Miyerkules, Mayo 24, 2017

A CELEBRATION OF MOTHERS DAY AT THE CENTURY CITY MALL IN MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES

Cherish The Love.. A Celebration of Mothers Day
By: Ver M. Garcia & Teddy Cho


Ms. Mafae Belasco stresses in her speech that our mother will always guide us and will always be on our side. With the beautiful Moms, during the event held recently at the Century Citi Mall in Makati City.



CENTURY CITY MALL Makati City, Philippines - Each year, we celebrate Mother's Day to commemorate our Dear Moms in our own loving ways. The simple thought that our community ,especially the mom and child, share a common bond together during this Blessed day is priceless. Through our lives we experience through happiness, trials, laughter and tears, and yet we still bind together because it’s what family is all about. Together on this special day, we recognize our mothers for being our Guardian and our true best friends.




Despite all the challenges and adversities, our mom's love is always there to inspire, to guide and to protect . A mother will always protect and guide us in everything, she will always be by our side, and that's how STRONG their LOVE is for their child.


One of the exciting activities was the blindfolded game! The children were blindfolded, then he/she will be asked to identify their moms by touching and feeling their face, hair and hands as they stand in a line beside fellow mothers! This is in collaboration with James MacKay Foundation Inc. and the Philippine National School for the Blind, who will also be sending students and their mothers to join the activities. And again, this serves as a reminder to us that despite obstacles, a mother's love is unbreakable and unfathomable!


James MacKay Foundation helping the children with there advocacy in education, livelihood and sports.
It's good to know that there are places like Parenting Emporium for dedicating so much in making the roles of a mom much easier, because as we all know, motherhood is no easy feat. It's a one-stop shop for mothers of all kind, specializing in newborn care, breastfeeding hacks, and all the necessities a mother needs to keep her child happy and healthy. Want to know more exciting news? They are also giving a talk of their own!


Century City Mall will be having a Mom's Fair at the Ground floor near Mary Grace featuring Bloombox, Flowers by Rosabella, and Mother's Day Photo Booth.

The lovely moms and families at the Mother's Day activities post for posterity
More good news!
Courtesy of CENTURY CITY MALL Century City Kalayaan Ave.,
For more details, visit Century City Mall's Facebook or inquire at their Concierge at (02) 705 6200
Makati City

The Wonderful Moms sings 'Let It Go' an ABS-CBN talent star..
(VerGarciaBlogs)

Miyerkules, Mayo 17, 2017

REDUCING HUMAN INTERVENTIONS WILL STOP CORRUPTION AND SMUGGLING AT THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS IN THE PHILIPPINES


FORMER CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER VILLANUEVA SUGGESTED REFORMS TO REDUCE GRAFT AND CORRUPTION AND TECHNICAL SMUGGLING AT THE BOC 
By. Ver M. Garcia & Teddy Cho
Former BOC Commissioner Titus Villanueva seated at the right with Blogger Journalist Susan Amoroso (seated at the center) and other media partners.
The Philippines a DEVELOPING country plague with corruption and Technical smuggling. Time and again the BOC (BUREAU of CUSTOMS) has been known to be corrupt. There have been verified reports about its loses in revenues of P300 millions each month due to smuggling. Just recently. newspapers reported alleged illegal entry of imported sugar, rice, cars, agricultural products, plastic, petroleum, and smuggling of manufactured goods, such as iron bars and adulterated cement; the entry of 100 container vans of toxic waste; and the lost of 2,000 container vans of imported manufactured products without payments of duties and taxes.

Corruption in the form of bribe and facilitation money are elicited from delays in the release of cargoes, contributing to port congestion, does victimizing all kinds of importers, big and small which includes the honest and dishonest business entities. ‘Human interventions must be reduce to the barest minimum to reduce corruption’ avers Atty, Villanueva

BLOGGING COVERAGE.. Ms. Susan Amoroso (standing) emcee at the Media Forum held recently at the Jadevine Hotel in United Nation Avenue, Manila. Topics of the discussion is How to Rid the Bureau of Custom of Graft and Corruption.. Resource Speaker is Atty. Titus Villanueva (Right) former Custom Commissioner. 

STATUS OF THE DRIVE AGAINST SMUGGLING AND CORRUPTION

In a private blog and media briefing, lawyer Titus B. Villanueva in an excerpt from a book entitled ‘FROM THE RANKS’  a biography of Titus himself was written and introduced by  journalist Chando P. Morallos.

TITUS POLICY: EXCERPTS FROM HIS BIO-BOOK: FROM THE RANKS: TITUS B. VILLANUEVA's BIOGRAPHY BOOK: THAT DURING THE TIME OF THE FORMER BUREAU OF CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER. TITUS B. VILLANUEVA WITH  HIS POLICY: ‘ALWAYS FAVOR THE IMPORTER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT  CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE TAXPAYER WHO HAS THE BURDEN OF PAYING THE TAXES.’

According to Titus the BOC has not been lacking in reform programs or measures to curb smuggling and eradicate corruption. In fact, the following are some of the reforms adopted and implemented.

1.) Simplification of Customs Documents.
2.) Determination of the Time of processing of Customs Documents.
3.) Limitation of the Number of days of processing Customs documents.
4.) Reduction of the Number of signatures required in the processing.
5.) Conduct of Moral regeneration seminars for Custom employees.
6.) Use of Selectivity System by Identification of legitimate and less legitimate importers.
7.) Hiring of Pre-shipment inspectors (PSI).
8.) Computerization of Customs Operation.

It should be noted that two of the aforementioned reform programs: BOC's Selectivity System and Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI) were found out to be very effective but were removed from the operations due to political reasons. As reported funds from corruption and smuggling were used for campaign funds in both local and national elections.

THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

The restoration of the Selectivity System and the CISS (Comprehensive Import Supervision System) and removing the reasons why they did not last long. In case of big and legitimate-accredited importers, their shipments covering about 80% of the total imports should no longer pass through Customs but would be delivered immediately from pier direct to the consignee's warehouse but subject only to random check (Alert) to rule out abuse of the privilege. Bribe/ facilitation money would be avoided with the removal of Customs processing prior to the release of the shipment. 

Without human intervention, there would be no place for bribery/ facilitation money.
In the case of hiring of Import Supervisor, make the coverage comprehensive which was the reason why it was removed. The solution is to make it cover only the group of new and less reliable-accredited importers comprising only about 20% of total imports, hence, no longer costly to the Government.

In order for the solution to succeed and make it lasting, the system of reward and punishment should be adopted. This means that ACCREDITATION of big / honest, legitimate importers would be revoked if the importers commit any violation of the Customs Tariff and Custom code and other related laws and regulations. In the same manner, new and less reliable importers may join the group of big/ honest/legitimate importers should they maintain good record of performance in dealing with the BOC.

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS : FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

1.) Creation of a committee of 3 to 5 honest and reliable members. The committee would select/accredit those who would compose the group of big/legitimate importers and the group of new and less reliable ones. The committee member must be appointed by no less than the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Customs Commissioner.

2.) The Herein proposed solution to the problem should be contained in an Executive order to be issued by the President.



Former Customs Commissioner is the only Filipino Customs head to chair the ASEAN and APEC meetings on customs procedures. His advocacy to rid customs of graft and corruption has been proven effective during his term as customs deputy and as commissioner. He rose from the ranks serving the Bureau for 41 years and the only non-political appointee. He is a CPA-lawyer and a licensed customs broker. He is no other than Lawyer Titus B. Villanueva.
(VerGarciaBlogs)

Miyerkules, Mayo 10, 2017

YAKITORI RUINS GARDEN IN METROPOLITAN AVENUE IN MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES


Ruins Food Park: Food, Drinks, Music
By: Engr. Grace Bondad
Yakitori Ruins Garden.. a place where you can relax, dine and listen to good music. Just recently at Yakitori Daitokyo Site were "Ruins" is located (Along Metropolitan Avenue, Makati), just launched "Ruins Food Park." It's where your favorite mobile food vehicles were parked together for the happy hour.


When it comes to eating out, variety is the spice of life and Filipinos loves variety whether it's local food, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese or even Mediterranean, we indulged. The popularity of food parks mushrooming all over the metro is a testament to that. And while there are lots of different places to eat, we can still check new ones. Here are 3 things to expect at Ruins Food Park. 1. Variety of food.- Since there will be different companies participating, expect choices and options. We have noodles, bbq, pizza and of course, different drinks for this humid and summer season.
2. Good Music. - Ruins Food Park is part of Yakitori Daitokyo where we played different bands and singers occasionally. Meet them and there's a jamming session, enjoy the music with your Barkada.
3. Relaxation at its finest.- This is the happy hour after work. Invite your colleagues and friends to dine in the most affordable way possible.
Join us at Ruins Food Park and try the variety of dishes with good music. For more details: Tel.847 0413 / 8999824. (VerGarciaBlogs)