Beiträge von ALFI54

    Divisoria Market, Manila 1930


    Der Divisoria-Markt bietet viele Möglichkeiten für ein gutes Schnäppchen. Mitten in Chinatown in Manila gelegen, ist es berühmt für seine Straßenstände, an denen so ziemlich alles verkauft wird, von Kleidung, Taschen, Textilien, Accessoires und Elektronik bis hin zu religiösen Gegenständen, Haushalts- und Bürobedarf, Obst und Gemüse sowie Spielzeug.


    CNN Philippines is going off the air nearly nine years after debuting into the local broadcasting industry as its local franchise holder decided to pull the plug after accumulating financial losses exceeding P5 billion.


    The shutdown of the television network —which will affect about 300 employees — will be formally announced on Monday, a CNN Philippines official said in an interview with Inquirer.


    The decision to give up the CNN franchise had been made last year and approved by network owner and operator Nine Media Corp. of the Cabangon family, but the latter decided to defer implementation until after the Christmas holiday season.


    .......

    Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/…-exceed-p5b#ixzz8PzZmizcu

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will fly to Vietnam on Monday for his first state visit this year, where he and Vietnamese leaders are seen to discuss partnerships to ensure adequate rice supply in the Philippines and possibly improve bilateral maritime cooperation.


    The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said Marcos will meet with Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue during his two-day trip on Jan. 29-30.


    In a Malacañang press briefing, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the leaders are expected to discuss ways to deepen ties across different fronts.


    The meetings would include “in-depth” talks on agricultural cooperation, as Vietnam is committed to supporting the Philippines’ rice requirement, said Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau.


    “The DA (Department of Agriculture) and their Vietnam counterpart are working on an agreement for the continued supply of rice to the Philippines,” she told reporters.


    “They are setting some targets, but more details on that will come soon once we finish negotiations on the rice deal.”


    Mendiola-Rau added that Marcos and Vietnamese officials will tackle important regional and international issues, including maritime concerns.


    The Philippine Coast Guard earlier said that during Marcos’ visit to Hanoi, it expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam Coast Guard to upgrade their partnership.


    “It's a simple agreement on how both coast guards will cooperate with each other,” Mendiola-Rau said.


    “There's a general topic on maritime discussion when the president meets with the three Vietnamese leaders, but we do not wish to preempt the discussions at this point," she added.


    The DFA said Marcos will also meet with business leaders in Vietnam to promote trade and investment relations, as well as with the Filipino community there.


    According to Daza, there are around 7,000 Filipinos working and residing in the neighboring country, most of whom are in the agriculture industry.


    Marcos will be accompanied in the state visit by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, some Cabinet members — including DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo — and members of his economic team.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…marcos-vietnam-visit.html

    For the second week this month, residents of Narra town in Palawan flocked to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the province to buy food supplies, including rice, seafood, vegetables, eggs, and other produce.


    But what most buyers were after was the rice which cost only P20 per kilogram.


    The prices of rice available from local retailers range from P50 per kilo to P 65 per kilo, which is P30 to P45 higher than what is available at a “Kadiwa” organized by Palawan rice farmers themselves.


    Kadiwa is a market system that sells major agricultural goods at reasonably low prices to help poor Filipino households and consumers.


    It started in the province on January 18, and until this week, people kept on coming back to the covered court to buy fresh farm produce and even seafood.


    Their initial success was made possible by farmer-members of 16 associations in Narra town under the Batang-Batang River Irrigation System (RIS) Irrigators’ Association.


    They came from Antipuluan, Cabages Sunriser, Caguisn Linamen, Central Malinao, Delta Falls Upper Lapu-Lapu, Samahang Magpapatubig ng Kanayon, Luntiang Kabundukan, Magsasaka ng Caraniogan at Guminubat, Malinao Tugbuan, Nagkakaisang Lahi, Princess Urduja Maharlika, Sagisag ng Pagsasaka, Tugbuan Caguisan, Upper Malinao, Upstream Farmers of Princess Urduja, and Ugnayang Magsasaka ng Urcatugma.


    Narra is known as the rice granary of Palawan, a municipality that dedicates much of its vast land to rice farming, distinguishing it from other towns in the island province.

    Philipps Rasco from Narra town said that when the Kadiwa opened, many people went to the NIA compound to buy vegetables like Chinese cabbage, banana, and squash, but most were there for cheap rice.


    The organizers limited the rice up to three kilos per buyer so that others could still avail of cheaply priced rice. A total of 16 sacks of rice at that price was made available during the event.


    Ann Belandres said she informed her friends about the availability of Kadiwa rice so that they could also buy it.


    The residents, who were visibly pleased with the Kadiwa, said they wished that the program would be sustained so that they could continue buying food supplies at much cheaper prices.


    Raymundo Imaysay, president of Ugnayang Magsasaka ng Urcatugma, said it was their way of supporting the government by offering food products at affordable prices, much cheaper than those in public markets and smaller marketplaces.

    “Ito ay aming pasasalamat sa pamahalaan sa mga interventions na itinulong nila sa aming mga farmers. Kaya kami naman ay gumagawa ng ganito upang makatulong din sa mga kapwa natin Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagtitinda ng mga produkto sa mas mababang presyo, lalong lalo na ang mga mahihirap,” said Imaysay, a rice farmer based in Princess Urduja, Narra town.


    (This is our way of expressing gratitude to the government, especially for its interventions and programs provided to the farmers. We are doing this to help our fellow Filipinos, especially the poor and needy, by selling products at lower prices.)

    Due to the steep prices of essential goods, people opted to buy from the Kadiwa to access fresh and high-quality farm and fishery products at more affordable rates, he said.


    “Kung ganito rin ang gagawin ng mga kooperatiba sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa. nakakatulong tayong maibsan ang kahirapan. Kung sa mababang halaga, mabibili na nila, bigas man o gulay, o isda, napakalaking tulong. Sana itong pinapakita naming ay makabigay din ng inspirasyon upang gawin din ng ibang farmers’ cooperative,” he said.


    (If cooperatives from different parts of the country do the same thing, it can cushion the impact of poverty. If they can buy things at lower prices, especially products like rice, vegetables, or fish, it would be a big help. I hope these examples inspire other farmers’ cooperatives.)


    Imaysay, incidentally, is also the general manager of the Palawan Agrarian Reform Communities Federation (PARCOFED), an association of farmers’ cooperatives in the island province.


    The PARCOFED in Narra town offers farm products daily, while the Batang-Batang RIS Irrigators Association, comprising smaller farmers’ groups, aims to maintain a Kadiwa monthly. The approach allows them to help as many people as possible in the town, particularly those in need.


    https://www.rappler.com/nation…her-produce-january-2024/

    Manila Central Post Office, 1945


    Das Manila Central Post Office ist das Hauptpostamt von Manila und dient auch als Hauptsitz der Philippine Postal Corporation. Es beherbergt die wichtigsten Postsortier- und -verteilungsbetriebe der Philippinen.


    Es liegt am Ufer des Pasig River in Lawton, Ermita und am nördlichen Ende von Liwasang Bonifacio. Seine Lage am Pasig war Teil des Burnham-Plans von Manila für einen einfachen Wassertransport von Postsendungen. Durch die zentrale Lage mit zusammenlaufenden Alleen war das Gebäude von allen Seiten gut zugänglich.


    Das ursprüngliche Gebäude wurde von Juan M. Arellano, Tomás Mapúa und Ralph Doane im neoklassizistischen Stil entworfen. Allerdings wurde es im Zweiten Weltkrieg während der Schlacht von Manila schwer beschädigt und anschließend 1946 unter Beibehaltung des größten Teils seines ursprünglichen Designs wieder aufgebaut.


    Vor Mitternacht des 21. Mai 2023 wurde das Gebäude durch einen Großbrand, der im Keller ausbrach und sich über die gesamten Stockwerke ausbreitete, schwer beschädigt.


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Central_Post_Office


    Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said she has not yet received any document from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said she was named as one of the respondents in the tribunal’s drug war probe.


    “Wala. Wala akong natanggap na document galing sa ICC [None. I didn’t receive any document from the ICC],” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview.


    Duterte on Tuesday said she is ready to face allegations of her supposed involvement in the bloody anti-drug campaign launched by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte — but only as long as she is tried by a Philippine court.


    She also questioned the timing of the accusations, saying she was only implicated after she won the vice presidency.


    Trillanes earlier said pieces of evidence have been submitted against Duterte, who has been accused of approving the continuation of her father's deadly "tokhang" program in Davao City when she served as mayor.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…o-document-icc-probe.html

    Das Manila Opera House.


    Die Manila Opera House war ein Theater- und Opernhaus im Bezirk Santa Cruz in Manila, Kreuzung Rizal Avenue und Doroteo Jose Street. Während der spanischen und amerikanischen Kolonialzeit war es der wichtigste Veranstaltungsort der Philippinen und im 20. Jahrhundert das beliebteste Theater.


    Der Komplex diente vor dem Bau des Kulturzentrums der Philippinen in den 1960er Jahren als Zentrum der philippinischen Kultur und als Haupttheater für die Aufführung von Theaterstücken, Filmen und Zarzuelas in Manila.


    Im Jahr 1890 wurde der Name in Teatro Nacional (Nationaltheater) geändert, wo der Russische Zirkus und einige amerikanische Theatergruppen auftraten. Der Name wurde später nach einer umfassenden Erweiterung des ursprünglichen Theaters und seiner Umwandlung in ein Opernhaus rechtzeitig zum Besuch einer italienischen Operngesellschaft im Jahr 1902 nach der amerikanischen Übernahme der Philippinen in Manila Grand Opera House geändert.


    Es war auch Schauplatz historisch bedeutsamer politischer Treffen, z. B. als Ort der Amtseinführung der Mitglieder der Ersten Philippinischen Versammlung am 16. Oktober 1907. Ein Vorgänger des House of Representatives.


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Grand_Opera_House


    Philippine Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said on Wednesday inflation remains a “most urgent concern” and must be kept at bay.


    Recto, who took on the financial portfolio on Jan 15, is the government’s representative to the central bank’s seven-member policymaking monetary board, which will meet for the first time this year on Feb 15 to review the direction of policy rates.


    Headline inflation in December returned to target at 3.9 percent, but average inflation for 2023 stood at 6 percent, well above the central bank’s 2 percent to 4 percent target.



    Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/…s-dof-chief#ixzz8PiC7FlA7

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the 1987 Constitution has to be updated to boost the country's economic growth.


    "The 1987 Constitution was not written for a globalized world," Marcos said in a one-on-one interview with GMA News anchor Pia Arcangel on Tuesday.


    "We have to adjust so that we can increase the economic activities in the Philippines, we can attract more foreign investors," he added.


    Marcos also said the economic provisions of the Constitution should be prioritized to reduce barriers and lure foreign businesses.


    The Constitution restricts foreign ownership to 40% of public services such as energy, water, and transportation. It also prevents foreigners from owning land in the country, which Marcos said he refuses to amend.


    Marcos claimed that affluent foreigners paying large sums of money to buy property will cause land values to rise.


    "The old residents cannot pay for the real estate tax, kasi nawala na sa market nila, tapos papaalisin natin iyang mga iyan (because it's no longer within their market, and they would be driven away). I don't think I agree with that," he stressed.


    The president added that he is willing to discuss full foreign ownership of corporations "except in critical areas, such as power generation, media, [and] all the strategic areas that we cannot allow to be influenced by a foreign entity, be it a corporation or another country."


    Marcos also said he does not rule out amending the Constitution's political clauses.

    "We can have these discussions later on. But for the present day, my concern is the economic provisions, and I don't want to confuse the issue any longer," he explained.


    The president raised the issue of constitutional term limitations, saying he does not know yet if extending it could be beneficial to the country. He pointed out that mayors who have run out of terms nominate their wives or children for the position while running for vice mayor.


    "Let me just continue talking about it and see what's the best thing we can do. I do not want to jeopardize the success of the amendments to the economic provisions by putting any other issues. Let's keep the issue clear," Marcos said.


    Critics of charter change have warned that it is motivated by a desire to modify the political system and remove term limits, particularly those for the president, who can currently serve only one six-year term.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…--globalized-world--.html

    Die Nachricht ist zwar schon 4 Monate alt, dennoch nicht unbedeutend für die Philippinen. Ich habe kein ähnliches Thema mit der Suchfunktion gefunden.


    Durch das GSP+ können die Philippinen verschiedene Warengruppen zollfrei in die EU einführen.


    ******************

    PH inclusion in GSP+ extended until 2027 — EU chief

    BY JOSEPH PEDRAJAS
    Aug 1, 2023 07:52 AM

    The European Union (EU) has extended until 2027 the Philippines' inclusion in its list of countries enjoying the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, August 1.


    The development came as the regional bloc also decided to resume soon negotiations on its free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines, which happened as von der Leyen made an historic trip to Manila—the first for an EU president—to "accelerate" its cooperation with the country.


    "We evaluated the situation, and we found that we can extend the status quo, that is good news... till 2027," she said in an interview with CNN Philippines.


    GSP+ is a scheme that grants select countries zero-tariffs on exports to the EU.


    The Philippines was initially at risk of renewing its GSP+ status, which was set to expire in December 2023, due to its lack of compliance with the GSP conventions set by the regional bloc.


    During the April visit of EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore to Manila, he said that while the Philippines already made progress in a number of areas covered by the conventions, more needs to be done to ensure effective implementation of all human rights conventions.


    He said that three convictions out of the 6,000 alleged cases of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country, which were among the human rights concerns of the EU, are "not enough" to ensure that the Philippines would continue enjoying the benefits of the GSP+.


    But this time, von der Leyen said, the European Commission saw "progress" in terms of the country's response to human rights concerns.


    "Well, the government now is much operating with the United Nations and other international organizations. This is very important, and therefore we see progress," she said.


    "We have also with the European Union an ongoing, constant human rights dialogue where we raise all the specific questions that have to be raised, and here, too, we see progress and this made the difference with a new government," she added.


    In 2020, the EU Parliament first warned the Philippines of its possible withdrawal from the GSP+ amid cases of EJKs under the Duterte administration. It issued the warning again in 2022.


    Before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. headed for Belgium for the ASEAN-EU Summit in December 2022, he said he would ask the regional bloc to retain the zero tariff being enjoyed by the Philippines.



    https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/31/ph…ended-until-2027-eu-chief

    Vielen Dank für das alte Foto vom Ayala Dreieck. Daumen hoch. Hat man die Start-/Landebahnen später als Staßen genutzt bzw. dann auch verlängert?

    Wenn man der obigen Wiki Reference glauben schenken kann, dann schon ...


    Zitat

    In 1948, when the airport ceased operations in Makati to relocate to its present site adjacent to Nichols Field (now Villamor Air Base) in Pasay, ownership of the airport's permanent facilities reverted to the owner of the land, Ayala y Compañía. Although the runways were eventually converted into roads – the secondary runway (runway 07/25) became Paseo de Roxas and the primary runway (runway 12/30) became Ayala Avenue – and other airport structures were sacrificed to give way to the development of the Makati business and commercial district, the owners preserved the airport's passenger terminal and control tower, which came to be known as the Nielson Tower.

    LG Alf

    Neilson Airport im Bau, heute Ayala Triangle, Makati, 1937


    Heute ist das Ayala-Dreieck für seine Wolkenkratzer bekannt. Die Start- und Landebahnen des Neilson-Flughafens wurden zu Ayala Avenue und Paseo de Roxas. Der Flughafen Nielson war von 1937 bis 1948 Manilas Hauptflughafen.


    Nielson Field war der Standort des Hauptquartiers der Far East Air Force. Die meisten Flugzeuge der FEAF waren entweder in Clark Field oder Nichols Field stationiert.


    War Department. Army Air Forces, US National Archives


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielson_Field


    In a seeming change of tune, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa is urging the Marcos government to "be man enough" and tell him its "real" stance regarding the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the bloody war on drugs.


    "What I am asking from this government is to be man enough, to please tell us what is the real score," Dela Rosa said in a news conference on Monday.


    "Sabihin lang, wala namang problema diyan. Wala lang patalikod na transaksyon (Just tell us, there's no problem with that. But there should be no secret transaction)," he added.


    There have been rumors that ICC investigators have entered the country to probe the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte, but Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told CNN Philippines on Jan. 3 that there was "no contact between ICC and DOJ" at that time.


    A Kyodo News report on Jan. 18 quoted Remulla as saying the government will not stop the Hague-based tribunal's investigators from conducting their probe in the country if they are following legal procedures.


    On Sunday, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that the ICC investigators have already finished their investigation and the international court might issue arrest warrants soon.


    Dela Rosa said he would not believe such rumors if there was still no confirmation from the government.


    But he made an appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: "Pag sinabihan mo ako noon na hindi sila pwedeng pumasok at ngayon nagbago yong ihip ng hangin pumayag na kayo na pumasok, please tell us. You are our president. You are our leader. Tell us so that we will know what to do."


    [Translation: If you told me before that you won't let them enter our country and now, if the winds have changed and you will permit them to do so, please tell us.]


    "I hope this government is kind enough to inform us. After all, we are citizens of this republic and we need protection from our government kung kinakailangan namin, 'di ba? (if we need it, right?)" he said, adding it might be a stab in the back if the government already allowed the entry of ICC investigators.


    Dela Rosa, who as then-Philippine National Police chief was the lead implementer of the Duterte administration's crackdown on drugs, has been asserting that he will not cooperate with the ICC's probe.


    In July 2023, the ICC Appeals Chamber allowed the tribunal's prosecutor to continue his investigation, rejecting the Philippines' plea against the probe's resumption.

    "Dedma lang. Hayaan mo lang sila kung ano gusto nilang gawin. Hindi ako na-surprise. Hindi ako concerned. Hindi ako nababagabag," Dela Rosa said of the ruling at that time. 581825


    [Translation: I'm just ignoring it. Let them do what they want. I'm not surprised. I'm not concerned. I'm not worried.]


    In November 2023, Marcos said his administration is studying whether the country should rejoin the ICC, but insists that the body has "no jurisdiction" to probe the drug war killings.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…-govt-real-score-icc.html

    Plaza Moraga, Escolta Street, Rosario Street, Binondo.


    Manila war in den Jahren 1926-1928 eine Stadt der Kontraste und Übergänge. Es stand immer noch weitgehend unter amerikanischer Kolonialherrschaft, aber die Saat der philippinischen Unabhängigkeit begann zu keimen. Die Wirtschaft wuchs, angetrieben durch amerikanische Investitionen und Handel, aber es gab auch Nischen von Armut und Ungleichheit.


    Die Architektur der Stadt spiegelte ihre Geschichte wieder, mit einer Mischung aus spanischen Kolonialgebäuden, Wolkenkratzern im amerikanischen Stil und traditionellen philippinischen Wohnhäusern.


    P.s. Auf dem Bild wird "Plaza Morada" festgehalten. Es handelt sich aber mit Sicherheit um die "Plaza Moraga"


    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Moraga


    In USDA’s latest report, the Philippines is projected to import 3.8 million metric tons of rice this year.


    China is the second top rice importer, followed by Indonesia, European Union, Nigeria, and Iraq.


    The report also said Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, South Korea, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen are seen to increase their rice imports this year.


    According to the Bureau of Plant Industry’s Jan. 11 data, the Philippines imported 3.6 million metric tons of rice, slightly lower than in 2022 with 3.8 metric tons.


    Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said the government plans to secure its rice trade agreement with Vietnam during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.


    The president also eyes importing rice from Cambodia to sustain supply amid the looming impact of El Niño, the Palace said, adding that Cambodia is targeting to get a one percent share of the market of imported rice in the Philippines this year.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…ld-top-rice-importer.html

    The Sandiganbayan acquitted Senator Jinggoy Estrada of plunder in the multimillion-peso scandal involving discretionary funds for pet projects of lawmakers, but found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery which are punishable by a total of up to 15 years imprisonment.


    The anti-graft court handed down its verdict on Friday, almost a decade after the case was filed in June 2014.


    During an ambush interview after hearing the court's decision, Estrada said he was "elated" as he was exonerated from the major case slapped against him.

    "I'm not guilty of anything. I did not steal any money," Estrada told reporters.


    Two state witnesses, including an employee of businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, implicated Estrada in the controversy. Napoles herself is serving time over the scam.


    The senator was accused of receiving ₱183 million in kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as pork barrel. He was previously detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center before posting bail in 2017.


    According to the ruling posted on its website, the Sandiganbayan said it believes Estrada's endorsement of Napoles-linked NGOs was not enough to establish his liability.

    "Criminal intent on the part of Senator Estrada is absent in this case," the anti-graft court said.


    "Although he maybe negligent for not monitoring his PDAF, Labayen's involvelment in its diversion is incontrovertible… His negligence cannot be construed as an overt act in furtherance of conspiracy with Napoles and the other accused," it added.


    https://www.cnnphilippines.com…ase-pork-barrel-scam.html