John Howley's Philippine Blog

Mahal Kong Pilipinas

11/5/2016

The Mayor of Albuera, Leyte has been killed in prison. I shed no tears for him. He destroyed tens of thousands of lives as a meth drug lord, used his blood-soaked profits to take over a town, and tried to assassinate my wife's cousin who ran against him in the last election. No punishment, not even death, can repair the terrible harm he has caused to so many people.

But I weep for the Philippines. Allowing prison guards, police officers, and vigilantes to murder 1,000 or more people every month is not a solution to the drug problem. Abandoning the rule of law will ultimately destroy everything you have accomplished over the past 30 years.

I lived in Mindanao during martial law. Friends of mine were killed or disappeared. They were victims of a government that gave the military and constabulary free reign to kill anyone who did not bow to their power.

I knew Ninoy Aquino and Raul Manglapus and many others who were forced into exile in the US. My heart broke as I watched Ninoy walk out of the plane and heard the shots that killed him. Then the soldiers who pulled the trigger killed Rolando Galman to cover up their crime. This is what happens when the military and police are allowed to kill with impunity.

Then the Filipino people did something that amazed and inspired the world.

You avenged Ninoy's murder by voting for Cory and by standing in front of soldiers and tanks in one of the most extraordinary, peaceful revolutions in modern history. You restored democracy and a free press. You built a world-class BPO industry that competes successfully with India and many other nations. Filipino OFWs and professionals went around the world to enrich virtually every nation on earth as creative, intelligent, hard-working immigrants.

You converted some of the largest military bases in the world into free trade zones and ultra-modern, world-class cities with buildings designed by I.M. Pei and your own outstanding architects.

Think about that for a moment. Think about how you restored democracy peacefully and built a 21st century economy by beating swords into plowshares in less than 30 years.

And now you are allowing the police and vigilantes to commit thousands of murders in the streets? Do you realize that this genie will not go back into the bottle if you let this continue? Do you realize that this threatens to destroy everything you've accomplished?

This is not about your President. It is about you, individually and as a society. Ito ba ang ugali Pilipino? Are you the Filipino who Ninoy said was worth dying for?

Fighting the scourge of drugs and ensuring justice is not easy. We've had plenty of failures here in the U.S. Our own "war on drugs" caused tremendous harm to many people. Innocent people are sometimes killed by our police or convicted by our juries, while the guilty sometimes go free, literally getting away with murder.

But we do not throw up our hands and say, let's just let the police kill all the bad guys. We demand that our police and judges and juries do better. We organize and lobby and protest in the streets and vote to force our government to do what is necessary to become more just and fair. Just as you did in your finest moments during the People Power revolutions.

You have so much going for you right now. A growing economy, a young, educated and creative population, an expanding middle class, and a network of Pinoys in almost every country in the world. You can and should develop closer ties to China. You can and should insist on a new, more mature relationship with your longtime friends in the US. But state-sanctioned mass murder?

As a loyal friend of the Philippines for more than 40 years, and as the father of two Fil-Am children who love their mother's homeland, I beg you. Do not put all of your successes at risk by allowing the police and vigilantes to commit thousands of murders. That is not who you are. You are so much better than that.

Ang iyong kaibigan magpakailanman,

John Howley, Esq.

Remembering Ninoy 30 Years On

2/24/2016

Every year for thirty years, this week has brought back powerful emotions. I remember, vividly, Ninoy Aquino talking to reporters on an airplane, joking about how his bullet-proof vest wouldn't be much help if he was shot in the head, and walking down the aisle of the plane escorted by soldiers. Then, just as he left camera range, we heard the shots.

Ninoy's assassination led to a powerful People's Power Revolution that we remember this week. Thirty years ago this week, millions of Filipinos, inspired by his sacrifice, stood in front of tanks to protest the dictator's attempt to steal an election. Their slogans were "Laban!" [Fight!] and, in homage to Ninoy, "Hindi ka nag-iisa" [You are not alone].

The extraordinary People's Power revolution toppled a ruthless dictatorship, and it did so peacefully. It happened primarily because Ninoy and his wife, Cory, were icons of peaceful resistance. Their examples have allowed the Philippines to grow over the past 30 years into a stable and increasingly prosperous democracy.

I got to know Ninoy through our mutual friend Raul Manglapus. He was smart, passionate and charismatic. It is no surprise that the Marcos dictatorship feared his return to the Philippines. With Ferdinand Marcos suffering from serious illness, Ninoy posed a real threat to their regime.

Ninoy understood the risks. He had a clear sense that someone in the Marcos dictatorship might kill him. Some reported that he had been warned of the possibility.

But, he said, "The Filipino is worth dying for."

The problem now is, more than half of all Filipinos alive today were not born when Ninoy sacrificed his life for their freedom. As the memories of his sacrifice are fading, some have found an opportunity to promote the myths of martial law.

Today, as the Philippines gets ready to elect a President, a Vice President, Senators and Congressmen, I wonder how many Filipinos understand why Ninoy risked his life for them. Do they understand the tyranny of dictatorship that took the Philippines off the path of growth and progress? Do they understand the kleptocracy that diverted the wealth of the Philippines to the Swiss bank accounts and global property holdings of a tiny elite? Do they understand that, no matter how messy democracy may feel today, Filipinos are far better off than they were under a state of martial law?

This election season, it is my strong hope that Filipinos once again will say, "Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa."

John Howley, Esq.

Prudential PLC Plans Expansion in Philippine Markets

8/11/2015

Mike Wells, Prudential PLC’s new chief executive, has expressed optimism for growth of insurance and financial services businesses in Southeast Asia. The Financial Times quoted him as saying, “I’ve been travelling around Asia a great deal since I’ve become chief executive. The growth of the middle class there is just remarkable.”

Wells says that his group plans further expansion in Southeast Asian markets such as the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Prudential PLC is an international financial services group with significant operations in Asia, the US, and the UK. The Prudential group has more than 23 million customers and £443 billion of assets under management.

John Howley

Shell Exploring LNG Terminal in the Philippines

6/6/2012

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the Philippine subsidiary of oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell Plc, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Government this week. The MOU commits the parties to a joint feasibility study for an import and regasification terminal for liquified natural gas (LNG) next to Shell's refinery in Batangas.

The feasibility study should be completed in 2012 with operations commencing in 2016 if the project is viable.

The Philippine Department of Energy is developing a Natural Gas Master Plan to diversify the country’s energy sources and address the increasing demand for power. The government is already pursing a $2.1 billion Batangas-Manila natural gas project.

Shell has been doing business in the Philippines since 1914 and is one of the country's largest investors. The company's existing operations in the Philippines include oil and gas exploration, production, oil refining, distribution and sales to consumers.

John Howley
New York, New York

US doubles military aid to Philippines

5/5/2012

The United States will double its military aid to the Philippines this year. The increased military support comes at a time when the Philippines is engaged in a prolonged maritime standoff with China. U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines will increase to $30 million for the fiscal year 2012 from the original $15 million.

The anouncement came during meetings between the two countries in Washington, D.C. Attending the meetings were Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and their U.S. counterparts Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in 1951, which remains in effect. The MDT requires both countries to come to the aid of each other in cases of external attacks.

The Philippines is currently in dispute with China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which sits just 124 nautical miles away from the Philippines province of Zambales. The Philippine government maintains that the Panatag Shoal is well within the country’s 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf. China asserts that it has sovereign rights over the whole West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), including potentially resource-rich Spratly and Paracel Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal.

John Howley
New York, New York

PhilAm Chamber Hosts Private Sector Investment Forum in NYC

2/1/2012

LEADING ECONOMIST AND BUSINESS LEADERS BULLISH ON PHILIPPINE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

An overflow crowd greeted the bullish message of leading representatives of the Philippine private sector including the economy, capital markets, mining, infrastructure, real estate, human resources and outsourcing with enthusiasm on January 26, 2012, in a forum hosted by the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Consulate General and sponsored by EisnerAmper, a top international accounting firm.

“The Philippine economy is growing at a high rate and will continue to progress,” said Dr. Bernie Villegas, one of the country’s most respected economists, as he marshaled fact after fact showing the economy’s progress.

Sid Consunji, president of DMCI Holdings, spoke about the opportunities for foreign investors in infrastructure projects, real estate and government-sponsored public private partnership projects such as airports, roads and bridges.

Bien Araw, Senior Vice President of Benguet Mining, told the audience, which included many private equity fund and bank representatives, that mining is open to 100 percent foreign ownership and the Philippines is one of the most mineralized countries in the world, rich in gold, copper and nickel.

Gigi Zulueta, Asia Pacific Director of personnel firm ZMG War Howell, described how the Philippines has captured the number one spot in call centers and is making inroads in other areas such as animation, legal documentation, editing, accounting and other knowledge-based and higher value outsourcing sectors.

“People were encouraged and engaged. They stated till the end which is rare for a New York audience,” said PhilAm Chamber President Butch Meily.

Others who spoke included Consul General Mario de Leon and the Chamber’s past-President and long-time Board member, John J.P. Howley. Mr. Howley commented, “The diversity of the Philippine economy and the very sound government fiscal policies have created the foundation for sustained growth. It is a very exciting time for US-Philippine business relations.”

Founded in 1920, the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest bilateral business organizations in the United States. It has played a key role in promoting Philippine-U.S. business ties over its more than 90-year history. For more information about the Chamber, please go to www.philamchamber.org.

Philippines Will Become a Top 20 Economy, For Richer or Poorer

1/12/2012

HSBC predicts that by 2050, the Philippines will leapfrog 27 places to become the world's 16th largest economy. Whether that is a blessing or a curse will depend entirely on how much the Philippines is willing to invest today in education, renewable energy, sustainable waste and water management, and other critical infrastructure. And whether the Philippines is willing to educate and empower women with basic family planning and birth control education.

With a population at 100 million already and more than half of its population under the age of 25, the Philippines is looking at significant population growth over the next 40 years. It could become one of the wealthiest nations in the world if it invests in its most important natural resource -- its people Or it could become one of the poorest nations in the world if its economic growth does not exceed its population growth.

HSBC is using some fairly optimistic GDP growth assumptions to support its projections. Its report assumes that the Philippines will achieve an average GDP growth of 8.4% from 2010 to 2020, 7.3% from 2020 to 2030, 6.6% from 2030 to 2040 and 5.8% from 2040 to 2050. These assumptions compare with GDP growth of less than 5% in 2011 after hitting a little more than 7% in 2010. Most experts believe that major factors in the lower growth rate in 2011 were the weakening global economy and the Philippine government's slow start on infrastructure development. Whether the Philippines can sustain increasing investments in large infrastructure projects remains to be seen.

The report from HSBC's global research department predicts that the world’s largest economy in 2050 will be China, followed by the United States. The biggest losers over the next 40 years will be in Europe. HSBC predicts that only five European nations will be in the top 20, compared to eight today.

Philippines Forecasts 5-6% GDP Growth in 2012

1/10/2012

The Philippine Government projects that the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 5 to 6% this year despite uncertainties in the global economy. Some economic analysts are projecting lower growth.

GDP growth in 2011 should be about 4.5 to 5.5%, slightly below last year's targets, well below the 7 to 8% growth projected by the government last year. Final figures for 2011 will be released by the end of this month.

The government intends to meet the 5 to 6% target for 2012 with increased government spending and the full implementation of the Aquino Administration's public-private partnership (PPP) program. The government is also counting on sound macro-economic fundamentals in the Philippines playing a major role in helping the country survive the global economic slowdown and the debt crisis in Europe.

The World Bank has cautioned that higher GDP growth in 2012 will require an improvement in exports, acceleration of public-private partnership projects and private sector investment, and a full recovery of public spending.

Philippine Economic Indicators for 2011 End Up Despite Global Slump

1/4/2012

The Philippine Stock Exchange ended up 4% for 2011, making it the best performing stock market in Asia for the year.

Other economic indicators were also positive. The Philippine Peso ended about flat against the US Dollar at Php44 to US$1, unlike some other regional currencies which depreciated.

Analysts expect inflation to remain manageable.

Remittances from Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) grew by 6.2% year over year in October, slightly less than the 8.4% growth in September but still strong.

Philippine Government Plans to Release $3.5 Billion for Infrastructure Development

1/2/2012

The Philippine Government has started the process of releasing funds for infrastructure development to ensure an early start this year in contrast to last year's lower-than-planned release of funds. A key factor in the early release of infrastructure this year is the slow global economy and the failure to meet economic growth targets last year.

By January, the government plans to issue allotments for Php141.8 billion (US$3.5 billion) worth of infrastructure projects. The implementing departments and agencies will then be able to bid these out,

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the infrastructure projects include national roads and bridges; airports, seaports and lighthouses; classrooms and other education facilities; potable water supply systems, irrigation and post- harvest facilities; and flood control and slope protection structures.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive Php91.57 billion, representing almost 65 percent of the total government infrastructure program. The Department of Agriculture is the second biggest recipient with Php24.49 billion, followed by the Department of Education (DepEd) with Php13.97 billion. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) will receive Php7.20 billion, which will be used to improve airports, ports and other projects.

John J.P. Howley

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