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FOTON showcases F-Jeepney Modern PUV in DoTr-LTFRB Caravan

STRENGTHENING its support in the government’s PUV modernization program, the Department of Transportation and (DoTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently launched a nationwide Caravan dubbed “Pagbabago Tungo sa Kaunlaran.”

“The caravan launch today is a strong manifestation of the collaborative effort of private and public partners in the implementation of the PUV Modernization Program. We intend to push this program as far and as fast as possible, and that won’t happen without the support of all the stakeholders,” said LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III in his speech.

The Caravan launch at SM Clark Pampanga coincided with the simultaneous nationwide launching by the LTFRB of the new routes for the Modern PUV. The schedule will be broken down into four phases and will cover the period from July 2019 to January 2020.

FOTON Philippines showcased its modern PUV entry, the F-Jeepney, throughout the various legs of the caravan. This Euro 4 Cummins-powered vehicle is designed to comply with the guidelines set by the Philippine National Standards.

“FOTON Philippines understands the importance of being able to move a large number of people reliably, safely, as well as with care for the environment. And from this, we see the role of the F-Jeepney as a workhorse and multi-functional partner for the growing number of PUV operators in the country,” said Rommel Sytin, president of FOTON Philippines.

The F-Jeepney sports 21st-century additions such as GPS navigation software, a CCTV camera, dashcam, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an entertainment system. The Beep card is also integrated into the vehicle’s payment scheme, truly modernizing almost all aspects of this version of public transport. Seating is also important, and the F-Jeepney is kitted out with stainless fixed bench seats that can hold up to 24 passengers, with 16 sitting down and eight standing up.

Since its launch this year, FOTON has already turned over its modern PUVs to transport cooperatives in provinces like Cainta, Rizal and Pampanga. The Modern PUV units in the Caravan are equipped with the required gadgets such as the automated fare collection system and are exhibited nationwide for one day each in some 32 cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“It’s time to make a step forward with our entries for the PUV modernization. The F-Jeepney will not just provide a comfortable riding experience for the commuters. We also aim to promote the capabilities of the national icon of Philippine transportation,” added Sytin.

LANDBANK extends P30-M loan facility to BCS Credit Cooperative

By Carmelito Q. Francisco
Correspondent

DAVAO CITY — Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is extending a P30-million loan facility to BCS Credit Cooperative to help expand its financing program to its members, particularly the small farmers and microentrepreneurs.

Christian Harvey N. Wong, LANDBANK’s Davao Lending Center account officer, said they recently signed the contract with the Davao del Sur-based cooperative that has 17 branches within the regions of Davao and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City).

“Meaning, the existing loans of the cooperative’s members may be replenished by the bank to allow the cooperative to maintain its liquidity, therefore, enable them to accommodate more loans from small farmers and microentrepreneurs,” Mr. Wong told BusinessWorld in an online interview.

Rolando B. Abadia, chair of BCS Credit Cooperative, said they are aiming to have about 50% of their 55,000 members avail of the fresh fund.

“We will be able to help our members who are into farming and livestock-raising by providing them funding to ensure that they can expand their farms as well as have fund for fertilizers and other farm implements,” he said in a telephone interview with BusinessWorld.

Mr. Abadia, also the chair of the Provincial Credit Union, said they expect to have the P30-million credit line to be distributed within three months.

The cooperative also assists its farmer members in marketing their goods, including rice, banana, and other high-value crops like cacao.

“The good thing is that we have planned how we can also market the produce at higher prices,” he said.

Aside from various loans, BCS Credit Cooperative also offers savings programs, insurance, and financial management packages for overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Mr. Wong said the organization has a capacity to borrow about P2 billion based on LANDBANK’s assessment.

“Per our lending guidelines, they can borrow up to P2 billion as their computed net borrowing capacity. Maybe in the future, when the cooperative so desires, they can borrow as much as P2 billion,” he said.

The cooperative, formally organized in 2002, became a LANDBANK client six years ago.

“(S)ince last year, I have been luring them for us to finance their lending to agri-related undertakings and activities, which is our mandate,” Mr. Wong said.

Banana smallholders to start using drones for aerial spraying

By Maya M. Padillo
Correspondent

DAVAO CITY — Two agricultural companies in Davao have purchased 30 drones for renting out to small banana farms to spray fungicide.

Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao (FEDCO) Chief Executive Officer Ireneo D. Dalayon said Sagrex Foods, Inc., controlled by Ferdinand Y. Marañon and Dolphin Agri Ventures run by Domingo Ang are waiting for the delivery of the drones from China, at a cost of about P500,000 per unit.

“Some (big) farms use drones in aerial spraying. In terms of cost, it’s lower compared to a plane and it is good for small land holding and better than manual spraying,” Mr. Dalayon told Businessworld in a text message.

Aside from cutting costs, Mr. Dalayon said the use of drones is expected to improve production as well as banana quality with a more precise spraying operation targeting leaves.

Fungicides control diseases such as black leaf streak, sigatoka leaf spot, and post-harvest diseases.

“At present, we are doing manual spraying to control sigatoka. Drones are more efficient compared to manual spraying,” he said.

He said using drones would lessen toxic pesticide drift in surrounding communities, which is a risk in spraying with aircraft. Meanwhile, manual spraying poses health risks to workers.

“Turbo planes fly so high and fast that some of the chemicals do not hit the leaves, unlike drones, which you can fly at an ideal height so the mist directly hits the leaves. Also, manual spraying has an effect on humans because a worker who does manual spraying has direct contact with chemicals,” he said.

The drones on order can carry 20 to 30 liters of pesticide.

“If your bananas are of good quality, the price is good. ‘Pag maraming sira ang saging, syempre mura lang din ang bili (If the bananas have a lot of defects, of course it will be bought cheap),” he said.

Mr. Dalayon said FEDCO is also planning to tap Land Bank of the Philippines for a loan to purchase more drones.

“If government, through LANDBANK, can extend to small farmers and co-ops loans to purchase drones, we can have our drones,” he said.

At the same time, the cooperative is looking at alternative livelihood or employment for the manual spraying workers who will be displaced.

FEDCO counts as its members small banana farmers’ cooperatives that export as well as supply to corporate growers and exporters. In recent years, it has also ventured into cacao.

For the wrist of the adventurous

AS TIMEPIECES adapt to people’s changing lifestyles and developing technology, being fashionable remains a constant even among the adventurous.

Even since the first Breitling Superocean models were launched in 1957, they were distinguished for their diving prowess. This year, Breitling releases a new collection which retains its deep-water DNA, and features clean and sporty designs for men and women with active lifestyles.

“With the new Superocean Collection, we have created watches for people who want to explore the oceans, whether they are active in water sports or in clean-up initiatives. And, of course, they will excite any fan of Breitling’s design values,” the company said in a press release.

Breitling’s Superocean 42

Travis Gan, Regional Retail Manager for Breitling Southeast Asia Importance, noted that precision is crucial for divers.

“[There’s a] lot of assurance for divers because of the capacity of the diving depth, as well as, the precision of the timing of the watch… For diving itself, you need to check the timing and the amount of oxygen that can last for the entire dive,” Mr. Gan told BusinessWorld during the collection’s launch at the Podium on Aug. 7.

THE COLLECTION
Every new Superocean Collection watch features the Breitling Caliber 17, a movement that offers a power reserve of up to 38 hours. It comes in five different sizes.

The Superocean 36 is designed for women who want a compact-sized sport watch — it has a 36-millimeter stainless-steel case and a ratcheted unidirectional bezel. The Superocean 48 has an oversized 48-millimeter DLC-coated titanium case and blue ceramic bezel and soft-iron inner case for protection against the effects of magnetic fields. The Superocean 46 has a 46-millimeter case in black steel (DLC-coated stainless steel) and is built with a ratcheted unidirectional bezel. The Superocean 44 has a 44-millimeter stainless-steel case and a ratcheted unidirectional bezel. The Superocean 42 is crafted with a 42-milli-meter stainless-steel case with a choice of a black, white, or orange dial, It also has a ratcheted unidirectional bezel. The watches are water-resis-tant up to 20 bar (200 meters); 30 bar (300 meters); 200 bar (2,000 meters); 100 bar (1,000 meters; and 50 bar (500 meters), respectively.

Non-divers may also wear it as a fashion statement.

“This is a versatile watch for anybody,” Mr. Gan said. “It’s not just necessary for divers. It can also be an everyday or even a weekend watch.”

For information, visit www.breitling.com. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Outsourcing industry adjusting goals amid unmet targets

THE Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it will soon release a revised version of its medium-term industry plan after targets were not met in 2017 and 2018, though it remains hopeful about 2019.

IBPAP, which refers to its industry as the information technology and business process management sector (IT-BPM), said the revised plan is due to be issued in September.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, IBPAP Chairman Lito T. Tayag said that the medium-term plan is currently being revised “right now… By around September we shall come up with a re-calibration of the road map,” he said.

Launched in 2016, Roadmap 2022 outlines the goals and projections IBPAP aims to meet in various sub-sectors of the IT-BPM industry. The blueprint also serves as a guide for the industry to increase its capabilities.

The original targets laid out in Roadmap 2022 included direct and indirect employment of 7.6 million and $40 billion in revenue.

He did not provide details of the planned revisions, but said: “2017 was not a good year. 2018… was also lower than our projections. We’re very hopeful about 2019 but we have yet to see.”

In May, IBPAP President Rey E. Untal told reporters the sector’s revenue grew 4%-5% to as much as $24.8 billion. At the time, IBPAP said it plans to lower its Roadmap 2022 annual revenue projections.

Mr. Tayag added that research company Everest Consulting Group Inc. is responsible for preparing a final report.

Investment in the outsourcing industry has been dented by US government policy encouraging repatriation of outsourced operations as well as uncertainty over Philippine tax reform. Earlier this year the Philippine government also announced a freeze in new economic zone proclamations for the IT industry in the National Capital Region. — Gillian M. Cortez

Kepwealth raises P385 million in initial public offering

KEPWEALTH Property Phils, Inc. (KPPI) raised P384.77 million during its initial public offering (IPO), after its offer period ended last Friday.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp., which served as the transaction’s sole issue manager, underwriter, and sole bookrunner, said the company’s offering was well-received by investors.

“(The offering) went well. It was a small IPO so we didn’t even need to market. TP (trading participant) and LSI (local small investors) tranches were fully subscribed,” BDO Capital President Eduardo V. Francisco said in a text message over the weekend.

The property leasing and asset management company offered 67.032 million shares priced at P5.74 per share from Aug. 5 to 9. The shares will be listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Small, Medium, and Emerging Board on Aug. 19 under the ticker “KPPI.”

Upon listing, the company will have a public float of 33.34% and a market capitalization of about P1.154 billion.

KPPI will use IPO proceeds to acquire about 3,500 square meters (sq.m.) of leasable office space. About P245 million will be spent for office spaces in Quezon City, Pasig City, and Makati City within the first half of 2020, while the rest will be for the purchase of office spaces in Davao.

Incorporated in 2005, the company currently owns 77 units with 98 leasable spaces of Kepwealth Center in the Cebu Business Park. The 15-storey building has been accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and has both domestic and multinational companies as its tenants.

The company also manages 459 units in different buildings in Metro Manila such as Oxford Suites, Medical Plaza Ortigas, Burgundy Corporate Tower, Burgundy West Bay Tower, Atrium Mall, Icon Macapagal, and Vivaldi Residences-Cubao Commercial Space.

Its asset management agreements have a standard term of five years, where it will be tasked to maximize the property’s value through market research, data analysis, and revenue forecasting.

KPPI’s net income grew 12% to P8.69 million in the first quarter of 2019, following a 13% uptick in revenues to P22.65 million.

In 2018, its net income stood at P34.3 million, flat from a year ago, while revenues rose 8% to P81.85 million.

KPPI is the first company to go public in 2019, amid market volatility seen over the latter half of 2018 extending until the first half of the year. Companies with IPO applications pending at the Securities and Exchange Commission include coconut product manufacturer Axelum Resources Corp. at P7.7 billion and Villar-led All Home Corp. at P20.7 billion. — Arra B. Francia

NPI starts construction on Valenzuela’s first Nissan dealership

NISSAN PHILIPPINES, Inc. (NPI) together with Prospercars, Inc., started construction of Valenzuela City’s very first Nissan dealership in Malinta, Valenzuela City last July 29.

“This milestone highlights Nissan’s commitment to make Nissan cars easily accessible to more people in the country. Our Valenzuela dealership is one of the many dealerships set to open in the coming years as part of our nationwide expansion plans,” says NPI President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima. The 1,000 sq.m. dealership will feature two storeys, consisting of a showroom on the first floor and a service workshop on the second.

China ex-central bankers see US currency war risks

FORMER China central bankers warned Saturday of currency-war risks with the US after an abrupt escalation of trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies last week.

The US’ labeling of China as a currency manipulator “signifies the trade war is evolving into a financial war and a currency war,” and policy makers must prepare for long-term conflicts, Chen Yuan, former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), said at a China Finance 40 meeting in Yichun, Heilongjiang.

Former PBoC Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said at the gathering that conflicts with the US could expand from the trade front into other areas, including politics, military and technology. He called for efforts to improve the yuan’s global role to deal with the challenges of a dollar-denominated financial system.

The PBoC allowed the yuan to weaken below seven to the dollar last week, prompting the US to accuse China of currency manipulation. President Donald Trump said talks with China planned for next month could be called off. Domestically, the conflicts added a new dimension to China’s balancing act: how to support the economy while avoiding an exchange rate that widens its rift with the US.

The US currency-manipulation charge is part of its trade-war strategy, and it’ll impact China “more deeply and extensively” than the trade differences, Chen said Saturday. While China should try to avoid further expanding the disputes, policy makers must be prepared for long-lasting conflict with the US over the currency.

“The US believes, in a geopolitical point of view, it’s being contained by China with China’s holding of its sovereign bonds,” Chen said. “That means the US is not completely without weakness.”

China should work to increase the use of the yuan in global trade such as the purchase of commodities, he said.

One of the PBoC officials at the meeting signaled that tensions with the US could increase. Zhu Jun, director of the PBoC’s international department, said “more ensuing measures are likely coming.” She didn’t elaborate.

The US’s move is an “appalling” act to gain an advantage during trade negotiations and is doomed to fail, the Communist Party’s flagship newspaper People’s Daily said in a commentary Saturday.

While markets haven’t reacted too strongly to the weakening yuan last week, it is possible that “the yuan could weaken further on unexpected shocks in the future,” Yu Yongding, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in Yichun.

With policy makers seemingly determined to make the yuan more flexible, the PBoC “should be patient and not adjust policies in haste because of short-term market volatility,” Yu said. “It won’t benefit the PBoC’s credibility and won’t benefit forex reform.” — Bloomberg

Government planning cash transfers for rice farmers

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Finance (DoF) have agreed to expand the Survival and Recovery (SURE) program to assist farmers in weathering the impact of low rice prices following the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

In a statement, the DA said that the assistance will take the form of unconditional cash assistance that will be given to farmers affected by the law. SURE is administered by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), and will supplement the programs and projects under the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) which include mechanization, credit, seed, and training programs for rice farmers.

The expansion of the program will also be based on the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“This unconditional cash assistance program is meant to help cushion the initial impact of lower palay prices on our farmers as they transition to the new rice tariffication regime,” Mr. Carlos G. Dominguez said in the statement.

“For the long haul, the RCEF facility under RA (Republic Act) 11203 will help sharpen the global competitiveness of our farmers by way of an array of programs providing them with access to farm machinery and equipment, high-yield seeds, cheap credit and skills training programs on farm mechanization and modern farming techniques,” he added.

Mr. William Dar, who chairs the ACPC council, will raise this to the council as soon as possible to disburse assistance at the soonest possible time.

Farmers have been calling the government to act on regarding the falling farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, the form in which domestic farmers sell their harvest. Prices are under pressure due to competition from cheap imported rice. The average farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, fell 0.1% week-on-week during the third week of July to P17.80 per kilogram (kg), the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

The farmgate price has declined 23% from its peak in September 2018, which was P22.88 per kg, farmers said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

A smartwatch for 94 (and more) workouts

AMERICAN fashion brand Fossil has joined the trend of fitness watches with the Fossil Sport Smartwatch.

“For several years, the health and wellness industry has been converging with smartwatch technology — and Fossil knew there was a tremendous opportunity to provide a connected option for the design-conscious consumer looking to bring style to their wrist. We know our consumers want versatility both in their activity and their accessories, which is why we wanted to bring a smartwatch to market that is a fit for every style,” said Steve Evans, EVP Fossil Group said in a press release.

The Fossil smartwatch is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform which allows for extended battery life, a new battery saving mode, enhanced ambient mode, integrated heart rate, NFC, and GPS capabilities. It comes in eight colors, two case sizes (41 and 43 mm), and 28 colorful silicone strap options. Among the 94 sports and workouts it handles data of are badminton, fencing, football, horse riding, skiing, polo, mixed martial arts, stair climbing, tennis, crossfit, dancing, jogging, yoga, and zumba.

“Fashion and form comes together. We really want that versatility to the lifestyle of the consumer… We want to bring a product to each and every one regardless if you are at home or at play,” said Allan Yee, vice-president of distribution of Fossil Asia Pacific Ltd at the launch on Aug. 5 at SM Megamall Fashion Hall.

WHAT’S NEW?
The Snapdragon Wear 3100 Platform allows the smartwatch to last with a day’s worth of battery life (based on usage) and two additional days when in battery saver mode.

The smartwatch is used with the app called Wear OS by Google which allows faster access to the user’s information and workout history. It also receives proactive help from Google Assistant and health coaching from Google Fit. Google Fit shows progress towards activity goals — Move Minutes and Heart Points — designed based on health recommendations from the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association.

“As an early partner of Wear OS by Google, Fossil has brought to life a diverse range of beautiful smartwatches that help people stay on top of their daily lives,” Stacey Burr, vice-president of product management for Wear OS by Google and Google Fit, said in a press release.

“We really wanted to capture the fitness and active person. Previously, our product was focused on fashion and function. And this time, we felt like there was a huge opportunity [with] the active lifestyle consumer,” Justin Paxton, senior regional brand manager of Fossil Asia Pacific Ltd, told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the launch.

The Fossil Sport Smartwatch’s other features include: interchangeable straps and bracelets (18mm and 22mm); heart rate sensors, GPS, altimeter, ambient light, and microphone; connect via Bluetooth technology; and wireless syncing and magnetic charging.

The Fossil Sport Smartwatch is priced at P13,000. Fossil watches are available at Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Vertis North, Estancia, Festival Mall, Market! Market!, the Marquee Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Clark, SM Legazpi, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Pampanga, SM Southmall, Uptown Mall BGC, and Venice Grand Canal. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Rice inventory up nearly 32% as NFA holdings surge

THE national rice inventory was estimated at 2.625 million metric tons (MMT) on July 1, up 31.9% from a year earlier, and also up 1% month-on-month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The estimate was contained in the PSA’s Rice and Corn Inventory report, and is sufficient for about 82 days based on the average daily consumption of Filipinos of 32,000 MT.

Some 38.4% of the rice inventory was held by households, 41.9% by commercial warehouses, and 19.7% by the National Food Authority (NFA). The PSA did not specify how much of total inventory accounted for by imported rice.

The Rice Tariffication Law, which opened up rice imports to private firms who are levied 35% on Southeast Asian grain, was implemented on March 5.

This also shifted the NFA’s mission to procuring palay, or unmilled rice, from domestic farmers. From January to August, the agency was able to buy 5.77 million bags, with 26,036 bags bought in the first week of August.

Inventory held by households and commercial warehouses increased 1.6% and 16.4% year-on-year, respectively, while NFA stocks surged 869.8% from a year earlier.

The drawdown in NFA stocks was a key factor in last year’s inflation crisis, leaving poor households to buy their grain from commercial traders. In poor countries food makes up a disproportionate amount of the food basket, and the high prices paid for rice and the potential for unrest galvanized the government into passing the Rice Tariffication Law as an inflation-easing measure.

On a month-on-month basis, household and NFA stocks declined 3.9% and 6.2%, respectively, while commercial warehouse inventory increased 10.2%.

The corn inventory was 822,700 MT, up 71.1% year-on-year, but down 4.3% from a month earlier.

Commercial warehouses held 92.6% of the total, while household stocks accounted for 7.4%. NFA corn holdings were zero for the period.

Year-on-year, households and commercial warehouse stocks rose 1.5% and 81.1%, respectively.

Month=-on-month, their holdings fell 23.6% and 2.3%, respectively. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Fashion inspired by children’s songs and play

DEPENDING ON where you place the accent, the word saya in Tagalog can mean two things: it can mean a skirt when emphasis is on the first “a,” but when you pronounce the “a” a little bit longer at the end, it means happiness. A fashion show which will be held on Sept. 22 at the Grand Hyatt Manila brings both meanings together with Baro at Sayá by Awit at Laro.

Baro at Sayá is the follow up to Awit at Laro, which was spearheaded by UNICEF Ambassador Gary Valenciano and Tukod Foundation’s Bambi Mañosa-Tanjutco. It was launched last October as a UNICEF fundraiser for its anniversary and as a campaign to promote Filipino culture and celebrate the spirit of play by reintroducing traditional games to the youth through music and the arts. Events included the Awit at Laro album launch and concerts in 22 Ayala Malls around the country, as well as art exhibits at Greenbelt 5 and Alabang Town Center.

This year, the campaign brings innately Filipino elements to the catwalk, where designers draw inspiration from the Awit at Laro songs to create modern outfits using indigenous designs and weaves set against the backdrop of Filipino traditional games and Original Pilipino Music.

Designers for the gala will include Len Cabili, Ito Curata, Rhett Eala, Zarah Juan, Marga Nograles’ Kaayo, Anne Marie Saguil, and Paloma Zobel’s label PioPio, all led by Rajo Laurel who serves as overall fashion consultant for the project.

Each artist took inspiration from the Awit at Laro song that was assigned to them. Mr. Laurel, who will also be one of the designers for the show, was quoted as saying in a press release: “I have always believed in the foundation from day one. I love what it stands for and I am always inspired by organizations that foster the same values and morals as I was brought up with. So it was really a natural progression. I am so privileged to be part of such a special and worthwhile endeavour.”

He continued, “I actually made my own fabric for the collection and asked my nephews and nieces to help. One weekend I brought some fabric and paint and we just had a blast. I wanted to truly incorporate the sense of play in the collection and what better way to do this by literally playing with my nieces and nephews.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Cabili will highlight her children’s line, saying that the revival of games we grew up with is something close to her heart. “The theme is really unique and fun, we focused on our core competencies and found a way to relate it to the whole thrust of the project”, she said.

For Mr. Curata, the project brought back childhood memories and the moments he spends playing with his son. “It brought out so many emotions in me, and I was challenged because designing with a Filipino game in mind brought me out of my design comfort zone. I am also very excited because the project is extremely worthwhile.”

Mr. Eala will show off the stately side of Filipiniana. “Our pieces combine several fabrics and techniques of embroidery to highlight our mixed cultures, making you stand out. Each piece was made to reflect the rich culture that we represent made wearable and relatable for the modern woman,” he said.

Ms. Juan likewise experienced the joy of play, as she turned to playing piko with her team for inspiration. “This collaboration is a celebration of who we are as Filipinos. It is deeply rooted to our culture and heritage which makes it inspiring and exciting.”

Ms. Nograles will highlight traditional weaves in her work. “We took inspiration and put together our favorite weaves that represented Filipino song and play. Then we mixed some hand beading and embroidery by the indigenous [people] that we work with and topped it off with fun Filipino accessories. Each piece we will present will tell a fun and unique story,” she said.

For Anne Marie Saguil of Amarie, “The design process for the collection was quite different and a lot of fun for me because childhood, fun and play was the central theme for the clothes’ colors and silhouettes. As a result, the collection took on a younger playful vibe but still always suitable for the adult modern Filipina.”

For Paloma Zobel’s PioPio, the collection is all about the Filipino family — appropriate, as Ms. Zobel is part of one of the country’s most famous ones. “We thought it would be fun to include the Mañosas, our brand ambassadors, in all stages of this project,” Ms. Zobel said. “Awit at Laro is all about family, generations, and going back to this holistic child-like mentality where we showcase the importance of playing and our traditions. By allowing our brand ambassadors to help in the designing process, from picking fabrics to designing their dream outfits, we carried through this theme of getting back in touch with our roots and using art and creativity to help bond families and friends.”

This year’s Baro at Sayá fashion show is a fundraiser for UNICEF, Museo Pambata’s renovation project, and Tukod Foundation’s “Pamato sa Pagtuturo” Awit at Laro workshops for teachers.

As the models walk down the runway, they will be accompanied by the Awit at Laro album’s song that inspired the designer’s collection. Guest artists for the night include Gary Valenciano, the Awit at Laro album producer, Darren Espanto, and the TNT Boys. Also participating in the show is Sofia Zobel Elizalde’s STEPS dancers with choreography by James Laforteza.

“You can expect to see fun, playful and beautiful creations that go across generations. We are working with extremely talented designers whose inspiration runs deep. They create not only for themselves but to help inspire and uplift the Filipino people in more ways than one. We are also working with families to be our ambassadors to help represent what the Baro at Sayá fashion show represents: families that also want to give back to our communities and to our children,” said Kat Mañosa, Project Head of Baro at Sayá.

Baro at Sayá aims to give children the opportunity to appreciate the Philippines’ indigenous fabrics in order to raise a generation that gives value to sustainable fashion. Ms. Mañosa-Tanjutco, who also serves as Creative Head of Baro at Sayá, said that it is possible for a new population — one that is younger and larger in number — to wear these textiles. “I think that is possible, because it’s pretty much the law of supply and demand. The more you [want] it, the more it is available. Then the prices start to go down, because you have [more] people doing it: more communities creating and weaving,” she told BusinessWorld.

“It is available — it’s just a way of how to make it creative, and how to make it very interesting for the young people to wear; for the youth to take on and accept.”

Speaking about how games help in establishing identity, Ms. Mañosa-Tanjutco, said, “It is who we are as Filipinos. It’s our culture of values, and the way we are, basically as a people, is seen in our games.”

“Everybody has a story about a Filipino game that they used to play,” she said. “I think we all need this as a people,” she said about reintroducing traditional games to younger generations. “We need to learn how to play again.”

The Baro at Sayá by Awit at Laro fashion show will be held on Sept. 22 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, BGC, Taguig City. For ticket reservations and other details contact Ann Loren Yu, Executive Director of Tukod Foundation Inc. at 0917-123-2724. The fashion show is co-presented by Grand Hyatt Manila. — Joseph L. Garcia

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