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Beauty philosophythat surpasses time
Beauty, as it has evolved, goes beyond looks -- it discerns and does good. And for practicing such a philosophy, the Filipino brand Human Nature proves both timeliness and timelessness as it marks 15 years in the industry. Through a stylized gallery at Odd Cafe in Makati, the homegrown brand showcased its flagship beauty innovations, its newest limited-edition line and its recently launched breakthrough face care products. A new generation of influencers who embody the brand’s vision and are passionate about collaborating with authentic and purpose-driven brands graced the event. “Fifteen years ago, we started with a dream of introducing the promise of beauty that is kind to the skin, local communities and planet. Today, we are the pioneer local brand in the country to come up with a full range of natural and clean beauty and personal care innovations made by Filipinos for Filipinos. We are where we are today because of our fellow Filipinos who believe in us. So, in this milestone event, it’s you whom we celebrate!” Human Nature founder and president Anna Meloto-Wilk said. In celebration of its 15th-year milestone, Human Nature launched its thoughtfully made, limited edition design that embodies everything we believe in — the depth and diversity of the Filipina’s beauty that glows from within. Its design takes inspiration from the art style of Cubism, expressing women’s beauty in a multi-dimensional way through a play of elements. The brand also introduced its newest face care innovations for day-to-night natural glow. Start with the power hydrator Hyaluronic Acid Gel Day Moisturizer (P249.75) then give skin instant hydration on the go with the Hyaluronic Face Mist (P250). Lock in with Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream (P299.75) moisture as you sleep and wake up with your dream skin. The Sunflower Beauty Oil with Bakuchiol (P299.75) will surely give that youthful glow from an expertly crafted concoction of new skincare superstar Bakuchiol. The well-loved Sunflower Beauty Oil is known to bring 25 beauty miracles. Get radiance beyond compare with Vitamin C + Hya Calamansi Radiance Serum (P495), which boasts of plant-based vitamin C and locally sourced calamansi. “Human Nature takes pride in crafting world-class local products that are all at least 95 percent natural, effective and free from harmful chemicals – allowing you to enjoy nurturing glow from head to toe. But there’s more to this glow than what meets the eye, just as how we believe that beauty is more than skin-deep,” Human Nature co-founder Camille Meloto-Rodriguez noted. Core advocacies Each product is expertly formulated by Filipino scientists and are 100 percent manufactured locally. Whenever possible, the brand uses locally grown ingredients no matter the cost to help homeland and local farmers thrive (Pro-Philippines). Going beyond profit, the brand dreams for the working poor to rise out of poverty and help create a new middle class. From day one, rank-and-file employees receive a living wage and stable employment through a no-firing policy. Putting people first is a sound business policy because not only does it increase productivity through trained and loyal employees, but it also creates a culture of empowerment and excellence (Pro-poor). The brand also takes care of the planet by creating natural, biodegradable product innovations that encourage users to #SwitchToGoodness for good. This commitment makes Human Nature the first brand in the Philippines with the widest range of plastic bottle-free formulations. As of September 2023, with the sustainability initiatives, Human Nature saved 37.2 tons of plastic waste from oceans and landfills. With every product, Human Nature seeks to advocate beauty that discards toxic trends; beauty that makes more meaningful, more compassionate and more sustainable choices; and beauty that inspires others to do the same. (Pro-environment). Human Nature stays committed to coming up with clean beauty innovations suitable for every Filipino’s needs. All in the hope of sustainably building a global company that will showcase the best of the Philippines and uplift people, especially the poor. As it moves forward, Human Nature will continue to advocate one goal: to be more than just beautiful, but kind. The post Beauty philosophythat surpasses time appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Rama, Hari’ gala is a cultural feast
Rama, Hari (Rama the King) returns to live stage, becoming one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. Produced by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the ballet and musical had its gala at the rehabilitated Manila Metropolitan Theater on 15 September. Aside from the show itself, there were a lecture and a small tiangge (bazaar), affording the audience a fuller experience and a deeper appreciation of the ballet, as well as the source material, the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Also an initiative in line with the recently signed Philippines-Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation and the Philippines-India Cultural Exchange Program, the lecture, “Perspectives: Understanding Ramayana, The Great Epic of Asia,” was held in the early afternoon at the Metropolitan Theater Ballroom, tackling the impacts and different interpretations of Ramayana not only in India but also in Southeast Asia. Speakers were Agus Widjojo, ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines; Shambu Kumaran, ambassador of India to the Philippines; and Dr. Marilyn Canta, retired professor from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. [caption id="attachment_185911" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Indian Ambassador Shambu Kumaran, Dr. Marilyn Canta, NCCA chairman Ino Manalo and Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo. | Photograph by Roel Hoang Manipon[/caption] The Hindu epic, said to date back as early as the mid-eighth century BCE, is a much beloved work and has many versions in Southeast Asia. Its influence is very much evident in Indonesia, where the epic has a version written in old Javanese, called the Kakawin Ramayana. The Prambanan, the ninth-century Hindu temple compound, has bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the epic, and the Ramayana Ballet is regularly performed up to this day. In the Philippines, the Meranaw people of Mindanao has a folk story derived from Ramayana, “Maharadia Lawana,” which was adapted into an hours-long, modern theatrical showcase for the Budayaw: The BIMP-EAGA Festival of Cultures in 2017. On the other hand, the tiangge, at the Hardin ng Ekspresyon, the west courtyard of the theater, had booths offering Indian food, spices and home decors. Fashion brand Plains & Prints also set up a corner featuring their latest collection featuring heritage sites in collaboration with photographer Mark Nicdao. On the other hand, the tiangge, at the Hardin ng Ekspresyon, the west courtyard of the theater, had booths offering Indian food, spices and home decors. Fashion brand Plains & Prints also set up a corner featuring their latest collection featuring heritage sites in collaboration with photographer Mark Nicdao. Audience members started arriving at six. The first-timers to the theater explored and took photographs of the different corners. Illustrious guests were led by National Artists Virgilio S. Almario, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Ricky Lee and Agnes Locsin, as well as cultural agency heads, National Archives of the Philippines executive director and NCCA chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo, National Museum of the Philippines director Jeremy R. Barns and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman Arthur P. Casanova. Also in the audience were theater and cinema scholar Nicanor Tiongson, professor and researcher Galileo Zafra, actor and satirist Mae Paner, actor Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, talent manager Noel Ferrer, theater critic Amadis Maria Guerrero, Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, chef Gelo Guison and designer Barge Ramos. Aika Robredo, the eldest daughter of former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, also enjoyed the show. [caption id="attachment_185913" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The wedding of Rama and Sita.[/caption] Her mother graced a rehearsal on 6 September, especially invited by Rama, Hari choreographer and director, National Artist Alice Reyes and composer, National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. On 7 September, Robredo enthused on Facebook: “Yesterday, we, together with some local artists from Naga, trooped to the Metropolitan Theater in Manila to watch their first full stage rehearsal and we were stunned. They were not in costumes yet and the stage design was not even mounted yet but the entire production left us breathless and speechless!! It is the best of Philippine Dance and Music.” She encouraged everyone not to miss “the only collaboration that features the masterful works of five National Artists.” Aside from Reyes and Cayabyab, the other National Artists involved in the production are the late Bienvenido Lumbera, who wrote the lyrics and libretto; Salvador Bernal, who designed the stage and costumes; and Rolando Tinio, who translated it to English. They were not yet declared National Artists when the production by Ballet Philippines premiered on 8 February 1980 at CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. The original staging featured Nonoy Froilan, Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, Leo Valdez and Edna Vida. Rama, Hari was not restaged until 2012, starring Christian Bautista, Karylle Tatlonghari, Richardson Yadao and Katherine Trofeo. It won 14 Philstage Gawad Buhay awards. An adaptation was mounted in 1999, called Rama, Hari, Rama at Sita, The Musical, featuring Ariel Rivera and Lani Misalucha as performers, directed by Leo Rialp and choreographed by Locsin. The music was composed by Cayabyab and Danny Tan, and the lyrics written by Roy Iglesias and Dodjie Simon, based on Lumbera’s book. Rama, Hari was planned to be the closing production of Ballet Philippines’ 50th season in March 2020, but was canceled when lockdowns were imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. When Reyes established her own dance company in 2022, the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Rama, Hari became one of its cherished projects. [caption id="attachment_185909" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Energetic dancing by Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. | Photographs courtesy of Teddy Pelaez[/caption] Reyes put both dancers and singers on the same stage, interpreting scenes and emotions in both words and movements. The cast is led by Arman Ferrer as Rama with alternate Vien King and dancer versions Ronelson Yadao and Ejay Arisola. Sita is portrayed by singers Karylle Tatlonghari, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and neophyhte Nica Tupas and dancers Monica Gana and Katrene San Miguel. [caption id="attachment_185910" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Erl Sorilla as Lakshmana and Monica Gana as Sita. | Photograph courtesy of Teddy Pelaez[/caption] Singers Poppert Bernadas, Matthew San Jose and Jonel Mojica and dancers Richardson Yadao (also dancer for King Janaka) and Tim Cabrera take on the villain role, the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. Other performers are Audie Gemora (singer, King Dasaratha), Lester Reguindin and John Ababon (dancers, King Dasaratha); Miah Canton and Raflesia Bravo (singers, Kooni and Soorpanakha); Ma. Celina Dofitas and Sarah Alejandro (dancers, Soorpanakha); Michaella Carreon and Dofitas (dancers, Kooni); Katrine Sunga and Maron Rozelle Mabana (singers, Kaikeyi and the Golden Deer); Janine Arisola and Karla Santos (dancers, Kaikeyi); Erl Sorilla and Renzen Arboleda (dancers, Lakshmana and King Sagreeva); Paw Castillo and Jon Abella (singers, Hanuman and Lakshmana); and Dan Dayo and Ricmar Bayoneta (dancers, Hanuman); Alejandro and Krislynne Buri (Golden Deer); Dayo and James Galarpe (Bharata). Aside from ARDP and CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program, other performers come from Guang Ming College Artist Residency Program, Philippine High School for the Arts, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers. Music is performed by Orchestra of the Filipino Youth with Antonio Maria P. Cayabyab as conductor. After the two-night gala on 15 and 16 September at the Manila Metropolitan Theater, the production moves to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater of Circuit Makati in Makati City on 22 and 23 September. The post ‘Rama, Hari’ gala is a cultural feast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Special Gift’ is a special film from new filmmakers
Philippine cinema has yet to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, but thankfully, there are new producers who are willing to gamble on new projects that try to reach the audience in a different way. RC Gomez Entertainment Productions, for instance, will tour its maiden film, The Special Gift, in schools after the special screening on 9 September and before the release, later on, in theaters and other platforms. The start-up’s founder, Roy C. Gomez, said during the recent press conference for The Special Gift that he’s a film enthusiast who has long been dreaming of putting up his own film production. He finally found the right time when, after establishing his real estate and mining businesses, he met and became friends with showbiz stalwart Lawrence Roxas. In March 2020, Gomez and Roxas — as producer and director, respectively — were set to film their first movie, which tackles the real-life heroism of teachers in the barrios, but had to change course because of the pandemic lockdown. When restrictions eased, they decided to push through with their plan, though with a different movie. The Special Gift tells the story of 10-year-old Liam Castrillo (Franchesco Maafi, nicknamed Choco), whose disinterest in studying infuriates his strict father Fernan (Mike Lloren) but is actually due to mild autism. With the help of his teachers Nico Ignacio (Migui Moreno) and Marga Castello (Ella Sheen), the misunderstood boy finds his true talent, which causes more conflict with his father. He then makes a decision that eventually leads to their reconciliation and the rebuilding of their family. Roxas, who’s making his feature film directorial debut, said he handpicked everybody in the cast because he had worked with them in various TV, movie and theater productions. Meanwhile, he found his lead actor through the recommendation of his assistant director on GMA 7. “Pag-present ng picture, ‘Ah, eto na! Pak!’ Kinuha na namin agad si Choco,” the director said, referring to the child actor who has appeared in several TV commercials (Alaska, Del Monte, Surf) and drama series (Beautiful Justice, Nakarehas na Puso, Hearts on Ice). Choco’s reaction: “Sobrang saya, very proud. Kasi nabigyan ako ng opportunity na ma-ano ko po ang role nang maayos” (Very happy, because I was given the opportunity to do my role well). Gomez happily reported that a follow-up project under his production company is already in the works with the help of other investors. It’s going to be another advocacy movie, he said. “Ganyan ang gusto kong gawin, mga family-oriented, pang-school. May mga moral values na talagang matututunan” (These are the kinds of movies I really want to make — family oriented, for schools, and with moral values to be learned). The post ‘The Special Gift’ is a special film from new filmmakers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FEU Theater Guild presents eight monologues on love
The Far Eastern University Theater Guild, being the oldest theater organization in Manila’s University Belt, has already established a solid reputation in the country for its numerous productions, such as Confessions, Usapang X, Ang Pinakamakisig na Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig, Kung Paano Maghiwalay, Halu Halo, and laboratory productions like the Saltik and Tamdula. Closing the organization’s 89th theater season, the FTG proudly presents Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory, a series of eight monologues on love — ranging from the romantic and sexual to the intimate and familial. Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory is a laboratory production intended to train the FTG members in further enhancing their acting, stage designing, stage management, marketing and branding skills. The production is directed by the FTG’s artistic head, Raffaelle Pascua (BS Psychology, 2024), with FTG’s company manager and assistant director Jonas Cunanan (BA Communication, 2024). Both directors are student artists who have been members of the FTG and have been gaining artistic experience inside and outside of the organization. They are directly guided by FTG’s artistic director Dudz Teraña. Monologues The first play, Against Any-Body written by Drea Achas (BS Psychology, 2024), delves into the imperfections of womanhood and makes a social statement on how their self-acceptance transcends the opinions of everyone else. Starring Julia Ramas (BS Multimedia Arts, 2026) and Gwen Temprosa (BS Psychology, 2026). Ang Pinakawalang Kwentang Kwentong Pag-ibig ni Tanga, written by Teraña, is about the difficulty of moving on from a non-committed relationship. Featuring Adam Labador (BFA Studio Arts, 2026) and Meldy Malig (BS Psychology, 2024). It’s Always You, written by Davewyn Macawile (BA Communication, 2025), is a narrative from the point of view of someone who has been abruptly abandoned by their partner (or what is more popularly called as “ghosting”). Starring Maria Mayano (BA Communication, 2026), Jhoan Gemora (BA International Studies, 2026) and Ryana Azurin (BS Medical Technology, 2025). Shake, Rattle, and Fall, written by Aaron Bayani (BS Computer Science, 2024), explores the twisted nature of one’s obsession and desperation towards finding love. Starring Drea Achas (BS Psychology, 2024) and Jharelle Villalobos (BS Medical Technology, 2025). Mama Kong May Tama, written by Brigitta Marilla (BA International Studies, 2025), tells the story behind the unconditional bond a daughter has with her mother. Starring Heleina Li and Bjorn Pestaño, both BA Communication students from the Class of 2026. Teraña’s Dear God is a comedy that explains the thoughts of an 18-year-old wishing for a boyfriend. Starring Dianne Andallo (BS Tourism Management, 2026) and Renz Dotillos (BA Communication, 2026). Colorblind, written by Franz Luis (BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, 2026), is about a character being medically — and romantically — colorblind. Starring FTG’s surprise guest artist. Paghihintay ng Isang Libong Minuto Para sa Pag-ibig by Teraña is a narrative about the definitions of romantic love and what or how much a person can give. Starring Arvin Javier (BA Communication, 2026). Tickets are priced at P100 for the FEU community including the other branches of FEU, FTG alumni and FEU alumni (with an alumni ID) and P150 for guests. Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory play dates are 29, 30 and 31 August and 1, 2, 4 to 9 September, 6 p.m., at the FEU Center for the Arts Studio, G/F Engineering Building, FEU Manila, Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc, Manila. The post FEU Theater Guild presents eight monologues on love appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Larone Crafts’ trendy Filipino handbags make waves in Europe
Jennifer Lo is living proof that an eye for aesthetics can be inherited. Based in Makati City, Metro Manila, the third-generation entrepreneur has carried on her family’s business of handicrafts—Larone Crafts, registered in 1984. Growing up, she helped her mother during trade shows, observing how business was conducted with foreign buyers and taking minutes of business meetings. After completing a short course on Manufacturing Management at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles in 2006, she worked with various fashion companies before coming back to the Philippines to help in her mother’s handbag business. “I’m the steward of my parents’ and grandparents’ hard work. My goal is to make the business sustainable for another 20 years,” said Jennifer, who operates out of a compact 500-square-meter office that includes a production area and warehouse on the top floor. Larone Crafts’ designs are modern but remain true to Pinoy traditions by incorporating Tinalak weaves and the woven fabric Inabel. Natural plant fibers such as abaca, raffia and seagrass sourced from all around the Philippines add an indigenous charm to the products. The results are timeless accessories that buyers can keep in their wardrobe season after season. “The bags are meant to be used all year round. We do not make items that are just for a certain season to be thrown away the next. We manufacture them to last," said Jennifer. Among Larone Crafts’ handbags, the signature hand-embroidered clutch bags are a particular hit with buyers. Larone Crafts' agility to keep abreast with technological advancements and design trends has kept it exporting successfully over the years. The company’s first exports were made in 1984 to the USA. Back then, Jennifer was only three years old. “I can see how conducting international business at a time when the Internet was not yet existing must have been quite a challenge,” she said. In 2009, when Jennifer joined the company, she continued to step up to evolving market trends. “Smaller niche brands were coming into the field. Rather than large containers of orders with thousands of pieces of the same style, orders of several styles and colors in a few hundred pieces were preferred,” she recalled. In 2022, following the pandemic, 3 percent of Larone’s customers were from the European Union, 90 percent from the USA and the rest a mix from other countries. For a long time, the only way to start an international business was through participation in trade fairs, which is not an easy thing to do alone. The company has been part of the Manila FAME almost every year since the 1980s. Showing at Maison et Objet, NY Now and Ambiente over the last 10 years has also been fruitful. “We received support from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the export promotion arm of the Philippine government’s Department of Trade and Industry, to participate in international trade shows in the EU and in the USA. Before the internet and emails, this was the only way of gaining new overseas customers.” Jennifer feels that her company’s participation in these trade shows has been instrumental in reaching customers, particularly in the EU. Trade shows boost market research, linkages, design aesthetics and competitiveness. She emphasized that CITEM’s support in terms of product design, booth design and implementation, and pre-show marketing has been invaluable in upgrading her business. “These are all high costs that would be difficult for our small business to absorb when initially trying to enter into a new market.” Jennifer sees many benefits from the EU Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+). “The EU GSP + makes our products more competitive in the EU market by reducing the cost of importing our goods into the country for our buyers. It improves access to the 27 countries in the EU.” Larone Crafts is already exporting to Spain and the Netherlands, with samples sent recently to Italy which are expected to generate more orders. “The EU is an attractive export market for our company because of the ease of doing business with their bilingual teams, the market’s love for sustainable, handmade and natural products, and the favorable trade policies such as the GSP+.” As Jennifer works towards expanding her product assortment in home and lifestyle products, she is cognizant of those who work for her. Depending upon the volume of orders, in any given season, she employs approximately 100 workers. She not only retained artisan families from her mother’s time, but also sources from small businesses that employ women. “We work with weavers and artisans in their communities from all over the Philippines, giving them a reliable livelihood and helping to preserve the region’s traditional crafts.” The ARISE Plus Philippines project is enabling Philippine exporters to take advantage of European Union market access and the trade privileges granted under the GSP+. It supports the overall EU-Philippines trade relationship and trade-related policies. ARISE Plus Philippines is a project of the Government of the Philippines, with the Department of Trade and Industry as lead partner together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Department of Science and Technology, as well as the private sector. It is funded by the EU, with the International Trade Centre as the technical agency for the project. The post Larone Crafts’ trendy Filipino handbags make waves in Europe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
D& L expects capacity, income boost via Batangas plant
With its Batangas plant up and running since July, listed chemicals manufacturer D&L Industries, Inc. expects to double its existing manufacturing capacity in the coming years — a move that will also perk up the company’s financial backbone. “The plant that we have built is not just another plant. Specced to the highest standards and equipped with new capabilities, our Batangas plant will elevate the company to operate on a whole new level,” D&L President and CEO Alvin Lao said at a press briefing on Wednesday. D&L’s Batangas plant sits on a 26-ha property in First Industrial Township - Special Economic Zone in Batangas. It will mainly cater to D&L’s growing export businesses in the food and oleochemicals segments. The facility will also add the capability to manufacture downstream packaging; thus, allowing the company to capture a bigger part of the production chain. While the company primarily sells raw materials to customers in bulk, the new plants will allow it to “pack at the source.” This means that D&L can efficiently process the raw materials and package them closer to finished consumer-facing products. Relatedly, it will enable D&L to move a step closer to its customers by providing customized solutions and simplifying its supply chain, which is of high importance given ongoing logistical challenges. However, Lao pointed out that the high volume of orders from prior periods coupled with the lingering effects of high inflation and generally cautious consumer sentiment slightly took a toll on the company’s profits. During the first half of the year, D&L’s earnings annually declined by 28 percent to P1.24 billion. Notably, in the second quarter, there was a subtle but continued sequential recovery with quarterly earnings growth of 9 percent to P646 million. Additionally, Lao noted that incremental expenses were booked in the first semester because of the new plant in Batangas. Excluding the Batangas-related expenses, first-half income would have fallen by just 13 percent yearly to P1.5 billion. “Similar to what we have seen with the various plants that we have built over the past 60 years, the commercial operations of a new plant will mean incremental expenses that may affect near-term income,” Lao pointed out. As the company moves past peak capex with the completion of its Batangas plant, coupled with the normalization of commodity prices, the company’s free cash flows, or FCF turned positive for the first time in two years. From January to June, the company’s FCF stood at positive P2 billion vs negative P1.7 billion and negative P3.4 billion booked in 2022 and 2021, respectively. With improving FCF, falling debt levels, and continued business optimism, D&L conveyed having “the highest confidence in its ability to service bonds maturing in 2024 and 2026.” The post D&L expects capacity, income boost via Batangas plant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forked-tongue promises
Commitment to transparency is among the qualities of a corporation that investors and the public look at before making the crucial decision to either infuse some capital into it or buy its products. Power companies have the bigger responsibility for disclosures during the difficult period of rising prices, coupled with the global effort to save the earth from climate catastrophe as a result of greenhouse gases. In 2017, a movement among global big businesses for full disclosure of their projects that may impact the environment called Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, was launched. Since then, the country’s biggest corporations have signed up to the global transparency movement but not San Miguel Corp. Instead, SMC said in its annual report that it “developed a comprehensive, standardized data template to capture pertinent data and disclosures on our material ESG topics from our various subsidiaries,” without actually signing up for the global accord. Among companies engaged in power generation, SMC also lags in terms of its climate commitments. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said in 2019 that First Gen of the Lopez Group announced it will “lead the transition to a decarbonized energy system in line with the United Nations target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” SMC, which now dominates energy production through fossil fuel, also has not made any commitments to align with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal. CEED said that unlike some of the biggest conglomerates in the country, SMC has yet to indicate unqualified support for TCFD. The body was created to develop recommendations on the types of information that should be disclosed by corporations to support investors, lenders and insurance underwriters in appropriately assessing and pricing a specific set of risks related to climate change. The Aboitiz Group, through its holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was the first local supporter of TCFD. The global movement said on its online site that companies that express support for TCFD recommendations “join a cohort of leading companies that take action against climate change and are thoughtful to consider how climate change will impact their businesses.” “Easing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient,” Michael Bloomberg, TCFD chairperson said. According to CEED, the disclosure of climate risks in key private undertakings would guide SMC and its shareholders in making informed choices in “an increasingly carbon-constrained world.” It added that the value of climate-disclosure information and SMC’s plans for a low-carbon economy are becoming increasingly valuable for stakeholders. SMC, by the way, has major shareholders affiliated with the Catholic Church that have kept silent amid the reluctance of the Asian giant for full disclosure. Church groups, ironically, have been calling for action and accountability from financial institutions, energy and extractive companies, and government leaders to contribute to efforts to save the planet. In July 2021, SMC announced plans to move away from building new coal facilities, including those that use “clean technology,” and move towards clean energy. SMC, however, never discloses which power plant projects will be dropped except for three projects in Quezon and Cebu that have total capacities of 1,500 megawatts. CEED said data from the DoE from July 2020 showed plans for new coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 3,628 MW until a moratorium imposed by the Department of Energy disrupted these plans. SMC also stated that it is aggressively pursuing more sustainable sources of energy which include expensive liquefied natural gas. The duplicity is very apparent since the company’s environmental commitments clash with its actual program to dominate power generation through imported fossil fuel. The post Forked-tongue promises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OPEC output limits spark oil price surge
Diesel vehicle owners should brace for another shocker on Tuesday as the price of the fuel will rise by nearly P4 per liter. Petroleum distributor Unioil, in an advisory, said motorists should expect fuel prices to remain on the uptrend until 14 August. “Diesel will increase by P3.70 to P3.90 per liter. Gasoline will increase by P0.20 to P0.40 per liter. Load up accordingly,” Unioil advised. Kerosene prices, on the other hand, will rise by P2.70 to P3 per liter. Department of Energy Director Rino Abad attributed the uptrend in prices to production cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, while Russia may also cut production in September. In the last four weeks, diesel prices rose by P6.80 per liter, gasoline by P5.35 per liter, and kerosene by P5.90 per liter. Saudi Arabia, in a report from Reuters, said it will extend a voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day, or bpd, for a third month. The limited production will last until September, and may be extended beyond that month, the Reuters report said. Saudi Arabia’s fuel production is expected to be around 9 million bpd in September. Cuts remain Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia would cut oil exports by 300,000 bpd in September. The announced cuts follow moves in June by OPEC and its allies like Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, to limit the oil supply into 2024, the report stated. Oil prices rose to fresh three-month highs on Tuesday, as signs of tighter supplies and pledges by Chinese authorities to shore up the world’s second-largest economy lifted sentiment, according to Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp. Brent crude settled 90 cents at $83.64 per barrel, or /bbl, after hitting $83.87 earlier, the highest since 19 April. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 89 cents to $79.63. A committee of major oil producers recommended Friday to keep the cartel’s current output strategy unchanged after heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia extended their cuts despite recovering prices. Oil prices picked up in recent months due to high demand coupled with tighter supply, sending the price for Brent crude up to $85 a barrel — its highest level in over three months. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, oil peaked at more than $130 per barrel. In a virtual meeting, the group’s Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee “reaffirmed the commitment of its member countries” to the production reduction strategy “which extends to the end of 2024,” a press statement said. Recently, signs have emerged that supply cuts are starting to have the desired effect despite concerns about the health of the global economy. However, Saudi Arabia is expected to “gradually withdraw the voluntary cut over the coming months” and return to the agreed production level of ten million bpd to avoid “considerable revenue shortfalls and dampening economic growth,” said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch. The next JMMC meeting is set for 4 October, according to a statement from the group. The JMMC has no decision-making power but discusses market conditions and makes recommendations, which are then formally discussed and decided at the organization’s ministerial meetings. The group’s next ministerial meeting is scheduled for 26 November. The post OPEC output limits spark oil price surge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China imposes export curbs on critical metals, drones
Chinese controls on exports of two metals critical to making semiconductors came into force on Tuesday, a day after Beijing imposed curbs on the foreign sales of some drones. The Biden administration has in recent months stepped up measures to restrict Chinese companies' access to the most advanced semiconductors. China, which seeks to become self-sufficient in semiconductor design, says those measures are aimed at maintaining US supremacy in the field. From Tuesday, Chinese companies seeking to export gallium or germanium will need to obtain a license, according to a directive from the Ministry of Commerce. Under the new rules, they will also need to provide information on the final recipient and give details about their end use. China accounts for 94 percent of the world's production of gallium -- used in integrated circuits, LEDs and photovoltaic panels -- according to a report by the European Union published this year. For germanium, essential for fiber optics and infrared, China makes up 83 percent of production. The export curbs "send a clear signal that China holds all of the power in this dangerous game", analyst James Kennedy told AFP, calling the curbs "an unambiguous message" to the United States. "If the US chooses further escalation, China's next response will have consequences." For now, he said, China "aims to cause a minimum of damage" to the United States, because their needs in gallium and germanium are "low" and the metals can be acquired elsewhere. The measures come as the Biden administration mulls fresh curbs on Chinese access to high-tech chips, as well as on outbound US investments in China. Drone export ban They also follow curbs by Beijing on the exports of certain types of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones. As of September 1, exporters will require a license laying out their end use as well as other details before they can be sold overseas. A China commerce ministry spokesperson said the move was not aimed at "any specific country or territory". But they did cite the risk of drones "being converted for military use" in justifying the restrictions. China is a major exporter of drones, with the US-blacklisted DJI representing more than 70 percent of global market share, according to CNBC. The company's drones are reported to have been used extensively by both sides in the war in Ukraine. In April 2022, DJI said it was temporarily suspending business in both Russia and Ukraine while it "internally reassess(ed) compliance requirements". The United States has accused China of mulling arms shipments to support Russia's campaign -- claims Beijing has strongly denied. A US intelligence report last week said Beijing likely supplied Moscow with dual-use civilian-military equipment employed in Ukraine, but noted that it is "difficult to ascertain the extent to which (China) has helped Russia evade and circumvent sanctions and export controls". The post China imposes export curbs on critical metals, drones appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Must-have’ Japanese whisky turns 100 as demand soars
The famed Yamazaki distillery marks its 100th anniversary this year with plenty to celebrate, as Japan's acclaimed aged whiskies command increasingly eye-watering prices thanks to growing demand and longstanding shortages. Japan's oldest distillery has sat at the foot of a mountain outside Kyoto since it was built by Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Yamazaki maker Suntory, who wanted to make whisky suited to a Japanese palate. It is largely foreign demand, along with the relative scarcity of the most desirable decades-old bottles, that has pushed prices sky-high. A bottle of Yamazaki 55, with an official retail price of three million yen ($20,700), sold for a whopping $600,000 at a Sotheby's auction in New York last year. That was still well below the record $795,000 set at a Hong Kong auction in 2020. And in Japan's upscale Ginza district, a more modest Yamazaki 18 with a manufacturer's price of 32,000 yen ($220) is on sale for 120,000 yen. Suntory does not disclose production volume but the distillery's senior general manager Takahisa Fujii said it has risen dramatically over the past 20 years. The company announced plans this year to pump 10 billion yen into its Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, but demand still far outstrips capacity. "We have received so many requests for our whisky from customers around the world, so we are trying to respond to them as best we can," Fujii said. The Yamazaki distillery welcomes dozens of visitors from Japan and abroad each day but those hoping to stock up on aged varieties come away disappointed. Peter Kaleta, a 35-year-old visitor who runs a bar in Poland, was crestfallen he couldn't buy one of his favourites. It's a "must-have" for whisky bars, he added, calling the lack of aged varieties "kind of depressing". - 'The boom is back' - Junpei Kusunoki, manager of Tokyo Whisky Library, a bar in the chic Omotesando district, is no stranger to the struggle for supply. "The whisky boom is back," he told AFP. "There's a quota in Omotesando area, so it's a war against competitors. We're trying everything to rake in" bottles. The location of Yamazaki's distillery is a world away from the Scottish terroir most associated with whisky but Fujii says the site was chosen for the region's famed water. Its renown traces back to the 16th century, when Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu laboured nearby. "You can't make good liquor without good water," Fujii said, adding that the humid and misty environment helps age the whisky. The distillery's unique range of copper stills in different shapes and sizes also contribute to the brand's particular profile, he said. Yamazaki's layered and well-balanced flavours are considered a good match for Japanese cuisine, Fujii said. There are now around 100 distilleries across Japan, according to whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya, with a reputation for quality helping boost the profile of its tipples. The exorbitant prices are the result of a "lack of whisky at a time when demand from abroad has increased exponentially", he said. Today's success belies a 20-year downturn after domestic consumption peaked in 1983. "Sales were declining every year," said Nobuyuki Akiyama, head of Suntory's whisky marketing division, "... so the impact was big". - 'Make it Suntory time' - Things only started to turn around in the early 2000s, when Nikka Whisky's Yoichi 10 and Yamazaki 12 received prestigious international industry awards. And 2003 saw Suntory's Hibiki 17 play a starring role in the hit movie "Lost in Translation", featuring Bill Murray promoting the drink with the line: "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time." Domestic sales also recovered just as international demand began to rise, thanks in part to the revival of highballs, a mix of whisky and soda. A 2015 television drama based on the life of Nikka Whisky's founder also helped drive renewed domestic interest. The sudden uptick came too quickly for companies that have to plan production decades in advance. "We have Hibiki 30, for example, where we need to think about how many bottles we should make 30 years into the future," said Akiyama, adding it was "impossible" to predict the market so far in advance. For now, sales look likely to continue growing, with exports surging to 56 billion yen ($404.1 million) last year, 14 times more than a decade earlier. Judith Ly, a German visitor to the Yamazaki distillery, said she makes an exception for Japanese whisky. "Normally I don't drink whisky, but I like the taste," she said. "It's smooth. It's easy to drink." nf/sah/pbt/leg © Agence France-Presse The post ‘Must-have’ Japanese whisky turns 100 as demand soars appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Enrique Gil makes comeback in ‘sexy comedy’ film
After a three-year hiatus, ABS-CBN star Enrique Gil is making his movie comeback with a sexy comedy. The 31-year-old actor announced on Wednesday through a media launch that he is set to join a comedy film that will air this year under the direction of Victor Villanueva and writers Joma Labayen and Lilit Santos. The movie, titled I Am Not Big Bird, is co-produced by ABS-CBN Films, ANIMA Studios, and Black Sheep Films. Gil’s last movie outing was the hit Alone/Together, co-starring his long-time onscreen partner, Liza Soberano. [caption id="attachment_158091" align="aligncenter" width="953"] AFTER a three-year hiatus, ABS-CBN star Enrique Gil (left most) is making his movie comeback with a sexy comedy.PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY IG/ NIKKO NATIVIDAD[/caption] Riotous comedy In I Am Not Big Bird, he will play the role of Luis Carpio, a Filipino tourist who, as the actor put it, “reconnects with his barkada, goes to Thailand for this crazy adventure and, pagdating doon, kamukha niya si Big Bird”. In the story, Big Bird is a Thai porn actor. Writer Lilit Santos said the film’s story was inspired by a real incident that took place during a foreign trip they had in the 2000s. “Dinudumog kami, ‘di dahil sa amin, sa kasama ko. We found out that my friend looks exactly like a Japanese porn actor,” Santos recalled. So “it’s a nice riotous comedy — male barkada na magtatravel ng barko pero ‘di alam ng bida natin na may kamukha siyang porn actor sa Thailand,” Santos added. Joining Gil in the movie are Pepe Herrera, Nikko Natividad, and Red Ollero. Director Villanueva was behind the 2016 film Patay na si Hesus, which won the Jury’s Choice Award during the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino held that year. ‘Back to zero’ Gil said that, having come from a long hiatus, “parang back to zero na rin ako. It’s going to feel new again.” The new film, he stressed, means he’s open to doing other genres now aside from the rom-com that he had previously starred in. For this venture, Gil also created his own production company to co-produce the film. “I want to leave a legacy somewhat, so I created this production company to focus on creating projects that can break through internationally,” Gil said in an interview. I Am Not Big Bird is expected to be shown this year in the country, with an international screening being eyed early next year. The post Enrique Gil makes comeback in ‘sexy comedy’ film appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rob the Philippines
There is a reason why Seiko, one of the world’s biggest watch manufacturers, makes all of its parts, including the movements of even its most affordable models, in-house: It is to have full control over the end product, thus ensuring the best quality possible. That is also why, in the horological world, watchmakers who outsource their components are considered inferior. Our country’s tourism department is a large organization. You would think that they would have enough brainpower within that department to come up with a simple three-word slogan such as “Love The Philippines.” But no! For that no-brainer, they had to engage the services of an outside multinational public relations firm for 49 million pesos. The Department of Tourism or DoT could have been better served by holding a contest among Filipinos with a 5-million prize money for whoever comes up with the best tourism slogan. I am sure one of the 80 million adults in this country could have made up a much better one. And for a small percentage of that amount, a high-quality video could have been made by any small but competent production company that would not need to feature fraudulent footage. Heck, a teenager with a halfway-decent laptop could have done a better job. I should know: I make movies. At any rate, our luckless tourism officials have been caught in a lie, not once, not twice, but three times now. If this were baseball, three strikes and they should have been out. Those old enough will recall that in 2010, during the time of the late unlamented Noynoy Aquino, there was a campaign called “Pilipinas Kay Ganda.” Almost immediately after its launch, many called out the DoT for the campaign logo’s uncanny similarity to the tourism style of Poland; in other words, a blatant plagiarism. Fast forward to 2012 (still under Noynoy), and there was much hype from the DoT about boosting tourism via the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” ad blitzkrieg. Imagine the universal chagrin when it was discovered to be a shameless rip-off of Switzerland’s “It’s More Fun in Switzerland” promotion. Methinks there is something about the culture inside the big public relations companies that its people just cannot resist the allure of making the most money with the barest minimum of efforts, hence the plain laziness of recycling slogans. As it was later exposed that the new tourism drive has a total budget of around a quarter of a billion pesos (and only initially at that, meaning there will be more expenditures as the years go by), such sloth is totally inexcusable. By reaping such “tubong lugaw”, as they say in the vernacular (for easy, big profits), one cannot help but conjecture that there may be an entrenched group in the DoT that benefits from kickbacks from such lucrative deals that require absolutely no service from the PR companies other than mining the web for ideas to steal. The DoT has announced that it was canceling its contract with the PR company. Fine! But we have no information as to whether or not the PR firm was required to return the monies already paid, for clearly botching up an operation that was not only stupid but has caused widespread embarrassment for the government. And while they’re at it, the DoT should explain why it has become a tradition to pay so much money for so little output, or for results that could have come from the efforts of its officials who are, after all, already being paid with taxpayer money. If these practices persist, the DoT should make minor revisions to its catchphrases past and present. It should thus be “Pilipinas Kay Ganda (ng kita),” “Its More FUNDS in the Philippines,” and “ROB The Philippines.” At least those shibboleths would speak the truth. The post Rob the Philippines appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI meets Germany’s ZVEI, explores opportunities in manufacturing services outsourcing
On 3 July 2023, DTI Secretary Fred Pascual, together with Board of Investments Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo, and Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. president Dr. Dan Lachica, met with Dr. Gunther Kegel, president of the German Electronics and Digital Industry Association (German: Verband der Elektro- und Digitalindustrie or ZVEI) and CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs. During the meeting, they discussed the possible outsourcing collaboration in the field of electronics manufacturing between ZVEI, SEIPI and the Philippine government in creating Original Design Manufacturer, Original Equipment Manufacturer and electronics manufacturing outsourcing opportunities in the Philippines. This is in light of the continuing challenges of the lack of skilled labor, the rising cost of production and the diversification and de-risking aspirations in Germany. ZVEI is one of the most important industrial associations in Germany, representing the interests of a high-tech sector covering over 1,100-member companies. They employ around 90 percent of the employees and staff of the electrical industry in Germany. Its members include global players and medium-sized and family-owned companies. The sector also has 879,000 employees in Germany with a combined turnover in 2021 of approximately EUR 200 billion. Meanwhile, Pepperl+Fuchs, a member of ZVEI, is a Tier I automotive supplier involved in electrical explosion protection and sensor technologies. The company’s Factory Automation Division is a manufacturer of industrial sensors. It makes a range of inductive, capacitive, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, identification systems, barcode and camera systems, rotary encoders, position measurement systems, cord sets and other accessories. Pepperl+Fuchs employed over 6,000 in 2022 with revenues amounting to EUR 1 billion. In the meeting, Pascual emphasized the huge potential of the Philippines to create an enabling business environment for a manufacturing industry given its strategic location that covers the ASEAN market and nearby countries. The post DTI meets Germany’s ZVEI, explores opportunities in manufacturing services outsourcing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farming decline in GDP ‘normal’
An agricultural economist on Tuesday said the farm sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product naturally declines as a country moves closer to developed economy status. This came as a reaction to a Philippine Statistics Authority study showing that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector accounted for only 8.9 percent of GDP in 2022, the lowest in five years. In an interview, Roberto Galang, dean at the Ateneo de Manila’s John Gokongwei School of Management, explained that the diminishing share of agriculture in the economy is expected as most countries go through this shift as they develop. “Higher productivity sectors, like manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing-services and tourism are expected to be the main drivers of the economy going forward,” he added. The dean cited neighboring Thailand, whose agriculture sector only contributed some 8.5 percent to its GDP during the same period. However, Galang said the Philippines’ AFF sector still leaves much room for improvement. There is an urgent need to raise agricultural productivity to alleviate poverty and ensure food security in view of recent shortages in certain staple commodities, he emphasized. Interventions help “A lot of interventions can help, including the clarification of rules around ownership and consolidation of agricultural lands, greater investments in agricultural technologies like high-value seeds, greenhouses, better access to finance for smallholder farms, and improved logistics,” Galang said. Meanwhile, hybrid rice proponent Henry Lim Bon Liong said a sure way to increase agricultural productivity is to abandon traditional rice varieties in favor of much more prolific ones. He noted that traditional rice can only produce 3 to 4 tons per hectare while hybrid rice can produce 8 to 10 tons per hectare, and in some cases, even an excess of this. “If three million hectares of the country’s 4.6 million hectares of rice land can be planted with hybrid (rice), we will never have to import again,” he added. Bon Liong, chair of SL Agritech, a private company engaged in the research, development, production and distribution of hybrid rice seed, lauded the incumbent administration for reviving the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, which seeks to modernize the rice sector with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency. In the PSA’s report, it was noted that the AFF’s contribution to GDP was 9.7 percent in 2018; 9.2 percent in 2019; 10.2 percent in 2020; and 9.6 percent in 2021. The post Farming decline in GDP ‘normal’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Intel to invest $25 bn in new Israel plant: government
US chip giant Intel will spend $25 billion on a new plant in Israel, officials said Sunday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the country's single largest foreign investment. The "agreement in principle" would see the semiconductor firm build the facility in the southern city of Kiryat Gat that would open by 2027 and operate at least until 2035, Israel's finance ministry said. As part of the deal, Intel's taxes to Israel would rise from five to 7.5 percent, the finance ministry said in a statement. Intel in return would receive a grant of 12.8 percent of its outlay, the ministry said, in line with Israel's capital investment encouragement law. Netanyahu said the new plant would constitute "the largest investment in Israel". "This is a great show of confidence in Israel's economy and shows the strength of the free economy we built here and the technological economy developing here," the Israeli leader said. The two sides would begin finalizing the deal in a process expected to take a number of weeks, according to the ministry. A spokesman for Intel in Israel had no immediate comment. Intel has been operating in Israel since the 1970s with development centers and a production site that employs some 12,000 people out of the company's global workforce of 130,000, the finance ministry said. In 2017, Intel acquired Israel-based Mobileye, which makes technology for automated driving systems in vehicles, for just over 15 billion dollars. The post Intel to invest $25 bn in new Israel plant: government appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US business titans flock to China despite fraying ties
From Elon Musk to Bill Gates and Apple's Tim Cook, some of the United States' biggest business titans have headed to Beijing, seemingly defying the barrage of doomsayer narratives around the US-China trade war. The stream of visits by some of the world's richest men began after China abruptly ended nearly three years of Covid isolation late last year. In Beijing, the American magnates have talked up their optimism about China's vast market and trade ties between the world's two largest economies. Landing in China in late May, Tesla owner Musk reportedly said that Beijing and Washington's interests were "intertwined, like conjoined twins, who are inseparable from each other". Apple CEO Cook also spoke of his firm's "symbiotic" relationship with China -- home to the world's largest iPhone factory. The biggest honor of all -- a meeting on Friday with Xi Jinping -- was reserved for Gates, whom the Chinese leader hailed as "our old friend", according to the state-run People's Daily. The visits come as US-China trade tensions deepen, and after trade between the two countries reached a record $690.6 billion last year, according to the US Department of Commerce. But businesses are worried about a slow in US exports to China, America's third-largest trading partner, with the drop strongly felt in the tech industry. Citing national security concerns, the United States in 2022 blocked exports to China of the most advanced semiconductors and the equipment needed to make them. China has hit back by vowing to accelerate its efforts to become self-reliant on semiconductors. "China-US trade was... once mutually dependent and beneficial," analysts at the Peterson Institute for International Economics wrote in a recent paper. "US exports to China are one more channel through which the bilateral relationship continues to deteriorate." 'Minority voice' The US government is engaged in high-stakes disputes with China over policy issues ranging from Taiwan to human rights, with no sign of tensions abating despite an upcoming visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. US businesses in China have long been at the forefront of advocating for engagement, arguing that a strong economic relationship could spur reform. The visits by the magnates show just how embedded some of the world's biggest firms are in China, despite the political tensions. With China growing more repressive under Xi, however, long-influential business lobbies are "increasingly a minority voice", according to Joe Mazur, an analyst at Trivium. "The business community is one of the last remaining pieces of ballast that is stabilizing the US-China relationship." Blinken visit The business community in China will be closely watching Blinken's visit this weekend, which analysts say is unlikely to ease the confrontation. "American business has substantial investments, thousands of employees, and still considers China a promising market," James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told AFP. But the US and Chinese governments, he said, "have hollowed out any level of collaboration and there is little room for developing even a pretense of goodwill". The US-China Business Council, long a key interlocutor between Beijing and Washington, feels left in the lurch, with its efforts against stricter trade curbs having failed to sway an increasingly hawkish Congress. "They have to make the case for continued engagement with China when the received wisdom in Washington is that the moment of engagement has passed," Mazur said. Is it worth it? Recent moves by Beijing to restrict overseas access to data and raids on consulting firms' offices have also spooked foreign companies -- adding to a sense that doing business in China is increasingly not worth the risk. "There's a shift in sentiment," said Claire Chu, a senior China analyst at defence intelligence company Janes. Many companies may "wonder maybe, even if I don't exit, I should start thinking about it", Chu added. "Dawn raids with little due process and the indefinite detention of employees without access to legal counsel has become the norm for both Chinese and foreign companies alike," Zimmerman said. Many top manufacturers are openly recalibrating their reliance on China: both Apple and Tesla are looking to move some of their production out of the country. "Much the same way that people said 10 years ago that you need to be in China to be relevant, now relevance will depend upon a strategic reshoring exercise," Zimmerman added. The post US business titans flock to China despite fraying ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lola mala-’Steph Curry’ ang shooting skills, netizens elibs na elibs: Ang lupet ni Nanay!
MARAMING netizens ang humanga at napabilib sa isang lola na naglaro ng basketball sa isang arcade sa Laguna. Paano ba naman kasi, mala-Steph Curry ang kanyang moves pagdating sa pagshu-shoot ng bola sa ring. Siya ang 64-year-old na si Lola Flor Guevarra mula sa Calamba, Laguna. Ang viral video so social media ay ibinandera ni […] The post Lola mala-’Steph Curry’ ang shooting skills, netizens elibs na elibs: Ang lupet ni Nanay! appeared first on Bandera......»»
Hawks negate Steph’s 60 points
Dejounte Murray extended the game with a jumper in the final seconds of regulation, then scored seven consecutive points in overtime, allowing the host Atlanta Hawks to overcome a 60-point explosion by Stephen Curry for a 141-134 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night......»»
Masterclass: LeBron, Curry show off in instant 2OT classic
LeBron James unloads a triple-double masterpiece and Steph Curry also unleashes 46 points as the Lakers slip past the Warriors in a double-overtime thriller to remember.....»»