PINAY AGRI RESEARCHER GETS JAPAN INT'L AWARD 2009 / PINOY ACCENT GOOD
MANILA, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 (STAR) A Filipina researcher recently received the Japan International Award 2009 for Young Agricultural Researchers for her outstanding contribution to the development of technologies for the mitigation of food and environmental problems.
The Philippine embassy in Tokyo said the Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) gave the award to Dr. Maria Junemie Hazel Leonida Lebata-Ramos, a researcher for the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC).
Dr. Lebata-Ramos was conferred the commendation award last Nov. 4 for her research work entitled, “Stock enhancement of commercially important and threatened marine invertebrates in tropical areas.”
The embassy said that “the award bestowed on Dr. Lebata-Ramos is a reaffirmation of her achievement in fisheries and marine research that serves to promote food productivity, food security and environmental and marine conservation. Her winning this prestigious award will help inspire more researchers to follow her path.”
Dr. Lebata-Ramos is currently the program leader in the aquatic ecology program at SEAFDEC. The organization provides sustainable fisheries development in the region, such as fisheries and aquaculture technologies and practices, post-harvest technology, international and intra-regional fish trade, fisheries management concepts and approaches, policy and advisory services. – Pia Lee-Brago
'Pinoys' accent, diction still good' By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated November 15, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Pinoy’s ability to adopt an American, British or Australian accent could make up for his ineptitude in the English language and protect the Philippines’ image as one of the world’s top locations for a business process outsourcing (BPO), according to Jayjay Viray, managing director of JobsDB.com.
JobsDB.com operates a job search website and helps local and multinational companies hire qualified workers.
Viray said that while the level of English proficiency of Filipino call center applicants could be going down, the Philippines will still remain a favorite location of multinational companies to set up a BPO business, particularly a call center.
Viray said that the Philippines’ global competitors and potential rivals in the BPO field such as India, and possibly Malaysia, could only get a slice of the market mainly in the information technology (IT) and back office operations.
“We still have an edge over them especially for contact centers because of our diction,” Viray told The STAR.
However, Viray said this should not be a reason for the government to be complacent in addressing concerns regarding the deteriorating English proficiency among Filipinos.
Viray said they see poor English skills in thousands of applicants flocking to call centers.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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