PH only Asian economy in Standard & Poor's 'Rising Stars' list

The Philippines is the only Asian economy to make it in its list of "rising stars" this year, a global debt watcher said.

The Philippines is only one in two countries Standard and Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) added to its list of rising stars in 2013, just when the New York-based financial services company is giving more downgrades than upgrade debt ratings. 

S&P defines "rising stars" as countries whose credit score was upgraded from junk to investment grade. This year's list includes 31 countries, where the Philippines is the lone Asian nation.

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Swiss foundation, Pinoys abroad raise P432-M 'Yolanda' donations

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos in Switzerland helped a foundation there in raising multi-million peso donations for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Swiss Solidarity, a foundation that raises funds for humanitarian relief and rehabilitation projects, gathered pledges of donations worth Swiss Franc 9,025,989 million (P432 million) in a six-hour telethon held on November 18, the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland said.

The Embassy said the event, which was dubbed as the Swiss National Day of Solidarity with the Philippines, was participated by Filipinos who took phone calls or provided food for the volunteers.

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Swiss foundation, Pinoys abroad raise P432-M 'Yolanda' donations

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos in Switzerland helped a foundation there in raising multi-million peso donations for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Swiss Solidarity, a foundation that raises funds for humanitarian relief and rehabilitation projects, gathered pledges of donations worth Swiss Franc 9,025,989 million (P432 million) in a six-hour telethon held on November 18, the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland said.

The Embassy said the event, which was dubbed as the Swiss National Day of Solidarity with the Philippines, was participated by Filipinos who took phone calls or provided food for the volunteers.

MORE

Swiss foundation, Pinoys abroad raise P432-M 'Yolanda' donations

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos in Switzerland helped a foundation there in raising multi-million peso donations for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Swiss Solidarity, a foundation that raises funds for humanitarian relief and rehabilitation projects, gathered pledges of donations worth Swiss Franc 9,025,989 million (P432 million) in a six-hour telethon held on November 18, the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland said.

The Embassy said the event, which was dubbed as the Swiss National Day of Solidarity with the Philippines, was participated by Filipinos who took phone calls or provided food for the volunteers.

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Young Filipino software developers aim to create apps to solve gov’t problems

MANILA, Philippines —Young software developers in the Philippines are coming up with app ideas to solve the problems of government in an international competition sponsored by Microsoft.

“[Microsoft] Imagine Cup, which is currently on its 12th year, is the world’s premier student technology competition,” Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines General Manager, said Tuesday during the launch of the national leg of the competition.

Microsoft said that 1.65 million students from 190 countries have so far participated from 190 countries. In the Philippines, some 1,000 students have participated already, they said.

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Lonely Planet names Palawan among best value travel destinations

Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world, has picked Palawan as among the 10 “best value travel destinations” for 2014.

Lonely Planet writer Tom Hall raved about Palawan’s jungle rivers, limestone cliffs and awesome beaches in his review.

“Palawan’s no secret, but it certainly rewards those who visit,” wrote Hall. “This mix, combined with stand-out attractions such as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Bacuit Archipelago (all available at a competitive price), makes it a great-value pick for old Asia hands and novices alike.” A journey on from Palawan, Hall said, leads to the Calamian Islands “where apparently Alex Garland saw the strip of sand that inspired The Beach.”He warns potential Palawan tourists though to “watch out for the May to October monsoon: it brings heavy rain, usually in the afternoon.”

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