Strictly for research purposes

Did you know 1: A bottle of virgin coconut oil that retails for close to $2.50 (the average price is P150) anywhere in Metro Manila sells for $15.95 in the United States and $19 when ordered online.

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Did you know 2: Yes, there are some Japanese black or wagyu embryos in Mindanao but these are for research purposes, you understand.

Not surprisingly, Japan is very protective of the cows that produce the deservedly well-famous Kobe beef.

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Did you know 3: Tiger Airways Inc. president Tony Davis will be in Manila tomorrow to drum up business for the Singapore-based budget carrier and will fly out early Saturday.

Why he has to do that is puzzling, considering the Manila-Singapore flights from the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark are said to be already fully booked to July.

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Did you know 4: Those Ernst & Young guys recruiting non-SGV & Co. (their Philippine partner) CPAs for the US market quietly flew in two weeks ago and have since left.

No need to worry though. For those who missed these guys, there’s always the Internet. Like all US firms, Ernst & Young accepts online applications.

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Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap is putting up 40 more produce stalls in Metro Manila wet markets on top of the eight existing ones.

The idea here is to increase rural incomes by giving farmers direct access to their end-customers.

Word is, Mr. Yap hasn’t had problems getting wet market owners to cooperate. Very much like those in, say, France, the produce of these farmers (who do not have to go through middlemen) are not only cheaper by an average of P10 a kilo but are also fresher.

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Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. senior vice-president for the call center group Rosalie Montenegro obviously believes in working with (rather than fighting) India.

In this first of possibly many linkages, an Indian company has agreed to share an American BPO (business process outsourcing) client with PLDT – the Indian company will handle the higher margin software component while PLDT gets the voice contract. The new call center under the e-PLDT Ventus brand, will be located in Mandaluyong and will operational by August.

By the way, Rose Montenegro has worked out a scholarship program with University Belt universities wherein the English elective open to incoming senior is given free of charge. Those who pass the nine-month elective are ensured a job at PLDT.

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Citibank NA has a remittance card, which is open only to California-based residents with beneficiaries in the Philippines.

Called the money card, the ATM-like card is delivered to local beneficiaries who can then withdraw cash deposited for them by their California-based families in any accredited ATM network.

Developed by Citibank consumer banking vice-president Cecille Fonacier, the money card will be managed by the bankís savings bank – the one recently purchased from Insular Life – when the Bangko Sentral approves the savings bankís new name, hopefully within the third quarter of this year.