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Friday, December 7, 2012

IBM to double BPO staff in PH to 10,000 in 3 years


US based technology giant IBM Corp. is adding at least 10,000 jobs in the Philippines over the next three years as part of plans to expand in the country’s high value business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
IBM Philippines president Mariels Almeda Winhoffer said this would bolster the country’s position as a key component of the global operations of the firm known as “Big Blue.”
She said the company currently has between 10,000 and 15,000 workers in the Philippines.
“We will more than double that number by 2015,” said Winhoffer, the first Filipina to head IBM’s Philippine operations.
Most of these jobs would be in the company’s analytics outsourcing operations. Through the expansion, IBM hopes to grab a significant piece of the global IT analytics market, estimated to be worth $160 billion.
She said the new jobs would pay higher than typical call center jobs that make up two-thirds of the country’s $11-billion BPO industry today. It would also require employees to have a higher set of skills.
Part of the first phase of expansion includes the establishment of a new BPO facility that would handle support for the company’s “social business” software offerings to North American clients.
(Story courtesy of Paolo G. Montecillo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

IBM to double BPO staff in PH to 10,000 in 3 years


US based technology giant IBM Corp. is adding at least 10,000 jobs in the Philippines over the next three years as part of plans to expand in the country’s high value business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
IBM Philippines president Mariels Almeda Winhoffer said this would bolster the country’s position as a key component of the global operations of the firm known as “Big Blue.”
She said the company currently has between 10,000 and 15,000 workers in the Philippines.
“We will more than double that number by 2015,” said Winhoffer, the first Filipina to head IBM’s Philippine operations.
Most of these jobs would be in the company’s analytics outsourcing operations. Through the expansion, IBM hopes to grab a significant piece of the global IT analytics market, estimated to be worth $160 billion.
She said the new jobs would pay higher than typical call center jobs that make up two-thirds of the country’s $11-billion BPO industry today. It would also require employees to have a higher set of skills.
Part of the first phase of expansion includes the establishment of a new BPO facility that would handle support for the company’s “social business” software offerings to North American clients.
(Story courtesy of Paolo G. Montecillo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

IBM to double BPO staff in PH to 10,000 in 3 years


US based technology giant IBM Corp. is adding at least 10,000 jobs in the Philippines over the next three years as part of plans to expand in the country’s high value business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
IBM Philippines president Mariels Almeda Winhoffer said this would bolster the country’s position as a key component of the global operations of the firm known as “Big Blue.”
She said the company currently has between 10,000 and 15,000 workers in the Philippines.
“We will more than double that number by 2015,” said Winhoffer, the first Filipina to head IBM’s Philippine operations.
Most of these jobs would be in the company’s analytics outsourcing operations. Through the expansion, IBM hopes to grab a significant piece of the global IT analytics market, estimated to be worth $160 billion.
She said the new jobs would pay higher than typical call center jobs that make up two-thirds of the country’s $11-billion BPO industry today. It would also require employees to have a higher set of skills.
Part of the first phase of expansion includes the establishment of a new BPO facility that would handle support for the company’s “social business” software offerings to North American clients.
(Story courtesy of Paolo G. Montecillo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Pinoy teams sweep int’l hip-hop dance tilt in Sydney


Boyz Unlimited, a team from the Philippines, emerged the Grand Slam Champion of the World Supremacy Battlegrounds (WSB 2012), a competition among international hip-hop dance groups held in Australia’s Sydney Olympic Park over the weekend.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, four other Philippine groups won major awards in the same competition, besting rivals from Australia, the Bahamas, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States.
The winning teams in the International Open Division included:
  • Boyz Unlimited: Gold
  • FlipendemicKru: Silver
  • Pinoy Hip Hop: Bronze
  • Rockstars: Fourth Place
Unschooled and ADDLIB, also from the Philippines, placed seventh and tenth, respectively, in the same category.
Another Pinoy group, the A Team, clinched a silver in the WSB 2012’s Varsity Division.
Two-year winning streak
This is the second year in a row that Boyz Unlimited, a group of seven dancers from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, has won the World Supremacy Battlegrounds.
Formed in 2004 and choreographed by Marion Evangelista, Boyz Unlimited has won in numerous local competitions, including:
  • Hundred Islands Dance Showdown in Alaminos, Pangasinan in 2011 (Champion),
  • Groove 2010, North Luzon elimination in 2010 (Champion),
  • Amplified Hip-hop Dance Competition in Baguio City in 2009 (Champion), and
  • Smart’s Best Dance Crew in Dagupan City in 2010 (Champion).
In its Facebook page, the group said its members were brought together in the objective of dancing “for the glory of God.”
The group believes that “as long as we continue to learn . . . we will achieve our dream—to be the best dance crew not only in our country but in the whole world.”
After winning the championship at the WSB 2012, the group expressed its gratitude in a Facebook post:
“Hindi naming alam kung pano naming sisimulan ang sobrang pasasalamat naming sa inyo at sa lahat ng tumulong sumuporta, naniwala, at higit sa lahat nagdasal po para sa amin at sa lahat ng Team Pilipinas,” the page’s administrator said.
Dedicating its award to its Filipino supporters, the group added, “Sobrang maraming salamat po! Iba talaga ang pusong Pinoy!”
Fil-Australian businessman and WSB founder Marco Selorio said the Philippine teams consistently impressed international judges and competitors.
(Story courtesy of Karla Maquiling, VVP, GMA News)

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

PH improves in global corruption index


MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' ranking in the list of the most corrupt countries improved this year, according to anti-graft organization Transparency International's 2012 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
The Philippines placed 105th in the list, which ranks 176 countries based on how corrupt their government is perceived to be. Last year, the country ranked 129th. 
The Philippines shared 105th place with Algeria, Armenia, Bolivia, Gambia, Kosovo, Mali and Mexico. 
While the country's ranking has improved, its actual CPI score shows the level of perceived corruption is still significant. The Philippines' CPI score was 34 out of 100, still among the lowest.
Based on the index, a score of zero means the country is perceived to be very corrupt and 100 means it is perceived to be very clean. 
Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tied for first place on the 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index. 
In Asia, Singapore ranked the highest at 5th place, followed by Hong Kong (14), Japan (17), Taiwan (37), South Korea (45) and Brunei (46).
Other Asian countries that ranked ahead of the Philippines were Malaysia (54), China (80), Thailand (88) and India (94). 
The Philippines fared better than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors like Timor-Leste (113),  Indonesia (118), Vietnam (123) and Laos (160).
Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan ended up in last place on the index.  
Transparency International said the CPI shows that corruption continues to be rampant around the world. Two-thirds of the 176 countries in the list had a score of below 50. 
"Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all public decision-making. Priorities include better rules on lobbying and political financing, making public spending and contracting more transparent and making public bodies more accountable to people,” said Huguette Labelle, Transparency International chair, in a statement. 

'Magic' Johnson believes Pacquiao will KO Marquez


LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Six months after Manny Pacquiao’s controversial loss to Timothy Bradley, the “Pacman” is back in Sin City to hopefully settle his rivalry with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.
The countdown to the Pacquiao-Marquez bout has begun as the two fighters meet in the ring for the fourth time this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Both fighters are eager to prove for the last time who is the true champion.
Retired LA Lakers superstar and basketball hall of famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson expressed his support for Pacquiao, saying he believes the Pacman will knock out Marquez.
“Manny will win. I’m coming to the fight and support Manny and so he is gonna win, just like President Barrack Obama. Both of them are champions, but champion for the people that’s the main thing,” the former NBA player said.
“Because he got robbed the last fight, I think he will come back again with a strong performance and knock him (Marquez) out this time,” he added.
Filipino-American armless pilot Jessica Cox also wished Pacquiao the best of luck.
“I really wish him the best and I know he will do the best, so I don’t know if he needs much encouragement ‘cause he always do his best as he always does,” she said.
In an exclusive interview, Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, revealed the three judges who will be responsible for the scoring on fight night.
The three judges come from all over: Adelaide Byrd from Nevada, Steve Weisfield from New Jersey and John Keane from Great Britain.
Kenny Bayless will be the referee of the fourth Pacquiao-Marquez bout. Bayless was also the referee at the Pacquiao-Marquez Part 2.
“We do want to have the crew to be very world-class and it’s hard to argue that any of these four officials aren’t near the top or at the top of their profession,” said Kizer.
Kizer added that the guaranteed fight purse for the two fighters is $8.59 million for Pacquiao and $3 million for Marquez. This does not include pay-per-view buys.

Monday, December 3, 2012

10 budget-friendly ways to improve your health and fitness



If you think getting fit and healthy will blow your budget, it may be time to think again. Luckily, many of the things that are best for our health are actually low cost or even free. To improve your wellbeing without the hefty price tag, check out our 10 cheap shortcuts for boosting your health.
1. Stay fit at home
If expensive gym memberships are out of your price range, luckily there are many other ways to get fit for free. Try incorporating exercise into your regular routine through everyday activities such as gardening and housework, and take up a free activity such as walking, running or cycling to stay in shape. For those who fancy taking up an exercise such as yoga or Pilates, it may be helpful to take a few classes to master the basics then you can continue to practice the poses at home for free.
2. Create a healthy recipe archive
Want to get started in healthy cooking but can’t afford to invest in a good cook book? Thanks to the wonders of the internet you don’t need to shell out any money to build up a collection of recipes. With many websites catering to healthy eating recipes on a budget, you are guaranteed to find something to suit your tastes and price range without having to spend a penny.
3. Practice deep breathing
It’s free, it’s unavoidable and we do it every day, but did you know that the simple act of breathing could help to boost your health? Research has suggested that yogic deep-breathing techniques can help people more effectively handle depression, anxiety and stress as well as stimulating the lymphatic system to more effectively deal with toxins. Try learning and practicing deep breathing techniques on a regular basis to improve your physical and mental health for free.
4. Spend time with friends
Spending time with your friends is great for your health, with research suggesting that having a strong social network can help you live longer and reduce feelings of depression and stress. If you think that you can’t afford a social life, there are many ways you can spend time with friends on the cheap. Rather than eating out a restaurant, try taking turns to cook each other a cheap and healthy meal. Alternatively, plan a movie night instead of a trip to the cinema, and stock up on comedy films to boost your endorphins.
5. Drink lots of water
One of the cheapest and simplest ways to improve your health is by upping your intake of fluids. While there is no definitive guideline for how much you should drink a day, it is important not to wait until you are thirsty to drink as by this time you are already dehydrated. Some of the benefits of drinking more water include increased energy levels, improved digestion, less water retention and a better complexion. Replacing sugary drinks with water will also benefit your waistline and wallet.
6. Opt for home-grown produce
Getting your recommended daily portions of fruit and veg can sometimes work out expensive, so why not take the cheaper and healthier option and grow your own fresh produce? If you haven’t got green fingers, try to at least buy seasonal produce where possible to cut down the costs, or visit your local farmers’ market to stock up on fresh, cheap and healthy fruit and vegetables and support your local farmers too.
7. Have a bath
If you fancy a little pampering on the cheap, you can’t do much better than a nice, relaxing bath. While many of us think of bathing as a purely functional activity, soaking in the tub actually has many benefits outside of getting you clean. Taking time out to soak in a hot bath has many psychological benefits for a start, helping to induce relaxation and calm the mind. However, it can also help stimulate circulation and relax sore or tired muscles.
8. Get more sleep
If you regularly get less than eight hours sleep a night, getting more shut-eye could be one of the best (and cheapest) steps to improving your health. Not only can sufficient sleep help you live longer, boost memory and improve heart health, but lack of sleep has been proven to increase appetite, leading to weight gain, increased junk food consumption and more expensive shopping bills.
9. Cut back on your vices
Whether you like to indulge in a few too many glasses of wine, are addicted to takeaways, or have a smoking habit, ditching these unhealthy and expensive habits could drastically improve both your health and finances. Cigarettes and alcohol are notoriously expensive, as well as being leading causes of stroke, cancer and premature ageing, so try cutting down as much as you can or, better still, cutting out these vices entirely.
10. Practice portion control
With restaurant portions getting increasingly bigger, many of us have grown used to eating larger portions than we actually need. This not only puts us at risk of obesity and health problems but it can also add significantly to our shopping bills. Rather than eating until you’re fit to burst, try to stop eating at the very first signs of fullness and freeze any leftovers for another day. If you’re worried that smaller portions won’t keep you going all day, try loading up on low-GI foods such as oats, beans and yogurt which will help you feel fuller for longer. 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

How Not To Fall In Love


altSource: mensxp.com
It’s your second meeting with her and you can’t help noticing each and every gesture that she makes. You end up exchanging number, and that’s the beginning to the apocalypse.
 Whatever it may be, her looks, her fragrance or her company – boy, she has you hooked! She somehow manages to pull the right strings with you. So how do you prevent your heart from fluttering?

1) Don’t Think Love

Believe it or not, the more you think you are in love the more you will be. If stating scientific facts helps in your case, then it might help knowing that love is a cerebral game. Love isn’t an all-encompassing force. It isn’t a fire that must engulf you. Get out of that mindset ASAP!

2) Get A Life

You just got to know her this Saturday and it took you only the weekend to untangle your feelings. You feel new! You feel love! C’mon, get real. If that is how it is, it’s just not love. Instead, try and focus on other activities – sports, hobbies or catching up with buddies.

3) Get Sorted

Admit it! You’ve been hurt before and you just can’t get over it. So you try a fling and then another. Somehow, things get worse. So you tried love. But that’s the wrong antidote. It’s like using fire to extinguish flames. Do you really think it works like that?

4) Don’t! Just for the Sake of it

All your friends have a girl. Worse, the girls are hot. It makes you wonder what made your average looking pal win over a lass like her. So you feel like trying your game. Too bad you get love-struck!

5) Neglect Her

You just believed that and are nodding your head in agreement. Once again you are heading in the wrong direction. It’s rather surprising that ignoring a girl can make her actually think more about you. Try this trick if you want a girl to fall for you, instead!
It may sound a little cliché but no one needs to fall in love. It simply happens. Be it for good or bad, you come to know where everything is leading. It’s simply a choice. You pick your take – love or liberty?

5 fast-fixes for common health problems


5 fast-fixes for common health problems5 fast-fixes for common health problems

Source: realbuzz.com


Common health problems: Bloating

Bloating is a common health problem and can be caused by lots of things, including lactose intolerances, digestion problems, and certain foods, drinks and medications. Although seeing your doctor and keeping a food diary will help you tackle your bloating issues, for a fast fix to alleviate the symptoms you can take a probiotic, which contains good bacteria. A probiotic may help you banish bloating because when our good bacterium gets low, we are unable to break down food and prevent yeast overgrowth; this leads to bloating. Try to have a probiotic yoghurt with some berries for breakfast.
Flax seeds are also great for bloating. They have high levels of fiber and can help keep the digestive system running smoothly.

Common health problems: Hay fever

Hay fever affects 10 to 20 per cent of people living in the U.S. and is an allergy that is typically caused by pollen. Although hay fever can affect people all year-round, people usually suffer from hay fever symptoms in spring and sometimes summer because trees and other vegetation pollinate at this time of the year.
If you’re fed up of sneezing and want to enjoy those long, sunny days a fast-fix for hay fever is to plug in an air conditioner. Air conditioners can filter out 99 per cent of airborne pollen. For a sweeter remedy, you could also eat one tablespoon of honey from your local area a day. Although researchers have been unable to prove honey’s effectiveness in relieving hay fever symptoms, lots of people swear by it, claiming that the honey desensitizes you to the pollen.

Common health problems: Anxiety 

Did you know that one in 50 adults in the UK are thought to suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives? Although it’s natural to worry, anxiety can become a disorder if people overly worry without necessary triggers or causes. The common term for anxiety disorders is Generalised Anxiety Disorder and it is thought to be cause by many things including a chemical imbalance in the brain, the environment you are in and your genetics.
Although medication and cognitive therapy are typically used to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder, if you want a quick-fix to anxiety you can do some aerobic exercise. According to a report on the influence of exercise on mental health from Arizona State University, aerobic exercise is the best choice for anxiety reduction. Or, if it’s not possible to slip on your running kit, maybe do some breathing techniques.

Common health problems: Insomnia

Sleep disorders are complex, varied and affect millions of people around the world. Insomnia normally involves being unable to fall asleep or being unable to stay asleep. Although insomnia can be a symptom of other conditions, if you want to have a quick-fix solution you might want to try shutting down your Facebook and Twitter accounts. A poll found two-thirds of the people who took part in the poll had trouble sleeping after using the social networking sites, whilst others found it hard to relax.
If you can’t live without your social media fix then you could always pop on the kettle and have a cup of tea instead. The University of Maryland Medical Centre found that drinking chamomile tea can relax you so that you can fall asleep quicker.

Common health problems: Dandruff

Dandruff is not ideal if you want luscious looking locks and it can be a nightmare when it itches, but it is a common problem and is caused by the skin on your scalp flaking. Although most of us suffer from a little dandruff as our old skin cells are replaced by new ones, severe dandruff can be an embarrassing and painful problem. Severe dandruff is caused by fungi that grows on your scalp.
To treat more severe dandruff you may need to see a doctor, but you can try shampoos that contain zinc, coal tar or tea tree oil. Anti-fungal shampoos have also been proved to help alleviate the symptoms of dandruff. Other self-medicated treatments include warm olive oil, which you apply to your scalp before rinsing, as well as apple-cider vinegar.  Mix apple-cider with water and apply to your scalp, leaving it to dry. Don’t wash out the apple-cider, but leave it in.