|  |  |  | | | | | philippines tourist robbed - Google Blog Search | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tragically, two female Canadian tourists, ages 47 and 80, were both stabbed repeatedly at approximately 1000 hours on Monday (May 21) in Atlantic City in the casino district and were pronounced dead in a trauma center. Identification of the victims has been withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. According to authorities, Antoinette E. Pelzer, 44, a Pennsylvanian, stabbed the two Canadian women at the intersection of Michigan and Pacific avenues, a busy section of the resort city near Bally's Casino. Initial reports said witnesses described the stabbings as an attempted robbery. Authorities said it was unclear how long Pelzer had been in Atlantic City or where she was staying. COMMENT: Monday's murder victims were the seventh and eighth of the year in the city of 40,000, according to Atlantic City's The Press. Given the repeated stabbings that both victims sustained, it is very possible that there may have been much more to the attack than economic gain. Such attacks as this are a reminder that tourists and travelers must always be vigilant, regardless of the time of day. That said, several major cities in New Jersey are known to have high-levels of violent crime. This case will be updated as new information becomes available.  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21-May-12, 8:37 AM | InterAksyon.com 
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya (left) and Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Investment Dato' Seri Mustapa Mohamed after initial discussions on the preparations for the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum. COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN MALAYSIA InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5 MANILA -- In a move to entice more investments from its neighbors, the Philippines will host first Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum to be held on May 29 at the Royal Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The forum will be highlighted by a presentation on investment climate and opportunities in the Philippines and a keynote address by Philippine Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is visiting Malaysia for the event, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said. Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Y.B. Dato' Seri Mustapa Mohamed will also give his remarks. "The investment forum is a perfect opportunity to further strengthen Philippine-Malaysia economic partnership, which has been improving in leaps and bounds. Bringing our respective business sectors together is expected to herald a sea change in bilateral relations, particularly in terms of boosting trade and investments between our two countries," Ambassador Malaya said. The Philippines and Malaysia are experiencing a surge in two-way investments, as evidenced by the recent joint venture between PLDT Global and Axiata Corporation, investment of CIMB Bank in Bank of Commerce worth some RM1 billion (P196 billion), the expansion of operations of MTD Corporation and Genting Resorts World in the Philippines, as well as the entry of San Miguel Corporation in Esso Malaysia Bhd. through investments worth at least $610 million. In 2011, Malaysia was the Philippines' ninth largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to $3.7 billion, while it was the Philippines' 11th largest export and eighth largest import market. Total Philippine exports to Malaysia in 2011 were valued at $1 billion, while imports from Malaysia during the same year amounted to $2.6 billion. Top business leaders from both countries Co-organized by the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Alumni Association of Malaysia (Kelab AIM) and the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), the by-invitation event aims to bring together various business leaders from the Philippines and Malaysia to exchange ideas how to further enhance economic and investment relations between the two countries. Business tycoon and AIM founder Washington Sycip will present to give a lecture to formally inaugurate the Professor Gabby Mendoza Management Lecture during lunch. Genting Group is the main sponsor and San Miguel Corporation/Petron Corporation is the strategic partner of the forum. AlloyMTD Group (formerly MTD Capital Berhad) is a corporate sponsor and Resorts World Manila is hosting the luncheon lecture. Identified priority sectors to be taken up at the forum include tourism and tourism infrastructure, mass housing, real estate development, business process outsourcing/information technology (BPO/IT) services, logistics and supply chain, transportation, Islamic banking/finance, energy/electricity, and agro-business. Some 34 chief executive officers from leading Philippine companies are expected to take part in the forum, including food and beverage manufacturer San Miguel Corporation, energy company Petron Corporation, power distributor Meralco, and real estate and construction companies Megaworld Corporation, Alphaland Corporation, and DMCI Holdings Inc. Officials from the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other Philippine chambers of commerce are also expected to be present during the event. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Travel and booking cancellations by mainland Chinese tourists are affecting the businesses of tour operators and resorts in Bohol and Cebu, two of the country's major tourist destinations.
The vacancies left by cancellations, however, were partly filled by Taiwanese tourists, who had revived their interest in visiting the Philippines by the middle of 2011, according to Bohol-based businesswoman Lourdes Sultan.
Sultan, owner of the Village Floating Resto and Cruises, said about 400 Chinese tourists cancelled their bookings a few days after the Chinese government issued a warning against traveling to the Philippines on May 11.
"The Chinese tourists travel in groups so there is really a significant drop in terms of numbers. The Taiwanese tourists have returned again after visiting Bohol middle of last year, so that in a way serves as a buffer," Sultan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
In Cebu, Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa sales and marketing director Agnes Pacis admitted receiving requests for postponement of bookings although she expressed confidence that the situation was temporary and would not adversely effect overall business.
On Caohagan Island, located 40 minutes from Lapu-Lapu City, jet ski driver Jejemar Taghoy noted a big drop in the number of regular Chinese tourists.
The 24-year-old Taghoy said his weekly income of P5,000 has gone down to P2,000.
"Our regular tourists advised our office that they cannot travel to the Philippines at the moment. I think it is because of the dispute between the two governments," he said in Cebuano.
Last Thursday, Barangay Caohagan Chair Ranilo Abayan said that more than 100 Taiwanese tourists visited the island known for its fresh seafood and quilts.
The tourists were booked in resorts in Bohol and Cebu.
Taiwanese Mai Lingling said she was traveling with her family and staying at a Bohol resort.
"The Philippines is safe. There is nothing to worry about. You have good food, good people and good scenery. It's a place for relaxation," she said.
Cebu Association of Tour Operators director Alice Queblatin said hotel and transport operators as well as restaurants were directly affected by the travel advisory since Chinese nationals were their top clients next to Koreans.
Airline companies such as Zest Air and Cebu Pacific have suspended chartered flights from Chinese cities to the Philippines.
Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog has announced that beginning May 12, they will suspend their twice weekly charter service between Shanghai and Clark on the request of the charterer based in China.
But all other Cebu Pacific flights to mainland China destinations namely, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and China's special administration regions, Hong Kong and Macau, would continue to operate as scheduled.
Cecile Saa, president of travel agency Blue Horizons, described cancellations as "the most unwanted and unwelcome work for travel and tour operators because its results means business loss to operators."
"Definitely, it will lower tourist arrivals in the country. The Chinese embassy might have issued travel advisories to their people to hold on to travel plans to the Philippines until the issues are resolved and this might take a long wait to normalize," Saa said.
The Department of Tourism in Central Visayas recorded 55,000 tourists from China in 2011. About 20,000 Chinese nationals visited the region in the first two months of 2012. Inquirer Like this: Be the first to like this post. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This news item appeared on the Dutch Telegraph yesterday:
 Translated:
PARIS – Burglars in central Paris got the loot of their lives. From the home of a Filipino diplomat they took a mass of precious jewels, vases, watches and other valuables.
Booty had a total value of about 30 million euros, French media reported Saturday.
The stolen items were owned by the former ambassador of the Philippines in Paris. He was traveling when the thieves struck.
An employee of the diplomat discovered the robbery Thursday morning. It is speculated that the night before, the thieves entered through the roof. Using grinder, they broke open the safe containing a suitcase full of jewelery and gems.
Source  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Offshore medical university targets 3,000 foreign students in next five years By Leonard Gildarie An offshore medical school which started operations in Guyana two years  The offshore medical university at Critchlow Labour College. ago has announced plans to bring over 3,000 students in the next five years.
Speaking with Kaieteur News earlier this week, Saju Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Texila American University (TAU) also announced plans for a major expansion of the facility in Guyana, amidst high interest.
"Education Tourism", as Bhaskar coined the term, is a major contributor to the economy of a number of Caribbean territories, with St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Grenada and St. Kitts among the places which have established offshore universities, which mainly focus on foreign students.
It is estimated that each student spends a whopping US$10,000 annually for food, transportation, rent and other activities.
"These are monies that countries are desperate to attract and it is a good thing for Guyana."
Guyana is also a good thing for the university. Not only was the setting-up process way below other places in terms of cost, but Guyana's location in South America and the fact it is the only English-speaking country in that continent, is also a big plus."
Since its establishment in 2010, the university has signed an agreement with the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, and has been utilizing the premises for classes.
It started with 75 students last year, with 25 of them locals, all doing medicine and dentistry.
There are eight nationalities attending classes at the university, Bhaskar revealed.  A class in progress at the Texila American University. Already, the facility has shipped in a large quantity of equipment and other material, and has established a number of modern labs.
"We are being marketed in 10-12 countries now, including the US. We are targeting especially North America. Currently, we have students from US, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and the UK, with both local and foreign lecturers being utilized."
Texila has quietly been going about its business, but is making its mark on the tourism economy, with students visiting Splashmin's and embarking on planned trips for the interior.
"We have also signed an agreement with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where students can do clinical training. Agreements have also been reached with the US, Canada and Philippines to do clinical training, if the students want to."
Locally, the university has established relations with the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, but is still awaiting word of a possible collaboration with the University of Guyana.
"This September, we are also starting our nursing programme. There is huge interest in this. We had people coming from the University of West England, Bristol. The idea is for the students to spend two years here and two in the UK for training.
"These are licences that can be used to practice in the UK and US as nurses. They can also transfer to US universities. We are now looking for land and building to expand, as our facilities will become too small.
TAU is registered with the National Accredition Council and World Health Organization, and its certificates are recognized in the US, UK, India, New Zealand and Canada, among other places. According to Bhaskar, the school is currently working on an agreement that will see graduating students being able to practice in all CARICOM countries.
"For this September, we have 400-500 applications already in. Guyanese students are currently being subsidized, paying around US$3,500 yearly. The foreign students are US$6,000."
The Indian national, in explaining Guyana as a choice, noted that India simply does not have enough schools. With its huge population, there are 300 schools of medicine there and with 415,000 applications, only 40,000 students are being accepted.
"In the US, half of the 50,000 applicants are accepted. So it is a huge potential and market for Guyana."
But the school is also eyeing Nigeria and Ghana in Africa, to attract students.
"Nigeria has four or five schools but with a population of 150 million, there are not enough seats available. This is also an attractive market."
A number of students from Nigeria and Ghana are currently attending classes in Guyana.
TAU is also cognizant of the fact that quite a number of Guyanese are studying in the region, paying far more for the same course.
"So we have our market."
The university says it is using a mixture of lab-based education and technology to conduct classes, in keeping with new teaching standards. The lecturers and students are now preparing for a community outreach to conduct eye and dentistry clinics. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A man robbed Hillside Pharmasave at gunpoint around 5:45 yesterday evening, fleeing with narcotics and cash. He took off in a green Jeep, which was recovered a few streets away in the 1500-block of Myrtle Street, said Victoria Police Staff Sgt. Kerry Panton. The handgun used in the robbery was recovered from the vehicle, but the suspect was not to be found. He is described as a white male, about six feet tall with a heavy build. He was wearing a full-faced black motorcycle helmet, a black motorcycle jacket, blue jeans, dark runners and carrying a black duffle bag. Police would not say the value of the cash and narcotics stolen from the pharmacy on the corner of Hillside and Shelbourne. There are no recent robberies specifically related to this, said Panton. ljohnston@timescolonist.com © Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We were on our way home from Antipolo City when a group of men wearing yellow long-sleeves flagged us down for "smoke-emission" test daw. Turned out  Highway Robbery (Photo credit: Woot) they are ASBU officers. Not far away, our driver was already saying "sabi ko na nga ba eh!" (bro-tip#1: H'wag titingin sa mata ng mga MMDA/ASBU officers, dahil ang end story lang niyan eh huhulihin ka sa kung anu-anong dahilan. Hanep! May pang-amusal na ang mga damuho!) Being "dull-minded" as I am when it comes to vehicle rules, I asked him to stop. We willingly parked our car alongside of the road since beforehand, pumasa na yung vehicle namin sa test na 'to (I remember my kuya handed me the car's registration with a guy on the picture posing near our plate #). I stayed inside the car while our driver and our helper took care of the situation. Though inside, I had a good look at the "machine" they're using. An ASBU officer went inside the car and stepped on the gas for about 5x while a guy outside was reading the results. To my horror, we failed. Pano'ng nangyare y'un eh kakapasa pa nga lang ng unit namin sa smoke-emission test? We weren't given the chance to see the result ourselves. They just said na bagsak daw. Later on, our driver whispered to me, "Ate, walang pumapasa sa smoke-emission test na yan. Bigyan na lang natin ng 200." Then there, my principles in life were put into test. I was torn between two difficult choices: tutubusin ko ba 'to ng 1,000 sa City Hall at pagtiisan ang lahat ng abala o maglalagay na lang ako ng 200 para ma-satisfy ang mga damuhong ito? I always said to myself that if ever I was put in a situation like this, I would firmly say NO to "kotong kings"; dahil nga naman the more I tolerate this, the more na pinalalala ko lang ang malala nang sitwasyon sa Pilipinas. "Kuya, 'di ba masama yun? Tubusin nalang natin sa City Hall." I answered back. "Ganyan talaga ang labanan dito sa Pilipinas. Pag 'di ka naglagay, maaabala ka." Later on, I found myself handing our driver a 200 peso bill. For a moment, I felt like I was one of those people I hate the most: a liar, a cheater, and a thief. I wasn't brave and firm enough to stand for what I believe in. I admit naging mahina ako, and it isn't because we're about to be P200 poorer. Ayaw namin ng abala (as most would say it). Dahil sa mga taong katulad ko na may malinaw na pang-unawa sa kung anong tama at mali, pero pilit pa ring ginagawa ang mali, kaya patuloy na napag-iiwanan sa pansitan ang Pilipinas. Hindi ko alam baka isang araw, isa sa mga ASBU officers na minsang pumara sa 'min eh sa bandang huli mahahalal bilang isang councilor ng isang lalawigan. To tell you honestly, as much as I don't want to engage with it, maraming lakad namin ang maaabala. Ang masakit eh ginagamit lang nilang dahilan ang "Clean Air Act". This isn't about caring for the environment, this is about money-making racket!!! To those who will have the same experience as ours, please don't make the same mistake. This country needs righteous citizens! Ang mahirap kasi sa 'ting mga Pilipino puro tayo bato ng reklamo sa gobyerno (oil price hike? Blame the goverment! Rice shortage? Blame the goverment! Insufficient jobs? Blame the goverment! At uunahan na kita, if your toe nails died, you're welcome to blame the goverment, too) without knowing na isa rin naman pala tayo sa mga nagiging sakit ng ulo ng bansa. And finally, to the ASBU officers we encountered an hour ago: "Walang kasalanang hindi pinagbabayaran. May araw din kayo." author: justdare to think p.e./mj
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