
Cabrera-Quimpo. “And for that, we believe that our winner
has the capacity to go beyond beauty, and help us in making
these industries sparkle once more in the international scene.”
With her knowledge, confidence and unmatched grace,
17-year old Filipina-Scottish Cleo Margaret Brown
easily surpassed these criteria and won the Miss Aviation
Philippines 2015 grand title. The Aviation Electronic
Technology student is now following the footsteps of
previous titleholders dancer-choreographer Joji Felix-
Velarde and actress Lotis Key. Meanwhile, hailed as the first
runner-up was Lizl Louise Resoles, who also won the Miss
Nisce Skin and Best Catwalk awards, followed by second
runner-up Mica Angela Angeles, who won the Miss Alluring
Face and Miss Body Beautiful awards.
Winners were judged according to beauty (30 percent),
personality and intelligence (40 percent), and figure (30
percent). Joining Quimpo in the panel of judges were Joyce
Ann Burton-Titular, Capt. Joy Roa, Atty. Carmelo Arcilla,
Jade Dy, Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III, Janice Trillo,
Arthur Tugade, and Dr. Antoinette Nisce.
Other special awards were also given including the Miss
Personality award won by Elaine Elago, Most Charming
Face award won by Lyra Velchez, and Best in Evening
Gown won by Dayna Lyn dela Vega.
The 19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon
Festival caps off another historic weekend
Fil-Scot stunner tops search for Miss Aviation Philippines 2015
The “Dog” from the USA floats above the other
hot air balloons still preparing for takeoff.
Hirotsugu Tomioka (center) receives his trophy from the organizers as
Aviator of theYear.
Miss Aviation 2015 Cleo Margaret Brown (center) is flanked by
first runner-up Lizl Louise Resoles (left) and second runner-up
Mica Angela Angeles.

9. 9
companygood
both producers and consumers.
Markets are said to offer substantial gains
and opportunities to society as a whole. These
gains and opportunities accrue to individuals
as well, translating to economic empowerment
and a heightened standard of living.
Participation in such markets by vulnerable
groups, however, is constrained by myriad
factors, including their lack of human capital
to effectively engage in the labor markets
or as entrepreneurs. Hence, it is important
to capacitate all citizens through strong
investments in education and health, notably
for children and youth.
Other reasons could also include missing
markets (e.g. credit and insurance markets),
inadequate provision of public goods and
services, as well as other macroeconomic
shocks and disturbances. As a result, those
at the BOP are inhibited from market
access as producers in labor and product
markets (owing to limited human capital
and constrained access to sources of credit
and insurance); and as consumers of goods
(arising from a lack of understanding of the
consumer preferences of these groups or a
failure to recognize their market potential on
the part of the private sector).
Private sector
innovations for the poor
also matter
This exclusion of the poor from market
participation is further exacerbated by a
“poverty penalty” whereby the poor incur a
higher cost in accessing markets, relative to
the non-poor. This is the case as they are
compensated less and yet need to pay more
for goods of often poorer quality.
More inclusive business models have
emerged to cater to this viable and under-
utilized market, offering lessons in generating
profit and innovation while delivering social
goods such as enhanced access to basic
necessities for marginalized groups. Such
processes result in mutual value creation as
extended credit allows individuals to undertake
costly productivity-enhancing human capital
investments while allowing private firms
to further optimize their resources. Such an
approach also lies at the heart of skills and
vocational training programs, which seek to
heighten the preparedness of vulnerable groups
for jobs while at the same time providing firms
with more capable employees and reduced
labor costs.
The examples of public private
partnerships to help forge more inclusive
The fun
of givingThe Child Protection Network Benefit 2015
was a memorable evening for its guests, its hosts,
and most especially the CPN Foundation
I
s it easier to give when you’re having
fun? This seems to have been the case
at the recent Child Protection Network
(CPN) Benefit 2015. Held at the
ballroom of Raffles and Fairmont Hotel, the
dinner-auction was punctuated by surprises,
excitement, and yes, fun.
The dinner was not only sumptuous; it
was also seasoned by the great harmony of
the British award-winning trio Blake, who
serenaded guests with three songs plus an a
capella version of “Moon River” as encore.
The programme was fast-paced, the auctions
novel and creative, and there was still a lot of
time left for dancing to the live music of the
Power House Band. And this is all to protect
and treat children suffering from the many
faces of abuse.
Game on
CPN turned the event into a fun night.
About 20 door prizes were given away in
unusual ways. For instance, guests were
asked to look under their bread plates,
to bring a lady wearing five- to six-inch
stilettos, or a man wearing a patterned tie,
to identify the founders of the CPN.
That evening, couples also discovered
the benefits of long relationships, as the
couple with the longest relationship won
two business-class round-trip tickets to
Hong Kong via Philippine Airlines, with
accommodation at Marco Polo Gateway,
courtesy of CV Travel and Tours Corporation.
Auctioned off
Now, apart from the donations to CPN
given by the guests and advocacy patrons,
an exciting auction was prepared during
the dinner, which gave generous souls the
opportunity to be rewarded with something
precious for their equally precious gift
to the abused children CPN helps.
On the block were five lots: a set of Wynn
Wynn Ong objet d’art and a bracelet, three
days and two nights stay at the fabulous
Amanpulo resort, an overnight stay at a
luxury villa in Solaire Resort and Casino, a
36-by-60-inch acrylic on canvas painting by
Jana Benitez titled Amazonian, and a week-
long stay at Valfond, Provence in France.
The advocacy
Irene Martel Francisco, CPN president and
managing director of the Philippine Tatler,
Oliver & Cindy Dudler and Marilu
& David Batchelor
Iris Bonifacio, Judge Amy Avellano,The Immigrant’s
Editorial Board member Atty. Katrina Legarda, and
Marivic Rufino
Dr Bernie Madrid, Johnny
Velasquez, and Lotta Sylwander.
Irene Martel Francisco, Renna Angeles,
and Chuchu Madrigal Eduque
Maripi Muscat,Alice Eduardo,
and Caroline Taojo
Professor Ronald U. Mendoza, PhD is the Executive Director of AIM Policy Center. He is also a core faculty of AIM Center for Development Management (CDM). Prof. Mendoza is a senior economist
with research and policy experience in development policy, international economics, and public finance. He has spent almost 10 years with the United Nations in NewYork working on international development
policy issues, first as an economist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and later as an economist with the United Nations Childrenís Fund (UNICEF).
Monica Melchor is a Research Associate at the AIM Policy Center. She is currently undertaking research in Democracy and Inclusive Growth. Monica is also involved in the Social Protection andYouth project
of the Center in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Economy Initial year Final year Gini coefficients Annualized growth rate (%)
1990s 2000s
Cambodia 1994 2008 38.3 37.9 -0.1
Indonesia 1990 2011 29.2 38.9 1.4
Lao PDR 1992 2008 30.4 36.7 1.2
Malaysia 1992 2009 47.7 46.2 -0.2
Philippines 1991 2009 43.8 43 -0.1
Thailand 1990 2009 45.3 40 -0.6
Viet Nam 1992 2008 35.7 35.6 0
Source: Asian Development Outlook 2012.
Table 1. Trends in inequality in Southeast Asia
markets are further growing. Jollibee Foods
Corporation (JFC), for instance, partnered
with the National Livelihood Development
Corporation and the Catholic Relief Services
to place farmers at the heart of their supply
chains by way of a Farmer Entrepreneurship
Program launched in 2008. This program
increased the efficiencies, incomes, and
ultimately stability of farmers by shifting
their production to higher value-added
crops. JFC, in turn, benefited by means of
reduced reliance on imported ingredients as
well as discounted inputs.
In addition, telecommunications giant
Smart Communications enhanced access
of the BOP to their services by issuing
prepaid cards in lower denominations
and by allowing for short-messaging-
system (SMS)-based remittance transfer
systems, increasing its market reach
while providing a valuable service to an
underserved group.
These examples help to underscore the
point that BOP approaches benefit all parties
and facilitate mutual value creation for those
involved.
Ultimately, inclusive economies are also
more likely to sustain economic growth. An
International Monetary Fund (IMF) study
on economic growth spell worldwide finds
evidence that longer durations of economic
growth are linked to stronger equality in income
distribution. In fact, a 10-percentile decrease in
inequality is expected to increase the length of a
growth spell by 50 percent. Asian Development
Bank studies also suggest that rising inequality
constrains poverty reduction efforts. Up to 240
million more individuals live below $1.25 a
day due to the unequal nature of their country’s
economic structure.
All of this evidence motivates the APEC’s
emphasis on building inclusive market
economies and stamping out excessive
inequality.
Inclusive...
From page 3
warmly welcomed the guests of the dinner
and auction. She also introduced a video
about CPN, which included a short message
from its founders, David and Katherine
Bradley.
The event sponsors Butch and Cris
Albert for Fila, David Batchelor for
Raffles and Fairmont Makati, and Alice
Eduardo for Sta. Elena Construction and
Development Corporation, shared their
insights and concerns on child abuse. Their
representatives pledged continuous support
to CPN and delivered a common message
urging the guests to join the fight against
child abuse today, not tomorrow.

10. 10
Unity through sport
The Palarong Pambansa and how it helps promote peace in Mindanao
T
he month of May welcomes
the 58th edition of the annual
Palarong Pambansa, a type of
national Olympics for Filipino
student athletes which will see the cream of
the country’s young athletes competing for
the prestige of being proclaimed the best
in the nation at a number of sports, ranging
from archery and badminton, to boxing,
Racetoparadise
The annual San Fernando Race would have taken dozens of yachts from Hong Kong to the shores of La Union
A
pril Fool’s Day this year saw
the 20th official edition of the
San Fernando Race, a Hong
Kong-to-Philippines yachting
event which actually dates back to 1977,
when a mere six boats took part in braving
the trip across the West Philippine Sea (or
South China Sea).
It was a race eagerly anticipated by sailors
from across the globe, who usually cast
off from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
(RHKYC) to reach La Union on the western
Philippine shore. The sailors aimed to be
the first to sample the natural beauty of the
Philippines awaiting them at the finish line
– the beautiful islands, white sand beaches,
and turquoise blue-green seas, as well as, of
course, the various laidback watering holes
dotting Luzon’s west coast.
But this year, Mother Nature saw fit to
throw a wrench into the organizers’ plans.
Just as The Immigrant went to press, race
chairman Gerry Daughton announced the
rerouting of the race course as Typhoon
Maysak barreled through Luzon on Easter
Sunday, right onto the intended path of the
sailors from Hong Kong to San Fernando.
“Given the information and forecasts
available to them, the Royal Hong Kong
Yacht Club and the San Fernando Race
Organizing Committee believe that there is
no alternative but to alter the destination of
this year’s race in the interests of competitor
safety,” Daughton said. The event instead
became a challenging 330-nautical mile
offshore race from Hong Kong and back.
17 of the 25 boats still competed in
the shortened race, which is usually a
480-nautical mile Category 1 offshore
regatta.
Competitors converged at the RHKYC from
as far afield as New Zealand andAustralia to
set off for the supposed two-day battle. The
race is known for the tactical challenges it tends
to throw up and the rough seas at the start of
the first night, as well as the network of holes
as the fleet approaches the Luzon coast, which
have robbed many a boat of first place.
However, before the race route was
changed, the sailors had been drawn to the
promise of what awaited them at the end:
the exquisite lush nature of the Philippines,
the laidback resorts and beach bars which
can be found on the San Fernando stretch
of La Union’s coastline, and, of course, the
opportunity to then sail around this beautiful
country and experience more of its stunning
scenery and warm culture.
This is actually part of what made the race
so appealing to the Royal Hong Kong
Yacht Club in the first place – because of
the support of the Philippine Department
of Tourism, which has always supported
the growth of this event by facilitating
anchorage, customs, and immigration
facilities, the sailors are encouraged to stay
beyond the actual event and experience the
country and its very accessible cruising
grounds.
But there’s also a more serious, philanthropic
side to this event, since it supports a children’s
home through the San Fernando Foundation,
and a dinner and charity auction before the race
will unify all Mindanaoans in rallying
the support of the whole country,”
the governor said, before adding
that for the coming national games
they will “show the world that sports
may be a tool to achieve peace.”
Indeed, the logo for the event is a dove
that carries an olive branch having 17
leaves representing the 17 regions of the
country. The three flaming tails of the
dove stand for the tri-people diversity of
the Palaro delegations, emblazoned with
elaborate designs of the Muslim artwork
okir, fishes that portray Christianity, and
the beadworks of the indigenous people.
In the aftermath of the recent troubles
in the region, these games can prove to be
the perfect antidote, aside from being a
wonderful showcase of the young Filipino
athletes who have been training for this all
year round. Sport does unite people and
has far more potential than to just entertain;
if nothing else, this should be a great
spectacle.­ -Dimitris Lyritzis
sports
By Dimitris Lyritzis
football, chess, and gymnastics, and even
including softball and billiards.
This is the country’s largest sports enclave
and it’s always eagerly anticipated all
around the country, and heavy preparations
for this have been going on for the last few
months.
The students will compete for their region,
and the event, which aims to promote the
ideals of harmony, brotherhood, solidarity,
and tolerance and which is scheduled for
from May 3 to 9, will be held at Tagum
City in Davao del Norte.
The choice of this location initially
raised some concerns due to the recent
troubles in the Mindanao region, but Davao
del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario,
Chair of the Palaro Executive Committee,
is hoping to prove that sports can indeed
help to unite people and bring peace to a
troubled region.
Del Rosario insisted that the committee,
who chose the slogan “Sports: Breaking
Borders, Building Peace” as part of their
official logo, decided on peace as the main
theme of the games since it has been a
perpetual issue in Mindanao.
“Through this year’s Palarong
Pambansa, we will show to the world
how sports could be a powerful tool in
achieving peace and for the passage of
the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law)…
this will not only glorify sports but
PhotoscourtesyofRHKYC/GuyNowell
Education Secretary Bro.Armin Luistro, FSC (third from right) and Davao del Norte Rep.Anthony Rafael
Del Rosario (in red shirt) stand with (from left) Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, DepEd Assistant Secretary
Tonisito Umali and Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera, Davao del NorteVice GovernorVictorio Suaybaguio Jr.
and DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo.
Notice the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” logo on this ship’s bow. One of Hong Kong’s entries is full sail on leavingVictoria Harbor. Turn to page 7
If Typhoon Maysak didn't blow across
the Philippines when it did, this fleet of
yachts leaving Hong Kong and its tower-
ing skyline would have reached the sands
of La Union in a matter of days.

12. TLTS No. ENCRFO 14-09-031(02) 848-5200 • avidaland.com • avidalandphCOMPLETION DATE: DECEMBER 2017
O W N E D & D E V E L O P E D B Y B G N O R T H P R O P E R T I E S , I N C .
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