Samsung Moves to Build Chip Plant in Philippines

Here’s the news by Kim Yoo Chool, published today in THE KOREA TIMES (In light of tragic bad press for the Philippines, a bit of good new may lighten up some mood J ):

Samsung Electronics plans to build a chip manufacturing plant in the Philippines.

``As far as I know, Samsung Electronics and the Philippine government are talking about the plan. However, some technical issues still remain before a final decision,’’ a high-ranking Samsung insider told The Korea Times.

``We will announce via a regulatory filing if any concrete decision comes out,’’ the source said.

According to a report by the Manila Bulletin, ranking officials from the Philippine government said that talks are underway with Samsung to build a factory producing integrated circuitry for chips _ with an investment of $1 billion ― on a reserved 30-hectare site in the Clark Special Economic Zone ― a former U.S. air force base north of Manila.

The newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, said that Samsung will start construction this year.

``Like we said earlier, we have strong interest in a possible manufacturing plant in a Southeast Asian nation. However, the report is a bit exaggerated,’’ the source said.

Samsung has been conducting extensive research in the region for the site of an electronics plant.

The company currently operates an optical disk drive manufacturing facility south of Manila. It also runs Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp., which produces multi-layer capacitor thick film chip resistors.

``We must lower costs further to boost price competitiveness,’’ the source said.

Electronics accounts for some 50 percent of export revenues in the Philippines, which wants to expand its role as a key spot for electronics firms seeking low-cost manufacturing bases, according to industry experts.

Texas Instruments of the United States, the world’s No. 1 mobile phone chip maker, has already started building a $1 billion chip plant in the Clark Special Industrial Zone.

Samsung is busy bolstering its presence in the Southeast Asian region. On Thursday, Siltronic Samsung Wafer Pte ― Samsung’s first wafer production site outside South Korea ― began producing 12-inch or 300 millimeter wafers at a plant in Singapore.

yckim@koreatimes.co.kr

Journey's Filipino Frontman Welcomed with Open Arms

This is the TIME article by Ling Woo Liu featuring the Philippine's Arnel Pineda:

Ever since lead singer Steve Perry injured his hip in 1996, legendary '80s rock band Journey hasn't been the same. Singers Steve Augeri and Jeff Scott Soto tried filling Perry's big shoes (and tight jeans), but the band's success never reached its previous heights and Journey was relegated to a feel-good nostalgia act.

Thirty-three years after its birth, Journey is getting a second wind from an unexpected place. In December, the band signed on new lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, a Filipino singer who they found leading a Manila cover band on YouTube. Six months later, the band has kicked off a tour of Europe and the U.S. and released Revelation, a new album featuring original songs and re-recorded classics that has already shot up to the fifth highest-selling album in the U.S. since its debut two weeks ago.

How Journey found Pineda is a Cinderella tale of the Internet era. After the band dismissed Soto last June for unspecified reasons, guitarist Neal Schon turned to the Web in search of talent. After two days of surfing on YouTube, he came upon clips of Pineda singing with his band, The Zoo, and nailing all the right notes in the toughest Survivor, Queen and Journey power ballads. "I heard his voice and my eyes got big," says Schon, who has been with Journey since its inception in 1975. "I thought, he can't be that good." Schon left his house, took a spin on his motorcycle to clear his head, and then contacted Pineda. At first, the singer thought the email was a hoax. "I didn't think the real Neal Schon would call a guy like me," says Pineda. "I'm just a guy from the Philippines." Four months later, Pineda signed on as Journey's new lead singer. "I've been waiting for this moment to come for 25 years," he says. "It's like shooting to the moon."

Born in Manila, Pineda, 40, started singing as a child, quickly learning his parents' favorite songs by The Jackson Five, Barbra Streisand and The Carpenters. His parents struggled to raise their four sons by running a corner shop and tailoring clothes. Pineda performed in local singing competitions until the age of 13, when his mother died from an extended illness. Medical bills had drained their savings, leaving the family homeless and living with relatives. Not wanting to burden his father, Pineda struck out on his own, collecting newspapers and bottles, and living on the street for nearly two years. When he was 15, a friend encouraged him to start singing again, beginning Pineda's 25-year career as a cover band singer in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

The first half of Pineda's story isn't unique — Filipino cover bands are ubiquitous in many Asian cities. It's a phenomenon Manila-based PhilMusic.com founder Jim Ayson attributes to an imbalance in supply and demand. "There are more musicians in the Philippines than there are opportunities," says Ayson, a drummer who knew Pineda in the 1980s. But Pineda's rags-to-riches story is giving new hope to Filipino singers. "A lot of singers here tried to make it in the States and they couldn't," he says. "[Pineda] made it."

Not surprisingly, Filipino media in the homeland and the U.S. have lit up with Pineda coverage. "Everyone's talking about it," says Marilyn Deleon, 44, a Filipino-American Journey fan in New York City who helped create animated videos of Pineda and other Journey members and posted them online. At Pineda's first U.S. performance with Journey in Las Vegas in March, Schon estimates Filipino Americans made up half of the audience. Some countrymen are already painting Pineda as a kind of national hero. "There's [boxer] Manny Pacquiao, [pool player] Efren Reyes and then there's Arnel," says Kookie Luib, a bass player who performed with Pineda during his years in Hong Kong. "Our country is always recognized for corruption and government malfunction. These guys are bringing up Filipino pride."

But not all of Journey's die-hard fans — and there are plenty — have embraced Pineda with open arms. When Nell, who did not want to reveal her real name, started an Arnel Pineda fan site in December, the Florida-based web developer says angry Journey fans left death threats on her answering machine. The band's traditional fanbase is mostly white and American, and some are upset that Pineda is neither. "Journey is supposed to be an all-American band," one fan wrote in an online forum.

But as more people hear Pineda's truly stunning voice, the number of critics is likely to be drowned out by a roar of support. And the number of online rock stars is sure to skyrocket. "If you want to get discovered, you don't need a demo anymore," says Ayson. "Everyone's putting their stuff on YouTube now." It's a reminder to all of us: don't stop believing.

Samsung Job Opening: Pinoy ME's Wanted

Dear Mr.Jun Paruli,

First, nice to contact with you and let me introduce myself.

My name is Mr. Kim Sang Won and I am involved in the Recruiting T/F team in Samsung C&T Corporation.

Now we planed to receuit overseas estimation engineers from Philipine for the power plant project.

At this time, Mr.Cho B.S.(Tasnee Ethylene Project CM) recommend you to introduce qualified engineers to us.

The required experience and condition are as below.

Designation: Estimation Engineer (Mechanical)

Jop Description: Estimation, Proposal and engineering of system and equipments for Power Project

experience is preferable.

Required Profile: The candidate must have completed B. Tech / B.E. with 7 ~15 years of experience

preferably with Engineering and/or Construction Company and should possess knowledge

of global standard and code (BS, ASME, ANSI, API, NFPA, SSPC, TEMA, HEI, etc).

The candidate must have knowledge of systems and component

(Steam Turbine, Gas Turbine, HRSG, Boiler, Condenser, Pumps, etc.)

and BOP Package

(Air system, Fuel gas/oil supply System, Circulating water system, Water treatment, etc)

Experience: 7 years more concerned with power plant project

As I may be acknowledged that kinds of recommending someone is not easy and complicate matters for you.

But we think that you have a good network of qualified engineers concerned with above our requirement

and it could be great help for us.

Please consider our request for the Philippine engineers and give your opinion for this subject.

Thank you for your attention.

Best your regards,

Kim, Sang-Won

Corporate Human Resources

Samsung C&T Corporation

TEL : +82-(0)2-2145-5453

H/P : 010-2867-7579

E-Mail : sw5.kim@samsung.com

________________________________

baka may mairerekomenda ka dito sa Samsung C&T Corporation.

They need mechanical engineers for power plant projects. Palagay

ko for Korea office of job assignment. The qualifications are

explained below.

Please let me know or just ask them to send their resumes to me.

Paki-relay na lang din itong requirement na ito sa mga kakilala

mo, baka may maire-recommend din sila.

Thanks again at ingat lang sa trabaho.

Regards,

====================================
J U N P A R U L I
Proposal Team - Hydrocarbon Division
Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.
11th Floor, SAMSUNG SEI Tower,
467-14, Dogok-2Dong, Gangnam-Gu,
Seoul, Korea 135-856
Tel No: (82-2) 3458-5862
Fax No: (82-2) 3458-4040
Email : em.paruli@samsung.com

Reasons to Be (Seen) in Cebu

1. Once every 5 years, I get to visit Cebu-Bohol. My first Bohol-Cebu trip was summer of 1997 when we cemented a 100-m dirt road for one community.

This was taken 5 years later during my 2nd charity gig in Bohol:

PK (in white sando) with UPCYM caravan participants (Rio, Aris, Pon, me, Joseph, Derf) on a Super Ferry boat to Bohol, April 2002. We have lipstick on our faces because we played a card game and that was the consequence.

Last year, I missed Cebu-Bohol for Singapore-China. So August 2008 should be my 4th step in Cebu.

2. For my 3rd time in Cebu, a few months after our caravan (pic above), I attended a historic event (or so we think ^^) to start the systemwide alliance of UP pubs. During that congress, I made a lot of friends from UP Cebu. I am hoping to see at least one of them this August.

3. One of my colleagues in the office will have his lovely daughter's christening in Bantayan! I hope I could squeeze this in during the visit.

4. An eyeball/leisure travel shoot in Limasawa awaits me. Fellow Multipliers are now organizing a trip. Should be interesting!

5. The unknown. I always find it exhilarating not knowing what will happen, just enjoying the fact that you are on vacation, ready to conquer the world :)

Jegs Begins (Planning for Summer Vacay!)

This is my sister having fun with Shanghai locals during our visit at the start of this year. The guy in center, together with his friends, graciously took us to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

In about two months, I am hoping to meet Ate Daisy again in China. This time in Hong Kong!

I am going with a Korean friend Danielle who have already been to Hongkong.

My parents are now renewing their passports so they can join the tour. All of my 3 family members have been there at least once in their lives, but nevertheless, I still need to plan, or at least be informed, hehe.

A good place to start is this website: All About Hongkong