Bounty Fresh brings #DiskarteNaMayArte to the Asia Digital Marketing Expo 2015

Bounty Fresh will bring #DiskarteNaMayArte to the Asia Digital Marketing Expo at the SMX Aura, on July 26, 2015. The campaign aims to celebrate the Bounty Fresh Moms out there who always find creative and resourceful ways to make homemaking extra special for their loved ones. 

Why #DiskarteNaMayArte? 

Being a Bounty Fresh Mom is not just about providing for the house needs, it’s about providing the best experience for the family. According to Joan Caccam, Assistant Manager, being a Bounty Fresh Mom is not just about being a “wais mom”, who makes the budget fit. Being a Bounty Fresh mom is about being creative and resourceful to make everything extra special. This entails creativity, turning good chicken recipes to great chicken recipes. It’s about being resourceful, finding ways to turn the regular and ordinary things at home into something that will bring extra delight to the family. 

Hacking life one diskarte tip at a time

Acknowledging the power of social media in informing people of the campaign, Bounty Fresh launched the campaign on their Facebook page with an album containing different tips on how to put #DiskarteNaMayArte into the daily household chores. There are tips about the family, home, finances and personal well-being.

To access the #DiskarteNaMayArte tips, you may visit Bounty Fresh’s Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/bountyfreshchicken

Jjamppong: A Wedding Story

A popular dish in Korea, jjampong is a delicious but spicy noodle soup which is somewhat tedious to prepare if done in the traditional way. Thanks to the inventor of instant noodles for one can have a jjamppong in just a few minutes.

But did you know that this Korean spicy noodle soup can be a jinx to marriage? It's hard to believe but it actually happened that a wedding plan was put in the verge of not pushing through because of this red-hot jjamppong. 

This is the "wedding story" of couple Patrick and Jessah. The and-they-live-happily-ever-after chapter of their relationship was tested by the tasty jjampong.

One night, a few days before their much-awaited wedding day, Patrick went to Jessah's house hungry. Patrick asked Jessah to cook an instant jjampong noodle soup for him. Patrick has brought a few packs of Lucky Me Supreme Jjampong Instant Noodle Soup, which he gave to Jessah to prepare. Jessah obliged happily. 

Jessah went to the kitchen. She poured boiling water into the disposable styrofoam bowl, put in the spicy jjampong powder and seasoning and flavoring.

Jessah wasn't aware that she was being observed unobtrusively by Patrick while she was preparing jjampong. At that juncture, Patrick called the attention of Jessah and scolded her that her way of preparation wasn't right! Patrick told Jessah that the flavoring must be mixed with the water when the noodle soup was finished cooking so as not to dilute the flavor and aroma of the jjampong soup.

Ego-pricked, Jessah snapped back and nagged Patrick, peppering him with a lot of gibberish and dramatic monologues that he could not stomach. Piqued and starving to death, Patrick said something as if calling off the wedding. Jessah was so angry that she called it "quits" with Patrick.

Both of them confided with their close friends about the "aborted wedding". Luckily, they have friends who are caring enough to motivate them to push through with their wedding plan. Their "mayday" friends helped the couple to mend their ways so that they could attain their wish to live happily ever after. End of story.

Burger Avenue is ridiculous indeed!

Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Burger (smaller variant)

Yesterday, I and a few colleagues would like to have some fun. So, we all agreed to go to Zark's Burger in Bonifacio Global City for a food trip--to take on a challenge and munch real big burgers a la Adam Richman of 'Man vs. Food' fame. We all skipped lunch in preparation for our gustatory craving.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to locate Zark's Burger branch in BGC. Where the hell it is? So we ended up at Burger Avenue. Burger Avenue has also a similar food-munching challenge. But out of frustration of finding Zark's, my colleagues backed out and I was the only one joining the challenge.

Burger Avenue brags about its 'Ridiculous Burger', consisting of three big, thick, juicy quarter-pounder patties in one burger. But the said burger is still no match to Zark's Jaw Breaker (weighs 1.5 lbs.) and Tombstone (weighs 2.0 lbs.).

So I decided to take on the 'Ridiculous Challenge'. While waiting in line, I and my colleagues talked about the challenge and how I would possibly consume the big burger in about five minutes. I was so excited and hungry too.

After several minutes of waiting, finally, my order arrived. To my surprise, the size of the 'Ridiculous Burger' that was served to me was not intimidating enough. So I told myself that I can do it. Then, I called the attention of the cashier to signify my intention to start the challenge. But the cashier was ignoring me, so I approached the counter. I told the cashier that I'm ready but the cashier said that I didn't told her of my intention to take on the challenge. That's ridiculous! I and my colleagues were chatting all along about the challenge and our chatting was loud enough to be heard by the people inside the restaurant. Thus, I told the cashier she should, at least, confirm what she heard, or make a suggestion. The mere fact that I wanted the 'Ridiculous Burger' the first thing that should come to mind is the challenge, right?

At that point, the supervisor sporting tattoos on her arm butted in. At first, she sounded like what happened was my fault because I didn't inform them. Whatta f@#k! So I explained my side and she finally gave in.  So she took the burger that was served to me and asked the kitchen crew to cook a new one.

As it turned out, that 'Ridiculous Burger' has two variants: the non-challenge size, which is smaller, and the challenge size, which is the real biggie one. What I received was the smaller variant. What a rip-off! Such cheap trick is ridiculous, indeed! Whether or not one will be joining the challenge or not, one should get the same product, as advertised, that he or she paid for. 

Besides, you would most probably be ordering the 'Ridiculous Burger' mainly because of its extra-large size; therefore, even if you don't want to take on the challenge you should be getting the same extra-large size--no more, no less! 

To proceed with my story, the larger variant of the 'Ridiculous Burger' was finally served to me. Now, it looks intimidating and true to form. Then, my challenge had begun.

I could have hurdled the five-minute eating challenge if not for the following hindrances:

• The tattooed supervisor started the time way too early. The clock ticked the moment my hands touched the wrapper to open it.

• The burger was served right after it was cooked; therefore, it's too hot for me to handle and swallow.  

• There was no fork and knife provided on the onset. Thus, it chipped off several seconds on my time waiting for the fork and knife.

• The burger patties tasted a bit saltier than its typical burgers. The saltiness somewhat slowed me down.

In a nutshell, I've lost. But no regrets for I enjoyed that breeze moment, plus I satisfied my big craving. What am I not happy about was the way Burger Avenue trying to dupe us. Don't do that to customers, especially first time customers like some of my colleagues, for they won't be coming back!

As a tip to first-timers to Burger Avenue, even if you have no intention to join the 'Ridiculous Challenge', always tell the counter that you want to take on the challenge when ordering a 'Ridiculous Burger' so that you would be served the extra-large size, not the smaller non-challenge variant which is about the same size as the McDonald's Big Mac yet cost twice as much.

By the way, Burger Avenue has also its 'Silly Burger' but I'd rather not go back there. To be 'ridiculed' twice is silliness.

The Apo View Hotel: Where home-grown hospitality meets first-class luxury

Discover the fascinating city of Davao while residing in the spacious comforts of elegant rooms. Be charmed by the signature touches that will surely make guests feel right at home the moment they step in through the door.

A familiar fixture in the downtown Davao skyline, The Apo View Hotel offers guests modern accommodations, superb dining experience, and cutting-edge amenities while basking in the rich history and old world charm of the Philippines’ second oldest hotel.

A veritable home away from home, The Apo View Hotel features living spaces that are conducive to both working and relaxation. Vibrant locales and excellent hospitality ensure that warmth and comfort are always at close quarters.

The Apo View Hotel is a comfortable walking distance from Gaisano South Citimall and the People’s Park. It is well connected to the city’s main thoroughfares and central business districts where many commercial establishments, restaurants, and entertainment centers are located. Moreover, the first class hotel is approximately 20 minutes away from Davao International Airport.

Rooms & Suites

All suites and rooms come with a welcome drink for two people at the Blue Room, complimentary buffet breakfast for two people at the Entrée Restaurant, free use of swimming pool, and unlimited internet access in the guest rooms and public areas.

Deluxe Room – available in single/double bed.

Executive Deluxe – newly renovated room located in the 4th and 6th floors; available in single/double bed.

Executive Suite – newly renovated room located in the 8th floor; features king-sized bed

Junior Suite – has a living room, bedroom, and bathroom with shower and bath tub.

Studio Room – fully renovated room located in the 3rd floor.

Bridal Suite – fully renovated room located in the 8th floor; it has a living room, dining area, separate bedroom, bathroom with separate shower, and bath tub.

Presidential Suite – comes with its own dining area, living area, pantry, study, master’s bedroom, and bathroom with Jacuzzi.

Banquets & Functions

The Apo View Hotel offers packages that can make a special day an event worth remembering. Its fully managed function rooms, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, are perfect settings for all kinds of occasions.

Grand Ballroom – is offering absolute flexibility in convention and banquet arrangements; the perfect venue for conventions, weddings, dinner-dance receptions, and other large-function occasions.

Top of the Apo – newly renovated function room that can accommodate up to 200 persons; a perfect venue for weddings, birthdays, debuts, and other medium-scale occasions.

Garden Pavilion – fully managed function room, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, which provides a perfect setting for all kinds of occasions.

Other Banquets & Functions – include the Orchid, Catleya, Vanda, and Silver rooms, and the Boardroom.

 

Dining & Leisure

The Apo View Hotel offers popular culinary favorites and refreshing beverages through its in-house restaurants and bar, while its casinos feature table games and slot machines which the guests will surely enjoy.

• Entrée
• Café Josefina
• The Blue Room
• Pacific Palm and PAGCOR Casinos
• Pool Deck and Garden

Amenities & Services

• 24-hour room service
• 24-hour business center
• Swimming pool
• Massage service
• Safety deposit box at the front desk
• Car rental
• Travel agency
• Gift shop
• Dress shop
• Airport transfers

Contact Details

150 J. Camus Street, Davao City, Philippines 8000.

Tel: +63 (82) 221-6430 to 40

Fax: +63 (82) 221-0748

Email: info@apoview.com

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.

White Day: Far East Asian Women's True Valentine's Celebration

In some far east Asian countries, like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, it's the women who give chocolates and other presents to men during Valentine's Day, February 14. But come March 14, White Day, it's pay back time. It would be the men's turn to give chocolates, usually white chocolates, and other presents to women. 

Krispy Kreme e-Gift Certificate

Krispy Kreme goes online to deliver fresh, melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts and hot signature coffee for all occasions.

PLUS! GET A COMPLIMENTARY BOX OF THREE (3) DOUGHNUTS WHEN YOU ORDER NOW ONLINE AT www.krispykreme.com.ph

This online ordering service is initially available within Makati City Central Business District. A minimum order of Php500 is required. See the attached e-gift certificate. Just print and surrender it to the delivery specialist to claim your treat.

Try it NOW!

The world's biggest McDonald's albeit temporarily

The world's biggest McDonald's will be built in the Olympic Park in London, expecting to serve some two million customers over the period of the games. Once the London 2012 Olympics has been concluded (on August 12, 2012), the two-storey chalet-style building will be dismantled and 75 percent of its furniture and fittings will be re-used or recycled in other McDonald's restaurants.

Opportunites in the Chinese hog market

The price of pork in China has increased more than 50% in one year, yet the meat shops remain packed. There's so much money to be made in the Chinese meat trade nowadays. Did you know that the Chinese eat more pork than the rest of the world combined. The country consumes seven times as much as the United States. And consumption is increasing as per USDA as Chinese pork consumption rose 22% between 2002 and 2006.

Although in 2007, a shortage of pork hit China as a series of calamities, such as the earthquake, huge snowfalls, and an outbreak of swine disease have resulted in a 9% decline in the country's pork production. As a result, Chinese pork prices rose 68% between April 2007 and April 2008.

Meanwhile, there's a glut of pork in North America. The situation is so bad in Canada as its government is giving Canadian hog farmers C$225 for every breeding pig they "cull." To qualify for the money, hog farmers must agree to "depopulate" an entire breeding barn and promise not to house more hogs in the same barn for three years.

Meanwhile in the U.S., hog prices are so low that farmers are killing their piglets and using them as compost.

Thus, I think there's a big opportunity for America and Canada to export pork to China as the potential for further Chinese importation of pork is almost incomprehensible. Also, the Philippines must be on the look out for some opportunities to tap the Chinese hog market. A 1% market share from a nation with more than a billion people means a lot. Putting it into perspective, say 10,000,000 multiplied by the price of the pig . . . it's a lot of money!

Euro's rise causes Big Mac in Europe 50% more expensive than in the U.S.

The Economist magazine's Big Mac Index suggests that a McDonald's Big Mac hamburger in Europe is now 50% more expensive than in the United States. This is because of the continuing appreciation of the euro as against the greenback. Currently, the EUR/USD pair trades between the range of 1.5250 and 1.5750.

The Big Mac Index, which is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP), is a useful gauge of ascertaining which currencies are cheap and which are expensive by simply comparing the price of a McDonald's Big Mac in all the major currencies of the world. The theory goes that countries with similar levels of development should have similarly priced Big Mac hamburgers.

Could the Big Mac in Euroland continue to get even more expensive? Most probably.

The trend is still bullish in favor of the euro. But as the chart suggests, the euro "rubber band" is stretched as far as it's ever been stretched. And we all know that a rubber band returns to its original state once stretching has stopped. Thus, we may expect that the EUR/USD pair will return to its "equilibrium" state of value anytime soon especially so that some European central banks are beginning to worry about inflation.

Just when and how soon is the question.

San Miguel's paradigm shift

"Strategy is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought." – Sir Acid After a stunning surprise last year, the Philippine's leading food conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), in its effort to find "new engines of growth" would seem poise to undertake another corporate shake-up, which may see it sell part of its core food and beverage unit and more of its flagship beer operations. SMC Chairman Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr. has told in a stockholders' meeting that: "The restructuring may require the divestment of part of our interest in our major subsidiaries through either an IPO or follow-on offering and strategic partnerships with existing partners and other industry leaders... In the event that we do pursue such a partnership, San Miguel would retain controlling interest of at least 51%." SMC is said to be keen on venturing into power, mining, property and infrastructure businesses. However, the company has yet to make a major acquisition in those heavy industries, which perhaps has prompted Mr. Cojuangco, who has a 17% stake in SMC, to add: "Fellow stockholders, it may seem far too much is fluid. One year on, we are still on the lookout for potential and prospective investments... and we will report to you as soon as something concrete materializes." It's a paradigm shift for SMC! I'm sure most of us would not have thought, or dreamed of SMC would let go its lucrative beer business. And we may view such move as a nightmare. But there are few persons I know who thinks otherwise. Most vocal among them is Thads Bentulan, a Business World columnist who tagged himself as the Street Strategist. He is also a self-proclaimed future Nobel Laureate in Economics for his work on the Hyperwage Theory. His book Strategy Myopia, written in 1998, may have persuaded the current board members of SMC to embrace such a radical change. Here is what he told about SMC in his book: "SMC is a unique company. It was the single most qualified private entity to lead the country into economic prosperity. It had all the chances to bring this country into high tech value-added manufacturing or services. It had the clear chance to lead but it failed to grab the baton. "Unfortunately, it was content with being just a beer company instead of being the global world-class powerhouse it could have been. "SMC could have created its own computer brand for domestic and export markets in a technological partnership with HP or Intel... Instead of Acer or Compaq, we could have been using SMC laser printers and computers this time developing Filipino new technology along the way. "SMC could have gone into power generation. This is not too remote for its management as it already owns and operates power plants for internal use. Even granting it has no expertise at all, then it could have partnered with BC Hydro – not that I'm passing judgment on BC Hydro, but I liked their beautifully landscaped offices in Vancouver. "San Miguel could have gone into banking and financial services maybe by first issuing SMC Visa credit cards after all it had 20,000 employees as captive market. It could have gone into telecom, software, and infrastructure... For what it's worth, SMC could have gone into record producing, or book publishing to promote Filipino talents to the world. "SMC was poised to be the economic messiah; could have been the benchmark for Filipino companies with global ambitions; could have been our first chaebol... Can the country's only world-class, albeit single-sector, company afford to be myopic in its vision?" It seems that SMC is following the path drawn up by the Street Strategist. To continue, here are more excerpts from the book: "After 107 years, SMC is not a major regional player yet? You would have thought SMC would have moved on to bigger playing fields and developed new technology and diversified away from beer. The problem with beer is that it is consumption-oriented, hence counter-cyclical to the push for savings needed for a strong economy. Beer technology is mature, therefore being ahead does not translate into an advantage. It is not a basic human need and very volatile in terms of demand particularly for low-income countries like the Philippines. "By the way, how much is SMC's market capitalization? A mere US$2.7-billion... But Hyundai transformed itself in only 50 years from an auto repair shop into a US$93-billion group with artificial satellites, magnetic levitation trains, ships and semiconductors, oil refineries and stockbrokerages giving employment to 200,000 people. Why could SMC, after 107 years, only do US$2.3-billion employing only 18,500?" So there. Anyways, the name San Miguel seems flexible enough to carry its future businesses. It sounds pleasing to hear a corporate name such as San Miguel Electric Co. (SAMECO) or San Miguel Power Corp. (SMPC). Ditto with San Miguel Mining Co. By the way, follow this link if you want to know more about the books published by the Street Strategist: http://streetstrategist.googlepages.com

Libby's Fruits will invest US$0.5-billion in the Philippines

American fruit canner Libby's Fruits will put up a half-a-billion-dollar project in the Philippines within the year, as per the country's trade department.

Libby's Fruits will import pineapples from the Philippines via the province of Camarines Norte on the basis of a 35-year supply deal. Trade secretary Peter Favila and Libby's Fruits marketing director Michael DeRose have already signed a memorandum of agreement last week in the U.S.

Libby's Fruits is produced by NTC, a private firm with over 40 years in the food industry and specializing in tropical fruit products, like canned pineapples, guavas, papayas, mangoes, mandarin oranges, among others.

According to local economists, the project, once implemented, would benefit about 5,000 farming families in the Bicol region.

Burger King launches the worlds' priciest burger

The most expensive hamburger in the world, simply named "The Burger", was being sold for £95 (about US$185) at a branch of Burger King in the London district of South Kensington. It is patterned after the famous Whopper serving, but with Japanese Wagyu beef as the main ingredient.

The limited edition king of burger, which was sold out after just a couple of days of availability, is now challenging the Guinness World Record for the most expensive burger. The world record is currently held by the American Double Truffle Burger, which cost £65 pounds in 1994.

However, there are some claims that a restaurant in Las Vegas sells the most expensive burger - the US$777 Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger, which is served with a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon champagne. But the use of lobster and the champagne seems to remove that offering from the realm of true burgers, according to some critics.

The Burger is aimed at deep-pocketed aficionados looking for the ultimate burger taste experience.

All proceeds from the sale of The Burger will be donated to the Help A London Child charity.

SMC displays its corporate heart

The country's largest food and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), donated around US$500,000 worth of food supplies to provinces hardest hit by Typhoon Frank. It is estimated that about 50,000 families in Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Romblon will be benefited by SMC's aid. SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang, who spearheaded the firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign, has said: "Many of our countrymen in these provinces are still struggling to survive the aftermath of Typhoon Frank... We hope our efforts will make some difference not only in their day-to-day survival, but also in their struggle to rebuild their lives." Food sources in those provinces have been scarce since the typhoon wreaked havoc on crops and vegetation. Likewise, fishing has been banned to some Visayan waters due to health risks brought about by the sinking of Sulpicio Lines' passenger ferry M/V Princess of the Stars in waters off Romblon which has toxic chemicals inside one of its compartments. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will help SMC in channeling the goods to the provinces for speedier distribution.

InBev's US$46.3-billion takeover price for Anheuser-Busch could create a milestone

InBev N.V., whose famous brands include Stella Artois and Beck's, has offered to purchase one of America's leading beer brewer Anheuser-Busch Co. Inc., maker of the popular Budweiser and Michelob brands, for a cool US$46.3-billion. If the deal pushes through, it would create the world's largest beer manufacturer. Anheuser-Busch, by the way, has counts Warren Buffet holding firm, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., as its second largest shareholder with a 5% stake.

Last Wednesday (June 11), Anheuser-Busch's shares jumped more than 7% to US$62.73 per share in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) brought about by the merger talks. Nonetheless, the current market price of the target firm is still below the offer price of InBev which is pegged aroung US$65 per share. And this offer price represents a 24% premium to Anheuser-Busch's share price on May 22 of this year.

But with the way things are going, I could foresee that the final deal price might reach around US$75 per share.

China's debt of gratitude to the Philippines

In this time of increasing rice prices, Filipinos tend to use alternative crops like corn, potato, among others to make up for their carbohydrate-loaded diet. Sweet potato, or locally known as "kamote", is the top-of-mind alternative to rice especially for those Filipinos living in rural areas.

But do you know that this rice-kamote relationship goes beyond economic boundary. There is, in fact, some history into it that went as far back as many centuries.

It was during the Ming Dynasty under the reign of then Emperor Wan Li that the local crop was brought to China to feed millions of starving Chinese. Since, kamote is easy to grow even in barren and unfertile land as it needs only a little soil and water to survive, it became instrumental in solving China's problem during those times in dealing with famine and severe droughts.

Then, hundreds of years later circa 1970s, a Chinese agriculturist named Yuan Long Ping, now known as "The Father of Hybrid Rice", introduced the technology of hybrid rice to the Philippines. According to Prof. Yuan, he agreed to bring his technology to the Philippines in order to repay the nation for having introduced sweet potato or "kamote" to China hundreds of years ago.

Many of us might think that hybrid rice had originated from Vietnam or Thailand; but now we know that it actually came from China. The Filipinos had just taught Vietnamese and Thai farmers of rice farming methodologies, which included growing hybrid varieties, building rice terraces, irrigation, among others. These two nations are now the two top rice exporting countries and the Philippines is their biggest customer.

Going back to kamote, there were tributes written for the lowly crop by some Chinese historians and poets. The most famous of which is He Qiao Yuan's history of kamote that appeared in his popular book Min Shu (Book on Fujian), and his poem entitled "Fan Shu Song" (Ode to the Kamote). So this is how the Chinese people give high regard to kamote.

Not unlike in the Philippines, the local crop is being associated with farting and "dull moments". If a person has a hard time doing a certain task, he is said to be "nangangamote". Whenever someone farts, he is thought to have eaten a lot of kamote. But of course, these are just but a local butt of joke. (He-heh-heh!)

Reviving the Philippine Prawn Industry

The Philippines is used to be the world's second biggest producer of prawns and shrimps during the 1980s, next to Taiwan.

I personally witnessed the heydays of the industry as I underwent an on-the-job training for prawn trading under the tutelage of my father who was then the purchasing director of Philippine Marisco Corporation, the leading prawn exporter at that time. I had a chance to visit vast prawn farms in Orani, Bataan and Guagua, Pampanga.

During that decade, production rate averaged about 100,000 metric tons yearly, but today the country produces only 24,000 to 30,000 metric tons a year, or a decline of more than 70%.

The strong earthquake that jolted the northern part of the country, followed by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, created a huge negative impact to prawn farming. It precipitated the industry's collapse.

Lahar from Pampanga flowed into the river and buried vast hectares of shrimp ponds and prawn farms. Coupled with unsustainable practices, prawn diseases and technological lag, the industry finally hit the bottom in the 1990s.

From then on, the industry was virtually pronounced as "dead" by most economists. But for the past few years, sustainable growths were achieved brought about by the country's robust economic gains. However, this year it reels from the effects of high fuel prices and strong peso, and production costs are reported to grow by 15% by year-end.

A study made by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies in 2000 had said that the high cost of prawns / shrimps is due to the low 20% survival rate of larvae and lack of refrigerated transport. It is the lack of modern facilities that prevented or limited the local industry's competitiveness in the global market.

PhilShrimp Inc. president Roberto Gatuslao said, during the 6th Philippine Shrimp Congress held last May 28, was that the shrimp industry could treble its export earnings from US$34-million in 2007, when it exported 40% of its production, if a modern technology would be in place that will enable prawn exporters to ship products to Europe. Currently, the Philippines' big markets were only Japan and Korea.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, who also grace the event as guest speaker, recommended intensified research and development must be in place as this would be essential to the survival of the Philippine shrimp industry especially if local exporters are seeking more markets abroad.

Aside from the senator's recommendation, other recommendations were also discussed during the three-day event, which include tapping 106,000 hectares of unused brackish water ponds; introduction of cost-effective, environment-friendly farming practices; and genetically improving shrimps and prawns.

Warren Buffet buying chewing gum for US$23-Billion

Forbes' richest man in the world, Warren Buffet, has teamed up with M&M's candy maker Mars Inc. to buy the leading chewing gum manufacturer Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for US$23-billion.

The deal, which was announced yesterday (Apr. 28), creates the world's largest confectionery company. This would give Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. a stake of more than 10% in Wrigley. The Oracle of Omaha's other food holdings include a stake in Kraft Foods Inc.

At US$80 per share, the deal represents a 28% premium over Wrigley's closing stock price of US$62.45 per share on Friday (Apr. 25).

For some trivia, did you know that Buffet was a door-to-door salesman of Wrigley chewing gum during his younger days? According to some write-ups about him, the young Nebraskan kid got his start in business by buying gums and Coca-Cola from his grandfather's grocery store and reselling them for a small profit to his neighbors. Then, seventy years later, here he is owning the very brand he used to sell.

Jollibee launched 1,645th store

Philippine fastfood king Jollibee Foods Corp. opened a new store at Jia Ning Na Mall in Shenzhen, China yesterday (Mar. 26), reaching 1,645 store count worldwide.

As of Feb. 28, the Jollibee group had a total of 1,385 stores in the Philippines, which include 625 Jollibee outlets, 376 Chowking outlets, 237 Greenwich outlets, 192 Red Ribbon outlets, 27 Delifrance outlets, and two Manong Pepe outlets.

In foreign operations, it had 102 Yonghe King stores and one Chun Sui Tang store in China, 14 Jollibee and 12 Chowking outlets in the United States, nine Chowking stores in Dubai, five Chowking stores in Indonesia, and 21 Jollibee outlets in other countries.

In 2007, the company generated more than Php51-billion in sales and ended up with a 9.6% growth in net income. Due to its strong performance abroad, the company plans to open more stores overseas.

SMB to cut IPO price

Asia's leading food and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), will push through its planned initial public offering (IPO) this year of its domestic brewery unit San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB). However, SMC would slash its IPO price range at a more competitive level to address investors' growing concern on declining share prices.

Currently, the Philippine stock market is, generally, on a downward trend for the past six months. Yet despite of the market's bearish mode, the local business community remains optimistic as there are still firms planning to brave the volatile market. In fact, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines was the first one to launch an IPO this year. Procurement specialist BayanTrade would most probably followed suit after SMB's IPO.

Based on documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), SMB reduce its price range from Php9.50 to Php16.30 per share to Php8.00 to Php15.40 per share. The price cut would reduce SMB's potential proceeds from the sale of shares by about Php1.391-billion, from the Php25.246-billion down to Php23.855-billion. Part of these proceeds would be used to help the parent firm's diversification to power, infrastructure, mining and utilities business.

Vietnam to supply rice to the Philippines

About a couple of decades ago, Vietnam and other Asian countries, like Thailand and Indonesia, were coming over to the Philippines to study about rice farming. The Philippines was then a major exporter of rice across the globe.

But nowadays, it's the other way around. It is now one of the world's biggest rice importers, and Vietnam is one of its major rice suppliers.

Due to the growing global anxiety over climbing commodity prices, the Philippine government has asked Vietnam to guarantee at least one million tons of rice supply this year. The Philippines' agriculture department has expected that rice output for 2008 will fall between 1.5-million to 1.8-million tons short of demand. Hence, the government is in dire need to stockpile for food security reasons as early as now.

That's why inspite of a Vietnam guarantee, the agriculture department would still be proceeding with its open auction of about 550,000 tons of rice on Mar. 11, 2008.

Meanwhile, average prices have nearly doubled at about US$393 per ton in the past five years due to increasing demand and shortage of available farmland.