MANILA, Philippines -- I just love the metropolis during the Holy Week.

Holy weeks, and a Pacquiao bout, are the only things that can make Metro Manila an ideal place for getting in touch with one’s soul and reflecting on both mortal and immortal concerns.

While during the rest of the year, the National Capital Region is one hyperactive and ear-splitting noisy place, during Lent’s ultimate week, the city is always as quiet as a crypt, in a refreshing sort of way.

Tablets Terrorize PC

According to market research firms Gartner and IDC, sales of PC worldwide suffered a fall in the first quarter of 2011. This marks the first time for the PC market to suffer a hiccup in six quarters.

But some PC vendors prospered during the quarter. Apple saw a boom in the United States, while Lenovo saw its business grow worldwide.

In their reports, Gartner and IDC analysts admitted they overestimated sales in their previous forecasts. Gartner said that worldwide PC shipments reached 84.3 million units, a 1.1-percent drop from the 2010 first quarter. IDC, for its part, said 80.1 million units were shipped during the quarter, or a 3.2-percent decline.

While tablet computers might have a role in the downhill trend in PC sales, analysts are quick to add that other factors also came into the picture. Lack of new engrossing PC experience and prolonged PC life cycles are just some of those being blamed.

Apple in China

Several U.S. retail giants have shuttered their operations or are in the process of rethinking their strategies in China. Best Buy and Home Depot both suffered some serious setbacks in the billion-strong market and are presently licking their wounds.

Not Apple. The Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics giant has found unqualified success by being itself. In fact, the company is set to open some 25 retail stores in China in the next few months alone.

Apple, as in its American home market, has become a corporate celebrity in China, only more so in this huge Asian country. Its iPhone 4 smartphone and iPad tablet computer are some of the most in-demand products in this country and Chinese consumers are willing to pay much more than their counterparts in other countries do for these gadgets.

Analysts got it right when they said that Greater China offers Apple some serious growth opportunities for the next year or so.

Google’s First-Quarter Slide

Rising manpower expenses made Google miss analyst earning projections for the first quarter. As the online search giant increased the pace of its hiring and expanded spending in other areas of operations, the company’s operating expenses took a huge bite of its earnings.

Overall, however, the company had a blockbuster quarter. Google earned $2.3 billion, or $7.04 per share in the quarter, an 18-percent increase from the same period last year.

Trouble is, analysts were expecting at least $8.11 per share from the online search leader.

Analysts are sometimes hard to please, especially when they’re spoiled by a string of winning quarters.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.