Ancient Cuban flatbread makes comeback as economic crisis bites

May 8, 2025 | 12:03 am

HAVANA — A bustling restaurant in old Havana offers diners a blast from the distant past — small circular flatbreads made from ground yucca served alone or topped with any combination of onion, tomato, pork, and garlic.

The dish, known locally as casabe, has been around for over a thousand years, historians said. More recently, it has mostly been relegated to field hands and Cuban country outposts.

Now it may be making a comeback.

Cuba’s dire economic crisis has vastly reduced the import and production of such basics as wheat flour, sugar, and salt.

This has prompted some to give the simple flatbread another look. Its only ingredient is locally grown yucca root, also known as cassava.

“In a time of food crisis like the one we’re currently experiencing, we believe cassava bread can help,” said Yudisley Cruz, co-founder of Yucasabi, a small business and restaurant that promotes yucca-based products.

Her small restaurant in touristy old Havana sells a single casabe for 15 pesos (4 cents), making it nutritious, delicious and affordable for both tourists and locals alike, she said.

Ms. Cruz’s restaurant — the only one in Cuba dedicated exclusively to yucca — is trying to popularize the flatbread in urban areas.

But in the countryside, peddlers on foot, bike, and moto-taxi sell casabe at even lower prices, a rare foodstuff nearly everyone can afford.

Its near universal appeal, simplicity, and cultural roots — it was first cooked on hot rocks by the indigenous Taíno people in Cuba and elsewhere in the Caribbean — prompted the United Nations last year to add the food to its intangible cultural heritage of humanity list.

Yucasabi, which features paintings of Taínos in Cuba’s lush countryside on its walls, has given the ancient bread a modern spin, in hopes of attracting a new and larger clientele.

“Casabe from Cuba, 100% artisanal, vegan, zero gluten,” reads its advertising on social media.

Simplicity, however, remains the flatbread’s top selling point, says Julio César Núñez, an 82-year-old traditional casabe producer who lives outside Havana.

Mr. Núñez oversees the harvest, peeling, drying, grinding of the yucca root. That is formed into tortilla-like discs and cooked on sheet metal over flames.

“Anyone who takes the time to learn can do it,” he said. — Reuters

D&L Q1 net income rises 10% on strong exports

May 8, 2025 | 12:03 am

LISTED D&L Industries, Inc. grew its first-quarter net income by 10% to P681 million from P618 million a year earlier, driven by stronger exports and the continued ramp-up of its Batangas plant operations.

Sales during the first quarter rose by 62% to P14.27 billion from P8.83 billion a year ago, the specialty food ingredients and oleochemicals producer said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

Export sales, which accounted for 34% of total sales, surged by 69% to P4.8 billion on higher volume. The company’s Batangas plant increased its net income by 35% quarter on quarter to P333 million, led by orders from both local and export customers.

“The year started with strong momentum. However, the increasing global uncertainties have led to a noticeable slowdown and dampening of global business sentiment,” D&L President and Chief Executive Officer Alvin D. Lao said in a separate media briefing late Tuesday.

According to Mr. Lao, there has been some hesitation among its United States customers amid uncertainties.

However, he said the US market accounts for only about 3% of D&L’s total revenue.

“Nonetheless, the Philippines may be one of the least affected countries given its import-heavy trade balance. In addition, the lower proposed reciprocal tariff for the Philippines versus its neighboring countries may put the Philippines in an advantageous position,” he said.

Total volume increased by 33%, as high-margin specialty products (HMSP) grew by 36% and commodities rose by 30%.

“The buoyant volume growth was driven by a combination of the strong exports, new customer wins, market share grab, and positive regulatory development with the increase in mandated biodiesel blend from 2% to 3% starting Oct. 1, 2024,” D&L said.

However, the growth was tempered by the increase in commodity prices such as coconut oil, which saw a 74% average increase for the quarter amid tight supply due to the effects of El Niño last year.

Among segments, the food ingredients division posted a 33% volume growth, led by HMSP and commodities.

Chemrez Technologies, Inc. recorded a 27% increase in earnings, driven by its biodiesel division following the higher biodiesel blend.

The specialty plastics division saw a 5% drop in earnings as tariff-related uncertainties hampered business sentiment in the global automotive industry.

The consumer products original design manufacturer division recorded a 30% decline in net income on lower margins, though volume increased by 23% amid easing inflation.

“While volatility is likely to persist in the near term, we remain unfazed and continue to focus on building resiliency and long-term growth strategies,” Mr. Lao said.

“We believe that with our product portfolio, the majority of which cater to basic and essential industries, we will continue to grow and be relevant in an ever-changing business environment and world trade order,” he added.

D&L shares rose by 1.05% or six centavos to P5.76 per share on Wednesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Microsoft launches lower-priced AI laptops with Qualcomm chips

May 8, 2025 | 12:02 am

Surface-Pro-12-inch-Violet-Hero — BLOGS.WINDOWS.COM

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft on Tuesday said it will release a new laptop and tablet with chips from Qualcomm at lower prices than before, aiming to get new artificial intelligence (AI) features to a broader set of customers.

The newest Surface 13-inch laptop and Surface Pro 12-inch tablet will go on sale on May 20, with the laptop starting at $899 and the tablet starting at $799.

Both will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus chips, and they will be priced slightly between competing products from Apple such as its MacBook Air, which starts at $999 and its iPads, where Air Pro models start at $649 and $999.

But Microsoft’s new offerings will be its lowest-priced yet with support for what it calls “Copilot+” features that it introduced last year. That bundle of features includes things like the ability to ask how to change the computer’s settings as a natural language question rather than sifting through settings menus or the ability to ask for an AI-generated first draft of a word document.

Microsoft has set performance computing chip requirements for the new Copilot+ label, which has meant that most of those AI features are only available on machines that cost $1,000 or more.

Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president of Windows and Devices at Microsoft, said the new Surface devices are aimed at getting those features to a broader set of users, especially students or young professionals at the start of their careers.

“We think these new Surface Pro and laptops are for a set of customers for whom affordability is going to be important,” Mr. Davuluri told reporters during a press briefing on April 28. — Reuters

Cooling inflation to drive demand for loans

May 8, 2025 | 12:02 am

BANK of the Philippine Islands President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) expects slower inflation to help drive loan demand as it gives the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) room to cut benchmark borrowing costs further.

“They reported inflation (on Tuesday) at 1.4%. So, that really provides the central bank room to ease monetary policy, which will make consumers a little bit more confident and give corporates the reasons to borrow and to continue to invest,” BPI President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco said in an interview aired on Money Talks with Cathy Yang on One News on Wednesday.

Mr. Limcaoco said consumer confidence remains “very high” even amid the uncertainty caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs and their potential impact on global trade.

“So, it’s looking good for the Philippine economy. We should grow by maybe 5.5% this year given that we have the elections also. And that should be good for the banks.”

Philippine headline inflation eased to 1.4% in April, the slowest pace since November 2019, from 1.8% in March and 3.8% in the same month a year ago. For the first four months, the consumer price index (CPI) averaged 2%, at the low end of the BSP’s 2-4% annual target.

On Wednesday, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. told Bloomberg that the central bank is open to cutting key rates by 75 basis points (bps) more this year following the April CPI result.

The Monetary Board last month resumed its easing cycle after an unexpected pause in February, cutting benchmark rates by 25 bps to bring the policy rate to 5.5%. Its next meeting is on June 19.

“We believe that the Bangko Sentral has room to lower rates, which means there’s a likelihood that they will be cutting policy rates this June — if not this June, then certainly by the next meeting — given the very controlled inflation and the very strong Philippine peso versus the dollar,” Mr. Limcaoco said.

“For BPI, that means time deposit rates should come down in the immediate term, which will help us preserve our net interest margins. But over the long term, loan rates and asset yields will come up, which will shrink our net interest margins over the long run. But all in all, it looks good for credit quality. It looks good for net interest margins. And for the banks, you just need a very disciplined approach to preserving your margins and raising funds.”

Mr. Limcaoco said BPI aims to grow its loan book by 11-12% this year, with the bank expecting its consumer portfolio by about 20% to make up close to 30% of its total loans from the current 28.8% share.

“We’re making progress as a bank to shift our book towards the consumer sector and be more inclusive as a financial institution,” he said.

He added that there could be some asset quality risks as they continue to increase lending to the consumer sector and grow their customer base, like other Philippine banks, but the overall impact is “very manageable.”

BPI’s net income increased by 9% year on year to P16.6 billion in the first quarter.

Its shares closed at P138 apiece on Wednesday, down by P2 or 1.43% from the previous day. — A.M.C. Sy

Business isn’t just about growth — Do you have a scaling mindset?

May 8, 2025 | 12:02 am

If you’ve ever bought anything from Laz Mall or Shopee Mall — and who hasn’t? — you’ve bought from Steve Sy’s Great Deals. Unknown to most, the tech and practical knowhow that moves e-commerce in the Philippines comes from this entrepreneur’s company. Great Deals is involved in everything about e-commerce, from content, online shop creation and management, to warehousing and fulfillment, to analytics. In fact, the reach of Great Deals is so vast that it was recognized by the Financial Times as the fastest growing company in the Asia-Pacific region.

Recently, I had the good fortune to share a microphone with Steve Sy on my podcast. In our conversation, the founder and CEO of Great Deals eCommerce uncovered many of the secrets to his success as an entrepreneur. For Mr. Sy, business isn’t just about growth; it’s about having a scaling mindset.

How does one achieve a scaling mindset? He begins by riffing on a quote by the business speaker Simon Sinek. “Business is a game of endless possibilities,” he says. And harnessing the infinite possibilities of business is at the very center of the scaling mindset that Mr. Sy talks about. Read on, to learn more.

THE 4 Ps
Steve Sy is known as an industry disruptor. He revolutionized online retail when Lazada was starting to explode in 2012. But more than that, he is a business enabler who has helped countless entrepreneurs as well as big brands set up shop online.

What’s even more remarkable about this disruptor and enabler is that he continues to give to the business community through education and learning. You can check out his LinkedIn or his educational business book, Great Debt to Great Deals, which traces his history of being mired in debt to building a company worth over a billion pesos. In this book, he talks about the four Ps: Profitability, Purpose, People, and Planet.

Going back to basics is crucial for him, and he encourages entrepreneurs to examine the four Ps.

“People ask me, what’s the main mission of doing business?” he says. “So sabi ko (I said), there should be four Ps. Number one, the first P, is it needs to be profitable. [Business] needs to be profitable so that you will have sustainability. Number two is purpose.”

He believes that profitability and purpose are linked.

“Why did I put profitability first?” he asks. “Because even though you have a very good purpose, if you’re not profitable, it’s not going to be a business. So, profit can sustain our purpose. Monetary profit is the gas that brings us to our mission.”

For Mr. Sy, truly successful businesses are driven by more than just profit. They transcend functional purpose to embrace their mission.

He gives Great Deals as an example, saying, “Our mission is to uplift Filipino lives through the digital economy.” Segueing into the third and fourth P, he continues, “Number three is to be able to bless our people. And then last but not the least, the fourth P is our planet. Assist the planet, conserve our resources.”

As an example of the four Ps in action, Mr. Sy recalls how many companies like Google and Facebook were downsizing in 2022 and how Great Deals was being influenced by the board to do the same. But instead, they chose to retain their people.

He says, “We made this decision because we want to bless our people… Sometimes you don’t really need to maximize profit, but to optimize that. That’s why we have a lot of benefits for our employees in the company because we want to build the right culture also.”

GROWTH MINDSET VS SCALING MINDSET
With the basics in place, Steve Sy recommends pursuing a scaling mindset instead of a growth mindset.

“There’s a difference between a growth mindset and a scaling mindset,” he says. “Kasi growth mindset, ang sagot lang dyan, dagdag tayo ng tao. [Because with a growth mindset, the only answer is, let’s add more people.] Because when you’re growing your revenue, and sumasabay ang expense mo, that’s growth. [Because when you’re growing revenue, and your expenses are keeping pace, that’s growth.] But there’s no scale in it.”

Scaling is sustainable growth, and it has no limits.

Again, he gives Great Deals as an example. “Last year, we had 38% growth in our company,” he says. “But our OPEX [operating expense] stayed flat. So, it means we’re operating efficiently and scaling up.”

To achieve this, the company automated many of its processes.

“There are a lot of things that you can automate so that you don’t need to add additional cost to your operating expense,” he explains. “So with the use of AI, we are able to reduce 60% of chat support because we’ve used AI in our company. In a sense, even if we grew our company another 200%, we can have the same chat support.”

Balancing the four Ps and a scaling mindset, he says, “And that’s where the blended culture has to come in — the blended culture that you’re using AI and you yourself as the talent.”

In parting, Mr. Sy challenges entrepreneurs, saying, “Now, it’s for the entrepreneurs to look at those opportunities and find those pain points on how they can offer their services or their products so that you can build a very good business.”

RJ Ledesma (www.rjledesma.com) is a Hall of Fame Awardee for Best Male Host at the Aliw Awards, a multi-awarded serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and business mentor, podcaster, an Honorary Consul, and editor-in-chief of The Business Manual. Mr. Ledesma can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. The RJ Ledesma Podcast is available on Facebook, Spotify, Google and Apple Podcasts. Are there entrepreneurs you want Mr. Ledesma to interview? Let him know at ledesma.rj@gmail.com.

Dining In/Out (05/08/25)

May 8, 2025 | 12:02 am

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Elbert’s Collective is closing

THE restaurant Elbert’s Collective in Makati’s Salcedo Village has announced on a Facebook post that it will be closing down by the end of the month. “We are very sad, but we are also very grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve you,” the post says. The restaurant is found at the V Corporate Center, 125 LP Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati.

Unwind at Solaire Resort North’s Skybar

IN ANTICIPATION of Solaire Resort North’s first anniversary, the Skybar is introducing several new offerings with “Dusk and Drinks,” a happy hour inspired by the city skyline and the hues of the sunset that are visible from the bar on the 38^th floor. For P1,688 per person, guests get unlimited tapas, wines, cocktails, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages for two hours. It is available Monday to Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. Midweek calls for celebration with “Ladies’ Night,” Skybar’s newest indulgence on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy an exclusive buy-one-get-one offer on Skybar’s signature cocktails by signing up for Solaire Rewards Lifestyle. Groups of five ladies will receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte when each guest orders any alcoholic beverage. With skyline views as the backdrop, the bar comes alive with music each night, from live jazz and nostalgic retro hits to the electrifying beats of DJ sets by the industry’s finest. For more details, reservations, or inquiries, visit the Solaire Resort North website at sn.solaireresort.com, call 8888-8888, or e-mail sn.reservations@solaireresort.com.

Ascott menu to go 30% plant-based by 2027

HOSPITALITY group The Ascott Limited Philippines has committed to transforming 30% of its menu offerings to plant-based options by 2027, becoming the first in the country’s hospitality sector to formalize such a comprehensive dining initiative. This sustainability commitment begins with a 20% transformation this year across Ascott’s entire portfolio of over 17 properties nationwide. “This commitment to expand our plant-based offerings to 30% of our menus by 2027 reflects our dedication to sustainable hospitality and meeting evolving guest preferences,” said Caleb Han, food and beverage director of The Ascott Limited Philippines in a press release. “As part of our Ascott CARES framework, we recognize the significant environmental benefits of plant-based foods and are proud to lead this transition in the Philippine market. This initiative complements our broader sustainability goals and reinforces our position as an industry leader in responsible hospitality practices.” This commitment builds upon The Ascott Limited Philippines’ portfolio of sustainability initiatives, particularly through its Slow Food Community Linkages program at Citadines Bacolod City. Since October 2024, the property has forged partnerships with local producers, from coffee farmers and Criollo cacao growers to indigenous fruit cultivators. These collaborations have not only spotlighted local ingredients like rare bugnay wild berries and naturally grown coconuts but have also transformed them into signature culinary experiences — from specialty coffee offerings featuring local beans to creative plant-focused dishes using regionally sourced produce.

Dumplings mark Solaire’s Dragon Boat Fest

FEAST on gourmet rice dumplings at Red Lantern in Solaire Resort Entertainment City, exclusively crafted to mark the Dragon Boat Festival on May 31. Choose from six unique flavors of rice dumplings are now available for guests who are dining in or for gifting as packaged sets. There are three flavors of sweet sticky rice dumplings, filled with aged tangerine peel and red bean, honey dates, or a blend of black rice and eight treasure beans (red bean, mung bean, black eye bean, peanut, green pea, barley, and wheat). For a savory option, there are rice dumplings filled with 14-head abalone, dried scallop, mung bean, salted egg yolk, barbecue pork, and shiitake mushrooms; filled with braised pork belly, preserved green mustard, oyster sauce; and one filled with salted egg yolk and Chinese-preserved pork. The Dragon Boat Festival, observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is a remembrance of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister from the Zhou Dynasty Warring States period. In addition to exchanging rice dumplings, this tradition includes dragon boat races, wearing perfume pouches to protect oneself from illnesses, drinking Realgar wine for health, and tying five-color silk threads around the wrist to drive away bad spirits. Solaire Resort Entertainment City’s artisanal rice dumplings can be purchased at Red Lantern until May 31. For more information, visit https://sec.solaireresort.com/offers/dining/red-lantern-flavors-that-stick or call 8888-8888 for orders.

IMI turns profitable in Q1 with $3.3-million income

May 8, 2025 | 12:02 am

AYALA-LED chip manufacturer Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) turned profitable in the first quarter (Q1), posting a $3.3-million net income compared to a $3.7-million net loss last year, driven by cost rationalization efforts.

First-quarter revenue dropped by 14% to $248 million, with its core businesses accounting for $220 million, amid softness in the electronics industry, IMI said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) more than doubled to $16.1 million from $7 million, led by improved cost structures within the group.

“The cost rationalization program we implemented has been instrumental in this quarter’s positive financial results,” IMI Chief Executive Officer Louis Sylvester Hughes said.

“We successfully managed a 14% decrease in core fixed overhead and selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses compared to the first quarter of last year through the consolidation of sites and decentralizing functions back into our operating facilities,” he added.

IMI said it spent $1.6 million in capital expenditure during the first quarter.

“A similar restructuring approach was taken in VIA, yielding an additional $6.3 million of cost reduction, mainly from SG&A. The euro’s appreciation against the dollar also contributed positively to the bottom line, with a group foreign exchange gain of $1.4 million,” IMI said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hughes said IMI is seeing opportunities despite tariff-related uncertainties.

“Our broad geographic footprint enables us to work closely with customers and adapt supply chains to mitigate these pressures. We remain focused on securing new business and further improving profitability as market conditions stabilize,” Mr. Hughes said.

“With a more agile organization in place, we are better equipped to adapt to the dynamic market environment and further improve on the 6.5% EBITDA we achieved this quarter,” he added.

IMI shares rose by 8.57% or 18 centavos to P2.28 apiece on Wednesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Cisco shows quantum networking chip, opens new lab

May 8, 2025 | 12:01 am

SAN FRANCISCO — Cisco Systems on Tuesday showed a prototype chip for networking quantum computers together and said it is opwening a new lab in Santa Monica, California, to further pursue quantum computing.

The chip uses some of the same technology as current networking chips and would help link together smaller quantum computers into larger systems. But Cisco also believes it will have practical applications before those computers become mainstream, such as helping financial firms sync up the timing of trades or helping scientists detect meteorites.

“There are a whole bunch of use cases,” Vijoy Pandey, senior vice president of Cisco’s Outshift innovation incubator, told Reuters. “You need to synchronize clocks and the timestamps on all of these snapshots that are taking place from across the globe.”

Cisco is the latest mainstream tech firm to jump into quantum computing.

Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft and Amazon have all announced quantum computing chips in recent months, and Nvidia plans to open its own quantum computing lab. Startups such as PsiQuantum are also raising hundreds of millions of dollars to build systems.

While those firms all vie to create more and more “qubits” — the fundamental unit of quantum computers — Cisco is working to link them up. The company says its chip, which it developed with researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara, works by causing quantum entanglement in pairs of photons, and then sending one of the pair to two separate quantum computers.

For a short time, Cisco says, the quantum computers can use those entangled photons to communicate instantaneously, no matter how far apart they are — a phenomenon of quantum physics that Albert Einstein referred to as “spooky action at a distance.”

Mr. Pandey emphasized that Cisco does not yet have a timeline for when the chip will generate revenue and that the chip is only a prototype.

“To build out that quantum network, the first building block that you need is an entanglement chip,” Mr. Pandey said. “Here’s the first building block of that.” — Reuters

Job losses by Industry

May 8, 2025 | 12:01 am

THE Philippines’ unemployment rate inched up to 3.9% in March from a month earlier, even as the number of jobless Filipinos fell by the tens of thousands from a month and a year earlier, according to the statistics agency. Read the full story.

PBB net income up 15% in Q1

May 8, 2025 | 12:01 am

PHILIPPINE BUSINESS BANK, Inc. (PBB) saw its net income rise by 15.36% year on year to P590.02 million in the first quarter.

This translated to a return on equity of 12.08% and a return on assets of 1.45%, PBB said in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Wednesday.

“The bank’s marketing efforts continued to focus on high-quality accounts, particularly existing clients and borrowers with a track record of sustainable earnings, and our rapidly growing teacher’s loans business. Strengthened collection policies, restructuring programs, and the usual focus on deepening relationships with our SME (small and medium enterprises) clients continue to be our primary objectives,” PBB President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman Rolando R. Avante said.

“PBB remains committed to its long-term strategic direction, continuously strengthening its services, investing in new technology and capabilities, and leveraging its extensive network to better serve clients and drive growth,” he said.

The bank’s net interest income rose by 12.38% to P1.83 billion last quarter from P1.62 billion a year prior. Interest income increased by 14.2% to P2.88 billion, while interest expenses climbed by 17.51% to P1.05 billion.

Net interest margin stood at 4.77% in the first quarter, up from 4.28% last year.

“Amidst the challenging business climate driven by the global economic tensions, the bank maintained healthy interest margins,” Mr. Avante said.

Other income likewise climbed by 48.46% to P234.58 million.

Meanwhile, other expenses rose by 9.39% year on year to P1.15 billion in the first quarter. This resulted in a cost-to-income ratio of 55.9% as of March, up from 54.83% at end-2024.

“Taking a proactive risk mitigation stance, PBB accelerated its provisioning strategy by setting aside P175 million in loan loss provisions in the first quarter of 2025, more than triple the P50 million recorded in the same period last year,” Mr. Avante said.

PBB’s loans and receivables stood at P122.8 billion at end-March. The bank’s nonperforming loan ratio was at 5.61%.

On the funding side, total deposits stood at P131.01 billion.

This resulted in a loans-to-deposit ratio of 93.74%.

PBB’s total resources stood at P160.79 billion as of March, while total equity was at P20.08 billion.

Its capital adequacy ratio was at 13%, its common equity Tier 1 ratio was at 13%, and its minimum liquidity ratio was at 23.8%.

PBB’s shares closed unchanged at P8.14 apiece on Wednesday. — A.M.C. Sy

Canceled meetings

May 8, 2025 | 12:01 am

CORPORATE MEETINGS are set at least two weeks in advance, checking on the availability of the participants. The occasion of online meetings, even in these post-pandemic days, requires attendees to be available, and on time. Sometimes, they are asked to join much earlier than scheduled, when the previous meeting has a short agenda — you can now click on the link.

Unless a meeting is prescribed by the company’s by-laws such as a board meeting, or has a specific time it needs to take place like a conference call with foreign investors, is it unusual for a meeting to be canceled at the last minute? (The meeting needs to be reset.) No reason is needed, when the chair or convenor decides to schedule something else, like a visit to the dentist. The new schedule is not set as the meeting may be canceled altogether.

There are meetings that are hastily arranged. Maybe, someone mis-sends a text message about breakfast and the unintended party asks, “Who’s this?” The sending party identifies himself and pleasantries are then exchanged: “Oh, I haven’t seen you in ages. Why don’t we have lunch instead?”

This casual invitation to a meeting is too easily canceled. Two days before the supposed lunch is to take place, one or both accidental lunch mates send a message, “Can we reschedule after Bonifacio Day? I need to meet with a defense lawyer on a paternity suit.” This cancelled lunch then falls outside the to-do list and then is casually junked. Neither party will find the need to resurrect the idea until one bumps into the other at a mall.

Petitioners who arrange meetings with those who dispense favors may not even be getting any response from the secretary. If a date for dinner is set, usually far into the future, it is seldom calendared. Appeals for confirmation a week before can be met with a vague shrug. (Yes, Sir, I know you already have a rock band to provide the entertainment for your 80^th birthday but the boss must fly to The Hague tomorrow to show support.)

When a meeting is called by a powerful person summoning someone lower in the food chain, the appointment is still tentative. The higher-up can unexpectedly find the meeting unnecessary — I’ll just send you an e-mail.

Canceled meetings can be welcome when there is no compelling reason for them to take place. There is this chunk of time freed up in the calendar that can be put to good use by calling yet another meeting with another person… who can also choose to cancel later.

Canceling meetings too often is perceived as a bad habit. The frequency and routine nature of last-minute changes of appointments can be a trait that attaches to someone considered unreliable in his commitments.

Social meetings, usually called “get-togethers,” to differentiate from formal conferences, can involve at least five people. There is a greater likelihood for these to push through even if one or two cancel at the last minute — I just got struck with vertigo.

Of course, weddings and birthdays are scheduled months before and often take place as planned. Cancellations on these occasions can be dramatic, especially when involving the celebrants. Guests not showing up after confirming attendance and being counted on the guest list can invite lifelong feuds. (You should at least have sent the gift.)

When bumping into someone at a mall, the small talk that arises is replete with vague promises of getting together after not meeting for so long. (How many grandchildren do you have?) That open-ended event is unlikely to take place. No specific date is set. (Let’s get together before the next solar eclipse.)

Some meetings are seldom canceled, even moved earlier with anticipation and bated breath. These entail mutually satisfying expectations between two parties. It can involve money changing hands for favors granted, or just a clandestine rendezvous. The venue is usually out of the way and unlikely to raise the possibility of bumping into other parties seeking to have lunch sometime. Taking selfies is not an option.

Cancelling meetings may be a cultural trait. It entails a social hierarchy, as well as obligations too easily shrugged off. Always, there’s something important that requires more immediate attention than a simple lunch.

Tony Samson is chairman and CEO of TOUCH xda

ar.samson@yahoo.com

Four housekeepers accuse Smokey Robinson of sexual assault

May 8, 2025 | 12:01 am

FOUR anonymous housekeepers sued legendary Motown singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson on Tuesday for $50 million, alleging that he sexually assaulted them for years while his wife covered up the abuse and contributed to a hostile work environment.

Representatives for Mr. Robinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the accusations could not be independently verified.

The plaintiffs, who sued under Jane Doe pseudonyms to protect their privacy, accused Mr. Robinson, 85, of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, and gender violence at Mr. Robinson’s home in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles, starting as early as 2007 and continuing until 2024.

The four women, “identified as Hispanic,” also alleged labor violations denying them proper pay before they quit their jobs, saying they did not come forward sooner due to the shame in their culture associated with sexual assault, fear of losing their low-paying jobs, and Mr. Robinson’s celebrity status.

The lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court also names Mr. Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson, alleging she screamed at the employees with “ethnically pejorative words and language.”

Three of the accusers appeared wearing masks and dark glasses at a Los Angeles press conference with their lawyers, and the fourth appeared remotely.

“Obviously no amount of money can compensate these women for what Mr. Robinson subjected them to. But given the gravity of Mr. Robinson’s despicable and reprehensible misconduct… this amount is clearly warranted,” attorney John Harris told reporters.

Jane Doe 1 accused Mr. Robinson of painfully penetrating her and committing other unwanted sexual acts at least seven times upon summoning her to a bedroom, with the final occurrence on Feb. 17, 2024, two days before Mr. Robinson’s 84^th birthday.

The other plaintiffs accused Mr. Robinson of similar offenses, with Jane Does 2 and 3 each alleging at least 20 assaults.

Their lawyers said they would welcome a criminal investigation but have yet to be contacted by prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said it was not under review because law enforcement had not presented a case. Los Angeles police said they had no statement on the matter.

Mr. Robinson shot to fame in the 1960s when he played an instrumental role in the rise of the Motown sound as the silky voiced singer of “Tears of a Clown,” recording more than 30 hits as a solo performer or with The Miracles, a vocal group of Mr. Robinson’s former Detroit schoolmates. — Reuters