ON OCT. 8, the Andrew Tan-led Megaworld Corp. introduced the company’s newest hotel brand with the opening of its first property in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
The Belmont Hotel Manila is a 10-storey, 480-room business hotel designed with a “natural” theme in mind, as the lobby is a study in wood and marble, with green glass “shells” suspended from the ceiling.
Likewise, wood and glass and marble dominate the hallways and the rooms.
During the launch and the subsequent tour, Lorenzo Tang, the hotel’s general manager, told the press that the hotel — currently on its soft opening with a planned grand launch in November — will “probably” have a $100-$200 price point.
“Prices are changing based on seasonality… at the moment we’re still testing the market [as] we do not want to overcharge,” said Mr. Tang, before adding that due to their proximity to the country’s international airports, they are expecting that 40% of their customers will be foreign business travelers and that the average stay of each guests will be around one to two days.
The hotel is said to be in the four-star category and boasts of a rooftop pool which turns into a bar at night, an all-day dining restaurant which can seat 89 people, a fitness center (with saunas and steam rooms), function rooms, and a business center.
Hotel rooms are sized at around 25 square meters with room categories being based on the amenities provided and on location and not much on size.
“We are developing different room categories. The differentiation will not be on the size like a normal hotel but more on amenities,” he told BusinessWorld during the tour of the property.
One category will be a “tranquility room,” described by Mr. Tang as “almost a spa room” because they will be scented with lavender, located in hallways with less foot traffic, and will face the atrium or a mini-patio. Corner rooms will have two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows offering almost-unobstructed views of the streets (which isn’t really very pretty at the moment what with the construction of the Skyway).
“There won’t be suites in the traditional way — so no rooms with different areas,” he said, though they will offer a category with upgraded and branded amenities.
The hotel functions using an “internal business model like a condo-tel.”
“All the hotel rooms were sold to individual investors,” Mr. Tang said, before adding that Megaworld retained ownership of at least 10% of the rooms. Each unit is said to have cost P4 million. The same business model is expected to be followed by subsequent Belmont hotels — one in Cebu and one in Boracay — ensconced in Megaworld townships.
The Belmont Manila is the fourth hotel to rise in the mega-casino-resort complex after the Remington, Marriott and Maxims, with three more hotels to open in the near future including another local brand, Savoy Hotel — which Mr. Tang said would be “bigger at 780 rooms” and is expected to open in 2017 — aside from international chains such as the Starwood-operated Sheraton and a Hilton.
Mr. Tan, according to a press release, is planning to be “the country’s biggest hotel developer in the next five years” as Megaworld, together with its subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc., and Travellers International Hotels Group, Inc., will be completing “a total of 10,000 hotel rooms in various Megaworld townships in the country,” bringing the total of hotel rooms under Mr. Tan to 12,000.
Two hotels (one under the Richmonde brand) are planned to be constructed in Iloilo, one in Tagaytay, four hotels in Boracay (including Belmont) and five in Cebu. — Zsarlene B. Chua
Text and photos by Carmencita A. Carillo Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two years after the September 2013 siege — when Moro National Liberation Front forces forcefully took over the city, hostaged residents, and engaged the Special Operations Group of the Philippine Navy in a fire fight that lasted almost a month and took many lives — this city is once again hopeful that its tourism industry will bounce back as it celebrates the annual Hermosa Festival this month.
“Zamboanga is going to be back in the tourism map judging from the number of visitors in this year’s festival, specifically the Regatta de Zamboanga,” said Councilor Vincent Paul A. Elago, chairman of the city council committee on tourism, on the sidelines of the vinta (a form of sailboat) competition conducted along the R.T. Lim Boulevard that used to be known as Cawa-Cawa.
The one-kilometer stretch of the boulevard used to be occupied by families who were displaced during the siege, mostly people from the Badjao indigenous group. But the tents that served as temporary shelters are gone and have been replaced by a view of the traditional vintas with their colorful sails parked along the shore.
Mr. Elago estimated that the number of spectators, who stood from end to end of the boulevard to cheer during the Regatta, were at least 50,000, including foreign visitors.
The Regatta de Zamboanga, a traditional race of vintas, also had a record-breaking number of participants with 180 bangkeros (boatmen).
“The vintas are one of the most popular icons of Zamboanga, but most of the Badjaos who used the vintas for fishing have started to look for other means of livelihood in the city so we feared that the vintas would disappear,” Mr. Elago said.
He said the local government hopes to bring back the art of fishing and sailing the vintas through the holding of the Regatta de Zamboanga every year.
Hajad M. Hamid, who used to be a fisherman but now works at a state university here, and his brother Danny paddled and steered vinta No. 006 to victory, keeping their winning record from the past.
“It took me almost a month to practice whenever I have free time,” Mr. Hamid said in the dialect.
“Zamboanga’s vibrant tourism industry suffered a setback because of the siege but we have recovered and are rebuilding tourist confidence in the area,” Department of Tourism (DoT) Zamboanga Peninsula Region Director Mary June G. Bugante said.
The region’s tourist arrivals dove after the siege by almost 50% to 344,000 from 658,000 in 2012. Last year, a slight increase was recorded at 370,000, composed mostly of domestic travelers.
Ms. Bugante said the top attractions of Zamboanga remain to be its culture and beaches.
Zamboanga City was already a trading center among its Asian neighbors as far back as the 13th century, and Spain’s influence is also indelibly marked around town as well as the local Chavacano language, a form of Spanish pidgin.
Fort Pilar, built by the Spaniards in 1635 as a military fortress, was a declared national cultural shrine and currently serves as a shrine to the Catholic Mother Mary and a regional museum of the National Museum of the Philippines.
Zamboanga also has 11 islands in the east that are being pushed for development as a tourism product.
“The Eleven Islands could be our next attractions but we have to make sure they are developed sustainably,” Ms. Bugante said.
But the city’s biggest charm is its cultural heritage that tourists can soak in with a leisurely walk around town, starting at the City Hall that was built by the United States to house the American governors during World War I, including John J. Pershing who started the construction of Pasonanca Park in 1912.
A few minutes away from the City Hall is the Pettit Barracks — named after James S. Pettit, a US colonel who at one time was in charge of the city’s civil affairs — which has been declared by the National Historical Institute as a heritage zone not only for the structures but the more-than-a-century-old acacia trees that line the streets.
These trees stand witness not just to two world wars but the many other struggles, as well as the victories, of the city and the Chavacano people.
JAKARTA — Fires raging across huge areas of Indonesia are spewing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every day than the US economy, according to estimates from global environment watchdogs.
HAS ART TOUCHED our hearts in one way or another? I remember one summer when my daughter and I seriously undertook painting lessons under some maestro in our subdivision. I learned charcoal, shadings, and all, and I was slowly being ushered into painting fruits.
I distinctly remember the bowl of fruits had a couple of pears, a big red apple, a small bunch of yellow bananas peeping from behind, and black grapes that flowed onto the table. I must confess I went straight to the supermarket that night and bought me a bigger bunch of black grapes. Delicious, I muttered to my daughter, mourning my sheer lack of perseverance in proceeding with our selected summer art.
Now, let me turn to the “greats.” I commissioned the great expert in church paintings, Roddy Ragodon, to paint the Barasaoin Church in Bulacan — a huge painting that now elegantly hangs in my living room.
For some unknown reason, I thought my parents were married there, and I specially ordered it as an anniversary present for my mom. Why is it now mine, you might ask? I learned that they were married in the Manila Cathedral. My pride could not allow me to tell her the tale of my thoughtfulness in art gone berserk!
Come to think of it, maybe I can photograph it and join the Art Lotto!
Publicis Jimenez Basic creative director Raymund Sison uses the come-on “#ArtLotto: Using art as ticket to a fortune… To a lotto with a jackpot prize of P450,000.”
This is a public service effort of Publicis JimenezBasic, E. Zobel Foundation, Inc., and the 4As Creative Guild of the Philippines in collaboration with artists and art groups. Mr. Sison simply describes it as a public service effort that aims to raise awareness and appreciation for Filipino art.
Asked about how it was born, he revealed that the idea sprang from the observation that there is actually an abundance of art in the Philippines. “You can find art everywhere in the Philippines. It’s in underpass tunnels, along highways, in coffee shops and restaurants, in offices, in schools, on streets — practically everywhere.”
A midnight brainstorm during the 4As Creative Guild of the Philippines’ annual creative awards in Boracay further declared that “most Filipinos pay no attention to art because it has no value to them. The truth is that people have more basic needs.”
Hence, the discussion flowed into the statement of the problem: How do we make them notice something they find so irrelevant? Here, the great idea was born!
“We decided to make them see its value in a way they are most familiar with, through something they really value, using a medium that Filipinos line up for every day — the lotto.”
The lotto. I smiled my giant smile. My husband had favorite numbers that he actually betted on for about a full week or two. I remember him enjoying checking the morning papers for the winning numbers. He eventually got tired of not winning but loved hearing of lotto triumphs.
I am sure he would have enjoyed — to the hilt! — joining this Art Lotto!
The simple directions for joining: Just take a photo or video of any piece of art anywhere in the Philippines — whether it’s a poem on paper or on tissue, a painting on the street, a mural along the highway, a dance in the park, a play in school or in a community theater, a film, a sculpture, a musical — any form of art.
Then, upload it on Twitter or Instagram, caption it, then hashtag #artlotto. That’s your ticket to a lotto with a grand prize of P450,000.
Mr. Sison stressed that you can send as many entries as you can. No limit. As this advocacy keeps going, the entries will keep building an online gallery.
Innards of the mechanics: When you post any form of art and hashtag it #artlotto, your entry will be part of the people-curated online gallery of Filipino art found at www.artlotto.ph. This gallery will house not just visual arts, but all forms of art — from theater to dance to literature to film to architecture to music.
Internationally-acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza said: “The best thing about Art Lotto is it makes people be more aware and more conscious of art, not just the educated ones, but people from all walks of life.”
Famous sculptor and contemporary artist Leeroy New said: “Art Lotto is a great platform to start things, to get people interested in recognizing art and design in their everyday life.”
Emmy award-winning producer Michael Carandang said, “Art Lotto is cool and quite brilliant.”
Director and actor Dennis Marasigan said, “I think art in the Philippines always needs more help than what it is getting now. So, any effort to help the arts and help our people understand and appreciate art better is greatly appreciated. Art Lotto will help the arts in a way that no other initiatives have done before.”
Visual artist and Kiko Machine vocalist JP Cuison said: “The good thing about this project is it makes people richer — [in] both their pocket and their mind.”
Mr. Sison emphasizes that it’s a more fun way of art consciousness and appreciation. It’s like rediscovering your surroundings again, this time with eyes that are more welcoming of the art around. “This advocacy aims to democratize something that seems to be very elitist and make art more inclusive instead of exclusive. And ultimately, make people be more conscious of art everywhere…”
Art Lotto won the Grand Diwa Award at the first ever E. Zobel Diwa Award at the Kidlat 2015 Creative Guild Awards Night in Boracay. The E. Zobel Diwa Award aims to gather the best ideas from the country’s top creative talents to solve any number of issues the Philippines is facing and recognize the best in Public Service advertising.
The award is named after the late businessman and philanthropist Enrique Jacobo Emilio Olgado Zobel.
#ArtLotto started on Oct. 15 and will run until Dec. 31. The #ArtLotto draw will happen on Jan. 4, 2016. It’s a random electronic draw like the lotto most Filipinos are familiar with. One winner will be announced in the grand draw.
Take a bow, Publicis JimenezBasic, E. Zobel Foundation, and the 4As Creative Guild of the Philippines. It’s creativity at its very best.
Credits. #ArtLotto Presentors: E. Zobel Foundation, Inc., 4As Creative Guild of the Philippines, Publicis JimenezBasic; #ArtLotto creative team: Raymund Sison, Ryder Aquino, Trixie Diyco, Brandie Tan; #ArtLotto accounts team: Shai Avecillo-Riofrio, Tats Cruz; #ArtLotto digital team: Jeff Mendoza, Dada Lobren, Danny Van Ommen, Alex Osias, Elie Odigie.
NANETTE FRANCO-DIYCO ended her 15th year advertising career as Vice-President of JWT, segueing into the world of academe, currently teaching communications at the Ateneo de Manila University. nanettediyco131@gmail.com
Pop! Life Entertainment and Vinyl on Vinyl present the Hikari Halloween Party, a one-night event on Oct. 24, 6 p.m., at 2135 Chino Roces Ave. Makati City. The one-night party features The Lost Box, an alternative rock band based in Singapore, and DJ Janice D. The gallery is celebrating its release of exclusive custom vinyl toys, including those from Hikari, a collectible line of Sofubi Vinyl Figures. Those who come in costume get a chance to win prizes from the gallery’s mystery stash.
The Korea Travel Mart 2015 will be held on Oct. 24 and 25 at the Activity Center, Glorietta, Makati City. There will be 3 zones in this event: the Travel to Korea Zone where participating airlines and travel agencies will offer the best deals for autumn and winter; the Imagine your Korea Zone where those who purchase air ticket or tour packages will get a special gift and a free travel kit for travel information; and the K-Culture Hallyu Zone with K-Pop standees for selfies, opportunities to try on Korean traditional dress, and a demonstration of Korean cuisine. There will also be performances by The Painters: HERO, NOM, Taekwondo team, and the K-Pop dance cover group SHINErs.
The Goethe-Institut Philippinen presents the Science Film Festival 2015 from Oct. 19 to Dec. 9, presenting 44 science films from around the world. This year the festival showcases the theme “Light” in accordance with the celebration of United Nation’s International Year of Light 2015, focusing on the importance of light and how it helps revolutionize society. The free screenings and activities in schools, museums and other educational centers in Manila, Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas start at Oct. 19. For more information contact program@manila.goethe.org
The second leg of PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, is ongoing at Intramuros, Manila until Oct. 25. It will include an exhibit, Spanish Cinema in 20 Posters, at the NCCA Building where the film screenings will be held. A selection of films will travel to other cities in the Philippines, namely Baguio, Ilo-ilo, Zamboanga and Davao. For the schedule, line-up of films and further information visit www.manila.cervantes.es or log on to www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
EXHIBITS
Art Informal gallery presents several art exhibits that will run until Nov. 21: The Wit of the Staircase by Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, a collection of works that imaginatively re-purpose what is abandoned; Pam Yan- Santos’ Filling Up the Big Room, a series of paintings and installation; and, Violent Noon by Kitty Kaburo, who uses time lapse video and mixed media pieces. Art Informal gallery is located at 277 Connecticut St., Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City. For details, call 725-8518, or 0918-899-2698, or visit www.artinformal.com.
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila takes its turn in celebrating the 50 creative years of National Artist BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera) with a retrospective exhibition that will run until Feb. 27. The museum is located at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Manila. For details, e-mail info@metmuseum.ph.
Pablo The Fort presents Juni Salvador’s Artshistory until Nov. 28. The gallery is located at C-11 South of Market, 11th and 24th Sts., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For details, call 400-7905, 0927-454-8442, or e-mail fort@pablogalleries.com.
In celebration of a recently launched book on the life and art of Roberto Chabet, considered the father of Philippine conceptual art, an exhibit of his works are on display at MO_Space, MOS Design, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The exhibit runs until Nov. 22. For details, call 856-7915, 0917-572-7975, e-mail mospaceph@gmail.com, or visit www.mo-space.net.
Samsung Electronics Philippines and the Yuchengco Museum present a tribute exhibition to National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera who is is marking 50 years as an artist. The interactive exhibit, dubbed BenCab in Two Movements, is on view at the museum until Jan. 16. The exhibition highlights handpicked works he created to capture the dance movements of London-based Chinese dancer San Lee, and Polish dancer and choreographer Paulina Wycichowska. Through Samsung’s SUHD and UHD TV technologies, BenCab in Two Movements hopes to provide museum visitors immersive experiences at the same time curatorial information on shared art experiences between a painter and a dancer. Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avess, Makati City. For details e-mailinfo@yuchengcomuseum.org or visit http://yuchengcomuseum.org.
Until Nov. 21, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) presents The Vexed Contemporary featuring 16 Filipino artists whose practices lend themselves to a global compass. They are: Pio Abad, Poklong Anading, Victor Balanon, Yason Banal, Lena Cobangbang, Louie Cordero, Kiri Dalena, Leslie De Chavez, Kawayan De Guia, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Cocoy Lumbao, Gina Osterloh, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Ikoy Ricio, Maria Taniguchi, and The Weather Bureau. MCAD is at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, School of Design and Arts Campus, Vito Crruz, Malate, Manila. For details, e-mail mcad@benilde.edu.ph, call 230-5100 loc 3897, or visitwww.mcadmanila.org.ph.
The Mind Museum presents A Glass of the Sea, an immersive, interactive and constantly updated exhibition on the discoveries from the Verde Island Passage in the Philippines, also dubbed as the “center of the center of marine biodiversity.” The exhibit runs until the end of the year, then will go on tour around the country. The Mind Museum is at JY Campos Park, 3rd Ave., Bonifacio Global City. For details, call 909-6463.
Galleria Duemila in partnership Greenbelt presents New Life, a public sculpture exhibition by Impy Pilapil. The exhibit runs until Feb. 28, 2016 at Greenbelt Park, Makati. For details, call 831-9990, e-mail gduemila@gmail.com, or visit www.galleriaduemila.com.
PERFORMANCE
Gloc 9 – Ang Kwento ng Makata will be presented on Oct. 24 and 31, 8 p.m., at the Music Museum Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. For every Saturdayperformance the rapper will be joined by different guests including Bamboo, Kylie Padilla, Aiza Seguerra. Rico Blanco, Janno Gibbs, Ebe Dancel, Yeng Constantino, Jolina Magdangal, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, and Jay Durias, among many others. Tickets range in price from P953.60 to P2,980. For details, call TicketWorld 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.
No Filter 2.0: Let’s talk about ME has performances until Oct. 25 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight, Circuit Lane, Circuit Makati A.P. Reyes Ave., Brgy. Carmona, Makati. Presented by The Sand Box Collective, it is an updated version of the original series of monologues focussing the lives and interests of Millenials. It stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Sam Concepcion, Lauren Young, Saab Magalona-Bacarro, Carla Humphries, Cai Cortez, Sarah Facuri, Mikael Daez, Micah Muñoz, Paolo Valenciano, and Khalil Kaimo, under the direction of Toff de Venecia. Tickets range in price from P836 to P1,567. For details, call TicketWorld 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Bituin Escalante (the Queen)
Repertory Philippines presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a staging of Michael Valenti and Elsa Rael’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Directed by Joy Virata, the play stars Christine Flores, Alana Vicente, Becca Coates alternating as Snow White; Bituin Escalante, Ring Antonio, and Pam G alternating as the queen; and Hans Eckstein, Jos Jalbuena, Jeff Flores alternating as the prince/woodsman. The play is being staged until Dec. 10 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Ticket prices range from P400 to P600. For details, call 843-3570, TicketWorld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Philippine Opera Company (POC) is bringing back Ang Bagong Harana, an eclectic show featuring everything from children’s songs to tribal chants, from planting songs to courtship ditties, from stirring kundiman to the delightful showstoppers by Sylvia la Torre. It is a showcase of the best of Filipino composers from different music genres — Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estrella, Constancio De Guzman and Felipe de Leon, to name a few. Ang Bagong Harana features Karla Gutierrez, Cris Go, Lorraine Lisen, Melissa Camba, KL Dizon, Cristiani Rebada, Michael Odoemene, Noel Rayos, Lawrence Jatayna and Nazer Salcedo with the special participation of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. Directed by Floy Quintos with music arrangements by Von de Guzman, Jessie Lasaten, Jesse Lucas and Paulo Zarate, it will run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. cor. Buendia, Makati, on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 23 and 25 at 3 p.m. For tickets, call POC at 822-9609 or 0917-5272880 or TicketWorld at 891-9999.
One Night of QUEEN, featuring Queen tribute band Gary Mullen and the Works, will be held on Oct. 24 and 25, 8 p.m., at The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort & Casino, Entertainment City, Parañaque. For more than a decade now, they have been touring the world to bring to life the timeless rock anthems of Queen. They will be performing Queen hits like “Radio Gaga,” “Under Pressure,” “We Are The Champions, and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” They will be joined by actress-singer Glaiza de Castro. Tickets range in price from P2,000 to P8,300. Tickets are available at SM Tickets (470-2222), TicketWorld (891-9999) and TicketNet (911-5555).
All 4 One & Diana King in Manila will be held on Oct. 28, 8 p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City. Tickets range in price from P2,752.50 to P8,808.
Lani Misalucha’s concert will be held at the new Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.
Harana: A Weekend at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar with Lani Misalucha, Mel Villena and the AMP Band, will be held on Oct. 31. Guests will enjoy great music and a four-course dinner in the midst of a picturesque hall featuring outstanding Filipino crafts and artworks in the newly opened Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre, a replica of the first ever luxurious hotel in Manila. This will be the first big musical event at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, as it opens grounds for meetings, exhibits and shows with Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre whose two halls can each accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Tickets for two are available for P20,000 with overnight room accommodation forOct. 31-Nov. 1, dinner, set breakfast, guided heritage tour, and pool and beach access. A group of four will get the same perks for P35,000. Also available are tickets for the dinner and show for P10,000 per person. Book tickets via Ticketworld at www.ticketworld.com.ph or 891-9999, 0917-550-6997 and 999-954-5922. Limited seats available. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located in Bagac, Bataan, easily accessible via NLEX and SCTEX.
Projections imply that if developing Asian economies focus on achieving levels of basic skills that match those in OECD economies (Scenario 2), rather than focusing on ensuring greater access that raises years of schooling to OECD levels while maintaining current skill levels (Scenario 1), growth could be substantially higher …. Moreover, by focusing on top-end skills where at least 15% of the population achieves test scores over 600 similar to OECD economies, growth could be at least 30% higher than just focusing on improving basic skills (Scenario 3). (p. 13)
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EDUCATION POLICIES of the national government had mixed results in raising the skills of its working population, boosting their employment prospects, and improving access to schools, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a new report.
