Jollibee Q1 profit hits P682 million

JOLLIBEE Food Corporation (JFC), the country's largest food service company, reported on Tuesday that its profit increased by 8.2 percent to P682 million in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

JFC chief financial officer Ysmael Baysa said the company's profit grew in most business units worldwide, particularly in the Philippines.

Tune Hotels opens new hotels in Makati on July 17

KUALA LUMPUR -- Tune Hotels, the global branded value hotel chain, continues to expand in the Philippines with the opening of its latest hotel in Makati, Manila on July 17.

The hotel invites guests to experience its comfortable new rooms from only P288, or approximately USD 7, RM21 a night!

Loans available to small business in General Santos

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced Friday the launching next week of the General Santos City Credit Surety Fund (GSCCSF) that will provide loans to small businesses in the city.

The Central Bank said the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) in General Santos City will be the 22nd established in the country.

Globe proposed fixed rate bonds

PHILIPPINE Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings) has assigned a PRS Aaa rating to Globe Telecom Inc.’s (Globe) proposed issuance of a principal amount of up to P15 billion in fixed-rate bonds, of which Globe is preparing to offer an initial tranche of P10 billion.

Microsoft Office Mobile arrives on Symbian smartphones

NOKIA announced that Office Mobile apps from Microsoft -- Word mobile, PowerPoint mobile and Excel mobile, are made available via Software Update* for the Nokia 701, Nokia 700, Nokia E7, Nokia X7, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01**.

SPATIALinfo to provide geo-spatial solution for Globe’s project

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- SPATIALinfo with its spatialSUITE products, will provide Globe Telecom a geo-spatial FMS that will improve quality of their physical network data records, resulting in improved operational efficiencies, reduced MTTR through integration with service assurance processes, and reduced service outages as a result of integration with their existing OSS platforms.

Immigration bureau posts P2.20B collection in 2011

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) collected a total of P2,208,158,425.57 in immigration fees from foreigners in 2011.

BI-Immigration Regulation Division (IRD) chief Danilo Almeda said the amount is higher by 37.60 percent, or P829,167,146.78 million from the previous year.

Globe promotes fair trade with My Fair Share Eco Bags

REINFORCING its commitment to preserving the environment and supporting fair trade, Globe Telecom is giving away free My Fair Share (MFS) eco bags to all new postpaid mobile accounts opened on Earth Day, April 22.

Telco denies violating provisions on foreign investments

BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) told the Supreme Court Tuesday it did not violate the constitutional provision that limits foreign investments in public utilities to just 40 percent.

Supreme Court junks P600-M tax case vs Petron

BAGUIO CITY -- The Supreme Court has junked the bid of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to collect more than P600-million in deficiency excise tax from oil giant Petron Corporation from the period 1995 to 1998.

UCPB seen to continue strong growth momentum this year

FOR the past three years, universal bank United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) has been on a progressive growth path and is targeting this year a P4-billion profit, which is unprecedented in the bank's existence, along with plans to open five new branches as part of its efforts to reach out to more clients.

Economic crisis, lack of election spending slashes GMA Network profit

WITHOUT the steady support of political advertisements and effects of sovereign debt problems in Europe, leading broadcast media company GMA Network Inc. failed to reach its 2011 target of duplicating the P2.8-billion income posted in 2010, an election year.

Government spending in February rises

THE Philippine government's disbursements increased to P108.5 billion or 6.9 percent in February compared to the spending in the same month of last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Tuesday.

Converse to install permanent skateboarding by 2014

CONVERSE Philippines is set to install a permanent skateboarding park by 2014, officials reported.

The oldest American shoe company is planning to promote the skateboarding culture in the Philippines and would like to spend P1.5 million for a skateboarding playing field in the country.

Government allots P9-B on VAT refund for businessmen

THE Philippine government has allocated P9 billion for the first-year implementation of the new value-added tax (VAT) refund scheme that was recently approved by President Benigno Aquino III, said Budget department Monday.

‘Philippines open for business but closed for crimes’

THE Philippines is open for business, but it is closed for any criminal activities, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said on Thursday.

Ochoa said this should be the message that the government agencies and organizations, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Prosecutors' League of the Philippines (PLP) and the National Prosecution Service (NPS), should convey to the international community.

Globe My Super Plan Family Combo: A perfect plan for family

FAMILIES can now enjoy the benefits of the only personalized group postpaid plan available in the country today.

Globe My Super Plan Family Combo is the first and only customizable group postpaid plan with three lines, three phones and three unlimited services all in one account.

Globe Business promotes IPv6 adaptation in Philippines

AS PART of its relentless commitment to business continuity and providing seamless Internet experience to its customers, Globe Business steps up efforts to fast-track the adaptation of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in the country, in a move that reflects the growing importance of the new protocol as the current IPv4 addresses being used to connect to the Internet are facing near exhaustion.

Exciting freebies, games and discounts in Nokia campaign

THOUSANDS of Nokianatics and mobile phone users from key provinces all over the Philippines proved its more fun in the Philippines with the country’s leading mobile brand when they trooped to select malls as Nokia successfully put its own spin to the now-famous tourism campaign with exciting activities, freebies and treats.

BIR seeks arrest of tax evader

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has sought the arrest of Gloria V. Kintanar, a distributor of Forever Living Products, and the collection of at least P6.3 million in back taxes from her after the ruling on her tax evasion case became final and executory.

Reader’s Digest appoints new magazine distributor

READER'S Digest has officially appointed Emerald Headway Distributors Inc. as its new magazine distributor in the Philippines.

The decision to change suppliers is in line with Reader’s Digest’s strategy to increase its focus on personalizing its services for customers.

Nokia sweeps top awards at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2012

NOKIA proves once more that it remains a global leader in mobile communications with prestigious awards won at the recent GSMA Mobile World Congress 2012 held at Fira Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain.

New Globe offer to further drive Facebook penetration in Philippines

POISED to increase usage of Facebook among Filipinos, Globe Telecom unveiled its newest offer that provides users with unlimited access to the social networking site via their mobile phones at an affordable price.

Exclusively available to Globe Prepaid subscribers, Globe SuperFB is a mobile internet plan for Facebook users who are always on the go.

Skyjet flies Batanes April 8

BATANES -- Starting April 8, the Skyjet, a British manufactured plane, will start flying three times weekly to the northernmost island of the Philippines.

Exports ‘to reach $62 billion in 2012’

EXPORT receipts will still reach the target of $62 billion this year despite continuous threats of economic slowdown in major trade partners Europe and the United States, a semi-government body said Saturday.

Globe eyes growth in BlackBerry usage with new data plans

GLOBE Telecom is targeting further growth in BlackBerry® penetration in the Philippines with its new roster of unlimited data plans exclusive for BlackBerry users.

Globe recently launched an entire suite of BlackBerry plans that allow users to enjoy the various features of their BlackBerry devices, which include the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), an instant messaging application that connects BBM users with each other wherever they are in the world.

Tune Hotels launches first of 4 Manila hotels

VISITORS and travellers seeking comfortable, quality accommodation at highly affordable rates in Manila need not look any further as Tune Hotels, the international value hotel chain, is now in town.

Softbank donates P500,000 for Sendong victims

SOFTBANK Payment Service Corp. (SBPS) of Japan has donated P500,000 to finance continuing rehabilitation efforts for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong, even as it tapped leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom for project implementation.

SBPS and Globe are partners in the international remittance business.

Philippines' budget deficit 'better-than-expected' in 2011

THE budget department said Monday that the government managed to achieve a "better-than-expected" level of fiscal deficit in 2011 as the administration succeeded on its accelerated spending plan in the last quarter.

2M job openings seen this year from state agencies

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is looking at having almost two million job openings for this year after it secured the cooperation of different government agencies.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said between 1.2 million and 1.8 million new jobs are estimated to be generated by the government's Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP) this year alone.