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Greenfield to develop luxury community in Laguna

GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT Corp. (GDC) is developing a luxury residential community within its 400-hectare Greenfield City township in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Under new “ultra-luxe” brand Greenfield Deluxe, Trava is a 33-hectare residential community where “luxury meets green living.”
“In preserving the laidback environment of the South, Trava incorporates the urban conveniences of a premiere development with an ecological design that dedicates a huge 45 percent of the 33-hectare prime land to green open spaces and eco-efficient features,” the developer said in a statement.
Greenfield Deluxe tapped architectural firm Locsin and Partners for the master-planned community. Trava, which was launched in May 2018, features tree-lined roads, lush parks, fully underground utilities, and a streetscape with a four meter-wide lawn.
At present, Trava offers 315 saleable lots with sizes ranging from 550 square meters (sq.m.) to 750 sq.m. Prices range from P24,000 to P32,300 per sq.m.
Amenities include an ecologically designed clubhouse, a social hall, fitness gym, function and recreation rooms, children’s pavilion, a pool complex, adult and kiddie pools, dance studio, tennis court, basketball court, and bike and jogging lanes.
GDC has been involved in real estate development in Sta. Rosa, Laguna since the 1990s. The developer has transformed agricultural lands into cities within a park with its future-oriented homes, infrastructures, communities, and landscapes.
GDC is also the developer of Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City. Founded in 1961, the diversified real estate developer has been very committed in developing lands into communities that will be relevant throughout the years, still making sure that the environment is taken care and employing the latest technology. In addition to this, the company was founded by Jose Y. Campos, also the founder of pharmaceutical company, Unilab. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Gov’t fully awards T-bills as demand stays strong

By Karl Angelo N. Vidal, Reporter
THE GOVERNMENT raised P20 billion in fresh funds from Treasury bills (T-bill) yesterday, with rates sliding across all tenors, as investors expect inflation to decelerate in January.
The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) made a full award at its T-bills auction on Monday as offers received reached P33.657 billion, well above the amount it wanted to raise, although lower than the P37.253 billion in tenders received a week ago.
Broken down, the Treasury accepted P6 billion as planned for the 91-day papers out of the P7.481 billion offered by banks and other financial institutions. The average rate declined by five basis points (bp) to 5.484% from the 5.534% quoted in the previous offer.
The government also made a full award of the 182-day debt notes it placed on the auction block yesterday, borrowing P6 billion as planned versus total offers amounting to P8.613 billion. The average yield slipped 2.5 bps to 5.867% from last week’s 5.892%.
The Treasury likewise fully awarded the 364-day T-bills, accepting the programmed P8 billion out of bids totalling P10.897 billion. Its average yield also slid by 2.2 bps to 5.924% from the 5.946% tallied in the previous auction.
To maximize the strong demand seen during Monday’s auction, the Treasury opened the over-the-counter sale of the 90-, 182- and 364-day instruments. This was made available to tax-exempt government-owned and -controlled corporations from 2 to 4 p.m. yesterday.
Based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates, the three-month, six-month and one-year papers were quoted at 5.448%, 5.887%, and 5.954% yesterday.
Following the auction, National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon said the Treasury saw a “healthy” auction given that it made a full award during the offer.
“We had the full award [since] all the rates are declining. That’s in anticipation of the…inflation [report, which] will continue to decline,” she told reporters yesterday, citing the market consensus of a 4.5% headline print for January.
Inflation likely slowed further last month as food prices sustained a decline, analysts said in a BusinessWorld poll, which yielded a median estimate of 4.5%.
If realized, the projection will fall closer to the low end of the 4.3-5.1% range given by the central bank and will be slower than the 5.1% headline print tallied in December.
“We also saw that there’s a good demand given the bid-to-cover was about more than 1.5 times than our offering,” Ms. De Leon added.
Sought for comments, a trader said the BTr fully awarded the T-bills on offer as expected.
“The auction turned out good as expected, given the better [consumer price index] outlook,” a trader said in a text message.
The government plans to raise P360 billion this quarter through domestic means. Some P240 billion will be borrowed through 12 weekly T-bill auctions during the three-month period, while P120 billion worth of Treasury bonds will also be issued through six fortnightly auctions.
PANDA, SAMURAI BONDS
Meanwhile, the government is looking at raising $300-500 million through renminbi-denominated or “panda” bonds in the second quarter of the year as part of its financing program, Ms. De Leon said.
It is also looking at offering yen-denominated or “samurai” bonds amounting to $1-1.5 billion in the second half of the year.
Ms. De Leon said the government is still observing market conditions to properly time its offerings.
“Right now, we are already finished with all our approvals. We are just watching the market,” she told reporters yesterday, adding that the government will likely offer a tenor bucket of three, five, or seven years.
“If the demand is strong, we might consider a multi-tranche [bond offer] also,” the official said.
In March last year, the government raised 1.46 billion renminbi (RMB), or about $230 million, from its maiden panda bond offer, as it received overwhelming demand worth 9.22 billion RMB. The three-year yuan-denominated debt papers fetched a coupon rate of 5%.
Ms. De Leon added that the yuan-denominated bonds may be issued “just about the same time” compared to last year, depending on market conditions.
For the second issuance of panda bonds, the BTr said it will conduct non-deal road shows as well as Philippine Economic Briefings (PEB) sometime in March.
For the yen-denominated instruments, the government will conduct a PEB on Feb. 22 in Osaka, Japan, with five Japanese banks tasked to support the briefing.
“We are looking at about $1-1.5 billion, equivalent to yen,” Ms. De Leon said, adding that the government will “most likely” offer the bonds in multiple tranches.
“It might be the same tenors [as last year] — three, five and ten.”
In August last year, the state returned to the Japanese market through the issuance of multi-tranche samurai bonds worth 154.2 billion yen or about $1.39 billion.
The Treasury noted that the government still has to get approvals for the issuance of samurai bonds, which can be done after the first half.
“Because last time was in August, so the cycle is maybe after about another 12 months,” she said.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez previously said the government is mulling floating renminbi- and yen-denominated instruments again to maintain presence in the Chinese and Japanese markets.
Last month, the government sold $1.5 billion in 10-year offshore dollar bonds — priced 110 bps above benchmark US treasuries — reflecting investor confidence in the country.
The state wants to borrow P1.189 trillion in 2019 to fund its spending plans. Of the amount, 75% will be sourced domestically while the remainder will be from foreign creditors.

An excellent offering

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
PlayStation 4/Nintendo Switch
ALREADY IN the process of winding up the development of Tales of the Abyss, Namco Tales Studio first planted the seeds for Tales of Vesperia in the middle of 2005. As the Xbox 360 was then about to be launched, it felt it had its medium of choice. Time and timing certainly helped it make a decision, what with specifications for the PlayStation 3 and the Wii not yet available. And it saw a natural, if productive, marriage with Microsoft, one of convenience but likewise of opportunity: It frequently enlisted the hardware manufacturer’s support in aiming to maximize the processing power of the seventh-generation console en route to the release of the latest entry in the Tales franchise.
It would take Namco Tales Studio three more years to shepherd Tales of Vesperia to completion. As the force likewise behind Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss, Team Symphonia wanted to get things right by incorporating the best of previous efforts and learning from constructive criticism to improve on aspects that weren’t as well received. And, judging from the extremely positive critical and commercial reaction, it did: The fruit of its labor garnered praise for presentation and gameplay while actually enabling the Xbox 360 to capitalize on first-mover advantages and gain headway in Sony- and Nintendo-leaning Japan.
Given Tales of Vesperia’s storied past, its enhancement for, and rerelease in, the latest platforms come as no surprise. And, as before, time and timing play crucial roles in the Definitive Edition’s turnaround to retail; a decade has passed since the title first made its way to store shelves, allowing Bandai Namco to offer its upgraded version via the new batch of consoles. All the content that were subsequently added to the PlayStation 3 port hitherto available only in Japan makes its way to the 10th Anniversary iteration, as do technical upgrades that enable much-improved visceral feedback.
To be sure, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition leans on the same narrative to propel gamer interface. Thankfully, its richness holds up well. The planet Terca Lumireis derives energy from blastia cores that likewise provide protection to cities by sealing off the Adephagos, monsters capable of sucking life forces. Antihero Yuri Lowell, a former Imperial fighter with a colorful background and whose unique brand of morality extends beyond the legal, is thrust into the proceedings following the theft of his town’s precious blastia. While in pursuit of the pilferer, he crosses paths with Estellise Sidos Heurassein, princess and heiress to the throne. Their meeting becomes the precursor to the creation of the Brave Vesperia and sets off a chain of events in which the fate of the world is at stake.
In unfolding the character-driven plot, the Definitive Edition of Tales of Vesperia benefits from its more robust material. It boasts of characters that interact with each other well, steer away from role-playing-game archetypes, and inject unpredictability and depth in the proceedings. Moreover, it gains immensely from technology-driven improvements; even as 4K resolution is available on personal computers, it has 1080p as the default resolution in console versions. And, for the most part, it runs smoothly; it stays at 60 frames per second outside of the rare drops on the PS4 Pro, and occasionally downgrades to 30 fps whenever practicable on the Switch. Even while playing undocked on the latter, it remains smooth, albeit off relatively subdued visuals.
In any case, the graphics of Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition are much improved vis-a-vis its predecessor’s. Clearly, significant work was done to make the anime art style pop from the screen; protagonists and locations exhibit vibrant colors and standout sharpness. Not to be outdone are the excellent audio tracks. The new English voiceovers for characters in the Japan-only release are nothing short of excellent and complement the remastered ones. Meanwhile, the music sets the right tone and helps bring out the setting-appropriate reactions from gamers.
Given the eye and ear candy, the gameplay of Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition perks up as well. Admittedly, it does hold its own by itself, with its combat system a clever amalgamation of Japanese RPG and traditional fighting-game elements. Which, in practice, is far less complicated than is initially apparent. Newcomers are given the assistance they need via informative tutorials and expedient options to forego the usual climbs up the upgrade trees. For the more inclined, it presents a rewarding resource-management mechanic that enables hefty buffs and strategic combos for extraordinary damage.
For good measure, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition supplies artificial intelligence that actually holds up. Brave Vesperia’s battle group becomes more formidable in the face of first-rate programming; outside of the gamer-controlled character, the others in the party of four are properly used and thus pull their weight in the crunch. Conversely, opponents present the desired challenges — offering incentives for upgrades but not to the point of being so unfair as to require near-incessant grinding.
All told, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is an excellent offering that deserves its place in any contemporary gamer’s library. For those who haven’t played a Tales game before, it’s an ideal title with which to be introduced to the series. At the same time, those who already finished it on the Xbox 360 will find the new content and audio-visual enhancements compelling enough to merit another look. It’s at least 50 hours’ worth of engrossing gameplay tucked in an absorbing narrative, more than enough to justify its $49.99 price tag. It’s not Tales of Berseria, but it’s close.
THE GOOD:
• Story and gameplay hold up even after a decade
• Presents all content released to the title, including those not previously available to Western audiences
• Upgraded visuals and sounds
• Runs smoothly on the PS4 Pro, and even undocked on the Switch
THE BAD:
• New voiceovers for the additional content dubbed in English can lead to jarring disconnects
• Grinding required, especially for completionists
• Visuals not as sharp on the Switch
RATING: 8/10

8990 board approves P2-billion share buyback plan

8990 HOLDINGS, Inc. said on Monday its board of directors approved the plan to repurchase up to P2-billion worth of shares in the next 18 months.
“The purpose for the Share BuyBack Program is to enhance and improve shareholder value and to manifest confidence in the Company’s value and prospects through repurchase of the common shares,” the mass housing developer said in a disclosure in the stock exchange.
The share buyback program started on Feb. 1, and will end on Aug. 1, 2020.
8990 Holdings said it repurchase the shares using cash and book them as treasury shares.
“Buyback transactions will be triggered in the cases where: (i) the company stock is substantially undervalued, (ii) when there is high volatility in share prices, or (iii) in any other instance where a buyback would serve to enhance or improve shareholder value, each as reasonably determined by the Chairman, the Chairman Emeritus and the President (acting as a body),” the company said.
Shares in 8990 Holdings jumped 4.8% or P0.48 to close at P10.48 apiece in the stock exchange on Monday.
Last year, the listed real estate firm said it will be spending about P10 billion in capital expenditure in 2019 to boost its hospitality portfolio.
It also announced plans to launch three to four leisure properties every year in the next five years through newly-formed subsidiary 8990 Leisure and Resorts. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

PA Properties breaks ground for Calamba project

P.A. ALVAREZ Properties and Development Corp. (P.A. Properties) broke ground for a 3-hectare affordable housing development in Calamba City, Laguna.
In a statement, the real estate developer said the project St. Joseph Springfield will have a total of 419 townhouse units. Priced at P1.42 million each, a unit will have a 42 square meters (sq.m.) floor area and a 36 sq.m. lot area.
“St. Joseph Springfield is designed to be an exclusive and close knit community as there will only be 419 units to be offered. Perfect for those seeking simplicity and convenience, as well as a sense of belongingness and security,” P.A. Properties said.
The residential community is hoping to attract new families, empty nesters, retirees, and young professionals working in nearby business districts.
Located near the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), St. Joseph Springfield has clubhouse, a basketball court, and a parking area. It is set for completion in December 2023.
This is P.A. Properties’ latest project in Calamba after the completion of St. Joseph Homes Calamba in Barangays Burol and Laguerta in December 2016.
This month, the property developer announced plans to build 25 housing communities in five years. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

BDO raises P35 billion via first tranche of bond program

BDO UNIBANK, Inc. will issue P35 billion worth of bonds.

BDO Unibank, Inc. raised P35 billion through fixed-rate local currency bonds to support its business expansion and to diversify funding sources.
In a regulatory filing on Monday, the Sy-led bank said it raised P35 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds following a “quick” book-building process.
The fixed-rate notes carry a coupon of 6.42% per annum to be paid quarterly until July 2020, as they will mature in 1.5 years. Interest will be calculated on a 30/360 count basis, the bank said.
The coupon rate also represented a 25-basis-point spread over the Bloomberg PHP Valuation Service benchmark.
The offering marks the first tranche of the bank’s P100-billion bond program announced in August.
“The bond issuance is part of BDO’s efforts to diversify its funding sources and support its business expansion,” the bank said.
The notes, which BDO said is the largest peso bond issuance by a local bank to date, will be issued on Feb. 11 at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.
Domestic banks can now raise fresh funds through corporate bonds with greater ease as new rules do away with having to secure approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, as well as UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. have recently issued peso-denominated instruments to diversify funding sources and expand their businesses.
Meanwhile, Security Bank Corp. and Philippine National Bank are also looking at offering fixed-rate bonds amounting to P50 billion and P100 billion, respectively, which will likewise be issued in tranches.
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.
BDO booked an P8.4-billion net profit in the third quarter of 2018, 18.6% higher than the P7.08 billion logged the previous year, as its key businesses grew robustly.
BDO shares closed at P138.50 apiece on Monday, dropping P1.50 or 1.07% from the previous day’s finish. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Stars come out for Araneta Center Chinese New Year

FOR Chinese New Year, the Araneta Center is looking to the stars and welcoming them as it ushers in the Year of the Pig. Gracing the festivities will be the stars of Elise, Enchong Dee and Janine Gutierrez (photo), who pass by the Gateway Mall Activity Area today before heading to the Gateway Cineplex for the premiere of their movie at Gateway Cineplex 2, 6 p.m. Joining the celebration at the Gateway Mall Activity Area in the afternoon are Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 and Binibining Pilipinas 2015 semifinalist Teresita Marquez, and young stars Krystal Brimner, Sammie Rimando, Ana de Leon, JayR Ramos, and Kayla Heredia. Psychic Madam Suzette Arandela will talk about improving one’s fortunes at the Gateway Mall, while feng shui expert Tony Suvega will give out tips to attract good luck at Farmers Plaza and Ali Mall. For a P500 single receipt purchase, mall goers may consult these experts and other tarot card readers, get souvenirs, and be eligible for a raffle. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Gateway Mall goers will also get tips on how to decorate and cultivate lucky plants during a workshop. Horoscope readings are also available at the three malls. From Feb. 6 to 13, Gateway Mall will have a bazaar offering Chinese food and treats.

Leviste willing to accept proposed amendments to Solar Para sa Bayan’s franchise

LEANDRO L. LEVISTE, founder of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. — VICTOR V. SAULON

THE OWNER of Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp., the company that is seeking a legislative franchise to put up minigrid systems nationwide, is willing to compromise and accept the amendments proposed by electric utilities including the regulation of its power rates and a limit to its scope of operation.
“Notwithstanding the fact that 82% of Filipinos according to Pulse Asia want new choices for electricity and many more have expressed support for this bill on social media and other fora, we actually manifested our openness to accept the majority of the amendments proposed by the electric utilities,” Leandro L. Leviste told reporters after a Senate meeting on his company’s franchise application on Monday.
Mr. Leviste said he was willing to compromise and agree to proposals to have the minigrids regulated.
“And whereas the original scope of the franchise allowed us to operate in all parts of the Philippines, we have actually also manifested our openness to decrease this to the parts of the country that are unserved and underserved, the definition of which is at the heart of the discussion,” he added.
The amendments on the proposed franchise comes after the House of Representatives first heard House Bill 8179, which seeks to grant a non-exclusive legislative franchise to Solar Para Sa Bayan. The measure is being opposed by solar energy developers, electric cooperatives, and even lawmakers. They called for further review and deliberation on the bill.
Mr. Leviste said his willingness to compromise signifies that the most viable markets were “being put off the table because these viable markets are largely already served by distribution utilities like Meralco (Manila Electric Co.).”
“We have no intention to enter areas where we are unwelcome and even at the expense of the viability of this undertaking, are willing to limit ourselves to these unserved and underserved areas which the committee deems appropriate,” he said.
Mr. Leviste said the proposed franchise does not grant his company any government subsidy, which is in contrast to the P20 billion yearly subsidy given to electricity utilities for missionary electrification and an estimated P50 billion a year in all kinds of subsidies.
“This is will really a debate between big businesses and the Filipino people. And we are optimistic that at the end of the day, the overwhelming clamor of the Filipino will prevail,” he added.
However, Mr. Leviste, whose mother is Sen. Loren B. Legarda, said he wanted protection for his investment on minigrids.
“Only through a franchise can we bring this to a meaningful scale by being able to efficiently serve larger numbers of households, sitios and barangays, and with the same protections under the law as the distribution utilities,” he said. — Victor V. Saulon

Grand Hyatt Manila Residences opens second tower

GRAND Hyatt Manila Residences, a joint venture of Federal Land, Inc. and Japan’s Orix Corp, recently opened the second tower which offers residents the renowned hospitality, services, and amenities that come with the Grand Hyatt brand.
Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower is located within Federal Land’s Grand Central Park, a 10-hectare mixed-use development in Bonifacio Global City.
The two-tower residential development is the only one under the Grand Hyatt brand in Southeast Asia.
“Calling Grand Hyatt home means having the luxury of hotel-like perks such as concierge and housekeeping services and a beautiful, inspiring environment that provides more than comfort, ease, exclusivity and security. It also means having a private access to Grand Hyatt Manila hotel, where more luxurious experiences and dining pleasures await,” the company said in a statement.
The 50-storey tower features an “elegant wraparound glass design,” and 188 units with above average floor-to-ceiling heights and a private balcony with views of the metropolis.
Among its facilities include the “glass function room;” the pool deck and lounge; a teen entertainment zone; and children’s play area.
Unit owners will secure a Globalist membership to the World of Hyatt loyalty program, which allows members to earn points for availing hotel services and redeem rewards such as dining and spa experiences and room upgrades.

BSP removes higher branch fee for cities

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez, Senior Reporter
THE CENTRAL BANK has removed higher licensing fees for banks to open new branches within cities in Metro Manila, alongside stringent requirements for granting bank licenses to simplify rules for bank expansions.
In a statement, the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced it has lifted the more expensive licensing fees for banks to open branches in the cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon and San Juan.
“This is to encourage BSFIs (BSP-supervised financial institutions) to expand their branch network and consumer touch points and ultimately promote financial inclusion,” the central bank said.
Since 2014, the BSP has levied a heftier licensing fee for banks who want to open branches in the above-mentioned eight Metro Manila cities, as it wanted to push banks to open in other areas, particularly unbanked towns.
Universal and commercial banks looking to open a branch in the said cities had to pay P20 million for a license to operate there, versus the P200,000 maximum branch processing fee for other locations. Meanwhile, thrift banks had to shell out P15 million to open a new branch in the previously restricted areas.
Other changes in the recently-approved measure include streamlined requirements for various business adjustments or expansion plans pursued by financial firms.
The BSP is splitting licensing decisions into three categories. The type A license carries the most number of requirements, as it covers activities like the creation and sale of branches and branch-lite units, equity investment in allied and non-allied undertaking, and trust and other fiduciary business which are “likely to expose the BSFI to increased risks.”
A bank can secure such license from the BSP if they can get a Capital adequacy, Asset quality, Management, Earnings, and Liquidity rating of at least 3; ample governance and independent control functions; and compliance with BSP directives.
On the other hand, a bank’s decision to convert to a lower bank category and amend its articles of incorporation or by-laws fall under the type B license, which still requires the BSP’s approval but will not need to follow a certain set of qualifications.
Simpler bank changes like the relocation of approved but unopened branches, the permanent closure and surrender of a branch license, and servicing of deposits outside bank premises will no longer need prior BSP approval. The regulator is forgoing approvals as these are merely “business decisions made to manage operations.”
“The Bangko Sentral shall continue to align the requirements for other activities requiring special authorities with the new framework to promote efficiency and reduce business costs,” the central bank said, noting that such changes were introduced to promote the ease of doing business in the country.
The regulator has been actively simplifying application processes and removing prior approvals to allow financial firms more leeway to expand their businesses without government intervention. Among the biggest changes include the removal of approvals for banks to offer commercial bond papers, which encourages more lenders to raise funding through the capital markets.

Pueblo de Oro Development expands La Aldea Fernandina

PUEBLO de Oro Development Corp. (PDO) recently launched the second phase in its 30-hectare masterplanned community in San Fernando, Pampanga.
In a statement, the real estate developer said it is offering over 1,100 units at the La Aldea Fernandina II, a 12-hectare Spanish–Mediterranean themed community within Pueblo de Oro in Barangay Del Carmen, San Fernando.
PDO is targeting start-up families for the homes that start at P1.2 million each. Units’ floor areas start at 47 square meters (sq.m.).
Amenities include a transport terminal, pocket open spaces, a riverside linear park and jogging path.
“Residents can enjoy the centrally located community facilities, such as the new village clubhouse, full-size basketball court, and children’s playground,” the company said in a statement.
The community also has a perimeter fence and a 24-hour surveillance camera to ensure safety of future homeowners. It also features 12 meter-wide main roads, 10 meter-wide secondary roads, while others are 6.5 meters wide.
Pueblo de Oro is a collection of three private and gated villages, La Aldea Fernandina; Park Place; and Horizon Residences.
PDO is the property arm of Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP). It has been developing mixed-use residential projects for over 20 years. Aside from the community in Pampanga, it also has communities in Cagayan de Oro, Mactan Island in Cebu, and in Santo Tomas and Malavar in Batangas. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Smile Train’s Aldrian in the LA film fest

SMILE TRAIN’ s short film, Aldrian, has been included in the LA Under the Stars Film Festival 2019, announced the world’s leading cleft organization, which is marking its 20th anniversary. The film is about Aldrian, a six-year-old boy living with an untreated cleft lip and palate in Metro Manila and his journey to his smile with the help of his Lola Theresa and a local Smile Train social worker who make his dream to eat with ease come true. The story of Aldrian is one of many as more than 200,000 babies are born with clefts every year around the world. The LA Under the Stars Film Festival is an international film festival that showcases independent films. Representing the 50,000th surgery supported by Smile Train in the Philippines, Aldrian showcases the opportunities that can be provided such as free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care. Aldrian already won Best Production/Producer for the CKF International Film Festival, a monthly film festival designed for independent filmmakers, last year August. The short film was premiered at the festival last November in Swindon, England. To watch the film, visit smiletrain.org/lp/aldrian.

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