TOKYO: Japan warned Monday it was in the deepest economic crisis since World War II, after Asia’s biggest economy suffered its worst contraction in almost 35 years in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Report exceeds government’s target for 2008 Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFW) has slightly surpassed the government’s target for 2008, posting double-digit growth on the back of continued deployment of Filipinos abroad amid the global financial crisis, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

If you’re an organized person (bordering on being OC?), you probably draw up a daily checklist of things to do at home and at work, so that your life runs like clockwork. Without your checklist, your multi-tasking life could go haywire. Or you could go bonkers.

No matter where they live in our vast and wonderful planet, people are people. But if all humans share a common biologic backbone, the peoples of the earth display a remarkable diversity of cultural norms. Language, religion, family structure, governance, music, dance, sports, and clothing are all subject to amazing cultural differences. And the human…

MANILA, Philippines – There are 356 cases of domestic violence against police officers pending before the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), an official said yesterday.

It was like throwing a bucket of water at a house ablaze. The results might not be quite promising.

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Prospero Nograles supported yesterday the proposed review and possible amendment or repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite experiencing its “worst economic crisis,” Japan is still hiring Filipino nurses and caregivers.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang urged the House of Representatives yesterday to hasten the approval of the P11.3-billion supplemental budget for the modernization of the 2010 elections that President Arroyo has certified as urgent.

HONG KONG — Asian governments should improve their social security systems and introduce tax incentives to encourage nationals to save less and spend more, a senior Asian Development Bank official said. Rajat Nag, managing director general of the bank, said the financial crisis was an opportunity to transform Asia’s export-led economic structure by expanding its…

Radio broadcaster and columnist Tony Calvento is in hot water after a 23-year-old writer-trainee filed charges of acts of lasciviousness and sexual harassment against him before the Pasig City prosecutors office yesterday afternoon.

FILIPINOS working abroad sent home $16.43 billion last year, 13.7 percent higher than in 2007, but December remittances grew at their slowest pace in two years as fewer people found jobs as nurses, engineers and housekeepers overseas.

MANILA, Philippines – The First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) is protesting a plan to disallow non-trust entities such as investment houses, investment company advisors, insurance companies and stock brokerages in participating as administrator and investment manager in the implementation of the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) Act of 2008.

MANILA, Philippines – Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), the country’s largest automobile distributor, announced they are studying the possibility of cutting the benefits of local executives and freeze wages amidst the slowdown in vehicle demand.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said yesterday it has cut its rediscount rate by 50 basis points and will raise the budget for the lending facility for the second time in four months to spur lending amid the economic slowdown.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite the global financial crisis, remittances from Filipinos working abroad   beat expectations, rising by 13.7 percent to hit a record high of $16.4 billion in 2008 from a year ago level, the Bangko Sentral ng Pili-pinas (BSP) reported yesterday.

US President Barack Obama has signed into law a slimmed-down economic stimulus plan worth about $787bn (£548bn) aimed at boosting the US economy.

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is examining old lease sites of a mining company in Benguet after it was found dumping untreated asbestos insulation panels in Mankayan town.

This is a story told by someone who shall remain anonymous to protect both him and the institution he heads.

MANILA, Philippines – Broadcaster Antonio “Tony” Calvento is facing a complaint for sexual harassment and acts of lasciviousness filed by a former employee who accused him of making untoward sexual advances toward her.

While stressing that Congress has the power and mandate to review, amend or repeal any law, including the oil deregulation law, Speaker Prospero Nograles said Monday that any congressional move on the controversial measure will have to be dictated by public interest.

Former President Joseph Estrada is still not saying whether he will be seeking the presidency in 2010, saying instead that he will be making his decision by June this year.

MANILA, Philippines – Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas has expressed fear that the planned re-commissioning of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) might become another source of corruption in the country.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang will consult stakeholders in the move to review the Oil Deregulation Law in the effort to strike a balance between consumer welfare and business promotions.

MANILA, Philippines – The recruitment industry yesterday warned of a lingering shortage of qualified nurses for overseas hiring.

This was the call made by the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) to the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) as the country’s largest consortium of private schools expressed willingness to hold tuition increase for the school year 2009-2010.

Consider the following: 1) The Philippines, at present, is proven to have at least 2,600 MW of untapped geothermal energy resources, with tens of thousands more left to be discovered; 2) Filipino geothermal scientists and engineers are considered to be the best in the world, such that countries like Japan are fast recruiting them for…

Members of the House of Representatives over the weekend voiced support to a government move to assign Filipino nurses in their hometowns while waiting for employment opportunities abroad.

PARIS: For a while France was able to say it had dodged the worst of the global economic crisis, but now jobs are being slashed across the country, recession is inevitable and social discontent is rampant.

BARELY had his feet touched down in Zurich where the temperatures were sub-zero than Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Edu Jarque was calling us to impart the warm news that despite rumblings on the global economic front that was impacting on the worldwide tourism industry, the situation in the Philippines tourism…