Damages and Attorney’s Fees

Juan Javier F. Paras Seafarer's corner

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Smart starts offering ‘low-cost’ Android tablet

SMART Communications, Inc. has introduced a low-cost tablet that the company said will “further democratize” Internet access in the country.

The ZTE V9, a seven-inch Android 2.2-powered tablet is being bundled with Smart Bro – the wireless Internet service of Smart affiliate Smart Broadband, Inc.

Tax notes: Redefining ‘de minimis’ benefits

TO BOOST tax collections, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 5-2011 last March 16, amending the provisions of RR No. 2-98 and 3-98 as to the exemption of de minims benefits from income tax on compensation income and fringe benefits tax.

Paras: Damages and attorney’s fees

Seafarer's corner Juan Javier F. Paras

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Smart shows off LTE speed

SMART Communications Inc. showcased its mobile Internet prowess by deploying a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network on Boracay Island for the Holy Week. The company said it was the first LTE deployment in the country.

Cebu Doctors’ Hospital gets accreditation from UK agency

CEBU Doctors’ University Hospital (CDUH) has been given full accreditation for two years by United Kingdom (UK)-based healthcare company QHA Trent.

CDUH officials said the accreditation will not only help boost the hospital’s image but also Cebu’s stature as a medical tourism destination.

Reeves: Crimes and consequences

THE Secure Communities Program was implemented by the United States government in 2008. Since its inception, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported about 58,300 immigrants with criminal convictions according to reports by agency officials.

Paras: Illegal Dismissal Benefits

Juan Javier F. Paras Seafarer's corner

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Seafarer's corner: Due Process

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

HOW does due process apply to the employment relationship of Filipino seafarers with their employers?

Seek local investors, firms told

TO get investors to fund a business, a chief executive officer of an electronics company believes it is best to look among local candidates rather than foreign investors.

Skycable to introduce high-def platform in Cebu, projects increase in subscribers

CABLE television service provider Skycable will soon introduce a High-Definition (HD) box in Cebu after seeing an increase in consumer demand for shows with “superb quality.”

Cebu Pacific logs 12% increase in passenger volume

CEBU Pacific flew over 2.8 million passengers from January to March 2011, posting a 12 percent increase compared to the same period in 2010.

This first quarter result keeps the airline on track in achieving its 12 million-passenger target this 2011. Cebu Pacific carried close to 10.5 million passengers for the full year 2010.

Seafarer's corner Pre-Existing Ailment

Josse Javier F. Paras

Is compensability of a seafarer’s ailment dependent on whether the injury or illness was pre-existing at the time of his employment?

Firm offers solution to trash problem

WITH Cebu City’s garbage problem in mind, a small company hopes to solve it by having barangays use their machine to segregate waste.

Dante Arcilla Jr., director of business development of Biocycle Energy Inc., told participants of the recent Money and Investment Forum that their small materials recovery facility can accommodate one to two tons of garbage a day and guarantee zero waste after the process is done.

Seafarer's corner: Three-Day Reporting Requirement

Juan Javier F. Paras

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

‘Cost not sole consideration’

IN purchasing property, buyers these days are more conscious of the details and quality of the property rather than just the cost.

PNB to spend P400M to ‘look cool’

LUCIO TAN-led Philippine National Bank (PNB) will spend P400 million for the renovations of its major banks across the country.

PNB president and chief executive officer Eugene Acevedo told reporters on Saturday that the planned renovations are meant to change its image of being an “old bank.”

Reeves: Imputation applies to state of mind, not state of being

LAST week, we discussed the fact that the lies from one spouse can be imputed to the other. This week, we will discuss what else can and cannot be imputed between family members.

Seafarer's Corner: Novation and Employment Contract

Juan Javier F. Paras

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Newly rebranded spa resort targets MICE market

AS THEY operate under a new management, the Mövenpick Resort and Spa Cebu hopes to get a share of the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market that is frequenting Cebu.

Seafarer's corner: Pre-employment Exam, POEA-SEC Term

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

Firm to invest in branch upgrades

THE Gandionco-led Mang Tinapay plans to convert all their 52 branches into more special “snacking destinations” offering varied products to customers this year, to strengthen their market presence across the country.

In a statement sent to Sun.Star Cebu, Jose Enrico Gandionco, president of Mang Tinapay, said that though they may be seen as a “Johnny-come-lately” in the industry, they feel the company is just starting a new trend.

Batuhan: Willie Nilly

WE were still living in the UK when I first heard about this phenomenon.

Yes, phenomenon seemed to have been the best way to describe the man. Wherever he went, hordes followed him. Many even literally died for him. He did not preach the gospel. He did not promise eternal salvation. He did not scare people with eternal damnation either.

LG banks on new units to grab share

PLACING third in the mobile phones market in the county, LG Electronics Philippines hopes to impress with its new lineup of smartphones expected to hit the market this year.

Globe sets aside $60M for cable project

GLOBE Telecom has committed $60 million for the construction of the $500-million Southeast Asia-Japan Cable (SJC) system to increase the amount of Internet bandwidth to deliver better broadband services to consumers in the region.

Food, beverage expo opens in CICC

WITH Cebu’s growing tourism industry, local entrepreneurs always strive to improve their services, including those in the food and beverage sector.

Android concept store opens in Cebu, team eyes expansion

A CEBUANO entrepreneur recently opened an Android concept store to promote Google’s operating system (OS) among mobile phone users.

Ng: Cell phone bills and data plans

WHAT do you think when you look at your cell phone bill? I talked to my friends and many of them are not very clear on how they are being charged. You should be, because according to a study in the UK, three quarters of mobile phone subscribers have the wrong plan and because of it, UK cell phone users were paying in excess of $8 billion because of misjudged contracts.

In a study of 28,000 bills undertaken by UK’s Bill Monitor, they concluded that the UK consumer spends as much as $700 on average per year on their cell phone bills, but as much of half or $320 dollars of that is wasted.

Epson holds tech update for consumers in Cebu

EPSON Philippines recently held its first major technology update for corporate end-users in Cebu. The technology update was held to provide in-depth knowledge on Epson technologies and services for customers in Cebu and outlying areas. It was also meant to provide Epson with the insight on local requirements of each customer segment.

Smart Bro microSIM allows iPad to go online anywhere

THE iPad is one of the hottest gadgets to hit the computing world in recent years. In its short span of existence, it has established and legitimized the tablet category.