Philippines

Re “Despite Market Woes It’s No Blue Christmas in Manila,” Dec. 17:

Another good reason why the Philippines is emerging from the “Asian flu” in much better shape is that, unlike most of its ASEAN neighbors where government exercises control over the flow of information, there is a great deal of transparency in the Philippine media. I have just returned from a business assignment in Manila, and I still can’t get over how easy it was to obtain information.

Where else but in the Philippines are there gossip columns devoted to the goings-on in the business community?

PERLA L. MANAPOL

Newbury Park