Spend! Spend! Spend!

"Today, years after the recovery, even well-off Japanese households use old bath water to do laundry, a popular way to save on utility bills. Sales of whiskey, the favorite drink among moneyed Tokyoites in the booming ’80s, have fallen to a fifth of their peak. And the nation is losing interest in cars; sales have fallen by half since 1990." (Click here for the rest.)

I think we're in too much of a panic over this economic crisis. Things won't get worse than they already are. Our economy has been in a rut for the longest time, so it will be more of the same. How can you believe that Filipinos are so hard up when they're still at the mall eating, watching movies and shopping? Heck, even our househelp who comes in three times a week has bought a new TV recently! How? She sells Avon products. And according to her, people are still buying the products.

Unless you are in the export business, or in garments, or semi-conductors, you will still have a job tomorrow. But of course, you won't get a raise this year. Let me rephrase that...there are some exporters who will fold up this year, but some will keep growing. I've already interviewed two separate exporters who are projecting more than 10% growth in 2009. (Will post their stories soon.)

So if you have enough financial resources, go ahead and spend. Don't be shy if you are among the privileged class. But instead of buying foreign brands, may I encourage you to go local? You will help keep the economy afloat. Consider it your patriotic duty.

English the Obama way

Found this interesting story today:

"Other speeches may be better for learning vocabulary, but Obama's speeches make me excited about speaking English," says Nobuhiro Murauchi, who listens to Mr. Obama's speeches four times a week in the bath. The 41-year-old Mr. Murauchi, who runs a company selling computer goods on the Internet, has purchased two copies of the best-selling book about Mr. Obama's speeches, one for everyday use and the other as a keepsake. (Click here for the rest.)

Capricciosa optimistic on Manila

WDI Corp. of Japan has high hopes that its Capricciosa restaurants in Manila will continue to attract a lot of customers in spite of the sluggish Philippine economy.

This developed as Tan Vy International, a company co-owned by Cencio Vy and Vyson Tan—Filipino businessmen on Guam —with their Manila-based brothers, opened a second outlet of Capricciosa on November 25, 2008, along Connecticut Street in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila. Tan Vy International, a Manila-based company, owns the Philippine franchise rights of the popular Japanese restaurant chain. (The rest of my story in BusinessMirror.)

(Capricciosa in Connecticut, Greenhills. Photo from Clickthecity.com.)

THE first time I ate at a Capricciosa restaurant was when I was living on Saipan in 2004. The restaurant was usually packed with the more privileged residents of the island. I personally thought $25 for one small dish was too expensive (of course in my head I kept on converting to pesos), so I didn't eat there very often. Between that and the $10-Japanese buffet every Friday at Hafa Adai Beach Hotel's Hana Restaurant, guess which restaurant won hands down?

Still, I am a fan of Capricciosa's salmon spring rolls, ang sarap I swear! The wrapper is thin and crispy, and when you'd bite into it, there's just the squishy salty and smoky goodness of the salmon. The last time I ate the salmon spring rolls was in Capricciosa's Greenbelt 3, where the food prices are more affordable. Now that the Greenhills branch is open, I think I'll pop over there just to indulge again in my favorite appetizer, and perhaps try out a few of their pastas and pizza with my food buddies.