Pages

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Japan is in recession?

It is more fun criticizing

Philippines  | November 18, 2014



This is rather disturbing.  Several months back, IMF President mentioned in an interview re EU woes that they are worried about Japan?  What worry about Japan, the 3rd biggest economy in the world, an economic juggernaut.  A model for industrialization and economic development?

What has happened?

Reports have it that raising taxes and raising consumption has not worked for Japan.   3rd quarter for Japan showed its economic output shrink by 1.6% officially throwing Japan into recession.

Has tsunami anything to do with this debacle? Or the Fukushima accident.?






Monday, November 17, 2014

Knowing people in high places can work both ways - can be good and bad

It is more fun criticizing



I had conversation with a former well known business personality in a famous sports club.  He used to be in high places in the govt and in business.  Reason?  He was a friend of the top honcho of the land.  He became chief of high profile govt offices, including a financial institution. He also had his own business.

He was the friend of the new and outgoing top honcho.  The incoming had great dislike for the outgoing.  However, he made the mistake of having the birthday of the old man celebrated within the premises of his office.  And then somebody made a gossip about the punctuation mark.


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Anything below 30% of the project cost is not #corruption!

It is more fun criticizing

I chuckled as I heard this comment from a retired top level govt official (from the judiciary) who said that if you take 30% of the project cost, or subject of litigation.  (For lawyers, contingent fee of 30 to 50% is common) and see nothing wrong with that practice.  Most of landed gentry  I know were relatives of former judges, or lawyers (fees for litigation?)  Lately, they are being paid with condos.  He hehe...

I remarked that a solicitation letter on a LGU stationery for fiesta was violative of the Code of Ethics for govt officials, the same section violated by top police officer when he accepted donation for the remodelling of the house where he is staying.

Is ethics relative? Are there shades of being good and being corrupt?  "Thou art fled these men's breast and lost their reason!"

The plot thickens

It is more fun criticizing

From Inquirer  October 28, 2014



I had breakfast with some business partners and we talked about current events.

The current celebrity now subject of a top level inquiry was a friend of his and they had a falling out over money

Is it possible that the death of an aide was due to money.  I googled the incident and the names match;   so with the vault and  its opening at the behest of the celebrity.  I did not realize that the content of the vault was huge - P700 million and the barya left to the widow was P200 million

Totoo kaya?

Monday, November 10, 2014

On the 25th anniversary of fall of #BerlinWall, former #Russian President Gorbachev warns of #newcoldwar

It is more fun criticizing



Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of fall of the Berlin wall, marking the end of cold war.  However, Michael Gorbachev warns of start of new cold war, as marked by increasing tension between USA and USSR.  Many point to USSR President Putin as the source of brinkmanship that brings the world on the edge of new cold war. Most notable is the Ukraine USSR crisis.

Gorbachev warns the west, particularly USA of "triumphalism after the collapse of the communist bloc.   Gorbachev was responsible for ending the cold war 25 years ago.

What do you think?  Do you agree with Gorbachev?

From ZeeNews India

White luminous balloons mark Silver Jubilee of fall of Berlin Wall
8000 luminous  balloons mark where the Berlin Wall used to be


What has happened to the rebuilding of Samar Leyte one year after?

It is more fun criticizing






Moving Forward from Interaksyon

From GMA network - rebuilding the ruins

Yesterday marked first year anniversary of the onslaught of typhoon Hainan (Yolanda) in Samar Leyte.

We lost a lot of lives, and structures.  However, the ship that was swept by the storm surge, is a silent witness to the fury of the storm, and the seeming inability to fully rehabilitate the damage stricken areas.

It is far from over.  A number still live in tents, and people are without jobs, and life is not yet normal for most.

Many are questioning the accounting of donation to the typhoon victims.  Many feel that the govt could have done more.

Do we need more help from govt, or more self help and more entrepreneurship from the victims?

Do not be a victim.   Are we always a victim.  ARe to be helped or are we here to help?

From Bangkok Post


Resettlement at Tanauan, Leyte

Thursday, November 6, 2014

A number of violations committed on the Sun Champ of the Agri Fortuna Rosario Batangas property

It is more fun criticizing

From Inquirer



Rizal Philippines   | NOvember 6, 2014

A number of laws would have been violated in the acquisition of the Agri Fortuna estate by Sun Champ:

1.  Agrarian reform law;

2.  non payment of capital gains. (tax evasion)

3.  registration of the building in the name of Sun Champ by Gregorio without proper authorization.

Tius companies, publicly listed at PSE were found to have violations too:  ANI, Sun Champ, Earthright Holdings and GreenEnergy.




Who really owns the 150 hectare agri tourism farm in Rosario Batangas?

It is more fun criticizing



Rizal Philippines  |   November 6, 2014

Is it Sun Champ?  Is it Agri Fortuna?  Is it Gregorio Laureano.

While businessman Antonio Tiu is complaining  how the Senate Blue Ribbon sub committee has dragged his name, that of his family, and that of his business (watch how ANI shares have plummeted) into this fracas, he could not comply with his promise to show that his company indeed owns the 150 hectare property.



He was not able to show today the:   Tax Dec, the due diligence conducted, feasibility study, the Board Resolutions authorizing Tiu to buy the property.  Indeed, a finance bred executive, CEO would not invest without a due diligence and he could not show any.  All that he was able to show was a one page paper a MoA that shows Tiu advancing PHp11 million (out of the P446 million total) to  Gregorio for the right to use the Gregorio property for the agri tourism project that was not even notarized.

ANI and SunChamp shares are taking a beating at PSE