2009 Job Cuts Watch

2008 brought us a shaking the US economic down turn news, and we have had experienced and witnessed its effects to our lives. It started with the fall of real estate market continuing to the bankruptcy and closure of major financial institutions. These things has not yet ended, and effects are still visible in the first part of 2009- one of those is JOB CUTS. As we open PinoyDigg again, we will be focusing on the local and international companies slashing head counts to survive in this falling company. We will be searching and researching on these institutions to warn and to prepare us from fear of losing our jobs.

If you have information on company closure and job cuts, please send those to pinoydigg@gmail.com. We will keep your identity secret.

2009 Job Cuts: Accenture

Accenture Philippines was in the headlines last year for the rumored sudden laying-off of employees in the midst of the financial institutions bankruptcy news last year. Last January 12, 2009, the company made it again to the news headline as it has reported that the company will be slashing 1500 people in the Philippines. The first batch of 500 workers that undergone what they called the Redundancy Program were informed during the week that they will be leaving the company in the soonest possible time. Those who have been laid-off were offered severance package (at least Php 75,000) for the help they have given to the success company.

According to Accenture, reduction applies only to certain "excess" skill sets within its outsourced technology services unit. Below is a copy of memorandum sent to the employees of Accenture RP:

To:
All Employees in the Accenture Delivery Centers in the Philippines
From:
Beth G. Lui, Country Managing Director and Philippines Lead, DCN
for Technology
Date:
January 15, 2009
Subject:
For your
information - DCN for Technology Redundancy Program

***For
Accenture Internal Use Only***

I wanted to let each of you know
that today we are taking steps to balance the skills in our DCN for Technology
workforce with client demand.

Based on current and projected
demand, DCN for Technology has a workforce imbalance that we have decided to
address through a redundancy program. This program will affect a portion of
unassigned DCN for Technology employees who are on the bench or not deployed on
a project where their time is charged to the client.

This action
will affect a portion of unassigned individuals from our DCN for Technology
organization. We hope to notify every affected employee today through
individual conversations with either a senior executive or senior manager.
All employees whose positions are declared redundant, and who are not able to be
redeployed, will receive a severance package and outplacement support.

If someone you know is affected by the action today, I ask that
you be respectful and supportive. We appreciate their work and the
contribution they have made to Accenture, and wish them well for the
future. I also ask that you remain focused on our most important
priority—serving our clients.

Our business in the
Philippines remains in a strong position overall, provided we manage our
resources in line with current and future client demand. The most important
thing you can do to assist our business is to remain focused on serving our
clients.

If you have questions, you may send an email through feedback.phildcntech@accenture.com and we will respond as soon
as possible.

If you are approached by the media or anyone else with
questions regarding the workforce actions today, please do not respond.
Instead, refer all inquiries to Arnie Alcazar (arnulfo.t.alcazar@accenture.com or +632 8495127) or Louise
Sabariaga (louise.g.sabariaga@accenture.com or +632 8495371) who handle
our media relations.

We will inform you as soon as we complete all
the discussions with the affected employees.

Thank
you.

Beth

Manila Socialites Making Another Buzz!

When Brian Gorell stood up to fight for his $70,000 rights, that put a Manila socialite group called "Gucci Gang" on frontpages. So much has been revealed by Brian on his blog that has not been put down by the powerful people involved in the issue (or we can say crime). Now, another socialites are making news. From Gucci Gang Issue now comes Pepper Spray Incident.

Happened in the heart of all high-class brawl, Embassy, the bitchy attack of pepper spray was made by Patricia Panlilio Cu-Unijeng to her old high school-mate Neny Montinola with a pepper spray. This caused commotion outside the club, as Neny was rushed to the ER. Celebrities involved that witnessed the scene, Angelu de Leon and Maricar de Mesa are backing up Neny in this incident. This happened on morning of November 19, when all mentioned names were invited to a exclusive party sponsored by the son of Chavit Singson.

Socialites are kinda powerful, as there are reports stating that Patricia requested for suppression of news.

[Read]

Pacquiao - Dela Hoya HBO Special Presentation

No doubt about this, it really is the much awaited boxing fight this year. The Pacquiao and Dela Hoya match has been making buzz. No need to explain 'cause these are two big boxing names that will meet for the first time.

ESPN USA has already made their TV special on this fight. Last November 16, it was HBO USA turn to make money out of this match. If you are looking how to stream on the HBO presentation, click on the links below.

HBO Episode 1
HBO Episode 2

Where are you in this Pie of Filipino Salary Range?

I was kinda stunned with the response of the readers of PMT blog on the range of their salaries. On my one year of working, I am only on the orange part. Poor me! Cause ~37% of those who respond where earning more than Php 100,000 - a dream I dunno when will come true for me. How about you, where is your spot?

Citibank Philippines Next To Slash Headcount

After headlines that Citibank in Japan had laid-off around 50,000 worers to "strategize" their business, now follows news that Citibank Philippines will do the same. Calm down 'cause firing won't reach that much of Japan's; but, still it gives us sign that we are also affected by the US economic crisis and anytime we might lose our job?

An exerpt from BusinessWorld:

Citi Phils. to lay off workers

CITIGROUP’S Philippine unit will not be spared from
the New York-based company’s plan to axe up to 52,000 workers this year as it
struggles to keep afloat.
Citi Philippines, the country’s largest foreign
bank, said it is streamlining its businesses to cut costs and as a result, would
trim the number of its work force.
"We’ve been repositioning our businesses
to be more productive and efficient. As a result, there will be a slight
reduction in overall headcount," Lillibeth Fajardo, Citi country corporate
affairs director, said in a phone interview.
The bank said it has roughly
4,000 employees in the Philippines, about 1% of Citigroup’s more than
300,000-strong work force worldwide at the end of the third quarter.

Accenture (Philippines) Started Slashing Headcount.. So Sudden...

There have been rumors circling that Accenture did a sudden laying-off of their man power. This rumor is so TRUE!

According to forum posts, the company ask some of their employees on probation to take an exam and as consequence of failure is termination of job contract. Sad to say, people are confirming that most, if not all, who took the exam failed. What is worse than that is they were asked to pack their things and say goodbye to their co-workers on the same date.

Speculations on the reason is that one account/client has backed-out of contract due to the financial crisis experienced in the USA. This financial institution is still unknown to us, even to those who are working for Accenture.

Let us just hope that things would be easy for those who had been laid-off.

Then America Has A New President

Headlining the main page of Yahoo! is "A Change Has Come" with the large picture of Barack Obama onstage doing speech. All other international news site are putting Obama in frontpage for the very little reason - he won the race to become the 44th President of the most powerful country that is America. Other than the title prize, he also grab the citation of becoming the first Black-American president( this is a historic record)... wayyy coooool isn't it?

[Read via CNN]

1 More Day.. and US gets a President.. and a VP...

Sarah Palin is already a winner.. for me... She has been very famous since Republican nominee John McCain declared her Vice-presidential candidacy. The fame counter is hitting its threshold on almost equal hits Google had the word "Britney Spears" searched on it. She is an icon already. Damn!

On the serious note, I know we are all waiting on who between Obama and McCain will win this presidential election. If I am an American, my vote is for Obama - Palin.

US Cuts Jobs... Asia Cuts Pay...

American dream has been harder to reach as the US economic crisis worsen day after day. Most people are targeting to get jobs in the US, but with big companies closing and laying-off employees, it seems better to use the Plan B - to work abroad and stay in Asia. Some companies in Hongkong and Singapore, had already opted for pay cuts instead of firing workforce to keep up the business; through this burden is being shared equally with no one getting in the worst scenario. Is this felt in our country? I am to find out when my raise is revealed.

[Read]

Headstrong in Search for 150 Fresh Graduates

Headstrong has been getting good testimonials as an IT company from its people and former workforce. With IT companies on every corner of Metro Manila, Headstrong has already built a name in its field. Noe expanding, the company is projecting to hire 150 more fresh graduates in the next 6 months.

Job seekers, there is still hope. Go to Headstrong careers section now.

[Read]

Be Careful with your Eggs

It has ben reported that eggs imported from China contains untolerable amount of melamine. Melamine is suspected to have been included on the feeds provided to the chikens, reason why melamine was transferred to eggs. So the China-Melamine scare is not over yet.

[Read]

Scariest Movies of All Time

Filipinos love to be scared in any ways; and with the Halloween fast approaching, lots of sites have compiled their all time scariest movies. I'll give you the list (a i, and jump to the link for the excerpts of the movie.

20. THE SHINING (1980)
19. THE EXORCIST (1973)
18. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
17. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
16. JAWS (1975)
15. THE RING (2002)
14. HALLOWEEN (1978)
13. PSYCHO (1960)
12. SEVEN (1995)
11. ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968)
10. POLTERGEIST (1982)
9. 28 DAYS LATER (2003)
8. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
7. THE THING (1982)
6. THE EVIL DEAD (1982)
5. CARRIE (1976)
4. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
3. THE OMEN (1976)
2. AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)
1. HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1990)

Now go to your local DVD stores and start digging the shelves.

Jennifer Hudson Nephew Found Dead

The tragedy the strike the family of Jennifer Hudson has deepen, when the recently reported dead boy found inside an SUV was now identified as Julian King, the missing 7-year-old boy after the massacre killing Hudson's mother and brother in Chicago, Friday afternoon. Identified as the primary suspect was William Balfour, step-father of Julian, and now in the custody of the Chicago Police District for investigation. Though primary suspect has already been identified, investigation will still go on and Balfour is still just "a person of interest."

Spotlight on Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother Massacre

The mother and brother, of Jennifer Hudson were found shot to death around afternoon last Friday, October 24, at their Chicago residence. Upon investigation, they also found Jennifer's nephew missing. Jennifer had been in the headlines just recently for her engagement to David Otunga.

Let us pray for the soul of her mother and brother.

[Read]

Cebu Pacific Now Offers GO Lite Fares

It is time everyone flies again.. With the popularity of "Zero Fare" and "Piso Fare", Cebu Pacific Air is now offering a new promo "500++ kahit saan" for local traveling. You can grab a round trip ticket from Manila to Boracay for at least Php 1,056 including travel tax. Just be persistent in finding those golden flight schedule.

[Link]

PICS: 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

It was really an impressive production that Beijing offered to the world for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Comparing it to the stunning opening of yhe 2004 Athens Olympics, Beijing's was indeed better. Can the Philippines give such a production if ever Olympics will be hosted in our country??

FYI: Manila will be bidding for hosting the Olympics in 2020 and 2024. Let us see what will happen.

[Read]

2008 Olympics.. Ready. Set. Go!

08-08-2008 marks the opening for the most awaited 2008 Olympics held in Bird's Nest in Beijing. Most of the countries have participated in this event, including Philippines with Manny Pacquiao as the flag bearer. Also in the crowd is her excellency Prex Arroyo.
If you have missed the opening ceremony, check out the link below to stream some olympic videos.

Update: This is live steaming. The Opening of the Olympics has expired already.

[Stream]

INQ's search for the Fastest Way to Commute in the Metro

This is not another reality TV show! This is Inquire and Inquirer.Net's social 3-day experiment to determine the fastest ways to commute in the metro. Groups has been divided into 4: MRT group, CAR group, TAXI group and the BUS group. Check out their first day adventure on who won on their first Rush Hour challenge.. From the names of the groups, I already have an idea who won first.. hmmm

[Read]

Mar Roxas' blog....REAL!!

After the controversial fake blog of Ralph Recto surfaced when he was announced new chief of NEDA. Another politician was linked to this technology called blogging - this time it is Senator Mar Roxas.. and it is real. Check out the story after the break.

[Read]