FROM NOW until Aug. 31, one can feast on more than 60 Filipino dishes at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Cebu’s UNO Restaurant as the hotel brings the celebrity chef duo, Rolando and Jackie Laudico, to headline the hotel’s “Feast for the Filipino Senses.” While UNO Restaurant, the all-day dining option at the sprawling 562-room hotel and casino, regularly features Filipino dishes on its lunch and dinner menus, the spread is usually a combination of other Asian and Western dishes — but for three months (the offering started in June) only Filipino food will grace the tables of the restaurant.
lechon is served at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Cebu’s UNO Restaurant
“Filipino food has so many flavors and variations to offer. We’re bringing a new era and new excitement for the future for Cebu as a culinary destination, not only in the Philippines but the entire world,” Anders Hollen, Waterfront Hotel and Casino Cebu general manager told the media during the launch on May 22.
Included in the spread are five kinds of roasted items — from the ever-popular lechon (roasted pig) to other animals such as goat and cow — as well as modern interpretations by the Laudicos of Cebuano delicacies such as Ngohiong, a fried spring roll which they fashioned into cones, as well as danggit macaroon (a macaroon of dried fish).
The macaroon, which was a hit during the preview, was an interesting mix of sweet and salty as the danggit mousse undercut the sweetness of the macaroon halves. And since Filipinos are known for pairing salty to sweet, take for example the combination of tuyo (another dried fish) and champorado (chocolate porridge), the macaroon is a no-brainer.
Also in the spread are balut (fertilized duck eggs) shots which the Laudicos consider one of their signature dishes — it is served in their restaurants such as Guevarra’s in San Juan City.
“Ever since we became professionals in the field, our advocacy is to really promote Filipino cuisine. We’ve been to several countries abroad, we have done several food festivals in different hotels and restaurants abroad, and it’s always Filipino flavors that we champion,” Mr. Laudico told the media during the preview.
Meanwhile, Ms. Laudico brings to the spread local kakanin (rice cakes) in the dessert section. Feast upon Filipino desserts and merienda (mid-afternoon snack) favorites such as biko and queso de bola cheesecake. But please don’t forget to get the sinful molten tableya (chocolate) cake which is served in a ramekin and made-to-order. The cake, though small, packs all the goodness from the tableya — dark, yet still sweet. And since it’s molten, it’s perfect in its half-liquid state.
With the intention of including local ingredients to the spread, the Laudicos scoured Cebu’s farmers markets, specifically the Pasil fish market.
“What I enjoyed here is I went around Cebu tasting traditional Cebuano fare. We went to Pasil and we went there at 2 a.m. We noticed that they were eating this fish stew, it’s like sinigang (sour soup) but we made it into like a bouillabaisse style. It’s called nilarang. Then there’s the balbacua (Cebuano ox tail and skin stew), the one here is more soupy. What we did is we simmer the skin, knees, feet, and we reduced the stock until it’s really rich and extra gooey,” Mr. Laudico said.
The Laudicos are very interested in bringing their newfound discoveries not only to their restaurants but to other Waterfront properties as well — they revealed that they are in talks to do the same thing in the Waterfront Insular Davao property.
The Feast for the Filipino Senses runs until Aug. 30, with lunch and dinner buffets costing P898/pax. For reservations, call (032) 232-6888 ext. 8605. — Zsarlene B. Chua
NEW YORK — Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, a competitive eater, talks like any other athlete. Conditioning is key for pushing the body to its limit, the 33-year-old Californian says.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
He certainly stretched that limit on Tuesday, downing 72 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes at the annual wiener-eating contest on New York’s Coney Island, a tradition that marks every Independence Day holiday in the United States.
Chestnut won the competition for the 10th time and improved on the speed-eating tally he posted last summer.
In the 2016 edition of the eat-fest at the Nathan’s Famous beachside hot dog stand — it began way back in 1916 — Chestnut wolfed down 70 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the title.
His personal record — and the world record — is 73.5 dogs and buns in 10 minutes, but that came during a qualifying round rather than an actual contest.
After Tuesday’s victory, organizer George Shea praised Chestnut as if he were a warrior returning from a distant battlefield.
“He is an American hero. He stands as a representative of freedom, of the American ideal,” said Shea to the 30,000 people who turned out to watch the competition.
Chestnut spoke of himself in more measured language.
“I am just a goofy dude who likes to eat. I am a lucky guy, to travel around the world and eat and make people smile,” he told reporters.
And Chestnut — who began eating competitively in 2005 in an asparagus-munching contest — does in fact want to get better for next year.
“I need to work on my condition so I don’t sweat as much, because it slowed me down. I’ll figure it out. I’ll make my body work better. I have to figure out my body so I can push it to the absolute limit,” said Chestnut.
America is famously fat, with obesity affected some one in three adults. So the hot dog contest is perhaps not a great example of healthy habits.
Nor is it easy to watch.
The rules allow the 18 competitors to soak their hot dogs and buns in water to make them easier to choke them down. Using their fingers, they slammed the frankfurters back into their mouths and leaned their heads back to help the food ooze its way south.
Besides the 30,000 on hand to watch the event, many more took in the spectacle on TV. Sports network ESPN carried it live for the 11th straight year.
The event is overseen by a federation called Major League Eating, which holds about 80 such competitions each year in a season that runs from February to September. There are separate bouts for men and women.
Tuesday’s female winner was Miki Sudo, who ate 41 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. — AFP
SEOUL — South Korean barista Lee Kang-bin is taking coffee art to the next level, creating miniature imitations of famous paintings on foamy cups of java at his central Seoul café.
South Korean barista Lee Kang-bin recreates Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night and Edvard Munch’s The Scream using thick cream stained with food coloring atop a cup of coffee REUTERS
With meticulous strokes of tiny brushes and spoons, Lee, 26, recreates the likes of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night and Edvard Munch’s The Scream using thick cream stained with food coloring atop a cup of coffee.
The result of the painstaking 15-minute process is a 10,000 won ($8.71) cup of cold coffee that has won Mr. Lee thousands of fans at his café and online.
“One time I drew The Starry Night and it looked so special as the famous painting placed on top of coffee. After that, lots of people ordered that coffee,” Mr. Lee said, as he copied the painting off an image on his smartphone.
“Customers usually ask me to draw their favorite art works,” he added.
On his Instagram profile where he regularly posts images and videos of his so-called “creamart,” Mr. Lee says he has never learned to draw. He started brewing coffee at age 17, during his mandatory military service and enjoyed it so much that he bought a coffee machine and opened his first café for fellow soldiers in his camp near the border with North Korea.
Customers at his café are delighted with Mr. Lee’s art, which ranges from intricate paintings to cheeky recreations of Disney cartoon characters like Aladdin and Bambi.
“I heard (on TV) that this barista draws these kinds of famous paintings. I think he has very talented hands,” said Kim Su-Kyung, a 24-year-old university student who recently visited Lee’s store, named Cafe C. Through.
South Korea’s per capita coffee consumption has nearly doubled since 1990 to 2.3 kg per person, according to the International Coffee Organization — still roughly half the 4.5 kg that Americans consume. — Reuters
I MET with one of the most fascinating wine owners last week — Luis Felipe Edwards, Jr., of the eponymous Vina Luis Felipe Edwards or LFE. Luis Felipe Edwards, Jr. was a highly paid investment banker with a bright career in the banking industry having worked for Citicorp (of Citigroup, Inc.) in Santiago, Chile. But after some prodding from his father, the original Luis Felipe Edwards, Sr., to join their family business, Luis Felipe, Jr. finally caved in 2000.
LUIS FELIPE Edwards, Jr., managing director of Vina Luis Felipe Edwards
Having climbed the corporate ladder to be in an executive post in Citicorp after 11 years, Luis Felipe, Jr. knew he would be offered a lower salary by his dad, but being a family member he agreed to be involved with the family winery — but he demanded one condition. Luis Felipe, Jr. revealed to me during a casual chat at the Peninsula Manila last week that he told his dad: “You will be the boss, but I will be the pilot.”
So with Luis Felipe, Sr. acquiescing to his junior’s demand, the reins of Vina Luis Felipe Edwards successfully passed from first generation to second generation management. With the entry of Luis Felipe, Jr. to the winery, LFE was never the same again.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNING TO MAJOR PLAYER
LFE started in 1975 when Luis Felipe, Sr. purchased 61 hectares of land at the Colchagua Valley, a prime viticultural region in Chile. Luis Felipe, Sr. produced only bulk wines, until in 1994 when he decided to sell his wines in commercial bottles and for export.
When Luis Felipe, Jr. became the Managing Director in 2000, the goal was to intensify the export business. Fast forward 17 years and export numbers of LFE grew from 60,000 cases (of nine liters) to a projected humongous 3,000,000 cases in 2017. This is an incredible 5,000% increase. No Chilean winery has grown faster than LFE, and now the company is a top four Chilean wine exporter, from a previous cellar-dwelling position of number 250 or so.
THE CHILEAN WINE SHORTAGE
The present situation of the Chilean wine industry was one topic in which the banker, finance person, and economist in Luis Felipe, Jr. came out naturally. Chilean wines have been among the fastest growing wines in the world. The country is the 8th largest global wine producer, but is the 5th largest wine exporter. Chile exports around 70% of its production, making it extremely vital to the country’s overall economy.
But it is not all that rosy as I learned from Luis Felipe, Jr. “The issue is supply and demand.” He continued, “While demand has been growing, especially in the export front, our supply has not improved over the last 15 years. Chile has roughly the same 130,000 hectares of vineyards the past decade and a half, composed of old vineyards that are actually producing less yields. Then there is also the effect of climactic changes like global warming.”
Basically, right now Chile produces 1.1 billion liters. Of the 1.1 billion liters, 200 million goes to domestic consumption while the rest goes to export. But of the 900 million liters for export, 350 million are sold cheap as bulk wines (in flexi-tanks and containers for rebottling elsewhere). Due to demand, most of the bulk wines will be sold back to the huge wineries at higher prices for commercial bottling, therefore prices are bound to increase unless there is a solution to the supply dilemma.
A SOLUTION
Luis Felipe, Jr. believes that Chile has a massive 200 million liters wine shortage. But unlike almost every exporting winery in Chile which rely on buying juices outside, including those meant for bulk wine export, Luis Felipe, Jr. took the other route and decided long ago to invest in vineyards.
“At present, most wineries produce only around 1/3 from their own vineyards, and they buy the rest from independent growers. And this number will only get higher if the wineries continue to grow but yet not increase their vineyard holdings. My estimate is that every year commercial bottling export is taking 30 million liters away from bulk wines and affecting price upwards. That is why I am determined to invest in vineyards. We are the only winery in the top 10 that is trying to lessen the gap between supply and demand. No other big winery is doing this, whether family or corporate.”
The investment banker in Luis Felipe, Jr. was definitely at his best. The investments in vineyards seemingly constitute a separate business from the wine business. “I practically keep two balance sheets. One is for the wine business and the other is for real estate. Perhaps I do not profit from real estate, but certainly my kids and their next generation will, given the scarcity of land.”
At the moment, LFE buys only 15% of its juices from outside sources, everything else comes from its vineyards, and because of this Luis Felipe, Jr. has much better leverage on prices than his competitors. “Certainly if you only need 15% of your requirements from outside source as against another winery that needs over 60%, the negotiation power is very different and we hold the balance of power on the prices.” This is the reason why LFE has kept prices unchanged while the rest of the Chilean wineries are raising their prices.
LFE should become self-sufficient by around 2020 with its new vineyards yielding juices, but if its export continue to grow — and it is growing much faster than the Chilean export rate — then LFE still needs to buy from outside sources. Luis Felipe, Jr. is therefore not yet done buying land, and has set a goal of acquiring 10,000 hectares while he is at the company’s helm.
QUALITY AS A FACTOR OF VALUE
Luis Felipe, Jr. was the very first wine person I met that compared Chile’s wines to Korea’s cars. As the analogy goes, Chile has great quality wines at good value, which is the same as perceived with the Kias and the Hyundais of Korea. He added, “Value is combination of two factors: real quality and cost. And the only way to get this done in our situation is to invest in viticulture. But investing in viticulture is most expensive. We are investing heavily in viticulture, research and technology.”
While Wines of Chile and other Chilean wine organizations are heavily promoting higher priced quality wines, like the single vineyard and limited release wines, Luis Felipe, Jr. believes that the entry level wines are still the most important and it remains the most overwhelming popular segment too for Chilean wine exports.
“You do not buy a Mercedes Benz if you simply want a practical, everyday, reliable car. A Kia would do the same function at a fraction of the price. To me, the entry level wines are very critical, and once we have this solid base, then we can always move up.”
This doesn’t mean LFE is only into entry level wines. The truth is LFE has done extremely well with its more premium range as well. LFE has been awarded the highest accolades from some of the most prestigious competitions around the world, including being named New World Producer of the Year by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2016, and Chilean Producer of the Year by International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in 2012.
LFE is already the largest, 100% family-owned wine company in Chile. And Luis Felipe, Jr. worked not only with his dad, Luis Felipe, Sr., but also with his siblings and two of his brothers-in-law. Luis Felipe, Jr. wanted LFE wines to be known as the best value wines ever made, and his case will be proven soon here in Manila when LFE wines will be back on the shelves by late third quarter this year.
And yes, expect to get a very lovely Cabernet Sauvignon, and a juicy Chardonnay at less than P250 a bottle — now that is bargain!
The author has been a member of the Federation Internationale des Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin et des Spiritueux or FIJEV since 2010. For comments, inquiries, wine event coverage, and other wine-related concerns, e-mail the author at protegeinc@yahoo.com. He is also on Twitter at twitter.com/sherwinlao.
LONDON — A brain training computer game developed by British neuroscientists has been shown to improve the memory of patients in the very earliest stages of dementia and could help such patients avert some symptoms of cognitive decline.
Researchers who developed the “game show”-like app and tested its effects on cognition and motivation in a small trial found that patients who played the game over a period of a month had around a 40% improvement in their memory scores.
“We hope to extend these findings in future studies of healthy aging and mild Alzheimer’s disease,” said George Savulich, who led the study at Cambridge University.
Dementia is a huge global health problem. The World Health Organization says some 47.5 million people had dementia in 2015, and that number is rising rapidly as life expectancy increases and societies age.
The condition is incurable and there are few drugs that can alleviate the symptoms — which include declining memory, thinking, behavior, navigational and spatial skills and the gradual loss of ability to perform everyday tasks.
Publishing his results in the “International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology,” Savulich said that as well as improving their memory scores in the game, patients who played it retained more complex visual information than those who didn’t.
Independent experts said the study’s findings were encouraging, but that the app needed be tested against other forms of brain training in trials involving more people.
“While this type of brain training will not ultimately be able to prevent or cure memory diseases like dementia, (it is) a promising way to improve early memory symptoms of the disease,” said Tara Spires-Jones of the University of Edinburgh. — Reuters
WE’RE HALFWAY through the year and the roll-out of gadgets from consumer electronics giants shows no sign of letting up. Sony Philippines have introduced in the Philippines its latest OLED 4K TV — a comeback for Sony in the OLED category after abandoning it 10 years ago. Samsung Electronics Philippines unveiled a mid-market smartphone that comes with a camera that performs well at capturing in low-light conditions. The company also announced a calibration software for its QLED TVs. And HP launched a pocket-friendly printer that instantly prints photos from smartphones. Read on for more details about each product.
Sony XBR-A1E BRAVIA
SONY BRAVIA 4K A1E SERIES
Sony has reentered the OLED TV category with the roll-out of its Sony Bravia A1E series (XBR-A1E BRAVIA). These 4K high dynamic range (HDR) models pack high-end technology that result in superior picture quality and an immersive viewing experience made possible by its innovative in-screen speakers.
This model’s screen features over 8 million self-illuminating pixels controlled by Sony’s 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme, which delivers 40% more real-time image processing than Sony’s renowned 4K Processor X1. This extends the capability of OLED to deliver a richer 4K HDR picture. In a demo during Sony’s launch in Manila, the TV was displayed next to a high-end TV from another brand it was clear that Sony’s OLED TV rendered motion pictures in more crisp colors, with richer blacks and brighter whites.
The A1E series also uses what Sony claims to be the first of its kind audio technology that lets the TV emits sound from the screen itself. Sony calls this unconventional sound technology “Acoustic Surface” and it works by making the TV screen vibrate back and forth, thereby producing wide sound and image synchronization from all angles, even off to the sides, according to Sony. Since this feature removed the need to add conventional speakers usually located around the screen, Sony was able to design a unique form factor for the A1E series with no distraction from the picture.
Sony Bravia A1E series comes in two screen variants: 55-inch model (SRP P188,999) and 65-inch model (SRP 299,999).
SAMSUNG J7
Here’s yet another addition to the increasingly competitive mid-market smartphone segment as Samsung Electronics Philippines has launched the Galaxy J7 Pro touting a “great night camera” and comes with Android Nougat out-of-box.
The J7 Pro, which follows last year’s J7 (2016) model, features the same 5.5” touchscreen form factor but unlike its predecessor, Samsung opted to make the J7 Pro unibody for a more luxe feel.
The screen is FHD Super AMOLED with a 2.5D scratch-resistant glass on top while the rear camera is at 13MP with F/1.7 aperture and LED Flash, the bigger aperture is said to allow the rear camera to take more detailed night or low-light shots. The front-facing camera meanwhile, has an equal 13-MP shooter and LED flash but operates on a F/1.9 aperture.
But considering the current trends, Samsung also put a “wide selfie” feature to the front camera.
The P16,990 device (up from the P11,990 of the J7 2016), also comes with a 1.6-GHz Samsung Exynos 7870 octa-core CPU, a 3-GB RAM, a built-in 32-GB storage expandable to 256GB and a 3,600-mAH battery. It also comes with a fingerprint scanner.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro will retail at P16,990 and will be available nationwide starting July 15.
HP Sprocket
HP SPROCKET
HP, Inc. has unveiled its newest, smallest, and hippest lifestyle printer yet: the Sprocket.
The Sprocket is a portable and pocket-sized printer that users can bring wherever, whenever. At only 0.17 kg and 4.53 x 2.95 inches, the Sprocket is as compact as a regular smartphone, and is one of HP’s most lightweight devices.
The Sprocket’s paper tray can carry 10 pieces of photo paper at one go and is rechargeable through a micro-USB that requires 90 minutes to fill up its battery. Charge and status light indicators are also visible at the left side portion of the device, alongside the reset and power button.
Aside from printing photos, this device also lets the users tweak photos through the HP Sprocket app. It is compatible with both Android (v4.4 and later) and iOS (iOS v8.0 and later) smartphones, and is downloadable through the Google and App stores. It also supports a variety of formats including BMP, GIF, and JPEG, as well as TIFF for iOS devices which means any photo can be printed out with ease, whether grabbed online or taken straight from a phone camera.
In just 40 seconds, users can print quality colorful photos with the use of the HP ZINK technology 2 x 3” photo papers that are smudge-proof and water and tear-resistant. The ZINK Technology feature uses zero ink and has crystals stored on each paper which can produce colors once heated. The photo papers also come with a peel-and-stick back, perfect for crafting personalized items, gifts, or souvenirs.
The Sprocket, which comes in black and white, retails for P7,290 via online shopping site, Lazada, and may be purchased directly at www.lazada.com.ph/hp-sprocket-official-store.
CALMAN WITH AUTOCAL
Samsung Electronics Philippines announced the availability of Portrait Displays’ new autocalibration software, CalMAN with AutoCal, on its 2017 QLED TVs. This software is said to be used by professional video calibrators within the display industry, and most end users in the broadcast, production and post-production industries.
Calibration is the process of gradually adjusting the color of a TV display. This process is especially important to designers, photographers and video professionals, who aim to match colors perfectly between input devices, such as monitors, and output devices, such as printers. Calibration provides users the ability to optimize their desired viewing experience based on their viewing environments.
Samsung QLED TV users can also measure the color volume of their TV using the CalMAN with AutoCal software. Color volume is the latest standard of picture quality that indicates how displays express color accurately, regardless of its brightness level. Samsung QLED TVs are the world’s first and only lineup that can express 100% color volume. — with a report fromZsarlene B. Chua
SEOUL — South Korea and the United States fired off missiles Wednesday simulating a precision strike against North Korea’s leadership, in response to a landmark intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test described by Kim Jong-Un as a gift to “American bastards.”
Tuesday’s launch — acknowledged as an ICBM by Washington — marked a milestone in Pyongyang’s decades-long drive for the capability to threaten the US mainland with a nuclear strike, and poses a stark foreign policy challenge for Donald J. Trump.
The US president had vowed that “won’t happen,” but independent experts said it could reach Alaska or even further towards the continental US. It will require a reassessment of the threat posed by the nuclear-armed North, which has carried out five atomic tests and said the multi-stage rocket’s warhead could survive atmospheric reentry to strike a target.
Amid international condemnation of the test, South Korean and US military forces launched short-range ballistic missiles of their own less than 24 hours afterwards from the peninsula into the Sea of Japan.
Both weapons homed in on their target, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “displaying the capability of a precision strike against the enemy headquarters in times of emergency.”
The South’s new President Moon Jae-In, who backs engagement with Pyongyang to bring it to the negotiating table, said the North’s “serious provocation required us to react with more than just a statement.”
US general Vincent Brooks, the Combined Forces commander in South Korea, said: “Self restraint, which is a choice, is all that separates armistice and war.”
“As this alliance missile live fire shows, we are able to change our choice when so ordered by our alliance national leaders.”
The two countries are in a security alliance, with 28,500 US troops stationed in the South to protect it.
Their language is likely to infuriate Pyongyang, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the threat of invasion and has been subjected to multiple sets of UN sanctions over its atomic and missile programs.
The launches came hours after a joint appeal by the presidents of China and Russia for all sides to exercise restraint and ease tensions.
Disagreement on how best to respond will complicate discussions at the UN, where the Security Council was due to meet in emergency session later Wednesday after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the North’s launch as a “dangerous escalation.”
After personally overseeing the test, the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un “said American bastards would be not very happy with this gift sent on the July 4 anniversary,” the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Breaking into peals of laughter, KCNA said, he “added that we should send them gifts once in a while to help break their boredom.”
Mr. Kim had inspected the Hwasong-14 missile and “expressed satisfaction, saying it looked as handsome as a good-looking boy and was well made.”
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, mouthpiece of the North’s ruling party, devoted five of its six pages to the news, including 55 colored pictures.
Questions remain over the precise capabilities of the weapon, but footage on the North’s state television Wednesday showed the first stage separating from the device and falling away.
KCNA said it had a carbon composite nose cone that could carry a “large, heavy nuclear warhead” and survive the harsh conditions of reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, including “heat reaching thousands of degrees centigrade,” to “accurately hit the target.”
The missile only traveled little more than 900 kilometers to come down in the Sea of Japan, but the altitude it reached — more than 2,800 kilometers according to Pyongyang — demonstrated it can travel far further.
South Korea’s defense minister Han Min-koo put its range at 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers — far enough to put US Pacific Command in Hawaii within reach.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson strongly condemned the launch, saying: “Testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world.”
“As we, along with others, have made clear, we will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.” — AFP
MOSCOW — Moscow hopes the first face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald J. Trump later this week will establish an effective working dialogue between the two men, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
The meeting, due to be held on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg on Friday, will be closely watched at a time when ties between the two countries remain strained by US allegations of Russian election hacking, Syria, Ukraine and a US row over Trump associates’ links to Moscow.
“This is the first meeting, the first time the two presidents will get acquainted — this is the main thing about it,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters.
“The expectation is that a working dialogue will be established, which is vitally important for the entire world when it comes to increasing the efficiency of resolving a critical mass of conflicts.”
The meeting would explore whether there was a chance and a readiness for the two countries to fight international terrorism together in Syria, Mr. Peskov said, saying Putin would explain Moscow’s stance on the conflicts in both Syria and Ukraine.
But Mr. Peskov said the meeting’s brief format meant the Russian leader might not have enough time to give a full analysis of what Moscow regarded as the causes of the Ukraine crisis.
Three years after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and a pro-Russian separatist uprising broke out in eastern Ukraine, there is little sign of a peaceful solution in the east despite a ceasefire agreement signed in February 2015 in Minsk, Belarus.
Those accords were signed by France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. Kiev accuses Moscow of actively supporting the pro-Russian separatists. Russia denies the charge. — Reuters
JAKARTA — For Fuad Bawazier, the financial crisis that moved like a wrecking ball through the Indonesian economy two decades ago remains a source of deep regret.
As finance minister in the dying days of Suharto’s dictatorship, Mr. Bawazier said he tried to warn the president against accepting a bailout of more than $40 billion put together by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because of the strict austerity conditions linked to it. Suharto pushed ahead and Mr. Bawazier ended up having to implement the IMF’s plans, including budget cuts, high interest rates and bank closures that hurt an economy already in the throes of a currency collapse.
“The IMF gave the wrong advice, the completely wrong advice,’’ Mr. Bawazier, 67, said in an interview, recalling the turmoil of his short, three-month stint as finance minister.
By 1998, Indonesia was in full-blown crisis: the economy contracted 13%, millions of people were pushed into poverty and hundreds were killed in riots that eventually led to Suharto stepping down after more than 30 years in power.
His rule had been marked by rapid economic growth, but also large-scale corruption — which had enriched his family and inner circle — and repressive, militarized control. It would take years of political upheaval, punctuated by sectarian and ethnic violence and more graft scandals, for Indonesia to eventually recover.
Today, the Southeast Asian nation stands in stark contrast to what it was 20 years ago: It’s now a vibrant democracy with a more resilient economy, near-record foreign-currency reserves and investors lining up to tap a growing and youthful population. It has Southeast Asia’s largest economy that’s posted annual average growth of more than 5% in the past five years.
REFORMIST LEADERS
The crisis had also forged a new crop of leaders and reformers, led by President Joko Widodo and his Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who are working hard to keep the nation on track.
Ms. Indrawati, 54, returned to Indonesia last year after a stint as a managing director at the World Bank, promising to tackle corruption and clean up the tax system. Describing herself as an “economic activist,” her commitment to reform was shaped by her experience during those student protests on the streets of Jakarta in 1998.
“During her past year back in office she’s been cautious, and understandably so, but strictly professional,’’ said Kevin O’Rourke, a political analyst and author of Reformasi: The Struggle for Power in Post-Soeharto Indonesia, who was a stockbroker based in the capital during the crisis and the demise of Suharto’s regime.
Indonesia isn’t immune to financial shocks, but is much better prepared for them, according to Ms. Indrawati. The crisis that began in 1997 destroyed the foundation of the financial system, and today “there is better and more consistent governance of the financial sector and better risk management,’’ she said in June. The financial regulator, known as OJK, and the “central bank are more independent and have greater credibility in terms of enforcing prudential rules.”
DOMESTIC RISKS
Mr. O’Rourke said there had been obvious and dramatic changes over the past 20 years, including the rise of an Indonesian middle class, a more decentralized government and the military’s influence in politics diluted.
Yet Indonesia remains a very inward-looking nation that doesn’t live up to its potential as the world’s fourth-most populous nation and 10th largest economy. Mr. O’Rourke said that’s because of a three-way struggle that exists between a patronage system that entrenches the influence of political elites, religious and ethnic tension in politics and reform-minded officials, who want to get the economy onto its next stage of development.
Foreign observers were reminded of that tension recently, when governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama — Mr. Widodo’s political ally, who is a Christian of Chinese descent — was jailed for blasphemy in a test of religious tolerance in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
The reformers are “the ones now on the defensive and this is the same struggle that has been playing out for 20 years now,” said Mr. O’Rourke. “That three-way tension is what has been occupying the attention of politicians and rendering Indonesia very inward-looking.’’
For investors, Indonesia has come a long way from the turmoil of 1998. Evidence of that came in a recent credit-rating upgrade and the currency’s rebound in the immediate aftermath of Donald J. Trump’s victory in the US election in November — the so-called ‘Trump tantrum’ when emerging markets sold off. The rupiah has gained 0.9% against the dollar this year and was trading at 13,351 as of 10:40 a.m. in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Reserve buffers aside, Indonesia has policy credibility and is on a sounder economic footing, said Weiwen Ng, an economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group in Singapore.
“What is under-appreciated is the fact that macro fundamentals are clearly much better now compared to 20 years ago and that reinforces the view that Indonesia, along with the rest of Southeast Asia, is clearly much more resilient now,” he said. — Bloomberg
INFLATION slowed to a five-month low in June — missing estimates — on softer food, utilities and transport price increases, giving the central bank room to continue keeping policy steady for now.
That was the question asked by Unilab Foundation, which in partnership with Vico’s Autism, has been supporting artists with autism. While the artists have been successful in selling some of their art works, there must be a more reliable way for them to earn income. Sure, they can sell their paintings, but one could only earn from a painting sale once. There must be a better way.
The answer to the question may lie in design, according to Director Gerry Torres of the De La Salle‑College of Saint Benilde (DLS‑CSB) Center for Campus Art.
“I thought that if we could develop designs from their art then they don’t necessarily have to sell their art,” Mr. Torres told SparkUp at the opening of the Design, Art, Autism exhibit at the School of Design and Arts Campus of DLS‑CSB, which he also curated.
“Designs would be a very potent way for them to have income, because designs can be turned into commodity, into merchandise. That can be constantly developed, then the merchandise can provide them with a steady income,” Mr. Torres said.
The works of eight artists with autism—Jorel Alegre, Vico Cham, Julyan Harrison, Chico Joaquin, Samantha Kaspar, Karl Oliveros, Muneer Pena and Daniel Sanchez—are shown with designs created by students of DLS‑CSB’s architecture, industrial design and fashion design programs until July 29. The exhibit is from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
As an example of how the project would work, Mr. Torres pointed at a colorful knapsack made by Design student Kim Davis, next to the painting made by artist Chico Joaquin.
“If someone’s interested to develop this knapsack and mass produce this, the proceeds will be divided between Kim Davis, who’s an Industrial Design student, and Chico Joaquin,” the curator explained. “The proceeds will be split between them.”
What makes the works of these artists unique? For starters, they aren’t bogged down by the so‑called rules of art. “They have a different way of looking at the world and it is manifested in their art—the way they convert it into colors, shape and lines is different,” said Mr. Torres.
“The way they do art is different. Very unique. Very brave. No rules. 100% focus.”
For the project, the design students of DLS‑CSB were given the digital files of the artworks they would base their designs on. “Through the digital file, the students were able to manipulate and extract their designs,” Mr. Torres said. “The artwork could be transformed into endless possibilities because it’s digital.”
And what came out of this project were designs as unique as the artists themselves.
The first thing you’ll see when you go to Jorel Alegre’s exhibit is a large painting of a tiger emerging from the shore. A Grade 11 student at the De La Salle University Integrated School, Mr. Alegre plays with light and shadow in his works, sparking up his art with highlights and shading. From his works, design students made eye‑catching cellphone cases that will make your mobile devices absolutely fierce.
Vico Cham, 25, surprised his architect father when he was ten years old with a painting that he did on one of his blueprints. His painting Clown Fish won the Austism Trust Foundation Global Visual Arts Competition at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2014. He enjoys painting sea life, flowers, girls, and Disney characters. His work inspired jewelry designs, centerpieces and stickers that will add a feminine touch to your manly motorcycle.
“Enjoy my art, carry a piece of my heart ♥,” is the message left by Julyan Harrison on the wall of his exhibit. The 25‑year‑old is a young man with many hobbies, including farming, cooking, baking, biking and surfing. He is currently making art at Zambawood in Zambales. His colorful and wonderfully textured paintings of sea life inspired relaxing furniture and decor that’s perfect for a summer beach house.
Inspired by the works of Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Andy Warhol, Joan Miro and Paul Klee, 16‑year‑old Chico Joaquin listens to classical music while he paints. He does colorful and abstract depictions of people and animals, and creates short comic books and stop motion videos as well. A painting that takes off from spider Halloween decorations inspired design students to make a playful spider wallpaper, a webbed purple coat, and even an eight‑legged chair.
The childlike and expressive drawings of Samantha Kaspar evokes memories of a much simpler time in our lives. The creative young lady enjoys not only painting, but also playing the violin, singing and ice skating. Her works inspired cloth dolls based on her characters, wallpapers and decor that children would be happy to have in their room.
Karl Oliveros, 42, is skilled at something that most people have trouble with—beating deadlines. The time‑conscious artist’s talent lies in duplicating the art of others, and unlike his contemporaries in the exhibit, paints very realistic looking pictures of flowers, butterflies and fish. A wallpaper of butterflies and steel floral accents inspired from his works will add freshness to any room.
As a child, Muneer Pena, now 21, had this quirk of opening and closing doors over and over again, especially when he’s in a new place. His fascination with architecture shows in his paintings of houses and churches, most with open doors and windows that lead to lush gardens. His religious mother considers him a gift from God. His work, in turn, inspired tiles seemingly hand painted with leaves and interior design arrangements that seamlessly bring the outdoors in.
The parents of 17‑year‑old Daniel Sanchez enrolled him to art classes when he was younger to give him an outlet to express how he feels. “Because he had a speech problem, I couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell me, so I asked him to draw it,” said his mother. After three years of training, he just kept on drawing and drawing, just like the herd horses in his paintings keep running and running. His works are sometimes abstract, sometimes realistic, and filled with action. Naturally, a pair of shoes was inspired from his painting, as well as jewelry, a chair of roses, and a matching wallpaper.
“This exhibit is just the start. We are going to work with our Intellectual Property Office so if there’s a need for any arrangements between the artists and the designers in the future, this office, which is in Benilde, will be the one in charge to make sure that everybody is fairly treated,” said Mr. Torres.
So we look forward for products to be made from these colorful designs, knowing that the money we spend on them will go to the artists who deserve it.
A CHANGE of leadership at the Bank of Japan (BoJ) would offer a chance to bolster public confidence in its ability to defeat deflation, according to an economic adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“What’s important, especially this time, is whether we can undertake regime change,” Etsuro Honda said in a telephone interview on Friday. “It should be someone who is refreshing enough and can renew people’s impressions with personal charm and sincerity.”
Honda’s comments contrast with those he made in January, when he said reappointing BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, whose term ends in April next year, was an option, citing the importance of continuity at the central bank.
Honda declined to comment on potential candidates to replace Kuroda. He said he expects the selection process for BoJ leadership positions to start sometime this fall. The central bank’s two deputy governors’ terms end in March.
Honda, who is serving as ambassador to Switzerland, has been mentioned by private economists as a candidate for BoJ chief. He declined to comment on the possibility.
GROWING SPECULATION
With most economists forecasting no change to monetary policy this year, the question of who will serve as BoJ governor after Kuroda’s term ends is gaining more attention.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Nobuyuki Nahakara, a former BoJ board member and a mentor to Abe, said Kuroda should step down because new ideas were needed. Masahiro Kawai, an ally of the governor, said in a separate interview that Kuroda should serve for another term to finish what he started.
Kuroda was the candidate most frequently cited by economists in a Bloomberg survey last month. He has fended off questions about who will be governor after April by noting that it is a question for the government.
One thing that would disqualify potential candidates, Honda suggested, would be supporting another increase in the nation’s sales tax before the end of deflation was achieved. A similar tax hike in 2014 was widely blamed for derailing the economy. Honda said it also dashed expectations for Abenomics.
“If one doesn’t have a deep understanding of Abe’s strategy to overcome deflation, that person is absolutely not qualified,” he said.
Other qualities needed in a BoJ governor include consistent ideas on macroeconomic policies, a strong determination to fight deflation and the ability to communicate smoothly with the prime minister, overseas central bank chiefs and financial markets, he said.
A series of scandals and a resounding loss for his party in voting for the Tokyo assembly on Sunday have weakened Abe politically, but analysts expect him to remain prime minister at least until a party leadership contest in the autumn of next year.
Honda’s relationship with Abe goes back more than three decades, and the two communicate frequently. Honda was consulted on Abe’s choice of BoJ governor in 2013 as well as the board members appointed since then. Honda also successfully persuaded Abe to postpone a planned sale tax hike scheduled for 2015.
CONQUERING DEFLATION
There is no need for the BoJ to add stimulus now because inflationary pressures are rising due to a tight labor market and improving output gap, Honda said. The BoJ should keep its target for 10-year bond yields around 0% “as long as possible” until 2% inflation is stable, he said.
Honda said he has had to acknowledge that the BoJ faces a limit to its easing program, because it must consider the impact on financial stability, such as through profits at regional banks, a view he didn’t hold before the start of Abenomics in 2013.
What the economy needs now is supportive fiscal policy, which at the very least shouldn’t be tightened until deflation is defeated, Honda said. The government should make the most of the ultra-low interest rates created by monetary policy.
“It’s a fundamental principle that we keep fiscal policy expansionary to make it and monetary policy the two wheels of the economy,” Honda said. — Bloomberg
Researchers who developed the “game show”-like app and tested its effects on cognition and motivation in a small trial found that patients who played the game over a period of a month had around a 40% improvement in their memory scores.
