Good News: Sarah Geronimo nominated in 2013 World Music Awards

After getting nominated in the recently concluded Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, PH Pop Star Sarah Geronimo was again nominated by an international award-giving body - this time, in the 2013 World Music Awards (WMA), which recognizes the best of the best-selling recording artists from all over the world.

Image Courtesy: WMA

Sarah Geronimo is one of the nominees who clashes head-to-head with international singers and artists like Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Pink, Nicki Minaj, Adele, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, and Christina Aguilera, among others.

The World Music Awards website posted that “the world's best-selling recording-artists in each category are determined by a thorough enquiry conducted by the organization which includes sales figures and record certifications in 2012.”

Sarah G got three (3) WMA nominations namely:

• World’s Best Female Artist
• World’s Best Live Act
• World’s Best Entertainer of the Year

The World Music Awards began in 1989 and became instrumental in helping many upcoming artists reach global stardom. The WMA committee has revealed that fans and supporters have the final say as to who will get the award and that no jury will be involved.

“There is no jury involved and the Awards truly reflect the most popular artists as they are determined by the actual fans who vote and buy the records. The national member groups of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) provide the organization with the names of the best-selling artists from the major territories,” it said.

To vote for Sarah Geronimo, just click on the links of the categories provided above and click on her picture. Sarah G's winning will boost up Filipino pride and enhance awareness of how Filipinos can leave their imprint in the international stage.

Good News: PH gets first-ever investment grade

Photo Courtesy: HopeAndFail

A report from ABS-CBNNews has confirmed that the Philippines got its first-ever investment grade debt rating today (Wednesday), as Fitch Ratings gave the country a 'BBB-' with a stable outlook.

"The Philippine economy has been resilient, expanding 6.6% in 2012 amid a weak global economic backdrop. Strong domestic demand drove this outturn," Fitch said.

Fitch, however, expects the PH economy to slow down to 5.5% this year, lower than government target growth of 6-7% growth.

The Philippines still awaits two other internationaly recognized credit ratings agencies' provision of investment grade ratings - one from Standard & Poor's and the other from Moody's Investors Service, which both rate the country a notch below investment grade.

S&P awarded the Philippines a BB+ with a positive outlook, while Moody's gave it a Ba1 with a positive outlook

What does investment grade mean?

There are many dimensions of the term investment grade. Investopedia defines investment-grade for a company as the following:

Investment grade refers to the quality of a company's credit. In order to be considered an investment grade issue, the company must be rated at 'BBB' or higher by Standard and Poor's or Moody's. Anything below this 'BBB' rating is considered non-investment grade. If the company or bond is rated 'BB' or lower it is known as junk grade, in which case the probability that the company will repay its issued debt is deemed to be speculative.

Investment grade, in the context of the country's ability to pay off its debts, means that the country is likely able to meet its obligations to creditor banks and other financial institutions. This means that the Philippines will be able to secure a spot in terms of financial investments (FDIs) and loan with relatively lower interests since there's no speculation it couldn't pay off its debts, as seen in the Aquino administration's continuous allotment of a big chunk of the government budget to paying off (bad) debts, in order for the country to settle its accounts and eventually be guaranteed access to more international funding due to its high reputation (investment grade).

Furthermore, financial dictionary defines investment grade as an indicator of a corporate bond's "creditworthiness and likelihood of default".

List of Passers | March 2013 Medical Technologist Board Exam

I think it's already late providing you the list of passers of the March 2013 Medical Technologist (MedTech) Licensure Exam, also known as the Med Tech Board Exam, which was held last March 19 and 20, 2013, but for those who haven't check it out, I'm posting them down below.

641 out of 915 passed the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio and Cebu this March 2013, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced.

The members of the Board of Medical Technology who gave the licensure examination are Dr. Marietta C. Baccay, Chairman; Ms. Marilyn R. Atienza and Ms. Marian M. Tantingco, Members.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on April 3 and 4, 2013. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

Those who failed to pass the board examination for Medical Technology but had obtained a general rating of at least 70% can register as Medical Laboratory Technician.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.

Released on March 25, three (3) working days after the last exam, the results of the Med Tech Licensure Exam are as follows:

717 passers in March 2013 Mechanical Engineer Board Exam

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced that 717 out of 1,309 passed the Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination and 24 out of 45 passed the Certified Plant Mechanic Licensure Examination given by the Board of Mechanical Engineering in Manila and Cebu this March 2013. 

The members of the Board of Mechanical Engineering who gave the licensure examinations are Engr. Leandro A. Conti, Chairman and Engr. Vicente B. Vosotros, Member.

The results were released in two (2) working days after the last day of examinations.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on April 8 & 10, 2013. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016 for MECHANICAL ENGINEER; Initial Registration Fee of P450 and Annual Registration Fee of P420 for 2013-2016 for CERTIFIED PLANT MECHANIC. 

Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examinations WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.