Honest cabbie is 'model of fun'

by Shiela Mendoza, Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom


A taxi driver who surrendered a bag left by three German tourists was hailed by the Department of Tourism as the Philippines’ “model of fun.”
 
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. on Thursday lauded the good gesture of Sotero Canonoy, a taxi driver who turned over a bag which contained a laptop, PSP, cell phone, wristwatch, and some clothes and medicines left by the tourists whom he transported to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on March 23.
 
“This is one happy piece of news that we need to hear more of. Mr. Canonoy’s action exemplifies the innate goodness of our countrymen. It gives support to the positive image we wish to portray through our ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ campaign,” Jimenez said in a statement.
 
Canonoy reportedly surrendered the bag to TV network GMA7 to broadcast the find as well as to help trace the owners.  
 
DOT said NAIA authorities and the German Embassy are now determining the identities of the tourists to ensure that the belongings are returned to them.
 
“This is what we mean by tourism is everybody’s business. Each little good thing adds up to the fun picture of Philippine tourism,” Jimenez said.
 
“We all are part of the tourism experience as we all are likewise, beneficiaries. We all need to do our share of good, for tourism to make a dent in our economy and in our respective lives,” he added.

Why being in love is good for you

Boxes of chocolates, lavish meals out and those late night fights; there certainly is an unhealthy side to love, but finding that special someone can bring all kinds of benefits too. So, if you’ve been considering ditching your partner, or are just feeling a little harassed by love, check out some of these relationship perks:

Love lowers risk of alcohol abuse

 You may be footing a bigger weekly wine bill for all of those cosy nights in, but research has shown that you are less likely to abuse or depend upon alcohol if you are in a relationship. In the study, only four per cent of people who had been in a relationship for between two and four years misused alcohol; whilst only three per cent of those who had been in a relationship for more than five years reported abusing alcohol. However, 12 per cent of the participants who were not in a relationship in their 30’s were described as misusing alcohol and 13.5 per cent of people who had not been in a relationship for more than two years treated alcohol in an unhealthy way.

Revenue collection highest in over a decade

MANILA, Philippines - Government revenues rose 13.1 percent to hit its highest level in over a decade as of November 2011 even without new taxes and big-ticket asset sales, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said yesterday.

The finance chief said this is higher than the P1.104 trillion raised in the same period in 2010.

Finance data showed the government raised P1.249 trillion as of end-November 2011 through its two major revenue agencies, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Philippines eyes stronger growth after tough 2011

The Philippine economy slowed sharply in 2011 as it was hit by global headwinds, but momentum will likely pick up this year on the back of stronger government spending, officials said.

The economy expanded just 3.7 percent last year, National Statistical Coordination Board chief Romulo Virola announced, describing the performance as "feeble" following growth of 7.6 percent in 2010.

However growth of 3.7 percent in the final three months of 2011 was up from 3.6 percent in the previous quarter, showing the economy was at least slightly accelerating and offering hope that state pump-priming efforts were kicking in.

Mountaineer Romi Garduce completes Seven Summits climb

Just like his past alpine climbs, his moment on top didn’t last long.

But that fleeting moment proved historic as Romeo “Romi” Garduce emerged as the first Filipino to complete the renowned “Seven Summits” after conquering Vinson Massif in Antarctica at 6:30 p.m. (Antarctica time) on Jan. 5.

“The summit day itself was the most difficult because that part of our climb was very steep,” Garduce said.

“It was a bit windy, so it was chilly, so we only had a few moments to appreciate the view.”

The remarkable feat made Garduce one of the few Asians—15 at the last count—to complete the “Seven Summits,” the collective reference to the highest mountains in the seven continents of the world.

Bad mood? Blame mild dehydration, study suggests

A new, small study of 25 women suggests that being mildly dehydrated can take a toll on women's mood and cognitive function.
In the study, published in the latest issue of The Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that dehydration was a prime factor in causing headaches, loss of focus, fatigue, and low mood while both exercising and resting.
US magazine TIME reported last week that the women in the study experienced the bad effects from only mild dehydration -- about one percent lower than optimal hydration levels.
The Huffington Post also cites a 2009 study conducted by Tufts University researchers in the US that found "that dehydration leads to fatigue, confusion, and a negative mood among young female athletes."

Why the Philippines is the World’s Top Call center country

In a nutshell, it’s all about the culture.

Historically, the Philippines has always been an occupied country. Spain ruled the islands for 333 years, followed by 45 years with the United States in 1898 with a brief period of occupation by the Japanese during World War II until it was liberated by the United States again. On July 4, 1946, the United States granted the Philippines its independence as a sovereign country. Since then, American culture has always taken a frontline in the lifestyle of the modern Filipino.

Philippines is Asia’s friendliest nation and world’s 8th best

An HSBC survey, reported on Forbes Magazine reveals the Philippines is Asia’s friendliest country and ranked 8th best in the world in the list of the “World’s Friendliest Countries” in the “Expat Explorer Survey 2011.”

The survey by the global banking giant showed that hospitality is the greatest asset of the Philippines in the tourism industry.

The survey conducted in 100 countries worldwide between May and July 2011 rates countries based on the preference of expatriates to make them “their second home.”