Monday, April 30, 2012

Why you should take notice of the retirement phenomenon



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AN EXAMPLE of a retirement village is Saujana in Silang which has housing structures in earth colors that deflect heat, and designed to consume minimal electricity. Photo by Tessa R. Salazar
First in a series
Anyhow one looks at it, retirement is a serious matter. The person retiring not only brings with him or her the accumulated financial savings earned from decades of being a productive member of society. The retiree is also laden with the wisdom of having lived life to the fullest.
It would be perfectly understandable, then, why retirees sometimes take a lifetime to ponder over where to spend the next chapter of their lives. And there has been a lot of    pondering, lately, as the elderly population steadily increases. There has been discernible growth in the retirement sector for the last several years.
Elderly spending, particularly on the property sector, has been on the rise, fueled mostly by maturing life savings and retirement benefits. But the retirement demographic doesn’t even involve merely the elderly. There have been also younger individuals who plan to retire soon and invest in properties at the same time.
These retirees, whether of “retirable age” or still in the peak of their productive years, are meticulously choosing the places they want to settle into and invest in. This is most evident among the first and second generation of Filipino-American professionals or active retirees who have decided to come home to the Philippines for good.
It is a phenomenon, however, that is not exclusive to the Philippines. The over-60 population worldwide is expected to triple by 2050, according to projections by the United Nations Population Division.
In a retirement warp
Enrique M. Soriano III, Ateneo program director for real estate and senior adviser for Wong+Bernstein Business Advisory, said “The aging population is in a retirement warp.”
Soriano, formerly marketing committee chair of the Philippine Retirement Inc. (the private counterpart of the Philippine Retirement Authority), said this demographic shift will not only provide vast opportunities to capitalize on the talents and skills of older persons, but also create challenges in maintaining financial security for the aging populations.
While a markedly increased aging population is a nearly universal phenomenon, countries are at varying stages in the process. Soriano said the Philippines, along with other countries, is not prepared for the growth spurt of the elderly population.
Ironically, the Philippines has been positioning itself to become the major retirement haven in Southeast Asia for foreigners. But before any massive retiree migration is to take place, infrastructures and services that cater to this sensitive sector need to be either established or finetuned.

THE FACILITY should have adequate facilities and amenities to serve the needs of the retirees. Photo by Tessa R. Salazar
A few years ago, the PRI, in collaboration with the PRA, disclosed to Inquirer Property the accreditation standards for the design and structure of buildings for nursing homes. These standards require provisions for disability access in line with relevant building codes. It was stressed that communal areas would have to be easily accessible by persons with disability and with comprehensive programs that cater to elderly patients who cannot live on their own. The basic structures to be followed cover primary facilities and amenities, among others.
Some of those mentioned are:
Big space and wide alleys to allow wheelchairs and beds to move around
Floorings must be made with resilient, nonslip tiles
Gradual access elevation for wheelchairs for a two-story facility. Beyond two stories, an elevator must be available
Mechanized equipment for bedridden retirees
Grab or handle bars in necessary locations like toilets and bathrooms
Priorities
Paul Vincent Chua, Colliers International’s associate director for valuation and advisory services, and the head of consultancy and research, enumerated the priorities of the retirement sector:
The weather or climate of the location;
Accessibility to healthcare;
Distance or accessibility to central locations (i.e. airports, opportunities for work); and,
Accommodations
Claro dG. Cordero Jr., head of research, consulting and valuation of Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu, said the ideal place for retirement facilities should have the following elements:
Sustainable community-type developments—The facility should have adequate facilities and amenities to serve the needs of the retirees, such as recreational and retail facilities, and oftentimes, the presence of limited right to be employed locally.
Presence and availability of superior and advanced health-related facilities
Highly developed infrastructure (that are well-connected with major cities through direct flights) and telecommunications facilities as well as reliable supply of utilities (water and electricity)
Safety and security
Adaptability of the community to the culture of the retirees—e.g., presence of well-trained personnel fluent in the native language of retirees
Support and assistance of the local government

A HEALTHY environment is a must for retirees. Photo by Tessa R. Salazar
National Real Estate Association chair Alejandro S. Mañalac noted that considering the basic needs of typical retirees—whether middle-aged active or even medically assisted—there are a few places which he believes would qualify.
“While most people think the quiet and peaceful beaches are the perfect retirement havens, you will be surprised that a lot of these retirees think otherwise.”
He added, “It is nice to stay in a fancy beach house for a few days, watching the sunset, walk on the sand, listen to the waves, however, they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives that way.”
Mañalac stressed that based on the standards set by the Philippine Retirement Authority, aside from several required specific designs of retirement homes, it also has to be near reputable hospitals with adequate and modern medical facilities. A healthy environment is a must, free from both noise and air pollution. It should also be near places of entertainment and exercise.
Next: How big is the retirement phenomenon?

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Here Comes the Catholic Bride


 

feature on modest dress choices.

 



Craig Spiering
– Craig Spiering
After 10 years of the strapless dress dominating the wedding scene, it may be that fashion is finally catching up to what many Catholic brides are looking for in a wedding dress — individuality, style and elegant modesty. Kate Middleton’s long-sleeved wedding gown was the catalyst that showed the world how a bride can be both beautiful and modest.
“It was the perfect storm. Brides were looking for something different, and designers were ready for a change,” says Josie Daga, founder of the resale-wedding-dress site PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. “This beautiful, iconic princess wears a dress with sleeves, and now you see so many more brides in non-strapless gowns.”
Though gowns with sleeves are the hottest trend, Daga doesn’t think American women will embrace long sleeves like British designers and brides have; she predicts Americans will be more likely to wear pretty straps, cap or short sleeves. Strapless dresses paired with a stunning bolero or shrug is also a trend, she says.
Timeless and Personal
Kate Fischer, who was married at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, Va., this past November, wore a long-sleeved, lace bolero over her strapless gown. She wanted to appear before the altar with both modesty and elegance. “It was important for me to cover my arms in front of the Blessed Sacrament as a sign of respect for the Lord,” she says. She also wanted her dress to have that timeless look of Kate Middleton’s dress.
Fischer preferred the look of the dress when she donned the bolero: “My mom pointed out that with the bolero the attention was brought to my face, rather than to the dress.” Her look was also made special because her mom had sewed a small piece of lace from her wedding dress to the inside of the back of the bolero, so that Kate’s back would be completely covered.
According to dress expert Daga, a big trend in weddings currently is personalization. “Everything about the wedding is personalized: Brides want their weddings to be unique. The dress gives the bride a chance to showcase herself and her own personality.”
Laura Hepler, who recently said her wedding vows at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, Va., personalized her wedding by wearing her mom’s 1979 wedding dress. “I attach a lot of meaning to wearing the same gown that my mother wore on the day that she received the sacrament of marriage,” she says. “My parents have been married for almost 33 years, and I look up to their example of sacrificial love.” The gown originally had ’70s-looking sleeves, but by altering them to cap sleeves, the dress was made to look timeless and one-of-a-kind.
Modern Modesty
Hepler says that the dress fit her personality, and it was important to her to look beautiful and modest: “I have never felt comfortable in a strapless dress. The last thing I wanted to feel on my wedding day was self-conscious. It is my opinion that dresses with more fabric on top are not only more modest, but, oftentimes, look much classier.” 
When choosing a wedding gown, brides should ask themselves, “Will this dress stand the test of time?” A bride wants to be able to always treasure her wedding photos.
Craig Spiering, a professional wedding photographer from Front Royal, Va., says, “I don’t want my clients to cringe when they look at their wedding album in 10 or 20 years due to a faddish photographic style. I try to focus on a classic, tasteful, quality exposition, and I think the same should go for the bride-to-be when choosing a dress and hairstyle.”
Spiering believes that modesty is timeless: “Though a young lady may feel quite attractive or fashionable in a strapless dress now, she might not be comfortable showing those same pictures to her children in 15 years.”
Bride: Symbol of the Church
Brides should not only take into account fashion trends, but also that they’ll be standing at the altar.
Father Francisco Flores, pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Caldwell, Idaho, says so much emphasis is placed on the bride at weddings because she symbolizes the Church, who is the Bride of Christ.
“In the Book of Revelation, St. John speaks of the bride who has prepared herself for the marriage of the Lamb, which has already begun. In the image from Revelation, the bride is adorned in clean white linen, depicting the purity and newness given to her by her groom, who is Our Lord, and the bride is the Church.
“With this in mind, how can a bride desire to be anything but beautiful, pure and modest?”

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

PH: World's best country in business English




Well, people will now have to think twice before mocking Pinoys' use of the English language.

The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.

GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.

For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."

“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.

The Philippines, which scored 7.11 and the lone country in the intermediate level, were joined by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19) in the top five.

GlobalEnglish noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success.

“It is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank,” it added.

Meanwhile, struggling economic powers (Japan, Italy and Mexico) and fast-growth emerging markets (Brazil, Columbia and Chile) scored below a 4.0 in business English proficiency, placing them at a disadvantage when competing in a global marketplace, the study said.

It also pointed out that shifts in global talent have put even English-speaking countries at risk.

“Surprisingly the BEI score for global workers in the U.S. declined from 6.9 to 5.09 since the original 2011 BEI benchmark, which is attributed to a majority of test takers being foreign-born engineers and scientists,” the report said.

Rest of the world ranked beginner and basic level

Based on a scale of 1-10, the average 2012 BEI score across 108,000 test takers around the world is 4.15 which is lower than last year’s 4.46.

Nearly four out of 10 (38.2 percent) global workers from 76 countries were ranked as business English beginners, meaning that, on average, they can’t understand or communicate basic information during virtual or in-person meetings, read or write professional emails in English or deal with complexity and rapid change in a global business environment, the study said.

Meanwhile, the majority of global workers (60.5 percent) from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, below an intermediate level, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions or perform relatively complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations, it added.

GlobalEnglish stressed that the 2012 BEI which showed a lack of business English proficiency is threatening the productivity of companies, industries and country-specific economies this year.

“Poor Business English skills are bad for global businesses and this year’s Business English Index suggests that many companies will be hard-pressed to achieve their desired performance goals during 2012,” said Tom Kahl, GlobalEnglish President.

“Addressing English skills gaps and ensuring that employees can immediately perform at the necessary proficiency level should be viewed as a strategic imperative for multinational businesses, as Enterprise Fluency, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate within global organizations, can deliver significant financial upside,” Kahl added.

Headquartered in Brisbane, California, GlobalEnglish works with multinational companies – including Cisco, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Phzer – to support performance in business English across the workforce around the world.

Here's the list of the 10 best and worst countries in the world for business English proficiency based on GlobalEnglish's 2012 BEI:

10 Best Countries:
Philippines
Norway
Serbia
Slovenia
Australia
Malaysia
India
Lithuania
Singapore
Canada