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Third telco’s start awaits Congress’ green light

By Denise A. Valdez
Reporter
MOVES to usher in the country’s third major telecommunications service provider could face a slight delay, as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) awaits legislative clearance of the Mislatel Consortium’s franchise.
“They could not start because basically we could not give them the frequencies and the CPCN (certificate of public convenience and necessity) — ‘yung kanilang [their] permit to operate as a telco — until we get the approval of the bicam[eral conference committee],” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said in a media briefing on Monday.
Mislatel’s 90-day post-qualification period had lapsed on Sunday, Feb. 17, but the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) could not move ahead with the granting of frequencies and the CPCN to the group until Congress agrees on a resolution granting the transfer of Mislatel’s ownership to the consortium.
“Kailangan bicam[eral conference committee action is needed], because ’yung resolution ng Congress has slightly different wordings than the resolution of the Senate. Ginagawa ng Congress is to reconcile all this. ‘Yun ang hinihintay namin (That is what we are waiting for). It’s status quo until we get that,” Mr. Rio said.
Earlier this month, the Senate adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 23, approving the transfer of controlling interest from Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc. (Mislatel) to the Mislatel Consortium to clear the way for the franchise transfer. The Mislatel Consortium consists of China Telecommunications Corp., Dennis A. Uy’s Udenna Corp. and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. The group, represented by its spokesman Adel A. Tamano, said it has submitted to the NTC all required documents for post-qualification of the third telco auction, which it won in November.
“[T]he Mislatel consortium has submitted all relevant documents for post qualification. Mislatel is awaiting for the final disposition of Congress regarding the approval of the transfer of controlling interest of Mislatel so that the binding bidding agreement can be implemented,” Mr. Tamano said in a text message.
“In the meantime, it is our understanding that the NTC will evaluate our submissions per the Terms of Reference.”
NO NEED FOR ‘BICAM’ MEETING
Senate Public Services Committee Chairman Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, however, clarified there will be no need for bicameral conference committee meetings on this matter.
“The truth is, there is no need for a bicam on the Mislatel Resolution,” she said in a text message.
“For one, it is a concurrent resolution — the Senate needs only to concur, it has given its concurrence… [W]hile there may be amendments on the resolution like removing the reference that Mislatel is the ‘3rd Telco Player’ or ‘New Major Player’, the resolution’s main objective is to effect the transfer of sale of the controlling interest. That objective is intact and allowed still in the adopted Concurrent Resolution 23.”
She said the House of Representatives need only adopt the Senate version with these “minor amendments,” adding that DICT should not “micro-manage” the issue.
Under the rollout plan which the Mislatel consortium submitted to the Senate in January, commercial launch is supposed to take place in late 2020, assuming it would receive its frequencies and CPCN in March.
Congress, now on a Feb.9-May 19 break, will have only May 20-June 7 left to work on measures.
Given this development, the earliest the DICT could award the frequencies and CPCN to Mislatel would be later in May — two months late in the group’s timetable.
“From the calendar of the Congress, the earliest we could get this would be after the election,” Mr. Rio said. “We could not really give them those frequencies. They also have to post their performance bond, but they can only post this once they get their frequencies. So talagang naghihintay lahat [everything depends] on the approval of Congress.”

House primed for final OK of retail trade bill

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporter
THE BILL seeking to reduce the required minimum paid-up capital for foreign entrants to the country’s retail sector is likely to secure third and final-reading approval at House of Representatives when legislative sessions resume after the May 13 mid-term elections, a senior lawmaker said on Monday.
“The substitute bill was approved on second reading on Feb. 8 without interpellation or objection from any solon. Hence, I am pretty confident that this bill will pass on third reading when session resumes,” Deputy Speaker Arthur C. Yap of Bohol’s 3rd district said via text.
The 17th Congress, now on a Feb.9-May 19 break, will have only May 20-June 7 left to work on proposed laws.
OPENING UP
House Bill No. 9057, which has so far secured second-reading approval, will amend Republic Act No. 8762, or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, by setting the minimum paid up capital to $200,000 and scrap the minimum investment requirement of $830,000 per store. Currently, the law provides a $2.5 million capital requirement for entrants that are wholly owned by foreign entities.
“We must strike down restrictive laws which impede foreign investments. The Philippines allowed foreigners to engage in retail trade in the year 2000 and yet, the we are lagging behind retail trade investments in ASEAN consistently in the last 18 years,” Mr. Yap explained.
“Clearly, the law’s intention of inviting retail trade investors, creating jobs and making goods more price and quality competitive has not been realized.”
The measure will also remove the $250,000 paid-up capital per store for enterprises engaged in high-end or luxury products.
It will also eliminate requirements such as minimum net worth of $200 million for enterprises with paid up capital of $2.5-7.5 million and $50 million for enterprises engaged in high-end or luxury products.
The present law also requires a five-year track record in retailing and five retailing branches or franchises in operation anywhere in the world or at least one store capitalized at a minimum of $25 million.
The bill will also reduce the proportion of locally manufactured products required to be carried by foreign retailers to 10% of the aggregate cost of their stock inventory from the 30% currently.
SENATE PROSPECTS
The bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, however.
Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, merely committed to continue deliberation of the chamber’s counterpart measure, Senate Bill No. 1639, to consider concerns of local businesses.
“There’s opposition from our small businesses,” Mr. Pimentel said in a mobile phone message on Monday when asked for updates on the measure.
“I will hear it again. Cause I heard the bill in passing only before.”
Majority Leader Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, for his part, noted in a separate text message: “We only have nine session days left when we get back.”
“It’s going to be tough as the schedule is tight. The debates have not started and that could take a week at the very least.”
Sought for comment, British Chamber of the Commerce Philippines Chairman Chris Nelson said in a telephone interview: “We support the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, which is authored by Arthur Yap.”
“We think this will assist in the development of the trade and, obviously, in terms of competition. Like the other chambers, we support it,” Mr. Nelson said.
“Now we are cognizant of the fact that it’s now election time and when they come back, there’s probably three weeks, then you get a new Congress. Obviously, it’s hard to predict the timing, but if the Retail Trade Liberalization Act was not able to go through this time, then we would still be supporting it in the next Congress.”
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Senior Adviser John D. Forbes, meanwhile, is still “hopeful” the bill will hurdle the 17th Congress.
“We are still hopeful that, despite the crowded schedule of the Senate, it will be able to complete this in the 17th Congress,” Mr. Forbes said by phone.

Philippines, Italy extend debt swap program for two years

THE GOVERNMENT secured a fresh two-year extension for a debt swap program with Italy which is expected to support seven projects funded through the platform, the Department of Finance (DoF) said in a press statement on Monday.
The DoF said that the Philippines-Italy Debt for Development Program has been extended until 2021, which involves €2.917 million or about P160 million.
Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven and Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino led the exchange of letters for the two-year extension of the debt swap facility.
Under the deal, a counterpart fund was established by the Italian government that matched the Philippines’ outstanding loans to fund development projects in some of the country’s poorest areas.
DoF noted that Italy identified the Philippines as one of the beneficiaries of the debt conversion program under the European state’s 2011-2013 Programming Guidelines and Directions. The original debt swap agreement was signed May 29, 2012 by the Department of Finance and the Italian Embassy in Manila.
The facility will finance projects geared towards environmental protection and poverty reduction, which are carried out by Philippine or Italian nongovernment organizations, national government agencies and local governments.
Nine projects have been funded by the facility at P10-35 million each.
“To date, two out of the nine projects have already finished implementation, while the remaining seven are being considered to receive continued support with the two-year extension of the program,” the DoF said in its statement.
These two projects are the Tabuk Eco-Spirituality Center Project in Kalinga and the Sustainable Eco-Tourism Project in the Puerto Princesa Underground River Area.
The governments also expect the additional two years for the debt program to generate about 17,000 alternative jobs for farmers and fisherfolk.
This will come from efforts at forest conservation and reforestation, sustainable and integrated agricultural practices, better coastal resource management and more eco-tourism opportunities. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

Proposal to ease bank secrecy still a hurdle for general tax amnesty

SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson on Monday said he will support the passage of a general tax amnesty bill in the 18th Congress, but noted that lawmakers may still be “wary” of easing bank secrecy laws, as requested by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his veto message last Friday on this measure.
“Much depends on the composition of the 18th Congress. If the majority of senators and congressmen would be wary of relaxing the Bank Secrecy Act in relation to bank transactions, we can kiss that bill goodbye,” he said in a mobile phone message.
“If I can speak for myself, I am willing to support the measure as I have done before.”
The President has partially vetoed the tax amnesty bill and retained only provisions granting reprieve for estate tax liabilities and national tax delinquencies in specific circumstances. The program seeks to provide a one-time relief for those with unpaid taxes for years up to 2017.
In his veto message released to reporters on Monday, Mr. Duterte said he disagreed with the general amnesty mechanism in the enrolled bill due to the lack of provisions lifting bank secrecy on fraud cases, the lack of legal framework on the automatic exchange of information with foreign tax authorities, and the safeguards to ensure truthfulness of asset or net worth declaration.
“I believe that, ultimately the original objective will not be met under the proposed framework. Without the provisions breaking down the walls of bank secrecy, setting the legal framework for us to comply with international standards on exchange of information for tax purposes, and safeguarding against those who abuse the amnesty by declaring an untruthful asset or net worth, a general tax amnesty that is overgenerous and unregulated would create an environment ripe for future tax evasion, the very thing we wish to address,” Mr. Duterte had said.
“Without these measures, the government and ultimately the Filipino people, will incur long term substantial revenue losses. Our experience with the 2006 tax amnesty under Republic Act No. 9480 has shown that without safeguards and measures against tax evasion, the objectives of an amnesty such as raising revenues and expanding the taxes cannot be fully achieved.”
The President called on Congress to pass another general tax amnesty bill that would include these safeguards.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, however, cited the need for changes at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), the government office tasked to coordinate legislative action on the Executive branch’s priorities.
“This is again another testament that we need to revitalize or even upgrade the PLLO. This is the nth time that we do not know what the Executive department wants from us,” he told reporters via text. “Like all the other bills vetoed, we could have addressed the provisions that the executive does not want to execute. The legislative department does not consult a crystal ball to know.” — Camille A. Aguinaldo

D.M. Wenceslao sets P4-B capex

D.M. WENCESLAO & Associates, Inc. is ramping up projects at Aseana City.

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. (DMW) is allocating P4 billion for capital expenditures this year, following a double-digit profit growth in 2018 due to the strong demand for properties in the Bay Area.
DMW Chief Executive Officer Delfin Angelo C. Wenceslao said this is part of the property firm’s plan to spend about P3-5 billion annually to ramp up its expansion in the next five years, or a total capex of P21 billion until 2023.
This year’s capex is double DMW’s actual spending of close to P2 billion in 2018.
The listed property and construction firm is set to break ground on two projects in its mixed-use estate Aseana City this year. Construction on Midpark Towers is expected to start in the second quarter. It is seen to generate P9 billion in sales.
DMW will also break ground for Parqal in the second quarter, where retail spaces covering 135,292 square meters (sq.m.) will be available for lease.
At the same time, the company targets to finish its commercial project in Makati, and residential project called Pixel Residences in Aseana City within the year.
The company will also continue the construction of 8912 Aseana Ave., its office tower in Aseana City as it looks to further take advantage of the demand for commercial spaces in the area.
“Right now it’s all about location. Everything that we’re doing in the Manila Bay Area, we’re confident within the next five years that we’re going to do well,” Mr. Wenceslao told reporters during a roundtable interview in Makati City on Monday.
The company’s continued investments followed its 23% profit growth in 2018, as net income attributable to the parent reached P1.91 billion, versus the P1.56 billion it posted the year before.
Revenues, however, dropped to P2.15 billion, 23% lower than the P2.78 billion it generated in 2017, which the company attributed to the absence of land sales for the year.
Mr. Wenceslao noted DMW will continue selling land starting this year, with about 2,000-2,500 sq.m. programmed to be sold in 2019. This will cost about P1 billion, based on a price of P400,000 to P500,000 per sq.m.
Bulk of revenues came from recurring income projects at P1.9 billion, thanks to land leasing which rose by five percent to P965.2 million and building rentals that gained 77% to P762.1 million. Other revenues related to leasing also jumped 90% to P173.8 million.
Meanwhile, sales of residential units stood at P119.4 million, 153% higher year on year.
The company looks to achieve its annual target of growing profit by 10% to 20% this year.
Shares in DMW dropped 2.5% or 26 centavos to close at P10.14 apiece on Monday.

Toyota PHL targets 5% sales growth for this year

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) Corp. expects vehicle sales to bounce back this year as it targets a 5% growth after an industry-wide slump in 2018.
As a sign of confidence in the local market, its parent Toyota Motor Corp. chose the Philippines to hold the world premiere of the all-new 2019 Hiace.
“We are estimating the market this year it will increase compared to last year but not double-digit. Latest forecast this year is 5% total market growth,” Toyota Motors Philippines President Satoru Suzuki said in a press conference, when asked for the company’s sales growth target this year.
Earlier, TMP said it is targeting a 10% sales growth this year.
“Inflation is one of the factors that will give impact but customers’ incomes are also growing, so we hope (the) latter half this year, customers’ mentality will get used to inflation and together with their income growth, customers will buy cars,” Mr. Suzuki said.
The vehicle industry saw sales slump last year due to the imposition of new taxes and soaring inflation. In 2018, car sales dropped 16% to 357,410 units.
TMP led industry sales with 153,004 vehicles sold — accounting for 42.81% of the total — down 16.8% from 183,908 in 2017.
Meanwhile, TMP is bullish on sales of the new Hiace, with Mr. Suzuki saying he expects to sell 1,600 units a month.
Toyota selected the Philippines to host the world premiere of the new vans as it is the ninth market for Toyota vehicles worldwide, and the top market for Hiace vans in more than 150 countries where it is sold.
In 2018, the Hiace had a 56% market share in the utility van segment in the Philippines. — Janina C. Lim

Megaworld expects P1.5 billion in sales from Bacolod tower

MEGAWORLD Corp. targets to book P1.5 billion from the sale of units in its second residential tower within The Upper East township in Bacolod.
In a statement issued Monday, the property firm of tycoon Andrew L. Tan said it has unveiled Two Regis, a 14-storey residential tower at the corner of Regis and Madison Streets of the 34-hectare estate.
Two Regis will offer a mix of studio units sized up to 31.5 square meters (sq.m.), executive studio (up to 37.5 sq.m.), one-bedroom (up to 43.5 sq.m.), and two-bedroom (up to 87 sq.m.). Several units will have their own balconies. The company will also sell units in different size options on Two Regis’ penthouse floor, called the Upper Sky Suites Floor.
The residential tower will feature three Skygardens, two of which will be located on the 12th floor, while the other one is located at the center of the eighth floor.
Other amenities will include a lap pool, kiddie pool, fitness center, daycare center, and function rooms.
Megaworld expects to complete Two Regis in 2023. It will stand next to a lifestyle mall that is currently in the works.
The launch of Two Regis comes six months after Megaworld unveiled its first residential tower in the area, One Regis.
“The overwhelming success of our first residential tower is a clear indication that Bacolod has embraced the convenience of both condo living and township living,” Megaworld Bacolod Vice- President for Sales and Marketing Mary Rachelle I. Peñaflorida said in a statement.
The company said it is now fast-tracking the development of projects inside The Upper East.
“We are fast-tracking the developments inside The Upper East to ensure that our future residents will be able to enjoy the mall, the parks, the hotel, and the other components of the 34-hectare township once they start living in the condo,” Ms. Peñaflorida said.
Megaworld started development of The Upper East back in 2018, and has allocated to spend P35 billion for the project in the next 10 years. The project was inspired by New York City’s Upper East Side district, and will house residential condominiums, lifestyle malls, commercial centers, and office towers, among others
The company’s net income attributable to the parent climbed 13% to P11.29 billion in the first nine months of 2018. Revenues also grew by 13% to P41.76 billion in the same period.
Shares in Megaworld fell by a centavo or 0.19% to close at P5.12 each at the stock exchange on Monday. — Arra B. Francia

Fiascos and fumbles: Oscar organizers stumble to restore glory

REUTERS

LOS ANGELES — First it was the furor over a proposed new “popular” film category, then it was the fiasco over planned host Kevin Hart, and last month the organizers of the Oscars were accused of intimidating celebrities not to present at rival award shows.
Last week, another storm erupted when, as part of a pledge to shorten next Sunday’s Oscars ceremony, plans to present awards for cinematography, film editing, live-action shorts, and makeup/hairstyling during commercial breaks were slammed as insulting by actors, directors, and cinematographers. Five days later, the plan was scrapped.
It’s been a tough 12 months for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as it battles to restore its annual Oscars show to a must-see event after the US television audience slumped to an all-time low last year.
“This year, the bigger question than who will win at the Oscars is what the heck is going on at the academy?” said Tim Gray, awards editor at Hollywood trade publication Variety.
“There have been a slew of bungles,” Mr. Gray added. “I feel they are flailing around and acting out of desperation.”
Under pressure from the ABC television network to trim and liven up the ceremony, the academy has seen many of its efforts backfire.
Bungles include a retreat in September over a proposed new “popular film” category, the withdrawal in December of Oscars host Kevin Hart because of past homophobic tweets, and an accusation in January by the US actors union that the academy was pressuring celebrities not to appear or present at award ceremonies other than the Oscars.
The Oscars is the last in a long Hollywood season that sees award shows and celebrity-packed red carpets every week over two months.
“The academy is caught between its role as a venerable institution that confers honors for the ages on film and the demands of the hurly-burly of social media, the 24/7 news cycle and the demands of the ratings,” said Sharon Waxman, founder and editor in chief of Hollywood website The Wrap.
‘PEOPLE REALLY CARE’
The academy did not return a request for comment for this story, but said in a letter to members last week that show producers “have given great consideration to both Oscar tradition and our broad global audience.”
ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke told reporters earlier this month she believed that the publicity around the Kevin Hart withdrawal showed the Oscars was still relevant.
“I, ironically, have found that the lack of clarity around the Oscars has kept the Oscars really in the conversation, and that the mystery has really been compelling,” Ms. Burke said. “People really care.”
The missteps have all but drowned out initial kudos over this year’s diverse Oscar nominations list, which range from art house films like Roma to superhero blockbuster Black Panther, and crowd-pleasing musicals Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is Born.
Awards watchers say the Academy’s efforts to deliver a compelling show for viewers next week — it will be held on Feb. 24 — still risk falling flat.
“The Academy is dealing yet again with what appears to be a leading film that is a very small film, in Spanish, and in black and white, that has not been seen by that many people,” Ms. Waxman said, referring to best picture front-runner Roma. Recent best-picture winners include small art-house films The Shape of Water last year and Moonlight in 2017.
“That is the more fundamental problem the Academy is facing with this telecast,” Ms. Waxman added.
Variety’s Mr. Gray said that, for the movie industry, the Oscars ceremony is always an enjoyable family get-together.
“The Oscars should also be fun for the viewing audience,” he said. “We will see if they are.” — Reuters

Collaborative working spaces now available at Savoy Manila

By Vincent Mariel P. Galang
Reporter
WITH the growing popularity of co-working spaces, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before hotels ditch their “business centers.”
Savoy Hotel Manila recently introduced The Squares, which it describes as the first-ever collaborative space in a hotel in the country.
The Squares is an added service for Savoy Hotel’s in-house guests who want to catch up on some work or those who want to hang out outside their rooms.
“We’re happy to claim it (is the first because), when we opened this, pre-opening pa lang we already envisioned that we will really be pioneering this kind of a service for our guests, and a lot of people who have discovered it are telling us that… this is one of a kind. Hindi pa ‘yan nakikita sa ibang [this is not yet seen in other] hotels, especially by virtue of our location,” Samantha C. Manuel, marketing and communications manager of Savoy Hotel Manila, told BusinessWorld in an interview last Jan. 22.
Located within the Newport City complex in Pasay, Savoy Hotel is right across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, making it ideal for business and leisure travelers.
“Since we get a lot of travelers, iba-iba kasi ‘yung [there are different] lifestyle, behavior… a lot are young entrepreneurs on the go that sometimes they just check-in to catch a flight pero [but] also need to catch up on some work, also, so at least they have that option,” Ms. Manuel said.
She noted some guests, who are on staycations, also prefer to hang out at The Squares than leave the hotel.
“If ever I’ll be spending, at least it’s within the premises of the hotel, and I can be in my shorts, in my slippers,” Ms. Manuel added.
Savoy Hotel’s collaborative spaces are located in every two floors of the 12-storey hotel, with the main space located at the second floor.
All spaces will have its own kiosk for snacks and drinks, and will have an express check in/out counter.
The main space can accommodate up to 30 people, while the other spaces are half its size. The spaces have Wi-Fi connection and computers, as well as board games and a common television.
Savoy Hotel is also holding events for in-house guests in these spaces.
“Normally it’s in the last weekend of the month… Last year, we had workshops good for 15-20 people. We had wine tasting workshop, coffee appreciation,” Ms. Manuel said.
While The Squares has been open for seven months, Ms. Manuel said it is still in the soft opening stage.
Savoy Hotel has 684 rooms, ranging from standard to suites. It is situated Resort World Manila and Newport Mall.
The hotel was recently named Best New Hotel in TripZilla Excellence Awards 2018. Opened last June 2018, this is the second hotel carrying Megaworld Corp.’s homegrown brand. The first located inside Boracay Newcoast, its 150-hectare tourism estate in Boracay Island.

Sales of Hyundai vehicles in PHL slump in Jan.

HYUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) said January sales of Hyundai vehicles in the country fell 5% year on year, amid the market’s lack of appetite for new cars.
In a statement on Monday, the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines said it sold a total of 2,758 vehicles in the first month of the year, lower than the 2,903 in January 2018. The figure also represents a 6.7% drop versus sales in December 2018.
Passenger cars accounted for the bulk of sales at 52.32%. HARI sold 1,443 passenger cars in January, 29% decline from the 2,036 units in the same month last year.
The Accent model, which represented 91.55% of the segment, saw a 2.48% year-on-year increase with sales at 1,321 units.
Sales of other passenger cars decreased, namely Eon which plunged 91% to 50 units in January from 528 a year ago, and the Elantra which dipped 68% to 70 units from 219 last year.
However, Hyundai expects the passenger car segment to recover in the next months with the recent launch of its Reina model.
Meanwhile, the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment climbed 52%, to 1,315 units from 867 units in January 2018.
“The addition of the Kona and the heightened demand for the H-100 has bolstered the segment’s performance,” the company said, adding the Kona sold 241 units.
Sales of the H-100 model, which accounted for 46% of the LCV segment, increased three-fold year on year to 608 units. Santa Fe purchases rose 11.32% to 59 units.
Sales of the Tucson slid by 45% to 155 units, and those of Grand Starex declined 23% to 252 units.
For 2019, the company remains optimistic that sales will rebound this year, as the economy is expected to improve on the back of the government’s continued spending and its infrastructure program.
“This is supported by positive sentiments from the market as inflation begins to ease, dropping to 4.4% in January 2019, the effects of TRAIN slowly dissipating, and the BSP expected to loosen its monetary stance. All of which will play for a better environment for the automotive-buying consumer,” HARI said.

Ilocos Norte’s Tan-Ok festival and its stories of greatness


A LITTLE boy is eager to wear a colorful costume for the first time; a new mother who recently returned as a festival dancer, is dedicating her performance to her daughter; and last year’s best female performer from Badoc hopes to bag the same award for a second consecutive year. They have been preparing their routines, props, and costumes since November, and rehearsing along with 49 other performers for a month.
In November 2011, the province of Ilocos Norte celebrated its first Tan-Ok ni Ilocano (The Greatness of the Ilocano) festival as a way for Ilocanos to take pride in their history, traditions, faith, livelihood, and culture. In 2018, the festival was moved to coincide with the harvest season in February and in line with the bicentennial founding of the province.
The province celebrated the festival’s eight year through a showcase of narrative dances on Feb. 2 at Laoag City.
“It’s really about retracing and celebrating and having an appreciation and understanding for the Ilocano,” provincial tourism officer Ianree B. Raquel told BusinessWorld prior to the festival program.
“We wanted to use this festival to build a place of pride and encourage the young to learn and appreciate more their culture,” Mr. Raquel added.
During the festival, the various contingents were tasked to perform narrative dances about their town or municipality’s history, culture, or local festivals. This year, 22 participating contingents — from one city and 21 towns — showcased their talents at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium.
The municipality of Nueva Era was awarded as this year’s festival champion with a performance on the life and culture of Tinggian tribe. It also bagged special awards for Best in Production Design, Best Festival Music, and Best in Choreography and Direction. The town took home a trophy and a cash prize of P350,000.
The participants from the city of Badoc, who performed the story their city patron La Virgen Milagrosa, and participants from the city of Batac, who showcased how to prepare the empanada (a savory fried pastry), were named second and third prize winners, respectively.
Other special awards were given to the City of Batac for Best Digital Design; Cedie Cainglit from the municipality of Badoc named was named Best Male performer; while Judilia Pucan from the City of Batac was named Best Female Performer.
FUTURE PLANS
“We’re looking at institutionalizing this festival through local ordinances. Hopefully, we can make a foundation that will support the festival and expand its functions to include cultural education, heritage education, and research. In that way, it becomes long term,” Mr. Raquel said.
“In terms of audience, we really want to focus on good products such as the show that we have, so that it can be it can be as popular as other big festivals [in the country].”
In terms of tourism, the festival is an avenue for guests to experience Ilocano culture.
“In Ilocos Norte, every quarter, we have big events. This is one of them. Aside from viewing a well-designed production, [visitors] learn and experience a lot about Ilocano culture,” he said, adding that the province plans to further enhance the festival activities to include food and tours. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Beyond Bangkok: Thailand promoting secondary cities

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting that more visitors from the Philippines will be visiting the Land of Smiles in 2019 after a good showing in 2018, with an executive from the tourism authority said that they will be promoting secondary cities this year in order for tourists to discover more of Thailand.
“We don’t need to promote Bangkok anymore, because everyone is already familiar with Bangkok, so this year we have a campaign [promoting] secondary cities or the non-primary cities like Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, or Hua Hin,” Kajorndet Apichartrakul, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Singapore and the Philippines, told the media during a media event on Feb. 9 at the Travel Tour Expo in SMX, Pasay City.
He said Thailand welcomed 430,000 Filipinos in 2018, a 13% increase from the previous year
“Last year, we achieved a remarkable number of Filipino visitors to Thailand — the number hit 430,000,” he said before adding that they are expecting 15% growth in 2019.
Mr. Apichartrakul said some of the reasons why they are keen to push cities outside of Bangkok is to lessen the worsening traffic congestion in the capital city (a 2017 report by US-based transportation analytics firm Inrix, named Bangkok as the most congested country in the world) and to attract repeat tourists.
Repeat tourists from the Philippines ranges between 30% to 40%, he said.
“They are quite different in terms of the nature, the culture, and the geography,” he said of the secondary cities before noting that Filipinos who love the cooler temperatures in Baguio will love the cooler temperatures of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is located in the mountainous region of northern Thailand, with an average elevation of 310 meters above sea level. Its Old City area is considered a cultural and religious center as it retains vestiges of walls and moats from its past. Chiang Mai is also home to hundreds of Buddhist temples, including the 15th century Wat Chedi Luang and the 14th century Wat Phra Singh.
Meanwhile, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Phuket are all resort destinations.
The promotion of secondary cities is shaping up to be a long-term plan for the authority as Mr. Apichartrakul said that the Thai government is trying to “facilitate transportation and traffic from Bangkok to other cities” to make it easier for travelers to enter Bangkok and move onward to other cities.
And in order to attract more tourists, the Thai tourism authority listed several festivals to entice people to explore more of the country. These include the Pattaya International Music Festival, to be held on March 14-16, which will feature performances from artists around the world, and the famous Songkran Festival which will be held from April 13 to 15 in Khao San Road in Bangkok, in Chiang Mai, and in Ayutthaya on the outskirts of Bangkok. The festival celebrates the start of the traditional Thai New Year with water fights.
There’s also the Loy Krathong or the Thai Festival of Lights, held on Nov. 13 in Chiang Mai, which celebrates the first full moon of the traditional Thai lunar calendar’s 12th month. During the festival, crowds release lotus-shaped candlelit containers to float down the river. — Z.B. Chua

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