Launching our little business last month has been an eye-opening experience. It has broadened my mind about the dynamics of being an entrepreneur in this country. I am bound to agree with the observations of some people (including foreigners) that the environment for doing business in the Philippines is poor and discouraging. But first of all, President Arroyo should crack the whip on agencies who are "good on paper" but are actually NO GOOD in what they do. For example, how does DTI Secretary Peter Favila and his staff explain the more than one month wait in the ... Continue Reading...
Saizen, 85-peso shop in Robinsons Galleria: the house of cute
Truth to tell, during my first (and only) visit to Tokyo in '05, budget constraints forced me to visit the 100-yen stores as my only option for buying 'pasalubong.' They were huge, housed in three to four-storey buildings with all kinds of stuff available. Fast forward to 2009, one need not fly as far because the real 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop named Saizen opened its first branch at the Robinsons Galleria last April 29. Everything at 85 pesos each! I have to admit: the extent of their offerings makes Japan Home Center a poor cousin. Must-buys here, in my opinion: ... Continue Reading...
The budget traveller’s guide to Batanes : food, hotels and such…
DSC00830. Like most remote islands in the Philippines, it is hard to fly to Batanes on a budget. The Sweetheart paid $450 $425 for each of us on three-day, two night package tour arranged by a travel agency. Of course you know what happened after that - our three days became nine days which posed a challenge to our budget, considering that no credit cards were accepted and there were only government ATMs on the island. I figure that what makes travelling to Batanes expensive is the airfare, which stands at something like $250 to $300 for a return ... Continue Reading...
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