RP Reads Pinoy in 12th Book Development Month

For the whole month of November, the country, through the National Book Development Board (NBDB) celebrates the 12th Philippine Book Development Month through series of seminars, forums, and book fairs held in Manila and Cebu City.

Guided by this year’s theme, “Read Pinoy!”, the Board aims to uplift the competitiveness of the local book publishing industry through its creative sector, which could contribute to the economic growth of the country. Moreover, it encourages Filipinos to read Filipino-authored books and learn more about their own culture.

Event highlights include the Marathon Reading of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere; Writers’ Night, which will assist local authors publish their works abroad; poems, essays, and novel reading workshop; and the 27th National Book Awards held on November 15 at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

All activities in Manila were held at Filipinas Heritage Library Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City. Lectures in Cebu, scheduled from November 28 - 30 will be held at San Carlos University.

Originally, the Philippine Book Development Month is celebrated every June but was moved to November by President Arroyo through Proclamation No. 1436. This is to include the National Book Week in the celebration, which is being held from November 24 – 30.

The 12th Philippine Book Development Month is in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Filipinas Heritage Library, Ayala Malls, Yuchengco Museum, Manila Bulletin, Cebu Daily News, Anvil Publishing, Fuji Xerox Philippines, University of San Carlos, Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc., Galerie Joaquin, and National Book Store.

First Philippine Caregiver Summit

Hundreds of caregivers and students attended the Conference and Expo of the First Philippine Caregiver Summit held simultaneously at the Mandarin Oriental Suites and at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center, Quezon City last August 29 – 31, 2008.

Organized by Elite Consultancy Services, in partnership with Mandarin Oriental Suites and Gateway Mall, the event carried the theme, “Caring for the Filipino, Caring for the World”. The summit tackled the opportunities and challenges faced by the care giving industry today. It also gave valuable information needed by care givers when seeking for employment abroad.

During the conference held at the Sapphire Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Suites, experts from various fields gave lectures on English proficiency, job opportunities, employment tips, and contract assessment for those who wish to join the caregiving industry.

The event was sponsored by Community Health Education Emergency Rescue Services Foundation Inc., Philam Life, and 9.0 Niner IELTS Review and Tutorial and supported by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines News Digest, Amerika Atbp., JobMarket Online, Health and Lifestlye Magazine, Work Abroad, Job1 Global, and Virtual Route Distribution Philippines Corporation.

Coop Leaders Gather in Bicolandia Summit

Cooperatives throughout the archipelago met at the Convention Center in Pili, Camarines Sur from October 22 - 25 2008 for the 9th National Cooperative Summit (NCS).

Organized by the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC), around 2,000 cooperative heads sought partnership from local and international cooperatives in order to introduce new products and establish trading relations with one another. The summit also discussed the challenges currently faced by cooperatives and searched for the most viable solutions.

According to Mr. Felix Borja, Secretary-General of the Cooperative Union of the Philippines, the theme, “Cooperatives: Breaking Through Barriers and Beyond” is a response to acknowledge and search for solutions regarding the issues cooperatives, both local and international, face today. This goal will become more feasible with the assistance and cooperation of policy makers.

NCS secretary Daniel Ang added that the Summit wishes to give recognition to the achievements made by cooperatives through their innovation in the realm of management, government, and enterprise.

The event was sponsored by Land Bank of the Philippines, Peace and Equity Foundation, Metro South Cooperative Bank, AMKOR Tech Phils Employees Cooperative, Ating Koop Party List, National Cooperative Movement, Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines, National Confederation of Cooperatives, and Nationlink.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Ang Budyong. (Vol. 2 Series 01) In .PDF Format entitled Official Publication of the 9th National Cooperative Summit - March – April 2008 Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.philcoopcenter.org/news.html

Manila Bulletin. Coop summit leaders seek policy, program reforms (p. B-11) Published October 21, 2008

Naga City Official Website. Coops to hold national summit in Naga Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.naga.gov.ph/journal2/?module=popup&page=2&id=1443

Naga City Official Website. Bicol to host 9th Nat’l Cooperative Summit Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.catanduanestribune.com/NewsArticle/Detail.aspx?newsID=4638

Philippine Star, The.Co-op leaders push 17-pt agenda for development Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://beta.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=409814

Two Luzon Provinces seen as next BPO sites

Two provinces in Luzon are seen as the next venue for outsourcing companies according to a joint ranking made by government and private sector.

This ranking was released by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT); Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry; and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

Metro Laguna, which encompasses Sta.Rosa, Calamba, Los Banos, Cabuyao and San Pablo got the highest ranking while Metro Cavite, representing Dasmarinas, Bacoor, Imus and Cavite City ranked second. Other provinces included in the list are Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Angeles-Clark-Mabalacat, Baliuag-Marilao-Meycauayan, Cagayan De Oro, Malolos-Calumpit and Lipa.

Areas such as Baliuag-Marilao-Meycauayan were grouped together due to the proximity of these provinces to each other.

The top 10 provinces are said to have a large pool of talents, land for infrastructure, good business environment and low cost in doing business. These four elements were the basis of the three organizations in ranking the provinces of the country.

Ms. Celeste Ilagan, Executive Director of the Investment Promotion Group of BOI, stated in her interview with ABS-CBN News that the ranking aims to show investors that there are several choices for their business venues aside from Manila and Cebu.

Furthermore, CICT Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III told the press that relocation of BPOs outside the two major cities will boost the economy of the “new wave cities” and provinces and give chance to jobseekers living in these areas to earn higher salaries.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Casiraya, Lawrence. INQUIRER.net. Laguna, Cavite promising areas for BPO Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081103-169982/Laguna-Cavite-promising-areas-for-BPO

CICT News. CICT, BPAP, DTI name Top Ten Next Wave Cities for Outsourcing Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.cict.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=194&Itemid=1

Montecillo, Paolo Luis G. Business World. ‘Next wave’ outsourcing centers cited Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://bworldonline.com/BW110408/ontent.php?id=054
Re posted on http://www.gmanews.tv/story/131146/Next-wave-outsourcing-centers-cited

Llanto, Jesus F. abs-cbnNEWS.com, Newsbreak Laguna, Cavite top next wave of locations for BPOs Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/03/08/laguna-cavite-top-next-wave-locations-bpos

Empowerment and Human Rights, Main Focus in Second Migration Forum

From October 27 to 30, 2008, delegates from all over the world convened for the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila.

Guided by the theme, “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development”, the agenda of the 2nd Global Forum was based on the findings of the First Global Forum conducted at Brussels, Belgium in July 2007. The Brussels Forum concluded that special emphasis should be given to the protection and empowerment of migrant workers all over the world, placing high importance on the protection of human rights and promotion of regular migration.

The Forum was divided in to two general meetings, namely the Civil Society Days, scheduled from October 27 to 28 and Government Meeting from October 29 to 30.

The event’s roundtable discussions were divided into three topics: Migration, Development, and Human Rights, Secure, Regular Migration can Achieve Stronger Development Impact, and Policy and Institutional Coherence and Partnerships.

The Department of Foreign Affairs acted as lead agency for the Philippine Government for the 2nd GFMD. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Esteban B. Conejos Jr., served as the Special Envoy for GFMD, and the Overall Chairman of the Philippine GFMD Preparatory Committee.

Members of the private sector, academe, and the civil society comprise the Philippine Organizing Committee for the Civil Society Days. These include the Ayala Foundation, Inc.. which was enlisted as the secretariat; SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co., Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, University of the Philippines, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos Philippines, Inc.(ERCOF), Migrant Forum in Asia, Manpower Resources of Asia, Inc., and Alliance of Progressive Labor.

The objective of the GFMD is to assemble government officials and experts from all over the world to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and partnership in the areas of migration and development. Moreover, it is intended to mutually identify and solve international migration issues that affect development of countries.