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ALI, PNB partner to simplify real estate financing for overseas buyers

(L-R) Shiela Marie B. San Buenaventura, RBG Chief Finance Officer, Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI); Rufino Hermann S. Gutierrez, Senior Marketing Director, AyalaLand International Sales, Inc. (ALISI); Augusto D. Bengzon, Chief Finance Officer & Treasurer, ALI; Mariana Flores, Caculitan, First Senior Vice President, Philippine National Bank (PNB); Celeste V. Lim, First Senior Vice President, PNB; Allan L. Ang, First Senior Vice President, PNB

REAL ESTATE developer Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) has partnered with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to streamline property purchases in the Philippines for foreign clients.

“We highly value our partnership with Philippine National Bank (PNB) as it strengthens our commitment to providing a seamless and efficient buying experience for our clients abroad,” Rufino Gutierrez, senior managing director of Ayala Land International Sales, Inc., said in a statement on Monday.

“Through this collaboration, we are making it easier for Filipinos and foreign investors to acquire properties in the Philippines by offering accessible financing and secure remittance solutions.”

The enhanced PNB Own a Philippine Home Loan program allows buyers in the United States to apply for a real estate loan evaluated based on their FICO Score, with no age limit on loan applications.

This offers greater flexibility and accessibility in securing home financing, ALI said.

Buyers can use the Autopay Remittance Solution via ACH by enrolling their US-based bank account, ensuring timely and hassle-free payments.

Ayala Land buyers in Singapore can avail of a US dollar-denominated loan, while those in Japan can secure financing in Japanese yen.

“This provides a practical option for international clients seeking a stable and convenient financing solution.”

Filipino buyers are also not required to appoint an attorney-in-fact when applying for a loan through PNB branches in Los Angeles, New York, Guam, Singapore, and Japan.

“We understand the challenges that come with buying property from abroad and, through this partnership, we are making the process easier, more accessible, and worry-free,” PNB President Florido Casuela said.

“With PNB’s specialized home loan solutions and global presence, we are committed to supporting Filipinos and investors every step of the way in securing their future in the Philippines.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

T-bill rates decline on bets of April BSP cut

WIKIPEDIA/JUDGE FLORO

THE GOVERNMENT upsized the volume of Treasury bills (T-bills) it awarded on Monday as yields dropped across the board on expectations that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will resume its rate-cut cycle as early as next month.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised P30.8 billion from the T-bills it auctioned off on Monday, higher than the initial P22-billion plan, as total bids reached P118.944 billion, more than five times as much as the amount on offer and higher than the P90.598 billion in tenders recorded on March 10.

The strong demand prompted the government to double the accepted noncompetitive bids for the 91- and 182-day securities to P5.6 billion and to P6.4 billion for the 364-day T-bill, the Treasury said in a statement after the auction.

Broken down, the Treasury borrowed P9.8 billion via the 91-day T-bills, higher than the P7-billion plan, as tenders for the tenor reached P35.384 billion. The three-month paper was quoted at an average rate of 5.118%, declining by six basis points (bps) from the 5.178% seen at the previous auction. Tenders accepted by the BTr carried yields of 5.1% to 5.123%.

The government also made a P9.8-billion award of the 182-day securities, above the programmed P7 billion, as bids stood at P31.05 billion. The average rate of the six-month T-bill was at 5.496%, 5.2 bps lower than the 5.548% fetched last week, with accepted rates ranging from 5.45% to 5.513%.

Lastly, the Treasury raised P11.2 billion via the 364-day debt papers, more than the P8 billion placed on the auction block, as demand for the tenor totaled P52.06 billion. The average rate of the one-year debt decreased by 7.6 bps to 5.697% from 5.773% previously, with bids accepted having yields of 5.693% to 5.713%.

At the secondary market before the auction, the 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills were quoted at 5.2499%, 5.5675%, and 5.7920%, respectively, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) Reference Rates data provided by the Treasury.

The government hiked its T-bill award as average rates were all lower than yields seen at the previous auction and at the secondary market, the Treasury said.

T-bill rates went down as investors flocked the offer to lock in relatively high yields before the BSP resumes its easing cycle, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

Market players are buying government securities in anticipation of an April rate cut from the central bank and with lower reserve requirement ratios (RRR) by month-end, which could flood the financial system with fresh liquidity that could cause debt yields to decline further, a trader said in a text message.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. last week said a rate cut is “on the table” at the Monetary Board’s policy meeting on April 10.

He said the BSP is still on easing mode and expects to slash benchmark borrowing costs by “a few more times” this year.

The Monetary Board in February unexpectedly paused its rate-cut cycle, which Mr. Remolona said was a “prudent” move amid uncertainty over the trade policies of US President Donald J. Trump and their potential impact on the Philippines.

The BSP chief earlier said that the central bank will likely continue reducing interest rates by 25 bps at a time, with 50 bps in cuts still on the table this year.

Last year, the BSP cut benchmark interest rates by a total of 75 bps via three consecutive 25-bp reductions since it began its easing cycle in August, bringing the policy rate to 5.75%.

Meanwhile, the RRR of universal and commercial banks and nonbank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions will be reduced by 200 bps to 5% from 7% effective March 28.

The ratio for digital banks will also be trimmed by 150 bps to 2.5%, while that for thrift banks will be cut by 100 bps to 0%.

Rural and cooperative banks’ RRR has been at zero since October last year.

The RRR is the portion of reserves that banks must hold onto to ensure they can meet liabilities in case of sudden withdrawals. A lower ratio means banks have more liquidity, which they can use to fund their loans.

On Tuesday, the BTr will offer P30 billion in reissued 10-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) with a remaining life of eight years and 10 months.

The Treasury is looking to raise P147 billion from the domestic market this month, or P22 billion via T-bills and P125 billion through T-bonds.

The government borrows from local and foreign sources to help fund its budget deficit, which is capped at P1.54 trillion or 5.3% of gross domestic product this year. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Philippines’ resilience improves in 2025

The Philippines went up three places to 94th out of 130 countries and territories in the 2025 FM Resilience Index by commercial property insurance company FM Global. The index assesses a country or territory’s business environment resilience based on 18 equally weighted factors, including six physical factors and 12 macro factors. With a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is the lowest resilience and 100 is the highest, the Philippines scored 45.9. It was the fourth-least resilient compared with other Southeast Asian countries and territories.

Philippines’ resilience improves in 2025

New songs by late singer Marianne Faithfull to be released

INSTAGRAM.COM/MARIANNEFAITHFULLOFFICIAL

LONDON — Four new songs by Marianne Faithfull, the English singer best known for the 1960s hit “As Tears Go By” and who died earlier this year, will be released this summer, her son said on Friday.

Ms. Faithfull, one of the most colorful personalities of London’s Swinging ’60s, endured homelessness, drug addiction, and cancer before she passed away aged 78 in January.

As the former girlfriend of the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, Ms. Faithfull gained notoriety for her escapades in the era of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but she also released 21 solo albums, won a Grammy nomination, and had a film acting career.

Ms. Faithfull had worked on the new recordings over the past year. They were inspired by her first two albums from 1965 and due to be revealed last month but plans were put on hold following her death, Decca Records said.

“Marianne lived to create and perform music — it was her driving force and she never stopped,” her son Nicholas Dunbar said in a statement. “Right up until the end she was looking forward to this release which now completes and celebrates her remarkable artistic career.”

“Burning Moonlight,” one of the new songs, which also gives its title to the EP, was inspired by the opening line of “As Tears Go By.” It will be released on Friday, while the full digital EP will be released on June 6.

“It’s a good time to look back,” Ms. Faithfull had said after completing the project, according to Decca Records.

“It helps me to remember all the things I’ve done. I can’t say I’m a particularly nostalgic person, but I am enjoying this period of reflection.” — Reuters

On GDP size, exports, FDI, and electricity generation

In comparing the GDP size of countries, I use the purchasing power parity (PPP) values, not current values for two reasons. One is that PPP adjusts prices of a comparable basket of commodities that reflect varying standards of living in various nations, each of which has its own currency. And two, PPP values are consistent with electricity generation numbers, and these are in terawatt-hours (TWh), not in currency values.

For this column I have compared the data of major economies in the world plus ASEAN-5 in 2008 and 2023, 15 years apart. I took GDP size — the values of the flow of goods and services in one year — at PPP values, and compared it with levels of power generation, merchandise (or goods) exports, and foreign direct investment (FDI) outward stock or net of inflows minus outflows accumulated through the years.

Comparing China and the US, one sees that in GDP size at PPP values, China overtook the US in 2016 — $18.85 trillion vs $18.80 trillion, respectively. When it comes to power generation, China overtook the US in 2011, with 4,713 TWh vs 4,363 TWh, respectively. In merchandise exports, China overtook the US in 2007 — $1.22 trillion vs $1.15 trillion. But in FDI outward stock, China is still way behind the US — but China’s expansion has been big, going from $184 billion in 2008 to $2.94 trillion in 2023, expanding by 16 times over the last 15 years.

I used FDI outward stock in the table, not inward stock because I want to know by how much countries have evolved from being net recipients of capital to being exporters of capital.

Let us compare the ASEAN-5 in FDIs. In 2023, the Philippines’ FDI inward stock was only $119 billion, Malaysia’s was $207 billion, Vietnam’s $229 billion, Thailand’s $291 billion, and Singapore’s was $2.63 trillion — an outlier in the ASEAN. In FDI outward stock in 2023, the Philippines’s was $68 billion, larger than Vietnam’s $14 billion (see the table). Philippine multinational companies like Jollibee, SM, San Miguel Corp., Unilab, and Ayala banner the country in foreign investments abroad.

THE POWER OF POWER
How China overtook the US in GDP size, in merchandise exports, and other major indicators, I think is due to China’s huge expansion in power generation. In 2023, it had twice the capacity of the US, nine times that of Japan, 18 times that of Germany, and 33 times that of the UK. So, China can do all sorts of energy-intensive manufacturing, run big hotels and resorts, malls and theme parks, hospitals and universities, and not worry about blackouts or expensive electricity because the supply is so big.

And of China’s 9,456 TWh in total generation, 61% comes from coal, 13% from hydro, and 5% from nuclear. China has expanded its solar-wind power generation recently, but such is only addition, not a substitution for or transition away from coal power.

For context, the Philippines’ total generation of 119 TWh in 2023 was equivalent to only five days of China’s generation. That is how small our economy and power generation are, or how large China’s are. Aside from having a huge population and hence a huge demand for power, since China is a socialist country it has huge state-led power generation and transmission infrastructure through the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) — which also happens to be the owner of 40% our own National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

China has electricity price control too, like our secondary price cap at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market or WESM. Their National Energy Administration under the National Development and Reform Commission is like our Energy Regulatory Commission. But their price regulation function is secondary to their heavy power generation function, so that “cheap but not available” electricity and blackouts are not a problem there but a regular threat here.

Recently the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) invested in the NGCP and I think it was a good move. I want to mention my former classmate and batchmate (1984) from the UP School of Economics (UPSE), Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita. Gladys joined the MIC last week as Vice-President for Investment Management Group (Power). She is a good addition there because she was the Provincial Administrator of Bulacan province under three different governors, and was a president of the National Power Corp. Her extensive experience in running a government bureaucracy and in the power sector should help the MIC make prudent investments, especially in the energy sector.

Another batchmate from UPSE 1984 is Lynette Ortiz, President of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). Last week, LANDBANK received an upgraded Viability Rating from Fitch Ratings, rising from ‘BB’ to ‘BB+’. When LANDBANK contributed to the MIC’s capital fund, many analysts predicted there would be a deterioration of LANDBANK’s financial condition. They were wrong, with the ratings upgrade serving as a testament of improved standalone financial strength. Congratulations batchmates Lynette and Gladys.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. Research Consultancy Services, and Minimal Government Thinkers. He is an international fellow of the Tholos Foundation.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Raslag eyes P2-B preferred share issuance by July

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

RASLAG Corp., the renewable energy unit of the Nepomuceno group, plans to raise up to P2 billion through a private placement of preferred shares by July.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, the company said its board of directors approved the issuance of up to 15 million preferred shares, with a base size of up to P1.5 billion and an oversubscription option of up to P500 million.

The company has engaged BPI Capital Corp. as the sole issue manager, lead underwriter, and bookrunner. Picazo Buyco Tan Rider & Santos serves as legal counsel.

Raslag said the offering will proceed once it secures approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for the conversion of its 100 million unissued common shares into preferred shares.

Asked for further details, Raslag Chief Finance Officer Karl Geo D. Origeneza said most of the proceeds will fund the development of the Raslag 7 solar power project in Nueva Ecija.

“We’re targeting to complete the project by 2027. Estimated project cost as of now is P4.8 billion,” Mr. Origeneza said in a Viber message.

At the same meeting, the board approved the purchase of a lot for Raslag 7’s switching station, with an estimated total area of 1,000 square meters, amounting to P10 million, excluding taxes and miscellaneous expenses.

Meanwhile, the board authorized Raslag President Robert Gerard Nepomuceno to enter into a 15-megawatt (MW) power supply agreement with Pampanga I Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Raslag develops, owns, and operates solar power plants to provide utility-scale renewable energy to on-grid customers.

The company has a total installed capacity of 77.844 MW from four facilities in Pampanga. It aims to expand its renewable energy portfolio to at least 1,000 MW by 2035.

At the local bourse on Monday, Raslag shares closed unchanged at P0.98 apiece. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Singapore’s uHoo eyes PHL growth as offices go green

UHOO, a Singapore-based company providing indoor environmental quality monitoring and management solutions, is banking on the growing demand for sustainable office and industrial spaces to strengthen its presence in the Philippines, according to its chief executive officer (CEO).

“The demand is flight to quality, and if you’re not in that space of quality, the value of your building drops — you cannot get tenants, and you’re just going to lose money,” Dustin Jefferson S. Onghanseng, co-founder and CEO of uHoo, told BusinessWorld  last week.

“Eventually, clean air will become a basic right in any building.”

uHoo specializes in indoor air quality sensors, providing real-time insights into key environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, air quality, noise levels, chemical pollutants, and various particle sizes.

This enables building owners, managers, and tenants to maintain healthier, more comfortable indoor environments while enhancing building performance.

“At the end of the day, it’s really a rent increase that property owners want — tenants who are willing to pay more and commit to a longer-term contract,” Mr. Onghanseng said.

“And to achieve that, you need to have the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL Building Standard certifications. Those are the two certifications we help our clients achieve.”

Real estate developers rely on green building certifications to ensure their projects meet environmental standards and sustainability benchmarks.

As of end-September last year, the volume of office space transactions in green-certified buildings, such as those with LEED and WELL certifications, doubled to 293,900 square meters (sq.m.) from 151,900 sq.m. a year earlier, according to property consultancy firm Colliers Philippines.

The Metro Manila office market is projected to have approximately 722,000 sq.m. of green-certified space by 2027, it added.

In January, uHoo secured $3.7 million in fresh funding to support its business-to-business expansion in the Asia-Pacific. A portion will also be allocated for developing new hardware and software products.

“The capital we raise is purely for expansion, both in technology and in securing clients,” Mr. Onghanseng said.

uHoo has clients in the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, and Germany.

In the Philippines, uHoo primarily operates in Metro Manila’s office sector and Laguna’s industrial sector.

According to Mr. Onghanseng, awareness of air quality’s importance remains a key challenge in the Philippines.

“Generally, people take the air they breathe for granted,” he said, noting that air quality affects workers’ health and productivity.

The Philippines’ air quality worsened to 14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) from 13.5 μg/m³ recorded the previous year, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir.

This remains well above the World Health Organization’s prescribed annual average of 5 μg/m³.

Mr. Onghanseng said investing in sustainable building solutions is not costly for developers in the long run.

“If you invest in making a building LEED- and WELL-certified, the additional cost of investment is minimal compared to the valuation gain you will get,” Mr. Onghanseng said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

GoTyme Bank to launch crypto investments by Q2

GOTYME BANK is looking to launch cryptocurrency investment products within this semester, its top official said.

“It’s not going to be like the way crypto is traded currently, the way you know it. It’s a little bit more subdued and reserved. In fact, we’re only limiting it at this point to, I think, the top 20 stable digital coins,” GoTyme Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer Albert Raymund O. Tinio told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of an event last week.

“We’re doing a little more testing, especially with the partner. We don’t want to overcommit. But that’s also launching soon — around the end of the second quarter,” Mr. Tinio said.

The bank will also conduct risk rating of users before allowing them to open crypto investment accounts, he said.

“Our commitment to the BSP is a lot of education prior to the opening of an account,” Mr. Tinio added.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved GoTyme Bank’s Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in October last year.

VASPs offer services or engage in activities that provide facilities for the safekeeping, administration, transfer or exchange of virtual assets. These products and services include cryptocurrencies and electronic wallets for holding and storing virtual assets.

Mr. Tinio added that equity investments will be available on the digital bank’s platform “soon.”

Meanwhile, GoTyme Bank will also expand its lending partnership with FoodPanda after a successful pilot phase, the official said. “So, hopefully, the deserving FoodPanda merchants who fit into the categories or the algorithm, will be able to get a loan.”

The digital bank now has about six million users, Mr. Tinio said.

“We’re expecting to hit nine million by the end of the year… Over nine million definitely,” he said, adding this will be driven by the deployment of 100 more kiosks for the rest of the year outside of the Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. ecosystem.

He added that cash recycling machines will be deployed either late second quarter or early third quarter.

“It’s another channel for deposits and withdrawals. Our only capability, since we don’t have branches, would be over the counter in Robinsons ecosystem or stores, InstaPay transfers, and then cash recyclers. It’s in line with our strategy to also deploy ATMs (automated teller machines). I think we’re now at 20 ATMs and then we’ll start augmenting that with the cash recyclers soon,” Mr. Tinio said.

He said the bank remains “on track” to be profitable by 2026.

“Nothing has significantly changed to derail us from that. So, we’re still there. We’re still on track for 2026.”

GoTyme Bank is one of the six digital banks licensed by the BSP. It is a partnership between the Gokongwei group and Singapore-based Tyme Group, which also operates TymeX in Vietnam, India and China and digital bank TymeBank in South Africa.

Based on its annual report posted on its website, the digital bank booked a net loss of P2.47 billion in 2023, widening from the P909.67-million loss in 2022, due to higher expenses.

Data from the central bank showed that GoTyme Bank’s gross loan portfolio went up to P3.048 billion at end-September 2024 from P1.91 billion at end-June 2024. Deposits also rose to P19.93 billion from P17.25 billion in the same period. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Eton Properties to focus on sustainability, enhanced customer experience

ETON PROPERTIES executives led by President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle C. Tan (5th from left), Chief Operations Officer Adrian Chua (4th from left), Chief Finance Officer Che Mutuc (6th from left), and Human Resource and Admin Head Jim Clemena (right).

ETON Properties Philippines, Inc., the real estate arm of the Lucio Tan Group, recently unveiled its corporate repositioning strategy, focusing on modernization, sustainability, and improved customer experience.

“As Eton Properties steps into the next chapter, it remains committed to pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and building a future that goes beyond expectations,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

“With a renewed focus on modernization, enhancing customer experiences and touchpoints, and sustainability, Eton is ready to move forward and shape the next era of real estate.”

Under its repositioning strategy, the company seeks to ensure that its developments remain relevant and responsive to the needs of businesses, families, and communities.

During its recent 18th anniversary celebration, Eton Properties introduced its refreshed brand identity, new corporate materials, and digital assets.

“This isn’t about changing who we are — it’s about strengthening and defining it. Eton has grown over the years, but now, we’re ensuring that everything we do, from the way we communicate to how we serve our customers, reflects a clear and consistent identity,” said Donna Kristine Salgado, assistant vice-president for marketing, PR, and corporate communications.

“This repositioning ties everything together, giving us a stronger foundation that starts from within and allows us to move forward with purpose.”

Eton has residential and commercial properties in Quezon City, Makati City, and Laguna. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Entertainment News (03/18/25)

Korean medical thriller to debut on Disney+

THIS month, medical crime drama Hyper Knife will see two of South Korea’s biggest stars go head-to-head. The show follows visionary neurosurgeon Jeong Seok (played by Park Eunbin) who must continue to carry out back-alley operations when her medical license is stripped after discovering a shocking truth. Her former mentor (played by Sul Kyunggu) then comes asking for help despite being responsible for her downfall. The series comes to Disney+ on March 19.

British Council presents Five Films for Freedom

FIVE powerful LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual plus) short films from Indonesia, New Zealand, USA/China, and the UK, will be available online this month as the British Council presents the program in partnership with the BFI Flare film festival. The films are DragFox from the UK, If I Make it to the Morning from the USA and China, NGGAK!!! from Indonesia, We’ll Go Down in History from the UK, and Wait, Wait, Now! from New Zealand. Aside from being on the British Council’s YouTube channel until March 30, they will be screened in physical venues in the Philippines: University of the Philippines Cebu on March 19, 2:30 p.m.; Negros Museum’s Cinematheque in Bacolod on March 21, 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; and the National Teachers College on March 24, 26, 27, and 28.

Waiian releases third album

FILIPINO rapper Waiian has dropped a raw unfiltered commentary on music and personal life with his third album, BACKSHOTS. The nine-track release takes a stand against the music establishment, trends, and conforming to social expectations. It draws inspiration from artists like Teezo Touchdown, Kanye West, Brockhampton, Kendrick Lamar, and Denzel Curry. Waiian’s BACKSHOTS is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

The Rest Is Noise presents All Of The Noise 2025

A TWO-DAY music program in April will feature music documentary screenings, panel discussions, keynote presentations, an exhibit, and a live music showcase featuring more than 16 music acts from the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Organized by The Rest Is Noise (TRIN), a Philippines-based music curation and events production outfit for its 10th anniversary, All Of The Noise 2025 will take place at Astbury Makati on April 4 and 5. It is the third iteration of the event, but the first since the pandemic. The headliner musicians are Taiwanese soft-rock band The Chairs, Thai alt-pop band KIKI, Singaporean hip hop artist San The Wordsmith, and Indonesian experimental electronic act Logic Lost. The event will feature screenings of two local music documentaries: Budots: The Craze by Jay Rosas and Mark Limbaga on April 4, and Jingle Lang Ang Pahina by Chuck Escasa on April 5. Finally, there will be an exhibit featuring the work of Karen De La Fuente, a photographer who has captured iconic Filipino musicians during live performances.

Pamungkas, Scrubb headline PHL-only concert

GABI NA NAMAN Productions (GNN) is marking its 10th anniversary of producing shows and concerts with a one-day concert top-billed by Pamungkas from Indonesia and Scrubb from Thailand. GNN10 Presents: Pamungkas and Scrubb Live in Manila will take place on April 26 at 123 Block in Mandala Park, Mandaluyong City. The show is a Philippine-only event. Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer Pamungkas and Thai alt-pop duo Scrubb were previously brought to Manila by GNN in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Lil Nas X drops new single

AWARD-WINNING artist Lil Nas X has unveiled his single “HOTBOX” via Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment. The new track was produced by his previous collaborators Take a Daytrip, Omer Fedi, and Ojivolta. Its accompanying music video sees Nas taking a dip into a pink pool, turning into a pink transformer, getting knocked out in a pink boxing ring, and frolicking through various pink dreamscapes. It was directed by Elias Talbot. “HOTBOX” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Wilbros Live unveils artist lineup for anime music festival

ANISAMA World 2025 in Manila, to be held on June 7 at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, will have eight artists performing to fans of Japanese anime and music. Wilbros Live has unveiled three of the eight artists headlining the music festival: rock band ASH DA HERO, who did theme songs for Blue Lock; girl band Ave Mujica known for their music on the series BanG Dream!; and Mayu Maeshima, former lead vocalist of pop-rock band MYTH & ROID, which did songs for Re:Zero, Full Dive, Overlord, and Uncle from Another World. More details about the festival will be revealed soon.

The Summer I Turned Pretty slated for final season in July

PRIME VIDEO has announced that the third and final season of the global hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty will premiere this July. Season three of the Amazon Original series will have 11 episodes. It is led by showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka and is co-produced by Amazon Studios and wiip. Based on the best-selling book trilogy from Jenny Han, the drama hinges on a love triangle between one girl and two brothers, the ever-evolving relationship between mothers and their children, and the enduring power of strong female friendship. Its 3rd season will premiere on Prime Video in July.

Cambodian rapper VannDa to drop mini-album series

SUPERSTAR rapper from Cambodia, VannDa, is set to release a trilogy of mini-albums entitled TREYVISAI (Khmer for “The Compass”). The first installment, The Search for Light is out now, containing high-energy tracks like “Out of My Mind”, “Me, My Flow, and I,” and “Fishing.” It sets a triumphant, celebratory tone while hinting at the deeper themes to be explored in subsequent releases. Its lead track “Smoke Up” features a collaboration with Thai rap icon YOUNGOHM, marking a significant moment in Southeast Asian hip-hop. The trilogy will continue on March 21 with Burn Like the Sun, and on May 1 with The Return to Sovannaphum.

Global dance show Burn the Floor comes to Manila in July

BALLROOM dance phenomenon Burn the Floor: Ballroom Reinvented is bringing its modern take on ballroom dance to Filipino audiences from July 10 to 15. Taking place at The Theatre at Solaire, the show has aimed to redefine the art of dance since its debut in 1999. It will showcase standard ballroom dances such as the Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Foxtrot, alongside Latin American ballroom dances including the Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.

Burn the Floor: Ballroom Reinvented is represented in Manila by GMG Productions on behalf of Dance Partner Productions. Tickets go on sale on March 20 via TicketWorld.

TBA Studios taps Iain Glen to join historical biopic Quezon

SCOTTISH actor Iain Glen is joining the cast of TBA Studios’ biographical historical movie Quezon. Mr. Glen, who is known for playing Jorah Mormont in the fantasy drama television series, Game of Thrones, has been cast as Leonard Wood, the United States Army major who served as governor-general of the Philippines. The actor met the cast and crew of the film for their script reading at The Manila Hotel earlier this year. Quezon director and co-writer Jerrold Tarog said of the casting: “Iain Glen has gravitas. But at the same time, he can let loose, which is important for the role of Leonard Wood.” The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Department of Tourism, and the QCinema Film Foundation have given their support to the film. Mr. Glen joins Jericho Rosales, who plays the title role of Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon.

Rich Brian releases single, announces album due in May

ASIAN star Rich Brian has announced his forthcoming album WHERE IS MY HEAD? due May 23. The announcement is paired with the arrival of his new single “Little Ray Of Light,” the first official offering from the project, alongside a new music video. The song marks a notable sonic shift from the catalog on which Rich Brian has built his career. It is built around analog instrumentation and sees him primarily embracing his singing voice in a way that past releases have not. The song’s music video, directed by Jared Hogan, is raw and diaristic, with Brian conducting a string section. “Little Ray Of Light” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

I-LEAD: Indigenous women and girls transforming communities in Mindanao

A GROUP of Mansaka tribeswomen in their formal attire. — WIKIMEDIA.ORG

MARCH holds particular importance as it marks the annual National Women’s Month of the Philippines. Under the theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas (Women in All Sectors, Will Lift the Future in the New Philippines),” this year’s commemoration envisions a future where all women from different sectors and backgrounds can claim equal rights, power, and opportunities.

Critical to this future is the pivotal role of indigenous women and girls in carrying forward the journey toward biodiversity conservation and in fostering inclusive peace and development.

One cannot deny that Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are significant on-site stewards of the rich biodiversity of the Philippines. There is an almost 1:1 correspondence of Key Biodiversity Areas and ancestral domains in the Philippines. This is proof that the traditional knowledge, systems, and practices of IPs that are deeply rooted in their culture and belief are, in fact, sustainable. Thus, the Indigenous Peoples, the holders of vast natural resources, are at the forefront of environmental management.

IPs, particularly women, continue to experience economic and social challenges, even with the Philippines’ adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Limited access to education, health care, electricity, and financial services, as well as tenurial insecurity and lack of or limited public and private investments, persist in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) where ancestral domains are situated. Cultural and gender norms create additional barriers hindering meaningful participation, leadership, and economic opportunities for indigenous women and girls. Notably, 60% of the IPs in the Philippines reside in Mindanao, a region in rich biodiversity and immense potential for sustainable development.

To address the above-mentioned issues, a targeted intervention in Mindanao has been launched through the support of the Government of New Zealand, and with the partnership of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Philippines.

The Indigenous Women and Girls – Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD) Project aims to bolster the intergenerational socio-economic development of indigenous women and girls in Mindanao. It targets two key barriers: weak participation of indigenous women and girls in governance and management of ancestral domains, and their constrained access to education and livelihood services hindering their economic participation.

I-LEAD will focus on enhancing employment and livelihood opportunities for indigenous women and girls through investments in entrepreneurial skills and leadership training, raising awareness of the rights of indigenous women and girls, and addressing formal and informal customs that perpetuate gender-based social exclusion.

The project will operate in select ancestral domains in Regions XI and XII, and will prioritize gender and human rights perspectives.

This is a bold step forward. It is a project rooted in optimism and hope — believing in the immense potential of indigenous women and girls to become agents of change in their communities.

Ancestral domains, which are home to the Philippines’ most valuable natural resources, present an opportunity for sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that these resources are harnessed responsibly to benefit all members of Indigenous communities, especially women and girls, who often play a vital but underrecognized role in protecting and nurturing their environments.

To address barriers, the project will carry out interventions to ensure that IP women and girls can benefit from improved accountability and transparency of ancestral domain management and governance. It also seeks to improve livelihoods and provide increased incomes for IP women and girls and improve gender and human rights-responsive policy and institutional support for IP women and girls at national and regional levels.

UNDP Philippines has been active on this front for decades. Since 2010, in partnership with the Global Environment Facility, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the NCIP, it has worked with 17 IP communities on mapping ecosystems, documenting indigenous knowledge, and supporting 25 IP organizations in establishing community-led livelihoods. Among key recent projects is the Access and Benefit-Sharing Project, which ensures equitable sharing of benefits from using genetic resources, promoting sustainable resource use and equitable partnerships. Additionally, through the CoRe FW4A Project with the Department of Information and Communications Technology), the UNDP is bridging the digital divide in remote IP communities, improving education, disaster preparedness, and economic opportunities, particularly in Zambales and Bukidnon.

In collaboration with development partners, the UNDP will continue to accompany indigenous women and girls as they engage in meaningful participation and leadership in biodiversity conservation and governance and in the full realization of their human rights towards inclusive and sustainable peace and development.

With collaborative efforts, we are building a more equitable future where indigenous women and girls can fully realize their potential and lead the way in their communities.

 

Dr. Selva Ramachandran is the resident representative, UNDP Philippines. The UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change, and works with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries. In the Philippines, UNDP fosters human development for peace and prosperity by working with central and local governments as well as civil society and building on global best practices to strengthen capacities of women, men, and institutions to empower them to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan.

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IdeaSpace Ventures names new executive director

ALWYN JOY E. ROSEL

MVP GROUP’S startup arm IdeaSpace Ventures and its division QBO Innovation Hub have appointed startup ecosystem veteran Alwyn Joy E. Rosel as executive director.

Ms. Rosel, who has 13 years of experience in the startup industry, replaces Jay Fajardo, who served as executive director for over a year.

“I thank the management for their trust and confidence in me. I take on this challenge and opportunity to serve the startup community,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“The cornerstone of my work is to sustain the ecosystem so we can help more startups with immense potential to contribute to the economy and national development.”

Before her appointment, Ms. Rosel was deputy executive director at QBO Innovation Hub for four years.

She previously held senior positions at AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator, UPSCALE Innovation Hub, and VXI Global. She also worked at Singapore-based startup and tech media platform e27.

“Alwyn has been with the QBO and IdeaSpace team for four years. I am confident that she has the dedication and strategic vision to do the job. At the same time, I want to thank Jay Fajardo for his contributions in steering the ship during a crucial time,” said IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation President Rene Meily.

Over the past 13 years, IdeaSpace and QBO have invested more than P300 million in resources and supported over 35 startups.

They have incubated more than 250 startups, backed over 700 organizations, and won 15 awards.

IdeaSpace and QBO conduct more than 100 programs and capacity-building activities annually for their QMMUNITY startups.

They are also working with the Department of Science and Technology on the Regional Startup Enablers for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program and collaborating on strategic initiatives with Smart-PLDT Innovation Generation and the US Embassy.

IdeaSpace was established in 2012 by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan to support Filipino tech entrepreneurs. QBO was launched in 2016.

Various public and private organizations support IdeaSpace, including First Pacific, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc., Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), and Maynilad Water Services Inc.

MPIC is one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

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