In his Facebook account, the proud father to a first baby boy, Ogie posted, “Thank you everyone! Mommy and Baby are fine! Praise God”! This was in response to congratulatory messages from friends and colleagues.

Ogie Alcasid has two daughters from his first marriage with Australian beauty queen, Michelle van Eimeren. The two remained very good friends.

From 85th place, the Philippines now ranks 75th out of 142 countries, according to the report.

Among the negative points indicated in the report are the poor quality of the country’s public institutions, the issues of corruption and physical security. The report further states that “while the state of infrastructure is improving” it is seen as “not nearly enough to meet the needs of the business sector”. The Philippines ranked 113^th for the overall state of infrastructure, with low marks, for the quality of seaports (123^rd) and airport infrastructure (115^th). Primary education is also characterized by low quality standards. One thing that showed positive result is the country’s macroeconomic situation, which is up 14 places to 54^th. This is due to slightly lower public deficit and debt, an improved country credit rating and under control inflation.

The report also showed that the Philippines “continues to have a vast opportunity for improvement particularly the largely inflexible and inefficient labor market, which has shown very little progress over the past four years”.

Positive results were seen in the business sophistication category wherein the country ranked 57^th . This is “due to the large quantity of local suppliers, the existence of numerous and well developed clusters, and an increase presence of Filipino businesses in the higher segments of the value chain”.

The Philippines competitive advantage is “the sheer size of the domestic market”, which the country ranked 36^th.

Ranking of the Philippines in the Global Competitiveness 2011-2012 Report

1. Corruption – 127th
2. Physical Security – 117^th
3. Seaport – 123^rd
4. Airport – 115^th
5. Primary education -110^th
6. Labor Market – 113^th
7. Competitive Advantage – 36^th
8. Business Sophistication – 57^th
9. Macroeconomic Situation – 54^th
10. Overall State of Infrastructure – 113^th

The Global Competitiveness Report is a yearly report published by the World Economic Forum, a Swiss non-profit foundation funded by its 1,000 member companies. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The yearly forum brings together the minds of the world’s top business leaders, political leaders, intellectuals and journalists to discuss the most pressing issues of the world.

The new features of the Philippines peso bills are as follows:

1. Feature Philippine icons like the famous tarsier in Bohol, Taal in Batangas, Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, the Mayon Volcano, to name a few.

2. They have a patch that with a 45 degree angle, colors would change from blue to green and black to blue;

3. Feature the seals of the Republic of the Philippines and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;

4. They have micro prints and micro threads that makes it difficult for counterfeiters to copy;

5. They have a feature for the vision impaired;

6. They are made up of 80% cotton and 20% abaca;

7. They have anti-bacterial quality that makes higher denominated bills to last for more than 3 years;

However, despite the cited features, the new Philippines peso bills were vilified after they were launched in December last year because of two design errors. The errors cited were the allegedly inaccurately designed Philippine map and the wrong choice of color used for the beak of the blue-naped parrot, a feature in the new P500 peso note.

The release finally paid off.

The set of new Philippine peso notes, called the “New Generation Currency (NGC)” series, was one of the two finalists for best new currencies in the world in a global contest organized by the International Association of Currency Affairs (Iaca). The bills were evaluated based on design, including its innovation and security features.

The Philippines NGC also received a special award for best security features other than landing as one of two finalists. The new series of peso bills was cited for its optically variable device patch, a feature which can be seen in the new P500 and P1,000 bills.

The actor, fondly called Goma, was charged of tax evasion in 2005 for failing to pay his tax liabilities for the years 2000 through 2003. He filed a tax amnesty in 2010.

Richard filed his certificate of candidacy on November 30, 2009 for the 2010 May elections, but was disqualified to run as representative of the 4^th District of Leyte after the Commission on Elections granted the petition for disqualification filed by Buenaventura Juntilla against the actor on the ground that the he did not meet the legal residency requirement of at least one year.  He was replaced by wife, Lucy Torres, who won in the elections and is now the current congresswoman of the 4^th District of Leyte. Husband Richard is the Chief of Staff.

Richard, whose real name is Richard Frank, was discovered while working at McDonalds.

Among Richard’s films are:

• Iisa pa Lamang
• Dahas
• Kapag Langit ang Humatol
• Walang Kapalit

He started his acting career with ABS-CBN in 1986 where he played the role of Goma in Palibhasa Lalaki. During his acting career, Richard was known to have been involved with women. His relationship with mega star Sharon Cuneta was highly publicized as well as his relationships with former girlfriends Dawn Zulueta and Snooky Serna. He was also involved with model Patricia Borromeo who passed away in 2002 due Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He married his wife Lucy Torres in 1998.

As an athlete, Richard Gomez is pretty active in sports. He won a Gold Medal during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games for Fencing. He also garnered various awards and nominations for his movie roles like Dahas at Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin.

Richard co-owned a restaurant in Greenbelt 5 Makati called “FELIX.” He is currently with TV5 in Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak where he plays the role of Apollo Ortega. Richard, who keeps his Pinoy celebrity status, is also set to do a reunion movie with mega star Sharon Cuneta, former wife of Gabby Concepcion now wife of Senator Francis Pangilinan.

It can be recalled that TV5 was the network that jump-started Gelli’s career as an actress. Back in 1994, Gelli was part of a popular gag show of TV5, Tropang Trumpo, alongside Michael V., Ogie Alcasid, Earl Ignacio, and Carmina Villaroel. The comedy show was aired for almost 5 years. Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. are now with GMA-7. Gelli stayed in the show for four years after moving to ABS-CBN to join the noontime musical variety show “Sang Linggo nAPO Sila.”

In the Paparazzi Showbiz Exposed, Gelli shared that “Tropang Trumpo was 1993, ’94, ’95, I think. Yes, but I was only six [years old] then!” “Six years old lang ako nun, so medyo okay lang. Okay lang naman, no. Pero ang tagal na rin talagang hindi ako nakakalabas sa Channel 5. And I am happy and excited to be back.” “I am excited to meet new people and, of course, to work also with familiar faces.” Gelli jokingly added that she is set to do 78 shows in the coming days.

Gelli explained that GMA-7 will always remain in her heart and that talent fee is not the main reason why she is moving to TV5. “We did not take this decision lightly. Siyempre, pinag-isipan naming mabuti,” Gelli explained. The actress further states that she did talk to her manager [Boy Abunda] first and to her husband, Ariel Rivera. It was Boy Abunda who negotiated with both networks. According to Gelli, the talks started in August of this year and GMA7 countered the offer of TV5, but the lineup of programs from the latter pushed her to sign with the Kapatid Network. She explained that “I felt that it’s just time for my career, in my life, na parang a change maybe good for me… A gusto ko ring magtrabaho sa ibang environment. Not na ayoko sa GMA-7…I’ve been with GMA for, what,10 years-straight!” Besides the  Gellicious, the actress is also set to work on a sitcom with Vic Sotto.

Gelli de Belen is the younger sister of actress Janice de Belen. She is married to actor/singer Ariel Rivera for 14 years. The celebrity couple are blessed with two wonderful kids – Joaqui 12 and Julio 10. Driving the kids to school and fetching them are the bonding moments of the couple besides watching DVDs, work out at home, eating out, watching cinemas and going to Tagaytay.

Late last year, it was reported that the feud between Mariel Rodriguez and Toni Gonzaga started when Mariel, who has long been a friend to Toni, was said to have referred the latter as “duling” or “cross-eyed.” A confrontation allegedly ensued when Toni heard about the alleged badmouthing, which allegedly came from a Kapamilya star Anne Curtis, who supposedly told Toni about what Mariel said.

Just recently the two was rumored to have been in conflict with each other again.

Last September 30 at the Araneta Coliseum, during Toni Gonzaga’s 10th year in showbiz anniversary concert, Toni’s former Pinoy Big Brother co-host Mariel Rodriguez showed up along with Toni’s family and other celebrity friends. Mariel’s presence dispels the rumor that that there is a feud between the two actresses. It was Toni herself who declared, “tigilan na natin ang tsismis, wala talagang ganun.”

Toni admits that the recent malicious rumors is hard for her not to get affected. Toni would look to her family for comfort and solace each time she is faced with a challenge and her dad would always say,”you can do all things when Christ strengthens you.”

Mariel, who is now in a relationship with Robin Padilla, was seated beside Bianca Gonzalez during the show.

The Aquino Administration posted a budget surplus of P26.26 billion in April 2011, which is recorded to be the biggest in 25 years and more than 10 times the P2.6 billion surplus in 2010. This is according to Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima.

The Philippine government also posted a budget surplus in August 2011 with a recorded surplus of P9.22 billion. This is a result of a growing revenue and curtailed spending by the Aquino Administration, according to the report.

Philippines budget surplus/deficits recorded for 2011 are as follows:

January 2011 – P13.4 billion surplus

February 2011 – P21.5 billion deficit

March 2011 -P18.1 billion deficit

April 2011 – P26.258 billion surplus

May 2011 – P9.6 billion deficit

June 2011 -P182 million deficit

July 2011 – P26.482 billion deficit

August 2011 – P9.22 billion surplus

With four months to go before the year ends, will the Philippines economic managers be able to meet its targeted goal of a P300 billion budget deficit cap? Stay tuned!

The May 4, 2011 memorandum supersedes the memorandum of April 15, 2011 and thus revises the schedule of briefings and seminars in the following order:

DATE                                      VENUE

May 26-27                            General Santos City

June 16-17                            Naga City

June 23-24                            San Fernando, La Union

July 28-29                             Davao City

August 25-26                       Tacloban City

September 22-23                Ozamis City

October 27-28                      Angeles City, Pampanga

November 24-25                 Roxas City

December 8-9                       Zamboanga City

These briefings and seminars are intended for those pawnshop operators, foreign exchange dealers or money changers as well as remittance agents.

Those who operate the aforementioned businesses are encouraged to attend the briefings and seminars to update themselves of new laws and regulations that may affect their businesses.

Training fees will be collected of which P500 will be collected for each participant who will attend the two-day briefing/seminar and P300 for participants who will attend the AMLA seminar only.