RP Post in Netherlands focuses on seafarers for OAV

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau | 03/12/2010 7:05 PM
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THE NETHERLANDS - The Philippine embassy in The Netherlands is exerting extra effort to encourage Filipino seafarers to vote.

One month before the start of the overseas voting, the embassy is busy preparing the list of manning agencies and shipping companies employing Filipino seamen. To ensure that the ballots have been received and the votes mailed, the embassy plans to call each and every one of them.

The mobile nature of jobs in shipping demands additional work for the embassy. According to Consul General Frank Cimafrance, they need to investigate first whether those seamen who were registered in the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) still have existing contracts before they can send the ballots.

Start Your Own Business-PTIC Advises OFW

Becoming a businessman is a culture that Filipinos were not born with. In most situations, especially for those who were raised in the provinces, the primary means of income that most parents would want their children to have is from bachelor degrees that are attained from universities most commonly in the field of education, seafaring, accountancy, engineering, IT and medical care. Incidentally, these were also the fields where most Filipinos are very much in demand abroad and consists the majority of Filipino Migrant Workers. Once a daughter or a son gets a job overseas, the family already considered that the financial situation has already been taken care of.

Overseas Jobs are not forever

Working abroad is a sure way of having a stable income for Filipino families but it can also be a problem on a long-term basis. Once a Filipino Migrant Worker looses his job or something untoward happens, the means of financial sustainability of the whole family collapses, leading from one problem to another.

Netherlands bullish over India's booming market

As India emerges as an economic force to be reckoned with, the Netherlands is moving in to capture a slice of the action with both governmental and private ventures.

India is rapidly emerging from its reputation as a mere outsourcing destination for Western companies seekinglower costs. With a market proportion, huge work force and economic growth that can rival that of China, India is swiftly establishing its position alongside economic superpowers.

In the first half 2009, India's economy posted a growth of 6.1%, while the AsianDeve'lopment Bank (ADB) projects growth of 7% for 2010.

Wout Biegstraaten, Business Development Manager for the Internationaal Ondernemen en Samenwerken (Agency for International Business and Cooperation) believes now is a good opportunity for "Dutch businesses to position themselves quickly and powerfully on a rapidly growing, very competitive market with distinctive knowledge, products and services."

Bisperas ng Pasko

An announcement blared from the invisible speakers just as I reached the station from work. It looks like I am going to stay out in the cold for another 20 minutes, waiting for the train going to the province of my in-laws. Together with my boyfriend, they are the only family I will be celebrating the Christmas with. It is zero degrees and the wind is blowing. I just lost my gloves few hours ago and my coat is only good for autumn. I still haven’t learn how to dress for the cold. This is my first winter.
The gifts are lying near my feet; two paper bags and a book beautifully packed in gold wrapper with intricate laces. Few compared to the number of presents I would be preparing had I been at home. But these cost almost the same as I have allotted for the presents for at least 20 relatives in the Philippines.

I wanted to buy that leather boot they have on sale in the boutique near my office. The pair is a gorgeous reddish-brown, knee-high and very warm. It is the perfect winter boots, my feet would not be wet and cold again from walking in ankle-deep snow. But the price would cover the month’s rent, electricity, water and noche buena. I decided to be a good daughter and send most of my money to the Philippines. Family comes before personal necessities, especially during occasions like Christmas. The balikabayan box must be filled and no one should be forgotten. This is a responsibility that a Filipino migrant can never escape, that I happily obliged to.

Luxury Shopping in the East

Manila Standard
13 January 2009


The New Year welcomes another addition to the list of luxury shopping in the Metro with the opening of Eastwood Mall, the latest venture of real state heavyweight Megaworld Corp., dubbed as the “conclusion to the whole Eastwood City’s success story.”

Increasing the number of retail stores and dining areas in Eastwood City to 350 in total, Eastwood Mall houses almost 200 upscale shops and fine dining restaurants, meant for shoppers and diners with discerning tastes.

A destination on its own

Eastwood City is teeming with commercial, financial and residential buildings, all part of the Grand Eastwood City plan to be a destination on its own. It is home to some of the biggest BPO companies in Metro Manila, high-end condominiums and a favorite place for hang out and concerts among urban yuppies.

“This is really part of the plan to have a full-scale mall in Eastwood City,” said Kevin Tan, commercial division head of Megaworld Corp., referring to Eastwood Mall. “We always knew that what we offered in City Walk 1 and 2 was just only a start of it all. It is our final phase of development in terms of retail.”