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Going beyond casinos

MACAU is trying to develop new ways to bring tourists to the city, by diversifying its base from gaming and casinos.

“The focus is to do non-gaming (activities). We feel that going forward, we don’t want to be just relying on one part of the tourism mix,” said Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, said during a press conference. New contracts between the government and the gaming operators means that “They’re investing a lot in new non-gaming facilities, as well as events.”

Industries the city will be focusing on include health and wellness, technology, wealth and finance, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions).

Compared to other countries, Macau opened up rather late after the COVID-19 pandemic cooled down. The city and Special Administrative Region only fully opened their doors in January this year, said Ms. De Senna Fernandes. They saw an uptick of tourist arrivals since June of this year, with 120,000 foreign visitors (from outside Mainland China and Hong Kong) visiting every month.

“We’re aiming at probably 25 million (tourists) by the end of this year,” she said, noting that in 2019, before the world shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, their tallies numbered to more than 29 million tourists. “The good news is that people are staying longer. The profile of visitors is younger, and the other thing is that they’re spending more.”

Meanwhile, City of Dreams Manila’s parent, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, announced the opening of a sales office in its Manila property. According to Kevin Benning, Senior Vice-President and Property General Manager of Studio City in Macau, this was to facilitate easier booking for MICE-related business, as well as to allow Filipino visitors to plan trips across Macau. “This opens up a whole new segment,” he said. “We’ll be able to coordinate all of that for you, from any of our Melco-based properties.” — Joseph L. Garcia

Ayala unit, Germany’s Bosch to open more PHL service centers

ACMOTORS.COM.PH

AYALA Corp.’s automotive unit AC Motors has tied up with the local unit of German engineering firm Bosch in a partnership deal that targets the opening of 60 service facilities in the next five years.

“Our immediate plan will be to open up 20 service facilities within the first 12 months. We are looking at at least 60 service facilities in the next five years,” Antonio A. Zara III, president of AC Motors, said at the signing ceremony on Wednesday.

“We are proud to embark on the journey alongside our strong partner the Ayala Group, to reshape the car service scene today in the Philippines by incorporating integrated vehicle technologies and expanding our global network of independent workshops,” said Marcio Coelho, vice-president of Bosch Automotive Aftermarket ASEAN.

Currently, 12,000 Bosch Car Service centers are spread across 150 countries, with 12 of them in the Philippines,  Mr. Coelho said.

“In the last quarter of 2023, our immediate priority is the conversion of the 12 existing outlets into the new standards that we have,” Mr. Zara said.

Bosch Car Service is said to offer one-stop-shop services as it covers mechanical repairs to intricate electronics, engine systems, safety features, comfort upgrades, transmission expertise, and a host of other services and diagnostics.

“Accessibility to these services is paramount, especially in the Philippines, where the pace of transportation infrastructure and demands result from the rapid growth of the country’s economy,” said Paulo Duarte, managing director of Bosch Philippines.

AC Motors President Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said: “We are very encouraged with the growth that we are seeing in the market right now. There is tremendous growth in the new segment and new technologies that we are seeing.”

“I think right now, we are looking to develop an ecosystem that services the customers of today and tomorrow and the partnership with Bosch represents exactly that right now,” he said.

Under the partnership, AC Motors will be the master franchisor of Bosch Car Service in the Philippines, giving the Ayala company the ability to serve owners of internal combustion engine vehicles. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

New look, same taste

WHILE Carmen’s Best ice cream is expanding thanks to its corporate ties to the MVP group — through its partnership with Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), under Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) — it still keeps a taste of the wholesome family goodness we’ve come to know.

Carmen’s Best was established in 2009 by Paco Magsaysay (a descendant of former president Ramon Magsaysay, and the son of former senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.). Last year, the conglomerate acquired a 51% stake in Carmen’s Best, while Mr. Magsaysay and his family retained 49%. The Carmen’s Best group consists of Carmen’s Best Dairy Products, Inc., Carmen’s Best International Dairy Co., Inc., Real Fresh Dairy Farms, Inc., and The Laguna Creamery, Inc.

Earlier this week, the brand launched two commercials — one on how the ice cream is made with fresh ingredients, another featuring a child and her ill grandmother — three holiday flavors, and new packaging, in an event at BGC.

The holiday flavors are Eggnog (with a cinnamon base), S’mores (with a marshmallow base and graham crackers), and Mint Chocolate.

The new packaging is quite different from the simple graphic blue and white original, which was consistent throughout the line, with just the flavor’s name distinguishing between the pints. Now each flavor will be represented by graphics of the ingredients it’s made with, with a color palate of white and gold. All these will be centered around a single drop of milk. “At the heart of it is that milk drop, which represents what makes it unique,” MPAV Chief Commercial Officer Toby Gatchalian said in an interview.

During the event, it was also announced that the brand will be opening a second store in SM Mall of Asia (its first being in Rockwell).

OF COWS AND KALE
MPAV Chief Executive Officer Jovy Hernandez told BusinessWorld that they will be building the country’s largest dairy facility, also in Laguna, where Carmen’s Best’s plant is located. The facility will house at least 1,000 cows, 600 of which will be milk-producing. As of the moment, Mr. Hernandez said that they have 100 cows. “Kapag naging 600 iyan, can you imagine? It’s six times the production.”

When they acquired Carmen’s Best last year, it was because they saw gaps in the dairy industry. “We discovered that only 1% of milk production in the Philippines was local,” he said. They promise to keep the quality though: “When we invested, we said we need to be able to keep what has been developed, which we think is best. The no-shortcut policy is still there,” he said, talking about the use of 100% fresh milk in Carmen’s Best products.

They’re moving into other pastures as well: last year they announced a new greenhouse project, with 3.5 hectares in Bulacan, said Mr. Hernandez. This aims to produce green, leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, with harvest time set every 27 days for the whole year round. “This is like a food factory for us. The promise is for us, that once at full capacity, we’ll be producing 1,600 metric tons of vegetables annually.”

He pointed out that before the pandemic, MPIC was all about infrastructure, with holdings in hospitals, tollways, energy, water, and telecommunications. “During the pandemic, when there were a lot of challenges in the distribution of food, we said agri is one fantastic pillar of any economy. Why aren’t we doing anything in the agriculture side?”

“There has to be a more conscious effort from the group — from the private sector in general — [that we] should be looking at the agricultural sector for food sustainability,” he said.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Joseph L. Garcia

Globe blocks nearly 3 billion spam, scam messages 

Globe Telecom, Inc. has blocked almost 3 billion spam and scam messages to date, the telecommunications company said.

“In line with this proactive step, we reaffirm our commitment to reducing scams and fraudulent activities, ensuring that every message sent and received is one of trust,” Anton Bonifacio, chief information security officer at Globe, said in a statement on Wednesday.

As of September, Globe blocked a combined 2.59 billion spam and scam messages and deactivated about 4,733 SIMs. It also blacklisted 150,287 SMS linked to fraudulent activities.

The company has so far invested $20 million to upgrade its spam and scam detection and blocking mechanisms.

The telecommunications company said it has started to filter all person-to-person SMS with clickable links within its network as a move to reduce scams and fraud.

Globe’s statement follows the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) mandating all telecommunication companies to block text messages with clickable links.

In September, the NTC issued an amendment to a memorandum directing all telcos to block and deactivate text messages with clickable domains, URLs, and QR codes amid issues of malware, cyberattacks and scams.

“As text scams continue unabated, Globe reiterates its dedication to collaborating with government bodies, especially the NTC, in the relentless campaign against fraud and other forms of cybercrime,” Globe said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

English sparkling wine gets extra fizz from sustainability

ALEXANDER NAGLESTAD-UNSPLASH

BOXLEY, England — For hundreds of years Britons have celebrated by drinking French Champagne. But with vineyards now dotted across hills in southern England and sustainability concerns growing, local fizz is emerging as the drink of choice.

Britain is still the world’s second-biggest importer of Champagne, a favorite tipple of Winston Churchill, who said: “In victory I deserve it, in defeat, I need it.”

But in recent decades temperatures warmed by climate change have provided better growing conditions for grapes in England. Quality has improved, and English wine is no longer mocked by continental neighbors who once joked it tasted of rain.

At the same time, rising concern about carbon emissions is leading many British consumers and corporations to opt for local produce over imports where they can.

These trends are creating huge momentum: viticulture is now Britain’s fastest-growing agricultural sector, and the UK is planting vines more quickly than most of the world’s biggest wine producing countries.

Britain is forecast to produce 22 million bottles of wine a year by 2030, a sharp rise from about 12 million bottles last year, according to industry body WineGB.

“There’s so much demand for English wine we just cannot keep up,” said Chapel Down’s operations director and head winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire, as he oversaw workers hand-harvesting dense bunches of Chardonnay grapes at Boxley on the rolling Kent Downs.

Two thousand years after the Romans first brought vines to Britain, English winemakers are going after Champagne’s market, stressing the geological similarities of southern England’s chalky slopes to those of its French home region.

Not wanting to miss out, Taittinger and Pommery, two of France’s best-known Champagne houses, have bought land and planted vines in England, while the world’s biggest sparkling wine company, Henkell Freixenet, acquired an English wine estate, Bolney, in 2022.

At last year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, the UK won its highest ever number of medals. Winemakers say it’s that, plus the “buy local” movement which sees produce from closer to home as more environmentally and socially responsible, which is driving sales.

“Local is better when the quality is good,” said Geneva Guerin, 45, a documentary film maker who was sampling Coates & Seely Brut Reserve at an event in central London. The fizz is grown in Hampshire, less than 70 miles away.

There are now more than 900 vineyards in England. Hectarage has quadrupled since 2000, replacing crops, orchards, and pastures.

“Because we’re a young industry, we’re able to put that (sustainability) at the heart of our design,” Ned Awty, the chief executive of WineGB, said.

The group is working on a project that will give a clear picture of the carbon footprint of a bottle of English wine but in the meantime, Mr. Awty said, lower transport emissions compared to imported wine are proving enough to win over consumers.

NET ZERO
As events organizers contemplate net zero targets, serving English wine is one way of creating an “obvious statement” about sustainability, said Hamish Anderson, chief executive of Tate Enterprises, which runs the Tate art galleries’ events and restaurants business.

“Clients are asking us more and more about sustainability. English sparkling and still wine feeds into that narrative,” he said.

English producers now account for about 60% of sparkling wine served at events held at the Tate, with the rest Champagne, and Mr. Anderson expects it to head to 70%.

In the UK market for sparkling wine, English fizz accounts for 3% of volumes compared to Champagne’s 12%. The former is growing, up 22% in 2021-2022, while Champagne fell 1%, according to data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Bottles of both tend to cost upwards of £20 — more than double the price of Italian Prosecco, the market leader.

English fizz currently accounts for 25% of sales for events run by Searcys, a British events and restaurants company, up from almost nothing five years ago, and its head of Champagne Martin Dibben forecasts it will be 50% in the next five years.

“The sustainability is the thing that tempts them,” he said.

Chapel Down, England’s biggest wine producer, posted a 21% rise in sales in the first six months of 2023, and is aiming to double 2021 revenues by 2026. To raise brand awareness, it sponsors cricket and horseracing events, and is opening up a second winery for visitors.

“People come, they can see the vines, see the soil, taste the wines, make that connection, and that’s really powerful,” said Donaghay-Spire. — Reuters

Appealing flavors

E-LIQUIDS UK-UNSPLASH

If the government is serious about particularly curbing teenage smoking and vaping — or the use of electronic cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) — then it should start regulating the efforts of cigarette and vape producers to introduce more flavors and make their products more appealing to the younger market.

It is bad enough that a recent observational study by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) found “that tobacco and nicotine product sale and advertising persist within proximity of schools in the Philippines, despite regulations prohibiting sales, displays, advertisements, and promotions of tobacco products within 100 meters.”

But another study by IGTC published recently also found that countries like the Philippines and Vietnam also lacked laws to regulate the use of different “flavors” in the production and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Of course, the concern is that the use of flavors, perhaps to make nicotine delivery more palatable, is also making tobacco products more youth-friendly.

“Tobacco product flavors can increase product appeal, adolescent initiation and experimentation, and difficulty quitting. Flavored tobacco products are not restricted in Vietnam or the Philippines despite the high smoking prevalence among those 15 years of age and older (24% and 23%, respectively). There are no published reports to our knowledge on the levels of flavor chemicals in the cigarettes sold in these two countries,” noted a journal article published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

The article was written by scientific experts from IGTC, which was formed in 1998 as part of the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. IGTC is a partner in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use and a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization. Its mission is to prevent death and disease from tobacco products by generating evidence to support tobacco interventions.

In December 2022 to January 2023, IGTC monitored the local sale and marketing of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTP) at over 6,000 retailers within 200 meters of 353 schools in nine cities and regions. And, it found that “2,070 cigarette, 43 e-cigarette, and 33 HTP retail locations were observed within 100 meters of the majority of schools,” in violation of Philippine law.

In a newer study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research in August, IGTC experts also noted that “a range of flavored cigarette products are being offered by tobacco companies in Vietnam and the Philippines, presumably to maximize cigarette sales. Regulation of flavor chemicals should [thus] be considered in these two countries.”

They added that “Article 9 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), ratified by both Vietnam and the Philippines, states that ‘there is no justification for permitting the use of ingredients, such as flavoring agents, which help make tobacco products attractive’… Analyses found that cigarettes purchased in Vietnam and the Philippines contained menthol and other flavor chemicals. Tobacco companies are offering multiple flavor chemical profiles and nominally nonflavored versions in these countries.”

At this point, the Philippines already finds it difficult to strictly and effectively enforce regulations on advertising, promotion, and sale of cigarettes and tobacco and vaping products. And while it can work to further limit youth access to tobacco products and alternatives, this effort should include regulation on the introduction of flavors. The IGTC study noted that tobacco products sold in the Philippines had three main flavor groupings: menthol, nonflavored, and menthol plus other flavor chemicals (OFCs).

As noted by Lauren Czaplicki, a scientist at IGTC and co-author of the study, “Flavored tobacco products are a culprit in extending the tobacco epidemic, making cigarettes appealing to consumers — including young people… By banning and removing flavored tobacco products from the market, countries can successfully counter the tobacco industry’s sugar-coated, predatory marketing tactics.”

The IGTC study found that many cigarette brands sold in Vietnam and the Philippines contained menthol and OFCs. And this is concerning since “menthol makes cigarettes more palatable and can suppress respiratory symptoms; the tobacco industry intentionally manipulates the level of menthol in cigarettes brand variants to appeal to different consumers; and, individuals who regularly smoke menthol may prefer variants with higher menthol levels. Furthermore, those who smoke menthol have a lower likelihood of quitting despite making more quit attempts.”

Chemical analysis by experts from IGTC also showed the “presence of OFCs in brand variants purchased in both countries, either alone or, more commonly, in combination with menthol. Oftentimes, OFCs and menthol were found in flavor capsules or flavor threads… Flavor capsules and threads are being used to appeal to new consumers.”

“Evidence indicates that flavor chemicals, including fruit flavors, menthol and clove, and flavor capsule cigarettes, are appealing to young people. Filipino young adults even liken flavor capsule cigarettes to candy. The present study indicates that flavor chemicals and flavor delivery technology are readily available for sale in Vietnam and the Philippines, suggesting a comprehensive flavored tobacco ban that includes all flavors present in any component part of a cigarette or tobacco product is required in both countries,” IGTC added.

If not a ban, at least some regulation of flavors should be considered, as the Philippines is falling behind its goal of a 30% reduction in smoking by 2025. IGTC said, adding that “a comprehensive flavor ban that includes all flavors present in all cigarette components, including flavor capsules and threads, is one pathway to reduce cigarette sales and promote smoking cessation in these two countries and the Western Pacific region.”

At this point, the Philippine effort to curb youth smoking is far from comprehensive, despite the increase in excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products in recent years. The recent IGTC study talks only about the use of flavors in cigarettes. It will be interesting to wait for a similar study on the use of flavors by vaping products and nicotine delivery systems.

 

Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippine Press Council

matort@yahoo.com

ICTSI unit starts building Indonesia terminal

A UNIT of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has started the construction of a multipurpose terminal in East Java, Indonesia, the listed port operator said on Wednesday.

“We are very excited with this new terminal development as it will provide a new and more accessible gateway for our hinterland customers in Lamongan, Tuban and up to central Java,” Patrick Chan, chief executive officer of East Java Multipurpose Terminal (EJMT), said in a media release.

The ICTSI unit broke ground last week for the terminal’s development, which is scheduled to be operational by September next year.

“Catering to an already thriving industry with this new investment, EJMT is well-positioned to support the growing economy of East Java and Indonesia,” Mr. Chan said.

The terminal will include a 300-meter quay line, breakwater, super-heavy lift breakbulk deck, and dredging of the navigational channel to -13.5 meters,” ICTSI said.

It said the construction will be supported by two mobile harbor cranes and cargo handling equipment.

EJMT is an international gateway in Lamongan Regency of East Java province, ICTSI said, adding that the multipurpose terminal facility will be located in the 80-hectare Lamongan Shorebase complex, which caters to the specialized offshore oil and gas industry.

“The development of EJMT will provide domestic and international access to our existing and new customers, who will also benefit from the reduced overall supply chain costs,” David Lim, CEO of PT Eastern Logistics, the operator of Lamongan Shorebase.

EJMT is ICTSI’s joint venture with Indonesian oil and gas company East Log Holdings.

At the local bourse on Wednesday, shares in ICTSI fell by 80 centavos or 0.37% to end at P214.20 apiece. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Xi and Putin think they’re winning — and maybe they are

COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG -WWW.KREMLIN.RU

WITH hindsight, the last time Vladimir Putin visited Xi Jinping in China, just three weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, was a moment of hubris — two supremely confident leaders marking their bid to shake up a world organized by and for the US and its allies. Well, they certainly shook it up, even if not in the way they intended.

Putin’s catastrophic error in attempting to invade a neighbor the size of France as though it were a glorified training exercise has, by some estimates, resulted in halving Russia’s military strength. The supercar that was China’s economy, meanwhile, has sputtered into the slow lane, with forecasts of when it will overtake the US in current dollar terms pushed into the future. So, it’s tempting to imagine Xi and an increasingly dependent Putin humbled at their reunion, the sinews of their “unlimited’’ bond already tearing. But that, to borrow a wonderful phrase from Sarah Paine, a professor of history and grand strategy at the US Naval War College, would be playing “half-court tennis” — the kind where you never see the next ball coming because you aren’t paying attention to the other side’s game.

Paine says that to understand why China and Russia do what they do, you need to see them for what they are: continental powers in a global order that was organized over centuries by successive maritime powers, first British and then American. The difference is big. Maritime nations ultimately are about trade, and that in turn tends to attract allies and encourage the development of international rules because they enable wealth creation. The territorial wars that a continental world order based on spheres of influence implies are, by contrast, huge destroyers of wealth and value. Ukraine is a clear example.

Sea powers do attack and subdue other countries, as the US did in Iraq and the British Empire in its many colonies. They also break the rules when it suits them. Yet the expeditionary wars they fight are necessarily smaller and overseas, taking a far lower toll on lives and wealth at home. Rarely do they conquer territory for its own sake, focusing more on containment and regime change to assert their interests. They also prefer stable to unstable neighbors because failed states tend not to do much trade.

Continental powers, by contrast, care a lot about territory and will, at times, pursue its acquisition to their own economic detriment. Historically, continental powers also are prone to destabilizing neighbors if they can, either to later absorb them or ensure that no powerful threat emerges on their doorstep. That habitual, sometimes justified and, at other times, self-fulfilling paranoia also weakens their most likely trading partners.

“It’s what Putin is doing now” in Ukraine, says Paine, who in her book The Wars for Asia describes this process of neighborhood destabilization, followed by conquest and absorption as the Russian Empire’s successful MO over a period of centuries. It’s possible for a country to change from continental mode to join the maritime order, she says — the US did it — but that must come from within.

China operates a little differently, and with its massive exports is very deliberately acquiring aspects of a maritime power that Russia hasn’t. Yet Xi and Putin are drawn together by an even more potent force than their geopolitical positions: self-preservation.

The Communist Party of China can’t afford to have Taiwan remain an offshore model of a successful democracy that creates better outcomes for a mainly Han Chinese population than does the Party. Nor could Putin afford to allow Ukraine to become the European success story that Ukrainians demanded during the so-called Maidan protests of 2014. These priorities are non-negotiable for Putin and Xi, and therefore dangerous. They already led to one war and could produce a second.

Both men believe they are being squeezed by the West, which is trying to contain ambitions they consider vital interests. Xi and Putin will endure economic opportunity costs and suppress any domestic opposition to achieve them. The result is an emerging form of Cold War that aligns Eurasia’s continental powers — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — against the US and its allies in Europe and Asia, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK and most of the European Union.

Whether or not Putin gave Xi details of his imminent plans to invade Ukraine at their 2022 meeting, the common goal outlined in their joint statement was clear: the “redistribution of power in the world,” an end to US dominance and the redefinition of democracy and human rights as whatever a given government says they are.

For sure, Xi didn’t anticipate any more than Putin that Russia’s war machine would be humiliated in Ukraine or that the West would respond not by imploding but also uniting and expanding. In the same way, it’s doubtful that when the two leaders met in February 2022, Xi expected the current conflagration in the Middle East.

But in terms of a zero-sum geopolitical confrontation with the US, trouble in Ukraine or the Middle East is a win for China. Both draw on US resources and attention. Both upset the status quo. As the US becomes embroiled in Israel’s revenge against Hamas in Gaza, its alliances with the Gulf Arab states will be strained, creating opportunities for Xi.

So, just as Putin immediately laid the blame for Hamas’ horrific attack on Israeli civilians at the door of the US, China has avoided any public condemnation of Hamas, while criticizing Israel for its collective punishment of Palestinians in response.

By courting the Muslim world in this way, Putin and Xi are doubling down on their success in persuading the so-called Global South that the problem isn’t Russian aggression in Ukraine or Hamas’ grotesque terrorist acts in Israel, but rather the continued colonialism of the US and Europe. Never mind Russian suppression of Muslim Tatars in occupied Crimea or Chinese internment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. The narrative works because the Palestinian injustice, with its colonial overtones and deep history in centuries of struggle over control of the Holy Land, can enrage the Arab Street like no other.

So get ready for more tenacious anti-Western messaging from Xi and Putin this week. They may have suffered some economic setbacks, and in Russia’s case, military, but when it comes to rallying other nations to their cause, they’re making good progress.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Dining In/Out (10/19/23)

Discovery Primea presents special Colombian dinner

THE LATEST in Discovery Primea’s Elements of Flavor collaboration series at Flame Restaurant is “Sabor Colombiano,” which will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. It will feature the vibrant and authentic flavors of Colombia in a menu developed by guest chef Carolina Asmar. Seating times for the dinner that day will be 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m. at the hotel’s Flame Restaurant. The price is P4,800++ per person. The multi-course menu starts with Pasabocas and ends with Dulces Tropicales. The centerpiece are the main dishes: Seafood & Lychee Ceviche, with grilled lobster, octopus, prawns, and Lapu-Lapu; Pescado a la Criolla which is Chilean sea bass, accompanied by shrimp-infused Arroz Caldoso; Costillas a la Cartagenera, slow-cooked US beef short ribs with a velvety green plantain purée, Salsa de Panela, and creamy avocado. To complement the dishes, Flame Restaurant has selected Spanish wines to pair with the dishes. To learn more about the event, visit https://bit.ly/SaborColombianoAtFlame. Reserve a spot at the dinner by contacting Discovery Primea at 7955-8888 or primea.restaurants@discovery.com.ph.

Oktoberfest at Newport World Resorts

AT NEWPORT World Resorts’ first authentic German celebration of Oktoberfest, German sausage is a focus. The annual beer festival makes its debut in the country’s pioneer integrated resort with a platter of the best German sausages and other festive fare. For three nights from Oct. 19 to 21 at the Ballroom, 3F Hilton Manila, Newport World Resorts’s own culinary team sets forth a premium German feast. The sausage platter features five varieties: bratwurst, bockwurst, weisswurst or white sausage, nurnberger, and Hungarian sausage. Served alongside the sausage platter is a full spread of German dishes, from appetizers to desserts: fresh pretzels and rolls; potato and Munich salads; a charcuterie board; chicken schnitzel and pork knuckles; German egg noodles; and baked apple strudel, among many others. The Weihenstephan Brewery will bring in premium bottomless Bavarian beers. The festival also spotlights live entertainment from the AnTon Showband, fun drinking games, and major prizes. For P5,200 nett per head, join the party of free-flowing food and beer on Oct. 19 to 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. For tickets and inquiries, contact the Hilton Manila Sales Team at 0917-848-6404 and 0917-811-0731, or e-mail hiltonmanila_events@hilton.com, or the Newport World Resorts Sales Team at 0917-872-8734 and 0917-878-8568.

Oktoberfest and a spooky cake of the month

CROWNE PLAZA Manila Galleria is celebrating both Oktoberfest and Halloween this month. There is an October-feast ongoing at Seven Corners until Oct. 21, with a special German food station serving soft pretzels, pork knuckles, sausages, and more. The buffet lunch is P2,700 net while the buffet dinner is P2,900 net. Reserve seats through 0916-631-7523 or e-mail fandb.reservations@ihg.com. Meanwhile, Agenda’s cake of the month is Ghosted, a coconut dacquoise cake layered with sweet cream cheese frosting, strawberry filling covered with spooky mallows, chocolate and crushed Oreo cookies. It is available at the Lobby Level of the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria for P2,260 net. Order ahead by calling 8790-3100 or e-mailing fandb.reservations@ihg.com. One can also shop at https://tinyurl.com/ywujzjrj.   

Crimson Hotel Filinvest City goes pink

CRIMSON HOTEL Filinvest City goes pink this October with a month-long commitment to breast cancer awareness and support. In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the hotel has a range of special promotions, events, and activities, all dedicated to raising funds for StageZero by Project Pink Support Group Inc. There is the Uncork Hope Wine Festival hosted in the Lobby Lounge of Crimson Hotel on Oct. 20, 6 p.m. It serves as a fundraising initiative to support the advocacy of StageZero. Featuring a selection of fine Chilean (Montes) and Argentinian (Kaiken) wines, tickets for this wine festival can be purchased at https://bit.ly/UncorkHopeWineFestival. Crimson’s Pink Punch Refreshers — pink cocktails and mocktails —are available in all the hotel’s restaurants. Café Eight has a Pink Corner on all Fridays and Saturdays of October at 6 p.m., which is a boutique dinner buffet featuring pink-inspired items. Feast on the Pinktober Bundle at Firehouse Pizza throughout October, offering a variety of pink-themed dishes for four. Baker J offers the Strawberry Pomelos Cake featuring sweet strawberries and zesty pomelo. And at the Lobby Lounge, there are perfect pair offers featuring the Baby Pink Chino or the Rose Boba Bubble Tea. There is the Bloom in Pink Room Package, where a portion of the proceeds from every booking goes towards supporting StageZero. Get a 15% discount on website rates and enjoy an overnight stay for two with a pink surprise room amenity, buffet breakfast, and access to the swimming pool and fitness center. Additionally, it comes with a 20% discount in all restaurants. For those seeking a more extended escape, there is the Weekend Stay & Dine Special. With a minimum two-night stay, one gets accommodations for two, a pink surprise room amenity, buffet breakfast, and a boutique buffet dinner. Take advantage of the facilities, including the swimming pool and fitness center, and cap off the experience with a 20% discount in all restaurants. The Pop of Pink: Art and Fashion Exhibit is ongoing throughout October. It is a collaboration between the artists from the South Arts Festival, featuring creations by Amoire.MNL, Arby Barroso, Beatriz Art & Accessories, Janddie Castillo, Jaque Borges, Jliane Perdiguez, Markus Jentes, Mia Antonio, Nikki Vasallo, and Rachel Le Roux. A portion of the proceeds from purchases of the items will also benefit StageZero’s breast cancer initiatives. For more information, call 8863-2222 or visit www.crimsonhotel.com/manila.

Sheraton Manila Bay holds coffee festival

SHERATON MANILA Bay presents Kapestahan, a weeklong coffee festival in celebration of Coffee Month, which is also one of the four events commemorating Sheraton Manila Bay’s 4th Hotel Anniversary. The event kicked off on Oct. 15 at &More by Sheraton, aiming to showcase the rich coffee culture in the Philippines. The Kapestahan features local beans from Sultan Kudarat, Benguet, Sagada, and Kalinga, heralded by Hasiera Lagom Coffee. Allegro Beverage offers an array of coffee essentials for both seasoned coffee connoisseurs and budding baristas. Kapestahan will culminate on Oct. 21 with the 2nd Latte Art Throwdown Competition, in partnership with Pukaw, MilkLab, Allegro Beverage, and Barhead Solutions. It is a latte art competition that is open to aspiring barista students. Participants have the chance to win the Manila Latte Art Championship Trophy and other prizes. The participation fee is P1,500 net. To join, call 5318-0788 or e-mail sh.mnlsb.fnb@sheraton.com. Sheraton Manila Bay is located at M. Adriatico corner Gen. Malvar Sts., Malate, Manila.

MESA reopens in Greenbelt

MESA Philippines announced the reopening of its flagship restaurant in Greenbelt 5, Makati City. After undergoing renovations, the restaurant opened on Oct. 15 with new dishes added to the menu. Pampano fish is the highlight of these dishes: Pampano Dayap Chili, where the pampano is simmered in dayap (a local citrus) chili sauce and served with a lime wheel, wansoy and siling labuyo (cilantro and birds eye chili); Pampano Ginger Soya, where the fish is simmered in ginger soya sauce served with fresh onion leeks; and Pampano with Latik, where the fish is pan fried and simmered in butter, then topped with latik (caramelized coconut cream), fried garlic, and fresh onion leeks. MESA also has a new pork dish, Grilled Spareribs, and a new noodle dish, Locanton. To commemorate the reopening of the Greenbelt 5 restaurant and the launch of the new menu items, there will be special promotions and discounts which will be announced on its social media channels and official website.

Kenny Rogers presents the new Great Garlic Roast

KENNY Rogers Roasters is highlighting the aroma, depth, and complexity of garlic as it introduces its newest offering, The Great Garlic Roast, which is now available in all Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants. For customers who want to enjoy it solo, there’s The Great Garlic Roast Solo B (P305) consisting of a quarter roast chicken marinated in a special blend of herbs and spices, served with two side dishes including the new Roasted Garlic Carrots, one rice, one Great Garlic Sauce, and the signature corn muffin. There is also The Great Garlic Burger Steak (P305) with the restaurant’s signature 1/3-pound beef patty covered with The Great Garlic Sauce and topped with roasted garlic cloves, served with two side dishes including the new Roasted Garlic Carrots, one rice, and a corn muffin. The Great Garlic Roast is available for dine-in, take-out or delivery through www.kennyrogersdelivery.com.ph, hotline: 8-555-9000, or via Grab Food and Food Panda.

Lemon-Dou holds food and fun fest

LEMON-DOU will be holding the Lemon-Dou: Discover Izakaya food and fun fest on Oct. 21 at Burgos Park in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Introduced in 2021 as Coca-Cola Philippines’ first foray into the alcoholic drinks segment, Lemon-Dou is a full-bodied chūhai (a canned alcoholic drink) featuring the zest of whole crushed lemons, infused in alcohol, and mixed with fizzy bubbles. It has three variants which come in 320ml cans: Honey Lemon (3% ABV), Signature Lemon (5% ABV), and Devil Lemon (9% ABV). So, for those legally allowed to drink, the Lemon-Dou: Discover Izakaya festival will feature oishi bar chow and dishes, and Japanese art, music, and entertainment, from kawaii fashion and arts and crafts to cultural performances and dances. Lemon-Dou ambassador and food influencer Erwan Heussaff and internet chef Ninong Ry will share their passion for Japanese cuisine.

New Popeyes pies come straight from the US

KNOWN for its fried chicken goodness, Popeyes also has sweet meal enders, its Dessert Pies. The brand is introducing its latest dessert addition, the new Strawberry Cheesecake Pie and is bringing back the classic Cinnamon Apple Pie. With their deep-fried turnover-style pie crust, what makes their pie more special is the cinnamon sugar coating to give it a distinct flavor and sweetness. The Strawberry Cheesecake Pie is a combination of sweet fruity strawberry sauce and cream cheese filling. The Cinnamon Apple Pie has a tarty fruity flavor from the cinnamon-enriched apple filling. Both pies come in a bigger serving size at P65 per piece. With the Snack Duo promo, diners can combine a pie with a sundae or other beverages for P99. The new Dessert Pies are available at any Popeyes branch nationwide as well as for delivery via GrabFood, Foodpanda and www.central.ph.

Krispy Kreme’s Halloween doughnuts go nostalgic

HALLOWEEN is set to be a nostalgic one as Krispy Kreme Philippines turns the spotlight on Scooby-doo, the cartoon Great Dane and the gang which have been part of many a childhood since 1969. This Halloween, Krispy Kreme is offering two exclusive doughnuts: the Scooby-doo doughnut, a ring doughnut dipped in blue chocolate coating, topped with orange kreme and lime green icing and decorated with an Scooby-doo candy topper; and the Mystery Machine doughnut, a ring doughnut dipped in dark choco, sprinkled with choco sprinkles, and topped with lime green icing and a Mystery Machine candy topper. There is also the Midnight Mallow Kreme Soda, a cauldron-inspired drink made with Mug Root Beer, toasted mallow flavor, topped with sea salt kreme and finished off with dark chocolate sprinkles. The Scooby-doo Halloween doughnuts start at P70 and the Midnight Mallow Kreme Soda at P135 for 20 oz. They are a limited offer, available until Oct. 31 only. They can be bought at Krispy Kreme branches, delivered by calling 888-79000 or ordering online through now.krispykreme.com.ph, GrabFood, Foodpanda, Pick.a.Roo, OrderMo, and Groover. Meanwhile, BPI Debit cardholders can get three free Original Glazed doughnuts from Krispy Kreme when they spend at least P3,000 in any in-store merchants, anywhere from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. This promo is open to BPI Debit Mastercard, BPI Debit Cirrus, and BPI Debit Cirrus Gold cardholders. To avail, simply present a BPI Debit Card transaction slip dated Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. Online transactions are excluded, and cardholders may avail of the promo only once per redemption day, and per store. The free box of three Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donuts can be redeemed at participating Krispy Kreme stores on the following dates: Oct. 19 and 26, and Nov. 16, 23, and 30. To learn more, visit www.bpi.com.ph.

7-Eleven and Fuwa Fuwa introduces Cheezy Pizza Bread

NEIGHBORHOOD store chain 7-Eleven is collaborating for the third time with Fuwa Fuwa, a manufacturer and retailer of Japanese baked products in the Philippines, this time on a Cheezy Pizza Bread. It is a blend of tomato sauce, two types of cheese, and Japanese mayo generously layered on top of Fuwa Fuwa’s signature fluffy bread. It can be savored as is or popped in the microwave for five seconds. It is available for P39. The previous collaborations between 7-Eleven Soft Bites and Fuwa Fuwa  were the cheesy and creamy Ensaymada Bun (P40) and Loaf Slices (P40) which hit the shelves in 2021. Fuwa Fuwa Cheezy Pizza Bread is now available in all 7-Eleven stores in Luzon.

Frotea announces its sweet rebrand

AFTER expanding its footprint beyond the shores of Palawan, with branches in Batangas, Laguna, Bataan, and South Cotabato, Frotea rebrands from “Froyo + Milktea” with their previous tagline “For You and Me,” to now being the country’s number one “Milktea Dessert Brand’, serving “Summer in Every Cup.” The rebrand was driven by a commitment to innovating and expanding Frotea according to the trends, its consumers, and the times. “At Frotea, we understand that preferences are not static; they evolve with time. That’s why we regularly engage with our valued customers through surveys and conduct rigorous product testing to ensure that our offerings align perfectly with their changing tastes,” said Ana Lustre-Malijan, founder and owner of Frotea, in a press release. To celebrate its 11th anniversary and rebranding, Frotea has added three new menu items: Dark chocolate Ice cream, Panda Ice Cream, and Fish Waffles. To stay up to date with Frotea, its products, branches, and future events, visit its official website and social media pages.

Manila Water service connections hit 1.16 million

MANILA WATER Co., Inc. has tallied service connections in its east zone network at 1.16 million as of the second quarter, it said on Wednesday.

In a media release, the water concessionaire said it had installed 16,728 new water connections as of July. Of the latest count, 16,175 are domestic connections, which is already 81% of the company’s 2023 target.

A total of 553 new commercial and industrial connections were turned on during the period, it said.

According to Manila Water, the steady increase in water connections enabled it to cover more than 7.63 million customers in the east zone of Metro Manila and parts of Rizal.

“Service improvements for our customers are paramount. For the past 26 years, the company has been working closely with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office, the national government, and local government units on service expansion projects,” said Nestor Jeric T. Sevilla, Jr., Manila Water’s corporate strategic affairs group head.

“The company has invested heavily in augmenting the water sources, upgrading its systems, and maintaining the water network,” he added.

The company also reported that 98.35% of the total water service connections ran 24/7 at an average water pressure of 7 psi (pounds per square inch) at ground level.

It attributed the steady flow to its efforts in lowering nonrevenue water, or water wasted due to leaks and illegal connections in the water network, which is below 15%.

Manila Water said it has maintained 100% monthly compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, guaranteeing that water up to the customers’ meters is safe to drink.

The company is set to inaugurate the first phase of its East Bay water treatment plant designed to provide 50 million liters per day of treated water to 300,000 residents in the towns of Jalajala, Pililla, Baras, Cardona, Morong, and Binangonan in Rizal province.

In August, Manila Water applied to extend its revised concession agreement with the MWSS.

Along with this, the company has committed to allocate P1.15 trillion for investments. The move is primarily meant to ensure the continuous provision of water and wastewater services to its customers in the east zone.

At the local bourse on Monday, shares of Manila Water went down by P0.10 or 0.55% to close at P18.20 apiece.

The water concessionaire serves the east zone network of Metro Manila, covering parts of Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, San Juan, portions of Quezon City and Manila, and several towns in Rizal province. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Biometrics and passkeys preferred over passwords in APAC, says study

EVGENIY ALYOSHIN-UNSPLASH

CONSUMERS across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region prefer stronger and user-friendly authentication methods, such as biometrics and passkeys, to secure their online accounts against the rise in phishing attacks in the region, according to a study.

“The persistently high password usage without [two-factor authentication] is a concern, highlighting how little consumers are offered alternatives like biometrics, resulting in lingering usage,” Andrew Shikiar, executive director at FIDO Alliance, said in a statement on Tuesday.

An online authentication barometer from the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance showed that biometrics was the most secured and preferred authentication method among respondents.

The FIDO Alliance’s Online Authentication Barometer study covered 10,010 global consumers and was conducted by Sapio Research.

“Notably, Singapore leads this trend, with 35% of people indicating biometrics as the most secure and 41% selecting it as their most preferred method,” the study said.

It added that 58% of consumers have seen more online scams, with 56% thinking that such dubious messages have grown in sophistication with artificial intelligence (AI).

“The increased accessibility of generative AI tools is a likely driver of this rise in scams and phishing threats,” it said. “Tools like Fraud-GPT and WormGPT, which have been created and shared on the dark web explicitly for use in cybercrime, have made crafting compelling social engineering attacks far simpler, more sophisticated, and easier to do at scale.”

“With new AI tools that make phishing attacks even more convincing and widespread, it’s crucial for service providers in the Asia-Pacific region to pay attention,” Mr. Shikiar said. “Instead of sticking with old and unreliable methods like passwords and one-time codes, we need to start using stronger and simpler options like passkeys and on-device biometrics.”

Meanwhile, entering a password manually without additional authentication was the most used method across Asia Pacific, the study said.

On average, APAC consumers manually input a password four times a day or 1,200 times a year, the study said.

It also noted that 62% of APAC respondents are giving up on accessing services online and 45% are abandoning purchases due to forgetting their password for an 8% jump from last year.

“Globally, 70% of people have had to reset and recover passwords in the last two months because they’d forgotten them,” the study said.

“Poor online experiences are ultimately hitting businesses’ bottom lines and causing frustration among consumers.”

Passkeys have grown in consumer awareness (58%) from last year (41%) across APAC. Passkeys provide secure, convenient, non-phishable, and passwordless sign-ins to online services, it said.

Tech players such as Google, Apple, and PayPal are seeing opportunities in passkeys as they gear away from password and two-step verification, it added. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

Yields on term deposits inch up

YIELDS on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) term deposits climbed on Wednesday amid hawkish expectations from monetary authorities at home and abroad.

Demand for the BSP’s term deposit facility (TDF) stood at P393.161 billion on Wednesday, higher than the P380-billion offer as well as the P375.538 billion in tenders seen a week earlier for a P400-billion offering.

Broken down, tenders for the seven-day papers amounted to P236.753 billion, higher than the P220 billion auctioned off by the BSP. It was also P17.874 billion above the P218.879 billion in tenders seen last week.

Accepted rates for the tenor ranged from 6.41% to 6.455%, narrower than the 6.4% to 6.465% band logged last week. The average rate of the one-week deposits inched up by 0.45 basis point (bp) to 6.4357% from 6.4312% previously.

Meanwhile, demand for the 16-day deposits amounted to P156.408 billion, below the P160 billion on the auction block and the P156.659 billion in tenders seen in the previous week for a P180-billion offer of 14-day deposits.

The tenor offered this week was adjusted due to holidays in the beginning of November.

Banks asked for yields from 6.4% to 6.48%, slightly wider than the 6.4% to 6.478% range seen the previous week. This caused the average rate of the paper to inch up by 0.25 bp to 6.4483% from the 6.4458% seen on Oct. 11.

The BSP has not auctioned off 28-day term deposits for three years to give way to its weekly offerings of securities with the same tenor.

The term deposits and the 28-day bills are used by the central bank to mop up excess liquidity in the financial system and to better guide market rates.

TDF yields were higher week on week due to hawkish signals from the BSP chief and the possibility of a 25-bp hike from the US Federal Reserve, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The central bank is open to raising its policy rate by 25 bps during their meeting next month after inflation picked up for a second month in a row in September, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said last week.

Mr. Remolona said he “would not rule out” a 25-bp increase at the Monetary Board’s Nov. 16 meeting, adding there is still room for monetary tightening as the economy remains strong.

The Monetary Board has kept the policy rate at a near 16-year high of 6.25% at its last four meetings. It raised borrowing costs by 425 bps from May 2022 to March 2023 to help bring down inflation.

Headline inflation quickened for a second straight month to 6.1% in September from 5.3% in August. This brought the nine-month inflation average to 6.6%, still higher than the BSP’s 5.8% forecast and 2-4% target for the year.

Meanwhile, the Fed kept its benchmark rate unchanged at the 5.25% to 5.5% range at its Sept. 19-20 meeting. It has hiked rates by a cumulative 525 bps since it began its tightening cycle in March last year.

The Federal Open Market Committee will hold its next policy review from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

Global yields have climbed amid the war between Israel and Palestine, Mr. Ricafort added.

A jump in bond yields after a barnstorming report on September US retail sales sent analysts scurrying to revise up forecasts for economic growth for both the third and fourth quarters, Reuters reported.

Markets reacted by pricing in more risk the Federal Reserve will be forced to hike again. A move in November is still seen as just an 11% chance, but January climbed to 50% from 37%.

The market also again scaled back expectations for early rate cuts, with no chance of a move until June and around 54 basis points of easing implied for all of 2024.

Bonds took it badly, with two-year yields surging as much as 14 basis points on Tuesday to a 16-year peak of 5.24%. The two-year was last at 5.2%, while 10-year yields were back near recent highs at 4.84%. — M.J.B. Poliarco with Reuters

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