In a recent column, I discussed the tax and non-tax consequences arising from delisting publicly listed companies for non-compliance with the 10 percent minimum public ownership (MPO) rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
A most enlightened piece of legislation has been proposed by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with her son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo as co-sponsor. The bill amends Republic Act 8187, otherwise known as the Paternity Leave Act of 1996, and proposes that married male employees should be entitled to paternity leaves beyond the current limit of four deliveries and in all succeeding deliveries of their respective spouses.
Among the basic needs of the poor living in urban areas, the one that makes the biggest contribution to enhancing their human dignity is decent housing. If we consider that food, shelter, clothing and education are among the most basic of their needs, it is shelter that is the most visible manifestation of the dignity of a human being. The poor can survive on rice, fish and vegetables and maintain their dignity vis-a-vis the well-to-do.
Those of us who are advocating for a freer foreign investment regime should celebrate the first victory: The leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives are convinced that the very restrictive economic provisions against foreign investments in the Philippine Constitution should be amended. There is hope that the legislative process of amendment through Charter change (Cha-cha) can happen during the 2013-2016 term of Congress.
I wouldn’t exactly include it in my “bucket” list. I was, however, extremely glad that I was part of the fourth Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines held in Mactan last August 5. Don’t get me wrong. I am no triathlete (the only bicycle I ride is the stationary one for aerobics!). I had the chance to hobnob with world triathlete champions like Pete Jacobs of Australia and Arland Macasieb of the Philippines, Formula One star Jenson Button and actor Piolo Pascual because my nephew Mike Arcenas of Nike Palace asked me to manage an amateur team of professionals in their fifties and sixties who participated in the relay portion of the triathlon event.
In the unlikely event that the RH Bill will be finally be put to a vote in the House of Representatives before the current session is over, every member of Congress should vote a resounding NO TO THE RH BILL. A law based on the assumption of the desirability of birth or population control is pure economic nonsense when all the kudos and praises being heaped on the Philippine economy by international organizations—both governmental and private—are citing the advantages of a growing and young population.
Once again, I am indebted to Colloquy, quarterly publication of the Gradual School of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University for its alumni, for a very insightful article reporting on the findings of a team of Harvard sociologists who addressed “one of the great unsolved puzzles of social science—do we form friendships with people because we share similar interests, or do we share similar interests with people because they are our friends?” The answer is that peer influence may be far less compelling than the “likes” on a Facebook status might imply.
With the feverish rate of construction of condominium units all over Metro Manila and to a more limited degree in other urban areas like Metro Cebu, the question of the possibility of a real-estate bubble is now more frequently asked. It is difficult to give an answer without an accurate estimate of the potential supply and the approximate demand for these units over the next three to five years, the average construction period.
A distinct advantage of emerging markets like the Philippines in the next two to three decades is the demographic dividend that endows them not only with large domestic markets but also with a young and growing work force, in contrast with the aging societies in the developed world. Even in this era of highly advanced technology, human labor will continue to be a competitive advantage of the so-called “breakout” nations, to use a term of Ruchir Sharma of Morgan Stanley. It is important, therefore, that there be more innovative approaches to organizing workers for both productive and inclusive growth. One of these innovations has already been introduced to the Philippines by some pioneering labor leaders and is about to benefit from the work of enlightened legislators who are introducing a bill “to further strengthen the standard of protection and enhancement of the welfare of self-employed workers and craftsmen and the promotion of entrepreneurship, thereby amending Section 8 of Republic Act 8282, otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 1997.”
Asia will not only be the epicenter of the global economy in the next two decades at least. It will also enjoy the highest growth in both domestic and foreign tourism, especially with the participation of such emerging markets as China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia. History has been a magnet for tourism in Old World countries like Greece, Egypt, Italy and Spain. It will be no different for tourism in Asia. Already tourists from all over the world are attracted to the centuries-old Buddhist and Hindu temples of India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. As I reported in a recent column, I myself was enchanted by the Buddhist and Hindu historical monuments of Sri Lanka.
My favorite soccer commentator is Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune (IHT). He never limits himself to the technical aspects of the beautiful game.
Pep Guardiola, the recently resigned coach of the best football club ever in the world, should be a model for every successful CEO who really cares about the success and future of the organization he leads. Last April 27, 2012, he announced he would quit as Barca’s manager on June 30, 2012, after achieving 13 titles in four years at the helm of the club. He then added a fourteenth title by winning the King’s Cup last May.
