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David Archuleta releases playful pop anthem

SCREENSHOT from David Archuleta’s “Crème Brulée” music video.

American Idol favorite sings in Spanish, celebrates his queerness

SINGER-SONGWRITER David Archuleta, who was a favorite among Filipinos during his stint on American Idol, has released his latest single, “Crème Brulée,” the first track off of his upcoming EP.

It follows a previous single, “Hell Together,” where Mr. Archuleta expanded his pop songwriting to have a more personal, emotional impact. This time, he tapped into his flirtatious side and his Latin roots to come up with something new.

Co-written with Ryan Nealon and Robyn Dell’Unto and produced by Michael Blum, “Crème Brulée” blends English and Spanish lyrics, and aims to be “as smooth and addictive as the namesake dessert,” according to the singer.

“I’ve always been in touch with my Latin roots, but there wasn’t a space for it before. I recorded a Spanish version of ‘Crush’ as a teenager, but for some reason the record label didn’t want to sell it. I was also part of the Spanish ‘We Are The World’ cover,” the 34-year-old singer said at an online media roundtable on April 2.

He burst into the pop music scene at the age of 17 when his vocal talent was discovered on the seventh season of  the singing competition show American Idol where he won second place. Since then, he has churned out multiple platinum-selling hits globally, including in the Philippines.

“This is actually the first time I’ve done a pop song in my career where I’m singing in Spanish. I hope to implement that more in my music,” he told the press. “I feel I’m sexier when I’m speaking Spanish, and more of that Latin flame comes on. I get more comfortable with my sensuality.”

EMBRACING HIS QUEERNESS
On the confidence showcased in “Crème Brulée,” Mr. Archuleta added that “exploring his queerness and embracing it” has helped him evolve to become more charismatic and in his element.

“I was always so shy before. Now it’s kinda like, screw it. I’m here to have a good time. And if I make mistakes, I’ll learn from my mistakes and so be it. You become older and wiser,” he said.

The lyrics were written to tease the listeners, with the phrase “yo te vuelvo loco” (I make you crazy) showcasing this new side of the artist. For him, no longer hiding his sexuality has allowed him to be flirtier and more playful, both in his personal life and in his music.

“There are a lot of performers who feel like they have to hide who they’re attracted to, who they’re in a relationship with, who the songs are about, because there’s prejudice. There may be pushback from some people, but there are those who love you and accept you for who you are,” Mr. Archuleta said.

The song’s music video features an intricately choreographed dance, created in collaboration with Aidan, Jordan, and Nathan Kim of the JA dance collective. In it, the artist gets to dance “sensually but without demanding attention.”

“When you’re out of the closet, it doesn’t have to be so in your face. Some people can do that great, but that’s not always my style. Here, I’m having fun with it but I’m still kinda chill and laidback. We found a great combination of those elements,” he explained.

COMPLEX CHOREOGRAPHY
The queerness in the “Crème Brulée” dance video is more subtle, with Mr. Archuleta and the dancers dressed in neutral tones, though the lighting towards the end incorporates rainbow-like colors.

He explained that being part of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, plus) community is more than just “adhering to standards of black and white,” with each person having a different experience on the spectrum.

“There’s a certain aesthetic expected of being gay, so I wanted to present a more genderfluid look,” he said. “I love the stuff that’s in your face, loud, and poppy, but I do identify as queer and what I like about it is that it’s a bigger umbrella. We show a bit of that in the ‘Crème Brulée’ video, those different parts of being LGBTQ.”

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll show other parts later,” he concluded.

“Crème Brulée” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Tariff concerns may put pressure on peso

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO could slide back to the P58 level in the coming weeks on safe-haven demand for the dollar following the Trump administration’s move to slap a reciprocal tariff on Philippine exports to the United States, with investors awaiting more clarity on the potential impact of the sweeping levies on the global economy.

The local unit has been trading at the P57 level since late February as the greenback has been hit by US recession fears amid US President Donald J. Trump’s slew of protectionist policies combined with weak data out of the world’s largest economy.

On Thursday, the peso closed at a near six-month high of P57.095 per dollar, up 12 centavos from Thursday’s finish of P57.215.

This was its best close since it ended at P57.02 on Oct. 9, 2024.

The dollar slid broadly on Thursday after Mr. Trump announced harsher-than-expected tariffs against US trading partners, jolting the markets as investors sought safe havens such as the yen and Swiss franc, Reuters reported.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, fell to 102.98, its lowest since mid-October. The index is down more than 4% this year.

“The dollar will be stronger in the near term as the markets slide to safety because of growing concerns over the health of the US economy that the retaliatory tariff may cause a recession and result in a slowdown in global growth. So, the dollar might strengthen due to market safe-haven demand,” a trader said in a phone interview.

The trader said the peso could trade between P57 and P58 in the near term due to trade war concerns.

“Trump’s tariff on Philippine exports will likely put downward pressure on the peso in the near term, though the extent depends on market sentiment and how businesses adjust. The Philippines runs a trade deficit. A hit to exports due to tariffs could widen the trade gap, increasing demand for dollars to pay for imports, which could weaken the peso. However, there will be delayed impacts as businesses will take time to adjust their strategies,” Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said.

“Investors might also see these tariffs as a sign of growing trade uncertainty with the US, leading to weaker confidence in Philippine assets. If foreign investors pull out from local stocks or bonds, this could add to peso depreciation pressure.”

The lack of clarity on the implementation of the latest round of tariffs is expected to stoke volatility in global markets, Reyes Tacandong & Co. Senior Adviser Jonathan L. Ravelas said, adding that the peso could range from P57.20 to P57.50 per dollar in the coming weeks.

“There is little detail and no clear rules on trade, leading to continued uncertainty and dampened consumer and corporate confidence,” he said. “Retaliation from trade partners, currency volatility, and depreciations are expected, which will help estimate economic deadweight losses.”

“Tariff threats create uncertainty around potential rate cuts and jeopardize the stability of the Philippine peso,” Mr. Ravelas added.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said last week that there is a “good chance” that the Monetary Board would cut rates by 25 basis points (bp) at their April 10 policy review.

Mr. Remolona said the central bank remains on an easing cycle and could reduce borrowing costs by as much as 75 bps this year.

The central bank has brought down benchmark interest rates by a total of 75 bps since it began its rate-cut cycle in August last year, with the policy rate currently at 5.75%. The Monetary Board unexpectedly kept rates unchanged its Feb. 13 review amid uncertainties due to the Trump administration’s policies.

Mr. Rivera said the BSP may take a “more cautious” approach to rate cuts if the peso weakens further or if inflation risks emerge amid growing global trade war concerns caused by the US’ policies.

“However, if the impact on trade is manageable, the BSP could still proceed with gradual rate cuts in the second half of 2025 to support growth,” he said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort added that markets will monitor the potential impact of the reciprocal tariffs on the US economy, especially inflation, as this could affect the Federal Reserve’s policy easing path.

“The risk of a US recession would lead to future Fed rate cuts that could matched locally,” Mr. Ricafort said.

“If the Fed remains hawkish while the BSP is pressured to cut rates, the peso may weaken further due to the narrowing interest rate differential,” PIDS’ Mr. Rivera added.

The trader said the March inflation report to be released on April 4 (Friday) will likely determine if the BSP will resume its easing cycle next week.

A BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts yielded a median estimate of 2% for the March consumer price index (CPI), which would be a tad slower than the 2.1% in February.

Analysts earlier said benign March CPI print would pave the way for an April rate cut.

A second trader, who expects the peso to move between P57 and P58 per dollar in the near term, said the market still expects the BSP to bring down benchmark rates by 50 bps this year, although a sharp slowdown in economic growth would give it room to implement an additional 25-bp cut. — Aaron Michael C. Sy with Reuters

PSE increases stake in PDS after closing deals with SSS, Insular Investment

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) has raised its stake in the Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS) to 79.94% following the completion of deals with the Social Security System (SSS) and Insular Investment Corp.

The PSE said its acquisition of SSS’ 1.54% stake in PDS, equivalent to 96,388 shares, has met all closing conditions, while Insular Investment also finalized the sale of its 0.0645% share, or 4,030 shares.

“The transaction is subject to customary post-closing conditions,” the PSE said.

PDS operates the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., Philippine Depository and Trust Corp., and Philippine Securities Settlement Corp.

In December 2024, the PSE announced plans to acquire a 61.92% stake in PDS for P2.32 billion. The market operator is purchasing 3.87 million PDS shares at P600 each.

The PSE posted a 57.5% increase in its net income to P1.21 billion in 2024, up from P766.31 million in 2023, following its acquisition of PDS.

On Thursday, PSE shares rose by 0.11% or 20 centavos to P182.20 per share. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Lies like us

Movie Review
Black Bag
Directed by Steven Soderbergh

STEVEN SODERBERGH’S Black Bag — his second feature released in the first three months of 2025 — is arguably his best in years: a stylish, sexy thriller that of all things celebrates the bond of marriage, a relationship espionage writer John Le Carre might have once characterized as a significant weakness in an intelligence officer.

Soderbergh taking on a script by David Koepp (who has collaborated with the director on at least two other films (Kimi in 2022 and Presence earlier this year) has cooked up his version of that most classic of spy games: a mole hunt, the search for a possible traitor who has stolen Severus, a powerful computer software capable of crashing nuclear reactors (loosely based on Stuxnet, an actual piece of malware unleashed by the United States on the Iranian nuclear weapons program). National Cyber Security Center officer George (Michael Fassbender) is charged with unmasking said renegade and invites dissipated managing agent Freddie (Tom Burke), his satellite imagery specialist girlfriend Clarissa (Marisa Abela), agency therapist Dr. Zoe (Naomie Harris) and her boyfriend and managing agent James (Rege-Jean Page), to a small dinner prepared and served by himself, hosted by his lovely wife and colleague Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) — who, George is told, is also a suspect.

Call this Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? meets Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with a dash of Thunderball glamor; hosts and guests are all beautiful and witty, their conversation lightly delivered yet cunningly barbed, their motivations frankly feral. George has spiked the main dish with a tongue-loosening drug (“avoid the chana masala,” he warns Kathryn) and as a result talk, and at one point blood — in the form of a steak knife pinning someone’s hand to the dining room table’s dark wooden grain — flows freely. A fun night, in short, is had by all.

But as Agatha Christie and even Le Carre — no slouch at fashioning intricate mysteries himself — might assert, it isn’t the whodunit or howdunit that’s so interesting as it is the why. Soderbergh and Koepp dream up perversely fascinating characters afflicted with imaginatively dysfunctional relationships, from Clarissa with her father fixation on the older incurably unfaithful Freddie (“When you can lie about everything, when you can deny everything, how do you tell the truth about anything?” “This is why you can’t date a SIGINT, they’re all fucking insane.”) to elegantly professional Dr. Zoe (“I’ve got nothing to hide!” “Then we’ll start with you.”) to supremely confident Kathryn (“He told me that I want too much and that I cannot have it all. I’m gonna have his job — you watch.”) to the quiet, and arguably most perverse of them all, George (“Little Georgie surveilled his own father.” “I don’t like liars”). Meaty characters for talented actors to sink their thespian teeth into and if they drool a little from the savory succulence, who can blame them?

Perhaps the most fascinating dynamic occurs between George and Kathryn. “How can you tell the truth about anything?” Clarissa laments; George and Kathryn keep as mum as possible about details of each other’s duties and somehow make it work — even more unlikely make it work sexy. Kathryn’s clearly the dom in the relationship; when they’re with others Kathryn (Blanchett channeling her Elizabeth persona) rules like a queen; when they’re alone she clambers on top, hungry to devour him. George knows his place; Fassbender, who’s not lacking in natural charisma, seems to contract himself into some kind of black hole, eventually yanking the hole in after him. He’s single-minded in his pursuit of the possible traitor, a focus rivaled only by his love for his wife, and the contradiction (that the traitor could be his wife) is tearing him apart. Kathryn for all her confidence knows what she has in George, and trusts that single-mindedness (“Have you seen him when his jaws lock on something? You’ll rip yourself apart before he’ll let go. Eat up! This ends with someone in the boot of a car.”), will go to surprising lengths to protect the aforementioned mind. It’s a surprisingly graceful pas de deux, with Blanchett playing Fred Astaire to Fassbender’s demure Ginger Rogers — Blanchett leads and Fassbender mirrors her steps, only backwards.

Is it a great spy thriller? Well now, hold on a second. It’s smart and sexy; it has Soderbergh wielding his own camera in a series of cleverly staged and framed shots, assembled with fluid precision and a lively pace, lighting each scene just enough that we can distinguish the faces in the surrounding ethical murk (except for the rare sunlit scenes on a boat in a fishpond, and a bravura passage involving furtively hacked spy satellites and a brief assignation on a Zurich park bench). It boasts of a royal flush of some of the most beautiful men and women one can wish for in recent cinema. It’s stylish, but in an intelligent and understated — as opposed to vulgarly extravagant — way.

And while Fassbender and Blanchett go a long way to selling us the idea that, yes, these beyond-gorgeous people do possess the same emotions we do — anger and ambition and jealousy and love — they aren’t as palpably real as the sadly cuckolded long-retired George Smiley (so memorably played by Alec Guinness and, later at a different register, by Gary Oldman), or the memorably exhausted Alec Leamas (Richard Burton in one of his most magnificent performances). They fascinate us much as Ian Fleming entranced us with tall tales of a secret agent drinking and killing and womanizing his way around Europe and the Caribbean, but they don’t hold up a mirror to our faces, forcing us to see ourselves. Fun, but somewhat disposable fun, with just maybe a tiny secret kernel of honesty smuggled in under all that entertainment.

(Black Bag is now out in Philippine cinemas. The MTRCB has given it a rating of R-13.)

Fed’s Kugler says rising tariffs could touch off more prolonged inflation

REUTERS

WASHINGTON — Rising tariffs in the US could feed into more prolonged inflation than might be expected, Fed Governor Adriana Kugler said on Wednesday, pushing back on views that prices would only rise on imported goods.

“There may be reasons why tariffs have more prolonged effects” than simply causing a one-time jump in the price of imported goods, Ms. Kugler said.

New tariffs already imposed by President Donald J. Trump, for example, target intermediate goods like aluminum and steel.

“This will affect all sectors through supply chain networks…It may take longer for that to filter through the economy,” Kugler said at an event at Princeton University.

The risk of retaliation by other countries and the possible shift in US inflation expectations could add to the impact, she said, as could the risk that tariffs distort prices so much it shifts capital towards the production of goods “in which maybe we don’t have a comparative advantage.”

“That will mean we’re paying higher prices for things that could have been produced more cheaply somewhere else,” Ms. Kugler said.

Ms. Kugler spoke as Mr. Trump was rolling out a sweeping set of new levies across much of the world, with new taxes as high as 46% on some countries, historic allies like the European Union hit with 20% levies, and 25% tariffs now slated to go into effect on Mexico and Canada.

Mr. Trump’s actions have raised concern among some Fed officials that coming months could see growth slow even as prices rise, a difficult dilemma for a central bank charged with keeping prices stable and employment high.

“We are already seeing some upside risks to inflation… We may be seeing down the road a little bit of a slowdown as well,” Ms. Kugler said.

Right now she said she felt higher-than-anticipated inflation was the bigger risk, particularly given that consumers seemed to be frontrunning tariffs with auto purchases, for example, that may add to growth in the near term.

She said in remarks prepared for the event that she supported keeping the Fed’s current interest rate steady “for as long as these upside risks to inflation continue,” given ongoing economic growth and stable employment.

The Fed held interest rates steady at its March 18-19 meeting, and central bank officials have said they want more clarity on the impact of Mr. Trump’s policies. Fed policy makers’ projections for the year, however, showed they expect higher inflation and slower growth than they did in December before the sweep of Trump’s tariff plans became clearer. — Reuters

Air Canada starts Manila-Vancouver service, eyes Clark and Cebu

AIRCANADA.COM

CANADA’S FLAG CARRIER, Air Canada, is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia with the launch of direct and nonstop flights between Vancouver and Manila.

On Thursday, Air Canada launched its inaugural Vancouver-Manila flight, making it the only Canadian carrier flying to the Philippines.

Air Canada will operate the Vancouver-Manila flight three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the Manila-Vancouver flight will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The Philippines will be Air Canada’s third destination in Southeast Asia, following Singapore and Thailand.

“Hopefully, if we see demand growing, we’ll review our schedule and see what we can do to increase frequency,” Air Canada Managing Director for International Sales Rocky Lo said during a briefing on Thursday.

Starting May 1, Air Canada will increase its flight frequency to four times a week. The Canadian flag carrier will operate the Vancouver-Manila flight every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, while the Manila-Vancouver flight will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

On a one-stop basis, the Vancouver-Canada flight usually takes up to 21 hours, Mr. Lo said.

“It depends on how long the connection is and which interline partner is used from here to one of the Asia hubs. Now, with the nonstop flight, we’ve reduced the flying time to 13.5 hours,” he said.

Aside from increasing its flight frequencies, Air Canada is also planning to launch flights to Canada from other hubs in the Philippines, such as Clark and Cebu.

“Air Canada is new to the Philippines. So, first, we want to ensure that we have a very successful route launch between Manila and Vancouver. Then we’ll continue to evaluate demand, the opportunity, and make other strategic decisions,” Mr. Lo said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Stuff to Do (04/04/25)

Visit Araneta City’s Autism Day exhibit

IN PARTNERSHIP with the Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities, Inc., Araneta City has been holding events that celebrate the talents and contributions of individuals with autism. At Gateway Mall 2, visitors can journey through the history of autism with an informative exhibit at Spectrum Fest: Celebrating Autism Through History and Fun. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until April 4. There are also interactive displays, inflatables, and kiddie activities designed to foster understanding and joy.

Watch thriller Alice, Darling

THE directorial debut of Mary Nighy, titled Alice, Darling, portrays domestic violence and the subtle manipulations and coercive behaviors that take away an individual’s independence. Starring Anna Kendrick, the psychological thriller follows her as the titular Alice, who is suffocated by her controlling boyfriend, Simon (played by Charlie Carrick). Alice, Darling is out on Lionsgate Play starting April 4.

Go to All Of The Noise music fair

TAIWAN-BASED indie pop trio The Chairs is headlining this year’s edition of All Of The Noise (AOTN), a two-day music and culture event taking place at Astbury Makati on April 4 and 5. It will be the band’s second time bringing their brand of 1960s and ’70s-inspired psych pop to the Philippines. They will be among other international acts like Thai alt-pop band KIKI, Singaporean hip-hop artist San The Wordsmith, and Indonesian experimental electronic act Logic Lost, as well as many local musicians who are taking part. Tickets are available via https://bit.ly/aotn2025 for P800 for one day, and  P1,400 for both days.

Visit The Peninsula Manila’s wedding fair

THE Weddings at The Peninsula and More event is back, courtesy of Christine Ong-Te Events and Michael Leyva, from April 5 to 6. Visitors will be able to arrange exclusive deals from partners and participating exhibitors, with the goal to help make dream weddings a reality. For more details, visit The Peninsula Manila’s social media pages.

Run to raise funds for children with cancer

THE running event “Run to Share 2025” will be held on April 6 at Ayala Triangle, Makati City. Organized by the I Want To Share Foundation, its proceeds will be used to support pediatric cancer patients. Participants can choose between the 3K run (P1,000) or the 5K run (P1,200). The charity will channel the funds into the UP-Philippine General Hospital’s Pedia Hema-Onco Division. Those interested can sign up via the link: raceroster.com/events/2025/102316/run-to-share-2025. Children under the age of five and pets can run as well for free.

Listen to YARA’s R&B-hip-hop single

FILIPINO girl group YARA has released a new single that mixes Y2K nostalgia with modern hip-hop and R&B flavor. Titled “Sabi Ko Na,” the track is composed by JRoa and produced by Yung Bawal. Characterized by lush melodies, hook-laden beats, and Darkchild-style atmospherics, the song marks a new direction for the group. “Sabi Ko Na” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Listen to Carish’s 3rd single of the year

RISING rap star Carish has dropped his third single this year, “Tanong PT 2,” which is a collection of questions left unanswered, clinging to the hope of rekindling a broken relationship. Released under Universal Records, it continues his journey of carving a space in the Filipino Kalye hip-hop music scene. “Tanong PT 2” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Watch Korean medical thriller Hyper Knife

SHOWING ON Disney+, the Korean medical thriller Hyper Knife has become the most-viewed Korean premiere globally this year. It follows Seok (played by Park Eunbin), a visionary neurosurgeon with unparalleled skill with a scalpel, and Choi Deokhe (Sul Kyunggu) as her equally skilled former mentor. The final two episodes will be out on April 9. The entire series can be streamed on Disney+.

Listen to Kai Buizon’s romantic new track

RISING Filipino singer-songwriter Kai Buizon has released a new single titled “Milagro,” out now via Sony Music Entertainment. Co-written by Buizon and her mother, Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon, the bossa nova-inspired track explores an unforeseen love. Raki Natividad performs the guitar solo for the track. “Milagro” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Listen to NOVOCRANE’s new single

THE indie rock project of Kylene Sevillano, NOVOCRANE, is back with “Safe and Sound,” an introspective anthem that wrestles with the paradox of emotional isolation, where solitude can feel like both a sanctuary and a prison. Built on fuzzy guitars, washed-out melodies, and an unfiltered edge, NOVOCRANE blends nostalgia and noise rooted in the grit of 1990s indie rock, shoegaze, and dream pop. “Safe and Sound” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

BSP, other Project Nexus partners set up entity to manage multilateral cross-border payments scheme

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the four other central banks in the region that are the “first movers” in an instant cross-border payments initiative have set up an entity to run the scheme, bringing it closer to live implementation.

The BSP, Reserve Bank of India, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and Bank of Thailand, the first-mover central bank partners in Project Nexus, have incorporated Nexus Global Payments (NGP) in Singapore to operationalize and manage the multilateral instant cross-border payments scheme.

The company, which is a nonprofit organization, will run the scheme to enable safe and instant cross-border payments at scale, it said in a statement.

“Its incorporation by the five central bank partners in Project Nexus … marks the transition of the Nexus initiative from a Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) project to real-world implementation,” it said.

In March 2023, the five central banks said they will connect their domestic instant payment systems (IPS) through Project Nexus, which began as an experimental project by the BIS Innovation Hub in 2021.

The project was designed to standardize domestic IPS connection. “Rather than an IPS operator building custom connections for every new country to which it connects, the IPS operator needs to make only one connection to Nexus, which will allow the IPS to reach all other jurisdictions in the network.”

The comprehensive blueprint for connecting domestic IPS globally was completed in July last year.

The five central bank partners will contribute the initial capital required to build and establish the Nexus platform for its live operation, NGP said.

“They aim to expand membership and participation to other interested jurisdictions over time as part of the shared vision of making Nexus a scalable multilateral model for connecting IPS globally,” it said.

NGP has started an open procurement process for the selection of a Nexus Technical Operator, an external service provider that will be responsible for the technical build and the day-to-day operations of the Nexus scheme.

“The European Central Bank and Bank Indonesia, which took part in previous phases of Nexus, will continue to serve as special observers throughout this operationalization phase. The BIS is not an owner of NGP. As part of the handover, it will facilitate knowledge transfer and provide support until the first live Nexus transaction,” it added. — AMCS

Artificial intelligence and public policy

VECTORJUICE/FREEPIK

Henry Kissinger, once described as elder statesmen’s elder statesman, had been consistently prescient until he expired at the age of 100 in November 2023. He was virtually prophetic about the geopolitical shifts following the proliferation of nuclear weapons that accompanied the Cold War between the United States and the then Soviet Union and their respective allies. Following his thesis in favor of limited nuclear war, both the US and the Soviet Union literally pursued his point and raced against each other in developing their nuclear weaponry.

What is most amazing is that Kissinger’s biographer, Niall Ferguson, wrote in his foreword to the last book of the former US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope and the Human Spirit (2024), with technology visionaries Microsoft’s Craig Mundie and Google’s Eric Schmidt, that as early as 1968, Kissinger was already thinking about computerization. To him, this could assist US authorities process a huge volume of information for formulating optimal public policy. Ferguson quoted his obscure January 1968 paper, submitted to no less than Nelson Rockefeller, then Governor of New York, to avoid data overload. Kissinger was gunning for a set of action-options available to the authorities. To achieve this, Ferguson documented that Kissinger proposed to make major investments in programming, storage, retrieval, and graphics.

True to form, Kissinger attempted to acquire such technology in his first year in the White House as then US President Richard Nixon’s National Security Adviser. But the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), for understandable reasons, declined his request. Ferguson was not speculating when he wrote that “Kissinger without a computer was as much as the intelligence community could handle.”

After that 1968 paper, Ferguson referred to Kissinger’s June 2018 essay, “How the Enlightenment Ends,” published in The Atlantic for his view on technology and artificial intelligence (AI). In that essay, he argued that the phenomenal revolution in technology now in progress was actually, in some account, “transforming human knowledge into an act of mechanical accumulation, a gigantic database.”

In brief, Genesis envisions several scenarios, including the loss of control of an existential race between multiple actors trapped in what it calls security dilemma; the potential dominance by the winner of such race without checks and balances; multiple centers of superior intelligence in the global community; winning outfits could develop a generalized political, social, economic, and military control; greatest relevance of AI in religious structures; and untrammeled, open-source access to new technology could likely result in smaller groups with substandard but still significant AI capacity.

While Mundie and Schmidt must have been behind the book’s excellent grasp of AI, its new forms and their consequences, it must be Kissinger’s insights that connected the dots between AI and human responses to it affecting human relationships, exploration of knowledge, conduct of diplomacy, and the international system.

AI is raising a question of human survival.

“AI’s future faculties, operating at inhuman speeds, will render traditional regulations useless.” Some forms of controls will be unquestionably needed. The world is challenged by having to find technical metrics for establishing safeguards in every AI system. Nations and international organizations by consensus must design new political modes for monitoring, enforcement, and crisis response.

What is most relevant to us is Genesis’ proposition about economic prosperity. Abstracting from various epic stories of “machines of bounties throughout the world” contained in the Mahabharata, the Irish myth of the god Dagda, and one piece of  Japanese lore, AI developers also contemplate machines or programs that would lead to “fully stocked granary, this magic mill, this cornucopia overflowing with flowers, fruit and corn.”

The book clarified, as the mythologies warned, that creation — or in today’s economese, production — will not be enough. Optimizing AI by development and deployment requires suitable institutional changes and wise policy design. This means AI should be used to liberate people from the bonds of servitude, a modality that would get rid of human exploitation and oppression, a future characterized by less poverty and inequality.

No doubt, if the economic pie enlarges, and the actual amount for redistribution actually goes up, the human standard of living is bound to rise. This sounds easier said than done.

But AI in this context actually makes it possible to displace labor and substitute it with machines. AI will also enable economic agents to research and develop increasingly cheaper and more abundant sources of raw materials. In manufacturing, AI could reduce the amount of capital needed to produce a certain scale of output. In services, AI could complement human labor with greater efficiency and creativity. It is also possible by this time that AI could be deployed to generate synthetic substitutes through appropriate computing architecture. AI itself could redesign factories that make its own constituent components!

With this breakthrough, AI could then usher in a new era of abundance, a time when all humanity’s basic needs are accessible to all, a time when hope, especially among the underprivileged, is at its highest. This could signal what the book termed as relaxing the grip of the paradigm of scarcity on our psychology. Equally important, an age of abundance could lift up that sense of pessimism “induced by our obligation to work as a means of survival.”

Kissinger and his co-authors also cited Sam Altman of OpenAI who concluded that while capitalism is a powerful engine of economic growth, the price of progress is inequality. Those who invested in knowledge-based assets are making a killing period after period.

Genesis therefore proposes, as Altman proposed, to tax the “two assets that will make up most of the value in the world.” These are: 1. companies which develop, maintain, and use AI; and, 2., land which remains fixed. If indeed there is substitution of labor by machine, and labor is not entirely responsible for the value created, there is a case that such value can be shared. Governments can serve as redistributive agents with AI companies as the target of taxation.

True, this fiscal measure could trigger potential social tension but this is how to mitigate the cost of capitalism and prosperity.

Genesis also envisions other possibilities for establishing equity in the age of AI. A stock market-like mechanism can be developed to enforce the automatic global assignation of divisible units of wealth associated with the increasing profits of AI models. The authors also suggest that ownership of the means of production can be glossed over in favor of the actual distribution of AI’s ultimate benefits. The issue here is logistics. It would demand huge investment in a monitoring system to achieve equitable redistribution based on some robust standard. The other option is to allow exclusive ownership of AI invention and its returns to incentivize constant innovation but only for a limited period. Beyond that, it would be put out for common use and gain.

No one can dispute the caveats, also borrowed from Altman, and one of these is that “future decision-makers must take care not to entrench once again the sorts of social and economic inequalities that spread outward from the Industrial Revolution before beginning to be corrected, much too slowly, through more human-directed structures of control.”

Beyond the world of abundance, there would remain issues of reconciling people on the basis of faith, race, family lineage, education, or any other category. Human stupidity cannot be underestimated with respect to predicting the long-term effects of technology. Kissinger, Mundie, and Schmidt were humble enough to acknowledge that their “optimism may be unjustified and our apprehensions misplaced.”

IN THE PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, one can argue that there is some degree of recognition of the innovative uses of AI and the urgency of managing the associated risks. The Department of Trade and Industry actually launched, in May 2021, the country’s AI roadmap consisting of digitization infrastructure, research and development, workforce development, and regulation. The country, in the same year, joined other countries in adopting the UNESCO recommendation on AI ethics that upholds the centrality of human rights in regulatory frameworks and legislation on the development and use of AI.

Two years later, in 2023, the Philippines also became a party to the Bletchly Declaration which recognizes the importance of protecting human rights and the principles of transparency, fairness, and safety, among others, in recognition of AI’s “capability to manipulate content or generate deceptive content.”

Various laws have also been passed by Congress including the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act, Second Congressional Commission on Education Act II on digital transformation, the Tatak Pinoy Act on strategic investment priorities plan to address any technology skills mismatch. In fact, the Philippines seems to be doing the right things on digital transformation because we rose in the latest Government AI Readiness Index of 2024, published by Oxford Insights, based on some 40 indicators involving 188 countries. From 65th, the Philippines climbed to 56th. Of the three core pillars of government, technology, data and infrastructure, the Philippines scored high in government but scored low in technology.

It’s quite clear that the Philippines has just begun its AI journey. Genesis should be able to provide the useful markers in charting the country’s AI roadmap. It’s good to be more forward-looking in terms of the regulatory framework, but it’s more elementary to first invest in and nurture a culture of discovery and excellence in digital transformation to pole vault this nation to the challenging world of generative AI. It’s not enough that we are aided by chatbots in doing some research and preparing some speeches or essays on public policy.

What we need is a large ecosystem of AI-enabled systems and applications to advance material sciences and maximize digital connections to permit us to abandon that world of scarcity in favor of abundance. That would signal the day when working becomes a matter of choice. With good “systems for distribution, connection, participation and education, humans — empowered and inspired by AI — may continue working not for pay but for pleasure and pride.”

That would be the day…

 

Diwa C. Guinigundo is the former deputy governor for the Monetary and Economics Sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He served the BSP for 41 years. In 2001-2003, he was alternate executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. He is the senior pastor of the Fullness of Christ International Ministries in Mandaluyong.

PAL increases Cebu flights by 10%

REUTERS

FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) is expanding its Cebu hub by increasing flight frequencies and seat capacity in anticipation of a surge in travel demand.

Starting this month, Philippine Airlines will operate 287 weekly round-trip domestic flights between Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and 18 destinations across the country, the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

This will increase PAL’s flight frequency by 10%.

“These additional flights and greater seat capacity reflect our flag carrier’s commitment to increasing connectivity, boosting the economy, and helping drive tourism across our interisland network from Cebu,” PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent L. Ang said.

The flag carrier is also set to increase its seat capacity by deploying larger aircraft on several routes.

These additional flights and aircraft upgrades are expected to raise its weekly seat capacity to and from Cebu by 39,000 seats, representing a 17% increase.

PAL’s flights from Cebu to Boracay will increase to 21 from the current 14 per week, while its Cebu-Siargao flights will rise to 26 from 18 weekly.

Other Cebu hub services will also see a flight increase, with Cebu-Palawan receiving a boost to 14 weekly flights from seven, and flights between Cebu and Coron (Busuanga) increasing from 14 to 17 weekly.

Further, its Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu services will also increase to 14 per week, while its Cebu-Davao-Cebu services will rise to 29 flights weekly.

PAL is also expanding its international flight services from the Cebu hub.

Last year, the flag carrier launched Cebu-Osaka flights.

The flag carrier also operates flights to Tokyo (Narita) and Seoul (Incheon) from Cebu.

By May, PAL will offer direct flights from Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, operating three times a week.

“The expanded Cebu hub reflects PAL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen connectivity, bolster tourism, and stimulate local economies,” PAL said.

Currently, PAL operates nonstop flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 31 destinations in the Philippines and 37 destinations across Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

The Simpsons, Family Guy renewed for 4 seasons at Fox

LOS ANGELES — Animated television sitcoms The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers have been renewed for four more seasons on Fox, Fox Entertainment said on Wednesday.

American Dad will return to Fox, where it debuted in 2005, also scoring a four-season renewal. It has been showing on TBS since 2014.

The contract extends the status of The Simpsons as the longest-running scripted primetime series in television history with its 37th through 40th seasons.

“This new deal celebrates the eternal popularity of these iconic comedies, as well as the enduring, prolific relationship we continue to enjoy with our friends at 20th Television Animation,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network, referring to its production company behind the shows.

Disney+ and Hulu will remain the exclusive global streaming platforms for all four of the animated series. — Reuters

Labor reforms pushed to sustain poverty fight

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

LABOR REFORMS are needed to sustain the momentum of receding poverty and to ensure the economy’s benefits reach rural areas, analysts said.

Such measures need to address job insecurity, wage stagnation, and rural underdevelopment, which continue to be reflected in the poverty statistics, they said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently reported that poverty incidence declined 2.6% in 2023 from 2021, with Indigenous Peoples remaining the most vulnerable group after 32.4% were classified as poor.

Poverty incidence among fisherfolk was 27.4%, farmers 27%, children 23.4%, and self-employed and unpaid family workers 16.1%.

Senior citizens, formal labor, and migrant workers, and individuals residing in urban areas were found to have the lowest poverty incidence at 7.8%, 8.3%, and 10.3%, respectively, the PSA added.

Analysts cautioned that these indicators may not reflect a genuine reduction in poverty, as they rely on government-defined thresholds that have been criticized for being too low.

Assistant Professor Benjamin B. Velasco of the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Labor and Industrial Relations noted the need for policies promoting decent, stable employment instead of short-term aid programs.

“The path to poverty reduction is inclusive growth, and for that, decent jobs must be created — jobs that pay enough, are secure in employment, and come with rights and social protections. But our policies do not enable this,” he told BusinessWorld via Messenger chat. “Wages are depressed, many jobs are contractual, and informal workers remain excluded from labor protections.”

The decline in poverty incidence may simply be explained by an inappropriate definition of who is poor, he added.

“The decline in poverty cannot be explained by wage adjustments since minimum wages fall below poverty thresholds in all regions (using the average work month of 22 days),” he said.

He noted that there were no changes in the rules on contractualization — the practice of denying workers a pathway to permanent employment status, which is known as “endo” — or outsourcing and subcontracting.

“If at all, there have been more gig workers who are denied regular employment, and thus their status is self-employed,” he added.

Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula called for urgent policy changes to address regional disparities, particularly in Mindanao and other rural areas that continue to experience high poverty rates despite economic growth in urban centers.

“Economic growth remains concentrated in the National Capital Region and other urban areas, while rural regions — especially in Mindanao — suffer from underdevelopment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of economic opportunities. Without targeted investments in these areas, poverty will remain entrenched,” he told BusinessWorld via Viber.

His proposals to create a more inclusive economy include a national wage hike to ensure fair compensation for workers across all regions; a P100 billion-rural stimulus fund to generate employment and support agricultural modernization; and stronger protections for informal and contractual workers to transition them into stable, formal employment.

Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul, executive director of the University of Asia and the Pacific Center for Food and Agri Business, cited the urgent need for comprehensive policies to address rural poverty, particularly among farmers and fisherfolk.

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