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Forging the path to Philippine energy security

MARC OLIVIER-UNSPLASH

In a breakfast meeting packed with ambition and determination, Energy Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa “Mona” Dimalanta showcased their unwavering dedication to transforming the Philippine energy sector. With just one year in office, the dynamic duo has achieved remarkable milestones and set ambitious goals.

One of the key achievements highlighted in the meeting was Mr. Lotilla’s swift action to increase the renewable portfolio standards from a meager 1% to an impressive 2.52%. This bold move positions the power system to effectively increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in the supply mix to 35% by 2030 and an astounding 50% by 2040.

He also knew that to significantly increase the power supply in our system, we needed to open up the RE sector to foreign investment. Within four months of assuming office, Mr. Lotilla, armed with a legal opinion from the Department of Justice, unlocked for 100% foreign investment the use of solar energy, wind and hydropower energy for power generation.

Ms. Lotilla’s collaboration with Chairperson Dimalanta and the ERC has resulted in the development of policies and regulations that prioritize transparency in the energy sector. This fruitful partnership has given rise to initiatives such as market monitoring indices and a revamped ERC website, making it easier for consumers to file complaints and ensuring the affordability of electricity.

Ms. Dimalanta, leading the ERC, unveiled their ambitious goals for 2024, which include increasing sector transparency, pursuing affordable power prices and reinforcing accountability. Through innovative regulatory programs focused on offshore grids, electric vehicles (EVs) and micro-grids, the Department of Energy and ERC aim to satisfy stakeholders’ needs in terms of price affordability.

During the breakfast dialogue hosted by BDB Law and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Aug. 14 at the Shangri-La The Fort, Secretary Lotilla emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency and security in the field of renewable energy. To achieve the goal of 50% RE capacity by 2040, the DoE recognizes the role of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as transition fuel. The country’s offshore wind potential will also be nurtured not only for energy security but also to increase private sector involvement in providing job opportunities to local workers and for skilled, technical Filipino workers abroad to return home.

The equally important aspect or pillar of DoE’s energy program is the effective implementation of energy efficiency and conservation measures to bring down overall energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce intensity in the production of goods and services. This is not just simply a gut-feel reaction to high fuel prices, but the direction that the energy end-use market must take as a society. Sustainable development goals require a change in lifestyle, and it requires a change in consumption patterns.

These are the things that we need to undertake in order for our energy programs to succeed. Secretary Lotilla emphasized that DoE will have to work closely with designated establishments to reduce specific energy consumption across various commercial, industrial and transport end-users. The Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee will also have to aggressively stretch the energy saving impacts of the Government Energy Management Program.

Under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA, which promotes the development and use of alternative fuels and technologies, the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry sets a minimum 10% EV share in the vehicle fleet by 2040. DoE’s more ambitious target is to refleet 50% of all vehicle fleets by 2040 under a clean energy scenario. We look forward to 2028 when we expect all registered EV charging stations to get and use a percentage of their consumption from renewable energy sources. So shifting to electric vehicles does not by itself make sense if we cannot get the power for electric vehicles from renewables.

The ERC, in its efforts to boost flexibility in power supply contracting for off-grid areas, is actively transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables through hybrid programs. It is also addressing voltage challenges and improving backbone facilities in electric cooperatives.

Acknowledging the need to enhance competitiveness, the DoE understands that power costs in the Philippines cannot be subsidized to the same extent as neighboring countries. However, through renewable energy shifts and access to additional resources and technology, Mr. Lotilla and Ms. Dimalanta remain optimistic about achieving their ambitious RE targets.

Collaboration with MAP was mentioned for energy efficiency solutions, tax matter coordination and involvement in crafting the Philippine Energy Plan. The industry was encouraged to be open to different fuel sources like nuclear energy and offshore wind.

With their shared vision of a sustainable and efficient energy sector, Mr. Lotilla and Ms. Dimalanta prove to be a formidable force in driving change. Through their tireless efforts, they are reshaping the Philippine energy landscape, setting a promising path toward a greener and more prosperous future for all. What an exciting time it is for the energy sector!

 

Ruth Yu Owen is the chairperson of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Energy Committee. She is the president of Upgrade Energy Philippines, Inc.

map@map.org.ph

ruth@ugep-energy.com

Lebanon drag show derailed by crowd of angry conservative men

DRAG ARTIST known as Emma Gration hides on the terrace of a bar after they were attacked by a group of conservative Christians who identify as ‘the Soldiers of God,’ in Beirut, Lebanon Aug. 23. -REUTERS

BEIRUT — A drag show in the Lebanese capital Beirut was cut short late on Wednesday by an angry crowd of conservative Christians screaming homophobic chants, according to a Reuters witness and attendees.

The show, hosted by two Lebanese drag artists known as Latiza Bombe and Emma Gration, was hosted at a bar in Beirut known to be a safe space for LGBT individuals.

But shortly after it started, the two hosts, wearing black leotards and in full makeup and wigs, ended the show early after being alerted that angry men were approaching the venue.

“We are here, we exist, and no one will silence us. However, sometimes to keep doing what we’re doing we have to do it smartly. Unfortunately we have to cut the show short,” Emma Gration said from the stage.

The pair and a group of attendees ran to the changing area as a group of men could be heard gathering outside the venue, loudly spitting and shouting that they were “disgusted” at the event, according to a Reuters witness with them.

The group hid for about 40 minutes, during which the two performers removed makeup and fake eyelashes to blend in with the audience in case the conservative group broke in.

Attendees departed safely after security forces eventually arrived and dispersed the crowd.

Footage posted online from outside the same venue on Wednesday showed men identifying themselves as “the Soldiers of God,” an anti-LGBT Christian movement in Lebanon.

It was the latest episode showing rising hate speech against Lebanon’s LGBT community, including from conservatives with various religious backgrounds.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, head of powerful Shi’ite armed group Hezbollah, has said homosexuality posed an “imminent danger” to Lebanon and should be “confronted.”

Lebanon was the first Arab country to hold a gay pride week in 2017 and has generally been seen as a safe haven for the LGBT community in the broadly conservative Middle East, a role activists say is now under threat.

Amnesty International voiced concern at the incident, saying it “underscores the worsening state of LGBTI rights in Lebanon,” and urged the Lebanese government to ensure protection for all, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation. — Reuters

Jollibee Foods in no rush for Highlands Coffee IPO

HIGHLANDS COFFEE PHILIPPINES FACEBOOK PAGE

JOLLIBEE FOODS Corp. (JFC) believes its Vietnamese coffee chain Highlands Coffee can be separately listed on the market, but it still has a few steps to go, said the finance chief of the listed quick service restaurant operator.

“We’re not in a rush. But at the right time, we believe that this brand can be spun off as a separate listed company,” JFC Chief Financial Officer Richard Chong Woo Shin said in a virtual media briefing last week when asked about a possible initial public offering (IPO) for the coffee brand.

“That remains as part of our strategy, but again, only at the right valuation that maximizes for our shareholders and at the right time as well,” he added.

Mr. Shin said the group had not expanded the brand into many countries, thus “there’s a few steps ahead of IPO.”

He added that there is room for growth for Highlands Coffee, which has a presence in Vietnam and in the Philippines.

“We have just under around 700 stores of Highland Coffee. The majority is in Vietnam, its home base,” he said, adding that in the Philippines it has around 40 stores that are run by a franchisee.

JFC has a controlling interest in Highlands Coffee as it has a 60% stake in the SuperFoods Group, which owns the coffee brand.   

Recently, JFC announced that it would bring Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters to the Philippines under a joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. to bolster its existing brands. JFC also owns The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL).

Mr. Shin said during the briefing that the newly announced brands would not eat into the market of existing coffee brands since these cater to a different segment.

“Common Man will be a different expression of coffee in that it’s closer to what I would call the more premium barista coffee. That is what it is famous for. Therefore, we will not be cannibalizing or competing, if you will, with Highlands Coffee or CBTL. In fact, it’s a new segment,” Mr. Shin said.   

For the first half, JFC’s attributable net income fell 13.9% to P4.39 billion versus P5.1 billion a year ago.

JFC’s store network surged by 5.1% as of June. The group has 6,617 stores worldwide, with 3,287 stores in the Philippines and 3,330 international stores across various brands.

As of Aug. 25, JFC shares were at P239.80 apiece, down P3.20 or 1.32% from its previous close of P243 the day prior. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Reinforcing tailwinds: Cashing in on PHL hotel sector’s recovery

By Joey Roi Bondoc and Alfonso Martin Aguila

REVENGE spending, dining, and travel continue to lift the country’s tourism sector. The segment is a key job-generating sector and post-pandemic gains should help restore the sector’s contribution to the country’s national economic output.

Undeniably, more needs to be done to improve the sector’s competitiveness and ensure that the Philippines will stand out globally not just with its beaches but also with its quality infrastructure backbone. After all, we won’t be able to attract millions of tourists if we do not have airports capable of welcoming foreign visitors and an efficient road network that will allow local tourists to go around the country.

The return to normalcy has been a positive for the Philippine leisure sector. More face-to-face events across the country should boost the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) segment. Developers are lining up major projects across the archipelago and these include foreign and homegrown brands, as they anticipate demand from business and leisure travelers. The recalibration of the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) strategy, including its branding, should entice more international travelers to visit the Philippines and raise tourism’s contribution to the economy.

Colliers projects the completion of a record-high 5,300 new hotel rooms in 2023. This is a positive development for the Philippine tourism sector, especially now that the sector is rebounding. With the continued rise in international and domestic tourists as well as return of more in-person events, hotel developers are now lining up  expansion plans for the near to medium term. Colliers sees more foreign brands opening while Filipino homegrown brands are also expanding.   

Among the new hotels that will be completed include: Lansons Place Manila, Grand Westside Hotel, Red Planet Hotel The Fort, Hotel 101 The Fort and Ibis Styles Hotel. We project that more than a third (35%) of the new hotels that will open for the remainder of the year will be foreign brands. From 2023 to 2025, we estimate the completion of 3,000 new hotel rooms every year.

BREACHING THE DOT’S TARGET
The reinvigorated hotel sector remains one of the most vibrant property segments in the country. Foreign arrivals are likely to breach the Tourism department’s target for 2023 while the domestic market continues to lift occupancies and daily rates.

The return of business travelers and in-person corporate events have also been propping up the demand for MICE facilities.

MORE MICE FACILITIES
People are now more willing to attend face-to-face meetings.

Corporations, business groups, and even families have been holding in-person events, especially after the government relaxed restrictions on face-to-face meetings and dropped mask mandates.

In our view, these should be complemented by global sporting events that the Philippines will be hosting.

Colliers believes that hotel developers and operators should assess the future demand for MICE facilities given the segment’s potential for a strong rebound. This should also be aligned with the government’s thrust of modernizing existing and building new airports across the country.

The Tourism department is also priming the Philippines as a major MICE destination, and this should enable the country to corner major global MICE events and further boost tourist arrivals and spending across the archipelago. 

HOMEGROWN, FOREIGN BRANDS
Colliers believes that developers need to strategically plan their expansion, especially now that the sector is gradually recovering. In fulfilling expansion plans, developers should carefully assess whether to launch or expand their own homegrown brands or partner with foreign hotel operators.

Colliers data show that about 42% of new hotels that will open in Metro Manila this year through 2024 are foreign brands. While we see more Metro Manila openings in the pipeline, Colliers believes that there are also opportunities to build more accommodation facilities in key destinations including Pampanga, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Palawan and Bacolod.

Aside from the traditional growth areas, developers should also build hotels near major convention centers and newly modernized and expanded airports. 

HOTEL OCCUPANCY TO REACH 65%
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the share of the tourism industry to the country’s economy reached 6.2% in 2022, up from 5.2% in 2021. However, this is lower than the record-high 12.8% share in 2019.

Domestic tourism expenditure grew by 92.3% in 2022 to P1.5 trillion ($26.7 billion) from only P782.6 billion ($14 billion) in 2021. Meanwhile, employment in tourism-related industries rose by 9.3% in 2022 to 5.35 million jobs from 4.9 million in 2021.

In the first half of 2023, average hotel occupancies in Metro Manila reached 61%, higher than the 55% recorded in the second half of 2022. Colliers attributes the increase in occupancy to the continued rise in foreign tourists, return of in-person events and sustained demand from the local staycation market.

By the end of 2023, Colliers projects average occupancy in the capital region to reach 65%, partly driven by holiday spending as well as year-end MICE activities. Metro Manila occupancy is now near pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) level. In 2019, average occupancy peaked at 70%, before plummeting to 20% in 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions arising from mobility restrictions. Note that the occupancy in 2019 was achieved on the back of record-high foreign visitors, which reached 8.26 million.

MORE REASONS TO LOVE PHL
There’s no doubt that the Philippines has a lot to offer to domestic and foreign travelers. Our beaches are recognized globally and Filipinos are known for their warm and genuine brand of hospitality. But these shouldn’t be trumped by dilapidated airports and unpaved roads.

Our global travel and tourism competitiveness needs to improve if we want to bag a greater slice of the global tourism pie and attract more long-haul and high-spending tourists.

The country is finally recovering from the pandemic, and we see tourism stakeholders — from hotel developers/operators to retailers of souvenir items — benefiting from this rebound.

  

Joey Roi Bondoc is the research director for Colliers Philippines, while Alfonso Martin Aguila is the senior research analyst for Colliers Philippines.

Having the ‘material’ to compete in FIBA World Cup

PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

Before leaving for China to participate in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Yeng Guiao said of Italy, the first team Gilas Pilipinas would play against: “They are big, but we will try to beat them with our speed and three-point shooting.”

Guiao must have assumed that the tall and hefty Italians must be slow like the Biblical character Goliath. Gilas Pilipinas had in its roster three-point shooters Paul Lee, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Mark Barroca, Keifer Ravena, CJ Perez and Robert Bolick. As for speed, except for Andrey Blatche and Jun Mar Fajardo, the Guilas Pilipinas boys are also good run-and-gun players.     

But unlike the shepherd boy David, Goliath’s challenger in the historic battle at Ephes-dammim in the Judean foothills, Guiao went to battle not knowing the adversary well enough. The Italians proved to be superior to Gilas Pilipinas not only in size but in skills as well. As Guiao lamented, “There’s no way we could beat them inside the paint, they’re just too big and too good. Even their bigs were shooting the outside shot really well.”

Not only did Italy have superior “gilas” than Gilas Pilipinas, but their defense was also as solid as Goliath’s metal armor. Guiao had counted on outside shooting and fast breaks to beat Italy. But Italy’s defense disabled Gilas Pilipinas’ weapons. The national team shot only 13% from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 23 times leading to 34 points off turnovers for the Italians. Italy beat Gilas Pilipinas by 46 points.

Gilas Pilipinas next played against the Serbians, who were as big as the Italians but more skillful. Four members of the team play in the US professional National Basketball Association. Nikola Jokic was a contender for the Most Valuable Player award in NBA’s 2018-2019 season. Gilas Pilipinas lost to them by 59 points, leading Serbia’s Coach Sasha Djordjevic to ask if the Philippines had the materials to compete in the World Cup.

The Philippine team failed to win a single game in the 2019 World Cup. Guiao suggested that for the Philippine team to be worthy of competing in international tournaments, the national team must be formed way ahead of the next World Cup. That way, team members would have chemistry among themselves. But chemistry is not all there is to it. There has to be the basic material, as the Serbian coach pointed out. Members of our national team should have not only the same skills as the Europeans, but they also have to be as big as them to be worthy of competing in the World Cup.

And so, in preparation for this year’s World Cup, which opened on Aug. 25 in the cavernous Philippine Arena before a FIBA World Cup record-breaking attendance of 38,115, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) began its buildup of Gilas Pilipinas by forming in June a 21-man pool from which the members of the national team would be selected. A panel of multiple PBA championship coaches was formed to choose the 12 players who would make up Gilas Pilipinas 2023.

Named to the pool were Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks, Scottie Thompson, Jordan Heading, Kai Sotto, Chris Newsome, Jamie Malonzo, Thirdy Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Calvin Oftana, Rhenz Abando and AJ Edu. Naturalized Filipinos Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame were included in the pool, but only one of them could be included in the final roster, in accordance with FIBA rules.

The panel of coaches was composed of head coach Chot Reyes, and assistant coaches Tim Cone and Jong Uichico. This is Reyes’ second World Cup stint as head coach. He was head coach of Gilas Pilipinas that got to the second round of the 2014 World Cup. He is a nine-time PBA champion coach and six-time Coach of the Year. Cone is the winningest coach in the PBA with 25 championships including two Grand Slams. He is a four-time Coach of the Year. He coached the national team that won the bronze medal in the 1998 Asian Games and the gold medal in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila. Uichico, who is also on his second World Cup assignment, is a nine-time PBA champion coach and two-time Coach of the Year. He steered the national team to the SEA Games gold in 2013 and 2017.

Selected for Gilas Pilipinas were:

• Japeth Aguilar, the 6’9” center/forward who has been part of the program since Gilas 1 was formed in 2009. This is his third World Cup stint. He was designated captain of the team. He is an eight-time PBA champion and one-time Finals MVP;

• June Mar Fajardo, a 6’10” center who is also on his third World Cup campaign, is a six-time PBA MVP, nine-time PBA champion, four-time Finals MVP;

• Kiefer Ravena, point guard, a member of Gilas Pilipinas that went to the 2019 World Cup;

• Roger Pogoy, shooting guard, also a member of 2019 World Cup Gilas Pilipinas;

• CJ Perez, point guard/shooting guard, another member of 2019 Gilas Pilipinas;

• Jordan Clarkson, point guard/small forward, plays in the NBA for the Utah Jazz. He is the team’s naturalized player;

• Scottie Thompson, point guard/shooting guard, 2021 PBA MVP and seven PBA championships including two Finals MVP;

• Dwight Ramos, a small forward, plays in Japan’s B-League;

• Kai Sotto, 7’3” center who played for two seasons for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League and the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League. He represented the country in the under 19 division of the 2019 World Cup;

• AJ Edu, 6’10” center who played for University of Toledo. He also represented the country in the under 19 division of the 2019 World Cup;

• Jamie Malonzo, 6’7” forward, a Barangay Ginebra star;

• Rhenz Abando, shooting guard, plays in the Korean Basketball League

With an average height of about 6’5”, this is the tallest Philippine team ever assembled. No player is below six feet. Sotto is the tallest Filipino basketball player ever to represent the country. However, Fajardo at 268 pounds is the only member of the team that can compare with the size of most of the players that compete in international tournaments.

Head coach Reyes told the players that they must strive to achieve their utmost potential to stand a chance against their co-Group A competitors Angola, Dominican Republic and Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. While optimal performance doesn’t guarantee victory, Reyes emphasized that one thing Gilas can’t afford is to fall short of their best when up against the world’s premier basketball teams.

“That’s how we approach this game. We have to be the best that we can be and play our best game and even if we play our best, it doesn’t really guarantee a win because that’s how strong the other team is. The only sure thing is if we do not play our best, then we have no chance,” said Reyes.

In a post in SBP’s Facebook page, Reyes explained to his players that they have little margin for error playing against world-class squads. “(Our) margin for error is very small, so when you get in there, every second you play on the floor counts. That’s the way it is, we really have to be on point every single moment.”

The Gilas Pilipinas boys fell short of their best when they went up against the Dominican Republic on Friday, losing by six points, 81-87. They turned the ball over 19 times, got outrebounded, giving up 17 offensive rebounds, and committed 28 fouls that resulted in 23 points for the opponents.

Dominican Republic star player Karl-Anthony Towns, first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Rookie of the Year that season, said: “Everyone on their team (Gilas Pilipinas) is hardworking. They played with a lot of love.” I take it as his polite way of saying “Filipinos do not play with a lot of skills.”

It was a different story last Sunday. They played their best, but Gilas Pilipinas’ best was not good enough to beat the taller, heftier and faster visitors. “We got hammered on the boards. We gave up 20 offensive rebounds to the other team. And in the end that was the story,” said Coach Reyes. Gilas Pilipinas lost by 10 points.

Tonight, Gilas Pilipinas will face the Italians, who will be led by Simone Fontecchio, Jordan Clarkson’s Utah Jazz teammate. Italy beat Angola by 14 points. Will Sasha Djordjevic, who is in town as the coach of the Chinese team competing in the World Cup, be still asking if the Philippines has the materials to compete?

 

Oscar P. Lagman, Jr. is a retired corporate executive, business consultant, management professor and an avid sports fan.

Divided US embraces Trump mug shot merchandise

Former U.S. President Donald Trump — REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS/FILE PHOTO

FORMER US President Donald Trump’s historic mug shot, posted by a Georgia courthouse on Thursday evening, is being turned into T-shirts, shot glasses, mugs, posters and even bobblehead dolls by friends and foes alike.

The shot of Mr. Trump with a red tie, glistening hair, and an icy scowl was taken as the Republican presidential front-runner was arrested on more than a dozen felony charges, part of a criminal case stemming from his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Supporters and campaign managers have embraced the image of his arrest, as they rally around Mr. Trump’s claims that the charges against him are politically motivated.

To critics, the photo is a symbol that his long list of legal woes has finally caught up to him. Mr. Trump’s Save America fundraising committee is selling “NEVER SURRENDER!” mug shot t-shirts ($34.00), beverage holders ($15.00 for two) and coffee mugs ($25.00).

His son Don Jr. is marketing “FREE TRUMP” mug shot t-shirts ($29.99) and posters ($19.99).

On the other side of the political divide, the Lincoln Project, a prominent anti-Trump group founded by Republicans, is selling shot glasses ($55.00 for six) with the mug shot and “FAFO,” an acronym for “Fuck Around and Find Out,” a rallying cry among Trump critics.

Etsy, the crafts website, has dozens of mocking products, including a Taylor Swift concert t-shirt parody ($26.00).

In Los Angeles, a t-shirt store unaffiliated with any campaign had already started selling tops emblazoned with the image on Friday afternoon.

“I think it’s very classic consumerism for this country,” said shopper CJ Butler from Atlanta, Georgia. “Hey, it’s Trump. He sells everything so why not have a T-shirt?”
The image could be a huge fundraiser for the Republican candidate, some political strategists predict.

“His superfans are going to see this and it will be a fist-pumping exercise for them to send in that $25 and get that shirt or that mug,” said David Kochel, a veteran Republican presidential campaign operative in Iowa. “It’s kind of sad at the end of the day that the campaign is going to celebrate his indictment over 13 criminal charges — but that’s where our politics is.”

Mr. Trump has for months sought to leverage the criminal probes against him to rally support from his base, starting with his first indictment in New York. His fundraising groups, including his past and current presidential campaigns, have reported investing more than $98 million in merchandise operations since 2015, buying items like bumper stickers, hoodies and coffee mugs to sell.

Speaking to Reuters after the Republican debate on Wednesday, co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita said his team had been focused on turning the four indictments into a positive, “making sure that we were making lemonade at every opportunity, which I think we did.”

Veterans of other political operations say campaigns can make a 50% profit or more on their merchandise sales and LaCivita on Thursday warned off those trying to make money from the image without the campaign’s permission.

LEGAL RIGHTS?
What legal rights, if any, Mr. Trump’s campaign may have over the mug shot’s reproduction are unclear, however. The photo was distributed by the Fulton County court to media outlets, including Reuters.

Mug shots taken by US federal courts are generally in the public domain, although Georgia’s state policy may be different.

Many US states have “right of publicity” laws that prevent the use of a person’s image in commerce without their permission. Federal trademark law also bars false advertising and endorsements, and Mr. Trump would also likely be able to sue under other state laws.

But political parody goods may receive some protection from intellectual-property claims under the US Constitution, and attorneys say that whether Mr. Trump would actually sue is more of a strategic question than a legal one.

“In all likelihood, given how polarizing Trump has been, and everything that is already in the marketplace around his likeness, it would not likely be a legal priority,” trademark attorney Josh Gerben said.

Mr. Trump’s pose, glaring into the camera with his face tilted down, echoes his trademark pose in The Apprentice, the reality television show he starred in for several years.

The former president told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday night that he only did the mug shot because Georgia officials insisted. “It is not a comfortable feeling — especially when you’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.

Rick Wilson, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project flogging mug shot wares online, dared Mr. Trump’s campaign to sue him in a Friday post on X.

“Trump’s people are certainly viewing it as a powerful image, and his opponents are also viewing it as a powerful image,” he said. — Reuters

Swedish digital creative school maps Asian expansion

HYPERISLAND.COM

HYPER ISLAND Institute of Higher Education, a digital creative business school, aims to expand its services in Asia after it started offering its program in the Philippines.

“We are founded on the principle of learning by doing as a way to embrace technological developments,” Peachy Pacquing, managing director of Hyper Island, told BusinessWorld in a Zoom interview.

She said the school brings together the foundation and insights “from the world of behavioral science, adult development and creativity to design experiences, products and tools that will equip you to tackle the challenges of the future.”

Hyper Island has expanded its operations in Asia with the inclusion of the Philippines. It launched its programs in the country earlier this year.

Established in Sweden two decades ago, Hyper Island provides an unconventional way of learning, Ms. Pacquing said, adding that the institute now operates in the United Kingdom, Brazil, North America, and Singapore.

It aims to expand its operations in Asia with the hope of bringing its operations to India and Indonesia within this year.

“It was born because the Swedish government realized that the way they were doing education was no longer sufficient, or relevant and therefore there was a challenge to reimagine education more than 20 years back,” Ms. Pacquing said.

In the Philippines, the global creative business school offers a digital management accelerator program, a master of arts in digital management, and business solutions.

“Let’s begin first with how we facilitate learning. First of all, we are in the business of adult education. So, the way we facilitate learning at Hyper Island [is] to develop critical thinking, a key deliverable of our education,” she said.

Ms. Pacquing said Hyper Island is introducing an alternative way of learning to bridge the gap between technology and human development. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

DMCI Homes unveils beach park condotel complex in San Juan

SOLMERA COAST is a project of DMCI Homes Leisure Residences. — COMPANY HANDOUT

DMCI Homes recently unveiled its latest project — a beach park condotel complex in San Juan, Batangas.

Solmera Coast is a tropical Asian-inspired beach park condotel which offers an “opportunity for a rewarding investment as well as a haven for leisure and pleasure,” DMCI Homes Leisure Residences said in a statement.

Matahari tower, the first of five mid-rise buildings, is expected to be ready for occupancy by February 2027. The Kartika and Bumi towers will be ready for occupancy by May and August 2027, respectively.

At Solmera Coast, unit cuts range from 34 to 91.5 square meters for studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units.

Units are furnished with fixtures for beds, bathrooms, and even a split-type air conditioning unit upon turnover.

Solmera Coast is not just resort-themed but is an actual beach park with residential condominium buildings just a few meters away from the shoreline.

The 7.5-hectare beach park features expansive open spaces for residents looking to relax, and event spaces for big gatherings.

Solmera Coast spans Barangays Subukin and Calubcub II in San Juan which is a preferred beach destination for tourists.

Solmera Coast will feature five swimming pools, a game area, a gym, two restaurants, and a convention center.

DMCI Homes Leisure Residences, a new brand under DMCI Homes, focuses on resort living in vacation destinations all over the country.

BRICS energy and Philippine hosting of FIBA games

Two important events occurred last week. One was the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa) summit that ended on Aug. 24, and they announced membership expansion to six other countries starting January 2024. No. 2 was the start of Federacion International de Basketball (FIBA) World Cup on Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena.

BRICS EXPANSION
The original five BRICS member-countries were already huge in population. With the addition of six more countries, the bloc will now be called BRICS-11 and would have a combined population of 3.64 billion people as of 2022 — a huge consumer market.

— Table 1 compares some basic economic and energy data on BRICS, the expanded members, G7 industrialized countries and the ASEAN-6. Here are the basic facts as of 2022.

One, in terms of population, BRICS-11 is 4.7x larger than G7 and 6.1x larger than ASEAN-6.

Two, in GDP size, G7 is still larger than BRICS-11 in nominal values but in purchasing power parity (PPP) values, it is 1.2x larger than G7. The Philippines is now a trillion-dollar economy in PPP values along with Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

Three, in total electricity generation, BRICS-11 is 1.8x larger than G7. China alone with 8,849 terawatt-hours (TWH) is larger than G7 combined. This is mainly because BRICS and ASEAN countries have significantly expanded their conventional fossil fuel plants, while G7 has pulled back.

Four, oil consumption of BRICS-11 at 34.4 million barrels per day (bpd) is now larger than G7. In ASEAN-6, Singapore and Thailand have nearly three times each larger than the Philippines. They are huge airport and international trading hubs in the region.

Five, in proven oil reserves, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are OPEC-member countries and now that they are with BRICS-11, their combined oil reserves of 709 billion barrels are three times larger than G7. One would say that BRICS expansion is primarily an energy security project, and secondarily an economic integration project.

Six, in coal consumption the original BRICS (except Brazil, which is mainly hydro) with 115,600 petajoules (PJ) have powered their GDP expansion and electricity generation mainly from coal, while G7 countries have significantly pulled back from coal. Check my Aug. 17 column titled “Energy realism: Decarbonization and deindustrialization.” Good thing that ASEAN-6 has a similar energy policy as the original BRICS except Singapore, which is mainly using other fossil fuels — oil-gas (see Table 1).

The long-term economic and energy implications of BRICS-11, which may become BRICS-20, etc. in the coming years, is more energy security for them and their economic allies, more stable energy and consumer prices. The G7 and allies with their continued anti-fossil fuels and decarbonization rhetoric will likely continue their high energy and consumer prices. The Philippines and other developing countries should stay away from the G7 and western climate and energy agenda, prioritize faster economic growth and job creation for its people.

FIBA WORLD CUP
The FIBA Basketball World Cup is held every four years. The first and last time the Philippines hosted it was in 1978 or 45 years ago. This year, the Philippines through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is co-hosting it with Japan and Indonesia for the group elimination games, but the quarterfinals to final games will be hosted only by the Philippines.

I watched the opening games at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Aug. 25. I brought my 12-year-old daughter Bien Mary and two Filipino-German boys Simon and Luis, sons of our friends who live in Bavaria, Germany and now on vacation here.

The crowd was huge — more than 38,000 — a new attendance record in FIBA World Cup history. The previous record was about 32,600 in Canada in 1994. My daughter, who does not watch basketball, became an instant fan of the game. Simon and Luis were surprisingly happy to see for the first time a World Cup basketball live — the entertainment between the games, the atmosphere and energy of Gilas Pilipinas fans and the games of the four teams/countries. They said they will not forget the day and they have shared their experience and observations with their friends in Germany and other countries.

Experiences like these can be translated into more tourism and more good vibes about the Philippine economy. Kudos to SBP for hosting the FIBA World Cup and hats off to SBP President Al Panlilio and SBP Chairman Emeritus and member of the Central Board of the FIBA, Manuel V. Pangilinan or MVP. Good job, sirs.

When foreign visitors watch live international sports competitions like FIBA games, they watch not only the games and the arena; they also see our hotels, our malls, our musicians, dance troupes and other entertainers. They see the country and the always-smiling Filipinos. Tourism later translates into trade and investments, economic growth and job creation.

Because of our geography — detached from mainland Asia, an archipelago that requires flight-hopping from one big island to other islands — plus other factors, our tourism arrivals are not as big as those in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam (Table 2).

Tour de France is the most popular sport in the world in terms of live audience, estimated at 23 million people on the roads for three weeks. The last French cyclists who won the Tour were Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon in 1978-1985 except 1980. All other winners in the past three decades were from other countries. But Tour de France continues mainly because of the sports tradition and tourism revenues, and not so much hoping that another French cyclist or team will win the Tour.

Same for hosting this FIBA tournament — the goal should be to help boost tourism and investments in the country. So far, Gilas Pilipinas has lost their two games with the Dominican Republic and Angola. Our players did their best, but the two other teams played better. Nonetheless, it is the hosting of the FIBA games that matters more than our team winning the games.

I like this observation by Joe Zaldariaga in his column “Sports: A game changer for the economy” (Philippine Star, Aug. 10). He wrote:

“The hosting of this event is more than a celebration of basketball as a cherished national passion; it’s an invitation from the Philippines to the world. As the nation welcomes the international basketball community, it sends a clear signal that it’s ready to step onto the global stage as a prime destination for international business.”

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. Research Consultancy Services, and Minimal Government Thinkers.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Russia’s top Barbie fan sees herself in movie

A scene from the movie Barbie. — IMDB

AS THE proud owner of 12,000 Barbie dolls, Russian collector Tatiana Tuzova was more excited than most to watch the Hollywood movie based on her idol.

She was not disappointed.

Like the character played by Margot Robbie in the film, Ms. Tuzova inhabits both a fantasy realm of beautiful dolls and a real world where things are far less perfect.

Of the two, she prefers the first, depicted in the move as Barbie Land.

“To some extent, this is my world as well. And I even recognized myself in the film character a little bit, because I also feel sad when I come back to gray reality,” she told Reuters.

“I want everything in the real world to be as bright, beautiful and glamorous (as Barbie Land). But when you’re out in the real world, there are so many things missing.”

Hit by Western sanctions over Ukraine, Russia is coming late to the Barbie party. The film is not available for official distribution, but some cinemas plan to get around that by screening a digital copy of it “for free” as part of a double bill with a shorter film in Russian.

Ms. Tuzova has supplied 300 of her dolls to go on show at an unofficial premiere of the film in Moscow on Sept. 9. She said she had hoped to see it for the first time on the big screen, but reluctantly watched a pirate version to satisfy media requests for her reaction.

Her obsession with Barbie began in childhood.

“I think Barbie is a role model. Her slogan is ‘You can be anything’. I looked at her and understood that I could be anything as well,” she said in an interview in her apartment, dressed all in pink with an enormous bow in her hair.

Behind her, an entire wall was filled with hundreds of Barbies, from Army and Air Force to Party Time and Pretty Flower — all in their original boxes to preserve their value.

Ms. Tuzova said her father died when she was six months old and she had “nothing” as a child.

“And I decided that I would have everything. And everything will be pink.”

She said she liked the fact that the Barbie heroine of the film remained true to herself even when she crossed into the real world.

“She remained herself: she didn’t put on weight, didn’t dye her hair brunette. She just adapted, let’s say, to the real world — as, in general, I did.” — Reuters

Phoenix Petroleum expects lower oil prices in fourth quarter as stockpiles rise

PHOENIXFUELS.PH

LISTED independent oil firm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. is expecting the prices of dated Brent to go down by the fourth quarter as oil stockpiles are seen to build up, an official said.

“We expect dated Brent prices to increase into the $80s in the third quarter. But with stocks expected to start gradually building back in the fourth quarter, prices should then ease again,” Raymond T. Zorrilla, senior vice-president for external affairs of Phoenix, said in a Viber message.

Mr. Zorrilla said the company is hoping that the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) — the benchmark for local fuel products — will remain steady at $80.

MOPS is the daily average of all trading transactions of diesel and gasoline reported by Singapore-based market wire service Platts of S&P Global, Inc.

Mr. Zorrilla said the company also wants to see the dollar-peso exchange rate stabilize within the range of $54 to $55 to help bring down local oil prices.

“Commercial crude and key product stocks have gradually declined from January and draws are set to over 2 million bpd (barrel per day) in July/August. That is deeper than our outlook from last month,” he said.

“However, prices have been eroding with sufficient supply to cover prompt needs and very little interest by financial participants in oil,” he added.

In its short-term energy outlook, the Energy Information Administration (IEA) projected global oil production to increase by 1.4 million bpd in 2023 and by 1.7 million bpd in 2024.

“Rising global oil production in 2024 in our forecast keeps pace with oil demand and puts moderate downward pressure on crude oil prices beginning in the second quarter of 2024,” the IEA said.

Mr. Zorrilla said commercial oil inventories are set to “draw rapidly” in the third quarter, but “a skeptical market is waiting for visible signs before pushing prices higher.”

In the second quarter, Phoenix Petroleum incurred an attributable net loss of P1.097 billion, reversing its P143.48 million net income in the same quarter last year.

Revenues fell by 63.2% to P14.6 billion from P39.7 billion previously.

In March, Phoenix Petroleum signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysian state oil firm Petronas for a joint exploration of downstream marketing business and associated technology solutions.

Under the MoU, the two companies will conduct a joint feasibility study on what will be the next phase of the partnership.

At the stock exchange on Monday, the company’s shares went down by P0.80 or 10.26% to close at P7 apiece. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Choosing a president

PEXELS-ELEMENT DIGITAL

SINGAPOREAN voters will cast their ballots on Sept. 1 to choose their president, the fifth time they will directly make their choice. Before 1993, Parliament appointed the president. Given the dominance of the People’s Action Party (PAP) that Lee Kuan Yew founded, which has not lost a general election since Singapore gained independence in 1965, it was clear that the president served mainly a ceremonial role and did not need to intervene in governance matters.

Ceremonial did not mean unimportant. With its multiethnic population, Singapore needed a person in the presidential palace who would be perceived as transcending partisan politics and could play a unifying role. The Constitution imposed stringent qualifications for the presidency. Popular appeal was advantageous, but not adequate. The candidates’ record must command the respect and, hopefully, the admiration of the national community for unquestionable integrity and competence, this latter demonstrated, not by testimonials but by quantitative measures.

For the 2023 elections, the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) declared the eligibility of three candidates. Tharman Shanmugaratnam received a pass. Previous government service at ministerial level (Education and Finance) and as deputy prime minister made it unnecessary to subject him to scrutiny. The PEC approved the candidacy of Ng Kok Song, former chief investment officer at sovereign wealth fund GIC, and Tan Kin Lian, former chief executive of National Trade Union Congress Income Insurance.

Entrepreneur George Goh, a fourth aspirant, failed to clear the eligibility bar. The PEC noted a key requirement for presidential candidates from the private sector; they must show that in the previous three years they had managed profitably as CEO a company with shareholders’ equity of at least $500 million. Goh had documented his top management positions in five companies whose combined shareholders’ equity amounted to S$1.52 billion (P64 billion). None of the five companies met the required $500 million in shareholders’ equity. The PEC ruled that combining the resources of five companies was not acceptable.

Despite his control over the PAP and the party’s control of government, Lee Kuan Yew worried that elections might someday bring to power incompetent bureaucrats who might appoint officials unqualified for the posts or corrupt opportunists who would place personal over national interests and raid the Treasury to enrich themselves. Changes in the Constitution in 1991 expanded the president’s role so that the office could serve to check corruption or incompetence in government.

The amendments empowered the presidency to serve as the last line of defense to block attempts by the government to draw from the reserves what it had not accumulated, or to appoint unsuitable officials to critical civil service positions.

For the president to fulfill this function, the government decided to make the post elective. Direct election of presidents would make them accountable to the people whose votes would give them the legitimacy and the right to exercise state power in their name.

Direct elections also raised potential problems. First, the Chinese community accounted for about 70% of the population; it would be difficult for the Malay or Indian candidate to win in a head-to-head competition with a Chinese contender. A presidency permanently occupied by a Chinese incumbent would defeat the objective of projecting the president as a unifying symbol for the multi-ethnic community. Another constitutional change in 2017 addressed this problem by providing that the presidency would be reserved to an ethnic group excluded from the presidency for five continuous terms (or 30 years). Thus, in 2016, Halimah Yacob was elected from the Malay community and was also the first woman to serve as president.

The second problem was more politically complicated and immediately surfaced during the term of the first elected president, Ong Teng Cheong (1993-1999). After his education at the University of Adelaide in Australia (BS Engineering Honors) and at MIT in the US (MS Industrial Management), Ong distinguished himself in the private sector, serving as chairman and managing Director of Neptune Orient Lines. He became a leading figure in the PAP, serving in Parliament for more than 20 years and receiving ministerial appointments in Communications and Labor, as well as deputy prime minister. He also served as NTUC Secretary-General from 1983 to 1993.

Ong took his constitutional duty and powers as president to raise hard questions about the budgeting process and the allocation of surpluses. He was particularly concerned about the state of the country’s financial reserves and the conditions for drawdowns, stressing the need for greater transparency and accountability in their access and use. He also asked for more information and influence over appointments to such key institutions as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Attorney-General’s Chambers and Central Provident Fund Board.

 

Edilberto C. De Jesus is a former president of the Asian Institute of Management. He served as Education secretary under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2002 to 2004.

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