Developer set to launch another residential condo

WITH units of its project Calyx Center selling quickly, Innoland Development Corp. will launch in June another real estate residential condominium development.

Counting the cost of Bin Laden

TO encourage entrepreneurs to venture into the trillion-dollar creative economy, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will hold its first creative industries summit as part of the activities for Cebu Business Month (CBM) slated in June.

Keep an eye on competitors when raising wages, chamber advises

AS regional wage boards ponder an increase for minimum wage earners, an official of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) hopes that the rates remain competitive with that of the country’s Asean neighbors.

Batuhan: Counting the cost of Bin Laden

IT HAS been a very hectic fort night, one has to say.

From one dominated by events in the Middle East—mainly Libya and the struggle for freedom going on in there—the focus suddenly shifted back home, when long-term “survivor” Merci Gutierrez finally decided it was time to throw in the towel, and quit while she was still ahead, rather than be unceremoniously forced out of office.

AboitizPower declares P5.1B net income for first quarter

ABOITIZ Power Corp. recorded a consolidated net income of P5.1 billion for the first quarter of 2011; this is a contraction of 31 percent compared to the same period last year.

This translates to earnings per share of P0.69 for the first quarter of 2011, the company said in a press statement.

US embassy to expand American Corners program

APART from the information available to host institutions, the United States Embassy hopes to expand an information program to other communities in the Philippines.

I.Protect: Similar suffixes

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

THE US courts have also ruled that there is less likelihood of confusion if the trademarks are similar on the portion of the mark that is generic or descriptive.

Search on for social entrepreneurs

TO encourage the youth to “see problems as opportunities,” the British Council is in search of young entrepreneurs who have business plans that aim to address social concerns.

Open to Filipinos aged 16 to 28 years old, the British Council is opening its third “I am a Changemaker” competition next month and promises P100,000 cash seed money to the winning business plan.

Developer to build ‘tallest condo’ in Cebu

TAFT Property Venture Development Corp. (Taft Property) will be building this year what it billed as the tallest condominium development so far in Cebu. Horizons 101 will have a total of 1,468 units, the company said.

Horizons 101, which will be built on General Maxilom Ave., will have two towers and is the company’s first venture in high-rise development.

Ng: Bin Laden and his refusal to use phone, Internet

OSAMA Bin Laden is dead. His death has been all over the news the last few days. They finally located him in a million-dollar house. Until they raided the place, they were really not sure he was there. But there were some very good hints–and it was because of the use of technology or its absence.

That Bin Laden evaded the most powerful nation in the world for ten years is a record by itself – he being probably the world’s most wanted man. And there was one reason he could do it for so long – he persistently refused to use the phone and the Internet.

Netbook offers integrated e-learning environment for nurses, students

MANILA - Elsevier, Redfox Technologies and Microsoft has announced the launch of the iCitizen Nursing Skills Netbook, an integrated e-learning netbook for nurses and nursing students in the Philippines.

The Redfox Netbook is powered by the Windows 7 operating system and enhanced with the Microsoft Office 2010 productivity suite that offers access to Microsoft Live@Edu, an email solution that can further help meet the users’ learning needs by providing instant messaging, online storage and data collaboration and information sharing among its users.

Migration company tells applicants: Question is qualification, not cost

RATHER than pay huge professional fees, a company that specializes in migration to Australia hopes to educate clients on the process and make sure they are qualified before making any promises.

Cebu Holdings readies for REIT

TO TAKE advantage of the region’s economic upturn, Ayala led- Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) will align their plans and strategies for the eventual implementation of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

Filipinos prefer to invest in properties

ALTHOUGH there are many other products to invest in, an official of a real estate company admitted that most Filipinos prefer to put their money on property.

Nokia, Accenture to collaborate on Symbian dev’t

MOBILE phone manufacturer Nokia and global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture recently announced the plan to finalize collaboration this year to provide Symbian-based software development and support services.

Tax notes: No BIR ruling needed for CWT exemption of Peza enterprises

AS A withholding agent, a domestic company is not required to obtain a favorable BIR ruling before it can exempt from creditable withholding tax (CWT) its income payments to a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) registered enterprise. This is the ruling of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) in its decision in CTA Case No. 7057 last Feb. 4.

Teachers, use technology

DESPITE the lack of education infrastructure, an official from a telecommunications company encouraged teachers to use, as much as they can, technology as platforms in the learning process.

Fates of drug mules, trafficking victims ‘should warn future OFWs’

WHILE there are many opportunities for Filipino workers overseas, a former labor attaché and labor undersecretary said there are also challenges for them.

Trader loses money in ‘crude oil business’

AS A buyer and seller of vegetables in bulk, Toledo City resident Margelyn Ambrad saw a new opportunity in the invitation of three men to invest close to a million pesos in their crude oil business.

If only the business existed and her three “partners” weren’t only interested in running off with her P800,000, as the preliminary investigation by the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor on Renato Cuyos, Rene Embralinag and Martino Pila showed.

Reeves: Dangers and limitations in the Visa Waiver Program

MOST nonresident aliens desiring to visit the United States on a temporary basis for business or pleasure must first obtain a “B1” or “B2” visa from the US Embassy in their country of origin.

Asiatown expansion gets part of Ayala’s P5B capex

THE Ayala Group of Companies is earmarking P5 billion for capital expenditures (capex) this year, to finance another set of projects for Cebu’s twin business districts-Cebu Business Park (CBP) and Asiatown I.T Park.

Hop-on/hop-off tours among ideas Business Month will explore: CCCI

WITH less than two months to go, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is gearing up for Cebu Business Month 2011.

This year, the activity is themed, “Business Beyond Boundaries,” which is meant to continue the momentum Cebu experienced the previous year.

Almirante: Compensable injury

Dominador A. Almirante Labor case digest

Globe to offer HSPA+ services for full mobility

GLOBE Telecom will launch the commercial rollout of 4G mobile technology across the country to provide subscribers high-speed broadband access and full mobility.

In a recent statement to Sun.Star Cebu, Globe said the first phase of the rollout, which uses the global standard HSPA+ or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, will complement the company’s existing 4G Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax) network.

Paras: Affidavit of Assumption of Responsibility

Juan Javier F. Paras Seafarer's corner

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Parklane launches new restaurant, improvements to facilities, services

A CEBU hotel is improving further its services to boost its image as an international guesthouse offering a truly Cebuano hospitality.

Cebu Parklane International Hotel manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the hotel is banking on improving its services by giving international services with a Cebuano touch, ambiance and culture.

I protect: Reverse infringement

IS REVERSING the letters of a trademark such as “ORTIZ” into “ZITRO” considered an infringement? The rule in the US is that using the reverse of the letter or word components of a trademark, or even merely joggling the positions of the same, constitutes infringement.

HP unveils new product line

WITH global economies having recovered from the economic crisis, a technology company noted that spending for information technology has also risen.

Albert Mateo, country general manager for personal systems group of HP Philippines, said last year was the best economic growth that the country has seen and that this meant more people had more disposable income, allowing them access to the latest in technology.

‘Make CSR part of business agenda’

SAYING that business can thrive if the community it is in also rises, a businessman is challenging local entrepreneurs to include corporate social responsibility in their agenda.

Globe gets citation on investor relations

GLOBE Telecom recently bagged citations for investor relations and dividend policies from the Institutional Investor Corporate Awards organized by institutional investment publication Alpha Southeast Asia.