Volleyball Nation League 2018 Final Round Host Cities: Nanjing & Lille

The Modern City of Nanjing

VOLLEYBALL NATION LEAGUE - is a newly establish volleyball competition in the world of volleyball sports. To be chosen as host city is another history in the making. Now China & France will claim this history.  The cities of Nanjing, China & Lille, France have the bragging rights to say that they are first host cities in Women & Men division respectively. 

Top VisMin Locations You Should Invest in Real Estate Now

Looking for a condo for sale in Visayas or Mindanao? Check out these top locations you should consider looking into for your next real estate investment. By Rizza Sta. Ana 

There is no denying the fact that the trend in local real estate development today is still going up. And the effects are definitely expanding not just in Metro Manila, but in major cities all over the Philippines.

Wong+Bernstein Group (W+B) executive director and corporate turnaround advisor Eric Soriano even observed how newbie developers and builders go head to head with established, more recognizable brands when it comes to gaining majority shares in regional real estate markets outside Luzon. He even noted residential home seekers look beyond the developer name when it comes to seeking their next real estate investment.

Earlier on, we recommended the best locations in Metro Manila for you to make your real estate investment. But if you’re on the hunt for a property to invest in Visayas or Mindanao, we decided to expand our coverage with this brand new list on where to look outside Luzon for your next real estate investment.

1. Cebu City

Rental yield: 4.91%

Accessibility: Located in the Central Visayas, Cebu can be accessed via air, land, or sea transport. Cebu also has an international airport (Mactan-Cebu International Airport), attracting tourists from all over the world. The city also has a color-coded Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) system, where you can go from one point to another by taking the colored jeepney offering that specific route. You can also rent a car or hail a taxi.

Neighborhood quality: Urban planning is still suburban style, with residential subdivisions and house and lots located in cul-de-sacs or areas a bit away from commercial areas. You still have to commute to go to certain points of interest like shopping malls, entertainment complexes, and even historical attractions.

Economic potential: The city of Cebu is experiencing a continuous economic boom, thanks to its many beautiful islands, white sand beaches, luxury hotel and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites. But as the real estate market of Cebu continues to grow, specifically the condominium units market, we will be expecting mixed-use developments that will embed residential projects within urban landscapes, like the Cebu IT Park.

Avida Towers Riala at Cebu IT Park, now selling its 4th Tower, is the perfect urban address for people wishing to be steps away metropolitan Cebu City has to offer.

2. Iloilo City

Rental Yield: 3.38%

Accessibility: Iloilo City is a coastal city located on Panay island. Jeepneys are the main transportation mode in main roads, although you can take a metered taxi. The tricycle is used to commute to secondary roads. The large “passads” and buses are used to travel from the city to the rest of the Iloilo province and Panay Island. If you want to travel outside the city, you can do so at any of the five major integrated transport terminals bordering the perimeters of the city, through a railroad system connecting to nearby Roxas City, an international airport and a premier seaport.

Neighborhood Quality: The urban planning and architecture in Iloilo is a mix of Spanish-era and modern influences. Majority of the districts have common spaces called plazas, which are surrounded by several commercial establishments and facilities. However, real estate development has added a lot of office and retail real estate in the city. Vertical residences are also being developed near or within commercial areas and business parks.

Economic Potential: Iloilo City is the premier urban hub in the Western Visayas region. Trade, banking, commerce, finance, technology, medical tourism, hospitality, real estate, and tourism businesses are some of the businesses that have set shop in this Next-Wave city. In the last few years, information technology and business process outsourcing are thriving in Iloilo, spurring more employment, improved public facilities and utilities, and increase in city GDP or gross domestic product.

A condo for sale in Iloilo such as Avida Storeys Atria in the Atria Park District will be perfect for anyone who wants to live in the middle of everything.

6 Cities That Have Transformed Their Highways Into Urban Parks

Courtesy of Unknown

Building a highway in a city is often thought of as a solution to traffic congestion. However, the induced demand theory has shown that when drivers have more routes, they choose to continue using this medium instead of using public transport or a bicycle, and as a result, congestion doesn’t decrease.

As a result, some cities have chosen to remove spaces designated for cars and turn what was once a highway into urban parks and less congested streets. 

Here we have six examples, some have already been completed, while a few are still under construction. To the surprise of some, most of the projects are in the US, which reflects that American designers are looking into further studying European transport policies. 

Some of the Best Airpoorts in the Philippines

Philippines has a lot of potential in terms of tourism and airport are the best gateway. Below are my top 5 best airport.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Ninoy Aquino) or NAIA /ˈnaɪ.ə/, also known as Manila International Airport (IATA: MNL, ICAO: RPLL), is the airport serving Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area. Located along the border between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Manila proper and southwest of Makati, NAIA is the main international gateway for travelers to the Philippines and serves as a hub for AirAsia Philippines, Cebgo, Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, and Philippine Airlines. It is managed by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), a branch of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Good for business

It is a big relief to know there are still many in the business sector who believe President Duterte and his tough campaign against illegal drugs is good for business.

In its third quarter report, Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services noted that while the President has intensified his anti-illegal drugs campaign to a level where hundreds have died and thousands have surrendered, a fact which has alarmed some, it still pales compared to the campaigns in Mexico, Colombo and other countries.

Cities in the Philippines (outside Metro Manila) with Hi-rise Buildings

With the rapid growth of urbanity, Philippine cities (outside the capital Manila) have been erecting multi-level buildings to cater the needs of residential, office & vacation spaces.

On top of the list is Cebu City being the second city next to Manila in terms of the number of hi-rise buildings.  Factors that made building owners to build multi-level building are the presence of  business process outsourcing companies, the increase number of tourism & for some this is a good way to invest for condominium.

Cebu Pacific adds flight frequencies from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao

Those flying between Cebu and Iloilo can choose among 16 weekly flights, with some flights upgraded from ATR to Airbus A320 aircraft to increase the number of available seats.

Within the first week of April, CEB also aims to meet robust passenger traffic in Visayas and Mindanao with additional three weekly frequencies between Iloilo and Davao, and two weekly frequencies between Davao and Zamboanga. Four weekly frequencies between Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi will also be added starting May 1.

Meanwhile, passengers heading to Singapore can avail of more travel options as CEB ramps up its flights from both Iloilo and Davao to the Lion City. Beginning March 30, 2016, the airline will add one flight per week from Iloilo to Singapore, and another flight per week from Davao to Singapore starting April 2, 2016.

CEB’s Iloilo and Davao hubs will then operate three weekly flights each to Singapore.

Male: The Floating City

Male’ would certainly count as one of the smallest capitals in the world in terms of its physical size. A third of the country’s population, about 75,000 live in Male’. Different from any other island in the country, Male’ is a city of high-rise buildings and paved roads. While the government offices are located in one area, the main streets are lined with shops and offices. In the old bazaar area which still houses the country’s hub of wholesale and retail trade, the lanes are so narrow that a single vehicle would find it difficult to navigate through, especially with its throngs of busy people.There are no beaches on Male’; instead seawalls surround all its sides. However, a newly landscaped artificial beach area and adjoining breakwater stretching all the way round to the harbour in the southwest of the island provide a pleasant jogging route, especially popular in the evenings when it is cooler. Male’ is still relatively green and pleasant. 

The streets in the residential areas are shaded with trees, at places forming an arch overhead. A fair number of main streets are lined with big trees providing shade on both sides. Even a stroll around it would offer interesting sites and shots for the memories; the fish market and the local market at the northern waterfront, the new harbour in the south-west corner and the 400-year old Friday Mosque, to name a few. A stroll around the residential areas or shopping streets would provide an insight into the life and livelihood of the residents of the capital. Or simply sit down and relax at one of the small parks dotted around the capital and just observe the pace of life. You may be surprised at the large number of motorized vehicles in Male’. If you prefer, you could make a tour of the capital by taxi. Many taxi centers operate a number of comfortable, well-maintained taxis. 

References: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal%C3%A9

http://www.visitmaldives.info/maldives-male-capital.html

Five PH cities in 'Top 100' outsourcing destinations

Iloilo City: Rising BPO Center of the Philippines

MANILA CITY , METRO MANILA – Five cities in the Philippines were cited among the top 100 destinations for information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) services  in a report by technology investment and research firm Tholons.

Tholon's January 2012 report states that the Southeast Asian region, particularly the Philippines, remains a “dominant figure” in the global outsourcing industry.

Metro Manila is in fourth ranking in the Top 100, followed by Cebu City (9th), Davao City (69th) and Sta. Rosa, Laguna (86th). Iloilo City,  meanwhile, is ranked 92nd improved by six notches.

Japanese cities most costly for Asia expats: survey

Expatriates in Japan have the highest living expenses compared to their counterparts working elsewhere in Asia, due largely to the Japanese currency's recent sharp rise, a global survey said Tuesday.

Human resource firm ECA International's latest survey of expatriate living costs showed Japanese cities occupied the top four most expensive locations in Asia, with Tokyo ranked first followed by Nagoya, Yokohama and Kobe.

The Japanese capital also topped the global list of most expensive locations for expatriates, according to the survey carried out in September.

The yen has risen by about 20 percent against the US dollar in the past 12 months and expatriates who are paid in currencies such as the greenback are feeling the impact, said Lee Quane, ECA International's regional director.

"It is not because prices have risen in Japan, they are still benign," Quane told AFP.

"Although we had a tsunami and the impact on the supply chain, that has had very little knock-on effect on the price that people pay in the supermarkets.

"Expatriates who are paid in yen won't feel much difference but for those who are paid in other currencies such as the US dollar, they will be the ones who are most affected."

In recent months, investors have flocked to the Japanese currency as a safe haven amid volatile markets stirred by eurozone debt fears and concerns for the global economy.

Rounding up Asia's top ten list of most expensive locations are fifth-placed Seoul followed by Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Busan.

While living costs have risen by more than eight percent on average in Asia, this has not dented the appeal of the region to foreign companies, ECA International said.

"People still want to move here, companies still want to expand their operations here," Quane said.

The ECA International survey is carried out twice a year in March and September by measuring a basket of common items purchased by expatriates in more than 400 locations globally, such as dairy produce, vegetables, clothing and meals out.

The survey does not include housing, utilities, car and school expenses as these items can make a significant difference to costs but are often compensated for separately in expatriate packages, the firm said.

source: AFP news

SAME NAME CITY 4: Cadiz CITIES

Cadiz Cities in the World!

Cadiz is also one of the one of the most used name in the world. Cadiz is most likely a Spanish term.  Spain occupancy in the Philippines have been visible especially in the used of Spanish language not only in foods but majority in the place names and one of which is "cadiz". 

There is also a city in America which is named as Cadiz.

SPAIN: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadiz
PHILIPPINES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadiz_City
US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadiz,_Kentucky