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DTI tells Iloilo SMEs: Be online, target millennials

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Iloilo province is urging small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to have an online presence and target millennials to expand their markets. “There is a need to make sure that you have both an online presence and brick and mortar a in a digitized economy,” DTI-Iloilo Provincial Director Ermelinda P. Pollentes said during last week’s opening ceremony for the Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair. She also underscored the need for SMEs to develop products for millennials, or those currently within the early 20’s to late 30’s age group, because this is a market that has purchasing power. “We want that your produce and develop products that are really needed by the market, especially the millennials… Develop new and innovative products for the millennials because these are those with huge purchasing power, but don’t forget other markets,” Ms. Pollentes said. “Innovation need not start from innovation. It can be an existing product that you can add something, which you see is not being served by the market,” she added, noting that DTI has assistance programs as well as shared service facilities that SMEs can tap. Around 50 exhibitors participated in the five-day Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair, including producers of food and crafts, home furinishings and wearables, bamboo products, and beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

6.6 earthquake death toll up to 5, almost 400 injured, 2 missing

FIVE PEOPLE have been confirmed dead while two are missing in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck central Mindanao on Oct. 29, according to the Oct. 30 update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Among those who died were a seven-year old boy who was killed in a rockslide in Arakan, Cotabato and a 66-year old man hit by falling debris in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Two other casualties, a 22-year old male and 23-year old female were also from Cotabato. One death was reported in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, a 15-year old boy who was hit by a collapsed wall at the Kasuga National High School. Search and rescue operations were ongoing for the two missing following a landslide in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

INFRA DAMAGE
Meanwhile, there were 394 people reported injured, mostly in Cotabato, with the earthquake’s epicenter located in the province’s Tulunan municipality. Aftershocks as strong as magnitude five continued to be recorded by state agency Phivolcs as of Oct. 30. The number of displaced families, including those from the 6.4 earthquake last Oct. 16 in the same area, was 7,303 consisting of over 35,000 individuals. On infrastructure, 94 schools, 11 health facilities, seven other public structures and 20 commercial establishments have been damaged in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro. Damage assessment and relief operations are continuing, according to NDRRMC.

Nation at a Glance — (10/31/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (10/31/19)

Hong Kong remains competitive despite social unrest

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau in a recent visit in Manila

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) reassured Filipino businessmen and entrepreneurs that Hong Kong remains an effective platform for global business despite the recent social incidents in the city.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said that Hong Kong continues to be a competitive city that enjoys ease of doing business, economic freedom, a low level of corruption, international talent, and free flow of capital, goods, people and information.

“Hong Kong is still very strong in terms of economic and financial fundamentals. A lot of academic and economic institutes still recognize Hong Kong as the freest economy, as a very competitive city, good for investments and so on,” HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau told the local press.

To take advantage of the opportunities that Hong Kong offers, Mr. Chau is encouraging Filipino companies to participate in trade fairs being organized by HKTDC which connect firms to global markets and a wealth of business opportunities.

These include opportunities arising from two of China’s major initiatives, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Hong Kong-Guangdong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development that present huge market opportunities for various sectors, including traders.

With regards to the issue of security, Mr. Chau assured that special security measures are always in place to respond to different situations during trade fairs. These include providing exhibitors and buyers bus services that would transport them from the airport to the hotel and exhibition center.

In fact, from July to September, nine HKTDC fairs in the city were held smoothly and proceeded as planned. These large-scale fairs and conference attracted over 5,000 exhibitors and more than 66,000 buyers, including close to 350 Filipino buyers.

“I will not say we are 100% safe, but the risk level is not high. At least during my trade fairs, not a single foreign visitor has been hurt, no complain at all. So, I think, it’s competitively safe to come to Hong Kong for sourcing,” Mr. Chau said.

This October to November, the HKTDC is organizing seven large-scale trade fairs, including the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), electronicAsia, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), and the HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo. These four upcoming fairs alone have attracted about 7,430 exhibitors, a figure largely on a par with last year, showing that the recent social unrest in Hong Kong has not affected global exhibitors’ confidence in relation to attending trade fairs in the city.

In terms of Filipino firms’ presence in HKTDC trade fairs, Mr. Chau said that only about 30 companies have been participating as exhibitors all year round. This is due to lack of resources and support from the local government, he said.

“Filipino companies are lack of resources, so I hope relevant authority can support them more financially to join overseas promotions,” Mr. Chau said.

Mr. Chau noted that trade fair is a wonderful platform and Filipino companies can make use of Hong Kong to promote themselves and to attract investments.

“You should look at Hong Kong as an important platform,” Mr. Chau said. “Sometimes, people [firms and investors] ignore Hong Kong because we just have a small population, but Hong Kong is a very important platform. Though [we] only have seven million people, we consume more than the US does.”

“A lot of companies from Thailand, Japan, Korea [and] France are already relying on Hong Kong [as] platform to sell to the world. So, why not Filipino companies?” Mr. Chau added.

Apart from organizing trade fairs, the HKTDC supports Philippine companies through other events and activities. These include organizing overseas promotions like the “In Style • Hong Kong,” which connects companies in emerging markets with Hong Kong services providers and product suppliers.

The next edition of the campaign will be held in the country on March 5 to 6, 2020 at SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City. This will feature a trade expo showcasing a wide array of quality branded and design-led lifestyle products from Hong Kong, a service symposium featuring a range of business services, a high-level gala dinner, and a series of citywide promotions.

Common Myths and Facts: Breast Cancer with Dr. Khoo Kei Kiong of Parkway Cancer Centre

There are a lot of myths about breast cancer. In this video, Dr. Khoo Kei Kiong, deputy medical director and senior consultant at Medical Oncology in Parkway Cancer Centre in Singapore, talked about the most common of these myths and the truths about breast cancer.

 

Impact of Hong Kong recession watched

By Jenina P. Ibañez

ANY IMPACT on the Philippines by Hong Kong’s economic hit from five months of unrest will likely be felt on the merchandise export and remittance fronts, economists and an export leader said on Tuesday, even as they said any negative effect on the overall economy should be minimal.

Reuters reported that Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that she expects the economy of China’s special administrative region to contract this year, a day after Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the Asian financial hub has already slipped into recession, technically defined as two straight quarters of economic decline.

“The protracted political tension in Hong Kong is projected to affect both trade and remittance flows to the Philippines, and although we’ve yet to see if recent slowdowns in both trade and OF (overseas Filipino) transfers are becoming more entrenched, the impact will likely weigh on [overall economic] growth, with the impact emanating from the threat to remittances likely the bigger threat,” ING Bank NV-Manila Branch Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio O. Mapa said in an e-mail.

In his e-mailed response to questions, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) economist Michael L. Ricafort said: “This may have an adverse impact on the employment of OFWs in Hong Kong especially on expatriates, skilled workers, professionals, service industry workers, as well as domestic helpers.”

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have long been an anchor of household spending, which in turn fuels 70-75% of gross domestic product.

Latest available central bank data show Hong Kong as the seventh biggest source of OFW cash remittances in the eight months to August — behind the United States (37%), Saudi Arabia (7.4%), Singapore (6.4%), the United Arab Emirates (5.7%), the United Kingdom and Japan (each with 5.3%) and Canada (3.5%) — accounting for 2.7% of a $19.808-billion total with $529.492 million, down 2.8% from the previous year (which had seen 11.1% growth).

Mr. Ricafort also said that “economic recession in Hong Kong could have some adverse impact on the Philippine economy since Hong Kong is the fourth biggest export destination of the Philippines.”

Latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show Hong Kong as the fourth-biggest foreign market for Philippine goods in the eight months to August behind the United States (16.4% of the $46.642-billion total), Japan (14.9%) and mainland China (13.8%) with a 13.3% share of a $46.642-billion total at $6.202 billion, which was 5.7% less than a year ago.

The financial hub was also the Philippines’ 10th biggest source of merchandise imports in the same period, accounting for 3.2% of a $71.345-billion total with $2.311 billion (up 15.8% year-on-year).

“Based on latest available data from January to June 2019, the biggest Philippine exports to Hong Kong are electronics, which account for about 80% of the total Philippine exports to Hong Kong, or at $3.5 billion; followed by exports of gold with a share of 12.3% or $543 million,” Mr. Ricafort said.

“Thus, these leading Philippine exports to Hong Kong remain vulnerable to any slowdown in demand amid risk of recession in Hong Kong.”

Noting that Philippine merchandise exports have been “increasing minimally” on the whole so far — by a flat 0.1% as of August — Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said in a phone interview that “[s]omehow it’s (the impact of Hong Kong’s unrest) compensated in spite of what’s going there.”

Mr. Ortiz-Luis said that Philippine exporters can arrange to ship directly to countries where their goods are in demand, instead of passing through Hong Kong as a transshipment hub. “We will still try to look for a placement to send orders being ordered from Hong Kong, and… wait and see,” he said.

Still, any impact on the Philippines’ overall economy should be minimal.

“Given that the Philippines relies less heavily on external trade for growth, the impact on this angle may be limited as the true strength of the economy is in the domestic sector,” ING’s Mr. Mapa said.

Asked about the decline in remittances, he replied: “We will have to monitor if this continues to be a trend as Filipinos may have had trouble sending home these remittances on weekends, given that protests are scheduled usually on the weekend.

“If this materializes into a true deceleration in flows from Hong Kong, this may weigh heavily on the families back home who rely on these transfers for daily consumption and expenses.”

The central bank itself had said on Oct. 18 that “[t]he impact of… geopolitical tensions, particularly in Saudi Arabia (where oil processing facilities of Saudi Aramco were attacked in mid-September) and Hong Kong, on the country’s remittance flows, has been notably minimal as the share to total cash remittances of these affected countries are relatively small.”

The Department of Finance chimed in, saying that the Philippine economy is driven largely by domestic consumption. “Remittances and trade account for a smaller proportion of growth,” Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran, the department’s chief economist, said in a mobile phone message. “The downturn in HK economy will affect trade and remittances, but the continuing growth in trade and remittances from other Asian trading partners will make up for this.”

“In terms of government policy,” Mr. Ricafort said, “further diversification of Philippine exports and deployment of OFWs to more countries around the world, especially outside traditional markets/destinations/host countries such as Hong Kong, would help mitigate risks of economic recession/downturn in Hong Kong.”

Formation of new dept’s next on agenda of the House

AFTER APPROVING revenue-generating measures, the House of Representatives will shift its focus to the formation of three new government departments either by “yearend” or by “March,” Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano said on Tuesday.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22 urged Congress to establish the Department of Water, Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and the Department of Disaster Resilience.

“Inuna namin ‘yung revenue bills kasi madaling magpasa ng bills creating new offices — giving more responsibilities and promising more social benefits — pero pa’no mo babayaran? (We first attended to revenue bills because it is easy to approve bills creating new offices — giving more responsibilities and promising more social benefits — but how will you pay for that?),” Mr. Cayetano told reporters at a briefing in Taguig City.

“This Congress did the reverse: ‘yung pambayad muna; kapag naayos ‘yun (we ensured that there is a source of revenues first; when that is done) and we expect it siguro (additional revenues to come in maybe) some before the end of the year, some by March, then, medyo mas maluwag tayo gumastos dun sa ibang (it will be easier for us to spend on the other) reforms.”

Since the opening of session on July 22, the House has passed on final reading four packages of the administration’s comprehensive tax reform program. The list includes measures that will cut the corporate income tax to 20% by 2029 from 30% currently and overhaul fiscal incentives, increase excise tax rates on alcohol products and electronic cigarettes among other vapor products, and simplify the tax structure for financial investment instruments.

The proposal to centralize real property valuation and assessment is currently up for plenary deliberation in the chamber.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, has so far approved the bill further increasing the excise tax on “sin” products and is deliberating the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act.

Mr. Cayetano said in particular that the proposals forming the departments of OFW and water are targeted for approval before sessions adjourn on Dec. 20 for a Dec. 21 to Jan. 19, 2020 Christmas-New Year break.

“’Yung OFW bill, we want it done before the end of the year. I would say dapat latest, well, kung kaya this year, ‘yung sa water,” Mr. Cayetano said, adding that he will meet with House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez of Leyte’s 1st district to finalize the timetable for the bills’ approval when sessions resume on Nov. 4.

The OFW department bill seeks to integrate and harmonize functions of five key agencies, namely: Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs.

Mr. Cayetano also cited the urgency of establishing a government office focused on water supply concerns, noting that “we are all equally guilty” of procrastination since the government moves only when there is a crisis at hand.

The Department of Water bill proposes to rationalize water resource management; while the Department of Disaster Risk bill will establish a single office that will lead coordination, management and implementation of disaster risk reduction.

The disaster risk department bill nearly hurdled the 17th Congress after it was approved by the House on third and final reading but remained at the committee level in the Senate when sessions ended early in June.

All bills filed in the 18th Congress to establish the three new government offices are pending at the committee level in both the House and the Senate. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Senate Finance panel vice-chairman readies bill modernizing the gov’t budget system

THE MEASURE that will modernize the government’s budgeting system, which failed to hurdle the 17th Congress, will be refiled in the Senate.

Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Finance committee vice-chairman, on Tuesday committed to refile the proposed Budget Reform Act, which will institutionalize a cash-based budgeting system.

“We will refile,” he said in a mobile phone message on Tuesday when asked on the reform.

“We wanted to assess this year’s cash budgeting system [first].”

Mr. Villanueva said much has to be considered in shifting to a cash-based system from the multi-year obligation-based budgeting, which had allowed the validity of funds up to two years, thus giving state offices less urgency to spend as they should.

Under a cash-based system, procurement for programs and projects should be completed within the fiscal year. The same system provides a three-month extended payment period, provided the goods and services have already been delivered, verified and inspected by the end of the fiscal year.

“There are important principles we have to consider in examining the budget, like how will this law affect participatory budgeting; how will it maximize the national grants to local governments to incentivize good governance; and how will this help the targeted welfare services, and most importantly will this promote transparency, accountability and efficiency,” Mr. Villanueva explained.

He added that some items in the budget may not be implemented within the fiscal year, citing the budget allocation for state schools especially in light of the shift in school year.

“For example, some of the schools have adjusted their academic calendar. If you are a scholar enrolling for the second semester and the term begins January of the following year, then the funds for your education may not be covered by the current budget,” he said.

“We also have to look at our current procurement procedures. If the budget is reformed, the procurement system has to be changed too.”

Mr. Villanueva co-authored Senate Bill No. 1761 in the 17th Congress, which failed to secure third-reading approval ahead of the June 3 adjournment. Its counterpart measure, House Bill No. 7302, was approved on final reading in March 2018.

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, for his part as Finance committee chairman, said in a separate phone message that he “will study it.”

The bill is among the priorities being pushed by the Cabinet participatory governance cluster, led by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for approval in the first regular session of the 18th Congress.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte in signing the P3.662-trillion 2019 General Appropriations Act, clarified that the spending plan will be implemented under a cash-based system.

The P4.1-trillion budget for 2020 is also designed as a cash-based spending plan. It secured final reading at the House, under House Bill No. 4228, on Sept. 20.

The Senate is expected to sponsor the budget for plenary debates when session resumes on Nov. 4. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Chinese firms pour $332 million into Makati City subway project

TWO CHINESE companies are pouring $332 million into the Makati City Subway System project, according to Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Philippine Infradev said it signed an investment agreement with Hui Gao Investments Development Limited in Hong Kong on Oct. 28.

Under the investment deal, the Chinese firm will subscribe to common shares representing 34% of Philippine Infradev’s adjusted shares capital for $102 million. In turn, Philippine Infradev subscribed to 51 million common shares of subsidiary Makati City Subway, Inc. (MCSI), which will undertake the construction, operation and management of the subway, for $102 million.

Hui Gao will also provide “directly or indirectly” a $200 million credit facility to MCSI. It also committed to providing 51% of the funding required for the subway project.

“Proceeds from the investment shall be used for the construction and completion of the Makati City Subway System,” Philippine Infradev said, adding the closing of the investment within 60 days.

The company, led by businessman Antonio L. Tiu, said MCSI also signed a subscription agreement with Shanghai Mintu Investments, Ltd., wherein the latter subscribed to 15 million common shares for $30 million.

“(Philippine Infradev), Shanghai Mintu and Hui Gao issued letters of guarantee wherein they guaranteed to advance or fund the cost required for the completion of the Makati Subway System based on the final cost of EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) works determined by the contractor engaged by MCSI,” the listed firm said.

In a separate statement, Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos said together with the city’s land contribution and initial investment, the Makati subway project now has funds of around $500 million.

“The Makati Subway project is definitely gaining momentum, and we are confident that our lead partner Philippine Infradev Holdings will be able to sustain the pace and finish the project on schedule… We are also grateful to our new partners from the Chinese business community for showing their trust in the viability of the subway project through their investments. With their vote of confidence, we anticipate more investors coming in to share our vision for the city,” Ms. Binay-Campos was quoted as saying in the statement.

Hui Gao was described as an affiliate of the Hong Kong-listed developer Redco Properties Group, while Shanghai MinTu is an investment holding group focusing on infrastructure, mass transportation, and financial services.

Philippine Infradev has already tapped several Chinese firms for the $3.5-billion Makati City subway project. These firms are Greenland Holdings Group; Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd., Holdings Ltd. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.

The 10-kilometer intracity railway system will have 10 stations. Philippine Infradev will operate the subway for 50 years. Its completion is expected in 2025, by which time the train will be able to accommodate 700,000 passengers every day. — Arjay L. Balinbin

DMCI Homes targets P14-B sales from condo

DMCI Project Developers, Inc. (DMCI Homes) is targeting P14.36 billion in sales from a new residential condominium in Pasig City.

In a statement, DMCI Homes said it has started the construction of Allegra Garden Place, located along Pasig Boulevard and near Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

The two-tower development “aims to replicate the sales success of DMCI Homes’ neighboring project, Prisma Residences, which is almost sold-out as of September 2019.”

“We have high hopes on this project not just because of Prisma Residences’ success but also because of the potential opportunities presented by ongoing infra projects in the area like the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project,” DMCI Homes Assistant Vice-President for Project Development Dennis Yap said in a statement.

Among these infrastructure projects in the area are the 633-meter BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road and the Metro Manila Subway Project, which runs across several cities including Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig and Pasay. Targeted for completion by June 2020, the bridge will connect with the Lawton Avenue-Global City Viaduct.

“All these upcoming infra projects make the area an even more valuable investment and premier living destination for urban dwellers as they bring every need of residents practically within reach,” Mr. Yap said.

DMCI Homes is hoping Allegra Garden Place will attract first-time homebuyers and young professionals working in BGC, Makati, Ortigas, and Eastwood City.

Allegra Garden Place will have two buildings, Amina and Soraya. It offers one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, with gross floor area (GLA) ranging from 30 square meters (sq.m.) to 83 sq.m. Prices start at P3.99 million.

Amina, the first tower, is expected to be completed by July 2024.

The real estate unit of DMCI Holdings, Inc. said it will introduce larger doors and windows for its units, an indoor multi-purpose wooden court, and fiber Internet connectivity.

Amenities include an elevated roof garden, kiddie pool, lap pool, leisure pool, game area, bar area, entertainment room, roof-deck, fitness gym and Sky Lounge.

DMCI Homes posted a net income of P1.23 billion in the first half of 2019, 34% lower year on year, due to the absence of a one-time gain from the sale of land last year. Excluding this, core net income was up 6%.

DMCI Homes is part of diversified engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings, Inc., whose interests also include power, mining, construction, and water.

PAL Holdings names new president

PAL Holdings, Inc. named Lucio K. Tan, Jr. as its new president, after the resignation of Gilbert Gabriel F. Santa Maria just three months after his appointment.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the parent company of Philippine Airlines (PAL), Inc. said Mr. Santa Maria resigned on Oct. 28 due to “personal reasons.”

During a board meeting on the same day, PAL Holdings elected Mr. Tan as its new president.

However, PAL Holdings later clarified that Mr. Santa Maria “remains as president and COO (chief operating officer) of the operating company, PAL, Inc.”

“Furthermore, at the joint Board of Directors meeting of PAL Holdings, PAL, Inc. and Air Philippines Corp. (APC) held yesterday, 28 October 2019, Mr. Sta. Maria presented his 90-day report on PAL, Inc. as well as his turnaround plan for PAL, Inc. which is due for implementation this coming year 2020. His presentation was well received by the joint Boards,” the listed company said.

In late July, PAL Holdings named Mr. Santa Maria as its president. He was handpicked by PAL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lucio C. Tan to replace Jaime J. Bautista who retired in June.

Mr. Santa Maria was previously the chief operating officer of DC-based IBEX Global Solutions PLC, and California-based IQ BackOffice, Inc.

PAL Holdings’ attributable net loss widened to P3.33 billion in the first half of 2019, from P1.4 billion during the same period a year ago. Consolidated revenues rose 8.6% to P81.25 billion during the period, mainly due to additional flight frequencies.

Shares in PAL Holdings fell 1.24% to close at P7.90 apiece on Tuesday. — Arjay L. Balinbin

REP 2020: A year of many firsts

 

AFTER 52 years and 82 seasons, Repertory Philippines (Rep) opens 2020 headed by a new artistic director, three first-time directors, and a new staging concept that is separate from Rep’s regular season.

Actress Liesl Batucan, formerly the theater group’s managing director, leads her first season — Rep’s 83rd — as REP’s artistic director with the aim of reaching younger audiences.

“I want to shake things up and infuse a new creative energy. I want to start a conversation with the audience to come to the theater. And also to know the concerns that matter to you and how we can present something that connects,” Ms. Batucan told BusinessWorld at the season’s press launch on Oct. 14 at Rep’s home, the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati.

“[W]e have our loyal audiences and they have grown with us,” Ms. Batucan said. “When I was entrusted [with the role of] artistic director, I told myself to make it my goal to reach the younger generation. I want to connect with you guys,” referring to millennials like this writer, as well as the Gen Z audiences.

THE 83RD SEASON LINEUP
Opening the season is The New York Times’ Critic’s Pick of 2014, Stage Kiss, written by American playwright Sarah Ruhl. The romantic comedy takes place backstage with former lovers “She” and “He” who have been cast as lovers in a 1930s melodrama. Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, it stars Missy Maramara, Tarek El Tayech, Andres Borromeo, Justine Narciso, and Mica Pineda.

“My objective as a director is to have the audience share the journey of these characters,” Mr. Siguion-Reyna said in a video shown during the launch.

Stage Kiss will run from Feb. 7 to March 1, 2020.

The second play is the Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics by Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz. It is set in 1929, in a cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. Juan Julian is hired as a lector, someone who reads to the employees, mostly Cuban immigrants, as they hand roll each cigar. Reading aloud from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, he influences the workers’ lives more than expected. Directed by New York-based production designer Joey Mendoza, the play stars Ana Abad Santos, Jake Macapagal, Paolo O’ Hara, Brian Sy, Gab Pangilinan, Gie Onida, and Madeleine Nicolas.

“I’d like people to walk out of this show thinking of how powerful literature can affect our lives. Things can change. We go into modernity. We like things fast. We look at our cellphones every moment and we stop communicating with each other. But the constant here is I think art and literature will always pull us together,” Mr. Mendoza said of the story in a video shown during the press conference.

Anna in the Tropics will run from March 13 to April 5, 2020.

Rep traditionally presents a musical to cap the season and this year the choice was Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s well-loved Broadway musical — and TIME Magazine’s Best Musical of the 20th Century — Carousel. The musical — first performed in 1945 — revolves around the romance between millhouse worker Julie Jordan and carousel barker Billy Bigelow. After losing their jobs because of their love affair, Billy resorts to theft to provide for their unborn child. Directed by Toff de Venecia, the cast is led by Nikki Gil and Gian Magdangal who are both making their REP debuts.

“The themes are universal, timely, and relevant,” Mr. De Venecia said, citing themes of love and redemption. “We’re excited to be able to excavate all of that and be able to bring that to our 2020 staging.”

Carousel will run from May 1 to 24, 2020.

REP 2020 ends with REP Theater for Young Audiences’ musical Snow White and the Prince by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman. Directed by Joy Virata, the musical will run from Sept. 12, 2020 to January 31, 2021.

SITE SPECIFIC PLAYS
Due to a blackout during one show of Father’s Day last season (Ms. Batucan was in the cast), the audience was given the option to either have their tickets refunded or stay and watch the show in the dark — and the audience agreed to the latter.

“We had to perform with no lapel microphone and then they all chose to stay, and when the lights came on, they were unhappy,” Ms. Batucan recalled. After the show, the experience sparked an idea for a new staging concept which she described as “bare bones, stripped, and unamplified.”

Directed by Ed Lacson Jr., REP Unplugged is alternative theater, and will be performed in unconventional performance spaces. It is independent from the rest of the season and will be launched on June 2020 during the interval between REP’s first three plays and its children’s production.

“It’s a work in progress,” Mr. Lacson said. “We’re doing it in an unconventional space. It’s not a reading or a rehearsal. [It’s a] fully realized production but in an unconventional, site specific space. We’re still finding the right material for the right venue. I can’t wait to start working on it. “

For updates, show schedules, ticket inquiries, and season passes, visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph, and repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

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