Philippines Stock Exchange hits record high in 2011 rising by 13.6% in 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Capital raised in the equities market reached a record high this year, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said Thursday (December 29, 2011.

In a statement, the PSE said a total of ₱107.50 billion was raised from initial public, follow-on and stock rights offerings as well as private placements in the stock market.

Aside from being the highest generated in a single year, the amount was up 26.6% from what was raised in 2007, the previous record year.

Meanwhile, the main PSE index ended the year on a positive note, edging up 0.8% to close at 4,371.96 points on Dec. 29, the last day of trading. The PSEi was higher by 4.1% from last year's close of 4,201.14 points.

"We are glad to report that despite the uncertainties in the global market that hounded us throughout the year, your local stock market has closed 2011 with yet another set of significant milestones," PSE President & CEO Hans Sicat said.

Five companies debuted in the market in 2011, namely, Megawide Construction Corporation, Puregold Price Club Inc., Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corporation, Calapan Ventures Inc. and Touch Solutions Inc. They raised a total of ₱9.04 billion from the market.  Meanwhile, capital proceeds from private placement, stock rights offerings and follow-on offerings amounted to ₱42.85 billion, ₱40.61 billion and ₱15 billion, respectively.

Total value turnover for 2011 reached ₱1.42 trillion, 17.8% higher than the ₱1.21 billion registered in 2010. The PSE extended its trading hours to 1 p.m. in October this year as part of its efforts to increase liquidity in the market.  On January 2, 2012, trading hours will be further extended up to 3:30 p.m.

The combined market capitalization of listed issues in the PSE at year-end was ₱8.7 trillion.

Preliminary figures also show that foreign investors went into net buying territory in 2011 in the amount of ₱56.52 billion, higher than the net buying figure of ₱35.62 billion in 2009.

In terms of sectoral indices, the mining and oil index emerged as the best performer in 2011, surging 68.5%. This was followed by the holding firms' index, which grew 3.4%.

PSEi seen rising by 13.6% in 2012

Investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets sees the main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index surging by about 13.6 percent to end at 4,900 next year.

This was based on expectations that corporate earnings will be aided by resilient domestic consumption, increased government spending and monetary easing.

In a research dated Dec. 9 titled "Looking Good in 2012," which was written by head of research Alfred Dy, CLSA added Robinsons Land Corp. to its list of favored stocks. Other companies in its "conviction picks" are SM Investments, Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine National Bank.

"In spite of a tough global macro backdrop which is expected to continue in 2012, we remain positive on the Philippines. For one, the Philippines is one of the few countries around which has a relatively low export-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio of 25 percent, suggesting that the fortunes of the economy is not really that linked to what is happening in Europe and the United States," Dy said.

Dy said domestic consumption should continue to do well given favorable demographics and $3.245 billion in recurring cash inflows from overseas Filipino remittance, business process outsourcing and tourism.

The government, which has been widely criticized for the fiscal contraction in 2011, should have a better year next year in terms of infrastructure spending, privatization and monetary easing, he said.

"Sectors to watch out for are consumer, banking, infrastructure, construction, and gaming," Dy said.

More PPP projects

Dy expects a couple of public-private partnership contracts to be awarded. Aside from the ₱2-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway, he expects the awarding of the ₱17-billion Connector Road (between North and South Luzon Expressway and the Department of Education's project involving the construction of 10,000 classrooms in regions I, III and IV-A.

"Like the power privatization program in recent years, a couple of awarded contracts could snowball to more contracts in the coming years," he said.

Dy said there would likewise be a couple of property deals given renewed corporate interest in assets like the Food Terminal Inc., Cebu Airport and parcels of land in Fort Bonifacio. "Of course, increased government spending and successful PPP launch should be positive for the construction sector," he said.

Stock picks

RLC was added to CLSA's "conviction picks" given its significant presence in shopping malls, hotels, office, and residential development.

"Among the property companies in our coverage, RLC has the biggest recurring revenue base at 72 percent followed by Filinvest Land at far second at 26 percent. In terms of earnings, RLC also has the biggest recurring earnings base at 80 percent which is followed by Ayala Land at 35 percent," Dy said.

The key drivers seen for RLC's earnings in 2012 were office rentals and hotels which were expected to grow in the mid-teens followed by residential development expected to grow by 10 percent.

Upbeat on RLC

"Given its presence in the shopping mall and hotel industry, RLC is also one of the best ways to play the country's emerging tourism sector where tourist arrivals are expected to double from 3.5 million tourist in 2010 to 7 million tourists by 2017," noting that the property company's stock valuation was likewise very "compelling."

On the banking side, CLSA expects the sector to remain "buoyant" but sees loan growth moderating at 12-14 percent compared with the growth over 20 percent in 2011.  "Unlike in 2011 where we saw net interest margins (NIMs) contracting by 50bps, we expect NIMs to stabilize in 2012," Dy said.

Apart from the Philippine National Bank-Allied Bank merger finally happening by the second half of 2012, CLSA believes that Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is the best positioned among the big three banks in the Philippines to do a major acquisition given its relatively high tier one and capital adequacy ratios. CLSA also noted that Banco De Oro had intimated that it was open to do "bite-size" acquisitions that could add 50 to 100 branches to its existing 750 branch network.

Outside of the banking and property sectors, we expect some M&A (merger and acquisition) action in the ports and mining sectors. For ports, we understand that ICTSI continues to be on the prowl for new ports in the Mediterranean and Africa. In mining, we understand that Philex is open to do some acquisitions," Dy said.

Philippines lift workers’ Lebanon deployment ban for OFW workers

The Philippines Overseas Employment Administration says it is ready to lift a deployment ban to Lebanon adopted in 2006 when Manila signs a bilateral agreement with Beirut in January but has warned its citizens against travelling to Syria, the Inquirer Global Nation reported Thursday.

The news website quoted Carlos Cao Jr., chief of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), as saying that the ban on household service workers to Lebanon would be lifted when Beirut guarantees the rights of overseas Filipino workers.

"It is a labor cooperation agreement and the final draft is already finished. The signing will be done in Lebanon," Cao told the English-language website.

In 2006, Manila imposed a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon over concerns of poor working conditions and reports of abuse against workers, who, according to many rights groups, enjoy little legal protection in the country.

Despite the ban on workers, many Filipinos have reportedly still managed to work in Lebanon by traveling to multiple countries before reaching their destination.

The website also said that reports revealed some Filipino domestic workers in Lebanon and Jordan were treated like "slaves" and were denied their basic rights.

Recent studies estimate that around 40,000 Filipinos work in Lebanon.

The report also said that the country was working on a bilateral agreement with Jordan in a bid to lift the deployment ban in that Arab country.

Under Philippines law, workers are only allowed to be deployed to countries where their rights are ensured and protected by law, something that Lebanon does not yet provide.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has warned its citizens against traveling to Syria and the Philippine Embassy in Damascus is arranging the repatriation of 143 domestic workers.

"Before the end of the year, more than 60 Filipinos in Syria were scheduled to be repatriated to the Philippines. The Philippine Embassy in Damascus is also arranging the repatriation of another 143 OFWs [Oversees Filipino Workers] from that country," Raul Hernandez, a spokesperson at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He also said that the department had been able to repatriate close to 400 of its citizens so far, adding that the government had begun the repatriation process since April.

Syria has witnessed escalating violence since mid-March, when anti-government protests were being met with a deadly crackdown by security forces. The United Nations has estimated that around 5,000 people have been killed since the uprising began.

Sabah ‘no’ to flights slash

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah, as a minority shareholder in Malaysia Airlines, is objecting to the carrier's move to slash flights from the state capital to various international destinations.

State-owned Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd said besides affecting investment and tourist arrivals, MAS' move would discourage other airlines from flying out of Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Warisan Harta, the state government's investment arm, represents the state as the minority shareholder in the airline.

Its chairman Datuk Ramlee Marahaban said MAS should focus on fulfilling its social obligations instead of merely thinking about its commercial ambitions.

Ramlee said there were concerns that the recent share swap deal between Khazanah Nasional the Federal Government's investment arm and Tune Air Sdn Bhd would result in both MAS and AirAsia merely protecting their commercial interests.

He said the Sabah government's views as a minority stakeholder in MAS were not sought before the share swap deal was worked out.

MAS will suspend its twice weekly Kota Kinabalu-Osaka service from Jan 6 and thrice weekly Kota Kinabalu-Perth flights from Jan 31.

Continue reading at: Sabah ‘no’ to flights slash
.
.

Rapes: BPO in Cebu’s growth 20% of 50,000 workforces annually

By Katlene O. Cacho

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry will continue to propel Cebu's economy as the province's major economic driver, industry leaders said. The BPO sector is also poised to grow even bigger in the coming years, they said.

"In 2011, BPO companies accounted for 40 percent of positions posted in a jobs listing website. The expansion of BPO operations led to the rise in the demand for office spaces. This year, the region saw property developers putting additional investments in the leasing business," said Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp. (CPVDC) president Francis Monera.

The industry recorded a 20 percent annual growth rate.

CPVDC is the developer of Cebu IT Park. It currently has eight building under construction.

Workforce

Monera said BPO companies are continually drawn to Cebu City with its workforce and healthy fiscal environment. He said Cebu is supported by nine large universities that turn out many workers for IT and BPO companies.

"The BPO industry in Cebu is fast-growing because IT/BPO companies in the US have found a viable destination in Asia where they can relocate after the 2008 global economic crash. The industry will continue to offer a lot of opportunities and will become Cebu's main driver of economic growth," said Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) chairman for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Jerry Rapes.

This year, global outsourcing firm Aegis People Support unveiled its own Aegis Tower Cebu at the Cebu IT Park. The company said their decision to build in Cebu is a sign of their "commitment to and confidence in the country's booming BPO industry and Cebu's workforce."

Monera said they are anticipating an increase of 20 percent in the current 50,000 workforce with the completion of buildings within Cebu Park District.

CPVDC is looking at an estimated 11,000 additional seats with eBlock 2, Skyrise 4 and the Aegis Tower Cebu.

Stream Global, a major outsourcing company, was reported to be hiring between 60 and 70 employees weekly. Convergys, on the other hand, is also expanding with its new office in Cebu, according to Monera.

Some of the firms that expanded in Cebu this year include HP, Fluor Daniels, Dell, Convergys and JP Morgan & Chase.

Non-voice services

"Wide-spread employment is a by-product of these developments with a 35 percent increase in working population for both parks – majority in the BPO industry. (It strengthens) our bid of making Cebu the BPO capital in the Philippines next to Metro Manila," Monera said.

Rapes, meanwhile, said Cebu is not only well-positioned for voice services but also for Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), information technology outsourcing and non-voice services.

He said it is just a matter of preparing Cebu "to get to a higher level," particularly in terms of supplying the industry with skilled, competent and highly qualified workforce.

"There is not always enough people," said Rapes, the president of information technology outsourcing (ITO) company Exist Global.

He said companies now move out from major call center hubs like Metro Manila and open offices in "next wave cities."

Monera, who sits as the chairman of the board for Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedf-it) said the private sector, academe and local government have collaborated to improve the skills of potential workers for increased manpower pool via proficiency/certification, retraining and jobs-skills matching programs. The stakeholders are also intensifying programs that support infrastructure and tourism service to strengthen the investment climate in Cebu.

Scalability

Monera emphasized the need for talent scalability, not only in terms of available quantity of the workforce but also in training to match the skills required by companies.

Cedf-it announced last October it will get part of the P500-million stimulus fund committed by the Aquino government to facilitate "near-hire" training programs of IT-BPO companies. It said about P5 million worth of scholarships from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will be used to conduct "near-hire" trainings for 1,000 prospective IT-BPO employees here.

Monera also cited Cebu's "big opportunity" in higher level services or KPO. He said although, manpower requirement for this category may not be as high as voice-related jobs, these are high-value services that mean higher average compensation for the Filipino talent.

While there is continued growth ahead in the BPO industry, Rapes said "being complacent" may threaten BPOs' rosy outlook for 2012.

"We need to create more people for the industry rather than compete with each other. We need to produce more skilled workforce for a bigger ecosystem," he said.

Rapes also announced that the outsourcing industry will soon start the second phase of the Cebu IT/BPO roadmap so it could further maximize the potential of IT/BPO services.

What to do

He said the study will "drill down what Cebu needs to get to higher level."

"We have to know where we are going and what to do next now that we know we have the capabilities to do more KPO," Rapes said.

He said that while waiting for the second phase of the study, entrepreneurs should start looking at opportunities in offering KPO services.

He said India has higher revenues than the Philippines because they do difficult services. "But if the Philippines will capitalize on its KPO potential and do its homework, the IT/BPO revenues will grow eventually," Rapes said.

The Business Process Association of the Philippines targets to grow the industry by $25 billion in revenues in 2016 and increase IT/BPO employment to more than one million.

A bill seeking to create a Department of ICT was also filed as a support to the growing industry.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 30, 2011.

8 things you should know about the Borneo Sumatran rhino

The smallest of all

The Borneo Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrison) is a sub-species of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). It is the smallest of five living species, standing at about 145cm (4 feet 9 inches) and measuring 3m and 17cm (10 feet 5 inches) in length. It weighs between 500kg and 1,000kg. It can live up to about 30 years.

Unique to Borneo

The Sumatran rhinos are found in Indonesia's Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and on Borneo island. But the Borneon sub-species lives only on Borneo island. It is one of three species with two horns and is the only one in Asia. Two other Asian rhino species, the Indian and the Javan, have one horn. The White and Black African rhinos have two horns. The Sumatran rhino and its Borneon cousin have a front horn of between 25cm and 79cm long and a smaller one which is shorter than 10cm.

They have reddish brown hair which gives them the nickname of "hairy rhino".

Facing extinction

Nobody knows how many of them are left in the rainforest that straddles the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and Indonesia's Kalimantan province on Borneo island, the world's third largest. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that there are between 30 and 70 of them. A 2005 survey found evidence of only 13 rhinos in Sabah.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: 8 things you should know about the Borneo Sumatran rhino

.
.

Discounts for in-bound tourists to Sabah holding holiday privilege card

KOTA KINABALU: In-bound tourists travelling under the brand, ‘Perfect Holidays’, can now enjoy discounts and value-added privileges from participating vendors and merchants with the launch of Perfect Holidays Tourists’ Privilege Card.

Launched by Perfect Vacation Sdn Bhd, the privilege card covers more than 20 merchants that offer services such as dining, shopping, water sports activities, excursions, scuba diving and more. The card also entitles tourists to discounts on drinks at selected night entertainment outlets.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun, who attended the launching ceremony, said Chinese tourist arrivals to Sabah had increased by 37 per cent in the first 10 months of this year.

He added that work would be done to ensure that tourists arrival to the state would not be dampened with the suspension of four direct flights in the regional network by Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

“I believe Sabah has a bright future in the tourism industry and we will work hard to make sure Sabah is the best tourism destination in Malaysia,” he said.

On the other hand, the Perfect Holidays Tourists’ Privilege Card would also benefit retailers and service providers as participating vendors receive free exposure via the vendors’ listing on the card’s website.

Priority is also given to vendors to offer their services to in-bound tourists travelling with “Perfect Holidays”. Vendor registration is free and there are no annual fees.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Discounts for in-bound tourists to Sabah holding holiday privilege card

.
.

Sabah Air urged to fill air access vacuum

The Government should heed the call of air travellers in Sabah and Sarawak to review the recently concluded collaboration between MAS and AirAsia because it had effectively ended any competition in the airline industry to the disadvantage of the rakyat.

"The two airlines now being partners in business seem now more interested in profits than in carrying out its corporate social responsibility role with emphasis on international routes," said Labuan Consumer Council (LCC) Chairman Fauziah Datuk Din.

She said when the alliance was developed through a share swap between the two airlines, concerns had been expressed by many that East Malaysian travellers would suffer but the Transport Ministry assured this would not be the case.

She said it turned out that the Government doesn't know best as not only flights between KL, Kuching, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu been reduced but the costs have also soared with KL-KK flights fetching up to RM700.

"And even this depends on availability of seats."

"I was told flights between Sandakan and Penang on AirAsia can go up to RM1,000 and this also is fully booked."

She said Firefly was becoming the public's favourite but was stopped altogether following the MAS-AirAsia collaboration.

"Adding to this, it was reported that four MAS direct international flights to Kota Kinabalu would be suspended from next year," she said.

"If nothing can be done, the other options are to either bring back Firefly or for Sabah Air to consider applying to serve the KK-Kuching-Labuan-KK route by leasing aircraft," she said.

She said air connections were important to Sarawak, Labuan and Sabah and the Transport Ministry should not lose its focus since its has been tasked to improve public transportation under the National Key Results Area.

"The subsidies given to MAS should now be questioned since the rakyat are not benefitting."

Continue reading at: Sabah Air urged to fill air access vacuum
.
.

Pandaw cruise boat cruising into the sunset

RV Orient Pandaw the cruise boat that brings tourists into the heart of Borneo along the mighty Rajang is sailing into the sunset as it will cease operation next year.

It will sail up the longest river in Malaysia for the last time in March and its swansong voyage is already almost fully booked with just a few tickets left available.

The Pandaw newsletter recently announced the cessation of its Rajang cruise explaining that “…logistical and operational difficulties of working are so tough an environment that the project has been commercially unsuccessful”.

Pandaw the largest luxury river cruise operator in South East Asia runs river expedition cruises in four countries in the region – Burma on the Irrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers, Cambodia and Vietnam on Mekong River and Malaysia on Rajang River.

The Sarawak Tourism Board had been notified but there is nothing it could do because as a commercial venture the Pandaw Rajang cruise is subjected to market forces.

Direc tor of Corporation Communication of Angelina Bateman when contacted recently said; “Our role so far has been to help facilitate it by promoting the tour. Other than that we cannot get involved, except in helping them to promote since it is a commercial operation.”

Bateman expressed regret that the cruise failed to succeed as a commercial venture as it had helped to promote tourism in the state internationally.

When it was launched on July 1, 2009 it was hailed as a catalyst for the growth of the tourism industry in the central region of the state but it was also drew flaks from local tour operators who were left out of its travel itinerary.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Pandaw cruise boat cruising into the sunset

.
.

Philippines warship arrive advanced Palawan islands where China eyed to drill in January 2012

The Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), the newest and most modern frigate of the Philippine Navy, arrived in Palawan islands in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) to provide a much needed boost in the maritime defense capabilities in the area.

Philippines' lone modern frigate would face a heavy challenged as china announced to start drilling around Palawan islands beginning January 2012.

In the map disclosed for china's new drilling prospected area remains a thrill as it is showing the area of Mischief reef under the Philippines' territory of 130 Miles from the Mainland Palawan but never mentioned the exact location.

Mischief Reef is under the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines according to the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone.

China has claimed the islands under the Province of Palawan as their territory "We Owned everything" China quoted in previous comments.

In a local radio interview, Captain Alfred Cruz, Commanding Officer of PF-15, said the ship will conduct maritime security and sovereignty patrols to beef up protection of the country's territorial waters, as well as conduct search and rescue missions in the western front.

PF-15, commissioned as a warship of the Philippine Navy, will also augment naval security to the Philippines biggest investments of natural gas at the Malampaya Natural Gas project and other petroleum service contract areas under the Department of Energy (DOE) in the West Philippine Sea.

Cruz said that the ship is now the Navy's largest and fastest which can run with a speed of 40 knots per agility test. He said that it is equipped with helicopters, the first of which was donated by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

With a compliment of more than a hundred officers and enlisted personnel, the high-endurance Hamilton-class cutter can sustain a month-long mission without re-provisioning.

The home of PF-15 is the Ulugan Bay Naval Station in Barangay Macarascas, located about 45 kms northwest of this city.

PF-15 was acquired through the United Excess Defense Act using the Malampaya Natural Gas proceeds under the DOE. It was used by the United States Coast Guard for law enforcement and search and rescue missions. (DOS/VSM/PIA-Palawan)

China will start to drill oil forcefully in the Philippines Waters – January 2012

China will soon put its first deepwater survey vessel into use in the South China Sea, an official with China Oilfield Services Ltd (COSL) said, part of an effort by the world's top energy consumer to tap its underexplored deep waters.

Ocean Oil 708, with a capacity to work in water depths of 3,000 meters and a drilling depth of 600 meters below the seabed, is one of the deepwater equipment that leading offshore oil and gas developer CNOOC planned to expand its deepwater capability.

The vessel is owned by COSL, a specialized oil service unit of China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC).

The COSL official said the vessel will be used in early-stage exploration works such as geoprospecting, but declined to specify which area of the South China Sea the vessel would be firstly employed in.

CNOOC Ltd, which runs almost all of CNOOC's oil and gas production assets, is preparing to drill its first-ever deepsea well in the northern part of the South China Sea around the beginning of 2012 by using Ocean Oil 981, China's first home-made semi-submersible deepsea rig.

China has so far drilled less than 15 deepsea exploration wells, all of which have been done by CNOOC's foreign partners.

Baoji Oilfield Machinery Co, a unit of top Chinese oil firm CNPC, manufactured the drilling system for the Ocean Oil 708, the China Petroleum Daily reported.

Capture of rare Sumatran rhino gives hope for species

Malaysian wildlife authorities said Monday the capture of a young female Borneo Sumatran rhino had given them a last chance to save the highly endangered species from extinction.

The female rhino, aged between 10 and 12 years old, was caught on December 18 and is being kept in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah on the Malaysian area of Borneo island where it is hoped it will breed with a lone captive male.

"All of us in Sabah are relieved that we have been able to capture this rhino after almost a year-and-a-half," Borneo Rhino Alliance director Junaidi Payne told AFP.

The female rhino, which has been named Puntung, was caught in a joint operation by the Borneo Rhino Alliance and the Sabah Wildlife Department.

"This is now the very last chance to save this species, one of the most ancient forms of mammal," Laurentius Ambu, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, said in a statement.

Puntung had been specifically targeted since early 2010 as the mate for a 20-year-old, lone male rhino named Tam, who was rescued from an oil palm plantation in August 2008.

"It is an ideal age for breeding. Puntung and Tam are being kept in adjacent paddocks. They can see each other and there is some communication," Payne said.

Previous attempts in the 1980s and 1990s to breed Borneo Sumatran rhinos failed but Payne said he was "cautiously optimistic" the latest captive breeding programme would succeed.

The critically endangered Sumatran rhino is a mostly solitary animal except for courtship and rearing young.

Payne said the main threat to the survival of species "is there are so few and they do not mate in the wild."

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Capture of rare Sumatran rhino gives hope for species

.
.

Tough year ahead for Sabah hotels

KOTA KINABALU: Room occupancy rate expected to drop below 60 per cent next year.

The hotel industry in Kota Kinabalu is performing well this year as three-star hotels and above are experiencing an occupancy rate of 64 per cent as of November, an increase of four per cent compared to the same period last year.

However, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sabah and Labuan president Alex Cham predicted that the occupancy rate might drop below 60 per cent next year as Malaysia Airlines (MAS) recently announced the suspension of four routes on the regional network starting early 2012.

The suspended routes include the twice-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Osaka (starting January 6), the thrice-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Perth (January 31), the four-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Haneda (February 1) and the four-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Seoul return B737 route (February 21).

In terms of average room rate, there was a slight drop from RM256 last year to RM250 this year, which Cham attributed to the more competitive environment with more new hotels coming up.

Room rates aside, the tourism industry is actually picking up with more tourist arrivals this year with the announcement to make Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) the Eastern hub and the addition of more direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Korea, Japan and Perth in Australia.

Cham told The Borneo Post in an interview the hotel industry was starting to enjoy a rebound from the financial crisis in 2008 and lower occupancy rate in 2009, but the suspension of direct flights would hit tourism arrivals to Sabah.

In addition, Cham said Japanese or Korean tourists preferred direct flights, instead of stopovers and connecting from Kuala Lumpur and finally to Kota Kinabalu, which was time consuming.

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March, Sabah actually saw an increase in Japanese tourists arrival, he said, due to the availability of direct flights.

Cham continued to say that there used to be a direct flight from Japan several years ago, and when the flight was taken off the route, the industry immediately noticed a drop in tourist arrival from Japan.

Furthermore, Cham said Royal Brunei had cancelled its flight from Kota Kinabalu to Perth when MAS launched the route, and now he was not sure if Royal Brunei would resume the route again.

“The decision by MAS (suspending four routes in the regional network) is not a good thing for tourism.

“Sabah tourism is a major income source after the oil palm plantations,” he said.

He pointed out that MAS should find a solution to cut their losses instead of suspending direct flights as it would impact on the tourism industry here, and probably reducing national income.

MAH Sabah and Labuan Chapter has 47 members, the majority of them three-star and above.

“If MAS cut down on direct flights, the occupancy rate could decline below 60 per cent next year.

“Because as more hotels come up, the cake is not large enough to share,” Cham stressed.

Meanwhile, Sabah Hotel Association (SHA) president Christopher Chan said larger hotels (three-star and above) had achieved an overall 70 to 80 per cent occupancy rate this year while budget hotels (two-star and below) reported a drop of around 10 per cent in their occupancy rate.

Continue reading at: Tough year ahead for Sabah hotels
.
.

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, and situated on the island of Java. The climate in Jakarta is very hot and humid. The city of Jakarta was born in 1527 when a small harbour town called Sundra Kelapa was conquered by Prince Fatahillah from nearby Cirebon and he renamed his conquest Jakarta, which translates as Glorious Victory. A more modern attraction is Jaya Ancol Dreamland. The complex houses numerous restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels.
Ancol Dreamland
Museum Fatahillah
Planetarium
Glodok
Gereja Kathedral
Istana Merdeka
Warung Soto Pak Gendut, Located at Sabang Street, which is well-known for its hawker food vendors, Warung Soto Pak Gendut offers various East Javanese "Soto" or soup. Its menu includes soto ceker (chicken feet), soto ayam (chicken), soto kikil (beef tendon), soto Madura and soto babat (beef tripe). Jl. Sabang (across American Grill) Jakarta
Bubur Ayam Mangga Besar, This is one of the best places to have your late night meal in Jakarta. Bakmi GM. Bakmi GM is a short name for Bakmi Gajah Mada, a famous noodle restaurant chain in Indonesia. Gajah Mada is the name of the street in Jakarta where the first Bakmi GM opened in 1970. At that time, Bakmi GM is only a small noodle stall. Because of its delicious and tasty noodles, Bakmi GM's branches are all over Jakarta. If you are looking for a place to shop and party in Jakarta you should make your way to the south district. UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways have begun to include Jakarta amongst the worldwide cities that the fly to.
The Kemang district provides an entertaining place to visit during any stay in Jakarta, there are ample quality hotels, a number of sporting facilities and health spas worth visiting and some great galleries and museums.

From the Heart of Borneo

AS we go into the holiday season, perhaps we should reflect on the gifts of Mother Nature.

Think back to Nov 12, 2011, when the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) started a campaign to increase familiarity and appreciation of Pade Adan (commonly known as Bario rice), as part of the three nation — Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia — transnational Heart of Borneo initiative.

The Heart of Borneo, first visualised in the early part of the 21st century, is a vision of the kaleidoscope of all the factors that make the mountainous spine running down the island of Borneo important. The total value of the components — land, water, air, biodiversity of living creatures, including man, is much greater than the individual — so much so that if one is lost, then all are likely to be dramatically negatively affected. This mountainous region acts as the heart and lungs of the island.

The fine-flavoured Pade Adan is the result of man, the farmers in the Krayan-Kelabit Highlands from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Semado, Long Pasiah and their counterparts in the Krayan valley of Kalimantan, understanding the natural resources of the highland plateaus and sustainably using them while working with the forces of nature.

The promotion of this indigenous product, in my view, symbolises the vision that WWF and its partners had with the inception of the Heart of Borneo initiative.

The Heart of Borneo aims to develop partnerships at all levels, from the grassroots to government administration, to ensure that effective management of the protected and productive forests and other land uses can be sustained.

This initiative is not about excluding man, but recognises that we are part of the environment. The development and promotion of ‘Green and Fair Products’ originating in the spine of Borneo can provide much needed economic input into the area through sustainable use of resources.

Pade Adan, of which there are three varieties, Adan Merah (red), Adan Putih (white) and Adan Hitam (black), is an example of a traditional product that can be grown through the sustainable use of resources. This high-value crop is recognised within Sarawak and consumers are willing to purchase it at a premium.

Penghulu George Sigar from Ba Kelalan, during the opening ceremony to promote Pade Adan, described the steps in producing this fine quality rice.

Traditional wet rice cultivation practices are largely organic as artificial fertilisers and pesticides are not normally used. The fields are made in the wide river valleys in the plateaus. The choice of location depends on the topography (the flatter the more desirable) and the availability of water.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: From the Heart of Borneo
.
.

Christmas miracle – healthy female rhino found in Tabin

LAHAD DATU: There was Christmas joy in the jungle yesterday as a healthy young female Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni) was safely translocated within the Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR).

The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) and the SWD’s special Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) captured the rhino, named Puntung, in a joint operation.

“This is a fantastic gift for our uphill battle in ensuring the survival of this truly unique species and wonderful timing with Christmas, a time to give thanks for our blessings,” said an elated Dr Laurentius Ambu, the director of SWD.

Capturing and translocating Puntung was done after months of observation and careful logistical planning to ensure her safety by the dedicated field staff of SWD, BORA and WRU.

“We have monitored her since 2007, and there is no sign that any other rhino has entered into her range in the past five years. This is a stark indication that so few rhinos remain that they are simply not meeting for reproduction,” elaborated Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, executive director of BORA.

Puntung had been specifically targeted since early 2010 as the mate for a middle-aged, lone male rhino named Tam, who was rescued from an oil palm plantation in August 2008 and cared for since then in the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary (BRS).

“We know all too well that Sumatran rhinoceros is on the brink of extinction with only definite signs of breeding in the wild over the past decade in Sabah and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. However, this rate is still far too low to ensure its survival which is why we have initiated this captive breeding programme,” said Payne.

A key component of the State Action Plan to ensure the continued existence of the Sumatran rhino in Sabah includes captive breeding of the rhinos within a large enclosed area covering 20 hectares of natural forest located within TWR. This area is now known as the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary (BRS) and is managed by the State Government.

The BRS Programme is also in touch with a similar programme underway in Sumatra, Indonesia. While all possible efforts are being made to ensure that natural breeding is prioritised, advanced reproductive technologies, some yet to be developed, will be needed to boost the number of Sumatran rhinos being born as well.

Continue reading at: Christmas miracle – healthy female rhino found in Tabin

.
.

Merry Tropical Christmas 2011

A Blessed Christmas greeting from all staff at e-borneo.com and our travel company, E-BORNEO.COM TOURS & TRAVEL SDN BHD to all our clients, travel partners and web visitors who are celebrating Christmas.

Please take note that our office will be closed on Monday, 26 December 2011.

For travel and related requests, do note that all your e-mails enquiries may be replied during this holiday period (depending on priority and/or importance) but earliest confirmation can only be processed on Tuesday, 27 December 2011.

Christmas is not a time nor a season,
But a state of mind.
To cherish peace and goodwill,
To be plenteous in mercy,
Is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

May the good times and treasures of the present
become the golden memories of tomorrow.
May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through 2012.

Merry Tropical Christmas to Everyone from sunny Sabah Malaysian Borneo!

Best regards,

Management and Staff

E-BORNEO.COM TOURS & TRAVEL SDN BHD (862652-M ; KPL/LN 6169)
[ Travel Company of e-borneo.com ]

Lot No. 7, 2nd Floor, Block C
Lintas Jaya Uptownship 88200 Penampang
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Malaysia
Tel: +6-088-722606
Fax: +6-088-727606
URL: http://www.e-borneo.com/
.
.

Flights cut to hit Sabah tourism

KOTA KINABALU: The latest decision by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to suspend four routes involving Sabah regional network early next year will have a short-term negative impact on tourist arrivals in Sabah, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said the state tourism industry will take some time to realign its marketing strategy and priority.

Masidi, who revealed his Ministry was aware of MAS’ impending move to suspend these routes as they have had a series of high level meetings with MAS management to discuss the issue and to appeal to them not to proceed with this drastic move, said they are nevertheless “not going to cry over spilled milk”.

“We are moving on. We have in fact started strategising our next moves to overcome this latest challenge and believe that this MAS episode would be a temporary setback,” he said.

MAS announced on Thursday that the suspension of the four routes is in addition to its rationalisation exercise involving eight routes of its international network announced last week.

The four routes and dates the suspensions take effect are twice-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Osaka return B737 route (January 6, 2012); thrice-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Perth return B737 route (January 31, 2012); four times weekly Kota Kinabalu-Haneda (Tokyo) return B737 route (February 1, 2012) and four times weekly Kota Kinabalu-Seoul return B737 route (February 21, 2012).

MAS Group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said: “This suspension is until further notice and is part of our regional network consolidation involving single-aisle aircraft operations.

“We will be reviewing this situation in about three months time from the date of the first route suspension and will be deciding further by early April 2012″

“During the suspension, we will take advantage of our existing code-share operations with Korean Air to provide direct connectivity between Sabah and South Korea using the Korean carrier’s Seoul-Kota Kinabalu return direct flights.

“We will also continue offering direct international connectivity to Kota Kinabalu through our existing daily B737 flights from Hong Kong and Taipei.

“In addition we will also use our existing 86 weekly flights between Sabah and KL International Airport (KLIA) to provide immediate connections for passengers who prefer full service flights between Sabah and the cities of Perth, Tokyo, and Osaka,” he added.

Continue reading at: Flights cut to hit Sabah tourism
.
.

A boost for Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre

6.5m ringgit expansion opens door to better understanding of Sabah forests

Last year 40,000 people visited the Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Sepilok forest reserve in Sandakan since it opened in 2007.

Covering 200 hectares, it has long and winding trails that allow visitors to discover some of the rare species of gigantic tropical trees that may be about 1,300 years old, birds such as the hornbills, the endangered orang-utans and other wildlife.

It is indeed an educational and tourist attraction. And this year the centre has won Sabah’s best nature tourism award.

Sam Mannan, the director of Sabah Forestry Department, has announced a 6.5m-ringgit ($2m) expansion that he says will boost its “standing as a top environment education facility.” There will be a car park, an outdoor stage and the 300m canopy walk will be extended by 80 metres by November next year.

A 120-seat theatre was added to the centre early this year. And the Borneo bird festival was held there in October.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: A boost for Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre

.
.

Giant Clam Culture in Semporna To Help Conserve Marine Heritage

SEMPORNA -- The Giant Clam Culture Centre on Buhey Dulang Island plays a vital role in conserving the marine ecosystem at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park off the coast of Semporna, Sabah.

The centre, the first of its kind under Sabah Parks, conducts research and cultures giant clams with seeds supplied to the local community to help them reduce their over-reliance on natural marine resources.

The centre, established in 2006 under the Semporna Islands Darwin Project, is the result of cooperation between Sabah Parks and the Marine Conservation Society-United Kingdom.

Sabah Parks' Marine Research Officer Nasrulhakim Maidin noted that the culture centre serves as an attraction where outsiders can learn more about the clams.

"Giant clam culture is important because their numbers have depleted from over-harvesting around the waters of Semporna," he told Bernama during a visit to Buhey Dulang Island of the coast of Semporna.

The giant clam is a mollusc in the Bivalvia class that thrives in Indo-Pacific waters.

There are seven species of giant clams in Malaysian Waters, and some can grow up to 60cm in length.

According to Nasrul, giant clams not only thrive on plankton but also produce their own nutrients through photosynthesis, with the help of the algae.

"The giant clam plays an important role in the marine ecosystem as it filters the water," he said.

SEEDING THE CLAMS

So how to culture the giant clams? First, the giant clam brood stock is selected and its size is recorded for future reference.

Then the clam shell is cleaned with a nylon brush and numbered for future reference. The seeding is done by injecting diluted serotonin, a hormone, to stimulate spawning.

Within minutes, the giant clam stock reacts and produces eggs and sperm that are collected in big plastic bags to fertilize in a few days.

Six months after hatching, the seed is released into the sea within the reef area, initially in cages to protect them from predators.

The seeds that hatch at the centre are mostly relocated near Ribbon Reef, an area within the national park allocated for education on marine life.

Continue reading at: Giant Clam Culture in Semporna To Help Conserve Marine Heritage

.
.

No water, Now wives - China is dying soon

By: Dr. Philip Neches

Chairman, Foundation Ventures LLC

huffingtonpost.com

When smart people with very different viewpoints come to similar conclusions, it's wise to take notice. In the Left corner: Dr. Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist, Princeton professor, MSNBC regular, New York Times columnist. In the Right corner: Dr. Jack Wheeler, aide to President Reagan and both Presidents Bush, author, blogger. The Right loathes Krugman as a soft-headed sell out; the Left regards Wheeler as a self-aggrandizing nut. The subject: China.

In a post on his Website To the Point (subscription required, posted October 14, 2011), Wheeler summarized the situation in China tersely, "No water, no wives, no banks -- and a hyper-dangerous military." Wheeler's writing tends towards melodrama and exaggeration for effect. Still, consider each point in turn.

No water: China's population is about three times compared to USA, in a land area about the same as the 48 contiguous states. But almost 80% of China's land area is mountain or desert, unsuited for cities or farms. Try to imagine three times the population of the U.S. living in an area not much larger than the 13 original colonies.

Further, the headwaters of China's great rivers are not actually in China: they're in Nepal, Tibet, and Kashmir. Small wonder China gets touchy about any hint of losing sway in those areas: China would literally die of thirst.

In the U.S. are so abundantly blessed by nature that we find it difficult to imagine what a problem water is too much of the rest of the world. Nonetheless, water supply is the greatest threat to civilization in much of the world, including China. Not energy. Not food. Not land. Water.

No wives. Well, certainly a big shortfall: China has something like 100 million more young men than young women. Wheeler writes ominously of the political and military dangers from 100 million bachelors.

But China has an even bigger demographic problem, as I pointed out in my post "The Sun Also Sets". China constrained their birth rate through social policy only possible in a brutal dictatorship. But they also made the same strides in public health that the Western world made in the early 20th century, dropping their death rate by a factor of three and increasing life expectancy from 40+ to 70+ years in just a generation. With falling births and falling deaths, China's population is aging. China is in a desperate race to get rich before it gets old. They will lose.

No banks. Wheeler points out that the Chinese state banks are technically insolvent. Krugman provides more color and detail in his op-ed piece "Will China Break?" Krugman sees the classic signs of a bubble: rapid growth in credit, surging real estate prices, "shadow banking" systems without government regulation or guarantees, and huge increase in investment without corresponding increase in consumer spending. Even through the murky lens of official Chinese economic data, Krugman sees the bubble bursting.

We had our financial crisis in 2008. Experts agree that we still have a long way to go to recover from it, and that many of the vulnerabilities that caused that crisis persist in our economy. Europe seems to be still going into the depths of their problems. Again, experts expect a prolonged recovery.

Is China the next to fall? If so, they cannot expect much help from the U.S. and Europe. A rise in the Yuan, the likely first consequence of trouble in China, benefits the U.S. and Europe doubly: it makes our debt held by China worth less and easier to repay, and it increases the cost of Chinese goods to our consumers, providing a stimulus to local industry and employment. The trouble in the U.S. already shuttered numerous factories in China. But that could just be a fore-taste of what could come.

If you look at raw unemployment numbers, the current problems in the U.S. and some countries in Europe are almost as bad as the Great Depression of the 1930s. But the political and social consequences are no where near the same. The public and private mechanisms put in place since the 1930s feel the strain. But they are holding, in the sense that no one in the US or Europe seriously worries about armed revolution or anarchy, as was the case in the 1930s.

Without similar safeguards in place, China could be a different story. While the economic consequences can be calculated, the political and social results cannot. Speculation and imagination are our only sources of insight.

Dangerous Military. China's military establishment is second only to ours. If one looks at spending alone, it seems no contest: China spends about what Britain and France put together spend, and about 1/6 of what we spend. But China is actually far less militarized than the United States, with 3.4 active, reserve, and paramilitary per 1,000 population, versus 9.5 for us. Most advanced countries spend between 1.8% and 2.8% of GDP on their military. China's military budget is 2.1% of GDP, at the lower end of the pack. Compare that to 4.8% for us.

What is the upshot (pun and all) of these figures? Either the U.S. is spending too much on its military, or China has the capacity to spend a lot more than it currently spends. Maybe both statements are true.

Wheeler speculates on two possible paths for Chinese military adventurism. Asserting more control of the South China Sea represents a reasonably credible scenario, but also one that would quickly unite the maritime world (U.S., Japan, Europe, India, Southeast Asia or ASEAN countries , OPEC, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, etc.) to defend the nearly 50% of the world's shipping that goes through those waters. Wheeler offers a more nightmarish scenario: China invades Siberia to gain water, land, oil, and to divert its 100 million odd excess bachelors.

In the long lens of history, this may not be as far-fetched as it first sounds. Much of Siberia was the Maritime Provinces of China until the expanding Russian Empire seized control around 1860. The Russian Empire expanded from its start around Kiev around 950 AD to the height of the Cold War a thousand years later. Since losing in Afghanistan in 1987, the Russian Empire has been in incredibly rapid retreat, losing its Eastern European satellites and West Asian provinces to independence.

The world is full of danger spots: Pakistan, Iran, North Korea. But when I feel really grim about the prospects for the world, my thoughts turn to China.

Finally, my apologies for spiking your holiday eggnog with a few Sichuan peppercorns.

Surviving stories of the inland Tsunami – Typhoon Sendong Iligan-Cagayan de Oro City

 

HeroAzkal dog Saves drowning girl – Strom Sendong  Iligan City

A pregnant dog and two other 'Azkals', a local name for stray dogs, have done their share in saving the lives of their masters during the rampaging floodwater that hit low lying villages in Mindanao, Southern Philippines

As Tropical Storm "Sendong" ravaged low lying areas near rivers and streams in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, a young girl credits her family's pregnant dog for saving her life amid rampaging floodwater that wiped out the entire village where they were settled.

As floodwater overflowed from the river, seven-year-old Jennylou and her family have decided to climb the rooftop of their house, thinking the rising floodwater will not reach them.

But their house collapsed as speeding floodwater mixed with cut logs and debris battered their house, sending the entire family floating in the ocean of debris.

While afloat, Jennylou noticed the family dog swimming right beside her and was repeatedly scratching her back as if trying to communicate with her.

The young girl finally understood what her dog wants—her pregnant dog was trying to help her. So she decided to cling and let the dog do the swimming.

While frantically swimming in the water full of debris, the dog eventually brought Jennylou to a safe place by delivering her to a big floating log where she held on for safety.

As she clung to the floating log, Jennylou saw the exhausted family dog gasping for air and struggling in the swirling floodwater. Moments later the dog disappeared, never to be seen again.

Later in the day, rescuers found Jennlou and other survivors from the sea and was later reunited with her family, who also survived the ordeal.

"I would have died if not for our dog," Jennylou said in the evacuation center where her family has been temporarily staying.

In another heartwarming story about the "man's best friend", another family was saved from the debris-filled floodwater after two 'Azkals" woke them up form their sleep while floodwater was rising at an unprecedented speed at the height of Tropical Storm Sendong.

Marrietta Ardiente said she was awaken by two dogs barking and scratching the door of her house. When she looked to find out what was the reason for the frantic dogs, she saw floodwater rising very fast.

With the help of the two dogs, Ardiente's family was able to evacuate to safer grounds before floodwater razed her family home.

As her family moved out from their home, they brought the two stray dogs to the evacuation center. The two dogs were the ones that saved their lives, Ardiente said.

Iligan City couple left with only one Mike Herald of 5 – Typhoon Sendong

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—Out of so many lives lost on Bayug Island at the mouth of a river in this coastal heartland, a boy's exceptional tale of survival is the only thing left that gives inspiration to his folks in their time of sorrow.

Eight-year-old Mike Herald Dela Gracia, who barely stands over a meter tall and cannot swim, will always be, to his parents, "the boy who lived"— the only one among five siblings to survive the horrors of December 16 and the difficult hours that followed.

Helen and Arnaldo Dela Gracia, who sell "balut" (boiled duck egg with embryo) for a living, grieve over the deaths of Shein, 7, and Aldrein, 2, and the presumed deaths of Hana, 4, and Aldrein's twin Aljon, who have not been seen since they were engulfed by the swirling waters sent down by Tropical Storm Sendong on Friday night.

But every time they look at their eldest, Mike Herald, an active, playful Grade 3 pupil, they are encouraged in many ways, his mother Helen, 29, said.

"The burden lightens whenever we see him. He's the one who makes us go on," she said in a mix of Cebuano and Tagalog at a cemetery in Barangay Pala-o, where they watched, weeping, as Shein and Aldrein were laid to rest in a mass grave.

"He is our last child. He's the only one who lived," Helen said of Mike Herald.

What follows is an account of this schoolboy's extraordinary escape from death's door, as narrated to the Inquirer by his parents:

At 11 p.m., the children were already asleep, but a worried Helen watched the Mandulog River, only 30 meters away from their house in the settlement of Purok 7-IS, as the wind howled outside and rains lashed at their window.

Out selling balut in the streets of the mainland, her husband Arnaldo, 29, sensed that the weather might take a turn for the worse and hurried home to the island to warn his family.

At past midnight, the flood waters had seeped into their house, up to their ankles. "We were hearing people outside screaming 'Tabang! (Help!)' so we decided to evacuate because we were afraid the house would not be able to withstand the flood," Arnaldo recalled.

Arnaldo shepherded the children out, along with Helen's mother, 66-year-old Purificacion, but when they opened the door, onrushing waves met them.

Arms linked together, they sought refuge at a relative's two-story house with concrete foundations and wooden walls. As the water rose quickly, they, along with neighbors, climbed the roof and hung on to each other, the children distributed among the adults.

They thought the flood water would not be strong enough to knock over the house, but just then, another house being carried by the current plowed into them, splitting the house and scattering those perched on its rooftop in different directions.

"I just hung on. I got snarled by a coconut tree and I hugged the trunk," Helen said. She recalled how horrified she had been when she saw a log rolling into Hana. The other children, except Mike Herald, had been thrown out of sight.

From his vantage point, Arnaldo, who had found a precarious foothold on another tree, said he could see Mike Herald as he was being dragged forward by the muddy waves.

The boy, he said, had grabbed a clump of weeds to stop getting tossed by the water. But his shirt got tangled up with the branch of a huge ipil-ipil tree.

Arnaldo said he had watched in horror as the tree started rolling until the boy fell out of view.

Helen and Arnaldo were eventually reunited several meters away from their house. As they looked around at the flattened plain of brown that used to be their village, they guessed the terrible fates of their children, as well as Purificacion, who has not been found. They were prepared for the worst.

"We thought they had all died," Helen said, her voice breaking.

Then Helen heard a familiar young voice calling out from a tree that was lodged into another some distance away.

"Ma, kuhaa ko.  gutom na ko" (Mama, get me. I am hungry), the boy had demanded. The muddy water below had not yet subsided and he could not get down.

Arnaldo swam to the tree and towed him to shore. Helen rushed to Mike Herald and gave him a good hug. "We were so relieved that one of them is still alive," Helen said.

But their joy was short-lived. They soon found Shein and Aldrein at a funeral parlor, one of several they visited in this city of 300,000 populations.

The two other children and Helen's mother are still missing, among the more than 400 unaccounted for in the city, according to Mayor Lawrence Cruz. The death toll in Iligan City, as of Tuesday, had reached just below 300, he said.

"The other children could not have survived. They are four- and two-year-old, what hope could they have?" Helen said.

Mike Herald, a scrawny youth with a direct gaze and dreams of becoming a soldier, never learned to swim, nor did his mother and siblings.

Asked how he had been able to pull through, Helen said it was probably his steely determination to live. "He just never let go from that tree," she said.

The Dela Gracias originally lived in Zamboanga del Sur, western part of the island of Mindanao with a distance of about 8 hours travel by car but the birth of twins two years ago forced them to move in with relatives on the island to be better able to make ends meet.

At the moment, they are staying at an evacuation center in Barangay Sta. Filomena with no plans of ever returning to Bayug Island, whose population of more than 300 people is believed to have been drastically reduced after the storm.

"I doubt if you'll find a family there who did not lose anyone," Helen said, relating stories they heard of entire families who perished together on another part of the island. "Nothing is left on Bayug," she said.

These two moving and heartwarming dog stories could be just a few of the many life-saving tales involving dogs who also fought with for their own lives during the flash floods devastation in Southern Philippines.