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Robots, giant bottles, and bubbly will define the wine world in 2018

By Elin McCoy, Bloomberg

MOST OF the wine world was happy to wave goodbye to 2017, a year of vine-killing frosts, hail, drought, and destructive wildfires in regions from California, to Chile, to Europe. Looking forward to 2018 is not only a relief; it’s exciting, because the year is full of promise. There will be new experimentation, exploration, and the continuing of trends we enjoyed from last year.

The rosé juggernaut, for example, keeps crushing it. With US sales up 57% in dollars, our must-drink-pink obsession continues and is even fueling interest in rosé cider and pink gin. And thanks to adventurous younger drinkers thirsty for novelty and affordability, enthusiasm for obscure native grapes, especially from Italy, is still growing fast.

Here’s what I see in my crystal glass for 2018.

BIG BOTTLES WILL BE HUGE
The popularity of wine in magnums (the equivalent of a double bottle) and other large formats seems to track the stock market; when stocks are up, so is big bottle demand. In the UK, wine retailer Majestic reported a 378% increase in sales of affordable supersize bottles last year, at its 200-plus stores.

The trend started with oversize bottles of rosé poured in Saint Tropez, and in 2017 Aldi supermarkets launched inexpensive jeroboams (four bottles) of prosecco in the UK for Christmas.

For those craving luxury wines, Domaine Clarence Dillon (which includes first growth Château Haut Brion) recently launched an online retail site dedicated to sourcing and selling large formats of everything from Beaujolais to Champagne to whisky. A Balthazar (16 bottles) of the polished, syrah-based 2014 Domaine de Montcalmès from the Languedoc is €479; for €15,600 you can have a Salmanazar (12 bottles) of the truly fabulous 2005 Château Haut Brion.

But don’t think too big: the outlandish Melchizedek of Champagne — the equivalent of 40 bottles of fizz — has been known to spontaneously explode.

THE YEAR’S HOT SPOT WILL BE SPAIN
So many regions are poised for attention, it’s hard to single out only one. The Republic of Georgia has captured the hearts of the natural wine crowd, Madeira is on the verge of a moment, Croatia beckons, England is already there, and I’ve been impressed by new avant-garde wines from cool areas of Australia and Chile.

But I predict we’re about to rediscover Spain. Popular culture evidence? Rachel Lindsay, star of the romance reality TV series The Bachelorette, took her final suitors to “romantic” Rioja last summer for a wine tasting in old caves, grape stomping, and a helicopter tour of vineyards.

Seriously, though, a new generation of vignerons is bringing change to every region there, including classic Rioja, and creating reds and whites from such places as Ribeira Sacra and the Gredos mountains with character and quality at bargain prices.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HEATING UP
Climate change is affecting so much: The fear of it has encouraged wine makers to adopt better eco-vino vineyard practices and to experiment with new grape varieties. Rising temperatures are also drastically rejiggering wine geography. The steady warming of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, for example, may turn the area into a new source of top pinot noir. Until recently, farmers had little luck growing the grape. Now there are 33 wineries, and more are on the way.

Even the state of Maine is hosting a class this month for farmers who want to grow wine grapes. Is Newfoundland next?

YOU’LL BE BUYING MORE WINE ONLINE
Despite its convenience and range of choices, online wine shopping in the US lags way behind China. Expect a boost in 2018. The primary barriers to growth have been the high cost of shipping and the US’ complicated alcohol regulations. Consumers in 44 states can have wine from any US wineries delivered directly to their doors, but only those in about 14 states can have wine purchases shipped directly from out-of-state retailers, which means they can’t buy a lot of imported wines.

Enter Heini Zachariassen, founder and chief executive officer of wine app Vivino. In December he launched Vivino Premium, which aims to be the Amazon Prime for wine. A $47 annual membership fee gives you free shipping for an amazing selection of wines, even first growths, all shipped legally because Vivino partners with a network of local wine shops. (A one-month free trial is available.)

JD.com, China’s second biggest e-commerce company, plans to capture luxury online wine shoppers there with ultra-premium delivery service. Couriers wearing suits and white gloves were already delivering watches and jewelry; the expansion to wine started last month.

THE FIZZ SECTOR WILL KEEP BROADENING
Bubbly is still bursting old boundaries (as I predicted last year), and prosecco is still grabbing buzz (because of a poor harvest, prices will go up). Look for France’s well-priced crémants from Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire, and the Jura to make a splash this year.

The latest luxury sparkler is new upscale Spanish Cava. Major Champagne houses are pushing more single-vineyard bottles and fabulous extra-aged fizz (looking at you, Cristal Vinotheque). And please, let’s have more neighborhood Champagne bars in 2018.

THE ‘LUXURY EXPERIENCE’ WAY TO TASTE WINE
The crowded winery tasting room is now totally passé. The new way to sample vino is all about special experiences and settings — say, while staying at a posh Bordeaux chateau or right after picking grapes in Burgundy, or after spear-fishing in New Zealand. I’ll be excited to visit the just-opened giant glass Cube in an Australian vineyard billed as an Alternate Realities Museum.

Naturally, Napa is all-in on the idea. A handful of swanky reservation-please salons with comfy leather sofas, chandeliers, art-to-buy on the walls, and playlists of oh-so-hip music opened in downtown Napa last year. Top spots so far? Brown Estate, Acumen, Blackbird, and Ackerman’s Aviary.

THE RISE OF ROBOTS IN THE POSHEST VINEYARDS
When the Rothschild family of Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Clerc Milon invests in bespoke robots that are programmed to remove weeds from vineyards, you know the idea is about to hit a tipping point.

In June, the company teamed up with Naio Technologies in an experiment at Clerc Milon using Ted, a robot that rivals R2D2 for cuteness. Philippe Dhalluin, managing director of the châteaux, is convinced robots are part of a “green” future. (Nearby first-growth Château Latour still relies on retro vineyard horses.)

Another example of wine AI is the VineScout, which will be used in Portugal at Symington Family Estates’ vineyards during the 2018 season to check vine vitals such as leaf temperatures. Basic models ($12,000 to $15,000) are scheduled to go commercial in 2019.

One homegrown AI even saved $10 million worth of wine during the Napa’s October fires.

QUESTIONS REMAIN
Finally, I also have a host of questions for 2018: Now that cannabis is legal in California, will wine drinkers ditch pinot for pot? Will Amazon’s Alexa become the new wine recommendation guru? When will the #MeToo movement hit the wine industry? Will Sydney, Australia, really become the world’s largest urban vineyard?

Watch for my reports on these and other vexing vino questions, coming soon.

Oh, and whatever we do, please let’s not let blue wine happen, OK?

Enjoying the TRAIN ride

The New Year immediately ushered in the much anticipated and talked about Christmas present of the current administration. On Dec. 19, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), which aims to make the taxation system fairer, simpler, and more efficient. The TRAIN provisions unwrapped in December are just the first installment; more provisions are still in the works.

Although I recognize the extent of debate that this topic has generated, I will focus on two points: the take-home pay and the “Build, Build, Build” program.

Consistent with the basic principles of taxation, the TRAIN intends to strengthen the symbiotic relationship between the taxpayers and government as it benefits both parties. Having higher take-home pay among individual earners and generating higher revenues to harness human capital are the benefits most cited by advocates of the TRAIN. Ironically, these same benefits are highly criticized by the naysayers of the TRAIN.

For individual earners, receiving higher take-home pay means having higher disposable income, resulting in being able to buy more than the usual, all things remaining equal. In addition, within a relevant range, the additional disposable income resulting from tax savings is higher for those who earn more.

Although this is conceptually true, cynics are concerned about the “all things remaining equal” phrase. They argue that the new law taxes consumption, which means that the more you consume, the more taxes you pay. This defeats the very purpose of increasing the take-home pay. In this case, their disposable income effectively shrinks, resulting in their being able to buy less than usual.

Advocates of the TRAIN counter that not all products will have higher prices. The TRAIN would affect mostly soft drinks and fuel products. The debate would have been won at soft drinks, which are unhealthy drinks. But fuel price increases result in higher prices of basic commodities. To this, the Department of Trade and Industry has assured the public that it will monitor manufacturers and stores, which may resort to profiteering.

For government, generating higher revenues means having more funds that can be used to improve or construct infrastructure and render quality education, health services, and social protection, among others. These improvements will clearly manifest the “change” that was promised from the onset of the Duterte administration.

A concern though among critics of this argument is on how government will generate additional revenue given that the TRAIN is expected to reduce taxes collected from businesses and individuals. Citing their earlier argument regarding taxation on consumption, they suspect that the decline in tax collection will be compensated for largely by taxes on consumption, which will burden ordinary citizens. To counter this argument, government is encouraging its citizens to start businesses and create jobs by incentivizing them with lower income and business taxes.

TRAIN

Indeed, a better tax system is easier envisioned than done. But we have to start somewhere.

Individual earners have to realize that the TRAIN offers them higher take-home pay to manage. The operative word is “manage.” Living within one’s means is still key to a decent life. The disposable income has to be spent well. For instance, reducing one’s intake of soft drinks has health benefits. Moreover, moving from an employee mind-set to a business mind-set might just be the paradigm shift to improve one’s life. I want to believe that Filipinos can be entrepreneurial.

To compliment these changes, government has to review the cost of doing business in the Philippines. It can bring down or subsidize costs. It also has to improve the transportation and communication systems. One of the characteristics of a developed country is when the rich use public transportation. This will not only improve traffic flow but also increase productivity as time wasted in traffic will be reduced.

Aside from this, people have to experience quality service from government. For this to happen, more effective mechanisms to supervise and monitor performance have to be institutionalized.

Finally, although the TRAIN aims to correct our tax system’s inequity, which I believe is long overdue, achieving this will not happen overnight or even in a year. The reform entails not only a bold move from government but also an educated response from its citizens. This move and response should be anchored on continuous and patient consultations among the different stakeholders.

For now, let us hope, watch, and act.

As the implementation of the law is still a work in progress, we just need to move on, keep going, and enjoy the TRAIN ride.

 

Dr. Florenz C. Tugas is a full-time faculty member of the Accountancy Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He specializes in Basic Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, and Management of Information Technology courses.

florenz.tugas@dlsu.edu.ph

‘To boldly grow’: Japan astronaut worried by space growth spurt

TOKYO — A Japanese astronaut has sparked hilarity back on Earth after he claimed to have grown nine centimeters in space, making him worried he would not squeeze into the capsule home.

Norishige Kanai, who is aboard the International Space Station, tweeted: “We had our bodies measured after reaching space, and wow, wow, wow, I had actually grown by as much as 9 centimeters (3.5 inches)!”

“I have grown like a plant in just three weeks,” he said, adding that he had not experienced a growth spurt like this since high school.

“I’m a bit worried whether I’ll fit in the Soyuz seat when I go back,” he said, prompting tens of thousands of reactions on social media.

One Japanese Twitter user identified as @KakeruTokyo said: “Can somebody please take me to space? I want to grow taller (sobbing).”

Another user, @junnu_pana6mana, tweeted: “Mr. Kanai, I envy you. I wonder if I could have had a different life if I were 10 centimeters taller?”

Standing 1.80m tall on Earth, Mr. Kanai is already considerably taller than the average Japanese man, who is 1.71m in height according to the latest official statistics.

Astronauts’ spines can extend in the zero-gravity environment of space, making them slightly taller. This returns to normal when they go back to Earth and its gravitational field.

However, Mr. Kanai re-measured himself after a Russian colleague told him a nine-centimeter growth spurt was unlikely and had to correct his tall tale after finding he had only grown by two centimeters.

He later tweeted apologies for what he described as “fake news.”

“I’m a bit relieved as I’ll probably fit into the Soyuz back home,” he said. — AFP

DoST touts new areas for mussel-farming expansion

THE GOVERNMENT has identified 12 areas, mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao, deemed suitable for the development of a mussel farming industry.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST-PCAARRD) said the identified areas cover 6,283.30 hectares (ha).

The inventory of suitable growing areas arose from a joint project with the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas and Mindanao.

The biggest area is 1,390 ha in Sagay, Negros Occidental, followed by 1,300 ha in Bais, Negros Oriental and 1,098 ha in Marinduque.

Other potential locations are Hagnaya, Cebu; Calape, Bohol; Murcielagos and Panguil Bay in Misamis Occidental; Placer, Surigao del Norte; Buguey, Cagayan; Mati and Panabo in the Davao region; and Bislig, Surigao del Sur.

Mussel culture and production accounts for less than 1% of marine products output. The agency said the industry is also hindered by poor transportation links, which lowers the mussel survival rate.

In another collaboration with UP Visayas, DoST-PCAARRD said it developed a more efficient transport system for mussel spats — very young shellfish for seeding farms participating in the Mussel Science and Technology Program.

“Expansion and improvement in mussel culture require more spats to be transported from the nursery to the different mussel grow-out farms in the country. The spats have to be delivered to the mussel growers in the best possible condition for growing,” it said. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Lady Altas go for second win in a row, share of lead

THE Perpetual Help Lady Altas make their return to the volleyball floor of Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) today looking to score another win and a share of the early tournament lead.

Set to take on the San Beda Red Spikers in the scheduled 12:30 p.m. game at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City, the Las Piñas-based Lady Altas try to build on their straight-sets victory over the Lyceum Lady Spikers in their season debut last Sunday.

Now playing under new coach Macky Cariño, Perpetual Help relied on a balanced attack with Maria Lourdes Clemente, Cindy Imbo and Maria Aurora Blanca Tripoli leading the charge with 14, 13 and 10 points, respectively, to hack out the 25-21, 25-17 and 25-22 win over Lyceum.

Jowie Albert Verzosa chipped in seven points after taking over the starting job from Jhona Rosal, who is currently sidelined because of a medical condition.

“We are happy to start the new season with a win. We had to adjust our roster but I’m glad the players were able to deliver,” said Mr. Cariño after their win.

Meanwhile, also out to stretch their winning start to Season 93 are the Red Spikers (1-0).

Found a tough challenge from the Jose Rizal University Lady Bombers last Friday, the Red Spikers dug deep to escape with a 23-25, 25-19, 13-25, 25-19 and 15-9 victory to book their first win.

Marie Nieza Viray uncorked 19 points for San Beda with Cesca Racraquin adding 13 to help the Red Spikers in staving off the Lady Bombers.

A win by either Perpetual Help or San Beda would push them to a tie with early tournament leaders Arellano Lady Chiefs (2-0), the defending champions.

In the earlier game at 11 a.m., Lyceum will go up against the College of St. Benilde. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Excess, ease, and heritage

AS IN fashion, food also follows trends that mirror what society at present wants (but says they need). San Miguel Pure Foods played trend forecaster this year when the company showcased food trends that it predicts will sizzle this year.

An event by the San Miguel Pure Foods Culinary Center (SMPFCC) in Makati City earlier this week showed five umbrella trends that they spotted with the help of research and partner chefs such as Gene Gonzalez, Heny Sison, and Sylvia and Ernest Reynoso Gala. These included: Extreme Indulgence, Ready-to-Eat convenience food, Global Flavors, Heritage Cuisine, and Artisanal Breads and Hybrid Desserts.

Extreme Indulgence is marked by the pursuit of food approaching the sins of avarice, greed, and gluttony. To show this, SMPFCC came up with a humongous monster burger, topped with bacon and chicken nuggets. Other dishes to illustrate this trend included Chili-Infused Honey Glaze Chicken Lollipops.

Meanwhile, practicality is in step with the Ready-to-Eat trend, exemplified by the diet delivery services that were all the rage last year. As such, salads (but topped with fun tidbits like Honey Chili Habanero Popcorn) were seen and tasted by the guests. BusinessWorld crosschecked San Miguel’s trend predictions with a list of predictions by Eater, and the food Web site said that “Goth” food (that is, food colored as dark as your soul) is also slated to maintain its popularity from last year. San Miguel, not to be left behind, presented the media with black foccacia bread sandwiches filled with grilled cheese.

Llena Tan-Arcenas, San Miguel Pure Foods Co., Inc. Culinary Services Manager, attended the National Restaurant Association conference last year in the United States, and came home with the knowledge that the Tunisian chili paste called harissa, and Moroccan and African flavors are supposed to be hot this year. These flavors were infused into Magnolia chicken for guests to enjoy at the event, to illustrate the Global Flavors trend — apparently borne of the ease of travel experienced by most Filipinos these days.

Artisanal bread and hybrid desserts reflecting a desire to return to pleasant times, were also seen. “Hybrid desserts” usually mean Western breads infused with some Eastern twist: a Swedish bread filled with matcha cream that was served to guests during the event might as well be the next great diplomatic tool.

Finally, San Miguel rides on the trend of promoting heritage Filipino cuisine, reflecting our pride of place, with our most revered of meats: pork.

Late last year San Miguel Pure Foods released two Heat and Eat products: fried then frozen Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali. Costing between P200 to P300, home cooks will no longer have to worry about the laborious process of creating good fried pork. “The taste is still good,” insisted Ms. Arcenas, and we couldn’t protest, as we had several helpings laced with sauces such as kare-kare (a stew complemented with a thick savory peanut sauce), humba (a Visayan dish made with pork, black beans, pineapple juice, and banana heart), and Mindanao’s pyanggang (a dish featuring a heavy ginger and coconut sauce colored yellow with curry).

“Whether traditional or trendy, San Miguel is always there. Our products will always fit. To ride with the trends, the company also thinks of what’s innovative.”

To view Eater’s complete list of food trends, visit www.eater.com/2018/1/2/16808664/restaurant-food-drink-predictions-2018. As for the recipes for the dishes mentioned in this story, visit www.homefoodie.com.ph. — Joseph L. Garcia

Inspections set for possible profiteering by fuel stations, depots

THE Department of Energy (DoE) on Wednesday said it has deployed inspectors to randomly check the inventory of fuel stations and depots in line with the implementation of the oil excise tax this year.

DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi warned that those pricing fuel based on the new tax on inventory taxed at the old rates are violating the law.

“Violators may be administratively subjected to the cancellation of  their Certificates of Compliance (COC),” he said in a statement.

DoE’s inspection will verify whether the excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) is properly imposed.

It has told oil companies to submit a daily summary of stock withdrawals starting Jan. 1, 2018 until the depletion of the declared inventory as of end-2017. A team of inspectors from the department’s oil industry management bureau will do the random checking.

Mr. Cusi said criminal cases such as estafa and profiteering may be filed in court for violations of the Oil Regulation Law and the Revised Penal Code. The DoE will also endorse the violators to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for a special audit, he added.

He said the inspection procedure starts with inspectors introducing themselves to fuel stations or depots and declaring their intent to inspect the inventory.

Inspectors will use an “inspection report form,” which indicates punitive measures in case of violation. They will use the inventory data as of Dec. 31, 2017 and stock withdrawals to determine if the new excise tax under TRAIN is applied only to new supply.

Upon accomplishment of the inspection report form, it should be signed by the DoE Inspector and conformed by the authorized representative of the retail station or depot. — Victor V. Saulon

Zamboanga by its neck

I knew very little to nil about Pagadian City up until my freshman year in the university. A schoolmate’s mother hailed from there, and his grandfather used to be a city leader. Pagadian today is a 2nd class city and the capital of Zamboanga del Sur. It also serves as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula and the second-largest city in that region, following Zamboanga City.

Pagadian City faces Pagadian Bay, and just northeast of it is Tangub City in Misamis Occidental, which faces Panguil Bay. By car, the distance between the two cities is about 70 kilometers. Between Panguil Bay in the north, and Pagadian Bay in the south, is the neck of Zamboanga — an isthmus or narrow strip of land between two bodies of water.

This land strip is approximately 10 kilometers wide, and the terrain is partly mountainous. It is the only land linkage between the entire Zamboanga Peninsula and the rest of Mindanao Island. Whoever controls this strip of land can control whatever travels by land — people or cargo — between the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Mindanao, anything that goes from west to east and back.

This isthmus is similar to where Metro Manila currently sits, which is between Manila Bay in the west and Laguna de Bay (a large lake) in the east. Pasig River runs from the bay to the lake, and is around 25 kilometers long. At its narrowest, the Metro Manila isthmus is only about 10 kilometers wide, from San Dionisio in Parañaque to Cupang in Muntinlupa.

Given this comparison, one can only imagine the development possibilities if there had been a river — a relatively deep and wide waterway — that ran from Tangub City to Pagadian City. I believe even if just a waterway similar to Pasig River going through the “neck” of Zamboanga would have allowed more trade and commerce to flourish.

Goods and people traveling from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City will have the option of a shorter route via water — rather than being limited to a single land route — towards Pagadian and Zamboanga cities — or Basilan, for that matter. Alas, the “neck” was not naturally blessed with such a waterway, that ships from Cagayan de Oro would have to go all the way around the peninsula to make it to Zamboanga or Pagadian.

Ship travel from Cagayan de Oro (in Northern Mindanao) to Davao City (in Southern Mindanao) is also long and tedious, going through the Zamboanga Peninsula in the west. Mindanao lacks a viable waterway that cuts through the island to connect its northern and southern coasts. In the case of Metro Manila, from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay, the Pasig River connection exists.

The cities of Houston, Texas and Baltimore, Maryland are not coastal cities, and yet they both serve as hubs for international shipping. Both cities operate ports that cater to large ocean-going cargo vessels. In both cases, there are inland waterways that allow large ships — and thus goods and passengers — to come in from the ocean.

The Houston Ship Channel, which has been used to move goods since 1836, is particularly interesting since it was originally a natural watercourse that was deepened and widened by dredging.

To this day, its periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships. It is currently 160 meters wide, 14 meters deep, and 80 kilometers long.

While there are no natural water courses between Panguil and Pagadian bays at Zamboanga’s “neck,” I wonder if something similar to the Houston Ship Channel can actually be carved out of that 10-kilometer strip of land. More important, if such a project is indeed feasible, will this actually result in significant economic development in Western Mindanao.

Instead of having to go around the Zamboanga Peninsula, passenger and cargo ships from Leyte, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, and Surigao can just pass through a “Panguil-Pagadian Canal” or a Panguil-Pagadian Ship Channel” and make their way to places like Pagadian City, Cotabato City, General Santos City or Davao City — thus saving much time and fuel. Moreover, they will go through less treacherous waters, avoiding the Sulu, Celebes, and Philippine seas.

Models of successful interventions, with canals being dug up to shorten ocean travel, do exist. The Suez and Panama canals are the more famous examples. The Suez Canal allows sea travel between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, while the Panama Canal allows sea travel between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through the Panama isthmus.

The 169-kilometer Suez Canal was opened in 1869 to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea. The 77-kilometer Panama Canal was opened in 1914, as an alternative to an otherwise 13,000-kilometer journey around the southern tip of South America, Cape Horn, to and from the Pacific and the Atlantic. Both presently serve as highly strategic international shipping routes.

Costs of construction for both were, of course, extensive. However, considering their lengths, this is unsurprising. In comparison, cost may be more manageable in building a canal between Panguil and Pagadian bays, to cater mainly to local passenger and cargo ships rather than international cargo vessels or tankers. And considering that the isthmus to host the Panguil-Pagadian canal is only about 10 kilometers wide, the project will be a lot less massive than canals abroad.

I believe Japan or China may be suitable sources of funds for feasibility studies for this, or maybe even Russia, which has its own 227-kilometer White Sea-Baltic Canal that opened in 1933. This Russian canal, built by gulag or prison inmates, connects the White Sea in the Arctic Ocean with Lake Onega, and further with the Baltic Sea.

Opening a shipping route that goes through rather than around the Zamboanga Peninsula and Mindanao’s western coast may lead to faster travel time, and thus higher efficiencies, greater productivity, and perhaps more economic development. There is a cost to building a canal through the Zamboanga isthmus, if at all it is feasible, but I am hopeful that the benefits of such a project can offset the expense.

 

Marvin A. Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council.

matort@yahoo.com

PXP unit takes new partner for project

A PERUVIAN UNIT of a company controlled by PXP Energy Corp. has taken on a new partner in an offshore exploration project in Peru, the Philippine-listed company told the stock exchange on Wednesday.

PXP Energy cited a disclosure by  Karoon Gas Australia Ltd., which announced the farm out of a 35% interest in offshore exploration Bock Z-38, Tumbes Basin Peru to Tullow Peru Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tullow Oil plc. 

Pitkin Petroleum Peru Z-38 SRL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pitkin Petroleum Ltd. (PPL), holds a 25% participating interest in Peru Block Z-38. PXP Energy holds a 53.43% interest in PPL. 

KEI (Peru Z38) Pty Ltd., Sucursal del Peru holds a 40% interest in the offshore exploration joint venture.

“Karoon is excited to welcome a partner with such a long and successful exploration track record into Peru. Tullow is a company, like Karoon, that recognizes the importance of high-impact offshore exploration as a core driver of a company’s future value,” said Robert Hosking, managing director of Karoon, in a disclosure to the Australian Securities Exchange. 

Under the farm-out agreement, Tullow will acquire a 35% interest in the block by funding 43.75% of the cost of the first exploration well, capped at $27.5 million at 100%, beyond which Tullow will pay its 35% share.

Tullow is also to pay $2 million upon completion with a further $7 million payable upon declaration of commercial discovery and submission of a development plan to Perupetro.

The agreement remains subject to the satisfaction of certain licensing conditions and regulatory approvals, the Karoon announcement said. 

“Following completion of the farm-out well, Tullow will have an option to assume operatorship of the block,” it said.

Block Z-38 is located in the Tumbes Basin, next to the oil producing Talara Basin.

“Historically offshore Peru has experienced only limited exploration activity, however 2017 has seen a resurgence of interest and inflow of industry capital looking to test Peru’s exciting offshore potential,” Karoon added.

On Wednesday, shares in PXP Energy slipped 0.76% to P7.84 each. — Victor V. Saulon

US allocates additional P330M in funding for Marawi, surrounding areas

THE US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has allocated an additional P330 million ($6.6 million) to support vulnerable populations affected by the conflict in Marawi City and surrounding areas. The US Embassy in a statement said this assistance will provide opportunities for young women and men to enhance job skills and attain livelihoods, helping stimulate the economy. These new funds will also help vulnerable populations strengthen positive engagement within their communities. This brings the total USAID contribution to recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi and surrounding areas to over P1 billion ($20.9 million).

History of Thai kings a new topic in Islamic schools

BANGKOK — Private Islamic schools in Thailand’s Muslim-dominated south will teach the history of past kings, a governor said on Wednesday, the Buddhist-majority nation’s latest bid to bring peace to the strife-torn region, but one that could backfire.

The mostly Muslim southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala are home to an insurgency by ethnic Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy, in which more than 6,000 people have been killed since 2004.

Narathiwat governor Suraporn Prommool said 62 Islamic schools in the province would introduce the subject, dealing with the merits of Thai kings and national history, this year.

“There are a few people who do not understand Thai history and use it to create conflict and violence,” he told Reuters.

“This initiative will teach the merits of the kings and will create unity and love amongst Thai people.”

The move has provoked mixed feelings, however, said Artef Sokho, the head of a support group for conflict victims, the Network of Pattanians outside the Motherland.

“I don’t understand what the Thai government wants out of this,” Mr. Artef told Reuters, adding that some people in the region see the history as imposing on their Malay-Muslim identity.

“Thai nation-building history and the history of Pattani are incompatible … people here feel they have more of a shared history with the Malay peninsula,” Mr. Artef said.

Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat were part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate before Thailand annexed them in 1909.

Insurgent attacks have long targeted government schools and teachers in the deep south, because they are seen as representatives of the Thai state.

“History in the Thai school curriculum is a centralized, Bangkok-focused version which doesn’t give importance to the southern provinces,” said independent analyst Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat.

Successive Thai governments have initiated talks to reach peace with insurgent groups operating in the south but the talks have gone almost nowhere.

The military has also tried programs to win “hearts and minds” in the region.

But several rights groups have accused the authorities of heavy-handed tactics, such as torturing suspected insurgents in custody.

Despite court rulings that Muslim detainees were tortured in the south while in custody, no troops have ever been prosecuted. — Reuters

Sony is planning a whole range of robots after its Aibo pet dog

TOKYO — The verdict is still out on Sony Corp.’s new pet dog “Aibo,” but that’s not stopping the company from planning a deeper push into robotics.

The mechanical mutt, which goes on sale in Japan on Thursday, is just the beginning of the Tokyo-based company’s return to robotics, Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai told Bloomberg TV. While Aibo is primarily a toy, its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and robotic architecture can be used to create machines for various service fields, he said.

“The technology we incorporated into Aibo — AI, robotics, and that combination — in different form-factors can manifest itself in other robots that can be a part of transportation, education, health care,” Hirai told Bloomberg’s Emily Chang. “So it has a lot of different applications beyond just being an entertainment robot.”

Mr. Hirai ordered the push into robotics in 2016, a decade after Sony discontinued the original version of its robot dog — then called AIBO — which had gained a cult following in Japan. While the new aibo promises more functionality powered by advanced artificial intelligence, it has drawn criticism for lacking features offered by digital assistants such as Amazon.com, Inc.’s Alexa and Apple, Inc.’s Siri. — Bloomberg

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