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T-bill, bond rates may end mixed

BW FILE PHOTO

RATES of the Treasury bills (T-bills) and Treasury bonds (T-bonds) on offer this week could track the mixed yield movements at the secondary market amid expectations of a retail Treasury bond (RTB) offering next month.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will auction off P25 billion in T-bills on Monday, or P7 billion in 91-day securities, P8.5 billion in 182-day debt, and P9.5 billion in 364-day papers.

On Tuesday, the government will offer P20 billion in reissued seven-year T-bonds with a remaining life of two years and nine months.

T-bill rates could mostly ease this week and track the week-on-week movements seen at the secondary market, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The reissued seven-year bonds could likewise fetch rates at par with secondary market levels amid reports of a possible RTB issuance in August that could increase the supply of debt papers, Mr. Ricafort added.

The T-bonds to be offered this week could be “well received” and fetch rates ranging from 5.775% to 5.825% as the market awaits further information on the RTB offering, a trader said in an e-mail.

At the secondary market on Friday, the 91-day T-bill rose by 2.01 basis points (bps) week on week to end at 5.4506%, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates data as of July 18 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website. Meanwhile, the 182- and 364-day papers went down by 7.08 bps and 2.56 bps to fetch 5.571% and 5.6578%, respectively.

For its part, the seven-year bond saw its yield rise by 2.93 bps week on week to 6.1243%, while the three-year paper, the tenor closest to the remaining life of the T-bonds on offer this week, went up by 2.69 bps to end at 5.8494%.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto earlier said that the government could borrow more from the domestic market this year to fund the higher budget deficit cap under its latest fiscal program.

The BTr last offered retail Treasury bonds in February 2024, raising P584.86 billion from its offering of five-year notes at a coupon rate of 6.25%.

Last week, the Treasury raised P28.4 billion from its offering of T-bills, higher than the P25-billion plan, as the offer was more than four times oversubscribed, with total bids reaching P102.906 billion.

Broken down, the BTr borrowed P7 billion as planned via the 91-day T-bills as total tenders for the tenor reached P38.156 billion. The three-month paper was quoted at an average rate of 5.475%, down by 5.1 bps from the previous auction, with bids accepted having rates of 5.473% to 5.483%.

Meanwhile, the government raised P11.9 billion from the 182-day securities, higher than the P8.5-billion plan, as bids amounted to P38.85 billion. The average rate of the six-month T-bill was at 5.575%, down by 4.3 bps, with accepted yields ranging from 5.563% to 5.593%.

Lastly, the Treasury sold P9.5 billion as programmed via the 364-day debt papers as demand for the tenor totaled P25.9 billion. The average rate of the one-year paper inched down by 0.6 bp to 5.65%. Accepted bids had rates ranging from 5.63% to 5.66%.

Meanwhile, the reissued seven-year T-bonds to be auctioned off on Tuesday were last offered on June 25, where the government raised P20 billion as planned at an average rate of 5.76%, well above the 3.635% coupon.

The BTr wants to raise P250 billion from the domestic market this month, or P125 billion through T-bills and P125 billion via T-bonds.

The government borrows from local and foreign sources to help fund its budget deficit, which is capped at P1.56 trillion or 5.5% of gross domestic product this year. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Source code

The all-new MG ZS Hybrid+ at Parklinks — PHOTO BY KAP MACEDA AGUILA

SAIC Motor PHL hopes lightning strikes twice in the MG ZS

IT MAY BE a little hard to remember now, but try to recall before the days of the Chinese brand boom here. Though spoiled for choice, we had 25 or so less brands then than we do today.

The Chinese marque “glow-up” was still in its infancy, and its automotive aspirations were arguably best represented by Morris Garages (or more famously, MG). To be honest, The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), then the local steward of the brand, was consciously pushing MG’s British origins — leveraging on its history that stretched back to the 1920s. China’s biggest auto conglomerate, SAIC Motor, based in Shanghai, has owned the brand since 2007 — the year it acquired Nanjing Automobile Corp., the firm that had originally bought MG from the MG Rover Group.

Whatever the Philippine distributor did when it took the reins the brand beginning in 2018 obviously worked — particularly in the case of the crossover ZS, which became a posterchild for China-made vehicles. The once-derogatory “made in China” tag started to become a positive for many buyers — evidenced in the improved interest in vehicles coming from our neighbor to the north.

A package of good and focused styling, right pricing, and upmarket features saw the ZS not only do well but actually prop up the numbers for MG here. In 2021 alone, the MG Philippine dealership network sold 5,209 units — 4,000 of which were ZS units. Today, the cumulative total stands at more than 22,000.

“It disrupted the small SUV segment. Technology, space, fuel efficiency, utility, design, reliability, and British engineering were put into one single model. Partnered with almost unbelievable pricing, it was truly a game-changer and really paved the way for others to follow suit,” said SAIC Motor Philippines (SMP) President Felix Jiang in a speech during the model’s launch. In 2023, SMP assumed control of the MG brand.

Earlier in the year, Mr. Jiang revealed steady MG sales growth even through the TCCCI years. From 65 units sold in 2018 (the brand was relaunched in October that year), MG in the Philippines posted sales of 4,745 (2019), 3,518 (2020), 5,209 (2021), 8,768 (2022), 5,679 (2023), and 9,016 (2024).

Mr. Jiang isn’t shy about his aspirations for MG here, currently hovering in ninth position by sales among Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) member brands. He had declared that the company intends to crack the top five in three years, and get to third place by the end of the decade.

You can bet that one of the models SMP is banking on is, yes, the aforementioned MG ZS. The second-generation, all-new iteration of the model was recently launched in a big way in Makati City, and it’s pretty clear that MG is banking on similar value propositions that propelled ZS in the past.

It’s a vastly changed scene, of course. It’s an industry the ZS has, to a degree, caused to evolve, and now has to wage battle in.

SMP said that the all-new ZS “brings a stronger, sleeker, and more refined presence, infused with the latest in global design and engineering. With world-class details, intelligent hybrid technology, and future-ready features, this next-generation ZS is now more advanced than ever before.”

In terms of dimensions, the ZS longer at 4,430mm (+107mm), wider at 1,818mm (+9mm), and lower at 1,635mm (-18mm). It boasts a 2,610-mm wheelbase (+30mm), translating to a bigger cabin space — expressed in “enhanced legroom and improved cargo flexibility.” SMP added that “visibility has also been improved, with reduced blind spots for a more confident drive. In the second row, cabin space has noticeably increased — with +18mm in headroom, +23mm in elbow room, and +3mm in legroom — ensuring a more comfortable ride for rear passengers.”

Coming in four variants, the range-topping MG ZS Hybrid+ is the center of attention as it banners electrification for the first time in the model.

Described as the “most advanced ZS yet,” the Hybrid+ deploys a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine complemented by a 100-kW electric motor with a 1.83-kWh battery. Power output is 197ps.

Thoroughly revised in looks and features, the ZS receives a more contemporary skillset as well — particularly through MG Pilot, the brand’s suite of ADAS features. There’s adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane keep assist, and more. There are also eight intelligent drive modes.

Inside is an all-digital affair via a seven-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Seat and lumbar adjustments can be made electronically, and the ZS gets automatic single-zone climate control. For an enhanced sense of space, there’s a panoramic sunroof as well.

Here is the pricing of the MG ZS, with introductory pricing in parentheses, applicable until Aug. 31 this year: Hybrid+: P1,328,888 (P1,248,888), Sport: P1,198,888 (P1,148,888), Luxury: P1,088,888 (P1,048,888), and Comfort: P948,888 (P908,888).

Can the ZS once again figure heavily in the future of MG in the Philippines and allow the brand to realize its lofty goals? SMP certainly hopes so.

DigiPlus pushes for regulation over blanket online gambling ban

DIGIPLUS.COM.PH

TANCO-LED digital entertainment provider DigiPlus Interactive Corp. said lawmakers should consider the potential effects of a total ban on online gambling, noting that regulation could help prevent a shift of users to unregulated platforms.

“Crucially, DigiPlus urges policymakers to weigh the consequences of a total ban. The experience of other countries has shown that banning licensed platforms does not eliminate demand for online gaming, but merely shifts users to unregulated black markets where there are no protections, no taxes, and no accountability,” DigiPlus said in a statement last week.

“In contrast, a well-regulated environment can protect players, generate billions in government revenue, and sustain over 40,000 jobs across tech, marketing, entertainment, customer service, and compliance,” it added.

DigiPlus operates online gaming platforms BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone.

The company said it is supportive of “smart and balanced” regulation that protects players, ensures industry accountability, and sustains the economic value generated by the legal online gaming sector.

“We believe regulation is the path to player protection. It’s the only way to safeguard players, preserve jobs, and close the door on illegal, underground platforms that operate without any oversight,” DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco said.

“With the right rules in place, the Philippines can be a model for safe, transparent online gaming in Asia. We are ready to work hand-in-hand with regulators, legislators, and community groups to make that vision real,” he added.

DigiPlus said it has already implemented safeguards across its platforms, including strict know-your-customer verification with government ID checks and age gating. The platforms have also had responsible gaming features since November 2024, such as deposit limits, self-exclusion options, and cooling-off periods.

The company plans to introduce new initiatives such as enhanced affordability checks, behavioral nudges to curb excessive gaming, and referral pathways to licensed mental health experts.

It plans to roll out in-app community spaces this month to foster responsible gaming discussions and peer support, alongside featuring related content across all its platforms.

“DigiPlus emphasizes that these measures are not reactions to regulatory pressure, but part of a multi-year strategy to build a responsible gaming ecosystem. The company invests in data science, player support systems, and compliance technologies precisely because it believes the future of gaming depends on trust and transparency,” the company said.

“That is why it fully supports updated legislation, particularly around stronger penalties for illegal operators, and clearer advertising standards,” it added.

DigiPlus shares were last traded on July 18, up by 15.66% or P3.06 to P22.60 per share. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

BSP securities fetch lower yields on oversubscription

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas main office in Manila. — BW FILE PHOTO

YIELDS on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) short-term securities dropped on Friday as the offer was met with strong demand.

The central bank’s short-term securities fetched bids amounting to P153.359 billion last week, higher than the P100-billion offer and the P119.385 billion in tenders for the P110 billion auctioned off the prior week. The BSP made a full award of the bills.

Broken down, tenders for the 28-day BSP bills reached P66.805 billion, well above the P40-billion offer and the P42.285 billion in bids for the P50 billion placed on the auction block a week earlier. The central bank made a full P40-billion award of the one-month bills.

Banks asked for yields ranging from 5.414% to 5.4585%, narrowing from the 5.299% to 5.525% band seen in the previous week. This caused the average rate of the one-month securities to decline by 2.46 basis points (bps) to 5.4408% from 5.4654% the week prior.

Meanwhile, bids for the 56-day bills amounted to P86.554 billion, higher than the P60-billion offering and the P77.1 billion in tenders for the same volume auctioned off the previous week. The BSP fully awarded P60 billion in two-month papers.

Accepted rates for the two-month tenor were from 5.3975% to 5.485%, also narrower than the 5.32% to 5.515% margin seen in the prior auction. With this, the average rate of the securities fell by 4.25 bp to 5.454% from 5.4965%.

The central bank reduced Friday’s total offering of BSP bills (BSPB) compared to the previous week, it said in a statement.

“As a result, the 28-day and 56-day BSPB auctions were oversubscribed by 1.67 times and 1.44 times, respectively,” it said.

The central bank uses the BSP securities and its term deposit facility to mop up excess liquidity in the financial system and to better guide short-term market rates towards its policy rate.

The BSP bills were calibrated to not overlap with the Treasury bill and term deposit tenors also being offered weekly.

Data from the central bank showed that around 50% of its market operations are done through its short-term securities.

The BSP bills are considered high-quality liquid assets. They can also be traded on the secondary market. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Something old, something new

LOOKS from Jor-el Espina’s Heirloom Collection.

Jor-el Espina’s new Filipiniana collection is a fun collaboration with Patis Tesoro

JOR-EL ESPINA is paying tribute to Patis Tesoro, but also lucky enough to collaborate with a designer who is sometimes called the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion.

At a fashion show on July 15 at the Makati Shangri-La, it was hard to draw the line between where the senior designer ends and the junior begins in this collection called “Heirloom.”

There was a pink embroidered top with lace trimming on a little cap-sleeved baro (a traditional blouse), with an inner garment of fuchsia, and a floral skirt. Next came a striped blouse made of piña (pineapple fiber fabric), with a Mindanao-inspired malong (tube skirt), and a refreshing green-striped baro with lace trimming on the sleeves, paired with a gathered aquamarine skirt.

A long-sleeved baro had a splash of lilac chiffon on the train, while a fully embroidered kimono jacket with a pattern of green leaves and hot pink flowers was paired with gold-embroidered pants. Next came a polite coatdress with terno sleeves (butterfly sleeves), fully embroidered with masses of wildflowers.

There was a darling kimona (a traditional blouse) over pistachio-green pants with a piña overlay, and a boxy floral balintawak (a traditional short butterfly-sleeved dress).

There was something a bit more modern in a nice long shift dress with a ruffled hem in a chintzy print, and then came a pleated flower-painted dress in the style of a 1920s robe de style, drop-waisted and paired with a full sheer coat in red, appliquéd all over.

The finale dress was an ensemble with a terno (formal butterfly-sleeved dress) with calado (openwork embroidery) details, and a full skirt, with several scraps of different colors forming the tapis (overskirt).

That is only a sneak peek, for the collaboration resulted in a 30-piece collection.

As to why they collaborated — it’s a celebration of Mr. Espina’s 20th year in fashion, as well as the result of a meeting over lunch with Ms. Tesoro in Laguna with the ArteFino ladies. But more importantly, “I love her,” he said in an interview. “It was while we were enjoying her space and company that we began to explore the idea of a special collection for ArteFino. It was really because of the ladies and their generous endorsement that this dream project was brought to life,” he said in a statement.

Speaking about which parts are hers and his, he said, “I use her techniques. I’ve been visiting her several times to do a collection. We’ve been trying to inject her techniques, a few of her silhouettes… her beading, her embroidery, her stitchwork.

“Her clothes are really kind of mysterious, and yet very fun. My collection is more formal. I just injected her techniques, her colors, to my silhouette at the same time,” he said.

According to him, 95% of the collection was made of piña (a textile she championed in the 1990s, following the decline in its production). He used a rare piña, in fact, that he had to commission in Aklan.

“Miss Patis is full of wisdom,” the young designer said of Ms. Tesoro, and what he learned from working with her. “Her blessing, guidance, feedback, and advice were integral to this collection. I was eager to learn, and Patis was generous with her knowledge. I wanted to make sure that every single garment reflected her essence.”

“I have to borrow her line: that a designer should make clothes that can be passed through generations.”

“Heirloom” will be seen and sold at the ArteFino bazaar, which will be held from July 31 to Aug. 3 at The Fifth at Rockwell, Makati. — Joseph L. Garcia

Nissan Alabang cops Nissan Global Award at Dealer of the Year Awards

Nissan Alabang is recognized with the 2025 Nissan Global Award. — PHOTO FROM NISSAN PHILIPPINES, INC.

AT THE RECENT 2025 Dealer of the Year Awards, Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) recognized the “exceptional performance” of its nationwide dealer network. Held at the Okada Manila, the honorees were led by Nissan Alabang, which received the 2025 Nissan Global Award, the highest recognition given to a dealership “that reflects Nissan’s global standards of operational excellence and customer service.”

In addition to the global recognition, Nissan Alabang was also awarded as the 2025 Dealer of the Year in NCR, while Nissan Dasmariñas earned the same distinction in the Provincial Category. “Both dealerships have shown outstanding achievements across key areas such as Sales, After-Sales, Marketing, and Customer Experience, and Financial Management,” said NPI in a release.

The annual Dealer of the Year Awards honor the dealer partners and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary standards in business operations, service, and customer engagement across the country. NPI also awarded additional honorees:

Best in Quick Voice of Customer (QVOC) Sales -— Nissan Dumaguete

Best in Quick Voice of Customer (QVOC) Aftersales — Nissan Dasmariñas

Fleet Dealer of the Year (Provincial) — Nissan Baliwag

Fleet Dealer of the Year (NCR) — Nissan Commonwealth

Parts Team of the Year — Nissan Tarlac

Service Team of the Year – Nissan Alabang

Nissan Customer Connect Dealer Team of the Year — Nissan General Santos

Dealer Customer Experience Team of the Year — Nissan Bohol

Finance Team of the Year — Nissan Cabanatuan

Brand Excellence Award — Nissan North EDSA

Excellence in Sales — Nissan Alabang

Excellence in Aftersales — Nissan Dasmariñas

Excellence in Business Sustainability — Nissan Bacolod

“Our annual Dealer of the Year Awards give us the opportunity to recognize the passion and commitment of our partners,” said NPI President Masao Tsutsumi. “As we honor the performance of these outstanding dealers, we also renew our focus on working together with our dealer partners to elevate the Nissan experience across the country.”

BPI shares dip despite strong first-half results

BW FILE PHOTO

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) shares edged down week on week, with analysts pointing to market uncertainty and lower interest rates.

Its strong first-half earnings report did not boost investor interest.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed that BPI was the seventh most actively traded issue for the July 14-18 period, with 11.59 million shares changing hands, valued at P1.4 billion.

The Ayala-led bank’s share price inched down by 0.8% week on week to P122 apiece as of Friday, from P123 on July 11.

This decline was also reflected in the financial sector, which fell by 0.9%, while the benchmark PSE index (PSEi) dropped by 2.4% week on week.

“Based on this, BPI’s performance was generally comparable with its peers and showed relatively less downside than the broader market,” Charmaine Co, an equity analyst at COL Financial Group, Inc., said in an e-mail on Friday.

Year to date, BPI shares remained unchanged. Meanwhile, the financial sector inched up by 2.8%, while the PSE index declined by 3.4% in the same period.

“Prior to the report, BPI had been declining over the past few weeks due to the continued reduction in interest rates, which could affect the firm’s net interest margin,” Jash Matthew M. Baylon, an equity analyst at The First Resources Management and Securities Corp., said in a Viber message.

“However, BPI’s [first-half] earnings showed that the firm achieved a sustainable net interest income, increasing by 16.2% to P71.2 billion despite the reduction in interest rates last April,” Mr. Baylon said.

In a disclosure to the local bourse on Thursday, BPI said its bottom line rose by 7.8% to P30.6 billion in the first semester, driven by strong revenue growth despite rising expenses and provisioning.

The bank’s revenues climbed by 14% to P92.6 billion in the six months to June.

Its operating expenses also increased by 11.7% during the period to P42.7 billion.

Meanwhile, the bank raised its provisioning to P7.3 billion as of end-June, up by 141.7% from a year ago.

“Macro uncertainties likely contributed to dampened investor sentiment and BPI’s share price decline over the past week,” COL Financial’s Ms. Co said.

“Elevated US inflation, concerns over tariffs, and continued peso depreciation weighed on the broader market,” she said.

“Additionally, investors may be cautious about the potential impact of domestic policy rate cuts on bank margins,” Ms. Co added.

The Philippines is actively negotiating for better trade terms with the United States following US President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a 20% tariff on Philippine exports earlier this month.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas trimmed interest rates by another 25 basis points (bps) in June, bringing the key rate to a two-and-a-half-year low of 5.25%.

The central bank delivered three consecutive rate cuts starting in August 2024, before holding steady in February. It resumed easing in April with a 25-bp cut.

“For full-year 2025, we forecast BPI’s net income to grow by 7.2% to P66.52 billion, driven by sustained earnings from both non-interest income and net interest income, and an optimistic outlook for gross loans due to lower inflation and strong consumption,” Mr. Baylon said.

“On the positive side, strong loan expansion, sustained net interest margins, and solid fee income would support BPI’s earnings in the third quarter and full-year 2025,” Ms. Co said.

However, analysts warn investors to monitor external risks.

“Investors should monitor geopolitical risk and higher tariffs from the US. Although it indirectly affects the financial sector, it may still affect overall economic growth such as reduced consumer spending and demand for consumer loans,” Mr. Baylon said.

For Ms. Co’s part, she said that “risks to the outlook include the potential for elevated provisions if asset quality deteriorates, as well as broader global macroeconomic headwinds that could dampen investor sentiment and economic activity.”

“For [this] week, we anticipate BPI to continue its rebound, fueled by its robust earnings report,” Mr. Baylon said.

He placed BPI’s support price at P118 and resistance level at P124 to P130.

Ms. Co sees support at P115-116 and resistance near P125. — Leigh Patrick Q. Batoon

Sta. Lucia Land, Inc. to hold its Special Stockholders’ Meeting on Aug. 12 via Zoom

 

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Microsoft to sign EU AI code of practice; Meta rebuffs guidelines

REUTERS

BRUSSELS — Microsoft will likely sign the European Union’s (EU) code of practice to help companies comply with the bloc’s landmark artificial intelligence (AI) rules, its president told Reuters on Friday, while Meta Platforms rebuffed the guidelines.

Drawn up by 13 independent experts, the voluntary code of practice aims to provide legal certainty to signatories. They will have to publish summaries of the content used to train their general-purpose AI models and put in place a policy to comply with EU copyright law.

The code is part of the AI Act which came into force in June 2024 and will apply to Google owner Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral and thousands of companies.

“I think it’s likely we will sign. We need to read the documents,” Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters.

“Our goal is to find a way to be supportive and at the same time one of the things we really welcome is the direct engagement by the AI Office with industry,” he said, referring to the EU’s regulatory body for AI.

Meta reiterated its criticism of the code.

“Meta won’t be signing it. This code introduces a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act,” Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a blog post on LinkedIn on Friday.

The US social media giant has the same concerns as a group of 45 European companies, he said.

“We share concerns raised by these businesses that this over-reach will throttle the development and deployment of frontier AI models in Europe, and stunt European companies looking to build businesses on top of them,” Mr. Kaplan said.

OpenAI and Mistral have signed the code. — Reuters

MaArte expands to fund 9 grants

PERFUMES from Oscar Mejia III

Annual fashion and crafts bazaar expands with 160 exhibitors

THE ANNUAL MaArte at The Pen is determined to be more than just a shopping event. The goal? To fund nine grants supporting various museum programs and projects nationwide.

The MaArte at The Pen bazaar, which offers locally made goods, will run from Aug. 7 to 10, Thursday to Sunday, across three floors of Makati’s The Peninsula Manila hotel.

Three of the grants the bazaar will fund fall under the National Museum of the Philippines. There will be grants for the architectural arts and built heritage division, the botany and national herbarium division, and the zoology division’s entomology section.

Six other organizations will benefit from the bazaar — HABI: The Philippine Textile Council, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, the Cordillera Textile Project, the Imelda Cajipe-Endaya retrospective, the Carlos “Botong” Francisco studio-museum in Angono, and the “Art Weave at the Museum” collection in the Cordillera region.

Gemma Cruz-Araneta, vice-president of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI), told BusinessWorld in an interview during the July 15 preview that the increase in the number of exhibitors, from 147 last year to 160 this year, is a “good problem” to have.

“We are really so happy because every year we seem to get more participants. Sometimes we have not enough space for them.”

MaArte Fair this year will be occupying The Conservatory, the Rigodon Ballroom, the Upper Lobby, the 5th floor guest rooms, the 2nd floor meeting rooms, and the Garcia Villa and Balagtas function rooms of The Peninsula Manila.

For Ms. Cruz-Araneta, going to the bazaar is a must, especially for those who want to assist in “the main purpose of the MFPI, which is to help the National Museum with its various needs.”

“Sometimes they need equipment, scholarships, and grants, and we give them the funds that we raise from the MaArte Fair. “

EXHIBITORS
Returning exhibitors from previous editions of the bazaar include modern Filipiniana designer Happy Andrada, art-inspired jeweler Artjoy, perfumer Oscar Mejia III, hand-beaded footwear designer Alexie Nethercott, and accessory and brasswork designer Neil Felipp.

Newbies to the fair include ready-to-wear Filipiniana brand Yssa Studio, period-inspired contemporary men’s wear Construction Layers, Aklanon barong brand Raquel’s Piña, and upcycled clothing brand Angkan by Carol de Leon.

Those curious about craft beverages will want to check out Palaweño Brewery, which is the first craft beer in Palawan, and La Mesa Mead’s honey and mead.

“The variety and diversity only show that the Filipino creativity, the handicrafts, they keep developing despite difficult times,” said Ms. Cruz-Araneta.

Danny Jacinto, MFPI president, said at the preview that the nine grants to be funded by the fair this year were chosen “based on the applications they sent to the foundation.”

“We’re proud to say that this is our biggest number of grants so far,” he said.

For updates, visit the MFPI and MaArte’s official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or check out www.museumfoundationph.org. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Lynk & Co 02 gets segment-best NCAP safety mark

PHOTO FROM LYNK & CO PHILIPPINES

THE LYNK & CO 02 E-SUV recently received a five-star rating from the Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a world-renowned, independent safety organization that crash-tests new vehicles and provides ratings based on their safety performance. This is the highest score for a compact SUV in the Euro NCAP’s current evaluation cycle, confirming the 02 as the safest vehicle in its class tested in 2025.

With outstanding results across all assessment categories — including the highest-ever recorded rating of 89% for Safety Assistance — the all-electric 02 “sets a new safety benchmark in its segment while continuing to embody Lynk & Co’s commitment to combining innovative design, real-world sustainability, and advanced technology,” said Lynk & Co Philippines in a release. “The 02 e-SUV now joins its stablemate, the 01 PHEV, as a new energy Lynk & Co ride with full marks for safety, as assessed and confirmed by the Euro NCAP.”

The 02’s rating was based on safety test performance across four categories: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road Users, and Safety Assist. It achieved outstanding results in every area: 90% for Adult Occupant Protection, 87% for Child Occupant Protection, and 83% for Vulnerable Road User Protection.

Lynk & Co dealerships are located in Alabang, Angeles, BGC, North EDSA, and Quezon Avenue. For more information, follow Lynk & Co Philippines on social media: Facebook (LynkCoPhilippines) and Instagram (lynkco_philippines) or call the hotline at 0917-175-LYNK (5965) to inquire. Visit LynkCo.ph.

Globe partners with global telcos for submarine cable system

Globe joins global tech and telco companies at the Asia United Gateway (AUG) East Submarine Cable Project contract signing. — GLOBE TELECOM, INC.

AYALA-LED Globe Telecom, Inc. said it will work with global technology and telecommunications (telco) companies to develop an 8,900-kilometer submarine cable system aimed at delivering additional bandwidth and strengthening network diversity and reliability.

In a statement on Sunday, the listed telecommunications company said it has joined the Asia United Gateway East (AUG East) project to support East Asia’s rising demand for high-speed, high-capacity connectivity, fueled by the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

The cable will follow a key route linking the digital hubs of Singapore and Japan, with landing points in the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2029.

“This new data superhighway strengthens our nation’s digital backbone. It gives businesses the scale, speed, and reliability they need to compete globally and embrace technologies that can uplift lives and drive inclusive progress for all Filipinos,” said Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Carl R. Cruz.

Raymond Policarpio, Globe Business vice-president and head of strategy management and business investments, said that the investment in the AUG East cable system “is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to future-proof the Philippines’ digital infrastructure.”

“As AI-powered applications become increasingly pervasive, the demand for resilient, high-capacity international connectivity will also experience a surge,” Mr. Policarpio said.

“By securing our stake in this vital digital thoroughfare, we are proactively enabling our enterprise clients to leverage cutting-edge technologies, drive innovation, and expand their global reach, ensuring the Philippines remains a competitive hub in the digital economy,” he added.

Globe said that AUG East can deliver massive capacity to “data-hungry enterprises, equivalent to streaming millions of ultra-high-definition movies simultaneously.” — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

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