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MPIC looks to build LNG terminal

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-Editor
METRO PACIFIC Investments Corp. (MPIC) has joined local and foreign companies that have signified their intention to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal ahead of the depletion of the country’s lone source of the fossil fuel — the Malampaya offshore gas field.
“We’re studying that,” MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters after the quarterly media briefing on Monday of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the distribution utility which he also chairs.
Asked about the target completion date of the study, he said: “Maybe early next year.” He said should the group decide to pursue the project, it would be undertaken “between Meralco and MPIC.”
Mr. Pangilinan said he wanted the LNG import terminal to be started “as soon as feasible.” He said the urgency of putting up the facility is dictated by the time it takes to complete its construction.
“It takes minimum three years to build a gas terminal… minimum 10 years to build a gas field. So we are slowly hitting the wall if we don’t move,” he said.
Natural gas, said to be the cleanest fossil fuel, is transported through a pipeline. But if the deposit is large and the market is overseas, the gas may be liquefied for ease of shipping and moved through specialized tankers. Imported LNG is then regasified or reverted to its former state in the country of destination.
Mr. Pangilinan said the country should be aware that building an LNG import terminal is just a means to an end. Its main users are the existing local gas-fired power plants.
At present, the country’s natural gas supply comes from the Malampaya gas field off the coast of Palawan province. Five gas-fired power plants in Batangas province, with a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts (MW), are the main customers of the fuel source, which is expected to be depleted by 2022 to 2024.
Mr. Pangilinan said a number of questions should be answered before putting up an LNG terminal, including its cost, how it would translate into power rates, and how the fuel will be transported to the power plants and into the market.
He said determining the capacity of the LNG terminal is “complicated.”
“We do know the likely demand of the Philippines will be for the next 15 years, the question is, what’s the mixture of fuel sources [that] will meet the demand in the next 15 years,” he said.
“Our estimate is the demand is currently 15-16,000 MW of consumption,” pointing to Meralco’s power demand data.
The distribution utility placed demand for electricity within its franchise to have peaked so far this year at 7,399 MW on May 23. Luzon’s peak demand so far this year is at 10,876 MW, which was registered on May 28.
“We expect that to double at a certain assumption on economic growth of the Philippines,” Mr. Pangilinan said. “So we need another 15-16,000 [MW] plus any new plants that need to be built to provide us adequate margins. At the moment, margin is not adequate. So you have to build X thousand MW.”
“The question is, [what] fuel source is the most efficient. Paramount [to that question] is the cost to consumer,” he said.
“The industry alone cannot decide on the mix. The government has a big say. They will approve the power plants and the costs to produce,” he said, adding that the industry and the government should hold a “dialogue” to arrive at answers.
Asked about whether the MPIC group had informed the Department of Energy (DoE) about the LNG plan, he said: “[We are] about to. We have to prepare our own brief.”
In June, the DoE said it was expecting to start receiving towards the end of 2018 firm proposals from the local and foreign companies that are keen on putting up an integrated facility for imported LNG. It earlier said about 11 investors had come forward to express their interest in building the facility.
MPIC is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

D.M. Wenceslao profit slips 6%

D.M. WENCESLAO saw its attributable income drop 6% in the second quarter. — FACEBOOK.COM/DMWENCESLAOANDASSOCIATESINC

D.M. WENCESLAO & Associates, Inc. (DMW) saw its attributable profit slip by 6% in the second quarter, as revenues likewise slowed during the period.
In a regulatory filing, the newly listed property developer reported a net income attributable to the parent of P503.13 million in the three months ending June, lower than the P535.32 million it realized in the same period a year ago.
The profit drop followed a 41% decline in DMW’s revenues to P637 million, versus the P1.07 billion it generated during the second quarter of 2017.
DMW’s performance in the first quarter allowed it to grow its attributable profit by 42% in the first half of the year to P969.8 million. The company attributed the increase to its core leasing business and the addition of an investment property.
“Strong execution from our marketing, and construction teams is accelerating momentum across our businesses. We have completed our third commercial office building ahead of schedule and within budget,” DMW Chief Executive Officer Delfin Angelo C. Wenceslao said in a statement.
Mr. Wenceslao said the early delivery of the project allowed it to add more than 30,000 square meters of leasable area to its portfolio, which has already been fully leased out by the end of 2017.
Revenues reached P1.2 billion for the first semester, 23% lower year-on-year. Recurring income accounted for 80% of the total revenues, mainly due to the completion of the new office building.
Rentals of land went up by 5% P482.2 million, while rentals of buildings grew by 70% to P351.9 million. The company’s residential segment contributed P119.5 million in revenues, 6% higher than the same period year before. Meanwhile, revenues from the construction segment went up 19% to P114.5 million.
The company was able to start construction of another office building called 8912 Asean Ave. during the first six months of the year. The latest project will add 68,890 sq.m. of leasable space under DMW’s portfolio by the time it is completed in 2021.
“We have a clear set of strategies centered around portfolio expansion through a combination of land and commercial leasing and residential sales growth. We are continuing to ramp up the business — strategically and with a long-term mind-set — while also taking decisive action that could produce meaningful returns to our shareholders in the quarters and years ahead.” Mr. Wenceslao said.
Shares in DMW dropped 0.81% or eight centavos to close at P9.77 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

Solid as a Rock: Vitug explains the historic maritime ruling

ON JULY 12, 2016, a 479-page verdict stated that a tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in favor of the Philippines in its maritime dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. The PCA concluded that China’s claim of historic rights falling within its so-called nine-dash line had no legal basis. Two years after the victory, the Philippines has yet to completely assert its sovereignty over the territory.
Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Rappler’s editor-at-large, has written a comprehensive account of the case in Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won its Maritime Case Against China. The book includes notes on documents, transcripts of hearings, and the story of the case which led to the historic victory.
“The title is a play of words. The case is mainly about rocks, as you will read in the book. And it’s a strong decision issued by the tribunal. So, I thought, the title should have “rock” in it. In a light bulb moment, “rock solid” came to mind,” Ms. Vitug told BusinessWorld in a text message of choosing the book title

“In this book, I tell the story of this victory that gave the country so much but has not been given the national attention it deserved. The Philippines gained a maritime area larger than the total land area of the country — rich in resources. Yet these gains were disregarded by the government in its rush to embrace China,” Ms. Vitug said at the book’s launch on July 24 at the Rizal Library in Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU).
Ms. Vitug said that the maritime dispute is a landmark case for the following reasons:
• it is the “first to interpret the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) definition of rocks, islands, and low tide elevations,”
• the “first case to be filed by a South China Sea claimant state against China,”
• the “first time the Philippines sued a country,” and
• the “first case to address the scope and applications of the UNCLOS provision on protection and preservation of the environment.”
Government officials expressed the value of the ruling as a way to assert the country’s right to sovereignty.
“With [the] tribunal ruling, we need to respectfully call on the president to finally do what is necessary to defend what we are fully entitled to do under international law,” former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary and Ambassador Albert del Rosario said in his speech at the launch.
“We need to listen not to the Chinese ambassador but to our people, we need to embrace not China but our own country. The president and his men should cast aside their fear of displeasing China and diplomatically move it forward to do what needs to be done. The president and his men will not be alone. In defending what is right, we will be joined by all Filipinos,” Mr. Del Rosario added.
In her speech at the launch, Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo cited data from the Pulse Asia survey in June — “73% of the Filipinos believe that the government should assert their sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.”
Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, a force behind the ruling, said that Filipino’s knowledge of and deeper understanding of the enforcement of the ruling is “the only viable way of protecting and preserving our sovereign rights on the West Philippine Sea.”
“I wrote in my preface that I learned that our country lacks strategic brainpower, we tend to think short-term. Also, we have one of the longest coastlines in the world, yet we are not aware of maritime issues or our maritime surroundings. Our policies are mainly land-based, in security, and infrastructure,” Ms. Vitug said in a text message.
“I hope our leaders use the Philippine victory as leverage in dealing with China, [and] that they learn from our recent history.”
Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won its Maritime Case Against China is available at Fully Booked, Popular Bookstore, La Solidaridad, and the Ayala Museum for P545. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Foreign projects seen to raise AC Energy’s capacity

AYALA-LED AC Energy, Inc. expects 70% of its target 1,000-megawatt (MW) installed renewable energy capacity by 2020 to come from its foreign projects, including its investments in Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, its top official said.
“If you look at our renewables target… remember we’re targeting a thousand megawatts of renewables by 2020, I would expect around 70% of [that] to be international and 30% local,” Eric T. Francia, AC Energy president and chief executive officer, told reporters on Monday night during the annual meeting of the Confederation of Solar Developers of the Philippines.
“Right now we are around that — we are two-thirds [international and] one-third [local],” he said.
Mr. Francia said AC Energy’s renewable energy capacity in Indonesia is currently bigger than that of the Philippines because of its acquisition of an existing geothermal project in the former.
In April last year, AC Energy and its joint venture partners completed the acquisition of Chevron Corp.’s geothermal assets and operations in Indonesia, further boosting AC Energy’s renewable energy portfolio in that country after earlier investing in a wind farm.
The Chevron deal gave AC Energy a 19.8% stake in the 637-MW geothermal steam and power capacity in Darajat and Salak geothermal fields along with its 75% stake in the 75-MW wind farm project in Sidrap, South Sulawesi. These acquisitions more than doubled the company’s clean energy capacity to at least 264 MW.
“We’re going to add Vietnam soon. We already have 30 [MW] but in the next few weeks, we do expect to reach financial close for solar in Vietnam,” he said.
In January, AC Energy announced a partnership with Vietnam’s BIM Group to develop more than 300 MW of solar power in that country. They broke ground on a 30-MW solar project valued at 800 billion Vietnamese or P1.8 billion.
Mr. Francia said in the coming weeks, the company would “make a lot of progress” in adding to the existing solar capacity in Vietnam ahead of its feed-in-tariff deadline.
“If you add Vietnam, and hopefully Australia will follow suit next year in terms of financial close, we can really see those international numbers moving up, but we’re not gonna be totally silent here in the Philippines. We’re still hopeful that we can do a few hundred megawatts,” he said.
In May, AC Energy said it was investing $230 million to acquire a 50% stake in the Australian business of UPC Renewables and provide funding for the latter’s renewable energy projects.
AC Energy, a subsidiary of Ayala Corp., said its entry into the Australian renewables market is through a joint venture with the international renewable energy developer. It said UPC Renewables Australia complements AC Energy’s goal to exceed 5,000 MW by 2025. The foreign energy platform is focused on large scale projects, it said.
AC Energy said UPC Renewables Australia is developing the 1,000-MW Robbins Island and Jims Plain projects in North West Tasmania, and the 600-MW New England Solar Farm near Uralla in New South Wales.
Mr. Francia said the company’s ongoing local coal-fired power plant projects would continue, including the construction of the 552-MW clean pulverized coal-fired power generation facility under subsidiary GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co.
AC Energy targets to develop by 2020 up to 2,000 MW of capacity, of which 1,000 MW is targeted to come from renewable energy.
In the Philippines, the company has a 20% stake in the 632-MW GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co.; 50% in the 668-MW GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co.; 35% in the 244-MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp.; and 85% in GNPower Kauswagan. It is looking for interested partners in these coal-fired power plants. — Victor V. Saulon

More than freaks and geeks at Atlantis’ Side Show

A BEARDED WOMAN, a Three-Legged Man, a Lizard Man, a Half-Man-Half Woman, and a Geek all enter the circus singing “come look at the freaks!” Sir, the ringmaster and the man behind the spectacle, then calls in the stars of the show: charming Siamese twins who can definitely sing. This is Broadway’s Side Show, which is coming to Manila on Aug. 31.
If you loved the story, spectacle, and songs of Hugh Jackman’s movie The Greatest Showman, Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group is bringing the same theme, and more, in its production of Side Show.
The musical is a heartwarming tale based on the true story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twin entertainers in 1930s. The story is backed up by an epic playlist from the same composer of Dreamgirls’ music, Henry Krieger.
Running at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City until Sept. 23, the core of the musical is about acceptance, friendship, love, and embracing our own peculiarities.
Daisy and Violet Hilton will be played by Gab Pangilinan and Kayla Rivera, respectively.
How difficult is it to play conjoined twins on stage? Ms. Pangilinan told BusinessWorld it is not easy.
“Being a conjoined twin demands a lot of hard work coming from the two of us. We always have to strategize what to do during the rehearsal period because we have to do everything at the same time: getting a drink of water, using the restroom (of course, we this that separately!), sitting down, and standing up… Basically, there’s a lot of compromise and understanding involved,” she said.
The Hilton twins started out as the starring act of a sideshow at the Orpheum Circuit helmed by the menacing ringmaster, Sir, played by Wency Cornejo. In the song “Come Look at the Freaks!” the ringmaster sings that he adopted the conjoined girls, “gave them moral disciplines, taught them standards, right from wrong. I nurtured their musicality, let them charm you with their song!”
While it seems that the twins are content with what they have, it turns out that they have their unfulfilled hearts’ desires: Violet yearns for a normal life, a husband, and a home, while Daisy seeks popularity. And when an offer to become vaudeville stars lands on the twins’ laps, the two are excited to accept the offer, which comes with what they are yearning for: fame, fortune, and a possible romance with a talent scout (Markki Stroem) and a budding musician (David Ezra).
One of the most popular songs in the musical is the twin’s duet, “Who Will Love Me as I Am?” Though they may want different things, Daisy and Violet share the same questions. The lyrics reflect their fears: “Like an odd exotic creature on display inside a zoo, hearing children asking questions makes me ask some questions, too. Who could see beyond this surface? Who will love me as I am?”
But is the musical capitalizing on society’s fascination with exotics and their stories? “Side Show is more than just a story about ‘freaks’ or one that celebrates uniqueness,” director Steven Conde told BusinessWorld. “It is a story about connections that prove stronger than any physical bond. It is about the importance of family and relationships. It shows us how our most valued relationships can outweigh wealth, fame and even romance,” he said.
While Side Show is Mr. Conde’s first directorial stint with Atlantis, he is no newbie — his directing credits include Wit, My Name is Asher Lev, Suicide Incorporated, and Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.
“Side Show is the perfect example of a musical that can change lives. I am more than excited to direct this gem of a musical and share it with audiences, especially those who might feel weighed down by their own peculiarities.”
Also in the cast are Arman Ferrer, Christine Flores, Chesko Rodriguez, Alex Reyes, Luis Marcelo, Juancho Escoto, Vien King, Timmy Pavino, Jill Peña, Mica Fajardo, and Ring Antonio.
Despite its positive reviews, Side Show had short Broadway runs in 1998 and in 2014 when it was revived, but, it was nominated for four Tony Awards in 1998 including a nod for Best Musical.
“It continues to be one of the most produced musicals globally,” said Bobby Garcia, Atlantis Theatrical’s producing-director. “Add to that, the musical’s show-stopping music and powerful message of celebrating our uniqueness, it was only a matter of time before we brought Side Show to Manila.”
Side Show is choreographed by Cecil Martinez, who has been choreographing Atlantis’ shows for 11 years; the set are by Lawyn Cruz, who last designed for 2012’s God of Carnage; lighting is by JonJon Villareal (The Bridges of Madison County); costumes by Odeon Simpao; musical direction by Farley Asuncion; and vocal coaching by ManMan Anasico.
Side Show opens on Aug. 31 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Cebu Pacific eyes China boost

CEBU AIR, Inc., the listed operator of Cebu Pacific, is looking to fortify its business in China as it looks to dedicate more flights there when it receives its order of new aircraft next year.
Cebu Pacific President Lance Y. Gokongwei told reporters on Tuesday the 10 planes it expects to be delivered by 2019 will be used primarily for international flights, specifically in China.
“There’s really a lot of interest from North Asia, especially Chinese, to connect to the Philippines. So I think there’s gonna be large opportunities to connect the secondary cities in China outside the Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai,” he said.
The company is seeking connectivity to cities such as Chengdu and Xi An, but Mr. Gokongwei refused to disclose the number of locations they are targeting.
The local carrier said last week it is looking to add nine additional aircraft every year starting this year until 2022. It has so far ordered five Airbus A320neos, two A321ceos, 31 A321neos and six ATR 72-600s.
When the new routes to China launch, Mr. Gokongwei said the flights might have to be distributed to airports outside Metro Manila as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) currently suffers from overcapacity.
“I think Manila’s getting a little bit congested, so we are going to be adding significant capacity to Clark, to Cebu, and to other destinations,” he noted.
Aside from Cebu Pacific, Philippines Airlines (PAL) also said earlier it is boosting its business in China as it expects the market to be its fastest growing this year.
“Yung growth ng market ng tourist from China is the highest in terms of percentage growth. There was a time ata 50% eh, (The growth of the Chinese tourist market is the highest in terms of percentage growth. There was a time I think it reached 50%),” PAL President Jaime J. Bautista told reporters on July 17.
He noted that Chinese tourists are drawn to the Philippine islands and beaches, and this is fuelling the continuous rise of the market.
Meanwhile, aside from its plans for China, Cebu Pacific is also positive it will reach its target to fly 22 million passengers this year despite the six-month closure of Boracay as Mr. Gokongwei said the company saw “tremendous growth” in tourism, reaching double digits.
“(There is) increasing interest from foreign tourists to visit the sights of the Philippines. I think the combination of increased capacity provided by the airlines, continuous low fares, as well as the increased interest arising from the growing economy and the marketing efforts of the various players, especially the government, will really propel growth,” he said.
The Boracay Island has been shut down by the government after a comment from President Rodrigo R. Duterte saying it has turned into a cesspool. Rehabilitation efforts for the tourist spot began in April and is set to end by Oct. 26.
Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told reporters despite the island’s closure, tourist arrivals in June increased by 11.35% from the same period last year. “Imagine, the closure of our number one tourist destination did not affect tourist arrivals. In fact, it increased. Imagine with the opening,” she said.
The government is targeting a total of 7.4 million tourist arrivals by year-end.
Cebu Pacific also announced it is partnering with the DoT for its sustainable tourism initiative that will begin in September. The project, dubbed “Juan Effect,” will gather stakeholders to work on a concerted effort to conserve the environment.
“Siargao will serve as the Juan Effect pilot module, wherein the airline together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government units and tourism associations, will work together to implement sustainable tourism action plans,” the company said in a statement.
Cebu Air saw its net income at P1.436 billion during the first quarter, up 12% from in the same period last year. It said in a regulatory filing that the increase was driven by higher revenue growth.
Shares in Cebu Air went up by 35 centavos or 0.50% to close at P70.35 each on Tuesday. — Denise A. Valdez

Cavite barge terminal seen opening by end-September

THE International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the Cavite Gateway Terminal (CGT) may finally be used by end-September, months later its original target because of the three typhoons that affected the area in the past months.
After an inspection of the construction work by Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, other DoTr officials and representatives of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., the government said the barge terminal’s original scope of work is now 99% complete.
ICTSI, the proponent of the terminal, earlier said the project is part of the company’s $380-million capital expenditure this year. It said in June the target opening of the CGT was on the third week of that month.
“The project is completed, and we have successfully simulated the receipt and delivery of containers via barge and trucks. We are just confirming date of formal inauguration,” ICTSI said in an e-mail interview on Tuesday.
DoTr Communications Director Goddess Hope O. Libiran told BusinessWorld the delay was because “weather has not been very cooperative in the past few months.”
Ms. Libiran explained, “There’s a total of 98 caissons to be installed as foundations of the CGT pier. 61 have already been installed. There are 37 left for installation.”
Caissons are watertight chambers used as foundations of bridge piers, she said. For the CGT, the caissons are being used on the hard stand to prepare the future expansion of the barge terminal, which is 45% complete.
The CGT, also called the Cavite barge terminal, will be the country’s first roll-on, roll-off barge facility once completed. It will cater to cargo trans-shipments from Manila to the province of Cavite.
“The CGT was designed to expand our port capacity, and reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila by supporting an annual capacity of 115,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) translating to 140,000 fewer truck trips travelling on city roads per year,” the DoTr said.
The listed port operator posted a 15% fall in net income during the first quarter at $44.1 million. It said in a regulatory filing the weakening of the peso affected its operations in countries outside the Philippines.
Shares in ICTSI went up by 60 centavos or 0.68% to close Tuesday’s trading session at P89 each. — Denise A. Valdez

Exhibit explores what binds ASEAN art together

DESPITE OUR differences in religion, culture, and lifestyle, the Philippines and its neighboring countries are held together by the language of art. To demonstrate both the contrasts and the resemblances, the Philippines is hosting a contemporary art exhibition called Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia.
Curated by Patrick D. Flores, the exhibit also concludes the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is one of the founding members.
Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia will feature 10 artists from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines.
It will be held simultaneously in three major art institutions: the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET), the University of the Philippines’ Vargas Museum, and the Yuchengco Museum.
It will open on Aug. 8 at the MET, Aug. 9 at the Yuchengco Museum, and Aug. 10 at the Vargas Museum, with a series of programs for each venue. The exhibit will run until Oct. 6 at all three venues.
The participating artists are Singapore’s Amanda Heng, the Philippines’ Roberto Feleo, Indonesia’s Anusapati, Vietnam’s Do Huang Tuong, Laos’ Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, Malaysia’s Chris Chong Chan Fui, Thailand’s Jedsada Tangtrakulwong, Myanmar’s Min Thein Sung, Cambodia’s Vuth Lyno, and Brunei’s Yasmin Jaidin.
In a press release, Dr. Flores said of the exhibition: “This undertaking…, draws attention to the thoughtful and sensitive process of artistic transformation and maturity and tries to avoid the tendency of survey exhibitions to merely select the most popular or the most accessible.”
He added that “it also reminds us that artistic practice is not fully formed but rather gleaned in the condition of constant forming. It is this constant forming that the project endeavors to curate.”
The title of the exhibition, Ties of History, is a phrase taken from the document signed by the ASEAN’s five founding members on Aug. 8, 1967. It describes “a region already bound together by ties of history and culture.” A region that is “conscious that in an increasingly interdependent world, the cherished ideals of peace, freedom, social justice, and economic well-being are best attained by fostering good understanding, good neighborliness and meaningful cooperation among the countries of the region.” The document gave birth to ASEAN, which, taken as a collective, is the world’s fifth largest economy.
Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia is not only a survey of contemporary art in Southeast Asia, but it is also a study of a particular practice and realities that each artist has in his or her country.
The project is presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the Dalubhasaan Para sa Edukasyon sa Sining at Kultura with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
NCCA Chairman Virgilio S. Almario said of the importance of the ASEAN in the current political climate: “ASEAN is a unique regional organization because it aims to be known to the world as one community despite its diversity in religion, race, and culture. In a world troubled by differences in belief, finding peace may be meditated through art that lets us see the threads that string us together.”

Globe offers payments via GCash at Wendy’s stores

GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. partnered with Wendy’s for QR-based payments. — BW FILE PHOTO

GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. has launched a partnership with Wendy’s Philippines to allow its customers to use a QR-based mobile payment technology at its restaurants.
“Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc, (Mynt) which operates GCash, the Philippines’ largest mobile wallet, recently announced that the GCash QR-based mobile payment technology is now available in all Wendy’s stores nationwide,” the telco company said in a statement on Tuesday.
It added that customers with a smartphone may start using the payment option in all stores of the burger chain through the Scan to Pay feature of the GCash mobile application.
“[W]e are happy to announce that customers can now use their GCash to pay at any Wendy’s branch in the country. This will make their dining experience more convenient,” GCash Chief Executive Officer Albert O. Tinio was quoted in the statement as saying.
To pay using the mobile wallet, it said the customer may use the smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code at any Wendy’s store.
“We are always trying to innovate to make our customers’ dining experience more convenient. This partnership with GCash is a good step to that direction since customers can now pay using their GCash via the Scan-to-Pay technology,” Walter Mariner, Wendy’s Philippines Operations Director, said in the statement.
Globe saw its attributable net income reach P4.7 billion in the first quarter, 27% higher than in the same period last year, driven by higher earnings.
Shares in Globe climbed P22 or 1.21% to close at P1,835 apiece on Tuesday. — Denise A. Valdez

PHL loses cultural icons Guillermo and Guerrero-Nakpil

THE PHILIPPINES has lost two formidable women in the passing of historian and journalist Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, 96, and art critic Dr. Alice V. Guillermo, 80.
Ms. Guillermo, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines (UP), Diliman and its former Art Studies department chairperson, died on July 29.
The following day, July 30, Ms. Nakpil, historian, journalist, public servant, and essayist, who was called by colleagues as the “Grand Old Lady of Public History” for her efforts to bring to country’s history in the public consciousness, passed away peacefully.
HISTORIAN, JOURNALIST
Ms. Nakpil was the chairwoman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) from 1967 to 1971.
According to NHCP Facebook page she passed away at 1:30, Monday morning.
“Her works in Philippine history and culture, and her contributions to the development of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, will live on and serve as a guide for succeeding generations of Filipinos,”the NHCP said on its Facebook page.
Historian and academic Michael Charleston “Xiao” Briones Chua, who got the news through a “sad text” from Gemma Araneta, one of Ms. Nakpil’s daughters, said in a public Facebook post: “I am one with the Cruz and Nakpil families in this time of grief. They lost their mother, their matriarch, but the Nation also lost a National Treasure.”
Born on July 19, 1922 in Ermita, Manila, Ms. Nakpil graduated from St. Theresa’s College with a degree in Bachelor of Arts. She started as a proofreader, and eventually became a columnist, journalist, and historian.
Among many of her recognitions, she received the Gawad Balagtas award , the SEA Write Award in 1990, and National Book Award in 2006.
Ms. Nakpil has authored many books including The Rice Conspiracy: A Novel, the Centennial Reader: Selected Essays, Woman Enough: And Other Essays, A Question of Identity, History Today, The Philippines and the Filipinos, and Whatever.
She was a historian with a gift for writing. Mr. Chua said Ms. Nakpil bridged the gap between history and the Filipino people. “As a Public Historian, she was the woman who carried on the torch from Mariano Ponce, José Rizal, Epifanio de los Santos, and José P. Santos and inspired many others to follow in the path of bringing history closer to the people with her beautiful prose and impeccable research,” he said in his Facebook post.
Her wake is ongoing at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig while her funeral will be on Aug. 1 at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.
ART CRITIC BIDS ADIEU
Also a prolific writer, Ms. Guillermo started writing art criticism in 1972 and worked with various publications like the Philippine Graphic, Asian Art News, and Today newspaper through the years.
“Dr. Guillermo, UP Professor Emeritus and former Department Chair, was a pioneering force in Philippine Art,” said a post on UP Diliman’s Art Studies Facebook page. “Along with other esteemed faculty members, she helped set new directions in the field of art scholarship. Among her legacies are her multiple books and essays on art history, art criticism, and cultural studies that serve as foundation for Art Studies in the Philippines. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Guillermo’s family and loved ones.”
Among her books are the Image to Meaning: Essays on Philippine Art and Protest/Revolutionary Art in the Philippines 1970-1990.
Ms. Guillermo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the College of the Holy Spirit. She finished her masters in Comparative Literature at UP Diliman. She went on to study art under a French government scholarship at the Universite d’Aix-Marseille.
Ms. Guillermo received the Art Criticism Award of the Art Association of the Philippines in 1976. In 1999, she was named a the Centennial Honoree for the Arts (for Art Criticism) by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
She made major contributions to the CCP Encyclopedia.
Details of her wake are yet to be announced. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

BHI sales down in June due to Boracay closure

BOULEVARD Holdings, Inc.’s (BHI) sales dropped by a third in June as it continued to take a hit from the closure of Boracay.
The listed firm said in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday that consolidated sales of products and services fell by 33% to P2.95 million last month, lower than the P4.39 million it recorded in the same period a year ago.
BHI is the parent of Friday’s Holdings, Inc., which is the owner and operator of Friday’s Boracay Beach Resort. The resort is one of the properties affected by the government’s order to close Boracay for six months starting April 26 to make way for its rehabilitation.
The company earlier said the closure will lead to foregone revenues worth P6.5 million every month from April to October, in addition to some P35 million set to be spent on fixed costs and expenses for the upkeep of the resort for six months.
It further lost P22 million in cancellations of advanced deposits from customers in China and Germany following the announcement of Boracay’s closure.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it will officially reopen Boracay island by Oct. 26. The government however said a soft opening could be held as early as September, as soon as it addresses vital requirements such as the improvement of water quality in the island and its surrounding areas.
BHI swung to a net loss attributable to the parent of P1.77 million in the nine months ending February, against an attributable profit of P2.02 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues meanwhile reached P79.37 million, 11% higher year-on-year.
Shares in BHI closed flat at 5.80 centavos at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

Mark Justiniani tackles the theme ‘Island Weather’ for PHL’s pavilion at the 2019 Venice Art Biennale

IT WILL be interesting to see what artist Mark Justiniani will pull out of his sleeve for the Philippines’ participation at the 58th Venice Art Biennale in Italy next year.
Mr. Justiniani is like a magician — he plays with mirrors for his art and is known for large-scale installations and site-specific works. Last year, he did The Settlement, an installation which employed mirrors as a commentary on history and politics as illusions: not everything you see is real.
For Biennale in 2019, the Philippine Pavillion’s theme is “Island Weather” and will feature the works of Mr. Justiniani. It will be curated by Tessa Maria Guazon, an assistant professor at the Department of Art Studies in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
“Island Weather” explores the many ways by which the Philippines, an island-nation, can be understood and imagined: through its geophysical characteristics that reflect how Filipino people regard their spaces, whether as a place of origin, shelter, respite, or a country as a whole.
“Island Weather” will have three thematic approaches: “Island Voyage,” “Local Forecast: Turbulent Weather,” and “Piers and Ports.”
According to a release from the Office of Senator Loren Legarda — one of the pavilion’s sponsors along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts — “Three thematic approaches shape ‘Island Weather’: (1) ‘Island Voyage’ alludes to travels and grand designs referencing light houses built during the colonial period and places that combine fantasy and myth; (2) ‘Local Forecast: Turbulent Weather’ gestures towards aspects of the lighthouse to construct an experience of viewing and being seen; and (3) ‘Piers and Ports’ expands the artist’s investigation of vision and its role in the construction of truth.”
Mr. Justiniani, a 1994 recipient of the CCP Thirteen Artists awards, has long been interested with optics, illusion, perception, and vision vis-a-vis the structures of space and time. His body of works reflects his social realist leanings. In the 1980s and ’90s, he worked with activist groups like Abay (Artist ng Bayan) and Sanggawa.
The 58th Venice Art Biennale theme is “May You Live in Interesting Times.”
The Philippine Pavilion in Venice will be on view from May 11 to Nov. 24, 2019. — NFPDG
READ: Mark Justiniani behind the usual bluff https://goo.gl/8SJLXd

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