Oil firms urge gova[euro][TM]t to resolve tax issue on ethanol imports.
Byline: MYRNA M. VELASCO The countryas smaller independent oil companies have been prodding the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to act fast to resolve tax issues holding back government-backed policy to jumpstart the utilization of ethanol as a blend to gasoline products. It was noted...

Stocking up on holiday cheer.
Now that another holiday season has arrived (already!), it's time to make plans for visits from friends and family. For many of us, that means restocking our liquor cabinets. Whether getting together for cocktails or selecting a wine to serve with dinner, we've come across some standouts you might...

A taste of `Bliss'.
Byline: RETAIL NOTEBOOK By Joe Mosley The Register-Guard The humble beginnings would be hard to match, but then so would the growth curve. In the space of a year, Luna Marcus and Larry Kaplowitz have gone from serving their self-concocted, coconut milk-based, frozen desserts at...

There's nothing trivial about it.
There are lots of little things in life that make a big difference, toasting being one of them, declares Greg Davis, master distiller for Ridgemont Reserve 1792 small-batch Kentucky bourbon, who urges revelers to impress family and friends with their knowledge of toasting trivia as well as their ability...

High Court rules that use of empty bottles is legal.
Byline: REY G. PANALIGAN The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that the use of empty marked bottles as containers of food seasonings such as "bagoong" and "patis" is legal because the law exempts their use by either large, medium, or small-scale producers of native products. ...

Ginebra posts 38% drop in net profit to P228 M in Q1.
Byline: JAMES A. LOYOLA Ginebra San Miguel registered a 38 percent drop in profits to P228 million in the first quarter of the year from P367 million in the same period last year due to the rising cost of raw materials, mainly alchohol. GSM chairman...

'Tis the season for toasting.
For some of us, any season is right for trying new cocktails, but for others, it needs to be a holiday or special occasion to break out the bubbly. Whatever category you may fall into, here's a sampling of some of the best the season has to offer: ...

P/$ rate closes at P55.77 to $1.
The peso rate closed lower at P55.77 to the US dollar yesterday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from P55.645 the previous day. The weighted average rate depreciated to P55.792 from P55.659. Total volume amounted to $343 million. BSP okays $12.5-M...

Ginebra brands bag int'l competition plums.
Ginebra San Miguel, flagship brand of Ginebra San Miguel Inc., and Tondena Premium Rum were recently cited in an international competition organized by the worlds most influential wine and spirit producers. The two brands won bronze medals in the 2005 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) held...

P/$ rate closes at P52.57 to $1; The peso rate closed slightly higher at P52.57 to the US dollar yesterday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from P52.58 the previous day. The weighted average rate depreciated to P52.615 from P52.453. Total volume volume amounted to $417.5 million.
20-yr T-bond fetches 10.250% The Bureau of Treasury yesterday sold a 20-year treasury bond at a coupon of 10.250 percent. The yield for the tenor is the lowest since the government started issuing that maturity in April 1997, with increased liquidity and improving fiscal performance driving domestic...