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ANZ sees inflation hovering above 7% as storm damage stokes price pressures

INFLATION will likely hover above seven percent in the remaining months of 2018, ANZ Research said, adding to mounting doubts about government expectations that overall price spikes could have peaked last quarter.
The research group said inflation is unlikely to ease anytime soon, with price pressures stoked by typhoon Mangkhut, locally called Ompong, spilling into this quarter.
“We estimate that inflation will remain above 7.0% for all of Q4 2018,” ANZ Research said in its Asia Economic Outlook report released yesterday.
The typhoon ravaged Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region which are major sources of rice and vegetables.
“It has also been widely reported that production of rice, corn and livestock have been severely affected. All these components account for around 22% of the CPI basket, which is likely to lift inflation in the coming months.”
If realized, this will frustrate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expectations that inflation would peak in the third quarter and edge towards its 2-4% target in 2019.
Prices of widely used goods rose by 6.4% in August, marking a nine-year high amid crimped supply of rice, vegetables, meat and fish, as well as rising global oil prices. September inflation is expected to clock in even higher at 6.8%, based on estimates of the BSP and BusinessWorld’s poll last week of private sector economists.
In response, the central bank fired off another a 50 basis point (bp) increase in benchmark rates to demonstrate its commitment to temper price pressures and quell inflation expectations.
Last week, Malacañang issued four administrative orders directing the National Food Authority, the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the Department of Agriculture to lift non-tariff barriers and streamline import procedures for rice, sugar, meat and fish.
“These reforms are positive, in our view,” ANZ Research said. “We believe that a combination of monetary and non-monetary measures is essential to deal with both the demand and supply-side drivers of inflation.”
At the same time, it pointed out that the BSP still needs to hike rates by another 25 bp in its Dec. 13 policy review.
“Whether that will help restore investor confidence hinges on the trajectory of inflation,” bank economists said in the report.
“However, the eight-percent decline in the peso year-to-date, coupled with strong oil prices, will underpin inflation in the near term. Even with a policy rate of 4.75%, real interest rates remain in negative territory.”
ANZ sees full-year inflation at 5.1%, just below the BSP’s full-year estimate of 5.2%. Prices of basic goods went up by 4.8% in the eight months to August.
The International Monetary Fund expects 2018 inflation at 4.9% this year. Other banks and research firms have also given higher estimates such as Capital Economics and Standard Chartered Bank (5.5%) and Fitch Solutions (5.3%).
With unrelenting inflation, ANZ has also scaled down its growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.5% for 2018, coming from 6.6% in August and 6.8% earlier this year.
BSP officer-in-charge Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said last week that policy makers are strongly committed to address the threat of high inflation.
BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr., who has been on medical leave since Sept. 19, announced yesterday that it will be extended for another two weeks. “My treatment is progressing very well. But I’ve got to give it the best chance possible,” Mr. Espenilla, who is battling tongue cancer, said in a WhatsApp message sent to reporters yesterday afternoon. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

Final timetable for 3rd major telco set

THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) presented on Tuesday the final timetable for selection of the country’s third major telecommunications service provider, with documents available for purchase by interested parties starting Oct. 8, Monday.
In a gathering organized by the DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) attended by prospective bidders and other stakeholders, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said the government is on track to name the so-called “third telco” before Christmas.
“The timeline was approved by the oversight committee in compliance with the instruction of the President to have the third telco known by November and be awarded… by December, before Christmas. So more or less, the timeline is final,” Mr. Rio said.
Selection documents may be bought online or physically from the NTC for P1 million.
The timetable sets deadline for submission and opening of bids on Nov. 7.
The government has been preparing for the entry of a third telco player to compete with incumbents Globe Telecom, Inc. and PLDT, Inc. since November last year, with an initial target of naming the winner in the first half of 2018. However, Mr. Rio said the previous timetable was too tight for prospective participants, hence, the decision to move the deadline.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte said last month that he wanted the third telco named by November, otherwise he would “take over” the selection.
DICT and NTC released joint Memorandum Circular No. 09-09-2018 last month outlining the rules by which the government will choose the third major telco. That telco will be chosen according to the highest committed level of service based on population coverage (with a 40% weight), minimum average broadband speed (25%), and capital and operational expenditure (35%).
At stake is a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) valid for 15 years or the length of the franchise of a bidder, whichever is shorter; and radio frequency bands of 700 megahertz (MHz), 2100 MHz, 2000 MHz, 2.5 gigahertz (GHz), 3.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz.
Upon being named provisional winner of the third telco auction, the memorandum circular said the company must submit within 90 days its business and roll-out plans and other additional requirements. The provisional winner must also commit to the NTC a “performance security” worth 10% of its total capital and operational expenditures and a “participation security” worth P700 million.
Companies that had earlier been named as interested parties include Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp.; NOW Corp.; Converge ICT Solutions, Inc.; Transpacific Broadband Group International, Inc.; EasyCall Communications Philippines, Inc. and TierOne Communications International, Inc. Mr. Rio also named several foreign companies that are looking to participate, such as China Telecom, South Korea’s KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp., Vietnam’s Viettel Telecom, Norway’s Telenor Group, and an unidentified US company and Japanese firm.
Eligible participants should have a congressional franchise or team up with a holder of one, paid-in capital of at least P10 billion, experience as a nationwide telco provider for the last 10 years, be without outstanding liability to the NTC as of Oct. 1 and should not be related to Globe and PLDT. — Denise A. Valdez

DoE: Limay Power has not submitted application to build LNG import facility

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-editor
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has yet to receive an application from Limay LNG Power Corp. to build an integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility, officials of the agency said on Tuesday.
Energy Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos said under DoE Department Circular 2017-11-0012 or the “Rules and Regulations Governing the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry” companies that plan to build an LNG facility have to seek prior approval from the department.
“Who would give them the notice to proceed?” he said in an interview, adding that based on DoE records Limay LNG Power had so far attended only a pre-application conference.
His comments came after reports said Limay LNG had signed on foreign entities, including a unit of Anglo-Swiss commodity trader Glencore PLC, as partners in the project either to handle engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) or project financing.
“As far as we are concerned [Limay LNG Power has] not officially applied to us,” said Rino E. Abad, director of the DoE’s oil industry management bureau.
He said even if the company was building the project for its own use, that is to power its power plant, the DoE circular requires LNG project developers to always stay open to open its facility for third-party access.
“If your capacity initially is only equivalent to your own use how can you offer a service to other parties kung wala ka naman (if you don’t have) excess capacity,” he said.
Mr. Abad said Glencore had held a meeting with the DoE but not on a project related to LNG. He said the foreign company could either be the provider of the technology, or the EPC contractor.
Glenda G. Martinez, PNOC senior vice-president for management services, said for now the discussions with Limay LNG Power is confined to the rental of a 12-hectare property owned by the agency in Limay, Bataan as the possible site of its project.
“As of now, rental pa lang muna ang pinag-uusapan kasi wala pa silang business proposal na binibigay for us to evaluate (As of now, the discussion is about rental because they have not yet submitted a business proposal for us to evaluate),” she said in an interview.
Aside from Limay LNG Energy Power, Ms. Martinez said PNOC had been in talks with other entities that are keen on renting the property but no agreement had been closed yet. She said the company was keen on a bigger contiguous area covering a total of 50 hectares.
“We are open to whoever will give us a good deal,” she said when asked about a possible partnership with Limay LNG Power.
Based on records from the DoE, Limay LNG Power plans to build a 1,100 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine project in the area. It has been cleared in July 2018 to conduct a grid impact study, one of the processes required in any power generation project.
The project is in the DoE’s list of “indicative” projects or those that have yet to close a financing contract as well as secure the relevant regulatory permits. Most indicative projects have yet to schedule their target testing and commissioning dates as well as their target commercial operation date.
Sought for comment, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi told reporters that he would endorse the first LNG integrated facility cleared by his department for inclusion in the list of energy projects of national significance (EPNS). He said his stance is in preparation for a possible shortfall in power supply in 2021 to 2022.

Megaworld allocates P500M for Bacolod hotel

MEGAWORLD Corp. continues the expansion of its hospitality business with the development of a P500-million luxury boutique hotel within its Bacolod City township.
In a statement issued Tuesday, tycoon Andrew L. Tan’s property firm said the hotel inside the 34-hectare The Upper East township is set to cater to conventions, weddings, and other MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) events in the area.
Offering a total of 48 suites, the hotel will house an all-day dining restaurant, cafe, courtyard, swimming pool and pool deck, fitness center, lanai, and Megaworld’s signature hotel bar concept called Zabana Bar.
The hotel will also feature a ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests in a banquet setting, making it the largest hotel ballroom facility in Bacolod City. It can likewise be divided into three separate ballrooms for smaller events.
“This luxury boutique hotel will be another landmark in The Upper East. The hotel will be a perfect venue for conventions, weddings and memorable celebrations as it integrates an outdoor garden setting into its ballroom facility. Megaworld is keen on helping boost the MICE tourism industry of Bacolod,” Megaworld Bacolod Vice President for Sales and Marketing Mary Rachelle I. Penaflorida said in a statement.
Megaworld expects to complete the hotel by 2022.
The hotel is being built on the site of a guest house within the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company Compound. Megaworld will be using the retrofitted heritage house as the hotel’s main lobby, while the old house’s guest rooms will be converted into the ballroom.
Megaworld has tapped heritage architect and conservationist Dominic Galicia — the same person who redesigned the National Museum of Natural History in Manila — to design the hotel.
Meanwhile, the company will also be upgrading its first residential condominium in The Upper East called One Regis to meet the demand for more units.
The now 12-storey condominium building will feature two penthouse floors with upper and lower penthouses, a bi-level amenity deck with residential units, exclusive residential floors, and additional basement parking.
A wellness lounge and game and entertainment room will likewise be added to the initial plan for amenities, which already includes a swimming pool and kiddie pool, pool lounge, fitness center, events hall, and a walk park.
One Regis is expected to generate P1.2 billion in sales, and will be completed by 2022.
The projects are part of the P28-billion investment Megaworld committed to spend for The Upper East in the next 10 years.
Shares in Megaworld dropped 5.02% or 22 centavos to close at P4.16 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

AirAsia PHL won’t impose fuel surcharge

PHILIPPINES AirAsia, Inc. said it will not impose a fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights despite securing approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), in a move aimed at keeping its fares low in a competitive market.
In a text message to BusinessWorld, an AirAsia Philippines representative confirmed its application for fuel surcharge has been approved by the regulator, but “opted not to do it.”
“We are not charging fuel surcharge in all our flights,” the company representative said.
The Civil Aeronautics Board last month adopted a matrix for fuel surcharge that will be based on the two-month average of jet fuel MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore) prices in its peso per liter equivalent.
The regulator said allowing carriers to implement a fuel surcharge will help them cope with the surge in jet fuel prices.
“We are closely monitoring the impact of high oil price on our operations, however, we are also working hard to offset the sharp jet fuel costs by adopting cost efficient measures across the network or within the AirAsia Group,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter M. Comendador said in a separate statement.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the price of aviation fuel as of Sept. 21 is at $91.65 per barrel, 28.43% higher than in the same period last year.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have already raised fares to include the fuel surcharge. — Denise A. Valdez

Filipinos still prefer in-store shopping over online sites

FILIPINO consumers still prefer shopping in brick and mortar stores over online platforms, favoring the physical appeal of products despite the convenience of online purchases, according to a study by digital research and consulting firm, Research and Tech Lab (RTL).
RTL recorded the sentiments of online shoppers from July to September, which coincided with the sale promo of leading e-commerce sites Lazada and Shopee. Here, the company found that 68.61% of Filipinos still favor traditional shopping.
“The data revealed that although shoppers are drawn to the appeal of purchasing online for reasons such as no checkout queues, 24/7 access to stores, and available reviews for products, many are still wary of site legitimacy,” RTL said in a statement.
Filipino shoppers also prefer inspecting the products themselves before making a purchase, while others factored in the cost of shipping and the length of delivery time.
RTL noted that Filipinos feel more assured when they examine the products before checkout, while being able to take the item immediately after payment gives them peace of mind.
The research firm’s study also revealed that majority of shoppers who use both online and traditional platforms are aged 18 to 31 years. While preferring to see the products for themselves, shoppers were found to be searching for products online before buying them in physical stores.
“Nowadays technology has changed the shopper’s journey by blurring lines and creating new stages where buyers can easily switch channels from online to offline — searching online to buy offline and vice versa. The use of more than one channel has given Filipino buyers more opportunities that go beyond the traditional,” RTL said.
The research firm also saw mixed sentiments for food delivery apps such as Honest Bee and Food Panda, where customers lauded promotions and discounts, a wide range of restaurant selections, and fast delivery. Meanwhile, complaints ranged from poor customer service, cancelled orders, to orders that were already paid for but were not received.
Filipinos’ preference of brick and mortar stores comes amid the so-called retail apocalypse seen in the United States and some parts of Europe. Bloomberg reported last April that US store closures slated for this year reached 77 million square feet. A separate report by Credit Suisse last year noted that 20-25% of American malls are expected to close within the next five years.
“For now, it is safe to say that malls still play an integral part in the life of a Filipino consumer as traditional shopping remains their mode of choice,” RTL said. — Arra B. Francia

Tender offer for Melco Philippines shares deferred

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
THE majority shareholder of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. (MRP) has deferred its plan to conduct a tender offer, effectively pushing back the company’s plan to delist from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
In a disclosure posted on Tuesday, MRP said MCO (Philippines) Investments Limited has informed the company that it is pushing back the tender offer originally scheduled for Oct. 3.
MCO Investments was supposed to buy back 1.57 billion common shares from the public at a price of P7.25 apiece during the tender offer period.
The company did not disclose the reason for the tender offer’s delay. BusinessWorld reached out to MRP to clarify the matter but it has yet to respond as of press time.
A number of analysts have previously complained about the low tender offer price set by MCO Investments, which they noted would be unfair to the public who invested in the company during its follow-on offering in 2013, when each share was priced at P14.
MRP however clarified in a earlier disclosure that the tender offer price was independently determined by MCO Investments through the services of FTI Consulting Philippines, Inc. Taking into account MRP’s historical and projected earnings while using market-standard methods recognized by regulators, FTI Consulting arrived at a fair value price range of P6.11 to P7.49, with the final tender offer price at the higher end of the range.
The company also explained that investors will experience “very different financial outcomes” depending on when they purchased MRP shares.
“For instance, while investors who purchased MRP shares above the tender offer price will experience a loss (if they decide to tender their MRP shares in the tender offer), investors who purchased MRP shares at the all-time low trading price of P1.15 in January 2016 or at the more recent closing price of P5.05 on July 5, 2018 will have realized a significant gain if they decide to tender their MRP shares in the tender offer process,” the company said.
It also noted that the tender offer price represents a 16.7% premium over MRP’s closing price of P6.21 each on Sept. 7, the trading session prior to its announcement of its plan to delist. Further, the tender offer price is 11.2% and 14.2% higher than the six-month volume weighted average price (VWAP) and three-month VWAP of MRP’s shares. In September, MRP announced it will apply for the voluntary delisting of its common shares from the PSE, with the tender offer initially scheduled for Oct. 3 to 30. The company targeted to cross its shares from the PSE by Nov. 14, depending on the necessary regulatory approvals.
MRP generated a net income of P1.89 billion in the first six months of 2018, 437% higher than the same period a year ago due to improved operating results and lower interest expense. Operating revenues however slipped by one percent due to the adoption of new revenues standards.
Shares in MRP gained 0.14% or a centavo to close at P7.02 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday.

Philippines’ 1st floating solar farm launched

WINNERGY Holdings Corp. commissioned last week a 10-kilowatt-peak (kWp) floating solar farm on Laguna Lake within Baras, Rizal province, the company said on Tuesday.
Winnergy said the project is the first floating solar farm in the Philippines, thus opening the possibility of using energy from the sun beyond the traditional ground-based and rooftop-mounted systems.
The company said it aims to show the technical feasibility of floating solar technology in the country. The technology involves deploying solar photovoltaic panels on the surface of a body of water.
In a statement, Winnergy President Janina Bonoan said one of the advantages of floating solar farms over ground-mounted solar facilities is that no farm or forest lands are used. No trees are required to be cut, she added.
“Floating solar farms also mitigate water evaporation and the proliferation of algae in the lake, and may help aquatic/marine life flourish,” the company said.
Ms. Bonoan said the project has the potential to improve the community and boost local tourism and economy.
She said floating solar farms are more technically efficient than ground-mounted projects because the cooling effect of the surrounding water on the panels makes the panels produce more energy.
Winnergy said the pilot project would provide free renewable energy to the municipality of Baras. The solar farm is equipped with a battery storage system that ensures a sustainable power flow.
Ahead of the solar farm’s commissioning, Winnergy along with the town and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) signed on Aug. 14 a tripartite memorandum of agreement for the pilot project. — Victor V. Saulon

MacroAsia gets go signal for Cebu special economic zone

THE government has given MacroAsia Corp. the go signal to convert its two parcels of land within the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) into a special economic zone.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, MacroAsia said the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved its application for the development of a special economic zone in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
“The five-hectare property is to be known as the MacroAsia Cebu Special Ecozone as approved and designated by His Excellency, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines,” the company said.
MacroAsia currently runs the only special economic zone at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) operates from the special economic zone.
In its quarterly report filed last August, MacroAsia said LTP is set to begin construction of a new wide body hangar in the MacroAsia Special Ecozone this year. The hangar is expected to be completed and used by December 2019.
MacroAsia reported its net income fell 18% to P551 million in the first six months of 2018.
“The lower reported net income in 2018 is mainly due to one-off non-operational accounting provisions in 2018 pitted against one-off reversal of provisions for insurance items in 2017 as booked by LTP. Stripping away these non-operational line items, MacroAsia’s 1H18 results showcases the strong operational growth of the group,” the company said in a regulatory filing.
MacroAsia expects a “stronger” second half performance for its key business units, targeting a 20% “organic” growth this year.
“MacroAsia believes that it is still poised to grow its annual 2018 results substantially in the second half of 2018, as its ground handling company saw the servicing of 8 new airline accounts in the first half of this year, and is also starting its concessions in Terminal 2, Mactan Cebu as the terminal became operational this July,” it said.
LTP, which is 49% owned by MacroAsia, is also seen to grow after it took over line maintenance for PALExpress Airbus planes starting July. This brought the planes being maintained for the Philippine Airlines (PAL) group from 62 in the first half of 2018, to about 77 by yearend.

Record sale of $65-million Zao painting yields 2,735% return

HONG KONG — An abstract oil painting by Chinese-French master Zao Wou-Ki changed hands for HK$510.4 million ($65.2 million) at Sotheby’s on Sunday, more than 28 times its previous purchase price and setting a new record for any Asian work of art sold at auction.
Taiwanese businessman Chang Qiu Dun, whose company P&F Brother Industrial Corp. makes treadmills and power tools, paid $2.3 million in May 2005 for Juin-Octobre 1985, a 10-meter (33 foot) triptych he had kept at a purpose-built space adjoining his factory in the industrial city of Taichung.
The new high watermark shows how Asian artists are closing the price gap with their Western counterparts, as well as the growing importance of the region in the global art scene as a source of both consignors and buyers.
“At $65 million, Zao Wou-Ki joins the ranks of his postwar American contemporaries like de Kooning, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman,” Pascal de Sarthe, a Hong Kong-based dealer who has been selling Zao’s works for 35 years, said after the sale.
Sotheby’s declined to identify the buyer, who placed the winning bid by phone through Sebastian Fahey, the auction house’s managing director of business in Asia. The sale was over in just a few minutes, handing Chang a 2,735% return on his investment versus a gain of about 150% for the S&P 500 over the same period.
Zao, who died in Switzerland in 2013 aged 93, painted the work in 1985 at the behest of his close friend and fellow Chinese emigre, architect I.M. Pei. He spent most of the last 65 years of his life in France, drawing on both Chinese and European academic traditions and fusing them into his own distinctive abstract expressionist style.
The previous record for any Asian work of art sold at auction was in 2010 in Beijing, when a hand scroll sold at Poly International Auction Co. for $64 million. — Bloomberg

IMI inaugurates manufacturing facility in Serbia

AYALA-LED Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) inaugurated its newest manufacturing facility in Serbia last week, as the company expands its global footprint in anticipation of more demand for its products.
The listed subsidiary of AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc. said the factory covers 14,000 square meters of manufacturing space in the City of Nis, located in the southeastern part of Serbia. The facility will serve as the extension of its Bulgaria factory in order to support the growing demand market for automotive products in the European region.
“As a partner-of-choice in building technologies like sensing cameras, advanced driver assistance systems, lighting, body control modules, battery management and displays, IMI will be a significant contributor to the digital car of tomorrow,” IMI Chief Executive Officer Arthur R. Tan said in a statement.
Mr. Tan, who also sits as the chief executive officer of AC Industrials, said this will boost the company’s efforts to build a global manufacturing platform that rides on trends such as increased electronics in vehicles, autonomous driving, shift to electric power, and shared mobility.
This will be IMI’s 21st factory across the world, following its production facilities in the Philippines, China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The company provides engineering, manufacturing, support, and fulfillment capabilities to various industries such as automotive, industrial electronics, and the aerospace market. It also offers customized solutions for safety and security features in the automotive segment. — Arra B. Francia

PETA’s State of the Nation

THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) is devoting its 51st season to shows that tackle the current state of the nation: the extrajudicial killings, the rise of trolls and fake news, and historical revisionism, among other topics.
The “Stage of the Nation” season, which runs until June 2019, will feature three returning shows and one new musical.
PETA will also share the stage with other organizations which have the same vision.
These informative and timely productions are part of PETA’s mission because “theater is a platform for important social issues,” said PETA executive director Beng Santos-Cabangon during a Sept. 21 press conference announcing the new season’s offerings.
“When there are important matters that are happening around us, every day is an opportunity for us to reach out and to dialogue with people using our arts and to make people more sensitive on what’s happening. It’s not exactly telling them ‘Do this. Vote for this. Make this decision.’ Rather, it’s giving them space for critical reflection… So many things are happening that we should be talking about. It’s crucial at this time to be out and be counted,” she said.
RERUNS
Returning to the PETA stage are its productions of Ang Buhay ni Galileo (Sept. 28 to Oct. 7), A Game of Trolls (Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21), and Tagu-Taguan Nasaan ang Buwan (Nov. 14-29).
Starring Joel Lamangan, Ang Buhay ni Galileo tells the life of the scientist Galileo Galilei. The rerun is a timely reflection on what it means to pursue the truth despite persecution. Performances will be at PETA’s theater — last year it was staged at PETA’s old stage in Fort Santiago. (READ: PETA’s Ang Buhay ni Galileo https://www.bworldonline.com/petas-ang-buhay-ni-galileo-returns-fort-santiago/)
Meanwhile, A Game of Trolls combines music and humor as it tackles false heroes, fake news, and disinformation. (READ: Trolling the Trolls http://www.bworldonline.com/trolling-the-troll/)
Tagu-Taguan Nasaan ang Buwan is a children’s musical about a young boy who goes on an adventure where he finds the power of imagination, courage, and friendship. The play took the Outstanding Original Libretto prize at the 10th Gawad Buhay Philstage Awards for Performing Arts.
TRUMPERTE
PETA will also play host to shows by other producers which also tackle the state of the nation.
One of them is Trumperte, a satire featuring comic Jon Santos who will impersonate a number of political personalities. As the name implies, a chunk of the show will satirize Presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte, with Mr. Santos going on stage as “Ronald McDonald Trump” and “Pangulong DuThirty.” He will be making fun of Mocha Uson, Bong Go, and other characters while his iconic interpretations of Erap Estrada, Imelda Marcos, and Vilma Santos, will, of course, also appear on stage.
Trumperte will have performances on Oct. 26 and 27.
2019’S PERFORMANCES
The season continues in 2019 with Charot, a PETA original, which will have performances from Feb. 1 to March 17. Slang for “just kidding,” Charot imagines Philippine society under federalism while tackling its consequences.
PETA will also run a Human Rights Film Festival, with screenings on Feb. 27, March 6, 13, and 20. To be shown are films by Chito Roño, Chuck Escasa, and many more.
Meanwhile, in partnership with Third World Improv, PETA presents the Manila Improv Fest on March 27-31. The shows will include live and unscripted performances from improvisational performers from all over the world.
On April 27, Words Anonymous will celebrate its anniversary with a show that features spoken word poetry about human rights, mental health, LGBTQ issues, women’s empowerment, the plight of the farmers, and other social issues.
The “Stage of the Nation” will end with the rerun of Dulaang UP’s production of Kundiman Party on May 24-26, 31, June 1 and 2. This is a bittersweet comedy about how a group of Titas of Manila choose to deal with the society we live in.
Part of this party is a reunion concert of Buklod — the 1980s progressive musical group composed of Noel Cabangon, Rom Dongeto, and Rene Boncocan, who popularized songs like “Tatsulok,” “Kanlungan,” and “Pagbabagong Nagbabago.”
Tickets to the PETA performances are available on www.ticketworld.com.ph. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

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