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Ayala Land mulls P5-billion bond issuance

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
AYALA LAND, Inc. (ALI) is mulling the issuance of P5 billion worth of bonds before the end of 2018 to partly finance its capital expenditure for the year.
ALI Chief Finance Officer Augusto Cesar D. Bengzon said the company may issue the bonds out of its shelf registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they have P8 billion left from the three-year program.
“(We can issue) maybe another P5 billion… We still have remaining P8 billion in our shelf registration. We can use it,” Mr. Bengzon said in a media briefing in Makati City on Monday.
The listed property developer earlier said it plans to raise P20 billion from a combination of bilateral loans from banks and retail bonds. So far, it has raised P15 billion — with P10 billion through the bond market and P5 billion from bilaterals.
“We’re still assessing the market. Technically, there is no urgency,” Mr. Bengzon said.
The funds will potentially be used to finance part of ALI’s P110.8-billion capex for this year. This year’s capex is 21% higher than the P91.4 billion it spent in 2017, as ALI wanted to take advantage of the strong demand for residential properties in the country.
ALI has already spent P48.4 billion from its capex during the first six months of the year. Residential projects cornered bulk of the spending at 45%, followed by commercial leasing projects at 25%. Fifteen percent was used for equity investments; 10% went to land acquisitions, while the remaining five percent was for real estate development.
Noting the capex rollout was slow during the first half, Mr. Bengzon said the company will still be able to spend what it has set aside. “We pushed back some project launches, but we will be able to catch up on that in preparation for next year,” ALI Senior Vice President and Head of Residential Business Group Robert S. Lao said.
The company targets to launch P125 billion worth of projects this year, consisting mostly of residential and offices for sale under its AyalaLand Premier, Alveo, Avida, Amaia, and BellaVita brands.
Mr. Lao said this will allow ALI to book a 13% growth in reservation sales for the year. In the first six months of 2018 alone, the company managed to book a 17% increase to P72 billion in reservation sales. This means that ALI sold P12 billion worth of projects each month this year.
ALI launched five residential projects for the first half, namely The Residences at Azuela Cove in Davao, Cerilo Phase 4 and 5 in Laguna, Callisto Tower 2 in Circuit Makati, Ametta Place Phase 3 in Pasig, and Avida Towers Abreeza Tower in Davao.
ALI’s net income attributable to the parent grew by 18% to P13.5 billion in the first six months of 2018, on the back of a 25% increase in revenues to P80.4 billion.
Shares in ALI went up by 0.12% or five centavos to close at P42 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday.

Amendments to Corporate Code approved by Senate on 3rd reading

By Camille A. Aguinaldo
THE Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the bill amending the 38-year-old Batas Pambansa Bilang 68 or the Corporation Code of the Philippines.
Senate Bill No. 1280 introduces the “one-person corporation” to address problems in filling up the current requirement of at least five stockholders for a corporation. It also grants perpetual term as the default option for corporations.
The Corporation Code of the Philippines provides the rules and regulations in the establishment and operation of stock and non-stock corporations in the country.
The bill was approved with 20 affirmative votes, zero negative vote, and no abstention. The proposed measure was authored and sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri.
In a statement, Mr. Drilon said the measure will establish a more business- and investor-friendly environment in the country.
“We must provide an environment conducive not just to big businesses, but make the corporate vehicle an appealing prospect for start-ups and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Mr. Drilon also said the bill’s provisions would ensure ease of doing business, prioritize corporate and stockholder protection, instill corporate and civic responsibility, and strengthen the country’s regulatory corporate framework.
The “one-person corporation” amendment to the bill prevents the current practice of certain investors to name even their household members and hired help as incorporators to comply with the present rule.
The measure also adopts an electronic filing system for reportorial requirements and simplifies the current name verification system to allow seamless automation of name registration for corporations.
It also permits the use of alternative modes of communication in corporate meetings, so that stockholders and directors can attend through remote communication and in some cases, can cast votes “in absentia.”
Mr. Drilon added the proposed amendments to the Corporation Code will make the country a “viable investment destination.”
“If we are to keep up with the rest of the financial world, we need to codify best international corporate practices and address the archaic bottlenecks in the areas of starting a business and protecting minority investors,” he said.

Rental revenues boost GERI’s first-half profit

GLOBAL-ESTATE Resorts, Inc. (GERI) posted an 18% attributable profit growth during the first six months of 2018, driven by a surge in rental revenues after it opened its first full-scale mall in Laguna.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the leisure and tourism estate developer of tycoon Andrew L. Tan saw net income attributable to equity holders of the parent climb to P794 million for the first semester, compared to the P670 million it realized in the same period a year ago.
Consolidated revenues likewise rose five percent to P3.3 billion for the period.
GERI attributed the positive results to the performance of Southwoods Mall, its first full-scale mall inside its tourism estate Southwoods City in Laguna. Rental revenues jumped by 218% during the January to June period, reaching P177 million compared to the P56 million recorded in the same period a year ago.
“After launching Southwoods Malls, we are gearing up to launch more lifestyle malls and retail concepts in the coming years,” GERI President Monica T. Salomon was quoted as saying in a statement.
By 2020, the company expects to expand its rental income to reach P650 million as it opens more lifestyle malls.
GERI also reported an eight percent growth in residential sales to P2.8 billion in the first half.
GERI currently has residential projects inside its integrated lifestyle communities and townships, namely Alabang West in Las Piñas City spanning 62 hectares, Hamptons Caliraya surrounding Lake Caliraya in Laguna covering 300 hectares, the 1,200-hectare Twin Lakes in Tagaytay, the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island, the 173-hectare Barbara Heights in Iloilo, and the 640-hectare Eastland Heights in Rizal.
“The ‘integrated lifestyle community’ concept resonates well to our market in pushing our residential offerings. We expect to see more of this pioneering concept in our other properties soon,” Ms. Salomon said.
GERI is part of Mr. Tan’s Alliance Global Group, Inc., which also has core investments in liquor through Emperador, Inc., gaming through the operations of Resorts World Manila, and quick service restaurants through Golden Arches Development Corp. — the local franchisee of the McDonald’s brand.
Shares in GERI gained two centavos or 1.65% to close at P1.23 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

Bedazzled by bamboo

ANAT HEIFETZ uses various painting techniques to make bamboo poles look like rolls of fabric. — NICKKY FAUSTINE P. DE GUZMAN

BAMBOO can be boring — a run-of-the-mill construction material, it doesn’t command attention unless when used as material for something unusual like bicycles or sunglasses. But for artist and fashion designer Anat Heifetz, the simple yet sturdy plants make for an interesting canvas.
In her ongoing exhibition at the Ayala Museum called Bamboo Road: Tel Aviv-Manila, Ms. Heifetz dressed up more than 400 bamboo poles and transformed them into pretty pieces of art.
Painted in black and white (“because I think black and white have all the colors inside them,” she said), Ms. Heifetz carefully drew different patterns on every piece of bamboo.
“I made all the drawings by myself. The ideas are from the fabrics that I remember using from my past, like laces, knits, marble-like images…,” Ms. Heifetz, a Manila-based Israeli artist and fashion designer, told BusinessWorld.
Finishing the bamboo poles depends on the patterns she chooses or how small and delicate they are. They from two weeks to two months to finish.
From a distance, the poles look like rolls of fabric, which is what the artist is aiming for. But when you look closely, you realize that they are painstakingly hand-painted.
“I love bamboo and it always reminded me of fabric rolls so I decided to draw on the bamboo some fabric patterns and textures,” Ms. Heifetz said at the sidelines of her exhibit’s opening.
On view until Aug. 19, the exhibition does not only showcase the artist’s skill, but also commemorates Israel’s 70th anniversary of independence and the 60th anniversary of the Israel-Philippines Friendship Treaty.
A marriage of Filipino and Israel culture, the center piece of the exhibit is a sawali (woven split bamboo mat used as walls in nipa huts) hand-painted a design inspired by the tapestry-woven kilim carpets found in Central Asia, South America, North Africa, and Mediterranean.
“In Israel, my parents had a big kilim carpet hanging at the entrance of the house. I love this carpet, it has been part of my life throughout. So I decided to recreate kilim with sawali. I thought I’d paint on the sawali with kilim pattern to combine my two homes, Tel Aviv and Manila,” she said.
Ms. Heifetz moved to the Philippines in 2015 when her husband found work here. She then started looking for a way to express her artistry and love for bamboo as a material. She met a group of talented artists in Mandaluyong where they enjoyed weekends of art, music, and, local food. Her studio there is her second home.
“The transfer from textile to bamboo was natural for me,” she said. The artist tried many techniques to jazz up a bamboo, and discovered that acrylic paint work well. The results are seen in her exhibit.
To add textures to her work, Ms. Heifetz worked with wood carvers from Paete, Laguna — she gave them patterns to carve into the bamboo poles. Their collaborations are also seen in the exhibition. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Revolution Precrafted expands into Peru

REVOLUTION Precrafted on Tuesday said it has signed a deal with Builders and Realtors for the supply of residential units on a 10-hectare property in Piura, Peru, further expanding its footprint in South America.
In a statement, the global supplier of pre-fabricated homes said Builders and Realtors will initially buy 50 “luxury curated country villas” with sizes ranging from 200 to 300 square meters (sq.m.). The agreement provides for the supply of 90 villas.
“There is a substantial demand for quality homes in Latin America. We believe that there is a great opportunity for the company to further increase its presence in the region. We hope to be present in 3-5 more countries from Latin America before the year ends. We will be back to complete our LatAm (Latin America) roadshow,” Revolution Precrafted Founder and CEO Jose Roberto “Robbie” R. Antonio was quoted as saying in a statement.
The company said the luxury villas will be priced from $140,000 to $310,000. The houses will be built on lot sizes ranging from 700 to 1,000 sq.m.
Revolution Precrafted said the Peru-based company is also planning to build a prefabricated country-inspired hotel resort.
The resort will have 30 rooms with sizes starting at 40 sq.m., as well as an indoor parking area for over 70 vehicles.
Peru is Revolution Precrafted’s 16th international market, and the fifth in South America after Brazil, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador.
Revolution Precrafted is aiming to be present in 25 countries by the end of 2018. It is currently constructing projects in United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Spain, and Cyprus.
In the Philippines, the company is developing units for Batulao Artscapes in Nasugbu, Batangas and the Revolution Flavorscapes in Mexico, Pampanga. — CRAG

Both the new and the old in focus in BM’s Tour de Force

SET to songs by The Beatles, The Long and Winding Road is half of Ballet Manila’s season closer called Duo.

BALLET MANILA (BM) is taking both the literal and figurative meanings of “Tour de Force” as the title of its 23rd season which opens in September.
“‘Tour’ is the French term for the way we call turns in ballet. And in order to accomplish tours, you have to gather force to do the 360-degree revolutions,” BM’s CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja said during a press preview of its season’s repertoire on Aug. 2.
Of course, tour de force also means “an impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill” which can certainly refer to BM’s achievements through the years as a classical dance company — and its upcoming season is a force to reckon with thanks to the selection of its best originals, classics, and returning favorites.
“Tour de Force” will open with two weekend shows called Iconic 1.0 on Sept. 1 and 2, and Iconic 2.0 on Sept. 8 and 9.
Ms. Macuja said she curated the two Iconics as retrospectives where 14 different performances from 17 top choreographers will be showcased. The featured choreographers’ include Osias Barroso, Jr., Rudy de Dios, Tony Fabella, Bam Damian, and Agnes Locsin.
Following the Iconics is the classic ballet Le Corsaire (The Pirate). The ballet — about pirates and maidens and love and betrayal — promises to show the leaps and lifts and lots of strength thanks to the Vaganova technique which the company is known for. Le Coirsaire will have performances on Oct. 20 and 21.
A classic tale fit for children and the kids-at-heart, Cinderella will be restaged on Nov. 24 and 25 and Dec. 1 and 2. Choreographed by the prima ballerina herself, Ms. Macuja said her Cinderella is light, requires audience participation, and has comedic elements incorporated within it.
Cinderella will be BM’s early Christmas gift before it proceeds to its final show for the season, Deux, in 2019.
Deux will be a mash-up of rock and roll and classical ballet. It is a two-part show featuring the classic Les Sylphides which is set to the music of Frederic Chopin, as one half, and The Winding Road which is set to Beatles’ songs.
“Ballet Manila is about developing new audiences and presenting classics — not [to] our ‘old’ audiences, but our loyal audiences — and to new young people to come and watch ballet. This has been our mission since 23 years ago,” said Ms. Macuja.
All BM shows will be staged at the Star Theater in the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ complex. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Buy art. Help kids smile

ON VIEW at Solaire’s The Shoppes Artway gallery is an art exhibit for the benefit of kids with cleft palate in the Philippines.
A Celebration of Smiles: Creating smiles and second chances at life through art is strategically located in view at the casino — where money flies — until Sept. 2.
Proceeds from the sale of the works on show will go to Smile Train, an organization of medical professionals who provides free cleft palate surgery and comprehensive cleft palate care to children around the globe. In the Philippines, the organization has performed 50,000 surgeries since 2001.
The exhibit features works by professional artists and some former Smile Train patients.
There is an obvious unedited rawness and simplicity in the works of seven former Smile Train patients — Julia Robert Capili, Angel Ibo, Gelli Ann Agus, Pearl Angeli Miranda, Jervy Hobo, Elijah John Valeza, and Nickson Cabote. Their subjects are basic — a nipa hut, a mother and child, a tree, a woman jumping in midair — and all are colorful.
The proceeds from the sales of art from these former patients will go to the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines Inc.(NCFPI), which is a non-profit organization that aims to establish craniofacial centers in the country.
Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, area director for Smile Train in Southeast Asia, said newborn babies and kids with cleft problems should undergo surgery as soon as possible, preferably before they turn four. But the majority of their Filipino indigent patients come for help when they are older, making the process difficult in a sense that they will need speech pathology to correct their nasal speaking.
The other participating artists are Roberto Sanchez, a DJ, entrepreneur, and self-taught artist; Jon Ray Fernandez, a former airline professional who is now a mixed media artist; Camy Franciso-Cabral, a former design and advertising maven who has become a full time artist; and Albrech Behmel, an author, playwright, and artist.
Twenty percent of their sales will go to Smile Train.
The fund-raising event is initiated and made possible by Acts of Kindness, a group that supports causes and charities through art. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

ICTSI Q2 income up 3% on record revenues

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. reported all-time high revenues and volumes in the second quarter of 2018. — BW FILE PHOTO

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) reported its attributable net income increased by 3% to $53.597 million in the second quarter, on all-time high revenues and volumes.
In a statement, ICTSI said its attributable net income dropped 6% to $97.66 million in the first six months of 2018 from $103.6 million a year ago, “due primarily to the start-up costs of the new terminals in Papua New Guinea and Australia.” Last year’s comparable figure had included a one-time gain of $7.5 million from the termination of its sub-concession agreement in Nigeria.
ICTSI cited several other factors that contributed to its financial performance: “a decrease in the company’s share in the net loss at Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A., its joint venture container terminal project with PSA International Pte Ltd. in Buenaventura, Colombia; and a $2.8 million non-recurring gain from the pre-termination of interest rate swap related to the pre-payment of the project finance loan at its terminal operations in Manzanillo, Mexico in May 2018.”
Excluding the non-recurring gains, the port operator said consolidated net income attributable to equity holders would have gone up by 15% in the second quarter, but would have dipped by one percent in the first half.
Second quarter revenues jumped 10% to $336.4 million, bringing the six-month tally 10% higher to $661.8 million.
“The increase in revenues was mainly due to volume growth; new contracts with shipping lines and services; increase in revenues from non-containerized cargoes, storage and ancillary services; and the contribution from the Company’s new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne, Australia,” ICTSI said.
Excluding the new terminals, consolidated gross revenues increased by 7% in the April to June period, and 6% in the first half.
For the quarter ended June 30, ICTSI said total consolidated throughput rose 5% to 2,388,715 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 4,714,255 TEUs in the first six months of 2018, up 4% year-on-year. — D.A.Valdez

Ideas and historical possibilities according to non-historians

TO understand history and its relationship with the present, one must go beyond knowing the names, dates, places, and the chronology of events. One has to look deeper, into the forces and ideas of each period and study their consequences — intended or not.
In A History of Ideas, a multimedia presentation at College of Saint Benilde-School of Design and Arts (CSB-SDA) on Aug. 4, broadcaster/journalist/musician Lourd De Veyra and writer/composer/sound producer Erwin Romulo presented a collection of ideas reflecting events in Philippine history using art and religion as the common threads.
The presentation (which ran for almost three hours) tackled the arts role history — works inspired by and/or that led to revolutions, and experiences of oppression — such as the Basi Revolt painting series of Esteban Pichay Villanueva, an avant-garde composition by National Artist for Music Jose Maceda, and the poetry of siblings Emmanuel and Jose Lacaba.
They suggested that the Basi Revolt paintings — a series of 14 paintings (which reflects the stations of the cross according to the show’s presenters) chronicling the events in September 1807 when a revolt by makers and consumers of basi wine in Ilocos was brutally put down by the Spanish colonial government — had two narratives that could be seen depending on whether you were a government supporter or on the side of the Indios.
Meanwhile, Mssrs. Romulo and De Veyra posit that Mr. Maceda’s exceedingly avant-garde 1974 piece called Ugnayan, which featured sounds of regular life simultaneously aired over 20 radio stations and which was championed by then First Lady and Metro Manila Governor Imelda Marcos, was the inadvertent spark for the April 6, 1978 noise barrage in protest of the Batasang Pambansa elections the following day — the first widespread protest against the Marcos’ Martial Law.
And it was this Martial Law that the Lacaba siblings protested against with their words (in Emman’s case, his protest included the rifle he took up when he joined the NPA) — and, according to the evening’s presentation, they were not the only poets who had much to do with the various revolts and revolutions throughout Philippine history.
The evening’s somewhat disjointed but fascinating performance featured Mr. De Veyra lecturing onstage, interacting with his sidekick Jun Sabayton for a bit of comic relief, and showing extensive video clips, and sound clips.
History of Ideas will be a new subject in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)’s revised curriculum for its Arts Management Program.
“Because of K-12, we had to revise it (curriculum). I thought about creating some contextual subjects so that the students would have a better background of art and society which is more focused on contemporary culture,” De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Arts Management Program Chairperson Geraldine “Din Din” Araneta told BusinessWorld about gathering content for the subject, shortly after the presentation.
Ms. Araneta invited Mssrs Romulo and De Veyra to participate as they are people who “can present knowledge in new ways.” The collection of ideas and concepts were finalized for the presentation within two weeks.
According to Mr. Romulo, some of the materials they used, such as the audio file of the April 6, 1978 noise barrage were recreated for the show.
“I think one of the joys of the presentation is that we laid out so much that the hope is that the audience would be able to discern their own narratives from what we have presented,” Mr. De Veyra told BusinessWorld.
“We’re not claiming it to be a historical record of facts. We’re just using history to make you think of the possibilities, the what ifs,” Mr. Romulo told BusinessWorld.
According to Ms. Araneta, the new subject will be equivalent to three units and taken prior to the students’ thesis course. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Eagle Cement profit rises 6% in 2nd quarter

EARNINGS of Eagle Cement Corp. (ECC) rose by six percent in the second quarter of 2018, driven by the strong sales of its cement products.
In a presentation to analysts disclosed to the stock exchange on Tuesday, ECC said net income reached P1.256 billion in the April to June period, higher than the P1.189 billion it posted in the same period a year ago. Net sales exhibited a 14% increase to P4.208 billion for the three-month period.
The listed cement manufacturer’s gross profit margins slipped to 49% during the quarter, versus the 51% seen in the same period a year ago, while net income margins slightly dropped to 30%, from 32% in the second quarter of 2017.
On a six-month basis, ECC’s net income rose five percent to P2.322 billion, while net sales jumped 10% to P8.211 billion.
Meanwhile, gross profit margins for the first semester was unchanged from the previous year’s 48%. Net income margins went down to 28% from 30% in the same quarter a year ago.
“Upgrading and debottlenecking efforts in existing lines allow us to keep healthy margins. Additional capacity will help support increasing demand and growth trajectory,” the company said.
ECC is currently expanding its capacity through a third production line in its Bulacan facility, which will add two million metric tons annually. The third line is due for completion within the third quarter.
The company is also constructing a fourth production line in Malabuyoc, Cebu, as it targets to expand its market to the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The line will have a capacity of two million metric tons, and is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
The expansion program will bring ECC’s total capacity to 9.1 million metric tons every year.
Shares in ECC lost two centavos or 0.13% to close at P15.88 each at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

Security Bank books lower earnings in first half

SECURITY BANK Corp. booked lower net earnings in the first semester of the year due to a decline in trading gains and an increase in provisions for income tax.
In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the listed lender said its net profit in the six months ended June stood at P4.3 billion, down 18% or P951 million from the P5.3 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Security Bank said it logged a lower net income in the said period primarily due to a 59% decrease in its gains from trading from the first semester last year amid market volatility.
The bank meanwhile saw a 55% increase in provisions for income tax year-on-year.
Despite this, the bank’s net interest income climbed 8% to P10 billion from the P9.3 billion booked a year ago.
Net interest income from customer loans and deposits was at P7.4 billion, rising 34% from last year’s P5.6 billion.
Total loans reached P383 billion as of June, 12% higher than the P340 billion recorded a year ago.
Consumer loans jumped 50% and accounted for 18% of Security Bank’s total loan portfolio. Wholesale loans likewise grew 7%.
Security Bank’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio was at 0.6%, down from last year’s 0.7%, while its NPL reserve cover stood at 261%, which the bank said is the highest in the country.
Meanwhile, the bank set aside P90 million in provisions for credit and impairment losses in the second quarter.
The bank’s total deposits grew 17% or P63 billion to P443 billion in the first semester.
Low-cost deposits rose 15%, while its loans-to-deposit ratio improved to 86% from 90% a year ago, it said,
Meanwhile, interest income from financial investments declined 13% to P4.8 billion from P4.07 billion last year due to a 13% drop in its securities portfolio.
Income from service charges, fees and commissions stood P1.3 billion, up 16%, supported by fees from bancassurance, credit cards and loans.
On the other hand, operating expense grew 12.9% excluding provisions for credit and impairment losses due to its investment in digitalization and information technology transformation.
Return on shareholders’ equity stood at 8.1%, while shareholders’ capital was at P107 billion, up 6% from a year-ago level.
Capital adequacy ratio was at 18.46%, slipping from last year’s 18.95%, while its common equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 16.19% from 16.63% a year ago.
Overall, Security Bank’s total assets stood P722 billion at end-June, down 6.8% from the previous year’s P774.7 billion.
Shares in Security Bank closed at P201.20 apiece on Tuesday, down P3.80 or 1.85%. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

A timely restaging of The Vagina Monologues

WITH THE many headlines about President Duterte’s inappropriate behavior and remarks about women, Senate President Sotto’s inept quip about groping women without their consent, and the many incidents of violence against women, there is a need, more than ever, for women to make themselves heard.
The New Voice Company (NVC) celebrates the 20th anniversary of VDAY, a movement which uses the play The Vagina Monologues to raise awareness to end violence against women, with a special one-weekend staging of the play in English and Filipino (translation by Rito Asilo).
This year’s staging is response to the current administration’s tolerance of sexism and misogyny.
“It’s a different time now. [It’s] a different landscape, but sadly we know that all forms of violence are still prevalent,” NVC artistic director and the global director of the One Billion Rising movement Monique Wilson told the media last week at a press conference in Makati,
“As artists and activists, we can no longer keep quiet. We’ve not been doing all this work in the women’s movement — Vagina Monologues and VDay for 20 years, Gabriella for 35 years, One Billion Rising for seven years — only for us to hear current presidents — that includes Trump and many of the world presidents — just normalizing forms of violence against women,” said Ms. Wilson. “We knew and experience the power behind [the] Vagina Monologues and the voice it gave us so many years ago. So, we’re very excited to do the play this time.”
The Vagina Monologues is a series of monologues based on interviews with 200 women that writer Eve Ensler put together. The topics presented include body image, menstruation, love, sex, childbirth, and rape. The show runs for an hour and a half with three women taking turns reciting the monologues.
Joining Ms. Wilson onstage is a veteran of NVC’s The Vagina Monologue presentations, actress Missy Maramara, as well as actress and activist Mae Paner (also known as Juana Change). The show is directed by TVM/VDay actress and former UK One Billion Rising coordinator Thea Tadiar, and produced by NVC executive producer Rossana Abueva.
“The Vagina Monologues are really stories, not just of women talking, but of women all over [the world], and women that [you] know. You might have stories that need telling that will be onstage and you won’t feel alone. It might be a story not just of yours but of someone who is close to you and is important to you,” Ms. Maramara said.
“This is not just a play for women,” Ms. Wilson said, encouraging men to see the show. “We need to change the consciousness also of men.”
“When I put up New Voice Company, I was only 22,” Ms. Wilson told BusinessWorld, adding that people doubted that she would succeed in staging plays with themes dealing with current issues. “I used to think, ‘Why are they asking me this?’ If I were a guy, they wouldn’t. So, it actually fueled in me more to prove that we (women) had a voice.”
Staging the play today serves to bring to light political factors alongside of women empowerment. “The difference [from the first staging] is that we’re more purposeful now in our objective why we’re doing [the] Vagina Monologues. We really want to say ‘no to sexism’ and ‘no to misogyny.’ We have to give women their voices and, at the same time, [we have to] work towards more concrete change,” Ms. Wilson said.
The Vagina Monologues will be presented over one weekend — on Aug. 11, 8 p.m. (English) and Aug. 12, 3 p.m. (Filipino) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.
For more information, contact 896-6695 and 899-0630, or e-mail newvoicecompany@gmail.com. Tickets are now available at the New Voice Company and Ticketworld (891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph). — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

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