Philippine GDP growth forecast upgraded amid a sea of downgrades

Standard & Poor's raised The Philippines GDP growth forecast to 4.9 percent for 2012, up from it's earlier estimate of 4.3 percent.

This comes as the company downgraded the GDP growth forecast for Asia almost across the board.  The downgrades include half a percentage point for China to 7.5 percent, India to 5.5 percent, Australia to 3.0 percent, Korea to 2.5 percent, Japan to 2.0 percent,  Singapore to 2.1 percent, Taiwan to 1.9 percent, and Hong Kong to 1.8 percent.

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/43987/sp-lifts-growth-outlook-for-philippines-trims-rest-of-asia

Morgan Stanley favors TIPs over BRICs

Ruchir Sharma, the head of Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Markets favors TIPs over BRICs

Ruchir Sharma, the head of Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Markets says rapid growth can’t be sustained and it’s time to look for the next decade’s big growers for big returns. For the last decade it’s all about “BRICs” or Brazil, Russia, India and China, but after a decade of rapid growth, the world’s most celebrated emerging markets are poised to slow down.

In his interviews, Mr. Sharma, defines a “Breakout Nation” as:
a. a country that is able to beat expectations in terms of growth rate
b. a country that’s able to grow faster than other countries in the same income class per capita income

Here’s the 5-Year GDP (Gross Domestic Product) Forecast of the Breakout Nations

Philippines:  6.0% GDP Growth 2012-16
Indonesia:    6.5% GDP Growth 2012-16
Poland:        4.0% GDP Growth 2012-16

Source: Morgan Stanley Investment Management

Below is the IMF GDP Growth Forecasts

                      2012    2013       2017
Indonesia         6.1%    6.1%       7.0% 

Philippines       4.2%    4.7%       5.0%

Turkey             2.3%    3.2%       4.6%  Source: Breakout nations by Ruchir Sharma

All 3 countries favored by Morgan Stanley also belong to Goldman Sach's Next 11 group of emerging economies.

http://www.pnoytrader.com/2012/05/forget-the-brics-buy-tip/

The Philippines climbs to Number 1

The Philippine Stock Exchange climbs as the top gainer in Asia in 2011, better than the previous year's 3rd best gainer in Asia for 2010.

Next target:  Top gainer worldwide, and we are on our way there with record high after record high being set in 2012.

2010 Performance
Top gainers in Asia
1.  Indonesia
2.  Thailand
3.  The Philippines

2011 Performance
1.  The Philippines (3rd best gainer worldwide)
2.  Indonesia
3.  Malaysia

2012?

The Philippines: Number 1 in Geothermal Energy

     The Philippines is the second-largest producer of geothermal energy in the world (behind the United States) with 2027 MW installed capacity but is poised to overtake the United States as world leader in geothermal energy.  Under an earlier plan, the Philippines’ goal is to raise its capacity to 3131 MW by 2013, allowing it to overtake the US.  The plan needs to solve the problem of pipe corrosion due to high acidity associated with active volcanoes prior to realizing the goal.

     The United States Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has shown that the Philippines geothermal resources have a potential to generate 200,000 MW of power.

Source:  Philippine Department of Energy, US Dept of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

The Philippines: Leader in Renewable Energy

First in Southeast Asia

     The Philippines has the first large-scale wind farm in Southeast Asia located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.  The wind farm has been generating clean energy since 2005.

     In 2002, the Philippines was able to source out 36% of its energy requirements from renewable sources. The biggest contributor to this was geothermal energy (21%) followed by hydropower (15%). 

     The government has committed to double this to an impressive 72% by 2013.

     This leadership is attracting investors from all over Europe, America, Australia and Asia.

Top 5 Biggest Green Tech Projects in the Developing World

1. Leyte Geothermal Field
   1. Location:       Leyte, Philippines
   2. Capacity:       708.5 megawatts
   3. Status:             Operational at Full capacity
2. Suzlon Wind Farm
   1. Location:       Dhule, India
   2. Capacity:       1,000 megawatts
   3. Status:             Operational at 650 megawatts capacity
3. Acme Solar Thermal Plants
   1. Location:       Haryana, India
   2. Capacity:       1,000 megawatts
   3. Status:             Not Operational
4. Qaidam Basin Solar PV Installation
   1. Location:       Qinghai Province, China
   2. Capacity:       1,000 megawatts
   3. Status:             Partially Operational?
5. Econcern Wind Farms
   1. Location:       China
   2. Capacity:       720 megawatts
   3. Status:             Not Operational

Source:  renewableshub.com

Cloud 9, Siargao... Surf Capital of the Philippines

CLOUD 9, SIARGAO

I was perhaps the only snorkeler in the surf territory... but it didn't keep me from snorkeling in their waters with big waves... thus I got the best seat in the house to watch. I was watching 3 surfers from 20meters away... and later, out of luck, I met one of them, a British surfer. He told me that they spotted me too, and by his exact words, he told me "You were outrageous!"