Thousands of flights worldwide scrapped as Omicron hits Christmas weekend travel

More than 6,000 flights have been cancelled worldwide over the long Christmas weekend and thousands more were delayed, a tracking website reported Saturday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday hurt to millions. 

Compounding the travel chaos in the United States, severe weather in the country's west is due to wreak havoc on roadways and other routes there although it may well bring a white Christmas weekend to northwest cities Seattle and Portland.

According to Flightaware.com, nearly 2,800 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Saturday, including more than 970 originating from or headed to US airports, with over 8,000 delays as of 0130 GMT.

On Friday, there were around 2,400 cancellations and 11,000 delays, while Sunday cancellations have already surpassed 1,100.

Pilots, flight attendants and other employees have been calling in sick or having to quarantine after exposure to Covid, forcing Lufthansa, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and many other short-staffed carriers to cancel flights during one of the year's peak travel periods.

"Help @united flight cancelled again. I want to get home for Christmas," one exasperated traveler from the US state of Vermont tweeted to the airline early Saturday.

Flightaware data showed United cancelled around 200 flights on Friday and nearly 250 Saturday -- about 10 percent of those that were scheduled.

A scramble to reroute pilots and planes and reassign employees was underway, but Omicron's surge has upended business.

"The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United said in a statement Friday.

"As a result, we've unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport," the airline said.

Similarly, Delta scrapped 310 flights Saturday and was already cancelling several dozen more Sunday, saying it has "exhausted all options and resources -- including rerouting and substitutions of aircraft and crews to cover scheduled flying."

"We apologize to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans," the company said.

The cancellations added to the pandemic frustration for many people eager to reunite with their families over the holidays, after last year's Christmas was severely curtailed.

Chinese airlines accounted for the highest number of cancellations, with China Eastern scrapping more than 1,000 flights, over 20 percent of its flight plan, on Friday and Saturday and Air China also grounding about 20 percent of its scheduled departures over the period.

- 'Treacherous' snow conditions -

According to estimates from the American Automobile Association, more than 109 million Americans were scheduled to travel by plane, train or automobile between December 23 and January 2, a 34 percent increase over last year.

But most of those plans were made before the outbreak of Omicron, which has become the dominant strain in the United States, overwhelming some hospitals and healthcare workers.

The state of New York announced Friday that it recorded 44,431 new daily positive Covid tests, a record, while new cases surged nationwide as well.

On the weather front, while unseasonably warm temperatures were bathing eastern states, the National Weather Service announced winter storm warnings including a deep freeze for significant parts of the west. 

"Anomalously cold conditions and a barrage of Pacific moisture results in prolonged periods of mountain snow and coastal/valley rain, some of which may fall heavy at times," the NWS said in an advisory.

An eye-popping two to four feet (61 to 122 centimeters) of snow was forecast to fall this weekend, with higher accumulation in some spots, in the northern and central Sierra mountains of California and Oregon.

Travel will be "treacherous to at times impossible" from the Sierras to the central Rocky Mountains at the weekend due to whiteout snow conditions, the NWS added.

Agence France-Presse

Mariah Carey first to score #1 hit in 4 different decades

NEW YORK — Pop diva Mariah Carey has had a long list of hits over the years, but her classic holiday song has helped her make history as the first artist to top the Billboard charts in four separate decades.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated January 4, 2020, based on sales, radio airplay and streaming data -- its third week atop the rankings.

That means Carey has had a number one single in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

The bubbly, ubiquitous holiday tune was first released in 1994 and gained new fame after its inclusion on the soundtrack for the 2003 film "Love, Actually."

But it only topped the charts for the first time in late 2019, thanks to a change in Billboard's rules as to what can be included on the top songs list.

Carey dropped a new video for it -- which counts towards Hot 100 placement -- and released the song as a stand-alone CD single for the first time.

It is her 19th number one hit, according to Billboard, putting her just one song behind The Beatles' overall record of 20 top songs.

The singer -- who will not confirm whether her age is 49 or 50 because she says "time is not something I acknowledge" -- was low-key about her history-making achievement.

"Yaaaaaaaaay!!! WE. DID. IT," Carey wrote on Twitter, with a stream of champagne and party emojis. 

"But.... what's a decade?"

Agence France-Presse 

Storms snarl Thanksgiving travel in US

A pair of storms packing heavy snow and hurricane-force winds left tens of thousands without power in the United States on Wednesday and wreaked havoc for Americans traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.

On one of the country's busiest travel days of the year with an estimated 55 million people planning to drive or fly, highways in the West and Midwest were closed because of snow, and hundreds of flights were canceled.

Giant, colorful character balloons floating through Manhattan during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, a cherished staple, might be grounded for Thursday's festivities because of gusting winds in the Big Apple.

"An extremely active weather pattern is in place across much of the US," the National Weather Service said.

A snow storm that caused near white-out blizzard conditions in Colorado dumped a foot of snow in Wyoming on Tuesday, and was barreling eastward toward the Great Lakes region in the central US.

Plows worked through the night at the airport in Minneapolis, a snow-savvy city girding for possibly its biggest November dump ever.

At the airport in Denver, which was hit with a foot of snow, nearly 500 flights were canceled and another 500 were delayed.

On Monday night, 1,000 people slept at the airport.

Among them was Sonya Washington, bound for Thanksgiving with family in Atlanta, who sat on a plane for two hours as the snow fell until her flight was canceled. The next possible direct trip is Thursday night.

"Thanksgiving is over, then," Washington told the Denver Post.

Out west, a dangerous storm hit southern Oregon and northern California that meteorologists are calling a "bomb cyclone" -- a rapidly intensifying winter storm caused by a precipitous drop in atmospheric pressure.

'LIKE BOMB GOING OFF'

"The drop typically creates violent weather that arrives like a bomb going off," The Oregonian newspaper said.

It dumped a foot of snow, forced roads to close and prompted warnings for people to just stay home.

One wind gust Tuesday in Lake Tahoe, Nevada was clocked at 93 miles (155 kilometers) per hour. Hurricane force begins at 74 mph.

The US Northwest has not been hit by such a powerful storm since 1962, said Marc Spilde of the National Weather Service.

"This storm threatens to bring rain and mountain snow to much of California, including places like San Francisco and Sacramento, places that were largely spared by the past week's rain," said Accuweather senior meteorologist Brian Thompson.

The National Weather Service said while the two separate storms are expected to weaken Wednesday and Thursday, holiday travel would be affected through the weekend.

It also warned of the potential of flash floods in southern California through Thanksgiving Day because of heavy rain.

The storms and high winds have left nearly 300,000 people without power across five states, including Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to poweroutages.us, a utility tracking site.

The nasty weather and blizzard conditions have also forced the closure of major travel routes, including Interstate 5, the main thoroughfare from Oregon into California.

Motorists on the highway reported being stuck for hours on the road overnight, with some having to sleep in their cars.

In Arizona, the National Weather Service said it expected travel conditions to be "difficult to impossible" from late afternoon Thursday through Friday morning.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tree lighting ushers Christmas in New York

People watch the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on Wednesday. Countdown continues as the world waits for the most celebrated Holiday of the year.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Hamleys opens its largest toy store in Beijing amid Christmas debate

BEIJING - British toy retailer Hamleys opened its largest store in the world in Beijing on Saturday, just 2 days before Christmas as debate played out over whether the holiday should be banned in the Communist country.

Christmas elves, a teddy bear parade and a curiously slender Santa marked the opening of the 5-story emporium -- double the size of Hamleys' flagship London store -- in the capital's Wangfujing shopping district.

The launch comes 2 years after Chinese shoe company C.banner acquired Hamleys from its previous owner, France's Groupe Ludendo, for £100 million ($153 million).

"In China, the holiday is just for kids. It's a time to have fun and get some new toys," said Daisy Yan, one of the hundreds of locals that flooded into the store.

"This place is too expensive though. The toy car my son picked out costs 10 yuan more than most other stores," she told AFP.

A stuffed lemur had a 1619 yuan ($245) price tag and a Hello Kitty ornament cost a whopping 2208 yuan ($335). Hamleys bears engraved with "I love China" on one paw were less, at 129 yuan ($20).

The well-loved British toy retailer, founded by William Hamley in London in 1760, already has branches in the cities of Nanjing and Xuzhou in China's affluent eastern Jiangsu province.

It has been gradually expanding internationally since the mid-2000s, opening stores in Dubai and Moscow, among other cities.

While the practice of religion is tightly regulated in China, Christmas has emerged as a popular occasion for its increasingly affluent middle class to exchange gifts.

But according to reports this week in state media, families of Chinese Communist Party members and officials in southern Hunan province have been ordered to "resist rampant Western festivals" to focus on "building a socialist culture".

The news sparked heated debate on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where posts with the hashtag "Christmas Banned" received tens of thousands of views.

One blogger joked that China should instead embrace the festivities, and throw in a few extra days of public holidays for good measure.

Others questioned how far resistance against Western traditions should go: "Can we not wear suits? How about a ban on dreaming in foreign languages?"

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Putin cultivates strongman persona with holiday adventures

MOSCOW - Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who loves to cultivate a virile man-of-action image, was shown on Russian TV Saturday spear-fishing in a camouflage wetsuit, piloting a powerboat and catching some rays while on a Siberian holiday.

Putin's affinity for the tough guy pose has been documented with shots of him bare-chested on horseback, diving in a submarine in Lake Baikal -- the world's deepest -- and flipping a Judo opponent.

These latest images, provided by the Kremlin, captured his two-day stay in the remote Tuva area of southern Siberia.

Putin "fished in a waterfall near a mountain lake, indulged in underwater fishing, sunbathed, went rafting in mountain rivers, piloted... motor boats, went hiking and four-wheeler riding in the mountains," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The images broadcast on public television, which insisted on "the physical fitness of the president", show Putin catching a pike in a camouflage wetsuit or sunning his bare torso with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is originally from the region.

His trip comes days after Putin said the US would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin.

Putin's previous made-for-TV exploits, however, have not been without controversy. During a 2011 dive in the Black Sea he allegedly discovered two 15th century amphoras, but the find was mocked in independent media because the vessels were suspiciously without algae or other sea life.

Peskov admitted several months later that the scene had been staged.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Nadine Lustre sizzles in a bikini

MANILA -- Photos of actress Nadine Lustre in a bikini are now making rounds online.

Photos of the "Till I Met You" actress enjoying her holiday break in San Juan, La Union were uploaded on Instagram.

Lustre was with her boyfriend James Reid and some of their friends including Bret Jackson and Sam Concepcion.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Pia, Marlon enjoy beach holiday

MANILA -- Rumored sweethearts, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Filipino-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stockinger, are taking a holiday break in Hawaii.

In their Instagram Stories posts on Friday, the two were seen enjoying their time at a beach.

 In his Instagram page earlier, Stockinger posted photos of his newest beach adventure in Hawaii.


Last October, Stockinger admitted that he and the reining Miss Universe are "seeing each other" but stressed that they just “want to keep it down low.”

He also declared that Wurtzbach is his pride and joy.

Last month, Wurtzbach went out on a date with Stockinger.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Dollar inches up vs yen, euro holds to modest gains

TOKYO - The dollar inched up against the yen on Tuesday while the euro held to modest gains against the greenback, as the market looked to emerge out of the holiday lull and into the last trading stretch of the year.

The euro was flat at $1.0453 after adding 0.2 percent overnight.

The dollar was up 0.1 percent at 117.230 yen after spending the previous day stuck in a narrow 117.005 to 117.390 range as many major financial markets were closed for the Christmas holidays.

The yen showed little reaction to Japan's inflation data, which saw core consumer prices mark the ninth straight month of annual declines in November.

The US currency had climbed to a 10-month high of 118.660 yen mid-month on the back of the Trump rally, during which it benefited from expectations of higher interest rates to match the incoming president's stimulatory economic policies.

But gravity has caught up with the dollar, which surged more than 10 percent against the yen since Trump's US election win in November.

Some in the market now expect a deeper downward correction to grip the greenback, with the rise in US debt yields slowing and concerns over Trump's protectionist statements taking some shine off the dollar.

"Trump's policies are understood to be conducive to inflation and a stronger currency. But a higher dollar would be a significant setback to the U.S. economy seemingly in the ending stages of an expansion," wrote Makoto Noji, senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

"Therefore, the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve would have to stick to a cautious monetary policy stance to prevent the dollar from appreciating excessively. We thus expect a very gradual downtrend for dollar/yen."

The dollar index was little changed at 102.970, having pulled back over the last few days from a 14-year high of 103.650 marked a week ago.

The Australian dollar was down 0.2 percent at $0.7181 , inching back towards a seven-month low of $0.7160 plumbed late last week on concerns over China's economic growth.

The New Zealand dollar was also down 0.2 percent, at $0.6882 , paring the gains made the previous day.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Asia stocks fall in Wall Street's wake, dollar holds below 14-year peak

SINGAPORE - Asian stocks retreated in subdued trade on Friday after Wall Street took a breather from its surge since the U.S. election, while the dollar hovered below the 14-year high set earlier this week.

European markets look set to open flat to slightly lower, with financial spreadbetter IG Markets expecting Britain's FTSE 100 to open down 0.1 percent on a shortened trading day, and Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 to start the day little changed.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, fell 0.4 percent to a five-month low. It was heading for a drop of 1.8 percent in its second consecutive week of declines.

China's CSI 300 index dropped 0.7 percent, dragged lower by brokerage and insurance shares, on expectations regulators will tighten supervision over online insurance products. The index was on track to lose 1.1 percent for the week.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng retreated 0.5 percent, and was poised for a similar weekly loss.

Japan's Nikkei, closed for a holiday on Friday, edged up 0.1 percent for the week. The index has posted seven straight weeks of gains, its longest winning streak since early 2013, boosted by the yen's weakness in the face of a surging dollar.

Overnight, U.S. equities posted their first back-to-back daily declines of the month in light trading ahead of the Christmas weekend. U.S. indices fell as much as 0.4 percent on Thursday.

"Santa has taken a leave of absence into the end of the week," Jingyi Pan, market strategist at IG in Singapore, wrote in a note. "Asian indices could remain depressed into the end of the year."

Wall Street stocks have been on a tear since the U.S. election on expectations that Donald Trump's promised fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth and company profits. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has surged 8.7 percent since before the election results were announced.

Markets globally appeared be on pause for the holidays, with the MSCI World index down 0.1 percent on Thursday, and little changed on Friday.

Europe's STOXX 600 index closed down 0.2 percent on Thursday, with the broader downtrend offsetting expectations of a government bailout for troubled Italian lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which closed at a record low on Thursday.

Early on Friday, the Italian government approved a rescue of the world's oldest bank, after it failed to raise enough money from private investors to stay afloat.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters his cabinet had authorised creation of a 20-billion-euro ($21 billion) fund to prop up Italy's embattled banking sector, with Monte dei Paschi expected to be first in line for help.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse said separately on Friday they had agreed to deals of $7.2 billion and $5.3 billion respectively with the U.S. over their sales of mortgage securities in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis.

In the foreign exchange markets, the dollar was subdued, having scaled its highest point since December 2002 on Tuesday. It has since hovered below that level, with traders unwilling to make any big moves ahead of the holiday weekend.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six global peers, slipped 0.1 percent to 102.98, down from Tuesday's 103.65 peak. It is poised to end the week flat.

The dollar inched down 0.2 percent against the yen to 117.355, and was on track for a 0.55 percent loss for the week.

Still, most traders retain positive bets on the U.S. currency, particularly after upbeat economic data including business spending, and an upward revision to third-quarter economic growth on Thursday.

"The trend is definitely for a stronger dollar," Stephen Casey, senior currency trader at Cambridge Global Payments in New York. "Any dip in the dollar will a buying opportunity."

The euro edged up 0.2 percent to $1.0453 on Friday, on track for a flat end to the week.

Sterling was little changed at $1.229, on track for a weekly slide of 1.6 percent.

The muted investor sentiment weighed on the Australian dollar AUD=, which dropped 0.1 percent to $0.7207, fractionally above a seven-month low touched Thursday and repeated Friday.

Oil prices slipped as investors took profits after Thursday's gains driven by strong U.S. economic data and optimism that crude producers would keep to their pledge to limit output.

U.S. crude pulled back 0.5 percent to $52.69 a barrel on Friday, but remains on track for a 1.5 percent gain for the week.

Global benchmark Brent crude fell 0.4 percent to $54.85, set to close the week 0.7 percent lower.

As risk appetite ebbed on Friday, the decline in gold prices, which have languished in the wake of the dollar's rally, reversed. Spot gold climbed 0.3 percent to $1,131.79 an ounce, shrinking its weekly loss to 0.2 percent.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Starbucks cafe sales hot, but holiday forecast disappoints

Starbucks Corp. delivered a disappointing profit forecast for the holiday quarter on the heels of strong cafe sales and profit growth, sending its shares lower.

Starbucks' Americas division and its Europe, Middle East and Africa unit last quarter turned in surprisingly strong sales at established restaurants. But its up-and-coming Asia region fell short during an economic cool-down in China that has roiled global stock markets.

The world's biggest coffee chain said on Thursday its holiday quarter that began Sept. 28 would be dented by the effect of the strong U.S. dollar.

The company, known for starting its fiscal years with conservative estimates, also issued a 2016 forecast with little upside for investors who are grappling with concerns that shares of the Seattle-based chain are too hot after rallying more than 60 percent over the past year.

Starbucks shares fell as much as 3 percent in after-hours trading, before settling at $62, down 0.8 percent.

Global sales at cafes open at least 13 months rose 8 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter, beating the 6.9 percent rise expected by analysts polled by research firm Consensus Metrix.

China's cooling economy has global investors on edge and already has been blamed for soft results from KFC and Pizza Hut parent Yum Brands Inc.

Starbucks executives said they have not seen a systemic slowdown in China, noting that comparable sales continued to accelerate into October.

The company declined to break out same-store sales for China, home to 1,800 Starbucks cafes, or about 8 percent of the company's total. Starbucks, which expects China to one day be its largest market outside the United States, said it would have 3,400 cafes there by 2019.

PAY HIKES, TECH HELP

Chief Executive Howard Schultz attributed the better-than-expected fourth-quarter cafe sales growth to several new initiatives at the chain, which recently improved its food and is rolling out new drinks such as the Toasted Graham Latte.

Among other things, Schultz said U.S. cafe service improved and turnover fell after Starbucks raised pay and improved benefits for cafe workers. The company added new delivery services and introduced mobile technology that allows customers to skip lines by ordering and paying for their drinks via mobile devices.

"Starbucks is playing the long game," Schultz said on a call with analysts.

Fourth-quarter net income jumped 11 percent to $652.5 million, or 43 cents per share, matching analysts' average target according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Starbucks estimated first-quarter earnings of 44 cents to 45 cents, excluding items. Analysts on average had a target of 47 cents for the quarter, the company's biggest for revenue, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company forecast fiscal 2016 earnings, excluding items, of $1.87 to $1.89 per share, in line with analysts' average call for $1.88 per share.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Long weekend ahead: Sept 25 a regular holiday

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has declared September 25, 2015, a Friday, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Proclamation No. 1128 states that National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommended the observance of Eid’l Adha in the Philippines be on September 25, 2015 based on the Islamic Calendar
and the declaration made by Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority.

This amends the NCMF's earlier recommendation to observe the occasion on September 24, 2015.

The next long weekend will be on November 28 to 30, with November 30 - Bonifacio Day - declared a holiday.

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

PROCLAMATION NO. 1128

DECLARING FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2015, AS A REGULAR HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN OBSERVANCE OF EID’L ADHA (FEAST OF SACRIFICE)

WHEREAS, Eid’l Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9849 provides that Eid’l Adha shall be celebrated as a regular holiday;

WHEREAS, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommends that the observance of Eid’l Adha in the Philippines be on 25 September 2015 based on the Islamic Calendar and the declaration made by Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority, thereby amending its earlier recommendation to observe the occasion on 24 September 2015;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Friday, 25 September 2015, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 15th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Fifteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Working on a holiday? Here's how you should get paid

MANILA - While most employees took a day off from work Friday, some had to report for duty on the regular holiday. How should they be paid by their employers?

According to the Department of Labor Employment (DOLE), employers should implement the following pay rules for employees who report to work on the holiday:

The employee should be paid 200 percent of regular salary for that day for the first eight hours [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent].

For overtime work, the employee should be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day [(Hourly rate of the basic daily wage) x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked]

For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee's rest day, the employee should be paid an additional 30 percent of daily rate of 200 percent [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent] + [30 percent (Daily Rate x 200 percent)]

For work done in excess of during a holiday that also falls on a rest day, the employee should be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked)

If the employee did not work, however, the employee should still be paid 100 percent of salary for that day [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100%].

Friday, July 17, is the celebration of Eid’l Fitr, the feast marking the end of Ramadan. It was declared a regular holiday because of its religious and cultural significance to the Muslims.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

10 tips to afford your dream summer vacation

MANILA, Philippines - Ready for summer? In two months’ time, everybody will be heading out to get their share of fun in the sun.

Summer for Filipinos almost always means trips to beaches or the mountainside, traipsing around a nearby foreign country, and lots of idle time for quick getaways.

The only downside to having a lot of free time for great vacations is the cost of these getaways. Even a quick weekend trip to a nearby resort will entail expenses that can take the fun out of any escapade: transportation, accommodations, food, entertainment and other activities. If you go on a spur of the moment trip, be prepared to shell out an even heftier sum.

Thankfully, travelling need not be expensive. If you just take time to plan, you can go on a great vacation without necessarily spending top peso. Whether you’re vacationing with family, friends, or going solo, planning early can lead you to the best deals on tickets and accommodations, as well as activities.

Beyond planning, it is equally important to load up on information about the place you’re going to. Try to find out as much as you can about your destination so that you can have a greater variety of activities and so that you can plan your itinerary better.

Here are some points to help you have a great holiday on a shoestring.

Book tickets early.
The best time to book plane tickets for summer is in January. Think of the places you want to go to and check out the promotion deals that airlines have to offer. Compare between sites—all it takes is a flick of your finger to check which ones are offering the best deals out there.

Attend travel fairs.

Airfare and hotel accommodations are often sold at a huge discount at travel fairs usually during the first quarter of the year. Often, you can avail of these deals using zero-percent interest promos or on deferred payment basis through your credit cards. Check out the freebies being offered during these travel fairs as well.

Check online deals.
There are many vacation package vouchers being sold online. Many of these are for upcoming or new resorts that could be worth a try. Do some research on these resorts and online sellers before getting the vouchers-- make sure you buy from tried and tested, legitimate sellers online.

Schedule your dates of travel on weekdays.

You’ll be amazed at how much you can save just by making sure your travel dates do not fall on a weekend. The cheapest rates for airline tickets and accommodations are usually those that fall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Avoid the peak season.

Tickets and accommodations can cost considerably more during the peak seasons of the year, which often coincide with school breaks and holidays. Instead, try to look for ticket and accommodation deals during the off season, when prices can go for as low as 50% off peak season rates.

Try novel accommodation options.

Apart from hotels, you can also explore the idea of serviced apartments, homestays, or even couch-surfing. Not only will you be able to get more affordable accommodations, you can also enjoy a measure of flexibility and, if you’re lucky, savor the hospitality of your very own hosts.

Travel as a group.

Not only is traveling with a group more fun, it also allows you to share some expenses to keep the costs low. For instance, you can rent a house and pitch in on costs. You can cook food for the group and split the expenses.

Get day passes for transportation.

Transportation costs can add up. Some cities offer all-day pass packages for transportation, either for buses or trains, for a fixed price with unlimited rides. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save this way.

Check out flea markets and hole-in-the-wall eateries.

When looking for places to dine, don’t limit yourself to malls and hotel outlets. Flea markets and hole-in-the-wall eateries allow you to soak in the local culture and learn a thing or two about the people you’re meeting. You’ll also be amazed at how much cheaper it can be.

Manage your mobile phone service.

Don’t incur expensive roaming charges needlessly. Check with your telecom provider about roaming rates before traveling abroad. Better yet, turn off your cellular data connection and use Skype or Viber on free wi-fi to communicate. Another option would be to get pre-paid phone cards for those long-distance or overseas calls that you have to make.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US embassy in Manila closed on Jan 16 and 19

MANILA – The Embassy of the United States in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Friday (Jan. 16) for the Papal visit and on Monday (Jan. 19) in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an American holiday.

"The embassy will resume its services on Tuesday, January 20," the embassy said.

Malacanang has declared January 15, 16 and 19 as special non-working holidays in the National Capital Region due to Pope Francis' visit.

Pope Francis will arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka late Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), who is remembered in the United States on the third Monday of January each year, is perhaps best known as America’s chief spokesman for non-violent activism as a result of his leadership role in the US civil rights movement.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a legislation making King’s birthday a federal holiday.

In 1994, the US Congress designated the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a national day of service, calling on Americans from every walk of life to volunteer their time and effort on that day to help realize King’s vision of a “beloved community."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Current Mortgage Rates for Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Yesterday mortgage backed securities gained a little ground, and we’re seeing a continuation of that rally this morning.  If the rally is sustained throughout the session, MBS pricing will be as good or better than it was prior to the last Fed meeting on December 15th (which prompted a rise in rates). On a day-to-day basis, we’ve seen a fair amount of fluctuation in mortgage rates, but on average rates have been generally stable since the beginning of the month.

Are you looking for a new mortgage?  Every big investment deserves a last look.  Give us a chance to beat another lender’s rate, and we’ll give you $25 just for calling (click here for terms and conditions).  Whether we can beat the rate or not.  Call us today!


Today’s Economic Data:

Today’s data is not especially influential, but it’s what we have to talk about today.  First up is the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index for October.  The numbers came in pretty much in line with expectations.  Home prices (Not Seasonally Adjusted) were up +4.5% over last year.  The pace of home price increases continues to slow.  It’s always worth mentioning that this index is a three-month moving average that is reported on a two lag.

The other piece of data issued this morning was Consumer Confidence for December.  The index showed a reading of 92.6, just slightly missing expectations, but up from November’s reading of 91. Perhaps somewhat promisingly, those surveyed who said that jobs were “plentiful” increased, while those saying that jobs were “hard to get” decreased.  On the other hand, those anticipating fewer jobs in the future increased, while those expecting more jobs in the coming months decreased. Somewhat of a mixed report.

As I mentioned yesterday, holiday weeks tend to lead to low volume, and illiquidity in the market. As a result, we need to take any market moves with a grain of salt, and bear in mind that any big swings have a tend to reverse themselves after the holidays.  We’re not seeing anything like that right now, but it’s something you should be aware of if you’re in the process of getting a mortgage but have yet to lock your mortgage rate.

Right now, mortgage rates are close to as favorable as they have been since the beginning of the month.
This Week’s Significant Economic Data:

Monday:

• Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey: Expected: 9.5, actual: 4.1.

Tuesday:

• S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index: 20-city Not Seasonally Adjusted month-over-month: Expected: -0.2%, actual: -0.1%.  Year-over-year Expected: +4.5%, actual: +4.5%.
• Consumer Confidence:

Wednesday:

• Weekly Jobless Claims:
• Chicago PMI

Thursday:

• Markets Closed New Year’s

Friday:

• PMI Manufacturing Index:
• ISM Manufacturing Index:

source:  totalmortgage.com

Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving meal? Try Turducken

NEW YORK – A three-bird roast called ‘Turducken’ or turkey, duck and chicken stuffed into one big bird is the ultimate holiday meal on Thanksgiving.

The unconventional Thanksgiving bird became popular after American football sportscaster John Madden introduced the royal roast on national TV.

Serving Turducken is quite a tedious task, but thanks to “Turducken queen” Johanna Cook, it is now more accessible to busy Pinay moms.

“Turducken used to be a foodie meal. You would have to be a foodie to go to a weird neighborhood, look for a special butcher, and get it done,” said Cook, “Or you can make it yourself for a lot of time and money, effort. It just takes a lot of effort.”

Known for her Momma Cuisines Online blogs, Cook cooks everyday meals by using simple, accessible and inexpensive ingredients and basic cooking techniques.

“This is already pre-seasoned. You can even get it delivered to you, it’s very easy to make at home, and the way you make this is the same way you make your regular turkey,” said Cook said.

Sarah Leoman tasted Turducken for the very first time. “I was actually surprised at how moist it was. It was very moist and very tender.”

Read more from Balitang America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Are Black Friday Deals Worth The Hassle?

Now that Black Friday has started the creep into Thanksgiving Day, you may be wondering you’re really getting a deal—or if it’s just more manipulation.

All those signs advertising 25%, 40%, even 50% off can be difficult to argue with, but the truth is that in most cases, what you’ll actually be hunting this Friday is not a good deal, but the thrill of a perceived good deal. Even though discounts have risen since 2009, stores’ profit margins have remained largely the same.

The reason?

None of these goods are priced to sell at full price in the first place. If they happen to, prior to deep holiday discounts, that’s great. But according to The Wall Street Journal:
 
    “Big retailers work backward with their suppliers to set starting prices that, after all the markdowns, will yield the profit margins they want.”

To understand why this is, you first have to understand how markup works. When a supplier sells an item to a retailer, the retailer buys it at a wholesale price and then sets a retail price that nets them a profit that’s double, triple, or even more what they paid. By setting that retail price even higher than normal, stores can advertise and give deep discounts while still maintaining comfortable margins.

Two years ago, The Wall Street Journal found that prices on many popular gift items rise in late fall in preparation for just this practice and stay high through the holidays. The one, odd, exception they found? Blenders, which sink in price the closer it gets to December 25th.
 
But what about doorbusters?

Generally speaking, the only real good deals you’ll find on a Black Friday are those “doorbusters” you see people lining up for days in advance. These are advertised to entice shoppers, and some larger stores will even take a loss on these items, assuming that shoppers will make other purchases once they’re in the store.

Even then, there are some drawbacks. Most retailers only stock a limited quantity of doorbuster items, meaning you may actually have to camp out to get one. Also, if you arrive too late to find your deal gone, be wary of sales people pushing a very similar, much more expensive item your way.

So is getting up at 4 am this Friday morning really worth it?

Probably not.

This year especially. Unless you’re after one of those big, deeply-discounted items meant to draw shoppers in, you probably won’t be saving much. And with many sales starting pre-Thanksgiving and continuing all the way into the holiday season both online and in-store, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do your shopping on your terms.

source: totalmortgage.com

US embassy closed on November 11

MANILA, Philippines - The United States Embassy in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed on November 11 (Tuesday), in observance of Veterans Day, an American holiday.

Regular services will resume on November 12.

Veterans Day is celebrated every year in the United States on November 11, which is the day that major hostilities of World War I formally ended with the signing of the Armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip S. Goldberg will lead the American and Filipino community and guests in honoring the sacrifices of American and Filipino veterans at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City, Metro Manila, on Tuesday.

Veterans of both nations will participate in the event.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

2014 International Talk Like a Pirate Day sales

Today, September 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. A parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), it was made famous by humor columnist Dave Barry. The holiday celebrates all things pirate and encourages observers to role-play as pirates in their daily activities. DriveThruRPG is hosting several sales in celebration of the holiday. You can check out this page for pirate-themed goodies in the $0.50 to $20.00 range. Additionally, there are several pirate-specific bundles on sale:

source: examiner.com