Henry Sy runs the Philippines' largest retailer, but he operates his SM Group almost as if it were a family-owned corner greengrocery. Each week, the 80-year-old (estimated net worth: $1.2 billion), sporting his trademark Hawaiian shirt, gathers his six children at the company's warehouse-style offices near Manila's waterfront, where they oversee nearly every aspect of the business, from property deals to labor negotiations. On Saturdays, family members fan out to make firsthand inspections of their SM malls, department stores and supermarkets. (Source: TIME/CNN.COM)
CAPAS, Tarlac- Almost five months after six people, including three tourists, were killed by rampaging waters on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo, a Korean investor and the local government here have defied authorities by again offering treks to the volcanic summit and building new structures at the crater area.
Reynaldo Garcia, chief of the Environmental Impact Assessment Division of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regional office said the EMB issued a “cease and desist” order to the Korean firm Pull Travel Destination Corp. (PDC) which operates a spa and the trekking project after the tragic accident on the slopes last Aug. 6.
The PDC was given permit by the Capas municipal government to operate in Barangay Sta. Juliana in this town where the trek to the crater starts, municipal tourism officer Marissa Velasquez admitted in a telephone interview. read more...
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In view of the recent spate of complaints lodged against unscrupulous travel agents for victimizing visa applicants to the United States in exchange for huge sum of money, the Department of Tourism deemed it necessary to issue a travel advisory on the proper procedures in securing a visa - the RIGHT WAY!
The travelling public is advised to heed the call of the US embassy not fall prey to the insinuations of travel agents that they have "contacts" at the embassy to effect the issuance of a visa. Any offer of visa assistance in exchange for a huge sum of money is illegal and fraudulent.
Here are the basic dot-it-yourself procedures in applying for a non-immigrant visa (e.g. tourist visa) as found in their website at http://manila.usembassy.gov. READ MORE...... read more...