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Avida expects P13B in sales from Makati project

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
AVIDA LAND Corp. sees at least P12.9 billion in sales from its fifth residential project in Makati City, where it hopes to attract young Filipino millennials working in the area.
Located along Chino Roces Avenue, Barangay Bangkal in Makati City, Avida Towers (AT) Makati Southpoint will feature three 32-storey buildings offering a total of 924 residential units.
The midrange brand of property giant Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) said the first tower alone is expected to generate P4.3 billion in sales.
Units come in studio layouts covering 23.3 square meters (sq.m.) and one-bedroom sized at 38.2 sq.m. The company also offers a junior one-bedroom configuration, or a studio unit that comes with an additional partition for the bedroom.
Prices range from P4.4 million to P8.5 million, indicating a price of P197,000 per sq.m. Buyers must have a total household income of at least P70,000 to P100,000 every month.
Amenities include a central lobby for all three towers, swimming pool, clubhouse, children’s play area, indoor gym, jogging path, and linear park.
Avida Land Business Area Head for Metro South Properties Reginald D. Alabe said they started selling units for the first tower in December, ahead of its formal launch on Thursday.
“We started selling as early as December. Of the launched units, 40% have been sold. We are reserving some units for price optimization,” Mr. Alabe said in a press briefing in Makati yesterday.
Mr. Alabe said they expect to sell out the first tower within a year and a half, and to complete it by 2024. The second tower is set to be unveiled by late next year or early 2021, depending on the pace of sales in the first tower.
“If sales velocity jumps up, we will be pulling forward also the launches of the succeeding towers,” Mr. Alabe said.
The Avida Land executive noted that they have been experiencing brisk sales take-up for its residential properties in Makati since 2007, when the company launched the two-tower AT Makati West. The company has already sold out AT Makati West alongside AT San Lorenzo.
Avida Land is also nearing completion of two other projects in Makati, namely AT Asten and One Antonio.
“We expect Makati to contribute 8% of our residential revenues this year. Our success here will continue with Makati Southpoint, which will fulfill the need of a changing market,” Avida Land Vice-President and Head of Corporate Planning Group Raquel S. Cruz was quoted as saying in a statement.
Mr. Alabe said the ratio of buyers are equally split between end-users and for investment purposes, while also noting that they adhere to the foreign buyer limit of 40% for all properties.

Vista Land to invest P20 billion for Camella condos

VISTA LAND & Lifescapes, Inc. (VLL) is investing P20 billion to develop 32 condominiums under its new Camella Condo Homes (COHO) brand in 25 areas around the country.
VLL Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said the company is initially investing P10 billion for the first batch of COHO projects.
“We are ready to launch COHO in a big way, so we’re launching in 25 areas, 32 buildings… But this is just the start because just the land that we are making available to COHO in these areas, we can already build up to 150 buildings… We are starting with 25. It should double shortly, but dahan-dahan muna tayo [We’ll take it step by step],” he said during a media briefing at the Mella Hotel in Las Piñas City on Tuesday.
COHO is Camella’s brand for affordable condominiums. The projects will be complemented by either a Vista Mall or commercial strip featuring brands from VLL affiliate All Value Holdings such as Coffee Project, Bake My Day, All Day Supermarket, All Home and Vista Cinemas.
COHO projects in the pipeline are located in Antipolo, Bacolod, Bacoor, Baliuag, Bataan, Bohol, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Davao City, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Imus, Las Piñas, Legazpi, Lipa, Mactan, Palawan, Pampanga, Subic, Tagaytay, Taguig, Tagum, and Talisay, Cebu.
At present, there are already 14 existing developments under COHO’s portfolio.
While other developers focus more on developing condominiums in the Metro Manila, Mr. Villar said the company will target the provinces.
“We feel now that we have to launch it systematically… sabayan ’to [at the same time]. This is not going to be in lieu of our existing companies… They will still continue their projects… Iba ’tong COHO [COHO is different]… We hope to become a major condo builder maybe next year, two [years] from now, but hopefully even as early as this year, we will become a major condo builder,” Mr. Villar said.
COHO units will have one-bedroom, 30-square meter (sq.m.) and two-bedroom, 40-sq.m. configurations, with prices ranging from P2.4 million to P3.3 million.
Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, function hall, gardens, jogging paths, and a gym. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Manila Water income up 6% in 2018

MANILA WATER Co., Inc. posted a 6% increase in net income for 2018 to P6.5 billion after the steady performance of its water concession in Metro Manila and the boost it received after the approval of its positive tariff adjustment and business plan, the Ayala-led company said.
In a disclosure, the company said the year was capped by a healthy growth in billed volume, which rose by 4% on a consolidated level with the Manila east zone concession leading with a 3% increase rise.
“I see our 2018 performance as a testament to our resolve, as we surmounted significant challenges to come out stronger,” said Ferdinand M. Dela Cruz, Manila Water president and chief executive officer.
He said in the Manila concession, the company forged a “clear path to regulatory stability” with the positive conclusion of its rate rebasing.
“For our domestic operations, we remained true to our service commitments even under sudden market disruptions like the Boracay closure. We are excited for the road ahead, as we follow through on our growth aspirations in ASEAN and in other new markets,” Mr. Dela Cruz said.
Last year, Manila Water’s billed volume base was bolstered by its new international acquisitions in Thailand and Indonesia, adding 320 million cubic meters (mcm) to raise the consolidated billed volume to exceed the 1-billion cubic meter threshold.
The company said its management’s continued efficiency and cost management initiatives resulted in the continued strength of its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, as well as net income margins, at 64% and 33%, respectively.
Outside the Manila concession, subsidiary Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc. won 11 new projects last year. Its subsidiaries continued to post positive revenue growth, increasing 6% to P3.3 billion.
On the previous year’s challenges, Manila Water cited its unit Boracay Island Water Co., Inc., which recorded a decline in billed volume because of the government-mandated six-month closure of the island to make way for environmental rehabilitation.
Overseas, Manila Water recorded its largest regional investment to date, with the acquisition of an 18.72% stake in Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Co. Ltd. in Thailand. It also acquired a stake in PT Sarana Tirta Ungaran in Indonesia.
On Tuesday, shares in Manila Water slipped 1.65% to P26.85 each. — Victor V. Saulon

Ballet Manila closes its 23rd season with the Beatles and Chopin


THE dancers of Ballet Manila have been training six times a week since last December for two very different kinds of shows. This is in preparation for the closing performances of its 23rd season, “Tour de Force,” which ends in March with a double-header called Deux.
The first chapter, which will be performed on March 2 and 9, will feature Les Sylphides — also known as Chopiniana in Russia — about a poet who dances with all the different muses as they inspire him to create poetry. The choreography by Michael Fokine, set to music by Frederic Chopin, evokes weightlessness.
“It’s a choreographic miniature that [tells] no story. It’s just a lot of very beautiful dancing.” Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde said at a press conference on Feb. 12 at the Star Theater in Pasay City.
The second chapter, The Winding Road, will be performed on March 3 and 10 and will focus on contemporary choreography by Martin Lawrence set to songs of the Beatles. The songs include “The Long and Winding Road,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “She Loves You.”
“For me, the Beatles’ lyrics are like poems. Each song has its own story. I tried to put little stories together to make my own story,” Mr. Lawrence said. “You will see lots of different episodes and they all come together in the end.”
“It’s a very interesting and upbeat performance with very strong dancing,” Ms. Macuja said.
The March 2 and 9 shows are at 6 p.m., while the March 3 and 10 performances are at 3 p.m. All will be at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City. Tickets, which range in price from P500 to P1,500, are available through Ticketworld (891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph). — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Dennis Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum nets P2.8 billion in 2018 as revenues surge

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines, Inc. saw record profits and revenues in 2018. — COMPANY HANDOUT

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines, Inc. reported an 82% increase in net income in 2018 to P2.77 billion in what it called a banner year after generating record revenues and profit.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, the company led by Davao businessman Dennis A. Uy said its financial performance last year was driven by record volume from new businesses and sustained strength in its core fuels business.
“Despite industry headwinds in fourth quarter, we worked together to deliver a strong close to 2018. We are positioning ourselves for more success in 2019 and beyond, with a focus on growth, execution, and delivering for our customers and shareholders,” Henry Albert R. Fadullon, Phoenix Petroleum chief operating officer, was quoted as saying.
The company said last year’s performance was despite a “confluence of industry challenges” during the fourth quarter after the sharp decline in crude prices.
Revenues during the year rose 99% to P88.61 billion as sales volume of petroleum products increased by 49% to an all-time high of 2.75 billion liters, the company said.
Phoenix Petroleum said it had seen accelerating growth in its domestic business driven by fuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which delivered a 15% volume increase.
“As a testament to stronger awareness and patronage of the brand, retail volume grew 5% from last year,” it said.
As of end-2018, the company opened 600 stations nationwide. Commercial volume grew 13% and “continued to strengthen its position with key wins in fast growth industries such as marine, road transport, and construction,” it said.
Total LPG volume climbed by 23% because of the continued expansion in Luzon and consistent strength of its Visayas-Mindanao business.
Luzon made up 10% of the total LPG volume versus 4% pre-acquisition, the company said. VisMin continued to outpace industry growth with a volume growth of 14%, it added.
Meanwhile, its convenience store retailing business Philippine FamilyMart posted “significant efficiency improvements for customers through higher fill rates and improved equipment uptime,” the company said.
“This was complemented by an expanded and food-centric offer that is anchored on the evolving lifestyle shift towards convenience. Average daily sales increased by 8% year on year while store operating costs and back office costs were down by 14% and 13%, respectively, turning store EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) positive in 2018 from a loss in 2017,” Phoenix Petroleum said.
It added that Philippine FamilyMart had been realizing the synergies within the Udenna Group “ecosystem” with the opening of a store in Clark Global City in August 2018.
“Currently, there are already four FamilyMart kiosks aboard four Starlite ferries. Furthermore, at least three Phoenix stations are slated to have FamilyMart stores on-site,” it said.
On Tuesday, shares in Phoenix Petroleum rose 2.56% to close at P12 each. — Victor V. Saulon

BDO books higher net earnings in 2018 as core businesses grow

BDO UNIBANK, Inc. saw its net income rise in 2018, buoyed by robust earnings from its core businesses.
In a regulatory filing on Monday, the Sy-led lender reported a record-high net income of P32.7 billion last year, climbing by 17% from the P28.1 billion tallied in the same period in 2017.
BDO’s full-year income in 2018 also surpassed the bank’s P31-billion profit guidance.
The bank attributed its full-year income growth to the “solid” performance of its core lending and deposit-taking businesses, resulting in a 20% expansion in its net interest income to P98.3 billion from P81.8 billion the prior year.
The bank’s net interest margin improved to 3.64% in 2018 from the 3.48% tallied in the previous year.
Gross customer loans stood at P2 trillion in 2018, up 15% from the P1.8 trillion booked in the comparative year-ago period, amid “healthy” increases across all market segments.
Non-performing loan ratio stood at 1% as of end-2018, improving from 1.2% a year ago.
Total deposits also went up to P2.4 trillion, higher by 14% from P2.1 trillion in 2017. Low-cost current and savings account ratio settled at 70%.
BDO’s non-interest income, on the other hand, stood at P49.7 billion, up from P47.2 billion the previous year, with fee-based income contributing P30.7 billion and insurance premiums growing 20%.
Overall, gross operating income was at P148 billion last year, up 15% from P129 billion in 2017.
Meanwhile, BDO’s operating expenses climbed 16% to P98 billion driven by “sustained” investments in branch network and strategic initiatives.
Excluding tax and licenses, which grew by 41% due to higher business volumes and increased documentary stamp taxes, operating expenses would have grown by 13%, BDO said.
The lender also set aside P6.3 billion in provisions for losses in 2018, down from the previous year’s P6.5 billion.
BDO’s capital base stood at P328.1 billion, with its capital adequacy ratio at 13.7% and common equity Tier 1 ratio at 12.1%.
According to separate a disclosure, BDO’s assets stood at P2.89 trillion at end-2018.
“BDO is well-positioned to take advantage of market opportunities and strengthen its leadership position in the industry by leveraging on its strong business franchise and extensive distribution network,” a statement from the bank read.
In May last year, BDO raised P8.2 billion via 5.5-year long-term negotiable certificates of time deposit to be used for liability management.
It also issued P35 billion in peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds earlier this month, marking the first tranche of its P100-billion bond program announced in August 2018.
As of end-September 2018, BDO was the biggest universal bank in the country in asset terms at P2.79 trillion.
BDO shares closed at P131 apiece on Tuesday, gaining P2 or 1.55% from Friday’s close. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

RCBC net income steady at P4.3 billion on lending

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp.’s income ended flat in 2018.

RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corp. (RCBC) saw its net income steady at P4.3 billion in 2018, flat from the previous year’s level and supported by increased lending across all segments.
In a statement, the Yuchengco-owned lender reported a consolidated net income that matched the amount it made in 2017.
The bank said its net interest income rose to P20.5 billion, 14% higher than the P18 billion level a year ago. This came on the back of a 12% increase in net loans and receivables, which amounted to P398.3 billion by yearend.
RCBC said “all strategic segments” grew, with corporate debt up by nine percent while retail loans went up faster at 17%. Broken down, credit card debts rose by roughly a third, while lending to small-scale businesses grew by 28%.
Loans granted by its subsidiary Rizal MicroBank also expanded by 17% year-on-year, targeting micro and small firms.
On the other hand, non-interest income drawn from service fees amounted to P6.1 billion, the listed lender said, which was seven percent higher from last year’s figure.
Total bank assets likewise grew by 16% to P644.8 billion, led by an increase in deposits to P423.4 billion.
Meanwhile, operating costs rose by nine percent to P19.5 billion, a “controlled” increase from 2017’s expenses which totalled P18 billion.
Excluding the impact of trading gains, RCBC said core income surged by 26% year-on-year.
The bank also stood well-capitalized in 2018, armed with an P81.4-billion buffer equivalent to a capital adequacy ratio of 16.13%, well above the 10% standard set by the central bank.
RCBC President and Chief Executive Officer Gil A. Buenaventura said the bank’s balance sheet position stands “stronger than ever,” adding that the recent stock rights offering affirms the lender’s “long-term growth prospect.”
The bank recently raised P15 billion from the issuance of peso green bonds, which are meant to finance projects for renewable energy and climate change mitigation. This is on top of an existing $2-billion medium-term note program and a P20-billion provision for long-term negotiable certificates of deposit.
The lender is also gearing up to absorb the operations of its thrift unit RCBC Savings Back by July this year, which is still subject to regulatory approvals. The move is meant to make operations more cost-efficient, especially with higher capital and liquidity requirements taking effect this year.
RCBC shares stood unchanged at P26.50 apiece on Tuesday. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

Honoring those who died in the Battle of Manila

“Hundreds of refugees huddled in the ruins of Santa Rosa College in the Walled City. Included among them were the doctors, nurses, and patients from San Juan De Dios Hospital as well as families forced out of the Manila Cathedral. The ruins resembled a squatters community with makeshift tents constructed from corrugated metal tucked amid the scorched and crumbling brick walls of the school. The artillery shells whistled continually overhead even as refugees boiled rice over outdoor fires. Tension soared, as Japanese marines periodically showed up to drag off groups of men.” — Rampage, James M. Scott

SCENES of devastation after the Battle of Manila in 1945. — PUESTO MANILA FACEBOOK PAGE

APPROACHING the close of World War II, Japanese and American armed forces clashed in the Battle of Manila which lasted throughout the month of February in 1945. By the time it was all over on March 3, the once beautiful city of Manila was battered, its buildings lay in ruins, and over 100,000 civilians lay dead.
In 2009, artist and cultural worker Carlos Celdran spearheaded the Manila Transitio 1945, an event meant to commemorate the events and the people who died during the Battle of Manila.
“At that time, save for a pocket event or two, nobody was talking about the Battle of Manila and its horrible consequences on the City of Manila,” Manila Transitio event coordinator Benjamin Canapi wrote in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.
“It’s easy to understand that the survivors of the Battle of Manila would want to put the war behind them and pick up the pieces of their lives, but that also meant that, over the next few decades, the dreadful aftermath of the war was never truly acknowledged. It was like we willed ourselves a collective amnesia,” he wrote.
“We wanted so desperately to forget the war. Now, we don’t even remember.”
Despite circumstances that almost led to the postponement of this year’s Transitio, “the Intramuros Administration and some concerned individuals felt that the event is too important for it not to be staged,” Mr. Canapi wrote, noting that they hope to continue the legacy Carlos Celdran started.
WHAT’S IN STORE
The 10th Manila Transitio will be held at the Baluarte de San Diego on March 2 beginning at 5 p.m.
“Manila Transitio has always been a relaxed celebration of sorts. It’s a big picnic, basically,” Mr. Canapi said.
Activities will include a public picnic, art exhibition, open air performances, and a community ritual.
“The cleansing ritual is done every Transitio to remember everything we lost during the Battle of Manila,” he wrote. “We do a ritual to give peace to their souls and to find peace within ourselves.”
At the event, guests may bring their own blankets, picnic baskets, and even pets. Food and drinks will be available from vendors on-site.
Performing this year will be Alex Alcaraz Fernandez, Jean Paul Zialcita, the UP Repertory Company, Kooky Tuason, Marty Tengco, Charms Tianzon, and Joee & I. The Cleansing ritual will be done by Opaline Santos.
“We need events like Transitio to help us remember crucial events in our history, such as the Battle of Manila. History can easily be forgotten or worse, rewritten, if people do not keep the flame of memory alive. Events such as Manila Transitio help us give form and substance to our collective memory, making it easier to remember and appreciate,” Mr. Canapi wrote.
“We want people to walk away from Transitio with a deeper appreciation for all the City of Manila has lost. We want to remind the people of Manila how beautiful we once were. We want to reach out to the souls we have lost and tell them their sacrifice was not in vain,” he added.
The Manila Transitio 1945 entrance fee is P200. For information, visit www.facebook.com/puesto.manila/
One can also take a tour with Manila For A Day, Don’t Skip Manila, and Bambike Ecotours on March 2, and get into Manila Transitio for free. WanderManila, on the other hand, will be staging a special Performance Tour on March 3. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

GSMI shareholder’s petition dismissed

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed the request of Ginebra San Miguel, Inc.’s (GSMI) minority shareholder to nullify San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) share swap with its food and beverage units for lack of merit.
Josefina Multi-Ventures Corp. last year filed a petition claiming that SMC should have conducted a tender offer to all minority owners of the company before pushing through with its share-swap transaction.
“The SEC Special Hearing Panel dismissed the petition for lack of merit,” SMC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday.
Josefina Multi-Ventures claimed SMC violated the mandatory tender offer rule prior to the merger of its traditional businesses, which saw the consolidation of San Miguel Pure Foods, Inc., San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB), and GSMI under San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. (SMFB).
The P336.35-billion share swap was completed in September 2018. SMFB now has a 51.16% and 78.26% stake in SMB and GSMI, respectively, while SMC’s ownership in SMFB has increased to 95.87% from 85.37% before.
The minority shareholder said that SMC should have made a tender offer after acquiring 75% of SMFB, citing Section 19.2 of the Securities and Regulation Code which stated that a person or group of persons acting in concert acquiring at least a 35% stake in a listed firm must conduct a tender offer.
“Clearly, the basis for the application of the mandatory tender offer rule is purely quantitative; once the threshold of 35% is reached, a tender offer is required under the law,” Josefina Multi-Ventures said in its petition.
The company said that without the tender offer, minority shareholders had no alternative but to accept the share-swap transaction.
However, the SEC has already ruled that the tender offer rules do not apply to the transaction since it involves a de facto merger or consolidation, wherein change in control will only result to indirect from direct.
Shares in SMC gained 0.56% or a peso to close at P180 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

UnionBank sets up P30-B fund-raising program

UnionBank
BW FILE PHOTO

UNIONBANK OF THE Philippines, Inc. is set to offer P30 billion worth of corporate bonds or commercial papers to raise funds.
In a disclosure to the local bourse on Tuesday, the Aboitiz-led lender said its board of directors approved during its Feb. 22 meeting the issuance of corporate bonds or commercial papers amounting to P30 billion.
UnionBank has yet to establish the timetable and other details of the issuance.
The bank’s P30-billion fundraising program will be on top of its P20-billion peso bond and commercial paper program approved in August 2018.
Of the P20 billion, P11 billion was already raised in December though a fixed-rate bond issuance. The two-year debt papers carry a coupon rate of 7.061% per annum to be paid quarterly.
UnionBank Chief Financial Officer Jose Emmanuel U. Hilado, in a previous disclosure, was quoted to have said that the fixed-rate bond issuance late last year will “help support our strategic business expansion plans, while providing a new shorter-dated investment instrument to our institutional and retail clients.”
Circular No. 1010 issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in August 2018 simplifies the process for universal and commercial banks looking to raise funds via bonds, aligning the industry with standards for other privately-owned firms.
The reform forms part of BSP’s streamlined rules designed to help deepen Philippine capital markets.
Apart from UnionBank, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, as well as BDO Unibank, Inc. have recently peso-denominated instruments to diversify funding sources and expand its businesses.
Security Bank Corp. and Philippine National Bank have also established their own peso-denominated bond programs worth P50 billion and P100 billion, respectively, to be issued through tranches.
Meanwhile, the bank also said in the disclosure that UnionBank President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin R. Bautista will remain at the helm of the lender, as his term of service was extended until 2022.
UnionBank shares closed at P61.55 apiece on Tuesday, down 45 centavos or 0.73%. — KANV

55 artists honored in NCCA’s Ani ng Dangal

THE National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) ends this year’s National Arts Month by awarding 55 artists in various fields at its annual Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors), to be held today at the Diamond Hotel in Malate, Manila.
At the top of the list of this year’s awardees is NCCA Arts Ambassador, visual artist, and actor Ian Veneracion who won the Best Actor award for his performance in Dan Villegas’ horror film Ilawod (2017) at the 38th Osporto International Film Festival in Lisbon, Portugal.
Joining Mr. Veneracion on the list is Rhiza “Ryza” Cenon Simbulan who won the Yakushi Pearl Award in the 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival. Other awardees in the film category are Allen Dizon, Angeli Nicole Sanoy, Christian Apolinario, Christian Bables, Timothy Castillo. The films, Panahon ng Halimaw (2018), Bagahe (2017), Call Her Ganda (2018), and Jodilerks dela Cruz: Employee of the Month (2017), and directors Arjanmar Rebeta and Mikhail Red and scriptwriter Shereen Seno will also receive awards during the ceremony.
“For the first time, we had awardees in all the art forms, across all categories,” Teddy O. Co, commission for the arts and head of the subcommission for the arts, said at a press conference on Feb. 19 at the NCCA offices in Intramuros, Manila.
Now on its 11th year, the Ani ng Dangal ceremonies were envisioned to recognize Filipinos and Filipino works in the arts field who brought glory to the country in the past year. The awards are given for architecture and the allied arts, broadcast arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music and visual arts.
“[The Ani ng Dangal] is given to those who garnered the top awards in legitimate festivals,” Marichu G. Tellano, deputy executive director of the NCCA said in the same press conference. For the Ani ng Dangal, the NCCA only recognizes competitions which have existed for not less than five years and which have adjudicators.
This year, the three awards will be given in the architecture category, two in broadcast arts, 17 in cinema, five in dance, one in dramatic arts, one in literary arts, 16 in music, and 10 in visual arts. Below is the complete list of awardees:
ARCHITECTURE AND ALLIED ARTS
• Earl Patrick Forlales, Grand Prize, Cities for Our Future Competition, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the UK National Commission of UNESCO, United Kingdom, November 2018
• Kenneth Cobonpue, Best Seating Award, 22nd Annual IIDA/HD Product Design Competition, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2018
• Noriel Estipular, Best Sustainability Award, 34th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Hong Kong, December 2018
BROADCAST ARTS
• ABS-CBN Di Ka Pasisiil, Gold World Medal, News: Reports/Feature Category, 2018 New York Festival Awards TV & Film, New York, April 2018
• GMA Network, Inc. Reel Time’s Hawla The Untold Story of the Village Monster, Gold World Medal, Documentary Category, 2018 New York Festival Awards TV & Film, New York, April 2018
CINEMA
• Allen Dizon, Best Actor for Bomba, 16th Dhaka International Film Festival, Bangladesh, January 2018
• Ang Panahon ng Halimaw by Lav Diaz, Best Picture, Bildrausch Film Festival, Basel, Switzerland, June 2018, and Best Film, 58th Festival Internacional de Cine Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, March, 2018
• Angeli Nicole Sanoy, Best Actress for Bomba, Imagine India International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain, May 2018
• Arjanmar Henrandez Rebeta, Best Director for Complicated Dance to the Wheel of Life, 7th Hak-İş International Short Film Festival , Ankara, Turkey, November 2018
• Bagahe by Zig Dulay, Golden Cyclo Award, 2018 Vesoul International Film Festival for Asian Cinema, France, February 2018
• Call Her Ganda by PJ Raval, Grand Jury Prize, Outstanding North American Documentary, 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Southern California, May 2018
• Christian Apolinario, Best International Actor for The Complicated Dance to the Wheel of Life, 2018 Focus on Ability Film Festival, Australia, September 2018
• Christian Bables, Best Actor for Signal Rock, Hanoi International Film Festival 2018, Hanoi, Vietnam, October 2018
• Jodilerks dela Cruz: Employee of the Month by Carlo Manatad, Best Southeast Asian Short Film, Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, 28th Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore, December 2017
• Last Order by Joji Villanueva Alonzo, Best Short Film, 16th Pyongyang International Film Festival, North Korea, September 2018
• Mikhail Red, Most Promising Talent Award for Neo Manila, 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival, Osaka, Japan, March 2018
• Nabubulok by Crisanto Calvento, Best Film, 15th Asian Film Festival , Bologna, Italy, July 2018
• Ngiti ng Nazareno by Louie Ignacio, Best Short Film, 41st Lucas International Festival for Young Film Lovers, Frankfurt, Germany, September 2018
• Rhiza Ann Cenon Simbulan, Yakushi Pearl Award for Mr. and Mrs. Cruz, 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival, Osaka, Japan, March 2018
• Shireen Seno, Best Scriptwriter Award for Nervous Translation, Asian New Talent Award competition of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival, Shanghai, China, September 2018
• Ian Veneracion, Best Actor for Ilawod, 38th Oporto International Film Festival, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2018
• Timothy Castillo, Best Actor for Neo Manila, 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Southern California, May 2018
DANCE
• Halili-Cruz Dance Company for receiving nine Golds, three Silvers, and 10 Bronzes at the 20th Asia Pacific Dance Competition, Victoria Theater, Singapore, September 2018
• Kenyo Street Family, Champion, World Supremacy Battlegrounds 2018 International Championship, Sydney, Australia, October 2018
• Poveda Enciende, Gold Champion, 14th US Open World Championships (Dance Worlds), Orlando, Florida, April 2018
• Sidlakan Dance Company, Grand Champion, International Youth Fellowships’ (IYF) World, Cultural Dance Festival , South Korea, July 2018
• Assumption College Dance Troupe, Gold Champion, 14th US Open World Championships (Dance Worlds), Orlando, Florida, April, 2018
DRAMATIC ARTS
• Clem Marnel Rama Burgos, Champion, 5th International Competition of Arts and Culture, Yerevan, Armenia, July 2018
LITERARY ARTS
• Lawrence Ypil, 1st Prize for Unpublished Manuscript for the Anglophone Poetry by Authors Asian Heritage, Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize, United State of America, August 2018
MUSIC
• Imusicapella, Grand Prix Varna, 39th International May choir Competition, Varna, Bulgaria, May 2018; the Grand Prix, 57th Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale Seghizzi 2018; Gorizia, Italy, July 2018; 1st Prize, 47th Florilege Vocal de Tours; and, Grand Prix de La Ville de Tours, Debrezen, Hungary, June 2018
• Micah Jane Baybay, Grand Prix, Senior Division Category, Arpeggio International Singing Competition 2018, Malta, June 2018
• Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, 1st Prize, 12th Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival, Viena, Austria, July, 2018
• University of the East Chorale, Grand Prix, 11th Orientale Concentus International Choir Festival 2018, Singapore, August 2018
• Conchords, Grand Champion, A Cappella Championship 2018, Singapore, July 2018
• Ian Gabriel Torres Corpuz, 1st Prize, Busan Choral Composition, South Korea, January 2018
• Alyssa Trisha Garcia, 1st Prize, Junior Secondary Category, Singapore Lyric Opera–ASEAN Vocal Competition 2018, Singapore, October 2018
• Kammerchor Manila, Grand Prix, Leonardo Da Vinci International Choral Festival, Florence, Italy, July 2017
• Rag-O Duo, 1st Prize, Wind Instrument Category, Princess Galyani Vadhana Ensemble Competition, Bangkok, Thailand, July 2018
• Astrafellas, Champion, Open Division Vocal Band International Category, Hong Kong International A Cappella Contest 2018, Hong Kong, November 2018
• Jay Kent, Champion, Euro Pop Contest 2018, Germany, December 2018
• UP Singing Ambassadors, Grand Prix, 66th International Choral Competition Polifonico Guido d’Arezzo 2018, Arrezo, Italy, August 2018; 1st Prize Habanera and Polyphony Category, Public Choice Award, 64th International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition, Torrevieja, Spain, September 2018
• Cipriano Mercado de Guzman, Jr., 1st Prize, Senior/Professional Open Category, 17th Roma International Music Competition, Grand Prize Virtuoso at Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy, December 2018
• Rachel Gabreza, Grand Prix, Stars of the Albion Grand Prix 2018, 5th International Performing Arts Festival & Competition, London, United Kingdom, February, 2018
• Tristan Ignacio, Best Conductor, 57th Cocorso Internazionale di Canto Chorale Seghizzi 2018, Gorizia, Italy, July, 2018
• Los Cantates de Manila, 1st Prize, Popular Choir Music, 15th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 2017, Orlando, Florida, June, 2017
VISUAL ARTS
• Anthony Tario Austria, Grand Prize, Fujairah Photography Awards, United Arab Emirates, December 2018
• Danilo Victoriano, 1st Prize, APEC Photo Contest 2018, Papua New Guinea, November 2018
• Donell Gumiran, Portrait Photographer of the Year, Asian Geographic Images of Asia Photography Competition 2019, Singapore, December 2018
• Edwin S. Loyola, 1st Prize, 2018 International Day of Forests Photo Contest, Rome, Italy, July 2018
• Jesus Ramos Tejada, 1st Place, Adult Category, 2018 SPECTRA Annual Art Carnival, Bahrain, December 2018
• Jeuz Sumangil, Grand Prize, Talent House’s Venom Alternative Poster Competition, California, October 2018
• Joey Cabarles Ramos II, 1st Place, 4383 days of Childhood International Photo Contest, Russia, March 2018
• Jophel Botero Ybiosa, 1st Place, Events Photographer of the year, Professional Events Category, Moscow International Foto Awards 2018, Russia, December 2018
• Ma. Angelica Tejada, 1st Prize, AEGEAN Arts Children’s International Arts Competition 2018, Greece, July 2018; Grand Prize, Age category 8-12 years old, 2018 Draw Me Peace International Drawing Contest, Paris, France, January 2018
• Mario Bejagan Cardenas, Grand Winner, FIBA Photo Contest, Switzerland, August 2018 — Zsarlene B. Chua

Construction delays hit GenSan solar power plant

HARBOR STAR Shipping Services, Inc. on Tuesday said the commissioning of a subsidiary’s solar power plant project in General Santos City has been pushed back to next month, due to construction delays.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, Harbor Star said the commissioning of Astronergy Development Gensan, Inc.’s (ADGI) project was originally scheduled for Jan. 31, and has now been moved to before March 31.
“The causes of delay were: (a) construction delays of support structures by the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contractor and its subcontractors; and (b) delay in the delivery of equipment and accessories needed for the substation to connect to the grid,” the company said.
Harbor Star said delays in the construction due to the fault of the EPC contractor will be subject to penalties, under the contract.
“All the equipment and accessories are now in or en route to the project site,” the company said.
In 2017, Harbor Star’s wholly owned subsidiary Harbor Star Energy Corp. (HSEC) acquired a 60% stake in ADGI, which expanded to 100% stake last year. ADGI is licensed to operate a 25 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in General Santos City, which is expandable to 75 MW.
In the same disclosure, the tugboat and cargo vessel firm said its three-year exclusivity contract with Palau-based firm Palau Sea and Air Transport Agency (PSATA) is on hold per advice of the company.
“(PSATA) informed (Harbor Star’s) Management that there would be a delay in the implementation of the projects in Micronesia for various reasons. Thus, (Harbor Star) committed its tug and barge tandems for the Cebu-Cordoba Link Expressway (CCLEx),” it said.
“(PSATA) continues to request (Harbor Star) for barges but (Harbor Star’s) Management decided to allocate its resources to the more profitable CCLEx and Cavite Gateway projects,” it added.
Last year, Harbor Star signed a P118-million contract with Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV) to provide two specialized barges for the construction of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC)’s CCLEx project.
It is also a barge operator at the Cavite Gateway Terminal, a project of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) operated by subsidiary Cavite Gateway Terminal, Inc.
Harbor Star reported flat attributable net income at P66.26 million during January to September 2018, from P65.73 million the previous year. — Denise A. Valdez

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