Advice to those contemplating annulment

There’s talk that broadsheet, Today, will relaunch next month as a business paper after Antonio Cojuangco decided he had some loose change left over from his investment in ABC-Channel 5 to help out his friend and Today stakeholder, Antonio Lopa. (Bear in mind that it takes about P1 million a month to keep a broadsheet going).

The senior editors of the new business paper led by Jose Galang are mostly former editors and reporters of business paper Business World.

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Another former Business World sub-editor Liza Almonte has put up a weekly newspaper called OFW Ngayon, with an initial run of 10,000 copies.

Priced at P15, the sell-out response to the newspaper – which includes job opportunities abroad – has made Jigs Almonte seriously think about increasing her circulation run to 40,000 copies and to increase the paper’s frequency to twice a week.

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Did you know 1: Four commonly grown fruits in the country can cure 80 percent of the world’s health problems. These are unripe papaya, noni, coconut (in the form of extra virgin coconut oil), and local berries which have no English names like duhat and calumpit.

While these fruits are also grown in other Asian countries, the Philippine varieties are considered more potent, in large part because they are grown on volcanic soil and have to survive at least 26 typhoons every year.

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Did you know 2: Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima has activated the SMI Council, which his predecessor (and now Senator) Manuel Roxas pushed for.

The council – which still does not have a head – will orchestrate the various SME agencies under DTI such as the SB Corp. headed by Zorayda Amelia Alonzo and the Bureau of SME Development headed by Rhodora Leano.

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With the permission of Citibank country business manager Nina Aguas, here’s an excerpt taken from the bank’s "Use Credit Wisely" website, specifically on legal separation and credit.

The website is basically the same as the American version although some portions have been rewritten by assistant vice-president Jeanette Ng-Lim to make it relevant to Philippine conditions.

"If you are considering separation or annulment, you should take steps to protect your credit and prepare for your future independence as a credit customer. It makes sense to seek the advice of a professional during this time. During a separation or annulment, you should follow these steps.

• "List all your credit accounts — Note all loans and credit card accounts. Make sure you know the balances.

• "Make your required payments — Keep up your payments even if your spouse should be responsible. Late payments and other problems may become part of your credit history.

• "Contact your creditors — Responsible leaders understand that personal lives can change. They will want to work with you and keep you as a valued customer.

• "Untangle your marital credit — A creditor cannot close an account simply because a separation or annulment is planned or granted. Your may ask your creditor to close a joint account or remove an authorized user from your credit card account.

• "Establish independent credit — Talk with your creditor about opening your own individual credit account. Your creditor will review your application, based on your individual assets, income, and credit history. In the beginning, it may be more difficult to obtain credit. You may have a lower credit limit than you share with your former spouse."