Travel : Japan Eases Visa Requirements for Filipinos

Mount Fuji - Japan's highest peak

Many countries do not require visa for Philippine nationals to visit their country; but other countries require Filipinos to get an entry visa, and some of them have very stringent requirements. One particular country that is quite strict in issuing visa to Filipinos is Japan. This is understandable because some Filipino tourists overstay in Japan to find jobs when their visa expires. The high exchange rate of the Japanese yen, the high-paying blue collar jobs, and job referrals from friends/relatives who are already working there, are some of the  reasons  why these Filipino visitors are enticed to find jobs in Japan. 

There are also thousands of overseas Filipino contract workers all over Japan (working mainly in the entertainment industry) and it would not be an easy task for Japanese immigration to apprehend these overstaying visitors, so this could also be one reason for them to strictly qualify visa applicants from the Philippines.  For whatever reason, getting a Japanese visa is a hurdle to many Filipinos.

A couple of weeks ago, there were "unofficial" news that Japan would be easing up on visa requirements, and many Filipinos welcomed the news with anticipation. But last  Tuesday (June 17, 2014) the Japanese embassy in Manila released the news officially :

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has approved “substantial relaxations of visa requirements” for tourism visas issued to nationals of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

The policy move is just an “initial step” of the ministry's “endeavor to realize the exemption of visa requirements,” the embassy also said.

A report by Kyodo News on April 15 said the Japanese government is “making arrangements” to waive visas for tourists from the three Asian countries.

A report on Nikkei Asian Review quoted a Japanese Tourism Agency official as saying that for the Philippines and Vietnam, Japan will launch "a substantive visa exemption" by simplifying visa acquisition procedures for participants of tours offered by the travel agencies designated by the Japanese government.

Tourist visa requirements were relaxed to help achieve Japan's goal of attracting 20 million foreign visitors by 2020, when Tokyo will host the Olympics and Paralympics, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

“For national of the Philippines multiple-entry visa requirements will be substantially relaxed, and requirements for single-entry tourism visas will be relaxed to a quasi-exemption-equivalent level when applied via specified travel agencies,” the embassy said in its statement.

However, other details, including “the beginning date of application” are still being worked out, the embassy said.

According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, visitors from overseas surpassed the 10 million mark for the first time in 2013 due partly to the yen’s weakening.

It said Japanese officials believe that by making it easier to obtain a visa, the number of foreign tourists to Japan will double from the 2013 level by 2020.

New Source : GMA News

Indeed this is a welcome development specially to Filipinos. Japan is geographically so near to the Philippines but it seems so far to many Filipinos because of this visa impediment. 

For the three countries specifically mentioned (Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam) who would be benefitting from this development, it is obvious that economic and political reasons had been considered for their inclusion------These three countries are the fastest growing economies in Asia these past years; and Vietnam and the Philippines are Japan's allies in fighting China's expansionist scheme in East Asia.-----

Japan is a very beautiful country with a unique and ancient culture; and the Japanese people are admired for their kindness and courteous manner. Many people would love to visit the country if given the opportunity. With the easing of visa requirements (and maybe even a complete waiving of visa requirements soon) this will give more people a chance to visit Japan. Im sure many Filipinos are already excitedly planning for a Nippon adventure. 

Let's forget Hong Kong (who likes unfriendly people anyway?). As one travel writer puts it : Japan will now be the "New Hong-Kong" for Filipinos. 

Picture Sources :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10029963/Mount-Fuji-to-get-World-Heritage-status.html
http://www.tourist-destinations.com/2011/06/kyoto-japan.html
http://www.japanfreeclassifieds.com/

Announcement : Room Assignments for the PRC Real Estate Broker Licensure Exam

Professional Regulation Commission

Here are the room assignments of examinees for the PRC Real Estate Broker Licensure Exam on March 17, 2013 (Sunday) in the following cities : MANILA, ILOILO, CEBU and CAGAYAN DE ORO.

Please click links below for room assignments :

MANILA :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0313ra_Manila.pdf

ILOILO :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0313ra_Iloilo.pdf

CEBU :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0313ra_cebu.pdf

CAGAYAN DE ORO :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0313ra_cdo.pdf



Reminder to all examinees :
Please follow examination instructions/rules below accordingly.

• Examinees should report before 6:30 in the morning every examination day. LATE EXAMINEES WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.
• Bring the following: Notice of Admission (NOA), Official Receipt, pencils no. 1 or 2,  black ball pens, metered-stamped window mailing envelope, long brown and long plastic envelopes.
• CELLULAR PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC GADGETS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
• Wear the prescribed dress code.

Source :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/licensure/?id=26

Petition : Saving Manila Bay and Our Sunset

The Beautiful Manila Bay Sunset

I studied in one of the universities in Intramuros, and one of the places we used to go to kill time before going to class or study before an exam was at the Rizal Park, particularly in that small pocket park area behind the Grandstand. It was a good place go, alone or with friends. That place was also a dating place for couples, and a picnic place for families and"barkadas". The best time to go there was late in the afternoon during sunset. And the best place to sit was along the sea wall or the benches facing the sea.

The last time I went to this place was when a a balikbayan cousin invited me to a dinner in one of those seafront restaurants, two years ago. The place had changed a lot, most of the area is now a parking lot. The seawall area where we used to watch the sunset is almost gone, replaced by the Manila Ocean Park and restaurant expansions.  I was saddened with what I saw. Yes, there were new development and tourist attractions, but the sunset viewing spots were gone.

For many Manilans, it is a ritual to go to the Rizal Park and the Roxas Blvd seawall to watch the beautiful sunset of Manila Bay. Watching the sunset is a mesmerizing and an almost spiritual experience. Seeing a big orange fireball going down the horizon with the sky changing its hues with all the shades of red, orange, blue, violet, magenta as it goes down is just something out of this world. Very few cities or places have sunsets, but fewer are places with a beautiful sunset. And Manila has one of the most beautiful sunset in this planet.

Nowadays, if you want to see an unobstructed view of the famous Manila Bay sunset, you have to go to the seawall along Roxas Blvd. between the US Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club. This is the only location now left to see the sunset along Roxas Blvd. But soon, the sunset view will be obstructed by a new real estate development in this area. A big portion of the Manila Bay between the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the US Embassy will be reclaimed and developed into a commercial hub.

We hope that that day will never come when we will never see the sunset along Roxas Boulevard anymore. If ever that day comes, Manila's sunset years has come.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE PETITION NOT TO RECLAIM MANILA BAY

Please sign the petition below

Click link below to sign the petition :
http://www.change.org/petitions/s-o-s-manila-bay-save-our-sunset-stop-the-reclamation-of-manila-bay?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=18773&alert_id=oNXzRKjwGs_QxbcFZjviM

Photo Source :
http://mypinoy.tv/news/reclamation-of-manila-bay-sunset-view-revived/

People : Elton John - The Musical Genius

Two weeks ago my sister requested me to drive her to a wedding. On our way to the church, she mentioned that she just had a luncheon/reunion with her college friends. One of her friends works at that big television network along Mother Ignacia St. in Quezon City. After their reunion her friend invited them to watch a concert because she had some tickets for that one-night concert of Elton John. That was when I remembered that I was supposed to buy a ticket and watch the same concert : Elton John - 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man. Since I forgot to buy the ticket and had some job to do, I just shrugged my shoulders because I will be missing one of the best artists to come to Manila. Elton John is one of the best songwriters of the past four decades. His collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin has produced some of the best songs of all time. His fans span generations with varying preference of musical genre'.

Yesterday, while browsing a favorite blog : The Daily Spank, I saw a blog post about the concert of Elton John. After reading the post, I realized that I really missed a once-in-a-lifetime concert of a musical genius.

Here's Elton John singing one of his greatest hits :



Video Source :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwzdVHTNpXs
Related links :
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfllpQwi4EdHgulQONjIq_w
http://www.juice.ph/blogs/kultura/sting-and-elton-john

Announcement : MANILA - Room Assignments for July 2012 Real Estate Appraiser PRC-Licensure Exam

Here is the complete list of  Manila examinees with their corresponding room assigments for the July 8, 2012 - Real Estate Appraiser PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Licensure Exam.

Place of Examination :
SCHOOL / BLDG : MONZON HALL, MLQ UNIVERSITY
ADDRESS: QUIAPO, MANILA

Cilck list to enlarge ( page 1 only )

Click here to see complete list of examinees- room assignments :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_Manila.pdf

Related Links :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_Iloilo.pdf

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_cebu.pdf

PRC

Environment : Turning a Concrete Jungle into an Urban Forest

How do you turn a city of concrete buildings with not much land space to plant trees into an urban forest? Simple : Plant trees on building rooftops.  Getting an inspiration from the ancient wonder : Hanging Garden of Babylon, that is how Lebanese Architect Wassim Melki plan to turn the city of Beirut into a rooftop garden city and make it green.

I think this is one of the most ingenious ideas on urban greening project I have encountered. And I hope Beirut pushes through with the project because the idea is beautiful, doable and eco-friendly. 

I have seen one or two private buildings here in Manila with rooftops converted into tree and shrub gardens. And they really look great and "cool". 

Click pictures to enlarge

                 

                   BEFORE ( How Beirut looks now )

AFTER ( Computer Simulation of how will Beirut look after ) 

Related Link and Picture Source : 

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/09/world/meast/beirut-wonder-forest/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
Related Link :
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/urban-farming/?source=link_fb20120628env-urbanfarming&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20120628env-urbanfarming&utm_campaign=Content

Update : Schedule and Coverage of the PRC Real Estate Appraiser Examination

Here is the schedule and coverage of the PRC Real Estate Appraiser Examination  to be held on July 8, 2012 in Manila, Cebu, Ilo-ilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Baguio cities :

Click documents to enlarge

Schedule and coverage of PRC Real Estate Appraiser Examination

PRC

 Related Link - Click link below to download PDF file :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/boardprogram_REALSTATEAPPRAISER_JUL12.pdf

Places : Manila - A City that Never Sleeps

If America has New York City as the city that never sleeps, Asia has Manila as the city that never sleeps. Manila as a "never sleeping" city is a recent phenomenon. 

Hongkong , Macao, Bangkok, Manila and other Asian capitals, are given "late sleeper" cities and bustling with activities even at night.  But a recent business trend  and cost cutting practice called: business outsourcing, has made Manila the 24-hour no-sleep city of Asia. 


Business outsourcing has introduced large-scale business call centers  in Manila and this has made Manila's night time as regular business working hours, and has employed thousands of  Filipinos and expatriates. These call centers serve multinational companies in different time zones of the globe has made Manila one of  the busiest business call center hubs in the region. But while other Asian cities are dimming the lights of their buildings and business districts, and getting ready to sleep, Manila is lighting its own to start another business night. 

India is the call center capital of the world until recently, but the Philippines has grabbed this tag. The reason for the shift, they say, is due to the preference for the less accented American English spoken by the Filipinos (as compared to the heavily accented British English of the Indians). The influence of Hollywood movies in making American English the common English is likely another reason for the shift.

Manila- Asia's City that Never Sleeps

Going back to the main topic of Manila being Asia's city that never sleeps, besides the introduction of  call centers, other factors have contributed to this phenomenon. Manila having one of the most vibrant night life and live entertainment in Asia is one reason, and another is the  recent proliferation of 24-hour casinos, shops and restaurants. Both have added to the nocturnal activities of the city. 

But one factor, distinctly Filipino, that has contributed much in making Manila the sleepless city that it is, is the Filipinos' love for coffee.( Asia is generally a tea drinking continent ) Majority of Filipinos being coffee drinkers, have made coffee drinking a ritual and a regular  social activity; and this has created some sort of an elitist subculture of coffee drinkers. This is the reason why many local and international coffee shop chains, have successfully thrived in the Philippines  despite the competition. Many of these coffee shops are open 24/7 and offer unlimited free wifi to night owl netizens. And for many coffee addicts, night time until the crack of dawn, is  the best time to have a cup of hot brewed coffee or a glass of frappuccino with friends.


Sleepless Manila will never be the same again.


Related Link : http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/30/world/asia/philippines-call-centers/index.html?hpt=hp_mid


Acknowledgement : 
Picture Source : http://www.pbase.com/manilaxperience/image/99515454