myPH

your Philippines web magazine

myPH recommendations
myPH partners in the Philippine online community are known for their good products and services. We commend them to you for easy, cost-friendly, safe online shopping. Advertisements linking to their websites are included in the appropriate sections of myPH – and each week we feature some special recommendations here on Page One:

myPH Adpost Classifieds
Looking for a job, selling a car, buying furniture or renting an apartment? myPH Adpost Classifieds may have exactly what you’re looking for. It’s the Philippine edition of the world’s top online classified ads service. Standard ads are free while upgraded ads cost little.  [myPH Adpost Classifieds]

Farm-fresh roses in the Philippines 
Island Rose grows its own high quality varieties of European roses south of Manila, and delivers to most parts of the Philippines at competitive prices.  The company is known for its professionalism, reliability, quality and caring customer service. [Island Rose]

World travel with Travelocity
Travelocity.com is the world’s top website for online travel bookings and information. Travelocity offers the best prices, comparative travel data, fast online bookings, customer service and an uncompromising quality guarantee for its flights, hotel bookings, cruises and other vacations.  [Travelocity.com]

Tips from travelers who've been there
TripAdvisor gives you a wealth of tips, free advice and  reviews about places to visit, where to stay, how to get there, what to see, where to eat out and have fun – and where it's not much fun – as assessed by travelers who have been there.  And when you decide where to stay, the website offers you great hotel deals.  [TripAdvisor]

'Best' hotels in the Philippines
Judgment of the “best” hotels and resorts depends on the criteria. Some places are best value-for-money, others are the best at any price, best beach resorts, best family places, best business hotels. myPH Explorer uses votes by travelers who have stayed there to assess its regular Philippines Top 20 listings, and there are surprises this week.
•   In the Metro Manila area, many of the better known hotels are in the Top 20 but some surprisingly are not. There are also less-well-known hotels that are highly rated by travelers.
•   In Cebu and the resort areas of Boracay, Bohol and Palawan, the Top 20 line-ups are full surprises and highly rated "finds."  [myPH Explorer]

Fernando Amorsolo on show
Dozens of paintings by Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo are currently on show spread across seven museums in Metro Manila and other venues around the country.
Also in myPH Happenings this week:
•  Pianists Pia Diño Balasico, Abelardo Galang II and Jose Artemio Panganiban III share the grand piano with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert  this week
•  Franco Laurel, Pam G and Shiela Francisco are featured in an upcoming re-staging of the show “Joseph the Dreamer.   [myPH Happenings]

Citigroup growing in Manila
Ailing American financial giant Citigroup may be cutting jobs around the world, but it is hiring more workers in the Philippines, where it plans to establish a regional hub for its call centers.
Also in myPH Business this week:
•   The Philippines is not expected to slip into recession next year despite the impact of the global financial crisis, according to government experts.
•   Imports by the Philippines rose 2.5 percent year-on-year in September to US$4.86 billion, with electronics imports down 26 percent at $1.74 billion from $2.33 billion – indicating a slowdown in electronics exports. [myPH Business]

Want a visa? Just hire 10 staff
Foreign businessmen coming to the Philippines will soon be able to obtain indefinite residency visas if they employ at least 10 Filipino staff.
Also in the myPH Community news this week:
•   In the first semester of 2008, the Philippine police recorded 3,228 cases of violence against women, with abuse by a spouse or partner now the greatest violation committed against women. But this could well be the tip of the iceberg.
•   An impeachment complaint against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has been dismissed, and analysts said the victory will embolden allies trying to extend her term.  [myPH Community]

Price wars hit website shops
As deserted malls and department stores struggle to court cash-short consumers with steep discounts this holiday season, a similar and even more ferocious price war is being waged online.
Also in myPH Online this week:
•   The online classified advertising company Craigslist has agreed to tame its notoriously unruly “erotic services” listings, long used by prostitutes and sex-oriented businesses.
•   Microsoft has unveiled what it says will be a slimmer and more responsive version of its Windows operating system, while dropping the brand name Vista.  [myPH Online]

Time out in California
Along California’s mystical redwood coast, 1,000-year-old trees as much as four times the height of the Rockefeller Center Christmas spruce command cliffs that overlook golden beaches.
Also in myPH Traveler this week:
•   Redevelopment around the Seattle waterfront, once reserved for tchotchke shops selling “Sleepless in Seattle” T-shirts, is bringing with it fashionable boutiques, trendy restaurants and gourmet shops.   [myPH Traveler]

Which are good hospitals?
"I'm getting some very mixed reviews about the quality of hospitals and medical care in Metro Manila," says a myPH Forum member.
Other topics in myPH Forum this week include:
• "The Ateneo basketball team may be this year's champions, but they won no admiration for their celebratory bonfire, when they threw pieces of wood into the flames to burn – each carrying the name of a La Salle player."
• "I've got really irritated with some of the travel websites and their tricks," complains another myPH Forum member.  [myPH Forum]