Of Malls and Text Messages

I had interesting reports last week ranging from malls, text messages to Thai investments. Likewise, I interviewed SM President Hans Sy and Metro Pacific Chairman Manny Pangilinan.

Mall story: Interesting to note that malls have become a vital part of Filipinos' lives. Everything is inside a mall nowadays, from shops, restaurants, cinemas to clinics, chapels, gov't offices, sports venues and many more. But malls also highlight the inefficiencies of gov't, who's supposed to provide clean and secured areas.

Text messages story: Are you texting less today compared to years ago? Has messaging apps overtaken your normal SMS service? An expert says, many Filipinos are using chat apps now, but he clarifies, it's not yet the death of text messaging, at least not for now.

UP BGC story: SM handed over the new UP building at the Bonifacio Global City. It's worth P400-M and will house some post graduate classes.

Thai investments story: Products from Thailand were showcased at the 'Thai Top Brands 2016' expo at the SMX MOA. Many Thai businessmen want to invest in PH, but some of them want PH gov't to improve ease of doing business.

Video of reports below:

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30,000 jobs for Filipinos

Last January 28, 2016, my first report on TV Patrol aired. Technically, it was not the very first, since a few years ago, I had reports that aired on TV Patrol Weekend. But the January 28 report was the first for the weekday edition, with no less than Kabayan Noli de Castro giving the intro to the report. He even said 'Nagpapatrol si Jikki Pascual'. haha

The story was about the planned hiring of Royal Caribbean Cruises of about 30,000 Filipinos in the next 5 years. The cruise ship company also plans to build a direct hiring facility in Manila. This will be a big boost for employment opportunities for Filipinos, since most Pinoys are geared for the service sector.

Of course, my report also had an English version for ANC. Covering this story, I rode a chopper for the first time and truly a memorable coverage from start to the finished output. Watch report:

Ironically, I was on a chopper while covering the cruise ship story :)

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Longest Hiatus

My longest blogging hiatus ever. 6 months or half a year without any post!

I won't be enumerating what I did the past months, but I will focus on my TV reports in the last 3 days. All my reports in the last 3 days were connected to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Research Symposium in Quezon City. It was hosted by the University of the Philippines.

My first report is about the creation of a card game 'Resilience'. It is about the economy and the environment and it was developed by the University of the Philippines.

My second report is about building back better after every disaster. Experts say consultations with affected communities must done first and scientific data relied upon before doing reconstruction efforts. Watch the report at the bottom of this page.

My third report is about a Japanese scientist's prediction that the Philippines will be spared from super typhoons in the next 10 years. PAGASA of course is not convinced. He also said there was a long global warming hiatus (hence name of this entry). Click here for the third report.

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2 months absence

I only have one blog entry this year so far. It's been very difficult posting a blog, because of a busy schedule and just a lack of enthusiasm to post something longer than a tweet. It's easier to update via Twitter or Facebook since it only requires just a few words or sentences. But with a blog entry, you need to have paragraphs and have photos or video too.

In 2 months that I have been absent in Blogger, so many things happened. The highlights perhaps are my trips. I have been to two countries, both of which were places I haven't been to. They are Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. I also had a local trip in the last 2 months: Ilocos Norte.

Here's one of my reports:

Here are links to my other reports:
- Tuberculosis survivor's story
- DOST: Science is sexy
- Intramuros redevelopment
- Overseas Filipinos contributions
- Turkish Airlines opens Manila route

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PAL's Cancelled Flight

Our flight from Manila to Coron was scheduled at 2:45pm. We arrived at NAIA 3 about 2 hours before the flight. We waited. Then came the dreaded announcement that our plane will not arrive on time. So we waited again. By 4pm, boarding time was announced. We rode a shuttle bus to our plane and upon entering the small aircraft, I was seated comfortably. 

View from the shuttle bus; about to board the plane

But another dreaded announcement came, the captain said we will have to wait for a few more minutes since the control tower has yet to give a go signal due to runway congestion. Waiting time yet again. The flight attendants already showed the safety features of the aircraft. Then, the plane started moving towards the runway. This is it. But I was wrong.

View from the plane as I wait for the plane to fly

The captain announced, we were third in line on the runway, BUT due to sunset limitation, it would be difficult to land in Coron. Hence, flight was cancelled! After several hours of waiting and when we were already about to fly, the bad news came.

The good news is that Philippine Airlines was following the Air Passenger Bill of Rights. We were given 2 options: 1) hotel accommodation with free meals or 2) you can go home and will be given a voucher worth P1,000.00. We picked option 1.

Bus to hotel

We were booked at the Century Park Hotel in Manila. Buffet dinner and breakfast included. Not bad. PAL staff were also there with us. There was actually another flight booked at the hotel. It seems the hotel staff are used to the delayed flights.

Sign at the hotel lobby

PAL created a special flight just for us for 6am the next day. It was delayed for an hour, but at least it wasn't canceled. Heard one passenger saying, hopefully it wasn't be due to sunrise limitation.

I hope cancelled flights won't happen again since it affects the schedule of a person, not to mention it lessens vacation time for some. But if airlines follow the Bill of Rights, then it makes the delay more acceptable.

Hotel room

Finally, arrived in Coron the next day

Handwritten boarding pass on our return flight to Manila :-)

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QualiMed & affordable healthcare

Ayala Land is investing P2-B in the healthcare industry for the next 5 years. It recently opened its first mall-based surgery center at Fairview Terraces in Quezon City. Ayala's entry into the healthcare sector is via the brand Qualimed, a partnership with the Mercado General Hospital. The Asian Eye Institute has also joined the venture as it adds its first 'Eye Site' branch at the Qualimed clinic in Fairview.

Qualimed is expected to expand further, as they plan to open 10 hospitals and 10 clinics nationwide in the coming years. They will be opening in Ayala projects as they plan to include medical centers in future 'township' developments. Among the provinces where Qualimed hospitals are being built are Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Bulacan. Other areas include Cebu, Davao and Cavite.

Current & future QualiMed projects

What's interesting about this development is that Qualimed is targeted to the lower to middle income bracket. Ayala and Asian Eye Institute are premium brands normally catering to the high-end sector. But they say, they want to get a chunk of the middle class market since it's a very big segment and they also want to provide quality medical services at a fraction of the cost compared to premium hospitals and clinics. They say, they have government hospital pricing, but private hospital service.

It's good to see that more hospitals and clinics are being built. The Philippines has a growing population, yet there were very few hospitals that were built in recent years. It's also nice to see a top brand such as Ayala venturing into medical facilities, following the footsteps of Manny Pangilinan's Metro Pacific, which has already intensified its investments in the healthcare industry.

Hopefully, QualiMed lives up to its name of 'quality medicine or medical service'. And hoping they will continue to provide world class service at  an affordable rate, so more Filipinos can have access to medical services that are of international standards.

Watch my report on this topic that was aired on ANC. Click here.

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Gabriel Macht in the Philippines

'Suits' star Gabriel Macht arrived in the Philippines last week. He visited typhoon-hit Ormoc City to help the survivors affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). I got a chance to secure a one-on-one interview with him while he was in Manila. He mentioned about his project to help the victims, as well as what fans can expect in the fresh episodes of 'Suits'. Here's my report aired on ANC:

For the full interview, click this link: FULL INTERVIEW ON ANC.

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Bohol post-quake tourism

I went to Bohol last week to check on tourism developments in the province 2 months after the earthquake. Though Bohol tourism is now back to normal, only few tourists visit Bohol even during the holiday season, which is usually a peak season.

It was my first time in the province, and I
must say Bohol is truly beautiful. Please visit Bohol to help the local economy. Tours, roads, hotels are all back to normal. And the Boholanos are very friendly and loving people.

Here are the reports I did for ANC and ABS-CBN.
Pls. click the link :-)

ANC
Part 1 http://t.co/JyL97mGTPa
Part 2 http://t.co/Uan5bnaE5p
Part 3 http://t.co/SHTkd2NNoN

TV Patrol http://t.co/aC6U8N8xYE

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Print media still strong?

Is print media still relevant in the digital age? Newspapers and magazine companies gathered for the 2nd Philippine Print Media Congress in Manila to answer that question. I covered the event and I think I was the only one from a TV network who covered the print media event. It's ironic that amid print journalists, there I was with my TV crew. :)

Here's my report aired last Sept. 7, 2012 on ANC.

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Baluarte de San Diego

         I was in Intramuros and was looking for a place to do my stand-upper report. I just needed a background that is tourism-related. I was told to go to Baluarte de San Diego. And it was indeed the perfect backdrop. It was my first time there, proving that there are just so many places I haven't been to in Manila.

         Formerly named Fort Nuestra Senora de Guia, Baluarte de San Diego was built in 1586 and has since underwent several renovations. It used to be a foundry and now is a popular venue for wedding receptions.

        Aside from the old fortification, there's really nothing to see there. But just being there makes you sense the long history of Manila and that there's so many tourist attractions in the city that are underutilized.

   The Baluarte is open daily 8am-5pm (closed if there's a wedding reception)

   Entrance fee P75 (adult), P50 (child/student with ID)

   The Baluarte is near the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Baluarte de San Diego Garden

Baluarte de San Diego Garden

Entrance to the Baluarte

the Baluarte

Baluarte de San Diego

my crew preparing

Someone's trimming the grass

The walls are huge

Old and New

My crew after I did my report

 I'd like to thank the Department of Tourism for allowing me to shoot my report here even on short notice :-)

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Malaysia + Thailand

No, I didn't go to those countries. I just had a report about the two Southeast Asian nations. It has been over a month since I last updated this blog. I think I was just busy (and perhaps lazy too). So I'll just upload two of my reports that were aired on ANC last month. I had an exclusive TV interview with the Tourism Minister of Malaysia and the Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines. 

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2012 Meditation

My first blog entry for 2012!
To start the year right, here's my report aired on the first day of the year. It's about my interview with Fr. Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk who visited the Philippines last December. He is campaigning for people to meditate. He suggests people to meditate twice a day and to just focus on one word for 20 minutes per session. Above all, he says meditation is moving beyond vision, words and thoughts. Meaning, you do not talk or even think while meditating. Fr. Freeman says, it will be difficult for first timers, but once you get it, then it will be a good habit for 2012.

Happy meditating. Try it.

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From Food to War

My December reports so far: From Taguig to Clark in Pampanga.

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Mika Hakkinen in Manila

Two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen is in Manila to promote responsible drinking and driving. He urges the public to "Join the Pact", a campaign spearheaded by Johnnie Walker. It aims to spread awareness on the importance of practicing responsible drinking. The MMDA reported that the number of drunk driving accidents is rapidly rising.

So guys, please never drink and drive.
So not cool.

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Business Reports

My past 2 reports are business-related. And to be more specific, the reports have something to do with auditing firms. The first one is about the partnership between global auditing firm Mazars and Philippine-based Reyes, Tacandong & Company. The second one is Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Philippines. After these 2 events, I went to Vietnam only to find out my high school friend Leo is working there for Ernst & Young/ SGV. Talk about coincidence. Probably it's a sign I need to shift careers. :)

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Paris Hilton in Manila

I got to interview Paris Hilton in Manila!! It was just a very short interview, but it was a semi-exclusive, since I'm only 1 out of 2-3 journalists who were able to do so. The experience is now very blurry. I guess I was starstruck or something, haha

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Pamana

I haven't been blogging recently. I told myself I'll blog more often this year. Anyways, since my last post, I have been to Mindanao and Visayas. I was in Cotabato and Maguindanao last July and in Bacolod just a few days ago. The first was for work, the other for leisure. Here are the reports I made about my coverage in Mindanao.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has launched the PAMANA program. It aims to assist displaced residents affected by the conflict in ARMM.

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ToyCon 2011

I'm not superman.
Last weekend was very tiring for me. Friday, I was working from 6am-12mn. I had to cover 3 events in the evening! (super traffic pa). Then I had a whole day work on Saturday. Plus another coverage Sunday. Everything was fun, but fatigue just took a toll on me. By Sunday, I was feeling sick during my coverage. That coverage was the ToyCon at the SM Megamall. There were so many people, but it was a cool event.
Here are some pics.

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Chuck Bass in Manila [video]

Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick arrives in Manila to shoot for a commercial.
He is endorsing Philippine fashion brand 'Penshoppe'

For details, check previous post :-)

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Chuck Bass in Manila

I attended the press conference of Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass at Salon de Ning at the Manila Peninsula last night. Before I came to the event, I received several calls, texts and tweets from friends asking me if they can join the presscon. Some even asked me to kiss Ed for them and take photos.

I wasn't planning on kissing Ed, but taking photos- definitely. But that didn't happen. Before entering, we were asked to deposit our phones! That was so annoying. It's a presscon filled with media people, but phones and cameras are not allowed??? Good thing, my cameraman and his videocam were allowed.

Anyways, I sat near the stage since I arrived a bit early. I watched Gossip Girl season 1-2, so somehow it was amazing to see the real Chuck Bass in person. He seems nice, but there's also a sense of bad boyish charm. He gamely answered questions ranging from fashion, Gossip Girl, Romeo and Juliet and his admiration for Manny Pacquiao.

He says he wants to return to the country. I hope he does, and hope he brings with him Leighton Meester or Blake Lively, or both.

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