Lifestyle - Business: 3 Secrets to Customer Management That Bring Real Results

From a management perspective, we need systems because they make output and input neat and organized. Business runs smoothest when everybody is following the manual, step by step.

However, when we consider that employees must also take care of customer management, the systems—keeping inventory, managing the register, stocking supplies, accomplishing timesheets, expense reports, and hundreds of other minutiae—inevitably get in the way.




First Secret: Go beyond the routine.

Systems are based on routines, which reduce friction. They minimize effort which is useful for repeated processes. But good customer service is not a routine. It is a relationship, which requires more energy, and more effort to sustain.


Second Secret: Keep the face—eyes and ears—open to the customer

Customer management that makes a difference is face-forward, beaming its attention on each customer. Being tuned in and attentive is something that most employees will say they are. But keeping eyes and ears open means actively searching for the needs and concerns of the customer. Keeping alert to the customer’s needs means understanding that each customer is different, not a step in a routine, and each one requires different levels of assistance.


Third Secret: Be an expert on your own product.

Once you have mastered keeping your face oriented towards the customer, you must be able to respond fully to your customers’ needs. Knowing your company’s services or products really well translates into better presence, faster customer service, and customers that return for the excellent service and customer management. MP :)

Lifestyle: Gadget: Nokia Lumia 520 vs Huawei Ascend W1

This is one for the books: The P8,990 Huawei Ascend W1 held the "Cheapest Windows Phone 8 device in the Philippines" record for only two days; Nokia Philippines has officially announced the availability of the Nokia Lumia 520. The price? P7,990.

Everyone who has ever wanted to try the latest version of Microsoft's mobile operating system has more reasons to do so now that prices have gone below the P10,000 mark.

So which is the right Windows Phone 8 gadget for you? We take a look at what's on paper because we only have the Huawei Ascend W1 with us. We don't have the Nokia Lumia 520 yet.

At first glance, you'd think that Nokia's bet is the clear winner. But once you get past the price and check out the specs, you'd understand why there's a P1,000 difference.
Spec comparison: Nokia Lumia 520 vs Huawei Ascend W1

Some advantages of the Huawei Ascend W1:
The chipset is better.
The CPU speed is faster.
The rear camera has flash.
It has a front camera; the Nokia Lumia 520 has none.
The cell is bigger at 1,950mAh and should most likely translate to a longer battery life.

On the other hand, what's going for the Nokia Lumia 520 are the following:
Larger internal storage by 4GB.
Slightly slimmer and lighter.
MicroSD slot can take up to 64GB cards.

So it's really just a matter of what you need—for now, at least. Again, we haven't had our hands on the Nokia Lumia 520 yet. All we have is the Huawei Ascend W1, which we're loving thus far.

Source: Yahoo! Philippines

Lifestyle: Business - Forbes' top 10 billionaires in 2013

1. Carlos Slim ($73 billion). Mexican businessman Carlos Slim listens during a news conference after the inauguration of a new research facility at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMMYT, in Texcoco outside Mexico City in this file photo from February 13, 2013. Slim, who has taken a hit from the slump in the share price of his America Movil telecoms group since the list was calculated as of Feb. 14, remained the richest ...more 

2. Bill Gates ($67 billion). Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates listens alongside Mexican businessman Carlos Slim (not pictured) during a news conference after taking part in the inauguration of a new research facility at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMMYT, in Texcoco outside Mexico City in this file photo from February 13, 2013. Gates held on to his spot as the world's second richest person on Forbes' ...more 

3. Amancio Ortega ($57 billion). Amancio Ortega, chairman of Spanish global fashion group Inditex, laughs during a visit of Spain's Princess Letizia and Crown Prince Felipe to his factory in Coruna, northern Spain December 2, 2008. REUTERS/Miguel Vidal/Files

4. Warren Buffet ($53.5 billion). Investor Warren Buffet arrives for the premiere of the film "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" in New York September 20, 2010. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

5. Larry Ellison ($43 billion). Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, arrives at the premiere of "The Guilt Trip" starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen in Los Angeles in this file photo from December 11, 2012. Ellison, with a fortune of $43 billion, rounded out the top five of Forbes' 2013 annual ranking of billionaires. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS PROFILE HEADSHOT)

6. Charles Koch ($34 billion). Charles G. Koch has been the chairman and CEO of Koch Industries — one of the largest privately owned companies in the U.S. — since 1967.

8. Li Ka-shing ($31 billion). Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing waves during a press conference in Hong Kong on August 2, 2012. A Vietnamese property developer who started out making noodles in Ukraine joined Li for the first time on Forbes magazine's world's billionaires list Monday.

9. Lilaine Bettencourt and family ($30 billion). A file picture taken on October 12, 2011 shows the L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt leaving the Institut de France in Paris.

Source: Yahoo! Philippines

1. 1. Carlos Slim ($73 billion). Mexican businessman Carlos Slim listens during a news conference after the inauguration of a new research facility at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMMYT, in Texcoco outside Mexico City in this file photo from February 13, 2013. Slim, who has taken a hit from the slump in the share price of his America Movil telecoms group since the list was calculated as of Feb. 14, remained the richest ...more 

2. 2. Bill Gates ($67 billion). Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates listens alongside Mexican businessman Carlos Slim (not pictured) during a news conference after taking part in the inauguration of a new research facility at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMMYT, in Texcoco outside Mexico City in this file photo from February 13, 2013. Gates held on to his spot as the world's second richest person on Forbes' ...more 

3. 3. Amancio Ortega ($57 billion). Amancio Ortega, chairman of Spanish global fashion group Inditex, laughs during a visit of Spain's Princess Letizia and Crown Prince Felipe to his factory in Coruna, northern Spain December 2, 2008. REUTERS/Miguel Vidal/Files

4. 4. Warren Buffet ($53.5 billion). Investor Warren Buffet arrives for the premiere of the film "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" in New York September 20, 2010. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

5. 5. Larry Ellison ($43 billion). Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, arrives at the premiere of "The Guilt Trip" starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen in Los Angeles in this file photo from December 11, 2012. Ellison, with a fortune of $43 billion, rounded out the top five of Forbes' 2013 annual ranking of billionaires. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS PROFILE HEADSHOT)

6. 6. Charles Koch ($34 billion). Charles G. Koch has been the chairman and CEO of Koch Industries — one of the largest privately owned companies in the U.S. — since 1967.

7. 8. Li Ka-shing ($31 billion). Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing waves during a press conference in Hong Kong on August 2, 2012. A Vietnamese property developer who started out making noodles in Ukraine joined Li for the first time on Forbes magazine's world's billionaires list Monday.

8. 9. Lilaine Bettencourt and family ($30 billion). A file picture taken on October 12, 2011 shows the L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt leaving the Institut de France in Paris.

9. 1. Carlos Slim ($73 billion). Mexican businessman Carlos Slim listens during a news conference after the inauguration of a new research facility at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMM

People: Binibining Pilipinas GOLD 2013 winners (Ms. Philippines 2013)

Bb. Pilipinas 2013 GOLD Official Results:

Miss Universe Philippines - #41 Ariella Arida
Bb. Pilipinas International - #20 Bea Sanitago
Bb. Pilipinas Tourism - #16 Cindy Miranda
Bb. Pilipinas Supranational - #39 Mutya Datul
Runner up - #15 Pia Wurtzbach

CONGRATULATIONS AND MAKE YOUR COUNTRY PROUD!!!!!!

Lifestyle: Business - 5 Survey Questions that Make Your Customer Service Survey Speak Volumes

A customer service survey can be as indicative of your brand personality as a business card or storefront design.

Specificity is essential in composing surveys like a pro. I think it’s also essential to be specific in the tone and mood of your survey.

 

To test the messaging of your brand, and to see whether your branding is coming through in form and function, start with the broad questions that cover the brand attitude, and move towards particulars like helpfulness, accessibility, and whether they would recommend your brand to their friends or associates.

Keep your tone causal if you are a fun and playful brand. Keep the questions formal if you are projecting luxury or maturity.

Branding

1. When describing the Acme Brand, you would use the words: a) fun, b) active, c) conservative, d) cutting-edge, e) risque

Ease of Use

2. From the moment you decided to hire National Services Inc., how easy was it to choose and and contract our workers?

Staff Helpfulness

3. Please rate the helpfulness of the Smiley Staff from 1 Happy Face to 5 Happy Faces.

Comparison

4. Please rate our product quality compared to our competitors: 1) not as good, 2) worse, 3) the same, 4) better, 5) much better

Recommendation

5. How likely are you to recommend us to a good friend or family member? 1) never, 2) not likely, 3) neither likely nor unlikely, 4) likely, 5) very likely

Regardless of your chosen style in conducting your own customer survey, be sure to cover the important topics, and do so in a clear manner. When in doubt, never sacrifice understandability. The aim of a survey is to discover gaps in your service procedure as well as finding strengths and weaknesses in your business model.:) MP

Lifestyle: Business - Out of the (Suggestion) Box: 3 Fun Ways of Getting Customer Feedback

Asking for customer feedback is never easy, especially in person. The potential for being “put on the spot” is heavy on both parties, and is generally avoided. But thanks to the internet, it’s a lot easier to give unsolicited feedback. Online accounts for people and for businesses work on so many levels, as consumer protection and free marketing. But as it has opened the valves on people’s opinion, it released a torrent of opinion.

Starting with anonymous accounts, to the various Like/Dislike, +1, ReTweets, and Favorites, customer feedback is getting more and more important to host and to guest. Companies like TripAdvisor rely mainly on guest recommendations and warnings to hostels and hotels alike. A business owner should only Google their own business name to find out what are being said about them.

A common practice some years ago was to type in “I hate (company name)” to see if that web page was constructed. But it seems to have died out in the advent of social networking sites. It seems people prefer to let their friends hear their gripes, rather than to no one in particular.

Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” I wonder if he was right?

The Philippine cafe Mary Grace makes great pasta dishes and thick hot chocolate. But the Mary Grace behind the store started out by herself with her family, baking holiday treats from her own kitchen. As the entrepreneur in her took over, and the baking went from packaging for gifting to finally going bricks, mortar, and pestle, she retained the intimacy of the Christmas spirit, and let it thrive as the heart of her business.

And it twinkles evidently in the customer feedback. Each glass tabletop has thank you notes that her customers and friends have written, and are on display underneath the glass. This heartwarming decor is a clever and sincere way of encouraging—and showing—gestures of love and appreciation for and by her customers. Sit at one of the tables, and you will be delighted.

Nothing gives you the feeling that the food and the service is crafted with love than this. It is clear that the staff are appreciative of life and generous with their smiles, not to mention an exceptional dining experience.

Old Spice broke all conventions in 2010 when it went online for its “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” campaign (a.k.a. “I’m on a horse”)

Following the enormous success of its 30-second video (which reached millions of views in days), the wildly-quoted spot got so much twitter feedback that the creative team of Weiden+Kennedy in Portland, Oregon decided to keep the conversation going, online.

Customer feedback should be treated as currency by any business, and you should go out there and seek it. Look for it online; create promotions that ask for feedback, or simply monitor for mentions online. Start with simply excellent and surprising customer service.

Don’t stop until you get it good customer feedback—whether handwritten or online. And don’t forget, sometimes, all you need is ask your staff to spread the word; “Cc:” everyone in an email; it’s worth sharing—even internally—every time we receive a simple, “Thank You,” from a happy customer. :) MP

Lifestyle: Happy Easter to all !!!

Rejoice! He is risen! Matthew 28:6

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

Lifestyle: Business - Lessons on Customer Service: Tips on Making the Most Out of Your Customer Database

The power of computers has taken us such a long way in improving customer service management. But how can business owners like us take advantage of having customer data on file? Which information is best to ask from customers? Email, home address, or cellphone? (Or Facebook, BBM, LinkedIn, Twitter, Skype?)



It may seem ridiculous to ask at first, but CRM, or customer relationship management, is a game changer. How smartly we answer these questions turns data gathering and analysis into an exercise of harmony.

Get everyone focused and excited about a targeted and well-managed database.Much like writing your customer service playbook, coordinate first with your CMO, HR, and COO. You must ask: what is our desired outcome? Business teams, suppliers, employees, and especially the CRM developers should all be aligned, with required data agreed upon, and with KPIs (key performance indicators), and milestones taken note of.

What is the goal? This is something that only you and your marketing staff can answer. What are your business objectives? Do you want to grow or strengthen your market share? What is at stake when you get your CRM program populated? Common answers include “loyalty program,” “direct response,” “lead generation,” and “client re-acquisition.”

Begin with the end in mind. What is your metric for success? Phrase it with as clear and as single-minded an outcome as possible. The importance of this will be revealed in the subsequent points.

Why? Hire a CRM developer and this is the first thing they will ask. “Why are you collecting this data, and how will it be used?”

Different CRM objectives have different technical—and cost—requirements. Loyalty programs have a constantly updating data set; points, referrals, credits, past purchases all need to tracked. This means ballooning server space.

Is direct response what you had in mind? This is for reaching out to your customers when you have new products or deals. The technical requirements of this will depend on how frequent, targeted you want your emails to be.

Remember, these answers will be important once you have a discussion with your CRM guy, who won’t be as interested in the creativity or branding as you will be. They need to foresee challenges and complexity in data organization and access.

How can you afford a CRM program? By setting the goals early, and as specific as possible, you can already project your ROI. Knowing how much income you foresee will come in, you can better gauge your marketing budget.

Your CRM costs will differ on which goal you have. How much server space will you need? What kind of technology will make accessing this database better? Are you using POS (Point of Sale)? Do you have an extensive catalog of products or services? Do you want to track your registered customers’ interests or clicks on your catalog? Is there an existing database, or do you have to grow it? Who will update and regularly clean the CRM program? Are you managing/accessing the database in-house?

Unless you’re an expert on CRM and database management, choose your CRM developer wisely. That means someone who will ask you a lot of questions, and can agree with your vision on how your program will unfold. The further you can visualize the lifespan and usefulness of your CRM program, the more potent it becomes as a revenue booster.

Get a CRM that takes the time to educate you, not just someone who jots down notes and says ‘Yes’ to everything. What you intend for your database may not be feasible, or sensible, so make sure you thresh out the issues, and come to solutions cooperatively.

CRM is accessing pertinent information that surprises and delights your customers when you remind them of your attentive and supportive customer service. By being clear—first with your business teams, then your suppliers, and then to your employees who will be collecting, and possibly using the database—you can deliver service from behind a computer screen, spotting opportunities and problems before anyone else. Remove ambiguity by planning ahead by knowing and remembering these customer service tips.

Lifestyle: Busines - 10 (More) Customer Relationship Management Questions to Ask Yourself

Customer service may not be in every business plan, but it should be. Whether you’re putting up a new business or are entering a new phase of your business like franchising, expansion or specialization, assessing your customer relationship or procedure is essential.

The way customers feel is the second most important take-away of every transaction. Because after appreciating the value of your product or service, you want them to return. How you get them to return will depend on letting them know you appreciate their business as much as they do yours.

Ask yourselves these questions, and you will be able to see the forest through the trees.

1. When was the last time I reviewed our customer service routine? How do I ask the customers what they think of our brand and service?
2. Aside from my own, which is my favorite store, product, or service? Has customer service become expected of my brand?
3. When was the last time I got pleasantly surprised by a friend, brand, or service?Which famous techniques can I adopt in my marketing strategy?
4. Do I know the benefits and attributes of all my products? Should I expect all my employees to know?
5. What incentives do my customers have to want to be part of my mailing list?
6. What is unique with the way we treat our customers BEFORE the sale? How can I make our customer experience unforgettable?
7. How can we drive our brand message through DURING the sale?
8. Who is in charge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) AFTER the sale?
9. What are the Key Performance Indicators that I can demand from our customer service staff?
10. Are my customers more visual and do they like to browse new products? Or do they like to interact and share as a community? What are the benefits of having a CRM program in place?
11. Which local cause or community organization are my market most concerned with?

As always, surprise the client or customer. Exceed expectations. Do eleven when you promised ten. MP:)

Lifestyle: February Events 2013 by Choosephils.com

February doesn’t only mean Valentines in the Philippines. It is filled with, not only love, but colorful, vibrant events that are sure to make you fall in love with the country all over again.

1. Panagbenga Festival

Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, is home to one of the most colorful festivals in the country. Panagbenga is a month-long celebration that celebrates the season of blooming of the famous Baguio flowers. If you want to dance in the streets, be amazed with creative floats made entirely of locally grown fresh flowers (our very own version of California’s Rose Parade) and party all day long, then Panagbenga is one that should not be missed! The festival will start on February 1 and will end on March 4.

For more information and listed schedule: http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=festivals&id=930

2. 13th Philippine Hobie Challenge

The hobie catamarans of international sailors will once again sail through the waters of scenic Anvaya Cove. This sporting event is described as “one of the most extreme annual sailing events to grace the Philippine shores”. This year, the event will be held from the 23rd of February to the 1st of March in Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan.

For more information of the event: http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=festivals&id=931

3. Daragang Mayon: Ang Istorya ni Mayon

Witness the love story of the most beautiful legend in the Philippines as her story unfolds in a full length ballet at the Cultural Center of the Philippines this February 8. The love story of Daragang Mayo is also the love story of the world famous Mayon Volcano and the people of Albay. This provincial epic is the first of its kind to be presented on a national stage. Music will be provided by a Rondalla to set the romantic and ethnic mood of the ballet.

To know more about this event:

http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=festivals&id=928

4. 18th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Clark Air Base, Pampanga is once again home to the much anticipated Balloon Fiesta. Enormous hot air balloons in designs such as a birthday cake, orange and even a sunflower will decorate the skies on February 21-24. Time to cross off sky diving, paragliding and riding a hot air balloon on your bucket list on this “weekend of everything that flies”.

For more information and listed schedule:

http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=festivals&id=933

5. Ibon Ebun Festival

The festival, happening on February 8-10, is dedicated to the Candaba Swamp which serves as a temporary home of thousands of migratory birds from different parts of the world. Bird watchers and nature lovers make their way to Candaba, Pampanga during this time of the year to have a glimpse of our avian friends that found a temporary in the swamps of Candaba.

For more information and listed schedule: http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=festivals&id=932

Places: Binondo - the oldest Chinatown in the world

(photo by blogger edgar alan zeta yap, www.eazytraveler.com)

Did you know? 

The Binondo district in Manila is primarily populated by ethnic Chinese living in the Philippines. Established in 1594, It is the oldest Chinatown in the world.

FB:Choose Philippines!

Places: Agusan del Sur Province of Mindanao, Philippines - The world's largest crocodile in captivity, Lolong, passed away

(file photo from taopo.org)

Sad News: The world's largest crocodile in captivity, Lolong, passed away as confirmed by Mayor Elorde of Bunawan. #RIPLolong

Lolong, a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), in Agusan del Sur Province of Mindanao, Philippines measured 6.17 m (20.24 ft).

Cause of death is still unknown. Autopsy is ongoing.

RT @charievilla: Good pm from Abs cbn Butuan- Fyi po....mayor of bunawan informed us,patay na ang buwayang si lolong ngayong gabi lang...

RT @atomaraullo: Lolong the crocodile was declared dead at 8pm by Dr. Alexander Collantes, park vet of Davao crocodile park

ABS-CBN News Update: Crocodile 'Lolong' is dead.
Click the link http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/10/13/crocodile-lolong-dead

From FB : Choose Philippines

Lifestyle: Welcoming the year of the Water Snake ( Chinese New Year 2013)

Thinkstock Photo

It’s that time of year again—of lion dances, red envelopes with money, bushes with little oranges, and red lanterns decorating homes and restaurants. It’s the Lunar or Chinese New Year!

It’s an exciting time because it’s believed to be the start of a change in fortune for everyone. People are curious about what kind of year is promised to different astrological signs and what you can do to augment the good or counter the bad. There are also rituals to ensure good luck that not only those of Chinese heritage follow. What is the lure of these superstitions and why are most people drawn to them whether it is their holiday or not?

The Rituals

Michael and Lisa (not their real names) both follow Chinese tradition because they have been raised to do so. Every year, here are some of the rituals they follow:

1. Bathing in boiled pomelo leaves on the eve of the New Year and jumping into new pajamas, underwear, and slippers
2. Displaying five kinds of fruit on your dining table: pineapples, apples, oranges, pomelo, and dragon fruit
3. Displaying lettuce heads for family unity, carrots, Chinese celery with roots, yam candies, tikoy, and watermelon seeds
4. Purchasing prosperity baskets
5. Attending the New Year ceremony in temples
6. Having a feng shui master fix your home and perform cleansing rituals
7. Wearing red on Chinese New Year itself

Erin (not her real name), who is not of Chinese heritage, also follows a few rituals. “My friends and I take a trip to Chinatown to enjoy each other’s company and the food, then we troop to a feng shui expert. She tells us what charms to buy and how we would fare for the year. I also go to the temple and light incense sticks and bow during the eve of the New Year.” 

 

Thinkstock Photo 

Why Do Them?

Michael and Lisa both admit that the rituals can get tedious and expensive, but they still follow them every year. “Everything symbolizes something,” explains Michael. “Wearing new clothes symbolizes the new things to come, the fruits symbolize a bountiful harvest or a prosperous year ahead, and so on.”

Michael adds that they need to feel they have prepared for the year. “When you follow all these, you have peace of mind and you look forward to a better year because you know that you did your best to augment your luck,” agrees Lisa.

For Erin, it isn’t about tradition. “I cannot say if the luck or blessings come directly from following these practices, but it doesn't hurt to do them and I think it's fun,” she says. “I don't take it too seriously.”

Psychologist Kathleena dela Rosa explains the draw of superstitions in general: “People, as a rule, want to have as much control over their environment as they can—although there are certain personalities that need this more than others. Superstition is a way to do that or at least a way to try and control one’s world. It follows that by following superstitions, one’s level of stress may be lessened because you feel like you have gained some sort of control, even if it’s just in your head—or even if it’s really just the promise of control.”

The Drawbacks

As Michael and Lisa mentioned, it can be quite expensive and time consuming to follow all the rituals. However, since it is part of their heritage, they pay respect to their culture by keeping their traditions alive.

Erin admits that if she totally relied on the beliefs, she could see that becoming a problem. When you use rituals to handle your stress, dela Rosa says, “it is handled superficially and one is really just tricked into a sense of security. So instead of people getting used to or relying on better ways to handle stress, they handle it this way, which if you think of it, is not really handling anything or solving any control issues at all.” 

 
A snake lantern is seen among other Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai February … 

The Bottom Line

Dela Rosa explains why superstitious tradition continues to live on: “Those who grew up believing Chinese superstitions or any superstitions for that matter, just by the fact that they grew up with them, find a need to follow them or they feel unsettled. Following becomes the path of least resistance or stress.”

As long as you know that the control really lies in your hands, following Chinese New Year rituals and beliefs can work for you. Michael adds, “It’s really about upholding our tradition. In the end, I still believe prayers to God work best.”

KUNG HEI FAT CHOY!

Article courtesy of Yahoo News!

Lifestyle: Over 4 million tourists 'had fun' in Philippines in 2012

The mere mention of Davao beaches conjures images of the Island Garden City of Samal, a postcard-perfect city of Davao Del Norte is comprised of 46 modest villages (Photo by Gael Hilotin)

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - A grand total of 4,272,811 tourists visited the Philippines in 2012, the first time the foreign visitor mark breached four million.

Despite the all-time high, however, the number still fell short of the Department of Tourism's target of 4.6 million tourist arrivals for the year.

"Some shortfalls were felt due to economic and political pressures (in the) traditional markets such as the United States, Europe and China," said the DOT in a statement.

Missed target

Although the target was missed, the DOT said the figure was a 9.07-per cent increase over the 3,917,454 visitors in 2011.

"Crossing the four-million mark is a feat in itself and puts us well on track to achieve our ultimate goal of 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016," said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a statement.

"Despite a few bumps on the road, all key source markets still registered positive growth for the year," he added.

Related story: Tourists who stay in the Philippines on the rise

Jimenez though admitted it was going to become increasingly challenging to meet future targets.

"But we know that Filipinos are the biggest believers of our slogan, 'It's more fun in the Philippines.' We remain confident and will continue to build on the positive energies in order to cross the five-million milestone in 2013," he said.

Exploring market

Jimenez said the DOT's thrust this year is market development, which entails expanding the potential market for new users and new uses.

Related story: More fun to be Pinoy, immigration data show

"We will look into segments that we have not thoroughly explored. We will explore more creative executions geared toward sustaining the fun we have started. We hope to have stronger representation and be part of the future of tourism in Asia," he said.

South Korea remains our biggest source of tourists, with 1,031,155 visitors coming from that nation alone last year, the DOT said.

They were followed by visitors from the United States at 625,626 and Japan with 412,474 tourists. Overseas Filipinos numbered 215,943 arrivals, or 5.05 per cent of the total tourist traffic, exhibiting a steady growth rate of 4.24 per cent.

COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Lifestyle:10 Of The World's Most Dangerous Airlines

Photo and Article c/o Yahoo News Phl

Flying was less deadly in 2012 than in any year since 1945, but that does not mean all airlines are equally safe.

The Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC), which collects information about aviation accidents and safety, has published its annual Airline Safety Ranking.

The ratings take into account the number and deadliness of hull loss accidents and serious incidents in the last 30 years of operation in relation to passenger miles flown. The ratings also take into account international safety benchmarks such as the IOSA Audit and the USOAP country factor, along with a time factor which increases the effect of recent accidents.

The results do not account for the cause of hull losses or whether the airline is at fault, so they are an imperfect measure of safety.

Of 60 ranked airlines, here are the ten with the worst safety records, including the number of hull losses and passenger deaths in these accidents since 1983:

#10 SkyWest Airlines: 3 hull losses; 22 dead

#9 South African Airways: 1 hull loss; 159 dead

#8 Thai Airways International: 5 hull losses; 309 dead

#7 Turkish Airlines: 6 hull losses, 188 dead

#6 Saudia: 4 hull losses; 310 dead

#5 Korean Air: 9 hull losses; 687 dead

#4 GOL Transportes Aéreos: 1 hull loss; 154 dead

#3 Air India: 3 hull losses; 329 dead

#2 TAM Airlines: 6 hull losses; 336 dead

#1 China Airlines: 8 hull losses; 755 dead

Lifestyle: Les Miserables - A Movie Review

Les Miserables an adaptation from Victor Hugo’s eponymous book, a classic tale of humanity, love and loss set against the backdrop of a political uprising in France, the French Revolution. It is directed by Tom Hooper.

Les Miserable is a story of a reformed man, Jean Valjean (Jackman) and a duty bound policeman, Javert (Crowe). Valjean, imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf to save his sister’s son, jumps parole.

Valjean is astonished and moved by the Christ-like charity of the Bishop (Colm Wilkinson), who takes him in, and forgives him for attempting to steal silverware of the Church, making him a present of it and protecting him from arrest. Valjean realize the gesture of the Bishop which changed him to become a better man.

After seven years, Valjean becomes a mayor and a factory owner. Then he bumps into police officer, Javert, who recognises him as the prisoner. And with the belief, “Once a thief, always a thief”, Javert trails him.

Fantine (Anne Hathaway) on the other hand works as a poor employee of his factory and her daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), who falls in love with revolutionary firebrand Marius (Eddie Redmayne) just as Paris erupts in a bloody revolution. Valjean must unite the lovers before making his final reckoning with Javert.

What makes Les Miserables memorable? Is the melodramatic musical fare thatt is visually packed with emotion; filled with grief, romance, humility and humour. The film charms its audience with passion, sincerity and an overwhelming force of the characters.  The physical strength of this movie is impressive: an awe-inspiring and colossal effort, just like Valjean’s as he lifts the flagpole at the beginning of the film.

Crowe offers the most open, human performance as a cruel, unbending law-officer and royalist spy. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are great as the dodgy innkeepers M and Mme Thenardier, respectively. Other moments are less up to the mark. Hathaway’s fervent rendition of “I dreamed a dream”, in extreme close-up, has been much admired, but her performance and appearance is a bit Marie Antoinette-ish. Her poverty-stricken character is supposed to have pitifully sold her teeth to a street dentist. .

The cinematography and production value are very good. Especially with Jackman hiking over mountaintops, and heaving a ship into a vast drydock alongside hundreds of other slaves, but apart from this, much of the film’s final act is confined to one cramped studio set which represents downtown Paris.The action should be momentous, considering that a revolution is brewing, but instead it seems paltry, and altogether more like a stage show than a film. 

Over all it is hugely enjoyable, powerfully emotional musical with superb songs, stunning set design and a series of brilliant performances from a note-perfect cast. It is also spectacular to look at and often poignantly beautiful to listen to, this won't disappoint the millions who have sighed at the stage play.

C'est magnifique.:)

My rate 4 out of 5 stars.

Places: Philippines Ranks 2nd In Top 10 Travel Destinations

Philippines Ranks 2nd In Top 10 Travel Destinations

MB:

Some parts of the world may still be oblivious of the Philippines as a hot beach-holiday destination but American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller predicts that the country's heavenly islands and white sand beaches are among the newest destinations to watch for in 2013.

On the magazine's online site (www.cntraveller.com), the Philippines ranked second in its "Top 10 hot destinations that will be big news for travelers in 2013." Brazil topped the list. The Netherlands' city of Amsterdam was ranked third; Africa, fourth; Galapagos Islands, fifth; Kashmir, sixth; Mayan Riviera, seventh; New Zealand, eighth; Panama, ninth; and Oman, 10th.

Condé Nast's Laura Fowler wrote in her article that "the Philippines may still not be the most obvious beach destination but it soon will be." The writer also compared the country's more than 7,000 islands to the islands of Maldives: "Sorry, Maldives... We love you, but we've got a new flame."

Especially mentioned in the piece as must-see places are Bicol, where travelers can swim with the huge but gentle whale sharks; Siargo, a stunning little known island perfect for deep-sea fishing; Palawan, "palm-fringed white-powder beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, natural lagoons for wild swimming all of it protected by UNESCO."

According to the article, the Philippines is becoming "particularly popular among serious divers, who come for the incredible underwater life, unspoilt coral gardens with rainbow-bright fish, green sea turtles and dugongs."

This year, the country's countless world-class beaches may well be on the radar for wide-eyed travelers looking for the next best tropical paradise.

Source: GMA Network FB