Notwithstanding negative travel advisories, tourist arrivals in the Philippines increased 8.9 percent in February from 162,626 last year to 177,104 this year.

The renewed interests for travel to the Philippines are shared by North Americans, Europeans, Australians, Japanese, Koreans, Indonesians and Singaporeans.

Driven mostly by increased arrivals from France, Gerrmany and Switzerland, tourists from Western Europe rose 21 percent from last year’s February figures of 7,378 to 8,943.

Visitors from Northern Europe, bolstered by double-digit growths in arrivals from Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, rose 27.4 percent.

The biggest arrivals however were registered by North America, which despite negative travel advisories coming from the United States and Canada, has not affected the mood of their travelers.

Visitors from North America rose 19.4 percent to 40,407 in February from 33,845 in the same month last year. Americans alone comprise 36,034.

In its travel advisory last January 16, the US government warned American travelers about terrorist threats in the Philippines, advising them to postpone non-emergency travels, particularly to Mindanao.

On March 8, the Australian government also issued a travel advisory telling its citizens to "exercise extreme caution particularly in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners."

Despite these, however, tourists from Australia, along those coming from Canada, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Singapore registered double-digit growths.

Projects funded by official development assistance (ODA) will boost infrastructure construction in 2004.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri made this forecast at a recent meeting of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc.

According to Neri, the public infrastructure undertakings this year include construction of the Iloilo and Bacolod airports, the North Rail Project, and the South Rail Project. In Southern Luzon, the projects include improvement and rehabilitation of the Batangas Port, extension of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road from Lipa City to Batangas City, and rehabilitation and extension of the South Luzon Expressway.

Neri, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the number of several good infrastructure projects this year accounts for, among other factors, the higher growth forecast of the government in 2004 which is 5.2 to 6 percent, up from 5.5-percent actual gross national product in 2003.

Neri noted that due to fiscal tightening to meet the deficit, government construction dragged down the 2003 economic figures when public construction declined by 29 percent, while private construction expanded by 10.4 percent.

Due to better prospects in construction, Neri said investments in the sector will grow by 7.7 to 8.3 percent. Of this, public investment in construction is expected to surge by 10.1 to 11 percent, while its private counterpart will expand by 5.0 to 5.9 percent.

Ang Linggo ng Pagkabuhay ay ang pinakamahalagang pagdiriwang sa daigdig ng Kristiyanismo. Sa araw na ito, bigyan natin ng halaga ang pagsibol ng bagong buhay at bagong pag-asa na tinubos ng mga pasakit at pinag-alayan ng buhay ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo dahil sa ating mga kasalanan.

Gawin nating inspirasyon ang bagong buhay at bagong pag-asa para masiguro ang mgandang kinabukassan ng ating mga anak. Tayo man ay dapat na magpakasakit at magsakripisyo upang abutin natin ang mithiing kapayapaan at kaunlaran na ipinamana natin sa kanila. Sa Romano 12:12 ng Banal na Kasulatan, hinihingi ng Panginoon na ialay sa kanya ang ating mga katawan bilang buhay na sakripisyo. Ang ating mga sakripisyo ngayon ang magdadala sa atin upang maisakatuparan ang ating pangarap na magandang bukas.

Ang pagkamatay at pagkabuhay ng Panginoong Hesukristo ay patunay na sa kabila ng kahirapan ay ginhawa. Magpasalamat tayo sa pag-asang ipinagkaloob ng Diyos sa atin. Nawa’y maghari ang pag-asang ito upang sa pagkakaisa, sama-sama nating makamit ang makabuluhang pagbabagong hinahangad nating lahat.

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo revealed here today that she and her family went on a retreat in Baguio City during the Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

"I went on retreat on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. It was officiated by Baguio Bishop Senson and Father Castro, the parish priest of St. Joseph of Pacdal which is our parish," the President said during a press conference at the Ridgebrook Hotel here.

On Holy Thursday, the President said they reenacted the Last Supper by having their own passover meal of bitter herbs, unleaven bread and fruits and vegetables.

The President said they also had a traditional fellowship customary during the time of Jesus Christ.

As part of the retreat, the President and the First Gentleman also watched The Passion of the Christ on Thursday at the SM City in Baguio.

"We discussed it also for reflection and part of the sharing of the retreat masters the next day where we have the annual confession and counseling," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

At the same time, the President cited all the government agents who participated in the operation that led to the slaying of Abu Sayyaf leader Hamsirajih Sali who was wanted by the law for involvement in a chain of kidnap-for-ransom and terrorist activities.