|
In
recent years, the number of expatriates
working in multinational companies
declined with more and more firms
wanting to migrate senior positions to
Asian nationals.
The trend is certainly global and the
Philippines is part of this transition
as well. Chalre Associates (an executive
search and management consulting firm)
Chairman Richard Mills said in his
presentation at the American Chamber of
Commerce that “the number of expatriates employed
throughout the Asia Pacific region has
steadily declined and it continuing to
do so.”
In a telephone interview
with
|
Chalré Associates
Chairman Richard Mills |
|
|
What’s
On & Expat, Mills said “localization” in
hiring has become a global trend and in
the case of the Philippines, so-called
“local expatriates” are proportionally
greater in number and are preferably
hired than international expatriate
managers. For those who aren’t familiar
with the term, a “local expatriate” is a
non-Filipino who decides to live in
Philippines because he enjoys the
country and its people.
Mills said “localizing expatriates is
the next best thing to Filipinos”. He
also said that a significant percentage
of expatriates posted to the Philippines
has interest to remain in the country
when their terms are finished. Mills
also serves as the First Vice President
of Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the
Philippines.
By this, Mills said there is momentous
growth for the Philippines particularly
in sectors like Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) and mining. The BPO
industry in the
Philippines, for instance, needs 50
percent more managers each year over the
next few years. |
Relaunching a New eBay.ph
By Vanessa R. Balagapo
|
|
From
something organic as almond leaves to a
USD4.9 million private business jet to
pranks of selling a half opened tube of
toothpaste, online shopping is becoming
a way of life to a vast growing number
of people who’d rather click away and
stroll in virtual shopping carts.
One of the lures of online shopping is
being able to shop in one’s
just-got-out-of-bed-ensemble with
matching pink rollers on one’s hair.
Nobody will ever know. One of the most
popular shopping sites, eBay has just
relaunched its new baby, eBay.ph. for an
enhanced Pinoy user experience. Here,
shoppers can now enjoy faster and more
accurate searches with an advanced
search tool, allowing clients to find
items by seller, bidder, item number and
even one’s favorite store.
The “my eBay” tool, for instance, lists
down a client’s buying activity in one
location, allowing one to monitor items
bidded on. |
|
Other
features include the “new seller tools”
which are essential for the online
entrepreneur. The “selling manager” and
“eBay sales reports” help sellers track
their sales and successful listings.
There’s also the option of setting up an ebay store to showcase their products
and build one’s own brand on eBay, or
even purchase optional Listing Upgrade
features to lure more buyers.
There’s also the newly improved
Community Hub where users can interact
or ask for advice on the discussion
boards
According to Sam Mcdonaugh, director of
eBay Southeast Asia, the company places
utmost importance on community feedback.
As the world’s leading online market
place, eBay is here to promote and
enable e-commerce in the Philippines
within a safe and secure online
environment. |
 |
|
eBay’s
director of Southeast Asia Sam Mcdonaugh
(right) with eBay’s new style ambassador
Jolina Magdangal |
|
|
This may mean good news for returning
Filipino managers who have been living
overseas and wanting to reconsider
relocating to their home country.
But is this bad news for expats? Mills
said not at all. He explained that
expats who hold top positions know that
they are here to develop local talent.
However, high growth sectors like BPO,
mining and others require expats. Mills
said expatriates are required in sectors
when local talent is not yet developed
or available.
“Filipinos think all expats earn more
than them. That is not the case anymore.
Today’s expats get fewer extras and they
are often fired on short notice,” Mills
said.
Cross Postings
At present, Asians are taking over the
helm in many industries over Western
expats, saying that Indians, Filipinos
and Malaysians all have the same cross
posting opportunities to gain experience
and be considered for the most senior
roles.
“I have noticed that Indians seem to
have taken over CitiBank in the region.
Today, Filipinos and other Asians have a
better chance than expats to get the top
regional jobs,” he said.
|
|
Asia
Becoming Noticed
Mills said the Asia-Pacific region
accounts for less than 15 percent of
total revenues for most multinational
companies. Many still see Asia as a
place to sell and deploy and not much
more.
The entire gross domestic product (GDP)
of the Philippines is about 25 percent
of the GDP of Dallas-Fort Worth or
Philadelphia. The Canadian consultant
said countries in Southeast Asia are
small and need to work together to be
noticed. That means successful managers
need to be able to manage different
cultures.
Immigration Concerns
In his presentation, Mills also
mentioned “immigration concerns”
encountered by expats. “We constantly
get calls from expatriates whose term
has ended and they want to stay. Many
cite beautiful Filipinas as one reason.
Philippine immigration is considered
unfriendly. We lose motivated and
experienced management talent as a
result,” he said. |
|
PICC
Upgrades Facilities
By Carmencita H. Acosta
|
The Philippine
International Convention Center
(PICC) is undergoing an
upgrading and rehabilitation
program of its facilities.
Built on reclaimed area along
scenic Manila Bay 31 years ago,
the PICC has more than 60,000
square meters of floor area and
a range of facilities that can
accommodate gatherings of great
magnitude.
Ongoing is the general
refurbishing of its complex, the
addition of new high-ceilinged
meeting rooms and dining halls
at the fourth and fifth floors
of the Delegation Building and
the installation of
state-of-the-art equipment and
facilities. The courtyards and
gardens are also being further
improved to accommodate large
outdoor receptions and
functions.
The PICC has five building mod |
|
ules: Delegation
Building, Secretariat Building,
Plenary Hall, Reception Hall and
The Forum. All their spaces are
convertible to almost any number
of settings for any type of
exhibition, convention or event.
The PICC is under the aegis of
the Central Bank of the
Philippines. It has made history
as Asia’s first huge
international convention center,
setting a trend that has led
other countries to construct
their own.
An architectural landmark in
Metro Manila, the PICC houses
works of various leading
Philippine painters and
sculptors and has been the venue
for presentations of such
international artists as the
late Luciano Pavarotti and the
dancers of the famed Russian
Bolshoi Ballet, as well as pop
artists Ricky Martin and Burt
Bacharach. |
|
|
The Airbus 380 Team
Takes Off
at Heritage Hotel Manila’s New Era of
Experience
|
The Heritage
Hotel Manila houses the Airbus
380 team in some of 450 newly-
refurbished rooms during the
A380 team’s inaugural trip to
Manila, as part of the world
tour for technical and
commercial route proving
mission. In photo, from left are
Oliver Esguerra, front office
manager of Heritage Hotel,
Romina Gervacio, marketing
communications manager, Heritage
Hotel; Jean- Christophe Renaud
and Mark Cousin (Airbus 380 team
leaders); Winnie Plata, sales
manager ofHeritage Hotel and
Norielle Roldan, director of
sales and marketing also of
Heritage Hotel. |
|
|