Nuova versione del sito di Italprojects, la società di cui faccio parte,

 

 

presto online alcune interessanti novità!

 

http://www.italyphilippinesconsulting.com/

L’Unione Europea apre i cieli anche a Cebu Pacific, dopo PAL

MANILA, Philippines – Budget airline Cebu Pacific of billionaire John Gokongwei Jr. is set to become the second local carrier allowed to fly to Europe.

Julian Vassallo, Chargè d’ Affaires of the European Union (EU), and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are scheduled to announce in a press conference Thursday, April 10 the lifting of the EU ban on Cebu Pacific.

In July, the EU lifted the ban on Philippine Airlines (PAL), allowing the legacy carrier to fly to the 28-nation bloc again.

CAAP Director General Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III and CAAP Deputy Director General Capt. John Andrews will preside over the press conference Thursday. Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei is also expected to attend the event.

The EU blacklisted Philippine carriers in 2010 after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classified the Philippine aviation industry as “a significant safety concern.” CAAP failed to comply with safety standards that ICAO required.

ICAO scrapped this classification in March last year, prompting the EU to lift the ban on PAL. Jointly owned by tycoon Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, PAL started direct flights to London in November.

The EU however kept other local carriers on its blacklist, saying “progress [was] still needed to reach effective compliance.”

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux said then that accidents involving Cebu Pacific planes showed some weaknesses.

A Cebu Pacific plane carrying 165 passengers overshot the runway of the Davao International Airport in June last year. No one was hurt in the incident, but several passengers complained it took a while before they were ushered out of the aircraft. Nearly two weeks after, another Cebu Pacific plane figured in an accident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Cebu Pacific worked on addressing remaining safety concerns, and was supposed to seek the EU’s green light to fly to Europe in November. It postponed the plan to give way to rehabilitation efforts following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

In January, Cebu Pacific informed the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the EU in Brussels that it already complied with all outstanding safety concerns.

Aside from the lifting of the EU ban, regulators are pursuing the upgrade of the Philippine aviation safety status by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The US FAA downgraded the Philippines’ status to Category 2 from Category 1 in 2008 upon the recommendation of ICAO.

Category 2 prohibits Philippine carriers from mounting new and additional flights to the US. Airlines in Category 2 countries are also placed under heightened US FAA surveillance.

CAAP is confident an upgrade will be made soon. The US FAA is yet to release the results of an audit it conducted in March. –

Rappler.com

La visione della World Bank sull’economia filippina

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is expected to remain as one of the fastest-growing  economies of the East Asia and Pacific as the region grows by 7.1 percent this year, the World Bank announced on Monday in its latest update for the region.

After posting a 7.2-percent growth in 2013, the World Bank said  that it expects the Philippine economic growth to slow down to 6.6 percent this year before rising to 6.9 percent in 2015. For 2016, the bank sees a gross domestic product growth rate of 6.5 percent.

The East Asia and Pacific region’s growth rate is expected to slow down from an average of 8 percent from 2009 to 2013. In China, growth will slightly dip to 7.6 percent this year from last year’s 7.7 percent. Excluding China, the developing economies in the region are expected to grow by 5 percent, down from 5.2 percent in 2013, the bank said. Despite easing growth, however, Regional Vice President Axel von Trotsenburg said the East Asia and Pacific will benefit from strong global growth, allowing the region to expand at a relatively steady pace while adjusting to tighter global financial conditions.

In the Philippines, the bank said reconstruction spending would offset the drag on consumption from the effects of natural disasters that hit the country last year.

“Further reforms, including the removal of remaining barriers to doing business for firms of all nationalities and sizes as well as improving logistics, will strengthen the country’s competitiveness and enhance its capacity to generate more and better jobs,” the multilateral financial institution added.

The report said the country can benefit from structural reforms, such as facilitating trade and promoting foreign direct investment, especially in the services sector. It added that the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community next year would boost inta-regional investment and exports and provide an important source of growth.

“Reforms for attracting more foreign investments will work best for the country if done as part of broader changes. These reforms could be complemented by measures to improve logistics and trade facilitation as well as the cost of doing business to encourage more investments from both local and foreign firms, big and small,” World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi said.

World Bank Lead Economist Rogier van den Brink said job creation by firms of all sizes in agriculture and manufacturing is necessary to make growth in the Philippines inclusive.

“Reforms to secure property rights, enhance competition, simplify regulations and increase investments in health, education and infrastructure can make this happen,” Van den Brink added.

Bert Hofman, the region’s chief economist, said the country also needs to push the rationalization of fiscal incentives, improve tax administration and implement reforms in customs. He said there is no need for new taxes in the Philippines, but revenues have to be raised to address the inadequacy in infrastructure.

Senior country economist for the Philippines Karl Kendrick Chua said in order to the Philippines to post growth beyond 7 percent, it has to attract investments by spending on infrastructure to address problems in airport congestion, traffic, ports and shipping.

“Because of the lack of investment in the long history of the Philippines… the potential for more and higher growth above 7 percent is diminishing,” he said.

Chua added that the risks for the country include losing the momentum for reforms, lack of sufficient revenue for infrastructure and social spending, and potential asset bubbles, especially in the real estate sector.

In terms of regional risks, Hofman said a slower-than-expected recovery in advanced economies, a rise in global interest rates and increased volatility in commodity prices due to geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe pose a threat to the region’s growth. On the flipside, he said flexible currencies will help East Asia deal with external shocks, including potential capital-flow reversals. Hofman added that most countries have adequate reserves to cover temporary trade and external shocks.

Investire nelle economie emergenti fa bene!

Fonte: piacenzasera.it

L’indagine Atradius

Secondo un’indagine Atradius, azienda attiva nell’assicurazione dei crediti, le aziende italiane sono le più propense d’Europa a intrattenere rapporti commerciali con i mercati emergenti.

Il sondaggio svolto su dati del 2011 su oltre 1800 aziende in nove paesi europei, ha visto coinvolti oltre all’Italia, Belgio, Danimarca, Francia, Germania, Gran Bretagna, Paesi Bassi, Spagna e Svezia.
L’Italia, infatti deve gran parte del suo successo in ambito internazionale, soprattutto sui mercati a rapida crescita. L’indagine ne ha identificati diciannove: Repubblica Ceca, Ungheria, Polonia, Russia, Turchia, Emirati Arabi Uniti, Sud Africa, Brasile, Cile, Messico, Cina, India, Indonesia Malesia, Filippine, Corea del Sud, Tailandia, Vietnam e Taiwan.

La Cina rappresenta il mercato più importante (28%), seguita da tre Paesi dell’est Europa quali Russia, Polonia(entrambi al 23%) e Repubblica Ceca (16%). Seguono con percentuali comprese fra il 10% e il 15% il Brasile, l’India, gli Emirati Arabi Uniti, la Turchia e l’Ungheria. In coda alla classifica, Filippine, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cile e Malesia.
L’indagine evidenzia la particolare disponibilità degli imprenditori italiani ad operare sui mercati emergenti, con un indice del 63%, contro una media europea pari al 42%. Al secondo posto la Gran Bretagna, con il 56%, seguita dalla Francia, in perfetta media europea. Seguono Germania (41%), Belgio (39%), Danimarca e Svezia, entrambe al 36%, Spagna (33%) e Olanda (25%).

Le esportazioni di beni e prodotti rappresenta la principale attività economica delle nostre imprese (56%), ma risultano interessanti anche operazioni di investimento all’estero per circa il 25% quali: importazioni, partnership locali, joint venture e aperture di filiali.

Il vantaggio competitivo

La propensione delle imprese europee ad operare con i mercati emergenti non è soltanto determinata da una questione di domanda ed offerta, ma anche da un minore rischio finanziario e dalla presenza di pochi orpelli burocratico/amministrativi che facilitano e velocizzano contrattazioni e procedure. Per molte nostre imprese che hanno delocalizzato all’estero, la burocrazia pesa molto meno che in Italia, con conseguenti vantaggi competitivi.
Investire in mercati emergenti non è comunque una passeggiata, come sembrerebbe risultare da quanto finora descritto, anzi. Per un’impresa europea, soprattutto se ci riferiamo a PMI, investire all’estero, in particolare in “nuovi” mercati, significa dover spesso attuare cambiamenti non solo attinenti i processi produttivi ma anche l’organizzazione e gli aspetti culturali, che determinano di conseguenza la possibilità di ottenere quelle “buone prassi”, e quindi quel vantaggio competitivo, che fa la differenza con gli altri competitori. Le aziende che operano nei mercati emergenti, infatti, si ritiene che abbiano:

1. maggiore propensione al rischio;

2.    metodi di produzione più economici;

3.    modelli di gestione più snelli;

4.    maggiore flessibilità nei metodi di produzione;

5.    maggiore attitudine imprenditoriale.

Lavorare con i Paesi emergenti fa bene all’azienda
Un’indagine realizzata nel 2012 da CFO Research per conto di American Express, che ha visto interpellati circa 600 Senior Finance Executive di aziende multinazionali a livello globale, conferma la continua e significativa ripresa dei mercati extraeuropei, Paesi emergenti in primis.

Un ottimismo, confermato dai numeri, che fa bene all’azienda, o meglio al morale dei manager che le guidano, che, non solo non devono ridurre il personale e ristrutturare le aziende in “chiave riduttiva”, ma che si vedono nella situazione di dover assumere personale e predisporre piani di sviluppo.

La visione di Moody’s sulle Filippine e sui recenti accordi di pace in Mindanao

isogna tenere conto dei sottili ma profondi legami che intercorrono tra gli eventi sociali e il punto di vista degli investitori per rendersi conto che quello che sta accadendo nelle ultime ore nelle Filippine potrebbe essere un punto di svolta positivo ed importante per la vita nazionale. Era difficile immaginarlo dopo i disastri del Super Tifone Haiyan ma oggi, proprio la pacificazione nazionale offre vantaggi insperati per la crescita dell’Arcipelago filippino. Ad ulteriore dimostrazione che non solo la guerra è fonte di guadagno (per pochi) ma soprattutto la Pace può essere fonte di arricchimento diffuso (per molti) nella intera società. Da questo punto di vista, sia nell’area Sud Est asiatica, sia nello scacchiere asiatico più in generale ma anche a livello mondiale, le Filippine sono un test importante circa la risoluzione delle controversie e dei conflitti.

Secondo gli esperti del Moody’s Investors Service, la recente pace stipulata tra il Governo delle Filippine ed il maggiore dei gruppi ribelli di estrazione musulmana, certamente darà frutti positivi in tutto l’ambiente, compresi i rami bancari e del credito dell’intero Paese. In un recente documento pubblico, Moody’s ha citato l’impatto positivo sul clima degli investitori nella Nazione proprio dopo la recente firma apposta sull’accordo firmato tra il Governo ed il Moro Fronte Islamico di Liberazione MILF. Moody’s che ha conferito investimenti per le Filippine nello scorso mese di ottobre, ritiene che la crescita potenziale degli investimenti potrebbe, al contempo, sostenere l’accelerazione della crescita per l’economia nazionale nella sua interezza. I settori che potrebbero beneficiare maggiormente dalla crescita potenziale negli investimenti potrebbero essere le attività minerarie e l’agricoltura, dove il Mindanao parte da posizioni avvantaggiate in comparazione con altre zone del Paese.

Secondo Moody’s, nel suo documento intitolato Accordo di Pace delle Filippine con i separatisti musulmani è Credito positivo, il processo di pacificazione condotto a termine in modo positivo tra le parti ovvero tra il Governo centrale ed i separatisti del Moro potrebbe portare effetti benefici in una delle zone che è contemporaneamente tra le più povere del Paese e una tra le più ricche in termini di risorse e materie prime. Sotto la supervisione di Christian de Guzman, un analista senior e vice presidente del gruppo di rischio della sottoscrizione di credito, nel testo di Moody’s si annota anche che «La tregua potrebbe incentivare gli investitori di maggiori dimensioni che hanno già interessi nelle varie provincie ad essere presenti con investimenti anche nell’Isola di Mindanao». L’esperto di credito ha fatto notare che (da tempo) alcune grandi nazioni come Canada, Stati Uniti e Gran Bretagna hanno ristretto il campo d’azione dei propri osservatori nella Regione Autonoma del Mindanao Islamico ARMM e nelle aree circostanti proprio a causa delle attività dei separatisti. Con l’accordo di pace, per gli esperti di Moody’s gli investitori stranieri ed i turisti potrebbero ulteriormente incoraggiare a visitare tutta l’area di Mindanao. In riferimento ai dati del 2012, Moody’s afferma che il PIL  della Regione Autonoma del Mindanao Islamico ha raggiunto a malapena un tasso dell’1.2 per cento, il che è niente in confronto a quello della intera area di Mindanao che ha raggiunto nello stesso periodo l’8,2 per cento e lo è anche rispetto al 6.8 per cento di tutte le Filippine considerate nella loro interezza.

Un’altra dimostrazione della vera e propria “svolta” indotta nella vita e nell’economia nazionale grazie alla pacificazione raggiunta tra il Governo centrale e il fronte separatista Moro è quello del gigante delle attività bancarie Maybank e di altre compagnie bancarie della Malaysia che stanno attentamente valutando di investire nelle Filippine meridionali, proprio grazie a quanto fatto da Manila nel porre fine ad uno dei più lunghi e sanguinosi conflitti con separatisti di tutta l’Asia. Maybank è il gruppo bancario più grande della Malaysia e proprio in questi giorni ha annunciato che è sul punto di investire una cifra pari a 300 milioni di Dollari USA per aprire nuovi rami d’azione lungo tutte le Filippine, compresa la zona di Mindanao, la parte meridionale e tra le più grandi della Nazione che fino a pochi giorni fa era la quintessenza della violenza separatista e degli scontri militari.

In questi ultimi giorni, non a caso, anche le relazioni bilaterali tra le Filippine e il Myanmar si sono particolarmente infittite, i vertici del sistema creditizio e bancario così come quelli politico-istituzionali del Myanmar si sono improvvisamente mossi a ritmi inusitati fino a poco tempo fa: la stabilità politica, quindi, diventa un catalizzatore importante nel sistema degli investimenti, soprattutto se si tratta di investitori stranieri che decidono di voler investire a Mindanao, dopo un lungo tempo di osservazione neutrale ed esterna. Il commercio bilaterale tra Filippine e Malaysia ha raggiunto il picco di 4.5 miliardi di Dollari USA nell’anno scorso, rispetto a 16.5 miliardi del commercio complessivo tra le Filippine ed il più grande tra i loro partner commerciali, ovvero il Giappone.

In questo modo, lo sviluppo economico delle Filippine che era diventato particolarmente trendy prima dell’arrivo del Super Tifone Haiyan che ha ridisegnato una parte del territorio filippino ma soprattutto ha messo in ginocchio l’economia nazionale, oggi può riprendere alquanto spedito e con il sostegno degli investimenti stranieri sorretti da un rinnovato clima di fiducia corroborato dalla sottoscrizione degli accordi di pace tra il Governo delle Filippine ed il fronte islamico degli appartenenti al Moro. Da questo punto di vista, rispetto a quanto accade ed è accaduto tra Russia, Crimea e Ucraina, le Filippine sono una ulteriore dimostrazione del fatto che i conflitti possono essere realmente risolti se vi è sincera e chiara volontà delle parti di voler badare al bene comune e questo è un precedente storico positivo non solo per l’area Sud Est asiatica o asiatica più in generale ma è materia che ha rilevanza ed interesse mondiale, infatti, è tutta la Comunità mondiale che potrebbe prendere esempio da quel che è stato fatto negli ultimi giorni nelle Filippine.

fonte: lindro.com

l’import delle Filippine sale del 22% in gennaio 2014

The country’s imports grew by 22 percent in January, 2014 to $5.8 billion recovering after a slow performance in full-year 2013, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“The three-month moving average growth in January, 2014 suggests that imports could be trending upwards in line with the expected recovery in exports,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

The total trade-in-goods deficit widened to US$1.4 billion in January, 2014 from US$716.3 million in January, 2013.

“Raw materials and intermediate goods and mineral fuels and lubricants largely contributed to the robust import growth during the month,” said Balisacan.

Import of raw materials and intermediate goods reached US$2.2 billion in January, 2014, up by 27.3 percent from US$1.8 billion in January 2013. This was due to increased payments of semi-processed goods that grew by 37.5 percent during the period.

“This positive performance may be reflective of the optimistic outlook of businesses on their own operations as their next quarter outlook index is higher,” said Balisacan.

This outlook, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Business Expectation Survey for the first quarter of 2014, was based on new construction projects, both public and private, boosted by rehabilitation efforts from Typhoon Yolanda. Also contributing to the outlook are the brisk business prospects arising from companies’ competitive marketing strategies.

Imports of consumer goods also expanded in January 2014, growing by 23.2 percent to US$766.9 million from US$622.4 million in January 2013. Also, capital goods grew by 7.9 percent to US$1.5 billion in January 2014 from US$1.4 billion a year ago.

In terms of imports source, China was on top with a 14.7 percent share, equivalent to US$844 million followed by the US with a 10.6 percent share, South Korea (8.7%), Taiwan (7.5%), France (6.3%), Japan (6.2%), Saudi Arabia (6.2%), Singapore (5.7%), Thailand (5.3%), and Indonesia (4.5%).

Fonte: mb.com.ph

La vera ricchezza delle Filippine

Uno dei paesi più importanti del mondo in termini di risorse minerarie sta cercando di arrivare ad uno sfruttamento responsabile e sostenibile delle proprie risorse minerarie, senza perdere le opportunità offerte dal mercato.

Fonte: www.metallirari.com

 

Nel Sud-Est asiatico l’anno in corso è cominciato con alcuni importanti cambiamenti che avranno impatti significativi sul mercato mondiale delle materie prime.

A gennaio, l’Indonesia ha vietato l’esportazione di qualsiasi minerale non trasformato. L‘Indonesia è uno dei principali fornitori mondiali di nichel.

Molti credevano che un simile divieto non sarebbe mai stato attuato, soprattutto perchè l’interruzione delle forniture di nichel indonesiano avrebbero significato un grosso regalo per un paese come le Filippine, potenziale fornitore di grosse quantità di minerale.

Le Filippine sono il quinto paese più ricco del mondo in termini di risorse minerarie. Inoltre, possiede le maggiori riserve di nichel del mondo e ventuno delle sue trentacinque miniere in funzione, estraggono questo metallo.

Secondo il US Geological Survey, durante il 2013, le Filippine hanno prodotto più di 330.000 tonnellate di nichel.

Ma il deficit di mercato che si creerà a causa delle mancate forniture indonesiane, non sarà compensato dalle forniture delle Filippine. Con ogni probabilità, il mercato del nichel uscirà dalla situazione di eccesso di offerta nella quale si è trovato negli scorsi anni e i prezzi cominceranno a crescere.

Il più grande produttore del paese è Nickel Asia che gestisce le miniere di Rio Tuba, Taganito, Hinatuan e Cagdianao. Le altre aziende che operano nelle Filippine sono: Platinum Group Metals, Berong Nickel, Benguet e Eramen Nickel.

Molti investitori sono desiderosi di sfruttare una condizione tanto promettente, ma sono frenati dalle condizioni economiche e politiche del paese. Molte miniere sono dislocate sui territori di tribù indigene che nel passato hanno scatenato conflitti sanguinosi. Come successe nell’isola Palawan, nel 2011, quando gli indigeni coinvolsero anche l’associazione NGO Survival International per fermare l’estrazione mineraria.

Il governo filippino, nel 2012, ha deciso di porre fine a questi conflitti e a queste rivendicazioni, stabilendo nuove regole nel settore minerario, grazie alle quali lo stato filippino riceve una percentuale dei profitti minerari, garantendo una protezione ambientale e uno sfruttamento delle risorse minerarie responsabile e sostenibile.

Se le nuove politiche governative avranno successo, armonizzando le leggi locali e regolamentando anche le piccole attività minerarie, le Filippine potranno ambire a svolgere un ruolo di primo piano nel settore minerario mondiale.

 

cosa vedere a Manila?

Manila è la capitale delle Filippine: ecco cosa vedere in questa travolgente città di oltre 13 milioni di abitanti, che unisce secoli di storia alla modernità, e nella quale si possono visitare il quartocentro commerciale più grande del mondo, l’SM Mall of Asia, e contemporaneamente le antichemura della città, risalenti al XV secolo e testimonianza dell’epoca coloniale. Si tratta di una tra leattrattive turistiche più amate e visitate di Manila: Intramuros, così si chiama la fortezza protetta dalle mura, è ciò che rimane della città dopo la sua quasi totale distruzione durante la seconda guerra mondiale, e qui si trovano il famoso Fort Santiago, in cui visitare la cella in cui l’eroe nazionale José Rizal trascorse i suoi ultimi giorni di vita prima dell’esecuzione, nel 1896, e sitiPatrimonio dell’Umanità UNESCO come la splendida Cattedrale di Manila e la chiesa barocca diSan Agustin, in un suggestivo angolo di storia che fa dimenticare il caos cittadino e scoprire la bellezza degli edifici coloniali.

Tra i musei più importanti della città, ricordiamo il Museo Metropolitano di Manila, che custodisce preziosi gioielli risalenti all’epoca pre-ispanica, tra l’VIII ed il XIII secolo, e opere di artisti filippini contemporanei, e il Museo Nazionale del Popolo Filippino, dove tra reperti archeologici e reliquie del galeone spagnolo San Diego si possono ammirare testimonianze della profonda diversità culturale delle Filippine. Questo museo si trova all’interno del famoso Rizal Park, il parco più importante della città, fatto erigere proprio in memoria di José Rizal, al quale è dedicato unmonumento commemorativo proprio al centro del parco; questo è il luogo più tranquillo di Manila, dove fare picnic o rilassarsi all’ombra degli alberi, fare jogging oppure camminare tra i giardini in stile giapponese e cinese, ed inoltre qui si tengono sempre importanti eventi a concerti all’aperto.

Una passeggiata lungo il Roxas Boulevard Baywalk è d’obbligo per respirare la vera atmosfera cittadina: qui potrete ammirare splendidi tramonti sulla Baia di Manila, provare lo street food locale e fare shopping tra i negozietti e le bancarelle di oggetti artigianali in legno o in vetro. Sempre per gli amanti dello shopping, consigliamo la visita dell’imponente centro commerciale Nayong Pilipino, mentre invece in tema di architetture maestose non si può non vedere, almeno da fuori, il Malacañang Palace, la sede del Presidente delle Filippine. Tra le imperdibili escursioni da fare a Manila e nei dintorni invece, ricordiamo una gita in battello alla Corregidor Island, un’isoletta collinare nella Baia di Manila circondata da acque cristalline, dove si possono vedere le fortificazioni erette dai filippini e dagli statunitensi nella resistenza contro il Giappone durante la seconda guerra mondiale.

 

Abbiamo già dimenticato la tragedia nelle Filippine

A tre mesi dal tifone che ha distrutto e portato morte nelle Filippine l’onlus Plan Italia costruisce un resoconto della condizione odierna.

Vi presentiamo tutti i dati in un bellissimo reportage di foto scattate da una donna, loro operatrice umanitaria, percorrendo in moto la costa più colpita da Haiyan.

“La prima volta che sono arrivata qui, subito dopo il tifone Haiyan, le strade erano ricoperte da detriti, ora sono sgombre, è in corso la ricostruzione delle case, i bambini hanno ripreso la scuola” racconta Hatai Limprayoonyong.

Anche il mare è calmo, apparentemente innocuo, ma a far ancora paura sono i numeri: 15 milioni di persone colpite, tra cui 5milioni di bambini. 4 milioni i senza casa. Eppure molto in questi pochi mesi si è fatto: Plan Italia ha distribuito 3.884 tonnellate di cibo a 79mila famiglie e 43mila kit per l’ingenizzazione dell’acqua, costruito 30mila alloggi e 2,339 toilette, messo in campo 117 esperti per supporto psicologico a 6,263 bambini, creato un cordone di assistenza ad hoc per partorienti e neonati.

Numeri che ora colpiscono come pugni nello stomaco ma che tra poche ore avremo già dimenticato. Prima che la memoria inizi a cancellarne il ricordo prendete nota dei dati per aderire alla raccolta fondi (la donazione è detraibile dalla dichiarazione dei redditi) Plan Italia: http://www.plan-italia.org

15 edifici storici da ristrutturare in Manila

15 heritage buildings in Metro Manila that should be turned into hotels or something

By Coconuts ManilaFebruary 10, 2014 / 11:30 PHT

If these buildings could talk, they’d be like, “Rescue us!” We hear you, beautiful creatures. And, not to get your hopes up, but now that Luneta Hotel has been fixed and expected to reopen after decades of neglect, who knows, maybe the next restoration project could be you!

1. EL HOGAR FILIPINO

Circa: 1914
Location: 204 Juan Luna Street cor Muelle dela Industria, Binondo, Manila

History: This classic example of the Beaux-Arts school of design was built in 1914 by Antonio Melian, a self-proclaimed Peruvian count who formed the El Hogar Mutual Association, a financing cooperative. It was his wedding present of sorts to wife Isabel Zobel (of the Zobel de Ayala clan) and their initials adorn the staircase of the building.

Designed by architect Ramond de Yrureta-Goyena with engineer Roque Ruaño, the Spanish Dominican priest credited for building the first earthquake-resistant building in Asia (the UST Main Building in Sampaloc), El Hogar Filipino was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and heavily damaged during the American bombings. After the war, it was restored and a new floor was added.

What it is now: It is still in use today as an office building. Though it looks run-down, you can still get a glimpse of interesting architectural details on its facade and interiors. Since the late 1990s, the building has been a favorite location for film and TV productions such as the movie Mano Po and the music video for Bamboo’s hit song “Hallelujah.”

How I’ll fix it: We asked Michelle Pe, whose family bought and revived the Art Deco design Miramar Hotel across the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard (it is now a 40-room boutique hotel with a restaurant called Bistro Michelle on the ground floor), how she would rescue El Hogar Filipino: “This building has so much potential especially because it is strategically located. I would develop it into a boutique hotel and I’ll probably paint the building facade in ivory with a hint of tallow yellow. I will also replace all the ground floor doors with French doors with a canopy where I plan to have a restaurant overlooking the Pasig River. Exterior lights will highlight the building at night.”

2. METROPOLITAN THEATER

Circa: 1931
Location: Corner of Arroceros Street and Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, Manila

History: “The dream of Filipino architect Juan Arellano calls to mind a modern expressionistic style where the theater’s face is a great rectangular window of translucent glass. Highlighted on either side in tapestries of colored tiles and its forehead crowned the stylized Muslim minarets. Inside two mural paintings, ‘The Dance’ and ‘The Spirit of Music’ by the country’s national artist Fernando Amorsolo complement the modern sculpture of Italian designer Francisco Monti. The auditorium has a beautiful rectangular stage decorated with bas relief figures symbolizing music, tragedy, comedy and poetry. The ceiling was decorated with a motif of mango fruits and leaves,” from the book Landmarks of Manila.

What it is now: Abandoned. The theater’s future looks in doubt as it is the subject of a legal battle between GSIS and Manila City Hall over its ownership.

How I’ll fix it: “The Metropolitan Theater may be transformed into a five-star hotel which can also showcase theatrical productions on the ground floor as its main highlight. I will not change any of the original color of the facade but instead will just clean and restore its original charm. I will probably change the stained glass design and color and add complementing iron droplights to the building entrance and redo the landscaping,” says Miramar Hotel’s Michelle Pe.

3. GSIS

Circa: 1952
Location: Arroceros cor Concepcion Streets, Manila

History: The old GSIS building, built from 1952-1954 by architect Federico S. Ilustre.

What it is now: A parking lot.

How I’ll fix it: We asked architect and London School of Economics-trained urban planner James Jao how he would rescue the old GSIS building: “This building can be gentrified into a mixed-use development. By retaining the existing structure, it can be the podium of a high-rise building behind including an atrium. This way you can have a feel of the old and the new. The existing GSIS Building can host upscale retail shops and some restaurants, with a lobby/reception on one side for the hotel or condominium (office or residential). This approach can complement the existing SM City mall. An underground walkway can connect both the GSIS and SM,” says architect and urban planner James Jao.
4. PAKO

Circa: 1939
Location: Pedro Gil Street, Paco, Manila

History: “In the district of San Francisco Dilao, better referred to as Paco, straddling Estero de Paco stands Pako Bulding. Though its architect is unkown, the structure built in 1939 is an Art Deco masterpiece. Occupying an irregular lot, the almost trapezoidal structure utilizes its restricted frontage by undulating the faced with curves and defined flat overhangs,” from the book Art Deco in the Philippines.

What it is now: An extension of the Paco market. “I remember the building used to house a library up until the 1990s, but I never got to go inside,” says Coconuts Manila writer Anson Yu.

How I’ll fix it: We asked architect and London School of Economics-trained urban planner James Jao what he would to rescue the Pako Building: “Right in the heart of a busy market street, Pako Building can be gentrified into retail shops and restaurants to complement the economic activities around it. It must be repainted with Art Deco colors, making it the landmark of the area. A boutique hotel perhaps can be done with the addition of a mid-rise central structure at the core. Good lighting must make it more interesting at night.”

5. TIMES THEATER

Circa: 1939
Location: Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo

History: “Built in 1939, Times Theater was designed by Luis Araneta. During its inauguration General Douglas MacArthur lead the celebrities of that time graced the modern theater first presentation. Designed like a billowing curtains, this massive curvilinear walls were made dramatic by the central glass block-clad facade that glowed at night, a new and popular material at that time,” from the book Art Deco in the Philippines.

What it is now: It is still screening movies but watching a show there now is not something that we recommend.

How I’ll fix it: “This building right across Quiapo Church is a very interesting iconic building. Until now it is used as a theater showing second-run films. I would recommend to retain the concrete façade of this building and build a mix-use development at the back with the lower floors, at least four storeys, for retail and restaurants. The upper floors can be the hotel rooms. A changing LED lighting at the façade will create a very interesting feature for this Times Theater which stood the test of times for generations,” says architect and urban planner James Jao, FUAP.

6. CAPITOL THEATER

Circa: 1930s
Location: Escolta Street

History: “Built in the 1930s by architect Juan Nakpil, this Art Deco jewel once mounted on its balcony wall a mural by Filipino modernist Vitorio Edades. The building is designed with a generously lighted commercial block, tail ended by spire-like towers, with its Western tower dominated by an Egyptian-inspired step pyramid. Along the face of the Western tower are bas reliefs attributed perhaps to the atelier of Francisco Monti. The building’s demise began in the late 1970s when Escolta lost favor to more prominent shopping districts like Cubao and Makati,” from the book Art Deco in the Philippines.

What it is now: There is a restaurant bar occupying the ground floor. They tried to draw in the Binondo crowd by showing Chinese films, but that didn’t work. Eventually it started showing second-run feature films and then closed down. There was an attempt to convert the theater into a restaurant with a performing art stage, but that didn’t work as well. The theater is now closed, while a portion is now used by a downmarket eatery.

How I’ll fix it: “I remember very well how my father used to bring us to Escolta Street for a Sunday lunch or dinner at Savory and we would pass by the Capitol Theater building. Capitol could be the perfect boutique hotel for this very busy street. The lower floor can be a mix of retail stores and restaurants/coffee shops. The existing lobby can be retrofitted to a hotel lobby/lounge and reception. It must be repainted into the vibrant Art Deco colors and at night the facade should be lit with colored LED which will reflect into the water of the river, similar to Miami, Florida,” says architect and urban planner James Jao, FUAP.
7. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAY PACO STATION

Circa: 1915
Location: Plaza Dilao Road, Paco, Manila

History: Said to bear semblance to the Penn Station in New York, the Paco Station of the Philippine National Railways was designed in 1908 by William Parsons, the same architect who designed The Manila Hotel and Philippine General Hospital. It “was also the scene of a heroic battle during World War II and the recapture of the station led to the crucial defeat of the remaining Japanese forces in Manila,” writes blogger South Bike. “In 1996, a contractor of a 7-storey mall partly demolished the PNR station but due to the lack of funds it stopped, leaving behind a skeleton of a the first four floors of the mall and the facade of the station.”

What it is now: Gutted and abandoned.

How I’ll fix it: “This is a building I am very familiar with because during my childhood our family would travel via the Bicol Express on the first class car from Paco all the way to Legazpi City. The grandeur of the lobby as you enter gives you the excitement of travel to the south. This cannot be a boutique hotel since the train is passing through this terminal building with the noise and vibration it causes until now. But the government must definitely modernize the mass train transit infrastructure and this should be the ‘Grand Central Terminal’ of Manila with retails shops and restaurants on both sides, just like the Victoria Station in London,” says architect and urban planner James Jao, FUAP.

8. CHACO

Circa: 1920s
Location: Corner of Quintin Paredes and Dasmariñas Streets, Binondo, Manila

History: Originally known as Chaco, after prominent Chinese businessman Mariano Uy Chaco who commissioned the building to house his hardware firm. When he went back to China in 1910, he turned over his business to his son Uy Vet, who transformed the company from a general hardware store to direct importer and distributor of tools and machinery. Uy Vet later went on to become a leader in the Chinese community, sitting on the board of a number of community and business organizations. It was he who hired architect Andres Luna de San Pedro to design the current building.

What it is now: Philtrust Bank, although the building’s future is in doubt as its internal framework is rusting from the inside. However the bank has been using the building’s facade as a design template for its branches.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

9. IDES O’RACCA

Circa: 1935
Location: Corner of M de Santos and Folgueras Streets, Binondo, Manila

History: Inaugurated in 1935 by a Dr Isidro de Santos, the original plan for the building was to be a cold storage. It is said that Dr de Santos’s German son-in-law, a civil engineer, oversaw the construction of the building, hence the reason why it is still standing despite the numerous fires and earthquakes it has encountered.

In 1936, Dr de Santos’ cold storage business failed and was foreclosed. It was later sold to a Japanese confectionery company. During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army took over the building and installed machine guns on the roof. When the Americans returned, they converted the building into a storage space for their troops. Before the Americans left, they turned over the property to the Philippine government who are still the current owners of the building.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the upper floors of the building was used by various government agencies like the National Abaca Corporation and the National Cooperatives, while the lower floors were leased to shop owners. But what fires, wars and earthquakes could not destroy, time and neglect have.

What it is now: Still used as an office building, a number of its tenants have organized themselves into an association and are battling against time and bureaucracy to have the building declared a historical landmark, so that the building can be restored to its original beauty.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

10. HSBC (AKA HAMILTON)

Circa: 1921
Location: Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila

History: Built in 1921 by American businessman Oscar Campbell and designed by American architect GH Hayward, this building’s claim to fame is that it once housed the Manila office of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, which recently celebrated 125 years of operation in the Philippines. The bank moved out sometime in the 1980s, after which another financial institution took over the lease.

What it is now: Abandoned.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

11. JUAN LUNA E-SERVICES 

Circa: 1922
Location: 120 Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila

History: Originally called the Pacific Commercial Building, this corner building near Calle Escolta was built in 1922 with funding from the El Hogar Mutual Association. This is where the First National Bank of New York (today’s Citibank) was located in the 1930s and 1940s. By the 1960s, most of the businesses that occupied the building had moved out and consequently abandoned.

What it is now: Sometime in the aughties, the building was brought by a new owner and restoration work began. It is now known as the E Business building and houses BPO firms.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

12. MONTE DE PIEDAD SAVINGS BANK

Circa: 1894
Location: E. Fugoso Street, Sta Cruz, Manila

History: “It was born to be a poor man’s bank. Founded by Franciscan monk Rev Fr Felix Huertas saw it wise to utilize these funds from unexpended donations to the church to establish a bank that would save the poor and needy from usurers and money lenders. It opened originally in 1882 on the ground floor of the Real Colegio de Santa Isabel in Intramuros. It later opened its office on a lot on Plaza Goiti in 1894. (from the NHI plaque on the building) Former president Manuel L. Quezon was at one time employed as a clerk here. The bank then moved  to its present site in front of Sta. Cruz Church in 1938. The edifice was destroyed during the liberation of Manila in 1945, rebuilt in 1946 and resumed operations in 1947,” from the book Landmarks of Manila.

What it is now: An apartment and commercial for businessmen in the area. The bank folded up in early 2000 due to bad loans. It was later sold to GE Money Bank.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

13. ADUANA

Circa: 1823
Location: Magallanes Drive, Intramuros

History: This abandoned old building used to house the Customs offices, the Intendencia General de Hacienda (Central Administration), the Treasury, as well as the new Casa de Moneda. It was built from 1823 to 1829 and designed by Tomas Cortes.

What it is now: Gutted and abandoned.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).
14. MANUEL F TIAOQUI

Circa: 1950s
Location: Plaza Sta Cruz, Sta Cruz, Manila

History: It is said that this seven-storey building is the first pinned-wall building in the Philippines.

What is it now: Office building.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

15. REGINA

Circa: 1934
Location: Corner of William Burke Escolta Streets, Binondo, Manila

History: Designed in the neo-Classical style by Andres Luna de San Pedro in 1934, although a fourth floor was added by its new owners who commissioned UST College of Architect founder Fernando Ocampo.

What it is now: Due to its proximity to the port area, this four-storey building is now used as an office building by several freight forwarding companies.

How I’ll fix it: Do you have an idea on how to turn this into a hotel? Leave a comment below (and don’t forget to specify the building).

Fonte: Manila.coconuts.co