THE country’s patent landscape continues to be dominated by foreign owners, with data both from the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) indicating that over 90 percent of the patents applied for and granted here were from nonresidents.

Wipo’s 2009 World IP Indicators revealed that the Philippines had the third-largest number of patent applications among 20 emerging countries that the group surveyed after the Ukraine and Indonesia.

DOMESTIC manufacturers have committed to fully support the reinvigorated campaign of the new leadership of the Port of Manila to curb smuggling, noting that the growing convergence of its efforts with those of the Presidential Anti-smuggling Group (PASG) will surely lead to more apprehensions and seizures of illegal shipments.

Jesus Arranza, president of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), said newly appointed Port of Manila district collector Rogel Gatchalian has already shown laudable actions, particularly the recent seizure of a container van containing P1 million worth of ceramic tiles that were declared as hardware materials.

ONCE again, it’s the peak of the bazaar season in the Philippines. For the remaining days of 2009, numerous bazaar events, or most popularly known as tiangge”can be seen almost everywhere.  Tiangge have won the Filipinos over because of their accessibility and affordability, and for being the “launch pads” of budding entrepreneurs.

Tiangge  present shoppers with products at rock-bottom prices. Almost everything can be found in tiangge —freshly roasted castañas, knitted blouses, undergarments, fashion accessories, slippers and native bags sold with as much as 50-percent discount. Where else does chic fashion sense meet sharp and austere business practicability?