Bits and Snippets of the Philippines

Basic Reading of Global Filipinos

Ayala Museum Offers Family Membership Deal

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The Ayala Museum

Membership card entitles you to unlimited free admission for you, your spouse and kids below 18 years old to all exhibitions, invitations to members-only sale held every June and October, invitation to two museum exhibit openings, 10 percent cash discount at the Museum Shop, 20 to 50 percent on all programs, lectures, workshops, symposia and other activities, and 10 percent cash discount or 5 percent credit card discount at the M Cafe.

Ayala Museum is the art and history museum located at the corner of Makati Avenue and De la Rosa Street in Makati City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is considered one of the most important private institutions of Philippine art and culture.

Envisioned in the 1950s by Filipino abstract painter Fernando Zobel, the Ayala Museum was established in 1967 under the auspices of Ayala Foundation, Inc. It began as a museum of Philippine history and iconography, and transformed itself into a museum of fine arts and history as the 20th century drew to a close.

It also has the M Café, a gathering spot for souls passionate about art and culture, as well as sophisticated fusion food that features modern interpretations of traditional Asian food.

Buy the Family Membership voucher through A-Deals.com

Sources: A-Deals.com | Wikipedia

Photo by treetop_apple_juice at Flickr.com

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Canadian Mining Companies Invest in Philippines

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Small-scale gold mining in the Philippines

TVI Pacific Inc. and Mindoro Resources Ltd. announced the signing of an agreement on TVI’s strategic private placement in Mindoro as well as the possibility of a joint venture over the Agata nickel project in Surigao del Norte and Pan de Azucar project in Iloilo. Both Canadian mining groups are focused on gold, copper and nickel production and exploration in the Philippines.

TVI said under the agreement, it would infuse C$3.15 million in Mindoro Resources Ltd. and would have the exclusive right or option to enter into joint venture arrangements with Mindoro with respect to Agata and Pan de Azucar projects. TVI said under the agreement, it would advance a bridge loan of C$968,969 pursuant to a limited security promissory note.

Read more at Manila Standard Today

Photo by getolympus at Flickr.com

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Malacañang Palace Goes Tumblr

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Whoa! Tumblr.com? Actually, it’s a nice, simple browse along memory lane as the microblogging site depicts the history of Malacañang Palace and the Philippine Presidents that came and went.

Source: tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph

Image from tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph

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Written by Raffy Pekson II

July 1, 2012 at 2:00 am

Ruffa Gutierrez Launches Her Website

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One of the splash pages in iloveruffag.com

She just tweeted, “I’m LIVEEE!! Check me out at http://t.co/5pwH2lq8“. Her biography page starts with “Sharmaine Ruffa Gutierrez, more popularly known as Ruffa Gutierrez…” but quips something that’s bound to raise eyebrows, “Considered showbiz royalty in the Philippines…” and ends it with “To date, Ruffa remains to be one of the most in demand celebrities in the Philippines and one of its most celebrated faces.” Wow!

But you gotta love the photos!

Website link: http://iloveruffag.com/

Photo from iloveruffag.com

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Written by Raffy Pekson II

June 30, 2012 at 9:03 am

PAL Raises 17 Billion Pesos in Fresh Funds

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) is increasing its authorized capital stock worth 17 billion Pesos or 85 billion common shares which will be subscribed to by PAL Holdings. The latter is also increasing its authorized capital stock to 23 billion Pesos the help fund the expansion of the carrier and accommodate the entry of San Miguel Corporation.

“SMC is buying into PAL and affiliate budget carrier Air Philippines Corp. (AirPhil) through several layers of holding companies. This will lead to SMC’s acquisition of 49 percent of PAL’s publicly-listed parent firm PAL Holdings, which in turn will give it effective control of at least 40 percent of PAL,” as reported by Philippine Star.

Read more at PhilStar.com

Photo by fraginal at Flickr.com

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Written by Raffy Pekson II

June 28, 2012 at 6:13 pm

Hong Kong Casino Giant Melco May Partner with Henry Sy Jr.

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News broke today that casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (MPEL) is exploring options to open a casino in the Philippines. The company is said to be partnering on a billion-dollar casino resort in Manilla, the capital city. The latest rumors have Melco partnering with the Philippines’ richest man Henry Sy Jr. The deal would see a 50-50 joint venture between the casino, hotels, and entertainment available at the property.

The city, which had 1.7 million people as of 2010, is the second most populous city in the nation. The Philippines are hoping to turn a portion of the Manilla region into a gaming area similar to the Las Vegas strip.

Read more at Seeking Alpha

Photo by paomont at Flickr.com

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Written by Raffy Pekson II

June 28, 2012 at 2:21 pm

Globe GCash Soon Good for Online Purchases

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Globe Telecom's GCash mobile wallet

At the GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Globe Telecom launched a customer strategy for the unbanked — paying for mobile apps and other Web goods through GCash, its internationally acclaimed micro payment service that transforms a mobile phone into a virtual wallet for money transfers at the speed and cost of a text message.

Though the Philippines has over 70 million mobile phone subscribers that have catapulted it as the world’s text messaging capital, its market is traditionally constrained by low credit card ownership that hampers full participation in today’s digital life.

To start off the service, Globe has partnered with Research in Motion (RIM) to allow Globe subscribers using BlackBerry devices to charge purchases for mobile applications from the BlackBerry App World onto their monthly-postpaid bill or prepaid account credits. The new service is expected to roll out in the second quarter this year.

A tie-up with American Express will roll out an online payment solution that will enable Globe subscribers to purchase goods such as electronics, toys, apparel, and many other goods from popular US and UK online sites that accept American Express.

Read more at CRM Innovation

Photo by GSMA MMU at Flickr.com

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