More lamentations by readers

A number of readers have been sending in their complaints and comments on the various issues that are being tackled in this column. The state of Philippine tourism is one of the more popular subjects. This one, from Rene Serrano, brings with it the view of our overseas workers. The following is his reaction:

"I totally agree with the observations of The Very Reverend Barry Cumberland (Biz-Links, 24 February 2006) regarding the state of our tourism industry. I am a Saudi-based OFW but currently in the UK working for our office in London. I have been here for more than three months and have noticed the almost total absence of any advertisements of our tourist destinations.

"You go to any travel agency and you will see specific brochures for travel destinations in Asia for China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Korea. Ours can be found inside the general catalogues for Asian travel. No wonder we do not get a bigger slice of the UK tourist market which is several billion pounds a year.

"With the state of emergency declared by GMA, more travel advisories will be issued by other governments, thereby further eroding our standing in the world community."

Highest rates in asia

I would like to hear what the Department of Energy has to say about this e-mail that was shared to several writers including myself by Tony del Rosario, a self-proclaimed consumer advocate especially on electricity rates. Here is his tirade.

"I almost choked on my adobo bite when I saw my latest Meralco bill at an obscene P9.56 per kwh. Unless we are a drug dealer, jueteng lord or making equally obscene illegal money, our Meralco bill now sucks in 10 to 20 percent of our household income.

"We have done everything in our household to reduce our electric consumption. We all sleep in a one-aircon room, unplug everything not in use, and got rid of our electric stove. My kid’s school allowance is at starvation level especially every time Meralco’s threatening disconnection notice comes.

"Our electricity rate of P9.56 per kwh translates to $0.184 per kwh, which means we are now the No. 1 highest in Asia, not the 2nd to 4th as claimed by the Department of Energy. We have beaten the perennial champion Japan at $0.173 per kwh.

"What is even more depressing is Meralco is not done raising the rates! If they get their way, they will pass on to us, the consumers, the P20 billion net penalties the National Power Corp. slapped on them for their contract violation. What repugnance!

PPA disguised

"Look at your bill closely and Meralco is already pre-conditioning our minds for even more additional charges for items such as NPC Stranded Debts, NPC Standard Contract Costs, Equalization taxes and royalties and the really big one is DUs Stranded Contract costs which is the overpriced portion of the Meralco generation rates it negotiated with the Lopez-owned First Gen and First Gas.

"Remember the PPA? We are still paying for them except that they are spread out and known by different names. Yet, no one is doing anything! The Philippine Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Philippine Industries, and more recently, entrepreneur George Yang of McDonald’s hamburger chain, have come out to complain about the high power cost in the country as a big cost disadvantage and an investment disincentive.

"Beyond these feeble complaints which Meralco mostly ignores, it is scary that we, the Filipino consumers, poor, middle class and rich seem to just dutifully bear the monthly Meralco burden. Are we too confused and helpless to put up a fight? Is the Lopez conquest of the Filipino electric consumers now totally complete? Where are the Bayan Muna, Anak Bayan, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Nasecore, the congressmen and senators we elected to protect our interest? Have they given up on getting any real power cost reduction programs from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?"

Not a good way to start the week, but I hope these laments will awaken some people from their slumber.

Tournaments sharpen poker skill level

Past records show that Filipinos can compete internationally and be champions in sports and games like golf, bowling, chess, billiards and boxing (lower weight categories). We are proud of Filipino names like Jennifer Rosales (ladies golf), Paeng Nepomoceno (bowling), Eugene Torre (chess), Efren Bata (billiards) and of course, the very popular boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Now comes another game that requires skill, versatility and mind sharpness that recently acquired universal status and popularity – the game of Hold’em Poker. Many are of the view this is another game where Filipinos can excel in and to be a Filipino World Poker Champion is not an idle dream.

With this in mind, the Poker Club of the Philippines (PCP) and the Philippine Poker Tour (PPT), in cooperation with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), organized formal tournaments where local poker enthusiasts can sharpen their skills and upgrade their competitive proficiency in preparation for international competition.

After the recently concluded Poker King Challenge (won by Anthony Gabitan), the Philippine Poker Tour launched the search for the 2006 Philippine Poker Champion with guaranteed prizes worth P1.6 million. It is expected that the series of satellite tournaments leading to the Championship Main Event will uncover talents among thousands who are now playing and enjoying the challenges offered by the game.

Non-wager satellite tournaments are held weekly in various accredited sites. These are: Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig (Fridays and Saturdays), San Mig Alabang Town Center in Alabang (Wednesdays), Elbow Room at the Metro Walk, Pasig (Thursdays), El Pueblo at Ortigas Center, Pasig (Fridays) and Rajah Park Hotel, Cebu City (Fridays).

Soon selected Casino Filipino sites will hold satellite tournaments, thus providing more poker players opportunities to participate in the nationwide search for the Philippine Poker Champion.

One may also play at the Main Event of the Championship by registering online and paying the full tournament fee at Philippine Poker Tour offices. Visit www.PhilippinePokerTour.com <http://www.philippinepokertour.com/> or call the Secretariat (c/o Cindy) at 817-9092 or 812-0153 for more details.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected] or at [email protected]. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz