text:
Well lo and behold. Let's see what this is. It seems like AT&T is doing it again. I have the Galaxy S2 Skyrocket which got the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 update after about 9 months of it being released.
Now I also have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with the 4G LTE. I use this all the time for work, play, etc. Honeycomb 3.2 totally sucks as an interface. When is AT&T going to come out with Ice Cream Sandwich for this tablet? The WIFI version has it already and has for about a month or more now.
Come on AT&T and get with the program. I paid good money for this tablet and I pay the monthly data plan. The least you can do is provide an update, or heck, even HINT about when the update will be. But you can't even do that.
Some information would be nice to get from you. I have been with your company for 5 good years after leaving and coming back. Next time I leave it will be for good. There isn't any reason why this release should not have been out by now. You have had plenty of time.
Yesterday, I got home and opened up my 8.9 Galaxy Tablet from AT&T. There was a system message saying call 888-XXX-XXXX for information about your device. I got excited and figured that I was finally going to get an update to ICS.
I called the number, which turns out to be Samsung's technical support. I'm given a menu, from which I choose tablet support. Let me say this again, I picked TABLET SUPPORT.
1ST Technician
The woman asks me why am calling. I tell her about the message on my TABLET. She proceeds to ask me a bunch of questions and can't find "anything in our system about your device." We play this game for about 10 or 15 minutes. Finally a tell her how unhappy I am with the whole situation. She's not interested in hearing about it. THEN SHE TELLS ME, "I'm in the phone support department. WE DON'T DEAL WITH TABLETS." Incredible! A major corporation like SAMSUNG can't even get the call routing right...She says she's going to transfer me to the tablet support line.
2nd Technician
This guy is nice and sympathetic. I give him the whole story AGAIN. He still can't tell me why I got the message on my tablet from Samsung. I give him all of the information about my device, numbers, etc. He goes off line and comes back saying "Your device has an update to Ice Cream Sandwich." HALLELUJAH! I'm think. So we try the menu on the tablet for software upgrade and it doesn't work. So Mr. Technician says, "we need to reset your device to factory standards so you can get the upgrade." I'm all in for that. We do the reset, which by the time we're done with all of the back and forth takes another 30 minutes. I try to upgrade again. Still no luck. He say's you're connected over Wi-Fi right? I say yes, and I am also connected via 4G. SILENCE ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE. Mr. Technician says something cute llike "Good Golly" I thought you had a Wi-Fi tablet. I'm sorry, THERE'S NO UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOU. I ONLY SUPPORT WI-FI TABLETS. He says very sheepishly, "I'm going to transfer you over to our Carrier Tablet Help Desk" (presumably where they HELP people that by AT&T products. Yeah, right.
3rd Technician
This woman ASKS ME ALL OF THE SAME STUFF AGAIN. Wastes another 10 minutes. Goes off line and comes back. "THERE IS NO UPDATE AND WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN THERE WILL BE ONE." There is one BIG piece of information howwer, and I quote:
"GOOGLE, AT&T and SAMSUNG all work together to determine when your device will be upgraded."
Perfect. An hour spent on the phone with totally clueless SAMSUNG and a hapless support system.
AT&T, you are the company I write a check to. Are you aware of this tragic abuse of your customers? Do you care? YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THIS FORUM. Why don't you stop hiding behind your website and marketing department and have the courtesy and guts to post a reply about what you think about this ridiculous situation? Even better, why don't you tell us what you're going to do to make things right?
By the way, I'm not holding my breath...
Had a chat session with a Samsung rep regarding ICS on the 8.9 and according to him it's at least being worked on, but of course, no release date has been scheduled yet. At least it's listed on this Samsung page, so hopefully it will be out sooner than later:
markcofano - Not quite sure why you are calling out AT&T when you spent the hour on the phone with Samsung. Seems like you should be posting your complaint on a Samsung forum.
If you pull up the link on Samsung's web site it leads you to believe they haven't even taken care of the WiFi 8.9 tab yet. I'd say it is pretty much all on Samsung.
In the meantime I just love my Surface. Buttery smooth animation, serious ability to multi-task. XBox movies that download and actually play and ZERO crashes!
Thanks for your reply...here's why.
1) My Table has AT&T and Samsung's name on it.
2) I pay AT&T for services every month. Implied in that payment is technical support.
3) AT&T can't support the Tablet themselves. (AT&T has Samsung on the line twice in previous support calls)
4) I have never contacted Samsung on my own. They got my information from AT&T and were responding to me as a proxy for AT&T's technical support. From my perspective my comments should be read by AT&T and AT&T users.
5) IMHO, my experiences and post would be of general interest to anyone entertaining the purchase of a product from AT&T. AT&T says they have NO influence on when the tablet will be upgraded. I find this impossible to believe (What major corporation in its right mind would contract with a customer to provide a service and have NO ability to influence the 3rd party vendor to perform? If its true, then buyer beware...if it's false, then AT&T needs to come clean.
Good points. I have a 8.9 LTE, what all this drama means is that I would never buy another tablet from ATT. The 4g has been mostly unused as wifi is so common now. So they tricked me into buying the 8.9 with a data plan, but I've got 9 more months of punishment for my poor decison. Next table will probably be a nexus or maybe an ipad, but neither will come from ATT.
I just came across this, but not sure if it works. Has anyone tried updating via Kies?
Here's my story:
Bought a refurb 8.9 online at $199 and just got it today, fully aware that it comes with Honeycomb and that the update to ICS is in the works. Where has AT&T promised or guaranteed that ICS would be coming at a specific date for this tablet? Nowhere. So why would AT&T have any influence on the release? It'll be done whenever Samsung finishes testing and has a stable version ready for release. Period.
The tablet I got seems to be defective because it can't keep a consistent connection with the cellular network. Wi-Fi works fine. My iPhone 5 and iPad 2 have no problems connecting to the cellular network.
I went ahead and tried to update via Kies, which is made by Samsung, and the tablet cannot connect to it. It just constantly spins 'Connecting...' in the software. I went through all the troubleshooting steps in Kies, and even tried Kies on both Mac and Windows.
After hours of working with it, including doing a factory reset, I concluded something is wrong with the tablet. No biggie - I took a chance on a refurb, and it's a lemon.
Seeing as how I have 14 days, I went ahead and called AT&T to do an exchange. No problem whatsoever. A 'new' refurb is being shipped to me (hopefully not another lemon), and I'll be shipping this clunker back with the free postage paid return label that was included, and no restocking fee since the tab is defective. And if it is defective? I'll return it again and get my mom a different tablet.
So my point in all this is that AT&T has done nothing to warrant any animosity from me. Samsung, however, is on it's 2nd strike. But I'm not too upset because I understand defective products exist. It's how a company responds to it that's key, and AT&T has been excellent on that front. Just wanted to provide a counter point because it seems those here that are upset are really just upset at something that AT&T never promised in the first place. Plus there is a 14-day return period. If you couldn't figure out things like you'd be using it mostly on wi-fi instead of the cell network within that period, then the blame is squarely on you.
1) My Table has AT&T and Samsung's name on it.
Yes, AT&T is on it because you have the model that specifically uses its data network. That's all. The tablet was made wholly by Samsung.
2) I pay AT&T for services every month. Implied in that payment is technical support.
The technical support is for the data service, not the tablet. 2 totally sepearate things. It's like if your TV breaks and you blame your cable company or the store you bought it from. If it's beyond the store's 30-day return policy, you'd have to deal with the TV manufacturers warranty.Now if you were paying the 6.99 insurance plan, that'd be a different story - however I don't think that covers a device not getting an update that was never promised in the first place and is actually still in the works.
3) AT&T can't support the Tablet themselves. (AT&T has Samsung on the line twice in previous support calls)
Of course they can't. While they have general knowledge of the devices, do you think they can support the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different devices that come from dozens of different manufacturers? And isn't actually a good thing they brought on a Samsung person rather than just said sorry, go call Samsung? While they may not have the answer themselves, at least they did their best to route you to someone who they thought would.
4) I have never contacted Samsung on my own.
You called the number that showed up on your Samsung device and it ended up being Samsung. Not sure how AT&T was involved with that.
5) Yes, I understand you are frustrated with your experience, but I'm just posting this respectful rebuttal because being someone who worked as a customer service rep in the past myself, I can see the other side of this as well.
Woo-hoo! ICS is finally here for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (SGH-i957). The update can't be done over the air, you have to use Kies:
OK, so that's really nice a year and a half late............NOW I WANT JELLY BEAN!!!! It's been out for for half a year now. LOL. Anyone think that will ever happen?
I am going to dust the cob-webs off my 8.9 Tab that I am stuck paying a monthly charge for and see if I can get some use out of it now. Stay tuned.
I did the update this morning. Worked without a hitch. FINALLY!
I love the improvements and Chrome is the default browser. Syncs with my desktop, and laptop. This was the most important part of the update as many of the browser-based applications that I used daily would not work well with the old version.
I have no expectations of receiving Jelly Bean. This upgrade will hold me over until I decide on a new tablet with a faster processor, etc.
Thanks AT&T. Better late than never.
Anybody gettinga message within Kies that says your device does not support updates via Kies?
update doesn't work, its not me, I've done a half dozen updates on Kies. Samsung hasn't been a lot of help so far, but I'm still tweeting with them. so we shall see.
Visit these related resourcesView New Phone & Device Help!


text:
"God is What Happens When Humanity is Connected"
Jim Gilliam: Why the Internet is my religion.
"I owed every moment of my life to countless people I would never meet."
From being taken seriously as a child to the lung and bone marrow transplants that saved his life, Jim Gilliam has a lot of reasons to be grateful to the Internet. Raised in a conservative Christian household, he lost his faith in God after the death of his mother and his own cancer diagnosis. In this video, he describes how he found faith again—this time in the power that's possible when people come together.
Gilliam explains his faith: "God is what happens when humanity is connected. Humanity connected is God."
How online activism can help us understand how real change is made.
Without the support of others, we get drained, we burn out, we sit out elections, or we vote our fears. With it, we can make real change.
Video: Ecumenical author Karen Armstrong wished for a Charter for Compassion, a yardstick for global empathy crafted from the input of tens of thousands of religious and secular people all over the world.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Black & White inkjet printer, works Mostly
|Recommended Driver: lpstyl (Home page, View PPD, directly download PPD)
|Generic Instructions: CUPS, LPD, LPRng, PPR, PDQ, no spooler
Discussion forum
Look for help in our forum for printers from various manufacturers.
Commentsblog comments powered by Disqus
The following driver(s) are known to drive this printer:
Recommended driver:
|Listed as supported in lpstyl documentation.
This driver is free software.
|Type: Filter
|PPD file: View PPD, directly download PPD


text:
A lot has happened since I put 1337 into hiatus, and though I'm currently enrolled in a university, I believe the time might be right for me to start trying to rekindle this story.
I haven't drawn much if at all since my giving up back then. I'd also like to readjust certain aspects of the plot that I'd planned out for the future. In fact, I'm not sure why I'm posting this since even if I do bring the story back it won't be for quite some time. Furthermore the only people that seemed to ever post here were people that were kicked out of another forum that they were having fun in. (You're all welcome to stay, by the way. You're not hurting anyone as there's no one here to hurt. You can set up some tents or something over there, I'll bring by some marshmellows and hot dogs later if you're hungry.)
I think I'm just posting this for myself, as a sort of self-motivation. On the off chance that some sort of obsessed freak who read the pitiful comic does see this, take heed! Hope is reborn


text:
Sign in
Sign up for the newsletter and be the first to hear about collections, new arrivals and events.
Your personal data will be used by Santoni SPA to provide you the newsletter you expressly requested. Please read carefully the Privacy Policy for further details.
Thank you
for signing in to santonishoes.com
Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest news from Santoni
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Santoni | Rubelli
Discover the Rubelli World
Be the first to know Enjoy exclusive privileges and benefit of special promotions
powered by FiloBlu
It appears you are located in United StatesHow would you like to proceed?
Please be advised that changing your location while shopping will remove all contents from shopping bag.


text:
Topic Page: Pentameter
(pĕntăm'ӘtӘr) [Gr.,=measure of five], in prosody, a line to be scanned in five feet (see versification). The third line of Thomas Nashe's "Spring" is in pentameter: "Cold doth / not sting, / the pret / ty birds / do sing." Iambic pentameter, in which each foot contains an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable, is the most common English meter. Chaucer first used it in what was later called rhyme royal, seven iambic pentameters rhyming ababbcc; as Chaucer pronounced a final short e, his pentameters often end in an 11th, unstressed syllable. In his Canterbury Tales the pentameters are disposed in rhyming pairs. The pentameter couplet was used also by his imitators in Scotland, with the important difference that when the final e disappeared from speech the couplet became one of strict pentameters. This, known as the heroic couplet, became important in the 17th and 18th cent., notably in the hands of Dryden and Pope.
True wit is Nature to advantage dress'd, What oft was thought, but ne'er so well express'd. Pope, "Essay on Criticism"
Blank verse, a succession of unrhymed iambic pentameters, is primarily an English form and has been used in the loftiest epic and dramatic verse from Shakespeare and Milton to the present.
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.
Shakespeare, The Tempest, iv:1
The sonnet is one of the most familiar and successful uses of iambic pentameter in English poetry.


text:
This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.
Scientists are trying to better understand which people are more likely to get certain types of cancer. They also study the things we do and the things around us to see if they cause cancer. This information helps doctors recommend who should be screened for cancer, which screening tests should be used, and how often the tests should be done.
It is important to remember that your doctor does not necessarily think you have cancer if he or she suggests a screening test. Screening tests are given when you have no cancer symptoms.
If a screening test result is abnormal, you may need to have more tests done to find out if you have cancer. These are called diagnostic tests.
Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the cervix.
The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows). The cervix leads from the uterus to the vagina (birth canal).
Anatomy of the female reproductive system. The organs in the female reproductive system include the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina. The uterus has a muscular outer layer called the myometrium and an inner lining called the endometrium.
Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which cells that are not normal begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.
See the following PDQ summaries for more information about cervical cancer:
Screening for cervical cancer using the Pap test has decreased the number of new cases of cervical cancer and the number of deaths due to cervical cancer since 1950.
Cervical dysplasia occurs more often in women who are in their 20s and 30s. Death from cervical cancer is rare in women younger than 30 years and in women of any age who have regular screenings with the Pap test. The Pap test is used to detect cancer and changes that may lead to cancer. The chance of death from cervical cancer increases with age. Deaths from cervical cancer occur more often in black women than in white women.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for development of cervical cancer.
Although most women with cervical cancer have the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, not all women with an HPV infection will develop cervical cancer. Many different types of HPV can affect the cervix and only some of them cause abnormal cells that may become cancer. Some HPV infections go away without treatment.
HPV infections are spread mainly through sexual contact. Women who become sexually active at a young age and have many sexual partners are at increased risk for HPV infections.
Other risk factors for cervical cancer include:
Tests are used to screen for different types of cancer.
Some screening tests are used because they have been shown to be helpful both in finding cancers early and in decreasing the chance of dying from these cancers. Other tests are used because they have been shown to find cancer in some people; however, it has not been proven in clinical trials that use of these tests will decrease the risk of dying from cancer.
Scientists study screening tests to find those with the fewest risks and most benefits. Cancer screening trials also are meant to show whether early detection (finding cancer before it causes symptoms) decreases a person's chance of dying from the disease. For some types of cancer, the chance of recovery is better if the disease is found and treated at an early stage.
Clinical trials that study cancer screening methods are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
Studies show that screening for cervical cancer helps decrease the number of deaths from the disease.
Regular screening of women between the ages of 25 and 60 years with the Pap test decreases their chance of dying from cervical cancer. In women younger than 25 years, screening with the Pap test may show changes in the cells of the cervix that are not cancer but lead to further testing and possibly treatment. Screening with the Pap test is not helpful in women older than 60 years who have had recent negative Pap tests.
A Pap test is commonly used to screen for cervical cancer.
A Pap test is a procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. A piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the cervix and vagina. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal. This procedure is also called a Pap smear. A new method of collecting and viewing cells has been developed, in which the cells are placed into a liquid before being placed on a slide. It is not known if the new method will work better than the standard method to reduce the number of deaths from cervical cancer.
Pap smear. A speculum is inserted into the vagina to widen it. Then, a brush is inserted into the vagina to collect cells from the cervix. The cells are checked under a microscope for signs of disease.
After certain positive Pap test results, an HPV DNA test or an HPV RNA test may be done .
These tests are used to find out if the HPV infection that is causing the abnormal cells is one that is linked to cervical cancer. In women aged 30 or older, an HPV DNA test and the Pap test are used to screen for HPV infection. In women younger than 30 years, HPV infections are common but usually do not last long or cause problems.
Other screening tests are being studied in clinical trials.
Screening clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
Screening tests have risks.
Decisions about screening tests can be difficult. Not all screening tests are helpful and most have risks. Before having any screening test, you may want to discuss the test with your doctor. It is important to know the risks of the test and whether it has been proven to reduce the risk of dying from cancer.
The risks of cervical cancer screening include the following:
False-negative test results can occur.
Screening test results may appear to be normal even though cervical cancer is present. A woman who receives a false-negative test result (one that shows there is no cancer when there really is) may delay seeking medical care even if she has symptoms.
False-positive test results can occur.
Screening test results may appear to be abnormal even though no cancer is present. Also, some abnormal cells in the cervix never become cancer. A false-positive test result (one that shows there is cancer when there really isn't) can cause anxiety and is usually followed by more tests and procedures (such as colposcopy, cryotherapy, or LEEP), which also have risks. The long-term effects of these procedures on fertility and pregnancy are not known.
Women aged 20 to 24 are most likely to have abnormal Pap test results that lead to further testing and treatment. HPV DNA tests find many infections that will not lead to dysplasia or cervical cancer, especially in women younger than 30 years.
Your doctor can advise you about your risk for cervical cancer and your need for screening tests.
Studies show that the number of cases of cervical cancer and deaths from cervical cancer are greatly reduced by screening with Pap tests. Many doctors recommend a Pap test be done every year. New studies have shown that after a woman has a Pap test and the results show no sign of abnormal cells, the Pap test can be repeated every 2 to 3 years.
The Pap test is not a helpful screening test for cervical cancer in the following groups of women:
The decision about how often to have a Pap test is best made by you and your doctor.
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Changes were made to this summary to match those made to the health professional version.
If you have questions or comments about this summary, please send them to Cancer.gov through the Web site's Contact Form. We can respond only to email messages written in English.
Call 1-800-4-CANCER
For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to answer your questions.
Chat online
The NCI's LiveHelp® online chat service provides Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer.
Write to us
For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
Search the NCI Web site
The NCI Web site provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials, and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and their families. For a quick search, use the search box in the upper right corner of each Web page. The results for a wide range of search terms will include a list of "Best Bets," editorially chosen Web pages that are most closely related to the search term entered.
There are also many other places to get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. Hospitals in your area may have information about local and regional agencies that have information on finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at home, and dealing with problems related to cancer treatment.
Find Publications
The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator. These materials can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
PDQ is a comprehensive cancer database available on NCI's Web site.
PDQ is the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) comprehensive cancer information database. Most of the information contained in PDQ is available online at NCI's Web site. PDQ is provided as a service of the NCI. The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health, the federal government's focal point for biomedical research.
PDQ contains cancer information summaries.
The PDQ database contains summaries of the latest published information on cancer prevention, detection, genetics, treatment, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine. Most summaries are available in two versions. The health professional versions provide detailed information written in technical language. The patient versions are written in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language. Both versions provide current and accurate cancer information.
The PDQ cancer information summaries are developed by cancer experts and reviewed regularly.
Editorial Boards made up of experts in oncology and related specialties are responsible for writing and maintaining the cancer information summaries. The summaries are reviewed regularly and changes are made as new information becomes available. The date on each summary ("Date Last Modified") indicates the time of the most recent change.
PDQ also contains information on clinical trials.
A clinical trial is a study to answer a scientific question, such as whether a method of finding cancer earlier can help people to live longer. Trials are based on past studies and what has been learned in the laboratory. Each trial answers certain scientific questions in order to find new and better ways to help cancer patients and those who are at risk for cancer. During screening clinical trials, information is collected about the effects of a new screening method and how well it works. If a clinical trial shows that a new method is better than one currently being used, the new method may become "standard." People who are at high risk for a certain type of cancer may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
Listings of clinical trials are included in PDQ and are available online at NCI's Web site. Descriptions of the trials are available in health professional and patient versions. Many cancer doctors who take part in clinical trials are also listed in PDQ. For more information, call the Cancer Information Service 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Last Revised: 2012-07-19
If you want to know more about cancer and how it is treated, or if you wish to know about clinical trials for your type of cancer, you can call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237, toll free. A trained information specialist can talk with you and answer your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
As a Certified Master Inspector, I work both in the US and abroad in providing a variety of property-related inspection and consultation for clients and properties located anywhere in the world.
Inspections include, but are not limited to:
- Pre-purchase
- Rental/lease
- Corporate relocation
- Estates
- Homes, villas, and flats
- Light commercial
- New construction
Contact International Property Inspections via telephone, email, text, Whatsapp, or Skype.
052 777 246 4676 (landline)
052 777 154 5451 (mobile: text and Whatsapp)
Skype: kenton.shepard
Learn about Certified Master Inspector
This is a free website powered by InspectorPages.


text:
The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is an island country located in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippines comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, sharing maritime borders with Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, the People's Republic of China, and Vietnam. The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country with a population of about 90 million people. Its national economy is the 46th largest in the world with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product of over US$154.073 billion. There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. It is a multi-ethnic nation. A former colony of Spain, and the United States, the Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia-Pacific, the other being East Timor. European, and Indigenous cultures are found throughout the islands; there are also followers of Islam, and among others. Ecologically, the Philippines is among one of the most megadiverse countries in the world.
The name Philippines was derived from King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. Spanish explorer Ruy Lpez de Villalobos used the name Las Islas Filipinas in honour of the Prince of Spain during his expedition to the Philippines, originally referring to the islands of Leyte, and Samar. The name itself is Greek, and can be traced to the name of the father of Alexander the Great, Philipp II of Macedon,Greek: philos; hippos. Despite the presence of other names, the name Filipinas was eventually adopted as the name of the entire archipelago.
Philippines Profile
Area: 300,000 sq. km. (117,187 sq. mi.).
Major cities (2007 estimate): Capital--Manila (pop. 11.55 million in metropolitan area); other cities--Davao City (1.36 million); Cebu City (0.80 million).
Terrain: Islands, 65% mountainous, with narrow coastal lowlands.
Climate: Tropical, astride typhoon belt.
Nationality: Noun--Filipino(s). Adjective--Philippine.
Population (2010 estimate): 94.01 million.
Annual population growth rate (2011 estimate): 1.9%.
Ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese.
Religions (2000 census): Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1%.
Languages: Filipino (based on Tagalog), official national language; English, language of government and instruction in education.
Education: Years compulsory--6 (note: 6 years of primary education free and compulsory; 4 years of secondary education free but not compulsory). Attendance (2009-2010 net enrollment rates)--85% in elementary grades, 62% in secondary grades. Functional literacy (2008, for ages 10-64)--86.4%. Basic literacy (2003)--93.4%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2008)--25 per 1,000. Life expectancy (2011)--68.7 yrs. for males; 74.7 yrs. for females.
Work force (2010): 38.9 million. Services (including commerce and government)--52%; agriculture--33%; industry--15%.
Type: Republic.
Independence: 1946.
Constitution: February 11, 1987.
Branches: Executive--president and vice president. Legislative--bicameral legislature. Judicial--independent.
Administrative subdivisions: 16 regions and Metro Manila (National Capital Region), 80 provinces, 122 cities.
Political parties: Liberal Party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats/KAMPI, Nacionalista, Nationalist People's Coalition, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Aksiyon Demokratiko, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, and other small parties.
Suffrage: Universal, but not compulsory, at age 18.
GDP (2010): $188.7 billion.
Annual GDP growth rate (2010): 7.6% at constant prices.
GDP per capita (2010): $2,007.
Natural resources: Copper, nickel, iron, cobalt, silver, gold.
Agriculture: Products--rice, coconut products, sugar, corn, pork, bananas, pineapple products, aquaculture, mangoes, eggs.
Industry: Types--textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, paper and paper products, tobacco products, beverage manufacturing, food processing, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, electronics and semiconductor assembly, mineral products, hydrocarbon products, fishing, business process outsourcing services.
Trade (2010): Exports--$50.7 billion. Imports--$61.1 billion.
Philippines People
Popular belief holds that the majority of Philippine people are descendants of migrants from Indonesia and Malaysia who came to the islands in successive waves over many centuries and largely displaced the aboriginal inhabitants. Modern archeological, linguistic, and genetic evidence, however, strongly suggests that those migrants originated in Taiwan and went on from the Philippines to settle Indonesia and Malaysia. The largest ethnic minority now is the mainland Asians (called Chinese), who have played an important role in commerce for many centuries since they first came to the islands to trade. Arabs and Indians also traveled and traded in the Philippines in the first and early second millennium. As a result of intermarriage, many Filipinos have some Asian mainland, Spanish, American, Arab, or Indian ancestry. After the mainland Asians, Americans and Spaniards constitute the next largest minorities in the country.
More than 90% of the people are Christian as a result of the nearly 400 years of Spanish and American rule. The major non-Hispanicized groups are the Muslim population, concentrated in the Sulu Archipelago and in central and western Mindanao, and the mountain aboriginal groups of northern Luzon. Small forest tribes still live in the more remote areas of Mindanao.
About 87 languages and dialects are spoken, most belonging to the Malay-Polynesian linguistic sub-family. Of these, eight are the first languages of more than 85% of the population. The four principal indigenous languages are Cebuano, spoken in the Visayas; Tagalog, predominant in the area around Manila; Ilocano, spoken in northern Luzon, and Maranao and related languages spoken in Mindanao. Since 1939, in an effort to develop national unity, the government has promoted the use of the national language, Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. Filipino is taught in all schools and is widely used across the archipelago. Many use English as a second language. Most professionals, academics, and government workers are conversant or fluent in English. In January 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Education to restore English as the medium of instruction in all schools and universities. The Philippines has one of the highest literacy rates in the developing world. Approximately 93% of the population 10 years of age and older are literate.
Philippines History
The history of the Philippines can be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521); the Spanish period (1521-1898); the American period (1898-1946); and the post-independence period (1946-present).
Pre-Spanish Period
The first people in the Philippines, the Negritos, are believed to have come to the islands 30,000 years ago from Borneo and Sumatra, making their way across then-existing land bridges. According to popular belief, Malays subsequently came from the south in successive waves, the earliest by land bridges and later in boats by sea. In contrast, modern archeological, linguistic, and genetic evidence strongly suggests that those successive waves of migrants came from Taiwan as the Austronesian sub-group, Malayo-Polynesians. From Taiwan, the Austronesians first spread southward across the Philippines, then on to Indonesia, Malaysia, and as far away as Polynesia and Madagascar. The migrants settled in scattered communities, named barangays after the large outrigger boats in which they arrived, and ruled by chieftains known often as datus. Mainland Chinese merchants and traders arrived and settled in the ninth century, sometimes traveling on the ships of Arab traders, who introduced Islam in the south and extended some influence even into Luzon. The Malayo-Polynesians, however, remained the dominant group until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.
Spanish Period
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines and claimed the archipelago for Spain in 1521, but was killed shortly after arriving when he intervened in a dispute between rival tribes. Christianity was established in the Philippines only after the arrival of the succeeding Spanish expeditionary forces (the first led by Legazpi in the early 16th century) and the Spanish Jesuits, and in the 17th and 18th centuries by the conquistadores.
Until Mexico proclaimed independence from Spain in 1810, the islands were under the administrative control of Spanish North America, and there was significant migration between North America and the Philippines. This period was the era of conversion to Roman Catholicism. A Spanish colonial social system was developed with a local government centered in Manila and with considerable clerical influence. Spanish influence was strongest in Luzon and the central Philippines but less so in Mindanao, save for certain coastal cities.
The long period of Spanish rule was marked by numerous uprisings. Towards the latter half of the 19th century, European-educated Filipinos or ilustrados (such as the Chinese Filipino national hero Jose Rizal) began to criticize the excesses of Spanish rule and instilled a new sense of national identity. This movement gave inspiration to the final revolt against Spain that began in 1896 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo (another Chinese Filipino) and continued until the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
American Period
Following Admiral George Dewey's defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, the U.S. occupied the Philippines. Spain ceded the islands to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (December 10, 1898) that ended the Spanish-American war.
A war of resistance against U.S. rule, led by revolutionary General Aguinaldo, broke out in 1899. During this conflict fighting and disease claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Filipinos and thousands of Americans. Filipinos and an increasing number of American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), and in 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress reclassified its references to use this term. In 1901, Aguinaldo was captured and swore allegiance to the United States, and resistance gradually died out until the conflict ended with a Peace Proclamation on July 4, 1902. Armed resistance continued sporadically until 1913, however, especially among the Muslims in Mindanao and Sulu.
U.S. administration of the Philippines was always declared to be temporary and aimed to develop institutions that would permit and encourage the eventual establishment of a free and democratic government. Therefore, U.S. officials concentrated on the creation of such practical supports for democratic government as public education, public infrastructure, and a sound legal system. The legacy of the "Thomasites"--American teachers who came to the Philippines starting in 1901 and created the tradition of a strong public education system--continues to resonate today.
The first legislative assembly was elected in 1907, and a bicameral legislature, largely under Filipino control, was established. A civil service was formed and was gradually taken over by the Filipinos, who had effectively gained control by the end of World War I. The Catholic Church was disestablished, and a considerable amount of church land was purchased and redistributed.
In 1935, under the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel Quezon was elected president of the new government, which was designed to prepare the country for independence after a 10-year transition period. Japan attacked the Philippines in December 1941, however, and in May 1942, Corregidor, the last American/Filipino stronghold, fell. U.S. forces in the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese, placing the islands under Japanese control. During the occupation, thousands of Filipinos fought a running guerrilla campaign against Japanese forces.
The full-scale war to regain the Philippines began when General Douglas MacArthur landed on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Filipinos and Americans fought together until the Japanese surrendered in September 1945. Much of Manila was destroyed during the final months of the fighting. In total, an estimated one million Filipinos lost their lives in the war.
Due to the Japanese occupation, the guerrilla warfare that followed, and the battles leading to liberation, the country suffered great damage and a complete organizational breakdown. Despite the shaken state of the country, the United States and the Philippines decided to move forward with plans for independence. On July 4, 1946, the Philippine Islands became the independent Republic of the Philippines, in accordance with the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. In 1962, the official Philippine Independence Day was changed from July 4 to June 12, commemorating the date independence from Spain was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898.
Post-Independence Period
The early years of independence were dominated by U.S.-assisted postwar reconstruction. The communist-inspired Huk Rebellion (1945-53) complicated recovery efforts before its successful suppression under the leadership of President Ramon Magsaysay. The succeeding administrations of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-61) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) sought to expand Philippine ties to its Asian neighbors, implement domestic reform programs, and develop and diversify the economy.
In 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-86) declared martial law, citing growing lawlessness and open rebellion by the communist rebels as his justification. Marcos governed from 1973 until mid-1981 in accordance with the transitory provisions of a new constitution that replaced the commonwealth constitution of 1935. He suppressed democratic institutions and restricted civil liberties during the martial law period, ruling largely by decree and popular referenda. The government began a process of political normalization during 1978-81, culminating in the reelection of President Marcos to a 6-year term that would have ended in 1987. The Marcos government's respect for human rights remained low despite the end of martial law on January 17, 1981. His government retained its wide arrest and detention powers, and corruption and cronyism contributed to a serious decline in economic growth and development.
The assassination of opposition leader Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino, Jr. upon his return to the Philippines in 1983 after a long period of exile coalesced popular dissatisfaction with Marcos and set in motion a succession of events that culminated in a snap presidential election in February 1986. The opposition united under Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, and Salvador Laurel, head of the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO). The election was marred by widespread electoral fraud on the part of Marcos and his supporters. International observers, including a U.S. delegation led by Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), denounced the official results. Marcos fled the Philippines in the face of a peaceful civilian-military uprising that ousted him and installed Corazon Aquino as president on February 25, 1986.
Under Aquino's presidency, progress was made in revitalizing democratic institutions and civil liberties. However, the administration was also viewed by many as weak and fractious, and a return to full political stability and economic development was hampered by several attempted coups staged by disaffected members of the Philippine military.
Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992. Early in his administration, Ramos declared "national reconciliation" his highest priority. He legalized the Communist Party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC) to lay the groundwork for talks with communist insurgents, Muslim separatists, and military rebels. In June 1994, President Ramos signed into law a general conditional amnesty covering all rebel groups, as well as Philippine military and police personnel accused of crimes committed while fighting the insurgents. In October 1995, the government signed an agreement bringing the military insurgency to an end. A peace agreement with one major Muslim insurgent group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was signed in 1996, using the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a vehicle for self-government.
Popular movie actor Joseph Ejercito Estrada's election as president in May 1998 marked the Philippines' third democratic succession since the ouster of Marcos. Estrada was elected with overwhelming mass support on a platform promising poverty alleviation and an anti-crime crackdown. During his first 2 years in office, President Estrada was plagued with allegations of corruption, resulting in impeachment proceedings. Estrada vacated his office in 2001. In 2007, an anti-graft court convicted Estrada of plunder charges. He received a presidential pardon soon after the conviction.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, elected vice president in 1998, assumed the presidency in January 2001 after widespread demonstrations that followed the breakdown of Estrada's impeachment trial. The Philippine Supreme Court subsequently endorsed unanimously the constitutionality of the transfer of power. National and local elections took place in May 2004. Under the constitution, Arroyo was eligible for another term as president for a full 6 years, and she won a hard-fought campaign against her primary challenger, movie actor Fernando Poe, Jr., in elections held May 10, 2004. Noli De Castro was elected vice president.
Impeachment charges were brought against Arroyo in June 2005 for allegedly tampering with the results of the 2004 elections, but Congress rejected the charges in September 2005. In November 2011, Arroyo was arrested and charged for her role in alleged electoral fraud in connection with the 2007 congressional election.
In 2010 elections, Liberal Party Senator Benigno S. Aquino III (son of Ninoy and Corazon Aquino) won the presidency, campaigning against corruption and on a platform including job creation, provision of health care and education, and other domestic issues. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, a member of the PDP-Laban party, won the vice presidency. The election was the first in the Philippines to feature nationwide use of automated ballot-scanners, and, despite uncertainty about the technical reliability of the machines in the run-up to the election, most opinion-shapers lauded the election process as among the best in the Philippines' history, quickly producing results that were widely accepted as legitimate.
Philippines Politics
The Philippines has a representative democracy modeled on the U.S. system. The 1987 constitution, adopted during the Corazon Aquino administration, reestablished a presidential system of government with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary. The president is limited to one 6-year term. Provision also was made in the constitution for autonomous regions in Muslim areas of Mindanao and in the Cordillera region of northern Luzon, where many aboriginal tribes still live.
The 24-member Philippine Senate is elected at large, and all senators serve 6-year terms. Half are elected every 3 years. There are currently 285 members in the House of Representatives, 229 of whom represent single-member districts. The remaining House seats are occupied by sectoral party representatives elected at large, called party list representatives. The Supreme Court approved the introduction of 31 additional party list seats in April 2009, in time for May 2010 national elections. All representatives serve 3-year terms, with a maximum of three consecutive terms.
The government continues to face threats from terrorist groups, including groups on the U.S. Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which gained international notoriety with its kidnappings of foreign tourists in the southern islands, remains a major problem for the government, along with members of the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Efforts to track down and interdict ASG and JI members have met with some success, especially in Basilan and Jolo, where U.S. troops provide counterterrorism assistance and training to Philippine soldiers, along with conducting humanitarian activities. In August 2006, the Armed Forces of the Philippines began a major offensive against ASG and JI on the island of Jolo. This offensive was successful and resulted in the deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani and his deputy, Abu Solaiman. In 2010, Philippine forces killed ASG leaders Albader Parad and Dulmatin. The U.S. Government provided rewards to Philippine citizens whose information led to these deaths in the military operations, as well as to many other operations against terrorist leaders. The broad-based efforts to weaken terrorist organizations resulted in the death or capture of more than 200 terrorists since 2007.
An international monitoring team continues to watch over a cease-fire agreement between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In June 2003, the MILF issued a formal renunciation of terrorism. In August 2008, during peace talks facilitated by the Government of Malaysia, the Philippine Government and the MILF reached agreement in principle on a territorial agreement. Intervention by the Philippine Supreme Court, however, and its subsequent October 14, 2008 ruling that the draft agreement was unconstitutional, forced both parties to seek new ways to reach a peace agreement. Fighting flared up after the agreement was struck down in court and continued sporadically in central Mindanao until both sides agreed to a cease-fire on July 29, 2009 and formally resumed the peace talks in December 2009. Following a hiatus in talks during the first months of the Aquino administration, the parties again pursued peace negotiations beginning in February 2011. In August 2011, Aquino met for the first time with MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo. The parties most recently met in Kuala Lumpur in January 2012.
Principal Government Officials
President--Benigno S. Aquino III
Vice President--Jejomar C. Binay
Foreign Secretary--Albert F. del Rosario
Ambassador to the United States--Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
Permanent Representative to the UN--Libran N. Cabactulan
The Republic of the Philippines maintains an embassy in the United States at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-467-9300). Consulates general are in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Saipan, and Agana (Guam). There are honorary consuls in Atlanta, Miami, and Portland, OR.
Philippines Economy
After reconstruction followingf World War II, the Philippines was one of the richest countries in Asia. Growth slowed however, as years of economic mismanagement and political volatility during the Marcos regime contributed to economic stagnation. Political instability during the Corazon Aquino administration further dampened economic activity.
During the 1990s, the Philippine Government introduced a broad range of reforms designed to spur growth and attract foreign investment. As a result, the Philippines saw a period of economic expansion, although the Asian financial crisis in 1997 slowed growth once again.
Despite challenges to her presidency and resistance to reforms by vested interests, the Arroyo administration made considerable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability. The Benigno S. Aquino administration has assembled a strong economic team and has focused on combating corruption and focused spending on education, health and other social services. It is addressing the country's infrastructure shortcomings through a Public-Private Partnership infrastructure initiative. Nonetheless, long-term economic growth remains threatened by by these shortcomings, as well as by barriers to trade and investment.
The service sector contributes more than half of overall Philippine economic output, followed by industry (about a third), and agriculture (less than 20%). Important industries include food processing; textiles and garments; electronics and automobile parts; and business process outsourcing. Most industries are concentrated in areas around metropolitan Manila. Mining has great potential in the Philippines, which possesses significant reserves of chromate, nickel, and copper. Significant offshore hydrocarbon finds have added to the country's substantial geothermal, hydro, and coal energy reserves.
Today's Economy
The Philippine economy proved comparatively well-equipped to weather the recent global financial crisis, partly as a result of the efforts to control the fiscal deficit, bring down debt ratios, and adopt internationally-accepted banking sector capital adequacy standards. The Philippine banking sector--which makes up 80% of total financial system resources--had limited direct exposure to distressed financial institutions overseas, while conservative regulatory policies, including the prohibition of investments in structured products, shielded the insurance sector.
After slowing to 3.8% growth during 2008, and sputtering to 1.1% during 2009, real year-on-year GDP growth rebounded to 7.6% during 2010, a 34-year high, fueled in part by election-related spending, optimism over the peaceful transition to a new government, and an accommodating monetary policy. Growth slowedin 2011 and is likely to be in the 3.5 to 4% range. Overseas workers' remittances are on track for an 8% annual growth rate, and, continue to comprise roughly 10% of GDP. Annual GDP growth averaged 4.6% over the past decade, but it will take a higher, sustained economic growth path--at least 7%-8% per year by most estimates--to make progress in poverty alleviation given the Philippines' annual population growth rate of 2.04%, one of the highest in Asia. The portion of the population living below the national poverty line increased from 24.9% to 26.5% between 2003 and 2009, equivalent to an additional 3.3 million poor Filipinos.
The Philippines' business process outsourcing (BPO) industry currently accounts for about 15% of the global outsourcing market and has been the fastest-growing segment of the Philippine economy. Although industry revenues slowed from 40% growth during 2006 and 2007, the BPO sector exhibited resilience amid the global financial turmoil, generating more than $6 billion in revenues in 2008 (up 26%) and $7.2 billion in 2009. BPO revenues rose 26% to nearly $9 billion in 2010, and will likely surpass 20% growth in 2011. The sector created about 100,000 new jobs in 2011, bringing total BPO employment to about600,000.
Latest government data shows that the balance of payments surplus is at $10.29 billion as of November 2011, 21% down from $13.08 billion in the same period in 2010. Merchandise exports--which rely heavily on electronics shipments for more than 45% of sales—dropped by 19.4% as of November 2011 year-on-year comparison; electronics industry projects its export revenues to also drop by as much as 25% in 2011 from $1.706 billion record in 2010 due to slow industrial spending of some Western economies. Although there has been some improvement over the years, the local value added of electronics exports remains relatively low.
The Philippine stock market index ended 2011 up 4% after gaining 63% in 2009 and 38% in 2010. The Philippine peso closed 2010 up 5.1% year-on-year. From $44.2 billion as of end-2009, gross international reserves rose to a new record high of nearly $62.4 billion as of end-2010, adequate for nearly 10 months of goods and services imports and equivalent to 5.5 times foreign debts maturing over the next 12 months.
Although still relatively high, the debt of the national government has declined to under 56% of GDP (from a 2004 peak of 78% of GDP); and the consolidated public sector debt has declined to about 75% of GDP (from a 2003 peak of 118% of GDP). The national government worked to reduce its fiscal deficits for 5 consecutive years to 0.2% of GDP in 2007 and had hoped to balance the budget in 2008 but opted instead for measured deficit spending to help stimulate the economy and temper the adverse impact of global external shocks on the already high number of Filipinos struggling with poverty. The national government ended 2008 and 2009 with deficits equivalent to 0.9% and 3.9% of GDP, respectively. The deficit-to-GDP ratio declined to 3.7% of GDP in 2010, with a 1.7% deficit likely for 2011, Further reforms are needed to ease fiscal pressures from large losses being sustained by a number of government-owned firms and to control and manage contingent liabilities. The national government's tax-to-GDP ratio increased from 13% in 2005 to 14.3% in 2006 after new tax measures went into effect; it declined and stagnated at 14% in 2007 and 2008, however, and declined further to 12.8% in 2009 and 2010, low relative to historical performance (i.e., 1997's 17% peak ratio) and regional standards. The passage of revenue-eroding measures, partly to temper the impact on incomes of the global financial crisis, exacerbated weaknesses in revenue administration. The government has used privatization receipts to reduce shortfalls in targeted tax collections, but this has not been a sustainable revenue source.
The Philippine Congress enacted an anti-money laundering law in September 2001 and followed through with amendments in March 2003 to address legal concerns posed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The Egmont Group, the international network of financial intelligence units, admitted the Philippines to its membership in June 2005. The FATF Asia Pacific Group conducted a comprehensive peer review of the Philippines in September 2008. Some of the more important concerns include the exclusion of casinos from the list of covered institutions, the non-criminalization of terrorist financing as a stand-alone crime, and 2008 court rulings that inhibit and complicate investigations of fraud and corruption by prohibiting ex-parte inquiries regarding suspicious accounts. Legislation to address these deficiencies is pending in the Philippine Congress, and has been designated "urgent" by the Aquino administration, which will accelerate its movement through the Congress. The Philippines has taken steps to adopt Internationally Agreed Tax Standards (IATS) and has enacted a law that allows and provides a framework for the exchange of tax-related information. In September 2010, as a result, the OECD upgraded the Philippines to its tax "white list."
A decade after the enactment of legislation to rationalize the electric power sector, the state-owned transmission company (Transco) has been privatized and 92% of total generating assets in Luzon and the Visayas have been sold. This has triggered the opening of access to retail competition in the electric power sector. What remains for privatization is to complete the transfer of contracts of the National Power Corporation's (NPC) Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to private IPP administrators. NPC has transferred about two-thirds of these contracts to date but has postponed further action indefinitely due to concerns about the potential adverse effect on energy supply. Electricity is still relatively expensive in the Philippines, and the central and southern regions still suffer from inadequate and unreliable generating capacity. A Renewable Energy Act was passed in 2008 and provides additional incentives for investment in this sector as a means of ensuring reliable electricity supply and bringing down the cost of power. No new renewable energy investments have been implemented thus far under the act pending consultations on, and approval of, a Feed-in Tariff System (FITS), a major incentive mechanism that aims to accelerate renewable energy investments, and the results of a grid impact study.
The U.S. Trade Representative retained the Philippines on its Special 301 Watch List for 2011. The report lauded recently passed legislation aimed at illegal video recording in movie theaters and Philippine efforts to enforce bans on pirated and counterfeit goods. It, however, lamented inherent weaknesses within the judiciary system that lead to limited enforcement of IPR laws.
Potential foreign investors, as well as tourists, remain concerned about the rule of law, inadequate infrastructure, policy and regulatory instability, and governance issues. While trade liberalization presents significant opportunities, intensifying competition and the emergence of powerful regional economies also pose challenges. Competition from other economies for investment underlines the need for sustained progress on structural reforms to remove bottlenecks to growth, lower costs of doing business, combat corruption and promote good public and private sector governance.
Agriculture and Forestry
Arable farmland comprises more than 40% of the total land area. Although the Philippines is rich in agricultural potential, inadequate infrastructure, lack of financing, and government policies have limited productivity gains. Philippine farms produce food crops for domestic consumption and cash crops for export. The agricultural sector employs about one-third of the work force but contributes less than a fifth of GDP.
Decades of uncontrolled logging and slash-and-burn agriculture in marginal upland areas have stripped forests, with critical implications for the ecological balance. Although the government has instituted conservation programs, deforestation remains a severe problem.
With its 7,107 islands, the Philippines owns a diverse range of fishing areas. Notwithstanding good prospects for marine fisheries, the industry continues to face a difficult future due to destructive fishing methods, a lack of funds, and inadequate government support.
Agriculture generally suffers from low productivity, low economies of scale, and inadequate infrastructure support. The sector barely grew in real terms during 2009, dragged down by the adverse effects of successive strong typhoons on the crops sector (which contributes over 45% of total agricultural production). Agricultural output declined by 0.5% during 2010 due to the adverse effects of drought during the first 9 months of the year, but grew by 4.5% during the first nine months of 2011.
Industrial production is centered on the processing and assembly operations of the following: food, beverages, tobacco, rubber and plastic products, textiles and textile products, clothing and footwear, leather products, pharmaceuticals, paints, wood and wood products, paper and paper products, printing and publishing, furniture and fixtures, small appliances, and electronics. Heavier industries are dominated by the production of cement, glass and glass products, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel, fabricated metal products, mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, and refined petroleum products. Newer industries, particularly production of semiconductors and other intermediate goods for incorporation into consumer electronics are important components of Philippine exports and are located in special export processing zones.
The industrial sector is concentrated in urban areas, especially in the metropolitan Manila region, and has only weak linkages to the rural economy. Inadequate infrastructure, transportation, and communication have so far inhibited faster industrial growth, although significant strides have been made in addressing the last of these elements.
The Philippines is one of the world's most highly mineralized countries, with untapped mineral wealth estimated at more than $840 billion. Philippine copper, gold, and chromate deposits are among the largest in the world. Other important minerals include nickel, silver, coal, gypsum, and sulfur. The Philippines also has significant deposits of clay, limestone, marble, silica, and phosphate. Natural gas reserves discovered off Palawan have been brought on-line to generate electricity.
Despite its rich mineral deposits, the Philippine mining industry is just a fraction of what it was in the 1970s and 1980s when the country ranked among the 10 leading gold and copper producers worldwide. Low metal prices, high production costs, and lack of investment in infrastructure contributed to the industry's overall decline. A December 2004 Supreme Court decision upheld the constitutionality of the 1995 Mining Act, thereby allowing up to 100% foreign-owned companies to invest in large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals, oil, and gas. Some local government units have enacted mining bans in their territories, citing concerns over environmental degradation, unequal distribution of tax revenue, unemployment caused by displacement of small-scale miners, and marginalization of Indigenous People.
Philippines Foreign Relations
In its foreign policy, the Philippines cultivates constructive relations with its Asian neighbors, with whom it is linked through membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Plus Three (with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The Philippines chaired ASEAN from 2006 to 2007, hosting the ASEAN Heads of State Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Philippines is a member of the UN and some of its specialized agencies, and served a 2-year term as a member of the UN Security Council from 2004-2005, acting as UNSC President in September 2005. Since 1992, the Philippines has been a member of the Non-Aligned Movement. The government is seeking observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The Philippines has played a key role in ASEAN in recent years, ratifying the ASEAN Charter in October 2008, and is serving as the Country Coordinator for the United States with ASEAN until mid-2012. The Philippines also values its relations with the countries of the Middle East, in no small part because hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are employed in that region. Protecting the welfare of the some four million to five million overseas Filipino contract workers is considered to be a pillar of Philippine foreign policy.
The Philippines signed its first bilateral free trade agreement in 2006 with Japan under the Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). The Philippines has also begun implementing preferential rates under the ASEAN trade in goods agreement (ATIGA), ASEAN-China, ASEAN-Korea, and ASEAN-Australia New Zealand Free Trade Areas.
The fundamental Philippine attachment to democracy and human rights is reflected in its foreign policy. Philippine soldiers and police have participated in a number of multilateral civilian police and peacekeeping operations, and a Philippine Army general served as the first commander of the UN Peacekeeping Operation in East Timor. The Philippines presently has peacekeepers deployed in eight UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. The Philippines participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, deploying some 50 troops to Iraq in 2003. (These troops were subsequently withdrawn in 2004 after the kidnapping of a Filipino overseas worker.) The Philippine Government also has been active in efforts to reduce tensions among rival claimants to the territories and waters of the resource-rich South China Sea.
Philippines Additionalal Political Information
U.S.-Philippine relations are based on shared history and commitment to democratic principles, as well as on economic and military ties. The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States remain strong. The Philippines modeled its governmental institutions on those of the United States and continues to share a commitment to democracy and human rights. At the most fundamental level of bilateral relations, human links continue to form a strong bridge between the two countries. There are an estimated four million Americans of Philippine ancestry in the United States, and more than 300,000 American citizens in the Philippines.
Until November 1992, pursuant to the 1947 Military Bases Agreement, the United States maintained and operated major facilities at Clark Air Base, Subic Bay Naval Complex, and several small subsidiary installations in the Philippines. In August 1991, negotiators from the two countries reached agreement on a draft treaty providing for use of Subic Bay Naval Base by U.S. forces for 10 years. The draft treaty did not include use of Clark Air Base, which had been so heavily damaged by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo that the United States decided to abandon it.
In September 1991, the Philippine Senate rejected the bases treaty, and despite further efforts to salvage the situation, the two sides could not reach an agreement. As a result, the Philippine Government informed the United States on December 6, 1991, that it would have 1 year to complete withdrawal. That withdrawal went smoothly and was completed ahead of schedule, with the last U.S. forces departing on November 24, 1992. On departure, the U.S. Government turned over assets worth more than $1.3 billion to the Philippines, including an airport and ship-repair facility. Agencies formed by the Philippine Government have converted the former military bases for civilian commercial use, with Subic Bay serving as a flagship for that effort.
The post-U.S. bases era has seen U.S.-Philippine relations improved and broadened, with a prominent focus on economic and commercial ties while maintaining the importance of the security dimension. U.S. investment continues to play an important role in the Philippine economy, while a strong security relationship rests on the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). In February 1998, U.S. and Philippine negotiators concluded the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), paving the way for increased military cooperation under the MDT. The agreement was approved by the Philippine Senate in May 1999 and entered into force on June 1, 1999. Under the VFA, the United States has conducted ship visits to Philippine ports and resumed large combined military exercises with Philippine forces. In October 2003, the United States designated the Philippines as a Major Non-NATO Ally. That same month, the Philippines joined the select group of countries to have ratified all 12 UN counterterrorism conventions.
President Ramos visited the United States in April 1998, and President Estrada visited in July 2000. President Arroyo met with President Bush in an official working visit in November 2001, made a state visit in Washington on May 19, 2003, and returned for additional visits on June 24, 2008, July 30, 2009, and April 12, 2010 for the Nuclear Security Summit. President Bush made a state visit to the Philippines on October 18, 2003, during which he addressed a joint session of the Philippine Congress--the first American President to do so since Dwight D. Eisenhower. President Aquino's first overseas trip as President was to the United States, on the occasion of the 2010 UN General Assembly, and he also visited in September 2011 to launch the Open Government Partnership with President Obama in New York. There are regular U.S. cabinet-level, congressional, and military visits to the Philippines as well. In November 2011, Secretary Clinton traveled to Manila where she commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty. The United States and Philippines held their first-ever Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on January 27-28, 2011, in Manila to advance discussion and cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global issues. The second dialogue is scheduled to take place January 26-27, 2012 in Washington, DC.
Annual bilateral military exercises contribute directly to the Philippine armed forces' efforts to increase maritime domain awareness, combat the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah groups, and bring development and relief to conflict- and disaster-affected areas. The exercises include not only combined military training but also civil-military affairs and humanitarian projects. The International Military Education and Training (IMET) program is the largest in the Pacific and the third-largest in the world, and a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was signed in November 2002. In law enforcement, U.S. and Philippine agencies have cooperated to bring charges against numerous terrorists, to implement the countries' extradition treaty, and to train thousands of Filipino law enforcement officers. A U.S. Resident Legal Advisor also provides training to Philippine prosecutors.
In FY 2011, the U.S. Government--working closely with the Philippine Government, civil society, the private sector, and other donors--provided $192.9 million in grant funds to foster inclusive economic growth and alleviate poverty; strengthen democratic institutions and governance; and counter transnational terrorism and insurgency in Mindanao. To achieve inclusive economic growth and alleviate poverty, the U.S. Government is supporting a broad range of socio-economic efforts, including activities to promote fiscal and trade policy reforms; infrastructure development; business climate improvement; enterprise development; natural resources management; improved health and education services; and increased access to clean and affordable energy, water, and sanitation services. To strengthen democratic institutions and governance, the U.S. Government is supporting judicial capacity building, fiscal management and accountability of local governments, election administration and management, civil society strengthening, alternative dispute resolution, human rights law enforcement, and activities to combat corruption and human trafficking. To counter transnational terrorism and insurgency, the U.S. Government is helping to increase the abilities of military and civilian law enforcement agencies. The United States also provides humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in conflict-affected areas and to victims of natural disasters. In September 2010, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $434-million compact with the Philippines. The 5-year compact provides funding for three major projects: road construction and rehabilitation, community development, and revenue administration. In November 2011, the United States and Philippines jointly launched the Partnership for Growth, a focused development effort which seeks to address the most significant constraints to economic growth in the Philippines and stimulate enhanced, inclusive economic expansion, in line with other high-performing emerging economies.
An estimated 600,000 Americans visit the Philippines each year, while an estimated 300,000 reside in-country. Providing government services to U.S. and other citizens, therefore, constitutes an important aspect of the bilateral relationship. Those services include veterans' affairs, social security, and consular assistance. The newly completed Veterans Affairs Clinic and NOX 1 building, housing consular and other services, offer improved platforms for client service on the U.S. Embassy grounds, and the third and final building of that $120 million construction project should be completed by 2013. Benefits to Filipinos and U.S. citizens resident in the Philippines from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration totaled approximately $502 million in fiscal year 2010. Many people-to-people programs exist between the United States and the Philippines, including Fulbright, International Visitors, and Aquino Fellowship exchange programs, as well as the U.S. Peace Corps.
Trade and Investment
The United States competes closely as one of the Philippines' top two trading partners. Two-way U.S. merchandise trade with the Philippines--which declined from $17 billion in 2008 to $12.6 billion in 2009 following declines in global trade flows--increased to $15.4 billion in 2010. Merchandise trade had already reached $14.1 billion as of October 2011 (U.S. Census Bureau data). According to Philippine Government data, 9.8% of the Philippines' imports for the first ten months of 2011 came from the United States, and 14.9% of its exports were bound for America. In 2010, the Philippines was our 30th-largest export market and our 36th-largest supplier. Key exports to the United States are semiconductor devices and computer peripherals, automobile parts, electric machinery, textiles and garments, wheat and animal feeds, and coconut oil. In addition to other goods, the Philippines imports raw and semi-processed materials for the manufacture of semiconductors, electronics and electrical machinery, transport equipment, and cereals and cereal preparations.
The Philippines has ranked among the largest beneficiaries of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for developing countries, which provides preferential duty-free access to the U.S. market. In 2010, the Philippines was the eighth-largest exporter under the GSP program with nearly $913 million in duty-free exports to the United States.
The United States traditionally has been the Philippines' largest foreign investor, with close to $6 billion in total foreign direct investment as of end-2009. The United States has a bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the Philippines.
Since the late 1980s, the Philippines has undertaken reforms that encourage foreign investment as a basis for economic development, subject to certain restrictions. For example, it opened the power generation sector to foreign investment, introduced competition to the telecommunications and sea and air transport sectors, ratified the Uruguay Round agreement, and became a member of the World Trade Organization. The new Aquino administration has signaled that it is pro-business, and is making efforts to open up the country to foreign investment, especially in large infrastructure projects. Business process outsourcing operations, also known as call centers, tourism, and mining likewise offer investment opportunities. Major obstacles include a prohibition on foreign ownership of land, and constitutional restrictions on majority foreign ownership of public utilities.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Mission--Leslie A. Bassett
Political Counselor--Joy O. Yamamoto
Economic Counselor--Brian P. Doherty
Public Affairs Counselor--Robin D. Diallo
Consul General--Michael R. Schimmel
Management Counselor--Robert A. Riley
Commercial Counselor--Patrick T. Wall
USAID Mission Director--Gloria D. Steele
Agricultural Counselor--Philip A. Shull
Transportation Security Administration--Anthony M. Mira
Department of Homeland Security--David V. Roy
Department of Justice Attache--Robert E. Courtney III
Defense Attache Office--Colonel Richard Matton
Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group--Colonel Kevin D. Clark
Regional Security Officer--Keith A. Swinehart
Legal Attache--James D. Windsor, Acting
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration--Robert M. Cash
Veterans Affairs--Jonathan M. Skelly
Social Security Administration--Darrin K. Morgan
American Battle Monuments Commission--Larry A. Adkison
U.S. Peace Corps--Denny Robertson
Millennium Challenge Corporation--Matthew L. Bohn
The U.S. Embassy is located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila; tel. (63)(2) 301-2000; fax 301-2399; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov; social media: http://www.facebook.com/manila.usembassy; http://www.twitter.com/usembassymanila; http://www.youtube.com/user/usembassymanila; http://www.flickr.com/photos/usembassymanila. The American Business Center is located at 25/F, Ayala Life - FGU Center, 6811 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It houses the Foreign Commercial Service: tel. (63)(2) 888-4088; fax 888-6606; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/us-agencies2/u.s.-foreign-commercial-services.html; and the Foreign Agricultural Service: tel. (63)(2) 887-1137; fax 887-1268; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/us-agencies2/foreign-agricultural-services.html.
|1. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
2. Northern Mindanao
3. Mimaropa
4. Cagayan Valley
5. Soccsksargen
6. Caraga
|7. Cordillera Administrative Region
8. Ilocos
9. Calabarzon
10. Western Visayas
11. Central Luzon
12. Central Visayas
|13. Eastern Visayas
14. Zamboanga Peninsula
15. Davao
16. Bicol
17. National Capital Region
|1. Manila 10,444,527
2. Davao 1,212,504
3. Cebu City 798,634
4. Antipolo 549,543
5. Zamboanga 457,623
6. Bacolod City 454,898
7. Mansilingan 454,150
8. Cagayan de Oro 445,103
9. Dasmarinas 441,876
10. Iloilo 387,681
11. San Jose del Monte 357,828
12. Bacoor 356,974
13. Calamba 316,612
14. Iligan City 312,323
15. Angeles City 299,391
16. Santol 298,976
17. Mandaue City 288,892
18. Cainta 283,172
19. Baguio 272,714
20. San Pedro 270,216
21. Mantampay 265,032
22. San Fernando 251,248
23. Libertad 250,353
24. Lapu-Lapu City 241,374
25. Batangas 237,370
26. Taytay 231,460
27. Lucena 228,758
28. Cabanatuan 220,250
29. Olongapo 220,021
30. Binangonan 219,204
31. Santa Rosa 216,650
32. Imus 216,099
33. Lipa 212,287
|34. San Pablo 207,577
35. Malolos 198,748
36. Panalanoy 189,090
37. Mabalacat 188,050
38. Meycauayan 184,839
39. Tarlac 183,930
40. Legaspi 179,481
41. Cotabato 179,433
42. Puerto Princesa 157,144
43. Toledo 156,916
44. Guyong 155,391
45. Bago City 150,250
46. Naga 147,097
47. Marawi City 143,627
48. Marawi 143,568
49. Kabankalan 136,483
50. Baliuag 135,679
51. Rodriguez 134,432
52. San Mateo 134,327
53. Talisay 133,148
54. Muricay 132,094
55. Bulaon 131,818
56. Cadiz Viejo 129,053
57. Koronadal 125,502
58. Hagunoy 123,531
59. Silang 119,475
60. Digos 116,122
61. Cavite 115,932
62. Tuguegarao City 115,105
63. Dumaguete 113,541
64. Santiago 108,414
65. Santa Cruz 108,145
66. Mati 105,908
|67. Tanza 105,510
68. Roxas City 102,688
69. Laoag 102,105
70. Urdaneta 101,037
71. Jolo 101,002
72. Bocaue 98,649
73. General Trias 96,022
74. Los Banos 95,750
75. Iriga 94,846
76. Dipolog 93,549
77. Ozamis 93,082
78. Ormoc 92,345
79. Calumpit 91,815
80. Mangaldan 88,818
81. Arayat 87,987
82. Surigao 87,832
83. Angono 87,199
84. Victorias City 86,510
85. Tagbilaran 86,411
86. Panabo 84,749
87. Mariveles 84,567
88. Binonga 83,980
89. Valencia 83,591
90. Marilao 83,276
91. San Fernando 83,003
92. Sorsogon 82,730
93. Kidapawan 79,652
94. Norzagaray 79,508
95. Gapan 79,064
96. Daet 78,142
97. Apalit 77,418
98. Pulilan 77,186
99. Guiguinto 76,613
100. Kawit 73,210


text:
A recent Instagram post by LeBron James' wife, who called Akron, Ohio, "Home sweet home," was not made in reference to her husband's future with the Miami Heat, a source close to the four-time MVP told ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst.
Savannah James caused a stir when she posted an Instagram photo of a map of Ohio, with "Akron" written across the image and a star to indicate the city's location.
The image, which was posted Sunday, also includes a caption which says: "Home sweet home!! The countdown is real! #330"
According to the source, the post refers to the James family's summer plans.
Both LeBron and Savannah James usually spend the majority of the summer at their home in Akron, their hometown, with their two sons. Heat president Pat Riley announced last week that the couple also is expecting a baby girl.
The post, however, drew a strong reaction on social media, fueling speculation that James could be interested in rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent.
James has until June 30 to decide whether he will opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Heat and become an unrestricted free agent. He is scheduled to make $20 million next season.
After Miami's season-ending loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, James told reporters he would take a vacation with his family before considering his contract options.
James did indicate that he welcomed the opportunity to become a free agent and have the same level of flexibility he was afforded in 2010, when he signed with Miami after spending his first seven years in Cleveland.
ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Michael Wallace contributed to this report.


text:
It's official: Jay-Z wins at life.
On Thursday, the rapper released "Open Letter," a song addressing head-on all the latest rumors and controversies surrounding him. The self-proclaimed "Bob Dylan of rap music" managed (in under three minutes!) to slam the critics of his and Beyonce's trip to Havana, diffuse any talk of him abandoning the Brooklyn Nets and so much more.
In the NSFW track, Hov proudly proclaims he "done tuned Havana to Atlanta," and that he and Queen Bey will be "ballin' 'til they ban us."
NEWS: Jay and Bey's trip to Havana was authorized by U.S. government
"Wanna give me jail time and a fine?" he raps. "Fine, let me commit a real crime/I might buy a kilo for Chief Keef...Out of spite I just might flood these streets."
"Y'all must wanna start a revolution/ Whenever I'm threatened I start shooting," he continues. "Catch a body head to Houston/I'm in Cuba I love Cubans/This communist talk is so confusing, when it's from China the very mic that I'm using."
VIDEO: Bey and Jay celebrate their anniversary in Cuba
Jay also points out he's a "boy from the hood but got White House clearance," and suggested President Barack Obama might've been concerned with his trip to Havana. One lyric reads: "Obama said chill, you gonna get me impeached/You don't need this s--t anyway, chill with me on the beach"
And all that talk that Mr. Carter was planning on selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets to start his own sports agency? "I still own the building/ I'm still keeping my seats," he raps. "Y'all buy that bulls--t, y'all better keep y'all receipts."
(Warning: This audio clip contains language that may be offensive to some listeners.)


text:
This Pose, Including the Exposed Parts of the Model's Body, Reads as Alluring and Inviting (2009)12
"(Re)covering" the Spectacular Domestic: Culinary Cultures, the Feminine Mundane, and Brand Nigella
Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves.
2715 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland, USA 21218
+1 (410) 516-6989
©2018 Project MUSE. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries.
Now and always,The Trusted Content Your Research Requires.
Now and always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires.
Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.


text:
At National Tyres and Autocare, every branch stocks an extensive range of premium, mid-range and economy tyres to suit all vehicles and budgets. No appointment necessary, while-u-wait fitting service.
Order in advance online however and you can make significant savings. Giving us time to order direct from the manufacturers means they can deliver your order straight to the branch in time for your fitting appointment. So, with no storage and logistics costs incurred by National, we can pass the savings straight to you.
If you need help with your tyre sizes you can call your nearest National Tyres and Autocare branch on 0800 432 0460 who will be happy to help you.
Fitted price includes VAT, fitting, new valve, electronic balancing & environmental tyre disposal.
Please make sure you double-check your tyre size, speed rating and load index before ordering
P Zero Sports Car
Load Index:
Speed Rating:
The Formula 1 tyre
69 dB
P Zero
70 dB
ContiSportContact 5
Speed Rating:
Multi award winning premium brand tyre
72 dB
P Zero Luxury Saloon
68 dB
Winter Sottozero 3
Pilot Super Sport
Premium brand tyre
71 dB
We're offering a FREE Lifetime Tyre Guarantee with this tyre to give you with complete peace of mind should the unexpected happen (RRP £5.00 for 13-14" / £7.50 for 15"+ tyres). Here's how it works;
If your tyre sustains accidental damage to the tread or sidewall during the legal lifetime of the tyre, ie up to 1.6mm remaining tread depth, which cannot be repaired to British Standard BSAU/159, the tyre will be replaced with a new tyre at the prevailing price minus an allowance based on the tread depth remaining on the damaged tyre.
Any punctures sustained during this period will be repaired to British Standard BSAU/159 free of charge. A new valve will be fitted if necessary and the wheel will be re-balanced as required at no cost to you. Punctures which are not repairable will be given a discount on a new tyre based on the tread depth remaining on the damaged tyre.
Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more details