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The standouts at Fashion Forte XVIII
After more than two decades in the United States, the enterprising fashion designer Nardie Presa came back to the Philippines. Though he had a lucrative practice in California, home is where his heart is. But then Presa saw that budding designers were relegated to showcasing their creations at malls or clubs. He thought that a hotel was a more proper venue for rising talents to present their collections. The idea not only became a clever business venture; it also became the irrepressible Presa’s advocacy. Together with his longtime friend Audie Espino as director and the Crowne Plaza Galleria as the host, more and more design upstarts are getting their breaks at Presa’s Fashion Forte series held at least four times a year. The lineup is usually composed of neophyte talents but established designers such as Presa also participate to show the newbies how it’s done. At the 17th staging, it was barong Tagalog designer Barge Ramos who gave a master class. At Fashion Forte XVIII, Albert Andrada displayed his universally loved designs of romantic and dreamy confections. Mikaela Rose Fowler, Miss Grand Australia 2023, gushed on her Instagram: “What an honor to not only walk for Sir Albert Andrada during the latest Fashion Forte runway show. I had the privilege of closing the show as the grand finale.” Here are some of the standouts and their thoughts: [caption id="attachment_188837" align="aligncenter" width="525"] TONI Kimpo recommends using local fabrics to promote the country to the fashion world. | photograph courtesy of Bert Briones[/caption] TONI KIMPO “The title of my collection is Rise of the Phoenix. My inspirations are the mystical bird phoenix while the emotion behind my creations is the power to rise again like a phoenix. “My materials are sourced locally. I used some indigenous material like pearls and shells. I recommend using local fabrics to promote the country to the fashion world. “I said yes to Nardie and Audie because of their integrity, and the high fashion production that only Fashion Forte can make. [caption id="attachment_188833" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Albert Andrada displayed his universally loved designs of romantic and dreamy confections. | photograph courtesy of Mike Zuniga[/caption] “When I was a child, I grew up being influenced by the works of Tito Albert Andrada. His first shop was in my grandmother’s building. I studied fashion at Slim’s Fashion School and worked at the Carolina’s fabric store.” [caption id="attachment_188834" align="aligncenter" width="525"] CARL Acusa’s latest collection speaks of political movement through fashion. | photograph courtesy of Bert Briones[/caption] CARL ARCUSA “Luncheon At The Palace is a political movement through fashion. A collection that is intended to raise awareness to the historical past and to not forget the mistreatment, injustices, killings and power abuse during the… regime. “The materials I used are silk, organdy, piña cloth, tulle, red Swarovski crystals, beads and metal religious emblems. [The challenge of procuring the materials] is their availability to suppliers because some are sourced out abroad and the piña cloth’s availability to the market. ‘My recommended remedy] is fast supplier-to-market transport and communications. “[I said yes to Nardie and Audie] because they are both professional and friendly. Their taste and professionalism established a good foundation of trust to us designers. “I’m a self-taught. I was mentored by Rocky Gathercole and Olé Morabe. My inspirations are Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Joey Samson, Ivarluski Aseron and various Filipino veteran designers. My celebrity clients include Andrea Brillantes, Kim Chiu, Vice Ganda, Sanya Lopez, Lea Salonga and Miss Glenda.” JEZELLE AMORADO “My collection is entitled Imprint. As a fashion designer, one of my primary roles is to create pieces for clients that reflect their identity and persona. It is very seldom that I get to create something that would reflect who I am as an artist. Thus, the ‘Imprint’ collection was born. “For this collection. I wanted to do away with traditional floral and lace details. Instead I focused on the idea of how I can imprint my own DNA as a designer into each piece. The hand-beaded details of each piece were carefully crafted to show my personal way of sketching, yarn and beadwork to mimic my fingerprints and the waves in various colors were created to represent my sound waves when speaking. The Jezelle Hautea Amorado signature book folded details can also be seen in the collection as a representation of my unfolding fashion design story. “The emotions that I wanted the collection to evoke is a sense of identity and self-love for who I am as an artist. I wanted the audience to see who I truly was as an artist and experience the same level of love and admiration I felt when I was allowed to be myself and create what my heart wanted. “I wanted to present a collection that would let people realize and feel that it is OK to be themselves, to love who they are and to not let society dictate who they should be. Imprint is a collection that focuses on the idea of ‘self’ and that no person could ever alter who you are as a person. “I wanted people, women in particular, to have that profound sense of acceptance despite what society would expect of us in terms of how we dress, talk and present ourselves. Hopefully, ‘Imprint’ was able to do that. “The materials that were used were a mixture of silk gazaar, fine crepe, organza and tulle. The finer details were crafted using multicolored yarns, crystals and multi-cut beads. All of my materials were sourced from both local and international vendors that I have worked with in the course of my career. “The main challenge that I face when procuring fabrics was the fear that another designer would be using the same thing as me. My solution for this is that I stay away from already pre-beaded or pre-printed textiles. “Instead of purchasing such textiles I have my team of skilled beaders craft custom prints or details that would guarantee me a unique piece every single time. At times, it is an unavoidable circumstance that I would have to use pre-detailed fabrics such as lace, so to address this situation I would deconstruct the said fabric and have my team rework it by creating new textures, or beading details to give my clients that unique look. “I have a Bachelor’s degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and an Associate’s degree in Fashion Design at Raffles Design Institute Singapore. I apprenticed under Albert Andrada, who is also my mentor and design influence along with Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and Iris Van Herpen.” [caption id="attachment_188836" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Fashion Forte’ expresses Nardie Presa’s specialty and strength in conceptualizing clothes and designs. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MIKE ZUNIGA[/caption] “To be invited back by Nardie Presa and Audie Espino was a wonderful experience and great honor. I had my first show with them back in 2020 before the pandemic and this would have given me another opportunity to work alongside two of the most-sought after personalities in the fashion industry. “Another reason for me to say yes was that Tita Nardie had informed me that this would be a wonderful opportunity for me to continue the Mentor-Protegee story that was unfolding between me and my beloved mentor and fashion father, Albert Andrada. “The period that I got the invite for Fashion Forte was when Sir Albert and I were preparing for our ‘Marry Me at Marriott’ show and it just felt like the perfect fit. Any chance I would get to work alongside Sir Albert and share the runway with him is an opportunity that I would never want to miss.” The post The standouts at Fashion Forte XVIII appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG members’ record-high savings up 11% to P59.52B
Pag-IBIG Fund members collectively saved P59.52 billion in January to August this year, growing 11.45 percent year-on-year and setting a new record for the highest amount saved by members for any January to August period. “We are happy to see that more Filipino workers recognize the importance of saving and are choosing to save with Pag-IBIG Fund. The record high in Pag-IBIG members’ savings collected from January to August 2023 shows their continuing trust and confidence in us and in our programs,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who leads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Good news “This is good news because as our collection increases, the more funds we are able to utilize for the benefit of our members who seek to apply for home loans and short-term loans. All these are in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to improve the Filipino workers’ access to finance,” he continued. Meanwhile Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta noted that the growth in members’ savings collected were seen in both the agency’s mandatory Regular Savings and its voluntary MP2 Savings. Collections for the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings reached P28.03 billion, a seven percent increase from the P26.16 billion collected during the same period in 2022. Popular MP2 savings On the other hand, the agency’s popular MP2 Savings reached P31.50 billion, a 16 percent increase from the P27.25 billion collected in January to August last year. In 2022, the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings earned an annual dividend rate of 6.53 percent, while the MP2 Savings posted an annual return rate of 7.03 percent. “The continued growth of our members’ savings is truly remarkable. We are grateful to the business community for responsibly remitting the Pag-IBIG contributions of their employees and their counterpart share on time. We are also thankful to our members for their trust in saving with Pag-IBIG — by saving more than the required P100 monthly contribution under the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, and by continuing to save in our MP2 Savings,” Acosta said. “This trust is clearly displayed by the amount voluntarily saved by our members, which has in fact surpassed the amount of mandatory savings we have collected. That is why we remain steadfast in our commitment to prudently and excellently manage each and every hard-earned peso that our members have entrusted us, and provide their savings with the best possible returns,“ she said. The post Pag-IBIG members’ record-high savings up 11% to P59.52B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mid-Autumn mooncake collection
Mooncakes have long been a highlight of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, with many experts agreeing there is no substitute for those created by Solaire’s Red Lantern’s executive chef Tai Siew Hong and chef de partie Ralff Jiang. Available until 29 September with exclusive, limited-edition White Lotus Paste with Dalmore Whiskey mooncakes and White Lotus Paste with Remy Martin Cognac, Red Lantern’s mooncakes are available to order through Solaire’s website. [caption id="attachment_174614" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Snow Skin Mooncake with Solaire chiller.[/caption] Red Lantern’s culinary team first launched this year Solaire’s Snow Skin mooncake with Avocado custard and Chocolate Coffee; and Black Sesame and Chocolate wine and Mango with Chocolate Lemon. Red Lantern has also designed a mooncake box which offers a decadent taste of the season with luxurious collections including a box of baked mooncake with White Lotus Paste and double egg yolk, Mix Nut and Pork Floss, Red Bean paste and Double Egg Yolk, and Black Sesame and Double Egg Yolk. The mooncake boxes are truly an ideal gift for relatives and business associates — or simply for guests’ own enjoyment. Visit www.solaireresort.com/mooncake or call 8888-8888. The mooncakes are available through e-commerce site at shop.solaireresort.com. The post Mid-Autumn mooncake collection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cyber education, a must
“Digitalization is the call of today, not the call of the future, but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted in his second SoNA his administration’s agenda for all government agencies and local government units to digitalize all their services. He called for the digitalization of payments, business registrations, issuances of permits and licenses, loan applications and revenue collections. The digitalization efforts, he stated, should be made to streamline processes for ease of doing business, combat corruption and make decisions in a data-driven and science-based manner. I commend this push for e-governance and e-commerce by the President. He is right. The digital age is upon us and we must invest in digital technology and infrastructure for our economy to be globally competitive. Cyber Education Law However, the very basic foundation needed for the government’s digitalization efforts should be the investment in human capital. We know that our labor is the country’s biggest asset and the factor that keeps our economy afloat. We export labor, remittances flow, and these in turn fund local consumption. That is why there is an urgent need for us to legislate the incorporation of cyber-education among our population and we must start with our basic education. Investing in cyber-education is not a novel idea. It is a model of development in many advanced countries. As the World Economic Forum or WEF found out in a study, countries like Israel (which currently ranks 8th in the Cyber Risk Literacy and Education Index) show that cyber-risk education and connected institutions can contribute significantly to the national economy by producing more jobs and greater innovation. It concluded that cyber-investment in human resources, i.e., prioritizing cybersecurity education earlier than most and regular assessment of cyber-risk literacy of children and youth at key points in their development and education, is an investment for the future and has been found to have led to a wealth of cyber-related innovation and economic growth among top-ranking countries. The UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, and, recently, China, are also investing heavily in cybersecurity education. These countries recognize that cybersecurity education is essential to protecting the digital economy and both public and private digital infrastructure from cybercrimes and cyberattacks. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for cybersecurity education will only grow. Digitalization will positively impact Filipinos’ lives but concomitant negative issues have emerged related to Internet use. Some of the most common cybersecurity crimes and offenses in the world today continue to emerge and develop, some of which President Marcos Jr. mentioned in his speech, such as identity theft, phishing and other online scams. Current statistics also show the vulnerability of Filipino children in the digital space. A recent study claimed the Philippines is a global hotspot for Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children or OSAEC. A sharp increase in possible OSAEC cases has been recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, from 1.34 million in 2020 to 3.19 million in 2021, the second highest in the world behind India. In 2018, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received 579,006 cyber tips on the online sharing, re-sharing, and selling of child sexual abuse images and videos. According to the study, sexual exploitation negatively impacts cognitive functioning, as well as mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression; and across the life course, it can negatively impact the physical, psychological, social, educative and economic well-being of children victims. The foregoing examples are just among the many important reasons to introduce cybersecurity education in the K-12 system. We must educate users of technology, especially children, on the potential risks they face when using internet communication tools, such as social media, chat, online gaming, email and instant messaging, to cultivate cybersecurity awareness at the primary school level. Verily, investing in cybersecurity awareness among the young population will have several positive impacts on the Philippine economy and quality of life. The post Cyber education, a must appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tobacco on list of agri products in proposed economic sabotage law, says Villar
Senator Cynthia Villar assured that tobacco is included in the list of agricultural products covered by her proposed Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2023. She said the proposed measure would amend the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act to include hoarding, profiteering, and a cartel of agricultural products as "economic sabotage." “Tobacco will be included in the agricultural products covered by this law,” Villar, who is chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, made the assurance during the International Tobacco Agricultural Summit held at Shangri-La Hotel in Taguig City on Thursday, where she was the guest speaker. Citing a report from the National Tobacco Administration, Villar noted that the tobacco industry contributes to employment and revenue generation in the country, supporting around 2.2 million Filipinos directly or indirectly. The lawmaker added that tobacco has contributed nearly P16 billion to the country's gross domestic product in 2021. The Oxford Business Group's Economic Impact Report showed that tobacco cultivation was present in 23 provinces across 12 regions in the Philippines, with the Ilocos Region being the top producer at 69 percent, followed by Cagayan Valley at 23 percent, and Northern Mindanao ranking third, as of April 2022. Villar underscored the industry's significance to rural economies is highlighted by a 47.8 percent increase in the area planted for tobacco between 2019 and 2022. Since 2013, she said the implementation of sin taxes for tobacco and alcohol, resulted in additional funds for the national health budget, including Universal Health Care. The sin tax revenue, primarily from tobacco collections (mainly cigarettes), accounted for 58 percent of all sin tax collections and comprised 54 percent of the health budget in 2020. "Tobacco-producing provinces receive shares from tax collected to be used in funding livelihood programs, infrastructure projects, and promote economically viable alternative agricultural products for the farmers," she said. However, Villar noted that tobacco—like any other agricultural product— is not spared from criminal activities like smuggling and tax evasion. Such crimes, she said, undermine the livelihood of farmers by "saturating the market with cheap, adulterated, and untaxed products.” The Bureau of Customs earlier reported an estimated P3 billion loss in excise taxes from illicit cigarette operations between 2019 and 2022. As reported by Euromonitor, the incidence of illicit cigarette trade is projected to increase from 12.2 percent in 2020 to 18.5 percent in 2023. “This illicit competition leads to reduced prices and demand for locally grown tobacco, resulting in income loss among our farmers,” she lamented. Villar recalled the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act was passed in 2016, unfortunately, not a single smuggler has been imprisoned since then. Thus, seeking to amend the law will further strengthen policies and punishments against smuggling acts. The post Tobacco on list of agri products in proposed economic sabotage law, says Villar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati retains premier investment hub status
The local government of Makati on Tuesday announced that it has retained its position as the country’s premier investment destination mainly due to good governance as a result of reforms and innovations undertaken by the current administration for the past six years. The statement comes as the City Treasurer’s Office disclosed that the city has achieved 95 percent of 2023 revenue target, collecting a total of P16.88 billion in June this year. City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta, in a report to Mayor Abby Binay, revealed that the bulk of revenues came from Business Tax with a total of P9,446,943,668.74 collected. The total tax collection is 44 percent higher than the same period last year and covers 95 percent of the P9.9-billion target for the year. It also includes around P3.7 million collected through the Makatizen Online Assessment and Payment Portal. Binay said the city has attained 95 percent of its revenue target for the year amounting to P17.83 billion, with total collections reaching P16,876,811,971.56 as of 30 June 2023. “It is only the middle of the year, yet we have nearly achieved their full-year revenue target, with a 22-percent increase which showed the economy of the city bounced back and is stronger than ever,” Binay said. The substantial increase was attributed to the resumption of normal operations of business establishments and the opening of new businesses as well. “Most business establishments in the city are now back to operating at full capacity, indicating that we are definitely back in business. We also have more new ventures setting up shop in the city, bringing in more capital investment that boosts the local economy,” Binay said. “Having achieved greater transparency and efficiency, Makati continues to enjoy strong investor confidence. We also take pride in recently obtaining, for the sixth straight year, an unmodified audit opinion from the Commission on Audit,” she added. Records of the Business Permit and Licensing Office, the city has registered 2,782 new businesses as of 19 July 2023, with combined capital investment of over P20 billion. In the same period, a total of 35,116 businesses have renewed their business permits and registered total gross sales amounting to P1.65 trillion. The post Makati retains premier investment hub status appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Swedish retailer H& M sues Chinese rival Shein in Hong Kong court
Retail giant Hennes & Mauritz has sued its fast-growing rival Shein in a Hong Kong court for copyright infringement, the Swedish fashion juggernaut said Tuesday. Shein, founded in China in 2008, has swiftly claimed a top place in the global fast-fashion marketplace, offering low-priced collections attractive to young social media-savvy customers. H&M confirmed on Tuesday it had opened a lawsuit against Shein and Zoetop Business, a Hong Kong-based company affiliated with the online retailer. "We have an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit towards Shein filed in Hong Kong," a H&M spokesperson said. "We believe that Shein in multiple cases has infringed on our designs." According to a Hong Kong court document, H&M had pointed to "the striking resemblance between the products showing they must have been copied" and the "sheer scale of (Shein's) unauthorized substantial reproduction of the copyright works". A representative for Shein, which is now based in Singapore, said by email the company does not comment on pending litigation. Copyright infringement lawsuits are common in the fast-fashion world but it is often smaller, independent designers lodging complaints against giant retailers, making H&M's suit against Shein unusual. The Swedish high-street brand is among the world's most recognizable and has for years jousted with Spain's Inditex -- Zara's owner -- for the top spot. But Shein's rapid rise from a brand favored by TikTok influencers to a global household name for Gen-Z -- with a reported growth of $16 billion in 2021 -- has tipped the scales, placing it on H&M's heels. Its cut-price merchandise and relentless expansion have also brought allegations from critics of forced labor and human rights abuses. Three independent designers in the United States filed lawsuits against Shein this month, alleging that it has "grown rich by committing individual infringements... as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering". Shein has also not commented on those accusations. dhc/pbt © Agence France-Presse The post Swedish retailer H&M sues Chinese rival Shein in Hong Kong court appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Son takes up Dad’s unfinished business
Expectations are high on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he bared yesterday his accomplishments after one year in office. It won’t be surprising if many Filipinos will compare Marcos to his predecessor this early or even to his late father who is regarded by loyalists to be the GOAT leader of their generation. The reality, however, is that nobody is perfect and that there are persistent national challenges that outlasted past presidents and now face the current leader. When Marcos’ father officially assumed the presidency on 30 December 1965, he was confronted with huge government debt, inefficient agriculture, smuggling, lawlessness, rising prices and corruption. A year later, in his second State of the Nation Address delivered at the Legislative Building in Manila on 23 January 1967, the elder Marcos touted his progress in tackling those issues. “We confronted the problem of smuggling, as it was never done before by the national government. We paid no attention to the cynics who said that smuggling could not be eradicated or even diminished. Today, the popular surveys point to the success of the anti-smuggling drive as the premier achievement last year,” Marcos Sr. boasted in his second SoNA delivered 56 years and almost six months ago. The late president partly attributed to his administration’s expanded campaign against technical smuggling the higher collection of the Bureau of Customs during the period of January 1966 to January 1967 compared to the first year of his predecessor’s generated BoC revenues, P47 million against P30 million. In turn, the increased BoC collections boosted total government revenues in 1966 by over 12 percent or nearly P251 million to P2.3 billion from over P2 billion in 1965. Smuggling, however, endured after Marcos, his five successors, and now his son, whose fight against the enduring menace is focused on agricultural smugglers blamed for the rise in red onion prices to an unbelievable P720 per kilo in December. The current President has tapped the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to find and prosecute the economic saboteurs. Taking bull by horns The elder Marcos said in his 1967 SoNA that the Philippine Constabulary, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and BoC were reorganized to root out corrupt personnel, including removing 80,000 casual employees. Of the latter, only those who had not been linked to cases of dishonesty or inefficiency were re-employed. The son, meanwhile, is also dealing with the same problem by institutionalizing online transactions, through the eGov PH Super app, to prevent the general public from being exposed to red tape, fixers, and extortionists in government. “We intend to keep prices down by increasing the production of prime commodities, especially rice and corn. We hope to be self-sufficient within a few years,” Marcos Sr. said in the 1967 SoNA. Marcos Jr. is addressing the same problem based on his own SoNA. “Ang mga pautang at financial assistance sa mga magbubukid at mangingisda ay magiging institusyon at patakaran ng aking administrasyon (Loans and financial assistance to farmers and fishermen will become an institution and the rule of my administration),” he said in his first SoNA. The concurrent agriculture secretary also mentioned modernizing farming through new technologies; expanding aquaculture, piggery, and poultry; building a national network of farm-to-market roads; and reviving the Kadiwa centers. Kadiwa is back and last 7 July, Marcos Jr. condoned the P57.65 billion in unpaid amortizations of 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries who till more than 1.7-million hectares of farmland. “Under existing agrarian laws, each agrarian reform beneficiary has to pay the cost of the land given to him in 30 years with six percent interest,” the President said. “It’s time to free them from this debt.” Relieved of the burden of debt, the ARBs can now channel their resources towards food production. Admittedly, perennial problems have endured despite the best efforts of past administrations to solve them. This cannot be misconstrued as a failure of leadership, but rather as unfinished business that existing and future presidents will have to assume and try to finish. The post Son takes up Dad’s unfinished business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC, DTI to integrate business name registrations
The local government of Quezon City and the Department of Trade and Industry announced Thursday that they have agreed to integrate the latter’s Business Name Registration System into the city’s Online Business Permit Application System to allow a seamless verification process and further boost ease of doing business. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual signed the memorandum of agreement for the integration which is expected to streamline business processes, detect fraudulent submission of requirements and effectively monitor compliance of QC-based businesses. “Since one of the requirements for processing the business permits of sole proprietors is the certificate of business name registration from DTI, we need to ensure compliance. Instead of manually verifying the authenticity of CBNRs, the integration will allow digital processing of data and documents thereby speeding up the process,” Belmonte said. Based on DTI’s data, business name applications processed online grew from 35 percent to 75 percent based on payment collections received since the development and launch of the BNRS Next Gen in 2019 while Quezon City is home to more than 65,000 businesses with almost half of them being DTI-registered. “So we deem it imperative to track growth, regularly monitor compliance, and gather necessary data for policies and programs,” said the QC mayor. With the integration of DTI’s BNRS into QC’s digital platform, Business Permits, and Licensing Department head Margarita Santos said concerns such as the submission of fake BNRS will be addressed. “This will also pave the way for faster evaluation of permit applications through an automated, system-to-system verification,” Belmonte said. The post QC, DTI to integrate business name registrations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cool, Chic and Comfortable Fashion
By Jocelyn Valle and Ann Jenireene Gomez Ralph Lauren is easily one of the most mispronounced designer labels around. For the record, this American icon of fashion is pronounced this way: “Ralf LO-ren,” according to Martin Elmer Santos, the manager of Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand boutique at Greenbelt 5. That’s right, not the French-sounding “Ralf Lo-Rahn.” [caption id="attachment_160185" align="aligncenter" width="853"] AUBREY Miles and Troy Montero.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160186" align="aligncenter" width="1703"] Kieza Garra and Jeanette Ong.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160188" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] (FROM left) SSI Group Inc. president Anton Huang, Maricel and Donny Pangilinan, Nikki Huang, Ella and Anthony Pangilinan.PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of Polo Ralph Lauren[/caption] Santos spoke to Daily Tribune at the store’s recent opening. “We have the different collections here,” he said. Aside from its signature Polo Shirt, which has been around since 1972, Polo Ralph Lauren Men’s line presents several collections to check out in Spring/Summer 2023. There’s the timeless collection called Heritage Icons, as inspired by The Hamptons’ preppy fashion. Another one, The Curator, is a refined sportswear merged with Manhattan’s Gallery tastemakers’ sophisticated gallery look. The Summit collection reinvigorates the Active line with archival styles and technical performance, while the Key West line displays a relaxed island lifestyle. Lastly, a diverse collection of vibrant seasonal fashion is showcased in the South America range. It suits perfectly in warm weather and blends well with exotic adventure vibes. Polo Ralph Lauren Women’s line, on the other hand, has a Spring/Summer 2023 collection that covers Mediterranean, California Modern and Laurel Canyon themes of undeniably timeless and classic style. Likewise not to be missed is the Polo ID collection, which showcases handbags, footwear and other leather goods that embody elegance and comfort. Star-studded affair The opening of the Greenbelt branch (the first at Shangri-La mall and soon at Rustan’s Makati and Solaire), was attended by some of the notable celebrities in the fields of fashion, beauty pageants and show business. They looked cool, chic and comfortable in Polo Ralph Lauren fashion pieces. Actor Maricel Laxa turned up with her husband Anthony Pangilinan, a media practitioner and management consultant, along with their daughter Ella Pangilinan and, later on, with their son, matinee idol Donny Pangilinan. “I want something comfortable and easy to carry. I don’t want anything elaborate. I’m a little bit stylish now because I have kids who are more exposed to fashion.” Aubrey Miles, also an actress and entrepreneur, came at the event with her husband and fellow celebrity Troy Montero. She had this to say on dressing up: “As long as it looks good on me and it flatters my body, I go for that. I’m more stylish when I go out alone. When I’m with Troy, I’m more on the sexy side. With our kids, just a long dress with pockets or with a sling bag.” For his part, Montero said, “I just always want to be comfortable. I think my fashion sense changed over the years. I’m definitely more into comfort than anything else. Once you feel good and comfortable, you can be confident walking around. Nothing makes you more uncomfortable and less confident if it’s not fitted. I like to keep up with the trends and things like that. Like today, I’m wearing this Polo shirt, and I kinda went for the one with a little bit non-traditional.” More actors talked to us about their fashion sense. Max Collins described her fashion sense as “laidback chic.” She explained, “I always wear something that I can move in, but at the same time it’s classic and simple. I love neutral colors as well.” Sofia Andres said she goes for “classic, simple and chic at the same time,” even when she's with her three-year-old daughter. “I only wear pants, shirts, sometimes a coat, blazer, that’s it. That looks amazing.” Young star Kyline Alcantara admitted letting her moods dictate her fashion choices. “Sometimes I’m into street style. Sometimes I’m into classy, simple. It really depends on my mood. I feel that’s what fashion is. It’s art also, how you describe yourself, what makes you feel confident.” Celeste Cortesi, who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in 2022, declared, “I like wearing anything, depends on where I go. I just want to be comfortable and chic at the same time.” Fashion model-turned-actress and host Phoemela Baranda noted that having a baby (her second in 20 years) has changed her body type and she works around that. “I try to look whatever suits my body type now and I’m comfortable with. So, I’m comfortable with long dresses. But of course a little updated naman. I update with accessories or a body.” Myrza Sison, former top model and now a speaker, host, journalist and certified executive coach had this to say about her fashion sense: “Minimal effort for maximum impact. “So I believe in style, rather than fashion, and I think the more you know yourself, the more you can have personal style. Otherwise, you’re just gonna try every trend and you won’t really present a strong image to the world.” The post Cool, Chic and Comfortable Fashion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jaime Ponce De Leon on Manila’s art collectors and experts
My recent visit to the Leon Gallery where Jaime Ponce de Leon holds office, conducts auctions and exhibits all kinds of treasures, from paintings to furniture to religious icons turned out to be a tell-all afternoon with the gentleman who shocked us all with the find of the century, Juan Luna’s Hymen, oh Hymenee! Enthralling is perhaps the best word to describe a conversation with Jaime who, when he is in the mood and just relaxing, will give you the time of his life sharing stories from his past, his forays into private homes where the best collections are kept from prying eyes, and his close encounters with the rich and powerful, the eccentric and the recluse, each welcoming into their homes Jaime who, to one and all, is a delight to be with just by being himself, eager, enthusiastic and, yes, well-informed. Here are excerpts from our conversation, the second of three parts that allow us a glimpse into this most fascinating of lives of a gentleman recognized by many as the man of the hour of Philippine arts and culture. [caption id="attachment_151742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] THE author with Jaime de Leon.[/caption] Daily Tribune (DT): How many collectors do we have in the Philippines that keep going back to you? Jaime Ponce de Leon (JPDL): Plenty. DT: Can you name like twenty people? JPDL: Ah, plenty of people. Of course, you have Paulino Que, Stanley Chan. You have Butch Campos. Sabi ko sayo, all the important collectors in town. Louie Bate, Kevin Belmonte, Olivia Yao, Toto Salgado, Rico Quimbo and Reggie Quimbo. DT: How did you put your team together? You have Lisa Nakpil, you have Toto Gonzales. It must be a fun team. JPDL: Very fun team. Too much fun. DT: How did you gather the best under one roof? JPDL: Well, in this business, you need the best people. And I’m sure Lisa is the best. I mean, I can’t think of any. I mean, she’s literally blue blood. I think that’s one essential thing. You know, because I’m in Harvard now, I’m taking a course. There are certain things that we learn there that you already know and that corroborates that what I’m doing is right. And I think that’s one of the things, that I got all the best people. DT: So, tell me about Lisa. How did you meet? JPDL: I’ll tell you. It’s interesting. Lisa was introduced to me by Ramon Campos, the nephew. And Lisa and I became friends. We clicked very well. I mean, Lisa’s excellent. I don’t know if anybody can do her job better. DT: Toto naman. Were you reading his blog? JPDL: I’m an admirer of Toto. DT: Everybody’s an admirer of Toto. JPDL: Yeah. Because Toto has seen so much. You know, prior to Toto, I was very close to Sonny Tinio. Sonny was adorable. Oh, Sonny. I miss him so much. Sonny said things with confidence. And Sonny saw it all. And you know what I like about Sonny, especially in the world of antiques and art collecting? The piece doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive to be beautiful. That’s why I respect him so much and admire him. Because I saw other collectors. They only wanted the beautiful. They only wanted the expensive ones. DT: Which shouldn’t be. JPDL: Yes. Because there is beauty in the most mundane of things. DT: What was Sonny’s role? JPDL: He would write about furniture and religious things. You should read our old catalog. Now, Toto writes. I mean, Toto is equally good. DT: He’s also good. JPDL: Very good. But Sonny writes. DT: Can I sit down one of these days? JPDL: Of course. You’ve got to see it. You should have seen the long table that we sold before. The table of the Arnedo family. Where the prince of Wales sat. Of course. It was a long table, and we sold it for about seven million peso, that table. DT: Who bought it? JPDL: I don’t remember na. But that table, all the most important collectors in the country came for it. I invited them all. Tony Gutierrez, Richard Lopez. All the most important collectors. DT: Doctor Teyet Pascual must have passed on already by then. JPDL: Yes, I was a very good friend of Doc Teyet’s. In fact, his nephew Midas asked me to speak during his wake. DT: So, tell me about Doc Teyet. JPDL: You know, we clicked so well. Because you either had to be a friend or not a friend of his. You had to be careful of him or you might get his ire. But we clicked very well. DT: Q: How did you first meet him? JPDL: I think I met him through Tita Marivic Vasquez. And we immediately became friends. And of course, Mrs. Marcos and he were always together. I enjoyed their company very much. We always had dinner. I always tagged along. We even danced at the Embassy, the bar. Our group included Mrs. Marcos and Tita Lulu Tinio. So, we’d go to Tim Yap at the Embassy and we would dance there. Sometimes, we’d go to the Manila Pen. Other times, at 168. I enjoyed hanging around with them. I didn’t have a shop yet. (To be continued) The post Jaime Ponce De Leon on Manila’s art collectors and experts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New taxes should support production of cheaper, nutritious food
Collections from the proposed junk food tax and higher levies on sweetened drinks should be used to support the research and development and production of cheaper nutritious food and food supplements, according to a business group......»»
Jaime Ponce de Leon — Art world’s man of the hour
To say that Jaime de Leon gave us his most prized treasure by sharing his “Hymen, Oh Hymenee” by Juan Luna would be an understatement. Jaime has not only made legions of art lovers happy and ecstatic; what he has achieved, by allowing the exhibition of this missing masterpiece, the holy grail of Philippine art, is an earthshaking development — one that, as it were, had ignited an intense movement of the “tectonic plate” of Philippine cultural heritage. [caption id="attachment_145553" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs courtesy of leon gallery | ‘Hymen, oh Hyménée,’ in its finest details, manifests Juan Lu-na’s genius as an artist.[/caption] What had been missing for more than a century finally found its way home, right at the renowned Ayala Museum, thanks to Jaime, the trailblazing founder of the game-changing Leon Gallery, which has been responsible for the change of hands of the most valuable masterpieces of our renowned artists from the Spanish times, through antebellum Philippines and the postwar years, all the way to the new millennium. [caption id="attachment_145552" align="aligncenter" width="525"] JAIME de Leon, NCCA chairman Ino Manalo and Ayala Museum’s senior director Mariles Gustilo.[/caption] His discovery of Luna’s most sought-after painting in a royal house in Europe is a story that will be told through the coming generations of art lovers, enthusiasts, collectors and scholars. Just a few days ago, I visited Jaime in Leon Gallery, and art gallery and auction house that he founded in 2013. He shared with me his life story and how he had stumbled upon a new epicenter around which would revolve the life that he had wanted for himself. Jaime was still pursuing his business management degree in Silliman University when he was elected as the chairman of the barangay located right along the main boulevard of Dumaguete City. Realizing that politics was “not cut for me, I thought that I had bigger dreams. It’s like a fish that you put on a pond. It would only grow up to that size. I wanted to go to the big city. I wanted to live in the ocean and allow myself to be bigger. So, I moved to Manila.” In the big city, he started out as a real estate salesman, one of those guys who gave away brochures at the mall. But he would not last long, as he explored other possibilities. He next spent a year in Malaysia where he worked at the office of a construction firm. “It was a time for discovering myself,” he says. “I also learned how to be truly independent, away from the support of one’s family and home. It was an eye opener for me. After a year, when I got back to the Philippines, I thought, ‘Oh my God. What would I make of my life? I didn’t know which direction to take.” He then decided on taking up interior design at the Philippine School of Interior Design. While he admitted to not being good at drawing, he grew up appreciating “the nice things and antiques in my grandmother’ home.” In time, he was designing for clients. “Of course, when you decorate houses, you put paintings on the walls and you advise your clients and tell them this doesn’t go here. And the client would tell you that since they did not need them anymore, could I find a buyer for them? I ended up selling for clients. From those initial transactions, I started my business. In 2010, I opened a small gallery in Corinthian Plaza. So, I put everything there that I was selling from the houses of people who didn’t want them anymore because they were transferring to smaller houses or they were leaving the country. And she asked me if I was interested to help them liquidate the collection of an insurance company. “So, I said, why don’t I just broker them if all they wanted was to liquidate the art works? That would be easier. I told myself I could probably just borrow money to buy everything and I could just sell them. “But she pointed out that the mandate of their corporation required an auction. And I had zero knowledge about auctions. So, I said, ‘What can I do? I cannot lose this.’ I mean, I had nothing to lose, so should just do it. I told them, ‘I’ll do it.’” Jaime next called Cid Reyes, the art expert and critic. “And he agreed. I had to call all my friends to help. I didn’t have the resources to hire, so it was all request. And so we did our first auction in January 2013. We auctioned everything, all 54 lots.” “The rest,” Jaime said, “is history. I started to acquire my knowledge by going to Christie’s in New York to study the courses they offered. I went to London and studied Art Law. I went to the University of Arts London (UAL). Just to get the feel and just to be able to learn as much as I can. At least I would have more knowledge because I didn’t have any background in art in school. It was his knowledge, along with his network of friends, that would lead him to more breaks. One friend who would make a big difference in his life was Dr. Teyet Pascual, in his time one of the foremost collectors of the country’s masters. It was also with this friendship that his quest for the holy grail of Philippine art would be inspired until it became a lifelong longing to find it. The following is a continuation of my interview with Jaime. Daily Tribune: What is the most important for someone to succeed in the auction business? Jaime Ponce de Leon (JPDL): You know, reputation is the most important in this business. When we were starting, it was difficult to get the trust of these old families. And you know how guarded these old families are. And here comes a new kid on the block, how can he be trusted with our most prized possessions. So, I had to build trust slowly and slowly, brick by brick. DT: Have there been issues and challenges? JPDL: Definitely. When you’re in this business, sometimes you also make mistakes. These happen when things are deemed to be not it was meant to be what it is. Any dealer who says he has not gotten through that is a liar. These things happen. But for as long as you don’t do things knowingly, you know what I mean? I mean, if you don’t do such things knowingly, the world excuses people who are honest. And I think that is essential. DT: How do you go about finding all these treasures? JPDL: You know what? It’s probably through my gut and my grit. And I tend to have the personality of someone with a thick face. Not that I would just knock at anybody’s house, but I am not shy to speak to people, to introduce myself to people. Biggest finds DT: What has been your biggest find? JPDL: Well, in terms of find, of course this Luna. DT: Well, aside from this, can you mention some names? JPDL: Well, of course, in 2015, I was able to find this cachet of Zobels that people never thought existed. I found it in Boston, somewhere in New England. I remember very well there was a party at one of the galleries and I saw Paulino Que and I saw Ken Esguerra and told them, ‘Guys, I have discovered 83 pieces of Fernando Zobel.’ Sabi nila, ‘No, impossible. How come we don’t know anything about it?’ DT: Where exactly did you find it? JPDL: In an attic. The Pfeufer collection. The collector was the guardian of Fernando Zobel in Harvard and in Rhode Island. And when I found this in the attic, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I was already two years in the business. So, I auctioned them one by one. So, it was another white glove sale. Because at that time we made the world record for the most expensive Zobel. At that time, it was just P30 to 35 million in 2015. [caption id="attachment_145551" align="aligncenter" width="525"] at Harvard Business School where Jaime is pursuing his graduate studies.[/caption] So, we were selling fantastic pieces that no one could believe it was found. I mean, how can you find in one attic 80-plus pieces of Fernando Zobel, right? So, we did that. And over the years, of course, this and that. That I would find. DT: Tell me about the Magsaysay-Hos and the others. JPDL: Almost the same. The best ones are also found abroad. The last one was a world record. We sold it for P84 to P85 million. The Jim and Reed Pfeufer collection. So, this is the one I found in New England. The Joya that we sold here, P112 million. The Joya of Josie Baldovino. I’ll tell you a story. Mrs. Baldovino, the sister of Jose Joya, and I were always close. In this business, it’s all about trust. Once you establish the trust with your client, I think you’re already one step ahead. So, Mrs. Baldovino comes to me and tells me that she was already old. She felt she was nearing her run. So, she said, “Jaime, I trust you.” So, she sent me her piece. Her beautiful piece. I went to India, I had a trip and I got a call from her, “Jaime, you know, this collector came to me and offered me P50 million for my Joya.” Of course, that amount was life-changing, It was P50 million. I told Mrs. Baldovino, “Ma’am you know, I truly respect your decision on this. It’s really up to you.” She said, “Jaime, what should I do? This is already P50 million right in front of me.” We already had it with us, so I said, “Ma’am, we will do all our best to make it sell well. But please, I will not hold you to it. I will not get in the way of your decision to sell it for P50 million. But we will do everything we can to make this sell well. Just trust us.” So, finally, she called me back, “Okay, I’ll leave my trust to you. I will leave the piece.” So, three weeks after, the auction happened. And it became the highest painting ever sold in the Philippines. It was P112 million. DT: She must have been very happy. JPDL She was able to build a building in Fairview. A beautiful building, and she was so thankful. Of course, the stars aligned, the blessings were there. DT: What is your advice to anyone who wants to invest in the arts? Which artists should they buy? JPDL: You know what, a lot of them. But, you know, my advice? First, it’s never a good thing when you buy something immediately for investment purposes. When you buy something, buy first something you like. (Enjoy it). If the price goes up, (that’s a) bonus. If it doesn’t, then you enjoy the piece. ‘Taste changes’ DT: Why are some artists expensive, and why do art works of the same artist vary in peso value? JPDL: You know, art has so many factors involved. So much variables involved. There is a conglomeration of things on why an artist becomes successful. They’re all good. But it’s dependent on certain factors. Like, mister something bought the work. People see it. People feel that he’s a good artist because mister something bought the work. He’s exhibited by the right gallery. He’s exhibited in a museum, in a fair. You know, all these, once all these variables conglomerate together, and then, viola. DT: Why do some collections sell fast and some stay with you up to the next auction? JPDL: Well, sometimes there are things that really don’t sell. I mean, probably because of the prices that we put are high. Taste changes. I’ll give you an example. Manansala was very popular in the 1980s. And everybody, all these women, they all wanted to undress themselves in front of Manansala and get themselves painted. But now, it’s no longer the taste of today. People don’t buy nudes. People don’t have themselves painted in the nude. Many people are born again. They’re not allowed to put nudes on their walls. All these reasons. So, taste changes. And it’s a cycle. Editor’s note: The Leon Gallery Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2023 takes place today June 17, 2023 starting at 2:00 PM, featuring art works from the collections of Manila’s society doyens, Zita Fernandez Feliciano and Delly Tambunting Ongsiakio The post Jaime Ponce de Leon — Art world’s man of the hour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI tools threaten to upend ad industry
Data-driven algorithms supercharged the advertising industry by enabling precisely targeted campaigns, but new AI tools may be about to shake the sector once again. Some brands are dipping their toes in the AI waters, like Coca-Cola, which has invited people to create AI works using "iconic creative assets from the Coca-Cola digital archives". Others are using it to create a social media buzz -- fashion firm Stradivarius recently pushed out AI images based on one of its collections. But the full force of the AI revolution may be felt most keenly in the engine room of the ad industry -- the agencies who conceive and design the campaigns. "We're only at the beginning," said Fernando Pascual, vice-president of design at Spanish company Seedtag. His firm specializes in "contextual" advertising, which they claim will enable digital ads to blend in with the website where they appear. So a car ad might show the vehicle driving through a glass and steel cityscape on a business-orientated website, but the same car might be seen cruising past peaceful suburban gardens on a family-friendly website. "The main element of advertising is still anchored in reality," he told AFP. "We're just helping our clients to be more relevant." Seedtag is far from the only ad agency promoting its AI chops. But photographers and models are among those left wondering about their future livelihoods. 'Uproar' French lingerie firm Undiz recently found itself at the center of the debate. Billboards in brilliant blue with eerily beautiful models gliding underwater in the firm's swimwear have appeared across France in recent weeks. Only, there were no real people in these posters. The models were created by an ad agency using image generator Midjourney, with real images of the swimming costumes added later. "We wanted to achieve a slightly dreamlike, intriguing result," Undiz director Isolde Andouard told AFP. Andouard admitted that the campaign had caused "uproar" among models and photographers. Thomas Serer, a popular French content creator and photographer, wrote on Twitter that he was a fan of AI but in this case "using AI adds zero value" apart from allowing the firm to save money. Andouard was quick to deny the approach was simply about cutting costs, saying the AI campaign was rolled out alongside traditional photos. 'Non-event' The reaction to the Undiz campaign suggests the path to AI domination will be far from smooth. And they are not the only company to have received criticism. Jeans brand Levi's trumpeted a partnership with Dutch studio Lalaland.ia in March with the promise of using AI models to boost diversity on its online shop. After an outcry, the firm put out another statement saying its announcement "did not properly represent certain aspects of the programme" and promised to continue working with models and photographers. There are plenty who doubt that such upfront uses will ever really go industry-wide. Olivier Bomsel, an economist specializing in intellectual property and advertising, said the arrival of AI-manipulated images was a "non-event" and amounted to just a new kind of digital editing. And as AI tools get more widespread, he said, the people whose images provide the training data will be able to claim fees that will eventually "cost as much as using a model". And the arrival of AI behemoths Meta and Google into the space is sending heads spinning. Both firms announced in May a series of simplified AI tools that promise to allow anyone to design ad campaigns just using simple phrases as prompts. It remains to be seen whether this will give ad agencies a shiny new plaything -- or torpedo their business models entirely. The post AI tools threaten to upend ad industry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fried in own lard
While the National Transmission Corp. or TransCo concessionaire National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has been awash with cash as reflected in its billions of pesos of early dividends, it has not paid the government P3 billion plus interest on transmission fees before 2009 when the private firm took over operations of the power grid. The amount represents collections from power plants to which TransCo is entitled but remains unremitted. Under a privatization program, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved a plan to privatize TransCo through a 25-year Operation and Management Concession Agreement. The bidding for the license to run the Philippine power grid was won by the NGCP in 2007, while Congress approved the bicameral resolution granting its franchise in 2008, and PGMA signed RA8511 into law, granting NGCP its franchise. On 15 January 2009, TransCo turned over the management of the country’s power grid to NGCP. TransCo, owner of the electricity network, and energy assets holding firm Power Sector and Liabilities Management Corp. have been demanding the payment of the amount. An energy official said the government can use the money to reduce power rates by deducting this from the monthly bills under the item universal charges. Universal charges include the so-called stranded costs or payables to Independent Power Producers that PSALM assumed from state firm National Power Corp. Instead, the energy official suspects NGCP used the withheld payments for its benefit to consistently pay fat dividends to its shareholders. In the recent Senate inquiry on the power industry, NGCP said of its P20.3 billion net income in 2019, P15 billion, or around 74 percent, went to dividends. In 2017, around 90 percent of its P20.6 billion net income went to dividends. For 2015, the NGCP distributed around 93 percent of its P22.5 billion profit as payouts to shareholders. The company particularly made its investors happy in 2014, when it said dividends exceeded its net income or P24 billion handed to stockholders against P22 billion in profit. Counting the potential interest, an energy source said the receivables from NGCP have now ballooned to more than P6 billion. NGCP’s rampant violation of the provisions of the concession agreement had resulted in a serious financial drain on the government. The provisions of the 2009 deal, which included the settling of all arrears such as the TransCo collectibles, also provided separate audited accounts for each related business and the need for NGCP to hold an initial public offering that it skirted through the back door listing of a holding company. TransCo’s financial claim from NGCP was upheld by an opinion on 18 April 2012 by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel. “TransCo has already acquired immutable vested rights over the contested revenues,” the OGCC decision indicated. “Public policy considerations and the public nature of the receivables impose upon TransCo the obligation to recover the disputed amount for its benefit,” it added. NGCP holds a renewable 25-year concession contract and a 50-year franchise to operate the power transmission network in the country. Since the agreement was signed in 2009, the contract will run until 2034 and from then, the government has the option to renew it for another 25 years. An audit that has long been blocked by NGCP should happen and from there, the government should muster the will to take the necessary steps if abuse is found in the performance of the provisions of the concession agreement. The post Fried in own lard appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asialink taps UBX for digitalization of finance business
UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has been named the official technology partner of Asialink Finance Corp., one of the top non-bank financial institutions in the Philippines that provides secured business loans and personal financing and refinancing products nationwide, as it expands and improves its suite of financial services for the benefit of millions of Filipinos. Under the agreement, UBX will support Asialink in digitally transforming its lending processes via UBX SeekCap and its payment collections, enabling it to expand the reach and operational efficiency of its already lucrative lending business. “UBX and Asialink share the same goal of driving financial inclusion for individuals and growing businesses. Through this partnership, we will co-create various digital financial solutions that are sustainable and inclusive, promoting economic growth and recovery in the long run,” UBX Business lead for Lending Magellan Fetalino said. Micro, small, and medium enterprises make up around 99.51 percent of all businesses in the Philippines. Traditionally, these businesses need access to financing to grow due to the stringent requirements of banking institutions. The partners aim to democratize access to this financial tool further to empower small businesses to accelerate their growth and contribute even more to the economy. The UBX and Asialink partnership will simplify the processing of business loans through a digital platform, cutting down costs and leading approval time for loans. Currently, most banks provide a minimum approval time of 30 days, with high-interest rates and burdensome requirements designed to discourage lenders from availing of loans. “Asialink’s vision is to be at the forefront of the financing industry by providing inclusive financial access to MSMEs and their Communities in the Philippines and Asia, a goal that we share with UBX. By providing accessible, fast, and convenient loans which will be powered with UBX’s technologies, we are several steps closer to achieving our goals as strong government partners for economic growth while making a positive impact on the lives of Filipinos both in the country and abroad,” said Eillen Mangubat, president and COO of Asialink Finance Corporation In 2022, UBX doubled collaborations with various players in different industries, such as the metaverse, insurance, the women’s sector, and even government institutions, to advance its goal of including everyone. “Our strategy is to join hands with like-minded organizations to advance our goal of inclusive finance. As the country’s leading open finance platform, we are always looking to partner with companies — and recently, even government institutions — which aim to shape the future of finance and sustainability,” UBX president and CEO John Januszczak. The post Asialink taps UBX for digitalization of finance business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Milk tariff collections rise by 31% to P2.4 billion
Revenues raised by the government from various imported milk products jumped by 31 percent to P2.36 billion in 2023, the highest in at least eight years, from P1.8 billion in 2022......»»
Jollibee invests $28 million in beverage tech firm
Filipino-owned Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. is investing $28 million for a 10 percent stake in beverage technology company Botrista Inc. to support the growth of its coffee and tea business......»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
EDITORIAL - Finally, plastic license cards
It says a lot about the quality of governance and ease of doing business in this country that it takes forever just to obtain a plastic driver’s license card......»»